Is God On Your Side?

She had lost everything, again, and there didn’t seem to be any way out of this mess. She was distraught and angry. My heart ached for her; I wanted to fix it for her, hold her, make it all better. Instead, I listened and prayed. Oh how I prayed! I lifted her once again to the only One who can bring beauty from these ashes. She railed at Him spewing out words that made me cringe. “I don’t think God’s on my side,” she said.

I’ve felt like that, haven’t you? When it seems like all the world, and God himself, is against you, trying to squeeze the life out of you and bring you down. Maybe you’re there now.

If you are and you too are wondering if God is on your side, let me ask you a question: are you on God’s side?

Here’s a true story from the Bible that puts it in perspective: When Joshua was getting ready to go to battle against the city of Jericho, a man showed up with a sword in his hand. Not recognizing him Joshua asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”

 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”

The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so” (Joshua 5:13-15, NIV, emphasis mine).

The message is clear – God does not come to do our bidding. We are here to do His.

In another scene, just after sin entered the world in the Garden of Eden, God comes to walk with man in the cool of the day. But Adam and Eve feel guilty and ashamed for eating the fruit God so clearly forbid, and they hide from Him. God knows what they’ve done and where they’re hiding, yet He calls to them, “Where are you?” (Gen. 3:9, NIV). God does not come to walk with us in whatever path we choose; He calls us to walk with Him, His way.

Is God for you? Most assuredly! Does He care about the pain you’re experiencing? Absolutely! Does He have the power to fix your broken life and make all things new? You bet!

Romans 8 makes it pretty plain: ^“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose…What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:28, 31-32, 37-39, NIV).

The question then is not whether God is on your side, but are you on His? How can you tell?

·         Do you want what He wants, or what you want?

·         Are you willing to do things His way even if it’s hard, even if it takes longer, even if He doesn’t always say yes?

·          Do you want a relationship with Him, or do you use Him like a dispensing machine?

The Creator does not come to follow the created, but He invites us to follow Him. He has already sacrificed everything to show us how much He loves us. Jesus came to tell us who God is and what He expects of us. He died an excruciating death on the cross to show us how much He is “for” us. Then He rose from the dead to proving His power over death and sin and hell. Now, He sits at the right hand of the throne of God talking to the Father about our concerns. When Jesus returned to heaven He sent the Holy Spirit to give us what we need for every situation. When the time is right, Jesus will come and gather everyone living and dead who has asked for His forgiveness and walked His way.

Are you ready to go with Him?

One final word from the hard-hitting book of James: “Don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God…’God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you…Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James 4:4, 6-7, 10, NIV).

The Anticipation of Waiting

An old ketchup commercial used to depict people happily holding their ketchup bottle aloft as they watched it slowly (ever so slowly) make its way down the neck of the bottle. Eventually it would smoothe its way out the end to dollop onto their food with sweet tomatoey goodness. As we watched the ketchup’s slow progress a singer in the background crooned: “Anticipation, anticipation is making me wait. It’s keepin me way, ay, ay, ay, ay-atin.”

No one in these commercials was digging the ketchup out with their knife or holding the bottle at various angles to start the flow. They just waited. Have you noticed they don’t show that commercial anymore? Instead, they’ve changed to plastic squeeze bottles so we don’t have to wait for the ketchup to come out in its own time. Now we can make it come out when we want it.

Waiting for baby brother

I’ve been waiting this week for the birth of our fourth grandchild.  One week ago my daughter went into labor and I drove from Tillamook in a flurry of excitement. I wanted to get to Salem in time to greet baby Brooks and take care of 18 month old Kai while mom and dad stayed in the hospital. But after hours of labor, everything stopped. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday passed without incident. His due date Saturday came and went. It’s Tuesday night and still no baby.

My daughter is not blissfully singing the “anticipation” song; she wants her slender body back and a baby in her arms instead of the shadowboxing and yoga moves he’s performing in the confines of her womb. But he refuses to be rushed.

How many other waiting times have you experienced in life: waiting to get your braces off, to graduate, for that special person to call, to hear back after a job interview. We wait for test results, planes to land, letters in the mail, for someone to notice us. It’s a part of life we all struggle with and God understands this. Yet, instead of performing a cosmic squeeze to speed things up, the Spirit of God helps us learn to wait - to build character, increase our trust in Him, and better appreciate the arrival of our desire.

Night watchmen have to stay up all night, ready to protect those under their care. Even when they’re tired and can barely keep their eyes open, they stay at their post until morning. This is the anticipation of waiting:

“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.
I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning,

more than watchmen wait for the morning.”

Psalm 130:5-6

God’s timing is worth the wait; He is never late. Only God knows when all the players are ready to participate, when circumstances are perfect, when the weather or the season or the day is ready to give birth to whoever or whatever we so eagerly anticipate. I don’t understand all this, but I trust the Lord to get it right. So I ask again for patience to resist trying to squeeze things out before it’s time. And to appreciate the waiting.

For all of you who are waiting, here are a few verses that have helped me as I wait for:

Better days: “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psa. 27:13-14

Rescue: “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.” Psa. 40:1-3

Compassion, Justice: “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” Isa. 30:18

Heaven: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” Rom. 8:18-25

Jesus’ Return: “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” Heb. 9:27-28

We hope in God alone and wait for dawn, like watchmen wait for morning.

Moms Are Worthy of Praise (Mother's Day)

Many of you are thinking of your mom today. If she’s still living and close enough to visit, you’re probably planning to get together to celebrate her day and make her feel special tomorrow. My mind is swirling with childhood memories, my current relationship with my mom, my years as a mom, and watching my daughter and stepdaughter becoming mothers. It’s a grand and noble calling, but not always easy or appreciated.

Here’s a few, but certainly not a comprehensive list of things I love about my mom:

• She made the Bible come alive to me through her knowledge and love of the Word. Nobody can tell the story of Ruth or Esther (with all the voices) like my mom.
• She has always shown an interest in each person in the family (even as it grows to grandchildren and great- grandchildren). She prays, learns about, buys gifts, and sends cards that are encouraging and appropriate for each one.
• Her love, compassion, and giving have reached beyond our immediate family to include co-workers, neighbors, friends, missionaries and people around the world.
•  I love her laugh, her sense of humor, and the impish smile twinkle in her blue eyes that reveal she is up to mischief.
•  My mom has an insatiable desire to learn and is always sharing articles, websites, blogs, and books that others might enjoy.
•  She takes care of herself and always looks stylish.
•  She is inviting. I love to hug my mom and breathe in her perfume and warm, clean scent.
• She encourages us all – Dad, my sisters, me, and her granddaughters – to pursue God-given dreams, work, and ministry. She always believes in us.
• I love the easy way she talks about the Lord and how He is teaching, maturing, and comforting her. She knows Him personally.
•  I cherish my mother’s prayers. There is such comfort knowing she is praying over the things I’ve shared with her; she’s got me covered.

I could go on and on, but it’s time for you to think of your own list. Even if you’re estranged from your mom, or your relationship with her has not been the best, she’s fills a unique role in your life like no other.

God formed you in her womb and gave you life. I hope you will focus on her gifts, her qualities, her sacrifices, her successes, the way she’s kept on going even through tragedy or heartache. Let her know in some way this weekend that you value her, and if she is gone, treasure her in memory. We all hunger for that – even, and perhaps especially, when we haven’t been perfect.

Don’t forget all those wonderful women who have mothered and mentored and loved you through the years. They didn’t have to, but chose to give their time and resources to help you become the person that you are. Pass it on, enveloping children of all ages who need an extra mom.

Praise God for all tender, funny, adventurous, selfless, encouraging teachers and caregivers. Our first source of nourishment and comfort in stormy times, and later a friend and confidante. These moms are worthy of praise. Happy Mother’s Day to you all!

Why God Calls the Inadequate

Has God called you to a ministry that’s completely out of your comfort zone? Welcome to our world. At first the idea gave us a good laugh, then became the subject of fervent prayer, and finally tentative action. God made it clear to Kelly and I over a period of months, that He was calling us to purchase and remodel a house in Tillamook to become a men’s halfway house.

Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine doing such a thing, nor did we have the desire. We’re not experienced or knowledgeable in this area. Yet God chose us to pursue a venture that will only succeed if He is in charge of making it happen. It’s forcing us out on a limb, without a paddle, between a rock and a hard place, in over our heads, if you know what I mean.

We identify so strongly with Moses and Gideon’s stories that we might even change our names to Moseon and Gideous. When God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt he laughed too. This former prince of Egypt turned shepherd, was insecure about his qualifications. He tried arguing with God. You can see how well that went by reading Exodus chapters three and four.

In a similar scenario, God called Gideon to lead an Israelite army against the Midianites. He was threshing his wheat in a wine press at the time, hiding from that very same enemy. He was a scared runt, from a no-account family, who needed God’s reassurance every step of the way. Ever been there? I find myself in his story in Judges chapters six and seven.  

So why does God call people who aren’t interested, prepared, or qualified, who try to argue their way out of doing big things for the kingdom of God? Wouldn’t it be better if He chose spiritual super-heroes to do His work? I found the answer in Judges 7:2. Gideon had an army of 32,000, but God told him to send home anyone who was scared. Then God weeded out 9,700 more until there were only 300 fighting men left. And He sent them into battle against an enormous army of trained Midianite soldiers with trumpets, jars, and torches! Why? So they couldn’t boast they had conquered the enemy through their own strength.

When I start to worry about our lack of knowledge, finances, experience, and more, I’m reminded the success of Redemption House is completely up to God.  He brought together a board of Spirit filled men whose experience, knowledge, and passion for this work keep us going. He has connected us with other ministries to learn from and model after. Volunteers are springing up to teach, befriend, and give to the men who come to Redemption House.  

  We are gaining confidence, “Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.  He has made us competent as ministers…” (2 Cor. 3:5-6, NIV).

Today, if God is calling you to an impossible task and you find yourself arguing in a Moseon-Gideous sort of way, I want to encourage you to say yes. It will be scary and challenging and uncomfortable…and the most exciting ride of your life. It will force you to trust God for every decision and move you make. Then, when we see hearts changing and lives being transformed, we will know who deserves all the praise.

40 Days of Lint: Day Forty, The Lamb

Today is our last day of the 40 Days of Lint series. I hope you are ready to celebrate His resurrection tomorrow with a clean heart, full of gratitude for all Jesus did for us. He is risen! Halleluia! 

Several years ago, I wanted to decorate our house for Easter with a more grown-up look. My girls were both in high school and past the age of window stick-ons and cutesy stuffed animals. I chose lambs as my theme and went to store after store looking for the Lamb of Easter, to no avail. Not even the Christian bookstore had pictures or figurines of lambs to symbolize the One who gave His life for us. I found bunnies, chicks, and candy everywhere, but the Lamb of God was nowhere in sight.

http://bethvice.blogspot.com/2011/04/40-days-of-lint-forty-in-search-of-lamb.html

40 Days of Lint, Day Thirty-Nine: Lust Bunnies

Our church is sponsoring a "Porn Weekend" April 27-29. Not promoting it, but informing, sharing, and equipping to fight against this seductive force so prevalent in our society. 50% of men and 30% of women today are lured into this destructive activity (and that includes church goers). 

Sunday morning, Tal Prince will be speaking about his own struggles with pornography. Sunday night there's a dinner and educational event called "Porn and Parents" to equip parents with ideas on how to talk about this with their children and guard against the effects of Pornography in their home. The average age a child first views porn is before they even hit their teen years! 

Monday night, Teresa Prince is going to speak to women about the effects of a husband involved in porn. There will be an open forum and small group time for women to share their own struggles with lust as well. And Tuesday night they will both be sharing at Celebrate Recovery at the Tillamook Nazarene Church.

I'm so excited that the Church as a whole is finally beginning to address these real life struggles we deal with as human beings in a fallen world. We cannot pretend we in the church are without sin; we all desperately need a Savior and He is the answer to our every need, our every temptation. I'm so proud of the those who have struggled and overcome these addictions and are willing to share their stories to give hope to others. We are broken, but we serve a God who specializes in fixing broken things.

Here's an excerpt from today's post in the 40 Days of Lint.

Playboy bunnies aren't just in magazines anymore. They're everywhere we look. Even when we don't want to see them they pop up on our computer screens, in television ads, and on storefronts. Unrealistic images in all forms of pornography cause dissatisfaction in intimate relationships and destroy our understanding of what is meant to be pure and holy. And lust affects us all.

Follow this link for the full post:
http://bethvice.blogspot.com/2011/04/40-daysof-lint-day-thirty-ninelust.html 

40 Days of Lint, Day Thirty-Eight: Grumble Bunnies

Really, Lord? Do everything without grumbling? Everything? Even the menial, repetitious, everyday stuff? Even when I’m running late and get stuck in traffic? Even when there’s potholes everywhere and it’s pouring down rain...still? Even when an evil virus shuts down my computer and I lose important files? Even when other people are rude to me? And His answer is, “Yep.”

Link to today's 40 Days of Lint post:
http://bethvice.blogspot.com/2011/04/40-daysof-lint-day-thirty-eight-grumble.html

40 Days of Lint, Day Thirty-Seven: Mean Bunnies

Excerpt from today's post:

How much of what we call humor is actually putting down  another individual or group? We laugh at biting comments in the guise of entertainment or good natured joking. Then we're surprised when our relationships suffer. Even if people don’t admit to it, personal jabs hurt.

http://bethvice.blogspot.com/2011/04/40-days-of-lint-day-thirty-seven-mean.html

40 Days of Lint, Day Thirty-Six: Multiplying Like Rabbits

We're down to the last five days in the 40 Days of Lint series.

Just like yeast can grow and affect the entire batch, lint bunnies will multiply if we don’t clear them out regularly. Today, Jesus wants to take us on a hunt through our spiritual house, to see if any bunnies need to be cleaned up. These not-so-cute bunnies include false beliefs, wrong teaching, boasting, arrogance, complaining, a critical attitude, and many others. If left unchecked, they can take over our homes and churches and spill over into the entire community. That's why it's a good idea to do regular search and destroy missions.

http://bethvice.blogspot.com/2011/04/40-days-of-lint-day-thirty-six-hunting.html 

40 Days of Lint, Day Thirty-Five: Fouling Up the Temple

The way we take care of our physical body reflects what’s going on in our heart. One of the few occasions Jesus acted in anger was when people misused His Father’s temple. In the outer court (the only place where Gentiles were allowed to worship) moneychangers were taking advantage of those who had come to offer sacrifices, and making a racket in a place intended for worship.

Here's the link to today's update post:

http://bethvice.blogspot.com/2011/04/40-days-of-lint-day-thirty-five-temple.html