I hear a lot of churches preach about being speaker friendly.  I have been told by pastors that I can’t do certain things during Sunday worship because it might scare away the unbelievers or those who are not ok with living by the Spirit.

Come on.

Let’s be honest, they’re really afraid of losing money.

I see nothing in Jesus’ ministry that makes me think I must water things down.  He spoke.  Everything He said was true, yet some understood, and others didn’t.  Many were offended and guess what, He let them walk away.  Have we forgotten that?  Let’s read about one such instance…

“But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die.  I am the living bread that came down from heaven.  Whoever eats this bread will live forever.  This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”  Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”  Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.  For My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink.  Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in them.  Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me.  This is the bread that came down from heaven.  Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”  He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.  On hearing it, many of His disciples said, “This is a hard teaching.  Who can accept it?”  Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?  Then what if you see the Son of man ascend to where He was before!  The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.  The words I have spoken to you- they are full of the Spirit and life.  Yet there are some of you who do not believe.”  For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him.  He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has enabled them.”  From this time many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him.  John 6:50-66

Did you notice the part that said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has enabled them.”

It’s funny, it doesn’t say, “Those will come if the message is watered down enough and if the lighting and programs are big enough.”

We have things so mixed up.

It’s time to let God come and unravel our lives.  Unravel the faulty gospel we cling to.  It’s time to speak with boldness and live unapologetically for and with Jesus.  We have nothing to lose and everything to gain. 

No message needs to be watered down.  We need the Father to enable people to receive Jesus.  That should be our prayer. 

I love reading Scripture.  Scripture reading is best served when we first invite Holy Spirit to come and lead us through it.  Asking Him for understanding, because an understanding heart leads to wisdom. 

I’ve had people say to me that they don’t feel anything when they read Scripture.  I honestly, think we rely far too much on our feelings.  Somethings are good to do whether we “feel” or not in the process.  Scripture reading is one of those things.  Undoubtedly, if you continue to read, day after day and year after year, you will feel…but more importantly you will be led.  Led from an internal dialogue with the Scripture you’ve taken care to steep your soul with.

In much the same way, I’ve had people tell me they don’t feel anything when they worship.  Or that where they are worshiping, they don’t feel the leaders are doing a good job.  Also, irrelevant.  True worship was never meant to be led by feelings or people.  We decide whether or not we will meet with God.  Who is standing on the stage, matters not.  If our hearts are focused on God, then it won’t matter.  Let’s be honest, it’s pride that is operating in the instances that we proclaim we can’t worship with so and so.  You don’t want them to feel validated by your participation in worship, so you withhold that sacrifice to God…think about it.  Be honest with yourself.  Give God what belongs to Him.  You were made to worship.  He is always deserving, no matter how you feel about the person leading the group from the stage.

We must come to a place where we begin to live like those who are ready.

Stop squabbling about what we think we need, what we feel, what’s wrong, etc. and simply come to God.  The world will come to an end one day.  Time is running out.  Nobody knows when that time is…no pastor, person, even Jesus; only the Father knows.

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”  Matthew 24:36

We must begin to live like those who are ready.  Lay foolishness and selfishness aside and follow Jesus.  He’s our only way out of here, into heaven.  Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy.  Your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams.  In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants- men and women alike- and they will prophesy.  And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below- blood and fire and clouds of smoke.  The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.  But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’  Acts 2:17-21

We live in the hour of the Spirit pouring out on all.  We are prophesying and dreaming.  We are seeing the sun become dark in eclipses and moons turning red in multiple red moon phases.  Each eclipse and blood moon is just one less we must experience before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  What a wonder.  What a glorious time to be alive.

Let us live like those who are ready.

We’ve reached the time of year when so many parents begin to lament having their kids home for the summer.  They immediately begin to schedule all sorts of sports, camps, and activities as a buffer.  They act like their kids must be constantly busy or they will be unhappy, but really, they just don’t want to be around their own children.  They treat their kids as an inconvenience then wonder why they can’t connect with them or why they run off and become wild.  It should be no wonder at all. 

I’m always baffled and saddened when I see these family dynamics.  I always wonder why they decided to have kids if they don’t want to live with them. 

I believe God put us in families to refine us.  To cause the friction required in order to grow and mature.  We need the challenges in our relationships because they show us any ugliness we have inside and give us opportunities to change and do better. 

If we can’t care for our own families, then how can we care for others?

If we neglect and push aside our own families, then what business do we have trying to appear that we serve others.

It begins at home.

I’ve said it before and today I’ll shout it from the rooftops…

If you can’t minister to your own family, then you have no business trying to minister to others.

I believe that with all my heart.

Years ago, I made a commitment to never do anything outside of the home that I didn’t first do inside our home.  I made a similar commitment when I began to lead worship.  I knew that I couldn’t take others to a place in worship that I hadn’t first cultivated in private.  It’s just true. 

Life is not about being a celebrity.

Life is not about “likes”. 

We live for eternity.  Keeping eternity in mind, then live as an outpouring.

I’m not trying to sound harsh, but if I’m going to be true to writing devotionals, then I must be truthful and hopefully draw you into a real conversation with God.

How do you care for those in your household?  Are they merely an inconvenience or do you see them as your top priority, under God?  Be honest.  No matter what your answer is, if it’s honest, there’s something to build upon.

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.  Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.  In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat- for He grants sleep to those He loves.  Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him.  Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.  Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.  They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.  Psalm 127

I guess I’m focused on the difficult things this week.  Maybe it’s because we celebrated D-Day yesterday and as I watched so many precious veterans travel to Normandy and honor those who had fallen.  I thought, “How did we go from that type of fearless young man to the ones we have today?”

I think a lot of it is because we lay our lives at the altar of convenience and consider anything that is inconvenient, much less difficult or dangerous, is wrong or must be changed.

What we call toxic masculinity, was the very thing that caused men to fight and die on the battleground to preserve the freedoms we have enjoyed out entire lives.  Those at the center of the toxic masculinity narrative are those who desire to destroy this great nation.  Why would we ever participate in that?

As a culture laziness reigns supreme.  When men are not allowed to be the conquerors they were created to be, then they will become lazy.  What else can they do?

Women have become no better…

I will never forget when I was a brand-new mother, and all my mom friends were constantly giving me hacks for how to do everything easier.  Even then I felt a tug in my spirit that ease wasn’t the point.  Leaning into motherhood wasn’t a series of life hacks.  I found myself in the tedious, long moments of life.  I connect with family in the labors of daily life. 

When we first bought our house in Pennsylvania, I had a housekeeper come and clean once a week.  Eventually, our situation changed, and I had to let her go.  Then I discovered I’d been completely disconnected from the home, and therefore my family, because I wasn’t doing the labor of cleaning.  I literally felt myself begin to root and connect with the family as I began to clean our home every week for myself.  

God gave us work to do.  This is good work.  Daily tasks are one way we connect with God and family. 

Have you ever looked at those in Hollywood and politics and wondered how they have become so disconnected from real life? 

They have buffers for everything.  Most of them don’t cook, clean, drive, or anything without assistants and help.  This disconnects them from real life.  Family.  We wonder why they fall into so many troubles like divorce, affairs, and other things.  Can’t you see that it began when they completely disconnected from the good work of the home?

Life is hard.  That’s a good thing.  It draws us closer to God and family.  It refines us.  Develops our character.  Breaks off selfishness.  We need tasks and things to reach for so that we will grow.

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.  James 1:12

And to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.  1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

When I was younger, I thought that if life wasn’t perfect and fairly easy, then I was doing something wrong.  I observed those I knew, the ones who I felt were living right, and felt their lives were so much easier than mine.  They must be doing it right, I thought. 

I’ve seen some people take a step of faith, then face the growing pains that produces, turn and run back to every familiar thing to avoid the discomfort of change and sacrifice…oh, how that grieves my spirit…I can only imagine how God feels about that lack of trust and confidence in Him.

I heard it preached that if someone “heard” God speak and made a move based on that, then faced trouble, that they had missed God’s voice.  That the trouble meant they had made the wrong choice.

I wonder what Bible these people were reading because in mine it says.

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

And

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  James 1:2-4

These verses have become a sort of mantra over my life.  when I say “Yes” to God, then I can also know that there will be times that my “yes” is tested.  That testing is a privilege.

Yes, you heard me.  The testing is a privilege because it produces perseverance and the fruit of that is maturity and being complete.  Not lacking anything is tied to allowing perseverance to complete its work in your life.

If you want to live in abundance, then you must be willing to face whatever may come.  Not only face it but allow God to use it to complete the work in your life. 

Quite frequently, I ask God, “What work have we not completed here in Oklahoma?  Please show me so we can finish it and move to our farm.”  When you are in a long period that feels like a stalling out, undoubtedly, God is doing a deep breaking inside your life.  He loves us far too much to leave us broken and disconnected.  He wants it all.  All of us.  All our family.  All our dreams and desires.  All our hearts.

The question I will leave you with is this…

Are you willing to give it all to God in return for the fruit of maturity?  Have you withheld because of discomfort?  If so, I encourage you to embrace whatever God desires to use to deepen your walk with Him and bless you with character and maturity.  The decision is completely yours.

When I was younger, I felt like I had to constantly separate.  To show that I was walking with Jesus by what I didn’t participate in and basically, be self-righteous in my separateness.

As I have matured in my walk and as a person, I’ve realized that what really sets me apart is my life.  My life testifies to God’s presence.  He is the evidence, not my haughtiness.

I have a far greater impact on others when they feel loved by me, not that I think I’m better than them.

This is a common pit that believers fall into.  In our desire to be set apart, we push away those who need God the most. 

I have a lot of family, on my side and Chris’, who do all kinds of nefarious things and who struggle with a lot of different things.  But I’ve noticed that over the last 20 years their response to us is one of reverence and honor.  Not because we demanded it or even expected it, but lately I’ve noticed that they notice what our family is like.  They see our dynamic and know that it’s different and they respect it.  They have watched our kids grow into wonderful people.  They see that Chris and I have only fallen more in love over the years.  We don’t bicker and pick…we have grown softer and more loving toward each other with each passing year. 

Our lives testify of God. 

Everyone’s life testifies, whether it’s something good or bad.  There’s no avoiding it.  It’s a fact. 

What does your life testify?

In the past, my life testified of bitterness and hurt.  But those places have been healed.  When I was much younger my life testified of my brokenness.  Now I’m whole.  Now my life testifies of the years of pouring life into my husband and children.  My life testifies of my desire to be useful to God.  No, it’s not perfect, but I am grateful for any evidence of God’s hand in my life.

I ask God all the time to make me a woman who makes others feel valuable.  I want to be so secure in my value to God that I draw that out of others.  That is also a testimony.

Again, I ask, what does your life testify?

Today, I encourage you to consider this.  Take a moment and be honest.  Then press into the Lord’s heart and ask Him to create a life around you that testifies of His glory on the earth.  I wonder what might happen if every believer faced every day this way. 

Lord, let our lives testify of Your glory.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.  Fear the Lord, you His holy people, for those who fear Him lack nothing.  The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.  Come, My children, listen to Me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.  Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.  Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.  The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their cry; but the face of the Lord us against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.  Psalm 34:8-16

I am always drawn to nature.  I love the outdoors.  I’ve been to the city plenty, even NYC, and you couldn’t pay me enough to live in any big city.  I crave the natural beauty of the earth.

As we drove through the country yesterday, I just stared at all the beauty.  The green of the trees, the beauty of a pasture, the glory of the sky…it’s just all so overwhelming.  At one point, I even requested we drive silently, with the windows down so I could hear the birds.  There’s a certain quiet you can only hear when you’re in the woods.  I absolutely love it. 

I’m convinced many of my favorite books were written while the writer toiled away in nature.  Imagine the glorious days before phones, TV’s and internet, when people had only their imaginations and lots of space to roam.  My spirit soars at the thought of it.

It’s even greater when I can take off my shoes and my feet can connect with nature.  Feeling the crisp cool of a stream or walking in sand.  I can’t explain it but something truly wonderful happens when we can do these things. 

Do you feel this way about nature?

Nature boasts of the presence of God.  He is found in these glorious spaces.  It’s easier to hear His voice because there is so little distraction.  It’s a rare glimpse into something more. 

To me it feels like a moment to return to the Garden.  The place where God came and walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day.  Oh, to walk with God.  Literally walk with Him.  Can you imagine?!  I dream of it all the time. 

When I go walking on our gravel roads I always invite God to be with me.  I often feel His hand in mine, but I long to actually see Him and hear Him out loud. 

Yes, there’s just something about nature that directs our hearts back to God.  Our Creator.

Today I encourage you to reconnect with nature.  Whether you step into your yard barefoot, or go to a park, or better yet, have the opportunity to wander in the woods…just get outdoors.  Take a moment and close your eyes.  Breathe deep and smell the world.  Listen carefully.  What do you hear?  Can you feel Him stirring around you.  Stay outside until you can feel His presence.  Then listen for a while.  Maybe He’d like to speak to you.  Then see how this interaction transforms the day ahead.  I guarantee you’re going to want to do this again. 

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.  Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.  They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them.  Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.  Psalm 19:1-4a

We went to a family reunion yesterday for my husband’s family.  There were a lot of people there, including his four brothers.  Three of his brothers have the same father as him, and one has a different father.  As I watched Chris walking and talking with the three who have the same father, I noticed that they looked the same from behind.  They are all built like football players with strong protective looking shoulders.  Their necks even look the same…that thick football player neck.  These guys are built to protect.  Their faces wear beards that look almost identical too.  It’s really humorous to observe them. 

I mentioned that three of the brothers have the same dad as Chris, but I didn’t mention that one of those has a different mom…yet he looks more like Chris than the others.  In fact, the first time I saw him, years ago, it was at Wal-Mart, and I nudged Chris and said, “Hey, there’s a guy here that looks just like you.”  He said, “Oh!  That’s probably my brother, Robert.”  And lo and behold, it was. 

As I contemplated this, I heard the Father say, “Those who belong to the Father will always carry a resemblance to Him.”

It’s truly fascinating.  The brothers Chris has with the same father are so similar, and the one with another father looks nothing like the rest.  His hair color is completely different, and his body type is too.  It’s so interesting the strength of the father’s genes in his children.

We carry a resemblance to our Father.

Believers can usually identify other believers, and that’s because we belong to the same family.  You can usually count on it.  When we meet people, we pick up on certain characteristics that indicate our relation.  Those of us with discernment will see it in their spirit.  We know our family.

Even if a believer is in a season of wandering or wondering, struggling with their faith, they can usually still be identified as part of the family. 

That is, unless they begin to deny Jesus.  I have had one friend do just that. 

I met this friend when I married Chris.  He quickly became both of our best friend.  We worshiped with him weekly.  We had game nights every week.  We were all three together all the time, like family.  Then he began to wander and wonder and got lost.  Eventually, he began to say that Jesus was just a really great guy back in Bible times, but doubted He was Savior.  It was at that time that he began to feel and look like a stranger.

I’ve never had this happen in my life before, but one who was so close and faithful one day, became a stranger the next.  Now he views us with disdain.  He can’t deal with being around us, and honestly, I find it difficult to be around him because of the liberal spirit he now carries.

And that’s the thing…his spirit changed.  He once had the same Father as I did, then he chose to become an orphan again. 

I’ve wrestled with this for many years now.  Chris and I both still grieve him.  We even talked about that a couple of days ago.  I asked him, “I haven’t really gotten over it, have you?”  He replied, “No.”

Even typing that brings tears to my eyes.

One who was once closer than a brother has now become a stranger.  I wonder what that felt like when it happened to Jesus.  When Judas turned away and betrayed Him unto the cross.  I cannot imagine. 

But knowing that Jesus has felt that, helps us to walk through this.

Don’t forget that no matter what, if you’re one of God’s kids you’ll carry His resemblance, and the world will know you without you having to say a word.  Honestly, I think that’s a far greater testimony than words could ever give.

Oh Lord, help us to look more like our Father every day.  Let us be known by our love and honor.  Our hope and joy.  Our faith and faithfulness.  Help us to look more like You every day.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, which comes from the Lord Who is the Spirit.  2 Corinthians 3:14-18

If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.  It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.  Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”  2 Peter 2:20-22

I sat at the piano and closed my eyes as I began to play.  The moment my fingers touched the keys, I could feel Holy Spirit stirring all around me.  I felt a hand slip over mine.  Guiding and directing.  Anointing.  Suddenly the notes were more than just a sound…they held heaven in each key.  God made the music, He can fill it if He chooses. 

I listen to the sound.  Drinking in its beauty.  Absorbing every tone.  Feeling swept away.

This is worship.

When heaven touches earth, and my heart is solely focused on Him.  Everything else melts away.  I don’t know what time it is.  Has it become night or is it still day?  Suddenly heavy rays of light pour in through the window and I know heaven has come again.  This time through the sun.  It’s as if the beams were sent as a kiss from heaven.  They rest on my cheek.  I acknowledge Him in their rays.  Thank You God for being with me in this moment.

I sing.  Not words from a song produced, but words from His heart.  I see as I sing.  I see things beyond.  This is true worship.  Spirit and truth.

I worshiped into the throne room and kissed the heavenly places with the words He pours into my mouth.  I stand at the throne worshiping with the elders.  Holy is the Lamb!  Only One is worthy.  Worthy are You Lord!!  Holy!  Holy!  Holy! 

I resolve to sing one word.

Holy.

In the presence of God all I see is holy.  He is holy. 

In the presence of God even words fail me as I see Him for Who He truly is.  His greatness.  His worthiness. 

Worthy.

In His throne room I know only One is worthy.  He alone.  None other. 

I would give anything to stay in that place forever.  I pour myself out.  He pours back into me.  I am filled.  Emptied, then filled.  Emptied, then filled. 

There is only One worthy.

Suddenly all the earth slips away, and I am simply with Him.  No worries.  No doubts.  No cares.  Only worship.  Only Him. 

Come and worship at the throne today.  He will be found by you.

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures.  They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen!  Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever.  Amen!”  Revelation 7:11-12

Have you ever watched an unattended toddler?  It’s so interesting the way they just wander around.  It can be difficult to know exactly what they are thinking, but they are following whatever whim they have.  This is the reason they need constant adult supervision.  Their ideas are toddler-like.  Their thought processes are toddler-like.  They can’t see consequences, only what they want to have or do.

This is what so many adults are like as well.  Think about it.  Our culture has rapidly dumbed down so many people.  It’s like a deaf and dumb spirit is trying to take over.

We must become a people who seek leadership from the Lord.  We must become those who desire the discipline of the Lord. 

It’s time to stop wandering and start following.

Whoever serves Me must follow Me; and where I am, My servant also will be.  My Father will honor the one who serves Me.  John 12:26

We are called followers for a reason…am I right? 

I wonder if you are actively following Jesus.  When is the last time you checked in with Him to make sure you’re on His path and following His leading? 

I know that far too many of us simply meander through life with little regard for receiving any direction…much less correction…from God.  Then when things happen, we wonder why.

Let’s not be like that anymore.

What if we became a band of believers who truly sought after God’s own heart.  That would be amazing. Good judgment and knowledge come from above. 

What if we became a people who truly feared the Lord.  What if we raised families who followed Jesus, not just went to church on Sundays, but actually followed Him.  What if we raised families who grew in the Lord.  Not just got saved and then stayed the same.  The possibilities are endless.  We can be so much more if we simply learn to stop wandering and start to follow.  I promise…He knows where He is going.

You have done many good things for me, Lord, just as You promised.  I believe in Your commands; now teach me good judgment and knowledge.  I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow Your word.  You are good and do only good; teach me Your decrees.  Psalm 119:65-68