Dearest Friends,
I want to share with you today the wisdom and life of my favorite woman in the Bible. Her name is Mary. She happens to be the mother of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Mary's life has always intrigued me. She was so young when she became pregnant. She was only 14 scholars say when she was impregnated by the Holy Spirit. If this is the case she was only 47 when she watched her first born son beaten beyond recognition and hung on a cross to die. I wonder those 33 years of His life what she thought about. Did she wake every day with the thought of His being the Son of God? Did she sit around staring at Him, thinking about the fact that just as human as He was, He was as equally God. I think that would blow my mind. And we know according to scripture that she believed in His power. She is recorded as the first to ever ask Jesus to perform a miracle when she asked Him to turn water into wine. Mary knew the God of the impossible.
When she was just a young virgin girl, Mary was approached by an angel who told her she would conceive in her womb a son whose name was to be called Jesus and that her conception would occur by the Holy Spirit as the power of the Highest overshadowed her. And her son would be the Son of God. And this is what Mary said, "may it be to me according to your word." WOW!
That's why she's my favorite. She didn't say a number of things like; do I have to?, are you sure you want me?, do you know what you're doing?, is this for real?, ARE YOU CRAZY? I think I would have been asking some questions. Not Mary. She called herself the maidservant of the Lord and she accepted her assignment. Accepted an assignment knowing that her family would not understand, her betrothed husband may want to divorce her, her friends would talk behind her back, and the others who knew her would call her names and reject her from their very presence. She accepted the assignment despite the emotional pain, the rejection, the fear, and the uncertain future. I wonder when she accepted her assignment, did she know how alone she was going to feel?
Friends, God still gives us assignments. He may not be telling us to physically bear His son, but He is asking us to spiritually bear His son.
He gives us the assignment to forgive all those who hurt us even when they aren't sorry. To forgive wholly with our hearts.
He gives us the assignment to love our enemies, to pray for them, and to do GOOD to them. OUCH.
He gives us the assignment to reject our selfish ambitions and take up His will for our lives.
For us wives He gives us the assignment to love and submit ourselves to our husbands despite their spiritual maturity.
For you husbands? He gives you the assignment to love your wife as Christ loved the church despite whether or not she's meeting your needs.
He gives us the assignment to share His love with those around us, those in need, and those who are hurting.
When the Lord speaks His Word to you, do you have the same attitude as Mary? Do you consider yourself a maidservant of the Lord, ready to fulfill His assignment in your life? We don't understand why He asks some of the things He asks from us, but I know He knows what's best for me. Will I be a whole fulfilled person if I choose to forgive, to love and to do His will? Then I choose to do so. I choose to be a maidservant of the Lord. May it be to me according to His Word. May it be to you according to His Word.
Be blessed my sweet dear friends. Be maidservants (and menservants) of the Lord!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Greatness on Reserve
I want to share about 2 exceptional women with you. Their names are Shiphrah and Puah. Their story is found in the first chapter of Exodus. They first caught my attention because they were asked by Pharaoh to kill the Israelite baby boys and they refused. Wow. They were given a direct order from their king and they did not comply. Why did they refuse? The 17th verse states that they feared God. Double Wow! To my understanding these midwives were Egyptian midwives that aided the Israelite women during birth. They were not Hebrew. They had, I'm assuming, been influenced by the Hebrews' lives and had come to understand the power of this God that the Israelites served and feared themselves. They had been shown the love and light of God.
Now, because of the refusal by the midwives to kill the baby boys, we find in vs. 20 that the people (Israelites) multiplied and grew very mighty. I'm sure that the midwives had no idea that their refusal to kill these babies would cause such multiplication and increased mightiness within the Hebrews. We know they had at least one conviction - they feared God. They feared God more than they feared Pharaoh and this fear caused greatness to occur.
I want to camp out here for just a minute. You see, Shiphrah and Puah were created for greatness. They didn't see the greatness that would come about by their simple fear of God, but greatness was waiting. Greatness was on reserve. We oftentimes in our lives wonder how greatness will ever come from our simple acts of obedience such as being a helpmate to our spouses, training our children at home, working in the church, or even giving to someone in need. But I am here to assure you that greatness is on reserve. Do we need to look for that greatness every day? Not necessarily, but I know that our spouses, our children and the people that we pour into through our service to the body will increase in mightiness. Not because we're something great or powerful. But because the One we fear is great and powerful and He is faithful to complete this work He has begun.
Another thought on these women is the meaning of their names. Shiphrah means brightness, to glisten. Puah means to glitter, brilliancy. These women glowed. From the time of their birth, they were created for this greatness. They were to glitter, to glisten. As we fear God and live our lives according to His plan, we become bright lights in a dark world. You could say we glitter and we glisten. Because of their fear of God, Shiphrah and Puah were given households of their own (vs. 21). God blessed them. It's the same with all of God's children. Isaiah 3:10 states, Say to the righteous it will be well with them, For they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
So, my friends, as you live right standing with God, remember that greatness is on reserve. It is only a matter of time when that greatness will be revealed. Also, you will live in God's blessings when you choose Him above the world or your own selfish desires. God blessed two Egyptian women for their fear of Him. If He chose to bless them so greatly, will He not choose to bless you even more so?
Now, because of the refusal by the midwives to kill the baby boys, we find in vs. 20 that the people (Israelites) multiplied and grew very mighty. I'm sure that the midwives had no idea that their refusal to kill these babies would cause such multiplication and increased mightiness within the Hebrews. We know they had at least one conviction - they feared God. They feared God more than they feared Pharaoh and this fear caused greatness to occur.
I want to camp out here for just a minute. You see, Shiphrah and Puah were created for greatness. They didn't see the greatness that would come about by their simple fear of God, but greatness was waiting. Greatness was on reserve. We oftentimes in our lives wonder how greatness will ever come from our simple acts of obedience such as being a helpmate to our spouses, training our children at home, working in the church, or even giving to someone in need. But I am here to assure you that greatness is on reserve. Do we need to look for that greatness every day? Not necessarily, but I know that our spouses, our children and the people that we pour into through our service to the body will increase in mightiness. Not because we're something great or powerful. But because the One we fear is great and powerful and He is faithful to complete this work He has begun.
Another thought on these women is the meaning of their names. Shiphrah means brightness, to glisten. Puah means to glitter, brilliancy. These women glowed. From the time of their birth, they were created for this greatness. They were to glitter, to glisten. As we fear God and live our lives according to His plan, we become bright lights in a dark world. You could say we glitter and we glisten. Because of their fear of God, Shiphrah and Puah were given households of their own (vs. 21). God blessed them. It's the same with all of God's children. Isaiah 3:10 states, Say to the righteous it will be well with them, For they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
So, my friends, as you live right standing with God, remember that greatness is on reserve. It is only a matter of time when that greatness will be revealed. Also, you will live in God's blessings when you choose Him above the world or your own selfish desires. God blessed two Egyptian women for their fear of Him. If He chose to bless them so greatly, will He not choose to bless you even more so?
A Private Audience
Good afternoon my friends :)
I've struggled over the summer for many reasons. It doesn't really matter why, but I hate that I have not taken the time to encourage you on a regular basis. Because of my circumstances, I think I have felt so incapable that I have let my feelings control my actions. I wonder how a simple mind like mine with a life that is so seemingly out of control right now, could have anything to offer to you. I have been reminded though that they are not my words, but God's. I pray that the words I write to pour into you are not just words to you, but words that are received that bring you life.
Because of the past few months, the circumstance of life, and the heavy burdens beared, I have had to remind myself over and over again that God does hear my prayers. With the overwhelming pressures of the day to day demands, I have had to remind myself (and I still am) that God hears every cry I cry. Every single sigh - He hears. Every whisper - He listens for. Every tear - He sees fall. Every heart broken moment - He feels. Did you read that? Every time your heart breaks He feels that brokenness with you. He doesn't just know your heartache, He is touched by your pain. He's God. He's touched by the feelings of our infirmities (a condition producing weakness). He paid the ultimate price, and bore the ultimate pain. He cares.
Psalm 18:6-7 states (Message Bible):
A hostile world! I call to God,
I cry to God to help me.
From His palace He hears my call;
my cry brings me right into His presence-
A private audience!
A private audience! Just you and God. No one else. He hears. He listens. He's 100% attentive to every cry cried to Him. How reassuring that is to me. How reassuring that must be to you. Thank you Jesus.
Be blessed my friends.
I've struggled over the summer for many reasons. It doesn't really matter why, but I hate that I have not taken the time to encourage you on a regular basis. Because of my circumstances, I think I have felt so incapable that I have let my feelings control my actions. I wonder how a simple mind like mine with a life that is so seemingly out of control right now, could have anything to offer to you. I have been reminded though that they are not my words, but God's. I pray that the words I write to pour into you are not just words to you, but words that are received that bring you life.
Because of the past few months, the circumstance of life, and the heavy burdens beared, I have had to remind myself over and over again that God does hear my prayers. With the overwhelming pressures of the day to day demands, I have had to remind myself (and I still am) that God hears every cry I cry. Every single sigh - He hears. Every whisper - He listens for. Every tear - He sees fall. Every heart broken moment - He feels. Did you read that? Every time your heart breaks He feels that brokenness with you. He doesn't just know your heartache, He is touched by your pain. He's God. He's touched by the feelings of our infirmities (a condition producing weakness). He paid the ultimate price, and bore the ultimate pain. He cares.
Psalm 18:6-7 states (Message Bible):
A hostile world! I call to God,
I cry to God to help me.
From His palace He hears my call;
my cry brings me right into His presence-
A private audience!
A private audience! Just you and God. No one else. He hears. He listens. He's 100% attentive to every cry cried to Him. How reassuring that is to me. How reassuring that must be to you. Thank you Jesus.
Be blessed my friends.
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