Jana Spicka and Women Getting Real Ministries
Posts tagged God’s provision
The Manger Moment: The Common Denominator
Dec 21st
The manger scene is a wonder to ponder with the poorest of the poor in the shepherds and the richest of the rich in the magi. What a spectrum of humanity it is. Not unlike our own spectrum of Salvation Army bells ringing for donations and registers ringing up designer gadgets and clothing. Yet we will all come to “the moment.” And it will be the same moment for us all, rich or poor.
The gifts will all been opened, and the glee for the “next” will subside. From the meager gifts of the Angel Tree recipients to the gaudy gifts of the materialists, the packages will lie unwrapped in a heap, exposed for what they are: more stuff.
And then the moment comes. The manger moment. In that split second we ask, we all ask, whether young or old, wealthy or wanting, we ask, “is this all there is?”
This is the very answer they were given at the manger. Here, wrapped in his mother’s arms, “is all there is.” Jesus is the all in all. He is the first and the last. The rich who became poor only to become rich. He is ancient of Days who became a newborn, the servant who became King. The crucified who rose again. He is the embodiment of the question “is this all there is?” To which He boldly answers, Yes I am. I am the way the truth and the life.
A new song on the radio declares a glorious truth much like the angels did on that first morning: “our Salvation has a name.”
He is Jesus, Savior,
Son of God, the King of Kings.”
Our salvation has a name.
Jesus, Savior,
Precious Lord of Everything.
Our whole world’s about to change,
And it will never be the same.
He is one thing that binds us all together… “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Luke 2:10 Beyond the gifts, and the goodies, and the yummies, and the laughter, tears, torment, and longings, Jesus is the great joy that fills in our spirits like no gift card can. Jesus is joy. And He is ours for the taking, if we will only believe.
Don’t miss the answer of the manger moment. Our world will never be the same. Your world will never be the same.
Perfect…Not Yet
Dec 2nd
These are the words the Lord whispered in my ear one day during worship. Perfect…Not Yet.
“I know that because of Jesus you see me as perfect. But the ‘not yet’ part is hard to live through sometimes. Lord, how do I live in the gap of those three little dots? the space between Perfect and Not Yet?” I asked.
His answer was astounding.
“The one constant is My overwhelming love and presence. Every circumstance is an opportunity for you to see if I can take it.”
He didn’t say, see if Jana can take it. He said see if He can take it. Can God be God in my circumstances? Is He big enough, does He love enough, can He pull it off?
God wants you and I to see that He not only has the beauty and power to make us Perfect, but He has the love and stamina to walk out the Not Yet. He is the one constant that changes every factor of life.
First Things First
Nov 29th
Since the beginning of November, God has been bringing the story of two fish and five loaves ( John 6) around and around. From different perspectives and places, He just keeps teaching and revealing. And the bottom line: give thanks and believe.
Don’t look at the circumstances: 5,000 people needing to be fed (15,000 if you count women and children). Don’t look at what you’ve got in your hand: two fish and five loaves. Look at Who you are with. The Son of the Most High God.
And what does He do? He looks to heaven and gives thanks for what God is about to do. Then as calmly as can be, the disciples began distributing. And they just kept on distributing. There were 12 baskets of leftovers. Not 12 cups. Twelve baskets. This is after everyone has had their fill. There was no Black Friday stampeding here. Everyone had enough and there were leftovers even.
Who is this God, who is this Jesus, who is this Spirit that can impact our natural world with their supernatural power? The same God that is with you today.
Don’t look at the crowds or your meager offering. Look to heaven, give thanks and then do what He has told you to do. He is faithful.
Here are some pearls from Abiding Glory on Sunday about gratitude that God has been expanding for me.
1) “Kingdom protocol is first “God, thank you” then please.” ” Jesus always thanked God first before He asked anything. We are instructed to “enter his courts with thanksgiving” then we proceed to the inner courts for petitions. This is a weighty concept but will change your faith life and your prayer life.
2) “Gratitude is never invisible or silent.” I love this. It is not enough to be thankful, you must express it. To God, to others. We often expect God and other people to “know” we are grateful. But both you and the other person are blessed when you tell them, show them you are thankful. Already this week, I have been very conscious about expressing my thanks to Him and those who bless me.
3) “Gratitude sustains joy and blessing. Without it, you soon begin to take your blessing for granted.“ Ouch. This one hits way too close to home. Everything we have is a gift from God. EVERYTHING. Be sure to sit in a posture of thanks rather than “I deserve this.”
4) “Gratitude begins where my sense of entitlement ends.” It is hard to be thankful and be demanding at the same time. We are consumed in our country, and the Church, with our rights, our privileges. When “you owe me” turns into “I am so blessed,” things shift in our soul.
5) “Grateful people can find a blessing, enlarge a blessing or create a blessing in almost any circumstance.” I don’t know about you, but I want this to be my life motto. Because the opposite affect scares me to death: Negative people can miss a blessing, minimize a blessing and destroy a blessing in almost any circumstance.
Let us be the people who remember the goodness of our God. Look to Him. Give thanks. Live in His blessing.
Faithul is He
Nov 7th
We never know when or how God will explode into action, only that He WILL. We call it trust, or confidence or even faithfulness. It’s an odd word. To quote Princess Bride, “I do not think it means what you think it means.” I have been kicking around this conversation with Him lately and I am surprised by what I am getting. Take the word Faithful. Full of faith. Full of believing, we would say. Faith is not the same thing as, “I hope so.” Faith is “I know so.”
And the shocker is, God calls himself Faithful. He says that He is full of faith or full of believing. So who exactly does He believe in? Himself, of course. God is so sure, so certain, so convinced of His power, goodness and ability, that He says of Himself, I am the Faithful one. There is none like Me.
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. Deuteronomy 7:9
He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. Deuteronomy 32:4
On and on in the Scripture God tells us, “This is who I am. Bank on it.” Sometimes, when we get sideways by success or failure, we stretch words of “God’s faithfulness” like a too small band-aid over a bleeding wound. It never seems to cover or comfort the hurt. But I would challenge that His faithfulness was the point any way. His faithfulness is not a consolation prize. It is the goal, to reveal in all circumstances His ability and desire to Be God. I am that I am.
He means that. Then, now and forever.
