God What Are You Doing?

For some time now I have been really focused on a new way to approach the questions I have for God.

Because what I have come to learn in this life is that often the "why" question isn't answered.

I've tried asking it.

"God, why is this happening?

"God, why did this happen?"

And sometimes it's simply not for me to know.

Scripture tells us that His ways are not our ways. And that, "God’s ways are as mysterious as the pathway of the wind and as the manner in which a human spirit is infused into the little body of a baby while it is yet in its mother’s womb." (Eccl 11:5, TLB)

Mark 4 tells the story of the disciples in the boat during a storm with a sleeping Jesus. After they awoke Him and He calmed the winds and waves they responded with terrified spirits and asked each other, "Who is this man? Even the winds and waves obey Him." Mark 4:41.

In looking at the storm they were filled with fear.

And I, too, recognize within myself this same sort of dread and discomfort when I look to the mounting circumstances surrounding my life.

Ahh... but believers are to look for storms, as scripture tells us they are inevitable. John 6:33 says, "In this life you WILL have trouble...."

But perhaps in our looking for the storms we can do so only for the discovery of solutions. A solution where regardless of the outcome I am saying yes. Regardless of my knowledge of why, I can move forward by asking, "God even though I don't understand, I don't need to understand... but will You make my role in Your redemptiveness clear?"

The disciples were exposed to the storm, but not at the expense of Jesus' departure. They had Him in the vessel with them the entire time.

And I see it clearly now... that when the students of Jesus focused on the problem they saw only the pain it was producing and not the fruit He was looking to develop in them. Once they shifted their eyes to the Problem-Solver, their perspective was re-calibrated and they came out of the trial with an increased awareness of who this Jesus was, and possessed an increased admiration of Him.

And so I can seek with a new objective starting today: God what are You doing? How are You working? Where are You working? And because I know the ambition of Your heart is always the increase of my faith and the manifestation of my commitment, make clear my role in Your work. I am a co-laborer this side of eternity and I don't want to miss an opportunity to multiply the improvement of my heart and my effectiveness for Your kingdom!

 

Permissible But Not Always Profitable

1 Corinthians 10:23 says this, "You say, 'I am allowed to do anything'—but not everything is good for you. You say, 'I am allowed to do anything'—but not everything is beneficial."

And when I read it I recalled a conversation I witnessed on a public social media platform between 2 Christian friends a couple years ago. They were discussing their conflicting opinions on a topic and both were expressing their side pretty passionately. It was getting heated. And out of control fairly quickly.

And my heart sank.

Because for sure one thing God has been teaching me over the years of walking with Him is that my position as a child of God doesn't come without responsibility, and this journey of faith is to bring me into a deeper, fuller, more passionate relationship with Him, not equip me to better argue points of contention with those who disagree with me.

While I deeply believe that I am to defend the cross and contend for righteous living that honors God, I am not to abuse my liberty by the insistence of winning arguments. My freedom is to demonstrate my love for Jesus, edify the body of believers, attract those outside the faith, and glorify God.

In other words, there are limits to my liberty.

I have a responsibility to do everything... everything... in love.

Matthew 12:37 says, "The words you say will either acquit you, or condemn you."

The choices we make about the words we speak matter.

And we will be held accountable by every word that leaves our lips. Matthew 12:36 says that, "...on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak."

I have been a part of arguments and witnessed many debates over unnecessary "carelessness." And it is my strong belief that it's why many in the kingdom do not advance spiritually into the fullness Jesus died for them to experience.

We've got to get it in the marrow of our bones that we must recognize when to abstain from "lawful" things if by doing them we bring more harm than good. There are people for whom we unknowingly create stumbling blocks for on their way to the cross.

Oh that I would never stand in their way of getting to Jesus!

The question becomes this: "Will my example call out imitation in others and is my witness creating an irresistibility for Jesus? Or is my example causing an obstacle, or worse yet, a fatality for others?"

If I know personally and have experienced privately the manifest presence of Jesus and the grace that comes from a relationship with Him, then I owe the world this same kind of encounter.

I must remind myself daily that there are limits to liberty... there have been parameters placed on my privileges. I am not only called to represent Him well, but I am to RE-PRESENT Him to a world who've been previously shown a different kind of God than the One I know, love, and serve.

Though it may be permissible, it's not always profitable in kingdom work.

He is Kind

I have been thinking a lot lately on the kindness of God.

I was talking with someone the other day about our recent out-of-state move and we were discussing some of the "hiccups" in our year-long journey that got us here. And yet in the very moments of discussing what could be considered setbacks and obstacles, I was suddenly overcome by the kindness of God.

All throughout the pages of scripture we read about the kindness of God.

1 Chronicles 16:34, NASB: "...His lovingkindness is everlasting."

Psalm 86:5, NASB: "For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You."

Luke 6:36, MSG: "Our Father is kind..."

Psalm 63:3, NASB: "Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You."

Jeremiah 31:3, NIV: "“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness."

The Lord is kind.

Oh He is powerful and He is mighty and He is strong.

But He is also kind.

Take a look at the word for a moment.

Kind means this: good, benevolent in nature, indulgent, considerate, helpful, mild, gentle, sympathetic in attitude, easily imposed upon.

Think about that definition.

I mean, really think on it.

My mind immediately focused in on "easily imposed upon."

I've heard it before that there are those who believe that they are "bothering God" with trivial things. In fact someone told me recently, "I can't bother God with my little problems, when there is cancer and killing in the world."

But let us remember, our God is kind.

He longs to hear from His children.

And He is "easily imposed upon."

There is no thing too large for Him in His power to overcome.

And there is no thing too small for Him in His kindness to cover with compassion.

He has been so kind.

He is... so kind.

 

 

When You Can't See, Can't Hear... Remember!

I hear it a lot.

Things like, "I can't hear God speak."

"I just don't feel His presence."

"I have been asking and asking, but He's not answering me."

Many of us wrestle, at least at times, with seeing the hand of God and hearing the voice of God.

Sometimes when you're in the dark valley it's hard to see what He's doing.

Sometimes He seems silent.

Sometimes He even seems unmoved by our frailty; unaffected by our despair.

But that couldn't be further from the truth.

A look into scripture tells us that we serve a God who is not only filled with compassion, He was MOVED with compassion (Mark 1:41).

Ahh.. proof that His mercy is activated by movement.

And yet sometimes our head can know that, but our heart simply can't catch up.

He still seems silent.

I remember sitting in my "waiting room" during a very challenging season in my life. I had just had surgery and I wasn't recovering as quickly as I would have liked. Days were long, the pain was intense, my daughter had just moved 2000 miles away to attend school for the year, my husband suddenly found himself without work, bills were mounting, and I could feel my heart sink into a sadness I'd never felt before.

One Saturday night I begged God to reveal Himself to me in a brand new way.

I was honest when I got down on my knees and said the words, "God, I need You to speak to me! I need to see You! I need to hear You! I need to feel You!"

And it was as if the Lord, in His kindness, overwhelmed me with these words that pierced my soul. He said, "Sometimes I don't speak, because I've already spoken."

Ahh yes.

There it was.

My honest heart spilled out in honest tears through an honest prayer moved the heart of God to compassion. And it was in that compassion I was able to see Him more clearly than ever before.

He was calling me to remember.

Remember what the Lord had done.

Remember all the times He was faithful.

Remember His steadfast provision.

Remember His goodness and His mercy and His love.

This started a journey for me in keeping track of all the God-moments in my life. Documenting all the ways He's been working. Recording His movement so that when I needed to be reminded... for the times I may forget... I would have these cataloged moments of the times He was so faithful and didn't have to be.

So I want to encourage you today if you find yourself in a challenging situation... a season of waiting... a season of doubt... to focus on all you've seen Him do in the past.

When you can't see Him working...

When you can't hear His voice..

it's wisest for us to REMEMBER what He's done.

He's so kind.

He's so compassionate.

And He beckons us to remember.

Remember His faithfulness.

It really matters and it really changes everything!

 

 

You Have Powerful Purpose!

Because someone needs to hear this today.
Somebody feels like giving up.
Somebody lacks the feeling of worthiness.

You feel alone.

Maybe you feel trapped.
Perhaps you have isolated yourself from everyone and everything.

Maybe you are experiencing what you would consider a “setback”.

You’ve been trying so hard and yet you still feel overwhelmed.
You’ve been trying to believe that He is the Redeemer of all things… but not this.
Not this one.
Not this time.

And I am here this morning to encourage you.

First of all - you are not alone.
You are not the only one who battles with these thoughts of unworthiness and doubt.
You are not the only one who suffers from feelings of insignificance and confusion and fear and uncertainty.

You are not alone.

And in my own personal experience with these emotions I have learned the necessary dependability on the One who knows loneliness and abandonment and heartbreak, and yet offers undeniable redemptive solutions.

One who knows more about physical agony and emotional turmoil than I will ever know and calls it redeemable. One who looks into the face of danger and despair and calls us out from the pit of desperation and says - “I died for that!”

I would write it in my own journal in my own handwriting to encourage this discontented heart of mine, “If God is giving a setback, remember it’s for a purpose! He is redeeming all things! Nothing He ever gives is without purpose!”

And I would encourage you with the same words today:
YOU have a POWERFUL PURPOSE!
You have something that nobody else has.
You have a story that someone else needs to hear.
You have gifts and talents that the world needs.
You have a solution to a problem that no one else can offer.

And..
He is redeeming all that you consider as lost.
He is making all things new.

And so I enter this Monday morning with a renewed mind.
To remain grateful for the season that seems like a setback.
Because it is not without point and purpose.

And I am praying for you too!
That you will sense His overwhelming love.
That you will be aware of His constant provision.

Even in the valley.
No - especially there.

He is good.
He is kind.
He is faithful.

And He is offering us, today, a better way than we’ve been living.

He’s madly, crazy, passionately in love with you!

And YOU have a POWERFUL PURPOSE!

Don’t forget that!

Being a Kingdom Carrier

I wish I could tell you that I get it right every day.

I don't.

But God is working on this heart of mine.

And I try to come as a willing vessel for the indwelling and the filling every single day.

And oh how He's stretching me and molding me.

Last week I learned some pretty devastating news that struck this heart of mine, completely catching me off guard.

I didn't see it coming.

I wasn't expecting it.

And the words hurt.

They hurt when I heard them, and they've continued to sting since.

Because even when we think we've done our best... loved well, taken the high road, and removed ourselves from damaging environments... hurting people still hurt people.

And when I learned about the injurious rumor and the lie associated with it, my heart ached.

And if the truth is being told, it still aches.

But perhaps for more reasons today.

Because my prayer for many years now has been this: Break my heart for the things that break yours, God.

And maybe this is my chance to participate in that breaking.

Because maintaining an offended spirit is not the Jesus way.

Refusing grace to hurting people is not the Jesus way.

Finding fault and demanding retaliation even in my thought life, is not the Jesus way.

And I started to think about my response to the hurt. And God in His patience and loving-kindness whispered it to my heart. It was like salve to my Spirit... "There's a better way I have for you."

And hesitantly at first, and rather reluctantly I added her name to my prayer list. The one who inflicted much pain with a sharp razor-like tongue.

And I would pray this: God bless her.

Hard words from pen to paper.

But it's the only way I change

And it's the only way I carry kingdom realities into the broken areas of this world.

And the next day I would return to the page.

The one with her name scribbled across the top.

And I would pray again. This time: God bless her. Bring her an abundance of joy today. Overwhelm her with your kindness and grace today. May her heart be radically changed by You.

It's not easy praying for those who have hurt you.

But it's the Jesus way.

And it's the only way the world around me begins to change.

Because I realize at the core of my being that I have a responsibility. And that responsibility is to be a Kingdom Carrier.

If they can't see Jesus in me, then the problem is with me. Not them.

If we don't begin praying for those who've hurt us, the enemy will continue to hurt us through them and we will bring others into the hurt with us.

It's a ridiculous cycle of pain and suffering.

We cannot afford to live a life that distracts and damages the souls of other people.

Retaliation is returning like for like, especially evil for evil.

And it's destroying HIS reputation when those created in His image insist upon it.

Scripture is clear: “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you." Luke 6:27-28

It's the Jesus way.

And it's the only way we carry kingdom realities into broken situations.

It matters!

 

 

He is Redeeming All Things!

I was speaking to someone recently who was sharing with me about how busy life is for her right now. She was talking about this season of life being so painfully hectic, and even said, "I barely have time to breathe."

And I would think that this is true for most of us at one point or another in our lives.

I remember when my daughter was in school and I was working full time. I felt like I was burning the candle at both ends. I felt overwhelmed by all the responsibilities and all of the demands being placed on me.

I was trying to encourage my friend to stay in His Word and to keep steadfast in prayer. I was challenging her to "remain" as close to Jesus as possible and to disregard the temptation to "put off" her quiet time and scripture reading.

My weary friend looked back at me and said the words I've said a thousand times, "I just don't have time."

As my friend and I were saying goodbye she asked me if I would continue praying for her, to which of course I said I would.

Immediately I would pray for her and as I did, the Holy Spirit prompted me with these words, "I am redeeming all things... even time!"

Oh that we serve a mighty and powerful AND PERSONAL God! A God who is a Redeemer of all things.

I would write it in my journal and praise Him for being so good and so patient and so merciful.

"Thank you for the time You multiply because of our 'first-love-focus!' Thank you that you are redeeming all that we consider lost... even the sacrifice of quiet time with You! You NEVER waste time well-spent with You! You are redeeming all things!"

Spend some time thanking Him today for all that He is redeeming in your life:

- the sacrifice you're making with Him.

- the broken marriage vows.

- the lost and wayward child.

- the days spent in pain and despair.

- the worry.

- the heartbreak.

- the loss.

Oh friend, He is redeeming that thing! Yes - even that!

He loves you so much!

He is the Redeemer of all things broken and stolen and lost!

 

 

In Jesus' Name!

And just like that a scripture you've read a hundred times it feels like, comes alive before your eyes! So much so you stop and take a closer look and can't remove yourself from it for days.

Colossians 1:17 in The Passion Translation says this, "Let every activity of your lives, and every word that comes from your lips be drenched with the beauty of our Lord, Jesus, the Anointed One. And bring your constant praise to God the Father because of what Christ has done for you."

So many things comes alive in this passage.

Like "every activity", "every word", "drenched", and "constant praise."

And I wanted to think on this for a bit

"Every activity" and "every word."

Ahh... Word and Works.

Working in tandem. All aiming to glorify God.

The KJV says we are to, "do all in the name of the Lord Jesus..." "To do in His name" means:

1.) That we refer all to His glory.

2.) That we act in accordance for His will for our lives.

3.) That we live in compete confidence in Him and maintain complete dependence on Him.

We carry out "in the name of Jesus" by:

1.) The authority of Jesus (Acts 3:6)

2.) For the sake of Jesus (Mark 9:41)

3.) For the glory of Jesus (Acts 15:26)

And so it begs the question for my own life, and I ponder what it means for every activity of mine to be drenched in His beauty. Because it is my words and words that are being evaluated by the One who meets me where I am, but longs to take me further.

Every activity.

Every word.

And I write it in my journal on an early Thursday morning: Can I say that I DO all things and SAY all things in the name of Jesus?

Is my motive of self-centeredness, or do my actions glorify the Father? Because motive governs our actions and determines them good or bad.

And admittedly I have allowed dishonoring things to become habit at times. I've heard the words leave my own lips:

"I'm so stupid."

"This is ridiculous."

"I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired."

I've witnessed irrational behavior in my own life.... things like complaining about slow service, becoming increasingly impatient in mid-day traffic, and allowing bitterness to settle within my spirit over a disappointing circumstance in my life.

And I wonder, now, after re-reading the words of Paul, if I can say and do things differently. Because it's hard to advance in the Kingdom if I insist on actions and verbiage that are inconsistent with the order, "do all in the name of the Lord Jesus."

Try it.

"I am stupid... in the name of Jesus"

"I am sick and tired of being sick and tired... in the name of Jesus."

"You are an idiot... in the name of Jesus."

"This is a joke... in the name of Jesus."

Sounds unreasonable and pretty ridiculous doesn't it?

It is our obligation to recognize Jesus in everything, rely on Jesus at all times, and revere Jesus with supreme devotion.

I write it so my eyes can see:

Ultimate Recognition.

Absolute Reliability.

Supreme Reverence.

I read it in my commentary that Christians are to be "possessed by love."

Oh yes!

And it alters everything when my actions and my words are drenched in the love of Jesus. All of my words and works are automatically redirected to godliness when I am possessed by love!

And so my experiment on a Thursday is to document my activities - all filtered through the lens of "In Jesus' Name."

I write it on my hand, rehearse the words of the beloved Apostle, and zero in on the sweet desire of our Jesus... "do all in the name of the Lord Jesus."

Making the bed - yes that! "In Jesus' name!"

Getting ready for my day - even that! "In Jesus' name!"

Doing the laundry - that too! "In Jesus' name!"

Taking necessary medication - yep! "In Jesus' name!"

Eating breakfast - this one too! "In Jesus' name!"

Doing chores - even that! "In Jesus' name!"

Making to-do lists - yes! "In Jesus' name!"

Showing loving kindness to neighbors - oh yes! "In Jesus' name!"

Taking care of those you've been entrusted to love - absolutely! "In Jesus' name!"

Speaking life and love to your spouse - for sure! "In Jesus' name!"

I declare it over my life today: I will honor God by doing all things... all things... ALL things in JESUS' name!

It really really matters!