You can get your copy of the Nefarious - Merchant of Souls DVD starting May 1st!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Spring flowers
Springtime is one of my favorite seasons of the year...along with everyone else on the planet probably. This spring is very special as my husband, Paul, and I celebrate our one-year wedding anniversary, and prepare for many years ahead together.
A while back, I wrote a post about knock-out roses and how significant that word, 'knock-out', is to me and to us. As you can see in the pictures above, our knock-out roses are flourishing and present a picture to the world of the Lord's goodness to us and what He thinks of us!
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Walking in Freedom
"There is a way that seems right to a man...."
This morning, I am reminded of my utter and complete dependence upon the Spirit of God. You see, I know the truth about my own heart and that outside of Christ and a living, ongoing connection with the Father through Holy Spirit, I can easily be deceived.
When I was a Young Life leader years ago, I remember a talk a fellow leader gave in which this story was told.
"A mother was trying to drive home a lesson to her teenage son who wanted desperately to go see a very questionable movie. He claimed that everyone was going to see it and that there was only a little bit of questionable material in it, and why did she have to be so strict? His mom decided to make her son and his friends some brownies, and in the process, drive home her point.
The son and his friends came into the kitchen when the smell of the freshly baked brownies filled the house. They waited with eagerness as his mom placed the pan of brownies on the table and began to cut pieces for each of them.
"Before you dig in, I want to let you know that I decided to add an extra ingredient to this batch. I added just a little bit of dog poop that I picked up in the back yard this morning. Oh, don't worry, it's all mixed in, and really, it was just a tiny little bit, and you probably won't even taste it; really, it's no big deal. Enjoy the brownies boys!" she declared as she served up each plate.
The boys fell silent and looked at each other and at the freshly cut, wonderful smelling brownies in front of them, and then proceeded to leave the kitchen, not touching the brownies."
Please don't get me wrong...I am not advocating any sort of legalism or nit-picking...rather, when the Spirit of God points out something that is not right, are we willing to listen to that voice over and above the 'popular' voices around us? Are we willing to take the challenging road, which is sometimes lonely, but is always the road that leads to higher discernment in the Spirit? Are we willing to hold fast to that which is True? To Him Who is Truth?
Food for thought...and no pun intended.
This morning, I am reminded of my utter and complete dependence upon the Spirit of God. You see, I know the truth about my own heart and that outside of Christ and a living, ongoing connection with the Father through Holy Spirit, I can easily be deceived.
When I was a Young Life leader years ago, I remember a talk a fellow leader gave in which this story was told.
"A mother was trying to drive home a lesson to her teenage son who wanted desperately to go see a very questionable movie. He claimed that everyone was going to see it and that there was only a little bit of questionable material in it, and why did she have to be so strict? His mom decided to make her son and his friends some brownies, and in the process, drive home her point.
The son and his friends came into the kitchen when the smell of the freshly baked brownies filled the house. They waited with eagerness as his mom placed the pan of brownies on the table and began to cut pieces for each of them.
"Before you dig in, I want to let you know that I decided to add an extra ingredient to this batch. I added just a little bit of dog poop that I picked up in the back yard this morning. Oh, don't worry, it's all mixed in, and really, it was just a tiny little bit, and you probably won't even taste it; really, it's no big deal. Enjoy the brownies boys!" she declared as she served up each plate.
The boys fell silent and looked at each other and at the freshly cut, wonderful smelling brownies in front of them, and then proceeded to leave the kitchen, not touching the brownies."
Please don't get me wrong...I am not advocating any sort of legalism or nit-picking...rather, when the Spirit of God points out something that is not right, are we willing to listen to that voice over and above the 'popular' voices around us? Are we willing to take the challenging road, which is sometimes lonely, but is always the road that leads to higher discernment in the Spirit? Are we willing to hold fast to that which is True? To Him Who is Truth?
Food for thought...and no pun intended.
Monday, April 23, 2012
"Thou shalt not...." (Continuing Confessions)
Over the course of my 20+ years of teaching, I ran the gamut when it came to how to run a classroom. My first year, I had a list of about 15 rules that I expected the students to follow and obey. Most of them were "thou shalt not" types of rules. Not only did it end up pitting the students against me as they tried to see how far they could push the envelope, but it kept me on my toes continually watching out for infringements and then having to remember to be consistent in punishment for each student. The next year, I reduced the number of rules to about 10. That seemed to ease the load a bit, but there was still the spirit of "thou shalt not" pervasive in my classroom, no matter how much I tried to build positive, life-giving relationships with my students.
Finally, and I don't remember what year this was, I heard a seasoned teacher say that she had one guideline in her classroom: "No one has the right to keep the teacher from teaching or other students from learning." Now some may say that this still sounds like a "thou shalt not", so let's reword it one more time: "The teacher shall be given the privilege of teaching and the students shall be given the privilege of learning." When I adopted this one guideline in my classroom, both teaching and learning sky-rocketed. At any time a student "mis-behaved", the only thing I had to say was, "Do you want to allow me to teach, please?" or "Would you please give Tommy the opportunity to learn?"
My rules and guidelines early on in my classrooms were correct and true. But they set up an atmosphere of mistrust and pressure to 'perform' on everyone's part. Once I adopted and implemented the 'one-rule' guideline in my classroom, everyone could get down to the business at hand: teaching and learning.
I wonder if in some ways, when Jesus said that the two greatest commandments are "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and the prophets rest on these two commands," that He was implementing a way to live out the new Covenant, bought with His blood. The Pharisees tried to regulate morality and their understanding of spirituality. Jesus turned it all upside down, but because there tends to be a bit of "pharisee" in each of us, we like to return to that which is comfortable and that which we can control. Instead of living by the Spirit, because where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom, we fall into a new kind of law-giving way of functioning, which ultimately stems from an orphan spirit.
I tried all day long to justify my classroom rules, reminding the students that the spirit behind them was love and care and concern for them; really, though, I was afraid of losing control of the classroom, and the rules were a way to shroud that fear that not even I was aware of at the time.
Don't we do this to each other in the Body of Christ? We place a lot of "thou shalt nots" on one another, stating that the 'spirit behind them' is love, but in reality, there is an orphan grasping for some sort of boundaries within which to work. Jesus Himself knew that the only boundaries we needed were the two greatest commandments: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself." Love is at the heartbeat of God for His children, and calling them forth into their full identities in the Father and into their sonship and daughtership in the Holy Spirit.
So often in my classrooms over the years, with my one guideline in place, I was able to say very quickly and concisely to a student who was misbehaving, "Susie, I'm not able to teach right now," and immediately, Susie knew and did not feel condemned or embarrassed because I didn't point out this that or the other in her, but rather what I needed. Similarly, I would state, "Eric, is John able to learn right now?" Again, almost immediately, without me having to state the negative, both Eric and John would come back to 'center' and we could proceed in moving forward toward the goal.
"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." "It's for freedom that Christ has set us free." My goal in my classrooms was to create life-long learners; is it our goal in the church to create life-long lovers of God? Then let's allow Holy Spirit to lead and guide and do what He wants to do in our midst to bring revelation of the Father and the Son and create passionate lovers of God and lovers of each other in the family. My goal as a follower of Jesus is to help people walk in freedom in the Spirit by pointing them and connecting them to Jesus.
Finally, and I don't remember what year this was, I heard a seasoned teacher say that she had one guideline in her classroom: "No one has the right to keep the teacher from teaching or other students from learning." Now some may say that this still sounds like a "thou shalt not", so let's reword it one more time: "The teacher shall be given the privilege of teaching and the students shall be given the privilege of learning." When I adopted this one guideline in my classroom, both teaching and learning sky-rocketed. At any time a student "mis-behaved", the only thing I had to say was, "Do you want to allow me to teach, please?" or "Would you please give Tommy the opportunity to learn?"
My rules and guidelines early on in my classrooms were correct and true. But they set up an atmosphere of mistrust and pressure to 'perform' on everyone's part. Once I adopted and implemented the 'one-rule' guideline in my classroom, everyone could get down to the business at hand: teaching and learning.
I wonder if in some ways, when Jesus said that the two greatest commandments are "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and the prophets rest on these two commands," that He was implementing a way to live out the new Covenant, bought with His blood. The Pharisees tried to regulate morality and their understanding of spirituality. Jesus turned it all upside down, but because there tends to be a bit of "pharisee" in each of us, we like to return to that which is comfortable and that which we can control. Instead of living by the Spirit, because where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom, we fall into a new kind of law-giving way of functioning, which ultimately stems from an orphan spirit.
I tried all day long to justify my classroom rules, reminding the students that the spirit behind them was love and care and concern for them; really, though, I was afraid of losing control of the classroom, and the rules were a way to shroud that fear that not even I was aware of at the time.
Don't we do this to each other in the Body of Christ? We place a lot of "thou shalt nots" on one another, stating that the 'spirit behind them' is love, but in reality, there is an orphan grasping for some sort of boundaries within which to work. Jesus Himself knew that the only boundaries we needed were the two greatest commandments: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself." Love is at the heartbeat of God for His children, and calling them forth into their full identities in the Father and into their sonship and daughtership in the Holy Spirit.
So often in my classrooms over the years, with my one guideline in place, I was able to say very quickly and concisely to a student who was misbehaving, "Susie, I'm not able to teach right now," and immediately, Susie knew and did not feel condemned or embarrassed because I didn't point out this that or the other in her, but rather what I needed. Similarly, I would state, "Eric, is John able to learn right now?" Again, almost immediately, without me having to state the negative, both Eric and John would come back to 'center' and we could proceed in moving forward toward the goal.
"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." "It's for freedom that Christ has set us free." My goal in my classrooms was to create life-long learners; is it our goal in the church to create life-long lovers of God? Then let's allow Holy Spirit to lead and guide and do what He wants to do in our midst to bring revelation of the Father and the Son and create passionate lovers of God and lovers of each other in the family. My goal as a follower of Jesus is to help people walk in freedom in the Spirit by pointing them and connecting them to Jesus.
Monday, April 09, 2012
Continuing - Confessions of a Former Cessationist
True confessions: (I have since repented for all of the following)
I judged people who raised their hands during worship. I thought it was overly emotional and unnecessary.
I judged people who shouted things like, "Praise You, Jesus!" "Glory to God!" "Hallelujah!" Shouting was rude, disruptive and not biblical, or so I thought. Then I read: "Let' us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms," in Psalm 95.
I judged people who waved banners or flags during worship services. Then I read Psalm 20:5 where it says, "We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners!"
I judged people who danced during worship services...where IS your reverence for our Holy God? Then I read 2 Samuel 6:14 where "David danced before the LORD with all his might."
I even judged those worship services where a woman got up to preach the sermon, thinking that this too was unbiblical. Then I had a precious brother and pastor in Hungary walk me through the scriptures and show me that women can be teachers too, and when properly covered by a man and men in the church, women can bless the body with their teaching gifts.
My judgements were off the scale for those people who supposedly fell over during a service when someone prayed for them...I was sure that the person who put his hand on their head pushed them down, or the person was faking falling down. And even if someone was faking and doing a "cd" (courtesy drop), that was between them and God, and did not change Who God is or what He is doing in people's lives and hearts.
I judged those churches where people clapped their hands and sang loudly...but secretly, in the depths of my being, I wished that we in our church would sing songs through more than one time, and there were times when the desire to clap would begin to well up inside of me, but I worked hard to squelch it, out of supposed reverence.
Indeed, I suppose you could say that I was one of the most judgemental people in the church OF the church. Finally, as I began to explore the Scriptures, I learned much more about not only how judgemental I was, but also how wrong I was on every point above.
Probably the most amazing growth in my life has come in the past 8 years as I have released control to the Lord, watched Him break out of the neat little boxes I tried to put Him in and through it all, pour out His amazing love and grace.
Now, the challenge is not to swing to the other end of the pendulum and judge the place and perspectives that I once held. God is a big God, full of fresh revelation, and He has healed my heart and will continue to show me His Truths!
I judged people who raised their hands during worship. I thought it was overly emotional and unnecessary.
I judged people who shouted things like, "Praise You, Jesus!" "Glory to God!" "Hallelujah!" Shouting was rude, disruptive and not biblical, or so I thought. Then I read: "Let' us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms," in Psalm 95.
I judged people who waved banners or flags during worship services. Then I read Psalm 20:5 where it says, "We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners!"
I judged people who danced during worship services...where IS your reverence for our Holy God? Then I read 2 Samuel 6:14 where "David danced before the LORD with all his might."
I even judged those worship services where a woman got up to preach the sermon, thinking that this too was unbiblical. Then I had a precious brother and pastor in Hungary walk me through the scriptures and show me that women can be teachers too, and when properly covered by a man and men in the church, women can bless the body with their teaching gifts.
My judgements were off the scale for those people who supposedly fell over during a service when someone prayed for them...I was sure that the person who put his hand on their head pushed them down, or the person was faking falling down. And even if someone was faking and doing a "cd" (courtesy drop), that was between them and God, and did not change Who God is or what He is doing in people's lives and hearts.
I judged those churches where people clapped their hands and sang loudly...but secretly, in the depths of my being, I wished that we in our church would sing songs through more than one time, and there were times when the desire to clap would begin to well up inside of me, but I worked hard to squelch it, out of supposed reverence.
Indeed, I suppose you could say that I was one of the most judgemental people in the church OF the church. Finally, as I began to explore the Scriptures, I learned much more about not only how judgemental I was, but also how wrong I was on every point above.
Probably the most amazing growth in my life has come in the past 8 years as I have released control to the Lord, watched Him break out of the neat little boxes I tried to put Him in and through it all, pour out His amazing love and grace.
Now, the challenge is not to swing to the other end of the pendulum and judge the place and perspectives that I once held. God is a big God, full of fresh revelation, and He has healed my heart and will continue to show me His Truths!
Friday, April 06, 2012
Confessions of a Former Cessationist (continued)
As I mentioned in the previous blog, I am writing a new book, and parts of it will appear here. This is installment #2:
Growing up in a mainline denominational church, I did not have the opportunity to see these greater things that Jesus speaks about with certainty. (See end of previous blog)
Mind you, I saw and experienced many wonderful things, like excellent teaching of the Word of God, solid discipleship programs, wonderful hearts for missions and reverence and awe of God the Father and God the Son and the Word of God, the Bible. I absolutely love and honor the background from which I have come spiritually and every person who faithfully poured into my life through the years. I received a solid grounding in the Word, for which I am eternally grateful.
One noteworthy thing that continually pricked at my heart, even as a young believer, was how quickly we glossed over the third person of the Trinity--The Holy Spirit. To me, and this is most likely my own fault, Holy Spirit was some sort of ethereal entity, very mysterious and sort of "out there," yes, significant, but somehow, He seemed less important or at least less emphasized than the Father and the Son.
I even remember having a conversation with someone when I was looking for a church home during graduate school. This person said, "That church places more emphasis on the Holy Spirit, whereas this church really emphasizes the Word and Jesus."
I took the bait---the latter was clearly 'better' than the former because it's the written Word of Truth that trumps the 'experience' of the Spirit. Somehow, Jesus' words in John chapter 4 to the Samaritan woman at the well got pushed to the wayside in my mind. "A time is coming when true worshipers will worship in Spirit and in Truth."
It's a both/and---not an either/or; it never has been nor ever will be. In the end, it's God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit revealed by the written word of God and the church, God's people, living out the fullness of everything that God is as recorded in Scripture.
I began by saying that I was on the journey away from cessationism before I even knew I was on the journey, and that's because some things really bothered me. Such things as why we focused on 1 Corinthians 13 but glossed over chapters 12 and 14, and why if the Apostle Paul taught clearly that we are to eagerly desire the gifts, especially that we would prophesy, then how could prophesy no longer exist? At one point I was told by a radical mainline person that speaking in tongues was of the devil, so imagine my surprise when one day I am praying and I am, quite suddenly, speaking a language I don't recognize! It welled up from deep inside of me and came bubbling out, and since that time, my relationship with God has only grown more intimate and even deeper as I pray in tongues. I knew there had to be something to this fullness of Christ dwelling in me via Holy Spirit because my new spirit in me, renewed by God's grace, was communing with Holy Spirit like it never had before.
The other mental challenge I had was reading about the five-fold ministry, but only seeing three of the ministries active. Of course there are teachers, evangelists and pastors, but apostles and prophets are no longer in existence, I was told. This confused me a bit, but I simply accepted it, even though it seemed a bit odd to me, especially since Paul was writing about this regarding the early church and how that church and churches to come would be established until Jesus' second coming. As I began studying much later in my walk with the Lord, and experiencing things in my own life connected to these giftings, I realized that indeed they are gifts for today.
....More to come......
Growing up in a mainline denominational church, I did not have the opportunity to see these greater things that Jesus speaks about with certainty. (See end of previous blog)
Mind you, I saw and experienced many wonderful things, like excellent teaching of the Word of God, solid discipleship programs, wonderful hearts for missions and reverence and awe of God the Father and God the Son and the Word of God, the Bible. I absolutely love and honor the background from which I have come spiritually and every person who faithfully poured into my life through the years. I received a solid grounding in the Word, for which I am eternally grateful.
One noteworthy thing that continually pricked at my heart, even as a young believer, was how quickly we glossed over the third person of the Trinity--The Holy Spirit. To me, and this is most likely my own fault, Holy Spirit was some sort of ethereal entity, very mysterious and sort of "out there," yes, significant, but somehow, He seemed less important or at least less emphasized than the Father and the Son.
I even remember having a conversation with someone when I was looking for a church home during graduate school. This person said, "That church places more emphasis on the Holy Spirit, whereas this church really emphasizes the Word and Jesus."
I took the bait---the latter was clearly 'better' than the former because it's the written Word of Truth that trumps the 'experience' of the Spirit. Somehow, Jesus' words in John chapter 4 to the Samaritan woman at the well got pushed to the wayside in my mind. "A time is coming when true worshipers will worship in Spirit and in Truth."
It's a both/and---not an either/or; it never has been nor ever will be. In the end, it's God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit revealed by the written word of God and the church, God's people, living out the fullness of everything that God is as recorded in Scripture.
I began by saying that I was on the journey away from cessationism before I even knew I was on the journey, and that's because some things really bothered me. Such things as why we focused on 1 Corinthians 13 but glossed over chapters 12 and 14, and why if the Apostle Paul taught clearly that we are to eagerly desire the gifts, especially that we would prophesy, then how could prophesy no longer exist? At one point I was told by a radical mainline person that speaking in tongues was of the devil, so imagine my surprise when one day I am praying and I am, quite suddenly, speaking a language I don't recognize! It welled up from deep inside of me and came bubbling out, and since that time, my relationship with God has only grown more intimate and even deeper as I pray in tongues. I knew there had to be something to this fullness of Christ dwelling in me via Holy Spirit because my new spirit in me, renewed by God's grace, was communing with Holy Spirit like it never had before.
The other mental challenge I had was reading about the five-fold ministry, but only seeing three of the ministries active. Of course there are teachers, evangelists and pastors, but apostles and prophets are no longer in existence, I was told. This confused me a bit, but I simply accepted it, even though it seemed a bit odd to me, especially since Paul was writing about this regarding the early church and how that church and churches to come would be established until Jesus' second coming. As I began studying much later in my walk with the Lord, and experiencing things in my own life connected to these giftings, I realized that indeed they are gifts for today.
....More to come......
Wednesday, April 04, 2012
Hope Business Conference
Great speakers...
Times of adoration....
Tools for the journey....
And the reality....going forth!Timely. Spring brings forth hope as we see trees, grass, bushes, flowers blooming and growing.
The Hope Business Conference last week brought great hope to those in the marketplace as they gathered at the Focus building to focus on the goodness of God, the greatness of His being, and His faithfulness in all of life!
Spring in KC
Notice the tiny pink flowers...these are not perennials, but apparently, they never froze this winter and so are blooming again. There's a spiritual lesson and truth in this for sure!
One of our rose bushes and a couple of day lilies just waiting to burst forth and bloom!
We had no idea these could be multi-colored! Beautiful!
This is our neighbor's back yard, and we get to enjoy the view from our deck!
Yesterday, our first rose bud bloomed! I see this as a prophetic picture of passion week...life emerging from the red blood shed.I love spring! The colors bursting forth, new life emerging, dormancy transforming to alertness, and beauty!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Endorsement for my book, The Senders
My precious friend and sister in the Lord, Linda Valen, of Master Potter Ministries, has written a wonderful endorsement for my book, The Senders.
I encourage you to get your copy today by following THIS LINK
The Senders
By Arden Czaszewicz
Endorsement by Linda Valen
The Senders is a unique approach to missions that peers into the hearts and minds of those who pray and give to missionaries! We tend to focus on the heroes who have left everything to live in a different culture, walk by faith, and are called to preach the Gospel. But who thinks about the often unsung heroes behind the scenes who help to send missionaries through their financial gifts and prayers? What motivates them to give and why and what do they value as The Senders? This is a must read book for anyone raising finances and prayer support to do missions work! It reveals many keys that are shared through the eyes of those who help to make mission work possible! Some of you may become The Senders after reading this book because your heart has been impacted and challenged. It is well worth your time to read this engaging book to find out what makes these valuable partners do what they do and why!
Linda Valen
Ministry Director
Master Potter Ministries
info@masterpotter.com
I encourage you to get your copy today by following THIS LINK
Monday, March 26, 2012
Power in a name
Have some fun with me for a minute or two. First, I want you to think of the name of someone you know well. It might be a friend, relative....it doesn't really matter except that you know the person fairly well. Now, when you say that person's name or hear that person's name, what comes to your mind? Take a second and just list in your mind all the things that pop into your mind connected with that person.
As an example, I am thinking of my good friend, MJ (If you are reading this, MJ, enjoy). The first things that come to mind, after the smile on my face, are huge hugs, laughter, a good friend who is always wanting to know how others are doing, one who is more concerned about others and their walks with the Lord than she is about herself, a true "momma-figure", generous, kind, fun and funny, faithful, hard-working, caring, loving, etc.
Do the same with the person that comes to your mind.
Now, let me toss out a name to you for you to consider....ready?
Silvia Tapp.
What comes to your mind? Do you know her? What can you say about her? How has she impacted your life? What are the ways she has influenced you or been a friend to you, motivated you or encouraged you?
I would hazard a guess to say that not one of my blog readers has a clue who this person, Silvia Tapp, is. I don't even know who she is! I made up the name myself and personally, have no connection with any Silvia Tapp and consequently, no response like I had above regarding my friend, MJ.
Now, let me toss out these names and see what comes to mind:
Adolph Hitler
Bill Clinton
Margaret Thatcher
Jennifer Lopez
I believe each of us has certain perceptions or ideas that pop into our minds and hearts at the mention of these people's names, and whether positive or negative, each of them carries some sort of meaning, some sort of power to them which affects us whether we want to admit it or not.
Where am I going with this? I was reading in my Bible this morning, John chapter 18. I will quote here the relevant text:
"Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, 'Whom are you seeking?' They answered Him, 'Jesus of Nazareth.' Jesus said to them, 'I am He.' And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. Now when (Jesus) said to them, 'I am He,' they drew back and fell to the ground." (verses4-6), (emphasis mine).
I was struck this morning in a new and fresh way of the power in a name. Quite possibly, some of the soldiers who came out with Judas had either seen Jesus or heard about Him in the previous three years. Quite likely, there were many things disseminated about Him that were true as well as falsehoods. The significance in this passage is both Who Jesus is and the power of the name that He carries.
The soldiers are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, and Jesus responds with "I am He", the same words used by God with Moses on the mountain when He gave Moses his marching orders to return to Egypt and free God's people: "Tell them I Am has sent you."
Indeed, there is power in the name of Jesus...but the power lies in the reality that He is the great "I Am", God incarnate, and at the mention of His name, the soldiers who had come to arrest him "drew back and fell to the ground." (v.6). Why would strong, mighty, armed soldiers, on a mission to arrest some random teacher/preacher man, some rabble-rouser, some guy who was stirring up people, why would these mighty men of battle draw back and fall to the ground upon hearing, "I Am He"? Both WHO He was (and is) and the authority that He carried as the incarnate manifestation of the great I AM packed power as He spoke. This is the same I AM who spoke and everything came into being, so of course, in declaring His true identity, He causes even the strongest amongst us to draw back and fall to the ground.
We sang a worship song yesterday, part of which says: "There is power in the name of Jesus, there is power, in the name of Jesus, to break every chain, break every chain, break every chain." Clearly, in this passage in the Gospel of John, the name of Jesus has power. Those soldiers may not have known in the moment exactly who they were dealing with, who they were arresting because they had not been with Him, they'd not befriended Him, they'd not listened to His heart, they'd not seen His life, felt His love, experienced His grace and mercy, walked beside Him or shared a meal with Him...yet still, they felt and responded to the power of the name as it was spoken.
If we followers of Jesus, who, according to Scripture have the fullness of God dwelling in us through the Holy Spirit, knew the authority that we carry in Him, can you imagine what could happen for the glory of God to be revealed in the earth? If the love of the Father was manifest in us as Jesus prayed just 6 verses before those I quoted above saying, "And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You (Father) loved Me (Jesus), may be in them, and I in them." (John 17:26) THIS was the pinnacle of Jesus' heart...that the LOVE of the Father would be in believers and that Jesus Himself would be IN them, so that the same life-giving power would flow through us to everyone around us.
Now that's a walk with Jesus every believer needs to grab a hold of, and it's in that intimate, knowing and being known relationship with God Himself, in Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. And when we know Him in that way, then He can pour through us, and when people hear the name "Arden Czaszewicz", they will say, "She carries the love of the Father, the grace, mercy, forgiveness, kindness, gentleness, long-suffering, and power. She smells just like Jesus."
But what about my non-believing readers? What is your perception of Jesus? What pops into your mind when you hear His name? Why? Do you really know Him?
Jesus was the vessel of the Father's love and the very essence of the Father Himself, saying, "If you have seen me, you have seen the Father." How amazing, church, if the same could be said of us.
As an example, I am thinking of my good friend, MJ (If you are reading this, MJ, enjoy). The first things that come to mind, after the smile on my face, are huge hugs, laughter, a good friend who is always wanting to know how others are doing, one who is more concerned about others and their walks with the Lord than she is about herself, a true "momma-figure", generous, kind, fun and funny, faithful, hard-working, caring, loving, etc.
Do the same with the person that comes to your mind.
Now, let me toss out a name to you for you to consider....ready?
Silvia Tapp.
What comes to your mind? Do you know her? What can you say about her? How has she impacted your life? What are the ways she has influenced you or been a friend to you, motivated you or encouraged you?
I would hazard a guess to say that not one of my blog readers has a clue who this person, Silvia Tapp, is. I don't even know who she is! I made up the name myself and personally, have no connection with any Silvia Tapp and consequently, no response like I had above regarding my friend, MJ.
Now, let me toss out these names and see what comes to mind:
Adolph Hitler
Bill Clinton
Margaret Thatcher
Jennifer Lopez
I believe each of us has certain perceptions or ideas that pop into our minds and hearts at the mention of these people's names, and whether positive or negative, each of them carries some sort of meaning, some sort of power to them which affects us whether we want to admit it or not.
Where am I going with this? I was reading in my Bible this morning, John chapter 18. I will quote here the relevant text:
"Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, 'Whom are you seeking?' They answered Him, 'Jesus of Nazareth.' Jesus said to them, 'I am He.' And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. Now when (Jesus) said to them, 'I am He,' they drew back and fell to the ground." (verses4-6), (emphasis mine).
I was struck this morning in a new and fresh way of the power in a name. Quite possibly, some of the soldiers who came out with Judas had either seen Jesus or heard about Him in the previous three years. Quite likely, there were many things disseminated about Him that were true as well as falsehoods. The significance in this passage is both Who Jesus is and the power of the name that He carries.
The soldiers are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, and Jesus responds with "I am He", the same words used by God with Moses on the mountain when He gave Moses his marching orders to return to Egypt and free God's people: "Tell them I Am has sent you."
Indeed, there is power in the name of Jesus...but the power lies in the reality that He is the great "I Am", God incarnate, and at the mention of His name, the soldiers who had come to arrest him "drew back and fell to the ground." (v.6). Why would strong, mighty, armed soldiers, on a mission to arrest some random teacher/preacher man, some rabble-rouser, some guy who was stirring up people, why would these mighty men of battle draw back and fall to the ground upon hearing, "I Am He"? Both WHO He was (and is) and the authority that He carried as the incarnate manifestation of the great I AM packed power as He spoke. This is the same I AM who spoke and everything came into being, so of course, in declaring His true identity, He causes even the strongest amongst us to draw back and fall to the ground.
We sang a worship song yesterday, part of which says: "There is power in the name of Jesus, there is power, in the name of Jesus, to break every chain, break every chain, break every chain." Clearly, in this passage in the Gospel of John, the name of Jesus has power. Those soldiers may not have known in the moment exactly who they were dealing with, who they were arresting because they had not been with Him, they'd not befriended Him, they'd not listened to His heart, they'd not seen His life, felt His love, experienced His grace and mercy, walked beside Him or shared a meal with Him...yet still, they felt and responded to the power of the name as it was spoken.
If we followers of Jesus, who, according to Scripture have the fullness of God dwelling in us through the Holy Spirit, knew the authority that we carry in Him, can you imagine what could happen for the glory of God to be revealed in the earth? If the love of the Father was manifest in us as Jesus prayed just 6 verses before those I quoted above saying, "And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You (Father) loved Me (Jesus), may be in them, and I in them." (John 17:26) THIS was the pinnacle of Jesus' heart...that the LOVE of the Father would be in believers and that Jesus Himself would be IN them, so that the same life-giving power would flow through us to everyone around us.
Now that's a walk with Jesus every believer needs to grab a hold of, and it's in that intimate, knowing and being known relationship with God Himself, in Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. And when we know Him in that way, then He can pour through us, and when people hear the name "Arden Czaszewicz", they will say, "She carries the love of the Father, the grace, mercy, forgiveness, kindness, gentleness, long-suffering, and power. She smells just like Jesus."
But what about my non-believing readers? What is your perception of Jesus? What pops into your mind when you hear His name? Why? Do you really know Him?
Jesus was the vessel of the Father's love and the very essence of the Father Himself, saying, "If you have seen me, you have seen the Father." How amazing, church, if the same could be said of us.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Finished
A work in progress....
....and the finished product, along with our peach tree!I am finding that projects are so much more fun to do with another person...namely a husband! ;-)
This year, we decided to expand our garden, realizing that last year we lost some yummy veggies to critters, which meant building some sort of barrier. In addition, we decided we needed to have a fruit tree, and agreed on a peach tree. So, that's what you see in the picture. While we won't be able to harvest the peaches this year, it's such a great picture of investing into the future and the next generations...hmmm, could that be a Kingdom value?
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Expanded garden!
Our wonderful Swiss neighbor and friend, Jonny, helped Paul put together the garden frame! We could not have done it without him!
A work in progress!
Love our local rental place where we got the roto-tiller. :-)
It was a bit chilly the day we tilled up the yard. Here are Paul and Jonny teaming up to cut deep into the soil for the garden bed!
Jonny examining the finished product! Now for soil, then the deer and critter fence must go up!Gardening! I watched my father spend hours in the garden as we were growing up, bringing in fresh veggies every evening for dinner and thought, "Someday, I want to have a garden too!"
I've had one the past three years here in KC. It started out as a 10'x18' plot the first year, grew another 9' the second year, and finally, this year, it is a whopping 27 x 20' garden plot. Paul and I are so excited to grow, grow, grow this year! Our dirt will be delivered today, and planting will start very soon as we need to get cold crops in the ground!
With food prices increasing almost weekly, it's nice to know that we will be saving lots of money and eating nutritious food!
Monday, March 12, 2012
Weekend in Chicago
Family portrait at The Bean!
Do you see the message to the left of Paul's ear? :-)
From the John Hancock Tower!
What a treat!
So fun to take a "reflection" picture in The Bean!We were so blessed to share a special weekend with some very special friends of ours. Jonny, Maria, Jamie, Alisha and Matea are a precious family from Switzerland who live just two houses away from us here in Kansas City. Since Paul is from Chicago, we decided to organize a trip together for a long weekend, showing our friends the big city. We enjoyed ourselves so much and have built a life-long friendship with these precious ones!
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
Friday, March 02, 2012
From 70 degrees to snowing in less than 24 hours!
My post was going to be about something else, but as I just this second looked outside and saw snowflakes, I pitched my other idea. Yesterday, I was sitting outside on my back deck basking in 70 degree heat. Right now, it's snowing! Go figure!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Home food storage
Have you given much thought to home food storage? Most people haven't, especially those of us in the U.S. where "the economy always bounces back", and we fall back on "I can always use my credit card if I get in trouble financially", or "building a home store of food is 'alarmist' and crazy" sort of mentalities.
Recently, I attended a meeting where a gentleman shared his experience of being in Japan during the recent tsunami. He and his family were not directly impacted by the earthquakes and flooding, however, when his wife asked him to go to the local store to get some bread and milk, he found there was none to be found. The store shelves had been cleaned out, and remained so for days due to chaos in other parts of the country. Thankfully, they had some home food storage and were able to ride out the week quite comfortably.
Yesterday in Missouri, there was a minor earthquake registering 4.2 on the richter scale. Geologists say it is only a matter of time before larger ones hit this area of the country, and everyone knows that geologists are waiting for the BIG one to hit the west coast. Add to these pictures the uncertainties of economies globally, the jobless rate, and other unforseen situations which can throw families into challenging situations. The last thing you want to be concerned about is giving yourself and your family food and water.
So, it's not an alarmist mentality, but a 21st century reality that all of us in the world are facing. We saw hints of people's reactions to challenging situations after Hurricane Katrina hit in New Orleans. Eye-witnesses reported that there were pockets of chaos and looting, and this after a very minor situation, comparatively speaking. People needed water more than anything, and had they had this wonderful, light-weight water filter, many would not have suffered so much. Check it out here.
I have been a consultant for Shelf Reliance and Thrive Foods for nearly 8 months now, and as I have cooked with and eaten the food, put up the amazing shelving systems and helped others to get started with their food storage, I am SOLD on this company and their products. Check out my website here and contact me if you have any questions. You can register right there on the website to be a customer, and your best prices will be found if you choose to get on the "Q", which you can read about. It's basically like the netflix of food.
So, if you want to eat what you store and store what you eat, if you want incredibly delicious, highly nutritional food with no GMOs, then get started on building your home storage, and let me help you. Why not be prepared in a stress-free way and prepare to be a blessing to those around you?
Recently, I attended a meeting where a gentleman shared his experience of being in Japan during the recent tsunami. He and his family were not directly impacted by the earthquakes and flooding, however, when his wife asked him to go to the local store to get some bread and milk, he found there was none to be found. The store shelves had been cleaned out, and remained so for days due to chaos in other parts of the country. Thankfully, they had some home food storage and were able to ride out the week quite comfortably.
Yesterday in Missouri, there was a minor earthquake registering 4.2 on the richter scale. Geologists say it is only a matter of time before larger ones hit this area of the country, and everyone knows that geologists are waiting for the BIG one to hit the west coast. Add to these pictures the uncertainties of economies globally, the jobless rate, and other unforseen situations which can throw families into challenging situations. The last thing you want to be concerned about is giving yourself and your family food and water.
So, it's not an alarmist mentality, but a 21st century reality that all of us in the world are facing. We saw hints of people's reactions to challenging situations after Hurricane Katrina hit in New Orleans. Eye-witnesses reported that there were pockets of chaos and looting, and this after a very minor situation, comparatively speaking. People needed water more than anything, and had they had this wonderful, light-weight water filter, many would not have suffered so much. Check it out here.
I have been a consultant for Shelf Reliance and Thrive Foods for nearly 8 months now, and as I have cooked with and eaten the food, put up the amazing shelving systems and helped others to get started with their food storage, I am SOLD on this company and their products. Check out my website here and contact me if you have any questions. You can register right there on the website to be a customer, and your best prices will be found if you choose to get on the "Q", which you can read about. It's basically like the netflix of food.
So, if you want to eat what you store and store what you eat, if you want incredibly delicious, highly nutritional food with no GMOs, then get started on building your home storage, and let me help you. Why not be prepared in a stress-free way and prepare to be a blessing to those around you?
Monday, February 20, 2012
Breath of fresh air
I love our neighbors two doors down! Jonny and Maria and their three children are from Switzerland! We enjoyed a FUN evening with them last night, eating dinner and then playing a game with colored dominoes called "Mexican Train". The kids loved it, as did all of us adults!
Playing games brings a breath of fresh air to my life...I love to laugh and need to do more of it! Plus, being around Europeans ALWAYS makes me happy! Actually, being around anyone from another nation puts a spark in my step and a smile in my heart. We will be sad when they leave to return to Switzerland this summer, but until then, I'm sure we'll enjoy more game nights!
Playing games brings a breath of fresh air to my life...I love to laugh and need to do more of it! Plus, being around Europeans ALWAYS makes me happy! Actually, being around anyone from another nation puts a spark in my step and a smile in my heart. We will be sad when they leave to return to Switzerland this summer, but until then, I'm sure we'll enjoy more game nights!
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Rafts, boats and ships
Today, I received a "picture" in my spirit which I will try to articulate here. The pictures included a young child in a blow-up raft-like boat on a lake, a man on a sailboat, working the rigging, and finally, the captain of a cruise-ship, out on the ocean.
Here is what I believe God spoke to me through these pictures. When we are young in the Lord, we are entrusted with the blow-up raft and really must stay close to the shoreline, like a child because neither we nor our vessel could handle the choppy waves and high winds a lake or the ocean would throw at us. God knows this.
However, we quickly move from raft-status to boat-status, being entrusted with sails or engines and a craft that can maneuver and be maneuvered through both wind and waves and successfully reach point B from point A. In addition, God entrusts us with those aboard our boats. The blow-up raft held just us, but now, we have been trained in the ways of the Kingdom and entrusted with lives to disciple.
Finally, the picture of the doomed cruise ship which recently crashed on shallow rocks near the shoreline brought home the reality of responsibility as well as the negligence evident in our own lives as well as in the lives of many people, sadly. As we grow in the Lord, and move from the boat to the cruise-ship and are placed in roles of tremendous responsibility, we move out into deeper waters. It is there that we must stay if we are to sail both us and those entrusted to us safely from point A to point B. Attempting to return to the shallower waters for whatever reason is not only foolishness, but can bring tragedy.
The captain of the fated cruise-liner not only showed lack of maturity and responsibility, but also gross negligence as he moved from making a bad decision to lying about it. He's not alone in the universe as he joins a great company of folks who have done the same, from Adam in the Garden to Peter who thrice denied his Lord. To make a bad choice is one thing; to abandon responsibility and allow others to die while you save yourself is the epitamy of immaturity when applied to Kingdom living.
I am in no way standing in judgement of the captain of the fated ship. This is purely being used as an illustration of a much deeper lesson and reality. There are so many things going on in the world today, in our nation today, laws and bills being passed which are akin to running a packed cruise ship too close to shallow, rocky shores. Is there hope? Of course! With God there is ALWAYS hope because He is the hopeful God! However, it takes steering the ship back out into the deeper waters of His love, His perspective, His ways of functioning, His ancient Truths and pathways. Only there will captains and passengers be not only safe, but also enjoying the journey.
There are so many things unfolding that "appear" to be good, but are simply jagged rocks waiting to take down the entire cruise ship. God, we pray for leaders in all arenas of society, that they would hear Your voice and make decisions not based on whim and fancy but on the DEEP TRUTHS of Your Kingdom.
Here is what I believe God spoke to me through these pictures. When we are young in the Lord, we are entrusted with the blow-up raft and really must stay close to the shoreline, like a child because neither we nor our vessel could handle the choppy waves and high winds a lake or the ocean would throw at us. God knows this.
However, we quickly move from raft-status to boat-status, being entrusted with sails or engines and a craft that can maneuver and be maneuvered through both wind and waves and successfully reach point B from point A. In addition, God entrusts us with those aboard our boats. The blow-up raft held just us, but now, we have been trained in the ways of the Kingdom and entrusted with lives to disciple.
Finally, the picture of the doomed cruise ship which recently crashed on shallow rocks near the shoreline brought home the reality of responsibility as well as the negligence evident in our own lives as well as in the lives of many people, sadly. As we grow in the Lord, and move from the boat to the cruise-ship and are placed in roles of tremendous responsibility, we move out into deeper waters. It is there that we must stay if we are to sail both us and those entrusted to us safely from point A to point B. Attempting to return to the shallower waters for whatever reason is not only foolishness, but can bring tragedy.
The captain of the fated cruise-liner not only showed lack of maturity and responsibility, but also gross negligence as he moved from making a bad decision to lying about it. He's not alone in the universe as he joins a great company of folks who have done the same, from Adam in the Garden to Peter who thrice denied his Lord. To make a bad choice is one thing; to abandon responsibility and allow others to die while you save yourself is the epitamy of immaturity when applied to Kingdom living.
I am in no way standing in judgement of the captain of the fated ship. This is purely being used as an illustration of a much deeper lesson and reality. There are so many things going on in the world today, in our nation today, laws and bills being passed which are akin to running a packed cruise ship too close to shallow, rocky shores. Is there hope? Of course! With God there is ALWAYS hope because He is the hopeful God! However, it takes steering the ship back out into the deeper waters of His love, His perspective, His ways of functioning, His ancient Truths and pathways. Only there will captains and passengers be not only safe, but also enjoying the journey.
There are so many things unfolding that "appear" to be good, but are simply jagged rocks waiting to take down the entire cruise ship. God, we pray for leaders in all arenas of society, that they would hear Your voice and make decisions not based on whim and fancy but on the DEEP TRUTHS of Your Kingdom.
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Visionary
Sometimes I find it challenging to be a visionary. The Lord will "drop" an idea into my spirit and/or mind, and within a few minutes, I can see the entire thing played out in my head and the future impact for the Kingdom this idea will have. Often, it's like a rushing waterfall of this, that and the other, all amazing pieces of the grander puzzle that, in my visionary mind's eye, looks phenomenal and completely doable. So, where is the challenge?
Implementation.
I am the type of visionary who does not have a clue how to implement the vision. I knew, but am discovering even more so through marriage, that I am not a detail person. So, while I see the big picture and even some of the details, I am typically at a complete loss as to how to implement the vision and help it come to fruition.
Yesterday, during morning prayer through Skype with the Hartley Institute, God dropped a vision in my spirit for a business. As I chatted with others on the call, it seemed to catch fire quickly and we all could feel the excitement of it. That excitement continues today, but when I consider the challenge of implementation, I grow easily discouraged and want to toss in the towel because, while I know all the things that need to come into place, I don't know the first thing about how to make that happen.
So, I am praying that if this is truly a vision from the Lord, that HE will bring the people He knows need to be in place for implementation to unfold, His way, for His glory!
Implementation.
I am the type of visionary who does not have a clue how to implement the vision. I knew, but am discovering even more so through marriage, that I am not a detail person. So, while I see the big picture and even some of the details, I am typically at a complete loss as to how to implement the vision and help it come to fruition.
Yesterday, during morning prayer through Skype with the Hartley Institute, God dropped a vision in my spirit for a business. As I chatted with others on the call, it seemed to catch fire quickly and we all could feel the excitement of it. That excitement continues today, but when I consider the challenge of implementation, I grow easily discouraged and want to toss in the towel because, while I know all the things that need to come into place, I don't know the first thing about how to make that happen.
So, I am praying that if this is truly a vision from the Lord, that HE will bring the people He knows need to be in place for implementation to unfold, His way, for His glory!
Friday, January 27, 2012
Ponderings....
Because we have become so familiar with the story of Jesus' last week on this planet before His resurrection, we can be lulled into a sort of complacency when it comes to the time we are currently living in. Let's take a different approach for just a moment. Let's try to put ourselves in the shoes of Jesus' disciples:
They'd been with him day in and day out for three solid years. He'd taught them truths of the Kingdom, including the fact that he would be handed over to the authorities, beaten, mocked, hung on a tree, and then, three days later, he would rise from the dead. I sometimes wonder if in their heart of hearts, most of the disciples listened to Jesus and sort of shook their heads and beneath their breaths whispered something like, "Yea, sure, Jesus; that's not 'really' how it's going to happen because you are far to important and what we've got going here is huge, so this catastrophic stuff you are talking about can't really happen. We'll figure this out and everything will work out just fine!"
Suddenly, in the midst of prayer in a quiet place on a mountain side in an olive grove, troops arrive with swords in hand and torches. The disciples' worlds were turned upside-down (even in spite of Jesus' repeated warnings) and most of them fled in fear. Their lives as they knew them up to that point were transformed in an instant, and everything they knew to be true appeared to be twisted around and against them...even in spite of Jesus' gentle instructions all along. Quite literally, their lives would never be the same, and they never were.
After fleeing, they hide away, and when confronted by the loving, living, resurrected Jesus, life would never be the same! It was glorious and gut-wrenching all at the same time. One day highly regarded and the next hunted down to be killed. Sometimes living in plenty and other times in want, but never forsaken.
Gee, today things are not much different, and in fact, I propose that we are on the brink of such a cataclysmic change in our lives and society, on nearly the same level, albeit different in many ways too, as that time in history. Life has been pretty good for most of us in the U.S. and developed parts of the world for decades, and it's only in the last decade, and especially in the last 4 years, that the crumbling has begun. Now we are seeing signs of serious crumbling, serious collapse, not just here but world-wide. Lest I be a doom-sayer, which I never want to be, let's focus on the end of the story back then and now.
Jesus rose triumphantly from the grave, defeating death forever and making a way for every person to enter into Kingdom reality forever! Hallelujah! That same Jesus is coming back to rule and to reign with His church! Hallelujah! Back then, there were three full days of challenge and despair. And because a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day according to the Bible, are we not in our "three days" of challenge? What does it mean for us, the bride of Christ, as we look to the one who promised never to leave us or forsake us?
Well, we can, like some people back then, put our heads in the sand and not face reality, thinking we're just fine and life continues as usual. Or we can worry and fret, wondering and becoming anxious. Or, we can use the God-given wisdom we have been given and are being given daily and prepare our hearts, minds, bodies and lives for those very challenging "three days" during which many will be offended, and others will shine like stars in the night, bringing hope and life to everyone around them.
Life is not normal these days...we all know that; so what will you do? To whom will you turn? In whom do you trust? The Faithful One will never fail you; listen to what He is whispering to your heart in this season, and obey without hesitation!
They'd been with him day in and day out for three solid years. He'd taught them truths of the Kingdom, including the fact that he would be handed over to the authorities, beaten, mocked, hung on a tree, and then, three days later, he would rise from the dead. I sometimes wonder if in their heart of hearts, most of the disciples listened to Jesus and sort of shook their heads and beneath their breaths whispered something like, "Yea, sure, Jesus; that's not 'really' how it's going to happen because you are far to important and what we've got going here is huge, so this catastrophic stuff you are talking about can't really happen. We'll figure this out and everything will work out just fine!"
Suddenly, in the midst of prayer in a quiet place on a mountain side in an olive grove, troops arrive with swords in hand and torches. The disciples' worlds were turned upside-down (even in spite of Jesus' repeated warnings) and most of them fled in fear. Their lives as they knew them up to that point were transformed in an instant, and everything they knew to be true appeared to be twisted around and against them...even in spite of Jesus' gentle instructions all along. Quite literally, their lives would never be the same, and they never were.
After fleeing, they hide away, and when confronted by the loving, living, resurrected Jesus, life would never be the same! It was glorious and gut-wrenching all at the same time. One day highly regarded and the next hunted down to be killed. Sometimes living in plenty and other times in want, but never forsaken.
Gee, today things are not much different, and in fact, I propose that we are on the brink of such a cataclysmic change in our lives and society, on nearly the same level, albeit different in many ways too, as that time in history. Life has been pretty good for most of us in the U.S. and developed parts of the world for decades, and it's only in the last decade, and especially in the last 4 years, that the crumbling has begun. Now we are seeing signs of serious crumbling, serious collapse, not just here but world-wide. Lest I be a doom-sayer, which I never want to be, let's focus on the end of the story back then and now.
Jesus rose triumphantly from the grave, defeating death forever and making a way for every person to enter into Kingdom reality forever! Hallelujah! That same Jesus is coming back to rule and to reign with His church! Hallelujah! Back then, there were three full days of challenge and despair. And because a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day according to the Bible, are we not in our "three days" of challenge? What does it mean for us, the bride of Christ, as we look to the one who promised never to leave us or forsake us?
Well, we can, like some people back then, put our heads in the sand and not face reality, thinking we're just fine and life continues as usual. Or we can worry and fret, wondering and becoming anxious. Or, we can use the God-given wisdom we have been given and are being given daily and prepare our hearts, minds, bodies and lives for those very challenging "three days" during which many will be offended, and others will shine like stars in the night, bringing hope and life to everyone around them.
Life is not normal these days...we all know that; so what will you do? To whom will you turn? In whom do you trust? The Faithful One will never fail you; listen to what He is whispering to your heart in this season, and obey without hesitation!
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