Spinning Your Wheels

Have you ever taken a spinning class? Have you ever wondered why they are called spinning classes and not cycling classes?   You get on a stationary bicycle that actually has gears on it like a real bike. Problem is you have to pretend you are going somewhere. Our trainer tells us to imagine we are going somewhere. We are told to imagine going up a hill and we have to crank up the gear; now we are racing with cyclists close behind and we have to ride fast as we can. All the while we are getting a great workout but going nowhere. The instructor shouts out more orders….. peddle faster… more gear….  Sometimes I close my eyes to really get into it— pretending I am on a race—– at the head of the pack (unlikely). But when I open my eyes I am still in a room with a bunch of people spinning and going nowhere. What a picture of us! Don’t you sometimes feel as though you are “spinning your wheels” and accomplishing nothing? Friends, each day is filled with so many things to do but God has asked us simply to follow His will by praying and listening to his instructions.   Seeking God’s will for each day insures us that we are not just spinning and going nowhere. We have a purpose for each day. Have a great work out today as you follow His lead!!

The Fast Track

Is it possible that the days get shorter and the work load gets greater? Does it seem that the older we get the days fly by faster and before you know it we have another birthday? I feel that way. I have so many things that I want to do but sometimes feel as though I am on a hamster wheel going nowhere. Other times  I feel as though I am watching as the train goes by because I cant run fast enough to get on. I’m left  standing at the train station. That is always when God speaks. Right at the train station as I panic that I missed the train; the next place I had to go; the next thing I had to accomplish. He sits me down as my Shepherd and draws me near to Him; He leads me beside the still waters and reminds me that the place of rest is in Him. Just this morning I was feeling overwhelmed with my schedule. I needed to write my sermon, work on my book, babysit my grandchildren, and prepare to have my small group over tonight. Just as I reviewed the day in my head the Lord met me at the train station. He took me to His still waters to do a little soul restoration. The devotional I read this morning reminded me that each day is a gift; each moment is precious—-that we don’t have to run after time, because time always comes to us. Enjoy the moment. What a profound word for those of us who tend to get lost on the fast track. It really is ok to miss the train. Another one is coming. In the meantime go sit beside still waters, get refreshed and pause beside the green pastures. If you feel overwhelmed take a moment to let the Lord restore you.

Better to Surrender

Guess you all are getting tired of my hiking adventures but I can’t resist telling you one more story. My husband and I (yes the mighty duo again) decided to try a different kind of hike; the kind where you you climb boulders, feel like you are going to die, and yet hope for the best. Blount shamed me into going by telling me that his cousin does this so called hike all the time and he is older than me. So off we went to our new adventure. I stood at the bottom of the mountain and could hear the falls (no, I don’t mean the people falling) the falls like Niagra Falls. He said: “Won’t it be great to get to the top and see it?” I am thinking: ” Won’t it be great to get to the top and be alive?” Anyway, we took off up these BIG boulders. Fortunately I had new hiking boots on so the tread was good, and the rocks weren’t too slippery. Up we climbed. Blount was so thrilled; like a kid at Christmas. I was gripping the rocks like a scared nut case. He kept saying that this was like trying to figure out a Rubik’s cube (no clear path; you just have to figure out which boulders to climb to get to the top). I am thinking I never liked Rubik’s cubes to begin with. Half way up I decided it was time to turn back. Yes, here we go again. If you read my last blog, each time I climbed a mountain someone would tell us to climb higher just as I was ready to descend. I was ready to turn back; Blount gleefully was eager to get to the top. Knowing that the last two hikes had I turned back I would have missed the best view, I decided to continue. But this time I asked him to lead. Up to that point I was the brain behind figuring out our path. Now that is scary! Anyone that knows me knows that I can’t even do puzzles. We all have different gifts right?? So he began to lead. And suddenly everything went smoother. My palms quit sweating. My heart stopped racing. He would grab my hand and lead me higher. And once again I sensed the Lord saying to me, let me lead you; let me take you higher. Precious people, God wants us to see the view from the top. He is waiting to take our hand and lead us. The climb up may be really hard and we might be scared but He knows the way if only we will surrender. I may not climb that mountain again (although the view was indeed magnificent) but I will climb other mountains. This time I will let my husband lead. He is better at this. And so is God.

Don’t Miss the View

I recently went on a hiking and fishing trip in Idaho in an area called the Saw Tooth Wilderness.  I should say “fishing” loosely because I didn’t really fly fish. I just went along for the ride on a float trip one day and another day read beside the Salmon River while my husband fished!!  What a magnificent part of the world! If any of you dear people from Idaho are reading this please know that I am totally in love with Idaho. Everyone was so friendly and the landscape reflected the glory of God in every possible way. Although the vacation was physically active, I had a spiritual awakening that I want to share with you. We climbed a mountain in order to see hollyhock flowers that were in full bloom. It was quite a unique thing as  hollyhock seeds can stay dormant for 100 years. There was a forest burn and just the right amount of rain caused the hollyhocks to bloom and burst forth with color. I was told that the burn eliminates all competition and allows the sunlight to break through creating the perfect conditions for flowers. We walked half way up the mountain and found a beautiful patch of hollyhocks. But a woman approached us and told us not to stop there but to continue climbing higher. She encouraged us not to settle for this small but lovely patch of flowers but to go and see the rest at the top of the mountain. We huffed and puffed (ok, it was just me huffing and puffing) all the way to the top and then suddenly we saw what was the most breathtaking sight I have ever seen. A mountain top filled with thousands of flowers! We were amazed. Had we settled for half way, we would have missed the opportunity of a lifetime. Another day we hiked up another mountain to a lake. We were disappointed because the lake was nothing special and we had worked hard to get there. Once again, fellow hikers coming down the mountain told us not to stop– to keep climbing and we would be rewarded. Again, practically gasping for air, we climbed – 1,000 feet to an elevation of 10,000 and then we saw the most magnificent site you can imagine; craggy mountain peaks and a basin below known as Ants Basin. I sensed the Lord speaking to my heart reminding me that I could have stopped short of seeing this glorious place. Dear fellow travelers, don’t stop short of the mountain top. Keep climbing higher. It is easy to settle for what seems good but God is always taking us higher so that we can see the magnificent views and take them into the valley. Each day we climb spiritually as we seek to know the Lord. It may be a difficult climb, but the rewards are worth the effort. See you on the next mountain!!

Surrender to Love

After the resurrection, Jesus showed himself alive to the disciples. He had breakfast with them and then had a conversation with Peter. This conversation has been in my thoughts for days now. Jesus asked Peter: ” Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”  ”Yes Master, you know I love you” Peter responded. Different commentaries have suggested what or to whom Jesus was referring to when He asked Peter if he loved “these” more than Him. But the real question to ponder is what was it that Peter loved more than Jesus. Peter had denied Jesus three times after the crucifixion. Now Jesus was penetrating Peter’s heart with His probing question; He was allowing Peter the opportunity to see what went wrong; perhaps why Peter had denied Him. Somewhere deep in Peter’s heart was a love for something or someone more than His love for Christ. I wonder what it was? It could have been that he chose fear of man over His love for Christ; maybe care for the world over Christ. We dont know for sure. Jesus asks each of us the same question: “Who or what do you love more than me?” It is a question that penetrates the dark places of our lives— a question that stirs in us the ways we deny Christ. Today, ask yourself that question. You may be surprised at what blocks your love for Christ, but you will be equally delighted as you read the rest of the conversation that Peter has with Christ. For in that conversation Jesus reminds Peter that he must love Christ completely and that from that love relationship he must love and care for others. That makes me think that where I am unloving or unkind I must love something more than my Lord. What about you?

Name Above All Names

Recently in my devotional daily reading I read the Scripture: “At that day ye shall ask in My Name.” I have been thinking about that all day. What does it mean to ask in the Name of Jesus? His name is above all names and reflects His character. There are many names for God in the Old Testament Scripture that reflect His character; Elohim, Our Creator,  Jehovah Jireh, Our Provider, Jehovah Rohi, Our Shepherd and many others. Throughout the Scripture, we learn about the character of God through encounters that the men of God had with Him. In their encounter with God, they came to know a side of God, His nature, that they had not known before. Jesus’ name reflects His nature so the more intimate relationship I have with Him through encountering Him daily, the more my prayers will reflect His nature. And next time I pray for something I will remember that His name is not a magic formula, His name is above all names!!!

What a Difference a Preposition Makes

The Scripture I read today in my daily devotional was Galatians 2:20: ” I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith OF the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

 I have read this passage many times and each time I meditate on what it means to be crucified with Christ- to die to self; to live for Christ alone; that Christ lives in me and the flesh needs to move over. The problem has always been that it takes a train wreck sometimes to get my flesh to roll over and play dead. In fact my flesh cries out: ” do it my way– don’t deny me….” 

For years I have prayed: ” I must decrease so that He can increase.” All good stuff. But often for me I end up trying too hard; striving and sometimes hitting my overdrive/perfectionistic button. Sound familiar to any of you? 

This morning the Scripture in Galatians took on a whole new meaning just because of one little preposition  ” …..and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith OF the Son of Man. My translation read “IN the Son of Man; the translation in my devotional read: “OF the Son of Man.” What a difference a preposition makes!!

Faith in the Son of Man is essential to live for Christ; but the faith OF the Son of Man is essential to live a spirit filled life. One focuses on my working to achieve through my faith the crucified life; the other rests in the assurance that the faith of Christ is at work in me producing the fruit of a Godly life. 

May seem like a small thing to you, but for someone like me who wants to get it right, do it right, and achieve my goal of Christlikeness, it can become work. And the truth is that we are saved by grace and we are kept by the grace of God. We need only to love Him and surrender to His love. 

Sound easy? Not for a perfectionist like me. But I plan on reading this Scripture every day and reminding myself that I live by the faith OF Christ who lives in me. And I know that HIS faith was such that He gave His very life for me. That kind of faith can move any mountain. So if you have any mountains that need moving remember the little preposition in Galatians 2:20 and rest in the assurance that Christ’s faith living in you can move all of your mountains!!

Love Covers a Multitude of Sins

I just returned from a trip to Mexico and had a delightful time.  I had time to read and to be refreshed again. I met a variety of people and realized how diversity is such a gift. As Christians, it is easy to be with our Christian friends, and yet Jesus always hung out with a variety of people, many of whom were outcasts. As I reflect on my trip, I realize that we are called to love people even if we have nothing in common, even if they are do not believe the same things that we believe. Jesus taught us that kingdom living is worked out in our attitudes, our thoughts and actions; in how we love others. As Christians we hold a standard; in a sense we are torchbearers holding up God’s Word as truth. But if we do not do so in love, we become clanging cymbals and no one will listen to our message of hope. People are struggling in many ways. They first need to know they are loved before they ever will here our message of hope. We live in critical times of financial, moral, ethical, and spiritual struggles. We have an opportunity to love people with Christ’s love and offer hope. You have heard it said that your life may be the only Bible that someone reads. We must always remember that love covers a multitude of sins- ours and others. Above all love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. (I Peter 4:8)

Mary Did you Know?

Have you ever wondered if Mary really understood the consequences of her “yes” to God in response to the angel’s message to her? She was told that she would be with child and that her son would be the Savior of the world; a young maiden, engaged to Joseph saying “yes” to God’s word to her. She was troubled at first and fearful when she saw the angel and heard what would transpire. She risked being rejected by Joseph, being shunned by her friends and family; but she chose to trust God. What is the “yes” that God is waiting for in your life? 

I watched my grandchildren as they played with their new Christmas puppy. They marveled at her, all wanting a chance to hold her and care for her. I could not help but think about how similar it is with Jesus who delights in caring for us. Mary probably did not comprehend everything that the angel told her but she chose to trust God with her life. She knew that He would take care of her. And He will take care of you too even if your “yes” requires risk and uncertainty. 

Have a blessed Christmas! Joanne

A Bigger Vision

I want to give you a vision of something bigger; that we are part of God’s bigger picture. Being in ministry, I hear people’s concerns over the economy, social issues, moral issues, political issues. As we consider these issues we must remember one thing. God has a plan and it is His plan that is being fulfilled. God had a plan of redemption through His Son and that plan was fulfilled on the cross. God’s plan is for Jesus to return and we wait for the fulfillment of His plan.

We cannot put our faith in a political party. We cannot put our faith in our oil suppliers to keep our tanks full. We cannot put our faith in people, though well meaning. We put our faith in God to help resolve these issues. God is sovereign over the affairs of nations and He ordains those who are placed in authority over us (Romans 13:1-5). God’s Word makes it clear that no authority is given to anyone except that which He established.

When Jesus was questioned by Pilate: ” Dont you realize that I have the power either to free you or to crucify you? ” Jesus responded: “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.

We must always remember that God works from an eternal perspective and we work with finite understanding. So how do we respond to the issues of our day? We pray for our leaders; we get involved with the issues, and we trust God.

The first century church appeared to be a church on the run. As persecution exploded, church growth exploded. What seemed to be one way, turned out to be another. As the church triumphant we must recognize that God has a plan and we are part of His plan. The church is still relevant, the Lord is still on the throne and He is still looking for people to participate in His plan. The real question is are we willing to trust Him?