Unveiling Hope

Finders Keepers

In order to find something it must have first been taken, lost, removed or misplaced. I’ve made some pretty good finds over the years. I once found a twenty dollar bill on the side walk. I found a collection of original Disney books from my childhood that had been misplaced after a move. Aside from tangible finds, I have found friendships in unlikely places. I have found hope in unlikely circumstances. But, the most significant find of my entire life was something I wasn’t even aware was mine in the first place – and the timing was absolutely perfect.

In yesterday’s post I wrote about Queen Vashti being banished from King Ahasueras’ palace and her having been stripped of her crown. Vashti lost her position as queen and likely her social status. She lost the privilege of being royalty and she lost her husband – all in one evening – all because she said “NO!”

It wasn’t long after her losses that the King issued a proclamation that a search for beautiful virgins would commence. His eunuchs were charged with finding a suitable bride for the king. They searched high and low and found many of them. They were brought into the palace where they underwent a one year preparation period of beautification; this likely included being taught the palace rules and royal protocol. Enter Esther. The bible tells us in the book of Esther that she found favour in the eyes of the head of the eunuchs, she found favour in the eyes of the king, and she found favour in her uncles’ eyes. Eventually Esther was made Queen. Vashti’s loss was Esther’s gain; finders keepers, losers weepers.

Although the book of Esther is, as far as I know, the only book of the Bible that makes no mention of God, His presence through His grace and favour is unmistakeable. I have suffered many losses in the last few decades. I lost my self respect. I lost my identity. I lost my confidence in people and so much more. Four years ago, I thought – regardless of my position in life, or possessions – that I was a loser with a capital “L”.  I spent countless years looking for the unknown something that was missing in my life. I may have found many things, and turned to many things, but nothing ever relieved that sense of loss.

It wasn’t until one afternoon in October 2003 that I thought I had given up hope that I would ever find whatever it was I was looking for but it was in that very same moment the real search began. That afternoon I began looking and seeking with all my heart and soul. I called out to God and challenged Him to show Himself, to show me that He existed. I don’t know why because I still really did not comprehend what it was I had been looking for all this time; O knew then it had something to do with Him. His timing was perfect. I found favour in His eyes.

The thing about finding stuff is that if you’re not really looking, you may not find. I never had a relationship with Jesus, so I hadn’t really lost it. But if you think about it, He was always there, in every circumstance, in every step, every breath – He was calling me to Him and I kept on saying “NO.”

These past four years, and I suppose for the rest of my life, I am going through a beautification process like Esther did before she met the king. He found me at the very moment I was most lost.

What I love most about having been found and learning how to seek the treasure of a relationship with him is the knowledge that He thinks I’m a keeper. I found Him because He wanted to be found, but I didn’t find Him until I began earnestly searching for Him. My most significant find was life, my purpose, my destiny, my hope, and my King. I will never lose my crown or position in His Kingdom.

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

The King's Banquet

The Book of Esther begins with an account of two banquets thrown by King Ahasuerus. The first banquet was not your average run-of-the-mill party. Verse four indicates “he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendour and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days.” We are then told that Ahasuerus threw yet another banquet, immediately after. Everyone “great and small” was invited. This party was to last seven days. But something happened to ruin the King's fun; it ended up putting a damper on the party and cramping the style of many of the men who were there.

It was on the seventh day, after Ahasuerus was “merry with wine”, that he sent for Queen Vashti. Vashti had been hostessing a party of her own. Verse eleven says, "'Bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown, in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty', for she was lovely to look at." Perhaps Vashti was merry with wine as well; maybe she was too busy; it’s not inconceivable that she didn’t feel like being a “show piece” at this particular moment in time – whatever her reasons – she flatly refused to obey the king’s command.

It’s what follows that is of most interest to me. In verse fifteen, Ahasuerus asked his legal authority, “According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti for she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus?” His advisor never gives an answer. In fact, he describes Vashti’s behaviour, the possible effects and/or consequences it might have on the male population in his vast Kingdom and then proceeds to give his advice. His advice pleased the king – take away Vashti’s crown and replace her. Our King doesn't take advice and He doesn't give advice. He has the same law, it is unchanging, it is fair and equally applied.

For years I was repeatedly issued personal invitations from The King. It wasn’t until 4 years ago that I finally accepted the invitation. The wonderful thing about our King is that He never commanded me to come before Him. My repeated refusal to accept His invitations never resulted in my being banished from His sight, although had I not eventually had a change of heart, before the end of the party – so to speak – I would have been banished – no more invitations. All invitations eventually expire.

King Ahasuerus wanted to “show” Vashti; he wanted to display her and her crown. His actions spoke volumes of insecurity and false pride, “as if all my riches aren’t enough to impress you, wait until you see my woman and her crown!” Our King doesn’t need to put us on display; He displays His Glory through us, through His great love for us. Frankly, we’re not all that impressive. He doesn’t need our love or adoration. He’s the King of Kings. He doesn’t need to prove Himself – no one could possibly meet the His standard. He’s got nothing to prove to the “great or small” of this earth.

Vashti messed up – yes. In those days, especially before the king, a woman did not refuse her husband’s command. Ahasuerus and the other men were afraid that her behaviour would incite the other women to the same type of behaviour. Our King gives us the choice to reject Him. But when we choose Him and mess up, He doesn’t strip us of our crown and He doesn’t seek to replace us.

What brought “glory” to Ahasuerus was the adoration of the people because of what he could do and what he possessed. What brings glory to our King is what He gave us, His Son, that we might be reconciled to Him in an unfailing, unconditional love, that we might have eternal life. It’s His Son and Spirit within us that are His crowning glory to bring others into the same covenant relationship.

We are the Bride of Christ. At the wedding banquet we will receives crowns that will never rust or tarnish. We will be the queens of the Most High King – that is if we choose not to refuse the invitation.

Have you accepted your invitation? If you haven’t, scroll down the side-bar to the “Ready” button. There’s an invitation waiting for you. The choice is yours.

The Greatest Gift

Whatever you do between 9 and 5, whether you’re a stay at home mom, an accountant, a nurse, or a construction worker, it’s very likely that what you work at is an expression of giving. Whether you get paid for your services or not makes no difference because it’s not just about the money is it? It feels good to do a good job. It feels right. I feel honoured and privileged to serve my boss and my colleagues.

Our service is a gift from God and it’s a gift to God. As Christians, we often agonize over the service we offer to God and His children after our regular 9 to 5’s. No matter what we do in our everyday life, we’re serving a purpose; we’re serving His purpose. It’s His gift to us.

At the first Passover, God struck the firstborns of Egypt. In doing so, He sanctified to Himself the firstborns of Israel. Instead of taking them, He appointed the Levites to minister to Him. Leviticus 8:19 reads, “And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the work for the children of Israel in the tabernacle of meeting, and to make atonement for the children of Israel.”

God gave Aaron and his sons the gift of service. Serving God and His children is an honour and privilege. This service served two purposes: it glorified Him and it served His children by covering them.

God loves it when our service to others brings glory to Him. Whether we’re changing a diaper, preparing a budget, emptying a bedpan, or laying bricks; we have been given a gift of service. How we serve, the attitude in which we provide our service, is the gift. It’s not limited to what we do in our community church or outreach.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward,” Col. 3:23-24.

A gift is just a pretty box until it’s been opened.

One Powerful Prayer

Alone, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Alone, He fed thousands with a few loaves of bread a fish. He told His disciples that after He departed they would be able to do greater things than He. He said, “Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these,” John 14:12.

Jesus knew that His power was the very power that spoke the world and everything in it into existence. Imagine the power of one.

Jesus imagined beyond what we can conceive. Jesus imagined harnessing the power of one exponentially – we know this and are witnesses to it in the Book of Acts. It is there that one convert turned to 120 then 3000 and the reason why is found in Acts 4, “All the believers were one in heart and mind.”

In the beginning, the very beginning, the entire earth was of one heart and mind – so much so that it captured God’s attention. “Now nothing that they purpose to do will be withheld.” These words He spoke concerning the people who proposed the construction of the Tower of Babel. While they were, for all intents and purposes, one body – their focus was not in God’s will and so He scattered them.

When all of God’s people are of one heart and mind, when they all gather with one focus - for His will to be done – that is One Prayer – one powerful prayer.

Following Side by Side

I have a walking friend. Evelyn and I walk together often, in more than just the literal sense. Where we walk changes, what we talk about changes, but the one thing that never changes is the fact that when we walk we always walk side by side.

There are several wonderful women in my life with whom I am blessed to walk with spiritually. Our church is pregnant with women who are unified in the Body and eager to reach out within and without.

Any woman who has ever been pregnant knows that when the time comes, they are often told to walk to bring about labour. Lifecentre women have been uniting in a vision to bring travailing women together – mighty warrior women of God’s Army – to birth His vision for the Body of Christ to connect with all women, inside and outside of the church.

Through various forms, women around the globe are clothing themselves in armour to battle against the powers and principalities that have declared war through division. The call of God is, and always has been, to join together as one and follow – to go out and be His Body.

While sitting in church on Sunday listening to our beloved Pastor Joyce, the Lord breathed a word into my heart, “See Mighty Women the path you travel. I am calling you to walk alongside each other, but to follow in the footsteps of my Son.” If we’re not following together how can we walk in and fulfill the destiny He has for us?

I’ve heard Pastor Joyce say many times that women are God’s secret weapon. Are we not gifted both naturally and supernaturally to connect and nurture? Are we not gifted both naturally and supernaturally to reconcile in the area of relationships? Ultimately unity is achieved through intimacy; it begins with a loving relationship with God, through Christ, and flows - like living water - through us into our relationships with others. We honour God when we honour each other. We honour the Body when we walk alongside each other following in the footsteps of He who went before us.

Walking together we become an impenetrable force, a strong wall laid upon Christ, the Cornerstone of the Church. “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility ... that he might create in himself one new man in place of two,” Eph. 2:14-15.

Do you know someone who is walking alone?

Where's Waldo?

Recognize that guy? I spent about two years taking my kids through the Where’s Waldo phase. The publishers put out about a gazillion books and of course we bought every single one. Talk about eye strain! I couldn’t really say, “Only one page today, okay?” No, each night – we had to go through an entire book. It was a great time for the family to spend together. My boys are ten years apart so the eldest was able to memorize where Waldo was on every page but had the goodness of heart not to tell his little brother and ruin the adventure.

Speaking of adventure, here’s my thought/question for the day: are Christians turning into a group of Waldos? If you walk into a shopping centre, your workplace, a community park – do the Christians stand out or blend in? Do you stand out or blend in? There’s something to be said about blending in. I understand that we are called to go out into the world. I understand that we need to be indigenous in doing so – we need to be able to relate to the culture in the way they relate to each other. But we were set apart. We were called to go out. We are to be “in” the world but we are not “of” the world. If this is the case, how do we stand out?

Jesus said, “A new command I give to you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another,” (John 13:34-35). Wordnet Princeton defines “blended” as: “combined or mixed together so that the constituent elements are indistinguishable.” We are not supposed to blend in. We are supposed to be salt and light. We are supposed to be seasoned and shine. Unbelievers need to see something in Christians that will draw them to desire a life transforming belief in and relationship with Jesus. What distinguishes us? A fish on the back of our car, that someone notices as we flip the bird at someone who cut us off? A crucifix hanging on a gold chain around our necks, that someone notices after hearing us use the Lord’s name in vain? Or maybe the Bible in our hands as someone overhears us vowing to get back at someone who hurt us? Not quite what He had in mind. There needs to be intention in our very presence. We need to walk it out.

The words “set apart” mean “sanctified.” We are called “saints.” This word means, “ones who have been set apart.” Before we were even born, there was a calling on our lives. There is a purpose in that calling. The ultimate purpose is to glorify God and share the Good News so that none will be lost. When we were born again, we were called to take our positions and fulfill our purposes. “Walk in love,” (1 Cor 16:14). “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control,” (Gal. 5:22-23). 1^st Cor. 13:4-7 tells us what God defines as love. The Bible says they will know us by our fruit. To stand out, to ensure we don’t get confused with Waldo, we need to always: forgive the unforgiveable; love the unlovable, turn the other cheek and tame the untameable tongue (or at least try).

I don’t care where Waldo is and I don’t want to be confused with him. I want to shine His light from a table top, not under a basket. I don’t want to blend in. I want to be welcomed and if I’m not welcomed, I want to persevere until I am, until He is.

Author! Author!

A friend and I were having a conversation about testimonies recently when she revealed that she felt she didn’t really believe she had a story that would interest anyone. She was born and raised in a normal family, had a relatively normal life and has never had any traumatic events or issues to deal with.

There are so few people with stories such as hers. These types of testimonies are those that I treasure in my heart for they are stories of happy beginnings and endings, without the wicked witches, scary stepmothers, terrible trolls, or ornery ogres. They give hope to those who have come to believe that there is no goodness left in the world. They give hope to those who have come to believe that life is all about suffering and surviving rather than growing and thriving.

God is the Author of Life. Only He knows how each and every story will start and end; He gives us the opportunity to pretty much write our own stories. We all have a testimony to share. We’re the main characters in our own stories. God may drop in the odd individual, or add a twist to the plot line, but He always allows us complete freedom when it comes to the main character.

We’re all uniquely and wonderfully made. You and I might share a similar type of event in our lives but no two people experience anything the exact same way. No two people walk away with the identical attitudes and perceptions. While our storylines might be distinctly different there will always remain a relational harmony in which God intentionally works into the theme of every character in every story. We all have hearts that have been broken, fears that sometimes immobilize, and an innate desire to love and be loved. We all need fellowship with others, maybe some more than others. We all have strengths and weaknesses, passions and pet peeves, and we all search to varying degrees for answers as to why we’re here and what our lifestory is really all about.

God’s ultimate goal is that He’ll be invited to take His rightful place as the Editor of our lifestories; only with Him in that position can each and every person have a bestseller regardless of the plots and narratives. We were created to magnify His love and glorify Him. He leaves that decision up to us. There is however a consequence when He has no part. No lifestory will have a happy ending if His touch is not penned throughout the pages at some point. A lifestory only really comes to life when the Creator of Life has spoken His very breath into it. Coming then fully alive let your lifestory testify to His great and unending love.

The question is: will you self-edit and publish, or will you call upon the Author of Life to create a masterpiece?

Filling Jars

I’m what many would call a “baby Christian.” Although, I’ve always believed in God, I was ignorant of the fact that there was only one way to Him. This I was blessed to learn at my home church, The Lifecentre.

Over the last four years of my walk, I’ve spent a lot of time wondering how the Lord could possibly use someone like me, (very shy and introverted), to fulfill the Great Commission. I’ve come to learn, accept and embrace how I have been uniquely made. There is no right way or wrong way to fulfill your calling - you simply answer and let the Spirit guide and teach you; the real blessing comes from understanding how God has knit you together with all your treasures, talents and the time He’s given you to bring Him glory.

For so long, I believed that I would really have to have an internal extreme makeover to bring hope to others. Sometimes, I’m so uncomfortable around people I run in the opposite direction when I see them coming. He only made one Beth Moore and one Stormie Omartian. He only made one "me". He didn’t create us to be like anyone other than His Son in our own uniqueness. I will never be like Beth Moore or Stormie Omartian nor should I ever aspire to be like them.

You see, I believe that God puts people in my path, whether it’s in person (work, home, community, or church), or through this blog. I have hope inside to share. His greatest desire for this world is that none should be lost. I cannot keep silent about the faith, hope and love (1 Cor. 13:13) that has become my life. I have gone from ashes to beauty only because of His great love for me. I want everyone to know what that is.

My life before Christ can be compared to the story of the widow and the oil, found in 2 Kings 4:1-7. One day she had a husband, two beautiful sons, a nice home – life was going along according to plan. One day – out of the blue - she lost her husband and life seemed to deal her harsh blows after that. The laws in those days were such that if you could no longer pay rent, the landlord could take your family as slaves in exchange. What a woman of faith she was. She sought Elisha, the prophet, and he told her to go about the community asking for empty jars. She was then to take the only flask of oil she had and keep pouring into all the jars she had collected. The oil that was poured from that flask was potentially in endless supply, but the number of jars she collected was proportionate to her faith (the oil ran out when the jars ran out). In her time, oil was a commodity, she was able to sell the oil to pay off her debts and had some left over for her own use.

Christ was, and is, my oil. A little more than four years ago, I reached out with my own two sons (and a dog), with perhaps a mere drop of oil left. In my short walk, I’ve learned that the jars I collect are the people He’s called me to pour into. As I pour, I am replenished. It’s a double blessing. Not only are people blessed by the Gospel of Christ, but I’m blessed because I continue to step out in faith. My flask is overflowing! No, I don’t run around, door to door, in my neighbourhood preaching the Good News, but I pray for opportunities in more natural settings. And, then I keep my eyes and ears open. It doesn’t always feel natural to put myself out there but it’s not about me, is it?

I remember how life was without hope. I cannot and will not sit by when I see someone whose jar needs to be filled. I’m called to be the flask. Christ is the oil. Those put on my path are the empty jars. Love is the most important thing to God. The laws of sowing and reaping teach us that the more we sow, the more we reap (what a blessing). Are you willing to fill someone’s jar today? Is there someone you know who needs a word of hope or encouragement? Reach out, step out and see what your faith can accomplish.

If you need your flask filled, please post a comment and I will pray for you. You deserve a life of abundant joy; pressed down and overflowing ... it’s why He came.

Truth or Consequences?

Not all that long ago, my partner and I were required to investigate a case that was perplexing beyond comprehension. While we are both relatively seasoned investigators, we both felt completely out of our sphere of knowledge and comfort. In order to begin investigating we had to research and study the subject matter – even with this beneath our belts we felt inadequately prepared to accept our commission. We had no sooner begun to unfold possible leads when we were requested to provide a full report to the department executives. To say that we felt completely unprepared and unknowledgeable to make such a presentation is an understatement. After months of investigation, the intricacies of the case were so convoluted no one wanted to touch it with a ten foot pole. No one wanted to hear what we had to say. Our findings seemed to fall upon deaf ears. Hearing the evidence and realizing the implications was too much to fathom. The recommended action plans were far beyond what many found acceptable or reasonable.

I’ve recently been reading and studying the Book of Jeremiah. He was a young priest who was commissioned by God to speak to his peers, his countrymen, and the leaders of his nation. Jeremiah felt ill equipped and told God he wasn’t up for the challenge. God told him not to worry, that He would put His words in Jeremiah’s mouth. He did what he was commissioned to do. For forty years he faithfully obeyed. He was mocked, scorned, ridiculed, tortured, imprisoned, and rejected. No one wanted to hear the words God was speaking through him; action was required. They found the action plans to be unacceptable and unreasonable. Aside from the apathy, what struck me most is that Jeremiah continued to obey God when no fruit was ever seen from his labour.

How many of us respond to our callings only to be frustrated by the lack of fruit seen in our labour? How often do you feel as if you’re spinning your tires? I’ve often questioned if I may have missed or misunderstood my calling. And too often, I have allowed myself to become beleaguered by the enemy who uses the term “failure” all too frequently in his attempts to get me off course.

If anyone had the right to want to quit, to walk away, or to feel like a failure, it was Jeremiah. But he didn’t. God’s very tears were cried through this “weeping prophet.” His commission was to speak, to obey and that is what he did. His responsibility ended there.

We are not called to produce fruit; we are called to sow seed. True enough, our seed will sometimes end up growing among the thorns and will be choked. We can cry about it. Jeremiah did. God did. His heart wrenched over those who wouldn’t listen. The most important thing is that the sowing continues. People will believe what they choose, but giving up is not an option. The Good News isn’t always perceived as good news. Many find it unacceptable, unreasonable and unbelievable but that does not change the Truth. We are called to report the truth. Those who refuse to hear it will suffer the consequences, which in itself should be enough to convince us that regardless of who listens, it must still be shared. We can weep but we mustn’t ever give up.

Living and Leaving

Yesterday I visited my friend Joseph’s blog, Seasons of Change. He posted a touching writing and video about a woman who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Her vulnerability and honesty forced me to deal with some residue issues. Over the last few months, several friends and acquaintances have been diagnosed with cancer, heart problems, depression, and other illnesses and diseases. I’ve also become too aware of all the death, heartache and pain that so many people have been going through. Sadness gripped me by the throat when I read the headline last Saturday about 7 young men on a basketball team that were killed in a motor vehicle accident.

People say that death, sickness, and pain are part of living. That’s a hard pill to swallow. But all this sad news has made me think, and think again, about how I choose to view life and death.

I am not afraid of dying, but I am reticent about leaving. I’m excited about meeting Jesus and living my life in His presence, but I am not excited about leaving behind those I love and cherish, especially my children who need me and would be hurt by my departure. If I truly believe that God is my Provider, why this trepidation concerning those I will leave behind? Will He not provide for them as He provided for me? Yes, of course. The basic issue at hand is not whether He will provide but whether they will look to Him for their provision, comfort, fulfillment, and love.

Listening to Charlene speak of her life on this earth, and the new life which awaits her, has compounded the sense of urgency inside my heart. I have many friends and family who don’t know the unfailing and unconditional love of Jesus. I have frequently heard the expression, “you might be the only Jesus some people will ever meet.” I take that to heart. I hear about and witness much pain and sorrow, anguish, disease and death, and my heart breaks for those who will lose someone and for those who feel lost themselves. Where do they turn? On what or whom can they fully depend if they don’t know Christ?

If I am the only semblance of Jesus that some may ever know then it becomes imperative that I completely surrender my fears in order to live life to the fullest, with purpose and in love. So, today I look to God to help me do every day of life with others as if it will be my last day, or theirs. Today, I choose to live and love in the knowledge that all our days have been numbered.