Psalm 94

O Lord, the God who avenges, O God who avenges, shine forth.
Rise up, O Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve.
How long will the wicked, O Lord, how long will the wicked be jubilant?

They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting.
They crush your people, O Lord; they oppress your inheritance.
They slay the widow and the alien; they murder the fatherless.
They say, "The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed".
Take heed, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise?
Does he who implanted the ear not hear?
Does he who formed the eye not see?
Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
Does he who teaches man lack knowledge?
The LORD knows the thoughts of man; he knows that they are futile.

Blessed is the man you discipline, O Lord, the man you teach from your law; you grant him relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked.
For the LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance.
Judgment will again be founded on righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it.

Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?
Unless the LORD had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.
When I said, "My foot is slipping," your love, O LORD, supported me.
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.

Can a corrupt throne be allied with you--one that brings on misery by its decrees?
They band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.
But the LORD has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.
He will repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness;
the LORD our God will destroy them.

Beauty Among Ugliness

A couple weeks ago, I commented to my mom and sister about how ugly north Texas is - especially in some of what surrounds where I live. Some industrial plants are not far, lots of highway, kinda flat. And then as I was driving home, I came upon this field right next to my neighborhood. It was a beautiful fall day - the temperatures mild, not a cloud in sight. Just beautiful, pure sky blue. The field was a brilliant shade of green with a few trees scattered here and there and some very tall yellow wildflowers. For just a moment, all I saw was the green of that field edged up to that perfect blue sky and nothing else. Mind you, there is highway all around and just behind me is the FedEx distribution center and not far from that is cement plants and more yuck. But God showed me His beauty that afternoon. I captured a glimpse of His splendor in that moment. Oh, praise You Father!

It got me to thinking... There is beauty to find among the ugliness. In a person. In a situation. In a conversation. In a city. In a small town. Sometimes it's easier to see than others. Sometimes you have to peel back a lot of layers to uncover it. Sometimes you have to put yourself in just the right vantage point to capture it. But it's there - so start looking. Seek it out. Be willing to give up your preconceived opinions and notions. Uncover it. Look beyond the obvious. Beauty is waiting for you. The beauty of God cries out to be explored and revealed. Behold! And then praise Him, beloved!

Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time...

Psalm 45:11
The King is enthralled by your beauty; honor Him, for He is your Lord.

Psalm 145:21
My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise His holy name for ever and ever.

My Chains Are Gone

God keeps bringing the theme of slavery to me. I've begun studying Exodus and the past week, I have been led to check out two movies: "Amistad" and "Amazing Grace". If you have not seen these movies, rent them or check them out at your local library - they are well worth the time investment!

The scenes of these men, women and children bound up in chains to make the passage from Africa to the West Indies to be sold on the block are horrific. What they endured was horrific. Forced to lie in chains with 600 others in a tiny compartment. No fresh air. Wallowing in blood, vomit, excrement. For three weeks. Only then to be sold (if you survived) like you were nothing, just a thing to be used. Horrific.

But it's got me thinking.... I've been a slave myself. I'm sure you have too. Now, we have not had to endure what these precious souls endured. I am certainly not trying to equate our experience with theirs. But though our chains are unseen, they are chains nonetheless. And we haven't been made to lie in vomit and urine, but there have been some ugly side effects of my enslavement. Debt, deception, fear, despair.

In both movies, there is a redeemer. In "Amazing Grace", a group of men and women (albeit small compared to those against them) with their leader, William Wilberforce, who are willing to stand up and take on the slave trade. Wilberforce spends his life (literally) for the cause, for abolishing the slave trade in England - and three days before his death, he sees it happen. In "Amistad", there is an attorney, a freedman, and a Christian abolitionist and ultimately a judge and a politician, John Quincy Adams, who stand up against slavery and represent the Africans from the slave ship, the Amistad - and win.

In the bible, there is story after story - Scripture after Scripture - that tell of captivity and deliverance. It's the heart of everything we believe! That we've been held captive by sin and lies and Jesus Christ redeems us by His blood. He is our activist! He stands up for us and says I have purchased them and they are free.

Galatians 5:11 tells us, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Even though you are in Christ, have you allowed yourself to be yoked again? Are you allowing the enemy to bind you up in chains of lies and deception - that you're not loved, that you're not enough, that you're not this or that? Are you held captive by a particular sin? Sister, you must break these chains - with diligence and resolve. Not by your own power, but by the power of the Holy Spirit.

1 John 4:4
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

My dear sister, Rejoice! You are free. Choose it - choose freedom in Christ Jesus.

My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood
His mercy reigns
Unending love, Amazing grace

-from Chris Tomlin's "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)"

Making Room

With each passing season, it seems my life goes into different seasons as well. Times of joy, times of struggle, times of freedom, times of captivity. And God seems to name each of these life-seasons too - He gives it a theme, of sorts. The season of my life this summer is "Make Room". I'm finally starting to clean out some closets - eliminating clutter and stuff. Also, I have been participating in a bible study, "No Other Gods" by Kelly Minter. This bible study has opened my eyes to idol worship. I'm not sure I've ever truly understood what that meant - I mean, I don't have a carved, wooden or golden image I bow down to. So what does idol worship look like in our culture today? Well, let me tell you, it comes in all forms. Anything that has taken residence in my heart - that takes the place of God - that I'm dependent upon - that is an idol. And God is revealing to me places of my heart that I've been withholding from Him. Oh, how I've been humbled, broken-hearted, convicted and redeemed. I love that Jesus never stops redeeming me. 'Cause I'm in constant need of redemption!

My point is that God is telling me to make room for Him. Over the past several years, He has been refining me, purifying my faith, growing my heart and passion for Him. But there is also spaces in my heart that I've reserved - for self-protection, out of fear. He is saying - "Give me all of your heart - hold nothing back from me". And as if to put an exclamation point on all of this, He allowed my husband to lose his job last week. As if to say - let me show you how serious I am about this. And I don't mean that in a wrath, judgment kind of way. I mean, it's like God is saying, let me show you who I Am and what I have planned for you! We aren't prepared for this. But God is.

"Let go and make room for Me, Tiffany. I am and there is none besides Me."

I'm letting go of the idol of financial security. I lay it on your altar, Lord. Father, continue to reveal what has my worship when it isn't You. Make room in me - in my heart, my mind, my house, my life.

Side note: There's a passage in the study about conviction. You know, being conviced to cease doing something or start doing something else. Kelly wrote about a friend who shared about being convicted by the Holy Spirit to stop watching a particular TV show. She joked about looking for loopholes and what a bummer it was to not "get" to watch it anymore. Then Kelly went on to say that being convicted by God in some area is actually exciting and cause for joy. It means that God wants to do something with that time - with the space that gets created by the absence of that particular activity. Wow! A-ha moment for me. So jump for joy, ladies, when you are convicted by the Spirit - it means God is up to something with you!!!

Correction to Waitress

Just wanted to clarify my "Waitress" post. When I wrote about my pastor describing the table where we feed on God's Word, I mentioned the screaming baby in the highchair. Well, I totally messed that up. And it will make a lot more sense when I make the correction!

He was actually referencing a screaming adult, still sitting in the highchair - this adult screaming, "Feed me, feed me" when they should know how to feed themselves or to at least sit at the grown up table. In this analogy (or in real life), one should never ignore a screaming infant - they clearly have a need that isn't being met. They usually stop screaming when it is.

Anyway, just had that epiphany in the shower the other day.

Friends

Check out my fabulous friends, Denbigh & Stephanie Cherry! We had a blast hanging with them at the Gaylord Texan resort on May 9.

A Waitress

Have you ever waited tables? I have. I spent several years while in (and out) of college waiting tables. It's hard work. It's messy. I would come home smelling like fajitas every day and that smell is hard to get out! You have to be gracious, accomodating, and kind to all kinds of people from every walk of life. And sometimes you are rewarded with a big tip - and other times you may get just a penny.

My pastor, Ed Young, has frequently referred to the church as a dinner table of sorts. A healthy church has all these elements: the host who serves dinner (the Word of God) and seated at the table with him should be non-believers, new believers and mature believers. And then occasionally you have a screaming baby in the highchair next to the table complaining they aren't "being fed" and he (our pastor) says to just ignore them. But I digress...

I think we can map this dinner table analogy to our own walk with Christ. We initially come to the table with an inkling that there might be something good to eat here - something true that just might fill us up permanently. So we take a bite and it tastes really good. Like the best ever! So we decide to sit a spell and consume. And then we move over to believing and accepting that there is none besides Him - that we need Him to cover us. And we fervently and passionately consume, consume, consume. This is good. Obviously, the next move is to "mature believer". We are learning Scripture, studying and feeding on His word with a voracious appetite. This is good.

But should we stop here? Is there, in fact, another position in the "restaurant"? Yes. It's called the Wait Staff - the Server. If we never leave the table and start serving others, we'll just get fat. Do you know how we work off the fat? By leaving the table. By getting up and discipling someone else - by serving the infallible Word of God to someone else! By literally serving food to the homeless.

Our culture is one of gluttonous consumption and self-absorption. This is even in our churches! It's all about me and what I can get out of the message. I need to learn more about God's Word and His Will for my life. These are good things - we do need to spend time in His Word daily - this is how He reveals Himself to us! But are we just sitting around getting fat and not allowing His Word to give us traction. We've got to get out of the lab and get some real-world application.

And you know what? It's hard work. It's messy. You may come home smelling like smoke or whatever. And sometimes you get an earthly reward - like witnessing someone come to Christ. Or you may get spit on or yelled at. You may be persecuted for sharing your faith at the office. You may be criticized for homeschooling your children. But you can guarantee that when you serve others, you are storing up treasure in Heaven - your mind can't even comprehend the huge "tip" awaiting you.

I encourage you today to be a waiter or waitress. Serve God's food - the Truth - to someone today. Get up from the table if you've been sitting there awhile. It's time to take a walk to the kitchen, pick up a tray, and deliver it to some people at a different table in your station.

What good is it, my brothers (and sisters!), if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
James 2:14-17

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
Ephesians 6:7-8

...Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.
Matthew 20:28

Pierced

The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright. But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
Psalm 37:14-15

In late January, as I completed study on one book in the new Testament, I prayed for the Holy Spirit to guide me to the next book. He led me to the Psalms. No accident at all, given the theme my quiet time has taken this year. Worship - it's all about worship. Sitting at the feet of our precious and mighty Jesus and worshipping Him. God has been speaking to me about subtraction; particularly, addition by subtraction. Removing things / activities / ways of thinking so that I can be more fully His and in His will.

This morning I have been reading Psalm 36 & 37. As I came to verse 14-15 in Psalm 37, the Holy Spirit prompted me to stop there for a moment. And I experienced one of those great "a-ha" moments.

It should be no surprise that there are many who seek the harm and suppression of believers. In our government, in our schools, in our clubs, etc. And it's useful to be on guard and informed. But when does simply being informed regarding their wicked schemes cross over into pursuing something that is distracting from my one true purpose: worshipping and glorifying Jesus. Especially when we know the ultimate outcome!

Now some may be called to battle on behalf of the "rights" of Christians and I pray that those who are called, step up and obey our Father. I just don't think that is me. I am coming to realize that reading email messages daily about boycotting this, or writing a newspaper about that is a distraction for me. Satan is using these messages to distract me from my one true purpose: to love my God with all my heart, my mind, my spirit and my soul. And to love my neighbor as myself. By reading these email notices, I have noticed my heart begin to harden against certain groups of people. This is blatant sin!

So, Father, I pray for love. I pray that I live inside for Your will. I pray that my life reveals You and Your glory. And I leave the rest to You.

Two Thoughts...Or Is It Three?

I am a slacker. I can no longer even attempt to conceal it. This blog is just one example where the only consistent thing is my inconsistency. This is an area I am taking on in 2008 - not my blog necessarily, but being inconsistent. I have a tendency to take on so many different things that few end up getting done well. But God is transforming this in me - thankfully!

A friend and I were talking about the spirit of busyness that infiltrates our lives and before you know it, you are completely ineffective in your walk with Christ, your ministry, your calling - the things that are most important. I love saying "Yes!" To God, but also to everyone else. This is not a healthy thing. God is teaching me to say "No" sometimes - and it is not only okay, but necessary at times. I am being constantly reminded through Scripture that the Lord leads me to and through devotionals that Jesus wants a Mary, not a Martha. So that is my prayer - Lord, today let me just sit at your feet and worship you. Let not the busy-ness of my life supercede You, the One and Only!

My mom recently sent me some information that a very well-known talk show host has started a year-long study through their radio program based on completely false doctrine, very new age "religion". She was really disturbed by the impact this could have on people. The information in this workbook is true heresy. But instead of being worried about the influence of lies over unsuspecting and/or ignorant individuals, I prayed for this person and for God's protection and revelation for the listeners/viewers.

After I prayed, I turned to Psalm 2 for some time in His Word. I started reading and just had to laugh. Jesus, you crack me up and I love you for your answers to prayer!!!

Psalm 2

Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.
"Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters."
The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.
Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
"I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill."
I will proclaim the decree of the Lord:
He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.
You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery."
Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Praise God that He is Truth - absolutely and completely. He has proven faithful at every turn and I trust His Word as it is - no more, no less.


Side note:
I encourage anyone who worries or gets upset about elections and politics to meditate on this Scripture. It has brought me such peace.

Daniel 2:20-21a
"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.
He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them..."

He will use ANYONE - even unbelievers - to fulfill His purpose on earth. Hallelujah! I praise Your Name, O Sovereign One, for ever and ever!