GodandMe2theMax

Creative parenting...

“Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand…For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks…”  Matthew 12:25,34b

In this passage, Jesus addresses the Pharisees when they accuse him of being the devil himself.  Jesus point blank tells them, “Every kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.”  (Sidenote: This definitely makes me really concerned about the future of the USA with the constant division between republicans and democrats, but alas, that’s not the purpose of this blog…)  

Jesus then goes on to say, “Every city or household divided against itself cannot stand.”  And that’s where I am focused this morning.  The household.  If you know me personally, you will know that my one constant prayer request for about 2 years running now is that we will have wisdom to know how to parent our children as individuals.  Admittedly, parenting is a hard task, and I tip my hat to those who tackle it by themselves.  Unless God puts me in that situation, I can’t imagine ever having to do it.  With our oldest now in college, you would think parenting would be easier, but I’m not finding that to be the case.  At times, I find it overwhelming, especially right now with a full-blown adolescent teenaged boy in the house.

Have you ever built a tower with Lincoln logs or Legos?  Now, truth be told, I haven’t built very many, because my children never really played with those toys.  In fact, Jacob told me the other day that he didn’t play with them because they left nothing to the imagination.  (I thought they were so popular because you could use your imagination to build anything with them!)  Not Jacob, though.  He would rather create something out of paper and tape instead of putting together pre-made pieces that link together to form something.  “That’s real creativity, mom.” 

Top & Bottom Left: A self portrait  Top Right: A set of aerodynamic wings he swears will be able to help him fly (if only he were the weight of a bird)  Bottom right: a net, made from paper and tape, twisted together and tied in knots

Indeed, he has made some incredible things by being creative in this way, and it’s true, even when he was a toddler, he didn’t play with the box of Legos we had purchased.  But if I gave him tape, paper and/or a cardboard box, he would play for hours.  He somehow had a plan in his mind of what the completed project was supposed to look like, and he would execute the plans until the project was perfected.

Top Left - a revolver made completely from tape...not that I'm proud of my son designing a revolver, but you have to admit it's pretty cool.  Top right:  I believe this ended up being transformed into some kind of a shield  Bottom Left: No, this isn't a pitchfork, it's a triton   Bottom Right:  "Rubberband Man", one of my personal favorites, made completely from rubberbands, no glue or anything else.

So if you by chance have played with Legos, imagine working with a partner and laying your foundational Lego pieces.  You begin to build higher and higher, but you realize that something doesn’t look or feel quite right.  You look down and realize the reason is because some of the foundation bricks you laid are no longer there.  Perplexed, you discover that you’re not working with your partner at all to build one big edifice.  You are working together, side by side to build the same thing, but your idea of how it should be done is quite different from your partner, so you end up with two smaller, less stable, very different creations.  Your partner is building a creation and you are building yours. 

When Jesus says “a house divided against itself cannot stand” I can only think of how important it is to be unified as parents in how we raise our children.  This is easier said than done, as I'm learning daily!  Our faith is the first foundation that everything is built on, but then it gets a little tougher.  If you’ve struggled as a parent, maybe like me, you just don’t know what the right answer is.  Do you make them do their homework or do you let them fail?  Are you rescuing them too much or are you being the kind of parent that God wants you to be?  Maybe you’re new to parenting, and you wonder if you should spank your child or if you can correct megative behavior with “time-outs”.  Maybe your husband/wife doesn’t believe in spanking and you believe you should.  Maybe you and your spouse are together building your own Lego creations...separately

As I read this passage, I am reminded that I do not have all the answers.  There are so many “unknowns” in the realm of parenting.  But this one thing I do know, the foundation of parenting must be firmly grounded in Jesus Christ.  I find it interesting that Jesus later says “…out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”  Last week was extremely stressful on me.  Our family was out in California to take our oldest to college, and leaving her out there was the hardest thing I've ever had to do.  My husband stayed an extra week, but I had to come home with our son so he could start his sophomore year of high school.  The stress of getting back in the school groove, combined with a week of single parenting, combined with massive stress at work after being gone for 12 days culminated in a massive outpouring of anger on my son Thursday night. 

After he went to bed, the Holy Spirit nudged me (kicked me, actually) and I realized that although the content of what I said to my son was 100% accurate and truthful, the way I delivered it was in no way a resemblance of my Heavenly Father.  I’m so thankful He gives us fresh mercies every morning, because on Friday morning, the first thing I said to Jacob was that I was sorry for losing my temper with him.  I asked him to forgive me, and he did.  As I look back over last week, my daily quiet time was limited to reading the daily “Jesus Calling” while sitting in the bathroom.  I was going a mile a minute dealing with life's stresses that I pretty much neglected my relationship with God.  On top of that, I don’t sleep well when my husband is out of town, so suffice it to say I was one big mess emotionally, and I pretty much relieved all those stresses on my son.  “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”  Yep, that’s what took place for sure.  Again, I’m so thankful that God is a forgiving God who gives new mercies!

But back to parenting...  “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”  Just like Jacob had a plan for each of his creations, as parents, I'm reminded that we must have a plan.  We must have a plan for discipline, for teaching our kids the Bible, and for preparing them for life.  When our kids were younger, my husband and I used to have an annual retreat where we planned out yearly goals for our kids and our marriage.  It was always a time to evaluate what we’ve done right and wrong and a time to ask God to show us the next step.  We no longer have annual retreats, per se, because at this stage of parenting, those meetings have to come much more frequently as we navigate the tender adolescent teenaged years.  Trust me, they more closely resemble weekly, if not daily meetings, trying to come up with a plan that will help tackle whatever the daily problem is.

Top Left:  Helmet (made to size); he eventually spray painted it gold, his favorite color   Top Right: A working bow and arrow, made from post-it notes, tape, and rubberbands  Middle Left: An army ninja  Bottom Left: turtle spinner

So my thoughts are this:  Do you have a firm foundation in your home and marriage?  In Texas, we have to actually water the foundation of our homes to avoid cracks.  Figuratively, are you watering your foundation with the Living Water of Jesus Christ on a regular basis so your heart overflows His love?   Are you consistent in your discipline?  Do you have a unified creative plan in place for each of your individual children?  Do you regularly have marital staff meetings to evaluate your family and set goals?  Are you working together to raise the kids or are you workig your plan and your spouse working his, hoping one of you is doing something right.  And as you work those plans, are you spending the necessary time in the Word so that your heart is filled with God-thoughts and they outpour through your lips? 

All these random thoughts about family, children, and being creative as a unified parental front do really hit home for me.  Parenting is tough.  Sometimes I want to give up.  Sometimes I feel like I can't find a creative way to fix the problem.  Sometimes I try to tell God this isn't what I signed up for.  (Honesty is the best policy, right?  And I'm just being honest here!)  I'm just so thankful for God's Word and how He allows phrases to jump out and hit home in my heart, right when I need to be reminded of them the most.  I'm thankful, too, for a Godly husband who leads our family but mostly for a loving God who loves me in spite of my sinful outbursts and mid-life temper tantrums.

 

--- Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

 

Salt or Salty?

“You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."  Matthew 5:13  

 

 

Having 2 teenagers, I tend to learn a few old words that have taken on new meaning.  In fact, I even throw them into conversation from time to time to help me feel ‘hip and cool’ among today’s generation. (Word to the wise – it doesn’t really work…)  Anyway, one such term is “salty.” 

salty  adjective 
The internal attitude that develops when you find yourself a victim of unfair circumstance and feel like you were given the short end of the stick. 

Maybe you don’t get bitter; maybe you’re even able to work through the situation emotionally, but the moment the subject is brought up again, you’re right there on the salty bandwagon again.  Even discussing the situation stings...like salt in a wound.  When that happens, you’re described as being really salty.

Then there’s the other salty that we are all familiar with - as in salty food. 

salty  adjective 
Tasting of or containing salt; saline

Have you ever met someone who automatically adds salt or pepper to their food before they even taste it?  Maybe you're one of those people.  It's a given, the words “pass the salt” come from their mouth just after hearing the “amen” in the prayer…or maybe even before.  

Well, let’s just say that I tend to be both extremes with these two salty descriptions.  I don’t really get bitter when I’m dealt a hand in life that I think is unfair, but sometimes, no matter how much I try or pray for God to help me, I do get a bit salty about the situation.  Just when I think I’m emotionally healed, something happens, and the thick scab is ripped open with salt being poured into it.  Ouch!  It’s not a good feeling, to say the least.

On the other hand, when it comes to food, I am not one of those salty people.  In fact, although we do own a salt shaker, it usually stays up in the cupboard with the spices, only making an occasional appearance at the dinner table when we have company in need of some extra flavor.  I don’t know if that means I have a bland palate, am a content person, or if I just love to eat so much that I don’t appreciate good flavor.  I’ll let you make your own deductions.

Well, if you follow my blog at all, you’ll notice a huge void over the last year.  Massive time seems to span between posts.  I’ve never really been one to not have something to say.  Ever.  But over the last year, that is not the case at all.  I have countless blogs started, only to delete them and never complete them.  I had a lot of half-thoughts, but not too many complete God-thoughts that I felt compelled to share.  Why?  At times that has been my eternal question to God.  Why do I feel so useless?  Why can’t I even seem to write a paragraph about what You’re teaching me?  Why does this hurt so bad?  As I tried to find answers, the repeated answer I received was that God wanted me to pretty much shut my mouth for a period of time.  When I stop blabbering, then I am a better listener for His still, small voice.

Thankfully, I’ve never had to endure a hurricane, but I do know that when a hurricane is about to hit, you really have only two choices: 

1)  Run for safe cover with your valuables and family
2)  Hunker down and endure the storm

Let’s be honest.  Hunkering down is not easy.  I would much rather choose the option behind door #1.  But over the last year, that’s not what God told me to do. 

He said, “Stay put and endure the storm.” 
He said, “I am your shelter.”
He said, “I am your provider.”
He said, “I am the only friend you need.”
He said, “I am all you need.” 
He said, “It’s not going to be easy.  People will fail you, but I never will.”
He said, “Trust me.  I know what is best.”

So imagine me, huddled up in a ball, protecting my heart, trying not to be hurt by the storms of life, all while waiting on God to show me the next move.  Every so often I would peak out the cracked window hoping to see a shimmer of light, only to realize the waves are crashing in again and it’s not safe to come out.

I don’t know how better to describe it.  In truth, if you don’t have a relationship with the Lord, you may dismiss what I’m describing as just going through “a funk.”  But for me, it’s truly been a year (plus) long massive hurricane of emotions.  It’s been a period of God silencing me so He can work on the deepest part of me.

You may not understand what I’m trying to say.  You see, some people are artists.  They express themselves through painting, and it’s what they have to do.  Some people feel that way about cooking.  I wish I felt that way about cleaning (others in my family may wish that, too), but I don’t.  However, I’ve always felt that one of my biggest ministries over the last few years has been through this blog.  When it comes to sitting down and stringing together random thoughts and simple applications that help point people to a relationship with Jesus, well, that’s my happy place.  And when there are long intervals between spending quality time in your happy place, even if God tells you to hunker down, it’s a tough place to be emotionally.  It’s like an insatiable craving for something you can’t have, even though that object of your craving is right in front of you. 

On Sunday evening, the weariness of hunkering down all these months had just about gotten me.  I felt so empty inside.  Frank and I talked through the whole gamut of emotions I was feeling, then we did the only thing we knew to do – pray.  After we finished praying together, I silently cried myself to sleep begging God over and over to start using me again, to bring back joy, and to not put me on a shelf to collect dust.  (Side note – Philippians 1:6  “I am confident of this that He who started a work in you will complete it!”  I was just too weary to remember this promise when I cried myself to sleep in prayer!)

It’s amazing how a good night’s sleep and some sweet Holy Spirit peace can change your perspective.  Monday morning I began my normal routine and started to have my quiet time, and as I read, my heart started to go to its happy place.  The more I read, the more He showed me, and the more excited I became.  With a glance out the window, the sun was shining, and this time I didn’t sense any big waves right behind it.  The next morning, my experience was similar, except the excitement and burning in me was a little hotter, deeper.  I finally felt as though God was gently blowing the dust off me, promising me He wasn’t done with me yet.

This week I had started reading in the book of Matthew.  I have two pages of observations and applications of what God was showing me in just the first four chapters, and then I got to chapter five. 

Matthew 5:13  “You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.  You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Did you catch that?  “If the salt loses its saltiness, it is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out.”

Good for nothing.  Thrown out.  Isn’t that the same thing as God putting me on a shelf?  My biggest prayer and concern was addressed right before my eyes.  But as I read it repeatedly, I noticed the conditional statement.  It says IF the salt loses its saltiness THEN it is no longer good for anything. 

I read the verse again.  Multiple times.  And as I did, I prayed over it, asking God to show me the truths He wanted me to see.  What He showed me was that I had allowed myself to become a salty person.  And when I’m even a little salty about things, it prevents me from effectively being the salt of the earth.  In essence, the more salty I am, the more I lose my spiritual saltiness and the more useless I become. 

When God would allow one of those salt-water hurricane sized waves to encompass me, it would rip open scabs that I thought had already healed.  Then the cyclical burning of the salt in my wounds would start all over again.  The end result was little by little, I was becoming a salty person. 

But as I read this passage, I realized God wasn’t bringing the waves to make me feel the pain again.  He was allowing them to engulf me so that He could heal the deepest part of me.  Can I say this big revelation from God has brought about 100% healing at the time of writing this blog?  No, of course not.  But I do believe that just being conscious of what He’s trying to teach me has helped me discern His will better.  It’s given me renewed joy, and it’s definitely allowed me to have peace about the situations in my life that He has allowed.

I don’t know if what I’ve written resonates with anyone else but me, but it really doesn’t matter, actually.  What matters to me is that I am confidently reassured that God is not done with me.  He will complete His work in me.  Have I arrived?  Of course not.  He has so much more work to do on this self-imposed salty girl.  But as I daily take up my cross and drop my will for His, as I allow Him to wash and clean my deeply set wounds, He will continue to infuse that spiritual salt in me.  He will transform me into the kind of salty girl He wants to use. 

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

 

It's a Simple Recipe, Really, it is...

"The voice of the Lord is over the waters...
The voice of the Lord is powerful...
The voice of the Lord is majestic...
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars...
The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightening...
The voice of the Lord shakes the desert...
The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forest bare...
The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace."
Psalm 29

 

If you know me at all, you'll know that for the several school years, I've been a huge advocate of our high school's debate program.  This year, my daughter Amber is the Debate Captain, so I stepped up and agreed to be the Booster Club President.  That may have been a mistake.  Check back with me at the end of the year to see if I'm still fogging a mirror.

Anyway, last night I slept solidly for about 2 hours, at best.   You see, we have a huge fundraiser coming up in a few weeks, and so far, we haven't enlisted enough parent volunteers to get everything done that needs to get done.  I'm not a worrier, mind you, but I am a list maker, and apparently while I was sleeping, my subconscious was multi-tasking, making "to-do" lists, prioritizing other things, and thinking of new things to add to that growing list.  True story...because I woke up with my list complete, wide awake.  One problem: it was about 3:30 AM.

I tried to go back to sleep, but try as I might, sleep was alluding me.  It was pretty apparent that sleep was not in my forecast, but as I deliberated about getting up, the Lord brought to my mind a verse I had memorized long ago:

Isaiah 26:3  "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee because he trusts in Thee."  (Yes, I memorized it in the King James Version, but if that's a foreign language to you, here's some other versions below...)

The New Living Translation says, "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You."

The New American Standard says, "The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You."

When I have a lot of pressure on me to get things done, I feel the stress in my joints and upper back. I start to feel as though my body is filled with my old friends Arthur and Itis, and I long for relief from some ibuprofin.  But this morning, the Lord gave me a very clear recipe for the stress relief and peace I need, and it wasn't "take 3 aspirin and call on Him in the morning."  He reminded me that my #1 responsibility is not to Debate, not to work, and not even to my children or husband.  My #1 responsibility is to keep my mind focused on Him and keep trusting Him.  If I do that, He will provide the peace I need.  And you know what?  He's big enough to take care of all the little things on my "to-do list".  In fact, He can even take care of the big ones on that list, too!

What does all this have to do with "the voice of the Lord" and Psalm 29?  Well, over the last few days, I've really been focusing on this passage.  I've been "stuck" on it, in fact, not really feeling the freedom to move on to something else.  I've been enchanted by the power of God's voice, as visible in nature.  I've been captivated by how strong the voice of the Lord actually is - strong enough to split the cedars!  Yet sometimes my voice is so much louder than His that I don't hear Him.  Sometimes I walk around with my earbuds glued in my ears, or maybe even an index finger in each ear, intentionally drowning out anything I don't have time to hear.  I have my agenda, my "to-do" list, and I have my day planned out from start to finish.  I try to merrily go through life with a good attitude and cope with what comes my way, often paying no attention to the voice screaming loudly (and sometimes whispering softly) in my ear.

I re-read the passage again this morning, for the fourth day in a row.  You know what?  I find it a bit ironic that all week my attention has been on the powerful images described in Psalm 29 about "the voice of the Lord"...ironic, because I never even noticed the last verse in the passage:  

"The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace."  

PEACE.

That's exactly what I need, and it's exactly what God promised me at 3:30 this morning.  Keep my mind on Him, and He'll keep me in perfect peace.

I think it's no mistake that God whispered Isaiah 26:3 to me in the wee hours of the morning and then later had more promises of peace for me in this same passage that has captured my attention for four days straight.

"Lord, may I never speak so loudly that I cannot hear Your voice.  May I tune my listening to Your frequency, so that whether You bellow or whisper, I will not only hear You, but I will listen, and I will obey.  Thank you for perfect peace; peace that only You can provide in the midst of craziness; peace that comes only from keeping my mind steadfast on You."

--- Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

 

"Blessing Time"...Meet Nephie and Catherine

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."  Psalm 147:3

"Blessing Time" was a scheduled part of CAMP LIFE each day.  This is when I could go spend one-on-one time with each girl, along with my Zambian partner Magdalene, of course. I'd heard others who had been to CAMP LIFE before say how this was their favorite part of the day, and I was anxious to get to know these girls a little better.

Education is key in bringing about change in the lives of these children, and as I said previously, that is a luxury that most of them are not able to afford.  Through Family Legacy's Father's Heart Sponsorship program, children are able to attend a Lifeway Christian Academy and receive one meal a day.  In addition to that, as an incentive for the child's good attendance, extra "blessings" of food are given to the caregivers at home.  You see, many families would rather keep the kids at home to do the work or take care of the other children.  Some of the situations are much like child/slave labor, and that's why the extra incentives have been built in for the caregivers.  

To sponsor a child through "The Father's Heart" program, for children in grades 1-6, there is a is a 1-time $95/enrollment fee for school and then a $44/month commitment.  For children in grades 7-12, the sponsorship changes to $66/month and a 1-time enrollment fee of $190.  The price differential is because of the additional testings that the government requires to take place for the older children.

This short video is very indicative of what I saw and what a difference an education can make.  Take some time to watch...

 

(If for some reason you cannot see the video, I also posted it on my facebook!  You can look there or message me, and I will send you a link!)

Over the course of the week, we had "Blessing Time" with all 10 girls, but Tuesday, we met with Nephie, Catherine, and Ireen.  I want to introduce you to each one, so you can pray for them specifically for them.

This is "Nephie".  Is she not just beautiful?  Just look at that sweet, innocent smile!  I think you'll find that I'm going to say almost that exact same thing about all my girls.  They are all so beautiful, and I would soon learn just how beautiful, inside and out!  

Her real name is Nephel Phiri, and Nephie is the one mentioned in the earlier blog who spelled her name wrong on the necklace, but "Nephie" just seemed to fit her well.  The last name of Phiri is a common name in Zambia, kind of like "Smith" or "Brown" is here.  When I arrived at CAMP LIFE on Monday, looking for my Zambian partner Magdalene so I could identify my group of girls, apparently she spotted me first, so Magdalene sent Nephie over to get me.  She literally attacked me with hugs as if we were long, lost friends.  "Auntie Beth!!!  Come this way!!!!"  And that was my first greeting from Nephie, actually, with any of "my girls".

When I sat down with Nephie for "Blessing Time", I learned that she's 11 years old.  I asked if she knew her birthday, and she did not.  We were told that many of the children have no idea what day they were born, only about how old they are.  My heart cracked a little more.  If you know me, you know birthdays are big for me.  My husband jokes that I celebrate "Beth's Birthday Month" and proclaim it as a national holiday.  We were instructed to write down a birthday of 1/1/and the year if the child didn't know her birthday, that way the ministry could identify the child's birthdate as being "unknown."  

Nephie is in grade 3, and praise the Lord, she currently has a sponsor through the Father's Heart program.  But did you catch that?  She is in grade 3, but she is 11 years old.  That means Nephie is already 3 years behind because of not being in school.  Can you imagine your 11 year old being in 3rd grade, but still being smart as a whip?  My heart split open a little more.

When I asked her what makes her happy, she said "I'm happy because I get to go to school now."  How many of our children will answer that question like that?  But these kids know and understand the value of education.  How I wish our children could really grasp that same importance!

Nephie is a single orphan - her mom passed away, and she lives with her dad.  She said that there are 8 children in the family, 4 boys and 4 girls.  She said she sleeps on the floor of a two room house.  Nephie has goals of being a nurse one day, and she asked that we pray for her to be able to concentrate at school.

I asked her what pains her, and she told me what pains her is listening to her 18 year old brother cry throughout the night in pain, due to his sickle cell anemia.  She said they don't have any money for medicines, so her brother cries a lot, and that makes her sad.  I asked her if she feels safe at home, and she said now that her community chased away one of her neighbors, she does feel safe.  She said the man kept preying on her, but he never hurt her though.  (Praise God for His protection!)

I learned that before coming to CAMP LIFE, Nephie had already asked Jesus into her heart.  However, sometimes she attends a JW church.  Please pray that God will invade her home and she will understand the difference between truth and lies, as her mind is probably getting mixed messages.  Finally, Nephie asked that we pray for her dad to find employment.  We prayed together, hugged, and I told her if she wanted to talk with me anytime later in the week, just to let me know.  Please pray for Nephie and the prayer requests mentioned!

At the end of the week, each child was given a wool blanket.  This is a picture of Nephie with hers.  Special thanks to my friend Ashlie Rich who sponsored this blanket for Nephie.  (More on the blankets in a later blog!)

The next "Blessing Time" we were able to do was with Catherine - Catherine Tembo.  Catherine was my oldest orphan girl.  She is 14 years old and even knows her birthday - November 9th, 1998, but as I quickly learned, she's already had a harder life than most people I know.  She's a double orphan - both her mom and her dad have already passed away.  

Catherine shared with us that after her parents died, she used to live with her auntie.  The auntie made her "go out with boys" so they would have money for food.  By the grace of God, Catherine's grandma heard about what was going on, and she stepped in and took Catherine away from the auntie.  Now, she  lives with her grandma, 2 brothers, 2 uncles, and 5 cousins in a 2-room house.  She said there are 8 people who sleep on the floor in the room she sleeps in.

Pictured above is Catherine Tembo.  
Can't you just see the joy of the Lord come through her face as she sings one of the praise songs, while waiting in line?

 

Remember that first "Small Group" I talked about from Monday?  The one where I was so concerned about the girls not understanding the decision to accept Christ into their lives?  Well, when I asked Catherine if she had ever thought about making that decision for herself, she told me, "I already did that."  I asked her to tell me more about it, and she said, "I made that decision in "Small Group" on Monday, Auntie Beth!  Isn't that just like God?  He has all the details wrapped up perfectly, and we don't need to worry, not one bit!

Like Nephie, Catherine is also blessed to already have a sponsor through the Father's Heart program. She attends the Lifeway Christian Academy in her compound of Chainda, and her favorite subject in school is English, but she has a goal of being a teacher one day.  

I asked Catherine if she feels safe at home, and she said she does most of the time, now that she lives with her grandma.  But she did say one of her uncles gets drunk all the time and screams at her, "Follow your father to the grave!"  She said once he threw a big stone on back, but when he is drunk, she now just tries to stay away from him.

Catherine wept as she asked us to pray that God would forgive her for her past mistakes with boys and that she will stay pure now that she's a child of the King!  She was a child.  A victim, really, and yet she was holding guilt for what was forced upon her.  We prayed together, and I believe God healed her heart and made her whole again.  That's what He promises to do, you know, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."  Psalm 147:3

Catherine asked that we pray that her sponsor will be able to continue, then she said one more prayer request.  "Please pray that God will add years to my life."  This 14 year old girl knows all too well the reality of the brevity of life.  She has seen it.  She has lived it.  And she doesn't want to repeat the cycle of death.

"Please pray that God will add years to my life." - Catherine Tembo
Special thanks to my friends Steven and Kelly Bardeua who sponsored this blanket for Catherine!

 

We had time on Tuesday for one more "Blessing Time" - with a little girl named Ireen Phiri, but I will save that story for the next blog.  I'm well aware that as I type all the details, most people don't have time to read all the details, and her story is one that cannot be missed, so stay tuned.  It's her story that keeps me awake at night, and haunts me during the daylight hours.

Take the time to pray for Nephie and Catherine, will you please?  Especially pray that they will be able to stay in school and grow in the Lord!  And pray that God continues to bind up the wounds of these brokenhearted ones who have lost so much.

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

A call to prayer - WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2013 - will you enlist?

Brave Gideon had 300 men, the Mideonites had a host.
But Gideon had the Lord with him, and so he had the most.
Gideon had the Lord!  Gideon had the Lord!
He won the fight with the Mideonites, for Gideon had the Lord!

If you grew up in Sunday School like I did, perhaps you know the words to this song and were humming along as you read them.  As I share this morning, not only do I remember this old tune, but for our family this Wednesday, the story of Gideon takes on deeper meaning. 

In the eight year history of Maxpoint Ministries, founded by my husband Frank Banfill, we’ve never had a global call to prayer for our family and our ministry. The time is now.  We desperately are asking that you lift our ministry and our family up before Father, specifically this Wednesday, January 23^rd. (Of course, if you want to pray for us in between, then by all means, do!)

Gideon’s army was facing a mighty battle; one that looked insurmountable to the human eye.  But nothing is insurmountable when you have the Lord, and we know that.  So just as brave Gideon saw a mighty miracle take place as God used him and 300 men, we are asking God to give us an army of 300 people who will commit to pray specifically for our ministry and our family (Frank, Beth, Amber, and Jacob) on Wednesday.  We would ask that you pray for three things:  WISDOM, CLEAR DIRECTION FROM GOD, and for PROVISION.

Please pray as the Lord leads, but here are some of the Scriptures that we will be praying this Wednesday:

“Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”
--Isaiah 49:23b

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times,having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
--II Corinthians 9:8

“I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.”
--Revelation 3:8a

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him.”
--James 1:5

If you will commit to pray for us, please comment on this blog, on my facebook page, tweet “praying” to @frankbanfill, or send me an email. If you prefer to text me, then by all means, do so!  Just let me know in some way of your commitment to pray for us.  We are asking God for that army of 300, just like Gideon’s army.

If you’re reading this, then at some point, our lives have become intertwined.  Maybe we have gone on mission trips together, attend church together or have in the past.  Some of you reading this went to college or high school with me.  And yes, I can definitely think of some who are reading this now who actually attended elementary school with me!  Perhaps our lives are connected because of our 16 year old daughter’s numerous mission trip outreaches and public speaking successes.  Maybe we’ve been able to minister to you through sharing how God’s grace has been demonstrated in the life of our 14-year old son who has overcome so many challenges (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfpKq-1rH4A).   Maybe our lives have been laced together through sharing my cancer story and God's healing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCN2MGSzym4).

Perhaps you’re reading this post because someone has passed the link on to you over the course of time or maybe you just stumbled across it “by chance”.  I truly believe that there are no “chances” with God, and if you are reading this, then God has a reason for it.  I am asking that you pray for our family and our ministry.  We are asking God for an army of 300, just like Gideon had, and I am asking you to let me know that you will be praying. 

Will you enlist, if just for a day, this Wednesday, January 23^rd?

*Pray for Frank, Beth, Amber, and Jacob Banfill
*Pray for Maxpoint Ministries
*Pray for WISDOM
*Pray for CLEAR DIRECTION FROM GOD
*Pray for PROVISION

Thank you in advance for being a part of the army!

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

A Snake in My Garden...

"God chose me before the foundations of the world..."  Ephesians 1:4

 

Inadequate.  Have you ever felt that way?  If you’re a girl,more than likely you have.  Such feelings tend to hit girls more than guys, and it’s something I grew up believing to be truth about myself.  Not because my parents didn’t love me, believe in me, and give me every opportunity to have those feelings of positive self-worth. No, not at all.  In fact, my dad was my biggest fan.  I can remember hearing him always brag on me to my relatives about “this or that” all the time.  But there were other events in my life that affected me so negatively that despite my parents best efforts, I grew up not believing in myself.  It wasn’t even a battle that I struggled with – it was truth I believed. 

Looking back, it was as if I was invisible.  I went through the motions of life, but no one recognized "the real me” inside.  In fact, out of my graduating class of 12 (yes, it was a small Christian school!)  I was the only person not listed in the yearbook as “Most likely to…”  In truth, I at least thought I would make it as the “Class Clown” – quick wit has always been one of my assets, thanks to my dad.  But no, several people were named to several categories, but when it was all said and done, I was the only one not named to anything.  I was invisible, and I believed I was in inadequate.  Some may have pegged me as such; others never pegged me at all.

Then I met my husband. When we started dating, he spoke truth into my life.  He told me all the reasons I was worthy.  He told me all the reasons God says I’m worthy.  He pointed out my successes; ones I had shoved under the rug as a “fluke.” In truth, he taught me to re-program the way I thought about myself.  Most of my friends who have known me only as an adult would never believe how I used to struggle with self-worth.

Over the last few weeks, some things have happened that have brought my emotional state of mind right back to where I was before meeting my husband.  I’ve had some situations with friends that have left me feeling crushed, stepped-on, worthless, inadequate, and even invisible.  When we are at our weakest, that’s when the enemy attacks, and that’s exactly what he a few weeks ago - with a vengeance.  The first part of that week was especially bad, as I played and replayed in my head the situations that had occurred.  I questioned friendships.  I questioned motives.  I questioned me.  I questioned God.  My heart hurt.

On one hand, I knew the truth – what God says about me.  But I somehow couldn’t connect the truth in my mind with my emotions and the pain I was feeling in my heart.  I spent about a week of my quiet time just praying, trying to refresh in the Lord. I’ve been reading a book called “Captivating” by John & Stasi Eldredge – it’s the female version of “Wild at Heart.”   I highly recommend it, but actually, it only exacerbated some of those feelings that had surfaced.  I’m usually a quick reader, but some of the things in this book hit nerves that ran so deep that I literally could only absorb a few pages at a time.  God has really convicted me that if unhealthy thoughts are present, they need to be dealt with and turned over to Him.

The other thing God is showing me is that I need to be more transparent.  Sometimes we put on our "happy face” and don’t let others see the pain inside.  On the flip side, sometimes we’re so busy in our own world that we don’t stop to take time to care about the people around us.  I wonder how many of my friends feel invisible and inadequate…and I’ve never even taken the time to notice.  I wonder how many people I consider “friends” don’t even consider me the same because I don’t show it in my actions, because I don’t notice or take time to care about them. 

Jesus says in John 8:32 says “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  Contextually, the verse is speaking about salvation. But I have been claiming this verse in relation to unhealthy thoughts and feelings, too.

Think of it this way. About 4 years ago, I went for my annual physical.  I had been losing weight, and at the time of the appointment, I weighed less than the year before.  I was proud of myself, and I wasn’t expecting my doctor’s next words.  “If you don’t lose weight, it’s not a matter of if you’re going to have a heart attack, it’s a matter of when.” 

Do you know what that did to me emotionally?  I went to the van, and I literally cried myself into a tailspin.  I gave up on losing weight and figured it wasn’t worth it if that was the response I received from my doctor.  Eventually, I gained back almost everything I had lost.

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  The BIble also says in Isaiah 1 "Come let us reason together."  As I reflect on that incident with my doctor, now I can think clearly without the emotional impact of the situation; I can reason out the truth.  The truth was that there is no heart disease anywhere in my family.  The truth was that my blood pressure has always been very low, probably averaging 105 over 70.  The truth was that my cholesterol was only slightly elevated.  My weight, well, ok, I’ll give her that one as truth – I was overweight.  But do you think it was truth that a heart attack was eminent?  I don’t think so….at least not yet, anyway.

It’s the same thing with the unhealthy emotions I have been dealing with.  I have to use the reasoning side of my brain and separate emotion from fact.  By God’s grace, I know the truth, I have claimed it once again, and the truth has set me free. The devil may try to convince me otherwise down the road, but for now, I’m claiming victory.

I know there are other friends who are struggling with self-worth, and hopefully by my transparency, God can encourage you.  Too often we put a mask on and just let others see the smiles.  One of my
favorite verses is in Proverbs 27:17  “Iron sharpens iron.”  Friends, let’s sharpen each other, but in order to do so, we have to let others know the real “you” inside. 

Look for those people in your life that may feel invisible.  Sometimes they can hide it really well.  Take time to dig a little deeper into their lives instead of staying on the surface.  Make time for them.  You have no idea how God can use you to make a difference.

 

There’s a snake in my garden
That slithers near me again
To rouse pain deep within
Wounds suppressed years before.  Forgotten.

And it’s speaking so softly,
“You’ll never be worthy.” 
Those words, how they haunt me.
“You’re nothing and you always will be.”

Then the whispers get louder
It hisses, and  I cower.
Immobile.  No power.
To refute this rattle in my ear.

At a crisis of belief
Lies crafted to deceive
Pierce through and steal my peace.
As venom taints this fragile bloodstream.

Then I read in God’s love note
While searching for the antidote
He chose me – that’s truth you know
And the snake, he just seeks to devour.

Prince of deceit, no one can tame.
With spewing lies and careful aim.
He attacks with darts of shame.
But my Shield – He will win in the end.

There’s a snake in my garden
That slithers near me again
To rouse pain deep within
Wounds suppressed years before. Forgotten.

 

--- Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

 

Meet Me on the Mountain...

It’s been a while since I’ve actually posted.  In truth, I’ve started a half dozen blogs since the last one.  But my husband has been traveling 3 of the last 4 weeks, and well, by the time I got around to finish what I started, it no longer seemed relevant.  This one is different, though.  It’s the sole one I’ve started in the last month or so that I feel compelled to finish.  Every time I have re-visited it, I have written a little more (as time has permitted) and as I’ve studied the passage below, I know this time God wanted me to finish what I started.  So here we go…  

“Meet Me on the Mountain”

“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted.  Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:16-20

In our last life group a few weeks ago, we discussed the passage above.   As I said, my husband was out of town (actually out of the country in Africa!) so one of our group members Scott Fletcher led our Bible Study discussion.  He pointed out that Jesus told the disciples to rendezvous with Him and meet Him at a certain mountain.  It was a designated meeting place.  Then Scott asked our group, “Why do you think Jesus did that?”

Everyone in the room sat in silence.  At first, the question seemed as difficult as the final question on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” and everyone in the room had already used up all of our life-lines.  In truth, at least for me, I had to absorb the whole scenario.  I’ve read through Matthew countless times, but this little detail about the disciples meeting Jesus on the mountain is something I’ve never even noticed before.  So when Scott asked it, I was intrigued by the entire scene and decided I was going to study it in more depth later.

The next morning, and for several days following, I did my best to study this passage.  I tried to dig a little deeper into this part about “Meet me on the Mountain.”  I tried to find out which mountain they met on in Galilee.  I tried to find out how I never heard about or even realized this fact about Jesus designating the meeting place of the mountain.  But as I studied, instead of everything becoming more clear, it only got more clouded. 

As you probably know, Matthew, Mark and Luke are called the synoptic Gospels, because much of their content is parallel, but with each book written and slanted toward its intended audience.  So as I set out to find the parallel passage to Matthew 28 in the other Gospels, I started to get a bit overwhelmed and confused.  I flipped back and forth in my Bible looking for answers.  But as best I could tell, none of the other Gospels mention about this mountain in Galilee where Jesus met with the disciples, at least not that I could find. 

In fact, some people argue that Scripture contradicts itself because they believe this passage in Matthew does indeed have parallel passages in Luke 24, Mark 16, and Acts 1.  You see, Matthew says they were in Galilee when Jesus charged the disciples with what we know as “The Great Commission.”  However, if the parallel passages for this are also found in Luke 24, Mark 16, and Acts 1, then Jesus wasn't in Galilee with the disciples - He was in Jerusalem.  Because of this, some people say the Bible isn't accurate, and you can't trust anything in it.

Now let me say unequivocally: I believe in the inerrancy of Scripture – the complete and total infallible Word of God; therefore, I also believe there must be an answer to this and any potential conflict one might find in Scripture.  So I dug a little deeper.  One thing I found is that Matthew typically wrote thematically and not always chronologically.  Additionally, the accounts found in Luke 24, Mark 16, and Acts 1 all end with the ascension of Jesus into heaven, while Matthew 28 does not.  The only logical conclusion I can come to is that the accounts listed in these chapters are not actually parallel passages – they were different accounts of (at least) two different meetings between the disciples and Jesus.  Yes, the messages were parallel, but think about it.  How many times do we tell our children the same message, either because they do not “get it” the first time, or because it’s so important that they need to hear it again for the sake of emphasis?  If I believe the Bible, then I believe the whole Bible and I take it at face value.  If there seems to be contradiction, there must be a reason for it, and I need to dig deeper.  In this case, I believe the two scenes described are different encounters between Jesus and the disciples.  Take some time to go read these passages for yourself.  Don’t take my word for it, because I’ve said it many times – I’m no scholar!

Anyway, back to Scott’s question in our Life Group.  “Why do you think Jesus told the disciples to meet Him on the mountain?”  It took me a few moments , but I finally broke the silence in the room.  I have no idea if I was right or not, but I said that I thought Jesus wanted the disciples to meet Him on the mountain so they could have a visual image to correlate with the words He would give them there.

Put yourself in the disciples shoes.  Picture being on the mountain with Jesus as He said, “All authority is given to me in heaven and on earth...Go and make disciples of all nations…”  I can just see Jesus using His hands to express the words coming out of His mouth.  I can see Him lifting them up as He said "All authority is given to me in heaven"...and then down as He said "earth" and then finally outstretching His hand to the view beyond and below as He said the word "all" in  "Go and make disciples of ALL nations."  I can picture it, but how I would have loved to be there to experience this “Great Commission” first-hand   To see the nations below.  To hear and watch how Jesus articulated those words! 

Caution: Promo for a friend forthcoming. 

For the last two  years, I’ve attended a Christian songwriter’s conference in St. Louis called Write About Jesus.  My first year at the conference, I met a guy named David Myers.  At the conference, we can submit one song into a competition, and that first year, David ended up winning with a song called “The Valley.”  David Myers.  Pay attention to that name, because one day it’ll be a household name in Christian music – maybe even in any genre.  No lie. He has an amazing talent, and he’s going places.  Anyway, I can’t think of this story about Jesus telling the disciples to meet Him at the mountain without thinking of David’s song “The Valley.”

The words to “The Valley” are a direct contrast to the situation with the disciples.  They go something like this: 

"I don’t need another mountaintop I need to meet You in the valley.
When I feel everything is lost, that’s when I let Your love consume me.
It’s only in surrender that we’re set free, so meet me in the valley.” 

You can donate and download David’s album at this link: http://www.davidmyersonline.com/.

Be generous.  He's a starving artist with a wife and son.  OK, in truth, he’s probably not really starving, but the Bible is very clear in Luke 10 and I Timothy 5, “A labor is worthy of his wages.”  So be sure to donate after listening and downloading! 

Promo for a friend now over.  Unashamed and unapologetically, we now return to the point of the blog.

Jesus told the disciples to meet Him at the mountain.  David’s song says we need to meet Jesus in the valley.  Pretty big contrast when you think of it.  In truth, I think the disciples needed to be on that mountaintop to see the relevance of making disciples of all nations.  And I need Jesus on my mountaintops, when the view is good and the sky is clear.  But just like David's song, I need Him in the valley, too.  I need Him when my view is obstructed by my surroundings. 

The bottom line is this - I really believe Jesus expects us to meet Him on our mountaintops, our valleys, in the plains, and in the rains.  He has important things to share with me, and I have to show up to learn them.  I have to actively engage myself to listen to what He has to say.  It really doesn't matter where I am in my life's walk - I need Him. 

I find it interesting that the Bible says the eleven disciples came to that mountain to meet Jesus.  When they saw Him, they worshipped Him, but some doubted.  Did you catch that?  Some doubted.  Don't you wonder which ones?  Or am I the only nosey one?  What did they doubt?  Jesus hadn't even started talking yet at that point!  Did some doubt that it was Jesus?  Did they doubt that Jesus was the Christ? 

Bring it home.  In truth, as much as we know God is in control on our mountaintops and if we've made a personal commitment to Him, He's right there with us in our valleys too, do we not often still doubt, just like some of those disciples?  How often do we forget "All authority is given to Him"?  How often do we forget our marching orders of "Go and Make Disciples of all nations."  Yes, how often do we get so focussed on ourselves that we forget God is God on the mountaintop and God is God in the valleys.  Guilty as charged.

I hope you'll never read this passage in Matthew the same way again.  I know I never will.  I love how God uses one little word or phrase to ignite a spark to dig deeper in knowing Him.  And that's exactly what He wants - for my desire to know Him to increase with each passing day.  To go to the Max with Him.  And of course, to meet Him in the valley, and just like the disciples, to meet Him on the mountain.

--- Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

Discovery #3 - Peter really has a bad rap

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.  After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.  But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”  “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”  Matthew 14:22-33

 

In case you've missed the last several posts, I've been writing about Jesus (and subsequently Peter for a short period of time) walking on the water, found in Matthew 14.  I tend to be a bit garrulous, so I've split my thoughts into three sections.  (Thank you Baptist Christian School for that vocabulary word!  I use it often!)

As I said earlier, I'm no theologian.  These observations are simply what God has shown me after studying this passage, and so when I say "Discovery" - I am definitely using the term quite loosely, not scientifically.  To recap, Discovery #1 (October 22, 2012) was "Jesus sometimes pushes us right into the eye of the storm."  Discovery #2 (October 23, 2012) was "When you're looking for Jesus, you'll know Him." 

And now I'll try to compact my random thoughts into Discovery #3 - "Peter really has a bad rap." 

I started to look at this whole episode of Peter walking on water.  Remember, this is Peter, the “speak before you think” disciple.  What does he say in verse 28?  He says, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to You on the water.”  I don’t think Peter really thought about what he was saying.  He was impulsive.  He was perhaps a little ADHD.  OK, if you know anyone with ADHD, Peter was more than a little, in my humble opinion.  I imagine Peter was the disciple who was always moving, sitting there, shaking his leg, tapping his fingers, spinning his fountain pen or whatever they wrote with in those days.  I think Peter was always on the move.  So when Jesus said, “Come”, Peter didn’t hesitate.  He heard his Lord’s voice and went without thinking. 

How I would love that quality.  To know God’s voice so much that I deny all reason...to obey.  Let that one sink deep.

Growing up in Sunday School, the one thing my teachers always pointed out in this familiar story was that Peter started to sink because he got afraid and took his eyes off Jesus.  In truth, anyone who is familiar with this story would likely agree they've been taught or heard the same thing.  But look at verse 30.  He may have noticed the wind and gotten afraid, but what else happened?  He said, “Lord, save me!”

Peter not only was the only disciple to recognize Jesus, take a step of faith to come to Him, but even though Peter got scared, he knew his Lord was one armstretch away from delivering him from the depths.  While the other disciples were cowering inside the boat, Peter was walking toward Jesus on the water!  Sure, he got a little scared, but he had enough sense of mind to know Jesus was right there to save Him, to catch Him.  That, my friends is faith, and Peter...well, Peter really has a bad rap. 

As I researched this story in the gospels, I realized something else.  Matthew 14, Mark 6, and John 6 all tell the story of Jesus walking on the water.  Now, some might argue that each of these events that are told are not the exact same event...that Jesus walked on the water numerous times.  And that may be so, because we all know by now that I'm no theologian.  I'm just a simple girl trying to go to the max with God.

But let's just assume for a moment that the events in these three books were the same event.  Did you know that Matthew 14 is the only passage in the Gospels that talks about Peter stepping out of the boat?  Truth.  Go read it for yourself.  Don't take my word for it!  Compare the stories!

Why?  Why?  Why?  Why does only one book mention Peter stepping out in faith, then nearly sinking?  ...And that is the question of the day...now the question of the week for me. 

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are called the synoptic Gospels.  They often tell the same stories, but each has a different slant, a different purpose, a different audience. The book of Matthew was written primarily to the Jews, and the purpose was to prove that Jesus is the Messiah, the eternal King.   I don't really have an answer as to why the other Gospels don't tell the story of Peter.  I do know that the Bible does not contradict itself.  Period - end of subject.  And I take it in faith that it's fitly pieced together, beyond my understanding.

(Sidenote...  Are you familiar with what is referred to as "Peter's Confession", where Jesus asks Peter "Who do you say that I am?"  And Peter replies, "You are the Christ."?  Well, interestingly, the book of Matthew is also the only Gospel that mentions Jesus response to Peter, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.”   Hmmm...  It gets you thinking.

Maybe Matthew was really was impressed with Peter and felt like he needed to help improve his bad rap, just like I feel today.  OK, probably that's not the answer, especially since the Bible says "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God."  Or, there simply must be a reason why Matthew mentions Peter and the other Gospels do not.  I have some ideas, but they're probably wrong, so I'm not going to even try to explain them.  You see, I don't have to know the answer "why" - I just have to know it all fits neatly together for a purpose.  And I trust God at face value on that one.  End sidenote!)

Finally, I love how the story ends.  Take a look at it.  Of course Jesus chastised the disciples for their lack of faith, but then what happened?  Jesus climbed into the boat with the disciples.  He met them at their point of need.  What a beautiful visual Christ gives us.  The disciples were in the middle of a storm in their life, scared out of their mind, Jesus walked to them, then He climbed in the boat with them!

We are not in our storms of life by ourselves, friends.  If we have a relationship with Jesus - if there's been a time in your life when you've asked Him to come into your life, forgive you of your sins, and take control, if you've made that personal decision for yourself, then He is in the boat with you.  And if you have not made that decision for yourself, He is outside on the water, hand outstretched waiting to save you, waiting to pick you up from drowning.  I find that both exciting and encouraging!

So spread the word, Peter's not such a bad guy.  He knew Jesus' voice.  He asked to come to Jesus.  And when Jesus called his bluff, He obeyed immediately.  Sure, he got a little scared, but can you honestly say you would have even take the first step out of the boat?  I dare say most of us would have stayed with the rest of the disciples!  And finally, Peter knew who would rescue him.  All in all, I think Peter had a much better understanding of Jesus than we give him credit.  He just needed a little adderol, that's all.  I'm sure if he had some meds back then, he wouldn't have the "open mouth, insert foot" disciple rap.  And that's a wrap on this passage!

 

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

 

 

Discovery #2 - When you're looking for Jesus, you'll know Him...

"Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him
to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.  After he had dismissed them,
he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.  Later that night, he was there alone,
and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves
because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them,
walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified.
“It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them:
“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”  Matthew 14:22-27

 

In case you missed the previous post, I'm writing for a few days on what new discoveries God is teaching me from the old story of Jesus walking on water.  The first Discovery was that "Jesus sometimes pushes us right into the eye of the storm."  (Matthew 14:22)

The next Discovery I have (and again, it's nothing new or profound, but just what God is showing me!) is that "When you're looking for Jesus, you'll know Him."

Take a look at the passage.  As soon as Jesus bid "Bon Voyage" to the disciples and sent them off into the would-be storm, what did He do?  Jesus took time get alone and pray.  I wonder, what exactly did He pray about?  He knew what was coming; He knew the outcome, and He knows the outcome of every single storm of life that ever took place and ever will.  Yet, He took time to spend with the Father.  To know His voice.  They communed. 

I can only think it was kind of like when you hang out with your best friend.  You know everything about them, but you still want to hang with them more because you love them so much.  You want to talk.  Commune. You want nothing more.  You can talk for hours.  You want to talk for hours.  There's no shortage of things to say.  When they call you on the phone, all they have to do is say "Hey!" and you know it's them, even if you don't have caller ID!   

I'm sure that's how Jesus was with His Father.  And to be honest, this is an area of my spiritual life that needs more muscle.  I need more time alone with my Father to talk. Commune.  To hear His voice.  For Him to hear mine.  Conversation.  Dialogue.  To know His voice and recognize it so clearly that if He calls to me with one word, even a whisper, I'll know it's Him.  Muscling up my prayer life starts with discipline.  It doesn't just happen.  It's a concerted effort, and it starts today.

On Sunday afternoon, I walked into our church bathroom, politely said hello to the person standing at the sink washing her hands, and proceeded to keep walking.  After about 6-7 steps, my brain caught up with my eyes, and I turned around to do a double-take.  Indeed, it was confirmed.  That person at the sink - well, she was my own daughter.  Granted, I hadn’t seen her that day to know what she was wearing, and in my defense, she did have her hair fixed a little differently.  Yet I walked right past my own flesh and blood.  My own family.  Never in a million years would I have thought I would do that, yet it's exactly what I did.   

“I didn’t even recognize you,” I told her.  She gave me one of those teenaged looks like, "Mom, you are bonafide and certifiably crazy!"  (Which I am, because my kids made me that way, you know.  I have an excuse, at least.)  On the way home, she asked me how and why did that even happen?  The only thing I could come up with was “I wasn’t looking for you.” 

And I think that’s exactly why the disciples were so afraid while they were in the boat.  Take a look at verse 26.  They were in the middle of a terrible storm, and instead of looking for Jesus in it, it was easier to think that image in front of them was a ghost.  It’s not that they didn’t want to look for Jesus, it’s more so that they didn’t even think of Jesus. 

How often are we in the middle of a storm and all we can think of is the things that scare us the most?  Or perhaps all we can think of is how we're going to get out alive?  But maybe the real thing we should be doing is looking for Jesus in the middle of the storm.  It's a discipline.  Human nature tells us to look inward, to buckle down, stand tall, and weather the storm.  I can't help but think this story might be different if the disciples were actually aware that Jesus was with them and there was no need for fear.

We all react differently in our storms of life.  Me, well, I tend to buckle down and hold my breath as long as I can, come up for air, then hold it a little longer.  I don't really worry or obsess over the situation.  My human nature is to "be strong and get through it."  Now don't get me wrong, I do rely on God in the storms of life.  But there's something different about this "looking for Him" in the storms.  And I think that discipline is accomplished only through knowing His voice, the way Jesus set the example for us. 

I can't say that "looking for God" in the storm is a normal practice of mine, and I'm thinkin' that my perspective needs some changing.  Once again, I'm thankful for God giving me this little Discovery #2 - When you're looking for Jesus, you'll know Him. 

 

 

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

 

Discovery #1 - Jesus sometimes pushes us right into the eye of the storm...

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat
and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.  Matthew 14:22

Discovery Channel.  It takes you inside the wildest, most amazing, and craziest phenomena in the world.  Take some time to go read Matthew 14:22-33.  It's the age-old story of Peter walking on the water, taking his eyes off Jesus, then sinking, and I dare say that if the Discovery Channel were in existence in Biblical times, whoever got that on film would have won some serious photo-journalism awards.

I always refer to good ole Peter subconsciously as the "open mouth-insert foot” disciple of the New Testament.  Maybe it’s because I relate to him so well.  I often have good intentions, my motives are pure, but sometimes my flippant mouth gets me in trouble.  Maybe you can relate?  I’m sure I can’t be the only one with a tendency to speak first and think later….

Well, in passing during our Life Group on Sunday, we discussed the story of Jesus (and Peter for a short time) walking on water.  The comment was made that everyone faults Peter because he took his eyes off Jesus and became afraid, thus failing at his quest to walk to Jesus.  But the truth is, Peter was the only one who had faith enough to step out of the boat.  He heard Jesus’ voice, confirmed it was Him talking, and then Peter took the first step of faith.  Granted, he got scared and started to sink, but the fact remains that none of the other disciples even stepped out of the boat in faith.

This morning as I sat down to have my quiet time, I decided to re-visit this old story and see if God has any new truths for me to see.  I think personal discovery is one of the coolest things about how God speaks today.  I love how I can read a passage (maybe even something I’ve read and known about since I was a kid) and then discover God in a fresh way...just by looking and asking Him to show me what He wants me to learn.  That’s kind of how I feel about this passage after studying it again.  When I finished writing about all God was showing me, the "blog" turned into way too many paragraphs for a blog, and my husband (who is always chastising me for being too wordy) would have my head if I actually put it all into one blog.  

So over the next few days, I'm going to focus on a few of my discoveries.  Discoveries to me, anyway.  I'm sure they're not profound; I've never claimed to be a scholar...just someone who is always looking for Jesus in the every day and ordinary.  And to be honest, my little "discoveries" - I"m quite sure they're not new.  But nonetheless, they are new and fresh to me. 

Right off the bat, the first thing I discovered was that verse 22 says “Jesus made the disciples get into the boat.”  Some versions say He compelled them.  He bade them to get in the boat. Did you catch that?  In other words, "they got told."  It wasn't a choice. 

I find that so interesting.  Of course Jesus knew the disciples were about to go into a storm.  Hello!  He’s God!  But even with this knowledge, He sent them directly into the would-be rough waters.  Can you relate?  How many times in your life have you known you’re exactly where God wants you, yet you’re going through some pretty time times?  Just like He did with the disciples, God knows about that storm.  He knew about it before you went into it, and He’s big enough to get you through it.  Maybe even like the disciples, He gave you the push-off to head right into the storm, leaving you scratching your head trying to understand why. 

Can you just picture Jesus at the shore with the disciples in the boat, giving that final shove to push them on their way?  “Have a great trip!   I’ll see you in a little while!”  Smiling.  Waving goodbye.  "Bon Voyage!”  I wonder what went through Jesus’ mind as He gave that final push, as He said goodbye to them, knowing exactly where they were headed.  Oh to know the mind of Christ! 

We all know this fact: Nothing takes Jesus by surprise. 

{Sidebar.  Can I rant for thirty seconds?  And if you read fast, it will be even less!  It drives me crazy, and I mean totally crazy when someone will tell me, “God’s got this.”  It’s kind of my little hot button...well, one of them anyway.  My mind starts to spin.  Maybe it's because I find it insulting that someone feels the need to tell me that.  Really?  I know He’s got this…you don’t need to remind me!  That's elementary, my dear Watson!  That little expression is so overused today, and it’s said so flippantly that it drives me crazy.  End sidebar.} 

OK, I feel better now.  Thank you.  Hopefully you were a fast reader and didn't have to endure too much of my ranting.

You see, the real problem is NOT that we don’t know that "God’s got this."  It's not that I don't realize "God's got this."  The real problem is the transfer of knowledge from the head to the heart.  Everything fits together nicely and neatly in our mind, but when it comes to reconciling that rational part with our emotional heart, well, that's where the conflict is.  The transfer of control of the mind's peace,  to rest in the knowledge that we stand on, well, that is the difficult part of going through a storm. 

So Jesus pushed the disciples off into the boat with full knowledge of what was to come.  And that’s exactly what He does with us.  Sometimes we’re exactly in His will, doing exactly what He’s asked us, and we still go head on into turbulance.  Trials in life are not always because we’ve sinned or made a bad choice. Sometimes it’s just because that’s what God’s plan is for us.

I don't know why I've never noticed this little detail before about Jesus making the disciples get into the boat.  When you think about it, it's actually not a "little" detail at all.  It sets the stage for everything that is to come.  It should be flashing at me "TAKE NOTICE!!!"  Yet, I've never heard a sermon preached on it.  When I've read the passage before, it never "jumped out at me."  I totally missed it all these years.

And so that's my Discovery #1.  Jesus sometimes pushes us right into the eye of the storm.  Stay tuned for more.  Or better yet, go Discover for yourself and look for what God wants to say to you.

--- Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com