On the Way

This week we are studying the third and fourth chapters of Acts. Peter and John on their way to the temple to say their prayers found a crippled man sitting at the gate called Beautiful. The crippled man was begging for money and Peter told him that he didnt have money but he would give him what he did have—- healing in Jesus’ name. Isnt it interesting that the crippled man didnt ask for healing? Surely he had heard about all of the people who were healed by Jesus and through His disciples. He asked for what he thought he needed; money to make it through one more day. Is is possible that we often ask for a temporary solution; relief, just enough to get by and yet the Lord has so much more for us?

What really catches my attention is that Peter and John  were on their way doing something very important. After all they were going to the temple to pray. They could have ignored the man on the side of the road asking for help. They could have done the good thing and bypassed the best thing- to bring someone to Jesus.

We too are busy people; on the way to somewhere every day. And every day there is potential for God encounters. Every day in the rush of lives God is at work. Just yesterday I was on the way to teach Bible study and a homeless man came up to me and asked for help. I was running late and could easily have told him I was too busy, running late. After all I was on the way to do something good- of value, right? Yet God interrupted my plans.  I was on the way to doGod’s work (or so I thought) and He showed me the intention of His Word; not just to study and teach His Word, but to live His Word. What good is it to study His Word and not obey? It was a lesson for me and I hope it gives you reason to think next time God interrupts your day…. on the way to doing something good, He will ask you to do something even better.

The Power of Prayer

Being a grandmother is the greatest gift on earth! I don’t have the stress of raising the little angels and it makes enjoying them so much easier. As a mother I was so busy going through the motions of motherhood; planning meals, helping with homework, making sure their rooms were clean, reminding them to brush their teeth. In some ways life was centered around the general (me) and the recruits (my kids)!! Now I can relax and enjoy them. Did I say relax? That is a relative word. With 8 grandchildren there is no relaxing! What I mean is that I now have opportunities that I did not when I was raising my own children.  I have more time to talk with them, guide them, pray with them.

Just this week I picked up my two grandaughters (11 and 12 years old) from school. We had ice cream together (they had ice cream; downside of being a grandmother is that the ice cream goes to my hips).  First thing in the car, they began to squeal as only girls can do and share with me their adventures into the world of boys. Mary Catherine was asked to a dance. Can you believe that? And Morgan was asked to “go out”. Oh my… used to be that meant go on a date. Now it means that the boy likes you. They laughed they way through ice cream, they talked their way through the ride home; they squeeled. Sooo much fun!

Later on that day each grandaughter came to me as I was busy working in my office. Morgan declared that she was sure that it was because of my prayers that she loved her new school so much. Mary Catherine came to ask me for advice. She had decided that it would be more fun to go to the dance with her girlfriends. What is to decide? Of course it would be more fun at 11 years old!! I remained calm (didn’t want to jump up and down or anything) and told her that she had made a wise choice. What fun to be on this side of motherhood!

The Wisdom of God

God is awesome! Never doubt that He is here; never doubt that He answers prayers! Today, Sharon the office manager for Drawing Near to God ministry called me. She was struggling with using a computer program that we need in order to register people for our upcoming courses. We prayed together on the phone and she sensed the Lord telling her that everything that she needed was at hand. We prayed for her to have the wisdom of God and then I called a few people to pray.  Sharon called me back a few hours later to tell me that she had figured  it out (now remember this has been something she has been struggling with for weeks). She said that after we prayed things started making sense and she knew that God had given her the wisdom we prayed for.

God doesnt always answer prayers as we expect. After we prayed and before Sharon called me back, I decided to start working on the solution to Sharon’s problem. I had  gotten the number of a computer solutions expert to come and help her. I had also suggested we get a new program. I was full of “seeming” solutions. But God had a different plan; He had a better plan. His plan was to use what was at hand and seek His wisdom. Once again, my nervous card was played and God trumped it with “do not lean on the wisdom of men… in all my ways trust me and I will make your path straight.” (proverbs 3:5). Guess God doesnt really play the “gotch ya” game, but sometimes it sure feels that way. Guess I need to remember that He is God and HE has all the answers.

Do you ever struggle with trying to find solutions to your current crisis? Take a moment to pray. God has the answer!

Edisto Island revival

My daughter, who is my official consultant on blogsites, has told me that people might like to hear more personal things from me like I share in my teachings.  I love the idea because I love to hear about what other people are doing. People fascinate me!

Yesterday I was the speaker at a community gathering of folks on Edisto Island. It is my favorite place to go and speak! The last several years I have spoken at the Edisto revival. I have been blown away by the strong Presence of the Lord as a variety of denominations gather together to worship and praise Him. Yesterday was no exception! The churches on the island are determined to come together as one and we had so much fun. I think God smiles on churches when they recognize that we are all one body. During my teaching, the most amazing thing happened. Each time I would make a point that I felt led to share, a band of pouring (and I mean pouring down so hard you could hardly hear) rain came down. It happened three times and we all sensed that God was pouring out His glory on the gathering.  We all had “holy goose bumps” each time it happened. The rain poured down as I would begin to make my point and after I finished, the rain would immediately cease. Now some of you are thinking…. “did God really do that”? I have heard countless testimonies of God speaking to His people through His Creation. After all He is the Creator of heavens and earth, and rain!! I think God was pleased. I think God longs for us to gather together as one praising and worshipping Him. Some people were crying, others in awe, some speechless as the gospel choirs led us in worship.  Edisto Island has found what pleases the Lord and I welcome every opportunity to join with my brothers and sisters in Christ on that magnificent island!

Voice of God

In the days just before Samuel the prophet appeared on the scene the Bible tells us that the word of the Lord was rare and there were not many visions (I Samuel 3:1). Obviously prior to tha time, the people of God were used to hearing God’s voice instruct them and visions were common. Samuel, a young boy unaccustomed to hearing God’s voice and Eli his Dad perhaps had given up on hearing God’s voice. After all, hearing from God was rare. Perhaps noone expected God to speak any more and they didnt even recognize His voice. So Samuel had not been instructed in hearing God’s voice. When God spoke to Samuel in the middle of the night, He did not recognize that God Himself was speaking. But after a few times of hearing, Eli, His Dad realized that the Lord was calling the boy and instructed Samuel to listen (v.9).  Samuel had to tune into God’s station– he was on AM and God was speaking on FM. He had to open his spiritual ears to hear what God had to say to him.

We too are often like Samuel. We listen with our physical ears to no avail; God wants us to hear with the “ears of the Spirit.” He has given us His Holy Spirit to instruct us but we have to tune in to His station. The Bible puts it this way: “incline your ears to understanding”. Once we tune in through prayer, reading of His Word, our spiritual ears are opened and He imparts His Word to us. But that is only the beginning. Samuel had to listen to God’s words and then he had to obey. His assignment was one I would not have signed up for. Samuel didnt sign up for it either but he listened to God’s instructions and then obeyed.

The Church Without Walls

I find myself in a challenging place today. I have decided to enter the blogging world and allow cyberspace to be my best friend. As most of you know I lead a ministry called Drawing Near to God and I have been searching for a way to communicate what the Lord is doing in the life of the minstry and in my personal life. So here is my first attempt at sharing with my new cyberspace friends about my very best friend, Jesus Christ.

This morning as I read through some passages in the book of Acts, I asked myself the question- or better yet, I was asking God…. “is the church described in the book of Acts the same church today?” Do we expect to see God show up in our daily lives both in simple ways, and in big ways? Do we start each day with a sense of expectancy that each day is not only a gift from God, but that we have been commissioned by God to be a part of what HE is doing?

After Jesus left this earth, He sent His Holy Spirit and then He commissioned believers (the church) to be His hands and feet on earth. Are you kidding me? Me represent Christ? Maybe I could send my priest, or better yet my husband who is the Godliest person I know. No…. God is asking me to be His representative on earth. And He is asking you to do so as well. Fortunately for both of us He has given us His Holy Spirit to lead and empower us but is it possible or just wishful thinking that together we can impact this world with the message of Christ? And that is where the “church without walls comes in”. The 1st century church was not divided into denomininations. The church was a group of people who banned together to pray, break bread, and care for one another. The church was essentially without walls powerfully breaking into a lost world that needed a Savior.

The same world exists today. People are broken, lost, and afraid. People are uncertain of their future and are feeling hopeless. As a body of believers we can be a kingdom united and it is time that we recognized how much we need one another. If we stay in our denominational corners we will lose the impact, power, and effect that together we can have on our broken world.

The church without walls is a church that is willing to acknowledge our differences and yet work together to be the body of Christ. Each part of the body is necessary. I yearn to see the day when the church exibits the fullness of the power that Christ promised. We can hasten the day by working together proclaiming freedom for the captives, sight for the blind, and release for the oppressed. (Luke 4:21). And together we will become the church without walls.