One Stone Away

“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?  Hope in God.” Psalm 42:11

Father, the immensity of abortion can be overwhelming.  The culture of death in our society seems so big and insurmountable.  Our efforts even seem as if we are only throwing small stones at an enormous giant. Yet, this is not your first giant rodeo and small stones are exactly what You used to defeat the foe.  Lord, thank you that nothing is too big for you.  What seems as a giant to us is only one stone throw away from being overcome.  We ask for You to throw the stone.  Father, we hope in You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Only a boy named David.  Only a little sling. Only a boy named David, but he could pray and sing.  Only a boy named David.  Only a bubbling brook.  Only a boy named David and five little stones he took. 

The Deeper Still team gathered in a room to pray.  In a circle we lifted up our nation and the world crying out for the lies of abortion to be brought into the light and for those who advocate it to clearly see the truth.  The voice of pro-choice shouted loudly as it ranted from the pages of an article read by Karen Ellison. It’s voice reminded me of another…

“And the Philistine [Goliath] said, ‘I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.’” 1 Sam 17:10

There are voices shouting in the world defying the living God and the armies of His people.  These voices cause many to shrink back in fear.  The fight seems too big, almost unconquerable.  Intimidation is their intent. 

However, there was only a boy who could pray and sing. 

   

As we gathered in the room that night as a team, worshipping and praying, it occurred to me that we were much like David.  We were small.  We only have a little sling.  We only have these stones.  BUT WE CAN PRAY AND SING. 

David’s battle wasn’t won with the weapons he fought with but with the courage in His heart and belief in His God.  The battle was won long before He ever stepped foot onto the battlefield.  The battle was won way back in the sheep field through years of singing and praying. 

When we were singing and praying, we were slinging a stone into the air.  Every time we cry out to the Lord with our voices, we are one stone throw closer to victory.

 

David refused to remain silent in the battle.  He spoke up for truth.  He didn’t let the voice of the enemy be the only voice heard.  He shouted back at the giant…

“But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.   This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand.”  1 Sam 17:45b-46a

We declare, as David did, to the giant and all others that are listening that God is our hope.  With our voice we will stand for life and truth.  And we will keeping singing and praying knowing we are only one stone throw away from victory.   

Resting in Hope

“Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope…You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.” Acts 2:26, 28

Father, we ask for the hearts of the participants of Deeper Still to be made glad, for their tongues to rejoice and for them to rest in Your hope.  Father, we ask for You to show them the paths of life and fill them with the fullness of Your joy in Your presence.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

My eight year old daughter, Sarah, and I were walking together the other day.  We circled the track raised above the gym while her brothers played basketball below.  Just walking and talking.

As we talked, she shared how she was glad she was the only girl in the family.  She explained that if she had a sister, she’d have to share her daddy at Father/Daughter dances and date nights.  She loves her daddy.  And she likes having her daddy all to herself. 

Then, the conversation took a bit of a different turn when she changed direction and said, “BUT, if I had a sister, I would like to have a big sister already grown up. “

My heart toddled as her statement lingered in the air.  I wanted to tell her, but knew the timing wasn’t right.  What could I say?  All I could say to my sweet eight year old girl through a genuine smile was, “Yes, that would be nice.”

 

But, what my heart wanted to express was…

Sarah, you do have a sister already grown up.  Her name is Kori Danielle.  She would have been twenty years old now.  She is in heaven.  She never had a chance to live.  And I’m so sorry you don’t have that big sister here.  I wish you did.  But, someday you will get to meet her in heaven and I know you will be the best of friends. She loves you so much.

But, I couldn’t say that.  Not yet.  A time will come when I will tell her and my boys about their big sister.  I will tell them about my “choice” and apologize through tears.  But that day is not yet. 

And someday we will be reunited again in heaven and Kori will run to me with open arms.  But not yet. 

There was a time when it was too painful for me to think about my daughter in heaven.  There was a time when I completely blocked her from my memory or thoughts because I just couldn’t go there.  The Lord used Deeper Still to heal that broken area of my heart.  I can’t say I don’t ever get sad thinking about my daughter in heaven.  That wouldn’t be true.  There are times my heart does still grieve.  But, I couldn’t even think about her before and now I can.

Now, I am free to think of my beautiful 20 year old daughter in heaven.  I can think of her and smile.  Someday we too will walk and talk and I will share all about her sister and brothers with her.  Someday.

  

But for now, I can just picture her at Daddy/daughter dances in heaven dancing with her heavenly Father and be filled with joy knowing she is fully and completely loved.  She loves her Daddy and dancing with Him.  She loves her mommy as well. 

 

And that is why I can rest in hope and be glad.   

Only Ask {And Praying for Bolivia Trip!}

“Only ask, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession.”  Psalm 2: 8

Father, You said, “Only Ask.”  Lord, we ask for You to send Deeper Still to all the nations.  We ask for the healing message of Your Gospel to go forth through Deeper Still to all the ends of the earth.  We ask for the truth of abortion to be known and for the abortion wounded to be freed.  We ask for You to give us the nations for Your inheritance.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

I opened my email.  In my inbox that day was an email from a lady in South America.  She was desperate.  Her heart was broken over having an abortion.  She had read my other blog, Living Free in Him, and had read my story and about Deeper Still.  She pleaded through her words for help.  She asked if there was a Deeper Still where she lived in Guyana, South America.  I sadly had to tell her there was not. The closest involvement of Deeper Still was in Ecaudor, 2200 miles away.  Same continent, but not exactly next door. 

My heart was broken for her.  All I could do was encourage her, share the truth of God’s love and grace, and pray.   

One thing Deeper Still has been praying for years is to expand to reach more people like her, desperate for healing. 

Well, this coming week, Karen Ellison (the founder of Deeper Still), Carla Martin and Sharon Kinder are all heading out on the first international Deeper Still Mission trip with Life International.  To say we are excited, is quite an understatement!  They are traveling to Bolivia, which is also in South America! 

We have asked the Lord to expand Deeper Still to the North, South, East and West to reach the abortion wounded, and to see this prayer beginning to be answered is exciting! 

The great commission is to go into all the world and preach the Good News (Mark 16:15).  Deeper Still started with going into its community, which is part of all of the world, and it is so amazing to see how God is expanding its borders into more of the world.   My prayer is that someday when we get an email from a lady desperate for healing, whether in Guyana or Uganda, Deeper Still will be there to bring the message of Good News. 

Please join us in praying for Karen, Carla, and Sharon as they travel to Bolivia to share the Good News of healing and freedom with Life International. 

  

With a Nature Like Ours

“The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”  James 5:16

Father, we thank you that the fervent prayers of the righteous avail much.  We thank you for hearing the prayers of Deeper Still and answering.   We ask for you to meet every need of Deeper Still in 2015 and to do above and beyond all we can think or imagine in setting the abortion wounded free.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Someone recently shared with me how she was praying for something but didn’t think her prayers would be heard because of the verse above.   She went on to explain that she was not righteous.  She had a sinful past, so how could her prayers be effective based on the verse above. 

Perhaps you have held a similar thought before.  If so, may you find freedom in what I also shared with her.

I first asked if she was still living in the sin or if it was in the past, just to clarify.  She answered that it was in the past and that she had asked for forgiveness. 

Habitual sin does hinder our prayers and separates us from the Father (1 Peter 3:7).  But, as soon as we go to Jesus, confess our sins and turn away from them, we are in right relationship again.   If you happen to be reading this and know there is an area of unconfessed habitual sin in your life, confess it, renounce it and cast it off (Acts 3:19-20). 

My prayer is for you to understand your position in Christ and the power you hold in Him.  Your righteousness has nothing to do with you.  It has everything to do with Jesus.  Because of the blood of Jesus, you have been made righteous (2 Cor 5:21). 

If you are in Christ, there isn’t one thing more you can do to be more righteous than you are at this very moment. 

And your prayers are heard and answered not because of who you are, but because of who He is. 

In the next verse, James 5:17-18, it says, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain for three years and six months.  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.”

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours.

Elijah is often viewed as some sort of super hero because of the miracles God performed through him.  However, he was just a man.  In fact, he was just a man with a nature like ours, a sinful nature like ours.  He struggled with sin just like we do.  He had a flesh just like we do, and his prayers were powerful and effective. 

There is a reason God put the example of Elijah following James 5:16.  And there is a reason the Lord pointed out that Elijah had a nature like ours.  Friends, your prayers are just as powerful and effective.  Yes, Elijah was amazing, but he was also just a man.

Your righteousness has nothing to do with you and everything to do with God.   He has already made you righteous through the blood of Jesus.  There is not one man more righteous than you.  Not Billy Graham.  Not your pastor.  Not sister so-and-so on the prayer team at church.  You are righteous and your prayers are effective and avail much.   

Half the Story

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”   Romans 6:23

Father, I thank you that because of the blood of Jesus Christ we don’t have to pay the wages of our sin.  I pray for you to bring people in the path of  Deeper Still  who need to hear this truth.  I pray for those who are walking around with shrouds of shame to be released into new life and grace in You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The phone rang.  On the other end was a sweet person I had just briefly met the day before.  Her child was sick with a serious diagnosis.  As we spoke, she stated her grief in that she believed her child’s sickness was a result of a past sin.  Shame covered her as a shroud, wrapped up tight with no room to breathe in grace.

 

She went on to explain that the wages of her sin was death, so her child’s illness must be the result of her sin. 

My heart sank.  How could this person be brought up in church and believe this lie.  What about the second part of that verse?  Of course, that is just like the enemy to use only half a scripture to torment those who belong to the King.

 

What the verse actually says is:

“For the wages of sin is death, BUT the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”   Romans 6:23

That is a one big BUT you don’t want to leave out!

 

How many Christians are living out their Christian walk with only half the story? Can you do much with half of anything that requires the whole?  Can you use half a computer?  Or half a phone?  Half a lamp?

When it comes to the Word of God, we need the whole. 

Similarly to the person mentioned above, it is common for post-abortive men and women to fear retribution for their sins.  They fear God will strike them or their children in punishment.  That is simply NOT OUR GOD.   Our God is a God of mercy.  And mercy triumphs over judgment.  Every. Single. Time.

Some may point to the Old Testament to argue otherwise.  The Old Testament wasn’t under the blood of Jesus.   We entered into a New Covenant when Jesus took our death penalty for our sins.

Jesus paid the price for our sins so we could have eternal life.  When one is in Christ, one is covered by the blood of the Lamb.  He has already paid for ALL sins and we are forgiven.  Jesus Christ paid the price we should have paid. 

   

He is our Redeemer and Savior.  He is our Life, Peace and Healer. 

If you are only holding half an ice cream cone, you are missing the best part. 

We walk around half alive with a shroud covering our new life in Christ because we are missing half the message. 

The story needs to be told.  The whole story needs to be heard.  He wrote it for our ears to ring with His Truth so loudly that the shouts of the world and the enemy would dim in comparison. 

If you have any fear of retribution for past sins, my prayer for you today is to hear the whole story.  May truth unwrap the shroud that has kept you bound.  May God’s all sufficient grace breathe new life into you and make you whole. 

Don’t miss out on the best part. 

Jesus Take the Helm

“And when He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch...And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.”  Luke 5:4,6

Dear Lord,  As the Deeper Still leadership seeks you for your plan for them for 2015 and beyond, will you show them where to cast their nets?  We thank you that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found in you Jesus Christ.  We're asking that you reveal to Deeper Still those treasures of wisdom, strategy and power so that they can be fishers of men; bringing the good news of salvation, healing and deliverance from abortion wounded hearts.  Amen!

Deep water has always caused me hesitation.  Whenever I go to the beach, I tend to stay where my feet can touch and where I can see what lies below the surface of the waves.  When I can see, then I know where to step.  It takes faith and courage to go out to the deep. 

A few years ago, my husband and I went to Key West for vacation.  While we were visiting, we went on an excursion out into the middle of the ocean, to the deep.  The captain of the ship knew where he was going and had taken multitudes of tourists to this familiar destination.  He knew where it was safe to go.  He knew the route.  He knew what lie beneath the surface of the deep. 

He led us to a reef full of beautiful fish.

Because I had confidence that our captain would not lead us into unsafe territory, I had no fear when diving into the deep to snorkel.  The beauty of the reef was the focus of my attention rather than fear.

Peace covered any hints of paranoia.  At one point a barracuda was only about 4 feet away from us!  However, even in the midst of lurking peril, I felt peace. 

  

We can be confident that our Captain will lead us safely to our destination.  He knows the deep.  He sees below the surface.   Our Captain knows where the dangers are and He knows how to maneuver us to the areas of beautiful reefs.  And yes, there may be many pointy teeth within feet of us.  But when we rest in His guidance and care, peace can prevail even in potential dangers.

When Peter went out into the deep, it was on faith.  He was the captain of his fishing vessel.  It did not make sense to Peter to go back out after fishing all night and catching nothing.  He had already been out there. However, he couldn’t see what Jesus saw.  Jesus saw below the surface. Jesus saw the fish.

   

But Peter said, “Nevertheless at Your word I will let down my net.”

Peter had faith to go even when he couldn’t see into the deep.  Peter was willing to relinquish his captainship to a Higher Captain.

We have a Captain who leads us safely through the waves to a predetermined location full of beautiful fish.  All we have to do is let down our nets and get ready for a catch. 

Jesus, take the Helm. 

Back to the Manger

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light: those who dwelt in the land of intense darkness and the shadow of death, upon them has the Light shined…For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  Isaiah 9: 2, 6

Father, we pray that You would use Deeper Still to help those who have been in darkness to see Your great Light.  We pray for You to use Deeper Still in the lands of intense darkness to shine Your Light.  We thank you for Your precious Son, Jesus, the Light of the world, our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Emmanuel. Amen. 

My kids were in a Christmas musical at church last weekend called, “Back to the Manger”.  It was humorous time travel skit reminiscent of the 1980’s hit movie “Back to the Future”.  We need to go back to the manger.  If it wasn’t for the Babe in the manger that night long ago, this world would be nothing but darkness.

 I want to mentally take us back to the manger that first Christmas long ago to a time before Christmas trees, before Santa Claus, before stockings hung by the fire.  There were no Christmas lights.  In fact, there were no lights at all.  It was dark.  The only illumination lay in the sprinkling of the stars and hints of moonlight.  How ironic that the Light of the world was born in darkness.  Or is it?

“And she gave birth to her Son, her Firstborn; and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”  Luke 2:7

A familiar verse.   But, I want to unwrap this verse for a moment and perhaps discover something unfamiliar under the paper.

Swaddling clothes.  Mary wrapped her newborn child, the Savior of the World in swaddling clothes.

To swaddle means to restrain or restrict.  Swaddling clothes are meant to impose limitations or restrictions in movement.  

Do you ever feel restricted?  Do you ever feel restrained or limited?  In bonds?  Could it be that in the middle of the dark, that even in the manger, Jesus was experiencing limitations in human form?

From the moment Jesus was born into this world, He emptied Himself, by taking on the form of a servant and was born in the likeness of men.  He would become the great high priest that could sympathize with our weaknesses.  Even from the manger wrapped in restriction the promise was released that one day this baby would pay the highest price possible so that we could live free and unhindered by our sin.

And there was no room for him in the inn.  Really?  Seriously if God wanted to He would have logged onto Travelocity or Hotels.com and found them a room faster than a millisecond.

God had reason in the rejection.   Rejection is always wrapped with reason.

Let’s go back to the manger again.   Are you there with me?  Are you mentally at the stable, in the dark?

Hay is crunching.  The bellow of sheep and cows play on the surround sound.  The night air fragrant with barn animals.  A man and his wife cuddle together while she gives birth to a Son.

That night in the dark, God birthed new Life.  Out of darkness, came the Light of the world.

Can I suggest that birthing new life out of darkness is not unfamiliar to our God?  He oftentimes births new life in dark places.   The Lord brought forth Jesus, our Savior, in utter darkness to give us Light.

If we read further in Luke, we come to Luke 23, where Jesus was once again laid in darkness.  This time it was not after His birth, but after His death.   Everything looked hopeless.  Jesus was dead.  He was laid in a tomb. A stone was rolled in place.  Sealed in darkness.   Until…

The darkness was transformed into glory!  Jesus was alive!  God birthed new Life again out of the darkness.

If you are in the dark today, I want to encourage you.  God births new life out of the darkness.  With Jesus,  death is never an end, it is an opening for a new beginning.  Your manger may be dark, but God is birthing NEW LIFE in it!  Run to Him and let Him take off those swaddling clothes and show you the new life He is bringing you!  He transforms darkness into glory.