Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
1Peter 1:8b-9 (NKJV)
Thought for Today: Rob and Sue were driving to Rob's grandmother's house in the mountains for Christmas. Sue decided to drive that day, even though she had never been to the house before. She dutifully put the address into the GPS and off they went. The day was beautiful, crisp and clear with a hint of snow in the air. As they drove down the interstate, Rob began to drift off into a deep sleep. Sue thought about how tired Rob must be, after working many long days as a surgical resident. The rest will do him good, she thought. As she turned onto a back mountain road, a strange fog rolled in and made visibility nearly zero. All Sue had to go on was the instructions from the GPS, mile by mile, turn by turn. She tried to wake Rob up but he was in a deep sleep. The thick fog did not dissipate even as she went further up the mountain. Finally, the GPS indicated that they had arrived. Grandma was waiting with a nice warm fire and dinner.
So often we want to know all of the turns that our lives will take. Yet, God, in His divine wisdom, does not reveal everything at once, perhaps to save our sanity. Even so, we yearn to know where we will be in life next month, next year, ten years from now. We only know the present, our gift from the Lord as we walk this earth. He knows the end from the beginning.
Just as Rob and Sue arrived safely to Grandma's house thanks to the GPS, we too know that someday, having trusted in Jesus, we will indeed see the manifestation of our salvation. On that day, we will meet Jesus face to face, the One who we can't see yet leads us in every twist and turn of this life. Have you trusted Him, not just for your daily needs, but for your salvation? Are you wholly leaning upon Him, attune to His leading in your life? My prayer is that we all can fully trust Him through this foggy journey, knowing that one day the fog will be lifted and we will see Him face to face.
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Friday, December 11, 2015
My Pain, My Gain
"though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,"
1 Peter 1:6b-7
Thought for Today: In the Republic, Plato penned the allegory of the cave in which a group of people lived their entire lives chained to a wall in a cave facing the blank wall. A fire behind them caused shadows of things and people behind them to be cast upon the wall. They began to name the shadows and based their world on the shadows on the wall.
This life that we live, with its trials and its joys, is but a mere shadow of the reality of God. Often, when we are faced with difficult circumstances we indeed think that this is unfair and that our lives should not be this way. Yet, beyond the pain, beyond our circumstances lies a whole spiritual dimension that we only see a mere glimpse of. Our Lord, in His infinite wisdom, is in the business of not wasting anything. To think that He would use our pain, our trials, our hurt to refine us, test us and make us whole is unbelievable. Yet, His plan for our sanctification is to make us strong in our faith, that we may bring Him honor and glory.
Are you facing difficult circumstances today? Do you hurt so bad that you think there is no possible way to keep moving forward? Look to the Lord for strength. He is not a cruel God, using our pain for His gain with no concern for our well being. He will walk with you through your deepest valley and lead you out on the other side, with much gained. My prayer is that you can trust Him to lead you, not trying to go on your own but rather fully surrendering to Him. Can you do that today?
1 Peter 1:6b-7
Thought for Today: In the Republic, Plato penned the allegory of the cave in which a group of people lived their entire lives chained to a wall in a cave facing the blank wall. A fire behind them caused shadows of things and people behind them to be cast upon the wall. They began to name the shadows and based their world on the shadows on the wall.
This life that we live, with its trials and its joys, is but a mere shadow of the reality of God. Often, when we are faced with difficult circumstances we indeed think that this is unfair and that our lives should not be this way. Yet, beyond the pain, beyond our circumstances lies a whole spiritual dimension that we only see a mere glimpse of. Our Lord, in His infinite wisdom, is in the business of not wasting anything. To think that He would use our pain, our trials, our hurt to refine us, test us and make us whole is unbelievable. Yet, His plan for our sanctification is to make us strong in our faith, that we may bring Him honor and glory.
Are you facing difficult circumstances today? Do you hurt so bad that you think there is no possible way to keep moving forward? Look to the Lord for strength. He is not a cruel God, using our pain for His gain with no concern for our well being. He will walk with you through your deepest valley and lead you out on the other side, with much gained. My prayer is that you can trust Him to lead you, not trying to go on your own but rather fully surrendering to Him. Can you do that today?
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Delivered
In You, O Lord, I put my trust;
Let me never be ashamed;
Deliver me in Your righteousness.
Psalm 31:1 (NKJV)
Thought for Today: Myles and his son, Mike, were hiking a trail in the Deep Creek section of the Smoky Mountain National Park in North Carolina. It was a clear day, not a cloud in the sky. Myles and Mike stopped to rest and have something to eat. They both marveled at the blueness of the sky and the beauty of God's creation on this glorious day. After a short while, the pair began their hike again. As they were nearing one of the waterfalls, the sky began to grow dark. Myles had heard of popup thunderstorms but had never experienced one. Suddenly, he and Mike were caught in a torrential downpour. As the water fell from the sky, the ground became muddier and more difficult to walk on. All of a sudden, Myles heard a roaring sound as he turned to see raging water from a flash flood heading their way. Myles and Mike were swept away into the river. As they neared the waterfall, Myles knew that their only hope was to find something to cling to so that they would not go over the falls. In the nick of time, while holding Mike in one arm, Myles was able to grab a branch still attached to a tree on shore. The pair clung to the branch for 4 hours until rescuers arrived and pulled them out of the water.
Sometimes, life can be like the flash flood that caught Myles and Mike by surprise. Everything is going along fine and then suddenly, with no warning, we are swept away by a sea of turmoil caused by circumstances out of our control. At any moment, we feel so out of control and afraid that we might go over the falls, to a place that we will never be able to return from. During these dark times, there is only one thing to do: cling to the One in whom you have put your trust. Do you fully trust in Jesus as you take this journey of life? Are you caught in a raging river of difficult circumstances? My prayer is that you would put your trust in the One who calmed the raging sea. He knows you, He knows your circumstances and He will deliver.
Let me never be ashamed;
Deliver me in Your righteousness.
Psalm 31:1 (NKJV)
Thought for Today: Myles and his son, Mike, were hiking a trail in the Deep Creek section of the Smoky Mountain National Park in North Carolina. It was a clear day, not a cloud in the sky. Myles and Mike stopped to rest and have something to eat. They both marveled at the blueness of the sky and the beauty of God's creation on this glorious day. After a short while, the pair began their hike again. As they were nearing one of the waterfalls, the sky began to grow dark. Myles had heard of popup thunderstorms but had never experienced one. Suddenly, he and Mike were caught in a torrential downpour. As the water fell from the sky, the ground became muddier and more difficult to walk on. All of a sudden, Myles heard a roaring sound as he turned to see raging water from a flash flood heading their way. Myles and Mike were swept away into the river. As they neared the waterfall, Myles knew that their only hope was to find something to cling to so that they would not go over the falls. In the nick of time, while holding Mike in one arm, Myles was able to grab a branch still attached to a tree on shore. The pair clung to the branch for 4 hours until rescuers arrived and pulled them out of the water.
Sometimes, life can be like the flash flood that caught Myles and Mike by surprise. Everything is going along fine and then suddenly, with no warning, we are swept away by a sea of turmoil caused by circumstances out of our control. At any moment, we feel so out of control and afraid that we might go over the falls, to a place that we will never be able to return from. During these dark times, there is only one thing to do: cling to the One in whom you have put your trust. Do you fully trust in Jesus as you take this journey of life? Are you caught in a raging river of difficult circumstances? My prayer is that you would put your trust in the One who calmed the raging sea. He knows you, He knows your circumstances and He will deliver.
Monday, April 27, 2015
Never be Ashamed
In You, O Lord, I put my trust;
Let me never be ashamed;
Psalm 31:1 (a)
Thought for Today: In our previous meditation, we looked at the the word trust in this verse. As you may recall, a sailor named Leo and his shipmates were evading Castro's troops after their ship sank off the coast of Cuba. Eventually, the group was captured and sent to a gulag. Can you imagine the shame that they felt, after being led away by the enemy troops. Their years of training to evade capture had failed.
Do you sometimes feel so close to losing a battle in your life? Do you worry about being ashamed that you could not handle this battle yourself? Perhaps you have been unable to overcome some circumstances in your life and feel like a failure. You've been taught that good Christians don't struggle, don't have problems. I'm here to tell you that we all struggle and will struggle until we cross over to Glory. We will never be ashamed if we put our trust fully in Jesus. You see, He uses our weaknesses, our failures, even our poor choices, for His purpose that His will be done on this earth. This day, can you trust Him fully, knowing that you will never be ashamed, bringing all of your trials, all of your weaknesses, all of your failures before Him? My prayer is that you will know His peace as you seek refuge in Him knowing that nothing is outside of His will for you.
Let me never be ashamed;
Psalm 31:1 (a)
Thought for Today: In our previous meditation, we looked at the the word trust in this verse. As you may recall, a sailor named Leo and his shipmates were evading Castro's troops after their ship sank off the coast of Cuba. Eventually, the group was captured and sent to a gulag. Can you imagine the shame that they felt, after being led away by the enemy troops. Their years of training to evade capture had failed.
Do you sometimes feel so close to losing a battle in your life? Do you worry about being ashamed that you could not handle this battle yourself? Perhaps you have been unable to overcome some circumstances in your life and feel like a failure. You've been taught that good Christians don't struggle, don't have problems. I'm here to tell you that we all struggle and will struggle until we cross over to Glory. We will never be ashamed if we put our trust fully in Jesus. You see, He uses our weaknesses, our failures, even our poor choices, for His purpose that His will be done on this earth. This day, can you trust Him fully, knowing that you will never be ashamed, bringing all of your trials, all of your weaknesses, all of your failures before Him? My prayer is that you will know His peace as you seek refuge in Him knowing that nothing is outside of His will for you.
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Our Refuge
In You, O Lord, I put my trust;
Psalm 31:1(a) NKJV
Thought for today: Leo and his companions had been evading capture for days. After their patrol boat was hit by a torpedo in Cuban waters, they had managed to swim to shore. Castro's troops knew that there were survivors and sent out troops to search for the Americans, who had hidden in a swamp not far from where their ship had sunk. One night, as the exhausted sailors lie in hiding, a contingent of about 100 men fanned through the area, coming within yards of the hideout that the men had made for themselves. So close to imminent death, yet protected by their hiding place, the men felt a sense of great relief as the troops passed by without noticing them.
What is translated as trust in our English Bible actually is the Hebrew word חָסָה, which means to seek refuge or flee for protection. Like Leo and his fellow crew members, we all need protection from the enemies in our lives, whether external or internal. While, like the sailors in our story, we have a hiding place in the Lord we also can flee to Him for protection when the enemy is near. What enemies, or struggles, do you face in your daily life? Have you sought refuge in the Lord? Only He can be our Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our refuge. My prayer is that this day you will seek His protection, bringing all of your needs before our living and loving Lord.
Psalm 31:1(a) NKJV
Thought for today: Leo and his companions had been evading capture for days. After their patrol boat was hit by a torpedo in Cuban waters, they had managed to swim to shore. Castro's troops knew that there were survivors and sent out troops to search for the Americans, who had hidden in a swamp not far from where their ship had sunk. One night, as the exhausted sailors lie in hiding, a contingent of about 100 men fanned through the area, coming within yards of the hideout that the men had made for themselves. So close to imminent death, yet protected by their hiding place, the men felt a sense of great relief as the troops passed by without noticing them.
What is translated as trust in our English Bible actually is the Hebrew word חָסָה, which means to seek refuge or flee for protection. Like Leo and his fellow crew members, we all need protection from the enemies in our lives, whether external or internal. While, like the sailors in our story, we have a hiding place in the Lord we also can flee to Him for protection when the enemy is near. What enemies, or struggles, do you face in your daily life? Have you sought refuge in the Lord? Only He can be our Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our refuge. My prayer is that this day you will seek His protection, bringing all of your needs before our living and loving Lord.
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Mourning into Dancing
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You for
You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You for
Psalm 30:11,12
Thought for Today: It was just another day for Andrew as he pounded the pavement looking for work. He had once had everything: a lucrative career, beautiful wife and wonderful children. Now, all of this was just a memory. You see, Andrew had fallen in a very bad way, the consequences of years of hard living. Andrew met Simon, who seemed a bit different. Not just interested in filling a position, Simon was interested in Andrew, where he had been, what he had done. Within no time, Andrew was offered a job in Simon's firm. One of the benefits of this job was free housing in a beautifully remodeled mansion. After his meeting with Simon, Andrew was about ready to flip cartwheels leaving the office.
What circumstances of your life have you mourning, living in despair? Perhaps, like Andrew, you have lost everything. Maybe you have lost just a little bit, something precious to you that, once taken away, cut to your innermost being. Do you feel a sense of shame coming before the Lord, perhaps sensing His anger towards you over your choices? Realize that there is nothing that has been taken away from you, whether by your own doing or other circumstances, that the Lord cannot restore. Do not be ashamed to pour your heart out to Him, humbly asking Him to restore you and to turn your mourning into joy. May this day be one in which you dance with pure joy.
What circumstances of your life have you mourning, living in despair? Perhaps, like Andrew, you have lost everything. Maybe you have lost just a little bit, something precious to you that, once taken away, cut to your innermost being. Do you feel a sense of shame coming before the Lord, perhaps sensing His anger towards you over your choices? Realize that there is nothing that has been taken away from you, whether by your own doing or other circumstances, that the Lord cannot restore. Do not be ashamed to pour your heart out to Him, humbly asking Him to restore you and to turn your mourning into joy. May this day be one in which you dance with pure joy.
Friday, March 13, 2015
Our Helper
I cried out to You, O Lord;
And to the Lord I made supplication:
“What profit is there in my blood,
When I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise You?
Will it declare Your truth?
Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me;
Lord, be my helper!”
Psalm 30:8-10 (NKJV)
Thought for Today: One thing that I don't do well is ask for help. I have learned over the years to not overestimate what I can do and to seek help when needed, particularly when dealing with maintenance issues around the house. This took several disasters, such as flooding a kitchen, before my stubbornness lost the battle of DIY.
Have you been in a situation where you thought that there was no way out, where your eminent demise was before you? Perhaps you thought that even the Lord could not save you. Yet, upon asking for help, He most certainly pulled you out of the pit. Why in this portion of Psalm 30 would David almost seem to barter with God, asking Him what He would gain from David's demise? It is interesting that David talks about the dust not being able to praise God or declare His truth. Does the Lord rescue us only because He wants someone to praise Him? I hardly thing so, for He, being God, could create a being to praise Him. He doesn't need us. Yet, in His wonderful love for us, He is willing to be our helper, our deliverer not because He has to be, but because He desires to do this. Our praise comes from what He does for us and is an expression of our gratitude for His amazing love for us.
This day, do you need help? Are you afraid to ask for it? Don't be afraid for He so cares for you that He will deliver you from any situation, any circumstance. Will you trust the One who dwells in the praises of His people to help you today?
And to the Lord I made supplication:
“What profit is there in my blood,
When I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise You?
Will it declare Your truth?
Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me;
Lord, be my helper!”
Psalm 30:8-10 (NKJV)
Thought for Today: One thing that I don't do well is ask for help. I have learned over the years to not overestimate what I can do and to seek help when needed, particularly when dealing with maintenance issues around the house. This took several disasters, such as flooding a kitchen, before my stubbornness lost the battle of DIY.
Have you been in a situation where you thought that there was no way out, where your eminent demise was before you? Perhaps you thought that even the Lord could not save you. Yet, upon asking for help, He most certainly pulled you out of the pit. Why in this portion of Psalm 30 would David almost seem to barter with God, asking Him what He would gain from David's demise? It is interesting that David talks about the dust not being able to praise God or declare His truth. Does the Lord rescue us only because He wants someone to praise Him? I hardly thing so, for He, being God, could create a being to praise Him. He doesn't need us. Yet, in His wonderful love for us, He is willing to be our helper, our deliverer not because He has to be, but because He desires to do this. Our praise comes from what He does for us and is an expression of our gratitude for His amazing love for us.
This day, do you need help? Are you afraid to ask for it? Don't be afraid for He so cares for you that He will deliver you from any situation, any circumstance. Will you trust the One who dwells in the praises of His people to help you today?
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