Where is He? Isaiah 63:9

Lately it seems so many people are asking … Where is God when I need Him? … Where is He when I can’t make my bills … When I’m hurting or sick?  I am sure it breaks the heart of God when He hears those questions.  I know He must be saying … “My Son, My Daughter, don’t you read my word? … the answer to your questions are right there.”

“In all their affliction He was afflicted.

And the Angel of His Presence saved them

In His love and in His pity He redeemed them;

And He bore them and carried them

All the days of Old.”

~ Isaiah 63:9 ~

 

Where is He? … right there with you … right there shouldering the pain, the hurt, the need … if you allow Him too!  That’s the big question … do you allow Him to be there?  Are you intentionally or unintentionally pushing God away or rejecting His presence … you know something?  Even if you are He’s still there … How do I know that? 1) I’ve experienced it and 2) we just read it from the Word … (read the Isaiah 63:9 again) and what does Hebrew 13:5b say … “For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Do you believe His Word?

The Israelites didn’t … they did not receive God’s presence during their desert time.  They grumbled and complained … They whined and cried (hmmm, sound familiar)  But, He carried them through nonetheless … and just as He carried them, He carries you through your desert time too.

God feels for us (yes, God has feelings) but more importantly He is orchestrating our “victory through the desert” even when we don’t know it.  He’s orchestrating every step … Are you listening to His guiding voice? …

Where is God?  How close is He?  I think A.W. Tozer says it best:

“He is nearer than our own soul, closer than our

most secret thoughts.”

Our life will not be without pain (Phil 1:29) But how we choose to walk through those desert times will determine whether our journey is a wandering of 40 years or an oasis of His comforting presence.

Pastor Debbie Spisz

Great Delight

Isn’t it puzzling when you look at your life and you see moments of great intimacy with God and then other times there is great dryness?  You wonder, “Where is God” in those times of dryness … but then, WOW, in those times of intimacy that leave you speechless … that leave you breathless, you become overwhelmed at the knowledge of His love … and yet, you still do not know the depth of that love.  At those times, you desire nothing more than to stay right there in His presence … fully enveloped in His love.

 

“He will take great delight in you,

he will quiet you with his love,

he will rejoice over you with singing.”

~ Zeph. 3:17b ~

 

 

Did you just read that? Go ahead, read it again, I’ll wait … Yes, God delights in you.  But, wait, that’s not right … it says “He will take GREAT delight in you.”  Do you know what “Delight” means?  It means “great pleasure, to give joy or satisfaction.”  How powerful is that?  God takes great pleasure in us and we give Him great joy.  And, here we thought it was the other way around.  But, no, God delights in us.

 

The rest of that verse states that ‘He quiets us with His love.’  The next time you are agitated, aggravated, frustrated or upset … STOP … and allow God’s love to wash over you … place yourself in His presence, draw near to Him, breathe in His love … it will quiet you.

 

And, there in His presence, “He will rejoice over you with singing.”  Even now, as I write this, tears are flowing down my cheeks as I read that.  God is rejoicing over me with singing … He is singing over me … God is singing a love song over me.  Wow, what perspective that brings … what focus that brings … what freedom that brings…

 

God delights in me …

God quiets me …

God sings over me …

 

Bring your life into the presence of God and allow Him to have great delight in you; have His love quiet you; and close your eyes and surrender to the song that He is singing over you!

 

 

Pastor Debbie Spisz

 

 

Beauty in Dying [ 2 Corinthians 5:17 ]

If you live in the north, where the fall weather has been gorgeous, you are most likely enjoying the fall splendor that has been on display.  The changing of the leaves has been, at times, breathtaking.  I hear people often remark at the beauty of this fall season.  The reds, oranges, yellows of the leaves … there is a brightness in the depth of these colors.  When you go to a place where there is tree after tree standing in full splendor, the utter beauty will take your breath away … it leaves you speechless and awestruck.

Fall … the season of harvest and dying … in the dying there is an inexplicable beauty … a radiance that leaves you spellbound …  an amazing splendor and beauty in the leaves as they die in preparation for the winter months ahead.  The tree release its dying leaves so that it may receive and bear new fruit in the spring.  There is beauty in dying to the old to receive the new.

It is the same for each of us:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

The old has gone, the new has come!”

~ 2 Corinthians 5:17 ~

 

In our dying to things that are keeping us trapped to a life of lack … of pain … of suffering … of living beneath God’s potential … we too, in dying to self, will stand in splendor … in full beauty as God’s radiance shines through.  Because it’s in our dying to addictions … to unforgivness … to hurts … to anger … to self-promotion … to control … to lying … to even those good things that God wants us to let go of so He can do an even better thing ……… You name your trap that needs to die; as it dies “the old has gone, the new has come” and Christ can finally shine through that area of your life and you too can prepare to receive the new things God has for you.

We have a tendency to hang on to those things that are dying, believing that we need it … it’s comfortable, it’s what we know and are reluctant to let it go.  However, even a tree knows when it’s time to release those things that are dying.  We have to understand that when something in our life is in the process of dying, if we hang on to it too long, it is no longer beautiful and breathtaking but just like the leaves of a tree, it loses it vibrant color and turns brown and ugly.

Today, release those things in your life that need to be let go of so that the old can go away and the new can come … so that you can stand vibrant and breathtaking … reflecting the awesomeness and splendor of the one who created you.  He wants to do a new thing in your life but cannot until you release what is dying.  There is beauty in dying because God is doing a new thing … a great thing … a beautiful thing!

Pastor Deborah Spisz

Two Words! [ John 1:43b]

It feels great to get back to writing and posting those writings on my blog.  I took about 5 months leave from posting and have been writing privately over those months as God whispers … or sometimes shouts …  what He wants me to hear.  There are times where you have to stop and assess why you are doing what you are doing.  I had to ask myself, was I blogging because it was the “thing” to do or was I blogging because there was a message God wanted to speak through me.  What a great time it has been of getting quiet within.  A time of hearing God whisper to me these special words and thoughts as I soaked in His word and in His presence.

Over the summer months, there were several personal moments with family members who were hospitalized and other situations that popped up that I had to stand against fear …. I had to purpose to stand in the faith, grace and love of God.  It’s in those moments that we come to the end of ourselves that God does His greatest work.  Miracles happen there … Healing happens there … and it’s there that He says:

“Follow me.”

(John 1:43b)

 

 Those two words spoken by Jesus can instill fear … they can cause doubt … they can paralyze you.  The power of those two words can overwhelm you to the point that you can’t catch your breath.  We will have to follow Him through some tough situations, through the unknown, through circumstance that leave us questioning, “Jesus, really, you want me to follow you there?”  And, through our doubt, confusion, and lack of understanding … Still, He says, “Follow me.”

Follow me … and learn from Me.

Follow me … and there will be no fear.

Follow me … and perform miracles in My name.

Follow me … and leave the emptiness of the world behind.

Follow me … and I will take you to places you’ve never imagined.

Follow me … to the cross …

Are you going to be like the rich man in Matthew 19:16 and remain possessed by your possessions or are you going to answer Jesus’ call to “Follow Me.”

 Are you going to be like the man in Matthew 8:21 and wait for the “right” circumstances to be in place or are you going to answer Jesus’ call to “Follow Me.”

When Jesus’ says to us … “Follow Me” … He is about to take us to the next level and out of the weariness … the heaviness … the sadness … the brokenness of life into a life of abundance, happiness, and a life of courage and excitement (even if it doesn’t look like it).  I pray that you are ready to answer the call to “Follow me” and not allow yourself to become paralyzed by those two words.  You may be saying “I don’t know how to let go and follow Him.”  Very simply, you do this by placing your feet into His footprints and “Follow Him” and when it’s necessary, allow Him to carry you!

 Pastor Deborah Spisz

The Pruning [ John 15:2 ]

Today I was watching as a tree service went through the process of taking down this huge maple tree in our front yard.  As I watched, I was struck with intrigue by the pruning of the tree that was taking place.  Very meticulously, branch by branch and limb by limb each was removed.  I could sense that if the tree could feel, it would be in a tremendous amount of pain.  In fact, where branches were clipped and limbs removed the point at which it was removed was wet, as if it were bleeding.  As the pruning continued, I watched as the tree became less and less covered with branches and leaves.  Eventually, the tree stood bare.  Its trunk stood tall with not a branch, stick or leaf to cover it.  It stood straight and strong, pointing heavenward with nothing else but its main elements; roots driven deep into the ground and the trunk stretching and reaching heavenward.  No adornments … No distractions … No trappings;  just its roots reaching toward its source of life and its body standing as a vessel full of that life pointing toward heaven.

“Every branch in Me that does not produce

Fruit He removes,

And He prunes every branch that

Produces fruit so that it will

Produce more fruit.”

~ John 15:2 ~

How many times do we try to avoid God’s pruning process?  We don’t want to feel the pain.  We don’t want to stand uncovered and bare.  We would rather hide behind the leaves of our self-deception than to allow God to prune away the unnecessary things.   We would rather cling to the branches of our past hurts than allow God to remove them and place His healing hand on the wounds. We would rather hold on to the limbs of our false securities than allow God to cut away at those and replace it with His grace, love and mercy in which true security can be found.

As painful as it may be, allow God to set to work pruning you.  Yes, you will feel pain … yes, you will cry out for mercy … yes, you will feel vulnerable.  Nevertheless, in that pain, in that weeping, in that vulnerability God will strengthen you and reveal a new and fresh source of life within you.  You will stand strong, unencumbered by the things that are holding you back.  You will finally be a vessel that can be filled by God’s power, His wisdom, His strength, His love.  You will no longer be a distraction from God.  Instead, when others see you, they will see God because you are no longer covered up with the pretense of your current life.  Instead, you will stand bare, transparent and in that transparency, others will see Christ and be drawn to His life giving love and the Holy Spirit.  You will once again bear fruit and it will be abundant fruit.

Today, instead of running from God’s pruning process, run to Him.  Place yourself on the altar and allow God to do what is essential to bring about the changes necessary so that you will be pruned of the things that are holding you back from the abundant life God desires for you.

Pastor Debbie Spisz

Pressing On [Galatians 6:9]

There will be many moments in our life where things just seem to be too tough.  At that moment, a very simple, yet powerful thought slips into our minds … “I want to quit.”  If we are all honest with ourselves, we have had at least one of those moments in our life … maybe even this past week.  Life gets tough sometimes, we get weary sometimes, we get sick and tired sometimes and we want to quit.  We just want to lie down and not move another inch … I want to quit.

 “So we must not get tired of doing good,

For we will reap at the proper time if we

Don’t give up.”

~ Galatians 6:9 ~

 

 

This verse is one of those “bathroom mirror” verses.  You know, the verse that you write out on an index card and tape it to your mirror as a constant reminder of God’s words to us.  “Don’t give up” this verse says.  Press on.  Keep moving.  We are not to grow tired of doing good.

 Even when we are being ridiculed for doing good …

don’t give up.

 Even when we are being persecuted for doing good …

don’t give up.

 Even when we are being discouraged for doing good …

don’t give up.

There will be many who will come and stand against what it is that God is doing through you … those dreams that God is bringing to fruition … those promises that God is fulfilling.  In those moments, do not lie down and quit, instead … stand …

Stand and cry out to God to give you the patience you need to “reap at the proper time” and the endurance you need to fulfill God’s command to “don’t give up” and the perseverance to press on through those moments of wanting to quit.

Patience, endurance and perseverance … allow the Holy Spirit to develop these traits within you.  We have entered a season where God is calling out those who can stand on Galatians 6:9.  This is a time for those who have the patience, endurance, perseverance and the ability to press on and not give up and quit.  Don’t allow those that are standing in opposition to the plans of God keep you from reaping, at the proper time, the blessings of God.

 Don’t quit … Don’t give up … Press on!

 Pastor Deborah Spisz

Bound or Oasis in the Wilderness? [Exodus 14:12]

“Isn’t this what we told you in Egypt: Leave us alone

So that we may serve the Egyptians?

It would have been better for us to serve

The Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

~ Exodus 14:12 ~

One of the toughest times in a Christian’s life is the wilderness times.  Those times when God seems so far away … when you can’t hear His voice … when you are battling the dryness of the season.  It’s a lonely time, a time of questioning, a time of hurting, a time of confusion.  It’s a time of crying out to God … “Where are you?”

When these wilderness seasons come (and they will), we have two choices.  Give up and go back to what was, or press on and obtain the promise land.  In this verse, we find the Israelites complaining once again.  They would much rather go back and be in bondage to the Egyptians than persevere through the trials of the season and be that much closer to obtaining the promise land.  They would much rather give up and go back to what once was.

How many times, when we were faced with a wilderness season, do we give up and go back to what was “pleasurable” even though it left us completely bound?  The more times you turn back the more often you will find yourself in the wilderness seasons.  You see, God has you there for a reason.  In those seasons of wilderness, God is trying to pull out and shape those godly traits within you.  It’s preparation time.  In the wilderness, God is preparing us for what lies ahead.  He is honing us, molding, shaping, and stretching us so that we can receive a fresh infilling of the anointing.  It’s preparation for the next phase of the journey.

 

 

Instead of turning back during the wilderness seasons, do, as a few of the Israelites did, drop to your knees and pray.  One of my favorite quotes is; “The battle is won on our knees.” The enemy desires nothing more than for you to return to bondage.  In the wilderness times, the enemy will try to convince you that you were better off where you were, or better off staying put, than stepping out from where you are.  Pray.  In the wilderness season, pray.  Pray for direction, pray for revelation, pray for protection…pray believing that God has won this battle for us.  In the midst of the wilderness season, we need to position ourselves before the throne of God, waiting on Him and trusting Him, knowing that it is better to press on in His power, than to turn back to what was and remain in bondage.

Prayer is not only a verb (action) but also a noun (place).  Prayer is the oasis in the wilderness.  Prayer is the refreshment in the season of dryness.  Prayer is the fellowship that combats the loneliness.  Prayer is the answer to moving on through the wilderness into the promise land.  The next time you face a wilderness season … don’t turn back and remain bound to what was, but drop to your knees and pray … by doing so you will enter the oasis in the wilderness and find the Holy Spirit waiting to carry you through the trial ahead.  Surrender that season completely to the Lord and know that:

 “You will keep in perfect peace the mind

That is  dependent on you;

For it is trusting in You.”

~ Isaiah 26:3 ~

It’s our choice, remain bound to what was or press on through the wilderness trusting the Lord and knowing that He is our oasis in the wilderness.

Pastor Deborah Spisz

To Know Him [Jeremiah 24:7]

January 2010 is fast approaching its end.  The first month of the New Year will, in a few days, be in the past as we look to the month(s) ahead.  I spent this first month of the New Year fasting and praying.  Enjoying moments of solitude sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to what He had to say.  There were times of weeping … there were times of joy … there were times of celebration … there were times of intentionally resting in His presence.  I came away from this season with such a hunger … a deep and unquenchable desire to know Him.

“I will give them a heart to know me, that I am Lord.

They will be my people, and I will be their God,

For they will return to me with all their heart.”

~ Jeremiah 24:7 ~

 

What does it mean to “know” somebody?  We carelessly use the statement; “I know him/her, he/she is my friend/co-worker/family.”  In our text, the statment “I will give them a heart to know me, that I am Lord,” the Hebrew word yada is translated “know.”  However, the meaning is much deeper.  Its meaning goes to a level of deep intimacy.  God has given each of us a heart to know Him, because He desires to reveal Himself and who He is, so that we may understand that He is all we need. However, to have that intimacy … to have Him quench and satisfy that pull of our heart towards Him, we have to “return to [Him] with all [our] heart.”

That’s right; it will require that we give to God ALL our heart.  We cannot hold back any part of our heart from God if we want to “know him.”  We cannot say to God, you can have all my heart except this piece here….this piece is my pride, this piece is my resentment, this piece is my anger, this piece is my …. What part are you holding back from God?  What part has become more important than knowing God fully?  What part do you need to release so that all of your heart is given to God so that the intimacy of your relationship with Him will be all-encompassing?

The Holy Spirit is stirring the hearts of the body of Christ.  He is calling us to a deeper level.  God desires each of us to return to Him so that we may know Him in a way that we have not yet known Him.  That we become devoted not just devotional.  Release that area of your heart that you have yet to place in His hands.   Respond to the pull of your heart toward God…and “know Him.”  Know Him through His word … Know Him through your worship … Know Him through your prayer … Know Him as you tear down the barrier of your heart and press into the inner court and sit at the foot of His throne … Know Him, that He is Lord!

 Pastor Deborah Spisz

Be Intentional [ Ephesians 5:15-17 ]

We have stepped into a new year.  2010 is before us, 2009 is behind us.  Isn’t the excitement of a new year almost tangible in its intensity?  There are endless possibilities ahead, opportunities yet to discover, new trails to blaze.  It’s time to set goals … it’s time to make decisions … it’s time to ask God what it is that He desires to accomplish through you … it’s time to be intentional.

We hear that word frequently these days … intentional.  Obviously the root word is “intention” which means done by design, done deliberately, done on purpose.  Sometimes a new year with all its opportunities can leave you paralyzed.  You don’t want to make the wrong decisions. You don’t want to take one path only to find out you should’ve taken the other.  Have you heard the saying:

There are those who make things happen

There are those who watch things happen and then

There are those who wonder what happened…

We need to be those who make things happen for the Kingdom of God and not be paralyzed by indecision. We need to live with intention, live by design, live deliberately and on purpose … we need to be wisely intentional.

 

  

“So watch your step. Use your head.

Make the most of every chance you get.

These are desperate times!

Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly.

Make sure you understand what the Master wants.”

~ Ephesians 5:15-17 msg ~

 

Live with intention instead of by default.  This year don’t allow the world and the circumstances it contains determine the direction of your life.  Understand the will of God.  Don’t be careless and unthinking with the gift of a new year.  Be intentional…

Open the Word of God … dive deep into His presence and the Word.  Determine what it is the Master wants.  Be intentional with the Word.

In your prayer time … press into His presence and His sanctuary.  Listen for what the Master desires.  Be intentional with your prayers.

In your relationships … seek out those that empower and encourage you.  Rid yourself of relationships that drain the life from your being.  In their place build those relationships that are healthy.  Be intentional with your relationships.

In your community … we are called to be “salt and light” to the world.  God has placed you where you are intentionally.  Who is it you are to serve? The needy…the widow…the single mom…the child…Be intentional with your community.

 We were each created with intention by God who placed a deliberate purpose, mission and vision within each of us.  He created you with love and daily pours out His love and compassion.  He ,with intention, stood before those who accused Him falsely … He, with intention, withstood each blow to His body by those who hated Him without reason … He, with intention, walked a long and rough path with a cross on His back while people scoffed at Him without cause … He, with intention, allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross, a crown of thorns to be pressed into His brow, spears to pierce His side … He, with intention, gave up His life so that you and I could be free.

Be intentional this year … be intentional with the Word … be intentional with your love for others … be intentional with your love for God … be intentional in your worship … be intentional….

 

Pastor Debbie Spisz

Do You Hear? [ Luke 2:10,11,20 ]

One of my favorite Christmas songs is “Do You Hear What I Hear?” I was putting up the Christmas decorations and singing this song to myself when the second verse pricked something in my spirit:

“Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,

Do you hear what I hear?

Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy,

Do you hear what I hear?

A song, a song high above the trees

With a voice as big as the sea,

With a voice as big as the sea.”

That question, “Do you hear what I hear?” … or just “Do you hear?”  What a question, “Do you hear?”  Are you able to hear the voice of God … are you able to hear His voice when it’s as big as the sea? … are you able to hear His voice when it’s a sweet song? … “Do you hear?”

  

 

“Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news

Of great joy that will be for all the people:

Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord,

Was born for you in the city of David….

The shepherds returned glorifying and praising

God for all they had seen and heard,

Just as they had been told.”

~Luke 2:10,11, 20~

We have entered the Christmas season and with it comes this myriad of sounds, movement, and stress that is palpable.  This whirlwind leaves you almost dizzy from all the sights and sounds.  Have we become so focused on the “doing” of Christmas that we have buried beneath all the wrapping, bows, parties and decorations the Voice of Christmas?  Do you hear?

How do you year? … By, The Word of God, The Holy Spirit, and The People God places in our lives.  God is communicating to us, but do we hear?  Open the Word of God and allow Him to speak to you.  Listen to the inner voice of the Holy Spirit.  Treasure those wise people God has placed in your life.  Hear what He has to say.  He may want to correct you. He may want to encourage you. He may want to reveal a new facet of Himself to you. He may want to proclaim something monumental just as He did on the day Christ was born.  But, if you are not reading His Word, are too distracted to hear the Holy Spirit, are too busy to hear good counsel … you are missing the best Christmas present of all, and that is to know Him, to know our Creator, to know our Counselor, to know our Healer, to know our Protector…Do you hear?

The shepherds would have missed the most important announcement in history if they had been distracted by the world around them.  They would have missed the declaration of “good news of great joy that will be for all the people” the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.  This Christmas purpose not to be caught up in the whirlwind of commercialism instead, comeback to the point of simplicity.  Treasure this Christmas the message of peace, love and joy.  Hear the Voice of Christmas.  It’s not about the decorations … it’s not about the presents … it’s not about the parties and gatherings.  It’s about hearing God, because when you hear God, you hear His message of Love, Peace and Joy which will enable you to fulfill the great commandment:

 “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,

Baptizing them in the name of the

Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.

And remember, I am with you always,

To the end of the age.”

~ Matthew 28: 18-20~

“Do you hear what I hear?”  … Do you hear God saying forgive?  Do you hear God saying feed the hungry?  Do you hear God saying lift up those that are broken?  Do you hear God saying love the unlovely?  Do you hear God saying heal the sick in my name?  Do you hear God saying …

Do you hear?

Pastor Deborah Spisz