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By Posted on Posted in God's presence No Comments Tagged with , ,

When I’m not completely in line with God’s desires for my life, He has to work at getting my attention and revealing the area of my life that He wants to change.   I think that awareness is half the battle here.   Once He brings the problem out into the light, I just have to surrender and He walks me through the rest.  I get back to where He wants me to be.   Today, I’m wondering why this journey to awareness and surrender is so painful.

Maybe it’s because I’m so stubborn.

How can I be so stuck, holding on to something that isn’t God’s desire for me, and be virtually unaware of my death-grip on this thing?  How can I be so oblivious to how it’s affecting my life, my stress level, my family, and God’s ability to work freely in my midst?   I am so grateful to my God for pursuing me and continually revealing truth to me.

Today in my bible reading, I read about Bezalel in Exodus 37.  He was a man that God blessed with amazing talent, and He used Bezalel to build many of the items in the Tablernacle of Meeting. This morning, I was overwhelmed with the privilege that this man experienced. He was used of God to make the most sacred items the world has ever known.  He built and carved the ark of the covenant. He sculpted the two cherubim on the mercy seat–where God’s presence would dwell when He visited the children of Israel.  He embellished the curtains that would separate the holy place from the most holy place.

He touched the sacred.

God instructed Bezalel (through Moses) to install rings on each corner of the ark with poles to carry it when they needed to move the Tabernacle and the items within.  Later, after God’s presence began to dwell among these sacred items, anyone who reached beyond the poles and touched the ark would be struck dead.  Bezalel (and maybe Moses and Aaron) were likely the only ones to ever have touched the ark and remained alive.   I looked up his name, and it means  “in the shadow (protection) of God.”  Do you see how privileged he was?

So why am I interested in touching the stupid things of this world?  Why am I stuck holding on to ministry assignments and friendship positions?  Why am I grappling for material things?  Why am I worried about the things that are being taken away from me, when I can reach out and touch the sacred?

We aren’t living under the Tablernacle order of worship.  God is not dwelling in a tent or a building these days.  He is dwelling in my heart (Ephesian 3:17).  I can enter the Holy of Holies any time.  Any place where I am still, and reach out to God, is a holy place.  I can touch the sacred today.  Let me just set down all this other stuff I’m carrying around.

By Posted on Posted in suffering 1 Comment

I couldn’t help but pass this on. It’s from my favorite daily devotion, Streams in the Desert, compiled by L.B. Cowman. This particular entry is written by Laura A. Barter Snow:


“This is my doing…”  1 Kings 12:24

My child, I have a message for you today. Let me whisper it in your ear so any storm cloud that may arise will shine with glory, and the rough places you may have to walk will be made smooth. It is only four words, but let them sink into your inner being, and use them as a pillow to rest your wear head.  “This is my doing.”

Have you ever realized that whatever concerns you concerns Me too?  “For whoever touches you touches the apple of [my] eye” (Zech. 2:8].  “You are precious and honored in my sight” (Isaiah 43:4).  Therefore it is My special delight to teach you.

I want you to learn when temptations attack you, and the enemy comes in “like a pent-up flood” (Is.59:19) that “this is my doing” and that your weakness needs My strength, and your safety lies in letting Me fight for you.

Are you in difficult circumstances, surrounded by people who do not understand you, never ask your opinion, and always push you aside?  “This is my doing.” I am the God of circumstances. You did not come to this place by accident–you are exactly where I meant for you to be.

Have you not asked Me to make you humble?  Then see that I have placed you in the perfect school where this lesson is taught.  Your circumstances and the people around you are only being used to accomplish My will.

Are you having problems with money, finding it hard to make ends meet?   “This is my doing,” for I am the One who keep your finances, and I want you to learn to depend upon Me.  My supply is limitless and I  “will meet all your needs” (Phil. 4:19).   I want you to prove My promises so no one may say, “You did not trust in the Lord your God” (Deut.1:32).

Are you experiencing a time of sorrow? “This is my doing.” I am “a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering”  (Is. 53:3).  I have allowed your earthly comforters to fail you, so that by turning to Me you may receive “eternal encouragement and good hope” (2 Thess. 2:16).  Have you longed to do some great work for Me but instead have been set aside on a bed of sickness and pain?   “This is my doing.” You were so busy I could not get your attention, and I wanted to teach you some of my deepest truths.   “They also serve who only stand and wait.”   In fact, some of My greatest workers are those physically unable to serve, but who have learned to wield the powerful weapon of prayer.

Today I place a cup of holy oil in your hands. Use it freely, My child. Anoint with it every new circumstance, every word that hurts you, every interruption that makes you impatient, and every weakness you have.   The pain will leave as you learn to see Me in all things.

By Posted on Posted in service 3 Comments Tagged with ,

I was reading today in Acts 6 about the early operations of the church.   Christ had already ascended into heaven, leaving His 12 disciples to lead the believers in Jerusalem. Every day, new believers were being added as the disciples taught and shared what they had seen during their time with Jesus.

In Acts 6, the body of believers became so large that the disciples needed to start delegating.  There were some problems with their daily food ministry that fed those in need, especially widows.  The disciples decided to appoint seven men to run this food ministry, while they themselves continued in prayer and teaching the word.

At first read, it sounds like the teaching and prayer ministry was elevated above the food ministry. The scriptures refer to the ministry as “waiting on tables”.  I’m feeling a little like these seven delegates… assigned to serve in a daily food ministry.  To make meals for my family. To clean up their messes. To wash their clothes while they continue to perpetuate more laundry. To tend to their needs…. to even anticipate their needs. Lord, is this really all that you have for me?

The Lord began communicating to me through Acts 6 as I continued to read.  Look at the description of Stephen, who was first chosen as one of the leaders:

“a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit…”  Acts 6:5

Would a man such as this be limited to waiting tables??  Look at the other things that were said about him:

“Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.”   Acts 6:8

“Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen…these men began to argue with Stephen, but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.”  Acts 6:9-10

When he was falsely accused of speaking against Judaism…

“All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.”   Acts 6:15

Here is a man who loved the Lord, who radiated grace, and was overcome by His Spirit.  It didn’t matter where he was assigned to serve.   God used him in amazing ways wherever he went.

Am I assigned to my full time daily food ministry because I don’t have the gifts or the spirituality to do other things?  Am I excluded from doing front line ministry because most of my time is devoted to my homestead and those that live there?

God’s word tells me, through the life of Stephen, that I am NOT exempt from participating in wonders.  Signs.  Speaking irrefutable wisdom.  Engaging in spiritual warfare.  Do you see the key to being a vessel of wonder as Stephen was?

THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Stephen’s face actually had the appearance of an angel… as if He had been to heaven and soaked up some of the heavenly light. But we know he hadn’t been to heaven yet.  The secret?  He invited heaven into his life.  Into his heart. Into his mind.  He sat before the Lord daily and soaked up God’s Spirit and His light.

I want to glow like Stephen.  God will use me as a vessel of wonder if I seek Him and sit before Him daily.  I’m going to soak Him up and then see what He will do in and through me.  Bring on the wonders… both at home, and out there in the world!