Remnant’s Roar

The Suffering Servant – He Took My Place

/ Michelle Halloran / Leave a comment

As I was pondering the majesty of Jesus and the miracle of His life, death, and resurrection, a little poem came to mind. I jotted it down to share with you. I pray it gives you a renewed revelation of what Jesus did for you and who you are because of the cross! …Based upon Isaiah 53

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The Suffering Servant – He Took My Place©

Jesus, born innocent. From heaven to earth He came.
I, born guilty. With hands and feet blood-stained.

Jesus, without sin. Talked and pointed to God.
I, a sinner. Mocked and ran from God.

Jesus, full of love. Bore my sin for me.
I, needing love. Finally came to Him on bended knee.

Jesus became a man of sorrows. Taking up the cross.
I received the joy of salvation. No longer am I lost.

Jesus paid my ransom. The price of my captivity.
I gained my freedom. His blood became my liberty.

Jesus was pierced, crushed, and chastised.
I became restored, healed, and baptized…

By His Love.

Jesus poured out, so I can be filled up.

Jesus sweat blood, so my tears can be wiped away.

Jesus wore a crown of thorns, so I can inherit the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus cried, “It is finished!”, so I can find peace and rest.

Jesus died, so I can live!

Jesus rose, so I can have the victory!

By:  Michelle Halloran

 

 

Isaiah 53

53 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression[a] and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.[b]
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes[c] his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life[d] and be satisfied[e];
by his knowledge[f] my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,[g]
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,[h]
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

Second Chances and Double Portions

/ Michelle Halloran / Leave a comment

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Why do bad things happen to good people?

Ah… the age old question to which we’ll probably never fully grasp the answer this side of heaven. However, all throughout scripture, God unveils His nature which reflects His intent for our lives. And here’s the bottom line: His will towards us is ALWAYS good!

Let’s consider Job.

Job was a very prosperous, respected man who feared God and shunned evil. But then Satan comes along and strips Job of his wealth, his health, and his family. Note, these are the tactics of the enemy. Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy and he used every weapon in his arsenal to try to bring Job down and cause him to curse God.

Did it work? No, it didn’t. Job 2:10 says, “Job did not sin with his lips.” You see, Job recognized the enemy at work. Even though Job cried out in despair and cursed the day he was born, he did not curse God. Instead, Job’s submission to God’s sovereignty allowed him to be found faithful throughout the test. And later in scriptures, James 5:11, Job is praised for his patience and endurance.

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. –James 1:2-3

“Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord – that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” — James 5:11

There are times when we need the refiner’s fire. Sure it hurts, but it’s the fire that burns away the chaff of our iniquities. How else can we be found faithful but through testing? The trials in life reveal our need of a Savior. They bring us to the place where Jesus is our only source; where He becomes our all in all.

Even though there is suffering, testing, and persecutions, God’s will towards us is always good. Jack Hayford puts it beautifully saying, “Some things about human suffering God cannot possibly explain to us at the time without destroying the very purpose they were designed to fulfill.”

Therefore, what the enemy means for evil, God purposes for good. Job’s afflictions brought him to the end of his own self-righteousness, self-vindication, and self-wisdom. Not only that, but God also restored the fortunes of Job and He increased all that Job had twofold! [Job 42:10] God gave him double for his trouble!

That’s our God! He brings redemption and restoration to us through the blood of Jesus Christ! Not only does He restore everything back that was lost or stolen, but His restoration brings unmerited increase! Hallelujah!!!

Take note here… Jesus brings freedom and restoration to both the prisoners and the captives. [Isaiah 61:1] A prisoner is bound because of something they did wrong, but a captive is bound because of something evil done to them. Yet, God’s grace doesn’t distinguish between the two. You may have put yourself in bondage or brought the yoke of suffering upon yourself (i.e., a bad business deal, abusing drugs, unforgiveness). He doesn’t care. It doesn’t matter how you got into bondage. The blood of Jesus frees and restores both the prisoner and the captive!!!

“As for you also, because of the blood of MY covenant with you, I have set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. Return to the stronghold, O prisoners who have the hope; this very day I am declaring that I will restore double to you.” –Zechariah 9:11-12

“Instead of your shame you will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land, everlasting joy will be theirs. For I, the Lord, love justice… And I will faithfully give them their recompense.” –Isaiah 61:7

The word ‘recompense’ means reward and it’s where we get the terminology ‘worker’s compensation’. God tells us that as a child of God, if we get hurt on the job, He will faithfully give us our recompense. Our reward from Him is exceedingly great and everlasting!

In John 10:10 Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.” Not only does Jesus sustain us through our sufferings and afflictions, but He redeems, rebuilds, restores, repairs, recompenses, and revives!!! He is a God of SECOND CHANCES and DOUBLE PORTIONS! All we must do is submit to His sovereignty and endure until the end.

Hang on… hold tight… He’s got you and He will never let you go! And when you find your footing again, you will find yourself in a new level of glory! From glory to glory! Unmerited increase!

***

Thank you for reading Psalms of Mine. It was nearly one year ago that God told me to start blogging and He would give me a sphere of influence to speak life into. Since then my posts have reached people and countries unimaginable. If you have been blessed by this blog, please share with your own sphere of influence. It is my prayer that people will discover the depths of Jesus’ love for them and find freedom in the truths of His Word! Be blessed!

 

 

He Loves Me… He Loves Me Not…

/ Michelle Halloran / 2 Comments

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“He loves me… He loves me not…,” says the wishful little girl dreaming of Prince Charming as she plucks petals aimlessly from a quickly withering flower. (Photo via Flickr Hive Mind)

Sounds sappy, right!?! But how many of us, at one time or another, could attest to doing something similar? HaHa! Go ahead and admit it. You’re such a hopeless romantic!

Well, all cuteness aside, how many of us have done something similar with God? Rather than plucking petals from a flower, we pluck moments from our lives and analyze them. “Oh, I read my bible today! He loves me!” Or, “Oh no, I just lost it in a fit of anger. He loves me not.”

I don’t know about you, but I used to live like this. Ups and downs. Circles and cycles. All based upon my behavior. I viewed God through the lenses of my actions. For years I tried to be a good girl so I could earn God’s love and favor and blessings. The problem was I could never be good enough. I didn’t understand who I was in Christ Jesus and who God the Father was to me.

So, if you’ve ever thought like this, let’s cancel out that lie from the enemy right now! Let’s view God, not through the lenses of our actions, but through the lenses  of Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross for us. God is the author and source of love.

GOD IS LOVE! AND WE ARE THE SUBJECT OF HIS LOVE! WE ARE HIS BELOVED!

“By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” –1 John 4:9-10

We can see here that it’s not even because we love God or we’ve done something special to earn God’s love. But when we truly realize who God is, then we can know who we are. God demonstrated to us ‘no greater love’ through Jesus Christ. Jesus left the Father and the paradise of heaven to come to the earth to die, in order that we might live. There’s no greater love than this, so look no further.

Look to Jesus! He is our advocate! He intercedes on our behalf! He fights for us! And He’s coming back for His bride, His glorious church! There’s your prince! The Prince of Peace, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords!

1 John 4 in verse 12 goes on to say, “His love is perfected in us.” The word perfected here means ‘made complete‘. I’m here to tell you that Jerry McGuire stole his famous line straight from the bible. You know the one… “You complete me.” And all our hearts melted and tears came to our eyes when Renee Zellweger replied with, “You had me at hello.”

Listen. God is standing at your heart’s door right now saying to you…

“My love is perfected in you. You are My Beloved. As you abide in My love, you abide in Me and I abide in you. Don’t worry about your dirty rags. My love covers a multitude of sins and I will transform your rags into a garment as white as snow. Receive and rest in My love right now as I shower it upon you, cleansing you from the inside out. My love is made complete in you.“

“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

By this, love is perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world… We love, because He first loved us.” –1 John 15-19

Can you Build Faith Like You Build Muscle?

/ Michelle Halloran / Leave a comment
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Photo via faithandfitness.net

God has allotted to each a measure of faith. –Romans 12:3

The Lord impressed upon me recently an powerful analogy of faith. He showed me faith is like a muscle in both function and development. As I began researching the muscular system and studying God’s Word about faith, I was amazed at the similarities.

God has given each of us a measure of faith. It’s up to us on what we will do with it. The same way we build guns of steel, we can build mountain-moving faith!

Do you want to know how? If so, keep on reading!!! We are going to uncover three functions of faith and discover two keys on how we can build more faith.

FUNCTION

Action

The primary function of all muscles is movement. Likewise, faith causes us to move. 

I recently heard a message preached by Bill Johnson, the pastor of Bethel Church in Redding, California, and he said prayer is removing the obstacle. Faith is going in and taking possession.  You may have heard the old saying, prayer is asking for rain, but faith is carrying the umbrella. This picture shows us faith is always accompanied by action.

Muscle without movement is dead. In the same manner, faith without action is dead!

“Faith, by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead… Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.” –James 2:17, 21-22

Position

The secondary function of our muscular system is the maintenance of posture and body position. Did you know that the muscles responsible for our body’s posture have the greatest endurance of all muscles in the body? Those muscles hold us upright all day and they seldom tire or weaken.

Similarly, it is our faith that holds us steadfast at all times. Our faith grounds us like a deeply rooted tree which will not be shaken when the winds blow. Paul illustrates this perfectly in the verses below.

“Until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming. ” –Ephesians 4:13-14

Did you notice the call to the body of Christ to be unified in faith and that our stature belongs to the fulness of Jesus Christ? When Jesus fills our stature, nothing can shake us!!! Faith is literally our back bone!

“But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let now that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” –James 1:6-7

Perspiration

The final function of our muscles is the generation of body heat. When we exert ourselves more than normal, the extra muscle contractions increase our body temperature. As a result, with strenuous exercise, we sweat. We perspire in an effort to cool us down.

By the same token, our faith in the name of Jesus stirs a fire within us. It should burn in our hearts just like the prophet Jeremiah spoke of in the scripture below. Our faith should cause us to declare His name everywhere we go. To pour out the living water of Jesus that is within us.

“But if I say, ‘I will not mention His word or speak anymore in His name,’ then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; and I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.” –Jeremiah 20:9

GROWTH

Resistance

Skeletal muscle is the most adaptable tissue in the human body. Muscles grow as a result to trauma to the muscle fibers due to intense exercise or resistance training. As part of the repair process, new muscle protein strands are formed causing growth of the muscle.

Resistance is one of the two main keys to building our faith, as well. Matthew Henry, a renown bible commentator,  states, “Afflictions are God’s threshing-instruments, designed to loosen us from the world, to separate between us and our chaff, and to prepare us for use.” Resistance and afflictions teach us to trust God as a good Father. It teaches us to lean on Him and not on our own understanding.

But even though resistance will come, God promises to never give us more than we can bear. Like any good personal trainer, God always proportions the resistance to our strength. It may not feel good in the moment, but our faith pushes us through and we come out much stronger than before.

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces endurance.” –James 1:2-3

Repetition

Muscle growth occurs when the rate of muscle protein synthesis is greater than the rate of muscle protein breakdown. A single bout of exercise stimulates protein synthesis within 2-4 hours after the workout and may remain elevated for up to 24 hours. However, it takes weeks to months for the muscle growth to physically manifest.

Just like you can’t build guns of steel overnight, you can’t build mountain-moving faith overnight either. Building muscle requires much repetition and building faith requires much repetition. There are many scriptures throughout the Bible that support this, and I’ve listed a few of my favorites below.

“Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” –Romans 10:17

“And the word of the Lord will be to them precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.” –Isaiah 28:13

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” –2 Corinthians 3:18

Do you see all these repetitions? Faith grows by getting God’s Word deep within your soul. Faith grows by searching Jesus out through the scriptures and communicating with Him  daily. Any serious body builder knows it takes commitment, dedication, and an established training routine to be successful. So, if you want to build mountain-moving faith, you must have a similar passion to daily seek the Lord with your whole heart.

When you seek Him with your whole heart, there you will find Him. And there He will begin building precept upon precept, truth upon truth. You see… He has to open your eyes to see and your ears to hear first. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) Then He will begin opening blind eyes and deaf ears through you. 

With Jesus All Things are Possible!!!
I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me!!!

I don’t know about you, but I am pressing in to Jesus with everything I’ve got! And if you want mountain-moving, miracle-working faith then I encourage you to press in to Jesus with everything you have too! How awful to hear the words, “O ye of little faith.” Let us be a people known for our GREAT faith! 

Luke 17:6 says, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you.” A mustard seed is tiny, tiny, tiny. Almost the size of the tip of a sharpened pencil. But did you know that the mustard seed, when planted and cultivated, grows into a big tree and ‘that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches‘? (Matthew 13:31-32) God has given us all the seed. It’s up to us on what we will do with it. Now that’s something to think about!

Be Blessed!

 

References:

Proclaiming the Year of Jubilee!

/ Michelle Halloran / Leave a comment

“You shall thus consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim a release through the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you…” –Leviticus 25:10

This was God speaking to Moses, ordaining the very first Sabbatic Year and, subsequently, the Year of Jubilee to the Israelites. God was instructing His chosen people that when they entered into the Promise Land they were to work the land for six years and, during the seventh year, the land and the people were to have a sabbath rest unto the Lord. He further instructed the Israelites to consecrate the fiftieth year as a Year of Jubilee, a holy year. It was to be a year of rest, a year of consecration, a year of redemption, and a year of unmerited favor. [Leviticus 25]

With our new year just beginning, I’m writing to
proclaim the Year of Jubilee to you!

APPOINTED TIMES

Throughout the Bible, we see God always appoints times and seasons to celebrate Him and experience His goodness. In Chuck Pierce’s book, “A Time to Advance,” Robert Heidler writes,

“Many don’t experience God’s blessing because they miss their windows of opportunity. If we align our lives with God’s timing, we don’t miss the opportunities God has for us.”

The Hebraic calendar outlines many weekly, monthly, seasonal, and yearly cycles; therefore, it is very important for us to understand the significance of God’s calendar. The better we understand God’s timing, the better we can come into alignment with God’s purpose behind it.

THE  SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS YEAR OF JUBILEE

The Hebraic calendar began its new year at sunset on Rosh Hashanah, September 13, 2015. This marked the beginning of the Year of Jubilee which continues until September, 2016. Interestingly, this marks the 40th Year of Jubilee since Jesus’ crucifixion and the 70th Year of Jubilee since the first Year of Jubilee was celebrated in 1367 BC.

If you are unaware, the number forty is used numerous times throughout the Bible. It is no arbitrary number. The number forty conveys a sense of fullness: it rained forty days and forty nights during the flood (Gen. 7:12), Noah opened the window of the ark after another forty days (Gen. 8:6), Moses was forty days on the mountain (Ex. 24:18), the spies spent forty days in searching Canaan (Num. 13:25), the Israelites wandered for forty years in the wilderness (Num. 14:33), the Jews were forbidden to inflict more than forty stripes (Deut. 25:3), Nineveh was allowed forty days to repent (Jon. 3:4), Jesus fasted for forty days (Mt. 4:2), and Jesus appeared during a period of forty days teaching the Apostles about the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3).

In addition, the number seven signifies completeness. We, also, see the numbers seven and seventy throughout the Bible: by the seventh day God completed His work which He had done and He rested on the seventh day (Gen. 2:2), Jacob served Laban seven years to have his daughter Rachel whom he loved (Gen. 29:20), Daniel prophesied seventy weeks had been decreed for Israel to make atonement for iniquity (Dan. 9:24), and Jesus tells Peter to forgive not seven times, but seventy times seven (Mt. 18:22). Seven is God’s perfect number.

Incredible, right!?! So what does this mean for us this year?

REDEEMED AND ADOPTED AS SONS AND DAUGHTERS

The Year of Jubilee is about returning possessions to their rightful owner. Oh that we may truly know the fulness of God’s perfect love for us, the redeeming love of Jesus Christ our Savior! We were once slaves to sin and death, but we have been bought with a price! Jesus gave His own life for our redemption!

“But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying ‘Abba! Father!’ Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.” –Galatians 4:4-7

The last Sunday of 2015 God gave me a picture of a little boy who appeared to be homeless. He was cold and starving. I saw him go into a building once a week to obtain a moment of warmth from the cold and to hungrily eat the crumbs falling from a banqueting table. Week after week he did this, but he always returned back to the cold outdoors, usually not having another bite to eat until he entered the building next week.

God showed me this is how many believers are living. They live as orphans, coming into the church building once a week on Sunday and receiving no more bread until the next week. Also, many believers are wanderers, having no aim or direction. God is saying what they need is daily bread and a lamp unto their feet to light their path and give them direction. God is saying what they need is the word of God, the Bible, to sustain them and lead them.

The more we have the word of God in us, the more we know who we are in Christ Jesus. In these times, we must get a revelation that we are sons and daughters of the Most High God. Too many of us view the church as a place we attend once a week. Therefore, we live in a spiritual starvation mode.

Here’s truth: WE ARE THE CHURCH! We do not have to eat the crumbs falling from the banqueting table. We are not orphans! Because of Jesus, we get to eat the children’s bread! Not only that, but we get to sit at the banqueting table and sup with the King of King’s and Lord of Lord’s! Amen and hallelujah!

Father, let us consecrate this Year of Jubilee to You. Because of Jesus, our debt has been cancelled and we have been released from all bondages holding us in captivity. We are no longer slaves or orphans, but sons and daughters! Thank you, Lord, for Your favor and freedom!

Uncover Your Motivation for Giving

/ Michelle Halloran / 2 Comments

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Image via she knows.com

Have you got your shopping done yet?

How many of you have asked or been asked this question in the past week? I’m sure we all have! I think this is the biggest feat we face at Christmas time in today’s society.

Think about it. Gift giving probably consumes more time and energy (and definitely more money) than anything else associated with Christmas. We spend hours searching for parking spaces at the malls, we shop till we drop, then we spend hours wrapping the gifts. But don’t think Walmart, TJ Maxx, or JC Penney invented the gift giving concept. No, they’ve just jumped on the bandwagon and ran it amuck!

James 1:17 says, “Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.” We love because God first loved us and we give because God first gave. It is God who gave us breath in our nostrils. It is God who gave us eyes to see. Now, with those eyes, look around you. Every good thing as far as the eyes can see came from Him!

But the greatest gift God has ever given us was His Son, Jesus Christ – the Messiah. John 3:16, perhaps the most quoted bible verse of all time, says it beautifully:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

Because He gave, we can live! This is what Christmas is all about! 

God is a Giver! He made us in His image and we have His very nature within us; therefore, as Christians, we also are givers! Jesus calls us to pour out what He has poured into us. We are simply vessels delivering the very essence of God into those around us. The more we give, the more He will pour in us! We can never out give God!

But what is the difference between the Christian who is called to give and the Philanthropist who also gives? The answer lies in motivation.

Think for a moment about all the areas where you currently give. Many of us give to the church through our tithes and offerings. Many give to our loved ones. Many drop money in the Salvation Army buckets. Many give to various charities of which we feel passionate about. Now ponder the following questions for a moment and reflect about your own motivation when it comes to giving…

  • Are there conditions associated with your giving?
  • Are there feelings of superiority associated with your giving?
  • Are you giving to bolster your self worth?
  • Are you giving to draw attention to you and the gift you gave?
  • Are you giving because you feel pressured to give?
  • Are you giving to get something in return?

If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you may need to reevaluate your motivation for giving.

Timothy Keller in his book, “Preaching: Communicating Faith in an Age of Skepticism,” says, “Christians’ motivation for the alleviation of poverty, inequality, and suffering is agape, the extension of the radical love we have received from God and offer to others… Christian agape motivates benevolence through humbling us, showing us that we are loved sinners, so that spending ourselves for others is not to be based on a sense of superiority but on having been shown our own lack.”

Paul also spoke of this in 1 Corinthians 13:3. “And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor… but do not have love, I am nothing.”

It is important to note, our giving is not limited to material things. I love the story from Acts 3 where Peter and John healed the lame beggar on their way up to the temple to pray. The man who had been lame from birth sat at the temple gate everyday begging for alms. When he asked Peter and John for money, they replied, “Silver and gold have I none, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth – walk!” Wow! That’s something money can’t buy! That’s priceless!

Whatever we give, God wants us to give willingly as his heart moves him (Exodus 25:2). Essentially, if your heart isn’t in it, your giving for the wrong reasons. 2 Corinthians 9:7 reiterates this same model of giving. “Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.”

So as you are giving your gifts and contributions this Christmas season and always, be sure your heart is in it! Be sure you are giving cheerfully! Be sure your giving is motivated by love! When we give rightly, we are laying up treasures in heaven!

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” –Matthew 6:19-21

 

Holding onto Joy this Christmas

/ Michelle Halloran / Leave a comment
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Photo via Solopress.com

Tis’ the season to be busy,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Run so much it’s making me dizzy,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Is this the song you’re singing this holiday season? I know I’ve heard myself rehearsing this tune a time or two. Well, it really may be more like everyday since Thanksgiving, but hey, who’s counting!?!

Christmas is my favorite time of the year; however, I have to be very mindful to hold onto my joy amidst all the chaos surrounding me. Otherwise, ‘peace on earth and good will towards men’ becomes ‘Lord help, I’m caught up in this consumeristic whirlwind!’

Do you know what I’m talking about? We start with trimming the tree and hanging the stockings. Then we move on to fighting the maddening crowds at the mall attempting to find the perfect gift for every single person on our list. Somewhere along the way, we are tossed to and fro from mingling at the office party to baking for the ladies cookie exchange at church.

There are endless activities bombarding our schedules. So much so, there’s hardly time left to breathe and much less time to ponder the true meaning of Christmas! I know this article has to be just for me and none of you out there! 😉

So, why do I allow myself to get sucked into this whirlwind year after year?

Because I want to give my family an unforgettable Christmas. I’ve decked my halls with boughs of holly, I’ve cried during all the Hallmark Channel Christmas movies, and I’ve spent much more money and energy than necessary obtaining those coveted gifts. All this effort spent in trying to produce warmth in the hearts of my dear ones and memories to last a lifetime.

“What’s wrong with that?” you may ask. I’ll answer using three words from the highlighted sentence above and then I’ll ask you a question.

Effort, trying, and produce. Where is the joy in that?!? 

Leave it to me! Somehow, I have a real knack at overcomplicating everything – especially Christmas! What should be a time of worshipping Jesus Christ, my Savior, has become more about striving to produce a perfect Christmas for my family. Which leads to me overthinking, over planning, and overdoing! As a result, I’m left overly exhausted and my joy is depleted! Is there anybody out there who can relate???

Oh, if I could learn to simplify things! You see, I’ve allowed traditions and expectations of man to replace the miraculous wonder of Christmas – Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God! 

Lord, forgive me! Father, help me rediscover the simplicity of childlike faith and, therefore, rediscover the joy of my salvation! The joy that simply comes by believing in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, and loving one another just as You commanded. Only in You is my joy made complete for you alone crown my head with joy! Father, help me to not get caught up in the things of this world, so I may turn my focus upon treasures of the kingdom of heaven. May I learn to rest in Your goodness and see the majesty and wonder of the King of Kings who was born in a lowly manger. Thank you, Jesus!

Is this your prayer too, dear reader? If so, as we go forth in our festivities may we all keep a couple of things in mind…

I know Buddy the Elf says, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is by singing loud for all to hear.” But I think there’s a better way! The very BEST way to spread Christmas cheer is by sharing the love of Jesus with all who will hear!!!

And

In all the hustle and bustle, don’t let your sizzle fizzle… your passion be crashin’… your fire expire… (okay, I’ll quit while I’m ahead! You see where I’m going with this. LOL!)

My soul will find joy in the Lord and be joyful about His salvation!  –Psalm 35:9

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

 

Fearless

/ Michelle Halloran / Leave a comment

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When I attended pharmacy school I took a pediatric specialty elective. It was in one of these classes I learned that babies are born with only two innate fears – the fear of falling and the fear caused by loud noises. Furthermore, these two fears are reflexive in nature. A fight or flight response of our sympathetic nervous system.

Do you know what this means? All other fears are learned behaviors!

The phrase “fear not” or “do not be afraid” appears in the Bible 365 times. Is that just a coincidence or is that a daily reminder for us to not be afraid? I believe this is a loving Father, our Creator who formed us in our mother’s womb, telling us every morning as we start our day,

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name. You are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord you God… You are precious in My sight… Do not fear, for I am with you.” –Isaiah 43:1-5

Is it really possible for us to walk through the waters and fires of life with no fear? The world teaches us a different mentality. The world gives us a pep talk that shouts, “Feel the fear, but do it anyway!” or “Do it afraid!” All this popular mantra boils down to is psychology. It’s a mind trick for overcoming phobias.

Now, we can buy into the world’s methods, including this psychology, but by doing so I believe we are selling ourselves short. This isn’t really conquering our fears. This is compromise.

God’s ways are not our ways. They are higher than our ways! They are better! So, if the word of God says 365 times to “fear not,” then I believe Him at His word that it is possible to fear not. I know it is impossible for me to accomplish this using my own strength (again that’s just psychology), but I know all things are possible with God!

2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

So rather than fear, God gives us power, love, and a sound mind! These three characteristics are gifts from God. They are also traits of God Himself. Let’s study these three gifts a bit closer…

POWER:

  • Paul reveals to us in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 that God spoke to Him saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Paul’s fearless response was this, “Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
  • Paul also fearlessly says in his letter to the Philippians, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” [Philippians 4:13]
  • Paul endured much persecution, but he knew the power of Jesus Christ dwelling within him. This made him more than a conqueror! This made him fearless!

LOVE:

  • 1 John 4:18 tells us “there is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.” Sounds easy, but what exactly is perfect love? John answers this question in this same chapter. Let’s look at verse 12 which says, “if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.” Again, verses 15-17 says, “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us.”
  • It’s like a baby, safe in his mother’s arms. She loves her child so much, she would never let any harm come to him. How much more does our heavenly Father love us? When we have the revelation that our God is a good Father who loves us unconditionally and that He promises to never leave or forsake us, then we can rest. Then we can feel safe and secure in His arms. Fearless!

SOUND MIND:

  • 1 Corinthians 2:16 tells us, “we have the mind of Christ.” The Spirit of God dwelling in us searches the depths of God. He knows God’s thoughts toward us and He reveals these thoughts to us.
  • Jeremiah 29:11, “‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,’ declares the Lord, ‘thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end (a hope and a future).’“
  • Isaiah 26:3, “Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee.”
  • Peace is the fruit of fearlessness!

These three characteristics – power, love and a sound mind – come not from ourselves, but only through Jesus Christ who abides in us. Do you realize dear children of God that we have the One who calms the storm living in us! Greater is He who is dwelling in us than he (the enemy) who is dwelling in the world! [1 John 4:4]

The opposite of fear is trust. When we have fear, what we are really saying is that we don’t trust God. However, when we trust God – really trusting Him at His word – then we have nothing to be afraid of.

What is it you are afraid of?

Fear of Abandonment? The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear, or be dismayed. [Deuteronomy 31:8]

Fear of Man? – Stop regarding man whose breath of life is in his nostrils for why should he be esteemed? [Isaiah 2:22] Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. [Luke 12:4] The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted. [Proverbs 29:25]

Fear of Dying? – For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. [Philippians 1:21] Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies.” [John 11:25] O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? [1 Corinthians 15:55]

Whatever our fears may be 
we do not have to hide our fears through false bravery,
but rather we can overcome our fears through Jesus Christ!

YOU CAN BE FEARLESS!!!

Life’s a Journey

/ Michelle Halloran / Leave a comment

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Are you content with who you are, what you are, and where you are right now? Are you always looking to some distant thing in the future wishing you were there  right now?

I don’t know how many times I’ve heard kids say, “I can’t wait until summer break!” Then several years later, “I can’t wait until graduation and I can get a job!” Then quickly follows, “Lord, get me out of this place! I can’t stand working here any longer!” Haha! You know what I’m talking about!

I lived for the weekends so many years, there’s no telling how much I missed along the way! Really all I was doing was wishing my life away…

Child of God, we are all on a journey.

You are a follower of Jesus. Remember the One leading you and never hate the place where you are. Make the best of every moment! Be in the moment! In the spiritual realm, this is an exciting journey to a thrilling destination.

Jesus may not be leading you to the destination by any luxurious method of travel, like an airplane or car. More than likely, you are traveling by foot.

God wants you to feel the terrain in the journey. To see the sights along the way. To feel the sun on your back and the elements in the air. God never promised life would be perfect, but He did promise to never leave or forsake you. Jesus is walking with you the whole way. Recognize Him stilling the storm around you and then pointing out the flowers blossoming in the field from the freshly fallen rain.

You may walk through the desert, but Jesus will give you drink so you will not faint. And you may walk through rich vegetation, partaking the fruit and honey of His sweet provision. And you may spend days just resting in Him. His hand will be your pillow and He will take this time to whisper His love for you. And you whisper back your love for Him. And Jesus may carry you some on this journey when you can’t muster the energy to take another step.

But, the journey is beautiful! The journey is exciting! The journey is a time of teaching and great revelation.

The journey may be long, but it will be so fulfilling. You may just get so caught up in the journey that you forget about the destination.

Heaven knows, there may be detours along the way. But rest assured. He will redirect you back to the path of righteousness every time, if you let Him. Jesus always redirects and resurrects! He is a redeeming God and He will restore everything lost along those detours.

But take heed! Forget those things behind you and press forward, keeping your eyes on the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus! [Philippians 3:14] Learn to be content in whatever circumstance you are in. [Philippians 4:11] Always keeping your feet on the path of righteousness.

The path that leads to you and the Bridegroom…

Follow Him. He’s leading you to Himself.

***

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil; for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou dost prepare a table before me in the
presence of my enemies;
Thou has anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me
all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” –Psalm 23

Slave to the Masquerade

/ Michelle Halloran / 1 Comment

(Photo via Google Images)

Tis the season for masks, costumes, wigs, and face paint. Dressing up as someone else is loads of fun! My boys have totes full of costumes they have worn throughout the years. Pretending to be anything from a professional football player, a super hero, a storybook character, a pirate, or a clown.

They love parading around in these costumes and taking on the persona of their character for the night. Their voice changes an octave or two. Their walk and other mannerisms change. They begin saying things they don’t normally say. “Ahoy, me hartys!” But when all the paint is washed off and they exchange their costumes for their pajamas, they are just my little boys again waiting to be tucked into bed.

Yet, seeing my youngest dressed up like Spiderman shooting fake webs from his wrist makes me wonder…

How many of us don costumes of our own making and never take them off? I’m talking about the exterior front we put up to make others think of us in a particular way.

For example, I used to be the biggest people pleaser. I wanted everyone to like me. So I walked around with a perpetual smile plastered on my face, always laughing at everyone’s jokes (even when they were not funny), and telling everyone what they wanted to hear whether I really thought that way or not. I had become very good at adapting to my various environments. I was a very talented actor.

Do you happen to know the Greek word for ‘actor?’ It’s hypocrite. And that’s exactly what I was.

I’d like to share with you a poem I wrote called “Slave to the Masquerade.” Can you relate???

Slave to the Masquerade©

The suit of many layers
suits me just fine.
It protects me from my neighbors
as a shield to hide behind.

You see, I lose myself amidst these layers
forgetting what lies underneath.
I’m the master of all players –
you never see the real me.

Of course, sometimes I get a little hot
and find the suit a bit restricting.
But as long as I never get caught
you’ll like the person I’m depicting.

And sometimes the suit gets cumbersome;
I accept it as a burden I must carry.
And other times it just makes me numb
to the pain so dreadfully scary.

Therefore, rather than shedding this suit
and freeing myself from the load.
I’ll continue walking in this repute
down this dark and lonely road.

By:  Michelle Halloran

Do you care how others perceive you?

Perhaps you want everyone to think you have it all together when underneath you are falling apart. Or that you are Mr. Tough Guy when fear consumes you. Maybe you want to be Little Miss Know-it-all so you can finally get that promotion you think you so deserve. Or that you are Mr. GQ Cool when it’s really your mom that still dresses you.

“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” –1 Samuel 16:7

Try as we may, we cannot fool God. And we can only fool others for so long. The world is craving authenticity. It is sick and tired of fake people! Fake people are lonely people. Not only that, but keeping up a facade is exhausting. Do you want to know why it’s so exhausting?

It’s because hypocrisy puts you in direct opposition
of who God created you to be!

This is the enemy’s tactic that we must uncover in our lives! We must unmask the lies of the enemy and see him for who he really is! Satan is the ultimate masquerader.

Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. –2 Corinthians 11:14

It’s Satan who tells us, ‘You’re okay, you’re a good person.’ This is called self-righteousness and it undermines the importance of the cross.

God created us in need of a Savior. We cannot earn salvation by being good on our own merit. You know why? Because our human nature is not good! The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants (Galatians 5:17). Self-righteousness wants to hide the sinful nature within and pretend everything is okay.

But to admit we need the cross lifts a huge weight from our shoulders. It means we can stop trying to create an appearance of goodness to impress those around us.

Jesus spoke of this in a parable found in Luke 18:10-13:

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer. The Pharisee stood and was praying thus to himself, ‘God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-gatherer. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’

But the tax-gatherer, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’

Yes, we may pretend to be great, but we are not all that. The truth is, we are all sinners in need of a Savior. But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Jesus Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). It’s by grace we have been saved through faith; and not of ourselves. It is the gift of God, not as a result of works so no one should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Praise God! We cannot earn salvation or favor with God. It is a gift freely given. When we come to Jesus, our old self is crucified with Him that our body of sin might be done away with. That we should no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin (Romans 6:6-7).

So no longer are we slaves to the masquerade!

There is freedom in being who God created us to be!

GET REAL AND BE YOU ON PURPOSE!!!

***

© Michelle Halloran and Psalms of Mine, 2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Michelle Halloran and Psalms of Mine with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.