A Beautiful Offering - Chapter Sixteen - Build on the Rock

Posted by Kathy
June 08, 2010

Matthew 7:24-25 “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on a rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”

Matthew 7:26 “But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.”

In reading these verses, my mind immediately went back to singing in children’s church, The Wise Man Built His House Upon The Rock. We did the hand motions and all of the movements. Although I had little understanding of the message of this song, the principle has reiterated in my mind many times.

Here we are. The last of our 16 chapters of Living Your Life As A Beautiful Offering. If this “As you go” would have been at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, it would have been challenging to find the depth of what Jesus was really saying. But because we have looked at “When You Are”:
Broken
Wounded
Being Yourself
Falling in Love
A Friend to Sinners
Pure in Heart
A Peacemaker
Peacemaker

And “As You Go”:
Be the Salt and Be the City
Make Every Effort
Keep a Secret Life
Stockpile in Heaven
Expect a Bridge
Lay It Down
Take the Narrow Gate

Jesus has given us everything we need to lay the foundation for an amazing life. He has outlined all the characteristics of a beautiful offering. Do you want a life that will stand firm against every trial and storm that comes against it? Do you want to return to God a beautiful offering? Do you want the glory of God to walk into the room with you?

We only get one life to build for His kingdom. That’s why these living instructions in the Sermon on the Mount matter. That is why it matters that our lives become a beautiful offering.

It is my hope that you and I have done more than read a book and share a time of devotion, but that we have been transformed by the truths we have learned.

On page 208, we find these words:
At the end of His sermon, Jesus was saying to us, Take this teaching I have just given to you and make it a part of your life. Start slow if you must. But build a life on Me. I am strong. I am the cornerstone. I will not fail you through rain or flood or wind. I am the only way to enter into the happiness of the Master. I am the only foundation that will not give way. Start with Me. Rely on Me. Finish with Me and enter into the eternal celebration of My glory. Everything you build on Me will stand.

Amen.

Kathy Isaacs

REMEMBER - Angela Thomas, the author of this great book will be with us for our Women's Day Conference on Friday, June 11. For more in formation and ticket purchase, call 330-668-9995. See you there!

A Beautiful Offering - Chapter Fifteen - Take the Narrow Gate

Posted by Kathy
June 07, 2010

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

While watching Johnny Carson late one night over 20 years ago, my husband and I heard him say to Reverend Billy Graham, “I can’t see myself in one of those religious straight jackets.” Reverend Graham responded with the true freedom that comes from knowing Christ.

There are those with a desire to know God in some way. Yet, to live a life of obedience on the “narrow road” just seems too hard. In their defense, some have done an injustice in describing the narrow road as almost an impossibility, as a way lacking any good thing. Nothing could be further from the truth. To walk the narrow road of obedience is to experience the freedom and blessings of God.

Read John 8:31-32, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” What happens to the woman who follows the teaching of Jesus and applies that truth to her life?

Freedom comes from obedience. Obedience is not perfection. Obedience is the road you walk when you decide to live out the teachings of Jesus. The road is narrow because there aren’t too many people on it. On the narrow road, you are walking underneath the anointing of God. It’s powerful there. You stay right in the middle of His big dreams for you. You are kept on the path by the guardrails of His protection. And on this road, you are free!

The narrow gate is Jesus and the narrow road is obedience. Let’s take this journey together, sister.

Kathy Isaacs

a Beautiful Offering - Chapter Fourteen - Lay It Down

Posted by Kathy
June 07, 2010

Matthew 7:1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”

Matthew 7:3-5 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Matthew 7:12 “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.”

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” Do you remember reciting this as a child to the bully who wounded you on the playground? It would be nice if it was true, but it isn’t. Words do hurt. They wound us. Many times they leave scars for years. Do you know people who are still dealing with condemnation heaped on them in days gone by? Or maybe that is you.

Let’s turn the table. Have the hurtful, condemning words come from you? Why are we so quick to judge others when God accepts us with open-loving arms? Judgment and condemnation never mended one heart. They encourage no one. Receiving sustained criticism, condemnation, or painful words doesn’t motivate change. Sadly, we live among those who would rather look for the negative than the positive, who would rather find fault than extend acceptance.

I want to be one who shows mercy just as mercy was shown to me. Over and over in this sermon, Jesus asks us to give to others what the Father has already lavished upon us. He wants us to live like we belong to the kingdom of God. Reflecting the light of His glory into darkness. Bringing the power of His indwelling right into the middle of our everyday lives and our everyday family.

James 2:12-13 says, “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

Today, let’s LAY IT DOWN! Lay down the hurt that has come to us through judgment and condemnation. Lay down any tendency in ourselves that would bend towards the negative. Let us walk in the freedom that comes through knowing Christ and let us lead others into this freedom.

Kathy Isaacs

a Beautiful Offering - Chapter Fourteen - Lay It Down

Posted by Kathy
June 07, 2010

Matthew 7:1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”

Matthew 7:3-5 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Matthew 7:12 “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.”

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” Do you remember reciting this as a child to the bully who wounded you on the playground? It would be nice if it was true, but it isn’t. Words do hurt. They wound us. Many times they leave scars for years. Do you know people who are still dealing with condemnation heaped on them in days gone by? Or maybe that is you.

Let’s turn the table. Have the hurtful, condemning words come from you? Why are we so quick to judge others when God accepts us with open-loving arms? Judgment and condemnation never mended one heart. They encourage no one. Receiving sustained criticism, condemnation, or painful words doesn’t motivate change. Sadly, we live among those who would rather look for the negative than the positive, who would rather find fault than extend acceptance.

I want to be one who shows mercy just as mercy was shown to me. Over and over in this sermon, Jesus asks us to give to others what the Father has already lavished upon us. He wants us to live like we belong to the kingdom of God. Reflecting the light of His glory into darkness. Bringing the power of His indwelling right into the middle of our everyday lives and our everyday family.

James 2:12-13 says, “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

Today, let’s LAY IT DOWN! Lay down the hurt that has come to us through judgment and condemnation. Lay down any tendency in ourselves that would bend towards the negative. Let us walk in the freedom that comes through knowing Christ and let us lead others into this freedom.

Kathy Isaacs

A Beautiful Offering - Chapter Thirteen - Expect A Bridge

Posted by Kathy
June 06, 2010

Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat and drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?”

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

A beautiful memory of my childhood was the “Guardian Angel” picture that hung over my bed. The angel hovered over the bridge as the children crossed over. It was and is a constant reminder of the continual presence and provision of God. As an adult, I have needed that visual as the seemingly impossible situations have loomed ahead. In those moments, I have found myself asking, “Can I do this?” “How is this going to happen?” “How in the world will we make it?”

The author spoke so pointedly to the fact that we are not alone. Christ is with us and is helping us cross the “impossible bridges” we face each day. In Exodus chapter 16 we see where God provided Quail in the evening and manna in the morning for the children of Israel on their journey across the wilderness. There are two WOW parts of this story that speak right to my heart and also step on my toes a little.

1) These were people who had witnessed great miracles at the hand of God and yet doubted Him for their provision along the journey (v. 3).

2) God responded to their grumbling (v. 2).

Does this sound like anyone you know? God has been faithful. He has healed our children, provided when the bills were due, kept our cars running and placed many more planks on the bridge just when we needed it. Yet, at the first sign of distress, we began to doubt the faithfulness of God. We may even grumble a little.

Expect a bridge today! Lean on the promises of God.

Look at these passages and notice the words that affirm God’s faithfulness to you and me.

Isaiah 41:13 “For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand and say to you: Do not fear, I will help you.

Isaiah 42:16 “I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on paths they have not known. I will turn darkness to light in front of them, and rough places into level ground. This is what I will do for them, and I will not forsake them.

Isaiah 58:11 “The Lord will always lead you, satisfy you in a parched land, and strengthen your bones. You will be like a watered garden and like a spring whose waters never run dry.

Kathy Isaacs

A Beautiful Offering - Chapter Twelve - Stockpile In Heaven

Posted by Kathy
June 06, 2010

Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

July 13, 1981, the day of my father’s first open-heart surgery. After his recovery, he shared with his family the thoughts he had as his gurney was rolled into the OR. “At that moment, the amount of wealth I had accumulated didn’t matter. The size of the church I pastored was not important. The prestige prized by those around me was of no value. Status and position seemed insignificant. Relationships, that was what I cherished most. My connection with God, was it where it needed to be? Was my love for Him greater today than it was yesterday? Did my wife know I loved her more than anything else in the world? Did my children feel my love and understand time spent with them was what mattered most to me? God, my wife, my children - at the moment my heart might beat for the last time – they are all that exist.

I find it “just like God” that He would talk about the importance of how I live my life and spend each moment by talking about the beating muscle that supplies existence to every part of the body. If the heart is sick, so goes the entire body. God cares so much for you and me that he says, “heaven living is a heart issue.”

What does the treasure chest of your heart hold? Have you allowed it to be cluttered with the accumulation of stuff or has the permanent marker written on the side of the boxes, “Grace extended, forgiveness given, tender moments shared, love for my children, time with my spouse?”

Every day is a gift from God. Each moment is full of the unknown with opportunities to stockpile in heaven those things that are important to God. Today, let’s start out by talking to God about “heaven living.”

Kathy Isaacs

A Beautiful Offering - Chapter Eleven - Keep A Secret Life

Posted by Kathy
June 05, 2010

Matthew 6:3-4 “When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Matthew 6:6 “When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Matthew 6:17-18 “When you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

For some of us, the word “secret” conjures up many emotions. How many times have you said or been told, “I’m going to tell you something, but don’t tell anyone. It is a secret”? We have an innate desire to tell things we know (or don’t know) when deep inside we are aware that it should be kept.

Knowing we are women and that we enjoy communicating with one another, why would our secrecy concerning giving, praying, and fasting be so important to God? It is a beautiful offering to make this journey with a part of your life reserved just for Him. There should be elements of you that no one else knows about. There are spiritual acts of worship being offered only before the private audience of God (144). I don’t know about you, but that is exciting to me. God loves me so much that He wants those places in my life reserved just for Him.

Several of you have come to me and asked me to pass along an offering to another lady, but not let her know where it came from. Others of you have purchased luncheon tickets anonymously for someone in our region. Your open and obedient heart is blessed by your giving and at the same time, you have blessed someone else. As you allow God to transform your life through secret giving, ask for these:
1) For eyes to see where He is calling you to give.
2) For a heart to respond with the ACTION of giving.
3) For creativity in your giving so that others may be blessed.
Giving is not always about money. Can you think of three ways right now you can give out of your overflowing heart?

The value of time alone with God in prayer must be emphasized. At those moments, we can share intimacy with the one who made us and loves us beyond our human understanding. Richard Foster writes in Celebration of Discipline, “Of all the Spiritual Disciplines prayer is the most central because it ushers us into perpetual communion with the Father.”

Fasting is the word that brings food immediately to mind. Notice that Jesus did not say, “If you fast,” or “You have to fast.” He says, “When you fast.” This clearly states that a follower of Christ will fast. Fasting will:
1) Center our hearts on God.
2) Reveal the things that control us.
3) Remind us that God sustains us.
4) Discipline us to keep balance in our lives.

John Wesley said, “Some have exalted religious fasting beyond all Scripture and reason; and others have utterly disregarded it.” We must be like Anna in Luke 2:37 and “worship with fasting.”

Perhaps the greatest blessing to come from keeping a secret life with God is that we are free from the control of others’ opinions. We are not enslaved to their approval. I love that when you give in secret or pray in secret or fast in secret, then your motives are made clean. You act in obedience to please your unseen Father. You respond with a pure heart, solely as He directs you in private. And the rewards He gives are the intimate gifts of a loving God for His beloved (150).

CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET?

I close with a prayer from one of my favorite books, Diary of Private Prayer, by John Baillie.

O Thou whose eternal presence is hid behind the veil of nature, informs the mind of man, and was made flesh in Jesus Christ our Lord, I thank Thee that He has left me an example that I should follow in His steps.

Jesus Christ said, Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.
O God, incline my heart to follow in this way.
Jesus Christ said, Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
O God, incline my heart to follow in this way.
Jesus Christ said, Do good and lend, hoping for nothing again.
O God, incline my heart to follow in this way.
Jesus Christ said, Love you enemies.
O God, incline my heart to follow in this way.
Jesus Christ said, Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.
O God, incline my heart to follow in this way.
Jesus Christ said, Fear not, only believe.
O God, incline my heart to follow in this way.
Jesus Christ said, Except ye turn again and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
O God, incline my heart to follow in this way.
Jesus Christ said, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
O God, incline my heart to follow in this way.

Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed by thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Kathy Isaacs

A Beautiful Offering - Chapter Ten - Make Every Effort

Posted by Kathy
June 05, 2010

Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”

While studying today, I learned we have just celebrated International Pickle Week (May 20-30). I missed National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day altogether (April 2). But Ugly Truck Day is just around the corner (July 20). Here are more special days you might want to mark on your calendar:
Cookie Day (December 4)
Cow Appreciation Day (July 17)
Golfers Day (April 10)
Hug Day (January 21)
Ice Cream Cone Day (July 15)
Left Handers Day (August 13)

I’m not sure if Hallmark is the culprit or just someone who has too much time to kill, but we have a “day” for just about everything now. In our Scripture reference we see the command to leave our offering, go be reconciled to our brother or sister, and return to our offering. This would mean, don’t wait for International Forgiveness Day which is designated as August 7, but go immediately and make every effort to make things right.

Hebrews 12:14 says, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Ouch! Holiness and forgiveness are connected! Ouch!

Reconciliation requires humility, and maturity, and discipline, and courage. Like me, you probably know people who have been severely wounded in relationships. It is one thing to observe conflict in others; it is a horrible, ugly deal to admit that the one who is not reconciled is you. Maybe it’s wrongs you’ve committed, forgiveness you have denied, grudges you hold, vengeance you desire, or anger you feed. Whatever the case, we must be obedient to Christ and make it right. Don’t let fear, doubt, pride, or control get in the way of your obedience to God. Surrender the secret place that is holding you back from giving your all as an offering on the altar before God.

Jesus knew we could not do this on our own, but our lives are a beautiful offering to him when we make the choice to do the right thing, the God thing.
Remember the words to the song we learned as a child. . .
To be like Jesus
To be like Jesus
That’s all I ask
To be like Him
All through life’s journey
From earth to glory
That’s all I ask
To be like Him

Make every day a day of forgiveness.

Kathy Isaacs

A Beautiful Offering - Chapter Nine - Be the Salt and Be the City

Posted by Kathy
June 04, 2010

Matthew 5:13-14 “You are the salt of the earth. . .You are the light of the world.”

In Chapters 1-8 (verses 3-12) we have looked at “When You Are. . .Broken, Wounded, Being Yourself, Falling in Love, A Friend of Sinners, Pure in Heart, A Peacemaker, and Persecuted.” Chapters 9-16 (verses 13-26) will address, “As You Go.” Jesus instructs us to let the principles we will cover over these next several chapters guide our decisions, relationships, and actions.

The Message (Matthew 5:13-16) Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand – shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

Do these verses describe you as a woman of God? In order for salt to do its work, it must be rubbed in. Do we allow ourselves to make people thirsty for more of God by being “rubbed in” to a dying world, interacting, loving, and becoming right along with them? We don’t have to be someone special to do this. Yes, I know we are special if we belong to Christ. But if we want to be the “salt of the earth,” we must remember how common salt is. A whole box costs just a small amount. Yet, it makes all the difference. God wants to use us in our day-to-day living to make all the difference. Our common lives become an extraordinary spice in the hands of our Master.

Matthew 28:19-20 is called the Great Commission. Jesus instructs His followers to go. Go get yourselves rubbed into the lives of others so they will be able to taste the presence of God. In Acts 1:8 Jesus instructs the disciples to begin in Jerusalem. That’s where they were at the time, their home. If you aren’t sure where your saltiness is supposed to begin, start in your Jerusalem, your home. Begin with the people you live with or around. Then Jesus told them to go into Judea and Samaria. That was the next circle out for them, their north and south. This circle includes neighbors, business relationships, and people we have the opportunity to meet. Finally, Jesus said to go to the ends of the earth. This would be the people outside our normal, everyday life. These are people we make an extra effort to get to know because they matter to God.

What about light? Are things more brilliant and bright just because we are there radiating Christ? Have you been forgiven? Then shine forgiveness. Have you been set free? Then radiate freedom to others. Have you been rescued? Then show others your rescuing God. Have you been given grace? Then spread grace all around you. Have you been given eternity? Then illuminate the Way.

Notice the end of verse 14 speaks of “give light to everyone in the house.” Just as our saltiness should be tasted first in our home, so it is with the light in our life! While we must represent Christ everywhere we go, we cannot discount the necessity of being salt and light first at home.

Get out of the salt shaker today and make people thirsty for more of God. Shine so bright that people will say about you, “Wow, there is something different about that woman!”

Kathy Isaacs

A Beautiful Offering - Chapter Eight - Persecuted

Posted by Kathy
June 03, 2010

Matthew 5:10-12 “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.”

There are those in ministry who would like to make us believe that once we become a Christian everything is grand and our lives will never experience anything but good. After asking them, “What planet are you from?” I would like to ask them, “What Bible do you read?” In John 15:20 we see the words of Jesus while speaking to His disciples, “Remember, the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. . .” In Matthew 5:44 Jesus says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Jesus spoke of persecution because He knew we would face it. Our task as disciples is to reflect back to this world the heart, mind, character, and teachings of Jesus. He wants us to know that even the encounters that seem like defeat and discouragement can be a beautiful offering to Him (101). Maybe in this beatitude, Jesus is saying to us,

It’s a beautiful offering when you are persecuted because you look more and more like Me, stand for the things I would stand for, love the ones I would love, and hate the injustice I would hate. I am proud of you when they lie about you and accuse you falsely because you are acting like Me. And when that happens, then I want you to know that I will draw you deeper into My kingdom blessings (101-102).

Why does God allow his people to be persecuted?
>Persecution builds character. Matthew 5:11-12 (NLT) “God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.”

>Persecution strengthens our faith. Matthew 24:12-13 (NLT) “Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But those who endure to the end will be saved.”

>Persecution brings maturity. 1 Peter 1:6 (NLT) “Be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while.”

Several years ago, I faced persecution from a person who became angry with me for not compromising my integrity and walk with God to assist them in what I believed to be a very wrong business decision. The journey that followed was very painful for many months. I was reminded of that experience while reading the author’s statements regarding what God is doing in my life because of a little persecution:
*He affirms that I’m doing something right.
*God is giving me another opportunity to radiate Christ.
*There are rewards in heaven.
In the midst of persecution, we get a double gift-the blessing of being drawn deeper into the embrace of God and the knowledge of rewards waiting in heaven (106-107).

Kathy Isaacs

A Beautiful Offering - Chapter Seven - A Peacemaker

Posted by Kathy
June 03, 2010

Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”

Have you ever heard the saying, “If mama ain’t happy, nobody’s happy!”? As women, we do set the tone in so many situations. Our responses seem to carry over into the lives of our spouses, children, friends, co-workers, etc. Sometimes we underestimate our influence with those around us.

What situations, people, or circumstances seem to steal your peace? Is it your children, your spouse, your career, your parents, your finances, your church responsibilities, the laundry, the dishes. . . . . .? Maybe it’s a combination of all of these.

I met a lady several years ago who helped me understand the need for us, as women of God, to make a conscious effort to live in peace. While talking with her one day about what could have been a terrible situation in her own life, she said to me, “Only I can decide how that affects me and I decided long ago to not allow someone else to have control over me in that way.” Her smile was contagious and she seemed to live at such a level of peace that I found myself wanting to be near her. She was a peacemaker because she was a peace possessor.

Of course, this kind of peace only comes from God. As we pursue the heart of God, our confidence in Him brings about a life changing peace that cannot be explained. Philippians 4:5-7 in The Message says, “Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know of your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” How peace comes into the heart of a troubled woman is a divine mystery, a holy impartation, transcending all understanding.

Your life is a beautiful offering when you are a peacemaker, then you look like you belong to the family of God (97).

Together, let’s take steps today to possess our peace. Pray for God to give us peace. Read passages of Scripture about peace. Begin to incorporate peace into our relationships. Decide to respond differently next time. Speak in love. Act in tenderness. Imitate what we know about peace until it becomes a reality for our character and our life (90-91)

Kathy Isaacs

A Beautiful Offering - Chapter Six - Pure In Heart

Posted by Kathy
June 02, 2010

Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

What a tough DAY to read about “pure in heart.” I was awakened very early TODAY by the thunder storm. There are more things on my “to-do” list than can possibly get done TODAY. Someone I have tried to befriend was rude to me TODAY.

Wouldn’t it be nice if Jesus was speaking in terms of the “big things” of life when he spoke of pureness of heart? He wasn’t. He was talking about my TODAY and your TODAY! He was speaking of “where we live.” Unfortunately, our stinkin’ thinkin’ takes hold sometimes and we are anything but pure in heart. For those of you who wear a halo, just skip this chapter and wait for the next.

If you love Jesus, than Satan will do whatever he can to get at your heart. He doesn’t want you to be blessed or to see God or to know purity. He doesn’t want your life to become a beautiful offering (74). Jesus knows we cannot do this on our own. We must continually be in his presence where our hearts can be cleansed and changed so that we will reflect Christ in our actions, reactions, motives, and choices. Yes, we mess up sometimes. But in his presence our hearts can be made pure.

It is a beautiful offering to Me when you are pure in heart. That kind of heart gives you spiritual eyes to see God (74.)

Being pure in heart is life transforming, mainly because it’s so much bigger than we are. It’s more about God living in us than God ruling over us. We will never attain purity and then sustain it for a lifetime. For me, becoming pure in heart is a day-by-day, moment-by-moment cleansing that happens because I humble my grubby heart in the presence of God and beg Him to make it clean again. God never tires of our asking. He never minds His beloved running into His arms and begging to look more like Him, less like our humanity.

Look at Psalm 51:1-7:
Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithful love; according to Your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. Wash away my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me. Against You-You alone-I have sinned and done this evil in Your sight. So You are right when You pass sentence; You are blameless when You judge. Indeed, I was guilty (when I) was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. Surely You desire integrity in the inner self, and You teach me wisdom deep within. Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Mrs. Kathy

A Beautiful Offering - Chapter Five - A Friend of Sinners

Posted by Kathy
June 02, 2010

Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

A few years ago while living in Atlanta, I was describing to my family over dinner a scene I had witnessed that day. Harsh words and judgment were reflected in everything I said. Jason, our younger son, said to me, “Mom, why are you so upset at what they did? They are sinners and they were acting like sinners. What did you expect?” His words pierced my heart and I felt such shame. He was right. Rather than showing friendship, I had passed judgment and walked the other way.

Too many times I take for granted the mercy shown to me by my Heavenly Father. He came into my darkness and brought light. He took my broken life and put it back together. He took on himself what I truly deserved. He overwhelmed me with his lavish gift of mercy. How can I not pass this gift on to those I come in contact with each and every day?

Mercy requires that we:
*keep short accounts of sin and injustices;
*have eyes to see beyond a circumstance and into the heart;
*learn to desire the salve of mercy more than the satisfaction of punishment;
*be willing to lay down our quick judgment and work on becoming compassionate.

When your soul is being perfected by the presence of Mercy, then judgment begins to fade, the made-up rules don’t matter so much anymore, and what everyone might think becomes ridiculous. The heart gets tender toward people in sin, the snare of their addictions, the depth of their pain and unspoken suffering (68).

“If is a beautiful offering to Me when you lay down your judgment and choose compassion. When you love others the way I love you, when you hold back the consequences they could have deserved, and when you treat them the way you’d like to be treated, then you shall receive mercy as well” (65).

Phillips, Craig, and Dean sing a song entitled, “Mercy Came Running.” The word are:
Once there was a holy place
Evidence of God's embrace
And I can almost see mercy's face
Pressed against the veil

Looking down with longing eyes
Mercy must have realized
That once His blood was sacrificed
Freedom would prevail

And as the sky grew dark
And the earth began to shake
With justice no longer in the way

Chorus:
Mercy came running
Like a prisoner set free
Past all my failures to the point of my need
When the sin that I carried
Was all I could see
And when I could not reach mercy
Mercy came running to me

Once there was a broken heart
Way to human from the start
And all the years left it torn apart
Hopeless and afraid

Walls I never meant to build
Left this prisoner unfulfilled
Freedom called but even still
It seemed so far away

I was bound by the chains
From the wages of my sin
Just when I felt like giving in

Sometimes I still feel so far
So far from where I really should be
He gently calls to my heart
Just to remind me

Kathy Isaacs

A Beautiful Offering - Chapter Four - Falling In Love

Posted by Kathy
June 01, 2010

Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

I heard a comedian say many years ago, “Love is a feeling when you feel a feeling like you’ve never felt before.” Can you remember falling in love? I do. The young evangelist with the beautiful baby blue eyes came and preached for my father. I have no idea what he preached, but I was smitten. My palms were sweaty. My stomach ached. I felt faint. Some would think I had the flu, but really I was in love. I remember telling my mother that Sunday while washing dishes, “I’m going to marry that man.” We had little contact for eight month until he came to preach a revival at my father’s church. After that, we talked on the phone, wrote letters, and spent time together as much as possible. This young evangelist would stop by our home on his way through to another revival. Well, really it probably wasn’t on the way. We just wanted to be in the same room, hold hands, sit next to each other. Bill and I were married the next summer (1978).

Now that you are ready to puke, I’ll continue. The author states it beautifully when she says on page 47, “. . .she was made for more. She was made for intimacy and passion. She was designed to long for romance.” There is a desire in each of us for love. Do you remember when you fell in love with Jesus? Hopefully you didn’t have flu-like symptoms, but you knew something was different. There was a longing to be in His presence. Every word from His love letters to you seemed to come alive.

Love must be rekindled. Without it, love can die. In my relationship with my husband, I must be intentional to spend time with him. I must do those things that make our love strong and enduring. The same is true with my love for Christ. Jesus said the passion that pleases Him is like hunger and thirst – consuming desire that cannot be stilled until our spiritual needs have been met in the pursuit of knowing Him more.

Life is a beautiful offering when you are crying out for God to come and make you hungry for His righteousness, because He is the only One who will satisfy your spiritual appetite with the food that can fill your soul (51).

As I write to you, I am listening to CeCe Winans sing, “We Thirst For You.” The words are:

We thirst for You. We search for You. In a dry and barren land, we’re longing for Your hand to guide us to a place where You can cleanse us with your rain, baptize us once again. We thirst for You.

Oh Lord we are waiting, let your river flow. Come flood our hearts again. Quench our thirsty souls.

May our passion for Jesus be fervent.

Mrs. Kathy

A Beautiful Offering - Chapter Three - Being Yourself

Posted by Kathy
June 01, 2010

Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

I don’t know about you, but I cringed throughout this chapter. Statements about my shortcomings and insecurities seem to cloud my mind and escape my lips much too often. Like Moses, I can give God many excuses why I am not qualified. It came to me a few months ago while reading again about Moses that God already knew Moses inabilities. That is why he chose him. Not because he could lead the children of Israel on his own, but because he would be totally dependent on God every step of the way. God doesn’t need you and me to be perfect, only dependent and obedient.
As our own children grow we teach them those things that will help them become more independent. We gauge their maturity by their ability to “stand on their own.” The opposite is true in our relationship to God. The more spiritually mature we become, the more we realize we “cannot stand on our own.” A thirty-seven-year-old homemaker from Brooklyn, named Annie Sherwood Hawks, wrote in 1872 the old hymn “I Need Thee Every Hour.”
I need Thee ev’ry hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.

I need Thee, O I need Thee;
Ev’ry hour I need Thee!
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.

I need Thee ev’ry hour,
Stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r
When Thou art nigh

I need Thee ev’ry hour,
In joy or pain;
Come quickly, and abide,
Or life is vain.

I need Thee ev’ry hour,
Teach me Thy will,
And Thy rich promises
In me fulfill.

The author writes, its okay not to be enough, because I was made to need the Son of God. I can’t be sinless. I need a Savior. I can’t be flawless. I need a Savior. I can’t be secure or confident without my Savior (37-38). You are blessed when you learn to be content with who you are and how I made you. Stop scrambling to look like the other guy. Quit imitating your neighbor and instead imitate Me. I put you together. I realize your limitations. I am aware of your personality type. I am the designer. Just look at Me and rest in both your strength and your weakness. You are blessed when you can’t be more. Because I can. Turn in my direction. Be the woman I created. She is a beautiful offering. When you are sure that you are not enough, in desperate need of the Savior’s strength, then your life is a beautiful offering because God comes to the rescue with all the resources of His kingdom here on earth (42).

Calvin Miller wrote in Jesus Loves Me, “We achieve significance in accepting the fact we are loved.” Stop striving today. Rest in the loving arms of a Savior who cares and understands. He is more than enough.

Kathy Isaacs

Read Psalm 73:25-26, Ephesians 3:16-17, Isaiah 54:10, Ephesians 3:17-19.