I almost fell for it...

Today I came disturbingly close to falling full force into the trap the enemy had set for me.  But, praise be to God that “He makes my feet like the feet of a deer and enables me to walk on the heights...” 

I got “the” letter today.  The one that has wrong information about the “facts” of the daycare closing.  It’s the same letter that beckons me to believe - I just wasn’t good enough.  I’m a failure, and my name is ruined.  It is the one that almost trapped me into thinking that my value could be determined by the mere opinion of a fellow man.  It is the one that made me reconsider defending my own glory - which is a far different thing than desiring the Lord’s glory alone.  It was a well-set trap.  But, my God is a God who delights in Truth.  And, His Word is full of that Truth.

Just before Jesus was crucified, He prayed for all Believers, and He specifically prayed for you and me -  those of us who would follow Him without ever having sat with Him at supper.  He prayed for those of us who would Believe on His Name and be saved.  He asked His Father several things.  One of them was this, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your Word is truth.” (John 17:15-17).

We will be sanctified by the truth.  His Word is truth.  His Word is what will sanctify us. 

To be sanctified means:  the act/process of making holy, consecrated according to Holman’s Bible Dictionary. 
Webster’s defines it like this: to set apart to a sacred purpose...

As believer’s in Christ, we are set apart to a sacred purpose for sure.  We need His Word to guide us into all truth.  Colossians 3:16 “just happened” to be the verse of the day today on my phone’s daily Bible app.  It says this, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” 

The Word of God should dwell in us richly.  It teaches us.  That Scripture says that we should have it dwelling in us so much that we can teach and admonish one another in all wisdom.  Scripture yields wisdom - straight from One that has all things and created all things.  I love how it says, “with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” 

Thankfulness is key. 

I, for a moment, forgot how thankful I am for what the Lord has done through this already. 

I am filled with gratitude.  In the deepest places, I am greatly rejoicing over His hand of protection and unfailing love towards me. 

I was rescued.  I am treasured.  I am going to rejoice to the same degree that I get to share in His sufferings.  The false accusations I have received PALE in comparison to those He received. 

I am human, and flawed.

He was perfect.  No mistakes.  No flaws.  Without blemish. 

He was tried, beaten, mocked, spat upon and crucified - and He did nothing wrong.  Not one thing.

I feel like Job as he stood in the storm - right in the very presence of God’s power and said, “my ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.” (Job 42:5)  His next move - he despised himself and repented in dust and ashes.

I am afraid too often that is my problem.  I do not despise myself.  I am not talking about not having self esteem.  I am talking about loving my “self”, loving my flesh.  Loving my name more than I love His.  I wish you could hear my heart screaming!  “I DO NOT WANT TO LOVE MY NAME MORE THAN I LOVE HIS!!!!!” 

Lord, Jesus, help me get this!!  These are the times to bring Him glory.  These are the times to worship Him and serve Him only.  Ugh, when will my flesh understand that it is not about me!

So, here it is...  a confession long overdue this day:

He alone is beautiful. 
He alone is worthy.
He alone is the Creator. 
He alone deserves ALL glory and praise.
He alone can redeem my life.
He was and is, and is to come.

May His Kingdom come and His will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Is it just me?

  







It has been so interesting to me lately to listen to what is being talked about...

It sounds like the end times. Wars. Rumors of wars. Hurricanes. Earthquakes. Pestilence. Disease. The earth is shaking and trembling under God's mighty hand. How much more can the earth take? How much more can the human race take?
I joke about being the lady with the cardboard sign at the top of my street - reading : REPENT, THE END IS NEAR. But, I mean it. Jesus IS coming back for us. What if these are the last days - not like, a thousand years is a day, or verbiage like that, but really... what if Jesus came back this Easter? (Please do not think I am attempting to actually guess when He is coming. Scripture is clear - even the Son does not know the time - only the Father...) but I just want you to think with me a minute. What would you do differently with your time? What would you make a priority and what would you chunk from your life altogether?

I had a strange dream the other night. I am not usually given to dreams that make any sense. This one was weird in the fact that it made sense, but it wasn't what I FEEL like would happen - it isn't what I THINK I would have chosen.
My house (in the dream) was on fire. I had gotten the children out. But, only a small distance away. And then, I WENT BACK IN. WHAT??? Yes, I went in for the photo albums and maybe a pillow my mom made and just random things... really random. I don't really remember them all. But, I remember thinking - even in my dream... what am I doing? Are my kids coming in after me? Are they safe? Why am I putting myself back in danger for these things that will all be burned up on "that day" anyway?
I can't get the scripture out of my mind "since the world will be destroyed in this way... what kind of lives should you lead?" (2 Peter 3:10-12) I just looked it up - because the words have just repeated in my head a thousand times over the last two days. Wow. He is coming for us!!! Get out your Bible right now and read it!
It talks about everything being burned up. Everything that is not eternal will be gone... and yet, how much time are we investing in the things that are not at all eternal?
I have been begging God to use me in the way that He created me. I want Him to help me reach my promised land on earth. I believe the psalmist got it right when he said, "surely I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living..." (Psalm 27). Yes, I believe the Lord created me for a purpose and my whole being is ACHING to be used in whatever way that is. I know what it is to long to be clothed with the eternal. All of creation longs to be clothed with eternity (Romans 8). I want to re-read "The Weight of Glory" by C.S. Lewis. I just remember being in awe of God and His plan - and stunned that He has given us glory, but MOVED to try and operate from that place, rather than the place the enemy tries to keep me.
Maybe my dream was a vivid picture for me of the futility of the "dailies". I have my kids just out of harms way (hopefully) while I keep my arms busy trying to maintain a house that is on fire. I always kind-of figured myself for a "let it burn" kind of girl. Get the kids out, cry a few minutes about the special things that are gone, and then, just sit in thankfulness that the important stuff was saved. Maybe it is not just about my house, but my spiritual house... what if I am feeding the desires of my flesh just a little too much - which is storing up treasures in a house that is going to burn to the ground. I don't know. But, I don't want to live like that. If He comes back this Easter, or 1000 decades from now, I know that I want every single day for the rest of my life to matter. I want to invest my whole life in the things that have eternal value. I want to find my friend Jennifer - tattoo's, piercing's and all - and just hug her or shake her until she comes to see her need for Jesus and the reality of Hell. I want to take Candice (our birth-mom) aside and tell her how much the King of Glory loves her - and find out for sure what she has done with Jesus Christ. I want to wake people from their sleep - and tell them - He is coming... He is coming.
The Lord Almighty - the King of Kings... the Alpha and Omega - the One who is and who is to come.... He. is. coming.

"Since it will all be destroyed... What kind of lives should you lead?"