BAPTISM SUNDAY AND THE WEEK AFTER!

It was quite a surprise to have people ask me WHY, am I getting baptized.  Three reasons.  1) I wanted to be baptized in the only church I can say is truly my church home.  2)  I wanted to see what its like to be baptized in the lake like Jesus was 3)  Its been quite the last year, and so I wanted to celebrate some renewal and growth.    It was absolutely the greatest time.  God parted the clouds.  No - rain.  It rained all around.  I had friends come I didn't expect would come, and I got some neat gifts I hadn't thought about getting.  People really take baptism seriously.  It went very fast, and the interesting thing is, its been an on-going experience all week.  From our Prayer Team Meeting, to Youth Group night, to a mentoree that I work with from Revive Indiana, to this dog of mine who stops everyone in his path.  What does that mean?  As a service dog I get to take him places like Dollar Tree, Walmart etc.  I get to talk to all kinds of people and pray for them.   Amazing.

God is amazing.  Focus on Him, commit to Him, and things change.  Watch!

IT IS TRUE!

GOD IS IN EVERYTHING!


You can trust Him!  Now you have heard that a million times, haven't you?  When I started reading Jesus Calling, I was mildly interested in this new devotional.  It came so highly recommended that I had to see what all the fuss was about.  So, I have been a Christian for 42 years and I certainly know and have heard about TRUST often, everyday sometimes.  But you do have to get tested on that one to actually GET it!  Yet, I asked myself a couple years ago, do you really believe He will bring all things together for good, no matter what it is.  We have had lots of family trauma over the last 6 years and it was just one crisis phone call after another.

PSALM 112: 7

He shall not be afraid of evil tidings;  his heart is firmly fixed, trusting (leaning on and being confident) in the Lord.

When I really got into the Jesus Calling book I started realizing that, yes, I had gotten lots of evil tidings and I had usually panicked.  Maybe melt downs would be a better word.  My whole emphasis today is, we all get those phone calls, emails, or visits.  Once again in the last two weeks we have had an abundance of surprises with John's brother and pancreatic cancer, just to name a few.  I was pleasantly surprised at myself for having remained calm and just started making calls for prayer.  Why?  Because over the past two years I have seen myself surrender and trust God to bring all things together for His good and ours.  The answers to prayer in the last while have been amazing.  It is really true then, He picks it up when you put it down.  He fixes it so you can see the outcome and either raise the white flag or manage what has come your way.  Manage it with obedience, peace, and trust.  Maybe that order should be, trust - obedience - peace.

If you are experiencing that moment of "sucking air", remember He is the God of all miracles, He does have it, you don't.  Let Go, Let God.  That is an old saying.  I have so much less stress and anxiety.  If I do find I am sucking air, I slap my face, remember Deut 31: 8, Psalm 112:7 and I John 4:4/7.  There so many verses to quote.  Shed light on that dark panic.  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me -  Phil 4. 

WEAR YOUR ROBE PROUDLY!

Have you ever thought about how much time we spend with choosing a wardrobe.  Even to go outside to paint a fence, or dig in the dirt.  Perhaps run the kids to school, or go to work.  How about what you wear to church?  I wonder sometimes what I learned growing up about that.  Seemed to me like we spent a lot of time go to church bazaars and we would come home with a basket full of clothes.  To this day I would rather go to a garage sale, or Goodwill to find a "bunch" of things, not just one.  Save money?  Of course! 

Today I was quite taken with the words from Jesus in Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young.  Wearing the robe of righteousness.  .  .
"Wear my robe of Righteousness with ease.  I custom-make it for you, to cover you from head to toe.  The price I paid for this covering was astronomical - My Own Blood.  You could never purchase such a royal garment, no matter how hard you worked.  Sometimes you forget that My righteousness is a gift, and you feel ill at ease in your regal robe.  I weep when I see you squirming under the velvety fabric, as if it were made of scratchy sackcloth.  I want you to trust Me enough to realize your privileged position in My kingdom.  Relax in the luxuriant folds of your magnificent robe.  Keep your eyes on Me, as you practice walking in this garment of salvation.  When your behavior is unfitting for one in My kingdom, do not try to throw off your royal robe.  Instead, throw off the unrighteous behavior.  Then you will be able to feel at ease in this glorious garment, enjoying the gift I fashioned for you before the foundaiton of the world.

Isaiah 61: 10   I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God.  For he has clothes me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

So you see, we only need one real garment.  Figuratively, of course.  We do need to wear clothing so as not to embarrass ourselves.  But, and I do mean but, walk like you are wearing the Robe of Righteousness and behave as if it is the greatest garment you ever possessed.

THE WHO - NOT THE DO!

Jeremiah 1: 5

Before I formed you in the womb I knew (and) approved of you (as my chosen instrument), and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; (and) I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.

And, I would also recommend reading Psalm 139.  Why?  Because this reminds you of WHO you are, rather than WHAT you do!

Joyce Meyers is always good reading, but this particular concept is something I have to teach a lot of people.  First I had to learn it myself.  Dr. Timothy Warner always said, remember who you are in Jesus Christ.  Eph 2: 6.  Christ invited you to come and sit with Him in the heavenlies.  DO it!  And, know WHO you are!  So many of us get the idea it is what we do that attracts Jesus to us.  Or He must be smiling from Heaven about all the committees, or projects, or a clean home, or clean kids, or what we just did for the lady across the street.  You cleaned her house, but yours is a shambles.  God's Word is very clear here in Jeremiah, and Psalm 139.  It is about WHO he formed.  Not what we formed for Him. 

IT IS ABOUT (YOU) WHOM HE FORMED!

NOT WHAT YOU DO FOR HIM!

See, you are forgetting that nothing we do is ever perfect or really as good as it could be.  So we just work even harder to make it right.  Every thing needs improvement, but that is not the point.

TODAY. . . think about just leaning into Jesus and enjoying His presence.  Walking outside by yourself and looking at His creation.  Praying for your family, praying for someone you could tell all about Jesus to!  Play, enjoy, communicate graciousness.  Just relax!  If you can't, then maybe you had better ask why?  We do quite enough in any given day.  Some part of that should be about the DO with your friend and savior Jesus.

LEAN INTO JESUS!

So you see, I could have said, Lean on the Lord God.  Can I lean on you Jesus?  It felt more intimate to say to him last Tuesday - "Jesus, may I lean into you today?"  And, as I have mentioned before, it would seem and is true, He knows our everyday and He know what we're going to say, think, and do.

I am always amazed at how then my devotionals will accompany that very first thought and feel for the day.  All the scriptures, and comments were directed at lean on Jesus.  Proverbs 3:5.
Lean not on your own understand, and acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will make your days straight.    It freaked me out a little about all that connectedness.  So I packed up Jax and we went to Pokagon for awhile.

That Proverbs 3 is something to concentrate on.  Isaiah 30:15 talks about how . . .In returning (to Me) and resting (in Me) you shall be saved;  in quietness and in (trusting) confidence shall be your strength.

Then today I got caught up in reading about how we could sit quietly and think about a pool of water, or actually go look at one.  Even a glass full of water.  Then hold another glass in your hand, and with the other an eye dropper - drop into that water.  See how it just absorbs into the water.  That is like leaning into Jesus.  Melting into Him for the day.  Not breathing without Him, not busy without Him, not playing without Him present, not sleeping without Him in your dreams.  I love that metaphor.
Not that I can't think for myself, and make decisions, but I sure want to do everything in His name.
Listening to the birds call for each other, think about how His love calls to us. 

Are you listening today, are you taking in His creation?  Or are you doing it all yourself, because someone has to do it?

Read Psalm 37.  All of it.  Commitment to taking in the concept that He is in every detail and facet of your life - means TRUST.  Not leaning on your own understand, but trusting, committing everything to Him.

BEAUTIFUL HOLIDAY WEEKEND!

Of course, I pray you all have a wonderful weekend.  Its been beautiful.  The weather is a gift from God!

Thank Him.

ARE YOU PETER OR THE GUYS IN THE BOAT?

There have been lots of conjecture and stories about how to look at Peter walking on the water.  "You have to get out of the boat in order to walk on water!"  "Well, why wouldn't he trust Jesus to call to him and stay upright?"  The latest is my favorite.  "At least Peter is a risk taker!"  The guys (the disciples) coward in the boat.  "I can hear it right now, can't you?"

Matt 14:  22/33  -  I love this story.  Jesus told the disciples to get in the boat and go to the other side, he would be along.  He went up into the hills to pray.  A storm began to erupt.  Furious winds and rain I imagine.  They grew terrified.  Jesus knew!  So he started walking to them on the water.  Then they really freaked out at seeing this person or something coming across the water.  They called him a ghost.  They were screaming.   He called out to them.  "Take Courage!  I AM! Stop being afraid."
Peter being Peter, said  "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water!"  And, the rest is history.  Peter got out there and was probably pretty proud of himself for beating everyone to the punch and then Jesus gave him the go ahead.  Then what?  Yep, he looked around and saw the fierce wind, rain and crashing waves and began to sink.

So, some of us get all over him for that.  "What you don't trust the Lord Jesus?"  And, I say, Peter was the only one willing to take a risk for Jesus.  Sure he got his perspective wet, but he risked it all to go to Jesus.

What are you willing to risk, to go to Jesus?  Would you get in the wheel barrel on the tightrope and be willing to let Jesus walk you across from one 50 story building to the other with no net?  Be honest!

Think about and ponder - "What are you willing to risk to meet Jesus on the storm of your life, or go on a long journey - knowing he will wheel you over safely?"  It is my belief these days after several decades of learning about this Savior we have, that just stepping out of the boat is the beginning of our love and trust for Him.  We have to do it.  Staying in the boat weeping and afraid - is NOT an option.  What keeps you from stepping out.  Deut. 31: 8.  Reread it again - AMP version.