Trusting Is Not Easy

 

From Life Application

It wasn't easy for Jeremiah to publicly buy land already captured by the enemy. Yet he trusted God.  It wasn't easy for David to think that he would become king, even after he was anointed.  Yet he trusted God.  It wasn't easy for Moses to believe he and his people would escape Egypt, even after God spoke to him from a burning bush.  Yet he trusted God. 

To make this even more personal, it has not been easy adjusting to becoming a widow at an unexpected time of my life. Yet I trust God.  However it was not easy at all.  When my husband first passed, here came the enemy with thoughts:  oh you believed God for him to be healed, how did that turn out?  So what are you going to do now?  Maybe it’s best for you to just end your life.  Who is left for you to be here for anyway? Why don't you take the advice of Job's wife and just cuss God and die.  

Although I was a believer, I entertained these thoughts.  I remember one dark night when I was thinking about just ending it.  I could feel darkness coming into my bedroom just waiting to have a seat at my bed.  BUT GOD.  This is where I learned the I'm giving you my David-the good, the bad, and the ugly.  See it was at that point is where I yet had a choice.  Cuss God and die or trust him and live.  I got out of that bed and came to Abba and just let it all out.  He never left me even with all those ugly thoughts.  

No trusting is not easy at all.  Yet it reminds you to call on his grace as we really cannot do this love walk in our own strength.  Out of trusting, even when it’s not easy something beautiful takes place.  You get to know Abba more from heart and less from knowledge of him.  Truth-my prayers was answered.  You think my husband is still sick in heaven?  Of course not.  The answer just didn't come the way I would have liked to but it was answered.  

So I encourage you as I encourage myself to trust God.  There is so much more you can lose without him!

Just Passing By

It is amazing how God can take something as ordinary as passing by and turn it into an extraordinary moment.  In my reflecting on just the majestic God we serve, it darned on me during some Bible reading on how these two individual lives were changed just in passing by Jesus.

The town of Nain where Jesus found himself crossing paths with a widow.  She was on her way to bury her son with supporters of the town accompanying her.  The text says He saw her and had compassion on her.   She never said a word to Jesus.  Not even a hello as she was so caught up in her understandable grief.  What she didn’t know was that this passing of paths would change her life.  The text said he stopped and prayed over her son.  What she accepted to be dead Jesus brought back to life.  This widow got a front row seat of Jesus the Resurrection.  This passing by got her the silent act of the gospel.  HE IS the Resurrection.  Even what we accept dead, God can restore.

Simon of Cyrene was just walking by when he was chosen to help carry the cross of Jesus.  Little did he know how significant his passing by would be in the greatest moment of history.  Simon represented humanity.  We were guilty, not our King.  The exchange came when they got to Golgotha.  Jesus taking humanity place by laying down his life.  Simon of Cyrene had no idea that day that he would be part of another silent act of the gospel, Christ crucifixion.

Did you catch it?  They both got to experience a silent act of the gospel all by passing Jesus by.  Simon of Cyrene with his death and the Widow of Nain with his resurrection.  This truly shows nothing is wasted with our Abba, not even passing by Him.

Be Encouraged

Seeing Myself in Them

 

When you’re the outside person looking in with someone, it is so much easier for us to make comments like “oh I wouldn’t have done that” or “that person knows better”.   What we don’t realize is that those statements diminish if we’re put smack in the middle of that every same situation.  A perfect example of that is grief.  Unless you have experienced it sayings like “move on” can be so much easier to say from the outside looking in.

Yet I find myself doing the same thing.  “How can they do that?”  How many times does God have to tell them?”  However, the more I go on these Bible adventures in reading God’s word, the more I can see myself in them. 

Moses telling God about how he stutters so no way can he be the one to speak out for the people to Pharoah.  There have been times when I have told God I can’t do that, I don’t even know how to do it.

Gideon wants confirmation more than once.  I too have asked God for signs more than once to make sure it was his leading.

Peter letting his emotions get the best of him at times.  I too allow my emotions to get the best of me and then wish I hadn’t when the dust has settled.

David with his temptation.  Particularly when becoming a widow having to ask God’s help so I don’t be led by temptation as becoming to close to doing so.

Here’s another factor I found with them as with myself lately.  Surpassing my knowledge and becoming fuller of his love in knowing He loves me despite myself.  God loves me through my weaknesses like fear, pride, frustration, and even lust.  Yet He doesn’t just stop there.  When we open our hearts to him, He turns around and changes that heart.  Transformation becomes not only strength but softens our hearts with others in their circumstances.  God was right there in Moses, Gideon, Peter, and David’s weaknesses.  They didn’t stay there but became powerful man of God in those same stories.

So let us surpass our knowledge and allow God to fill us up with his love.  Let that transformation take place.  The reality is in our weakness he makes strong.  In His strength he can turn it into a beautiful story that glories Him!

 

Ephesians 3:19

May you experience the love of Christ, through it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

If I Just Only...

 

There I was sitting in my kitchen meditating not on God’s Word, but on the” if I just only” syndrome.

If I just only pay more attention in school instead of boys.

If I just only saved more money from when I was in my twenties.

If I just only asked God first instead of doing what I wanted to do and then asking him to bless it.

If I just only, four words that can carry so much weight.

How many of us feel this way?  Feeling like regret grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down to talk with us at the table. I found myself having a bad case of this” just only” neighbor.  Yet I noticed this didn’t invite the presence of God but caused my eyes off of Him and more on me.  Selah

The next thing I know this just only neighbor ended up having me snowball from just only to I don’t.  I don’t have enough.  I don’t know how this will be.  I don’t have a house.  I don’t even have a husband.  So guess who decided to join this little get together?  Fear

Now I am feeling anxiety gripping me until it felt like my heart was going to be ripped out of me.  Now I am feeling distress and having a little self-pity party.  Meanwhile more cups of that coffee are just being offered and I am finding myself just drinking into it.

Yet did you notice the key to what happened? 

I got my focus off Abba and made it all about me.  Besides isn’t that what the world says life is about-me, myself, and I?  In me there is no peace.  In me there is no joy. In me there is no strength.  Sometimes self can be a hidden idol that the world has made feel like the norm.

So what does Truth say...?

Isaiah 43:18 (NLT)

But forget all that-it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.

Philippians 3:13 (NLT)

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.

Once I stopped dwelling on me and got my focus back on Abba and confessed His truth, guess what happened?  The” if just only” and fear had to leave.  They didn’t even leave a tip. J This is a battle for me but the difference is I know now who fights my battles.  I had to remember I have the life of God in me.  Think about that, we have the one that made heaven, earth, and the things under the earth dwelling within our hearts today.  So Abba got us.  He can even restore our “if I just only”.

Be Encouraged.

Abigail

 

While reading the book of 1^st Samuel it was lovely to come across another woman of God within this book name Abigail.

The Bible lets us know she was a woman of understanding and had a beautiful countenance.  She was married to King Nabal who didn’t always display the best representation of leadership.  His name alone means fool or senseless.  He showed just how senseless he could be towards David and his men.  Hospitality in those days to travelers was to feed them. Nabal was a rich so it would have not been a hardship for him to meet David’s request to feed him and his men.  Keep in mind that David and his men were protecting Nabal’s people and part of his property was due to David’s vigilance. So it’s understandable when David got so upset, he set out to kill Nabal when he refused his request.

Oh how precious this story takes a beautiful turn.  Abigail was told od David’s intentions.  She didn’t panic. Instead she gathered things like food and wine and set out to meet David in his tracks.  She did this without King Nabal’s knowledge.  Wow, he didn’t even realize his wife was gone.  How much did he take Abigail for granted?

She meets David and intercedes for Nabal.  She blesses him and his men with the things they were requesting.  David heard her and took heed.  Abigail act kept David from making a terrible mistake and spared Nabal’s life.  She looked beyond the present crisis and used her heart and skill to promote peace.

We can learn so much from this Bible story.  The scripture of be ye angry but sin not comes to mind with David.  In addition it is always best to listen, and you don’t have to have a prestigious title to play such a significant role in a situation. 

So here’s the question for today:  Do we use our actions to promote peace even in the middle of chaos?

Sometimes seeing the bigger picture can result in God’s love that can change an issue into His glory!

(Life Application Bible 1^st Samuel chapter 25)

 

Too Familiar

 

I love praying during sunrise.  The air feels so crisp and everything is so quiet.  As I was talking with Abba, I couldn’t help but notice the sunrise colors kept changing.  I found myself getting my phone to capture each moment.  Then it dawns on me, Abba doesn’t like familiarity.

Mark 6:1-6

 Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. ² The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” ³ Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary^[a] and the brother of James, Joseph,^[b] Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.

The people in his hometown couldn’t even receive their blessing that may have been instore for them as they were too caught up in the familiarity of Jesus, he’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary. As I looked at the different colors of the sunrise, I can see why God like to change thing up on us from time to time.  Although the familiar can be such comfort, there is a danger of us taking it for granted and possibly missing out on the new Abba wants to share with us.  We can end up taking his grace for granted, his blessings for granted, and even have us in complacency. 

Just like in a personal relationship like date nights for a marriage.  Why do couples do such things?  It is to keep things fresh amongst them so that things don’t become so stagnant.  How much more should we recognize that with our Abba.  So, I encourage us as His children to enjoy the new.  It can be different and with that at times feel nerve wrecking but just imagine what Abba has instore if we take that time out to be in his new adventures.

Rose Blossom

 

In my quiet time with Abba, I saw a rose blossom by a thorn.  I got blessed when I googled how the thorns/prickles around the rose serve as protection to deter animals from eating the plant and help it climb up allowing it to reach sunlight.

I got so blessed to see that even the thorns on a rose stem have its purpose.  Somethings can feel horrible but can also be our protection.  Somethings can be so painful. Yet it helps us become more like Him, bearing the fruit of His light.

Isaiah 35:1 (NLT) Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days. The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses. 

Christ, the rose of Sharon bore our thorns of sin so that the beauty of His shed blood can make us free.  Nothing is wasted with our Abba, not even the thorns.

Be Encouraged

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.

 

God Behind the Scenes…

 

This widow journey can be described as a rollercoaster ride. So many up and downs along the road of adjustments. The most recent street I find myself encountering is a street called uncertainty. It’s been four years now since my husband has went home and through it all God has shown me time and time again how much He can sustain me!

Although I have watched God part my own Red Seas, I yet find myself feeling the weariness of uncertainty. Questions like what would hubby have us do or what should I do now has been ponding louder and louder lately.  Then here comes the “what if.”  What if I do this and it be the wrong decision. What if I must do something that I really don’t want to do in order to feel like I’m surviving.  I notice something when I do this, it causes me to focus on self and the temporal instead of God and the eternal. Instead of peace and wisdom, I feel fear and worry. Yet didn’t He ask can worry add a day to your life? (Luke 12:25).

Selah

So, while making a left from the street called uncertainty, I found myself on an avenue called how long.  Abba I asked you what is next for me, how long will it be before you answer me?  Abba I asked can you give me an idea when this will happen, how long before you answer me?   Abba, do you see what is going on with me, why are you feeling so silent? How long? Has anyone else found themselves on this avenue 😊

Two words:  even now!

Exodus 13:17-18

17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”

18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.

 

Did you catch that…God sent them the roundabout way for their own protection. It may not have felt that way, but that was his purpose behind the scenes. Maybe you are feeling like me.  God where are you? God why aren’t you answering me directly on this? God how long? God why you telling me to go this way?

 

 I was reminded through these scriptures that it just maybe he is protecting me behind the scenes and desire for me to say even now I trust Him! May we continue to trust Him!

 

 

 

Adonai’s Acts of Grace

 

Psalms 89:11

I will sing about Adonai acts of grace forever, with my mouth proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.

 

Grace- underserved favor

Do you ever stop for a minute and marinate on God’s grace?  His acts of grace are all around us.  The beautiful sunrise in the weary hours of the morning to start our day.  The moment you get that call saying your got your dream job.  When you needed something that you kept to yourself, and He touches someone’s heart to give that every thing you needed.  All acts of grace.

 

Yet let’s dive even deeper…

 

While we were yet sinners He died for us-an act of grace.

Bearing our shame-an act of grace.

Salvation as a gift due to the shedding of his blood-an act of grace.

Intimacy with Abba-an act of grace.

 

May we show acts of grace towards one another as our Father shows acts of grace towards us!

It Pained Him

 

Psalms 78:41

Repeatedly they challenged God and pained the Holy One of Israel.

 

Do you ever really stop and think about how our actions can be affecting the Holy One of Israel heart?

When we rather hate forward instead of love forward-it pains the Father.

When we rather look toward a worldly system instead of His kingdom system-it pains the Father.

When we don’t trust Him-it pains the Father.

When we mock Him-it pains the Father.

When we turn our backs on Him-it pains the Father.

 

Imagine how God felt after taking his people out of the bondage of Egypt, doing miracles like departing the Red Sea, and even sustaining them just for them to turn their hearts to an idol then to Him.  It pained Him.

We live in a broken world and it’s so easy for us to be caught up in what it calls the norms.  Yet let us dwell upon this thought today:

Is my actions pleasing the Father or causing Him pain?

 

Selah…

 

Our Own Way

 

Isaiah 53: 6

We all, like sheep, went astray: we turned, each one, to his own way; yet Adonai laid on him the guilt of all of us.

Selah….

This scripture pierced my heart as I was reading it.  How many times do we, even within the body of Christ go our own way?  Those times Abba may have said to go right and we go left or tells you to forgive but we rather hold grudges.  How about how he pleads so hard for our hearts?  Just look at the Word.  From Genesis to Revelations you see God’s love letter to men, desiring our hearts for Him.  Yet I wonder how many of us He can say have our hearts?

Do we read His word or go in prayer as our Christian checklist?  When attending church or being part of service, is it away to say to ourselves I did my Christian duty?  Are we really doing things our own way or in His way?

Selah…

Yet Adonai.  Two words that pierced my heart.  Yet Adonai love us in spite of us.  Yet Adonai laid on him the guilt of all of us.  Our shame, our sin, our own way. He is yet pleading for our hearts even today.  Just like in the natural, we want a spouse to love us from their hearts, not out of obligation.  We want family love to be sincere, not as a duty.  How much more does God wants us to love Him with our hearts.  He shed His blood to restore intimacy with him.  So will we be intimate or rather go towards our own way where we know of Him, but not actually Him.

Let us do a heart check with Abba.

 

 

 

How’s Your Chapter Doing?

 

Revelations 20:11, 12

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Let that marinate…

Sometimes we can be so caught up in the affairs of this world.  The bigger house, the prestige job, that large bank account can so overwhelm our daily affairs.  It can even make us feel like failures if we don’t achieve them, or make us too prideful when we do.  Yet have you ever stopped and thought of how all these things are what Ecclesiastes calls vapors?  God is not against us having these things, but he’s not please when these things have us.  They are added things as we are to be seeking His Kingdom first!

Let’s go even deeper…do you ever stop to think about the book of life and how your chapter will read on that day of being face to face with him?  Selah

I wonder what it would say.  Would it say I forgave or I just couldn’t give that over to the Lord because He knows how bad that person hurt me.  Would it say I saw them through your love or well we are under grace and God understands why I just can’t stand that person.  Would it say whatever gifts you given, no matter how great or small you feel they maybe I used them for your kingdom, or would it say I wasted it too much time on material gain.

Bold Existence Ministries really made me think this morning.  Heaven and earth is going to pass away.  That home, that car, that job, even that relationship is going to pass away.  So why get so caught up in vapors?  Treat it for what it is a blessing while passing through, not your identity.  Not even your real life.  I don’t know about you, but I want my chapter to be a good one.  Thank God, for his mercy that blesses us fresh very morning to change our chapter in the book of life.

Be encouraged.

 

Check out Bold Existence Ministries:

https://youtu.be/OAGWVR0Lhqo?si=4nnJWmQJxgb3reD3

 

A Jonah Moment

 

When we look at the book of Jonah from the outside looking in, we all can find ourselves saying just say what the Lord told you to say and keep it moving J  Yet as my pastor’s wife highlighted, we all at one point are Jonah’s.  Let’s face it, there are times when you want to kick and scream at the Lord when He tells us something to do that doesn’t feel good at all to your flesh!

 

I find myself being Jonah.  A leak happened in my apartment that caused my mattress to be damaged.  On one hand, I was praising God it was the mattress and not something more complex to handle.  Yet on the other, I was devastated.   I begin to think about all the wonderful memories I shared with my husband on that mattress.  A new start in Philadelphia.  MSNBC News causing some good debates.  Times of just playing jazz music while we cuddle. It wasn’t marital relations.  Now I had to watch all those memories placed in a plastic mattress bag.  Oh how I cried like a baby while I watched it go out the door. 

My Jonah attitude kicked it.  Why did this have to happen God?  Things has already been taken away from me related to my husband; did the mattress have to go too?  This isn’t fair.  I can’t even keep our mattress.  All I have left are memories and pictures.   Selah

This Ruth Journey is like a roller-coaster ride.  There are days I am up and there are days I am down.  This mattress avenue got me way down.  I cried so hard that my eyes felt tired.  All I could think about is how things really are a vapor in this life.  Yet the question remains: can we yet trust Him?  Selah

It began to darn on me that what if Abba was just helping me along on this widow way.  He doesn’t want me to settle like Abraham father Terah did in the city of Haran.  He has so much more in store for me.  However if I keep looking back, if I keep wanting to stay in the past, how can He lead me into the future?

See fear takes-it takes away our joy, our peace, our trust. 

Faith gives-it gives us joy, our peace, and growth in trust.

I’m at a street corner now on Ruth Journey where I have to decide do I make a right on faith or make a left on fear.

God is so beautiful!  He wants to leads us on the path He has for us.  Yet He is such a gentleman that allows us to make the choice.  He never forces anything on us.  He always there!  This hurts and it’s ok for me to say Abba this hurts.  Nevertheless, I will yet trust Him even in my Jonah moment.

Be encouraged widows