Month: April 2020

With all this time at home, I am getting to hear my kids more. They are really funny and insightful. We have conflict and we lose our patience, but overall we enjoy being together. The time around the table lasts longer and even lunchtime is included now. My husband told me the other day that we prepare 27 meals a day! Easy math I know, but I had not taken the time to calculate it. This explains why it seems we run out of food so fast and why I am a fan of paper plates. Paper napkins have been hard to find these days, so we have been using up all of our leftover party napkins. Last night our napkins said, “Give Thanks” and I smiled. I am thankful for these closed in days and pray for the circumstances that have us here often.

When school doors were still open, we would be gone to track meets a couple of nights a week. While I loved watching the kids run, it meant we were not all together. They can last really late and the younger kids needed their sleep. One thing I like about sports teams is how they teach you to work together for a common goal. You also can make lasting relationships. With sports being cancelled, I had a thought. Family has not been cancelled and we are definitely a team. We are all working together for a common goal, to know and live loved by God. Many relationships come and go, but a family is lasting. I can think of no other greater investment of our time.

So, as our doors are closed to much of the outside world, lets spend time team building inside. Perhaps your family is all grown up; pick up the phone often or set up zoom meetings to see each other’s faces. Some of our distractions have been cancelled and we have been given time back. It is up to us to decide what our team will look like when our doors open again. Will we have built stronger relationships as a team? Will our hearts be better for all the practice we have been given to love? I am praying for families to be reset into kingdom minded, loving teams.

If you need help, ask Him. Begin your day with your Bible open and truly turn your house into a house of prayer. Think of your role as a coach and spend time asking how each team member feels and expresses love. You might have missed something. I do not know how long this season will last, but I do know the work done in this season will matter for a lifetime. With Him, we will win!

*The picture was taken when the kids met #7 for the first time. I had shirts made with their birth order printed on them. That was 6 years ago:)

 

Today we took communion as a family and with our church family, doing the same in their homes. As we watched our service online, our pastor led us in this sacred act of remembrance. I had tears in my eyes for a few reasons. One was the sweetness of just being us and the ease of the morning. When everyone meets in the living room wearing pj’s, hair not fixed and no worry of not finding a seat, there is so pressure. The other was because of how often we have done this act, while sitting side by side with other brothers and sisters in our bigger family of believers. It has always been significant, but I never thought to really appreciate gathering together. When that day comes again, I will never stop being grateful for the privilege of meeting with others.

When my husband and I were gathering the juice, representing the blood shed by Jesus, and the bread, symbolic of Jesus’ body given in our place, I had to think about what to serve it in. I looked around our kitchen and an idea came. I got all our medicine cups out and we had just enough. When the juice was poured, I thought this is where our healing truly comes from. I put it all on a heart shaped plate, because this is love. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (1 John 3:16).

There is no substitute for what He did on our behalf before we even took our first breath. Who would do such an extravagant act of love? Only the One who knew you were worth it. In light of this sacrificial love, it makes what has been claimed to be love, a cheap imitation. For love “…does not dishonor others and is not self -seeking…” (1 Corinthians 13:5). How can we even begin to serve our precious Jesus who is perfect love? We can begin by accepting His love and obeying His Word.

Taking communion also makes me think of the beautiful hymn by Robert Lowry, Nothing but the Blood of Jesus. We so often fall short in our love and obedience, but there is good news. ”What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” With such an emphasis on being clean these days, I pray every time we hear a reminder or see someone wipe down a shopping cart, we remember the precious blood of Jesus that washes away our sins once and for all.

The hymn reminds us that communion has been freely offered and we cannot earn it. “Nothing can for sin atone; nothing but the blood of Jesus. Naught of good that I have done; nothing but the blood of Jesus.” A gift to be received is offered today and hope is ours for the taking. If you were here, I would extend a heart shape plate, grape juice in a medicine cup and a bit of a cracker. “This is all my hope and peace; nothing but the blood of Jesus. This is all my righteousness; nothing but the blood of Jesus.” This love is so amazing, consuming and available. With all the extra time many of us have on our hands these days, I pray we will live thankful for this pardon made possible by our precious Savior. For truly, there is nothing like the blood of Jesus.

*Hymn written in 1876

 

 

“Revival begins when you draw a circle around yourself and make sure everything in that circle is right with God.” – Anne Graham Lotz

 

I have been wondering what Billy Graham would do during this time and then I came across this quote by his daughter. She is also a speaker and writer like her father. He was such a powerful proclaimer of truth. I pray more voices like this will arise during our day. He never seemed to have a personal agenda, just to tell people that Heaven and Hell are very real and that the choice is ours to make. It is very black and white really. Relationship with our Creator forever or in bondage to satan forever? Worship and mansion living or a place so terrible that words are hard to type? To not decide is a actually a decision. I am praying many chose Him who died for every sinner ever born, which means the whole world.

I love reading the autobiography of Billy Graham, Just As I Am. It is such a detailed behind the scenes look into his life. It is fascinating to read words that could easily be written today. To make my point, I read that his team would advertise upcoming events. One ad announced the theme, “Christ for the Crisis”. He said that he “…wanted to let people know that the Gospel had a uniquely dynamic relevance to life as they experienced it here and now.” He brought current events right alongside the Gospel and in doing so, made Christ present; which He very much is and not just old fashioned as some would have you believe. For Jesus Christ has not changed and is completely in control today. Yes, Christ is here in our crisis that rages with the Coronavirus.

You know he use to hold meetings in tents? People would flock to these week long, and sometimes longer, revival meetings. Wikipedia says that “Revivals are seen as the restoration of the church itself to a vital and fervent relationship with God after a period of moral decline.” To say we have declined morally is an understatement. We are primed for a revival I would say and many are praying it to be so. And I will have to say that I am one of them. Just today when I saw the field hospitals set up outside of New York, I thought they looked very similar to revival tents. I pray that many miraculous healings take place in those tent hospitals and those around the world. And in the miracle, I pray that the only explanation points hearts to God.

The copy of Just As I Am that I read is the revised version and happened to include the sermon he gave on September 14, 2001. Our country had been attacked and everyone seemed to be looking for hope. I think we would all agree that we are in a similar state now with an unseen enemy. Interesting how an attack can bring people together again with the common need of hope. To those promoting division in our government, I would say this seems completely non-American right now. I would like to ask whose kingdom they are really trying to build? Yes, darkness is being exposed during this time.

I must share with you a passage included in his message from that day. It can be a prayer we unite in. “But we especially come together to confess our need of God. We have always needed God from the very beginning of this nation, but now we need Him especially. We’re facing a new kind of enemy. We’re involved in a new kind of warfare and we need the help of the Spirit of God.” Billy Graham was going to the Lord on our nations behalf, as many are doing now. Only God can truly help us be healed, not only from this virus, but from the turning away from Him in this country.

As his daughter reminded us, for revival to begin, it must start in each of us. I would ask you if you have gotten on your knees and confessed your need to God? He knows our sin and need anyway, so there is nothing hidden with Him. The most amazing news is that He loved you before any of your sins were ever even a thought. He died for you in spite of our rejection of Him. “From the cross, God declares, ‘I love you. I know the heartaches and the sorrows and the pains that you feel. But I love you.’ The story does not end with the cross, for Easter points us beyond the tragedy of the cross to the empty tomb. It tells us that there is hope for eternal life, for Christ has conquered evil and death and hell. Yes, there is hope!” We could use a good dose of hope right now.

Evil is not from God and is actually the complete opposite of His heart. Does He allow things? Yes, but He always works satan’s evil attempts for our good and His glory on His timetable. Just look at all the good that came following 9-11. I read in this book something I had forgotten. Congress actually stood together and sang, “God Bless America”. Can we dream that this might happen now? Rev. Graham also said, “One of the things we desperately need is a spiritual renewal in this county. We need a spiritual revival in America. And God has told us in His Word, time after time, that we need to repent of our sins, and we’re to turn to Him and He will bless us in a new way.”

I can think of no better time than now. Tomorrow we will celebrate Palm Sunday. This is the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem before the Passover celebration. A crowd heard He was coming and, “They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!” (John 12:13). In my study Bible notes, it says that palm branches were used in celebration of victory. Unbelievable! I wonder if they knew that in just a short weeks time, Jesus would be victorious over sin and death? A victory we get to live in today. And the word hosanna means save and becomes an expression of praise. Jesus’ death saved us and is worthy of our praise. Billy Graham wanted everyone to hear this good news too.

As I read the conclusion of this message given to us after such a horrible event in our nations history, I see more words of hope for us today. He prays for wisdom and courage for our President and for us to feel God’s arms around us. I pray you know these comforting arms. We are never alone and in days of quarantine, this brings such peace. Billy Graham declared that, “this is going to be a day that we will remember as a day of victory.” Palm branches will be waving in homes tomorrow if they can be found to celebrate. May our voices of praise be raised to our victorious King as we watch to see Him be glorified.

Lord, start with each of us. Start in our hearts and do what only you can do. As one of my boys prayed tonight for the families, who sent us Christmas cards that are now out on our dining room table to pray over, “God, fill their hearts with your Holy Spirit.” Amen. Do it a again, Lord! Do it again!

 

*Picture was from Easter 5 years ago. The kids have grown so much!

 

 

Growing up a journal was known as a diary. If you had one, a lock was a good idea. I had one off and on, but never quite felt compelled to spill my heart on the pages. I liked to write down smaller stuff, like who I had a crush on. Those days have passed and would seem repetitive since I have had a crush on the same boy for over 20 years. Now I have so many journals with pages filled with words. I actually got a bit worried that I would not be able to get another journal if stores closed. Where would all my words go? Only a few get shared on this space and the art of physically writing is something I very much enjoy. An incredibly small problem I know in light of all that is going on right now.

Some of my journal pages have tears that have dried, as I have written and worked out much. Other pages have so many praises that it was hard to write fast enough! There are verses and questions, quotes and lyrics recorded in ink. I do not worry about anyone reading them, but I do hope they would not read just one day. To understand the story, you would have to start at the beginning. To start at today would give the impression of a girl who has always had the Lord as her first love. I would suggest you go much further back and read day after day of the dying to other loves. It has been quite the journey and one that I already know the ending too. If I were a book, that might really spoil the in between; but as a Believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, it makes the daily living full of hope.  

Sometimes I think Christians have quite an advantage in these times. If we have read the Bible and let truth set us free, we have such peace right now. It is possible that we might still get sick, but it does not cause us to fear most of the time. I do confess I woke up at 2:00am and panicked my way through the thought of getting this sickness. However, in the light of day and being of sound mind once again, I go back to using discernment, we pray for protection and then we keep living. We see so much good and look for ways to help fight the bad. We stay home as much as we can and take the days a bit slower. More things that have been put off are getting done and new things are being tested out. Games are played, movies watched, a sewing machine buzzes and video meetings with teachers and classmates are taking place. Sometimes things get forgotten and that is ok too. Fear might be raging outside, but in our home it is not welcome. For fear is a liar, as the truthful song goes.

We must be mindful during this time, for people are watching Christians. If our foundations have been faulty or only given attention on Sundays, we will not stand. If our worship is a box to be checked when we have sung a few songs, we will be weak at best. And now we have been given time behind closed doors to do some heart work. There is no time like the present and excuses have been canceled. Can I suggest you get some pen and a diary or journal, whatever you want to call it, and pour your story out. You might think it will be too painful, but then again you might be surprised. What I have found is there is a lot of beauty among the ashes. And sometimes what you thought was true, turns out to be a lie you have believed your entire life. The enemy specializes in just enough truth to hide his most powerful lies in. Tell you what, write it all out and then offer it to the Lord. Let Him do the editing and see how your life reads. If satan whispers that this page cannot be forgiven, remind him of the cross, the blood of Jesus and the empty tomb. Your pages just might read a lot different when our doors open again.

I am praying that these will be days of revival. I am asking the Lord that hearts will be refined and much gold is revealed. I am asking the Lord that families will be made strong and that distractions will never be allowed again. I am asking that the Word of God will be read, planted deep and set as truth over all. I am asking that we will never again give our worship to that which is created, but only to the Creator. I am asking that unity is desired and lived out. I am asking that personal agendas be thrown into the fire, for now is not the time. And most of all I am asking our God to show His power, mercy, grace and fame. Yes, these will be days to write about in our journals. I just know it!

*Picture is of my most favorite journal by Dayspring.

“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” – Psalm 51:7

Sometimes when you read scripture, it takes on new meaning by what is going on in your world. Passages that have been read a hundred times, now stand out. With all the world so focused on the coronavirus and washing our hands, maybe that is why this verse was highlighted today. Being clean is now being shouted from the rooftops. This is not a new concept for me. If you know my dad, you know that he is the cleanest person on earth. I have been trained very well – thanks dad!! My husband said this morning that my dad has been preparing for this for 68 years! It made us laugh and that is much needed right now. I hope you are able to laugh. If you need assistance, I have stories for days.

In the above verse, written by King David after he had been confronted with his sin, he is asking the Lord to make him clean again. He longs for their relationship to be restored to the time before he had sinned against our Lord. His words are so powerful and heartbreaking. He is real, honest and full of repentance. How sorry he is, not for being caught or found out, but because of the broken fellowship between him and God. Have you ever been there before? The cries that come from a repenting heart must sound like a song to our Lord. Have you learned to sing these beautiful songs?

King David asks to be cleansed with hyssop and that is not something we hear of today. When I checked the study notes in my Bible, it says that this was a practice from the Old Testament (see Exodus 12:22). When we look at this passage, we find out that it was a hyssop stalk the Israelites were to dip in the blood of a lamb and paint the blood over the doorway before the night that the Lord went through Egypt and killed the first born. This is what we are celebrating with Passover. And in celebrating, we remember that Jesus was the Lamb that died in our place. It is His blood that is now over our lives, our sin and we will live eternally with Him. We also see the extreme measures God goes to in order to rescue His children from slavery.

If the concept of being enslaved sounds foreign to you, I would say listen to the fear running its course through the world. Listen as idols are being exposed, things we were enslaved to as a society. Listen as panic is setting in because all that was secure has been shaken. Look at the empty shelves that have been cleared and stockpiled in homes. Are we not to be prepared? Of course we are, but to what measure? Normally, shelves have plenty of what we need because we only buy enough and trust there will be more. When fear and panic come on the stage, well, we see the result. It is like the fear of death has settled in like a dark cloud hovering over our world. Also, I wonder why we have not always taken seriously the warning found in Matthew 10:28. Why we have not have a reverent fear of Almighty God? “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Again, another extreme verse and the revealing power of our God, whom we should fear.

Perhaps we could ask ourselves a few questions. Could God use this horrible virus to clean my heart? Could He take this time to wash away, with His covering blood, the sin that has distanced me from Him? Before we leave this place of heart searching, I need to give you more to consider. Look with me at John 19:28-30. “Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty’. A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished’. With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”  Do you think that maybe this virus could possibly stop if we too lifted up pure hearts to Jesus? Maybe during all of this we have repented and come back to our first love. Do you think if there is a massive wave of souring cleaning, He will say the virus is now finished?

I pray we all have actually found Him as we “shelter in place”. He never left you know, even when America turned its back on Him in so many ways. He is still here. Do we know Him and His peace and can truly say, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1)? And if you are unsure about all of this, look for those who “will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:2). They are shining pretty bright right now. Shining like new pennies that happen to read, “In God We Trust”. May we return to a nation that can truly say this!