Dressing for Battle

“Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders.  Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility for God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. “  1 Peter 5:5 (emphasis added)

Father, I pray for every member of the Deeper Still teams to be clothed with humility.  I pray for Deeper Still to resist the temptations of pride and the flesh and remain humble realizing all things are only done through Your mighty hand and by Your Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ Almighty and Glorious Name, Amen.

How we dress matters.  We wouldn’t wear a tux to the gym.  We will freeze if we wear a swimsuit in the snow.  Would you wear an evening gown to the grocery store?  Although some wear their pajamas to Walmart, I think we can all agree that no one should! 

The Deeper Still Retreats are no less than a battle zone and every team member is on the front lines.  For centuries, armies have known how to dress for battle.  They know what to wear and what NOT to wear.  Knowing what NOT to wear is equally as important. 

When David fought Goliath, Saul offered him his armor.  David turned it down because he knew it would hinder his ability to fight.  He knew what NOT to wear.  (1 Samuel 17:38)

Pride weighs us down and hinders our ability to fight.  The Lord says to clothe ourselves with humility.  That suggests to me that we need to be sure we put it on continually.  We need to lay down the things that easily entangle us so we can run the race with endurance (Hebrews 12:1).  Pride will definitely entangle.

 

This is a battle.  Not only do we need to put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6), but we also need to clothe ourselves with humility.  One of the enemies most deadly weapons in ministry is pride.  We have to be willing to lay down our pride and subdue our fleshly tendencies.  There are lives hanging in the balance.  This isn’t play time, it is real combat. 

We would be wise to take Peter’s advice in 1 Peter 5:8-9a:

“Be sober, be vigilant…your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion…Resist him.”

   

We resist the enemy when we take off pride and put on humility.  Humility is a weapon that enables the the grace of God to perfect, establish, strengthen and settle (1 Peter 5:9b).  It isn’t an option, being willing to submit to God and others humbly is a necessity. 

Humility is a vital part of our battle attire. 

So even if you might go into Walmart wearing PJs , by ALL means don’t go into a spiritual war zone dressed in pride. 

It's Not About Competing, but Completing

“Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.  And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.  Be at peace among yourselves.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11-12

Dear Lord, I pray that the Deeper Still teams across the nation and world would comfort each other and edify one another.  I pray for unity and for the team members to honor those they serve along side.  I pray for the team to honor and esteem highly in love those who have been called to lead and for the teams to be at peace among themselves. I pray against any kind of spirit of comparison or disunity. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Last year when I served alongside Angela Braker at the Central Illinois retreat, Angela and I went together to pray through the rooms where the participants coming to the retreat would stay.  I will never forget one of the things she prayed that day.  She prayed against a spirit of comparison.

Let’s be honest.  We all do it.  We all have compared ourselves to others at one point in time. In fact, we probably did it today.  Social media contributes to comparison being only a click away as we are bombarded with fiction portraying perfect families, flattering selfies (that only took 50 times to conjure the most complimentary photo), and all the while we check to see if we have as many “likes” as the person next on the scroll.

Comparison is a killer.  It undermines unity.  It offends friends.  It hinders the work of the Lord.

Comparison focuses on self.  The Lord wants us to focus on Him and others.  The Lord spoke this to my spirit about two months ago.

IT’S NOT ABOUT COMPETING.  IT’S ABOUT COMPLETING.

The Lord has gifted each of us with unique gifts, talents and abilities.  He hand-picked the treasures He placed inside of us for His Kingdom purposes.  Only He knows exactly what we need to fulfill His call and He promises that He has equipped us with the tools required (Hebrews 13:21).

He doesn’t give us all the same gifts.  He gives us each what is needed to complete a beautiful picture as we work together as the body of Christ to advance the Kingdom of God.

Also, we are all at different places along this journey.  We may have similar giftings, but some of us have only been walking and operating in our gifts for a short time and others have been practicing using their gifts for years.  No one would compare a beginning piano player with an accomplished pianist.  We all know it takes years of experience, practice, and learning. 

Comparison is a game as old as Eve (Genesis 3:4).  The enemy knows this tactic works to create division, confusion, and jealousy.

1 Thessalonians 5:11-12 exhorts us to comfort, edify, and recognize those who labor among us and to esteem highly in love those over us.  We need each other.  We can’t do this thing on our own.   The last line of the verse sums up the result of completing rather than competing…Peace.

Happy Mother's Day Everyone!

“Greater love has no man than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”  John 15:13

Father, we praise You that Jesus loves us so much that He laid down His life for us.  Father, thank you for so great a love we cannot even comprehend.  Thank you that because of Your selfless act of kindness, the penalty of our sin has been paid and we are free. We know mother’s day can be difficult for the abortion wounded.  Lord, we pray for your loving balm to soften and bring healing to hearts wounded by abortion.  Bring them revelation regarding their God-given name --Mother.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Mother’s Day is drawing near.  For some, this is a beautiful time to rejoice and celebrate mothers and all the ways they have given up their own lives for their children. For others, this may be a difficult time for a variety of reasons.  For the abortion wounded, it can be heart wrenching. 

 

The story I want to share today is a beautiful story of life.

Sheppard Tucker, a Deeper Still team member who is also on staff at Deeper Still, so graciously offered to share a story of selfless love.  It is the story of her mother and how she was willing to lay down her life for her. 

We honor your mother today, Sheppard, and all the mothers (biological, spiritual, and relational) who lay down their own lives for their children and others daily. 

Here is Sheppard’s story:

Thankful for my Mom today on Mother’s Day who chose life for me although doctors told her she might have had the chance to save her own life by aborting me. She chose not to take more treatment for her cancer and lost her battle at the age of 28, when I was a year old.

My mom faithfully carried me in her safe, protective and nurturing womb all while battling lymphosarcoma. I don't know a lot about her, but I do know she completely fulfilled her role as mother on this earth by pouring all that she had into me - and from others who speak of her amazing spirit that blessed and nurtured everyone she came in contact with. I really hope and pray I get to meet her face to face one day….

On this 2015 Mother's Day weekend, I am thankful for all of the amazing Mothers God has provided in my life from infancy until now. I so appreciate all that have stood by me, encouraged, challenged, disciplined, (wink) and loved me like a mother would over the years. I am so grateful for each one of you and the way you have been wonderful examples that continue to shape my life. 

One of the things we affirm in women who come to the Deeper Still retreats is their role of mothering. All women are called to mother on this earth. We can mother not only our own children, but other's children, and yes, even our sisters and brothers in Christ. There are many orphans in the world, some of which might even have a mother and a father in the picture, but are spiritual or emotional orphans, not getting what they need- because for whatever reason the parent simply does not have it to give. We can each reach out and mother the orphans of the world- with something as simple as a smile, a touch, or at other times by pouring all we've got in to the lives of those the Lord puts in our path who need a mother's heart and attention in some way. He is the great expander of our hearts as we love others with the same love and grace He has given to us in our times of need.

“There is no greater love than this…”

Happy Mother’s Day Everyone!!! 

This is a picture of Sheppard’s mom and grandmother.  Sheppard is on her grandmother’s lap.  Her grandmother is the one who raised her after her mother passed away.  We honor her as well. Thank you Sheppard for sharing your beautiful story of love today.  

Walking in Newness

“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the traditions of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”  Colossians 2:8-10

Father, we thank you and praise you for the completing work you did last weekend at the Deeper Still Retreat.  We thank you that the participants are made complete in you.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

The world claims to have answers.  The world claims to have truth.   Pro-choice groups even claim a false hope in stating that there are no long term effects from having an abortion.  These claims are all full of empty deceit. 

Abortion creates holes in a person that nothing in this world can fill.  The participants come in broken pieces and with missing pieces desperate for wholeness.  Christ is the only answer. 

My father has been in the hospital for the last couple of weeks.  He had a knee replacement.  He needed his knee replaced because it was missing.  His knee was completely gone!  He now has a new knee, but his body needs times to adjust to the change.  Psychologically, he is accustomed to not having a knee.  He needs to renew his mind to recognize and embrace his new ability to walk and new wholeness.   The physical therapist uses tools such as walkers and stabilizers to help him adjust and use his new knee until he is secure enough in his newfound wholeness to walk on his own.

The same is true for the abortion wounded heart.  They come to the retreats missing pieces.  Only there is no earthly physician who can repair or replace what is missing.  The wear and tear of life has depleted.  They are broken.  They have searched the world’s methods to find wholeness.  But, any worldly method is temporal at best and destructive at worst.

 

Christ is the only One who can bring wholeness, mend and repair.  He is the only One who can replace what is missing and make new.  All else is a counterfeit.  All else is empty deceit. 

The participants received a wholeness that only Christ can bring.  It may take some time for them to adjust to being whole and embrace their new ability to walk in freedom. 

Lord, we thank you that they do not walk alone.  Lord we thank you that through your word, you continue to renew their minds and that you send other believers alongside them to help stabilize them as they learn to walk in newfound freedom.  Amen. 

Transformer Life

“Thus says the Lord God: ‘Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” Ezekiel 37:9b

Father, we ask for Your presence to come from the four winds and for Your Holy Spirit to breathe on those slain by the wounds of abortion.  Father, breathe on them at the Deeper Still retreats so that they may live. 

The mood in our pearl white mini-van was joyous and playful as we traveled home from church.  As often is the case in said mini-van, one of the kids asked a random hypothetical question.  The question today:

 

“If you could choose anything not real to be alive, what would you choose?”

My husband, as if he had waited his entire life for such a question, immediately answered, “Transformers!”   My husband was not referring to the electrical kind of transformers, but rather the fictional robots that change from a car to an alien over life-sized fighting machine.  Does Optimus Prime ring a bell?

 

The kids instantly dismissed Dad’s answer claiming it to be impossible for Transformers to be alive. Like any of their answers were any better! Ahem…stuffed animals.  After all, wasn’t pretense the point of the question?  The minds of kids are baffling at times.

Anyway, the question posed in the mini-van reminded me of several stories in the Bible where something not living did indeed come alive. (2 Kings 14:21, 2 Kings 4:34, John 11:44, John 20, Matt 9:25)

There were no Transformers in the Bible (although I think we can all agree that would have been cool!), but the resurrection power of God is transforming.  It changes the inanimate, into life breathing, death conquering fighting machines.

 

When the wind of the Holy Spirit moves and breathes life, miracles happen.  The wind of the Holy Spirit breathes on those slain by the wounds of abortion and causes them to come alive and become transformers who will fight for freedom, fight for life, and fight for truth.

 

Ezekiel 37:10 ”…And breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.”

 

God is raising up an army of life breathing and life giving transformers for His Kingdom!!  Although our kids might disagree, I think my husband’s answer was perfect!

  

Arise. Run. Marvel

“But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.” Luke 24:12

Oh sweet Heavenly Father, how we thank you for the empty tomb!  How we thank you for the resurrection life of Jesus Christ and the new life we have because He lives!  Thank you for the Cross and the new life we have because of the death and resurrection of our Savior King Jesus.  We marvel at what You have done for us.  We pray that participants of Deeper Still would arise and run to Jesus as Peter did.  I pray then they would stoop down and see the resurrection power and marvel at what has happened.  Amen. 

In reviewing the resurrection of Jesus, my attention was drawn to the grave clothes.  In Luke 24, it says the grave clothes were lying there by themselves.  In the gospel of John, it gives a little more detail and says that the grave clothes were lying there, but the handkerchief that had been around His head was folded off to the side by itself. 

I began thinking about these grave clothes lying there and thought of Lazarus.  In John Chapter 11, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, but when he was raised from the dead, his grave clothes were still tightly wrapped on him.  He needed help to be unwrapped, loosed, and set free.

 

“And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth.  Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” John 11:44

In contrasting these two resurrections, the grave clothes kept coming to my mind.  I don’t think it is an accident in scripture that they are different.  Jesus could have removed the grave clothes from Lazarus miraculously.  After all, he did raise him from the dead.  I think He could certainly untie a bandage.  So, why didn’t He?  Perhaps it was for this very contrast.  Perhaps not, but it is an interesting point to consider.

 

Death can come in many forms.  Every day people who are very much alive choose decisions that lead to a death in their lives.  Abortion does lead to an actual death of a person.  There is no denying that death is real in abortion.  However, there is a spiritual and emotional death in the person who has the abortion as well. 

Our Jesus is the giver of life.  His death was to pay the penalty for all our sins.  He died to give us new life.  And He died not only to forgive us of our sins, but also so we could be free of our grave clothes.

Lazarus experienced a death in his life.   Jesus gave him life.  However, the grave clothes were still on him.  Jesus called others to gather around him to help him get free. 

Jesus’ grave clothes just fell off of Him!  The grave clothes couldn’t stay on Him.  The grave clothes couldn’t hold Him.  That is the resurrection power of Jesus!  It not only brings life, it also removes all signs of death!  It removes all the bondages of death and brings freedom. 

   

I believe these two examples mirror what the Deeper Still team does.  Deeper Still comes alongside those who are still wearing their grave clothes and helps them get loosed and free!

More importantly, Deeper Still provides an environment for an encounter with the living God.  And when those grave clothes are hit with the resurrection power of Jesus Christ, Lord Almighty, the grave clothes just start falling off!!  That is what is so exciting to see!

 

The grave clothes fall to the ground.  We see the grave clothes lying there.  And like Peter, we marvel at what has happened--the resurrection power of Jesus.  Oh Lord, we marvel at Your love and glory. 

  

Come and See

“Come and see the works of God;  He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.”  Psalm 66:5

Father, we lift up the Deeper Still fundraising banquet this Tuesday.  Father, I pray for all who you have ordained to come to come and see Your wondrous works!   Father, we pray for those sharing their testimony to have peace knowing they are sharing Your awesome doing.  Lord, we also ask for every financial need to be met to continue Your glorious work.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

This Tuesday, six people will share their testimony of God’s redemptive work.  I won’t spoil the surprise, but these testimonies will be life changing for every single person in the room including the ones giving the testimony. 

I remember the first time I shared my testimony in front of a large group of people. It was at a fundraiser for a local pro-life group, the Hope Resource Center.  I remember trembling inside before going up to the podium to share.

 

The announcer called my name. Inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly, I rose out of my seat and walked to the podium, my heart pounding in my chest.   Only a few steps were needs to reach the podium, but it seemed like a mile.  In reality, I had taken many steps not seen in order to be free enough to walk those few.

Again, I breathed.  The moment my feet touched the stage, I heard the Lord whisper in His love, “I am right here with you.”  Spiritually, I could see Jesus standing right beside me holding my hand.   Smiling at His loving hand, I open my mouth and shared my story.  I shared of His awesome work.  I shared the story of His redemptive love. 

The audience sat silent, taking in the presence of the Lord, breathing in His mercy and love.  

I may never know how my story impacted those in the audience that night, but I do know how it impacted me.   It may have only been a few steps to the podium, but stepping out in faith to share the works of God and His awesome redemption, was a huge leap to freedom.   The Lord says that we overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony (Rev 12:11).

It takes courage to share our story.  However, when we remember it is actually His story of redemptive love and His story of His awesome overcoming work in our lives, it takes the pressure off us.  

Through the story of His redemption, not only do we help others become free, we actually overcome the enemy even more.  Our enemy doesn’t want us to tell our redemptive story.  He wants us to remain silent.  He knows that when our voices are freed, many lives will be impacted for the Lord’s Kingdom and not only that, but we will experience more freedom as a result. 

My heart is full of anticipation for those coming Tuesday night to the banquet, and those sharing.  May they come and see the works of God, the awesome doings towards the sons of men.