A.R.K.S.

God Evening Family,

Yep, still stuck on ARKS only this time it's an acronym.

My favorite movie of all times is Evan Almighty. (Yes I suggest you see it.) Evan is a man elected to Congress. He appeals to God for help him make a difference, only it never occurred to him that God would take him at his word. God shows up and gently but firmly insists that Evan build an Ark.

I won't ruin the movie for you but I will say it was through this movie that God first spoke to me about Arks or in this case A.R.K

Acts of Random Kindness.

More and more I am convinced that I have a responsibility to help people not only come to Christ, but to stay saved.

This world is cruel, calculating, and indifferent to the pain people endure. There are times when a word or gesture of kindness is like a crust of bread to a starving man.

The problem lies in agendas. True kindness has no agenda. It just is. Jesus healed countless men and women he knew would later reject Him simply because He was moved by compassion.

Those with agendas do not waste their time on people they know will never be saved, never achieve their destiny...never be a "successful" Christian. They look for those with the right qualities and then they begin the work of conversion. Discipleship means reproducing themselves which is kind of strange since none of us is the standard...

Jesus is the standard.

Jesus was the Master A.R.K. builder. From raising a widow's son from the dead during the funeral procession to making sure his mother would be cared for by John, while hanging on the cross mind you, Jesus was always sensitive to suffering of others. He did what He could to ease that suffering.

The command from God to Noah was, "Make yourself an ark..."Gen 6:14

The command from Jesus for 2000 years has always been make yourself an A.R.K.

Love everyone. Be kind to everyone. And as much as it is up to you be at peace with all. Honor all men and suffer even the least to come to Him. Make yourself that compassionate person who does all you can to ease the suffering around you...with no agenda.

Whether people come to Christ or not, whether they do grand impressive things for God or not, whether they just can't seem to mature in Christ we are to show the kindness of God.

Why?

Because, for now, the Ark door is still open. Just as they can come in they can also walk out. God's will is all be saved and for those who walk out of His Ark there is no promise of tomorrow.

What if all it takes to keep a soul saved is a not so random, Holy Spirit inspired, act of kindness from me? What if that soul is my spouse, my child, my mom or dad, a pastor, or a new convert? What if I hold back that kindness and someone goes to hell due to my lack of compassion? My refusal to just be...

... kind?


"Make yourself an ark..."Gen 6:14

Stay in Prayer and the Word!

Love in our Lord,

Lauren

Ark Builders

God Afternoon Family,

There is something weighing on the heart of God that is beginning to weigh on mine.

God is looking for Ark builders.

The end of this world as we know it is coming. Two thousand years ago the apostles declared that Jesus was coming soon. Two thousand years later we stand at the brink of that Great Day.

In preparation for that coming the church has been commissioned to win as many souls to Christ as we can. Very few are doing that, but for those who are I believe there is an aspect of soul winning that can be overlooked, or at least not given priority in the mind of the soul winner.

Generally in winning souls, great mercy and kindness is shown to the lost. The message, preached truthfully and without compromise, is ornamented with patience and a great show of love. For the one that is drawn by the Father and receives Christ as Lord, this "love" is sweet refuge from the rejection and harshness of the world.

All too soon however, once it is relatively assured that the new convert really is saved and locked in to the local church, seasoned men and women seem to breath a sigh of relief as they remove their spiritual masks. Almost in unison it's as if they say,

"Okay, now we can be ourselves."

Patience now begins to wear thin, compassion and concern is rarely evident, the fruit of the spirit has gone sour, and instead of being our brother's keeper the scripture of the day is, "work out your own salvation...". At the end of the day, the body lays down it's head down in peace because we've done our job and the poor heathen is saved.

People are not that stupid. As a sales woman I do my utmost to give sincere compliments and to be kind to my clients because they are people, not because I want their money. I do this because I hate being "sold". I know when people are being nice to me because they have an agenda.

People know when they are just another notch on the evangelistic belt.

There is a difference between loving people and loving bringing people to Christ. One continues to cultivate the relationship while the other dumps the heathen at the feet of Christ and walks off. Jesus is looking for those who will cultivate the relationship.

God had Noah build the Ark to preserve life until the danger passed. God expects us to do the same. Instead of wooden boats, arks are now the hearts of men where people can remain safe until Jesus comes for His church.

When we do not develop hearts filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control what comes out of us is everything prideful and wicked. Instead of patiently helping one another just stay saved we have become a source of stumbling.

When our brother backslides, offended, it is not simply because they had no relationship with God it's because they also had no relationship with the body. If a finger is dismembered the tissue in that finger will die because it it cut off from the nourishment that comes through the blood flow of the body. If a brother has not connected intimately within the body he will eventually die because he is cut off from the nourishment of Christ that flows through the church. Before one develops intimacy with God he connects with the one made in the image of God.

I understand all to well that there are those who will not connect no matter how well they are loved by their brethren. But when the body refuses to grow in the fruit of the Spirit we in effect
cut off our brother from the love and mercy of God. Then his blood is on our hands.

We build arks for souls. Therefore we do not just show love to the new convert, but our spouses, children, leaders, pastors, and peers. Everyone in the church is a soul in need of keeping

We build arks when we choose to be the peace maker, when we give, and when we labor in God's house instead of leaving the work to others. We build arks through sincere gestures of kindness to one another, forgiving one another (quickly), and looking out for the troubles of our brother as well as our own. We build arks when we prefer one another before ourselves.

We build arks not out of duty but a sincere desire to see everyone make it to the right hand of God.

We build arks because hell is real and we are our brother's keeper.

When everything was ready, the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the boat with all your family..." Gen 7:1

Stay in prayer and in the Word!

Love in our Lord,
Lauren

Take up Your Cross

God Evening Family,

I'm not quite sure how to write this, but I know God wanted me to share what He showed me this morning.

Last Sunday I was fasting. As I was listening to the sermon that morning I heard God say pray for My body. So I continued the fast and each day focused my prayer on whatever the Holy Spirit led me to pray for His body. Among other things I prayed for the fear of the Lord, finances, missionaries, pastors, laborers for the harvest and workers to rise up.

One day I specifically prayed that God would heal His body. I felt such a certainty that the body of Christ was so sick and the sickness was like a cancer that was rapidly spreading.

Today was the last day of the fast and when I woke up, before I had even opened my eyes, I had a song on my heart about the Cross. As I opened my eyes I had a vision of Jesus. He was holding a cup in His hand and He said,

"The reason so many are falling away is because they refuse to embrace the Cross. The end is closer than ever before. For those who embrace the Cross the end is glorious."

He looked at me and held out the cup. "Will you drink from My cup?"

I hesitated because I knew it was the cup of suffering. I told Him I didn't want to drink from that cup and I needed His grace to help me to do so.

He said, "Embrace the cross, the end is glorious."

I took the cup and drank from it. It was so bitter and it made my stomach hurt. As I drank I saw so many things it was almost a blur and I couldn't see it all. I saw wars, strife, people suffering, others carrying or being nailed to their own crosses. Then all was silent and I was dressed as He was. My robe was so beautiful and everything was bright and white. Then I heard the worship of so many saints, all united in our praise of the Lamb. Finally My head was laid in His lap as He sat on His throne.

This vision could have lasted longer than a minute but for me the message was clear. In order for me to be with Jesus forever I must take up my cross, but in my flesh this is impossible. It is only through the strength of God that I can allow my flesh to suffer the agonizingly slow death of the cross.

When we think of suffering we often think of those who suffer unto blood shed. However in this country very few experience the pain of being martyred. At least for now. Our crosses tend more towards our dealings with people or circumstances. For instance when we encounter an offense the temptation is to respond in some carnal way, yet the Word of God says to forgive. To obey that Word I have to nail my fleshly desire for revenge firmly to the cross and graciously extend the hand of peace.

Crosses are not easy. No one wants to drink from the cup of suffering and humiliation. Yet Jesus gave the answer. In Luke 22:42-43 we find Jesus asking His Father to take away this same cup. Jesus was not spared but His Father sent an angel to strengthen Him.

The end truly is near folks and many are forsaking the Word of God to live their own version of Christianity where suffering and humiliation don't exist. Many are already deceived into thinking that they are still right with God despite the fact that they refuse to obey His Word.

Nothing in me wants to suffer. Yet God demands it because this flesh must die. So my part in the matter is to find my own Garden of Gethsemane and cry out to God for the grace to take up my cross, that I too may follow after Christ.

For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. Heb 12:3

Stay in Prayer and in the Word!

Love in our Lord,
Lauren

The House of Kindness

God Morning Family,
There is a story in the New Testament that has always weighed on my mind in that I've never fully been at peace with the way some interpret it..

The story is found in John 5:1-9 and tells how there was a pool called Bethesda where miracles happened. At certain seasons an angel would stir the waters and whoever got into the water first was healed of whatever sickness they had.

Jesus comes on the scene and taking note of a man who had been lying by that pool for 38 years, He asked him,

"Would you like to get well?"

The man responds by saying that he could not get well because every time the waters were stirred someone would get in the water before he could. He had no one who would help Him.

I've heard this invalid described as an excuse maker, an apathetic man who was wallowing in self pity. I heard it said that if this man really wanted to be healed he would have found a way to get in that pool, therefore if you and I are not healed, delivered, or still struggling in some emotional area it's because we just don't want the victory bad enough.

I do believe that we are responsible to do our part when it comes to receiving things from the Lord. But, I also know that sometimes people suffer from conditions (Physically, mentally, spiritually) that they can do absolutely nothing about. They are not making excuses they just do not see a way out of their suffering. It is in these cases that God expects us to help one another.

It is amusing that the pool was called Bethesda which in the Hebrew means house of kindness. Imagine this. The pool is packed with the sick and infirm waiting for the angel to stir the water. They are as close to the pool as they can get. Day after day passes and everyone is afraid to sleep or take their eyes off the water for even a second. Everyone is on edge and no one is thinking about their neighbor. All they want is to be the first one in the water so they can be free from misery. Finally the waters begin to stir and the people are anything but kind. The sick are trampling on one another. Fists flail as each one desperately attempts to be the first to step in.

Finally a shout of triumph! A young man with kidney stones had pushed down an elderly woman with cancer and stepped in the water first. Glorifying God he went home healed with out a second thought about those still sick. The crowd went back, each one to their place, some weeping, others grumbling, all dejected.

Then Jesus comes and His attention is immediately fixed on the one who had been their 38 years and his complaint was so genuine Jesus did not dispute it. There was no one who would help. So Jesus spoke and the man was healed.

I have several thoughts on the matter and even as I write I pray God convict me daily to put my needs on the back burner when I have an opportunity to show a kindness.

1) We are our brother's keeper. We have a responsibility to be the solution to an other's problem. I imagine Jesus angry at the selfishness of His people as they lay by that pool. He still gets angry. We get so wrapped up in ourselves, our trials, that we forget to have compassion for one another. When we get our breakthrough we praise God with our mouth but forget that our brother is still suffering.

I wonder what would have happened if someone had determined that the next time the pool stirred they would grab their brother and jump in together. Maybe God would have been so pleased that in His mercy they both would have been healed. Maybe a revival would have started and everyone who jumped in would have gotten healed.

Don't forget the four friends that tore up the roof of a house to get their paralyzed friend to Jesus. Jesus healed that man and said it was because of the faith of his friends. Mark 2:1-5

2) Jesus healed the man by the pool and it was the sabbath. Jesus knew by healing this man on the sabbath He was asking for persecution as it was considered unlawful to heal on the sabbath.
It will cost us to extend help to someone else. We will suffer the little...maybe giving up our eating out money to give another family groceries. We will suffer greatly...as do those who bring the Gospel of Salvation to countries where Christians are persecuted to the death. Yet those who are willing to lay down their life to bless someone else are called the friends of Jesus.

3) Finally, and my sincere apologies if this sounds cynical but, in the end we can really only depend on Jesus. For 38 years no one would help this man and I imagine he must have reached out for help. He must have begged for help only to have people turn a deaf ear. For 38 years people had an opportunity to show kindness in the house of kindness and no one did. The man waited because he had no choice, but finally God showed up.

The proper response to this is to keep your heart soft and do not get bitter. Selfishness is human nature even in the most spiritual man or woman of God. The best of us have to fight off self more than the devil...how much more those in the church who do not seek God and His ways.

Just remember while you wait for God, though you may have been forsaken do not forsake others. When God shows up pay it forward.

We can all do something to help one another. We can even help those who make foolish decisions. Do not flippantly shrug your shoulders when, because of their rebelliousness or stubbornness, people suffer. Prayer and compassion is always needful, especially for the fool.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Phil 2:3-4

Stay in Prayer and in the Word!

Love in our Lord,
Lauren

My Brother's Keeper

God Evening Family,

Some months ago I realized that having a fruitless life was a sure way to reserve a place in hell.

Yesterday I heard someone say that Christians who do not bear the fruits of Jesus Christ were going to hell. He referenced John 15:2 which says,

Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away...

I also found in Luke 3:8 & 9,

Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance...And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

The scripture is in no way vague. Jesus says He is the vine and we are the branches. If we branches do not bear the obvious fruit that marks us as Christ's then we have no place in Him and thus, no place in heaven.

But what fruit is Jesus talking about. Well obviously we must have the fruit of the Spirit found in Gal 5:22 & 23,

the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

But the scripture in both Luke 3 and John 15 is specific. In both of these Jesus demands that those who are His must love the very people made in His image. Look at John 15: 16 & 17

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another.

In Luke 3 after John warns the people that the fruitless will be cut down and cast into the fire the people ask him what must they do to avoid such punishment. He tells everyone to share with others, the tax collectors were commanded to not cheat the people out of their money, and the soldiers were told to not use their authority to take advantage of others.

The fruit of our relationship with God is the love of people. He said Himself if we say we love Him and do not love others we are liars. (1 Jon 4:20) How we treat the least of us is how we treat God. Cheat others you cheat God. Turn your face away from a brother in need and you've just turned your back on God.

This is no milk toast, sappy, "God bless brother, be warmed and filled" kind of love. How must we love? We must lay down our very lives for one another. Prefer one another before ourselves. Go out of our way and be inconvenienced for one another. (1 Jn 3:16-17)

Still not convinced? How's this? On that great day God will separate the sheep from the goats. The sheep on His right hand who will enter heaven, generously and on purpose loved others by clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, and visited the shut-in and imprisoned. The ones that went to hell lived selfish, self-centered lives and God declared that He took their lack of love towards others as an expression of their lack of love toward Himself. (Matt 25: 31-36)

God doesn't make it complicated. Love God. Love People. Not too hard...

...right?

In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another 1 Jn 3:10-11

Stay in the Word and in Prayer!

Love in Our Lord,
Lauren

Prayer

God Morning Family,

I just love prayer and the Word of God!

Oh, there are times when I'd rather do something else. There are times when prayer or reading my Bible seems as interesting as taking out the trash. I have found, however, if I just wait on God or press in a little more, read a few more verses, He always makes His presence known somehow.

When I first gave my life to Christ in 1995 prayer was better than television. I loved singing to Jesus and telling Him how awesome He was.

Within about six months my hunger for prayer began to wane. My prayer life was erratic and I had lost the fire of just wanting to be with my God.

I had been saved 14 months when I realized connecting to God in prayer was the most important thing in the world.

Shawn and I had been married less than a year and fights were almost a daily occurrence. It was my first day home with our new baby Shannon. In pain from the recent c-section I had a very short temper. I had probably not prayed the whole time I was hospitalized.

I don't remember what started the fight but the argument took place in the bedroom with our 3 day old baby asleep on our bed. The fight escalated until I finally slapped my husband who pushed me down on the bed. As we struggled furiously I suddenly realized we were on top of our new daughter. I suddenly sobered and with voice shaking said, "Shawn, we're on the baby."
He quickly stood up and I took the baby in my arms who, fortunately, was not harmed.

It was that day that I vowed to never be prayerless again. (It was that resolve to pray, and Shawn's decision to be a man of prayer that saved our marriage.)

Without God I am capable of very ugly things. Without prayer we are all capable of very ugly things. It's remembering the story of how Israel was reduced to eating their own children during a famine that reminds me of the importance of prayer and keeping His Word.

It's in prayer that God convicts me of anger and impatience. Through prayer and His Word He slaps my behind and forces me out of my pity parties. He does it so gently, so lovingly, yet I'm reduced to tears because it is His goodness that drives me to repentance.

In prayer the real me is revealed. Yet God is not ashamed. He is not impatient but He is firm. Change is not an option yet God doesn't force it over night. He works with those who stay in His hand.

Just when I think I'm finally a spiritual woman He exposes yet another flaw and continues the good work He began in me. He began it and He will finish it. It is not our job family, to change ourselves. If we were capable of that we would have done it a long time ago. We would have no need of the Holy Spirit or the blood of Jesus.

What is our part then? Our part is to draw near in prayer and behold our Creator...and keep beholding. As we remain in the light of His glory it is impossible not to change. Our part is to discover the purpose and desire of God through His Word, to come in agreement with Him, and with a contrite heart appeal to Him that He never leave us to ourselves. This is how we work out our salvation day by day.

I love prayer because God is faithful whether I feel Him or not. As I cling to Him He reminds me how proud He is of me just because I am His. Yet I realize He is also Holy. I realize He is not my BFF (best friend forever) or my home-boy. He is GOD and He is to be reverenced. The same God that is proud of me today is capable of casting this soul into hell if I forsake my relationship with Him. He loves me. He still loves every soul that is in hell at this moment.

Yet I do not pray out of fear of hell but rather out of fear that I'll be separated from Him forever.

Imagine...an eternity of hell without even one glimpse of His precious face.

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV)

Stay in Prayer and the Word!

Love in our Lord,
Lauren

Stink Until You Get Good!

God Morning Family,
This past Saturday God blessed me! As I prayed He posed this question; "Are you willing to stink until I resurrect you?".

I had to laugh and rejoice. Indeed God does not think like we do at all!

God reminded me of Lazurus. I won't go into detail, but I encourage you to read John chapter 11 for yourself. The following is what God spoke to me.

Lazarus was a dear friend of Jesus and loved by Him, yet when Jesus heard Lazarus was deathly ill He purposely delayed going to his side. His reasoning? That God would get glory and He Himself would be glorified.

Lesson 1: Getting close to Jesus means sometimes He will purposely let something really bad happen to you. Or He will seemingly lift His hand off your life and let the real you be exposed for all to see. This is the honor of being His friend. Those who want intimacy with God ask that our lives will give Him glory and we think that means we go to church, share our faith, and don't live in sin anymore. Jesus glorified God through His suffering, humiliation, and death on the cross.

It wasn't until Lazarus was dead and beyond hope that Jesus responded to the request that He go to His friend.

Lesson 2: Just when you think things are bad God will let it get worse. And not just worse but beyond hope. God gets the glory when your situation is beyond human rescue. God gets the glory when your situation, or you, are so awful that even the most faith filled, Holy Ghost people you know will shake their heads with doubt. No flesh shall glory in Gods presence and when the big rescue comes no man will get the credit.

When Jesus got there Lazarus had already been put in a tomb.

Lesson 3: Tombs are places of isolation. Don't be surprised you feel alone when your life is falling apart. Don't be shocked when you're trying to do your best but people steer clear of you because you've stepped on their toes. Not because of righteousness but because you're just a mess. This is a good place. This is where, if you don't get offended, you learn to love people without pinning your hopes on them. This is where you learn that really, only God has an answer. This is where you learn God is a jealous God and as long as you trust in anything or anyone besides Him He will not be satisfied. God will allow the worst in you or your life in order to remove your dependence on flesh.

Lesson 4: People put Lazarus in a tomb not God. Don't be moved when people give up on you. People do not have the final say God does. I don't care if you have been in the same condition for 10, 20, or even 75 years.

When Jesus healed the man at the pool of Bethesda he'd had that infirmity for 38 years. The woman with the issue of blood had been sick 12 years. And there is no telling how long the wild man of the Gadarenes had been demon possessed when Jesus set him free.

Keep believing God for change in your life, keep believing in God's mercy. It's better to be found contending for His will then to throw in the towel. Just don't quit!

"Roll away the stone."
"Uh, Jesus, surely you're aware that the body stinks? "

Lesson 5: You would think that once one has stopped fighting God, has submitted to the crucifixion of their flesh, and died to self one life would be glorious . But it's not. There is a stench as the flesh corrupts.

When one surrenders to God and chooses to walk in the Spirit all is not lovely. While the stony heart may have been rolled away and replaced with a heart of flesh, this disciple has no idea how to walk with God...even if they have been saved for 20 years. They stink at it.

Don't be discouraged Lazarus. Right now you're probably doing all you can to be godly yet people always seem to be offended with you. You're doing all you can yet your circumstances are the same. It's not because you are the same person you used to be . That one died. It's because you are just a seedling who has yet to bear fruit. Remember, it's only when the seed falls to the ground and dies that it bears fruit.

But you want to bear fruit NOW. You look awful and you need that fruit to make you look good to all the people that think you're such a loser. Just let the Master water, tend, and prune you. Trust in Him. You may be broke, you may be rough around the edges, hasty, and have no idea how to communicate but you will bear the fruit of the Spirit.

Oh and by the way, all the poop that gets dumped on you instead of patience and understanding...it's called fertilizer and you need it to grow. Yes! It makes you stink all the more. Are you willing to stink until you get good? Can you deal with the humiliation of submitting to that until you bear godly fruit? Not to look good to people, but to His glory?

"Lazarus come forth!"

Lesson 6: Remember Jesus did not come to Lazarus when he was sick, but waited until he died and there seemed to be no hope. There is a set time for everything family. God has a schedule and He knows the day and the hour of your deliverance.

Hang in there, trust Jesus, stay humble, and be willing to stink until you get good.

Don't quit!!!! Resurrection time is coming!

Stay in Prayer and in the Word!

Love in our Lord,
Lauren