Just Ordinary

Luke chapter eight is so packed with many nuggets for us fellow believers to follow.  Yet I love how Jesus shows us just how he took risk in what would be considered scandalous during bible times.

Luke 8:3 NLT

Joanna, the wife of Churza, Herord’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.

Doesn’t sound like such a big deal to us today but think about the significance of this during bible times.  Women were considered second class citizens back then.  Notice a lot of times sons are only mentioned or men are only mentioned in certain text. Just look at the complexity of acknowledging one the apostles who happened to be a woman named Junia.  Although to have these two women mentioned to be linked to Jesus’s ministry is scandalous enough, there is something quite special about them at the same time.

When looking up both ladies, I found that Joanna was a woman that supported Jesus with her resources and was found to be generous, have courage, and faithful. She was one of the women who witness the empty tomb of Jesus.  It is said she may have helped provide Luke with information due to her prominent social status with Herod.

Yet there is Susanna who was also a public supporter of Jesus and used her own resources to support his ministry as well.  However, Susanna didn’t have the dramatic testimony like Mary Magdalene nor the prominence like Joanna did. Nonetheless she is still mentioned in the text.  She played an integral role in Jesus’s ministry, nothing more or nothing less.  Yet this made her just as extraordinary.

So, for those who maybe feeling like I’m just ordinary in the kingdom of God, think about Susanna.   There is nothing just ordinary in God’s kingdom.

Be encouraged.

Reference

VanZegeran (2021).Why Susanna is My Favorite Woman in the Bible.

https://www.shannonvanzegeren.com/post/why-susanna-is-my-favorite-woman-in-the-bible

What A Mess

 

As riding the Bible adventures of the book of Genesis, I came across chapter 38 and didn’t realize I was about to be taken on a very messy ride.

It’s the story of Judah and Tamar, one of those stories that sounds more from a soap opera script then Bible.  In those days childless widows were sometimes obligated by law to marry their deceased husband’s brother to ensure their deceased spouse lineage and property. Widows, can I get an amen that this is not so today 😊

Tamar was a widow in those times where she was looking to keep her deceased spouse lineage for continued support.  Yet Judah refused to the marrying of  Tamar by delaying the levirate marriage to his youngest son, Shelah, for fear he would die. This left Tamar vulnerable as a widow.  Here is where the story feels like you’re reading a soap opera script.  Tamar wanting her justice so she disguised herself as a prostitute and ended up having sexual relations with Judah when he traveled to Timna.  She had Judah provide his signet as proof of what happened when she became pregnant.   Do you have your popcorn out 😊.  At first Judah wanted her killed for such accusations until he saw her proof.  Then it darns on him that he failed to provide for Tamar as her father-in-law.  He admitted that Tamar was more righteous than he was and it lead to his repentance.  What’s even more extraordinary is out of all this mess came redemption for Judah, justice for Tamar and she ended up being part of Jesus family tree. 

Selah

In reflection, I begin to have thoughts about myself and my own family.  On paper there is a lot of messes going on that makes me have the “I wish” moments at times.  Yet I was encouraged to know that God can take our messes and have his purpose within them.  God’s light shines best through our flaws and scandalous situations.  The mess does not have to be the end of our story, but the beginning of our redemption in Him.

So, for those of you who feel like Sig in Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy movie by saying “This galaxy is messed up” 😊 Remember that God is even in the messes that only He can clean. 

Be Encouraged.

The Relatable God

Nothing like reading Abba’s word with the dew mist of the morning while the birds are chirping.  As I am just enjoying the freshness of it all with a cup of coffee, my heart has become warm with this thought as I read the book of Hebrews:

We serve a relatable God

Hebrews 2:17

Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers, and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God.  Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.

Hebrews 4:15

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all the same testing we do, yet he did not sin.

Think about that…God himself made himself in every respect like us.  He took on the wretched flesh so he could understand all our weaknesses that produce the merciful, compassionate, patience Abba we serve.  Selah

Let get even deeper with this thought.  God can relate to grief, anger, disappointment, betrayal, lust, frustration, abandonment, being alone, struggling to do purpose, shame, mocked, being loved one minute and hated the next.  There is truly nothing that we go through here on earth the Abba has not. Nothing!!

So, the question becomes why do we act like he can’t relate? Could it be a matter of trust?  Selah

Hebrews also highlights trusting God.  Within the book we enjoy the faith hall of fame in chapter eleven. Yet I find myself with a heart check based on chapter two verse two which says “For this good news-that God has prepared this rest-has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith (trust) of those who listened to God.”

May we hold firmly to this, our God is a relatable God, and we can go to him about anything. In return he can make our weakness strong when we trust in him.

Reach Out to Abba's Hand

 

Remember the excitement as a child you had in learning how to ride a back.  The thrill in my voice saying, “come on dad.”  Oh, what a blessing it is to have wonderful childhood memories.  Yet I also remember the thrill left when I fell from my bike when trying to learn how to balance myself.  Dad was not to far behind.  He held out his hand and helped me get back up, dust myself off and try again.  Because of that fall, I was apprehensive.  Yet knowing my dad had been right there encouraged me to try again until I was able to say, “look dad, I’m doing it.”  Joy came all over again as if that fall never happened.

 

Mark 9:27

But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet and he stood up.

 

In this chapter, Jesus delivered the man’s son from the demonic.  The crowd thought he was dead, but Jesus took the son by his hand and the boy stood up.   Yet this scripture stood out to me in a special way.  Do you see it?  Jesus held out his hand and helped him to his feet as he went to stand up.

Jesus held out his hand and helped…then what happened, the boy stood up!

Jesus held out his hand and helped…then what happened, the boy stood up!

Selah

It comforting to know that our Abba just like my dad did that day with learning how to ride a bike; held out his hand towards me to help:

When I’m down

When I’m frustrated

When I’m in doubt

He’s there to help and not only help but allows me to stand in Him.

Selah

So, I encourage you today, grab Abba by the hand in whatever you are going through.  Let him help and before you know it, you will be standing along with Him.

At The Right TIme

 

There we were driving home when my late husband said to me “pack your bag, as we’re going away for the weekend.”  Of course, I respond with “where are we going?”  He goes “Philadelphia.”  I continue my response with “Philadelphia, what’s in Philadelphia?"  He says, “You’ll see.”  We came home and I packed a bag but still in suspense.

Now here we were in Philadelphia, checking into the hotel.  I am still at this point not knowing why we are here.  Being inpatient with my questioning, my late husband states “when the time is right, I will let you know.”  That is exactly what happened. We had a nice date day at a restaurant but when the evening came, he then told me we were going to see Boney James, our favorite jazz artist.  Now my suspense turned into excitement.  When the time was right, I got my answer to why we did this trip to Philly.

That’s just how we are with Abba, aren’t we?  We all have those moments with God when we want to know the why or the details of something new.  We can even display impatience with Him, as He just doesn’t seem to be answering when we want Him to or on our timetable.  Then Abba in his mercy opened my eyes to this revelation.

Romans 5:6 (NLT)

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.

Did you catch it? At the right time. My eyes were open to see even his plan to die on the cross for you and I had to happen at the right time.  Selah

So, if you are in a season like me, waiting on the Lord to show you the next chapter and all you’ve been hearing is some crickets 😊 Remember at the right time he showed his love by dying on the cross for us.  So, at the right time He will reveal to us what we are waiting on Him for.  In the meantime, enjoy being in Him until that right time comes.

Be encouraged.

 

 

 

Day-to-Day

A sickness, a lost, or even a desire; it’s during those times we know how to diligently seek God.  Oh, there is no problem with us fasting, praying, or getting into His Word for those moments.  Yet how are we with God when it comes to our day-to-day affairs? 

Selah

Jehoshaphat started out as a good King of Israel. At the beginning of his reign, he was a bold follower of God who experienced victories.  When challenges arose, He turned to God for guidance and made the right choices.  Such statements like “First, we should seek the word of Adonai” one would think would be the most valuable lesson from us to follow from his life.  Yet it is not.

As time went on, we will find a hidden gem within his story.  He didn’t have a problem believing God for any obstacles, but didn’t think to depend on Him for his day-to-day.  By not acknowledging God in his everyday affairs, he ended up making a mistake that appeared good on paper when his son married Athaliah who was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel.  He thought his alliance with Ahab would do him well, but instead it was used to be his downfall.

When was the last time you said things like Lord should I take this job?  How do you feel about me dating this person?  Are you alright with the way I am handling my finances?  Many times we just ask God to bless what we already set out to do instead of seeking him first.  We don’t even stop to realize in doing so, that can cost us.  I know I have done this myself.  I wanted God to just bless the pursuit of me becoming a nurse.  I never asked Him was that the right path for me to take in the beginning. As a result, it cost me time and money.

God wants us to give him our daily, not just major decisions that has stricken our lives.  How foolish of us to even think we can control the “easy days” without him!  Let us learn this more esteemed lesson from Jehoshaphat by not only giving God our challenges, but also including him into our day-to-day.

 

References:  Life Application Bible

 

 

Why Did This Happen?

It’s interesting to find that this isn’t the first time this question arose in one’s heart.  Habakkuk found himself asking a similar question to God during a time when Babylon was becoming the dominant world power and Judah feeling their destructive force.

His question: why evil people prosper while the righteous suffer?

Habakkuk 1:3

Why do you make me see wrongdoing, why do you permit oppression?

Habakkuk 1:13

…why are you silent when evil people swallow up those mor than righteous than they?

Habakkuk had relationship with God, which is why he felt comfortable asking him such questions.  It shows that God doesn’t mind us asking him such things.  In fact, he wants us to share our doubts and struggles with him.

Does God answers Habakkuk?

Habakkuk 2:4

Look at the proud: he is inwardly not upright, but the righteous will attain life through trusting faithfulness.

Habakkuk 2:5

…the arrogant will not live at peace but keeps expanding his desires like Shol; like death, he can never be satisfied; he keeps collecting all the nations for himself. Rallying to himself all the peoples.

The chapter goes on with woe unto him.  The answer was they don’t prosper in the long run.

 

There are various emotions in the atmosphere due to the results of the election.  Some of happy, some are upset, and some have just lost all hope.  Others may be asking why or even questioning God in all of this. 

Yet Habakkuk shows us something deeper to view.

Could it be we are viewing this from our own limitations in contrast to God’s unlimited control of the world and events like Habakkuk was doing?  Yes, this is all very confusing, and the questions are all valid.  Yet we cannot see all that God is doing. We cannot even see all that He will do.

Could it be he can use this to turn your heart more towards him, making you realize you can’t do it all in our own strength after all.  Somethings are just a mystery when it comes to Abba.  I would like to figure out how millions of people can be praying at every same time, and yet He makes each one feels like they personally have his attention.   That is what makes him sovereign. We can yet rest assured that he is God and will do what is right.  We must trust the wisdom of his timing! Knowing this should bring us to the confidence and hope we have in him in such a time as this!

 

Be Encouraged.

 

Reference:  Life Application Bible.