Wavering Between Faith & Fear

So here I am at a stop sign on this unknown journey of life.  Do I turn left and take the avenue called fear, or do I turn right and take the street called faith? The answer sounds simple, but it’s the acting upon it that can be complex.

See the avenue of fear can sound like your friend.  It can be your familiar which makes you comfortable like a nice snuggly blanket where you find yourself not wanting to leave. In addition, it doesn’t mean you will be wrong in that decision. We even have examples of settling in the familiar in God’s word.  Abraham’s father Terah was set to lead his family to the land of Canaan, the land of promise.  Yet halfway there, he saw a place called Haran.  It was the same name of a son he lost in death.  He ended up settling his family there due to his comfort, his familiar (Genesis 11:31).  Was he wrong to settle, no, but think about the promises God had for him that he never got to see.

Another example we can look at is Orpah with Naomi and Ruth.  There she was at a crossroad.  Does she continue into the unknown with her mother-in-law Naomi, or does she return to her familiar?  She chose to go back to Moab.  Was she wrong to do so, no, but we don’t hear about her again either. Yet Ruth decided to give up her norm in the land of Moab and turn to the unknown with Naomi.  As a result, she ended up being a descendent of Christ.

Changes in life can be wonderful.  Engagements, weddings, road trips, children, or a new home all are exciting steps to leap towards.  Yet some changes can be considered scary, as they can be birth out of pain like a widow having to move on.  I admit I find myself struggling with this stop sign.  Part of me wants to take that avenue of fear, cause its comfortable.  Yet at times comfort zone can be our enemy that can block the bigger picture God has plan for us.  Yes, this street called faith doesn’t feel good.  Its stepping into the unknown.  Yet at the same time, that is when we are tested in our trusting in God.  Do we trust HIS will or our own?  Do we want to choose the path like Orpah and never be heard of again, or do we want to choose like Ruth and watch God go beyond what we could even ask or think?  The choice to be honest isn’t an easy one, but the core to it is trust.  Do we trust God in all things?

David gave us the antidote to those fear moments:  remember God is with us, trust him, and praise him for fulfilling his promises.  See I realize that God is already in my tomorrow so the best thing I can do is trust him for my today.

Be encouraged.

 

A Woman of Inspiration

 

We all are familiar with Jacob and Rachel story.  I always felt complex with how Rachel’s father did him.  Yet it always showed me the lengths a man would take for a woman he truly desires. Nevertheless, it wasn’t until recently another element of the story was highlighted to my heart.  That is Leah.

We tend not to think much on the surface with Leah.  We are told how she was not highly desirable as her sister Rachel, and how Jacob wasn’t really doing labor to be with her.  It’s mentioned how Rachel became jealous of her when she was able to do something she couldn’t, which was produce children. However, Leah’s story thickens as you dive deeper into the contents of the story.

Leah’s friends were rejection, jealousy, and mockery.  Imagine sleeping with a man you know doesn’t really love you.  Imagine your own sister despising you for something that is not your fault. Imagine having to live with being told you are less than with your looks.  Leah even started off giving her sons names based on her circumstances.  Yet something happened to Leah along with way.  She got to know El Roi, the God who sees.  Leah realized that even though her life journey didn’t seem fair, God was yet there with her.  She went from focusing on her circumstances to a I will praise the Lord attitude.  This was even shown with the name of one of her sons Judah, which means praise. 

Out of son Judah came the birth of King David who linkage will be to Jesus, the Messiah.  In addition, let’s take a moment to think about the linkage.  Christ too experienced rejection, mockery, and not even being recognizable on the cross.  Think about that, Christ can relate to Leah’s circumstances. In her choice to praise the Lord, she became linked to our Messiah.  What beauty came out of her ashes!!

Leah story has become my inspiration.  We can decide to look beyond our circumstances and focus on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith!  For He can truly do above we can even ask or think!  Just look at what He did for Leah.

Be encouraged!

 

Shortcomings

It’s the elephant in the room that the church world doesn’t seem to want to really address-shortcomings.  Yes, we can love the Lord with all our soul and yet find ourselves in moments of weakness.  Selah

I am reminded of this when I think of Peter.  There he was experiencing Jesus up close and personal in a way we will only get to be either when we transition or when He returns.  Yet when the going got tough, Peter denied Him three times.  Not because He didn’t love Him, but because of fear.  David is known as a man after God’s own heart.  We see his intimacy with Him displayed throughout the Psalms.  Yet David found trouble surrendering his lustful desires.  We are blessed to be the seed of Abraham. Yet Abraham didn’t rebuke Sarah when told to sleep with Hagar.  He may have obeyed his wife for peace sake but cause a complexity that is going on till this day.

Facts:  some of us struggle with sexual desires that are not always covered by God’s grace.  Some of us can be revengeful. Some of us can carry around pride.  Some of us can even be envious towards our brother and sisters in Christ.  Nevertheless, how does God yet view us?  Selah

1Peter 3:8 (NLT)

Finally, all of you should be of one mind.  Sympathize with each other.  Love each other as brothers and sisters.  Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.

How many of us truly put this scripture to action?  It appears when one of our brothers or sisters get caught in a wrong, we crucify them like the Pharisees desired with Jesus.  We don’t sympathize or show tenderheartedness.  Could this be why the church has learned to mask such issues so well?  Selah

Facts are I have shortcomings.  I have struggles, and yes there are times I want to cater to my fleshly man more than my spirit man.

1Peter 1:10 (NLT)

Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people.  Once you received no mercy, now you have received God’s mercy.

Truth:  God mercy is new every morning towards us.  Think about where we would be without His mercy!  Eventually Jesus restored Peter for the three times he denied Him. So just as God grants us mercy every single day, we should grant our own brothers and sisters in Christ mercy as well.

The hour is drawing nigh Saints!  It’s time we allow the church to be the spiritual hospital that it is supposed to be and be real with each other.  Let’s practice the greatest gift we can give one another, LOVE!  For its in love that we can forgive shortcomings.  It’s in love that we can pray for each other strength!  It is in love that we can display mercy and be tenderhearted.

As we reflect on the Cross this weekend, let’s truly reflect on what was going on at that time.  For God so loved the world that He gave…   Since our identity now is within Him, let us give the love that he gives to us!

 

 

 

Can We Be Faithful To Him?

 

Lamentations 3:22-23

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

I love this scripture so much that I quote it all the time to the start of my morning prayers.  As I was doing a devotional journal study for the day, the study brought up a good question that convicted me:

Can we be faithful to Him?

Think about it, every single morning when we rise God is faithful.  The sun rises, the day comes and the nights’ sets.  We can always count on Him to make a way out of no way, to be with us in the midst of a storm in life, to be our protector and Abba.  We know He will never leave us nor forsake us.  Yet can our God say the same about us?  Selah

When I saw that question, it cut down to my soul as I have to admit there have been times I haven’t always been faithful to Him.   Sometimes my flesh wanted to hop on the Lot’s wife syndrome by looking back when God was just trying to protect me.  There’s even been times when I had to rebuke myself by wanting to go Job’s wife way when she suggested for him to cuss his God and die.

The facts are we as a body of Christ we can do better with being faithful to Abba.  Is it always easy, no!  I truly love how Paul says in Romans chapter 7:15:  I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not, but what I hate I do.  Oh how I can relate to this scripture!  I think the key to staying faithful to Abba is by staying in His word.  Not just on a Sunday morning, but every single day.  It’s His word that renews our minds and transforms our hearts. 

So I challenge your thoughts today…what actions can you take to be better in being faithful to Abba?

Whatever He Says Do!

John 2:1-11

Just picture this popular Bible story. Everyone is having a great time at the wedding feast. As the host your heart is all warm from watching people enjoy one another at your event. The music is playing, the people are dancing and laughing, and then out of nowhere an issue arises. You run out of wine. You start to panic as not only will this dampen the feast, but ruin your reputation as the host. Your heart starts pounding and sweat begins to develop as you the question of what am I going to do comes to mind.

Yet picture having a guest at your feast like Mary who knows who to go to when a problem appears. She went to Jesus. Imagine her telling you to look to Jesus! The key part to the storyline in this sentence, do whatever He tells you. Even in the midst of a problem, a choice has to be made. Do we obey the scriptures or stay in our emotions? Do we look to the Spirit or stay in our flesh?

 As you may already know, they decided to do just what Jesus said; although it did not make any sense. Just fill the jars with water. Um, Jesus, we don’t need water but wine. Nevertheless, when they put emotions aside and obeyed by faith, there ended up being plenty of wine. The guess never knew there was a problem and the feast went on to be a wonderful event.

Facts are it feels easier to stay within our emotions based on what we are seeing externally. It feels normal to panic when a problem arises or feels good to cater to your flesh when it comes to pleasures. Here's a thought, if we remain in our emotions, can they be linked to unbelief?  We are bless with the gift of choice.  Do I stay within my emotions and own strength that can equal spiritual death, or do I acknowledge what I’m feeling but turn to Jesus and do whatever He says for life and peace. These decisions are not always easy and sometimes we will even have our shortcomings depending on the matter. Yet those words pierced my heart today; whatever He says do.

He that has an ear let him hear!

For One

How many of us tend to overlook one? You see that introvert at work, but tend to keep it moving. You see that one person always standing around the corner store, but find yourself ignoring the person. How about that one friend who has the same issue with their relationship that in your mind you just say yeah, yeah to? One, a number we tend to think about when we want to be on top. Whether it be in business, entertainment, or sports; everybody wants to be number one. Yet how does God view the number one?

Selah

The town of Sarepta was experiencing famine in the land due to its rebellion. Yet God sent the prophet Elijah to bless one widow so she can be satisfied in the midst of a famine. Remember this widows! Jesus had risen and the disciples informed Thomas of what they witness. Yet because of Thomas inner pain, he didn’t believe. Jesus came back just for Thomas to help his unbelief. Jesus was faced with an agony that we will never comprehend or feel when he was nailed to the cross. Nevertheless, he took the time out in the midst of him bearing the sins of the world to reach a soul crying out to him. One, a number that in my opinion God views totally different from men.

1 John 4:17 shares as He is, so are we…

So instead of looking at the number one from a carnal view, let’s begin to look at it from God’s view. You never know of that one soul that God grants the opportunity to share the gospel, be an encouragement, or even bless with a need. Let’s use those one moments we can find ourselves in to build God’s kingdom! I don’t know about you, but I am grateful for a time that God viewed me as for one!

Did You Ever Stop to Think...?

Jesus He experienced his own receiving him not. He had to deal with those among him unbelief. He dealt with church scandals by being upset with them turning his house into a den of thieves. He experienced what we call “church hurt” when the Pharisees who claim to know him turn their backs on him. He was acquainted with grief and knows what it feels like to truly be alone when God our Father had to turn away from him due to the sins of the world. He was mocked, ridiculed, beaten, and even killed. There is truly nothing that we go through here on earth that Jesus did not experience. Hebrews 4:15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testing we do, yet he did not sin. So if you feel depressed, He’s been there. If you feel alone, He’s been there. If you get angry, He’s been there. If you feel hurt, He’s been there. Disappointment, He’s been there. Confusion, He’s been there. Temptations, He’s been there. Persecuted, He’s been there. Shame, He’s been there. Weak, He’s been there. There is absolutely nothing our High Priest can’t relate to, but also he set an example for us to follow. Standing on His word! His word is not just pages to a book, but it is alive! The Word can save, heal, deliver, make free, guide, protect, and send joy along with peace! All we ever need is in His word! Sometimes I think we think that is just too simple, yet it is truth. For He is truth! 2020 has been one interesting year. For some of us it was a year of bereavement. Yet I gain comfort in knowing our High Priest has been there. Because of his loving-kindness and tender mercies he can see us through anything! Be encouraged!