​It may not be on the mountain's height
Or over the stormy sea
It may not be at the battle's front
My Lord will have need of me
But if by a still small voice He calls
To paths I do not know
I'll answer dear Lord with my hand in Thine
I'll go where You want me to go
 
Verse 1 of I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go
Carrie E. Rounsefell | Charles Edward Prior | Mary Brown   Public Domain
 
Promises made, promises kept.

The pledge of young love.

David and I talked a lot about our future together before we got married. We wanted to make sure that we were on the same page. We had both seen what happens to couples who assume things about each other only to find out down the road that they hadn’t been honest.

It’s easy to get swept along by the warm fuzzies of emotional love.

I am so grateful that we made a pledge to the Lord to work together under the headship of Jesus. There was a higher calling to our marriage besides pleasing ourselves. We purposed to please God in our marriage and calling into ministry.

Conversations eventually turned to where we would make our home. I was living in the same home my family had moved into when I was 2. David had experienced multiple moves in his childhood. We came to the agreement that the best place for us to be was in the will of God, where ever that took us. All we asked of God was to make it clear to us when and where the next move would be.

Since the beginning of our 37 year marriage we’ve moved 13 times. Not all were perfectly executed. Not all were in response to a ministry call. But, God used each move to strengthen our walk with Him.

For us, each move proved to be a period of learning more about the character of God as well as our own. Why do we hold on to the stuff we have? What makes the perfect home?  What do we actually need to be content? You find these things out each time you have to pack up and go.

Going with God requires mobility. The willingness to consider your past in the rear view mirror as the Lord leads you along to the next landing place. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NASB)
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How about you? How has God worked in your life in the places where you’ve lived? 

​Some voices thunder like a winter storm.

Others whisper like a summer breeze.

Mother’s voice calms a sick child’s mind.

Father’s voice trembles the wayward child’s heart.

Each voice has a different tone, but they all are for the good of the one who hears.

When we are going with God we will hear His voice in a thousand ways, always calling us to Himself.

Deuteronomy 13:4 "You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him.”

Follow the LORD your God – He’s out front leading and guiding while we’re receiving His wisdom and going onward under His supervision. Superior vision, I should say. His voice will always take us in the good way.

Fear Him – Never lose sight of the fact that our God is supreme in power, knowledge, understanding, justice, and holiness, among other attributes. Fear is a proper attitude to have not because of possible punishment, unless we haven’t confessed our sin, but simply because He is AWESOME! Our Abba Father God is Awesome in power and majesty and righteousness. His voice will always keep us mindful of His authority and greatness.

Keep His commandments – We are to observe and preserve the commandments of our God. To obey them with understanding and to pass on that legacy from generation to generation.  They shouldn’t be kept for show, but in the heart. This is a genuine obedience out of a grateful love. His voice will always be in accord with His Word.

God’s voice is sure and steady and strong. Unmistakably true. Convicting of sin yet gracious and merciful. God's voice takes us to places that please Him and grow us up.

What then are we to do?

Simple.
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Listen to His voice. Serve Him. Cling to Him as if our lives for eternity depend on it.

How about you? How do you hear the voice of God in this noisy world?

​Picture this…

You’ve invited some friends over for dinner. The food is ready, the table is set, and the good times are about to begin. It’s getting dark earlier now so you pull out your favorite candles and light them to give your dining room some welcoming ambience. You dim the house lights to make it more special.

Words are shared. A disagreement ensues. Feelings are hurt. Doors slam, extinguishing the welcoming flames.

The thump-thump of car doors let you know that soon you’ll see your friends coming through the front door.

Haven’t we all experienced a version of this scenario? We try so hard to put on a good front and live out what we believe, but our flesh gets the better of us and puts out the light that would show others the hope we have in Christ.

“14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life,” Philippians 2:14-16 (NASB)

In these verses we are told that we could have a reach to the world, as steady as the stars shining in the night. When we hold fast the Word of life we are holding fast the Word of light. It is a good place to be for ourselves and for those around us.

When we do things in a grumbly, bickering way, we effectively put out the light that would save.

We all have an audience. The only difference is the size of each one. Yet, God has called us who love Him to shine as stars in the darkness giving points of reference and reminders for others floundering to find their way. May we use our hearts, minds, and words to bless God and encourage, teach, and exhort the ones who look to us for hope and direction.
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Hold fast the word of life and shine!

​First things first.

Mom’s wise council to me before starting any project. It didn’t always involve the same specific actions, but the general steps created a natural flow for how things were going to go.

1. Set a goal.

2. Prepare what you need.

3. Work toward that goal.

4. Finish and complete the goal.

Many times my goal was to clean my room. I needed a laundry basket and the will to put things away. I tended to get stuck on number 3 when I unearthed a book I hadn’t seen for weeks or found other fascinating items that diverted my attention away from getting to point 4.

As a natural procrastinator, I could make a project like cleaning my room last for as long as I wanted, or until Mom had had enough.

Something magically happened though when accomplishing the goal was accompanied with a treat. If I knew that we would go someplace special when I was done, I moved like lighting!

I still struggle with goal setting. If the final result isn’t worth my effort I’ll dally all the day and never accomplish a thing. I like to think it doesn’t have an effect on me, but I’d be wrong.

That lack of effect really is a numbness to disappointment in my lack of accomplishment. Not letting it bother me really means that I’ve stopped caring about living with purpose.

When we go with God we’re called according to His purpose. To walk in a way worthy of our calling. To walk in a way that pleases Him.

The goal, first and foremost, is to please the Lord with our lives. Doing what is good, acceptable and perfect. That’s done by keeping God first in our hearts, minds, and souls.

With the goal before us of finishing well and willing the prize who is Christ, we find completion and wholeness.

"He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything." Colossians 1:18 (NASB)

What about you? How do you keep first things first?
Do you begin your day in a certain way?
Is there a verse that helps you keep your focus on Jesus?

​One of my favorite places to go since moving to the East Coast is Ocean City, New Jersey on the Atlantic shore. As a Midwesterner I’ve had the chance to see Lake Michigan in Chicago and Lake Superior in Duluth, MN. But there is a difference standing on the eastern shore of this country looking at the horizon, where the sea and sky meet.

It is there other worlds appear.

In my natural state I can touch their surfaces, but if I tried to venture deeper into the ocean below or the sky above I would need to be changed.

I wouldn’t survive in the deep sea unless I was equipped with gear that handles the changes in the pressure of this new environment and gives me fresh air to breathe. The same holds true for survival in deep space. As I am, I could not exist in the deep places unless I adopt the proper means of modification. 

So, safely I stand on the edge and observe.

What does it take to go deeper with God?

When God brings us to the end of what we know and shows us there is more beyond our understanding do we shrug Him off and cite the reasons why it couldn’t work? It is easy to limit God to our known boundaries and expect Him to abide by them. So safe. So routine. So wrong.

God has other worlds to show us. Places where His Grace shines in ways we will never see in our comfortable spot. Territories in which His attributes take on a fuller range of meanings beyond our childish definitions of them.

“5 Your lovingkindness, O LORD, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness {reaches} to the skies. 6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; Your judgments are {like} a great deep. O LORD, You preserve man and beast. 7 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. 8 They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; And You give them to drink of the river of Your delights. 9 For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light”                Psalm 36:5-9 (NASB)

Go deeper with God. Ask Him to help you trust Him.
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What about you? How have you gone deeper with God?

​What are you afraid of?

Speaking in front of groups? The dark? Spiders? Clowns?

Fear is prevalent world-wide. It isn’t unusual to be afraid of something or a certain situation. Even the possibility of new good things can trigger a tremble in your belly.

I wonder if the greater issue is how we process our present, in light of the unknown future and our known past. A choice we made previously resulted in this bad condition therefore we will not allow ourselves to be put in a position where that choice will have to be made. We seek protection and safety. We avoid any and all possibilities of hurt and failure.

Comfort has soft boundaries set in rigid lines.

Please, God, don’t make me do that again!

Corrie ten Boom once said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” This statement coming from a lady who sacrificed safety in her home to protect the Jews and then suffered with them inside Nazi concentration camps. How could she make such a bold statement?

It wasn’t her first response to God when the Nazis came calling. But in daily life and every situation that brought her face to face with this conflict Corrie took her fears to the Lord. She observed how her father and her sister trusted God in the midst of evil times. She allowed the Lord to minister His Grace to the broken places in her heart instead of hardening her heart against the transforming power of His Spirit.

As we go with God there will be times when our first response is fearful. We may initially be scared to enter in to what the next step of our walk with God may require of us. God understands. But we should not allow that fear to make a home in our hearts. Any fears, cares, or concerns need to be brought to the Lord, as often as they come.

1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”
​
There are three points in this verse I’d like to close with:
1. Casting involves a determined act of release. Think of it as tossing away a piece of garbage.
2. “All you anxiety” means any and all things that distract your focus away from Jesus. Jesus has promised to be everything to us and provide for our needs. Believe His Word. It is faithful and true.
3. Why can we do this? Because the underlying truth is that Jesus cares for you. Don’t let everything you’re concerned about overshadow your ability to trust Jesus.
 
What about you? How have you found release from your fear? 

​Okay, I confess. I am a pastor’s wife.

I didn’t dream about growing up to be a pastor’s wife when I was a little girl.

I dreamed about being on stage acting. Playing different characters like one of my favorite actresses, Carol Burnett.

Something happened on the way to the theater. I met a Pastor. A Youth Pastor, to be precise.  Cue plot twist.

We talked about being in the ministry and expectations of congregations and how we could use our gifts together and separately. We discussed what would happen when we started a family throwing in another plot twist in my mind.

We went back and forth with ideas, each verbalizing their vision of what our future might look like. This vision casting wasn’t completed in a day or a week or even before we got married. This was a multi-layered issue that would live quietly and not so quietly in the shadows of our relationship because to tell you the truth, my desire for acting and drama went deeper than I wanted to admit.

Elizabeth Elliot has described authentic love as sacrifice. Putting someone else’s needs before our own. This was my struggle. Not necessarily fighting against David’s desires, but God’s. I wanted to be married, have kids, even learn how to step into the role of The Pastor’s Wife, but I also wanted what I wanted.

That’s the thing about going with God. His way is the good way. But good isn’t always easy. Marriage is good. Children are a blessing, the little stinkers. Spending lots of time apart from both is NOT good. So what’s a girl to do?

Posturing, ranting, digging in my heels is not going to win points with God. James 4:6 says, “But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, ‘GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.’”

And yet we read about the gifts that God Himself gives to us, for His glory.  How then are we to use those God-given endowments?

I have found that the greatest strength we can build into our marriage is a mutual support, a give and take if you will, that works together for the benefit of all. It resembles a dovetail joint in furniture.

Joined together so no one may pull us apart. Giving and receiving strength and support for a lifetime.

True for marriage.

And in a similar way God desires us to join our hearts with His for a united purpose.

Psalm 86:11 Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.
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How about you? How have you found balance between using your gifts without losing sight of your call?

​Even an introvert needs a hug once in a while.

To have a conversation eye to eye with someone who cares is truly a gift.

Investing time and emotions and brain cells to help another figure out a reasonable solution to a persistent problem can have a joyful result for both.

Whether it’s for quality time or quantity time, these lovely little human encounters happen when we gather together.

Just to be balanced here, not all gatherings produce happy results.

A misspoken comment can pierce a heart and silence further communication.

Extroverts may rise to take control of a meeting without acknowledging other viewpoints in the room.

Some who prefer style over substance can lose perspective of a project’s true goal.

The Bible is clear about gathering together as an ensemble of like-minded believers as we read in Hebrews:
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging {one another;} and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”  Hebrews 10:23-25(NASB)

As we go with God we WILL find ourselves going against the grain of this world.

God has called us to be in community with Him and with other like-minded believers because we need the encouragement that comes from our unique spiritual kinship.

The church is God’s means where the body of Christ can grow and remain strong in His Word.
So when there’s an opportunity, give a hug.

Make time for that eye to eye chat over a cup of coffee with someone you don’t know very well.
Use every less than positive event in the church as a point of prayer for everyone involved.

Ask the Lord to increase humility and a teachable spirit in yourself when you are corrected.

Don’t think you can mature in your own company.
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God speaks through His Word and those who are surrendered to it.
 
How about you? What is your favorite thing about the church you attend? How does it encourage you in your walk with the Lord? 

“Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not {merely} look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,” Philippians 2:1-5 (NASB)

This passage from Philippians is my husband’s and my life scripture passage. It was both read and sung in our wedding. We understood that since we were each going with God individually we now needed to be going with God as a couple and this passage was the best representation of what that would look like.

From the beginning of our relationship I knew that David was called to be in the ministry which meant that I would join in that calling as his wife. Never mind the details as to what being a pastor’s wife would look like. God would help me sort that out each step of the way. But I had to take seriously the changes and adaptations that I needed to make from singleness to married woman. God’s Grace enabled me to come around to God’s point of view.

For any group of people who are coming together for the purpose of ministry this passage in Philippians 2 holds four guidelines that will help them see the best return for their effort. It all begins in our relationship with Jesus.

He calls us to come near to Him. He demonstrates His love to us by His death on the cross for our sins. He opens a door of Grace where Truth and Mercy call to us again to confess our sin and need for Jesus’ remedy. His promised gift to us, The Holy Spirit, dwells in our newly revived hearts to encourage, empower, and enlighten us as we now walk to please our Heavenly Father. As we continue in this we should have a tender heart toward God and our fellow man. A heart where Mercy resides. This is the hallmark of a true Christian.

So, if all this is going on in each individual Christ follower, THEN these four qualities should shine through in our actions and words:

Being of the same mind – of whom are you thinking? Galatians 1:10 “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”

Maintaining the same love – for whom are you doing this? Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,”

United in spirit – how are you doing this? 2 Corinthians 13:14 “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.”

Intent on one purpose - to what end is your goal? Romans 11:36 “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him {be} the glory forever. Amen.”

Having a heart after Jesus and the things of God will keep us going in the same way He is going.
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Go with God!

How about you? How have you seen the same Spirit of God manifesting true unity in your church? What has happened when people have functioned in their own wisdom and strength?

​“A man can’t have a sense of his sins until Christ puts life in him. You may put a hundred pound weight on the breast of a dead man and he won’t mind anything about it, but if the man is alive he feels the weight bearing down on him.” -  D.L. Moody

Ephesians 2 begins with the awful truth that we all were dead in our trespasses and sins. Dead people don’t do much, except perpetuate corruption that comes with death.

Nothing good comes from a dead person.

But God…

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), Ephesians 2:4-5 (NASB)

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! God in His goodness and mercy, fueled by His love, reaches to the most hopeless of cases and breathes new life in her. And that’s when she begins to notice things.

For one thing, the weight of sin has impact in her life. She knows that Jesus came to save her from her sin, but she still has a knack for doing the wrong thing. It took me a long time before I would make the connection that Jesus was more concerned with changing my inherently sinful attitudes and bents than my circumstances. Home life still offered an angry, abusive father and a traumatized mom. But God would chisel away at my obvious hatred for my dad for years.
 
Even at a young age I knew I had a penchant for selfishness and rebellion. Vengeance was ready to jump in the situation if I thought it was warranted. God would persistently work on my heart and mind through His Word and the godly people He placed in my life.

The Lord uses every moment for His purposes.

From the time I was 8 years old Sunday morning was a special time for me because I attended Sunday School and sometimes the worship service alone, freed from the tangled mess of home. For those few hours I was to free to be me, or the ‘me’ I hoped to be.

Something remarkable happened in my life one Sunday Morning when I was walking in the hallway after Sunday School. I greeted the Pastor on the way to the sanctuary with a happy, “Good morning, Pastor Brumme!”

His response took me by surprise. “Good morning, Sunshine!” his baritone voice returned. It happened so quickly I wasn’t sure what to do. I grinned at him as I went on my way.

So many thoughts tumbled in my brain - Who, me?  You wouldn’t say that if you really knew me. Are you making fun of me? I’m NO Sunshine…

One Sunday I asked him if he even knew my name. He said he did, but he preferred to call me Sunshine. Only God could have known how I needed that balm of Grace for my soul.

It’s true that we will battle with our old nature till we die. But, the Spirit of God has been given to all believers and speaks Light, Life, and Truth to us always.

How about you?
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Have you ever experienced a moment of God’s Grace that changed your life and how you viewed yourself?