Out of Your Reach?

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. (Romans 4:18-21 NIV)

I am at a point in my life where I feel hopeless. There is a goal that I greatly want to attain, but no matter how hard I try for it, I fail miserably. Every time. To overcome my temptation takes more willpower and determination than I possess of myself. Have you ever been there?

Abraham was there.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't make a child happen with Sarah. At one point, they take matters into their own hands, and Abraham has a child with Sarah's handmaid, Hagar--and look at how that changed the course of history forever...

So I've been tempted lately to take matters into my own hands, and traverse the "shortcut" offered by the world. I know that it's wrong, and that it's not a solution, just a further complication. But it's hard to believe, when I'm in the middle of failure that I am what God says I am.

Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:5)

So what am I to do to become an overcomer?

It's time to renew my focus. Not on the problem, but instead on the solution. I know that by God's strength I can overcome. I know that if I put my trust in Him, He will deliver. He has never failed me before.

So why is it so hard to do just what I need to do?

How did you miss Jesus?

How is it possible to go to church every Sunday and not see Jesus?

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. (Luke 24:13-16)

These two people had walked and talked with Jesus before the cross. They knew Him once. They heard of His crucifixion, and had even heard of His resurrection. He was standing right in front of them. And yet, they didn't know Him.

What kept them from recognizing Him?

[Jesus] said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! (Luke 24:25)

Lack of faith.

They heard, and yet they didn't believe...much. They sort of believed. Likely, they wanted to believe completely, but reason held them back. So Jesus reasoned with them.

In the World, Satan has perpetuated his lies and made them the standard of intellect. He claims Christianity is not a reasonable faith. And yet it has more evidence to back it up than the "theory" of evolution. Although I am not an apologist, and cannot argue with an atheist nearly as effectively as C.S. Lewis or Ravi Zacharias, I can not hide my head in the sand, either.

How is it possible that someone can work side by side with me everyday and not see Jesus in me?

Am I ready?

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. (1 Peter 3:15)

Am I actively reading the word?

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:26)

How can I walk the walk and talk the talk if I'm not letting Christ rule in me? Being a nice person is not enough. I have to understand God's purpose in my daily life, in each and every moment. I need to breathe Him in so I can exhale Him out. Only then will people see Jesus in me. Only then can I give the reason for my hope by the words He gives to me. And I'm not talking about beating people over the head with my faith. I'd hope that anyone who knows me would know that I wouldn't do that. BUT I'd also hope that they know that I am a follower of Jesus.

Sunday Devotional - The Wearing of White

For a Christian, writing novels is like teaching Sunday school—the writer or teacher always learns more than the reader or student. 

What I learned while writing my latest novel is that in order to fully enjoy the plans God has for us, we need to first go through a sort of funeral.

I can hear the gasps. Please let’s not talk about funerals. Let’s talk weddings instead, which are so much nicer. Here in the west our brides wear white, while in the east they wear other colors to show their joy, usually red. The color white in eastern cultures is for wearing to funerals.  

Yet, people around the globe want the same thing—to experience the joy which weddings bring. 

As a Christian, I’m looking forward to when Christ calls His followers home and we have that grand wedding celebration when the Son of God claims His bride, the church. 

But in order to fully enjoy that wedding we need a funeral first. 

Oswald Chambers in the devotional book My Utmost for His Highest explains that as Christians we must have a sort of funeral for our life, our ambitions, our plans. We must wear the metaphoric white funeral garments. Once our life is dead and buried, we can allow Christ to live His life through us. But can we trust God to give us joy when we give up our dreams, and say “Thy Will be Done?”

What if He asks me to give up the work that I really love, like my writing career, and do something else? Gasp, what if He wants to send me to the mission field or a life of singleness?

What I’ve been learning—and sometimes the hard way—is that we can trust God’s plans. He will use our lives for His glory in more marvelous ways than anything we could ever devise. Even if it hurts for a while. Even if we have to put our preferred work on the shelf to obey the Lord’s schedule for our day. 

You might be surprised after your funeral what God will do in your life. You may find to your surprise that dying to your dreams may eventually become a dream-come-true.

Romans 6:4 “Buried with Him…that…even so we also should walk in newness of live.”

~*~

Christine Lindsay writes historical inspirational novels with strong love stories, but she doesn’t classify them as straight romances. Nor does she shy away from difficult topics such as spousal abuse in her debut novel, Shadowed in Silk, or the sex trade in Southeast Asia in Captured by Moonlight.  Christine takes pride in her Irish roots. Her great grandfather and grandfather worked as riveters in the Belfast shipyard. One of the ships her ancestors helped build was the Titanic. On her mother’s side it was stories of ancestors who served in the British Cavalry in India that seeded Christine’s long-time fascination with the British Raj and became the stimulus for her Twilight of the British Raj series.   The Pacific coast of Canada, about 200 miles north of Seattle, is Christine’s home where she lives with her husband, David, and they enjoy the visits from their adult children and grandchildren.

To keep updated on Christine, check her website: ChristineLindsay.com

Every Step Counts

© Amadea | Dreamstime Stock Photos &Stock Free Images

 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42 NIV)

It's hard not to get caught up in all the rules when you start out and make a commitment to follow God more closely. It's hard not become a Martha, and get caught up in the work rather than being still.

Be still, and know that I am God... (Psalm 46:10 NIV)

I understand the weight that Martha puts on her work. It is important to her. It becomes her identity. She's not lazy, and doesn't want to be a freeloader. So she works. But when she falls short, she feels like a failure.

But God doesn't see things this way. He wants us to become Marys, not Marthas. We are to focus first on our relationship with Him. He is our identity. And the rest will fall into place. We cannot rush it.

Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land. (Exodus 23:30 NIV)

What we accomplish is to come one step at a time. One minute of prayer at a time. One denial of temptation at a time. One word of Bible study at a time. Each step is a step toward the increase we need to take possession of God's promise.

Each step counts.