by Amy Spear | Jul 20, 2017
“God does not see the same way people see. People look at the outside of a person, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7)
Oh good! I find so much comfort in knowing that God can see the real me. He doesn’t judge me on the time I yelled at the fast food worker or talked bad about my friend or cut someone off in traffic or got onto my kids out of anger.
We all make mistakes right? Who wants to be judged on our mess ups? God still loves me and judges the real me.
But wait…
If that’s true, how good is the real me? Am I really better on the inside than on the outside? If someone, other than Jesus, saw my heart, would they still want to be around me?
I can make my outside demeanor pretty appealing. I can put on trendy clothes, smile and talk with the best of them, act like I have it all together. But hiding the real me, my heart, now that’s a different story!
How many times have I put on a pretty face and acted like everything was ok, yet on the inside, my heart was aching so hard I thought it might burst? I didn’t want anyone to know the “real” me because if they did, they would run out the back door so fast it would pop off its hinges! Thank God He is the only one who can look inside my heart!
In 1 Samuel, God is picking a new king to rule over the Israelites. Samuel, the high priest, is chosen to appoint this king, but God has to remind him that the new king is not going to be who Samuel might think.
You see, Samuel was looking on the outside, choosing men who “looked” the part. God, however, could care less what they looked like! God wanted someone who would be faithful and true to Him. “God does not see the same way people see. People look at the outside of a person, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7).
The precious thing about God looking inside our hearts, is we can trust Him. We can trust Him because He loves us! It is a love that doesn’t dismiss, or ridicule, or neglect or forsake. God’s love is foreign and obscure because our love is jaded, colored by our own selfish heart. Even the one person who loves us the most, has loved us with a selfish love at one point. Only God Himself can love at all times in the purest of ways!
That is someone I can trust with my heart!
Yes, He sees the worst of me, and yes, He sees the best of me, but to Him it doesn’t matter. He just loves! He loves me despite myself!
And He loves you despite yourself too!
Let’s try to stop the charade and cry out to Him with our “real” heart. Tell Him how you truly feel and what you are struggling with. Let your guard down. He will protect you, not judge you or berate you. When we are brave enough to lay our heart at His feet, He bends low to cradle us in His arms and protect us with all the He is!
Now that is a worthy pursuit!
by Amy Spear | Jun 14, 2017
I noticed something recently in a passage of Scripture that I had never noticed before. I even taught a year on this passage at our conferences (I love how deep God’s Word is!). But as I read it, another mystery was revealed to me.
2 Kings 4:1-7:
“The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, ‘Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.’
“Elisha replied to her, ‘How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?’
“’Your servant has nothing there at all,’ she said, ‘except a small jar of olive oil.’
“Elisha said, ‘Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.’
“She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, ‘Bring me another one.’
“But he replied, ‘There is not a jar left.’ Then the oil stopped flowing.
“She went and told the man of God, and he said, ‘Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.’”
The very end of the story shows the widow went back to Elisha. “She went and told the man of God….”
Her miracle was already performed; her answer sat glistening in glass jars before her. The man she owed money to could come at any moment and take her boys away, so of course the first thing she would want to do is sell the oil for money. Her boys were everything to her!
The situation was under control now. She held the key to all her problems.
Not rushing, not just doing the inevitable next step, she went back to Elisha to ask for instructions on what to do now – not because she was aloof of what she possessed, but out of faith, respect, honor and submission. She still wanted his guidance on what to do next.
I think she knew that missing just one step in life could take you off course from the will of God, and that wasn’t a luxury she had. So, to follow every single step with the utmost detail, she ran back to the one who knew and would guide her.
That got me thinking…
Do I do that? Do I follow the steps laid out before me, and then rush back to God for the next one? Or do I follow a step and then continue on a path I just assume is the right one, the inevitable next step? Do I take the lead when the situation is “under control” again?
If we are not seeking out God’s guidance and instructions for every detail of every step, we are bound to get things wrong. It takes humility and submission to realize how helpless we are without Him.
What situation do you need to go back to the miracle worker and ask Him to show you what’s next? Give Him control again and see how He will take what little you give Him and multiply it beyond measure!
by Amy Spear | May 17, 2017
Sitting in my car one spring day, I hear my two youngest playing a new game. This game was the sweetest thing to a momma’s tired soul.
It had been a long several weeks. I had been running around like crazy. My house was a disaster (and still is), and all I wanted to do at that exact moment was… zone out, just take a few moments to myself. Yet, the instant I heard the game they were playing, I just had to play!
“OK, now it’s your turn to say something nice to me,” instructed Owen.
“Your blue eyes are so beautiful,” praised Rosie. Owen’s eyes lighted up with delight as he made a funny face at his little sister.
“Now it’s my turn to tell you something nice. …Your red hair is beautiful and long.” Owen commented back.
“I want to play!” I exclaimed.
“OK, mom. It’s your turn. You have to say something kind about one of us then we will say something nice about you.”
“Rosie, your laughter makes me smile and brightens my day. You are a joy to everyone,” I proclaimed. She smiled and then laughed her sweet little laugh.
“Now I want to tell you something mom. Your heart is so beautiful. More beautiful than anyone else I know,” stated Owen.
I instantly loved this game! Immediately my heart grew warm and gushed with love for these two little faces looking at me with admiration and love.
“Owen, I think your eyes are beautiful too, and I love the sweet words you give me every day. They seem to come right when I need them,” I said.
Man, who wouldn’t want to play a game like that? We all love encouragement and praise. Sometimes it is the very thing that keeps us doing good and motivates us to push on.
I was reminded that my actions and words can either bring memories of blessings or memories of discouragement. My words have such an impact on Rosie and Owen, and their words have an impact on me too.
I began to question myself, “How do I want to be remembered? How do I want them to feel about me as their mother? Will they have more good memories or more bad memories?”
The answer, well, that will be determined by the words I speak to them.
“Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction. The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences” (Prov. 18:20-21).
Speaking wisely to my children today (and to anyone else for that matter) will yield a table of goodness and delight that will be satisfying tomorrow.
“Pleasant words are a honeycomb; sweet to the taste and healthy to the body” (Prov. 16:24).
I want my words to be healthy to my children and bring them a strong and vivacious life. I want to spur them towards all that the Lord has planned for them, not hindering them in any way.
“There is one who speaks rashly, like a piercing sword; but the tongue of the wise brings healing,” (Prov. 12:18).
We don’t always know what’s going on inside a person’s heart and soul, even our sweet children. It is hard for them to even know sometimes. But if we will remember to speak kindly and not out of anger or impatience we can bring healing that only the Father knows about.
“The intelligent person restrains his words, and one who keeps a cool head is a man of understanding” (Prov. 17:27).
This one is so hard for me! I love to talk, I defiantly have an opinion, and I’m a red head – need I say more about keeping a cool head?
Yet, God’s word says to do just that. Don’t speak out of anger and keep some of those opinions to yourself. The more I do this, the more intelligent I will become. If I apply this knowledge to raising my children, I will learn to listen more, to control my temper more and to correct them with grace instead of sharp rebuke. A mom who is intelligent is a mom worth striving for!
So how about you? Do you want to play our game too!? Who can you offer up words of praise and encouragement to today? When you encourage them, see how quickly they encourage you back! It may just bring about a bountiful table of blessings in your life!
by Amy Spear | Apr 13, 2017
Do ever feel like you are fighting a never-end/hopeless battle? Like each push of the accelerator, your wheels dig deeper and deeper with no hope of ever breaking free. I have and I’m sure many of you can relate.
The Old Testament has story after story of people who realize they were fighting the wrong battle, and when they got to that realization, they had a choice to make. Do I keep fighting my way, or do I fight God’s way?
In 2 Chronicles 20 we read about a king named Jehoshaphat. At the beginning of his reign he removed all the Ashtoreth poles (idols) from the land of the Israelites and brought worship back to God. He didn’t walk the straight and narrow, but he did remember God was his salvation. He cried out to Him in times of distress and tried to follow God.
At one point during his reign, three different nations joined together to attack King Jehoshaphat. “Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he resolved to seek the Lord. Then he proclaimed a fast for all Judah, who gathered to seek the Lord” (2 Chron. 20:3-4)
In such a time of desperation, King Jehoshaphat stood before the people and proclaimed their dependence upon God. He didn’t run to the army officials and great warriors in his army to make a plan of his own, he didn’t sit it stubbornness doing nothing, and didn’t even run and hide to save himself. He went to God. He went to God in front of the whole nation of Israel.
“This is what the Lord says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast number, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow, go down against them. You will see them coming up the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley facing the Wilderness of Jeruel. You do not have to fight this battle. Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord. He is with you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Tomorrow, go out to face them, for Yahweh is with you’” (2 Chron. 20:15-17).
Wait…. You want me to what? You want me to go, position myself before the attacking army and just stand there, not fight!? That doesn’t even make sense Lord! If I just stand there they will surly kill us!
It’s at this point that the king had a choice to make. Do I fight this battle my way or do I obey and fight this battle God’s way?
King Jehoshaphat chose to fight God’s way. Let’s see what the outcome was.
“In the morning they got up early and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa. As they were about to go out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, ‘Hear me, Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem. Believe in Yahweh your God, and you will be established; believe in His prophets, and you will succeed.’ Then he consulted with the people and appointed some to sing for the Lord and some to praise the splendor of His holiness. When they went out in front of the armed forces, they kept singing:
“Give thanks to the Lord,
for His faithful love endures forever.
“The moment they began their shouts and praises, the Lord set an ambush against the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir who came to fight against Judah, and they were defeated. The Ammonites and Moabites turned against the inhabitants of Mount Seir and completely annihilated them. When they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped destroy each other.
When Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked for the large army, but there were only corpses lying on the ground; nobody had escaped” (2 Chron. 20:20-24).
Jehoshaphat not only obeyed, he did it praising and singing to his God. In a twist of fate, God used his worship to defeat the attacking enemy. How amazing is that!
They walked in obedience, with anticipation that their Lord would fight for them. When they arrived at the fight, it was already over! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! For He is mighty and great! Salvation comes only from Him! Look what He did for us! He defeated the armies before we even got here!
Choosing to fight God’s way doesn’t always make sense to us, but if we will simple obey, He will fight our battles for us.
Seems easy enough right? Well, only if God’s way makes sense in our finite brain, but how many times does that happen? For me, never! He is always asking me to take a step of faith to do something that seems ridiculous.
But, when I do, He shows up and makes the ridiculous, remarkable; the unfathomable, unbeatable! What I thought was a stretch for any one’s imagination turn to reality before my eyes. Yet again, I am reminded, He is the God of the universe! All things, all situations, all circumstance, bow before His thrown. We must simply obey what He has called us to do and He will do the rest!
by Amy Spear | Feb 15, 2017
Stuck in a tiny PT Cruiser for 15 hours while coming home from West Virginia, I shared about God and His Word. My friend was truly seeking answers for the first time in her life. It was a moment that God orchestrated, and I was soaking it all in as I answered question after question. My friend never grew up in church, never heard the Gospel and never understood who Jesus was or what He had done for her.
She needed to know answers to some very basic questions of the Christian faith, yet the complexity of those “simple” questions challenged me to think about my answers in a new light.
How can she accept what she doesn’t know or understand? Jesus shows us that we are sinners and we all need a Savior, but if she doesn’t understand who Jesus is, how can she turn to Him as Lord and Savior of her life? No one ever, in all her 50-some years, took the time to talk to her about Jesus!
“…Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ’s word is preached, there’s nothing to listen to” (Romans 10:17 MSG).
Before my friend could trust, she needed to listen, and how could she listen if no one was willing to speak? There are times when I want to remain silent, when speaking God’s truth seems risky. But if I would have remained silent that day in the car, my friend might never have given her heart to Jesus. (Yes, she eventually did, after truly understanding!)
God gives each of us moments to “preach” the Good News about His son Jesus. We need to be aware of those arounds us and look for opportunities to speak. How can anyone accept what they haven’t heard?
What if someone had taken the time to “preach” to my friend earlier? She could have lived many of those years with the help of a Savior instead of stumbling through life on her own. What choices would she have made, what impact could she have had, how many other people would have come to know Christ because of her, how would her life be different if she simple heard sooner?
I don’t mean to dwell on “what ifs,” but we all have to admit, we have missed opportunities to speak God’s truth. And that decision, my friend, does have consequences that we might not ever know until we get to heaven.
Yet, God can use our missed opportunities to motivate us to speak up the next time we have the chance. When we acknowledge our mistakes, we can learn from them and move forward. I want to be bold; I want to please my Lord; I want to be used by Him.
Forgive me Lord when I miss those opportunities You place before me. Help me to speak up next time. Give me the strength and boldness! I need you Lord, and I need your courage!
That long trip in the car was just what we needed! Talking about Jesus and learning more about Him in both of our lives was a moment I will always remember!
Don’t back down! Speak up! People all around us need us to preach, so they can hear, so they can trust. When God’s word is spoken it never returns void!
“It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it” (Isaiah 55:11).
“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Rom. 10:15).