No Disclaimer Clause

I find it totally awesome when God uses your own words to teach you a lesson. My article just came out in WHOA Magazine and as I read it, I realized I STILL had some forgiving to do!

I won't be looking for a disclaimer clause this time. NOPE, I think I'll just begin the process of forgiving.

Read my article, No Disclaimer Clause, in WHOA Magazine HERE.

Jesus did just say "forgive!" There's no ands, ifs, or buts about it....

Quit Complaining

I was and still am on a journey. This trip has begun to seem all too familiar when I have a chance to sit back and look at it. How could I be following in the footsteps of the Israelites?

For years I’ve wondered how the Israelites could gripe and complain on their journey with Moses to the Promise Land. I mean, come on! God was right there leading them by pillars of fire and smoke. And if that wasn’t enough, He was providing their meals straight from the heavens as manna and quail would fall from above. And yet . . . they complained!

A few months ago a precious friend, Alisa of Sanctified Together, contacted me and shared her dream of her online magazine (link to first issue). I was sold out. How could I not be? Her passion and enthusiasm of what God was doing was contagious. I was honored she asked if I’d write for her. WOW! I felt most blessed -- well, I guess. OK - I was, but my actions did not confirm that blessing I’m sure.

Beyond her enthusiasm, what I remember as I look back was one day in this Israelites life. I began saying . . . “Yes, I love to write. . . I don’t like writing . . . I’m not good at grammar and editing . . . I really don’t want to write . . . why does God keep putting writing in front of me when I’d rather be with the girls speaking and teaching . . . I am not a writer like you are . . .” This is no joke! I said all that and more and it is a wonder she didn’t say NEVER MIND!

I continued thinking over the next few days, Why God? Why writing? You know I’m not good at this. I about failed English in school and I have no idea how to edit properly. Why God? Not writing, please!

Then I get a phone call from a dear friend, Laine, in Mississippi. She begins to tell me she has begun a magazine, WHOA Magazine , and the first print is coming out in January and get this . . . she’d love for me to write an article to be featured. I’m not sure if I said out loud the same words I did to Alisa, but I can guarantee you I was thinking them and questioning God.

We chatted for awhile and she began telling me how her weekly WHOA radio program had been birthed. She began sharing that God had given her a vision to have a television program some time back. That’s all she could see was TV. But then one day out of the blue due to some God-sized circumstances the radio station called and said "Can you get in here to do a show?We know your ministry and we’d love you to fill in for an empty hour we have." She goes on to say she didn’t want to . . . radio didn’t figure in to anything she felt called to do. Well, she went in and that show has now become a weekly program that has allowed her to reach many more people than she dreamed possible at the time. It is also opening doors for other avenues, such as the WHOA magazine and get this - - TV.

It was quiet when she finally speaks, “Alene, do you get what I’m saying? I didn’t want to do radio. But through my obedience God has opened more doors than I ever dreamed possible in just one year. Alene, do you understand?”

There was a lot silence. I was crying on my end. She had no idea what my Israelite experience was at that point. But I finally squeaked out, “Yes!” I shared with her my journey about not wanting to write, but through her story I now see I must be obedient to what God calls me to do -- whether I want to or NOT!

Oh Lord, forgive me for being a griping, complaining, and questioning Israelite! Thank you for showing me my wrongful attitudes through these beautiful friends. May I write in obedience to You, Lord, not questioning nor complaining. May I learn to rejoice in this journey.

What's Next, Papa?

Visiting with a friend recently, I was reminded of how our relationship with our earthly father is such a vital part of our life. We grow up with dads and our perception of that relationship all too often determines how we view our Heavenly Father.

If our dad was demeaning and overbearing in nature, we tend to view our Heavenly Father is the same light. To break the bonds of those feelings and thoughts it often takes time and a strong determination to retrain our minds to think of our Heavenly Father as loving, caring, and nurturing.

This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?" God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what's coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him! (Romans 8:14-16 MSG)

You might not be able to relate to the photograph above because you weren’t afforded the opportunity to have a father figure you could trust or enjoy spending time with. But God wants to be near you today.

He wants to carry you on His shoulders to see new things and experience blessings He has waiting for you. He wants you to know you can trust him and that He thinks you are precious. My friend, don’t get bogged down in the past. Let it go and find your confidence and worth in your Heavenly Father.

Be adventurously expectant, hop on God’s shoulders and ask “What’s next, Papa?”

We All Rejoiced

When will I ever get over myself? It was one of those mornings when I really didn’t want to hop out of bed and get to church. We arrived and obviously my heart was not right. That makes me sad. For crying out loud, I was going to worship the Lord, Savior, King of Kings with my fellow brothers and sisters and I had an attitude. Hello?

Please somebody tell me they can relate?

As I sat there with my arms crossed, my mind began wandering. The message was on baptism and my hard heart was saying I know that, I know that. Then somewhere in the midst of the message God pricked my heart. Hallelujah!

Finally the selfish scales fell from my eyes and I knew I didn’t have a clue. I needed to repent and be baptized (cleansed again through HIS forgiveness) for my selfishness and arrogance. As I begged God for forgiveness, I began praying for others who might need to hear the words of that message. God answered in a huge way.

One man had left the service early and God nudged him to turn around and come back. He was baptized and we all rejoiced. Then at our second service one woman came to be baptized. She said she was thinking during the praise and worship that she needed to be baptized. Of course, the message was confirmation! She was baptized and we all rejoiced! Another lady came and was baptized. We all rejoiced! Then just as we were fixing to leave a dear friend came to be re-baptized to make her eternity for sure. We all rejoiced!

“Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it? When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ Count on it – there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.” Luke 15:4-7

Lord, forgive me for standing with the ninety-nine this morning and having my eyes on myself. Oh my, how I do need rescued! Thank you for the celebration of your good love, mercy and forgiveness through these precious souls this morning and their acts of obedience to You. I am celebrating with the angels in heaven. Amen.

We all rejoiced! Yes, it was amazing.

Reflections

WOW what a wonderful day! It was a day of church, family, rest, and supper with friends. It was refreshing. However, I’m left with this one nagging question – is there someone who I hold a grudge against and have not forgiven? The message this morning was from Matthew 6:15, “If you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will NOT forgive your sins.”

That’s pretty serious business. I need all the forgiveness available from my Heavenly Father. There are those that have truly wronged me or someone in my family and they have never made it right, apologized, or asked for forgiveness. But in reference to this scripture that doesn’t matter. It is up to me to forgive them. Today, I feel as if I’ve forgiven the horrendous acts. However, I’m spending time in prayer asking God to reveal any unconfessed sin, anger, or bitterness I might be hanging on to. I don’t want to be cut off from God, His grace and mercy.

What an awesome God – He forgives! Hallelujah!