From Me to You at Christmas...

Christmastime is such a wonderful time where we reflect and thank God for the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ.  I hope you will enjoy this early Christmas present from me to you - it is a poem I wrote a couple of years ago about Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Merry Christmas!  May you be filled with joy as you celebrate the birth of our Savior!

Mary had a guest on that evening so bright
An Angel whose presence gave her quite a fright.

He came to her with a message of hope and of cheer:
The Savior was coming – the time was drawing near!

The message was more personal, as she would soon see
As the Angel unfolded just what God’s plan would be.

He told her she would be mother to the Savior of all
And with that to her knees sweet, young Mary did fall

But how could this be? She was not even wed!
She questioned the Angel and that’s when he said:

“Sweet Child, God the Father has chosen you to be
A vessel that will carry Him supernaturally...
He’s sending His Spirit to give you His Seed
So you and your people will finally be freed!”

She thought for a moment and said with such strength,
“If this is God’s will, then I’ll go to any length.”

She carried our Savior through long, lonely days
Where people would give her a judgmental gaze.

They’d point and they’d stare and they’d whisper her name
While she walked down the streets without any shame.

And when the day came for her to give birth
The heavens declared His invaluable worth.

Jesus was born and the plan would unfold
That for thousands of years was prophetically foretold.

He came to live among us, to show us how to live
Then He laid down His life, so our sins He could forgive.

But it didn’t end there – no He rose from the grave!
So all men could trust Him and their lives He could save.

And save me, He did, but first I had to admit
That I couldn’t do it alone, to Him I had to submit.

Just like Mary did on that bright, clear night
When she submitted to God’s plan and did not put up a fight!

And once she submitted that God’s plan was the best,
His Spirit came upon her and gave her sweet rest.

He did the same for me -though I can’t explain how –
His Spirit came upon me and He lives in me now!

Just like sweet Mary, I carry Him around
Not in the womb, but in my heart He’ll be found.

Some people do point now, they stare and whisper my name

They think I’ve lost my mind, though I’m perfectly sane.

But all the while I know that I’m free and forgiven
So I tell others now about the life that I’m livin’

The words that the angel told Mary were true!
And He’s telling the same thing to me and to you:

“Sweet Child, God the Father has chosen you to be
A vessel that will carry Him supernaturally...
He’s sending His Spirit to give you His Seed,
So you and your people will finally be freed!” 

Leslie Nease

A Mother's Heart

I've often thought that what a blessing it would have been to be chosen by God to carry Jesus Christ!   When Mary's cousin Elizabeth saw Mary and understood that she was carrying the Messiah, she said "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!" Even Mary knew she was blessed.  In Luke 1:48 she said "from this time on all generations will count me blessed."

And she's right, we do consider her blessed.  But I'm beginning to also see that with that blessing came tremendous difficulty.  As a mother of four, I cannot imagine the pain and anguish Mary also had to go through, even though she was blessed.  Kids are a blessing, no doubt about it.  But any mom can tell you that with that tremendous blessing comes some intense vulnerability as we begin to love more deeply than we ever thought possible. With that blessing comes deep pain as we begin to let go of them.

Can you imagine how Mary must have felt as she helplessly watched her son carry the cross down the streets while people mocked Him, spit on Him, hurled insults at Him and whipped Him?  What about how she must have felt as she watched Him die on the cross while Roman soldiers tortured Him, little by little, until He finally took His last breath?

I know deep down in her Mom heart, Mary wanted to rescue Him, to step in and make it all go away.  I cannot help but remember the times my son Tommy would fall on the soccer field as a young boy and I would jump up out of my chair, run over, bandage the knee, give it a "mommy kiss" and wipe his tears.  I would be at his side before I realized what was happening!  What restraint and resolve Mary had to be able to watch and not intervene in the sufferings of Christ, her son!

Where did Mary get that resolve?  How did she get so strong?  In Luke 2:19, we read that as the Shepherds gathered around a newborn baby Jesus, Mary "treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart."  In Luke 1:33 we see she marveled at the things that were said about Jesus as Simeon prophesied about Him.  Mary knew these were moments she should treasure and ponder in her heart.  She also pondered it in her heart when Jesus was 12 years old and He had been sitting in the temple in the midst of teachers, asking them questions and listening to them for three days.

That word "ponder" in the original Greek means to "struggle with".  I wonder if she knew that since He would end up sacrificing His life, she would need the strength that these important and inspired events would give to her in the future?

As a mother, I often find myself pondering important and beautiful moments in my children's lives.  For instance, when my 6-year old Tommy (who is now 17) looked up at me and said "Mommy, God did a really good job when He made you. Can I marry you?"  Or when a 5-year old Stephanie (now 20) looked at the bright moon on a clear night and said "God must have cleaned heaven today."  Or when a bad dream invaded sweet 6-year old Peyton and she ran to my bedside and said "Mommy, can I sleep in your room tonight? I feel closer to Jesus when I'm with you because you remind me of Him."  There was also the time when a 3-year old Kennedy (now 11) said "Mommy, I want to be just like you when I grow up".   

These and many other special moments fill my mom-heart with joy.  I can draw on these moments when things get rough in their lives and I find myself unable to make the pain go away with a "mommy kiss" and I have to watch helplessly on the sidelines as they are knocked down on the soccer field and instead of jumping up to make them "all better" I watch them get up, dust themselves off and say "I'm good!"  I have to trust as I let them go, one by one, that I've done all I can to raise them right.  I have to trust that they know I'm there for them, even if I can't make all the hurts and consequences of wrong choices go away.  I have to trust that God has a plan for their lives - even if that plan may include allowing pain with a purpose into their lives.

I am strengthened as I ponder the truths of God's Word each day.  Verses like Proverbs 22:6 "Raise up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it" and "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6) give me tremendous peace as a mother!  Knowing God's Word and treasuring the important and special moments in our children's lives can give us courage as we all let go or watch them go through difficult times and help us to trust God with their lives.  After all, He loves them even more than we do (hard to believe but true!).

Mary and Jesus both knew that the pain He went through had a purpose.  It didn't make it easy, but I can see that God's grace strengthened them and helped them through those difficult times.  Yes, we call Mary blessed - but deep down I know that with that blessing came tremendous difficulties, heart wrenching pain and a resolve to allow it all to happen because she trusted God's plan for His life.

As I ponder these things in my heart this morning, my prayer is simple..."Lord, please give me grace and strength to trust Your plan for my children's lives - even if it doesn't make sense to my mom-heart."

Letter to a Friend

Dear Friend,

I've heard of your decision to turn away from Jesus Christ
and I understand the reason is the people you've met in life.

Apparently some Christians that you've come across before
have much to say of the wrong you do, but your needs are just ignored.

Many who claim to know Jesus don't know Him very well
(At least the way we live our lives, it's really hard to tell)

Our lives should always reflect Him but they don't and that's a shame.
We judge, we point, we criticize - all in Jesus' Name.

I think we believe it's easier to point at others when they sin
than to look into the mirror at the person who's within.

We often quote the Bible to prove to you that we're right
instead of loving and praying for you, we'd rather win a fight.

Although we read in scripture that quarreling is not effective,
instead we should show grace and love while listening to your perspective.

We often say that we know God and that He tells us what to do
but we live a life that's contrary to what we've shared with you.

God tells us in His word that for the world His life He gave
But we judge and avoid the "sinners" - the very ones He wants to save.

Sometimes I think we just forget that we are sinners, too!
Our broken lives, healed by His love - the same love He has for you.

He's the only One you can fully trust - the rest of us are frail
we're in a process - just like you - and often we do fail.

In the pages of the scriptures, though, we see a better way
We must live out what we believe if it's Truth we want to convey.

I beg of you to look to Christ - He's the only One who is perfect
He saves us, though we aren't deserving - He believes we're worth it.

My deepest apologies, dear friend, for the treatment you recieve.
I pray you'll look past our many faults and in Christ, by faith, believe.

Matthew 7:1

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.  For you will be treated as you treat others.  The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.  Then people who are not Christians will respect the way you live...

Reactive or Effective?

I threw a spoon across the kitchen yesterday.  It felt good for about two seconds and then I realized I was being an idiot.  My girls had been screaming and picking on each other all afternoon and I had reached my limit. "She's looking at me!"  "She's touching me!" "She won't leave me alone!"  "Why did you have to be born?!" Initially, I chose to stay out of it and try to let them work it out.  But it just got worse and worse and they were now pushing me to the edge.

When I finally decided to jump in and intervene, it was too late - I was an emotional volcano and I erupted with a spoon thrown across the kitchen floor while screaming at the top of my lungs "KNOCK IT OFF!".  Yeah, that was effective.  I'm so glad they were upstairs and did not see my 3-year oldish reaction.  What in the world happened anyway?!  Who was this psychopathic woman in my kitchen and where did that sweet, gentle mommy who was there a moment ago run off to?  Sure, the girls got quiet - very quiet - but I think it was because they were in shock!

Have you ever reacted to something and then really regretted how you responded?  You obviously know my answer to this question! I think it's when my emotions get all wired up and I lose my "filter" to be able to respond in a godly way.  I always regret a knee-jerk reaction - usually it's not the godly response I would prefer to have, but it feels right for about two seconds.  After the two-second window, my heart is sick and regrets creep in, along with remorse.

I think that when I'm hurt deeply, that is when I do this the most.  As I've prayed about this specifically this week, I've felt that what I'm hearing is "Be effective, not reactive".  I have been meditating on this and searching the scriptures for examples of how to be more effective in my life rather than reactive.

When I react spontaneously and without thought, it is usually out of pure adrenaline and emotion.  A reaction is so quick that unless my heart is changed completely, it will come from my human nature, not my new spiritual nature in Christ.  The key to being transformed and being able to be effective in my response is found in Romans 12:2:  "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

When I'm confronted with a big decision, if I'm emotionally injured or stirred up or even if my children have done something wrong and I need to discipline them but I'm too emotionally upset to think straight, I need to wait before reacting.  When I react in a discipline matter with my kids, it's usually reactive and not as effective a punishment as when I take the time to think, pray and seek wisdom in the matter.  When I speak before thinking when I've been upset or emotionally injured, I will inevitably say something I'll regret two seconds later.

Proverbs 15:28 says "The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words."  That's interesting, because if you read Luke 6:45 it says "...What you say flows from what is in your heart."  That means that if our heart is not being changed by Christ (transformed - by the renewing of our mind and changing how you think, which will trickle down into our heart) then our quick reactions will not be naturally good.  That is why I need to stop, think, pray and seek His response before I allow an ungodly one to erupt out of my heart.

After a heartfelt apology to my girls for my foolish reaction, we are now fine. Thank goodness for grace!  Once everyone was calm, I was able to speak to them about their relationship with clarity and purpose.  God used my spoon-throwing reaction to remind me that if I'm in a process...and He's not finished with me yet.

Proverbs 29:11 "Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back."


Proverbs 15:1 "A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare."

Seeing Through His Eyes

I am always amazed by how Jesus rebuked Peter in Matthew 16 - He said to him "Get behind me Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God's." Can you imagine? Why would Jesus say something like that? Seems extreme.

Peter thought he was defending Jesus when he said "Heaven forbid, Lord, this will never happen to you!" after Jesus told him He was going to suffer, die and rise again. But sometimes things are not what they seem, are they? Sometimes God's purposes can work out even in the most seemingly hopeless situations.

Peter was seeing things through man's eyes, not God's. As a result, he began to fear and doubt. He loved Jesus and didn't think He should have to go through those things. He didn't want Jesus to die - but what he didn't grasp was the importance of His death and His resurrection that would follow!

Is there anything in your life that you are seeing from a human perspective? Maybe you received a dire diagnosis.  Trust the Lord.  Have you lost your job?  Trust the Lord.  Have you been rejected?  Trust the Lord.  Sometimes things don't make sense from our human perspective.  If He brings you to it, He will see you through it. He is working in the situation in ways you may not see and when we begin to doubt and fear, we are allowing Satan to influence our thinking. Just rebuke him and tell him "Get behind me, Satan!" Then, walk forward in trust, knowing the Lord has a plan. He always has a plan.

 

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you, not to harm you - plans to give you hope and a future.

Seeking Wholeheartedly

Jeremiah 29:11-13 "For I know the plans that I have for you," says the Lord.  "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.  In those days when you pray, I will listen.   If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find Me."

I read this scripture passage this morning and kept backing up over the word "wholeheartedly".  According to the dictionary, the word means fully or completely sincere, enthusiastic, energetic, etc.; hearty; earnest.  Am I seeking God like that?  Because if I am, that means I'm going to find Him.  There are days when I know I'm not seeking Him like that - the days when I can't find him no matter what I try.  So what signs can I look for to know if I am seeking Him wholeheartedly?  Here's some ideas that come to mind...

Am I seeking His approval before others?
Am I seeking His will above my own?
Am I seeking His praise above man's?
Am I seeking His Word or the advice of my friends?
Am I seeking His Kingdom or my own?
Am I seeking His truth or the way things seem to look in my life?
Am I seeking fulfillment in what I can do for God or in my personal relationship with Him?

These questions can help me to know if I'm seeking God with all of my heart.  When we seek other things first, even if they are good things, we are not seeking Him with all of our heart.  When we look at things from an earthly perspective, we can lose sight of God completely.  But when we look at things from an eternal perspective, everything changes.

Today, I pray we will not base our faith on our feelings, our friends, our expectations on others or our emotions. I pray each of us will seek Him first above everything else.  He tells us in Matthew 6:33 that when we do that, everything else falls into place.

I like that.

Public Opinion

It seems like God is always in the process of teaching me something important.  I'm so glad it seems He really only focuses on one deep-rooted issue at a time.  I don't think I could handle more than that at once!  This week has been very painful, but I'm beginning to see what He's up to and honestly, it's pretty cool.  But I won't lie, it's been tough.

Last week I came across an article written about me by a woman who attended an event I spoke at about a year ago.  She wrote things that were very hurtful.  She claimed I said things that I did not say and she held me up as the example of what not to be as a Christian.  She said I was telling people to "vote unbelievers out of their lives" and she said I was the epitome of a mean Christian.  I was devastated after reading this.   Why would she say these things?  Had I done something wrong?  My doubts began.

If you know me or if you've heard me, you know that is no where near the message that God has given me.  She says she is a Christian, too, and I suppose that is why it hurt so badly.  I really struggled as I found myself reading comment after comment on her article about how other Christians agreed that I was a "lousy messenger" and they gave their opinion, one after one, about my actions in the Buddhist temple in China on Survivor. 

We've all had things said about us that aren't true, we've all had our feelings hurt and we've all been judged by public opinion, so I know I'm not the only one.  It is so hard to face rejection and slander.  Especially when it comes from other believers.  Man, I felt hung out to dry!  I have heard it said before that the Christian "Army" are the only soldiers that shoot their wounded.  I know this breaks the heart of God.

The week has gotten better as I focused not on what these people were saying, but on what God had to say about me.  He knew the truth.  He knew everything that was going on - even before I did.  And I have to trust that He has a purpose in allowing me to stumble across this article.  Every Christian speaker I know has this issue at some point.  We all face this.  Even the Apostle Paul did.  Look at 2 Corinthians 6:7-8:

We faithfully preach the truth.  God's power is working in us...We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us.  We are honest, but they call us impostors.  

He goes on to say in verses 11-12....

Oh, dear Corinthian friends!  We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you.  There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us.

I'm really sad that Paul had to go through that but honestly it gives me comfort to know that even he struggled with this very thing.  Our being accepted by those who we speak with is not the issue - the issue is were we obedient in saying what God wanted us to say!  And if so, we need to trust that He will use it to open the hearts and minds of those we speak to.  And when we mess up, we need to trust that God will still use what we say because even when we are unfaithful, He is still faithful.  He will use it to help us grow, one way or the other. What we cannot do is cower in the face of public opinion and become fearful of speaking out again.  That is exactly what Satan would love for us to do.

God will allow these things in my life to test me and see where my heart is - will I crumble when people don't like me or slander me?  If so, I'm in the wrong ministry because every person I read about in the bible who stood for Christ and spoke about Him was hated by many, many people. Yes, there are days when I wake up and think "It sure would be easier if I could just keep my mouth shut!" but it's in my bones - I cannot keep from speaking about Him.  And I hope that when this happens again (I won't be delusional and assume this is the last time!) I pray the hurt and pain will go quickly as I dwell on scripture and truth, not slander.

I choose to surround myself with godly people who are in the scriptures and get counsel from them.  I cannot take counsel for this ministry from people I don't even know or who don't know me.  I have a group women who I meet with each week and we pray, seek truth together and go through each talk I give to make sure we are being good stewards of God's Word with this ministry.  I have a husband who gives me honest feedback.  God has blessed me with an amazing mentor who helps me stay on track.  These are the voices God gives me to listen to.  And what a blessing they are! 

I'm learning that public opinion is no yardstick for measuring truth.  If I base my ministry on what those who do not know me say, I could become discouraged,  begin to doubt my call and I could be easily deceived.  Do I believe this is what God has called me to do?  Absolutely.  Will I mess up occasionally?  Absolutely.  Will I be slandered?  Yes, I will.  But will I give up?

Never.

...A person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.  Romans 2:29b