Brandon lake

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Day 14 Lion

July 14, 2024July 9, 2024 krisshetter

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wailon account of him. Even so. Amen. Revelation 1:7

Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around.  His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees andtrembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. Psalm 97:1-6

So often when we share our faith we talk about the gentle love of God. He comforts us in our sorrows. He counsels us in our pain. He provides for us in our time of need. While this is all true, we can’t forget the basis for why we can be comforted. Why we know one day our pain will disappear. The hope that we have through God’s promised victory is the foundation for all that we believe. That one day we will stand beside our conqueror, Christ, in heaven.

Our gentle Lamb of God is the Lion of Judah. The God who destroyed evil nations, who moves mountains, who promises that justice will be His in the final battle, that is also our God. While we may romanticize Jesus during His time here on earth as humble and gentle, we need to remember the Jesus who cleared the temple with a whip. The one who called the Pharisees, who distorted the Word of God, vipers and evildoers. He was quiet and gentle at times because of a strength that no man can imagine.

When we feel sorrow over the ways of this world, we need to remember two truths. The first is that nothing that is happening is new. The words of Peter, James, Paul, and Jesus attest to that. The disciples who were killed for nothing more than proclaiming their faith in God’s son are just another scene played out for centuries before and after. Injustice, violence and evil perpetrated by people who deny the sovereignty of God.

If we sit and marinate in the knowledge of these evils, we too dismiss the second truth – the power of God and promise of things to come. It is that power and the written account of future events which lift us. We see the glory of God bringing His sword of justice to all mankind. With no one escaping judgement. No one.

We don’t know the day or time. But we should always plan as though it is today. Acting, speaking, loving, and doing in such a way as Jesus has ordained us. Spreading the word of His coming justice to truly ease our pain. And the hope of salvation from eternal damnation. Through our belief in Jesus Christ, who died for our punishable sins, we can stand in assurance of God’s coming roaring, glory.

Click here to listen to today’s song: LION

Day 13 Blessings Everywhere

July 13, 2024July 9, 2024 krisshetter

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11: 28-30

From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised! Psalms 113:3

I’ve given this assignment to women I’ve discipled in the past. For a week keep a small notebook with you. As you go through your day make note of all the good things around you or that have been given you. It might be you found a deal while shopping, a nice text was sent you, or even just that you had a good night sleep. If nothing seems obvious that day there’s always the fact that you had a place to sleep, food in your refrigerator, the sun rose again and you received one more day to serve the Lord.

I’ll admit this assignment was born out of the fact that I’ve lived most of my life as a pessimistic person. When I started my day what first was on my mind were the problems I faced or imagined. Nothing was going to work out the way I’d hoped. If it did, I’m sure something else bad would happen to ruin it. What an exhausting, burdensome way to live. But my friend, I know for certain I’m not the only one to suffer this way of existence.

I thought positive people, especially Christians, were just blind to reality. And I was sure I’d be the one cleaning up the mess they never imagined. Not only was this prideful it’s not the reality of God. There may be some truth to this way of thinking because this world is full of evil, riddled with tragedy and pain. But when we seek to live for Christ and become yoked with Him, He opens our eyes to the new sunrise each day. He removes the scales and a whole new world is open to us.

Our new reality, which can only be achieved through the belief in our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit’s power, leads us down a path that sees our breath each day as a blessing. That acknowledges so much beauty and good around us, especially in times of trouble. Sometimes we just need God to help us see it. There truly are blessings wherever we go or wherever we stay. Thank you Lord.

Click here to listen to today’s song: Blessings Everywhere

Day 8 Honey In The Rock

July 8, 2024July 7, 2024 krisshetter

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:26-27

By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas; Psalm 65:5

There’s been a few times in my 36 years of marriage when we experienced serious financial loss. The first time it was devastating. I felt lost and unsure of our future. It was hard not blaming and feeling angry. I wasn’t a woman of faith at the time so I turned inward to chastise myself over and over and then outward condemning anyone associated with the loss. I dwelt over it, turning the situation around in my head during endless, sleepless nights. Each time I drove past the business project in which we had invested the scab was re-opened and for days I would feel those same feelings all over again.

Fast forward many years when my husband’s business and another investment came under dramatic assault due to Covid restrictions and fear. We saw all that we had built potentially crumbling beneath us. This loss was potentially greater, effecting our retirement and even our home. This time, however was different.

I frequently found myself at peace. Sure, I’d get scared. I’d worry about the stress my husband was under. This time I had someone to tell me there was a purpose to the plan. To tell me He would give us the manna and the honey because He is the Lord who provides.

We have two choices to make when difficulties attack our lives. We can turn to our emotions and fears or we can turn to Jesus. When we allow our fears to take over, we get angry, we blame, we get depressed. For people like me I wear myself out alternately beating myself up (you shouldn’t have taken that vacation last year! That money could help us now!) or obsessing over how to fix an unfixable problem. For some they withdraw from the world all together feeling hopeless.

When I finally learned, and most of all believed, that God is who we turn to satisfy and squash our fears I experienced freedom. He is a miracle worker. He can bring water from a stone. Turn water into wine. No matter what we face in the coming years we need to remember to seek God for all we need. Pray, praise and trust then repeat.

I’m having some issues with the webpage provider correctly linking the songs from the button below. So try clicking here: Honey In The Rock.

Day 5 Gratitude

July 5, 2024July 5, 2024 krisshetter

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.  Ephesians 1:3-4

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens…. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? Psalm 8: 1 & 3-4

Have you ever had someone do something for you that was unexpected and thoughtful? A few months ago, I was so sick with the flu I could barely walk from my bed to the bathroom. A friend of mine heard how sick I was and that day left a care package of healing teas at my door. It was a loving, unsolicited gesture — wanting to help nurse me back to good health

When I hear this beautiful song by Brandon Lake I am overwhelmed by God’s unwarranted love and care for me. I’m a sinner from way back. I’m a backsliding sinner. I will probably manage to say or do something today that I shouldn’t. Yet, the God of the universe, the Almighty One, still loves me and sees me and provides for me. He loves you too, fellow sinner.

His love is freely given. His offer of salvation is crowned upon us without us having to lift a finger. We need only to believe. No trying harder. No paying a fee. No list of things to accomplish. No shame. Just a heart that says, “I believe you and I want to have you as my Lord.” After that He infuses Himself with us through the Holy Spirit. The free gift of an ever present counselor, comforter and guide who reveals God’s will for our life.

How can we not get emotional over something so staggering, so loving, and so unexpected? We throw up our hands and praise Him over and over for the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ who died to cleanse us of the stain of sin. We shed tears knowing how much we don’t deserve this love yet are showered with it each day.

All I can say to that is Hallelujah and Amen!

Day 2 Fresh Fire

July 2, 2024June 25, 2024 krisshetter

Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tonguesas the Spirit enabled them. Acts 2:2-4

The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out. Leviticus 6:13

Where I live, the threat of devastating fires is always with us. During certain months I feel my mind and body change in alertness to puffs of smoke on the horizon or that distinctive smell of vegetation burning somewhere. But fire in all its frightfulness offers so much goodness in its flickering flames.

It’s fire that changed man’s way of life by providing warmth, a new way to eat, and a comfort in throwing light out to scare away all that darkness brings. Fire is a powerful, God-given element – both dangerous and life sustaining.

Throughout the Bible we see fire used by God to consecrate covenants, protect the people of Israel at night, to burn up sacrifices, and to pass judgment. The New Testament refers to God as a “consuming fire.”

For non-believers they face the lake of fire. But for believers we are given the fire of the Holy Spirit. This fire doesn’t consume but rather refines. On the day of Pentecost, the fire placed in the disciples just days before by the resurrected Jesus draws a huge crowd in Jerusalem. And because of the power of that fire, thousands were saved and also given that fire.

I want to live with God’s ever-burning fire in me. Not a tiny spark or a flame but a wildfire. A fire that speaks with the confidence of knowing the Holy Spirit is really doing the talking. A fire that hungers and thirsts every single day for the Lord’s will.

This song is one I heard a few years ago and inspired my series aptly called Fresh Fire. Not too long ago it was also recorded by Brandon Lake and Maverick City Music. It brings you to your feet saying “Yes! Me too!” I especially love the line – “A man on fire doesn’t care what he looks like, what he sounds like.” As daughters and sons of God we don’t need to fear man, only God. And God calls us to be full of fire with His message of love and salvation to those all around us.