pamela mattox | unashamed

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Jesus, My Satisfaction

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." Matthew 5:6

I have studied the Beatitudes many a time, but what I love about God's Word is that each time you study a passage, He can teach you something new. His Word is always fresh...and refreshing. When I was doing an Angela Thomas study on the subject, I learned to consider looking as this passage as the "When You Are's". For example, when you are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, then you will be satisfied. That little idea really helped me understand the verses in a fresh new way.

As I read these familiar lines today, it just seemed to jump off the page at me and resonate in my heart - Jesus is my "Satisfaction". My daughter and I have been talking this past week about keeping track of the ways God shows us who we are (in Him) and who He is. We started putting together SMASH books (a trendy new kind of scrapbook) this past weekend during some mother/daughter time and purposely created pages for recording these truths. Pages dedicated in our books to the "I am's" we discover in His Word, and pages to record who we learn "He is..."

To teach Emily the concept in a visible, tangible way, I pulled this old index card from my Bible. I showed her that in 2004 I started keeping track of the ways the Lord has taught me who He is. In every trial and season of life I have discovered new and different names or characteristics about God. Today I added the words "my Satisfaction" to the back of my tattered little index card. Mmmmm...that's a good one to soak in today!

Sunday, April 8, 2012

I Need Not Fear

I need not fear. I know Jesus. I belong to Him, and He belongs to me. He conquered death and rescued me. The cup of wrath meant for me was poured out on Him instead, to pay the penalty for all of my sin. Every painful thing I have ever been through, or will endure, vastly pales in comparison to the sacrifice He made for me. It is but a watered down drop in the cup compared to the pain, suffering and separation from the Father my Lord endured when the full cup of God's fury was poured out on Him in my place. His blood has covered my sin and I choose to walk with Him. He is my Savior and He is risen, He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!!

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Believe in Him...
Happy Resurrection Day!

Monday, March 12, 2012

Distractions Cause Division

"Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness;

give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name."

Psalm 86:11 (NIV)

At the prompting of my husband, I decided to write. He suggested I just begin to pen the things the Lord has been speaking to my heart. Unknowingly, He had actually been addressing the same issue in both of us - our divided hearts. Even before our Bible study lesson yesterday morning on the topic, God had been speaking.

To me, the Lord has been speaking about distractions. He has prompted me to consider what things were distracting me from Him. What things were contributing to an over-arching feeling of discontentment in my life? What was making me want to just pull the covers over my head some days? What was making my time with Him feel dull and dissatisfying? The answer was... distractions.

I began to make the connection. Distractions cause division. Divison of my heart from God. Division in my relationships with other people. Distractions keep me from walking in step with the Lord and have caused a condition biblically known as a "divided heart".

So what have been the culprits? As I asked God to impress upon my heart anything that was keeping me from a closeness with Him, about three things came to mind. Mainly, things I disconnect and zone out with... a TV show that I can watch re-run after re-run of (and mind you, I rarely even watch TV - in fact I usually have to ask my kids to work the remote!); a particular website (one that is helping me be more productive - but too much of a good thing causes me to disconnect with those around me); and my smart phone (information at your fingertips can be both a huge help and a major distraction). In fact, when I first got my smart phone, my husband and kids would tease almost anytime I picked it up saying, "intervention!"

None of these things in and of themselves are particularly wrong, but when they take the place of time I could be connecting with God, worshiping through any manner of outlets (including writing), or serving those I love, they become idols in my life. And idol-worship is sin. God's Word says in Leviticus 32:16, "They made him jealous with their foreign gods and angered him with their detestable idols." When I turn to anything other than God to fill me up, I am forsaking the One to whom I am betrothed. The only One that can truly satisfy me. When I let such things as TV, websites or my phone get out of balance to the point of tuning God and my loved ones out, I end up divided, distracted, discontent, depressed and downright discouraged. I end up in need of divine intervention!

I am so thankful my God loves me enough to intervene and make me aware when I've gotten off track. My heart's desire is to serve Him with clean hands and a pure heart. My whole heart. An undivided heart.

Father God, Thank You for loving me enough to call me on the things that do not bring honor and glory to You. Thank You for reminding me that while technology and other things are not bad in and of themselves, too much of them and not enough YOU will leave me dissatisfied and discontent. They'll leave me with a divided heart. Thank You for my husband who loved me enough to recognize the discontentment within and who sought to minister to and encourage me in that place - pointing me back to You. Lord, grant me an undivided heart. In the most satisfying name I know, the name of Jesus, I ask these things ~ Amen.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

He is Tending to Me

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Matthew 6:26 (NIV84)

Wow…it’s been a very long time since I’ve blogged. I have sort of been in hiding. Much “life” has happened and though my desire to write has remained, my time has been short and even more than that, my words have been few.

Life does happen, but I don’t like it when it gets me off track. I ran off the road after things like change of job and schedule and season piled up, topped off by deep disappointment in some things for me, and unexpected health concerns in our family.

As I was driving home this morning I began to ponder my personal responses in those “life” situations. I thought about how most of us are wired as fight or flight people, but then I realized how I can flip-flop. For many, many months I have allowed the things mentioned above to distract me from diligent time in the Word. I haven’t been in fight mode. It seems I reserve that more for crises.

Growing up, moments of trauma or crisis often caused the flight response in me. So much so that God seemed to use it to allow me to block memories until I was spiritually strong enough to work through them. Having since been set free from those things, it seems as though God has shifted the pendulum. In most traumatic things He now gives me the ability to be strong and fight during the crisis, and graciously holds much of my emotion at bay, letting it catch up with me later after things settle.

This week however, I seem to be a flip-flop. After heading in to a follow-up doctor appointment hopeful after my husband’s recent heart attack, and receiving news different than we expected, I have struggled to stay present and fight and not resort to the flight response. I have been overwhelmed with tough stuff including drastic dietary changes and feelings of the enemy trying to isolate us (after all we love fellowshipping with friends and food!). For the last two days – and maybe even some today as I write this - I feel like I’d rather pull the covers over my head and try again next week.

But God... God is tending to me in my plight. Before my day even started He had graciously put me on the mind of two friends who checked in with me by text. Yesterday He reminded me as I made a call through tears that He tends to the needs of the birds of the air when a beautiful feathered friend perched itself on my car – and how much more He will care for me (Matthew 6:26). Then He graced me with lunch and lovely conversation with a dear friend and put others in my path at just the right time. The day before, He started the day by giving a friend discernment and scripture before we headed to the doctor. And He made sure my close friend was home and available afterward when I needed to pour out my heart and cry. That night He had others call or text to express their love and concern for us. I know He knows, and I know He sees. I know He is tending to me.

Through much prayer (maybe even a little whining), lots of tears, and the prayer and encouragement of good friends, I feel a bit more resolve today. Prayer works wonderfully that way. For days I have tried to be a woman of few words because I was thankful the Lord was allowing my Michael to press on with such a positive outlook, and I didn’t want to bring him down. But truthfully, I needed a few days to catch up! Days filled with prayer and time to soak up the scriptures He’s given me to cling to, time to pour out my heart to a girlfriend or two, time to fill my head repetitively with the song He’s given me to praise Him with. The final turning point may have been the words of my daughter’s devo this morning that reminded me “troubles will come” and only eternity will be “trouble free”. As my life verse (Proverbs 3:5) and the title of her devotion says, I need to “Trust Him Anyway”! Today I feel God starting to restore my strength so that I can fight again. He’s making my footing sure and planting me back on solid ground. He is tending to me.

The Lord is good and His plans are good – yes, even for me and my family. And if I really want the knowledge and discernment I have been asking Him for, He’s revealed it will more often than not, come through affliction (Psalm 119:66-72). Gulp…lump in my throat! I guess I need to be ready.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

"Fruitfulness in Ministry"

"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow." 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

Some are called to be planters and others waterers, but God is the means by which one grows. God is the One who gives the increase. And increase is a continuing work of God. When a plant grows it is because God caused it to do so. David Guzik once said, "Real fruitfulness in ministry happens when we are peacefully content with what God has called us to do."

Verse 8 concludes by saying, "the man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor." This reminds us that we are all on the same team - both planters and waterers - working toward the same goal. Reward is not given for our talent or giftedness in planting or watering, but according to our labor in doing so.

Lord Jesus, You are Sovereign over all things. Thank You for calling me to work for You. I know I cannot work without You. Show me daily what You want me to do. In Jesus' name, amen.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

"Playing Favorites"

"...God does not show favortism, but accepts men from every nation who fear Him and do what is right." Acts 10:34b-35

In our humanness, it is sometimes hard to wrap our minds around the fact that God has no favorites. He, with no impartiality, accepts everyone who fears His name and lives according to His Word.

I must admit, sometimes I struggle with insecurity in this area. I may look at others and see how they are growing in their faith or what they are accomplishing for the Lord, and think in the back of my mind, "They must be one of God's favorites!" The next day my thoughts might be turned the other way around. I might strive to do things without checking the motives in my heart and realize, I am secretly trying to earn a spot on "God's Favorites" list. In reality, these are foolish lies I am buying in to; deception from the enemy himself.

Truth is, according to God's Word (the standard by which I am to live my life by), God does not play "favorites". Hard as it is to comprehend some days, we are looked upon with favor, but not in such a way that one person is elevated above another. God's Word says in Psalm 5:12, "For surely You, O LORD, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor."

To be surrounded with favor means to be guarded on every side as with a shield. "...the favor of God is to the saints a defense on every side." (Matthew Henry) It is meant to be a place of divine protection. A place I can feel safe and satisfied. As God's child I am favored...and so are you!

Lord Jesus, Help me to understand that Your favor is a form of protection in my life. A place of security and satisfaction. Help me to be satisfied in being favored by You! In Jesus' name I pray, amen.