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

Freedom Day

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand Firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened by the yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1).

As we celebrate Independence Day in America let us thank God for the true gift of freedom in a life dedicated to Christ. The moment we declare our dependence on our Savior we are freed from the bondage of Satan's grasp. That is truly our day of freedom and worthy of great celebration!

Your fellow herald for Christ,

 Mary

A Case of Mistaken Identity

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (I John 4:1).

It happened just this week. I was mistaken for someone I wasn’t. What turned out to be something of a compliment for me was utterly embarrassing for a rambunctious teenage boy. Imagine the scene if you will. The sun is setting after a warm summer day while our community pool is brimming with excitement. A large group of teenage boys and girls are playfully teasing each other as their chaperones watch from their lounge chairs. Doing my best to remain inconspicuous, I carefully dodge their flailing arms and make my way to the opposite end of the pool. One-by-one they begin their reluctant exit out of the water as the chaperones inform them it’s time to go home. Feeling safe I let my guard down; stretching my body out to swim my daily laps. That’s when it happened. My stroke was interrupted by a sudden splash and a tidal wave engulfed my head. “Where did that come from?” I wondered.

Rubbing the water from my eyes, I turned my head to find I was face-to-face with a boy of fifteen. Both of us stunned he broke the silence by saying, “I thought you were Carrie!” It was obvious he’d mistaken me for one of the girls in the group; someone he was trying to flirt with. Fumbling over his words of apology, he was immediately summoned out of the pool. His chaperone could not say “I’m sorry” enough. Once I got over the initial shock I laughed in reply, “Well, I guess it’s nice to be mistaken for a teenager every now and then.” I didn’t have the nerve to reveal my true age, but it didn’t need to be said. While my hair and figure might have allowed me to pass for one of those fifteen-year-old girls, my face wouldn’t. That young man made a hasty decision to jump into the water based on an illusion. He didn’t take time to study all the facts, and now regretted his actions.

This innocent case of mistaken identity got me to thinking, “How many times do we all jump into something based on misinformation?” We become involved in relationships, activities, even churches based on feelings or appearances. Our rationale is to tell ourselves that this thing must be right for us because it looks and feels good. While this makes for some uncomfortable or miserable everyday life experiences, it can have deadly consequences when it applies to our spiritual lives. We can mistake the lie of a message laced with humanism for the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. After all, deceptive messages are clothed in spiritual garb, and are very tempting to our sinful nature.

For most people it’s much easier to listen to preaching about the love and blessings of God, than the wrath and separation from Him our sin has caused. We often seek a relationship with God for what He can give us (in the form of material gifts or answered prayers), instead of acknowledging our need for forgiveness and salvation. Many are following the wrong voice—one that tells them there is no hell, and therefore no need for repentance. We are all assumed to be children of God by the nature of our physical births, and sin is not viewed as an offense to our Creator.

If that were true, then why did Jesus have to die? If sin is not offensive to the Father, then why did it only take the sin of Adam and Eve to condemn the whole human race? Make no mistake, sin deeply offends God. God is not present where sin abounds, He can’t be. His holiness will not share the throne where sin reigns. This is why Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden, and the Lord’s presence. When Jesus hung on the cross with all the sins that every person had ever committed, and would ever commit, the Father turned away from Jesus. A beautiful holy God cannot reside in the ugly presence of sin.

This is good news! Because my sin was washed from the Father’s memory by the Son’s blood, I am now mistaken for Jesus. Sometimes it’s hard to take that all in while I’m still struggling with my old sin nature, but praise God He does not give up on me! Like all believers I can rest assured that one day I will join Him in heaven, and be holy as He is holy. Until that day, won’t you join me in heeding the words of Almighty God? Do not be so quick to jump into the pool of deception following what appears to be your Savior. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a discerning heart and mind, so you may obey the true Shepherd’s voice. “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (I John 4:1).
Your fellow sojourner,

Mary