A Minute In It - Believing

A minute in God’s Word will change your life. Take a moment to read the text below and then answer the questions at the bottom of the post.

8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 10 While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying.

11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.[a] 16 And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children,[b] and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”

18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

19 Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20 But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.” Luke 1:8-20 (NLT)

 What had Zechariah and Elizabeth been praying for?
How long do you think they’d been praying for this?
What was Zechariah’s reaction when he saw the angel of the Lord?
How specific was the angel when he described the baby?
What was Zechariah’s reaction?
When the angel appeared, do you think Zechariah knew it was an angel?
If Zechariah had been praying for a child and an angel appeared and specifically described the answer to the prayer, why did Zechariah doubt?
When I pray for something and God says he’s going to answer or he starts to line up the answer, do I doubt?
Why?
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you in this story?
What are you going to do about it?

Believe

“You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” Luke 1:45 (NLT)

Can I tell you a God Story? As I’ve posted in the past, we are planting a church. We’ve picked a name. We are “Called2Be”. We’ve been meeting since April 1st (virtually). Who says God doesn’t have a sense of humor! During our meetings we pray and study the Bible. In July, we felt God say it’s time for an in person. We had a picnic. It was great!

During this time, we’ve been praying about where God wants us to “Be” community. Where can we serve? Where can we go and love on people. When I was praying about this, I kept seeing a building. It had a sloping roof in the front, and a porch. I also saw the back door and when you looked through it, there was a hallway with doors on both sides, and a bright light coming through the other end. I sensed that the front was a restaurant.

It took me a while to figure out that I kept seeing this same building. And I wondered “God, is this you showing me this?” I wondered that out loud to my husband and we started praying. We asked God if it was him sending this to please show us where the building was located.

In the meantime, I ask God what we should do for our next gathering. I heard prayer walk. Now, I probably shouldn’t say this out loud, being a Church Plant Pastor and all, but I’ve never gotten into the Prayer Walk thing. I’ve done it. And there are times when I felt God telling me to prayer walk someone’s house and I did that but overall, not my first choice of activities. But I said “OK. Where?” Nothing.

I kept praying for where and praying that God would show me the building. Eventually God said Called2Be was supposed to prayer walk Purcellville, VA. And like an obedient child I said “God, that’s kind of far away.” Don’t judge me. And then I said “OK. Purcellville it is.” In the meantime, I kept praying about the building.

One Monday, I felt impressed to drive to Purcellville on Wednesday. I had meetings for work strategically placed throughout the day so if I drove to Purcellville I would be rushed. I explained this to God. Late Tuesday evening, the Wednesday morning meeting cancelled.

I got in my car and I drove to Purcellville. I drove all over asking God to show me the building. Asking him which way and trying very hard to listen. Finally, I was getting tired of going all around the little town, up and down the main street and I asked if I could go home. He said yes. I turned my car around to head out of town on Main Street and as I was leaving I passed a building that caught my eye. I didn’t noticed it the 100 times (okay, maybe 4 or 5 times) I drove up and down that street because of the trees in front of it. I turned around and went in the parking lot.

It had a sloping roof and a front porch. “Oh God! It’s your building!” I parked the car and looked in the front door. The building was empty. There is a big For Sale or Lease sign in the front. It used to be a brewery/pub. I walked around to the back door on the side of the building. I looked through the door and I saw a hallway with doors on both sides and a bright light coming through the other end. Turns out it has two back doors. One on each side of the building.

I can’t begin to explain the feelings I had as I realized that God took me to His building. And guess what?! I prayer walked it! I prayed all around that building. That Saturday, Called2Be prayer walked it again and the main street of Purcellville.

I’ve been back to prayer walk it again. I want to hear what God wants and ask him to move. We are all praying! What’s next, God? What’s next?

This weekend I was on a Leadership Meeting for our Mother Church and the Pastor told us that her husband plays in a praise band at another church. The Pastor told her husband that there is a building in Purcellville that is vacant. It used to be a brewery and he feels like God is telling him he needs to do something for the community in that church! These are the same thoughts I’ve been having.

God is doing something. Not sure what yet but I can’t wait to find out! Will you pray with us? Pray for this little down of Purcellville, VA. Pray that people there will know God’s love. Pray that we will share that love in service to the community. Pray for all of our courage. When God moves, it usually takes you out of your comfort zone.

And where did today’s text come from? As all this was happening, I kept thinking “This is crazy. Is this you God or is this my crazy mind thinking things up? And why are you doing this? And what do you want? And this is just crazy. People are going to think I’m crazy when I tell them I saw a building and then found it but I don’t know what to do with it.” And God sent the text above and a few others about believing. Believe. He is alive. He is moving. Believe. I do. With all of my heart.

Equipped

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Ephesians 6:13 (NLT)

Good Day! Or is it? These days it’s hard to tell, right? Things are so uncertain and every day we wake up to not so good news. Actually, the news is quite devastating and depressing. I’ve talked to so many people who are overwhelmed and when they listen to the news, it gets even worse.

I was reminded as I read through Ephesians with a friend that God told us there would be battles. As a matter of fact, he gave us tools to prepare for them. Those tools are:

1. The Belt of Truth - We protect ourselves with truth. Everything we do needs to be wrapped in truth. Our truth comes from the Bible and from God.

2. The Breastplate of Righteousness - Righteousness means being right with God. We do this by accepting the covering of Jesus and by living our lives according to God’s plan.

3. Shoes of Peace - As Christians, our hearts need to be at peace because we stand firm in the promises of God and in the belief that he is stronger and mightier than what we see.

4. Shield of Faith - Our faith in Jesus is a protective shield around us. Hold it up! Use your faith to get through the arrows thrown at you.

5. Helmet of Salvation - Cover yourself with the salvation that comes from Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. That was for you. Fill your mind with the knowledge that you are loved.

6. Sword of the Spirit - The sword of the Spirit is God’s Word. Read it. Use it to stab at the negative thoughts that pop into your head….the thoughts that say we can’t survive this. Lean on God’s Word. There is so much wisdom there and reassurance for our hearts. Here are a few Scriptures to ponder today.

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
    Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
    I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13 (NLT)

6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. 8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 2 Corinthians 4:6-10 (NLT)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
    and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 (NLT)

Jesus told us there would be battles. But he also said he has already overcome. Trust in that as you navigate today and tomorrow and forever.

A Minute In It - Believing

A minute in God’s Word will change your life. Take a moment to read the text below and then answer the questions at the bottom of the post.

1 Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence. 2 So the king asked me, “Why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.”

Then I was terrified, 3 but I replied, “Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”

4 The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?”

With a prayer to the God of heaven, 5 I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.”

6 The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, “How long will you be gone? When will you return?” After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request.

7 I also said to the king, “If it please the king, let me have letters addressed to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, instructing them to let me travel safely through their territories on my way to Judah. 8 And please give me a letter addressed to Asaph, the manager of the king’s forest, instructing him to give me timber. I will need it to make beams for the gates of the Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for a house for myself.” And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on me.

9 When I came to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, I delivered the king’s letters to them. The king, I should add, had sent along army officers and horsemen to protect me. Nehemiah 2:1-9 (NLT)

How long had it been since Nehemiah started asking God for help?
When the king asked him what he could do to help him, what was the first thing Nehemiah did?
The king asked Nehemiah for his plan. Did Nehemiah have one?

For the four months that he was praying, he was also planning. Nehemiah was waiting on God’s timing but also preparing for what would happen when God moved. When we pray for a seemingly impossible prayer, do we move forward to get ready for God’s answer or do we do nothing, not really believing that God will deliver?

How Big Is Your God?

It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. Hebrews 11:17-19 (NLT)

What do you think went through Abraham’s mind when God directed him to sacrifice Isaac? God said, “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” (Genesis 22)

This wasn’t the same “Go” command that God gave him when he told him to “Go to a place I will show you.” This command was completely different. In this command, God seemed to be back stepping on everything that had happened to this point.

He had called Abraham to be the Father of a Nation and that Nation would come about through his son Isaac. How can he be the father of a Nation if Isaac was gone? How could his descendants be as numerous as the stars if there were no descendants?

God had worked miracles in the birth of Isaac. Abraham and Sarah were very old when Isaac was conceived. The fact that they conceived at all was a miracle. Why would God do that if he was going to take Isaac from him?

Abraham could have reasoned his way out of this situation. But he didn’t. He didn’t try to fit God into his scenario. Instead, he looked at his scenario in light of who God was.

The Bible says that Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God could raise him from the dead. He didn’t look at his chaotic circumstances and make a decision. He looked at God and made a decision. He knew who God was and what he was capable of. He trusted that above all else.

Let me ask you. Are you more likely to try to fit God into what is happening in your life or are you more likely to plan your life based on what you believe about God?

A Minute In It - The Hall of Faith

A minute in God’s Word will change your life. Take a moment to read the text below and then ponder the questions at the bottom of the post.

17 It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, 18 even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” 19 Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.

20 It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau.

21 It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.

22 It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left.

23 It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command.

24 It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. 27 It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. 28 It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.

29 It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned.

30 It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down.

31 It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. Hebrews 11:17-31

Read the names below of the people mentioned in the text. What did they have to have faith for? Did they always see the outcome of their faith?

Abraham
Isaac
Jacob
Joseph
Moses
Israelites crossing the Red Sea
Israelites marching around Jericho
Rahab

What do you need to have faith in today? Will you see the outcome of your faith? If not, will you still believe?

A Little Goes A Long Way

And his disciples believed in him. John 2:11b (NLT)

The story in John 2 of when Jesus turned water into wine is one that I ponder. I’ve heard people discuss this and wonder why. Why was this the first miracle? Compared to the times he raised people from the dead, this is really small potatoes. In the big scheme of things it seems so inconsequential.

So why? Maybe we’ll never really know the answer to that but we can look at the things we do know.

We know Jesus came to show us the Father. What can we see in this story?

1. We can see that Jesus was social. Even though he had a tremendous work to do, he still hung out with people and was part of a community.

2. We know that he cared about the little things, like this man’s wedding. Maybe in the big scheme of things this miracle was inconsequential but it wasn’t inconsequential to the bridegroom. Jesus showed up where the bridegroom was and helped him with something that was important to him.

3. We know that God is a very generous God. Jesus could have turned the water into very mediocre wine. Even God’s mediocre would be better than their best. But he didn’t. He produced the very best wine. He gives us his all.

4. We know that after this first miracle, his disciples believed in him.

To me, this is the best result of this story. Every single day God is working in our lives to reveal his love to us. A lot of the time, we miss it. But when we do see it, we are amazed and we believe. And that is truly why Jesus came. He came so we would see who God really is and turn to him. He came so we would look at the stories in our own lives and know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that we are loved by a very generous God.

I Believe!

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.  Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NLT)

What would you think of a conversation with God that went like this?

God: I have a plan.
Us: What is it?
God: Plans for you! Plans for good and not disaster.
Us: I can’t see it.
God: Seriously, I have a plan for you. Just work with me.
Us: I can’t. I don’t know what you are doing and that is scary.
God: Well, let’s talk. When you pray, I listen. Keep searching for me and you’ll begin to see….
Us: Look, I know your plans are more wonderful than I can imagine and I know that you are in control of everything but I am not you. I can’t do what you think I can so if you don’t mind, I’ll just stay right where I am.
God: But I am promising this to you.
Us: I know. But I still can’t.

Do you ever have this kind of a conversation with God?
What do you need to do to believe him?