Treasures of Truth ministries . . . helping

women connect with truth that will

transform their world.

May

My husband says that life with me is an adventure.  He has come to this conclusion as a result of the many years of unique experiences we have shared.  So, several years ago, when we arrived in our hotel room around midnight - tired, exhausted, and eager to get to sleep, he should not have been surprised at the sequence of events that were to follow. 

Without delay, each family member scrambled to get ready for bed. I quickly flipped open the top of my suitcase and it flopped against the wall.  Suddenly, sparks flew out from the wall, the lights went off, the air conditioner fell silent, and the stench of something burned filled the air.  Even in pitch darkness, I felt all eyes on me.  And then, my husband asked, “What have you done (now)?”  The (now) in parenthesis was implied.   

I wasn’t sure what I had done, but whatever it was had set off a chain of undesirable events.  Hal called the front desk and reported our situation.  After they restored our electricity, we surveyed the damage to the burned wall around the electrical socket and figured out what had happened.  A lamp on the nearby dresser was only partially plugged into the wall.  When I flipped open my suitcase, the very small end of the zipper on my luggage made contact with the very small piece of exposed prong hanging from the electrical socket and set off the unfortunate chain of events.  The manager just shook his head in disbelief and said he had never seen that happen before. Ironically, though, we realized how little it really takes to produce a meltdown, flip a breaker, or blow a fuse, when a plug is not securely connected. 

Many believers in Christ are connected, but are just barely hanging on. This results, of course, in instability, especially when the unexpected happens. Our light may flicker on and off when we are not fully plugged in to God spiritually. An unexpected circumstance can set us off and result in darkness and despair in our heart. Sparks fly and relationships are damaged. The key to stability in the Christian life is to be securely and continuously connected to God.  Prayer makes this possible. 

Jacob experienced the difference that a sure connection with God can make. He had left home to escape the wrath of his brother Esau, whom he had tricked out of the birthright and the blessing.  After many years away, God directed him to return home.  Jacob was afraid of what this potentially volatile situation could produce.  After sending his family ahead of him, Jacob stayed behind. 

“Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. And He said, ‘Let Me go, for the day breaks.’ But he said, ‘ I will not let You go unless You bless me!’ And He said, ‘Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.’ And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: ‘For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.’ Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip. But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.” (Genesis 32:24,26,28,30-31, 33:4 NKJV) 

Jacob called the place of his encounter with God Peniel, a Hebrew word which means “facing God”.  Jacob had a face to face encounter with God.  The characteristics of this encounter are worth noting.  Jacob “wrestled” with God until the breaking of day.  He gave it priority and was willing to persevere for as long as needed for resolution. Jacob listened and God spoke to him. This always makes for an effective time of prayer.  His name was changed from Jacob, which means “supplanter”, to Israel, which means “God prevails”.  Jacob’s face to face encounter with God defined who he was in light of God’s involvement in his life.  It also affected the manner of his walk and the relationships in his life. Did you notice in the verses above that though Israel means “God Prevails”, God said to Jacob, “you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed?”  (emphasis added) 

When God prevails in our life, we also prevail.  Though Jacob was limping physically, he had prevailed spiritually and would never walk the same again. What a powerful experience Jacob’s face to face encounter with God produced!  

My words of encouragement to you this week are:  Don’t settle  for “barely hanging on”.  Get securely plugged in and stay there!

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV). 

©2008  Lauren Fletcher all rights reserved 

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 Week 2 - The Discomfort of Heartburn 

When I returned from a speaking engagement last evening, my homecoming was celebrated with a delicious grilled steak prepared by my husband.  I contributed to the celebratory meal by making a pan of brownies.  Did I mention we also had crescent rolls?  I am typically pretty mindful of what and how much I eat, but every now and then I get a little carried away, and last night was one of those times.  We ate rather late so I should not have been surprised when I woke up during the night with a bad case of heartburn.  Taking a few chewable Gaviscon tablets took care of the problem and enabled me to sleep well the rest of the night.

Week 3 - Surviving Frustration When Nothing Seems to be Happening!

This morning, my granddaughter saw her mom holding something that she wanted.  In the past, she has always reached out or cried for what she wanted, but now, strengthened from seven months of proper nourishment, she did something she has never done before.  She crawled!

The first steps of the crawling process were nothing more than getting up on her hands and knees and rocking back and forth. Initially, she tried moving forward without moving her arms and, of course, ended up falling flat on her face. Fortunately, though, that failure didn’t stop her and today, seven months to the day from her birth, we are celebrating her accomplishment. 

What is your heavenly Father holding for you that you feel is out of your reach right now?  Don’t feel alone.  Many who have gone on before you were tempted to feel that their desires were also out of their grasp. 

It must have appeared to Joseph that he would never be released from prison or see his family again. Likewise, it must have seemed to some that the elderly Abraham would never have a son, particularly when he and Sarah had passed the childbearing years by over four decades. 

After many years of fellowship with God, Joseph, however, was eventually reunited with his family and placed second in command to Pharaoh in Egypt.  God would use his situation to preserve his own family as well as countless others.  And, also with Abraham, years of unwavering faith were followed by the miraculous birth of a son who would be ancestor the greatest blessing of all, Jesus Christ.

How can we know that God actually has something good ahead for us as well?

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11 NKJV).  We know it by faith in the changeless character of our eternal God.  According to this verse, God is our Father and has many good things planned for His children.

Perhaps your faith is lagging and you don’t seem to be getting any closer to receiving what you know God has for you.  Be encouraged!

^“He gives strength to the weary and strengthens the powerless” (Isaiah 40:29 CSB).

^“. . .  those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31 NKJV).

The time spent on your knees is not wasted - even if it seems you are not getting anywhere.  That time you spend in prayer, waiting on God, drawing nourishment from His word, and yes, even getting back up each time you fall flat on your face is gradually providing the strength you will need  to move forward at the appropriate time.

Be encouraged.  The time for celebrating will come.

“He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, And your lips with rejoicing” (Job 8:21 NKJV).

©2008 Lauren Fletcher all rights reserved

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Week 4 - Standing Your Ground with a Bully

 The rather large girl took a piece of pink bubble gum out of its wrapper, ground it into the dirt with her foot, picked it up, and said, “You are going to eat this.”  She was about twice my size, but I knew I had no intention of eating the dirt coated gum.  I stood on her feet and wrapped both of my hands around her wrists while she persisted in trying to place the gum in my mouth.  What a sight that must have been to anyone watching.  There I was rocking back and forth while holding her wrists with every ounce of strength I could muster.  She eventually tired, I freed myself, the battle was over, and I was “gum-free”!  I have found that tactic of self-preservation I used as a child still works with the bully I encounter now.  Just as Satan put it into the heart of Judas to betray Jesus (John 13:2), he tries to slip dirt covered thoughts and lies into our hearts and minds as well.  When he does, we must stand our ground and resist him.  Like gum, his thoughts can stick if we are not careful. 

 Do any of these sound familiar?

I am not _____________ enough.

I am never going to be able to ________________ .

_______________ will never get any better.

I am afraid I will lose my job.

____________________ will probably happen.

I have made too many mistakes.

I am too old to _________________ .

It is too late for me to __________________ .

Our bully, the devil (1 Peter 5:8), stalks us with the intentions of putting thoughts into our minds - thoughts that are actually covered with lies producing feelings of worthlessness, despair, and fear. 

If my bully had simply tried to put a piece of gum in my mouth against my will, I would not have resisted to the same degree I did when I saw the dirt covering the gum.  You and I must see the thoughts above for what they are - thoughts covered with lies and fear.  You may be thinking, “But some of those statements above may really be accurate.”  God says in Romans 14:23 that “whatever is not of faith is sin.”  Do you see one faith filled thought listed above?  These types of thoughts leave God out of the equation. 

This doesn’t mean, however, that we can go to the other extreme with presumptuous thoughts, believing that any positive statement we make will come true.  Our thoughts must simply be based on truth and the faith that anything God desires for us to have and to be will not be impossible.  And, we can seek Him for anything and everything through prayer (Philippians 4:6-7)!

It is not enough to see the lies and fear covered thoughts for what they are.  We must also resist these with the authority that is ours in Christ.  Colossians 1:12 says he has “qualified us.”  2 Corinthians 2:4 says He “leads us in triumph in Christ.”  Luke 10:19 says “I give you authority to trample . . . over the power of the enemy.”  When Satan tempted Jesus, Jesus responded with truth.

When a fearful or distressing thought comes, identify it as a tainted thought, search for a verse from the Bible about the matter, and replace your thought with truth and faith - repeatedly - as often as necessary.

“Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23 NKJV).

©2008  Lauren Fletcher all rights reserved

 Click here for a print out you can use in replacing fearful thoughts with
faith filled ones.

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