Does our faith in God cause our lives to be free from trouble and trials? How does our faith in God change our outlook on life and the circumstances we face? We may desire to have a guaranteed way of making our lives carefree and easy but would we be truly satisfied with such a life? “‘Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up,’ let Israel now say, ‘Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up; yet they have not prevailed against me.’” Psalm 129:1,2 When our lives intersect with our faith in God there is no great transformation that changes the circumstances we endure but the transformation occurs within our hearts as we have a hope that is greater than our circumstances. We will face many difficult times in our lives but we will be enabled to overcome all trouble because God loves His beloved. Continue Reading…
Perspective transformed where life and faith intersect: Psalm 129
Corporately sing, shout and come together before God: Psalm 95
As you read and reflect on Psalm 95 how do you view the tone and passion of the psalmist’s writing? Is the writing a monotone account that relays no passion to the reader? This psalmist was enveloped with an infectious desire to worship God with those around him. Let us sing, let us shout and let us come are the corporate calls to worship given in Psalm 95. Is your faith in God motivating, inspiring and calling others to worship God? Do you marvel at God’s creation from the heights of the mountains to the depths of the see and everything in between? Does your awe, wonder and amazement of God inspire others? “Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.” Psalm 95:6,7 We are wading through a life that is filled with disappointment, heartache and failure but if we can mutually encourage one another to press on and fix our gaze on God alone we will find our burdens lightened.
Embrace the life changing word of God: Psalm 86
Is perseverance a premeditation that must be resolutely fixed in our minds before encountering any situation of tribulation where perseverance must be wielded? Our relationship with God is critically important to our outlook on life, our perception of our abilities and our expression of compassion and love towards one another. What happens as we consistently turn to God for our nourishment and hope by meditating upon His Word? “Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to hear Your name.” Psalm 86:11 As we continually seek out God and open our heart, mind, soul and strength to His teaching in scripture we will wholeheartedly learn that God is truly to deliver us. ”In the day of my trouble I shall call upon You, for You will answer me.” Psalm 86:7 Continue Reading…
What is in greater need of rebuilding: Ezra 3 and 4
In Ezra 3 and 4 the peoples who returned to Jerusalem from Persia are starting to rebuild the temple of the Lord. The first priority for the people was not to build up the physical building of the temple but they sought to rebuild their adherence to God’s commands. The rebuilt the altar of the Lord and started to sacrifice again to God. Why was it of greater importance for the people to seek out God than to build the Temple? The people knew that it was God alone who was working to bring them home and they needed to submit to Him to have any lasting success. The rebuilding of the temple was secondary to the rebuilding of the people dependance upon God. Continue Reading…
Passionate perseverance in our journey of faith
Here is another post that I wrote for my churches August fast that I wanted to share with you. How do we remain passionate as we continue through this August Fast? Do you have the zeal for this fast that you had at the beginning? Have the worries of work and family crowded into your day to day living? When insurmountable events present themselves and hope seems lost what do you do? Cling to God with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength as the waves of life seek to consume you.
In 2 Chronicles 20 the kingdom of Judah was invaded by the sons of Moab, the sons of Ammon, and the Meunites. Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, is faced with an overwhelming advisory seeking to destroy him. What would your instinctive reaction be in this situation? Would you be afraid? “Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to seek help from the Lord; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the Lord” 2 Chronicles 20:3,4 Hope in times of trouble is only found in God alone. Jehoshaphat’s instinct was not to run anywhere but to God for his help. The people sought to fast and set their hearts towards God. Continue Reading…
Perseverance in hardship when desire wains: 1 Chronicles 25 and 26
I am feeling bogged down by all the genealogies of 1 Chronicles lately and feeling a weariness that extends to my very core because life has been very difficult recently. What do we do when we feel the weight of life pressing in all around us? It will alwaysbe easiest to shutdown and fall into depression, lethargy, and apathy when life is difficult and painful. What do we do to difficult moments? Where do we turn to for help, hope, and healing?
Today I am reading through 1 Chronicles 25 and 26 which is centering around the division of tasks within the City of David. It is encouraging to see how such intent was taken to ensure that the worship of God was continually happening. Continue Reading…
Foreshadowing of Jesus Christ within the Israelites Camp Arrangement: Numbers 1 and 2
I honestly was kind of dreading starting to read Numbers. I was thinking about all of the people and numbers in Numbers. I went into reading the book with a prejudice. My prejudice toward the book of Numbers came from all the many times I have attempted to read through my Bible where I would try to read through the these old testament books as fast as I could. This time I took a long time to look at chapters 1 and 2 in Numbers mainly because I became very busy and didn’t take the time to post the blog after my first reading the chapters. After reading through the books a few times I became aware of some amazing truths in scripture.
On sitting and waiting…
I have been battling with worry lately. Since my surgery four weeks ago today I have not been able to do much of anything. My life has consisted of 7 hours of sleep and 17 hours sitting in a recliner. I miss being able to walk. With the last surgeries I have been able to get out on crutches and drive so it made the healing process more tolerable. I can’t drive and the little moving I do on crutches has caused a sore on the one foot that bears all my weight when I crutch. This foot is the one that was fused and has taken 5 years to get to a healthy stable point. It is a complex balancing act right now. I am doing all that I can to not move to save my feet but I feel sad because I can’t get out. Sounds bad doesn’t it… Continue Reading…
Joseph’s perseverance while trusting God: Genesis 45 and 46
The story of Joseph is such an encouragement to me. I look at how he saw God’s will and desire at the heart of what happened. It makes me happy to see how God used him in the toughest moments of his life to preserve his family. I think of all that I have gone through in my life and I wonder what of that is God using. I feel like such an insignificant factor in everything. I think the biggest example Joseph can be to me is how I act in every situation and place I find myself in. Continue Reading…
Running from sin and resisting temptation in Genesis 39 and 40
I love how God’s blessings flowed because of Joseph. The attitude of Joseph is a great example to me about how to view life, work, trials, and hardship because he always sought to honor God in all he did. Can I say that I honor God in all that I do? I honestly say I can’t but I sure desire to. Joseph gives a good example of how to deal with sin and temptation. You can resist it only so long and then you need to make a choice to stay or run. Continue Reading…
