Month: October 2023

Make God’s Word Louder!

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With arms loaded with bags, I walk toward my car in the grocery store parking lot.  I have been jumping about from store to store all day and the exhaustion is wearing on me.  Daily tasks, daily chores, and daily work – we all have them.  Life does not allow us to be sedentary.  So, off we go on the adventure and calling of the day’s demands.

Carrying my bags, I approached the car when a gentle reminder of God’s presence appeared to me.  There, bouncing about underneath, a little sparrow getting on with his day reminds me of the sovereign and omniscient hand of the Lord in my life.  The thought of Him that knows the life of that little sparrow knows me also, even to the point that all the hairs on my head are numbered, fills me with encouragement.

Jesus, Himself, tells us, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31). 

Yet, many awake to experience news that shatters and devastates their day.  And in the middle of it all, fear tries to have a voice.  Through uncertain and unsettling times, fear tries to magnify itself. 

But I want to encourage you today, no matter how many bags of stuff you are carrying and no matter how hard the work of life before you may be, make God’s Word louder!  If there was ever a time when we needed to drown out the world’s noise and build ourselves even more in the Word of God, that time is now!

God’s Word contains the perfect recipe for a well-ordered life, with its challenges and successes.  Our response and reaction to the times we live in are found in the perfect truth written in those pages.  It is always right and always true, not only for the days in which it was physically written but for today as well.  God’s Word never goes out of style.  The psalmist said, “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever” (Psalm 119:160). 

What that means for us is it is never faulty (Psalm 33:4) and it will never fail (Joshua 23:14; 1 Kings 8:56). 

So, Jesus speaks comfort in the Word against the chaos around, and He speaks faith and strength against fear.  His word can build you up (Acts 20:32), encourage you, and save you if you let it (James 1:21).  Paul taught, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” (Colossians 3:16).  Fill yourself with more of Him.  The more we are filled with the Word, the less room we have in our being for junk.  A healthy Christian fills his/her appetite with the good, nourishing power of the Word of God: “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts” (Jeremiah 15:16). 

Friend, make God’s Word louder in your life.  One surefire way to do that is to get it into your heart richly, overflowing His joy, truth, peace, and comfort in your life. 

Here are some promises of assurance to store in your heart and turn up the volume of your faith today to make God’s Word louder against all the other noise you hear:

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” – Isaiah 41:10

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.  Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:” – Isaiah 26:3, 4

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.  It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.” – Proverbs 3:5-8

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” – Romans 8:31

Who indeed?  Friend, there are so many written promises God has deposited and inspired in His Word that I cannot possibly write them all here.  But if you desire more, and I hope that you do, just read the Word, for the whole of His Holy Book speaks of Him and His promises both now and forever.

His Word is speaking louder against the troubles we see.  It is saying, that He is with us and that we don’t have to be afraid: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). Believe it.

No More…

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When brokenness is healed, the recovery of wholeness is known.

When wrongs are made right, sorrow and tears are no more.

How often do we look for days like that during our living?  Alas, we are not promised the absence of these worldly foes.  The promise we do have and hold so dear is that one day their grip on us will be no more.

The thought of “no more” is a beautiful thought.  It’s not the joys of life we want to erase.  Nor the happy moments we seek an exit from.  Rather, it’s the things that squeeze our hearts with pain and despair.  The things that press upon us like a heavy weight that we can’t seem to get relief from, searing us with sadness and dread, and so we seek to get away from it as fast as we can. 

But despite it all, we have an assurance that we won’t face these days forever.  There will come a time when their mark will be but a distant memory. 

With faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and His shed blood giving us access to heaven, those within the walls of that beautifully eternal city will no longer be associated with the disturbances of living that being in this flesh brings. 

There, there will be peace unimaginable and joy inexpressible.  Because there, the things we warred against and worried over in this flesh will be no more.  Instead, there the hand of our loving heavenly Father reaches out and gently and tenderly wipes the tears of what we experienced fighting through this life on earth, away. 

I try to imagine the absolute freedom that will bring.  I try to think of the final release of letting everything go from here that we dealt with, what will it be like?

It may be hard to imagine what that time of no more will look like while we are still in this flesh. So, we hold on to His promises for dear life that strengthen our daily hope for that day.  Because we know when the Bible says, “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes” (Revelation 7:17), that promise is our very real reality when all this will pass away.

No more.  What could you do if you didn’t have to deal with _______________ no more? 

Although we are not there yet, we can foster an environment that will shore up our faith for the wonderful future that awaits us.

Some principles we can incorporate are:

  • Watch and pray.  “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).  Remain vigilant and be on guard against any detractors in contradiction of your holy destiny.
  • Feed your faith.  “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,” (Jude 1:20).  The authority of what you have coming as a holy inheritance is based on what Christ has already done, and what the Word promises is yours.  Continue to feed on that Word like a starved man seeking to be truly filled. 
  • Live honorably for that day.  “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom” (James 3:13).  Continue to live what you believe to be true and right.  Your daily steps will speak more about who you really are than a million well-to-do messages ever will.
  • And produce the Fruit of the Spirit.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).  Your living is not just for your own inheritance, but to help others see the light (Matthew 5:16) so they will be drawn to experience Him who can give them the gift of “no more,” too. 

These principles will help to keep your heart, mind, and faith concentrated on the reward ahead and not the messes of today. 

The idea of no more may seem hard to comprehend, but the realness of it is as sure as God Himself wiping every tear from your eyes.  It will come to pass.

Jesus Loves You To The End!

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“Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end,” John 13:1

The love of Jesus is unwavering and our rock-solid truth to stand upon through the storms and trials of life.

Eventually, the love of friends fades.  As years go by, we grow up and move on with our lives.  Even some familial relationships can wane with the passing of time.  But there is one love that never quits on you.  His promise was to never leave you nor forsake you, Heb. 13:5.  He showed His devotion to His disciples right up to the end.  And daily, He shows His devotion to each and every one of us by continually being there for us, loving us, interceding for us, and hearing us when we call.

I am personally amazed at His undying devotion to us.  Through all of our faults, shortcomings, and mess, He still stays committed to us even “to the end.”  This is a source of comfort and reassurance for them that are His.  Despite the tragedies of life or how much we feel like we are not measuring up, we have a Savior, nay a friend that sticks closer than a brother, Pro. 18:24.

The times and tides of life may ebb and flow, come and go, but Jesus is our stable and trustworthy source never to be moved.  He is committed completely to you in love. Somebody once said, “It isn’t over ‘til it’s over!”  And since we are here today, alive and with breath in our bodies, it’s not the end.  Bolster your faith and encourage your heart today in the great truth that no matter what it may look like right now, Jesus loves you to the end! 

Photo Credit: Wallpaper4god

God Invites Us to Prayer

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God invites us to prayer. Pray over the burdens you carry. Pray over the disappointments you feel. Pray for your family. Pray for your loved ones. Pray for the condition of this world. 𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓫𝓵𝓮𝓶, 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓪𝓻𝓮, 𝓫𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓶 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓛𝓸𝓻𝓭 𝓲𝓷 𝓹𝓻𝓪𝔂𝓮𝓻.

“I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path…” Psalm 143:1-3

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

Christ is Our Life

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“ When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:4

Presence is powerful and so is present. He whose presence is presently with you is our powerful force to lean upon through life’s challenges and adversities.

When I hear the word “is,” I see it as a fact, and I see it as present, whatever is being referred to.  Reading in the first part of Colossians 3:4, the words, “Christ, who is our life…” stuck out to me, begging me to do a further investigation because “Christ is our life”, is #1, a fact, and #2, the reality of it is very true right now.

Often, the threatening tides that arise from storms in this life have a way of overwhelming people.  But when people are secure in truth, how much better they will be when riding through the uncertainties of life?

Because situations and circumstances may entertain thoughts of uncertainty, there is one thing we can be rock solid sure of, and that is if you are a believer in Christ, and your life is hidden with Him (Colossians 3:3), then He is fact and presently your life today.  There is no variance in this truth.  There are no ifs and buts.  Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” (John 14:6).  He is our life!

This is so important for us to get into our hearts.  We will not escape this life without being challenged by hurts, pain, disappointments, and trials.  Jesus assured us they will come (John 16:33; see also 1 Peter 4:12).  It is what we decide to do with them that matters.  It is the filter we use to process them that will make all the difference.

I must confess, I am an avid coffee drinker.  Through my years of enjoying this simple pleasure, I have had incidents with certain filters that tried to ruin the experience of my morning cup.  These filters didn’t strain the coffee in the way I was accustomed to.  Which is but one of the reasons I normally don’t order coffee out.  I, 99% of the time (give or take), will make my own because I am very specific about how I want my cup to taste (admittedly, I do pack a coffee machine and coffee in my luggage when I travel because I want to make it myself, the way I like it).

For our lives and the challenges we face, we need to be even more specific.  Our filter of choice matters because it will help you to clear out what is not true so that you can enjoy the pureness of what is.  Knowing that Christ is our life, allowing that truth to separate fact from fiction, will help us to endure challenging times because it is not only again, fact, but it also assures us it is our present truth.

In the middle of hardships, both things are difficult to see and remember.  Troubles can be like walking through thick fog where it’s challenging to see clearly, so you become disoriented about the truth of your position.  But again, Jesus speaks, “I am the way, the truth, and the life…”

He is our life.  That’s our position now that we are in Him.  Everything we hope for today and tomorrow in the believer’s life is founded and based upon the truth that Jesus Christ is our Lord.  He is the filter through which we must process every experience, every high and low.  The Apostle Paul verified this by saying, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). 

Because of what Christ has done on the cross.  Because of this life of faith that we now are secured in – everything, every challenge, every adversity, has Christ as our filter because He is our life.  Whatever speaks against that ultimate truth is a lie.

If you have had the experience of being saved and making Jesus Christ Lord of your life, then yes, you may still face difficult days, but what those days appear like will not always be how it is.  The Bible tells us, “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:4). 

We can stand boldly today because we know upon Whom we stand: Jesus, the Savior of our life and our soul.  Let Him be the light you look to, and the hope you rest upon every day. 

“For in him we live, and move, and have our being…” (Acts 17:28).  “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power” (Colossians 2:9, 10). 

Jesus is the answer for our salvation, our help, our healing, our worries, and our woes (John 3:16; Acts 4:12; Philippians 4:6-7; Matthew 4:23-24; Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 5:7; John 14:1; Matthew 11:28-30).  He is our life and the unshakable hope upon which we stand.  That is a right now fact.

“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” – 1 John 5:11

“For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” – Romans 5:17

“In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” – John 1:4

“Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.” – John 14:19

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” – John 10:10

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” – 1 John 5:12

“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” – John 20:31

Porch Moments

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At the time of this writing, I have a sink full of dishes waiting for me to tend to them.  Normally my routine is to stay caught up on chores such as these, but this day, I decided the dishes could wait.

As we are coming down to the end of the warmer season, I have felt the drive in me to make sure I grab bits of it to savor before it all goes to sleep for the winter.  So sometimes, things I want done, according to my normal routine, can wait because the days of enjoying lounging with a book on the porch are going to be fewer, and then down to none, the closer we draw deeper into the changing seasons.

And that’s okay.  The book of Ecclesiastes tells us about a time for everything and of the different seasons under the sun (Ecclesiastes 3:1-13).  Everything has its proper place in our lives, including the enjoyment of grabbing these small, but significant moments. 

As we are coming into what I call our “tucking in” time, and as the days of their cold seem to hang around well past their prime, we will yearn and wish for these “porch moments”.  We will plan, dream, and look forward to revisiting these simple pleasures of life.

While each season brings its own pleasures and reasons for gratefulness, the ones we can’t touch during that time are the ones we ponder about, wishing we had grabbed more of those momentary pleasures.

Life really adds up to something beautiful when we find the value in every day we have been given, regardless of the season.  But while we are here, enjoy what’s before you today.  Invest in the time you have with those you love and spend time with them now.

It is inevitable that the seasons of life will change.  So today, step into whatever your “porch moment” is and enjoy the gift of that present time that God has blessed you with.

Life is not all about work, pursuing, or being all that you can be.  Those are important and have their place on our schedules.  But so do rest, and just taking a free moment to breathe, step back, and enjoy this beautiful life God has given.  We are here.  Look up from your work – not to be lazy or idle, but to make space in it all to simply savor your own “porch moment”, whatever it may look like.  For one day, you’ll wish you had.

There is good to be found in every moment God has given.

“I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.  And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.” – Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

“There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.” – Ecclesiastes 2:24

“Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.” – Ecclesiastes 8:15

“The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.” – Psalm 126:3

“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalm 118:24

“I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” – Psalm 27:13

Isn’t life good?

Staying Open to the Sound of the Savior | 4 Steps to Implement Today

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Open communication is one of the keys to a healthy relationship. What many of us forget is that communication is a two-way street between the one who is speaking and the one who is listening. Or, supposed to be listening…

Years ago, I was in a conversation with someone.  Admittedly, I unintentionally tuned out at one point during our talking.  I wasn’t trying to be rude, nor was there a lack of interest in the conversation.  It was just one of those moments, probably due to exhaustion of the day, where I momentarily glazed over and responded to what I heard without really knowing what was being said.

Imagine my embarrassment when my friend turned to me and said, “You didn’t hear what I just said, did you?”

I had to admit that I had not and apologized to her for my lack of proper attention.

But I must ask, how attentive are we when Jesus is speaking?  Have we familiarized ourselves so much with Him, with His Word, that we have become almost complacent and desensitized upon hearing it?  Like a teenager rolling their eyes over a mother’s request to clean their room again?

As His people, His sheep, we above all others should be very interested in the words of our Lord.  Mary was, and she planted herself at His holy feet in anticipation of what He would say next (Luke 10:39).

Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice . . .” (John 10:27).  They know Him and are known of Him.  They are tuned into His heart and the words that flow from there. 

Others around may not believe.  Naysayers and the world may not be interested in hearing what He says.  But when His voice speaks, our ears and our hearts need to be receptive to His truths.

In our age, people have made themselves susceptible and open to many things, doctrines, and voices.  But our relationship and closeness to the Lord should want more.  More than what others seek.  And more than a quick fix or a drive-thru Sunday sermon.

The intimacy we have in knowing Him and being known by Him should keep the ears of our hearts in ready anticipation of Him speaking.  Stay open, my friend, to the sound of the Savior.  Stay receptive to His voice, because what He says is always in line with the Father (John 12:49-50).  When He opens His mouth, it is never frivolous but always with the purpose of teaching, exhorting, healing, delivering, and so much more.  When His voice is heard, it is to guide us, as our Good Shepherd, through our days, our decisions, and our destiny in Him. 

So, how do we get better at staying open to the sound of the Savior?  Here are a few steps you can begin to implement today.

  1. Prioritize what you allow in the hearing of your space throughout the day.  Everything you hear is not good for you.  As much as depends on you, you can choose to filter what you willingly listen to.  Not only are we encouraged in Philippians 4:8 about what to think on, but God’s Word in general stands as the ultimate filter to the noise that tries to enter our space daily.  We do not have to entertain contrary speech. Tune in to what is truly important and tune out what is not.
  2. Give opportunity and make room for His speaking.  Position yourself with the opportunity in mind that I want to hear from Him.  Whether through His Word, sermons, or other means, we are welcoming His voice in the environment of our daily living.  In our hurried world that is cluttered with all kinds of noise, it is our responsibility to make sure that we have quiet time to do just what Mary did, and that was to just sit at His feet and listen.
  3. Hear not only with your ears or through the words you read on the page but hear with your heart.  Many can hear but do not perceive.  Many heard Jesus speak audibly in the crowds but the words He spoke were never ingested into their very being, causing Him to say, “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 13:9).  Like in the parable of the Sower, the soil of their hearts, the place that nurtures the seed/word, must be good ground and receptive (Matthew 13:3-23).  Jesus speaks for challenge and for change, but none of it will do any good if the listener is not willing to take it in and recognize it for the truth that it is.  
  4. Steward His words well.  When you hear, what do you do next?  When it is taken in, see how this applies to you now or in your present circumstance.  What is the takeaway?  What can you do with what you have heard?  Jesus never speaks with the intention of His words being placed on the shelf like a forgotten piece of beautiful artwork.  It is to be used, applied and lived out in one’s life.  He said, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock” (Matthew 7:24).   

Friends, what Jesus speaks is for the instructing and building of our lives.  He said, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).  Stay open to His voice, receive what He says, and follow Him. The voice of the Shepherd is calling out to you today.

More articles of interest to help you on your journey to better hear from the Savior:

“Tuning In and Tuning Out”

“Doers of the Word” 

“Are We There Yet?”

“Jesus Teaches His Followers”

“When the Father Speaks”

“A Good Steward”

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“And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability…” Matthew 25:15

So often when one speaks of the idea of stewardship the mind automatically travels down the road to finances. The overall idea of finances and stewardship has been linked together for ages, even since the Bible times – and that’s a correct assessment. I want us to look beyond the management of “talents,” looking rather to talents. Huh!

Well, we have the Bible definition to deal with and then we have our English definition. Talents in the Bible refer to 3,000 shekels of silver while one’s talent in the English refers to that special something that God had planted on the inside of each of us. That skill or ability that comes so naturally, it just flows from one’s being. I think the idea of stewardship or being a manager can nicely encompass those God-given delectables on the inside of each of us.

I really think it is something special that God created these two words, though spelled the same, yet have different meanings, and then, gave a management directive over both of them. Paul charged Timothy and said, “Neglect not the gift that is in thee,” (1 Timothy 4:14). Paul knew that God had bestowed something amazing on the inside of this young man, yet, if it were going to prosper and flourish in him, he would have to pay careful attention to guard it.

Ask any gardener about the care that they take of their land once the seed has been planted. There are many steps to ensure growth. Just as with Adam in the Garden of Eden, God has planted the seed but has given each of us the charge to nurture it. That’s what stewardship is all about. Being careful to manage the thing/gift that God has put me in charge of.

Do you know how much the world needs the unique stuff that God has placed inside you? There can be a million preachers. There can be a million teachers. There can be a million givers. There can be a million ushers, janitors, authors, or whatever! There can be a million of anything that can be fathomed, but nobody can do it like YOU!

You are special. You are unique. Stop hiding your talents, your skills, that special something that God put in you. Stop burying it (Matthew 25:18). Rather do as Paul instructed Timothy and pay careful attention to it. Do what you have to do to cause that seed that God planted in you to grow to the point that it is flourishing on the outside of you. Then, the whole body of Christ can profit from that great gift in you.

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same
one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God,”
1 Peter 4:10.

 

A Matthew 6:30 Promise | Words to Live By

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Caring for someone is not a trivial thing. The importance of one’s love for you can be felt in what they do for you and by the words and the way they speak over you. The Father’s care for us can be experienced by both. In our daily lives, we see His love manifested in myriad ways. And in His Word, we read what He thinks of us and how important we are to Him. In Matthew 6:30, Jesus confirms this by telling us, “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” You cannot begin to understand how important you are to God, just trust that you are. And the daily things that concern us are not a worry in the heart of the Father. “He’s got you!” Those words are not just another casual phrase to be tossed about. They are words of promise you can stand upon in faith today!