One Thing

 

Distraction.  The word for "distracted" in Luke 10:40-42  is from the Greek word, perispao.  It means to draw away, to be driven about mentally, to be over-occupied, or too busy.  

There are many distractions in this world that clamor for our attention.  Distractions can range from insignificant fun to dangerous detouring sin. But mostly, distractions are the everyday activities in our lives that keep us busy from sun-up to sundown until we crawl from exhaustion into the comfort of rest in our beds. 

Busyness can keep us from the feet of Jesus and severely hinder our relationship with the Lord.  Even good busyness.

"But Martha was distracted with much serving."   Sometimes the distractions in our life that keep us from the feet of Jesus as not necessary bad or amusing.  I know there have been times I have been so busy with serving that I didn't take the time needed to sit at the feet of Jesus.  I was too tired, too exhausted from much doing to spend the needed time just being. 

"Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me."

Sometimes pressure is unwittingly or purposely put on us to serve beyond our capabilities or beyond healthy balances.  A friend told me yesterday how someone had asked her to serve in a ministry at church. She replied that she didn't have time.  Then the person asking began to tell her all the ways she was serving to attempt to make her feel guilty.   You can say no.

The second point of this line makes me laugh.  Martha was telling Jesus what to do!  She was demanding Jesus do something!  She must have really been stressed.  

"And Jesus answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things." 

How about you?  Are you worried and troubled about many things?  Are you stressed because of all the busyness in your life?  

"But ONE THING is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."

One thing.  Mary sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word.  Mary chose worship.  How long has it been since you just sat at the feet of Jesus in your bedroom and listened to worship music?  How long since you delved into His Word and let His Words soak into your Spirit and revive your soul?  Are you too busy?  Are you distracted?  The Almighty God of the Universe, Creator of all things, Your Creator is longing to spend time with you.

Only one thing is needed.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI_1YliutzA

Deeper Still

Last weekend I went on a retreat.

The retreat was only about 45 minutes away in Maryville, Tennessee.  Well, it is only 45 minutes away if you aren't directionally challenged.  If you are directionally challenged (ahem...like me), it may take you 2 hours.  {smile}  *sigh*

After I finally figured out the direction I was suppose to be heading, I found myself going up and up a mountain.  The retreat was literally at the top of a mountain overlooking the beautiful Smokey Mountains.

I knew the Lord had led me to go to this retreat, but I wasn't sure why he wanted me there. This retreat was for women who are post-abortive.  If you have read my story at the top of the page, you know that I had an abortion in 1993, when I was 19 years old.  God has led me on a journey of healing and freedom since I rededicated my life to Him in 1998.  It has been a long process, but I felt healed and didn't think I needed any more freedom or healing.

So, why would God lead me to a retreat for more healing when I was already healed?

To go deeper still.  

The name of the ministry and retreat is "Deeper Still".  I didn't realize that when I was driving up to the top of that mountain, that God was also leading me to a spiritual mountaintop experience.

It was as if the mountaintop was a satellite and the atmosphere created a cell phone with a clear signal to hear the Lord.  He didn't have to keep asking, "Can you hear me now?"  I HEARD HIM CLEARLY!! 

I definitely understood how the disciples felt when they were up on the mountaintop with Jesus and they just wanted to stay there and build tents and never come down.

I won't be able to share everything He spoke to me.  I found a deeper healing.  God really did go deeper still.  I am going to share three ways the Lord spoke to me on the mountaintop last weekend.

The first experience was when one of the ministry team members told me my child (whom I aborted) loves me.  Sobbing, I said to the Lord, "How...how could she love me?"  He answered quickly...

"Sue, all she has ever known is My love.  How could she not love you?"  

My heart soaked in His loving response filling a deep wound as I accepted my daughter's love.

Another experience I want to share is a vision God gave me during a time of praise and worship.  Often during praise and worship, I picture myself dancing with Jesus.

In "A Story of Redemption", I share a vision of my daughter dancing with Jesus.  Although, I visualize myself dancing with Jesus and I can envision my daughter dancing with Jesus in heaven, I had never put myself and my daughter in the SAME picture with Jesus.

I had never entered into that picture to be with her.  Before this past weekend, it was too painful.  I felt unworthy to be in the picture, unworthy to hold my daughter, unworthy to dance with her.  During praise and worship up on the mountain,...

the Lord freed me to enter into that picture and dance with my daughter 

and embrace her in my arms with joy.

The third revelation I would like to share has to do with my child's name.  The Lord had revealed to me years ago that my child is a girl and her name is "Kori".   However, she didn't have a middle name.  During the weekend, many of the other participants at the retreat had middle names for their children in heaven.  I spoke to the Lord and said, "Lord, I would like to know my child's middle name."  Almost immediately, the name came...

Danielle. 

Her name is "Kori Danielle".  

With excited anticipation, I looked up the names "Kori" and "Danielle" when I came home from the retreat.

 "Kori" means "God's peace."  Don't you just love that?

However, when I looked up "Danielle",  I was not so excited.  I saw the meaning and I actually kept looking at other baby name websites thinking "Surely it doesn't mean that.  I don't like that.  Maybe I didn't hear from God.  I really don't like that meaning." 

However, all the baby name websites agreed. "Danielle" means "God is our Judge."

I thought "I don't like that meaning, that sounds harsh."  Then I asked the Lord about it. He said,

"I AM your Judge 

and I have found you innocent.  

No one else can judge you.  

And if they try to judge you, 

know that I AM your Judge 

and have found you innocent." 

The name is perfect.  He is perfect.  His love amazes me.  I could tell you even more He revealed to me over that weekend at the Deeper Still Retreat, but it will have to wait for another time.

Beloved friends, if you or anyone you know has had an abortion, I strongly encourage you to visit www.godeeperstill.org .  I thought I was free (I even have a blog about freedom!).  He desires to heal every wounded area of your heart, finish the good work He has begun in you, and set you completely free in Him.
 He loves you so much.

There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1). 

He has removed your sins as far as the east is from the west (Ps 103:12).  

Though your sins were as scarlet, He has made you white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).  

You are a child of the MOST HIGH GOD.  He is your Judge and YOU have been found innocent because of the Blood of Jesus. 

Going Out Into the Deep

I like shallow water.  Shallow water is safe.  The shallow water invites you to float and splash happily along.  Your feet effortlessly touch security as they firmly rest on the bottom.  Minimal exertion is involved.
Shallow water is.....comfortable.

But.....what if God is calling you to deeper waters?

When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon (Peter), "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." 

But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless, at Your word I will let down the net."  

And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.
So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them.  And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"

For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken.....

And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men." 

So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.  Luke 5:4-11

This is Simon Peter's first encounter with Jesus.  He was a fisherman.  What did he do?  He fished.  He was a professional fisherman with his own fishing company.  Here comes this preacher who gets into one of Peter's boats and asks him to go a little out from shore so He could preach to the people on shore.

Are you getting the picture here?  Peter didn't know Jesus, he knew fish.  Peter had been fishing all night and didn't catch anything.  He was probably tired since he'd been up all night.  He probably wanted to go lay down, but felt compelled to help this preacher out by letting him use his boat.  Then, this preacher started to talk to him about fishing!  What does a preacher know about fishing?!  Yet, again, he listened to Him.

 He went out into the deep.   What happened when he went out into the deep?  He caught more fish than ever!  The Lord blessed him.  And because he obeyed and went out into the deep, the Lord declared that he would be a fisher of men.

Peter saw the Lord when he went out into the deep.  He saw a glimpse of the miracle working power available that left him wanting to throw away his world colored glasses into the ocean.  His encounter with the Lord motivated him to substitute his life of empty nets of fish for full nets of men. 

Even though shallow water is comfortable, I don't want to stay in the shallow water.  I want to go out into the deep with my Lord.  I want to see His miracle working power.  I want all to be astonished by all the Lord has done and is doing.  I want to catch men.

I always knew there would come a time when the Lord would want me to post my testimony.  I never felt the time was right until the other day. 

Thursday night was Hope Resource Center's fundraising event.  Hope Resource Center is a local Christian crisis pregnancy center.  (Great ministry!! If you want to donate, click above to find out how.)  Pam Tebow was the guest speaker.  During her powerful and moving testimony, I heard God say,  It is time.

It is time to share my story.  It is time to see nets full of the glory of God, and changed lives. 

It is time to go out into the deep.  Is God calling you deeper? 

Decision Time

Do you have a decision to make?  Are you at two roads (or more) and not sure which one to take?
I am.

As I wrote those last two words, I felt the presence of the Lord, the great I AM.

He will direct you.  He will guide you.  It is His promise.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Psalms 32:8

The Great I AM is there.  He is already in the future.  He is at the beginning and the end.  He sees the finished picture.  It is nothing less than beautiful.  His plans are beautiful, and the outcome is good.

He will lead you.  His loving eye is on you.  Just Trust.