A worm or a butterfly?

Our pastor, this morning, touched on an analogy that got me to thinking. Before we accept God and allow Him to change us, we are lowly, sinful, ugly worms (metaphorically speaking of course). We crawl around on our bellies, living the way of the world, following our own desires, eating and causing destruction wherever we go. Sometimes we get gobbled up by a bird or other predator and end up in the bowels of the earth, suffering eternity apart from God.

But some of us see our need for God and we allow Him to participate in our lives and lead us. At this point, we're wrapped in a cocoon where God works on us, changes us, perfects us as we learn and grow in Him.

God promises us in Philippians 1:6 that He will complete the good work He started in us. He doesn't promise that the work will be easy, painless, and/or fast, but He promises to finish it. That changing process is sometimes brutally painful, drawn out, agonizing, but other times it's joyous, wonderful, and easy.

In the end, when the work is done and the cocoon finally opens, we emerge a butterfly, colorful and beautiful, and full of God's grace and mercy. We are capable of soaring to new heights to show the world what God has done in our lives.

How true is that!? If we allow God to change us into the people He wants us to be, we can be transformed from a lowly worm into a beautiful butterfly. What a miracle! I am still in the cocoon and probably will be until I die, most of us will continue to change and grow until we're ushered into the eternal kingdom of God. What a beautiful promise, a beautiful thing to strive for.

Offering Forgiveness and Making Amends

Have you ever hurt someone and neglected to make amends for it? I know I have.

Has someone hurt you and you've been holding onto resentment and unforgiveness toward them? Guilty again.

A class I'm taking at our church has helped me search myself- and ask God to search me as well to point out things I might be missing- in order to see these things so that I can fix them and move on. Forgiveness is important- both the giving and the receiving. And if we don't ask it and offer it to those in our lives, how can we truly understand the gift we've been given by Jesus? If we hold onto the bitterness and unforgiveness we have toward someone who hurt us, who is it really hurting?

You.

Me.

I saw a bumper sticker once that said: Hanging onto unforgiveness is like swallowing poison and expecting someone else to die.

And that's so true. If we refuse to forgive those who hurt us, it eats US up inside, not the person who hurt us.

Being willing to forgive and/or offer amends is the first step in the healing process. God wants a willing heart because He willingly offered up His Son, He willingly forgives us and He can't forgive us if we refuse to forgive others.

 Matthew 6:14 says: "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you."

Forgive and you shall be forgiven. Letting go of that anger and hurt toward someone else is often a difficult task but it's one that we as Christians are called to. It's not a request, it's a command. God doesn't say, "Please do it." He says, "FORGIVE!" it's an order, not a choice.

And one more thing, forgiving someone doesn't mean you have to be friends with that person or that you have to let that person be a part of your life. It means you are letting go of the hurt, letting go of any payment or punishment you expect for that person. I have forgiven the man who abused me as a child but that doesn't mean I want him in my life or near my children. But I've let go of that hurt and the anger I harbored toward him and I pray he found salvation before he died. And doing so gave me freedom!

Let go and let God! He will do amazing things through you if you will let Him help you clean out the dark, dank closets of your heart. Offer forgiveness and make amends. Start fresh today.

Reaching the Lost

Ever since I started really working on my relationship with God, the spiritual condition of those I love the most has become an enormous burden on my heart. I never realized how many people in my family, close members, are lost. They either don't believe in God at all or have such skewed ideas about who God is that salvation is out of the question for them and it breaks my heart.

I know without a shadow of a doubt that the God of the Bible is real. The more I get to know about Him, the more I love Him and long to be with Him. Yes, there are stories in the Bible that, to someone who doesn't know the true nature of God, seem to paint Him in a negative, mean spirited light. Stories like Job for instance. To someone who doesn't know the true spiritual reason behind the testing of Job, it could seem like God and Satan were simply toying with Job and torturing him for no apparent reason. But I know that the purpose behind it was, for one, to prove to Satan that there are indeed men in this world who cannot be turned from God's side no matter what. And for another, to show future generations that no matter what Satan does to us, God will never leave us or forsake us. He will always be faithful through no matter what kind of trials we are faced with.

I know for certain that Jesus is God's son and that He came to this earth to show us the very image of love and to reconcile us to God through his sacrifice on the cross. I know these things, not in my head, but in my heart, in the very deepest part of my soul, I know these things to be true.

So why is it so hard to convince those I love the most? Why does it seem that my prayers are falling on deaf ears? Please don't get me wrong, I know God hears my prayers, but these family members are as defiant and determined to refuse God as they ever were.

Jesus is coming SOON! We are living in the end times and I believe with all my heart that the end of this world as we know it is emminent. And I'm so afraid for my family. The thought of them being left behind in such a terrible time breaks my heart. The thought of them dying before then and not having another chance to get right with God, tears me up. But I don't know what to do besides keep praying. I know prayer is key...but I feel so helpless. I wish I could say something to these beloved members of my family that would change their hearts and turn them back to the God who created them, who loves them in spite of their rejection of Him.

And what makes it harder is that they're 2500 miles away. I can't be there for them to see the difference God has made in my life. I can't be there to be an example for them. I love them so much and I'm broken by their lost state. If any of you read this and feel inclined to pray with me for these people, please do. I won't mention names, so just know they're my family. And I love you for praying with me. I know God will hear! I have faith that He'll move on their hearts and call them Home to Him before it's too late.

Generation Cupcake

I'm not sure who coined the phrase for this generation of pampered, spoiled, overindulged young people but it really seems to fit. And it's so sad. I know I'm generalizing here- there are some kids out there who are well mannered, hard working, and willing to sacrifice but the majority of young people- age 8 to 25- today have been raised with a 'the world owes me a living and I can do what I want' mentality.

Take for example the story circulating the web right now about the bus monitor who was bullied to tears on her bus route by a bunch of middle schoolers. This type of behavior is all too common today because parents (again I'm generalizing) refuse to take Proverbs 13:24 to heart. “Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.”

When did it become okay for kids to abuse others- even their elders, authority figures, parents? Bullies have been around forever but it's nearly impossible to read or listen to the news these days and not hear of a new instance of a child being bullied so badly that they take their own lives, or children ganging up and abusing a teacher, grandparent, or parent. Why aren't parents willing to understand that this kind of behavior comes from a lack of discipline? If children are raised in a home where respect is demanded then children learn to respect others.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying to beat your kids and rule with an iron fist. If you discipline in love that sort of punishment isn't necessary. A smack on the backside is sometimes necessary but if the parents will lead by example, it's rarely needed. So many parents have the 'Do as I say, not as I do' philosophy and that leads to a lack of respect by the children because they view their parents as hypocrites.

If you want your children to grow up treating others with respect, then you have to treat others with respect while your children are growing up. If you want your children to have a good work ethic, then you need to show them how it's done. If you don't want your kids to drink and/or smoke then you shouldn't either. Don't abuse your spouse and your child won't either. Don't do drugs and teach your children about the danger and most likely your child will abstain as well. LEAD BY EXAMPLE!!

Generation cupcake can still be saved but many members of this group are already so far gone there's no reaching them. They've been raised in schools where everybody wins, everybody makes the team, everybody passes every test. Their 'self esteem' is put above all else and because of this they feel they can do no wrong, they will never lose, and that the world will cater to their ever whim. And these are our future leaders folks! I don't know about you but that terrifies me.

Get ahold of your kids and introduce them to the rod!

You can be a missionary too!

Back in 2002, my mom got me all the Left Behind Dramatic Audio Series for Christmas. It was a wonderful gift and one I've enjoyed listening to several times since. This week I loaded them all onto my IPod and began listening to them again because it's been awhile and this time, it's hitting me differently than it ever has before. This time, instead of simply entertaining me, it's impressing upon me the urgency of this time we're in.

At no other time in history has the world been so primed for the events of the book of Revelation to take place. This world is a powder keg, just waiting for some cataclysmic event to light the match. An event like, maybe, the rapture of the church.

And when that happens, every single person who has never heard of Jesus, every single person who has rejected Jesus, every single person who has chosen to not make a choice...will be left behind in a world that none of us can even begin to imagine. A world so awful, so hateful, so terrifying that few will survive. 75% of the world's population that gets left behind will die before Jesus returns at the end of 7 years.

Can you see the urgency? Can you see why it's so important to support missions and to be missionaries?

If you, my friends reading this, are anything like me, you learned about missionaries in Sunday school and the vision of African villages was set in your mind. Wonderful people going to the other side of the world to help people living in mud huts and tell them about Jesus. That's the picture that always came to my mind when someone mentioned missionaries to me.

BUT THERE'S MORE! You can go right next door to your house and be a missionary! You can go down the street or to the next town over and be a missionary! You don't have to go far but God commands that you GO!

Help the widows and orphans, visit the prisoners, feed the homeless, clothe the naked....and show them Jesus! Make your neighborhood your mission field. Make the tellers at the local bank your mission field, the clerk at the grocery store, your child's teachers, and your children's friends. The United States of America is a mission field in desperate need of workers...and as Jesus says, "The harvest is plenty but the workers are few."

Will you be a worker for Jesus?

Refiner's Fire

My main prayer for myself these days is pretty narrow minded but I think it's one that's important and necessary.

And this is my prayer: Lord, change me. Make me who You made me to be. Refine me, Lord.

I know in my heart that I can be better than who I am so my daily goal is to listen to God's leading as He shows me the things about myself that don't honor Him, the things in my life that need to go.

Psalm 139:23-24 says:
²³ Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

I want God to show me where I fail Him so that I can fix those things in myself and become a better me. As I lay in bed talking to God a few nights ago, a new poem came to mind and I had to jump out of bed in the middle of the night to write it down so I wouldn't forget it. Here's what God put on my heart.

Refiner's Fire

Refiner’s Fire burning bright,
Chase away the dark of night.
Melt away what’s wrong within,
Burning up the chaff of sin.

Refiner’s Fire make me new.
Create a vessel pleasing you.
Find the gold that dwells in me
And make it all the others see.

Refiner’s Fire pure and hot,
You see things that I cannot.
Test me, mold me, make me true,
Less of me and more of You.

© Danielle M. Peck
May 31, 2012

Less of me, Lord, and more of You...that is my desire.

Openly Worshiping

There was a time, not too long ago, when I would stand in church during worship service and envy those who had their hands raised to God, eyes closed, worshiping God without care of what others thought of them. And even though I envied them, I couldn't seem to bring myself to be so open and to let go of the care of how others would perceive me. I wouldn't let myself be bold in worship.

It was also during this time that I would hear people speak of their relationship with God, with Jesus and I was completely lost. I couldn't understand a relationship like that because I'd never had one. I'd been in church most of my life, gone to Youth Group, church camp, asked Jesus into my heart with the sinners prayer, and got baptized. But for me, God remained elusive, just out of reach. That intimate relationship with Him seemed unavailable to me.

Most of the time it felt as if God himself was unavailable, aloof, out of touch. He lived in outer space and we lived here on Earth. Everyone spoke of His love for us but I had to wonder if maybe He had loved us once but grew bored with us and moved on to something new. Kind of like when I was 8 years old and desperately wanted a new Barbie doll. I finally got her and loved her and played with her but by the time I was 10, she lay forgotten under my bed with a whole slew of long neglected toys. I felt like Barbie, forgotten, while God was out in the universe creating new words with new and maybe less disobedient creatures to amuse Him.

Yet I continued to search Him out. I wanted what I'd heard others speak of. I wanted that close intimate relationship with God! But for years I couldn't figure it out and for awhile I quit looking. I quit seeking. I stopped knocking. Don't get me wrong, I never lost my faith that He was out there. I never stopped believing in God, I just quit trying to have what others had because I was tired of always ending up at a dead end and still coming up empty.

And then one day, out of the clear blue, it occurred to me. I can't have a close relationship with someone I don't know.

I'd been teaching Sunday school, volunteering with the Youth Group, going to church every week, praying for those who were sick and in need, taking clothes and food to the needy during the holiday seasons...and nothing. I was doing it all wrong. I was looking in the wrong place.

Last December I loaded an App on my IPhone called You Version. It has lots of different versions of the Bible on it as well as Bible studies and a 'read the Bible in a year' program. You can set it to remind you to read each day and it tells you what to read and checks it off once you've read it. I started the "Bible in a year" but my head kept telling me I'd quite after a week or so because that's the kind of person I am. I rarely complete things and that's sad.

Well, it's May and I'm still going. Each day I look forward to the reminder telling me it's time to read God's word. It's day 135 and I've read 37% of the Bible so far.

AND I FINALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ALL THIS TIME!! I'm learning daily about God, who He was, why He created us, Why He continues to fight for us.

WHY I'M HERE! What my purpose is on this earth. I'm learning so much and it's so amazing! I'm no longer a discarded toy, I am a child of God! I am an heir to His kingdom! WOW! Can you even imagine such an amazing thing? My heart feels like it's on fire for the Lord and now when I teach my Sunday class I do it for a new purpose. Instead of it being for me, I do it for Him.

And when I stand in church during worship service, I no longer care what others might think of me and I lift my hands to the Lord and worship openly. I surrender all to my Lord and I'm completely okay with it.