Sherri Evans

Sherri Evans

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Treating the Foot-in-Mouth Disorder


 

   

Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them.   Prov. 29:20 (NIV)

 

Ah, the foot-in-mouth syndrome. A pesky disorder,  with a decidedly unpleasant outcome.  Some of us seem more susceptible to suffer from it, but truthfully, we all have the potential to blurt out words inadvisably.

What can we do to avert the plight of speaking hastily?  The Bible is full of advice and teaching on the subject of tongue.  The Word of God acknowledges that it is difficult to "tame." So how do we, mere mortals, learn to keep our mouths under control?

The most obvious answer is that we must be people of the Word.  We must know what the Word says, and what it says we should say!  Or not say.  We have to be yielded to the Holy Spirit so that when we start down a slippery slope, we will hear Him crying out, "Close your mouth, avoid disaster!" 

Secondly, we must learn to run everything through a filter.  Are our words "seasoned with salt that the hearer may be uplifted?" (Col. 4:6, paraphrased.)  If not, we must swallow our words- hard- and keep them to ourselves. When we think wrong thoughts, we are wise to avoid speaking them aloud.  Internal dialogue only requires repentance to God.  External dialogue requires repentance to God and others.

Sometimes, perhaps the best strategy is to hold our tongue entirely.  There is great anointing in holding our peace, and it enables us to hold on to our peace.

I find that the more  eeway I allow my flesh in general, the more latitude my tongue seems to take on its own.  Angry?  Bitter?  Full of unforgivness?  Be careful! You are likely to spring a leak via the pressure valve of the mouth.

O, God, what can I say?  I fail you over and over again.  Help me, Lord to have a heart filled with light and a mouth full of grace.    In Jesus' Name.  Amen.
 

Monday, December 30, 2013

Tending the Embers






2 Tim 1:6


 

6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

NKJV

 

Have you ever been good at something? Really good? Like a sport, piano, singing, fishing, art?  If so, have you ever taken time off from doing it and went back to it?  Did you find that your skill had become rusty and your body less able to perform at the same capacity?  The saying "use it or lose it" holds true in many areas of life.  No matter how good we were in the past, we have to "steward" our gifts, talents and abilities.  This is only done as we take the time needed to keep our skills and endurance up.

 

This is no less true in the things of the Spirit.  Prayer warriors who do not pray, just become pew-sitters.  Teachers and preachers who do not dig deeply and feed in the Word of God, become dry, dusty and thimble-deep.  People with the gift of wisdom or knowledge, who fail to flow in the Spirit, become dull and lose the "edge" that it takes to hear God's voice and be used effectively to help others.

 

Why do we let our spiritual gifts go unused and underdeveloped?   Possibly for the same reason we do more carnal giftings.  We become busy; we get bored, discouraged or hurt.  We get our eyes off of the prize and became distracted by things that are not ours to pursue.

 

When God gives us  gifts and abilities, it is not an unconditional endowment.  Just like the story of the talents in our Bible, those who are faithful, are given more and bear more fruit. Those who hide their talents or neglect them do not receive the same level of favor or blessings from the Lord. 

 

Talking to others in the ministry (and in my own experience) it is easy to see that the church (universal) is filled with called and gifted people who are choosing not to use their gifts.  Or perhaps they are choosing to only use them minimally.  People who adore children are choosing to  volunteer in city league sports, but not at church.  People who are gifted musically, choose to only sing or play at special holiday events.  People gifted in administration and generosity, use their gifts vocationally, but not in the church.  When God gifts us, in many ways we can dually use those gifts in everyday life and ministry.  For instance, a person with a strong teaching gift may not only teach Sunday School, but be an instructor on their secular  job. A person with an administration gift may serve on the church finance committee as well as manage a corporation.

 

What has the Lord gifted you in?  Are you using your talents, or are you choosing to "shelf" them instead?  Let me encourage you to "fan into  flame" the gift that God gave you.  Do not let the embers die out!  Tend your gift develop your gift.  Not only will you find yourself unashamed when our Master returns, but others will be blessed by your faithfulness.

  Dear Lord, show me the areas that you have entrusted gifts and talents to me.   Forgive me for selfishly choosing to use them at my own desire or discretion.   Restore my zeal and eagerness to serve you in the areas you have gifted me.   In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 



 

 

 

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Evicted



 

    

Luke 2:1-7

 

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife,* who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

NKJV

 

The birth of a King!  The long-awaited Messiah! Could there be a greater event to celebrate?  And yet, we see in Scripture that on that first Christmas, when Christ was born, there was nowhere for Jesus to sleep.  Nowhere for His mother to give birth in comfort and with dignity. Why?  Because the people did not have room for him.  They were full in occupancy.  Full of other people.  Full of other things.

As I review this past year, I am ashamed to confess, that some days my days were too full. Too full to make it about Jesus.  Too full to let Him have total control, or a place of honor.  Sadly, there were many days that I crammed Him into the "cracks and crevices" of my life.  You know, where I had room...

Somehow we must learn a way to put Jesus at the center of our hearts and lives, and allow everything else to be tucked around this true foundation.  The night He was born, the innkeepers missed an awesome opportunity to host the birth of their deliverer.  He was not being ugly.  He was just being an innkeeper- renting out his rooms and collecting the fare.  But what if he had been like Simeon or Anna in the temple?  They had been waiting and praying for Messiah.  And when he came to be dedicated in the temple, they were led by the Holy Spirit to lay eyes and hands on their long-awaited consolation!  Jesus is no respecter of persons.  The innkeeper could have had the same knowing, the same direction.  If he had sought the Lord.

But by the Father's design and foreknowledge, Jesus was born in a lowly stable to be the people's Messiah.  Lord of the common man.  Lord of the down and out person.  Over two thousand years later, the conundrum remains.  Are all of the rooms of my heart full?  Is there any room for one more?  ONE more?  If not, the time has come to carry out some evictions.  It is time to clean out some rooms and prepare my heart for the One who will always make room for me!

Dear Lord, thank you for coming.  Thank you for being born to set me free.  Help me to keep you at the heart of my Christmas and every other day of my life.  In Jesus' Name. Amen.
 

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Peace in the Manger


 

 

Luke 2:10-14

 

10 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 "Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

NKJV

 

The  news of Christ's birth is the most blessed news ever told.  (The one exception that is even better was the good news that He had risen from the dead!)  We have heard the familiar declaration, "Peace, goodwill to men," for so many years that we have failed to absorb the deep truth  that was embedded in those words...
I am spending Christmas Eve at Laced with Grace.   Please click on the link below to join  me for the conclusion of today's devotional.


http://lacedwithgrace.com/

Monday, December 23, 2013

Christmas Miracles: Miracle Confirmation


    

Luke 1:39-45

 

Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord."

NKJV

 

After the angel's visit, Mary left quickly to go to her cousin, Elizabeth.  Thanks to the announcement of the angel, Mary knew that the Lord had performed a miracle in the life of someone  else that she knew.  How merciful God is to give us the confirmation that we need when He calls us to do something bigger than ourselves.

The Bible records that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt and she was filled with the Holy Spirit and began to prophesy about the Christ's birth.  Until the birth of Christ, people were not filled with the Spirit continually, but rather, with occasional dispensations for specific purposes. This is a rare time that a woman was filled and the only time I can recall that an unborn baby is touched by the Holy Spirit.  This is indeed a special circumstance, a miracle of the power of God as the most pivotal point in  history, up to this time, unfolds.

 In verse 4,  Elizabeth confirms that Mary is carrying the Messiah. I know this verse must have brought such encouragement to sweet, innocent, Mary.  Likely she would encounter many people during her pregnancy who would question her virtue and the circumstances surrounding her pregnancy.  I love that the Lord cares not only about His will coming to pass, but also about the vessels who are carrying out His will on Earth.

 I love verse 45, because God is using Elizabeth to commend and further encourage Mary's faith .  Here is the element of belief. Elizabeth acknowledges the faith of Mary.  She discerns by the Spirit of God that Mary has believed the angel's proclamation and is walking in faith concerning God's purpose for her life. 

The story of Christmas is full of so many miracles. The miracle of the forerunner. The miracle of the virgin birth.  The miracle confirmation brought to Elizabeth through Mary. There are many other miracles that occurred as well.  God is a supernatural God.  Everything He does is above our understanding and filled with His supernatural essence.   When He allows us to participate in His plan, His resources  are without limit.  We can trust in Him.  He has it under control.

Dear Lord, thank you for walking through life with us.  Thank you for the encouragement and confirmation you bring to us.  Help me to be a person of great faith as Mary was.   In Jesus' Name.  Amen.
 

Friday, December 20, 2013

Christmas Miracles: The Virgin Birth






Christmas Miracles:  The Virgin Birth    

 

Luke 1:26-39

 

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"* 

29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus . 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."

34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"

35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible."

38 Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

 

NKJV

Six months  after Elizabeth has conceived the miracle forerunner of the Christ, an angel appears also to Mary. Up to this point I cannot recall many, if  any, angel appearances to females.  His appearance and words troubled Mary's  heart but the angel offered great reassurance.   Verses 30-33 announce that Jesus will be the son of God, the promised Messiah, with an eternal kingdom.  But Mary is still stuck on point number 1, the virgin birth.  We often lose heart at the physical improbability, if not impossibility of  what we need from God.

I wonder how many times we fail to see what God is doing,  because we cannot see past our own limitations.  Mary is still thinking, there is no way I can have a baby!   Rather than,   "You are kidding?  I am going to birth Messiah??????"

God was more gracious with Mary than He was with Zechariah, who was struck mute by the angel for his unbelief..  He had more reason to believe and understand than she did.  Surely he had heard the story of Sarah, Rebecca and Hannah.  Miracles births to barren couples was not unheard of.  But a birth to a virgin?  There was no prerequisite for that!!! Nor any  sequel, I might add.  This is a one-time event.  The angel explained to her how that the child would be a miracle of the overshadowing God.  But he goes on to offer her real, tangible,  with-skin-on support and confirmation.  The angel also declares to her about the miracle birth of Elizabeth and her baby, John.  Why?   How?  "Because nothing is impossible with God!"  This gives Mary another human being to offer confirmation and support for the incredible destiny the Lord had for her.

So far, we have two extraordinary angelic appearances with two proclamations of miraculous birth.  We have the miracle of biology  when Elizabeth is found to be pregnant with John.  Then the miracle of the virgin birth.  Mary's response is a beautiful pattern for us today.  Verse 38:  "I am the Lord's  servant may it be to me as you have said."  Mary evidently was given a miracle gift of faith.  She was a woman of great submission, trust  and faith.

 
What are some  things the Lord has spoken to you?  In your heart?  In His Word?  Are you having trouble believing?  Let Mary's account stir you to believe beyond what you see  and to reverence the Lord's will.

Dear Lord, I believe.  But help me overcome my unbelief.  Remove the mixture from my heart.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

The Miracles of Christmas: The Miracle of the Forerunner



 


    

Luke 1:8-17

 

So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,'* and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

NKJV

This  time of year is all about miracles.  We remember the miracle of Christ's birth.   We reminisce about all of the supernatural events that conspired to create the whole Christmas story.  We watch movies  about Christmas magic.  Plot after plot emerges where people are hopeless, but then, magically their needs are  met; their family makes it home; or they receive just the present that their heart desires.  Christmas inspires the imagination  of  other-worldly activity.

I personally  have never been a fan of magic.  We don't  talk about magic at our house, and we downplay magical thinking.  But it does strikes a chord within me- the world wants to believe in something supernatural.  The world seeks to find  search for some  special  reason or force this time of year.   I believe it is because Christmas is such a miraculous event and people  try to quantify it in other ways.  But nothing that the world contrives can ever compare  to the sheer divine nature of the Christmas story.

We always talk about the miracle of the virgin birth.  And well we should.  It is essential to the truth of Jesus' birth, but there were so many other miracles that took place.  I want to review some of them tonight in the hopes that you will be inspired to believe God for the miraculous in your life situations.

God's plan is always  more intricate than we can imagine.  We tend to look at the birth of Christ in seclusion, but God worked  other miracles that brought his birth into being.  One such miracle is that of John the Baptist.  In this passage we see a Godly man and woman- Zechariah and Elizabeth.  This man was a priest.  A devout man with a heart for God, married to a devout woman who also had a heart for God.  These two were upright in God's sight; observing all of the Lord's  commands and regulations blamelessly.  That alone is a miracle.  It was very difficult before the grace dispensation to fulfill the requirements of the law,  but these two did. But although  they were both  righteous in God's eyes,  He had not granted them the one thing that they desired:   a child of their own.   In their day for a woman to be barren was a huge disgrace and often interpreted as a sign  that God was not pleased with her in some way.

From their account in the Christmas story we realize that their disgrace  was  not God's rejection.  Rather it was God's favor.  Delayed. The Lord  had a plan for them all along. It just wasn't His perfect timing yet.

Can you imagine Zechariah's surprise when the angel appeared to him.   His fear? Who knows how many times he had been in the same place, but never had it seen  an angel standing by the altar of incense!  That is how God works!  He shows up suddenly!  Unexpectedly!  Right as we are in the middle of our day to day life.  The news that the angel brought was unbelievable.  In his old age, a baby?  Even though he was a righteous man, even though he had seen a supernatural manifestation of an angel, his faith would not allow for the miracle that Gabriel promised.  His prior experience left him no context for this new event.  So he dismissed it.

Can you relate to that?  We read this account and see the whole thing laid out from start to finish.  But we forget the folks starring in this real-life drama cannot see  past their own nose.  God has a way of stretching our faith as He  brings about His promise.  We like to explain away and excuse  our doubt, and we forget that it is an offense to the Almighty God.  So much so, that Zechariah was struck mute until after  his son was born.  That is the second miracle we see in this  account.  Not necessarily a happy miracle, but it is an event where the supernatural of God overrode the general laws of nature.

Dear Lord, thank you that you bless the faithful.  Help me to take you at your Word and believe  what You have spoken in my life.  Thank You for the miracles of Christmas that inspire me still today.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.
 

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

The Birth Announcement



 

    

Baby Jesus in the manger
   

Isa 9:6

 

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

KJV

 

There are two types of news that usually brings ridiculous amounts of joy:  1) an engagement; 2) a pregnancy.   There is something that is very exciting about these two life-changing milestones.  After these occur, nothing is ever the same in the life of those involved. 

 

The news of this particular impending birth changed the course for all humanity- both past and present.  The promised Messiah!  The long-awaited deliverer and King!  The Jewish people had suffered under oppression, waiting  for the day that a King would come.  Only, He did not come in the package that they expected.  They expected Him to come in a King's chariot, but rather He arrived in a lowly manger surrounded by common farm animals. He was nothing that they expected, and everything that they needed.

 

The birth of Jesus Christ is a beautiful celebration each year.  But I think we sometimes forget that the manger in Bethlehem was only the beginning.  He was born not only to die, but to rule and reign!  A day is coming when all will bow before Him and declare that He is Lord!  All of His enemies, all  of our fears and struggles will bow before Him in abject subjection to His authority. 

 

I am a sucker for movies with a plot that results in the beleaguered hero rising from the ashes.  Sweet vengeance and victory, restoring to the hero all that was due Him.  It stirs and excites me to see that kind of storyline.  Sometimes, I just sit around and imagine what it will be like on the day that Jesus is avenged.  For all of the suffering, the pain, and the rejection that He suffered, Jesus will be exalted! The lowly, suffering servant will arise as an  all-powerful magnificent King!  Can you imagine the beauty of the glorified Lord when at last we can see Him with our own eyes?! Surely He is "wonderful, counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace."  He is all of that and so much more!  This Christmas allow Him  to rise in your heart from the manger to the throne!

 

 Dear Lord, thank you for coming!  Thanking you for leaving the glory of heaven to suffer for me.  Thank you that one day I will see You just as You are.  You are wonderful to me!  I acknowledge you as the everlasting Father.  In Name.  Amen.