What Voice Do You Hear?

Sitting in a worship service, Alice was feeling very thankful and blessed as she entered into the spirit of worship. She was singing and praising the Lord with her voice and soon she felt like raising a hand in praise to God for all He has done for her.

But then she heard a voice telling her that people would think she was prideful to raise her hand. You see, Alice had recently had a manicure and her nails looked beautiful. So this voice told her that people would say, “Oh, she just wants to show off her nails.”

Sorry to say, this voice made her refrain at this moment from praising the Lord with a raised hand. Then Alice got to thinking, “What if I didn't have a fresh manicure and my nails/hands were scruffy?” Then this voice would say, “Oh, you don't want to lift those ugly hands up to praise the Lord!”

Here we have the enemy of our souls, the devil, the evil one, Satan, the Prince and Power of the air, telling Alice that no matter what her hands look like, “don't lift them up in praise.” In other words, he put Alice into bondage, or tried to! But it didn't work because the irony of hearing both messages revealed the trickery of the messenger and allowed Alice to break through and praise God anyway!

I John 4:1-5 tells us to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God . . .”

In I Samuel 16:7 we read, “For the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

As I write, I want to be more vulnerable. As I praise the Lord, I want to be more free. I heard someone on the radio recently talk about “dancing with joy in praise” and I immediately had a little talk with Jesus, asking Him to help me do that and to teach me how to worship Him more freely. I also found this quote: “You fill us with joy in Your Presence because you want the laughter and the reverence.” Have you ever laughed in your fellowship with Jesus?

Psalm 16:11 says, “You have made known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Alice had to get to the point of obedience and not be concerned with what others may think. Perhaps by now you have discerned that Alice is really me, Anita! I hope that this story will be helpful when you hear voices that are not of the Lord. Purpose in your heart to try the spirits, and then obey the Lord's voice as you discard the thoughts of what others may think of you.

I was given good council that I need to more often practice praising the Lord in private. I have previously written about praying out loud. (Praising God Out Loud With Words) Sometimes our own voice sounds so loud! Get used to hearing your voice. Then give outward expression to your praise. I often pray short “outbursts” of praise. And sometimes my prayers are short petitions whenever I think of a need. But there are also sweet quiet times of sitting in His presence. I am still a seeker. A child of God, learning His ways. And He wants me to raise my hands in praise no matter what my hands look like!

I Chronicles 28:9, “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every plan and thought. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.”

Redeemed and Restored

I have been enthralled with a contemporary Christian song by Aaron Shust titled, You Redeem. These words are in the chorus: “You redeem, You redeem, You restore what's been stolen from me.” 

My mind went all the way back to the Garden of Eden.

Genesis 1:26 tells us that Adam and Eve were made perfect. “God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. 27. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. 31. And God saw everything that he had made and behold, it was very good.”

Adam and Eve sinned. Genesis 2:17 God told Adam that if he ate of the fruit off the forbidden tree that he would surely die. And in chapter 3:7 after the serpent convinced Eve and Adam to eat of the forbidden fruit, we are told, “Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.” When they met God in the garden they were afraid because their sin had separated them from God. They were no longer the perfect created beings that God had created. And every person since then has been born with a depraved or sinful nature. Because of this sinful nature, every person has a “bent to sinning”. It is this condition of the heart that can be restored. How can this happen?

Jesus paid for our sins on the cross. Luke 10:32 tells us, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” John 3:16-18, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

How can a person be redeemed? Not by church attendance or joining a church. Not by doing good deeds and hoping they outweigh our sins. It is by faith in the blood of Jesus and acceptance of His gift of salvation. Jesus has done all the work for us. We need to ask Him for forgiveness and trust in the redeeming power of His blood.

The word redeem means: to buy back, to save, to redeem from sin by sacrifice. When a person asks for salvation, he is restored to fellowship with God. The barrier of sin has been removed and then fellowship can be enjoyed with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The remaining words to the chorus to this song, You Redeem:

You reclaim, You release, You rebuild with the words that You breathe,

You redeem, You redeem, Let revival awaken me” (Listen to the story behind the song and then scroll down to hear the song Here)

I am continually amazed at the redeeming power of Christ in me. I know I couldn't have done anything in myself to gain the favor of God. It has to be HIM! And I want the same thing for you. Will you come to Jesus today and experience this redeeming, restoring grace of Jesus in your life?

An Unlimited Supply

My husband asked me to find his favorite pen. Because he was recovering from knee replacement surgery, I looked everywhere he told me to look and didn't find it. Then I learned that he has a box full of these pens in his night stand! He said to me, “Well I bought them thinking they will last me the rest of my life and I didn't want to use more than one at a time.” I was flabbergasted and I said, “You are almost 70 years old. You can afford to use out of your abundance!” (story told with permission)

This conversation got me to thinking of other things. Such as my mother who had these pretty candles when I was a child. Some were in shapes of little children or scenes. But Mother never burned them! She was keeping them. And then I remembered telling my daughter to use her good “company” dishes, “just because.” How many things do we stash away in stead of enjoying them in the “now”?

A story in the Bible came to mind about the widow of Zarephath found in I Kings 17:7-16. This woman and her son had only enough oil and flour for one meal and then they expected to die. But Elijah asked her to give him a small cake and then one for her and her son. She was promised that her flour and oil would not diminish until the Lord sent rain upon the land (as they were in a drought.) This woman didn't have an abundance but by faith and obedience she ended up with an abundance. And because of this, she saved her life and that of her son.

We have many promises of the sufficiency and abundance offered to us by Jesus:

Grace – II Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Mercy – Lamentations 3:22, “His mercy is new every morning.” Charles Spurgeon said, “God's mercy is so great that you may sooner drain the sea of its water, or deprive the sun of its light, or make space too narrow, than diminish the great mercy of God.”

Love – Psalm 136 is a psalm that has the constant refrain, “for His love endures forever” and continues for 26 verses. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” vs 1

Peace – Isaiah 54:10, “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken or my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

So I would like to challenge us to live abundantly. Use those pens out of the box! Burn the pretty candles! Use your company dishes for your family sometimes! Give out of what you have to those in need.

And remember that we have an abundance of things from God that will never be “used up”. Is that phrase colloquial? Just in case it is, I looked up synonyms for “used up”: Drained, reduced, vacant, weakened, decreased, emptied, lessened, spent, worn, depreciated. I'm sure there are many more than the four I listed above. John 10:10 tells us, “I came so that you may have life and live it more abundantly.”

A Blog, A Birthday and a New Beginning

It was last year this time that I began writing a blog. I disciplined myself to write once a week for 52 weeks. I have learned a lot during this year. Some weeks the blog posts were easy and some were more difficult to write. I was surprised with how ideas would come to my mind. This was the work of the Holy Spirit as I learned to listen to Him. Some topics were too big for a blog. Some were too sensitive. There were some that were personal, but as long as it only pertained to me that was okay. It is in our personal journeys that we learn life lessons and it is a privilege to share those lessons. It was a revelation to me that a lot of my blog posts turned evangelical. It is of utmost importance that I share what Jesus has done for me and prayerfully write so others may know Jesus as their Savior too.

Ever since December 31, 1948 I have ended every year with a bang! This is my birth date. Every day is a gift but especially after a cancer diagnosis. I am so thankful to be a breast cancer survivor since 1992. I was 60 years old before I had my first birthday party, thanks to my husband and with the help of our oldest daughter, Penny. In the last few years our family has gathered on New Year's Eve to eat homemade pizza, crab legs, shrimp and to play games. So it is a party atmosphere and there are a few birthday gifts too! Being together with family is one of the best gifts. It is hard to believe I am now 68 years old. I am thankful to be very active, in good health and sound mind. (I know my children will laugh at that one!) I am thankful to have a circle of close friends and a larger circle of good friends. I am a blessed woman. I am also grateful that God has blessed me with a caring heart and I find it rewarding to reach out to others in leading small group Bible studies and mentoring women.

It is at this time of year that some people make New Year's Resolutions. Even if we don't, I think many of us look ahead and ponder what we want to accomplish, what we want to see happen, and what we want to do in the new year. And most of us want to do something better in the new year than in the past year. Some things I have heard people comment on is: to read their Bible more or to read it through in one year; to journal; to lose weight and exercise more; to eat more healthy; to be kinder and more thoughtful; to volunteer and/or give more.

Every year is a new beginning. It is like closing one door and walking through a new door. Or turning over another leaf in a book or even closing one book and picking up another one. But this book doesn't have anything written on its pages. It is up to us to write on these pages. But we don't necessarily have to write with pen and ink. We simply write the continuing story of our life.

This year I am not sure if I will continue to write a blog post every week. I want to read more and I have found that in writing weekly, I am reading less. So if I get inspired to write, I will write! And perhaps in reading more I will be inspired more. Who knows? We will see. And I would like to write more vulnerably. This can be painful but productive. So if you are a praying friend, you can pray that the Holy Spirit will give me the insights, words and the courage to share my heart.

The best way for you to begin a new year is with Jesus. If you don't know Jesus as your Savior, today is the best day to invite Him into your heart, ask for forgiveness of sins and determine to live for Him every day. If you do know Jesus, He is with you always, ready to guide, comfort and help you through the storms of life. Have a Happy New Year with Jesus!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

How do you celebrate your birthday. Birthday Cake? Candles on the cake? Receiving gifts and having the Happy Birthday song sung to you? Gathering with friends and family to celebrate? It is a time of celebrating another year of life and living. Today is the day we celebrate the birthday of Jesus. How will we celebrate this birthday? The dynamic of Christmas day being on a Sunday is especially interesting. Though it makes life for families of small children a little difficult, it is a day to set aside a few hours and worship the Christ child.

John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

We have been so blessed by a Heavenly Father who loved us so much He sent His son to die for our sins. I recently read a friends thoughts about that little two letter word, so. God so loved! God so loved the World! God so loved me!

John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

A beautiful Christmas song that I love is about welcoming this Christ-child into our world - "Welcome to Our World".

Tears are falling, hearts are breaking

How we need to hear from God

You've been promised, we've been waiting

Welcome Holy Child

Welcome Holy Child

Hope that you don't mind our manger

How I wish we would have known

But long-awaited Holy Stranger

Make Yourself at home

Please make Yourself at home

Bring Your peace into our violence

Bid our hungry souls be filled

Word now breaking Heaven's silence

Welcome to our world

Welcome to our world

Fragile finger sent to heal us

Tender brow prepared for thorn

Tiny heart whose blood will save us

Unto us is born

Unto us is born

So wrap our injured flesh around You

Breathe our air and walk our sod

Rob our sin and make us holy

Perfect Son of God

Perfect Son of God

Welcome to our world

Listen at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrgwL5r7IcU

A few phrases are my favorites:

“Bid our hungry souls be filled” is a prayer for my soul. I never want to get to the place that I don't need my heart and soul to be filled with Him; His Presence, His Peace, His Power.

“Rob our sin and make us holy” is a prayer of repentance. Dear Jesus, take away my sin and make me holy in your sight.

Perhaps other lines of this song will speak to your heart. On this Christmas Day 2016, let us worship the Christ child, celebrate His birthday and welcome Him to our world.

Merry Christmas!

The Perfect Gift

“Mom, what do you want for Christmas?” This is a question I get this time of year and it stumps me every time because I don't know what I want. I really don't need anything and my wants are too expensive for those asking the question! This time of year there are many people scurrying around looking for the perfect gift for their loved ones. This makes me think of the Most Perfect Gift, Jesus!

John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Jesus is the perfect gift because he left the glories of heaven to come to a sinful world. He came as a baby, pure and holy,  God and man, so that He could save us from our sins. He came to be a Redeemer, a Savior, a Friend.

Matthew 1:18, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew 1:23,24, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.”

John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” We find the reference to the Godhead (the Trinity) being the Word in John 1:1-5, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Father God created us from the beginning of time so that He could have fellowship with us. He sent His Son, Jesus, to bridge the gap that was caused by sin so that we can be in right relationship with Him. I John 1:7, “If we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son cleanses us from all sin.” Enjoying His Presence is more important than presents anytime of year but especially during the Christmas season as we celebrate His birthday.

When someone gives us a gift, we need to reach out and take the gift – we need to accept it! Otherwise, the giver can't give us the gift. The same is true of this Perfect Gift – we need to reach out and accept it. We do this by asking God for forgiveness of our sins and asking Jesus to live in our heart. This is when we experience what this verse is talking about: II Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

So for this Christmas season, if you don't know Jesus as your Savior, He is the Perfect Gift you can receive. And if you already know Jesus as your Savior, He is the Perfect Gift you can give!

Christmas is . . .

An Alaskan girl was seen by her teacher admiring a beautiful sunset when the teacher suggested that she try to put the scene on canvas. She replied, “Oh, I can't draw glory”.

Christmas is God's picture of glory. Hebrews 1:1-3, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.”

Sometimes I feel like that girl when I try to write words on paper. How does one express all the many thoughts and blessings of Christmas? I'll try but I know it is limitless.

Christmas is music, fun and laughter. Christmas is cooking, baking and cleaning. Christmas is plays, recitations and caroling. Christmas is family, friends, and fellowship. Christmas is the story of a baby that was born to die. Christmas is a time of joy and gladness. Christmas is sweet aroma's coming from the kitchen, decorations in the house, maybe snow on the ground. Christmas is the happy squeals of children in anticipation of gifts and candy. Christmas is a renewed sense of appreciation for God's greatest gift of His Son. Christmas is shopping, wrapping gifts and decorating a tree. Christmas is good cheer and the wish for peace among all men. Christmas is turkey, ham, cookies and fruit cake. Christmas is poinsettia's, holly and mistletoe. Christmas is a time of sharing, a time of loving, a time of worship. Christmas is all this and more.

It is what we make it as we contemplate what God meant it to be when He sent His son to earth in the form of an infant. That baby held all the promise of salvation for all who would believe. The promise is the same today. Matthew 1:21, “Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.” Are you looking for a Savior? Do you need to have your sins forgiven? Do you want to be a part of the family of God? I implore you to take advantage of the reason for the season – Jesus! He came to save you and me. How sad to go through this time of year and not experience the true meaning of Christmas, Christ in your heart.

Claim your Christmas gift from God, Christ your Savior, who has been prepared before the foundation of the world.

Note: This was originally written by Anita McIlveen, December 1985 as an article in the Altoona Brethren in Christ Church newsletter.