Fearless?

I can't truly say I've been afraid of many things in my life. Snake bites, dog attacks, falling off cliffs, and death rank pretty high, but not enough to paralyze me in fear. However, I was fearful when it involved my children. I feared losing them to death or worse, me dying and them unable to find or own their faith in God.

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1 NKJV)

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About eleven years ago, I was preparing for my third child's arrival. For reasons to long and irrelevant to this post, we chose to go through a midwife for his birth. She sent us home with books and articles, research material, and options we never knew were available to parents regarding their infant.

One decision we made was relayed to the pediatrician the day we took our son for his well-baby checkup. The pediatrician became somewhat hostile towards us, coming close to accusing us of endangering our child's life while I watched him lift my son in the air and drop him several inches to a foot testing his reflexes. Hmmm...

I spent the next few nights fretting over the words of this pediatrician. The wrestling match I had with God was fierce. After all, I had believed I understood God's direction in this matter and my husband was completely on board with the decision.

Then one night, I felt impressed on my heart this question, "Will you trust Me with him? If he lives, he's Mine. If he dies, he's Mine."

"Um, if he dies?" Believe me, I had to really weigh that one out. This little man and I had a special connection. He and I spent our first night staring at each other, then every waking moment after that. I had difficulty letting anyone hold him for some reason. But after intense deliberation, my conclusion was, "God, You're the only One I would trust with him."

For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. (Psalm 91:11 NKJV)

Since that time, multiple occasions arose that could have rattled me and brought out the steel room with padded walls so I could protect my boy. With each incident, though, a scale of that fear fell off; until one day, I realized how healthy and strong my son is. And not only is he strong physically, he has a depth in his faith in God that astounds me. He simply trusts God. For every situation, he wants prayer.

In fact, it was through this little 10 1/2 year old man that God protected me from traffic tragedies when my van needed repairs. HE would wake my son in the middle of the night with dreams, compelling him to pray for me, or whoever this dream was about. This knowledge gives me a safe feeling, knowing that God is watching over us.

When God sets a watch over us, we can ask like Elisha did for his servant, "Please let him (us) see," and watch the eyes be opened to see the myriad chariots and heavenly host poised to do battle for us.


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Peace?

Peace? Peace.

“I 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.” John 16:33

This week I watched facebook for the postings of many friends who live in and around Alabama, Georgia, Virginia, and Mississippi. Tornadoes spun through the land like a bulldozer, flattening homes and towns. Imagine the relief and joy that flooded in when one after another chimed in, “We’re OK.”

As I considered this, I was reminded of the days we waited to hear from loved ones who lived in New York, Washington D.C., Boston, and Pennsylvania nearly ten years ago. The idea of peace then and now in the midst of such destruction seems somewhat ironic, doesn’t it?

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But Jesus promises us peace. He forewarned us that tragedies would strike and fear would want to pierce our hearts; and he proceeds to say, “But take heart!”

My translation would be, “Don’t let that embed fear into you. Lean into Me during those times.”

Why? “I have overcome the world,” says Jesus.

What does that mean to us? I don’t know about you, but in Matthew, Jesus says, “There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains,” (Matthew 24: 7b – 8 NIV).

It is important to Jesus that our faith be built up in Him. Know that He is stronger than anything the world can toss our way. He, like a loving mentor and father, offers that assurance, “Listen up. Things will get rough, but don’t worry. I won’t allow you to be destroyed.”

Paul shares with us, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope, that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.”

(Romans 8: 18 – 22 NIV)

Can you imagine? The earth, all of creation, waits in eager anticipation for the revelation of the sons of God. That would be us, I think.

And when everything is said and done, we will stand in glory with Jesus, gazing upon the new heaven and earth, in all its splendor that may have been God’s original design—or better.


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Rest?

Rest? Rest.

How often has life’s struggles bombard us like battering rams? Many times I’ve wondered whether there would ever be a resting place—a vacation—from all that assails us. During those times, I can relate to David when he cries out, commanding his soul to rejoice, or asking his soul why it is so disquieted. He subsequently calls to God, acknowledging that HE is the only one who can save, David’s only refuge.

Countless times, we read about this in the Psalms. So when Jesus says to come and lay our burdens before Him, He’s giving us the same liberty David—the man God attributes as being after HIS heart—had in his man-to-God talks throughout his life.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11: 28 – 29 NKJV)

I have found, too, that when I do cry out, lay all the “stuff” of life at His feet, and admit, “I can’t do this,” He’s right there to assure me that He’s with me and I do find rest. I also gain strength to get up and go back into the fray for another few moments, knowing He’s there.



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EACH

The countdown has begun and I am excited! God in His great wisdom has allowed me to see Him in ways I don't believe would have happened had life been easy. This isn't to say I want it always to be difficult; I'm ready for a vacation. But His grace is always sufficient and I have been witness, firsthand, to his faithfulness. I can't wait to share all He's done.

I would appreciate--covet actually--your prayers for Detroit and its surrounding areas over these next few months.

Following is a quote from the EACH website regarding our vision:

The Vision

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“And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region” (Acts 13:49).

They saturated their world with the gospel. No tools; just “good news.” When they came to Greece, the people said, “These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here!” (Acts 17:6). What an amazing achievement.

J. B. Phillips said, “Perhaps if we believed what they believed, we might achieve what they achieved.” He was right. We believe the same good news; we just don’t move with the same confidence and passion.

E.A.C.H. calls us to turn our region upside down with the gospel. It’s about the body of Christ coming together to give everyone a chance to hear the life-changing, eternity-rescuing message of amazing grace . . . in 40 days.

TIME magazine wrote: “Detroit has become an icon of the failed American city.” Ouch! But really, they’re right. Their closing line reads like a challenge to the body of Christ: “The world is watching Detroit to see if it can find a way to rise from the ashes.” (emphasis mine)


We know the way. Will we make the Way known, conspicuously, loudly, thoroughly?

May it someday be written of the body of Christ in metro-Detroit: “And the word of the Lord was being spread through THEIR whole region.”

Now is our time to give Everyone A Chance to Hear.

Beginning Sunday, I will be sharing 2-Word stories. They will be posted EACH day for the duration of this campaign. Wouldn't it be awesome if someone reading encountered the loving, merciful, compassionate Christ through these words? Wouldn't it be glorious to see the atmosphere in Detroit changed for the glory of God and NO man can say, "Look how I bailed them out?"

For as long as I can remember, I've heard, "As Detroit goes, so goes the nation." I can't wait to see what God is going to do with this city. 

Stay tuned!
It's been a pleasure to visit with you.