Better than a Hallelujah

August 19, 2013

Good Morning My Beloved Ones,

            I pray God is as near and dear to your heart today as you are to His.

            Today I want to talk to you about, “Better than a Hallelujah”.  This world is full of fair-weather friends.  When everything is good, there is always someone available to celebrate with and share your joy.  But what happens when the floor falls out beneath you; when the money, the health and the faith run out?  Who do you turn to then?  The same friends who celebrated with you earlier suddenly have places to go and things to do.  You get advice like, “Suck it up”, “Pull up your bootstraps”, “Just gotta hang in there”, “Be strong”, or “man-up”.  Can you tell I’ve heard a few of these things over the years?   I’ll bet you have too.

            Not only does society push us away when we need someone most, they’ve also taught us not to turn to God during these times.  “You don’t need to burden God with your problems”, “Quit whining.  Where’s your faith?”  “You get yourself in trouble then run to God to bail you out?”, “Why would He listen to you anyway?”  Yep, we’ve heard some of these too; sometimes from our own lips.

            How does God really feel when we bring our troubled lives to Him?  Psalm 51:17 says, “A broken and contrite heart He will not despise.”  Revelation 7:17 says He shall wipe away all our tears.  But I believe God is more than just understanding and compassionate.

  I believe our cries of distress bring Him joy – not because we are in distress but because we are recognizing our need for Him and are turning to Him.  There is a song by Amy Grant whose lyrics illustrate my point perfectly.  It goes:  God loves a lullaby in a mother’s tears in the dead of night better than hallelujah sometimes.  God loves the drunkard’s cry, the soldier’s pea not to let him die better than a hallelujah sometimes.  We pour out our miseries, God just hears a melody.  Beautiful the mess we are, the honest cries of a breaking heart are better than a hallelujah.  Tears of shame for what’s been done, the silence when the words won’t come are better than a hallelujah sometimes.

            Do you want to bring God joy, beloved ones?  Bring Him your grief, your troubles, your woes.  He can handle it and He won’t turn you away with empty platitudes.  To God, the honest cries of a breaking heart are better than a hallelujah.  Well said, Amy.

Turning my sorrows into His joy, Raelynn

The best part

August 12, 2013

Good Morning My Beloved Ones,

            I pray that your heart sings even when your mouth can’t and your life shouts the praises of God.

           Today I want to talk to you about “the best part”.  Recently I spent a Saturday with my granddaughter, Sierra.  We went out for breakfast, checked out my office, went to a movie, went yard-saling, went out to lunch, went to a craft show, went shopping, came home and watched videos, made brownies, got showers then wound down for bed.  As I was tucking her in, I asked if she had fun.  “It was fun, grandma,” she answered.  “But do you know what the best part was?”  “What was the best part?” I asked.  “Painting each other’s toenails after our showers”, she answered.  “Really?  

Out of everything we did? Why was that?” “Because it was just you and me doing something for each other”, she answered.  And I realized that while I was trying to plan a fun-filled day, all she wanted was some personal interaction with her grandma.

            I imagine Jesus often feels as Sierra did.  I recall a story in Luke 10:38-42 where He went to spend the day with Mary and Martha.  Martha was busy serving and preparing and trying to make everything perfect for the Master, while Mary sat at His feet and visited with Him.  When Martha complained that Mary wouldn’t help her, Jesus said, “Martha, you’re busy about many things, but Mary has chosen the best part.”

           Is the best part of your day simply spending time with Jesus, beloved ones?  I honestly believe that when we make time to personally interact with Him, it’s the best part of His.  Don’t let your busy life cause you to settle for second-best – personal, quality time is always the best part.  I’m striving for more of it with my granddaughters, but more importantly with my Lord.

Wanting only the best for you, Raelynn

Ministry

August 5, 2013

Good Morning My Beloved Ones,

I pray you are discovering your God-Given gifts and talents and are using them for His Glory.

Today I want to talk to you about “Ministry”.  When we think of “the ministry” we think of a handful of men or women who have a calling on their lives, have attended a seminary, and have been ordained to preach, don’t we?  Actually, ministry is just doing what God has gifted you for and told you to do to further His kingdom.  Ministry is not for a select few – it is for all who hear the voice of the Master and choose to obey.

What has God gifted you in, given you a passion for and an ability to do?  When we find a way to use those things to further the kingdom, it is our ministry.  I believe God has gifted me in writing, teaching and encouragement.  I use these things to write these letters to you.  It is my ministry.  He’s given me a passion for creating and organizing events, such as church Christmas parties, Secret Sister Program and Bible study groups.  This also is my ministry.

Throughout my Christian walk I’ve had my own ministries and have been involved helping in other people's ministries.  Some of these efforts have been successful.  Some have not.  What makes the difference? Success in ministry is determined by who is doing the work.  I can be a “Can do it” or a “Conduit”.

Because God has given us a passion for the work he has called us to, it is natural to want to rush in and go, go, go, - do, do, do.  But while our hearts are in the right place, when ministry is done in our own strength it is doomed to fail.  The “Can do it” is headed for burn-out because our own strength only lasts so long before it runs out.  The “Conduit” is one who lets the Spirit of God flow through him; who goes when God says “go” who does when God says “do”; who waits when God says “wait”.  When we submit our gifts, talents and passions to God and it becomes His ministry instead of ours with Him calling the shots, the ministry will thrive, because God never grows weary.

Some people get so discouraged when a ministry has failed.  I would say to those, it has not failed.  God will get some glory for what you’ve done if your heart was in the right place.  Pick yourself up, brush off and determine this time to give those gifts, talents and passions to God and be a conduit for Him.  The heart of ministry is to minister.  Let’s all be ministers for Christ as conduits of His love and grace to a lost and dying world.

In His ministry – your sister, Raelynn

The Defense Rests

July 22, 2013

Good Morning My Beloved Ones,

I pray you are making the most of every moment of your life here on earth, for it is but a vapor.

Today I want to talk to you about “The Defense Rests”.  A few months after John left me, I received a letter from his mother.  The letter said that she would always side with her son, that I am no longer part of the family and that I was not to contact anyone in her family ever again.  I was devastated.  I loved John’s family.  I didn’t have a problem with any of them.  What could he have told her to make her send such a letter to me?  My first reaction was to write a letter defending everything I’d ever said and done in John and I’s relationship.  I knew that if I could just explain, I could make her understand.  The urge was overwhelming.  But God said, “No”.  For a long time, I didn’t understand why.  Now I do.  He wanted to set me free.

Think about a court trial for a moment.  No one gets set free during the trial.  The trial is a time of turmoil, of accusation (prosecution) and defense.  It’s not until the defense rests that a resolution can come about.  After the defense rests, the facts are considered, a decision is reached and the accused is either convicted or found not guilty and set free.

The Bible tells us that we have an advocate (lawyer) who argues our case before the Only Judge (Father God).  His name is Jesus.  It is through Him we are justified (just as if I’d never sinned).  We are told in John 8:36 “Whom the Son sets free is free indeed”.  So why don’t we feel set free?  I think it’s because we keep ourselves in the turmoil of the trial by constantly defending our words and actions to others, our thoughts and intents to ourselves and our motives to God.

I could have responded to Marie’s letter.  I could have explained.  I could have justified.  I could have defended and the prosecution would have sent a rebuttal and I’d have to defend some more.  I thank God for His wisdom in not allowing me to respond.  I needed to let the defense rest so He could set me free.

I read a poem over 30 years ago by BJ Hoff that illustrates this point.  I remember it still today.  “It matters not if the world has heard or approves or understands …the only applause we are meant to seek is that of nail-scarred hands.”

Letting the defense rest, Raelynn

Says Who?

July 8, 2013

Good Morning My Beloved Ones,

I pray that you are walking humbly with one another and with your God.

Today I want to talk to you about “Says Who?”  A few days ago, I was driving down the street and I heard the Lord whisper in my spirit, “Put your seatbelt on”.  I usually only wear my seatbelt if I’m going on the freeway.  I figure that by the time I get my seatbelt on, I’ll be there already if I’m just going from point A to point B in town, so it’s really not necessary.  As soon as I heard the Lord’s instructions, though, I complied and thought to myself, “Thank you Lord.  There must be an accident or a policeman ahead.  You’re watching out for me.”  

No sooner had I completed this thought than the Lord spoke to me again and said, “How can you serve me when you won’t even obey the law.  You’re just being stubborn and lazy.”  Ouch!  With my belt clicked securely in place and my head hung in shame, I acknowledged the truth of the reprimand I’d just received.  You know what’s worse?  I could’ve avoided the spanking altogether.

You see, every time I get into the car with one of my granddaughters, she’ll say to me, “Grandma, you forgot your seatbelt” and I always answer, “I’m a grown up.  It’s not your place to tell me what to do.”  Now I’d received the very same message coming from a different source.  If I’d listened to the child, I’d not have been scolded by the Father.

Why is it that we respond differently to advice, criticism and instruction based upon who is giving it?  Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to receive instruction from one much younger than yourself?  

Have you noticed that when the words come from

your best friend you call it advice, but the same words from a spouse or sibling are viewed as criticism?  The reason, my friends, is pride, and it’s one of the things God hates most.

The next time something is spoken to me and my pride wells up and says “Oh yeah, says who?”  I’m going to tell it, “It doesn’t matter.”  The message is the message.  It should not matter who God is using to deliver it.

Every word that is spoken to us should be judged not by whose mouth it leaves, but by whether it lines up with the Word of God.  If it doesn’t, reject it.  But if it does, we’d be wise to heed it, regardless of the source.

The wounds of a friend are faithful, the Proverb tells us, and so are those of a spouse, parent, sibling or a grandchild.  Lord, help me to learn from these before you have to teach me the lesson yourself.

Hopefully more humble, your sister Raelynn

Christian Flu

July 1, 2013

Good Morning My Beloved Ones,

I pray you see the good in others and overlook the bad.  Love covers a multitude of sins.

Today I want to talk about “Christian Flu”.  I’m sure you’ve heard of the swine Flu and the Bird Flu, but I doubt you’ve ever heard of the Christian Flu.  That’s because I just made it up to illustrate a point.

I caught the flu this year along with 40% of the

people living in the United States.  I did my best to avoid it.  I was inoculated against it, washed my hands regularly, stayed away from people who were sick and tried to boost my immune system.  I caught it anyway.  How do you catch the flu?  You are surrounded by so many sick people and germs everywhere you go that no matter how strong your defenses, you eventually succumb to it.

If you are like me, you have had such a personal experience with Jesus Christ (have been miraculously healed and provided for, have had sin forgiven, have been given joy, peace and purpose) that you want everyone you love to experience it too.  If you’re like me, you’ve probably asked these people to church, bought them Bibles, bombarded them with books and teachings that have blessed you, all with less than the desired effect.

I’ve come to learn that a desire for Christ is more caught than taught.  The key to leading loved ones into a relationship with Christ is to be a Christian Flu.  There needs to be so many Christians out there spreading the love of Christ that no matter where the non-believer goes, he is surrounded by it.  Even if he’s stayed away from the things of God, washed his hands of Him, tried to inoculate himself against Christianity or build up an immunity to it, the love of Christ is so prevalent he ends up “catching” it anyway.

Baseball coaches have encouraged their players to “be the ball”.  I want to encourage you, beloved ones, to “be the flu”.  Infect those around you with the love of Christ and a desire for Him.  If they are surrounded by it, despite their best efforts to the contrary, they can’t help but succumb to it.

Doing my part to start an epidemic, Raelynn