Author: Lissa Eggleston

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Moses’ Prosperity Doctrine

By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

He considered abuse suffered for Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the reward.

By faith he left Egypt, unafraid of the king’s anger; for he persevered as though he saw him who is invisible. (Hebrews 11:24-27)

learnenglish-central-stories-treasure-story-330x220 Talk about a radical reorientation to everything that we think in the natural!

  • Who wouldn’t want to be known–isn’t fame the greatest treasure?
  • Who wouldn’t want to have the place of son in the royal family–isn’t celebrity and having people look up to you a major rush in life?
  • Who wouldn’t want to be well thought of and treated well–isn’t good treatment our just desserts?

Continue reading “Moses’ Prosperity Doctrine”

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Better is One Day…

home For the last 5 years, my family has lived in homes owned by someone else.

Since living in rental property, my heart has longed for what I do not have–a home. I have woven such a fantasy centered around having a Norman Rockwell type dwelling that it astounds me.

This morning as I read Psalm 84 God met me with the sweetest enticement to think new thoughts about this circumstance. He met me with the dearest compulsion to rethink the truth about “home.”

First, He questioned me about where I really thought I would feel most at home.  Then He pressed me to examine why I want a place of “my own.” With the motives of my heart dredged up and the most demanding functional god identified, my eyes began to savor the words of psalmist.

New thoughts flooded my mind when He had me consider the perspective of the writer of psalm.

How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD Almighty.
I long, yes, I faint with longing
to enter the courts of the LORD.
With my whole being, body and soul,
I will shout joyfully to the living God.

This was one who wanted to be at home in God.  This was one whose thirst was not for an abode that would be a show place of what he could acquire on his own. This was not a person who thought security, satisfaction and comfort was found in an independent dwelling.  He desperately wanted to be where God’s glory was on display!  This writer felt deprived–exiled from the best home ever–the Presence of God.

A single day in your courts
is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.

Augustine said, “If you have a house of your own, you are poor; if you have the house of God you are rich.  In your own house you will fear thieves; in God’s house God himself is the wall.  Blessed, then, are those who dwell in your house.  They possess the heavenly Jerusalem, without distress, without pressure, without diverse and divided boundaries.  All possess it; and each singly possesses the whole.”

mth-glsPraise God–today I can say and believe, I am not homeless, I have a true home and it is my God!

Jack Miller wrote, “If you have made your home this world and whatever you can possess in it you are always in danger of being plunged into insecurities, fears, and losses.

But make God your dwelling place and you have unlosable treasure.”

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My Strength and My Song

“The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation.  With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”

Isaiah 12:2-3

singing (Small) “Trust me and don’t be afraid, for I am your Strength and Song.  Think what it means to have Me as your Strength.  I spoke the universe into existence; My Power is absolutely unlimited!

Human weakness, consecrated to Me, is like a magnet, drawing My Power into your neediness.  However, fear can block the flow of My Strength into you.

Instead of trying to fight your fears, concentrate on trusting Me.  When you relate to Me in confident trust, there is no limit to how much I can strengthen you.

Remember that I am also you Song.  I want you to share My Joy, living in conscious awareness of My Presence.  Rejoice as we journey together toward heaven; join me in singing My Song.” ((Sarah Young, Jesus Calling, Integrity Publishing, p. 84))

 

“Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your Presence.”  Psalm 21:6

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A Chance to Die

I have been crucified with Christ. I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not one of those who treats the grace of God as meaningless.

For if we could be saved by keeping the law, then there was no need for Christ to die.

Galatians 2:20-21

“The words of our Lord are often swords, quick and m113npowerful, and sharper than any two-edged blade.

And sometimes they are pearls–or even like tiny seed pearls, easily overlooked.  But how beautiful when they are found!

His words about we who are called to be lights in this world are precious seed pearls:

Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. (Matthew 5:15-16)

The candlelight will even shine through the windows on the people who pass by in the street outside.  In one of the Indian hospitals, there was at one time just such a “candle”…

One day, in this woman’s hearing, something was said to a younger helper which almost drew from her a flashing, angry remark.  But at that moment, a word was spoken to her inwardly: “See in this, a chance to die.”

And though spoken inwardly, it was far more clearly heard than many a word addressed to the outward ear.

“See in this”–this provoking, this rebuke that should not have been–“a chance to die” –to self, and the pride that comes from defending self.

“See in anything“–anything that rouses you to claim you “rights,” or even to consider them at all–“a chance to die.”

Welcome anything that calls you to your only true position “I have been crucified with Christ…” (Galatians 2:20)

A crucified life cannot be self assertive.  It cannot protect itself. 

It cannot be startled into resentful words.  The cup that is full of sweet water cannot spill bitter-tasting drops, however sharply it is knocked.” ((Amy Carmichael, Gold by Moonlight, p. 80-81))

 

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Confident Approach

"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  Hebrews 4:16

prayer Most of us confess that we find it difficult to draw near God in prayer –  much less in doing it confidently! 

I sometimes wonder if the words to the Santa Claus song "You better watch out.  You better not pout.  You better not cry I am telling you why"  haven’t spilled over and become our default thinking about God rather than the view expressed through this verse in Hebrews.

Though it has a jolly tune, the message is anything but inviting! 

Remember how it goes?

Continue reading “Confident Approach”

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People of the Book

What kind of a person are you?

Hebrews 2 opens with an exhortation to "pay more careful attention to what we have heard." 

What is it that we have heard? 

The writer says it is the message of a great salvation!  That great salvation is found through trust in the person and work of Jesus.

ist2_3176914_busy_momThe author has full confidence in the saving power of the message.  He knows it can safely steer the ship of our wandering souls if we do not ignore it or neglect it.   That message is contained in the progressive revelation of God in the Bible. 

In America it is difficult to get people’s attention about anything that matters much less the need to pay attention to God’s Word.

Our culture has developed the "cult of busyness."  We do not like to linger over a book and meditate on it day and night (Psalm 119).  It seems like a waste of time rather than a corrective for our misuse of time.

Continue reading “People of the Book”

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A Divine Valentine

valentine1 A Valentine may play a love song for you but God sings you the sweetest love song in the universe.

The Lord your God will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet
you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.

Zeph. 3:17

A Valentine may give you flowers but God sent you the most beautiful flower of all.

 

         I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valley.

 

 Song of Solomon 2:1

A Valentine may take you out to dinner, but God has invited you to the most amazing feat ever given.


    Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!

Rev. 19:9

A Valentine may bring you chocolate but God provides you with
something even sweeter.


        How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Psalm 119:103

 A Valentine may be far away, but God is always with you.

     I am with you always.

Matthew 28:20

A Valentine may give you something, but God has given you everything.

 

          God gives us richly all things to enjoy.

 

I Timothy 6:17

      A Valentine may love you for a lifetime, but God loved you before you were born and will love you for all eternity.

Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love and with
lovingkindness I have drawn you.

Jeremiah 31:3