This is Knot-the Problem

 “... that He which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6 (AKJV)

 Bella is my Sheltie; her name is Italian for beautiful and she is aptly named because this is the first thing everyone notices about her. A major reason Shelties are attractive is their long, silky fur, but because it is thick, it gets knotted easily. The other day as I was grooming Bella, she kept wiggling so much that I couldn’t brush her and I knew she was getting frustrated with how long her “beauty treatment” was taking and honestly, so was I!

I was ready to give up but it was then that the Lord whispered to my heart: “Do you know that you do that too, Sandy? Your life gets tangled up and you get impatient and run away when I try to comb out the knots.”  I realized that He was right. You see Bella’s fur tends to get matted and getting out the knots is time consuming and anxiety-filled, but there is no other way to unravel the mat. It would be much easier to just cut out the mats, but if I cut out every mat that she gets, she’d be nearly hairless.

Occasionally the mats are so bad that I do cut them out, but usually she must stand still while I work them out. She is never happy when I get out the comb, however, for the most part she lies there patiently, but only for so long; then it becomes too much and she gets up and runs to another room. Of course, this only delays the inevitable, but being a dog, she doesn’t understand, but as her master I know the knots have to go or they’ll get worse.

How often do we do this with God? Our season is unpleasant and our lives get tangled, so we come to God and ask for His help. He starts to comb and detangle but we keep getting up and going to another “room”, far away from the Groomer! Occasionally He just takes the mats away, but more often than knot, (I couldn’t resist) removing the tangles in our lives is a process, one that we must willingly sit under.

 In this unprecedented season you may feel like you’ve “remained” as long as you can bear…you are no longer able to walk out your usual activities or enjoy most of your relationships…in a sense you and I have been called to stand still too, for a time. But we must continue to choose to remain in the place we find ourselves as the Father uses our “stillness” to unknot various areas of our life…like I do for Bella…only infinitely better!

Now admittedly some of Bella’s knots are just from her daily existence of being a dog, but other times she goes into the woods and gets jiggers in her fur, however either way, she needs help to get them out. I’ve learned that our life’s tangles are the same way; some are just par for the course of being human and other mats we bring on by poor choices. But God is merciful, He patiently helps us every time we get all knotted up, whether they were through no fault of our own or if they occurred while we were chasing things that led us to places we should never have been in the first place.

Not only does He help us, He also knows when we have had all the “beauty treatments” we can stand and He lays down the comb and lets us go. Yes, it lengthens the process, but He knows that we are merely humans, who are prone to tangle and likely to wiggle. So, He waits, calling our name, His hands stand ready to help and His heart longs to embrace us and the absolute best part is that all the while He is detangling the mess of our lives, His hands never leave us! He who calls us is faithful to finish the work He has begun in you and me! What a joyous promise that is ours in this season of anxiety and the great unknown! 

Well, I’ve gotta go, He’s calling my name again; it must be time for my next beauty treatment!

Father, Thank You for loving us despite the tangles in our life. Please come and help us trust You enough to stand still as You continue to work out the knotted messes we have made. Come work in us during this season of “stillness” and please remind us Lord that all the while You detangle our life; Your loving hands never leave us in this season or any that are to come. Amen

Master Surgeon

The huge yellow crane came crashing down onto the building, leaving devastation everywhere. This was a building demolition. I stood quietly and watched as the structures I had frequented were leveled. I remembered visiting these businesses over the past few years. Everyone knew that a change was needed; ceilings were stained, walls were rough looking and the floors were uneven. The stores were coming down so something new could be built; it was considered progress, but I couldn’t help but wonder if there had been a better way.

Again and again the crane’s steel claw plunged indiscriminately into the tottering buildings. The crane operator sank his bucket down deep and then hoisted it up, then he dropped building “slices” into heaps that were grouped by material; concrete, iron, drywall and the like. I silently watched the demolition and wondered if everything of value had already been removed and I pondered at the violence of the process.

Thankfully it wasn’t long until Papa God whispered to me “Do not fear little one, I never deal with you in such an uncaring way.” And He began to show me how the steel bucket seemed to plunge down without any regard for the damaged building….everything was coming down, nothing was to remain. But then He showed me a new “picture” of a highly skilled surgeon who carefully, painstakingly did micro surgery…where only what was damaged was touched. And instantly my heart soared at the precise care of our Master Surgeon as it saturated my heart that day; I sensed His great unconditional love as it flooded down, the weight of it bowing my head and shoulders and bringing unexpected tears. Oh how He loves you and me!

The Master Creator who knit you and I in our mother’s womb sees every aspect of our lives and He fully knows what needs removed and what merely needs strengthened. There is nothing hidden from our Father’s all seeing eye, He perceives the good, bad and the really ugly and yet He loves! I am so incredibly thankful that He deals with us as His beloved children and not like a broken structure that needs discarded so something better can come along.

Dear one, He values you TODAY, just the way you are! Are there places that need to be removed or strengthened? Absolutely and it is precisely because He values you that He will move heaven and earth to bring those changes. But child of God, please know that He doesn’t come like the indiscriminate crane or the devastating wrecking ball, but rather like the steady hand of the highly skilled surgeon whose ultimate goal is healing, wholeness and a more abundant life!

Today may we choose to stand still and trust that the Master Surgeon sees us in our entirety and will only precisely remove what needs to go and then lovingly strengthen what needs to grow! 

We present ourselves to You Holy Father with submissive, peaceful hearts for we can fully trust in Your all seeing eye to miss nothing, Your wholly capable hands to bring needed change and most of all Your loving heart that is intentionally, continually crafting us for our betterment and blessing! We are Yours and our hearts respond to the touch of Your workings in our lives!,


Richest Blessings,
Sandy

THE CHAIR

Today I sit in The Chair that I’ve dreaded for months. Thankfully the Father whispers to me and I eagerly lean into Him for His comforting presence, His wisdom and for a welcome distraction from all that lies ahead.

As we sit in The Chair gripping the arm rests, we usually ask ourselves;  “How did I end up here willingly?”  Our first step is trust. And in the beginning trust may be based on other’s opinions but eventually it rests on our own personal past experience. i.e. What have our previous interactions been like? Is this person towering over us trustworthy?

The second step is a willingness to submit to time in The Chair…to stay seated when everything in you wants to run away, but you trust this person to know what is needed, even if it hurts! And if you have confidence in him or her, then you must believe that they know what they’re doing. You must assume that they are for you and have only your best interests at heart. If you fully trust them…then you will stay and submit. This is especially true when you recognize that you simply cannot take care of your problem without them, so you remain…even when your heart yearns to run because your time in The Chair has been extended or painful.

Sometimes as you’re waiting, other people go by and from your vantage point in The Chair their life seems great and you long to run and join them…but the truth is almost everyone has their time in The Chair and for all you know, they too may be heading inside for their moment (or season) in The Chair and it could be more arduous than yours.

What is The Chair? It could be many things but this time in the natural it was the dentist chair for me and I have to admit my time in it was extended, nerve-wracking and somewhat painful. It’s not always that way, but this time it was. Honestly though, I wouldn’t trade it because it was in these moments where he had my undivided attention that Papa God whispered to my anxious heart. Come and join our conversation.

He whispered that similar to our dental experience, that there are broken or dying places in our lives and He longs for us to trust Him and to submit to His plans and paths to deal with those areas. This is true even when our paths seem blocked with obstacles or when the loss and disappointment over these damaged areas sap even our will to keep believing. But because we know Him, we must choose to believe that He is for us and that He fully knows what He’s doing in calling us to The Chair. We must have confidence that He has our very best interests in mind and He has a marvelous plan for our lives… the time in The Chair is to help us get ready for that wonderful plan and for all that His loving heart envisions for us! I know, maybe it isn’t marvelous quite yet…but He’s still working!

Dear one, do you find yourself in The Chair today? Maybe it’s a chair that He’s using to remove anger, selfishness or pride from your life. Perhaps He’s calling you to The Chair to strip away fear or unforgiveness.  Whatever the reason, I can’t say I’ve ever found my time in The Chair to be enjoyable, but if He’s made a divine appointment, then it’s always productive and eventually healing.

Now in the natural the dentist estimates how much you can bear and makes a way of escape (i.e. shots) then he waits until the shots have taken effect before moving to the actual task to be done. But infinitely better, our loving Creator knows exactly what we need to bear the removal of whatever is damaged or dying in our lives. God brings important things to lessen our pain…but we don’t always see it that way. We feel the prick of the needle and we start questioning Him…if only we understood that the prick was to avoid the far greater pain as He cuts away the decaying places within. It is His eternal kindness that brings the needle, the scalpel or even the dreaded drill. And He knows just how much we can bear…so He steps back and lets the prick do its best work and waits for us to be ready. Thankfully, He never leaves our side and He only removes what will actually bring harm to us.

There are many lessons we can learn from our time in The Chair. Here are seven.

1. You can say no. Our Father never forces anyone to The Chair. He knows that you need it and that if left untreated the issue will only grow and become more painful…but you must come willingly.

2. God can be wholeheartedly trusted with broken or fragile things! Since the beginning of time until this very moment, He has never, ever failed a single person and He’s not about to start with you!

3. He is incessantly for us and is continually working things out for our eventual good and wholeness (His actual reason for The Chair).

4. His love and care are NEVER interrupted by any time we spend in The Chair. Love and care are the DNA of what actually is taking place in The Chair even though we don‘t always recognize it at the moment.

5. Submitting to time in The Chair is an act of intimate love between us and our all-knowing Creator. He is NOT angry with you and His touch is as tender as is Godly possible while still removing what is broken.

6. In The Chair is a good time to ask “How did I end up here?” Listen carefully and then act accordingly. But you may ask; “IF He loves me, then why did I end up here?” Just like with a cavity, sometimes it’s something that we did or should’ve done but didn’t do (Read: floss, floss, floss lol) but other times we end up in The Chair because of something others have done or even when it’s no one else’s fault. Of course no matter who is to blame it still hurts to need broken places repaired or removed but sometimes we can avoid future (or follow-up) appointments in The Chair by following His plan (Read: Obedience).

7. He is never closer to us than when we are in The Chair. Just think how close the dentist gets to us to do his work…God is even closer, for His holy work is from within! So if He calls you to The Chair know that His heart is for you and His Hand brings healing and wholeness, even if it hurts some in the process. He works with His all-seeing eye on your past, present and future and “He who has begun a good work (in you) will complete until the very last day” before He calls you to Himself.

Sweet Blessings,

Sandy Anderson

FINISH WELL

Ever been watching a highly publicized race where there is a clear favored to win individual and that person falters just near the finish line and loses the race? I have, it’s sad.

Did you know that we’ve all been running a race ourselves?  It’s called 2016. Some of us have run well and others have struggled to stay on the designated course. But either way we are all nearing the end of that race. We each have about 11 days in which to finish well.

May we capitalize on every opportunity that 2016 (and the Lord) affords us to finish well.

May we:

Love deeply without regard if it will be returned.

Forgive completely even though it costs us profoundly.

Serve wholeheartedly where there is no hope of reciprocation.

Bless those who have wounded or disappointed us.

Lavish grace and mercy on those who (like us) don’t deserve it.

Give generously and sacrificially to all that cross our paths.

Warmly embrace those who don’t look, act or think like we do.

Choose once again to think the best of our fellow man.

Pray fervently that the greatest changes will begin in us instead of assuming that others need the modification more.

Reconnect fully with those who been distanced by virtue of miles, care or opportunity.

Dare to trust that the Father we love and the God we serve is GREATER than any and every thing that is behind and of all that lies ahead. Indeed, He is the capable keeper and powerful redeemer of every burden and disappointment of 2016 and He is the singularly trustworthy One who can protect and multiply every blessing that has been gifted to us this year.

Yes, our race in 2016 is drawing to a close; only eleven short days remain, but don’t be fooled for they will be brimming with chances and choices!  May we intentionally choose to fully utilize every chance to be His good children, to bring Him honor for we have born of the One who is worthy of every moment that has passed through our hands, those remaining in 2016 and of those that lie ahead into the unknown of 2017.

I’m intending to invest the remaining days of 2016 to honor the One who has gifted me with life. I’m purposing to finish well with His help and for His glory…I hope you are too! God speed dear runners!

Rich Blessings,

Sandy Anderson

A Warrior’s Love

A recent song by Jesus Culture; “Your Love Is Fierce” made me think about God’s extreme love this morning. Some of the lyrics include “Like a tidal wave crashing over me…Rushing in to meet me here…Your love is fierce!”

I love that! Think about how a tidal wave doesn’t wait for anything to come to it, it just sweeps in crashing over everything in its path. His love for us is like that, it overwhelms all that we are and lifts us and “up-ends” us by its depth and power and carries not only us, but every situation and circumstance facing us.

If you’ve only experienced the tender facet of God’s love that Matthew 11:29 talks about, where Jesus promises “… I am gentle and humble in heart…” then you are missing out on a bold and powerful side of who God really is. Don’t get me wrong He IS gentle and loves us with incredible tenderness, but there is also an aspect of God’s nature and love that comes in like a tidal wave crashing over us, rushing to meet us wherever we find ourselves today.

I think we get comfort from the tender quality of Jesus; along with our mistaken idea about the “predictable” side of Jesus, but don’t miss the fact that He is also a mighty warrior! I don’t know about you, but if I am facing a formidable enemy I‘m not hoping for tenderness, I’m scanning the horizon for a mighty warrior to come to my aid!  And when need be Jesus is fully that; He is a warrior that possesses no weakness, has no equal and never holds back any of the unimaginable passion He has for those He fiercely loves!

He is unpredictable and awe inspiring and honestly a little (a lot) scary. This is the Creator of the universe, the Holy One, the righteous King and the Almighty God. He has no equivalent, no rival and no peer. And if you don’t enter His holy presence with a little trepidation then you just don’t understand who you are dealing with.  He is breathtaking, splendid and fearsome all at the same time!

But remember, His warrior nature is fully for us and we are the passion of His heart and the apple of His eye. He can be loved, though not fully understood. He can be worshiped though not entirely comprehended. He can be trusted, though not fully grasped. If you feel weak today and unable to carry the burdens of life or if you are afraid of what lies ahead for you, then throw caution to the wind and step into the path of the Warrior’s love that can lift you up, carry every burden and quiet each fear. His mighty heart is for you…His all-seeing eye perceives you and His matchless love covers you, clothes you and completes you.

Close your eyes and picture standing at the shore as powerful waves crash over you…that’s like the inescapable love the Warrior God has for you.  His love is relentless, persistent and beyond human understanding…but He comes rushing to meet you where you are today!

Oh that we would lean in and let His fierce and passionate love envelop us today!

Sweet Blessings,

Sandy

Cornerstone Church Family,

Before Lee and I transitioned out of Cornerstone, I had hoped to catch each person, to look you in the eye and tell you exactly what it has meant to our lives to be a part of this family, but unfortunately we just couldn’t connect with everyone. If we missed you, please forgive us, it was not our intention!

 Although tears flowed freely that final Sunday, I was clearly reminded in your precious faces of the ultimate reason for being a shepherd: loving amazing people and hopefully equipping them to better love and become more like Jesus. I saw in your countenances the love of Christ week after week and I am so thankful that the Father planted Lee and I to walk out the first two years of my pastoral calling there…it has been our clear joy and outstanding privilege to do so!

Words fail me to fully express the depth of our gratitude for the opportunity to live life together with you - knowing and loving each of you have been some of the most precious treasures we have ever experienced! Thank you for letting us serve with you - it has been a delight and honor and we are so much better for having shared our lives with yours! While we will sorely miss seeing you on a regular basis, we know that you are in good hands with your pastoral team who watches diligently over you.

In the coming months I hope you will remember our time there affectionately, as we certainly will. Please pray for us…we are not sure what the Father has for us in this next season, but we do know that all that lies before us will be built upon the foundation of love and ministry we experienced there at Cornerstone. You will always hold an incredibly special place in our hearts and we will continue to pray for you and hopefully get to hear about some of the amazing things that God will do in and through this wonderful church family!

For any who want to stay in touch, we’d like that. You can reach me at sandy.lee.anderson@gmail.com and Lee at paul.lee.anderson@gmail.com .

I am truly thankful that although we are now separated by distance and ministry location, we all love and labor for the same Lord Jesus Christ - to Him be the glory now and forever! May the Father who passionately loves you, watch over you, guiding you into His perfect plan for each of your precious lives…ultimately bringing Him great glory and an expansion to His glorious kingdom!

This is the pastoral blessing I pray over each of you today.

Father, I come to You in the matchless name of Jesus and I lift up this precious church family to You. Lord, You fully know their every need, You see each place where they are strong and gifted and You also know every area where they need Your power and guidance the most. Bless them by always being their Good Shepherd who will release their gifts for Your glory and bind up their wounds for their restoration. 

 Father God I pray that You would confirm Your great love for them, help them to walk out each day of their life in the shadow of that unconditional love. Bless them Father not to miss a single facet of the amazing plan You have for them. Let every purpose of their lives be fully realized as they yield more and more of who they are into Your capable hands.

Finally Father, please bless them with a passionate desire to share You with those around them, for it is only as we share You with our watching world that we can fully understand our ultimate reason for being…the Great Commission.

Lord please continue to bless their pastors and leaders with wisdom and guidance to abundantly care for this flock who is both a passion for You and a priceless gift from You and remind the flock to faithfully intercede for the shepherds who lovingly watch over them. May all be done in Your time and for Your glory. Amen

Much Love and Prayers,

Pastor Sandy and Lee Anderson

Note: For my readers who are not from my Cornerstone church family, my husband and I recently transitioned out of this amazing church but were not able to catch everyone our last Sunday there, so I am using this space to speak to them and share a final blessing. Thank you for your understanding and for your prayers for this next season of ministry! ~Sandy

Some of you have requested a real time link to my upcoming sermon, so here it is: Go to www.cornerstone.ag  . You will see a link in the upper left corner called "Watch Live" you click there to listen to the entire church service which will begin at 11:05 on THIS Sunday, July 26th. The sermon usually begins by 11:30.
 
If you'd like, you can leave Cornerstone comments through the "First Time Viewer" tab or leave us a prayer request at our "Prayer Request" tab. Both are found in the "Watch Live" area.

May you experience the joy of God's ever abiding presence in your life this week as you explore the new life He has given you! 

“But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14

New Life

 

Life and it's many experiences have a tendency to dry up our reserves and leave us empty. In John 4 Jesus met the woman at the well while the disciples were off getting take-out.

She had tried to quench the longings of her heart with a string of “gone wrong” relationships. She was parched and yearning for something lasting that she could depend on. Perhaps others had vowed to stay with her-but on that hot afternoon she was alone and empty.

Hope probably seemed far away…and then came Jesus! He offered to quench her thirst with something that would bring satisfaction in this life and for eternity. I imagine that it seemed too good to be true and yet hope springs eternal so she took the cup He offered-a cup overflowing with new eternal life and almost immediately it began to spring up touching those around her.

 That’s how it is for us too! We may be searching for something that is missing in life, we may find ourselves in a dry and lonely place…but Jesus is crossing our path TODAY so everything can change! And if you’ve already had that initial conversation then praise Jesus you’ve begun to experience that new life already!

Thankfully the life that He gives will never fall to the ravages of time…it will remain eternally fresh and new! We will spend all of eternity exploring the limitlessness of our new life and our new Love! Praise God! 

Today, ask Jesus to give you opportunities to let that new life overflow into the lives around you and then watch as Jesus changes everything in you and in them…now and for eternity!

Blessings,

Sandy

 

It’s that time again, where school supply lists reign supreme. But as you fill your child’s backpack with the essentials for a successful year, be sure to include kindness!

 

Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another…”

 

Aristotle said; “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” I wholeheartedly agree. While education is an important goal, teaching and training our hearts to be like God’s builds a platform from which education can find its highest use. And God’s heart is intentionally and actively kind.

 

Every single day children and we adults with them are gifted with multiple opportunities to be kind or unkind. Choose kindness.

 

Kindness opens the door to new relationships. People are drawn to kindness and the truly kind are rarely lonely.

 

Kindness conveys value to those shown it. Kindness demonstrates the worth placed on an individual.

 

Kindness brings encouragement to those who are discouraged. Even a small act of kindness is a powerful agent of hope!

 

Kindness is always “other focused”. Kindness momentarily relieves us of ourselves and who doesn’t need more of that?

 

Kindness is always demonstrated. One cannot be passively kind; it always takes action.

 

Kindness is a skill. We get better at kindness when we intentionally do it; practice makes perfect.

 

Kindness when done sits on the surface of another’s life and eventually melts the hardest of hearts.

 

Kindness is contagious. Just try it and see!

 

Kindness is an attribute that we share with God…

 

God is love.  (I John 4:16)

 

Love is kind.  (I Corinthians 13:4)

 

We are God’s.  (Romans 8:16)

 

The world is watching, God is watching…Let us be kind.  (Ephesians 4:32)

 

 

 

 

 

Dying Moments-Where Is God When We Are Hurting?

John 11 tells us the story of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. We learn that Lazarus was very sick, in fact he was dying, so his sisters send Jesus a message to come, but instead of rushing to His friends’ side, the Scripture tells us that Jesus stayed where He was for Two. More. Days! They even boldly reminded Him of the closeness of their relationship. “The one you love is sick.” I wonder if at first they were expecting that Jesus would be coming through their front door at any moment to save the day. I imagine that their initial confidence was eventually replaced with a sense of deep foreboding that He might not arrive in time…or perhaps He wasn’t coming at all.

 

Remember as far as we are told, there was no message or response from Jesus…they are just left to wait and wonder in silence. In the midst of their “dying moments”, many questions must have assaulted their anxious hearts and Jesus may well have seemed far away. It’s funny how we have every confidence in our relationship with Jesus, but when deep troubles hit our life we begin to question where He is! Perhaps you can relate to their experience.

Many of us will have difficult, even “dying moments” in our lives, where we cry out to God for His help but He seems silent, and we may wonder where He is when we are hurting. Most people will experience those moments when our emotions may tell us that we are alone in our pain, but the truth is our emotions can deceive us, because God PROMISED that He will never leave us, period.(Hebrews 13:5) However, the first words out of Martha and Mary’s mouth are “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Most likely considering the closeness of their relationship, these women had seen Jesus heal many people, first hand, BUT He didn’t come and He didn’t heal Lazarus when they sent for Him.

At times, we'll have painful seasons of our lives where we may feel like God is far away or has somehow let us down or failed us, even though we won’t admit that to others, sometimes not even to ourselves and usually not to God (although He already knows our hearts fully : ), but it may be there, like a nagging unanswered question…one that we “stuff” down whenever it comes to our minds…but those places, those lingering questions are the exactly where Christ desires to come and comfort us…AND  to bring new life where death has occurred.

Jesus shares with Martha that He is the Resurrection and the Life, but we may wonder if Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life, then why things have to die in the first place. I think that Jesus, speaking of His imminent death, gives us a clue in John 12:24, saying, “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it abides alone. BUT, if it dies, it will produce many seeds”. It is like the areas of our lives are like single grains of wheat that God entrusts us with.

We can choose to HIDE our seed, being too afraid to sow it in the ground, so it eventually rots, or we can CONSUME the seed, choosing to make our life comfortable and here the seed perishes and along with it, all its potential harvests die, untapped, OR we can choose to willingly lay down that seed, planting in the soil, all the while knowing that it will die, but choosing to place our confidence more in Jesus who is the Resurrection and the Life, to not only give it new life, but to multiply its number and its power! Remember little is MUCH when it is placed in the Master Gardener’s hands, and although sometimes, God may want us to allow certain relationships or dreams (or a host of other things) to die, it is so He can raise them up to a new and better life.

 God desires us to trust in His unconditional love and perfect plan for our lives, especially when everything in our circumstances and hearts are screaming against it. Jesus is the resurrection and He alone is the ultimate giver of life, He alone has the power to bring life where death currently reigns (having created ALL things, see John 1:3), so we can be brave and sow our hopes, our dreams, our relationships in the ground, where they may die, but we can be MORE CONFIDENT in Christ, knowing that through Jesus, we can sow in hope…hope of resurrection…hope of new life and hope of an abundant HARVEST! Death is swallowed up in victory through quality and increase!

So, where is God in those painful times, when it feels like a treasured part of you is dying??? He is as close as your very next breathe. See Psalm 34:18. His love for you is unconditional, His plan, perfect and His ways, are sometimes beyond our complete understanding, so if you have areas or times in your life that you just don’t understand why He didn’t come in on His “white horse and rescue you”, then consider joining with me, as we set aside our questions and hear the voice of Jesus saying “Blessed are they who do not see and yet believe”

For me, I have decided to make the choice that even if it may have looked like it on the outside, even if others around me said so, even if I struggled with it on the inside, God has never failed me or loosened His firm grasp on my life or yours! I know that someday I WILL understand fully God’s plan for me, but until that day, I will keep believing, keep trusting in His unconditional love and the perfection of His plan. I will in time, along with you, recognize that He was right all along and His plan for us was GOOD! Although circumstances may at times, cloud our view of the Lord, He is, never-the-less there, present with us always…so don’t judge the book before it is completely written…the Father has more in store for us, that our hearts have not even begun to dream of…just keep watching, keep waiting, keep trusting, keep believing!

LOST-AND-FOUND

The dictionary defines lost-and-found as “a place where lost items are kept to await reclaiming by their owners.” What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a lost-and-found? For me, it is a place of mostly worthless items that no one cared enough about to go searching for. It is a land of misfits; a single glove, a tattered book or a lone earring. Not much value there right? UNLESS you are searching for that glove because it was a gift by someone dear to you or the tattered book was a Bible handed down through your family’s generations or that earring was one of a set given to you on your wedding day…then these are no longer misfits without meaning. They have suddenly become priceless treasures and the lost-and-found has been transformed from a refuse laden waiting room into a place of infinite worth.

The worth of something is often demonstrated by the efforts of a person to locate, possess or protect it.

If someone were willing to fly around the world to locate a missing portrait wouldn’t that make it valuable?

If someone were willing to sell everything they had to possess a particular document, wouldn’t that make it a treasure?

If someone were willing to donate their kidney to protect another’s life, wouldn’t that mean they were cherished?

I think we’d all agree that this portrait, document and person had incredible value at least to those who were willing to sacrifice whatever was needed to locate, possess or protect them. To others these may be insignificant since up to that point no one cared enough about them to search or sacrifice…but now their worth is unquestionable.

Well I believe this earth…this country…this corner of our world is like a huge lost-and-found; filled with people who might be considered insignificant “misfits”; since thus far, no one cared enough to search for them and bring them home.

But what if someone were to travel from beyond one end of the universe to the other to locate something far removed, would that make it valuable?

What if someone was willing to set aside untold riches and glory to once again hold close something that was cherished, would that make it a treasure? 

What if someone were willing to give up their life to save another life, would that make that life precious?

In all of these cases I believe our hearts would cry a resounding yes. Well, Someone did. Jesus stepped down from heaven to find that which was “lost”. He set aside the glories and riches of heaven to hold close those who had wandered far away. He sacrificed His own life to redeem those that He loves. And by virtue of that great love and that unimaginable sacrifice each human being has been catapulted from the mundane and ordinary into the precious and cherished.  And because of that great worth this earth we live on is transformed from an ordinary holding bin that houses the soon-to-be discarded into a treasure trove of priceless jewels that were purchased at an inestimable cost. Our worth is immeasurable for who can put a value on the very life of God Himself?!

No, this earth is no longer a land of misfits for Someone has deemed us worthy of being pursued! This world has become just what the dictionary describes as “a place where lost items are kept to await reclaiming by their owners.” Think about it precious ones! For all eternity our value will safely rest in that we have been called the Sought; worthy of love, worthy of sacrifice! We ARE the lost and the found! We are those who had wandered far from the Father who loves us…and He sought us and He bought us at an incredible price and WE. ARE. HIS!

So what are we to do with that knowledge? At least two things:

One, we should love Him all the more. That He could take a little girl who was ordinary and broken and that He could bestow on her great value, makes my heart swell with love for Him. That He could see everything about me and somehow despite it all could love me, simply defies my understanding but it increases my love and appreciation! Unconditional love and selfless sacrifice when seen for what they really are cannot help but be reciprocated; for to truly know His love causes us to love Him back. To taste, to experience His great eternal love changes who we are and automatically increases our ability to love Him back, for we cannot give what we’ve never known or possessed; but instead it should be like an everlasting circle of love!

Two, we should recognize our own value and the incredible value of others.  But instead often when we look in the mirror and when see others we see extra-ordinary and we walk right on by. How many people do we misjudge as extra-ordinary when God has deemed them as extraordinary works of art?

 Oh that we would see that His sacrificial love makes each of us valuable! I can’t begin to understand what He could see in me that would give me great value and yet somehow I am a masterpiece because I am a piece of the Master. And YOU are His masterpiece because you too are a piece of the Master. “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are…” I John 3:1
Created in His image.
Given life to be eternally loved.
Redeemed at a great price.
The once lost have now become the found…rescued by a love so great, it will take all eternity to explore and express it! Glory to God!

Papa God,
We give thanks for an eternal, unconditional love that we cannot fully grasp and for a divine sacrifice that transforms us from mere insignificance to infinite worth. We will gladly spend our lives exploring and expressing your great love. Give us not only eyes to see those in our world as precious…but also give us hearts that are willing to seek out those that have wandered far from the Father who loves them and point the way back to Him. In Jesus Name~Amen

THE OLD IS ENDING - THE NEW HAS COME!

2013 has come and gone, and 2014 has freshly emerged on the ever-changing scenery of our lives. I don’t know about you, but the new year always seems to bring with it a heart of reflection and contemplation in my life.

A brand spanking new year comes with a bit of ambivalence for me. On one hand 2013 is over and all the opportunities I missed to walk in obedience, to love others or just plain do better have come and gone. I cannot go back and fix the wrong things I said and did or the right things I neglected to say or do in 2013…that ship has sailed.

I think most of us have regrets for 2013 - I know I do. Places where I chose my way and not His, times that I cared too much about what didn’t matter and cared too little about the things that did. I’ve certainly had my share of failures and disappointments; perhaps you did too. But since that chapter of our lives has been penned already, what do we do with the regrets that seem to lurk in the background of everything we do?

The apostle Paul knew something about regret as well. He had been the direct cause of the imprisonment and death of countless followers of Christ. His life was infamous, but not in a good way. It would’ve been easy for him to have lived his days in the shadow of his failures. Instead he made a surprising choice, and in doing so, he also gave us a beautiful example to follow in Philippians 3:13-14: “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Paul is saying in the original Greek that he forgets and neglects those things that are behind him and he e-x-t-e-n-d-s and s—t—r—e—t—c—h—e—s forward to those things that lie ahead. A critical choice lay before him; to spend his time focusing on his failures or to receive the clean slate that only Christ could offer. Philippians 3 clearly declares his decision. We too are faced with Paul’s critical choice…we can either focus on our past mistakes OR we can press on to all that lies just around the bend

Although we’ve missed the mark in 2013, we’ll be given NEW opportunities to walk in obedience, to love others and just plain do better! God in His infinite wisdom (and mercy) gives us a fresh chance and not just on January first! We can resolve to begin again during any season we happen to find ourselves in. In fact, His Word promises in Lamentations 3:22-23: “The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning…”.  So we can be assured that His compassions (and along with it our clean slate) are new and available with the dawn of each new day. A fresh beginning is ours for the asking because of His great sacrifice! And all we need to do is to come before Him with repentant hearts and our failures are forgiven. Oh the joy of a new beginning that can only be found in Him! And praise God, it is always available no matter what the calendar declares!

Today may we choose to relinquish the failures and disappointments and celebrate the blessings that have been 2013, but then resolve to keep pressing forward; keep stretching toward all that our Father’s hand holds for us in 2014! And may we have an undaunted confidence that no matter what lies around the bend for us we will not face it alone; as He was faithfully with us in 2013, He will be right beside us for each and every moment of this budding year. In fact, every year, every day, every moment spent on this earth, His sweet presence is here with us and that should fill our hearts with an untouchable peace.

Along with contemplation, January also brings out a desire in me to p-e-e-k into the coming year. What lies ahead for us, I do not know. I’m sure that there will be some valleys and disappointments, some new trials that will test our resolve and circumstances that will s-t-r-e-t-c-h us…but there will also be times of rejoicing and seasons of growth and fruitfulness. One thing we can be sure of though - we will not leave 2014 unchanged! Just as 2013 has altered who we are, 2014 will shape and mold us as well. But we can be satisfied that every moment gets filtered through His hands of love. And may we remind our hearts that our Father knows what is lacking and yet undone in us, and in His great love and faithfulness, He will send what is needed. May we have hearts to see His tell-tale signs and embrace each divine gift: those that are brightly wrapped, as well as those that come to us packaged in the darker hues…knowing full well that each one comes from a loving heart that is working out all things for our eventual good.

Today, precious ones, may our hearts fully know that He approaches with the dawn of this unsullied year, a year that is brimming with hope and promise! His precious grace blankets the past like freshly fallen snow that covers the surface of everything in its path. The old is ending…the new is coming…may we rejoice in both!

 

HE’S BUILDING A BUILDING

Recently I sat across the street from a huge building project in our nation’s capital. From the ground level it just looked like a huge twist of steel and concrete, but from the window of my fourth story hotel room, I began to see more. Workers, technicians and tradesmen were scurrying about; each one using his or her level of expertise to move the project toward completion. It was a beehive of activity everywhere you looked. There were the construction workers who hooked the needed steel bars to a chain above their heads and there were the steel workers who were welding and screwing them in place. Atop them all, towering high above the activity was a gigantic crane that moved the steel beams and everything else to its intended destination.  It was like a cornucopia of people, from the construction manager who appeared to be barking orders to everyone else, to the workers who were busy cleaning up the unimaginable mess that is left in the aftermath of a construction zone. Everyone had a place and everyone played a part. It was like a little community working together to make something useful out of many pieces that by themselves were pretty useless.

 I was in the middle of my quiet time when I sensed that there was a word that Papa had for me about this “pre-building”. So I turned my chair so I could see and sat in the relative silence of my room. As I watched the construction I noticed that some areas in the building were far more finished than others.  And I began questioning the practice of moving ahead to a much farther degree in some places when other areas were so far behind. And Papa God  spoke to my heart and said “Sandy, this building is indicative of your own life. You have some places that are advanced and well-appointed and others places where you are just at the beginning stages. And this is acceptable; for I am using your life’s circumstances, your relationships and the time you spend in My presence to build you into a habitation that is fitly framed for Me, a place that My glory can shine forth from. Though you feel a sense of discouragement over the places that are at beginning stages, you must know and trust that I, your eternal Architect am still in charge and I will fulfill all in My time.”

I got very quiet and I sat in the hotel, watching the flurry of activity and I wondered how this profusion of steel, brick, concrete and wood would ever be something useful, functional or attractive. I wondered about the building but I also pondered about the beauty or the lack thereof in my own life. But the precious Holy Spirit reminded of Philippians 1:6 “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”  And the dim bulb finally came on! Who began this faith walk anyway????  It was He who at the tender age on nine had powerfully called me to accompany Him on this journey and since He initiated it...He was entirely invested and completely faithful to do all the work in me that was needed. So He who began it was ready, willing and very able to bring it to completion! Halleluiah!!!

And the same is true for you! Perhaps today you have places in the construction site of your life that are well established and have been and are being used to showcase your heavenly Architect-then praise God for those strong places! But what about those places where you are just at the beginning stages? You know the places that seem sooooo far behind your areas of strength? I’m talking about those nagging areas that always seem to slow you down or trip you up. Enter…the GOOD news!>>> Please know that for every facet of your life that has not been developed fully, it is still under the care and jurisdiction of the One who not only functions as the all-seeing Architect who drafted the vast and detailed blueprint of your life, but He is also the foreman who sees to it that everything gets accomplished correctly and on time!

It’s not about pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps or through our own efforts making ourselves into what He wants us to be…it is He who has the passion, the wisdom and the ability to fashion and form us into a proper dwelling place for His Spirit and His glory and grace! (Ephesians 2:20-23) And He who called us to this journey is more than faithful! Our job is to surrender to His workings and trust in His loving heart. HE’S BUILDING A BUILDING and we are it!  

Father,
Our lives are such a construction zone! We have areas where we have been built up in You, but we also have places where little work has been done. We need You heavenly Architect to construct in us all that Your heart and perfect plan dictate. We are thankful that because of your great love You created a beautiful blueprint and a plan to build us into a temple where Your great glory, mercy and love can shine through. We praise You Lord that You who have begun this work in us will be completely faithful to keep working, to keep building us until You present us faultless before the very throne of God! Today we choose to trust in Your workings and in Your loving, active faithfulness to us. We are Yours, please keep building us! Amen.

                                
 

Believing But Not Filled

Once a month I write a sermon inspired devotional for my church and I often share its non-abbreviated version with the rest of my blog readers who are not a part of my local church family. I pray that your heart is both challenged and encouraged.

My pastor, Shawn Franco shared this Sunday from Acts 8 about Simon the sorcerer who came to believe in Jesus but then grappled with his own relationship with the Holy Spirit. He even tried to buy the ability to endow believers with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Admittedly it was an outrageous request and it makes Simon an easy target that we are quick to criticize…but just perhaps there’s a little bit of Simon in all of us.

The Scriptures tell us that Simon believed in Jesus and was baptized…it does not qualify his conversion so we cannot automatically dismiss it. Although he was apparently a believer he struggled with embracing some kingdom conflicts or tensions that would have been ushered in if he were to allow the Holy Spirit full access to his life. These kingdom conflicts held the power to change his life in four critical ways:

Position Simon held a prominent position that commanded fearful respect that he was reluctant to lose.

Power He wielded significant power and all who were need of an authority greater than themselves were relegated to his “jurisdiction.”

Profit He routinely used his position and power to financially profit himself.

Pain He was filled with bitter pain that colored and drove everything he did.

It seems clear that he was interested in the Spirit’s filling, but he resisted the change that the Spirit’s overflow would bring. At first glance this may seem odd, but sometimes people choose to stay in painful, broken places because the fear of the unknown is greater than their pain and brokenness. Fear of the unfamiliar looms heavy in the hearts of many today…but all of our days that are yet unveiled, lie safe in the hands of our heavenly Father and giving up the veto power over our lives should not bring fear or trepidation, because as the apostle Paul stated II Timothy 1:12; “I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him...” In other words, we can be at peace because the heart of our Father can be entirely trusted with every place this life’s journey will take us!

Let’s compare a few of the changes that an overflowing of the Spirit can bring to our lives:

Position Although Simon’s position demonstrated his individual persona; the Spirit calls those who want a kingdom position to become the servants of all. It should come as no surprise that God’s Spirit would bid us to follow Christ’s example of servitude.

Power Simon’s power distinguished his community standing and while the Spirit most certainly brings a power beyond our capability-it is to be used to empower the defenseless in our world and not to enhance our personal standing. Simon used his power to enhance his own life, but God’s Spirit empowers us to better the lives of those around us.

Profit Although Simon’s profit determined his lifestyle; God’s Spirit enriches us today so that we can bless the poor and vulnerable among us. We are blessed to be a blessing!

Pain  Although Simon’s pain defined his every action; The Spirit does not come and take away all of our pain, instead He redeems it so that those very places where brokenness once reigned supreme; God’s hope and life can usher in hope and healing for those in our sphere of influence.

But Simon’s is a sad story. He was too invested in his former life to give up control. We shake our heads in disbelief but these very kingdom conflicts lie at our doorstep as well. We too, must choose where we will “draw the line” at the Spirit’s access to our lives. Simon was all for Jesus when it benefited him-but when sacrifices loomed, he balked. What about us? Do we relegate the Spirit to certain areas of our life, giving Him free access here and there, but then hang up “Keep Out” signs in those places where we prefer to keep some ruling rights?  I mean Jesus is welcome when we’re at church or when we need a “favor” but when He starts pointing out sacrifices that will be needed to fully walk His narrow path, often we cry foul.

Let’s be honest, we want to be filled with the Spirit but still maintain some semblance of control, because giving anyone else unhindered access and unbridled control can be scary. Now the Spirit won’t push His way in, but He’s not looking for partial access either. So today Simon’s choice is ours as well. But what will actually happen if we relinquish our position, power, profit and pain to the Spirit’s regulation?

That will look different for each individual’s life, but some common areas will be a redefining of our position with Him at the helm, a restructuring of where to exercise our God given power, a redistributing of where we invest our life’s profits and a redeeming of how we not only perceive our pain but transforming into a powerful place of life, hope and even beauty in the lives of others.

 And here are three more areas that can be transformed if we choose to open the floodgates of our lives to the Spirit’s control:

Perceptions In the Spirit’s overflowing our perceptions get altered and we start to see the world through God’s eyes. We will begin to perceive people, places and situations through His lens of love and compassion.

Passions When our perceptions are altered it will enact changes to our life’s passions. We will exchange our “me-mentality” that continually seeks its own betterment for a heart that actively, passionately loves the world, by giving our energies, time and talents to showcasing our Lord through loving those that He is passionate about!

Purpose Radically changed perceptions and passions will surely transform the foundational purposes for which we live out our days. And if we as God’s children will see our own foundational purposes transformed then we can’t help but bring fundamental changes to our culture and world!

Today, may we grant the Spirit unimpeded entry to every facet of our lives, holding nothing back for “safe-keeping” thereby exchanging our “self-regarding” lifestyle for one that’s patterned after our Father’s sacrificially loving heart. Come, Holy Spirit Come-We welcome You in this place!

Note: A sermon by my pastor; Shawn Franco of Cornerstone Assembly of God was the original cause and inspiration of this devotional. I encourage you to listen to his message at http://www.cornerstone.ag/ 
You will see the Media link near the top right of the site, click there, then on Listen To Sermons, then select the November 10 sermon.