Don't Laugh

I’m one of those people that believe everything in the Bible. In one way or another, I know it is trustworthy. I don’t need to know how, or if it is literal in every way or not, but I know that I can believe the promises. So When Jesus says that we can do the things that he did and more, I believe him! In my journal and in my prayer time, I am all in. Very serious about it all! “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. John 14:12 (NLT) My question is, why is this not happening in my life? I prayed for my friend in chronic pain and she did not get better. I even prayed in Jesus name, I mean I said in Jesus name after I prayed. I’m beginning to think that praying in Jesus name is not a “houcus poucus-get whatever you want” spell that we chant at the end of a prayer. No, living is Jesus name means so much more. It means following him and doing the things that he would have done or is doing in you. Anyway, I’ll keep you updated on the healing ministry, but for now, I’ve decided to learn how to abide in the Father so that I can find unity in the relationship of the trinity in my own life. How can Jesus live out his life through me? Jesus said, I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. John 17:21 (NLT) So I believe! BUT when I find myself in conversation with friends proclaiming this truth! I giggle or follow my statements with an uncomfortable laugh. We all know what God thinks about people who laugh at his promises. In Genesis 18, the Lord appeared to Abraham and told him that his wife, Sarah would have a son. “So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?” “Then the Lord said the Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son. “Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh.” “But the Lord said, “No you did laugh.” Did Sarah laugh because she was amused at the Lord’s promise? Or did she laugh because he felt silly believing that something so incredible could happen to her? Did she laugh because she felt like a fool believing that at her age, she would bear a child? I laugh because I’m afraid of the response. I’m afraid what people will think about the kind of person that believes impossible things. Her laughing did not cancel the Lord’s promise. It did still happen. But who likes to be laughed at. I know I don’t. May we all believe in the impossible things that Jesus proclaimed about his followers. May we learn to truly follow Him so that his promises will manifest in our life. More than the miracles, how I would love to just rest in knowing that I’m doing what the Father does and doing what pleases Him. “I do nothing on my own, but say only what the Father taught me. And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.” John 8: 28- 29 (NLT) May these incredible words from Jesus be what we seek. To be so intimate with the Father, Son, and the Holy Sprit, that we can be confident that we always do what pleases the Father.

Faith is a Shield

I had in my head that faith is like a muscle that I am to strengthen and grow. If it can be too small, then it must be able to grow. I set to believing in impossible things. Healings and projects beyond my physical means. How else would one grow faith? Push-ups to grow arms, believing in the impossible to grow faith. I knew that push-ups were a physical act, so must my faith be, I should walk forward. Pray for people knowing that I had no control over the healing, or planning a million-dollar project in Angola, where others had to show up in order for this to work. I walk forward. Asking the Lord to do the rest. But when it dawned on me that the spiritual armor recorded in Ephesians 6:10-18 (NLT) 10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we[a] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.[b] 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.[c] 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Although I think shields are heavy, so it might take work to hold one up, faith doesn’t seem to be a muscle. Maybe growing in ones faith means a bigger and bigger shield. If we were to have spiritual eyes watching Peter walk out on the water to Jesus, how would that have looked? I cannot say the answer, because I’ve not seen this with my own eyes, I’m only trying to piece my understanding of Scripture and God together. Say Peter walks out holding his faith shield. He puts the first food down and an arrow of darkness, full of doubt, flies his way, but the shield stops it. The arrow falls into the ocean. Another arrow flies his way telling him to look, it is not possible to walk on water. That arrow hits the shield and falls into the ocean. After a couple of steps towards Jesus, another arrow of darkness flies at Peter telling him that a wave is coming his way and it might knock him over! The arrow flies just above his shield and hits Peter in the head, and fear sets in. He starts sinking. What does Jesus say? “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” Matt. 14:31 Little faith? Little shield? Could it be that faith is simply blocking the arrows of darkness that want to enter our thought life? That want to discourage us from believing the impossible? Okay if I don’t have to strong will my self to having faith, but hold up a shield, how do I get that shield? How do I get a huge Jesus sized shield? In Roman’s 10:17 it says, “So faith comes from hearing , that is , hearing the Good News about Christ.” Galatians 2:20, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, bur Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. By believing in Jesus’ sacrifice and believing that our sinfulness died along with Christ. We step into faith that we are now in Jesus, so in believing that, is Jesus holding the shield or are we?

Dangers of disbelief

I wonder if one can sabotage ones relationship in its fullest potential because he or she does not believe the whispers they hear from the Holy Spirit. Or maybe they don't believe the blatant miracles set before them chalking it up to coincidence. The Biblical examples I have for now are in Numbers 13 and 14 when the 12 representatives from Israel went into the land God promised them to check it out. Ten of the men were totally intimidated and 2 were ready to go into battle believing that the Lord would go before them. Because of the 10 unbelievers they whole of Israel were sentenced to wonder the dessert for 40 years. Not without God, but they could have just gone into the promise land and not the dessert. THEN! When God told Moses to speak to the rock and instead he struck the rock, God said, "Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!" (and it seems Aaron was also taken down with him in this scenario, we don't know the whole story really as far as Aaron's attitude and actions.) Also Zachariah went mute when he didn't believe right away when the Lord said he would be a father. I'm just wondering how many times we miss something amazing from God just by not believing.

Obsessions

I wrote this blog three years ago, and never posted, but finding it now was a nice reminder on priorities, incidentally, I still want to go shopping for new pants, but will hold off today. As we continue missionary life in Angola, I am noticing changes in my priorities, that I hope will stick with me wherever I live in the world. I'm not sure if I'm just growing in normal aging wisdom or if it's because of my living in a developing world. You may enlighten me with your responses. But this year I'm realizing the silliness of the weight I place on material things. Specifically how I want others to think of me. (I do realize not everyone thinks of me). How silly is it that we buy new clothes every year, not because our old clothes are worn out, but because we don't want our neighbor to think we are caught in last years style. How silly is it that we need to have a different thing to wear each day for at least three weeks. How silly is it that our closets are so full of clothes that we forget about what is all in there. Well, I think it's silly. I mean, I do think it's silly, but as soon as I walk outside today, I will see a women that I don't know, wearing something that I wish I had. Or I'll see a new style on TV, and begin imagining how good that would look on me; forgetting that I have a closet full of beautiful clothes that are in very good condition, and that fit me well enough. I've decided today, to do my best to change my perspective, (with God's help). Instead of leaving a room, hoping everyone thought my kids were the cutest in their latest clothes. And that I have an amazing body that should be desired. (Embarrassing, but I do think about that.) I hope that I can leave people thinking, "that family loves God" or leave people feeling loved themselves. Can I love people in a way that is noticeable? Do I even love people? I've been praying for the last 18 years, since I learned that I don't love people, I've been praying that God would help me to love Him more, and to love people like He does. And to see people through his eyes. Wow, I can tell you one thing. He does answer that prayer eventually, but it is a burden to love people. And it's amazing to love an unlovable person. But I think, it was so hard for me to love others because I was too busy loving myself. (I'm still pretty busy loving myself) And sometimes you can love someone and ache for them, but cannot help them. That is the hardest and best thing. It's hard because we cannot help them, but it's good because we know who can, and through our great love for that person, we spend notable time praying for him or her-- which is something. So, now I will try, to stop spending so much time, money and effort loving myself and worrying about what others think of me; and work on my loving skills. How can I love that person better? How can I let them know that I love them? What do my kids think that I care about? I hope it's that I love. "Create in me a clean heart oh, Lord; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your Spirit oh Lord, take not your Holy Spirit from me." --Psalms 51:10 "If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. 4Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,…--I Corinthians 13 Thanks for Reading, Lori

Belief

I will now venture into the world of blogging in a personal way. I will send my thoughts out into the abyss and wonder if anyone else thinks like me. As I get older, I'm 37, I feel more and more isolated in the way I think. I've grown up reading the Bible, I started serious study when I was 16. As I look back, I see a transformed woman. I cannot relate anymore to that teenager. Prayer is amazing that way. The Lord promises to transform us by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:1-2) Not that I have it all together. I'm an emotional, irrational, scattered individual. I love to write, and that is one way I will connect with the world out there. Today, I'm contemplating Numbers 13 and 14 of the Bible, when the Israelite were too afraid to enter the Promise land. It seems that because of their reaction of fear and disbelief, God decided they couldn't enter, they would die in the dessert and the generation after them could come in. I think it shows that God may not provide for those of whom choose disbelief. What if he has something amazing for you and you decide to question if it is possible. As he shows you a miracle, you say, it must be a coincidence. What happens if one spouse in a couple believes a promise or miracle and the other spouse does not? Can one spouse ruin it for the other. Don't we need to work together. In the story of the Israelites and Canaan, there were 12 men that went into Canaan to check it out and only 2 thought they should pursue this land the Lord asked them to pursue. The 10 that were too afraid, were told they would never enter, but the 2 that believed still could not enter until all the others died off. So yes, those whom believed were effected by those that did not believe. I just hope that I can be one that believes when the time is critical. I would love to hear anyone thoughts on this topic. Thanks for reading, Lori