True Satisfaction 3-18-13

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” Phil. 2:13

The avenue to abundant life is a matter of will: We have God’s will, we have Satan’s will, but at the end of the day, we do as we will…       

     

Oh, may it be aligned with the heartbeat of God.

May we ask God to help us accept His Word, to turn our ear to His wisdom and to apply our heart to understanding what is important to Him...and not this world.

May we understand the Lord’s will, be very careful how we live, and make the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 

And may our love abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that we may be able to discern what is best and understand what really matters, enabling us to live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ's return.

(Eph. 5:15-17; Prv. 2:1-11; Phil. 1:9-10)

Our prayer this week is to find satisfaction in Christ alone, the true Source of LIFE.

Much love,

Shaun and Betsy

Astrology Sealed Fate? 3-11-13

“For their sake he remembered His covenant, and relented according to the abundance of His steadfast love.” Ps. 106:45

Since ancient times, keen observers of the sky have endeavored to make sense of the heavens. Today, psychic readings, horoscopes, tarot cards, and other forms of astrology play an increasingly significant role in people’s belief structures.

Is there any truth in such things? God says yes…

The heavens declare the glory of God and His righteousness. The skies proclaim the work of His hands. He has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. God sits enthroned above the circle of the earth and stretches out the heavens like a canopy. He made two great lights (sun and moon)—He also made the stars.

(Ps. 19:1; Ps. 97:6; Is. 40:21-22; Ps. 103:19; Gen. 1:16)

(**But the Lord cautions us not “to dabble”. ~Deut.18: 9-13; 1 Sam. 28:6-7; 17-18)

Recently, we’ve become friends with a special Jewish couple, a couple which embraces astrology as vital truth to their daily living. (~Yes, tricky waters for us!) As we lean on God to navigate our interaction with these beautiful people, it has been astounding how God continues to reveal His glory in ways they can see.

One of the areas of “break through” is God relenting from a planned calamity.

Jonah prayed and God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways,

He relented and did not bring on them the destruction He had threatened.” Jon. 3:10

Moses prayed and the Lord relented and did not bring on His people the disaster He had threatened. Ex. 32:14

Amos prayed and the Lord relented. Amos 7:3

This couple firmly believed that a one could not alter ones destiny. Yet as they have grown to trust us, have been shown what the Bible says about the power of prayer and the Holy Spirit, have observed our prayers ‘in action’, and have witnessed particular ‘destiny’s altered’, they’re now personally praying to Yahweh!

(~Please join us in prayer for their understanding of His Son, Jesus. xo)

Each of us does has a destiny designed by God’s hand. (Eph. 2:10) But our fate is not sealed in astrological forecasts. ~The Holy Spirit seals our fate and our destiny is realized as we wholeheartedly turn to the LORD and obediently follow His promptings…for He is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. (Eph. 4:30; Joel 2:13; Ps. 128:1; Zech. 3:7)

He’s coming very soon.

Much love this week as we “live out loud” for His glory,  ~Shaun and Betsy

Joy Amidst Heartache? 3-4-13

“Let me have joy of thee in the Lord:

Refresh my bowels in the Lord.” Phm. 1:20

Question: Does circumstance dictate joy in ones bowels? (“bowels”: the seat of our passions)

Let’s explore a couple real life examples: 

• Tami and Larry lost their jobs recently. The loss of income, identity and validation is real, but the responses differ. One experiences deep-seated joy amidst his/her grieving while another person is driven to cavernous depression. Why?
• The Smith’s and Garcia’s have both lost a child. Loss of precious life and indescribable heartache are very real, but individual responses differ. One family experiences deep-seated joy amidst their mourning and the other family is succumbing to gaping despair. Why? 
• This weekend Shaun called 911 and saved a woman who had taken a “cocktail of drugs and tequila” and became unconscious in a resort hot tub. ~What kind of internal hopelessness drove a married woman to desire to “check out of life”?
• Today, friends in Nigeria are experiencing unimaginable persecution, yet despite excessive maltreatment, possess bona fide joy. Why?

Regular people experiencing tragedies of this life…some testify to joy amidst their mourning and others are driven to very dark spaces. Why?

God tells us that true joy is tied to vibrant relationship with Him and is not dependent on circumstance. And when true joy becomes dependent on someone/something other than the Father of Hope Himself, trust and thankfulness in our Creator take a back seat, joy becomes merely a conditional feeling, and internal darkness is inevitable. (Rom. 1:25)

Said differently: Joylessness occurs when we lose someone or something that we’ve worshipped…when we lose someone or something that’s become our idol, our “god”. (E.g.: a mother whose “life has been her kids” and they “leave the nest”; or a husband whose life has been his job and is forced into early retirement; or and elite athlete that has dedicated his/her life to a particular sport and now, ages out; etc.)

“Honor God by honoring what He says is important to Him…

Then, you will find your joy in the Lord.” Is. 59:13-14

Amen.

Trusting God with a thankful heart amidst the difficulties this week,  

Much love, ~Shaun and Betsy

"Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice,

And no one will take your joy away from you. Jn. 16:22