December 29

“Jesus said that a man who takes the words of God and builds them into his life is like a wise man who builds his house on a rock.....There are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity.  Maturity comes only through hard work and obedience to what God says.  The next time you hear Jesus speaking, begin immediately to firmly build His truth into your life, so that no storm can unsettle you.”  H. Blackaby, Experiencing God Day-by-Day, 12/16

My parents weren’t available to me when I was a child because they were so caught up in their own problems.  I felt as though I raised myself.  Consequently, when the storms came into my life I discovered my house was built on sand and not rock.  It’s only been since I began reading my Bible and listening to others preach on the scriptures that I’ve begun to laboriously build my house on the Rock--Jesus Christ.  As my foundation He is providing me the stability that I never had as a child.  He also teaches me things I need to know and holds my hand while I’m learning them.  Wisdom can only come from actually living what we’ve learned because until you experience it you really don’t know if you’ve learned it or not.  It’s in either living out the truth or learning from the mistakes that we gain the wisdom that enables us to weather the most fiercest of storms.

“I love thee, O LORD, my strength.  The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.”  Psalm 18:1-3

November 8

“In the Gospel of John, Christ takes the name ‘I Am’ as His very own.  This unfinished name of God seems to me like a blank check signed by a rich friend, given to us to be filled in with whatever amount we may desire.  Every attribute of God, every revelation of His character, every proof of His undying love, every declaration of His watchful care, every assertion of His purposes of tender mercy, every manifestation of His loving kindness--all are the filling in of this unfinished ‘I Am'.”  Hannah Whitall Smith, God is Enough, 10/17

I think I’d have a hard time accepting a blank check from a friend.  I’d worry I was spending more than they’d intended.  I’d feel much better if they’d fill in the amount.  But I’d probably still feel uncomfortable accepting such a gift unless I felt I could repay them in some way for their generosity.  Is this why we treat God the same way?  Is it so ingrained in us to work for what we get that we feel we need to reciprocate?  When it comes to friends, this is not a bad thing.  No one likes to be taken for granted. But if I take a closer look at what Hannah has said I see that the “things” God wants to give us are not gifts like a friend would give.  God is offering Himself to us.  He is love.  When we accept God’s blank check of Himself we are accepting Love into our lives.  His Love is meant to set us free which in turn allows us to become all that He made us to be.  Being made in His image we are being set free to become all that we already are.  This is the blank check that Hannah speaks of--the continual, never-ending help to become.

“But to all who received him (Christ), who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God;” John 1:12 

October 10

“A ‘not I’ religion....denies self not in the sense of making self miserable but in the sense of utterly refusing to recognize its claims, enthroning the Christ-life in its stead always and everywhere.”  Hannah Whitall Smith, God is Enough, 9/26

Too many people think God is out to spoil all their fun and make life a drudgery.  I’m sure they get this impression from watching Christians.  I’m sure my own children got this impression from watching me.  It wasn’t that I ever acted as though following Christ was a burden, but because I am a Christian they automatically judged my behavior based on that fact.  What they saw was a very serious, anxious person.  I was not someone who could easily quit her work to play.  I was even angry at times because of my frustration with their lack of obedience.  It would have been better, I think, if they didn’t know I was a Christian because I’m sure they thought being a Christian meant all the things they saw in me--all negative.  Because I’ve “grown up” quite a bit since they were little, I’ve made it my mission to correct their impressions.  I try to talk about those days, apologizing and explaining.   I’m hoping they will understand my humanness and how spiritual growth is so necessary.  We can’t just “get saved” one day and be done with it.  We must go on in our walk with God, being open to His work in us, bringing us to maturity in Him.  I’m using my past life as an example--yes--but as an example of how not to be. 

“But if when you do right and suffer for it you take it patiently, you have God’s approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”  1 Peter 2:20b, 21

October 5

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)....It is to be by his working in us, and not by our working in ourselves, that this purpose of God in our creation is to be accomplished; and if it should look to some of us as though we are too far removed from the image of Christ for such a transformation to be possible, we must remember that our Maker is not done with us yet.”  Hannah Whitall Smith, Daily Secrets, 9/21

At the Baby Shower for my second child I received a little plaque with these words printed on it: “Be patient with me, God isn’t done with me yet”.  At first I thought it referred to the baby that was growing inside me, but then I began to worry that my friend meant it for me.  I should have felt relief that my friend seemed to be saying she recognized she needed to be patient with me, but instead I felt mortified that she might think I wasn’t already perfect!  That was how caught up I was in perfectionism.  I was so driven to be perfect that even my thoughts had to be perfect!  Of course, this was all ego driven.  I can see that now.  That is why it disturbs me when I see someone trying to be perfect.  I know the inner turmoil they are experiencing.  I also know now it’s in experiencing freedom from Self, day-by-day, that I am being conformed to His image.  Those of us who strive to be perfect have the cart before the horse!

“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren.”  Romans 8:29

September 24

“The Lord never promised that I should feel He accepted the sacrifice; He only told me to make it.  So I know He will receive it, and has received it.  Even if He leaves me without any evidence of acceptance for years or always, I will not withdraw my sacrifice from the altar; nor will I doubt that He accepts it.”  Hannah Whitall Smith, God is Enough, 9/15

Hannah wrote this in her diary in 1859.  She concluded, “If it be more for His glory that I should always live a life of simple faith, He will give me strength to do it, and I will trust Him.”  It would be another 26 years before her enduring book, “The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life,” would be published.  It was probably because she had lived in simple faith for those 26 years that she was able to write such a powerful book.  God had used her faith to grow her up into a maturity that few Christians attain.  In the process she was richly rewarded--not by having her book published, but by experiencing the fullness of Christ within.  The peace that she had during the hardships that were to come into her life far outweighed any fame she attained here on earth.  I need to remember this as I seek to publish my writings.  It is so easy to fall into the trap of wanting recognition for the gifts God has given us.  If I feel compelled to write, then I should write for God’s sake, not my own.  And if I do, He will grow me up into the example He desires me to be whether I’m ever published or not.  This should always be the fruit that we desire from our relationship with Christ because in that God will be glorified.

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.”  John 15:8

September 14

“No one knows how to help you in your times of failure as Jesus does!  He will not overlook your shortcoming or simply encourage you to do better the next time.  He will give you victory in the midst of your failure.”  H. Blackaby, Experiencing God Day-by-Day, 9/9

How many times do we run to our friends when we experience a failure looking to be comforted or encouraged?  Or the times we talk about our failures to others so that we can feel vindicated when they overlook it as though it never happened?  Neither of these do anything to turn our failures into something useful.  It merely allows us to feel sorry for ourselves or shift the blame.  Someone has said that we should see our failures as stepping-stones.  I like this imagery, but we can get lost even on that path if the stones do not lead us to God.  We must think of failures as opportunities to learn more about ourselves, but more importantly, to learn more about our God.  It is in our failures that God’s power and strength can come forth and when it does we are guaranteed victory.  Blackaby concludes his devotional with these encouraging words:  “If you have recently experienced failure, you may be on the brink of receiving a profound revelation from God!”  This is why we can “count it all joy!” because if God never fails, how can we then be failures?

“It is the LORD who goes before you; he will be with you, he will not fail you or forsake you; do not fear or be dismayed.”  Deuteronomy 31:8

September 5

“God may leave an ‘enemy’ there for our growth and refinement for a while, but if we are depending solely upon His character and are resting in His intentions toward us, we can be certain that at the time He knows to be right, those same ‘everlasting arms’ will ‘. . . thrust out the enemy from before’ us.”  Eugenia Price, S.P.S., 9/3

I recently visited a church in another city and heard a sermon on the five wise and five foolish virgins.  The speaker used it to illustrate that not only was it important how we waited but who we waited for.  The virgins in the parable represented the church and the bridegroom is Christ.  Through it I realized that I often grow discouraged when I am made to wait for something I know to be good.  Instead, I must be careful to be prepared as the wise virgins were by having enough “oil” to last through the entire night.  Discouragement is a huge enemy in our lives.  If allowed a foothold, we forget whom we’re waiting for.  If we think we are waiting for a circumstance to change or an object to be acquired, we are wrong.  What we’re actually waiting for is a “who” and that “who” is God Himself to sit on the throne of our lives.  Being made to wait is necessary sometimes in order for us to get this straight.  I shared this with the woman who sat in front of me as she commented on the sermon and said she was in a waiting period in her life.  She agreed with my statement, adding that after all, everything that happens to us is meant to draw us closer to God.  It was a wonderful moment of sharing God’s truth with another believer. I know she was just as encouraged as I was.

“I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.” Ephesians 6:22

August 19

“When [God] calls, He supplies the means to answer His call.  If we are looking too intently at our work for Him, we can easily miss His Presence beside us.  And this brings great suffering.”  Eugenia Price, S.P.S., 8/19

I experienced this suffering while taking care of my mother.  I’d felt called to bring her into my home even though she required constant care by me.  I knew that God would be with me.  But after several months I began to experience the suffering that Eugenia refers to when I found that I couldn’t help my mother accept her illness.  Everything I did for her had no positive result.  She was still unhappy and suffering physically in addition to her mental suffering.  I felt overwhelmed and a failure.  It was only a few weeks before she died that I was able to hand it all over to the Lord and experience peace not only about my part in helping my mother but in accepting her impending death.  It’s been eight years since that experience, and even though I still find myself judging success by the outcome, I’m in a better position to be honest before God and allow His Hand upon my shoulder to direct me in the way in which He desires me to go; and that way is one of relationship.  This is the process that He desires from me--to leave the outcome to Him while I look only to having a real and intimate relationship with Him moment by moment.

“Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”  James 1:2-4

August 10

“We need not trouble ourselves about our fruit-bearing....we can no more have real spiritual life within us without bearing fruit than the oak tree can have life without bearing acorns.”  Hannah Whitall Smith, God is Enough, 8/10

The other part of this law is that the tree must receive what it needs in order to produce its fruit.  If it doesn’t have the nutrients and water, the sun and a season of rest, it will not bear fruit.  Then there’s disease and storms that affect its growth.  The tree is totally dependent on “mother nature”.  Man may intervene from time to time and rescue the tree from its poor conditions, supplying it with fertilizer and water, pruning it’s branches, and spraying for disease.  This is a good picture of our relationship with God.  We are totally dependent on His care in order that we may bear the fruit He has deemed.  He has given us all that we need and continues to nurture us, but earthly cares may come.  If we are dependent on God He can then provide someone to come along side us and give the help we need in time of crisis.  He will use people to nurture us, which will help us set fruit.  Ultimately, everything is in God’s Hands.  If we would realize this we would not waste energy and sometimes even make ourselves sick by trying to “hang” fruit on our trees.  The only true fruit is that which is the result of God’s work in our lives.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields it fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.  In all that he does, he prospers.”  Psalm 1:1-3

August 9

“If love sees those it loves going wrong, it must, because of this very love, do what it can to save them; and the love that fails to do this is only selfishness.”  Hannah Whitall Smith, Daily Secrets, 8/9

Hannah is explaining why “bad” things happen to Christians.  God will allow difficult situations in our life if that is what it takes for us to come to only trusting in Him instead of the things of the world.  This is something any parent should be able to understand.  I know.  The times I’ve given in to my children when I know I should have made them accountable have been the times that I wanted their approval.  What I taught them was how to manipulate me.  I fool myself by making excuses for their behavior, but I know that it’s really a selfish motive on my part when I do that.  I may even want them to appear innocent so that I will look good.  Thankfully, God is not this way.  He does hold us accountable and eventually some of us will mature because of it and then be able to treat others the way He treats us.  Everything we do for others will be motivated by a pure love--a love that comes directly from God--the kind of love that changes people.

“But when we are judged by the Lord, we are chastened so that we may not be condemned along with the world.”  1 Corinthians 11:32

August 8

“The only road to Christlikeness is to behold not our own hatefulness, but his goodness and beauty....Beholding self, we are more and more changed into the image of self.”  Hannah Whitall Smith, Daily Secrets, 8/8

When I was a child I found myself easily imitating others.  I was shy and spent a great deal of time studying others in order to figure out what they would or would not like about me so that I could present that and therefore be liked.  In the process I usually picked up their mannerisms.  As I got older I found that I no longer picked up people’s mannerism, but I did continue to study people for the purpose of pleasing them so that they’d like me.  I’ve since realized that this was not what God wants from me and am constantly battling the temptation to do it.  But I’ve not stopped to think that I also needed to be wary of looking at Self because of this need to please.  If I’m constantly looking at myself like I do other people, it would be quite natural to mimic my Self and it’s old nature without even realizing that was what I was doing.  “The fruit God desires is character” is another of Hannah’s writings. Character is built. It is not acquired in one event.  Looking at Self and all it’s flaws vs. looking at Christ and all His goodness should leave no one guessing which is better.  It’s obvious that those around us can influence us, including our old nature, so we must be careful to look only to Christ.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."  Hebrews 12:1, 2

August 5

“To forget the things that are behind is an essential part of pressing forward toward the prize of our high calling [Philippians 3:13-14]; and I am convinced this prize can never be reached unless we will consent to this forgetting.”  Hannah Whitall Smith, Daily Secrets, 8/5

For a person who tends to remember everything anyone has ever done to her this would be a radical accomplishment!  I not only remember other’s misdeeds, I remember my own--only I call them mistakes when they pertain to me!  But Hannah’s words have touched me and I can see where I must consent to forgetting the things of the past.  I may have forgiven them at some point, but if I continue to remember them it will continually cause me to hesitate before I risk loving that person fully.  I will always be on guard with them.  It would make “sense” to do so, but then God’s kind of love doesn’t make sense does it.  He loved us so much that He sent His only Son to die for us while we were yet sinners while we were yet not even aware of our need for a Savior.  He was rejected by His own people to the point of being despised and treated cruelly.  No one would have blamed Him if He’d just waved His hand and wiped everybody out!  But He didn’t.  The key to allowing this kind of love to flow through us is for us to get out of the way, and the only way we can do this is to consent to forget the things that are behind.

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  1 Philippians 3:14

August 2

“Every plant has its own laws of life and can only flourish in certain localities and under certain soil and climate conditions.  On a higher plane this is equally true of the spiritual life.  Outward localities and climate make no difference here, although Christians often think they do.  We find ourselves in uncongenial surroundings and are tempted to think our spiritual life cannot flourish in such an environment.”  Hannah Whitall Smith, God is Enough, 8/2

Boy, is she right!  Some of my “uncongenial surroundings” have been cantankerous individuals, uncooperative groups, and high humidity!  Even a “bad hair day” can upset my peace.  I can find excuses far too easily for why my behavior isn’t very Christ-like.  It’s becoming clear to me that I need to see my spiritual life as being above the physical plane.  It is not dependent on earthly things and should not be subjected to physical laws.  If it’s hot and humid, my body will perspire and feel uncomfortable, but that does not mean my spiritual self has to suffer along with my body.  My spiritual self is dependent on a different set of laws.  It can rise above the discomfort and experience the joy it was meant to experience in all circumstances.  In fact, down through the ages the Church has grown deeper in the Lord in times of persecution than in times of freedom.  All too often we equate freedom to tell others about Christ with growth of the Church. It may grow in numbers, but a large number are weeds.

“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.”  Matthew 13:24, 25 

Michael Card - "Joy In The Journey"

August 1

“Sanctification is not a state so much as a walk, and every moment of that walk we need the Spirit’s power and the Spirit’s presence as much as we did at first.  Not even after living in the land of promise for many years, are we strong enough to do without His indwelling.”  Hannah Whitall Smith, God is Enough, 8/1

I don’t think I’ve fully understood this.  Somewhere in the back of my mind has lain the belief that I would “arrive” one day at my destination of “resting in God” as though the journey itself was of little consequence.  How I got there wasn’t as important as the fact that I had arrived.  But that’s not the case I now see.  My arrival is guaranteed by Christ.  Instead, the emphasis now is on the journey itself.  Am I trusting Christ for everything?  Am I  grateful for every thing--great and small--that He provides?  Am I sharing His resources?  Am I cheerful despite any hardships?  All these things become my sanctification.  It is good that Hannah has reminded me that I will never outgrow my need for God.  This is what keeps me humble.

“I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”  2 Corinthians 12:9b

July 31

“The same God who gave them victory over seemingly invincible enemies, who provided for them when their own resources were insufficient, and who guided them in their decisions, is prepared to work as powerfully in your life today.”  H. Blackaby, Experiencing God Day-by-Day, 7/31

Blackaby is speaking of the men and women of faith in the Bible.  I think because we read their stories over and over we forget they were real people.  Just because they lived at a different time doesn’t make them fictional.  I’ve been working on my family history for several years now.  I’ve taken my grandfather’s diaries from 1905 to 1916 and made an outline of his disjointed entries.  What has resulted is a picture of a young man that I never knew.  I only have memories of my grandfather’s last six years of life when he was in his 70’s and that was from a child’s perspective.  He was made “more real” to me as I plotted out the events of his life in relation to one another and within the time period and setting.  Because he was my ancestor--the father of my own father--his life was connected to mine.  I got a better understanding of why my father may have been the way he was and therefore the effect it had on my life.  I think we must do this with the “characters” in the Bible.  They were real people who laid the groundwork for our own faith.  They are our spiritual ancestors who can help shape our lives by their example.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’”  2 Corinthians 12:9a

July 22

“Few people realize the effect of thought upon the condition of the soul, that it is in fact its food, the substance from which it evolves its strength, health, and beauty, or upon which it may become weak, unhealthy, and deformed.  The things we think about are the things we feed upon.”  Hannah Whitall Smith, Daily Secrets, 7/22

This is a good way to look at thoughts--as food.  Behind every action that is not involuntary is a thought, but we often are not even aware of this.  We claim ignorance to why we do some of the things we do.  But how can this be?  Only breathing and other bodily functions can take place without thinking.  Everything else is something we decide to do whether or not we’re conscious of it or not.  This is why I was very careful about what my children saw when they were young.  But it never occurred to me to be concerned about what they saw “second hand”.  Just the TV news was enough to traumatize them without my realizing it.  Somewhere along the way one of my sons developed an intense fear of sharks, and we don’t even live near the ocean!  This is why the things we see and hear are important.  We must make a point to think on what is lovely and good, keeping our eyes upon the Lord, because He is the bread of life--not just for our salvation, but for our souls to feed upon and find nourishment in this life.

“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.’” John 6:35

July 10

“If those who profess to know and trust Him dread His will, we cannot wonder that the world looks on the will of God as something to be feared and resisted more than anything else, and we need not question why they are driven away from Him.”  Hannah Whitall Smith, God is Enough, 7/10

Our view of God is all-important.  If we see God as a tyrant we will resist Him.  So why don’t we view God as the benevolent God that He is?  I’m sure it’s because the spoiled child in each of us wants her or his own way.  We never really grow up it seems.  Outwardly, we’ve learned how to behave in our society so that we can get along for the most part.  We mind our manners so that we won’t be ostracized or in some way make things worse for ourselves.  This is something to keep in mind as we raise our children.  Are we teaching them how to fit into society, or are we helping them mature?  This is what God does for us.  He allows things into our lives that will help grow us up--to mature us.  To the extent that we cooperate will we be become who God created us to be. 

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”  Matthew 7:11

July 3

“[God] did not need, for His own understanding, to become man, but He needed to become man so that we could understand His heart.  He knew that we would know His heart, if He ‘got in this thing’ with us!” Eugenia Price, S.P.S., 7/3

The imagery I got as I read Eugenia’s words was of a heavily perfumed person walking through a room and leaving a scent.  Then anyone coming into the room would know that person had been there and have some “understanding” of that person.  In Jesus’ case, the fragrance that He leaves is so powerful that we can become completely enveloped in Him.  I like this imagery.  As I walk in Jesus’ path of love and forgiveness I gain an understanding of Him I could never have had from just reading about Him.  His coming to Earth as a man and living amongst us and showing those present what it was like to be Holy Spirit-filled gave the world a wonderful understanding of who God is.  And even more importantly as I absorb His fragrance from being in the “room” where He has walked I, too, will become a fragrance as sweet as Jesus.

“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.  For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.”  2 Corinthians 2:14-16

June 15

“Contrary to the often heard interpretation, by which followers of the “moonlight and roses” cults go about trying to declare that all things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report, Paul is being almost brutally realistic here.  Christianity deals entirely with reality.”  Eugenia Price, S.P.S., 6/15

Eugenia is referring to Philippians 4:8 in which Paul says “whatsoever things are....”  I was stunned to realize I was guilty of glossing over the “whatsoever” in this verse.  In fact, what stands out in my mind is that every time I’ve read that verse I’ve been peeved with having to reiterate that word with each attribute....whatsoever....are honest...whatsoever...are just.....I wanted to just list the items one after another.  No wonder Paul repeats the “whatsoever” every time.  He didn’t want us to miss his point!  Pain and suffering are a part of this world and we can’t make them go away by pretending they don’t exist or by medicating ourselves in some way so that we don’t feel the effects.  Instead we are to concentrate on “whatsoever” IS true, whatsoever IS honest, whatsoever IS just, whatsoever IS pure, whatsoever IS lovely, and whatsoever IS of good report.  By doing so we will be focusing on God who is all these things.  It is there we will be kept in perfect peace.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever is true, whatsoever is honorable, whatsoever is just, whatsoever is pure, whatsoever is lovely, whatsoever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  What you have learned and received and heard and see in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.”  Philippians 4:8, 9