Word O' the Day

This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in his hand. And the Lord asked me, "What do you see, Amos?" "A plumb line," I replied. Then the Lord said, "Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people. … "The high places…will be destroyed.” ~Amos 7:7-9


plumb line n.
1. A line from which a weight is suspended to determine verticality or depth.
2. A line regarded as directed exactly toward the earth's center of gravity.

Do you have Word O’the Day days? You hear a random word again and again and your curiosity is peaked?

Plumb line. That was my Word O’ the Day. I got to wondering: Lord are you sharing something with me through this word? If so, please help me understand.

Doing a little legwork, I researched what a plumb line is and its history. Made from a line and weight it determines if something is perfectly vertical, or upright. Since ancient times it has been an integral tool in various trades. In fact, Jesus would’ve used one for carpentry and building.

God also uses plumb lines to build His people. In His Word they are employed to measure our righteousness in His sight. In other words, do we line up according to scripture?

As shown in our verse above, Amos 7, the Lord holds out a plumb line to establish His holy standard for all to see. God longed to build Israel according to His righteousness and purity. When they refused to be built uprightly, He tore down what contributed to them walking in unholiness.

God still has a plumb line among His people today: Jesus Christ. Our Messiah, the most skilled builder, radiating righteousness, asks if we will allow Him to build us according to His standards. This will mean knocking down walls we’ve built up. Excavating parts of our foundation. Ripping up old support beams.

But it also means the hands of God will rebuild us with beautiful things. Peace. Hope. Grace. Love. Surety.

My Word O’ the Day, plumb line, is a stone of remembrance of God’s grace. He loves us too much to leave our structures made of rotting wood, shaky foundations and leaky ceilings. So He gave us His one and only Son, with a simple request, Will you align yourself to Jesus? Will you measure you actions, deeds, thoughts, words, heart, life, to The Plumb Line? This will require some demolition, like the high places of the Israelites the Lord destroyed. However, Jesus was, and is, a better builder than we will ever be. As our Cornerstone, we can trust that as He tears down, He will rebuild. And what our Heavenly Father rebuilds will be upright and good in every way.

I will rebuild you with precious jewels and make your foundations from lapis lazuli. I will make your towers of sparkling rubies, your gates of shining gems, and your walls of precious stones. ~ Isaiah 54:11b-12

Make New Friends, But Keep the Old

Instead, it is you - my equal, my companion and close friend. What good fellowship we once enjoyed… ~Psalm 55:13-14

Restoring old friendships is one theme God’s been tapping on my heart. Consumed with friends around me, other friendships have slipped into near oblivion. God opened His heart and showed me the grief I’ve caused Him and others through my negligence. Despite that picture and the repeating reminders from God, I dragged my feet in reestablishing friendships.

The importance of reconnecting was so vital, that God moved beyond my slackness. Instead of me getting in touch with my friends, they contacted me!

~ A sweet friend wrote me clear out of the blue this past spring. Shocked, but so glad to hear from her, I found out she moved to the same town where I live!

~ Around the same time, another formerly close friend sent me an email. In college a group of eight girls lived, worked, slept, ate, worked out, studied, and basically performed every life function together. Though different in many ways, friendship flowed naturally between us. After graduation, we continued to stay close. However, over the years, marriage, babies, a variety of states and thousands of miles separated us. Lazily, I let these reasons be a wedge and lost contact. Years later my surprise email invited me to a baby shower for one of the girls. In essence it was a grand reunion of the Great Eight!

~ The biggest Blast from the Past to contact me goes waaaaaay back (as in almost-to-the-womb)! God hand-picked five of us girls to knit together. Several times a week each summer our moms packed us kids in the hoopdy station wagon and headed to the beach. The second the ocean air hit our noses we screamed at the top of our lungs! God bless our brave, patient moms! We girls roller-skated in her basement; climbed trees in my sister’s and my back-yard; rode Huffy’s up and down her neighborhood; and sang our hearts out to Amy Grant. As adults, four out of the five girls remained in touch, always missing our fifth link. Individually the Lord kept her close to our hearts. She was one that He asked me to be in touch with. And wouldn’t you know, she got in touch with me first! God is good and faithful.

These friendships vary in their stories. The making of each one differs from the other. The Lord’s reason for renewing them isn’t the same. What is the same is His unchanging call for us to be in community with one another. More importantly, to be in community with Him. Though the making of each of our relationships with the Lord varies, He longs to be in friendship with us. Today I pray Jesus contacts you in a surprising way, much like my old friends did. And your friendship with God will be reestablished.

God will do this, for He is faithful to do what He says, and He has invited you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. ~ I Corinthians 1:9

I Found Myself

"Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart. If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored: If you remove wickedness far from your tent and assign your nuggets to the dust, your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines, then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for you. Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God. You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows. What you decide on will be done, and light will shine on your ways.” ~ Job 22:21-28

In 2002 the Lord laid this verse on my mom’s heart for me. It’s an Ebenezer for several reasons. I am so grateful to have God-fearing, listening parents who share with me the words of the Lord. And, I am so grateful to have God, a listening parent who shares with me His Word.

My relationship with this part of His Word has changed several times. I found myself in different ways each time I read it. Challenging, encouraging, convicting, inviting—the words of this passage haven’t changed, but my reflections and interactions with them has. One day I looked up the original Hebrew. Below is a paraphrase of what God has spoken to me through these verses. Just as He’s met me through His eternal, unchanging Word, I pray the Lord meets you personally, whether with Job 22 or a unique verse He gives you!

Job 22:21-28
Acquaint yourself with God, be used by him and you will be made whole, sound, restored and complete in Him; in this way good things will turn out well.

Become one, like a husband and wife, with the prophetic teaching from God’s mouth and lay up his words in your heart.

If you give yourself back to the Almighty, you will be built up and restored permanently like the exiles.

Rid yourself and your home of unholiness. Trade your treasures for the Lord’s. Toss what you hold onto so tightly into the water, letting it float away. Then the Almighty will be more than you could have dreamed.

Surely then you will be pampered and take exquisite, dainty, and delicate delight in the Most Powerful. Lift all of yourself to God.

You will be complete and sound in a covenant of peace with God. He will hear you, and help you do what you've promised: fulfill your offerings to the Lord.

Promises, commands and words you decree will be fulfilled. Instruction will shine on your course of life. Jehovah, Israel’s light, will enlighten your journey. Dawn will break and cause your moral character to shine!

One Way Out: Part Final

“Return to me with all your heart. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God.” ~ Joel 2:12-13

Not the job for you. Not the job for you. Those words rattled in my head. Here’s a breakdown of the timeline:
Four weeks out from the Event: Interview; offered nanny job; God says “Turn it down and quit your job.”
Three weeks out from the Event: Interview; offered ministry job; God says “Turn it down and quit your job.”
Two weeks out from the Event: No interview; no offer; God says “Quit your job.”

God had required me to quit all along, with or without a job. Selfishly I resisted, serving fear and mistrust as my gods. Finally, without a day to spare, I stepped off the cliff and fell right into the hands of God. Turning in my two weeks notice, the oddest thing happened. My old director offered me my job back. You got it. She asked me to stay! She’d make an offer, I’d reject it. Round and round we went. I could take personal leave the day of the Event. Or call in sick. Pretend I never gave her notice. Convinced I didn’t mean to quit, she refused to accept my letter. Leaving her office, I was confused. Did I or didn’t I quit?

Satan opened every door of opportunity and tempted me to stay. Immediately Jesus being tempted in the desert by Satan came to mind. He had one ultimate response: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only" (Matt. 10:4).

The light turned on. God wasn’t as concerned with if I hosted the Event with Pro-Choice orgs. No, He is most concerned with my obedience. It was my quitting He focused on; it was the if I would quit that mattered. Would I walk in the ways He commanded? Would I worship and serve Him alone? As 1 Samuel 15:22 encourages, “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice.”

My view of things shifted. This wasn’t a story of me against abortion and all the bad guys. It was a story of me against my flesh. With two main characters: the Lord and me. When that reality set it, things became clear. The Lord delights in obedience! Who am I to steal God’s delight?! After all, “He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing” (Joel 2:13-14).

He may turn and leave behind a blessing. Indeed He did. The ministry contacted me again. “Things have changed ... we are totally restructuring and have a new position.” God laid it on the director’s heart to step out in faith and create a brand new job. And, a friend of the ministry felt the need to give a substantial donation that paved the way for my salary! The day after I quit my job, I interviewed with the ministry. The next week they extended an offer!

Waiting for a new job and jumping off my cliff of faith drilled me to the core. Face to face with all the dross to be burned away was heart-breaking. I never realized the layers of doubt and mistrust. Has the Lord asked a difficult thing of you? Where is He gently pressing your heart and asking you to obey? Do you trust the Creator of the universe to create a secure future for you? I know it’s difficult to rend our hearts and return all our heart to the Lord. But our hearts, our lives, are rightfully His, and we can only ever serve one god: fear and our own agenda; or the Living God. Which will you serve today?

Reflecting on this time, God’s kindness and gracious goodness stand out the most to me. I pray you sense those dear attributes of our King as well today.

One Way Out: Part II

With honey from the rock I would satisfy you. ~Psalm 81:16

We left off yesterday with me slouched on the floor tangled in grumpiness, desperation, and mistrust. Time was running out and I needed an answer from the Lord. Traipsing all over in search of it I begged my parents to decide for me, pleaded with friends to pray and listen on my behalf, and questioned everyone else what they would do in my shoes. My emotions were whirling too loud for me to hear and trust God’s answer.

One day in the midst of this, the Holy Spirit quieted me and said, “Look up that small, non-profit ministry.” Looking their website over, I was struck how neat it’d be if they had a branch for young women. Clear as a whistle God winked at me, “Write them a proposal offering to help form one.”

Hesitating at first, I thought, “I must be crazy.” Then I realized I had nothin’ to lose. So I typed and the Lord dictated. Praying a covering over my written words, I hit the Send button and eagerly hoped for a response. Here’s what I got:

We actually have a fairly small office “staff.” We have three full time employees and several part time employees. The rest of our associates are volunteers. I honestly wish I had something for you. Your resume reflects your administrative skills but it is your cover letter that spoke of your passion, and tugged on my heart.

It sounds like you are not aware that we recently launched a new branch for young women. Pray about possibly getting involved. At this time, everyone involved is serving the ministry as a volunteer. I can’t promise that this would change in the near future. Of course, I have no idea what God has planned. Let me know how you feel about this.

Volunteer!?! What?! Yikes y’all! All my eggs were in this basket. I was stunned they just opened up a new branch, but shocked they couldn’t hire me. Praying about this, I was driven further to pursue it. Doubt took a back seat and faith took its rightful place. In a nutshell, I assured them this was were God would have me work, as a paid employee, not a volunteer. However He worked it, I would walk it out. That took supernatural bravery for me, but my spirit resonated with confidence in God.

A few days later the executive director called me, “This never happens, but we have a job opening! The Lord really put you on my heart to call. Let’s interview.” Wowzers!!! Joy washed in waves over me as we spoke and everything seemed honky-dory. Until…

Until the clinchers: 30 hours/week, $12/hour. The Lord was clear: this was not the job for me. The place: yes; the position: no. Two days to consider were given. The Event was right around the corner. And I had to quit, with or without a job. Tick, tock, tick, tock….

I'll share with you tomorrow how the story ends!

Who am I, O Sovereign Lord…that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future…of your servant….For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant. How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. ~II Sam. 7:18-22

One Way Out: Part I

“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” ~2 Cor. 1:21

How’s your job going? Maybe you’re currently looking for a job? For three long years I was desperate to leave my old job. Misery: an understatement. Desire to leave quickly morphed into a dire need when told I was to sponsor two Pro-Choice organizations at an event I hosted. Appealing several times was of no use.

Only one option remained: quit. Wisdom would say to have a new job lined up first, so job-hunting quickly moved to the top of Priorities. A deep love for children naturally led me to nannying. Within a week of looking I interviewed with a sweet family. Amazing in every way, I was ecstatic when offered the position!! I provisionally accepted their offer when the bomb was dropped.

“This isn’t the right one. Back out and leave. I’ve got something else … something to equip you better.”

“Nooooo…please God, let me leave and accept this job!! The Event is only three weeks away!! I have to quit now. And I can’t do that without a new job lined up first!”

“Hear me. This is not my will.”

Ignoring God’s directives hasn’t proven effective in the past. As much as my flesh didn’t want to, I turned down the awesome nanny position.

Walking on soggy carpet in my home was common during this time. Every night I would crawl through the door, drop my belongings and lay on the floor in a sobbing heap.

I couldn’t find peace or rest, knowing the Event loomed over me; I had to quit my job or host abortion-related companies; and, my bank account wasn’t going to stretch far without a steady income. Wrestling over this took much out of me. Much flesh, much fear, much doubt. The depths of mistrust in God’s sustenance were abundantly clear. My heart broke seeing my lack of dependence on His sovereignty. Joel 2 urges us to return to the Lord with weeping and mourning, and that I did!

God was with me each night I crumpled on the floor. He spoke to me to leave my job and that somehow, someway, He would provide a way in the desert (Isaiah 43). Little did I know then how amazingly He would!

Stay tuned tomorrow to read the rest of the story!

“Your lovingkindness, O Lord, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.” ~Psalm 36:5

Warrior Is A Child

“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are.” ~I John 3:1

I wouldn’t go on record as the coolest kid on the block. Over-sized glasses with rainbow-colored rims, a die-hard love of books, and black high-tops definitely added to my geekiness. Adding to my dork status was the infamous Walkman. My svelte Walkman was accompanied by some totally radical headphones with foam ear pieces that inevitably fell off.

To polish off my double-sock scrunching, tight-pant rolling nerdy self, I listened to Twila Paris on my Walkman. Every night before bed I popped my cassette tape in, adjusted my headphones and let Twila sing me to sleep (Carmen and Amy Grant were reserved for day-light hours).

Even with lights out my fingers knew the Rewind button and roughly 27 squeaks back started Warrior is a Child for the fifteenth time in a row. Much as I loved this song I never knew what Twila’s words meant. At age 8, my life couldn’t conceive why a child was a warrior or how come she had a sword in the first place. Now as an adult I fully feel and grasp the words. I see how the Lord chose that song to ingrain on my heart. In this last season, it bubbles up to my mind often.

When my vim and vigor to fight has vanished, God hums this tune, and visions of resting in my pink ruffled bed tucked snuggly between Run Away Moose and Honey Bear (my two fav stuffed animals of course) come to me. That sure safety surrounding me as my little hands pressed Play once again before sleep caught me reassures me now that that is the heart of the Father. He beckons “This is the resting place--you’re weary…rest (Isaiah 28:12), relinquish the warfare, and share your hurt and heart with Me. I, the Lord your God who goes before you, will fight on your behalf (Deut. 1:30).” I pray you too find that quiet place with the Lord as you drop your weapons and climb up in His lap to rest.

Warrior is a Child
Lately I've been winning battles left and right
But even winners can get wounded in the fight
People say that I'm amazing
Strong beyond my years
But they don't see inside of me
I'm hiding all the tears

They don't know that I go running home when I fall down
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while
'Cause deep inside this armor
The warrior is a child

Unafraid because His armor is the best
But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest
People say that I'm amazing
Never face retreat
But they don't see the enemies
That lay me at His feet

“For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes." ~Rev. 7:17