You can be courageous! Week 5, Day 3)

Paul, my 12-year-old, seems naturally courageous. He is athletic, handsome, intelligent – and fearless. I am not. I was the kid who hid under her mom's skirt when anyone approached, stranger or not. I would miss out on a lot of things because I was too timid to speak up. It might surprise you, then, to learn that my son's popularity is very concerning to me. His success in whatever he does could cause him to miss out on what really matters. Being oblivious of his own weaknesses will keep him from recognizing what God has prepared for him. Even when it didn’t feel pleasant at the time, I am grateful to God for guiding me to places of struggle and allowing me to be broken over 

                                                                                                                 

my own sinfulness,
my human frailty,
my lack of wisdom,
my past losses and hurts,
my present hardships, and
my worries about the future.

Brokenness is one of God’s most powerful tools. He uses our struggles to teach us that we can do nothing without Him (John 15:5), but all things through Him (Phil 4:13). He provides strength for the weary (Isaiah 40:31) and comfort for those who mourn (2 Cor. 1:4). When we reach the end of ourselves, we can hear the Lord whisper in our ears: "Be strong and courageous" (Deut. 31:6). This is not just an empty command. The Father enables us to do what He has called us to (Phil 2:13). Knowing our brokenness and bringing our broken hearts to God opens the door to finding strength in Him. True courage originates where we realize that His grace is sufficient for us. "For His power is made perfect in our weakness. That is why I am content in weakness,… For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor. 12:9+10).

·       2 Corinthians 2:3 and Psalm 34:18 describe God's heart towards the hurting. Read these passages and describe His character.

                                                                                                       

                                                                                                       

                                                                                                       

·       Which of the points of struggle mentioned in today's devotion are areas of weakness for you right now?

                                                                                                          

                                                                                                          

·       God the Father wants to use these things to teach you to depend on Him. He wants to make you courageous. Use the space below to write a prayer to the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort to make His power perfect in your weakness.

                                                                                                            

                                                                                                            

                                                                                                            

                                                                                                            

                                                                                                            

I care for you completely (Week 5, Day 2)

After graduating from high school, I felt called to spend a year in Uzbekistan. All summer long I worked as a nanny in order to purchase my plane ticket. The next hurdle was coming up with the funds I needed for living expenses. I had never heard of the concept of support-raising. The day before my departure, I was still penniless. This was a Sunday. On my way to church, I poured my heart out to the Lord: "Father, you know that I am supposed to have $75 for each month in Uzbekistan. You have brought me this far; please show me where to get $900." After the service I positioned myself at the exit in order to say goodbye to my beloved church family. As they filed past to give me hugs, many also unexpectedly pressed money into my hands. This body of believers truly sought to support me in any way they could. Not until I was back in my apartment did I count all that I had received. It was exactly $900! God came through in the last minute. I understood that God had made me wait in order to teach me to trust Him. From this, I jumped to the conclusion that God always waits until the last moment to answer prayers.

Fast forward six years. By then I was living in Aberdeen, Scotland, and was preparing to fly home to Germany. This time I didn’t lack money, but my passport, which was held up by the British Immigration Center in London. I was so sure of my "Last-Minute-God" that it came as a complete shock when my passport did not arrive until four weeks after the scheduled departure date. "What is up with that?" I questioned God in confusion, while having to buy a whole new ticket. "Why did You not come through this time?"

A month late, according to my schedule, I finally arrived in Berlin on the exact day that my grandmother passed away. God had planned this all along so I could be there for my mother when she really needed me. I learned that God is not a "Last-Minute-God," but He has his own time schedule and He does things at just the right time.

·       What did God do at just the right time according to Galatians 4:4?

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·       Our Father God goes way beyond meeting our needs. He is so generous! What does He want to give us according to Romans 8:32?

                                                                                                         

As I am writing these lines, my oldest kids are at camp. I had so much fun putting together little care packages for them. Not because they needed anything, but just because...   If we who are sinful are like this, how much more does God want to show his generosity towards us?

·       Read Matthew 7:9-11. Look for specific ways in which God shows His kindness towards you. List them below and thank Him for them.

                                                                                                           

                                                                                                            

                                                                                                            

                                                                                                            

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I want you to share in everything I own. (Week 5, Day 1)

When life gets the best of me, my first response is to find solace in a chocolate bar. And oh, the desolation when supplies run low! I sometimes rummage through the entire house hoping to find a forgotten morsel. How silly and senseless of me to seek comfort in food, rather than in Christ! During the past month, I have chosen to forgo chocolate in hopes of learning to run to Jesus when times get tough. It has not been easy to change old habits, but it has helped me to realize that I am only skimming the surface of what Jesus really desires me to surrender.

·       Read Matthew 13:44-47. What does God expect us to give up for the sake of receiving God's kingdom?

                                                                                                                      

One thing must be clear: when God wants us to give up everything, he is neither greedy for our possessions, nor does He desire us to suffer want. On the contrary! He wants what is best for us and He is able to fulfill His promises. Therefore Jesus is asking:

Will you abandon your striving to earn God's favor
so that I can shower you with loving-kindness and compassion?

Will you stop wrapping yourself in unforgiveness, bitterness and vengeful thoughts
so that I can enable you to love Me and others through experiencing My forgiveness and love?

Will you give up your desire to make a name for yourself
so that you may experience the beauty of following the plans and talents I have prepared for you?

Will you choose not to concern yourself with pleasing others
so that you may know the comfort of belonging to the One who desires you?

Will you cease to be anxious about your daily needs
so that you may know the peace which comes from trusting in My provision?

Will you submit to My will in your marriage
so that I may show you the riches of My counsel?

Will you surrender your control over your children
so that you may rest in the assurance that I love them even more than you do and am able to do far more than you could ask or imagine?

Jesus knows that the things we hold so dear are just emptiness and filth, and yet we grasp them so tightly. He wants us to loosen our grip on our false wealth so that we may embrace Him instead. The only true treasures come from Him. It is up to us to surrender our ashes for the beauty Christ has for us.
And that is so much better than chocolate!

·       What are specific things that God is asking you to lay down in order to experience His kingdom in your life? Write down a prayer of surrender.

                                                                                                        

                                                                                                         

                                                                                                         

                                                                                                         

                                                                                                         

The Blessing of Provision (Week 5 Intro)

"In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory." (Eph. 1:11-12)

Sometimes it is hard for us to believe that our Heavenly Father wants to take care of us completely. He challenges us to look at the flowers in their beautiful attire and at the birds with their worry-free nature (Matt. 6:26-32). Instead of worrying about life, God wants us to look to Him for everything we need. This week, hear the Father's blessing as He speaks over you: "I want you to share in everything I own! I care for you completely! You can be courageous! You will do well in life! You are talented!" 

Your thoughts are important to me! (Week 4, Day 5)

Have you ever heard a sermon on Job? If so, it was probably an exhortation to emulate Job's submissive and worshipful attitude in the midst of loss and suffering. While Job's initial response to his catastrophic experiences is honorable and praiseworthy, if this were all we could glean from this Old Testament book, reading chapter one would completely suffice, rendering the following 41 chapters superfluous. In doing so we would miss the raw emotions Job experiences throughout the rest of the book. He feels angry at God and he unashamedly approaches God with his accusations. 

Job feels like God has made him His mark (7:20), firing arrows through him (6:4) hitting him with a rod (9:34) and throwing him into the mud (Job 30:14). He accuses God of contending against him (10:2), oppressing and despising him (10:3), and destroying all his hope (14:19). Job even has the gall to call God his accuser (9:15), a title usually reserved for Satan. Doesn't it then seem surprising that, in God's eyes, Job never sinned in what he said (42:7-9)?

After Ani's death, I felt angry at God for taking my precious daughter. I thought I was wrong for feeling this way and my perceived guilt kept me from approaching God. When I could stand this tension no longer, I confided in a professional grief counselor who explained to me that only once in his entire career had he encountered a grieving parent who did not have feelings of anger towards God. While it was a comfort to me that I was not alone in this dilemma, I wondered what kind of spiritual saint this one parent must have been. I was totally surprised as my counselor provided the eye-opening reason she wasn’t angry at God: She was an atheist. She couldn’t possibly accuse a God she didn’t believe in.

In understanding that anger toward God is a natural response, and in reading the book of Job, I learned once again that God is much bigger than I had thought. God is not weak. He is not afraid that His name will be marred by our negative thoughts or emotions towards Him. We are permitted to come to Him and bring our complaints. He allows us to beat against His chest and scream in rage. He can take it! Moreover, He already knows how we feel and what we are thinking. He does not reject us but desires to gather us in His arms and show us that He is for us and with us, even when we do not understand, even if we are angry at Him.

This made me fall in love with the God of Job. If we skip over Job's painfully raw emotions towards God, we miss knowing that it is okay to be absolutely real with Him. God is greater, even greater than our emotions.

·       Read 1 John 3:30 and write your honest feelings to God.

                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                   

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I trust you with my deep thoughts. (Week 4, Day 4)

"Bene, bene! Speak to me!" This was the famous saying of the Egyptian waiter at my favorite Italian hang-out when I lived in Aberdeen, Scotland. Ahmed liked saying this phrase so much, in fact, that it was even printed on every menu. Unfortunately, he was equally infamous for never taking the time to listen. He would utter his phrase in a generous, almost pompous manner, and then walk off, satisfied with himself for having asked, even though he never waited for a response. Great food, though!

I must confess, my dealings with God are often very similar. I ask God to speak to me, and then I walk off, assuming I have done my part and God has nothing specific to say to me that day.

Let us rethink that for a moment. If Jesus is called The Word (John 1:1), is it not highly plausible that He wants to speak to us? In fact, all throughout the Bible, God has shown us that His desire to be heard by us is even greater than our desire to listen. He is asking for people to stand in His counsel so they should hear His word (Jer. 23:18), and He reveals His plans before they come to pass (Amos 3:7). But God sadly also recognizes that the ears He has made are often not being used for hearing Him (Ezek. 12:2). God's main motivation is not the transfer of information, but a calling towards deeper intimacy with him.

·       What is He promising believers in Rev. 3:20?

                                                                                                   

                                                                                                    

 God, the Maker of the entire universe, seeks us out to share His secrets with us (Ps. 24:14). He wants us to listen for Him because He wants to have fellowship with us. What an incredible gift!

Knowing that God desires to speak, let us ask, like the Egyptian waiter, "Speak to me!" But instead of rushing on, let us echo Habakkuk: "I will stand on my post and station myself on the rampart; and keep watch to see what he will speak to me. (Hab. 2:1)

It is worth the wait!

·       Ask your heavenly Father to speak to you and use the lines below to write down anything that you sense Him saying.

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                     

I want a relationship with you! (Week 4, Day 3)

Of all the characters in the Bible I identify most with Peter. This disciple messed up royally so many times by fearing the opinions of others and by making rash judgments. He is the one who took risks and walked on the water, only to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus (Matt 14:28). Peter rebuked Jesus for predicting His own death (Matt 16:22/23) and foolishly suggested making tents after Jesus' transfiguration (Matt 17:4). This disciple also refused to have his feet washed by Jesus (John 13:8) and impulsively cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest (John 18:10). And yet in Matthew 26:33-35, Peter promised his undying love and devotion to Jesus.

·       Note Jesus’ reaction to Peter's failure in Luke 22:54-62 and record your thoughts below.

                                                                                                         

                                                                                                         

·       How did Jesus prioritize His time after the resurrection according to John 21:7-14?

                                                                                                          

                                                                                                          

Jesus was about to launch the New Testament church, entrusting the work to 11 untrained men. Peter especially needed a lecture after what he had done – denying three times that he even knew Jesus – and yet the Lord used this time, instead, to slow down and share a meal. This signifies what is most important to Jesus – that we would come to Him in spite of our failures and share time, to fellowship with Him and build a relationship. That is the whole reason Jesus came – to restore the relationship God the Father once had with His children in the Garden of Eden. Therefore, Jesus finished out His time on earth by building relationships. I wish I could report that this relationship with Jesus ended Peter's foolishness, causing the emergence of Peter, "the Rock" unshakable, but it didn’t.

·       Although Peter was used in many mighty ways in the New Testament church, even bringing the first Gentiles into the fold (Acts 10:34), read how he behaves in Galatians 2:11-14 and describe it below.

                                                                                                              

                                                                                                              

                                                                                                               

Peter's inconsistency encourages me because it teaches me that no matter how many times I blow it, Jesus is not waiting for me with a lecture, but a meal. Even now He is preparing a feast (Rev. 19:19) This is God's father-heart for each one of us. He calls us to a relationship with Him.

·       Look at your calendar – is it full of things you are doing for Him? Realizing that it is more important to God that you spend time with Him than do things for Him, what things do you want to change in your daily routine?

                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                                  

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I like you! (Week 4, Day 2)

I love each of my kids dearly, but some days I have  to confess that I don't like them. This happens whenever I concentrate on their flaws or bad attitudes. Sometimes I wonder whether God feels the same way about me. In fact, a few weeks ago I outright asked Him, "Do you like me?"

·       Listen to His answer as you read Song of Solomon 4: 7, 9 and write about it below.

                                                                                                            

                                                                                                            

                                                                                                            

God the Father sees us as holy, pure, and blameless because He has given us the righteousness of Christ. He not only loves us, but He actually likes us and wants to be with us. The Father enjoys us even in our weakness. He is not gritting His teeth and enduring us. A few weeks ago you read Luke 15:11-32, concentrating on our sense of belonging.

·       Read Luke 15:20-24 again, looking at how the Father feels about us while we are dirty with sin. Write your thoughts below.

                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                

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God rejoices while He walks with us on our path to recovery. Seeing our repentance and sincere desire to obey Him, He enjoys us even before we have victory in an area of failure in our lives.  This gives us the confidence to run to the Father, rather than away from Him when confronted with our weakness. 

I am with you! (Week 4, Day 1)

"Mama, will you help me find the potty?"

Did my youngest daughter really have trouble finding the bathroom in our own home? Of course not! She just did not want to be alone in a place she considered scary. Having someone with her made all the difference for Mercy.

In the same way, we want to know that God our Father is present during the scary times in our lives.

·       How did the awareness of God's presence make a difference for King David as recorded in Psalm 23:4 and Psalm 16:8?

                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                                 

·       God is always present. How did God show His presence in a more tangible way according to Matthew 1:23?

                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                  

·       What is the promise Jesus made before He ascended into heaven (Matthew 28:20b)?

                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                  

God's presence comforts us in the moments when we are scared and overwhelmed, but most of our lives are consumed with mundane chores. We do laundry, wipe snotty noses, prepare food – and tomorrow we get up and do it all over again. Knowing that God is with us, even in the mundane, enables us to see the daily work He has set before us as good, worthwhile and glorifying to Him. It can turn a chore into a worship experience.

·       Take five sticky notes and write "God is with me!" on them. Now post them in areas where they are most visible while you are doing your chores. Enjoy His presence today!

·       How did the awareness of God’s presence make a difference in your day? Write your observations or prayer below.

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The Blessing of Presence (Week 4 Intro)

"Making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth." (Eph. 1:9-10)

God wants to be with us and make His presence known. Therefore hear God's blessings over you this week as He says, "I am with you! I like you! I want a relationship with you! I trust you with my deep thoughts! Your thoughts are important to me!"

I would do anything for you! (Week 3, Day 5)

Hanna, my 4-year-old, attempts to turn any creature into a pet. Today, stooping down protectively over a glass jar containing a ladybug, Hanna taught her 2-year-old sister, Mercy, how to take good care of her very own insect: "It needs to sleep now," she explained knowingly, covering the jar with a dish towel and cooing Brahms' lullaby.

The world abounds with pets in the eyes of my kids. Last Sunday my children decided that crawfish make perfect pets. Scooping them skillfully out of a local creek they gathered 23 of those wet, creeping, nipping crustaceans. Kate, our favorite neighbor girl, felt so lucky to get to take them all home. Unlike me, her amazing mom allows a multitude of pets.

Another fine pet is the cockroach, at least according to Hanna, who cried bitterly when I squished her potential pet during our last summer vacation. "I just wanted to love it and take care of it," she mourned.

What is it that gives kids such a strong desire to have animals of their own? Genesis 1:26 clues us in to Hanna's desires and feelings: "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion... over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.'"
Looking at Hanna helps me better understand what God is like because God created her in His image, after His likeness. One major way she reflects His image is by having dominion over every creeping thing. While I always associated dominion with domination, ruling over someone to the advantage of the ruler, Hanna's desire to make a cockroach feel loved and secure makes the true meaning of dominion come to life. This, in turn, reveals God's heart towards us.

In our sin, we are as unappealing to God as a cockroach, yet He chooses to stoop down to provide for and protect us. Unlike Hanna with her ladybug, He knows exactly what we need – to know Him, to walk with Him and to trust Him for our every need. This has only been made possible through His forgiveness of our sins by the sacrifice of His only son, Jesus. His level of provision goes beyond my ability to comprehend.

This fresh understanding of dominion through the eyes of a little girl gives me such comfort as it shows that God’s rule is to our benefit and that His love is completely unconditional. Therefore we can rejoice that "his dominion is an everlasting dominion" (Dan. 4:34).

·       Read  John 15:13, John 3:16 and write a prayer of thankfulness below:

                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                  

Good job, well done! (Week 3, Day 4)

In today's society, it is often believed that we need to redeem our vices by our virtues – if we just do enough good, it will cancel out the bad. But if our virtuous acts are seen as a means for nullifying sin and securing a place in heaven they are no longer virtues but acts of selfishness. Even if it is just praise we long for, the best of our deeds are no longer pure. If I am completely honest with myself, I know I am a glory hog.  And I don't think I am alone in this. What I mean is, I enjoy words of praise when others see my kind deeds. It feels good to receive recognition from people for an accomplishment.

·       What does Isaiah 64:6 tell us about the things we are proud of and would expect to be commended for?

                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                

We have learned that our vices can only be redeemed by our Lord Jesus Christ. The same holds true for our virtues. By imputing Christ's righteousness on us, God the Father looks at our good deeds as if they were done in complete selflessness, with no ulterior motives and not coupled with pride.

·       How did the Master perceive the servants' efforts in Matthew 25:21?

                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                                 

Hear you heavenly Father speak these words over you.

You are allowed to make mistakes (Week 3, Day 3)

Visiting state parks is a huge treat for my kids. There is so much to discover. The biggest attraction at one of the parks in our area is the huge number of frogs. Even my 3-year-old, Mercy, managed to catch several on our last outing. But she proudly held her treasures a bit too tightly. Big sister reported the tragedy to me. Desiring to comfort Mercy and teach her how to hold frogs more gently, I started walking towards my youngest girl. Sadly, when she saw me approaching, Mercy ran away with her hands covering her ears. At first I was puzzled to see her flee; then I realized that this is exactly how I respond to God when I feel the pangs of guilt. I run away from Him, my source of comfort, too ashamed about what I have done. Watching my daughter vividly portray a picture of my reaction to my Heavenly Father birthed a desire in me to learn to run to Him, not away from Him.

God the Father is neither harsh nor overbearing. Hear his heart toward you in the following Bible verse: "I led them with cords of kindness, with the band of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke of their jaw, and bent down to them and fed them.” (Hosea 11:4)

It would never enter a loving father's mind to explode in anger when his child makes a common mistake; neither would he harshly criticize his toddler for falling while learning to walk. He encourages him to get up and try again. In the same way, your Heavenly Father is cheering from the sidelines, speaking encouragement.

·       Look up John 3:17. What does it tell you about God the Father?

                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                    

Knowing that the Father loves us in the midst of our failures prevents us from getting on the emotional rollercoaster of, "He loves me, He loves me not." We can run to Him, no matter what.

I do not hold anything against you! (Week 3, Day 2)

"I have shot Christians at their baptism. I have done a lot of things that I am ashamed to admit. I try to do a lot of good things, but I am just not sure whether they outweigh the bad." Mohammed, affectionately known by my family as Uncle Mogli, grew up in rural Egypt. Having suffered under the stigma of being a member of the only family in town who had been abandoned by their father, Mogli was easily lured into an Islamic terrorist group. Here he enjoyed the respect and camaraderie he had had longed for. But these glory days were short lived, as Mogli ended up being arrested and sent to prison, which gave him ample time to re-evaluate his life. Truly regretting his terrorist actions, Mohammed fled the country to start over. But the past would not let go of him. Sitting in our living room with my husband, J., Mogli began pouring out his heart. "How can I ever do enough good to still make it to heaven?" he lamented.

"You never will, and you don’t have to," J. explained. "Jesus did it instead of you. When He died on the cross, He took the punishment for all you have done. When you accept what Christ has done for you, God looks at you as if you had lived a perfect life. The Bible says, 'He remembers your sin no more' (Heb. 8:12). Through Christ we have forgiveness. You can receive His forgiveness today by confessing your sins and accepting that Jesus has paid the price for you. You can come before the Father without shame, knowing that when you confessed your sins, they were taken away. Whenever he looks on us He sees the righteousness of Christ.”                                                                 

"I love that Jesus!" Mohammed shouted.

I love that Jesus, too!

·       Read 1 John 1:8-9. What is God revealing to you?

                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                           

Would you like to know the Father's forgiveness? You can receive it today by praying, "Father, I know that I can never be good enough. I am a sinner and deserve Your wrath. Thank you for sending Jesus to die in my place. I accept His sacrifice for me, setting me free from the debt I owe and clothing me with His righteousness. Please be the Lord of my life."

·       Tell your small group leader or a friend if you have made this commitment.

Ideally the blessing of forgiveness and every other blessing would come both from our earthly father and from our Father in heaven, but some of us will never receive the desired blessing from our father. This is one of the deepest wounds a child can suffer. It is natural to feel anger and resentment for what should have been, but a heart that is hard toward an earthly father makes it nearly impossible to receive a blessing from God the Father. Forgiveness is the spiritual atmosphere He wants you to live in. Stewing in resentment means remaining in the paralyzing grip of shame and regret. "The choice to remain in unforgiveness is a choice by which we are separating ourselves from the merciful love of the Father. In doing so, we are choosing to remain orphans." (Abba's Heart by Neal Lozano, Baker Publishing Group, 2010, pg. 171)

·       Why is God asking you to forgive in Matthew 6:14-15? 

                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                        

Forgiveness is an act of the will, not a feeling, trusting in God to change our hearts. Continue to forgive until you are sincerely able to ask God to bless your father. It is possible. I know, because God is doing this in me.

·       Be specific when you speak out forgiveness. Rather than saying, "I forgive my father," say, "I forgive my father for his harshness" …or "I forgive my father for abandoning me," etc. This helps you release and forgive each offense. It might be helpful to do this in writing below:

                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                        

Having taken this step of forgiveness does not necessitate that you put yourself in a situation where further abuse is possible. Maintaining boundaries is important to prevent further abuse. Forgiving our Mothers and Fathers by Fields and Hubbard provides much helpful advice.