Wonderful Jesus!

Happy Father’s Day!

Matthew 6:8-10-Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. NKJV

Complete in Him!

Colossians 2:9-10- For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. NKJV

I was riding in the car the other day when a song came on by Casting Crowns. Maybe you’ve heard of it “Broken Together”? A line in the song says, “Maybe you and I were never meant to be complete, but broken together.” I played the YouTube video of the song just now to make sure I had the words right, the thought behind the music. The song addresses that after years of marriage, people aren’t always living happily ever after. As a matter of fact, they thought they would make each other complete, only to discover that they were both broken but could be broken together. For me, this is a sad state of affairs.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians:

For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Colossians 2:10 NKJV

Whether you read this verse in context or take it out, the truth remains the same: God’s people are made complete in Jesus! But let’s look at it in context. Paul wrote:

For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 2:1-3 NKJV

Paul begins his discourse by stating that he’s having a difficult time with the fact that he hasn’t been able to visit with the believers in Colosse and Laodicea. Because if he had, he would have been able to encourage them and have a greater impact on their understanding of Jesus. But since he could only write a letter to them, he wanted to clarify that everything they needed to know and understand about God the Father and Jesus, the Christ, are treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden in Him. That truth is still applicable today! If there are things we don’t understand, we don’t lean on our understanding of a situation or the world’s thoughts about it; we seek the wisdom of God.

Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
Colossians 2:4-5 NKJV

Paul stated that he was sharing this with the believers because he didn’t want them to be deceived with persuasive words. There are a lot of influential people in the world. Believers and non-believers who have a philosophy about life, the Bible, God, marriage, and a host of other things. We all have opinions. But when we are conveying a message to believers, it should always have a biblical foundation that provides hope in Christ. I can’t speak for everyone else, but I can say that if I have to live this life thinking that I will never be anything but broken, that’s pretty depressing!

I’ve been meditating on this verse all week. I wasn’t sure how to convey what I believed in my heart that Paul was saying to the church at Colosse and ultimately to us. When I woke up this morning, a song burned in my heart. I didn’t understand the purpose immediately, although I fully agree with the message. Now I know it was to encourage me in what I believe is the truth of this verse in Colossians 2: 10. It was sung years ago by Tramaine Hawkins and is called “The Potter’s House!” My favorite part in the song is, “You who are broken, stop by the Potter’s house! You who need mending, stop by the Potter’s house! Give Him the fragments of your broken life, my friend; the Potter wants to put you back together again!”

Isn’t that the gospel message? Jesus takes the brokenness of our lives and makes them complete in Him! He takes the weary and gives them rest! And only He can do so! Paul continues his discourse:

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
Colossians 2:8 NKJV

Warning! Warning! Warning! Be on the lookout for those who try to use philosophical jargon and empty words meant to deceive you because of their traditions or how the world views life. Because you can be assured they are coming for you to trick you and cause you to believe that what the Word of God says is not true for everyone. Just look around you! People are Christians, and they are broken. Christians are hurting! They are struggling to make mortgage payments, pay their rent, keep their families together, and make it through the day. So it’s okay if they drink a little bourbon to calm their nerves, use a little cannabis to make it through the day, or read the horoscope to find answers. Everybody does it! No! Everybody is not doing it! And if you want to be complete in Him, you must believe that only He can make you complete!

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2 Peter 1:2-4 NKJV

Peter wrote that God, through His divine power, has given us every single thing that we need for life and godliness. There is no hope and no help for us from any other source. I believe in education, but my education is not my hope in this life! Jesus is my hope! My education doesn’t dictate my success or lack thereof! Jesus does! I absolutely love and respect my husband, but he doesn’t make me complete; Jesus makes me complete!

I’m not broken in Christ; I’m just not perfect. I make mistakes and get things wrong sometimes. Not because I’m broken but because I am human. And so are you! Our victory in Jesus has been won, but it is up to us to enforce that victory! It is up to us to agree with God! God’s word states that we are complete in Him, so guess what? We are! Be encouraged in Him today! Wonderful Jesus!

Hidden in Christ!

Colossians 3:1- “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. NKJV

I’ve been pondering on the truth that we are hidden in Christ. I have read several articles and a few blogs about the topic of being hidden in Christ, and let me say that it has intrigued me.

When I think of people being hidden, I think of danger. When Corrie Ten Boom and her family hid the Jews, it was done to keep the Jews safe from the Germans who wanted to annihilate them. When Jochebed hid Moses for three months, it was to keep him alive because Pharaoh had ordered his death. And when Rahab hid the two spies on her roof, she did this to protect them from her fellow countrymen, who indeed would have killed them.

Then there is the aspect of something or someone being hidden as a good thing. For example, when a celebration occurs, and someone walks into an empty space, only the people are hidden, waiting to yell, “Surprise!” Or when we hide God’s word in our hearts so we might not sin against Him. Then there are the secret things of God that have been hidden for the righteous. Hiding things can be for several reasons.

Paul wrote these words to the believers in Colosse:

“For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:3 NKJV

What did Paul mean by stating that our lives are hidden in Christ? Before this verse, Paul wrote:

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Colossians 3:1-2 NKJV

In my previous post, I wrote about us being alive in Christ and how water baptism symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Paul continues with this thought (because he didn’t write in chapters and verses) by saying if you are raised to new life with Jesus, then your focus should be on the things that His focus is on, heavenly things. For example, things pertaining to the Kingdom of God and the will of the Father. Not on earthly concerns. Now we all know that we must be concerned about how we provide for ourselves and our families, getting along with others, and things of that nature, but the bottom line is that during all that time, we live our lives as though they are hidden in Christ.

I believe Paul was more evident when he wrote about this concept to the Galatians:

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20 NKJV

This verse has always been a personal favorite of mine. It reminds me that my life is different now than before I came into fellowship with Christ because I lived without Him, and now I live because of Him. Paul wrote that He lives in us because our old nature died and was crucified with Christ. Because Christ lives in us, we are hidden in Him, and the life we now live, we live by faith in the Son of God.

In my study bible, the reference scripture given alongside Colossians 3:3 is 2 Corinthians 5:7. Coupled with Galatians 2:20, I can see how it fits Colossians. It reads:

For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV

This leads me to believe that a life hidden in Christ Jesus is lived in faith. A life that is not centered on this present evil world or the circumstances surrounding us, but a life hidden in Christ, relying on the truth of His word. We are hidden in Christ when our lives are lived by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us!

Our lives are hidden in Him because He is our mediator to the Father. When the Father looks at us, He doesn’t see us; He sees Christ because we are hidden in Him. Therefore, we have full access to the Father through Jesus. We are fully reconciled to the Father because of Jesus. And all that we need or could ever hope for, when we ask for it, the Father sees Jesus and supplies it.

There is another familiar verse that comes to mind when I think about being hidden in Christ:

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
1 John 3:2 NKJV

John wrote that now, we are children of God at this moment in time, and everything that goes along with being a child of God has not yet been revealed. It is hidden! But we know and understand that one day Jesus will be revealed to the world, and we shall be just like Him because we shall see Him as He is. We are hidden in Him. We don’t know or understand the fullness of all that entails. But we know that when He returns and is revealed, we shall no longer be hidden because we will be just like Him, and we will understand ourselves better because we will understand Him better.

In Romans, Paul made this declaration:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18 NKJV

Isn’t this deep? Paul states that God’s glory in us is far greater than what we are encountering in this world. And although that glory has yet to be revealed, because it is hidden, it will be revealed! That’s incredible! Now let’s look at verse 19:

For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
Romans 8:19 NKJV

I’m getting excited now! The day is coming when God will take all the guesswork about who belongs to God and who doesn’t belong to Him out of the equation. He will reveal those who are children of God. And Paul wrote that the creation eagerly awaits that revealing.

So you see, I don’t quite understand all involved in us being hidden in Christ. But I know that God is up to something, and He is hiding us, protecting us in Christ until He is ready to fully reveal all of His children. Until that day comes, we must live by faith, knowing we are hidden in Christ! The same Jesus who loved us and gave His life for us! It’s a privilege that we should latch onto and never let go of. Wonderful Jesus!

Alive in Christ Jesus!

Colossians 2:13-14- And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. NKJV

I’ve been reading the New Testament, and I just finished the book of Colossians. While in it, I ran across some verses of scriptures that brought joy to my heart. They reminded me of our blessed relationship with Jesus. One of the first things Colossians reminded me of was that we are to be rooted in Christ. Since I wrote a blog on that a year ago, I have attached it to this post.

The book of Colossians is short and a quick read. But it is packed with truths about our Savior and who we are in Him. In the text for this post, Paul wrote that we have been made alive together with Him.

And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us.
Colossians 2:13-14a NKJV

I want to argue a point that I believe is consistent with Paul’s view of our life in Christ and, therefore, God’s viewpoint. Because I jumped into the middle of the thought, I need to backtrack a little to keep it all in context. In verses 11 & 12, Paul wrote:

In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
Colossians 2:11-12 NKJV

Paul stated that the Gentile believers had received circumcision when they received Jesus, but not the circumcision of the cutting away of the foreskin like the Jews. This circumcision was a spiritual circumcision that happens in the heart of every believer. And therefore, there was no need for anyone to be circumcised in order to be a part of the people of God. This verse is like a parallel to what Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:

Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:11-13 NKJV

Here, Paul stresses that the Gentiles were a people who did not know God and, therefore, had no hope in the world because they were outside of the covenant of circumcision. But because of the blood of Jesus, the Gentiles, along with all Jewish believers, were made near to God. Or, as we say, they were saved!

Another point about circumcision is that for many Jews, physical circumcision was their badge of honor that they were the people of God, irrespective of how they lived their lives. However, many prophets understood that the circumcision of the covenant of God required a life that promoted God. Moses spoke of uncircumcised lips, the prophet Jeremiah wrote of an uncircumcised ear, and Ezekiel spoke of an uncircumcised heart, giving insight into the position that circumcision wasn’t just about the cutting away of the flesh.

Paul also wrote that we “put off the body of sin” when circumcised by Christ or born again. One commentator noted that Paul was suggesting that this putting off the body of sin” was a reference to that we no longer belong to our natural families, but are a part of the family of God. Another commentator wrote that “the putting off the body of sin” caused the individual to cut away the things in their life that prevents them from being submitted to God. The Greek word for “putting” suggests more of a putting away, like an old garment. Meaning, that this circumcision that happens in us is a putting away of the old man and his sinful nature, much like the second commentator I mentioned. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

Paul continues by stating that when we are baptized in the water, its spiritual significance shows that when we go under the water, we are buried with Him, and as we come out of the water, we are raised with Him through faith. I believe this is something all Christians can agree upon. Paul is laying the foundation for how we become alive in Christ Jesus.

Now, I return to the key verse,

And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us
Colossians 2:11-12a NKJV

In this verse, Paul again distinguishes between the circumcised and the uncircumcised, as in Ephesians. The uncircumcised in the flesh are dead in their trespasses and sins. This is the picture of the life of the unsaved person. As Paul mentioned in Ephesians, this person is without hope because they are without God. They are sinners.

But to those who have been forgiven their trespasses, they have been made alive together with Him! New life has come to that individual because they are a new creation. Paul wrote these words in Romans:

For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:10 NKJV

Jesus lives, and therefore, we live also. In Him! Sinners are separated from God, but we have access to Him through the blood of Jesus! We are alive because we are no longer sinners; if we are still sinners, we remain in our sins and are dead in them.

I am on this train of thought because it depresses me to think that Christians are satisfied with saying they are “sinners saved by grace”! I want to shout that you are either a sinner or saved by grace! Pick one! Either the blood of Jesus cleansed us of our sinful nature and made us new creations, or it didn’t! Paul stated:

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV

This is what I believe. I am alive in Christ Jesus because I have become the righteousness of God in Him. Jesus knew no sin but took my sin so that I could be free from the bondage of sin. I wish I could shout it to the world. I wish I could help everyone see it. Because when we begin to see ourselves as God sees us, maybe it will take the struggle out of being alive in Him! Do I sin? Yes! But I don’t live a life of sin. I live my life surrendered to God. And when I sin, I have an advocate in Jesus. My beloved sisters and brothers, live your life in Him to the fullest because of all that He accomplished in you through the Blood of Jesus! Wonderful Jesus!

Memorial Day Memories!

Proverbs 10:7-The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot. NKJV

I have shared before that my family and I love visiting historical sites. Although I am not fond of cemeteries, I have seen the Arlington National Cemetery and the Gettysburg Cemetery. I’m amazed at all the people who have died in service to our country and others worldwide. Without their willingness to pay the ultimate price for our freedom, we would not be able to enjoy those freedoms. So, I thought it appropriate to take a moment and thank the Lord for the many individuals who fought in wars or died in service to our nation. And also to acknowledge the families that supported them in their service and mourn their loss. May God’s hand continue to be with you and your family.

Solomon wrote in the Proverbs:

The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.
Proverbs 10:7 NKJV

This scripture tells me what history has repeatedly made known: that we honor those who fought for a righteous cause and vilify those who fought against those causes. Their memory is blessed. We celebrate them and remember their sacrifice. And in doing so, we remember those who supported them, loved them, prayed for them, waited for them, and ultimately lost them. God’s peace and love remain with you always. Have a blessed Memorial Day! Wonderful Jesus!

A Matter of the Mind!

2 Corinthians 10:4-For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds…NKJV

As a history teacher, I’ve taught about many battles worldwide. Waging war against one’s enemies is timeless, although the weapons of warfare are constantly changing. The Roman army was known for its swords, spears, chariots, and swift horses during the Roman Empire. However, around the thirteenth century, gunpowder weapons began to be used. With the discovery of gunpowder, weapons like cannons and guns appeared on the battlefield.

As wars are waged on land, on the sea, and in the air, weapons have been manufactured to defend and attack from each position, making it possible to bring a tremendous onslaught on the enemy. Weapons created to bring about the most destruction possible are being developed regularly, including biochemical weapons. We live in a world where war is constantly on the mind of someone.

War was on Paul’s mind when he penned these words:

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
2 Corinthians 10:3 NKJV

Paul wanted the believers in Corinthians, and therefore all believers, to understand that although we are in the flesh and still mortal, we don’t war according to the flesh. The flesh always wants to have its own way! It always expects to win or go down fighting. And when we are attacked, we want to respond with fleshly weapons: anger, cursing, physical fighting, and throwing things because fleshly weapons are often used against us. But Paul said:

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds…
2 Corinthians 10:4 NKJV

Paul was trying to convey that when things are happening to us in the natural realm, real and hurtful things, the battle isn’t to be fought in the natural realm. In his writings, Paul refers to spiritual warfare as the devil’s attack against the people of God. Those attacks come in many ways, but in this chapter, Paul draws attention to the battle inside us, in our minds. Paul is alerting us to the truth that some things we think about are just attacks against us and our minds. And that although our weapons are not carnal, they are mighty!

Paul’s character had been attacked. His motive and manner of ministry to the church were being talked about. And Paul recognized that although he was being attacked by people, the author of the attack was the devil! Although there may have been a temptation on his part to respond in the flesh, he had more powerful weapons in God! Weapons that were able to pull down strongholds. So instead of fighting fire with fire, he chose God’s weapon to fight the enemy’s weapons. We can address all spiritual strongholds, but I’m just addressing the attack in the mind today.

A stronghold in the mind is a way of thinking entrenched in our minds, affecting everything we do. For example, a person who always thinks that everybody is out to get them has a stronghold in their mind. Or, someone who feels unloved and can’t trust anybody probably has a stronghold in their mind. Another example that popped into my thoughts is a person who looks in the mirror and always sees a fat person when they are not; or an ugly person when they are attractive. This is not an exhaustive list, but something to get us to think about how we allow things in our heads to control us. I’ll say it another way, anything that paralyzes an individual in their mind, keeping them from becoming the person God intended them to become, has a stronghold on their mind. And at some point, all of us have to fight the battle of the mind because it is the devil’s favorite battleground.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ..
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NKJV

Paul turns us to the truth that our weapons are mighty in God. When we follow the principles laid out in the word of God, we will have the victory that God promises. In God, we can tear down every stronghold in our minds. Here’s a great place to remind us of the words of Jesus:

“If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
Mark 9:23 NKJV

If you can believe that you can be free of the stronghold in your mind, even over your life, Jesus said it would be possible for you to be free. It starts with what you believe! If you believe you can never be free again, what you believe will become your reality! So, I’ve just given you step one of activating your weapon against the strongholds of your mind. You have to believe.

Next, you have to see yourself pulling down those strongholds. Visualize yourself attaching a rope to those strongholds and pulling them down with the aid of the Holy Ghost! Because He will come alongside you, as your Helper, and pull those strongholds down!

casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
2 Corinthians 10:5 NKJV

Casting down arguments means refusing to accept them as valid. Voices that say you are unworthy or unqualified, you are not good enough, you will never amount to anything, or you are the last person someone could love are lies. As strongholds, they have taken root in your mind and are exalted against the knowledge of God. You have allowed them to have dominion over you and your thought life and have made them more significant than the knowledge of God! It is time to cast down, or demolish, those things from your mind!

Then Paul says that you are to take them captive! How do you take thoughts captive? You bring them under control! Reign them in! Stop them from running amuck in your mind! As you take those thoughts captive, it is like a processional walk of victory in your mind that alerts the enemy to his defeat!

Lastly, you bring them into the obedience of Christ! Replacement theory at its best! You replace those negative, hurtful thoughts with the wonderful words of Jesus. Instead of allowing comments that make you feel unworthy, you take captive those thoughts and replace them with words that say you are worthy:

“Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Luke 12:6-7 NKJV

God greatly valued us when Jesus died on the cross for us! He made us worthy through the shedding of His blood! Every word against this truth is a lie, a vain imagination, a thought that is trying to exalt itself against the knowledge of God! It needs to be cast down and taken into captivity!

If space permitted me, I would give you scripture for every lie the enemy told me and others to pollute our thinking and paralyze our faith in God! Satan uses these tactics because they have worked against rich and poor people. These tactics care nothing about age, race, religion, or job title. None of us are exempt from these attacks, but with the help of the Holy Ghost, each can cast them down and take them into captivity! Wonderful Jesus!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Psalm139:13-14-For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.I will praise You, for ^[g]I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. NKJV

Praise God for the moms in the world! Wonderful Jesus!

A Mother’s Brillance!

Exodus 2:2-3-So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months. But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank.

It’s that time of year when we stop to celebrate our mothers. At least, in America. And for the past several years, I have blogged about different mothers in the scriptures. They have been amongst my most-read blogs. This year, I want to blog about another special mother in the scriptures, Moses’ mother!

Moses’ mother was Jochebed of the tribe of Levi. Although she isn’t identified in the Book of Exodus, we are told her name in the Book of Numbers:

The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt; and to Amram she bore Aaron and Moses and their sister Miriam.
Numbers 26:59 NKJV

When Jochebed discovered she was with child, it had to be an emotional time for her. After all, Pharoah had already decreed that the midwives were supposed to kill all male children as they came out of the womb, by throwing them into the river.

Throwing babies in the Nile River wasn’t just so they could drown, but also to be eaten by the crocodiles. What a horrible death for any person, let alone a baby. Therefore, Jochebed probably spent many nights in turmoil, thinking about what would befall her child if it was a son.

Many women have conflicting emotions when they are pregnant, just because of their hormones. But when a death sentence is hanging over your baby because of their gender, it can make a stressful time, even more stressful. So throughout her pregnancy, she was burdened with the knowledge that if she had a son, his life would be in danger.

Maybe a part of her even regretted being pregnant. She already had two children, and they were safe, but this third child’s fate would be determined on the day it was born. Nevertheless, she carried her baby full term. And then she went into labor, delivering a son.

The Bible tells us that she looked at her son, and he was beautiful. Isn’t that the heart of most mothers? I know that was true for me. Each little girl presented to me in the hospital was absolutely beautiful to me! And I could not imagine the agony and the ecstasy that she experienced at that moment! It’s a boy! No, God, no! It’s my beautiful baby boy! Isn’t he lovely? Her heart was amazed at the goodness of God while feeling troubled at the future of her son! What a situation!

But Jochebed obviously had a strength of character that was stronger than her fear of retribution. A faith in God that surpassed the law of the Pharaoh! As a slave in Egyptian bondage, the decision to keep her child, or not keep her child, was not hers alone. Neither did Amran have any choice in the matter because the Pharaoh had already decided on her son’s fate-death! Or so he thought!

But this couple disobeyed the Pharoah’s edict, and they kept their son. They hid him for three months. In the book of Hebrews, this act was described as an act of faith:

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.
Hebrews 11:23 NKJV

During that time, Jochebed nursed him, clothed him, poured love on him, and hid him from the overseers. The author of Hebrews stated that it was because of their faith, that they hid Moses. And I believe she and Amran prayed during this time, believing that God would give them a plan to save their son! And then they prayed some more. And during those very short three months, a plan developed in her mind. It would be a bold plan, but she was willing to take the risk if she could save her son!

My pastor, Dr. Charlie Dates, preached earlier this year on the subject, “Let the Boys Live”. It was an awesome message, but within the message, he spoke of the ark that Jocebed built for her son. He said that the same word used for the ark that Noah built was the same word used to describe the basket that Jochebed used for Moses. I hadn’t thought of that before, but it resonated with my spirit so much, that I knew I would use it for a blog about Jochebed this Mother’s Day!

She built an ark, trusting that this was a plan from God. And then she placed her son into the ark, closed it up, and placed it amongst the reeds by the river bank, leaving Miriam to watch it to see what would happen! Up to this point, we see Jochebed as the one who is handling everything surrounding Moses. As a mother, I could see her wanting to do everything she could for him, while she could. But the one thing she couldn’t do was watch him be taken from her. Yes, she was trusting God, but she didn’t have the strength to see what would become of the son she loved so dearly and had to separate from so soon!

Moses’ big sister watched after him from afar. Then she noticed that the princess came out to bathe. Maybe it was planned that way by Jochebed. Maybe she thought that a woman from the Egyptian household would deliver her son, but maybe not the princess. Yet, there she came for her bath when she spotted the ark:

Then the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river. And her maidens walked along the riverside; and when she saw the ark among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it. And when she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby wept. So she had compassion on him, and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”
Exodus 2:5-6 NKJV

As Miriam took note of the way the daughter of Pharaoh handled Moses, she became emboldened, asking if she needed a wet nurse for the baby. Pharaoh’s daughter replied yes, and Miriam ran to get his mother.

Not only was Jochebed’s son spared, but he was given to her so that she could take care of him, openly. She wouldn’t get to raise him in her house, and she didn’t even get to name him, but he would get to live and have a better life than she could ever afford to give him! Brilliant! This turn of events could only have been the hand of God! Because of her courage, she defied the authorities to spare Moses’ life. And because of her faith, that in hiding him, a solution would come, God stepped in and saved her son! And if that wasn’t enough, she was given the job of nursing him, (to her delight), and wage on top of that. Won’t He do it?

Mothers have many challenges in raising children. There are mothers who are actually fearful for the lives of their children because of where they are being raised. But they are doing the best that they can do with the circumstances they have before them. Be encouraged, and trust God to keep all of you safe! There are mothers who have to give up their children for adoption because they are not in the place to raise them, so they allow others to do so! What an amazing sacrifice of love! And there are mothers who traverse the challenges of society, educational systems, low wages, singleness, and just everyday life to take care of their children. They do it with grace, courage, faith, dedication, and unrelenting love. They take care of their children when they’re sick, when they’re tired, and when things are going well! They just keep on mothering!

These are the types of things that make mothers so special to our hearts. They just keep on giving even when others would turn their backs on us! I applaud all the Jochebeds in the world today. The brilliance with which you raise your kids with little to no help or support is uncanny. The way you keep stepping up to the plate, even when it is empty, trusting that God will fill it is no small thing! Be encouraged this Mother’s Day, knowing that God has not forgotten your labor of love and you are special to Him! You are also special to those you have poured your life into! Thank you for all you do because the world could not function without mothers! Wonderful Jesus!

Shipwrecked Faith-Revised & Repost!

1 Timothy 1:18-19- “Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to faith.”

Every now and then, I reread an old post on something that I needed in the moment. Last night, I have to admit that I was feeling a little weary. Wondering if it was time to let go of what I was believing God for. It’s been a long time since the promise was spoken. But as I begin to think about the promises of God and how faithful He has been, my faith was stirred. So I went through my old posts, remembering I had written on shipwrecked faith, and I read it. I was so encouraged, I thought that I should just share it again, in case you missed it!

When I think of shipwrecked faith, I immediately think of someone who believed God for something and became so discouraged after a time that they lost all hope of ever seeing their desire come to pass. Maybe that has been or is you! I want to share something with you today!

What is Paul telling Timothy? First, Paul tells him to recall to mind the prophecies that were spoken over him. Most of us hear a prophecy and get excited over it, but if it doesn’t happen within a certain timeframe we forget it or say it wasn’t God. But Paul is telling Timothy, “You have to keep recalling it!” What has been spoken over you about your life, your family, your ministry, or your health that has encouraged you but it hasn’t come to pass yet? Start rehearsing it!

Why? Because Paul said in rehearing it, you might fight the battle well. What battle, you might ask? The battle that the enemy is going to wage in your life and your mind to negate the prophetic word over you. Remember, scripture teaches us that the enemy comes for the word! (Mark 4:15) So you have to lay spiritual hold of the word and receive it and rehearse because the devil, your adversary, will come to steal it.

Then Paul says, hold on to your faith and a good conscience. I have heard this type of faith described as bulldog faith. Have you ever seen a bulldog get something in his mouth? Then someone comes along and tries to take it? Well, if you haven’t you should YouTube it. When a bulldog has something in his mouth, his intent is to keep it, and so he latches on to it, making it nearly impossible for someone to take it from him. That’s the faith Paul is talking about. A faith that says I absolutely am not letting go of this word from God that He spoke to me through His servant! Holding on is not passive, but aggressive. Who holds on to a ledge passively? Who holds on to a lifeline passively? No one who wants to live!

What’s a good conscience? I like to call it, keeping your heart right! A faith battle is a battle in your mind and in your spirit. If you allow your conscience to become polluted, it pollutes your faith. So you have to keep your heart right during the process as you hold on to faith. They go hand in hand.

My husband and I were recently talking about offense. He’s reading Bevere’s book, “The Bait of Satan,” and so we were discussing offenses. And as we were doing so he shared that people in offense blame others for their situations. “This person is holding me back!” “I could’ve been great if this person would have helped me,” and so forth and so on. Pretty much like Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent! But this is where many lose the battle. After buying the lies of the enemy, sin enters, and instead of owning up to them, we blame others for our problems. Even if that other person is God!

Years ago, I was working in a school when my principal began asking me to help with different things in the building. After a couple years, she needed an assistant principal. Well, I wasn’t sure I wanted the position, but I was sure I wanted to be asked. But I wasn’t. As a matter of fact, I was disappointed when I wasn’t. For about 20 seconds! Then the Lord spoke to me, “Promotion comes from the Lord,” and I knew He was saying this was not mine to have. So I immediately released it. When others brought it up to me, I refused to speak negatively about her choice and worked to continue giving my assistance to her. I could’ve become angry and bitter over it, but God gave me a word, and I trusted it. Even all these years later, when I have still not been promoted in the natural realm, I have chosen to trust God. He later told me that my promotion was approved, and so, I just keep reminding myself of that. It is so!

Paul let Timothy know that when this advice is rejected people tend to become shipwrecked in their faith. They get to a point where they become embittered by some perceived wrong from God, and they lose faith. Their hopes are dashed upon the rocks of disappointment, frustration, and weariness. And before long, a shipwreck has occurred!

The promised healing that takes too long! The promised husband that seems to never cross your path! The promised promotion keeps going to someone else! The promised provision never appeared, and now you are in bankruptcy. All those things that are real and important and pressing in your life but didn’t happen; and now you feel as if God has failed you, lied to you, abandoned you! Well, He hasn’t!

He is faithful! His word is true! And He is not the problem! Shipwrecked faith is the problem. Somewhere along the route of life, you stop believing the promise or stopped holding on to your faith, or stopped having a good conscience, and that is why your faith is shipwrecked. Paul never told Timothy that faith becomes shipwrecked because God delays, but because we don’t hold on to our faith, keeping our hearts right and rehearsing or confessing the word He gave to us!

If you are feeling like your faith is shipwrecked or heading in that direction, change the course of your faith by following Paul’s advice to Timothy! Don’t become a statistic of discouragement, become a bulldog of faith and stay on course! God will come through for you! Wonderful Jesus!

Speak the Truth

Ephesians 4:25-Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.

We’re living in a time when it’s hard for people to tell the truth. It seems that people have turned to lying even in the simplest of matters. So most definitely, they will lie and not tell the truth on issues of grave importance. But I thank God for the Word that is crystal clear about how we are to conduct ourselves, even when there is a price to be paid.

In the book of Acts, Paul transitions from persecutor to persecuted. From trying to stop others from following after Jesus to leading countless numbers to the Savior. And in every instance, Paul was faithful to the truth.

In chapter 26, Paul stands before King Agrippa and Festus to give an account as to why the Jews want to kill him, to give an account for his life. Paul began his testimony with his life before Jesus, then moved on to tell of his salvation experience, moving on to his life and mission in Christ. As he testifies, he can’t help but speak of the goodness of God and His plan to bring salvation to all of mankind. Festus gets upset and tells Paul he thinks way too highly of himself and that his education has gone to his head! But Paul is not deterred by this man of great stature and what he thinks, and Paul replies:

“I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason.
Acts 26:25 NKJV

Paul’s defense of himself was so passionate that King Agrippa told Paul he was almost convinced to become a Christian. That’s the power of truth! It moves people from a place of indifference to a place where they must choose!

Fortunately, most of us do not have to defend ourselves for our faith in a court of law. If we did, I would hate to think how those trials would end. However, throughout our lives, we will encounter situations where telling a lie is easier than telling the truth, and we have to decide whether to lie or tell the truth.

We have all been guilty of not being completely honest about a situation because we don’t want to hurt people’s feelings, like when someone asks if they look nice in an outfit that we don’t particularly like. Or, when they ask us if they are gaining weight, they most definitely are, but they want you to say they look great! I have been wrestling with being too honest sometimes, but I have found that I’d rather apologize for hurting somebody’s feelings than for lying. And I have had to do both!

Paul gave us a recommendation for telling the truth in difficult situations:

Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.
Ephesians 4:25 NKJV

Several years ago, I wrote a blog about lying that is okay, like when the midwives lied about the Hebrew women giving birth quickly or the abolitionists who lied to help runaway slaves. But that was because a higher law was in place, and they chose to obey the word of God over men. But the lying that Paul is talking about in this verse is the kind of lying we do because it’s easier or we want favor with an individual. That is not okay. Even when it makes us uncomfortable.

I read a testimony years ago about a man who worked for a company as a low-level employee. One day, his supervisor approached him to come in for a meeting. During the session, he was offered a supervisory position. However, it came with a catch. They wanted him to look away when they brought in certain items, and if he worked with them, he could have the position and get a bonus. The man really wanted the job because he had a family, and the money was great, but he was troubled about the lying and told them that he would get back to them the next day. Talk about awkward! All night, he wrestled with this decision: make more money and give his family a better life, or lie and dishonor God.

The next day he went to work and was called in to meet with the supervisor. He politely thanked them for thinking of him but said he would pass on the job. At this time, he also understood that his current position was in jeopardy because they could let him go. After all, he knew they weren’t being honest in their business dealings. He said he could not do what they asked, even knowing he could lose his job. At that point, his supervisor looked at him and offered him the supervisor position. He was being tested to see if he would be an honest or dishonest employee. He passed the test. He maintained his integrity and was promoted because he chose truth over lies.

But I admit that I have also seen the opposite. When put in a place where it is awkward or unpopular, to tell the truth, we can lose our jobs, relationships, or status. And those are tough things to sacrifice on the altar of truth. But the word of God, our roadmap for life, tells us that we are to speak truth to one another because we have to do life together. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to keep company with people who will lie about anything!

But there is a catch to speaking the truth. Paul cautioned us to speak the truth in love (verse 15). And that’s the greatest challenge of all. Telling the truth in love. I conversed with a family member who chose to live life opposite of how God created them. They said to me that God loved them just like they were. I agreed with them but shared that it wasn’t God’s plan for their life. They disagreed, believing that He approved of their lifestyle. I countered that with the word of God that states differently. When I recognized neither of us would change our minds that day, I ended the conversation by reminding them that I also loved them. We didn’t have a heated discussion on the matter. I didn’t try to belittle or make them feel like they were the lowest of the low. I just lovingly told them that God had a better plan for their life. I trust God with the results and just keep loving them!

I decided a long time ago to practice speaking the truth over lies. It’s not always comfortable, so sometimes I just choose not to comment. I am probably saying just as much in doing that, but it is what it is. This week I was rechallenged to speak the truth. It wasn’t easy. I didn’t like being put in that position by the individual, but again, I had to make a choice. So I did! I told the truth, and it resulted unfavorably towards that person. I didn’t like that, I tried to avoid it, but ultimately I decided to go with the truth! We may be uncomfortable now, but sometimes that can’t be helped!

Again I find myself writing a blog for my encouragement. Maybe, what a fellow blogger said to me earlier this year is true, I also blog for my personal benefit! I want to be known as someone who will tell the truth about the word of God and live that truth as I am truthful in my relationships. Be encouraged this weekend and speak the truth! Wonderful Jesus!