Quinceañera and Nana

Next week my granddaughter will have the experience of a lifetime. Her parents are showering her with a major birthday celebration called a Quinceañera that she might have experience some of her Spanish heritage. Being a former Yankee but now transplanted Texan, I have attempted to know more about this event and why it is so very important. I found that it is her transition from childhood to womanhood. This celebration’s history began long ago to mark the coming-of-age rituals to mark a girl's independence as a woman. One of the traditions is to have her shoes changed from flats to heels, dance the first dance with her father and to be given a Bible showing the world that this is not just a birthday but rather a birthday with a spiritual emphasis.

Recently I had a week with my precious family and had time with my granddaughter. One of the wonderful gifts she gave me was her willingness to obey, her willingness to please her grandfather. He had noted her bedroom needed a tad bit of cleaning and encouraged her to do so. She did in fact please him with her obedience to that task and that made her Grandpa proud and pleased.

But, back to the event at hand. So how do we fit into all of this? My husband, Christina's grandfather, has an important role in that he is the one that will present her with the spiritual side with a gift of a Bible, a prayer and a word of spiritual wisdom.

For me, I have been gathering my prayer cards together and have collated the verses I have been choosing at the beginning of each school year since Christina began first grade. My focus was to pray for her to develop her character according to biblical standards. I am “pleased as punch” to say that many of my prayers for her have already been answered. But, that does not mean I am at the stopping point. She is just 15 and there are many more years ahead.

Here is one of my prayer examples from Prov 30:24-28

There are four things on earth that are small, but they are exceedingly wise:
(the character trait that year was on wisdom)
Ants are creatures with little strength, but they prepare their food in the summer;
(character trait of diligence to work in anticipation of future needs, thus to not wait to accomplish chores, school work)
Rock badgers are creatures with little power, but they make their homes in the crags;
(character trait of discernment- a crag is a steep, rugged rock, projecting out of a huge rock, thus one must choose wisely in just the right place of safety)
Locusts have no king, but they all go forward by ranks;
(here the character trait of teamwork – and symbolizing strength as one follows Christ in all duties)
The Spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces
( in the NET this word is lizard yet the spider was the one chosen as I was also curiously studying and reading the book of Esther. The spider gives us a picture of an insect who is skillful and crafts her web with beauty and intricate details. Thus the character trait is one of skill and beauty.)

As I prepare for this marvelous and exciting event in my granddaughter’s life, I pray that I might take to heart that I am but one of her spiritual advisors and may God give me grace to pray wisely for her. I will be presenting these verses to her in a journal just for her.

Perhaps you might take this challenge for your grandchildren.

G.A.P.Eternal Perspective

G.A.P. (God’s Abiding Principle) which comes from this verse: Is 55: 8-9 “Indeed, my plans are not like your plans…and my plans are superior to your plans.” Thus: have an eternal perspective.

The disciples give us a glimpse of how they did not have that yet idea firmly entrenched in their minds. Looking at our own lives, we as well, do not have an eternal perspective in terms of those who are “suffering”. As we read the story of the blind man whom Jesus healed in John 9, we find ourselves being shocked by the question of the disciples. How could they be so insensitive? But, if we are honest with ourselves, how often do we ask the same? They asked: “Rabbi, who committed the sin that caused him to be born blind, this man or his parents?” In other words, why has this been allowed to happen? Jesus answered them that there was no sin. The word here is “oute” and has the idea NO, EMPHATICALLY, there is not a question of sin at all. In fact, if you had an eternal perspective you would know that God’s plans were executed perfectly for one reason---so the acts of God may be revealed, through what happens to him. As I re-read this story I find how much like the disciples I am. (I am speaking to my own heart here) I have to stop and ponder what Jesus is really saying because often, I, like the disciples, have that mindset or I am too “busy”, meaning I am talking rather than listening, asking the proverbial question: why God? How often do my questions take center stage instead of looking for what God is going to do? Do I really believe Rom 8:28 or am I merely quoting a verse out of memory? How often are my eyes focused on the here and now and not on the eternal? James said faith without works is dead. He also asks: You say you have faith? Where is the work of the eternal perspective? Good question to ponder.

As I do the prayer log each week I remind myself of this enduring spiritual principle because of the depth of pain some are experiencing. It is to me an enigma for which I have no answer but I am also reminded that my work of faith is to pray that God’s plans, which are superior to mine, would be perfectly executed for an eternal reward. I pray that you too will join me in this season of quietness and prayer for those who are living out God’s plan, who are revealing His work so that the world would take notice but more importantly, He get the glory.

How Cool is this?

Hey there it is now Day 21 in our quest to be in the Word daily. What is God teaching you? Where are you reading and meditating? What is God teaching you? Here’s what God taught me today from Hebrews 10.
First: Jesus is the PERFECT sacrifice and God prepared it that way. “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me. Heb 10:5. Did you catch that idea? God prepared a body for Him…that means it was determined and executed.He chose His only begotten Son for this one and only perfect sacrifice and it had to be done with a body.

Secondly, If you understand that concept you are just one step away from being a child of God. As a child of God the author of Hebrews then gives us some very basic and practical applicable life changing steps to take!

1. Be confident brothers and sisters…you can enter God’s holy sanctuary
2. Draw near in your confidence, God is no longer far away or on a high mountain in fire and threatenings but is as near as the breath you take. But note it is that we must draw near with a sincere heart…none of this wavering well maybe so maybe not…you must be sincere about this. So how sincere are you today about your faith? Are you confident?
3. Hold unwaveringly to the hope you have within you…he who wavers is lost and is like the sea as it ebbs and flows back and forth. So don’t expect to receive anything from the Lord as you waver between yes and no. You must be unwavering, that is steadfast and immovable as Paul said in 1 Cor 15:58!
4. Then after you have come boldly before the throne of God, don’t just stay there! Jesus said “go, make disciples, baptize them, teach them” Sooooo friend, are you going?
5. Lastly in your going out into the “holy huddle” are you thinking? Is this on your mind? How can I spur someone else on to love others and to do good deeds thus working out their salvation.

Whoo hoo friend…how cool is that? Come near, get your heart recharged in the tent of meeting’s throne room! Be steadfast in your faith! Be steadfast in your in your hope! Go to believers and encourage, Go and find those who are lost and win them to the Lord!

Day 17: Mice, Men and Plans

Principle: God is Sovereign and Ruler over all, His dominion is both heaven and earth, He is planner and executor and yet He allows man to choose his way.

In the challenging novel written by John Steinbeck “Of Mice and Men” the characters make plans but they often go astray. They find themselves in places and circumstances that tragically end in death for the one softhearted individual in this cast of characters. A famous line from the book is “the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray” which was captured from Robert Burns poem “To a Mouse”. Frequently the phrase has been used often by people when they see their dreams go awry.

Steinbeck leaves the audience to ponder this thought but never gives a reason as to why and leaves us in the dark as to the other side of this coin. In contrast, authors of both the OT and the NT do reveal the other side of Steinbeck’s coin which gives us a hope and an answer to every man who asks (1 Pet 3:15 always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess)
1. God is Sovereign and in control (Is 14: 24, 27 “Be sure of this:
Just as I have intended, so it will be;the Lord...has a plan,and who can possibly frustrate it?
just as I have planned, it will happen.)
2. Man plans but God is the executor (Prov 16:9 KJV A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.)
3. God uses all of man’s plans to bring about His perfect sequence (Rom 8:28 we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose,)

Man plans but God brings about His intended purpose proving that He is the Sovereign of the Universe. The clearest example of this from scripture is found in Genesis where we read about the evil plans of Jacob’s sons to remove Joseph from their presence. You can almost hear the sons quoting Steinbeck/Burn’s statement as they stood before Joseph as a dignitary in Egypt. Gen 42:21 “Surely we’re being punished because of our brother, because we saw how distressed he was when he cried to us for mercy, but we refused to listen. That is why this distress has come on us!”; translated into today's pc lingo: “oh just dandy; our plans have gone amuck and look where we are now...we are in a heap of trouble" The brothers were unknowingly unaware that this was God’s intended purpose was to bring about the deliverance of His people in a time of famine. God orchestrated each movement in Joseph’s life to bring about His intended end.

The challenge before us is to see that even though we may plan, God is the one who lovingly and carefully brings about His intended purpose so that He alone gets the glory. Jeremiah wisely wrote: Jer 9:24 If people want to boast, they should boast about this: They should boast that they understand and know me. They should boast that they know and understand that I, the Lord, act out of faithfulness, fairness, and justice in the earth”

Prayer: Father, El Elyon, may we today stop and pause to worship you as the sovereign possessor of heaven and earth. May we know without a shadow of doubt that today has been planned in eternity past for such a time as this. May we trust you as the author and finisher of our faith and to see your purposes before our eyes so that we may boast in this: I know You, I understand that you are faithful, you are fair, you are just and all things bring about your good to those who love you.
Application: Keep track of today’s events and praise God as He executes His plan for your good.

True Piety

Piety: a reverence for God or devout fulfillment of religious obligations; the quality of being pious Synonyms : respect, veneration, awe, godliness, devotion, sanctity, holiness.
In contrast the antonym is irreverence; atheism, godlessness

True piety instills in us a desire to please God to live out the indwelling Fruit of the Spirit in all we do, say, think. Hebrews 5:7 says that Jesus’ prayers were heard because of his piety/devotion. Perhaps the author of Hebrews was thinking of Is 11:2-3 “the Lord’s spirit will rest on him...a spirit that gives extraordinary wisdom, a spirit that provides the ability to execute plans, a spirit that produces absolute loyalty to the Lord,” This is the Holy Spirit that came and anointed Jesus at his baptism. Verse 3 continues: He will take delight in obeying the Lord which takes us back to what true piety is; a desire to please God. In 2 Chron 7 we read God’s response to Solomon after the dedication of the Temple which are the characteristics that in pious people: a humbled self, seeking to please God, repudiate (that is reject with disapproval or condemnation) sinful practices. When God sees those characteristics, He hears, He responds, He forgives, He heals. 2 Chron 7:14.

Prayer: Father, El Elyon, God Most High, as you look down from heaven this day upon this your servant, may you see a heart of devotion as you saw in your Son, your only begotten Son, the one who is now crowned with glory and honor because he through his death destroyed the one who holds the power of death (that is the devil). May we be a people of humility, devotion, seeking your face so that our worship brings praise to You,e the Only Wise God, the author and finisher of our faith.

Application: Philip Yancey writes: “Whatever you do, don’t ignore God. Invite God into every aspect of your life” …Beware of those daily distractions that cause the focus of God to fade. Claim James 4:8 as your guide this day: “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you double-minded.”


Yancey, Philip “Reaching for the Invisible God”, Zondervan; 2000; pg 189.

Day 12: Fear God

1Peter 1:17: And if you address as Father the one who impartially judges according to each one’s work, live out the time of your temporary residence here in reverence (NET)
Or
1 Peter 1:17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;(NKJV)

Spiritual Principle: What does this word really mean? In listening to a sermon tonight the Pastor indicated it merely meant “awe”. Is that the true meaning of this word reverence/fear? In the Greek the word is fobov phobos (from a primary phebomai (to be put in fear); alarm or fright:-be afraid, + exceedingly, fear, terror.) To “fear” God is not only to be fearful of who God is, but fearful of His holiness, fear and revere His Name and His character.

What is Peter really saying in this verse? As he penned this book to those believers who were “temporarily residing” abroad it seems that he wanted to grab their attention as to how they were to conduct themselves in this temporary life. It was to be fearful not of the persecutors but of the Holiness of God that they would someday face in eternity. Do we have that fear of God? Do we live our lives daily moment by moment aware of His existence and His power and His Majesty? Do we live in not just “awe” but in fear? The OT Israelites were so fearful of God they told Moses to speak to Him for them. Do we have that fear? That reverence? It appears that we claim this promise from the book of Hebrews: come boldly before the throne of grace but we fail to grasp that we are entering the throne room of the Holy Almighty El Elyon God Most High. So how are we to come? Come with fear and reverence that comes from understanding that God is Holy beyond what our minds can comprehend. Philip Yancey writes in his book: Reaching for the Invisible God that Japanese Christians, unlike American Christians do not have a problem with this concept for they live in a culture of a monarch who has rule over all. Americans come to God with a wish list, the Japanese Christians come to God bowing in reverence. A missionary revealed their mindset: “We know how to come to God as humble servants with boldness, you don’t have to tell Japanese people about hierarchy. When they learn that God is Lord they immediately know all of the implications of that. They know who’s boss and that is never questioned. When they pray they use language that combines the highest forms of speech and the most intimate phrases of love and devotion. When they ask for something they ask with humility, knowing they have no right to what they’re asking except that God give them that very right to ask and promises to answer” Perhaps we might take a lesson from these as to how we are to approach God.

Application: Pro 9:10 The beginning of wisdom is to fear the Lord, and acknowledging the Holy One is understanding.
Is 57:15 For this is what the high and exalted one says, the one who rules forever, whose name is holy: “I dwell in an exalted and holy place, but also with the discouraged and humiliated, in order to cheer up the humiliated and to encourage the discouraged.”

Whoo Hoo

Saw God at work once again.Oh ye of little faith.Why do I get so anxious when God has a plan already in His pocket? Saw one more house this a.m. and it is perfect. Perfect plan for moving "once again"...which is such a pain but perfect because it is what we have to do and perfect for the price, the size and the location! Whoo Hoo. God you are one amazing God. This image is for me who always gets so anxious. May I remember this and learn from this experience.