From Desert to Garden

For the Lord will comfort Zion,
He will comfort all her waste places;
He will make her wilderness like Eden,
And her desert like the garden of the Lord;
Joy and gladness will be found in it,
Thanksgiving and the voice of melody

(Isaiah 51:3)

If you could live anywhere in the world, you would probably say that you’d like to live somewhere cool or mild, possibly near a beautiful river or coastal area, somewhere green and lush, with beautiful trees or maybe even tall mountains hanging over you from afar.  There are not many who would choose to live in a desert.  Deserts are dry and hot.  Did I mention hot?  Not many people live in the desert areas for that exact reason.  In Isaiah 51, the prophet  speaks a word concerning Jerusalem (Zion), the beloved of God. The word is this- The Lord will comfort Zion and all her waste places (places that have been destroyed). He promises to make her wilderness just like the beautiful garden of Eden. He promises to make her desert like a garden where joy and gladness will be found.  Thanksgiving and melody will also be found there.  What a powerful promise!

    God is not only the comforter of Zion, but He is also your comforter.  God has a way of making something that is not so beautiful such as a bad experience, a sickness, a state of depression-whatever your personal desert might be- and transforming it into something beautiful.  Only God can do this.  Has it been a while since you’ve felt joy and gladness?  How long has it been since you’ve had a fresh melody of praise and thanksgiving in your heart?  Have you allowed trials to take all your spiritual joy away from you?  If so, won’t you allow God to restore what has been lost?   Let him take that desert of pain, hurt, regret, confusion, disappointment, sickness, depression, and frustration and transform your spirit into a garden that releases the loveliest fragrance—Him!   Will you allow Him to do this in you today?  My prayer is that you will have the needed strength to reach out to Him and allow Him to transform you.  Remember, God’s not done with you yet.  

Forgiveness

We can't expect perfection from ourselves and most definitely, we can't expect it from others.  Everyone is unique with their own set of faults, weaknesses, and idiosyncrasies that make them who they are.  While I may be a hard-worker, a good friend, and love Jesus, I also have to deal with my weakness of procrastination, often saying the wrong thing when I'm upset, and my messiness.  I have them, you have them (even if you don't want to admit it).  The question then becomes why is it so hard to forgive others when we have our own faults? If we took account of our own faults more often, I think it would be easier to accept others for their own. Often when I have been hurt by someone, I try to remember how God loves me so much and from that love springs the ability to be patient with me as well as forgiving even when I don't deserve it.  This helps me to see that God is also working those people that unintentionally hurt me. God's working in their life is born out of pure love for them as well. What many times we are guilty of is labeling someone else's faults as "way out there" or  saying, "what they did is different" just because they don't look like our own weaknesses. In truth, faults are faults. Let's learn to forgive for we are all a work in progress. So this Thanksgiving, I encourage you to let go of any hurts and disappointments you are dealing with, especially with others.  Set the other person free and return, set yourself free. 

Day 21: I am thankful for the forgiveness that I have been shown by Jesus Christ which in turn, gives me the grace and strength to forgive others.  

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8

Speak on My Behalf Lord

I don't write much about being a single woman. I'm 28, going on 29 in three months and am content in the season that God has me in. I know that someday, when the time is right, that season may change, but as for now, I am grateful to be where I'm at right now in my life. That's not to say that I don't have my "moments".  Married AND single, we all have our "moments". One of those moments for me occurred last year.  I don't remember the exact situation, but I remember that the husband of a woman that I know confronted me about a problem that his wife had with me and how somehow, I had offended her.  I was truly sorry and made a mends right away, but I remember going home that night very upset. Not because of the situation itself, but because I had to deal with her husband and not with the woman herself. Why couldn't she have spoken to me and confronted me-woman to woman?  Instead, she had her husband speak on her behalf when I was the only one that could speak on my own behalf.  I too wanted the luxury of having someone speak for me, to defend me, to justify me. I felt alone in the sense that I didn't have a husband or a father to speak for me in this situation or in any situation for that matter. It was then that I felt God softly whisper to me, April, I speak on your behalf. I am your defender.  I uphold you and if you are ever wronged, I will take care of it. You are my daughter and I will work on your behalf.  Those words have been tucked away for quite a while, but God reminded me that those words still hold true today.  When we are wronged or have been treated unfairly, our natural feeling is to do something, say something, speak our mind, but sometimes, God wants us to sit back and watch Him work, watch him speak for us and move mountains that only he can move. So today, I sit.  I may be wiggling in my seat, but still I'm going to sit and be quiet and watch God work. Is there a situation that is taking place in your life and you need someone to speak on your behalf?  Are you tempted to take matters into your own hands? Can you trust God to take care of it for you? He will and he'll exceed your expectations.  Watch and see him move on your behalf.

"He is near who justifies Me; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me^.  Surely the Lord God will help Me" (Isaiah 50:8-9)

Blessings,
 April

Away from It All

"So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets.  Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat... So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed." (Luke 5: 1-3, 16)

In the midst of it all- the job, the bills, the friends, social gatherings, church, keeping up the home, driving here, driving there, needing this, needing that, there comes a time when you just need to get away from it all and separate yourself unto Jesus to that quiet place where all the distractions and all the demands disappear.  Even if its for a short while, it makes a big difference in our lives.  I'm not talking simply about prayer, but I'm talking about reserving a chunk of time where there are no time limits and you're not accessible to anyone else except Jesus Christ. I'm talking about going to a place where your human spirit can be quieted and your heart can be more in tune with God's voice.  For some, this might mean that you take a half day retreat at a local Starbucks to study the Word or taking a whole day where you lock yourself in your room and just take in His presence.   Jesus did exactly this.  One particular day, he was busy ministering to the masses when he had an idea.  He was near the shoreline of a lake when he got a on a boat and had the boat moved a little ways from the shore.  From the boat, he spoke to the people.  In my mind, I imagine he just needed a little "space."  Imagine people always pressed up against him and needing something from Him.  Although I'm sure that He didn't mind it, most likely, He became tired and drained at times.  Sometimes, we just need a little space or a little time to call our own.  It doesn't mean that we don't love people or that we don't need anyone or even that we are neglectful of our duties, but it just means that we need some alone time- just us and Jesus. A couple of verses later, we read that Jesus healed a man from leprosy and when everyone heard about it, many came to him to be healed.  It's right after that when we read that Jesus went alone into into the wilderness to pray. Again, we see Jesus separating himself from the "stuff" of life to refresh himself spiritually and be alone with God. If Jesus needed time alone, then we need it too.  I know that for some, like myself, it's a bit easier to find this alone time, but it's something that we all need.  If at all possible, arrange your schedule in advance (kind of like a date) to block time than usual to be with the King of Kings.  Doing so will make you that much more ready to minister to people and truly impact this world the way Christ calls us to do. Let this song encourage you as you make time away from it all to be with the King of Kings.

Who is Going to Love Judith Bucknell?

I couldn't help but share this story that I found in one of Max Lucado's No Wonder They Call Him Savior. It reminds us that loneliness is something that everyone experiences at one time or another. It doesn't matter how spiritual you are, how educated you are, if you are single, married, divorced, if you have lots of money or not. You will experience loneliness at one time or another.  Loneliness is a reminder that only Jesus can fill those parts of us that seem to cry out and grasp for anything around us to fill that need.  Too many people are embarrassed to admit that they are lonely. We are taught that if we feel lonely, there is something wrong with us, when in reality, God created within us that void that can only be satisfied by knowing Him daily.  It is something that makes us long for Him with such intensity that the only way to make it go away is to be in His presence.  My encouragement to you is know that you are not alone. There are others who have experienced it, but more than anything else, Jesus knows how you feel and he cares about you in your current state.   His love can fill any dark place of your life if you will allow Him. 

 

Who Is Going To Love Judith Bucknell?

In the summer 1980, a Miami Herald reporter captured a story that left the entire Gold Coast breathless. It was the story of Judith Bucknell. Attractive, young, successful, and dead. Judith Bucknell was homicide number one hundred and six that year. She was killed on a steamy June 9th evening. Age: 38. Weight: 109 pounds. Stabbed seven times. Strangled. Were it not for her diary, Judith would have been just another number among many homicide victims for that year. The correspondent made this comment about her writings. 

In her diaries, Judy created a character and a voice. The character is herself, wistful, struggling, weary; the voice is yearning. Judith Bucknell has failed to connect; age 38, many lovers, much love offered, none returned.

 Her struggles weren't unusual. She worried about getting old, getting fat, getting married, getting pregnant, and getting by......... Her diary was replete with entries such as the following. 

Where are the men with the flowers and champagne and music? Where are the men who call and ask for a genuine, actual date? Where are the men who would like to share more than my bed, my booze, my food.... I would like to have in my life, once before I pass through my life, the kind of sexual relationship which is part of a loving relationship. 

She never did. Judy was not a prostitute. She was not on drugs or on welfare. She never went to jail. She was not a social outcast. She was respectable. She jogged. She hosted parties. She wore designer clothes and had an apartment that overlooked the bay. And she was very lonely.

I see people together and I'm so jealous I want to throw up. What about me! What about me!

Though surrounded by people, she was on an island. Though she had many acquaintances, she had few friends. Though she had many lovers (fifty-nine in fifty-six months), she had little love. 

Who is going to love Judy Bucknell? 

The diary continues. 

I feel so old. Unloved. Unwanted. Abandoned. Used up. I want to cry and sleep forever. 

A clear message came from her aching words. Though her body died on June 9th from the wounds of a knife, her heart had died long before...from loneliness.

I'm alone and I want to share something with somebody.

[NO WONDER THEY CALL HIM THE SAVIOR]
by Max Lucado
©1986 by Multnomah Press

A Different Faith

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for...."  Hebrews 11: 1

Different people. Different talents.  Different gifts. Different callings.  Every person is unique in what God has called them to do.  God calls people to different places and different ministries. One calling is not better than another, just different. Maybe God has called you to be a stay-at-home mother who will homeschool your children and raise them to be men and women of God. Maybe God has called you to be a teacher that shows love and compassion to your students each and every day.  Maybe God has called you to serve in the military and to share the Gospel with men and women who are scared and uncertain of their future.  You may be called to work in a local soup kitchen in your local community or take school supplies and clothing to kids in a poverty-stricken community. You may be called to be a preacher, pastor, evangelist, singer, song-writer, Christian rapper, politician (yes, them too!), principal, citizen volunteer, board member, or another calling.  You are called to share God's love in whatever it is you do. Don't feel bad because your calling looks different from another person's. The truth is that God knows what calling you will flourish most in and he's tailored a life especially for you. He knows that your particular calling will bring HIM the most glory.   As I read Hebrews 11, I began to look for a pattern or a common thread in how these people also known as the "ancients" demonstrated their faith---but I didn't find one!  The truth is that there is no one way to have faith.  Everyone's faith and calling is so different yet holds the same value in the kingdom of God.   You may be called to sing and I may be called to lead.  You may be called to save lives as a doctor and I may be called to give my life for the sake of the Gospel. In Hebrews 11, some had it easier and some had it harder, but nevertheless, they all pleased God.  Think about the following lessons of faith that the Hebrews 11 Tribe teaches us:

1. Offer God just a little bit more than your usual sacrifice will .  The only thing that distinguished Abel's sacrifice from Cain's was that Abel's sacrifice was a little "more excellent" (Abel)
2. Please God by walking with Him (Enoch)
3. Obey God's voice and do what He tells you even when you have no idea what God is doing (Noah)
4. Judge God to be faithful (Sarah)
5. Dedicate your children to the Lord and know that they really belong to God and He can do what He wants with them  (Abraham when he was asked to sacrifice Isaac)
6.  Speak faith and encouragement into the lives of others (Joseph when he spoke to the Israelites about God's future for them).
7. Fight for your children to ensure that they have a future (Moses's parents when they hid him so he wouldn't be killed by Pharoah).
8. Choose God above everyone else, even your own family (Moses when he refused to be called the son of Pharoah)
9.  Believe God for amazing miracles  (the Israelites when they crossed through the Red Sea).
10.  Help those who are doing God's work (Rahab when she hid the spies to protect them).

The end of Hebrews 11 goes on to say that others conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained  what was promised, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, escaped the edge of the sword, some had their weakness turned to strength and some became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.  Women received back their dead, raised to life again, others were imprisoned, persecuted, tortured, murdered for the name of God.  They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute.  They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. Basically, they had no permanent homes, they were poor and sometimes lacked their basic necessities. Each had a different calling and was asked to show their faith in a different way.  So I leave you with this question.  How is God asking you to demonstrate your faith?  Don't despise living out your faith in simple day-to-day ways and don't despair when God asks you to show your faith through enormous trials and tests.   Like someone once said, the will of God will not take you where the grace of God will not lead you. In the small things and in the great things, your faith will bring God glory. 

The Evidence is Already in the Bag

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony."  Hebrews 11:1

I don't know about you, but I've always enjoyed those shows such as CSI or Criminal Minds.  I love seeing law enforcement or the Crime Scene Investigation team try to solve cases that seem impossibly difficult.  Time and time again, in order to solve the crime and prove that the suspect has committed the crime, they must have evidence.  Evidence, according to Webster's dictionary is an "outward sign". It's something you can see, feel, touch.  It's something physical.  It's something that can't be argued with.  Usually, the evidence takes the form of fingerprints, DNA collection, a weapon, a video recording, or a letter. At some point, the evidence is carried to the police station in a clear little bag.  Its contents are crucial for they will determine the outcomes of the many lives involved. Without evidence, the efforts of the investigators are useless.  They may know who committed the crime and the suspect might even confess it, but if there is no evidence, they don't have a case.   In  Hebrews 11:1, we are essentially told that faith is evidence of things unseen. Another way of putting it is that faith is made up of something you can feel, touch, or see. This seems to be a contradiction because as Christians, we know that faith is believing in something even though you can't see it or feel it.  Yet, as I thought about this more, I realized that when one truly has faith in God and in his promises, the believer is so convinced of what he/she believes that he/she might as well see it physically because he or she is that sure that it already exists. They are convinced without a shadow of a doubt that the evidence is already in the bag. Their prayer is ALREADY answered.  You may not currently be healed from cancer, but with your eyes of faith, you can already feel the evidence of your healing. You can already feel the healing virtue going through you. You may not have children, but with your eyes of faith, you can already feel the sweet and tender touch of your precious baby.  You may not have that degree that seems so far off, but the evidence of it is the feeling that you feel right now of the breeze hitting your face as you walk up on the stage to accept it.  You may be far off from opening that orphanage or school, but you can almost taste the success of it in your present moment. You already hear the hundreds of children running around and their loud voices playing as they playon the grass. The joy is already in you because the evidence is already there.  When you possess the kind of conviction that God's already got your prayer covered and has already done it,  your attitude will change.  You won't walk around with your head down low,  because you already see it done. Period.  From now on,  when you pray, don't ask God for your request.  Instead, thank him for what he already has done by faith.   Just remember, the evidence is already in the bag.