When You Need Advice

Who do you go to when you need advice?  Whose counsel do you seek?  


Our first instinct may be to say that we should never seek the counsel of man, but solely rely on the counsel of God.  While all counsel should be carefully scrutinized through the lens of scripture, the Bible itself tells us that wise counsel from others is a good and important thing.


The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. Proverbs 12:15


Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Proverbs 19:20-21


Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. Proverbs 28:26


However, we should receive counsel with discernment. 


Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. I John 4:1


If we were to think Biblically about giving and receiving counsel, I believe it will have two important implications for us:


1)  We will carefully select whom we go to for counsel and/or whose counsel we heed.

• Usually, we get advice from people who meet one of two criteria: they have experienced whatever it is we are going through or, they have received some sort of formal, usually secular, education on the issue at hand. When these two criteria become our sole premise for determining if another can give us sound counsel, we have elevated experience and education above the Word of God. While experience and education are useful, they are no replacement for Biblical counsel.

• So, instead of searching for advice from someone who has "been there," search for people who will advise you Biblically. (If that person has also "been there," great!) I would much rather receive parenting advice from someone who has no children but thinks Biblically, than from someone who has a house full of kids but will only offer me the latest pop-psychology for advice. 

• Sometimes, the right person to go to for counsel is one who you know will honestly tell you what is right/wrong even if it hurts your feelings. I beg you to make sure you have people like this in your life. Anyone can tell you things that will make you feel better, but a person who will give you Godly advice is a gem of a friend.

2) We will more carefully counsel others.

• I have been guilty of offering cliche' and worldly advice.  Advice like, "You have to do what feels right,"  or "Make the decision that gives you peace,"  or "You have to take up for yourself." All of these are unbiblical and worldly advice that Christians are guilty of throwing around haphazardly.

• I am especially guilty of giving such poor advice in day-to-day interactions. I don't consciously think of it as "advice."  But, it is. We must realize that we are constantly counseling people when we interact with them. Therefore, we must not be so flippant with our advice.  We should desire that all counsel we give is carefully based on the Word of God.

I pray that you seek Biblical counsel. I pray that you will have the guts to find someone who will advise you honestly even if it hurts your feelings.  I pray you will be more careful with the way in which you counsel others as you go about your day-to-day routine. May God be glorified as we seek to give and receive Godly counsel.

In All Modesty

I recently listened to a sermon by C.J. Mahaney on modesty. It was a very convicting message, but I am so grateful for his absolute honesty on this issue. I know it is a difficult issue for males to address in front of women, but it is needed, desperately.

I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; also women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire. 1 Timothy 2:8-9

"Ladies your wardrobe is a public statement of your personal and private motivation. And if you profess godliness, your motivation is to be distinct from our culture." - C.J. Mahaney

So, I began to examine my heart. Why do I choose the clothes I choose?  What is my motivation?

Examining your motivation for how you dress is much more challenging than examining if your hemline is too short or if your neckline is too low. Examining motivation gets to the heart of the matter. Am I dressing this way because I want people to think I am attractive? Am I dressing this way because I want others to think I have good fashion taste?  Do I consider if my selections glorify God?

If you are anything like me, you have spent many years measuring modesty by the wrong standard. I am guilty of looking at the women around me and feeling modest because I am not showing as much skin as her or wearing clothes as tight as hers. Instead, we should ONLY judge our own motivation for what we wear.

As women of God, our motivation should be to glorify God. We should not draw attention to ourselves. We should not wear anything that may cause our brothers in Christ to stumble. We should be sensitive to the stuggles of the men around us. We should not say, "Well, that's their problem," as this only reveals our own selfishness.

Also, we should realize that women who dress in a way to call attention to themselves don't need rules to abide by (how short, how low, how tight). The rules are not the underlying issue. Lack of modesty is a direct result of a woman not being satisfied in the Lord and filled with the truth of the Gospel.

Women, we also need to be more open with each other in accountability regarding this issue. Not in a rude or condescending way, but in a humble and loving way. When someone approaches us with concerns about our dress we should THANK them. Even if we do not agree, it is a blessing to have women who are willing to speak up.

As a minister's wife, I know I have a special responsibility in this. My husband cannot expect anything of a church member that he does not expect of me. When someone asks, "Do the women in your church dress modestly?" the first place one would look, and rightfully so, is at the minister's wives.

So, ladies I challenge you as I have been challenged to examine our motivation for the way we dress. May we dress in a way that reveals our humility before God and our motivation to glorify God in all we do.

Is God Self-Centered?

What does God love most?

I have to admit, I am one of those really annoying people who likes to ask questions that may shake up other people's worldviews. I like for Christians to question what they have always "heard" to be true. I like to see people really think about and examine their theology.

So, today, in our Bible study group I asked a question: What does God love most? The responses were interesting. 

Someone said, "Me."

Another said, "Us."

One brave soul said, "Himself."

Remember, we humans are sinful. Sinful = selfish and egocentric to the hilt. We like a religion in which everything revolves around us. We like the thought that above everything else, God is thinking of us. But, that simply is not true. God puts himself first. God loves himself most. Yes, God is self-centered.

Please, hear me out.

God's nature demands that he is self-centered. God has to be self-centered in order to be sinless. The Bible commands, "You shall have no other Gods before me." Therefore, God must be number one on His own priority list, or He would be committing idolatry. A god that committed idolatry would be sinful. A god that is sinful is not the God of the Bible.

When we are self-centered it is sinful, because we put ourselves before God. It is a sin to put anything above God. But, when God is self-centered it is righteous, because He puts nothing above himself. 

The fact that God puts himself above all else is beneficial to all of creation. He doesn't let anything stop his plans. He can love us with a pure and perfect love, because he does not idolize anything or anyone above Himself. And because He is perfect, He could die for us and satisfy his own wrath against sin. 

At first this truth is unsettling, especially if you have been repeatedly exposed to a man-centered view of God and the gospel.  However, if we really understand this truth it is actually comforting. We can rest assured that everything that God allows or appoints to happen is not about our happiness, safety, or well-being, but for His glory. We can humbly accept whatever trails we face because we know our God would only allow them to happen if they were the thing that would bring Him the most glory.

Yes, God is self-centered, but this is a beautiful and wonderful truth. When we grasp that Himself and His own glory are what is most important to God, it becomes most important to us as well.

Beware of False Teachers

False teachers. They are all around us. They are dangerous. Jesus warned us of them, calling them false prophets.


But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 1 Peter 2:1


False prophets are nothing to play around with but, sadly, many Christians do not know the Bible well enough to be able to identify false prophets. We trust any speaker or teacher that is successful and never examine his assertions in light of Scripture. Many of us read and quote from individuals having no idea that they are in fact false prophets. Some are in churches led by false prophets. Others say things like, "Yeah, he may not right on his views of salvation, but he's a great speaker and I like to listen to him." This alarms me.


Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  Matthew 7:15

Jesus called these false prophets ravenous wolves. Ravenous wolves are dangerous.  You don't go up to a ravenous wolf and say, "Oh, I know he has sharp teeth, but his fur is soft so I think I will pet him." Instead, you run.  Jesus also said these prophets bring in destructive heresies. We cannot turn a blind eye to false prophets for the sake of "getting along." We can't listen to them because they are "good speakers." We must stand for truth. 


Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you. Titus 2:15



There is no substitute for knowing the word of God. We have to be a student of the word of God, so that when a false prophet stands before us we will recognize them as false. But, they are not easy to recognize. Jesus said that false prophets are wolves in sheep's clothing. They are in disguise. They don't look like bad guys. In fact, they look like good guys. We have to be able to discern false prophets and it takes examination and comparison to the Scriptures.

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. Matthew 7:15-20


Fale prophets are dangerous and destined for judgement. We must carefully examine the messages we read and listen to so that we will not be led astray. All of these things have brought me to a strong conviction to share a list of some false prophet "red flags." This list is not exhaustive and is not a replacement for comparing all teachings to the Word of God.


Someone may be a false prophet if:


1) They do NOT say Jesus is the only way. This teacher may say there is another way to achieve salvation (such as different paths to the same god), or he may refuse to acknowledge Jesus as the only way.


Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6


A person who denies Jesus as the only means to salvation is calling Jesus a liar and is discrediting the infallible word of God. This person implies that we cannot trust Jesus or the Word of God, and, so, reveals to us that we cannot trust him. This is a false prophet.


2) They claim that they are the only TRUE church. This usually comes in the form of claims that they have had subsequent revelations (after the cannon of the Bible was closed) from an angel or a man. Sometimes they have their OWN translation of the Bible or have another book that they hold as equal to the Word of God. However, the Bible is clear on what believers should do when people (or angels) come purporting some new and different revelation.

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting.  2 John 1:10 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book Revelation 22:18 Bible believing Christians know that being in some denomination does not ensure you are a member of the true church, only being in Christ assures that. Anyone who claims otherwise, is a false prophet. 3) They say things like, "God spoke to me" or  "God told me to tell you."  These individuals are elevating their own thoughts or words to the same level as the authors of Scripture who were told by God what to write. Many times, they use these phrases to "trump" scripture, meaning what they claim God said is clearly not Biblical, but because God "told" them, it must be right.  God will not contradict himself in this way. As believers we must realize that our thoughts and convictions must align with Scripture. We realize we are fallible humans, and do not claim to "have a word from the Lord" apart from or contradictory to the message of Scripture.  In addition, these individuals are elevating themselves to the position of High Priest. They may attempt to act as a messenger between us and God. But, Jesus is our High Priest. Because of Christ's finished work on the cross, the veil is torn and we no longer need a earthly High Priest.  I realize that many well-intentioned individuals use statements like "God told me," but what they really mean is "God impressed upon me" or "I feel convicted that..."  In this case, they may not be a false teacher; they just don't realize the error in their choice of words. However, it is something of which we should be wary. This may be a false prophet. 4) They omit sin and God's wrath from the gospel, believe people are good (not sinful/wicked), and/or believe that Christianity is a ticket to wealth, health and success. This is a big one. This undermines what Christ did on the cross and cheapens grace. These are completely UNBIBLICAL views of salvation/Christianity. Beware, this is a false prophet. 5) They put more emphasis on experience than on the Word of God. The Word of God is truth. We should be very careful about listening to those who trust anything more than they trust the Word of God. This may be a false prophet. 6) They don't have good fruit. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Matthew 7:16 These teachers don't practice what they preach. This one is much harder to examine because it takes knowing the person's private life.  Women are not the wives and mothers that scripture commands. Men are not the husbands and fathers they should be and do not manage their household. According to scripture men who do not meet the scriptural qualifications are disqualified from being pastors/elders. The scriptural qualifications are very clear: He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? I Timothy 3:4-5 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain Titus 1:6-7 I pray this list gives you some insight as to how to begin to examine the teachers to which you listen or read. I hope and pray you don't take my word for it, but that you search the Scriptures for yourself. May we stand for truth and protect ourselves and our family from false teachers.

Pray Earnestly

I find it easy to pray for myself.

       “Lord, please help me through this, I can’t do it without you.”

         “Holy Spirit, please guide and direct me as I make these tough decisions.”

         “Lord, I desire this more than anything. Please, show me grace in this.”

But, it is not as easy to pray for other people. Especially, when it means praying for them something I want for myself. 

God, through scripture, brought conviction in this.

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding 

Colossians 1:9

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power 

2 Thessalonians 1:11

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous person has great power.

James 5:16

Obviously, praying for other believers is a integral part of Christian unity.

It is easy to say to someone, “I am praying for you.” It is easy to shoot up a quick, unemotional, “Lord, please help so-and-so.”  But, to earnestly pray for someone - to carry their burden as if it is your own - I think that is a different thing entirely.

So, a few months ago, I began praying purposefully. I prayed for many sweet sisters to conceive. I prayed for others to hear a heartbeat at their first ultrasound. I prayed for healthy pregnancies and babies. 

And, I continue to pray. I pray that these women would realize the depths of God’s grace, which is not based on circumstance. I pray that they would cherish Christ as absolutely worthy of any pain or heartache they may experience in this life.  I pray they would want nothing more than to bring God glory with their lives. 

I would be lying to you if I said it was easy to pray earnestly in these matters. To be truthful, it is difficult. These prayers reveal the egocentric sinful nature within me. They reveal ugly jealousy, self-pity, and even reservations about God’s goodness. Ultimately, they reveal my continued need for repentance and my continued need for the power of the Gospel to sanctify me and cleanse me from unrighteousness. 

Pray EARNESTLY for others. Even when it is hard. Even when it hurts. 

May God be glorified through our earnest prayers. 

The Center of the Celebration

This year, Stephen and I spent much time analyzing why we do what we do at Christmas. We have known that we did not want to “do” Santa when we have kids, but we also asked about the other traditions of the season. 

Why do we put up a tree and lights? 

Why do we give gifts?

Why do we use the credit card to try to buy a better gift than last year?

Why is the focus of Christmas morning what we get?

These questions led us to do research on the origin of these traditions. It amazed us that the traditions we put so much effort into, are actually pagan in origin.

I know I sound like an awful cynic. But, that is not my intention. I am not asserting that any of the aforementioned things are sinful in themselves. I have no problem with families that “go all out” for Christmas. But, if you have read my blogs for any amount of time, you know that I am a thinker. It is how I am wired. I try to analyze if my actions line up with my theology.  Cause, after all, if I don’t live it, do I really believe it?

This year, the biggest question was, “Is Christ the center of my Celebration?”

As I was sitting in my living room a few weeks ago thinking about this, I looked at my Christmas tree. It was big, beautiful, bright and easily seen to those who walk in the front door or even just drive past my house. Then, I shifted my gaze across the room to the nativity scene that was set up on a shelf, off to the side of the room. When I put up my Christmas decorations, I thought, “Where will I put the tree?” I moved furniture so that it could be in the “center” of the living room. On the other hand, I gave no thought to the nativity. And, if you had visited my house, you would have noticed the tree, but you probably would not have noticed the nativity.

I don’t think there are any special powers in the figurines of a nativity. But, I realized this was a reflection of how culture has taught me to view Christmas. The tree and the presents took up such a big part of my celebration, that Christ was more of an after-thought. 

In our home, we want Jesus to be the visible center of Christmas. So, I moved the nativity to a spot right in the middle of our living room. It served as a visible reminder of the miracle of the Word becoming flesh.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14

I am not yet sure what we will do differently to celebrate next year, but I do know we will be very intentional about making Jesus the center of our celebration.

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. I pray that you aim to make Christ the center of all you do, everyday.

Do What is Biblical

Finding the will of God is not chasing "peace."


Christians (myself included) are guilty of saying things like, "I know it was the will of God because I had a peace about it." This is a poor method of decision making that has been indoctrinated to us by the wave of spiritualism and mysticism in our culture.


We have quit trusting our Bible and, instead, have opted to trust our emotions. We "follow our heart" or search for "feelings of peace." We did not get these methods of decision making from the Bible, they came from our mystic culture. God never promised us that we would feel peaceful in the midst of His plan for our life. I doubt Peter felt peace about being crucified upside-down. I don't think James was at peace when he was thrown from the southeast pinnacle of the temple (over 100 feet high) then beaten to death with a club. It seems that Jesus' sweat drops of blood were a sign that he anguished over the will the Father. 


We can't decipher God's will based on whether we have "peace."  I do not have peace when I try to share the Gospel with a family member who is hostile towards it. I do not have peace when I must approach my sister in Christ about her sin. But, I know these things are the will of God.


So we must use our brains to determine what aligns with the Word of God. We do not trust how we feel. We trust what God has spoken. 


This is an area in which God is growing me. He is teaching me to quit looking for some magical "peace," and instead focus on being obedient to his Word. That also includes KNOWING his word. Godly decisions are made by being so permeated by the Word of God that we think Biblically about everything. 


Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2


We discern God's will by having a renewed mind, and our mind is renewed by Scripture.  We cannot discern the will of God if we think as the world thinks. Our world is feeding us messages of inner peace, relativism, and mystical signs. We must not be conformed to this!


What we feel is "best" is not always Biblical. Obedience requires risk. Obedience is scary. 


So, let us not do "what feels right." Instead, let us read and devour the Word of God. Let us pray and seek Godly counsel.  Let us do what is Biblical, no matter the cost.

Thankful

We have had a wonderful Thanksgiving visit with my mother-in-law. We have spent the week in the absolutely beautiful north Georgia mountains. 

Pictures from the front porch!

Stephen has three very young half-siblings (Noah 9, Leah 6, and Samuel 5). 

We were so blessed to get to spend time with them this week. We even got to go to Samuel and Leah’s basketball game on Tuesday night.  However, I am pretty sure the kids were more excited to see Oscar than us....

Samuel and Oscar

Noah and Oscar

I know my husband hates that we live so far away from them. He wishes he could be more involved in their lives.

Stephen and Leah enjoying some pumpkin pie.

As I have watched my husband interact with them this week, it makes my heart swell. He has been so intentional about sharing the Gospel with them. I have watched him explain sin and its penalty, the holiness of God, and the provision made in Christ. Even though they have not been receptive, it was beautiful. In addition, he led us in a time of family worship on Thanksgiving day. 

So, as I count my blessings this Thanksgiving, I am so thankful for my husband and my marriage. It is awesome to see my husband passionate about the gospel and worship leading off of the stage. As I watched him this week, I can’t help but think of this as a preview of what is to come when we have children. I know he will strive to make the gospel the center of his parenting. I absolutley cannot wait to raise children with this man. 

The whole gang.

Submission

Submission. This is a counter-cultural word. Our society has so influenced us Christian women that we cringe when we hear it. Society has so influenced the church that often pastors "dance around" or "sugar coat" the issue if they mention it at all.

Our society has taught us to be egocentric to the point that we no longer desire or even understand Biblical submission. We have allowed cultural views to impact us, and as a result our marriages look less and less Biblical. We no longer look for opportunities to submit to our husbands. To the contrary, we look for every opportunity to justify our lack of submission.

But, despite what our culture would have you believe, submission to our husbands is a beautiful, God-ordained thing.

I hear women say, "I can't submit because my husband is (insert some character defect here)."  In other words, we believe we don't have to submit because our husband does not deserve it. Newsflash: He will never deserve it. There is only one man in all of history who could ever deserve it. This is the beauty of it! We willingly submit to another sinful human, not because he deserves it, but because Christ deserves it.

As we look to our husband and begin to follow him, we can't focus on our spouse. We must shift our gaze to see past him and focus on Christ. If our focus is on our husband, we will be disappointed. Instead, we focus on Christ who does not disappoint. Our submission to our husband is in obedience to Christ. Our submission to our husband is our submission to Christ. If we are not submitting to our husband, we are not submitting to Christ.

This is a big deal. I saddens me that so many in the church have swept it under the proverbial rug. The Bible clearly calls wives to submit to their husbands. We are modeling for our children and the world what submission to Christ is about. Mothers, you teach your children how to submit to you, as a parent, by modeling it in your submission to your husband. Your children are watching. The world is watching.

Would you join me in praying that God would transform our minds in the area of submission? We can not buy into the lies of our culture and think it is ok for us to ignore the call to submission. We must not take this lightly, we should take it seriously. I desperately want to be obedient in this. I want my marriage to be a testimony of the Gospel.

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Ephesians 5:22-23

Laying Down the Dream

Do you ever ponder what you would give up for the gospel?  I do.

I wonder how far I would really go in obedience to God. How radical would I be? What would I actually give up? What would I actually sacrifice? Why am I not sacrificing more for the sake of the Gospel? Would I really go anywhere?  Would I really give anything?

This pondering has led to one conclusion: I am far too comfortable.

How could I say I would give up my life if it came down to it, yet struggle everyday to give up the "American Dream" of prosperity and success?

So, this is me, desiring to lay down the  "American Dream," but not really sure how to do that.  I don't need a nice house, nice car, great career, and 2.5 children. I need the gospel.

Birthday Thoughts

Today, I turn 26.

It is interesting to think back to where I thought I would be at this time in my life. It is proof that I could never escape God's sovereign will for the future.

• 10 years ago, I thought that I would be celebrating my 26th birthday as my first year out of the University of Florida Vet School.
• 5 years ago, I thought I may be finishing up in Seminary and beginning a career in full-time women's ministry.
• 3 years ago, I had no idea where I would live or what I would be doing on my 26th Birthday.
• 1 year ago, I thought my 26th birthday would be my first birthday as a mother.

Despite all those plans, here I am.

I am not doing full-time women's ministry, but I am the wife of a God-fearing minister who strives to live out the Gospel in our marriage. I graduated from a tiny Baptist College with a degree in Christian Studies, but gained indispensable knowledge and theology. I am a resident of Louisiana which is 10 hours from family, but have some of the best "Miss-Lou" friends I could hope for. I have a secular teaching job, but I have learned to love people who look, act, think, and talk differently than me. I have no child, but have have been blessed to laugh with, cry with, pray for, encourage (and be encouraged by) women who are struggling with infertility or pregnancy loss.

By the providence of God, none of my plans came true. He has me exactly where He wants me on my 26th birthday. I am rejoicing that I serve a God who is in control, and has brought me right here, right now.

There's no "Christian Luck"

What is the providence of God?

We hear people say things like, “By the providence of God, she lost control of her car and missed that pine tree by inches.” But you rarely hear people say, “By the providence of God, she lost control of her car and hit that pine tree dead on.”  Why is this so?  Isn’t God in as much control in the second situation as in the first?

Yes, He is. But, we respond this way because we incorrectly define providence as “Christian luck.”

God’s providence is not Christian luck. God’s providence is how God uses every event – both the good and the bad – to accomplish his purposes.

So, we see the providence of God in EVERY event. 

In disaster. 

In catastrophe. 

In tragedy.

Sometimes, we Christians think we need to protect God. (Like we could.)  We think we shouldn’t attribute the atrocities of life to God, and try to find another answer. We say things like, “God did not do this Satan did.” We blame our difficulties on the economy, sickness, other people, national leaders, nature and a host of other things.   But, nothing can happen apart from what God permits, and God only permits according to His providence.

This is a truth that Naomi knew well. Her story is found in the book of Ruth. She and her family had moved to Moab (land of pagans) to escape the famine that was ravaging the Promised Land. While there, Naomi’s husband died.  Then, her two sons died. She was left alone with her two Moabite daughter-in-laws, and a foreign land.  Can you imagine? Naomi experienced tragedy upon tragedy.

• Famine – With the famine she probably experience hunger and the stress of not being able to feed her family.
• Move – She moved with her family to a foreign land, away from the Promised Land and to a land of pagans.  She was away from her land, her family, and everything familiar.
• Sons Marrying Moabite Women– This would have been a travesty to devout Hebrew parents.
• Death of Her Husband – The death of a husband in Naomi’s culture was far more tragic than it is even today.  She would have been left with very little, and would have to rely on her sons to care for and provide for her.
• Death of two sons – Naomi was now without a husband and living children. She had no one to provide for her, she would have been akin to a homeless person in today’s society. 

Think of all she went through. I cannot begin to imagine. But, what she says after she returns to the Promised Land demonstrates that she understood the Providence of God. She says, "I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty." She did not say, "I ran into some bad luck," or "Everything went downhill because of the economy," or it was just a "natural disaster." She did not ask God why this had happened to her. She simply said the Lord had done this. It appears that she faithfully and humbly trusted that He had some purpose for it, and she did not demand He explain that purpose to her. She trusted His providence.

Many times when we find ourselves in a painful or difficult situation, we quit talking about the providence of God. We only talk about things being providential when they have the outcome we want. Let’s not be so self-centered; God is providential in all things.  Nothing happens apart from what God wills/allows. God will use every event to accomplish his purposes. He will use all things to bring glory to Himself. That’s providence.

So, whenever famine, disappointment, death or any other tragedy befalls you, cling to this: God has a purpose for it. His purpose is not centered around you, but on His will.  If you are there now, God doesn’t promise you things will get better in this life, in fact, they may get worse. However, He does promise that He is in control and His purposes will be accomplished.

There is no such thing as “Christian luck.” There is only the providence of God.

Don't Listen to Lies

Last night, a precious Godly friend spoke encouragement and blessings over me. What a blessing she was to me! She knew the struggle I am currently in, and by the grace of God, knew exactly what to say.  She was a embodiment of Hebrews 10:25,  “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

She stirred up my heart and encouraged me with her words.

The two thoughts that stuck with me after our conversation were, “Don’t listen to the lies of Satan,” and, “Don’t doubt God’s goodness.”

Of course, I began to ponder these questions. The question that really stumped me was, “How do I know when I am listening to lies from Satan?”

This one stumped me because, my sinful SELF tells me some pretty dumb lies. I don’t know about you, but I catch myself thinking things contrary to the word of God, often. Obviously, sanctification is still happening in the area of “taking every thought captive.” (2 Cr. 10:5) Are these lies implanted in my brain by Satan himself??? I do not know.  The distinction between thoughts that originated with me and those that originated with Satan is not nearly important as identifying all thoughts that did not originate with God. We must identify thoughts and beliefs, regardless of their origin, that are contrary to God’s word and combat them with truth.

Still, I wondered, what would Satan want me to believe? The answer to this question led me back to the Garden of Eden, to the very first lie.

But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Gen. 3:4-5)

I believe these are the same lies we still battle today.

First, Satan said, “You will not surely die.” With this lie, Satan wanted to convince Eve that God would not follow through on the judgment He had already promised. Today, we hear this lie said with different words, but it is the same lie. “God is love, so He wouldn’t send anyone to hell.”  “I know this is wrong, but God will forgive me.” These are lies. These types of statements reveal a heart that does not take the judgment of God serious. Satan wants us to doubt that God’s judgment is real.

As a side note: notice that, usually, these lies are half-truths, a muddy mix of something true with something false. Satan himself used half-truth in the garden, knowing they are easier for us to swallow. We must rightly divide truth from lie!

Second, and the lie that I am currently battling, is the lie that God is keeping something good from us. I know Satan did not come right out and say this, so let me explain. Satan’s statement was, “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Satan wanted Eve to believe that God was keeping something good from them, which knew good and evil. Satan wanted them to believe that they deserved to have what they wanted, and that they could get it by their own efforts.

This lie is so dangerous because it also convinces us that we are a better judge of what is good than God is. We think, “I desire ______________ so much! This is good thing, that I deserve to have. Surely, if God was good He would give this to me,” or “Why? Why, God, did you let this happen to me?” Oh dear friend, can’t you hear the selfish, me-centered way of thinking in these statements? Lord, please forgive me for thinking in such a sinful way!

So, I am calling out these lies in my life. In light of the truth, I change my thoughts.  I pray, “God, You are ultimately and supremely good. You know the desires of my heart. Lord, I trust that your plan, whatever it is, is best for bringing you Glory.”

I encourage you to recognize the lies you are listening to.  Maybe, your situations are prompting you to doubt God’s goodness. Maybe, you doubt God’s judgment.  Or, maybe you are listening one of a thousand other lies that are contrary to who God is and what His word says. Let’s expose those dark lies with the blinding light of Jesus. Let’s repent and replace those thoughts with truth from God’s word.

Brighter than Fear

Last Wednesday night our pastor preached on John 21:15-23. One part of this passage stuck in my mind and caused me to search my heart.

The passage begins with Jesus asking Peter, three times, “Do you love me?” Peter answered affirmative each time, and seemed a little exasperated by the third time. After these three questions, Jesus said to him, " 'Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.' (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, 'Follow me.' " John 15:18-19

Can you imagine? Jesus basically told Peter he would be taken and killed. This is followed by the imperative statement, “Follow me.”

I keep thinking, “Knowing it would get me persecuted and killed, would I have followed?”

It is easy to sit here on my comfy couch, with my First Amendment protection and say, “Sure.” But, when I really examine my heart critically, I am not so “sure.” Inside my heart there is kindling for fear, and should that kindling be lit by a threat of death, I believe that fire could very well consume me.

I find comfort in the fact that Peter struggled with fear also. Back in chapter 18, John tells us that Peter denied Jesus three times. Now, the text does not specifically tell us that it was fear that fueled the denial; however, I cannot help but infer that it was, at least partially, involved.

That same Peter FOLLOWED Jesus to death. He was martyred for his Lord. How did that happen?  What changed?

Pentecost. The pouring out of the Holy Spirit.

Between the denial and Peter’s death we find the events of Acts 2 - the day of Pentecost and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. Peter denied Christ before this event. But, after he received the power of the Holy Spirit given at Pentecost, he unashamedly proclaimed the Gospel, and eventually gave up his life for its sake.

The lesson? By no power of my own could I ever stand strong in such a trail. Fear would prevail. I cannot rely on myself to be “strong enough.”  But, praise God, I live on this side of Pentecost, so I know that same power the emboldened Peter lives within me. The Holy Spirit is “strong enough.” He burns bigger and brighter than my fear.

What's Wine Got to Do with It?

Why was Jesus’ first miracle turning water into wine?

Has anyone else wondered this?

It seems that this miracle has been grossly misinterpreted by some (think of country songs that portray Jesus as a “good ole boy” who drinks wine), and largely ignored by many. Surely there is a reason for this miracle, and a reason for its primacy in Jesus' ministry?

Before I divulge into my conclusions, allow me to remind you that I am not claiming to have a new idea. I have not unlocked some secret that no one else has noticed or written about. In fact, I deserve no credit for any idea, since I am always inspired by many a preacher, professor and commentator. Nevertheless, I write praying that, whether these thoughts are old or new to you, you relish in the beauty found in this passage!

Let’s begin by reading John's account of the first miracle.

John 2:1-11
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples.

When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine."

And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come."

His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast." So they took it.


When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine,and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew) the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serve the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now."

This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manisfested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. 

There are many things we could discuss from this passage, but I would like to focus on three: 1) the Six Stone Jars, 2) the Wine and 3) the Wedding.

Six Stone Jars

In scripture, six is a number often associated with man's labor or effort (and the inadequateness thereof).[1] These stone jars were used for the purification ritual under the Old Covenant (Law). Try as they might (human effort), no man could cleanse himself of sin through the rites and rituals. The Old Covenant Law was incomplete for salvation, meant to be made complete by the Messiah.

Wine

What do we know about wine? Did Jesus say anything about wine that might help us understand its significance?

Mark 2:22 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins--and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

Luke 5:39 “And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, 'The old is good.'"

Referring to the wine shared at the last supper, Jesus said, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many." (Mark 14:24)

Jesus used wine to refer to the covenant between God and man. Specifically, he used “old wine” to refer to the Old Covenant (the Law) and “new wine” to refer to the New Covenant, established through his blood.

The Wedding

This miracle was performed at a wedding. Weddings are a celebration of a covenant. From scripture, we see that, in the New Covenant, Jesus is the bridegroom of the Church.

And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast." (Mark 2:19)

Conclusion

Verse 11 ends the account by stating this was the first of his signs. This is significant as a sign “points to some deeper truth beyond itself.”[2]

The purpose of the first miracle was not to “meet the needs” of the wedding party. The first miracle was not  to demonstrate that Jesus could "throw a good party." The point of this narrative is not to show that it’s ok to enjoy wine at weddings.

The purpose of the first miracle was JESUS and the New Covenant he would bring.

The first miracle announced that the time of the New Covenant had come. The Law was insufficient to offer salvation, BUT the Messiah had arrived to complete the Law, so that he could bring salvation through the New Covenant of his blood. Doesn’t that make your heart jump with emotion?

Do you remember the words of the master of the feast?

John 2:9-10. "When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, 'Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.'"

What truth he spoke! God saved the “best” until his appointed time. The Law was not the “good wine.” The Law was not meant to save, but to show man his need for a Savior. Jesus is the “good wine” whom God revealed at his appointed time. It is by his blood that we enter the New Covenant. Praise the Lord!

1] http://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/6.html

[2]Carson, D. A.: New Bible Commentary : 21st Century Edition. 4th ed. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA : Inter-Varsity Press, 1994, S. Jn 2:1