Dress Yourself in Humility

April 29, 2015April 27, 2015 / Jodie / 1 Comment

1 Peter 5:5-11

5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for

“God opposes the proud  but gives grace to the humble.”[a]

6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers[b] all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 11 All power to him forever! Amen.

When Doug and I finally gave God all our worries and cares, the Holy Spirit began His work to restore, support and strengthen us individually- and together.

Believers, all over the world have, and will go through the same kind of suffering in their marriage that we did. As with most couples, our story involved two broken people who finally surrendered to the Father. But it didn’t happen simultaneously. Doug was the first to humble himself.

After years of trying to conquer sexual sin in his own strength, in 2001 my groom was faced with the prospect of loosing his wife, children and career. Everything that he held dear was being stripped away in the span of only a few hours. Fortunately, for him- and his family, he cried out to God for help….and in His kindness, God reminded him of his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus.

My surrender came several months later. Like a roaring lion, I was looking to devour my husband and make him pay for all the scars & pain he inflicted on me during our years together. I was angry, bitter, judgmental and completely blind to my own sexual sin- and stubborn pride. Until one day…while I was cursing my husband, the Holy Spirit interjected (literally in mid sentence): “I died for him too. He is forgiven. You must forgive.”

The restoring of our marriage began with both of us confessing and repenting to the Father. Had we stopped there, we would have stayed together with a firm foundation, but our relationship would not have been rebuilt the way God designed. In order to continue the construction process, Doug and I once again had to humble ourselves by confessing our sins to each other and repenting for the pain we inflicted in one another’s souls. We had to be willing to give and receive forgiveness. We also needed to allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate the deep, dark, hidden places in the basement of our past so that we could see where the enemy had stolen, killed and destroyed areas of our lives- and marriage. Once we knew the Truth, we were set free by confessing, repenting and forgiving.

As with any remodel, the project towards oneness has been long….and sometimes extremely hard. And it still isn’t finished! But I can tell you from experience: the blessings of obedience far outweigh the cost of humbling ourselves under the mighty power of God.

If you are in the midst of a marriage renovation, dress yourself in humility towards God and your spouse. The Lord promises that at just the right time He will lift you up in honor. So trust Him! Don’t rush the reno. A firm foundation and well built home takes time.

Psalm 37:7

7 Be still in the presence of the Lord,  and wait patiently for him to act.

Ask for help!

March 27, 2015 / Jodie / 1 Comment

Isaiah 30:18-21

18 So the Lord must wait for you to come to him  so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God.  Blessed are those who wait for his help.

19 O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem,  you will weep no more. He will be gracious if you ask for help.  He will surely respond to the sound of your cries.

20 Though the Lord gave you adversity for food  and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you.  You will see your teacher with your own eyes.

21 Your own ears will hear him.  Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,”  whether to the right or to the left.

I cannot count the times I’ve needed help from the Lord….and failed to ask Him.

Help with depression.

Help with anxiety.

Help with sickness.

Help with forgiveness.

Help with conflicts.

Help with fear.

Help with my marriage.

Help with communication.

Help with finances.

Help with sexual intimacy.

Help with our children.

Sure, there have been plenty of times that I’ve prayed, telling Him my wants and to bless me in whatever I decided to do. Much less frequently, however, have I put forth the effort to surrender my prideful will and humbly ask Him for help.

The truth is, the Lord is waiting for me EVERY day to come to Him about EVERY detail of my life, my marriage & my parenting. He wants to show me His love and compassion. And He wants to show me whether to go the right or the left. His faithfulness to this promise has been proven to me over and over and over again….yet, sometimes, I still forget to ask for help.

A few years ago, as I was struggling through a difficult season of life, my patience in waiting was beginning to wane. I was tempted to go my own way when God used my husband to speak wisdom to my soul, “Jodie…if God is silent, keep asking and waiting….He’s trying to teach you something.” How grateful I am that I submitted to His truth because in a short time I heard God’s voice, chose to obey and subsequently reaped a huge blessing.

If you’re facing adversity, ask God for help! Ask Him the difficult questions your soul yearns for answers to. Then wait until you hear Him before you go. As you wait, make sure your ears are functioning at optimum performance by asking the Holy Spirit if there is any sin you need to confess. Then humbly repent and continue asking and waiting. He will respond to your cries.

Proverbs 3:6

6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

Restored Marriage

February 2, 2015 / Jodie / Leave a comment

Hosea 6:1-7

“Come, let us return to the Lord.  He has torn us to pieces;  now he will heal us.  He has injured us;  now he will bandage our wounds.

2 In just a short time he will restore us,  so that we may live in his presence.

3 Oh, that we might know the Lord!  Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn  or the coming of rains in early spring.”

4“O Israel[a] and Judah,  what should I do with you?” asks the Lord. “For your love vanishes like the morning mist  and disappears like dew in the sunlight.

5 I sent my prophets to cut you to pieces—  to slaughter you with my words,  with judgments as inescapable as light.

6 I want you to show love,[b]  not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me[c]  more than I want burnt offerings.

7 But like Adam,[d] you broke my covenant  and betrayed my trust.

When we purchased our fixer upper colonial style house in 2006 we were excited to have a much larger eat in kitchen than our previous home. But, to be honest, we really, really, really didn’t like the country style cabinets, worn out appliances, broken countertop or faux stone vinyl flooring. However, due to a limited budget, we were only able to replace and update a few items on our “to do” list before we moved in. In the 8 years since, we completed several more cosmetic changes until we recently decided it was time to tear the room to pieces and remodel.

Last week we stripped the popcorn off the ceiling (NOT a fun job…I highly don’t recommend it!) and hired a contractor to rip out the cabinets, patch sheet rock and lay ceramic tile flooring. In a short time, cabinets and countertops will be installed, and the room will be restored. Not only will it be a functional working place to prepare meals, but a beautiful space to gather with family and friends around the table.

When our marriage hit its breaking point in 2001, Doug and I scrambled to make a few cosmetic changes to our relationship. But, it didn’t take long for us to discover that God, in His loving kindness, intended to cut our pride and disobedience to pieces. To be honest, we really, really, really didn’t like the entire process. Yet, Our Father, in His infinite wisdom, knew that in our hearts, we were merely offering sacrifices and burnt offerings… and not loving Him and knowing Him the way that He desires.

The restoration of our marriage seemed to take longer than “a short time,” but, when we look back over those years of being torn and injured, we realize in view of eternity, His promises came rather quickly. Not only has our relationship been restored, we function much better than we used to and our love for one another has become more beautiful than the day we said “I do.”

Broken marriages take time to be healed, but time alone heals nothing. Returning to the Lord in humility with a heart of repentance and allowing Him to bandage your wounds does. And once you have been restored to your first love, you can live in His presence and truly know Him. Only then will you be able to be restored to your second love…. and the two of you become one flesh.

Genesis 2:24

24 For this reason a man will leave his father and his mother, and will be joined to his wife. And they will become one flesh.

Everything that is Hidden

January 29, 2015 / Jodie / Leave a comment

Mark 4:21-25

21 Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine. 22 For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light. 23 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

24 Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given[a]—and you will receive even more. 25 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”

For the past few weeks our house has been a complete WRECK, and for some of those days, so have I!

Foundational repairs and a kitchen, half bath and laundry room remodel is enough to make anyone insane, but add extended work hours for my husband, rearranging half the house, home-school and extra-curricular activities to the mix, and well….you get the idea!

On the days I’ve felt peaceful amidst the chaos I’ve thanked the Lord for helping me through the destruction- I mean, construction. And on the days I’ve felt like my life and my house was literally falling apart, the Holy Spirit reminded me that He has something more to teach me.

When our contractor ripped the 30-year-old kitchen cabinets off the walls this week, we discovered a patch of ugly, flowery, 1980’s wallpaper that was hidden behind the microwave and range. This morning, after I told the Lord how frustrated I have been with my husband this week, I paid close attention to His response: my husband wasn’t to blame.

What the WHAT?!

It was a basket. A basket that had been blocking a portion of His light for 30 years! A basket that was hidden behind my pride.

Grateful for the ears to hear and the heart to understand, I thanked God for illuminating yet another area of my soul that was not yet submitted to Him.

Light.

Repentance.

Basket destroyed.

Oneness with my husband restored.

What’s hidden behind the cabinets in your marriage? Ask the Lord to shine His light into every secret place. Then, strip that hideous wallpaper down! I promise you, your spouse will appreciate the remodel.

Help Carry the Load

January 3, 2015 / Jodie / 1 Comment

Exodus 18:13-23

13 The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people’s disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till evening.

14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?”

15 Moses replied, “Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God. 16 When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God’s decrees and give them his instructions.”

17 “This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. 18 “You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. 19 Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing their disputes to him. 20 Teach them God’s decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives. 21 But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 22 They should always be available to solve the people’s common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. 23 If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.”

Having lived in two states and several different cities during my lifetime, I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of a myriad of local churches; some traditional, some contemporary. Despite all their theological differences and expressions of worship during their Sunday morning services, one aspect was always the same. The majority of the people took all their disputes to “Moses” (the preacher, senior pastor, reverend, etc.) Even though these men were extremely capable of dispensing advice and settling the cases between the quarreling parties they met with, Jethro’s warning eventually became a reality: “Moses” wore himself out physically, emotionally and spiritually….and the people became discouraged.

In order to avoid this catastrophe, there are two things the local church must be willing to enforce:

The “Moses” of the group must continue to teach God’s decrees to the people and show them how to conduct their lives. He also needs to select capable, honest men, and women who fear God, to lead others.

These leaders must always be available to serve others by giving of their time, talent and treasure to help them settle life’s common disputes. When they are faced with major disputes that they are not equipped to handle, they need to refer the people to “Moses.”

If this symbiotic relationship isn’t happening, the church will not effectively be able to “go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).” Fortunately, the solution to this dilemma is simple: repentance. If you’re a “Moses” who is acting as the head of the church, repent for your desire to be in control and surrender your will to the Father. If you’re a man, or woman who has been gifted by the Holy Spirit to help others, but choose instead to stand around watching others serve, repent for your selfishness and surrender your will to His.

Together, all of us MUST follow Jethro’s advice to help carry the load as we seek to “love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and love others, as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:37-38).”

November 5, 2014 / Jodie / 1 Comment

Genesis 37:3-4
3 Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe.[b] 4 But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him.

Joseph’s brothers hated him because their dad continually showed more love for their little brother- not them.

It happens all too frequently in family, between siblings, in marriage, among friends, and even in the church. We blame another person as a result of feeling rejected by the one we wanted to love us… more.

All of us are heart wired to be loved. God designed us that way. We come into this world screaming for attention from our father and mother. If our heart isn’t filled, we’ll throw a hissy fit, disobey, or do whatever it takes to be noticed. Add a sibling to the mix and the desire seems to increase- exponentially!

Left unsatisfied, our broken heart eventually falls prey to the tactics of the enemy. As a result, we unknowingly begin to form a hardened heart, which blames everyone around us, except for the person who didn’t love us….more.

If our wounded heart is left unattended for too long, we inevitably begin to hurt others, lie and cause overwhelming grief to the ones closest to us.

Genesis 37:23-35
23 So when Joseph arrived, his brothers ripped off the beautiful robe he was wearing. 24 Then they grabbed him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it. 25 Then, just as they were sitting down to eat, they looked up and saw a caravan of camels in the distance coming toward them. It was a group of Ishmaelite traders taking a load of gum, balm, and aromatic resin from Gilead down to Egypt.
26 Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain by killing our brother? We’d have to cover up the crime.[a] 27 Instead of hurting him, let’s sell him to those Ishmaelite traders. After all, he is our brother—our own flesh and blood!” And his brothers agreed. 28 So when the Ishmaelites, who were Midianite traders, came by, Joseph’s brothers pulled him out of the cistern and sold him to them for twenty pieces[b] of silver. And the traders took him to Egypt.
29 Some time later, Reuben returned to get Joseph out of the cistern. When he discovered that Joseph was missing, he tore his clothes in grief. 30 Then he went back to his brothers and lamented, “The boy is gone! What will I do now?”
31 Then the brothers killed a young goat and dipped Joseph’s robe in its blood. 32 They sent the beautiful robe to their father with this message: “Look at what we found. Doesn’t this robe belong to your son?”
33 Their father recognized it immediately. “Yes,” he said, “it is my son’s robe. A wild animal must have eaten him. Joseph has clearly been torn to pieces!” 34 Then Jacob tore his clothes and dressed himself in burlap. He mourned deeply for his son for a long time. 35 His family all tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “I will go to my grave mourning for my son,” he would say, and then he would weep.

The only cure to release the toxin of hatred that forms in our hearts is to throw ourselves down at the throne of Grace. When the King of Kings begins to perform healing heart surgery and shines His light through the damaged areas of our soul, we begin to see that those we were jealous of and spent a great deal of energy hating weren’t the ones who originally caused us pain. Occasionally, the Holy Spirit may even make a deep incision, revealing that we have blamed Our Creator. Whether we consciously think about it or not, in the recesses of our heart, sometimes we find it difficult to understand how a loving God would allow us to be hurt by those He placed in our lives to love and protect us. Blame God? No way. That’s just not right. God is perfect, sovereign, holy, righteous, blameless….
Yeah, He is. But that doesn’t mean that our imperfect hearts don’t wanna point the finger at the One in charge. We’re sinners, after all, who often lean toward the selfish and self-serving desires rather than the chosen, redeemed, restored heart of a saint. Yet, knowing this, God in his loving kindness still beckons us not to deny our feelings or hide our brokenness in an empty cistern. Instead, He calls us to pour out our complaints so that He can show us His perspective, His truth, His love.

Psalm 142:1-2
1 I cry out to the Lord;  I plead for the Lord’s mercy.
2 I pour out my complaints before him  and tell him all my troubles.

And miraculously, once we confess, repent and forgive, we are able to receive more unfailing love from Our Father than all the grain in Pharaoh’s storehouses.

Ephesians 3:18
18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

Way of Escape

September 4, 2014October 21, 2014 / Jodie / Leave a comment

1 Corinthians 10:12-13

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

During a recent flight into Charlotte Douglas International Airport, I peered out the window as our Airbus A 320 was hovering over the tarmac, preparing to land. Moments later, however, my husband and I, along with the one hundred and forty eight other passengers were thrust back into our seats as the pilot revved the engines and ascended back into the sky. A few thousand feet later, a voice came over the intercom: “ladies and gentlemen, we’re sorry for the delay. We were forced to abort the landing because another aircraft was taking its time getting off the runway. We’ll be on the ground shortly.”

After thanking God for holding us and that plane in the palm of His hand, I began recalling all the times I’ve hovered over sin, not consciously knowing that if I chose to land in it, death would be imminent. Maybe not a physical death mind you, but perhaps an emotional death and most certainly, a spiritual one.

The temptations in my life are no different than what others have experienced….so why is it that my ability to stand sometimes seems much more difficult?

Just as we are all uniquely and wonderfully made by our Creator, we are born into unique and wonderful families that receive His blessings for thousands of generations and, as a result of sin, curses for several generations.

Exodus 20:5-6

New Living Translation (NLT)

5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. 6 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those[a] who love me and obey my commands.

Although God’s punishment of our ancestors sin may seem unjust and unfair- the Lord in His unfailing love and mercy always offers a life saving solution. When we choose to humble ourselves before His throne and confess ours and yes, even our families sin and repent for our disobedience, He is faithful to forgive.

1 John 1:9

New Living Translation (NLT)

9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

When the wickedness is gone, we are better able to endure hovering over the tarmac of temptation. By depending on the powerful engine of the Holy Spirit, we can avoid landing on the thief’s runway, depriving him of the opportunity to steal, kill and destroy us. Instead, we can rest safely in our first class seat, knowing that our Savior promises to give us a way of escape….. and a satisfying flight.

John 10:7-10

New Living Translation (NLT)

7 so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me[a] were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved.[b] They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.