Conversations with God

We have now officially entered the Christmas season.  Our bellies and hearts are full and we are beginning to turn our minds towards "the reason for the season." As I think about that phrase, I find myself wondering, "What is the reason for the season?" The obvious answer is Jesus, but what about Jesus? Amidst all the warnings not to get caught up in the commercialism, what is it I am supposed to be caught up in? This year I'm wondering if we've left something out of the traditional Christmas story. We know about the baby in the manger; we know about the young mother giving birth far from home. We remember the celebration of the angels and the shepherds. What I don't hear much about is the Father. We are so focused on the story unfolding on the Earth, we forget about what's unfolding in Heaven. The event we call Christmas was planned before the beginning of the world. Before Creation, before Eden, before Abraham, Joseph, and Moses, the F...

"It only feels like chaos because you're not in control of it." That's what God told me last night as we were discussing a situation. Ouch, right?! But he has a good point. Sometimes things can feel overwhelming, especially as we approach the holiday season. Family get-togethers, remembering loved ones, money struggles - it tends to coalesce into quite the storm if we aren't careful. But why is that? How is it that we so easily forget the promises of God to be faithful, to be with us always? I think the main reason is that we tend to be led by our emotions. It is human nature to react to what we see and feel. Remember the disciples in the boat with Jesus? Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! W e're going to drown!" He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the ...

"But the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon with Himself and took possession of him, and he blew a trumpet, and [the clan of] Abiezer was gathered to him" (Judges 6:34, Amplified Version). I love this verse, although it wasn't nearly as powerful the first times I read it. Most versions translate it a bit more safely. For example, the NIV simply says, "The Spirit of the LORD came on Gideon..." But the fact is, the Hebrew word used for "came on" means "to put on a garment or to clothe oneself." This is not a side of God I learned in Sunday School. Most people probably don't even know it's Biblical. We can believe God will touch our hearts; but what God did to Gideon encompassed his entire being. He completely engulfed him with Himself. Why would God even want to do such a thing? Let's look at Gideon for a moment. An angel appeared to him and told him he would deliver Israel from their oppression. Gideon looked at himself and ...

Today I am remembering when You told me, "I'm going to crush you with love." I was looking for weighty conviction, a spiritual-feeling burden, hard to carry. What You offered seemed weak in comparison. Little did I know the shattering that would follow. I watched in awe as walls that had been built on decades of harshness melted like wax at a whisper of Your mercy. And, as always, the relentless love You used to capture me was meant for so much more. As I learned what it meant to be seized by love, I became able to seize others. As I experienced the softening that comes from a gentle answer, a soft touch, mercy instead of wrath, I began to extend it to those in front of me. I watched as those hardened by abuse or abandonment began to melt under the steady stream of Your love. Joy replaced fear, confidence replaced cowering, friendliness replaced resentment. That which I had feared was weak proved instead to be a more powerful instrument of change than any religi...

Dictionary.com defines being vulnerable as "capable of or susceptible to being wounded or hurt" and "open to moral attack, criticism, temptation." Doesn't sound very appealing, does it? Most of us spend a lot of time remembering times we got wounded or hurt, and figuring out ways to make sure it doesn't happen again. Yet Jesus commands "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34). In fact, He spends a lot of time talking about love. And the truth is, you can't really love someone without being open to them. We grow up thinking love is a feeling. But the Bible makes it clear that the love God requires is a lot more. We are expected to truly connect with Him and with people. Love is an experience. The love God has for us, the love we have for Him, the love we have for others - it's not meant to be something we safely feel inside of our locked box of self-protection. Love is being wide open wit...

I am a preschool special education teacher. As with any job, the details and paperwork can start to drag on me at times. But then I have moments like I've had lately, and my perspective shifts again. We've always had a good "flow" in our room among the teaching staff. Both other teachers and supervisors often note the peaceful, friendly atmosphere in our class - despite the number of students having significant behavioral issues and other disabling conditions. There is a very specific reason for that:  I have declared since the beginning that my room is God's room, and He is welcome there. And that makes all the difference. Now, don't get the wrong idea - I am not telling Bible stories or praying with the students. That's not in my job description, and it probably isn't in yours, either. But it doesn't have to be. I belong to Him, I seek His Presence first in my life, and He pours out all I and my kids need. I don't have to talk about H...

According to Dictionary.com, to filter something is to “slow or partially obstruct the passage” of it. Think of a coffee maker or a sink drain. But filters are found beyond the kitchen. In fact, our minds can have filters! What do I mean by that? Here’s an example. The other day I was confiding in a person I greatly respect. She told me, “Millions of people are dealing with the same thing you are. Everyone is dealing with something.” My first response was to get defensive. I felt like she was saying my experience didn’t matter. But after I took time to think about it, I realized what had happened. Where I heard “Get over it!” she was actually saying, “You’re not alone.” How did that happen? I had a filter. We are born open and innocent. Look how simply a 4-year old accepts whatever you tell him! But negative life experiences can create filters. And from then on, every word and action toward us gets twisted from it's original intent. A filter can be rejection, fear, perf...

Recently my church had a youth and young adult conference. The Saturday evening service was followed by an altar call for those willing to give their lives wholeheartedly for Jesus. I watched as dozens of young people flooded the altar in response. Some received prayer from others; many simply fell on their faces and began crying out to God. This was more than an emotional response to a good sermon. Many of these “kids” stayed at the altar for close to an hour. The band was gone, the lights were low, but there they were – teenagers and 20-somethings huddled in groups, crying out to God to change them and use them for His glory. But I’m not a young adult - so how is this move of God in young people relevant in my life? Here it is – I can be as on-fire for God as I want. I can pray hard and love hard and see lives changed everywhere I go. I can give to missions in Africa and then be a missionary in my own city. I can pour my life into prayer and Bible study until the day...

"Every church should have a sound." I heard a pastor say that recently, and it has stuck with me. As I've mulled it over, though, it's boiled down to the individual level - every person in the kingdom of God should have a sound. But what does that really mean? "A sound?" What is that? The Lord's Prayer, from Matthew 6:9-13, includes the plea: "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." When you really think about that, it sounds great - but how do you really get that to happen? How do we get what's on heaven to come down here to earth? We release it. It would be wonderful if God just had to point His finger and BOOM! it's done, but that's not how He established it. He's chosen to use people. And there are morals and good deeds and all kinds of great surface stuff we can do. But this goes deeper than that. Or it can, if you're willing. Every person has the opportunity to release the so...

As a Christian, having faith in God is an unspoken assumption. It goes with the territory, right? But what is easy on a good day can be harder to put into practice when trouble comes. Reading in Ezekiel recently, I noticed something new. Chapter 47 describes a vision he had of a river flowing from the Temple. Actually this river started as just a stream. Ezekiel is with a man who is leading him through the water. They pass through water that is ankle-deep, then knee-deep, then up to the waist. As I imagine the scene, I can see Ezekiel walking with confidence through the shallower depths. It's pretty easy to have faith in God there. As the water rises, though, I see him moving closer to his guide. As the water surges up to his waist, maybe he stumbles. He has to grab the man's arm so he isn't swept downstream. Suddenly, his confidence has to shift. Instead of having faith in his own ability to keep him safe, he now has to trust this man won't let him be swep...

Almost 5 years ago, I began attending a new church. In fact, I moved 700 miles from home to do so. This church was focused on restoring the honor of God in a society sick with selfishness. One of the first things I was taught was: "It's not about you. It's all about Him." At first, this almost scared me: "I have so many needs; I'm so messed up - how will it all ever get fixed if I don't focus on me for a while?!" But God had brought me here, so I decided to throw myself into it. I decided it's His way, not my way, even if it's not always going to be how I planned or thought. So, almost 5 years later, here's what I've discovered - when I make my life all about Him, my needs get met after all. If I am in lack, I can go to God expecting provision. Why? Because He doesn't get glory when one of His own is in need. I can ask for healing because sickness doesn't bring Him honor. If I need favor, and I've given my li...

Life can be overwhelming at times. We are constantly bombarded with situations and people that demand attention: jobs and co-workers, marriages and family, homes and creditors. And that's just the basic stuff. Turn on the TV and you are hit with riots and wars, economic uncertainties, child abduction and enslavement. Go outside and you see the young mom or dad battling cancer, the foster children constantly looking over their shoulders, and the homeless digging through the dumpster trying to find something to eat or sell. How do you keep your focus amidst the chaos? Jesus gave us the key in Matthew 10:16: "See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves, so be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves." "Innocent" in that verse means unmixed, free from evil and guile, simple ( Thayer Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament ). There are many needy people and downright evil things in the world, and we are called...

Father, what joy it is to stand in Your light, seeing abundance and increase all around us. And what joy it is to be able to stand in utter darkness, calling our Your Name and watching the darkness shatter and flee. What joy it is to see others run to You, giving all they have for the glory of Your Name. And what joy is the grace to fall weeping before Your throne for those unwilling to yield. What joy it is to know one day all weeping and crying, all sorrow and pain, will cease and You will reign forevermore. And what joy it is knowing nothing on, above, or below this earth can separate us now from the love of Christ. What joy it is to stand surrounded by Your goodness, declaring Your love and faithfulness. And what joy it is to stand mired up to our necks in the world's filth and evil and still be able to worship, declaring Your mercy, justice and victory. What joy it is to run into battle, full of strength and life. And what joy is in falling at Your feet broken and...

I am so fascinated with Jesus - the One so simple in His devotion to the Father as He confronted the endlessly complicated religious system that kept people separated from Him. The One who weeps in fury at the walls of unbelief built by those calling themselves Christians that prevent people from simply seeing and trusting Him. The One who deliberately healed the sick and lame in front of those wanting to kill Him for challenging their corrupt ways. The Lamb who went willingly to slaughter. The King with eyes of fire, willing to consume all you are willing to offer to Him. The One who accepts those who know they are weak and faulted while rejecting those who celebrate that they've finally gotten it all together without Him. The One who will put no limits on how much of your time, energy, and strength you want to give Him; and who will put no limits on how much He pours back out on you in return. The One fierce in battle and fierce in mercy; fierce in judgment and fier...

"Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine" (John 15:4). The phrase "remain in Me" or a close variation is repeated 7 times in the first 10 verses of John 10. Makes you think it must have been important to Jesus, huh? As common as the phrase is, it could be easy to just glance at it and move on - but what does it really mean? What was Jesus asking of His people? What does it mean to remain? Do you go to church? That's good. Read your Bible every day? Great. Help people? All right. But Jesus was talking with the people closest to Him - I have a hard time believing they were struggling with these basics principles. There has to be more to it. If we back up a few verses to John 14 we find Him telling the disciples He will be sending the Holy Spirit to them. In John 14:13 He says, "Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home wit...

Our pastor spoke recently on obedience and submission. Most of us see them as basically the same thing – and may find discussion about them difficult and uncomfortable. But it reminded me of the time God taught me about submission in a way I never expected. A couple of years ago, God was dealing with my relationship with Him. He revealed I was basing most of my responses to Him on experiences I'd had with others throughout my life. He allowed me to see myself through His eyes as we watched vignettes from the past scroll by like a movie. I watched His heart break as He watched me try to relate to Him the same way I had learned to relate to others in my life. Because I was terrified that my control over my body would be stolen as it had been in the past, I had learned to give myself away so I couldn’t be stolen from again. To me, submission was the way I maintained control over my life. As God revealed these things, He whispered, “I’m not a rapist.” He beg...

In a recent worship service, I noticed a phrase seemed to keep repeating: “The sound of heaven touching Earth...” It made me wonder, what does that really sound like? Is it angels singing? Chariots of fire swooping down out of the sky? It can be fun to think about it that way; but what if what we heard was actually much more practical? The laugh of a child who’s learning to trust after being brought out of an abusive situation . . . the report, “I don’t have to have surgery!” or “The abnormal cells are gone!” after God comes down and heals . . . the thankful cry of a parent chasing after her son, “The doctors said he would never walk!” What about the sound of little feet running down the hallway of parents who were told they could never have children? Praise coming from the lips of people hidden away and almost forgotten in a nursing home? Sometimes we can get tempted to get overly spiritual about some things. It’s awesome to think about the mystical things of God, but the p...

It’s interesting to me how skewed our views of God can get. We grow up singing “Jesus Loves Me” and reciting the “Our Father,” but then wonder if He’s going to get mad and strike us with lightening when we make a mistake. Somehow God’s become the great taskmaster in the sky. Rather than enjoying the journey of learning to hear His voice, we become afraid to act in case we heard wrong. Instead of telling the world about the love of God, we’re paralyzed by our fear. The reasons I believe things have gotten so messed up are too many to discuss here. However, I would like to share a story that might shed some light on things. I teach preschool special education. I have had several students with what’s called a developmental delay. Basically, a 5-year old in this situation may speak, think, and act more like a 2 or 3-year old. So, one day, all the students are gathered together to learn about letters and numbers. I ask a question and one of my kiddos answers, “Babble babble babble b...

I’ve been pondering two distinct trains of thought I’ve heard lately regarding how God wants to interact with His people. First, I’ve heard an emphasis on God calling people deeper into relationship with Him, relating to Him as Father, on a personal basis. Second, I’ve heard the vital need for a generation with a martyr mentality, willing to do anything and go anywhere for the cause of Christ. At first, the two viewpoints seemed almost contradictory. How does a Father’s love mesh with martyrdom? And I’ve realized the real problem is trying to keep them separate, not together. Let me explain. Think for a minute of the person or people you love most in the world. If you were at the gas station with them and someone pulled out a gun, you wouldn’t hesitate in putting yourself in harm’s way to protect them. It’s not because you’re super spiritual. It’s because you have such a depth of relationship with them that the value of your own life pales before the value of theirs....

You revealed Your face, Then showed me theirs. You first gave me faith, Then said, "Repair." I yield all control; Let justice roll- Through me let Your will be done. I fall to my knees, Fire release- Through me let Your Kingdom come. The fire in Your eyes Set my heart free. The sound of their cries Was my decree. I yield all control; Let justice roll- Through me let Your will be done. I fall to my knees, Fire release- Through me let Your Kingdom come. My heart is open; I've chosen Your choice. Simple devotion- I use my voice I yield all control; Let justice roll- Through me let Your will be done. I fall to my knees, Fire release- Through me let Your Kingdom come.

It’s a new year, and most people are resolving to have a better year than the last. Maybe 2013 was a good year for you. But maybe it was tougher than you expected. Maybe it felt a bit like being in the wilderness. You know what I mean: That feeling you’re wandering aimlessly, not able to hear God clearly, walking endlessly around the same mountain without getting anywhere. I’ve heard lots of “wilderness messages” based on Moses and the Israelites; the general focus is on believing God so He doesn't leave you stuck in the desert. Today I’m going to challenge that a bit. Rather than go back to Moses, I’m going to take us to the perhaps less-familiar Hosea. Hosea was a prophet whom God instructed to marry a promiscuous woman, in order to mirror Israel’s adulterous relationship with God. The book is the story of God’s relentless love for His unfaithful Bride. In chapter 2, Israel’s Husband is speaking of how He will win her back: “Therefore I am now going to allur...