Week 50 – Don’t Forgive & Forget

“But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either. Luke 6:27-29

My husband and I recently completed a wonderful class called Re[Engage. We had the pleasure of leading an incredible table of couples through a study that encouraged us all to reconnect, reignite and resurrect our marriages. One of my favorite chapters was on forgiveness. It reminded us of what forgiveness is and what it is not!

Understanding that we should always forgive others because God has given us is one thing. It’s the actual forgiving part that is the tough part. Here are a few incredible truths about forgiveness that they shared.

1. While reconciliation takes two people, forgiveness only takes one. We have complete control over whether we forgive someone or not and there is no action needed on their part for us to do so.  And forgiveness doesn’t guarantee reconciliation.
2. Forgiveness is for us! We are the one released from the negative impacts of holding on to resentment, anger, and betrayal. When we forgive we get to experience freedom.
3. Forgiveness is a choice, not a feeling. If we wait until we “feel” like forgiving our offender, we will never forgive them.
4. Forgiving does not mean forgetting! Why would we want to forget the lessons we learned during difficult times. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to have to relearn those. Forgive, but don’t forget. In fact, we need to remember God has called us to forgive.
5. Forgiveness doesn’t mean you are condoning what your offender has done.

They share some incredible articles on forgiveness on their website if you are interested.  This is one muscle that needs constant reinforcement and strengthening in the world we live in. However, when we understand God’s great love for us and His continued forgiveness for our daily transgressions, it is easier to extend that same forgiveness and mercy to others.

Jesus’s parable about the man in debt (us) to the king (Him) in Matthew 18:21-35 is a very powerful story and so convicting. In the Message translation, it is actually titled, “A Story About Forgiveness.” It shines a light on our tendency to be hypocritical when it comes to forgiveness. We always want others to forgive us when we have wronged them, but we are often slow to forgive.  As a new year approaches, my prayer is that each of us will look closely at our hearts and ask God to reveal any unforgiveness that lies within it. May He give us the strength, courage, and wisdom to release it and turn it over to Him so we can experience freedom.

Blog Art is provided by my friend and sister in Christ Polly Jo Green.  She is an artist based in Cary, North Carolina. Visit her website at pollyjogreen.com.Her art ranges from doodle creations to mixed media pieces. In addition to commissioned original art, her art is available on notecards.

Week 41 – A Rare Gift

A man with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

Sometimes reading Scripture takes us back to a time in our lives that God used our circumstances to teach us. Often, He will gently remind us of lessons He has already taught us. These moments are a wonderful reminder of His presence, love & desire for us to continue to grow in Him.

This verse from Proverbs quickly brought my mind back to a blog I wrote in 2009. I’ve reposted it below. Although these times of remembering can be bittersweet, I never want to forget the lessons God taught me through trial and tears. It is those lessons that are the light in the darkness, the joy that comes out of sadness and the good He can provide out of the worst situations.

We are all guilty of it. Taking our problems, our concerns and complaints to others before we take them to God. He is the one we should go to first when we are seeking wise counsel.

God drove this point home to me in 2008. It had been a tough few months. Everything seemed to be falling apart. My friend Shannon’s cancer had spread to her brain, my Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer, I had a disappointing birthday and oh, how the list continued, but I will spare you. It was summer and all my friends were traveling, busy with camp, the pool, etc. When I tried to talk to them everyone seemed distracted. They were out of town or running out the door to the next activity or obligation. Don’t get me wrong, I am guilty of the same thing. We get in a hurry and fill our schedules to the brim so there is no margin for the things that might pop up.

After the fourth attempt to talk to a friend and getting nowhere. . . it hit me! God spoke to my heart and I realized I needed to be taking all of this worry and concern to God. God, who is my friend, is always closer to me than anyone, and who knows me better than I know myself.

Let me be clear, I’m not saying we don’t need to seek the counsel of our friends. God has put friends in our lives to support us, love us, give us solid Christian advice and hold us accountable. I praise God for my girlfriends every day!

I think God was reminding me that above all else, I should first seek Him. He is always available and “not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:26-27). He is never on the way out the door, swim team practice, Target or the grocery store. We have a God who craves a relationship with us and desires for us to seek Him daily. This rare gift is beyond our comprehension and understanding most days, but it exists and is very real. Next time you are troubled, have a concern or problem, talk it over with our Lord and Savior first. Seek His counsel, comfort, and direction. Pray that He provides you with a solution or answer in any way He can. He may speak straight to your heart, send a friend or put you in a circumstance that will give you the answer or peace that you need. He doesn’t promise when or how, but He blesses all those who seek Him.

If someone asks him: What are these wounds on your chest?—then he will answer: I received the wounds in the house of my friends. Zechariah 13:6

“Friend,” Jesus asked him, “why have you come?” Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested Him. Matthew 26:50

You are My friends if you do what I command you. John 15:14

Blog Art is provided by my friend and sister in Christ Polly Jo Green.  She is an artist based in Cary, North Carolina. Visit her website at pollyjogreen.com.Her art ranges from doodle creations to mixed media pieces. In addition to commissioned original art, her art is available on notecards.

Week 33 – Search Me

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way. Psalms 139:23-24

Well, after last week’s post. It looks like God is answering my prayers and leading me to new levels of trust in Him. Maybe it’s just me, but does this verse strike a bit of fear in you like it does when I first read it? As I think, “Yikes, not really sure I want God looking into my heart and testing it today. I’m not sure He would like what He saw in there.”  I mean there is surely some good stuff, but let’s be real, it’s not all sparkly clean in there either. I’m sure there is trash I don’t even realize is hanging around in there making things a little dusty. Just to start: fear, pride, frustration, insecurity . . . . what else? I’m sure I could keep adding to those things.

My mom isn’t a “Type A” like me. Just looking in her office can give me the hives. She’s always talking about cleaning it up. We have even done it together a few times, and it will stay that way for a few weeks and then it’s right back to where she started. In her defense, I may have a super clean and organized office, but I hate weeding my flower beds. You won’t find one weed in flower beds!

My point in sharing that is, making cleaning and weeding a priority can be difficult. There is a lot to do, it can be dirty and hard work. It takes time, effort, discipline and a willing heart to make it a priority. But when we do, the benefits are AWESOME! When my mom has a clean office, she loves it and enjoys using her office again. When my plant beds are weeded, I enjoy sitting on my front porch so much more.

It’s the same with God and our hearts! Asking God to search (examine & investigate) our hearts for discrepancies and fears can be scary. But my heart is asking me, “Why is your first response to this scripture/request fear?” For me, I think there are several reasons.

1. I don’t want God to think badly of me or that I can’t handle it.
2. I know it will require some hard work with God to work through the heart things with Him.
3. It’s just easier to tuck things away and keep moving forward.

OK, when I type all those reasons out, they don’t seem very good or logical anymore. How about yours?

Here is how my heart responded to my initial fears after reflecting on God’s truth. FIRST, God already knows everything about me, my heart and loves me anyway. He also knows I can’t handle anything without Him nor did He create me too. Plus, He doesn’t judge. He extends mercy, forgiveness, and grace to all His children. SECOND, yeah it’s going to require some work, but don’t all great things. Isn’t that little bit of work, discomfort, and pruning worth the gift of eternal life, a whole heart and His glorious light in my life to share with others. THIRD, everyone knows that tucking things away never gets you anywhere. It only holds you back. Plus, it’s just letting Satan win and for goodness sakes, I never want him to win!

Sometimes, we just have to dig into the fear or our first instinctual feelings. Ask ourselves why it’s so scary, makes us angry or causes us anxiety. Why we are having a negative response? Once it’s out in the open and we have processed the emotions, they shrink to the size of a sunflower seed compared to the glorious promises of our Creator, King, and Father. May His word continue to pierce our hearts and uncover any and all offenses so that we can continue to grow stronger in our faith and shine His great Light into the world.

Week 29 – I will wait all day long!

Make Your ways known to me, Lord; teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; I wait for You all day long. Psalms 25:4-5

I can’t help but see the word “wait” in this scripture highlighted, in bold script and flashing as I read over this beautiful Psalm. Wait has been the theme in my life the past several weeks. To each prayer or request, I seek the Lord for, the answer has been wait. Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait for the answers, wait for others to respond, wait for others to take action. It hasn’t been easy.

I’ve had to remind myself over and over again:

love the Lord your God, walk in all His ways, and remain faithful to Him— Deuteronomy 11:22

The Rock—His work is perfect; all His ways are entirely just. A faithful God, without prejudice, He is righteous and true. Deuteronomy 32:4

For He will give His angels orders concerning you, to protect you in all your ways. Psalms 91:11

As I searched for the word wait in the Bible, I found it over 120 times. I know I’m not the only one God has told and tells to “wait”. In fact, reading back through Scripture, God reminded me that more often than not, the faithful are asked to wait.

Noah had to trust and wait for the rain and then the dove in Genesis.

In Numbers, Moses told his people to wait until he heard from the Lord and returned to them.

In Ruth, both Ruth and Naomi labored in the fields while waiting for God’s final plan and the saving grace of Boaz.

Joseph had to wait in bondage and prison before becoming the King’s first in command and restoring the family that sold him into slavery.

David had to wait and undergo loads of persecution before fulfilling his God ordained destiny as leader of his people.

In Luke and the other gospels, God’s people waited for the Savior. They even thought their Savior might be John the Baptist before Jesus arrived on the scene. And, the disciples had to wait three days before the news of the glory of the Risen Lord reached them.

In Acts, the church had to wait for the Holy Spirit to descend upon them after Jesus’s ascension into Heaven.

Even now, we are still waiting for our Savior’s glorious return to bring us all into His loving arms for eternity. Wait! I can’t express enough how much I needed this revelation and reminder from the Psalms. God is worth the wait! His plan is worth the wait. Yes, in this lifetime there is going to be a lot of waiting. I think I need to shift my focus back to the wonder of the wait and the glorious riches that can come by embracing the wait.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and courageous. Wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

We wait for Yahweh; He is our help and shield. Psalm 33:20

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. Lamentations 3:25 

Week 26 – I Slipped!

 

Week 26 marks the half way mark of this year’s Bible Journey. If you’re just joining in you can read more about how this adventure started and just what I’m doing in my Outside the Box blog. This is what my pantry door looks like at week 26!

Now, on with the blog!

If I say, “My foot is slipping, ”Your faithful love will support me, Lord. When I am filled with cares, Your comfort brings me joy. Psalm 94:18-19

Just in case I haven’t written it lately. . . God is good! I’ve been in a funk this week. Not really sure what’s going on yet. Maybe it’s delays, challenges, or that fact that my kids are growing up so fast. How do we have one starting high school and one starting middle school in the fall? Regardless, I’ve been having a bit of a pity party and then God placed this verse in my hand this week as a tender reminder that when I slip into that pit, His love will support me. He will pull me out and give me comfort that will cover all my cares.

This reminded me of a blog I wrote several years ago about pit dwelling. Thos times when our foot does slip.

We always hear, “Stay out or get out of the pit” it’s a dangerous place to go. Not surprisingly, I have a different angle on the pit. I’m all for the pit, with guidelines. I think we all reach a place now and then in life where we can benefit from getting in the pit and rolling around in our grief or misery. However, you should only go if you know you are able to get out after a few hours. You can’t stay. (If you suffer from depression – this is not for you – stay far way from the edge of the pit) It’s like a mini-vacation. . . . OK, a bad mini vacation where it rains every day and the food is yucky. If you stay longer than that, your misery and pain can become an idol that sits higher on your priority list than God.

Rules of Pit Dwelling: You have to know you are going and ask a prayer warrior to pray for you. For example, I will say, “Ok, Kirsten I’m in the pit today. Having a little pity party for myself and rolling around in my “yuck”, but I’m not planning on staying, redecorating and having cocktails. I just need to sit in this for a while, feel it and embrace it. I’m coming out tomorrow after God and I work through some things, but please pray for me and call me tomorrow and check on me to make sure I’m out”

Singing songs to a troubled heart is like taking off clothing on a cold day or like pouring vinegar on soda. Proverbs 25:20

I don’t want her to talk me out of going. I don’t want her to tell me why I shouldn’t go. I just want her to pray for me and love me enough to make sure I climb out after the weeping. If you have never been in the pit, I envy you. If you have, I pray you can identify when you are in it and can climb out quickly after gaining strength through the Lord. If you ever sit in that pit, I pray you know it’s OK, you are only human and God is beside you, but please ask others to pray for you while you are there and hold you accountable to climb out quickly.

We can go there, but we can’t stay! I’m praying that no matter where you are today that you are feeling God’s presence, His comfort, and His unexplainable joy!

A Shout Out & special thanks to those dear friends who have stood in the gap for me this week (and many other times in my life) and prayed for the stronghold, I had let take root, be removed and joy to return. I couldn’t do life without prayer warriors. I’m sorry I forgot that for a few weeks.

 

Week 20 – With God!

Give us aid against the foe, for human help is worthless. With God we will perform valiantly; He will trample our foes. Psalms 60:11-12

I began this week by reading, verses 11 and 12 from Psalms 60, in a couple of different translations. When you read these verses in the Message translation it says, “Give us help for the hard task; human help is worthless. In God we’ll do our very best; he’ll flatten the opposition for good.” 

The first two questions that came to mind were, What tasks are hard for me when it comes to the enemy or my foes? What do I need God to help me with? Ah, EVERYTHING!

I don’t think I reflect on those facts enough! Honestly, human help is worthless when it comes to courage, forgiveness, grace, love, faith and obedience. We were not created with the ability to do these things without God’s power and might. Without God, we can’t love those who persecute us, hold a marriage together after betrayal, survive the grief that comes when we lose someone close to us, show grace to those whose mouths drip with anger, release bitterness and resentment from our hearts, or overcome the many trials, disappointments, and ramifications of sin that will always take aim at our joy through life.

Our faith in God will produce a steadfast confidence in His provision and protection. It will also provide an understanding and peace that He no more made us capable of handling all our foes alone than He made us able to fly.  Most of the time, I find great comfort in this because I remember that very fact, but there are always those times when my body or mind begins to act before I think and call on God.

I adore how verse 12 tells us that “with God, we will perform valiantly and He (NOT WE, but HE) will trample our foes”.  With God, we can overcome. With God, we will prevail. He will give us what we need to “perform valiantly”, but He will be the one to trample our foes. We have a knight in shining armor in our Lord and Savior. A real fairy tale hero that is awaiting us to follow Him and ride away with Him on His horse. One that is actually capable of never letting us down. I’m in! I’m all in!!!! How about you?

Victory in Christ!

 

 

Week 16 – Every Good Thing

I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ. For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. Philemon 1:6-7

I recently sat down with a new friend for lunch. She is a successful business woman. In the midst of our conversation, she expressed how nice it was to sit and talk with another Christian woman. We shared stories of how God has worked in our lives and how He is continuing to guide and direct our paths, not only professionally, but personally. It was nourishment for my soul. As a Christian, it can be lonely out there. So often, in the office, neighborhood or school, it can feel as if we are the only Christian around. Sometimes it can feel like our faith, love and joy are being questioned and scrutinized from every angle. Have you ever felt like your prayers for others are seen as condescending, your joy as suspicious, your peace as naive and your generosity as frivolous?

Paul didn’t have the luxury of sitting down with Philemon to have lunch, so he sent a letter. The book of Philemon is the personal letter that Paul sent to Philemon expressing his love, faith experiences, and appreciation. Verses 6 and 7 from Philemon show how grateful Paul was for the great love and faithfulness Philemon and other believers shared with him in Christ Jesus. It brought him comfort and joy to consider all of the good things they were doing through their faith and love of Jesus.

Read the verses again in The Message translation.

Every time your name comes up in my prayers, I say, “Oh, thank you, God!” I keep hearing of the love and faith you have for the Master Jesus, which brims over to other believers. And I keep praying that this faith we hold in common keeps showing up in the good things we do, and that people recognize Christ in all of it. Friend, you have no idea how good your love makes me feel, doubly so when I see your hospitality to fellow believers. Philemon 1:6-7 (MSG)

As believers, we need to lift each other up, share our stories, pray for one another and continue to encourage one another in the faith. If we can’t sit down over lunch and share with one another, sit down and go old school with pen and paper. Write a letter to someone you know and tell them how much their prayers mean to you, how thinking of them encourages you and pray for them.

Your love, actions, faith, prayers and life can be a great encouragement to other believers. When we join together and share how Christ is working in our lives, it makes our faith, joy, and love shine so brightly it can lift the hearts of other believers. Believers who feel as if they are all alone in a world that conspires to hinder the light of God in every way. In fact, it reminds me of another wonderful verse from Matthew that describes the light within us as Christ followers. 

“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14

Don’t hide your light. Share it, but share it with as many believers as you do non-believers.

 

 

Week 15 – A Chosen Race

 

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9

 

Race. Race can be a tricky topic and word these days. Simply put, a “race” is a group of people sharing the same culture, history, language, etc., a population within a species that is distinct in some way, and a group of people descended from a common ancestor.

So, no matter what your skin color, no matter what the state of your heart, the stack of sins you have committed or the internal demons you fight. If you are a Christ follower, we are from the same race. That’s right! You. You and me. Even if I have a head of blond curly hair and you have dark straight hair. Even if I’m pasty white and you are beautifully tan. We are one race. When we decide to follow Christ Jesus, He is there waiting to open the door and give us access to all His love, blessings and forgiveness. He desires to make us part of His holy and royal family. No questions asked. We are daughters and sons of a King. We are family. Family with the greatest King who has ever been and will be.

It’s only in Christ we can stand in this holy, chosen and royal position. He is calling us out of the darkness that roams in this world so that we may bask in His glorious light. His loving, healing, eternal light. He will never force you to choose His way, His path or His light, but He will always be there waiting if you decide to become a part of His royal family.

So today, put on your crown and wear it with honor and love – not pride and condemnation. Live your life through Christ’s ways so that His light shines so brightly in you that you become one of His many faces in this dark place until we are all called home to be together as one. Embrace the

Embrace the sacrifice He made for you on the cross as we look forward to celebrating Easter this weekend.

Many hugs, Allison

 

 

 

Week 14 – Deep Roots

 

“For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his life? What can a man give in exchange for his life? For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:36-38

Yikes! What a statement from Jesus. The Message Translation puts it this way.

“If any of you are embarrassed over me and the way I’m leading you when you get around your fickle and unfocused friends, know that you’ll be an even greater embarrassment to the Son of Man when he arrives in all the splendor of God, his Father, with an army of the holy angels.” Mark 8:36-38

Do you have any of those “fickle and unfocused” friends? Do you feel like you might fall into this category sometimes? This makes me ask myself a few tough questions. First, what kind of Christian example am I setting for my family and those around me? Is it a life of trying to fit in with the world and follow its lead or I am taking the narrow road that few take? Am I keeping my eyes on the latest cultural fads or the cross? Am I surrounding myself with enough deeply committed Christians to hold me accountable and build me up? Finally, am I living a life that glorifies God or myself?

I know that following Christ with wild abandon can come with persecution, judgment, and loneliness. And let’s be honest! It can be difficult to stick with Jesus when everyone and everything around us is moving in the opposite direction. So how do we ensure we stand firm and not falter? As Jesus explains in the Parable of the Sower (Mark 4), it is those who hear the word of God, but don’t nurture it in their hearts and continue to grow their relationship with God that will stumble “when pressure or persecution comes because of the word.” We need deep roots!

Just like plants with deep, healthy roots are more likely to survive severe heat, frost, and drought – as Christians, the deeper we are rooted in Christ and His Word the stronger and more prepared we will be to face challenges, disappointments, desert times, persecution and trials.

Another important point to consider is that what you see above ground (in your actions) is really determined by what’s hidden underground (in your heart)?  The fruit we produce is much more desirable to God and others when our hearts are firmly rooted in Christ.

Through prayer and studying scripture, our roots grow deep and strong. Those deep roots provide the anchor needed to keep us firmly grounded.

We have this hope as an anchor for our lives, safe and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. Hebrews 6:19

They provide us with a lifeline to God and give us wisdom and strength beyond our comprehension.

Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3

They also give us a deep faith and understanding of God’s truth and great love for us.

 Look at how great a love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children. And we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know Him. 1 John 3:1

May we all cultivate, nurture, fertilize and tend our hearts with the truth of God’s glorious Word. May we strive to grow deep roots of faith, hope, trust, and love so we never become fickle or unfocused in our walk with God. Amen

 

 

Are we the prostitute?

As I studied Revelation 17 and 18 this week, I could not help but think of the United States when I read about “Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and of the vile thing of the Earth.” (Rev. 17:5) The similarities are overwhelming.

He also said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages (Rev. 17:15). This nation prides itself in being a melting pot.

For all the nations have drunk the wine of her sexual immorality, which brings wrath. The kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from her excessive luxury. (Rev. 18:3) This nation has been the world leader in most everything for centuries. The nation who comes to the aid of all and buys from all over creating wealth for other nations as we live in access, having more than we would ever need.

As much as she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, give her that much torment and grief, for she says in her heart, “I sit as a queen; I am not a widow, and I will never see grief.” (v. 7) We live luxuriously and are accused of having a great arrogance about our power, safety, influence and importance.

I urge you to read these chapters and see what you think. I’m no theologian, but that shouldn’t keep any of us from picking up God’s word and asking questions, researching and discussing. Because, no matter what other great theologians may say, only God truly knows the message behind the mysterious verses of Revelation.  As we continue through Revelation 18, we see the great destruction that comes to the prostitute as God judges her with His mighty wrath for all her evil ways.

For this reason, her plagues will come in one day— death and grief and famine. She will be burned up with fire, because the Lord God who judges her is mighty. (v. 8) All the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her loss, because no one will be able to buy merchandise any longer— (v.11), all her cravings, splendid and glamorous things will be destroyed, never to be had again. (v. 14)

And every ship master, seafarer, the sailors, and all who do business by sea, stood far off ¹⁸ as they watched the smoke from her burning and kept crying out: “Who is like the great city?” ¹⁹ They threw dust on their heads and kept crying out, weeping, and mourning:

Woe, woe, the great city,
where all those who have ships on the sea
became rich from her wealth,
for in a single hour she was destroyed.
²⁰ Rejoice over her, heaven,
and you saints, apostles, and prophets,
because God has executed your judgment on her! (17-20)

Then a mighty angel picked up a stone like a large millstone and threw it into the sea, saying: In this way, Babylon the great city will be thrown down violently and never be found again. Revelation 18:21

I’m no end times scholar, but I have lived in the United States all my life. I know the history and faith in which the country was founded and I know the ways and laws of our Heavenly Father and Creator. I can see how this country has fallen away from the ways and laws of God. I see hate, greed, lust, jealousy, rage, deception, sexual immorality, false teachings and selfish pride that seem to be seeping into every pore of this nation.

Are we the prostitute? If we are not, we certainly could be. The hope I have is that, just like the prostitute by the well that Jesus gave His forgiveness and Living Water to, we as a nation may still have the chance to acknowledge Christ and turn back to Him for that same grace and redemption.