Faith and Seen

January 18, 2024 Martha Rodman1 Comment

Therefore, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, ‘You are the God who sees me”. Genesis 16:13 NLT.

As I read this scripture yesterday, it struck me once again that we are people who are seen. Not only seen but seen by a powerful God who can do something about our situation. Hagar, an Egyptian slave girl did not have an easy life. We don’t know how she became a slave to Sarai, Abrams wife, but she was in their midst. I wish I knew her backstory.

Most of us know the story, but let’s go through it again. God promised Abram a son, even though they were well passed child bearing age. Sarai got impatient and following a tradition suggested that Abram father a child through her maid Hagar. Hagar had no say in the matter. Genesis 16:1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named, Hagar; so she said to Abram, ‘The Lord has kept me from having children, Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.”

From the advantage of hindsight, we can see all the problems with this choice. God had promised them children, but Sarai is blaming the Lord for keeping her from having children. I think every month Sarai did not conceive brought her more and more despair. By now, Abram was about 85 years old which made Sarai 75 years old. I can see why their faith might have struggled, can’t you? So Sarai comes up with this plan for her to use Hagar in hopes she could build a family through her. This was a common practice in their culture, but not God’s plan for their legacy.

Reading this story always makes me take a pause and pray, “Father, please help me to find and follow Your will, not my good ideas. Help me trust You and Your plans, no matter what”. I want to encourage us all to do the same. God’s ways are always higher than our ways and usually don’t look like our ways.

So Abram slept with Hagar and she conceived. Instead of the happy family Sarai must have pictured in her mind, Hagar began to hold Sarai in contempt. Sarai then blamed Abram! Then Sarai said to Abram, this is all your fault! I put my servant into your arms, but now that she’s pregnant she treats me with contempt. The Lord will show who’s wrong–you are me! Abram replied, “look, she is your servant, so deal with her as you see fit.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away. Genesis 16:5-6. NLT. This triangle relationship did not work on any level!

Not one of these people really did the right thing. Abram, as the husband and the one God had spoken to, should have said ‘ no, that’s not what God said, we are going to trust Him.’ Sarai did not think things through when it came to her own heart. Her heart wasn’t in the right place to enlarge it to encompass Hagar as a pregnant sister wife. Hagar acted very immature in her attitude toward Sarai–all things we can and should learn from.

So Hagar runs away into the wilderness. There is a surprise twist to this story. Neither Abram nor Sarai go after her. But she has the most amazing encounter. The angel of the Lord found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur. He not only found her, but he encouraged her. He began to instruct her to go back to Sarai and submit to her authority. You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means God hears), for the Lord has heard your cry of distress. How amazing. I think it is interesting that Hagar got to name her son, instead of Abram. But the angel went on to tell her a few more things about her son, that I don’t know if she really wanted to know! This son of yours will be a wild man, as untamed as a wild donkey. He will raise his fist against everyone, and everyone will be against him. Yes, he will live in open hostility against all his relatives. I am sure this is something she pondered in her heart.

My friends, God see you. He sees your circumstances and He is moving on your behalf, as you participate with Him. Hagar went back to Sarai and hopefully they both treated each other with a bit more respect. Sarai only had the promise of a child at this point. It would be 14 more years till she bore her own child. What a test. We do know that after Isaac was born, Sarah demanded that Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away. Genesis 21 tells the story of Hagar’s next encounter with the God who sees. He doesn’t forget her, nor does he forget us. Please be encouraged, no matter how many times you hear this story, let it go deep into your soul. Take encouragement also from Colossians 1:23. But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.

Father, I thank you for seeing us. Let the fact You, the God of the Universe sees them and is helping them make a difference in their hope and faith today.

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Faith and Insecurity

January 11, 2024 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

Therefore, do not throw away your confidence which has great reward. Hebrews 10:35. ESV.

January 1, I spent some focused time with the Lord. I just poured my heart out, admitting I felt inadequate for some callings I feel He has set before me. As I shared my heart with Him, not only did naming my fears and shortcomings make them more understandable to me, He responded. He told me that the enemy was trying to undermine my confidence not only in myself but also in Him and His ability to equip me for the position He has called me too. This sounds like pretty basic spiritual warfare, doesn’t it? And it is. But sometimes the subtle tactics can not only be the most effective to slow us down but also so sneaky we don’t recognize it at first.

As we continued the conversation, my eyes were opened to just how subtle and effective this tactic had been working in my life. Not only was it eroding my confidence in this area, but it was spilling over into other areas of my life. So, I asked the Lord for His strategies for combatting this warfare.

This is why I love our Lord so much. He gave me directions and practical solutions! Now, these are very obvious but useful solutions. The first one is to be thankful. As I upped my gratitude and open thankfulness, my confidence began to return. He led me to thank Him for His wisdom being my wisdom, and His ability to become my ability. The subtle warfare led me to take my eyes off the Lord and onto myself, no wonder I felt insecure. By actively thanking the Lord for His help, ability, promises it made it about Him, not me! I am feeling much more confident than ever before.

But He also led me to thank Him for any and every breakthrough we may need as a team. This means every team member will receive their own breakthroughs as well. Hope and expectation are rising in my heart. As I laid down (again) my ways to His ways, confidence is rising.

Dear ones Joshua had big shoes to fill after Moses died. What did God tell him? Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Joshua 1: 6-7. NLT. I am sure those subtle lies were spoken to him too, but God told Him what to do. Be strong and very courageous. My friends, no matter what will come our way in 2024, we can know we can handle it. Do not let insecurity or fear overwhelm you. Begin to thank Him for giving you every ability you need to accomplish this good work in you and through you.

I have found continued encouragement in Colossian 1:11. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. As I pray this prayer for myself and our team, once again hope and expectation rise. Insecurity festers and flourishes when we forget we have His power and that He will enable us to have the endurance and patience we need to run our race. Confidence rises when we trust Him to keep His promises and we align ourselves with His Word. There are things on God’s agenda for each of us this coming year. Let’s not let fear, insecurity or pride stand in our way. Colossians 1:10 Then you way you will live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. What a blessed promise!

Father, I thank you for helping us get rid of all insecurity that may be lurking in our lives. I thank you that you are enabling everyone who reads these words to be strong and courageous in both the big and little assignments You have given them. Strengthen moms and dads, leaders and followers, employees and employers to bear good confident fruit for Your kingdom’s sake, In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Faith and A Testimony

December 28, 2023 Martha Rodman2 Comments

If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. Isaiah 58:10.

I want to share with you an amazing God story. This is not my story, but the story of the family of God at Life Church, here in Oak Harbor, WA. Last year, our pastors decided to stretch our faith and seek to give away 400 food bags to the needy parts of our city. This year, our goal was 800 bags, serving Oak Harbor and a neighboring area, Anacortes.

This focus on “genero-city” included faith building messages and reminders of God’s promises. As we turned our eyes away from ourselves and onto Jehovah Jireh (The God who will provide) our faith was built and stretched. We were asked to give $40 per family, but not only supply for their need, but also to pray for them. Praying for “my” families made it so real. By God’s grace, I was able to contribute so several families would be provided for. It was a joy, not a burden.

I have always loved to give. It is something God has worked in my heart and soul, but somehow, through these teachings, I found myself looking for more needs to be met! Not only did we give financially, we also sacrificed time and energy. The Sunday before the give away, cards were placed at each targeted area, alerting the occupants that bags of food would be distributed the next Sunday. 800 homes received these cards. On Wednesday, about 130 people came to fill the bags with food goods for 800 Christmas dinners. Each bag also contained a Bible and invitation card to Life Church. Sunday hams were added to these bags and new teams set out to deliver them.

As each team delivered these bags, they offered to pray for the people. It was amazing how many people accepted that offer. One woman was so glad to receive her bag, but was more concerned that her friend would get a bag. The problem was that this woman was quite deaf, so they were instructed to knock very loudly at her apartment. This gal watched closely as another team went to her friend’s door, but she didn’t answer. Her friend said, wait, I have a key to her apartment. She is my best friend. When she unlocked her friend’s door, they discovered she was asleep in her recliner…but a pot on her stove was on fire! The timing of this food bag delivery saved her life and possibly the homes of many.

We heard another touching story. A young child came to the door, and then called her mom and siblings. Her mother had just told the children that they had no money or food for Christmas dinner. The children were very sad of course, and then our team showed up! Only God’s timing could turn things around so quickly. Prayers for healing, hope and provision were given to many.

My part during the delivery time was to be part of our intercessory prayer team. It was a joy to follow the Holy Spirit as He led us to pray for God’s leading for each team member. We felt His Presence, and they did also. We are still praying the seeds sown will bear much fruit for each family, and that the Bible would be read, and the blessing of the reading would be evident.

What is the take-away for me and you? It always pays to be obedient to the Holy Spirit, no matter how much it stretches your faith and your provision. It is always worth it. God cares for the poor, the widow and the orphans, we should too. Isaiah 58:10-11 in the message gives us this promise: If you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and -out, Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight. I will always show you where to go. I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places–firm muscles, strong bones. You will be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry. If we love and care for those our God cares for He will care for us.

Father, please help us to love others as you love us and as you love them. The poor, the orphan, the widow, the disabled, the weak and the strong. Help us get our eyes off ourselves and onto others, in Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Faith and Shepherds

December 21, 2023 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

Glory to God in highest, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased. Luke 2: 14 NLT.

I admit it is hard for me to comprehend the word “glory”. It is not a word that shows up in my vocabulary often! And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they werer filled with great fear. One angel showing up brings the glory of the Lord to these shepherds, just one. Imagine, these shepherds were doing their normal watch…looking out for predators or wandering sheep when suddenly their whole night was shifted. It was a sudden change of events. An angel showing up would probably cause me to be afraid as well!

This angel says to them: Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Wow–talk about a great interruption–an angelic visitation with good news.

We aren’t told much more about these shepherds. They were available for interruption because they were watching! Some background study of the culture of the time, reveals that shepherds were considered even lower than Samaritans. They were not allowed to be witnesses in court cases, and they were considered untrustworthy because they had a reputation of being thieves. Yet, for some reason God decided to share the good news of Jesus’ birth with these fellows.

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others–the armies of heaven–praising God and saying, ” Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Did you get that last phrase? Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased. Maybe that is why the Angel came to the shepherds, to show them that God accepted them. A huge vast host of angels giving glory to God must have been amazing. As I was pondering this event, I was thinking about how these angels really knew, first hand, the God they were praising. When we really encounter Him, our praise is genuine.

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” I am sure there must have been some discussion about what to do with the sheep because after all, they were their livelihood. But they took the angels news as an invitation to go and see this grand event.

Do you think you would have gone? Or do you think you would have needed a clearer invitation? The Holy Spirit must have motivated them to simply follow the clues given. Hmm, you will find him wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. They knew about mangers, I am sure, and they probably knew that mangers would be found in a barn like structure–so off they went. They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. Amazing, right?

But then, God used them to spread the good news. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. They became the first evangelists! All who heard the shepherds story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them. Luke 2:18-20. NLT.

The shepherds took up the praise and glorifying God, like the angels. Our God is moving amongst us and is answering prayer. I’ve watched Him this week change discouragement and depression into hope. Bring financial blessings to those who need it, because He is a real God, still doing real things. He is saving people from their sins and from themselves. For that I can only give Him the glory. This is a gift we can give our Heavenly Father, glory.

Father, I thank you for showing me new things in this familiar story. I ask you help me and your children to take the time to glorify your name, as you deserve. Let me not take you for granted. I am so grateful you came to the shepherds and used them to spread your good news. It gives me hope you can use me. Thank you, in Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Faith and “Weakness”

December 7, 2023 Martha Rodman1 Comment

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT

I have been thinking about this verse a lot lately. I think it is one we like to quote to encourage others–but maybe, due to pride not want to apply to ourselves. Pride aside, we must admit, we all have our weaknesses. I am so grateful that God understands that about us. He not only knows our weaknesses, but He expects to use them for His glory. He remembered us in our weakness. His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136:23. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. 1 Corinthians 1:25. NLT.

Most of us spent a lifetime trying to hide our weaknesses. When they are exposed, we feel vulnerable and subject to criticism and/or rejection. I think we even try to hide them from ourselves! 2 Corinthians begins with Paul saying: This boasting will do not good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 Corinthians 12:1 NLT. He then spends a few verses sharing about his experiences (which sound amazing!) of seeing things that he can’t even express. But he doesn’t even elaborate on them, he jumps to: that experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. 2 Corinthians 12:5. NLT. But then Paul clues us in on the backstory.

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away [a thorn in his flesh] Each time he said, ‘my grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses. 2 Corinthians 12:8-9.

One of my weak areas is asking for help. I have a tendency to be the “strong, independent woman” on my own. I know I am not alone in this, in trying to figure out the balance between being a weak, needy woman and the “I don’t need anyone”. Balance, for me, often comes through prayer. When I take the time to lean in an onto the Lord, He either shows me how to get through it, or He helps me ask for help. My weakness then turns into a strength, because I included Him and His wisdom.

Have you ever received an “assignment” from the Lord? Maybe you have been reluctant to accept it, but then you surrender to it? The struggle might deal with your own insecurity (hmm, a weakness?), fear of failure or like Jonah, you didn’t like the “Ninevites!”. But once you said yes, we must still rely on Him and trust His plan for the outcome. If we begin understanding our weakness, we must not end in our supposed strength. Paul goes on to finish his thoughts: That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10. NLT.

I found a journal entry from 2011. It was written during the height of my caregiving season for my husband. I wrote this: The Lord God is my strength [my source of courage, my invincible army]; He has made my feet [steady and sure] like hinds’ feet and makes me walk [forward with spiritual confidence] on my high places [of challenge and responsibility]. Habakkuk 3: 19 Amp. Oh, how I knew I needed Him to be my strength. I learned during that challenging season how to lean into Him and receive His strength. My friends, does the Lord have you in a season where your weaknesses seem to be exposed? Congratulations! This is a good thing. He is able to do more than ever through you and me, when we admit our weakness. Do not let pride stop you from asking for His help. And when it arrives, no matter what shape or form, take it. I went on to write: My weakness is your strength. You already know about Darryl and my weaknesses and you can use them to be strong in us. Yes, thank you, I’m free to love Darryl with his weakness because you love him and will be strong in them. That gives me permission to love myself in the midst of my weaknesses as well.

When we admit our weaknesses to ourselves, we take a step toward loving ourselves well. Once we admit them to Him, He may show you ways to grow up and out of them (like works of the flesh). Others, He may show you a way to live with them in a way that glorifies Him (like Moses, and his stammering lips). If we want the power of God to work in us and through us, we have to get this right. Plus it is so freeing not to be perfect!

Father, I thank you that we can be strong in the power of Your might. I ask you to help us in this crucial area. We need You, more than ever, in Jesus’ Name, amen.