Welcome to the Miracle Zone
I'm posting this just a little early because my husband and I are going to Mexico City tomorrow to go to my son Brent's Graduation from the 24/7 Leadership Internship of which he has been a part for this last year. The two previous years, he was a part of the 24/7 Leadership Internship at Ted Haggards in Colorado Springs. So for the last three years he has been involved in ministry and leadership training 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. But his graduation from the 24/7 branch in Mexico is only one of the reasons we are going to Mexico City. The other reason is to meet my son's fiance' and her family. Brent and Sol will be getting married at the end of the year and will then be ministering here at CLC together. Brent is my baby, and he is the first to be married. So to be honest, I'm not totally sure how I feel about this. Pray for me as you read and meditate on this devotion. Have a blessed day.
Picture: I saw myself struggling to walk a balance beam. My feet kept slipping and I had to struggle by to keep my balance by waving my arms. I said, “Lord, help me keep my balance here…”
Hear: The Lord replied, “NO, right now I want you just a bit off balance. I want your dependence to be upon me rather than your own ability to keep everything together.”
Consider: Do you have a zone…you know that place where everything is running smoothly and getting done? It doesn’t happen very often with me, but I love it when it does. It’s called our “comfort zone.” When operating in our comfort zone we rely on our strengths, abilities, intellect and instinct. It’s not a bad place to be. But it is not a miraculous place. Sometimes the Lord allows things in our lives that keep us just a little off balance so that we reach out to God for help instead of depending upon ourselves. Working with God’s strength and abilities causes us to enter the “miracle zone,” and we need to remind ourselves that that is not a bad place to be either. When things are not going the way you envisioned, when people do not respond the way you thought they should, when the significant people in your life do not support you the way you need, and it throws you off balance. Rejoice. Rejoice, because before you are opportunities to get God in on the picture with all of the wisdom, power and ability that He possesses. It will no longer just be you out there…it will be God working through you, doing things you never dreamed possible. Being dependent upon God is not a bad thing. Of course, you can keep on trying to maintain your balance. You can keep on trying to do it all on your own. But I suggest when you find yourself off balance; you welcome God to take charge of you and the situation. Then look for the miracles to start happening.
Pray: “Father, I really am tired of trying to handle this all on my own. I thought I could manage it, wanted to manage it, but I’m beginning to see the error of my ways. I turn all of this “stuff” into your hands for you to do what only you can do. You just tell me what to do and I’ll do it, tell me what I shouldn’t do and I won’t. Tell me what to say and I’ll say it, tell me when to shut my mouth and I will. I am depending on you and you alone to see this all through. I am looking for your miraculous power to be displayed as a result. Thank you for what you are doing in me and in this situation, in Jesus name, Amen.”
Reception Hall
This has been a very busy weekend and thus the delay in getting this blog posted. Jen, my daughter had a concert Friday night to help raise funds to support her missionary service in South Africa. She is a very gifted young lady. With the help of her friends here at CLC she wrote a number of songs to sing a CD that was just released last week. She even worked on the graphic design for the packaging. Her father and I are very proud of her. The concert and the sale of the CD goes towards the 3 year assignment that she has with Thrive Africa in South Africa. She still has $50,000 to raise before she leaves on July 10th. If you would like to know more about Jen, her CD or how to support her you can click http://www.recklesslyabandoned.org/ For another word picture from the Lord...just keep reading. Picture…a beautiful reception hall with many elegantly dressed people standing in preparation to receive the King. All of their faces are blurred, except one young woman, so I focused my attention on her. The moment the King comes into the room, her face just lights up. There is a small secret, but pleased smile on her face like that of young woman deeply in love when the love of her life walks into the room and their eyes meet. When the king approached, she went into a deep, graceful curtsy, not because she felt unworthy, but in honor of the King. He stops and stoops a little to take her chin in his hand and lifts it so that he can look into her eyes. He smiles gently and invites her to rise and come with him. The woman rises and takes his hand and the picture fades to black as they walk away.
Hear…the Lord say, “Come with me to this new place and season that I have prepared for you. It will require more, but it will seem as nothing because of this great love that we have for each other. “
Consider: The woman did not curtsy because she knew how unworthy she was to be in the presence of the king but to show how she honored and revered him. Humility is not hitting your chest and declaring to all that can hear, “I am unworthy. I am like scum that collects in standing water, no I am worse than scum.” That kind of stuff is really a cousin to pride, because it is all about self. Rather than focusing on how unworthy we are, genuine humility focuses on how great He is. Right now you are in the presence of the King of all Kings and the Lord of all Lords and I would encourage you to do two things. First humble yourself by acknowledging how great He is and that everything you have or are is because of Him. Then begin to express your love and admiration of Him. It doesn’t require big fancy words, or religious terminology…just heart felt expressions of how deeply you love Him. His love for you is boundless; allow your love for Him to be the same.
Pray: “
I love you Lord, more than I ever dreamed that I could love another. You are more precious to me than life itself. When I wake up in the morning, I am aware that you are there beside me and then again when I lie down at night. You are everything that is good about me. All that I have, all that I am is because of you. Although life has had it’s ups and downs, well, more downs than ups, I rest…no bask in your love. I know that there is nothing that we will not be able to cannot handle together. Come quickly my love, my hope, my dear one that we may share these precious moments together before I head out for my day. Together we will walk in this season that you have prepared for me. I love you…”
Just Say "No!"
Sometimes it seems like the "faster I go, the behinder I get." Can you relate? There are just so many things shouting for my attention. There are just so many needs, so many tasks, and so many unfinished projects staring me in the face. Perhaps that is why the Lord gave me this word picture. It might be more for me than for you, but I hope that you get some benefit out of it. Blessings...
Picture…a movie clip in fast speed of a desk piling up with work to the point that stuff is falling off the side and then a never-ending to-do list with dozens of items being added for every one thing that is being crossed off. I’m sure that this picture is probably more for me than for you. I have been having one of those kinds of weeks where the harder I try to keep up with the work load, the farther behind I have been getting. I was telling the Lord this morning that when these projects are finished, we will have more time together.
Hear: The Lord answered me with the picture I just described and the words, “What makes you think that life is ever going to be easier?”
Consider: Perhaps this seems harsh, but I think the Lord was trying to give me a wake-up call. As long as I keep adding to my list without consulting Him, as long as I keep trying to get everything done in my own strength and with my own ability, as long as I keep putting off my time with Him in order to get ministry done, nothing is going to change in my life. I will continue to be overworked, continue to be stressed by that workload and continue to neglect my quiet time with the Lord. I will continue to be exhausted, frustrated and lacking in joy. If there are any other perfectionists, with workaholic tendencies out there, this word is for you too. I know that I am speaking to a lot of you because business has become an epidemic in the American church. We are so task and success oriented that just sitting and meditating infuses us with a nagging sense of guilt. We think that if we are not in constant motion that we are wasting time. We have forgotten the benefits of meditation and alone time. We have forgotten how to listen to the sounds of silence. God never intended for us to live in such a fast pace. He doesn’t want His children to always be worn out and irritated. Our busy, hectic lives will never change; never get better, until we do. Consider the following exercises that may help you to slow down enough to smell the roses, or at least get back the joy that God ordained that you should have.
- Schedule a silence fast. During this fast unplug. Do not watch TV, use technology or even listen to music. Schedule moments during the fast where you just sit and listen to God, and the sounds of His creation.
Do not put anything on your to-do lists until you have first cleared it with God. Obviously, the laundry needs to be done, the house needs to be cleaned, the kid’s home work done and dinner put on the table. But maybe not all at once. And maybe, just maybe your child does not need to be driven to 5 different extracurricular activities. Before you schedule anything, ask God about it. Make sure you pray at the beginning of your day and to ask God what He would be most pleased with you doing. Ask Him what doesn’t need to be done that day and if anything can be done easier.
When someone asks you to do something, don’t immediately say, “yes.” Tell them you will pray about it or consider it. If it is going to stretch you too thin, or if you get the feeling that it isn’t something that is going to get God’s nod of approval, go back to the person and “JUST SAY NO!” It may be hard at first to frame the word, but you will be surprised at how liberating it will become to use.
Pray: “Lord, I am truly sorry that I have allowed myself to get so overworked that it has robbed me of enjoying my relationships, especially with you. I am not going to blame any person, because I am the one ultimately responsible for myself. I ask that you forgive me and help me to do better in this area of my life. Help me to discern the difference between what is important and what is needed; what is good and what is God ordained. If you will help me, I will slow down so that I can hear your voice and do the things that you want me to do through out my day. I love you more than anything and I want to please you in every area of my life. But I admit that I can’t do this on my own. I need your help. Help me to recognize that busy doesn’t mean successful…and to cut down on my activities…in Jesus name, Amen.”
Victorious
This weekend with Bishop Tudor Bismark was wonderful. If you were not at CLC for any of the 4 services, I suggest that you get the CD's. I think that it could truly change your life. Here is just a simple word picture that might not change your life, but will probably help your day. Blessings...Picture…a man with a gold medal around his neck, moping around, kicking imaginary pebbles out of his way. He is acting like he lost the race instead of winning it.
Hear…”Child, if you know you are victorious then act it. Act like you know that I am victorious in your life.”
Consider: I don’t think God is saying, “Fake it to you make it.” He is saying act on what you know to be true. “If you know that I am victorious, and you know that I am living within you, then you need to act on that knowledge.” It’s about walking in faith, in what you know to be true, rather than acting out from what you are seeing in your present circumstances. It’s not about whether you are FEELING particularly victorious. It is about what you know deep down in your heart to be true. You know that Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You know that He is victorious not only in heaven but here on hearth and in your life. Act everyday in accordance to what you know God is speaking to you. It’s not about your circumstances. It’s not about your feelings. It’s not about the weather, the unpaid bills or the empty checkbook. It is about Jesus Christ. He bought your victory with His precious blood and you need to acknowledge it by the way you think, speak and act. I’m not encouraging you to walk around in denial. Neither am I advocating walking around with a Happy Christian Mask and telling every one who asks, “I’m blessed and highly favored.” I just believe that it will be more helpful for you to walk by faith in what you know to be true, than by your sight or feelings about present circumstances.
Pray: “Lord, sometimes when things are coming at me in all directions I forget just how loving and powerful You are. Please help me to remember that there is nothing that will happen to me today that you and I cannot handle together. Help me to live my life in such a way that it brings You glory. Help me to remember that I sneaked a peak in the back of the book and we do win, together. Help me to walk a victorious lifestyle, in Jesus name, Amen.”
