Hot, Cold, or Lukewarm

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Revelation 3:15-16


Jesus was the originator of object lessons. He spoke of the things of God in relation to what people could easily identify with. He invited His fisherman disciples to “Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Mark 1:17). He told the crowds who sat under His teaching that they were salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16), and described the Kingdom of Heaven being like a field of wheat and weeds, mustard seed, yeast, hidden treasure, a merchant looking for fine pearls, and a net that is let down into a lake (Matthew 13).

When Jesus spoke of hot, cold, and lukewarm water to the church in Laodecia, He was also speaking a language they could understand. Hierapolis was about six miles from Laodicea and was known for its hot waters that were good and healing. The baths of the Hierapolis were so immense that hundreds of people could bathe at the same time. “People from distant regions came to soak in warm baths and seek healing for arthritis, skin diseases, and even abdominal problems” (Ray Vander Laan).

The city of Colosse is eleven miles from Laodicea and it was known for its cold, refreshing drinking water. Located at the foot of Mt. Cadmus, their streams remained icy and pure because of the snow and rain that flowed from the peak of Mt. Cadmus.

Sandwiched between the hot water of Hierapolis and the cold water of Colosse was lukewarm Laodecia. Their stagnant water was full of minerals, gross, useless, and undrinkable. God looked at the city of Laodecia and saw lukewarm water that made them sick. He looked at the people of Laodecia and saw lukewarm hearts that made Him sick.

Within his website, followtherabbi.com, Ray Vander Laan, applies the truth of this verse: In light of the water for which the cities of Hierapolis, Colosse and Laodicea were known, the apostle John might have been saying, “If you were hot, like the springs of Hierapolis, you’d bring healing, restoration, and comfort to people who suffer. If you were cold, like the water in Colosse, you’d refresh and encourage people who are hurting. Instead, you are lukewarm. You don’t do anyone any good and you make me sick just like your own water.”

As you prayerfully and honestly do a water temperature test on your heart, what does it read? Make no mistake, the warning in Revelation goes beyond the ancient city of Laodecia. Its truth must be applied to the waters within our hearts, clubs, and churches today.

PASSION Step: Do not measure the temp of your heart to those around you. Compare your heart’s water to Jesus alone!


Apathy is the acceptance of the unacceptable.

John Stott


Grace and peace,
Lenae

First Class Experience

First Class Experience
The depth of the grace of God is something that I know for a fact and yet sometimes forget in the day to day grind of life. I am thankful that once again, God has stepped in to my ordinary life in order to impress His grace upon me in a fresh way.

After a week of visiting family and friends, and being filled with encouragement, training, and spiritual strength at a GEMS ACTS seminar, I was dropped off at the Grand Rapids airport in plenty of time to check in and enjoy a coffee before going to my gate.

After leisurely enjoying my coffee I glanced at the departure screen only to notice that my flight to Minneapolis was now going to be 35 minutes late. Since I only had 40 minutes to make my connection in Seattle, I knew that now my itinerary would have to be changed.

I walked back to the ticket counter and stood in line with the other travelers who also needed to adjust their schedules.

While I was very eager to get back home I realized that the ticket counter lady was not at fault for this delay and therefore I was not angry at her. I also had just heard many times at the GEMS training that God is in control, leave our worries to Him, live with passion in all of our lives for Him, and be obedient in all. So, I was able to patiently wait while my itinerary was readjusted, all the while standing next to a woman who was yelling at the ticket lady next to me. Since I had presented a challenge to the GEMS ladies to be bold in proclaiming our faith in Christ, and even drawing something while praying in color to hand to people, I proceeded to draw a quick little prayer for the ticket ladies saying God loves you, keep smiling! I handed that to the lady as she finished making my flight arrangements. She proceeded to tell me then that she had put me in first class for the flight that I was now going to be taking from Detroit to Seattle!

I said a big thank you to God! First of all that I did get connections in order to make it home that day- even though it would be 6 hours later than originally planned. And also that I would have the privilege of being in first class! I have never had that before so this would be a treat.

I flew first to Detroit- just a regular economy seat that I was used to.
But in Detroit I could get on the plane before everyone else- and on that special red carpet- I was first class, you know! I thought that this was quite special and even then made me feel somehow ‘elite’. I was surprised upon walking into the plane to be greeted by the flight attendant and asked what I would like to drink before we took off! Wow- I didn’t even know about this added bonus and had to quickly decide what to order. Since I don’t usually drink alcohol and normally just get what they give for free, I figured I better be extravagant and order white wine. I had to ‘act the part’, you know, of a first class traveler, right?

I was served the white wine, drank it while the other economy class people boarded, and proceeded to need a nap since I am not used to alcohol! I slept during the take off and was awakened by the flight attendant coming by to see what else I would like to drink, and offering me a hot towel. Man did that hot towel ‘bath’ feel great! This was making me feel even more special than before.
Then the attendant stopped by just to chat with me as he called me by name. “Mrs. Roosma- I think I have had you on my flights before. I seem to remember your name,” he said to me. Hmm- never flew first class before, so I don’t think you would know me.
He then noticed the pins on my coat from our international students- one of a Canadian flag with a Mexican flag, and one with a Canadian flag with a Brazilian flag. He asked me if I was an ambassador from these countries! This was all so shocking to me that a flight attendant would know my name, ask me questions about myself, and show extra kindness that I was taken quite off guard.
I was even more surprised when he came to tell me that he was so sorry but they had run out of a choice in what they were serving me for dinner and they only could offer me the chicken breast sandwich on ciabatta bun with 3 cheeses, and a fresh fruit bowl, chips, brownie, lettuce and tomato. Would I be okay with that?
Yes, I would be totally okay with that, considering my usual choice is between peanuts and pretzels!
The flight attendant brought me a place mat (how special is that- not to get my tray table dirty!) and then a tray filled with all of this beautifully presented food, complete with real dishes and stainless steel cutlery! I even had a knife! I guess first class passengers can be trusted with knives and will not use it to hijack the plane!

At this point I was overwhelmed with the realization that I didn’t belong here. I did not pay for this first class ticket. I didn’t deserve any of this extra special treatment or this abundance of food and drink. I was an economy class person, not this first class elite passenger. Did they know that I wasn’t really deserving of all of this? Did they know that I felt like I was trying to fool everyone into thinking that I was used to flying first class?

And yet it was all before me- lavished upon me- waiting for me to eat and drink.

I cut my sandwich in two, and was bombarded with the thought of Jesus breaking the bread to pass to his disciples.
Sinful, undeserving disciples.
Not first class, but working class men.
And Jesus was offering them his lavish love, his saving grace, his everlasting food and drink.
I began to weep as I looked at my food and drink.
I did not deserve this and I also did not deserve my Saviors grace in my life.
Just as I am filled with sin and deserve eternal punishment, Jesus offers me his love, his grace, his lavish salvation of my soul so that I can eat from his banquet table, both now in this life and for all eternity.

That sandwich, the cold water in a glass goblet, the fruit bowl, became to me, a Holy Communion supper. The bread of Christ- for me! The blood of Christ- poured out for me!

I will never be the same again, I can never return, I’ve closed the door,
I will walk the path, I’ll run the race, and I will never be the same again.

I am sure that the man sitting next to me could not figure out why this woman was crying and looking out the window as she ate her meal, but I was having a holy moment with my Lord. I did not care. He made new to me the often common way that I have looked at the Lord’s Supper. It is NOT common. It is a holy moment of knowing that I really belong in economy class, or even the luggage bin, and yet He has given me first class status because of grace through Jesus Christ. This has to change me. This has to be told. I cannot keep this ‘secret’ to myself!
After challenging the GEMS women to share the Good News through praying in color for others and giving them the paper, I now felt God leading me instead to write a letter to the flight attendant.
This letter just flowed out of my pen and onto the paper, telling him how thankful I was for how he served me with kindness and abundance. How I had my flights changed that day and that I really didn’t belong in first class. How I was thankful that I would get to my earthly home that night, but that really my final destination was Heaven.
He had asked me if I was an ambassador to Mexico and Brazil. No, I am not, but I am an ambassador for Jesus Christ, I wrote to him. An ambassador loves the country he represents. I love Jesus Christ and I want you to know Him so that your final destination can also be Heaven.

I am praying for this man. I do not know his name. I do not know if I will ever see him again- unless I fly Delta first class again- or hopefully until I see him someday in Heaven.

I am still basking in the unexpected way that God lavishes his love, his surprise visits, his kind and gentle words, his patience, his strength, his challenge into my life, and his ever present grace that will never leave me.

Prayer for Life's Journey

Dear Sisters,

Blessed Easter! Are you still humming and singing Easter hymns and songs? Me too. Christ has risen! He has risen indeed! Hallelujah!
Have a great week living in the victory of His resurrection power!

PRAYER FOR LIFE’S JOURNEY

Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

In Kindergarten one of my favorite games was Red Light/Green Light. Our teacher would stand at one end of the classroom and either hold up a red stop sign or a green colored go sign. If she called out, “Green light!” we’d take steps toward her. If she said, “Red light!” we’d freeze in place. Although we could get our little bodies to stop and go on command, we couldn’t do the same with our giggles while we played!

Moses exemplified a prayer habit for us to follow when it comes to red lights, green lights, and all the travel we do in between. In Number 10 the Israelites were leaving Sinai for their first approach to the Promised Land. So they set out from the mountain of the LORD and traveled for three days. The ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them during those three days to find them a place to rest. The cloud of the LORD was over them by day when they set out from the camp. Whenever the ark set out [Green Light!], Moses said, “Rise up, O LORD! May your enemies be scattered; may your foes flee before you.” Whenever it came to rest [Red Light!], he said, “Return, O LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel” (Numbers 10:33-36).

Before Moses set out, he prayed. When he came to the end of the day’s journey, he prayed. What a great example for us to follow as we travel through life!

Psalm 121 is known as the Traveler’s Psalm. Missionary explorer, David Livingstone, read this Psalm when he worshipped with his father and sister before setting sail for Africa. One of my middle-school classmates said they never headed out on a summer vacation without her dad first reading this Psalm to their family.

It contains two important pray-all-the-time points for life’s journey.

Keep your eyes fixed on God all the time. I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep (Psalm 121:1-4).

God’s eyes are on you all the time. The LORD watches over you – the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore (Psalm 121:5-8).

Prayer Step: 1. Before you set out, pray. 2. When you stop, pray. 3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 throughout your life’s journey.

Prayer is the first thing wherewith a righteous life beginneth, and the last wherewith it doth end. Richard Hooker

Grace and peace,
Lenae

Pray Against Temptation

Dear Sisters,

What a special week of remembrance and celebration is before us. One of the reasons that Christ died is so that we might belong to Him! You also died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead (Romans 7:4). You are not your own; you were bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). In Christ, we are free from sin and free to belong to Him!

Have a blessed Easter!

PRAY AGAINST TEMPTATION

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” Luke 22:39-40

Of all the prayer requests that Jesus could’ve given the disciples, why this one? While He prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” why did He command them to pray that they would not fall into temptation? According to what’s recorded in Luke chapter 22, it may have been because Satan was everywhere!

Satan was in Judas and in the temple. Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus (Luke 22:3-4).

Satan was in the upper room where Jesus and the disciples were partaking of the Last Supper. He was present in Judas (Luke 22:21) and present in wanting to sift and crush Peter and the disciples like grains of wheat. Jesus said, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32).

Satan was present in the garden when Judas betrayed Him with a kiss (Luke 22:47). When the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard and the elders seized Him, Jesus said, “But this is your hour – when darkness reigns” (Luke 22:53).

Think about the night that the disciples had with their Lord. It must’ve started as a mountaintop experience! They were celebrating the Last Supper. They took the cup and the bread. They heard the promise that it was Christ’s blood of the new covenant and Christ’s body given to them (Luke 22:17-21).

Mountains can be a dangerous place. When we brought our girls to the top of Mount Lemmon in Tucson, Arizona, when they were young and looked down at the grandeur below, we were continually on guard. We were so very, very careful to make sure that no one slipped and fell.

The disciples’ slipped and fell off their spiritual mountaintop. While their wine and bread were still digesting, there was a dispute among them as to which of them was considered to be the greatest (Luke 22:24), they fell asleep instead of praying that they not fall into temptation (Luke 22:46), and Peter betrayed Jesus three times (Luke 22:54-62).

It’s Holy Week. Remember, celebrate, and pray that you will not fall into temptation (Luke 22:40).

Prayer Step: Pray that He would lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (Matthew 6:13).

The reason why many fail in battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came. Reuben Archer Torrey

Grace and peace,
Lenae

Remember

Dear Sisters,

Happy Monday! I hope that you’re all doing well and enjoying Spring. The changing of the seasons are remembrances of God’s faithfulness and care: As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease (Genesis 8:22).
Have a wonderful week remembering the wonders of God!

REMEMBER

Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced. 1 Chronicles 16:11-12

Awhile back, a dear sister in Christ gifted me a Willow Tree Angel: Angels Embrace. It’s a beautiful sculpture of an angel embracing a small child. This friend gave it to me as a reminder of her prayers when a little foster son whom our family loved as our own was court-ordered to his mother after living with us for a year and a half.

The sculpture is a “remembrance” item for me. It’s displayed in my prayer closet (aka bedroom!) on the table by my Bible and prayer journal. It’s a tangible reminder of God’s constant love and care for this little one and a symbol of the daily prayers that are said on his behalf.

Reading through the book of Numbers, “remembrance” items are nothing new. God put them in place for His people frequently!

Tassels on the corners of their garments were to serve as a remembrance to obey all the commands of the LORD (Numbers 15:37-41).

The censers that were taken out of the smoldering remains of Korah and his men’s rebellion against the Lord were hammered into sheets to overlay the altar as a remembrance that no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense before the LORD (Numbers 16:31-40).

Aaron’s staff that budded, blossomed, and produced almonds served as a remembrance to the rebellious to put an end to their grumbling against God (Numbers 17:1-10).

Remembrances are small things that carry a big message. Whether it’s a Willow Tree Angel, adding photos to your prayer journal, wearing a prayer bracelet, or placing some other small, but meaningful item in your prayer closet, kitchen, or office, they can serve as prayer prompters. When you see them, let it serve as a reminder to look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always (1 Chronicles 16:11). Use these items to help you remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced (1 Chronicles 16:11-12).

The word “remember” is found 161 times in the New International Version of the Bible. With a thankful heart, remember, commemorate, consider, and bring to remembrance petitions for yourself and others, and thanksgiving for the ways He’s answered prayer.

Prayer Step: Do you find yourself forgetting to talk to God about prayer requests that have come your way? Use prayer prompters to help you remember!

It is not wrong to have reminders that point us to God, provided they don’t replace God or His Word. We are to “seek those things which are above” (Colossians 3:1). Warren W. Wiersbe

Grace and peace,
Lenae

Pray Earnestly

Dear Sisters,

Good morning! What an amazing (and very muddy!) process to watch the winter snow be washed away by spring rains. Seems like our world is always in some kind of beautiful transition from one season to the next. And isn’t that also the way it should be with our hearts? We should always be transforming – becoming more and more holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1-2).

Have a wonderful week of transformation!

PRAY EARNESTLY

Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. James 5:17

The Bible is packed with the prayers of men and women who prayed earnestly to God.

Nehemiah prayed earnestly (Nehemiah 1:5-11). The cupbearer to the king mourned, fasted, and prayed that God would give him favor before King Artaxerxes so he could return to Jerusalem and rebuild its broken down walls and gates. God answered Nehemiah’s prayer and he stayed in Jerusalem twelve years to help rebuild.

Queen Esther prayed earnestly (Esther 4:16). She called all of the Jews in Susa to join her in fasting and praying for three days and three nights before she went before the king to plead for the deliverance of her people. God answered those prayers by showing Esther favor before the king. The king gave permission to have another decree written to offset the one that vile Haman originally put in place to destroy the Jews.

Hannah prayed earnestly (1 Samuel 1:9-20). She poured out her soul to the LORD out of her great anguish and grief in being childless. God answered Hannah’s prayer by remembering her. In the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the LORD for him” (1 Samuel 1:20).

Solomon prayed earnestly (1 Kings 3:7-9). When he became king, he prayed for a discerning heart to govern God’s people and to distinguish between right and wrong. God answered that prayer by giving him wisdom that was beyond what anyone ever had or will ever have (1 Kings 3:12).

Elijah prayed earnestly (1 Kings 18:36-38). He prayed that God would answer by fire on the water-saturated altar so that God’s people would turn their hearts back to Him again. God answered that prayer by sending fire that burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, the soil, and the water in the trench. The people cried, “The LORD – he is God! The LORD – He is God (1 Kings 18:38-39)!

We may be tempted to think that only the spiritual “giants” get their prayers answered in such dramatic ways, but the truth is, these are men and women just like us (James 5:17).

In his book, Forgotten God – Reversing our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit, Francis Chan writes, “Let’s stop looking at the godly men and women in Scripture as through their prayer lives are unattainable! Pray fervently, knowing that Peter and Paul and Mary and Ruth were men and women ‘with a nature like ours’” (James 5:17).

Prayer Step: Pray earnestly to the same God who answered the prayers of Nehemiah, Esther, Hannah, Solomon, Elijah . . .

You must pray with all your might. It means fervent, effectual, untiring wrestling with God. William Booth

Grace and peace,
Lenae

Persevere in Prayer

Dear Sisters,

Happy March! What joy to see the first day of spring on this month’s calendar! Spring paints such a beautiful picture of hope for the future as trees and plants bud and flower. It even has a fresh scent that smells like hope! Whether you’re longing for spring temps or His spring rains on dry and weary hearts, look to the God of hope. Rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us (Romans 5:2-5).

Praying that you have a hope-filled week!

PERSEVERE IN PRAYER

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

Job was a real person, in a real place, with real problems. Within a day, his oxen and donkeys were carried off by the Sabeans and the servants who cared for them were put to the sword, his sheep and the servants that cared for them were burned by fire, his camels and the servants who were with them were raided by the Chaldeans, and his children died when a house collapsed on top of them (Job 1:14-19). Job was also afflicted with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and distressed by a foolish wife who told him to “Curse God and die” (Job 2:7-9).

Although Job did not turn away from God, he did do battle with hopelessness. Sometimes his hope was rooted in solid ground: Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face (Job 13:15). Sometimes it felt like hope had been yanked out of his life by the roots: He tears me down on every side till I am gone: he uproots my hope like a tree (Job 19:10). He even said trees were better off than people: At least there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail (Job 14:7).

There were moments when Job expressed hope that God would acquit him after death: If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come (Job 14:14). And there were times when Job’s hope was diminished and all he could see in his future was death and decay: My spirit is broken, my days are cut short, the grave awaits me. If the only home I hope for is the grave . . . where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me (Job 17:1, 13, 15)?

Today, maybe your hope feels like it’s been yanked by the roots, and your prayers . . . well, you’re not even able to pray anymore. Think on these prayer lessons from Job’s life:

1. Persevere in prayer. Job persevered in prayer asking God to give him the desires of his heart: Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for (Job 6:8).

2. God is at work in our everyday events and in the people around us (Oswald Chambers). Whether we see it or not, God blesses those who persevere. We consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about (James 5:11).

3. Put your hope in God. Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him (Job 13:15a). Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and My God (Psalm 43:5).

Prayer Step: Pray that your perseverance will be inspired by hope in Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:3).

Bear up the hands that hang down, by faith and prayer; support the tottering knees. Have you any days of fasting and prayer? Storm the throne of grace and persevere therein, and mercy will come down. John Wesley

Grace and peace,
Lenae