Today I read on Addison Road’s website that they have received a huge outpouring of support from the body of Christ.  That all of their needs have been met following the RV fire that happened on March 6th.  It amazes me each time I see how the body of Christ responds to the needs of those in it, how those needs are met, and how those who receive the help are always amazed by what is poured out on them.

God’s hand moved.  He moved his hand in the body of Christ so that the members in it would fill the need of the one who had the need.  When the need arose, there were those in the body who were obedient when God called upon them to act.  Those who bore the burden along side the ones in need answered with a “yes Lord” when God called upon them to act.  God ensures that the needs in the body are met by moving those who meet them.  In doing so God is acting on behalf of the one who has the need.  If you are the one with the need, that means He is acting on your behalf when your need is met by the body of believers. Yeah-that’s the way it works.  There is a need, God moves to ensure it is filled, the body answers God, the need gets filled.

Wow. To think that God would act on my behalf to move the body of believers to fill a need I would have!  So, if you have ever had a need filled by the body of believers, it is because God has moved to ensure your need was met.  He considers your need important enough to act upon it to ensure it gets filled.  He considers you important enough to ensure your needs get filled.  Wow, how important does that make you feel?  God considers you important enough to act upon your needs.  Humbled-I feel humbled that God would think to move on my behalf, since after all, He is choosing to do so out of Love.

It is that same Love he acted out of when He met our most desperate need, forgiveness.  Sending Christ, who died to suffer for us, and who rose again to defeat death so we would have life.  Meeting a need, that is what God does, meets our needs.  Even when we didn’t know it, He met them.

Today’s post is dedicated to the band Addison Road, who is currently out on tour with Sanctus Real.  They are being obedient to what God has asked of them.  Just today, March 6, 2010, they faced a huge obstacle while being obedient.  The RV and trailer they use while out on tour caught on fire, destroying some of their gear, all their merchandise, and the personal belongings of Jenny Ryan and baby Anniston.  What amazes me is the perseverance of this group.  This is not the first time they have faced on road obstacles, yet they continue to go out on the road facing obstacles in obedience to God. (Out of Gas, Interesting Night)

How many of us continue to be obedient when we face obstacles over and over again?  Do we give up when we face the obstacles, or do we persevere in the task God has set out before us?  My son is currently sitting in front of me telling me a story about the two Bioncles he has built,  He is telling me that if they were to give up after being attacked just once, they would just be allowing the enemy to win.  He said that we have to do the same thing when Satan does that to us, we can’t give up or we allow him to win.  Interesting he is telling me this story right now, just as I write this.

Addison Road has refused to allow the obstacles to stop them from being obedient to the task God has asked them to do.  They are facing the obstacles to obedience with the perseverance necessary to complete the task.  By doing that, they are refusing to allow the enemy to win.  Will we do the same in our tasks?

Our Lord’s compassion is never ceasing, and His Love never failing. For this we ought to be grateful, for we each desperately need both! In moments when we see the suffering of others, what we ought to do is fall on our knees because we know that the same compassion and love that God pours out in those moments of desperate need, is the exact compassion and love He pours out on those who fall before Him-It is poured out in forgiveness.

Today another major quake struck, this time in Chili.  We are once again reminded that we are not able to control the world we live in.  That it is filled with all sorts of things that cause people to suffer, with no warning at all.  That the world is, at best, a chaotic place to live.  In all of the chaos, already planned tonight was Compassion International’s benefit concert for Haiti, just over a month after the Haiti quake, and what turns out to be the night of the Chili quake.  Compassion, exactly what God exhibits to us.

More then exhibit actually, but pours out.  Right now, in the moment when we see others suffering, we need to remember that each day God is pouring out on us all a compassion so rich with grace, a compassion so rich with love, a compassion so rich with mercy to each who have fallen on our knees before Him and said to Him “I deserve no less then to suffer for my sin, but forgive me! Thank you for sending Christ, thank you Christ for having so much compassion for me that you died-that you suffered for me.”  Compassion-so much of it poured out on us all that when we see God exhibit His compassion on others we ought to want to cry out to Him in thanksgiving and praise for giving any of the same for us.

Each time God shows compassion in any form on mankind, I cannot help but be reminded of the fact that it is that compassion poured out upon me that allows me to call Him my Lord.  That allows me to call myself forgiven.  Can you call Him that, can you call yourself that?  If not, now, right now, He has that compassion pouring out to you.  You need only believe He will forgive you, ask Him for forgiveness, thanking Christ for suffering in your place, and thanking Him for the compassion He is pouring out.

Falling, Falling, Falling.  I’ve been watching the Olympics the last few days, and that describes a lot of what I have been seeing.  First the snow boarders, falling some 22 feet to the bottom of the half pipe. Then figure skaters, who for some reason were having trouble staying up on two thin blades atop a sheet of ice.  Then a few skiers held to the same fate, discovering that skis like pointing a certain direction-together.  And then, lastly, this morning, a ski jumper who manged not to land completely upright, but though they had fallen, manged to get back up again.

A lot of falling down in just a few days.  For all of those who had fallen, there were many who had not, who had triumphed over the challenge and for each challenge one was awarded the best prize-Gold.  As usual, with many things, it made me think.  Wow, that was a lot of falling down for nothing.  All those athletes who had prepared, who trained, and who in the end fell and didn’t win a prize.  Yikes.  Everyone always asks them “what did you think after you fell”.  I wonder-what were they thinking in those moments when they were in the midst of falling and they could do nothing to stop it.  When they were powerless to stop the forces of gravity and they knew all that training would not get them the prize.

I wonder what we think when we are falling, not when we have completely fallen, but when we are being trapped, in the process of the falling.  Do we ever think to ourselves “I am running a race worthy of my Lord, to win a prize greater then even gold, and I am powerless to stop it”.  For it is true we are in a race, and the prize is worth more then even gold, but it is not true that we are powerless to stop it.  We are given more then we need to stop even the most powerful schemes the enemy might attack us with.  We are given the Word of God, the Sword of the Spirit, which we can use to stop ourselves in the midst of any fall.  It isn’t gravity pulling us down!  If we ever think when we are falling that we simply can’t do anything about it, we are wrong.

What happens when we don’t stop it, and we do fall?  Then what, are we without a prize?  Like the Olympic athlete, are we left out even though we have trained, we have started the race, and we have run?  No-for we will get up again.  The Lord has promised that He will lift up all those who fall! “The LORD upholds all those who fall, and lifts up all who are bowed down.” Psalm 145:14 Did you see the one requirement on our part–to be bowed down.  We must bow down to Him and He will forgive us, lifting us up. We will once again be running, running, running, forgiven.

Falling is not unstoppable, and having fallen does not cause us to lose our prize.  God’s word prevents falling from becoming gravity, and when we do fall, bowing down gets us back up and running again, forgiven.  The prize is ours, its just a matter of what position you are in when you receive it, me I want to be running when I receive it.  So I will keep using God’s word as my sword, and continue to bow down when I do fall, relying on the Lord to lift me up.

Before anyone makes any “musical like comments” I don’t write music =)  I don’t read music, and I don’t even play an instrument.  I’m learning to play the drums and years ago I use to play the guitar.  I woke up this morning needing to write this, so I did, now I am sharing it with you.  I know you can’t hear it the way it is in my head, so do your best =)   Here is my first ever lyrical arrangement (and probably what will be my only one ever since I don’t write songs):

Promises fulfilled:

He said that He’d be there, without ever leaving

No matter the circumstance, whatever you needed

He promised He’d carry you, as you walked through the trial

Each day to be your strength, when you feel depleted

Promises fulfilled, over and over

He proved it again, that He’d be by your side

and carry you through, every single fire

Promises fulfilled, again and again

He said that He’d be there, without ever leaving

He’ll prove it again, He’ll prove it again

He told you he’d give you peace, when you are overwhelmed

Where the road leads you, that He’ll stand by your side

He promised too comfort you, in every moment of pain

Each day that He’ll shelter you, from what this world brings

Promises fulfilled, over and over

He proved it again, that He’d be by your side

and carry you through, every single fire

Promises fulfilled, again and again

He said that He’d be there, without ever leaving

He’ll prove it again, He’ll prove it again

Now He’s promised you better things, then you can imagine

The road does not end here, it continues on

His promise to be with you, goes on forever

He promised to take you, to be by His side

Where you’ll worship forever, the one who has made you

Promises fulfilled, over and over

He proved it again, that He’d be by your side

and carry you through, every single fire

Promises fulfilled, over and over

He filled every one, and He’ll do it again

Promises fulfilled, to the final one

to the final one

I was inspired to write this because of something in my woman’s bible study homework this past week.  We are doing Beth Moore’s Daniel, and so far it has been a very inspiring  journey.  I shared a small part of this with the women last night, and am now sharing it here.

I will start by quoting, in part, what Beth had to say in our books in one of our daily studies.  She wrote “God has a plan and purpose for His world. …. the creator who is actively involved in moving His creation to a goal.  History is not a cynical process of endless repetition; history is being moved toward the predetermined end.”  Just one paragraph later she goes on to say “God’s providence is intentional and purposeful. ….thankfully, He is pleased to involve us in His process.”

Intentional, purposeful, towards a specific end, and He is using us in it!  What an amazing thought!  He is using us in a plan that He has already laid out and determined, and even more then that we know what that glorious end is, the return of our Lord.  So here is a part of this that we often miss, the Lord knows every small detail that needs doing to get to that end, and He is able to do all of them on His own, yet He involves us in the process by His choice!  He doesn’t have to, He chooses to.

What is significant about that?  If He has asked us to do any task as history moves towards that end, then that task must be significant!  He has determined it is because He knows it needs doing.  All to often we become discouraged in our ministry, in our service, because we feel it is insignificant, or we let others make us feel it is insignificant.  Yet if the Lord has decided it is necessary to move history to the ultimate end of Christ returning for His church, it is as significant as any other part of the plan.  The very fact that He has asked you to be included in that plan by doing any part of it ought to be enough to spurn you on toward completing it.  Never allow anyone, including the enemy, to make you feel like you are insignificant in the Lord’s plan.

On the flip side, since each part of God’s plan is significant, and every detail must be complete, then no part is more significant then another.  The Lord has not appointed any more significance to one over another, only more responsibility which comes with more accountability.  The outcome of this means that you ought never allow yourself to make another feel insignificant in the Lord’s plan, because you make yourself out to be more important.  For if they do not complete what the Lord has asked of them, then the Lord must find another to do that.  If you have been given more responsibility then you must be careful not to place yourself as more important then another, because you might find that the accountability that comes with your position finds your responsibility removed from you.

We must all be thankful to the Lord for even being willing to include us in His plan!  Whatever He asks us to do we ought to do it with a thankful and diligent heart, knowing that the Lord did not have to ask it of us.  Remembering that He did so because He desires for us to be a part of what He is doing not because He needs us.  We must remember that our part in God’s plan is moving history towards the most amazing and glorious moment in history, and also encourage others as they do their part, so that God will be glorified in the doing of all of it.  For there is nothing insignificant that the Lord can ask us to do, and there is nothing more significant we can do then what the Lord asks of us.

Woman’s bible study has once again started.  We are studying the book of Daniel together using Beth Moore’s study.  I am looking forward to all it will bring, as the first two weeks have already been wonderful!  It is always good when we can get together to study God’s word.  Last night I was struck by something that happened and have been thinking about it since then.

One of the things we were discussing is being consistent.  That consistency in our walk is what allows us to avoid wearing masks because we are who we say we are, and we can say who we really are, so we can be honest always.  At another point in the evening we were discussing identity.  The fact that the world, and others, often label us so that we lose of our true identity in Christ.  That despite all of labels that might be put on us, our identity in Christ never changes once we have trusted Christ and become a child of God.  Our true identity never changes!

After thinking on this some more I decided these two ideas combined together become an issue of honesty.  Are we honest about who we are to ourselves, to others, and to God.  Last night I shared that we forget two facts, that others are sinners, and so are we.  That because of those facts things come out of others mouths that label us and hurt us, things come out of our mouths that label others and hurt them, and the world does things that label us and are hurtful.  Then when we allow those things to interfere with our perception of who we are in Christ, we stop being honest and began wearing masks to cover up the hurt.

After this, someone else shared, and as part of this they said something that struck me.  They said “…that S word you said”.  That S word?  I thought to myself “sin, you can’t say the word sin?”  Then this morning I thought on that some more.  If we cannot even say the word “sin” how can admit that we commit it?  If we cannot utter the word “sinner” how can we admit we are one?  It is awfully difficult for me to imagine myself telling God “Lord forgive me I know that was a “S word” and I know that you didn’t like it”.  Talk about honesty.  That is the root of honesty in our identity in Christ!  We are only who we are in Christ because He came to die for us, because we are sinners, and because we believe that He did so.  If we cannot be honest about our sin then we are taking for granted the very act that gave us our identity in Christ, and we are wearing a mask even before God.

Even more so then that, if we cannot speak the word sin or sinner how are we going to be honest with a lost and dieing generation about their need for Christ?  If they see us wear masks to cover up who we are, to cover up our “S word”, then how can we expect them to admit they are a “S”ner so that they realize their most desperate need is Christ?  Being completely honest, I would desire that my honesty would allow others to see Christ’s grace shine through me because I am consistent and honest always, never wearing a mask.

When I get excited about something I have to share it.  This has me excited! May 4th 2010 MercyMe will release The Generous Mr Lovewell and this last week they went on a road trip and radio stations played “All Of Creation”, the first single.  Today, January 22, 2010 only it is available on their website to listen to, and it is amazing.  God has once again used these guys to bring a message in song that reminds all of us of why we are here.

In this song we are reminded that there was one moment when hope was born and that we are no longer bound by chains.  With Lyrics like “The reason we breath is to sing of His glory and all He has done” we are reminded that the Lord is to always be the object of our worship.  This song tells us to “lift up our voice and lay our burdens down” and that all of creation will sing together, and that His glory will resound!  Creation will worship the Lord together and praise Him for the hope He gives us and thank Him for taking our burdens, and the words of this song allow us the chance to begin that now.  Let us worship the Lord together.

MercyMe thank you once again for saying “Yes” when the Lord said “Do this for me”, for He is using you in His plan to do more then any of us yet know.  I cannot wait to see what the Lord does through this and through you in the future.  My continued prayers as always.

(This post was inspired by my 9 year old son and his humble act at the dinner table last night.)

Yesterday my son and I were talking about school, as we always do after he comes home, and one of the things we talked about was a very rare yellow slip that came home.  This conversation, unfortunately, didn’t go so well because my son didn’t care for the fact that he was being told how he was in the wrong.  Sometimes when my son is hearing about how he was behaving in a way that was impatient, selfish, or otherwise unacceptable he covers his ears, buries his head, and just plain tries not to listen.  If you are a parent you probably are saying to yourself “I hate that” or “that is disrespectful”.  Well, as a result of continuing to do this as well interrupting and whining, he received a consequence and without going into details, the situation went downhill from there.  Well he was sent to his room and stayed there until dinner.   What happened at dinner inspired me to write this post.

At dinner my son said to me “Mommy I’m sorry. I knew what I was doing and I knew it was wrong so I think I should be grounded”.  I was amazed.  Here was my nine year old not only apologizing but accepting the fact that he chose his actions, he chose his behavior, he chose his response.  He knew it was wrong and chose to do it anyway and now he sat there willing to take the consequence.  In our house being grounded is not fun thing and he knows what the rules are.  He is in his room no TV no computer, only the things that are in his room to do. Plus his favorite toys are all in another room.  So for him, being willing to take the consequence comes with full knowledge of what that will be like.

So I got to thinking about this.  How many of us would be willing to take the consequence for our actions with the full knowledge of what that is like?  Of every action, of every choice, of every thing that we do that we know is wrong every day.  Would we be willing to take the consequence for our actions knowing that would mean full separation from God for eternity?  I know I certainly wouldn’t!  That is why I am thankful to God beyond what I can express for the free gift He gave to me through Christ’s redemptive work on the cross.  Had it not been for that I would have to take the consequence without the ability to choose differently.  By choosing to trust in Christ and believing that He died for me, and rose again to defeat death, I no longer have to take the consequence.  For that I praise God.

The comment has been made, the controversy has started, the conversations about it are everywhere, even on twitter and facebook.  If you don’t know the comment, you haven’t been running in the same circles I do.  It’s the Pat Robertson comment.  One man making one comment about one nation and its people.

So here is my question?  Are you one of those people trying to defend yourself and what you believe against that one comment and in the process tearing down a man?  Here is my thought on the whole matter, a nation does not define the people in it, and one person does not define a nation.

Now that I have stated my thought I will not tear down another believer.  Tearing down another believer only allows the enemy to win the battle, not because he deceives a nation, but because he is deceiving believers into thinking it is ok to attack each other.  Why is it that Christians are the first to condemn each other?  We think that rather then simply stating our own thought, we must tear down the thoughts of another with negative comments, and in the process we become the playground for the enemy by making a spectacle of ourselves and our fighting.  We are not to say whether another is condemned because of what they say, that is the Lord’s job.  What we are free to do is share our own thought on the matter, without condemning another person because of their thought.

However, if what we want as believers is the right to condemn each other for one statement, then we must accept the consequences of that right.  That consequence, anyone can do the same to us, even when we share the gospel, even when we speak the truth, even when we are right.  Is that what we want, a church where believers right to speak freely about their faith is diminished because we want the right to tear each other down from the inside?  If anyone wants that kind of Christianity then I must ask them, how much grace did the Lord give to You?  And with that grace did He intend for you to become a judge of others?  If you think that, ask God to judge you as harshly as you judge others.

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