Author: Connie Haus

Gotta Get To Jesus

~ Connie Haus ~ Leave a comment

jesus_name_2

“Gotta Get to Jesus” is a song beautifully and powerfully sung by the Collingsworth Family.  Every time I hear it tears come to my eyes.  Why?  Because I’ve been desperate to get to Jesus!
The woman with the issue of blood … under the Levitical law everything she touched was unclean.  Anyone who touched her was unclean.  There were certain rituals then that had to be done for them to be purified.  She could not be considered “pure” until she stopped bleeding. So imagine that this woman had very little contact with anyone for 12 long years!  Then she heard of Jesus and said, “I gotta get to Jesus!”
It wasn’t easy for her to do so.  She had to go out in public.  Perhaps she covered her face so no one would know who she was should they accidentally touch her or she them.  Getting through the crowd to Jesus was daunting but she pressed on.  She got to Him … and she was healed.
Have you every had to push your way through to get to Him?  Despite how people looked at you or what they thought of you?  Perhaps they thought you unworthy but you were determined … gotta get to Jesus!
Jairus was beside himself.  He was an important man but that meant nothing to him at this moment.  He was also a dad and his only child was dying.  His “important” position in “the church” meant nothing compared to the sickness of his precious daughter.  He said, “I gotta get to Jesus”.  Even after he got to Jesus there were delays and in that delay his daughter died.  Oh, but Jesus went anyway and despite the unbelief of those around the bedside, Jesus spoke life back into her body.  He got to Jesus!
Even after we’ve been seen by the Master we don’t always get our answer immediately.  There are setbacks, delays, side bars so to speak.  But don’t give up, hang on to the promise … just get to Jesus!
What about Zachaeus?  He also had heard about Jesus and was seeking Him … gotta get to Jesus!  Oh, but he was a short man and couldn’t see over the heads of those around him.  But where there’s a will, there’s a way because he had to get to Jesus and check Him out.  So he found a tree, climbed it and Jesus saw him!  Then Jesus invited Himself to go home with Zachaeus!  He got to Jesus!
Have you felt you didn’t measure up?  You thought others were thinking you didn’t deserve to get through to Him?  Have you ever thought you didn’t stand a chance to be seen by the Master?  Take the opportunity to step out of your box!  Climb a tree, do the unthinkable … just get to Jesus!
Mary, Martha and Lazarus were siblings that Jesus loved.  He stayed in their home, He ate with them, they ministered to Him.  Then Jesus had to go on His way and while gone Lazarus became sick and died.  However, before he died Mary and Martha sent for Jesus to come pray for their brother.  They said, “We gotta get to Jesus!”  But Jesus didn’t come right away like Mary and Martha thought he would and should!  No, they buried their brother and wondered why He didn’t come.
They didn’t know what Jesus knew … He had a better plan!  Not just a healing but a raising from the dead!  Jesus came four days later and raised Lazarus from the dead. Then they knew His timing for them was the best and they did “get to Jesus”.
Have you been disappointed because you didn’t get your answer as quickly as you wanted it?  Have you thought perhaps God forgot about you?  You thought He loved you and would come at your beck and call … but He didn’t! Time slipped by and your dreams died.  Then Jesus came and answered in a better way.  Perhaps you are still waiting … don’t give up … you just keep pressing in until … you get to Jesus!
Weddings were big occasions and celebrations and now the wine had run out.  This was a cultural catastrophe in Jesus’ time.  Jesus mother in essense said, “gotta get to Jesus and do whatever He tells you to do”.  They did, He told them, they obeyed and the best wine was served last!  I think that wedding reception may have made the headline news the next day … they just had to … get to Jesus!
Have you gotten through to Jesus but He told you to do something that sounded totally impractical or foolish?  You really didn’t want to do it for fear if it didn’t work out you would look the fool?  Remember, His ways and thoughts and far better than our ways and thoughts.  Just get to Jesus!
I personally had a time when I knew … “I gotta get to Jesus”.  I had come to the end of praying, believing, trying, seeking, wondering and pain filled.  I remember throwing myself across the bed and giving it to Him.  Did I get the answer right away? No.  Did I get filled with instant peace?  No.  Was I learning to trust? Yes.  Was it easy? No.  Did I eventually get my answer? Yes.  I continued on until I got to Jesus and He came to me!
How desperate are you to get to Jesus?  He is the ONLY One who has the answers!  We live in a fallen world so yes, even the godly hurt.  Even the godly get sick.  Even christians have financial problems.  Our children get involved in ungodly lifestyles, we face uncertain futures.  What are our choices?  We gotta get to Jesus!
Chorus to “Gotta Get To Jesus”
I’ve gotta get to Jesus
Gotta get to Jesus
I know that He’s the answer to my needs
Only He can solve them
Mend the broken pieces
Gotta get to Jesus
Press on!  Push through!  Gotta get to Jesus!

Clouds

~ Connie Haus ~ 1 Comment

clouds 03

I shared a prayer request with a friend and that friend said to me, “Well, your head is in the clouds!”  In other words they thought my prayer request had NO chance of being answered!
Needless to say I was TICKED!  Maybe just plain mad might be more accurate!  Yes, my sanctification flew right outta’ sight!
I got in my car and headed home … FUMING!  I was SO mad.  I just kept muttering, “Who do they think they are?  Telling me my prayer has no chance of being answered!  With God all things are possible!  The nerve of them!”
It wasn’t until I cooled down a bit that I seemed to hear the Lord say, “Connie, think about My activity in the clouds.”
Suddenly I remembered a verse I had read while flying on an airplane, Nahum 1:3, “…clouds are the dust from his feet” (World).  I remembered looking out of the window, seeing all the clouds and thinking, “Wow … I serve a great BIG God.  God is out there skipping along with this plane, holding it in His hands and kicking up a lot of dust as He runs along with us” and I pictured Him grinning and having fun.  Well, perhaps this isn’t theologically “sound” but that was my mental picture!
Thinking about those clouds I began to think of other clouds in scripture … He sent a cloud to protect the children of Israel from the day time heat in the desert, He spoke out of a cloud, His glory is in the clouds, He ascended to heaven in the clouds and He’s coming back in the clouds …
I got so excited that as soon as I got home I took my Bible and concordance, went to the computer and began to make notes …
  1. His Presence and voice are in the clouds … “And the Lord said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee … ” Exodus 19:9 (KJV); 33:9 & 10; 34:5.
  1. He guides and directs from the clouds … “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way…” Exodus 13:21 & 22 (NKJV).
  1. His glory is in the clouds … “… the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. ” Exodus 16:10 & 40:34 (NKJV).
  1. There are generations of saints cheering us on … “we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses”.Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV).
I call these my “cheerleaders”!  I picture the saints of old and family members that have gone on before me looking through the gates of pearl waving their hands and yelling, “Go Connie! Don’t give up!  Your answer is on the way, it is right around the corner, hang on a bit longer, don’t despair or get discouraged.  Jesus promised He would hear your heart’s cry!”
  1. Jesus ascended to heaven in a cloud … “… a cloud received Him out of their sight.” Acts 1:9 (NKJV).
  1. Hallelujah! … He’s coming back in the clouds … “they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” Luke 21:27 (NKJV); Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7.
  1. Covers my sins … “I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud, your sins”.  Isaiah 44:22 (NKJV) … oh, this makes me so happy!
  1. Promises of rain … I Kings 18:43-45.  “The clouds poured out water …” Psalms 77:17 (NKJV).
  1. The clouds are His chariot (maybe even His car?), “…who makes the clouds his chariot …” Psalms 104:3; and “ … the Lord rides on a swift cloud …” Isaiah 19:1 (both NKJV).
  1. The clouds are His chair, “ … and behold a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of man … and another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud …”Revelation 14:14 & 15 (NKJV).
  2. He answers out of the thunderclouds! Psalm 81:7, “In your distress you called and I rescued you, I answered you out of a thundercloud …” (guess I could hear that!)
  1. Here is one that I truly love … Matthew 17:5, “ While he (Peter) was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!’”  Do you get this picture?  God, the Father, has ENVELOPED these disciples WITH HIS PRESENCE!  WOW!  My picture is this … being in the Artic but having the biggest, furriest, warmest blanket ever made wrapped around me and I am not cold! His Presence is over me, under me, beside me on both sides, behind me and in front of me  I am surrounded by His Presence.  I CAN live in the presence of the Almighty God!
Personal observations:
(1) Clouds enhance the beauty of the sunset or sunrise.
(2) Clouds bring coolness in the heat of the summer.
(3) How many of us as children laid on the grass, looking up into the clouds and saw shapes and made up stories?  Clouds can bring smiles.
(4) Without clouds that bring rain there would be no flowers, no food … no growth!
Even though I live in the California desert I am not a sun fan but I have decided that I am a Son fan and as long as He’s in the clouds … I’m going to keep my head in the clouds because He’s there! Yeah!!!
Music has always ministered to my spirit there’s a song I remember my mother singing and here’s the chorus:
Back of the clouds the sun is always shining,
Back of the clouds the sky is always blue;
God has prepared a golden silver lining
So keep on praying, til the sun shines through!
Fanny Crosby wrote these words, “When clothed with His brightness transported I rise to meet Him in clouds of the sky …”
Steve Fry who wrote,
“Oh the glory of Your Presence,
We Your temple give You reverence.
Come and rise for Your rest
And be blessed by our praise
As we glory in Your embrace,
As Your Presence now fills this place.”
Enjoy His presence with me in the clouds!

Broken Things

~ Connie Haus ~ Leave a comment

broken-jar

I recently visited Hearst Castle on the northern coast of California.  What an example of man’s extravagance!  High up on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean, it was beautiful!
On the tour we were in the library when our guide pointed to a table not far from us with a beautiful round alabaster vase sitting on it.  She then told us that she was in that very room standing where she was at that moment when the 2003 San Simeon earthquake hit.  Unable to do anything she watched that very expensive vase roll onto the floor and shatter into thousands of tiny pieces.
Broken.  Shattered.  Ugly.  Useless.
I doubt many of us like broken things.  Our society today tosses that which is broken.  It’s easy to go buy something new again.  I know I’ve tossed my share of broken toasters and blenders!  It would have cost more to fix them than buy a new one.
However, God uses broken things and broken people!  In fact He is “near” to those who have a broken heart.
First I want to look at nature …  broken soil produces crops.  The farmer or the person planting a garden has to first dig (break) a hole to put in the seed.  Broken clouds produce rain.  Broken grain produces bread.  Broken bread produces strength as it is eaten.
Secondly, look at how the Spirit of God uses broken things.  Mark 14:3-9 Jesus tells us that the woman who came to anoint Jesus “broke the alabaster box, and poured it on His head”.  Jesus called it a “good work” and said that it would be a memorial!  Without the breaking of the box the ointment would have remained in the box and we would not have the story today.
In Exodus 17:6 the Lord told Moses to take his rod with which he smote the river and to strike the rock and water would come forth. Water to quench the thirst of the Israelites in the desert.
Exodus 15:23-25 the broken tree which was cast into the bitter water made the water sweet to drink.
Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart” that means He cares, He’s holding us!  He’s near!  The verse continues that “He saves such as be of a contrite spirit” … brokenness produces humility in us.
Before Jesus gave of the fish and bread to the multitudes who were hungry He gave thanks, broke it and blessed it.  It could not have been passed out to the crowd had it not been broken!  (Matthew 14)
I Corinthians 11:24, “And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me”
The broken body of Jesus produced an avenue for us to be made whole.  His body was broken so that our brokenness could be made whole.
To become open we MUST be broken.  We are useful to Him after we are broken.  He does not discard broken people … He came to make us whole and useful for His purposes.
Remember the story of the potter in Jeremiah 18?  The vessel was marred, scratched, unusable, ugly.  “So he made it again another vessel …”  To do that it had to be broken and squashed down and reshaped … but it became another vessel “as seemed good to the potter to make it.”
None of us like to be broken.  It hurts. It’s humiliating!  We want to believe that we can live the Christian life without going through the crisis that will break us.  It happens in many forms … through choices that we make, with our spouses, our children, employment, disappointments … even other family members.  How do we respond to these times?
Allow the brokenness to mellow our spirits, to conform us to His image, to seek Him to let Him make us whole again.
I’ve been there and He WAS there.  Didn’t feel Him for a while but He was close.  And He held me and made my vessel whole again.
In George O. Wood’s book, “A Psalm in Your Heart”, (Volume 1, Psalms 1-75) tells a story to illustrate Psalm 51:17, “the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God you will not despise”. Quoting from page 205, “In the marble yard of Florence, Italy, Michelangelo discovered the Duccio block: 17 feet long, with a serious gouge at its center.  Other artists passed by it since any attempt to move the stone could split the block in two.
Michelangelo, however, moved the stone to his studio.  He knew David lay within the Duccio block.  Only a master artist could release that David from the unformed stone.
The human David also had a serious flaw which could have doomed him had anyone other than the Master worked on him.  Psalm 51 tells us about the sin which almost wrecked him and instructs us by example how to repent for our own wrongs … (page 208) The flaw of sin will prove fatal unless I give permission for the Lord to create His life within me.  The block of marble in the Florence quarry had no ability to choose a Michelangelo to work his genius upon it, but I do have a choice to ask the Lord to make a masterpiece of my life — to chisel and perfect His own image into the flawed raw material of my own being.”
Everyone is B-R-O-K-E-N … but Jesus can put you back together again and make you useful!
        One sat alone beside the highway begging
        His eyes were blind the light he could not see
        He clutched his rags and shivered in the shadows
        Then Jesus came and bid the darkness flee.
        Chorus:
        When Jesus comes, the tempters power is broken
        When Jesus comes, all tears are wipes away
        He takes the gloom and fills he life with glory
        For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay.
Oh, and the alabaster vase at the Hearst Castle?  The Getty Museum was able to put it back together (!) and you can hardly tell it was broken!

Turn God Loose

~ Connie Haus ~ Leave a comment

feeding 5k 2

The story of the feeding of the 5,000 is the only story told in all four gospels so it must have something important in it that Jesus wants us to know.
Three of the gospels say that it was after Jesus heard about the beheading of John the Baptist that he withdrew and went to a quiet place but the people seeing Him went after Him.  Jesus was filled with compassion for them and began to teach them.  Apparently He was a bit long winded (notice it was the disciples who complained not those that were listening!) and the disciples came to Jesus to “suggest” He let them go because it had been a long day and the people were hungry.
Not a problem for Jesus!  He told them “well, you give them something to eat!”  That might have been possible if it was a family of four … but 5,000 men? That’s a different story.  Oh, wait … there were a bit more than that if it’s anything like today’s meetings.  There are always more women than men in church and wherever there are women there are bound to be a few kidlets, plus toddlers, plus grammer school age, junior highers, and teenagers! So let’s add another 20-30,000 for good measure!
Jesus asked Philip, “Where should we buy bread so they can eat?”  Jesus already knew what He was going to do but He was asking His disciples to test them!  Did they have enough faith to feed that many?  Did they trust Him to do so?
“Oh, Jesus, we don’t have enough cash on us nor do we have the time to go into town to get enough food of all these folks.  Plus the hour is late, the stores are probably closed and even if they were open I doubt we could buy enough or carry it back and prepare it … You know, there are a lot of issues to deal with here!”
So Jesus asks, “Well, what DO you have?”  “Uh, well, Oh here … this little guy has five loaves of bread and two fishies.  It’s really just a little tiny bit but hey, You asked and I’m answering!”
The disciples give it to Jesus probably a little sheepishly and laughing inside as to the ridiculousless of it.  That doesn’t bother Jesus though and He takes what the disciples give Him and gives instructions to the disciples to organize the multitude into groups of 50 and 100.  
Can you even imagine what the disciples thought?  “Well, let’s humor Him and do what He says” and they go about quickly shouting out instructions to group themselves into 50’s and 100’s.
Jesus takes what they give Him, He looks up to His Father, gives thanks for the little bit He has, blesses it, brakes it into even smaller fragments and then gives it back to the discipes and tells them the craziest thing they’ve heard so far … “Now you give them to eat”.
Break that last paragraph down.  Jesus takes what we offer Him … our insecurities, our lack, our insignificance, our questions, our inabilities and looks up to His Father and thanks Him for us!  Then He blesses our lives beyond measure and tells us … oops, forgot a step there … then He breaks us.  He doesn’t break us to destroy us but to test us.  There is a whole message here on what brokenness does to us and brings forth in our lives.  But after we are given thanks over, blessed and broken then He tells us to “Go give it away!”
I laugh when I picture this.  There are the twelve big brawny disciples lined up in front of Jesus each holding a basket (they must have borrowed them also) and into each basket He puts a few pieces of a torn off loaf of bread and even fewer bites of fish.  And Jesus instructs them “go feed them”!  What in the world did they think?
“OK Jesus … I don’t think so!  This was Your idea.  You started this fiasco, now here take my basket and YOU FEED THEM!”
Or were they tempted to eat what was in their basket because they were hungry also and then turn around and say, “Sorry folks!”
No, they obeyed as crazy as it sounded.  They obeyed I think with shaking knees and perhaps a little bit of fear as to thinking they were the biggest fools of all!  This time Jesus lost it.  We are going to be the laughing stalk of the desert and we will get trampled by this hungry mob!
Nevertheless …. they did what Jesus told them to do.  I wish I knew how the miracle happened.  When they turned around to go out into the crowd were the baskets suddenly full?  Or when the first one took did it just replenish right then?  Or if the basket was full and as it got to the bottom did it fill up real quick?  Or did it stay fragments?  Or, or, or … whatever we know that after EVERYBODY was fed and FULL there were 12 basketFULLs leftover.
I guess if we knew how it happened we would have made a formula out of it or called our church “The First Church of the Multiplied Food” or somesuch.
We come to Jesus and give Him our ALL.  He takes us, blesses us and allows us to be broken that we might give out to others.  We are to turn the God within us loose to others that are in need, to others that are hungry and don’t even know what they are hungering after!  
My husband has often said that the greatest hostage crisis in the world today is the church.  We as God’s people are holding Him hostage by NOT giving Him out.  We have the answer!  We have a great big God inside of us and what are we doing with Him?
All around us are people in need.  Give them Jesus.  Lay hands on the sick. Pray with those in need.  Give what you have.  You are not the miracle … HE IS!  Don’t let fear take over. You are only responsible to give and it is up to Him to do the miracle however He wants to do it.
Today, go TURN GOD LOOSE!
************************************************************
(Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:1-14)
Thank you to my husband, Ronn, for the above insights.  I’ve heard him preach this often … I’ve just changed it a bit and added my personal insights and style.  Love you babe!

Tomorrow

~ Connie Haus ~ Leave a comment
tomorrow 01

Now there are a few things in the Bible that I simply don’t “get” … well, maybe more than a few!  But here is one that stumps me for sure.

Exodus 8:9-10, “Moses said to Pharaoh, “Be pleased to command me when I am to plead for you and for your servants and for your people, that the frogs be cut off from you and your houses and be left only in the Nile.” And he said, “Tomorrow.” Moses said, “Be it as you say, so that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God.”

I don’t know about you but frogs are not my favorite jumping thing!  They’re green, slimy, can be tiny or big, probably carry disease and can scare the heebie jeebies out of you when you are not expecting them.  Just imagine having them in the butter dish, opening the cupboard to get a frying pan, in your bed, in my favorite dress, in the laundry (if you have boys you may have already experienced that!) or sitting on a chair and crunching one.  They are everywhere in your house ruining your clothes and in your food.

Then you have someone come and say, “Hey, I can get rid of those for you …” and I say “Fantastic! Do it tomorrow!”  TOMORROW???

If I was Mrs. Pharaoh and I had just stepped on a juicy green frog and squished it between my toes and heard my husband had said “tomorrow” … he would have had an especially COLD welcome home!  I just hope he said it at 11:59 PM.

How in the world does this relate to me?  There are many things surrounding me that I don’t like, cause me pain or that perhaps God is dealing with me about.  I cannot imagine that I could be suffering some incredible pain when God speaks to me and says, “Just ask and I’ll remove it” and I say “Oh, that would be nice.  Do it tomorrow God!”  Or what if I’m in a nasty situation at work and a solution is offered that would clear up the problem so I can sleep well and I am content to say … “tomorrow would be fine … I think I’d like to have another sleepless night over this”!

What about when He deals with me in regards to the anger or unforgiveness that I am carrying around?  “Someone did me wrong and I have the RIGHT to be angry!  I was right and they were wrong!”  God says, “Give it to me.  Release your anger and offer your forgiveness and I will give you peace.”  “But God, they did this or that to me and I have a right to be hurt!  So let me stew on this a bit longer ‘cause they need to suffer and tomorrow I’ll release it.”

In the meantime I’m the one suffering because I’m waiting until “tomorrow” or whenever to release my pain and give it to God.

I’ve never understood why Pharaoh didn’t jump at the offer and say, “Yes … RIGHT NOW would be a good time!”  But then human nature being what it is …

I’ll live with the frogs one more night!

Easter Poem

~ Connie Haus ~ Leave a comment

Do You

Dinner with friends

Table talk

Betrayal plot revealed

Bread and wine

Hymns sung

Garden visit

Prayer time

Sleeping friends

Sweating blood

Totally alone

Coming crowds

Betrayed by kisses

Swords swing

Mobbed and seized

Deserted by friends

Hurried trial

Falsely accused

Denied by friend

Rooster crows

Much weeping

Blood money

Betrayers suicide

Stripped

Whipped

Beaten

Mocked

Crown of thorns

Purple robe

Blood flows

Nailed to cross

Darkness descends

“King of the Jews”

CRUCIFIED

Messiah is dead

God turns aside

Satan rejoices

Mom cries

Some gloat

Others cheered

Temple veil torn

Earthquake!

Rocks split

Tombs open

Saints raised

Soldiers filled with awe

“This is the Son of God”

Borrowed grave

Laid to rest

Tomb sealed

Guards on watch

 

Jesus is dead

Where’s His kingdom?

Disciples in hiding

Hope destroyed

Vision gone

Sadness

Fear

What now?

 

First day of the week

Earth shakes

Angel comes

Stone rolled away

Guards faint

Women come with spices

Angel speaks

“Don’t be afraid,

He is not here

He is risen!

Go – Tell”

 

Mary comes

Tomb empty!

Where is He?

Tears

Questions

What have you done with Him?

“Mary!”

Oh the joy!

Falling before Him

Love and adore Him

Not just Messiah

Resurrected SAVIOR

 

Disciples in hiding

Doors are locked

Fear of the Jews

Jesus comes

Through the walls!

Standing there in the flesh!

Speaks peace to them

Shows His hands and side

NOW they rejoice

He speaks peace again

Jesus breathes on them

“Receive ye the Holy Spirit”

 

Where’s Thomas?

Doubts abound

Won’t believe until he sees

(is this familiar?)

Eight days later

Inside again

Doors locked

Jesus appears

Bringing peace

Thomas sees and believes!

Do you?          

Tribute And Challenge

~ Connie Haus ~ 2 Comments

hand in hand 00

I wrote this after my beloved Aunt Naomi passed away in 2011.  It was written to my girls but felt I could share it with you, my friends and readers on my blog. 

Yesterday my Aunt Naomi was buried.  88 years of age … a lifetime of serving Jesus in the home and on the mission field both overseas and in the U.S.  Dearly loved by ALL who knew her and a powerful influence in my life.

Driving home today my heart has been challenged in a new way.  I write this to the girls in my generation and also to those coming after us … our daughters, daughters-in-love, and granddaughters.

To our grandmother, Eula Kopp and to our mothers … I pay tribute. None of us would be where we are today if it wasn’t for Grandma Kopp.  Committed to Jesus first and then to Grandpa.  We’ve all heard her story of being on her knees in prayer seeking God’s will if she was to marry Grandpa and the “divine love” that flooded her heart early in the early morning hours as she sought God on her knees and the love for the one she was engaged to be taken out of her heart.  How often I heard her say, “Without that kind of love we would not have made it!”

She was a woman who loved Jesus, knew His Word, hid it in her heart, prayed for her children for years, influenced her grandchildren and great-grandchildren for the Lord.  She lived the Word and preached the Word.

I personally would not be here today if it wasn’t for a grandmother that knew how to pray.  She saved my life from drowning because she heard God say, “Pray …” and I was over 400 miles away.  I was not the only one Grandma prayed for.

I am eternally grateful to God for my godly mother and aunt who influenced my life for God.  I knew ministry was not easy and yet because of the model of godly grandparents and parents it was a “calling” I felt as well.  We all had an example before us of strong, godly women who were also leaders.

I was thinking this morning of Biblical strong godly women …

Miriam … learned early to be watchful for those around her; she participated in the release of her people after 400 years of slavery; she became a prophetess and a leader of the women of Israel.  She had a season of bitterness and complaining but when disciplined she received it, was healed and was received back into fellowship.

Deborah … who did it all!  Wife, song writer, prophetess and a judge.  She was the exception to every definition of a woman’s role in the society in which she lived.  She was confident, assertive and had incredible faith in God.  God choose her to be the only female judge Israel had and her voice was heard and respected in a culture dominated by men.

Esther … a beautiful nobody who was made queen … not just “Queen for a Day” but for a time and purpose.  She knew who she was and Who she belonged to.  Her choices were limited but when confronted with evil she willingly made a decision to choose right over wrong.  Justice over injustice.  Faith over fear.  Her strength of character and confidence in God enabled her to change the course of history.

Mary … one simple sentence changed her life and the course of all mankind, “Be it unto me according to your word.”  She made her body and her spirit available to the Holy Spirit.  She became vulnerable to the Holy Spirit.  She opened her life to the misunderstanding of others, to their ridicule, to their questions and smirks behind her back … but she obeyed her call and opened the door for countless millions to know her Child … the Son of God.

Priscilla … an influential woman in the early church.  She hosted a church in her home along with her husband, Aquila.  She was a teacher of the Word … when she heard Apollos speaking at the synagogue in Ephesus she realized he was teaching the baptism of John but not the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  She could have become angry and disgusted and walked away or she could have publicly pointed out his error or even told others not to associate with him.  Instead she and Aquila invited him into their home and explained God’s ways to him more thoroughly.

There are many more I could point out but here is what I want to say to us … we’ve had the example of strong, godly women in our family.  They are gone now and are we following in their footsteps?  We’ve had our example … are we being that same example to our daughters and granddaughters?  The matriarchs of our family are gone.  Are we taking their place?  How are our lives speaking to those coming along behind us?  Are we setting a godly example of speaking kindly but forcefully for God? Are we living boldly?  Are we women of prayer? Are we living victorious lives in Christ?

Hey, none of us are perfect (or else we wouldn’t be here!) but we cannot let past failures and mistakes define who we are or what we can do for Him.  I’m not saying we are all to be “preachers” or even public speakers but are we women of the Spirit?  Are we women of the Word?  Are we women of prayer?

We women like our homes.  During our life we acquire china, crystal, perhaps diamonds and jewelry.  Is that all we are leaving our families as our inheritance or are we passing on to them the assurance that God loves them, that He hears our prayers, that He answers (sometimes yes, sometimes no and sometimes wait but always answers!).  Are we teaching them to search the scriptures and to hide His Word in their hearts?

Years ago I heard Jim Spillman give this quote … “If we are all Word, we will dry up.  If we are all Spirit, we will blow up but if we are Word and Spirit we will grow up”.  I like that!  We need to let the generation following us know that there is JOY in serving Jesus and live it by example before them.

Sometimes it is hard for me to “pass on” what God has done for me or implanted in my heart because I feel inadequate, I’m not great with words, I’m “simple” in my speaking and writing (I’ve shared with all of you at one time or another that one lady told me that what I shared was “simple” … ha!  But I know the lady meant that I applied the Word to everyday life instead of flowerly speech … at least that is what I keep telling myself!!!)  But what I want to challenge myself with … and to all of you … is that we are now the matriarchs of our generation and our families. Ouch!  It doesn’t mean we are “old” but that we are now the generation that has to step up to the plate and lead by example.

Pass on our faith, our passion, and our love for Jesus!

Kept

~ Connie Haus ~ Leave a comment

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I wanted to name this “Kept Woman” since I’m a woman but thought if I did the men wouldn’t read it!  But go ahead men, please do, because the principles apply to you as well.

What is a “kept” woman?  She’s a mistress.  She’s a secret.  She is well paid and usually well cared for.  She gets the exotic weekends, the flowers and candy, the stolen moments and days.  The drawbacks?  She’s a mistress.  She’s a secret.  There’s no commitment.  She waits for the next phone call.  There is no security.  There’s no “I’ll do anything for you.”  There’s no “until death do us part.”

It’s not fun playing second when you want more.  Someone to always be there. Someone through thick and thin, through illness and pain, someone you can lean on.

What in the world does this have to do with me … or you?  How can I even identify with being “kept”?  Oh yeah … I identify!  Galatians 3:23, “But before faith came, we were kept under the law …” I was held in bondage by and to sin.  The nature of sin had me bound. There was no freedom for me.

I don’t want to be kept in bondage to sin and defeat.  I don’t want to be kept a slave to fear and to satan.  I don’t want to keep my old nature and my old name.

The deliverance came when I opened my heart to what Jesus did for me.  He loves me far more than any man has for his “kept” woman!!  Jesus loved so much that He died for me.  He died to set me free.  My obligation, and privilege, is to accept His love, repent of my past and be willing to be KEPT by Him … who wants the best for me.

I have One who loves me and keeps me!  In John 17 Jesus is praying to the Father for me!  Verse 12 He says, “I have kept them in Your name …”  I have the Father’s name!

I Peter 1 tells us of our living hope.  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are KEPT by the power of God through faith unto salvation …”  He keeps me by His power … not by my own works.

David wrote a song of deliverance in Psalms 18:18-21, “… the Lord was my stay.  He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.  The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. For I have KEPT the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.” Verse 23, “I was also upright before him, and I KEPT myself from mine iniquity.”  Yes, there is a part we must play in our being “kept” … keep His ways and flee, run away from sin.

Psalms 30:3, “O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast KEPT me alive …”

Revelation 3:10, (again Jesus is speaking) “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world …”

One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 26:3 and it shows our part in being “kept”.  “Thou (God) wilt keep him (that’s us) in perfect peace (can’t get any better than that!), whose mind (you know that grey matter in our heads that wants to wander all over the place) is stayed (stationery, fixed) on thee (God) because he (there’s the kicker … that’s our part) trusteth (reliance, confident hope) in thee (God).

I must KEEP my mind on Him.  Devour His Word.  Meditate on His Word.  Apply His Word to my life and He will KEEP me.

KEPT by grace.

An old chorus:  Safe am I, safe am I
In the hollow of His hand
Sheltered o’er, sheltered o’er
In His love forevermore
No ill can harm me, no foe alarm me
For He keeps both day and night
Safe am I, safe am I
In the hollow of His hand

Finally a promise to those who are “kept.” Jude 1 & 2, “…to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: may mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.”

Do I want to be a “KEPT” woman?  You betcha’!

Finished!

~ Connie Haus ~ Leave a comment

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All things have a beginning and an end. A fashion designer sees in her mind what a dress will look like.  The process of choosing material, cutting, sewing, fitting … finally … it is FINISHED!

A contractor starts on the blueprints and gathers his materials and works on the house until it is … FINISHED!

The author has a new story to tell and begins to write and continues until the story is … FINISHED!

A new life is born in a tiny baby and he will live his life until death then it is … FINISHED!

What a feeling when we start something and complete it!  It is … FINISHED!

There are two important “finishes” in the Bible to look at …

James 1:15 says, “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

Just like in the examples above there is a progression.  You don’t go from an idea (dress) to finished product anymore than you go from a tiny baby to an 80 year old man.

So in James we see the progression of sin.  Lust begins in the mind.  If it is not rejected and given over to Jesus then it begins to form and is conceived.  Next progression … the act of sin.  The finality of sin does not happen immediately.  Oh, it probably feels good.  It can be rationalized and excused.  The conscience can be turned off but it will come to a conclusion and that conclusion is DEATH at which point … it is FINISHED.

There is another “finish” … John 19:30, “Jesus … said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

His sacrificial “finish” makes it possible for us to have a good “finish”.  In our selves we will give in to the lust of the flesh.  We have NO power to resist.  So many quote the scripture from James 4:7 “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” But they forget the first part of that same verse which says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God.”

Jesus lived a perfect life here on earth.  We cannot.  Utterly impossible!  Every sin ever committed and yet to be committed He took upon Himself when He went to the cross.  He was accused, tried, sentenced and crucified but in that He finished the work of redemption.

To finish well, we must submit to His will for our life not just at salvation but every day … every moment.

It’s a progression that cannot be reversed.  Everything here on this earth has a beginning and will have an end.  How will you finish?  Death unto damnation and eternity in hell without God? Or death to self and life everlasting in heaven with Jesus?

Only YOU can make that decision … finish well!

How’s Your Heart?

~ Connie Haus ~ 1 Comment

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Today is Valentine’s Day, a day of hearts and love.  When we see a heart we normally think “love.”  We think good things. We think happy thoughts.

It’s not always true!  There are sad hearts as well as glad hearts, broken hearts as well as healed hearts.

If you are reading this you have a pumping, thumping heart.  It’s what keeps us alive.  When the heart stops we stop dead in our tracks.  We pay special attention to our hearts.  When we exercise our heart rate goes up, if it gets too slow — watch out!  If it beats erratically we go see the doctor.

What IS the heart?  It’s not just our physical pump, but it encompasses our will, emotions, thoughts … along with our soul it is who we ARE!

What can we do to protect our heart?  Spiritually speaking, first we must recognize that our hearts are inherently evil.  God made us in His image but we forfeited that in the Garden of Eden and “the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5).  Our hearts have been deceived and have turned us aside from God (Isaiah 44:20).

God wants our whole heart.  He has promised that those who seek Him with their WHOLE heart will find Him! (Jeremiah 29:13).  I Kings 8:58, “Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the Lord our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments …”

Audrey Mieir wrote a song: “All He wants is you, no one else will do.  Not just a part, He wants ALL of your heart.  All He wants is all of you, all He wants is you.”

The word “heart” is mentioned over 800 times in the Bible plus words like brokenhearted, fainthearted, hard hearted, stiff hearted, stout hearted then good ones like merry hearted and tenderhearted!

Here are a few “hearts” to check out and see where you rank …

Blameless or condemned
Confident or courageless
Deceitful or delighted
Fixed or foolish
Glad or grieving
Happy or hard
Loving and loyal or lost
Meditative and merry
Obedient or obstinate
Pure or Perverse
Rejoicing or restless
Steadfast or stony & stubborn
Tender & true or trembling
Upright or unfeeling
Wise or wicked

Ernie Haase wrote a song that I sing and framed for my granddaughter, Roni … “God give this child a good heart, God give this child a good heart.  One that cares for the weak, one that hears when You speak, a heart that will make You smile. God give this child a good heart.”

Here are the words to a song that should become our prayer …

GIVE ME A HEART LIKE THINE

Give me a heart like Thine
Give me a heart that knows no fear
Give me the grace to do Thy will
Pardon and cleanse this home of mine
Lord give me a heart like This

How is your heart today?