I'm Lucy Pevensie?

Lucy Hiding In the Armoire
About To Discover Narnia

I was thinking about this temp job that I'm on right now and I said to myself, "I like the position and I like what I'm doing, I just don't like the company climate. It's like Narnia and it's Winter all the time and the White Witch is running things." And the Lord said back to me, "And you're Lucy Pevensie."

I was stunned into a long silence as I just let that soak in. "I'm Lucy Pevensie?"

Immediately, I went to YouTube and looked at a lot of Lucy Pevensie videos and paid close attention to her. One of the things that I remember about the movie, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe written by C.S. Lewis, was within in a few hours of the Pevensie kids coming to Narnia, the endless Winter dissolved into a beautiful Spring and Aslan (the Lion King and creator of Narnia) visits Narnia after a long absence.

Lucy Pevensie discovered the land of Narnia quite by accident when she and her siblings were playing hide and seek and she hid in an armoire which opened up to the woods of Narnia where she met and befriended a Faun named Mr. Tumnus.

Jesus said that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Jesus is the light that shines through us into a darkened world and brings His light into it. And like Mr. Tumnus was transformed by his friendship with Lucy, others can be transformed by their connection to us.

While the Pevensie children were fleeing from the White Witch, they ran into Father Christmas who had not been seen in Narnia for a hundred years. He gave them each weapons they would use to defeat the White Witch.

There had been a prophecy that said when two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve sat upon the four thrones at Cair Paravel, all of Narnia would be put right and the White Witch's life and her reign over Narnia would come to an end.

There had not been Christmas in Narnia for a long time but Father Christmas said that the hope the Pevensie children had brought to Narnia had begun to weakened the White Witch's power. He gave Lucy a small sword and she questioned that she could be brave enough to use it.

I love that song lyric by Matthew West called Strong Enough. He says, "I know I'm not strong enough to be everything that I'm supposed to be. I give up. I'm not strong enough. Hands of mercy won't You cover me. Lord right now I'm asking You to be strong enough for the both of us."

After the children crossed the Frozen River (which reminded me of the Red Sea crossing and Pharoah's army drowning), Mrs. Beaver said, "I don't think you'll be needing those coats anymore." The river was thawed out and flowing and the trees began to bud pretty flowers and the snow began to melt off the ground and the children hung their coats on tree branches because they were no longer needed.

So Lucy Pevensie finding her way into that armoire was the beginning of Narnia's deliverance.

I'm also reminded of Joseph's presence and influence at Potiphar's house.

Gen. 39:2-5 The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field.

Maya Angelou had a sudden revelation one day, she said, “There was a possibility that God really did love me, me Maya Angelou. I suddenly began to cry at the gravity and grandeur of it all. I knew that if God loved me, then I could do wonderful things, I could try great things, learn anything, achieve anything. For what could stand against me, since one person, with God, constitute the majority?”

I love that revelation because it says that I can be Lucy Pevensie. I can be brave and strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. It says to me that I can be all that He has called me to be. It says to me that one person with God can make a BIG difference. So I think about this temp job and I say as David against Goliath, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Yes! I AM Lucy Pevensie.

Go in peace.

God's Word... A Consuming Fire

Is it hot in here, or is it just me?

O LORD, You have deceived me, and I was deceived. You overpowered me and won. I've been made fun of all day long. Everyone mocks me. Each time I speak, I have to cry out and shout, "Violence and destruction!" The word of the LORD has made me the object of insults and contempt all day long. I think to myself, "I can forget the LORD and no longer speak His name." But [His word] is inside me like a burning fire shut up in my bones. I wear myself out holding it in, but I can't do it any longer. (GOD'S WORD Translation Jer. 20:7-9)

Jeremiah's ministry was very unpopular -- he preached and prophesied of Israel's temporary destruction. They were going to be captured and enslaved to the Babylonians for 70 years because of their sin and backslidden state. They hated Jeremiah for it and they cruelly mocked him. Jeremiah said, "I have become the ridicule of all my people -- their taunting song all the day." Even those that were close to him were scheming to see how they could ensnare him, and get their revenge.

Once, Jeremiah was put in a human sized birdcage and hung over the town square as people walked to and fro mocking him. He became very angry. Jeremiah accused the Lord of seducing him because the Lord was the master of persuasion and Jeremiah had fallen victim to His enticement. Jeremiah decided that he would refrain from declaring God's word because continuing to do so was having such a negative impact on his life.

But the Lord's influence was stronger than Jeremiah's will to refrain. Jeremiah was tempted to throw in the towel but the Lord caused Jeremiah to be overcome with heat radiating from his body -- like women who have hot flashes. The word of God being held up inside Jeremiah felt like fire shut up in his bones (literally). I know this, because that's what I'm going through right now. I decided to shut down canDEElicious Video Ministry (or put it on an indefinite hold) -- and I tell you the truth, sometimes I am overcome with heat even when the temperature in the building is very comfortable. I also have hot flashes, so I know what that feels like -- and this is very different.

Hot flashes, for me, feels like some one is holding a heater very close to my face. They only last for a few short minutes, then passes. But... the fire shut up in my bones is like my whole body getting really hot (not just my face). And, its not like a heater on the outside but heat generating from the inside. That's what Jeremiah experienced when he said, "His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not."

The Lord said to Jeremiah, "Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations" (Jer 1:5). "You did not choose Me but I chose you," Jesus said. God was not about to change His mind because Jeremiah was having second thoughts. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable (Rom. 11:29).

When the children of Israel were being deported to Babylon, Jeremiah was given a choice of whether to stay in Judah or go to Babylon. He chose to stay in Judah, but later fled to Egypt after a group of fanatics killed the Babylonian governor appointed over Judah. It is believed that he died there in Egypt, never having returned to Israel neither suffered the slavery of the Israelis.

One should count it a privilege and an honor to be called of God for service in His kingdom. But on that day when our service seems more than we can bear -- we look to Jesus.

If we let it, discouragement will hinder us from running our race, as it deteriorates our motivation. But when we look to Jesus, our reason for running, He will help us to stay in the race, and finish strong.

The apostle said in Acts 20:24, "None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy; and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."

1 Cor. 9:24-27 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. (New Living Translation)

Thank You Lord for filling me with Your Holy Ghost and His mighty burning fire.

Go in peace.

No Need To Say Goodbye

The Call

Regina Spektor

It started out as a feeling

Which then grew into a hope

Which then turned into a quiet thought

Which then turned into a quiet word

And then that word grew louder and louder

'Til it was a battle cry

I'll come back

When You call me

No need to say goodbye

Just because everything's changing

Doesn't mean it's never been this way before

All you can do is try to know

Who your friends are as you head off to the war

Pick a star on the dark horizon

And follow the light

You'll come back

When it's over

No need to say goodbye

You'll come back

When it's over

No need to say goodbye

Now, we're back to the beginning

It's just a feeling and no one knows yet

But just because they can't feel it too

Doesn't mean that you have to forget

Let your memories grow stronger and stronger

'Til they're before your eyes

You'll come back

When they call you

No need to say goodbye

You'll come back

When they call you

No need to say goodbye

Heavenly Father...

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for showing up when I needed You so badly. I truly believe if our faith in Your love for us is strong, we would never doubt that You're always with us no matter what we're going through. But lately, my good fortune has been so much on the down swing that I had begun to question where You and I stand. But when You showed up and performed that miracle, immediately my faith came rushing back. It was proof that You heard me and You're still with me. You're a very present help in trouble.

When the three Hebrew boys were thrown into the fiery furnace, there was a fourth image in there... King Nebuchadnezzar said the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. I love that sermon that Bishop Talbert Swan preached that talks about You starting at the end of our lives and backing up... seeing that we would need a deliverance and putting it in there and backed up further and saw that we would need a way out of no way and putting it in there, till You arrived at the beginning of our life and kicked off our start. You know everything that we will face in our lives, and none of it is a surprise to You. You see the deliverance because You already designed it. We, however, don't have a clue. I thought I was following the path out in front of me and it led to a dead end road and that was confusing for me. As I turned around and headed back in the other direction, I was scratching my head wondering where did I go wrong. How did I miss Your voice telling me where to turn?

I was reminded of the time when the Apostle Paul, after he was converted, and began preaching Christ in the synagogues, the Jews plotted to kill him and they watched the city gates day and night to capture him when he left the city. When he got wind of it, the believers let him down through the city wall in a large basket and he escaped. And when Paul and Silas had been severely beaten with rods and thrown in jail, they sang and prayed and worshiped You instead of being offended with You. They were smack dab in Your will and yet they endured trouble anyway.

Paul said they were troubled on every side in Macedonia, by many conflicts, but You comforted their downcast spirit by sending Titus to boost their spirits with good news. You have a way of turning Winter into Spring and making something beautiful from all our suffering. Nothing is too hard for You.

Yesterday, You took my downcast spirit and gave it a boost. I was in need of resurrection and today I feel life-like again.

Thank You for allowing me to enter Your throne room today... in Your Son's name I pray. Amen.