picturesfromheaven

"Bonded To God"

Have you ever had one of those days, weeks, months years? You know what I'm talking about. A season of life where everything possible is going wrong and it has gotten to the place where you can't even envision something going right. But it's not just that "things" are going wrong. It's that somehow you've gone wrong. I think that's where I am. I've been running around trying to fulfill all of my responsibilities as wife, mother, daughter and pastor. But no matter how much I run or how much I do, it seems like I can never get it all done or done right. I've exhausted myself physically, emotionally and even spiritually. I've spent my prayer time crying and begging God to change something, anything...me. But God has pretty much ignored my self-pitying pleas. What do you do when God doesn't answer? Change the question. I've found out that sometimes the Lord lets me get to the end of myself, so that I'll listen...really listen to what He has to say. So in the middle of the night I awoke and decided, okay God...it's just me and you now. We need to talk. I'll put away the "Oh God's." I'll stop begging. You hate that stuff anyway. It's been a productive night. I've had a couple of breakthroughs tonight...well it's morning now...and I'll share one of them with you. You'll notice the prayer at the end says "if." The "if" is for you. It was definite for me.


Picture…I saw an old fashioned clamp with an exquisitely designed piece of wrought iron attached to two pieces of wood. There is a handle that if rotated to the right holds together whatever is placed between the pieces of wood. Someone was putting a great deal of pressure on that handle. I asked the Lord why He was putting so much pressure there. He explained, “I’m not just putting pressure on it for the fun of putting pressure on it. The purpose of the vise is to glue something together. The pressure is to solidify the bond. The pressure that has been put to bear on some of my children is not to destroy them. Neither is it some kind of attack of the enemy. I engineered this vise as instrument to bond their spirit to my Spirit, their ambition to mine, and their purposes with my own. I want us to be joined as one. Being bonded to me will make them strong.”

Hear…the Lord say, “The things that are putting pressure on you right now is not meant to destroy you. It was allowed to come into your life because I knew that I could use it to bind you to myself. Don’t resist. Acquiesce to the process that will make us one. Just say, ‘YES!’”

Consider: It is amazing how quickly we assume that whatever is bringing pressure to bear in our lives is from the enemy. We rarely consider that God might be allowing the enemy this much access because He knows that it will all backfire on him. The thing that the enemy is bringing into your life to destroy you, or at the very least to distract you, is going to be the thing that you use to defeat his activity in your life and in others. So don’t just start whining and begging God to get you out of it. Stop and ask Him if there is anything that He wants to do to you or through you in this. If the answer is no, then tell the enemy no with authority and faith. If the answer is yes, then ask the Lord if there is any particular way that He would like you to respond. I guess the real point in all of this is for you not assume. Do not assume from whence the pressure comes. Do not assume what should be your reaction. Always ask. Always listen. Always obey.

Pray: “Am I a whiner? Do I come to you to get me out of stuff rather than to get direction? If I do, I am sorry. Even more importantly, if I do, help me to change that obvious immature pattern of behavior. Nudge my heart when I start to complain. If a nudge doesn’t get my attention, I give you permission to beat me on the side of the head with a two-by-four. Just get my attention. Once I’m aware, I will shift gears and focus on getting answers, because I really do want to be one with you. I want for people to see you when they see me. That would be awesome. Mind you, I’m not saying that I want you to put pressure on me. I’m not that brave. I’m just saying; when you think it’s time for a little pressure, let me know. Don’t let me get away with whining for help, when I should be asking for direction. In Jesus Name, Amen.”

posted by pastorc @ 5:09 AM 3 comments

"On a Shelf"

This weekend was phenomenal. It was so exciting to see all three services from Tinley, and the Shorewood and Southbend campuses all worshipping together in one service at the Tinley Convention Center. Everyone involved did a bang up job. It was so fun and powerful at the same time. A strange combination until you realize that is the kind of God that we serve. He is compassionate, kind, full of humor, righteous, and powerful...all that and so much more. Unfortunately, many of us put God in a box...limiting the way with which He can relate to us. Please read the following devotion with an open heart and mind. Maybe...just maybe...you've been putting God in a box as well.

Picture…a group of people tidying up a storage area. When you look carefully, you will notice a woman putting a teddy bear in a box, and closing the lid. She labels the box, “God” and then puts it on a shelf. A young man rummages around the storage area until he finds a long narrow box. He puts a sword in the box and then carefully tapes down the lid, so no one can be accidentally harmed by its sharp edge. He also labels the box, “God.” The only other person in the room, an older gentleman, puts a red phone in a box, marks the box “God” and then puts it on the top shelf.

Hear…the Lord say, “People are always putting me in a box. They relate to me in a certain way, and that’s it. Some people think of me as a teddy bear, all loving and cuddly. They can’t imagine me as a God of judgment. Then there are others who only think of me as an avenging God, one who is just waiting for them to make a mistake so I can blast them with one of my lightening bolts. Of course there are those who just think of me as their emergency hotline when they have a need. But I want them to know that I am so much bigger and so much greater than they have allowed me to be in their lives. I want to show them my majesty and power, my righteousness and justice and my relentless love. People need to take me out of the box with which they are so comfortable so that I can show them the true me.”

Consider: It’s hard to imagine just how big and awesome our God truly is, but we need to try. We need to meditate on his Word long enough to discover for ourselves new aspects of his mighty character. Every time a new name of God was given to Old Testament saints they were learning more about their God. Have you been learning more about your God? Have you been expanding your knowledge of who HE IS? We know that he is our Comfort, Avenger, and Help in the time of need. He is our Healer, Deliverer, Savior, and Friend. But he is more. Think about it. Do you realize that right now he is rejoicing over you with singing as your lover? God is rejoicing over YOU! I don’t know how you normally relate to God, but isn’t it time that you take him out of the box. In fact, I suggest that you dynamite the box, and never allow yourself to be comfortable in the way you relate to God again. Take the limits off of God. Relate to him and see him in new and meaningful ways.

Pray: “I’m sorry that I have kind of locked you in a box. I didn’t realize I had done that. It certainly wasn’t intentional. I guess I just liked thinking of you as my Confidant and Friend. But that isn’t what you want for me, is it? You want me to see you and relate to you in new and significant ways. So Lord, I want you to know that when I meditate daily on your WORD, I will also meditate on your greatness. If there is a particular way in which you want me to see you, please show me. I love you, and I really want to see you as you are. I want to take the limits off. I want to remove the boundaries. I want to take you out of the box. Please, reveal yourself to me.”

posted by pastorc @ 8:33 AM 0 comments