The Hallway

In my house, Luke and Kate's bedroom is on the back side of the house and there is a hallway that you must go down to get to Luke's room.  Neither one of my kids will go down this hallway if the light isn't on BUT if I go in front of them and turn on the light, they skip right down the hall.

As I read in Matthew the other day, I read this in verse 28, Jesus said, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."

I began to think again about how my kids COME TO ME when they need to get down that hallway because they know that I will be able to help them. And that made me think of this...

How many "dark hallways" do we try to approach all by ourselves?  How many situations, negative reports, challenges, fears do we face all by ourselves?  We all face dark hallways in our lives....but with each hallway we face, we have a choice...do we go through the hallway in darkness or do we turn on the light?  You see when the hall remains dark, we end up walking slowly through the hallway, scared that we will stumble on something, unsure of what our next step will hold, feeling our way around trying to get to our destination. But, if we would simply turn on the light, we would clearly see all the obstacles in our way, we would know how to get around them, and then we would arrive at our destination peacefully and without fear.  This seems so simple, right?  So...let's apply this common sense natural principle to our spiritual lives....

Who is the light? Who will light up the dark hallways that we face?  Jesus tells us in the verse we just read...it is Him.  Jesus says - COME TO ME.  Jesus is reminding us to get behind Him as He becomes our light down every dark hallway that we walk.  If Jesus goes first, we won't trip, we won't have fear, we won't wonder aimlessly for direction - we will make it to the other side of the hallway stronger and at peace.

So...how do we do this?  How do we allow Jesus to go in front of us at all times?  Jesus answers that in the next verse of Matthew - Chapter 11.  In verse 29, Jesus says, "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

It's so comforting to hear these words.  Jesus reveals His character to us in this verse.  I can picture Jesus' - gently and peacefully taking my hand and walking me through every hallway and situation that I face.  What a comfort!  Jesus doesn't want us to get out of breath - stressed out - and having to RUN to the other end of the hallway. He tells us to stay with Him and we will REST even as we face situations that naturally could seem "dark."

So...how do we yoke up with Jesus?  When you look up "yoke" in the Greek, it means a coupling, servitude, a connection.  This tells us that we have to couple ourselves with Jesus' Spirit and His Word.  We have to make a daily effort to spend time with Jesus to connect with His Spirit and fill our mind with His Words.  Jesus is always IN us if we have asked Him and received salvation but when we make the consistent effort to talk with Him, read with Him, listen to Him, then we become more aware of His presence.  I promise that when you begin to treat Jesus as a best friend that walks beside of you constantly - everywhere you go - you take Him with you in every situation you face - as a constant companion - then, you will begin to feel His presence more. You will begin to recognize His rest that He is providing you and you will have more knowledge about how to handle situations than ever before.

When you spend time with Jesus and read His Word, you begin to know the will of God for all situations.  Every situation is like a dark hallway when you are fishing around for what "might" be God's Will, but when you know God's Will, the light is on and you follow that light.

Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

Turning this light on, takes our action.  We must begin filling our minds and hearts with God's Will BEFORE we face the dark hallways - so that the dark hallway is not a problem for us but becomes a testimony of God's glory.

My best understanding of God's Word and Will is always testimonies that I have been a part of in my life that has allowed me to see God's Word come to life and work as He promises.  I know that those of you who have read my blog for awhile know that my son was "diagnosed" with tree nut allergies when he was only two.  When my husband (Landis) and I heard this diagnosis, it was a dark hallway for us.  We were torn up by the fact that Luke would have to constantly live in fear of what he ate and carry around an epi-pen "just in case."  Landis and I had a choice - we could stumble through this dark hallway with Luke and "hope" that he never got a hold of a tree nut that would hurt him.  We could educate him on what not to eat.  That's what the allergist told us to do.  BUT...NO...Landis and I knew God's Word, we knew God's Will, and we knew that God didn't put foods here on this Earth to be a weapon against our little boy.  So...we turned the light on....we reminded Luke of God's Word...that His allergies had been taken to the cross when Jesus was beaten.  We quit going to the allergist. We quit carrying epi-pens. We allowed Luke to eat whatever he wanted and we thanked Jesus for His manifestation in Luke's body as he tried many, many foods that the allergist told him he was allergic to.  Our family made it to the other side of that dark hallway - we didn't stumble through it, not knowing where to go. We yoked with Jesus - let Him lead the way - and at the end of the hallway, we found a healthy six year old who eats whatever he wants.

As Luke gets older and his years of allergy testing is a distant memory, I remind him of God's work in his life.  Matter of fact, as I read these verses in Matthew the other day and I began to hear the Holy Spirit forming this blog, Luke woke up and came up his dark hallway all by himself.  When Luke turned the corner of the hallway, I smiled, pulled him on my lap, and shared these verses in Matthew with him and told him all about how Jesus has been the light in this family, and especially in his little body.  Luke listened...he took it all in and I thank Jesus for that opportunity to share our testimony with him.  Luke will continue to face dark hallways in his life but my prayer is that he always remembers to go to Jesus for help and rest in each hallway.

Friends...you may or may not be in a dark hallway or approaching a dark hallway right now.  If you are not facing any dark situations, be thankful for this season and get to know Jesus personally and get in the Word of God and learn His Will so you will be prepared if a season of dark hallways comes.  If you are IN a dark hallway or approaching one, turn on the light - turn to Jesus - spend time with His Spirit - read His Word so that your path is lit and you make it to the other side of the hallway with peace - not fear - remember, yoke (couple, connect) with Jesus to find the rest you need.

Love,
Toddy

Here's my happy healthy Luke....eating whatever he wants...

The power in "Thank You"

God's talking this morning so I'm writing....

I'm so very blessed to work for a great "boss" - she's kind, she's a hard worker, she's a good listener, and most importantly, she's confident in her staff and trusts us to do what we know is right for children everyday.  My boss' name is Lydia.  She and I plan school wide events and tasks constantly.  We have to work together to divide up the daily tasks that need to be done.  As we divide the work and we decide what parts I will take care of, Lydia always says "Thank you" to me.  My "to do" list that we have just discussed is still sitting there - incomplete - but Lydia still says, "Thank you."  Throughout this entire year, she has done that and not until this morning did I realize how awesome this is and how spiritually profound it is.

You see....when Lydia says "Thank you" to me for a task that has not yet been completed, she is telling me that she trusts me, that she is confident that I am going to accomplish what she has requested, she is not doubting me but is believing in me for the final product.

So, I think of this scripture...

"Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be taken up and cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes (trusts and is confident) that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted to him." (Mark 11:23-24)

Jesus is telling us in this scripture that we can be confident in Him BEFORE we see the mountain moved. We can go ahead and say "Thank you" to Jesus for moving that mountain because we believe and trust in Him to grant our request.

God tells us to pray with thanksgiving - "I will praise God's name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving." (Psalm 69:30)

God wants us to be so confident that He hears us and will answer our prayer that we say "Thank you" BEFORE we see the final product.  We boldly proclaim the request as DONE with the simple words - "Thank you."

Jesus has already accomplished all that we ever need - with Jesus' death and resurrection' - all the power we ever need was released onto this Earth and is now IN us when we have been baptized in Jesus.  It is our responsibility to cooperate with God and release that power.

In John Chapter 11 when Lazarus is still dead in the tomb - his family is mourning and even reminds Jesus that Lazarus may stink because he has been in the tomb for four days, Jesus calls out to His Father, "Father, I thank you that you have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me..."

What an example!  BEFORE Jesus saw Lazarus move - Lazarus was still lying there lifeless, Jesus thanked His Father and THEN the power of the living God manifested and Jesus commanded Lazarus back to life.  What a miracle!  Jesus never doubted His Father or the power He had in Him. He knew His Father's Will was for Lazarus to live and Jesus cooperated with that Will and that power and brought life to the situation.

Oh, Jesus...help us to be that confident in YOU....help us to say "Thank you" BEFORE we see the power manifest or BEFORE we see the circumstances change.

As you read...I can hear some of you wondering/thinking....I just don't have this confidence in my prayers....Where do I get this confidence in Jesus?  How can I be confident enough to say "Thank you" for something I can't see?

Here's some encouragement...
Read God's Word constantly - daily!  Meditate on it - ask the Holy Spirit to reveal more and more of God's Will through His Word.  You see...my boss and I worked together at another school before our current one. We had the blessed opportunity to get to know each other and each other's ways.  Lydia knows how I operate and how I am able to get things accomplished so this helps her to confidently say "Thank you" knowing that a task will be completed because it always has been in the past.  When we read God's Word and we learn God's Will and His Ways, we will become more confident in WHO HE IS and what He desires for us and for our situations.  Then, when we need God's power for a situation, we remind Him of what His Word says and then we say "Thank you" as we trust in Him.

We always remember that God's Word never changes, His Will remains the same today as it did when Jesus walked this Earth - God's will is still complete healing, deliverance, and is always to work for our good - just as an Earthly Father would do for his own children - God wants to do for us.

So...friends, I encourage you...if you are facing a situation that needs healing, deliverance, or revelation...remind God of His Word, then call out loud, "Thank you Jesus....Thank you Jesus....Thank you Jesus....that YOUR will is already done" and then watch Jesus' power manifest...He will...oh, He will...

"This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His Will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him." (John 5:14-15)

And...before I go...let me give a praise report... there are so many, many times that I've seen the power of saying "Thank you..." to Jesus manifest but this morning I want to tell Him "Thank you for my healing...." I am never sick but for over a month, I have struggled with sinus junk and an aggravating cough. I know Jesus took that mess to the cross so for the past month I've coughed and then said "Thank you Jesus that I am well" and then I lost my hearing in my right ear and I said, "Thank you Jesus that I am well!" and then I lost my voice and I said "Thank you Jesus that I am well!" and then I coughed some more and I said "Thank you Jesus that I am well!"  Some people said...go to the doctor...I said, "I've been to Jesus and that's all the healing I need!"  And, now, just in the last few days...that healing that I've been saying "Thank you" for...it's officially here.  The cough is gone, I can hear, and I can talk! Praise Jesus!  Jesus is alive, my friends!!!  He's so alive!  :) Just trust Him....

Love,
Toddy

We are NOT powerless - Part 2!

I've been talking to the Lord about strengthening my boldness in praying WITH people and not just FOR them. I wrote a blog earlier in the week called "We are not powerless!" And, then, as I stood in my morning duty post at school, the Holy Spirit continued to talk with me....this is what I heard...the reason we (the Church) miss out on using the power that we have inside of us - Jesus' power - is because we lack confidence in where that power comes from. During Jesus ministry on Earth, He walked with full confidence in His Father and His Father's power to heal, deliver, and reveal the kingdom of God. Jesus was hearing His Father all the time.

At school, we teach our students to "play a movie or mental image in their mind" as they read passages that have no visuals or pictures. Using this same concept spiritually, I am asking the Lord to help me visualize Jesus WITH me (walking step by step with me every situation and person I face) everyday. There are many times that I can feel His presence around me but even in the times when I can't "feel" Jesus - He is still IN me and is still just as powerful as He was the days He walked this Earth. So...I pray, Jesus, help me to SEE you…help me see Your hands WITH mine (power flowing through them) with each person I pray WITH….and, I pray, Jesus, help me to SEE you walking side by side WITH me as I obey and accomplish every good work you have prepared for me to do.  Oh…what joy to know that the King of Kings is always with us!  What peace floods my soul! 

We are not powerless!

In this season, I'm reaching out to Jesus to lead me to a stronger prayer life.  I believe in prayer...I always have...I believe that prayer is more than just calling out our needs to the Father but that prayer is a time of communication with our Father - the LIVING God - who will answer us if we are listening.

I think about my kids and how much I communicate with them. They tell me their needs and they trust that I will do what I can to fulfill those needs. They always share their thoughts and feelings with me and I'm here to listen and help them process their thinking.  And...often times they tell me their wants and I'm here to supply that "want" or explain to them why that "want" isn't the right thing for them at the time.  Our heavenly Father will do the same thing if we call out to Him in faith and listen closely for our answers.

I've been studying Exodus and I am so amazed by the relationship that Moses and God had.  In the time before Jesus (when God saw sin and not his son), Moses found favor in God's sight because Moses devoted every ounce of his being to serving the Lord.  God honored this by communicating with him as a friend.  Moses was able to intercede and ultimately save the Israelites because he went to the Father on their behalf.  Exodus 32:31-32 says, "And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.  Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin, and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written."  What a loving, unselfish prayer and act of kindness that the Israelites probably didn't even know took place!

As I thought about this unselfish act of Moses, I began to think about my own prayer life and how often I intercede and pray for others.  I began to ask God to show me how I can be more unselfish when I pray.  Yes, I tell people I will pray for them and I always do. If I tell someone I will pray for them, I usually talk to the Lord about their situation as soon as I can and then I often times remind God of His Word for their situation when I'm in my secret place in the mornings with the Lord. But, I still felt like there was one piece I was missing.

Yes, I know that Jesus said in Matthew 6:6, "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you."

I will always hold these words dear to my heart and I will continue to talk to the Lord in my secret place.  But...in the last month, I've felt the Lord nudging me to be more bold about my praying WITH people outside of this secret place too.

I've been in so many situations where people pour out their heart to me and tell me of needs they have or attacks from the enemy that they are facing and I will look at them and say, "I will pray for you."  Yes, I often share with them what the Word of God says about their situation but then I stop there and take their request to the Lord during my quiet time.  One day, I began to think...what did Jesus do when people came to Him in bondage, when they came to Him in distress, hurting (physically and mentally), when they came to Him in fear....Jesus didn't share a Word or two, say I will pray for you, and then leave them in their mess.  He prayed WITH those people - right there at that moment.

If Jesus is our example of how we should live our daily lives and His same power is within us, I had to ask myself...why I haven't I been doing the same thing?

So....I asked the Holy Spirit to help me...I asked Him to cleanse me of my self...to help me get my fear of what others would think out of my mind and to replace that fear with boldness and power.  And...He did.

During the last month, I've had friends and colleagues share life situations with me such as these...
-a neighbor had a son that was getting ready to go through open heart surgery
-a colleague of mine received a terrible report from her daughter's doctor about something he claimed could be a life long problem
-a colleague was in a low spot emotionally - tired, worn out
-a friend of mine had tried for years to conceive a second child and was very discouraged

For most of these situations, the Lord set me up beautifully to not just pray for these people but I was able to completely drop what I was doing and I prayed (through the power of the Holy Spirit) WITH these sweet people.  As I prayed, I could feel the power of the Holy Spirit giving me God's Word to speak over them.  I began to see that the reason we pray WITH people is so they can hear the Holy Spirit speak on their behalf for them.  When we pray WITH people, they are hearing God Himself reach out to them and share His Will for that situation.  These distressed people HEAR hope, they hear Words that they can now stand on and have faith in when the enemy comes with doubt.

Yes, so often, tears would run down both of our faces...yes, so often, the tiny thought would come at the back of my mind..."Do they think I'm crazy now?"  But...then, so quickly...a peace beyond what I can describe would come over me that I recognized as a hug from Jesus for being obedient and unselfish.

Yes, I still reminded God of His Word and called out every name of the people I prayed with to the Lord in my secret place but I believe the power against the enemy in these situations came from the agreement that took place when we prayed together.

And, now...listen to these praise reports...this is what putting God's Word with faith in the power of the name of Jesus does....
-my neighbor's son came through his open heart surgery beautifully - he was home from the hospital in 5 days and I've already seen him spending time in his backyard
-that colleague of mine that received the negative report about her daughter went back for a recheck over Christmas break and her daughter's blood count has improved drastically and her daughter is able to return to her normal activities (like gymnastics, dance, the things she loves)
-that friend of mine who couldn't get pregnant - she's due in August
-and that colleague who was so down and depressed, she greets me in the hallway everyday with a huge smile - her husband even lost his job AFTER we prayed, she didn't panic but trusted the Lord and he started his new job last week

Yesterday, driving home from work, I was thinking back over all of these praise reports and I got excited!!! Super excited!! I could feel the presence of the Lord overwhelm me in my car!  Our Father is good, so good!! I love how He showed His love to each of these people and honored His Word - like He always does!

As I prayed in my car yesterday afternoon, these thoughts rolled through my head...
We are not powerless! We have the power of Jesus inside of us! We don't have to beg and plea in prayer but we can call out God's Word in the name of Jesus and command our mountains to move.  These praise reports that I have been so blessed to share are examples of mountains that were in their lives and we (through Jesus' name) told the mountains to move and they moved.  It's time for the church to get out of the pews and cooperate with Jesus who is IN us and change lives - it's time to heal, deliver and meet REAL needs right now! The same power that Jesus had on Earth is in us - let's utilize it for others!

I pray that YOU operate as Jesus did RIGHT WHERE you are TODAY!  Don't just pray for others - pray WITH them!

Love,
Toddy