Posted on in 2012 Posts

Setting You Up

Since I am moving this week, I asked a blogging friend to be my guest this week.  I feel that her message was very pertinenent to my life right now as I hope it is for you as well.  We always need to be watching for how God is at work in our lives.  I hope to be back next week, but for now, please enjoy what my friend, Tristine has to share!  Also, notice her wonderful artwork as well.  Take it away, Tristine!  (I always wanted to say that!)

The Message version translates Isaiah 49:6 this way:

“I’m setting you up as a light for the nations so that My salvation becomes global.”

(I often use The Message translation because I believe it speaks more power and realness into our modern world and way of thinking. Eugene H. Peterson started out as a teacher in biblical languages of Hebrew and Greek, and used the original texts for authenticity, so I hold no shame in using this translation.)

Many other versions simply say:

“I will also make you a light for the nations (or Gentiles), to be My salvation to the ends of the earth.”

As you can see from this scripture, compared to other translations, it’s not very different in context.

I love the imagery Peterson uses with the words, “setting you up.” What comes to your mind when you read those words? That God’s preparing you? Getting you ready for something? Establishing you? Placing you right where you belong?

“As a light,” seems clear enough, right? But let’s consider the word, light, as a noun:

light

1. something that makes things visible or affords illumination; 2. a type of radiant energy; 3. the sensation produced by stimulation of the organs of sight; 4. an illuminating agent or source, as the sun, a lamp, or a beacon; 5. a particular light or illumination in which an object seen takes on a certain appearance; 6. a device for or means of igniting, as a spark, flame, or match: 7. the aspect in which a thing appears or is regarded; 8. the state of being visible, exposed to view, or revealed to public notice or knowledge; 9. a person who is an outstanding leader, celebrity, or example; 10. spiritual illumination or awareness; enlightenment.

As you can see, there are a lot of definitions. Now let’s look at the meaning as a verb:

1. to set burning, as a candle, lamp, fire, match, kindle or ignite; 2. to turn or switch on; 3. to give light to; furnish with light or illumination; 4. to make (an area or object) bright with or as if with light; 5. to cause (the face, surroundings, etc.) to brighten, especially with joy, animation, or the like.

So we can break the first part of this scripture down to something like this:

God is getting me ready, preparing me, and placing me right where He needs me to be so I can be the source of His illumination. I will expose God’s goodness with a public notice and acknowledgement. I will be an outstanding leader and example, enlightening others with the awareness of who God is.

And now we can use this scripture as a prayer:

Father, illuminate me, set me up as a burning lamp to light the way for others to find You. Make me bright.  Cause me to brighten the lives of others with joy and laughter and hope. Use me to make Your Holiness visible to everyone around the world. With one spark, I will ignite those around me with God’s salvation.

Making God’s salvation global can be done in so many ways: missionaries, giving to a charity organization, donating your time as a volunteer, blogging for charity organizations, telling others what you are doing and inspiring them to do the same.

I write this blog in the comfort of my home, most of the time in my pajamas. I have often wondered why I even write this, and what it matters in the “grand scheme of things.” But as I mentioned on Tuesday, the little effort I’m making, God is using in miraculous ways! When I think I’m not doing anything at all to be a light to the nations, God is working behind the scenes.

Sometimes it’s the little things. One smile at someone can trigger them to suddenly feel confident, and the next thing they know, they’re doing something nice for someone else.

God’s goodness has a rippling effect, and we need to consider just how far it goes: to the ends of the earth!

Tristine Fleming is a freelance writer, compassionate volunteer, semi-frazzled stay at home mommy, lover of food, recipe treasure hunter, and all around great cook (and is a sucker for pastries, cakes, books, magazines, and fancy shoes). She attended Columbia College of Chicago as a Fiction Writing major, and resides in Kenosha, Wisconsin with her husband Jared, and their toddling little guy, Tavin. Her blog, NOTE TO SELF: Daily Reminders from God, has blessed and encouraged men and women across the globe, and is linked to international charity organizations such as Gospel for Asia and Compassion International.  Since November 2011, Tristine’s blog has inspired readers to sponsor fourteen children through Gospel for Asia’s, Bridge of Hope program.

Posted on in 2012 Posts

Who? Me? I Am NOT a Control Freak!

Our daughter is preparing for the birth of her first baby in the days ahead.  There has been talk about a possible c-section and she was making plans for the day she wanted to have it done.  As we talked, it occurred to me that even though she’s been in the driver’s seat most of her life, the baby was calling the shots this time.  This was a matter that even though being able to dictate the time and day would be convenient and a lot easier to prepare for, in this situation, it was not that easy.  Throughout the conversation you could see a light come on when she finally realized, “I am not in control of this matter at all; rather this little one with soon to be poopy pants holds all the power.”  As a matter of fact, even her doctor picked up on her desire to plan this unplannable situation out and said, “Yes, even control freaks can have babies!”

We laugh about it, but there are times when I think needing to control everything is not good for our spiritual growth.  We serve a Supernatural God and there is nothing about Him that we can control if we truly want to experience Him in His fullest.  There are many who “control” their spiritual lives allowing only the known to be a part of their daily walk with God.  However, it is those precious times when God shows up on the scene and makes Himself known that encourages me and strengthens my walk.  These times reinforce that I am not serving a distant or uncaring God; rather, He is right here beside me all the way.

The world we live in teaches us in certain areas of our lives to make things happen…take control of your destiny…if you don’t do it, no one else will.  You’ve heard those comments before haven’t you?  Just like the man in my photo today though, often the ropes that we play tug of war with trying to maintain control and have our way have a funny way of wrapping themselves around us…holding us in bondage day after day.  At some point, we begin to look silly for hanging onto those things that bind us.  At one point the man in the photo was confidently tugging and fighting to stay in control.  Eventually, he found himself tangled in a mess of ropes, wondering just how he got to that point.  Trying to serve God while maintaining control of everything in our lives is almost as silly as us telling our daughter to hold it until we can be there for the birth of our grandchild.  It just doesn’t happen.

We see God work miracles in the Bible over and over.  So why do we pause to question it when He does today?  Is He not the same God today as yesterday?  If I believe in the Bible, I must also believe that God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  He is never changing.  One thing that I gleaned from the book titled, Forgotten God by Francis Chan, was the fact that God is Creative.  He in fact is the Creator.  He doesn’t do the same trick over and over so to speak.  Instead, He shows His power in a variety of ways and rarely does the same miracle twice.  So why are we surprised when He does something miraculous in our lives that we’ve never experienced before?

I get excited when I see Him at work and rejoice in the fact I serve a Living God.  Yes, sometimes when He shows Himself in a situation, it is surprising and catches us off guard.  However, we can’t control God.  If we continue to choose to keep Him safely in His box we have created for Him, we will never enjoy all He has to offer in this life.  When we learn to allow God to hold the reigns of our life and control our comings and goings, we will be free indeed to experience His miraculous power in our lives.  Yes, even control freaks can learn to let go and let God!  And when they do…it is a beautiful thing!

What are you holding onto that you know if you let go of, God could do a much better job handling?  Have you judged someone because they had an experience in the manifest presence of God?  Just because God didn’t show Himself to you in that way, do you automatically think something’s wrong with them?  We can’t go through life chasing emotional spiritual experiences—that’s a fact.  However, when we finally get to the place of letting go and letting God, He is free to show Himself in bigger ways than before.  He loves to be in the driver’s seat…taking us to destinations unknown…ones He knows will bless our socks off!

May you be freed from those things you feel the need to control and bask in the freedom of God’s Spirit this week.

Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Galatians 4:9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

Posted on in 2012 Posts

Who Of Us Is Sure We Will Be Here Tomorrow?

As tornadoes ripped through the Midwest on Friday, many in the Cincinnati area stayed close to the T.V. for updates on where the storms were headed.  Relatives from out of town checked in with us too in order to make sure that we weren’t in the path of the storms.  Personally, I looked out and didn’t see much activity so I continued with my planned activities not thinking too much about it all.  I did send the kids texts though and told them to be aware as the weather may take a turn for the worse.

This is not the first time in my life I’ve been very close to a life-taking tornado as I lived in Springfield, OH when the Xenia, OH storms came through back in 1974.  They killed 32 people that day.  I was walking home from school when my great aunt and uncle sped up to where we were and told us to get into the car fast as the tornadoes were near.  Again, I thought to myself, they are certainly over-reacting; it’s probably not that bad.  However, it was and it was not that far away.

I’ve been told that I often look at life as a glass half-full versus those whose glass is always half-empty.  I think this can be harmful sometimes especially in cases like these.  I walk through life never thinking anything will happen to me or those I love; when in fact we could all be taken away this instant if God chooses to do so.  As Christians, I don’t think this attitude is always healthy.  If we have the attitude that our unsaved friends and family will be here the next time we get together so we can tell them about Jesus then, it may be too late.  We can’t go through life thinking, “We always have tomorrow.”  I am sure there were many who woke up in cities like Henryville, Indiana or West Liberty, Kentucky, and never once thought Friday might be their last.

My heart goes out to those who lost loved ones in the storms and I hope that I never personally have to experience such a loss in my lifetime.  However, I think this week of tornadoes and tragedy is a wake-up call for those of us walking through life carefree.  I am not saying that we need to be all about doom and gloom.  However, I am saying that we should live every day as though it is our last.  None of us know what tomorrow brings.  Who do you need to talk to today?

James 4:13-14 (NKJV) Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”;  whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

Just as a note, there are many organizations taking donations for those affected by the storms.  Locally in Cincinnati, Matthew 25 Ministries is organizing an effort to help if you would like to drop off supplies or donate cash.  Visit their website to see items most in need.