Feb

19

Pursued

By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off


Psalm 35:5-6   Let them be like chaff  before the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them away!
Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them!

In the Psalms, David often cried out to God to smite his enemies. I am sure that is his intent here in Psalm 35. But as a dear loved one of mine who has yet to accept Christ as her Savior lies dying in a hospital far away, this verse has taken on a new meaning for me.  

The old way of harvesting wheat, done for centuries before modern farm equipment came on the scene, was to throw the wheat up in the air. The chaff would separate from the grain and fly off in the wind.  The good grain would be relieved of that burden clinging to it and fall to the ground.   But can the reverse also be true? Can the grain be our burdens, shortcomings and hurts that have been growing for years and years in our heart?  Can God, in His mercy, release us from that burden so we can, like chaff, feel free and light as air. Then our souls can soar carefree on the wind of faith, and be led where God wants, with angels driving it away from whatever was in the past that blocked us from God’s grace.

Often times, it is when things are the darkest and slipperiest that people finally realize they need a force in their life stronger than themselves.  They at last call out to this Jesus they have heard about, this loving God that their friend or family member always turns to for strength.  As my loved one slips into death, I pray that God is sending angels to pursue her and be there at the end, so when her soul is released she can be at peace and soar like the chaff into eternal arms. I pray, then, finally, those nail scarred hands will at last hold her tight until we meet again at the foot of His throne.

Jan

8

Side Arms

By Julie B Cosgrove | 1 Comment


Psalm  118:4-7     The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can anyone do to me?  The Lord is on my side as my helper . . .

There are times we all need an extra pair of hands.  We have too many things to try to hold on to and juggle.  Work, housework, finances, relationships, illnesses, tragedies . . . and we haven’t even turned on the TV to see what the News is reporting as happening that day in the outside world or checked our emails to see what friends need prayer!   Maybe we have taken on too much, or may too much has taken on us.  Doesn’t matter. We always have Our Lord right there at our side to help.

What can you turn over to the Lord? How about everything? Life isn’t an assignment chart on the fridge – God, why don’t you do these chores and I can handle the rest, thank you very much.  God has a better plan. He says, “Give it all to me and let me take the whole load. I’ll hand them back to you, giving you just what you need to accomplish each one. If you feel overwhelmed later, we’ll adjust. It’s Okay.  No worries.”

His arms are there to carry us, and carry out our needs.  They always are. And they are so vast, they can hold all of our life situations and us too in a warm protective hug when we need it. His arms can bolster us, prod us and pat us on the back. He is our ultimate side kick, our number one fan, our coach that pushes us and trains us to excel.  He is the shoulder we can cry on and the extra hand we need and the band-aid applier when we get hurt.  Paul said it well, if I can paraphrase Romans 8:31.  With God on our side, who can be against us?  Jesus told his disciples in the book of Matthew, Chapter 11,  to let him carry their burdens, to yoke up with Him at their side.  Why should we not do the same?

Dec

1

Pour It Out

By Jan Ross | Comments Off


Have you ever found yourself struggling with the right words to pray when things are tough?  Do you find yourself guarding your own words so you don’t say the wrong thing or become too vulnerable in your prayers?  One of the hardest things for us to do is to be down-right honest and transparent with our Father when we’re hurt, in trouble, or facing major difficulties.

Listen to the passion in David’s words today: “I poured out my complaint before Him; I showed before Him my trouble.” (Psalm 142:2)

To paraphrase it, “I dumped all my complaints on Him and told Him all my troubles.”  David held nothing back – he let it all out before the Lord.  He didn’t allow his own fears or insecurities keep him from total transparency before his God.  He came before the Lord with an unguarded heart and trusted Him enough to love him still, even while he was baring His soul.

David was facing more than just a routine inconvenience in life.  Saul and his army were after him to kill him though he knew the Lord had anointed him as king of Israel; he just saw 85 priests and their families and livestock slaughtered because they helped him escape.  Everywhere he turned he was in trouble.  What did he do?  He turned to God and he “poured out all [his] complaints on Him and told Him all [his] troubles”.

God is there ready to avenge our enemies.  He longs to fight our battles for us.  He has offered us refuge and a sanctuary from the enemy’s snare.  But we still hesitate to run to Him with a transparent heart when we’re overwhelmed.

Be like David today; pour out your heart to Him.  If you feel abused and neglected, let God know.  If you are misunderstood or mistreated, let God know.  If you are perplexed and not understanding the ‘whys’ and ‘wherefores’ of life, pour out your heart to Him.  Don’t hold back.  Let Him know the deepest groanings of your heart, the secret pain, the hidden sin, the offenses that have hindered your growth, the times you’ve been overlooked and passed over for recognition or promotion—let Him have it all.

Do you trust Him enough to tell Him everything?  David did and David was a man with a heart after the heart of God.

Father, forgive me for holding back and not trusting You enough to be totally transparent with You, as if somehow You don’t already know the secret recesses of my heart.  Lord teach me to trust You with the desperation of my need and to believe without doubt that You love me enough to give me refuge in the midst of every storm.  Teach me, O Lord, and I will learn from You how great is Your love toward me, how awesome is Your salvation, and how magnificent is Your holy Name.  In Jesus’ name, for His glory, and by His blood . . . amen and amen.

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

Nov

23

What Motivates You?

By Jan Ross | Comments Off


My heart is full—overwhelmed would be a more accurate word. There is little hope I will ever be able to articulate every detail, let alone absorb everything I’ve heard and witnessed these past two weeks to my own personal satisfaction. But nonetheless, I want to attempt to share a few thoughts with you which have been weighing heavily on my heart.

As an American Christian, I have learned that in contrast to Christians around the world, especially in gospel-hostile nations, we have lost sight of the real reason we have been redeemed and adopted into the family of God. Throughout the years, so many of us have allowed a false gospel to become the only “truth” we know and share with others. All too many of us have turned the Gospel of Jesus Christ inward, concentrating on “us” rather than on what our Messiah left as His most important commission to us:

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20 KJV)

Instead, however, we have turned Christianity into a “me-centered” gospel by focusing inwardly…how can I grow, how can I prosper, how can I be healed, how can I build my church or ministry, how can I fulfill God’s purpose in me, etc. And while none of these questions are wrong in the right context, we have allowed the “me-centered” gospel to disassociate ourselves from the most important responsibility we have as believers … go, make disciples, baptize, and teach them to obey.

If our relationship with God is more about building “us” up rather than fulfilling His commission to us to build the kingdom, we have fallen into the trap of the enemy to hinder and eventually stop the growth of the Kingdom of God.
What are you doing relative to the Great Commission? Do you mourn for lost souls? Do you grieve for those who are blinded and deafened by this world? Is your life’s motivation more inward-focused or more outward-focused? Are you making disciples?

There is a lost and dying world out there. Shame on us if we neglect such a field ready for harvest while we are distracted with a “me-centered” gospel.

Turn your focus outward … look around you and see the needs everywhere. Then, allow the Holy Spirit to stir within your heart with boldness to fulfill the Great Commission in your own sphere of influence.

Go! Make Disciples! Baptize! Teach them to obey … teach them to obey the Word of God and to fulfill the Great Commission by starting the cycle over again. Go! Make Disciples! Baptize! Teach them to obey …

Live a “Great Commission-Driven Life” to the Glory of God and the increase of His Kingdom.

Father, forgive me for being so inwardly-focused that I’ve lost sight of the reason You commissioned and equipped me as Your child. Help me to Go! Help me to Make Disciples! Help me to Baptize! And, help me to Teach Them to Obey! I want to live a Great Commission-Driven Life for Your glory and the increase of Your Kingdom so that all should come to the knowledge of the Truth. In Jesus’ name, amen!

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

Oct

28

Burden of Bitterness

By Jan Ross | Comments Off


Have you ever tried to pick up something that was too heavy?  What was your immediate reaction?  Most likely you cried out in pain and dropped it, or kept silent and suffered for it later.  Regardless of your reaction, you reacted.

The burden of bitterness is too heavy for anyone to carry.  In fact, if we pick it up and attempt to carry it, it will weigh us down and eventually crush us to the point that we will be unable to function.  Yet, day after day we pick up bitterness and try to walk around with it strapped on our back.

Can you imagine someone walking around with a huge block of cement on their back, weighing them down while they’re singing in the choir or tending the nursery?  What if this burdened one is teaching children’s church or is an usher at the church?  First thing everyone would notice is that they’ve got a load that they don’t need to be carrying.  People would immediately be distracted by that huge block of cement on their back before they heard a word that person uttered.  They can wear a big smile, beautiful clothing, expensive perfume, but the all attention will be drawn to that burden they’re carrying.  Preach the best sermon, but the burden shows.  Sing the best song but because of the burden, no one hears.

Bitterness does the same thing . . . do you see it?  The burden of bitterness is too heavy for us to carry.

What is bitterness?  The dictionary defines it as proceeding from or exhibiting strong animosity marked by resentment or cynicism.  Interestingly, the Greek word for bitterness has its root in a word meaning “tent” or “pitch”.  In other words, bitterness plans to stay around for a while – it intends to pitch a tent and take up residency!

  • Bitterness divides . . . Jesus prayed that we would all “become one”.  (John 17:11)
  • Bitterness pollutes . . . we are to love one another with a pure heart!  (1 Peter 1:22)
  • Bitterness destroys . . . our words are to be as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones. (Proverbs 16:24)
  • Bitterness offends . . . we are to hold our peace. (Proverbs 11:12)
  • Bitterness is of the flesh . . . we are to live by the Spirit and reap eternal life.  (Galatians 6:8)

The list obviously could go on and on but it’s not necessary.  If you are carrying a burden of bitterness, drop it and let it go.  Don’t entertain it any longer.  Don’t let it control your life and rob you of abundant life in the Lord Jesus Christ.  If someone has wronged you, forgive them.  If you feel cheated, misunderstood, used, abused, or hated, drop that burden of bitterness and go on.  Carrying the burden of bitterness will keep you from picking up the freedom bought with the precious and priceless blood of the Lamb.  Don’t allow bitterness to destroy you and destroy your relationship with the Lord and with others.  The burden is too heavy to carry and you weren’t created to bear it.  Don’t take another step without dropping it and walking away.  Do it for yourself and do it for those you love!

“Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?” (James 3:9-11)

Father, I do have bitterness in my heart toward [fill in the blank] and because of [fill in the blank].  I knew it was there but didn’t really consider it to be a burden too difficult to carry . . . I thought I was handling it but I see now that I’m not.  Lord, with Your help I’m going to drop this burden right now and leave it at your feet.  Father, help me to forgive totally and to go on and not look back.  Help me to draw on Your strength as it is made perfect in my weakness.  Forgive me for carrying this burden much too long . . . give me the courage to go on so that You will be glorified in me and through me. In Jesus’ name, by His blood which sets me free, and for His glory which is so deserved . . . amen and amen!

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

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