God Pleasing Faith #5 Marvelous Faith

Help is in the Lord

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Are you frightened or bewildered? Has something unexpected happened in your home, workplace or family? Are you experiencing feelings of inadequacy or inferiority? Have you been watching the news that continues to sow fear into our hearts and minds?

Your mind may be spinning, replaying an uncomfortable or unfair situation. You know deep within that the world around you could be better. We wonder where is love, where is unity? This is the perfect time to turn to prayer and the Holy Scriptures. The Word of God is the only place to find comfort, strength, peace and or solace. Our God has His eye upon you and is not surprised by this fiery ordeal that surrounds you.

Reading God’s Word is important, but as you do this inquire of God to direct your reading and to allow His Spirit to minister to your mind and heart. This is a form of abiding in Him. God is our source of strength and brings life abundantly. He is the everlasting light and our living water. He is our comforter and completely understands the situation surrounding us each individually. 

Believe it or not, He has answers for you as you wait upon Him.

God is our help in time of need. Relax, take a deep breath and turn your troubles over to Him. He is our all in all, Creator of heaven and earth. Remember and dwell in how great our God is.

Meditate on Isaiah 41:10 and find much needed strength. Your help is on the way!

The Lord Hears

“Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplication. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exalts, and with my song I shall thank Him. And as He is a saving defense to His anointed. Save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance; be their shepherd also, and carry them forever.” Psalm 28:6-7

Take a moment and think deeply about this statement; “He has heard the voice of my supplication.” The Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth is attentive to your prayers.

Amazing! What love!

He desires His children, you and me, to come to Him with every desire and need. We have so many twists and turns in our lives. We need to share our hopes and worries with the Lord. He is our friend and closest confidant.

I understand God’s pleasure when I think of my own reaction when my grandchildren share with me their thoughts, experiences or desires. I do not give in to their every desire, but it gives me great pleasure to be trusted and included in their lives. I absolutely love when they turn their little faces to mine.

So many people are living without this wonderful help. They push and pull to make things happen about them. We need to intercede daily for our friends, loved ones and co-workers to find the good news of Jesus Christ. He wants to bless them. In return He is blessed!

Turn your face to the Lord today. Acknowledge His goodness. He deserves your praise. He has given each one of us a future and a hope. He doesn't turn His back on us or put His hands over His ears. He loves it when we put our full trust in Him. He does not want us to be anxious or carry doubt, just expectation. 

Share your innermost thoughts and desires. Realize that He knows them already but desires you to reach out.

This is a safe place.

He is the Good Shepherd who enjoys blessing the sheep of His pasture. He is our protector and is even our shield of defense. We can't see it, but it definitely is there. 

We have a great inheritance waiting for us!

 

God Pleasing Faith #4 Losing Heart

God Pleasing Faith #3 Persistent Faith

Find Joy Today

“Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name. Let Thy lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us, according as we have hoped in Thee.” Psalm 33:20-22

Are you worried about something?

Do you find yourself running ahead, pushing, pulling or striving to manipulate your situation?

Inspect your mind and your heart. Take a moment and lift up your anxiety to the Lord. Contemplate what a great God and Savior you know and serve. Remember the moments that God intervened in your life.  Pick up your Bible and find scripture that has given you peace in the past. Meditate on it.

When you slow down and put the Lord back in the driver’s seat, you will find peace again. Confess your problems to the Lord and wait for His direction. You will be amazed as the Lord chauffeurs you through the stressful situation. Trust in His driving abilities.

He wants to renew and restore you to  perfect peace. He will get you to the proper destination at the perfect time.

Trusting in the Lord is an act of your will. Will you trust Him today? Trust releases the blinders that keep us from enjoying the journey. We need to look out the window and absorb the landscape. You need to stop worrying about what is over the next hill, the unseen. When you allow the journey to take you in new uncharted directions you will begin to experience renewed joy and expectation.

Instead of being afraid of the twists, turns, hills and valleys ahead, fasten your seat-belt and enjoy the ride!

Introduction to Word of God Speak

Far From the Camp #1

Far from the Camp 

"Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the LORD went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp."
(Exodus 33:7)

In the context of this portion of Scripture, the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord by worshiping an idol that they had made with their own hands. While Moses had been up on the mountaintop for forty days receiving the commandments from God, the people persuaded Aaron, Moses’s brother, to make a golden calf which they worshiped as God. They committed all sorts of abominable acts in the sight of God and when Moses came down from the mountain, he became angry and broke the tablets containing the commandments that God had written with His own finger. Moses then took that idol and burned it and ground it to powder and then scattered it in the water. He then said to the people, “whoever is on the Lord’s side-come to me”. A separation occurred and the result was that three thousand people died that day who had refused the invitation. 

Moses then returned to the Lord to make intercession for the people and the Lord declared that He would forgive them but also indicated that He would not accompany them on their journey to the promised land and instead would send His Angel.

This was terrible news to the children of Israel and they mourned for their great sin realizing God’s Presence was the greatest blessing they could ever have and now they have lost that blessing. Even though the promised land was filled with milk and honey and was a very fruitful land, what does it matter without God’s presence.

And so, "Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the LORD went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp."

Aside from the context of this verse, these words have been for me the source of great joy and peace and blessing as I see in it an invitation for me, (and you), to have fellowship with God my Creator and Savior. I cannot count the times that I have started my day with this portion of Scripture and found it to be something that shapes my thinking and attitude for the whole day and into the night. 

Separation from the noise of this world.

As Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, I see first a separation from the noise of the world. For Moses, the camp itself was a very large one with millions of people. Can you imagine the never-ending activity generated by that many people in one place? Our world is no different than Moses’s world and in fact I believe we have even more things to distract us. Can you relate to this at all. We need a place where we can meet with our Lord as Moses had this place to meet with God. Even Jesus, God’s own Son understood this as He often withdrew Himself into the wilderness to pray (Luke 5:16)
In subsequent blogs we will explore this wonderful privilege that we have been given to come and find His grace.

Our world today is fraught with busyness and extremely fast paced. Our eyes and ears see and hear so much with televisions, radios, cell phones and Ipads. The internet provides for us instant access to all kinds of news and information to say nothing of websites that will corrupt our lives. All of this has a profound effect on our hearts and minds and deeply troubles our souls. How much of our population is being medicated to combat the anxiety that comes from the exposure to all of this. Jesus said, “Don’t let you heart be troubled” We need to take our tent and pitch it outside the camp, far from the camp and meet with the Lord.

“And it came to pass that everyone who sought the LORD went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp.”

Everyone invited!

Notice that the invitation was extended to everyone. Not just Moses, not just Joshua. Everyone that desired to seek the Lord was invited to the tent of meeting. All who needed answers. All who needed wisdom. All who needed guidance. The Lord says in Proverbs 8:17 "I love those who love Me, And those who seek Me diligently will find Me." And in Jeremiah 29:12,13 He says, “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." God’s promise is that if you seek Him you will find Him and He will listen to you. 

Yes, all were invited, but how many responded? How do you respond to this invitation? 

Taste and see that the Lord is good!

King David said, “one thing have I desired and that will I seek after. That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple” (Psalm 27:4) David’s heart was a heart after God and desired God’s presence more than anything else. 

He wrote in Psalm 63:1,2 "O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory."

David desired not only God’s presence but also His blessing!
"Blessed is the man You choose, And cause to approach You, That he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Of Your holy temple." (Psalms 65:4)

It will come back to your heart and your desire. If you desire, you are invited!

"Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" (Psalms 34:8)

Are You Seeking the Lord Today?

“The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good to wait silently for the salvation of the Lord.” Lamentations 3:22-26

Sitting in my patio I contemplate the goodness of the Lord. He is always with me, watching, listening and yes, even responding. His love is abounding. He cares deeply for each individual person. He doesn’t pile you in a heap with others and then have group therapy. He knows your background, desires, and future.

Observing a potted plant I find it isn’t as beautiful as it once was. Although I have watered it, there have been times I neglected it. It was very fragrant and full of colorful flowers but now it looks a bit dried out and the flowers that have survived are drooping. 

What an ideal representation of our individual spiritual life. When life seems too busy to water ourselves with the Word of God, prayer and quiet refection our fragrant aroma, which flows from the Spirit, feels dull and dried.

God patiently waits for us and may pinch back the unfruitful growth, just as I do with my plant, to make it thrive again. When we sit in His presence, soaking up His loving-kindness and experience His restoration, we are blessed. It is amazing how quickly revival comes. It takes but a moment, when our heart is fully tuned into His patient enduring love, to know He is near.

Feeling a little dried out today? Sit, relax, read your Bible and enjoy the salvation the Lord has produced in your soul for eternity. Become that fragrant aroma that flows from the throne of grace. This doesn’t occur because of our faithfulness, but because of His!

God Pleasing Faith #2 Is anything too hard for God?

Sledgehammer

"Is not My word like a fire?" says the LORD, "And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? (Jeremiah 23:29)

This verse is brought to life in my heart by my experience as a young man working for a construction company in my early twenties. The type of construction we did was that of installing various types of pipelines or systems for new subdivisions. We installed sanitary sewers, storm sewers, and water lines that would service the neighborhood as well as the homes themselves. We also put in the new roads along with gutters and catch basins. You can imagine how hard the work was every day.

The sanitary sewer system was always the very first thing we would begin to work on as we would arrive on the worksite. It was begun by digging down alongside of an existing manhole with a backhoe exposing the side of the manhole sometimes as deep as thirty feet. When this was accomplished, the foreman would draw a circle with chalk at the base of the manhole. This circle would be around twelve inches in diameter. He would then hand me a sixteen-pound sledgehammer. My instructions were clear. He needed a hole at the base of the manhole so that we could start the new pipeline coming from the existing manhole. The wall of the manhole itself was made of concrete about six to eight inches thick and reinforced with steel mesh.

This was not going to be easy! It was my job to make a hole in that concrete manhole. As the sledgehammer was handed to me, the rest of the crew would leave and do something else to prepare for the work being done that day. They might leave someone behind to watch and make sure I was safe.

Much like a baseball player standing in the batter’s box waiting for a pitch, I would position myself to begin swinging away at that concrete manhole. The first swing of that sixteen-pound sledgehammer seemingly did nothing. Nothing at all! It bounced off like the manhole itself had life and was saying, “you will not accomplish your goal”. The second swing was no different. Subsequent swings would produce the same result. It seemed futile and vain. Every swing needed to count for something, but it just did not seem like anything was being accomplished.

You soon realized why everyone left. They knew from experience this was going to take some time. It would do no good to be in a hurry because if you went fast and hard you would tire easily. A slow and steady pace with a solid and square hit in that circle was the only way to win this battle. Swing after swing, hit after hit, making each one count stopping only to wipe the sweat off your forehead and out of your eyes.

Then, suddenly something happens! Not that you could see but what you could hear with your ears. A different sound! When the sledgehammer hit the wall it just sounded different. No hole yet but with each swing the wall of the manhole was being weakened and you could hear it. Keep swinging and don’t get to excited you still have a long way to go, but with swing of that sledgehammer you are that much closer to your goal.

And then it happens! The head of the sledgehammer goes all the way through, and you keep swinging making the hole bigger chipping away at that circle cutting away the steel mesh with bolt cutters.
A feeling of pride and success comes over you and the crew members return to begin the work of installing that first pipe. The foreman may acknowledge your work and he may not, but you still feel good about yourself. You may even scratch your initials somewhere on that manhole for archaeologists to find.

God says in His Word in Jeremiah 23:29, "Is not My word like a fire?" says the LORD, "And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

God knows that His Word will accomplish what He sent it out for, and it will prosper!

"So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11)

Sometimes we as His people are frustrated at the seemingly futile efforts to keep pounding away with the hammer of His Word. People all around us, friends and family, coworkers, even our whole culture do not seem to respond to His Word.

Keep swinging away at a good steady pace and His Word will accomplish His goal!

God Pleasing Faith Series: #1 With God Nothing will be Impossible

Where is truth?

“The works of His hands are truth and justice; all His precepts are sure. They are upheld forever and ever; they are performed in truth and uprightness. He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; Holy and awesome is His name.” Psalm 111:7-9

Everyday people try to find truth. They do not know what to trust or believe. Our ever-changing culture pushes the boundaries of right and wrong. We accept practices today that would never be allowed fifty years ago.

God and His Word never change. The scriptures miraculously have been preserved through the ages. They prove that He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

 We have confidence in this wonderful fact and know that we can trust God’s promises.

God is very aware that all humans fall short of the glory of God. We are all sinners in need of a Savior. Praise God for sending His Son Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sins. This redemption He has sent to each of us as a promise.

We must open our hearts by faith to believe. Grab hold of the Word today. Read and know there is great purpose for you in this life.

God’s ways are higher than our ways. Give up struggling to manipulate it for your own gain. Realize you gain everything when you put your full trust in Him. It’s important to know that there is nothing hidden from God.

Truth is found when you embrace God and His Word. 

This brings peace and strength to your very soul!