Rags to Riches

The Beverly Hillbillies, a sitcom of the 60s and early 70s, and a family favorite during my childhood days, was a “rags to riches” sort of show of a poor backwoods family who strike it rich when “Pa”, the Clampett family patriarch discovers oil—black gold, Texas tea—while hunting for mealtime provisions. 

Kinfolk of the Clampetts then urged the family to pack up their belongings and move to California, where they could reside in a large mansion in the Beverly Hills district; a dwelling more befitting their newfound wealth.

The show was a comedic combination of poverty and affluence, and the unsophisticated with the refined as the Clampetts maintained their simpleton lifestyle while having access to millions. It made for amusing entertainment.

When Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus, he sought to encourage them to recognize the spiritual wealth they had “in Christ”. They were spiritually rich beyond measure but had been living as beggars—spiritual paupers—because of their ignorance of all that was available to them in Christ.

We do the same. 

Many believers today live as beggars, spiritual paupers, and victims of their past because of the same reason: they are not aware of the great wealth they have in Christ. They walk around in the old garments of spiritual poverty—content in their old ways.

Paul writes:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. 

In all wisdom and insight, He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention, which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. (Eph. 1:3-14 NASB)

God has given everything we need to live the victorious Christian life. He predestined this great mystery before the foundation of the earth and before you were formed in your mother’s womb. From the days of old, everything took place in its proper order so that this mystery might be revealed to us according to the glory of His grace.

The love and kindness of God intended that we have adoption, acceptance, redemption, forgiveness, wisdom, inheritance, the seal of the Holy Spirit, life, grace, and citizenship—in short, every spiritual blessing. We have all the resources needed for living a victorious Christian life.

Father God, help me to fully grasp the truth of Your word in Eph. 1 that I may know and receive every spiritual blessing for me. Open my eyes and my heart to see what I need to lay down in order to fill up with an abundance of Your blessings to live a victorious life in You, that others may know that You are the One True God, in Jesus' name, amen.  

"All our righteous acts are like filthy rags".  Is. 64:6 

Paul's Powerful Prayer

It’s been said, “We live forward but understand backwards.” 

For many of us, that means we can look back over our lives and see all the stupid things we’ve done, knowing there is nothing we can do to change history. 

It also gives you the opportunity to look back and see God’s protection, His providence, and His promises specifically and purposefully woven throughout your life even when you were completely unaware. 

I have assigned labels to the seasons of my life, arranged in decades. It gives me a snapshot of my life and demonstrates the sovereignty of God regardless of the stupid decisions I made. 

The Black Hole

"Solitude has its advantages, but they seldom counterbalance the loss of Christian communion."– Matthew Henry  

It’s been said that when everything seems to be falling apart, that’s often when God is putting things together the way He wants.

I admit I enjoy solitude. I have never been one who struggled with being alone at home. I have always been able to entertain or busy myself and do not “need” to be in a crowd. In fact, I prefer not to be. I have friends and family who are the total opposite.

What I most enjoy is the quality time I can spend with the Lord, especially on those days when I have nothing on the calendar. But this past year I have noticed moments of what seems to be a black hole, an aloneness completely separate from my typical solitude. I’ve summoned the Lord, and I’ve summoned wise counsel and have found that the “black hole” is indeed a part of our life journey, as well as our faith journey.

I admit, however, these times are not enjoyable. In fact, they are excruciating and painful. You feel scared and lonely, isolated, lost and confused, maybe even a little embarrassed to admit you are in such a place.

I’ve been there. No doubt, you have been there too. Maybe you are there now.

So, what do we do if we find ourselves in the black hole?

Don’t panic.

To be honest, I can quickly shift into "brood mode". Impulsivity tends to travel the path of negativity, quickly turning on myself. With time, experience, and maturity, I’ve learned this is what NOT to do…but I confess I can still fall into this one easily, which may closely accompany the introverted personality. 

But the more I walk with God, the more I come to recognize that everything serves a purpose, even the black holes. Nothing is without reason and oftentimes, the black hole is a time of preparation for a new season in our lives.

Consider Joseph

Consider how Joseph must have felt as he sat on the cold floor of that empty well into which his brothers had thrown him before they decided to pull him out and sell him to Midianite merchants. (Gen 37:24, 28) It had to have been excruciating for him, feeling totally dejected and abandoned by those he loved and trusted.

Talk about feeling wounded and frightened, neglected and abandoned, confused and isolated, maybe a little embarrassed, and perhaps even mad at himself for being so arrogant as to share his seemingly haughty dreams with his brothers.

If Joseph could have known the full picture of what lay ahead for him, he would not have believed it as he sat in the cold, damp, darkness. Joseph was stuck in a pit of nothingness, helpless in his situation. All he could do was believe, pray, and wait.

Like Joseph, being in that place of nothingness feels helpless. You begin to question yourself. The enemy creeps in to try to convince you that God has abandoned you and that you are no longer useful to Him. You even have thoughts of selling out to the first itinerant opportunity that comes along.

Like Joseph, we must continue to believe, to pray, and to wait on God and His perfect timing.

The black hole should lead us swiftly to the throne of grace. It is a time of intense spiritual reflection, carefully examining all areas of our lives.

How is my prayer life? Am I spending ample time in the Word? Is there sin in my life that needs to be dealt with? Am I holding onto something that is hindering my prayers? Or could it even possibly be a physical condition that needs medical attention?

I’m continuing to learn that I cannot trust my feelings. This is very difficult for a “feeler” like me. I equate “feeling nothing” with abandonment or disapproval, but the Word of God tells us we are to “walk by faith and not by sight”. (2 Cor. 5:7) Feelings come and go, but God is always with us.

In the black hole, I find it especially difficult to focus on prayer, on reading, or engaging in worship. Pray anyway. Read anyway. Sing anyway. Worship anyway. And sometimes, we just need to be still and listen. If you write, try journaling your experience. I do this often. You’ll smile when you come back to it later.

Consider as well that at times God may need to set us apart for a season, in order to prepare us for something we are yet to know fully. It is a time of refining in which God coordinates His plans and purposes for us as well as those we may influence. (Again, remember the story of Joseph. Read Gen. 37 through Gen. 50) He will reveal them to us as we are able.

We can learn much in the black hole. We, with Paul, can “consider it all joy” while praising God for what He is doing in our lives. (James 1:2) In time, we come to recognize how God in His infinite wisdom knows us better than we know ourselves, for we now understand the necessity of that dark season, as God brings us up out of the black hole to do the work to which He has called us.

 “So let us fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:18)

"As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Joshua 1:5b).

Blessings in Christ, 

Shari 

In Christ Alone

“For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding”.  Col. 1:9

Do you remember the feeling you had when you first received Christ as Savior? Perhaps it was a combination of exhilaration, joy, and maybe even a little confusion as you wondered, "What am I supposed to do now?"

State of the Heart Address: From the Word of God

(Mouse over scripture links for full verse. May not work on mobile devices) 

Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you, today and always. ( John 20:19)

The more things change; the more things stay the same. (Eccl. 3:15) Nothing takes Me by surprise. (Is. 46:10)

I know the times are difficult, and there are times you feel like giving up, but I will show up and take care of you as I promised. (Heb. 13:5) I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. (Jer. 29:11)

God won’t give us more than we can handle…really?

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

1 Cor. 10:13

Have you ever found yourself stumbling over your search for the “right words” to say to someone after tragedy, loss, or devastating news of any kind?  I know I do, and I’m not sure there truly are the “right words”. However, none of us are comfortable in that awkward silent moment, so we say things like: 

“This too shall pass.” 

Showroom Religion

While traveling one weekend, a friend invited me to stay with him and his wife. They lived in a very beautiful home in one of the “large home” regions of that city. Following a tour of the home, I decided to freshen up before dinner in the guest bathroom.

Have you ever been in one of those bathrooms that was so beautiful, you weren't quite sure what to do with yourself?

Atop the rich marble counter was a large silk floral arrangement. Scattered about was an array of antique pictures, a few candles, a tall, slender, and dimly-lit lamp, a frosted glass fragrance mister, and a fancy tissue dispenser and counterpart hand mirror.

Near the sink was an ornate pedestal-style soap dish with a harmonizing blend of beautifully foil-wrapped individual soaps (Was I supposed to actually use one?). A complementary towel ring was close by, holding an ultra-plush crewel lace edged towel and matching washcloth. (Was I supposed to use those?) I turned around to find a matching bath towel perfectly draped over the oil-rubbed bronze towel rack.

With no room on the counter to place my travel bag, I set it on the floor . . .

My relationship with Christ?

"My relationship with Christ? 
Wha-ya-mean? 

~~♥~~

“Tell me about your relationship with Christ?” 

My "relationship" with Christ?  swish . . . swish . . . swish . . . swish . . . 

I could hear my heart beat in my ears.  

The words caught me off guard as the unsuspecting woman seated next to me innocently prodded my empty soul. My failed attempt that afternoon in 1983 at a Christian Women's event haunted me for years to come, as I stumbled through carefully chosen words and actions.

• I've known about Him since I was a child
• Gone to church "most" of my life (when my parents took me) 
• Currently looking for a church (straight up lie) 
• God is good! --- Nod and smile --- He's so good! --- Nod and smile!!  

God's word in Ecclesiastes tells us "There is a time to speak and a time to be silent". (Eccl. 3:7) This is one of those times I should have remained silent and didn't; but then again, I wouldn't have had this story to write today, would I?

Letter to My Frenemies . . .

“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.”

John 15:18

Several years ago, I was given the opportunity by a dear friend and sister-in-Christ to write a faith column in her newspaper. I so enjoyed this and it became a weekly entry which challenged me to come up with something fresh each week. Receiving complimentary remarks and support from several readers, whether on the street, through cards and letters, or through email, I chalked it up to the blessing of living in the Bible Belt.

Those Embarrassing Moments!

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” (Romans 1:16)

As I headed out the door that bitter cold Sunday morning, I grabbed my long wool coat for added warmth over my favorite denim skirt and knee boots. I loved this skirt because it was fun to walk in—long, full, and "free" feeling--nothing tight or creepy-crawly, and no worries while crossing my legs. The only thing I had to watch for were windy days, or what is known as a "skirt alert" day. And there were to be no skirt alerts issued for this day.   

Or so I thought. 

Friend for Life

When we were kids, summers were synonymous with swimming lessons, Vacation Bible School, camp-outs, and sleepovers. Some summers, our cousins from a neighboring state came to visit us for a couple of weeks. Likewise, my brothers, sister, and I would take turns spending a couple of weeks with them. They loved the freedom of the country and the adventures of the farm. We loved the pavement of the city and the adventure of the mall. It was a change. 

One summer, my sister and I were up for our trip. I was ten; my sister was eight. Our trip happened to coincide with their church’s Vacation Bible School. I loved VBS and looked forward to attending with my cousin. Upon arriving, the director seated us in the fellowship hall filled with freshly chilled metal folding chairs.