Lost Data

I dropped my cell phone yesterday on the hard bathroom floor and after picking it up I discovered that the display was black. Normally, when computers, telephones or other technical devices do not work properly, my first course of action is to turn it off and turn it back on again. I did just that and after expecting to see the light come, on I saw nothing. Next step….take out the battery. Still I get nothing.

Panic is beginning to set in because I know no one’s phone number!! Not my husband’s, not my daughter’s, not my son’s, not even my church’s!!! How in the world did I get to the place in my life where I know no phone numbers? How is it that I have depended on technology to take care of so much of my life?

Not only do I need to deal with the stress of not being able to use my phone and not get to my contacts, I now must make a visit to the cell phone store. Honestly, I would rather visit the dentist and get a root canal than go to a cell phone store!! But I was desperate. I was out of town and could not contact anyone!!! After much begging and pleading, I now have a new cell phone but still no contacts. They were unable to get them from my broken phone to my new phone and I have lost the phone numbers of what seems like zillions of people.

As I pondered the ineffectiveness of my dependence on a cell phone to keep up with people and how ludicrous it was for me to not have written them down or backed them up, I knew there had to be a spiritual analogy in this!!

Then it hit me! Scripture memory!! I have access to scripture because I have access to unlimited amounts of Bibles. No worries, I can get to the Word whenever I want to. But, what if, God forbid, I was not able to have a Bible? Then what? Scripture teaches us to “Hide the word in our hearts” because it is a “lamp unto our feet” but what if we lived in a place or time where Bibles were forbidden?? What if my brain had an accident like my cell phone did and “broke” and I could not read? What if, for whatever reason, I was unable to get to the Word? Would I still have access to the “data” in there?

Oh, ladies, I am convicted about the amount of time I have wasted and not memorized enough Truth. Excuses abound and none are viable. Oh, Lord, forgive me for neglecting to memorize more of Your Word. On my own, I am incapable of doing it and desperately need Your power and desire and ability to dedicate myself to having access to Your Truth. In Jesus’ name I pray….

I Will Not Be Afraid

I just have to tell you what happened yesterday! I was driving in Memphis traffic at the crack of dawn to get to the company where I was to provide management training and feeling, yes, it is true….even after what I had just written about battling fear a couple of days earlier….I was feeling very fearful!!

Besides experiencing the emotion of fear….in my case, along with it comes diarrhea!!! I end up spending quite a bit of time on the potty-pot anytime I speak or teach. (Aren’t you so glad to know this?) Well, I spent more time than I had on the potty-pot and was running later than I wanted and really needing to get to where I needed to go…feeling fearful.

Now, I LOVE to turn up the dial and listen to praise music when I drive….but usually, in the mornings, I will drive in silence to hear from my God and to pray. For some reason I kept feeling compelled to turn on the music….but resisted because I KNEW I really needed to pray for the upcoming training….after all, I was feeling fearful and needed to enemy to “begone”!

Finally, I turned the dial on and the very first words of the song playing were, “I will not be afraid!!!” I laughed out loud, declared out loud that indeed, “I will not be afraid”!!!

"...Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Philippians 4:8

Much Afraid

I discovered that I have used the word “fear” way too many times in my blog writings. It is unfortunate that I allow fear to rule over my life and my mind so many times!! It is time for me to quit being “little much afraid” like the character in Hinds Feet for High Places. (By the way, if you have never read this little book, I would highly recommend it. In fact, I might have already highly recommended it to you.) Anyway….fear has a tendency to rule in my mind and it is something God continues to remind me it is sin. God has NOT given me a spirit of fear but of love and power and a sound mind!

I just recently began teaching Sunday school again after not teaching for one year. (It is hard to believe it has been a year since my husband pulled out of the driveway of our beautiful home in the country to move to this incredible city and it is hard to believe that I have been here 9 months.) And I was fearful as I approached church this morning to teach.

I leave in the morning to travel to Memphis to do some management training for a company I have worked with in the past….and I am fearful.

My husband just left to attend a personnel meeting at church…and I am fearful.

Last Monday morning I got a call at work from a lady who was to speak at a woman’s event that night but she was sick…."could I do it for her?", she asked…..and I was fearful.

We drove home in torrential rain through the mountains Friday….and I was fearful.

For years I would avoid doing anything that would cause me to be fearful. Driving over high bridges makes me fearful so I will avoid them if at all possible!!

The reason I am fearful is because I KNOW I can’t do whatever it is I find myself doing that is causing me fear. I am learning that instead of running from those opportunities that cause me fear as fast as I can….God is showing me that yes, I am weak. Yes, I cannot do these things. BUT that in my weakness His power is perfected!!

Honestly, I could go on and on with examples of how I am “little much afraid”! BUT I KNOW it is sin!!! My God is good. He is powerful. He is sovereign. I have nothing to be afraid of!! So, how do I deal with the overriding fear that so often overcomes me?

1. Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Speak truth to my mind and heart.
2. Believe that His power is perfected in my weaknesses.
3. Pray, pray, pray asking God to give me calm and confidence and a twinkle in my eye!
4. Trust and obey.
5. Do it afraid!!

My friend, what are you afraid of doing? Now, I am not talking about bungee jumping or sky diving….but perhaps God is asking you to do something you are fearful of doing. My recommendation to you is this: do it afraid!!! Do it afraid and watch God’s power be perfected in you!!

Let It Go!

My husband and I have been in the middle of a difficult business situation. We have been dealing with another christian, but in the middle of the situation things fell apart.

As we have been trying to figure out what to do next, conflict has developed. We did not change anything on our side, yet it seemed we were going to pay for the other people involved that did not live up to their word.

I have been in a study of Abraham and last night I shared with my husband some of the things I was learning. We talked about Abraham letting go of the best land when Lot's herdsmen began to argue and fight. We talked about Abraham letting go of Isaac when God asked him to trust Him.

Jim and I spent time last night "letting go". It is not our money, it all belongs to God. We determined our witness was more important than our finances. We "let it go."

A few minutes ago, Jim called amazed and praising God. The person involved just dropped everything and is going to do the right thing.

What are you holding on to? Who is watching? How is your witness? Just "let go" and allow God to show you His power and plan.

Genesis 22:16 "By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not witheld your son, your only son - blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants aas the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the searshore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed because you have obeyed My voice."

Accountability

II Timothy 2:24-26 NIV "And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will."

Do you have a friend who can gently instruct you when you are wrong or going in the wrong direction? I hope each of you have a person in your life that will not excuse your actions, but love you to repentance.

It is easy in ministry to surround ourselves with those who agree with us, make excuses for us and even join us in things that are not the best. I have shared with friends a mistake or a piece of gossip and had them laugh or confess they do the same thing. In those times I may feel better, but I am not nearer to God as a result.

God wants us to be kind but bold. We are to instruct and lead those around us to truth. Why is this important? Listen again to the last part of that verse. "escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will."

Ask God to give you an accountability partner who will gently lead you in the truth. If I am going to be captive, I want my heart to be completely captured by my God. The Lord has granted me through the years those ladies who love me enough to say, "You are wrong, stop it!"

I pray God will give you those kind of people in your life.

Giving An Account

I have been reading a book by Ann Graham Lotz. The name of it is Magnificcent Obsession. I can highly recommend it even though I am not half way through the book yet.

As I read this morning she talked about our one on one relationship with Christ. I was reminded that I would give an account for the way I lived my life. Separate from my husband, children, friends, church. I will stand before God and give an account just for me.

God showed me this truth clearly when I had been married to Doug for about 7 years. God had moved us to Arkansas to a new church. We were both excited about this new journey. As we settled in, Doug became very busy as happens in a new church. I had two small children at home and Stephen, the youngest had health problems.

Mark started kindergarden, Stephen being ill, kept me in the house and Doug spent long hours at church. The people were friendly and anxious to get to know us, but I was confined to my home. I had not made many new friends and I became homesick for my old friends.

Doug and I were very happy and I depended on him for everything, including prayer. When I had a struggle, I mentioned it to God, but depended on Doug to go to the throne and pray about it. God seemed to answer his prayers more than He did mine. Of course, Doug was a prayer warrior. He woke early every morning (while I slept) and spent time in the Word and on his face before God.

One evening Doug was out late, the boys were in bed and I was lonely. I went out and sat on the front porch, looked at the stars and ask God, "Where are you?" In that quiet moment, God answered, "I am always here with you, where are you?"

I know this sounds simple, but that evening God and I had a long talk and He made it clear that He wanted to hear from me and talk to me (through His Word). I began a fresh walk of consitent one on one time with God. He was always there and He always answered. I still went to Doug with prayer concerns, but God and I could talk without him in the middle.

Is your relationship with God wrapped up in your husband's relationship? God wants to meet with you personally. Don't miss out - one day we will give an account!

Call To Prayer

Some of you may have heard the story of Rifza Bary. I just want to remind you to pray for her today and this week. She is a 17 year old Muslim girl who accepted Christ 4 years ago. When her father found out he demanded she renounce Jesus or he would kill her as commanded by the Koran.

Her trial is today. It will be decided if she is to be returned to her father or not. Please pray that God would grant supernatural wisdom to the courts so that the testimony of Jesus will be proclaimed and the best situation for Rifqa and her family will take place.

Rifqa insists that this is not about her but about many Muslims come to Jesus. Also pray for her lawyers who have been threatened and bullied.

This Friday, September 25th is the Muslim Day of Prayer. Please join christians everywhere who are fasting and praying that Muslims will be moved by the Holy Spirit and convicted by the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Ladies, take time today to remember Rifqa and that it is not about us, but about the many people we know who need Jesus.