“Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about” (Genesis 22:2).
April 19, 2001 was my first Isaac moment, but it hasn’t been my last. It was on that day my four-year battle to trust God completely for something I had wished for all my life culminated in a moment of joyful surrender. This was not of my own doing. The power of the Holy Spirit brought me to that altar, kept me there in stillness, and carried me through to healing on the other side. Although my sacrifice was differed from Abraham’s, there were some parallels.
Abraham was asked to offer up his child whom he’d loved and nurtured for many years. Isaac was a living being. My offering was only a dream, the desire for a child. Abraham’s altar was high on a mountain top in the thick brush with wildlife in his midst. Mine was a cold sterile operating room surrounded by a well-trained medical team. God had promised that Abraham’s genealogy would be more numerous than all the stars he could see, or the grains of sand he could count. Better still, the Messiah would come from his bloodline; from Isaac’s descendants. There was no profound promise from God to me. Still, He wanted to bring new life through my surrender just as He did with Abraham’s. Mine sprung forth in a different way; one that I never expected. The mystery is still unfolding.
Every Christian will face at least one Isaac moment. These are times of testing and cleansing when Jesus asks us to lay before Him all those people, plans, and possessions we have clung to so dearly. Why? Is God cruel? No! He simply has to remind us that while we live in the temporal there is eternal work to be accomplished, and He gives us the privilege of joining Him in this amazing birthing process. Does this mean you or I can save another person’s soul? No! Only the Holy Spirit can do that. But what’s going on in our lives speaks volumes to those who are watching. If we praise God with tears in those hard times of surrender, the door is open for hearts to be transformed by the work the Father is doing.
To have the faith and trust in God’s provision that Abraham did as he raised his knife to slay Isaac may seem impossible. But perhaps that is because we are putting restraints on what we believe Jesus can do if only we obey His voice. Learning to walk by faith and not by sight does not come natural, but we serve a loving God who wants to help us in a supernatural way. On the other side of those Isaac moments we see the spiritual fruit of the sacrificial seeds we planted. We do not produce the harvest. We are not the creator. But what a blessing it is to be one of Christ’s seed for His glory. There is no greater joy than to welcome new believers into the family of faith, and to walk in mutual love and encouragement towards heaven.
Looking back nine years I have gained some perspective on the cost of my offering even though I do not have full understanding of the reasons behind it. God is gracious to allow this limited view. It’s all I need to know today. Who would have thought that my story would be published and Jesus would use it to draw readers closer to Him? My career goals never including authoring a book and speaking to others about God’s extravagant love that He’s longing to share with them.
How about you? What is your Isaac? Have you left it on the altar, or are you running back to snatch it off before God’s work is finished? This has often been my struggle too. Let us pray together for Jesus to increase our faith. There is so much more He wants to do through us if only we would set aside our own agendas believing His is much better. “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about” (Genesis 22:2).
Your fellow sojourner,
Mary
Showing posts with label testing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label testing. Show all posts
Monday, April 19, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
God is Still Good
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (Psalm 46:10-11).
To say it’s been a rough week is an understatement. With the earthquake in Haiti sending shock waves of sorrow around the planet, one can’t help but wonder why ordinary life is often suddenly interrupted by extraordinary pain. Many are asking, “Where is God? Doesn’t He care? How can a loving God allow this? Is God good?” Ever wonder if it’s wrong to ask these questions? I have. Admittedly so, I have been counted among the doubters of God’s character more that I’d like to confess. As much as I disdain pondering such thoughts, I don’t believe the Father is angry that I voice them as long as I’m seeking His enlightenment. It’s the hardened attitude of my heart and mind that can get me into trouble; not the longing to make some sense out of catastrophe.
Over and over I find myself challenged when tragedy strikes my own household, and the lives of loved ones. After all, it’s much easier to offer a pat answer or quick prayer combined with your favorite Scripture for someone suffering thousands of miles away than the person directly touching your life. We can all claim that God is good until it’s our home that’s been ravaged by a natural disaster, or our life has been turned upside down with bad news. How strong is our faith in Jesus to sustain us then? When the world crumbles beneath our physical and spiritual foundations, how do we react? Do we stumble or stand? Praise God for forgiveness when I’ve failed this test!
Sometimes I have felt the Holy Spirit working through me to offer a word of encouragement to others at their lowest hour. I rejoice in those moments because they bless my soul too, and I’m very aware that the words that pour forth are not fashioned by me. Whenever I have prayed for the right words to say, God has delivered them on one condition. My soul had to be stilled to hear His voice above all the clamoring in my brain. Any attempt on my part to seek a shortcut always leads to lifeless words offering no relief to the wounded.
God has afforded me many opportunities to trust that He is good, but it has not been so easy for me. How do I offer hope to the friend who is going through an unwanted divorce, or the couple who just lost the son we’d all prayed for in a miscarriage? What do I say to the relative who’s falling deeper into an emotional and financial pit because every job he’s offered is cancelled before he starts because of funding? What hope do I have for the friends who are battling cancer and may not survive? How do I convey with sincerity that Jesus loves and cares about them? Do circumstances determine God’s goodness, or do I need to look elsewhere? In times like these my own thoughts and feelings cannot be trusted. Only God’s word can be.
Looking within myself will never give me the answers I need to life’s most difficult questions. I’m too flawed, even as God’s daughter. The only way for me to develop the mind of Christ that is available to all of His sheep, is to look at the words of the Good Shepherd in the Scriptures. What have I learned? That God is the only thing that is good, and that the sorrow I feel is part of living in a sin-filled fallen world. This was never God’s plan for the human race. Everything was beautiful and perfectly balanced in the Garden of Eden until sin forever destroyed that earthly paradise. But all was not lost forever for those who chose to believe the penalty for every sin was paid in full at the death of Jesus on Calvary’s cross. He’s alive in heaven, and one day we will join Him in paradise for there will be no sin in the presence of a holy God.
Until then, suffering will be part of our human experience on planet earth. But is does not have to be senseless. There is comfort in knowing that while we don’t have complete understanding surrounding devastating events, or have to like them; God can bring healing out of destruction if we allow Him to. Haiti is a reminder to us all of how fragile we are, and we must all be ready to meet our Maker. How prepared are you?
It’s so tempting to run from God instead of running to Him when you’re crushed in spirit. This is exactly what Satan wants—to destroy your relationship with Jesus who offers true hope regardless of your circumstances. Don’t let him win! Run as fast as you can to the feet of your Savior and ask Him to live in your heart. He will help you. Be still and know (learn) that He is good when life is not. There is great comfort in that truth. “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (Psalm 46:10-11).
Your fellow sojourner,
Mary
To say it’s been a rough week is an understatement. With the earthquake in Haiti sending shock waves of sorrow around the planet, one can’t help but wonder why ordinary life is often suddenly interrupted by extraordinary pain. Many are asking, “Where is God? Doesn’t He care? How can a loving God allow this? Is God good?” Ever wonder if it’s wrong to ask these questions? I have. Admittedly so, I have been counted among the doubters of God’s character more that I’d like to confess. As much as I disdain pondering such thoughts, I don’t believe the Father is angry that I voice them as long as I’m seeking His enlightenment. It’s the hardened attitude of my heart and mind that can get me into trouble; not the longing to make some sense out of catastrophe.
Over and over I find myself challenged when tragedy strikes my own household, and the lives of loved ones. After all, it’s much easier to offer a pat answer or quick prayer combined with your favorite Scripture for someone suffering thousands of miles away than the person directly touching your life. We can all claim that God is good until it’s our home that’s been ravaged by a natural disaster, or our life has been turned upside down with bad news. How strong is our faith in Jesus to sustain us then? When the world crumbles beneath our physical and spiritual foundations, how do we react? Do we stumble or stand? Praise God for forgiveness when I’ve failed this test!
Sometimes I have felt the Holy Spirit working through me to offer a word of encouragement to others at their lowest hour. I rejoice in those moments because they bless my soul too, and I’m very aware that the words that pour forth are not fashioned by me. Whenever I have prayed for the right words to say, God has delivered them on one condition. My soul had to be stilled to hear His voice above all the clamoring in my brain. Any attempt on my part to seek a shortcut always leads to lifeless words offering no relief to the wounded.
God has afforded me many opportunities to trust that He is good, but it has not been so easy for me. How do I offer hope to the friend who is going through an unwanted divorce, or the couple who just lost the son we’d all prayed for in a miscarriage? What do I say to the relative who’s falling deeper into an emotional and financial pit because every job he’s offered is cancelled before he starts because of funding? What hope do I have for the friends who are battling cancer and may not survive? How do I convey with sincerity that Jesus loves and cares about them? Do circumstances determine God’s goodness, or do I need to look elsewhere? In times like these my own thoughts and feelings cannot be trusted. Only God’s word can be.
Looking within myself will never give me the answers I need to life’s most difficult questions. I’m too flawed, even as God’s daughter. The only way for me to develop the mind of Christ that is available to all of His sheep, is to look at the words of the Good Shepherd in the Scriptures. What have I learned? That God is the only thing that is good, and that the sorrow I feel is part of living in a sin-filled fallen world. This was never God’s plan for the human race. Everything was beautiful and perfectly balanced in the Garden of Eden until sin forever destroyed that earthly paradise. But all was not lost forever for those who chose to believe the penalty for every sin was paid in full at the death of Jesus on Calvary’s cross. He’s alive in heaven, and one day we will join Him in paradise for there will be no sin in the presence of a holy God.
Until then, suffering will be part of our human experience on planet earth. But is does not have to be senseless. There is comfort in knowing that while we don’t have complete understanding surrounding devastating events, or have to like them; God can bring healing out of destruction if we allow Him to. Haiti is a reminder to us all of how fragile we are, and we must all be ready to meet our Maker. How prepared are you?
It’s so tempting to run from God instead of running to Him when you’re crushed in spirit. This is exactly what Satan wants—to destroy your relationship with Jesus who offers true hope regardless of your circumstances. Don’t let him win! Run as fast as you can to the feet of your Savior and ask Him to live in your heart. He will help you. Be still and know (learn) that He is good when life is not. There is great comfort in that truth. “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (Psalm 46:10-11).
Your fellow sojourner,
Mary
Monday, August 17, 2009
The Tithing Test
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows (Malachi 3:10).”
Reading this Scripture in Malachi it appears God is putting His character on trial for us to judge His faithfulness, or is He? When He speaks of blessings that will overflow in our lives as we tithe, does that mean our bank account will steadily increase in proportion to our giving? Or is the one whose faithfulness being tested ours? Could the blessings we receive be something other than monetary in nature? These are questions I invite you to explore with me as I share some thoughts the Father has placed on my heart.
In January, 2000 I began tithing for the first time. Each week I expected the floodgates of cash to overtake me. My giving was all about me wondering how God was going to reward my obedience. My test commenced as I watched my commission-based paycheck decrease steadily for six months while my co-workers prospered. The harder I worked at my job the further I fell behind financially. It was as embarrassing as it was frustrating, especially because I’d declared to the team I was tithing. While I believed in God, I was not born again. I was still trying to “earn” His favor. Tithing became one more way of seeking approval from the Lord. The challenge was to trust what He was doing, and to keep resentment at bay while continuing to tithe. The tide would turn in its proper season.
Things did improve financially for me. I was blessed with a new job. For the first time in my life the monies flowed in faster than I could spend them. Before long I was debt free; able to save and increase my giving. Now my test revolved around practicing fiscal self control. As a former shopaholic this wasn’t easy at first. Over time, saving began to excite me more than shopping sprees did. Although I did not realize it then, God was blessing me with this sudden influx of greenbacks because I would need it for a future surgery, and a long stint of unemployment. He was preparing me for a crisis, and sending a windfall to help weather the storm.
Soon after surrendering my life to Jesus bigger tests came. I wrote about them in my book My Heart’s Desire: A Journey Toward Finding Extravagant Love because they were a critical turning point in my life. That was the beginning of learning to trust God with the money I had, and for the money I needed. He completely changed my mindset around spending and tithing, and transformed me into a cheerful giver. Slowly the molding of my will to His began as I learned to view God’s “out pouring” through new spiritual eyes. Blessings were no longer seen as “cash only” rewards. There were other things to take into account.
If I expected to never suffer another financial setback because I was tithing, my disappointment would have been great. Had I believed giving always equates to raises at work, I could have become disillusioned. That is why I’m convinced God tests our hearts to see if we’ll place our faith in Him whether the number is rising or falling on our bank statement. How do we present our tithe to God? Is it with worship for all He’s provided or worry over what we need? Are there other ways apart from our paycheck to be blessed financially in these hard economic times? In my experience, there are many.
Would you be surprised to know that I make less than I did 10 years ago, five years ago; last year? It’s true! Looking at my situation on paper I’m going backwards. My husband hasn’t gained much ground either. Yet I smile each week as I write checks to our church and a variety of charities we support. We give more now than we ever have; I wish we could do more! I’m learning that as we invite Jesus into our financial decisions, the simplest of things become gifts from Him.
One of the ways He blesses me is in the store. Before I enter the store, I ask God to help me spend wisely and to give me favor. It works! I find great bargains and unexpected sales. When I ask Jesus to control my yearnings I don’t spend money on unnecessary items. It’s exciting to see our monthly budget for expenses decreasing. I’m not sad about tightening our belt. The less we spend on luxuries the more we can save for emergencies, and the more we can give. We have enough for our needs even if we don’t for our wants. God is protecting us. Fulfilling too many of our wants always gets us into trouble!
If you are struggling, ask the Lord to show you how to trust Him with your finances. There is so much peace in knowing nothing is too hard for Him! Let us pray we will all past our tests, and remember to take inventory of God’s bounty in our lives. Our richest treasures lie in the quality of our relationship with our Savior, and those we share our earthly lives with. “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows (Malachi 3:10).”
Your fellow sojourner,
Mary
Reading this Scripture in Malachi it appears God is putting His character on trial for us to judge His faithfulness, or is He? When He speaks of blessings that will overflow in our lives as we tithe, does that mean our bank account will steadily increase in proportion to our giving? Or is the one whose faithfulness being tested ours? Could the blessings we receive be something other than monetary in nature? These are questions I invite you to explore with me as I share some thoughts the Father has placed on my heart.
In January, 2000 I began tithing for the first time. Each week I expected the floodgates of cash to overtake me. My giving was all about me wondering how God was going to reward my obedience. My test commenced as I watched my commission-based paycheck decrease steadily for six months while my co-workers prospered. The harder I worked at my job the further I fell behind financially. It was as embarrassing as it was frustrating, especially because I’d declared to the team I was tithing. While I believed in God, I was not born again. I was still trying to “earn” His favor. Tithing became one more way of seeking approval from the Lord. The challenge was to trust what He was doing, and to keep resentment at bay while continuing to tithe. The tide would turn in its proper season.
Things did improve financially for me. I was blessed with a new job. For the first time in my life the monies flowed in faster than I could spend them. Before long I was debt free; able to save and increase my giving. Now my test revolved around practicing fiscal self control. As a former shopaholic this wasn’t easy at first. Over time, saving began to excite me more than shopping sprees did. Although I did not realize it then, God was blessing me with this sudden influx of greenbacks because I would need it for a future surgery, and a long stint of unemployment. He was preparing me for a crisis, and sending a windfall to help weather the storm.
Soon after surrendering my life to Jesus bigger tests came. I wrote about them in my book My Heart’s Desire: A Journey Toward Finding Extravagant Love because they were a critical turning point in my life. That was the beginning of learning to trust God with the money I had, and for the money I needed. He completely changed my mindset around spending and tithing, and transformed me into a cheerful giver. Slowly the molding of my will to His began as I learned to view God’s “out pouring” through new spiritual eyes. Blessings were no longer seen as “cash only” rewards. There were other things to take into account.
If I expected to never suffer another financial setback because I was tithing, my disappointment would have been great. Had I believed giving always equates to raises at work, I could have become disillusioned. That is why I’m convinced God tests our hearts to see if we’ll place our faith in Him whether the number is rising or falling on our bank statement. How do we present our tithe to God? Is it with worship for all He’s provided or worry over what we need? Are there other ways apart from our paycheck to be blessed financially in these hard economic times? In my experience, there are many.
Would you be surprised to know that I make less than I did 10 years ago, five years ago; last year? It’s true! Looking at my situation on paper I’m going backwards. My husband hasn’t gained much ground either. Yet I smile each week as I write checks to our church and a variety of charities we support. We give more now than we ever have; I wish we could do more! I’m learning that as we invite Jesus into our financial decisions, the simplest of things become gifts from Him.
One of the ways He blesses me is in the store. Before I enter the store, I ask God to help me spend wisely and to give me favor. It works! I find great bargains and unexpected sales. When I ask Jesus to control my yearnings I don’t spend money on unnecessary items. It’s exciting to see our monthly budget for expenses decreasing. I’m not sad about tightening our belt. The less we spend on luxuries the more we can save for emergencies, and the more we can give. We have enough for our needs even if we don’t for our wants. God is protecting us. Fulfilling too many of our wants always gets us into trouble!
If you are struggling, ask the Lord to show you how to trust Him with your finances. There is so much peace in knowing nothing is too hard for Him! Let us pray we will all past our tests, and remember to take inventory of God’s bounty in our lives. Our richest treasures lie in the quality of our relationship with our Savior, and those we share our earthly lives with. “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows (Malachi 3:10).”
Your fellow sojourner,
Mary
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