Wake Up and Smell the Smoke -- The Pursuit

    ¹ David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag       and burned it, ² and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them    off as they went on their way. 

    ³ When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 1    Samuel 30:1-3 

A few weeks ago my pastor read these scriptures to us during a leader's meeting as he was explaining The Pursuit. He said, "Wake up and smell the smoke." 

I guess I've been trying to imagine that scene since then. The smell of smoke. Houses in ashes. Then the fear that your family has been killed. Slight relief in knowing that they are alive. Now anger, fear, and heartache at the realization that they are being held captive by your enemy.

If we know anyone who is not born again, they are like David's family. They are captive. Scripture says this about those who don't believe:

³ And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.   ⁴ The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 NIV

The unbelieving are dying. Let us wake up and smell the smoke. 

Pray: Father, thank You that You are God. You are like no one else. You love the people that You created. You don't want anyone to be apart from You, but sin separates us from You. Help me to wake up and smell the smoke and realize that there are captive people around me. They are perishing while I go about my life as if all is well. It's not well when people are being held captive by sin, blinded by the god of this world, and most importantly living separated from the One who loves them and created them for a better life. Father help me not to ignore the smoke – the signs pointing to those who are dying --  captive people are around me. I want to be part of the rescue party. And I want to do it in Jesus' name. Amen.

The Pursuit

Imagine leaving work early. You are told that they don't need you for this project, so you head home. As you approach your neighborhood you smell smoke. When you arrive at your house, you see that it has been burned down. Your family was there when you left this morning. You trudge through the ashes. You're relieved that the evidence proves that your family was not in the house. But you learn that your family has been taken captive.

That was pretty much the scene for David in 1 Samuel 30:1-3. He returned to his home with his army when they found that an enemy had stolen their families. These warriors cried until they could cry no more. So David began to seek God with the help of a priest. He asked of the Lord if he should pursue the group that stole his family and if he does, will he catch them. The Lord responded with a double yes: "Pursue them," He said, "and you will recover everything they've stolen."

Everything was actually everyone -- the men's wives and children. Probably some servants as well.

This is our theme for the next 30 days. Our pastor began a series of teachings today called The Pursuit. It's about regaining those that the enemy has stolen from us. On Easter Sunday, April 8, we will end the series by baptizing all those we have recovered. (By recovered I mean rescued from darkness, born again, saved.)

Almost Mary

Today is a good day to reflect on my name. A few years ago (more than a few) my family chose a name for me when I was born. My brother Michael Dennis wanted to name me after himself – Michelle Denise. Somehow that didn't happen. So since I was born in December (on today's date) the name Mary seemed like a good name with Christmas coming up and all. I was always glad they didn't choose Mary -- to me it doesn't fit my personality. I guess Marie is close enough.

When I think about it now, it would have been an honor to be named Mary. An angel visited the original Mary and told her that she not just favored but HIGHLY favored and blessed. He also told her of God's awesome purpose for her life – something that no one had ever done before and never will do again – give birth to the Son of Righteousness.

Look at this conversation between Mary and the angel.

34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” 
35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Luke 1:34-35 NKJV

Where's My Theme Music?

I still pray, of course, even though I haven't written about it. Hope to get back to blogging consistently again, soon. Meanwhile . . .

The 90's sitcom Hanging With Mr. Cooper opened with Cooper asking, "What's up? Where's my theme music?" For the last several months I've decided that the song Thank You sung by Mary Mary is my theme song. I even sang it to my dad for his birthday in September . . . and I don't even sing. :-)

I have much to be thankful for. God has blessed me and mine so much. Within the last few weeks alone, He protected me in a car accident and brought my mom through surgery. All of that was in the same week – very unusual for our family. But I praise God for keeping us! Woo hoo!

My theme song:

Prayer Revolution: Not Without Your Presence

Let's not go anywhere or do anything without God's presence.

13 Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.” 14 And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”   
15 Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. 16 For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.”  17 So the LORD said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.” Exodus 33:13-17 NKJV

Recently my pastor mentioned this scripture with a practical application. Moses prayed and told God that he didn't not want to go where God was sending them if the recognizable presence of God was not with them. So my pastor challenged the students. He said what is you don't get out of the car at school until you pray for God's presence to go with you? And to the adults: What if you say at work, Lord I can't go in there if Your presence is not with me?

Prayer Revolution: Bless the LORD

If you want to revolutionize your prayer life, which will in turn, revolutionize your world . . . bless the Lord!

Sometimes I am so focused on myself that I forget that my heavenly Father is God of everything. I forget that He has everything under control. So I have to do like David did in the Psalms, sometimes I have to talk to myself.

¹ Bless the LORD, O my soul;
         And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
 ² Bless the LORD, O my soul,
         And forget not all His benefits:
 ³ Who forgives all your iniquities,
         Who heals all your diseases,
 ⁴ Who redeems your life from destruction,
         Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
 ⁵ Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
         So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-5

Prayer Revolution: Forfeit Peace No More

On Friday, my friend sent me an email that said she woke herself up crying, singing this song . . . and she sent this link.

I think that waking up with that song on her lips was God speaking directly to her. She said this happened years ago when there was illness in the family. I asked why she was sharing it with me on this day. It just popped into her head. :-) I think God was using her to remind me. Look at the words of this song: