Abundant Life

By Laurie Ness

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.  I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." John 10:10-11

Many people think of abundant living as having lots of money, things, friends, vacations, etc.  But the Bible puts the focus on intangible gifts such as grace.  If we are looking at our lives from an eternal, biblical perspective, grace, mercy, righteousness and redemption are so very much more valuable than anything this earth has to offer.

Jesus offers life!  He tenderly cares for us like a shepherd for his sheep.  He gave up everything He had the right to keep, for the sake of people (you and I and every other human) who treated Him like dirt.   He offers us true abundance in our lives here on earth, if we choose to follow Him.  There is such joy even in the painful process of giving up our wants and ways in exchange for His.  I know from experience that "the thief" tries to keep his death grip on us, and sometimes we make it easy for him!  If only we would keep our eyes on the prize, taking time to really know Him through Scripture and prayer, we would more clearly see His hand reaching for us.  If we trust Jesus as our Savior, we are free from sin!  We are free from the bondage with which "the thief" wishes to destroy us!  We aren't obligated to stay in the enemy's clutches.  We can shake off his grip and walk in a life of abundance.

Abundant living of this kind begins in our minds.  What are we focused on?  My husband, in his counseling of drug offenders, points out that we aren't likely to be successful if we only focus on what we shouldn't be doing or what we're leaving behind.  We're likely to gain victory if we focus on where we want to go and have a game plan in mind!  If we focus on our Shepherd, it will be easier to stop sin at its beginning stages by choosing not to entertain ideas that don't please Him.

And what about the abundant life we have to look forward to in eternity?  There's nothing we could have done to earn that.  Jesus bought that for us with His blood.  What could be more "abundant" than life with Him forever and ever?!

True abundance, lived by the Holy Spirit, is so much more rewarding than any bounty of material possessions or luxuries the world has to offer.  Thank You, Jesus, for what You have done for us!

Further Reading

Luke 12:14-21
Romans 5:15-21
2 Corinthians 6:6-9
1 Timothy 1:12-17

It's Okay to Wait!

by Laurie Ness

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new song in my mouth; a hymn of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.  Psalm 40:1-3

This has been a favorite passage of mine since my teenage years.  It has always evoked a literal picture in my mind, of a man hunkered down in a nasty pit he can't escape, calling out to the Lord for help and waiting with patience because He knows the Lord has a plan, a purpose for the delay of the rescue.  Suddenly, the man feels himself being lifted by an unseen hand, and he is placed on a firm surface where he can enjoy a sure-footed respite for awhile.

Patience is required to properly handle anything from the smallest irritation to the waiting for something huge to happen.  It has never come naturally for me but, rather, it is something I try to cultivate in my life . . . in my more lucid moments. ;)  I remember, in my growing-up years, my mom had a little picture hanging in the kitchen that read something like, "Grant me patience, Lord . . . but hurry!"  As a child I found it amusing, but as an adult I can totally relate.  Though, I have made progress in the patience department, I have a long, long way to go.

When I find myself in those "slimy pits," either of my own making or someone else's, I have a choice.  I can react right away based on my feelings, or I can stop and think before I speak or act.  I'd like to say I stop and think more often than not, but I'm not sure I'm to that point yet!  Maybe it's half-and-half or so. ;)

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Ephesians 4:2

But, when I DO reflect a little before reacting, and remember how much I want to develop patience, there are a few facts that help stabilize my thinking.  Maybe they'll be helpful for you, too.

1.  It's not all about me.  I mean, really, we need to get over ourselves, whether it's things or people we want in our lives, or something as simple as wanting to get through the checkout line at Kroger quickly.  Life is not all about us as individuals but more about being a blessing to others, considering their needs and preferences as well.  It's not being a blessing, in the example of the grocery store, to sigh impatiently or make rude remarks to/about the customer(s) in front of us or the cashier.  Every person we have contact with in any given day should be treated with patient respect.

2.  It's ALL about God!  Sometimes our patience is directed at God Himself!  This is where it can often be the most difficult to not act based on our feelings, but on what we know to be true.  God has a plan for each one of us!  How often do we forsake His best for us because we don't want to wait on His timing?  Wow, we can make ourselves believe almost anything in order to justify our impatience toward God!  Do we think He's looking the other way while we do our own thing?  Even when our impatience is displayed toward another person instead of directly toward God, our attitude is not glorifying to God as it should be.

3.  It's going to be okay!  Even when we don't feel like it's true, the truth is that no matter what we're waiting on God for, even if we never receive it, it's all going to work out for good for those who love Him and who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).  Oh, if we would just have the patience to see it through--to see God give us our hearts' desires (as opposed to taking them on our own terms) or even to have Him give us something better than what we thought we couldn't live without, more than we could have dreamed up on our own.

Ladies, let's learn to wait, to endure, to be patient! :)

A Woman of Integrity

By Laurie Ness

It's said that your life may be the only Bible some people read.  People in general want to see in someone the integrity lacking in so much of the world. Does this mean we must live perfectly, never making a mistake, to live a life of integrity? The answer is simple:  No.  We all make mistakes. An imperfect woman (or man, but since this is a blog for women, I'll focus on us for now!) can live a life of integrity.  A woman of good character will fall, but will not make excuses to justify her sin, will not lie to hide it, nor delay in restoring fellowship with her Heavenly Father.

See, integrity, or lack of it, is a reflection of our hearts.  It looks the same when no one can see us as it does when others are watching.  The presence of integrity brings peace to our beings and restful slumber while others wrestle with their consciences long into the night.  Now, that's not to say that every episode of insomnia is caused by a guilty conscience, but it does seem wise to examine our lives to rule out a lack of integrity as the source of sleepless nights.  I read this the other day, and it made so much sense:

"Keep sound wisdom and discretion;  So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.  Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.  When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid;  yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet."  Proverbs 3:21-24 KJV

Sweet sleep.  Isn't that what we long for at the end of a busy day?  This sounds like a secret to restful sleep to me!

Integrity has an openness about it.  If we are ashamed to talk about a part of our life, there's a likelihood that we are living against what we know to be right in that area.  This transparency is different from the in-your-face rebellion that screams at us from so many sources these days.  No, the transparency of integrity is in the submitting to the quiet whispers of the Holy Spirit to share our struggles with someone.  We, of course, are wise to not just blurt out every detail of our lives to everyone who will listen.  Sometimes integrity is best "heard" in complete silence.  If we are staying in tune, we'll know when we're being nudged into words or warned to hush. :)

Prayer and the reading of Scripture will only help in our determination to be women of good character.  As Kay Arthur of Precept Ministries likes to say, the Bible is our plumb line.  We know how we should be living, what our attitudes should be, whether or not our hearts are well by reading God's Word.  If we have been students of the Word for long, we will know--sometimes without even re-reading it, because it has been written on our hearts--exactly what in our lives we need to change.  A woman lacking integrity will ignore what she knows to be true and do her own thing.  She will base her actions on the reactions of other people rather than on the Bible.  If no one is bugging her about her life, or if she has what she thinks she wants or needs, everything must be fine.

A woman of character and integrity, on the other hand, will not want to live in a way that offends her Lord.  She may mess up time and time again, but always it hurts her heart to do so and she determines to gain victory over her strongholds, rather than settling on living like a slave to that which she is not in reality.  (Romans 6:15-18, Galatians 4:6-8)

A woman lacking integrity will use her status under grace as an excuse to continue in her sin.  A wise woman knows, from reading the Bible and from listening to the Holy Spirit's quiet ministering to her heart, that this is a cop-out and not at all of God.  A woman of integrity doesn't necessarily understand every complex biblical doctrine, but obeys what she knows to be true.  As she gains more understanding, she shifts her actions, words and attitudes accordingly.  She is a work of art in progress! :)

Spring is Right in Front of You!

by Laurie Ness

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:  The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13b-14

I need a new beginning!  I've needed a new beginning countless times in my life.  No, I'm not a drug addict or a prostitute or an adulterer.  I'm not an alcoholic or a gambler or a murderer.  Those are the kinds of vices that we think of as needing some rehab, right?

But we all need a new beginning from time to time.  No sin we hang on to is better than another.  To deny that is detrimental in many ways.  Now, to those who are new creations in Christ, the most important "new beginning" doesn't need to begin again.  We are secure in our position in God's family, through faith in Christ Jesus.  We do fall from time to time, though, and compromise our fellowship with Him. 

My sin finds me out.  As a child, I was outwardly disciplined for my disobedience, as a child should be, but my heart was hard and I only cared about myself.  In adulthood, as I've opened my heart up to my Lord, my bad choices have eventually resulted in a moment of truth, where I have to face the music.  I'm not referring only to the natural consequences, but to a heart-wrenching realization of what my actions or attitudes have cost me, possibly others, and definitely my Savior.  It's a grief that's hard to face, probably the reason I sometimes run from it until I'm just too weary to avoid it.

That's the cold, dark winter.

Something amazing happens, though:  Spring arrives!  I turn around in my sorrow and shame to face the Lord and confess, expecting to see what I deserve--and what I deserve terrifies me.  But I've forgotten that all there is to see there is Jesus, the Light of the world.  He doesn't condemn me.  He's redeemed me!

Out of my love for Him, I may find myself grieving for awhile because of my part in putting Him on that cross.  In my humanness, I may also lament over the price I or others have paid because of my sin.  But the sorrow subsides because the reality is that I am free!  Like that first spring day warm enough to drink in the sunshine with no coat.  The smell is delicious.  The feeling is light and carefree.

A new beginning.  It sounds so fresh and inviting.  It entices us to embrace it.  Let's release whatever doesn't belong in our lives, leave it in the past, and begin anew.

His Birthday List

by Laurie Ness

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16

Just about every popular Christmas CD, from Bing Crosby to Jars of Clay, includes the artist's interpretation of one of my very favorite yuletide songs, "The Little Drummer Boy."  The sweet lyrics bring a lump to my throat every time I stop to focus on what their message is conveying.

My favorite part goes something like this:

"Baby Jesus . . . I am a poor boy, too . . .
I have no gift to bring . . . That's fit to give the King . . .
Shall I play for you . . . On my drum?

Mary nodded . . . The ox and lamb kept time . . .
I played my drum for Him . . . I played my best for Him . . .
Then He smiled at me . . ."

The whole point of this imaginative story set to music is that we all have something to give.  Someone might not have two dimes to rub together, but still has a big gift to give Jesus.  In fact, Jesus isn't really impressed by money given out of abundance anyway.  See what He says in Luke 21:1-4.

As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

She gave all she had, ladies!

It was a sacrifice!

What do we know of sacrifice?  Do we really put it all on the line for our Savior, who gave everything for us?  Whether or not we have money to give, there is always something more, something deeply felt we can offer, isn't there?


Let's ask ourselves this:  What can I give Jesus?

If Jesus had a birthday list, might it look something like this?

1. Wrap up all your self-centered attitudes, lay them at My feet, and I will take them away.
2. Ask me to replace those with patience toward the annoyances in life.
3. Bless your family, friends and enemies, even when you feel they don't deserve the best of you.
4. Reach out to that bitter woman. I know she's no fun to be around, but she needs My love. I want you to love her with My love.
5. Surrender that Christmas gift you want so badly this year, and use the money to bless a family in need. I acknowledge your wants, but they still aren't as important as their needs.
6. That relationship that isn't pleasing to Me--please do what you know you need to do.
7. All that credit you're taking for the fabulous things you do--Who gave you the ability to do those things?  Where does the glory and honor belong?
8. Let go of that grudge you're holding and bestow mercy and forgiveness.
9. Use your (My) time and resources wisely.
10. Please celebrate ME on the day set aside to recognize My birth.  And continue that celebration the remainder of the year as well.

I wouldn't be surprised if, at the top of His list, He'd want us to do what the fictitious little drummer boy, and those very real shepherds, did:  show up!  They took the time to be in the very presence of the Son of God!  They worshiped Him in their own unique ways, as God had gifted them.  Perhaps they were even a bit out of their comfort zones.  In any case, they came to Him, recognized Him, glorified Him and told others about their encounter with God.

May we not forget to set aside time in this busy season to sit at His feet and wish Him a happy birthday!

Attitude of Gratitude

by Laurie Ness

"I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart;
   I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and rejoice in you;
   I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High."  Psalm 9:1,2

What a happy and joyful heart those words reflect.  Of course, happy and joyful are not always equal.  Happiness is an emotion.  Joy is an attitude.  Joy can be chosen in the worst of unhappy times. 

Whether we find ourselves in happy or unhappy circumstances this Thanksgiving season, let us choose joy by focusing on all we have for which to be grateful.  In fact, let's go beyond that and choose a grateful heart every day of the year!

What about those mundane or irritating circumstances we face every day?  Can we be thankful for those?  Absolutely!  Let's "strike out" those grumpy thoughts and replace them with gratitude.  For example:

"Where does all this laundry come from?!"   "I'm so glad my family has clothes to wear."

"Ugh!  All these dishes!"   "Thank You, Lord, for each dear person who ate from these dishes!"

"So help me, if I hear that child whine one more time. . .!"    "I'm so thankful God gave you to me (but you're still not getting what you want with that tone of voice)."

"I ALWAYS pick the longest line at the grocery store!"  "Thankfully, I have plentiful choices of food and maybe an opportunity to reach out to someone else waiting in this line."

"I'll never have the longing of my heart fulfilled."    "Thanks, Lord, for allowing things to happen in Your timing, since You know better than I do!"

"Why does my husband have to annoy me today?"  "Help me, Lord, to bless my husband today."

"I HATE working out!"   "Isn't it great that my body is strong enough to move like this?"

You get the idea!  My grandma always told me, "There's something good in every situation.  Sometimes you have to look extra hard to find it, but it's there!"  My grandma was a very pleasant, content woman.  Just think of the stress and emotional baggage we can eliminate from our lives if we truly choose to look at the bright side of things.  That doesn't mean we'll never feel sadness, anger, hurt or other negative emotions.  If we decide to focus on gratitude for the good, though, the negative feelings are free to process their way through and out of us rather than hanging on, transforming into rancid bitterness and wreaking havoc on our physical bodies as well.

God is glorified when we thank Him from a sincere heart.  But, in His goodness, He has allowed gratitude to be beneficial to us as well.  Thinking gratefully, though, doesn't always come naturally.  We need God's help.  Frequent prayer and reading of Scripture verses on gratitude will help immensely!  But we also have to be willing to submit to God's work in our hearts--willing to let go of our irritations or grudges.  That's much easier said than done.  We can choose to do it anyway!

Let's practice gratitude, sisters! :)

Further Reading:

Psalm 92:1-2
1Thessalonians 5:15-18
Colossians 3:17

Choosing Gratitude:  Your Journey to Joy, by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Why Pray?

by Laurie Ness

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  Philippians 4:6

Several weeks ago, I decided to designate Wednesdays as "Prayer Request Day" for my Facebook friends.  Of course, my friends and family are welcome to bring their concerns to me anytime, but I just felt the leading of the Lord to set aside this particular day of the week.  I've received requests of all kinds, mostly via private messages, and it's plain to see that there are all levels of concerns people have, from the most basic of needs to deeply hurting hearts.  The sweetest thing is that God cares about all of it! 

Even for devoted Christ-followers, prayer can be easy to take for granted for some, a mundane "chore" for others, or an untried mystery for still more.  On the other hand, there are many faithful prayer warriors who count it a blessing to spend time every day devoted to prayer.

It's not so much about saying "the right words" or how many minutes we spend on our knees, nor even whether or not we are on our knees at all.  While we do need to spend focused time in prayer, and praying on our knees is one way of showing reverence and surrender, God is more interested in what's on the inside of us when we talk to Him--our attitude, our willingness and desire to set aside our busyness for awhile to commune with Him (Mat. 6:5-13).  He made us to have fellowship with Him!  We can spend hours on our knees and never have a surrendered heart.  God wants our hearts, ladies!

So what exactly are we doing when we pray, anyway?

We are acknowledging that God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do.   How do we know who God is and what His promises are?  By reading and studying His very words in the only living book, the Bible.  Yes, His Word is living and powerful (Hebrews 4:12)!  We bring our concerns to God alone because He is ultimately the only One who can do anything about them.  But let's be careful not to spend our entire time with Him asking for things.  Why not begin by praising Him for who He is and for keeping His promises?  The Psalms are full of beautiful words to honor our God.  We can pray those words straight to His heart!

We are admitting our utter dependence on Him.  Let's face it:  Contrary to what some people will try to get us to believe, we know that we wouldn't even exist if it wasn't for God.  We would have nothing without Him.  Whether or not we approve of the circumstances He has allowed for our lives, the very air we breathe, every morsel of food we eat, every penny we spend or save is provided by His hand.  He knows what you need, dear ones!  He doesn't need to be told, yet He asks of us to lay our burdens at His feet.  We need to remember with reverence the Creator of the Universe and His position far above anyone or anything else.

We are trusting Him to do what He knows to be best for us.  Because of our faith in Jesus Christ, we can cry out to this same God we revere, calling Him "Abba Father" (Romans 8:15).  This is like calling God, "Daddy."  If you've been around children, you know that they ask for things expectantly, enthusiastically, no matter how many times they've heard the word "No" in the past.  Like a wise, loving parent, God listens with patience and then gives the appropriate answer (Luke 11:11-12).  Sometimes it's a "No."  Other times it will be a "Yes" or a "Wait awhile."  Always, it's the best answer for us, even when we don't see it that way, because God sees the whole picture and knows what we need better than we do.

We are blessing the lives of those for whom we pray.  God listens!  He hears!  Sometimes we don't even know what to say on behalf of someone else but the Holy Spirit intercedes for us (Rom. 8:26, 27).  Mighty things can happen when we lift each other up to the Almighty God.  Despite the pessimism of doubters, miracles still happen!  The Bible indicates that God is moved by our prayers.  Not that He needs them, but He does desire them.

Prayer is such a wonderful, powerful privilege when you think about what it really is.  The Creator of the entire universe, the One who spoke it into existence and holds it together, actually cares to fellowship with us!  He is pleased to have us come to Him no matter where or when.  Let's be sure to spend time with Him each day, my sisters, and let us not neglect to thank Him for His answers to our prayers!

Further Reading:

Matthew 6:25-34
Luke 11:5-18