I have read the book of Acts more than once, and yet today something was brought to my attention that I had never focused on before. In chapter 10 Peter is shown a vision where a sheet comes down from heaven with all kinds of animals on it and God says to Peter "Get up. Kill and eat." Peter refuses saying that he has never eaten unclean things before and he won't now. Yet God tells him that nothing He made is unclean. I had always associated that with Peter being told that he could now eat whatever he wanted.
However, as the chapter goes on, Peter brings new meaning to that. I'm not sure how I skipped over it in the past...maybe I just wasn't ready to see it. Peter says that because God showed him this that he now understands that no PERSON is unclean. Therefore, we can associate with any one of God's children. I'm not sure how he took the step from food to people, but I like it!
Being in the military has many advantages, but it has many challenges as well. Today this chapter has brought two things to my mind. One is fairly easy to tackle...the other, not so much. But I'm going to try!
First, NO ONE is too dirty for God. That means nothing you have done in your past prevents you from being baptized by the Holy Spirit. Nothing! When we contemplate our lives and wonder if we are worthy of God, we must be able to acknowledge that we are not. No one is! But not a single one of us has done something so terrible that God cannot overcome it. The power of the blood of Christ cannot be trumped. And since we are made by God, we must acknowledge that He made us clean.
It also means that we must remember this not only for ourselves but for others as well. We must remember that God wishes for us to reach all people, not just the ones we think are good. Not just the ones who follow the rules or do good or are family, but ALL people. We must be careful to not judge based on appearance or past performance, but to remind ourselves that these people we are having trouble accepting are children of God as well. No matter how dirty, annoying, confusing, irritating, or bothersome a people they might be! Even those who have committed evil, unspeakable acts are still children of God, and we are called to love! Remember the life of Paul!
The second thing God has brought to my attention might make people uncomfortable...heck, it's making me uncomfortable to even feel the need to speak of it. However, I feel God has laid it on my heart...so here goes:
One of the greatest challenges in the military is rank and I don't mean making rank. I mean the lines that divide us because of rank. (Now, let me put in a qualifier here: If you are active duty military, then please continue to follow the rules and regs that apply. This is for those of us who are spouses. This is NOT something for you to encourage your active duty husband to follow. I was active duty for 5 years, preceded by 19 years as a dependent and now 9 more years as a dependent and wife of a 1st Sgt...I know those regs exist for a reason.) We are divided by the lines between officer/enlisted, junior enlisted/senior enlisted, command officer/noncommand officer, positions of authority/everyone else. These lines can extend to the family members as well. I grew up thinking that we were not supposed to associate with the wives of officers. I grew up thinking that since my dad could not be "friends" with junior enlisted, that mean that my mom shouldn't be "friends" with their wives. We could be friendly, but certainly nothing that could ever be seen as "buddy-buddy" for fear that someone would think someone was playing favorites.
However, here in PWOC we have women who are wives to people of all ranks and positions. Many of us may not even know what rank a person's husband has, and I believe that is as it should be! We are women, people, God's children and we have so much to give one another. But PWOC is kind of a sheltered world...it's special because we meet in the chapel and we can just be women. And then we go home. If you do not already have women that are friends, mentors, or mentees from a variety of walks in life, I encourage you to start working on that. Peter tells us that no one is impure or unclean...in other words, we need to get rid of the taboo of labels.
I know how hard this will be hard for many. I know that it may make husbands squirm a little to realize that you are friends with someone in their chain of command, or someone who is higher up than they are, or someone subordinate to them. I really do understand that because my husband often has to choose to not attend certain events because of those lines the military draws...but never once has he told me to not be friends with someone because of rank. He knows that I will either have the opportunity to encourage someone, or be encouraged by them.
God knows our struggles in this military life, and I believe that this passage in Acts is a help to us in breaking those chains that the military could be setting on us. Just think of the encouragement you could give to a younger wife...regardless of her husband's rank! Think of what you could learn from a more experienced military wife...no matter if her husband is base commander or a chief! The military is our family and we should not be afraid to associate with family members.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Monday, April 22, 2013
Captive
Have you ever had someone give you something for nothing? Just a random act of kindness by an individual for not apparent reason? Did it make you feel a little uncomfortable? Kind of like you had to return the favor? I think it is part of our nature to want no "debt" on our conscience. Getting something for nothing in our society is usually too good to be true, and I'm pretty sure it has been that way in our world for a long time. Even in the days of Peter and Paul people felt the need to give back for a gift...especially one of high cost.
I don't think any of us can argue that Jesus paid an extremely high price for us. Pain, blood, death, and separation from the Father. And yet we are told that our salvation comes to us freely. Our flesh wants to tell us that is too good to be true. In Acts today I read about a man named Simon. Simon was a witch and did some awesome things with his witchery! But when the Apostles came to where he was he converted and was baptized. Amazing, right? As you read in Acts you think there is nothing the power of God can't do! However, Simon had a problem...he thought he had to buy his way into the power that comes from Christ. He offered money to Peter in order to be like him. Bad call. Peter promptly chastised him by saying: May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin. (Acts 8: 20-23).
We know better though, right? We know we cannot buy the Spirit with money! Silly Simon! However, there are other ways that we try to "buy" ourselves into the Kingdom...with service, with sacrifice, with words. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying don't serve, sacrifice or speak! Not at all! However, just as Simon had to evaluate his heart, so must we do with ours. Do we serve because we are "supposed to", do we sacrifice because "the Bible says so", do we speak because "we want to look knowledgeable before others"? All the things we do in life might be good...but not Godly. It's a really hard line to walk because it is in our nature to want to repay the debt to God. We have this need to be good for God. We want to do what is right...but we don't always know if that right thing is what God wanted us to do. Like Simon we must examine our hearts...find the sin that holds us captive. Is it fear, need, greed? Is it ignorance of the truth of the Word? Is it a lack of time spent with God so that we may know the path He would choose for us?
I find it interesting that Simon, after Peter's scathing words to him, turns around and says "Pray for me." Peter had pretty much just shut Simon down and told him that he was not good with God. A man newly come to Christ, wanting to impress others, had just been slapped down. But instead of bitterness or anger, Simon asked for help. Way to go, Simon! I encourage all of us to do the same. After you have examined your heart, spent time with God and discovered the sin holding you captive...find someone to tell what you have learned and ask them to pray for you. Pray that you will not end up the way Peter said Simon would. Pray that you will break those bonds. Pray strength and peace for you. The power of prayer is amazing...and even Simon, a brand new Christian, instinctively knew it! This process may not be easy or quick. But when you commit to it you will find such peace and relief in it! Christ does not want you to feel guilt for His sacrifice! He wants your heart and your love. And in return, you will find that He will bless your efforts on HIS behalf, and that you will not have to endure the struggles of captivity.
I don't think any of us can argue that Jesus paid an extremely high price for us. Pain, blood, death, and separation from the Father. And yet we are told that our salvation comes to us freely. Our flesh wants to tell us that is too good to be true. In Acts today I read about a man named Simon. Simon was a witch and did some awesome things with his witchery! But when the Apostles came to where he was he converted and was baptized. Amazing, right? As you read in Acts you think there is nothing the power of God can't do! However, Simon had a problem...he thought he had to buy his way into the power that comes from Christ. He offered money to Peter in order to be like him. Bad call. Peter promptly chastised him by saying: May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin. (Acts 8: 20-23).
We know better though, right? We know we cannot buy the Spirit with money! Silly Simon! However, there are other ways that we try to "buy" ourselves into the Kingdom...with service, with sacrifice, with words. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying don't serve, sacrifice or speak! Not at all! However, just as Simon had to evaluate his heart, so must we do with ours. Do we serve because we are "supposed to", do we sacrifice because "the Bible says so", do we speak because "we want to look knowledgeable before others"? All the things we do in life might be good...but not Godly. It's a really hard line to walk because it is in our nature to want to repay the debt to God. We have this need to be good for God. We want to do what is right...but we don't always know if that right thing is what God wanted us to do. Like Simon we must examine our hearts...find the sin that holds us captive. Is it fear, need, greed? Is it ignorance of the truth of the Word? Is it a lack of time spent with God so that we may know the path He would choose for us?
I find it interesting that Simon, after Peter's scathing words to him, turns around and says "Pray for me." Peter had pretty much just shut Simon down and told him that he was not good with God. A man newly come to Christ, wanting to impress others, had just been slapped down. But instead of bitterness or anger, Simon asked for help. Way to go, Simon! I encourage all of us to do the same. After you have examined your heart, spent time with God and discovered the sin holding you captive...find someone to tell what you have learned and ask them to pray for you. Pray that you will not end up the way Peter said Simon would. Pray that you will break those bonds. Pray strength and peace for you. The power of prayer is amazing...and even Simon, a brand new Christian, instinctively knew it! This process may not be easy or quick. But when you commit to it you will find such peace and relief in it! Christ does not want you to feel guilt for His sacrifice! He wants your heart and your love. And in return, you will find that He will bless your efforts on HIS behalf, and that you will not have to endure the struggles of captivity.
Friday, April 19, 2013
The News
I don't like to watch the news. I believe it lives to stoke fear and distrust in our nation. My husband however, is a news fanatic. If he is up, the news is on. Drives me nuts! In the last few days though, the news has been inescapable. So, today I thought I would stray from my daily readings and talk a little about fear and faith.
Two of my favorite passages come from Isaiah. The first is this: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." 43:1-2. Take comfort children of the Living God! We are protected by God Almighty. It does not say we will be spared trials, but that He will be with us and we will make it to the other side. This world has some high, crazy waters and some fierce fires burning. We can choose to fear what is happening and we can try to run away. Maybe if we hid well enough, the pain of the world could not find us. Somehow I doubt that is possible. OR we can choose to hold on to the promise in Isaiah. HE will be with us. There is not greater protector, no more valiant a warrior than our God. We can trust that as we go through these scary times, He will help us see it through to the end...and at the end we will see His glory revealed. How awesome is it, that He uses us as an instrument for His glory?
The second is this: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." 41:10. This sound so much like what a father would say to his child. Remember the monsters in the closet and how mom just wasn't good enough to get rid of them sometimes? Then daddy would come and say, don't be scared...I'm here...I'll protect you! That always made me feel better...big strong daddy was going to kick monster butt! Our God is no different than our loving fathers, unless you want to count the fact that He is so much stronger and better than our earthly fathers! This is our Father's promise to us. He will help us...no matter what!
Right now so many of us are facing fear...fear of what is going on in our country, fear for the lives and safety of friends, fear for the sickness and death that seems to be running rampant through so many homes. Today I want us to remember, we do not have to face that fear alone. We can call out to our God that protects and defends us. The God who has made so many promises to us, and wants to keep them...if we will let Him. If you are afraid today, call out to Daddy and let Him stand with you. He may not take the scary situation away, people will still get sick and maybe even die, but He will bring you the peace and comfort no one else can. And maybe, one day you'll be able to see how all this is for His glory and you'll get to see how you were a part of it.
Two of my favorite passages come from Isaiah. The first is this: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." 43:1-2. Take comfort children of the Living God! We are protected by God Almighty. It does not say we will be spared trials, but that He will be with us and we will make it to the other side. This world has some high, crazy waters and some fierce fires burning. We can choose to fear what is happening and we can try to run away. Maybe if we hid well enough, the pain of the world could not find us. Somehow I doubt that is possible. OR we can choose to hold on to the promise in Isaiah. HE will be with us. There is not greater protector, no more valiant a warrior than our God. We can trust that as we go through these scary times, He will help us see it through to the end...and at the end we will see His glory revealed. How awesome is it, that He uses us as an instrument for His glory?
The second is this: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." 41:10. This sound so much like what a father would say to his child. Remember the monsters in the closet and how mom just wasn't good enough to get rid of them sometimes? Then daddy would come and say, don't be scared...I'm here...I'll protect you! That always made me feel better...big strong daddy was going to kick monster butt! Our God is no different than our loving fathers, unless you want to count the fact that He is so much stronger and better than our earthly fathers! This is our Father's promise to us. He will help us...no matter what!
Right now so many of us are facing fear...fear of what is going on in our country, fear for the lives and safety of friends, fear for the sickness and death that seems to be running rampant through so many homes. Today I want us to remember, we do not have to face that fear alone. We can call out to our God that protects and defends us. The God who has made so many promises to us, and wants to keep them...if we will let Him. If you are afraid today, call out to Daddy and let Him stand with you. He may not take the scary situation away, people will still get sick and maybe even die, but He will bring you the peace and comfort no one else can. And maybe, one day you'll be able to see how all this is for His glory and you'll get to see how you were a part of it.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Fear
I'm rereading the book of Acts and it never fails to amaze me the new things God teaches me as I go back through the Bible one more time. This morning I am reading chapter 4 of the book of Acts and while there is a lot of information in that chapter, this caught my attention. Peter and those who were with him were afraid. They had just been arrested for healing a man in Jesus' name and the Jewish elders put them in prison for it. By now, they (the disciples) have already received the Holy Spirit and you can tell it! They have become bold speakers in the face of adversity. And yet, they were afraid. No, the Scripture does not say it directly, but if you read between the lines you can see it.
The Scripture says after they (Peter, ect) were released from the presence of the Jewish elders and told to go forth and say that horrible name no more (Jesus), that they went back and told their own people what had happened. They were not unaffected by what had just occurred! How often do we endure something frightening and then go talk to someone we love and trust about it? The early disciples were no different. But instead of rehashing what had just happened or even bashing the Jewish elders, they simply lifted up their voices in prayer to God. It boiled down to a prayer for strength...or in our language, courage.
Think about it...they had all just witnessed what the elders were capable of doing. Jesus had been crucified!! What a horrible, horrible death! I can't blame them for being afraid that they might endure the same thing...simply over healing a lame man. I imagine the fear could have been so great they could have just said, "No, not going to preach any more...it's too risky. But I'll go home and live a good, Godly life." I bet the evil one was working at them something fierce! I have no doubt that more than one pair of hands were shaking, more than a few might have shed some tears and even more still might not have had the power to remain standing. But this is what I love about the examples we are given in the Bible, for it says "When they heard this, they raised their voices in prayer to God". They didn't wait a few days, they didn't ask if they should pray, they didn't go their separate ways! No! They heard what had happened, they felt the fear of what might be coming and they PRAYED! No hesitation, no doubt!
We are no different than those in that situation. We too have situation where we are afraid. We may fear speaking about God. We may fear upsetting others with how we live. We may one day go to a place where our faith could cost us our lives. DON'T LET THE EVIL ONE SINK HIS NASTY LITTLE TEETH INTO YOU! Fear is not from God! That instant you feel fear, PRAY! For in the book of Acts when those people prayed for strength and courage, the Holy Spirit filled not just the room they were in but the whole building! There was so much power in that place that wood and mortar trembled! And the fragile flesh of man was strengthened to carry on.
My friends, prayer works miracles...yes, even for you. When you ask God for the strength to carry on, for the strength to show just one person His love, He will not deny you. After all, how could He? It's a promise in the Bible!
The Scripture says after they (Peter, ect) were released from the presence of the Jewish elders and told to go forth and say that horrible name no more (Jesus), that they went back and told their own people what had happened. They were not unaffected by what had just occurred! How often do we endure something frightening and then go talk to someone we love and trust about it? The early disciples were no different. But instead of rehashing what had just happened or even bashing the Jewish elders, they simply lifted up their voices in prayer to God. It boiled down to a prayer for strength...or in our language, courage.
Think about it...they had all just witnessed what the elders were capable of doing. Jesus had been crucified!! What a horrible, horrible death! I can't blame them for being afraid that they might endure the same thing...simply over healing a lame man. I imagine the fear could have been so great they could have just said, "No, not going to preach any more...it's too risky. But I'll go home and live a good, Godly life." I bet the evil one was working at them something fierce! I have no doubt that more than one pair of hands were shaking, more than a few might have shed some tears and even more still might not have had the power to remain standing. But this is what I love about the examples we are given in the Bible, for it says "When they heard this, they raised their voices in prayer to God". They didn't wait a few days, they didn't ask if they should pray, they didn't go their separate ways! No! They heard what had happened, they felt the fear of what might be coming and they PRAYED! No hesitation, no doubt!
We are no different than those in that situation. We too have situation where we are afraid. We may fear speaking about God. We may fear upsetting others with how we live. We may one day go to a place where our faith could cost us our lives. DON'T LET THE EVIL ONE SINK HIS NASTY LITTLE TEETH INTO YOU! Fear is not from God! That instant you feel fear, PRAY! For in the book of Acts when those people prayed for strength and courage, the Holy Spirit filled not just the room they were in but the whole building! There was so much power in that place that wood and mortar trembled! And the fragile flesh of man was strengthened to carry on.
My friends, prayer works miracles...yes, even for you. When you ask God for the strength to carry on, for the strength to show just one person His love, He will not deny you. After all, how could He? It's a promise in the Bible!
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