Understand the Command to Pray

Posted on May 19, 2012 by lanalombardi

I love the Word of God! Unlike other books I read, the 66 books in the Bible continue to be new no matter how many times I read them. They continue to reveal the character of God to me. Weekly, sometimes even daily, His words pull the veil off my eyes so I can see Him and love Him even more.

What I’m about to share with you may not be revelation for you. In fact, maybe everyone who reads this column today will already know the “new” thing I just learned about prayer. But I can’t keep my excitement about Matthew 7:7 to myself. My prayer life has been seriously impacted. I want to brag about the Lord and I just couldn’t let the opportunity to share something about Him pass me by. My prayer is that there is at least one other person out there in cyber-land who needs to hear this message.

“Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock,
and it shall be opened to you.”

This is a verse that practically everyone has heard – probably hundreds of times. When I’ve read or heard it in sermons in the past, I just figured Jesus was doing what any good parent or grandparent must do to make a point with their child – repeat until we get it! I think that is true, but I now know that it’s only part of what He is telling us! 

I confiscated a study bible from my husband last year that I really enjoy. Once in a while I will read the commentary at the bottom of the page, but not very often. So last week as I was reading in the book of Matthew, I was surprised that my eye automatically went to the bottom of the page and I read a commentary about Matthew 7:7. I have no doubt that the Lord decided to teach me more about His promises where prayer is concerned. Here’s what I have learned.

In the Scripture “ask, and it shall be given to you” the assumption is that we know the will of God for this particular prayer request. We are praying about it because it hasn’t happened yet.  Perhaps we need a job. We’ve been doing our part by applying everywhere, but a job hasn’t opened up for us. We know it’s the will of God that we work and take care of our family and their needs; therefore, having a job is in the will of God. We will be given a job. It may not be the one we thought we should have, for as much or as little money as we wanted, but it will be a job that will satisfy the needs of our family. The key is to believe Him for that job! If we don’t believe, we might not recognize it when it shows up. 

Next, Scripture tells us to “seek, and you shall find”. Maybe we don’t know the will of God in a specific area. He wants to reveal His will to us; He never wants it to be a secret. Let me give you a personal example.

I had asked God on several occasions whether it was His will for my mother to live closer to me and my family in her later years. She really needs more family around her because she is lonely.  The problem? I didn’t have any means of getting her here and I don’t have a place for her to live. For me, it looked impossible. Within weeks of really seeking His will, the answer came in the most unexpected way. She is moving here the end of June and will be living in her own place a mile from me. The way all of this came about could only have been Him!

Finally, Scripture says to “knock, and it shall be opened to you”. This assumes that we already know God’s will, but the doors are closed to us.  Our prayer in this case is that God will open the closed doors and we will recognize the door He wants us to walk through.  Why pray for that when it’s already God’s will that something is to happen? We might not recognize when the door opens! My experience has been that I’m looking at one door while the one He wants me to walk through is behind me. Let me give you another personal example.

I knew I wanted to write and I knew that He wanted me to write. My desire was to write about Him, but I had no clue how to get started; no doors were obvious to me. Several years ago I saw an ad for a free lance writer in the local paper. I applied and they accepted. It wasn’t long before they had me write more pieces for the paper. Then I ended up writing 10 or 12 articles a month for a satellite paper – and yes – this column was in that paper for several years. So I felt like I had finally realized an answer to prayer when I was allowed to write the Why Me Lord column for the paper. But one day I received a call that asked if I would write for a ministry – Hopegivers International.  If I could have done it for free, I would have! I cannot begin to describe my excitement; that excitement has never left me.  When we are in the will of the Lord, I’ve discovered that my body tires, but I’m never bored! My prayer was answered in a way that I could never have imagined. He just kept opening the doors until my prayer was fully answered!

And no, I didn’t understand this Scripture the way I do today when all of this happened, but God loves you and me so much that He keeps His promises even if we don’t understand Him. Last week I went through my prayer list and labeled each request with either an “ask”, “seek”, or a “knock”.  I want to communicate more effectively and more often with the Lord. He does a great job of getting to me, but I am such a child when it comes to communicating with Him. I’m all about the “gimme” prayers; I’m sure you know what I mean. I can’t begin to tell you how special He has made me feel by teaching me more about what He wants and why. 

Having a relationship with Jesus makes me feel so alive! I read a lot, most writers do, but reading the Bible is so unique. It is alive and incredibly effective in nurturing a relationship with Almighty God. No other book out there does that! I know that sometimes the words from Scripture get stuck in our minds and they don’t always make it to our hearts. That makes me sad for myself. It’s in our hearts where His words come alive  and active . The knowledge is useless unless it translates into action and change.  

I’ve begun to think of the Bible as a personal tape recorder. He has recorded all I need to know in order for me to pursue a relationship with Him. After each session (verse, paragraph, or book), He records a very personal message – just for me. Things like, 
   Lana, 
 “I love you;
  I forgive you;
  Don’t worry, I’ll teach you;
  Pray this way;
  Deal with this person like this;
  Think of Me and how I would react to this circumstance;
  Watch out, the enemy is in the camp;
  The only way this will work is if you will deny yourself;
  Quit judging;
  Remember, that person is not your problem; it’s the enemy influencing you both;
  Surrender your self-sufficient ways to me and you won’t be so exhausted!”

Those are only a few of the recordings that play over and over in my head. Sometimes I listen to Him, but sometimes I push the pause button. Humanity is so fickle!

My dear friend, Dr. Samuel Thomas, shared another truth about prayer with me. People often ask him why we should pray if God already knows what we need. He tells them “Because He told us to pray! It’s called obedience.”

My prayer is that this simple message will make a difference in your prayer life just as it is doing in mine!

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Simple and Profound!

Posted on April 20, 2012 by lanalombardi

Whenever I am perplexed about reactions I am having to hurtful or negative circumstances and people in my life, I attempt to get off by myself for a time of introspection. I think about the negative feelings I’m experiencing and then try to find a word(s) that describes the kind of turmoil I’m having. Once I have that word(s) I do two things:

• First: I go to Scripture and look up all the references related to the word that best describes my feelings
• Second: I look up the definition of the word(s) in a dictionary

You might think it is an odd way to resolve internal conflict, but it works well for me. Let me give you an example that’s still fresh for me.

I looked up the word vain because I wanted to understand more about vain imaginations. I know it has to do with fearful thoughts that are generally not based in fact, but I still felt like I was missing something. One of the Scriptures given for vain is Proverbs 12:16.

“A fool’s vexation is known at once, but a prudent man conceals dishonor.”

Since I found that to be interesting and perhaps applicable to me, I decided to look up the words vexation and prudent. Vexation basically means to be annoyed. Evidently, at least according to the old dictionary I use, this person is not just annoyed, they are annoyed to the point where the annoyance is discussed at length repeatedly with whomever will listen to them. Whoa! That was convicting. Looking up the word prudent, the word discreet was used within that definition and that word also jumped off the page at me. I looked up the meaning of discreet and found that it means to display caution and self-restraint. Armed with those definitions, here’s what Proverbs 12:16 spoke to my heart.

A fool’s annoyance is easily seen by others when he/she must talk about it all the time to anyone who has the patience to listen for the tenth time. A discreet (self-disciplined, mature) person would conceal their feelings of hurt due to disrespectful or dishonoring circumstances (whether deserving or not). That is hard to do, but clearly something Jesus did when His sandals walked this planet.

I found another Scripture relating to vanity in Proverbs 22:8:

“He who sows iniquity will reap vanity and the rod of his fury will perish.”

Iniquity is sin; vanity is defined as excessive pride or conceit. I struggled some with the word rod (obviously knowing what a physical rod is) until I realized that the rod does not necessarily mean a metal or wood rod. It can easily be an emotional rod one yields over another because they are in a position to do it. In that case the rod is representative of power that one can wield. So here is what I gained from that Scripture.

An individual who nurtures a sinful thought habit in some area of life will ultimately develop excessive pride and conceit in order to cover up some weakness. That pride will eventually manifest itself outwardly in anger and turbulence of some sort. If I nurture and defend those thoughts for long periods of time, they ultimately become part of my emotional and spiritual make up. Once those thoughts become truth for me, I will defend them to the death! While I’m busy letting others know just how important, but abused and unappreciated I am, I reveal the insecurity that is thinly disguised as pride and conceit. Once the cat is out of the bag, any power wielded previously by my own self-importance is diminished. That’s usually when embarrassment and shame enter in UNLESS we allow the grace of God to move us to repentance. If repentance is allowed, then healing can begin to take place. It’s tough and even scary to take the higher ground; but to be a true Christ-follower; it is simply part of the job description.   

It’s not a complicated lesson, nor does it take long to understand. It is a lesson that will need to be repeated over and over again (at least for me) for as long as we dwell here on earth. We must remember to hold everyone and everything in life lightly. Otherwise, we will squeeze the very life and joy from it. We must keep our hearts open to conviction, our hands raised and with palms open toward heaven so our King can provide for us every day and in every circumstance. He promises never to leave us or forsake us. He has the plan for my life and yours. We don’t have a clue what will happen in the next second. By the way, it’s easy to write those words, but a whole lot harder to live them!

This particular life lesson came – as so many do for me – in the quiet of a campground setting. It’s so quiet here this morning that I can almost hear the air move about inside my travel trailer. Why don’t you try to get away sometime this summer to a quiet place where you too can put words to feelings that sometimes plague and erode quality of life as a child of God. You don’t have to be a writer or even particularly introspective. Take your Bible, a dictionary, and a pad of paper. Jot down what you learn and then watch and listen for how God will bring about healing. 

 

 

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Conveniently Short Memory!

Posted on April 11, 2012 by lanalombardi

 ”Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” Matthew 5:3.

Friends: If you recall earlier in the year when I started this series of blogs, I said I would go back to the Psalm 25 Journey and use the lessons learned there for this years journey to ”Cultivate the Lessons.” Today, when I read the journal for today, please see what the Holy Spirit showed me. 

I will wait on the Lord to bring about a body that is truly a healthy and pleasing sanctuary for Him – a body that does not worship any god but Him. If it takes the entire 22 weeks or another 22 years of practicing obedience when it comes to putting things into my mouth for any other reason than hunger, I will do it!

Please note the words I have in bold.  It seems that I forgot that promise to remain obedient and hanging onto the rewards of my obedience for as long as it takes. I allowed some of the reward I was given last year to slip through my fingers this year.  How like me to say something that I needed to remember, but promptly forgets my promise and my responsiblity so I can blame something or someone else for slipping back into old habits.  All that work and effort – from both sides (God and me) – and I slowly began to compromise the lessons so generously taught to me by the Holy Spirit. 

Lord: Thank You for this morning. I needed to read that last paragraph to remind me that obedience never comes to an end.  We must always be vigilant because our flesh is always open to taking back the throne. 

Help me, Lord, be the woman you intended me to be this day – obeying You even in the smallest ways so that the new habits You instilled last year can  surface again. Please give me wisdom in breaking off my work so I take quality time to be with my grandchildren while they are out of school. Often work can wait; loving doesn’t. 

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Wading Through Sin

Posted on April 4, 2012 by lanalombardi

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:2).

Lord: I find it so amazing that You know how much time I have to spend quietly with You in the mornings. You always make Your point with me, regardless of what I’m reading. After reading and as I journaled about yesterday – based on the questions posed in “Not a Fan” – I went to Psalm 52. I meant to read the next Psalm, but this one caught my eye for the third time this week.

As I read verses 1-7  I recognize this as the place I’m coming from as a sinful child of God – a point made clear in the “Not a Fan” meditation this morning. Reaching verse 8 and 9 is where You are taking me as I sojourn on this planet for a season – the next point You made clear to me in the “Not a Fan” meditation this morning. You are amazing!

I’m anxious to get there; but I know that it will happen in Your timing. I know that Your timing will make it stick because You will have changed me from the inside out – permanently.

I have to say, I find it frustrating to know what You want and then literally watch myself do just the opposite. Yesterday, although I didn’t spew my insecurity onto anyone except You, all that muck is still residing on the inside. If I can at least continue to share with You until You remove all that pride, insecurity and arrogance – at least in this one area – I can hopefully survive the process without bailing on You! I bail when things don’t happen quickly enough; I’m so sorry about that part of my character. 

Thank You for listening to my complaining yesterday. It couldn’t have been very pleasant. Thank You for not striking me up side the head out of pure frustration with me!  Thank You that You showed me yesterday with Your patience that it will only be with You at the helm when changes in me will happen. 

Please, Lord, help me be who You made me to be today as I spend time with other women. I want to be Your best for their sake. I don’t want to bring anyone else down to my level – including my husband.

Thank You for this day! I ask that You help me only bring glory to Your name in all that I do and say!

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Not Giving Up

Posted on April 2, 2012 by lanalombardi

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:2).

Friends: We are so fortunate that we have a God who doesn’t give up on us  – as long as we don’t throw in the towel and walk away from change.

I’ve been bemoaning my last three months of throwing discipline to the wind – the disciplines I learned during my Psalm 25 Journey last year – and this morning He again  encouraged me that (as an author friend of mine refers to it) I have not committed a fatal error! I can get back up, brush myself off, and begin again – my tactic the last few days. As much as I think I “know” that I can’t let up on practical disciplines (i.e. eating only when hungry or speaking about someone only in positive terms), my flesh has a mind of its own and thinks it can get away with no discipline;  and apparently believes it is above experiencing any of the consequences. My flesh clearly has a mind of its own, because my spirit clearly knows better!

The road back is familiar; it won’t be as exciting since it is no longer a new concept with me. New ways of doing or not doing things can be exciting because they are fresh and I feel the challenge in a  positive way. Re-doing old practices I know work is not exciting – more in the range of comfortable; it will move along a little quicker though because I won’t forget to practice the disciplines as often.  I can’t drop my guard! As soon as I do, the enemy – so familiar with my flesh – is all over that opportunity.

Lord: Thank you for the Scripture in Psalms that convicts me of my speech about others who annoy and frustrate me. It doesn’t matter that I speak my thoughts only to my husband; he is human too and I can negatively impact another by speaking to him too. I will bring all my annoying and frustrating people to You. That way the people than annoy me are kept safe at Your feet when I bring my irritations only to You. You are the only one who can do anything about it anyway! By sharing with another human, I’m just spinning my wheels about changing anything with regard to another person.  I know You despise complaining children and I really don’t want to be despised by You. I want to please You.

Help me not give in to my flesh with regard to food this day. I cut my flesh a break all the time! I cut it a break because I know how weak she is – the very reason I shouldn’t back off. That weakness grows in strength every time I let her off the hook. She knows I feel sorry for her and I want to make her feel better so she’ll quit bugging me.  Oh brother, I’m speaking about my flesh as if she is a person; I guess she really is! She’s the old woman that I “thought” I crucified years ago, but she sure keeps popping up out of her grave these days. She’ll only stay dead if I keep her crucified and deny her any part in my new life. Thank You that this is true; thank You that You – living in me – gives me the strength to do just that.

Please watch over and protect my grandchildren today – their minds, hearts and their bodies – in Jesus name! Amen

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His Grace is Sufficient

Posted on March 30, 2012 by lanalombardi

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:2).

Friends: Be careful what you pray for – God answers prayer! I was reading (for the second time) an article by Charles Stanley entitled “Living the Crucified Life.” Even at the second reading, I was nearly suffocated with conviction. He’s right! Most of us have memorized Galatians 2:20, but I wonder how many of us live it out. I’m not there yet, and my journey this year is revealing that difficult truth to me!

I am asking the Lord to humble me – poor in spirit – and I am becoming painfully aware that He is doing just that. As one who has to “strive” for everything (it’s chronic for me), I am also ashamed right now. He’s not after making me ashamed; that’s the burden I have placed on myself.

I guess because He has cleaned up so many areas of my life, I was certain that I would never have to battle “using food” again, especially after this past year. I let my guard down – that’s easy enough; there’s food everywhere! The temptation for many of my past sins are no longer even available to me. It’s easy to say I’m no longer dealing with them, but food is different. I can never get away from it! 

This morning, as I read about the crucified life with Christ I am supposed to be living, the fact – and it is a fact – that the Son of God lives within me is what I really need to get and utilize. I think this is one area of my life that God will allow to remain in my life.  It humbles me and causes me to persevere.  I’m not suggesting that He did not heal me; I’m suggesting that I walked away – slowly at first – but I did walk away from much of what He taught me this last year. I need to re-commit to receiving the grace He provides for battling this temptation every day - perhaps several times a day.

Over the past few months, I began to function as if I had been on a diet rather than a journey - for the love of Christ – of obedience. I had no clue that I could turn “obedience” into a “diet.” Go figure!  He doesn’t allow us to quit obeying just because we are tired, frustrated or want to celebrate something. Obedience  is like God – it doesn’t change; it stays the same. 

I have to crucify my flesh every day; it’s just not going to be a one or two time event. I can’t take Psalm 25 Journeys over and over again and then six months later have to start over again. Obedience needs to stick. So here’s the one discipline I am going to practice starting today. I’m certain you will consider this too simple, but clearly I need simple!  I will eat only when I am hungry. That’s it!

Lord: I can’t believe I have allowed myself to let go of so much of what You taught me last year! My flesh in this area is a true warrior! It’s not stronger than You who live in me, but if I don’t take advantage of Your strongholds which give me strength, my flesh wins! I know I don’t deserve Your help, but please don’t give up on me. If I give up on this area of my life, I fear that I will give up on other things as well. 

I recognize that this is a stupid battle I am fighting! With people losing their lives over their faith in You and being persecuted for speaking the name of Jesus, and I battle abundance!  I’m so sorry we have to keep working on this! I feel like Paul in the Bible who had some thorn he had to battle.  Although I don’t know what his thorn was, I know I feel like him. I want You to remove it. I’m now convinced that You won’t. Your promise to Paul is your promise to me: “My grace is sufficient.” 

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A Recovering Striver

Posted on March 28, 2012 by lanalombardi

Friends: I just read a pending comment to one of my recent blogs. The only thing this person picked up on out of something I journaled was the fact that I do believe there is a hell and it is for all eternity.  Obviously, this individual does not read the Bible and I’m fairly certain he or she doesn’t believe the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. Clearly one of the comments to that person’s mocking my belief also thinks that all Christians are “bible thumpers” and that they will run into a bunch of them in hell too.  Interesting! This comment actually coincides with the meditation on Scripture I had this morning. I keep forgetting that there are no accidents in the world; God’s directing traffic in many cases and at the very least, He is making sure that any journey we are on ends up according to His plan.

I was reading Zechariah 3 this morning when two verses (3 and 4) struck me as something I need to remember. “Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and standing before the angel. And He spoke and said to those who were standing before Him saying. ‘Remove the filthy garments from him.’ Again He said to him. ‘See, I have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festal robes’”

I am one of those who “strive” beyond reason in life; a type A; the ever ready bunny kind of gal. I know that the Lord expects me to use all that I have for His Kingdom; but I too frequently use all I have to impress! Who do I want to impress? You know, I thought it was the Lord. But when I’m not thinking in one of my denial modes, I must admit that the top of my “list to impress” it’s just about anyone who will observe my work! Do they care? Maybe for a few seconds, but then they are off and running impressing or being impressed by someone else! What a waste of energy!

I am still going to arrive before the throne of God in filthy rags no matter how hard I try. The filthy rags are all the things I continue to do in my own strength and for the wrong reasons. What Jesus did for me and you is represented in the above Scripture by the “festal garment” Joshua was given. It is the only garment that counts spiritually – in this life and certainly in the next.

I don’t know if I will ever be void of striving, impressing, seeking for admiration and respect. My flesh is so strong! I know that my spirit led by the Spirit of God that lives in me is much stronger, but He won’t cross the line into “making” me do what is best for me and everyone I might have any influence over. I’d like to have Him step in and “make” me whole in this life, but He doesn’t break His promises like I do. He is faithful, unlike me. He is strong enough NOT to interfere! I’m not.

Lord: You must get tired of teaching me the same lesson over and over again. I know what it’s like to be a parent and grandparent which requires repetitive lessons and repeatedly bringing consequences for disobedience. You have been gentler with me than I have been with my children and grandchildren. I am experiencing the consequences of my disobedience more and more these days. Maturity brings more responsibility and Your Word also tells me it brings more accountability. You teach me these truths, then I turn around and teach others these truths. So,  why would I think I could ever escape the natural order of things? The answer I’m guessing You would give me would be pride and arrogance. 

Thank You for Your patience; thank You for speaking to me through Your Word; thank You for the increased awareness about Your presence in every detail of my life. I know that You will do whatever is necessary to develop me into the woman of God You created me to be decades ago. Thank You for not giving up on me!

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A Faulty Measuring Device!

Posted on March 26, 2012 by lanalombardi

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”(Matthew 5:2).

Friends: I can’t help sounding like a broken record! I find it so incredible that God would speak to me through His Scriptures. I’m reading along in the Bible and all of a sudden I know – without a doubt – that a specific verse is meant to convict, comfort or teach me something about what is going on in my life. It is humbling and exciting! Humbling because I know me very well – I am no great shakes. It is not that God is looking down on me and saying, “Wow, a holy one. Let me do something special with her.” Trust me when I tell you that if He were not a forgiving, merciful, and loving God, He would not give me a second look. I know what goes on behind the closed doors of my mind every day – and so does He!

I awakened early today, refreshed in spite of the hour, grabbed a Bible and slipped into the living room. Here’s what He showed me this morning.

Psalm 49:16 and 20 (NIV): “Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases;” (verse 16). “A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish” (verse 20).

Why do I know that He wanted me to hear Him this morning through this Scripture? I am not rich financially – for sure, but I am rich in other ways. He has gifted me with several talents and with a family that loves and supports me when I’m using any of those talents. He gave me the talents and my family so I would develop a strong sense of gratitude and pour myself out to give glory to God – NOT ME! But I have to tell you – it is so easy to take credit for a job well done based on gifts I didn’t create. Exercising those talents is my responsibility, but I certainly didn’t create them. I can be very quick to enjoy the admiration and compliments that others give me, even when I know that what just took place was out of my control.

This past Sunday I brought a message – along with three other women – to the congregation. I did some preparation – most of which was my prayer that the Holy Spirit would take an outline I put together and make it His. As I spoke and the passion for the topic poured out of me, I felt almost like an observer. I knew while I was speaking that what was coming out of my mouth had been cleaned up and anointed by the Holy Spirit. Unless this has happened to you, I’m pretty sure you will think I’m nuts. Don’t judge me too quickly. Keep an open mind because God will do the same for you – if that’s what you want. The part that He wanted me to get came a few minutes later in another Scripture this morning.

Zechariah 4:6, 10: “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty…” (verse 6) and “Who despises the day of small things?”(verse 10).

Since becoming a Christian, my measuring tape of what He expects of me got distorted. In other words, I have always thought that God would have me speak one day to large groups of women (Women of Faith, etc.). Many of you already know that I can fall into the trap of operating in my own strength too often. When I read verse 6 this morning, I remember having that scripture spoken over me on the day I was baptized. A complete stranger came up to me and told me that the Lord wanted me to know that I was not to operate in my own strength. She then quoted that Scripture. From the very beginning of my born again life, the Lord warned me about my tendency to be self-sufficient in spiritual things. My way of operating worked well for me professionally. Why wouldn’t I assume that it would do the same with my new born again life? He let me know that the world I just left because of salvation didn’t operate the same as His. Unfortunately, this is a lesson I continually have to re-learn!

The Scripture about small things? How could exposing one other person in my lifetime to the truth about salvation be a small accomplishment? It isn’t! I told Eddie this weekend that a goal I thought the Lord gave me turned out to be “my” goal for Him to give me. 

If I were to speak to thousands of women at one time, the impact would last only minutes. But if I can witness to and disciple a small group week after week I am obeying the command He gave to His disciples – which includes you and me. Once someone is saved, they need to grow up in Christ and lead others to Him. That takes mentoring or disciplining. I’m right where He wants me to be!

This isn’t the first time I’ve thought of this; it’s just the first time I got it! He knows my ego better than I do; He knows my weaknesses; He knows how to accomplish His purposes through me and to protect me from myself while those purposes are being accomplished. 

Lord: I knew when I woke up refreshed at 4:50 this morning, You had something to say to me. I’m so grateful that You are my Father because I sure need a daddy!

Forgive me for complaining so much lately. If I’m that exhausted, I have to believe that I’m operating in my own strength for the sake of a reputation that no one cares about but me! Interrupt my day with Your tasks; lead me to those who need You and can’t seem to see You through their pain and hurt. Allow me to bring a perspective about You that moves them to make a decision to surrender their life to You. Thank You for the gifts You’ve given me. Please keep me convicted when I begin to lean into taking credit for results that clearly come from You. If results don’t come, I’m very quick to tell myself and others that You have another time for those results. When the results are positive, instead of giving You the credit for the results these times, I pat myself on the back – even if it is only in my thoughts. Please forgive me; change me, Lord!

 

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Psalm 39

Posted on March 24, 2012 by lanalombardi

Friends: As a Christian, am I willing to risk ridicule by speaking truth into the life of another? Dr. Samuel Thomas and other Christians like him risk their lives every day for the sake of the Gospel! All I risk is that someone will make fun of me! So how much do I believe what I say I believe?

This Psalm also reminds me of the parable of talents Jesus told in the New Testament. This message of salvation? It is the one talent each of us has!  Shouldn’t I share that one talent of eternal life with someone who doesn’t yet have it? I’ve got it, but it was never meant to be hoarded.  Why not offer the truth about eternal life to another? Do I really want the party in heaven to consist of only a few of us? Am I afraid God won’t have enough goodies at the banquet table for everyone if the heavely ballroom is packed? Isn’t God’s heart “the more the merrier?” I’m certain that there will be plenty of room for everyone to freely sing and dance before His throne!

When we first heard about Jesus, what did we do? Did we make fun of the person sharing with us? Did we throw rocks at them?  Perhaps we dismissed their message on the outside, but considered it over time on the inside! Isn’t that the more likely scenario in our American culture today?

When another person protests so loudly, one wonders if more is going on inside than meets the eye. If hoarding this message of salvation is due to our pride, we have some serious evaluating to do. We don’t have to stand on a street corner like some of the crazies and scream to every passer by that they are going to hell; but we do need to watch for opportunities to comfort and share eternal hope with others.

Do I truly believe? Am I headed spiritually in the direction I say I want to travel? What a man says when measured against what he actually does is who he really is! Jesus is calling you and me to a life of courage!

Lord: Please don’t leave me stuck this way – between knowledge and believing, between believing and trusting in that belief so that my daily life clearly manifests to others that You are alive and well within me. When I truly believe, I am changed!

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His Presence

Posted on March 22, 2012 by lanalombardi

I’ve been asked to speak for a few minutes Sunday on the presence of God. Interestingly, as I consider what I should share about His presence in our lives, I keep coming back to faith! If we don’t believe He is truly present with us in EVERYTHING we do, say and think, then we won’t notice and rely on His presence.

My church showed the film “Faith like Potatoes” this past Sunday. Although the movie started out a bit slow, it was the most powerful illustration of faith I have ever seen or heard. What’s really great about the movie? It is based on a true story. Maybe you won’t cheer and cry like I did throughout this movie, but I believe the Lord put it in front of me to teach me a valuable lesson about how little I actually exercise the faith God has given me.

I am like everyone else – in spite of how much time I spend with Him. When times are good and smooth, I feel His presence and praise God for it. When I am frustrated, angry, and exhausted, I forget about His presence and allow my thoughts to push Him away. He is pure and holy! My thoughts are certainly not pure and holy, especially when every ounce of human energy I had slips away. 

Lord: I do want to bring a message on Sunday about Your presence that will impact the congregation just like the last half of that movie impacted me about my level of faith. We humans talk about how we use only 10% of our brain power; I wonder how little of the faith you have already given us (me) is being used. Based on the level of discontent I see all around me – especially in me – I think perhaps I am lucky to take advantage of 1/2%.

Forgive me, Lord, for my laziness. I do believe it is laziness when I don’t rely on You. Creating habits and breaking others takes work. I work a lot here on this earth, but not nearly enough on the things that really matter to You. All the things I fear that will never happen are things like: my house being completed, healing within my family, changes that must take place in my spiritual and physical life . All these fears are hindering me from practicing the contentment You command that I live out by trusting You. 

In the study of Esther last night, Beth Moore challenged us to speak out our fears and then take them to worst case scenario. Then she suggests that when we have drained our minds of every horrible thing that could happen, we have only one solution. God is in control and will take care of us. 

“What if the house is never finished? Then God will take care of me!” “What if my grandchildren move far away from me? Then God will take care of them and me.” “What if my energy levels deplete quicker as I get older than I want them to? Then God will take care of me!”

You are in control and I know (now I need to trust) that nothing touches me without Your permission! I am Your child forever. Only those things (even if hurtful) will touch me that You intend for good down the road. It’s funny; I come back to this mantra about You over and over again: You are the Alpha and the Omega – the Beginning and the End. Fear is not even logical when I consider that truth!

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