OIL SPILL DISASTER ~ IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD?

This morning as Chuck and I were praying, I felt the Lord taking me to the oil crisis in the Gulf. I hadn’t planned on praying for that situation this morning, but it was evidently on God’s mind.


Now, before I say anymore, I will tell you that we can pray with our minds or as I tell my children - we can pray from our hearts. There is a difference. Many times, I pray from my mind. Sadly, when I don’t take the time to allow the Holy Spirit to pray through me, the consequence is ---- I may have missed the mark with my prayers. Because the Holy Spirit knows the mind of Christ (John 16:13), He can order my prayers if I’ll surrender to Him.


As I alluded to earlier, when I give myself completely to the Lord in my prayer time; not being so quick to rush in with my words and waiting/listening to the Holy Spirit, then I begin to pray in unexpected ways. The anointing (presence of God) is on every word and with that comes an inner excitement and strength which gives way to faith rising within me. I know that I’m touching God’s heart and He’s touching mine along with every concern I’ve brought before Him. Generally, when this happens, the Holy Spirit will faithfully bring to remembrance the Word of God that I have placed upon my heart day after day. Finally, when we pray what Holy Spirit has brought to our mind, the power of God is then released into the earth.


Prayer is an awesome thing. It’s a privilege to be able to commune with the God who created the heavens and the earth.


So, with that said, let’s go back to the oil crisis. As I began to pray this morning, I felt like the Lord wanted me to know that He really cares about this matter more than we think He does. Unfortunately, many would say God caused it. I don’t believe that, but I do believe God can use it to bring people to Himself.


God created this earth (Genesis 1:1). It’s the work of His hands. Yes, and He created it for us to enjoy and to rule over by taking care of it. He doesn’t want us to be wasteful or careless with what He’s given us. So, when the earth is affected by something we’ve done as a people - I believe it grieves Him more than it grieves us. It’s just like a parent who gives his child a special gift and if that child doesn’t value the gift, it hurts the parent deeply.


God is very aware of the present situation. I know the Lord cares about this more than anyone; whether it’s BP, our government, or the people who earn a living from the water, etc.


Earlier this year, in my quiet time with the Lord, I was reading in Exodus and a particular scripture stirred my heart and I’ve not been able to let it go. I pray it every time Holy Spirit brings it to my mind. And this is it… “Then the Lord said: I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the Lord, will do for you” Exodus 34:10. I initially thought the Lord was speaking directly to me and my family with decisions we are making for our future, but I’ve since begun to believe that it’s really much bigger than me.


I believe all scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16) and that the Lord God wrote this Word through men for it NOT to be forgotten, but to be remembered by all generations. This Word is powerful and effective and this morning, I began to stand on God’s powerful Word that people all over the world would see - SEE WITH THEIR EYES how awesome is the work that GOD will do for our Nation.


God wants to turn the hearts of every man and woman, boy and girl to Himself. He will do it in ways we don’t always understand. As I said earlier, man doesn’t always take care of the earth the way we should. We make mistakes, but God knows how to correct our failures and He desires to do just that.


God can stop the oil from spilling!!!! But, whether He does or does not, I believe it’s an opportunity for his purposes to come to pass in the earth. Even bad situations can lead to something good. I know this from experience and from reading the Word.


All God has to do is put His finger in that hole and plug that well!!! With man ----as we’ve been seeing for the last two months, it seems impossible to fix this tragedy, but Jesus himself said “…. with God all things are possible” Matthew 19:26.


Can you imagine what people all around the world would say if the oil just “STOPPED” coming out of that well. And… we would all see it for ourselves because we’ve all witnessed the same picture for weeks of the oil gushing from the well. It would be such a miracle that no-one could deny. Well, I'm sure some would. We wouldn’t be taking anyone’s word for it - we would see it for ourselves.


This is a crisis with man, but not a crisis with our God. Let’s stand on God’s Word today and believe.....

“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Genesis 18:14



"For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land" Psalm 95:3-5

FAVOR ~ LIKE SEEING THE FACE OF GOD

“If I (Jacob) have found FAVOR in your (Esau) eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably.” Genesis 33:10


Jacob was saying… You, brother have been like God to me! You’ve shown unlimited KINDNESS~FAVOR towards me; one who doesn’t deserve it. I did nothing to earn it.


If you read last weeks’ blog, you’ll understand why Jacob didn’t feel worthy of Esau’s favor toward him. The past twenty years Jacob had been working for his Uncle Laban ~ fourteen of those years to receive Rachel (Genesis 31:41), the woman he loved and longed to marry. May I say - no favor there. Laban represents the world which is a hard task master. But, in this passage, Esau is a type of Christ. Jacob’s gifts (things he’d earned) were meaningless to Esau. Just as Esau had no need for Jacob’s gifts, neither does our Father in heaven. We cannot earn His favor - it is free as I said last week. Favor is unmerited; meaning there is nothing we can do to deserve it. We are a gift to Jesus that He desires to fill with Himself.


Jacob was saying to Esau, it's like I've seen God's face the way you've treated me with such kindness. FAVOR is like seeing God’s face! What a beautiful thought. We can actually see Christ in one another when someone extends FAVOR to us or when we extend FAVOR to another.


The Apostle Paul said that we, with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory….(2 Cor.3:18). Just as Esau was like the face of God to Jacob ~ we can see the face or be the face of God to others when we extend God's kindness.


You will notice the picture of the beautiful child above. This happens to be my precious little niece, Mia. We've all heard it said, when you see the face of a child, you've seen God. There's a lot of truth to that so I couldn't resist posting this pose of her. I just want to end this teaching by saying.......


We've all seen God's face as we've experienced God's FAVOR, whether we realize it or not. He touches each of our lives in so many different ways. I pray you encounter Him today and tomorrow and forever!

FREE FAVOR.....

You may remember the story of Jacob and Esau. If not, here's a brief overview of their early years. Esau was the elder son of Isaac and Rebekah. He did not value his “birthright,” which was a special honor given to the oldest son carrying with it a double portion of the family inheritance along with becoming the future leader of the family. So one day, in haste, he (Esau) relinquished it to his twin brother Jacob for a mere meal of bread and stew. Later, Jacob, at the urging of his mother, deceived his father and received Esau's blessing. When Esau realized what had happened, he cried out loudly to his father and said, “Bless me - me too, my father! But he (Isaac) said, Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing” Genesis 27:34.

Now, more than twenty years later, Jacob was preparing to meet his brother Esau. The last time he had seen his brother was when Esau vowed to kill Jacob as soon as their father Isaac died (Gen.27:41). So, what do you do when you expect the worst? Jacob decided to send some gifts in the form of various animals to his brother in hopes that the gifts would subdue any lingering anger from the past.

Jacob desired FAVOR (kindness) to be extended to him (Gen.32:5). Instead of going to his brother and asking forgiveness for his past sin, he attempted to purchase FAVOR with the display of his riches before Esau. Jacob even thought to himself, “I will pacify him (Esau) with these gifts…perhaps he will receive me” Genesis 32:20.

After sending ahead the gift of goats, ewes, rams, camels, cows, bulls, and donkeys, Jacob approached Esau, bowing down to the ground seven times. Jacob obviously expected the worst from his brother, but what happened was unimaginable. Esau, the brother who lost his birthright and blessing to Jacob was now running toward him and embracing him, throwing his arms around his neck and kissing him while weeping. What an exhilerating moment this must have been for Jacob and Esau. The pain of the past was gone. Esau no longer hated Jacob, but loved him.


Esau said to Jacob in my words… Hey Jake, what’s up with all those animals you sent me? Jacob admitted, I just wanted your favor. I just wanted us to be brothers who love each other. Is that possible?

Too many times, we too attempt to purchase God’s FAVOR by displaying our good conduct ~ “Look at me Lord - look at what I‘ve done for you…” But, Isa.64:6 says… "all our righteous acts are like filthy rags…” Esau refused to accept Jacob’s gifts. He didn't need them nor did he want them. He had already forgiven Jacob and out of that forgiveness came a kindness that could not be bought.

Like Esau, our Heavenly Father has no need of our gifts - He owns the cattle on a thousand hills and as my husband always says…. He owns the hills too. So we need to quit trying to purchase His FAVOR. He took our sin upon himself before we had need of him. He has forgiven us long ago so that we may freely approach His throne of grace with confidence that we too may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16


“I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, men-servants and maid-servants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find FAVOR in your eyes” Genesis 32:5

RESTING IN HIS FAVOR......

Noah found something in God that we too can have today. Noah was a real person - not just a weird guy who built a big boat saving his family from the destruction that came in the form of rain for 40 days and nights. What did Noah find? He found God’s favor ~ another word is GRACE, which in this passage is ACCEPTANCE with God.


I don’t know about you ~ but I’ve wasted too much of my time wondering if I was acceptable to God. I have tried to get his attention by the “good” deeds I was doing hoping to achieve something; when all along His eyes were upon me with affection and acceptance.


The key element I want to bring to light in this passage is that Noah “found” Grace. The Hebrew word for find is “matsa.” To “matsa” is to find, secure, acquire, get, meet, encounter, learn, to come upon, or light upon. Nowhere in those defining words do you find “work” or “strive.”



Noah was a man unlike those of his generation. That in itself says a lot about Noah. Consequently, there was a contrast between Noah and the people on the earth at that time. Man had become wicked and “every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.” The Lord was grieved that he had made man and Jehovah’s heart was filled with pain.


But there was Noah…… whose name means “rest.” He was a just, lawful, righteous man and perfect, meaning without blemish, complete, full, and sincerely undefiled in his generation. Noah didn’t work to find God’s GRACE. He came upon it and rested in it as he pursued God and His purposes.



His very name reveals how we too can find God’s GRACE. Our lifestyle as Believers must be one of resting in God by walking every moment of every day trusting in His amazing, overcoming, overwhelming, unconditional, steadfast love and acceptance. The result of consciously involving Him into our life is that God’s eyes of favor are upon us. You don’t have to “DO” to have his eyes upon you...ever.


Stand undefiled in this generation resting in the fact that You are God’s favored one. You are acceptable to Him, not because of what you do, but because of who you are before Him.


I know a woman who, every time you ask her how she is, she says, “I am highly favored by God.” Tell yourself today - I’m God’s favored one and His eyes are upon Me. It will change the way you see Him and the way you see yourself.



“But Noah found FAVOR in the eyes of the Lord.”
Genesis 6:8

SHOW ME THE POWER!

A familiar passage has been burning in my heart. 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, love and of self-discipline." The Message version goes like this... "God doesn't want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible."

As I read this passage over the weekend, it was as if the Holy Spirit was hovering over it and I found myself meditating upon it the rest of the day. I long for the day when timidity no longer trumps power in my life and in the Body of Christ. Just reading the Acts of the Apostles lately has caused me to long for the confidence and courage of the early believers. Becoming a believer is merely the beginning of an adventure with God. We should expect to experience signs and wonders,"And these signs will accompany those who believe..."Mark 16:17. Jesus told the disciples in John 14:12, "I tell you the truth, anyone (ANYONE-that's you and me) who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things then these, because I am going to the Father."

The spirit of fear is like a squatter on your property. If The intruder is not given immediate evacuation notice from you, then before long ... all that is yours is accessible to the trespasser and you will be living with a thief. Can you imagine? I heard it once said, when you give a foothold to the enemy, in time it becomes a stronghold in your life. The spirit of fear will keep you from all that God has for you.

Knowing the truth and walking in the truth can sometimes be miles apart. Sure, there will be missed opportunities to walk in the power Paul was talking about because of that spirit of fear. But, because God continues to believe in our potential, He will certainly provide more divine appointments where we lean into His power. Just recently, I wimped out with fear about sharing the gospel with an intoxicated man. Yet, there have been other times in my life where great boldness rose up inside of me to the point I had to follow the leading of the Spirit of God. I can only say...I didn't even take time to think about the consequences of it. I just knew the Lord was leading me and even though what I thought was going to happen "didn't" ~ I rest knowing that I walked in His power even for a moment or two and I pleased the Lord because I trusted in God more than myself.

We should pray, every day for God to order our steps wherever it may lead in order that we may lean into the one we love and care for the ones he loves by giving them the truth. God has welcomed us into His royal family and we are heirs to everything He has. We need to stop seeing ourselves as beggars before God and cowards before the world because we are sons and daughters of the Most High God with incredible privileges and opportunity.

Remember the saying.. "Show me the money." Well, I would like to start a new saying, something like.... "Show me the Power."

Paul encouraged young Timothy (and us) that being timid or weak before the world is not from God. We've been given POWER, (Greek word - Dunamis) which is boldness - ability for performing miracles. This power operates through the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. Jesus was never timid while walking the earth so why are we? Jesus walked in power. We should be God's dynamite in the earth today doing great exploits for the Kingdom of God and much of the time, this is done while upon our knees.

But, we're not just to be dynamite to be showy; we're supposed to be full of God's love, affection, good will and brotherly love while we're doing damage to the kingdom of darkness. That means we need to be broken over those who've never met Jesus or who've slipped away from his grip. We need to see them through our Father's eyes. The other day I heard a Pastor encourage his congregation to pray for this particular unknown person as if it were their own child, sister, brother, mother, father, etc. If we don't have love, we most certainly WILL NOT be effective for the Lord - we'll just be a bunch of noise makers (1 Cor.13:1). When we love, it validates everything we do for Christ.

And finally, Paul said we should be self-controlled or sensible. We need to set an example in our speech, life, love, faith, and purity (1Tim.4:11). THAYER defines it as: "the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites . Remember, self-control is a fruit of the spirit which a believer should purpose in his heart to submit and yield to.

It's time for the Church to do what Jesus did. There was a common phrase a few years ago and bracelets worn by many that said, "What Would Jesus Do?" Well, we know what Jesus did - now let's do it! We all have a voice. When Jesus walked the earth, he never silenced people, but was known for empowering people, male and FEMALE to GO and preach the Good News. I praise God that He has not given us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, love and of self-discipline.

Rise up Church and proclaim His Glory to the Nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples, 1 Chr.16:24.

HE NEVER LEAVES US.....

Today I had a “menopausal moment” that was really a little longer than a moment. My husband and son were participating in an up-hill race called “The Summit.” They both did extraordinarily well and I was soo proud of both of them. From that exhilarating high of emotion later came anxiety that led to tears for no real reason. Suddenly, I just wanted to be left alone. But, my family would have none of it. They stayed in the car with me till I could pull it together. I told them to go on knowing they were hungry. Food was awaiting them after the race, yet they were determined to stay with me as long as necessary.

Just by them staying showed how much they loved me. They could have gone on and satisfied that ache in their tummys, but instead they lingered by my side. Even though I acted like I didn’t want them with me, they refused to go and leave me alone.

It makes me think of Jesus who never leaves us ~ Never! Even when we don’t seem to want him around… he refuses to go because He made a promise to those who know Him to never ever leave us…”Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you“ Hebrews 13:5. In the Greek, this scripture basically means Jesus will never, certainly not, by no means relax, loosen, give up, leave you. Jesus will neither abandon, desert, leave you in a difficult situation or hardship, or helpless, totally abandoned, utterly forsaken, or ever leave you behind.

You may say, how can Jesus be with us if He is no longer on the earth. That’s true that Jesus is not in physical form on earth today, but before He ascended to heaven, he lovingly shared with His disciples that He was sending the Counselor to be with them forever - the Spirit of truth which is Jesus in Spirit form. He told them that He would not leave them as orphans (John 14:17). So, even though Jesus ascended to heaven, he kept his promise to send the Holy Spirit to live in them and in all who would believe in Him today. Jesus, in the form of Holy Spirit indwells and empowers the Believer today.

What a gift of love is the Holy Spirit living within us. By repenting of sin and committing ones life to Him - Jesus comes to live in your heart. He is committed to you. There’s absolutely NOTHING more important to Him than YOU.

Even so, you may say to Him.. I don’t want You; I want to be left alone. But, just as I said to my family today and they didn’t listen…….Jesus knows you really need Him and he’ll plead to be with you because He loves you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). Whether you’ve never known Him or you’ve slipped away from Him….. Either way, you can open wide the door of your heart today and let him come in and share the remaining “moments” of your life. There’s really nothing more important to Him than being with You!

OH HOW HE LOVES US!

Good Friday, the day Jesus died for mankind was such a memorable day for me unlike any other in the past. Why? Well, my friend, Marianne and her son Simon were visiting and with our family we embarked upon a Geocashing adventure. Geocaching is a project organized by Groundspeak, which is an outdoor activity in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers (called "geocaches" or "caches") anywhere in the world.


The adventure we expected was not what we experienced. We drove out a local road, took a left, another left, and before you know it we were out in the middle of seemingly "nowhere." I remember asking Marianne... how much gas you got in your tank? We drove on what appeared to be worse than cow paths, yet we continued towards our treasure. Travis, my 16 year old son was driving ahead of us with his daddy and with ever such caution we finally reached the top of a hill where we pulled to the side of the road. Now, it started to get interesting. We all got out of our vehicles, ready for the trek into the woods to find this prize awaiting us somewhere "up there...."


My husband Chuck had our GPS in hand so we all kind of lined up behind him. None of us were dressed appropriately as we soon found out there were more briers then we'd ever seen in a lifetime awaiting us. We went from the beautiful meadow to an abandoned road with debris to an upward climb toward the cache. About half way up what seemed like a mountain, we all began to spread out. Some were way ahead while others were beginning to struggle and straggle. I found an old stick which became my walking partner. I felt like Moses as we trekked along.


Chuck cautioned us all not to touch this fuzzy stuff on the trees as it was poisonous, most likely oak. So, we moved along until we encountered nothing but a brier "patch." I looked for ways to go around it, but there were none. So, being about the fourth in line, I dove into it when I let out a few screams .... the thorns had found my legs and arms. Blood began to ooze out of me. I grew fearful and felt such pain that I turned back. Our little dog Kirby was also with us and I immediately used my dog as my reasoning for staying behind. After all, what if Kirby got a thorn in him. Chuck reminded me that he was a hunting dog and he'd probably be fine, but I knew better.


There we were, me, my daughter and our friend Simon. We all were waiting below the brier patch. All of us had tried it and turned back and opted to wait. Chuck, Travis and then Marianne were blazing through it all and getting closer to the treasure. We could hear them above us...yelling out....... 200 feet and we're there... 100 feet...


To my amazement.... Ariel said with a chuckle ... "Take cover... I'm going in..." And, off she went up the hill towards the rest. Simon and I could hear the anticipation among those who had gone on. I wanted to go, but held off. Then something was said that stirred my young friend Simon and all of a sudden he was like a rocket going through that brier patch with ease. Then I heard the guys.... "oh my, I think we found it.... WE SEE IT!


Well, something stirred in me.... There actually was a prize. It was real - not a joke.... I began to move towards the brier patch and something in me would not turn back again.... The pain... yeah it was hurting because I felt the briers all over my legs, but I kept moving. I didn't stop. I was right behind Simon and when I looked down, there was Kirby. It was like he was saying... I've got your back.. let's go. After we got through those briers.. we began to attack that hill with a strength we hadn't had before. I couldn't believe we were doing this.


Finally, we had reached the top. After catching our breath, Chuck said... ok... now you all have to find it. And one by one.... WE FOUND THE PRIZE! There it was waiting for us! Simon opened the prized box and within it was a steno pad for us to write upon if we wished, first aid, little trinkets, and a laminated note congratulating us for the find. Then the emotions began to come forth in us. Some of us cried (me) and others were elated that we did it giving hands up to one another, hugs and smiles of relief. Many of us spoke what we felt about the experience - others were silent. We took a few pictures and commended one another and began to go back the way we came.


I came to the realization that I had suffered today... though just a little and had nearly turned back - but Jesus had suffered A LOT AND CONTINUED TILL HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR ME! We were His joy set before Him. I saw at the top of this hill thorns that could have been similar to the ones they put in Jesus' head and I cried. I could hardly handle the sting of a few little thorns in my legs and arms, yet Jesus endured a crown upon his head with streams of blood going down his face. I couldn't even imagine the nails in his hands and his feet and the piercing of his side. No, I couldn't even imagine..... HE WOULD DO THIS FOR ME! I cannot tell you how this has touched me.


I didn't go somewhere to hear about what Jesus did for me, but I actually got to experience something that touched me even more. I realized that our life is this adventure or journey up the hill and sometimes there are no ways around the brier patch. We must trust the Lord as we go through every dark place in our life because we will go through them all to reach the PRIZE which is Jesus. He's worth the temporary pains of life. He's worth it all. I'm sooo glad I didn't stay behind as others went up the hilll to get the prize. I was thankful for the encouragement from others, symbolic of the Body of Christ in order that we could all seize the moment together. I felt a sense of accomplishment and was grateful to have had the opportunity to suffer .... even if it was just a little to be like Jesus.


From the words of David Crowder... We are His portion and He is our prize, Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes, If grace is an ocean, we're all sinking. So Heaven meets earth like an unforseen kiss, And my heart turns violently inside of my chest, I don't have time to maintain these regrets, When I think about, the way........... He loves us, Oh how He loves us, Oh how He loves us, Oh how He loves......