God's Love and Power

Now there's a title! Growing up with Joyce as my mother, I learned much about God's love and power.  You'd think that knowing of his love and power would have made for a life free of trials.  But no, that's not the case.  You see being a believer in God means having a faith that takes one through even the most difficult of times.  One of those times came my freshman year in high school. 

That year my father was in a trucking accident.  During a normal work day a semi-truck driver accidentally rear-ended my dad's semi-truck, causing him to rupture one or more discs in his back.  It caused him much pain and much diagnosing before it was discovered that he would need surgery.  That surgery meant that he would not be working.  And in the 1980's much like today, hourly work was hourly work.  Which in translation means, no work- no pay.  So my parents had a decision to make and they opted for surgery.  Harder yet was the fact that workman's comp was refusing to pay for his surgery or time off and we were without money. 

I remember my mom getting up early in the morning to deliver newspapers.  She did this so we had enough money to get by.  Even with this extra work, it was not enough.  As a family we watched as our finances dissipated.  Yet my mom never lost faith.  She would always say, God will provide.  Now Christmas was coming and my mom was busying herself with the fact that we would likely not have Christmas gifts. She mustered up all of her know how and started making gifts with whatever she could find in our home. 

At the same time, I was needing a dress for our high school band concert and we could not afford one.  Now one might think that it would only make sense that I just use an old dress that I already had.  That would be logical however the dress had to be white and I did not own a white dress.  

My mom and I went "window shopping" as we often did.  You see even when my parents did have a full income, we had very little and we only got new clothes once a year.  We looked at dress after dress.  And I found my favorite.  It was this beautiful white dress.  I looked at the price tag and knew that we could not afford it.  The dress was $25.  This was half of my yearly allotment.  Oh man, was I heartbroken.  But then I did something. I selfishly and silently prayed and asked God for this dress.  I prayed that somehow, even though we had no money, that God would help us earn enough money to buy this dress.  Now when you are 14, you are not very smart about money.  What on earth was I thinking?  Really?!  We didn't even get an allowance! None-the-less, I hoped that something would fall in my lap.  

To my surprise it did.  I will tell you however, it was not at all what I expected.  After church one Sunday the pastor told my mom that there was a package for her in the back.  We went to the back of the church and the package had my name on it.  I was confused and so was my mother.  I opened the package and what did I find?  A dress.  Not just any dress though.  It was a white dress!  THE white dress I prayed for!  Wow!  What an answer to prayer!  But that's not all.  The wonderful person who purchased the dress for me, also bought my sister a sweater and a pair of pink corduroy pants.  We all sat there in awe.  My mom had tears rolling down her face as I said, "This is the dress I prayed for!"  

Now you may be a skeptic, and you may think this is all coincidence, but there is absolutely no way anyone would have known I prayed for this dress.  I told no one.  And there is no way my mother would have told anyone either because she and my father were far to proud to ask for a handout or to tell someone they couldn't afford a dress.  After all- my mom was the queen of saying, "God will provide."  And he did.  It was probably the first time I ever really had a prayer answered by God.  It was one of the first and many that he's answered. I since have learned to pray for things that are much less concrete and far more eternal.

 And with each prayer, I have the privilege of seeing his Love and Power unfold in my life.

On a side note- I cherished that dress so much that I had my senior pictures taken in it.  This is a special thanks to whoever listened to God that day and bought the dress!  

With that I share with you Pastor Joyce's word today on God's Love and Power. 

God’s Love and Power

God spoke to the people of Israel this timeless message through the Prophet Hosea when He said in Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” They had been told of His redemptive nature and shown His great love for them as nation that He chose to deliver from the jaws of the world.  Yet they did not call on Him nor did they heed His direction that would bring to them abundant blessings.  In other words they refused to believe in that which they could not see and were captured by the things they saw.

We then, body of Christ, are no different than those who failed to grasp how great the Father’s love for them is. We read about it and know about it but we tend to stop at comprehending that it is cast abroad in our hearts by Him who gave His only Son for our ‘once and for all redemption’.  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

He didn’t stop there; according to Ephesians 2:17-19 it states, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith that you, being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend…and know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  Plus we are seated with Christ in heavenly places and given authority over all the principalities and powers and might and dominion.

No enemy can stand against us because we are one in Christ and from the throne of grace we have been given a position of authority.  When we by faith believe this truth we will no longer make petition to the Father from what we see in the world; but we will prayer the prayers of the Father from the position of authority where we are in Christ and pray the will of the Father from heaven to earth.

Stand on His word and know that the powers and principalities of this world have no dominion over us and we will not be destroyed because of our lack of knowledge.

The Fight of Faith

Have you have been in a place in your life that you know you are supposed to do something, or for that matter, have been called to do something, but you doubt everything about it?  In times of doubt, we tend to overthink things, we try to control them ourselves, and we see opposition as a "sign" that surely we must be in the wrong place and time. 

When that happens we need to stop for a moment and think about what is going on.  A colleague of mine recently shared this with me.  He said we need to change the "story" we have been telling ourselves.  Now while this is absolutely true, sometimes this is easier said than done. A recent quote that came across my desk goes along with his advise though.  "You'll never reach your destination if you stop and throw rocks at every dog that barks".  Interestingly, both statements are true!  Do we tell our selves that we can't?  Do we tell ourselves that the "barking dogs" are in the way?  Faith doesn't ask us attack the obstacles that seem to be getting in the way of our mission.  Instead faith asks us to see through the opposition and keep on moving. 

I can say that too often I have willingly taken on a challenge that I knew wouldn't be easy.  I went in with eyes wide open, only later to doubt that I could actually do it.  Or for that matter, wondered if I was supposed to!  Faith doesn't ask us attack the obstacles that seem to be getting in the way of our mission.  Instead faith asks us to see through the opposition and keep on moving.  Pastor Joyce discusses the fight of faith with regard to Timothy and the Ephesian church.  As you read today, think about your Fight of Faith?  What is your calling?

The Fight of Faith: Pastor Joyce Wyrostek

Paul positioned Timothy in leadership over the Church in Ephesus.  The church was established by Paul as he spent three years building and equipping the saints there; it was a powerful church and drew people from the entire surrounding region.  Timothy had a big job on his hands and at times may have been overwhelmed by the oppositions that stood before him.

In his letter Paul writes to him; 1 Timothy 6:12, “ Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” And later Paul writes in 2 Timothy 1:6-7, “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear (timidity), but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Timothy was a born again, spirit filled believer who had traveled with Paul and ministered with him; eternal life was not an issue.  He knew that he was sealed by the spirit and had eternal life.  What Paul is referring to here is not life in the hereafter but the life now being lived on earth.  Eternal life is for the here and now; it is filled with every promise of God that comes with salvation, a life lived in complete and total victory in Christ Jesus. 

Paul is telling Timothy to stir himself up so as to live as he is seated with Christ at the right hand of God. Timothy need not be overwhelmed by the oppositions because he had authority over everyone and everything that came against him.

This timeless, changeless advice comes to us as we stand on the Word of God.  We must stir up the gift of God wherein we are called to take dominion over every circumstance in our life and act out the victory so dearly paid for on the Cross. Like a soldier in battle we grab hold of the promises and stand on them; never being moved by what we see, but fighting the fight of faith.

I'm back!

It has been 9 months since I last posted on this blog.  I thought today would be a great day to re-launch my blog as it is Joyce's birthday.  She would be 74 years old today.  There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about her and the impact she had on the world around her.  She was always looking for a way to experience this greatness and wonders of God and to honor the one who she so faithfully served.  

Joyce had a love for life.  She was a mother, wife, athlete, mentor, scholar, leader, pastor, realtor, you name it, she tried it.  Much like Paul of the bible, Joyce was a stranger to no man.  She would step in an help wherever she was needed and would share the love of Christ through her actions, be they ever so subtle, or an all out in your face sermon.  She was no stranger to the miracles of God. 

One of my fondest memories was hearing her tell us to wait.  She'd say, "It's all in God's time".  Oh the frustration that would bring.  Later however, her words would ring in my ears and in my heart.  Because of her unyielding faith, I am proud to say that she left us a legacy of faith and hope.  I share with you today her word for the day on timing.  Enjoy as you ponder her writing on God's perfect timing.  

Timing

In Acts 3:2 tells us, “a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple.” Daily people who came to worship or pray passed by this man and laid money at his feet.  It was the only way he could make a living. If he had been there every day for years it means that Jesus passed by Him many times during His times at the temple in Jerusalem; yet Jesus never laid hands on him. 

An interesting fact is revealed about this gate called Beautiful…in the original language it is translated ‘hour, time, or the right time.’  When Peter and John came for the hour of prayer it was now the ‘the right time’; the gate of heaven opened and when the name Jesus was spoken a creative miracle happened. Everyone in the city knew the man who daily came to the temple begging alms, when they saw and heard Peter explain by what means this miracle happened about 5000 believed.

God has a plan that is bigger than we know that includes much more than we can see in the natural; when we doubt and become discouraged by the delay in what has been promised we may slip into unbelief.  We must stand guard against the thoughts that attempt to provoke us into believing anything other than what God has said and promised in His word.

One day and suddenly we will see heaven open and the Spirit of the Lord will deliver all that He has said, but it is in His timing when everything is positioned to bring forth more than what we could ask or even think.  As we are waiting we will just keep praising Him for at the ‘right time’ we will be seated at the gate called Beautiful. 

Look to Jesus- the story of Greatness

Have  you ever had one of those days where you feel absolutely exhausted and wonder to yourself, where am I going with this?  What is the purpose?  I believe at certain points in our lives many of us think these thoughts.  Maybe not on a daily basis, but instead when we become tired, overwhelmed, or plain exhausted.  There are even times when we think, "forget it!" And we reflect on our priorities only to gain that second wind and press on toward the "finish line".

Recently I heard about some of the heroes in our history.  Men who, despite obstacles, despite the cost to their own health and welfare, persevered and stood where others might fall.  Eric Metaxis, author of Seven men and the Secret of their Greatness, shared the story of two very famous men in our history.  Two men who sacrificed more than we could ever imagine so that we would be the America that we are today.  The first was George Washington.

Now in recent years we've heard that Washington was a slave owner and the argument that, if he was a slave owner, he could not have possibly been a good or great man.  Now don't get me wrong, I am not, nor have I ever been a proponent of slavery. However, we should never diminish a man's contribution to who we are today based on the culture of the time in which he lived.  What we don't hear though is that his views on slavery leaned toward abolition.  As I listened I found it interesting about George Washington was that he was not only tempted to be America's King, but he refused it. Instead he fought for democracy at any cost. He did much for building the infrastructure of the American Government and was even asked to sit for a third term.  Instead he felt that it was time for him to step down.  "Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."

His parting words as President were,

The second man that he talked about was Jackie Robinson.  He spent the majority of his major league career playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers.  But the sacrifice to get there was far more than any of us could ever imagine.  He is known as the man who broke the racial barrier in major league baseball.  If you have ever heard or read his story, you know that he sacrificed everything.  Not just for himself, but for all others who would come behind him.

What I found most interesting about these two men, and the other 5 written about by Metaxis was that every single one of them spent time on their knees.  Not in weakness, but in strength.  Their strength was in Christ.  Both men knew that there was something greater than themselves.  And both men contributed to the change of our nation.  We may disagree as to what really made them great.  But I believe the secret to their strength was beyond earthly tenacity.  It was faith.

Both men persevered.  Pastor Joyce writes about the secret to their strength.

Look unto Jesus

That the ‘just shall walk by faith’ is not an issue with those who by ‘faith’ have accepted the sacrifice of the Lamb of God to take away their sins and prepare a place in heaven for us.  We are simply challenged to know how to do that on a consistent basis.

The entire eleventh chapter of Hebrews is given to provide examples of men and woman as ordinary as we are that have gone before us and completed their course.  In the first two verses of Hebrews 12 we are given the answer, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside ever weight and sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”Hebrews 12:1

When we set aside those things that carry us off the mark of reaching the plans already written for our life we don’t consider them.  We will stumble, and fall but we will get up again because ‘it’s not over’. God will get the glory as we endure to the end (not in our strength but in His); for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has ordained beforehand that we should walk in them.

When we focus our attention on Jesus who places faith in us and makes it complete in us we do not allow our faults and failures to determine our destiny.  Jesus has already done everything we just look at Him we see what He has accomplished in us and keep on going.  We run with patience and one day we will cross the finish line and lay our crowns at His feet giving Him all the praise and glory.

The Spirit of a Mother's Heart

Today I spent a wonderful day being blessed by my husband and my three children.  They adorned me with their time, gifts from the heart.  Each one gave exactly the perfect gift.  Truth be told, the greatest gift of all is hearing their voices and admiring the men and women they have grown up to be.  It is honestly one of my greatest joys.  And even more-

so, to share that with my husband as we have transitioned into the next season of our lives. 

I remember of the years as my family grew and I branched away from home hearing my mom say the very same thing.  I would ask her often what she wanted for mother's day, her birthday, or Christmas.  She never asked for anything but was always grateful for everything we gave her. One day I asked her again what she wanted and her reply was, "nothing, I have everything I ever wanted in you three girls".  

What she taught us over the years was to truly follow the one commandment that comes with a promise.  " Honor your mother and father that your days may be long on the land the Lord your God has given you" Exodus 20:12.  She also taught us to obey our parents which comes from Ephesians 6:1.  Even to this day as I write this, I didn't have to look up the exact words.  I was simply able to quote them. 

What was so beautiful is that she instilled this in us to such an extent that in all that I did I wanted to honor her.  As a matter of fact, the writing of this very blog is just that.  To honor her by publishing her writings.  Today she writes of the Spirit of a Mother's heart. 

The Spirit of a Mother’s Heart by Joyce Wyrostek May 2012

A number of the attributes of the Holy Spirit are seen in and reflected through the interaction between a mother and her child.  When the Holy Spirit resides in the heart of a woman she will nurture her child to be a seeker and lover of God’s own heart.

Isaiah 49:15 begs the question, “Can a mother forget the child whom she has nursed, or not feel compassion for the one she carried in her womb?”  In the same way the Spirit of God gives us life.  He is the breath of God, and the indwelling presence of Jesus Christ.  Without Him we can do nothing but with Him there is no limit to what we can accomplish.

So it is with a mother who encourages her child to be all that they can be; who never loses her attachment to the seed of her womb.  Jesus said He will never leave us nor forsake us but will be with us to the end of the age.  And it is equally present a mother’s heart, it is impossible for her to sever the ties that she feels for her own. 

The enemy would have us believe otherwise for if our mother would abandon us what hope do we have of the Spirit of God lifting us up.  But the Bible says such a thing is impossible; if at any time a child who felt abandoned by a mother would reach out for the mothers love she would freely give it regardless of the breach that may be present between them.

Truth be told, there is nothing, no matter how bad it may seem that will ever be able to separate the love and longing in a mother’s heart for the life of her children.  The Bible says there is nothing fiercer than a bear robbed of her cubs.  Mother’s do not allow for the mistreatment of their children without a fight.  Today is the day to honor the mother who would lay down their life for you.

Fear v Faith- Being Courageous

Every day we face moments that allow us to be defined by our next move.  In business sometimes we have to have that courageous conversation with an employee who is not performing satisfactorily.  As educators we have to talk with parents of an under performing student. Coaches tell their athletes where they need to improve.  And there are even those times when we have to tell be completely honest with a friend or family member about their behavior.

The bottom line is choosing the right conversation for the right time.  Sometimes remaining silent is the easy thing to do.  Other times it is exactly what needs to happen.  But the times when you need to speak up are sometimes the hardest.  Usually, when we choose to remain silent it is because we fear the outcome.  The scenarios of what will happen run through our head.  " Will she hate me?"  "Will I get fired?" " Will they ever speak to me again?"  None of that matters though if remaining silent will cause more harm than to take the chance to change someones life by simply telling the truth.

When we think about the first scenarios we understand that an under performing employee has a negative impact on business.  If we ignore an under performing student and say nothing, he or she will fail.  Coaches want their athletes to be the best and must, in some instances, be brutally honest.  And in relationships with friends and family, to remain quiet strains everything.

Pastor Joyce provides us with a great teaching on fear vs faith.  As you read  her words today, think about a time when fear may have stopped you from something that you are absolutely called to do. Maybe its a conversation that will be extremely difficult.  No matter what, FEAR NOT.....

Fear vs. Faith by

Joyce Wyrostek April 27

Fear by definition is: a distressing negative sensation by a perceived threat; it is an innate emotion that almost always relates to future events such as worsening of a situation, or continuation of a situation that is unacceptable.  God says, “Fear not” 365 times in the scripture, so obviously it is an emotion that can be overcome.

Fear is the antithesis of faith and only the faith of God, that which is born in us at our spiritual re-birth can overcome it.  Faith is a characteristic of one who is justified and made righteous by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  We do not overcome fear by the works of the flesh as the world would have us believe by proclaiming that we must face our fear if we are ever to overcome it.

When the just walk by faith as declared in scripture it means that fear has been cast out, and we can walk in complete confidence and trust that God is willing and able to do all that He says He will do; “With man it is impossible but not with God for with God all things are possible.”(Mark 10:27)

Every time fear overtakes our emotions it causes us to be anxious and we are hindered from doing the will of God in our life.  God does not ask us to do anything that He is not capable of doing through us.  Our fear then comes from thinking that God wants us to do a thing that we cannot do, and thus He cannot do.

What we often fail to realize is that faith is a gift from God.  The minute we say, “Yes Lord” he gives us the ability and capability to perform whatever feat it is that He is asking. And more often than not it is supernatural and bypasses our natural thought processes.  If we ponder a thing long enough we can always come up with logical reasons not to follow through with the original God breathed plan.  

Double Minded

We all know that person who we would call "wishy washy". They can never seem to make up their mind about anything.  They seem indecisive, and question themselves constantly.  There is that moment when they are constantly angst, second guessing everything, and you want to yell, "Stop!  You know what is right.  You've  got this!"

It is so odd that I write this, because this is exactly who I have been as a runner lately.  I have been a runner since I was 12 years old.  Never in my life did I worry.  I just trusted the coaches, God, and used the gift of running to Glorify him.  Somehow, somewhere I lost sight of that.  What is even more interesting is that Pastor Joyce has passed away her words seem to be ready for this very day.  Right there to say- Stop! You know what to do!  You've got this! I'm sure they are not only helpful to me, but I am guessing they are helpful to someone else as well.  She never wrote a blog without praying first that it would be exactly what the reader needed.  

What is even more interesting is that as I write each of these blogs, I am taking Pastor Joyce's writing in chronological order.  I do not choose one writing to fit my mood for the day, but rather allow my writing to fit her words.  Her writing about faith in God and trusting his promises is unwavering.  She was a woman who never seemed to worry.  Though I know that when she did she would sing.  One of her favorite songs had the words, "Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, lift up  your voice to God.  Pray in the spirit and with understanding, Oh magnify the Lord".  You see, even when she doubted, she would shake off the doubt and focus on God and his promises.

As you read her teaching today, I encourage you to reflect on an area in your life where you are "wishy washy" aka double minded.  And give it to God!

Double Minded By Joyce Wyrostek April 21

In the first chapter of James we read, “If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God who give to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in faith with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:5-6)

It is quite comfortable for us to quote the word back to God and remind him of His promises to us and perhaps even expect that we will be perpetually blessed. Our faith is often activated by a powerful message from the pulpit and we are ready to receive only to be left unsatisfied at the altar.

We need wisdom to discern what it is that is hindering the appropriation of our blessing and so we go to God and hear nothing.  Somewhere lingering in the subconscious is a deceptive spirit that has caused us to doubt in our heart, which according to James makes us double minded tossed like the waves in the ocean.

A double minded person leans on their own understanding and confuses their own wisdom or the wisdom of others as that of God.  We can’t decipher the voices instructing our heart and peace escapes us; confusion takes over and we abandon our search of truth.  It is in this state that we are ineffectual and cannot be used by God to advance His Kingdom.

This may be caused by iniquity hidden in our hearts over past offenses, disappointments (even with God), unforgiveness, or other strongholds in the recesses of our hearts.  The Holy Spirit is on call 24/7 to reveal anything and everything that we need to come undefiled into the throne of grace and receive the instruction needed to have perfect fellowship with the Father and acquire the wisdom that only He can give.  Let’s quiet ourselves before the Lord with a humble and contrite spirit so we can activate Kingdom principles in perfect love.