April 4, 2017

Holy Land Revelations Part 2: The Garden of Gethsemane

It was such a blessing to Experience the Holy Land with Lysa TerKeurst and Proverbs 31 Ministries. Will you journey with me the next several weeks, see some of the beautiful scenes and ponder together the deepest, most meaningful, biblical lessons I learned? With Easter this month, let’s explore the Garden of Gethsemane…

You feel God’s presence as soon as you walk through the limestone threshold into The Garden of Gethsemane. The peaceful garden sits on the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem. There are rows and rows of beautiful, ancient, olive trees; it’s more of an orchard, really.

It is possible that some of the olive trees are descendants of the same olive trees from Jesus’ day. Isaiah 11:1 refers to this: “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.”

“They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ He took Peter, James, and John along with Him, and He began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,’ he said to them. ‘Stay here and keep watch.’ Going a little farther, He fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him, ‘Abba, Father, he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” –Mark 14:32-36.

Those last nine words are some of the most Hell-shattering, demon-quaking words in the Bible. It’s the breath prayer I pray daily—“Yet not what I will, but what You will.”

Or “Thy will be done.”

The Gospel of Luke’s account says Jesus sweated blood. “And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood, falling to the ground.” –Luke 22:44.

I go to one of the ancient olive trees and drop to my knees to pray. It is here that I weep the most, reflecting on and repenting of my sins that drove Jesus here.

Friend, what sorrow are you experiencing right now? What pain are you going through? Jesus knows. He understands. He feels it.

I can’t imagine the sorrow Jesus felt that night. Jesus took on the whole world’s past, present and future sins. He paid a debt He did not owe because you and I owe a debt we cannot pay. He died for us, so that we may live for Him. He died for you. He died for me.  I’m so grateful for this Gift I don’t deserve because I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. You can have that, too, by accepting this free Gift of salvation.

The word “Gethsemane” means “oil press.”It’s so significant that our Lord prayed fervently here, amidst the olive tree orchard. Lysa TerKeurst  taught our group that three things cause the olive tree to be fruitful:

  • Harsh winds of the East and refreshing winds of the West.
  • Olives are always bitter to the taste. For them to be useful, they undergo a process: soaked, salted to get rid of bitterness, and soaked in Living Water.
  • Olive oil is the most useful. After the olives are pressed and hand-beaten, the purest oil is used for:
    • A. Holy Use (anointing)
    • B. Industrial/food use
    • C. Oil for Light. Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8:12). He wants us to “shine” our Light for Him (Matthew 5:16).

Oh, how similar our life lessons are to the olive tree.

It is difficult to leave this place. I say one more prayer of thanksgiving for Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross before leaving this Holy Ground. The words “Thank you” seem inadequate to cover my debt of gratitude. May this Easter we experience a revival in our souls felt like never before.

If you would like to accept Jesus as your Savior, the free Gift of Salvation, it’s simple, friend.

Here is how you can receive Christ:

  1. Admit your need. (I am a sinner).
  2. Be willing to turn from your sins (repent).
  3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave.
  4. Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit. (Receive Him as Lord and Savior).

Simply pray this prayer:

Dear God,

            I know that I am a a sinner. I want to turn from my sins, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe He died for my sins and that You raised Him to life. I want Him to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow Him as my Lord from this day forward. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

All of us here on earth and in heaven are celebrating with you, friend. IF you just prayed that prayer, please send me an email at Danya@proverbs31.org. I’d love to send you a free small gift to celebrate the biggest decision of your life.

Happy Easter!

March 21, 2017

Holy Land Revelations Part 1: Great Wall of Prayer

Hi, Friend!

Please forgive me for not telling you about my Holy Land Experience with Lysa TerKeurst and Proverbs 31 Ministries this month. Surprise!

It was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life! For the next few weeks, I’ll show you a few Holy Land candid photos I shot and some of the many, meaningful biblical lessons that soaked deep in my soul.

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It strikes me as I approach the Western Wall–the Wailing Wall–in Jerusalem. There is a hush over this place, except for the sound of some women softly sobbing. Two things connect us all here, no matter our background, our faith, our socioeconomic level, our native language…

Prayer and tears.

I wait my turn to find a narrow place to pray directly at the Wall. One lady covers her face with a veil and backs away from the Wall. I take her place and fall to my knees.

This limestone Wall has become smooth over 2000+ years from the countless hands and foreheads pressing against it, fervently crying out to God.

Many of us from our trip had written prayers on little pieces of paper to leave there. I couldn’t believe it. All the rolled-up and folded papers, all the prayers, stuffed in every crevice of the Wall and on the ground below. .

I whisper my deepest praises, prayers and dreams, as I weep beside a lady wearing a hijab. Our whispered prayers create a soul symphony.

After several minutes of prayer, I prepare to leave. The time is too short but my spot is needed by the next vulnerable soul behind me.

We had been told not to turn our backs to the wall as we left. Several of us slowly back away in silence, savoring this moment of unity and peace.

Our guide told us that each day those prayers on paper are collected and buried on the Mount of Olives. If that is so, how beautiful, how powerful, how perfect that is. The same place where Jesus will return one day (Zechariah 14:4) is the same place all those written prayers are buried.

Friend, whether at this Western Wall, in the car, outside, or in your home, every prayer you cry out to God is heard. God hears you. God sees you. God answers you in His time, in His way.

Reflect:

When is the last time you cried out to God?

Renew:

“As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard.” –1 Samuel 1:12.

“Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice.” –Psalm 130:1-2.

“And…the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” –Revelation 5:8.

#P31HolyLandTour

February 28, 2017

Stretch Marks

Recently I’ve been marinating on Proverbs 31 Ministries and the tremendous way He’s growing us, in faith and in size.

It made me think of stretch marks. Yes, stretch marks.

I’ve had them on my hips ever since the summer before 9th grade, the summer when I grew 5 1/2 inches in one growth spurt. I was bumbly and awkward back then, towering over all the girls AND guys. Yes, I still am a little bumbly and awkward as a tall drink of water.

I remember aching that summer of growing so much. I felt such weird pain. Little did I know they were growing pains.

Mommas, I can only imagine the sensations you feel as that baby is growing inside of you, stretching you.

One definition says:

“Stretch marks are a form of scarring with an off-color hue. Over time they may diminish, but will not disappear completely. They are caused from the rapid stretching of the skin associated with rapid growth or weight change.”

We won’t worry about the weight change part, shall we?

As leaders it is normal to experience stretch marks and growing pains during growth spurts.  The Lord sometimes grows us rapidly, faster than we feel comfortable with.

In 2016, because of the support of our Proverbs 31 Ministries donors, more than:

  • One Million people are digging deeper into God’s Word with the First 5 mobile app.
  • 700,000 people receive Encouragement for Today daily email devotions.
  • 4.6 million people find encouragement and hope by connecting with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
  • 3,000 people are getting equipped for their ministry calling through our She Speaks Conference and COMPEL writers training.
  • 6 million women and families are hearing biblical teaching through our Everyday Life with Lysa radio show airing on 1,300 radio stations throughout the US.

These few statistics are humbling. All glory goes to God.

In the middle of “growth” is the word “OW.”

Sometime growth is painful.

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Just like a gardener prunes branches to get a tree to grow better, God prunes us and stretches our faith. He is the Gardener of our souls, tending us.

Whatever growing pains you are experiencing at home, at work, at church, or in the community, embrace the stretch marks. They are beautiful signs that God is faithful.

“I am the true vine and my father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” –John 15:1.

Lord Jesus, Thank you for growing our faith, for stretching us,for giving us stretch marks. Every time I look at my stretch marks, I’ll appreciate them much more. Please guide me in the growing, Lord, so I can bear the most fruit for Your Kingdom.

Reflect:

In what areas of my life am I experiencing stretch marks and growing pains?

With God’s guidance, what can you do to prepare for this new fruit that you will bear?

Renew:

“And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” –Colossians 1:10

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