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Deep Waters

She stands at the edge of the pool – at the deep end.

Her mom is waiting with open arms for her daughter to jump in, but the little girl hesitates. One moment ready to jump into the deep water, the next stepping back in fear.

In the shallow end, where her feet touch the bottom, she swims for hours. She jumps in without hesitation. She can float on her back with ease. Using her arms and legs, she propels her body from one side of the pool to the other. But now she is at the deep end where the water is over her head, where she can’t touch the bottom.

At the edge of the pool she has a choice to make – a choice of trust.

Will she trust her mother’s arms will keep her safe in the deep water?

Will she trust what she has learned to do in the shallow end, that she will be able to do in the deep water?

It may not be at the deep end of a pool, but we too can find ourselves facing the same choice of trust when God wants us to go deeper. When He wants us to take that next step in our spiritual journey, to move beyond where we have become comfortable, to step out in faith into a new area of service or ministry. To swim in waters that are over our heads where our feet can’t touch the bottom.

Can we trust God to be with us in the deep?

Can we trust what God has already taught us to be part of His plan to take us deeper?

Can we trust that God’s will is better than what we “will,” even when our present isn’t leading us to the future we expected?

In the book of Hebrews, we read about believers who were content to stay in the shallow end – to remain spiritual “babies” at a time when they should have been spiritually mature.

“By this time you ought to be teachers yourselves, yet here I find you need someone to sit down with you and go over the basics on God again, starting from square one—baby’s milk, when you should have been on solid food long ago! Milk is for beginners, inexperienced in God’s ways; solid food is for the mature, . . ” Heb. 5:12-14 MSG

Our relationship with God must not remain static. Our faith must continue to grow and mature, which will require us to make the choice of trust and jump into deep waters.

Instead of fearing the deep, we need to embrace the challenges of the deep.

Instead of flailing in fear and panic, we need to rest in His promise to never leave or forsake us.

He arms are ready to catch us. He will keep our heads above the water. He will help us “swim” in the deep waters. We just need to trust God and jump!

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Aside published on June 15, 2015 |

Thorns

Jesus performed yet another miracle. A man who could not speak was healed.

The crowd was amazed.

Yet some among them began to question the source of Jesus’ power. Others demanded he perform yet another miracle. As Jesus addressed their skepticism, countering their unbelief with great insight and wisdom, a woman in the crowd interrupted the debate. While there were those in the crowd who were more concerned about how this man was healed, questioning the source of Jesus’ spiritual authority, this woman stayed focused on the miracle itself.

A man who had suffered, who was unable to speak, was miraculously healed! The man who couldn’t speak a word could now praise the Lord with his own voice.

So with her voice, she shouted out to Jesus,

“Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”                        (Luke 11:27 NIV)

Then Jesus immediately replied with these amazing words,

“But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” (Luke 11:28 NLT)

With this simple statement we see how important it is to the Lord that we put into practice His Word.  He bestows great blessing upon those who are not just “hearers” of God’s Word but are “doers” of it.  How imperative it is not just to say we are a Christian, but to be a Christian. For the truths of the Scriptures to become our way of life. To live our faith!

And that is not always easy. Why? Because of the thorns.

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Aside published on May 31, 2015 |

The Miracle of Forgiveness

His third denial had barely tumbled out of his mouth, when the cock crowed. And the realization, that he had just done what he never believed he could have done, crushed his soul. In despair and full of condemnation Peter fled. He had abandoned the man he believed was the Messiah, the man who had prophetically declared that Peter would be the “rock” upon which the Lord would build His Church.

Surely these denials would disqualify Peter from being that “rock.” But this is where the miracle of forgiveness reveals once again the great mercy and love of the Lord.

Before the resurrected Jesus ascended into heaven, he had an intimate conversation with Peter. He asked Peter one question three times:

“Peter, do you love me?”

With each of affirmative answer, Jesus gave Peter these three charges:

“Feed my lambs!”

“Take care of my sheep!”

“Feed my sheep!”  (John 21)

Jesus had the perfect opportunity to condemn Peter for his denials. Perhaps even to say, “I told you so.” But instead of condemning Peter, he countered those three denials with three charges, reinstating Peter’s divine purpose to be the “rock” upon which the Lord would build His Church. In that moment, Peter experienced the miracle of Lord’s forgiveness – forgiveness without condemnation, forgiveness that restored and resurrected the Lord’s divine purpose for his life.

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Aside published on May 18, 2015 |

Faith Takes Hold

His son was near death. All advantages of being an official in the royal court proved useless – none of the medical wizards of the day had a cure, no medicine had been successful. This father was frantic and without hope, until he heard that Jesus, the Rabbi who had performed miracles in Jerusalem, was now in Cana near his home in Capernaum.

Without hesitation he rushed to Cana. Upon finding Jesus, this official implored Jesus to come to his home and heal his son.

But Jesus didn’t go with the man. Instead he gave this father these words of instruction:

“Go home, your son will live” (John 4:49)

And this is what we read in the very next verse:

“When he heard the voice of Jesus, faith took hold of him and he turned to go home.” (John 4:50 The Voice)

He heard the voice of Jesus and

faith took hold of him.

His was not mental assent faith; it was active faith – he turned and went home knowing his son was healed.  Because he listened to words Jesus spoke, faith rose up in this man, and he went home.

He heard, he believed, he acted.

We may wonder how incredible it would be to hear the audible voice of Jesus speaking miracles into our lives. Yet we are not left with a voiceless Lord. We may not hear him with our natural ears, but He still speaks.

We can hear His voice in a message our pastor preaches. We can hear His voice as we read a verse, a parable, or a story in the Scriptures. We can hear His voice as we pray – as He inspires a nugget of truth that speaks to our need.

The Lord still speaks. And when we listen to what He speaks, faith takes hold in us- faith that inspires obedient action.

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(Note for those reading “A Hand On My Shoulder” this truth is clearly exemplified in the life of M.D. Beall. In Chapters 4-7, just posted, you can read about two pivotal moments where she hears the voice of the Lord, faith takes hold and she responds with obedience.)

Aside published on May 4, 2015 | | 1 Response

A Hand On My Shoulder

In 1920, a young woman was at a crossroad in her life. She needed to make a decision, a decision that would determine the course of her life.

One evening she had been invited to a friend’s house for dinner. While sitting in the living room, she noticed a book on the end table. Because she had a passion for reading, her curiosity was piqued. She picked up the book and randomly opened it. As she started to read what was on the page, her heart leapt within her. There on the page of this book she had never read before was the answer to her dilemma.

The woman was Myrtle Dorthea Beall. The book she had opened was the Bible. That verse of scripture gave her the wisdom she needed, and that night she made her decision. And, it was that decision which led her to a journey of faith where she wholehearted embraced the Call to be a devoted follower of Jesus. But what is truly amazing about her choice to embrace His Call is that it inspired countless others to do the same.

In 1934 she would open a Sunday school for children that led to founding a mega church called Bethesda Missionary Temple. But what was remarkable at the time wasn’t just that thousands of people attended a church pastored by a woman, what was truly remarkable, what is noteworthy, was the reason the people came. In the late 1940’s, Bethesda became the epicenter for what would be called a “Latter Rain Revival.” People came to hear a powerful, inspired “word” that transformed their lives. People were healed, delivered from addictions, and discovered the will of God for their lives.

In the 1950’s, with the guidance of Jo Burbank, Myrtle’s memoir was printed as a series of articles for a monthly church publication. However, these articles had never been edited and published as a complete work. For several years her daughter, Patricia Beall Gruits, had encouraged me to take on this project. And so, this past fall I set aside time to edit the articles and knit them together as a complete story.

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Aside published on April 20, 2015 | | 8 Responses

An Ugly Day

It was an ugly day, the day that Jesus was crucified.

The false accusations, a contrived conviction – ugly.

His body brutally beaten, writhing in pain – ugly.

His back torn to shredded strands of flesh by the ruthless flogging of heartless Praetorian guards– ugly.

A crown of thorns driven into his scalp, hand-hewn nails driven through the bones of his hands and feet, triggering excruciating pain from pierced nerves and torn flesh – ugly.

Roman guards gambling over his clothes while his mother looked on in grief – ugly.

Mocking words, scornful taunts hurled at Jesus by people who had come to gawk as he hung on that cross– ugly.

The scornful glee of the religious leaders who thought their plan to silence Jesus had succeeded– ugly.

Everything about this crucifixion made this Friday an ugly day. A day that hatred nailed Jesus to the Cross. A day that the ugliness of humanity was fully exposed.

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Yes, Friday was ugly, but then came Sunday! From the ugliness of Friday came the amazing grace of redemption. Who on that Friday could have imagined that out of Friday’s ugliness would rise the beauty of our salvation.

So at this Easter season, let us with fresh appreciation thank our Lord Jesus for the miracle of salvation that was birthed on that ugly day  – the day of His great suffering.

Aside published on April 6, 2015 | | 1 Response

Needle and Thread

We don’t know a lot about her life.

We do know she lived in Joppa. But was she married? Did she have children? How had she become a Christian? Was it a message that one of the apostles had preached that touched her heart or was it a testimony of neighbor or friend? There are so many details we don’t know about the life of a woman named Dorcas.

But in a matter of a few verses of scripture, Dorcas is memorialized as a woman who genuinely lived her faith.

“She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor.”         Acts 9:36

 She took her needle and thread and sewed beautiful garments and robes for the widows of Joppa. (summarized vs. 39)

Dorcas took what she knew how to do, took what talent she had, and ministered to those in need. And those good works were not a vain attempt by Dorcas to earn her salvation. No, she was motivated to do these good works by a genuine desire to express her love for the Lord and her faith in Him. They were the outward manifestation of her faith in the One who had done the great “work” of salvation for her – an expression of God’s immeasurable love.

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Aside published on March 23, 2015 | | 4 Responses

“But I Can!”

Israel had become an impoverished land. Its people were at the mercy of Midianites who showed them no mercy. The Midianites invaded their land, camped in their fields, and destroyed their crops. The Israelites lived in fear with many resorting to hiding in the safety of mountain clefts and caves.

One day, hiding from the Midianites, Gideon is threshing wheat in the bottom of a winepress when the Angel of the Lord appears, greeting Gideon with this salutation:

“God is with you, O mighty warrior!” (Judges 6:11)

Gideon – a mighty warrior? Really? In the bottom of a winepress, hiding from the Midianites, Gideon feels like anything but a mighty warrior. So his reaction is genuine:

“Me, my master? How and with what could I ever save Israel? Look at me. My clan’s the weakest in Manasseh and I’m the runt of the litter.” (Judges 6:15 MSG)

Gideon’s response can be summed up with two words: “I can’t.”

But God trumped Gideon’s “I can’t” with His “But I can!”

“I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.” (Judges 6:16 NIV)

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Aside published on March 4, 2015 | | 3 Responses

Words that Remain

In the previous post, we looked at the tragedy of the Pharisees. They rejected the teachings of Jesus; they opposed his preaching – because there was no room in their lives for his words. There was no room for his words to transform their lives.

So it is not by happenstance that on the night before Jesus was crucified, as he gathered his disciples together, he once again stressed the importance embracing his words – taking them to heart.

If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7 (AMP)   Your abundant growth and your faithfulness as My followers will bring glory to the Father. (John 15:8 Voice)

 Jesus didn’t want his disciples to just make room in their hearts for his words of instruction and wisdom, he wanted those words to remain and live in them. His words of teaching and preaching were not to fade or lie dormant in their hearts. He wanted his words to produce abundant spiritual growth and increased faithfulness. He wanted his words to bear the fruit of empowered, transformed lives that would bring glory to the Lord.

And what was true for these First Century disciples remains true for we who are his 21st Century disciples. When we hear our pastor preach a word that stirs our heart or as we read the Bible and a scripture jumps off the page with meaning, let us with great intention cultivate that word in our hearts. Let us allow that word to remain and live in our hearts transforming our lives – producing abundant spiritual growth and increased faithfulness. It is not enough to just “make room.” His words must remain and continually live in our hearts, producing changed lives that bring glory to God the Father.

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Aside published on February 16, 2015 | | 2 Responses

No Room

Although the Christmas season is past and the business of the New Year is in full swing, I find myself still pondering the amazing journey of the Wise Men. Of late I have wondered:

How many others saw that bright star in the heavens yet missed its importance?

How many enjoyed the splendor of the stars in the night sky but weren’t compelled by that one brilliant star to embark on a journey to worship a special king?

Perhaps they saw the star with their eyes, but their hearts and minds were full of other concerns – full of their own agendas, their own priorities, and they missed the king.

Thirty years later, there were men who heard this king teach, saw him perform miracles and declare words of wisdom and salvation. Yet, they never recognized him as king. They were never compelled to offer unto him precious gifts of gold, myrrh and frankincense. These men were Pharisees, the leading religious leaders of the day. No matter how often they heard Jesus teach or how many miracles they saw him perform, they did not believe he was God’s promised king. They had memorized the prophecies of Isaiah and Micah, proclaiming the details of this coming eternal king. But when he entered their lives, they rejected him.

How could they not believe? How could they not see what others did see? How could they not understand what so many others understood?

Jesus gives us the answer. In response to the Pharisees’ rejection, Jesus said,

“ . . . you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. (John 8:37)

They had no room.

They had no room in their hearts to receive the words that revealed who Jesus truly was. Their hearts were full of their own agendas, full of their own desire to keep the status quo, full of their intent to hold onto their religious power.

That was the tragedy of the Pharisees. They had no room in their hearts to receive the One who would have transformed their lives.

Oh Lord, let there always be abundant room in my heart for your word and for your presence. May I never become so busy or my life so cluttered with my own agenda and priorities, that there is no room for You to move fully and freely in my life.   Amen. 

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Aside published on February 2, 2015 | | 2 Responses