1+1=1?

I've always loved math. I think because no matter how complicated it becomes it's black and white. There's always a solution even if the solution is, "the limit does not exist." Word problems are always fun because before you can answer the problem, you have to understand what the question really is. And I love words as much as I love numbers.

There's a math problem in the Bible that's stumped me for a long time. "Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh" (Genesis 2:24).

Math is full of absolutes. One of the first things we learn after learning to count is basic addition. 1 + 1 = 2. But that's not what God does he takes 2 and makes it 1. The only way in our human understanding to do this is by subtraction, but that doesn't make sense. So we decide ok we'll add, but we're not really adding 1 and 1, we'll take one half, if we add 1/2 + 1/2 that equals 1. We even tell people that our significant other is our better half. But then that still doesn't make sense, because if I'm only half, then I'm really never whole. Which means I could only ever be whole if I was in a relationship. But even though Tom Cruise told Rene Zellweger, that "you complete me," anyone who has been in a relationship knows how inaccurate this statement really is. No matter how wonderful the person is, they can never fill the void that only being half a person leaves. So where does that leave us? How does this work?

Can I tell you the answer was in the previous text. Let me show you. Genesis 1:28 says, "God blessed them, and God said unto them be fruitful and multiply..."

Our God is a God of multiplication! If you don't believe me just look at what God says to Eve after she sins in the garden. "Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception" (3:16, emphasis added). He told them to multiply and then when they disobeyed, His punishment was to multiply her sorrow. God didn't just add to her sorrow he multiplied it! Wow!

Now that we know we're supposed to multiply instead of add, let's see if the math works: 1 × 1 = 1. It does!

Unfortunately, this is not very exciting news, because unfortunately we've been lied to. We've been told we're half. We're half of a whole. So let's do God's math with half: 1/2 × 1/2 = 1/4. What? How can that be? 1/4 is even less than 1/2.

When we get into relationships expecting the other person to complete us what's going to happen is you're going to end up less than you even started with. The other person was never designed to complete you and you were never designed to complete someone else. So instead of adding to each other you really end up taking from each other and making each other less than you were before. How many broken relationships came from the lie that someone else was to complete you? And instead of learning from this, we repeat the insanity. Thinking, they must not have been the right person. 

The truth is you both must be whole first. If you're not whole then you'll always be lacking you'll always be looking for someone to do something they were not designed to do.

Let me clarify, there's a difference between whole and flawless. We will never be flawless. We will screw up. We will fail. We will stumble and make mistakes. But the difference is a whole person is able to admit this, while an unwhole person will attempt to hide their flaws, screw ups, and mistakes. A whole person knows who they are and is comfortable with who they are. They understand their flaws don't define them.

So then what do we do? How do we become this whole person? The first step is knowing you'll never be complete in yourself. What? How does this work then if I'm supposed to be whole, but you're telling me I'll never be complete in myself? That void you feel, that thing you think you lack. That space you've been expecting someone to fill can only be filled by God. He will complete you. You need only ask. He can make you whole. He can bring healing to the deepest depths of your soul. The place you're afraid for anyone else to see, because you think they'll take off running if they only knew. Yield those places to God and He will complete you. He'll make you the whole person you were designed to be. When God began the multiplication process he did it pre-sin. When Adam and Eve were whole, which means the only way we can be whole is to return to the One that first created us.

Next you need to know who you are. Loving and accepting that person as is. Not that we don't work on the areas that are rough, but admitting they're there and being ok with being a work in progress.

Finally, you need to know who you are in God. You need to know who He says you are. You need to speak this truth over yourself until it becomes the very core of your being. At this point you'll be able to walk in confidence, not because of yourself, but because of the loving arms of the Father that has made you and called you His own.

Until you are whole or at least in the process of being made whole in Christ, you will never find your relationships to be the rewarding experience God created them to be. You'll always find yourself less than you were before, because the only way the math works is if you take 1 × 1.

"Who are you?"

Luke 24:13-32 - That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing him. 
He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?” 
They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.” 
 “What things?” Jesus asked. “The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago. Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.”
Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?”
Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!
They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?”

There are so many interesting things about these scriptures, but the thing that intrigues me the most is where it says, "God kept them from recognizing him" (24:16)

Why? Why would He do this? Why would God not reveal himself to them. They were sad and upset over Jesus's crucifixion and here he is risen from the dead; and yet, God keeps them from recognizing him. This doesn't make sense. It almost seems like a cruel joke.

Have you ever walked through a season in life and wondered God where are you? Those seasons are usually pretty dark and it's not until you've made it through that you realize, like these travelers to Emmaus, that God was really with you the whole time. But why would God do that? Why during the darkest days of your life would God hide himself in plain sight from you? This doesn't seem like the loving trustworthy God he's supposed to be; but can I say, the opposite is actually true. God hiding himself from you for a season is the very essence of a loving God. Let me show you.

Jesus asked them, "what are you discussing so intently?" They were incredulous that he didn't know about the crucifixion of Jesus. But their answer to his question, reveals the answer to ours: why would God purposely hide from us? They said, "We had hoped he was the Messiah."

We know that the Messiah came to save us from our sins first and will be coming back again. But these are Jews, their understanding of the Messiah was that he would come as the conquering king. They were looking for a temporary deliverer from their current oppressors. They had a limited perception of who the Messiah was. I believe this is why God kept them from seeing Jesus right in front of them, because look at what happens next... "Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets explaining from all the Scriptures the things about himself" (24:27).

They had a limited idea of who Jesus was and if their eyes hadn't been purposely blinded to Him, he wouldn't have had an opportunity to reveal himself in a deeper way to them.

Think about a dark season in your life, could it be that you had a limited view of who God was and He wanted to give you a greater revelation of who He is. You've always known the verse that says, "By his stripes we are healed." But it wasn't until you walked through the season of cancer that God revealed himself as the Healer.

You know verses about God restoring the years the cankerworm have destroyed; but  not until, He walked you through the season of teenage rebellion, was he able to reveal Himself to you as Restorer.

Could it be that God is walking you through a dark season in your life, where you're not even sure He's there, because He wants to give you a deeper revelation of Himself? Isn't that exactly what a loving God would do? It seems counterintuitive to us. We think why can't he just tell us who He is. If He was a loving God why would He let me go through this. But the problem is we're just like those travelers on the road to Emmaus, we sometimes have a distorted view of who God is; and it isn't until we walk through these seasons that we can get the deeper revelation of who God is.

Once we've made it through the season, we, like the travelers, understand that God really was with us the whole time. We didn't see Him as we walked through it, but when we came to the end we see, Wow God you really were there. Wow God you really are ______________. Fill in the blank of how God has revealed himself to you. Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Healer, Deliverer, Restorer, Refuge, Provider... Messiah.

It's hard to see anything past the pain and confusion of a dark season, but in the end, if you allow yourself to walk through it and not get stuck in it, I'm sure you will see that God really was with you the whole time, and that you now have a more intimate understanding of who God really is.

Where's God Now?

We have many cliches in Christianity that are not always biblical. The sad part is that we attempt to comfort each other with these untruths.

One of these cliches is,  “God is always on time.” Can I be real? The reality is he's not always on time. Sometimes Jesus doesn't come on time. Sometimes he delays and is late. Sometimes bad things happen and we're left wondering “God where are you?”

John 11 gives an account of Jesus, purposely being late. We know this account very well, but let's pretend for a moment that we don't know the end of the story, because when we're walking through these trials, we don't know the ending. We're unsure of if God is really going to do anything.

Lazarus is sick; and so, Mary and Martha send for Jesus. Vs. 5-6 say, “although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus he stayed where he was for the next two days.” Jesus purposely delayed. Jesus chose not to show up.

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus had walked with Jesus. They'd heard his teachings and seen him perform countless miracles. They knew Jesus. They weren't just “religious” people, they had a relationship with Jesus. He'd eaten in their home and talked with them. He was their friend.  Jesus loved them. And yet, he didn't show up.

I can imagine Martha pacing the house, doing as much for her brother as she knew how; cleaning, cooking him soup, feeding him broth, possibly sending for the doctor when Jesus doesn't show up right away. I see Mary comforting both Martha and Lazarus, “as soon as Jesus gets here everything will be ok. He's coming.” They waited. They prayed, “God, please send Jesus quickly.” And then it happened, Lazarus died.

But we don't need to lose hope yet, they encouraged themselves, don't you remember that little girl, the centurion’s daughter, she died as Jesus was on the way and then he healed her. So let's just wait a little longer. He's got to show up. If he'd do that for them, he has to show up for us, we know him. He's our friend. Still Jesus doesn't come.

The funeral procession has got to get underway, we can't wait any longer. But there's still hope, don't you remember that little boy, they told themselves, he was all the mother had and as they were going to bury him, Jesus showed up. He healed that boy. There's still hope. There's still time.

Can't you see Mary and Martha anxiously looking around as they walk to the tomb? Where's Jesus? He has to be coming. We sent for him. He wasn't that far away. He'll be here. And still he doesn't come.

The body's placed in the tomb. It's anointed with oils and spices. They delay rolling the stone in front of the tomb just a little longer. The people are beginning to complain, we can't wait any longer. The stone seals the tomb. It seals their fate. Lazarus is dead. Jesus didn't show up. There's no hope.

That's when the shock, mourning, and depression set in. The unbelief at the situation. The anger. Jesus hadn't shown up. Why? We called for him. We've walked with him. He did it for others. Why? Why didn't he do it for us? I thought he loved us. I thought he cared. He did it for those people, where was he for us?

That's when the overwhelming darkness covers you like a blanket. All hope is gone. The “comforters” come. God has a plan. It was his time. God needed him in heaven… on and on they quote empty religious cliches hoping to comfort, but nothing can make it through the blanket of utter depression that has settled around you.

Whether facing the death of a loved one or a dream, the intensity of the emotions is the same when God doesn't show up. When Jesus purposely delays. You want to yell out to God, but you're numb. You're angry, but you don't want to admit it because we're not supposed to be angry with God. God is perfect and is in control. And so we stuff these emotions because we have to be strong. We say the right words so everyone thinks we're ok with what God's doing, but the reality is that we don't understand it. We're hurt that Jesus didn't show up.

And then he comes. And we run out to meet him and we say as both Mary and Martha did, “If you'd only shown up this wouldn't have happened.” Can you hear the accusation in their voices? God where were you? You've done it for other people why not for me? Haven't I walked with you? Haven't I communed with you? I thought you loved me. I thought I mattered to you.

God where were you when my marriage fell apart? Where were you when my child was diagnosed with cancer? Where were you when this happened? Where were you? Because if… if you'd shown up, if you really loved me, if you really cared, this wouldn't have happened.

I'm living in this moment. As my son turns 2 years old, it's hard for me to look at him and not think, God where are you?

This past year has been a difficult one for me. Just over a year ago our pediatrician recommended Josiah get evaluated by early intervention because he wasn't hitting his developmental milestones. At nearly a year old he wasn't sitting up by himself, he was inconsistent in rolling over, and on the list went. And in the matter of weeks it went from they all do things in their own time to “this isn't normal.”

So a month before his 1st birthday Josiah was evaluated and it was recommended he begin physical therapy because he lacked muscle tone. They also recommended we see a developmental pediatrician just to make sure it was just low tone. We were told it usually takes 4 months to be able to get in to see a developmental pediatrician, but we were able to get in in 6 weeks.

Two weeks after Josiah's first birthday we sat in the doctor's office for over an hour listening to all the ways that Josiah was delayed. It was overwhelming. It went from just being a little behind because of low muscle tone to very delayed in some areas testing at a 3-4 month old level. And then they suggested he see a neurologist.

Our pediatrician had been telling us since Jo was 6 months that his head was measuring small, but made it seem like it was no big deal and that we'd just keep an eye on it. Because he seemed to minimize it and we were dealing with more pressing matters like another bout of bronchitis, I didn't think anything of it.

So the developmental pediatrician recommended we see a neurologist, just to make sure that there was nothing going on in his brain to cause him to have a small head. We were told the neurologist would probably schedule an MRI and possibly some bloodwork. His appointment was made for the middle January days before baby number 2 was due. Winston and I agreed that no matter what we'd keep the appointment even if he had to take him himself. Thankfully we both were able to be there and as we were told he scheduled an MRI and bloodwork.

Willow was 2 weeks old when I watched my one year old be put under anesthesia for his MRI. We were told that the doctor would call us with the results, if there was anything to tell us, otherwise we would follow-up with the neurologist in 3 months. I remember telling my parents when they'd ask me if I'd heard anything, “I'm not expecting a call. They're only supposed to call if they find something.”

On Valentine's Day, just over a week later, the phone rang. The call I wasn't expecting came. We were told that Josiah's MRI didn't come back the way they were expecting. We were asked to come in two days later to discuss the results with the neurologist. He explained to us that Josiah's brain didn't develop the way it should have. Then he explained that he'd never seen anything like this before. He had no answers for us. He didn't know what it would mean for him or for us. He had no diagnosis for his condition because he couldn't even find research on the issue.

“When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in the grave for four days” (verse 17). Four days of hopelessness. Four days of grief. Four days of wondering why. Why hadn't Jesus shown up?

Have you ever felt that utter helplessness? Ever struggled with knowing God could, but wondering if God would? You know the scriptures that speak to your situation; whether it be restoration, or healing, or deliverance. You quote them to yourself trying to encourage yourself in the Lord. Yet deep in the depths of your soul you wonder “God where are you now?”

But just as the story didn't end there for Mary and Martha and Lazarus, it won't end there for you either. Even in the hopelessness, even in the darkness, even when it stinks all it takes is one word from the Savior to change the whole situation around. So wherever you're at in the process know that you are loved and God is on the way. His promises are sure!

God hasn't called into my situation, “Lazarus, come forth” ~ yet! But I know He will! I know our miracle is on the way. And whether that's an instantaneous miracle, or a miracle that takes walking through a process of little miracles, I'm going to trust my God to come through! I'm going to trust that God who hears my prayers and answers the cries of my heart has not abandoned me. He has not forgotten me. And although right now it looks like He's late, it looks like He's forgotten, it looks like He's made a mistake, I'm going to trust and believe that He's going to show up in my situation and He's going to speak and when He does... all I'll be able to say is “Wow God!”

Sacrifices of Praise

"Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name." ~ Hebrews 13:15

I think we often confuse praise and worship. Because we lump them together in our services they can often become confused and seen as the same thing. But praise and worship are two different things. And we are expected to bring both to God.The psalms are filled with David exhorting us to "Praise the Lord."

The definition of praise is to offer grateful homage to God as in words or song.

The definition of worship although similar is also vastly different: reverent honor or homage paid to God.

Why then is it a "sacrifice of praise" and not a sacrifice of worship? Because it's hard to be grateful when you're in the prison cell. It's not easy to offer grateful homage to God when you're bound in chains; and yet, this is exactly what we're called to do. We're called to offer "a continual sacrifice of praise." Praise to God is what's going to break the chains in your life. We need to have a spirit of rejoicing in every circumstance in our life. But so many times, we have a hum drum attitude; and even though, we know God can, we don't believe he will. So we offer him our worship because that's what we're supposed to do, but we withhold our praise because praise is difficult. Praise requires us to rejoice about being in chains. It requires us to rejoice when we'd rather crawl up in a ball and die.

In the book of Acts, Paul and Silas were thrust into the inner prison after being beaten. Yet the Bible says that "at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God" (16:25). I don't know about you, but after I've been beaten and thrown into prison I don't really feel like rejoicing and being grateful. And although I've never literally gone through this, life can often make us feel like we've been beat up and thrown into prison. So what do we do in those circumstances? Do we cry and accept our circumstances? Or do we rejoice in who God is? Paul and Silas chose to show gratitude to God in spite of their circumstances and what happened? "Suddenly there was an earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bands were loosed" (emphasis added, 16:26). Praise is an attitude of gratefulness to God despite your circumstances. Praise is what breaks chains and opens prison doors.

So many of us are bound and God is saying praise me in the circumstances. "Rejoice evermore" (1 Thessalonians 5:16). Praise allows us to enter God's throne room boldly. It allows us to rise up past our circumstances, past the things we see around us, and show our gratitude to God. It's easy to praise when we're on the mountain top. It's easy to praise when everything is going right. It's a lot harder to praise when we are in the inner prison cell and bound in chains.

We must have an attitude of gratitude. When I think of true gratitude, I think of a child. If a child comes to you and barely whispers thank you, refuses to look you in the eye, and walks away with shoulders slumped, do you really believe they're grateful for what you've done for them? How does their attitude make you feel? On the other hand, if a child comes to you with excitement, eyes alight with pleasure, and thanks you for what you've done barely able to contain themselves, do you believe they're grateful? How does that make you feel?

The Bible tells us that we are to be as little children. Our praise to God should be that as of a little child. We should be excited in our gratitude. We need to shout for joy. And sometimes that's hard. And yet, that's exactly what we need to do.

Has life beaten you up? Thrown you in prison? Are you bound by depression? Oppression? Sin? Then it's time to bring the sacrifice of praise. Lift up your voice in gratitude for all the things God has done, and is going to do. Shout. Dance. Sing. Give God the praise.

What am I lacking?

Have you ever felt that you weren't good enough? Ever wondered is this enough? Am I doing enough? Is it enough to do all the right things? Is being good enough? Ever felt that there was something missing?  That even though you have everything you should there's an emptiness, a longing, a desire for something more? What am I lacking?

As I contemplated this, I thought of the story of the Rich Young Ruler. The story of the Rich Young Ruler is told in three out of four accounts of the gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke all retell the story. After reading the three accounts something struck me... I'd like to go through the account in Matthew which is just a little different than the other two accounts.

"And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he (Jesus) said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He said unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt not murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?" (Matthew 19:16-20).

The Rich Young Ruler asked Jesus a question - "What good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" Jesus answered the question by saying keep these commandments. Yet the Rich Young Ruler knew, he knew that wasn't good enough, because if it were then he could've walked away confident that he would inherit eternal life. He would have been justified in his belief that everything he'd done up until that point was enough. Instead he asked, what else do I lack? Deep down the Rich Young Ruler knew there was something lacking in his life. That there must be something more than just doing the right thing.

We too innately know that being good enough, doing the right thing, being a moral person isn't good enough. Yet we continue on this path. If I can just stack up enough brownie points, then I'll be set. I'll get into heaven. I know what you're thinking, I'm a Christian. I already know that I can't earn my way into heaven, but it's through believing on Jesus. Great! But don't stop listening yet, the stories not over.

"Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven" (19:21-23).

The Rich Young Ruler had the right religious title. He was a Jew. He believed in God and had kept the commandments. He had done everything right; and yet, he was lacking. We too can have the right religious title - Christian; do all the right things; and still, be lacking.

A lot of times when we read this passage we get caught up in the fact that the Rich Young Ruler was rich. We read it and think, well I don't have that problem. I'm not rich. We feel confident that we're safe because we're a Christian, we've already chosen to follow Jesus. We're safe.

But the reality is we are rich and we don't even know it. I asked the question at the very beginning do you ever feel that there's something more? Something you're missing? Let me answer that - there is. There is more. Jesus is calling to you, he's saying, "Give this up and come follow me." Only you can answer what the "this" is.

Unfortunately, this is not an easy topic nor is it one that we often hear in our American Christianity. We twist parts of God's Word to make it easy for us to continue living the way we want to live and doing just enough that we feel confident that we're still going to heaven. We talk ourselves out of doing what Jesus asks of us by saying things like, "I just can't believe Jesus would ask me to leave my family, work, home, etc." Or "If He really wanted me to do it, then I wouldn't feel anxious or nervous, I would be at perfect peace."

If you don't think God would ask you to give something up, or to leave your family, or to do something extreme... then you're not understanding the Bible you claim to be reading.

I want to flip over to Mark's account for a moment. "Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee." (10:28, emphasis added).

From reading scriptures we know that when Jesus called Peter to follow him, he left his career, his wife, and possibly a family. And Peter isn't the only one. Abraham left family. Moses left family, position, comfort. Every person God called in all of scripture was asked to give up something, to lay down something, to do God's will. How then can we say, "I just don't think God would ask that of me."

I'm sorry, but I believe the scriptures you say you believe say, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever."

If he's the same, then his call to follow is the same, which means you're going to have to give up something or everything! God's desire for you isn't to be a good person. To do all the right things. There isn't enough good things including ministry that can fulfill the requirement for you to inherit eternal life. The Rich Young Ruler knew this and deep down we know it too.

Last week I heard in church that true freedom is only found in Christ, because God always gives you a choice. The Rich Young Ruler was given a choice, "go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." I bet you're thinking where's the choice? The choice is to obey or not to. God didn't take everything from him and make the Rich Young Ruler follow him. He gave him the option. He opened the door and said, "Will you walk through? Will you follow me?"

We too have the option. We can choose to do the scary things, the things we don't think God would actually ask of us, because we've justified it away in our Christianese. Or we can choose to continue living and doing what we've always done.

Before you decide let me remind you of Jesus' response to Peter, "Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time ... and in the world to come eternal life" (Mark 10:29-30).

So as you look at the things God is asking you to give up, realize that he offers you this promise, I will give you more than I ever ask you to give up. I've seen this in my life. Look around you, you have too. I have more brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers than I know what to do with. It's called a church family for a reason. When God asks you to give something up he always provides other ways to fill the holes that are left.

"But it's not the same..." We pout. It's not the same as my blood family, my siblings, my parents, my children... Maybe God is trying to increase you in ways that you can't understand, yet. Take a minute to stop listening to all of the arguments for why God wouldn't and consider for a moment that he's saying give this up and follow me?

What are you going to do?

Guarded Hearts

Before posting what you're about to read I want you to know, I talked with my husband and got his permission.

I'm newly married and I'm proud to say that my husband was the only man I've ever seen naked. I've babysat for many years and have changed many diapers. Some boys were circumcised and some were not. So it took me a little while before I connected the dots. Just a few weeks ago I asked my husband, rather bashfully, if he was circumcised. I explained to him, unnecessarily, that I'd never seen a man's private part before, and basically babbled on like a fool while he smiled at me amused. When I finally shut up he said that he wasn't circumcised. This led to the conversation about our coming baby.

It's a BOY!!

So I asked him about circumcising our lil' man. We discussed it and came up with our decision. And because the importance of what I'm writing has nothing to do with the argument pro/con circumcision, I'm not going to tell you what we decided.

What I want to share with you is what came from this conversation with my husband. I was laying in bed and a thought hit me. What was God's point in circumcision? What was He trying to say? So I began to pray. I'm going to share with you what I feel God was saying.

A man's most precious possession is his reproductive organ, his penis. God required Abraham to remove the protective covering from this organ, because God wanted to be his covering, his protection. God wanted Abraham to know that He was going to take care of him down to his very core.

The purpose of the foreskin is to protect the penis from fecal matter and other foreign bodies that could cause infection or harm. And circumcision was God's way of saying, "I'm all you need. I will protect you. I will bless you. I will provide for you. Trust me." God was not only setting His people apart, He was making a covenant with them to be there all in all.
Why is this message so important? Circumcision was done under the law and like most traditions after so many years of just doing it because that's what we're supposed to do we lose the meaning of it. We lose the importance. We do things just because, instead of really understanding what God is trying to say to us.

God knew His people were going to miss the meaning of circumcision. He knew they were going to disobey Him. He knew that they were going to walk away from Him, while performing all the necessary religious acts; and so, in Deuteronomy 30 God says after you fall away and I scatter you among the earth, then I'll call you back to myself, I'll bring you back to my promises, "and God will circumcise your hearts."

This is what God wants to do in us today. Romans 2:28-29 says, "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not on the letter, whose praise is not from men but from God."

Allow me to make this more personal... You are not a Christian because you wear a cross, carry a Bible, attend church services, and perform all the necessary religious acts. You are a Christian if you're heart is completely surrendered to God. If your most prized possession is laid bare before Him.

God is asking us to circumcise our hearts. Remove the protective covering from around your heart and trust God in a brand-new way.

We've been hurt by people and circumstances. We've decided that nothing in this life is certain, that bad things happen to good people, and the only person that can protect me is me. I'm going to be in control of my life and my destiny. I'm going to protect myself, my family, my future. And so we've built up a thick skin around our hearts and lives to protect ourselves.

And now God is whispering to you, "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Will you trust me? Will you allow Me to guide your steps and direct your future? Will you remove the protective covering from around your heart?"
Religious people don't change the world. Just like the Jews lost the meaning of circumcision, we've lost the meaning of giving our hearts to Christ. And so like the Jews, the world is turned off of God because of us. "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you" (Romans 2:24). Because we perform acts of religious service, but keep our hearts guarded, no one hears our message and they are turned off from God because of us.

God says, "Trust me. Let me be your all in all." Take down the protective covering around your heart today. Allow God to bring healing, deliverance, restoration. Allow God to guide your future. Trust Him to provide for your needs. Allow Him to make you a living testimony.

The life God called Abraham to and the life He's calling you to is not easy. It takes work. It doesn't happen by sitting back and waiting on God to do something. He's already done it. You need to get up and do something. And the first step...

Circumcise your heart.

Just Live With It

As I was in church this Sunday, a thought hit me one that hasn't left me all week, so I must do what I must do... Write!

I was standing in church during the worship service, trying not to be sick. I promise our worship team is great, so it wasn't them making me sick. This pregnancy has been a little rough. Morning sickness doesn't even describe the nearly constant feeling of motion sickness that I describe it as. I had taken the last dose of medicine Friday night, and so Sunday, I was feeling a little queasy. Towards the end of the worship service, my pastor got up and said if anyone has a need, come up front and we'll pray for you. I was back and forth about going up because, hey this is just normal. It's just my life right now. It's just something that I need to live with.

As I thought these thoughts I glanced around the sanctuary and thought, "Hmm... I wonder how many other people in here need prayer, but figure, 'this is just my life, I just need to live with it.' And didn't go up for prayer." Honestly, I've never been afraid to ask God for the little things. Whether, I needed help on a test, or had an ache, or just wanted it to rain that day. He doesn't always answer with a yes. But, I've never been afraid to ask. A lot of people think, I don't want to bug God with the little stuff. Well can I say, if you don't trust God with the little stuff how will you ever trust God with the BIG stuff? I'm not judging, just asking.

I thought about Paul and his thorn in the flesh. I think some of us have thorns, that God didn't intend for us to keep. Paul went to God three times praying that God would take it away, but God said, "my grace is sufficient for thee." Here's my question, have you asked God to take away your problem, or are you figuring that it's just something you need to live with? Paul didn't just put up with it because it was there, but he went to God on different occasions asking for relief, and not until God said that He was enough for Paul, did Paul stop asking and just live with it.

What are you living with that God doesn't intend for you to live with? What area is too small that you're not willing to take it to God, because you don't want to bother Him? The Bible says, "Come to me all you that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." A lot of times it's not the big stuff that weighs us down, but all the little things. All the minor things that we don't want to bother anyone with. God is asking you to come to Him. Come lay those things down. Come share those burdens. Find relief at the altar.

What are you living with because you've stopped asking God about it because He hasn't answered you yet? Paul asked until he got his answer. Jesus tells of an old woman that kept banging on the door of the judges house until she got an answer. Have you given up asking because you haven't gotten an answer yet? It's time to stretch your faith and ask again and again and again, until God gives you an answer. His answer may not be yes, and if that's the case, then yes live with it. But don't give up until you've received an answer.

I never did make it to the altar on Sunday, because I spent too much time praying for the people that were just living with it. But guess what? Sunday was the first time in weeks that I made it through a service without having to flee to the bathroom. God gave me relief and insight all at once. Let me encourage you today to stop, living with it. Seek God and see if relief is right around the corner for you!