The Matter of Blessings.

As I was praying this morning, I started thinking of our finances (probably not an unfamiliar story). We were able to pay off a significant chunk of debt last year, and I felt compelled to believe God that our debt levels would be lowered by twice that amount this year. That would truly be an act of God, as just the amount cleared last year was most definitely an act of God.

I started thinking about Abraham. You know, there was really no reason he was so blessed -- other than he belonged to God. I mean, every where he went it seems people were throwing money, sheep, and livestock his way. EVEN WHEN HE LIED TO THEM. Seriously, it was not based upon his perfect behavior. It was based on the fact that God had marked him, and wanted to bless him. And so everyone in his path showered him with gifts.
Isaac was the same way. God had made a covenant with Abraham, and He was going to continue it with Isaac. Even though Isaac lied, too.

So many times we want to make the blessing about us. We did something so great, that we caught God's attention, and it made Him want to bless us. Can we just laugh about that? Um... God just wants to bless us. Just because. For no particular reason. The same way we want to bless our kids.
It's not based on whether we do everything perfectly, because Jesus died for our imperfections, and when God looks at us, He sees us the same way He sees Jesus.
And while it's good to do right, God's not as stuck on that as we are. He just loves us and wants to pour out blessing on us. Do we believe this? Or will we allow our unbelief to stand in the way of the blessings waiting to be poured out?

I, for one, want to stand right under the spicket.

Speaking and Believing.

About two weeks ago, a man in our church told me that he felt like God gave him a word for me. God told him, "Tell her to write the book." I was thrilled. For about 10 minutes.

You see, basically everything I read about getting published is depressing. "It's really hard to get published. You're gonna work at it for a million years before you write anything an agent even wants to flip through. And the way that the book world is going will make it even harder in the future. With the economy the way it is right now, you shouldn't hold your breath. It probably won't happen for you."

Ok, so I've only actually read the first and third sentence, with many hints about the fourth. But that is definitely the feel you extract from these professionals' writings. I want to write a book, but besides this blog, I haven't done any writing. Why write a book when you don't foresee a wind chill blowing through Hades anytime soon?

We had a church conference last weekend. The guest speakers were a couple who have written many books about things like joy, hope, believing and declaring God's promises. More than once I heard him say, "If you want to write books, then start saying it about yourself. 'I write books well.'" He probably only said it twice, but it could have been 20 times the way it reverberated through my head. Speaking it is a big part, but believing is everything.

I remember what I had written here, only about two weeks ago. That God spoke identity over Abraham before the promise came. That God even gave him a new name, so that Abram would be saying "Abraham" over himself even while he waited for his promised child.

Deep Breath.

I write books well.

P.S. They also said if God highlights something to you in a book or in a message to write it, speak it, and use it as a sword in that season of life. So if you hear me walking around muttering, "I am anointed to raise wonderful children in the Lord," don't worry that about me talking to myself. I'm just picking up my sword.

Happy Birthday, Ruth!

Ahem. Well.
This little shout out really should have gone out yesterday, since that is my sister's actual date of birth. But I wasn't quite as on top of it yesterday as Jeremy, who threw my sis a surprise birthday bash. He gets the trophy this time.
But Dear Sister, I do have a few things I would like to say to you on this truly momentous occasion. And while I don't have 30 of them, I would like to list a few of the things I love about you here.

- You always listen to and truly appreciate my stories. I'm sure this is no small feat.

- You are a great worship leader. I love worshiping with you, and watching you interact with Jesus.

- You are wise. So many people (and obviously I'm including myself) have benefited from your practical and spiritual advice.

- You once said to me, "I'm always on your side. He has to EARN his way into the family." I'm glad that you weren't going to give just any boy that special place in our family. And I'm also glad that when he proved himself worthy, you gladly gave him the title "brother." And of course, I'm really glad to know that your always on my side -- ha!

- How many times did you help me with my homework? How many times did you listen to me lament that I wasn't courting Jason yet? How many times did you make me pray for Abigail after we'd fought? (Ok, so I didn't really appreciate that last one at the time. . .)
Thanks for always having my back.

- You make me laugh. Hard.

- You have great kids. Thanks for raising great kids.

- That time you chased Tyler down the street after he called me a nerd, that time you were going to "take" Jeff "outside" for . . . I don't even remember -- thanks for protecting me. Even though I didn't know what a nerd was.

- Once we stayed up way past midnight . . . yeah. Good times.

-You have been a great example to follow. Thanks for being a big sister I could look up to. And thanks for not beating me up during that period in my life when I followed you all around the church building even after you told me to stop.

I love you so much, Sister, and I'm so glad God gave you to me. Happy Birthday!

Believing in the Promise.

I read Gen. 17 today. It's the chapter where God renews his covenant with Abram and gives him a new name, Abraham, "The Father of Many Nations." The thing that strikes me when I read this passage is that Sarah was still barren. Yet, God calls Abram a father -- of many nations!
I love that God was speaking identity and promise over Abraham before it was even fulfilled. God was so sure of His promise to Abram that He changed his name.

"Nah, 'Abram' just doesn't fit. We need to call you 'Father.'"

Abraham couldn't do anything (more than he had been) to give Sarah children. Only God could bring His promise to fruition in Abraham's life. Yet God insists on identifying him as 'father'.

It was when I looked back two chapters, in Gen. 15, that I was a little surprised. These chapters had been broken up over two days, so I didn't quite put everything together at first.

In Genesis 15, God comes to Abram and says, "I am your shield, your very great reward."
Abram has this awesome experience as God takes him outside, tells him to look at the stars and count them, if he can. Because that's what his offspring will be like. This is the fourth time God has told Abram that He would give him children, but only after this time does the Bible say, "Abram believed the Lord, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

And yet, in THE VERY NEXT CHAPTER, Sarai is disappointed that the pregnancy test came back negative again, and so she pleads with Abram to take her maidservant, Hagar, and try to produce a child with her. AND HE DOES.

What?! What happened to your amazing experience with God, Abram? What happened to finally believing what He said? What happened to the four times God visited you, and the altar you built between Bethel and Ai, and the covenant God made with you?

But it is after all of this that God comes back and says, "Oh, and by the way, we really need to change your name. 'Abram'? I'm thinkin' no. Let's go with 'Abraham', 'cause it means 'The Father of Many Nations'. And that's who you are, Abraham. Not Abram."

What a testimony to God's overwhelming love and undeniable promise that He would come back around and still choose to do this work in Abram. What tender mercy, that caused him to see Abram's doubt, and come back around to encourage him with a new name and yet another reminder of the promise.

And so as I look out at the horizon of 2010, I want to remember all the things God has promised me, over and over again, just as he did with Abraham. And I want to believe. And when I'm doing everything I know to do and it still hasn't happened, I want to just trust God. I want to remember that "He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it."

Amen.