“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

      Freedom. Freedom from sin. Freedom from bondage. Freedom from death. Freedom is what Christ accomplished for us on the cross. He burst of out of the tomb bringing freedom! Christ came to set us free! “Rejoice in the Lord always: I will say it again – rejoice!” Phil. 4:4

      So, it begs the question: why are so many Christians still in bondage? Seriously. Why are there so many Christ-followers longing for freedom? I think that part of the reason is that we’re afraid – we’re afraid to look deeply and honestly into the depths of our souls to see what lurks beneath the surface. We’re terrified, actually, to be faced with the reality that we’re failures – we’re wretched – we’re supremely selfish – we’re lustful – we’re angry – we’re nauseatingly prideful – we think we know it all – we don’t think we need anyone else – we’re rebellious – and on and on and on. We are depraved. To the depths.

      One of the most beautiful treasures about the gospel and grace of Jesus Christ is this: when brought in to the life-giving light of Christ Jesus, even the truth about our darkness sets us free. Even the truth about our darkness sets us free! And until we are willing to come face-to-face with the full reality of our darkness, we’ll never be able to sufficiently mourn and grieve over our sin. And until we are heartbroken and sorrowful over the depth of our depravity and sin, we’ll never be able to fall on our faces in God-honoring repentance. And until we repent, we’ll never truly be able to be restored. And unless we are fully restored, we will never enjoy the freedom that Christ intended to be ours.

      In order for Christ to bring us freedom, He had to humble Himself – a humbling that we can’t even begin to wrap our minds around. We must be willing to humble ourselves, as well. To accept what is true – about Christ and about ourselves. It’s not easy. It may take a whole lot of time, a whole lot of wrestling, a whole lot of energy, a whole lot of tears. It’s messy. It’s hard. It’s not glamorous. But there’s no other way.

      One of the seasons of greatest transformation for me came almost 20 years ago, when I began praying the last two verses of Psalm 139. I prayed them for weeks and weeks on end: “Search me, O God, and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” God answered my prayer. And it was one of the most painful, eye-opening, gut-wrenching, wonderful, difficult, amazing, life-changing seasons in my walk with the Lord. I learned during that season to cherish introspection – deep, soul-searching introspection. Because I learned that, when brought to the feet of my sweet Savior Jesus, even the truth about my darkness set me free! And I am free indeed!

      The other day, while reading My Utmost for His Highest, I came across a breathtakingly beautiful rewording of some of the verses of that very psalm (139). I pray that it will bless you…and that you will resolve this year to pray it unceasingly. God will hear and answer such a prayer!

      “Thou are the God of the early mornings, the God of the late nights, the God of the mountain peaks, and the God of the sea; but, my God, my soul has further horizons than the early mornings, deeper darkness than the nights of the earth, higher peaks than any mountain peaks, greater depths than any sea in nature – Thou Who art the God of all these, be my God. I cannot reach to the heights or to the depths; there are motives I cannot trace, dreams I cannot get at – my God, search me out.”

      He writes just a few sentences later: “Cleansing from sin is to the very heights and depths of our spirit if we will keep in the light as God is in the light, and the very Spirit that fed the life of Jesus Christ will feed the life of our spirits.”

      Oh, may it be so in me, Lord! May it be so in me.

     Interestingly enough, it has been said that one of, if not, the most compelling evidences of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the unity of His people. “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know . . .” (John 17:23, emphasis mine). What is it about disunity that is so damaging to Christianity? What is it about disunity that so deeply breaks the heart of God? What is it about disunity that is so counter to everything Jesus came to bring us?

     Think back to the way things were before the creation of the universe. God in three persons – existing in perfect community. Three Persons – perfectly knowing, loving, and honoring one another. Perfect joy. Perfect completion. It’s who God is. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are perfect unity. And they created us to share in that unity – to share in being perfectly known, loved, and honored – by them and by one another. It’s what we were created for. It’s what we’re called to. It’s what will bring us the deepest satisfaction. It is what will let the world know that the Father sent Jesus and loves us even as He loved Him (vs.23). It’s powerful!

          . . . which is why the Enemy works so hard at destroying it. And he’s doing a pretty good job of it. Broken families, fractured churches, split denominations, warring countries. It seems like disunity is all we see. And it’s all so overwhelming. Where do we even start?

          With you and me. That’s the only place it can start. What are you doing to build God-honoring community in your relationships? Among the team you of which may currently be a part?  In your church? Are you someone who works towards and encourages unity? It takes humility. It takes love. It requires investing oodles of time and energy in to people to truly get to know them and allow them to truly know you. It takes patience, compassion, wisdom, and understanding. It’s not easy! But unity is what we’re made for and called to. So, it’s worth it.

     One thing, though, that is very important to remember is that unity is not necessarily conformity. Unity does not necessarily mean that we all agree with each other. Whew! That’s good news, my friends! We unite around the worship of the One true God in three Persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We unite around the person and work of Jesus Christ. We unite around the fact that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus alone. We unite around the Bible as the inerrant, eternal, living, and active Word of God. With a spirit of unity, then, around those things, we can honorably, respectfully, and lovingly disagree about things such as when to baptize (infant/believing adult), spiritual gifts, when/how the Rapture is going to occur, what color the carpeting should be in the sanctuary, etc….even (sigh) about political convictions (though it pains me to say that!).

     So, unity need not be elusive. It was never meant to be. It’s actually quite simple – love Jesus with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and link arms with other people who do, as well. You might not like how they’re dressed or where they go to school. You may disagree on Ford vs. Chevy. You may have different opinions on how to raise your children. But, in the end, if we all agree on Jesus, we bring glory to the Father and people are compelled to see Who it is we love to make such a big deal about!

I’m getting older (just can’t seem to escape that reality!) – and things ain’t gettin’ any easier in the being-in-shape department! But…I am so humbled and grateful to be able to tell you that finally…finally!…with God’s grace and help, I’ve been able to take the bull by the horns and, to borrow a well-known phrase, “just do it.” For ten weeks now, I’ve been working out 6 to 7 days a week for at least an hour. I hate it. There is nothing about it I enjoy, really. Well, I do like the yummy protein fruit smoothie I get to have when I’m done!  But, I am stronger! I am healthier! My body is changing! I’m getting in shape!! Miracle of miracles! Hard work actually does pay off! But that’s just it – it’s hard work. It takes discipline. It takes commitment. It takes time. It takes self-control. It takes sacrifice. I sweat…sometimes I hurt…sometimes I cry! But I keep working at it – and am truly beginning to enjoy the fruit of my labor.

It is the EXACT same reality with our relationship with the Lord. We all want to have a good one, right?! I mean, who doesn’t want to enjoy an intimate, life-giving, growing relationship with Jesus? Who doesn’t want to grow in their knowledge of the Scriptures, loving God more and more through them? Who doesn’t want to have their lives transformed by the grace and power and love of the Holy Spirit in us?!

Sorry for the bad news…but none of those things are going to happen if we just hope they will. You want a life-changing, ever-growing and deepening relationship with the Lord? It takes discipline. It takes commitment. It takes time. It takes self-control. It takes sacrifice. It takes “sweat”…sometimes it hurts…sometimes it’s just not fun! But we’ve got to work at it – it will come no other way. Period. Get in the Word. Get on your knees. Do the hard things. Walk in obedience. Every day. No matter what.

Now, hear me clearly: I am NOT talking about working to earn salvation. That is a gift of grace. What I AM talking out is working out your salvation – doing the hard things that will lead to a transformed, abundant life in Jesus.

Every day, every moment, we make choices based on what is most important to us. You and I must choose to do what it takes to get in shape…and to grow in our relationships with Jesus. If we aren’t enjoying any fruit, perhaps we need to take a long, honest look at the choices are making. We reap what we sow.

Just do it!

About 15 years ago, I had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to Israel with a group of students and professors from Grove City College, my alma mater. It was, indeed, a once-in-a-lifetime experience – one that I’ll never forget. I remember being especially excited to visit places like Bethlehem, the place Jesus entered this world; the Sea of Galilee, on and around which Jesus performed some of His greatest miracles; the Garden of Gethsemane, where He spent His last night in prayer with the Father; the empty tomb (the traditional site) for obvious reasons. Everywhere I went, I wondered if I was walking in exactly the same spot where Jesus may have walked nearly 2,000 years ago. It was awesome.

But do you want to know the honest to goodness truth? I felt closer to God in a little poorly lit closet hidden away in my dorm back in Grove City, Pennsylvania. That’s where I’d go and spend hours and hours with Him – reading His Word, worshiping, and praying. If I can be that close to God in a closet in Grove City, just imagine how close I’ll be to him when I go to Israel!! That’s not the way it works, though, is it? But sometimes, we get a little mixed up. “If I could just find the right church . . .” or “If I could just go to Israel . . .” or perhaps “Maybe if I go on a mission trip . . .” Then what? It’s not about where we are or what we are doing. It never has been and it never will be. That’s what the woman at the well (and plenty of others) didn’t fully understand. But, so often, I find I need to be reminded of the same thing. It’s about a relationship. A living God living inside of me! And it’s about investing in that relationship above all else. Without a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ, every single other aspect of life is meaningless.

There are times in my marriage that for some reason I begin to believe that if I am simply in the same place as my husband or if I am doing a whole bunch of great things for my husband, then my husband and I will be really close. (If I go to Israel or if I go on a mission trip . . .). It simply does not work that way, no matter how hard or how many times we may try! Eventually, we find that we are as “far away” from one another as could be. Why? Because those things should only be symptoms of a great marriage, not necessarily the ingredients for one. One-on-one time together, with no other distractions, for no other reason than to know and be known, to love and be loved – that’s what makes a marriage great. And it’s the same with Jesus.

Please don’t get me wrong. Being a part of a great church is wonderful! Israel is a great place to visit (though you might want to think twice about it now-a-days!)! Jesus has called us to serve Him and is delighted and glorified when we do! But what is your relationship with Him like? Are you most passionate about Him? It is only when we are daily investing in a life-changing relationship with Him that any of those others things have meaning and purpose. At the end of the day, it’s the only thing that matters. So, how are you and Jesus today?

“Elijah came near to all the people and said, ‘How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him.’ And the people did not answer him a word.” 1 Kgs.18:21

Maybe the reason you’re always limping is because you really haven’t decided to follow Jesus. You’re only half-in…only on Sundays, when it’s convenient, when it doesn’t cost too much, when it isn’t too hard, when there’s not too much at stake, when it feels good. Well, if that’s the way you choose to live your life, your limp is going to end up in permanent paralysis. You can’t follow Jesus half-way. You’re either all in or you’re all out. Isn’t that what we see in the Gospels? When Jesus gathered His disciples, His command was simple: “Follow me.” And those who were serious “left everything” and followed him. Everything! Those who kind of wanted to keep all their options open were left behind. Perhaps it seems a little harsh. But, when I consider what Christ did in order than I might live, is anything He asks of me too much? Indeed, isn’t He worth leaving everything behind and giving our full allegiance to Him?

I know so many people who run to the doctor every time their nose drips or their throat starts to hurt a little bit. What would this world be like if Christ-followers were that diligent about making sure our spiritual lives were healthy and vibrant?

         I must also confess, though, that my dry place has led to a not-so-good-place, due to my own willingness to let my mind stay on things that are not good to dwell on. Basically, I’ve been comparing myself and my life with others’…and either feeling prideful or envious, neither of which I’m thrilled to admit, because both reek of sin. Oh, how I HATE my sin.

          To be perfectly honest, I’m not quite yet out of this not-so-good-place, but I’m talking about it with the Lord, and I know that He will be faithful to forgive me, teach me, change me, and help me move forward. Here’s a verse He used just the other day to quite powerfully get my attention…let me give you a little bit of context first. This is after Jesus rose from the grave (Halleluiah!) and showed up on the beach one morning after Peter and a handful of other disciples had just spent the night fishing. After Jesus advised them to throw their net on the other side of the boat (which led to a whopping catch!), they all enjoyed a breakfast of fish and bread.

          Jesus then had a heart-to-heart conversation with Peter – one that not only affirmed to Peter that Christ had forgiven him for his denial, but one that also spoke of the kind of life and ministry Peter was to have, as well as the kind of death that he could expect. They must have been walking along the beach (can you picture it?), because Peter looked behind him and saw that John was following them.

 “When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” (John  21:21,22)

 Basically, Jesus said, “Peter, it’s none of your business what I have planned for other people. What you need to focus on is simply following me.” That, my friends, is what I call a hammer drop. I got one just last night from my own husband when I was telling him about how I’ve been struggling lately. He said, simply and matter-of-factly, “You need to stop coveting.”

          Now, I knew he was (is!) right. But, doggone it, can I get a little sympathy here, please? A little pampering, maybe? Something! Nope. Jody isn’t in to that, and neither is Jesus. Truth is what matters, even if we don’t like it. Now, thankfully, both Jesus and Jody care about my heart, so they both always take the time to make sure they tend to it. But…it still remains that when it comes right down to it, I need to stop allowing myself to get so consumed with what someone else has or can do, and focus on simply following Jesus. I cannot and will never be able to “fix my eyes on Jesus and run with perseverance the race marked out for me” (Hebrews 12:1,2), if I’m constantly looking at the race everyone else is running. I’ll fall all over myself and do no one any good.

          The plans He has for me are good and perfect. Period. If I were take the energy I spend on thinking about what everybody else is doing, and focus it on Christ, He truly will be able to do “more than all I ask or imagine.” (Eph.3:20) And that is truly the deepest desire of my heart.

          So, if you have a moment and it comes to your mind, I wouldn’t mind if you prayed for me in this regard. I’ll do the same for you!

A new year! Wow! I always love looking back over the past year, reading through some of my journals…just remembering all that we have been through and all that God has done. It never fails to fill my heart with overwhelming gratitude and lead me to worship at His feet. Our God is so good – all the time, God is so very, very good! Oh, how careful we must always be to never form our theology around or our love for God based on our circumstances. In all times, He is ever faithful and good.

I can barely contain my excitement – I am nearly bursting at the seams! – for the honor and the privilege and the gift that will be mine – in only 12 days – to leave for Africa. He has so filled my heart, already, with a love for the people I will meet. My heart is breaking even now for when I will have to leave them. I cannot wait to see and experience the glory and the power and the love of Christ as I never have before. I hope and pray that I will be utterly and eternally changed – all for the glory of God and for the advancing of His Kingdom.

I have already been, and will continue to be, completely surrounded and supported by a group of amazing and faithful prayers warriors. My “official” prayer partner is my very best friend. Well, after, of course, Jesus and Jody! Just recently, she wrote me a letter, and I just think that it can and should be a blessing to more than just me…

 “Leaving is such a loaded word – it conjures up so many thoughts, feelings, and ideas: separation, ending, distance, sorrow, and more. I can’t help but think from a different perspective, though, as I pray about so many things related to your “leaving” for Uganda. A wonderful union is coming in which you will no longer be separated from the body of Christ in Africa; you will be increasing the threads that bind you to the heart of Jesus as you love Him in the orphans, in the translators, in the pastors, in the sick, in the desperate, in the servants.

And all the beginnings you’ll have! How can I even enumerate them? The start of relationships you never would have had until heaven; the beginning of really seeing poverty and hardship, joy in the midst of suffering, and hunger for God that is off the charts! The entrance into a whole new realm of knowing God’s heart and feeling it break; the newness and wonder of all that is Africa.

And distance? Well, you will be conquering it, not creating it! A continent full of mystery and intrigue will suddenly have sights, smells, tastes, and sounds that will bombard your senses because of your proximity to it all. May your fingers never forget the joyful squeeze of a little child’s hand in yours, the wet tears they catch on the face of one who sees Jesus in you, and the dirt they wear as they humble themselves to ease the burden of another. Did you ever think the day would come when you would reach out across the miles of ocean and hug the precious ones on the other side?

So, with all these unions, beginnings, and closenesses (!), the sorrow of leaving must be draped in the joy of arriving – a deep, sustaining joy that pervades every other emotion you will experience. A joy, as we know, that is rooted in the love of God, nourished by the pure milk of the Word, and empowered by the DUNAMIS presence of the Spirit of the Holy One Himself. The joy of the Lord will be/is your strength, and love will be your cloak. “The Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.” (Is.60:2b) Africa is waiting for the arrival of His glory!…and you will all be forever changed.

Leaving is one thing and returning is another – once you’re soaring, you’ll be praising God you left! And all of us will marvel at what our Maker has done and will continue to do – in you, in us, in them, in the leaving…and the arriving.” LCC

 In spite of all the mixed emotions, I truly am looking forward to leaving all that I’ve ever known and arriving in Africa. And, I know that God will give me the grace to shortly thereafter leave Africa and arrive back home. It’s all part of His perfect plan for me. So were all the things I went through in 2010…and all the things to come in 2011. So, today, whether you are simply “leaving” one year behind…or, perhaps, the life that you once knew that is now marked by death or sickness or job loss…or, maybe, you’re leaving the house that has been home for a time and will be arriving at a new “home”…maybe you’re leaving a hard, dry season and are so looking forward to a fresh, new start…or maybe, like me, you are preparing to leave for a whole ‘nother continent…wherever you find yourself today, may your leaving – and your arriving – be all for the praise and glory and honor of Jesus Christ!

 Happy New Year!

So, if more Democrats win in any particular election year, does that mean God is on their side, because certainly there were some Democrats praying to that end? What about when Republicans win? Does that mean God is rooting for them?  Who’s side is He on, anyway?! We’d all like to think He’s on ours, wouldn’t we?

“Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” (Who’s side are You on, anyway?!) “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”

Neither?! How could that be?!

I’ve been thinking about these verses for over a week. I just can’t get them out of my head. We are just so apt to try to make God like us. We’re constantly choosing sides – it’s an “us-verses-them” mentality, and we figure that God must be just like that, right? We’re right and they’re wrong – we’re better, they’re worse – we’re stronger, they’re weaker – we’re smarter, they’re…not. Who’s side are You on, God? (And, don’t we always just assume He’s on ours?!)

But I just find it so incredibly curious that the man who stood before Joshua said that, as the commander of the army of the Lord, he was on neither side. (Many scholars believe this was the pre-incarnate Christ.) As I’ve been thinking through this, I recalled Mark’s sermon a couple of Sundays ago – the one about God’s will. If you were there, you remember that he spoke about God’s will of purpose, His will of desire, and His will of command. It’s God’s will of purpose that will absolutely come to pass no matter what goes on around us. God’s will of purpose has existed for all eternity. Come what may, it will be accomplished! And He will use every circumstance, good and evil, to do it. Nothing will get in His way!

God doesn’t choose sides like we choose sides. Now, before you get your underwear all twisted up, I know that Paul asks the rhetorical question in Romans 8: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Yes, God is most certainly and forever “for” those who love Him. He is, indeed, on our “side.” But, here’s where we get mixed up. We think that means that He’ll always do what we want! We think that means that He’ll always answer our prayers in the affirmative. This is why so many Christ-followers find themselves wandering around faithlessly when troubles and trials hit, wondering where God went. “Isn’t He for us?” they ask.

God being “for” us doesn’t mean that we’ll always win all of our battles. It doesn’t always mean that we won’t suffer great losses. It doesn’t always mean that things will work out just right if we just pray hard enough and do all the “right” stuff. God’s purposes so far exceed our comfort, our opinions, our dreams, our country, our election results, and on and on and on. God being for us means that He is most interested in doing whatever it takes to form the image of His Son in us – and that nothing can snatch us out of His hand. We are sealed in Him and can rest in His unchanging love for us. But the details…well, they’re just that…details. God is about His glory. So, God is for God! He’s all about His purposes, not necessarily ours!

I take so much comfort from the fact that, taking the example that I used at the outset, God is never flustered by our election results! God isn’t necessarily “for” the Democrats OR the Republicans! (What a relief that is!!) God is about God’s purposes! And no leaders that we elect in or out of office can change that! He’s actually using each and every one of them to achieve His purposes, whether they like it or not! Take that, Washington!!  :)

“Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, ‘What message does my Lord have for His servant.’” (What would you have me do?) Joshua 5: 13, 14

I think the more appropriate question is: Whose side are WE on? There are, after all, only two sides to choose from. Are we for God…or for His enemies?

“As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord!” Joshua 24:15

I really should be going to bed right now, but this is just too cool! The Word of God is living and active!! (Hebs. 4:12) And I just love that when I read it perhaps for the 100^th time, God reveals something new! He truly does reward those who diligently seek Him! (Hebs. 11:6) We are rewarded with a greater knowledge of Who He is – a deeper understanding of the Scriptures – increased love for and faith in Him! Wow!!

          I was reading in Ephesians 6 – the famous armor of God passage:

          “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”

          I’ve heard quite a few sermons on the armor of God, but I’ve never quite heard it from this perspective…the armor we are to clothe ourselves in Christ Himself!

 The belt of truth: “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the TRUTH and the life.’” John 14:6

 The breastplate of righteousness: “This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD our RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Jeremiah 23:6b

 The gospel of peace: “For He Himself is our PEACE…” Ephesians 2:14

 The shield of faith: “The LORD is my strength and my SHIELD; my heart trusts in Him and I am helped.” Psalm 28:7

 The helmet of salvation: “He alone is my rock and my SALVATION; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” Psalm 62:2

 The sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God): “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1,14

 OK, maybe that won’t be cool to anyone else but me! But I just love it! I need Jesus from my head to my toes! No wonder no weapon formed against me will prevail! (Isaiah 54:17)

          I don’t think this will be a particularly long blog…I know, I know, miraculous! This was simply a verse that made me stop reading the other day…and think. What makes me sad? Over what do I grieve? What kinds of things really bum me out?

          Obviously, there is the very appropriate grief that comes from losing a loved one, for example, but that’s not the kind of grief we’re looking at here. This verse is comparing two very different kinds of grief: godly grief and worldly grief. Or, in other words, good grief (!) and bad grief. So, what’s the difference?

          Godly grief is grief that comes from God. Does that mean that He wants us to be full of sorrow?! Well, if it’s over our sin, then yes! Grief that comes from God is grief that leads to repentance. When He reveals our sin to us, we should be utterly heartbroken by having allowed sin to deceive and entangle us. And we should be resolved to allow the power of the Holy Spirit to change us (repentance means to turn and go the other way) and to live for God’s glory alone. Good grief leads to life!

          Worldly grief is when we are full of sorrow and remorse because we’ve lost the world’s approval. This can come in all different shapes and sizes. Basically, when we start allowing ourselves to be more influenced by what the world thinks than what God thinks, then we’ll undoubtedly begin to experience worldly grief – grief that does not come from God, for sure. When we lose the world’s favor and become resolved to do whatever it takes to regain it, then we are on a road to destruction. Worldly grief leads to death.

          What is making you sad today? I hope it’s good grief!