Tag: christ

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Deeply Rooted

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“The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.” Matthew 13:20-21

Before we move on to another topic in our sanctification journey, I felt the need to look back at our first steps on the path.  These last few weeks we’ve discussed the importance of seeking knowledge in two ways – through group learning and individual study.  But let me clarify, all the knowledge in the world won’t lead you to Christ.  Just ask Richard Dawkins and Stephen Hawking.  The list of brilliant, atheist scientists and well-educated humanists show us that knowledge of the world, and maybe even some version of God, is not the enlightenment that brings us to our knees in thanksgiving to Jesus.

Throughout this series I’m writing to believers who have said they accept Christ as their Savior.  However, as a believer myself I also know the difference between drinking mother’s milk and eating meat.  And, how each step along my journey is designed for one purpose: to make me righteous and holy before God.  In other words, to simply bring me into a beautiful relationship with our Creator.

The scripture I started with today is our transitional on-ramp from knowledge of God to what the Bible calls “trials and tribulations.”  You see, in the parable of the Sower (Matt 13:1-13) the second (and really the first as well) person described is the one who says they accept Christ yet does not hunger and thirst for Him.  

Foundational Root System

He or she lacks the foundational roots to withstand being pulled out by the obvious and also subtle evils of the world.  They don’t know or understand God’s covenantal promises.  They don’t grasp the true nature of why Jesus came to die and rise again.  And many disdain learning of the beautiful character of God from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22.

Without this firm foundation we become, as it’s said in Matthew 8:26-27, “a foolish man who built their house on sand.”  They listen to the world tell them the Bible has numerous errors and can’t be trusted.  They hear strange interpretations or misuse of God’s Word and are sucked into mistrust.  And friend, that mistrust grows along with worries, fears and lack of peace.

I heard a Christian teacher once say, “It’s one thing to be an unhappy unbeliever but it’s a whole other shame to see a miserable Christian.”

You can see in the Sower verse the end result of lack of hungering for the Word of God.  When trouble or persecution comes, they quickly fall away  And let me tell you a truth we must accept about life – trouble comes for us all.

It Comes For Us All

"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." 1 Peter 4

Believe me, I don’t think it was a coincidence that my mother passed away when she did.  It was all in God’s timing.  And He had prepared me for that moment.  I’d been a Christian for about 20 years but I was still drinking mother’s milk until about 5 years ago.  My roots were at the surface, ready to be plucked at any time.

I’d been angry with God (and my parents) a number of times during those 20 years.  In other areas of my life, I watched as my daughters experienced various social and medical pains, we experienced financial loss, and had our share marital struggles.  Through it all I seemed to have had just enough faith to keep me on Jesus’ path.  

I’m thankful that a dear friend asked me at the end of 2018 to start leading another Bible study group.  I had backed away from leading a year prior and was struggling to get my footing in a secure relationship with God.  So, at the beginning of 2019 our small, sweet Bible Study Girls began.  Within a few short months during a study, we were asked to evaluate our faith growth.  Each of us were amazed to see how far we had progressed!

You all know what happened next, since it happened to every single person on the planet.  Covid19.  So much fear and disruption descended on us for the next couple years.  A great trial that preceded the greatest trial humankind will eventually face.  

The scripture in 1 Corinthians 10:13 was prophetic when Paul tells us, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.”  Because we know the sinful temptations, we all faced during that time were beyond counting.  For many, that trial overshadow other, everyday trials of cancer, marriage problems, addictions, lost adult children, and more.  It created new problems such as divided friendships, political outrage, boiling over anger from fear, and despair over church failures.  

My relationship with my parents deteriorated even farther as they sunk deeper into their fears.  They pulled away from society and life in general.  And my mother’s mental concerns grew.  Through this all I was learning to hold fast in trusting the Lord.  The Holy Spirit led me to a new prayer tactic.  I stopped praying for my relationship with my parents and instead I began praying for their salvation.  I prayed to love others better, as Jesus commanded.  

Stronger Roots

Let me ask you this, my friends: Did you come out the other side of COVID stronger in faith?  I hope you did.  If you didn’t, you may need to go back to step one in our journey – knowing God and His ways

Through seeking God’s word and direction, I learned in my trials to show love and forgiveness to my parents by continuing to offer help while being rejected over and over.  I learned how to love and be compassionate towards those who had fears which I didn’t understand.

My beautiful friends in Christ, you may be going through a terrible trial right now—I would love to pray for you if you want to share.  Lean into the Great Gardener.  Dig deep and plant your roots firmly in Him.  He will tend to your needs as you grow stronger and stronger.  

Next week we will take one more look at our sanctification through trials.

This week’s question: What’s something you learned about God during one of your trials?

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Ready, Set, Roll

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His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:3-8

When my oldest daughter was little, she announced the desire to roller blade.  So, we bought the skates, helmet, wrist and knee pads to embark on this new adventure.  After the first outing, which saw numerous falls, she then announced she was a complete failure and wanted to quit.  The skill building process is not one which children seem to embrace readily.  They’re easily frustrated, disappointed and prone to toss it all in the trash.  

My daughter thought that she could strap on those skates and glide her way around the neighborhood with ease – enjoying the freedom of movement and wind in her hair – without having to actually learn how to skate.

As adults we usually understand this process.  We come to realize the time and effort needed to learn a topic, skill, language, job, etc.  Yet there are still times when many of us think a lesson or two should do.  I’m reminded of this fallacy each time I take to the golf course.  As an occasional golfer, when I whiff a shot and get frustrated or even mad, I must remind myself how little I play and how rare I practice.  

What does this have to do with being sanctified in Christ?  For the past year I have been a discipleship coach with an online ministry.  The students sign up for a course, answer questions about Jesus and the Bible, and ask me their questions on Christian doctrine or scripture.  When asked why they are taking the course, all say they want a closer relationship with God and Jesus.  They say they want to grow their faith.  But my friends, here’s the truth.  Only one has completed the course.  Many don’t even start it.  I don’t take it personally.  The stats are the same throughout the program.

They have to opportunity to strap on the skates, to attain their goal of freedom in Christ yet they don’t want to learn how to do it.  So, I have to ask you, do you want to learn how to grow in your faith, in your relationship with Jesus?  Do you really?  It’s not a passive activity.  Sanctification doesn’t just descend upon you and poof you’re fully changed.  The Holy Spirit prompts us, presents opportunities for growth, and when we step forward, He changes us.  

Let’s go back to the scripture at the top of the page.  There’s a word repeated throughout which leads us to not only being an effective and productive member of Christ’s kingdom but also how to grow closer to God.  Do you see it?

Knowledge.

That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.  You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:20-24

When you accept Jesus as your LORD and Savior, God isn’t expecting you to strap on your skates and head off onto the nearest beach boardwalk skating and dancing gracefully to the tune of Boogie Nights.  No, He says, “Follow Me.”  Learn from Me, watch Me, imitate Me.  Change with Me, while the Holy Spirit holds your hand.

How do we do this?  Today let’s talk about knowing God and I mean really knowing God – as much as He allows. Knowing Jesus’ words and understanding as much as the Holy Spirit wants to reveals to us.  Our faith is built on the truths of God so we can stand firm on the battlefield.  So that when we slip and fall, we can know we are still loved and forgiven.  We accomplish this with His help both congregationally and individually. Today we will roll into the topic of congregational learning, why and how to seek it plus, tips on preparing yourself for the best experience.

When Jesus called the disciples, He didn’t just hang out with them.  He taught them.  The entire book of Matthew is Jesus teaching these disciples what the Kingdom of God is actually about and how the citizens of the kingdom act, think and love.  It wasn’t by osmosis.  It was by sitting at the feet of a teacher and putting what was learned into practice – an internship program of sorts.  

In modern times we call that going to church.

Friend, if you’re one of those folks that thinks they don’t need to go to church because it’s “just a building” or you were hurt by another believer in a church, and you are learning to skate all by yourself, then you don’t know the full Word of God.  Scripture after scripture tells us, even admonishes us, to gather to hear the Word and to worship Him.

God’s Holy Word calls us to commune with other believers in our process of sanctification.  Jesus didn’t just call one person, He called 12.  And then hundreds sat at His feet.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42

The Sermon on the Mount might be considered the first large church meeting.  People gathering to hear the teaching of Jesus about the Kingdom of God.  He gave insight to the Law they’d never heard before.  They were blessed, convicted, and fed.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.  For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Hebrews 10:25-27

Did you catch all the reasons to go to church? To show love to each other; to do good works with each other; to encourage one another; and don’t miss this one – to gain knowledge to help us not to go on sinning.

When you trust in Jesus you are made a member of the body of Christ – not just an independent body part.  You need the body and the body needs you to learn to roll with God. Choosing a church or group should reflect your thirst for learning God’s Word and desire to worship Him.  

This week, if you aren’t in a church, start looking and visiting.  Before you go try and look up the church online.  Search for their “what do we believe” page. If they don’t have a page like that, I recommend you skip that church.  Be prepared to visit a number of churches.  If you want some tips on what to look for in a church, ask in the comments below!

Meeting together is not a choice in God’s view.  It is not only a place to be uplifted by other believers but also to gain knowledge and wisdom about Him.  Without this, we are prone to believe so many of the devil’s lies about God.  It’s a commitment to life-long learning so we can step out and skate into the truth and freedom from sin.

Your church should be a place of spiritual growth.  A teaching environment, not a personal counseling session intended to make you feel good for a bit.  Sermons should leave you thinking, contemplating on your obedience to God’s will, not how it’s ok to disobey God.  They should bring you new insight into scripture, not creating new scripture.  The teaching must be God focused, not you focused.  

Here’s some tips on being in the right mind before you walk into church or even Bible study this week:

  1. Pray and be in joyful anticipation that you will learn something new about God today. Romans 10:17, Psalms 119:16
  2. Think with eagerness on how you get to worship God today. Hebrews 13:15
  3. Be watchful, excited and intentional about how you can be a cheerful, welcoming, or comforting person to someone else in the congregation (especially looking for people you don’t recognize). Hebrews 3:13, 1 John 4:12
  4. Take what you have learned and teach someone else. 1 Peter 3:15

Friends, this coming Sunday so many of you get to hear God’s Word taught without fear of persecution like so many of the early Christians experienced.  Some Christians, as in Syria and Egypt, face this still today.  When you plan out your weekend be sure that God is first on your list of skill building opportunities you want to do.  He is waiting to see you roll in, ready to praise, pray, learn and love.

This week’s question: What do you (honestly) think is the most important decision in choosing a church?

Next week’s post: Your individual search for knowledge and wisdom

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Day 30 In Christ Alone

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“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. Psalm 62:1

Earlier this year I trained to be a discipleship coach for an online ministry.  Anyone who searches the internet using certain, key words may encounter the link which offers a free course called Knowing Jesus.  People from all over the world work through the free  course seeking to grow closer to God through the truth of Christ, the Holy Spirit and the Bible.

I recently had a student who said Jesus was a very obedient servant of God.  While that is true, I told her that limited view of Jesus doesn’t ensure we understand the full holiness and deity of Christ.  I explained to her Jesus was fully man and fully God, a sometimes confusing concept.  I asked if that information was new to her, a self-professed, occasionally attending church Christian.  She replied,  “Yes.”  

That one word actually made me sad.  Sad over how the “church,” meaning we, the body of believers have sometimes failed to make clear the place that Jesus sits in heaven.  How we have failed to loudly celebrate that only Christ can be the one to cleanse us of our sins so we can, with His cloak of purity laden over our shoulders, come before the Father.  And the way churches, fellow believers allow our friends and neighbors to remain in the dark about the love the Trinity has shown all humanity  —  when God humbled Himself to walk among us and give us the message of eternal life.

You see, without seeing Jesus in His rightful Holy position we also can’t look to Him for all hope and strength and peace.  Because no average man can give us that.  No, it takes a King of Kings, a Lord of Lords, a solid cornerstone.  Christ alone.

Jesus, the man, was tender, strong, felt pain, and was ever obedient to His Father.  At the same time, Jesus, the Word in flesh, was sinless, wise, merciful, a healer, a life-giver, prescient, could calm storms, and fill nets and endless food baskets.  But most of all Jesus the Holy One was the required sacrifice for our forgiveness of sins.  

He gave His all for us  He suffered much for us.  He loved tremendously for us.

When this same student mentioned she’s too tired on Sundays to regularly attend church, I told her I too used to think church was just another thing on my to-do list.  But when I realized the amazing gift that He gave us in Christ I was compelled to worship Him in gratitude and submission.  Instead of obligation, church became a soul-filler.  When I lift my hands up to Him in love, He reaches back to me through the Holy Spirit and grabs hold of me.  I know that nothing else in this world can ever pluck me from His hands.  He will never let me go.  He brings us home in victory.

If you don’t have this relationship with Christ, call on Him today.  Give Him your all.  And the Lord of All will give all eternity to you.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the past 30 days of Worship as much as I have!  If you missed any posts, I’ve compiled the entire series here.  Please share with your friends today to support this ministry and help be a light out into the darkness.

To listen to today’s song, click here: In Christ Alone

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Day 25 For All My Life

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“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.  Mark 8:34-35
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight  Proverbs 3:6

I’ll admit that for almost half of my life I relied on one person to resolve all my problems, to quell my fears, and to help me succeed in life.  Myself.  While I did a decent job of pulling myself up and around by my own boot straps, I also did a bang up job of living a life of stress, anxiety and worry.  When I met my husband, he called me the queen of “woulda, coulda, shoulda.”

In other words, I would regret and worry about every single decision I made.  If I “fixed it” and it didn’t turn out very good then I was also the one to take much of the blame.  I leaned heavily on my own understanding.  The burden became unbearable.  I put the same pressure on friends, family and acquaintances to take on the same responsibility.  When they didn’t, I would look on with annoyance that they weren’t doing life “right.” 

That type of living doesn’t keep quality relationships.  It definitely doesn’t bring joy and love and goodness.  

The study I did this summer on being a slave to Christ (Slave by John MacArthur) has further revealed to me how being owned by Jesus is so much easier than being a slave to a sinful life outside His will.  When we let Him take the lead and shine the light on our paths, we can take a deep breath of fresh air.  We view troubles, challenges or even failures in a different light.

We may not always see our life with Christ as a straight and beautiful path of goodness.  But that’s just the world trying to speak back into us.  As long as we have our eyes always on Jesus it doesn’t matter what seems uncertain.  The North Star is always where it should be even if the road is a bit squiggly.  He will guide you right to Him.

Click here to listen: For All My Life

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Day 14 Lion

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Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. Revelation 1:7
Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around.  His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees andtrembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. Psalm 97:1-6

So often when we share our faith we talk about the gentle love of God.  He comforts us in our sorrows.  He counsels us in our pain.  He provides for us in our time of need.  While this is all true, we can’t forget the basis for why we can be comforted.  Why we know one day our pain will disappear.  The hope that we have through God’s promised victory is the foundation for all that we believe.  That one day we will stand beside our conqueror, Christ, in heaven.

Our gentle Lamb of God is the Lion of Judah.  The God who destroyed evil nations, who moves mountains, who promises that justice will be His in the final battle, that is also our God.  While we may romanticize Jesus during His time here on earth as humble and gentle, we need to remember the Jesus who cleared the temple with a whip.  The one who called the Pharisees, who distorted the Word of God, vipers and evildoers.  He was quiet and gentle at times because of a strength that no man can imagine.  

When we feel sorrow over the ways of this world, we need to remember two truths.  The first is that nothing that is happening is new.  The words of Peter, James, Paul, and Jesus attest to that.  The disciples who were killed for nothing more than proclaiming their faith in God’s son are just another scene played out for centuries before and after.  Injustice, violence and evil perpetrated by people who deny the sovereignty of God.  

If we sit and marinate in the knowledge of these evils, we too dismiss the second truth – the power of God and promise of things to come.  It is that power and the written account of future events which lift us.  We see the glory of God bringing His sword of justice to all mankind.  With no one escaping judgement.  No one. 

We don’t know the day or time.  But we should always plan as though it is today.  Acting, speaking, loving, and doing in such a way as Jesus has ordained us.  Spreading the word of His coming justice to truly ease our pain.  And the hope of salvation from eternal damnation.  Through our belief in Jesus Christ, who died for our punishable sins, we can stand in assurance of God’s coming roaring, glory.  

Click here to listen to today’s song: LION

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Day 13 Blessings Everywhere

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Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11: 28-30
From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised! Psalms 113:3

I’ve given this assignment to women I’ve discipled in the past.  For a week keep a small notebook with you.  As you go through your day make note of all the good things around you or that have been given you.  It might be you found a deal while shopping, a nice text was sent you, or even just that you had a good night sleep.  If nothing seems obvious that day there’s always the fact that you had a place to sleep, food in your refrigerator, the sun rose again and you received one more day to serve the Lord.

I’ll admit this assignment was born out of the fact that I’ve lived most of my life as a pessimistic person.  When I started my day what first was on my mind were the problems I faced or imagined.  Nothing was going to work out the way I’d hoped.  If it did, I’m sure something else bad would happen to ruin it.  What an exhausting, burdensome way to live.  But my friend, I know for certain I’m not the only one to suffer this way of existence.  

I thought positive people, especially Christians, were just blind to reality.  And I was sure I’d be the one cleaning up the mess they never imagined.  Not only was this prideful it’s not the reality of God.  There may be some truth to this way of thinking because this world is full of evil, riddled with tragedy and pain.  But when we seek to live for Christ and become yoked with Him, He opens our eyes to the new sunrise each day.  He removes the scales and a whole new world is open to us.  

Our new reality, which can only be achieved through the belief in our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit’s power, leads us down a path that sees our breath each day as a blessing.  That acknowledges so much beauty and good around us, especially in times of trouble. Sometimes we just need God to help us see it.  There truly are blessings wherever we go or wherever we stay.  Thank you Lord.

Click here to listen to today’s song: Blessings Everywhere

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Day 12 Rattle!

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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 2 Corinthians 5:17-18
This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’  Ezekiel 37:5-6

Sometime last year I began a new morning routine.  I had heard a great podcast from White Horse Inn about how each morning we are faced with the return of our old self like a mummy at the foot of our bed rising up. Each day we need to call on the Holy Spirit to help us kill off that old self and instead dress our minds, hearts and bodies with the new self which Christ has bestowed upon us.  

So, each morning before my feet hit the floor, before I pick up my phone, I lay in bed picturing that old me that seems to so easily want to rear its ugly head.  I pray to my Father to do the seemingly impossible – bring the new me to life.  To guide me in the fruits of the Spirit in order to serve Him to the fullest.  It’s His resurrection power that brings that new me to life.

I have to laugh when unbelievers (and some believers) say the truths in the Bible are lies because the miracles and events defy logic and “laws of nature.”  Folks, He created the cosmos.  He brought us and every living thing seen and unseen into existence.  That sounds like a being that can do absolutely anything.  Heal blind men with spit and dirt, darken the sun, make a woman from a rib, and yes, resurrect the dead.

The LORD God can bring the worst sinner back to life, back into sync with His plan.  I know, I’ve got quite a few sins in my own past.  And that’s exactly where I want to keep them.  I want to live refreshed, renewed, reborn. 

Click here to listen: Rattle!

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Day 9 Another In The Fire

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for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”  Hebrews 13:5-6
It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you.  Do not fear or be dismayed.  Deuteronomy 31:8

According to studies, about 40 percent of Americans reported regularly feeling lonely in 2010.  But loneliness isn’t just about how many friends you have or if you are around family.  It’s also not about solitude, which many people enjoy and seek at times.  More recent research tells us that loneliness is more about the quality of those relationships.  

My friend Andrea and I recently embarked on a volunteer discipleship program where we connect with people who see posts about Jesus on-line through PeaceWithGod.net.  People from all over the world can connect with Christians and ask all manner of questions about our faith.  If they so desire, they can take a free discipleship course that goes deeper into our relationship with God.  After just two days of volunteering, I realized a sad truth – people are desperate to be seen and feel connection.

God seems to have blessed us with this innate desire to be in communion, not only with other humans, but with the Creator, Himself.  We feel alone when those connections are broken or maybe have never come to fruition.  And for some reason we tend to pull away from the one source of never-ending, lavish love Jesus gave us a glimpse of while here in the flesh.  

We turn to fleshly desires to quench this need.  Food, sexual pleasures, escapism, alcohol, drugs, shopping, hobbies – all distractions from the fountain of life.  They all stand between us and God.  

Friend, if you are feeling lonely or abandoned by those who should love you come to Jesus.  He is the other one in the fire of life protecting you.  He wants to shower you with love and bring you into His glorious light.  You need only believe that this God sent His son to die for us and re-unite us with Him.  He’s waiting in the battle you face right now to give you His peace, give you His joy.

Click here to listen: Another In The Fire

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Day 8 Honey In The Rock

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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?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:26-27
By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas; Psalm 65:5

There’s been a few times in my 36 years of marriage when we experienced serious financial loss.  The first time it was devastating.  I felt lost and unsure of our future.  It was hard not blaming and feeling angry.  I wasn’t a woman of faith at the time so I turned inward to chastise myself over and over and then outward condemning anyone associated with the loss.  I dwelt over it, turning the situation around in my head during endless, sleepless nights.  Each time I drove past the business project in which we had invested the scab was re-opened and for days I would feel those same feelings all over again.

Fast forward many years when my husband’s business and another investment came under dramatic assault due to Covid restrictions and fear.  We saw all that we had built potentially crumbling beneath us.  This loss was potentially greater, effecting our retirement and even our home.  This time, however was different.  

I frequently found myself at peace.  Sure, I’d get scared.  I’d worry about the stress my husband was under.  This time I had someone to tell me there was a purpose to the plan.  To tell me He would give us the manna and the honey because He is the Lord who provides.

We have two choices to make when difficulties attack our lives.  We can turn to our emotions and fears or we can turn to Jesus.  When we allow our fears to take over, we get angry, we blame, we get depressed.  For people like me I wear myself out alternately beating myself up (you shouldn’t have taken that vacation last year!  That money could help us now!) or obsessing over how to fix an unfixable problem.  For some they withdraw from the world all together feeling hopeless.

When I finally learned, and most of all believed, that God is who we turn to satisfy and squash our fears I experienced freedom.  He is a miracle worker.  He can bring water from a stone.  Turn water into wine.  No matter what we face in the coming years we need to remember to seek God for all we need.  Pray, praise and trust then repeat.

I’m having some issues with the webpage provider correctly linking the songs from the button below. So try clicking here: Honey In The Rock.

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Enjoy The Right Side of Life Part Two

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Did you miss part one? Click here!

We need to put the best people on the horses and don’t apologize for it.”  

Warren Wiersbe

I have to ask you – who have you placed as your “experts” in life?  Your “ruler who sits on the horse,” (Ecc 10:6&7) who is ready to lead you into battle?  Are they leading you in the right hand life of Christ or in the left hand life of folly?  How can you know?  The Bible.  It is the preserved Word of God that does not change, no matter the era or point in history.

When faced with people who think following the truth and wisdom of the Bible say that’s “old fashioned” or irrelevant today, all you really need to do is read through the entire book of Ecclesiastes to see Solomon’s study of life in his age.  We are no different.  We want what we want and we want it now.  Preferably served with a slice of fun and merriment.

If you want to rejoice in the “right hand” life (by the way,  the word “sinister” comes from the Latin word meaning “on the left hand”… sorry again lefties), what do we need to do?  

Look to and at Jesus like we do our cell phones.  When we abide in Him, we experience abundance.”  

Pastor Ryan Paulson

When I heard this a few weeks ago at church it really hit home.  I carry my phone around in my back pocket throughout my small home.  I can hear the phone ring from any room in my house.  Yet I keep it close.  I look at it even when it hasn’t rung or chimed in a while just to make sure I haven’t missed a call or text.  

“One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.” Psalm 27:4

That’s how we need to place God – right in our back pocket.  Right in front of our face.  Not in a drawer we pull out in times of trouble or a couple times a year.  We dust off our Bibles, we sign up for Bible study (and actually do the work and attend), we find a church that is biblically based, not wishy washy.  We commune — not on-line in a faceless, non-participatory way — with other Christians to help bolster us and them.  We make God our expert, our Lord and our Holy King.

“If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed.” Ecclesiastes 10:10

Do you need to sharpen up your edge so that you can cut through the lies of this life?  A knife so sharp we can spot the people we should and shouldn’t allow to guide us in the right handed life?  

It’s time to learn that the way we’ve always done “life” may not be working out so great for us.  We are weak and feel so much rejection from the left hand way of the world.  It’s time to step up and rejoice!  To enjoy a life of strength and wisdom and acceptance given to us freely by God.  The God we put squarely in the center of lives, riding us onward into victory.

"For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;he will lift me high upon a rock. 6And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord."  Psalm 27:5 & 6