Faith that says, "Of course He does!"

Who in your life has a faith that blesses you? 

Have you ever noticed that there are times that you have crazy amazing faith, but the next moment you have none? 

Me, too. I think this is why I love Peter so much. 

This morning, I was reading about how Peter responded to the tax collectors in Capernaum (Matthew 17:24-27). When they approached Peter and asked him if Jesus was paying His temple tax like everyone else, Peter simply believes that Jesus will do the right thing. 

"Of course He does!"

No wondering or pondering just an emphatic, "Yes!"

Peter's faith in Jesus to do the right thing is so encouraging. It gives me hope and strength.

But here is the cooler part. Jesus backed up Peter's faith with an astounding moment. He tells Peter to go to the lake and throw in a hook.

Jesus said, "The first fish that RISES UP will have a coin in its mouth."

As Peter's faith rose up, Jesus rose up to meet the need. 

I want the kind of faith that RISES UP and enjoys a coin rather than a hook in the mouth of the fish. 

O LORD, rise up in us and increase our faith! We will trust Jesus to do the right thing in the given circumstance! In Jesus' name, amen Amen

Head coverings

Sometimes, I am asked a question after hearing a story and it is not my place to give the answer. I was given permission to share this conversation or rather I was asked to tell it. 

It started because I asked, "Are you teaching in any other situations at church?" There was a pause and a redirect in the conversation, but later she came back and said, "I felt shame when you asked if I was teaching."

I asked, "Why did my question cause you shame?"

My pastor has spent six weeks preaching that women need to wear head coverings. He is being open about it and not requiring it, but for six weeks he preached on why he thought we should do it. I don't know what I think about it. I know some say the passage is referencing a cultural situation and not a rule. People have left the church. Some women are now covering their heads and discussing when can we be without one. It is such an outward thing. It doesnt make sense. I was asked to teach again for a women's group, but I declined because I don't know what I think about the head covering. 

There was so much more discussed. Once again I found myself in great sadness as I reflected on the church.

I said, "Here are the questions I would ask myself in a similar type situation. As you reflect on the sermon series and expectation of a head covering for yourself.

1. Does it give God glory?

2. Does it cause me/us to draw close to Jesus?

3. Does it increase faith?

4. Does it build the kingdom of God?

5. Does it cause someone to believe the gospel?  

We went over the questions and repeated them as we discussed why each one is important.

Have you asked the pastor any of these questions? Maybe, you might want to. 

Once you have answered the questions, you then need to ask, "Can I honor the pastor and church with the expectations?"

This will help you to know what to do. Church is our spiritual family. It is going to be messy. There is no perfect church. We need to have our primary beliefs settled that cannot be broken. Then you need to determine where this belief sits in level of importance. Are you willing to die for it or fight for it? Does Scripture expect us to die for it or fight for it? 

Have you talked through this with your family? Let them speak into it whether they are a follower of Jesus or not. Through these conversations you might get insight into whether or not such a topic will draw people closer to Jesus or not. 

Are you willing to bring people to church and say you support this belief?

There is so much to pray through.

I imagine you have faced moments like these. I know I have. It is why the questions came up so fast and easily for me to give to her. There is something so painful when we feel at odds with our church. Our church family is sacred and we do not want to be a part of division, strife, gossip, or be that person. Yet, we need to be able to safely discuss the pain and trials we face among the body of Christ. When something is hidden and not talked about, it stops the gift of bringing light into the circumstance. This is why we must seek wise counsel. This situation isn't in my state. It is far far away. I am so thankful for the wisdom to seek counsel outside of the circumstance to prayerfully approach what is a very heart wrenching season in this church for the women.

Yahah

The Hebrew word for praise is "Yadah". "It implies an ecstatic burst of praise that is thrown into heaven like a shout. It breaks down strongholds." (The Passion Translation Psalm 9:1b).

Father, let our praise break down strongholds! Amen

"Kugani Kutuba"... Golden Words

Wisdom comes when we have the fear of the LORD. This is not a phobia fear but a reverance and awe. I just learned that Kugani Kutuba in Okinawan means "Golden words." There are no greater words passed down through the generations than the Word of the LORD for it is what causes use to live in reverance and awe of Him.

This little owl is for a gift God gave our family over the Easter break. Wisdom fell upon her and the fear of the LORD took hold. 

May we all listen and receive His "Kugani Kutuba."

Sabbath miracles

Happy Sunday! I love to pray through different translations and I am currently praying through The Passion translation because it is so poetic. I needed to get out of my routine and have my mind awakened as I pray and read.

I just read, "It's always proper to do miracles, even on a Sabbath" (Matthew 12:12).

I love this! Today is Sunday a day of Sabbath rest. Yet, it is proper for God to do miracles even today. 

Do you believe this? Is this possible even today? 

Beloved, as I am praying, I couldnt help but wonder what miracles might need to be answered in your world? Draw near to Jesus! He says that it is always proper to do miracles on the Sabbath. 

You my dear are so valuable to God. He never changes. He still does the supernatural in our ordinary world.

Hmmmm. Draw near. Believe and be amazed. Amen

We live in a culture of condemnation

As I have fasted condemnation for Lent, I find myself pondering so many things that I might have excused or glossed over. I recently heard John Ortberg say that we live in a culture of condemnation. I thought "No, Duh!"  Not because he was saying the obvious, but because the obvious has become so OBVIOUS to me when it had previously been so hidden.

Our culture breeds condemnation. We live with an "us versus them" mentality.  Which in its own form is condemning someone for not being like me. Not like me because of race.  Not like me because of religious or political affiliation or from making our politics a religion. Not like me because of wealth, education, occupation, creative or not creative.  We are bombarded. The list is never ending.

I once heard that accountants who spent their day looking for errors had brains that became hard wired to search out errors. It became hard for them to look at anything without pointing out the error or flaw.

I found this to be true when I was a part of a church plant straight out of seminary. We spent 6 months visiting churches every week as a staff to get an understanding of church. We would meet after and debrief what we liked and disliked to determine what we wanted to do as a church plant. It was so hard for me after that season to sit and simply worship during church. My brain was in the habit of analyzing instead of worshipping. I had to fight to get my worship back.

It has truly hit me profoundly that I am struggling with condemnation because it is all around me. I literally am having to fight it because it is every where!

I wonder if this is why we are told that GOD did not send HIS SON to CONDEMN the world (John 3:16). Oh boy! We need not forget that!  God sent Jesus to save us not condemn us (John 3:16).

Right now my saving is trying to rewire my brain moment by moment by thinking through every thought and holding it captive.  Yeah, be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Rms 12:2).

I know I am not God, but I am asking, "What can save this conversation, thought, or moment? How can I restore what is perceived as broken or worthy of condemnation? How can I see the other or circumstances with eyes that restores, refreshes, awakens, builds, gives, ignites... and speak life into that?

I feel I am failing a thousand times a day still.  But I am so much more aware. I am repenting alot and missing a bunch. But I can feel a change in me. I am a bit more patient in my thoughts than I used to be and as I said before, I am surprised by love I did not know was in me.

Are you willing to ask, "How has the culture of condemnation gotten ahold of my thought patterns and created unholy ruts of destruction?"

Father, help. I need You to reveal the cultural patterns in me and around me that give permission to condemn. You do not condemn us, You seek to save us. Who am I to condemn?  Jesus is the one that died and rose again. Jesus is the One who sits at Your right and and intercedes for us. Help me to join Him in praying instead of condemning. In Jesus' name, amen

Jesus Calms the Storm

How do you hear Jesus' voice when He says to the disciples, "Why are you afraid? Where is your faith?"( Matthew 8:23-27). Is the tone harsh or gentle? It changes the story if the tone is condemning. 

We are promised there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). 

If this verse is true then what tone might Jesus being using?