Smile at the Future

This morning as I awoke, I began to think about the fact that it is the beginning of a new year. As I thought back on the previous one, I recalled many wonderful blessings that I am so very grateful to the Lord for. Then immediately I began to sense a feeling of dread and worry coming to me regarding this next year. Why does that happen to me? Why does it happen to anyone? I believe that it is a weakness for most people. There are a few gifted people in this world that just can't see things in any other light than "rosie". I will have to say that most of the time I am a postive person. I get excited about the fact that I have hope in God and in His promises. And yet, there is a devil in this world. Fear comes along telling me that somehow God won't be there for me this time. At that point God expects me to deal with the fear and choose to have faith! It is vital that I turn from the lies of the devil and to the promises of our faithful God. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, "God has not given us a spirit of fear (of cowardice), BUT He has given us a spirit of power, and of love, and of a calm and well- balanced mind and self-control (Amp. version). I then directed myself to God's word and recalled Proverbs 31:25. This chapter is about the instruction King Lemuel recieved from his godly mother. Vs 1-9 she tells him to be righteous, not foolish, and to be helpful to those who are desolate and defenseless. She then goes on to explain what an intelligent and virtous woman is like (vs10-31). This woman is strong and secure (vs27). She rejoices over the future. Another translation says that she smiles at the future. I have reminded myself again, for the one thousandth time, to trust God. He is good (Ps 106:1). He has never failed me yet, nor will He ever (Heb.13:5)!

Wait!

Before I start this new year off running, (trying to catch up with last year), I have decided that it would be advantageous for me to wait on God (duh!). Although I'm very familiar with Isaiah 40:28-31, as I view my goals for the coming year, I get in a "tizzy"! For those of you who don't understand, I get overwhelmed and anxious. On the one hand I get excited about accomplishing some goals, on the other, my mind works against my body and my body says, "I don't think so"! Before I know it, I have to slow down. My husband speaks of a phrase I need to remind myself of, "You can work smart or work hard". It means we should work hard, but not in vain. In vs 28, we're reminded that the Lord does not grow weary or faint and we don't know all He knows! We need to trust His all knowing wisdom. Vs 29 says that He gives power and increases strength. Vs 30-31 states that even young people become exhausted but that those who wait on the Lord get renewed strength and power. They will fly like an eagle, run and not grow weary,walk and not get tired. Wow! I need me some of that! Notice, as we wait for a while, then we go! He helps us and gives us direction. He works everything out for His glory and purposes (Romans 8:28). Please read Ephesians 1. This passage says it all! God bless you, and me, as we attempt to live for and glorify Him in this new year.

Bread of Heaven

During the Christmas holidays while decorating and preparing for family to arrive, I was singing to myself the carol, "Breath of Heaven". Instead of singing "breath" I found myself singing "bread". The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said, "Jesus is the Bread of Heaven". I know that the Bible speaks of Him being the Bread of Heaven, but I want to understand better what that means. In John 6:51, Jesus said, "I am this living bread that came down from heaven". In John 6:48 He said, "I am the Bread of life...this is the Bread that came down from heaven...". In Jn. 6:22-35 Jesus addressed the fact that the people were wanting Him to perform a miracle. He said that God provided the miracle manna (or bread from heaven for daily food) in the wilderness for the Israelites, but now He is the daily provision. Because of His claim, the Jews were finding fault with Him. (Jn 6:53-60) Even His disciples were complaining about this concept. In vs 64, Jesus rebuked them. He told them to trust in Him, have faith, and to dwell continually with Him. If we do, He promises that we will have eternal life (6:54-58). He is our Portion (Heb.-allotment; inheritance; part). He is all we need. He should be our all in all. If we have Him, we have everything! In John 6:57 Jesus sums up the true meaning of this claim, "Just as the Living Father sent Me and I live by (through and because of) the Father, even so whoever continues to feed on Me (whoever takes Me for his food and is nourished by Me) shall live through and because of Me". What a great privilege! What hope, joy, and peace! Nothing else in this world compares!

The Season of Hope

Everything about the Christmas story involves hope. Hope is a joyful and expectant outcome. It is heartening, being optomistic about the future, and encouraging. In Christ we have hope for our eternal home in heaven. We hope for God's promises. Yesterday I was meditating on hope, what it means Biblically, and this definition came to my mind. Hope is believing that your efforts and or someone elses' will make a difference for a favorable outcome in an unfavorable situation. God is faithful. What He says will happen, will! So many times I become disillusioned and disappointed when I am trusting God for a favorable outcome. Things begin to look like I'm not going to experience God's goodness. Many times I've found that I have had a preconcieved idea of what the outcome should be and I haven't trusted in His faithfulness to work it all out (Romans 8:28). I have jumped to erroneous conclusions. I then begin to fear, become angry, and frustrated. Why??? God has never failed me yet! Why do I, after 30 years of seeing His faithfulness over and over, still doubt that He'll come through for me somehow? Thank God for His mercy!! But for the input of His Word and the precious Holy Spirit in my life, there go I as the Israelites in the wilderness. They jumped to wrong conclusions about God even after they saw the great miracles He did. Many were destroyed because of it (1 Corinthians 10:1-13). As I watched a video about Mary re: the angelic visitation, facing Joseph, her friends, relatives and being single and pregnant, the journey to Bethlehem and all of the hardships she faced, I began to sob. Even though she was carrying the Son of God, she had to go through all of these things? She did and yet she was faithful. God knew that she would be and that is why He chose her (Luke 1:28;30). It's pretty awesome what God did when He sent His only Son into the world. The ways in which He chooses to do things don't make sense to our natural mind (Rom. 8:5-9), but God in His wisdom remains victorious! Let us have our hope restored this Christmas. I want to trust God like never before regardless of how I think He should do things. I know that I will see His goodness after all! (Psalms 27:13-14) "What would have become of me had I not believed that I would see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living. Wait and hope for and expect the be brave and of good courage, and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait and hope for and expect the Lord."

Far as the curse is found...

Looking at the world around me lately and experiencing some stress and troubles of my own, I have had to acknowledge quite often the fact that the Lord Jesus purchased my freedom from the curse in this world (Galatians 3:13). Jesus came into this world, lived a sinless life, and died a cruel death on the cross so that we Christians could live a blessed life (Gal. 5:14). That life in Christ includes sonship, healing, provision, and the list goes on and on (Psalms 103:2; Gal. 3:26). Thank You Jesus!! But, only as we believe and accept what He did for us, will the blessing be invoked. Doubt and ignorance inhibits the blessing. We must be aware of the blessing and accept it by faith (Greek trans.-trusting in;adhering to; being loyal). That includes communing with Him and obedience because good works won't help matters. The anwer is living by faith in Christ daily(Gal.5:11;18). We must remember His promise. The promise is for the seed of Christ, and for Christians who accept His promise by faith (Gal.3:16). God gave the Law which allowed for some degree of blessing as long as it was kept (Gal.3:19-26). Under the New Covenant, when we belong to Christ, then we are Abraham's offspring and heirs according to the promise (Gal. 3:29). This Christmas season, let's remember what Jesus did for us. Let's remember that our Father in Heaven sent His only Son for us! I am reminded of that wonderful Christmas carol, "Joy to the World". The line says, "He has come to make His blessings known, far as the curse is found...". His Christmas gift to us was so costly and precious! This Christmas, let our gift to Him be our gratitude and all of our love. Let this Christmas gift to Him be His everyday, all year long and throughout eternity.

BELIEVE

I see this word "Believe" in the stores on the beautiful Christmas decorations. What does it mean? Believe in God? Believe in Santa? We should believe, but we must believe in God. Read the account of the angelic visitation Mary experienced in Luke 1. Mary, the mother of Jesus asked the question, "How can this be?", when told that she would have a son. Because she was a virgin she asked the angel Gabriel to explain. Gabriel graciously proceeded to try and explain that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, overshadow her, she would have a child, and to name Him Jesus. He went on to say that the "holy Thing which will be born will be the Son of God". Sounds like a fiction movie! This was real however. Well, imagine what this kind of super-natural salutation might have been like. Although the angel greeted her with kind and favorable words, he had to encourage her to not be afraid. The Bible says that she was disturbed and confused. She managed to calm herself enough to ask him the question, "How can this be?" Did the angel give an understandable explanation? Not really. She accepted his response and believed that God's will would be done... somehow. In the face of insurmountable odds, when God presents to us His promises and His will for our life, we must believe that He will accomplish it, somehow. We must be like Mary in that she believed God's word for her life. She was trusted and obeyed. We must follow her example to trust and obey regardless of the circumstances we see. God has a good plan. May we BELIEVE GOD this season and see the fulfillment of His amazing plans He has for us! As the angels proclaimed to the shepherds in the fields, "Fear not...Glory to God in the Highest, peace on earth, and good will toward men!"

Grace and peace be to you!

Fear is all around us! Granted, the instability in the financial world, the politcal changes and challenges we are experiencing tend to shake up any hope for the future one might have! Stress and anxiety regarding the times we live in are taking a toll on us. How do we overcome and not be taken captive to fear and dread? In Isaiah 8 we find hidden nuggets of truth that will give us the way of escape from the paralyzing fear in the world today. In Isaiah 8:10-22;9;1-7, God reveals the fact that the enemy has fearful plans for God's people, but the plans won't come to pass if God (Emmanuel) is with us (vs.10). God warns that we do not become obsessed with conspiracy theories and fear what these people are fearing (vs.11-12). Don't consult others or look to the earth (vs. 19-22). ONLY let the Lord be your fear and dread. Regard Him as your hope (vs.13). God instructs us to let Him be our sanctuary (refuge) (vs14). Look for and hope in the Lord (vs. 17). Why? Because we and our children the Lord has given us are for signs and wonders from the Lord of Hosts WHO dwells in Mt. Zion (vs. 18). When we are at peace and delivered, others will be amazed at God's presence in our lives. Mt. Zion is a symbol of God's presence signifying safety and protection. The Lord of Hosts is a divine title associated with the sanctuary of Shiloh signifying might and power commonly found in military and apocalyptic contexts> (from the Illustrated Dictionary and Concordance of the Bible). He is our Messiah, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this (9:6-7). Grace and peace be to you! (Phillippians 1:2)