Returning home

There is just  something about this time of year that makes home extra-special. The time change has many of us returning home from our work day in darkness, but if you're lucky enough to have someone waiting for you, the lights may be shining in the darkness, welcoming you back from a long, hard day.

I can remember walking up the street toward my home when I was a kid and to see the kitchen light shining in the darkness was always so comforting. I knew that my mom would be in the kitchen cooking up dinner and the house would be filled with the smells of something tasty. The house would also be warm and toasty, a nice change from the chilly autumn air. My family was there, the people who loved me the most and soon we would all be crowded around the kitchen table sharing the events of our day with one another.

As I drove up our driveway the other evening, the memories of my childhood popped into my mind and created a warm, cozy feeling. The lights were welcoming me home and although my mom wasn't in the kitchen cooking, my husband was busy preparing dinner and it smelled wonderful when I walked through the door. We spent the evening sharing the highlights and low points of our day. The feeling of being loved and cared for was the same as that of my childhood.

As a Christian, I've often imagined what it will be like when I leave this old world behind and enter the gates of Heaven. I expect it to be a homecoming of "epic proportions." The warm, cozy feelings I've had on this earth are just a preview of what awaits me there.

Jesus said that he was going to prepare a place for His disciples and that we would one day spend eternity with Him. 

I'm not sure what my heavenly dwelling will look like, but I know that when I arrive there, I'll just know that I've arrived home. I don't think we'll need lights to illuminate the darkness, the Bible says that we won't even need the sun because God himself will illuminate the Holy City. There will be plenty of loving people waiting to greet me and I'll be enveloped in a loving environment.

Thanksgiving was observed in homes across our nation in November. I'm sure that many of the gatherings were filled with happy reunions and loving conversation, but there were also many stress-filled family gatherings. Many folks who had no family to celebrate the day with or those who were estranged from their families. 

Not everyone has memories of homes filled with love and acceptance. There are many folks who have missed out on a welcome hug as they return home. If you know someone like that, include them in your own celebrations. If they turn down the invitation, fix them a plate and deliver it to them. Find a way to create a beautiful memory for them. Sometimes memories are all we need to make it through the day. 

Joyful, joyful we adore Thee

Joy is such a small little word, but it is an amazing word - the dictionary describes it this way: It is an emotion evoked by well-being, success or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires; a state of happiness or felicity. Other words to describe joy include delight, gaiety, bliss - the word joy is derived from the Latin word gaudia which is akin to the Greek word to rejoice.

As I ponder the word joy this third week of Advent, it seems that all those definitions fit with the plans that God had when He sent Jesus to earth. The life, death and resurrection of Christ has evoked in believers a sense of well-being; God himself must have experienced great joy when Christ agreed to come and live among mankind and willingly die for the sins of the world because reconciliation was what He had desired for mankind and we have great joy and can rejoice because of the great love that God has shown us in making a way for us to inherit eternal life. 

The birth of Christ is cause for rejoicing - it should give us a sense of complete joy.

The Bible is full of joy from the beginning to the end. In the Old Testament the Israelites would often shout for joy, sing with joy and hold joyful celebrations - the angels have been known to shout for joy and bring news of great joy, even the unborn can leap for joy and the trees of the field can sing for joy.

God can fill us with joy, clothe us with joy, anoint us with the oil of joy and crown us with everlasting joy. Joy can be found within a city and entire nations can be joyful.

However, just because we have been joyful doesn't mean that we will always stay joyful - the Bible also warns us that joy can come to an end, it can be replaced with panic, it can wither away. 

Is there any hope for us when we lose our joy? Yes, because the Bible also says that joy can be restored - we can bring joy to others and other Christians can be our joy. Joy can also overtake us when we least expect it!

Even trials can produce joy within us: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

My mom used to say that happiness was a state of mind, we could choose to be happy no matter what the circumstances in our lives and I believe that we can choose to be joyful no matter what! The Bible tells us to be joyful always - not just when things are going our way, but 24/7. We have a lot to be joyful about, sometimes we just need a reminder.

Peace, peace, wonderful peace

As we celebrate the second week of Advent the focus is on Peace. 

Peace is also a fruit of the Spirit which is available to all followers of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah prophesied the birth of the Messiah with these words.

"For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." Isaiah 9:6-7

Although Jesus is prophesied to be the Prince of Peace, He himself said that He did not come to bring peace.

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law – a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'

"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 10:32-39

He basically said that His teachings would turn unbelievers against those who believe - causing division. He also said that His followers would have to love Him more than anyone else. As believers in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He is our master and the one we will have to answer to for our actions. He should take first place in our hearts and receive all of our devotion.

The angels announced His birth with these words, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:14

Since we have accepted God's gift of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ, His favor is now resting on us and the peace we have within us is different from the peace that the world understands. The world sees peace as an absence of war, but the peace that we have through our belief in Christ Jesus is much more than just a truce or an agreement between people to bury the hatchet.

The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the believers in Philippi when two women in the church had some sort of disagreement, "And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

The peace that Jesus brought to earth defies understanding and can be accomplished only through Him. God sent Jesus to earth to reconcile mankind to Himself and that peace was accomplished through the blood of Jesus.

The peace of Christ is available to us but it is something that we must seek, we must pursue peace and then we are to let it rule in our hearts remembering that we (Christians) are all one body. When we let the Spirit of God prompt us to be obedient, the peace we receive from God flows through us like a river.

Growing in love...

I have recently spent some time reading God's word and what it has to say about the fruit of the Spirit. 

If you are a born-again believer of Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God is dwelling inside you. That is a fact, believers are filled with the Spirit, but not all believers walk in step with the Spirit. God has given us freewill and we can choose to stray from His plans for our lives, but when we listen to the still, small voice within and are obedient, God's Spirit will lead us along pathways that we never dreamed of traveling. 

I have written before about the fact that, as believers, we are to stay connected to the vine (Jesus), but did you know that as long as you stay connected, God will produce fruit in your life?

Love is one of the fruit that is produced and God's word has so much to say about love that I'm not sure I can cover it all in one blog. 

The dictionary definition of love refers to "a strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties." There are many types of love, but the love that I'm looking at today is "agape" love. It's an unselfish love, a love that is concerned for the good of others. It's the kind of love that God has for the world and all the people of the world. It is a perfect love that doesn't depend on what someone does or doesn't do, because God took care of our redemption for us on the cross. 

In scripture I read that God's love is faithful and unfailing; His love endures forever. He keeps His covenant of of love with those who love Him. His love is abounding, it's far-reaching, He fills the earth with it and loves His creation. He also disciplines those He loves and remembers our love for Him. He loves us, as believers, in the same manner that He loved Christ Jesus. His love has great depth. 

So what should our fruit of love look like? Jesus told His disciples to love God and love others. These were the two greatest commandments. 

We should love wisdom, discipline, our friends, our enemies, God's law, His salvation and His righteousness. 

Love should compel us to build others up and worship God. When we walk in God's ways, we will find ourselves loving like God loves. That should give us a reason to rejoice, the far-reaching, eternal love of God gives us a desire to love heaven, our eternal home. 

I also discovered that nothing can quench love and it can keep us from the pit of destruction. The love that God has for us is capable of quieting us, making us patient and kind and urging us to do everything in love.

This is one of the fruit that I often struggle with. Let's face it, some people are just harder to love than others, and yet, if we can remember that God's Spirit is living in us, then we can become instruments of His love. He will love others using us as a means to reflect that deep, abounding, eternal love to all those we meet. It's not about us and what we think or "feel," but our lives are about our Creator and His faithful love to all those He created. 

Jesus said that people would know that we are Christians by the love that we show. It may not come easy for us to show that love, but we are commanded to do it. 

I often use my time while waiting in line at a department or grocery store, just looking around at people. I'm trying to look at them through the eyes of God's love. Each person, young or old, tall or short, rich or poor, is created by God and has the potential to become a brother or sister in Christ. Maybe no one has ever prayed for them or maybe they are resisting God's gift of salvation. I can't know what is in the hearts of people, but God knows and God's word tells me that He doesn't want anyone to perish. The blood of Christ was shed for all people to receive eternal life. Maybe God just wants me to look at folks through His eyes of love and pray for those who haven't accepted His gift. 

I heard someone put Christianity this way - we are like the moon. The moon itself isn't a source of light, it can only reflect the sun. We are to be a reflection of God's Son in a dark world. Keeping in step with God's Spirit within us, can make us shine and illuminate the dark places where we walk. Walk in love this week and shine!

Are Your Prayers Too Small?

Something happened to me this week that made me take a closer look at my prayers. 

I have a hearing disability that seems to have gotten worse within the last few years. I wear hearing aids but they don't seem to be helping too much. The loving people at our church have been praying for me and one lady in particular says that the Lord has told her that He will restore my hearing. 

I have been struggling with that thought - doctors have told me that once your hearing is gone, there is no way to get it back. The loss is permanent and irreversible. I have asked my sister and prayer partner, Rhonda, to pray for me about this and she says that nothing is impossible for God. He can restore my hearing. 

As I pondered that thought, I decided to pray in color and take my focus off myself by praying for the needs of others. As I began to pray for other people, my prayers suddenly grew large. Instead of asking God to heal someone of the cancer they are enduring, I prayed for God to eradicate cancer completely. Instead of asking Him to help someone with poor eyesight, I instead asked Him to give them new eyes. He is, after all the creator and Jesus made the blind to see. He created a new hand for the man with the withered hand. 

I not only prayed for cancer to be eradicated, but also liver disease, heart disease and every type of disease I could think of. As I prayed for these things I realized that I have been limiting God. Jesus said we have not because we do not ask and God knows the motivation behind our asking. Are our prayers selfish or are they heart-filled? The Bible says that the prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective. 

Years ago the Holy Spirit placed in my heart a desire to pray for the lost people of the world. I use the Every Home For Christ world prayer map and each month I pray around the world, lifting up the nations and praying for my brothers and sisters who live there and those who do not yet know Jesus. I have done this for years, not really knowing the outcome of those prayers, but asking God to reveal Himself to those who do not know Him. I trust Him to do what He deems best. I'm just an intercessor.

Marsha Mundy praying during a National Day of Prayer
event in Brown County Ohio.

Tonight I asked myself, "What is the difference between praying for the lost people of the world and praying for God to eradicate cancer?" God is a huge God, He is the one who created heaven and earth and He is quite capable of giving people new eyes, new ears, a clean bill of health - whatever He chooses to do for them. 

We are living in a fallen world and Satan is working overtime trying to steal, kill and destroy - especially those who are in the body of Christ. I also know that God allows Satan to cause harm, (the book of Job is an example of what God allows) but Satan is still subject to God and if God chooses to stop Satan, He has the power to do so. I also know that God hears the prayers of His people and He knows why we are praying. 

When Daniel fasted and prayed for the nation of Israel to be released from captivity, an angel told him (21 days after he began to pray) that since the first day he prayed, God had sent him in response to Daniel's prayers but that he had met resistance from the prince of the Persian kingdom (or Satan). It took the angel Michael to come to the rescue and fend off the enemy attacks. (Daniel 10) Daniel's prayers were heartfelt and righteous - he was an intercessor for the land of Israel and Satan did not want his prayers answered. 

If you are praying "BIG" prayers and they haven't been answered, keep on praying and don't give up. The enemy will use many tactics to try to stop you from praying but God will hear your prayers and He will respond in His time using whatever means He chooses. 

My brothers and sisters, I urge you to pray "BIG!" I'm believing in God to restore my hearing and eradicate cancer. Give Him the biggest request you can think of and watch for miracles.

You are not alone

Have you ever been so tired that you just wanted to die? Recently I've had a number of days when exhaustion has taken its toll on me. On Aug. 19 I was experiencing extreme exhaustion and opened my Bible to find out what God's word says about being weary.

In reading 1 Kings 19:1-19 I found out that Elijah the prophet experienced exhaustion. He had just slain hundreds of prophets of Baal and proven the power and might of God to the people of Israel. When Jezebel heard what he had done, she vowed to kill him.

Here was a man of God, whose faith was unwavering in the face of danger - yet he began running for his life at her threat. Why? He was exhausted from his ministry. 

After going a day's journey into the desert alone he sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die.

"I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.

All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." He looked around and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. 1 Kings 19:4-6

How often do we feel like Elijah? As Christians, it gets tiresome battling the demons of this world day after day. Some days we fight until we have no strength left. Maybe we're not physically killing the prophets of Baal, but there are forces of evil all around us that we have to contend with on a daily basis. 

Notice how Elijah spoke with the Lord. He was honest with Him and confessed his hopelessness in the situation. I guess to him it felt like all his hard work had been for nothing. 

I've felt that way at times. There have been many days when I tried my very best to be a reflection of Christ but it seemed as though I failed miserably. 

What did God do for Elijah when he cried out in frustration? He sent an angel to strengthen his physical body with food, but that wasn't all the Lord did for his servant Elijah.

The angel came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you." So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled 40 days and 40 nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 1 Kings 19:10

When we're tired and ready to throw in the towel, we can look at Elijah as our mentor. Just eating the food offered to him gave him the strength to travel for 40 days and 40 nights. His journey wasn't over once he was strengthened, it was only beginning. As we read the word of God and continue on our journey with God we may find ourselves in a place near to the heart of God, but we may not get to rest until we arrive there. 

Elijah told the Lord that he had been zealous for God. He lamented that the Israelites had rejected God's covenant, broken down God's altars and put God's prophets to death.

"I'm the only one left and now they are trying to kill me, too," said Elijah.

Do you ever feel like you're the only one being obedient to God? Does it ever seem to you that you're facing life's problems alone? Take heart ...God hears your cries for help, He knows what you need to regain your strength and if He has to, He'll send an angel to minister to your needs.

This next passage is one of my favorites, I hope you'll hear the voice of God like Elijah did as you read this.

The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by."

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 1 Kings 19:11-13

Elijah repeated his lament from earlier and was reminded by God that there were 7,000 in Israel who had not bowed down to Baal. He was not alone. Not only was he not alone, but God was sending him to meet Elisha, who had been chosen by God to become his right-hand man. 

God knew that Elijah was disheartened, He knew that Elijah's faith was strong, but He also knew that Elijah was human and needed encouragement and someone to come along side him as a friend. God was not through with Elijah, even though Elijah thought he'd done all he could. 

As long as we are on this earth, there is work we can do for the Lord. When we feel exhausted, we can ask for His help. Just as God helped Elijah prepare for future ministry, He'll help us with our ministries. 

Listen for the gentle whisper and go forward in God's care and His grace. 

Fear the Lord

We live in fearful times. With an uncertain economic future, government upheavals, job losses, health issues and lack of medical care, it seems that each day there is more to be concerned about.

I opened my Bible to the concordance to find out what God's Word says about fear and I was surprised at what I discovered.

There are numerous references to the fact that we should fear God. After Moses was given the 10 commandments, God gave him warnings about the importance of keeping His commands. 

Moses told the people, "Fear the Lord your God, serve Him only and take your oaths in His name." Deuteronomy 6:13

Moses repeated that advice again in Deuteronomy 10:12-13. "And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good."

Before Moses' death, he left the people with these words. "Assemble the people - men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns - so they can listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law." Deuteronomy 31:12

A fear of the God was needed to serve Him and from what Moses said, it wasn't something that was naturally ingrained in people, but something that was learned. The people needed to first hear the law or commandments and then they would learn to fear God.

As I think about those who are evil and shun God, I realize that most of them either have never heard God's commands or have made a conscious effort to defy those commands. Evil people have no fear of God, some do not believe that He exists and others don't believe that He is capable of harming them.

The word states that a fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, it adds length to life, it is the fountain of life, it teaches wisdom, it avoids evil, it leads to life, and it prompts us to hate evil.

In a nutshell, having a healthy fear of God is a wonderful thing. Isaiah 11:2-3 had this to say about the root of Jesse (which was a prophecy about the coming Messiah). "The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him - the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord - and he will delight in the fear of the Lord."

Yes, Jesus delighted in the fear of the Lord. He knew just how powerful, almighty, righteous and just the God of heaven and earth really is. He knew that to refuse to be obedient to God would be futile. 

God had a purpose and a plan for his life and it was necessary for the good of all mankind. 

Jesus spoke about this fear to a crowd of thousands in Luke's gospel. 

"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him." Luke 12:4-5

I believe that if we have a healthy fear of God, our own fears will dissipate because our trust is in Him. 

Hear these words of comfort from the scriptures about our earthly fears:

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff they comfort me.

Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 91:5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. (This verse tells us that day or night, through terror, disease and famine - we, who have put our trust in the Lord, have nothing to fear).

God's word says that the fear of man is a snare, but that God is with us and He will deliver us from all our fears. 

When we give our hearts to God, we become His precious children and He will take care of us - it's as simple as that. Give your fears to God and let Him vindicate you.

I leave you with these words from 1 John 4:18. "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

God has so much love for you and I and He will drive away the fears because of that great love!