Winning in Life!

Ever fight a war with an enemy caused by an enemy you cannot see?  We all have—and do.  My current battle is a minor but aggravating one:  chigger bites.  Creatures so tiny, the head of a pin can hold two or three but their poison so vile it literally dissolves skin tissue.  At first, they aren’t too noticeable but within a day or so, the itch is impossible to ignore.  Prevention is the wisest course.

My recent encounter did not catch me unaware.  I went to the woods prepared.  Long pants, boots and my favorite non-chemical bug oil (Avon Skin-so-Soft!).  My preparations kept every bug at bay except the chigger.  Tree Oil has been my battle partner for the last couple days.  Preparations that put trust in an ineffective solution do not accomplish much.  The rest of the crew who trooped into the forest used a traditional bug spray and left the adventure without chigger bites.  Trusting in myself has brought me to more battles than I can count.  Can you relate?     

As believers in Christ, we have all of the provisions we need to live well in this world.  We have every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1); Christ came that we would have abundant lives (John 10) and He provides all we need for life & godliness (2 Peter 1).  Too often, we trust in ourselves, our plans or our perspective to produce what God has already provided. 

white sheep on farm
Photo by kailash kumar on Pexels.com

Psalm 23 offers us a natural world look at how the Good Shepherd cares for us!  The entire Psalm is abeautiful picture of resting in the care of the Shepherd but one line has captivated my thoughts as I apply healing oil to my chigger battle wounds.

“…You anoint my head with oil.”

I’ve always read that as blessings given from God, and while that’s not wrong, it’s not the whole story!  In the sheep field, there are flies that attack the sheep.  They enter the ears, lay their eggs and even burrow into the brain.  On their own, the sheep cannot rid themselves of the flies—nor can they heal the damage the flies do.  In fact, the flies create such discomfort, the sheep become frantic; they damage their own selves as trying to fix the problem.  Prevention is what the shepherd focuses on; shepherds ‘anoint’ their sheep with oil!

The Good Shepherd longs to do the same for us.  There are many destructive pestilences in this world—some we can see, some we are aware of, some we can manage—but only some.  Relying on ourselves is a losing proposition in the eternal economy.  We need the Good Shepherd.  He wants us to live abundant, peaceful, healthy lives.  He provides all we need to do just that.  The choice is ours. 

Will we receive what He longs to give?

beige sheep on green grass field under gray sky
Photo by Magnus Martinsen on Pexels.com

 

Crafting Prayers

I stumbled across a phrase in a book I am reading that set my mind and heart on fire, and I want to share it with you.  “Crafted prayers.” Does that stir your heart like it does mine?  The moment I read it, I recognized a concept that I wanted to invest in more deeply.  Crafted praying is a phrase that expresses how I desire to live.  It gave me ‘vocabulary’ for the passion of my heart–that is learning I believe in and love to share!

Terry Tykel, a self-described ‘emissary for prayer’ uses it in his book, divine strongholds.  It is a beautiful term depicting the prayers of Scriptures and the timeless prayers recorded in Christian books through the ages.  It is a tool we can employ individually and corporately in seeking the vision of God.

Crafted praying is the essence of communion with God.  It flows from worship of who He is and from understanding His desire to commune with us.  Teykl offers some key questions to help readers develop their own crafted prayers for situations they are facing—or situations God has placed upon their hearts.

  • What do you want to teach me through this situation?
  • How should I pray about this?
  • What do you want to do in and through this situation?1122171304e
  • How do you want us to change and grow?

To help me grasp the depths, I added these:

  • What do I not see or understand in this situation?
  • What more can I know (do I need to know) about God’s glory in the context of this situation?
  • How do I personally play into this situation (or a mirror of it in my own life)?

A vital component of ‘crafted prayers’ is the Word of God.  There is nothing that weighs upon our heart that God has not addressed in His Word.  Crafted prayers weave the Word of God into prayer—because both flow from His heart.  Seeking God’s heart in worship and prayer combined with seeking His heart in His Word provides the content for crafting words into prayers.

As Teykl says, this praying is ‘praying the answer’ from the beginning.  It is exciting; it is grounding…it is powerful.  God spoke the world into being with Words…we have the privilege of using words as we live out our lives.  Let’s use them well…for the good of others and the glory of God!

In this day and age where constant crises abound, deep prayers are so needed.   The immigration horrors, the political biting and devouring, this culture of shaming and disrespect that destroys people, the devaluing of life…the list is nearly endless.  Prayer IS participation.

Should God lead you to craft a prayer, won’t it you share it for others to join with you in storming the gates of heaven? Post it as a comment here, email it to me or post in on the Heartsong Facebook page!

NO MORE BULLIES!

Bullying is an increasing problem, but it isn’t a new problem nor is it confined to schools.   Social-media bullying is rampant; actually every area of life is vulnerable to the phenomenon of bullying. Businesses bully, politicians bully, police bully, minorities bully, families bully–and sadly, even Christians bully.

Bullying isn’t always violent, but it is always an attempt to control.  It manipulates, pressures, shames and intimidates.  It’s a learned behavior that destroys lives as it proclaims, “It’s all about ME!”

  • Bullies want their own way more they want anything else.
  • Bullies are bossy.
  • Bullies demand their own way when they want it & how they want it.

Bullies act as if they are God.

But the truth is GOD IS NEVER a bully and yet His way is the only way.

As Christians, we have the answer to ending bullying, and we need to work at it!  We can stop bullying…and the creation of bullies…by living as a child of the Most High God and helping others learn to do the same.

A World of Bullies

Self-centeredness and resentments are root causes of bullying in our world.  Selfishness and unhealed, open wounds create bullies…and victims.  Unforgiveness is poison to yourself and the world around you!

The answer for both self-centeredness and resentments is the same:  

Jesus, the Healer….Jesus, the reconciler.

Bullying is not solved by becoming a bigger bully.

Bullying stops when we refuse to bully–and when we refuse to be bullied–the same WAY Jesus responded.  Instead of taking offenses to heart and holding on to them, we must know who God is and who He created us (ourselves & our offenders) to be.

Victors not Victims

Knowing God as the Bible reveals Him to be gives us victorious courage.  We can walk through life secure in His care.  That does not mean we will never have trials.  Learning to trust God enough to die to self is a daily (moment-by-moment) necessity.

Jesus is the Way…and if we look at His life, we see His earthly life ended by bullies.  In America, that is not a common danger–though it is in some places and sometimes is true here.  Jim Elliott, who gave His life that others would have life, speaks eloquently to that concern:

Image result for he is no fool who gives up that which he cannot keep

Finally, the cure to bullying is in knowing the value of every life.  The King of Kings died on the cross for individuals–not the masses.  He died not as a martyr but as a sacrifice with great purpose:  destroy the works of the devil and re-open the Way to relationship with the Father in heaven.  He gave His life that we would be able to live in union with God and others.  Our lives flow with that power and purpose when He lives in us.

Victors over Bullying

  • Victors want God’s way more they want anything else.
  • Victors are humble and meek.
  • Victors respect people’s right to choose.
  • Victors bow before their God and enjoy His presence.

WE WANT TO HELP YOU, HELP CHILDREN BECOME VICTORS OVER BULLYING WITH – NO MORE BULLIES!

God NEVER bullies. He is humble, generous and good.  His Way is the way to end bullying!  Jesus is that Way! This brief powerpoint helps you discuss these deep truths with children.  Let’s be part of building the solution.

No More Bullies – Powerpoint Presentation

12 minute slide presentation to be used to discuss bullying from a Christian viewpoint. Includes narration, notes and suggestions for supplemental activities. Purchasers are welcome to shut off the narration and lead the discussion more interactively if they are comfortable doing so.

$1.99

 

Let the Weeds Teach You

It’s my annual battle with the weeds of South Carolina that live on a precious old fence in our yard.  Weeds is a misnomer.  They are invasive aggressors that strangle, kill and destroy.  Every spring I tackle the vines and try new approaches.  Each year I’ve cut the fence a bit freer; I’ve used weed barrier and mulch.  Each year, the vines thrive.  Now, truth is, they are pretty, and they do give shade.  The work hasn’t been wasted…the blueberry bushes and old rose bush have also thrived.  But the vines are destructive; they need to go.

Every year, it strikes me how the vines are like sin in our lives.  The vines do look good when they are kept under control.  But the work of keeping them under control gets harder and harder.  The battle is never-ending.  The big roots grow stronger–thicker, hairier and uglier.  The young vines wind around everything!   Sin is the same.  It can’t be managed; it must be given to Jesus Christ.  It is the only thing we really can give Him…He died for it.  He wants to destroy it.  He is able.

Clearing Out
The annual battle against the vines always makes me think of what it must have been like to settle the Carolinas. But it also makes me think of the battle against sin. The leafy greens hide twining young roots–and hairy giant roots that latch onto structures. The roots force their way around structures and tear it apart. Isn’t that like sin? It can look good on the outside. But it covers a massive mess of destruction. It won’t go away just by changing behaviors & cutting out the symptoms. The roots just go stronger and go deeper.
Looking Deeper
The tangled roots are nasty…and hard to remove. Sometimes they even strangle other vines or even kill healthy, productive plants/trees. Sin that roots deeply in us becomes a playground for unholy spirits that make things even worse. Exposing the roots is a step toward healing.
Losses & Costs
It’s been about 5 years I’ve fought these vines–and fought to keep the fence they were attached to. I love history; I loved the old picket fence. But the weeds did too much damage. Sometimes we feel the same about sin…we’re afraid to let God have His way for fear of what it will cost us…what we will have to lose. But not removing it, is a losing battle!
Partners
Clean up is as much work as destroying the weeds! We need others to help us. Thankful for the patient help of this guy! He’s been advocating for ripping out the fence for years…but let me decide when I was ready. That’s an approach that works in spiritual matters too.
The next generation
There is some fun in the hard work of conquering the invasive weeds. Got Riesa into the project with a bit of a bribe…but she did great! We have to pass on the spiritual fight to the next generation too. God doesn’t have Grandkids! We all have to learn to fight those spiritual battles.

We all have weeds in our lives.  Jesus came to destroy the work of the enemy who sowed the seeds that became sin that needs to be fought against.  This website has a wealth of tools for spiritual warfare.  Browse about.  Send a note if you can’t find what you are looking for.  Victory is ours as children of the King.

Courage for Life!

Life is hard.  Suicide is NOT the answer.

There are no easy answers and no short cuts to the clichéd idea of ‘a life worth living.’  The spate of suicides we’ve seen among the rich & famous scream out the emptiness of fame and fortune.  The devastating statistics on addiction declare a dead-end for escaping through mind-altering drugs. LIFE is worth living!

There is only one path to full, abundant living:  Jesus Christ.  He understood–and understands–the difficulties of life and made a way where it seemed there was no way.

John 16 33

ALL life is a gift from the God of the Bible…the One who spoke the world into being and created from nothing.  There is but One God.  He doesn’t want life to be hard…but He uses the ‘hardness’ to draw us to Himself.  He wants us to bring the hard things to Him, trusting His plans for us are good–and His power to accomplish those plans sufficient!

omins

The courage we need to face life is found only in the character of God.  We must know who He is and live in that awareness.  What our mind knows that our heart can’t feel is useless to us.  It isn’t being able to state the ‘omni’s’ of God; it is being able to rest in those truths.

As difficult things come to us, we need to rest on the Truths of God’s identity–and our own.  We who believe in Jesus Christ–in the truth that we are lost/doomed to a dark eternity without the Saving work of Christ–are God’s beloved children; His chosen.  Those who do not have that kind of faith in God seek to make their own way to peace.  It is a hard road with a harder ending.

If you have faith but not victory, this short video from Kirk Cameron might give some insights on enjoying the benefits of relationship that aren’t found in religion.  If you do not have any faith, my prayer is that this same video will give you hope and this one offer clarity.

The essence of ‘salvation’ – of believing that Jesus is our personal need – is a reality we must live moment by moment.  Salvation is a one-time decision; living its truth is a daily necessity.  The Bible IS a light for our path.  We need to mine it daily to find the Truths that will transform even the hardest things into treasures from the King Himself.  God meets us right where we are if we will turn to Him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FWvRRufMIE

God’s children can know that He is present in every difficulty.  Any challenge is a Father-filtered reality and His love surrounds it.  There is nothing that happens in our lives that takes Him by surprise or derails the good plans He has for us.  His power is unlimited.  What He purposes will take place.  He promises guidance.

Our task in life is simply this:  seek God’s face in all things.  In His presence is purpose and peace…abundant life for us and those around us.  He wants us to be connected to each other, loving each other and spreading His glory as we live.

How can I pray for you?

Comment below or send an email to:

billiejoyoumans@heartsongministry.net

 

Living in the Presence of God

When we accept the completed work of Christ for salvation, we actually enter into eternal life as we walk our earthly path. So, why doesn’t this life feel like heaven on earth?  Why are believers as apt to have divorces, addictions and chaos as non-believers?  It ought not be! It need not be so…the choice is ours to make!

Jesus came to give us abundant life and to destroy the works of the devil!  He taught his disciples to pray “Our Father who is in heaven, holy is your name…thy kingdom come, thy will be done…”, and we pray that.  As believers, we don’t pray wishes, we seek the Father and know that our prayers are “Yes and Amen” in Jesus Christ.  But asking in the Name of Christ involves living in the character of Christ–and allowing the resurrection life of Christ within to express itself in the details of our days.  Living in the presence of God is living life with a heart that is worshiping at the foot of the Cross.  It is why Heartsong exists–for we cannot know the song God has placed in our heart until we hear the love He poured out at the Cross.

Heartsong Logo jpg

I recently had the joy of sharing truths about this awesome topic at the Path of Life Camp in upstate New York.  I’ve been waiting to ‘tweak’ my Powerpoints and polish them up a bit before sharing on the website. However, life is full and abundantly blessed, and I’m not getting the tweaking done.  So, I’m sharing with you, the Powerpoints and audio (complete with the barking dogs that live in my home) with the faith in the work of the Father, Son & Spirit as you listen.  It is my hope to unpack these teachings into much more manageable ‘bite-sized’ bits, but for now feast and enjoy.  May they nourish your spirit and help you see the Kingdom now!

LIVING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

The first link will take you to a Powerpoint online file.  The second is a practice audio that goes with the Powerpoint.  You may be a bit challenged in knowing when to change slides but simply listen and move backward and forward through the powerpoint as you need to!  I would love to hear how the Spirit speaks to you as you seek to spend more time in the Presence of God!

Called Into His Presencerest in gods goodness

audio link https://1drv.ms/u/s!AlJka36X3C-asnC4rSlRFUILvJr-

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When Honoring is Hard

For many, it is the most ‘sentimental’ day of the year.  It can be a day of joy or a day of despair or even resentment.  Not all feel blessed by their birth families—not all are blessed.  Many have lost their parents and grieve what was and what might have been.  We live in a broken world.  Pain is part of it.  Honor transcends it!

Mother’s Day (and Father’s Day) are great times to celebrate the legacy we each can live.

In honesty, it’s taken me decades to deeply enjoy these days set aside for honor.   The superficiality of Hallmark ‘moments’ don’t blend with the depths of reality I find.  The challenges of close relationships, the pain of loss and the joys of loving are beautiful because of their imperfections.   Maturity allows me to receive both as gifts from God for me to do with as He wills. When I do as He wills, blessings abound!

Shallow sentimentality has nothing to do with the history or reality of honoring our parents.  In less than two decades after Mother’s Day became a holiday Anna Jarvis, the lady who campaigned for the day to be recognized, became so appalled with the commercialization, she begged to have the day removed from the calendar.  Yet, she created a tradition that loves what God loves and longs for us to love too.  Awareness of the shallows may be just the door we need to enter into the depths of honoring the gift of our parents.

Children, and by default, parents, are chosen for us by God.  They are gifts, a heritage—just as we are the Lord’s heritage.  God is so passionate that we recognize our families as such, He included honoring parents in the Law given to Moses and repeated it throughout Scripture.  In fact, it is a law that brings either blessings or curses.  We choose by whether we obey the command to honor–or not.

The Word honor includes the concepts of ‘weight,’ glory, reverence and respect.  In both the New and the Old Testament, it is given as a command that includes the promise of long life.  Honoring our parents is the key to living legacies!  If we want our lives to matter—and I believe everyone does—we must learn to honor our past.

Without honor, the broken-ness of generations simply gets passed down to the next generation.  Those things in our family heritage that do not align with God’s plan are ours to change.  We touch the future when we cover the broken-ness with the blood of Jesus Christ.

Despite the Hallmark view of parenthood, none of us are the superman or woman characterized for Father’s or Mother’s Day.  Neither were the parents of Scripture that God commanded to be honored.  There are no perfect people (except Jesus) to be found in the Scriptures.  The parents we see in the Word had flaws–just like us and just like our parents.  We honor our parents as gifts given by God.  Each of us has the glorious privilege of receiving the good, noble parts of our heritage and giving God thanks.  We have the even greater privilege of receiving the less noble, committing it to the redemption of Christ and rejoicing more deeply at His goodness and transforming power.

IF YOU STRUGGLE to honor a parent who has betrayed you, believe that God does work all things together for the good of those called according to His purposes.  Receiving the imperfections and failures of our parents and covering them with the forgiveness Christ offers is the greatest honor we can give.

Do you remember how Noah’s one son mocked his father’s failures and received a curse?  The other sons averted their eyes and covered their father with a blanket.  Parents err.  As adults we must choose not to gaze on the failures but on the covering of Christ who makes all things new.

Embrace your legacy and pass it on with even more blessings!

Does the Promised Land have droughts?

When God delivered His kids from captivity, He said residency in the Promised Land was conditional.  That’s a timeless truth.  The promised land is nothing like the world, and dwelling in it requires a total change.  In the Promised Land, God is the caretaker and our trust must be totally in Him.  Look at how Moses described it to those about to enter in:

“it is a land that the LORD your God cares for. He watches over it through each season of the year!”  Genesis 11:12

It seems like that would be a glorious reality, but the temptation Adam fell to in the Garden of Eden is ours as well.  Living in the Promised Land requires faithful obedience.  Our human nature…which we have been delivered from… still tempts us to redeem ourselves. It is a dead-end temptation.

When Adam abdicated his responsibility as caretaker in the Garden of Eden, a curse on the ground was part of the result.  As the Israelites prepared to enter the Promised Land, God’s word revealed that He alone redeems from the consequences of sin.  Even the curse of the ground will be taken care of for those who obey God…because walking in His ways reveals our love for Him and our trust in Him.  That was God’s desire at Creation and it remains His desire.  There is no other way to a full life than following the Creator Redeemer.

Those who enter the Promised Land through faith in Christ but turn away to worship and serve lesser gods (ie pleasure, power, wealth, knowledge, performance) will find both the heavens and earth shut up.  There will be drought and barren-ness even in the Promised Land.  If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you do not have to live in a sun-scorched land.  Jesus came, suffered and died so we could have abundant life!

“…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”  John 10:10b

Moses told the people God sets before them a choice:  blessing or cursing.  Because of Jesus, we have the same choice…and even better, Jesus is the power source for fulfilling that choice.  In our natural state, we are sold into the slavery of sin.  We are created beings designed to worship.  Either we worship what ‘seems good to us’ or we worship the Creator Redeemer.  There is a way that seems good to man–many of them.  But Proverbs says that way is the way of death.  The only choice natural man has that leads to life is Jesus Christ.  When that choice is made, all things are possible and the choices are vast!  Jesus is the way to abundant life!

But it is not the ‘easy way.’  Again, we can learn from the words of Moses.

And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. Deuteronomy 12:3

When we enter into eternal life–which begins here on earth the moment we accept Christ–there is work to do.  We enter in with baggage; we enter in with altars that need to be tore down, pillars that must be smashed, and groves of places we have worshiped false gods.  All of that must be removed.  Our earthly life is to become an altar to the One True God.

The altars are the places we have sacrificed.  It is different for each of us.  Some have sacrificed to altars of comfort, some to altars of the praise of men.  We each have our stumbling blocks.  God will reveal them.  The pillars are the beautiful things we decorate our idolatry with. (‘I need this fishing boat to relax and hear God.’  ‘I need this car so I can go help others.’ ) Jesus is our only need.  Some translations use ‘asherah poles’ instead of groves.  Those relate to the ‘fruit’ we claim from our idolatry.  God alone gives increase without trouble; we never need to deviate from His ways to produce good.  (‘I have to get mad to be heard.’)  God will lead every step of the way if we keep our heart soft to His look, to His pressure.  He is cheering us on not berating us for our failures.

Those are battles that must be fought to take possession of the Promised Land.  God is the one who fights for us.  He will destroy our enemies, but we must seek His face continually.  He loves the weak and inadequate.  In fact, that is who He chooses.  There are great and precious promises we must discover in the Scriptures and make our own by living on those promises.  Jesus is the Living Word.

As we read the Word and seek to put it into action in the dusty details of our days, the very presence of God surrounds us.  The heavens and earth open up as we walk in confidence of God’s goodness.  It is not our perfect adherence to the Word we read…it is our heart desire to do what He asks that brings the Kingdom to God to the broken world.

If you are a Christian not experiencing the abundant life, here is a great passage to begin feasting upon.

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to[a] his own glory and excellence,[b] 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue,[c] and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities[d] are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers,[e] be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.  (2 Peter – ESV)

You, reader, lack nothing!  He promises He will be found by those who seek Him with all their heart.  He is always faithful to His promises.  Our Father owns it all and has great plans and purposes for us.  Those plans and purposes will not always look like we envision but the truth holds fast:  His plans are good and for our benefit.  May our hearts be like Jesus, so confident in the power and goodness of the Father, we always say, “Not my will but thine be done.”

And one last thing…how will we know we are living the abundant life?  We will rejoice in worshiping God alone!  We will bow before the Cross with a heart that rejoices!

Heartsong Logo jpg

Are you seeing God clearly?

unsplash-logoAndrew Charneyandrew-charney-608326-unsplash

Family Mission Statement

Have you ever considered writing a family mission statement?  It is a great endeavor.  Years ago as we completed a Crown Financial Ministries Money Map, we were asked to do just that.  As I went over paperwork for tax season, that ‘Money Map’ was in my folder.  It blended so perfectly with my morning devotion time, I want to share the concept with others.  As Christians, we are on a mission for the King of Kings!

This life is all about opportunities for eternity.  It is so easy to become distracted with the earthly that we miss the eternal seedings always possible.  The concept of the Mission Statement is simple.  Take a few moments and consider God’s desire for your life as a family (or as an individual) and build all of your earthly decisions upon that.  Our earthly lives matter…and so does every life we encounter.  Sowing is done in the relationships of life.

Let’s purpose to use the opportunities of today for the good of all we encounter–and the glory of the only One who is Good!  The text in purple is the outline for your Mission Statement.  The text of ours is just a sample.  I’d love to see what God lays upon your heart.  Post back, won’t you?

Describe your purpose as related to:

Relationship with God:  That we will draw closer to God; learn more about who He is and what His plans, purposes & desires for each of us are.

Relationship with family and friends:  That we will be a reflection of God’s love & grace in the lives of others; that we will encourage & exhort others; that we will grow & stay strong in Christ for others; that we will see our weaknesses & failings in light of relationship to others; that we will share the hope Goad has given us; that we will guide & direct our children onto paths of God’s saving grace; that we will live as an example & source of sustenance as we go about our lives.

Summary of our family purpose:  To seek God often and more fully that we might better know Him & reflect Him in our daily lives.  To share God’s love, grace & hope with others.

Family verse:  2 Peter 3:18  But grow in grace & knowledge of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be glory both now & forever.