The Answer to Why

"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever" Isaiah 40:8.

Why is a little word that often demands a big answer.

Why don't you write another book? Why did you take My Heart's Desire: A Journey Toward Finding Extravagant Love out of print this year? Why don't you pray and see what God wants you to do because I think you should publish more books? These are a few of the questions posed to me by well meaning friends and readers of my work. This post is my feeble attempt to answer why.

When my book was published in early 2009 I was a relatively new born again follower of Jesus Christ. What I lacked in maturity, biblical knowledge and discernment I made up for in enthusiasm. If someone was a popular author or speaker within Christian circles I automatically assumed they were the standard I should follow. I made the fatal mistake of equating Christian celebrity status with godly blessing. So when a book reviewer claimed my story was the next Purpose Driven Life I was flattered and put that quote on my book cover. I now regret this.

It wasn't simply that I wanted to completely disassociate from the words that linked me to the Emergent Church, Seeker Sensitive and Purpose Driven Life movement. I had the option of deleting the quote from my book cover and reprinting an edited version. As I spent more time in prayer and Bible study I saw how Holy and perfect God's Word is. I trembled in fear and amazement of its power to transform me into a image of His Son, imperfect as I am. I did not want to cheapen God's Words by giving His Scriptures twisted and new meanings as I saw many authors and speakers doing. It scared me to think how easily I could be lured away from Truth in search of earthly fame and fortune.

We do not know when Jesus will Rapture His true followers and initiate the Great Tribulation on this earth. But we clearly see how evil and desperate for peace this world has become. Everything is lining up for the Anti-Christ to take command as we witness more people who claim to be Christian cast aside sound biblical doctrine and stand in accord with false ministries worldwide. I praise the Holy Spirit for opening my eyes to this deception and pray to be found faithful and true to Christ alone in these end times.

The world doesn't need my book. I share my story as God opens up conversations with people to give Him the glory, not sell my book. I want to spend my remaining earthly life promoting the Bible and sharing the Gospel of saving grace by faith in Jesus Christ instead of self-promoting my latest musings or speaking engagements. I praise the Lord for helping me to write My Heart's Desire: A Journey Toward Finding Extravagant Love and pray that whoever read it will draw near to Jesus.

Follow the true biblical Jesus, not me. My words fade but His stands forever!    

Your fellow herald for Jesus Christ,

Mary

The Last Days

"3... knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us,[a] not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:3-9).

Why talk about the last days at the beginning of a New Year? Shouldn't we focus on our resolutions, our daily goals for self-improvement, and whatever leads to a more prosperous and fulfilling life? Isn't January supposed to be the most optimistic month when we wipe the slate clean and start anew? While taking care of our financial and physical health is a wise use of these gifts from God, the reality of what lies ahead when Jesus returns to our world should make our spiritual health top priority. Hard as we try, we cannot atone for our transgressions. We are not that powerful or pure.

While hard work and dedication may result in accomplishing our resolutions/goals, we cannot excel high enough in our achievements to reach God. The only way to salvation is bowing down in humble submission to the King of kings, Jesus Christ. His death at Calvary and resurrection from the grave ushered in eternal life for ALL who place their faith in Him! This is good news to an over achiever and people pleasure like me. It's God's grace through His Holy Spirit that draws you to Him in repentance for your sins, and His mercy and strength that holds you close as you obey His Word.

What are you counting on to gain your admission to heaven? Still in denial about your need for a Savior because you think you're a pretty good person? By whose standards do you measure your worthiness? Don't compare yourself to the men/women of this life/world for you will fall short of God's holy and perfect standard. Trust in Jesus, the only perfect Man and Son of God, and follow hard after Him.

Be careful whose voice you listen to. Don't believe me--check your Bible and listen to God's voice in His Holy Word! Many who speak in this world are turning you away from the One true God and tricking you into self-elevation. If you're not convicted about your lifestyle and there is no evidence of change in your words/desires/actions then you are not indwelt by the Holy Spirit. The closer we come to Jesus the more we want to run from our old nature. You want to reach the finish line a winner in the last days of your life, don't you? How you begin today in your relationship with the Lord determines how you'll end your journey, and where you'll spend forever.

"17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen" (2 Peter 3:17-18).

Your fellow herald for Jesus,

Mary

  

God's Glory

"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14)

Glory to God in the highest! Praise and thanksgiving for His inexpressible gift, Jesus Christ. In Jesus we behold God's glory and love.

Wishing you the Savior's joy and peace this Christmas.

Your fellow herald for Jesus,

Mary

Giving Thanks

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving celebration as we praise Almighty God for His bountiful blessings!

Psalm 146

1 Praise the Lord.[a]

Praise the Lord, my soul.

2 I will praise the Lord all my life;
    I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
3 Do not put your trust in princes,
    in human beings, who cannot save.
4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
    on that very day their plans come to nothing.
5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God.

6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
    the sea, and everything in them—
    he remains faithful forever.
7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed
    and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
8     the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
    the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the foreigner
    and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
    but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

10 The Lord reigns forever,
    your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the Lord.

Your fellow herald for Jesus,

Mary

Zealous Wanderers

"It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way."

Trail maps are only good if you read and apply them. In our haste to get to the top of the mountain summit we darted out in confident ignorance. "Surely it can't be that hard to find our way?", our prideful emotions declared. And for awhile the path was easy. So we ascended higher into the alpine forest with vigor and gusto propelling our feet. Captivated by the scenery and lost in dreamy thoughts we neglected to notice we'd veered off the path. Surrounded by thorny bushes and thicket the hike got harder and dangerously close to a cliff. Time to make a choice.

Life is often like that. We think we know the right way to go and don't consult the One who is our Maker, Almighty God. The Lord's gift to mankind of free will is both a blessing and a curse, for He has enabled us with options for choosing good or evil. We stubbornly believe we know what is best, what is truth, which road to heaven is the right path. But we have tunnel vision that limits our sight in this earthly life. We are not God and never will be. But through a personal relationship with His Son, Jesus, Christ, we can follow the One who leads us to heaven.

Don't get lost in life. The Holy Spirit will live in you when you confess your sins and dedicate your life to following Jesus. He helps you to understand what the Holy Scriptures say. The Bible is more than a guide book, it is God's inspired Holy Word given to us for knowledge of who God is, what He desires, and what God expects of us. When you stay close to Jesus there is no confusion for He is the true light and the way. Feelings and experiences can fool us. But knowledge of God's Word gives clarity and truth to those who study it, and apply it to their lives.

It is possible to be very zealous in your beliefs but be following the wrong theology, and listening to ungodly advice from others. Spend time reading the Bible and ask God to help you understand the Scriptures. He loves you and wants to give you a new heart and mind, cleanse your sins, and show you how to live in communion with Him! You don't want to miss all the blessings of heaven and a Helper for life's hardships because you were walking on the wrong trail, do you? "It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way."

Your fellow herald for Jesus,

Mary

La Dolce Vita

"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth" (Psalm 119:103)!

Awaken from my slumber by a lawnmower's motor I mistook for a speedboat, I draw back the curtains and find no water in sight. I'm home this Labor Day weekend vacationing in my heart while my body recovers from a grueling work week. My husband sleeps peacefully beside me after his 13-hour night shift duty. As the warm sun streams in turning the night into day, I gaze out on our backyard gardens realizing there's no where else I'd rather be. Who needs a vacation when I'm already living what Italians call "la dolce vita", the sweet life?!

Reading God's Word and relishing my morning tea I'm filled with peace and contentment in the Scriptures. I have more than I need in this earthly life as I take inventory of my possessions. My cupboard is full and food is easy to grasp which humbles me in remembrance of those less fortunate. The Father has provided many human blessings for us to share with others, but the greatest treasure we have is our life in Christ. The Gospel is worth more than our bank account; it's the gift of eternal life for those who possess new life by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Culinary delights are wonderful, we need to eat to sustain our bodies. But all that I have in this life would ring hollow if not enjoyed with a loving heart transformed by the Holy Spirit. In all seasons of life it is God's Word that binds me to Him, and the reality that all I see before me on earth will one day perish. How do you deal with the certainty of death with an attitude of hopeful anticipation of eternity? By resting in the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice and not on the inadequacies of your on rituals and deeds.

While time will erode the lovely gardens surrounding my house God's Word stands forever. It is the only thing that will last! Holding the Scriptures in my mind and my heart I am filled in my soul; more satisfied than anything I could put in my mouth. "I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:12).

As you enjoy a respite from work with family and friends this Labor Day, may you feast on the words of the only Living God and find your joy complete. "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth" (Psalm 119:103)!

Your fellow herald for Jesus,

Mary  

That Was Nice

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life" (Proverbs 4:23)

Vows were exchanged on a warm summer day at the country home of her parents. The young bride aglow with her handsome young groom stood confident; eager to begin their journey. Whisked away to the reception hall the minister was unable to join them. Mother-of-the-bride beckons my help; asking me to say the blessing before the meal. Honored and scared for I don't take this task lightly, God put Psalm 145-3-4 in my heart. My prayer for these newlyweds is centered on these verses as I bow before the Lord. Returning to my seat and the comments of some guests, "Oh, that was nice" was all they said.

Pondering the fascination our society has with outlandish wedding ceremonies that give little credence to God's view of marriage I was grateful this family focused on Christ's blessing. After all, a beautiful wedding is a lovely event but a beautiful marriage is a lasting legacy for generations to come. This is my hope for this dashing young couple, that they seek to follow The Lord and teach their future children how to love Jesus.

Nearly twelve years since my own wedding day I praise God for the gift of my husband. As we continue to grown in our love and knowledge of the Lord and each other, I am continually learning that marriage is an on going ministry of sacrifice. We must seek to do what is best for the two of us (in accordance with God's Word), not what we individually desire. The process of "becoming one" as husband and wife goes on forever. It's more than a joining of hands and exchanging rings at the ceremony.

The Holy Spirit is our Helper. He will keep our hearts committed and faithful as we obey all that the Father has commanded. This surrender of our will to God's will is for our good and our protection! My hope for my marriage and all Christian unions is that people won't just say, "Oh, that was nice" but rather "Look what God did--I want that, too!" Seek the Lord with humility and repentance and He will give you much more than a great marriage. He will give you everlasting life whether you are single, married, divorced or widowed. "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life" (Proverbs 4:23)

Your fellow herald for Jesus,

Mary