FAITH FOR THE JOURNEY

Luke 3:5, “Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough way smooth.”

Years ago I was driving to see my mother in another city. It was one of those pitch-black Texas nights, not much traffic because there were no big cities or big towns for miles. I had long left the interstate behind, and was now on an older two-lane rural highway which reminded me of being on a roller-coaster; a lot of rolling hills, steep climbs and twisting curves, with nothing but darkness, trees and fields on either side. There were no gasoline stations, no street lights, no friendly lights from homes or businesses, and only occasionally, the headlights of another car to help light the darkness.

Driving by myself at night always makes me reflective. I start to wonder about things… and on this particular night, I started to think about what I was doing. With nothing else to distract me, I started to muse about the car headlamps, their beams lighting the way before me. I can only see as far down the road as the headlamps shine before me; beyond their reach, everything is black and unknown. But as I continue to go forward, more of the highway ahead of me is illuminated as I need it.

Then I started to think, I am climbing up this steep hill going 75 mph, trusting that when I get to the top there is actually a continuation of the highway to bring me down on the other side. I haven't driven this way in a while, so I can’t be absolutely sure the highway is in good repair. For all I know, there may now be huge potholes or sinkholes on the down side of the hill; I may just plummet to earth after reaching the top. I can’t really know what awaits me. Nevertheless, here I go, zooming up the climbing road. Why? Because based on my previous positive experiences of driving on highways, I have faith that the state highway department is doing its job; I am trusting that I won’t just “fall off” when I reach the top, or be eaten by a monster truck on the way down.

Then that started me thinking again (dangerous, I know!). Do I trust the state highway department more than I trust God? Hasn't He always been there when I am on a path that is unknown and frightening to me? Hasn’t He always given me just enough light to continue down the road? Hasn’t He always brought me through every obstacle I encounter? Hasn’t He always rescued me from the sinkholes of depression and discouragement that try to convince me to abandon my path and to abort my mission? Hasn’t He always brought me through to safety? Yes!

So why should I get anxious when He takes me into strange, new territory, and I feel alone? Why should I get anxious when circumstances try to plunge my life into the darkest of nights, and I get only just enough light to keep me moving forward?

How easily we walk through our days and nights on earth, trusting that our fellow man has done his or her job correctly. We drive the roads; we sail or cruise the oceans; we even fly in the skies, defying the law of gravity! We are able to do these things because we have faith that our vehicle is safe and that other drivers will obey the law; we trust that our vessel is seaworthy; we have confidence that our airplane has been inspected and maintained in good condition and that our pilots are well-trained, trustworthy, and awake. So, whether by land, sea or air, we are confident we will get where we are going.

How much more, then, we can trust our God who has promised us He is always with us, wherever we are in our journey! We can trust Him to get us safely home!

My brother, my sister, whatever journey you are on, whatever obstacles you face, no matter how dark or forbidding the way forward seems to be, and no matter how alone you may feel, you can trust the LORD to bring you safely through your dark night. His presence is with you, and where His presence is, so also are hope and victory.

Deuteronomy 31:8, The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

If you are like me, you probably want to be able to see through the darkness to the successful end of your roller-coaster ride. But ordinarily, that isn’t how God works. He helps us grow our faith by showing us only what we need to know as we need to know it. We follow Him in faith, step by step, reminding ourselves that there are two sets of footprints, for He is always with us.

We wouldn’t think of driving our car on a dark night without our headlights on, knowing that would be both dangerous and foolish.  Living our lives depending only upon our own wisdom rather than His is also dangerous and foolish. Without His word to light our way, we are walking in spiritual darkness. We may be making good time, but we are going in the wrong direction!

Psalms 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path.” KJV

Sometimes God calls us to venture into the unknown. A sudden devastating illness, loss, or betrayal turns our world upside down. The comfortable road we were on becomes one of valleys, mountains, and hills. The smooth way forward has become rough and appears to be blocked, so we desperately look for detours. In times like these, we are faced with two choices. Do we choose to respond as Job’s wife recommends, “Just curse God and die!” (see Job 2:9)? Or, do we hang on to God’s Word with all we’ve got within us, saturating ourselves in His promises?

Beloved, God is faithful. His promises are sure. His word is powerful, and accomplishes what He purposes for it to accomplish. He walks with us through the dark and frightening places, and lights our way so that we may continue forward. And then one day, we discover we’ve made it through the dark places! We have arrived, and once again, all is right with the world. We discover, though, that we have changed; our journey has transformed us, our faith has deeper roots, and we know, as we did not know before, just how deep is the love of the Father for us, His children.

God taught me something important that dark and lonely night so long ago. He taught me to trust Him, to look to Him, no matter what things look like before me. He promises to light my way, so that I may continue to move forward. He gets me safely home. And He will do the same for you.

Luke 3:5, “Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough way smooth.”

THOUGHTS FOR REFLECTION

• Who is in the driver's seat of my life?  Me? or God?
• Can I trust Him, even when things look dark and frightening? Do I?
• Can I remember a time when He brought me safely through a dark period in my life?

 

Love, Hugs, and Blessings,
Syandra

Have you believed? If not, choose to believe what the Bible says: God loves you; Jesus took your sins upon Himself on the cross, dying for them; God raised Jesus from the dead. If you believe it, then profess it, confess it, and declare it out loud. Jesus has already done the heavy work; all we are asked to do is believe and receive what He has done for us. Satan offers death. Jesus offers abundant life now and eternal life when we leave our earthly bodies behind. Choose life!

“…The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”  Romans 10:8-10, NIV  

Have you believed? If not, choose to believe what the Bible says:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Romans 3:23, NIV

"He himself (Jesus) bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." I Peter 2:24, NIV

“Salvation is found in no one else (but Jesus), for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12, NIV

“…If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9, NIV

 Sin brought us death. Jesus, through His blood shed for us on the cross, offers us abundant life now and eternal life when we leave our earthly bodies behind. I would love to hear from you when you accept what Jesus has done for you, or if you have questions.

 

 

 

 

BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.... AND YOU ARE NOT....



"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”    Psalms 46:10, NIV

Apparently this was a message I needed to hear this week, because it seemed every time I picked up something to read this verse popped out at me; along with the not-so-subtle reminder that I am not God. Of course, I know that, I thought to myself. So why all the reminders? I began to think about that: He is God; and, I am not God. He is God. I am not God. Was I trying to be God? It is an easy trap to fall into, especially when things aren’t going the way we think they should.

Look at the story of Jonah. God told Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh and preach, telling the people God was going to destroy it because of their wickedness. Instead of doing what God told him to do, however, Jonah got on a ship headed in the completely opposite direction! God wasn’t having it. He stirred up a great storm, until, finally, Jonah was thrown off the ship into the sea. The sea immediately became calm, good news for the sailors; Jonah, however, was swallowed by a great fish.

For three days and three nights, Jonah had time to think about what had landed him in the belly of this great fish. Finally, he prayed, telling the Lord he would preach God’s message: Salvation comes from the LORD. In response, God commanded the fish to throw up Jonah on to dry land; and, then, for the second time, God told Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh and preach. (See Jonah 1-4)

This time Jonah did what he was told to do. He preached, and the whole city repented and turned to the Lord. Seeing their repentance, God did not destroy them. You would think this would make Jonah happy, wouldn’t you? But he wasn’t. As a matter of fact, he was absolutely furious, praying,

“…Isn’t this what I said LORD, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing  to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” Jonah 4:2, 3 NIV

In our present-day language, it might sound more like this,

I knew it! I knew it! I knew it! I just knew this was going to happen! I knew You are gracious and compassionate, full of love! I knew You didn’t want to destroy them! And now look what’s happened! It’s just as I thought it would be; You made me come preach, they repented, and now you aren’t going to destroy them! They don’t deserve your compassion! They don’t deserve Your  forgiveness! I’d rather be dead than see this city spared! Just kill me now, Lord, just kill me now!

Have you ever felt like Jonah? That someone didn’t deserve God’s grace? His love? His compassion? His forgiveness? That you wanted God to punish them, not bless them? I suspect that we have all harbored such thoughts at one time or another. When David disobeyed God and ordered a census to be taken, God gave him a choice as to his punishment: three years of famine, three months of being overtaken by the sword of their enemies, or three days of pestilence in the land. David’s response is telling,

“...I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”  I Chronicles, 21:13 (Emphasis mine)

God is infinitely more loving, more merciful, more compassionate, more patient, and more forgiving than we are. How thankful we can be that it is God, not man, who is our judge! How thankful we can be that God is God and we are not! I’m afraid if I were God, I would have already zapped out of existence rude drivers who poke along and dangerous drivers who cut in front of me, not to mention all of the politicians whom I deem to be deceitful and corrupt. And then there are the people who hurt us or our loved ones to consider. Do they deserve mercy? Forgiveness? Love?

Be still and know that I am God – and you are not. I take great comfort in knowing that He is God. I also take comfort that I am not (although I apparently need to be reminded of that from time to time!), and, no offense intended, I'm also glad that you are not. He is God. May we exalt His name forever!

THOUGHTS FOR REFLECTION

Have I ever wanted God to punish someone rather than forgive them?
   Do I trust God’s love and mercy?
    Do I pray for those who have hurt me?

Do I pray for those who have hurt someone I love?

What does it mean to you that He is God and you are not?
     

Love, Hugs, and Blessings,
 

Syandra
 

Have you believed? If not, choose to believe what the Bible says:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Romans 3:23, NIV

"He himself (Jesus) bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." I Peter 2:24, NIV

“Salvation is found in no one else (but Jesus), for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12, NIV

“…If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9, NIV

Sin brought us death. Jesus, through His blood shed for us on the cross, offers us abundant life now and eternal life when we leave our earthly bodies behind. I would love to hear from you when you accept what Jesus has done for you, or if you have questions.  

THE AWESOME LOVE OF GOD

This Easter weekend, as we have been focusing on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, I am overwhelmed again by the incomprehensible love of God. Why the Creator of the universe loves us so much is a great mystery to me; the fact that He does, however, is beyond doubt. From the first chapter of Genesis to the last chapter of Revelation, God reveals His unwavering love for mankind.

Most Christians can quote with assurance John 3:16,

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. “

We believe God loves the world, we believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. We accept that God loves us as being a part of the world, but some of us struggle to believe that He loves us individually and personally. We may think we are unlovable, because that’s what we have been told by a parent or a sibling or a spouse. We may think our past is too bad, our failures too many, our sins too reprehensible.

The truth is that none of us, let me repeat that, none of us, is deserving of God’s love. None of us! (See Romans 3:23)  If being worthy of God’s love was a criterion for receiving God’s love, we would all just be out of luck and bound for hell. If we were worthy or deserving of God’s love and forgiveness, then there would have been no need for Jesus to leave His place in heaven to incarnate as a man. There would have been no need for Jesus to take our sins upon Himself and to die cruelly and unjustly on the cross. None of us are worthy, yet God loves us so completely and unconditionally He was willing to die for us.

God loves the world…God loves us…God loves me! It is when we get this revelation, (God loves me!) that our hearts are full to overflowing, and we respond with love for the Beloved. It is relationship. It has moved from the abstract and general to the concrete and uniquely personal. God loves me! And when I know that God loves me, then I can love others. The more I understand that God loves me, the more I understand that God loves you; and the more I understand that God loves you, the more I love you; for, I see that as I am cherished by the Beloved, so does He cherish you!

His love awakens my compassion and creates a desire that each and every one of us will come to know just how much He loves us, for His love is transforming. From being a nobody, I am and you are transformed into a somebody; from being worthless and insignificant, I am and you are transformed into beings of inestimable worth and significance; from being rejected and alone, I am and you are totally and unconditionally accepted and adopted into God’s very own family!

How incredibly wonderful is that! It was this revelation of the magnificence and all-encompassing love of God that fueled and emboldened the disciples and the early church to share the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, to all the world despite persecution and hardship; for, as Peter and John said, “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20)

After finishing the supper at their last Passover together, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, telling them He was giving them an example of how they were to treat one another. With only hours left before He was to be arrested, Jesus reminded them of all He had taught them. He reminded them to serve one another, even as He served them, and He called them to love, saying,

…A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34, 35, NIV)

God IS love. Out of love He created us. Out of love He redeemed us. Out of love, He continues to call us to Himself. God loves the world. God loves us. God loves me. God loves you!

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.  (Revelation 22:17, NIV)

 THOUGHTS FOR REFLECTION

 

   Do I believe God loves me personally?

 

  If not, what are the barriers that keep me from experiencing His love for me?

 

    Am I willing to meditate upon His Word and to seek help in removing those barriers?
 

I pray you are blessed by today’s sharing, and I invite your comments and prayer requests.  Let’s meet again next Wednesday. I am looking forward to what the Lord has for us! Be blessed going in and coming out!

Love, Hugs, and Blessings!

Syandra

IS THE GOSPEL GOOD NEWS? PART 3: IS GOD A COSMIC BULLY?

 

Some people see God as a cosmic bully rather than a loving Father. For many, this is due to having experienced sexual, physical, and/or emotional abuse from their biological father or a stepfather. When they read or hear the word “father,” their first reaction is fear, rejection, bitterness, or hatred.

Other people reject God because of having been forced as a child to attend a church or church school where the pastors, priests, or teachers were controlling, punishing, or manipulative. Their view of God has been shaped by their experiences from authority figures who supposedly represented and spoke for God.

Both groups, seeing through the filter of their abuse at the hands of fathers (and mothers who did not protect them) and the harsh and judgmental treatment from adults who claimed to represent God and the Church, often find it difficult to believe in a loving heavenly Father. Having escaped the bonds of their tormentors who ruled by fear at home or in church, they are determined not to allow themselves to be put in bondage again by anyone, including God.

Even when they desperately want to believe that God loves them, they find it difficult to overcome their mistrust. When they read verses in the Bible that tell us to fear God and to submit to Him, the defense mechanisms they developed for survival are triggered. The fear of God and the God of fear becomes just another in a long line of bullies in their lives that must be resisted.

But what if God is not a God of fear, but a God of love? What if God is not who they, our tormentors, have told us He is? Then, what does it mean to “fear the Lord?”

There are two kinds of fear we need to be aware of when we are trying to understand what the scriptures are telling us when the “fear of the LORD” is mentioned. One, and the one most of us think of first, means fear in the sense of judgment and punishment. This is the message, be afraid, be very afraid. It is the kind of fear the “fire and brimstone” message produces.

The second kind of fear in “the fear of the LORD” can mean either reverence for the LORD or an acknowledgment of His power and authority. In the Old Testament the phrase ‘the fear of the LORD’ was understood to mean” reverential trust, including the hatred of evil.” ¹

John Gill, a theologian of the 1700’s, explains that  ‘the fear of the Lord’ is not meant as “a servile fear, a fear of punishment, of hell, wrath, and damnation,” but a relationship of child to parent kind of fear with the “ knowledge of God as a father, of his love and grace in Christ, particularly of his forgiving love.” Based on faith or trust of God, this kind of fear is to have a “reverential affection and devotion to him.” ²

In the following verses, the same root word for fear is used in the original Hebrew text (see Strong’s Concordance #03372), and carries the following meanings:

to fear, be afraid to stand in awe of, be awed to fear, reverence, honour, respect to be fearful, be dreadful, be feared to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe to make afraid, terrify

These verses make much more sense when we read them with the understanding that the fear being spoken of is reverence, awe, honor, and respect, rather than terror. Try it yourself, substituting one of these other meanings for the word “fear” in the verses.  

Deuteronomy 6:13    Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.

Deuteronomy 10:12  And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Deuteronomy 10:20  Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name

Proverbs 8:13            To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

Proverbs 9:10            The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy one is understanding.

Isaiah 11:2, 3             The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD – and he will delight in the fear of the LORD…

Jeremiah 32:40         I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me.

What did Jesus believe about the “fear of the LORD?”  

 Matthew 4:10           “…Begone Satan, for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord, thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” 

Jesus was reminding Satan of what was written in Deuteronomy (see above), and Himself replaces the word “fear” with “worship.”

The answer to the question “Is God a Cosmic Bully?” is a resounding No!

He does not want us to serve Him or obey Him because we are afraid of Him and what He might do to us if we don’t.

Does He want us to love, respect, honor, revere, worship, and stand in awe of Him? Yes!

And why shouldn’t He? And why shouldn’t we? He is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe! The Creator and Sustainer of us! In fact, He is our very breath! Why would we not stand in awe of Him? Why would we not honor Him and worship Him? Why would we not love Him?

God is not a bully. He is not forcing His will on us. He loves us with a love so unconditional, so pure, and so complete that His desire is to adopt us into His family to be co-heirs with Jesus. He won’t bully us into accepting this gift, but He weeps when we do. He weeps because He knows the splendor of what He is offering, and the degradation and death our rejection of Him brings to us.

Whether our wounds are from abusive parents or an abusive church or something else, God’s love and acceptance are the keys to our healing.

^{1)Scofield Reference Bible Notes. See Psalms 19:9 notes   2) John Gill Exposition of the Bible}:

THOUGHTS FOR REFLECTION

·       Have I experienced abuse by those who were supposed to protect me? How has that shaped my view of God?

·       Do I fear surrendering control of my life to God? What am I afraid might happen if I did?

·       Do I think or feel that God loves me? What difference in my life would it make to know that God loves me?

Join us next week for

Part 4: God is a Loving Father

_______________________________________

I pray you are blessed by today’s sharing, and I invite your comments and prayer requests.

Love, Hugs, and Blessings!

Syandra

 

 

 

THE GIFT OF GODLY FRIENDS

For those of you who were expecting me to talk more about who we are in Christ this week, I extend my apologies. I’m sure the Lord will have me do that at a future time, but today I want to share my heart with you about the value and gift of Godly friends.

This week I had lunch with two such very dear friends. Due to geography and circumstances, it is not always easy to find a time for us to meet, so we look forward to those times we can be together. Yesterday was one of those times. On the way home, I was thinking about them and how grateful I am for their presence in my life. They are what I call “forever friends” – the kind you treasure because no matter how long it is between visits, we are perfectly comfortable with each other when we are able to get together. Our conversation just flows, laughing with each other over our foibles and funny stories one minute, then commiserating and supporting each other over the trials and vicissitudes of our lives the next.

When I got home, I was still feeling the warm glow of our time together, and tried to find a word or words that would define this feeling permeating my being. I laughed when I realized that what I was feeling was a profound sense of well-being and peace. I felt like my soul had entered into a place of rest, where all was well; a place where there was nothing for me to do, but to enjoy and savor the moment. Through these friends God had led me to the still waters and refreshed my soul, reminding me that His goodness and love, mercy and provision are always with me.

I had not realized just how much my soul needed those quiet waters and that refreshing, until it was refreshed in the presence of these dear and wonderful and funny women of God. Along with thinking of them as my forever friends, they are now forever my “23^rd Psalms friends!” My heart is full of gratitude, both to them and to the Father, for this gift of friendship.

It is a dry and thirsty land out there, filled with the clamor and noise of the world. So many of us need a word of encouragement, caring, and blessing, and sometimes we don’t realize just how much we need it, how dry and thirsty we are, until God brings someone to us who will speak that Word of refreshing and hope. Sometimes, rather than us being the receivers, God wants us to be the givers, bringing encouragement and peace to someone who needs it.
Jesus said,
…₃₄ "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ₃₅" By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34, 35 NIV

Father, I pray that each of us will receive Your Word of encouragement, comfort, deliverance, healing, blessing, and hope from one another. And I pray that each of us will also be the one who speaks it to someone who needs to hear it. Father, we thank You for our brothers and sisters in Christ, we thank You for those who love us and our forever friends, and we pray that we may also be channels of Your love. Let us live in love for one another, so that all men will know that we are Your disciples and You are our Lord.

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”   Psalms 133:1, NIV

                       

THOUGHTS FOR REFLECTION

 ·        Who are my forever friends?

 ·         Am I a forever friend to someone else?

 ·        How is my soul today: Dry and thirsty? Satisfied and grateful?

   

Love, Hugs, and Blessings!

Syandra

 Have you believed? If not, choose to believe what the Bible says:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Romans 3:23, NIV

"He himself (Jesus) bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." I Peter 2:24, NIV

“Salvation is found in no one else (but Jesus), for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12, NIV

“…If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9, NIV

 Sin brought us death. Jesus, through His blood shed for us on the cross, offers us abundant life now and eternal life when we leave our earthly bodies behind. I would love to hear from you when you accept what Jesus has done for you, or if you have questions.