Soul Sister Time

            Henry Drummond said:  Our lifetimes are the cradle to eternity .  I always find comfort in that thought.  I long to truly please God with my life, yet find the more progress I make I discover the further I have to go.  It is because of God’s great mercy and grace that He makes the victorious Christian life seem possible.  It’s only after we truly move towards Him in intimate, vital connection that our eyes are opened to an acceptable reality.  All our spiritual progress is good, but there is so much more to make.  It’s not a bait-and-switch game at all.  There is a glorious freedom that comes with this illumination.  I believe that is what gave Henry Drummond the courage to make that statement.  The joy is the journey here on earth; the destination will only be reached in heaven.             I have the privilege...

              Sometimes you need to give up your faith to get faith.   What I don’t need is the kind of faith that is committed to what I believe is the right way for things to go.   I must constantly guard my heart, mind and spirit from clinging to my own rendition of faith.   For faith to be real, it has to be given by the Spirit of God, and not based on my own understanding.   Faith is sure of what is unseen.             I can’t move forward in faith until I recognize that I carry unexamined expectations of where the road of faith will lead me.   My childish beliefs about faith must be laid aside if I am to grow in true faith.   Since God is always for me, my faith might cause me to believe that everything will work out well for me and therefore not so good for those who come against me.   When the opposite happens, my expectat...

 In the early 70’s Flip Wilson, a popular comedian, made the phrase famous—The Devil made me do it!  It’s easy to joke about the devil, ignore him, or make too much of his power in our spiritual lives.  Paul gives us a balanced approach to facing off with the devil in Ephesians 6.  It is unwise to ignore him but unnecessary to fear him.  I had the privilege to be under the teaching of J.I. Packer recently, and his thoughts regarding Paul’s instructions to all Christians from Ephesians 6 were inspiring.  Packer suggests that Christians today are not instructed effectively about our faith.  In this passage, Paul is giving us the Christian instruction necessary to receive the victory we are lacking in our daily walk with Christ.   An explanation of the failure of Christians to live as Christians may be found in their lack of understanding of what the Christian life is about.   Packer’s outline included seven catechismal questions; your...

            We call it the Lord’s Prayer, but it is the prayer the Lord taught the disciples to pray.   It is so rich insights into the connection we are able to make with God our Father in prayer.   St. Cyprian wrote, What deep mysteries, my dearest brothers, are contained in the Lord’s Prayer!   How many and great they are!   They are expressed in a few words but they are rich in spiritual power so that nothing is left out; every petition and prayer we have to make is included.   It is a compendium of heavenly doctrine. [i]             This prayer invites us to envision the spiritual reality of God, heaven, earth, troubles, glory and power.   If prayed from the heart, it will open your soul to make a genuine and satisfying spiritual connection.   The Lord’s Prayer calls us first to imagine that we are talking to our Father.   Wha...

            Something you really need to learn about God is that He will always do what you least expect.   In fact, I had a seminary professor who advised, if you want to know God’ will, then think about what you want and do the opposite.   I wouldn’t go that far; but if you want to make progress on the spiritual journey, you will only make real progress through hope.             I wrote earlier in the year about my disappointment with God for not allowing Brian and me to go to the Holy Land together.   I’m embarrassed about how much resistance I gave to God’s invitation.   Just when I conceded to the fact that God may not want us to go on that pilgrimage together, my husband wins a trip to the Holy Land and I can go with Him.   Of all the scenarios that I came up with about how Brian and I could go to Israel together, I can guarantee you that this o...

            On the moment by moment journey to focus your heart, mind and spirit on God, you will need to come to terms with your will.               Your will is incredibly weak.   It desires the gifts of God, but it does not desire to give up your own rational and emotional responses that are necessary to surrender to the will of God.   Your will is that God will give you all His gifts like peace, joy, love, self-control.   Your will is that He do it your way and in your time.   You want God’s will when you are walking into a difficult meeting, and you need the supernatural power of God to bring unity.   You want His will when you are enduring another sleepless night and you just want peace.   You don’t want His will when you are faced with the chocolate cake that looks so appealing; therefore you can see how it can work into your health...

            Don’t miss the moments.   Every day God sends us a moment of hope and love.   In fact, I’m guessing that every day there are a myriad of opportunities that we might realize are just from God.   The problem is that we don’t really live in the moments.   Rather, we live for the tasks or events of the day.               The spiritual life is about moments.   I need accountability to capture my moments.   My husband helps me with this.   We try to ask each other what was our Bonum Dei—God-given good—for that day.   It can be as basic as having air to breathe, or as sweet as the smile of a child who is happy to see you.   These simple moments break up the mundane of living and weave together the message of God’s love and purpose for your life.             I lea...

            I like shocking titles.   I’m not sure I achieved what I set out to say with the title I chose.   I want to be clear.   The wrath of God is good.   We would be lost without it.   I’m absolutely indebted to the wrath of God.   I can honestly say that when I truly take in God’s wrath, I can sleep better at night knowing that all will be made right in the world.             Where are these thoughts coming from?   I’ve had a hard couple of weeks.   I’ve had to face some harsh realities of this world.   I have been powerless to change them.   They stink.   There is no other way to say it.   There is so much in this world that is not right and will not be put right in the forseeable future.   It is what it is.             But it isn’t.   It m...

One of the smallest words in the English language is one of the most influential words Jesus used. It is the simple word Go . We find Him using it intensity and almost exclusively after His resurrection. It is the word He used to help Mary Magdalene realize her real purpose in their garden conversation. In that one small word, He eradicated the wrong notions that she needed to prepare His body properly for burial or that she should cling to Him. Rather, her mission was to go and tell the disciples that He was alive and would ascend to their Father. We each have a similar purpose to go and tell others that God is their Father through faith in Jesus Christ. I have been a part of a Go Team at my church. A Go Team is a group of people who come around an individual, couple or family who has been called to missionary service. This is such a fitting name for a group whose purpose is sending missionaries into foreign lands to preach the gosp...

            The Lenten Season invites believers to take part in a corporate fast.   The purpose of a fast is to become more aware of your powerlessness and to help you focus on God.   I think of my fasts from food as a way I show myself and God that I am really serious about the focus of prayer.   Of course as soon as the church gave a spiritual focus for fasting during Lent, we fallen humans found a way to focus on the food rather than the spiritual purpose.   Thus most people know more about Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras that focus on anything but spiritual intimacy.               I first practiced fasting as a teenager with my youth group.   I didn’t realize what a gift this was to learn to fast for a day or two combined with prayer.   I connected this discipline with major decisions, and I often fasted before making major decisions for my life...