Graduating Into Eternity
Kathi and her husband sat at the bedside of her 90-year-old mother knowing these were their final moments together. With mixed emotions they watched as she took her last breath and graduated to heaven. Although they long anticipated this day, this hour and this very moment they could never fully prepare. However, they were confident of one thing that brought them peace. They knew without a doubt that they were saying goodbye to her earthly body until they would meet her again.
Kathi said in her recent devotional, “It would be foolish to think that just because we know where she is and that we will see her again that we don’t feel grief or sorrow.”
Kathi experienced much the same thing when her father died almost 12 years ago, though the immediate joy was perhaps a bit more intense, as he didn’t receive Jesus as his Savior until the last week of his life—something they’d prayed for over many years. Kathi’s mom, on the other hand, came to know Christ in a personal way at the age of 50, and God graciously gave her 40 more years to enjoy a relationship with Him before taking her home.
“Whether we are blessed to receive Christ as children and live our entire life with our hand tucked securely in His or we mercifully come to him on our death bed, those of us who bid farewell to born-again loved ones can rejoice even as we grieve. To witness the end of my mom’s earthly suffering was to rejoice that she had at last stepped into the presence of the One who held her in His nail-scarred hands throughout her earthly journey and even as she passed through the valley of the shadow of death.” Kathi said with confidence, ”One day I too will graduate to heaven and will at last see my Savior face to face—as well as all those who have gone on before me.”
Kathi indeed has hope in Christ alone as she mourns the loss of her beautiful mother whom she devoted these past years to love like Jesus, which left her no regret as she watched her mother pass into eternity.
Do you look forward to graduation day with hope?
“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, NKJV).
Adapted from Kathi Macias’ devotional.
Kathi’s newest release, People of the Book (set in Saudi Arabia and the final installment of the Extreme Devotion series) is now available at most online venues and in bookstores across the country. You can find/order it, along with previously published books, on my website (www.kathimacias.com). Also, watch for news about my Fall 2011 releases, Deliver Me from Evil and A Christmas Journey Home.
Power of Perseverance
Pray with patient endurance. Whatever your pain, whatever your circumstance, whatever difficult person you are dealing with know that you are loved by God. He has not forgotten you. He is with you. You may be reading this at work, in your home, or in a coffee shop.
Wherever you are, God is with you.
While you pray be patient as God works in your heart and in the
heart of the person you are praying for. Consider that God is refining you.
“We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5
We don’t see what God is doing as we pray, but know He’s at work in the situation. He is in the process of building our character. Continue to pray. Paul says, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer,” Romans 12:12.
Don’t give up.
In Luke 18:1-8 ”Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said, “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!”
find…If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him?”
The blessing is on the other side of the storm. God wants us to seek Him with all of our heart and stay faithful in prayer for that difficult person. How bad do you want reconciliation?
Especially in marriage, God wants your relationship to be reconciled, because He hates divorce and what it does to the family. With that said, God tells us to love others as ourselves. When we are being harmed, or our children, or others are being harmed we have a responsibility to protect.
Love always protects, (1Corinthians 13:7).
When there is physical and emotional abuse we must stand for righteousness and protect those being abused. Sometimes merely speaking truth in love will stop the abuse, other times it may mean putting physical space to send a strong message. The consequences we implement for destructive behavior can bring about a repentant heart and ultimately true change.
Either way, seek God with all your heart and read His Word. When we seek God we establish an intimate relationship. When you surrender the situation to God and trust Him, He will direct your path and what you need to do next.
Our ultimate reward for perseverance will come in heaven, promised in James 1:12, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
Our true reward is Jesus. When we abide in Him through obedience we will have an abundant life here in the midst of our trial. Although the situation may seem overwhelming we will experience His joy, peace and strength. We experience Jesus and there is nothing better than that.
Too many people give up too quickly, not giving God the opportunity to do a good work in the heart and mind of the unlovable. Instead of staying faithful in prayer to gain intimacy with the One true living God we walk away, give-up, stop praying, and reflect little faith in our Mighty God who does miracles and is the Miracle. We miss the blessing of knowing Jesus intimately and seeing Him at work in our lives.
Are you crying out to God for the Miracle?
Cancer Didn’t Change The World – It Changed Me!
Three years ago Terry received the phone call that would make any person cringe. The call came from his family doctor who said, “Terry, I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but you have cancer.”
The moment was surreal and time seemed to stand still for Terry. The pain he saw in the face of his wife and three boys was beyond description…though he understood it because he felt it himself. Questions immediately began flooding his heart as he struggled to understand the purpose of this. He had surrendered his life to Jesus when he was 18 and entered full-time ministry when he was 22. Here he was one week removed from his 46th birthday facing this huge valley. He cried out, “Why, Lord, why???”
Terry said, “My story is not uncommon. Many have walked down the well trodden path of affliction and asked the same questions. In fact, I found a plethora of the similar questions asked by the writers of Scriptures, from Job to David, from Jeremiah and Habakkuk to the Apostle Paul. I was among friends!”
“We always hear how affliction changes our world.” Terry disagrees, “The world remains fallen and in need of redemption. However, suffering changes us. It moves us out of the vanity of self-absorption, youthful lusts and the idolatry of the American dream, and into the needs of others. It teaches us to count our days, redeem the time and seek God’s glory in all things. It makes us men (and women) of faith. Yes, if we have been born of the Spirit, we are all men of faith. However, when we have looked at death face to face, the certainty of our mortality becomes a constant and sober companion.”
Terry believes, ”Regardless of whether our affliction claims our life or not, the change it works in us is of extreme importance to our heavenly Father. Sure we want to survive, but sometimes affliction has much to do with working God’s Love into the core of our being. Our sorrows, torment and crying, all press us into the heart of Christ. Even as a believer, or a church leader, we experience a paradigm shift in our view of God, view of others, and the seriousness of our call.”
In his blog post, Terry said, “I do not know how many years the Lord will allow me to live and preach His glorious gospel. But, as I’ve discussed with my lovely wife Susanne, I know this…the rest of my years will be poured out on the altar of God, not as a means of earning anything, but because His Love has arrested me on a whole new dimension. And I am, by His grace, a debtor to all men.” (Rom.1:14)
“Yes, cancer changed me. The world has not changed, but I certainly view it differently. And now I can thank the Lord for allowing to me walk down this road, and I glory in my infirmities, even the permanent side effects from treatment. Before cancer, I had heard about God’s greatness when in the valley of affliction through the testimony and biographies of old saints. However, now, I have experienced His tender mercies as He held my weakened heart in His hands of grace. My eyes have seen his faithfulness, up close and personal!” (Job 42:5)
If you are in a deep valley, and need someone to listen…Terry is available, because of God’s grace at http://terryivy.com/.
Article adapted from Terry’s blog.
What Happens When You Listen to God
In her prayer she heard God‘s still small voice, “Go to Maharabi.”
Where is Maharabi? Connie thought. After her prayer time she became distracted with busyness.
A few days later in prayer she heard God whisper again, “Go to Maharabi.” This time she stopped to pay attention. Where was Maharabi? She never heard of this place. Getting on the internet Connie discovered this place to be a small village in India.
Connie has a heart to share the gospel that Jesus came to die for our sins to pay the penalty of death for us so that we can be alive in Him today and into eternity with His resurrection power through the gift of the Holy Spirit.
She immediately partnered with a mission team to bring the gospel to Maharabi. The mission organization put Connie in touch with an interpreter in India who would take her to Maharabi. She discovered that her interpreter had recently had a dream where he preached the word of God in Maharabi.
Together, Connie and a man across the world, listened and obeyed the call of God to bring the message of hope to a small village in India. Connie shares what happened when she opened her mouth to speak:
Jesus rules and reigns in Maharabi! Jesus’ name rings throughout Maharabi! Salvation has come to Maharabi!
For seven days my team of five went door to door. Seventy one people professed Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Praise the name of Jesus! Personally I never experienced anything like it; whole families gave their lives to Christ…. Aunts, Uncles, young and old are hungry for Jesus! God is so good! I’m amazed. All He asked of us to do was open our mouths, and home after home that we entered He filled our mouths with truth.
So many examples of how people came to know Jesus as their Savior; one widow with three children received Christ and afterwards they brought us her relatives, while walking on the road eight young men approached us and all sat and listened to the gospel of the Kingdom and joyfully received the simple plan of salvation.
On my last day in Maharabi the little church was packed with new believers. I shared and encouraged them with the story of Peter‘s failed attempt to walk on water and my battle with cancer. There was not a dry eye in the place. Jesus was there in that little church! Jesus touched their hearts once again…
Truly the harvest is ripe. My cry once again is “Here am I, send me.” Who will come back with me to reap the harvest?
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:36-38
Why Should We Pray?
God created us to be in a relationship with Him. Prayer allows us to commune with God. When we take the time to pray He reveals Himself to us and becomes personal, someone we want to spend time with, like a friend.
We also become aware of God’s presence and we experience Him at work in our lives when we pray. That’s why we need to be in constant prayer, even for the littlest things. Nothing is too insignificant for God. He cares about the details.
Some people think that God’s too busy for them. I remember when my son had leukemia and I proclaimed to my Great Aunt Daisy that I was praying for God to heal Connor.
She said, “He’s got more important things to take care of.”
Well, I beg to differ. God healed my son. He also cares about a parking space and me eating right and giving me the words to write for my book. He cares about every detail of my life. And I know this because I know Him and I see His faithfulness.
Open your eyes in the morning and praise Him for another day. Pour yourself a cup of coffee, grab your Bible and a notebook, and give Him your attention. That’s what He wants, just you and Him without distractions, even if it’s for only ten minutes.
Start there and then you’ll want to spend more time with Him. In fact, as you give Him your time you will discover that your time is multiplied. You will accomplish more throughout your day when you begin your morning with Him.
Talk to God as you get ready in the morning and eagerly anticipate with joy what He will do. Throughout your day call upon him for wisdom, direction, inspiration, strength and efficiency. At the grocery store ask Him to help you choose healthy food, before you walk in the door of your home talk to God and listen to what He wants to tell you.
Then, as you go to sleep reflect on your day. Praise Him for being with you throughout your day, confess your short comings and resolve to please Him, thank Him for what He did, and then ask Him for your specific requests. Use the simple acrostic ACTS: Adoration for the most Holy God, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Specific requests.
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1Thessalonians 5:16-18
Prayer changes your perspective. Why do you pray?
Abandoned yet Anointed
Named after a figure in the Bible, Zebulon Hill never knew his royal heritage until years after his own biological father abandoned him.
At four years old, Zebulon met his biological father for the first time when his father made the effort to determine if Zeb was his actual son through a DNA blood test. Discovering the truth, that Zeb was in deed his flesh and blood, never seemed to tug at his father’s heart to establish a relationship in the years that followed.
Rejected and abandoned, Zeb never knew his father’s love.
Sometime after the DNA testing was confirmed, Zeb’s mother married another man who became abusive toward her and her son. Over a period of six years, anger and rage brewed inside Zeb, until the age of ten when he contemplated murder in an attempt to protect his mother, but instead God delivered both of them when his abusive step-father died in a motorcycle accident. Zeb was relieved by the tragedy.
After the death of Zebulon’s step-father, his mother eventually remarried another man who also became abusive. Not wanting to leave his mother, Zeb turned down a basketball scholarship to go to college and a few weeks later his step-father kicked him out of the house.
Zeb felt betrayed by his mother. She never fought for her son and she allowed her husband to force him out of the house with nowhere to go. Her lack of courage to stand up to her abusive husband, to protect her son, and fight for him fueled Zeb’s disrespect toward women.
Zeb tried to prove his self-worth through using women, cursing and alcohol. He treated women as objects of his affection in an attempt to find love. He became a father at twenty-four and ran away from his responsibilities to chase his Hollywood dream in LA. When he became unfaithful to his girlfriend he found himself homeless.
Living in his car, severe depression hit Zeb and he contemplated suicide. As he wrote a letter to his God-parents, who were there for him growing up, he asked them to be involved with his son’s life. Something kept him from taking his life that day. A week later he felt the nudge to move back to San Diego to try to build a relationship with his son’s mother. As Zeb looked in the mirror he saw himself following in his father’s footsteps.
Zeb had abandoned his own son.
For thirty-six years Zeb searched for ways to be a man, to find his father’s love, and seek approval and attention. He lived a reckless life with no purpose until May 2009 when he discovered his heavenly Father’s love for him. He realized that his Father in heaven never abandoned him and sought out to have a relationship with his precious child for all those years.
After Zeb committed his life to Christ, as he sat in the Rock Church during a Sunday service, the Holy Spirit clearly showed him that his childhood pain would be used to minister to children who were suffering in a similar way without knowing their father’s love. He longed to be a father figure to the youth so that they would not choose to go down the same road of destruction that he did.
As one of the founding volunteers of the ministry, Never Knew A Father’s Love (NKAFL), Zeb heads up the Mentorship Program for the youth. As a ministry they come alongside individuals and families who have suffered from the loss or abandonment of their father. They partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego to make connections within the Rock Church and the community abroad.
“The challenge is finding faithful volunteers to give their time and talents to lead the youth by example as a beacon of light that Jesus has called us to be,” Zeb says. “Many of us are love deficient, yet love heals all.” There’s no greater joy than stepping in to be a mentor and the love of Jesus to the rejected and abandoned children of this city.
God is the Father to the fatherless.
God adopts us into his family, to make us a co-heir with Christ, and Zeb praises God that He anointed and chose him to become the first royal priesthood in his family to break the curse of not knowing a father’s love.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9
Zeb is declaring the praises of God’s faithfulness. He learned that not only did he accept his heavenly Father’s love through Christ, but he needed to love his father and forgive him. He became aware that the stronghold of the enemy stole his father from him through the curse of generational sin passed down from his father and his father’s father and so on. By forgiving his father, Zeb was set free to love and begin a new legacy.
Zeb is blessed to have a close loving relationship with his own son. He says the most important thing he has taught him is introducing him to a deeper relationship with Jesus, because knowing the love of Jesus compels us to live for Him. Zeb urges others to make the same choice to turn to Jesus, to stop the cycle to never know a father’s love, and to come alongside a child as a mentor in order to impact future generations.
Who Do You Need To Forgive?
Do you lash out in anger, frustration or rage? Do you find yourself thinking negative thoughts or having a critical attitude? Are you passive aggressive or hold everything in trying to be the peacemaker?
These simple communication signs can indicate a root of bitterness stemming from an unforgiving heart. Most of us have someone to forgive, whether a past offense or someone who remains in our life daily. A simple prayer like the following will reveal truth:
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24
Who do you need to forgive? You may be surprised at who comes to your mind. Sometimes we bury those offenses due to shame and guilt and as a means to cope, but deep down there is a root of bitterness toward that person who harmed you or wronged you in some way. Sometimes the offense can be imagined or suspected without any evidence. Pray. Ask God to reveal the people you need to forgive. Write a list of names of those who God puts in your mind. If you need to look at the following list to jog your memory:
Father • Childhood bully • Boyfriend • Girlfriend • Date • Rapist • Drunk driver • Teacher • Step-Father • Mother • Step-Mother • Husband • In-laws • Brother • Sister • Cousin • Uncle • Aunt • Coach • Children • Grandparent or grandchildren • Yourself
According to Dr. Neil Anderson author, Victory Over Darkness and Bondage Breaker, 95 percent of clients who get counseling list mother or father as their number one or two person whom they need to forgive.
God took me on a journey of healing by writing letters. When I asked God to direct me to write my first letter my Great Aunt Daisy popped into my mind. Scanning my long list of names in search for Aunt Daisy I realized I never put her on my list. When I began my letter I realized I harbored bitterness and anger toward my Great Aunt for not being the loving grandmother figure she should have been when she replaced the grandmother I never knew.
Through the process of writing my letter I forgave Daisy, healed that relationship, and spent loving quality time recording her stories before she died at ninety-seven years old.
Do you want to be free to love? You must forgive. After God reveals who to forgive look for the steps on how to forgive beginning with, No Pain, No Gain.
