Romans 8:18-31; II Timothy 1:7 - "Your Love Never Fails"; "Holy Spirit You Are Welcome Here"

The Lord woke me up to a song Jesus Culture sings called "Your Love Never Fails" and I immediately went to the part that goes....

You stay the same through the ages

Your love never changes
There may be pain in the night
But joy comes in the morning

And when the oceans rage
I don't have to be afraid
Because I know that You love me
Your love never fails

The part that struck me was There may be pain in the night...But joy comes in the morning. Oh my how I am ready for 'morning' to come! But then the Lord checked me. I can't rush things. I have to wait on His time. I have to remember that He has a purpose for this storm and an intended outcome. It is no wonder this line gets repeated in the song...

You make all things work together for my good

I think of Romans 8:28 which tells us, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Amen! The verses prior to this are entitled "Present Suffering and Future Glory." Specifically verse eighteen reads, I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. I don't know that Paul was talking about physical suffering here but I do know whatever I go through on this earth will be worth it in the end when He is glorified through it! Woo hoo! Matthew Henry writes about Romans 8:26-27...

Though the infirmities of Christians are many and great, so that they would be overpowered if left to themselves, yet the Holy Spirit supports them. The Spirit, as an enlightening Spirit, teaches us what to pray for; as a sanctifying Spirit, works and stirs up praying graces; as a comforting Spirit, silences our fears, and helps us over all discouragements. The Holy Spirit is the spring of all desires toward God, which are often more than words can utter. The Spirit who searches the hearts, can perceive the mind and will of the spirit, the renewed mind, and advocates his cause. The Spirit makes intercession to God, and the enemy prevails not.

What a blessing to know the Holy Spirit is with me. I must remember He is greater than the sound of the MRI's this morning...He is greater than the pain of laying still...He is greater than this MS...He is greater! Verse thirty-one will be my mantra today...If God is for us, who can be against us? Amen! I will remember the words of Matthew Henry, While God is for us, and we keep in his love, we may with holy boldness defy all the powers of darkness. The enemy is trying to put fear in me that my body won't cooperate with two hours of MRI's. He is trying to put fear in me of what the results will be. He is trying to make me think about the 'what-ifs' of life. He is trying to cause my faith and trust to falter. Get behind me satan! I rebuke the spirit of fear. I rebuke any thoughts you are trying to tear me down with. God is with me and He will not leave me. He is my strength! Woo hoo!

There's nothing worth more that will ever come close
No thing can compare, You're our living hope
Your presence, Lord

I've tasted and seen of the sweetest of loves
Where my heart becomes free and my shame is undone
Your presence, Lord

Holy Spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord

I've tasted and seen, of the sweetest of loves
Where my heart becomes free, and my shame is undone
By Your presence, Lord

Let us become more aware of Your presence
Let us experience the glory of Your goodness

The tears that are flowing are freeing ones. They are ones that confirm His love for me. They are ones that know His presence will over take that room this morning and be so great to me. I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt I will be more aware of His presence and will experience the glory of His goodness. Woo hoo!

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for waking me up early to have this time to be reassured of Your love, mercy and grace. Thank You for speaking to me not just through one song this morning but through two. Thank You for empowering me to stand up against the enemy who was trying to make me fearful. Your word tells me in II Timothy 1:7 that You didn't give me a spirit of fear but instead give me a spirit of power, love and self-control. Power. Power. Thank You for empowering me over the spirit of fear. Thank You for loving me so much that Your love oozes out of me. Thank You Lord for being all that I need. Lord, I don't need to pray again for this morning...You already have everything taken care of. Whatever happens is in Your hands. Whatever the outcome is in Your hands. Fill me to overflowing so people will see You in me. Use me today and give me opportunities to be You to others. I pray for Doc today to have the same reassurance I have as he deals with pain from surgery and other health issues. I pray for his peace to be Your peace. Thank You Jesus for being My Empowerer! Amen.

Psalm 46:10a - "Come As You Are"

This morning I had the opportunity to be back "home" so to speak. Unfortunately, not in an official capacity but with Doc as he had surgery. Within fifteen minutes of going in the door of the hospital I found myself saying, "Let me pray with you" with an employee who was enduring physical pain. When they took Doc back to get him ready, I was sitting there and started praising the Lord for the peace He gives me when I am at the hospital. I also praised Him for giving me the opportunity to pray with one. As I reflect back on this morning, I praise Him for the call He has put upon my life in the area of Medical Chaplain. As of today I don't know if or when I will be able to assume that role in the same capacity as I did. But I do know He has called me for this particular task and He will supply my needs to carry out that call. 

He supplied what Noah needed to be obedient to Him. The task put before him to build an ark took 100 years (Genesis 6:9-7:5). I wonder how many times Noah began to question the call upon his life...

He supplied what Moses needed to lead the people out of Egypt (Exodus 2:23-4:15). It was through Moses' obedience that the people of Israel were delivered. I wonder how many times Moses began to question the call upon his life...

He supplied what David needed to defeat Goliath (I Samuel 17:32). Was David afraid? I am sure he was but the Lord gave him exactly what He needed to have victory over evil. I wonder how many times David began to question the call upon his life...

It's ok to question God as long as we continue to trust Him and put our faith in Him. What does that mean when you are pursuing His call upon Your life and your world gets turned upside down? What does that mean when You are trusting Him as He commands you to go deeper with Him and seek the meaning of what that means? It means your spiritual strength is heightened to a whole new level. It means the faith you once had and thought was "good" becomes even greater. It means the trust you have in the Lord takes on a whole new meaning.

I was pondering on this MS flair-up the other day and asked God, "Why now?" As a human being I have my own ideas but He has revealed something pretty neat in answering that question...

"Daughter, seven is the number of perfection. It has been seven years since you have dealt with this major of an exasperation. Seven years. Seven years. It is at this time You will be renewed and refreshed to carry out the call I have placed upon Your life. Do not fret. Do not worry. Be still and know that I am God. Be still and know that I am God. Know I am in control. Know I am preparing You for the next step. Have faith and trust in Me. Seven years, daughter. I have blessed you for seven years. Now I need you to bless me with your continued obedience and trust. I love you, Daughter and am so proud of you."

Wow...thank You Jesus for these words! Seven years has been wonderful! I was reading about the meaning of seven in the Bible and read that seven is the number of completeness and perfection both physically and spiritually. Now that is exciting to think about! When the Lord repeats Himself, we know it is something to adhere to. He said twice, "Be still and know that I am God." It is not easy for me to be still but if that is what He desires for me to do I will do it. 

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for speaking to me. Thank You for blessing me. Thank You for giving me the opportunity to pray with one today. Lord, You are so awesome in all the ways You show Your love to me. Father, You created me and You know me. Therefore, You know how hard it is for me to 'be still' but I will do just that. I want to be a blessing to You. Father, fill me to overflowing with more of You and less of me so I can be a beacon of light for You. Thank You Jesus for being My Stillness. Amen.

II Timothy 4 - "Not To Us"

The Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy in his closing remarks of Second Timothy. The encouragement covered many aspects of Timothy's life as he struggled with being an ambassador for Christ. 

Verse 2...Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

Verse 5...Keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

After explaining to Timothy how he had been attacked, Paul wrote these words:
But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.

As I was reading these verses this morning, I thought about how these words of Paul are great reminders for all believers but especially those in leadership in the church. No matter what one goes through, the Lord is there beside us. He is there to encourage us. Plain and simple...He is with us. The key to knowing He is with us comes in being in relationship with Him. If we do not communicate with Him, we can not expect to hear from Him. If we do not spend time with Him, we can not feel His presence. It does not mean He is not with us because He is always with us. But when we allow circumstances to get in the way of our relationship with Him we miss out on so many blessings.

Paul lived a life sold out to the Lord. He was in jail for his beliefs more than not. What if the Lord called me to such a life? What if He called me to be single so I would not have distractions in life? What if He used me to touch so many people's lives? We just never know what He will call us to do but we do know He will be with us no matter what happens on the path of His will. Woo hoo! That makes me want to say, "Bring it on!" Just knowing He is with us no matter what is pretty comforting.

Recently I was asked, "Why do bad things seem to always happen to good people?" It is a question that I have asked myself many times. Paul was a 'good' person yet he was imprisoned over and over for standing up for the Lord. But if he would not have been imprisoned we may not have so much of his writing in the Bible. He may have been too busy with doing ministry and not had time to write. It isn't that what he was doing was bad but the Lord may have needed to stop his everyday duties for him to do something greater for Him.

Oh my! I need to ponder on this one. Maybe this is the reason for this MS flair-up. The Lord had to stop what I was doing (even though it was good) in order for me to do something greater. I keep saying that no matter what I want Him to be glorified through this and pray He is. I have wondered if the direction He gave me to go deeper had anything to do with this flair-up and have prayed for whatever He desired of me to be revealed. I know He is with me no matter what and for that I am grateful. Just as Chris Tomlin's song Not To Us says, "not to us but to YOUR name be the glory"...woo hoo! Yes!

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for speaking to me this morning! Thank You for this road I am on with You by my side! Thank You for loving me so much! I praise Your Holy Name for all the ways You live in and through me! Lord, fill me to overflowing with more of You and less of me so I will be what You desire of me. Use me today to be a vessel for You. Speak through me in a mighty way. Father, You are the One to be glorified! I pray for more people to come into relationship with You so they will truly experience You. Thank You Jesus for being My Strength! Amen.

Psalm 139:13-14 - "Beautiful"

The Lord woke me up this morning with a song in my heart that Mercy Me sings called Beautiful. As I was singing it I thought about my teen Sunday School class yesterday. This was one of the things that was brought out in the lesson. People may tear us down with words but the Lord knows our worth. I love the thought that He knew us even before we were born. It makes me think about how I prayed for my babies before they were born. Then after they were born I prayed for their future spouses and children. We don't have to know the specifics when we pray. The Lord already knows everything. All we have to do is pray for His will and it will be accomplished. 

His will is for there to be no disease or sickness. 
His will is for people to love one another and to be unified.
His will is for there to be no pain caused by one person onto another.
Unfortunately, due to sin in this world His will is pushed to the side. This morning I am praying for people to know their worth in the Lord. When they do, they will soon realize that His will is what they want for the mantra of their lives. I pray for people to realize they are "Beautiful" in His eyes. I pray they will know they are treasured...sacred...and His just as this songs says...

You're beautiful 
You are made for so much more than all of this 
You're beautiful 
You are treasured, You are sacred, You are His 
You're beautiful 
You're beautiful
You are made for so much more than all of this 
You're beautiful 
You're beautiful 
You are treasured, You are sacred, You are His

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the reminder this morning that I am beautiful...treasured...sacred...and Yours! You are so awesome! Today is Monday which are not always the easiest in normal times. (There's that word again...'norma'!...whatever that means!) I pray for Your strength for therapy. I pray for mental strength when I come home to be able to complete my school work. I pray for Your emotional strength as I go throughout this day. I need my emotional tank filled up to overflowing. I don't like feeling like I am feeling. I know You are there and I pray for You to overtake my emotional body. I pray for You to fill me up to overflowing. Oh Jesus, how I need that more than ever today. More of You and less of me. Lord, I know this song this morning was to encourage me and for that I am grateful. This just goes to show that You know what I need before I even voice it. I hope the teens remember that from class yesterday. I pray they will be praying this week and listening for Your voice. Thank You Jesus for being My Encourager! Amen.

Psalm 51 - "Drops In The Ocean"

The Lord woke me up early to pray for our church family. As I prayed He told me to get up and read Psalm 51. Then He brought a song Hawk Nelson sings to my heart, "Drops In The Ocean" and I wondered how it would all fit together. I love how He works!

If you wanna know how far my love can go
Just how deep
Just how wide
If you wanna see how much you mean to me
Look at my hands
Look at my side
If you could count the times I'd say you are forgiven
It's more than the drops in the ocean

God loves us more than we can ever imagine. He loves us "as you are not as you ought to be"...He just loves us. Plain and simple. We do not have to pretend with Him or try to be someone we aren't. All we have to do is allow Him into our hearts and give Him free reign of our lives. When we sin, we must confess that sin to Him. It's not that He doesn't already know it but because we need to. Once we do then we need to allow Him to cleanse us. I love the words of Psalm 51:2...

Yes! Once He cleanses us then we are renewed and ready to live a life for Him. It is then that He will be there to encourage us in our daily walk. He will love on us in such a way that there will be times we are overwhelmed. When we come to Him, it does not mean life will be perfect but it does mean He will enable us to get through whatever happens.

This morning I am praying for some people who need to get to the point in life where they surrender to Him. Some need to surrender for salvation. Others need to surrender for sanctification. Most importantly 'self' needs to die so the Lord can live in and through all of us. The words in this song say it all. "I'm not against you...I am for you" Woo hoo! We do not have to do anything on our own. That is exciting to me! That encourages me in a great way! No matter if we are going through a physical issues, death of a loved one, financial issues, relationship issues...whatever it is we are going through...He is for us!

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for this scripture and song this morning. Lord, I pray for a cleansing not only in my own spirit but in many others. I pray for Your empowerment to come down upon us in a way today that there is no doubt in minds as to what You desire of us. Cleanse us all...fill us all...use us all! Father, fill me to overflowing with more of You and less of me so I can be exactly what You desire of me. Lord, be with those who are contemplating going to church today, no matter what church it is. May the prompting of the Holy Spirit be so great for them they will go and hear what You desire for them to hear. Lord, use the pastors in the pulpits today to speak words of life. Use them to be vessels of healing to many who are hurting. Thank You Jesus for being My Cleanser! Amen.

Isaiah 40:31 - "Even If the Healing Never Comes"

What a blessing to be a part of my current on-line class. Originally I was scheduled to do a different class. I know it was God’s plan that I read the words this week in the reading in order to be encouraged to keep on keepin’ on! Part of our reading was about the call the Lord puts on our life. I have wondered over these last few weeks about why the Lord would call me only for me to be unable to accomplish that call. I must admit there have been times of doubt. I don't know if it is the enemy trying to tear me down or if the Lord is trying to tell me life is changing. Perhaps the Lord is taking me a new direction but as I pray I haven't been given a clear answer. I do know that no matter what He has called me to be His servant.

Through this MS flair-up my physical body has wanted to give up yet the Lord has strengthened me to stay the course. Many times He has reminded me of the divine healing He gave me a few years ago (that I had for a few years) and at that time He called me to be a Medical Chaplain. In one of my lectures it reads, “Honestly, there will be times when the only thing that may keep you going, is the commitment to your call.” As I am going through this flair-up I am unable to do my normal activities. The last day I was at the hospital in my role as Medical Chaplain was long and draining. Toward the end of my eight hour shift there was a death. The family had to travel about two hours to get to the hospital. So my eight hour day soon turned into a ten and a half hour day. I had physical issues with my MS the day before and was struggling from the start. My physical body wanted to give up yet the Lord strengthened me to stay the course. 

I keep praying for the Lord to heal me so I can be 'normal' again. But what if that isn't in His plan? What if He has something greater for me in the call He has placed upon my life? What if this is my new 'normal'? No matter if this is temporary or permanent I have to accept it. In on of my textbooks this week it read, “One of the most consistent aspects of life is change.” One of the points the author brings out on how to deal with change is that we need to “Realize change is part of God’s design.” Wow...'part of God's design'...what does that mean in the situation I am in right now? 

With what I am going through right now with my MS I am unable to be at the hospital in my role as Chaplain. I do not believe God caused this flair-up but I do believe He will use it for His glory. I have asked Him how I can be effective for Him even as I am unable to drive or to be out and about. He has opened doors for me through today’s technology to where I have been given opportunities to be Him to others. This change is not one I am enjoying but I can say I am embracing it. I pray this is not my new normal but if it is I know He will empower me to do whatever it takes to fulfill my call. I love the words in another part of my reading...

“The inference is that when He gave us the task of carrying out the work of His church, He also graciously supplied supernatural enablement for us to carry out the assignment. In the midst of our insecurities, we must remember that He empowers us with enabling gifts of ministry.”

Woo hoo..'supernatural enablement'...I love the sound of that! He will enable me to do things that are not humanly possible! Most importantly when He enables me to do such things I know He will be glorified! Emotionally...He will enable me to not allow people's words to tear me down! Physically...He will enable me to do His will despite my physical limitations! Spiritually...He will enable me to hear His voice! Mentally...He will enable me to think clearly when the MS fog takes over! Financially...He will enable us to learn how to live on what He provides if my disability is taken away! Professionally...He will enable me to go back to making hospital visits if it is His will!

Dear Jesus,

I praise Your Holy Name for rearranging my class schedule so I have this particular class right now. I praise You for the reading that encourages me to not give up on the call You have placed on my life. Lord, thank You for all the ways You bless me. Just as I prayed before I got out of bed this morning...fill me to overflowing with more of You and less of me so You will ooze out of me for others to see. I'm not sure who I will have contact with today but Lord You know and You also know what they need from me. I pray for open eyes and an open mind to Your will today. Lord, bless me in abundance with Your supernatural powers. Thank You Jesus for being My Supernatural Enabler! Amen.

James 1:2-8 - "Because He Lives (Amen)"

I was talking with one yesterday about how if we are believers and die, we really don't die. We just die to life on this earth. But we are given a new body and live forever. This morning the Lord woke me up to Matt Maher's song "Because He Lives (Amen)" and I thought again about the word "forever." 

"Let my song join the one that never ends..." Forever. Eternity. Whatever word you want to use for a life with Christ, it is how long I want to live. There is hope in living for Christ. He empowers us to endure whatever physical ailments we may have when we live in Him. It is by "...the power of His blood..." that we can overcome. Woo hoo! That is pretty exciting to think about! 

When you get hit with one after another of physical issues in your family, you definitely have to wonder "Why?" or "What are we doing wrong?" He wants us to hold onto Him and go deeper in our relationship with them. He wants us to hold onto James 1:2-8...

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

The trials themselves are difficult to endure but when we do as the Lord instructs us to we will be blessed with a deeper faith. He is never going to leave us, even though there are times we may feel like it. The trials we go through are not punishment, even though we may think they are. In verse five, we are told when we ask God He will give us what we ask for. The key thing to remember is that God will only give us what we ask for if it is in His will. He won't give us something that will hurt us or draw us away from Him. 

Matthew Henry writes, "We should not pray so much for the removal of affliction, as for wisdom to make a right use of it." He continues, "A mind that has single and prevailing regard to its spiritual and eternal interest, and that keeps steady in its purposes for God, will grow wise by afflictions, will continue fervent in devotion, and rise above trials and oppositions." That thought takes me back to the words in this song, "I believe I overcome...By the power of His blood..." Jesus died on the Christ so we could live. When we are in relationship with Him, He will enable us to endure whatever comes our way. He empowers us through the empowerment He received from His Father.

Because He lives
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives
Every fear is gone
I know He holds my life my future in His hands

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for dying for me on the cross. Thank You for the example You give to me on what obedience looks like. Thank You for the hope You give to me. Father, on one hand I disagree with Matthew Henry when he says we shouldn't ask for a healing but instead ask for wisdom on how to use it. But on the other hand I know I want my life to glorify You. If the way I am physically right now with this MS flair-up will do that, then so be it. I was frustrated yesterday with not being able to go and do what I 'normally' do when I prayed, "Having places to go and people to see takes on a whole new meaning when you can't jump in the car and go...Lord, help me to get use to this way of life OR better yet heal my legs!" So here I am trying to find the 'fine line' in so many different ways. Lord, I do want You to be glorified but I would prefer it to be with my legs working! BUT I sure don't want anything that is not in Your will. Father, Your will is the most important thing in my life. I will have to say I don't understand why Doc has to go through the pain of kidney stones. Nor do I understand why he has to have a surgery at this particular time with all we are dealing with in my body. But whatever the reasons are for these things I pray You will be glorified in our lives. Father, I also pray for the families with their Momma's in Hospice Care. Lord, both of these woman have lived for You. I pray for Your mercy to be in their situations. I pray for the one who has lost another baby in such a short time. Father, wrap Your loving arms around this family. I pray for the young father who died suddenly. I pray his wife and three little ones will feel Your presence as they go through the funeral today. Lord, so many hurting people with such tragic things happening. I pray they won't lose faith in You through the challenges of life. I pray they will hold onto the promises found in James 1 just as I do. I pray as they face these tough times physically they will realize the best times spiritually. Thank You Jesus for being My Forever Life. Amen.