Month: August 2022

…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,  the author and perfecter of faith…

Hebrews 12:1-2

Many years have passed since I learned this lesson personally, but I’ll never forget it!  My husband had been diagnosed with a blood disorder and had been hospitalized for a total of six weeks for surgery and other treatment.  Our two children were young at the time, and there was no assurance of a favorable outcome from the medical staff. 

I was attending a weekly Bible study at the time.  In the midst of all the concern about my husband’s health, our car broke down three times while he was in the hospital.  Each time, God provided someone to fix what was wrong.  The third time it broke down, I was on my way to Bible study.  I contacted the leader to let her know I wouldn’t be there.  Instead, she sent someone to come and pick me up.  My plan was to leave the car on the side of the road indefinitely.  I’d had enough!!  The Bible study leader told me that God was stretching my faith.  I told her that if I showed up the following week in two pieces, she would realize I had been stretched too far!  She assured me that God wouldn’t let that happen. 

I identified with Peter at that time.  As long as I was keeping my eyes on Jesus and the promises of His faithfulness, His provision, and His constant presence, I could “walk on water” above the circumstances.  But as soon as my focus shifted to all the uncertainties and difficulties, I “started to sink.”

I love reading the story of Peter in Matthew 14:22-33.  It was Jesus who told the disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side of the lake.  This happened right after His miracle of feeding the 5,000.  Jesus had sent the crowds away and had gone up to the mountain by Himself to pray.  In the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.) Jesus came walking on the water toward the boat. The disciples were terrified and cried out in fear, thinking they were seeing a ghost!  Jesus said, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” 

Peter said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”  Jesus said, “Come.” And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.  But seeing the wind and the waves, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”  Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him.  And when they were in the boat, the wind stopped.  All those in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly “God’s Son!”

Don’t you admire Peter’s faith which was strong enough to step out of the boat onto the waves?  As long as His eyes were on Jesus, he was walking on water!  Hebrews 12:1-2 says the Lord is the author and perfecter of our faith.  He does allow difficult circumstances in our lives, but He will use them to strengthen our faith and draw us closer to Himself.

What an encouragement to be assured that Jesus knows exactly where we are and what we are going through.  At all times! And no matter what the circumstances. He is there with us.  Nothing is impossible with Him.

 We have an enemy, Satan, who wants us to focus on the difficult circumstances around us and just give in to fear and despair.  It’s important to remember that we have a choice.  We can remain terrified and in despair, or we can listen to the voice of the One who calls us to keep our eyes on Him and trust His deliverance.

I encourage you to find the lyrics to the song online by Casting Crowns called The Voice of Truth.  It speaks of the desire for the kind of courage it takes to step out of our comfort zone into the crashing waves where Jesus is.  The last line of the song says “I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth.”

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Are you in a storm of crashing waves in your life right now?  Can you hear Jesus calling out to you to come to Him in trust that He can calm that storm?

Or maybe you know someone who is experiencing extreme difficulties.  Please pray for them and encourage them to hear Jesus’ voice of truth, that He is with them and will faithfully provide what they need.

What are some of the ways you can choose to keep your eyes on Jesus?

… let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

James 1:5

I lost sleep last night.  Again.  I laid awake thinking about a friend who is in crisis on so many levels!  The situation seems impossible!  Before I was even out of bed, the Lord brought to mind some Scriptures I need to remember if He wants to use me to help her. God knows, and I know, that I don’t have the wisdom it takes to “fix” her.  But the above Scripture from James 1:5 is one of the verses He reminded me of this morning. He is the source of all wisdom and He tells me to ask and promises to provide!

            Another Scripture that came to mind is from Luke 5:18-19.  It tells of men who brought their friend on a stretcher to be healed by Jesus.  Because so many people were crowded around Jesus, the men took their friend on the stretcher up on the roof and lowered him down in front of Jesus in the middle of the crowd.  I love this picture, and it reminds me that there may be many obstacles, but I need to “bring my friend to Jesus.”  He is the healer.  Not me. So, the lesson for me as I experience how inadequate I am to know what to do for my friend:  First, bring her to Jesus.  I can do that through prayer, and through reminding her of God’s love, His presence with her at all times, and the promises in His Word. He can do what is impossible without Him.

            And I’m reminded of Mark 6:30-44.  Jesus brought His disciples to a secluded place to rest.  They were soon surrounded by multitudes of people who had followed them, and Jesus began to teach them.  When it was late, the disciples came to Jesus telling Him to send the people away so they could buy themselves something to eat.  Jesus answered them, “You give them something to eat.”  I’m sure you know the story – The only food they could come up with was five loaves and two fish.  Not even enough for a few people, let alone thousands!  So, Jesus took what little they had, blessed it, broke the loaves, and kept giving them to the disciples. (Notice especially “kept giving it to the disciples.”  They had to keep coming back to Him to supply the need that was impossible for them to meet.

            The lesson here is to “keep coming back” to Jesus for wisdom and clear direction for the next step in helping my friend.  He is the healer; I’m not!  Jesus’ invitation is to “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV).

            I’m encouraged by Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”  He doesn’t expect me to have the answers on my own.  He knows all the details of the problem, and He knows what needs to be done to bring healing.  I’m encouraged to walk through this journey with my friend trusting the Lord for each next step.

            PERSONAL REFLECTION

Has God brought someone into your life who needs His healing?  Do you feel inadequate to help?

Which of these verses encourage you as you walk through this journey with someone?

Write a prayer expressing your heart to God.

Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”

Genesis 3:9

I’m sure you know the story!  God had placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden which He had created. He clearly told them they could eat from every tree in the Garden — except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  He told them that they would die if they ate of that tree.  In spite of that clear warning, Eve listened to the temptation of the serpent, and ate the fruit of that tree.  She offered it to Adam and he also ate.

            As I read this passage, several thoughts stood out to me.  After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they attempted to cover their nakedness with leaves they sewed together for themselves.  They heard God walking in the garden and they tried to hide because they were afraid.  Then God called Adam and asked, “Where are you?”  Adam answered, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”  When God questioned Adam about eating from the tree He had commanded him not to eat, Adam essentially blamed God: “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.”  When the Lord questioned Eve, she blamed the serpent who deceived her. 

            Adam and Eve attempted to cover themselves after they had disobeyed God.  How do I attempt to “cover” myself when I have disobeyed God?  What excuses do I offer?  Do I think that my “good works” can cover my sin?  Do I blame others for needs that haven’t been met?  Or maybe my parents for the way they raised me?  Do I hear God asking me, “Where are you?”

Of course, there is nothing God doesn’t already know about us.  Psalm 139:1-4 tells us:

You have searched me and known me, You know when I sit down and when I rise up.  You understand my thought from afar.  You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways.  Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all.

So why would God ask, “Where are you?”  I believe He wants us to evaluate where we are in our relationship with Him and acknowledge where we are spiritually.  Is there unconfessed sin?  We can invite Him as the psalmist did in the closing verses of Psalm 139: 

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.

And it is important that we know there is absolutely nothing we can do to cover our own sins.  The covering that Adam and Eve sewed for themselves was not sufficient.  The Lord “made garments of

skin and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21).  God’s provision required the death of an animal to provide that covering.  God’s covering for our sin required the death of Jesus, and His blood is the only cleansing for us.  I love Isaiah 61:10 which assures us that “God wraps us in His robe of righteousness.”  That is the only covering for our sin that assures us of eternal life with Him.  Thank you, Lord, for providing for me what I could never do for myself!

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Take some time to consider God’s question “Where are you?”

Is there any way you are trying to hide from Him?

Is there any way that you are trying to make coverings for yourself when you have disobeyed God?

God invites us to confess our sins and be cleansed from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).  Thank Him for that promise of cleansing and forgiveness through Jesus’ blood shed for our sins.

Think about what it means to be wrapped in His robe of righteousness. Write a prayer to God responding to what He is saying to you.

Genesis 1

My message last week was about the “Read-Thru the Bible” program that I’m so excited about.  I decided to share some of the personal thoughts that God spoke to my heart as I read the first few chapters of Genesis this week.  I wish I could talk to each of you about how God speaks to you through His Word! 

            As I read each chapter, I ponder the questions suggested by the “Read-Thru the Bible” program, “What does God reveal about Himself?” and “How does this apply to my relationship with God?” In chapter 1, He reveals Himself as the creator of all things.  He spoke all of creation into being: “Let there be…. And it was so.”  I’m reminded that God is sovereign over all He has created.  I can trust His sovereignty over my life.

            Thinking about God as the Creator, I’m reminded of the Scripture that says “You created my innermost parts, You wove me in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13).  Meditating on that truth, God convicted me that I needed to ask forgiveness for my attitude toward the parents I was born to.  As a child, and even as an adult, I’ve sometimes wished that I had different parents.  But through this Scripture and others, I realize that I was born to the parents He chose for me.  And His Word tells me to honor my father and mother.  I’ve had to confess and ask forgiveness for my dishonoring attitude.

            Another Scripture about God as Creator came to mind: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:20).  I believe that I know for now the works He has called me to do.  But I’m reminded to trust Him completely for His will, and trust the Holy Spirit to accomplish those works.  I want Him to be able to say to me the words He spoke about His creation: “He saw all He had created, and it was very good.”

In chapter 2, verse 7 stood out to me:  Then God formed man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.”  I thought about the truth that not only did He create our physical life, but He creates new spiritual birth when we receive His gift of salvation by faith in Jesus.  I want to remember that His Spirit gives me life and breathes life into the works He has called me to do.  And, as God rested at the completion of creation, I need to rest as I trust Him to complete those good works.

The words of this hymn have been going through my mind all week:

Breathe on me, breath of God, fill me with life anew,

That I may love what Thou dost love, and do what Thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, breath of God, until my heart is pure

Until my will is one with Thine, to do and to endure.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

How has God spoken to your heart this week as you have read His Word?

What did He reveal about Himself? 

How did that truth about God apply to your life?

I’m so excited about a new way to read through the Bible on my own!  I’ve tried several times to “read through the Bible in a year,” and it just hasn’t worked for me.  I follow the chart for which chapters to read each day, and before long I miss a day or two and get several chapters behind and then have to read fast to catch up.  I end up just reading to get the days checked off.  I’m sure others have found that kind of plan useful, and it is a worthy goal.  Just not for me.

But a couple of weeks ago, our pastor introduced us to a different plan for Bible reading that I am enjoying so much!  It can be used for your personal Bible reading, or you can use it with a group and meet regularly for discussion.  You can also use the suggested ideas for any portion of the Scriptures that you are reading, even if you don’t choose to read through the entire Bible at this time.

I’ll summarize the plan, but if you would like a copy of it for yourself, I’ll give you my email address at the end of this message and I’d be happy to email you the 4-page document.

The plan has a list of readings to complete the Old Testament in 27 weeks and the New Testament in 13 weeks. But obviously, you can go through it more slowly and take as much time as you want.  The Old Testament plan is a “chronological list that is an excellent way to grasp the order of events, their context, and how God revealed Himself to mankind in a progressive manner.”  It reveals how the characters and events of the OT all fit together. 

Here are some key points from the plan to consider as you read:

• Always go to the Word expecting to meet with God and hear from Him!
• Ask these questions:

What are You revealing to me here about Yourself?

How does this passage apply to my relationships with You and others?

Lord, what do You want to change in me?

            Personally, it is helpful for me to keep a journal and write my answers to these questions and what God is showing me for my own life.  I’m amazed at what He reveals when I am specifically asking Him to speak to me through His Word each time I read! I now look forward each day to reading His Word and expecting to hear from Him!

If you would like to receive an email with this “How to Conduct a Bible Read-Thru” document, here is my email address: sjspokane000@gmail.com

PERSONAL REFLECTION

How would you describe your experience of reading God’s Word?

What are some things you already do to make time in God’s Word personally meaningful?

How would you like God to change your attitude toward spending time reading His Word?