Prayer: A Conversation With God

God waits for us to seek Him. Photo Credit: Unknown 

I am Forgetful

There are times when I forget. 

I get busy doing all the things I think I should be doing and for hours, sometimes days I do not talk to my Lord. 

This is no way to have a relationship, not a good one anyway. 

If I were to treat my husband or kids like that, giving the silent treatment for hours or days on end then my relationships would begin to suffer. I know this. I pay attention to the people in my life, but why is it I fail to pay attention to my Father? Instead of acting like a beloved daughter, I wander around like a homeless orphan. 

I am Not Alone

The children of Israel had been brought out of Egypt. They were free of the tyranny of enslavement. Led by a cloud in the day and a pillar of fire by night, they followed the Lord's leading. They saw the spirit of God descend Mt. Sinai like a fire and a billow of smoke. They heard God's voice like thunder. They were in awe. 

Then Moses ascended the mountain and left the people below. For forty days and forty nights Moses dwelt in the presence of God at the top of the mountain. Below, the children of Israel heard only the sound of thunder. They began to forget it was God's voice and soon ignored it all together. They approached Aaron and asked for an idol to worship. Why? 

In the absence of fellowship we revert to spiritual enslavement and false idols. TWEET THAT

The Before and After

Before Jesus, we were lost in darkness. We wander around like blind men, groping for some stability. We look for salvation but only see darkness. We wait for a sudden illumination, but there is nothing.(Isaiah 59:9-10)  Then salvation comes. 

God saw our need for a Savior. He saw our desperation. His heart was moved with passion and zeal to show His great love for us. So He sent Jesus - His right arm. 

"He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor;

Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him." Isaiah 59:16 

The word "wondered" in Hebrew means to be made desolate, appalled, stunned, ravaged, stupefied, or deflowered. God saw there was no champion (ish in Hebrew - Strongs 0376) and it raped His heart. (yes- I said raped) He was made desolate at the thought His creation would never be able to have full fellowship with Him because of their sin.  Mankind needed an intercessor. 

That word "intercessor" can be translated in the Hebrew (Strongs 06293) to mean "to cause light to shine on" or "to reach the mark". God's right arm (Jesus) was sent to save us. To make a way where there was no way before. A sacrifice for all mankind, to take away the sins of the world. The word "Salvation" in this passage is pronounced "yaw-shah" which reminds me of the name "Yeshua" (ye-shew-ah) or Jesus. 

By providing a way for us to come to Him freely, God revived himself after feeling such loss. That is what it means when it says "it sustained Him". (Strongs 05564) 

Before Jesus we were lost, in the dark, groping like blind men. After Jesus we have a way to approach our Father boldly, with confidence that He loves us and has made us His righteousness through Christ. Now we have relationship. Now we can have fellowship. 

Fellowship is Key

God dwelt among us in the flesh. He walked in the midst of people. Jesus, fully God and fully man, laid down His life so that we could have fellowship with God. Then, Jesus returned to heaven, so He could give us the Spirit of God. The kingdom of God, alive and living in our very hearts. This is the mystery Paul spoke of. The God of the Universe dwelling in the hearts of man. 

God would not have gone through so much trouble if the reward was not great. Fellowship with us is that reward. His heart longs for our heart. Like a long lost lover longs for his beloved, God longs for us to be in fellowship with Him. 

So when I forget to talk to Him, I hurt the very heart of God. 

Prayer

Prayer is simply talking with God. A conversation. Fellowship. It is not a magical formula: if you mix equal parts thanksgiving with equal parts supplication then you get double parts blessing. (Blah)  We do not serve God for what we can get from God. 

We serve God because He is Holy and deserves our service. The paradox of God is this: as we make it more about HIM, He makes it more about us. He shows His love to us over and over and begins to shower us with blessings, not because we hit the magic formula, but out of His love and outpouring of relationship with us He gives to us. 

Prayer is talking. Prayer is asking. Prayer is worship. Prayer is fellowship. We have access to God by what He provided in Jesus, but we must approach the Father and talk with Him to begin to know Him, and like any conversation, prayer is a two way street. 

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" John 10:27

You would not know your best friend or your spouse if you had never talked to them. God demands the same and more in order to know Him and to walk in fellowship with Him. It all starts with a conversation. 

He deserves more than my hard heart and cold shoulder. 

Forgive me Lord. Forgive my hard heart and my weak mind. Help me set my eyes on you and not be distracted by the things of this world that threaten to consume me. Instead, let me be consumed by You, like Mount Sinai was consumed. Like a fire and a billow of smoke, let me rest and dwell in Your presence. 

Join the Conversation

Do you find praying difficult? Why or why not? 

The Beauty of Redemption

Photo Credit: Creative Commons

There is Hope

"In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life." James 1:21 The Message


What a beautiful vision of God’s love for us: that he would take the barren, dark, desert landscape of our lives and turn them into lush gardens of beauty, and wholeness. Lives filled with light and life. This is what God does: He creates.

I know that there are places in my life that still need a remodel, a do-over so to speak. That is why what God does is so amazing. He makes all things new.

My hard, lonely, and dying heart can be made whole. That is the beauty of Jesus.

He has loved us from the beginning and He pursues us even now.

Watch this video and hear the message: God is calling you….

Before and After

The goodness and newness of God 

Too many people think God is mean, and unfair. I know He is sweet, and loving, and fair and kind and holy. A holy God demands righteousness. On our own we cannot be righteous enough. 

On our own we are like filthy rags. No amount of self-help, or self-actualization will change that. We are not capable on our own to reach God. 

This is why He made a way. A bridge between Him and us. This is why He sent Jesus to us. In Jesus Christ, we can be forgiven of our filth and cleansed spiritually. This renewal cannot be explained in words. It is supernatural. But the effects can be measured some. 

Before I knew Jesus, I was lost. After Jesus, I am found. 

Before I was hard. I am softer now. Before Jesus I was mean. Now I live with more compassion. Christ changes us from the inside out. 

Before Jesus I was a zero waiting for a hero. I was nothing. But God saw I could be more. HE made me for more. He made you for more too. 

God adds value where there was none because He loves. He loves us like a Father should love. Completely, wholly, and with undying devotion God chases us. He is unrelenting. He is faithful. 

He will never leave me. He will never hurt me. He will always be my answer, because He is my source. I want more of Him than anything else in this world. 

He wants us too. He chose us. He loves us with a holy jealousy. A righteous concern over our love and well being- that kind of holy jealousy. He is holy and he wants a holy people. We can only be holy as he is holy. When we surrender...when I surrender to all he is and has for me, then I am continually being made holy, like Him. 

Not so I can lord it over others, but so I can shine the light of His glory and draw men and woman, young and old to him. His heart is for us. He is not against us. He loves us. He cares. He sees everything and He waits on us to come to him and call on him.

 

"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Acts 2:21

This is what I know. My God is good. He is kind. His mercy is new every morning. He is my home. He is my love. He is my life. 

"O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him." Psalms 34:8

 Join the Conversation: 

There is no place I would rather be than in God's presence, as one of His. What about you? 

Completing the Armor of God

This will be the last entry in the Armor of God series.

Lets look at the scripture once again.

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." Ephesians 6:10-18

Watch Your Head! 

We have to protect our minds from the enemy. The childhood song lyrics "O be careful little eyes what you see..." come to mind. I know how easy it is to get sucked into what passes for entertainment these days. I have an obsession with reality TV. I used to watch housewives, stars in rehab, and the "un"real world. Though I drew the line on all things jersey. 

I understand how easy it is to veg out in front of a TV and do nothing for a while. But too much of anything can be a bad thing, and when we are not paying attention because we are 'Vegging Out", the enemy can be laying the groundwork for his next attack. 

Our minds are battlegrounds in and of themselves. When we are under attack it is difficult to win unless we have the mind of Christ. 

2 Timothy 1:7 says this: 

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind"

Anyone who rides horses can tell you this: where the head goes, the horse follows. We are no different. If Satan can win the battle for your mind, then your life will follow. Guard yourself. Put on the helmet of Salvation.

That Thing is Sharp! 

Brain surgery requires a sharp cutting tool. As Christians, we often need to allow God to perform surgery on our minds. We must cut away our old way of thinking and allow Him to teach us a new way to think.

How do we do this? By the Word of God, which is sharper than any two-edged sword.

Romans 12:2 says this: 

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

By reading and memorizing the Word of God it gets in us. It begins the work of renewing us from the inside out. It begins to correct us, instruct us, and show us the goodness of God. It tells us how God operated and helps us learn to recognize His Spirit at work in our lives.

The Christian Soldier is a Duel Sword Warrior

Okay, so I got a little video-game-geeky when I wrote that subtitle, but it is true nonetheless. We must be able to wield not only the Word of God, but also the Sword of the Spirit.

We have all met those Christians that can fire off in rapid succession scriptures to back up their point of view. This quick-fire method may be good going up against the enemy, but deadly when pointed in the direction of people.

This is why listening to the Spirit is so important. Sometimes, what we see as an opportunity to show how much scripture we know, is really an opportunity to just shut up and listen to someone. This gentle response allows the Spirit of God to work in the situation rather than us stumbling around randomly swinging hoping we do not cut too deeply.

This does not only apply to how we treat others, but also how we respond to ourselves. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in "being our best" that we forget to rest in the Grace of God. There is no condemnation (accusatory attitudes and prosecution of sin) in Christ: He paid the price for you already. The Spirit of God will correct you, but be careful you are not allowing your ideas of what God expects to begin to bludgeon you into  an emotional and spiritual basket case.

There will be times when God gets right to the meat of a matter, and then there are times when He woos us with His grace. We must learn to yield to both the Sword of God (BIBLE) and the Sword of the Spirit (Holy Spirit). Both are vital, and both can be mishandled.

Keep the Lines of Communication Open

In any battle scenario, the lines of communication must remain open between the front lines and the command center. If these are interrupted, the battle will go sideways very quickly. It may still be won because training kicks in, but casualties will be high, and the overall objective of the battle may not be won.

Our relationships with God are no different. He is in Command. We are on the front lines. We must pray and have open communication as we face our enemy. We cannot see the whole battlefield. He can. He can direct us, and help us guard one another's flank to keep us from defeat!

Prayer allows for instantaneous change of heart and directions. Prayer allows for God to speak directly to us and give us the edge we need when we square off toe to toe with out enemy.

Post Battle Report and RNR

Do not forget, that after battles, soldiers need some Rest-n-relaxation (RNR). Get with God and get the download on how the battle went. Ask about what you could have done differently and then, just rest in His presence. Get some RNR. This time will help fuel you and prepare you for the next battlefield, and help you to train other soldiers that are watching your example. 

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Join the Conversation: 

What part of the armor of God do you still have questions or comments on? Share with us, and join the conversation. 

A Mess in a Dress: Getting Past Your Past

Wednesdays are turning into one of my favorite days! We are Blogging through the book The Gospel of Yes by Mike Glenn. This means we can read it together chapter by chapter and discuss it here like a book club. It is not too late to catch up with us. You can get a copy of the book here. (affiliate link)

Chapters Six and Seven

My grandmother used to look at me on Sunday mornings as I ran around the church in my Sunday frock, and say "that girl is a mess in a dress". She said it with affection and humor, but it was true on so many levels.

I was a mess when God said yes. To be honest, I still am a bit of a mess. I have issues. I have a past.
I am also willing to bet you do too.


If you are letting your past hold you back from experiencing the fullness of God's yes, then you are missing the point. There is freedom and recovery in God's yes: freedom from what is holding you back and recovery from what has hurt and scarred you.

"We all have a past. Even though we find new life in Christ, no one starts from zero. Your life and mine, like any good story have a prequel." Mike Glenn, The Gospel of Yes, page 90

I have shared with you my prequel: I was an adulteress, and God healed my marriage. I was a child of divorce and God wanted me anyway. I have a story and it is messy because life is messy. We are messy.

God is not afraid of your mess. Jesus doesn't judge you because you have a past. The woman caught in adultery in the Bible was brought before Jesus. He said "Go and sin no more." No judging, no condemning. He just spoke life and sent her forward.

"Jesus in not unaware of the mess you are in, and he knows better than anyone that you can't fix it on your own. The mess you are in is why he came. And now that he is here, it makes no sense to waste any more time. So get started. Jesus will start wherever you are. " page 97

 What Makes the Gospel Great? 

The Gospel is great because it is the story of God choosing us in our brokenness, in our messiness, and Jesus revealing the love of the Father to us.

This means God chose you. From the beginning He chose you. You have a purpose, you have a reason for being. Just existing is no longer an option. You now have heard God's yes! Embrace it. Let it begin to change you. Renew the way you think about yourself, about the world, and about God. This yes from God changes everything!

This yes takes your mess and begins to make something beautiful in spite of it. From the inside out we are becoming something totally new!

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) 

You do not need to "fix" anything first. The truth is you can't. Only what Christ did for us can fix our brokenness.

Get Over Yourself! 

I know how to hold on. Tightly. I held onto my pain, my hurts, my past for a very long time. I hid behind a fake smile on Sundays so no one at church would know my pain. I was not fooling anyone. I certainly was not fooling God. 

I believed that God could heal and could change lives, just not mine. By believing God was good enough for everyone else but me I was making the gospel void. I made God to be a liar. I was wrong! 

If you are holding on to your past hurts and brokenness, get over yourself. I mean this in as much love as I can muster. Really. Let it go. God said yes and He wants to heal you from it all. He wants the chains to fall off and your new reality to be freedom and joy, not bondage and pain. 

God says "yes" to you. Say yes to Him. 

"Our lives may begin in a mess, but they end with a Divine Yes!" Mike Glenn, The Gospel of Yes page 100

Join the Conversation:

What was your "prequel"? Share a part of your story with us. Leave a comment (it can be long or short) with us. Click on "Add a Comment" below.


Blogging Through the Book is a group of bloggers who literally blog while reading the book. It’s different than merely reading a book and posting a review. We have a chance to read and share our thoughts in our community. Click HERE to find out about other blogger's perspectives on these chapters and join the discussion!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

How to Overcome Insecurities

Insecurities:

Everybody has at least one. Most people have more than one. 

In the Webster’s Dictionary Online insecure is defined as 

1: not confident or sure: uncertain; feeling somewhat insecure of his reception; 2: not adequately guarded or sustained: unsafe; an insecure investment; 3: not firmly fastened or fixed: shaky;the hinge is loose and insecure; 4 a: not highly stable or well-adjusted;an insecure marriage; b: deficient in assurance: beset by fear and anxiety; always felt insecure in a group of strangers. 

How do we turn uncertain, unsafe, and shaky into certain, safe, and steady? First we have to realize where insecurity comes from. 

Insecurity comes from believing a lie. 

We have all been there. We have believed we aren't smart enough to go back to college or good enough for that promotion. Whether you believe a lie your parents told you all your life “you are not good enough” or a lie you tell yourself “nothing ever seems to work out for me” lies have power only as long as you believe them. Once you stop giving them fuel to rule your life, you can see them for what they are: chains. Shake them off. Jesus freed us from our chains nearly 2000 years ago. 

Insecurity comes from lack of faith. 

The disciples were freaking out. A storm was tossing them around and there Jesus was, oblivious because he slept. They had no faith that God would protect them, keep them and bring them to the other side of the storm. Jesus was annoyed his nap was interrupted. Nevertheless he speaks to the storm and there was peace. He admonished his crew for their lack of faith. After all, Jesus was in the boat! 

Insecurity comes from lack of understanding who we are in Christ. 

You are God’s creation but more than that, at salvation you become a son or daughter. Adopted into a royal blood line, you now are joint heirs with Jesus, who sits next to God. When we were sinners, Christ died for us. When we are redeemed (bought back) by God He adds value to us that was not there before. We become more than we ever were. We become filled with Jesus. Now we can do all things because Christ gives us strength and value we did not have before. 

What’s next? 

Next we have to develop our Automatic Truth Response. When we are confronted with feelings of inadequacy, doubt, lack of faith, or lies (quietly spoken ones or the ones that shout in our heads) we have to respond with the truth – the word of God- so that we can deflect the enemies attack, and grow in the confidence God designed us to have in Him. 

You have a call of God on your life. You are important to God; in fact, you are his most prized possession. He owns the cattle on 1000 hills; he knows every star and calls them by name. He knows how many hairs you have on your head, and He cares for you. So much so, that he gave his only Son for you. Really, why do you doubt God’s love? 

Growing in Security 

God’s got this! Whatever “this” is. 

There is nothing too big for Him to handle. There is nothing too small for Him to care about. Since we are the thing He cares most about, He is active in our lives. He wants you to be active too; actively pursuing Him. 

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added.” Matthew 6:33

What things? Your everyday, human concerns: those things. What to eat, where to live, what job to take, what school to send your kid to… all of these things God knows you have need of, because He cares for you. 

When we trust that God has our best interests at heart, that He makes our paths straight then what do we have to fear? What do we have to doubt? Why would we shake or feel uncertain or unsafe when the storms come? 

We can be secure in this: that God has a plan, that plan is centered on you and that plan is more than the sum of who you are alone: that plan needs God to make it happen! Trust Him to direct you and lean on Him when you are not enough.

BE certain of WHO you are: A child of God. BE steady in your faith, believe all things are possible. BE safe in the knowledge that God loves you and He has got you! 

One of my insecurities is centered on this blog. Do I have any business writing this, teaching, sharing, preaching here? Alone, the answer is no. With God, all things are possible. 

Join the Discussion and Comment Below: 
What is one of your insecurities? 

Mountains - To Climb or Not to Climb?

Big or small mountains are not fun to climb. Each of us has them- at one time or another- and every time we face a new one the challenge can seem insurmountable. 

I know that when I have looked back at some of the mountains I have faced in my life, one of two things go through my mind.

1- "I called THAT a mountain?" or 2- "I know that only God brought me through THAT!" 

If you are alive, and I would hope that if you are reading this it means you still have a pulse- you have faced mountains. You might be facing one now. I am just writing this to encourage you to be strong.

Easy to say right?

Well, I can honestly say- no- it is not easy. Intellectually and spiritually when facing a mountain we can feel insignificant or overwhelmed. I have been there. I know. Have I faced every mountain with faith, composer, dignity, strength, and determination? No- but I know it can be done, because my Lord said it can be.

"Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to thismountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done". Matthew 21:21

You might be thinking- 'Dayna- you don't know- my mountain is so big I can't even seem to get out of bed today'. This is the enemy and his name is depression.

Depression can be mild, (man I am bummed I did not get that job!) or it can be severe (thoughts of suicide, mood swings, uncontrolled malaise, and general apathy toward your situation and your world).

First Things First

First I have to say that if you feel like you are in severe depression- seek medical help. Your regular physician can diagnose and treat you. You do not have to seek out a therapist right away, but you should. If you are suicidal TELL SOMEONE NOW. Help is available. (more on this later)

Personally I have dealt with depression. I have had postpartum depression, clinical depression, and have had to commit my husband (several years ago) to a hospital. He was so severely depressed that thoughts of suicide were all-consuming for him. I have seen both sides. I know that when you are depressed you face a mountain with little if any ability to overcome by yourself. 

But it can be done.

Jeremiah 15:20I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you," declares the LORD.

God's whole plan for man after the fall of Adam and Eve was a plan of rescue. That is why He sent Jesus. To save us. This salvation is complete and it is permanent. Just because your circumstances have changed does not mean you are not loved just as much now as when God made this plan in the first place.

2 Corinthians 6:2 For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." [ Isaiah 49:8] I tell you, NOW is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

and

Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed— not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence— continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of LIFE...

God is in the rescue business...daily.  

Why? 

Because of His unending and undying love for us. The cry of your heart, as you face your mountain- whether or not you face it depressed- is for wholeness, healing, and salvation. 

These things God provides.

Good counsel in these times- these face the mountain and can I take the next step times- is imperative. 

If you attend a good church, seek help with your pastor. They are the sheep with bells on. They are on the fore-front of ministry and are down in the trenches with you. This is a great place to seek Biblical and (most importantly) Holy Spirit guidance for your life. 

If you don't have a good church, find one. If church is not something you think you can handle, get over yourself. We all need a family, and though flawed, a church family can add tremendous support when going through "it".

The Father said:

Psalm 32:8I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.

The psalmist said:

Psalm 73:24You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.

Glory. Sounds like standing on top of that Mountain doesn't it?

Facing mountains, especially if you feel you are facing one alone can be daunting. But you do not have to be alone. The Lord made you, called you to be His, and longs to love you through the biggest circumstances...all the way to glory.

If you have never prayed before, or if the closest you came to praying was at the dinner table, then talk to the Father now. That is all prayer is...talking to the Father.

"Father, you see where I am and all that I have done and been in my life. Forgive me for my short comings and bring me to life. Thank you for rescuing me. Thank you for Jesus. Amen"

You are now God's child, his son or daughter. If you are already His, and feel that the mountain is too big, remember there is NOTHING too big for God. When He is for us, who (or what) could possibly stand against us?

When you look at the greatness of the Father, and his sheer awesome ability to bring you out of any situation- mountains begin to look like mo-hills...

What kind of mountain are you facing right now?


If you liked this post read more about battling Depression God's way here. 

Who Are You?

She Needed His Mercy

I am Mary Magdalene, adulteress, and prostitute. I met Him after He saved my life. He was the reason I am free from my old life. He is the one that loved me, though I was so unlovable. 

He did not want what other men did. 

He wanted my heart, not my body. 

He wanted me whole, not broken and used. 

He was my Savior and they have killed him.




He Washed His Hands

I am Pilot, governor over the territory of Jerusalem. This back water town is full of trouble, but every place is. I have to keep order and maintain the Roman way, but walk the line and keep the Jews happy too. 

Now they send me Him. Jesus. He is blameless. I find no fault. My wife is weeping in the other room. She has begged me to stay out of this. How can I? It is my job. I have to judge Him. 

He is innocent. 

The people want him dead. 

How can they want Him dead? What has he done? 

I will give them what they want. I cannot deal with an uprising if they become unsettled. 

I know they are wrong but I wash my hands of it all.



He denied Him

I am Peter. 

He just asked me to watch and to pray. I couldn’t stay awake! I should have seen them coming. I could have gotten him away from there! 

After the soldiers took him, I followed to see where they would take him. The courtyard was packed. They wanted Him dead. 

He knew. 

He told us last night. 

He has been telling us. 

Someone called me out! “Aren’t you one of his?” they asked me.

No!

“Yes, you are!” NO!

NO!

When that rooster crowed, I knew He had told me the truth.

What have I done?

When He asked me to follow Him, I did. When He asked me to walk out to meet Him on the water, I did. I watched him feed 5,000. I saw Him heal the blind. 

He even raised our friend from the dead. He washed my feet. 

He loved me like no one has ever loved me. He saw me: me, with my bad temper and big mouth, and He loved me anyway. I just deserted him. I left Him to them. Now He is dead.



He got a second chance

I am Barabbas. I was on death row. I was all set to die. I had been killing men and boys for years and I had finally been caught. The truth is, I was a little mad. 

When the soldiers brought me before Pilot, I thought, “This is it. I am going to die today.” I was prepared. 

Then I saw Him.

He just stood there, with his body bloody from a beating, looking at me. 

I felt like He saw everything I had ever done.

 I had heard about Him. He was all I would never be. 

Perfect. Holy. 

Pilot asked “Who do you want to be released?” and I cannot believe what I heard. “Barabbas! Barabbas! Give us Barabbas!”

He took my place. I deserved to die. I still deserve to die, but instead, He is dead. 

Him: not me. 

Jesus.




He did his job

I am just a soldier. A Centurion, proud to serve Caesar! I show up every day for duty and do what I am told. 

Today, well, today I wish I had any other job in the world but this one! 

I usually have guard duty, but today I got put on crucifixion detail. 

Why today of all days did I get ordered to do this? 

He was so beaten, so bruised. His body looked like a bloody animal carcass.

Through it all: the mocking, the spitting, He hung there, drowning as His lungs filled with blood, praying for us. 

He asked God to forgive us! 

Who is this man? 

Surely, He is who He says. He is the Son of God. What have I done? I just killed the Son of God!

I am Mary, adulteress

I am Pilot, judge

I am Peter, deserter

I am Barabbas, murderer

I am a Centurion, executioner



He was a carpenter, a builder, and architect

He was a brother, a Rabbi, a friend

He was a lamb and a Shepard

He was the bread and the wine

He was giving and He was given

He was offered and He offered

He was man and He was God

Today is Good Friday. 

Today we remember what Jesus did for us. He died for us, as a stand-in for us, so we could have relationship with God. 

It was always the plan. God's way to redeem us back to Him. 

Are you Mary? Are you Peter? Maybe you are Pilot, indifferent to God? 

Are you Barabbas, filled with hate and anger and not sure why? 

Maybe you feel like you are a pretty good person, just keeping your head down in life, doing your "job" and not doing anything too bad- that would make you the Centurion. 

Jesus died for every one of us, no matter who you are, or what you have done. If you have not acknowledged Him as the only way to God, won't you do so now? 

Ask for forgiveness. He gives it freely. 

He loves you, if He didn't none of this would have been necessary. 

Thoughts: Who are you? 

Four Gardens - God's Plan for Fellowship

More on Gardens

There used to be a song we sang when I was growing up that said "I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses". This song and the post yesterday has me thinking again about Gardens. This time though I want to talk about four very special gardens.

The Garden of Eden

The garden of Eden was created by God. It was His original plan. Protected, secluded, it was made for man to dwell in so He could fellowship with them in the cool of the evening. Here man missed the mark, they sinned and forever after that were made to earn from their labor everything God had automatically provided before. Now they would face hardships and pain. This garden was lost forever.

Garden of the Sepulcher

The Garden of the Sepulchre was the garden that held the tomb Jesus was buried in. Here Jesus redeemed the first garden by his death, burial, and resurrection. Here he rose to greet the morning and found a woman completely unsuitable by the worlds standard to be the first one trusted with the life changing gospel:Jesus is alive! 

A woman partook of the fruit that separated man from God in the first garden and now a woman was bearing the first fruits of this garden. The first Adam missed the mark and became separated from God forever, the second Adam, Jesus, made a way for God to be reunited with man forever. This place held the redemption of man as much as the cross, if not more because this in this place Jesus had resurrected!

The Garden in Heaven

The garden in heaven: two trees separated by the river of God. One one side the first tree of life, bearing fruit and on the other side a second tree of life, bearing fruit. Each tree bore 12 fruits, 1 a month. God's plan completed. We will rule and reign with Him in heavenly places. We will stand before the throne, from which the river of God flows and see the plan of God fulfilled in those two trees.

Your Secret Garden

We are talking about gardens. In biblical times they were places of solitude and peace. Walled or hedged in these places were protected from the outside world. 

Here all of your senses were engaged: sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. You could see the lush greens and hear the sounds of birds and babbling brooks. You could touch the flowers and smell and taste the fruits of the garden.

Jesus sought a garden (Gethsemane)  to pray to seek God. Here He solidified His resolve and honed His purpose. This is something we should do: find our secret garden. It may not be a green space, but it should be a space that engages your senses, that evokes tranquility and allows you time alone with God. 

That is all God has ever desired: time alone with you, walking in a "Garden" together. A place where personal fellowship and worship are the focus. 

It was God's design in Genesis, it was good enough for Jesus, and we should follow this plan too.

Question: Do you have a place you like to go that is like this for you- your "garden"? Share with us you favorite place to be alone with God.

That's My King- by Dr. S.M. Lockridge

I had to share this. It moved me so much. This is my KING! Do you know Him? Please feel free to share, pin on Pintrest, and tweet all about it, because He came for me, He came for you, He came to conquer death, hell, and the grave, and His name is JESUS!




Visuals set to the audio of the famous sermon "Seven Way King" (aka That's My King) as spoken by Dr. S.M. Lockridge. The audio is slightly edited for a better flow in the video. Copy-writed materials are used, and no infringement is intended. 

Sunday Reflection February 26, 2012

Wow! What a week. We have talked about Praise bringingBreakthrough, Overcoming circumstance and offence, The Importance of Godly friends, our Great Commission, and The Salvation Message this week.  I have to say that every week for me gets better and better. I get to study and spend time writing. Two things I love, and as the blog grows, I get to hear more from you, the readers. The highest read post of all time was the one on Forgiveness this week, and I have to say that I am humbled by the response.

In all, at the time of this writing, there were 1,258 visitors in the 1 ½ months this blog has been live. I hope to one day have that many readers every day, but for now, I write knowing that God is the one who gives the increase, and I just keep being faithful. The most amazing thing to me, as it has been every week is the list of countries this blog is being read in. I want to list them out just so you can see what God is doing!

United States	Russia	Honduras	Philippines	Germany
Canada	Brazil	Chili	Italy	United Kingdom
Romania	India	Czech Republic	Malaysia	Qatar
Australia	Namibia	Bulgaria	France	China
Grenada	Botswana	Maldives	New Zealand	Singapore
Iraq	Turkey	Saudi Arabia	South Africa	Bangladesh
United Arab Emirates	Hong Kong	Netherlands	Latvia	Mexico
Pakistan	Jordan	Ghana	Algeria	Nigeria
Finland	Ethiopia	Norway	Kenya	Viet Nam
Palestinian Territories	Egypt	Spain

That is 48 countries and growing!  Many of these countries have an anti-Christian stance and getting the gospel in is a major victory for Christ! I pray for this list and every one of these countries as they pop up on my statistics screen. I know God is using this blog in amazing ways and I am so thankful and in awe that HE is using me to do this.

I cannot tell you in words how amazing this journey has been so far. The sad thing is I am a writer, so that failing is definitely on me. I am working hard to hone my craft and bring you a solid study of the word each week. I hope that you will continue to comment and share everything you feel moved by, and help grow the site and spread the love and the Word of God! Just look what we have done so far….

Be blessed and be a blessing and know I am praying for you. Won’t you pray for me?