What will this new year hold for you? None of us are able to see through the portal of the future into the new year. Only God knows our journey — and His loving heart is there no matter what happens. The most important resolution you can make, is to go into this new year holding His Hand. This year, some will face greater hardship, others greater joy — some will experience the death of someone they love, others the joyful birth of a child.
Some of us have determined goals we want to achieve. Goals are good — but do they focus upon God’s mission and purpose for our life or simply our own ideas? Think for a moment, what you are really living for? Is it for God’s glory? This will play a crucial part in how we handle whatever comes our way this year.
Scripture checklist concerning our love for God and desire to glorify Him:
28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Rom. 8:28 KJV)
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:2-4 (KJV)
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. 1 Peter 5:10-11 (KJV)
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 1 Peter 1:6-7 (KJV)
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. Psalm 119:67, 71 (KJV)
Remember, God has our best interests at heart. If we have faith and trust Him, we will be able to walk through any situation with the confidence that He is in control. Keep focused upon Him and His heart of love for you.
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Continue reading about Trusting God (Who Am I Trusting?)
I grew up in a home where, as a girl, Mother would have me help her with baking and I got to sift the flour. It was fun; kids love twirling flour! The flour got aerated, became light and fluffy and made some great layered cakes. Additionally, it served in the old days to sift out any un-milled parts of the grain.
Are you feeling sifted? Jesus spoke about sifting on several occasions which are recorded in scripture. On one occasion He told Peter that Satan has desired to sift him, like wheat. The setting recorded in Luke chapter 22 is the Last Supper, Jesus sharing communion — breaking bread with his disciples before He was to be crucified. Peter was strong at that moment, nearby Jesus. A lot was being said; the disciples were discussing who would be the greatest in His Kingdom, and Jesus just told them someone sitting among them would betray Him. Peter, in his style, said, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” (NASB). Jesus needed to remind Peter that Satan would tempt him, but that Jesus himself would pray for him that his confidence (in Christ) would not fail. He warned Peter of his human frailty and said, “Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.” (NASB). Imagine the turmoil in Peter’s heart upon hearing this from Jesus.
If you have lived and served in God’s Kingdom for any length of time you realize that these moments of temptation and sifting are very real and difficult. It’s an alone place, like Peter near the fire of denial. This sifting is a process that we must grow through. Whether we realize it or not, sifting is normal and healthy – it refines us in some manner. Does it feel good? Usually not. Our comfort, routine and pride are dealt with in some way – our dependence on God or lack thereof is revealed. When something comes along to sift us, we can become fearful, irritable and even angry.
Sometimes we don’t know what’s happening when we’re being sifted, often it’s subtle; other times overt and major. There can be mornings upon awaking, you just feel off. Will you talk to God about it or write it off as a lousy day? Some days feel “wasted” like nothing seemed to get accomplished; a feeling of hopelessness prevails. What do we do when this happens? Find your hope in God. He is always the answer and is always waiting for us.
Develop a healthy habit of rising up a bit earlier and seeking Him. Get your foundation laid and firmed up so when the enemy strikes, you are prepared. Your brain will already be wired to God’s mind and heart. The Bible is our source of hope and peace. We find our abundant life in Christ and relationship with Him.
Our spiritual man needs reviving daily. Yesterday’s food is not enough – like the Israelites in the wilderness, we too need fresh manna daily. God deliberately required this. The previous day’s manna rotted, they needed to gather daily. God has reasons for all of His ways – yet it is not our place to demand to know why. Jeremiah posed the question, “Does the clay say to the potter: Why have you made me this way?” No, we are created beautifully by God to fellowship with Him, on His terms.
If you’re feeling sifted, remember that it is a normal part of life. Be wise enough to turn to the One who loves you dearly, knows everything about you and cares deeply for you. Our Heavenly Father longs for open relationship with you. Pray, talk to him and ask Him to change you (removing the un-milled parts that sifting reveals) into the person He designed you to be. Then hold on to Him. The journey is big and has many twists along the way and only by holding firmly to His Hand will you make it through. When life is over and we meet Him face-to-face, we’ll realize this life was short, eternity is long, and choosing to serve Him is best.
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Continue reading about overcoming while walking through trials (Bitter-sweet)
Imagine with me someone who was imprisoned underground away from any light for a long period of time. What would happen if you took them and suddenly transported them onto a bright sunny lawn? They would cringe, withdraw, every part would ache and try to run to shade for some relief. Bringing someone out of a life of darkness and pain takes time. The one thing we can offer someone who’s suffered in a prison of pain is HOPE.
Hope is the antithesis of darkness and despair – and it doesn’t bring the pain that exposure does. Hope is gentle and kind, like love. Hope says, “Don’t worry, things can change. It will take time, but you can be free to experience love, faith, peace, and freedom.
I Cor. 13 tells us that charity (or love) covers like a blanket, protecting us while we move from darkness to light. It allows us to gradually see again. God’s love demonstrated to us, usually through people, allows for transition. We are not cast from a dark underground cell of pain and sin into the street of exposure — unlike those who brought the woman caught in the act of adultery into the village square and threw her at Jesus feet for judgment (John 8:3-5).
We can be like those men – it’s our human nature to expose others for their sin. We’ve all done it. Knowingly or not, we have cast people into the street for judgment. The men who threw her at the feet of Jesus were guilty themselves. They wanted to see what He would do with her, a sinner — this woman caught in the act of adultery. Our pride blinds us to God’s ways. Jesus wrote something in the dirt, and the men began to leave. Then He said, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No man, Lord.” And Jesus said unto her, “Neither do I condemn you: go, and sin no more”. 12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:10-12 NKJV).
Jesus’ manner caused the Pharisees much turmoil. They were religious, filled with pride and did not understand relationship with God. “Who is he, that he can forgive sin!” they thought and questioned (John Chapters 9 and 10). Little did they know.
SUFFERING
We all will face trials and suffering in our world because of sin present in mankind, whether directly or indirectly: because of your sin toward others, theirs toward you, or simply because of our response to pain.
While in Romania this fall, I visited Ceausescu’s Palace. Once called the People’s House, today it is known as The Palace of the Parliament (the largest administrative building in the world). The Wumbrand’s were a family who knew what it was to suffer at the hands of another, yet God cared and demonstrated His love to them in the midst of suffering. Pastor Richard Wumbrand was held in solitary confinement for 3 years during his 14 years in communist prisons. He spent time in a solitary cell in the basement of this “palace”, tortured for His faith in Jesus Christ, as they attempted to get him to renounce Christ and accept the state religion of Communism as his “Savior” — but he would not. I have a video of him made years later when he returned to the dungeon cell. God—the Holy Spirit and His angels–ministered to Richard there. He was pale, starving and beaten. If someone would have taken him from the underground cell and suddenly cast him upon the huge lawn that surrounds the palace, he certainly would have recoiled from the exposure to light, something he had been deprived of for so long.
Have you been in a place of suffering? Perhaps silently, others may not be aware of it, but the pain is very real. God extends His love to you, which may be difficult for you to recieve if you have suffered in a religious enviroment. Recognize that you have a choice in the matter of how you respond to suffering.
THE BATTLE
Satan hates you. He is the author of every dark place in life – bar none. When sin entered our world, with it came death, disease, destruction and every sort of wickedness man could conceive. Satan hates God and is constantly prowling like a lion, looking for those he can tempt and pull into sin. Sin unchecked, unrepented of, eventually becomes a stronghold and then a bondage difficult to escape. It takes many forms yet generally it is seen two ways: destruction of self or of those around you, sometimes both.
Several years ago I needed to walk out of a dark place in my life. Dear friends were desiring to help me, through a counseling process, into the light of freedom. It was very painful and It was not easy to move from the place where I had developed my cocoon of safety. I was deeply wounded from years of deception, fear and confusion that took me to a cavern of sorts – even though it seemed light at times. It was a gradual process, nothing sudden; like the frog in the water pot, things happened and changed and yet I did not realize what was happening until years later upon exposure. By God’s grace I was preserved, kept in His care.
Over time, the dark place in our life can become our normal; we learn to adjust and function there. But is it a place of freedom? That is an important question to ask yourself. God’s desire for each person he created is freedom, not bondage. Satan is the author of bondage. Jesus sacrificed, suffered, was crucified, died and was buried for us — for our sin. Satan was glad to see his nemesis crucified. BUT then something happened. . . the bonds of death could not hold Him in the grave. The earth shook, and the grave opened and He was free, He rose from the dead! Jesus became our example in overcoming Satan and his intentions. Death could not hold Him — He is our resurrected Savior and King! He now offers this victorius LIFE to us. He was not a victim of Satan’s plans, nor are we.
Freedom from the bondage of sin in any form – even subtle self-protective pride, fear of man, fear of the future — these can all be renounced and freedom can be embraced through surrender to Christ and His Lordship. He is a precious, wonderful caring Savior. And He desires relationship with you.
HIS LIGHT
Jesus wants to bring you to the light, but he will not expose you in a harmful way. He wants to cover you with a blanket and cleanse you from every sin. He offers kindness and love to you, not harshness and high demands. He knows all about your brokenness and pain. He truly understands everything you have experienced. There is no shame or guilt that he cannot take and turn into peace and safety. Will you trust Him? Allow Him to show you the abundant life He offers? His Word will restructure your thoughts. You don’t have to hold on to old patterns of thinking that are wrong. God wants to instruct you in the way of life, as well as expose the enemy, Satan, for the wicked devil that he is.
If you want to make a difference in our world – to accomplish justice — it will not come through the kingdom of this World, but rather through God’s Kingdom. Learn to wage war there – not a war of guns and violence, but of submission to God’s power and authority. God’s ability to turn a king’s heart, a nation, and our lives is unlimited. Our choice is to cooperate — we decide whether we will surrender or not to His ways. When we belong to Him, His love compels us to obey Him. I John 5:3 says, “Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome” (NLT).
Let us humble ourselves and recognize our need of God to govern in our lives, nation, and world. We need to recognize our position before our Creator God — we deserve nothing and He deserves everything. He alone is worthy of all our praise and worship. Jesus warned that he did not come to bring peace but a sword (Mt. 10:34) and this severing from the world involves leaving some things behind that we previously loved about ourselves — wrong thinking for one. When Christ returns it will be a terrible day for many, and men’s hearts will fail them for fear (Luke 21:26). Once this period of grace is up, He will judge all people in righteousness and judgment (Rom. 2:5-7, Rev. 20:11-15). Tuck yourself in with Him. He desires to throw the blanket of His love and forgiveness around you and then grow you into His image. Decide to seek Him. We do not know the number of our days and if this will be our last.
Are you ready to be exposed to the Light of heaven? Are you living in a dark place and the Light will cause you to recoil and hide instead of embracing Him? If so, choose life today — find someone who is living in relationship with Christ that can help you find your way to Him. HOPE awaits you.
God’s Kingdom is like no other. The King is 100% trustworthy. No where else is this found. So who are you trusting in today?
When we respond to the King’s call to enter His Kingdom we obtain a great gift, a certificate of sorts, that entitles us to the benefits of daughters and sons – and God faithfully protects His own.
As you go through this day facing situations, decisions, offenses, how will you handle them? Will you re-act allowing fear to be your guide? Or will you act, trusting that God brings us all things for His purpose and our good. Fear versus trust, the outcomes are very different. If we could see as our Father-the-King sees, we would realize how often we fail to trust Him and rather trust ourselves or another person.
Psalm 1:1-3 tells us that the man or woman who is blessed is the one who trusts in and relies upon God; who’s hope and confidence is in Him. This child is like a fruitful tree, with plenty of water flowing in and sends life forth. Jeremiah 17:5-8 repeats these same thoughts:
Trust in the Lord– and walk under His blessings.
Trust in man– dwell in a parched, wilderness place.
Rely upon the Lord– and have green, flourishing leaves.
Rely upon man– be naked and destitute in a desert place.
Hope in the Lord– and do not be afraid.
Hope in man– be anxious and fearful.
Jeremiah 17:5 Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm, whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6 He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. 7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. 8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” (RSV)
Psalm 1:1 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; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. (RSV)
Decide to be firmly planted by trusting in our Heavenly King, and no other. He loves you dearly.
Life is a series of journeys, some important and others not so. The journey I was about to begin, just 2 weeks short of my 22nd birthday, would change my life forever. I would come to love someone who had loved me for a long time, yet I didn’t realize it.
I was raised in a devoutly religious home — we attended church each weekend and kept the holy days faithfully. Like many, my thinking concerning God was typical; “God exists, and you should do what’s good and right and hopefully you will go to heaven when you die.” Although my understanding of God was limited, as I look back upon it now, I am thankful that I was given a foundation to believe in God. I can see the many ways that people invested in my life. I was unaware of their efforts, and God’s working through various situations, that would bring me to the place of my life-changing encounter with the Cross.
There is an experience that I can recall from my grade school years that I would say was my closest brush with the Holy Spirit. It was eighth grade and for religion class, prior to our Confirmation, we were invited on a “Retreat Weekend.” Father Hagman was going to conduct the weekend and I attended. All I really remember about it is that something spiritual happened that I had never experienced before, but I didn’t know what it was. So, it was forgotten. . . until much later in my life.
The next time that I can recall anyone talking seriously to me about God, a personal relationship with Him, or the Bible, was after high school. I met a young woman, my age, named Janice from a small nearby town. We had each enrolled at the local technical college immediately after our graduation. As I got to know Jan more, I really liked her. We became fast friends and ended up going together on a trip to Florida as a graduation gift to ourselves. During one of our outings Jan brought up the subject of the end of the world, Jesus Christ’s return, and something called the Tribulation. I didn’t know what she was talking about. The most I knew was that in church each weekend we said in our creed that “Christ shall return to judge the living and the dead.” But what that looked like, I didn’t have a clue. When my new friend started talking about it as though it was really going to happen, I didn’t know what to make of that. But I liked Jan and so I listened.
My life went on after finishing school at MATC, obtaining a certificate as a Ward Clerk, and beginning work at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield, Wisconsin, my hometown. My heart was unsettled though, and I wanted to find some adventure or meaning in life beyond what I knew. In the fall of 1980, I moved to Milwaukee to begin working at a brand-new hospital that was going to be on the cutting edge of technology and the future trend for hospitals. This interested me, and my ambition to move and begin life in a big city with new opportunities thrilled me. So I packed up all my belongings into a 15 foot rented trailer, my Dad helped get it hooked on to my 1976 Maroon Buick Regal, and away I went into a new and exciting future!
SMALL TOWN GIRL—Be careful in the Big City!
There really were several reasons I wanted to move to Milwaukee. My cousin, Tina, would always make Milwaukee sound so, well, exciting! She wanted me to move there so we could get an apartment together. But the bigger reason I wanted to move was that I had been dating someone in the radio industry, who worked for several years in my hometown and his job had taken him to Milwaukee, and I wanted to be closer to him. Well, it turned out that within a month of my moving there he got a better job in Rockford, Illinois, and moved there. I was still glad to have moved south, as then I was only one-and-a-half-hour drive from him, instead of three. I was excited to embrace life in the big city and all the adventures that it held for me.
I had always been an achiever-type of person so in my work at the hospital I was quickly moved into a supervisory position on the p.m. shift. There was a problem in that I did not have the degree this position required. My supervisor, Jean, who was a great encouragement to me, said the hospital would pay my way through school to get the degree. So I enrolled the next semester at UW-Milwaukee in Business Administration.
It was while attending the university that my life took a dramatic turn. I had moved to Milwaukee in 1980, following my interest in the young man I was dating. Because he was a disc-jockey, he was always on the move climbing the success ladder to somewhere else. We became engaged and planned our wedding for September 1981. Jeff had big plans for our wedding! Because of his job he had access to bands that most people couldn’t afford to hire. The Booze Brothers (a take-off of the Blues Brothers who were popular, especially on Saturday Night Live) were big in Milwaukee at the time, so they said they would “play” at our wedding. We secured the Rozellville dance hall near my hometown. But during the months leading up to this grand event, we both realized something was wrong. I wasn’t sure this was really the right path for me. Questions began to arise. Did I really want to be a tag-along on his career life? How faithful would he be as a husband? I also began seeing things happen “backstage” that troubled me. Jeff would promote through the radio station upcoming concerts and then bring select friends backstage after the concert. I began to seriously consider if this was really the kind of life I wanted.
Thankfully, an event occurred in June, three months before the wedding that sealed it and made me realize this relationship was not a good move. I returned the beautiful diamond ring, shoved my wedding dress into my cedar chest, and with disgrace faced my family and told them the wedding was off. Anyone, especially when you are 21 years old and think you have it all figured out, who breaks off an engagement goes through terrible turmoil. I was wondering, Now what will people think? What should I do? What is the purpose of my life anyway?
That summer of 1981 is the time God caused me to stop and think about life, it’s real meaning, relationships, God Himself, and how it all works together. It was a confusing time for me. I kept busy working at the hospital and going to school. I decided to pour myself into a career and really climb the ladder too!
To escape the feelings I was going through, I would go to movies — they allowed me to forget about my life for two hours while living out someone else’s problems: a thwarted love story, love regained, whatever. But this too left me as empty as I was before. I wanted a relationship, a deeply fulfilling one, but now I really wondered if that was even possible. I had invested three years into my relationship with Jeff and how wasted that time seemed to me now.
It was Labor Day weekend, 1981, the month of my planned wedding, that friends from work noticed my indifferent attitude toward life and asked me to join them for a gathering on Monday, the holiday. I was hesitant, thinking they might be trying to line me up with someone. I wasn’t interested in having a knife put into my heart again, but I reluctantly agreed to go along.
Monday arrived and I met them at the Milwaukee Lakefront for our gathering. It was there that I met Dale. Determined not to enter another relationship, I did not appear very interested in him; however, he was nice, funny, and seemed quite interested in me. And there was something about him that attracted me besides his fun and outgoing personality, nice physical build (he was there training for the fall speed-skating season), and overall friendly way. Within a short period of time, he told me that church was an important part of his life — but not the kind of church I was accustomed to. This interested me. He said he had recently moved from Texas to Milwaukee and mentioned a church he was attending. He started telling me things that came directly from the Bible, which seemed unusual to me, for I had not met anyone (other than my friend Jan from technical school) who could speak with real knowledge about the Bible. I was interested in finding out more of what Dale had to say about God, especially after my summer of searching. Discovering this about Dale, piqued my interest in him more than the thought of beginning another relationship did.
I learned that Dale was originally from Plattsburgh, New York and that he was a speed-skater desiring to earn a spot on the US National Speed Skating Team. The year before we met, the Winter Olympics were held in Lake Placid, New York, near his home. He had gone to Texas to work for his brother-in-law, George, for the summer and had come now to West Allis, Wisconsin, to begin fall training for the winter season.
In 1980, Eric Heiden had won five gold medals in speed skating in Lake Placid and Dale would say, “I may never make the Olympic team, but I am one of the guys who makes Eric look so fast.” Dale enjoyed skating and his mother supported him through his later high school years taking him to competitions around the state. Now he was in Wisconsin, training, and working to survive. The making of an Olympic athlete takes much commitment and dedication. Having the funds, and having wealthy parents, certainly helps. Dale had a lot of drive and dedication, but wealthy parents to fund his dream was not his lot. However, he actually did very well in spite of all the obstacles he faced.
After seeing Dale on a few occasions, he invited me to come to his church so I could hear first-hand about God, the Bible, and get further explanation of the things he had been telling me. This was a bit scary for someone raised in the Catholic Church. I had been instructed by my parents, from childhood, that we were not to become involved with Protestants and their religion — it was not an option. Based upon my perceptions, I was hesitant to go, yet Dale seemed to possess some kind of relationship with God that I did not have and I wanted to know more about it. “Questioning minds want to know,” and I simply could not accept that being born into a Catholic home should keep me from finding out what he possessed, that I did not when it came to knowing God. I had been on a search all summer for real meaning in my life after breaking up with my fiancée; now I had met someone who seemed to be able to tell me how he had found what I was looking for, and I decided I needed to check into it.
I agreed to go with Dale to his church. I told him, “I’ll go to Mass first, so it counts, and then with you to your church.” So it was sometime in mid-September that I entered the doors of Bethel Tabernacle Assembly of God in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. I was warmly welcomed by the folks in the foyer and sat attentively listening to what the pastor said. After the service, many people came to greet me and introduce themselves. Being 21 years old, I noticed quite a few young people my age there and Dale introduced me to some of them. I remember telling him I wanted to leave, likely sooner than he or his friends wanted me to. I was feeling uncomfortable; they all seemed to be so connected! And I began to wonder, “Why are these people being so friendly to me?” I remembered hearing things in the past about cults and how people need to be careful when meeting someone they don’t know well and going to some kind of meeting with them. “They will lure you in by being friendly… so be careful!” Next, I thought, “Well, I really don’t know Dale very well, only have talked with him a few weeks, how do I know what I could be getting into here?”
I did talk to Dale about my thoughts and he said, “Well, I can understand what you’re feeling, so you should read the Bible for yourself, then you will know what is right.” I told him I wasn’t sure about this, and whether I could go back again or not. By the end of the next work week, all I kept thinking about was this church and what was being said about God. I was torn — I didn’t want to go back, I was afraid, yet I wanted to! Dale suggested we go on Sunday night; it would be more laid back and we could just leave right away if I wanted to. I agreed. Again I sat, giving attention to every word Pastor Johnson said. I was nervous though. I had thought I was a very good person, but he was saying some things that made it seem like I really didn’t know God in a real and personal way. That bothered me.
Feeling loyal to my parents and our faith, I felt it needful to go and talk with the parish priest at St. Rita’s where I had been attending for some time. I’d ask him about some of the things I was hearing and wanted to see what he would have to say. In the end, he had little to say. I felt detached, let down. My perception was that I should continue to conform and obey the Holy Roman Catholic Church and its teachings and not worry about all these questions.
I continued to go with Dale to church and some young women my age befriended me, along with the music pastor, Darryl, and his wife, Linda. They were very nice and fun! They invited us over to their house for a meal. Linda was a great cook. It was nice getting to know them and I started to feel like they were genuine and I could trust them. This caused me to want to come back to the church, and so for two months I listened and questioned. I did get a Bible and started to try and read it on my own. There were a few popular verses that Dale or someone wrote down for me, John 3:16 being one of them. I also remember that John 10:10 was important — telling me about Jesus’ plan for my life versus Satan’s. Satan wanted to steal, kill and destroy, but Jesus wanted to give me life and that abundantly! That’s what I was looking for! I knew it now.
The Cross
On a Sunday evening in mid-November 1981, I came to the place where I knew I needed to make a decision. I had to reckon with what Christ did on the cross, not for others, but for me personally. I knew intellectually He was the Savior of the “world” who I had heard about all my life, but He was not yet my Lord and Savior. I was a sinner in need of His forgiveness for my sin. Once I began to grasp my position before God as utterly lost apart from Christ’s sacrifice, I knew the only way to gain right standing with God was by humbling myself and accepting salvation His way. Jesus was to become my King! He was to be given control of my life and I was to surrender all of myself to Him. I was ready.
It was difficult for me to step out of the pew and walk down to the front where someone was going to pray with me to accept Christ and begin this new journey. I was fighting so many things inside — my past, my pride, my religion, my sin — but oh how I wanted to be free. They told me that who the Son sets free is free indeed and I wanted that! My apprehension was soon replaced with newfound freedom from sin, confirmed by acceptance and love from God.
This was a complete turning point in my life! I truly was made into a new person that night. I became born again! Even though some of my old ways took time to change, in my heart I knew that I belonged to Jesus. This was thrilling to me — I had finally found the relationship I had been searching for.
SPIRITUAL REALITY – Light vs. Dark
The Saturday night following this change in me, I had a riveting experience that has remained clear in my mind even now, over three decades later. I mentioned earlier that my ex-fiancée, whom I still was keeping in contact with, would get special concert tickets because of his work. Weeks before my meeting at the Cross, my friends at the hospital had asked if I could get all of us tickets to the Jethro Tull concert coming to Milwaukee the weekend before Thanksgiving — so I did. Since I had gotten the tickets, I was the one who had coordinated the evening. We all rode together downtown for the concert. After what had happened in my life on the previous Sunday night, I really did not want to go; besides, I didn’t like Jethro Tull! The band was too hard-rock for me, I preferred “ top 40” songs — romantic stuff about lovers breaking up and then getting together again, James Taylor, Carley Simon, those types of songs. But, I figured I had promised them, so we went.
My friends were all excited as we entered the auditorium, but I was feeling very out of place — almost sick inside. Soon the pre-concert music started and I felt even sicker. Then the main act, the rock group “Jethro Tull,” performed. I couldn’t wait to get out of there. But I did learn something very valuable that night that has been a help and guide to me ever since.
Music is spiritual; songs are born in the soul. Singers who move their listeners toward God in worship are able to do so because their soul is connected to Christ. Conversely, those who sing simply from the human level demonstrate their soul as well — it may feel good, but it is empty in the end. Today I understand that more than ever.
At one point during the concert, a drum solo occurred and as I looked around me at the chanting crowd, arms lifted in “praise,” I saw into the spirit realm. I now knew for certain, in my heart, that there truly is a spirit realm and what happened to me on that Sunday night was a very real event. There was a spiritual transaction that had taken place when I was in Dale’s church, inside my heart! While the concert all seemed like a slow-motion movie playing out before me, I knew deep inside that I had been changed forever — that I could never go back or be comfortable in this kind of environment again. And I was glad!
I endured the remainder of the concert, and oh how I wished I had driven alone so I could have left, but I couldn’t. In the end, everyone but me was excited and pumped up. Now it was time to “go out” somewhere, have a few drinks and enjoy the rest of the evening. I was again feeling like a “party-pooper” in my heart. Yeah! I thought — this is real! What happened to me last Sunday is not a figment of my imagination… I have been changed!” I told my friends I wasn’t feeling well and really wanted to just go home. So they complied and we drove back to the suburbs and headed our separate ways.
What will this new year hold for you? None of us are able to see through the portal of the future into the new year. Only God knows our journey — and His loving heart is there no matter what happens. The most important resolution you can make, is to go into this new year holding His Hand. This year, some will face greater hardship, others greater joy — some will experience the death of someone they love, others the joyful birth of a child.
I grew up in a home where, as a girl, Mother would have me help her with baking and I got to sift the flour. It was fun; kids love twirling flour! The flour got aerated, became light and fluffy and made some great layered cakes. Additionally, it served in the old days to sift out any un-milled parts of the grain.
Sometimes we don’t know what’s happening when we’re being sifted, often it’s subtle; other times overt and major. There can be mornings upon awaking, you just feel off. Will you talk to God about it or write it off as a lousy day? Some days feel “wasted” like nothing seemed to get accomplished; a feeling of hopelessness prevails. What do we do when this happens? Find your hope in God. He is always the answer and is always waiting for us.
Our spiritual man needs reviving daily. Yesterday’s food is not enough – like the Israelites in the wilderness, we too need fresh manna daily. God deliberately required this. The previous day’s manna rotted, they needed to gather daily. God has reasons for all of His ways – yet it is not our place to demand to know why. Jeremiah posed the question, “Does the clay say to the potter: Why have you made me this way?” No, we are created beautifully by God to fellowship with Him, on His terms.
for you. Our Heavenly Father longs for open relationship with you. Pray, talk to him and ask Him to change you (removing the un-milled parts that sifting reveals) into the person He designed you to be. Then hold on to Him. The journey is big and has many twists along the way and only by holding firmly to His Hand will you make it through. When life is over and we meet Him face-to-face, we’ll realize this life was short, eternity is long, and choosing to serve Him is best.
Imagine with me someone who was imprisoned underground away from any light for a long period of time. What would happen if you took them and suddenly transported them onto a bright sunny lawn? They would cringe, withdraw, every part would ache and try to run to shade for some relief. Bringing someone out of a life of darkness and pain takes time. The one thing we can offer someone who’s suffered in a prison of pain is HOPE.
move from darkness to light. It allows us to gradually see again. God’s love demonstrated to us, usually through people, allows for transition. We are not cast from a dark underground cell of pain and sin into the street of exposure — unlike those who brought the woman caught in the act of adultery into the village square and threw her at Jesus feet for judgment (John 8:3-5).
While in Romania this fall, I visited Ceausescu’s Palace. Once called the People’s House, today it is known as The Palace of the Parliament (the largest administrative building in the world). The Wumbrand’s were a family who knew what it was to suffer at the hands of another, yet God cared and demonstrated His love to them in the midst of suffering. Pastor Richard Wumbrand was held in solitary confinement
for 3 years during his 
Over time, the dark place in our life can become our normal; we learn to adjust and function there. But is it a place of freedom? That is an important question to ask yourself. God’s desire for each person he created is freedom, not bondage. Satan is the author of bondage. Jesus sacrificed, suffered, was crucified, died and was buried for us — for our sin. Satan was glad to see his nemesis crucified. BUT then something happened. . . the bonds of death could not hold Him in the grave. The earth shook, and the grave opened and He was free, He rose from the dead! Jesus became our example in overcoming Satan and his intentions. Death could not hold Him — He is our resurrected Savior and King! He
now offers this victorius LIFE to us. He was not a victim of Satan’s plans, nor are we.
you trust Him? Allow Him to show you the abundant life He offers? His Word will restructure your thoughts. You don’t have to hold on to old patterns of thinking that are wrong. God wants to instruct you in the way of life, as well as expose the enemy, Satan, for the wicked devil that he is.
and the Light will cause you to recoil and hide instead of embracing Him? If so, choose life today — find someone who is living in relationship with Christ that can help you find your way to Him. HOPE awaits you.
God’s Kingdom is like no other. The King is 100% trustworthy. No where else is this found. So who are you trusting in today?
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