Righteousness exalts a nation

Last evening I had a dream about the Amsterdam Harbor. I awoke thinking about Amsterdam being a gateway city. It is certainly a hub of sorts, if you are traveling in Europe or on to Asia you more than likely will go through Amsterdam to get to your destination.  Amsterdam has a rich history of many people groups immigrating to it.  In a 2011 census there were thirty-five percent non- European immigrants, and fifteen percent European immigrants. Half the population of Amsterdam is non-Dutch!

I would say God has a plan for this remarkable history-filled city and it involves His Kingdom coming in power to these Gentiles. My heart is being stirred more and more for this city and nation. We are praying for the knowledge of the glory of the Lord to cover this nation as the waters cover the sea, as stated in Habakkuk 2:14.

I believe that God has a unique plan and calling for each nation and city. A nation is made up of people who will ultimately influence their form of government.

My prayer and hope for all nations is to know the One who created them for His glory. They will recognize Him and step into their God-given destinies. People groups influence governments. Righteousness truly exalts a nation.

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples, but the Lord will rise upon you and his glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Isaiah 60:1-3 (NASB)

As we position ourselves to hear God’s voice and are obedient to what He directs us to do, we take on more and more of His countenance. His glory begins to cover us. We reflect His goodness. We should not despair during these times of darkness that are already here and are becoming more intense. It is the church’s time to shine! Fix your thoughts more on Jesus and reflect Him to the world around you.

Lift up your eyes round about and see. They all gather together, they come to you. Your sons will come from afar, and your daughters will be carried in the arms. Then you will see and be radiant, your heart will thrill and rejoice; because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you, the wealth of the nations will come to you.

Isaiah 60:4-5 (NASB)

As I slept and dreamed, God focused my attention on The Netherlands and specifically the city of Amsterdam. It was then my choice to press into this more in prayer today.  He created the Dutch people in His image to reflect His goodness and glory to the many people groups immigrating to their nation. I believe God has prospered and blessed the nation of The Netherlands because of their generosity and care for those who have sought refuge there over the years.  In the above passage the Hebrew translation for the phrase the wealth of the nations is actually the strength of the people will come to you.


There is incredible blessing in the diversity of people. My husband and I delight in getting to know people from other nations and cultures. It fills our life with more of God. They are made in His image and reflect more of His characteristics that we have never seen before.  I think that is why we love Amsterdam so much. The people and cultures are so diverse.

There are many other cities in The Netherlands that are predominately Dutch. We love visiting these also, but our heart is in Amsterdam with the many colorful flowers, mixes of so many people coming and going, outdoor cafes, and of course strong Dutch coffee with milk!

The Heart of our Father for the Nations

I am overhearing the heart of our Father for the nations. He desires for them to know Him and to love Him. He wants them to recognize Him has their Creator. Haggai the prophet knew God to be The Desire of all Nations. He has purpose for every nation He created. Some have been stubborn and have turned from their created purposes. How this grieves the heart of our Father. In desperation they continue to kick against the One who loves them.

So, we intercede on behalf of specific nations that Father God has put on our hearts, let us continue to cry out for their eyes to be opened!

Earlier this week as I quieted my soul, God said this to me.

Are you willing to lay down your life for your brothers and sisters in Christ?I will fill you up to be poured out to mankind. So, we intercede for the global church until Christ is formed in them.

Ephesians 1:28 (NIV)
We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

A word of the Lord:

You are clothed in salvation. 

I have wrapped you in a robe of my righteousness. 

The fruit of righteousness is coming forth

Be still, do not fret 

I am your Shalom

God’s desire for His created is to be clothed with the righteousness of Jesus Christ. This is His intended purpose for the nations of the world. Righteousness brings true security and tranquility to the lives of people. Righteousness exalts and prospers a nation.

Isaiah 32:17 (NASB)
And the work of righteousness will be peace, and the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.

Righteousness is being in right standing with God. This comes only through Jesus Christ. This right standing brings us quietness, inner confidence, being undisturbed,  full of peace, and an absence of war.

Can we visualize a world with the absence of war? Can we see the nation of Israel in peace? I can see an Israeli father and child walking along the road with an absence of fear in confidence that all is well.

God has prompted me recently to consider Korea. What about North Korea? Can we stop and imagine them clothed with salvation, everything they need provided for. Can we visualize them bowing before their one true King Jesus? Even now I sense the anointing of the Father. He is stirring in my heart hope for the nations of the world. Let us not ever give up hope because of things appearing hopeless. It is only a shadow, it is not the reality. There is hope because God has a desire to see all men come into Christ!

Isaiah 61:10-11 (NASB)
I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as a garden causes the things sown into it to spring up, So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all nations.

There is hope! Stir up this hope in the people of the world! They all are longing to believe in someone, something that gives them a promise for their future and the future of their loved ones! God has a remnant of people in every nation. Let us continue to quiet ourselves, looking outside of ourselves and pray for the lost in all nations of the world. Also, let us not forget to pray for the church of Jesus Christ globally.

A time to embrace

Ecclesiastes 3:5

A time to embrace and a time to refrain

There have been many seasons in my life over the past 53 years. Some have been incredibly memorable, and they were markers for a significant life moment. The most notable ones were graduation from High School, getting married, committing my life to Christ, water baptism, birthing our children, becoming empty-nesters, and the birth of our grand daughters. Another milestone stood out to me this week as I left my doctor’s office—menopause.

I knew things were dramatically changing with me. I am not blind to the fact that I am getting older, and I can say that I am content with this stage of life despite the maladies.  Life, and all the comings and goings of the people around me… stood still. It was a Selah moment. I wanted to share the news with Nate right away, like I did in times past announcing a new pregnancy! “We are in menopause!” That’s right—not just me, but we!

I’m sure he was thinking, Oh great! How is this going to play out in our lives over the next several years? It gives added meaning to the phrases that he and I have shared,” I am committed till death us do part,” and “Baby I’m in for the long haul!” These may be tried somewhat over this time, but I am confident in my husband—that he has what it takes to love me in spite of changes in my life!

 I remember another season in my life when I knew we would not have any more children. It was something that I gave much thought to, as I had five pregnancies in less than six years. I loved this season of child-bearing and nursing my sweet little ones. I took great delight in being momma to all of them. I had complications in three of the five pregnancies and had to have cesarean sections with the four live births, so I was strongly counseled by my doctor to not have anymore children.

You might say, “Well you have had four children, you should be content.” I was delighted with the four gifts that God had blessed us with, but there was sorrow in knowing this was the end of that era of my life. I remember so vividly talking to Jesus about this sorrow. He understood, and He was so comforting, but He didn’t leave me there in my sorrow. He encouraged me to embrace the next season that was already upon me—the one of loving and training my children. He had spoken to me several years before this, of a new ministry, and it would be to my children. I remember feeling an excitement of what this was going to entail.

One thing that stood out to me as I was writing this Cassia Offering is that whenever there is an ending to a season of time in our lives, there is absolutely a new beginning! This is a simple truth that brings such hope to us. God’s plans for us are so perfect and good. He is neither dull nor lackadaisical in His ideas for us. His plans on the contrary tend to be larger than we can imagine ourselves. They stretch our natural abilities so that we have to depend on Him for success. They bring such excitement and anticipation of people we will meet and Kingdom things we will be doing!

So, in both of these life changes I had a choice to make; will I embrace the new era with joy? Yes, I must go on with the wonderful life that God has given to me. I love the four distinct seasons every year, and I am learning to embrace and truly look forward to every season of my life.

Restless….. Rest in Me

Striving to make things happen through prayer, and nothing is changing. Then we talk, we talk some more and still we are no closer to a resolution!  I am so restless and discouraged. It is looking out at your future knowing God has an amazing plan and feeling like we are not able to attain it. This friend is the makings of hopelessness.  Have you guys been there in the past or maybe now there appears to be a mountain before you and your God given destiny?

Restless

Without rest—fall on Jesus

Don’t run or walk

Just fall into me

Trust

Fall—I will embrace you

Rest

I needed Jesus this way recently…

He is faithful when I have little to offer him in return. He knows my heart better than I know me. He allows me this vulnerability and offers me reassuring comfort. Many words were spoken but few that made sense to me. In times like these I tend to  filter everything through past and present hurts. I should just be quiet and let the storm pass, and take my own advice, pick your battles. Hope will return as surely as the sun rises in the morning. Although this morning in East Texas the sun never truly showed itself—it seem to be fitting for my frame of mind.

Deuteronomy 33:12 (NASB)

Of Benjamin he said,

May the beloved of the Lord

Dwell in security by Him,

Who shields him all the day, and

He dwells between His shoulders.

Our trip to church is a good thirty minutes and there is a fair amount of reflection going on typically. Nate and I are usually quiet, it’s the way we like our Sunday mornings, easy as the song from the past goes.  We had a new CD playing and a beautiful songstress was singing about resting in her beloved’s arms. The Holy Spirit was speaking tenderly to me through this song.  He was able to break through the cloud of distrust, and self-doubt long enough to impart some hope to my heart.

I love the above scripture and I return to it often for the picture it pens for me. Some of us have experienced the tenderness of a mother or father holding us close to their chest. There is much security in this posture. Trust, rest, and love are some of the good things Papa God wants to give us. He is always available—all we need to do is fall on him.

Our daughter and her husband are house parents for a local ministry for neglected children. They recently received six little ones. They are so vulnerable you can see it in their little dark eyes.  You can only imagine how afraid they must have been upon arriving at this strange new place. Nate and I went over on Friday to spend some time getting acquainted with them. Knowing somehow I was safe, two of the youngest boys separately over the course of hours, climbed into my lap and laid their heads against my chest. They snuggled close drinking in my warmth and security, after about five minutes they were on their way playing once again with the other children.

Tonight as we were there once again celebrating birthdays with two of them. One of the four year old boys ran and jumped into my husbands lap, wrapped his little arms around his neck and just laid there on his chest. Nate embraced him with a father’s love.

 

Can we relate to this behavior, to this need for retreat until we sense the security of the Father? I think we can say a resounding yes! I am reminded of a line from yet another song from the past—the warrior is a child by Twila Paris.

They don’t know that I go running home when I fall down

They don’t know who picks me up when no one is around

I drop my sword and cry for just a while

Cause deep inside this armor

The warrior is a child

He is all we need—our sweet Father, Papa God. I fell into him yesterday, today and I know that I will many more times on this journey called life. My circumstances have not changed, but I am able to trust him with them tonight.

Reckless Love Comes Easily Through Covenant

I John 4:19 
We love because he first loved us.

What brings deep satisfaction to a man or woman? To love and to know your love is returned, and preferred to all others.  This does not come through a one night encounter, but through making a commitment till death us do part!

Isn’t that an amazing statement—we love because Jesus loved us first.

Jesus exemplifies relational covenant love. He is faithful and we also are called to be faithful in our covenant to our spouses.  Simply, it is our promise before God and whoever witnessed our marriage ceremony to love, to lay down our rights, to serve, to be all that we can be for that one we are joining ourselves with, till death parts us. 

It is one thing to love, but to have that love returned brings great contentment. We share great joy with the newly engaged couple that is bursting forth with shared love. It is time to celebrate! The bride exclaims, “I have found the one who loves me in return!” The groom proclaims, “I have found the one who has deemed me honorable and trustworthy. She has chosen me above all other men, and her love is singularly towards me!”

I am reminded of a child’s game. You send a note to the one you like the best. They are to check the appropriate box, yes or no. Do you like me in return? Do you remember how hurtful this was though to see the no box checked or when the next week the one you liked checked someone else’s yes box? This is child’s play, but we are so programmed to love and to be loved. Our Heavenly Father made us in His image, His very nature is love, and He is true to His covenant with us.

It is probably one of the worst pains felt, to be betrayed by the one you love. If we could see into our hearts, I’m certain you would see a gash in it. You see when you enter the covenant of marriage you become one flesh with that person. The Lord said, this is a mystery—it is a little difficult to understand in our minds. Some know all to well how painful it is when this one flesh has been violated by adultery. Others have watched a loved one or dear friend experience this pain. I believe it must be worse than the death of a spouse. It feels as if your heart is literally breaking-in-two, a tearing of that one flesh.

Ephesians 5:31-33 (NKJV)

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”  ³² This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. ³³ Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

In a healthy marriage there is a trust dynamic at work. You have confidence in the character of your spouse. This sets in motion the husband freely giving of himself to his wife and she gives herself freely in return. He does not lord over her in a demanding way—on the contrary he serves her. The wife’s desire is to be submissive to her husband as she would be to the LORD. It is a beautiful mystery, a beautiful symphony of giving and receiving. I said this statement recently about my husband. “I know that he would literally lay his life down for me.”  This assurance has come through seeing his commitment to our marriage and his deep love for me. 

A woman and a man will respond with a reckless abandoned love for one another when they love and that love is returned. With time we have confidence that the one we love is committed for the duration of life.  It is a safe place within the marriage covenant and the marriage bed is undefiled. Your children also recognize and feel the security and sense the peace that comes from this beautiful union between their parents.

Precious Father,
I ask that you would teach us to love the way you love. I ask that you would give us good understanding of what it means to be in a marital covenant with our spouse.  Show us the little things that we can do to demonstrate our unconditional, committed, passionate love to our spouses. Help us work on the areas that cause us conflict in our marriages. Perfect us in your love. 

Autumn comes but once a year...enjoy!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV)

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven

I am so very thankful that we are made in the image of our great God. He had a great idea when He decided to create our world and our lives! You know how it is, when the wheels start turning in your head about a project around the house. Or how about when He stirs in your heart and gives you a glimpse of your special gifting or calling. You have excitement and anticipation of what it will progress into. You can hardly wait till your husband gets home to share the idea with him. Can we just for a moment stop and meditate on, He spoke the world into being, He made the night and the day, and He set the seasons in motion. Wow! This is where our creativity comes from, we are made to create and His amazing plans for us continue on throughout our lives even as the seasons continue to come and go.

I love that God made the world to have seasonal changes. This has been an excitement for me since I was a little child. You see, I grew up in Northern Florida and it was warm most of the year, but around October things would change ever so slightly. I loved the cooler mornings, the yellow mums and pumpkins sitting out on the porches.

I have been in fall mode for about two weeks now. I absolutely love experiencing this season for the first time since we moved to Texas. Living here is a little like Northern Florida as the temps are just slightly cooler, but I can see that people are loving it. I saw a man today at the post office wearing a sweater vest and I had to smile even though it’s going to be 90 degrees today. I can imagine him saying, “ I can wear this it’s fall!”

Nate and I just moved from Albuquerque. You can smell green chili roasting all over the city this time of year. It is the most amazing scent and one that I miss. I remember last year purchasing a bag of these delightful peppers, and after they roasted them for me they were put into my car. My Kia smelled like green chili for weeks! I loved it!

Today I will bake an acorn squash, along with sweet potatoes, apples with cinnamon and brown sugar. That’s the menu at our house today. You could say that this is our culture, but more than that it is an outward expression of God in me. I want to give Him credit for this beautiful season we call autumn. I am so thankful for change because it breaks the monotony of our lives. I believe God’s influence in our lives is ever changing also. He is at work always posing the question, “would you consider this?” Let’s take time to listen and see what He is saying in this season of our lives.

How can the Apostle Paul be so certain of God’s good work in us?

Philippians 1:6  (NASB)
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Paul was so convinced of their amazing future that there was no timidity in writing the letter to the church at Philippi.  This church was dear to Paul’s heart as it was the first church established in Europe. God had directed Paul through a vision to go to Macedonia.  I love this passage of scripture. It details the intercession of the Macedonian people crying out, “Come help us!”

Acts 16:9-10 (NASB)
A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Paul, Silas, and Timothy set out immediately for Macedonia.  They had the word of the Lord and did not delay. As Paul was speaking to a group of people down by the riverbank, one of the first people they met was Lydia.  The Lord opened Lydia’s heart to believe the gospel message Paul was sharing. The church at Philippi was birthed in Lydia’s house. This was the beginning of the Gospel and the church in the western world! Oh how thankful I am for this first journey to Rome.

Paul sent this letter to the church in Philippi from a Roman prison a decade later. He loved the church, the body of Christ so very much that he desired to encourage and exhort her. These were not fanciful, empty words. He knew salvation would have its perfect work in the person who surrendered completely to Jesus. Jesus the Author and Perfecter of their faith would complete it!

A word of the Lord:

I will bring you through to the end. I will perfect and complete all that concerns you. Do not become weary and give up in the process. I am patient and I see the end result. You are beautiful in my eyes. The intended outcome is quite spectacular!