What Do I Know?

But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. 

I am overwhelmed at the thought!
Job 19:25-27 NLT

The Book of Job troubles me. It is not an easy read and I have heard it taught from different angles. It's one of those situations where you'd best be certain you know the Godly nature and character of the person teaching or confusion can slip right in. And we know that confusion is not of God.

When faced with trials and tribulations and heartaches and illness, many Christians are often conflicted within themselves.

Where's God in all this?
Why is this happening?
Why has He allowed fill in the blank ?

I don't know any answers other than what Jesus said in John 16:33 NLT, I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.

Only you can determine what you believe to be true. Only you can choose the standard by which you live your life. Only you can know what that is.

With all the lies and confusion in this world, I must have TRUTH. Something I know to always be Truth - the same yesterday, today and forever. I believe Jesus is the Living Word. I believe the Bible is the irrefutable Word of God. I choose to live my life based on the standards defined within His Word. 

What do I know? I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!

Prayer:

Father,
           We can never thank You enough for Your Word and for loving us enough to send Your Son to die in our place. Thank You for giving us the written Word - alive and powerful - a sword to help us be overcomers of all that's in this fallen world. Renew a right Spirit within us to trust You no matter the circumstances of life. We need Your strength, O God. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Whaddaya Know?

Then the Lord himself said, “Gideon, you will be strong, because I am giving you the power to rescue Israel from the Midianites.”
Gideon replied, “But how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest one in Manasseh, and everyone else in my family is more important than I am.”
“Gideon,” the Lord answered, “you can rescue Israel because I am going to help you!" 
Judges 6:14-16a CEV

We pray. God answers. Then we tell Him all of our excuses why His way won't work, based on what we know of ourselves. Why do we do that?!? We must not recognize the Creator for who He is! Perhaps we don't remember who hung the moon? (And the sun. And the stars. And the planets.) 

Lyric excerpts from I Know My Redeemer Lives may serve to remind us:

Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning?
And who told the ocean you can only come this far?
And who showed the moon where to hide 'til evening?
Whose words alone can catch a falling star?

The very same God that spins things in orbit
Runs to the weary, the worn and the weak.
And the same gentle hands that hold me when I'm broken
They conquered death to bring me victory...

It's THAT God! HE is the One who says, "Because I am going to help you!" Oh, that we would know God in His greatness better than we know ourselves in our weaknesses!

Prayer:

Father, 
         Please forgive us for all the times we fail to recognize You for who You are and for all the times we have minimized You and limited Your will and purpose for our lives. Once again, we repent and submit our lives to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

Friends' Favorites - Update: No Change

For Jesus doesn’t change—yesterday, today, tomorrow, he’s always totally himself.  Hebrews 13:7-8 The Message

Change. 
Our perception of it largely depends on the circumstances. Some things desperately need to change. Some qualify more under the old adage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" - in other words, don't change something just for the sake of change. There are those who are great proponents for change. Others hate it. Sometimes, sadly, we get comfortable in a situation that DOES qualify as broken and needs to be fixed, but we're content [read complacent] enough to stay in it. Again, it all depends on the circumstances.

What about the circumstances of our lives that may not change? What about those times when no matter what we do, say, pay, or pray, nothing changes? What about when we cry out as David cried, "How long, O Lord?" Do we trust God when nothing changes? Does God seem less than God to us when the night seasons of life are prolonged? 

Circumstances of this life don't change God. Like our Promise for Today reads, ...yesterday, today, tomorrow, He's always totally himself. God doesn't change. 

However, KNOW THIS - while God Himself does not change, that does NOT mean He's not doing anything. Like the song says, "Even when I don't see it, You're working! Even when I don't feel it, You're working!" He's always BEING God - our Father, the Lord, our Provider, our Healer, our Banner, our Redeemer, our Peace. God our Shepherd, our Righteousness, our Sanctifier, the Most High, the Waymaker... shall I go on?

So your update for today? Your circumstances WILL change because of the God who NEVER changes.

Prayer:

Father,
        We choose to be thankful in all circumstances, for this is Your will for us who belong to Christ Jesus. We know our circumstances will change, and we are so grateful that You do not. Keep us ever mindful of this great Truth. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Christmas Day

"The Redeemer will come to Jerusalem to buy back those in Israel who have turned from their sins,”
says the Lord.

"And this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit will not leave them, and neither will these words I have given you. They will be on your lips and on the lips of your children and your children’s children forever. I, the Lord, have spoken!"

Isaiah 59:20-21 NLT

It's been a great Christmas Day. It's a time to celebrate the birth on earth of Christ our Redeemer. I have seen my children and my grandchildren and that is always a great time. 

Even while all are not exhibiting outward signs of following Christ, I trust His Word. And His Word tells us that He works on the heart. That is what I have been witness to this weekend. This is what I know to be Truth. His Word is the one constant that I can count on no matter what I see, hear, or feel. 

For years I have held on to God's Promises in Isaiah 54 - and especially verse 13, All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. Taught by Him. I can already see it coming to fruition, so I have no doubt that His words will be on the lips of my children and my grandchildren forever. And I am rejoicing to see the day!

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for giving us Your Word to live by. It truly is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Thank You for giving us a standard of Truth that does not waiver or change, and yet is alive and powerful. Thank You for the many blessings You have given us and the provision You have made. In the words of the carol, Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay. Close by me forever and love me I pray. Bless all the dear children with Thy tender care and take us to Heaven to live with Thee there. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

 

Who Do You Know? *

Then the Lord himself said, “Gideon, you will be strong, because I am giving you the power to rescue Israel from the Midianites.”
Gideon replied, “But how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest one in Manasseh, and everyone else in my family is more important than I am.”
“Gideon,” the Lord answered, “you can rescue Israel because I am going to help you!"
Judges 6:14-16a CEV

We pray. God answers. Then we tell Him all of our excuses why His way won't work, based on what we know of ourselves. Why do we do that?!? Maybe we don't recognize the Creator for who He is! Perhaps we don't remember who hung the moon? (And the sun. And the stars. And the planets.) 

Excerpts from the lyrics from I Know My Redeemer Lives may serve to remind us:

Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning?
And who told the ocean you can only come this far?
And who showed the moon where to hide 'til evening?
Whose words alone can catch a falling star?

The very same God that spins things in orbit
Runs to the weary, the worn and the weak.
And the same gentle hands that hold me when I'm broken
They conquered death to bring me victory...

It's THAT God! HE is the One who says, "Because I am going to help you!" Oh, that we would know God in His greatness better than we know ourselves in our weaknesses!

Prayer:

Father, 
         Please forgive us for all the times we fail to recognize You for who You are and for all the times we have minimized You and limited Your will and purpose for our lives. Once again, we repent and submit our lives to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

* Remind Me...

I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”

Lamentations 3:20-24 NLT

I have used this Scripture many times, but I never tire of reading and reaffirming, The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

The chapter that this is pulled from is very difficult; after all, it IS Lamentations. The truth of the matter is we ALL go through trials and tribulations because those are what build our faith and endurance. They cause us to grow in our relationship with the Lord, IF we let them. 

I'm walking through a hard time, too, right now. The only thing I have to stand on is the Lord and His promises. The circumstances don't change who God is - He is unchangeable. The same yesterday, today and forever. Whose report will I believe? I will believe the report of the Lord!

And if we forget or lose sight of that - I will remind you. And you - please, remind me!

Prayer:

Father,

          You are almighty God! Our Redeemer, our Healer, our Deliverer. All our hope and trust is in You. Manifest Your glory, O God!  In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* He Can! Can you?

... if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
 " 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
Mark 9:22b-24 NIV

We want to claim a walk of faith, but when was the last time we checked the reality of it? What does it mean to walk in faith? It means we don't have all the answers in front of us. We reduce God to our level of ineptitude by our unbelief and then want to blame Him when our prayers are not answered. In our minds, we define God by our self-righteousness rather than define ourselves by His true righteousness.

Maybe we don't know where the money's coming from for that bill that is due or for groceries, but we can know that God is true to His Word. And if we are in covenant with Him, He will supply all of our needs in glory by Christ Jesus. That's His Word, not mine. 

Sometimes, we don't know why people get sick but we can know how they can get well. Jesus took the stripes on His back to purchase our healing. He is the Healer. He sends His Word and it can heal. 

Sometimes, they don't get well. Sometimes they die. Titus tells us we have this Truth - His truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began.

It's not a pick-and-choose situation. We can't just pick the ones we like and forget the rest. Addison Road did a song called, "What Do I Know of Holy?" and it depicts this whole scenario of confining God to our finite-ness. Limiting Him by who we are and/or what we believe. Negating His promises by our words of unbelief - our view of Him as too small, as not enough... 

Have you thought about who He is? Who God is doesn't change just because our circumstances change or our feelings change or because our friends say so. His sovereignty is not diminished by our inability to believe. However, what we receive IS limited by what we believe.

Can we be forgiven? Can we be made new? Can He heal? Can He provide? Can He restore? Can He remove the stain of sin? Can He empower us to overcome?  He can and He will... Can you believe?

Prayer:

Father,
          Shine Your light of Truth into the deepest, darkest places of our lives. Root out unbelief. Your Words are alive and powerful! Quicken them in us, Father, so that we may fulfill Your purpose in us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Keeping Score

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.

1st John 3:16a NIV

I've lived long enough to know and understand the rules of good sportsmanship, but I'll just tell you... I don't like to lose. When I play, I play to win. I don't go into a game to lose. (I won't cheat to win, even though I'm tempted... but don't worry, I AM an overcomer. LOL)

Worse than that, as much I dislike losing, I absolutely HATE it if someone lets me win. Where's the challenge in that? In my opinion, a win I didn't earn is a bigger loss than actually losing. [And all the conservative (albeit competitive) crowd just became pentecostals and shouted, Amen!] But the challenge in all of that is Christ. I can't earn my salvation and yet, that's the biggest win of all.

Have you ever found yourself keeping score on your life? I have. If you know me personally, you've heard me say something like, "I should get points for not smacking that person (when I really want to...)" "I should get points for not saying ___________(something smart alecky, I'm sure)." "I want points for not ripping their wagging tongue right outta their mouth and hanging them with it."   

In all reality, it's keeping score on the sin in my life. The more I keep score, the more I realize, it's a heart issue. And then I think, if Jesus laid down His life for us and that's how we know what love is (according to our text for today), then, in return, I should lay down my life for Him, right? After all, He died to save me. I can stop doing this or stop doing that. I can read my Bible, go to church, etc. Yeah, I can lay my life down for Him.  Sounds good...okay...but it's not Scriptural. We're instructed to lay it down for others... 

The entire verse of 1st John 3:16 reads, This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. Mark 12:28-31 reads, One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."  John 15:13 tells us, Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 

You wanna keep score? yeah...me, neither...

Prayer:

Father,

         Thank You for sending Your Son to die on the Cross for the remission of our sins. Help us to grow in love and when we are faced with those opportunities to love the unloveable, please help us to see them for what they are. An opportunity to show Your love through us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen