Jana Spicka and Women Getting Real Ministries
General
Take a Breath, by Guest Blogger, Beth Hungerford
Mar 23rd
The Lord gave me a really cool spiritual picture. Jana was talking to me about sin issues and how when we have a break-through that it’s like God is bringing us up for air and letting us take a breath before we have to go back down and keep working through the issue. In other words, we are not done; He’s just giving us a breath and a sense of making progress.
Here is the picture He gave me. We were playing water polo during swim practice several summers ago. Brittany, my very fun and extremely competitive coach, was on the other team. I was having a great game and had scored 2 or 3 times practically unguarded. Brittany was getting frustrated that no one was defending me so she switched from offense to defense. The next time I got the ball she wrapped her arms around me from behind so tightly and completely that I couldn’t move and plunged me under the water in hopes that I would let go of the ball. After a few moments she brought me back up said, “Take a breath,” and immediately dunked me right back under. This is such a strong picture for me of what Jana was talking about.
As I thought about it more the Lord clarified it a little making a distinction. Brittany was taking me under trying to get me to give up and stop fighting whereas the Lord’s goal is for us to be free and have a deeper and closer walk with Him. He lets us struggle until we are ready to give up and then brings us up for air to let us catch our breath and says, “Ok you ready? You are stronger now and you can hold your breath longer so this time we are going in deeper and it’s going to be even more amazing.”
This goes for more than just sin issues. I need to remember this the next time I find myself having to deal with something I thought I had already worked through. We weren’t done, He was just giving me a breath.
Sugar or Blood?
Mar 22nd
There are a few things that really get my knickers in a knot. And the easter bunny is in the top three. When it comes to honoring, loving, enjoying, and celebrating the Holy Days, I get pretty steamed by cheap counterfeits. Now with Christmas, I can hold my head just right and see some value in the story of St. Nick, aka Santa. He was a man who loved Jesus and loved others in His name. Sure “Santa” has been sanitized of any God truth, but the origins are noble. Don’t misunderstand, I don’t like Santa either. He is a pointless distraction from the Birth of God. But the easter bunny is not only ridiculous, it is blasphemous.
Let me explain. The bunny is a symbol of fertility, as in to mate in the same way rabbits do. With speed and frequency, resulting in many offspring. Doesn’t this sound, I don’t know, holy? The egg is a symbol of new life. You take a sperm and an egg, and voila’ you have new life.
However, this is not the story of Jesus, the the Slain and Risen Lamb of God. In His life, from virgin birth to brutal death and miraculous resurrection, sex is not the issue. Creating life is not the issue. Procreation has been giving to humankind and the animal kingdom.
More than new life, Jesus was the Lamb chosen for slaughter for the Passover meal. It was His blood that was posted on our door frames so that the angel of death might pass over us. And when He was killed, it was not candy and colored eggs we received, but the access into the Holy of Holies. Communion with God because the veil was torn.
In the empty tomb, we don’t see “new life.” This is not merely life created by human effort, or animal instinct. This isn’t a maternity ward. This is a Miracle. The Holy Dead was resurrected. Jesus was brought from death to life. And with His resurrection comes all our hope and joy of life from now through all eternity.
What has the easter bunny ever done for us, or our children, but make us fat and satisfied with a sugary delusion? It is not fun, not harmless. It is a false idol. No more, no less.
"To Tell the Old, Old Story"
Mar 19th
It has become for us like putting up the Christmas Tree, only at Easter Time.
We take out and unwrap each piece that we have made or gathered. And as we do, we reflect on its specific contribution to the greatest story ever told. There is a donkey with yarn fur. A clay bowl. A paper Jesus with red crayon marks on His hands and feet. And more. We call it the “Resurrection Scene” and we put it on display a few weeks before Easter. Why? Because it became absurd to us that we would spend so much time and money to “deocrate and celebrate” the coming of Christ, and not “decorate and celebrate” His death and resurrection. For without these two events, Jesus was just a baby.
This year we are making a scurge. It was Salem’s suggestion because she has been studying armor and medieval weaponry for years. But I am watching to see what the Holy Spirit does in her heart, as her hands create a weapon like that which ripped the flesh of her Lord. Our Lord. Ripped for us. “By His stripes we are healed.”
And now, just for review… someone tell me what on earth the easter bunny has to do with this beautiful story? What can candy and a farcical absurd notion of rabbits laying eggs possibly add to the power and awe of our sins being washed away by the blood of the Lamb?
What could be more “magical” than a dead man being raised back to life? How great our joy.
As Heather Says, "Simmah Dahn Nah."
Mar 18th
Translation: Simmer down now.
Not sure this isn’t beating a dead horse, but I want to circle back around on the blogs from last week. There was a lot of concern/instruction about my upset on the pregnant question. Thank you. And tons of concern about the offending woman. Thank you.
But I want to clarify that wasn’t about her. If I didn’t make that clear, let me repeat. It was about me and the Lord. As my friend Lyschel said, “she just happened to be the person who delivered the blow to the piece of the dam that loosed some stuff for you.” Amen. And the irritation of the moment was worth the revelation from God later.
However, glossing over the irritation, or denying it, or padding it, might not have resulted in the same revelation. Why were we so concerned about even broaching the topic? Is the idea of offending so off limits? Is it un-Christian? Is our every conversation to be without emotional upset?
Do you think Jesus offended people?
I am quite sure He did. In fact I think God purposely blows us up emotionally to get to our heart. Just like He did me last week. It is okay to be offended. It is okay to be angry. It is okay to express all of that. The better question is what do we DO in the that moment.
It is also okay for us to learn grace, to learn how to speak the truth in difficult moments. What if we were not talking about social faux pas, but life and death issues: porn, abortion, eating disorders? What then? I think there will be all kinds of sparks flying in those conversations.
In my first blog on this topic, I said, “Grace is not the same as silence.” I chose silence that day, because I lacked grace. And in my human observation, we don’t get to grace without practice. We learn it, one difficult encounter at a time. He doesn’t waste anything. I am so glad.
I don’t think God’s goal is for us to”be nice.” I think His goal is that we”speak the truth in love.” And then gives us a lifetime to practice.
A Timely Word Aptly Spoken
Mar 16th
On a very soggy, groggy morning, my friend sent me this great devotion. It was exactly what I needed. But of course, God already knew that didn’t He? That is why He stirred her to act and why I am so blessed that she listened.
It reminded me of a story my friend Mary K. told last night. She was really sick and God prompted a friend to call her. And the friend did. Mary K. could hardly speak for holding back the tears as she told the class how much that one gesture of kindness, that one act of her friend responding to the Holy Spirit’s tug, reassured Mary K. that God knew how much she was suffering and He cared.
Remember God is always working for our good. Even if it hurts. Be encouraged today. And better yet, if the Holy Spirit prompts you to love on someone today, please do. It may make all the difference.
March 16th
“It is good that you recognize your weakness. That keeps you looking to Me, your Strength. Abundant life is not necessarily health and wealth; it is living in continual dependence on Me. Instead of trying to fit this day into a preconceived mold, relax and be on the lookout for what I am doing. This mindset will free you to enjoy Me and to find what I have planned for you to do. This is far better than trying to make things go according to your own plan.
Don’t take yourself so seriously. Lighten up and laugh with Me. You have Me on your side, so what are you worried about? I can equip you to do absolutely anything, as long it is My will. The more difficult your day, the more I yearn to help you. Anxiety wraps you up in yourself, trapping you in your own thoughts. When you look to Me and whisper My Name, you break free and receive My help.
Focus on Me, and you will find Peace in My Presence.”
Philippians 4:13; Proverbs 17:22
“Jesus Calling” Devotions for every day of the year by Sarah Young.