Tracked or Treasured

                 “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)

    My daughters and I recently took a vacation together outside the United States. As someone who does not travel anywhere, I thought it was quite interesting – and a bit scary. I asked several questions. “What if we get lost? If our first flight is late, who do we tell so we can get to the connecting flight? And if that happens, how will we reach our family to let them know what is going on? Won’t they worry where we are?”

    Questions and worries. Worries and questions. All unnecessary. Just seconds before we were to get on our flight, my daughter’s husband texted, “I see you are set to board your plane in the next few minutes.” What??!!

   “He has GPS, Mom,” she smiled at me. “He knows when we are boarding, and he will know when we land. He knows exactly where we are.” Seriously? Yes. And, just a few minutes after our plane landed, another text came through. “I see you are on the ground. Have fun!”

   Now, while I find it fascinating that GPS can track our every movement, that’s where the fascination ends. Because if I am sick on the flight, GPS can do nothing. If I am sad or discouraged or anxious as I land, GPS cannot calm me or encourage me. It can only track me on my journey.

   I think that is why I love Deuteronomy 31:8 so much. It says, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” God Himself has already gone before me on my journey through life. He knows all the ups and downs and every detour in my path. And He will not leave me, but instead will calm my fears and encourage me as He stays by my side.

   I need to ask – what journey are you on today? Are you struggling in a marriage with no hope in sight? Do you have a child who knows the right thing to do but always chooses the wrong thing? Have you lost a loved one and find it hard to even breathe?

   With everything in my heart, I encourage you to turn your eyes toward the One who is beside you on your journey and who has the answers. He understands. He has been on the path before you, and He stands ready to guide you through every minute of every day. He is already in your tomorrow!

    Call Him by name. Dig into His Word. Again and again, God reminds us that we are not just someone to be “tracked” but rather, a child dearly loved and treasured by a Father who stays with us and guides us every single day of our lives.

    Father, I thank you so much for never leaving my side and for guiding me each day. Thank you for caring about every single detail of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . . 

Reflect

• Have you ever felt alone in a situation in your life and unsure if anyone cares or if God is even with you?

• Where did you turn for comfort and peace?

Apply

• Copy Deuteronomy 31:8 on an index card and keep it in your purse or pocket to remind you of God’s care over you, no matter what is going on.

• Memorize this Scripture and speak it aloud whenever you doubt God’s direction for you and your life. 

Power

• Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV) “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

• Joshua 1:9 (NIV) “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

• Psalm 139:8-10 (NIV) “If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”

Things and Stuff

  “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” 

Matthew 6:21 (NIV)

    The hail slammed into the windshield of my husband's truck with the force of a sledgehammer. Carrying on a conversation as we drove through the storm would have been extremely hard but conversation was unnecessary. The phone call we had received minutes earlier was heart-stopping: “A tornado directly hit Don and Barb's house. We don't know if they are okay or not.” We ran to our truck and raced to their home, praying silently that the news was wrong. It was not. Nor were we prepared for what we saw.

     The two-story home – once viewed as a showplace for anyone driving by – was missing the entire north side. The giant fist of the tornado had ripped the wall away, but had chosen to leave a baby bed in a second-floor bedroom with its sheets tucked in without a wrinkle. Glass was splintered everywhere, with huge shards sticking out of trees mercilessly ripped from the ground and tossed against the house. Metal was twisted in every shape imaginable and hurled into the yard and field around the home, along with the belongings of this precious family.

     As we rushed through what was once the front door of their home, tears followed relief as we heard the voices of our friends in the basement, talking with neighbors who had arrived before us. I hugged Barbara and whispered "I am so relieved you are okay but everything you own . . . it's destroyed! I am so sorry!" Her reply to me was spoken with a confidence and peace that only the Lord can give: "Things and stuff, Nancy. That's all this is. Things and stuff. We are both okay. God protected us. We are very thankful."  

    What a beautiful response to a catastrophe that would certainly shake the foundation for most of us. Was Barbara in shock at what had happened? Of course. Was she broken-hearted at what had been lost? Sure. She knew that some of the things could be replaced  . . . many could not. But her focus was not on everything around her . . . the "things and stuff." Instead she focused on the fact that God had protected her and her husband through a horrific storm. 

    In the middle of a big loss was an even bigger truth: God is in control. Our home and everything we own on earth is temporary. There is no guarantee that everything we have today will be here tomorrow or even that WE will be here tomorrow. Barbara's treasure was not here on earth. Her heart - though sad at the loss - did not focus on the lost but on the saved: she and her husband. Their faith came from a deep relationship with Jesus, not a superficial trust in "things and stuff."

    What is your heart focused on today? It's pretty certain that your treasure can be found there, too.  As Matthew 6:21 says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” I encourage you today to focus on Jesus and give Him your heart.  And in exchange, He will give you trust and peace that have nothing to do with "things and stuff."

   Father, forgive me when I focus on the "things and stuff" of this life, and forget how blessed I am by what You did for me on the cross. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . . 

Reflect

• Think back to a situation when you experienced a major loss of something you owned.  

• How did you respond? Anger? A need to replace it all no matter what? Or did you praise the Lord for His goodness in the middle of the loss? 

Apply

• Make a list of the "things and stuff" that you consider to be valuable to you. 

• Beside each item on the list, record a Scripture verse that helps you to focus on the eternal instead.

Power

• Matthew 6:21 (NIV) “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” 

• Mark 8:36 (NIV) “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” 

• Luke 16:13 (NIV) "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

 

 

 

Getting Dressed in Armor

 “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

Ephesians 6:11 (NIV)

     Summer and softball go hand in hand and this year was no different. My granddaughter’s team competed in various towns, so traveling twice a week and several practices between games were always on the agenda.

     And as they practiced, team members were switched to different positions to determine the best position for each player. The catcher was the unanimous choice of the toughest spot on a softball team. Here’s why:

     The catcher is in a kneeling or squatting position every inning. She’s also part of almost every play made because she is either catching the ball pitched to her, throwing it to second base to try to get a runner tagged out or anticipating a play at home plate that will keep the other team from scoring.

     If that’s not enough, she wears several pounds of equipment, including a helmet, chest pads, shin guards and cleats. Someone who is not a fan of softball might wonder why the need for several pounds of equipment for one player.

     But the answer is clear: every piece of the equipment she wears – though at times bulky and hot – provides her with physical protection from anything that might happen during a game.

     Ephesians 6:11 also talks about protection, but instead of physical safety that is needed during a softball game, Paul is addressing spiritual protection in our lives every day as we battle Satan. The enemy never tires of constantly throwing everything he has at us to try to inflict damage to us spiritually.

     Paul continues through verse 18 to describe our armor – our protection. He tells us to stand strong against Satan by putting on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the readiness of the gospel on our feet, a shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (the word of God). And then he encourages us to always be watching for spiritual attacks through prayer.

          In other words, we must always have our armor on to be prepared for what will most definitely come our way. Just as a softball catcher can get hurt badly without her protective armor, so it is with Christians who do not put on the armor of God every single day.

          And what might come your way spiritually? Let’s see: lying, stealing from a job, gossip about a co-worker, an affair, lust, greed, bitterness, holding a grudge, laziness and pride – just to name a few things. But thankfully our protection is found in the word of God and it also includes forgiveness, grace, and mercy, as it stands strong for you when the enemy attacks.

     If you are ever a catcher for a softball game, I hope that you never forget your protective gear but I pray you always remember the armor of God for everything you do!

     Father, may I be reminded to begin each day by putting on your armor to protect me from the attacks of Satan. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 R.A.P. it up . . .

 Reflect

• Have you ever been a catcher when playing a ball game and neglected to wear all the gear needed?

• Did you get injured because you had forgotten to wear your protective equipment?

 Apply

• Journal Ephesians 6:13-18 and memorize it.

• Every morning when you wake up, pray that Scripture and mentally put each piece of armor on in your mind and heart.

 Power

• Ephesians 6:11 (NIV) “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

• 1Thessalonians 5:8 (NIV) “But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”

• Isaiah 11:5 (NIV) “Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.”

 

 

The Chain-Breaker

 “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains.” 

Psalm 107:13-14 (NIV)

          It’s not a sight you see every day – people in identical orange short-sleeved coveralls shuffling along the sidewalk – but you see it in my town. They go from the jail to the courthouse and then back to the jail periodically.

     Their pace is painfully slow. Chains and shackles keep them from moving any faster.  Their heads are down as they struggle to make sure they are not stepping on the ankles of the person in front and at the same time not getting stepped on by the person walking behind them.

     Watching this procession, you cannot help but wonder why each one has been arrested and detained. But you also find yourself wondering how it must feel to take every step chained and shackled.  No freedom to dance or jump or even turn.  But rather, every movement held in place by metal links locked together to restrain the person wearing them.

     And then I look at my life. No orange coveralls. Nothing on my arms and legs restricting me. And yet at times I too can find myself in chains. The shortlist? Fear, anger, envy, loneliness, depression, greed, infidelity, jealousy, resentment, addictions, worry, unforgiveness. 

   A normal part of life, you say. You don’t know how unfair the election was, you don’t understand that the award, the promotion, the recognition should have been mine, that the comments about me were horrible, that I cannot control my addictions! Need I go on? 

     We have all experienced at least one of those chains. They can rob us of our ability to function daily because they steal our joy and, if we are not careful, consume our every thought and action to the point that our very faith and trust in the Lord is crippled!

     There is no way to break those chains on our own. Psalm 107:13-14 says “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains.”

     Are chains holding you tightly and robbing you of joy and hope and peace? Every single one can be broken to pieces by giving them to Jesus, the only true Chain-breaker!

     I encourage you to talk with a prayer warrior friend, a counselor, or a minister and share what chains are wrapped around your heart and holding you hostage. Then go before the Lord and ask Him to free you from each one and replace them with mercy and forgiveness and love. Today, this very minute, trust the Chain-breaker to do what He says He will do.

     Father, there are chains in my life that are keeping me in darkness. Please take them from my heart and replace them with you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

R.A.P. it up

 Reflect

• What “chains” in your life are keeping you from experiencing joy, peace, and mercy from the Lord?

• Have you tried to remove them from your life or accepted them as normal?

Apply

•   Journal every “chain” in your life – past and present – that is holding you prisoner.

•   Thank the Lord for breaking each chain from your heart. 

Power                           

• Psalm 107:13-14 (NIV) “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains.”

•  Psalm 116:16 (NIV) “O Lord, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains.”

• Matthew 4:24 (NIV) “News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, and those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.”

I Told God No

  “But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?” 

Romans 9:20-21 (NIV) 

         “Please talk to Mom, please! She wants to divorce Daddy!” the two young children begged as I hugged them. I knew there had been problems and my heart ached for them. They saw what was happening to their family and wanted someone – anyone – to persuade their mother not to go through with her plans.

         I gave them a half-hearted “I’ll try” but inside I found myself thinking that there was no way their mother would listen to me. I only knew her through our children being involved in the same activities, and I felt she would not like me talking to her about such a private situation. 

    And that’s what I told the Lord when I felt His nudging over the next two weeks to go to her and share how much He loved her. “I’m glad to pray for her but talk to her? No way, Lord!” I  told Him as I sat in His presence. Did I say “Your will, Lord?” No, instead I told Him MY reasons for not talking to her. “She will be so angry,” I told the Lord.  He did not share my concern.“ I don’t want people to think I’m a busybody,” I whined but God was not impressed.

         Finally, I took a deep breath, prayed for wisdom, called her, and we met. It went about as well as I thought it would. I listened quietly as she told me the marriage was over and it would all be “fine.” I gently shared God’s love for her and her family and how divorce can cause irreparable damage, but she said it would only make them stronger. My mind raced as to what I could do to help her see the damage that could happen. “God hates divorce,” I said. “He says that in His Word.” Her next comment floored me. 

“Well, if God hates divorce so much, then He can stop me if He wants to and He hasn’t done that, has He.” I felt my heart breaking. I paused and prayed. “To me, that is like saying ‘if God doesn’t want me to kill someone, He will keep me from getting a gun or buying the bullets,” I pleaded. “We already know what He says about marriage and divorce. It’s up to us to do everything we can to work out our differences. What about going to a counselor?”

She shook her head. “Here’s the deal: I want to be happy and I’m just not happy. Period. So I’m done with this marriage and I don’t want to hear any more about it from you or anyone else.” That was it – the beginning of the end of a marriage.  There was no adultery. No abuse. Nothing, she said. She just wasn’t happy any longer.

I managed to drive away before the tears began and then my anger boiled over – toward God! “See, I TOLD you she wouldn’t listen!” I informed Him. “I only made everything worse, not better!” I continued. “How was THAT supposed to help? She has already decided to get a divorce, so why have me go talk to her? And besides, I didn’t say anything the right way!” And with that declaration of my earthly wisdom to the Creator of the Universe, I pouted all the way home.

Have you ever been there with me? The Lord nudges you to speak to someone and you absolutely do not want to do it! You can think of a thousand reasons why His idea is not a good idea and maybe, like me, you believe He doesn’t realize how hard it will be on you to do as He asks, so you list every argument against what He says. And you tell Him no. 

Romans 9:20-21 clearly states my problem: I am the clay (human),  the one being formed by the potter, ie the Creator God. And I am trying in my sinful way (because it is sin) to tell God what I do and do not want to do. My reasoning? Again, it comes down to sin. I think I am wiser than God! 

Instead of trusting God’s will for me and for the woman He wanted me to talk with, I whined. Rather than being obedient to what He clearly wanted me to do, I was disobedient and focused on myself and my feelings rather than on the woman He loved every bit as much as He loved me. Instead of bowing before Him and acknowledging His right as King to instruct me to carry out His plan, I argued - yes argued - with God. Thankfully, because He is a gracious and merciful Father, He forgave me when I came before Him in repentance.  

How I wish everything had turned out differently for this precious family. She divorced her husband and moved with her children to another state. I never saw them again but I continued to lift her up to the Lord, praying that her heart would be softened as she sought His face. 

 I also thanked the Lord for not giving up on me and my disobedience to Him and His nudging. The Creator of the Universe did not owe me an explanation or rationale for what He wanted me to do. He only needed me to be obedient and trust Him. I pray the next time He asks me to be willing, I will immediately say “Here I am. Send me.” 

Father, thank you for your forgiveness and mercy when I am disobedient. May I always be willing to trust you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . . 

Reflect

• Has the Lord nudged you to do something and you would not do it?

• How did that situation turn out?

Apply

• Whenever the Lord speaks to your heart, stop and pray “Father, your will in this situation is my will. Show me what to do/say.”

• Pray over your attitude before you speak or act. Ask a prayer warrior to pray over you as well, for wisdom in listening and speaking in love.”

Power

• Romans 9:20-21 (NIV) “But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?”

• Proverbs 3:5-7 (NIV) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.”

• I Corinthians 1:25 (NIV) “For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”