Unveiling Hope

Everyday

May 31st, is the National Day of Prayer in Canada. I think it should be an international day of prayer. If anything saddens me about this day it’s the fact that it should observed and celebrated not just once  year, but everyday.

I will be praying for the nations. I will be praying that God will give wisdom to those who lead in government. I’ll be praying for unity in the vision of those who love and serve God, especially the pastors and leaders. I will be praying for peace in Jerusalem. I will be praying that all nations who claim to be allied with Israel with join together and stand as one. I will be praying for you – you who are reading this right now; I pray that you will be filled with peace and wisdom and understanding and that the grace of God will be with you.

Tomorrow, I’ll be praying for the same things I prayed yesterday – and I’ll just keep on praying because I know that God answers prayer everyday.

"I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; 
 give ear to me and hear my prayer," Ps. 17:6.

Re-gifting

Merriam-Webster defines the noun “gift” as: “something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation”.

Normally, a gift comes from the heart from the one who has it to give. Every once in a while, and I’m sure it’s happened to all of us, we receive a gift that just – well – you know – the gesture was thoughtful and all, but eek! For the most part however, the gifts we are given are a reflection of the giver’s heart for us; the gift can be a tangible or intangible expression of their love for us. Some of these gifts turn out to be family heirlooms that are handed down from generation to generation and while the monetary value of the gift may or not be significant they hold an incalculable, intrinsic value that render them irreplaceable. These are the gifts that cannot and should never be re-gifted.

If you’ve been reading Unveiling Hope for any length of time, you know that there are some things that I am so passionate about I cannot keep my quiet about them. I’ve argued with myself back and forth for weeks about whether to post this. It’s burning inside me. I cannot hold it in any longer.

God promised, to His Chosen People, a land flowing with milk and honey to the descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Under the leadership of Moses, God brought back His people to a land He first gave to Abraham. This was His gift to His People. It belonged to Him and was His to give. Until 1948 most everyone but the Jews failed to recognized Israel as a state, or it’s right to be a state; sixty-one years later it seems little has changed – how tragic.

My heart has been burdened to pray for an impartation of wisdom for the Knesset. In the name of peace, as I too often read, the government continues to consider re-gifting God’s transfer to them. What makes me weep is the fact that Israel’s enemy does not really want their land – they want to be rid of Israel – the Jews – God’s Chosen. If every Jew in Israel moved into the least desired corner of the country and gave the rest up – in the name of peace – as God lives that would be the next parcel of land Israel’s enemies would want.

I pray O Lord, wisdom, courage, understanding, and revelation for the members of the Knesset. I pray for your Truth to be unveiled in the media. I pray for those who claim to be allied with Israel to stand up with a firm spine and not simply speak words of affirmation and encouragement, but to move with action and in prayer for Israel at an international level.

“But if I say ‘I will not mention him or speak anymore in his name,’ his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed I cannot,” Jeremiah 20:9 NIV. 

So, Where's the Blessing?

On Sunday evening my eldest son was to swing by my place and pick up his brother and me; we were planning a dinner out together. He called 4 minutes before he was scheduled to pick us up and asked if we could meet him there half an hour later. I agreed, but I let my impatience get the best of me. So, I occupied myself for about twenty minutes before my youngest son and I left.

Dinner was good. The company was great. Just as the waitress was bringing the bill my eldest mentioned the word “egg”. I jumped out of my seat with immense panic building up. “Sweet Jesus! I left a pot of eggs boiling on the stove!” (Not just a ruse to get him to pay the bill). I darted off. I broke every speed limit on the way home, praying for help and praying for forgiveness for breaking the law. As I was approaching the turn off to the intersection nearest my home, I rolled my window down to see if there was a smell of fire in the air. As I rounded the corner I looked for a fire truck and saw none. I jumped out of my car, it may have still been moving for all I can recall, and I ran into the house. It was full of smoke, the stench of 8 eggs was glued to my walls, floors and ceiling, and the smell of burnt teflon permeated the house. There remained in the smouldering pot half an egg. Those eggs were hard boiled alright – to the tune of 2 hours!

My dog Buddy was no where to be seen. I ran to the patio door to let some air in and then ran to the front to open the door. Just as I opened the door Buddy appeared out of no where and darted out the front door and stood by my car. “How could you do this to me,” was the look on his face. “You know I’m afraid of the smoke detector!” I’m sure even he prayed during those two hours. Buddy ended up with egg all over his face and so did I. It took my son and I over an hour to clean up the mess.

So, where’s the blessing in all this? All the way home I prayed and prayed and begged and pleaded that everything would be okay and that I hadn’t burned down my neighbours’ homes or killed my dog. He answered my prayer. In the natural scheme of life, my home should have gone up in smoke Sunday evening. The fact that it didn’t was a God thing. That was supernatural. There was no luck involved. It was answered prayer. Thank you, Lord.

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us,” 1 John 5:14.

If You Love Me

 

It’s easy to say the words “I love you.” It’s too easy to to say “I love you.” Its meaning, for some, has almost been relegated to the same level as “let’s do lunch,” or “I’ll call you.” The word love seems to have lost its true meaning in this world. We love cars, television programs, fast food and each other; how can that be?

Talk is cheap – as they say. There are people however who don’t need to ever say those words because their actions speak so much louder. They walk the walk and don’t just talk the talk. They show their love rather than convey the sentiment.

Jesus was an example of love because He is the expression and embodiment of love. He was clear about walking the walk. He said, “If you love me, you will do what I have done.” Everything Jesus did, everything He said, was rooted in love.

Jesus wept over Jerusalem. The prophets before Him wept over Jerusalem. God weeps over Jerusalem and instructs us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

February 10th is election day in Israel. If you love God, you love Israel; there can be no separation of the two. Israel was His first born, His chosen treasure above all peoples and nations. Jesus was His first born in the flesh. We are blessed to have been adopted into this family. We cannot truly say we are part of a family if we do not love it – all of it.

Please, pray for the peace of Israel, the peace of Jerusalem. Pray that our Sovereign and Almighty God will bless Israelis with a heart to exercise their right to vote. Pray that He would give all voters understanding and wisdom. Pray that the new government will follow God’s law and lead Israel into peace – the peace that he has longed for.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they be secure who love you! Peace be within your walls and security within your towers! For my brothers and companions’ sake I will say, ‘Peace be within you!’ For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good,” Psalm 122:6-9.

In 14 Tomorrows

Adventure is NOT my middle name, and my first and last names are not “World” and “Traveller.” I’m a “whiffer” or in plain English – a “what-if-er.”

Since becoming a Christian, my greatest desire has been that should I ever venture to take a trip, I would go to Israel – that’s exactly where I’ll be in less than two weeks from today.

The political unrest doesn’t worry me from the perspective of travelling. In this regard, I’m sure I’ll be safe. There’s more security in Israel than cops at a policemen’s ball. Am I worried at all? Yes – but about stupid things.

I seem to be most worried that this will be the place where I’ll have a heart attack or get bitten by something deadly. I don’t have heart problems and I’ve never been bitten by anything deadly before so I don’t know where that comes from.

I’m worried that, in my absence, something will happen to my sons, but they are healthy and happy (thank God) and they love each other.

I keep thinking about and repeating Jesus’ words “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own,” Matt 6:34.

I’m not worried about tomorrow; I’m worried about 14 tomorrows from today. I keep laying it down and picking it up again. I know that when I worry – even in the worst possible scenario invented in my imagination – nothing ever comes close to matching what I envision. I waste my time and energy.

So, today – publicly – I’m laying it down – hopefully once and for all. I’m going to start looking forward to walking where my Lord has walked and seeing what He saw then, and what He sees now.

In 14 tomorrows, I’ll be shaking my head at myself and repenting for having worried when I should have been praising.

Lord, help those of us who desire to trust in you alone – strengthen us with your mighty right hand.

“I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust’” Psalm 91:2. 

Tithing My Heart?

 During the transition of my BC life to my born again life I learned much – most of all – I learned how little I already knew.

I had only been attending church a month or so when our then senior pastor gave a talk about tithing. OY! Are you talkin’ to me? And all this time I thought all the people placing envelopes in the baskets were wealthy and generous. What an awakening that was.

At first I began to tithe because my desire was to be obedient; my reverence of God was beginning to take root in my heart and soul. But even in my desire to be obedient and give to Him what was His in the first place, my natural circumstances and lack of trust caused me to wince every time I signed the cheque and every time I sealed the envelope. As the weeks and months passed He changed my heart.

Today I find myself examining the present condition of my heart and the more I grow to love God the more I realize that I think I’m tithing my love for Him; I never seem to be able to give Him as much as I want to. It’s not a matter of a fear that I’ll lack what I give, nor is it an absence of love or desire to love. It’s as if there is a part of my heart and  soul that I have yet to connect with – to possess – in order to give it all to Him.

I see the unconditional, unending, and faithful love He lavishes upon me, moment after moment, day after day, and I honestly believe that in some way – I must be holding back. Lord, renew my heart and mind that I would seek you with all my soul.

“The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live,” Deut. 30:6.

It's No Bother

My son called me at work yesterday morning at 7:15. He was rather stressed. “Mom, am I bothering you?” I answered no and asked what was wrong. He had misplaced his coat and these past mornings have been rather chilly. Together we found a solution.

Later in the day, I misplaced something at work – something very important. After turning my office upside down in a rather calm state and to no avail, I began round two, but panic had begun to set in. “Wait a minute. Wait a minute.” I told myself. “Calm down; you know it’s here somewhere.” I was about to ask God to help me, but remembered a conversation I had had recently with a friend. I had recounted a story of my having asked God for assistance in a rather trivial matter and his response was, “You shouldn’t bother God for things like that.” I asked him, “If your son asked for your help finding something would you deny him?” He got the picture.

I asked God for help and He provided, as any loving parent would do. There is nothing about our lives that doesn’t interest God. He cares about what we care about, the big and the small. He loves that He’s the first one we think of when we’re in trouble or in need. He loves that we give Him the praise and glory that He so richly deserves.

Whether your heart is broken and in need of mending or whether you’ve lost your car keys again, it’s no bother to Him. He’s always there just waiting for you to ask so He can demonstrate His unfailing love and affection.

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks find; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened,” Luke 11:9.

No Magic Potions

I’ve never met a satisfied Christian and I hope I never do. I’ve never heard a follower of Christ say, “I’ve had enough. We’re good. I’m completely happy with the level of intimacy I enjoy with the Lord.”

Jesus said all the law and prophets hinged on His two greatest commandments. God is love and there is nothing more important to Him than love. He is all about entering into and maintaining intimate relationships; His ten commandments are evidence of this. The first four commandments concern our relationship with Him and the last six involve how He wants us to relate to each other. It’s altogether uncomplicated. He wants us to get life right.

I’m not one for making generalized statements about any given group of people but in this case I’m going to make an exception. I find that we Christians have a tendency to complicate the practice of engaging in intimate relationships, specifically one with God.

He made it so easy for us. He gave us His Spirit and His Word yet so often we participate in conversations, and read book after book, in order to determine how best to relate with Him, how to take our relationship with Him to the next level. The truth is, there is no magical potion or formula, He’s been upfront on what to do and how to do it.

Jesus made that way for us; He is The Way. The Spirit of God is our Helper and there is nothing He wants more than to guide us in this most important and excellent endeavour. There is only one thing that we can do to grow in our intimacy with Him: “draw near to God and He will draw near to you,” James 4:8.

He’s already done His part, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness,” Jer. 31:3.

This is how we draw near to Him:

·         Read His Word

·         Study His Word

·         Speak His Word

·         Meditate on His Word

·         Behave in accordance with His Word

He said it, not me. “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful,” Joshua 1:8.

Never Alone

I’ve been going through a season of spiritual travailing. I was pregnant with desire to be touched, to be held in the arms of the One I love. I sought Him with everything in me, with longing and yearning. I needed to be with Him in a way I’ve never experienced. What I knew and what I felt were conflicted. I knew I was loved and yet at the same time I felt separated from Him.

For the first time since I gave my heart to Him, I needed more than spiritual love. I felt so very human and needed desperately to be physically held. Frustrated by the reality that this was not going to happen, I poured myself into prayer and time alone with Him.

It was then that it happened. I could see it in my mind’s eye. I went to a place where I sat at His feet, was held in His arms, where we walked hand in hand. For the last few days I’ve spent a great deal of time with Him. I’ve drenched myself in His presence and feel satisfied.

I said hello to someone in church yesterday. His comment to me was, “Still sitting alone, I see.” I smiled and replied, “No. The Lord is sitting beside me.” Only a short time ago, while I know I am never really alone, I felt alone – in a physical sense. I feel His presence now. I know now that I'm never alone and I'll never feel alone again.

Going through this pregnancy has been tough but I knew that eventually its purpose would be revealed to me and it has. My desire for Him had to reach its apex in order for me to fully appreciate being taken to the next level. I’ve been blessed. He’s revealed Himself to me intimately because I longed for Him intimately.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart,” Jer. 29:13.

Vicious!

Our lifegroup has been meeting every few weeks, during the summer break, to maintain our fellowship, one which we worked very diligently at forming. Two weeks ago we met for dinner. Over the course of various conversations one theme was prominent. Each of us had concerns for our children and families, concerns about their health, their emotional growth, their education, their relationships, but most significantly – their spiritual development. Most of us have at least one unsaved child or family member. Some of them are currently backsliding.

We decided, having discussed options that have been tried and tried again, there was only one solution. We committed ourselves as individuals and as a group that our battle was not one to be fought in the natural but in the supernatural realm, hence the birth of the Mothers of Zion.

This Friday past, we came together as one. We began our time together in praise, followed by thanksgiving, naming special qualities of each child being prayed, for and then ...

We marched toward the front line on the battlefield and faced the enemy. We stood on the promises of God, clothed in His armour, and used the greatest three weapons in our arsenal: God’s Word, our mouths, and our righteous indignation.

One of the mothers present described our battle as vicious. Yes ... vicious. I’ve never heard that word applied to prayer, so I looked it up. Merriam Webster’s on-line Dictionary defines vicious as: dangerously aggressive; fierce. Fierce is defined as being marked by unrestrained zeal or vehemence. We were warriors. Standing behind our Commander in Chief, we broke down strongholds and took back what was ours to begin with. The fruit is growing as I write. In His mind, it’s already done.

When we pray for our children, families, loved ones, the unsaved, this is how we fight – no holds barred. These are lives, precious in the eyes of God, so precious – in fact – that He gave His only Son for them. Why would we fight as if we’re punching at the wind? Yes, we were vicious. We were fierce.  And we’re not about to stop because we know we’re on the side that wins.

“Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight,” 2 Sam. 10:12.