Re: Reclaim

Posted on March 8, 2019 by Jill English Johnston

I typed in “I want to reclaim” into google, just to see what came up. Some of the “helpful” hints that ended the sentence for me were “my life,” “my body,” “my time,” “my purpose,” “my identity,” and “my business.” In browsing the various links that come up when googling “reclaim,” I learned we can reclaim land, cities, power, positions, and titles. We can even reclaim our country, our religion or our heritage. And, of course, reclaiming wood and furniture is a popular pastime/business.

But when I think about my faith and God, what does reclaim mean?

To claim back; to take back; to call back, to purchase back, to make right

My faith tradition teaches that God (as told in Genesis) created the heavens and the earth and he filled the earth with life. Plant life. Sea life. Animal life. And human life. Then God declared it all good.

But.

There’s always a but.

But the enemy snuck in. And the enemy brought everything that’s opposite of Re. He brought the “d” words (which would be a whole other study).

Division. Disobedience. Discord. Disorder. Death.

In Matthew 13, Jesus compared it to a field that the farmer had sown with good seed.
But an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat.

The enemy has come in and claimed the land and with the seed representing people, he has infiltrated God’s people as well.

 

Jesus also tells us the enemy, the thief, comes to steal, kill and destroy.

However, there’s another but.

But God.

But God reclaims that which the enemy has stolen. Which is us. He has made us right, purchased us back, called us out.

Romans 3:21-22 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him… We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

Ephesians 1:7 He (God) is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

1 Peter 2:9 But… you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

God has made you right with him, he has purchased you back from the enemy, he has called you out of the enemy’s territory of darkness.  He has reclaimed you and declared it good.

 

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Re: Receive

Posted on March 1, 2019 by Jill English Johnston

I shared at the beginning of the year that I had planned to explore a different Re word each week. However, life has a way of interrupting plans and the Spirit continues to emphasize over and over in my life, Proverbs 16:9 “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”

And, as he often does when I’m writing or teaching on a topic, the Lord gives me a life lesson.

Receive was the next word on the list. During the last few weeks, when I thought I would be giving, I’ve instead had opportunities to receive.

In January, my dad passed away rather quickly (although not unexpectedly, as his liver cancer had returned). His sudden turn for the worse had me scrambling to purchase a plane ticket and then scrambling to either rearrange my schedule or find others to cover commitments I had made.

Receive. Instead of giving, I received. I received the help of numerous amazing women who stepped up to teach, lead, and facilitate classes and events. I received help from neighbors who watched over our home while we were gone. I received help from family and friends who picked me up from the airport, provided meals for me and my sister, and sent words of sympathy, encouragement and prayer. I received, along with my sister, legal advice and assistance in navigating the necessary paperwork and financial settlements. And I definitely received the comfort of others who lived out 2 Corinthians 1:4 “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”

Receive. Sometimes it’s hard to do. Especially when we have hearts to give. Or feel like we’ve already received more than enough. But when we open our arms wide, we are in position to receive out of the Lord’s abundance. As John 1:16 says, “From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.”

Fling open your arms. Ask. Seek. Knock.

Receive.

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Re: Realign

Posted on January 18, 2019 by Jill English Johnston

When conditions align themselves at sunset, the sun angle and the amount and location of clouds, the results can be amazing. But if we’re in the wrong place, if our perspective is off, we may miss the spectacular show.

In the same way, we may find ourselves offset from our Heavenly Father’s heart, his intent, his purposes. In order to see and be a part of the spectacular work he is doing, we need to realign our hearts with his.

(The following verses are my interpretation of verses from the Psalms (NLT))

I know my heart is on the right track to realign with His, when it hears the Father say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” from Psalm 27:8

When my heart is discouraged, when my heart is sad, I realign it and put my hope in my Father! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God! from Psalm 42:11

I ask my Father to search me and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts, to show me where I need to realign with Him. from Psalm 139:23

To realign with Him and His word, I confess the sin in my heart, then I can be assured my Father listens to me. from Psalm 66:18

Part of realigning my heart with His, is hiding His word in my heart, that I might not sin against Him. from Psalm 119:11

I can ask my Father to create in me a clean heart and realign my spirit with His. from Psalm 51:10

Then the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart aligns with the Father and pleases Him. Psalm 19:14

His light shines on me, and joy fills my heart when I’ve realigned it with His. from Psalm 97:11

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you that your word instructs me in how to realign my heart with yours. You are my great treasure and your word is my delight. (from Psalm 119:11) With all my heart I want your blessings and ask for your mercy (from Psalm 119:58), that my life might be a testimony of your realigning power. 

 

 

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Re: Ready

Posted on January 11, 2019 by Jill English Johnston

Yes. I know. Ready isn’t technically a Re word, a word that has re as a prefix. But in order to undertake my list of Re words, I felt the need to be Ready.

Ready. Prepared for whatever the Lord has planned. In fit condition for immediate action when He calls. Equipped for the purposes He has. Willing.

To be ready, I need to be in His word.
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:130 The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand.

In prayer.
Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
Ephesians 6:18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

In fellowship.
Hebrews 10:24-25 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
1 John 1:7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

When I’m ready, the Lord can use me.
Matthew 5:16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.
1 Peter‬ ‭3:15-16‬ Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.”

Prayer: Lord, help me to do what I need to do to be ready. Let it be that I no longer live, but Christ who lives in me. And may I live by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

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Personal Reflection: Re

Posted on January 4, 2019 by Jill English Johnston

Our God is faithful. He is trustworthy. He is patient.

If I trip. If I’m discouraged. If I’m sad. If I need to see what He’s done.

He helps me up again. He brings me to a place of hope again. Of praise again. Where I can see what he’s done again.

If God would Re for me, what would it be?

If I could Re, what would it be?

What a great question. With so many answers. Different for each of us. Different in various seasons of our lives. Different in the myriad of circumstances we go through.

Some days I need to be reminded. Or be refilled. Or  be renewed.

I look to God to rescue, to redeem, to restore.

He calls me to rejoice, to relate, to remember.

And these are just a few of the Re’s that will be.

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