Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

I grew up in a Spanish speaking church. Not only did I grow up singing “coritos,” but I also grew up singing “himnos.” As I grew up and began listening to more and more music in English, I was surprised to find that many of the himnos that we sang in church had actually been taken from hymns that were originally sung in English. Many of them are not word for word translations, but the music is the same. One of the himnos that I remember singing is Dulce Comunión. In English, this hymn is “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” which was originally published in 1887! That’s a long time ago. However, the words of this hymn still ring true today.

When I drive with the boys in the car, I try and play kids music for them (my oldest sometimes thinks he is too old for this and wants to listen to Toby Mac and other Christian artists). We love Lifetree Kids and their VBS songs. One of our favorites is actually their upbeat version of this hymn, Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. I have been listening to this hymn all week and it has been an encouragement to me and also for the boys. If you haven’t heard it before, here are the lyrics:

 

“What a fellowship, what a joy divine,

Leaning on the everlasting arms;

What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain:

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;

Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

O how sweet to walk, In this pilgrim way,

Leaning on the everlasting arms;

O how bright the path grows from day to day,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,

Leaning on the everlasting arms;

I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain”

How often do we find ourselves feeling overwhelmed or even afraid? I struggled to write these past two weeks. There was just so much stuff happening I felt overwhelmed and burdened. I felt like I didn’t have words to explain what I was feeling. I found myself praying and asking God to bring peace and healing. I was able to do a devotional with our youth about how Jesus brings us together despite our race and ethnicity. I was able to speak against racism and how the Gospel and the Church can serve as agents of reconciliation. At the same time, I found myself trying to explain what was happening in our society to my boys.

At home, there was a sense of hopelessness and a renewed sense of fear and uncertainty especially with the boys. As a result, I found myself praying more and looking for comfort in the Word of God. I have been praying with the boys at night before bed and reminding them of God’s love and His peace. I have been reminding them that God’s love casts out fear and that we can trust in Him and He is with us. I love praise and worship music and I love checking out new songs in English and in Spanish. However, hymns like “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” are timeless. There are songs that are famous for a while and then get burnt out. Hymns are special because they are doctrinal and based on the Word of God. This song was written more than 100 years ago and yet the words are still meaningful today.

The words of this hymn are based on a portion of a verse from the book of Deuteronomy: “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27, NIV). God is our refuge; He is the one that we can trust and can run to when we are in danger or need help. When the world is in chaos, God is our refuge. What have I to fear, when God is my refuge? More than that, God is our refuge and “underneath are the everlasting arms.” This is a beautiful image of a Father with His arms open wide, ready to catch us when we fall. Those same arms console us when we are hurting or mourning. The best part is that they are everlasting! The arms of the Lord have no time limit. The author understood that he could lean on the everlasting arms of the Father back in the late 1800’s and because those arms continue to be everlasting, we can lean on them today in 2020.

The Lord is our refuge and His arms are everlasting- He not only protects us; He secures us and supports us and holds us. When you are feeling lonely or afraid, you can lean on the everlasting arms. When we understand that the Lord is with us and walks with us through all of the different storms in our lives, then we can truly sing:

“What have I to dread, what have I to fear,

Leaning on the everlasting arms;

I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.”

Cactus: Growing Fruit in the Desert

My son recently asked me a question. He said: “Mom, why do you like cactus so much?” I thought about if for a moment and realized that I had become slightly obsessed with cacti (that is the plural form of the word “cactus” by the way, in case you were wondering. I checked online). I have cactus drawings decorating our living room wall and cactus pillows on our couches. I even got some cactus stickers for the wall (I may have a problem at this point). I am not sure at what point I started to really like these prickly plants, but I know that they have grown on me over time.

Last year, I went to a conference for work in Scottsdale, Arizona. It was very brown, and the air was very dry. The hotel that we stayed at had a garden full of different types of cacti and I loved it! One of them was as tall as a two-story building! This specific type of cactus is the saguaro cactus and it is native to the Sonoran Desert. Why are these plants so interesting to me? Well, one reason is that I married a Mexican and now I eat Nopales; they are delicious by the way. Another reason is that they can thrive in some very harsh conditions.

When we consider gardens and flowers and plants, we think about lush green grass and fresh blossoms that need lots of water. A cactus plant however grows in the opposite of the ideal conditions. Who wants to live in a desert? It is dry and hot and not the place you immediately think about when thinking about plants. However, this is what makes the cactus plant so amazing. It is not only able to survive in these harsh conditions; it is able to thrive and blossom!

During this week as I have spent more time thinking about my living room décor (quarantine life), I have also spent more time thinking about the phases in our lives. There are times where we as believers walk through the gardens, here I think about Psalm 23:1-3 (NIV):

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.

This right here is the lush garden. There are moments in our lives when we are able to “lie down in green pastures” and the Lord leads us “beside quiet waters.” These are moments where we are refreshed.

However, the Christian walk is constantly in motion. We are constantly moving or “running the race” as the Apostle Paul stated. As such, we are not always in the lush green hills or near the calm stream. There are moments when we find ourselves in the middle of a storm like the disciples on the boat with Jesus. We may also find ourselves in the middle of a dry desert. These moments are the valleys that we walk through. The best part is that the Lord continues to shepherd us whether in the green pastures or in the valleys:

Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4, NIV)

I love this imagery. Even when I am going through the valley, the Lord continues to be my shepherd. He is with me and comforts me. There are moments when we go through the desert. These are moments of difficulty and struggle. Moments of trials and tests. Most flowers and plants would not be able to handle this change in environment. They would wilt, whither, and die. Cacti on the other hand, hold water in and withstand. They take in as much sun as they can, and they not only survive but they blossom. They bloom and then bear fruit (it makes tasty candy by the way).

In your own life, you may feel like this time is a valley or a desert. This is a time of difficulty and a time of suffering for many. How can we think about blossoming or even bearing fruit in this place in our lives right now? Most of us are thinking about surviving until we walk out of the valley and enter back into the lush green hills. However, it is possible for us to not just survive and get through this time but actually blossom and bear fruit. That is the work that God does in our lives. It is in these moments that God works to perfect us as James explains in his epistle. A cactus plant soaks up as much water as it can whenever the rain falls, and it holds it in. The saguaro cactus can hold up to 200 gallons of water! What a great example for us as believers. As we go through the desert season in our lives, we need to soak up as much water as possible and hold it in, of course the water for us is the Word of God. The Word hydrates us and sustains us. The Word also works to transform us and when we are well hydrated, we are able to blossom and then produce fruit.

Take some time to hydrate yourself with the Word of God. Read your Bible, start a devotional and listen to the church sermons that are being posted online. While you are going through the valley right now, the Lord is still your shepherd and He is with you and He is growing you. Even with the negative news and not being able to have church in person for right now, soak up as much of the Word as you can and then allow God to work in your life as you apply the Word. This is where the blossoming happens and eventually this is how you grow fruit in the desert.

This was at the conference in Scottsdale, Arizona and I had to have a picture with the saguaro cactus in the garden. 

The Everlasting God

Have you ever felt tired? Have you ever been exhausted? Many of us wear multiple hats or have more than one title. I am a wife, a mother of three boys (the sons of thunder as I like to call them) and I also have a full-time job as well as work in ministry. For many of us, life is balancing several aspects of our lives. This week, my boys came back from their week off and are doing distance learning while I work from home. My stress level was higher this week and by Friday I was exhausted- physically and mentally. All I wanted to do was curl up and read a good book or watch a Korean drama. In all honesty, I wanted to mentally escape. While I felt trapped in my own home physically, mentally I wanted to fly somewhere else. The reality? While escaping mentally can help me relax and calm down, it doesn’t restore me or refresh me deep inside where I really need it.

I took a moment and jumped into the Word of God. I don’t want you to think that all I do is sit and read my Bible and nothing else, that would not be true. I am the type of person who constantly tries to find a hobby (as if I have time for one). I tried baking sugar cookies and decorating them (I even bought a box of 100 cookie cutters), that was a lot harder than I thought. I tried lettering and drawing and that worked a little better, but again, difficult to do with three boys around who want to take your art supplies. In the end, I settled for reading. Reading allows me a mental escape. It helps me to relax. However, reading the Word of God does something different- it refreshes my soul. The Word of God isn’t a mental escape, it’s a place to find refreshment and a place where the Holy Spirit does His work in my life. He renews my thinking and reveals the areas of my life that need change. This is where I can truly find renewal, hope, transformation and refreshment.

Last night, the passage that I brought me renewal was Isaiah 40. This passage is comfort and encouragement for the nation of Israel. It is a passage of hope and a reminder of who God is. First, it brings into perspective who we are in comparison to God. We are tiny and insignificant-

‘“All people are like grass,
and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the Lord blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.” (Isaiah 40:6-8, NIV).

        If we are like grass and our faithfulness like flowers, we eventually wither and fall. However, the word of God endures forever. While we are temporary and people change, God’s Word remains faithful and true. The passage continues to describe the greatness of God as creator. He is powerful and sovereign. In fact, the nations are like sand to Him: “Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust” (Isaiah 40:15, NIV). While we rely on our government and leaders, the reality is that God is sovereign and greater than all the nations, to Him, they are “like a drop in a bucket.” The passage continues and gets better. Who can compare to God? Is there another like Him? What are idols to Him? Money, power, career, titles- none of these things can compare to God. While you may not have a little wooden idol in your home that you worship, you may be placing your hope in someone other than the Lord. With what is going on today, your hope may be placed in your job or in money or in the government. The reality, who can compare to our God? No one!

            This is the portion of the passage that brings me hope, that reminds me that my hope and my trust has been placed in the right place:

“Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak

Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:28-31, NIV).

Come on now, “do you not know? Have you not heard?” I love this! The LORD- Yahweh, God’s covenant keeping name- He is the everlasting God. He is the creator of everything, all powerful and “He will not grow tired or weary.” Unlike our misplaced hope in men, leaders or things, God is all powerful and He created everything. He is the everlasting God, the beginning and the end. Unlike you and me, God does NOT grow tired or weary. We become exhausted, weak but God remains strong. Not only does he not grow tired or weary, but he gives strength to those who are weary and gives power to the weak! This is what differentiates the Word of God to anything else that we can read or listen too. While hobbies and activities and books can relax you and help you to escape mentally, they cannot give you strength or power when you are tired or weak. Now, don’t get cheeky with me and say, well, I go to the gym to get stronger. While you can increase your physical strength, this is not going to help you spiritually. You can focus on your physical strength, but the Apostle Paul pointed out that what really matters is your spiritual endurance- “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8, NIV).

The passage continues and reminds us that even young people grow tired. I have three young boys and their energy is endless and even they grow tired physically. You usually don’t associate the image of young strong men with exhaustion, however, once again, even the strongest and most energetic person will eventually grow tired and weary. You can be doing your best to get through the week and that was me this week. I worked hard to get things done and was feeling exhausted by the end, but this passage reminded me that my strength comes from the Lord. While I may grow tired and weary, while I may have moments of exhaustion, my hope is in the Lord; “…those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” The Lord renews my strength, He recharges my spiritual battery. He helps me to soar even when feeling overwhelmed. No matter what you are going through right now, if you have reached the point of exhaustion and you have realized that you have run out of movies to watch on Netflix and nothing else is helping you to re-charge- put your hope in the Lord. Take a moment to drink from the living water by reading the Word of the Lord. No matter what is going on today, no matter what statistics or percentages the media throws at you today, He is and continues to be the everlasting God. He does not grow tired and He is still sovereign. He continues to give strength and power; all you need to do is go to Him. He will renew you and refresh you. He did it to me and He will do it for you.

You Were Not Meant to Walk on Water Alone

Here we are, half-way through April. I’m beginning to lose count of how many days we have been “sheltering at home” for. People are calling this the “new normal” and I’m not liking it. This can never be “normal.” I don’t know about you, but personally, this week weighed a little bit heavier on Joe and myself. We were put to the test this week.

Joe found out that someone at his job tested positive for COVID-19. While this may not surprise anyone, the issue is that this person still went to work even though they were not feeling well. This brought up many questions, issues and possibilities. Here at home, Joe and I found ourselves feeling worried and anxious, evening losing a bit of sleep wondering what was going to happen next? After thinking about it and praying about it, I realized that there’s nothing that I can do about it. What happened, happened. We are wearing masks, washing our hands and keeping our distance. There are things that are out of our hands and at that point, all we can do is trust in the Lord.

Trusting is easier said than done. There are two people in the New Testament that I feel like I have something in common with; one is the Apostle Paul and the other is the Apostle Peter. What would I have in common with these great men of God you ask? Well, they both had moments of epic failure, moments of weaknesses, moments where they just messed things up. That is what I can relate 100% to. Not only did they mess things up, but they were not afraid to share their failures because in those moments, God was always glorified.

One well known story in the Gospels is when Jesus walks on water. In this story, we always remember that Jesus did the impossible, and then we remember that Peter had his moment, he could have been great, but while he was walking on the water, he looked away from Jesus and began to drown. The message usually turns into something like, don’t be a failure like Peter and keep your eyes on Jesus. Those of you who know this story, you know what I’m talking about. If not, let’s take a look at the story found in the Gospel of Matthew:

²² Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. ²³ After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, ²⁴ and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

²⁵ Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:22-33, NIV, www.biblegateway.com).

 

Jesus goes off on His own to pray and have some alone time with the Father, away from the crowd. The boat was not tied at the shore but was already towards the middle of the lake. Before dawn, so it was still dark out, Jesus began to walk on the water towards the boat. The disciples, who were the closest to Jesus and have seen Jesus already perform countless miracles, freak out! They were “terrified” and even thought that Jesus was a ghost. Really? A ghost? They were afraid. These guys walked with Jesus, and they felt fear.

Jesus’ response to this, is to tell them to “Take courage!” He tells them not to be afraid. Does it work? Not completely. There is still some doubt, and then Peter, the spokesperson for the twelve challenges Jesus (try not to challenge God my friends, because He will most likely call you out on it like He does here with Peter). Jesus tells Peter to come, go ahead, walk on the water to me and Peter does it! Peter has faith and trusts in Jesus enough to climb off the boat and begin walking on the water towards Jesus.

Here is where the story changes however. Peter then looks at the wind and begins to fear and begins to sink and then cries out to Jesus to be rescued. He took his eyes off of Jesus, he began to lose faith and doubt. Jesus was right there and questions him about it. We can all say that Peter failed, he didn’t trust Jesus so he sank. However, Peter walked on the water, even if it was for just a little bit. None of the other disciples even jumped off the boat- only Peter did that. That action takes faith.

I like to describe faith as trust plus action. Faith is not just belief, it is trusting and acting on that belief. During this time of fear and anxiety, we can all shout have faith! Trust in the Lord! However, putting that into practice, that’s where it really matters. This week was that moment for me in my home. This week, as I found myself overthinking and feeling fearful and anxious, I found myself on the boat. Jesus calls us to take courage and not fear, to trust in Him completely. That’s fine and dandy, but when I’m thinking about my husband, my kids, our health, our finances, I don’t feel very courageous or fearless. This is why I love the Word of God, because it doesn’t just encourage us and tells us what to do, it also shows us examples of individuals who were faced with difficult situations and perhaps didn’t do something that amazing. Peter sank, and perhaps there are moments where I may sink too. However, just as Jesus pulled Peter up out of the water and asked him “why did you doubt?” I can trust that Jesus will pull me up too and ask me, “why did you doubt?”

This is exactly what Jesus did. During this period of “shelter at home,” I have found myself trying to be brave and strong, trying to encourage and support others. I feel like this is the bold Peter side of me, Jesus, tell me to come to you and I’ll jump off the boat and trust in you. I have been looking and trusting, walking on that water towards Jesus. This week, I was also like Peter and felt the worries and doubt surround me like the wind and waves and I began to sink. Did I fail? Nope. I’m a regular person, just like Peter was. I can have moments where I am strong and impulsive in my faith and then I can have moments when I feel overwhelmed and in that moment I realize that I can’t do it on my own- Jesus is the one who keeps my head above water.

I don’t know what you are going through this week. Maybe you are doing well and have nothing to worry about (I highly doubt this), or maybe you are going crazy because your kids are home and need help with school and you are working from home and feel like you have to juggle everything. Maybe fear and doubt are surrounding you like the wind and the waves. Whatever the situation, whatever the circumstance, it’s okay to not be strong. It’s okay to feel like you can’t handle it. You were not meant to do this alone. You were not meant to walk on water by yourself. Jesus walks with you and when you feel like you are sinking, Jesus will rescue you the same way that He rescued Peter and the same way that He rescued me this week; all you need to do is cry out to Him.

I encourage you to take a moment today and think about what God has done in your life and then give thanks. Once you have done this, present your current fears, doubts and anxieties to Him. If you have been feeling overwhelmed and have been losing sleep, now is the time to ask Jesus to pull you out from the water and give you His peace. You are not alone. He is with you.

Fighting Giants

Another week has passed and we are here again. There are more numbers, statistics and deaths. The Superintendent for the state of California announced that schools would not be back in session for this year. Every week it seems that mayors and governors and even the president keep pushing back the dates and the weeks that this will end. I don’t know about you, but I am ready for this to be over. It is hard to be limited in what we can do and to see the growing need around you. It’s hard to keep moving forward without letting fear win. I feel like fear and anxiety continue to grow and today I visualize them as giants. Here I am, little 5’2” me and I feel like I am looking at these growing emotional giants- fear, anxiety, stress, loneliness, and desperation.

Thinking about giants reminded me of one of my favorite Bible stories (I know, I know, I say this about almost every Bible story). This was definitely one of my favorites as a child in Sunday School class, especially when we were able to act it out and sing about it. This is the typical underdog story. The story of someone small, unappreciated and unimportant stepping up and becoming a hero. This is the story of David, the future king of Israel as he fights the giant Goliath. There is a war going on at this time and it has come to a standstill. Goliath, a literal giant, taunts the Israelite camp every day but no one wants to fight him, not even Saul, the warrior king. David is sent by his father to go and take food to his older brothers who are at the battle and to bring back news. David arrives there and doesn’t see any fighting, but he sees and hears Goliath. He becomes upset and asks why no one is challenging him. His brothers tell him to be quiet and mind his own business (typical brother reaction). They see him as unimportant and annoying- that is until David stands up and accepts the challenge.

David has been shepherding his father’s sheep. He is a musician and writes and plays songs to the Lord. However, he has had to fight wild animals with his bare hands to protect the sheep. He feels like he can fight this giant. David refuses to wear Saul’s armor because it’s uncomfortable and if you remember the story, he picks some smooth pebbles from the water for his sling and goes into battle:

“Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. He said to David, ‘“Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?”’ And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. ‘“Come here,”’ he said, ‘“and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!”’ (1 Samuel 17:41-44, NIV).

I love this! Goliath is the perfect giant; he talks down to David, he mocks him, curses him and then, he threatens him. He despises David. Out of all of the soldiers, the only one willing to face him is a young boy and he’s not even in armor nor does he have any proper weapons. David’s response however, hits it home:

“David said to the Philistine, ‘“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”’ (1 Samuel 17:41-47, NIV).

David may be young, he may be inexperienced in comparison to all of the other soldiers, but spiritually, David is a warrior who understands when to fight and how to fight. David stands up to Goliath and tells him to his face that his weapon is “the name of the LORD Almighty!” David goes on to describe the victory that Israel is going to have when their battle is over. However, the key point here is that the world and all those gathered there “…will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’S” (1 Samuel 17:47, NIV). Come on! This battle was not for Israel or for David, it was to showcase who God is. David didn’t need a sword because his weapon is the Lord. David was a young boy full of faith. If you remember what we discussed about Judges chapter two, the spiritual failure of the Israelites came because they didn’t know God and they didn’t know the things that God had done for Israel. David not only knows God, he also knows the things that God has done for Israel and this gives him the faith to know that God will do it again.

When fighting giants in your life today like fear, doubt, loneliness and anxiety, think about how David faced Goliath. While that was a physical battle, David understood that it was really a spiritual battle. For us today, we are not physically fighting our fears and anxiety, it is also a spiritual battle. We must first know God and know what God has done. Our faith needs to continue to grow so that spiritually we can stand and fight. If you are facing emotional giants in your life today, take up the Word of God, take up some praise and worship, take up prayer as your weapons. Remember that there is power in the name of Jesus. We can stand before our giants like David stood before Goliath and shout that we are facing them with the name of the Lord Almighty! The battle is the Lord’s!

Prayer and Praise

It’s almost week two of “shelter in place” here in California. We found out that school will continue to be out through the month of April and many are working remotely if possible or not working at all. While essential workers are out there grateful that they have a job, there is also the fear that they may come in contact with the virus and become sick or that their families may become sick. This has been a week of fear, a week of hurt for those who have lost loved ones and a week of unknowns. What is going to happen tomorrow? What is going to happen next week when rent is due? While the government is scrambling to help people and pass legislation, I want to take a moment to remind myself and any other believer out there today that our help comes from the Lord. Last week, I shared the story from the book of Daniel of the three young men in the fire. God saved them from burning, but he did not prevent them from being thrown into the fire. Instead, God walked in the fire with them. God is present in our suffering. He is with us and does not leave us.

Today, I want to encourage you with another story in scripture. I love the book of Acts. Luke, the historian and doctor who wrote the Gospel of Luke also wrote the history of the church. Luke was an eyewitness to many of the accounts in Acts, especially with regards to the Apostle Paul as he journeyed with him on several occasions. If you need a reminder, Paul was known as Saul- a Jewish leader who persecuted the early church until he had an encounter with the resurrected Jesus on the road to Damascus. His life was completely transformed at that point and he was never the same. He went from a persecutor of the Gospel to a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In Acts 16, Paul, Silas, Luke and Timothy are on their way to Macedonia because Paul has a vision about a man needing help. While in Philippi, they were walking and a girl who was possessed by a demon kept shouting at them and Paul finally got tired and cast the demon out of her. This is a good thing right? Not for her owners who were using her to make money. While she was possessed she was “predicting the future” and making money for her owners. After being spiritually liberated, she was useless to them so they became angry and dragged Paul and Silas to the city leaders and accused them of trying to make the Jews in the city go against Roman laws. The crowd, as usual, joined in and the magistrates ordered them to be “stripped and beaten with rods” (Acts 16:22, NIV). Once this was done, they were thrown into jail and their feet were placed in stocks. The jailer was told to guard them closely.

The intentions of Paul and Silas are to go where God is leading them, to share the Gospel wherever they go and to help people when they can. In this case, Paul prays and liberates a girl and chaos ensues. They most likely did not plan for the day to end this way. However, now they are beaten and locked in jail, unable to move their feet. At this point, they are now suffering unfairly. They are locked in jail and they were not given a chance to defend themselves. What stands out however, is their reaction to all of this. They could have been upset, fearful, frustrated or even angry. They could have cried and complained to God. However, they chose to praise and worship: “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25, NIV).

I know that the suffering that you may be going through today is not necessarily the same as that which Paul and Silas suffered, but I want to focus on their response to that suffering. They chose to pray and praise. We can be upset about our situations and justifiably so. Many of the decisions being made are out of our hands today. However, our response is our choice. Are you choosing to be angry, frustrated, fearful anxious or are you choosing to pray and praise?

The second point is that Paul and Silas had an audience- they were not alone in prison. While they chose to pray and praise, “the other prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25, NIV). Our response to trials and suffering is being viewed by those around us- family, friends, neighbors, social media. Are we going to give in to the fear and share that, or are we going to pray and praise and share that with others?

If you have not read this story in Acts before, please read it entirely. God used this situation to reach the jailer and his entire household. Paul and Silas were able to share the Gospel message with them and they came to know the Lord. While they did not know why they were going through the difficulty, they knew that they could trust God and that God always has a plan and a purpose. In this case, more people came to know Christ. How can God use you today? Who can you reach with your reaction to your situation? Help a neighbor, reach out to family and friends and perhaps consider what you are posting online today. Are you sharing things that are helpful or things that make people feel helpless? Make it a point today to choose to pray and praise. Don’t wait for Sunday to do “church,” be the church in everything that you do.

Know God and What He Has Done

Good Morning and Happy Friday. I know it’s a little difficult to feel “happy” right now, especially the morning after the speech that the governor of California made yesterday evening. Honestly, I never would have imagined that the entire state of California would be asked to “shelter in place.” At the same time, I find myself trying to figure out how life is supposed to work now. I have a full time job and suddenly, instead of commuting to work, I need to walk to my kitchen and work from home. My children have been home from school this week and doing homework packets. The biggest transition however is the church.

Having grown up in the church, this is the first time in my 36 years where Iglesia Iberoamerica is not able to meet in person in the church building. Yes, we have cancelled services before. However, the cancellations were because of the holidays or Y2K and that was one service, not every service for the next few weeks. We are now rushing to find creative ways to meet with people virtually and have church online. This is temporary and will work for a moment, but in my opinion, I think it is going to serve to remind people how good it was to have a physical church where we could come together and shake hands and hug and pray for each other with less than 6 feet of separation. I love my local church and the church members. I love the youth and the elderly. My heart hurts because we cannot meet together as we did just over a week ago. So where do we go from here? I’m praying. I’m asking God for guidance and I’m also studying the Word and preparing for my message this coming Sunday. Even if we are not going to meet together physically, we will continue our study in the book of Judges. As such, I decided to spend some time in prayer and in God’s Word early this morning as the boys were asleep and I had the quiet kitchen all to myself.

In Judges 2:10, we are able to see the spiritual failure of the previous generation of Israelites and how it negatively impacted the new generation: “After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.” Last Sunday, I emphasized these two main points. First, this new generation did not know the Lord. They didn’t know the Lord the way members of the previous generation had. They didn’t have a relationship with Him nor did they fellowship with Him. Secondly, they didn’t know what the Lord had done for them as a people. This brings up the need that we have today. We need to know the Lord and we need to know what the Lord has done. I know that many of you may be studying your Bibles now or working through devotionals in your Bible App which is great. I would like to spend some time in the next few days or perhaps weeks to take some time to look at God’s Word and remember what God has done throughout time. This in turn will then help us to also remember what God has done in our own lives. By doing this, we will know God more and remember what He has done. This will strengthen and grow our faith and it will also help us in our walk with Him and to know Him more. This situation is temporary, but it has the potential to shake our very foundation. However, if our foundation is Christ, then we will remain standing because we are then like the wise man who built his house on the rock: “The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock” (Matthew 7:25, NIV).

One of my favorite Bible stories as a child was the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. These were not their original names, they were the names given to them in an attempt to erase their identities and make them forcefully fit into a new culture and way of life. While their names were changed, their faith in God was not. These young men were presented with a choice- bow and worship a golden idol by order of the king or be thrown into a fiery furnace. These young men did not waiver and they did not bow; they remained standing. This was done virtually, they could not hide behind another identity in social media. I imagine hundreds of people bowing down and these three young men still standing. The king of course is furious and gives them another chance, but then they reply with the most firm and iconic answer that could ever be given in the face of impending death:

“ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18, NIV).

Come on! Is that not the best response? I don’t like confrontation, but man, to say that to the king’s face? These three young men were ready to die because they knew God and they knew what God had done for Israel. Did they believe that God could rescue them? Yes. However, they were ready to die if God chose to not rescue them. Talk about faith! Were they thrown into the fire? Yes. Were they alone in the fire? Nope. God went into the fire with them. The fire was so hot that the guard that threw them into the flames died from the heat! The three young men stood in the furnace and everyone was able to see a fourth person in the fire with them. They realized that the God that these young men worshipped was not only powerful enough to rescue them but that He was in the fire with them! They came out unscathed and without smelling like Korean BBQ (you know that it is delicious, but really, your clothes and hair are permeated with the smell of BBQ).

If you haven’t read this story before, read it today. You may want to begin with chapter one to get an understanding of what these young men went through and how they still chose to remain faithful to God, even in the face of death. What I do want to remind you today is that God is able to rescue us and save us from all kinds of things, even the fiery furnace. However, God did not prevent them from entering the furnace. He could of sent water down from Heaven and extinguished the flames. However, He entered the fire with them. I know that you may feel overwhelmed. I know that you may be sitting there considering your finances, bills, food and the future. I know that you are most likely not facing death at this very moment, however, this is why it is important for us to know God and know what God has done. God is able to rescue us yes, but God also walks with us and He goes through the fire with us! He is with you right now during this difficulty.

My prayer is that you would know Christ and the power of His resurrection (Philippians 3:10, NIV) and that you would remember what He has already done not only in the Word but in your personal life. God continues to be faithful. May God give you peace during this time and refresh your Spirit. God bless you.

Remember the Promise

I was reminded about this long lost blog recently via Facebook and that new memory feature. I was also reminded that writing can help me word things that I have difficulty speaking. Where am I in life now? Well, let’s see. I have a 3 year old and a 16 month old. They are amazing and make me smile and drive me crazy at the same time. Every day is like a roller coaster ride (hopefully without loops since I hate loops and roller coasters in general). One minute my boys are kissing me and hugging me or just cuddling and the next minute I’m shouting and putting them in time out and then dancing and singing about poo poo and monkeys. I am blessed. Life is good. I love my husband and boys and I love my job and I love my church.

We started an English Service at our church and it’s almost a year this September since we began. It has not been easy. We’re learning as we go, making changes and making friends along the way. We have a small group but we’re growing. Most importantly, we’re growing as family and in our faith. At the same time, this time away from my last blog post has been painful.

These past two years in youth ministry have been the most difficult for me. While I was happy with my family and serving the Lord, I was also dealing with a lot of hurt and anger. I began to doubt my purpose and calling from the Lord. I began to think that it didn’t matter what I did; God didn’t notice or didn’t care, and neither did anyone else. Was I just going through the motions? Was God finished with me? Youth ministry, like any other ministry in the church has the ability to suck you dry. You give and give and invest and invest and some people refuse to change. In other instances, some people that you had high hopes for and expectations for, turn out to not care at all. This past weekend I went to camp and went with my heart open to the Lord. I wanted clarity, perspective; I wanted answers. I wanted God to answer me.

God definitely answered. He of course, skipped over my questions and went straight to my heart. My doubt and my questions stemmed from one thing: I was hurt. I had invested time, I had expectations of certain people. I had prayed for them, counseled them and lifted them up and in the end, these individuals lied to me. They talked about me. They left; and I was left behind. This wasn’t all of it, however. I had loved them. They were family to me and that’s what hurt the most. As I let God deal with me and speak to my heart, I felt like the scars that had been scabbing over for the past two years had been torn open afresh. My heart burned, my stomach churned. I hurt all over again and tears fell. What I was ignoring and trying to forget, was that I had loved and still do love these individuals. That’s why it still hurts. God loved and gave His Son on the cross. What a painful way to love, a love that led to death a death that led to life. I was trying to forget trying to ignore the real reason for the hurt.

The second realization came when sitting in a workshop for leaders. God used the speaker to remind me that it’s not my ministry, it’s God’s. While people may come and go, it’s not about me and my doing. This doesn’t belong to me, it belongs to Him. That was like splash of cold water to my face. In my hurt, I was debating whether or not God was done with me and whether or not I had anything else to offer in my ministry. I had felt like I had failed. I was a failure. Then God reminded me, it’s not mine. It’s not what I can give, do or offer, but what God will give, do and offer and do through me. I had been spending time wallowing in my hurt like a pig wallowing in mud. I had spent time debating and feeling sorry for myself- this is it, I hit my peak and it’s downhill from here on out. I had thought myself a failure. When I asked for answers, God did not disappoint. He went straight to my heart and shook me up. He smacked my head and woke me up from the daze that I had been walking in.

God is not finished with me yet, in fact, He won’t be finished until He calls me home. He wants to use my life and He wants to raise up the young people in my church. He wants to transform lives, restore hope and break chains. He wants to raise up young men and women of God, who will not compromise. I just want to encourage you today. If you think that you have failed or you have fallen so low, there’s no point in looking up, God is not finished with you. Look up to Him. When fear, when doubt threatens to keep you from serving God, remember that it’s not about what you can do or what you can give or offer. God will do the heavy lifting, after all, it is His ministry.

I also want to point out that if you are hurting or dealing with doubt in your life, reach out and talk to someone. In these two years of difficulty, I have found help and strength not only from the Lord, but from my husband. He is my best friend and I have opened my heart to him over and over again. In my lowest moments where I was on the verge of giving up ministry, he would remind me that God is the one who calls. He has always listened and encouraged me. I also found encouragement and wisdom in my parents. Growing up as a pastor’s kid, I have seen and experienced the highs and lows of ministry first hand. In all of that, I have been blessed by their wisdom and their experiences in pushing me forward in my service to God. If you don’t have someone like this in your life, ask that the Lord provide voices of wisdom and encouragement to help you in your journey. Everything that they have been reminding me these past two years, came rolling over me this past weekend as God met with me and spoke into my life.

This month, I re-read a book that I had read back in high school called Hinds’ Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard. The book is allegorical, similar to A Pilgrim’s Progress. It is a fairly short read, but a great devotional. It’s the story of the journey and transformation of a young woman named Much-Afraid. She wants to follow the Shepherd and be transformed so she journeys to the High Places with Sorrow and Suffering. Once they reach the High Places, they are transformed and receive new names like Grace and Glory. However, the journey is a reminder of trusting in God and laying down our own will in order to do His will. This is an excerpt from the book, a reminder that God is the one who calls and guides, even in those moments where we want to doubt or think otherwise, we need to remember God’s promise:

“’Believe steadfastly in what you have seen. Even if the way up to the High Places appears to be obscured and you are led to doubt whether you are following the right path, remember the promise, ‘Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left.’ Always go forward along the path of obedience as far as you know it until I intervene, even if it seems to be leading you where you fear I could never mean you to go.’”

God is already there

            It’s been a while, I know. Okay, it’s been a very long while. Life has changed a lot for me in the last 7 ½ months. For starters, Joe and I are the parents of a wonderful baby boy, Elisha. He’s an awesome blessing. Being a new mother has brought me to a completely new level in my relationship with God. Having a son that I see grow and change daily, is a daily reminder of who my God is. I have watched this little boy learn new skills and then I am reminded of how quickly he grew while inside of me. I will never forget the sound of his heartbeat while in the womb. I have come to understand that God is a God of miracles. Nothing is impossible for Him. If you have never experienced a miracle, well, Google “pregnancy” and “childbirth” and you will quickly see that God continues to work miracles today- life itself is a miracle. I have come to understand that we cannot take life for granted, but each new phase in our life helps us to better understand what really matters.

                While I may not fully know or comprehend where exactly my life is headed, I know the One who holds my future in His hands. Lately, I have been feeling like I need some direction in my life. After 28 years of moving forward and working hard at school and ministry, I have come to a pause in my personal life. I have had to ask God for direction and for understanding on this road that I am on. My desire has not changed, I want to serve God and I love youth ministry. I love learning and education, but it’s no longer one of my priorities and I am starting to understand that I am okay with that. God still has a plan for me, and not just me, but my family. After sitting in a daze for the last couple of months, I was reminded this morning that God has it all figured out. He is in control and what seems like a mystery to me right now, is a memory for God, in the grand scheme of things. Time exists for us, but not for God. God is so great, He surpasses time itself, being the eternal God that He is. He is not limited to the past, the present and the future. He sees the entire timeline as one. I heard a song on the radio this morning by Casting Crowns called “Already There.” I’ve heard this song before, but today, the lyrics just clicked in my brain and my heart jumped and I remembered that while I don’t understand how everything fits together now, God is still working in my life and He knows what the picture is supposed to look like.

       I don’t know where you are at in your life right now, but God does know. You may feel overwhelmed or confused by your current situation or circumstance, but remember, what may seem like chaos to you is not chaos to God. I just want to encourage you to keep moving forward and keep trusting in God. While people may fail, God never fails. He loves you and He has a plan for your life. What you are going through right now, will somehow fit together in the bigger picture in the future. I may not have all of the answers for you, but God does. You don’t need to have someone tell you your future when you know the One who holds the future in His hands.

 

 In case you haven’t heard the song, here are the lyrics:

 

From where I’m standing
Lord it’s so hard for me to see
Where this is going
And where You’re leading me
I wish I knew how
All my fears and all my questions
Are gonna play out
In a world I can’t control

Oh, oh

When I’m lost in the mystery
To You my future is a memory
Cause You’re already there
You’re already there
Standing at the end of my life
Waiting on the other side
And You’re already there
You’re already there

Oh, oh, oh, oh

From where You’re standing
Lord, You see a grand design
That You imagined
When You breathed me into life
And all the chaos
Comes together in Your hands
Like a masterpiece
Of Your picture perfect plan
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsty.com/casting-crowns-already-there-lyrics.html ]
When I’m lost in the mystery
To You my future is a memory
Cause You’re already there
You’re already there
Standing at the end of my life
Waiting on the other side
And You’re already there
You’re already there

One day I’ll stand before You
And look back on the life I’ve lived
I can’t wait to enjoy the view
And see how all the pieces fit (x2)

One day I’ll stand before You
And look back on the life I’ve lived
Cause You’re already there
You’re already there
When I’m lost in the mystery
To You my future is a memory
Cause You’re already there
You’re already there
Standing at the end of my life
Waiting on the other side
And You’re already there
You’re already there

You are already there

Let’s Be Real…

                It’s been a while since I’ve been able to blog. Truthfully, I’ve missed it. There’s just been so much going on recently but I am grateful to be back. I was inspired to write recently through a friend’s Facebook post. He was frustrated with religious people posting verses and prayers and yet living lifestyles opposite of what God would be pleased with. Needless to say, his post received a ton of comments some people who agreed with him and some who didn’t. The truth of the matter is, as the quote states, “actions speak louder than words.”

                One person commented that we are not perfect and that we make mistakes, but we’re trying. I thought about this for a moment, and yes, it’s true. Christians are not perfect. We make mistakes. I think we need to discuss what a “mistake” is and what living the Christian life is. You see, a mistake is an error, a slip. Is going partying and getting drunk or high on the weekends a mistake or is this living in sin? You see, Paul states in Galatians 5 that behavior like this reflects a life of the flesh, and this lifestyle is opposite of the Spirit of God: “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21). So, living a life in the flesh, doing these things does not mean that you are simply making a mistake, this is a lifestyle and it’s contrary to God.

                Let’s be real for a moment. When it comes to the internet and social networking, people can say and do whatever they want and be whoever they want to be. We post pictures that we want people to see, and there are moments when people are not who they say they are. You may post that your happy and life is great, but in reality, your life is falling apart and spiraling out of control. Some people are the opposite and post every single feeling and emotion and then say: “don’t judge me.” I think people are tired of the fakeness and the empty words that get posted. Why should it bother me that people post one thing but their lives reflect something else? It bothers me because the only thing this world offers is fake. Things that look nice and satisfying and in reality, leave you wanting more. If all you can do is go out and drink and have sex and at the end of the day you’re still feeling empty inside, it’s because you are looking for something that’s real. In a society full of diet sodas and energy drinks to get you through without filling you up, your soul is tired of the fakeness and the hypocrisy. You want, you need something real.

                Christians are not perfect. Nope. I get angry, I struggle with pride, I have an attitude. These are things that God is working on. What I can say is that I’m transparent. I am who I am, because of Christ’s work in me. I have seen through the fakeness of what the world offers and money, people, alcohol, sex, will all leave you feeling empty. The only one who offers something real, is God. True Christians have given up walking in the flesh and now reflect Christ. Like I said, it’s not about perfection or hypocrisy, it’s about following the one who is perfect.

               Look, if you’re a “Christian” but you’re walking in the flesh, then you’re a Christian in name only and your lifestyle is not pleasing to God. It’s not about you changing for Him, it’s about allowing Him to change your life. If you are a Christian, remember that we are called to be light in the darkness, we’re not called to mix in with the darkness and hide in the darkness. Be different, not only in your words or your Facebook posts, but in your actions! Words mean nothing if they’re not followed with action. Live it and show it.