God’s Word: Our Secret Weapon

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish 

all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation 

and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:16-17

We end the week looking at the shield, the helmet, and the sword. As I’ve studied this passage, I see that every piece of the armor connects to the belt of truth: God’s word.

The shield of faith. Romans 10:17 says faith comes from hearing the word of Christ. Since Christians already have faith, how is the shield different? I better understood this analogy when I learned that Paul wrote to the Christians in Ephesus, who were surrounded by other religions contradicting the Christian faith. Paul wrote to encourage them to not mix their faith with that of their neighbors. A good reminder for us today.

The helmet of salvation. I thought of this simply as salvation from sin. However, Paul writes this to Christians who would already have this. So they wouldn’t need to put on their salvation. This could be the confidence of our salvation as in Thessalonians 5:8. And how do we get confidence? By knowing the God’s word!

The sword of the Spirit. Hebrews 4:12 tells us the word of God is sharper than any sword. Jesus quoted scripture when Satan tempted him in the wilderness. A perfect picture of resisting the devil and causing him to flee. James 4:7

Entire books have been written on the armor of God. So there’s a lot more to learn. I highly recommend Victory in Spiritual Warfare by Tony Evans or Priscilla Shirer’s Bible study, The Armor of God.

Lord, help me to spend time in Your word. Give me wisdom to understand scripture, and help me to apply it.

Stacy

Getting Dressed for War: The Breastplate and Shoes

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

Ephesians 6:14-15

Today, we’re still talking about the armor of God — specifically the breastplate of righteousness and the gospel of peace.

So how do we put on the breastplate?
Righteousness is a gift, nothing we can do or earn. Through our relationship with Jesus, we have peace with God. Romans 3:22

If we already have righteousness, why and how do we put it on?
I like how The Voice translation puts Romans 6:16.
     What will be your master? Will it be sin—which will lead to certain death—or obedience—        which will lead to a right and reconciled life?
God gives righteousness to us when we become a Christian. But that’s just the beginning.

We grow in righteousness by obeying God’s Word. That’s how we put on righteousness: to obey!

I found the feet phrase the most difficult. I mean, how do you fit your feet with readiness? What does readiness even mean? So I went to The International Children’s Bible that put like this: on your feet, wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong.
The Good News is Jesus saves us from our sin, so we can live forever with Him. He brought peace between humans and God. This truth helps us stand firm. We also use our feet to go and share this news with others. (See 2 Corinthians 5:8.)

We wear the Good News on our feet to help us stand firm. Roman soldiers wore cleat-like boots in battle for stability. Our peace with God through Jesus keeps us rooted during the trials of this life.

Lord, help me to live according to your Word and stand firm in your peace.

Stacy

Two Truths and A Lie

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, 

with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

Ephesians 6:14

Have you ever played the game, Two Truths and A Lie?

It’s a fun activity at parties or even a Sunday School class. Each person in the group takes a turn to tell three “facts” about themselves. Two of the facts are true. One is a lie. The others try to guess which one is the lie.

While this is a fun party game, it’s not so fun in real life.

And it’s one of Satan’s best strategies.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 says Satan seeks to distort truth. In The Message translation, Eugene Peterson puts it like this: We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God.

In Genesis 3, Satan’s version of Two Truths and A Lie went like this:

You won’t die.
Your eyes will be opened.
You will be like God, knowing good and evil.

Unlike the party game, Satan’s version is more lie than truth.

You probably know what happened next. Adam and Eve realized they were naked. Their eyes were opened, and they felt shame. While they didn’t physically die immediately, the process started. They had some qualities like God, but they certainly weren’t equal to God like Satan had made it sound.

If Satan can convince us to believe distorted truth, we can never win the spiritual battles he throws at us.

Sadly, that’s becoming more commonplace even in the Christian community.

When you seek truth, remember these things:

1. Jesus Christ Himself is truth. John 14:6-7
2. God defines truth, which includes his original intent. Titus 1:2
3. God’s Word is truth. John 17:17
4. Our feelings, thoughts, experiences or emotions do not define truth. 

Lord, help me to see your truth and your original intent. Help me not to fall into Satan’s lies.

Stacy

People are Not Our Biggest Problem

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 6:12

This week, I’m sharing my journey through Ephesians 6:10-17 with you. Today, we’re only looking at verse 12.

Have I mentioned that I can’t read long passages without my eyes glazing over?

In fact, many times my eyes have glazed right over on just this one verse.

For instance, did you know that our struggle isn’t against people?

Shazam!

People are not our problem.
That could be a shocker right there. I know most of the time, I think people ARE my problem.

But no, the Bible says our struggle isn’t with humans.

Instead, our struggle is against the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil.

Stick with me here. I know it sounds like a sci-fi flick. We’re not talking Darth Vader here. But I will say, it sounds similar. We are in our own war with evil.

So who are the spiritual forces of evil and the powers of this dark world?

Satan and the angels that follow him, better known as demons.

Our real problem: Satan and demons.
But we often don’t recognize the dark side of evil — because it imitates the light.

2 Corinthians 11:14 — Satan can transform himself into an angel of light.

I Peter 5:8 — The devil prowls around to devour you.

John 8:44 — Satan is the father of lies.

Let’s be clear that if you are a Christian, Satan does not have the final authority in your life. (If you don’t know if you are a Christian, go here.)

However, even as Christians, we can let Satan deceive us and make us miserable.

Lord, open my eyes to the devil’s schemes in my life. Help me put on the armor and stand strong.

Stacy

Day 1: What I Learned from My Eighth Grader

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take 

your stand against the devil’s schemes

Ephesians 6:11 

I’ve read this passage in Ephesians 6 since childhood. So as adult, it seemed so familiar that I would skim over it.

Then my eighth grader came home with a project: how do you practically put on the armor of God? And he started asking me questions.

Yes, I said eighth grade. We are grateful to have him at a Christian school with a really good Bible teacher.

My middle schooler spread out several Bible commentaries on the couch. We looked at them together. We searched the web for sermons on the topic. And we both learned.

I realized how much I didn’t know. So I started studying this with a friend even after my son finished his project.

One of the first things I learned is that God doesn’t put on the armor for us. The instructions are for us to put on the armor. And not just a part of it. But the full armor.

We must put on the armor.
The reason? To stand against the devil’s schemes. Obviously, this means the devil is scheming against me … and you.

The devil wages war against us. 

Well, that brings up another question. Do we have any idea what schemes the devil uses?

Learn the devil’s tactics.

See what I mean. This is just one verse. But there’s a lot packed in there. And we really need to go back to Genesis to see the devil’s first attack on Eve.

I think this is what Proverbs 2:4 means when it says to search for wisdom like you would hidden treasure. It’s not enough to skim or lightly read the scripture. We must dig and search to find the true meaning.

Lord, create a desire in me to search the scripture and find your treasures.
Stacy

Rahab the Harlot and Easter Faith: Day 5

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 

This is what the ancients were commended for.

Hebrews 11:1

Every day you will meet two kinds of people. Scripture calls the first kind the “natural man,” the second, the “spiritual man.” At first, you may not be able to tell much difference. Both work hard, love their families and enjoy being with their friends. But the natural person has no interest in spiritual things; to him they are foolishness (1Cor. 2:14). Their hope is the cross-your-fingers, hold-a-positive-thought kind and their faith is confidence that events will ultimately take a good turn. Eternity, let alone, eternal things are simply not part of life’s equation.

The second, the spiritual person, somehow discerns that actions and choices have consequences beyond what can be seen; that there is a dimension to life that is greater than our understanding and beyond our control. And, in a way that is a mystery to some and foolishness to others, the spiritual person has placed their ultimate trust in that reality. Rahab said it well: …for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below (Joshua 2:11).

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and sin entered the world, there were terrible consequences that we live with today. One of them was the separation of the temporal and the eternal. Before the Fall, Adam and Eve—for how long a period of time we don’t know—walked with God in unbroken friendship. The eternal and unseen Creator enjoyed perfect fellowship with His creation. (I think it was the highlight of everybody’s day.)

Although sin has broken that perfect bond, it is still what God desires. In Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, we were given the power to turn from the old ways of the natural man to a new way of life in which we learn to keep step with the Spirit of God. Like Rahab, we will have surprises, challenges and a learning curve that will likely not smooth out this side of heaven.

When God’s true promises and good ways--set against the backdrop, not of a few years, but of all eternity—become the bedrock on which we build our hope and our faith. Then we can begin to learn what it really means to rest, to trust, to pray and to hope in God.

Nancy Shirah

Rahab the Harlot and Easter Faith: Day 4

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.

Eph. 3:20

We gravitate to “happily ever after/riding off into the sunset” stories, don’t we? Rahab has a new home and a new life and we are satisfied that her tale has been told. That is, I think, because our fallen nature renders us incapable of comprehending eternal things.

For God, however, there is only one happy ending, and it will be at the end of the age when time is swallowed up into eternity. His plan for us does not necessarily end when our life is over or our problem has seemingly been solved.

First, Scripture tells us that Rahab married Salmon, a prince of Israel who, some believe, was one of the two spies that she saved (how romantic). They had a son named Boaz who became the husband of Ruth. These facts are found in the lineage of Jesus Christ in the Book of Matthew. Absent from the same history are the names of generations of godly, but anonymous Hebrew women. Rahab is one of only three women honored by being included by name in Christ’s genealogy.

Secondly, her story was celebrated in faith’s hall of fame in Hebrews 11.

By faith, the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient (Hebrews 11:31).

And, finally, the apostle James, writing around A.D. 45, (about 1355 years post-Jericho) says:

You see, that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? (James 2:24-25).

Easter faith holds fast when plans fail, dreams die and we can see no resolution in our lifetime. But Easter faith is not a faith that thinks of God as “good” only when He follows orders because the goodness of our God is the kind that will last for all eternity.

Nancy Shirah

Rahab the Harlot and Easter Faith: Day 3

For I know the plans I have for you…to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

Everybody in Jericho had heard about the miracles of Israel’s unstoppable God, and a good percentage of those who heard likely believed that the events had really happened. But, so far as we know, in all of Jericho, only Rahab acted on that belief.

Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you (Joshua 2:12).

At its foundation, Easter faith is an unshakable belief that God is both ultimate power and ultimate goodness. In some unfathomable way, Rahab, knew this. Therefore, she was willing to stake not only her welfare, but that of her family on a God she had only heard about.

… Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will save us from death (Joshua 2:13).

The spies instructed her to gather her family together in her home and tie a scarlet cord to her window as a sign to the invading Israelite army that they were to spare all in the home. And it was so.

…but Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho… (Joshua 6: 24-25).

That is another quality of Easter faith: it is a single-minded journey. The spies, the fall of Jericho, the hair-raising escape—this was not just a fascinating tale that Rahab re-counted to friends on winter nights, sitting around the campfire in some near-by, Canaanite-friendly town. While there is no record of what happened to her family after their escape from Jericho, for Rahab it was the beginning of a new way of a new life. A way of life that must have had a pretty steep learning curve for one from a spectacularly pagan culture.

But above all else, Rahab desired to know and serve a great God who parted the Red Sea, brought down mighty armies and found a forever home for a former prostitute.

… and she lives among the Israelites to this day (Joshua 6:25),

Nancy Shirah

Rahab the Harlot and Easter Faith: Day 2

…for it is with your heart that you believe and our justified.

Romans 10:10

I would imagine the spies hiding under the smelly bundles of flax on Rahab’s roof, were not resting easily at this point. Though they had been given a surprising reprieve, they were battle-hardened soldiers—probably some of Joshua’s best—and they knew that where real peoples’ lives are at stake for disobeying their real and barbarous king, such mercies as the kind Rahab had shown to them were few and far between.

But, before the spies went to sleep for the night, Rahab came to them in their rooftop hide and explained why she was protecting them.

I know that the Lord has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites, east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below (Joshua 2:8-11).

Think of this: Israel, the chosen people, had been eyewitnesses to forty years of miracles and mercies from God. Yet, even as they prepared to enter the promised land, many carried with them the wood and stone idols of Egypt—grotesque little figures that had bumped around for 40 years in a hidden corner of a saddlebag—as back-up. Just in case Jehovah wasn’t up to the job (Joshua 24:14).

What is faith? For many it is the emotional back-up plan to be called upon when events have gotten out-of-control, for some it is a body of knowledge that informs their religious understanding. But for only a few it is the organizing principle of their lives. That is Easter faith. The faith of a pagan woman who had only heard rumors about a miracle-working God and who chose to risk her life on that possibility.

Nancy Shirah

Rahab the Harlot and Easter Faith: Day 1

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed.

John 20:29

Before we begin Rahab’s story, we need to do some housekeeping. Rahab was not the woman at the well, or one of the women at the cross or the woman at the tomb. Rahab’s story has its beginning in the book of Joshua, specifically at the time of the fall of Jericho in 1400 BC.

Remember that God’s plan A (His plan is always “A”) was to bring Israel out of Egypt and lead them into the land He had promised to them. But their rebellion had resulted in 40 years of discipline in the desert. When the generation of rebellion had died off and a new generation under Joshua came into power, Israel was allowed to go forward into the land they had been promised, a land now inhabited by the Canaanites.

Jericho, one of the great Canaanite cities, was central to Joshua’s battle plan. He sent two spies into the city to surveil the opposition. All of Jericho knew they were coming and everyone, from the king on down, was on the look-out for any suspicious strangers. Shortly after arriving in Jericho the two spies, likely aware that all eyes were on them, sought lodging and cover at the home of a prostitute whose name was Rahab.

In short order there was a knock on Rahab’s door and soldiers of the king demanded that she send the spies out. To this Rahab replied, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, the men left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof) (Joshua 4-6).

By my count, Rahab has told at least four lies in the above passage. That has been deeply disturbing to some people who worry about her example for believers. But, the lies she told made it harder, not easier for her situation. And in choosing to lie to save two strangers she was placing a noose around her own neck. Why would a sinful woman in a pagan culture choose to risk her life for two strangers whose mission—if successful—would destroy her country?

Nancy Shirah

Easter Candy

My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves. 

Hebrews 12:6

The annual Easter egg hunt for our seven young grandchildren had just ended. In the kitchen I was busy preparing our big, midday meal.

I heard the click-click-click of high heels crossing the floor and looked up to see my daughter-in-law. She paused beside me at the kitchen counter and said, “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I need a wooden spoon or something like it.”

I was pretty sure I knew what was on her mind.  I suspected she was looking for an instrument of correction for their four year-old.

A few minutes earlier she had told him it was too near lunchtime to eat any more candy. However, she’d just found him hiding from her with a telltale chocolate smear on his mouth. Now he was going to experience the consequences.

My grandson’s mother and father love him a lot! That’s why they bother to correct his behavior. Our heavenly Father disciplines us for the same reason.

The scripture tells us, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves.”  (Hebrews 12:6)

Just like my grandson, we sometimes make bad choices to satisfy our appetites. When we do, God works in our lives to correct us. His discipline is a good thing.

It’s a sign of His love.

Father, we’re awed by the many ways You demonstrate Your love for each of us.

Carol

The Transformation

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6

Several years ago my cousin and his wife bought a fifty-year-old ranch style home. In spite of its dated interior, they loved the house and envisioned what it could become.

So, they got to work tearing down walls, replacing floors, and renovating everything. Eventually they transformed that house into a reflection of their taste and style.

God transforms us in much the same way. In spite of how messed up we are to begin with, He loves us and envisions what we can become. As soon as we belong to Him, He gets to work making us over into a reflection of Himself.

The apostle Paul wrote, …he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion… (Philippians 1:6). I believe God did that in Paul’s life. The good work began, strangely enough, when Paul was on road trip to arrest Christian believers. Along the way, he met Jesus. From that beginning, God began to transform Paul: the Christ-hater eventually became one who was totally devoted to the Savior.

I wasn’t exactly a Christ-hater when I met Jesus, but I was disgustingly full of myself. I needed a makeover. When I gave Christ ownership of my life, He began making me over to reflect Him.

Just like that house my cousin made over, I can’t take any credit for my transformation. God alone had the vision and the power to make the changes.

Happily, we believers can look forward God continuing to work on us and in us everyday.

Transformation is a never ending process and a great adventure.

Father, thank You for Your promise to complete a good work in us.

Carol

The Cavern

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; 
but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)

One summer our family toured Luray Cavern. Our guided tour took us deeper and deeper into the earth. As we walked the well-lit path, our leader pointed out the natural wonders on all sides. 

When we reached a level spot, he stopped beside a power switch and said, “Now I’m going to turn off the lights so you can experience absolute darkness.” As he hit the switch, the deepest black I’d ever known settled around me. Sheer terror began to suffocate me.

Just when I felt I couldn’t endure another second there, I recalled a scripture I’d memorized. A still, small voice seemed to remind me, God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV). 

I realized then that the overwhelming fear that gripped me wasn’t from God, and He didn’t want it to control me. In fact, he had something to give me in its place.

 As I asked Him to take away the spirit of fear, it immediately vanished. A feeling of peace swept over me, and my panic was gone. In short, I was fine.

Ever since then when fear attacks, I focus on 2 Timothy 1:7. Fear may nip at my heels, but I don’t have to let it overwhelm me.

God is so good. He doesn’t want us crippled by a spirit of fear. He wants us to overcome that feeling through His gift of power, love, and a sound mind.

Father, thank you for being with me when I am afraid.

Carol

The Ultimate Restoration

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Cor.15:55-56

When Paul and I got married, the first furniture we bought was for our bedroom. It was solid wood and well made. However, over the years, the finish wore away.

When it began to look shabby, my husband decided to refinish it. I must say he did a great job. He restored it to look as good as new.

That furniture reminds me that our God is also in the restoration business. In fact, he is the ultimate restorer. His creation is case in point.

Adam and Eve lived in a perfect world without sin or death. That changed when they listened to Satan, doubted God, and rebelled. Ever since, the world and humanity have been flawed by the consequences.

If you are like me, you have felt the tug of the sin nature many times this week. However, the Bible assures us one day God will restore creation to its original pre-sin, pre-death condition.

1 Cor.15:55-56 says, The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Thanks be, indeed. One day we will be sin free.

That is the ultimate restoration.

Thank you, Father, for creating, redeeming, and restoring us.

Carol 

Good Times and Bad

 A friend loves at all times…

Proverbs 17:7

Sometimes God brings special people into our lives. For me, Brenda was one of those people.

I met Brenda at church. We were young, stay-at-home wives and mothers with much in common. We both taught Sunday school and sang in the choir.

Both of us also struggled to balance caring for our families with participating in ministries and finding time for ourselves. We swapped recipes, alerted each other to good sales, and exchanged babysitting.

Although we had a lot in common, that wasn’t what made Brenda so special. She was special because she loved me in good times and in bad, a Proverbs 17:17 friend.

I remember the day when my life hit a rough spot. I turned up on Brenda’s doorstep, uninvited and unannounced. She dropped what she was doing and welcomed me inside. 

After she’d listened to what was bothering me, we knelt and prayed. She didn’t presume to tell me what to do. She wanted me to let God be my guide.

During that difficult time, I went to Brenda’s whenever I needed encouragement. We were on our knees a lot. Eventually, my life smoothed out.     

That was years ago and miles away. Nevertheless, I often remember the wonderful gift of Brenda’s friendship. I thank God whenever I think of her.

 I hope I too can be a friend who loves at all times.

 Father, help us demonstrate Proverbs 17:17.

Carol 

When God Is Silent

How long, LORD, must I call for help, but You do not listen?

Habakkuk 1:2

There’s an old saying that originated in America around 1910. “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” It’s commonly understood to mean that the loudest noise gets the attention.

My boss employs the “squeaky wheel” concept. He rarely heeds an employee’s concerns unless they emphatically and repeatedly voice their needs.

I’m quiet by nature. I’ve wondered whether or not it’s biblical to keep asking for the same thing. Luke 18:1 introduces Jesus’ parable of the persistent widow. Jesus used her repeated complaint before a judge as an example for the disciples to continue praying and not give up.

I determined to persevere in prayer on behalf of my young children. I prayed for over twenty years for them to be allowed to experience the nurturing presence of a daddy. The first ten years was after my husband and I divorced and we were separated by thousands of miles. The next ten years followed his untimely death. During those decades, there was no clear answer from God.

In spite of knowing that God is Father to the fatherless, my heart wanted more. My faith waivered and I took matters into my own hands several times. Foolishness prevailed while attempting to fix what I determined was a problem, which only complicated things. As my son and daughter grew older my prayers were altered to include an adult mentor or friend. Still no answer.

My children are adults now and on their own. One morning, a few years ago, I stood at my bathroom vanity getting ready for work. In the midst of my thoughts, God spoke gently, yet clearly to my heart, “Stop asking for a father for your children. Trust me.” The silence was broken, but the message stung and caught me off-guard. Gradually, acceptance came and I chose to embrace God’s perfect way.

Lord, I thank You for allowing me to be persistent in prayer, even when You are silent. By faith, may I wait patiently for You to accomplish all that concerns me and my loved ones.

Karen Sims

Afraid To Ask

Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 

Matthew 7:9-11

Part of connecting with God in prayer is asking Him for needs we have. Children know how to ask their parents for their needs, and trust them to respond accordingly.

Not all children. Many grow up in families without open communication. I grew up in a traditional Czechoslovakian home in the United States. Typically, bohemian fathers are authoritarian, rather than authoritative. Punishment is the norm in lieu of discipline for training purposes. Children are to be seen and not heard and to speak only when first spoken to. (Visit http://www.everyculture.com/Cr-Ga/Czech-Republic.html for additional insight into Czech family culture.)

Since talking was discouraged, I naturally didn’t ask my parents for things—not for new clothes, necessities, and certainly not for spending money. My heritage is rich, yet I was afraid to ask for anything, legitimate or not. My heart pounded and my palms sweat in dreadful anticipation of asking to go next door to play with my girlfriend. I usually didn’t ask. Fear ruled.

Learning to ask God anything has been a difficult and humbling process for me. God, as our heavenly Father, desires that we, as His beloved children, make requests of Him. The word “ask” as quoted in the above Scripture is distinguished from other instances. Here it suggests the humble petition of one in a lesser position than he to whom the petition is made. To ask in this manner delights God and encourages our dependency on Him.  God’s nurturing love encompasses more than generous gifts and actions. His love exudes passion and compassion for us.

Gracious heavenly Father, You want me to come to You with every need. Thank You for hearing my heart. You are a loving and giving Father who listens.

Karen Sims

If I'm a Princess, Then Where is My Castle?

--the joy of the LORD is your strength—

Nehemiah 8:10

Castles are fascinating. They are icons of majestic beauty and intrigue.   

Some very interesting facts about castles were gleaned while studying this concept of joy and strength being joined together. Strength in Nehemiah 8:10 is the Hebrew word for “a fortified place, “fort” or “fortress”, “rock”, “a most stronghold”, a “defense”, and comes from another word which means to prevail and be strong. Strength used here is not God’s ability given to me, it is a place, and God is that place. Strength is a noun, as in stronghold or fortress. A stronghold is that in which a person trusts (good or bad). A stronghold is a refuge, to be too strong for, to protect, to be kept safe, to lift high (out of the pit). When I joy in Him, He becomes my place of refuge and protection. What a comfort! Why would I ever want to leave my castle? To do so, leaves me fearful and vulnerable to attack.

Joy is the “how” that God is my Refuge, High Place, and Strong Tower. Joy is not meant to be kept inside. Joy is how I can laugh at my silly mistakes or at a good wholesome joke. Joy is dancing in my heart in God’s Presence. Joy is how I can lift my head high in the midst of oppression from persecutors of my faith. Joy is how I can face the pressures and uncertainties of this life with a radiant countenance. It is OK to smile and praise and laugh in the safety of my castle.

Lord, how can this be? I don’t want to pretend joy and I don’t want these descriptions of You to just be words on a page. May I believe Your Word in my heart. You have given me the answer in the word “joy.”  Joy is the pinnacle of my faith. As I call out to You my faith is activated. When I walk out Truth in my daily activities, I will experience You in joy as a discipline I choose daily and even moment by moment. When I choose to praise You in the storm, no matter what, I will be filled with joy—my strength!

Karen Sims

The Fragrance of Forgiveness

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. 

Ephesians 4:32

Some things like fresh herbs and garlic cloves only release their potent essence when crushed. The sweet fragrance of forgiveness has been powerful when I’ve been crushed. There have many opportunities for me to learn the process of forgiveness, when it seemed utterly impossible to even consider doing so.

“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.” - Mark Twain

Can you recall the last time you were crushed by someone’s harsh words or by someone’s betrayal, physical abuse, or even by silent neglect? Offenses that call for forgiveness, but so much easier said than done, right?

One of the first things that started my emotional healing process as an adult, was learning to understand what real forgiveness is, how to give it and how to receive it. Part of my recovery was to identify those in my life who needed my forgiveness and then choose, in spite of every feeling not to, to release each person from the right I believed was mine to punish them.

The sweet fragrance of forgiveness in my life has been evident in these ways:

• Becoming more of a victor than a victim
• Learning to trust God enough to allow Him to have His way with the person who has hurt me
• Growing in being able to receive God’s forgiveness
• Purposing to forgive myself for the wrongs I’ve committed, believing that if I don’t, I’m saying that Jesus died in vain
• Praying for the good of a dear friend who abandoned me during a time of great need

Lord, I admit I have been very slow to forgive those who have hurt me deeply. Even when I don’t feel like it may I choose by an act of my will to let go of my legitimate right to have my offenders punished. I want to be set free from the prison of unforgiveness.

Karen Sims

Simple Trust

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”

Romans 8:15

Two year-old L.J. caught a glimpse of her favorite ball through the darkness enveloping the backyard. It was against the back fence beckoning her, but the darkness held her back. Almost instinctively, her toddling feet moved magnetically to the main man in her life. Yanking on his pant leg and looking up into his face she cried, “Daddy, scary, dark. Get ball, peeze,” pointing to the ball. “Ok, sweetie.” He stepped of the deck on his way, but then felt a tiny hand reaching for his, which he grasped, and they journeyed together on a joint mission to rescue the ball. Just a moment later, they were back on the deck, smiles visibly illuminated by the porch lights, all fear forgotten.

That scene is forever framed and etched into my heart. Could I possibly dare to be that dependent and trusting of another person? Or, for that matter, of God, who longs to hear me cry out, “Abba! (Daddy) Father!”

Oh, the security we have in our heavenly Father. If only we will. If only we will call out for help and walk in trust towards the One who is able and willing to walk into the darkness on our behalf, and who will also hold our hand and walk with us through the fear. He could do it all for us, but how He loves for us to go with Him!

Thank you, my sweet and precious granddaughter, for showing me, teaching me and touching my fearful heart to trust.

Thank You, my heavenly Father, for being my Daddy, to whom I can cry out to, turn to, run to, and walk with hand-in-hand anytime I choose! Father, is this how I keep coming to You in child-like faith? Not in childishness, but as Your child in uncomplicated and simple trust in You? Lord, thank You for forgiving me when I don’t bring my fears to You that results in remaining alone and fearful in darkness.

Karen Sims