Auto Immune

I've been down with a virus for a few weeks now. It always amazes me how a tiny, microscopic bug can cause such wreckage. You would think that our size would intimidate the bugger but even though it's small it's mighty! As it is taking a road trip throughout my body I realize that nothing I do to fight it has any effect. It's unstoppable until it finalizes its mission. I am held captive to it until it is finished with me.

During this down time I've spent a lot of time talking with Jesus and letting Him talk to me. One of my favorite things to do while spending time with Him is to call to mind and take account of all the changes He has made in my character, behavior and life. I am NOT the same person I used to be and I love praising God for all His beautiful work in my life! I'm no longer a weak-minded, cowering and broken person that's taken down at every hardship.

Years ago I purchased a small bible study book entitled, "Distorted Images of God" and through reading it I discovered many things in my belief system that were infected with a virus of sorts. Because of my past experiences I had a hard time believing God loved me or cared about me. I believed He was sinister and manipulative in regards to my life. My self-worth and my worth in His eyes was rock bottom from my perspective. As I worked through that bible study God used His Word to correct all those lies I believed. I began auto-correcting every lie into a truthful biblical pronouncement. I proclaimed God's love for me in my heart and aloud while at the same time getting God's Word planted deep within me. God changed me through my trials which made me see that each hardship was really a gift.

In many ways, God's unrelenting love for us is like a virus. It takes us over and has it's way with us. It's out of our control as to how long the event will take. His love holds us captive until He completes the work of sanctification in our lives. His microscopic Holy Spirit which is able to permeate the tiniest of recesses in our minds, hearts, spirits and souls reaches deep within us to reveal and heal our weak areas. Just as a virus builds our immune system so it can fight future attacks, so God's work in us prepares us for future spiritual attacks!

Prior to believing in God's love for me, I let every instance or event that was not pleasing to me take me down. I had NO SPIRITUAL IMMUNE SYSTEM. I was weak, ineffective and terrified whenever any attacks came. The virus that I was infected with was not one of truth but one of lies. Satan always sends the same virus, the same lies and misconceptions. The virus of lies never builds our spiritual immune systems it only deteriorates us more and more each time. But, I am telling you my brothers and sisters in Christ to let the God of Love infect you with the virus of truth and love. Let Him build you up into a warrior that will not shrink back or shrivel up when hardships come. In your times of weakness He will be your strength and you will have praise on your lips even though you may be suffering. Our hope is in the Lord. His plans are to prosper us, not to harm us.... Jeremiah 29:11. Once infected with God's love we are then called to go spread it! Let your hope and joy contaminate others.

Be confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it...Philippians 1:6

Consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2...

Rejoice, for these trials make you partners with Christ in His sufferings, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing His glory when it is revealed to all the world. 1 Peter 4:13

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

Rock Me

God can rock you like a hurricane to the depths of your being and He can rock you in His arms of love like a tender father. His greatness is displayed in might as well as in gentleness. Where better to place our lives than in the awesome hands of power and love. His presence can straighten us up when we get to big for our britches yet when we fall it is that same presence that rises us up and heals us. Psalm 42:7 says, "Deep calls unto deep at the noise of your waterspouts; all Your waves and billows are gone over me." I encourage you to go to youtube.com and watch videos of waterSPOUTS. Then, just imagine the God of the universe reaching down from heaven and stirring you to your very core... deep calling unto deep! Step out and ask God when you are weak and tired to rock you gently. Or, when you have become stagnant in your faith call on Him to rock you like a hurricane. He is THE ROCK, The Great I AM. You are safe with Him.

Ephesians 3:20, "Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think."

This Rock Will Never Tremble Under You (Old Hymn)

Away out in the harbor is a Rock that's standing sure 
Though the storms may dash against It, It always shall endure 
This Fortress is my Jesus, a Rock that is so true 
and this Rock will never tremble under you 

Chorus 
This rock will never tremble under you 
It will stand through every storm that you go through 
You may tremble on the Rock; some people do 
but this Rock will never tremble under you 

How firm this great Foundation that undergirds my soul 
No storm can overthrow it. No wave can o're it can roll 
Just build your life upon It for It will see you through 
and this Rock will never tremble under you

Out is In

I have a friend right now that is in what looks to be a hopeless circumstance. As I was praying for her this morning I recalled a time of trauma in my life when I could literally find NO WAY OUT! I paced the floors, begged, pleaded, cried, stomped, writhed and acted out many more unflattering displays of immaturity. Yet, no way out, was the only conclusion before me. The grieving process took its path and I finally surrendered, accepting my situation in defeat. This morning though, God revealed to my heart that there is a difference between surrendering in defeat or surrendering in victory. Being aware of which choice you are making will determine your spiritual walk.

Some say, "It doesn't matter if you pray or not. It all works out anyway." Others state, "God let me down." While some live luke warm relationships with God, never really trusting Him. Does God really deliver us? Is He trustworthy and compassionate of our sufferings? Or, does He abandon us in our times of need? Let me share with you the conversation He had with me this morning.

Freedom is found NOT in the deliverance from your trial but in the deliverance of your mind. When you feel trapped and over-wrought, I promised you a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). Look at my servant Jonah , I had to trap him in a circumstance until he found his freedom by surrendering his heart and renewing his thoughts. A victorious surrender! It was only then, that he was delivered from the belly of the fish. I don't allow situations in your life without knowing the outcome first and the goodness that you will glean from it.

Your way out is by going in. Enter in to My presence and be honest about your beliefs, thoughts, doubts, fears, misconceptions...it's when you surrender yourself to me, loving me, trusting me with all your heart, that your circumstance will fade away. I don't want you to look for a way out, although that is so human to do, I want you to look for a way in, into my presence. It's there where you will be set free. When a trial comes into your life it reveals the broken parts in you. Places where you have been wounded and are still weak stand out. The trial inflames these areas, so I USE the trial to make you healthier and more mature. Like a fever pushes out a virus, I strengthen you in those ruff waters, building your stamina and empowering your mind. You NEVER come out of a trial the same person. If you trust Me through it then you arise a victor and a warrior. However, if you fight me through the trial, I cannot accomplish those good things in you. Thus, another trial lays ahead of you for Me to try again. I love you and I will not leave you weak, ineffective and frightened. Neither will I allow you to continue to proclaim Me as your God as you live luke warm lives, showing people your disdain for Me, complaining rather than praising, expressing sarcasm because of your lack of faith...

Escape into your prayer room alone with me and then watch ME work! Your prayers matter! One prayer can renew your mind, change your heart, stop the enemy from advancing, align things in your favor, bring you peace, block an attack... You will calm down in our time together and be able to see my blessings that otherwise go unnoticed. A kind thought from a friend through text, phone call, card or visit. A victory over something that would usually cripple you. Peace in your heart when normally fear was there, complaining replaced by a smile on your face, joy and gratitude overriding sadness and blaming...

Your WAY OUT IS IN! Into my presence. Let Me change you. Aren't you weary from not trusting Me. All that energy could go toward My purposes for you rather than being wasted on emotional and spiritual immaturity. Enter in and let Me show you that I AM your way out, your deliverance from anything that holds you in bondage. It's your fear of Me that keeps you crippled. I AM love. In Me you will not find condemnation or fear but pure love. In Me you will finally realize that your fears were lies. The safest place you can ever be, is where ever you are with Me.

Note:
My friend and I have come to know with full certainty that the moment we enter into prayer all our inflammation, worries, fears... dissolve into nothingness before the God of the Universe and of our hearts! He changes the paradigm instantly bringing light into our darkness, joy into our pain, peace into our turmoil, soundness into our confusion, hope into our despair and love into our brokenness. Communion with Him is our escape and we no longer feel hopeless. Change us first Lord. Praise be to God.

Forgive! Why?!

Luke 6:45, "A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you speak flows from what is in your heart."

We are not even aware of how deep our emotions are embedded in our hearts. This labyrinth of hurts, twists and turns within our hearts to places hidden from our own minds. In good conscience we try to forgive as to set our minds free of turmoil but beyond our efforts the sticky emotions of past pain find recesses that are beyond our reach. These deep-seated resentments tune our hearts to play a low and distressing song which reveals itself in our personalities. Most often it takes a word or situation to set these particles of pain into a tornado of speech that spews from our lips. In the aftermath we ask ourselves, "How could I have exploded like that?" or "Where did that come from?" These questions of the heart should be taken to God for only He knows the way to these dark places and has the love to heal them.

Most people shake it off and board up the entrance to the dark mine from which those unmentionables came from. "That will never happen again.", we tell ourselves. But, the God who loves you does not want you to live with unsettled pain that can be triggered. He wants to set you free (John 8:31b-32), "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." The crippled emotions that hide deep within us can define us and skew the image of Christ that is seen in our lives. Or, they can be healed, allowing a clear view of our loving Savior and the freedom He brings His children.

In one scenario we live our lives and are viewed by others as chained dogs that scratch and bark for freedom. We are bound to a stake in the ground and those viewing us see no freedom gifted to us by our Redeemer. We speak of a God who sets us free yet we live in bondage to matters of the heart that spill through our lips. Our actions and words display brokenness, anger, bitterness, jealousy, and a myriad of strongholds. Some dig in their feet and fight the Savior, blaming Him for their uncontrolled emotions. They convince themselves that it is God who has made them this way and will not help them. Others may curl up and give up, living a life of depression and hopelessness. They feel unworthy of God's love and become martyrs of self-pity. Most though,  just choose a life either absent of God or a life of mediocrity, a lukewarm existence of turning your face away from any dealings with God.

There is a better way though and it leads to freedom. No more depression, self-pity, anger outbursts, bad habits ... just a journey of dropping baggage and acquiring new garments. Taking off the grave clothes and putting on a robe of righteousness. It is a journey that is uphill but it will build new character, new muscle, new joy. The defeated way only offers atrophy of mind, body and spirit. A disintegrating life that keeps you walking the same circles but with less integrity each time. True freedom is when we allow the Master to go where only He can go and heal what only He can heal. Followers of Christ know that it's through being broken and rebuilt that we find our true selves in Christ. Going through this life trying with our own might to repair ourselves only proves futile when those broken areas after time reveal their weaknesses again.

Do I sit here writing to you as a perfect person who has the right to preach to others about their brokenness? I am not perfect, far from it, but I can talk from my heart to you about anger, shame, bad habits and so much more because all of those things have been my struggles. Yet, I attest that they are so greatly diminished in my character because of God's grace. I stopped fighting Him and I'm finally letting Him have His way with me. Surrender is the key. Loosening our grip on the injustices that we hold so close to our hearts is the first step.

Isaiah 61:1b says, "He (The Father) has sent me (Jesus) to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners..." Our pastor spoke on this Sunday and explained this verse. Prisoners are held in chains for wrong doing whereas captives are held in chains by an oppressor. Christ offered not freedom from chains to the prisoner but freedom from darkness. Although they have to serve physically for their crime they do not have to serve a spiritual sentence. Their hearts can be set free from their bondage of sin even while incarcerated physically. A pure heart of repentance is all it takes.

On the other hand, a captive for example, could be someone affected by the criminals actions and the hate and unforgiveness in their heart holds them captive to an unsettled heart and mind. The inferno of contempt eats them alive and they suffer not only spiritually but mentally, emotionally and physically. They harbor revenge which makes their entire being a cauldron of seething anger. They are  consumed with the injustice while their heart and mind slowly dims of the light of peace.

Whether a prisoner or a captive, Christ offers to bind up our broken hearts offering us freedom from the deterioration of sin. Unforgiveness is as inexcusable as murder to God. Each is unacceptable and must be dealt with. Our choice is to take responsibility and accept God's offer to heal us or the other option is to hold on to our sin and let it be dealt with when it's too late for our souls to be set free from it.

Matthew 6:15 says, "But if you do not forgive others of their sins, your Father in Heaven will not forgive your sins." Deuteronomy 32:35 states, "Vengeance is mine says the Lord..." Children of God, You can "control" whether you forgive, BUT, if you choose anger, then you have handed control over to satan. You will be a captive and live a life unfamiliar with God's grace and peace. Forgiveness is hard but all Christ requires is a heart that desires to want to be obedient to Him in this area. Go to Him with only that and He will do the rest. There was no more unfair circumstance than when Christ suffered for our sins, yet, He forgave.

Luke 6:45, "For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart."

Isaiah 41:18b, "I (the Lord) will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs." God can turn our hardened hearts into lush fields of peace. Could you use some peace?

Suggested reading: How to Forgive When You Don't Feel Like It, by June Hunt

Wash Me

Have you you ever wished that God would shower you off on the inside? When life's pressures, pains and sufferings mount up in our minds and spill into our emotional pool, we feel a film of dirt on our soul that robs our peace. Situations in our environment convolute our clear thinking causing us to muddle our thoughts with worry, anger and regret as we go through our day or try to go to sleep. Our minds become a sewage processing plant and no human effort can stop its churning.

Over the weekend I worked in the garden and needless to say I was covered in dirt. I couldn't wait to conclude my day with a cool, soapy shower. I love the whole process of "dolling up" sometimes but there's nothing like a simple good scrubbing and then gobbing lotion all over clean skin and leaving it at that. As I was showering and thinking about some current problems, my mind thought of how nice it would be if we could just scrub our consciences and thoughts, then, rub a healing balm on and just start anew.

May times my mind feels like a pinball machine with constant action going on. Relentless thoughts and worries about safety issues, salvation for lost souls, fear of the future, shame of the past, current sufferings... I find my body exhausted while my mind races on. Not every moment is like that but when it does get in that state it seems impossible to put the brakes on.

The current terror event in Orlando, Florida, where 50 people were shot to death and approximately 50 more hospitalized was a stunningly shocking jolt as the details reverberated through news and social media. No matter how far removed you are from such horror it still haunts the mind and emotions. There is an inner disturbance of the soul as our minds try desperately to make sense of the senseless. Our children ask questions and in our attempts to calm them we drink from the cup of our condolences just to relieve our own confusion.

This world is like a tsunami of unreasonable circumstances that keep our minds in constant flux about whether to exhale or hold our breath. We ask ourselves if it's alright to relax and feel joy or should we be on guard not only in our physical world but also in our prayers. Our eyes jart about in suspicion while our minds teeter with the thought of whether today we will live or die. Our souls are dirty with the realities of evil, mud smeared windows that we are forced to look at life through. Because we are lovers of life and appreciate the gifts of hope and peace, these lovers of evil, who live to destroy, then die, are nothing more than stains that won't come out.

Can God keep our windows clean when mud is constantly being flung at us? Can our souls know purity and peace in a filthy world? Can we live a life of joy when wolves are prowling around us?  Of course. Our choice with no uncertain terms is to live free, experience every moment, have laughter on our lips and joy in our hearts and we can live this way by casting our cares upon God (1 Peter 5:7) "Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for you."). Moment by moment, every day, week after week for the duration of our grace given life. Soaking ourselves in Gods beautiful Word, dwelling in His presence through prayer, our fellowship with other believers are all blessings that loosen the caked on mud. John 14:27 says, "My peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Just as we would soak our bodies in a bath tub, we are given a spiritual bath to soak in through Gods Holy Spirit. As our thoughts become consumed through the news of evil encroaching, we can process that information for the purpose of offering prayers while at the same time soaking in Gods Word so that it doesn't stain our souls. If we try to live absent of practicing these blessings that God has given to us then we are just children covered in the mud of fear and worry.

Psalm 92:4-8, For You make me glad by Your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the work of Your hands. How great are Your works O Lord, how profound Your thoughts! The senseless man does not know, fools do not understand, that though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be forever destroyed. But You O Lord, will be exalted forever.

Wash us Lord, from the inside out with the anointing of your Holy Spirit. I know this world and it's sinful ways grieve your heart, so let your tears of compassion for your children also wash us clean. Don't let the stains of this world askew our view of the blessings and joys that you want us to see. Use even our own tears to wash us as we are moved to great emotion over the cruelty in this world and disregard for life. Wash us clean Lord, with the tears of those who who hold us and comfort us in our times of pain and sorrow. Wash us, O Lord.

Matthew 8:2, A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. "I am wiling." He said, "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.

Thank you sweet Jesus for making us clean.

Vortex

I remember as a kid we would play in my neighbors above ground, round swimming pool. We would run along the inner side, pushing our legs through the water until we created a vortex that swirled counter clock-wise, then, we would lift our feet and let the current pull us around. After a few minutes we would then start running clock-wise and push with all our might to reverse the spin to go the opposite direction. This metaphor is a perfect example of what we should do with our torrential thoughts when they get us swirling.

The enemy of our souls works hard by infiltrating our mind with thoughts that God will not be there for us. We are all familiar with sleepless nights and long days of worry. It feels as though our minds are being carried off in a riptide and the panic of drowning takes over all our senses. I'm familiar with the experience of almost drowning and it's terrifying. The currents were like invisible vines that wrapped around my extremities, pulling me down while I realized that there was nothing to grab onto! The waves relentlessly crashed over me, wearing me out and I remember my last word before going under, "Help!" Within seconds my friend Daniel had swam to me and rescued me from the oceans grasp. There will be circumstances where we can firmly plant our feet and then begin pushing in reverse by using the tools that God has given us to fight with. Then, there will be times when a trauma renders us paralyzed and only a call out of "Help!" to the Savior will deliver us. Matthew 14:22,23 tells the story of such a time.

Under more manageable situations we can determine in our hearts to push against the mind-sets that the enemy tries to plant. Through daily devotion with God we can accomplish that behavioral change and live a more victorious life. But, in this sinful, treacherous world there will be riptides of terror, illness, lost loved ones... that simply cannot be managed but require a Savior to plunge His hand of mercy into our turbulent waters and rescue us. Only Christ can calm the seas, (Mark 4:35-41).

Asking Christ to calm our seas can go a few ways. Jesus can literally calm a storm in it's tracks which He did in the presence of His disciples as told in Mark chapter 4. Christ can also calm our fears through a storm by giving us assurance during our storm, as told in Acts 27, when the Apostle Paul was assured of deliverance for himself and his ship mates. Then, there is the command of peace to be made evident through obedience. Philippians, 4:6,7 instructs us, "Do not be anxious about anything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Our ultimate peace though is our hope of eternal salvation. The confident, bold assertion of the gift of eternal life through our Lord Jesus. Whether Christ literally calms our storm, gives us a promise of deliverance or commands us to calm down and accept His peace that is beyond our own understanding, our last and final peace comes in the recognition and acceptance of Christ's words to a repentent thief hanging on a cross next to Him at Golgotha, "This day you shall be with Me in paradise." Matthew 10:28 solidifies our eternal promise, "Don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body." (by our rebellion of unrepentance).

Sisters and brothers, you are not at the mercy of this worlds vortex. Christ is our Savior, our hope, our anchor. Hebrews 6:17, "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Let us in all things be sure, that we never set sail into our day without Christ in the boat.

Proverbs 21:30, "There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord."

Psalm 130:1-2, "Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; Hear my voice. Let Your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy."

John 16:33, "I (Jesus) have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Fake Fear

Often when we look at a situation in our life, its appearance seems overwhelming and too daunting to overcome. Our mind begins the dance of reason as we tell ourselves that what lies before us is too much for us. As my husband and I stood looking at our vegetable garden the other day we felt this inner struggle. The weeds had literally taken over the garden path and all of the raised beds. Even considering the thought of taking on this task was depressing us. But, we determined in our minds to start with one corner and just give it a try.

I took the spade and loosened the edges of one planter and began to pull on the garden invaders. To our surprise the weeds pulled out with ease and before we knew it the first bed was cleaned out. Together we went from bed to bed and were amazed at how what we thought was going to be horrible turned out to be laughingly easy to accomplish. In God's humorous way He began to speak to my heart about the lesson buried in my garden.

He spoke to me about the similarities between the garden soil and my hearts condition. If our hearts have good, rich soil that has been prepared by God's Holy Spirit then no matter what Satan tries to plant there it will only be an illusion of daunting fear. Satan can only try to scare us with overwhelming circumstances, he has no power to actually overwhelm us! As children of the living God, we can, in reality, only be overwhelmed by God's beautiful power! It's all determined by where we choose to gaze.

When our hearts are rich with God's truth, the weeds of Satan's deceptions cannot take root, they can only give the appearance of fear. Each day the enemy scatters his lies, yet, when we DAILY feed our minds and hearts with God's truth through His Word, fellowship and prayer, we tend the garden of our souls so that the fake fears cannot grow.

After eradicating all the weeds in our garden it became crystal clear what the purpose of the garden was. Apart from spiritually weeding our hearts garden, we cannot know our true purpose in this life. The weeds of lies and deception crowd out our true purpose. It is imperative to weed out our minds and hearts daily and then let God's Holy Spirit plant His garden of fruits in us. If our gardens are not tended then the weeds of our enemy will take over. Our lives will produce, despair, confusion, fear, selfishness, depression...BUT, if we commit ourselves to tend our gardens then God will plant love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Life is not easy but the lessons in our toil are priceless if we seek God's truth. Weeds will always come but they can only take over if our soil is untended. Let us not be defined by Satan's fake fears but let the world see the fruits of our Living God displayed in the gardens of our lives!

Galatians 6:7, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Matthew 7:15-20, "They will know you by your fruits."

Small Steps

I woke up early but my mind just would not engage. I felt as though I was sleep walking as I roamed around the house. My only desire was to go back to bed BUT, I forced myself to go out to the garden and work for awhile. After about an hour and a half of diddling around in the sun I could feel my mind and body thanking me for pressing through. There was an evident accomplishment from my efforts that brought satifaction and that surge pushed me on to go take a vigorous hike. It was a beautiful day and the trail at the park was bursting with buds and bird songs! My morning gloom and weariness had transformed into gratitute and joy.

Making that transitional choice delivered unto me a blessing. I chose not to succumb to my desire to isolate but instead I chose to step out and see what God could do with my weary body and mind. Needless to say, when I arrived home I was tired, but it was a good tired, not a useless tired. You know the difference. Each day God gives us choices of whether to rise or fall, serve others or self-serve, rejoice or complain, accomplish or surrender... It's not to say that God doesn't have days for us to rest but will we choose a collape into exhaustion or choose to have a peaceful rest? Purposing in our heart to trust God even when we don't FEEL like it can bring joy where depression wants to linger, service where isolation is more comfortable, health where deterioration would rather settle in.

It all starts with small steps of faith.