Black Friday

The term perplexes me and I'm not at all sure I'm comfortable even forming the words in my mouth.

In today's culture, black represents death or the absence of light. Black is associated with darkness, evil, hiddenness, and the anti-norm. Why would one choose to give thanks on Thursday and at midnight be filled with excitement about "Black Friday"?

Perhaps, however, there is a correlation as it traditionally marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. Think about it for a moment…spending money we don't have, purchasing gifts no one really needs, storefronts decorated with holiday scenes absent of the true meaning of Christmas, people shoving and grabbing and pushing ahead of others, unparalleled displays of selfishness and self-exaltation as shoppers flaunt their ability to buy the best gifts or be first in line for the best bargains. Yep…there is a correlation as the behavior of so many reflects anything less than the Light of the World whose birthday they claim to celebrate.

I've argued with myself even—I could sent out an email to the mailing list and offer special purchase prices for products that haven't sold that would increase the ministry's revenue this month. I could make an appeal on behalf of the "Christmas Spirit" asking friends and partners to help us provide for the mission outreaches in India, Kenya, and Uganda. But to do so would make my heart no different than the hearts of the money-hungry store owners manipulating the public into shopping at their store, maxing out their credit cards to fill their bank accounts. I won't do it although I admit a battle within even as I type this.

When I consider the millions of dollars being passed between customer and cashier today, I'm grieved. Can you imagine what even one percent of today's revenues would mean to a country like India or Uganda or Kenya? Can you even fathom what even a few hundred dollars would mean to the lepers who live on a pension equivalent to $1.50 a month? Can you imagine what a small investment would mean to pastors who give up their entire lives to minister the gospel to people in remote villages in India where Hinduism and superstition have blinded the eyes of so many? What about those in the regions in Kenya or Uganda where children sleep in piles of rubbish, abandoned to the streets to a life of drugs and prostitution? What about the widows whose husbands have died of AIDS who themselves have been infected—is there no relief for them? Can people actually spend all their money to buy toys that will be broken in a few days or clothes nobody really wants or technology that will fill the minds of young people with useless knowledge as they're dumbed-down and desensitized to life's real meaning?

I guess when I think about it, today really is a "black" Friday. Not in the sense the media has intended, but as we consider the culture of death that supports such an atrocious, nonsensical splurge of money that could mean the difference between life and death to those who will never know what it's like to open a prettily wrapped present lost in the menagerie of ribbons and sparkles under a brightly-lit tree supposed to represent life that can only be found in Christ.

We won't be going shopping today. It may be "Black Friday" for everyone else, but for us today offers another opportunity to sow into the Kingdom of God in the hopes we can make the difference for at least one person—one forgotten soul wondering if he or she will find enough garbage to exist at least one more day.

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© 2007 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

Crying Wolf

A shepherd-boy, who watched a flock of sheep near a village, brought out the villagers three or four times by crying, "Wolf! Wolf!" and when his neighbors came to help him, laughed at them for their pains.

The wolf, however, did truly come at last. The shepherd-boy, now really alarmed, shouted in an agony of terror: "Pray, do come and help me; the wolf is killing the sheep" but no one paid any heed to his cries, nor rendered any assistance. The wolf, having no cause of fear, at his leisure destroyed the whole flock.

The moral of the story: There is no believing a liar, even when he speaks the truth.

"May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you." (Psalm 20:1 NIV)

Aesop wrote many fables that teach hard lessons. This particular fable has stirred in my heart many times, particularly in today's culture where it is accepted to take the Lord's name in vain. While the Lord promises He will never turn His back on us and He will always heed our call, I often wonder if He doesn't tire of the many times we cry out, "Oh my God!" as an expletive without really meaning to invoke His presence in prayer.

Psalm 124:8 reminds us "Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth."

Proverbs 18:10 tells us, "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe."

When we're hurting, we want to know the Lord will hear our cries. When pain overwhelms us and we cry out, "My Lord!" we need to know He's near. When we're too weak to get out of bed, we need to know we can call on the name of the Lord for strength.

Honor the name of the Lord. Call upon Him in your time of trouble. He will answer.

Father, forgive me for the times I've misused Your holy name. Oh Lord, hear my cries and answer when I am in distress. In Jesus' name, amen!

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© 2007 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

Where’s Your Heart?

"Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men" (Isaiah 29:13)

As I read this verse this evening, my heart was pierced! Immediately I asked myself, is my relationship with God based on how other's perceive Him or is it based on first-hand knowledge derived from a personal relationship with Him. The very thought that my Lord may look at us and say, "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me" brings tears to my eyes. Surely His Church is made up of people whose hearts have drawn near to Him and who worship Him in spirit and in truth! Surely this couldn't be speaking about you or me!

No one can bear the responsibility of our relationship with the Lord but us! We cannot depend on our pastor or teacher to spoon-feed us week after week and do nothing of our own initiative during the week to build our relationship with the Lord!

David wrote in Psalm 62:7, "In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God." In other words, he found God to be His everything . . . "God is MY salvation!" "God is MY glory!" "God is the rock of MY strength!" "God is MY refuge!" What he didn't say is, "God is MY PASTOR'S salvation and he will keep me in good standing with God!" Or, he didn't say, "God is MY TEACHER'S glory and if I attend faithfully, my teacher will represent God's glory to me!" Again, he didn't say, "God is MY CHURCH LEADER'S refuge and if I stick close to him, I'll be safe!"

Do you see what happens? We depend on others to be our link to God! God says, "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." All too often we find ourselves following man rather than following God . . . "their hearts are far from me."

Don't allow anyone to be your link to God for you! If you do, you'll be sorely disappointed! Man will fail you every time! I guarantee you know people who have been hurt in church and vowed never to return. Why is that? Because they depended on man, they put man on a pedestal; their hearts were far from God!

Beware of cultivating a second-hand relationship with God! Beware of depending on someone else's relationship with God as your security in Him! Release pastors and church leaders from the burden of responsibility for your relationship with God! Know God intimately through a personal relationship with Him. Be like David and say, "God is MY salvation, MY glory, the rock of MY strength, and MY refuge!" God will never fail you, He'll never fall, and He'll never again look at you and say, "their hearts are far from me."

Father, I never thought it might apply to me, but I can see where I have shifted the weight of responsibility of my relationship with You onto others from time to time. I have been dependent on others to be my link to You and in truth, there are times my heart has been far from You! Father, forgive me! Help me, Lord, to draw nigh to You and to release anyone else from the burden of responsibility for my relationship with You. Lord, teach me to be like David and know You as MY salvation, MY glory, the rock of MY strength, and MY refuge! I want to know you so personally that though everyone else may fall, my trust and faith in You will not be shaken! In Jesus' name, by His blood, for His glory, amen and amen!

"He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defense; I shall not be moved." (Psalm 62:6)

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© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

The Depository of a Priceless Treasure

There's a scripture in Proverbs that speaks of the heart: "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23) The NIV translation tell us to "Above all else, guard your heart, for out of it are the wellsprings of life." Guarding our hearts is of utmost importance.

The word "diligence" comes from a Hebrew word which relates to guarding a treasure or deposit of wealth, posting someone at the gate or door of a prison to watch or guard carefully. It's easy to understand that the heart is the depository of the most valuable and priceless treasure—it is the wellspring of life! Is it no wonder that what comes out of the mouth originates in the heart (ref. Matthew 12:34).

Our hearts need to be undivided. Psalm 86:11 says, "Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name."

Our hearts need to be pure. Psalm 51:10 says, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

Our hearts need to be steadfast. Psalm 57:7 says, "My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music."

So, how do we guard our hearts? The Bible gives us some very specific instructions for diligence in keeping or guarding our hearts.

1. Hebrews 10:22 speaks of having our hearts WASHED: "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." The "sprinkling" is a washing by the blood of the Lamb.
   
2. Psalm 119:11 speaks of hiding the WORD in our hearts: "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." We must be diligent to hide God's Word in our heart. This doesn't mean a casual perusing from time to time, it takes a determined effort to study the Word until it becomes part of you, planted in your heart and producing fruit! There is a sign on a local church marquis: "God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts!" The only way spiritual fruit will grow is if the Word is planted, watered, and tended on a regular basis!
   
3. Proverbs 4:7 speaks of WISDOM which is most important: "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." Wisdom is the "gatekeeper" of our heart; with wisdom at the gate, foolishness, sin, and any unclean thing cannot enter in. However, a heart without wisdom will open the door to anything!
   
4. Psalm 27:14 tells us to WAIT: "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." This word "wait" speaks of twisting together or binding together. As we wait on the Lord, we allow Him to weave things into our lives that will strengthen our hearts.
   
5. Finally, Deuteronomy 6:5 leads us to WORSHIP: "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." Worship prepares the heart for God!
   

May we all learn to keep our hearts with diligence, not taking the matters of life lightly but having a heart steadfast and pure before the Lord!

Father, purify my heart, renew a right spirit within me, and teach me to diligently guard my heart as You have shown me in Your Word! Lord, draw me closer, to intimately seek you, and to regard my relationship with You as the weightiest priority of life! Father, draw me to You and I will respond with a heart seeking after You in every aspect of my life! Open my heart to receive from You all that You have purposed for me and to give to You the glory due Your name! In Jesus' name, by His precious blood, amen and amen!

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© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

The Miracle: Salvation

Greater than the miracle of creation, greater than the miracle of birth. Such a miracle it is—salvation! And, oh, how my heart yearns to see this miracle take place in hearts everywhere. This yearning is what drives me—it's what catapults me from the natural to the supernatural when my flesh screams "No!" I thirst after it! I hunger for it! I crave it! I long to see souls saved, to see this explosion of transformation take place in the hearts of people, transforming old lives into new.

I am only one ordinary woman who serves one extraordinary, miracle-working God. He who created the universe, who became the incarnate God in flesh through the miracle of Jesus Christ, He is the author of this great miracle of salvation. And, He is the one who can take a yielded heart of an ordinary woman, send her on adventures across the globe, speak through her yielded tongue, and through her bring forth new life—the miracle of Salvation!

What is it that drives us? What is it that causes us to ache to see souls saved? I can only compare it to one thing: it is akin to that innate desire in a woman to bear a child in her womb, giving birth and nurturing her own child. This desire to see the miracle of salvation is a holy desire, one put in the hearts of all who are called by His name. The feelings are so similar—an empty womb crying out to be filled is like a heart crying out to be used by God. Only He can fulfill such a yearning. Only God can bring forth new life.

As women, we were created to be bearers of life. God created Eve as a "womb-man" or a man with a womb. Her ability to give birth is what distinguished her from her male counterpart. God created her to have emotions and sensitivities different from man because she would need them to bring forth life from love.

The question is, are we bringing forth life from our love affairs with Christ? Are we reaching out and sharing this miracle of salvation with others? A love affair with Christ should produce life in us. The more deeply in love with Him we are, the more our spiritual wombs cry out to be filled.

Be a bearer of life. Be a birthing partner with Christ. Allow Him to use you as He brings forth new life through the miracle of salvation!

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© 2007 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

Piano Lessons for Life

One Saturday every month I travel about 120 miles to teach piano to three most precious students any piano teacher could possibly want. Not only are the kids great kids, but they're talented. This is an amazing family – it's so obvious that God is the center of their lives.

Today's lessons were a little challenging for one of the students. I noticed he was a little distracted. While trying to teach a new skill, it was necessary to redirect his attention to what we were learning—his eyes were wandering. It could have been that this particular approach to some new music his mom bought was too much of a stretch for him, but more than likely he was thinking about his part in the upcoming production at the local children's theatre—he's an extremely talented young man.

"If you listen carefully to what
he says and do all that I say,
I will be an enemy to your enemies
and will oppose those who oppose you."
(Exodus 23:22 NIV)

We aren't much different than my young student. We are so easily distracted by things that we have assigned a higher priority. To him it was likely his role in an upcoming play. But, what is it to us? When the Lord is speaking or teaching us something—giving us some solid direction to live by—do we find ourselves distracted? Do we hold phone calls, television programming, or even housework as a higher priority than listening "carefully to … all [the Lord] says"?

Look at the promise that's attached to careful attention to the Lord's voice: "I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you." What a promise! What a reward for carefully listening to Him! So, why are we so easily distracted?

It's a matter of the heart. Our hearts are divided. We deem insignificant things as more important than the MOST Significant One. We fail to sit still and listen; our minds wander to other things even when the Lord is speaking to our hearts.

"So be careful to do what
the LORD your God has commanded you;
do not turn aside to the right or to the left.
Walk in all the way that
the LORD your God has commanded you,
so that you may live and prosper and
prolong your days in the land
that you will possess."
(Deuteronomy 5:32-33)

Let's be more careful than ever before to do what the Lord has commanded us. Let's not look to the left or the right—let's not daydream or allow our minds to wander when God is teaching us something by example or through His Word. Let's be careful to "walk in all the way tht the Lord your God has commanded [us]." Why? "So that [we] may live and prosper and prolong [our] days…"

It's to our advantage to focus carefully and to heed the Word of the Lord. And, just like my student today, if we would focus on the new things God is teaching us, we will undoubtedly be blessed. Whether you're learning a new technique on the piano or learning a valuable life lesson from the Lord, pay attention. There's something valuable to learn that will bless you and bring glory to our Heavenly Father.

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© 2007 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

First Flakes Flying

This morning as I sat here in my chair doing some praying, reading, and writing, I looked out the window across the corn field blowing in the wind and noticed some white stuff occasionally flitting by. Suddenly, my mind was catapulted to my childhood when I would sit and just watch the snow fall from the heavy clouds, turning Dad's carefully manicured lawn into a white blanket of frozen delight. Such excitement welled up within me. "It's Snowing!"

I have to admit the excitement this morning wasn't quite the same as it was when I was Daddy's little girl. But there's an element of exhilaration in today's first flakes flying. But now it has more to do with the passing of seasons than it does with visions of snowball fights, toboggan rides, and snow angels.

Seasons mean more to me now than they did when I was a child. Not that I didn't love the change of seasons, mind you. But now they have so much more significance than ever before. When I consider seasons now, I consider my age, I think about this season of life, and I think of the season of harvest—not corn, beans or wheat, but harvesting of souls.

Time passes by more quickly each year—no wonder God said, "a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as a day" (2 Peter 3:8)! But with the passing of days and weeks and months and years, of seasons and phases, those who are looking and watching and waiting are overwhelmingly reminded of the season of Christ's soon return. It can't be far off, it just can't!

Considering Israel and her turmoil this morning, I pray, "Lord, bring Peace to Jerusalem" all the while knowing that asking Peace to come is asking the Prince of Peace to return … there is no peace without the Prince of Peace. But it doesn't frighten me to pray that … I long to see Israel restored to her Redeemer, for her eyes to be opened and the Messiah revealed to those who would seek Him. I long to know that every effort of the enemy through peoples and nations to thwart God's purpose in and through Israel is pure vanity. After all, how could anyone hope to manipulate the hand of God, to challenge His covenant, or to think He has simply forgotten the Land of Promise, the People of Covenant, the Apple of His Eye.

While first flakes fly this morning, I pray … "Lord Jesus, come quickly and restore Israel unto Yourself. Take the blinds off her eyes and let her see Your glory manifest through Jesus Christ the Prophesied Messiah, the Redeemer, the Lord of Promise, the Branch of Jesse, the Mighty One of Israel.

Baruch haba b'Shem Adonai … blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord."

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© 2007 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

Call For True Stories and Testimonies

We are compiling stories to be included in a ministry book entitled “Women of Passions” in which we focus on the three primary passions in our lives—God, family, and ministry. These are the topics we basically teach on in our conferences and seminars. Providing a book with personal testimonies or stories will be an added blessing and ministry outreach tool to women struggling with maintaining proper balance in life or feeling inadequate, something familiar to us all.

We are looking for women’s personal true stories or testimonies using the following topics.

1. Passion for God ~ A woman’s passion for God grows from relationship with Him through worship, through instruction in the Word, through prayer, and through obedience. For instance…
* How has your passion for God grown in these areas?
* Has seeking God first according to Matthew 6:33 changed your life? If so, how?

2. Passion for Family ~ A woman’s passion for her family grows from her relationship with God, learning to walk in her role as wife and mother and/or daughter from sound Biblical instruction. For instance…
* How has keeping family priorities in order impacted your life?
* How have you as a younger woman been mentored or trained by an older woman (Titus 2:4-5), or the other way around—you as an older woman training or mentoring a younger woman?
* How have your proper priorities impacted your family?

3. Passion for Ministry ~ We are all called to a ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18) to passionately share the love of Christ with others so they, too, may be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. A woman’s passion for ministry exudes from a heart that is in right relationship with God. For instance…
* Share a testimony of the circumstances of your calling to ministry.
* How has God used your life to lead others to Christ?
* How have you learned to balance your life to not allow ministry to consume you?

We believe God takes the ordinary and performs the extraordinary through them. All He requires is a yielded vessel. God has given gifts to us that lie dormant because we become so distracted in our imbalanced lives. The key to unlocking these gifts is pursuing a balanced life with priorities in line. And, in so doing, we will become more effective Christians fulfilling our calling to build and strengthen the Kingdom of God.

Please keep your submission around 1,000 words (more or less—the word limit is not absolutely firm). We are also looking for well-crafted poetry that fits the topics listed above. Be sure your article is proofread and checked for spelling and grammar errors.

Please send your submission(s) to jan@janross.org. The deadline for this project is November 15th.

By submitting your article, you give us the right to publish your article. If your submission is chosen to become part of this publication, you will receive a free copy of the book and the right to purchase a limited number of copies at cost. There will be no other compensation. If you wish, we will be pleased to include a short paragraph with your personal information, other writing credits, education, training, and/or awards in the back.

Please only submit original content. Although we encourage you to submit new work, feel free to use your own previously published content to which you hold the rights with the understanding that you release to us the rights to use your submission even if you have it copyrighted.

We are excited to include you in this project and look forward to reading your submissions. Feel free to submit more than one article. Also, feel free to share this opportunity with other Christian writers.

Ok, So I’m a Slow Learner!

The Israelites were simply slow learners. God miraculously delivered them from Egyptian bondage, He performed awesome signs and wonders to not only convinced Pharaoh to free them but to convince the Israelites themselves that the Lord God Himself was the One calling them out. He led them out of bondage, parted the Red Sea for them to cross safely as He allowed the waters to swallow up their enemies. They looked back and literally saw the waters engulf the armies in hot pursuit. They were on the other side of the water rejoicing for the awesome work of God. Then, within just a very few days they were grumbling and complaining … "Oh that God would have left us in Egypt where we sat by pots of food!" How carnal!

These past few days I feel like an Israelite might have felt … slow to learn even when God shows me His mighty deeds. And, shame on me!

Our internet has been out. I've grumbled and complained. I've been on the phone to technical people and haven't been real nice, spitting and fuming about such poor service and they just don't seem to care that I NEED INTERNET! Then it hit me … OH, THAT GOD WOULD HAVE LEFT US IN EGYPT WHERE WE HAD HIGH-SPEED INTERNET! And, I cringed!

God miraculously delivered us from our own Egypt where we were in bondage to a huge house payment, insurmountable medical bills, high utility costs, high car payments, and a fast-paced city life. Oh, it was nice. We had what we wanted. But we worked hard to keep things close enough to the surface of the water to take a breath now and then!

Suddenly, my husband came home and announced he is no longer needed at his job and he is done. Simple as that! Done! But God …

The Lord led us out of Egypt through a series of miraculous events, we paid off the high car payment, we were able to work out a deal on our house, we moved to the country about 100 miles away, and we're free from the bondage. The drawback? Expensive satellite internet that provides s-l-o-w service, not much faster than dial-up.

Yes, I'll tell you … I feel like an Israelite. Sitting on the banks of the Red Sea, just having watched my enemy engulfed in the thunderous waters, and already complaining because of what I left behind. As slow as the Israelites were to learn their lessons, much to my dismay, I've been no different.

I need to open my Treasure Book (my Bible) and pull out a beautiful gem called "transformation". But, not until I pass through a layer of "repentance". So, if you'll bear with me …

Father, I repent! I am so sorry for my impatience. I am so incredibly sorry for even thinking about comparing what we 'used to have' to what You have so incredibly miraculously blessed us with now. Father, I fear I have become like an Israelite to You, testing Your patience, and perhaps almost too burdensome to carry. Forgive me, Lord, and cleanse me from my unrighteousness. Create a right spirit within me and renew me by Your forgiveness through the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ. Lord, I am a slow learner sometimes. Help me to speed it up a little bit. I don't want to offend You or take what You've given us for granted. I don't want to act like a spoiled child. Help me to trust You with me 'haves' and 'have nots'. Transform me, Lord, by taking my heart and molding it into Your image, for Your glory, and Your honor. I long to only please You, with high-speed or low-speed internet. In Jesus' precious name, amen and amen.

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© Jan Ross 2007
All Rights Reserved