Firm Until the End

For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end. Hebrews 3:14

But I have this against you that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place -- unless you repent. Revelation 2:4-5

This reminds me, as I read the passage in Hebrews a few mornings ago, that it isn't all about how you start, it is about continuing, it is about finishing well.

It can be easy in the rush of emotion and joy to start well. Our hearts are so full of love, faith, and joy in our salvation. But we then have a choice. Will we continue on stoking the fire of our passion for Christ, or will we get pulled back into the life of doubt, self, and distraction, where our love and faith begin to die. It is a daily choice.

Hebrews 3:13 tells us to "encourage one another, day after day." We are not only to be concerned with our own heart's condition, but we are to be concerned for one another as well. We need each other; we need to be there for one another. I love God's model for the church. The interdependence He built into the design keeps us together and helps us to stand.

As I run the race of faith, I keep my eye fixed on the goal, and I remain aware of the runners all around me. But unlike the runners in the world's "rat race," who are aware of one another so they can best plan on how to overtake and leave each other in the dust, I consciously choose to watch my brothers and sisters to yell out encouragement, to help one who has fallen, or to get one who is running in the wrong direction reoriented to the finish line. That is my ideal of a race. I love it! Not being solely focused on getting to the finish line first, not being set on outdoing everyone else, not worried about being the best. Rather a race in which every runner runs while helping every other runner along the way. I love the idea of a race in which the goal is not to finish first, but rather to finish well.

(Oops, I got off the subject. LOL!! Which I often do.)

Where are you today? Do you still have that same passion, faith, and joy you started with when you first met Jesus Christ? If not, how can I help you to refocus, refresh, and re-energize your heart with His love and His faithfulness? How can I help you to get back onto the track and into the race? Let's finish this thing strong, together. Let our last lap be as determined and exciting as the first.

Love,
Ev


One thing have I desired and that will I seek, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in His tablernacle. Psalm 27:4

Teachers are Tested!

OK, so beware! If you are a teacher or if you open your life up to share with others, you need to be prepared to live what you teach. I don't mean that in the sense that you must have everything you teach down pat, that you need to be an expert at it. What I mean is that as soon as you share something, you should be prepared to be tested in that area.

My last message to you was on forgiveness. Well, today my son and I had a knock-down, drag-out, no-holds-barred fight. Oh, it wasn't a nice little argument, it was a fight!!! If you know me and my sons at all, you know that is a VERY rare event. We love one another so much, and we all love peace and quiet enough to avoid conflict at all cost.

But this morning, we absolutely blew up at one another, each saying things we should NEVER have said, each saying things that we don't even mean just because our anger got the best of us. And it hurt so much. It hurt me, it hurt him, it hurt the rest of the family. The pain is overwhelming.

And now, I am facing the issue of forgiving (which I am sure he is also facing). Remember, I said it is not easy. Right now, I don't even want to talk. The feelings are still too raw, the hurt is still too painful, and I am not sure that we can talk without the whole thing blowing up again.

Like I said, it seems to be a given that as soon as you teach or share something, you are going to be tested in that area.

I ask for your prayers.

(Just being honest here.)

Love,
Ev


One thing have I desired and that will I seek, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in His tablernacle. Psalm 27:4

Forgive!

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them]. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. Mark 11:24-26

I love Mark 11:24, don't you? It sounds as though whatever you want, if you pray, believing, you will get it. WooHoo!! So we spend lots and lots of time trying to whip up our faith to get those things we want! I've done it, have you? But that isn't what is on my heart today.

It's the following two verses that I'm thinking about today. And I wonder, are those as dear to your heart as the first? I would have to admit, I probably don't quote them as often. I don't hold on to them in faith, and I sometimes wish I didn't know them. (Like last night, when I was mad at my son.)

Interestingly, it doesn't say that if someone has something against you, go and apologize to them and make it right. That can be relatively easy compared to this. And Jesus does deal with that in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:21-24) But here it says, "If you have something against someone," you are to forgive them.

Boy, I know, it can be so hard to apologize to someone you have mistreated in some way. It can be hard to humble yourself and ask for forgiveness. But sometimes it seems even harder to forgive someone who has hurt or offended you. It is like everything in you rises up to protest! (That is your flesh, by the way.) We want our apology, we want them to humble themselves before us and ask for our forgiveness. We want them to explain what could have possibly led them to hurt us so.

And, it is even worse if they won't apologize, or if they are seemingly unaware that they have hurt us? (How could they not know?) All that is within us wants our feelings to be justified by their apology and an explanation as to why they hurt us.

And God tells us to forgive, even as we are praying, we are to stop and forgive. If we are holding something against someone, we are to forgive them, without an apology, without an explanation, without a confrontation. We are to forgive.

Actually, the last verse is really rather frightening if you think about it. "But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses." What? If I don't forgive, God won't forgive me? I'm not making this stuff up, it is in the Bible. We can probably try to argue it off theologically or something, but it appears to be a clear statement.

Funny how I expect God to forgive me because Christ died for me and paid the penalty of my sin. But then I feel totally justified in not forgiving the one who has hurt me. Boy, I want them to fix it!

Is it worth it? Is what they have done really worth not forgiving them? Is it worth inhibiting my relationship with God? Is it worth inhibiting my prayers? Last night I could feel my prayer inhibited by my self-righteous anger over such a little thing! (Thank You, God, for allowing me to feel it.)

I'm going to add one more thing, if someone has hurt or offended you, don't carry it around. You need to forgive them. In some cases, you may need to talk to them about it. One of the things I have found is that I am sometimes offended by my PERCEPTION of something said or done. Offenses are often the result a misunderstanding. So, sometimes it is a good idea to ask for clarification! (I know how scary that can be, but it is worth it to restore a friendship that has been damaged by the lies of the enemy whispered into our hearts and minds.) In love and a spirit of reconciliation, go to the person and try to clear up any possible misunderstanding. Of course, as I said, this MUST be done in love. You cannot approach such a situation in a spirit of blame and accusation.

As I said, unforgiveness inhibits your relationship with God (no matter how you try to convince yourself that it doesn't), and it inhibits your prayers. NOTHING in this world is worth that! By the way, I did forgive my son, and looking back on it, it was such a silly thing to be upset about in the first place.

Love,
Ev


One thing have I desired and that will I seek, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in His tablernacle. Psalm 27:4

God Notices!

Nothing happens either good or bad on this earth that is not in God's sight. It is absolutely critical that we understand how God notices our lives. Henry Blackaby - Created to be God's Friend

That is such an amazing thought, and I think we/I tend to just read over it. Like, "Of course, God notices our lives. La-la-la-la-la."

This means that the God of all there is, the God who is concerned and in control of the movement of the planets and alignment of the stars, is concerned and notices my life! Me, Evelyn Nobody. (Not trying to put myself down here, just recognizing the fact that in the broader scope of things, I am really not that significant.) In the billions of folks all over this world and down through the ages, God notices me.

I remember the showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. They were going through all their gyrations trying to get their "god" to answer them. (And can you just imagine what was going on in the spiritual realm? God was preventing Baal from responding! Yay, God! Like had him hog-tied and gagged or something!) To get Baal's attention, they would have to cut themselves and cry out and carry on.

My life is noticed by God! Your life is noticed by God! And I will go beyond that, I will say that your life is precious to God!! Your life is not just a blip on His radar, your life matters to Him, is precious. And God knows all about you, knows all that you are doing and all that you are facing. He knows, He cares, AND He is able to meet your needs!

Love,
Ev


One thing have I desired and that will I seek, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in His tablernacle. Psalm 27:4

Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon? Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?
Mary Oliver, The Summer Day

I love this quote! It reminds me that my life can matter, I can make a difference. It also reminds me that it is my choice. Will I choose to lead a safe, dull, and self-centered life, or will I choose to follow Christ into the wild, exciting adventure of living to make a difference!

How about you?

Love,
Ev

One thing have I desired and that will I seek, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in His tablernacle. Psalm 27:4