Obedience = Rest

<sup>This morning I read Hebrews 4:1-13 (below).  A couple of things struck me in this passage about rest.  First, Paul says that we have a promise to enjoy God's rest, but if we do not apply the faith to enter in to that rest, then that promise doesn't affect us.  Belief opens the door for us to enter into the Promised Land of God's rest.  Just as the Israelites who first gazed on that beautiful, pleasant place and turned back in fear and disbelief that God could do what was necessary for them to live there, we have a choice: do I believe that God has accomplished His work and that promise of rest is mine to live in?  Or will I disobey His command to enter the Promises and remain outside of His rest?  

God's work finished on the seventh day of creation.  Jesus' work finished on the cross.  They are resting.  At peace.  Full of joy and hope.  God has set before me a promise of rest and commanded me to go in and possess the land.  Why do I hang around at the edges of the Jordan, then, wringing my hands in worry and unbelief?  That amounts to disobedience.  The refusal to rest in God's promise reveals a heart that disbelieves the extent of His goodness towards me.  "He brought me miraculously this far, but I'm not sure I trust His ability or willingness to give all that beautiful abundance to me."  Why do I still imagine there are limits to God's love for me?   After all He's done?!  

The good news is that God continually says, "Today!  Today is the day!  Enter into My rest!  Settle down in the belief that I am Good, I do Good, I have Good things for you to enjoy and for you to do!"  Entering into God's rest is obeying His heart; realizing that my works are useless to get me into His promises.  He has given His word, the word that is never empty or void, but always full and fruitful!  His word is living and active!  The day assigned for entering the rest and the promises of God is: today!  Always today!</sup>

<sup>I know, some of you are thinking, "Faith without works is dead."  Yes!  But all my works must flow from a place of resting in the finished work of God and in the bounty of His promises for me!  Jesus came to give me abundant Life!  Not for me to sit on my hands and wallow in it.  He did not intend for me to be a reservoir, but a river.  Sitting water becomes stagnant; flowing water is fresh and alive!  So I rest in all He has done, and I let the effect of His finished work flow out of me.  Obedience does not equal working harder in order to please God; obedience is resting in the undeserved love of Jesus that covers my inadequacies and positions me in God's pleasure, so that I can taste effectiveness through Jesus' obedience.  Love is cultivated through rest.  Obedience is a result of love.  Therefore rest is a first step.  How do I enter that rest?  By faith.  And without faith it is impossible to please God.  Faith.  Rest.  Love.  Obedience.  It only works in that order.  

Life can be very tough.  And there are often problems and stressful issues that try to pull us away from rest.  We must ignore those demands.  The enemy wants to use those things to increase negativity, worry, panic, fear, doubt, and depression in us.  God wants to use those things to promote us, changing us more into the likeness of Christ!  Holy Spirit has a positive to replace any negative in your life.  So often, though, God speaks in that still, small voice that can only be heard in a place of rest.  "Be still and know that I am God."  Stay in rest, receive the positive from God.  Then step out in faith towards your promised inheritance in Christ!  

Lift up your eyes to the hills, flowing with milk and honey.  A place of abundance and joy set aside for you!  God has good plans for your future!  He also has good works He wants you to do with Him!  Passions you are uniquely designed to carry in the Kingdom!  Gifts you possess to minister blessing to the nations!  Now look down at your feet...there is a mighty river flowing fast past your toes.  It is a time of decision.  Will you turn back in fear, doubting the goodness of God?  Or will you finally obey in faith, as the priests carrying the Ark of the Presence into the Promised Land.  Like the priests of Israel so long ago, God requires the first step from you.  Like them also, as you put your foot down, the rushing waters will part for you to cross smoothly into your promise.  You carry the Presence!  Who can stand against you?  His rest is for you!  Today!</sup>

Bliss to you!
Sarah


^{Hebrews 4:1-13
1} Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. ² For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. ³ For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, “As I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest,” although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. ⁴ For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “and God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; ⁵ and again in this passage, “They shall not enter My rest.” ⁶ Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, ⁷ He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts .” ⁸ For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. ⁹ So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. ¹⁰ For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. ¹¹ Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. ¹² For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³ And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

Psalm 121:1

Exodus 3:8

Psalm 36:8

Isaiah 55:2

Jeremiah 31:14

2 Corinthians 8:2

John 10:10

Jeremiah 29:11

Sweet Water Spring

Last night, I felt God's smile over me like a warmth around my soul.  I didn't do anything in particular that day that one might point to and say, "Oh, God is pleased with her service/performance/growth/etc."  I just lived out my day as usual.  But there are times when I sense His intense pleasure in me just as I am, His beloved redeemed one, and I know that it has nothing to do with my effort.  God is pleased with Jesus and I am in Jesus, so I get to taste the full intensity of the Father's delight without lifting a finger.  The weight of that love is overwhelming.  Last night was such a time.  This is what He whispered to my heart...

"You are sweet!  Salt water deceives: the more you drink, the more it leaves you parched.  This world is the same.  But there is a sweet, ever-fresh Water that hydrates in Truth.  You have a deep well of this inside, a sacred reservoir of Me that supplies you and never runs dry.  You also have a spring of this sweet Living Water bubbling up; it sprinkles, showers, and drenches others around you with My goodness.  I love that about you!"

I don't want to hog this beautiful word for myself!  I want to bless all you who are the Springs of Sweet Water...Jesus is flowing out of you to refresh a very thirsty world.  As He flows through you, He also refreshes you!  Rejoice in the Source!

Bliss to you!
Sarah

James 3:9-12

John 7:38

2 Corinthians 2:14

The Birth of Compassion

This morning I experienced an unforgettably beautiful and tender moment with my 3(almost 4) year old son.  I've been reading "Another Man's War" by Sam Childers, about his life and work with orphans in Sudan.  On the back cover there is a heart-wrenching picture of a small child grieving with some unknown, probably unthinkable pain.  The child's eyes seem to lock with yours, tears streaming down dusty cheeks, mouth opened in a silent wail of the soul.  I was reading this book when Isaac came up to ask me something about his legos.  That's when he first caught a glimpse of this crying child's picture.  He stared at it for a few seconds.  Then his face crumpled, his eyes welled up with tears, and he crawled up into a corner of the couch, face buried in his hands.  I immediately set the book aside and went to him.  I asked him what he was feeling; he replied that he was sad for the child.  With my own eyes brimming with tears and voice choked with emotion, I took the next several minutes to hold him close and whisper with him about that feeling: compassion, to see someone else's pain and hurt for them, and to want to make it better for them.  I explained that, though painful, it is actually a good thing; compassion is the heart of Jesus inside of us, moving us to love others as ourselves.  Then we prayed softly together for God to be with that child, wherever they were and whatever they were hurting from.  Stroking his thick hair and soft cheek, I marveled at my son, eyes so full of pain and love for a child he's never met.  Here sits a happy, healthy boy living in a free country, safe and with every physical and emotional need met...and his heart is breaking for the child who has none of that.  I long for my children to live compassionate lives, but that is something I cannot give to them.  It must grow within them from the Spirit of God inside.

What blows me away is that a year ago God gave me a picture for Isaac: an arrow.  At first I argued with God that it didn't fit him, because he is a tender, content boy whose name means "laughter".  An arrow felt too hard and cold.  Then God showed me the elements of the arrow:  the tip is Love, the shaft is Faith, and the fletchings (feathers) are all the Fruits of the Spirit.  God revealed that Isaac will be a weapon against the kingdom of darkness by living in Love and Faith and Joy and Gentleness!  This morning I witnessed him take a first step towards his destiny: the birth of compassion in his heart.  As I watched him encounter this strong emotion for the first time, I imagined what exploits he will undertake in his life, compelled by the love of Christ to protect the innocent and provide for the poor.  I snatched that priceless moment to speak those seeds over him (You are a strong and brave boy with a great heart of love, God will use you to help and protect children like that who have no one to fight for them), and watched them fall into the soft, freshly tilled soil of his young heart.

Holy Spirit, rain upon those seeds of Jesus in my children.  Father, let the light of Your face shine on them.  As they learn to live in love with You, cultivate Your dreams for them in the hidden places, until they grow into mighty oaks of righteousness.  And teach me, also, Lord, to live from that deep, powerful place of compassion.  Move my heart, as Your heart moves, so that I may pray the prayers that You can agree with!  For Your sake, Jesus.  Amen.

Bliss to you!
Sarah

JUSTICE!

For Christmas this year my mom gave me a book.  At first glance, it appears to be an average book.  It is not.  The stories contained between the covers have forever changed me.  The book is Passport Through Darkness by Kimberly L. Smith, and it is her story intertwined inextricably with the stories of a beautiful place tragically oppressed by darkness: Darfur, Sudan.

I have been aware of the problem of human trafficking and modern slavery for a couple of years now, but I try not to think about it.  I knew it would devastate me, so it seemed safer, and certainly more pleasant, to only think on it briefly.  Reading Kimberly's story opened up deep places in my heart and, yes, the pain floored me at several points.  But I am realizing that in order to be truly intimate with God, I must open myself up to all of Him.  What kind of wife would I be to Sam if I only wanted to share the good things with him, but shut down or walked out when he was going through pain, difficulty, or depression?  On our wedding day I vowed to share all of life with him, not just the fun parts.  Participating in what the other is experiencing is one of the most fulfilling and sometimes sacrificial parts of intimacy: "I am a separate person than you, but I choose to be one with you, even through the ugly of life."  I wouldn't trade it for the world.  In the same way, if I desire to be called the Bride of Christ, I must allow my experience of Him to encompass what breaks His heart.  Just as He rejoices always, He also sees every evil act and weeps with His womb-formed ones in their pain.

I find the more I hear of the inhuman atrocities mankind is capable of inflicting, the higher my estimation of Christ's blood rises.  As I look deep into the heart of Jesus, my heart breaks for the vulnerable and my anger burns on their behalf.  Yet, I see His love goes much deeper still: even to the depth of longing for the perpetrators to be washed clean...after all, He has already paid their price for redemption.  He bore the blame and shame of EVERY sin as if He had done it Himself...the weight of which was enough to kill Him.  This shatters me to bits.  What God is this?!  How can He love like this?!  He is overwhelmingly beautiful.

I challenge you to dissolve the compartments of your heart, open the door just a crack and ask Jesus to let you feel how He feels about His suffering children.  It seems dangerous, I know.  There is so much pain and abuse of the heart in your life already.  But the pain of Jesus' heart is a clean pain.  It will not stain or scar you because it is mixed with His powerful, redemptive, joyous, hope-filled love!  All evil has an expiration date!  Jesus is the God of Justice and He never fails!
Like I said, having tasted His heart in this way, I am forever changed.  I do not feel guilty for the blessed life that I live.  I have been given freedom, health, and abundance for a reason: to be a voice, a hand, a heart for those who haven't.  This is pure religion that pleases my Father in heaven.

In honor of Human Trafficking Awareness month, I encourage you to do something to join in the fight against modern slavery and oppression, even if it is only to let yourself feel what you never have before.

Here is a beautiful song: Break My Heart by Tosha Zwanziger.  If you like it, purchase the song or album on iTunes, proceeds go to support this cause!



Ministries to check out:

Make Way Partners
www.makewaypartners.org

Not For Sale
www.notforsalecampaign.org

Stop Child Trafficking Now
www.sctnow.org

Pearl Alliance

www.pearlalliance.org

Someone Has To Pay!

I recently saw an advertisement for a TV show that centered on revenge.  The tagline for the show was, "Someone has to pay!"  That got me thinking.  Isn't it a natural response to expect justice for wrongdoing?  This seems to be a common human experience spanning time, space, and culture.  It is evident at a very young age...just try taking candy from a baby and you will quickly discover their built-in sense of justice!  So, we have this justice gene, put there by God (He designed us, remember?) to mirror His own nature as the Righteous Judge.

Often, as I am confronted with my own sinful acts or attitudes, my gut reaction is to think that I have fallen from God's grace, a helpless, hopeless worm in the dust, assuming He feels the same about me.  I tend to take on superlative amounts of guilt and let myself be buried under the weight of trying to regain His favor. (By the way, the Accuser loves this situation and will try to make the most of this opportunity to bind us up in lies). This is false humility.  It really is a slap in His face, the very face that allowed His beard to be torn out and was spit upon in payment for my wrongs.  God looks at me and sees sin no more, but Jesus' Righteousness instead.  Who do I think I am to come into the presence of such Grace and think for a minute that my self-imposed penance or feelings of wretched guilt will somehow enhance Jesus' sacrifice?  Can I add to a work that has already been finished perfectly?  Pride in disguise!  No, if I believe that Jesus' blood is enough and that all sin was paid for by His death on the cross, then all I can do from a place of guilt is to receive that priceless gift of His forgiveness.

As a parent, when my kids disobey, I don't want them to weep and moan about for days, ask repeatedly for my forgiveness, become depressed with guilt, or consumed with how awful they are.  My ideal situation when they mess up is for them to acknowledge truthfully their wrong and take responsibility (clean up a mess, apologize to a hurt sibling, etc.).  But more than anything, I want them to listen to my instructions for how to behave better from then on.  If my human heart feels this, how much more so does my heavenly Father's heart desire this for me, His well-loved child?  When I become aware of my disobedience, He wants me to respond with true humility: recognizing that my beloved Jesus already paid for that foolish act of mine and I must live in His forgiveness, though I don't deserve it.  My justice gene knows instinctively that "someone has to pay"....and what's more, that "someone" should be me!  Far more humbling and heart-changing than any penance, accusation, or guilt burden I can conjure up for myself, is the realization that Jesus' punishment has purchased my peace with God.  My response to this?  Awe.  Worship.  Gratitude.  And teachability...allowing His Truth to teach me wisdom in the inner being.  One real look into the heart of Jesus as the sacrificed Lamb will jumpstart the shedding of my old nature and sustain my rejection of the sinful habits that go with it.

Now what about those who wrong me.  If I am unable to pay the price for my wrongs, how can I then demand that others pay for their wrongs towards me?  Reminds me of the story of the king and his slaves in Matthew 18:21-35 (below).  To hold a grudge against someone is to say that Jesus' blood wasn't enough for what they did to me.  Another way for my pride to belittle Jesus' ultimate sacrifice.

So, should I just carry on as if sin doesn't effect me negatively?  Pretend that they didn't hurt me?  No.  I carry my wound to the Judge....who happens to be my Bridegroom, (not to mention the King!) and let Him comfort me with Hope and His promise of Justice.  Imagine a wife goes out shopping.  Hours later, her husband gets a heart-wrenching phone call from the police, saying that she has been beaten and sexually assaulted.  He races to his wife's side at the hospital.  What tender, intimate words of love and support he would whisper to his wounded beloved.  But imagine how quick his demeanor would change if he was informed that the police knew who the perpetrator was, but hadn't arrested him...oh, there he is, over by the vending machine.  Can you visualize the ferocity of the husband's jealous anger over the injustice done to his wife as he approached the man who touched the apple of his eye?

Now, see your Bridegroom's eyes...full of tenderness as He comforts you.  But for the one who injures His beloved, beware the burning fire of His wrath!  If you read Revelation, you will see clearly that jealous, fiery Bridegroom coming to wage war on all that hinders His love on the earth!  Fear not, beloved, He will avenge.  It is a terrifying thing to be on the receiving end of that vengeance.  And permanent.  He is true to His nature of Love, and will be long-suffering, giving every opportunity for the wicked to enter into His Righteousness.  But his nature is also Just, and there is coming a Day when His final judgements will be issued, and He will finally reject those who have continually rejected Him.  I want to live consumed with the passion to know Him and be counted among those He loves on that day.  And I want my heart to also be consumed with His passion to see not even one person waste His most costly gift!

The time is too short to hold that grudge.

Bliss to you!
Sarah

Scriptures to think on...
Matthew 18:21-35
^"21 Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” ²² Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

   ²³ “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.²⁴ When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. ²⁵ But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. ²⁶ So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ ²⁷ And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him andforgave him the debt. ²⁸ But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ ²⁹ So his fellow slave fell to the ground andbegan to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ ³⁰ But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. ³¹ So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. ³² Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ³³ Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ ³⁴ And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. ³⁵ My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”"

Galatians 2:20-21

"²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. ²¹ I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”

Revelation 19:11-16
 ¹¹ And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and inrighteousness He judges and wages war. ¹² His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. ¹³ He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. ¹⁵ From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. ¹⁶ And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Me Time

I want to share some thoughts I've been having about "me time".  As the mom of two young and very energetic children and the wife of one very brilliant and ambitious husband...I understand well the need for time alone to reset my sanity gauges!  Sometimes I lock myself in my bedroom with my iPod and noise cancellation headphones, to float away on a sea of my favorite music.  Sometimes I take a hot bath and read a good book (without pictures!).  And even, on occasion, my wonderful husband will approve a day-long outing with a good friend to get manicures, eat a nice lunch, and window shop.  These times are fabulous!  I bet you can relate.

But have you ever noticed how quickly that fabulous "me time" feeling can flee when bombarded again with the very stresses, demands, and noises that caused the need for it in the first place?  I open the bathroom, bedroom, or front door and WHAM!...the kids are screaming, the husband is calling, the phone is ringing, the house is messier, the kids are hungrier, and *Ouch!*...did I just step on a toy car?!  Heave a sigh and wave goodbye to that blissful feeling!

I find that when I make my "me time" only about me, tending only to my superficial needs, then the effect doesn't last long back in real life.  But there is a Way to stay fresh, peaceful, and blissful even in the face of real demands and loud noises.  The secret is to bring Someone along to your me time...turn "me time" into "God time".  Invite Him into that private space and time where you go to refresh.  Because, believe me, He will do a much better job of revitalizing you than you or any manicurist can!  Not only that, but His name is Faithful and True...what He fills you with won't fly out the window when reality tumbles back in!  It's as simple as turning your thoughts and heart towards Him.  Recognize that He is already there and He totally gets where you're coming from and what you need.  Holy Spirit is a great listener.  And the words He whispers back to you will cause your heart to smile with quiet joy long after you return to the daily grind.

This is a very simple thing that has a tremendous result.  And not just for housewives.  I know my husband, a perpetual student, hard worker, and entrepreneur, finds long-lasting strength and inspiration when he brings God into his personal time.  In fact, even our times alone as a couple are better and more enjoyable when we talk about and enjoy God's company together!  Holy Spirit is just one of those people that makes everything brighter!  He can't help it!  You start talking with Him and He will make it well worth your time!

For me, it's all a part of abiding in Jesus.  He is the ultimate Lifegiver, the Living Water.  And if I am supposed to carry streams of that Living Water (like He said in John 7:38), then I need to be receiving from the Source.  Often.  And what better time to do that than when I get a few minutes or hours to myself?!  I stumbled upon another blogger's post about creating "ME time".  I think her advice is applicable to creating "GOD time", too:
1) Start small.  You don't have to make a big deal of it...just start thinking about Jesus while you're getting your nails done or taking your walk.
2) Work it into your routine.  Keep it simple and natural, do what works to connect you to God.
3) Build on it.  As you practice and become addicted to the refreshing nature of His presence, you will better know how to plan and prepare for your God Time!  Do you need music?  A journal?  To be outside?  Make it your own!  He enjoys what you enjoy!

Bliss to you!
Sarah

Dumbells, Brokenness, and Other Victories

I am part of a fitness group that meets twice a week for an intense, whole-body workout which includes 45 minutes of strength training.  Often I am sore for two to three days afterwards.  But the result is that I have gotten noticeably stronger!   Here are some facts about training and getting stronger (don't skip this part!):
"Hard exercise damages muscle fibers. Then other cells release chemicals called cytokines that cause inflammation characterized by soreness (pain), increased blood flow to the injured fibers (redness), and increased flow of fluid into the damaged area (swelling). The damaged muscle cells release tissue growth factors to heal the damaged muscle fibers, and if the athlete allows the muscle soreness to disappear before exercising intensely again, muscle fibers become larger and increase in number by splitting to form new fibers." (drmirkin.com) 

Why am I talking about strength training on a spiritual blog?  I believe that physical principles of the natural world are glimpses into spiritual truths.  In that vein, let me rephrase the above passage about muscles to address our spiritual strength and the process of maintaining victory in our lives...
Life is hard and leaves us damaged.  God highlights the broken part of us with pain, Jesus increases His redemptive bloodflow in us to the injured part, and Holy Spirit washes that part in His Living Water, until we are full up swollen with Him.  The damaged fiber of our being responds by growing as He heals us.  We then take time to rest in Him, allowing Him to solidify and multiply His strength cells in us.  

Another thing: I cannot expect that one really good workout will make me strong forever.  No way!  I have to be at it faithfully to not only grow stronger, but even to maintain my current strength!  Same is true of my spiritual life: though I cannot earn my place in Christ's victory, there is an element of faithful, repetitious application of His paid-for work in my area of weakness.  I think there is a process here:  I come against opposition, activating Christ's victory in my life, but realize that I am a broken human, so I receive His covering and healing flow, which works His deeper strength in me as I hide in Him; I then faithfully activate again the next time I am confronted with the stressor.  And thus the cycle continues, as the tissue of Me is continually broken down, soaked in Him, and restored more in His likeness again and again and again...becoming stronger with each repetition.

Activate!  Feel the burn of the brokenness!  Surrender to the flow of Blood and Water!  Let Him build you as you rest!  Do it again!  
Bliss to you, victorious one!
Sarah

Blow the Trumpet!

Today I was thinking about the shofar, the trumpet or ram's horn of the Bible.  My husband and I have had one since we were married, a gift from my mom.  We love it, display it proudly on our mantle, blow it often, and have taught our children to blow it as well!  It is one of the most spiritually significant instruments (harp is another one, but that's for another day).  The shofar blast signifies two main things: a call to battle and a call to rejoicing.  This morning, I was wondering in my heart how to tell the difference between the two meanings.  I mean, how can one know at the blast of the horn if it is time to suit up for battle or dance in the streets?  Which is it?  I felt God's chuckle as He answered in my heart, "It's both!"

YES!  In this life, we come against severe, relentless, and intense spiritual opposition.  We, as God's emissaries, are instructed to put on the whole armor of God and stand against the enemy.  But, we don't suit up in fear and trembling, wondering what the outcome of the battle will be.  God leads us into battle in confidence of triumph in Jesus, who is the Mighty Man of War!  Each altercation with the realm of darkness serves one purpose: for Jesus to further establish His rule and authority in the earth through my victory!

Listen!  You will hear the clarion call of God's shofar blowing, calling His people to rise up, suit up, and ride out in His victory with rejoicing!  I hear the trumpet in Zion, and as I put on the armor of my King, I am laughing with joy and lighthearted with praise because I know I am on the winning side!

Bliss to you!
Sarah


James 4:7
⁷ Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Ephesians 6:10-17
¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenlyplaces. ¹³ Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, ¹⁵ and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;¹⁶ in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Colossians 2:9-15

⁹ For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, ¹⁰ and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; ¹¹and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; ¹² having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. ¹³ When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, ¹⁴ having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. ¹⁵ When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

2 Chronicles 20 

Jehoshaphat's army wins through rejoicing!!  :)

The Original Superfruit!

It seems that modern nutritional science is discovering jaw-dropping, must-have, all-but-magical properties to some fruit or other every few months.  Hundreds of products line grocery store shelves claiming to bestow the benefits of these "superfruits" to consumers.  According to Wikipedia, a superfruit is "a fruit which combines exceptional nutrient richness and antioxidant quality with appealing taste".   So, they are fruits that are fun to eat AND really good for you!  Win, win!
  
Well, I propose to you today that God has the Original Superfruit!  It is His secret weapon.  Only problem is that it's not secret to the enemy, but it's mostly secret to His people.  It is a Fruit of the Spirit that is powerful to enhance our spiritual health, dangerous against the realm of darkness, and it is addictively fun as well!  God's Superfruit is JOY! 


Think about it...next time you are really happy, stop for a minute and survey how you feel mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.  I know for myself, when I am full of joy I feel energetic and efficient, generous and bright, able to make better choices, able to commune with God, able to reach out to others, I feel great about myself, my life, and everyone else, too!  Joy is an enhancer!  All the other Fruits of the Spirit flow so much better in me when I am operating out of Joy!  Patience?  No problem!  I'm joyful, so I have no need for impatience!  Peace?  Absolutely!  In joy I am happy where I'm at and positive for the future!  Love?  You bet!  The actions of love are definitely more effective when accompanied by Joy!  Self-Control?  Sure thing!  Joy gives me confidence to make wise decisions! 


Just like the other Fruits of the Spirit, Joy sometimes requires a disciplined will decision to choose to operate in it.  When it comes to Love, Patience, Faithfulness, etc., we expect to actively use our will at times to practice and grow in those things.  So, why, when it comes to Joy, do we so easily dismiss it as a fleeting emotional experience that "just happens" to us?  "I'm not feeling joyful today.  Oh, well.  Just one of those days, I guess."  I'll tell you something, the enemy knows full well the many benefits of Joy for us, and he does everything in his power to keep us from discovering lasting victory in this area.  It is so much easier for him to keep us away from Joy if he can just keep us thinking that it is something beyond our control to access.  


Below are some insights on this SuperFruit of the Spirit!  There is a wealth of Scripture on Joy!  I encourage you to take the time to look up the references and read them with Holy Spirit!  Joy is powerful and reveals a beauty of God's heart like few other things!   

*Joy = Strength...physically and spiritually!  We are joyful because He is our strength, and we are strong because He is our Joy!  
(1 Chronicles 16:26-28, Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 81:1-3, Psalm 118:14-16, Proverbs 15:13, Proverbs 17:22, Isaiah 12:2-4)


*Joy is supposed to be the Christian norm, not the occasional experience!  Grief and weeping are to be the passing things, healed in the Presence of the One who is anointed with the oil of joy more than any other!
(Psalm 30:4-5, Psalm 32:10-11, Psalm 33:1-3, Psalm 45:7, Psalm 89:14-16, Psalm 118:14-16, Psalm 126:5-6, Psalm 132:8-9, Luke 24:52-53, Romans 14:17-18, Romans 15:13)


*Joy's source is God's presence!  He enjoys worship that is dynamically, loudly, extravagantly praising Him with diverse expressions of gladness!  In His presence we find inexpressible joy, and that gives Him pleasure!    
(Psalm 16:11, Psalm 21:6, Psalm 33:1-3, Psalm 95:1-3, Psalm 100:1-3, Psalm 149:4-6, Jeremiah 15:15-17, Zephaniah 3:17, Luke 24:52-53, John 15:10-11) 


*Joyful praise is a correct response to God's redemption, protection, favor, and provision.  Especially sweet to Him when we offer it before the answer comes!
(Psalm 5:11-12, Psalm 25:5-7, Psalm 63:6-8, Psalm 126:1-3, Isaiah 12:2-4) 


*Joyful lifestyle, even in the face of trials, is evidence of right relationship with Holy Spirit in our lives, and is one of the most powerful forms of communicating His goodness to pre-Christians!  It is one of the brightest, most attractive signs that point to His life in us!  The more progress with make with Holy Spirit, the more consistently joy should be visible in our lives!
(Psalm 51:11-13, Psalm 107:21-22, Psalm 126:1-3, Psalm 145:6-7, Isaiah 12:2-4, Isaiah 24:13-14, Luke 6:22-23, Acts 13:51-52, Romans 14:17-18, Philippians 1:25, Hebrews 12:1-3)


*Joy is not always a reaction to good circumstances, it is also a will-led response to the wonderful, breath-taking, majestic nature of God, no matter what is occurring around us! 
(Psalm 118:14-16, Isaiah 24:13-14, Zephaniah 3:17, Luke 6:22-23, Acts 13:51-52, Hebrews 12:1-3) 


*Joy is an integral part of our prayer life!  Answered prayers bring joy, and praying should make us joyful!  Prayer is essentially coming into the presence of God, connecting with His heart, and then repeating back to Him what He reveals He wants to do!  This is a fun and pleasurable process!  
(Psalm 126:5-6, Psalm 149:4-6, Isaiah 56:7, John 16:23-25)

I know this is a lot of material, but if this is something that interests you, take this journey of discovery with Holy Spirit deeper into His joyful nature!  He will make it fun, I promise!    


Bliss to you!
Sarah
P.S.  For large amounts of Scripture look-ups, such as this, I like to use www.biblegateway.com...it's quick and easy to copy+paste the references in the Search field.  Or just type in "joy" and read away!  :)  

Occupation: Treasure Hunter!

My husband and I are part of a small group at our church called, Kingdom Come.  We are just normal guys and gals who love Jesus and love partnering with Holy Spirit to spread His love around!  We worship a lot.  We pray a lot.  We laugh even more!  But one of my favorite things to do with the group is something we learned from Bethel Church in Redding, CA, called Treasure Hunts.  We meet together as a group and ask God for "clues" to people He is setting up for a blessing that day!  Individually, we write down names, places, articles of clothing, prayer needs, etc. as they come to us.  We compare notes and gather in teams of 3-4 based on similarities in our lists.  Then we head out, using our "map" to find people who match 1 or more clues (such as a lady wearing a purple shirt who is shopping at Target), or anyone we feel Holy Spirit highlighting to us.  We approach them respectfully and cheerfully, simply asking if they need prayer for anything.  We don't mention a church, we don't ask them for anything, only offering a listening ear and a caring heart to agree with them before the Throne of Heaven for the changes they need to see.  Some turn us away, but most are pleasantly surprised and grateful, if not totally blessed out of their socks, by this simple ministry.  To know that God sees you, knows you, and cares enough to send a stranger to tell you that...that is a powerfully encouraging idea!


The thing is, this is how I want to live my whole life.  I don't want it to be an "outreach".  I want to utilize the courage to step out in love daily, to let myself actually feel something for the hundreds of random people I pass by everyday.  Because God loves each one, they are His Treasure, though most don't know it or don't believe it.   His thoughts towards them are too numerous to count, if I can catch just one of those and communicate it to them...I might never know just how much it means.  So much of this process begins by understanding how much God loves me, then it becomes easier to realize that He loves them that much, too!  From there, all it takes from me is an open and willing heart and a step towards a stranger....He really does the rest!

Over the past week or so, I've been thinking about hunting for the treasure in situations, too.  Thinking about negative situations in a different light, turning them around through a godly attitude and Holy Spirit inspiration.  Let me give you a few examples....

* Start the funeral: my car battery is dead.  I am late and bored by the time the AAA service guy arrives.  Though he greets me politely, I have no idea how his day has gone.  Maybe I will be the only customer he helps today who is cheerful, smiling, and genuinely appreciative.  Maybe not, but I don't want to take that chance.  I don't have use for the negative feelings anyway.  Let the joy flow, it is terrifically contagious!

* I walk into the doctor's office only to be greeted by seven other pairs of eyes in the waiting room.  This is going to take much longer than I thought.  I sit patiently, quietly turning my heart's affection to Jesus...best use of my time!  As I wait, I notice something, or rather, someone.  The receptionist is exceptional:  kind, cheerful, patient, efficient but unhurried in her dealings with people.  Compassion, peace, and joy are practically oozing out of her!  Holy Spirit smiled in my heart.  I knew He was setting her up for a blessing, and He wanted to use me!  As I concluded my business with her, I asked if she was a Christian.  She said yes.  I told her I could tell, because the love of God was all over her!  I asked if I could pray a quick blessing over her, and she was moved to tears.  I left that office an hour later than I had expected, but I was so joyful to have had that time to witness that woman in action and to encourage her in her ministry!

* Stuck at another red light.  Deep breath.  Holy Spirit, give me insight to pray for the people in the cars around me.  Look.  Take what He gives, and pray the promises of God over those people.  It can be childishly simple...Large, shiny, red truck = God, stir up a boldness in them for the blood of Jesus!  Excessive peace signs and "coexist" bumper stickers = God, become real to them as the Truth, the Way, and the Prince of Peace!  Understanding that my prayers give the angels employment can turn a boring commute into a powerful time of intercession for strangers and my city!

* Oops!  I almost took that guy's turn at the 4-way stop.  I stop in time, hold up my hand, and smile in apology, but he honks, yells angrily, and flips me off.  Wow.  He must really be having a bad day to respond so negatively to something so small.  Instead of railing inside against the injustice of that reaction, I begin to pray for him and whatever hurts and difficulties he has to deal with.  I reject any curse he spoke to me and receive God's grace instead, choosing to see him as someone God highlighted to me on purpose because he needs prayer for something.

I have no way of knowing if I made any real difference in any of those situations.  But my attitude change sure made a difference in me!  I find that my joy and peace increases as I focus on sowing love seeds wherever I go and whatever I do!  And just maybe God will use those small attitudes, words, actions, and prayers to touch a heart with His love.  That is the ultimate treasure!  That is what I am hunting for.  At every opportunity!

Bliss to you!
Sarah

P.S. Here are two of my favorite songs, part of the soundtrack of my life you could say!  They capture this idea well.  Enjoy!