I am a woman who stands in awe of her loving and Faithful God.
I am the bride of Rich for 31 years, and the mother of four grown children. I recently retired from homeschooling all four of my kids for 21 years total. I am also the blessed grandmother of two.
Currently I am a Bible teacher and weekly devotions writer for Women on Wednesdays Bible Study, a local women’s ministry.
https://www.wowjcmo.com/
May God bless you and reveal to you His everlasting and faithful love!
“(All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)“
Luke 7:29-30 NIV
God has a purpose, an intention, a design with an end in mind. How sad it is to miss that purpose!
The religious leaders, who rejected Jesus, rejected God’s purpose for themselves. They were wrapped up in their personal power and prestige. Instead of repenting, or turning from their prideful, selfish ways, they fought against the purpose God had for them. The rejected God…
However those who were the outcast and the sinners, were the ones who turned from their own ways. They “acknowledged that God’s way was right.”
We have the same choice in our lives today. God has set before us the choice to come to repent from following our own sinful ways, “acknowledge God’s way is right,” and to follow Him or to continue living however we want to live after ourselves, not God…
We were created to know God and to make Him known. That is our purpose. May His purpose be our highest aim!
Of all the people clamoring to be close to Jesus, Levi (Matthew) was called. The call was simple, “Follow me.” When Matthew heard that call his immediate response was to leave it all behind and follow Jesus wherever He went.
When Jesus called Matthew, He didn’t call a morally upright person. He called a tax collector, a sinner. The religious leaders complained.
“…Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
“Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.””
Luke 5:30-32 NIV
Jesus came for the broken. As Jesus said He came for “the sick.” He came to call “sinners to repentance.”
When He calls, may we respond as Matthew did leaving behind the past life to follow the New Life- Jesus. That is when we will experience Him as our great physician, the one who heals the sickness and brokenness within our hearts.
Years ago the President of the United States spoke at a venue 30 minutes drive from my home. The preparations for his arrival were extensive. Security, the press, state officials were all in action. Publicity of his arrival was everywhere. If you wanted to see him you had to prepare for him to come.
Someone greater than the President has arrived, Jesus the Son of God. In our chapter today, John announced Jesus’s coming. Curiosity consumed the common people.
John preached a baptism of repentance from sin to prepare the peoples’ hearts for Jesus to appear. People despised by the religious elite wanted to know how to be prepared for “God’s salvation.”
“Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?””
Luke 3:12 NIV
We know the story goes on. Jesus did indeed come. He became our Emmanuel, God with us. How do we respond to our invitation to come to Him? Have we “Prepared the way for the Lord” in our hearts?
The tax collectors, the most despised of sinners by the Jewish religious elite came because they wanted more than the wealth they had amassed and approval of the occupying army, the Romans. They asked a question that rings in my heart today. “Teacher, what should we do?”
As we take a few moments each day to prepare our hearts to celebrate the arrival of Jesus to our world during the first Christmas, may we ask the same question. He will not turn away the most despised and desperate one who is trapped by sin. He will not turn us away. What should we do in response to the one who longs to baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire and bring us into a relationship of oneness with Him?
May we ask Jesus the same question the tax collectors asked John all those years ago. “Teacher what should we do?”
“When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.””
Luke 2:48 NIV
Searching for Jesus. So many have done it and still do…
At the time that Jesus was born, the Shepherds searched for Jesus. The Wisemen searched for Him too. (Matthew 2)
Even Mary and Joseph searched for Jesus, when they lost Him on a road trip at the age of twelve. (Verses 41-51).”
At some time in our lives, we all search for Jesus. We all look for something more than the existencial life that we see. Could there be more?
Christmas is God’s answer to that question. For a moment in time, Jesus stepped into our world to show us “Yes, there is something more!” All the miraculous encounters in this chapter of Luke: angels singing, stars shining, Simeon holding Baby Jesus in the temple praising God, the prophetess Anna speaking of Jesus as the long awaited redeemer. These all pointed to that “something more.”
However, we all at some time in our lives miss Jesus. We miss seeing Him for who He truly is and knowing Him as He longs to be known.
Mary and Joseph missed the 12 year old Jesus traveling home from Jerusalem. When they searched for Him for days, they found Him in the temple. He told them He was in His “Father’s house.” They didn’t understand what He was saying to them about His “Father’s house”. Jesus had become familiar to them- their kid.
Jesus can be familiar to us too, but He wants to be so much more to us. We’ve heard about Him for years and every December we have celebrated His birth. BUT He wants to be the One we long for, and search for, the one we KNOW- intimately. We are assured that we too will find Him when we search for Him. He desires to be found.
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
“because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”” Luke 1:78-79 NIV
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” Isaiah 9:2 NIV
I’ve often watched the sunrise. That moment when light hits the eastern sky I know the new day has dawned. Soon I will be able to walk around outside without the fear of what is lurking in the darkness or the possibility of stumbling on the sticks that my dog, Remi, has dragged up close to my porch.
The light of day is beautiful! Colors suddenly explode in the world around me. Everything comes to life in the light.
This chapter is truly the account of the time that “light had dawned.” The people of Jesus’ time did not know just how beautiful the Light of the World would be as He rose to shine. We are not that much different than they were.
Jesus longs to arise and shine in our hearts dispelling the fears that lurk there and helping us to see how to walk without stumbling. If we open our spiritual eyes and our spiritual hearts, His light will dawn on us. In Jesus, “deep darkness” is no more!
A few months ago, I was praying. I heard the Holy Spirit tell me, “Janet, do you know that Satan uses noise warfare?” Since the term “noise warfare” was not exactly on my mind, I decided to do a google search. When I did, I found an article about Manuel Noriega. The implications of his story have been eye opening to me as one who has been subject to “noise warfare” for most of my life.
US Soldiers blaring rock and roll music in 1989
On Christmas Day 1989, The United States decided it was time to arrest and bring to justice General Manuel Noriega, the dictator of Panama. Indicted for drug trafficking charges, Mr. Noriega had holed himself up in the embassy of the Vatican in Panama. The US forces did not want to destroy buildings in order to accomplish a surrender of the surrounded General. So, they engaged in “noise warfare”. They surrounded the Embassy and with a flight of Humvees that were mounted with loudspeakers from which they blasted rock in roll music, nonstop for three days. Noriega, who loved classical music surrendered shortly after. As I read the news report of the events surrounding Noriega’s surrender, the truth set in. This is the exact type of spiritual warfare I have been engaged in most of my life.
Make no doubt about it. Our enemy, Satan, is a liar. Not only is he a liar, he takes great pleasure in repeating lies in our ears over and over and over again. His voice does not tire from spewing lies 24/7 that lead us to choose anxiety, anger, depression, hatred, bitterness, envy, selfishness, jealousy, etc. However, we do not have to be subject to the noise warfare going on within our heads.
About three years ago, I contacted my friend from college. In our conversation, I revealed to her that I was suffering from horrible anxiety. She told me something that to this day rings true, “Janet, you have the Holy Spirit living within you. You know His voice. All you have to do is listen.” It occurred to me that moment that I had listened to the lies of the enemy so long that I had forgotten what it was like to listen for the “still small voice” of the Holy Spirit. I had allowed Satan to shout in my ears and I had been internalizing his lies. It was time to draw a line in the sand and FIGHT!
Do you know that God has a victory plan for the “noise warfare” of our enemy? It is the praise of our glorious God! It silences Satan!
“Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. “ Psalm 8:1-2 NIV
We must make a determined effort to use this weapon we have graciously been given. Satan knows this is true. So he once again will shout his lies, “That won’t work! You look like an idiot praising when you are who you are!” May I encourage you, tell him to “shut it!” and then get your praise on!
Even if the praise you struggle to get out starts with a feeble, “I praise you God, because you are good.” Build on those words with more and more praise. He cannot continue to blare his noise when the praises start! The truth of who God is as you praise Him with His Word will prevail! So, praise and then listen. You will hear His voice. It has been gently speaking all along. In Him is the Victory!
I have rediscovered the past few years how beautiful the sound of God’s voice is! I love it! What I did not know as I listened to the noise of the enemy is that God’s voice was speaking the whole time. Praise helped me to turn the channel of what was being broadcasted in my head. God’s voice is loving. His voice is peace. It is gentle, kind, patient, and good. And best of all, it can be heard! In fact, God longs for us to hear it! He wants us to know His voice and follow no other! Because He loves us and wants what is best for us!
We do not have to live under the constant barrage of the enemy’s lies and his “noise warfare”! We must immerse ourselves in the truth- God’s Word, the Bible, and lift up our voices in praise! Our God still breaks the chains of torment off of the minds of His children! Believe it is so!
“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.”Psalms 40:1-3 NIV
I often find myself very aware of my ability to jump into a pit feet first, with no regard for the repercussions. I am keenly aware of all the times I’ve made poor decisions, bad choices, and willingly disregarded the truth of scripture in order to go my own way. The truth be known, I have been really good at ending up in a pit of sin. I have also been the queen of beating myself up for those bad choices for the rest of my life… Regret, guilt, and shame have known me well…
Recently I have been contemplating a series of poor choices I made during my early adult years. Today, I heard the Lord tell me, “Janet, you’re really good at concentrating on your power to get into a pit, and ignoring My power that has pulled you out!” How true that is!
This morning I am sitting on my East facing upper deck awaiting the sunrise. It hit me, I live in more blessings than my young adult mind could have ever conceived. Yes, I have lived many years dwelling in the pit of fear, anxiety, and torment. But today I am free! I don’t have to go back and revisit the pits I’ve willingly jumped into. I don’t need to try to figure out how I fell in, how deep the different pits were, and what all the long standing effects of dwelling there are. I simply need to sing the “new song of praise” He has put in my mouth.
“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 NIV
It is enough to rejoice in the freedom I now live in and leave all the chains behind! I’m free!
Early morning before the sun is officially up is a beautiful time. As I sit on my east facing deck this morning, I am struck by how God thought of EVERYTHING to point to the greatness of His love.
The crickets are still in chorus right before the dawn. The neighbor’s roosters have joined in. An owl is singing his nightly song in the distance as well. God made all these sounds as a comfort and a joy. I can miss them if I don’t take the time to simply sit and enjoy.
What a lesson! I’ve got what seems to be a million plus one things to do today, but God wants me to sit and listen to His chorus of love He has written for me.
That’s how it is with our God. So often we run around disconnected and thinking about “our” lives. When He deeply desires for us to share His life that satisfies our deepest longings.
He made me for this, to sit with Him, to listen, to tell Him about all the things on my heart. He made me to experience Him.
Not only does His creation call out for me to think upon Him, He has given me His Word. May I cherish every word and sentence of His love letter to me!
He loves! God loves us deeply and we can miss it all together if we refuse to stop being all about ourselves and turn our eyes to Him. He has so much to give that He offers to us! The question is will we come to Him, offer our hearts to Him, and receive?
John 3:16 “For God so loved the World (you and me) that He gave…”
Early morning before the sun is officially up is a beautiful time. As I sit on my east facing deck this morning, I am struck by how God thought of EVERYTHING to point to the greatness of His love.
The crickets are still in chorus right before the dawn. The neighbor’s roosters have joined in. An owl is singing his nightly song in the distance as well. God made all these sounds as a comfort and a joy. I can miss them if I don’t take the time to simply sit and enjoy.
What a lesson! I’ve got what seems to be a million plus one things to do today, but God wants me to sit and listen to His chorus of love He has written for me.
That’s how it is with our God. So often we run around disconnected and thinking about “our” lives. When He deeply desires for us to share His life that satisfies our deepest longings.
He made me for this, to sit with Him, to listen, to tell Him about all the things on my heart. He made me to experience Him.
Not only does His creation call out for me to think upon Him, He has given me His Word. May I cherish every word and sentence of His love letter to me!
He loves! God loves us deeply and we can miss it all together if we refuse to stop being all about ourselves and turn our eyes to Him. He has so much to give that He offers to us! The question is will we come to Him, offer our hearts to Him, and receive?
John 3:16 “For God so loved the World (you and me) that He gave…”
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 NIV
I have been thinking a lot about the devil’s tactics to steal, kill, and destroy. It’s probably because I am teaching a Bible class about that very thing. The verse above has been on my heart and in my mind. Last night, I actually had a dream with regards to it.
In my dream there was an African lion, with a large mane. It was prowling about the parameter of my house. It was waiting for someone or something to wander from the safety of my home. The lion could not penetrate that safety. It waited, watching me and everyone who lived with me and our every move. Then Snowy, my Great Pyrenees went outside of the safe zone of my house. The lion attacked and she was torn to shreds. I was so heartbroken.
I retell this dream because this really is how our enemy, Satan, works. As we abide in the safe zone of God’s dwelling, which is Himself, we have nothing to fear.
“God is our refuge and strength…” Psalms 46:1 NIV
He is our only defense against Satan and his destruction.
The problems come when we wander from His safety. It is when we decide we don’t really want to dwell up close to God, which requires: total submission, total obedience, and total dependence on Him. We would rather have things our way. So we try to keep one foot inside of His protective zone and one foot outside of it. This is living like we did before we came to know Him. It is there the enemy prowls. He knows when we are vulnerable, and then he attacks, shredding us to pieces. His destruction in our lives has ripple effects reaching to our spouses, kids, family, friends, and beyond.
There is one other zone I would be remiss to not mention. It is where those who have not even come close to God at all dwell outside of safety. If you are there, you are in grave danger. You may not believe in the lion who prowls, but he believes in you and there is nothing he would like better than to destroy you! In fact, if you are honest, he has already begun to destroy your life.
So why all this talk about lions and dreams this morning? There is only one safe place. It is close to Jesus dwelling in Him. It is relationship with Him. As we abide in Him, we will hear the lion roar from a distance, but we are in the safe zone having nothing to fear.
Where do you live your life? Are you wandering far from the safety of Jesus? Are you exploring the edges of your safe zone by playing around with sin? Or are you snuggled up close to Jesus, as close as you can get? Are you daily desiring to be even closer obeying, submitting, and depending on him? That is the only safe place to be.
Your Love 