Like seeing stars

It had been one of those beautiful sunny days, filled with activities and play. As the day neared it's end, I sat by the window looking outside. The snow covered landscape has become even more beautiful with the shinny sun, and I was admiring nature getting ready for the night. Little birds left the feeders and quietly sat on the trees. The sky was now getting darker and I could see two little stars already shinning up above.

As my eyes got used to the changing light, I realized that there were a few more stars already shinning. In fact, the more I looked up to the sky, the more stars I found! There were many already sending their glittery light down to earth. It was beautiful and I couldn't help but think how incredible that the stars had been there all along, but I just couldn't see them yet. All I could see at first were the two brightest stars.

This made me think about relationships and people we meet. How many times do we meet someone and make a judgement based on what we see, but as we get to know them we start seeing more and more of who they truly are. Just like I could see the two brightest stars at first, so many times when we meet someone all we can see are the things that are right in front of us.

But people are a lot deeper than that, and as we get to know someone, we start seeing more and more of themselves. And often we come to a completely different conclusion about a person than what we first thought.

No wonder the Bible counsels us not to judge anyone. We only see the surface. To see deeper we need to get to know them, develop the relationship. If we don't get to know them deeper, than we should be content with the thought that everyone is a beautiful child of the King of kings. A potential heir to the kingdom of God, and someone worthy of our love and respect.

That's what Jesus did, and we're supposed to be like Him, right?

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_2321.html

"You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one."

John 7:24

Waking up...

The blending of the end of winter with the beginning of spring is fascinating. The white landscape is slowly transforming. As I sit outside on the porch watching this transformation happen, I can't help but be amazed. The snow is calmly melting off the roof giving the impression that I'm in a rain forest by a small waterfall. Other times the snow comes down the roof with a force that makes me think of an avalanche! Little birds fill the air with their joyful songs and happily spread all over the seeds that fill the feeders. After several months away, I finally saw a squirrel this morning. My dog is loving having her little friend back to play catch with. Walking through the woods earlier today made me think that soon we'll see baby moose playing in the yard and that somewhere buried in the snow there must be a bear getting ready to wake up from hibernation. Winter is coming to an end, and nature is waking up from it's slumber. Spring is coming!

It's interesting to notice all the object lessons we get from nature. The Bible also says that it's time for us to wake up from our slumber. Why? Because Jesus is coming! Can you see that happen in your life? Does the idea of His soon coming fill you with excitement? Do you look forward to spending time with Him every morning? Are you eager to share with others all the wonderful things your God does for you? Are your lips full of praise because of who God is?

If not, then it's time for you to wake up from your slumber! How? By asking God to fill you with His love and by putting on Jesus Christ. He must be your everything. Seek Him first. It's the only way to enjoy the abundant life He so wants to give you.

Happy Spring!

"The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed."

Romans 13:11

Baptized by Sprinkling

I’m not a person who asks why that much. I usually just go with the flow, ask few questions, quietly observe from behind the scenes what’s going on while forming ideas, opinions, and making decisions. But not long ago I asked why and came to the conclusion that religion is quite complicated!

You may be thinking “how did she come to that conclusion?” I'm glad you asked. :)

I’ve been led to study the work of the Holy Spirit and it has been incredible! But even though I’m learning that the Holy Spirit can do some amazing things, I don’t see much of it happening around me. I see some, but it seems like I should see more. When was the last time you saw a baptism and the person filled with the Holy Spirit began to prophesy? When was the last time you went to church and saw demons being cast out and lives changed forever? When was the last time you saw the sick being healed right there and then or someone being raised from the dead? When was the last time you saw Christians so filled with joy for the Lord that they started selling what they have to bring the profits to the church treasury? And what about meeting daily to pray and praise as a congregation?

But all of this and so much more is what the disciples experienced during the beginnings of the christian church! And people were added to their numbers daily. And in a small amount of time, the gospel was taken to the then known world!

What happened between then and now that we don’t see those things happening that much anymore? What is the difference? Well, the only thing I could come up with is that we have complicated religion!

For centuries the world was immersed in what is called today the Dark Ages. It was a time of darkness in many areas, but for sure it was dark spiritually. For years, no one was allowed to think for themselves, but only do what the church said they needed to do. The church was the only way to salvation. Tradition was of utmost importance. People were made to feel guilty for the wrong things they did and had to pay a price for forgiveness because God would not accept them otherwise. God was portrayed as an angry God, ready to zap dead anyone who would go against Him. People had to earn their salvation and had to work hard for it. Studying the Bible was not necessary because the priests did that for the people...or did they? And if someone had the nerve to think for themselves and went against any of the church's ideas, that person would be persecuted, excommunicated or killed.

We don’t live in the dark ages anymore, but I don’t think we’re completely free from that way of thinking.

 Don’t we still struggle with the guilt of sin and that unless we get our act together, God cannot accept us? Do we still struggle with the idea that God is angry and ready to zap us when we do wrong? Is tradition still a big part of our church? And how many of us rely on pastors or evangelists' study of the Bible without checking it ourselves? And if you go against the norm, aren’t you in a way persecuted by criticism or judgement?

Do we also try to work our way to Heaven? Maybe not by paying alms or by inflicting corporal pain, but what about through the way we dress, eat, or the way we worship?

Following God is not like this. We put all kinds of ideas and burdens on ourselves and on others, just like the Jews did. Jesus challenged their laws His entire ministry. So I think the reason we’re not seeing the work of the Holy Spirit more clear in our churches and our lives is because we get ourselves in the way, way too much! And Jesus knew we would do that, so He reminded us often that we needed to be like children.
 
“And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3

When you look at children, aren’t you in awe at how gentle their spirit is and how they totally trust those who are responsible for their care? Don’t they completely rely on promises made? Their faith is so simple, so pure. If you tell a child that spider man can walk on the walls they believe it. Of if you tell them santa is real, they believe it. But if we tell an adult that God can heal the sick, then we go well yes, but...

Notice what that verse says in the beginning: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children.” Unless we change. We need to change or we won’t enter the kingdom of heaven. We need to change and become like children! Vs 4 says that we need to take a humble place like children, and vs. 6 calls God’s little ones those who believe in Him.

Do you believe in God? Do you believe in God with no restrictions? Do you believe in His strength and wisdom to carry you through? He’s responsible for your care, do you trust Him completely? Do you rely on His promises knowing that they are faithful and true and that He, unlike earthly parents, doesn’t change? And how are you doing at taking a humble place? Are you in the way of God’s work in your life or of some one else's life? Taking a humble place means leaving your self out of the picture. In more adult language, dying to self. 

I've just started on this journey with the Holy Spirit and I’ve seen Him do some incredible things. Couples turning away from divorce, God providing financially, sick being healed, people freed from the depths of depression, division beautifully turned into unity, love prevailing... and you know what? I can’t wait to see more. I want more! And I want to go Home! So I can forever praise the God who makes my life in this crazy little world a life of abundance and joy.

Don’t you want more in your life? Don’t you want that abundant life Jesus said He came to bring? Don’t you want to experience God as much as it is possible in the world? He said we could when He sent the Holy Spirit. Didn’t Jesus say we could do all He did and much more? (John 14:12.) Don’t you want your church to grow like the early church the book of Acts talks about? Don’t you want your church to be full to the brim and have the problem of having to build a bigger church? Don’t you want people to be in one accord, united, to solve problems and differences in a way that honors God? Don’t you want to see people’s lives being transformed before your eyes? Don’t you want to see the sick being healed and the dead being raised to life? Don’t try to explain any of this away. God says  it’s possible and it did happen during the early church, so it can happen for us now too. I think the only difference between them and us is that we are being baptized with the Holy Spirit by sprinkling and they were baptized with the Holy Spirit my immersion!

I challenge you to pray more for the Holy Spirit. Tell God you want to see and live the way the early church lived. Tell Him you want to see people added to the church daily, and people being on fire for God! It’s time to get this work done and go Home!

 

"Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son."

John 14:12,13

 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Romans 15:13 

Where Past Meets Future.

Wow! Can't believe 2012 is over! Gone! To never return again. All the experiences and things lived that year are forever in the past. The only thing that we'll always have from 2012 are the things learned and the growing that we did. Those carry from year to year and affect every new year that begins.

2012 was an interesting year. It started with some very difficult experiences and the year brought many trials. But as I look back to each one of them I see how God helped so beautifully along the way. He was there at every step, giving me strength, peace, and everything I needed to overcome with success everything that life was throwing at me. I learned through them all that I serve an Amazing God and that He placed in my life some incredible people whom I love very much! In the end, I was blessed beyond any expectations!!

So 2013 is here! And even with the experiences learned from 2012, a new year marks a new beginning. New opportunities. Resolutions. The chance to start over.  I know I have some ideas of what I would like to do and some things that I would like to accomplish, but the most important is to make sure I am at the center of God's will. And I know that if God has helped me in 2012, 2011, 2010, and so forth, He will be ever more present in 2013. And His promise is sure. The work He has begun in me, He will carry it on until it is completed. (Philippians 1:6.)

So my desire for you, and for me, is for 2013 to be an incredible year with God!! I pray that God will take you places you've never been and that you'll be blessed beyond any expectations. This year I want to see again the floodgates of heaven open and pour so many blessings we can hardly breathe! And I want to go Home. 2 Peter 3:12 says we can speed the coming of the Lord. So let's do that. Let's resolve to serve Him this year with all our heart, mind and soul. That will be true happiness and abundant life!
   

Happy 2013!

"Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' "

Matthew 22:37

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

Philippians 1:6

It's the Law!

This past weekend I was talking with a group of friends about God's Law. The 10 commandments! The much dreaded 10 commandments, with its list of thou shall nots! How could such a loving God, as He claims Himself to be, put such restrictions on His children? We must obey or else... 

It's actually incredible how often God's Law is used to justify our judgmental attitude towards fellow human beings. Yes, because if the Law has such a bad reputation, is not because of God, but because of us who like to put our hand into everything!

Jesus once said that if we love Him, we'll keep His commands (John 14:15), and that all the Law can be summarized in loving God with all our hearts and our neighbor as ourselves. (Matthew 22:37,38.) It seems to me then that the Law is not a bunch of heartless rules, but a manifestation of God's love towards His children.

Here's what I think about God's law: it's awesome!!!! Only a God full of wisdom and love could come up with such incredible guidance for His kids.

Those of us who are parents, do we have rules in our home? If there are no rules, what happens? One word: chaos! So we have rules. And why do we have rules for our children? I believe we all agree that we have rules because we love our children and want what is best for them. "Thou shall not touch the stove while its hot" is a pretty good rule. Why? Because our children can get seriously hurt if they touch a hot stove. So that rule prevents not only our children from feeling pain, but may avoid a trip to the ER or even a stay at the hospital complimented with a chunky bill to pay.

What about "Thou shall not drink and drive or get in the car with someone who's drunk?" Do we agree that's a good rule for our kids? My rule is more like, don't even look at an alcoholic drink, don't smell it, don't come near it! But why do we think this is a good rule? Because of so many reasons. Driving while intoxicated can have serious consequences from a life wasted in jail, to a life wasted inside a coffin. Loss of friends, loss of health and mobility, and so many other things. 

If we think the rules we make for our children are good, why do we think that God's rules for His children are bad? It doesn't make much sense, does it? Let's explore just a few.

"You shall not commit adultery." (Exodus 20:14) Hmmm... I wonder if I'll save myself a lot of trouble by staying faithful to my spouse. I wonder if I'll avoid quite a bit of pain not only to myself, but to my children, spouse, family and whoever else may be involved. So many families are destroyed and hurt for generations to come because of an act of lust. God wanted to save us from a lot of trouble when He told us not to go after what is not ours to begin with. 

"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor." (vs. 16) Most often than not a lie is uncovered. Some people can go years without revealing the truth, but sooner or later the truth will come to light. Just watch the news and you'll learn about people guilty of embezzlement who had been stealing for years, building what they thought was a solid and rich life, to end in misery in jail. And even the little lies we may tell and the little seemingly innocent not truths we may say about others can have uncomfortable consequences. How much stress can we avoid by just being truthful. Just this past week we have the example of the 2 DJs from Australia who called an hospital in England, pretending to be the Queen, and asking about Kate. We know the results. One nurse has committed suicide and the 2 DJs have lost their jobs. Isn't it great that God wants to save us from all of this and much more by requesting us to stay truthful in every circumstance? 

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." (vs. 8) I love this one! God is telling us to take a weekly rest. He knows us. He created us. He knows we can't just go, go, go all the time. So He gives us a day of rest a week to recharge not only physically, but spiritually and emotionally too. Wow! Tell me this is not love! 

We could look at all the commandments in God's Law and learn that every single of one of them is written for our own good and happiness. God doesn't want to restrict us. He wants to set us free! In His Law there is freedom. Freedom from pain, suffering, heartache, and so many other bad things. Isn't it great?

My prayer is that we'll join king David in saying, "oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long." Psalm 119:97

"I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws. I hold fast to your statutes, Lord; do not let me be put to shame. I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free. "

Psalm 119:30-32

"But those who look intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continue in it - not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it - they will be blessed in what they do."

James 1:25

Rain in Lisbon

It had been raining hard for many days. Too many for the drainage system in downtown Lisbon, Portugal almost 20 years ago. I had left music school and was heading to the subway so I could go home. Since I had some time to spare (ha! time to spare! I must have been a teenager), I decided to go through downtown and just browse some of the stores. The rain had died down some, so I thought it would be nice to do some window shopping on my way home. The music school was up on a hill, but as I got close to the bottom I noticed the level of the water was a little higher than some of the stores in town. In fact, water was coming down the hills flooding parts of downtown as it headed for the river a little farther down. I stopped on a pedestrian only road and watched, somewhat amused, the workers of the stores armed with brooms, trying to push the water out of their shops. It was an interesting battle of brooms vs. water and the water was clearly winning. I thought it was no use trying to fight the fast water, but I confess I got a chuckle out of watching the people try.

That’s when I noticed that I had stopped right on top of a slightly elevated manhole right in the middle of the road, and all of a sudden I was surrounded by water everywhere!!! I had been so busy watching other people’s misfortune that I didn’t notice misfortune was also headed my way.

I took a few moments to assess the situation and then decided that I needed to get out of there as soon as possible. I was wearing boots, so I thought I would be ok, but the water was rising fast and soon it was higher than my boots and my feet got completely soaked. By the time I got to the subway station, it had been closed down due to the water flowing down the tunnels, so everyone had to use the bus system to get home. I was able to get on a bus that took me close to where my mom was waiting for me with the car. By the time I got in the car I was very wet, cold, and hungry. Miserable!

You know, the Bible says that we should worry about our problems more than we should worry about the problems of others. We should help each other out, but we shouldn’t try to remove other people’s faults when we most likely have bigger ones in our own lives to worry about.

But have you noticed how easy it is to notice other people’s flaws? Maybe is the way they dress, the music they listen to, or the food they eat. Maybe it’s their political views, the way they raise their children, or their use of time. Whatever it is, it’s so easy to notice other people’s faults.

And that’s when Jesus says, “You hypocrite!” Why hypocrite? Because we are condemning others when we are doing the same or even worse. “First remove the plank from your eye,” Jesus says. Wow! A plank? That’s pretty big, don’t you think? And I’m pretty sure my faults aren’t that big.

But actually, if we take this text to heart and examine ourselves, just the fact that we can so easily find faults in others is a sign that we do indeed have a plank of considerable size in our eyes. This is why Jesus counsels us to remove the plank out of our own eyes first. Now that’s no easy task, but as we read God’s word we find that Jesus is the one who removes it for us. And He does such a great job at it. And then, says the Bible, after the plank has been removed from our eyes, we will see clearly to remove the speck of dust from our brother’s eyes. And do you know what? I have a feeling that once we get that plank removed, we’ll realize that actually there was nothing wrong with our brother’s eyes! And even if the speck is still there or if it’s bigger than we thought, with the plank removed from our eyes by Jesus, our hearts will be so filled with God’s love that we will gently and lovingly lead our brother to Jesus, so Jesus can remove their speck of dust.

Now Portuguese shoes are very well made, or at least they used to be, and I still have those boots. Every time I wear them I am reminded of the lesson I learned that rainy afternoon in Lisbon. I was so busy watching the shop owners' problems that I didn’t realize my problem was actually bigger than theirs! I hope those boots last many more years, because this is a lesson I need to be reminded of often.

 http://placesiwishiwere.tumblr.com/post/166790267/lisbon-portugal-by-rui-palha

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eyes and pain no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
Matthew 7:3-5

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
I John 1:9
 

Falling among thorns!

It had been a busy morning and I was longing for some quiet time before the day would get even busier. On my way to work I was able to stop in front of a little lake. It was early. The sun was shining on top of the trees which at this time of the year have turned into the most beautiful hues of yellow and orange. A cold mist was resting on top of the calm water. It was truly beautiful and calming there and I picked my Bible to read and spend sometime with God. As I flipped the pages to find the spot where I had left before, I started thinking of all the things that were going on. It has been one incredibly busy summer and I found myself wishing that winter would come sooner.

Just as I found my page I got an important text message. I replied and started reading Luke 8, the parable of the sower. I've read this story many times and thought I could probably just skip it, but continued reading. More text messages, and more replies. "A farmer went out to sow his seed and some seed fell along the path." vs 5. By this time I had my Bible open, but I was thinking about the text messages and everything else that didn't have anything to do with what I was reading. "Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants." vs 7. 

Has this ever happened to you? You sit down to have a quiet moment with God and lots of things happen that get you distracted? Or you are so busy with so many things that you don't even find 5 minutes to spend with God? Does it happen to you that you just keep on going all day long and finally hit the bed and thank God for the exhausting day when you are already almost in dream land? Isn't life just getting busier and busier? Daniel 12 talks about the time at the end of the world and verse 4 says that many will rush from here and there, and knowledge will increase. Isn't it talking about us now? Aren't we just running from here and there?

Last week I was watching a music video from the 1970's and I couldn't help but think that life seemed so much easier back then. What is happening?

As I continued reading the parable of the sower, I got to the part where Jesus explained to His disciples the meaning of it all and verse 14 really hit home. "The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature." 

Wow! I've always applied this parable to people who are making a decision for Christ, but never thought that it could actually be applied to me right now. Can it be that I hear God's words, but I'm so distracted with life that they have no effect on me? Is God's influence in my life being chocked up by my worries? Is spending time with God simply a good habit of mine, but is doing me no good? Is God's word in my life at this time falling among thorns?

I stopped replying to the text messages, looked at the incredible nature in front of me, and quietly meditated upon the words I had just read. God was telling me something. He was helping me understand that I need to slow down, that I need to enjoy my time with Him. He was telling me once more that I need not to worry and that I do not need to take more and more upon myself. He was once again helping me understand that the most important was for me to seek Him first. And I did... that morning I got to spend some pretty nice time with my God. He's so awesome. I love Him!

If you are also feeling chocked up by life's worries take warning. Don't let that prevent you from receiving the amazing blessings God has for you in His word. Quiet time with Him is extremely important. He truly enjoys spending time with you, but in the end you are the one who benefits the most. God's mathematics defies all logic. The more time we spend with Him, the more we get done. I love what Martin Luther once said, "I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer." He had learned that the more he had to do, the more time in prayer he needed. 

Enjoy your time with God. Don't let His word fall on thorny ground. Even if you get to spend only 5 minutes with Him, enjoy those precious minutes to the maximum. Seek Him first, and then all those other things you think you need to get done will be taken care of. They sure did for me.

"But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, 

and by persevering produce a crop."

Luke 8:15