Disobedience Effects...

In my devos this morning I was reading Joshua 6 & 7. A story I have read and heard so many times in the past, but this morning was different. The word “family” popped right off the page when I read Joshua 7:25 "Then Joshua said to Achan, “Why have you brought trouble on us? The Lord will now bring trouble on you.” And all the Israelites stoned Achan and his family and burned their bodies.” I know, not the feel good scripture about family that you may have anticipated, but take a minute and ponder on this with me.

When Joshua led the people of Israel to defeat Jericho, they were given clear instructions from the Lord. “Do not take any of the things set apart for destruction, or you yourselves will be completely destroyed, and you will bring trouble on the camp of Israel. Everything made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron is sacred to the Lord and must be brought into his treasury.” Joshua 6:18-19. Pretty simple instructions. Clear and to the point, do not take anything for yourselves or you will be destroyed and cause trouble for everyone else. God spoke and obedience was required.

However, a man by the name of Achan had a different idea. I’m sure he felt he had good reason and had great need, but he was disobedient to the Lord. Achan had taken some items for himself and hid them. 

Now let’s take a minute and look back… God said that those who took items for themselves would be destroyed and cause trouble on the camp. You see, in Achan’s selfish act he not only disobeyed God, but in Joshua chapter 7 it also talks about the fact that the Israelites went to battle and lost. That wasn’t because they were week, it wasn’t because they were forsaken, it was because of one mans disobedience.

Wow, think about that… You mean my disobedience can effect other people? No, let me say it this way, my disobedience, your disobedience WILL effect others. When God speaks to us, He is giving us clear direction on what He has set out before us. We may not know the big picture and we may not know all the details, but our obedience is what is required.  For Achan knowing that Israel was defeated, in this battle, because of his disobedience was probably bad enough, but it wasn’t the end.

As I mentioned in the beginning, Achan was confronted and asked to come clean. He did. He told them exactly where the plunder was. And they lived happily ever after… NOT! You see God said that disobedience would cause you yourself to be destroyed, but it also caused his family to be killed as well. 

Humbling moment to know that my decisions will effect my family and those around me. When I am obedient to the Lord I releasing blessing, but in my disobedience I release destruction. As a culture we get used to the idea that “it only effects me,” or that some things “might effect those around me,” but that’s not the case. Our decisions WILL effect our families, our friends, our communities and our churches. Let’s be men and women of God who bring on His blessing, not destruction… People are counting on your obedience. My family is counting on my obedience.

God is faithful to His word, I want to be faithful to obeying it!

instathoughts - Parables

Why did Jesus speak in parables?!? Consider on of these reasons...

Jesus Used Parables to Make Difficult Principles Easier to Understand // The more abstract an idea is, the harder it is to communicate it's meaning. Jesus used parables to reduce some very complicated ideas to easily understandable concepts. He told parables to educate and explain God's Kingdom, not just to entertain his audience.

A parable creates a parallel between the principle being taught and an easily understood illustration. While the story could stand alone as entertainment, as a parable it illustrates something about God and his kingdom that Jesus wanted his disciples to know and understand.

Each of Jesus' parables was built on characters and circumstances already known to his listeners. This allowed him to establish unexpected connections to new ideas or principles, and helped his listeners understand some very complicated religious ideas which were unknown to them at the time.

His ministry model is one to follow...

And I'm off...

I can't believe I am on my way to Israel!  This has been a long time coming. 

About 2 years ago I attempted to go on a ladies Israel trip, however when it came down to it, it wasn't the season. I was disappointed, but knew I would make it there soon enough. We'll folks, this day has finally arrived. 

Hearing about the "Women in Ministry Leadership" Israel tour I immediately decided I wanted to go! Finally... It was my turn! I found myself beyond excited and figured nothing would stand in my way... Or so I thought! My excitement lasted for about a month and then I thought of every reason to not go. Haha Isn't it funny how we want something so bad some times and then it's like we do a 180 and try to talk ourselves out of it. "Did I really want to go? Maybe next time? But I really wanted some specific friends to go. I don't have a roommate. Maybe God doesn't want me to go... God you have to provide the money." At first nothing could stop me and then so quickly I was looking for the chance to cancel... It wasn't until the very last moment that I made the commitment, jumped in and decided nothing was gonna stop me. God provided the money and now I find myself sitting in seat 20E on my way to Israel! 

I am so excited to walk where Jesus walked. To see with my own eyes what I have read about my whole life. To take in the beautiful sites, enjoy the Jewish people and have a blast with some incredible woman. I have only one expectation...to hear Jesus like I never have before. I am not going to worry about "how things will look" or "how He is going to speak" I am just going to focus on keeping my eyes and ears open.

So here it goes... #iwillneverbethesame #isthisforreal #wiml14

Only one man had the privilege...

Simon of Cyrene... Only one man who could say he had the privilege to carry the cross of Jesus...

A few months back I watched a sermon by Pastor Judah Smith called "The Unlikely Path to Satisfaction". Wow, this one rocked me and has been stirring in me ever since. Then I came across this SkitGuys video I posted below.

This ordinary man was confronted with any inconvenient task while he was just going about is life. He was walking through the crowds and was picked out to carry the cross of Jesus. At this time, it probably seemed incredibly inconvenient, dirty, difficult and messy. "Who was this criminal?" he probably thought. I know I would have wondered what he had done and quickly determined that I should not have to give of myself to help him out. He was the criminal, not me. In all honesty, I would have probably tried to get away, like I never heard the solider calling me out. But not Simon, he found himself in the middle of the greatest privilege. He heard the people cursing Jesus. He felt the spit and the possible rocks being thrown. Jesus' blood probably stained his clothes. What was going through his mind at the time? Was he so upset by the inconvenience that he missed the "moment"? Or did his heart begin to break because he realized what he was a part of? We won't know every detail, but I find myself wondering what I would have done. 

Have you missed any opportunities that seemed to just be an interruption? I know I have. Let's be on purpose. "Lord, open our eyes and our ears to know when you are calling us out of the crowd to be a part of something that is so much bigger than ourselves!"

Take a minute to watch the clip below and when you get a chance, if you want, check out Pastor Judah's message. 

Our greatest privilege might just be from your greatest interruption.

What is time?

Have you ever wondered, "What is time? What is the meaning of time? Does time really matter?" Our society lives in a "Give me what I want, when I want it" mentality. We have fast food, high speed internet; almost anything we need at the touch of a button. There is a specific reason and meaning for timing yet we have lost all sense of that in our selfish attitudes and get happy quick reasoning. 

There are a few events in a persons life that timing is essential. When a person is born the date is documented on the birth certificate. There was someone who found the importance of documenting the time of birth, as well as the time of death.  There is a time and season for everything. When to start school. When to get a drivers license. Time is essential. It is key. History is recorded with detail, time specific events. Still why is this so important?

Let's dive a little deeper into the concept of timing...

Imagine a lavish party, walls packed with people. Alcohol flowing freely, food continually being supplied; the party lasting for days. One hundred eighty days to be exact. Six months. The man responsible for throwing such a lavish party had nothing in mind. It to impress his guests; guests that held positions in high places. He decided to continue to show off, demanding his wife be brought out, dressed to the nines. The eye candy, the ultimate trophy wife. He sent for her, and to his ultimate embarrassment, she refused. In his anger and embarrassment he dismissed her. She was never to return to his house again. This woman defended herself, refused to be treated like an item and she was treated harshly. 

Do you see God in this? Where? What was the timing factor? God had a plan the whole time. He knew that it was time for a new woman to enter into the house, to bring forth a plan. 

The man didn't waste any time looking for a new wife. He refused to be alone, a man with such a status needed a beautiful woman by his side. He set about using a contest to find the perfect wife. It was to include every beautiful woman from the land. They were to be sent away for a year, spending time preparing to be a wife. Spa time, facials, pedicures, hair products upon hair products. (To be honest, a year of spa life? Where do I sign-up?!) Anyway, the procedure was supposed to last for exactly one year, nothing more nothing less. The time came for the women to be brought before the man, one by one they passed before him. Face after face, name after name, but then there was one face, one name that stood out above the rest. Esther. She was the one, the woman who was to fulfill the plan that God had set in motion. Did she know? Did she see the bigger picture? God had appointed her for a time such as this. This was His timing, the waiting, the preparation. She was steadfast and remained patient during the year long process orf preparation. Did she hope to be chosen? She didn't run at the opportunity, didn't fear. She chose to be herself, who The Lord had called her to be. His hand was heavy upon her at that time. The specific time. 

Sometime later she is faced with the choice of being silent or crying out on behalf of her people. Should she take the risk and ask her new husband to protect an entire nation? Is that why she had been called? Hand chosen by God. For a time such as this, to SAVE HER PEOPLE! Her becoming the kings wife wasn't by chance, by luck; but by a series of circumstances strategically placed by The Lord. Esther 4:14 says "For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”  She knew she was called, she answered, and chose to risk all she had gained for her people, it was the right time. 

What season are you in now? Is God preparing you for something? Are you staring your fears in the face? Are you enjoying the fruit of what He has called you to do? No matter the circumstance ask yourself, "Do you believe His timing is perfect?" In the "Give me what I want, when I want it mentality" is that a belief you hold onto? If we can grasp this concept and allow His peace to settle in our hearts, then we have confidence in Christ! We will see that His timing is perfect, his promises ring true. Though times be appear tough we can be confident that He has only the best planned for our lives. If we trust His timing and choose to live a life in constant preparation then we may be the one used to change a life, or rescue a nation. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 says: "To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.” And then verse 11 says "He has made everything beautiful in its time.”  The Lord is specific and intentional. He is working out a divine plan in you right now, stay on that path. His plans will be fulfilled.

So, I ask you, "What is time? Does it really matter?”

What is "The Urban Pearl"?

Thanks for stopping by and checking out The Urban Pearl. A little over a year ago The Lord began speaking to my heart about starting a blog, as you can see I didn't exactly jump right on it. I was hesitant, thinking "No one would want to read it" and "Would it really make a difference?" The hesitation and insecurity kept me from doing what God was clearly calling me to do.

The Lord is always at work, always stretching and growing us. He calls us out of our comfort zones to accomplish tasks we never thought we could accomplish. Sometimes He asks us to move in a direction that quite frankly we don't see the need for. The Lord challenges us because He wants us to trust Him. Completely TRUST! 

In 2014 I already see and find myself stepping out in faith to trust Him. Completely TRUST. I can't see the completed picture, but through my obedience The Lord will use this website to build my faith. I pray this blog increases my capacity to see His faithfulness in all things. 

So why the name The Urban Pearl? If you know me,  you know that I am outside of the box creative. I like to take ordinary and make it extraordinary, add a splash of color, spice things up. As I decided to begin the process of starting a blog I was pondering and praying on different names. For some reason I kept coming back to my name, Meaghan. Through research I found that Meaghan means Pearl. I have always been a fan of trying new things, big cities, out of the ordinary adventures, hence the use of the word urban. The Urban Pearl. Yes, it's perfect. This website will be out of the box, adventurous, and exciting. Thank you for joining me in this journey! 

Looking forward for what is to come! Bring it on 2014,  bring it on.