Power Under Control

Matthew 26:53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?"

We all have some power: muscle power, financial power, brain power. Even when we feel powerless and go through seasons where we seem to be trapped by circumstance and have no options left, we still have power. For better or worse, we have certain powers that have lasting repercussions. These are the powers of choice: to forgive or not, to take vengeance or not, to take a life or not, to trust God or not. The choices that matter go beyond this life.

Jesus had the power of heaven and earth at His disposal. And yet he allowed himself to be subjected to abuse and humiliation, to pain and death. Why? To fulfill a "fovever-task". Some victories are unseen, especially those that will matter for eternity.

O Lord, help us to be humble and to trust you. These temporal powers that you have entruted to me: the power to influence my home, my husband, my kids... the power to check myself and keep my mouth shut... the power to be grateful for your daily guidance and provision... the power to make my days matter for eternity... Help me to live the life You would want me to.

The Manna Test

Exodus 15:4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "I am going to rain bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. This way I will test them to see whether or not they will follow My instructions. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days."

Sometimes we wonder why we feel like we've been walking a long time with the Lord, and yet there are issues we deal with in our life that go around in circles. Some personal victories are quick, but there are some problems that never seem to go away. We keep passing through the same wilderness, have the same conversations with God, and he gives us the same temporary solutions. But we never see total breakthrough. Soon enough, we're back where we started, asking for the same provision of grace/healing/provision/forgiveness.

In this passage, we may get some clue to why God may be dealing with us this way.. We may accuse him of being partial to others, of giving us a hard time, or of being hard of hearing. But the Lord is watching out for only one thing: "to see whether or not they will follow My instructions."

There is a way that seems right to us, and yet it may end in destruction. Our Father knows the best way, which is His way... We need only to trust and obey. If in our present hardship, he is working things out in and through us, who are we to complain?

Lord, help me to know that as I continue to trust and obey you, you are working things out in my behalf. Help me to see and take courage in the fact that in ALL things, you are working it out for my good. Help me to keep at it even when I feel like I'm walking around in circles. Give me your eyes to see the true course. Give me your vantage point so I will not lose heart. Thank you that in all this, you love me and care for me.

Curbing Our Instincts

Genesis 21:9 Sarah saw Hagar’s son laughing, the one Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham. 10 So she said to Abraham, “ Send this servant away with her son! This servant’s son won’t share the inheritance with my son Isaac. ” 11 This upset Abraham terribly because the boy was his son. 12 God said to Abraham, “ Don’t be upset about the boy and your servant. Do everything Sarah tells you to do because your descendants will be traced through Isaac. 13 But I will make of your servant’s son a great nation too, because he is also your descendant. ”

Women are women. We are the same, yesterday and today. That is because our humanity dictates that we all respond similarly. Our common knee-jerk reaction to those who would threaten our well-being is exactly this... We scratch and claw to make sure no one messes with us. Now this territorial tendency multiplies exponentially when we factor in our maternal instinct. "Mess with my kin, and you incur unfathomable wrath!" Funny, but true.

So no one would really think twice about Sarah's response to her husband's bastard son. Why, it seems that even God Himself condones her actions and simply appeases Abraham in his misery. But if we REALLY think about it, this may be another case of God's "concession to your hard hearts."*

Today, I indulge in "What if's". What if Sarah had extended kindness and reared Ishmael together with her son? What if, by this act of kindness, a friendship as that between David and Jonathan had formed between Isaac and Ishmael? What if... Then the repercussions would be unimaginable in our day and age. I would dare to think that the World Trade Center may still be standing.

Of course, the odds that the two brothers would grow up without enmity are desperately low. But the expected outcome should not deter us from 'doing the right thing'. What is impossible with man is possible with God, even the taming of a woman's wrath.

Lord, help me to realize that my instincts my not be the best thing to follow. Please keep me on alert regarding my knee-jerk reactions as a mother, a wife and a fallen human. I ask your Holy Spirit to be my guide, so I may go against human nature, and actually be a bestower of kindness to those who are my enemies. Help me to see beyond the generations. Help me to be a "blessing to the nations, rather than a bane." Help me to love as you have loved us.

*Mark 10:5

The Release of Prayer

Reference: Genesis 18:16-33
1/9/2012 1:52:38 AM

Genesis 18:32 Finally, Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?” And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.” 33 When the Lord had finished his conversation with Abraham, he went on his way, and Abraham returned to his tent.

There comes a time in our life when we assess and take stock of what we've accomplished in life, and what we aspire to for the remaining years. Abraham had probably been in that age where he had both success and regret. Times like this also carry a lot of introspection, self-doubt, and sadness.

During our own time of fasting and prayer, we need to come into contact with these same strangers. The Lord used this encounter to speak a promise to Abraham... to remind him and reinforce the promise God made to him. And then it was a time when Abraham did his final bid in behalf of the nephew he lost.

Intercession does that. When we know our God, and entrust our loved ones to him, we can rest in that. There comes a time in our intercession when we feel a release, when we know that we can "go on our way and return to our tent." This release is what we look for in our seasons of prayer. The difficulties may still be ongoing, or they may be up ahead, but our heart can rest if we've talked to the Lord about it.

Lord, you see the travails of our heart. You see our trouble and grief. You see the unsettled issues we contend with in our lives and in our thoughts. And we bring these things to you. Help us not to be remiss in speaking to you about the issues that trouble us and our loved ones. We sit silent to hear your voice and know your view. We ask for your intervention, and we rest in the knowledge that you have stooped down into our lives and involved yourself in our affairs when you sent your Son to give us new life. Your Spirit moves and is alive today. You are Emmanuel, God with us. Thank you.

Helping God Out

Reference: Genesis 15, 16
1/7/2012 10:49:50 PM

Genesis 15 The Lord’s Covenant Promise to Abram
1 Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.”
2 But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. 3 You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.”
4 Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.” 5 Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!” 6 And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.

Genesis 16 The Birth of Ishmael
1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.”

Following on in Abraham's story, he rescues his nephew Lot from King Kedorlaomer, who had invaded Sodom, where Lot was now residing in. In the process, Abraham recovers the riches of Sodom, and refuses to accept a reward from its king declaring, "I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from what belongs to you. Otherwise you might say, ‘I am the one who made Abram rich.'"

Fast forward to Genesis16. Sarai now is suggesting to Abraham that they help God out in "making them rich" in descendants.

To help or not to help, that is the question. Actually, the real question is, will I trust God on this matter, or do I need to take matters in my own hands. We need to realize that there can be no duality on this matter. How is it that we can refuse to give God's glory to another, yet make attempts to take it for ourselves. We refuse "help from others", but don't think twice about giving God an "out" just in case He doesn't pull through on His promise to us.

Lord, help us not to go ahead of you, but to act according to your timing and your will. May my actions always be in response to faith, and not as a reaction to my perception of your apathy, indifference or neglect. Because Lord, you DO SEE, and you make your provision known. Help me to see and believe and to take action accordingly.

Watch Those Who Follow

Reference: Genesis 13
1/7/2012 2:23:20 AM

1 So Abram left Egypt and traveled north into the Negev, along with his wife and Lot and all that they owned. 2 (Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.) 3 From the Negev, they continued traveling by stages toward Bethel, and they pitched their tents between Bethel and Ai, where they had camped before. 4 This was the same place where Abram had built the altar, and there he worshiped the Lord again.

As I read this passage, plus the previous chapter, I had the thought... the temptation to go down a dangerous path of thought. Abraham took a detour in his faith, bringing his household into Egypt in a time of famine, putting his wife at bodily risk, and invoking the anger of the Pharaoh. But in the end, God saved the day for him, and he left Egypt a wealthy man. One would think that a forage into "Egypt" could be a profitable affair.

And then the name of Lot appears. He had followed his uncle into Egypt and out of it. But it also would be reasonable to deduce that this trip into Egypt had a devastating impact on the man. Because soon after their return into Canaan, Lot demanded that he take his share and live apart from his uncle. He had come back bodily, but had somehow left his heart in the riches of Egypt. From this point on, Lot displayed the change in values, devotion and disposition. He was intent on making it big on his own.

Abraham, on the other hand, returned to the place he previously built an altar and worshiped AGAIN! Yet in all this, he had lost his nephew.

Lord, help us to see that our decisions have repercussions. We know we are bound to make mistakes in this life, but help us to see the repercussions our wrong decisions will have on those who follow us. Help us to lead the generations that follow us in the right path. Help us to nurture the young in our homes, in our corporations, and in our communities in an environment the would shepherd their heart to love you.

Life is Precious

Reference: Genesis 9:5-7
1/5/2012 8:58:24 PM

6 If anyone takes a human life, that person’s life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings[f] in his own image.

...for God made us in His image. I thought about my penchant for serial killer-type shows and crime stories. We see killings on tv most days, whether in the news or in the series we avidly follow. And personally, I seek them out and watch them back-to-back. I must also admit to the past tendency to resort to violence and inflicting physical harm on those who hurt betrayed me.

But fast-forward to today. The Lord tells us that the killing and death of a human being is unacceptable to Him. And he says this on the heals of the greatest act of judgement on humankind to date. He had just literally wiped out the human race, save for one family. He is establishing "a code" for us. And with reason... We are ALL made in His image. Only God has the right over man.

What do we do about this intrigue we have for murder and mayhem? We can all make our excuses, but the sad fact remains that the world is filled with a disrespect for God's image in man. Ultimately, it is God whom we malign, His image that we mar.

Lord, forgive us and show us the way to life. Help us to "Now be fruitful and multiply, and repopulate the earth." May we GIVE life, share life, promote life, and protect the life you gave us. Make us ever-conscious that our neighbor was made in your image as well. Help us not to malign ourselves and each other.