My Name is On the Account

When I was young, my father had a credit account at a local clothing store.   Although credit cards were around at that time, many small stores continued to have personal accounts for their loyal customers.  As a high school freshman, my father added me to the list of those approved to charge on His account.  I remember calling him because I had found the perfect sweater on sale.  The store owner knew me as Phil’s daughter and agreed to accept my father’s consent over the phone.  In just a few moments, I was signing a charge ticket, as the clerk bagged my new sweater. The store owner wrote my name in his register under my dad’s account.  I was now able to come to the store and charge at will. 

We have a similar spiritual authority.  Jesus said, “Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:24 ESV)  Our heavenly father wants us to have all the benefits the death of Jesus has paid for. We are God’s children, and He wants us to receive what is ours as members of Hs family.  When we are born again, our names are written in His book.  (Concerning who would enter the new Jerusalem) the Apostle John wrote, “only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21:27 ESV)  This privilege is not limited to the new heaven and the new earth.  Because of this family standing, we have been given great authority.  “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.  Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:19-20 ESV)  We should be joyful, not for the authority, but for our place in God’s family. But we are to use that authority, wisely. 

No sooner had I signed that slip, a friend of mine encouraged me to get a pair of jeans that I had also liked.  I now had the ability to do so.  But, even then, I realized that this new ability could not be used indiscriminately.  I was accountable to my father.  To misuse this right would cause me to lose the privilege.  Far worse than that, I would lose the respect I had been given that day. I used that privilege wisely throughout my high school and college years.  I sought permission and acceptable amounts before using the account.  From that day on, I asked and received from my earthly father. 

The apostle Paul encourages believers, “I therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to and beg you to walk (lead a life) worthy of the [divine] calling to which you have been called [with behavior that is a credit to the summons to God’s service,” (Ephesians 4:1 AMP) We are to use the authority Lord has given us in a way that brings honor to Him. We are part of His family.  We represent God in all we do, because we bear His name.  Just as I was known as Phil’s daughter, I am also known as God’s daughter. 

Many years have passed since that day at the Leader Store.  I do not remember the sweater I bought.  I can no longer recall the face of the store owner who was so kind to me.  But to this day, I still remember how I felt to be respected because I was Phil’s daughter.  In a single moment, I felt the freedom of being able to get something I wanted, as well as the responsibility of only using that freedom in a manner my father would approve of.  I guarded that responsibility, as I also attempt to guard the responsibility given to me by the Lord.

Know who you belong to and experience the benefits of being in God’s family. Walk wisely in the authority he has given you.  “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,” (2 Peter 1:3 ESV)  Be responsible in all things. Enjoy life!

Clouds?

Clouds can be very beautiful against a clear sky.  A friend of mine shared that she was driving one day and thanking God for the beautiful clouds she saw in the distance.  She expressed her appreciation for the beautiful sight.  She also began thanking Him for the benefits of clouds.  They provide shade from the heat, block the glare of the sun and release raindrops when needed.  Clouds are an amazing gift from the creator; a gift to be truly grateful for. 

As she neared her destination, she was surprised to find that what she had been viewing on this drive had not been clouds at all.  Rather it had been the exhaust pouring into the sky from a power plant.  I immediately connected with her observation and error.  Living fairly close to this plant, I observe this view almost daily.  There are ‘clouds’ constantly coming from the three smokestacks connected to the building.  It often creates an appearance that the sky is full of beautiful, billowing clouds.  These clouds are white and often breathtaking. 

Have you ever thanked God for something that seemed so perfect to you at the time, yet you later found was a toxic imitation of His true plan for you?  Everything seems to be beautifully falling into place, so it must be God. I have learned a hard, but valuable, lesson from this. 

Like the clouds deception can sometimes look like the real thing. Just after I graduated college, I was looking for an apartment, roommate and job. After I got a job, I met with another girl who had recently graduated. She was looking for a roommate in the same part of town that I was. It all just seemed so perfect. It must’ve been God. I remember even as I told people how God had provided all my needs, I felt like maybe I should ask Him one more time. Unfortunately I did not.  The six months of the lease on that apartment were not very peaceful for either of us. I can’t tell you how many times I wished I had asked God if this really was His plan. It was just what I thought God would do. This shouldn’t have surprised me.  “And it is no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light;” (1Corinthians 11:14 ESV)  What appears to be right is not always direction from the Lord. 

At the end of the lease, my roommate found other housing arrangements. At that time another opportunity arose that seemed to make a lot of sense.  I sought the Lord and godly counsel. I did not make a second mistake. A short time after that, I moved in with a widow who was the sweetest person imaginable. That situation was from God, and it was wonderful. I prayed, and asked God again, and prayed some more before making this move. Not only was God in this, but He was giving me an opportunity to reach out and help someone else. She turned out to be a huge blessing in my life. 

In both scenarios, the clouds and roommate situations, we are seeing what we choose to see. Sometimes, as in the clouds, we are simply deceived by appearance. At other times, as with the roommate, the deception comes by seeing what we desire to be true rather than the truth. Scripture gives us a solution to both of these problems in a single verse. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33 ESV)  When we truly seek (not just glance in the direction of) the kingdom of God, we will see the truth. We will not be deceived by appearances, nor will we be deceived by our own self-centered plans and desires.  God promises to grant the true desires of our hearts, even when we are not sure what those desires are.  “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4 AMP) Sometimes these secret heart cries remain secret, even from us, until we delight in Him. 

So when you see something that appears to be beautiful, be sure to take a closer look. If it is truly from God, thank Him for it.  Enjoy the beauty He is providing you. If it is not from God, run away. The toxic fumes the enemy’s imitation can be devastating. Find the true, life-giving blessings of God.   Settle for nothing less.

Making Almond Butter

A treat that my entire family, and many of my friends, enjoy is my homemade almond butter. It is a tasty spread that is healthy as well. The process of making the butter is time-consuming and requires some attention, but the end result is so worth it.  It goes well with crackers and other rolls or muffins I enjoy making.

You start to make almond butter with either whole almonds or you can use pre-ground almond meal. I generally start with the almond meal which saves a couple minutes.  I like to lightly toast my almonds to get them warm. This step is not required, but also speeds up the process by a couple of minutes.

Sometimes we find ourselves in character building situations that seem like the heat is turned up in our lives. This can be extremely uncomfortable. At times, we may be in the heat of the trial. At other times, this may be a time of preparation. We can take comfort that this phase will prepare us for and shorten a soon coming trial. In the heat of the moment, this may not seem all that comforting. But as we look back, after the work has been completed in our lives, there will be comfort and gratefulness.

Once the almonds have been lightly toasted, they are placed in a food processor. At this point the long process of ‘time and remix’ begins. You turn the processor on high and let the blade whirl. Then you open the processor, scrape down the sides and mix up what has been compressed on the bottom. These steps will be repeated every few minutes over the next 20 minute period. During this long period of time, it appears that nothing is progressing. The ground almonds seem to continually be pressed down and thrown against the sides with no change.

I sometimes feel that my life is going this way. It seems like circumstances keep throwing me around with no apparent benefit.  King David also felt this way.  In the midst of attack from his enemies he cried out to God. “How long ago Lord will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me” (Psalm 13:1 ESV)  He felt tossed around and beaten down by the enemy, very much like my almonds. And the battle seemed to continue raging for a long time. Have you ever felt that you’re in a long period being beaten down and getting up only to be beaten down again? I know I have. I too have cried out, “How long O Lord? Will it never end?” And yet my life is gone on…Time… Re-mix… More time… Remix…

And then finally, there is a change. We are now ready for the finished product. Sorry, not there yet. The change at this point in the process of making almond butter is that the almond meal forms a ball that continues to be thrown around the food processor. When my life gets to the stage, I can get discouraged. Not only has the end of the trial not arrived, but I seem to be in an even worse situation than before. This ball of almond meal does not yet look anything like the finished product. It almost appears to be even farther from butter than before.  I sometimes view myself as being even farther away from what I believe God has for me. I feel the heat of the prior trials was all a waste. I despair of ever becoming what God wants me to be.

And then it happens. That ball of what appears to be an almond paste thins out. In just a few more minutes now the oil from the nuts will be released. You will hear the slurping sound of the oil and you can see droplets, as well. Another minute to go, and all the oil to be released and distributed evenly.  You have almond butter!

In life it’s much the same. Hope can be gone and suddenly a dramatic change can take place within you. In Scripture, oil often represents the Holy Spirit. In an instant God can give you, “the oil of joy instead of mourning” (Isaiah 6:13 ESV)  The power and peace of the Holy Spirit can be released in your life. And you know God has done something great. The Holy Spirit can make the rough smooth, just as the butter will flow smoothly.  The taste of what he is done in your life will be pleasant to family and friends alike.

So when you feel you’re going through time… re-mix…time…re-mix, take heart!  The oil of the Holy Spirit will be released in your life and you will develop that character trait God has been preparing. And you will be as sweet blessing to those around you.

A Taste For the Finer Things

Do you have a taste for the finer things in life?  

After eating healthy for the past two years, I find that my taste buds have actually changed.  They may physically be the same as always, but what they crave has changed.  I no longer want the package mixes of foods. Sugar tastes so artificial.  It may take work to make my own sauces (including BBQ) and dressings, but I love the finished product. My homemade desserts are the best.  I also love sharing these with others. 

Spending more time in the Word everyday has changed my tastes as well.  I find that some of the activities that I once enjoyed, no longer seem as important or as satisfying.  It's not that there was anything wrong about what I was doing.  I just no longer want to spend my time on these things.  (Don't assume that I don't spend any free time on other things.  It's just far more limited and I’m more selective.)  

Eating just a small portion of what is not a good food can make me feel awful for hours.  It’s not guilt.  It’s actually an uncomfortable feeling in my body. Now that I have lived headache free, even a slight headache is more than I care to deal with.  Whereas once it was the norm, now it is unacceptable. 

Partaking in former activities that may not have bothered you in the past, may begin to bring regret and a feeling of waste.  “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.” (1Corinthians 6:12 ESV)  There are many activities that are perfectly acceptable in moderation, but spending too much time on anything can get in the way with quality time with God. 

I remember where I used to be.  I was significantly overweight and very sick.  Between the asthma and extreme pain issues, I could barely walk a flight of stairs without needing to rest and wanting to cry.  Getting on the floor to play with my dogs just did not happen.  I could barely bend down to put their food bowls on the floor without wincing as my back and shoulder complained.  It’s a place I never want to return.  I don’t even want to begin down that road. 

Jesus Christ makes all things new.  I cherish the changes He has made in me.  My heart is sensitive to others so much more so than before.  I have a peace and joy that stays even when life around me gets rough.  I love hearing the Father give me directions on how to bless others.  I don’t ever want to return to the anxious, sad Christian I was. 

So I have a taste for the finer things of this eternal life.  I love having and developing the fruit of the Spirit.  “ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV)  My taste buds have changed and I am glad.  Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! (Psalm 34:8 ESV)  Taking refuge in God is a great place to be. I have tasted of His goodness and nothing can compare!  I cannot return to an ordinary life.

Can I keep this for the rest of my life?  Just like regaining lost weight or relapsing into bad health habits, it takes a complete lifestyle change to keep from losing the positive benefits.  I have found a way to keep this sweet essence on my tongue and health in my bones.  Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. (Hebrews  13:15 ESV)  “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22 ESV)  With a song of praise on my lips and the joy of the Lord in my heart I will walk in this new health. 

Daily, decision by decision, bite by bite, I must choose to feast on the finer things of this walk with God.  Will you  walk and feast with me?

Are You Dressed for Success? (Armor of God 8)

For the job that I currently have, I wear a company issued uniform.  It consists of a white blouse and black blazer that have logos on them.  There are also black pants, a name tag and my ID badge.  All are require to be clean and worn when I arrive at my desk each morning.  The uniform is not complete unless it contains all the pieces that were issued to me. 

I have completed the last seven posts on the individual pieces of the armor of God and the garment of praise. I did not feel this could be complete without putting it all together.  Just as my uniform is not complete without all the items included, neither is our spiritual armor complete without all the items listed.  We are told to put on the full armor of God. "Therefore take up the whole armor of God,  that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.  Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;  and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,"  (Ephesians 6:13-17 ESV)  All of the items are important and meant to be worn together. 

The gait belt of truth provides stability and balance.  The bullet proof breastplate of righteousness provides protection for our hearts.  The running shoes of the gospel of peace have us surefooted and ready to run the race God has set before us.  The wall of faith is the great first line of defense for our entire body.  And the protective helmet of salvation guards our mind. All of these pieces of armor, worn together, protect us from falling when times of trial and testing come.  We may waver, but we will stand strong in the end.

Although my ID badge is least visible, it is actually the most important piece of my uniform.  Whereas the other four items I wear deal solely with outward appearance, my ID badge is also a critical tool of my job.  It confirms that I belong here.  It grants me access to the building and any locations I require to go to perform my duties properly.  And connected to the badge are the two small keys to the file drawers where all my paperwork and supplies are kept.  Without this critical part of my uniform, I would not be able to perform my duties.

 The only item on the Ephesians 6 list, described to be offensive, is the sword or sharp blade of the word of God.  We are to fight spiritual battles with the God-breathed, Spirit-led, resurrection power-filled scripture.  Interestingly, we put on each of the other pieces by renewing our minds to this living word.  ^“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,” (Romans 12:2a ESV)  We are transformed from ordinary to extraordinary in God.  Weaklings become warriors with His word on our tongues.  We can perform any task he calls us to.

Would I dare show up to work with only part of my uniform on?  No, I would be sent home.  Yet we go through our daily lives wearing only pieces of our armor.  This should not be true.  My uniform identifies me.  I have both the company logo and my nametag.  It tells both who I work for and who I am.  It associates me with others who wear the same uniform.  It provides what I require to perform my task.  I come to work ready.

Don’t show up for your day without your spiritual uniform, the armor of God.  You will be identified as a child of God almighty.  Your name will be recognized by all and feared by your foe.  A united front will be formed with other believers, and you will have all that you require to face the joys and trials of each day.  Face each day dressed for success in the Lord.

The Under Garment of Praise (Armor of God 7)

Have you ever had that itchy sweater that you loved, but it drove you nuts to wear?  I currently have a green one like that.  It’s warm and the sleeves are plenty long, but wherever it touches my skin, it itches.  I have found myself not wearing it as much as I would like.  I just cannot find the right shirt to wear underneath it.  Some of the shirts I have tried leave too much uncovered skin.  Others show around the collar and just make the sweater look wrong.  Unless I want to wear a turtleneck that matches, I seldom wear the sweater at all.

Do you feel that your armor is like that itchy sweater?  Quoting the truths of the word of God may not be natural unless you are already seeing them at work in your life.  Believing who you are in Christ may be very difficult, when all you see is your past or current mess-ups.  Desiring to take the message of God’s peace to others may be far from your thoughts, when you are clinging to pieces of it yourself.  Dreaming about all God has planned for you may seem futile when getting through today takes all the energy you have.  Having the energy to pick up the shield of faith or sword of the Spirit seems nowhere in sight.  I’ve been there.  I get it.

So what is the perfect undergarment for this heavy armor? Praise! “Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)” (Psalm 150:6 AMP)  That includes all of us. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “… To grant to those who mourn in Zion – to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:3 ESV)  God has given us this garment. Praise replaces a tired, ready to give up, spirit.  He will make us strong like an oak tree.

Praise, according to Webster’s dictionary, is “to express thanks to our love and respect for (God).”  Synonyms for praise include admire, appreciate, celebrate, command, honor, bless, magnify and proclaim. This is far from a complete list, but gives us a sense of the meaning of the word. Praise is a verbal expression of how we feel about the greatness of God. We can best do this by proclaiming to ourselves and to others just who God truly is.

There are many verses in the Bible that we can speak out loud to remind ourselves just how big and powerful the God we serve is.  Prophets of old like Nehemiah and Jeremiah express their acknowledgment of God’s greatness. “You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.” (Nehemiah 9:6 ESV)   “Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.”  (Jeremiah 32:17 ESV)  They can be examples, as we make these expressions our own. Throughout the Psalms you read proclamations of how great God is.  ^“For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.” (Psalm 135:5 ESV)  “the Lord is righteous in his ways and kind in all his works.” (Psalm 145:17 ESV)  We can go on through the Scripture finding examples of how others praised God. In Revelation the angels cry, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8b ESV)

Besides the examples from the Word, we have many modern day examples of praise. There are great worship songs continually being written. Many of these touch our hearts as we sing along. Songwriters are expressing their praise of our heavenly father. I also find myself encouraged when I put on worship CD. Something inside me cries, “I feel the same way. You are great, God! I love you!”

These examples from the scripture and from music are great ways to begin to praise.  Then go on and tell God what you feel.  Acknowledge how great He is.  Express you love to Him.  Before you put on the armor of God, take out your Bible or some good music and focus on who God is. Allow yourself to be amazed by his character and power. Let your heart and mouth cry out praises to our great and mighty God. And then the task at hand and the weight of each piece of armor will be lightened. When you start by putting on the garment of praise, that uncomfortable feel, like my itchy sweater, will no longer be there. Just as I enjoy the warmth of my sweater, you will begin to enjoy the feeling of protection your armor provides. And you will be ready for whatever battles may come in the day ahead.

Skillful Cuts by a Sharp Blade. (Armor of God 6)

As I began working in restaurants, I quickly found that one of the most dangerous tools in a kitchen is a dull knife.  Because it does not perform properly, the user is more likely to ignore safety precautions and in turn be cut.  Also the movement required to make proper cuts become awkward and require extra force.  This can not only cause injury to the user, but often results in poor cuts and damaged foods. 

A surgeon also requires the sharpest of instruments to perform delicate surgeries.  He would never dream of using a chipped or dull scalpel.  The results to the patient would be disastrous, and possibly cost a life. 

Likewise, a soldier does not enter a battle with a weapon that he is not sure is in top working order.  Whether a gun, blade, grenade or any other weapon, it must be in peak operating condition.  Knowing that the weapon will perform as needed enables the soldier to enter the battle with confidence.  This can be the difference between life and death. 

Like these tools of the trade, we are to utilize the Word of God.  “And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.” (Ephesians 6:16 AMP)  We do battle with the spiritual forces of darkness by brandishing the Word of God to counter all lies.  The Word is powerful and sharp. “For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 AMP)  

All of our craftsmen, chef, doctor and soldier, train extensively to become proficient with the tool or weapon they will use in their craft.  They must not only choose a quality tool, they must learn to use it skillfully.  They also use their skills regularly and refresh themselves on technique. 

 We must do the same with the Word of God.  The Word is readily available.  Many people own several translations.  And now with computers and other electronics, bible apps can be downloaded for free.  In English (or another predominant language) speaking countries, having access to our ‘sword’ is not as much the question as being able to use it properly. We are told to, “Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.”(2 Timothy 2:15 AMP)     

Our Ephesians verse states that it is the sword that the Spirit wields.  The definition of wield is to “govern, possess, or have control over.”  We learn the word, but allow the Holy Spirit to give us understanding and bring it to mind as needed. He alone must govern and control our use of scripture.   Jesus encouraged His followers,  ^“And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say,  for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” (Luke 12:11-12 ESV)  The Holy Spirit is faithful to bring the word to our remembrance.  

A skilled chef takes great pride in preserving his knives.  He cleans and stores them with great care.  Medical facilities have stringent standards for keeping all surgical tools both clean and at peak operating status.  A soldier also cares meticulously for his weapon.  His gun is cleaned regularly, not just after it has been fired.  Bayonets or other blades are kept sharp. 

Likewise we must care for our weapon.  Our bible is not a book or an app on our computer or phone.  It is the all-powerful Word of God.  We must care for it by studying and keeping it in our hearts and minds.  It will cut through all the noise in our lives and fight off the lies we too often believe. 

The book of Revelation gives us a picture of Jesus, the living Word of God, wielding the sword.   “and from His mouth there came forth a sharp two-edged sword, and His face was like the sun shining in full power at midday.” (Revelation 1:16b ESV)  Like this image of Jesus we are to face all situations in our lives with scripture on our tongue.  As we fight, it will cut down the enemy’s assault.  As we encourage, it will bring healing to the hurting.  As we praise, it will bring both beauty and a sweet flavor to our world.  This flavor will be enjoyed both by us and those we encounter.