One Audience

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.  That’s why the world hates you.” ~ John 15:18-19

I have to be reminded that the things of this world may rub me wrong because I don’t live as the world does, but try to live as Christ has called me and that is oftentimes in direct opposition of each other.  Only God’s view of us and our life should matter. We are called to live only for Him and differently than this self-centered world.  All of us have experienced some kind of persecution for something we did, or did not stand up for.  As followers of Jesus, we are told to expect this as we remember that this is not our home.  If Christ, who loved all people, was persecuted while here on earth, how much more will we be persecuted?  We must remember, however; that we are called to meet hate with love and to turn the other cheek.  Followers of Jesus do not, or should not show hate for hate, but instead show love and have a prayerful heart.  A life and faith built on what Jesus Christ has done for you will look differently than a life and faith based on the world’s standards.  Can people tell where your life and faith lie?  Do you live differently than the unbelieving world?  Have you been mocked, or criticized for your beliefs?  The world should see something different in you.  That fact that I live in the United States means I can worship and show my faith openly, but in places all over the world Christians lose families, jobs and sometimes even their life for their faith.  Would you be willing to love and follow Christ through that kind of persecution?  I have often asked myself what it would take for me to denounce my faith in Jesus Christ.  Is my faith strong enough to withstand the loss of my health, job, or heaven forbid, a child?  I sure hope so.  I pray I have built my trust and faith so secure that nothing, even debilitating loss, or the hatred and persecution of this world, would have me turn away.  Let us live differently, expect persecution and trouble, but hold steady and unwavering from our hope and faith in Jesus Christ.  Let us remember that He will make all things right and new in the end.  Let us live for an audience of one. ~ Amen 

Endures Forever

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. ~ Psalm 107:1

In this world everything will fade, grow old, die out, but God’s love is eternal and will never fade, but will last forever.  Even when this world is gone, God’s love will be exceedingly poured out on all who followed him.  There is nothing we can do that would ever make God not love us.  He may be disappointed, but He still loves us.  He has unfailing kindness and unfailing and unconditional love for His children.  God will always uphold His side of His relationship with you and will never leave you, or forsake you.  He is a God of relationship and restoration.  Healing through love.  His love is not conditional.  It’s not a “you do this for me and I’ll do this for you”.  He is love and good all the time.  Amid friendships, marriages, family relationships, people have loved each other and left only to leave wounds that sometimes never heal and betrayal that is hurtful for a lifetime.  God is not going to do that.  God’s love is steadfast, pure and faithful.  He deserves our praise and gratitude.  Our God sacrificed His only son to have a reconciled relationship with us so that we could be with Him forever.  This is not a natural love; it’s a supernatural love that far exceeds anything this world has to offer and it’s yours for the taking if you would commit your life to Christ and accept what He did for you on the cross.  He will never forsake you, or leave you.  If you feel distant from God could it be that you’ve pulled back?  Run back to Him.  He is waiting with outstretched arms.  So many people will let you down.  You’ll let others down.  God never will.  In his love He has provided, sheltered, protected and heard all our cries and by his faithfulness and grace He has been good to us and has never left us.  Let us give Him all the praise and glory He deserves with thankful hearts for His unfailing and steadfast love. ~ Amen

Enjoy Joy

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared.  This day is holy to our Lord, do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” ~ Nehemiah 8:10

In Nehemiah, the people of Judah had just rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem and the walls were not as impressive as other city walls, or even the old ones of this very city.  This discouraged some of the people.  Not to mention that there was great opposition to the walls being rebuilt in the first place, so even though the work was complete, there was a quiet lull around the people.  They had listened to Ezra, the high priest, read from the Book of the Law, worshipped God and then began to weep.  They acknowledged their disobedience to God and felt defeated.  Nehemiah, the governor, seems like he became a little annoyed and wanted this to be a joyful celebration.  These people had forgotten they were God’s people and the rebuilding of the walls was a great accomplishment.  They had forgotten their joy.  I dare say they were also a little downcast because they had forgotten some of The Law and God was now in a process of restoring them.  The people of Judah had let themselves get distracted and now it was time to repent and repoint.  Anytime anyone repents to God, it’s a great time to celebrate.  The moment anyone addresses their sin and wants to repoint their lives to Christ, He is there waiting to rejoice with them, not demean them.  Nehemiah wanted these people to realize that God is in the business of restoration and forgiveness.  Rejoice!  This is holy ground and we should celebrate with everyone!  Even in the middle of our life’s biggest mistakes and messes, God wants to meet you there.  God doesn’t expect you to clean up before He can show up.  Just invite Him.  He can take the dirty and make it clean!  He can give you a joy that you’ve never experienced before!  Not the joy that comes from this world and your circumstances - that’s circumstantial happiness.  True joy can only come from the Lord when we abide in what He has done for us and the greatness of what’s to come.  True joy stays focused on the eternal perspective of life and produces strength to endure whatever comes our way.  True joy is not circumstantial, but consistent focusing on God’s promises even through the fire.  And true joy is to be shared - shared with others so they may be drawn to Christ.  True joy is shared and finds trust and comfort from God no matter the circumstances.  Repentance is a great starting point to finding joy in the Lord.  Let’s be joyful for everything God has done for us and is yet to do. ~ Amen

Will Weep

Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices.  You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. ~ John 16:20

Young and old non-believers rejoiced when Jesus was crucified thinking they had finally put to death this radical man who was disturbing the religious and political leaders of the time, but Jesus had told his disciples that even though his death would bring them great sorrow, their grief would turn to joy.  In deep sorrow we struggle to understand how anything can be good again.  We wade through the thick mire and murky weight of grief weighing us down in a broken world, but if you are a follower of Jesus, there is always hope.  Under great grief is the potential for tremendous growth.  Cling to Jesus.  Jesus never promised that we wouldn’t experience sorrow, grief, or hardships, but He did promise to walk through those times with us.  Jesus himself experienced grief and horrible pain while on earth, but He also experienced joy that He knew only came from His father.  Battles in this world are just that - battles of unbelievers and worldly desires, but we can turn from the battles of the world and rejoice in what we know is at the end of this life for us.  By basing and anchoring my joy to the foundation of Jesus’ death and resurrection, I can have a joy that will carry me through heart ache and sorrow.  Asking, seeking, and following Jesus through every circumstance can bring me peace.  Never doubt that God doesn’t see your pain and sorrow.  He desperately wants you to press into Him and trust.  Amid great turmoil, we must remember that this world is not our home and our joy will be made full and complete when we are in heaven, at home, with Jesus.  But in the meantime, we have the Holy Spirit to comfort us, guide us and give us peace that passes all understanding.  Lean into Him.  Let us mourn, weep, and wade through difficult times with Jesus knowing that joy can be ours again if we keep our gaze on the eternal reality that this is not our home and we are not alone. ~ Amen

Pisgah Peek

Go up to the top of Pisgah and look west and north and south and east.  Look at the land with your eyes, since you are not going to cross the Jordan.  But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you see.  ~ Deuteronomy 3:27-28

Years and years passed through Moses’ hands as he led the Israelites to the promised land - so much wandering, so much complaining, so much walking!  The land God is leading them to will meet all their needs, wants and expectations, but Moses will not be the one to get them across the finish line.  He rescued them out of Egypt, but he will not be the finisher of this race with them.  His race for the Lord will finish before they get there.  His job will be done.  We know that God is a good God, but when we disobey Him, there are still consequences.  In Numbers 20:10-13 Moses was commanded by the Lord to speak to the rock for flowing water; however, Moses struck the rock with his rod instead and so for his disobedience, God told him he would no longer be the one to cross the Jordan.  Instead, he was charged with encouraging, and strengthening Joshua and to pass the baton of leadership to him.  True godly leaders want to help, serve, encourage, pray for and uplift those coming up behind them growing in leadership.  Good godly leadership starts at the top and trickles down so that each leader is a good role model for the next.  Leadership should not be self-seeking, but God seeking.  Personally, I find this verse to be a bittersweet reminder - that even though we might not get to see the fruition of God’s promises here on earth, they will still happen.  God gives us glimpses of things ahead even if we won’t  see them happen with our own eyes.  I can continue to pray for deliverance of addiction for a loved one and know and trust God has them.  I can pray for my lost loved ones and know and trust God has them.  God’s work will continue somehow and somewhere from generation to generation in my family after I am long gone.   Most importantly, I can trust in God’s plan and remain faithful to the end whenever He decides my time is up.  I can trust that His plan is good even in dark times.  Greater things are always around the corner.  God’s promises are true for everyone even if I don’t get to see the completed picture here on earth.  I can’t imagine how Moses felt standing on top of Mount Pisgah looking over the Promised Land knowing he wasn’t going over.  Sadness.  Relief.  Unbelief that they finally made it.  Happiness.  Bitterness.  Humility.  Gratitude.  Whatever it was, I am also sure He wrestled with the fact that His time had come to an end.  He had finished his God given mission.  I am sure he felt the sovereignty and goodness of God.  May we all lead our families and friends into a relationship with God and hold on to His promises that everything will be okay.  Let us lead like Moses and trust in God’s plan for our lives and our families lives and pass the baton on. ~ Amen

Morning Bring

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. ~ Psalm 143:8

This is a prayer of devotion to God and to acknowledge that David depends on God for guidance and direction.  A beautiful request we should memorize and tuck into our hearts.  David had been through many dark trials and great times of victory and he knew God to be his refuge and strength.  He knew he could trust God with his life and lead him daily.  The love of the Lord never fails and His mercy and grace is fresh every morning.  It’s an unlimited supply from God.  Life is hard.  We were never promised a trouble free life, but we were promised, as believers of Christ, that He would never leave us.  To trust Him with decisions in our lives even when they may not make sense.  Hearing God may not always be easy, but if you dive into His word in the quiet of your day, pray and wait, you’ll be amazed at the nudge and revelation you will receive.  Sometimes there is no great change in our direction, but sometimes when you trust wholeheartedly, the phenomenal may happen.  Having developed a habit of quiet time every morning since a teen, if I miss my time with God in the morning, my day just doesn’t quite feel right.  I feel like I have missed my daily refill of what God has to say to me and sometimes I even find myself cranky.  Let me be the first to tell you that if you can make it a habit to meet with the Lord first thing every morning, your day starts off with the good news and hope before the rest of the world comes crashing down, crowding and expecting from your day.  Being filled up with His word and putting my burdens at His feet and leaving them there trusting He will take care of them is a powerful privilege for Jesus followers.  I don’t need to trust in my own strength and wisdom for the day.  I can invite God to lead me and give me direction and know that He loves me enough that I can trust He only wants the best for me - even when it looks difficult, or impossible.  Let us give our days and steps to God every morning knowing we can trust Him completely.  How liberating! ~ Amen