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Well, like I said, the hospital is not where I wanted to start the new year, but that is where I was. It wasn’t too bad at first, but by Tuesday morning I really wanted to go home. Then something interesting happened. God began to move!
He put the most wonderful nurses with me and as we talked people found out about the book. One nurse bought it for her dad. Then another saw the title and said right away that she, too wanted a copy. She said that twice people had given her words from the Lord ending in the sentence, “You are going to have to walk it out.”
Others began to find out and nurses were reading it on break and by the end I was invited to speak at four different places and had sold 12 books! It reminds me that no matter how things look, or how we feel about them, God is always looking for opportunities to show Himself mighty. We just have to give Him the opportunities. The other thing it reminds me is that we really need to be connected to our brothers and sisters. I know things would not have turned out the way they had if people hadn’t been praying for me. Lots and lots of people prayed and because of their prayers, God got the glory!
Now I’m home again, and very glad to be here. I’m just hoping that my many friends who were praying will not stop. There are still so many challenges. We need lots of prayer just for daily living, let alone believing for the miracle we know God wants to give us. Thanks for standing with us until I can stand with you.
The hospital is the last place from which I planned to kick off the new year but here I am! So I feel that my desire to stay focused is already being seriously challenged. Life is full of distractions both from around us and within ourselves.
It always helps to remember how short our time here really is. Hospitals are good reminders. In the same half hour I hear the sweet lullaby announcing a new life and a code red warning the end of another. With such a small unknown amount of time it seems best to have a clear cut understanding of what God is calling us to do and a vision for how to get it done.
At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.
Revelation 1 5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Numbers 16:9
Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister untothem?
The one thing we are all called to is to minister to the Lord in worship. If we can get that part down, the rest follows more easily. Making time in our schedules and space in our minds for worship is often the hardest part. Once we understand that we have been called and set apart for Him and we make ministering to God a priority, things start to happen. The grip that our flesh and the world has on us stats to weaken and a passion for God starts to take over. Then the fun really begins! Our hearts and minds are opened to the things of God and His Kingdom and one day we wake up and the fires of His altar have utterly consumed us and we are left with a joy and love that is contagious and we leave that altar and carry His presence to everyone around us in the working out of our Earthly missions.
When I was 14 a guy named Billy Beecham came and preached to our youth group at the First Baptist Church. It was probably the most unforgettable sermon I’ve ever heard. The Holy Spirit was so obviously present. I still remember one of the songs we sang during worship and how desperately my heart cried out to God. I wanted as much of God as I could get.
Then Billy Beecham stood up and preached the best news I’d ever heard. He said, “You can have as much of God as you want!” I grabbed hold of those words and ran with it. I didn’t have to be left waiting in the outer courts longing for nearness with the object of my passion. I could enter into the Holy of Holies. I had no idea how many battles it would require and I didn’t care. I wanted Him and I realized He wanted me even more. I determined then that nothing would get in my way!
I wasn’t exactly considered to be a “well rounded” kid. I decided there were a lot of things I could pursue but that would take time away from my one real passion, Jesus. There were a lot of things I could have done differently had I been more mature, but I don’t regret one minute that I spent seeking God. I don’t wish I went to more parties or more football games. Maybe I was a little odd, but no on ever did anything great by making following the crowd her goal.
So here I am decades later and I still want more and more of God. I know I can have more but I also know the responsibility is on me. Jesus already did His part. Now I have to decide how badly I really want this intimacy with God that I long for and how much I’m willing to sacrifice to get it. Dividing time between spouses, kids and work takes more discernment than just not going to a football game. We could easily rationalize or “guilt” ourselves out of time with God and miss everything He has for us. It reminds me of the old Keith Green song that says, “I pledge my head, I pledge my wife. I pledge my son to Heaven for the gospel.”
The bottom line is this: nothing is more important than seeking God. The other thing Billy said that I’ll never forget was, “Get usable and God will wear you out!” The more of Jesus and the less of ourselves in our lives the more he can use us. One of my friends used to teasingly call me a monk because I was so content to just seek God, but the reality is when we seek Him, he sends us out. The only way to “get usable” is to spend a lot of time with the Lord, die to ourselves and be filled with Him. That’s it. It’s not easy, but it’s simple.
I never want to lose the edge of that passionate 14 year old kid. Nothing really matters but Him. Nothing.
Passage Mark 4:19:
19Then the cares and anxieties of the world and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless.
Unfortunately, I must confess that this verse could be stamped across 2008 for me. The anxieties and distractions were many, and although I didn’t run off and join the circus or anything crazy, I have felt that creeping and suffocating feeling that comes when I get distracted by the things of this world. Marriage, children, financial obligations and health issues can be overwhelming and can become real distractions.
Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” It really doesn’t matter how good or seemingly important the things on Earth seem (like family or even ministry) they will distract us from what our focus should be (Jesus) if we are not diligent. I was very focused on the Lord as a teen and I had a youth minister tell me once that if I got too Heavenly minded I’d be no Earthly good. I don’t think we need to worry about that. Becoming religious will destroy you and your witness, but truly keeping a Kingdom focus will steer you right into the heart of God, which will in turn thrust you into the middle of broken humanity where He can use you.
I have a fierceness in my heart right now. I absolutely refuse to be taken off course by life! I am angry that the enemy would try to interfere with God’s plans for me and I am angry with myself for becoming distracted. I am in a “take no prisoners” kind of mood. I am not willing to lose the edge that the Lord has given to a few little distractions like the economy or illness or whatever!
I am going to begin the new year with a fast and I encourage you to do the same. It is one of the best tools the Lord has given us (not to mention that Mark 2:20 makes it clear that we are to be fasting) to clear our minds of worldly clutter and maintain our focus.
I not only desire to have the Lord as the focus of my life, I truly believe that this year it will prove to be absolutely vital! Blessings to you as you seek Him and His direction for this new season.
