Beautiful Battle by Mary DeMuth

Beautiful Battle click to purchase

 

Today I’m recommending Beautiful Battle, Mary DeMuth’s new book.

Though I’ve only read the Kindle preview at Amazon, I trust Mary’s writing, wisdom, and authenticity. She understands that Satan plants his lies through traumas and challenges. Those lies undergird our weaknesses. Those weaknesses create battlegrounds where Satan seeks to destroy us.

She points us to Jesus whose victory is sufficient for our victory. I especially appreciate that she talks more about the state of our hearts than about outward techniques. Much of our warfare is about learning to rest in the Father’s faithfulness. And Mary knows the territory and will help you through the minefields.

Father, thank you that your faithfulness will bring us to your heavenly city, for your name’s sake and for your glory. Amen

 

Everything is Okay?

 

It’s a phrase I’ve seen alot lately. “Everything is okay.” Or, “Everything will be okay.” In what sense is it meant? I just ran across it in a picture of a an artwork as I was checking out topsy.com, a search site for social media. I’ve seen it in a store window. A search on topsy.com of those phrases returns hundreds of hits.

Does it mean a current state of personal distress will pass and good feelings will come again? Does it mean human beings will work out all the political and social problems of our time? Does it mean we will all be together in harmony with God in the end?

I can agree with the first one. Emotions come and go.

But the second two? Human beings cannot even agree on what the problems are, much less agree on solutions. And while I wish the third idea was true, I don’t see it in the Word of God.

If we are walking with Jesus, then, yes, there is an expectation that all will be okay in the end.

Otherwise, it seems like whistling in the dark. A phrase to allow those in danger to keep spirits up as they bump through the night. Would that they would reach for the Light of the world to illumine the path. Only through Him will our paths lead home, where the porch light awaits.

Father, for Jesus sake, shine your light in this darkness. Have mercy on the wanderers. And on those of us who believe we see.  Amen.

Tithing Rewards

 

“Only 30% of the congregation tithes.” While Jerry read the paper after Sunday services last week, I was looking through information on a capital campaign.

Jerry put the newspaper down and smiled at me. “They don’t know what they’re missing. How sad.”

Malachi 3:10 (NIV) says, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” I thought of that scripture again as we went on the recount, as we have recounted before, all the ways God has honored the tithe that we began forty years ago.

We have always had all we need. We were very poor in our early days as Jerry made pottery and we sold his wares at art fairs. But we were provided for. We got to know a woman who ran a small pottery supply store in her house. We purchased a kiln one day for several hundred dollars. “You guys always have the money you need when you need it.” She knew us well enough to know that we didn’t have a human patron supplying our raw materials.

In the next few years, Jerry got his electrician’s license and began to work for the city, a job he kept until last year. Our tithing continued. Occasionally, I wished for more money, but reminded myself of Malachi 3:10. Once, I noticed a woman wearing designer jeans while I wore Farm and Fleet. “I could have those if I wanted to. I choose, though, to invest in the Kingdom.” Through various means, God provided a mortgage payoff on the same day we took our daughter to college. We have enough money in Jerry’s retirement. Health costs have always been paid, even the tens of thousands of Jerry’s cancer treatments. We are grateful.

Finances, though, are just the beginning of blessing. We experience God’s favor in every area–From the sweetness between Jerry and me to the sense of God’s love and compassion as we navigate our journeys in this challenging world.  I know many of you could give similar testimonies.

But if you’re part of the 70%, I understand the fear of not being taken care of. I get the resentment of giving up your cash. But it’s the one place in scripture he challenges us to test him. Don’t miss out on the reward.

Father, your faithfulness is absolute. Thank you.