We are called to love.  Love God and love people, according to the Good Book.  In my family, we have a funny joke that we say to one another – Love God, hate people.  Not that we really hate people, but sometimes it is extremely difficult to love.  Who am I kidding, for some people, it feels impossible to love them.  We’ve thought about making t-shirts, so let us know if you want one!  Only kidding, kind of.  However, each of us do have different types of people that are easier to love.  But the bottom line is this, if we have accepted Christ as our Savior and the Holy Spirit dwells in us, then we are dead.

We have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ in me.

In that case, what does love look like?  If we fall into the trap of comparison of other brothers and sisters in Christ, then it is easy to find at least one person that we love better than.  But are our brothers and sisters the plumb line?  Are our brothers and sisters our comparative mark in our earthly families? No.  Our parents don’t, or shouldn’t, determine our success based upon the success of a sibling.  Each stands alone.  Our plumb line is Christ and Christ alone.  We as believers and followers of Christ are called to be truly that, followers of Christ.  Image bearers.  A reflection, ikon.  The old cliché is that we are the “hands and feet of Christ”.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it, according to 1 Corinthians 12:27.

Our love is based solely on how Christ loved.

And how did Christ love?  Or how does the Father love?  We have a popular worship song right now that speaks of the overwhelming and reckless love of God.

These lyrics are not in order, but you will get the point:

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine

When I was Your foe, still Your love fought for me

You have been so, so good to me
When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me
You have been so, so kind to me

There’s no shadow You won’t light up
Mountain You won’t climb up
Coming after me
There’s no wall You won’t kick down
Lie You won’t tear down
Coming after me

These words are powerful.  God’s Word is powerful of speaking of God’s consuming, everlasting love.  But the conclusion is a tough one to draw.  If this is how Christ loves, if this is how the Father loves and we are to be a reflection of this Christ that we follow, does this mean that this is how I am to love?  Am I to love recklessly?  Is my love never-ending?  Am I to chase people down to love them?  Am I to fight to find people to love?  Do I leave the comfortable 99 to look for the one person who needs love?  What about my foes?  Paul writes that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  That means while I was an enemy of God, Christ died on my behalf.  That means I hated Him and he sacrificially gave his life to save me, because of love.  And not just an easy, “Okay, I know they hate me so I can still take a gift to the party and be kind.”  No – He fought for the chance to love, even while I hated Him.

What about when my worth was gone and I felt no value in life.  He gave ALL He had for me.  He gave value for me.  Goodness and kindness.  Goodness and kindness.  But now let’s even go a step further – lighting up shadows?  Climbing up mountains for this same opportunity.  To love.  Kicking down walls and tearing down lies.  For the chance to love.  All to come after me.  All to go after them.

What do we find in the shadows?  Shadows are dark.  Shadows can be scary.  Shadows can have things lurking, waiting to pounce. Shadows are uncomfortable.  When an object blocks the light, it makes a shadow.

Climbing up mountains?  Climbing produces sweat.  It is physically exerting, and we can even pass out if not properly nourished.  We will need food and water in order to climb with any efficiency.

Kicking down a wall – what does that take? Well, I’ve been told proper technique is needed to efficiently kick down a wall.  And I would also think it would matter the kind of wall, how big the wall is and how long the wall had been there.  The stronger the hold of the wall, the more difficult to kick down. And we might even get hurt trying and we might even fail.

Tearing down lies.  Wow.  In order to tear down any lies, the truth must be known.  How do we properly identify a lie unless we first know the truth.  And how do we know the truth unless we are hiding it in our heart?  Filling our minds with the very Truth, the Word of God, that defines us and makes us walk in light.

What does this mean?  If I am only to compare my love of people to Christ’s love of people, how do I measure up?  Does my love of others even compare?  Would it even be safe to say that I love at all?  Or do I say that I might even hate?  Or what about no feeling at all?  Am I numb to people?  Am I indifferent to other’s situations and difficulties?  Do I love those like me with my same thoughts and ideas and talents?  Am I too busy to love?

Christ was busy, wouldn’t you say?  His entire 33 years, mind you that is only 1/3 of the life that the average human will live, was devoted to saving ALL of mankind.  And yet, He made time for people.  He made time for meals.  He made time to be present.  He made time and created opportunities to love.  Do we?  It was not obligatory for Christ to sit and eat with Zacchaeus.  He wanted to.  He changed His plans and made the opportunity.  Everywhere He went, everything He did, had purpose and intentionality.  No matter where it was.

Do we love reckless?  Or do we love with safeguards in place?  Did Christ get hurt loving us – oh yeah! We killed Him.  But was it worth it – absolutely.  And if needed, He would do it all over again.

What shadows are we shining lights in to love others?

What mountains are we climbing in order to love someone?

Who are we chasing down in order to love them?

Who are we fighting to find in order to love?

What 99 are we leaving in order to find the one that needs love?

What walls are we kicking down in order to love?

What lies are we tearing down in order to love and be love and speak love and share love?

Who needs to be loved by me?  Who needs to be loved by you?  Who needs to be loved and shown the reflection of Christ, even as my foe?  Even as my enemy?

No weapon formed against us shall prosper and God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.  How far are we willing to go – to love?

It is not often that you come across a person whose faith is truly anchored.  A person who speaks in confidence of the things she knows to be true and creates a faith within you that you never knew you had.  A person whose very life is defined by the pictures that hang along strings in the hall of her small home as she touches them multiple times per day – praying over them, speaking truth in the spiritual realm into existence, covering them.  A person who, when she prays, the very depths of Hell feel the power.  A person who does not fear earth or death, but embraces both in the power of her Savior because He is big enough.  A person whose faith can carry a group of people into the authority and power that we never dreamed real.  And married to a man of even greater faith.

I’ve met this woman.  I’ve met this couple.  Their momentary vapor has left an indelible mark on my soul, my faith, my home, my family and the generations of faith to come bearing the Haley last name.

These two will be embarrassed of the spotlight.  Not out of fake humility, but out of the shear fact that they know that only Christ separates them.  Only the power of Jesus defines the goodness in them.  Only much time spent with face turned upward separates them from all the other churchgoers.  Only a faith tested creates a faith that can help others in their testing.

One of my first encounters with this power house intercessor was at a women’s prayer retreat when she prayed over my womb – my barren and infertile womb.  When one of the first times I spoke aloud the brokenness that my heart felt and the emptiness my body felt, her faith carried me through.  Her faith strengthened my soul.  Her faith prayed for the miracle that I later received in a precious baby girl named Georgia Ruth.  Her faith, when mine was weak, was enough.

Another amazing encounter is when she prayed from the top of my head to the tips of my toes before my 2nd trip to Southeast Asia.  She covered me.  And from that moment, she vowed to cover me time and time again.

Today, my prayer is that this incredible saint knows her legacy.  May she know the fruit that she bears.  May she always be reminded of the goodness of God and the power her faith has had on my life.  

 

Twenty years ago today, I began to truly live.  Twenty years ago today, YOU spoke life into a dark place – a soul that ran from You and fought against You.  A soul that desired peace, but only found chaos.  A soul young in physical age, but You knew from before You knit me together.

You are The Sovereign Saviour.

You are my defining course.

You are my first love.

You define me.  And make me whole without any want in this life.  Complete.

Lord, I thank You for Your unending love, grace and power in my life.  I remember the moment like it was yesterday – Wednesday night youth group meeting in the big room with the 2 doors.  I sat on a big, over sized cushion in the floor.  One of my very dear friends, whom I had always thought knew you, confessed that she had found YOU that night for the first time.  And then another did as well.  Two girls, both preacher’s kids, now accepting You for the first time – how can this be, I thought?  But yes – they declared peace.

As the night and the service wore on, I remember the very same call to my soul.  The man in the front of the room had a passion and love for You that it was evident and contagious.  This love grasped me.  As he shared his heart, which is Your heart, that none should perish and all should come to knowledge of Jesus Christ.  I was gripped.  I was focused.  I was consumed.  He spoke of getting your salvation in order.  He spoke of Your great love, mercy and how only YOU made a way in the wilderness.

He spoke of the great, all consuming peace that only YOUR Spirit can bring.

He spoke of joy, endless joy!  And hope!

He spoke of receiving Your free gift of salvation.  And I heard.  I heard YOU calling my name.  Reaching out to me to the uttermost parts of who I am.  I heard YOU and responded.

With my very best friend, my second mother and my youth pastor, I received His free gift of salvation.  And in that moment, I was made whole for the very first time.

April 15, 1998.

But then what?  Is that where the story ends?  At salvation?  No, it is where it begins.

His powerful Holy Spirit has drawn me into an intimate love relationship.  A walk, a journey, that is ever changing and ever growing.  He led me through high school and college, on mission trips, in ministry with some amazing middle school & high school girls and now with adult women.  He has led in my career and has orchestrated each and every step.  He has opened each door and illuminated each step, clearly.  And He still does.

His Word is the driving force of my devotion and His Voice with a megaphone.

While the ministry looks different today, the Power, Peace and Authority has not changed.  His Voice is clearer than ever.  But so are the battles.

Walking with God is not an easy terrain.  The path goes through mountains, valleys, floods, wilderness and lands with lots of giants.  Walking with God takes trust in One bigger than yourself and hope that He keeps His Promises – that He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Walking with God takes strength that only comes from Him.

May my life be wrapped up by following His Voice.

“Walk in God’s statutes and keep His commands, so as to carry them out.”  Leviticus 26:3

“Be it unto me according to Your Word.” Luke 1:38

“Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it.”  Genesis 1:28

“Now then, if you will indeed obey My Voice and keep My Covenant then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine, and you shall be to me a Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation.”  Exodus 19:5-6

“Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations.  Baptizing them in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded and I will be with you.”  Matthew 28: 19-20

May these words never be said of me: “You have not obeyed the Voice of the Lord your God.”  Jeremiah 3:25

Christmas is special. It is a time full of light, spirit, memories, moments and purpose. Often, we get caught up in the hustle and the bustle and miss the true goodness of this season.

I’m reminded of the lyrics of a Christmas classic, “Silent Night, Holy Night. All is calm, all is bright. Round yon virgin, mother and child. Holy infant so tender and mild. Sleep in Heavenly peace, sleep in Heavenly peace.”

The night was silent. All was truly calm. Sleep was Heavenly and peaceful.

Each year when putting up my Christmas tree, I am reminded of some of my greatest memories. Clif and I got married in December and as a part of our wedding celebration we asked our guests to bring one ornament with them to help decorate our first tree. Each year I pull out ornaments from that beautiful ceremony. Some made by their children. Some still with the note they put with the ornament. Others remind me of other special occasions like when our baby girl was born or when we took a step of faith with an ornament for our baby boy before he was “officially” ours. To all of the ornaments picked up along the way in Romania, Jamaica, Indonesia and of course Israel.

Christmas brings about tradition. And hope. This Christmas, I hope you and your family can remember to slow down the pace and embrace the absolute goodness of all that this season celebrates. Tonight, sleep peaceful. Bask in the gratitude.

The night was silent. All was truly calm. Sleep was Heavenly and peaceful.

And here it is.  Stronger than ever.  The darkness so strong all around, it is difficult to think clearly, difficult to find thanks, difficult to see life as it truly is and not from this skewed angle of partial truth.  The world looks bleak.  Life seems meaningless.  Trivial.  Desperate.

Thoughts begin wondering down paths that never even made sense before.  People all around confirm the lies that the enemy is so craftily speaking to your mind.  Destruction is imminent if the path is not changed.  Such peace was once had.  Now utter chaos.  No control.

How did this happen?  Why are the fights so often?  The anger so quick?  The jealousy and insecurity so strong?  The fear so massive?  And the anxiety…. why?  How did this happen?  The deep, desperate longing for someone to understand your pain, your struggle, your desire to be loved.

The choices are real.  The struggle is real.  The battle is real.  Your countenance has fallen, why?  Grave sin?  No.

Moses’ time with God produced a face of glow.  But what is the alternative?  The demon possessed man lived among the dead, seeking destruction at every turn.  Is that the alternative?  Death.

How long does it take for one to wander away from the faith that has so defined them?  A day?  A week?  A month?  A year?  How quick is the destruction?  As always, more questions than answers.  But one answer shouts out in the midst of the darkness.

“I AM HERE!  Waiting.  Right where you left me.”

The cry from the One you’ve neglected.  The cry from the Holy Father desiring for your fierce return.  And what was only a few short days, it feels like an eternity.  And you think, how did this happen?  The wandering from The Voice.  The wandering from The Word.  The wandering.  He never leaves and never stops pursuing his children.  And as children we look, knowing the safety and the beautiful protection, and yet we wander.  Not intentionally, but slowly.  And then wake up in the darkness trying to get back to the closeness felt within the Father’s arms.  And then you see, you see how it is so easy to drift.  How easy it is to wander and choose the utter harm to your soul.  To your life.

And then comes the last question.  How do we keep from this?  The only answer is this: the fear of what we will be without Christ and without His Book as the foundation.  That fear strengthens us to open The Book when we don’t feel like it.  That fear drives us when we desire sleep over intimacy.  That fear pushes us into dates with our Heavenly Father.  That is the power of healthy fear of knowing what we are without His Presence and without His Word.

This book. This book is the most life altering book I’ve ever read, other than the holy scriptures. This book speaks of how to develop the intimacy with the Father our soul’s desire.  Sorge does an incredible job speaking to the difficult issues of the Christian walk and calling out the trouble spots that our spirit’s struggle with.  Sorge speaks of what it means to be a Biblical Christian, not just a Religious Christian.

This book challenges.  This book drives you to your secret place with the Father.  This book creates an urgency for time spent with the Trinity.  I’ve never, in my entire Christian walk, seen the Christian walk explained so clearly and so easy to understand.  Many times we often think that we must have a Master’s of Divinity in order to have a living, breathing relationship with the Father, but that is not true.  The holy Word of God was not written for only those who stand behind podiums on Sundays.  The holy Word of God and the powerful Spirit of God desire a real relationship, one of intimacy, desire, passion and excitement, with every single person on earth.

This book ignites a fire among believers.  A fire that will not be easily extinguished.  A fire that even the enemy himself cannot put out.  “Nothing is more dangerous to the kingdom of darkness than a man or woman who has found the unceasing wellspring of heaven’s life.  When the servant of the Lord is fed from this inner flow of oil and his seven lamps are veritable torches of flaming zeal for his Beloved, then no force of hell can extinguish this flame. ….this fire is fed by an internal source.  Nothing external can quench it.”

Every Christian should read this book many times over.

Adoption.  His name is forever changed. His inheritance is forever changed. His family is different.  His journey is one eternally written before time began. He was chosen for us and we were chosen for him. 

My heart overflows with overwhelming passion and love. Not only did so many things “change” yesterday, but at the exact same time, they all “stayed the same”. 

Did I have the privilege to know him in my womb?  No. Did my Heavenly Father know him in his birth mother’s womb? Oh yes! He knit him together. Has this road been easy? Absolutely not. Would I change an ounce of it? Not at all. 

Yesterday, from within a courtroom, this precious boy declared for the first time, “Mama!”   I am surely blessed. 

Not everyone gets the privilege to be adopted not just once, but twice.  Our God is faithful. 

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.  Romans 8:14-17

This is a bit different book review, but often I am asked about a great study or “devotional” that I am doing or enjoying. I’m not a big devotional book fan, this is as probably as close as I like to get! LOL! This is an incredible daily study through the books Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon and Lamentations. Now, I haven’t finished the Lamentations piece yet, but so far, this small study is powerful. It teaches you to study these books Precept Upon Precept, while also giving some direction. If you are looking for a good daily study through the summer, I HIGHLY recommend this one! 

“The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

This is a book of forgiveness. This true story has rattled me to my core of what it truly means to take up your cross daily and follow Christ. This story has forever changed how I view forgiveness and what we are capable of forgiving. 

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” 

There was girl.  This girl grew up in a great home, full of love and life.  This girl was loud, adventurous, loud, high energy, and did I mention loud?  Let’s call this girl Esther.  Now this story has no real ties to the story of the Biblical Esther, I just find that in this case, it suits.  Esther became a follower of Christ when she was 12 years old.  At that time, He radically transformed her into a disciple and she truly fell in love with the living, breathing Word of God.  Esther sought out adventures at every turn.  She wanted to be exactly where He was.  If that meant as a middle school kid she attended adult Sunday school classes and prayer times with the devoted followers of Christ, then she did.  If it meant as a high school student, she went to Scotland and Nicaragua to seek exactly where the Lord would want her, then she did.  If it meant devoting early morning hours every day to ask the Father for wisdom and direction, and most importantly forgiveness, then that is what she did.  While we could spend lots of time speaking about Esther, the story really isn’t about her.

You see, Esther walked close with God.  Even in the times it felt as though she had strayed, He was always right there, intimately holding her and nudging her.  Was Esther perfect… absolutely not!  Not in the least.  Chief of sinners, as Paul writes.  However, there was one thing Esther always knew.  She always knew how to ask for forgiveness and how to ask for wisdom for the next moment.  You see, Esther only wanted to follow her Maker and surrender to whatever plan He had for her.  These desires led her all over the globe, seeking those who are lost to lead them into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  And these desires led her to a very specific boy.

There was a boy.  This boy grew up in a wonderful home with parents who truly loved the Lord and worshipped Him.  This boy was quirky, quiet, but very smart.  Let’s call this boy Aaron.  Again, no ties to scriptural Aaron, just thought it fit!  Aaron loved fast cars, motorcycles, technology and did I mention fast cars?  Aaron accepted Jesus as Lord the summer before his senior year in high school at a youth camp on top of Lookout Mountain.  Aaron was actually leading middle school students at this camp when he realized his own need of a Savior.  This was a very real moment, a real exchange, where the Abraham blessing of the Holy Spirit began to live inside of him.  No longer was he his own person, but now he had been purchased by the King.

Aaron and Esther started dating the summer before their senior year of high school.  High school sweethearts, you might say.  They had an interesting dating relationship.  They both wanted to do as the Lord led, but fought their selfishness every single day.  They went through seasons where they honored the Lord with their bodies, and seasons where they didn’t.  They went through seasons where they broke up, and seasons where they returned to each other.  They went through seasons were they sought others for companionship, and seasons where they truly returned to one another.  Then, the season of engagement and marriage began.  This journey proved to be the most difficult of them all.

Esther still had the sense of adventure, while Aaron desired to have a plan.  Esther desired to her way, while Aaron desired his own way.  As most new marriages are, the struggle for respect and love collided like two trains on the same set of rails. The first years were tough, not only because of the battle of the two wills, but also because Aaron’s father was fighting the battle of his own life- colon cancer. The first two years were spent at Aaron’s parents home almost every night. Until that long week in February came, where Aaron’s father met his Maker for the very first time face to face, and then, their marriage took another shape; tarnished with pain and sorrow.  As Oswald Chambers said, “You can always recognize who has been through the fires of sorrow and received himself, and you know that you can go to him in your moment of trouble and find that he has plenty of time for you.”  This was their ministry, but the sorrow didn’t stop there.

A year after their marriage, they decided to stop controlling the growth of their family and the fruit of the Lord’s blessing by taking a little pill each month.  This proved to be one the most difficult periods of life. Infertility. Many ladies in scripture was dealt the same deck of cards. Children are not a promise, just a blessing. A blessing you do nothing for. A blessing because the Blesser is just good. After five years of waiting, 26 hours of delivery, new life was formed. For sake of names, let’s call this new life Ruth. Ruth was a spunky little fireball of fun and challenges. She was the one they prayed for. The gift given from the Only One who could. Ruth loved big. Ruth loved hard. Ruth laughed lots and explored even more. Ruth was a dreamer. Lived in excitement and stories. Again, I digress… she isn’t the story either.

Then one day, Esther’s birthday was coming up. On your birthday, you always have certain things you wanna do. Plans you make. How to spend your special day. On this birthday, the 26th of the month, her and her family were planning to serve the homeless in their city. Now at the same time, Esther was playing a role at a church drama as a demon. This role was very taxing and very difficult. Many times the spiritual powers fought hard to keep Esther playing this role even at home, and this birthday was no different.  The battle was strong, and just before departing time, Esther and Aaron allowed the enemy to win…. they did not make it to serving the homeless, they stayed home, in disobedience.

On this amazing day, God was at work. On this day, the team that served met a young girl named Casey. No one could’ve foreseen what Casey’s role in their lives would do. No one could’ve known the end result (at least the end we see).  Casey was pregnant. Casey had a 10 month old little girl. Casey was homeless. Casey had some addictions that controlled her. Casey needed a Saviour. Jesus. The journey with Casey was life changing and life altering.

The 26th of the following month, Casey went into labor with her baby. She was 26 weeks pregnant. The sweet baby boy lived 26 hours before he passed away.  Casey definitely had her ups and downs. Her moments where she encountered the Lord and was forced to decide.

But the story doesn’t end there. One day, the 25th day of a summer month, after an evening bible study where Esther taught of Genesis where God clearly tells us to “be fruitful and multiply”….. Esther’s partner in crime’s phone rang. It was Casey. She had a friend who was needing someone to take her baby. They had tested positive for drug use and did not want their baby boy to go into state custody.  Esther was stirred. The sweet Pastor’s wife and amazing friend encouraged Esther to agree to receive this child as her own. Once Aaron was on board, they agreed to receive this baby, as their own.

On the 26th day of this summer month, this baby, Nathaniel joined their home. One week old, gift “given by God” made his way into the hearts of not just Esther and Aaron, but Ruth and everyone who knew him.  And now, one year later this small babe will soon share their last name, their permanent address and their inheritance.  He is now their first born son. He is their namesake. He is the 7th in a family line. He is their story of 26.

“Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it…..” Genesis 1:28