Laced With Grace

Philippians 4:12
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Since September I’ve been struggling with weight loss and I’ve been at a “plateau” for several weeks (meaning months). I took a good look at my eating habits and yes – (doing Weight Watchers) I’m eating the right number of points and I’m doing the right number of minutes of exercise.

But…

I was eating many of the things that, while they were in the right point range, were not the best food choices. I was on “Flex”, which gives me many, many choices to choose from and some of the choices are not very healthy, some of them are very healthy and some of them are “neutral”.

Life with God is like that. Many of the things that we can choose to do may be “legal” and we are not under the law. But some of them may not be the right choice for us. Oh, the Christian sitting next to us may be doing that same thing with a clear conscience, but that choice may not be for us.

Even the “neutral” choices…they may be neither good nor bad; but do they glorify God? I can think of many things in my life that fall into that category. From spending too much time reading novels to playing solitaire on-line (for too many hours).

Our homes are like that. I may (ok, do) have too much “stuff”. I can be overwhelmed with stuff. Some of it is very good and very neat stuff. But it’s still just stuff. Paul wrote about contentment and I’ve been told that when he did, he was in prison. Would I be content if some (or even all) of my stuff went away?

My eating habits are sort of like that also. Weight Watchers has a “Core” plan. You don’t count, you don’t keep track. You have a very limited number of food choices and you eat when you are hungry and you stop when you are content.

There’s that word again…content.

After months of “freedom” and having so many food choices; I switched to the Core plan. I had to stop and think, “Am I content?” Do I know how to stop when I am content?

Even the Bible talks about eating and contentment:

Proverbs 13:25
The righteous eat to their hearts’ content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.

Admittedly, the difference between my heart’s content and my stomach’s content may be different, but we recognize that being full is different than being content.

Like this, my life is too full and I become overwhelmed by too many choices. There is a joy to simplicity that too many of us don’t have; that I don’t have. We strive for more, to have this, to have that. But what does God say?

Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

This week I had a private email that said, “you are a bloggy Barnabas.”  That comment really stuck with me and made me ponder things.  Am I a Barnabas?  Am I a Barnabas in real life?  Can people who really know me say the same thing? 

Are you a Barnabas?  Who was Barnabas?

Barnabas’ actual name was Joseph but the apostles called him Barnabas which meant “son of encouragement.”  Barnabas was described as an honest and generous man, in the time deceitful behavior ran rampant.  Barnabas was one of the first people who accepted Paul, accepted his conversion after the road to Damascus.  While the church was still distrustful of Paul, Barnabas believed in him.  Barnabas was one of Paul’s biggest cheerleaders and encouragers.  Looking back now we see how important that was, because of all the influence Paul had on the advancement of the Christian faith.  It all began because someone believed in him. 

I too can say the same thing; I am here because several elderly ladies believed in me.  When I was at my lowest, they would come up to me and say, shaking their head “Laurel the Lord has great things for you.”  Sometimes my anger would want to lash out and say, “look at me, I am in my pit, how in the world can the Lord use this.”  And all they would say is, “Laurel the Lord has great things for you.”  What a difference encouragement has made in my life.

I want to grow up and be like the ladies the Lord put in my life.  Things are moving in my life, the Lord is having me step in places that scare me, places I feel unworthy to be. 

Now those sweet ladies are in heaven dancing with Jesus and my walk is closer to him, I feel his whisper in my ear, “child I have great things for you.”

Barbara J. Winter said, “When you come to the edge of all the light you know, and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, FAITH is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught how to fly.”

Sweet sisters, are you ready to fly?  God is so in love with you it hurts, he loves you with a jealous love, you are beautiful to him….

Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  Listen….. in the quiet of the still wind, you will hear…

“OH CHILD OF MINE I HAVE SOMETHING GREAT FOR YOU”

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.  Matthew 19:26

Heavenly Father, may every person that reads this today feel your love surround them like a warm blanket. May they FEEL the love that you have for them. Father I don’t feel worthy to even be mentioned in the same breath as Barnabas, but Father help me to cultivate more of his characteristics in my life. And Father bless my words and my actions, when you have me stepping out into the unknown. Help me to learn how to fly.

Mark 13:22
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect—if that were possible.

I am going to tell you a story about a dear Christian friend of mine. I am certain not everyone will see this story as I see it. That is okay. I am compelled to share it with you. See if you can find the truth in it. The story to follow is based on actual events.

The details of this drama begin in the summer of 2004. My friend, let’s call her Leece, is sure that God has finally answered her prayers. Leece has petitioned the King for months about moving away from her home of thirty years. She is certain this is the day God wants her to list her home for sale and move.

The next day the For Sale sign is posted and sways nicely in the afternoon breeze. It sways and sways and sways for over six months. Doubt steps in and the drama intensifies. Leece begins to ask herself, Did I really hear from God? I was so sure He told me it was finally my time to move. He wants me to start a new season of my life? Why won’t my house sell if this is God’s will?

This very day, Doubt is joined by Seduction. Seduction telephones Leece. “Ya know,” Seduction cooes to Leece, “You just need a little extra luck. I’m sure that your house will sell.” Seduction whispered to her best friend Deceit to listen in on the call. Seduction continues, “Leece, I must share with you a miracle, my friend sold her house in one day. Listen to how she did it.”

“Hi Leece,” Deceit gushed with enthusiasm. “The secret to selling your home is not a good real estate agent, nor location, nor price and especially not prayer. All you need is a four inch plastic statue. You buy this little guy, bury him in your front yard, wait a day and Voila.” Deceit and Seduction are grinning with glee across the room at one another. Leece reasons with herself, surely they can’t be wrong about this. They are my life-long friends. What harm could there be in a little extra good luck.

A quick visit to the store, a shovel, and the deed is done. The house sells the next week. WOW! Leece quietly tells her circle of friends of her great fortune and how they too can sell their homes quick.

Quite a story isn’t it? I love this sweet woman. When she told me this story I was completely surprised how she was deceived into placing an idol in her front yard instead of asking God to sell her home. For her it was a good luck charm but my spirit was grieved knowing the enemy (the idol) received the praise for the quick sale.

Now read the end of the story. The escrow becomes a nightmare. The buyers backout after Leece’s moving van arrives to pack everything. The pool pump breaks, she is vandalized, the water heater must be replaced, and the house sits on the market for another six months. Most regrettably there is no money for a new home out of state.

How subtly Satan lurks to draw in even God’s chosen.

Lord God, Make us keenly aware of Deceit and Seduction. The enemy waits to exploit our every weakness, our doubts our fears. His efforts are relentless. But we are not afraid! O Lord, let Leece’s story be a cautionary reminder even God’s elect can be deceived. Lord, I ask for spiritual perception for every woman who reads this story. Point out any way we are currently deceived and free us from that snare. In Jesus, All-powerful name, Amen.

PS. The statue is now part of a large waste refuse somewhere in the Midwest. Leece sold her home after much prayer and now lives in a wonderful new town where she is starring in a new drama entitled: God, I surrender all.