Song of the Day: Jesus be the Center

May16

With my medical school days wrapping up soon and all the changes that come along with that, I have noted a slight shift. There are so MANY possible distractions. There are potential unnecessary arguments, potential unneeded activities, and more to take me away from the main thing- Jesus. As this song says, Jesus be the center of it all. May my day revolve around Him and pleasing Him. I wouldn’t be surprised if this isn’t the first time I’ve posted this song, but we can never truly remind ourselves about this point too much. Everything is NOTHING without Him.

So Jesus, rule in my life. Rule in my conversations. Rule in my every day living. Be my center. Be my rock that everything is built on. Let my life reflect You, Jesus.

Rebekah M.

Prayer Monday: Renewed Promises

May13

So I have had the same prophecy spoken over me throughout the years. I can think of three main instances in which it has happened, two of them were with the exact same wording by different people, in different states, and almost a decade apart. The third was definitely in the same spirit of the other two.

When I was younger, every time I had a serious time of asking God for revelation/my future, I repeatedly would open my Bible and it would land on Ezekiel 37 (this is over years starting in either elementary or middle school at least 5 or 6 times or even more). Finally, during my college years after one such time like that, I angrily drove home from church one night and was like “God! You have to tell me what it means, why the valley of the dry bones??? You have to or… or… I don’t even know what!” It is amazing to think I felt I had a right to yell at God like that. Yet instead of punishing me, that very next Sunday we had an unexpected guest preacher who taught on promises. At one point, he talked about Ezekiel 37 and explained that bones represent promises and that the valley of the dry bones is an analogy of how God can and will breathe life back into promises that seem so dead and dried up.

Last night, the pastor preached on the subject of promises and how God is faithful and able to perform that which He has spoken. During alter call, I felt the renewed hope in my promises. They may at times seem SO dead and so far off, but I once again said to Him who is able, “Jesus, if this is truly what You want for my life, You KNOW what needs to come to pass. I believe. I will go where You want and do what You want.” I felt His promises begin to take life back on those dry and dusty bones. I felt Him say:

“That is why I sent you that passage so many times when you were younger, so that you would know that from a young age I wanted you to learn that I am able to bring your promises back to life. I want you to always know that I am able and I will bring My promises to life.”

What promises has God laid on your heart that you feel are dead and dusty? Know that He is able! Let today’s prayer in your heart be to reclaim your promises! Don’t let despair take hold, know that He is faithful and able to perform what He said He would! Your promises may look dead in your mind’s eye, but He is able to bring back life even the things that seem to have been lost to you years ago. Let today’s prayer be one that claims His faithfulness. Ezekiel was told to prophecy to the bones so speak it forth- speak faith that God WILL bring His promises for your life to reality! You may not see the results today, or even tomorrow, but hold on to your promises, hold on to your faith, and know that HE WILL BE FAITHFUL!

God bless you readers as you believe in His promises for your life once again,

Rebekah M.

http://beingrebekah.com/2013/02/04/prayer-monday-breaking-oppression-again/

Fostering the Family

May9

I was listening to this the other day. I’m not even sure what to call it. It’s not a song, and not a sermon. Just a video, a call to family. It’s not a call to the immediate family, or even to blood relatives, but a call to the Christian family. Because we do, after all, share the same Father.

Which got me thinking. If we share the same Father, we are all family. Do we act that way? Do we treat every lost person we see as family? Unconditionally loved, happy to see them? In our hearts, do we recognize them as brother and sister?

I know I don’t. I try to. But all too often, going through my day, I treat people like strangers. Because really, they are. It’s both strange and eye-opening to walk through crowded streets of Manhattan, not knowing a soul but knowing that I’m walking through family and potential family. Because that’s what it is for those who are lost – a potential family. A family that is just waiting for them to join it. To come back to it. To come into their identity that Christ gave them, to live the way they were created to. To come into their inheritance as sons and daughters.

But what am I actively doing to welcome them in? To claim them as brother and sister and show them what this family looks like? God gives me discernment over people sometimes, and it guides my prayer. Other times He gives me a word for people and I do my best to be bold enough to speak it. But if it’s not a direct order, I usually leave them alone. And I don’t think that’s really enough. Yes it’s the crowded streets of Manhattan. But a smile, a greeting, a compliment…those things cost nothing. It doesn’t always have to be profound. Every moment is a chance to show our Father’s love.

Yes, some families here on earth are dysfunctional. Some family members don’t treat each other all that great. But not ours. Not with the Dad we have. So we shouldn’t act like it.

I posted the video below, just because it sparked all my rambling. And I leave you with a call of your own, as you go through your day. It’s a call to not just be outwardly nice to people because we know we should, but to see every person you come across through the eyes of the Father, and see them as a potential brother or sister. What family members have been right in front of you have been right in front of you this whole time?

God bless!

~Rebekah A

Prayer Monday: A Prayer of the Sick/Song of the Day

May6

Yesterday I was incredibly sick with what I’m guessing was a 24 hour bug. Throwing up every hour on the half hour for what felt like an eternity and then when that stopped I had full on body aches and a high fever. Even running my hands through my hair hurt on a level like I don’t ever remember it hurting. Through it all though, something in my heart still gave praise to God. There were short windows where I would feel well, about 30-45 mins each and during one of those windows I played a song that I newly learned. Part of the lyrics say “in my weakness you are merciful” and I started to cry as I sang them out loud.

It is so true. In our moments of weakness, physical or spiritual, God is still merciful, He is still good. I was blessed beyond measure to have it happen while I was home visiting family so that my mom could take care of me. Just a few years shy of thirty and I was lucky enough to still have my mom nurse me back to health. She quickly went out to get ingredients for chicken soup, sugar free jello (I’m diabetic), low carb Gatorade, and saltine crackers. At one point when my fever was raging high and I could barely move from pain, she actually spoon fed me some jello and gave me Gatorade through a straw because I hadn’t had anything for a bit.

God gives us what we need when we need it! Even more, the doctor I’m working with this month told me I could take today and tomorrow off to get better and come back on Weds. What blessings! What mercy! God, You truly outdo what I am worthy of! Thank You Jesus!!

Thank You Jesus that in my weakness, You truly are merciful! Thank You Jesus that in all times, You are good! Thank You Jesus that there is none like You and You truly do watch over us Praise You Jesus! Praise You God for Your little miracles

Rebekah M.

Being Isaac: StephenWhoElse “God is an Open Book”

May5

Editor’s Note: Our weekly guest spot is our effort to help our reading community connect with each other. “Being Isaac” is in response to our growing number of male readers. We think it’s important that there’s a male reply to our female’s call to live in passionate pursuit of Christ. Thanks StephenWhoElse for submitting another great post reflecting on how transparent and open to us God really is.

Christian books are a lot more popular today than they were a few years ago. Most major (and smaller) bookstores have a section dedicated to religious books. A couple even made it to the Paperback Nonfiction Best Sellers list. Looking at the selection of Christian books in a typical book store, it struck me how many books attempt to help the reader “figure out” our great and mysterious God. Here are some titles you may see:

What Is God?
Making Sense of the Old Testament God
How to understand God
God according to God
The God I don’t understand

There were lots more books like these – and it amazes me that there is so much time and effort being devoted to “figuring out” who God is! Surely our God who created us in His image, who loved us enough to sacrifice his only Son so that we can be close with Him again, wants us to know him intimately! If so, how difficult can it be to know God?

While reading Isaiah today, it struck me how transparent God is. He does not hide his feelings from us. He does not leave us wondering about His plans for the world. And how wonderful that He does not hide His love for us! God is completely open to us with His feelings.

God does not hide his anguish when rejected by His people:

The ox knows its master,
the donkey its owner’s manger,
but Israel does not know,
my people do not understand. (Isaiah 1:3)

God’s feels the pain when he punishes his people – he doesn’t want to punish them! And yet his righteousness demands it.

Why should you be beaten anymore?
Why do you persist in rebellion? (Isaiah 1:5)

God’s frustration is clear to see, when he cannot get through to his people!

Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me. (Isaiah 1:13)

God feels disappointment when we do not live up to what we are capable of

What more could have been done for my vineyard
than I have done for it?
When I looked for good grapes,
why did it yield only bad? (Isaiah 5:4-5)

God’s plan is to reconcile with his people, not punish them.

“Come now, let us settle the matter,”
says the Lord. (Isaiah 1:18)

Friends, God is an open book. He hides nothing from us that is for our good. His love for us is plain to see. Continue reading Isaiah and you will see that despite an intense anger that is not satiated even by the most terrible punishments, (chapter 9), God is compassionate enough to help his people go through the suffering! (Isaiah 10:24-25)

Very soon my anger against you will end
and my wrath will be directed to their destruction. (v 25)

Can you imagine that? Even in the midst of meting out terrible punishments on his people, God is compassionate enough to reach out to his people, to reassure them that it is temporary, to encourage them to bear with it!

Friends, God does not need to be “figured out”. The character of God is plain to see. We don’t need mountains of books to tell us who God is, because He has already revealed Himself to us through his living Word.

Instead, let us devote our time and energy to loving him. And how do we love an invisible God?

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. – John 14:23

Let us spend time with God, listening to Him, abiding in Him and obeying Him.

God bless.

StephenWhoElse is a Sunday School Teacher and in his spare time he has a secular and less interesting job. He endeavors to write only what He reveals to him and gives all glory to God! See the original post at http://10seventeen.wordpress.com/2013/01/07/god-is-an-open-book/

Published with the permission of the author. Submit your own post at beingrebekah@outlook.com.

Stretch Forth Thine Hand

May4

And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. ~ Mark 3:1-5

God had used this passage of verses before to touch my heart as I wrote about back in October last year. These past few days, God allowed me the chance to go to a ladies’ conference which has been SO good for my soul! One of the nights, they had “prayer tunnel” created by having two lines facing each other of ministers’ wives and all the ladies lined up to walk in between the two lines. As you walked through, the ministers’ wives prayed over us. As I went through something in my so deeply prayed for a husband and for God to just do whatever else He wanted with my life- use me as He will, move me where He will, keep me with my sicknesses or take them away. As I finished up the line I went to sit back in my seat and felt the need to open my Bible. It automatically fell on the above passage and instantly I felt God saying that He wanted to make the final healing in my heart. I will NEVER be ready for Isaac without a fully healed heart. As I allowed the words to sink in, I cried, thanking God and I stretched forth first one hand and then the other. Tears streaming down, I let go of the things in my heart. I stretched my hands out in faith, believing Him faithful to heal me. I post this in faith, continuing to believe that I was healed! My heart is whole- whole from Ex #1, whole from Ex #2, even whole from giving up the third guy- unofficially an ex… from consciously choosing God over the first guy to treat me like gold. I know I made the right choice and either he’ll come to God and we’ll end up together, or God will send someone else- but I know more than ever that I did make the right choice and that I have hope. I have hope that God will honor my choice- that He will not leave my soul in pain unless there is a plan and a reason- even if it’s because my Isaac has more to grow before he’s ready to be the man I need. I trust you God, I trust You Jesus. I stretched forth my hand and I am healed!!!

Rebekah M.

http://beingrebekah.com/2012/10/07/forgiveness-and-renewal-revisited/

The Visions: Loved like Gomer Was

May2

To those who haven’t been keeping up with my scattered series, back in February I was messing up- unofficially dating a guy who wasn’t in church and it got to the point God felt the need to send a prophet to email my parents visions he had seen of me to prevent me from making horrible mistakes in my life. With all of it fading more and more into my past and becoming more sure-footed on the straight and narrow towards God, I want to close up the series with this thought: I am loved like Gomer was.

For those who don’t know, Gomer was the wife of the prophet Hosea. A prostitute and adulteress, she left him to go back on the streets that he had taken her off of and God told him to bring her back in Hosea chapter 3. So the prophet bought her back. Redeemed her of her past- just has Jesus has done for me. I praise and thank God that He found a way to bring me out of a situation that could have potentially led to me who knows? From the visions it seems that I may have slept with him eventually, even left church! What an amazing God to save me from such BIG mistakes!

God sees us in our worst light- moments where we are turning from Him in doubt or despair – and loves us anyhow. We are beloved of God! As with Gomer who ran away and committed the ultimate betray and Hosea still took her back and loved her- so is Christ with us!!! Turn back to Jesus today if you are running from Him for you are running from the very being that loves you more than anyone or anything in the universe!!! Jesus paid your debt of sin so that you could have a real relationship with Him!!! Find, as I did, that no matter how much I turned away from Him, blamed Him, and disobeyed His Word, He still loved me and He still loves you!!!!

Know that YOU are God’s beloved and He just wants to love you,

Rebekah M.

http://beingrebekah.com/2013/01/28/praying-monday-pressing-on/

http://beingrebekah.com/2013/01/29/a-daddys-chastisement/

http://beingrebekah.com/2013/02/14/the-visions-part-1/

http://beingrebekah.com/2013/02/28/the-visions-part-2/

http://beingrebekah.com/2013/04/12/the-visions-part-3/

Restoration (Part III)

Apr30

“So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all” (1 Samuel 30: 1-8, 18-19).

Four years ago I went through a very trying time in my faith. My spiritual family and I were hurt very deeply during this time. My godparents were falsely accused of many terrible things. Through much prayer, I eventually made the decision to leave that church and within a few days my god-parents were asked to leave as well. By the end of that year I had lost several close friends.

One of these was a dear friend to me that I had defended repeatedly in her time of trouble. Yet when my time of trouble came, she turned her back on me. She sent me disparaging emails, unfriended me on facebook, and disconnected from me socially and spiritually. I was heart-broken.

^“Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me” (Psalm 41:9).

All communication between us stopped – with one exception. Every year on her birthday I sent her a one line email wishing her a good year and a happy birthday. Occasionally, I also tried to encourage her in other more subtle ways; for example, leaving uplifting comments on a mutual friend’s post in reply to one of her comments. We were no longer “friends”, but by way of mutual contacts I knew that she could see some of those things. For the most part, my efforts were ignored.

I admit it was difficult for me. I was hurt that she rejected me. I was angry that she was judging me without knowing or understanding what had really happened at the church. I was sad that we were no longer friends. I missed her.

It took me some time, but eventually I forgave her. She was doing what she felt she had to. In shunning me, she was following the direction of her leadership. I understood that to go against the church leadership is rebellion; she was trying to do the right thing. Yes, I had defended her vehemently to that same leadership when they were falsely accusing her of things, but she never knew that. Yes, she believed the false reports spoken about us, but they were constructed in such a way as to be very convincing. In the end I felt badly for her that she was still in that situation when I had found my way to freedom.

Indeed, while that was the most difficult time I have had to endure since becoming a Christian, it was also the catalyst for helping me to grow in Christ and to dig deeper into Him. I have been incredibly blessed in this last four years. I now attend a wonderfully loving church with very supportive leadership. I have been able to attend Bible College, coach the youth in Bible Quizzing, be involved in a Chinese Home Church and meet many wonderful new friends. Everything that I lost was restored to me and then some! Is the church I attend now a perfect church? No, of course not. But it is exactly what I need in my life and it has afforded me many opportunities that would have been closed to me at my old church.

“For I will restore health to you, and heal you of your wounds, says the Lord, because they called you an outcast saying: This is Zion; No one seeks her.” (Jeremiah 30:17).

I have learned that truly all things work together for good (Romans 8:28) and that going through that time helped to bring me to where I am now. I also have a greater love and appreciation for those around me because I understand that things can change at any time and I know what a blessing it is to have them in my life.

Today, my dear friend that I lost four years ago sent me a friend request on Facebook. This may seem like a small thing, but I assure you, this is no small thing! Tears instantly welled behind my eyes when I saw it. Perhaps we will never be able to recover a friendship like the one we used to have, but I gladly welcome her back into my life. I pray she is well and that God is blessing her.

We truly serve a God of restoration!

In His Love,
Rebekah L.

God’s Sorrow

Apr25

A few weeks ago a closer friend of mine was messing up. Calling me on the phone while she was drunk, she told me she was messing up. We kept talking and it was clear that she was driving while intoxicated. I felt SUCH sorrow like I have never felt before. It wasn’t even disappointment, it was just such a deep, loving sorrow because I knew that it was her fear of her current circumstances and doubt in God’s love and protection that drove her to the state she was in at the time. I didn’t judge her, I wasn’t angry, I was just deeply sorrowful that she was making these destructive choices for herself and worried for her safety. As I felt those feelings go through me, I felt SUCH kindship with how God must feel when we mess up. I cried on the phone as I continued to talk to her but felt compelled to ask God in my heart to forgive me…. realizing how I must have made Him feel like that when I was messing up with [the guy I was unofficially dating who is not in church] but on so much of a deeper level since God loves more than I ever could.

Are you doing something today that brings sorrow to God’s heart? Are you in a place where God is weeping over the choices you are making, not from anger or judgement, but because He knows you are only bringing yourself potential destruction? My friend, God watched over her. She made it home safe, she repented, she’s not gone back to any of that. More than that, God used that time to show her things that had never been fully understood by her before. Just as she allowed God to mold her time of fear and doubt into a faith building moment when everything was turned over in His light, let it be so for you as well! Turn from your actions! Don’t go back! You are stronger than all that THROUGH JESUS! Know that His love for you is unfailing, it is forever and without regret! Jesus Christ loves you with all His heart and what a mighty, vast heart it is!!!! There is no end to His love!!! You don’t have to try to find peace from the things of this world- for they will never bring you true peace and true happiness- it will only be found in Christ!!! Know that His love is SO deep and it is for YOU!

God bless you readers and may you feel the depths of His love today,

Rebekah M.

Bridging the Gap

Apr23

I was recently forwarded the video below. It’s probably close to twenty years old, but it’s remarkable how a mere 41 seconds can be so touching. Perhaps you’ve seen it already, but if you haven’t go ahead and click play; I’ll wait. Actually, even if you have seen it, go ahead and click play anyway because it’s 41 seconds of love and humanity that we could all stand to be reminded of.

This adorable pair of siblings perfectly illustrate the way we are supposed to help one another, love one another, and work together. It is also a picture of how Christ bridged the gap for us so that we could cross the gulf of sin to the presence of God.

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

When the little boy realized that his younger sister could not cross the gap on her own, he literally bridged the gap for her. He lay down and allowed her to cross over despite the fact that she wasn’t the most graceful at the task. He doesn’t move until she is completely on the other side, even when she steps on his hand. Ouch! But one of the things I love about this clip is how as soon as the brother puts his leg across the gap for his sister, she immediately begins to cross! She was too afraid to attempt the feat by herself, but she trusts her brother so completely that she doesn’t even hesitate once he offers help.

Do we trust God like that? He is the solution to all of our struggles. When He offers us help, we should be like the little sister and not hesitate to accept it! Are we so focused on the gaps in our lives, that we fail to trust the bridges God has provided? When I was lost in sin, Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice for me and laid down His life so that I could have a way to the Father.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

He bridged the gap for us.

Thank You, Jesus for being the One we can trust in the face of fear and obstacles. Help us to trust You completely and to not hesitate to accept the provisions You have provided for us. Help us to see You in every act of kindness and be inspired to provide a helping hand and show Your love to those around us.

In His Love,

Rebekah L