Trouble, Trouble, Trouble

Have you ever had one of those weeks where it seems like trouble is around every corner?  As I reflect on one of those weeks, I am reminded of a secular song that personifies Trouble as a woman:

Trouble...

Oh, trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble

Feels like every time I get back on my feet

she come around and knock me down again.

My daughter recently had a month of trouble in which her car was wrecked twice and her cell phone stolen twice.  She is normally very easy going and happy-go-lucky, but after that month of trouble she was knocked down and emotionally fragile.  Trouble is no respecter of people, no matter their temperament.  So, is there a way to battle trouble?  Or do you just let her come in and “ruin” your day, week or even your month?  The answer is to not retreat, put your tail between your legs and flee.  No, take courage and trust!  Don’t let Trouble knock you down again!

I have been memorizing Psalm 138 over the past few weeks and it has encouraged me in this week where Trouble has been trying to knock me down:

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies and Your right hand will save me.  The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness O LORD, is everlasting; do not forsake the works of Your hands.”  Psalm 138:7-8    

Trouble comes in many forms.  Trouble can be a car accident, a disagreeable person, a lost phone, or a lost job.  It seems we are always walking in the midst of trouble, in fact Jesus assured us we would have trouble when he said, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart (courage), I have overcome the world.”  (John 16:33)  Along with his assurance of trouble, he also assured us of His victory over it.  With one of His hands he swats Trouble and with the other He saves us.  In fact in the Psalms he also says he will save us out of all our troubles. (Psalm 34:6) He did not say he would save us from the trouble, but when we are in the trouble, He is right there to walk us out of it! 

My daughter’s car repairs were covered by the insurance of the person who ran into her, a friend referred her to a chiropractor that helped with her back pain, and she now has a new phone.  In the midst of the trouble, she was knocked down, but she got back up as the Lord provided her with all she needed.  He walked her out of the company of Trouble and into His compassion, mercy and love.  He overcame Trouble! 

I am trusting in Jesus to overcome Trouble, who tried to knock me down this week.  Trouble is a failure, but Jesus is my victorious Savior!  On my way up with scripture memory cards in one hand, the Word working its way into my heart, and His loving hand leading me on.  Won’t you trust Him, too?

Trusting,

Nancy  

The World is Groaning!

For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now . . .  waiting eagerly for our adoption.  Romans 8:22-23

Turning on the evening news or opening up your news app can be down right depressing! The world seems to be in chaos:  terrorists beheading children, young men attacking elderly women in order to snatch their purses, policemen shooting young men, young men shooting policemen, rioting, unending angry debates, violent thunderstorms, floods, fires, and deadly plane crashes.  The words of Romans 8:22 kept coming to my mind this week each time I would attempt to listen to the evening news.  The world is groaning, loudly, violently.  People are desperately seeking answers, but none can be found.  Their sadness and grief only lead to anger, bitterness and resentment.  People are defensive, some are indifferent, and many are paralyzed in their devastating circumstances.  But no one offers hope.  It seems they are blinded to the truth.  Seeking to find answers from the minds of the world’s experts, they completely ignore the obvious.

Won’t someone wake up and speak it, the truth that is?  That without God there is no hope! That the reason the world is groaning is because we live in a fallen world decimated by sin.  The answers are found in words that come from God alone.  Unfortunately, Bible illiteracy is rampant and therefore people are ignorant to the truth that will set them and the entire world free! I am not trying to oversimplify the world’s problems or suggest that I know all the answers.  But, I do know that the only hope this world has is found in the One who made it, spoke it into existence, and even provided a way to have a hope-filled forever life in relationship with the Creator Himself!  But, you would only know that if you read or heard the message of the Bible, God’s Words to a wounded world. 

Fifteen years ago, the Lord woke me up to the fact that my groan-filled life was in desperate need of some truth!  It was then that I realized I had been trying to live my life on the bread of the world only and not on every word of God.  No wonder my life lacked joy, peace, and power.  I was being led by my own cravings for what would satisfy me while being tripped up by the all consuming cares of the world.  Once I began to take in the Word of God on a consistent basis my life took a turn toward truth.  Despair gave way to hope, emptiness to fullness of joy, and my selfishness was melting into ministry.  A ministry of the Word!

This past Sunday I had the awesome privilege to stand before my church body and administer God’s grace-filled Word by speaking the very words of God.  (1 Peter 4:10-11)  After I was asked to do this I prayed for days, asking God to examine my heart and my mind and to show me any attitude of sin that might be present in my life.  I asked God to make me a clean vessel from which His Word would go forth.  I prayed Isaiah 32:2 that as the Word would go forth from my mouth, that it would be like a shelter from the wind, a refuge from the storm, like a stream of water in the desert and that I would be the shadow of the great Rock in a thirsty land.  I wanted the people to see nothing of me, but only receive the Word as a balm for their hearts and minds.  God was faithful to fill me up with his passion as I spoke His Word and I felt His delighting in me as I simply poured out words from my heart that had impacted my life for His glory. 

Many received the Word as it was intended, but I immediately felt the attack of the enemy.  Not surprising.  (1 Peter 5:8)  The enemy is always prowling around looking for opportunities to choke the word out of thorny hearts.  This attack came from those who wanted to be impressed with my efforts, those who wanted to impress me with their quoting skills, and with those who complimented me on my dramatic presentation.  I spent a day of experiencing shame, that others would think I was performing the Word or that I spoke the Word in display of my own skills.  After a much-needed cry before the Lord, He assured me that what I was experiencing was what He experienced.  Jesus was the Word come to life and yet, those who were his own family did not accept Him as the Word.  They tried to make him an earthly king and did not even have eyes to see or ears to hear the words he spoke to them.  The Lord has been so good to me after having a good cry.  I am thankful for the many who did hear the Word proclaimed as it was intended and so blessed by those who have told me how the Word ministered to them that day. 

Whenever you speak the Word to a wounded world, whether it is in your office, to your neighbor, or a struggling family member, speak it with grace, humility, and with passion.  Let’s offer the world hope, their only hope.  The world is groaning around you, do not let the enemy shame you into keeping silent!  Paul asked the Colossians to pray for him to have an open door so he could speak the word.  He asked them to pray he would be able to speak it clearly.  (Colossians 4:3-4) The only reason I share this with you today, is to encourage those of you who know the truth found in the precious words of the Bible, to speak them, without shame, and with the desire to administer God’s grace to a world that is groaning to be adopted into a family filled with joy and peace by the Father of hope.  Romans 15:13 

Let’s not keep silent!

Nancy

Isaiah 55:11

Repeat Your Life in Me

Once Elisha had heard that his mentor Elijah was going to be taken from him, he refused to leave his side.  He said to Elijah, “Not on your life! I’m not letting you out of my sight!” 2 Kings 2:6 (MSG) When the day came for Elijah to be taken up in a whirlwind to heaven, he “took his cloak, rolled it up, and hit the water with it.  The river divided and the two men walked through on dry land." 2 Kings 2:8 (MSG) After performing this miracle he then asked Elisha, “What can I do for you before I’m taken from you?  Ask anything.”  Then Elisha said, “Your life repeated in my life.  I want to be a holy man just like you.” 2 Kings 2:9 (MSG) What a huge request!  Elisha wanted what Elijah had.  He wanted Elisha’s spiritual power and gifting.  He wanted to be holy like Elijah.  Elijah answered, “That’s a hard one! But if you are watching when I’m taken from you, you’ll get what you’ve asked for.  But only if you’re watching.” 2 Kings 2:10 (MSG) If you read the rest of this account in 2 Kings 2 you will see that Elisha got what he wanted.  It wasn’t as if Elisha had just met Elijah and asked for what he had, but they had spent hours upon hours together.  Elijah had led out in ministry and Elisha had not left his side.  He had been watching and learning.  Holiness comes to us not in some magical touch, but in day-by-day contact with the One who is holy. 

As I reflect on my time in Kenya, there is one particular moment that I shall never forget.  The Lord used me in a new way while ministering in Kenya.  I was asked on five different occasions to stand and recite scripture.  This is something that the Lord had called me to do a few years ago after I had been memorizing scripture for many years.  In John 13 after Jesus had washed the disciples feet He told them that they were to wash one another’s feet.  He had set the example and now he called them to do as He had done.  As I studied this passage the Lord showed me that the Word had become flesh in the form of Jesus Christ.  He, the Word had washed the disciples feet in order to show them the full extent of His love and so the Lord called me to wash over people with the Word as a way to follow His example. I have done this at retreats and in my Life Bible study class on Sunday mornings.  But, I had never done it in a worship service before hundreds or thousands of people.  That all changed in Kenya.  Simply speaking aloud the Word of God that I have hidden in my heart has proved to be such a powerful experience.  Peter encourages believers to use whatever gift they have received in order to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace. He goes on to say that if anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.  (1 Peter 4:10-11) So when I was asked to wash over the congregation with the Word I spoke God’s Word straight from my heart and the Holy Spirit did the work of applying it to the hearts of those who heard, as a healing balm of grace. 

Washing with the Word
Nairobi Chapel

The last time I had the honor of washing over the congregation in Kenya was at Nairobi Chapel.  After the service an invitation was given for anyone who needed prayer to come forward and those on our mission team prayed for them.  As I stood at the end of one of the aisles a young man came forward and wanted to talk with me.  He said, “I want to do what you do.”  I took him aside and asked what he meant.  He said, “I love Jesus with everything I have and I want to do what you do.”  He went on to explain that he wanted to hide God’s Word in his heart so that he could stand before others and minister the Word like I had done.  I spent some time with him explaining how I began simply memorizing one verse a week with the goal of application and retention.  I shared my HOME acrostic that Hiding God’s Word in my heart had given me Ownership of God’s Word and had equipped me to Minister to those in need and as a result I now Experience a deeper and more intimate relationship with Christ.   I cautioned him that it was something that takes time, self-discipline and consistency.  This ministry is developed over time and would not happen overnight.  His heart was right and his desire genuine and my prayer is that he will be able to do what I do, so that more and more people will not only be hearers of the Word but doers also. 

This experience reminded me of Elijah and Elisha.  Elisha wanted Elijah’s life repeated in his.  This young Kenyan man wanted my life repeated in his.  I was only able to spend a few minutes with him, but I am praying that the Lord will give him the desire of his heart.  That he will be hiding God’s Word in his heart for years to come and that God would develop a special gift within him, equipping him to also minister the spoken Word to others. 

This experience also reminded me of God’s promise to do amazing things among us if only we would consecrate ourselves to Him.  Joshua 3:5  It started with a desire to be more consistent in my walk with Christ.  My motivation was a desire to grow in my knowledge and love of Christ.  My goal was simply to gather as much of the Word as I would need to be equipped to defend my faith and overcome temptation.  God has done immeasurably more than I could have ever imagined!  It still amazes me what God can do with a willing heart filled with His Word.  I pray there are many more who will say to me, “I want to do what you do.”  I will always answer with, “It may be difficult, but you can do it!”  I look forward to repeating my life of taking the Word to heart in as many who will ask!  

Keep Feasting on the Word,

Nancy 

Jeremiah 15:16

Panic Attack

If you have read any of my posts lately you may notice a pattern.  The Lord is taking me through the school of fear fighting. It reminds me of when I was in college, there was a firefighter school close by where firemen would come to train during the summer.  They had a fireman obstacle course of sorts where there would be a house that would actually be set on fire allowing them to experience all the stressful details of an actual fire.  They would be assessed on how well they applied what they had learned in the classroom to the mock house fire. The Lord has given me quite a few opportunities recently to practice applying truth to fearful situations.  It is though the Lord is telling me that I need some remediation in the school of fear fighting.

This past week as my husband and I prepared to board a plane for an international mission trip, fear began to overtake me to the point of panic. I could not stop thinking of my children and how much I would miss them.  Then my thoughts took a u-turn and all I could think of was what if I never saw them again.  What if I never got to see my first grandchild or my daughter get married.  What if my mom suffered the loss of her child.  My chest grew tight, my breathing was labored and I just wanted to dissolve into a puddle in my husband's arms.

Then my husband's voice brought me back to my senses when he said, "If you want to turn around and go home and not get on the plane that is okay with me.  You can walk away right now and I will go without you."  At that moment it was like God had called out, "Nancy."  Then I had to respond in faith and say, "Here I am Lord!"  It was in that moment that I had to choose faith over fear.  Hebrews 10:35-39 in the Message speaks clearly the truth I needed to hear:

 "So don't throw it all away now.  You were sure of yourselves then.  It's still a sure thing!  But you need to stick it out, staying with God's plan so you'll be there for the promised completion. It won't be long now, he's on his way; he'll show up most any minute.  But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust; if he cuts and runs, I won't be very happy.  But we're no quitters who lose out.  Oh, no!  We'll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way."  

I am thankful that God responds immediately by giving me courage in my weakest moments.  I boarded the plane and a peace that I cannot explain came over me.  I never looked back and God has faithfully led me on this new adventure with Him.  I have seen answers to prayer almost on an hourly basis since I have been on this mission trip.  I experienced illness, but God healed. He has faithfully protected me to the point that I haven't even thought to fear or panic.   I have experienced His divine timing on several occasion in just a few days.  When I think of what I would have missed had I chosen to walk away and not board that plane, it brings me to my knees. I am looking forward to His promised completion of all His good purposes for this mission trip - and beyond!  Let's keep fighting fear with His truth, trusting Him all the way!  

Staying with it to the end!

Nancy  

Life’s Take Aways

In the midst of a busy week of ministry through our church’s mission trip to our city I received the news of a friends’ death.  He was my husband’s roommate in seminary and we had remained in contact with him for over 30 years, even traveling to his country several times to minister with him.  He was a humble servant of God and was constantly other-minded seeking the welfare of others before himself.  He died at the hands of terrorists, a present day martyr.  The news of his death was devastating and it shook me to the core.  Fear once again wanted to paralyze me, but instead I experienced a zeal to share the gospel rise up from my soul.  That evening after hearing this tragic news I had the opportunity to present the gospel to the ladies we were ministering to at our mission site.  By the end of our week of ministry three women prayed to receive Christ. 

As I reflected on the past week of ministry and grief I asked myself a question my sweet friend Vicky often asks after a Bible study, sermon or life event:  “What was my take-away?”  With this question on my mind I searched the Word to see how Jesus might have responded after a week like I had just experienced.  I was led to the fourteenth chapter of Matthew where Jesus was told of John the Baptist’s gruesome death. “Now when Jesus had heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the people heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities.  When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.”  (Matthew 14:13-14)  Jesus took time to grieve and to be alone with the Father, but once the need for ministry arose He went right back to the people who were in need.  Take away:  Grief over the loss of a fellow servant of God fuels our passion and urgency to minister to those who are living in deep need. 

After ministering all day to this large crowd of people Jesus beckoned the disciples to provide the crowd of 5000 people something to eat.  After the disciples had rounded up five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus blessed the food and the people were served more than they needed, with leftovers!  Then Matthew writes that Jesus “immediately” made the disciples get into a boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while he sent the crowd away.  Then Jesus, after a day of grief and ministry, sought time alone to pray.  Take away: After long days of grief and ministry time alone to pray is essential. 

While Jesus was praying, the disciples’ boat had sailed a long way from Him and was being battered by the waves because of a storm.  Jesus went to them by walking on the water, but when they saw Him, they thought they were seeing a ghost coming to them on the water.  They cried out in fear, but Jesus, the scripture says, “immediately spoke to them saying, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”  This was the second time Jesus took immediate action with His disciples.  Take away:  Whenever we cry out in fear, Jesus immediately offers us courage.

Peter, after seeing Jesus walk on the water, said “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”    Jesus said, “Come.”  Peter stepped out of the boat into the waves and as he focused on Jesus he walked on the water, but once the wind strengthened fear came over him and he began to sink and cried out, “Lord save me!”  For the third time in this passage, Jesus took immediate control of the situation by reaching out for Peter’s hand, holding him up above the waves.  Take away:  When we lose courage and give in to fear, Jesus immediately holds us up over the chaos and uncertainty. 

God has a Word for you in your grief and in your busy days of ministering to those around you.  Here are my four take aways from such a week:  

• Grief over the loss of a fellow servant of God fuels our passion and urgency to minister to those who are living in deep need.  
• After long days of grief and ministry time alone to pray is essential. 
• Whenever we cry out in fear, Jesus immediately offers us courage.  
• When we lose courage and give in to fear, Jesus immediately holds us up over the chaos and uncertainty.
  

My prayer is that when you are faced with grief in the midst of ministry passion for the gospel will be refueled, your time with the Father will bring refreshment and whenever you cry out in fear Jesus will immediately provide courage and carry you safely through the storm. 

What’s your take away?

Nancy

Christmas in July

She walked through the door with her blue eyes wide opened and focused directly on me.  She came toward me with arms stretched out and a smile that spread across her face. She wrapped her arms around me and I immediately embraced her.  She was a very  “special” young woman who appeared to be in her twenties, yet had the heart and mind of a precious child. It was the very first day of Houston 1:8, which is our church’s annual mission trip to our very own city where we minister to children, youth and adults through Bible stories and crafts along with many other activities.  This week I have had the privilege of teaching a Bible study to women at one of our mission sites.   This is where I encountered sweet Stephanie. 

The first night after all the women had arrived my friend Irina stood to open the program for the night by going over our schedule.  She explained that we would first have a Bible lesson followed by a craft and end with some singing.  At the mention of singing, sweet Stephanie could not contain herself any longer and stood to her feet and asked, “Can I sing?”  Without any hesitation Irina guided her to her side and said, “You can stand right here with me and sing.  What would you like to sing?”  Stephanie began to sing in a very quiet voice. It was as if time stood still.  The ladies hushed their talking and leaned forward to hear what she was singing.  “Silent night, holy night” she timidly began.  Then the room filled with every voice singing, “All is calm, all is bright.”  With every word the voices sang a little louder and then Stephanie motioned for us to clap along with her.  This was a first!  I do not believe I have ever clapped my way through Silent Night.  It was a moment I shall not soon forget.   Christmas had come on a hot July night – a totally unexpected moment. 

This year the Lord has called me to focus on learning all the details of the gospel message so that I can communicate it more effectively.   My mind was focused on presenting the gospel that first night of Houston 1:8.  I had made a chart, scripture cards and prepared a clear message.  In all my preparations I never planned on meeting Stephanie or singing Silent Night.  I tend to get lost in my detailed plans and forget that God has bigger and better plans.  In that Christmas moment I was reminded of the reason for the season.  My memory verse this week has been 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all . . . and he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”   This mission trip to my city is not about “me and my plans” or even about what I think God has had me focus on this year.  It is about Christ’s love controlling me and compelling me to love like He loved; to die like He died; to serve like He served.   

Sweet Stephanie has taught me much about the gospel this week.  That in coming to Christ we must come to Him like a child with eyes wide opened focused on Jesus and arms stretched out reaching for Him with a child-like faith.  Stephanie’s embrace brought me back to the first time I embraced the gospel.  I believed without any doubt that Jesus had come to earth, died on a cross as a payment for my sin and that He was raised up from the grave to defeat death and sin and provide me with an eternity spent in His presence experiencing His peace.  That sweet “special” woman reminded me that sharing the gospel began with a mother and a child on a silent and holy night where suddenly their appeared a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” (Luke 2:1) The gospel message began with praises, just as our night on mission began with a small gathering of women singing Silent Night to the glory of God! 

After our Christmas caroling I stood with a renewed passion to make known among them the riches of the glory of the gospel, which is Christ in me, the hope of glory.  (Colossians 1:27)  I felt the Lord’s pleasure as His Spirit compelled me to share about His plans to bring each woman a future filled with hope if they would only call out and reach out for Him with all their hearts.  At the end of the night I thanked God for bringing a sweet precious woman-child into my life to mess up my plans and usher us instead into the presence of our sweet Savior on such a silent, holy summer night. 

Have you experienced the embrace of the Savior? Have you been too busy with your plans and totally missed what God was up to?   “Awaken from your sleep; for now salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” Romans 13:11   Don’t miss out on any opportunity to reach out and embrace someone with the love of Christ today.  I can assure you that you will not soon forget what God will do in that moment. 

Compelled by Christ’s Love,

Nancy 

Fighting Fear

Fear has been trying to steal my peace and my joy.  Fear of what lies ahead, fear of dangers that may be lurking in places I may travel, and fear of losing the people I love have all been marching through my mind on a regular basis.  As I sat in silence this morning the Lord was faithful to whisper in my ear His love. His love does cast out fear.  But how does that work? 

Over the past couple of months in preparation for a mission trip that I will be participating in the Lord has urged me to spend time reviewing a Psalm that I had memorized a couple of years ago.  I felt that the Lord would want me to share it in some way while on my trip.   Psalm 34 begins with three verses of praise and then the psalmist testifies to God’s deliverance from fear in his life.

 

“I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.  Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.  This poor man called; and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.  The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.” 

Psalm 34:4-7

I have been reviewing this Psalm with the goal of sharing it with others, but the Lord has used it to open my eyes to His working in my own heart and mind.   After I had been meditating on this verse for a month or so, I attended a prayer service at church and the prayer leader stood and said he had been led to speak to us about fear from Psalm 34.  Then, this past Sunday, Pastor Gregg was speaking about sharing the gospel and how fear can hinder us from speaking about our faith.  I could not write fast enough as he asked this question: “Do you want to be fearful and faithless or faithful and fearless?”  “Well,” I answered to myself, “I want to be faithful and fearless!”  That evening Psalm 34:7 was mentioned at a meeting I attended regarding a mission trip I am preparing to go on. Later that night as I laid my head on my pillow, peace had defeated the fear that had locked in on my mind. 

The next morning, before I began my devotional time with the Lord, I read a note that had been given to me by one of the women in my Bible study the day before. As I opened the card, I noticed some scriptures were written at the top of the card.  Psalm 34:4-5 was the very first passage that she had written. By this time, it was obvious that the Lord was speaking to me about how to combat these fearful thoughts.  He has given me two weapons for fighting fear:  His Word and His body of believers.

The more I meditate, pray, and speak aloud His Word regarding fear my mind is no longer conforming to fearfulness, but is transformed by my faith in His truth. It reminds me of John 2:22, “After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scriptures and the words that Jesus had spoken.”   As I recall God’s truth regarding His deliverance from fear my faith is being renewed and He is giving me courage to be fearless as I think of what is to come in life, on a mission trip or in a lonely place. 

As I gathered with other believers to praise and pray, fear began to dissolve.  Then, when I heard the testimony of others who were hopeful and excited about what was to come, I too began to gain an unexplainable joy and anticipation of what my future holds.  There is nothing like being connected with others in the body of Christ.  Paul said it well, “If there be any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.”  (Philippians 2:1)  I was greatly encouraged through this fellowship of the Spirit within the body of Christ! 

Are you fearful and faithless today?  Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God and meditate on it, pray it and believe it. (Ephesians 6:17-18) Then reach out to the body of Christ.  Connect with a faithful follower of Christ who will encourage you, pray for you and spur you on to walk fearlessly into your future. 

Rescued from fear,

Nancy