Resting in the Yoke?

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” I felt prompted to use this passage in yesterday's post about giving up my tendency to try to control everything but I couldn't really figure out why. I'm kind of laughing at myself this morning because it is so obvious. What is the opposite of trying to be in control, especially in my walk with Christ? It is submitting to Him. I feel like this verse is very paradoxical because it speaks of rest while in a yoke. A yoke is an instrument of work "a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull." That doesnt sound very restful. So what does Jesus mean when He says the weary and burdened should take His yoke upon them? He means for us to get into the yoke with Him, to walk beside Him and learn from Him. So often we are running around trying to do things for God and others and ourselves without taking any thought or time to seek what God has for us to do. This becomes exhausting. In the study, Experiencing God, by Henry and Richard Blackaby, the authors put forth the premise that God is always at work and that He will show us how to join Him in it if we will be alert to the opportunity. Then, as we take up the yoke of the gentle Savior and follow His lead, the work will not be burdensome. Let's pray that our eyes will be opened to where God is working around us and instead of trying to do it on our own, take His yoke upon us and really learn from Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Releasing Control

Lying here contemplating. Over the past year I have been involved in a small group. Our focus was mostly on the book Soul Care by Rob Reimer. The book begins by examining where we derive our identity. As Christians, we should derive it from what God says of us. We are His dearly loved children. Those He loved so much that He sent His sinless Son to die for us. But we have a tendency to forget and think that our worth either comes by pleasing people or performance or control. I was surprised when I asked God where I was deriving my identity and the immediate response was control. God revealed to me an incident from my childhood from which it stemmed that I had no idea still affected me. Anyway, fast forward to when my pain started in October. I started trying to figure out if the problem was food or supplements or some combination. I had just written my post on being still but I was clamoring for answers and trying to control what was happening to my body. I would say things like,"I know God wants me to be still, but what does that mean? Stop taking my supplements? Eating different food? Clamor clamor!" Meanwhile, pain began to become weakness, then numbness until I ended up in my hospital bed. God has taught me so much in this bed. He has taught me to really pray. Early on many of the prayers were for myself to be released and healed but He has so expanded my focus. Of course I pray for my loved ones as always, but He has expanded my focus to persecuted Christians, human trafficking, poverty in the world and I am praying like crazy for a school in Haiti. I've learned that I don't have to carefully control my emotions with those who love me which had kept me from wanting visitors. Even now I am struggling a bit with this tendency, feeling like I need to closely control my diet, etc. I am still on a cancer fighting natural protocol and yes, diet plays a big role, however, my faith focus must be on God not on what I can do. I believe I needed this enforced stillness to really learn to relinquish control. I'm not there yet but my hope is to one day be in the place where all that I desire is what He wants for me. I want my heart to be broken for what breaks His and to pour out my life in meeting the needs He will allow me to meet.Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

A God-sized Vision for Haiti part 2

I wanted to revisit this subject because I feel I dealt with it far too simplistically. I want to really introduce you to Vilmer and for you to hear his vision in his own words. I believe that God has truly raised him up to make positive change in his country by training the children he desires to serve. Here is the biographical information he sent me. Vilmer Paul Born at Terrier Rouge on March 24, 1977 at 4 PM (40) Vilmer Paul married Sara Souffrance who was born at Lavictoire on December 13, 1979 (38) on September 16, 2000.  4 Children have been born from them, Hantz-Bell Paul March 6, 2001, Gashly August 1st, 2003, Gardy June 7, 2007, Evangela November 22, 2010. They live at Madeline Cap-Haitian in the North of Haiti. Vilmer Paul converted to the Lord at 13 years old, wanted to be a lawyer and studied Haitian law for three years; it was when he had to start his last year that the Lord called him to be in the pastoral journey. He went to EBS (Emmaus Biblical Seminary) on September 2003 and graduated with a bachelor in theology in May 23, 2007. Discovered for his attitude (spiritually mature, academically strong) by Dr. Bill Cooper and Miss Marylou Wunker, he has been chosen to be supported to do a Master in Divinity at Wesley Biblically MSS (July 2008-April 28, 2012). As he keep fulfilling the same requirements which are spiritual maturity and academic strength, Dr. Bill Cooper supported him to do his Doctor of Ministry in Christian Leadership in the Global Context (May 2012- May 7, 2016) at Alliance Theological Seminary/ Nyack college, NY. He has been playing some important roles at EBS the seminary from which he got his BTH. He works there for 8 years as; Academic Dean, Dean of Church Relation and Development, Greek and New Testament Teacher, then Vice president. Currently, Pastor and church planter of Eglise Clarté Celeste, (Heavenly Brightness Churche) Cap-Haitian (about 500 people planted on September 2000) , Bois d’Homme Bas (about 120 people planted in November 2013) and the new church plant at Mornet, a very voodoo, idolatrous oriented area (13 people since April 2016) He is the founder of ICEP (Institution Centre d’Espoir de Petite-Anse) Hope Center Institute of Petite-Anse (700 students). He is the pedagogic Director of ICEP, and the Overseer of the church /school in Bois d’Homme Bas (160 students). And the new plant Church at Mornet. So you see, Vilmer is a highly trained and skilled educator with a God-given vision to raise up a generation of well-educated, morally solid citizens in a place where many would not have the opportunity to go to sch ool otherwise. However,he needs the help of God's people to buy land that would allow for adequate buildings for the many students he wants to teach. Right now there are 700 students in an inadequate building. I will again explain that since the deadline passed without the full monies being raised that the landowner can try to break the contract in which case a court could make the previous monies raised forfeit. However, the landowner has not moved in that direction. Can we give in faith knowing and praying that our mighty God can protect our investment? "I can't wait to see God raising a generation of men and women who value Ethics, Character, Morality and Spirituality to take over this Country. we will not find them, I think God would use us to raise them, train, them and discipline them for His purpose." Vilmer Paul https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1640452

A God-sized Vision for Haiti

I have a friend who is a Pastor in Haiti. His name is Vilmer Paul. He has what I would call a God-sized Vision to reach the children of Haiti with the truth about Jesus. Haiti is a country steeped in voodoo. Vilmer has written of girls who have been burned badly through voodoo rituals performed by others. For several years Vilmer has run a school at his church. They currently serve 700 children in an inadequate building. They have the opportunity to purchase land that would allow them to serve many more. They have already raised much of their needed funding but more is needed. I wrote a couple weeks ago about the true fasting mentioned in Isaiah 58. This is our chance to do some of that. I do need to add a caveat for full disclosure. The most recent deadline with the landowner was Feb. 15 and since the payment came up short they could refuse it and a judge could make Vilmer forfeit the monies already raised. I'm choosing to believe that God gave Vilmer this vision and that if we give, the landowner will accept. Will you prayerfully join me in giving? https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1640452

Either Way We Are Clay

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." I'm intrigued by the theme of clay in the Bible. I know that by most translations, it says that God formed Adam from the dust of the ground. I think it makes more sense that God formed Adam from clay. The New Testament often refers to believers as vessels made of clay as in 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 " But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." Jeremiah Chapter 18 depicts God as a Potter. "This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” 3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. 5 Then the word of the Lord came to me. 6 He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel. Romans 12:1-2 quoted above speak of either being conformed or transformed. The way I see it is either way we are clay. Clay can be squished into a mold and will take on the shape of the mold. We are told in these verses not to conform to the pattern of the world, but if we are not actively seeking to be transformed that is just what will happen. God calls His people to holiness. It is so easy to let little compromises into our lives that begin to erode our faith and witness. We need to be those who study God's word and obey it. We need to seek Him in prayer and listen when He convicts us of sin. I'm finding in my own life that much of what I may have seen as harmless entertainment, etc. really pulls me away from true commitment to God. God loves us so much and has made the way for us to be saved from our sins by the death and resurrection of His Son. In view of that great mercy, let us allow Him to transform us as the potter transforms the clay.

True Fasting

Isaiah chapter 58 speaks of God's people fasting. Fasting is a practice to which God calls His people from time to time. Most times it refers to abstaining from food for a time. It can be a time for seeking Him in prayer and Bible study as well. In this passage, however, it seems that God's people were not really attempting to draw near to God or to seek Him but to put on a show so He would reward their sacrifice. Verses1-3 say,“Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet.Declare to my people their rebellion and to the descendants of Jacob their sins. 2 For day after day they seek me out;they seem eager to know my ways,as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God.They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them.‘Why have we fasted,’ they say‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves,and you have not noticed?’ The passage goes on to say that their fasting resulted in exploiting others and in strife. So what was the problem? Their focus was wrong. God calls His people to something much different. Verses 6-9 say,“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them,and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,and your healing will quickly appear;then your righteousness will go Before you,and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I." God calls His people to focus on others, to take their cross and follow Him, to be His ministers to a needy world. Then He is our sufficiency. It can be easy to just go through the motions of spiritual disciplines and expect that we are pleasing to Him but let's think about what He really calls us to do. There is great reward, the very presence of God.

Remember Those in Prison

Hebrews 13:1"Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. 3 Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." Yesterday I was struggling with so much time on my hands to stare at the ceiling and ponder my situation. I truly want to get well and I still believe God can heal me if He wills it, but sometimes I get into begging mode instead of trusting and seeking His plan for this time. I was reminded of these verses in the book of Hebrews about remembering those in prison as if we were together with them. I think it is easy for us as Chrristians in America to forget about our brothers and sisters around the world who risk their lives to uphold the name of Jesus. I spent part of my evening reading and listening to stories of those suffering for their faith. I have more time to pray than ever and these people need much prayer. I read a story of a woman named Twen who has been a prisoner since 2004. She was imprisoned with another woman, for whom she would often take beatings. She also cared for her when she was ill, even carrying her to the bathroom when she was unable to walk. Twen has since been moved to another prison where she has had opportunity to escape but made her way back to the prison to minister to others. How amazing! Would you join me as you are able in remembering those in prison? Here is a resource page: https://www.persecution.com/getinvolved/

Accepting Love

Yesterday some circumstances I can't mention out of respect to the person experiencing them, brought me to the realization that I have been prideful in not accepting help and comfort from others in this time of need. We have so many wonderful friends and family bringing us food and offering help. I have been resistant to some of the help, sadly. Proverbs 17:17" A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity." So I am going to try harder to allow myself to accept help or companionship or whatever we feel we need. More than ever yesterday I had to remind myself that God is in control. How silly that I ever think otherwise.Isaiah 43:10“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. 11 I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. 12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God. 13 Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?”

He is Faithful

Faithful readers and friends, I wanted to update you on my condition and what is going on in my journey at the moment. After the pain and weakness that began in October, I went into a downhill slide that now has had me in a hospital bed at home since January 2. I am dependent for nearly everything. Sean is my primary caregiver with help from Tanner and my parents. Right now Meredith and her 2 year old are here to help too. As I've said in the past, I have fought the cancer natually for over 5 years feeling well for a full 4 of them. Even when the pain started I had been doing very well. So I sit here and analyze and wonder if there was something I should have done differently. However, I continue to seek to be still before God knowing that His ways are infinitely greater than mine. I did finally relent and allow my dad to give me a steroid that has helped somewhat as I continue to seek alternatives. There is no doubt that we are not going to effect some simple cure. Any healing will be supernatural and only by God's hand. He is certainly able if that is His perfect plan for our family. If it is His plan to heal me by giving me my new glorious body sooner than I expected, then He will sustain us in that journey as well. I have much time on my hands in this bed. Some nights are sleepless which affords time for either worry/analysis or prayer. Fighting hard for the latter. I try to focus on God and His greatness. He spoke the Universe into being. He holds the power over winds and waves. I believe He hung the planets exactly where they need to be to sustain life on earth. He continually fights for His people, often just telling them to stand and see His salvation. So many verses speak of Him laying His hand upon us. How amazing to think that the God of the Universe is so involved with us if we allow Him to be. The Bible says He does all of this out of His great love for us. It is not something we have to earn, just to accept it as a gift. As great as all of this is, just think of eternity with Him someday. So that is a little of what is going on. Moments and sometimes days can be very difficult but I can attest to a peace that passes understanding that only comes from casting our cares on the One Who is able to sustain us.