Motivated by Power

I'm really looking forward to our upcoming Women's bible study at Harvest. Soon, we will begin studying the life and ministry of Paul which will take us into early May. I remember when I first committed to doing an 8 month inductive bible study, I was really terrified that I'd never make it to the finish line. But, with God's help I was motivated to not give up and my journey bestowed treasures that are eternal.

As I was reading Acts 14:22, a terror arose inside of me, Lord will I make it to the finish line?

Paul had been going from city to city preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. Along the way, he'd encountered unbelieving Jews who stirred up others poisoning their minds against Paul and the other brethren. There was a violent attempt to abuse and stone them so Paul fled to Lystra and Derbe which were cities in the surrounding region. Paul continued to preach the gospel even healing a man who had never walked. Paul's persecutors were relentless in trying to stop Paul from preaching the gospel. They again, persuaded the multitudes who then stoned Paul, dragging him outside of the city and left him for dead. However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose and went into the city.


I'm encouraged every time I hear when the body of Christ, gathers around their brother praying for him, laying hands on him, asking God for strength and healing power. God answered, he arose and kept going.

The next day, Paul went into Derbe preaching the gospel and making many disciples. After he was done there, what he did next was amazing! Paul went back to the cities that threatened him, beat him, stoned him and left him for dead in order to strengthen the souls of the disciples and encourage them to continue in the faith. He told them, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."

What???? It was at that point the terror arose in me. Oh Lord, I hate going through tribulation, can't I enter the kingdom of God without it? Granted, our tribulation is no where near the kind that Paul experienced, but if it were, would I be willing? Would I have gone back to the city where I was hated, beat, stoned and thrown out of their city left to die? What was Paul's motivation to endure such persecution (infliction of harm and suffering)?


Paul was willing to die for the sake of the gospel. He wanted others to know the truth and receive eternal life. His belief in Jesus, in Christ's death and resurrection, this power, this truth, compelled him to tell others. Paul's motivation was that Jesus lives and he was steadfast in this hope of eternal life. Paul's focus was not on himself, his suffering, or on his enemies but on Jesus. His motivation? It was God's power that motivated him to face his opponents, danger, difficulty and even death for Christ's sake. The truth of our glorious future with Christ will empower us and motivate us to endure any kind of trouble. It was God's power that kept him going.

2 Corinthians 4:7-11 tells us that even though Paul was wounded, bruised, beaten down and left for dead, he was not forsaken or destroyed. He got back up and kept doing what he was called to do. Paul relied on God's power, he knew it to be a treasure. It was only God's power that strengthened Paul, it was God who spared him and enabled him to continue to preach the gospel and testify of God's deliverance. Through much tribulation, Paul becomes a broken vessel, through which God's glory is manifested. Through much tribulation, we are brought to our knees, fully relying on God's power to endure.

So as tribulation arises I can have the confidence and be motivated by God's power to keep going and finish well. Jesus told Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I know there is nothing in my own strength that can bring such endurance, devotion and motivation. Along this journey I will find myself crushed, broken hearted and beaten but I'm not destroyed and my God does not leave me or forsake me.

Waiting is the Hardest Part

Anyone who has ever been told by a doctor, "you have cancer" experiences the sick feeling that naws in the pit of your stomach. To hear "we don't know what kind it is" fills you with another level of terror and fear altogether. Anyone who has ever endured suffering knows all too well that the hardest part is waiting for an answer.

Seventeen years ago, Mike and I had only been married 14 months, young and in love we were embarking on the journey of a lifetime. Mike had just been drafted two years before by the Chicago White Sox. It was his life long dream to play professional baseball and we were seeing it realized. I was head over hills in love with my buff young baseball stud and we were living the dream. What happened next brought our world to a crashing halt and the hardest part would be the waiting.

We'd just settled into our new apartment in Sarasota, Florida where Mike would play his third season for the minor "A" White Sox team. He'd been experiencing horrible back pain and swelling of lymph nodes prior to and during spring training. Just as Mike earned the starting position at 3rd base, his neck swelled to the size of a grapefruit. An ENT at the local hospital biopsied some lymph nodes and came to us with the earth shattering news "you have cancer" but "we don't know what kind it is." The hardest part was waiting for someone to tell us what to do next.


We immediately flew back to California with hopes for some kind of answers, but instead we encountered confusion and fear. There were no physicians that could diagnose the cancer. Therefore, no one knew how to treat it and the hardest part was the waiting.

These seventeen years later when a friend or a loved one is faced with the same circumstances, I find myself turning to God's word for hope and for direction when we wait. Isaiah 30:18b says, "Blessed are all those who wait for Him." When we wait for God, we are waiting till He is ready. We are waiting for the outcome that is in God's perfect will and in God's perfect timing.

Consider the story in John 11 of Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus. Lazarus was very sick and the sisters sent word to Jesus saying, "Lord, the one whom you love is sick." Mary and Martha were counting on Jesus to come quickly to heal their brother of his illness.

Isaiah 30:18- Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you. And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. Jesus delayed in his coming for two more days after he heard that Lazarus was sick. Jesus said to his disciples, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the son of God may be glorified through it."

God's purpose was to glorify his son by raising Lazarus from the dead. Jesus would demonstrate his deity in an undeniable way. Seeing this demonstration of God's power, giving life back to the dead would cause his disciples to grow and for others to believe. God's timing to accomplish His purpose is always perfect.

But for Mary and Martha, the waiting was the hardest part. I'm sure confusion set in quickly. Why hadn't Jesus come right away to heal our brother? Undoubtedly, they'd expressed this to each other over the last couple of days. If Jesus had been here, Lazarus would not have died.

In the waiting, the fear and the 'what ifs' creep in. Satan whispers in our ears and the 'if onlys' arise.

But the Lord tells us to just:

Believe- Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God? John 11:40

Pray- Jesus prayed, "Father, thank You that You have heard Me." John 11:41

Wait- Therefore, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me. Micah 7:7

Seventeen years ago, we felt alone, confused, and terrified with no real hope. At the time we were unbelievers but we were surrounded by family and friends, a band of believers who believed for us, prayed for us and hoped for us. We were led to a place called the City of Hope that identified Mike's cancer and treated him. However, it was God who did the healing. Nowadays when faced with trials, we don't have to face the waiting period alone.


Those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Blessed with His Benefits

Today was bittersweet. Our summer has come to an end. The long lazy days of sleeping in, lounging by the pool, going to the beach, and continuous fun are over. Now it's alarm clocks, busy mornings, and back to the freeway! Argh!

As Austin jumped out of the car with backpack in tow, and raced towards his new school there was no looking back for him only excitement and a little nervousness to what this new season holds.

I decided to park and saw some moms I knew standing at a distance from the kids, so as to not intrude. I guess it's no longer cool to walk your 7th grader to their first class and don't even think about taking pictures. They invited me to the Tuesday morning prayer meeting they have on campus. What a amazing group of moms and dads that I met. Even more, what a privledge it was to be praying in unity for the covering of our children and praising Jesus for his faithfulness and provision. Psalm 103:2 says, "Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-" what benefits we have indeed!

Our days of summer may have ended but I cheerish the time spent with family and friends. "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." Ecc.3:1

Change Your Destination

I had the privledge this weekend of serving at the Harvest Crusades in Anaheim as a follow up decision counselor for those who were publicly coming forward to make a decision, a choice, a commitment and a covenant to follow Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Of the 15 people I met on the field, prayed with, encouraged and handed bibles to, 13 of them were returning to the Lord. One woman was 80 years old and she was asking Jesus into her life for the very first time. My heart rejoiced as I witnessed the thousands upon thousands making a decision to change their eternal destination.

Pastor Greg spoke to over 100,000 people about God's love for them, God's provision of redemption, salvation and reconciliation through his Son Jesus Christ, who suffered and died for all of humanities sins. Greg spoke of life, blessings and Heaven as well as the curses, death and Hell. As I look around the stadium filled with believers, unbelievers, seekers, and prodigals the Lord is reminding me that this is the same Harvest Crusade that Moses had for His people in the desert on the plains of Moab. A decision has to be made in the hearts of those listening.

In Deuteronomy 29-30 we discover Moses calling all of Israel (millions of people) to gather around in a great assembly to listen to what God told Moses to tell His people. You'll find the message is the same today.



Moses first reminds them of all the miraculous and merciful acts God did for them before their very eyes. God had set them free from their bondage of slavery in Egypt, He defeated Pharaoh and his armies at the Red Sea, God provided safe passage as he led them throught the wilderness, He showered them with food and water sustaining them as they walked through the valleys, God guided and supported His people as He led them toward the Promised land conquering enemies along the way.

Now it was their turn to respond to all that God had done for them, providing a way of escape, they could now be reconciled back to God. The purpose of Moses' message was for each individual to enter into a covenant with the Lord their God that very day. Moses emphasized the importance of today in his message 6 times in 8 sentences. This covenant was to bind God and His people together setting them apart for His purposes. Each person had to make a decision for themselves, God would not force himself upon them. However, they were warned that there would be blessings for them to claim or curses that would follow their disobedience either way the choice was theirs.

The Bible tells us it is no mystery or difficulty of understanding that the choice to follow and obey God would bring life and prosperity while turning away and worshipping other gods (anything that takes the place of God) would bring death. But if you return to the Lord our God and obey His voice today with all your heart and with all your soul, the Lord our God will bring you back from captivity and have compassion on you and gather you again. Sin holds us captive along with bad choices but there is great hope and peace for when we return to God he is faithful to fogive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The command issued before us today is the same in the day of Moses. Set before us today is a choice of life and good, death and evil therefore, choose life that you may live. Love God, obey his commands, cling to Him for He is your life and the length of your days.

Reflections From The Heart

The picture you see is our view from the balcony of our little one bedroom cabin at the Double Eagle Resort in June Lake. The boys rose up early this morning to take a boat out onto the lake for some fishing. I decided to drink in the beauty of my surroundings and journal my time with the Lord. As I was looking out at the little fly fishing pond below, the reflection of the trees surrounding the banks was mirrored perfectly in the water. The scene was a picture of God's glory. But, I noticed as the water rippled from any movement the image was blurred until the water became still again.

I reflected on 2Corinthians 3:18, "But we all, with unveiled faces, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as the Spirit of the Lord."

It is true, the moment you put your faith in Christ a veil is removed, the light is turned on and the truth of Jesus Christ is revealed to you in a personal way. 2Corinthians 4:6 says that "God commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

As we really begin to walk in obedience and seek to know God more by applying His truths to our daily lives, the Spirit of God does something miraculous. 2Corinthians 13:5, "As we examine ourselves to see if we are truly being obedient, yielding to God we will be transformed into his likeness." It is God's Spirit that does the transforming and it's a lifelong process.

Sure the ripples will come, especially in our attitudes and actions, the image of his likeness becomes blurred. The way in which the reflection becomes clear again is when the water becomes still. "So our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He has mercy on us." Psalm 123:2b

For now I look at my own relfection in a mirror and see only dimly the image of his likeness for the perfection of His glory in our lives is still being transformed. But one day I'll see face to face.

The One Thing

Remember the scene in City Slickers where on their trek back to the ranch on horseback Billy Crystal (Mitch) asks the all-wise Jack Palance (Curly) a personal question. What is it that makes life really matter and how do you know when you’ve found it? Curly raises his black-gloved finger and simply says “Only One Thing.” As we journey through this life many are asking the same question. What is the “One Thing” that really matters and how do you know when you’ve found it?

In Matthew 19, there was a rich young man who held a high position of authority in his country. He was not only very wealthy but had abilities beyond his years to hold such a position of power at a young age. One day this rich young man came to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” Now this young man who had everything he needed according to the world’s standards was respectfully and with all sincerity concerned about how to obtain eternal life. It’s evident that the “One Thing” that this rich young man didn’t have but was still looking for was eternal life. He was sensible in thinking that something must be done in order to attain this kind of assurance and happiness. Now Jesus who knows our thoughts (Matt 9:4 & 12:25) replied, “If you want to enter life obey the commandments.” “Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, “Do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man goes on to tell Jesus that he’d kept all of these commandments since his youth so what one thing does he still lack? Again, Jesus who knows our heart tells him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasures in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the man heard this he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Jesus was showing this man the way of entering into eternal life now is through obedience by faith. By telling the young man to go and sell his possessions and give to the poor, Christ was revealing to him that your not perfect as you claim, in fact you have an inordinate love of the world and it’s pleasures. The man valued himself too much through his own merit and efforts to see his need for a savior.

Romans 1:5- Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith…..
1John 1:8- if you claim to not sin you are deceiving yourself and the truth is not in us.
Luke 12:15- ….one’s life does not consist of the things he possesses.
Matthew 16:26- for what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Sadly, many make the same mistake thinking they can do something good to earn eternal life by their own merit. Others are too busy with the things of this life to inquire about the next. He didn’t like the terms by which eternal life comes. We deceive ourselves into thinking that we can specify the terms by which we come to God. Thus, salvation becomes a great difficulty to those who have much in this world.

Ephesians 2:8-For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
John 14:6- Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Likewise, we see in the parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12 another example of one, who stored up his wealth so he could eat, drink and be merry. He gathered up treasures for himself and was not rich toward God. What he valued in this life had no value in heaven.

Romans 6:23 - The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Matthew 6:19-21 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

My heart breaks for this young man who was standing in front of the Savior of the world asking about eternal life yet walked away sorrowful, falling short of having the “One Thing”. Let us not turn away from such a great gift but instead come to Jesus, the One who offers reconciliation to God and by faith say “Yes Lord I believe!” You will have discovered the one thing that truly matters in life and you will know that you have found it when your heart can say, "It is not I that have found it, but He has found me.”


John 3:16- For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

It has been said that a mother’s hearing is very acute, when our babies cry we know by their sound if they are hurt or just hungry, we can hear the change of inflections in our child’s voice when something is bothering them, our ears tells us if it’s our child hollering MOM above all the others, and we hear their conversations even if it’s just above a whisper. We can relate that in order for a physician to diagnosis a problem they must first listen to all of their patient’s symptoms. However, both the physician and the mother have used their ability to listen and they respond accordingly. Not everyone has the physical ability to hear, but everyone does have the God-given ability to listen and this is one sense that we widely take for granted.

I’m reminded of the instances where Jesus spoke to the multitudes, he ended his teaching with “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” This was in fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy which in part says, “…for the hearts of this people have grown dull, their ears are hard of hearing…” But blessed are your ears for they hear, many prophets and righteous men desire to hear what you hear but did not. (see Matthew 13:13-17)

For most hearing comes naturally but the real test comes when you respond to what you’ve heard. Are we listening to what God is saying today? John 10:3 bears witness to the believer, “and the sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” Do you hear the Shepherd’s voice? A good barometer is our response. Ask yourself this honest question, am I listening to and obeying our Lord’s voice or have I become that wayward sheep who has gone astray?

Often times a person’s hearing loss can be measured based on their behavioral responses. The author of Hebrews gives us believers a warning to pay close attention, to be careful to what we have heard so that we don’t drift away. In Hebrews 2:1-4: He is speaking of those who have heard from the Lord God himself, they have heard the good news of salvation, they even responded initially but because of immaturity, spiritual sluggishness, and disobedience they begin to drift away. Our Lord knows our weaknesses and he is a loving Father who demands that we listen attentively to what he says. For if we neglect the message that we’ve heard through the Lord himself and through those around us sharing God’s word, how can we escape punishment if we don’t respond to such a great salvation. We lose out on the opportunity to reign with Christ and be heir of his kingdom.
Do not neglect this great gift you have been given.

It is the hardness of our hearts that causes us to hear but not to listen. Israel heard the voice of the one crying out in the wilderness, they heard the words of Jesus yet they failed to listen and believe. How many times did Pharaoh hear the words, “let my people go?” “Yet, Pharaoh’s heart became hard and he would not listen to them, just as the Lord had said.” For those who don’t take heed and turn at the Lord’s rebuke they face the results of their choice. Proverbs 1:23-33 gives warning to those who God calls yet they refuse to listen. However, a promise is also given to who ever listens to Him will dwell safely and will be secure without fear of evil.

Have you heard the voice of God calling you out of rebellion? Have you drifted away? Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. Beware, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. (Hebrews 3:12,15) I urge you today to listen to the voice of Jesus, turn back to him now and repent. In order to hear his voice we must first be listening. Make time now to spend time alone with God. “The Lord will cause men to hear his majestic voice.” Isaiah 30:30 “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “this is the way; walk in it.”” Is 30:21 Listen to our Lord’s voice telling you to turn back, come back into a right relationship with him it’s where you belong.

There is no chorus so loud that the voice of God cannot be heard….if we will but listen. Max Lucado.