WHAT IT MEANS TO GLORIFY GOD

For this post I would like to speak on “what it means to Glorify God”   The Merriam Webster dictionary defines the word Glorify as to make glorious by bestowing honor, praise, or admiration b: to elevate to celestial glory.

The Strong’s concordance defines Glorify as to ascribe weight by recognizing real substance (value).  It continues to say that "Glorifying God" means valuing Him for who He really is.  
As a Christian we do not have much of a choice as we are commanded to Glorify God.
Psalm 29:1–2 - Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, Give unto the Lord Glory and strength.  Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”

We were created not for ourselves, but instead we were created by God for God.  In Proverbs 16:4 we read- The LORD hath made all [things] for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

When we are called to Glorify God that means we should recognize and value Him for who He really is.  As the heavens declare the Glory of God (Ps. 19:1) so should we.

I read a blog by John Piper, where he talks about a telescopic magnification of God versus a microscopic magnification.  Mr. Piper in explaining the difference between the two says that a microscope makes a small thing look bigger than it is, while a telescope makes a big thing to look as big as it really is.  In other words we are not trying to make God bigger that He really is, instead we want Him to look as big as He really is.

How can we Glorify God?- the bible says in everything we do, in our role as a mother, when we walk, talk, eat, play, or drive.  We should Glorify Him whether we are being seen or not.  We should Glorify Him when things are going good or when things are not going good.  We should Glorify Him whether we are happy or sad. We also Glorify God when we give Him Praise.  Psalm 50:23 says-Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth [his] conversation [aright] will I shew the salvation of God.

Some other ways in which we are told to Glorify God- are In our body and spirit (I Cor. 6:20), through our daily life (Mt. 5:16) and in our suffering (1 Peter 4:16).

When we glorify God we are merely reflecting or displaying what He already is. We are not adding to Him, His glory is complete.  As mothers we tend to see our role as mundane or maybe not very important, but remember that the way in which we execute your duties is a reflection of God.  From my experience of God, He does all things well and so should you and I. From my experience God is faithful, so should you and I be with what we are called to do.  Think of all His other attributes and see if you are correctly reflecting them.

In His Service,

Vilma

EVIDENCED-BASED PRACTICE (Part II)

As a reminder our supporting text for last and this blog is I Cor. 10:13: No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.I would like us to look more closely at the first sentence in this verse: “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man”.  This in itself is telling you that whatever you are going through is something that is natural or likely or expected to happen to us.  What you are going through is not unusual, neither is it something reserved for a super human or an angel.  As this verse continues to say: - And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  Yes the most important thing to remember is that -God is faithful- - “an evidence of his nature comes into play- “faithfulness.”  What is He faithful about?  He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  So even if it looks like you are going under, you won’t.  God will step in and uphold you so you keep standing. This is what Paul meant when he continued to say: But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.Let us listen to Paul as he recounted his own story - II Cor. 12:8-9: For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Do you understand?  God’s Grace is sufficient!  In other words, God has already given to you what you need to be successful in life.
There are multiple individuals who have been through what you are perhaps dealing with and we see the evidence that they have overcome.  There was a mother just like you, who also had to raise her children with no father and minimal resources, today she is standing triumphant a recipient of God’s grace.
There is another mother who somewhere along the way- lost her job-had to be on public assistant, she survived, because she was a recipient of God’s grace today she has a job and children are grown and doing well
There is a mother: who felt left out and inadequate in her skills of motherhood, who lived from hand to mouth, many days having barely enough to make a decent meal and was not qualified for any help, but she made it by God’s grace.  Yes there is a mother who dealt with a child who was bullied and laughed at in school.  There is a mother whose child was incarcerated- whether for drugs, assault, robbery or murder or from being framed.  There is a mother whose child or children dropped out of school, refused to go to college, strung out on drugs; there is a mother whose child disrespected her, who went around getting girls pregnant and not assuming responsibility for these children and as the grandmother was left to pick up the pieces, but today she is still standing by God’s Grace.
Yes there is a mother somewhere whose child has turned to an alternative lifestyle, yes there is a mother who has had the experience of their child battling with a serious illness, in and out of the hospital and does not know what it is to have a normal life.  Oh yes there is a mother who has a child who she cares for daily and He is unable to communicate with her, have normal conversations with her.  Oh yes somewhere out there is another mother who have suffered the sudden loss of a child or two and with it her hopes and dreams for them, but she overcame, somewhat battered but is still standing.  These individuals survived by the Grace of God.  So will you, so will I.
So as I tell you I also tell myself God‘s grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in yours and my weakness.  I want us to remember that He is a faithful, Immutable and loving God who wants to see you and I prosper. 
My charge to you and I today- is be encouraged, keep on PUSHING and rely on the evidence that we know works- God is Faithful.

In His Service,

Vilma

EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE (part I)

In the medical field we often talk about evidence based-practice which means that we utilize findings from research to enhance our practice.  In essence if research shows that a particular method works better, then we go with that particular finding and if it shows it no longer works then we no longer practice in that manner.

There is a whole process that needs to take place when research is conducted.  Usually a person or group has a theory (Concept, Notion, philosophy, Model, belief) about something and sets out to prove or disprove their theory.  The researcher first presents their research proposal or intention to a special board, with details of how they will recruit participants, what will be done with participants and how participants will benefit from the research.  In other words the researcher has to show that the participants will not be harmed by them participating in the research in order to get permission to do their research.  At the end of the research, the results obtained are looked at to see if they are significant according what researchers call the confidence interval.  If significant, the results are disseminated for use.  Sometimes the results cannot be universally applied depending on limitations with the sample.  One example could be that all the participants in the sample were female and from one area, then the argument could be that the results cannot be utilized with males on a whole or for that matter to females outside of that particular area.  There are other times when another researcher comes along and will try to conduct a similar research to see if they will come up with similar results.  The bottom line is that most time research findings are accepted as valid and put into practice. 

    In the Christian arena we tend not to pursue evidence-based practice.  It would appear that we prefer to guess and try to find the answer to situations we face the hard way.  However we serve a God who did not have to do the research to prove that a particular thing works, He knows it does and has placed the evidence in a manual called the Bible.  First we believe what He says because there is evidence concerning His character/nature.  Phrases and words such as “not a man that He should lie” Immutable- unchanging; Omniscient: All knowing: Omnipresent- everywhere; and Omnipotent: All powerful. We find other evidence -based words like “our father”, friend, heir, son, grace and Mercy.  We believe the evidence because of “who He is”

 We find other words and phrases like “gave His only begotten son, sacrificial love, ‘never leave or forsake” and call and I will answer, healer, provider, and comforter.  We believe the evidence based not only on “who He is” but also on “What He has done” and “will do”.
We find numerous accounts in the bible of individuals who have been recipients of God’s grace and mercy.  Individuals like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Joseph, David, Daniel, Mary Magdalene, the woman at the well, the woman caught in adultery, and the woman with the issue of blood to name a few.  From these accounts we get the evidence of his faithfulness, kindness, and his ability to forgive and to heal.  From this we are reminded of words like Faith, Trust, and Hope, methods that we need, so we can utilize the evidence we have before us.

One outstanding evidence can be found in I Corinthians 10:13 tell us -No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.I want you to understand that whatever you may be going through with your children or just in your own personal state that may be affecting your ability to parent, that it is not new nor is it an uncommon occurrence.  Someone else has been at the position that you are in and have survived by the Grace of God and if you doubt me look at the evidence in I Cor. 10:13

We need to stop operating on a whim or a feeling and instead we need to go back to the evidence of God’s word and utilize it.  As we look at our role as a mother and as we PUSH for our children remember He will not give you more that you can bear.

Stay tuned for my conclusion of this on next week-Part II
In His Service,

Vilma

Building a Memorial to the Lord

Today is celebrated in the USA as “memorial day”   Some use this day to go out and to shop and get all the bargains they can, others see it as a day to catch up on their house work and get some rest, and then their or others for who this day is sacred as they remember those men and women who lost their lives fighting for their country. I do believe that there may still be some of us who will also use this day to remember our loved ones who have passed away but not necessarily as a result of war.  

 The word memorial as defined by the Unger’s bible dictionary means -that by which the memory of any person or thing is preserved.  In both the Old and the New Testament we find many occasions for memorials.  The feast of the Passover is a memorial of God sparing the firstborn of the Israelites while slaying the firstborn of the Egyptians (Exodus 12:14).  The heap of stones left in the bed of the Jordon was a memorial of the Israelites crossing it (Joshua 4:7).  The two engraved stones upon the shoulder pieces of the high priest’s ephod were memorial stones for the sons of Israel (Exodus 28:12).  Aaron would then bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders as a memorial.  
A memorial was also seen as a record as stated in Exodus 17: 13-14 when Joshua defeated the Amalekite the LORD told Moses, write it as a memorial in a book, and rehearse [it] in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.
This is also recorded in Malachi 3:16- Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard [it], and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.  
The act of Mary in anointing the feet of Jesus was to be spoken of in “memory of her” – Mat 26:13  Verily I say unto you, Where so ever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, [there] shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

On this Memorial Day, I would like you to reflect on the things that God has done for you and your family, situations that He has delivered you and your family from and make a record of it.  You can choose to hang it on the wall in a special area of your home, or have it a special book.  Whatever method you choose, be sure that your children will be able to read it and remember what God did for you and them.  You may not build a memorial with stones, but you can dedicate a corner in your home as an area where you spend time before God.  An area where your children will look at and know that it is special, will know that is where my Mother spends time with God, a place which they will respect as being sacred.  Memorials are not just for those people and situations mentioned in the Bible, it is just as relevant for us today.  

In His Service,

Vilma

The Pouring Out of His Spirit

For this post I would like to focus our attention on one of the promises of God found in Joel 2:28

And it shall come to pass afterward, [that] I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions

God has not only promised outward blessing, but he has also promised extraordinary inward spiritual blessings.  God has promised that in the Last days He will pour out His Spirit upon all flesh.  It is no longer about drops of the Spirit or a rationing as perhaps in the O.T. instead under the new covenant it is more of a “pouring”.
The Hebrew translation of the word “pour” means to anoint, cover, melt, or offer.  

The word flesh on the other hand is translated to mean – body/person.  When Joel talks about All flesh it is a reminder us that it will not be a “chosen or privileged few” such as the Judges and prophets of the Old Testament, but instead on everyone of various backgrounds or social standing.  
Isaiah 44:3 also speaks about this pouring of the Spirit.  For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring
In Acts 2 we see where the Holy Spirit was poured out on the apostles on the day of Pentecost. Peter in explaining that they were not drunk with wine as some thought, but instead a fulfillment of what the prophet Joel spoke of.
Acts 2:16:17 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

The outpouring of the Spirit will result in our daughters prophesying, our old men dreaming and our young men having visions.  There will be no distinction according to our sex or our age.  This is reassuring to me, what about you? So many times we come across people in the body of Christ who will want to control this pouring of the Spirit by trying to say what a female in the body of Christ can and cannot do versus her male counterpart.  There are also those who will want to silence our youth or push our older Christians aside as not being relevant.  
We need to understand that it is not about them, instead it is about what the Holy Spirit is able to accomplish through them.  We cannot limit the extent to which the Holy Spirit should function.

Let us thank God that He has poured out his spirit upon our children, for some it may not seem like it, but just come into agreement with what God has done.  Continue to teach and demonstrate the word of God and wait for the manifestation to take place and when we see it remember do not be the one to shut it down but instead encourage and support them as God reveals to you.

In His Service,

Vilma

TRUSTING IN THE LORD

Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

These are two of my many favorite verses in the bible, but over the last few weeks they seem to have taken on a more personal meaning in my life.  They were not just merely words that I simply repeat, but instead they are words that I had to put into action.  
There are some key words in these verses that I would like to define by looking at the Hebrew translation.
Trust:  means to be confident or sure, to be bold or to hope.
Heart:  is widely used for the feelings, the will and even the intellect, likewise for the center of anything.
Lean: To support one’s self- , lie, rely, rest- oneself
Acknowledge: To ascertain by seeing, recognition
Direct: to be straight or even, to be right
Paths: a well-trodden road
Solomon was one of the wisest persons that ever lived, and the book of Proverbs can be seen as pearls of wisdom.  Solomon is encouraging us not to trust in self, or others but instead to trust in the Lord.  To capture the essence of what Solomon was saying I would rewrite these verses as: Have confidence or hope in the lord, with all your will and intellect and do not try to rely on your understanding of things.  Instead in everything recognize who the Lord is and He will put you on the well- trodden road.
So many times we try to explain things that happen in our lives according to our simple or natural way of thinking, which most times are so limited and flawed.  We try to make conclusions from what we can see forgetting that what we see is only a snap shot of a bigger picture that far exceeds our range of vision.  
At the moment I am at the point where I truly have to “put my money where my mouth is”.  I cannot understand why a 28 year old young man, gainfully employed, owns his own home, a car, just received a full scholarship to one of the best schools in the country, just fallen in love, having no physical complaints went to bed one night and never woke up.  I do not understand, why a couple suddenly loses there only two children in a horrible accident, not even being able to recover their bodies.
 I do not know about you, but it just does not make sense in my understanding.  This is where I have to have the confidence that God knows sees and understand things that I do not know, see or can even begin to understand.  This is where “In all thy ways” became much clearer to me.  It is not just depending on God to have the understanding in some but in all things, big or small.  The picture of a person having to take a journey blind-folded and who must rely on being led by the hand in order to get to his destination suddenly pops in mind.  That person must trust the one who is leading him and is seeing, and just follow closely.  It is futile to ask why are you turning this way versus that way, because of course with blindfolds on they cannot see what lies ahead.

This is the time when I have to remind myself not only of God’s character but also of his track record.  So because I know that He is faithful, keeps His word, is not a man that He should lie, that He knows the plans He has for me and that he wants the best for me, and that He is a loving father that He loves me unconditionally.  Because I know that He will never leave me nor forsake me that He will turn to good what the enemy meant for bad, and that He never changes, I have made up my mind that I will continue to trust Him.

So whatever situation you are going through, God is faithful and is able to bring you through it. Is it your marriage, a bitter divorce, loss of your home from a fire or foreclosure, disappointment in people, betrayal, loss of a job through downsizing, rebellious children, sudden death of a relative? God is Faithful and He has a way of turning things around so that He will get the Glory and shame the Devil. God foreknew that these situations would come and although they caught us by surprise, God was prepared and already has a plan in place to work these situations out for our good.

So as bad as it seems and as painful as it gets Like I am doing at the moment, TRUST Him with all your heart, let Him direct your paths ones that have been well trodden, He has been down them others also have been down them, so can you.  Trust Him and watch Him turn our Pain into Praise, our Confusion to Peace, our Sadness to Joy and our Mourning to Dancing

In His Service,

Vilma

Discerning the Times and Seasons: Part 3

As promised we will conclude our discourse on “Discerning the Times and the Seasons”.  The question was asked last week- as to who were the sons of Issachar.  Before I answer this question, let us look at who Issachar was.  Issachar was one of the sons of Leah , who was married to Jacob- the one he really did not like.  Let’s look in the book of Genesis.

Genesis 30: 20 - And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.
The Hebrew translation of the name Issachar is “he will bring a reward, man for hire”
Further along in Genesis we are told who the sons of Issachar were by name:
Genesis 46: 13 And the sons of Issachar; Tola, and Phuvah, and Job, and Shimron. 
Why are the sons of Issachar so important when we talk about discerning the times and the seasons?  

I Chron. 12: 32: And of the children of Issachar, [which were men] that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them [were] two hundred; and all their brethren [were] at their commandment.

These men were cognizant of what was happening so at the right time they knew exactly what Israel needed to do when it came to Saul’s successor.  Saul was dead and it was time for David to be crowned king, however the tribe of Benjamin had their own idea of who should be successor.  The sons of Issachar and other leaders from the tribe of Issachar knew that it was time to become part of David’s army to elevate David to the throne of Israel.
It was obvious to these men that Saul had not been a good king and keeping the kingship in the tribe of Benjamin would not be wise.  David by virtue of his character and his ability was definitely the real leader.  He was the type of king Israel needed during the turbulent times they were undergoing.  The sons of Issachar knew what God had said about the scepter coming out of the tribe of Judah.  David was from the tribe of Judah and was more than qualified to be the next king.  The sons of Issachar knew exactly what to do.  They knew that all of the tribes should get together and crown David as the new King of Israel.  What would have happened if these men had not stepped up?
Like the sons of Issachar as leaders, we need to recognize the time and season and know how to choose the right leader in your church, for your country or in your organization.  In order for leaders to be effective it is critical that they understand the time. 

What is happening around you that you are tolerating knowing full well that this is not what God requires?  We must apply the truth of God’s word to our everyday life and culture.  The church should be in a position where they are consulted when it comes to appointing leadership, why because we should have the discernment.

Have you stayed too long at a place, in a job, in a relationship, at a church, an environment not knowing that what you are holding onto is dead and that you need to move on. The time has come to move away from the palace of Saul, and if God has ordained it , it is much better to be in the Cave with David. A new season has arrived and you are not seeing it. Stop trying to plant corn in the winter time or sleep while it is day.

How can we apply the truth of Scripture in a meaningful way to our generation?  Can’t you see the war that is being waged against the truth?  Can you hear how distorted some people relate God’s word so that it makes them feel comfortable in the things that they are doing that the Bible speaks against?  We must arise and speak the truth.  We are in a time when truth has no relevance any more. When Christ is not honored or sought after or presented as the Christ. Understanding the time was not only for the sons of Issachar but it is for us as well.

In order to understand the times and the seasons we need to be consistently in the word of God.  In addition we need to pray and ask God for a revelation of His truths.  We need to ask God for discernment to know when to act. We do not want to miss the opportunity.

I pray that as mothers we will become like the sons of Issachar.

In His Service

Vilma