Category: Faith - Jane Hinrichs

Look at the world the way it really is

10/14/2019

Until we look at the world the way it really is we will continue to be tripped up. Somewhere in our minds we seem to think if we do all the right things things will turn out for us. That's a wrong perspective, one that will cause us to fall into holes of despair over and over again. And then there is also the strange thinking we get that if we become Believers that God will keep all the bad things from happening -- that if we just act like good little Christians He will make sure the world behaves.

This is wrong too. Both of these perspectives are really the same. They both revolve around the mistaken notion that the world revolves around us and what we do. No, no, no. We gotta get out of this mindset.

Put your fairy tale mindset on and you will be able to see (yes, you read that right). All of us, good and bad, believers, athiests, agnostics, people of other religions, are in the same world. It is the world of a dark and scary filled with lots of unknown, magical stuff enchanted forest. Yes, an enchanted forest. It is filled with malevolent forces. It is filled with things that can make it look glittery and will hypnotize us to eat the magic mushrooms and fall asleep in it or lull us into thinking it is something it isn't. Bad things and good things happen to everyone in this forest. The difference for the Believer is that we know when the bad things happen that Father God will help us with them. When the evil forces throw things at us, Father God will be able to turn those situations around so His light will shine. Without Him the darkness and the evil deeds can consume a person.

But we gotta give the Father time to act. If we try to fix it ourselves in a panic, we will mess it up. We have to take a breath and plug into God and His wisdom and He will guide us through the bad parts so when we get past them we won't be depleted of strength but will be renewed. That is miraculous!

Often we Believers don't allow God to do this. We stumble through the bad parts. We might even resent God cause we wonder why He let this bad thing happen. We do this because we have that wrong perspective about being the center of our worlds. In a dark, enchanted forest bad things happen to everybody. And this is our world.

Of course the world we inhabit doesn't look like an enchanted forest (remember, it is enchanted). It looks ordinary. Don't let it fool you. The real dark forest is the unseen realm. This is what we are walking through without realizing it.

Be happy and joyful and enjoy life. At the same time know that bad things will happen. This is life. But God will get you through to an even better place afterwards if you let Him. These are the situations He really shines in because the dark forces are caught off guard (Ahhh! We are foiled again).

It's in the choice, not the initial feeling

9/9/2019

We humans fear. I think we are told "Do Not Fear" in the Bible like 600 times (or it might be a whole lot more, but 600 comes to mind). The feeling of fear rushing into us in an unknown situation is natural. There's nothing wrong with that. The problem comes when we choose to hold onto that fear.

After that initial feeling, we can say and choose, "I will not fear. I choose to believe God will get us through this." Or, just say, "I choose to believe in God!" Or, "I will not fear! I will believe."

And then, you have to hold onto that belief as hard as you sometimes hold onto worry. Come on. We all are great worriers by nature. We can worry for hours and days on end on something that will probably never happen. Why not use that energy, that will to hold onto belief rather than worry? It's in the choice where we choose to obey or sin. Choosing fear is sin. Choosing to believe is obedience. Jesus says in John 14:1, "Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me."

I want to share a quote from Eugene H. Peterson from his devotional bible. It is about choosing to live by faith. Here goes:

"Faith has to do with marrying the invisible and the visible. When we engage in an act of faith as Caleb did (see Numbers 14), we give up insisting that head knowledge is our primary means of understanding. Faith isn't a conclusion we come to simply on the basis of what we see. It's a conclusion we come to on the basis of who God is. And that, fusing of the visible with the invisible gives us a different way of looking at the world around us. It's often said that living by faith is a risky way to live. What isn't so often said is that living by sight has risks too. Even greater risks."

If you let Him in...

6/29/2019

Yesterday, Hawk and I drove to Rapid City to see his neurologist. We drove the Buick so this means when Hawk is in front with me he can stretch out and even get his feet where the driver's feet go. And he did this while we were in Rapid. With his feet there I couldn't get to the gas pedal. My driving was impaired. I had to move his feet back to his side. The driver is the driver and the passenger is the passenger.

Yet, I think some of us Believers are doing just what Hawk did to me with God.

I fear many fellow Believers are not grabbing hold of the hope that is in them to get through situations. If you have a hopeless situation ask God to take over. Invite Him into this situation. Let Him work in it. He will. He won't (almost positive here) work in the way you imagine He will. He will work in a much better and deeper way. God will transform and restoe and bring us to a better place than where we are at.

We can have hope all the time, but we have to ask God to come into the situation. We have to give up the reins of control and let Him have control. It won't work if we say "Help me Lord" and then proceed to ignore what He tells us and do it our way anyway.

Every impossible situation is possible through God. He can do anything, but we tie His hands when we have to stay in control. Letting Him work means waiting on Him expectantly. Trusting. Believing. Even suffering in hope and joy knowing He will come through.

Life isn't hopeless in Jesus Christ. It is full of hope but only if we do it His way. We gotta let Him be in the driver's seat and we slide over to shotgun. We can't say, "Take control, God" and then keep a tight grip on the steering wheel.

Who's your trainee? Your apprentice? Your student?

6/13/2019

We're all called to do it right now (not when we have all the answers; not when we feel we've arrived). Here's what Jesus says to us, "'God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.'" Matthew 28:18-20

We're to help each other figure out how to live this faith life. God has taught you something that you can teach someone else. We're a family. We are to help each other. The person who is your trainee might not even know he or she is your trainee. But you know. Or you know now (now that you're thinking about it). If you're a parent then of course some of your trainees will be your children, but don't stop there.

Recently I got bees. I was so excited. They arrived and things were going good. Only one sting happened on the day Shannon and I put them in the hive. I have fallen in love with that tiny creature God made that is so intelligent and beautiful and amazing! Yesterday when I checked the hive at dawn (one of the lessons I've already learned -- check the hive right before the sun comes up. The bees are sleeping! Makes checking easier) all my bees were dead. Oh, I was sad. I am still sad. Yet, in my two or three weeks experience I've learned a few lessons (besides the dawn one). Another lesson I learrned is that you have to feed the bees constantly if it is a new hive. I didn't get this. I thought it was just for the first few days. So, yes, my bees died of hunger. We found out yesterday a new hive probably will go through 100 pounds of sugar (in the sugar syrup the beekeeper makes and feeds them) in the first year. I am still a beekeeper, just a beekeeper without bees at the moment. I will get some more next year and will see my new bees flourish. We'll take this time to make our bee box better and the sugar syrup container more sturdy (and I even get to paint the bee box fun colors now).

I am obviously a novice at the bee thing, but I know a few things. If someone came to me wanting to know about bees I could share with him or her what I know. He or she would need other sources other than me obviously, but I still could share what I know.

That is how it is with the faith life. Maybe you're a brand new Believer. Great! You have something to share with someone because there is someone who isn't a Believer or someone who might be a doubting or discouraged Believer. You have something to share. We all do.

"The ultimate goal of our faith journey is to relate to the person of Jesus, because it is our relational connection to Jesus that will produce Christlikeness and spiritual growth. This relational perspective of discipleship is required if we hope to have a faith that is marked by the Spirit's power. Models of discipleship that are based solely upon what we know and what we do are incomplete, lacking the empowerment of a life of loving and living intimately with Jesus. A Spirit-empowered faith is relational and impossible to realize apart from a special work of the Spirit." The Great Commandment Network

Relating to and loving Jesus and then relating to and loving others is what life is about. Why wouldn't we want to share the Best Friend Ever with someone who needs a friend? That Best Friend Ever is Jesus! And He is such a wonder that He can be everyone's Best Friend Ever!

There's not much time left for any of us (even if we live to 100). Maybe we could give ourselves a goal -- help one person a year learn how to live this faith life. If you live another 20 years that would mean you have discipled 20 people. And hopefully that is 20 people discipling their own 20 people and so on. Some mathmatician somewhere can figure out how many that would be. Jesus had 12 disciples. Yes, He touched 1000s of lives in His 3 years of ministry, but He focused on 12. Who can you focus on this year? Just one person or maybe just three. Whatever. We don't have time to do this later. We must do this now. The gift we each have within ourselves, the Holy Spirit -- He must be shared. He is the gift. He is the One who leads us in this life. Share Him. Again, we don't have much time.

They looked dead

5/19/2019

They looked dead. I almost threw them away thinking they were contaminating the other ones, but I didn't. And now they have wings. One has crooked wings and the other seems kind of stupid. They are painted lady butterflies in my little butterfly cage. The caterpillars are ugly. A picture of the painted lady caterpillar is pictured below:

I received the Uncle Martin Butterfly Habitat and then ordered the caterpillars. When they arrived I was disappointed at their appearance. But as I already wrote, so far two have transformed into butterflies. The other four are still caterpillars not even seeming to be interested in making their chrysalises. But I've found with this process things seem to be dead and then suddenly they aren't.

When the two butterflies were still in their chrysalises their chrysalises fell. They were just lying their amidst the other caterpillars. I thought maybe the caterpillars would eat them (they didn't). That's when I thought they were dead.

So, you can imagine I was quite excited to see two butterflies seemingly suddenly.

But they aren't acting like I thought butterflies would act. I thought butteflies courageously fight their way out of their ugly chrysalises and then spend time waving their wings back and forth to dry them. And then they'd fly off.

Nope. This isn't happening. Not at all.

They have moved around their little habitat, but they don't seem too bright. They fall into the sugar syrup and just lay in it. Twice I coaxed one of them out of the syrup. I mean that can't be good for their wings to be coated in sticky stuff, could it? Often, the butterflies look dead. So I blow gently on them and get them mad and they flutter around (Shannon gets after me. He says, Would you want a giant blowing air on you?). One of them has crooked wings. I didn't think she'd be able to fly, but I've seen her fly.

I didn't even know I had butterfly expectations. I've been thinking there is something wrong with them because they aren't acting the way I thought they should.

But there is nothing wrong with them. The fault lies with me. I didn't understand butterflies. I still don't, but I've learned a tiny bit. I have to give them time to become the strong butterflies they need to be before they are released.

Don't we do the same thing with people? With children? With friends or fellow Believers? With authority figures? We have expectations of how they should react or respond, and when they don't, if we don't look at the situation carefully, we find fault in the other people and not in us.

We need to do what God calls us to do in other people's lives and leave the results to them and God. He won't tell us usually what He is doing in their lives because we don't need to know. When I was in the Army I had a secret clearance, but even with a secret clearance I didn't know all the secret-level intelligence. It was on a "need-to-know" basis only. If there is something we need to know in someone else's life, God will make sure we know it. Usually though we want to know more than we need to know -- that's when we get kind of nosy and intrusive.

Just because someone looks "dead" from the outside doesn't mean God isn't doing some great things on the inside.

If you live in my area and I didn't see you this morning at church, I have to tell you you missed out on a great Sunday School Lesson. What a great time we had. I love good conversation about the Bible and Jesus and living out this faith! If you are local and don't have a church home, I invite you to come to ours next week. You won't regret it (but if you do have a church home please attend there. You will really encourage your pastor by showing up).

It's a dream you have

10/15/2018

Reading in Deuteronomy today. Here's what stuck out to me:

"See, I have placed the land before you; go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to them and their descendants after them." Deuteronomy 1:8

Taking their promised land (their dream, the realization of their stories and their hopes; of their very existance) wasn't simply like opening a Christmas present. Sometimes I think some of us (including me) think that dreams we have should be that easy. We ask God for something that we know is what we are meant to do or meant to have, and balk at the notion that we have to do something to make it happen.

In order for the Israelites to see their dream fulfilled they had to have eight things (and there is probably more but these are the ones that came to me today). These eight things are:

1. Courage
2. Faith
3. Discipline
4. Obedience
5. Teamwork
6. Vision
7. Be ready to work, lots of work.
8. Imagination

They needed Courage because what they had to do was conquer a pagan people who must have appeared very scary and powerful (because the Israelites' parents refused to fight them, refused to take the land because they were afraid).

They needed Faith because they had to believe this was God leading them.

They needed Discipline because they would have to be ready to follow a plan and be able to carry it out. No slacking was allowed. This is the principle of being ready in and out of season -- all the time.

They needed Obedience because when they were given the command the plan would only work if they obeyed (even though the instructions were goiing to sound really strange and irrational).

They needed Teamwork because they had to work together. Everyone was needed, not just a select few. No dream is realized by the effort of just one person. There are always others who helped.

They needed Vision because they needed to remember why they were doing what they were doing.

They needed to be ready to Work, to do lots of work because this was a monumental task that would require sweat and muscle power.

And they needed Imagination because God rarely if ever works the way we think He should work. He has His own way of doing things and if we don't allow Him that freedom in our lives, our dreams will never be realized.

To reach our own promised land, our own dream (whatever dreams God has laid on our hearts) we'll need these 8 things too. Develop them now. It's God's will for you to do so. I know. And when we know for sure something is God's will we can be sure He will help us do what we need to do to live out this life He's called us all to.

Someone else's faith doesn't count

8/2/2018

Have you read the book of Daniel? Full of stories you might not even believe happened (but they did. Click here if you'd like to read a chapter). In the beginning of the fourth chapter World Ruler Nebuchadnezzar says, "It has seemed good to me to declare the signs and wonders which the Most High God has done for me." Daniel 4:2

Then, 28 verses later the same guy is full of pride bragging about himself and how he has made himself great. He has forgotten all about God (if Nebuchadnezzar could become full of pride and forget about God we can too).

So God kicks him out of the palace and Nebuchadnezzar lives out in in the fields like an animal for seven years losing his mind and eating grass.

At the end of the seven years, he gets his mind back and acknowledges God's greatness and wonder and God's dominion. He then says, "At that time my reason returned to me. And my majesty and splendor were restored to me . . . so I was reestablished in my sovereignty . . . Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just,a nd He is able to humble those who walk in pride." Daniel 4:36-37

You'd think that this experience and story and witnessing it would have a lasting effect on Nebuchadnezzar's son. That maybe he would follow God because of what happened to his father. But he didn't. In Daniel 5 we see Nebby's son Belshazzar being so anti-god that he ends up being killed. Daniel says to him, "Yet you, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this (the eating grass story)," Daniel 5:22

This reminded me this morning that each of us has to have a personal faith. Each of us has to decide for ourselves that we will love and serve God. And no matter what we do we can't decide for our own kids. We can faithfully talk to them about the faith, about living for Jesus. We can take them to church every week for their entire growing up years. We can read to them from the Bible. We can make sure they can learn all they can, but none of this will guarantee they will choose Jesus. We can't do it for them. We can't do it for anyone but ourselves.

And we can't use someone else's faith as ours.

It's just you and God. One day each of us will stand before God all by ourselves and then we answer to Him. No one can answer for us.

Did a Boo-boo

4/25/2018

Yep. I did a boo-boo (interestingly enough the merriam-webster dictionary does define boo-boo. It says it is a mistake or a blunder....and that is exactly what I did).

This morning I had to drive my youngest child to school early so she could catch a bus for an academic competition. On the way home I was thinking of some issues with this said child, a meeting that is going to occur next month; and then the next three years of school activities. Needless to say, thinking of all that overwhelmed me. By the time I got home I was stressed.

I asked Shannon if we could pray. I told him all the thoughts going through my mind. And he, thought by thought told me why I didn't have to worry about that. He prayed for me and then left for work.

I know better. I really do.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:34, "tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Why can't we stay worry-free all the time when we know worrying is not from God?

It's cause we're human. We like to be control. We like to know the end of the story. We like to know how things will turn out.

That's why God gave us each other and His word. He knew we'd have to read things more than once (way more than once) before they sunk in. And He knew we'd forget and have to relearn the same lessons over and over.

Faith is a process just like a child learning to walk. When he starts learning to walk he falls a lot. As he gets better at walking he falls less. But that doesn't mean he still won't at times trip and fall. We all get clumsy -- even really good walkers get clumsy.

It goes both ways

8/12/2017

It's said often that faith is not based on feelings and this is true. There are times in our walk with God He might seem distant or silent and our human nature might then question if He is there. We know He is. He is always there whether we can tell or not. That's why we base our faith on the Word and what it says. Jesus says in Matthew 28:20 that "I am with you always, even to the end of the age." That's something we can base our faith on.

But what about when we just aren't feeling it? What if we are living this life of faith and we feel we are doing it just because that's what we're supposed to do?

Sometimes that's the way it is. Sometimes when we follow God we might not be feeling it inside but we do the right thing anyway. That's what a life of faith looks and feels like in some seasons of life.

In Deuteronomy 7:9 it says, "'Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments.'"

That is an incredible promise. We obey not just for our sakes but for our children and their children (and so on and so on). In the verse above it doesn't say anything about feeling a certain way. We obey because we know it is the right thing to do because our Father God has commanded us to do.

Our emotions can be all over the place. We will be up and down and sideways and frontways and backwards in our emotions. That's why we can't base our faith on them. Our relationship with Christ must be steady. If we rely on Him, on His words He has given us, that relationship will be steady. Paul writes in 2 Thessalonians 3:5, "And may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ."

This principle applies to our earthy relationships too. I might be irritated with one of my children but I still do what I need to do for that child so she will grow and mature and become the woman God created her to be. And there may be a time you are not happy with your spouse. What do you do with that? You continue to love your spouse and ask God to help you work it out. My husband and I don't argue much at all, but when there have been arguments I walk away and I pray for God to restore our relationship. And He always does because that is His will.

Emotions can be a huge blessing. They are gifts from God. Don't let them run your life though. They will mess it up big time. You need to direct your emotions. They're powerful so it isn't easy but it is so very necessary.

Don't believe the lies

7/5/2017

Are you feeling useless? Don't believe it. Even when you feel like you're having no affect on your world, you are. No matter if you say nothing God is shining out of you. And if God is shining out of you, how can there be nothing happening?

Do you hear nothing when you read the Word? Read it anyway.

Do you feel like nothing you say in prayer is being heard? Pray anyway.

Do you feel lost in your walk of faith? Walk anyway.

You aren't lost. Your prayers are being heard. The Word is working in you even when it all feels absolutely empty. God promises His Word always accomplishing what He planned for it to accomplish. So if you read it there is a plan for it to do something in you (by the way if you want to read the verse I am referring to click here).

Nothing much

4/7/2017

Did you know the word "wait" s mentioned in the Bible at least 105 times? It depends on what version you look at. The same version sites "forgive" 56 times and "Believe" 143 times. And we know how important forgiving and believing are. Waiting is pretty important too.

I've talked about waiting several times in the past. In fact, if you click on "waiting" in my categories to the right you will find it is mentioned at least 20 times since 2013.

It is one of the most important skills we can learn to navigate this life successfully -- waiting with expectation.

If we can teach our children how to do this it will cut down on their future frustration. Life begins with waiting (waiting for at least 9 months for your child, sometimes a lot more if it is an adoption sometimes less if the baby is born early or it is quick adoption). You could say (if you are in a cynical mood) life is just one long wait for death.

Waiting is on my brain because I wanted to check in today on my blog but I didn't really have anything to write.

I'm waiting for a whole lot of things right now (I'm sure you are too). I've been waiting for Friday. It's been a busy week here. It exhausts me. I am waiting for my seeds to sprout, some will take at least 21 days. I'm waiting for new things to happen in my children's lives. I'm waiting for warmer weather. It is spring and the only places you will find snow on our place are places tucked under trees. The wind is strong and cold still so Hawk and I stay indoors. I'm waiting to schedule surgery (and then I'll be waiting for surgery). Also waiting to see a few good friends soon.

A lot of this waiting is similar to yours. We've learned to wait in some situations with patient expectation. We know the stuff is coming. Why worry? Why get frustrated?

We gotta do the same thing in answers to prayer or in the next unknown stage of life. Sometimes my brain is just empty -- I've just gotta wait for God to renew it. And He will.

What are you waiting for? Are you waiting in expectation? In belief?

While you wait train your faith. That's what waiting is. It is a training and growth time for your faith and the widening of your love for God and others. Just like an athlete trains for the next game or meet, he knows it is coming so he knows he's gotta prepare.

You know something's coming so prepare. It will be something huge -- something good or bad but no matter what it is you're going to need some faith. Store it up. It will come in handy.

"Lead me in Thy truth and teach me, For Thou art the God of my salvation; For Thee I wait all the day." Psalm 25:5

Making God sad

12/20/2016

There is a person in my life who I adore so so so so much. This person is very important to me. This person makes me laugh, makes me cry, makes me think and is a blessing. But, this person makes me sad a lot for this person has great potential but is choosing to ignore that potential and settle for the comfortable way -- a way that is slowly destroying this person. This person knows better but refuses to choose the better way because the better way takes a lot of work.

And I think God deals with the same thing in us. He tries to lead us into a better way of life; better choices; an abundant life. But this kind of life has its challenges. It's very difficult to deny ourselves; our selfish motivations; our own agendas and embrace God's way. God knows His way will bring us so much fulfillment and contentment that, if we do choose His way, we will be so very thankful. But this result isn't immediate. It takes work to do it God's way. It takes courage. It takes holding onto His Words when everything around you tells you God's way will never work.

And so often a lot of us don't choose God's way. We choose the comfortable way. We choose what we always fall back on. And I think this makes God sad -- not sad for Him, but sad for us. He knows how we would soar through the heavens, but we choose to crawl through the mud instead. There's no condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1) but there will be a wistfulness when thinking about what life could have been like if we had chosen God's way.

All is not lost. We can always turn to God at any moment in our lives. We can even be in the middle of following our own ways and in the middle of some mess we created because we put ourselves first. And in that mess we can cry out to our Father and He will raise us up and He can amazingly make our mess into something so beautiful that it will be woven into His plan and bring Him glory.

Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. I don't know what Christmas is like in the Southern Hemisphere but I love that here in the Northern Hemisphere we celebrate Jesus' birth at the coldest and darkest time of the year. It bring joy and hope and love when we could instead be overcome by darkness. Thank you Lord. And may we all choose to follow God's way (even when it is really hard to do).

God did it just right

11/7/2016

Character Hyacinth Bucket on the show "Keeping Up Appearances."

You know -- God did it just right when He made you the way He made you. He chose your nose, your hands, your body shape; your height, your voice, your talents, your gifts.

When we grumble about the way we've been made or what we've been given we are criticizing God.

Melissa Spoelstra in her study on 1 Corinthians writes, "It's easy to fix our eyes on others and, consequently, fail to appreciate and use the gifts we have been given. Longing for a gift the Lord hasn't given me communicates my lack of trust in His decisions."

Psalm 139 tells us that each of us have been "fearfully and wonderfully made."

When we don't embrace ourselves as ourselves we do a disservice to us, to God and to this world. The world and the church need us to be fully us. To be fully alive in Christ. To be wholy the person God created each of us to be.

Let's not waste time wishing we were something else. Let's not waste time wishing we looked a different way. Let's not waste time wishing we could do what someone else can do. The gifts and talents God gave us are ideally suited to who we are. Use them for Him. Revel in your own creation. Thank Him for your hands that work, your feet that work, your taste buds; your eyes. Thank Him for all these things.

My husband spoke about this yesterday in our church. What a good sermon it was. If you would like to listen and be blessed click here.

When you don't know what to do

9/22/2016

When you don't know what to do, just wait.

When it feels you're drowning, know that He's coming.

When it's getting darker and more hopeless, be ready.

God is never late. God is never unaware of your struggles. He knows what's going on and He's making a way. He's asking you to hold on and believe and wait expectantly -- meaning, believing He is going to come through. Do you know how pleased He'll be with you when you wait for Him to show up? You know, God likes to be the hero too but when we take matters into our own hands when we know we shouldn't, we take that opportunity away from Him. He can and will work with any situation in our lives, but sometimes our fixing and our fiddling muck up the process.

Hope.

Wait.

Believe.

"And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." Hebrews 11:6

When we have faith we please God.

Let God be your hero. He does it better than anyone.

"In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple. And my cry for help before Him came into His ears. Then the earth shook and quaked; And the foundation of the mountains were trembling . . . He bowed the heavens . . . and came down With thick darkness under His feet. And He rode upon a cherub and flew . . . He took me out of many waters. He delivered me . . . He brought me forth also into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me." Psalm 18:6-19

It only works if it's used

4/4/2016

The day finally came.

I finally took the patient lift out of my garage. It's been there since we moved here last August. It isn't that I couldn't have used it. I could have -- I could have used it several times a day, every day.

But I didn't want to bother bringing it in. I had gotten into a routine of lifting my son. I mean -- I've done it for over 16 years. Why stop now?

There have been several days I've said to myself, Yeah, I should start using that lift. It is necessary. Sure.

But I make do. I mean I have a routine. And I have great biceps from lifting my son all the time.

But a nagging voice would answer, It's only a matter of time before you hurt yourself. What are you going to do then?

How often do we do this? We get into a routine where we make do. We know we should use that new tool. Or we know we should change the way we do something, but things aren't that broken so we don't change.

Until we absolutely have to change.

I had to change today. I hurt my back when lifting my son. That's why I brought the lift in (I wish I could have said I did it because I finally got smart -- but nope, I didn't). No worries though -- I didn't hurt it badly. It will just be sore for a couple of days.

Sometimes I think we people think life should be easy. God should just give us stuff. God should take all the pain away. God should not let challenges come into our lives -- especially if we are living for Him.

And I think He might wish life was easier for us, but He knows us. We don't change unless we have to (well we might temporarily change but we go right back to our old ways pretty quickly). Our faith doesn't grow until it's necessary in our lives -- until we have nowhere else to turn.

You probably don't need a lift in your house but I know one tool you definitely need (and very likely have it -- well, in fact I know you do since you're reading this). That tool is the Bible (and if you don't have a physical one you can go to Biblegateway.com and read it online for free). Scripture is powerful. It will change you from the inside out if you apply it. If you act on what you read. It does no good just sitting on a shelf or opened prettily on a coffee table. Knowing a few Bible stories isn't knowing the Bible. A lifetime isn't long enough to know the Bible.

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine (says Jesus) and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the wins blew, and burst against the house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall."
Matthew 7:24-27

Faith truly is the victory -- wow!

1/20/2016

God is so faithful. He truly wants us to be completely free within, not leaning on anything but Him because in Him we will become wholly who we were created to be. And what a joy that is! To just live and be passionate about life and what is before us and the tasks we do. Glory to God!

These last several months, well, you could say my whole life, I struggled with finances. My entire married life our finances have been a struggle (like many people). We work hard but usually, most all the time for the past almost 22 years we've had to believe for God to come through with the finances.

Truly this is a great place to be. It really is where everyone is because everything belongs to God including our talents and skills and good-paying jobs. That being said, if a person has a job that pays all the bills it is easy to forget that provision comes straight from God.

Anyway, back to me. God has done a wonder in me this morning (or maybe it was last night). He's been working on me for my entire adult life. He is so patient. I have always known He provides and He does. But sometimes in the past I've tried to "help" Him; and inevitably my help caused our situation to be worse. My husband and I have chosen to put God first in all our decisions for our family and sometimes the choices we made, look, basically ridiculous, from the world point of view.

And I was fine with that but my flesh still struggled even as we chose rightly. I believe and have faith and then would worry. Over and over. There have been months and years I did great with this issue -- years where I knew in every single cell that God's provision was perfect and would come at the perfect time and all would be well. And then I'd struggle again. Why can't I learn? I'd tell myself (that is not from God because you can hear the condemnation in that question).

But God understood. And He doesn't condemn our struggles. The struggle is important. It too is part of the learning process and the way to freedom. The decisions I've made that made things worse have not been condemned by God either. He knows they too were part of the process. And I can't say I've arrived totally with the right attitude toward money and finances and provision but I am so thankful where I'm at.

God has finally been able to pry that issue out of my hands. My heart is free. My heart is light. And as the song says, "Faith is the victory."

I don't see the victory yet in this world (we are waiting for some things to happen financially in our lives and they will -- just have to be God's timing) but I feel the victory within. No matter how long all this takes (the things that are going to happen for us) I know that I know that I know God's got it. Besides the line from Casting Crowns that says, "Your world's not falling apart, it's falling into place" another line from a song has been going through my head yesterday and today. It says, "He's a good, good Father."

It's a song by Chris Tomlin and we can know that for sure -- our Father is a good, good father. I'll paste the lyrics below and also give you the link to the YouTube video. If you haven't heard this song take time to listen to it now. God is a good good Father!

"Good Good Father"

Oh, I've heard a thousand stories of what they think you're like
But I've heard the tender whisper of love in the dead of night
And you tell me that you're pleased
And that I'm never alone

You're a Good, Good Father
It's who you are, it's who you are, it's who you are
And I'm loved by you
It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am

Oh, and I've seen many searching for answers far and wide
But I know we're all searching
For answers only you provide
Cause you know just what we need
Before we say a word

You're a Good, Good Father
It's who you are, it's who you are, it's who you are
And I'm loved by you
It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am

Cause you are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways to us

You are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways to us

Oh, it's love so undeniable
I, I can hardly speak
Peace so unexplainable
I, I can hardly think

As you call me deeper still [x3]
Into love, love, love

[x3:]
You're a Good, Good Father
It's who you are, it's who you are, it's who you are
And I'm loved by you
It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am

You're a Good, Good Father
(You are perfect in all of your ways)
It's who you are, it's who you are, it's who you are
And I'm loved by you
(You are perfect in all of your ways)
It's who I am, it's who I am it's who I am

Just keep walking

1/18/2016

You are in a dark forest. You don't know where you are going. You knew when you stepped this way it was the way to go, but now you're confused. Life is dark and scary and threats seem to come from all sides but you know you were told to go this way.

So just keep walking.

Just keep your eyes on your path and keep walking, inch by inch.

Don't pay attention to the stuff that is trying to pull you off the path.

Don't listen to the lies.

Don't fight those who are walking with you. If you do, you do the enemy's job for him.

Jesus is there. Jesus is with you. Hold onto His hand and get through.

Just get through.

When all hope seems lost, keep pushing forward.

Don't give up.

You know your course.

Stick to it.

"those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary." Isaiah 40:31

See It As A Friend

12/18/2015

This week has been snowy and stormy for much of South Dakota. Days leading up to the storm were grey and foggy in my local area. The fog stayed and only lifted after the storm. Many in the area have been without power. School was cancelled every day but Monday.

I was scared (scared enough to cry). We were blessed with a generator but I've never used it. We are blessed with a mile-long driveway, but if it filled with snow, I didn't know how I'd get out, and if I got out would I get stuck? And then add to that my constant concern of how to get my 16 year old son out of the house. He uses a wheelchair and has to be carried like an infant. Snow and storms complicate this incredibly.

After talking with a friend I made sure I got gas for the generator. I brought the generator to the door and brought the extension cords inside just in case I needed to use them. They said I could call them and they'd talk me through it.

I admitted to my husband via text how I felt.

And do you know what happened --when I admitted that, the fear faded away. God made sure I knew I wasn't alone. My husband (who had to be gone all week) said he'd leave the job and come home if the power went out for an extended time. I received several calls from neighbors checking on me. At least two said they'd bring me a generator if I needed one. Two offered to scoop the driveway. One neighbor called to tell me school was cancelled and told me to stay home because of drifts and to keep my cell phone charged. I told one friend who called me twice that I felt so loved.

God kept me and my kids safe and I never had to take my 16 year old out into the snow.

And to top that off, a huge snowplow came down my driveway yesterday and scooped us out. Did you know angels drive snowplows? I ran outside in my chore boots and an apron (jeans and a sweater too of course) and told this angel thank you!

This post has not been what I intended it to be. See that silly sun on the upper right corner? I put that there because not only was I scared, I felt so down, frighteningly down. The fog and gray skies really affect me emotionally. One dear friend said it reminds her of a blanket -- that God is keeping her warm and cozy. So I tried to hold onto that.

And then yesterday the sun came out and I cried in joy all the way to the post office for that beautiful sun (this was before my driveway was scooped -- some other friends are letting me borrow their 4-wd truck until we can get a 4-wd vehicle for me).

Malachi 4:2 says, "But for you who fear My name the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall."

Have you ever seen baby animals play? Oh, it's joyful. That is one thing I miss about having goats. The babies were so fun to watch, so full of joy and funny. Any baby animal (even the human ones) are a delight! I felt that delight with that sun shining yesterday. And as I write this I see the sun beginning to light up the world around me. Glory, glory, glory, God is blessing us with the sun again today.

I also wanted to talk about time and letting it be your friend rather than your enemy. From pathlights.com I wrote down a quote that says, "Nature's process of healing and upbuilding is gradual, and to the impatient it seems slow."

So many mistakes in life happen because we are in a rush or we panic. We don't let God have the time He (and we) need to accomplish things in the best way possible. Really, there is no need to rush. We often are told we need to rush. We need to get things done. We need to do things when people expect them. We need to give this or give that. We need to do, do, do. But none of this rush-mentality is good for us or anyone. Jesus said, "but only a few things are necessary, really only one" (Luke 10:42).

The one thing that is necessary is reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ and relationship with each other. Nothing else matters in comparison to these. Sure, the presents are fun (I LOVE giving gifts). The music is lovely. The lights are sparkly. The Christmas shows are fun to watch (I do so like the movie Elf and I like the Mrs. Miracle shows; It's a Wonderful Life, The Nativity, The Bells of St. Mary's; The Christmas Carol with Patrick Stewart; Miracle on 34th Street...).

"We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:19c

That's what it is all about -- seeing fear replaced by faith; the concern of neighbors; letting time be our friend rather than our enemy; the joy of babies and Christmas gifts and movies and music -- all of it is about relationship. Going to church isn't about being a goody-goody. It isn't about doing what's right. It isn't about impressing others or fulfilling someone's expectations of you. It's about being part of God's family. We need each other. We need Jesus. We need you. Let the joy of Christmas, the joy of snow, the joy of babies and children and music and movies bring you closer to the One who absolutely wants to be with you. God truly loves seeing you walk toward Him. Do you know how that feels -- when someone is so glad to see you? That's what it will be like if you come home to Father God, to Brother Jesus, to Holy Spirit.

Come home this Christmas right there where you.

Willy Wonka Knows His Theology

11/21/2015

I prayed this morning the words from
1 Samuel 3:9:

"Speak LORD, for your servant is listening."

And then I waited.

And some may think when God speaks He speaks just Bible words and uses a deep booming voice and maybe gives some big commands for His servant to carry out.

Not so.

This morning God spoke to me in the words of Willy Wonka. When these words came to mind, my whole soul breathed, "Yes."

They make so much sense.

Remember at the end of the movie when Charlie won the prize of the entire chocolate factory? Wonka gives him a hug and says these words:

"So who can I trust to run the factory when I'm gone and take care of the Oompa Loompas for me? Not a grown up. A grown up would want to do everything his own way, not mine. So that's why I decided a long time ago that I had to find a child. A very honest, loving child, to whom I could tell all my most precious . . . secrets."

That, in a sense, is what Father God says to us. That's what our prayers to Him should be -- a prayer of His Will to Him. When we say yes to Jesus we are transported spiritually into God's unseen world which is governed by God's principles. With Wonka's words it was assumed rightly that as Charlie grew up he would learn how to run the factory as Wonka does so when he finally took over he would do Wonka's way.

With God He grows us up in His ways. He wants us to do things His way because it is the best way, the most compassionate way, the most loving and the very best for all involved. So think about prayer in relation to this thought.

As Charlie grew and learned he might have asked Wonka of he could do something different. Now, if that different thing lined up with how Wonka ran the factory, Wonka, if Charlie was ready, would have said YES.

Jesus says we are to come to the kingdom like Little Children.

This makes so much sense!

A cloud message and a drunk dude

11/14/2015

This was the sky last night while I was boiling potatoes for supper. No photo editing was done. This is just the fabulous skies where I live.

Yet, I would have edited a bit if I thought I could help you see what I saw. In the cloud where that streak of color is right of center is a full-fledged rainbow. It just looks pink in the picture, but it was way more than that last night.

Do you know what clouds are made of? Probably you do, but I'll remind you -- they're made of drops of water or ice crystals that settle on dust in the atmosphere. When the light from the setting sun hits these water drops we get a bunch of color. There wouldn't have been a rainbow without the cloud. And there wouldn't have been a cloud without the dust.

The dust is what intrigues me.

My life, at least my inner life, is pretty dusty these days. I love where we're living. I love the church we are part of (the picture of the church is in the margin on the right). My kids are doing great in school -- all of them! My marriage is solid. God is getting us through financially even though our former house has yet to sell and my two kids in college needed extra help with tuition payments. I have so much to be thankful for.

And I am. I am so thankful.

But when I went out to take the picture of the sky, I was asking God to get through to me. See, the dust in my soul is leaving its marks on me and it's kind of hard to get past those dusty fingerprints to just focus on Jesus. I've been saying (and praying) all week, "Not my will, but Your Will, Lord." And I mean it. I truly do. But there's a little Jane inside (or maybe it's the dusty prints) that is wreaking havoc with my contentment state. Because even though I truly want God's will, I still want the house to sell, like NOW or YESTERDAY. It would make life a whole lot easier financially. God's in charge and He obviously didn't want it to sell yesterday or it would have. And He doesn't plan on it selling while I'm writing this so I need to be content in that. And I kinda am.

But I'm also conflicted.

Apostle Paul was content in life even in prison but this was a learned response. In Philippians 4:11, he writes, "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am."

If he can learn it we all can learn it.

Maybe when there's a whole of lot of dust in our lives we can just let the water of the Spirit settle on those dusty places. The dust is still there but God's colors are coming through. What's the message? The same one God gave Noah way back when. He's connected Himself to us in covenant. In Genesis 9 He goes onto say that this covenant means He won't ever flood the entire earth again. I'm not sure why I needed to be reminded of not to be concerned that the earth won't be flooded again while dealing with soul dust, but hey, we don't always know what we need to know.

It's funny. Right after Noah gets this cool sign from God and has a conversation with the LORD Above, he gets drunk and lays around naked. Maybe God told the Genesis writer to include this little bit to remind us how human Noah was. Yeah, he was chosen to be the one to save the animals and humans from the flood, but he still messed up.

So much swirling inside

11/3/2015

There are so many thoughts and concerns swirling inside my brain this morning (oooo-- evidence that my brain does exist):

First, I'm reading a great study by Jennifer Kennedy Dean on prayer. I will write down the passages from her prayer study I copied into my journal this morning. I know they will bless you. She writes:

John wanted to make it clear that when Jesus built a delay into the process, when He stayed two days longer in the place where He was (John 11), it was in the context of how much He loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus . . . His delay, then, was loving, purposeful, profitable, and deliberate. It was necessary for accomplishing the bigger agenda He had in mind.

And again later Kennedy Dean writes:

When it appears from earth that God is delaying, He is really putting pieces together that you had not thought of. He is engineering circumstances so that His power and glory will be on display. When God builds a waiting period into the course of your affairs, it means that what He is doing requires it. His apparent delays are loving, purposeful, and deliberate.

This study is speaking to me directly about the sale of our acreage and former home in Blunt, South Dakota. Of course we wanted it to sell quickly. It is taking a while, but God is in that "taking a while" time. Even if it is takes several months (or even more than that) God is still working. The longer we have to wait for answers to prayer (when we are waiting expectantly and with hope) the bigger the answer must be. Miraculously (but definitely not surprisingly) God has been sustaining us in our new home and giving us the ability to stay current on our payments for our former home. In His time God will move on this earth.

Maybe you too have a situation you are waiting to see resolved. Keep holding on. Keep believing. Your belief is a work of God, and your constant belief (especially when it is tough to believe) is doing mighty things in the spiritual realm.

Second, have you been following Joey and Rory's story? They are a married couple country singing duo who write heart-felt songs about life and faith. Rory is an incredible writer. Joey, the wife, has terminal cancer, and this is the current subject of his blog found here. Please click on that link. You will be blessed. To see this man writing heart-felt faith-filled words while he watches his beloved wife fade from his life to the next is beautiful and loving and sad and tragic and incredible -- go there please. Here is the link again: Rory's blog. Her family is asking all to pray Thursday evening for Joey's healing and peace.

Third, how amazing it is that we get to be part of God's work. He invites us all to be part of His work. I am so thankful we are living where God has led us to live. If you ask God will show you Himself and what He is doing right where you live. Ask Him. Be part of it. Rejoice with others as they receive blessings. Weep with those who are mourning. Shout in joy while you wait for God to move. This life is far more incredible and breath-taking than we can grasp. Thank you Lord Jesus!

I Guarantee You Will Have A Successful Day If . . .

10/29/2015

There aren't many guarantees in life. We hear about them all the time though -- just watch commercials.

"If you take this diet pill, the fat will just melt away."

"Using this cologne will attract all the ladies."

"Do you want to feel sexy? Wear this brand."

"Just use this exercise machine three times a week and I guarantee you will have one hot bod."

Soon, if they haven't started all ready, we will be inundated with guaranteed-results commercials because the Christmas shopping season is almost here. Halloween is Saturday. The ads start right away November 1.

But any of us who have been around for a while, the ones who have lived a number of decades, know that these claims are false. None of these commercials are telling the truth. Those aren't guarantees. They might work for some but not all.

But I can give you a guarantee that I know is true for absolutely everyone alive on this planet. I won't know if you take me up on it. It is between you and God. But it truly is a guarantee. If you do A, B WILL DEFINITELY HAPPEN.

I love a day I can look back on and feel like I've accomplished something. I don't think I'm alone in this either. And we all have issues and challenges in our lives. Many of us have financial challenges. Many of us have relationship challenges. Many of us have issues with our health or with a family member's health. No one is exempt from struggles. If you don't have any now you will (oh, there's a bonus guarantee for you).

Yet, even with struggles the guarantee I am talking about will happen. It doesn't matter who you are. It doesn't matter if the people around you believe in you or not. It doesn't matter if you are royalty or living in a half-way house. This is a guarantee for anyone who does the first part.

So, what am I talking about?

If you have faith in God, you will please Him (check out Hebrews 11:6 and John 6:29). If you have that kind of faith that says, "I will believe no matter what;" the kind of faith that laughs in the face of fear; the kind of faith that waits expectantly for God to come through.

This kind of faith pleases God.

And if you exercise this faith you can know for sure the God of the Universe, The God Who created you and everything you love; The God who is above all and who sent His One and Only Son Jesus Christ to die for us all; is pleased with You.

Wouldn't you say having the most important Being pleased with you makes you successful?

Think of someone you totally admire, that one person who you'd love to meet -- what if that person came up to you today and said, You're doing a great job. I am so proud of you?

It wouldn't matter what anyone else thought. It wouldn't matter what else was going on in your life. After he/she said that to you, you'd have the biggest smile on your face and feel so light inside.

We can feel that way all the time because God is pleased when we exercise faith in Him -- that kind of faith is active and progressive and sees not with physical eyes but with spiritual eyes.

Choose it today! We have to choose to exercise this kind of faith. I'm choosing it today. I want my Father pleased (and no -- it isn't a works thing. Working hard and trying to get His approval is NOT what i am talking about -- if that is what you read in my words, ask God to help you understand as you re-read what I wrote).

Believe, Believe, Believe!

Especially now

5/19/2015

Especially now when things are tough, don't give up.

Hold on just a little bit longer.

I was an ear for a loved one who needed to vent. Stress can pile up and make life impossible. And it probably is for us humans. For God nothing is impossible!

So, again I will take a practice from Tim Fall and share with you a post I wrote a while ago - - in fact it was written almost three years ago. Today is a good day to read it again. I'll cut and paste below:

I flipped open my Bible a minute ago and this is what I read:

"Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it shall be granted him. Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted you.'" Mark 11:23-24

Don't give up on God when the wait is so long that you don't think it's going to happen.

Don't give up on God when it gets hard.

Don't give up on God when things aren't going well at all.

Don't give up on God when the awful is piling up and seemingly covering up the good.

Keep holding on, keep holding onto Him and His words.

"But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." 1 Peter 3:8-9

Out of all the C.S. Lewis Narnia books the one that is my favorite is Prince Caspian.

Here's a scene from the movie toward the end. The end seems near. Defeat seems sure. But then right when all hope is lost Aslan comes and saves the day in a mighty surprising way.

That's what God does with us -- if we hold on in faith and stay diligent with the work He's given us to do, He will come through in a mighty and surprising way. He just loves it when we believe when it looks hopeless.

The reason I love Prince Caspian is because of a conversation Lucy (my favorite character) has with Aslan. She had seen him before anyone else and said they ought to go to him. No one believed her so they went in the wrong direction. She said this to Aslan, and Aslan said something like "You could still have come."

When we see God, Go! Go to Him. Don't stop. Always, always go to Him!

Don't give up on Him. He will come through. - See more at: http://janehinrichs.weebly.com/home/dont-give-up-on-him-please#sthash.W5dCKSaf.dpuf

What He said it was like

3/19/2015

It's easy to get distracted in life.

It's easy to forget what Jesus said.

It's also easy to remember -- just back to the Scriptures.

I was reading about what Jesus said the Kingdom of Heaven is like. He compared it to five things. Check the verses out here:

Luke 1:18

Luke 13:21

Matthew 13:44

Matthew 13:45

Matthew 13:47

Click on the verses and you can read them. The things Jesus said the Kingdom of Heaven is like are tiny things, insignificant things; common things. Each begins with an ordinary, common every day object/subject which gets put in a place that we cannot see. And in that place that is unseen the real work begins. It grows in the dark. It grows in the unknown place. If we would try to uncover it we would mess it up. Maybe even kill that little thing -- A tiny seed, a fishing drag net; yeast, a person on a treasure hunt and hidden treasure.

Think of all these examples -- if we throw doubt at them, if we try to manipulate them, we will mess it all up.

Oswald Chambers writes, "Living a life of faith means never knowing where you are being led. But it does mean lovin and knowing the One who is leading. It is literally a life of faith, not of understanding and reason -- a life of knowing Him who calls us to go. Faith is rooted in the knowledge of a Person, and one of the biggest traps we fall into is the belief that if we have faith, God will surely lead us to success in the world."

Just keep waiting

10/23/2014

We humans like to "fix" things. We like to get things to work. We like to try and shove that "square peg into the round hole."

And when we do take situations into our own hands rather than wait on God to work things out we will temporarily fix them. And we can even find solutions. But when we step in before God plans to act then we miss out on a big blessing. When we get impatient and just get something done rather than keep waiting on God (who seems so slow at times but this is because we can't see all He is doing and why the waiting is absolutely perfect for us and all involved) we lose out and we don't even realize it.

I look back at decisions I've made when I've worried and had to see something fixed because I was panicking rather than waiting in faith and I see how those decisions made the situation worse in the long run.

Learn to wait expectantly. God knows. He isn't too busy for your little problems. He wants to show Himself, but if you do it yourself then you missed out on Him acting.

In those times when we do that, when we come to our rescue (badly usually) I think God might just think,"If they had only waited...."

Give God a chance. Keep holding on. Don't lose hope.

"Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward." Hebrews 10:35