GodandMe2theMax

Roadblocks...

"I press toward the mark (toward the goal) to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." 
Philippians 3:14

We were driving into the Serengeti National Park on a dusty, bumpy dirt road.  In the USA, it would be considered a one-lane road, but not in Africa.  If oncoming traffic appeared, you just slow down and pull over until the dust has settled enough to see again.  It didn't take us too long to understand the meaning of Serengeti.  "Endless plains where the land meets the sky."   And truly, as far as the eye could see, that was apparent.  I couldn't help but think we were literally in "the ends of the earth" as mentioned in Acts 1:8.  Beauty and solace surrounded us in every direction.

We saw a few animals on the drive into the park, but nothing massive or up close.  Then seemingly out of nowhere, we came across a herd of wildebeest who had decided it was a great idea to have a big family reunion right in the middle of the road.  Now, if you've never seen a wildebeest, let's just say they are pretty homely.  I had seen them before, and I really didn't have a desire to bring home pictures of them to show to all my friends.  I definitely never anticipated writing about them.  But this herd was so massive that it was somehow beautiful and captivating.

We had the top open in the vehicle while our driver navigated his way through the herd.  Some of us stood up and watched as one by one, the wildebeest would jump out of the way just a moment before our vehicle would hit it.  We slowed down, but we never stopped or even honked the horn.  There were thousands and thousands of them, as far as the eye could see, but we kept pressing on.  It gave us a glimpse of what the Israelites experienced when the Red Sea was parted.  I'm not exactly sure how long it took us to get to the point where the road was clear again, but I think it was close to ten or fifteen minutes.  

For me, this was a poignant, and very visual application of Philippians 3:14.  "I press toward the mark (toward the goal) to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."  How many times do we hit roadblocks in our life and just stop or give up completely on what God has called us to do? 

Sometimes we hit roadblocks without even knowing that's what they are because we haven't established the mark.  Sometimes we hit roadblocks because we don't have a plan to get to the goal.  We know what the goal is, but we don't know which way to move to get there. 

This week I had lunch with a long-time friend.  We were talking about how so many Christians know what they believe, but they don't know how to articulate it in a way that others can understand the clear plan of salvation.  It's not that they don't want to share their faith, they just never learned how.  Yes, in a sense, that is a huge roadblock that many Christians face.  They are stopped dead still in the middle of the road, without a plan to press on.

My sixteen year old daughter Amber has been going on mission trips with me since she was nine years old.  She learned all the Bible verses for the plan of salvation at any early age, and she not only knows what she believes, but she can clearly tell others.  During the school year, rarely a week goes by when she doesn't share a story of how she was able to witness to someone who crossed her path.  However, I can't say the same thing of my thirteen year old son Jacob. 

You see, Jacob has some differences.  I used to call them "special needs" but God has intervened in so many areas of his life that "special needs" doesn't necessarily give the right connotation.  (Jacob has Aspergers, but at one point in his life he was completely non-functioning.  If you don't know his story, you can see a video on youtube by searching "Amber Banfill Original Oratory".)  But because of these differences, his experiences have been much different from that of his sister.  Until now, we haven't even considered letting him go on a mission trip.  Now don't get me wrong - this boy loves Jesus.  His heart is so sensitive to things of the Lord.  He wants to go on a mission trip and serve, but we have known as parents that he wasn't emotionally ready or mature enough to go.

But God convicted me after coming back from Africa that as Jacob starts to mature and get to the point where we could actually consider taking him, there was still another roadblock.  As a parent, I had never invested the time to teach him how to articulate his faith.  I have been failing him by not giving him the right map.  So this week, Jacob started learning the "Romans Road."  (If you're not familiar with this term, there are a series of verses in the book of Romans that you can use to clearly share the plan of salvation.  Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-10, 10:13.)  He's memorized two verses so far, and he's determined to keep learning until he can clearly share his faith.  He's determined to remove that roadblock that is standing in the way of him going on a mission trip. 

I definitely have a new perspective of wildebeest these days.  Those ugly creatures tried to keep us from pressing on, but our driver knew the path and how to overcome the roadblock in our way. 

 

 

Talk to the Driver of your life (God).  Identify the goal.  Remove the roadblocks.  Then press on!  Like I discovered, sometimes the only roadblock is you.

 

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

Even the demons believe, and they are afraid...

"You believe that there is one God?  Good!  Even the demons believe that, and they are afraid!"
James 2:19  

"Not by might.  Not by power.  But by my Spirit, says the Lord."
Zechariah 4:6 

"At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tounge will confess He is Lord."
Philippians 2:10

It was late in the morning, Monday June 11th.  We were high up in the mountains of the village of Bukabwa, a twenty minute drive by Land Rover over a bumpy, dusty, rocky, hole-filled road.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, Bukabwa had long been forgotten by the government, much because of the villager's widespread involvement in witchcraft.  Yet, even with this knowledge, I remember making the comment to someone on the team how there has been literally no resistence to the Gospel message by the people we've shared with.  Funny how things work out, because on Monday, Katelyn, Gladys, and I would have a whole new experience. 

We were already late for lunch, and we had at least a few miles to walk on a thin dirt path about eight inches wide, briers on each side, with corn stalks surrounding us, just to get back to where we would meet for our Bible study/discipleship group time.  Moses, one of the teenagers from the church was from this area, and he wanted to take us everywhere he knew of.  Although he lived so far from where the church is in Bukabwa, his parents are leaders in the church, committed to walk the long road for several hours, just to go to church.  It was past time for lunch, but Moses said we needed to go to this last hut before heading back, so of course we did.  He was our guide, after all. 

As we began to share with Niamtodo Enock, a woman whose age was likely disguised by her tanned and leathered skin.  My best guess was that Niamtodo was maybe fifty, but she easily looked as if she was easily in her upper sixties.  As Katelyn began to share, Niamtodo's daughter Mariam walked over with a hesitant look and began to interrupt.  I remember her eyes, and they were disturbing.

I'm not sure of her exact words, but they went something like this, "I don't want you to use that word here in my presence.  I don't want you talk to me.  I don't want to hear this.  I'm afraid if you say that name, then the demon will hurt me."  She went on to tell us how she had given herself over to witchcraft a number of years ago, and she had a demon inside her.  She didn't want us to speak the name of Jesus in her presence, and that was that.  She then walked away and continued to make lunch for the family. 

Jesus.  Such a powerful and strong name.  So strong that the demons are afraid to hear it.

Katelyn and I looked at each other, I'm sure with our eyes beginning to bulge out of their sockets, as Mariam walked away, out of earshot of our conversation with her mom.  She had heard enough of what we were saying to understand the power of the Gospel, and she was scared to death.  You could see it in her eyes. 

We then continued to talk to Niamtodo.  She understood the power of the Gospel as well, and she wanted nothing more than to turn from her sin, invite Jesus into her life, and ask Him to take control.  I think Katelyn did most of the talking with Niamtodo, because I can only remember keeping my eyes on Mariam over by the fire.  After we visited with Niamtodo some more and invited her to the Bible study less than an hour later, our translator told us that we were really late now, and we had to get back. 

My eyes glanced over at Mariam again, and I felt time stand still.  Perhaps you've never encoutered spiritual warfare like this, and you are leary of what I am writing, but let me tell you it's real.  It's very real.  My mind raced.  Was I prayed up enough to go address Mariam?  What would I say?  I asked God to give me strength, and before I knew it, I was walking toward her, and I remember thinking Hebrews 4:12 "the Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword."  I don't know if I actually spoke that verse out loud or thought it.  I honestly can't remember everything I said, because it wasn't me talking.  I know the Holy Spirit was giving me the words to say and bringing back every Bible verse that could be used against the enemy at that moment.  I'm sure Gladys thought I was a nut, but she must have been just as crazy, because she followed me over to Mariam and translated for me. 

I told Mariam that I was about to leave, but I could not leave without trying to talk to her one last time.  I told her about Jesus and how he shed His blood on the cross for her sin and my sin.  I told her how the only way to have freedom is by turning from sin and giving Christ control.  I remember quoting Bible verse after Bible verse, including I John 4:4 "Greater is He that is in me than He that is in the world."  I told her when we accept this free gift of salvation, Christ comes to live within us, and when that happens, a demon control you any longer.  I remember telling her that she knows it's truth that I was telling her, and the truth will set her free.  I said that knowing about it isn't good enough, that the Bible says that the demons believe in God, and the are afraid, but she had to make a decision to ask God to take control. 

I have no idea what else I said, I remember being aware of only three things.  First, I knew Katelyn was standing behind me, fervently praying.  I didn't see her, but I knew she was there; I could feel it.  Secondly, I kept looking at that open fire she was cooking over, thinking, "Lord, I know you can cast that demon right into that open flame.  Lord, please cast that demon into the open flame!"  And finally, I knew what was coming out of my mouth was from God and God alone.  There is no way this scaredy-cat girl who is afraid of even the smallest bug would have done what I did in my own strength, that's for sure! 

Then I asked her, "Mariam, are you ready?  Are you ready to give God control?  Are you ready?  Are you ready?" 

Mariam looked at me for what seemed like an eternity, and with her face beginning to distort, she broke down in tears sobbing.  "I'm ready.  I'm ready right now.  I'm ready." 

I believe in my heart it was at that moment, when she made a decision to turn from her sin and give God control, that the demon left her.  I often tell people that praying the "sinner's prayer" isn't magic words.  It's the change that takes place in your heart that God looks at.  And I think that's what happened with Mariam, because as I said, Mariam was making ugali by the fire.  She was responsible to feed not only her mother, but her husband and children, and let me tell you by golly, she was not going to stop making that lunch for them!  After she broke down in tears saying she was ready to give her life to Christ, she gathered her composure and for the next few minutes finished making the meal, served it up for her family, and then came to us to pray and solidify the decision. 

Praise God we had Barnabus, one of the staff membrers from the AIC (African Inland Church) with us on that visit.  He had not been with us on any previous visits nor any future ones, but God had him there for that one.  He led Mariam in the sinners prayer, and he prayed over her.  Then he looked her in the eyes, and said "Yesu.  Yesu.  Yesu."  Then he asked her to say it over and over, "Jesus.  Jesus.  Jesus."  There was no more fear in her eyes.  There was no hesitation, as she said the name of Jesus over and over.

Immediately, she started asking tough questions about how to turn from some of the strongholds in her life.  Immediately, she wanted to know the right thing to do in certain situations.  Her understanding of spiritual things had been so clouded by her background, but she wanted to know the truth.  We finally had to say goodbye and leave Mariam.  We were nearly ninety minutes late for lunch and already late for the afternoon discipleship groups.  We prayed.  We hugged.  And we left.  But this time, we left Mariam and Niamtodo Enock with Jesus.

 

 
Front Row, Left to Right: Niamtodo and Mariam Enock.  Gladys.
Second Row, Left to Right: Beth Banfill, Moses, a sliver of Sanjura Juma Magige (who accepted Christ just two days earlier), Katelyn Nichols, and Christopher, one of the church workers.

 

--- Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

 

 

I Have Only Done My Duty...

Do you ever feel like you need a little extra credit for a job well done? Maybe a little more affirmation than what you are receiving? Do you want to somehow find a way to humbly brag about something really cool you've done? I've been there, and if being completely honest, most people would say they've been there, too.

I have been reading in Luke 17:7-10. "Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'"

We have only done our duty.

As I read those words, I stopped still in my reading. How many times have you thanked someone for something and they said, "No problem; I was only doing my job." I've heard that response many times. In other words, no extra credit was necessary, it was all in the 'line of duty.'

So I started to think, what exactly does this mean when it comes to spiritual matters? What is MY DUTY, in relation to God? And when I do what God has called me to do, am I being a self-promoter or a God-promoter? Ouch! Certainly, as a blogger and song-writer, there's nothing wrong with sharing the talents God has given me with others. But the difference is in the attitude of the heart. Who is taking credit for the end result? Am I out there saying, "Hey everyone, look at this cool song I wrote?" Or am I out there saying, "Let me share with you what God has allowed me to do!"? Or "Let me share with you what God is teaching me."

This is a tough one for me. I wouldn't say I'm a proud person, but I'm definitely not a naturally humble person either. The truth is, I'm a talker. A communicator. And I'm the kind of person that likes to share everything going on in my life with my friends and family. However, I've been told by a close family member that "all my talking" comes across as bragging sometimes. That's a tough one to swallow.

So back to the phrase, "I have only done my duty." What is it that God has called me to do? He's called me to obedience. He's called me to write. He's called me to tell others about Him. But when the praise and accolades come from the various "work" that I do for Him, is my heart's response, "I have only done my duty."? Definitely, this is a convicting phrase for me.

I think it's no accident that this passage in Luke uses the words of a servant in the master's home. Isn't that what we each are supposed to be, a servant? We must be serving each other, not self-serving. The words to that old Maranatha song ring loudly this morning...

Make me a servant. Humble and meek.
Lord, let me lift up those who are weak.
And may the prayer of my heart always be
Make me a servant. Make me a servant. Make me a servant today.

Father, keep me humble. Let me give all the glory in any accomplishment to You. Without You, I am nothing. Without You, I have nothing. And without You, life is not worth living. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart always be acceptable to You. Let my response always be, "I have only done my duty."

 

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

 

100% Pure

Titus 1:15-16a "To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him..."

So as I read this morning, I was struck by these verses. I have several friends who claim to be Christians yet their actions don't match what I believe a Christian should look like. It's always a struggle for me because I don't want to outright judge them for differences in views, but at the same time, hypocrisy is something I have a very low tolerance for.

Think about it. When you go to a grocery store, how often do you see the word "pure" listed as an ingredient? 100% Pure Cane Sugar. 100% Pure Vanilla. 100% Pure Cosmetics. 100% Pure Fruit Juice. I could go on and on. But what will happen to one of those food ingredients if you add a drop of vinegar? That once sweet, pure thing turns sour. It's corrupted. Sure, the bottle will still have the label "pure" but the inside denies the truth.

Purity. In today's society, when you say that word, the first thing to pop into your mind is in relation to sexual activity outside of marriage. But purity is so much more than that. It's holiness. Seeking God. Confessing sin daily. Matthew 5:8 says "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." What does it mean? Blessed are those whose minds, motives, and principles are pure; who seek not only to have the external actions correct, but who desire to be holy in heart, and who are so. Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart. (Barne's Notes on the Bible)

Just another reminder, as it says in Malachi 2:15 "Guard yourself in your spirit." We must daily be on the lookout for attacks from the enemy. He walks around like a lion trying to devour us. He wants to inject us with his venom so much that we've built an immunity to it, not even knowing it's happened.

No, I will never be 100% Pure love. 100% Pure Beautiful. 100% Pure Anything. Not on this earth anyway. But I can definitely purge those ingredients that are making me unlovely, ugly, and unpure. May my mind never be so corrupted that I claim to know God with my lips but my actions deny Him.

 

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

Integrity

Psalm 25:21 "May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in You."

Proverbs 2:6-8 For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.

Integrity, Defined as a firm adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty. The state of being whole, entire, or undiminished. Unimpaired. No, integrity doesn't mean you're perfect. As someone once said, it just means you do what is right when no one is looking.

You know, your reputation is something you can destroy in an instant. With one bad decision. It's also something someone else can attempt to destroy pretty quickly, too. What I've been struggling with lately is the latter. I made some completely upright decisions that others weren't too happy about, and my integrity is being threatened. In my adult life, that's one thing I've always been very proud of, and if I'm honest with you and myself, it is eating me alive that my integrity is being questioned.

But every time I pour out my heart to God about how unhappy I am that this is taking place, he just reminds me that He knows the truth. My hope is in Him, and He will protect me. He is my shield, guarding my path of justice.

Admitedly, I am a people person. No, I don't make decisions based on what people will think, but I do want people to like me and know the inner me. I want people to know the truth and believe the truth, especially if they have formed other opinions. I want to defend myself. It's the inner lawyer in me! I think that's human nature. But when I lose sleep over what people think, then it's wrong. When that happens, I'm not trusting in God. I'm not having faith that the truth will eventually come out. At that point, I'm more concerned about what people think of me than what God does. And if I'm honest with myself, that's called sin. I'm reminded of Psalm 20:7 that says, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God."

I ask myself today, "What am I trusting in?" Am I putting my faith in my reputation that I've worked so hard to build? Or am I putting my faith in Jesus Christ, my solid rock who never changes?

I resolve today to try to let go of these things that others are saying. They are but fleeting. I resolve to trust God more and think less about what others might believe. I resolve to let God be my shield and defense. With Him on my side, I can't lose!

If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters. ~Alan Simpson

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

Twenty more hours...

Twenty more hours.

That's how much longer I have until my husband returns from Africa. Just twenty more hours. In many ways, this has been the roughest trip for me with him away. You see, when we're most vulnerable, that's when the enemy tries to attack. And attack he did the last two weeks...mostly in our family. Many of you know Jacob's past health struggles, and unfortunately, they have decided to come to the forefront again, just in time for me to deal with them all on my own.

And therein lies the problem. The words "on my own." How often do we go through life, thinking we're 'on our own' with the feelings we have. We have our little pity parties because things aren't going the way we think they should. We think we're the only one who feels this way. We focus so much on ourselves that we forget to look outward. It's when we look at others, we realize how insignificant and small the problems we deal with really are. We get ourselves up in a tizzy thinking about all the issues at hand instead of thanking God for his bountiful blessings.

And truly, I am so blessed and rich with friends in my life. While Frank has been gone, one friend brought me dinner, another family had us over for dinner, and another family took us out to a restaurant for dinner. How awesome is that? Beyond words. Lord, forgive me for thinking "I'm on my own." Even more, Lord, You are here. You are here when Jacob struggles with behavior. You are here when Amber struggles with more hours of homework than she gets sleep. You are here in my sleepless nights of solitude. You are here, and I am never alone. Hebrews 13:5 "I will never leave you or forsake you."

And so, twenty more hours. That's twenty hours to turn my frown upside down. Twenty more hours to offer a helping hand to someone else. That's twenty more hours to try to encourage someone else. And that's twenty more hours to praise my God in the storms of life.

So when you're in a countdown, like I currently am, holding your breath until that moment you've waited for finally arrives, instead of trying to hold out, use every minute that you can for God. Praise Him. And thank Him that you have just twenty more hours.

 

Psalm 66:1-7 "Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious. Say to God, ‘How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, the sing praise to your name. Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man’s behalf! He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the waters on foot, let us rejoice in Him. He rules forever by His power, his eyes watch the nations – let not the rebellious rise up against Him.’”

Who is my god? The object of my affection...

Yesterday I downloaded a new book on my kindle called "Craving God: A 21 Day Devotional" by Lisa TerKeurst.  It was free, and published by Zondervann, so I figured I couldn't go wrong.  The book is about craving God instead of food.  (At least with the given title and my limited reading so far, that's what I can tell.)

As I read the first chapter, I was quickly allerted to the fact that this "devotional" had only a vague reference to Psalm 139 with us being fearfully and wonderfully made.  Sure, the content has been good so far, but when I finished the first chapter, I definitely didn't feel "fed" spiritually.  You know, just because something says "devotional" on it, doesn't mean it's filled with God's Word.  And to grow spiritually, we have to be cautious to not fill our mind with words from good people...we have to focus on God's inspired Word.  Ironic, yes, coming from a blogger.  But true, nonetheless.

Like I said, the content has been good, and I'm going to finish this book.  Struggle with food has always been a life-long battle for me.  Here's some quotes from the book so far...

"I had to get honest enough to admit that I relied on food more than I relied on God, I craved food more than I craed God."

"Is it possible we love and rely on food more than we love and rely on God?  Now before you delete this, hear me out.  This question is crucial.  We have to see the purpose of our struggle with food as something more than getting to wear smaller sizes and receiving compliments.  Shallow desires produce shallwo efforts...The process of getting healthy has to be about more than just losing weight and focusing on ourselves.  It's not about adjusting our diets and hoping for good physical results.  It's about recalibrating our souls so that we want to change for the right reasons."

But as I contemplated the words from the book, I turned to God's book, and for whatever reason, he led me to Psalm 23.  The Lord is my shepherd.  I shall not be in want.  Interesting that the Lord led me to that.  If I am craving food, maybe I'm not letting the Lord be my shepherd.  Hmmm...  He leads me...He restores me...He guides me...He's with me...He prepares my table...

So as I contemplated the combination of my new little "devotional" book with God's book, He led me to write this poem this morning.  It's a question we each have to ask ourselves, not once, but every single day.  Who or what is our god?  Who or what is the object of our affection?  I'm renewed today with an even greater desire to keep my God with a big - G on the throne.

Who is my god?  The object of my affection.

Wake up super early, phone by my bed.
No time for breakfast, gotta get the kids fed.
Must have my coffee, can’t live without it.
Then find time to work out so I can stay fit.

Making good progress, now it’s my time for me.
Kids are at school, and I’m finally free.
On the docket today, shopping and fun.
And of course some facebook while I’m on the run.

A glance at my watch says it’s time to stop
Kids will be home soon and the floors still need mopped.
Dinner is served.  Homework is done.
Kids are in bed.  Watch out tv, here I come.

The end of the day, it’s quickly in sight.
I got it all done, with all of my might.
Almost asleep.  Whoops, gotta say a quick prayer.
Then God speaks back in the dark night air.

“Who is your god?  You’ve replaced Me, you see.
The day is over, but what about Me?
You have time for shopping, you have time for fun.
You have time for friends, but time for me, there’s none.

Who is your god, the coffee, your phone?
Is it your food, your chocolate, am I still on the throne?
Am I King of Your life, ruling supreme?
Or have I been replaced with more important things?”

“But God, I just had so much to do.
Tomorrow will be better.  I’ll find time for You.”
But the pattern continues.  Night after night.
“I’ll change, God.  Tomorrow will start off right.”

Truth be told, nothing changes until the heart is clean
With motives and sin on the table to be seen.
The object of my affection each day must be You.
My big G-God, my provider, my only love true.

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

What Moon Phase are you?

What Moon Phaase are You?

2 Corinthians 3:18  "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

Last year, my son Jacob had a school project to look at the moon every night for 30 days and write down the shape.  The shape of the moon is different, depending on the angle of where the earth is...it could be a waxing crescent, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, waning crescent, or new moon.  (Did they just make these terms up recently, or did I totally miss that when I was in school?)  Admittedly, I was not a good student, but even my husband was at a loss for helping with that project!

Now, simple science lessons tell us that the moon doesn't give off it's own light.  It reflects the sun's light, so if the clouds are out or there is fog in the sky, you can't see it.  Well, we definitely experienced that scenario many times over during that month-long project.  The fog was so bad the whole first week that all we could do was look at the internet to see what the shape of the moon was supposed to be, then write it down.

2 Corinthians talks about reflecting God's glory.  It talks about how Moses in the Old Testament wore a veil over his face after it 'glowed' from being in God's presence.  If they made a movie, certainly it could have been called "The Shining."  But, here in the New Testament, Paul tells us we don't need to wear a veil over our face to reflect God's glory.   He says in verse 18 that the more time we spend with God, the more we are being transformed into His likeness.

Have you ever gone to a part of the country or a foreign country where they speak with an accent?  I've been to the UK several times, and while I was in college, I spent almost a month in Australia doing mission work.  The more time I spend in these kind of places, the more I begin speaking (or unconsciously) trying to speak like them.  My son Jacob has a friend here in Texas with a pretty strong Southern drawl.  The little boy's brother and family do not have do not have this accent...just him.  (I think his goal is to be a country singer when he grows up, and right now, he's got all the swagger going for him.)  Well, after Jacob spends a few hours with this friend, Jacob starts talking all 'hick' and 'country.'  No offense...that's not necessarily a bad thing, but it illustrates the point Paul is trying to say.  The more time you spend with someone, the more you become like them.  Spend time with Christ, and you will become more like Him, reflecting His glory.

If my focus is on television or my favorite show, it will consume my thoughts.  If I put my sole attention on food, gambling, or drugs, I easily can become an addict.  If my sole focus is on work, I will be a workaholic.  But if my focus is on Christ, I will become more like Him.  I will be addicted to Him and His love.  Now that's not a bad thing!  Look at the verse again.  We are being transformed into His likeness with ever increasing glory.  And where does that glory come from?  It's from the Lord.  I cannot be transformed into His likeness without spending time with Him.

Yes, sometimes the clouds and fog roll in.  Sometimes it's difficult to reflect God's glory when circumstances happen that shake us.  We end up waning, like the phases of the moon.  But just like the sun is always there, Christ is always there, waiting to be reflected.  God doesn't promise me this perfect life where everything goes according to my plans.  He asks me to be faithful...to spend time with Him...to reflect His glory, even in the fog.  For me, my focus has been on God, but I've felt lately as though I've been in a fog.  Life is flying by seemingly a mile a minute, and I feel like I just can't get a handle on anything very well.  So today, I'm asking God to blow His sweet breath through my life to blow away the fog and the clouds, so I can be a full moon, shining brightly and reflecting only His glory! 

What moon phase are you?

 

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

No distractions. No excuses. No ADD surfer moments.

Hebrews 12:2  "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Distractions.  Losing sight of the goal.  It happens to the best of us.  Sometimes we just get so focused on what we think is really important that we lose sight of what should be our real priorities.  I recently saw this exemplified last week while watching an episode of Untold Stories of the ER.  This particular one featured an ER in Hawaii with two surfer dudes as the prime focus.  Let me just say that these guys were ADD in action.  You see, they had decided to go out spear fishing, and I might add that they actually seemed pretty good at it.  Sure enough, one of the guys spotted a beauty of a catch, and with meticulous aim, he got it.  The problem?  He speared the fish right into his buddy's leg.  They arrived at the ER with one main goal.  I don't know about you, but I can think of a few things that should have been at the top of their priority list when arriving at the ER.  Perhaps questioning if the spear could be removed safely.  Perhaps focusing on not bleeding out when the spear was removed.  Perhaps getting medical attention to avoid infection.  But no.  The main goal of the two guys was to save that fish, still entangled between the leg and the spear, so that they could eat it for dinner.  I think these two surfers lost sight of what was really important, don't you.      

If you've been a member of Groupies4God very long, you might remember that back in September, we learned Hebrews 12:1. It encourages us to persevere in this race called life.  This week, we'll memorize verse two of Hebrews twelve, and it tells us how to persevere -- by fixing our eyes on Jesus!  That's the goal.  Focus on Him, the author and perfecter of our faith!  Our faith began and will be finished in Him.  He started it, and He's perfecting it in us, daily.

The verse  then goes on to say that "for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame."  Do you really think Jesus found joy in going to the cross, and suffering pain and shame for my sins and yours?  I don't think so.  In fact, in Matthew 26, we see Jesus praying that "the cup pass over Him."  I do believe, however, that the joy Hebrews 12:2 is talking about is the good that would come from His death.  Jesus knew that by enduring the cross, He would conquer sin and death so that we could have eternal life.  It was the greater good.  Yes, He gladly went to the cross on our behalf, without distractions.

Honesty time here.  If you know me, you probably also know that I have a bent to be just like those surfer guys.  When I am extremely stressed, my ADD brain kicks in, and it's hard for me to prioritize the fog clouding my brain.  Work, family, and friends distract me from what I know I should be doing.

What about you?  What has God called you to do that you aren't focusing on with all your effort?  Has He clearly told you to go on a mission trip, and yet you're holding on to your fear?  (Matthew 28 says go, that one should be a no-brainer!)  Has He asked you to serve in a particular area at church?  Maybe it's even more simple than that.  Maybe God is telling you to follow Him whole heartedly.  He's been pricking your heart to spend more time with Him, praying and reading your Bible daily.  What is it?  Take some time to write it down.  For me, writing it down in ink is the hardest part.  That's where I become honest with myself.  That's the point of commitment for me, no turning back.   

What distractions are in place that keep you from fixing your eyes on Jesus?  Financial pressures?  Stresses of work?  Busyness of life?  What about your friends?  Yes, even your "bestest" of friends could be distracting you.  All these things can lead us to give the same answer the disciples did to Jesus in Matthew 26, "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."  The disciples wanted to pray with Jesus, but they were just so stinking tired!  How many times do we use the excuse, "There just aren't enough hours in the day!"  Think about it.  Search your soul.  Ask our Father in Heaven to show you and reveal truth in your life today.

Back to the surfer dudes in the ER.  The cool thing is that even though they got distracted from the important issue, the doctor was able to bring their focus back.  He was able to help them realize what the real priority should be - removing the spear, not saving the fish.  In the end, they actually got the best of both worlds and came back that night with dinner for the doctor, a special thank you gift. 

I believe God, the Great Physician, is a lot like that doctor.  He helps us gain focus, and He heals us spiritually so that we can accomplish His will.  Are you ready to serve without distraction?  Are you ready to stop using excuses?  Get your pen and paper handy, and get honest with God.  No more distractions.  No more excuses.  And no more ADD surfer moments.

 ---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

What Not to Wear, Spiritual Lessons in Clothing from Colossians

Colossians 3:12  "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."

It's the new year, and that means most of us are trying to figure out what changes need to be made in our lives for 2011.  Colossians 3:12, the verse to memorize for this week, is a perfect resolution for the New Year.  I heard someone say earlier this week that instead of focusing on the physical things you want to change in your life like your weight, you need to ask God what qualities you possess that are not consistent with His character.  Those are the areas that should be your focus of change for the New Year.   

With the advent of the tv show "What Not to Wear" on TLC, my teenager Amber is my personal fashion expert.  She watches every episode and gives me much needed fashion advice.  I usually will not walk out the door without her giving me a thumbs up.  In fact, it's not uncommon for me to change clothes numerous times until I get that nod of approval.  You see, I'm not really good at fashion.  I like it, and I love to shop, but putting it all together is a bit harder for me. 

Do you have any old items of clothing that you are emotionally attached to?  I used to have this pair of overalls.  They were too big for me, and I looked terrible in them, but I didn't care.  I loved them.  They were comfortable and unrestraining.  The last day I wore those favorite overalls was the day I met with a professional at my son's school.  Never in my life had someone talked to me like I was an uneducated and truly stupid person like that professional did.  I was so frustrated with how I had been treated, and as I tried to figure it out, I came to the conclusion that I was judged by my clothing.  Never again would I let that happen, so in the garbage the overalls went.

In Colossians chapter three, Paul talks about spiritual clothing.  Paul had style, in a spiritual sense, and he shares those spiritual "fashion" do's and don'ts with us.  Take some time to read Colossians 3, especially verses 7-17.  In this passage Paul says, don't wear the clothes that you used to wear, the sinful clothes of anger, rage, lying, etc.  He says, put those things away. 

You see, sometimes sin is like my old overalls.  It's comfortable.  It's unrestrained.  And although I know it doesn't look good, I don't care, because to be perfectly honest, it feels really good.  But, the truth is that I need to throw those old sinful 'clothes' in the garbage.  How do I do it?  Prayer.  Soul-searching.  Confession.  Commitment.  And only with God's help.

I think it's pretty awesome that God gives us a choice to get rid of our old clothes, and then He shows us a brand new wardrobe to put on.  This isn't a wardrobe from Goodwill.  It's a high-end spiritual fashion set of clothes.  It's the clothes you would see on the runway of heaven.  Paul says that we should clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love.  Most of these are the fruits of the Spirit, found in Galatians 5:22-23.  These clothes we should wear are all character qualities of Christ.  Think about it.  If you were given a jacket or article of clothing from your most revered person, would you not cling to it, smell it, hug it, sleep with it, and even live in it?  Why do we not do the same thing with Christ and the clothing He offers?

Then Paul closes the section with answering "how" we get this new wardrobe.  By letting the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.  By letting His Word dwell in me.  Doing everything in the name of Jesus.  And giving thanks to God.  I can get this new wardrobe and it doesn't cost me a financial cent!  Being the bargain shopper I am, that's my kind of wardrobe.  But, it does cost me myself, my commitment to Christ, my yielding to His way instead of mine...it costs giving up my wants and wishes for His will.  God's fashion must be my priority, not my own desire to wear sloppy, comfortable overalls.

Perhaps like me, you've read these verses hundreds of times.  Perhaps like me, you're starting the new year with good intentions and new resolutions.  Let's all make a new resolution to have a "What Not to Wear" experiment in fashion - God's way.  Let's start with memorizing the verse this week and internalizing it in our lives.  Whether you're a girl who loves to shop or a guy who hates it, I think you can relate to the wardrobe God wants us to be clothed in.  Shopping anyone?

 

 ---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com