Whoever coined the
phrase “getting old ain’t for sissies” was so in tune with my life right now. So
by way of confession, I’ll let you in on a secret, 2018 was brutal on me and
2019 isn’t so great either!
I stopped going to
cardiac rehab at the hospital because I’m a wimp with cold weather. It was just
easier to stay home. But I didn’t want to lose the progress that I’d made so I
was doing some exercises at home. Which included a step aerobic that I really
enjoyed when it was pain free. I was having some knee issues but I was
determined to fight my way through. So as I step step stepped on my little Gold
Gym ® stepper I misplaced my foot and stepped backward really hard. I
immediately knew I was in trouble when a blood curdling scream proceeded from
my mouth that brought the critters running to my rescue. Except Callie the cat,
she is way too important to worry about her handler.
I refused to go to the
hospital because it was cold outside. I told you I’m a wimp. So I waited 24 hours,
for which worked really well for me because the temperature outside dropped to
the negatives. But after x-rays and exams it was determined (as best they could
without an MRI) that I have a torn meniscus. So I’m “peg leg pete” as my
daughter Whitney now calls me, and I’m feeling very feeble. And not just
physically.
Psalm 38 was written by
David as a Psalm of remembrance. Although there is debate whether the Psalm was
written to remember his sin with Bathsheba or the distress of Israel, for me it
matters not. I only know that it resonated with my heart today.
Physical pain, and the
pain of sin and regret take its toll on the body. It weakens me spiritually and
causes an angst in my soul.
David penned it well
when in verse 8 he wrote “I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared
by reason of the disquietness of my heart.”
Feeble Folk
Feebleness is a state
of frailty, weakness or delicacy. None of which I care to be described as. But
I doubt I’m alone. We all have times when we feel weak whether or not it’s
physical or emotionally in times of life’s woes. It brings to mind our
mortality and just how very little we are in control.
While my torn meniscus
could have been remedied by using a little common sense when exercising on
laminate floors, my sins can be remedied by using a little common sense in my
brain. Neither of which I overly skilled at. Obviously a trait King David bore
as well.
I recently have been
following a couple of gals on Instagram that are just a tad too perfect. Their
actually not, they’re very human, but they’re posts are “pretty”. Their homes
are pretty, their lives are pretty, their spirituality is pretty. They make me
nauseous. Yes. I’m sinning in thought. But it’s the truth. I can’t handle all
the “pretty” stuff. I need some reality. They really do inspire me to be
better. But I also tune into a preacher who has been an utter failure! But he’s
fighting back and roaring through the hard times and allowing me to see into
his life of blunders and mishaps and helping me to understand, I’m not alone.
When I fell off the
step, I roared both in my soul and in my physical being. I let the puppies
know, momma was hurt. I believe we need to do that spiritually as well to a
world of perfectionistic attitudes that see only the “pretty” images on social
media and in life. We come into church with our perfect attire and attitudes
having just left the brokenness of life at home and the reality that all is not
necessarily as well as it looks.
It’s why I appreciate
people like my preacher friend who lets me see his realness. Then my realness
doesn’t make me feel like a complete failure, just a recovering failure. Which
is truthfully what I am.
If there was an F.A.
meeting (Failures Anonymous) I’d go. But there’s not. And once you attend you’re
no longer anonymous. Everyone knows! So I’ll just go to church, read the word,
talk to God and share with you. My therapist. Thanks for not charging me an arm
or a leg (for which I only have one left.)
Below is the teen lesson I’ll use for tomorrows Sunday School program where I teach 9-12th grades. It’s certainly a suitable study for adults as well, after all, I teach these teens as the spiritually mature adults they are. On more than one occasion they’ve taught me.
Most days I feel like the underdog. I fail, I fall, I get up and try again. I leap in faith only to look more like a leap frog than leaping a building in a single bound. I venture a guess I’m not alone. I’ve yet to meet a saint of God (at least any I cared to be around) who thought they were an absolute success. Servitude brings a humility that allows us to remember who the real super Hero is: The Lord Jesus Christ! But even the bible recognizes the making of a hero. We’re not super heroes, but yet we too have the potential to be a hero by using the power within us. We (or at least I) fail to remember that it’s never me who has the ability to make things happens when leading souls to Christ or serving God in any capacity. But rather the Holy Spirit.
The rollcall
of heroes in the book of Hebrews gives me great hope that God can use someone
like me. So what is our role on the roll and what is our superpower.
One of my Dad’s
favorite verses was Hebrews 11:1 ~
Now faith is the substance
of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Superpower
#1 – Seeing the Unseen
Other
Christians see things in me that I don’t see. Or I don’t have the faith in my abilities
to bring them to fruition. But if we view life through the vantage point of God
what are the unseen things we’d see? And how do we see them?
Hebrews 1:3
Through faith we understand that
the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were
not made of things which do appear.
What unseen
things do you “see” in creation?
When I think
of framing I think of an incomplete project. God created this world by speaking
it into existence. “Framed by the word of God.” But there is still work to do. We
are that work for which we do by stepping and leaping in faith to show others
to Christ.
Why do you
think that unsaved people, especially those in the field of science, struggle
with believing in God’s creation?
Superpower
# 2 – Willing to Kill
The first hero
mentioned in the book of Hebrews 11 is Abel. His super power was a righteous
kill.
Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered unto God a
more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was
righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Abel killed in
obedience. Cain on the other hand killed out of jealous and pride and the
killing was of his own brother.
Why was Abel’s
killing of the sacrifice righteous?
Is
that hard for us to understand, especially if we are critter lovers?
Of course it
is! But it may be a little less difficult for those of us who are not
vegetarian. We can understand the sacrifice a critter makes for us to have a
hamburger.
Abel’s refusal
to sacrifice an animal was his unwillingness to recognize that sin required a
blood covering. It still does. But Christ made that final sacrifice on the
cross.
The death now
is our own. We are dead to ourselves and alive in Christ!
Superpower
# 3 – God Pleasers
Hebrews 11:5
By faith Enoch was translated
that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated
him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
What can we do
that would please God and allow the world to see this superpower?
One thing for
certain, without faith we will not please God. Hebrews 11:6 says
But without faith it is
impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe00 th0at he is,
and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
If by seeking
God, it pleases Him, how do we seek Him? And how does seeking Him show faith?
Superpower #4 – Boat
Builders
Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, being warned of
God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving
of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the
righteousness which is by faith.
In that day,
that was more than a little bit crazy. From this side of it we know how wise he
was, but at that point it had never rained one drop.
Sometimes if
we want to be obedient to God’s calling we have to be a little bit crazy!
Have you, or
do you know someone who’s been a little bit crazy?
Superpower #5 – Going
to the unknown and believing the impossible
Hebrews 11:8
By faith Abraham, when he was
called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance,
obeyed; he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Stepping out in
faith isn’t for the faint of heart. Abraham had no idea where God was sending him,
but he was willing to go.
Where would
you fear God’s calling on your life? Has He called you to do something you now
fear?
What
country(s) would you fear being called to?
Through faith also Sara herself
received strength to conceive seed and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she
judged Him faithful who had promised.
Sarah was 90
and Abraham 100 when Isaac was born. There is nothing that God cannot do?
Write down
something that you struggle believing God will do in your life and then
remember the principles of your superpowers!
Superpower #6 – Eternal
Living
Hebrews
11:20-22
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and
Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob when he was dying, blessed both
the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith
Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel;
and gave commandment concerning his bones.
All these men
knew that there was an eternity to live for. Until their dying breath they
handed down that legacy. We should never stop believing that we need to tell
people about Jesus.
How should an
eternal mindset cause us to live?
Superpower #7 – Facing
the Fire and Water
Hebrews 11:
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was
hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and
they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. 24 By faith Moses, when he was come to
years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction
with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater
riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of
the reward.27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing
the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.28 Through faith he kept the passover, and
the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.29 By faith they passed through the Red sea
as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
Moses stood
before the fire when God called him out of the burning bush and he stood before
the Red Sea believing through the power of God they’d get through it. Even as
an infant he was placed in harms way. All this is evidence that even the chosen
children of God are not immune to heart aches and danger. His own family
rejected his wife and gossiped behind his back, but God took care of it all.
How does this
encourage you in your everyday life?
Superpower #8 – Girl
power!
Hebrews 11:31
By faith the harlot Rahab
perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with
peace.
God doesn’t
only use men for the higher powers. Rahab is listed as a “harlot” and yet she
is in the lineage of Jesus Christ. What does that tell us about the people God
will use for the Kingdom’s glory?
Rahab and her family’s
life was spared because she believed in the God of Abraham and protected His
people. She truly had girl power to face certain death if she was caught. She
also proved that God can use people even with questionable pasts.
Paul went onto
mention more heroes of the faith, but what we might find when we get to Heaven
is that in a book of the things we’ve done for Christ we too are mentioned as
heroes of the faith!
Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1–14) came to him after
God had directed him to prophesy the rebirth of Israel in chapter 36. God was
using Ezekiel to restore Israel to her land of blessing. But it didn’t seem
humanly possible. Israel was once again in captivity having fallen away from
God’s grace through rebellion. In that state it would take a miracle to find
hope! Something like dead men’s bones coming back to life.
When God told Ezekiel to tell the bones that
God would make breath enter the bones and come to life just as He had created
Adam, Ezekiel obeyed. He’d been transported to the valley of dry bones already
so no doubt he was in a mind to listen. When that body of bones resurrected
with flesh and blood to stand as an army it symbolized the coming together of
the Nation of Israel in end times.
As I read commentaries of the Ezekiel’s
valley experience, I couldn’t help but see the implications against us. We’re in captivity and aren’t even aware of it. At
least Israel knew.
This morning’s breaking news with regards to
New York Governor’s celebration of the abortion bill passing that would allow
unborn children up until birth to be aborted made my eyes well with tears and
my stomach roll over. It’s murder. Plain and simple and there will come a day
of judgment that I wouldn’t want to be in the vicinity of. That smug look of self-righteous
indignation on the faces of the “victors” will be removed by God Himself.
These and other acts of rebellion as a nation
are dry bones to beware of. We will be held accountable for our votes and our
attitudes of remiss when standing against those who support such atrocities.
A Church of Dry Bones
The only thing worse than government leaders being elected
who stand for abortion is churches that stand with them or those who take no
stand at all.
Edmund Burke said it well when he said that “The only thing
necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
How true that is. It’s what’s happening in our churches
today when church leadership is refusing to take a stand against what the bible
plainly lists as sin for fear of government repercussion or offending their
congregations.
I thank God for churches who stand in the gap for these
unborn children. They are children, they have names! God that in Jeremiah 1:5
that before we were in the womb He knew us. We have a name and a purpose long
before we’re born.
The infants that the governor of New York celebrated their
death may have been the doctor who cures cancer, Alzheimer of eradicates drug
abuse through some revolutionary tactic, but it will never come to pass because
they were murdered. They may have been the preacher that leads your grandchild
to Christ, but your grandchild will never cross their path, because they were
never born. Drama? No, reality.
A People of Dry Bones
We cannot change our nation and our churches until we’re
ready to believe that God can resurrect the dead.
I will not give up on my nation and the churches across
this great land because I know a lot of great people who are willing to take a stand
for the cause of right. I believe that’s the only reason God hasn’t eradicated
us.
But there’s not enough of us willing to make that stand
known. Sometimes it’s because we don’t know where to start. Other times it’s
because we don’t have enough support in our own troops.
Start by taking a stand on your own. In life, on social
media, where ever the opportunity arises. Ask your church to get involved in
awareness and then contact every political leader telling them your position
and assure them that you’ll make their position known.
When Ezekiel made those bones dance, he did it through the power of God but it no doubt made him shake in his own shoes a little; mainly with excitement that God would revive His people again. He will. And He will revive us if those who say they stand for right do it.
We need to beware of dry bones but we need to be prepared
for possibility that they just might come to life and bring this nation back in
God’s grace once more!
Whether or not it happens only time will tell. But we will
stand before God and answer for our efforts, or lack thereof.
It’s pouring the snow down in Calhoun County, West Virginia today, and the odds of me making it to our morning service are growing slimmer. Praise God, I was in church with the teens for fellowship last night, else I’d be even sadder.
I don’t
know how people make it without a church family for encouragement.
The teens and I watched a film called “Beware of Christians.” It was documentary by four college boys who wanted to know what lies beyond “religion” who went by faith on a journey to Europe to witness for Christ.
As most
movies it started out a little slow, and I’m sweating it because I want the
kids to enjoy it and have a good time. Well let me tell you, when teens applaud
at the end of a movie, with nobody to hear their applause but each other and
God, you know the Spirit has moved and I’m not a failure as a youth leader J
When the
title speaks of “Beware of Christians,” it’s not what you initially think. Or
at least not what I thought. It’s speaking primarily of religious Christians
which in the context of this film, I personally think most of us fit into. I’ve
witnessed very few people in my life who live their lives to the extent of the
disciples and by the instruction of Christ through the word.
These young men warn of the cause and effect of religious church goers who talk the talk but their walk doesn’t back it up. They interviewed people in the many cities they traveled, often times ending up in cities they never intended on going to. But God has His methods! They asked tough questions of young people regarding their sexual morality and spoke candidly about their own struggle. They delved into materialism and so many other topics that few Christians dare to ask themselves. Such as “Are you prepared to give up everything to serve Christ?” What does it mean to be a Christian? What things do you “need” and what things do you “need to get rid of?” Are you willing to walk away from some people because they’re unhealthy for you?
I’ll
leave much of it for you to experience should you decide to watch the movie.
You can rent it on YouTube for $1.99. This is not an endorsement, but rather an
opportunity if you’re interested.
What I wanted
to accomplish by this post this morning is to ask you what I had to ask myself
last night? What good are you for the cause of Christ? How much of an impact
are you making? What will you do differently this week because I ask you these
questions?
Because I’m not going to make it to our services this morning, I’m going to spend some time pondering these questions myself. If you’d like to share your answers or your thoughts I’d love to hear from you!
This may be the strangest blog ever, but… if you read on you’ll be encouraged.
So yesterday, as my friend Gloria and I traveled to the big
city, we had our usual babe banter going by trying to catch up on days and
weeks’ worth of news in just a few hours. Somehow or another, (as only it could
with us) we began a deep discussion of Mairzy Dotes and Dozey Dotes and Little
Lambsy Divey.
I kid you not.
She was shocked that I didn’t know that that was a children’s
pronunciation song exercise for “Mares
eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy, a kid will eat ivy too,
wouldn’t you.
Who Knew! Well, I guess plenty of people besides me. So, this
morning I’m kind of in that same mode, only with the word encouragement. En
“courage” ment. My word for the year! How had I not noticed courage in
the center of that word? I know… I’m a cheap date, it takes so little to
entertain my mind. But on days like today when I’m struggling to stay
encouraged, I’m looking for courage where ever I can find it. Maybe you are too.
Encouragment defined is:
en·cour·age·ment
/inˈkərijmənt,enˈkərijmənt/
noun
the action of giving
someone support, confidence, or hope.
persuasion to do or to
continue something.
the act of trying to
stimulate the development of an activity, state, or belief.
Every single definition is a piece of the soul winning plan!
If in this life only
we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most
miserable.
How true! And a huge part of my testimony. I was of all people
most miserable before knowing the Lord as my Savior. I knew there was a God,
but I didn’t know God. I knew I feared Hell, but did not know how to keep from
going. I needed peace, but didn’t know what it truly was until I experienced it
post salvation.
It is these words of encouragement that I need to share with
others to give them the courage to go on. To give me the courage to go on in
the ministry. You probably have a like testimony, how can you use that today to
encourage people in your life.
Then
Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
What
a sad statement by Agrippa. He was almost persuaded to be saved, but it wasn’t
for the lack of Paul passion. The preceding verses stir my soul yet today!
Acts 26: 21-26
For
these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. Having
therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to
small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and
Moses did say should come:That
Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the
dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.And
as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art
beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.But
he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth
and soberness.For the king knoweth of these things, before
whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are
hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
Nor
is it hidden today! God bears witness to every soul on earth. We know. And that
is why God’s word will not return void, because within the heart of every girl
and boy is the desire to know God.
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written,
How beautiful are
the feet of them that
preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
How beautiful! Nothing is more beautiful than seeing a soul come
to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Words can attempt to capture it but will
never do it justice like being in the presence of it happening. I have been
privileged to see so many souls come to Christ, but never enough! I long to be
used by God in such a manner. But I kid you not it takes courage.
It takes writing posts like this for myself. I need to see God’s
word in action. How about you? I hope I gave you courage today. Tell somebody
about Jesus. Post it on social media, call them on the phone, and tell them
face to face. Get the word out in every way possible. It’s a beautiful thing!
an exciting, emotional, or unexpected series of events or set of
circumstances.
A self-centered social media post for the purpose of inciting
concern by others without basis, reasoning, logic or the realization that there
are people with real problems. –
Definition added by the Jesus Chick
The Bible doesn’t
say anything about social media, because it didn’t exist in those days, but if
it had, Jezebel would have no doubt been an avid user and abuser of it. Her
husband Ahab’s page, would have no doubt been filled with vile and
self-promoting posts while Jezebel’s would have spewed hatred and slander
towards God’s people, all of which would have been shared by her 850 followers
(prophets which ate at her table). She would have no doubt intertwined those
posts with her own drama and that of her sniveling man. #IneedNabothsVineyard
#NabothWontGiveMeWhatIWant #JezebelsMyWoman #ImGoingToBedUntilIGetMyWay
That same nauseous
feeling I get when I read the story of Ahab and Jezebel killing Naboth because
he wouldn’t sell Ahab his garden (which was a family inheritance), is the same
feeling I get when I scroll the drama on Facebook.
Now granted, no one
is killing anyone for a plot of land. Or at least they’re not posting about it.
But they’re still stirring dung for the purpose of inciting anxiety – be it in
their friends or their enemies. And Christians are in the mix.
I read a post from
a “friend” who was so traumatized because someone hurt her feelings that she
felt compelled to post it on Facebook. It was one of those I’ve been hurt too
many times to count, nobody loves me but my mom and even she doesn’t understand
me posts. Insert rolled eyes here and tell me “What Would Jesus Do?”
This may not be the
godliest of posts of my own. I’ve just really had it up to my eyeballs with Mr.
and Mrs. Ahab’s drama. I need to know who told these people that their life
would be without issue. I didn’t get that memo. And lest I get a stone back
through my window, I can’t say that I’ve never vented on Facebook. But I can
tell you those times are rare and regretful.
But there
was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight
of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.
Ahab had
basically sold his soul to the Devil and his wife stirred him with a big stick.
That’s what drama does. It stirs people up and not in a good way. When Ahab
threw his temper tantrum on the bed (1 Kings 21) his wife’s solution was to
kill a man because he wouldn’t share his inheritance. That seems crazy right?
What’s
crazy is that that mentality is still alive and well. But because we have laws
that frown on murder, people kill each other with words. So here’s a thought
for you and I to ponder today.
Matthew
12:36
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak,
they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
That includes social media posts.
So perhaps my thinking is a little melodramatic. It’s not the
first time I’ve been accused of such things. But I’m not bitter.
We’re really not killing people right? But we are killing the
power of our testimony! If I see an unsaved person on a rant, I always try to
remember that they are not privileged to have the Holy Spirit dwelling within
to help them out. But the child of God is without excuse.
Our job is to edify the body of Christ and to point the lost to His saving grace. If we look back at our posts, how many qualify?
It’s a question I ask of myself today. How can I do more for the Kingdom, and less for the cause of Shari? And may I never be guilty of inciting anxiety in the world. There’s enough there already.
Solomon said that To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: (Ecclesiastes 3:1) and whether it’s physically or metaphorically we all know it to be true. Life is full of seasons. This morning in the literal sense, winter has finally hit our area of West Virginia. Snow, ice and all its splendor lies on the cold, cold ground outside and I just want to hold up in the house until the first Sunny day in March.
Sometimes I feel that
way spiritually as well. But, there are people depending on me and quite
frankly I am depending on me to get out of this winter time slump that hits the
day after Christmas. The “BRR season.”
Spiritually Barren
When I look out at the trees, with the exception of the evergreens, I see a dismal gray forest that discourages my spirit. I don’t why I’m like that, but I need color! There was a time in my life (pre-salvation) that I wanted every thing I owned, be it clothing or home décor in shades of brown. It was no wonder that I was struggling! But after I became a child of the King I needed color! Lots of color and the brighter the better. I love color! It makes me happy. And while I guess gray is technically a color, it doesn’t make me happy. It depresses me and sends me into a shell that I have to make myself come out of. Welcome to my January.
Spiritual Resignation
Oh, I know, I’m the
Jesus Chick and I’m not allowed to resign my post, but there are days when I
have moments of “wishing” that I was one of those people who didn’t feel
compelled by Holy Spirit conviction and accountability to keep on keeping on.
But wait… wouldn’t that mean I wasn’t saved? I don’t know. Ask all the people
in the world who confess Christianity but don’t feel compelled to do anything
for the Lord Jesus Christ Who was crucified for them. That may have sounded a
little bitter.
I’m in that season.
I want to do more, I
know I should be doing more, and yet my body and my aging bones say that I
should climb upon my comfy couch with a my fuzzy blanket and just stay toasty
and warm and watch the British Baking Show on Netflix.
Spiritually Reasoned
Praise God for His
longsuffering and for somewhat of a spiritually mature me. I said somewhat because
believe me when I tell you I have tantrums. But I also have been at this long enough
to know that just like winter, this too will pass. I’ll be un-frustrated with
life and find some color just waiting to be explored. I truthfully already
have. I’m revamping my website this week to include some new features. They are
filled with color! But this morning I was feeling a little BRR.
Spiritually cold. Until I began to read the word of God, and write the words of the Holy Spirit Who said, “Just bundle up and keep going. It’s cold outside but it’s warm inside of you! And the world needs to see the Lord at work.”
That message is no doubt for you too, else you’d not be here with me today. I love you and I pray that you are toasty warm, un-frustrated and ready to do some great things. If not… grab God’s word and let Him warm your soul!
Follow me @ www.theJesusChick.com, find me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
I really don’t
understand the concept of preachers who preach that a child of God will not
experience trouble, or can “speak” issues away. If that’s so, then I have some
serious issues. Well, let’s face it, I’ve got issues. But my issues are issues
with me, not God.
I have no power on my
own, but I have a mighty God Who has the ability to remove or let me travel
through any of the issues in my life. And I believe that His decision is for my
good. Of that I am a firm believer, even if I sometimes don’t particularly like
it. But if I could share an encouraging word with you today it would be the
truth of Isaiah 26:3 ~
Thou wilt keep him in perfect
peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
My bible journaling
efforts this morning was drawn from a conversation that I had with my buddy
Dewey Moede. And of a show I watched last night on Netflix. Dewey spoke of his
concerns of the day, and the many battles from many directions we face as a
Nation, and most importantly his reliance upon God. The Netflix show spoke of
the future, and their reliance upon man. Two very different perspectives. It is
unfortunate that there is likely followers of Netflix than Jesus.
Hollywood (or
Hellywood) as a preacher friend of mine calls it has a tendency to jade life.
As I watched that show last night the characters had the ability to come back
in time and “fix” what was broken in people’s lives. But even they agreed that
there were some things just beyond our control.
One of the main
characters had the ability to know historical events. Including tragedies that
had yet to happen in our time (his history, as he was from the future.) Those
events burdened his heart, as they would us, which is why God doesn’t let us
know the future. We couldn’t handle it. At least I couldn’t.
The trouble of day is
enough.
Matthew 6:34 reminds us
Take
therefore no though for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the
things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
So what about today’s
troubles. How do we handle those?
Isaiah 26:3
Thou wilt keep him in perfect
peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Perfect peace? How’s
that working for you? Not so well for me every day. But even if there are days when I have “issues”
there are no issues with my Lord.
The reason I don’t have
perfect peace is because I watch Netflix rather than reading the Word of God.
True Story! If I “stay in the word, I have peace. If I watch Netlix or spend
too much time on Social Media I allow the cares of the world to govern my
thoughts.
Mark 4:19 says it best
when it says And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the
lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
That’s exactly what
happens!
Those things that
garner our attention be it on the television, movie screen, books or computer
are often lusts that choke the word of God out of our thought processes and prevent
us from experiencing the true and perfect peace that God intends for His
people. He didn’t’ say you wouldn’t have trouble, but He did say we could have
peace in the midst.
Funny things about the
heart attack and pending surgery between May 20th and May 25th.
Netflix didn’t enter my mind. I wasn’t worried about not having the nicest
house or being the best at anything. I wanted to survive the day. And oddly
enough I had the ultimate peace. Peace that I now, 7 months later, don’t experience
because I don’t have my mind “stayed.”
Remember what I said
about encouraging you? Well… turns out I need encouraging too. And this little miniature
study of the word of God reminds us all that peace is found in one place. The
Word of God. Not in the chaos around us, not in other people, or a cup of
coffee and a piece of cake with 7 minute frosting. We need to “stay” our minds
and trust in the only trustworthy thing in the universe. God.
It’s not
an original thought. I heard a preacher close his sermon out with it this
morning, and then it was stuck in my head… which basically means that the
preacher did his job!
If
you’re a Christian you’ve likely heard the sermon, you know the salvation
message and you understand the concept. But it is so easy to lose sight of the
depth of God’s love and the extent of His forgiveness. Especially if you’re
discouraged or have feelings of unworthiness.
So just what is the extent of God’s forgiveness, lest we forget?
As far as the east is from the west
As far as the east
is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12)
That’s
pretty far wouldn’t you say? In God’s
realm, I don’t think the east ever meets the west. God took (removed) our sins
from us, and yet we so often take them back and fail to accept His gift of
forgiveness. I am the worst at rehashing failures and staying in a mindset of
defeat.
I need to remember what God chooses to forget. And that forgetting is a choice.
As deep as the ocean
Who is God unto
thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant
of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger forever, because He delighteth in
mercy. He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our
iniquities; and thou will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:18-19)
Satan would love us to view God as angry all the time. So would a few preachers I’ve heard preach. But God does not retain His anger. It doesn’t say He doesn’t get angry. I believe that with the worst, despicable sins out there, God gets angry. When a child is abused, or a heart broken by broken vows and abuse, God’s upset. But at the first sign of repentance of that sinner, God is ready and willing to forgive. The word says He delights in it! It brings God great joy for us to come to Him in search of a renewed relationship. It is then that He casts our sins in the depths of the sea. That’s not only a deep thought, that’s a deep location.
Never Void
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)
This is
a verse we often use to remind ourselves that anytime the word is preached, it
always serves a purpose. But have you thought of yourself being the recipient
of it? If God spoke it to you, it was spoken with purpose and its purpose will
be fulfilled. So when we read these verses as personal, we understand that they
are written to prosper us. To help us live a life of joy and abundance through
the price Christ paid on the cross to cover our sins.
I wrote these verses down in the back of my bible under the title “The extent of Forgiveness.” I want them handy so I can show myself, my friends and for certain Satan. He seems to need reminded a lot.
Three
points for me to ponder from the word of God as spoken by Mary the mother of
our Lord Jesus.
This
thought began early this morning but has lingered throughout the day as I
worked between one project or another all day, and couldn’t seem to get back to
what was fresh on my mind at 6 a.m.
I
love the character of Mary because I love her humility. Nobody was any more
surprised than she was that she was chosen for such a God glorifying moment.
She was carrying the Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe in her womb.
Forget that the world was trying to strip her of her good reputation, they
could not strip her of the fact that God chosen her. Nor can they strip us. We
who have decided to follow Jesus and step into His plans for us like a toddler
steps into the big shoes of their Dad. They don’t fit… yet. But we’ll grow into
to them by and by!
Mary knew that the
Rescuer Had Come!
She
may not have understood all the plan as she gave birth in that stable, but she
understood that however it was that God decided to work it out, it would work.
It’s a good thing she didn’t know how. What a burden for a mom to carry to know
that her child would be crucified for the sins of the world. Hers included. But
the Rescuer had come, His name was Jesus and He had come to save the world!
Mary knew the Rejoicing
had Cause!
The
angels in Heaven rejoiced, the shepherds and wise men rejoiced. And Mary
rejoiced. Angels had announced His birth. They filled the skies with noise, and
the hearts of those who witnessed it with wonder. Is not that the feeling we
have on the day of our own personal salvation when we discover what the Lord
has done. It was with me. I knew there was a reason to rejoice in my life.
Salvation had come and I and my world was changed.
Life
for me wasn’t perfect, nor was it for Mary. She no doubt had moments where
terror filled her heart as she was hunted down for her Son. Or maybe she was a
far better woman of faith than me and she trusted God through it all. But
whether or not she had faith 100% of the time didn’t change the heartaches that
would come in her future. But it didn’t change the promise either. Glory to
God!
Mary knew the Response
had a Calling!
Mary
knew when she had stepped into that role that God had given her that her life had
new purpose. She wasn’t just Joseph’s bride, she was the carrier of the gospel.
She would soon be a part of the ministry of her Son and with it all the
miracles and the messes it created.
That’s
the same calling we have upon us when we accept the Lord as our Savior. We too
are called to carry the gospel and to be a part of the blesses and messes that
come with service.
What’s
your response? Are you standing in Daddy’s shoes waiting for your orders or are
you still barefoot? Step in faith my friend! It’s an exciting adventure!
