God didn't make mistakes when He made you!

Today I looked at myself in the mirror.  I had just gotten up off the ground, having laid myself before my God.  In His presence I was able to see something that was not just for me, but for you also.  I am writing this by faith, believing that who needs to see this will see it and be blessed.  I am praying for you right now, that the lies and distortion will be removed by truth and right in Jesus' name.

As I stared at my reflection, singing, God dropped new lyrics in my heart that made their way out of my mouth as more than a song.  They were a declaration and a silence to whatever other voice that said differently.  They were a weapon against evil.  Evil defined by Jessica is anything that comes up against the plans and purpose God has for your life.  Evil is what distorts the truth and bounds people that God has already declared free in his son - Jesus.


I began singing:

I am who I'm supposed to be
God didn't make no mistakes
When He set about making me

I don't look like her
Act like her
Sing like her
Talk like her

No surprises there, she's not me
And I am not her but...

I am who I'm supposed to be
God didn't make no mistakes
When He set about making me

I am not a model
Nor the image on t.v.
Don't know much about
The girl they said I should be

No surprises there, she's not me
And I am not her but...

I am who I'm supposed to be
God didn't make no mistakes
When he set about making me

He said I am who I am supposed to be
He said I'm fearfully, wonderfully, perfectly
Made in His image

I am who I am supposed to be
God didn't make no mistakes
When He set about making me

For years, I have been compared to my sisters.  I am the 2nd daughter of 3 for my mom. For years I have lived comparing myself to them, listening to that lie that said I should be a carbon copy of either or both.  They are both gifted and serve God in the areas He has placed them and maybe since I was the last to be saved, I felt I had to do it like them. 

Along side that, and this preceded the former, I spent my teen and some adult years comparing myself to the image that was supposedly better than my own.  I allowed an imperfect world to tell me how to improve what God already said was good when He completed it - moi (me).  I bought into the ads that told me I was over weight and my hair was only wonderful straight.  My skin wasn't flawless and if that was not bad enough, I had a beard that forever needed to be plucked. (I am not a guy so you can certainly see my dilemma).

However, thank God that I have long since been reconciled to God's plan and purpose for my life, with me being just me.  I have also been liberated from the image of perfection that God did not intend for me, instead I celebrate the image looking back at me.  Me.

Today, I believe God wants to do it for some-one else.  Is it you?  If it is then this song is for you...sing it, declare it, make it your own. You are who you are supposed to be and God didn't make no (ignore the grammar) mistakes when He set about making you.

Beat It Satan

Matt 4:10 "Beat it satan" (Msg version)

Obeservation:
There is so much in these verses.  My mind can hardly take it all in.  I have often wondered why Jesus 'allowed' the Devil to test him.  The bible records in Matt 3:1 - 4:11, that Jesus prepared himself for it through 40 days and nights of fasting and prayer.  (As I wrote that I just had a thought, can I get through 40 days of fasting?  I could hardly make it through 21 days of a partial fast.  It was tough, but the results were so worth it.  Hmmm, it is something to think about for sure.)

After such a fast, Jesus was weak, as you can well imagine.  That was when the devil chose to strike. Sounds familiar? He preyed immediately upon His weakness.  He said to Him, turn these stones into bread.  Jesus refused.

Jesus was hungry, but he did not bow.  He did not value the temporal satisfaction of a meal more than the fulfillment of his Father's purpose for him.  Interestingly enough, He was still in control.  The devil was not the one in control even though it would have appeared that way initially.  For us to even assume that would be so wrong.  God is always in control, so much so that when he was finished with satan he told him "Beat it Satan!"  Satan had to flee.

Do you know that you and I have the same authority?  Yes, we do.  Should you resist the devil, he will flee.  Don't believe me?  Here is what James wrote, "Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you." James 4:7  Can you stand more truth? 

Ephesians 4:27 "...and do not give the devil a foothold."  1Peter 5:8-9 "Be self controlled and alert.  Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in your faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."

This is the time to say out loud "Beat it Satan!"

While I'm waiting

A friend of mine recently had a baby boy.  She waited for a long time to get married and have this bundle of joy.  She waited for a long time for this to happen.  She never dated anyone but her husband, and even that was laced with prayer and fasting.  She followed the counsel of the Godly.  She followed the righteous path of God.  As a side note, she married a pastor. :-)

I began to think about how she waited.  You see, I am waiting too.  I am waiting on God for alot of things.  I am sure you are as well; waiting.  You are waiting for your miracle, waiting for your break through, waiting for God to do the impossible in your life.  Aren't you?

So again the question, how did she wait? Was it according to the word, where her strength was renewed and she mounted upon wings of eagles? Did she run and not faint and walked without weariness?

Yes.  I believe she did that.  Did you know that they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.  They shall mount up with wings of an eagle.  They shall run and not get weary. They shall walk and not faint. 

 

She served God while waiting. She worshipped God while waiting. She didn’t faint, she kept running the race, even as she waited.

 

 

For whoever may read what I have written know this, God is faithful.   To all of us who delight in Him, he will give us the desires of our hearts.

Letting it go

Imagine that you have a great big giant box, loaded with things.  You bend your knees in preparation to lift it, without injuring your back.  You settle the box in your hands as you try to get adjusted to the weight of it.  At first, it is a bearable load.  You walk with the box, paying minimal attention to its weight.  Soon, what seemed effortless begins to produce strain.  You would wipe the sweat from your brow if only you could.  Your hands are busy trying to balance the box and redistribute the weight evenly.  The burning in your muscles become your point factor and causes your walk to slow to an almost stop.  Now your mind is completely focused on this box you are carrying; the box now causing you pain; the box that has impeded your progress to get to your destination.  You wonder to yourself, should I let it go?  Then you immediately reason, but then who will pick it up for you?  In your mind, you find no-one suitable or reliable; no-one trust worthy; no-one capable of taking care of the box for you.

There is a wall that looked like a beacon of mercy to you.  You allow the wall to help with the weight of the box.  You are still unable to leave the box, you reason, if I let it go, it will too hard to pick it up again and I don't have the energy.  Leaning against the wall is not enough, still the quivering from your muscles are more noticeable.  They have begun screaming in earnest protest; you are still in pain.  Now you desperately want to let go, but you just don't want to start over again.

Some decisions are made for you, and as you try very hard to hold the weight of the box and keep moving forward the bottom falls out for you.  In one last desperate attempt to hold it all together you press more into the wall, you adjust your hands under the box, you use your legs to brace the weight, you try but you can't hold it anymore.  The box falls to the ground, the items crash into the ground shattering without apology.

You then think out loud "I should have let it go sooner".

I woke up one morning and asked GOD what he meant when he said let it go?  He gave me this analogy so I could see it in my mind and understand what He was telling me.  That box could be your family, some pain from your past, some challenge you face today.  We need to let go of the weight that had so easily beset us, and be not entangled again with that yoke of bondage. 

I needed to allow Him to carry it, not just lean against Him, but still continue to bear the weight of it in my heart.  I needed to let it go from my mind, trusting Him in a way that goes beyond reasoning and logic.  I needed to let it go, before it pauses me in my tracks and prematurely causes me to abandon that which I am pregnant with - possibilities and a good future!

Could it be that this is you also?  Have you been carrying the weight of it all?  It is time to Let it go! God is able.

All things Are Possible to them who believe

The Temple Tax – Matthew 17:24-27

²⁴ After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”

²⁵ “Yes, he does,” he replied.

When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”

²⁶ “From others,” Peter answered.

“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. ²⁷ “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

Source: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+17&version=NIV

Last night I read the same verses to my friend Bonnie, and the Holy Spirit revealed something to me. We don’t expect anything from him.  He can't exceed our expectations because we don’t think that he does this anymore.  People behind pulpits come and tell us that there is no such thing as healing anymore - only what the doctors can do and there definitely is no such thing as finding money in a fish.  Those things are what used to happen and only Jesus and the ones in the bible were able to do that and no one else. They tell us that the power of God has now gone into technology and medical finesse and financial wizards.  They say miracles don’t happen anymore.

 

They say oh no, those were the apostolic powers of that time...Holy Spirit does not work in that manner anymore.  They make fun of men in white suits and call them liars, discrediting the power that worketh (I know I am going all KJV) in them, simply because they have never experienced it for themselves.  What's worse is that they, us, me, you, have fallen blindly into that safe mode Christianity.  In this mode we don’t have to put ourselves out there.  We don’t have to make bold declarations, speaking things that are not as though they were.  We don’t have to believe that the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead is also in us.  We don’t have to dare to step out of the boat to walk on water.  We don’t have to do anything but quote verses and have church socials.

 

It makes me wonder why then have these things written? Why would God inspired men write that greater things than what was recorded about Jesus’ acts will we be able to do?  Why then should it be written that we are healed by Jesus' stripes?  Why then do we read about supernatural things if it was just a teaser for us?  If that were the case then I feel cheated.  I feel cheated out of the miraculous, the extra ordinary, the impossible becoming possible. 

 

Yet, Jesus said to the Father with the demon possessed boy, all things are possible to them who believe.  Maybe it is time we fall to our knees and confess as he did, "Lord, help my unbelief".

 

Don’t you want something more?  Don’t you want to really trust God to do what His word says? Don’t you want to abandon logic and reason and hold on to this word that is so rich and deep that you can’t even stand in it by your own strength?  Don’t you want to risk it all and just believe?

 

I do.  I am tired of reading the bible like it’s a history book.  Every word from God is true.  He said Let God be true and every Man, [including ourselves], a liar. 

Jesus Wants To...

Scripture: " 'If you want to you can make me clean.' He [Jesus] stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, 'I want to. Be made clean.' "Luke 5:12-13 WEB

I love this conversation between the leper and Jesus.  He comes to Jesus and doesn't ask, but makes a statement.  He comes already knowing what Jesus can do; he comes knowing the power that is in Him to heal and save and make clean.  He comes with an expectation that the King can do what He cannot and no-one else can do.  He comes to the King and he knows that his only option is standing right before him.  He was desperate and so he stepped out of the confinements placed upon him.  He was a leper and should not even be this close to any-one. He was unclean and an out cast.  His circumstances did not cause him to sit back, but move forward towards the hope; towards change; towards light.  There is no doubt that this man wanted out of his darkness and dismal life. 

I can almost picture him.  Perhaps he stood  holding his breath, his lungs swelling with the effort as he awaited Jesus' response.  I can see his heart beating through the frail skin across his breast - bodoom bodoom bodoom.  Perhaps his brow had the sheen of sweat, but he stood perfectly still, not wanting to miss even a sigh from Jesus' lips.  How his mind must have whispered "what did I just say? Was I really so bold to this man - the Messiah? Will he punish me? Will he answer me?  Will he heal me?  What do I have to bring Lord?  Nothing."

Of course, the bible doesn't tell us any of that, but we certainly can imagine it can't we?  Just imagine if this were you.  Listen to the Master as He says so simply "I want to"
I read that and something inside of me immediately connected and became hopeful. I want to...Jesus wants to and I feel like he has said that to my very soul.  He has looked deep into my heart and my soul and he responds 'I want to'.

Do you hear Him?  He is saying to you as well, I want to make you clean.  I want to make you whole. I want to make you mine says the Lord.  I want to.

Even now my heart is just full.  It is not a rejection, but a call to come. I want to is what he is saying to you.  Have you been asking him the same question as the Leper? Are you wondering if he wants to help you out of that mess?  Then wonder no more, he wants to.

Jesus Has Compassion: Don't Cry

Scripture:
When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Don't cry." Luke 7:13

This week, I read from the book of Luke 7 the story of the widow whose son who had died (Luke 7:11-17).  Jesus was on his way else where and as he went along, he was met upon by a funeral procession.  The pall bearers were dutifully carrying the remains of the dead boy.  His mother walked beside the mourners and must have been beside herself with grieve.  Not only was her husband dead, but now, her only son was dead.  As a woman, without the covering of a man, she really had no hope in society.  Women were not as high on the social ladder back then and so she might have cried a little for her dire circumstances as well.  She was a woman, without a husband and without a son.  Life was certain to be hard. 

Her tears were the only things recorded about her.  Yet, they were enough to move Jesus.  His compassion was beyond that of just words, but in action and heart.  People often tell me that God is not moved by our emotions, however, this story tells me otherwise.  She was emotional and not even praying to Him. Unlike so many others who had come before Jesus, asking, pleading and begging for something, this woman was lost in her own sorrow.  She didn't even have faith to believe that Jesus could do anything for her son.  He was already dead, and inside her, she must have faced that reality, as his body was more and more cold by the second.  The process of preparing him for burial might have been her cold reality check.  She was simply a woman mourning her loss.  Jesus felt her sorrow; He availed himself to her, and immediately told her, "Don't cry."

Now this "Don't cry" was not the same "Don't cry, be strong" that is usually uttered from a well intentioned friend or family as a way of comforting someone going through such a loss.  Do you know what I mean?  The one where it is said and you, the one grieving, wonder how to be strong and not cry when you feel like your heart got ripped out.  It is not like the "Don't cry" that offers no solace or comfort or solution.  It is definitely not the one that is said when nothing else comes to mind and is used to fill a silence or pause.   (On a side note, that is one of my pet peeves.  If you have lost some-one, please go ahead and cry and mourn. There is a time for everything under the sun, and mourning is one of them).  Jesus' words were a promise of better to come. He said that to her because He knew that he could "back it up". 

Of course, the story goes on to say that Jesus raised the boy from the dead.   His compassion for the woman moved him to act on her behalf, even without her saying a word to him.  He restored for her that which was lost; he brought to life who which was dead.  He followed up his words with actions that made her not have to cry tears of sorrow, maybe joyful ones...who knows.


God is compassionate towards us also.  He looked upon us while we were still sinners, and sent His son to die for us, thereby providing reconciliation between us and Himself.  His compassion never fails and his mercy gets renewed daily.  Loved one, you qualify for His mercy and compassion.  Today, it is for you to hear the words of Jesus that comes with the promise of hope "Don't cry."