The Transforming Word of God

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 I am ever so thankful for so many things: family, health, friends... I am especially thankful for the salvation provided by God through Christ Jesus. But as I thought back over my life, I have to admit surprise at what I discovered to be a main reason for thanksgiving: the trials in my life. I know that must sound strange, but I realized that the major difficulties in my life brought changes in me that cause rejoicing. Let me cite a few: First there was the time my husband was laid off for ten months. I think I've shared before that I used to be a real worrier, especially about our finances. But it was through learning how to worship and praise God during the stress of living on my part-time paycheck plus stretching the severance he received when his job ended. I often turned to key passages (Isaiah 40, Job 38-41, various Psalms) to help me think abo

This morning, as I read Mark's account of the rich young man (Mark 10:17-27), several things jumped out at me in a new way. You remember the story. A young man came to Jesus and asked what he must do to inherit eternal life . After discussing the commandments that the young man had kept all his life, Mark notes that Jesus, looking at him, loved him...  Why have I never noticed or thought about Jesus' love for this young man? Yet, in spite of His great love, He knew what His questioner treasured most and asked him to be willing to part with the treasures of his heart—his wealth and belongings. I imagine this young man had worked very hard to accumulate those possessions and perhaps felt an inordinate pride in his accomplishments. Whatever the reasons, he was disheartened and went away sorrowful. He chose his treasures over eternal life! How that must have saddened our Lord Jesus! He loved the young man yet asked the seemingly impossible of him. What would I have done in h

Some of my best times of communion with God are on the examining table, waiting for the doctor to come in for the dreaded cystoscopy. That's where he inserts a tiny camera through my twisted uretha into my bladder to make sure there is no return of cancer. It's not the fear of a bad report that has me pondering Isaiah 43:1-3; it's the fear of the pain inflicted during the exam. Often the discomfort is minimal but other times... Yesterday was one of those other times. But as I lay there and recited those verses is my head, it lead to a wonderful time of praise and thanksgiving. Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. Wow! The God of all creation has called me by name and I am His. One of millions and yet I can have a private conversation with Him while thousands of others are also having private conversations with Him. I continue to stand in awe of my incredible God. Sometimes I picture Him like a thick blanket wrapped around the e

"Practice Makes Perfect", that well-known proverb. I'm sure you heard it a lot when learning new skills, like playing a  musical instrument or math facts or ... And it is true that we get better and better at whatever we do with practice. So many things demand practice, including spiritual disciplines. Although we know we can never be perfect in the sense that we are faultless or flawless (at least not this side of heaven), we also know that we can grow and mature and soften or even eliminate some of those imperfections through practice. Hebrews 5:11-6:12 teaches the need for maturity, the need to move beyond the infantile need for milk so that we can be fed "solid food." For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food Hebrews 5:12 What's interesting is how verses 13 and 14 define the difference.  for everyone who lives on mi

Reading Ecclesiastes once again, I didn't find it as gloomy as in the past. Perhaps because I read the whole book at once, giving a better perspective to its meaning. I found it amusing that two well known sayings seem to come from this book, although reworded. The first is "Eat, drink and be merry", although I don't think the references it comes from mean quite what it has come to mean in our culture. There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. Ecclesiastes 2:24 The second is, "A little birdie told me": . ..for a bird of the air will carry your voice,  or some winged creature tell the matter. Ecclesiastes 10:20 Yet the real theme of the book seems to be that life is short and all we do in this life is in vain. But the author's conclusion is that only the fear of God really matters. That makes me recall a little thyme I always loved: Only one life 'twill soon be

We tend to think of vices as being things like drug addition, smoking, alcoholism, gambling—those obvious physical addictions. We also know that good things can become addictive, like food and exercise. But what about those hidden vices, heart and mind addictions? When I became a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I laughingly said it was to support my habit,  my addiction. I use my cards for ministry, but the constant desire to get more and more stamp sets is not really necessary. Here are some more examples of things that are not inherently bad but can become vices when they consume us: television, books, electronic games, texting, facebook, and even busyness. It's a matter of their priority in our lives, whether they push away those things that should be priorities, such as our relationships with God and with others or our ability to accomplish necessary work. So often these "vices" are the things that consume our time—and yet we say we have no time to study the Bible,

"Knowing about God is crucially important for the living of our lives", wrote J.I. Packer in his book, Knowing God . In fact, knowing God is crucial to everything else in life! May grace and peace be multiplied to you  in the knowledge of God  and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:2 It's our knowledge of God that multiplies, that grows, grace and peace in our lives. I can persevere through all things, through hardships and temptations, because of my intimate knowledge of God. For example, knowledge of God is what kept me totally free of worry and anxiety as I walked through my cancer. It is my knowledge of God and Christ that causes me to stand in awe of His love for me. It is my growing knowledge of God that has wrought changes in my attitudes and behavior over the years—and continues to grow and change me. God's not through with me yet! I am still a very flawed human being in need of His constant transforming work in my life. His divine power has granted

Before the mountains were brought forth or ever you had formed the earth and world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Psalm 90:2 I think you would agree that it's not that hard to believe, to sense, to think of eternity to come. But to try to grasp eternity past is more than our finite minds can comprehend. Yet God always was, just as He always is and always will be. That's why it makes sense to me that God named Himself "I Am" when He called Moses (Exodus 3:14). He just IS! Before time, which He created, He was. And is. And will be. The same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).  As the psalmist says, God existed before the mountains, before the earth itself. God was there before there was anything! Although we know that, although we assent to that fact mentally, we struggle with the nothingness of His pre-existence. We have a beginning, even though we have no memory of that beginning. The very fact of our beginning makes it

Have you caught the excitement of worshiping God? That joy you feel after sitting still before Him, after meditating on who He is and all His benefits? The total surrender and trust that comes from reveling in the greatness, the glory, the majesty of our God, our Creator, our Savior? So why should we anticipate boredom in an eternity of worship? Of course, we will have our tasks on the new earth that God is going to create for us, but everything we do will be worshipful. How exciting is that? Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. Revelation 21:1 The book of Revelation gives us a glimpse of what our worship will be about. First we see from John's vision that God is worshiped because He existed in His holiness as Lord God Almighty from eternity past, through the present and into eternity to come. Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come. Revelatio

I try to find time each morning to simply worship God before laying my supplications before Him. I've always had certain passages I have turned to as aids, but I decided I need to refresh and expand my worship time.  This morning, I decided to begin with a list of the names of God. That began because last night I jotted down some thoughts about who God is, about who Jesus is, and the contrasts that exist in the word pictures of Scripture.           He is the King who is also the Servant           He is the Shepherd who is also the Lamb           He is the Creator who took on the created, becoming a man           He is the Judge who is also the Mediator           He is the Judge who is also the Friend           He is the Beginning and the End           He is the Righteousness who became Sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21) I'm sure you can think of more contrasts than I came up with, and I would love to hear them. So I began this morning looking up the definition and r

This morning as I sat down to pray and spend time with God, I had planned to pray through one of my favorite Psalms. But my Bible was open to Isaiah 43 where I had been reviewing the first three verses I previously memorized while walking through cancer and I was somehow drawn to that chapter once again. Three verses stood out to me: Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made. Isaiah 43:7 The people whom I formed for Myself  that they might declare my praise. Isaiah 43:21 I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. Isaiah 43:25 Because I am God's child, I am called by His name. United with Christ, I am a Christian. Therefore, God created me for His glory.  It struck me that so many of our prayers are self-centered rather than God-centered. When I pray for my grandson, for my friend's son, and another friends son-in-law, how do I pray? Why do I pray

Matt Chandler, in The Explicit Gospel, writes:      "God’s glory is what drives the universe; it is why everything exists.      "The supremacy of God’s glory is everywhere in the Bible because God’s plan is for it to be supreme everywhere in the world. This is the story of the Bible, not you or me. It is God and God alone, God’s name and namesake alone. The point of everything is God’s glory alone so that to God alone will be the glory." As I let this single fact of God’s glory sink in, I find it affects my thinking—and my praying—about everything. After Moses' first request of Pharoah to let the people go and worship the Lord God, Pharoah  increased the people's burdens, requiring them to find their own straw to make bricks, without reducing their quota. The Israelite foremen complained to Moses and Moses went to God with this complaint: "O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me?" Exodus 5:22  We sens

Unbelief.  Our Community Bible Study lesson this week has set me to pondering the different facets of unbelief.  It is so much more than not believing there is a God; it is so much more than believing the need of purification from sin by the blood of Christ. So much more. In Numbers 20: 10-13, Moses failed to speak to the rock to bring forth water, as the Lord had commanded him. Instead he spoke to the people saying, “Shall we bring water for you out of this rock?”   And then he struck the rock twice with his staff. God was gracious in His love and provision for His people. He still miraculously caused the water to gush out, enough water for the huge congregation of Israel and their livestock!     God’s response to Moses’ action, a response that included Aaron, was not what you would expect:   “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” Num

Watching the birds outside my window on this sunny morning causes me to worship God the Creator.  Perhaps it's their contrast, the way they stand out so vividly against the sparkling blanket of snow.  These tiny creatures who, with their tiny pea brains, know how to fend for themselves as well as how they manage to remain comfortable.  We as humans need layers of clothing in winter to feel warm and as few layers as possible in the summer to keep somewhat cool. Yet these little birds have feathers that apparently keep them warm in winter and cool in summer—comfortable.  I'm sure they took shelter from the wind that caused so many formations in that sparkling snow. Look at the birds of the air:  they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns,  yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?  Matthew 6:26 What a wonder that our Creator God is so detailed, providing for the birds of the air even though we are more valuable than they! What

I never cease to be amazed at the way God works and prepares me for the next hurdle.  A book was suggested for our ABF (Adult Bible Fellowship aka Adult Sunday school), but I didn’t think it would be worthwhile. One Minute After You Die by Erwin Lutzer sounded to me like just one more of those books that fascinate people so much. But I was assured this book was very biblical, so I agreed to read it. I was so impressed that when I closed the book, I wanted to go to heaven right away. I wanted to be with my Savior immediately. I actually regretted that I might have 20 more years of this life. Now I want to caution you about depending on books rather than God’s Word. There are many excellent books out there, but we must always compare their content with Scripture. Only the Bible is infallible; men and women are not. Plus, we know God better and more intimately through Scripture, through His eyes. Books give us a view of God through someone else’s eyes. Yet certainly God uses books, too, a

After months of being laid off, Bob accepted a position in Pittsburgh. Our son Andrew was a senior in high school and our daughter Meredith was a student at Cedarville College, now Cedarville University. We decided we wouldn’t move right away but would stay in the little town of Almond NY while Andrew finished high school. So we embarked on a “commuter” marriage. Bob lived in Pittsburgh during the week and came home on weekends. It soon became apparent that the man he was working for was not exactly trustworthy so we made no plans to move there. Andrew graduated from high school and started commuting to Jamestown Community College. Our oldest, Heather, was already married and on her own. Bob was miserable with the commute and I could see how it was wearing on us as a couple and as a family. So I set aside a day to fast and pray.  As I prayed, I searched the Scriptures to be sure I was praying according to God’s will. I would turn the verses I found into my prayers. I totally lost track

With three children and the usual expenses of raising a family. I tended to worry about finances—a lot! I read the last portion of Matthew 6 over and over again, trying to put away that sinful worry. However, God knew what I needed to learn in order to trust Him completely and stop worrying. Bob was laid off. He had a decent severance package, but Miss Worrywart needed a name change. I truly believe his layoff was partly for my benefit. As the months passed, hopelessness reared its ugly head. I didn’t think he’d ever get another job. That’s when I learned to truly worship God and, as a result, to fully trust Him. It wasn’t always easy but I discovered Scripture to be the basis for the richest times of worship. Whenever I was caught in the worry trap, I turned to familiar biblical passages and memorized verses. I could sit with Psalm 8 and turn it into my own prayer of praise. Or Isaiah 40. Or Psalm 96. Or the last few chapters of Job. Or Psalm 139. The list goes on and on. And when I f

I developed the habit of reading short books of the Bible in one sitting and longer books in as few sittings as possible. Being immersed in Scripture helped me assimilate it into my thoughts and daily life. I began to memorize passages of Scripture, although many of those have escaped my word-for-word memory through lack of practice. Or they come out in what I call a homogenized version because they are a mixture of translations. After all, I grew up on the King James Version, then transitioned to the New International Version and now use the English Standard Version. One day, my son asked me why I had to use a Bible verse for everything. [I was probably admonishing him for something at the time, using Scripture as I did so.] I realized then that the Bible had become such a part of me that it just had to overflow into every aspect of life. I was becoming more like my grandfather with a verse of Scripture for every situation—a good example to emulate. All of this study and memorization

After high school, I attended a Christian college within easy driving distance of my fiancé. [Yes, I was engaged in high school.] I had chosen music education as my major because I adored my high school music teacher and she encouraged me to pursue that course of study. However, I was not prepared for piano performance. My piano teacher at college was an artist who was very critical but not very constructive. I got worse rather than better no matter how much I practiced. She said my playing reflected fear - and I’m sure it did.  Because music is an emotional field, I was already struggling emotionally when I was deeply hurt by a very dear friend. I became convinced I could do nothing well and that no one liked me. If I passed someone in the hall who did not greet me, I was convinced she didn’t like me. I even told Bob we should break our engagement because I would just ruin his life. He just ignored me. During this time, I continued to read my Bible, not just for Bible Lit class, but b

I recently spoke at a ladies' luncheon at LeTourneau Christian Camp. I thought I would divide that talk into segments and share it with you here. Since there are six "lessons" I learned through pivotal times in my life, I will divide my talk into those six portions. I pray they will be as helpful to you as they have been to me. Part one follows. We live in a culture that seems to believe our circumstances shape us.  In a sense, they do, but I contend that it is our response to those circumstances that shape us. And our response is predicated by our thoughts, by what we fill our minds with. In turn, our thoughts either prepare us for whatever the future holds or leave us floundering in helplessness and despair when trials come our way. I was blessed to grow up in a home where studying Scripture was a priority. My grandfather could quote a verse for every situation. Right up to his death, my Dad was a sought-after Bible study teacher. By the time I was a teenager, I alr

This morning, as I was praying, I couldn't help but think of how habitually we tend to tack "in Jesus' name" on to the end of our prayers. Although it is a very reasonable ending, we seldom take the time to think of what it really means. Whatsoever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  John 14:13 So Jesus Himself taught us to pray in His name. But notice the qualifier in this verse: "that the Father may be glorified in the Son." I think we sometimes forget that everything we do or request should be for the glory of God. Now that does not mean that the little things in our lives are not glorifying to God. I think the very fact that we can depend on Him to be interested in the details of our lives does bring God glory. In essence, 1 Corinthians 10:31 captures the essence of the little things that can bring Him glory: So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.