God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. Ephesians 3: 10 NLT.

Have you ever felt two opposite emotions at the same time? This past Easter, over 100 people raised their hands to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It was so exciting to hear. The next week, we baptized about 30 people! It was exciting to catch their enthusiasm. God is on the move! So I experienced the joy and excitement with our church, and more importantly, The Church. But these new converts are going to need milk and nurturing in God’s ways. They need this if they are to grow up like He desires. I want them to fall in love with Jesus, but also His church.

So my question to all of us is, do you love the church? He does. Do you respect God’s heart toward His church? Is it easy for you to criticize it? But my friends, it is easy to forget the church comprises people.Those people are you and I!  If we as “mature” believers do not model love for God’s house, then how are they to learn to?

Maybe you are struggling to love your specific local church. If something has offended you, do not let it fester. Do you not see how the enemy is trying to separate you? If not physically, then emotionally? Forgive where you need to forgive. Get clarification where you need clarification. Remember, every church is made up of imperfect humans. We often expect the perfection of others and want grace and mercy for ourselves. What type of church would the church be if everyone was like you? Now we know we aren’t all the same and that can create problems. But He has made us a body with separate parts and functions. So learn to be grateful for those with different gifts than you have.

Hebrews 10:24-25: And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Here is another question to consider. How can you stir one another to love and good works? You can’t do this if you are not with one another. Satan wants us to focus on ourselves, so we think “It won’t matter if I go today”. The thing he won’t tell you is how God might use you that day for someone else. If we go with self-focused eyes, we will miss Him using us to help others. Even if you are shy and introverted, God can show you how to pray for someone! “Nobody talked to me” “That church is cold”….hmmm, did you talk to someone? Jesus shed His blood for everyone in your church, the same price He paid for you. It may take an effort to love them, but it may take an effort to love you too!

For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without spot or wrinkle or any blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without spot. Ephesians 5:25-27. NLT I think we often forget how much God loves His church. We often forget the price He paid for her. We also forget how He is working to make her glorious. We are like spoiled and immature children. We quickly complain and criticize if we don’t get our needs met through her as we think we should. It is time to grow up.

Remember what He said to Peter? And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Matthew 16: 18. ESV. God will perfect His church. It will keep standing. My friend in India shared with me that a house church was attacked and the pastor put in jail. They are standing strong in the face of adversity and persecution. Let’s not worry about minor issues. Instead, let’s take the time to pray for our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted. I am so grateful we have the freedom to worship here in this country. Don’t waste it. There may come a time when we can’t gather. My friends in India are meeting secretly, but they are meeting. They strengthen one another by being together. Let’s do the same.

Father, help us honor and strengthen your church. Not just our local one, but the universal one. We choose to stand with those who may think differently than we do on a topic, but still name you as Lord. Forgive us for disrespecting your Bride, Teach us to love your church, as you do.  in Jesus’ Name, amen. 

He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them. Colossians 2:15. NLT.

In his Easter message, one scripture our pastor used was this one. It was an amazing message dealing with time, the cross and the keys of authority we have been given. As he read, in this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. I became focused on the word, “disarmed”. I thought about police officers disarming the bad guys! I kept thinking about how they do a complete search, making sure there were no hidden weapons. They are “stripped” of everything that could be used against them. This is what Jesus did on the cross! He stripped our enemy of all their weapons!

This was the victory Jesus achieved on the cross. He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. I thought, do I really believe it? That Jesus truly disarmed those spiritual authorities that try to lie and steal my victory? How about you? How would our lives be different if we really understood that our enemy has been stripped of his weapons? I am convinced we often live so far beneath His purpose and plan for our lives. We do not really grasp what He accomplished on the cross for us. This was part of the reason Paul wrote this letter. You can hear the longing in Paul’s writing in Colossians 2:1-2. I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church of Laodicea, and for many other believers who I have never met personally. I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself.

I love verse 14: He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. This is not theory, it is reality. Our past sins are under the blood.We don’t have to live in regret for our past failings. We don’t have to listen to Satan’s lies. When the scripture uses the term “disarmed” it comes from the Greek word that means “stripped”. Do you think you can picture it? Those spiritual authorities standing before the King, and Him taking every weapon from them? They are hanging their heads in shame because there is nothing they can do. He’s done it!

So why don’t we live like this is our reality? Because we must enforce what Jesus has already done. It is our responsibility to resist him and watch him flee from us. This is a reminder. Most of you know this, but sometimes we forget. We just do until we make it a priority to really process it into our soul. I admit, he does sneak up on me with his lies and deception. I am so grateful we have the Holy Spirit to remind us what Jesus did on the cross for us. This is an area where we must allow our mind to be renewed, and most likely renewed again! We need to be in His Word daily to maintain the victory in our own lives.

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:7. Chapter 2 of Colossians is an amazing reminder of what He did on the cross. Paul’s concern for the believers at Colossae and the surrounding region is so heartfelt. If you struggle with what He finished on the cross for you, take time to meditate on this chapter. It will refresh and encourage you.

Father, thank you. Thank you for allowing Jesus to disarm our enemies. Teach how to put that reality into practice. Every where we have been hoodwinked or lied to, show us. Bring into open areas where we are living beneath what you have done for us. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 NLT.

In 1981, while my husband was on a ministry trip to Texas, the Holy Spirit asked him a question. “Darryl, do you have a desire for a son?” As he searched his heart, he told the Lord, “you know, I do”. He called me from Texas and shared that conversation with me. We had already discussed having more children, and he told me he was content with our two beautiful daughters. Rosanna was going to be seven, Elizabeth five. I had already prayed to be content with these two. We were done with diapers, cribs and sleepless nights, but I did some more praying (of course I said, yes!)

This pregnancy was hard. I had extreme morning sickness (all day long!). Then I started spotting blood. My doctor advised bed rest, so that’s what I did. It wasn’t easy with two active girls. This bed rest gave me lots of time to think and pray. I wrestled with God’s question: if this was the promised son, then why was it so hard? Suppose I miscarried? How do I reconcile the two? I processed my trust in God’s Word. I navigated the pregnancy hormones and emotions. I tried to understand what my body was apparently doing. I struggled. One day, I read this verse. “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil”. Such peace came over me. If, for some reason, I lost this pregnancy, there would be no evil in it. If I carried the baby to full term, there would also be no evil in it, even if it was a girl. For God is the author of life. The very next day, the bleeding stopped!

That scripture goes on to say, I will for no evil, for thou are with me. He is with us through every shadow of doubt and fear. If you are struggling with belief in His goodness through your situation, take heart. His rod and His staff are protecting you if you let Him. The rod is symbolic of God’s protection and discipline. The staff is used for guidance and support. Turn to Him and let Him guide you to safe places in your thoughts and emotions.

Andrew Lloyd Rodman was born September 9, 1982, very healthy and has been such a blessing to our family. The peace that came when I submitted to trusting God’s Word in this matter is hard to describe. This week, the doctors placed my sister Carol in hospice care. It was not unexpected, but still difficult to hear. Hospice care happens when the doctors feel a person has less than six months to live. Carol has been fighting Parkinson’s for several years.

Carol has been the glue that has kept our unusual family together. She was eleven when we were born. Our sister Laura was 4. Because of our mother’s mental condition, Carol and Laura were placed in foster care, and we were placed for adoption. Eventually, Carol and Laura were adopted into separate families as well. Through God’s amazing answer to prayer, we were reunited at 15. Carol was the big sister we didn’t know we needed! Carol is number four of eight children. We were numbers 6, 7 and 8! This valley is not easy for any of us.

The good news is Carol loves the Lord, and we know she will be with Him. My heart goes out to her two dear daughters who have taken such good care of her. It is difficult to navigate the hard decisions that come with end-of-life care. I know from personal experience, there will be a big hole in their hearts and lives when she goes. There is no evil in her passing. Parkinson’s diagnosis is not an easy one, and like all sicknesses and diseases, the result of the Fall.

Our hope lies in the resurrection, doesn’t it? This life has its difficult moments, for sure. The passing of loved ones is one of the hardest parts. But we take comfort in the words of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14: But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again. Through Jesus, God will also bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

My friends, love well those you care about. Allow the Holy Spirit to help you navigate the difficult conversations. Accept the reality that none of us leave this world alive. Our real life will start when we see Him…aren’t you glad we have a Savior?

Father, I ask you to help us understand in a deeper manner how to navigate every valley that looks like death, and every valley that does lead to a death. Whether it is the death of dreams, or the death of a loved one. We choose to trust you, In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

A man prepared a great feast and sent out invitations. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests. Come, the banquet is ready. But they all began making excuses. Luke 14: 16-18. NLT.

I mentioned before that I host a Life Group (small group) in my home. It is a privilege and blessing to grow together with these dear sisters. Some of them have some mobility issues. There is a two step concrete porch that leads to my front door. I felt a bit hopeless and frustrated as I watched these ladies navigate the steps with walkers and canes. I often heard, “I wish there were hand rails”. I didn’t know what to do.

When my home was built in 1969, there were no handrails installed. I just thought, I am sorry. I can’t install handrails into concrete. This was my legitimate excuse. After a few months, I thought, maybe they do make a product. how do I really know they don’t. So, I googled it! I was surprised to discover they make such a product. To top it off, I can get them from Amazon Prime. So there went excuse #1. But how expense would this be? Quickly excuse #2 went, because they were in my budget! But then excuse number #3 began swirling around in my mind. Suppose they look bad and it detracts from my homes value? I am not a “visualizer”…so in my mind I could not imagine what the final product would look like. So I procrastinated.

Excuse #4. I asked my friend and contractor, Kenny, if he knew how to install them. He said yes, and he would do it. But excuse #3 was still standing strong, would it be worth it?? One Sunday, our pastor preached a sermon about “love going beyond”. I realized that moment if I loved these women, as I claim, I must buy them and have them installed. Love took away every excuse about this project. I would feel terrible if one of them fell. Or worse, if they chose to quit coming because they didn’t feel safe. Especially since I knew there was a solution.

In the parable of the great feast, Jesus tells, none of the excuses were legitimate. One bought a field, and wanted to inspect it. I am sure that field wasn’t going any where. Another, bought some oxen and wanted to “try” them out, again it could have happened at another time. Even the one who got married, could have chosen to come. When God asks us to do something, do we remember He understands all about our life? Or do we make our flimsy self-centered excuses? The excuses usually involve our time, effort or money. Each one of the “excusers” were focused on themselves, they did not consider the expense or effort the one who did the invite had gone to. I think we are often guilty of the same thing.

Luke 14 sets the stage for this parable. Jesus is at the home of a Pharisee, and some other religious law experts. They were watching him, but he also was watching them! After asking them if it was permitted to heal on the Sabbath, he healed a man. He then watched them vie for more prominent places at the table–which led to an exhortation about humility.

We then find Jesus encouraging the host. He tells the host not to invite those who could invite him back. Instead, he should go out and invite the lame, the poor, the blind, and the crippled. Embedded in verse 14, he gives us a clue to the why and what our perspective should be. And then you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just. Luke 14:14 ESV. In other words, it is another way we can sow our treasures in heaven. We make the wrong choice when we focus only on this life. We make decisions based on time, effort, or finances for the present rather than for heaven’s sake.

Oh my friends, watching the ladies enter and leave my home last night was a blessing. They thanked me for the installation. I am trusting God about any changes to my home value–I’m not planning on moving anytime soon anyway!

Remember, when God asks something of you, He remembers your frame. He knows everything about you–even in the asking. So if you don’t see a way, ask Him to make a way. If you are afraid of the outcome, tell Him that. Ask Him how to move forward, because His ways are always best. Let’s get rid of our lame excuses and just get on with it!

Father, help us do your will. Freely, joyfully and faithfully. Thank you for helping us deal with our excuses, no matter how big or how small. In Jesus’ Name, amen.