The past does not determine our destiny

This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham; Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.~Mathew 1:1;5-6

I am guilty of skipping over the passages in the Bible that outline genealogy.  I honestly never viewed it as “meat” to chew on, but today God corrected my misconception.  He tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  Therefore, every stroke and letter in His Word is for our benefit as it prepares us to good work for His glory.

So as I was reading the genealogy of Jesus, two names jumped out at me: Rahab and Ruth.  Two women who were not born of Jewish birth.  One was once a prostitute ( Rahab) and the other a Moabite, with a pagan background.  Notice I said what they  once were.  These women started one way, but through the grace of God and faith ended with their stories being written in the Bible.  If you just looked at the past and their circumstances, you might not think they would ever amount to anything or become more, but with God all things are possible.  Our past does not have to dictate or determine our destiny. 

He created Rahab and Ruth with a divine purpose and Work.  Both of these women stepped out on faith.  Rahab hid the Hebrew spies in Jericho and hung a scarlet scarf so that she would be spared ( Joshua 2). Her life was changed because of her faith.  She believed in the God of Abraham and His power and became an ancestor of Christ Himself.  The mother of Boaz, who would be a  guardian-redeemer; a pre-cursor for the true Redeemer. ( Joshua 2:14)

And then there is Ruth who left her homeland and all that she knew to go with Naomi to an unknown place. She chose to serve God and care for her mother-in-law ( Ruth 1:16). She gleaned from the fields without complaint and by His grace and through her faith owned the very field she worked ( Ruth 2:2;4:13).  She went to beggar to “lender”. She too is an ancestor of Jesus the great grandmother of David (Mathew 1:6).

Wow! Just look at what God has done and still is doing for us.  Rahab and Ruth future was greater than their past.  They are evidence of how God works all things out for our good according to His purpose ( Romans 8:28).  It is a reminder that we are uniquely and beautifully made.  We are here for a reason.  Our future is bright because He is our hope. Our past does not define us, He does.  He tells us every day just how much we are loved.  We are wanted and chosen.  

Father I thank You for every bit of your Word and truth.  Forgive me for my tendency skip over parts.  May I realize that by doing that I am missing precious gems that You have prepared for me in advance.  Lord let me walk in my present with humility and by faith in the hope of the future You have prepared for me.  I love you Lord.  Blessing and praises be unto your name. In Jesus name I  pray. Amen

He’s Calling

Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”  So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. ~Mark 10:49-50

Bartimaeus was a blind man sitting on the side of the road in Jericho.  He cried out to Jesus to have mercy upon him. Some tried to quiet him, but he kept on calling out.  Bartimaeus had a need and he called out to the One he knew could provide.

I can imagine the anguish and pain in His voice as he called out to the Jesus.  I have been there and if I am being honest am there.  We all have those seasons in life where the wind blows a little colder or perhaps like Bartimaeus we are blind. The  adversity we face is making things seem dark and so we cry out to God for the mercy of His light. 

I don’t know what you face. Maybe it is financial hardship, a struggling relationship, difficulties on the job, sickness, grief, or loneliness.   Maybe you think that you have prayed long enough without result.  I encourage you to not give up or give in. Take heart and cheer up! 

I know it’s not easy to be cheerful when life is so hard. In fact I use to get down right angry when someone said those words to me.  I felt like they were dismissive of my pain and suffering, but here’s the truth.  We can cheer up because there is hope.  If you have Christ, there is always hope and a reason to hold on.

Hold on to your hope. Hold on to God because He hears you and He knows your name. He is calling You to come Him with all it. just as He is calling me.  He is calling us to leave our cares of this world with Him.  He is inviting us to trust Him to provide us with what we need.  We just have to get up and go to Him.  We have to answer the call.

Father I thank You for your comfort and the assurance of your love found in Your Word.  May You be glorified.  In Jesus name. Amen

When you feel broken

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.~2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Broken. That’s how I feel.  I have every reason to feel joy, but yet here I am with this gray cloud hanging over my head.  There is no rhyme or reason that I can point to.  I don’t know what needs to be “fixed”.   I am battling a familiar enemy on all sides.  So what do I do? Where do I go from here?  I go to the Truth.  I go to the Word of God and speak the things that I do know.

For example, I know that while I am being pressed on many sides, I will not be crushed.  God has a host of angels surrounding me, protecting me. I can’t stand how I am feeling and I want it to go away, but it’s just a feeling.  The fact is that the enemy’s job is to persecute me, but my God has already declared me victorious.  So the weapons fly, I am getting nicked here and there, but I will not be destroyed.  Jesus lives in me.  Satan can not defeat Him.  He knows this and is trying to distract me so that I will forget this truth. 

I also know that while others may not understand the weight of depression and chronic illness, my God does.  I know that He cares for me and will never abandon me.  So regardless of how dark it may seem, there is always His light that lights my path to peace and wholeness.  He is my “silver lining” in every cloud.  I might feel broken, but I know that by His grace and mercy I am not beyond repair.

Lord, I thank You for listening to me and having compassion on me.  I thank You in advance for the victory You will give me in this battle with depression.  I thank You for your peace and your wisdom.  I thank You for your comfort. May your light shine through my broken places.   In Jesus name. Amen

Enough?

Now to Him who is able to do Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think,  according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations ~Ephesians 3:20-21

Jesus gets me so excited!  The way He confirms His Word just amazes me.  I should be use to it by now, but I never want to lose my awe for the Lord.  I never want to think I have grasped all of Him because I never will.  Yet, amazingly what He gives me always completes me and fills me up.  It keeps me yearning for more.  I stay thirsty and His well of love and truth never disappoints.

This morning I was blessed to read two insightful and powerful devotions that honed in on the word enough. I took away a few things that I want to share.  First, knowing God from an intellectual perspective is not enough.  What is in our heads must move to our hearts so that we can have a change in our mindset. My mind will not just seek to know about Him, but I will seek to be a part of His life and He mine.  In essence relationship where time spent in His word establishes me and roots me in His love.  It is only that space, as He resides in my heart, that I will begin to grasp how deep, wide, and long His love for me is. The beautiful thing is that He is so much that I will never grasp Him completely, yet He fills me to the brim.( Ephesians 3:16-19)

This leads to my second take away.  I must stop limiting God.  His love and grace is continually flowing and in order to keep being filled I must empty myself.  There is always more room in me for Him.  I can’t contain all that He wants to do in and for me.  So I must stop trying to put limits on Him.  My Father wants to bless me exceedingly and abundantly above anything that I can even think to ask for( Ephesians 3:20).  Yet, so often I settle. I operate as if I have “enough”.   I don’t operate in the power that is at work in me.  I let my little mustard seed of faith stay tiny.  I don’t ask God for big things.  I only ask for just enough. Oh sure,   I cover this type of thinking by saying that I am trying to humble or not greedy.  But God says He will give me the desires of my heart if I delight myself in Him( Psalm 37:4)  

Therefore, if my heart is aligned to His character, Word, and will then why not ask for the big stuff? Why not ask for freedom from debt so that I can use my income to Sis seeds into the kingdom instead of a creditor? Why not ask for complete healing in my body so that I can minister, worship, and praise?  Why not ask for reconciliation in marriages so that our families can be strong and united in Christ?  Why not ask for the spirit of rebellion to be broken in the lives of students in the classroom? Why not ask for more than enough so that God will be glorified when others witness His power flowing? Asking God to fulfill His Word is not being greedy or ungrateful.  I am just going to the source who supplies my needs.  I need more of Him. 

Jesus, You are the only thing that is enough and I will never have enough of You.  So please empty me so that I can grasp more of your love.  Fill me with your Spirit.  Increase my faith and keep me from limiting your blessings in my life.  Change my heart and my thinking so that it is in line with what You want for me.  Give me the courage to ask You for things great and small believing that You will supply all of my needs exceedingly and abundantly above all that I can r en ask or think. In Jesus name. Amen

Preparing Hearts for Jesus

and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.” 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.~John 20:41-42

This verse touches my heart and it reminds me of my purpose as a believer and follower of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Jesus has given every one of His disciples a mission to proclaim the good news.  We are to go through this world telling people about the availability of salvation, the forgiveness of sins, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ ( Mathew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15).  

Like John the Baptist, we are preparing the way. We are preparing hearts and minds to see and receive the truth of who Jesus.  John did not perform any signs, but He spoke truth. John the Baptist was not a fancy man.  He did not wear designer labels. He lived in the wilderness.  He ate of the land.( Mathew 3:1-6). He ate of the goodness of the Lord and shared what he knew to be true to others.  He remained humbled.  He knew his position and purpose. In the face opposition, to the point of death he stood firm.

God allows us to see a glimpse of John’s harvest of faithfulness.  The people who had heard what John had said about Jesus meet Him for themselves and believe.  What they heard, the truth, was confirmed by the reality of the truth of Jesus.  

You might have noticed how much I have referred to the name and person of Jesus.  It’s on purpose because at the front, center, and back of what we share with others must point them to the truth of who Jesus is!  Our lives, my life, should bare witness of Him and His great love.  I don’t have to use fancy words or know every scripture.  I just have to speak the truth and live the truth.  I may not see the results, but I can plant seeds.  I can prepare the way and watch as God does the heavy lifting.

I am so grateful for all in my life who prepared me to meet Jesus for myself.  I am grateful for the time they invested in me.  The prayers they offered as they stood in the gap.  Their compassion as they saw me struggle, but never judged or condemned me.  I am grateful for the John’s in my life who called me to repentance and shared the love of Christ with me in spirit, truth, and love.

Father thank You for letting me see the sweet nuggets of your word.  Thank you for meeting me where I was and taking me to new places and adventures with You.  Thank You for your abundant mercy and grace.  Thank you for your Son Jesus who died for me and arose that I too can live.  May I share the truth of you with others and may they also believe in You.  In Jesus name. Amen

Faith Requires a Response

Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee.~James 4:7

Today I heard a definition of faith that rang so clear in my ears.  Faith is a response.  It is a response to what we hear and choose to believe. Think about it.  If the weatherman says it’s going to rain we take an umbrella.  We respond!   God has sent forth His Word.  It is spoken, written, and it has dwelt among us in the Son Jesus Christ.  God requires a response.  Do we believe Him?  Do we believe His word?  If so, then our response should be one of obedience and action because we believe the report of the Lord.  We are not believing in what we can do.  We believe in the One who can do all things.  We respond to the truth that because He lives in me I can do all things through Him that strengthens me ( Philippians 4:13).  Therefore,  I can hear His word, receive it and then respond.

So today. as I sat in Sunday School class, I was presented with a choice.  Was I going to respond with assurance in what God said or was I going to respond based on my emotions?  Whom was I going to believe and believe in?  My response was yes and amen to God.  My response was to submit to God, resist the devil and walk in victory.  My faith was not in what I could do or my willpower to obey.  My hope, my faith, was totally in my reliance and dependence on the author and finisher of my faith ( Hebrews 12:2).

I prayed, waited on God, and received a blessing like no other. My response of surrender and submission to God allowed me to enter into His presence, to be strengthened by His great compassion, and praise Him with joyous abandonment.  I praise Him because He did what I could not. He allowed me to respond to my Lord, Savior, and King.  Christ in me the hope of glory ( Colossians 1:27). He gave me the strength to resist the devil and he flees because he can not stand in the light of the Lord.

Whatever battle you may be facing.  Whatever situation that seems hopeless.  No matter how much you may feel like you are being pulled a part at the seems.  Know this! Our God reigns!  His Word can be trusted.  His promises are true and He loves you. Jesus intercedes on our behalf.  We are not forsaken and the enemy has no hold on you.  Respond to the great love that Jesus has for you.  Draw near to Him without fear of rejection.  Embrace a pure and powerful love.

Father I thank You for the gift of You.  In Jesus name. Amen

Patient in Affliction

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.~Romans 12:12

This week I wrestled with myself and with God over my affliction of a chronic illness.  I found myself uneasy and unsure.  The constant up and down of my health frustrates me.  The attacks of my body are like thunderstorms that come out of the blue.  Trying to figure out the triggers is like me trying to understand which direction the wind is going to blow next.  

So I begin to question.  I questioned my inability to exercise my faith.  I asked God to show me what I was doing wrong.  I have prayed for healing and yet I am not.  Why not? Is it because I lack faith? Then I went to the other end and debated with myself over my desire to just accept the illness because I had settled in my mind that it was being used for His purpose.  But was I accepting it because I doubted that He could it wanted to heal me?  I was driving myself crazy and the enemy was loving it.

The enemy was loving it because as long as I wrestling with myself and being doubled minded I could not focus on God.  My lack of focus impaired my ability to hear from Him and do His work. God revealed to me that I was asking the wrong questions.  I was asking Him to provide me the wrong things. He equips me the right tools, but I was asking for a hammer instead of a flashlight.

The question or what I should have been asking God to provide was endurance and patience.  God is going to heal me in this life or with my eternal body, but while I am here my focus needs to be on learning how to be patient in my affliction.  I must learn to never lose sight of or grasp of my hope which is Jesus Christ.  I am not dismissing the pain and the stress the body takes, but God has given me so much grace.  I have to find my praise and joy.  When I do that, I stay before Him and in His presence.  He renews my strength.

There is a purpose to my affliction.  It is uncomfortable, but it spurs my growth in Christ.  To God be the glory.

Father I am thankful for all the faithful prayer warriors lift me up and stand in the gap.  I am thankful that You intercede on my behalf.  I love you. Thank you for giving me a flashlight so that I can see my way through.  In Jesus name. Amen