Tag Archives: help

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Just Call Me Barabbas

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“I was sentenced to die for insurrection and murder. I was a vengeful rebel who refused to obey. While confined to a cell, waiting for a gruesome death by the hands of the Romans, suddenly I was removed from my cell and set free! When I asked in confusion, ‘Why have I been liberated?’ The reply was, ‘Someone else has taken your place. Now my name will be remembered forever.”

Most of us are pretty familiar with this story. If I asked you who this person is, you’d answer, “Barabbas” and you’d be correct. I have read the story of the day leading up to the Crucifixion of Jesus too many times to number, in several different versions, but for some reason this week when I read it again in Luke’s account something new hit me like a ton of bricks.

Take a walk through this account with me.

Jesus has been betrayed by one of His friends, one of the twelve, and has been on a whirlwind tour of Jerusalem. First to the Sanhedrin, then to the Roman Prefect, Pontius Pilate, next to Harod, Tetrarch of Galilee, mocked and beaten at each stop, now we pick our story back up at the Praetorium with Pilate. This juggling act was due to the fact that neither leader could find any blame in Jesus. No reason to put Him to death. Neither one wanted to anger the people and cause a riot. In fact the bible tells us that they became friends that day. So in the end, despite his wife’s warning, Pilate does as the religious leaders demanded and he released Barabbas and crucified Jesus.

In the past whenever I read this passage I have had a plethora of emotions. Sometimes I am just saddened by the horrible treatment of Jesus, other times I am so angry at the religious Jews for their self righteous vindictiveness, or I am greatly irritated with Pilate for not listening to his wife and for caving in to the demands of the crowd. Usually when I get to the point of Barabbas I think to myself, “Wow that wasn’t fair,” or “What ever happened to him?” But this week when I read it again, I got to the part where Barabbas is released and it dawned on me… I am Barabbas!

Luke 23:18-25 (NIV), “But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.) Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.” But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.”

History doesn’t tell us what happened to Barabbas, I checked. I can’t help wondering what did he do with his life once he got this second chance, this unexpected pardon? Did he change his life or did he go back to the same old- same old?

You dear friend are also Barabbas. What will you do now that you have been set free?

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How is Your Foundation?

Revelations 21:19-20 (KJB), “ And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.”

In the natural, nothing can be properly built without a solid foundation. The very first house we purchased had horrible one. We had to jack up the house and completely rebuild it. We hired someone who knew what he was doing and the house rested on that strong support. Spiritually speaking, our lives must also have a firm foundation. Not sure how to build one? No problem, God took care of that for us. He placed a cornerstone, the very first stone in the foundation that all the other stones are leveled against. This cornerstone has to be perfect, and perfectly square, or all of the other blocks will be unlevel and off kilter. This cornerstone, Jesus, is “safe to build on.”

Isaiah 28:16 (NLT), “Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.”

I Corinthians 3:11 (NIV), “ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Trying to build our lives on anything else is like the man who built his house in the sand. When the storms of life came, his whole world shifted and slid into the ocean. However the man who built his house on the Rock, nothing moved him. Sure the storms still came, but his foundation was sure, and “whoever believes need never be shaken.”

II Timothy 2:15-16a, 18-19 (HCSB), “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth. But avoid irreverent, empty speech, for this will produce an even greater measure of godlessness. And their word will spread like gangrene… Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, having this inscription: The Lord knows those who are His, and everyone who names the name of the Lord must turn away from unrighteousness.”

It takes some effort to keep a foundation strong. The cornerstone never changes, but the other blocks, or stones need some care. When we are diligent to keep our relationship with the Father close, when we pray often, read our word, hear sound teaching, and press in to fully understand who we are in Christ, our foundation stays healthy. Those storms won’t knock us down. We will be able to withstand them in the strength of the Lord.

If we start depending on ourselves, back away from God, or look to anyone or anything else to “take care of us” our foundation will crumble. Then, even the smallest rain will corrode, and the slightest change in weather will corrupt. Once things start falling apart, it all happens so fast, before you know it, your entire house is gone. A faulty foundation leads to cracks in your walls, rolling and uneven floors, and eventually if not repaired or rebuilt, your doors won’t open or close and your windows will shatter.

Do you feel like I just described your life? Then, check your foundation! Ask the Holy Spirit to help you do a “home inspection”. He is faithful, honest, and very encouraging with this process. Any week area you find will have to be shored up, or rebuilt. If Jesus isn’t your cornerstone, you will have to start over. But don’t despair; it isn’t as hard as you think. It only takes one step back to Jesus. Repentance just means turning away from the direction you have been going and turning back to Him.

Building only on this foundation, and no other, will help you to live your life in such a way that others will notice. They’ll want what you have. No one wants the house on the block that looks like a wreck, the one that has the leaky roof and the front porch that tilts. They will come to you because your “house” will be the best one on the block. It will be the one still standing after the hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes move through. You may have an occasional “shaky” experience, but you will not live a life full of confusion and fear. Others notice that kind of thing. In these times the world needs some strong, courageous people to lead them, a safe house that they can run to when things get rocky. That’s what the Body of Christ is supposed to be. That’s what it means to be “the light of the world,” and “the salt of the earth.”

I Corinthians 3:10-17 (NIV), “By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.”

 

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I Choose- Everything

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Luke 12:22-34 (Message), “ He continued this subject with his disciples. “Don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the ravens, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, carefree in the care of God. And you count far more. Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can’t even do that, why fuss at all? Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don’t fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself. Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can’t go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.”

Jesus was talking to his disciples about “things” or clothes and food and He tells them “fear not” or in another version, “don’t be anxious” about those things. I like the messages version- “don’t fuss”. Babies and toddlers fuss. They get fussy because they are hungry or thirsty and it’s the only way to express this, or they can’t verbalize what they need. We shouldn’t be fussy. Also the message says to relax, don’t be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving.”He wants to give us all we need and even things we don’t need, but really want. The Israelites always had a sense of entitlement. Their title of “God’s chosen people” made them think that they alone were entitled to His goodness, even when they rebelled against Him and behaved like fussy toddlers.

The spirit of entitlement is rampant in the United States. We leave jobs, churches, marriages, friend ships, and sometimes even our country because we think we haven’t received what “we are entitled to.” A common phrase is, “they owe me!” Whether it is used in regards to our parents, pastor, boss, or our government. There are some that even go as far as to think their children owe them “for all we’ve done for them.” Entitlement causes laziness and an “it’s not my job” mentality. How many of us walk past garbage on the sidewalk, or our church parking lot and don’t bend to pick it up? How many of us on our jobs refuse to do anything that isn’t in our job description? In fact that is part of the problem of modern day unions. They breed the entitlement mentality.

The opposite of entitlement is a quiet confidence that God will provide what I need. We need to keep our eyes on God, our source, not on our boss, the government, or our pastor. Now, don’t get me wrong, we need people! No man is an island. God put us together in families, and He told us to bring our petitions before Him. To ask and keep on asking, but keep your attitude right. He doesn’t bless us because we deserve it, or because we are entitled to it. Nope, His only motive is love.

“The only way to break the spirit of entitlement is thru service. Allowing God to use us in any way He asks us.” Pastor Isaac Litke

This world has nothing for us. God is our provider.

Galatians 4:1-7 (NIV), “ What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”

Jesus came so that we could be adopted into the family. Now we are joint heirs with Him. What does Jesus need? What does He lack? We have what He has, no really! You might not see it in the natural, but isn’t that what faith is all about?

Hebrews 11:1 (KJB), “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Think of it like the money you have in your checking account. You may not have it in your hand, but you know it is there. In fact you are so confident in this fact that you use your debit card to get gas and write checks to pay your bills. We have an account in heaven with “treasures old and new” (Matthew 13:52). Before we can ever see it with our natural eyes, we have to see it with our spiritual eyes.

Who gets everything? Everyone- who surrenders themselves to Him. Surrender isn’t a bad word! When we aren’t God’s we are Satan’s. You can’t serve two masters. So which “Father” do you want to surrender to? Which mission do you want to work under (that’s what the word submit means)? I choose to serve a loving Father. I tried it the other way, even though I didn’t fully understand who I was serving, and it didn’t work too well for me.

I choose God.

I choose Love.

I choose Everything!

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A Son is Given

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Isaiah 9:2-7 (NIV), “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned… For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

Darkness. Not just turn off the lights, or lets go into that tunnel, or even a miner without his light, but spiritual darkness. Nothing is blacker, nothing is colder, nothing is as hopeless… until…

A SON was given. The Sun of God, the Light of the World, Immanuel (God with Us), was born in a manger. Not a hall of kings, the Hilton, or even a modest home of a blue collar worker, but in a stable, in a feed trough. “Humbly He came to the earth He created.”

What a great picture of love. A bonnie boy lying in those swaddling clothes. Two proud parents looking on in quiet admiration. Angels adoring, shepherds astonished, and a bright northern star shining in that dark night!

The angels sang a song that night… “Glory to God in the Highest!”

Does your day seem dark? Is your heart filled with sadness? Is hope an illusive thing? Take heart, take a peek into that manger, look on the Face of Hope!

A Son was given. He came, He lived, He showed us the Father’s love, He died, He rose again, He sits in Heaven, and He LOVES YOU!

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Book Review for “Illuminated”: Book one in the White Road Chronicles- Christian Fantasy

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I downloaded this book ages ago when it was offered for free and just never got around to reading it. Man-o-man, it’s a good one. I’ll need to get the rest of the series. Christian fantasy/allegory at it’s best. This is the second series that I found this year by great Christian authors! Characters are fleshed out and flawed, just the way I like them, the story is fast paced and has a great message. I give it five stars, absolutely loved it. No sexual content or swearing, there is fighting and v I downloaded this book ages ago when it was offered for free and just never got around to reading it. Man-o-man, it’s a good one. I’ll need to get the rest of the series. Christian fantasy/allegory at it’s best. This is the second series that I found this year by great Christian authors! Characters are fleshed out and flawed, just the way I like them, the story is fast paced and has a great message. I give it five stars, absolutely loved it. No sexual content or swearing, there is fighting and violence. I can recommend for teens and up .
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Book Review for “Unintended Target”- Christian Mystery/romance

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“Unintended Target” by D.L. Wood was a great read. Christian romance, with a twist. There is mystery, action, and romance. I really enjoyed it and will be reading more from this author. The characters are fleshed out, the story is well written. I can recommend for ages 16 and up, though written for adults. The Christian message isn’t “in your face” but is simply a part of who the characters are. A good read! I give it four stars.
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Get Out!

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“Hebrews 10:38 (KJV), Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.”

I love my bed. It has one of those pillow toppers and though it has some age on it, I still sleep very comfortably there. After a long hard day, I can crawl between my flannel sheets with my electric blanket set just high enough to be cozy, and feel like I am wrapped in a warm comfy cocoon. I never get the dishes done while I am in bed. The floors and laundry stay dirty and unfolded while I lay in my comfort. I do sometimes write in bed, and quite frequently do my morning devotions there. Why? Because I feel comfortable in that spot. Nothing challenges me while I snuggle there, though I can be inspired in my comfortable place, I rarely act out or work toward that inspiration. I have to get out of my comfort zone to accomplish much of anything. In fact people who are “bed ridden” would give anything to be able to get out of bed. What I consider one of my comfort zones, they think of as a prison.

God has so challenged me over the years. I hate change. I love being comfortable. That’s why conflict was always hard for me, moving was a nightmare, and don’t even talk to me about changing schools as a high school student! Did I mention I hate change? I know God also has a sense of humor, how did He get me to step out of my comfort zone? First off my parents moved around a lot. Each move to a better house, a better job, or a better neighborhood, and I hated it. Then I married a man with a gypsy heart. And guess what…we moved…a lot! I had to change Churches, doctors (I suffered from a chronic illness at the time), grocery stores, jobs, etc. One move was across the country, almost 2,000 miles away from family and friends. Did I mention I hate change? Life felt a great deal like one big roller coaster to me, and I didn’t handle it well. One of the manifestations of that was the symptom of my illness got worse, my marriage had its issues, and I wasn’t exactly a stellar parent.

Instead of taking it all away, and setting me in one spot, God strengthened me, and healed me, and taught me how to stand on His word. In the middle of all of that, He called me to the full time ministry. My faith was enough to step out in that area, though most of the time I felt like someone would notice how unqualified I was and send me home. I ended up in the full time ministry (working at the Church or for the Church) for over 16 years, for two different Churches. I helped and reached countless people, most of them children, during that time. My confidence in myself, and mostly in my Heavenly Father grew leaps and bounds. My marriage was healed, my body was healed, my kids turned out great, and I was able to put down roots in one place for an extended amount of time. God never wanted my roots to be in a place, but to be rooted and grounded in Him.

Ephesians 3:16-20 (NASB), “ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,”

So if your comfort zone is a place, get out! If it is a person, walk away! If it is a certain set of circumstances, have faith! God always intended for us to have a “comfort zone” it is Him and it is Heaven. When we abide in Him no matter who we are around, what the world is doing, how the weather is, how tired or confused we seem to be, how rebellious our own flesh can become, we can be confident that He is on our side and will bring us through. When we place our trust in Him and live from Heaven (we are citizens there after all) we know the victory is ours.

Back in the day when I suffered from Anxiety, slowly I stopped going anywhere I had ever felt anxious. It started with standing in a line for anything, then it was the Movie Theater, then restaurants, pretty soon it was anywhere there was a crowd, or something unfamiliar. Unless, my “safe person”, my husband came with me. I might still get anxious, but I could handle it if he was there. God wants to be our “safe person.” When we know He is there with us, we abide in Him, and He abides in us, we can safely go anywhere, do anything, and accomplish His plans for our life.

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV), “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

Do you want to please God, then GET OUT!

Of any comfort zone outside of Him.