Living God’s Grace

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.

Romans 15:13

One of my closest friends had to say goodbye to her husband as He went to be with Jesus a few days ago.  A short and unexpected illness took his life.  I’ve been thinking about the Scriptures that offer comfort, assurance, and living hope to family and friends who belong to the Lord. Here are some promises we can all cling to in this time of grief and loss. 

To be absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8)

The Lord sees us and knows what we are going through (Psalm 139:1-12).

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18).

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3).

He promises to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 tells us that Jesus Himself and God our Father, has loved us and given us eternal comfort and hope.  He is the source of our comfort and strength.

I’m reminded of the words of the song by Steven Curtis Chapman: “His strength is perfect when our strength is gone.  He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on… His strength in us begins where ours comes to an end.  He hears our humble cry and proves again His strength is perfect…”  (the complete lyrics are available online.) 

I recently completed a study of 1 Peter with the women in my weekly Bible study.  Chapter 1:3-9 is what my friend’s husband is now experiencing in person with the Lord.  All who belong to God through faith in Jesus can claim this promise and have hope and comfort even in our grief:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. (NASB)

Yes, as believers we grieve and are heartbroken at the loss of a loved one.  But We will not grieve like the rest who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13).  We can trust our Father to carry us through each day, one day at a time, depending completely on His love, His presence and His strength.

I am reminded to be thankful each day for God’s presence in my life and the living hope I have, the promise of eternity with Him when life here is ended.  I’m reminded that life on earth is temporary and for those who belong to the Lord, our citizenship is in heaven, our eternal home. We will be with Him in heaven forever where there will be no more death, no more sin, no more tears or illness. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Are you experiencing difficult circumstances that cause you grief and loss?  I encourage you to read these verses often and ask God to speak comfort and hope to your heart.

Maybe you have a family member or friend who needs to hear these words.  You can pray and ask God for an opportunity to share these promises to encourage them.

Perhaps you’d consider writing a prayer of thanks for the comfort and hope you have in the Lord.

But now, Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter, and all of us are the work of your hand.

Isaiah 64:8

The DVD called The Potter is amazing!  I just watched it again this week with the ladies in my weekly Bible studies, and each time I see it, I’m so encouraged and blessed!  A professional potter narrates while he is forming a vase beginning with a lump of clay all the way to completion.  He explains the analogies between the way a potter creates beautiful and useful pottery and the way God works with His people to transform us throughout our lives to become more like Jesus.  Here are some of the main points he makes that are so important to remember as we go through life with God.

The potter started with a lump of clay, and he pounds it and kneads it, checking to see if it is the quality necessary for the item he has in mind.  His first analogy is that the clay must be centered on the potter’s wheel.  He reminds us of the importance for us to be centered on God, still and yielded to the work of His hands.

In the example of creating a large vase, the potter created an opening in the clay.  His hand carefully reached into the clay, clear to the bottom.  That represents how we must be indwelt by the Holy Spirit internally. 

To make a taller vase requires a step called “pulling.”  It happens through pressure from both of the potter’s hands, one inside and one on the outside.  The narrator spoke of the stretching that occurs from pressure in our life which could easily destroy us if we did not have the inward strength of the Holy Spirit to counteract that external pressure.  That requires us to surrender to God’s plan for our life, trusting that He knows best.

At times, we experience “revival”, a time when we are aware of God’s hands creating new life.  At other times we may feel spiritually dry, as if the Potter has forgotten us.  But we can be assured that His eye is on us at all times.  At a certain point, the potter will trim away excess clay, making the object thinner so it won’t be so heavy.  God knows when to trim away excess in our lives that keep us from being fully devoted to Him.

When the vessel is complete, the potter carves his name on the bottom to show he is the one who made it.  Scripture tells us that our names are written on the palms of God’s hands (Isaiah 49:16a).  He has made us, and we are His!

We go through seasons of life — sometimes visible growth, at times feeling dormant.  But God is waiting for the perfect moment to continue the process of transforming us.  Another vital step in the potter’s process is placing the vessel in a kiln heated at extremely high temperature.  In the DVD, the potter describes how the vessels might feel as they’re placed in the kiln.  “It feels dangerous…It feels like the potter has left us…”  But the vessels can’t know how beautiful, strong and useful they will become.  The clay molecules fuse, become glass-like, no longer porous.  The vessels are transformed by the intense heat.  And all the while, the potter is right there, keeping a close watch on the temperature, knowing exactly how long the process will take.  And the same is true with the Lord, our Potter.  He is faithful, will not abandon us.  He takes what is weak and breakable, and makes us strong and beautiful through the fiery trials of our lives.

Our Potter knows the plans for us, and He has given each of His children gifts of the Spirit that will be used to accomplish those plans.  This message is such a powerful reminder to me to trust the Lord, my Potter, with every day of my life.  Through every circumstance, He is sovereignly in control, He loves us, and promises never to leave us, and He is good!  Romans 8:28 promises that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” 

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Are there circumstances in your life right now that make you think the Potter has forgotten you or raised the temperature higher than you can bear?  How does this message encourage you?

What stage of the transformation process are you experiencing now?  Are you newly in the process of being formed? Is your life centered on God?  Are you aware that His hands are shaping you? Are you feeling “pulled and stretched?”  Maybe you’re in a period of intense trial which seems like a fiery, fearful experience. 

Will you trust the Potter to know exactly what’s happening at every moment and is working out His plan for your life?  Write a prayer of response to Him.

John 21:17

“Living in God’s Extravagant Grace; Encouragement from God’s Word.” That’s the title of my book of devotional messages that I have compiled and is now available for purchase on Amazon.com. 

Today, I was re-reading the introduction and decided to share it with all of you.  It is my story of God’s power to restore a broken marriage and transform my life when it all seemed absolutely impossible.  And without God, it would be impossible!  I’m thinking about how we all have a story about how God is working in our life through so many different circumstances to bring us to a deeper knowledge and love relationship with Him.  And then He can use us to encourage others in their life journey.  He can use us to “feed His sheep.”

So here is the introduction to my book:

The divorce papers were on the table waiting to be signed.  Even after many years of knowing Jesus, I became involved in an affair that nearly destroyed my marriage.  It would take another book to tell how the Lord and my husband graciously forgave me.  Through a long process of counseling, our marriage was restored. My life with the Lord has changed forever as I truly began to understand His love, His grace, and His power to accomplish healing which had seemed impossible to me.

I identify with the apostle, Peter, who had been chosen by Jesus, walked closely with Him for three years, and then denied Him. Jesus predicted ahead of time that Peter would deny Him.  Jesus also knew that I would deny him.  But after returning home and beginning the long journey of healing our marriage, the Lord led me to Jesus’ words to Peter in Luke 22:32: “I have prayed for you, that your faith will not fail; and you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Peter’s story didn’t end with failure.  Instead, Jesus personally met him, forgave him, and gave him an opportunity to declare his love and devotion to Him.  Jesus restored Peter and gave him a commission to “Feed My sheep” (John 21:17). 

I knew the Lord was speaking those same words to my heart, and I knew I was forgiven, just as Peter was.  I understood the same commission to be used by God to strengthen the faith of others.  Through the years, He has given me opportunities to “strengthen my sisters” through leading and writing weekly Bible studies, writing and posting devotional messages on my website, and encouraging women in their walk with the Lord.

My prayer is that these messages from God’s Word will touch your heart and encourage you to know, love, and follow Jesus wholeheartedly, and then to ask God for ways that you can encourage others – to “feed His sheep” by leading them to Jesus.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

God doesn’t waste any of the pain, suffering, even failures we have gone through! Think about difficult and painful circumstances you have experienced in your life.  How has God brought you through them? 

He can use us to “feed His sheep” with encouragement, comfort and hope.  Have you had opportunities to encourage others with what you learned from God? 

Maybe you are going through a situation right now that seems impossible. I’m including some verses of encouragement from God’s Word.  Pray and ask Him to speak to your heart and give you clear guidance, hope, and peace as you trust Him completely.  You can also consider sharing these verses with someone who needs to be encouraged.

Verses of Encouragement

Ephesians 2:10 We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand, so that we should walk in them.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

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 direct your paths.

John 10:4 When He puts forth all His own, He goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow Him because they know His voice.

John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me.

Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth…I will even make a roadway in the wilderness.

Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God…

Psalm 37:7 Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him…

Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.  I will counsel you with My eye upon you.

John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

2 Chronicles 16:9 The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His (NASB)… whose hearts are fully committed to Him (NIV)

Quote from “Jesus Calling” January 25^th – Through intimacy of our relationship, you are being transformed from the inside out.  As you keep your focus on Me, I form you into the one I desire you to be.  Your part is to yield to My creative work – neither resisting it nor trying to speed it up.  Enjoy the tempo of a God-breathed life by letting Me set the pace.  Hold My hand in childlike trust and the way before you will open up step by step.

Quote from “Jesus Calling” from October 27^th – “As you become increasingly aware of My Presence, you find it easier to discern the way you should go.  This is one of the practical benefits of living close to Me.  Instead of wondering about what is on the road ahead or worrying about what you should do if…or when…, you can concentrate on staying in communication with Me.  When you actually arrive at a choice-point, I will show you which direction to go…

How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit

to those who ask Him.

Luke 11:13

I posted this message previously, but I want to include it again following the previous weeks’ posts about the Holy Spirit. I need to remind myself of this truth often!

We know from God’s Word that every believer has received the Holy Spirit to live in us at the moment we were saved.  Why should we have to ask for more of the Holy Spirit?  Do we only get a little of the Spirit at a time?  No, I believe that “how much more” means that there is more of God that He wants us to be aware of and experience — His love, His constant presence, His wisdom, His direction, His promises. He wants us to know what He has done for us, the hope we have even in the midst of the most difficult and troubling circumstances, and the promise of eternal life with Him.

A few years ago, our pastor chose “Desperate Dependence” as the theme of the year for our church.  It has been life-changing for me to learn to live that way. The more we get to know God through studying His Word, we will become more aware of His love for us, the plan He has for our life, His desire for us to become more like Jesus. The more we surrender our lives to follow Him, the more we will recognize our need to depend on Him for everything we need.  That’s why He invites us to ask Him for more of His Holy Spirit.

As I write this, we have just recently celebrated the Christmas season.  I think of how much delight I received in finding the perfect gift for my daughter, something she had seen in a store and wasn’t able to buy it for herself.  When she opened it, we were equally delighted! Now I think of God who knows us better than we know ourselves.  He knows the abundant life He wants us to enjoy the more we surrender our lives to Him.  Through the Holy Spirit living in us, we receive His gifts, the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22). We will grow more deeply in love with the Lord, and grow in our love for others and willingness to serve them with the gifts He has given us.

We can ask the Father for more of the Holy Spirit and be assured that is a prayer He is delighted to answer! I’m encouraged to ask Him daily!

Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:16-19 encourages us with these words:

That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God (my emphasis added).

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Do you recognize your need for more awareness of the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life? You can ask Him, and then begin intentionally depending on Him each day to supply what you need to accomplish His plan.

Are you experiencing the abundant life God offers?  John 10:10 tells us “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

How will you respond to God’s offer of more of the Holy Spirit in your life?

Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38-39

Last week, April 19, 2021, the message I posted was titled “Is Something Missing?”  It was about all the years I was missing a personal relationship with Jesus, even though I’d been in church from infancy all through my teenage and young adult years.  How could I not have heard about a personal relationship with Him?

This week I want to share my experience that is equally surprising and troubling.  How could I not have been introduced to the the truth about the Holy Spirit?

Growing up in the church my family attended, what I had been taught and what I observed left me actually afraid of the Holy Spirit!  I was taught that unless you “spoke in tongues,” you were not a Christian.  I really wanted to be a Christian, so I once made up some sounds that mimicked what I heard from others around me.  But I knew it wasn’t real for me, even then.  There are other examples I won’t go into here, but I didn’t want to have anything more to do with the Holy Spirit!

I realized much later in life that what I had been taught and observed was not biblical. What I know now, and believe with all my heart, is from Scripture.  We are not even capable of living the life God calls us to live without complete dependence on the Holy Spirit.  We can’t experience all God has for us without the Holy Spirit who lives in every believer.

The book Forgotten God by Francis Chan was life-changing for me.  In the introduction, he states “There is a big gap between what we read in Scripture about the Holy Spirit and how most believers and churches operate today.”  He points out that something is missing – “actually a missing Someone – namely, the Holy Spirit.”  He begins the first chapter with the title, “I’ve Got Jesus.  Why Do I Need the Spirit?” I very highly recommend this book! 

A couple of years ago, I studied the Scriptures about the Holy Spirit with the women in the weekly Bible study I lead.  I can only share here a few of the foundational truths that I wish I’d know many years ago.

There are many verses in the Old Testament that say that the Spirit “came upon” someone (i.e. prophets, judges, Saul, David, and others).  That is one of the ways God communicated in the Old Testament.

Hear Jesus’ words to His disciples as He was preparing them for His departure from the earth after His death and resurrection.  This is a foundational truth that I encourage you to receive:

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. (John 14:16)

(Notice:  He will not just be upon you, but in you!)

Jesus tells His disciples in John 16:7 I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. He was speaking of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit that Jesus promised came on the day of Pentecost, 50 days after Jesus was crucified.  Acts 2:38-39 is the message that Peter preached on that day.  It’s the message I needed to hear, and every believer needs to be assured of:  Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes to indwell everyone who has received the gift of salvation through faith in Jesus, His death for the forgiveness of our sins, and resurrection which promises us new life in Him now, and for all eternity with Him.

WHY DO WE NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT?

Illustration of the lamp

My daughter, Kim, got a beautiful mental picture from the Lord about the Holy Spirit’s power in our life.  In her mind, she saw a little lamp sitting on the floor, and the lamp was saying to itself, “I really want to make light… I’ll try really hard… I know I can do it if I just try harder…”  Right next to the lamp was the electric cord which needed to be plugged in to the electrical outlet.  As soon as it was plugged in, the light shone brightly. 

That’s the way the Holy Spirit works in our life.  He is the source of unlimited power to do what God has planned for our life, the power source that we can “plug into.”  Our pastor a few years ago encouraged us to dwell on the theme of “Desperate Dependence.” We need to be depending on the Spirit moment by moment throughout every day! But we have the choice –to depend on the Holy Spirit, or to try to do life on our own. On our own, we cannot accomplish what God calls us to do, to live the way He asks us to live.  It is the Spirit that gives us the wisdom, understanding, the ability, the desire to grow in our love relationship with God, to live in the center of God’s will instead of our own. We need to be “plugged in” by complete dependence on Him.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

As a believer, are you aware of your need for complete dependence on the Holy Spirit?

Are you “plugged into Him” as the source of power to live the life God has planned for you?

What choices do you need to make in order to live in complete dependence on the Spirit?

…He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6

Raised in a family that went to church every Sunday, I grew up hearing the Bible stories in Sunday School and attended youth groups through high school.  I learned a lot about Jesus.

After getting married, my husband and I realized there was something missing in our lives.  I thought we were both Christians at the time, but we met with a man at church who we thought could help us figure out what was missing.  He listened to us, asked us a few questions, and here was his conclusion:  We had both been in church all our lives and had taken in a lot of information about the Bible, but we weren’t giving anything out.  We were like stagnant ponds, he said.  He told us what we were missing was a job in the church. They happened to need Sunday School superintendents.  We were very young, still teenagers, but we figured we better take the job if that’s what was missing.  We did that for a couple of years and fulfilled our duties. But obviously there was still something missing!

After my husband graduated from college, we moved to another state for graduate school. We didn’t know anyone, and no one was expecting us to attend church. Away from family and the church we had attended, it became easier not to attend church at all.  There was a part of me that felt somewhat guilty for not being in church, but after a time, it became easier to just stay home on Sunday mornings and spend time with the kids.

After graduate school, we moved again.  I soon got acquainted with our new neighbor. Linda and I were driving together one day doing errands, and we happened to see a sign up on a hill for Cathedral Oaks Christian Church.  That started a conversation about our past experiences and why we hadn’t been attending church for several years.  We agreed that it was time for us to start taking our kids to church again.  A few weeks later, we did. 

Whatever I had been missing, I knew that first visit that the pastor had it. He was different than any other person I knew. He talked about Jesus like he really knew Him. The pastor visited me in my home a few weeks later.  I told him about my experience of feeling something was missing.  After telling him the rest of the story, he very wisely concluded that what was missing was not a job in the church, but a personal relationship with Jesus.  Attending church my whole life and knowing a lot of information about God and Jesus did not save me. The pastor explained that the Lord calls us to a loving relationship with Him as Lord of our lives, willing to turn our lives over to Him and follow His will instead of our own. 

After a couple more months of listening to his teaching, I realized I had never truly committed my life to Jesus.  It became clear that God was calling me to do that, to love Him and follow Him, whatever the cost. I came to understand that was what was missing all those years. A few weeks later, I made that decision to invite Jesus to be my Savior and Lord. I was baptized, and began a lifelong relationship with Him. There is a vast difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing Him personally, His love, His forgiveness, His plan and purpose for my life.

It still amazes me how I could sit in church week after week in my early years and not hear the message of the need to be saved and have a personal relationship with the Lord. I had never been in a Bible study before, to learn God’s truth from His Word and apply it to my life.  My new pastor encouraged that and taught me how to study. I began to grow more in love with Jesus and follow His will for my life.  Thankfully, God promises that He will complete the good work that He has begun as we turn over our lives to Him (Philippians 1:6). It’s a process that will continue our whole life until we see Him in heaven.

More recently I discovered that there was still something missing. I’ll write about that next week! 

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Can you identify with the feelings I had about feeling that something is missing in your life, even if you thought you were a Christian?

You may have been a believer for a long time. Have you made that personal commitment to seek His will for your life and follow wherever He leads you?

Are you growing in your love for the Lord through studying His Word and getting to know Him more?

You can ask God to show you if there is more He wants you to experience in a personal relationship with Him.

God So Loved the World that He gave His only Son…

John 3:16

“Compassion that leads to action.”  I came across that phrase recently.  I wish I could remember where I read it!  But it stuck in my mind, and I’ve been thinking about it a lot. 

There can be no better example than the recent Easter season that we just celebrated.  God was willing to give His own Son, and Jesus willingly sacrificed His own life to save us from the death penalty of sin that we all deserve.  Matthew 26:53 tells Jesus’ words “do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” Jesus knew His Father’s will and He was willing to die instead of saving Himself.

True compassion goes beyond just feeling sympathy or pity for someone who is suffering. I’m thinking of the time Jesus took a boat to a solitary place where He had gone to be alone (Matthew14:13-21).   The people heard about it, and “when He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.” You are probably familiar with this story.  When evening came, the disciples came to Jesus and reminded Him that it was late and the people were hungry.  They told Him to send the crowds away so they could go to the villages and buy themselves some food.  I’m sure that was the only solution they could think of.  Instead, Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” An impossible situation!  There were 5,000 men besides women and children!  The only food they could come up with was five loaves of bread and two fish!  But Jesus said, “Bring them to Me.”  In Jesus’ hands, it became enough to feed the entire multitude with 12 baskets of food leftover!

I’m convicted as I read this Scripture.  I realize that often my initial reaction when I hear of someone suffering and in need is similar to the disciples “Lord, send them away.”  Their situation seems impossible, and I don’t know how to fix it!  Maybe someone else can meet that need.  

We read the parable Jesus told about the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37.  A man had been attacked and beaten and left half dead on the road.  Two religious leaders, a priest and a Levite, saw the man but passed by on the other side of the road.  It was a Samaritan, despised by the Jews, who took pity and stopped to meet the need.  His compassion led to action.  He was willing to set aside his own agenda and sacrifice his time and money to meet the needs of this injured man.

The Lord has commanded that we love Him with all our heart, soul, strength and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.  (Mark 12:28-31) The parable of the Good Samaritan was Jesus’ answer to the question asked of Him, “Who is my neighbor?” What is the response that would please the Lord when a need comes to my attention?  First, I want to follow the example of the disciples — bring the need to Jesus.  I can pray and ask Him if there is something specific He wants me to do to meet the need. I may not have the answers myself, but I can trust Him. The Holy Spirit living in us can enable us to compassionately reach out to those in need with the wisdom and the resources He will provide abundantly.

Lord, I pray for I pray for your love and  a heart of compassion that is willing to sacrifice to meet the needs that you bring to my attention — a heart of compassion that leads to action.

He will come to us like the rain, like spring rain watering the earth.

Hosea 6:3

Living through several years of drought in California gave me a new appreciation for rain.  I used to think of rain as just a nuisance, something that would spoil my plans for a tennis match or a hike.  Those who have lived in drought conditions remember the changes that occur — landscaping dies as strict water rationing is enforced; the hillsides that were once lush and green turn dry and brown, and the danger of fire increases dramatically. Things we once took for granted, like washing the car, taking long showers, even flushing the toilet after every use, become strongly discouraged luxuries.

            Have you ever experienced a spiritual drought?  God seems far away.  The desire to spend time with Him is gone.  The time spent with Him out of sheer obedience seems unproductive and ineffective.  I remember times like that when I even began to question whether or not I am really a Christian.  Surely a true Christian would not feel so out of touch with God or have so little desire for fellowship with Him.  Unfortunately, the problem is magnified as we follow our feelings and choose to isolate ourselves, not only from God, but from church, Christian friends, or other opportunities for fellowship.

            Many have experienced this feeling of distance from God at some time in their Christian life.  For me personally, it has been the result of disobedience.  I made the choice to go my own way instead of listening to God. I began to think that God wouldn’t even want me to come back to Him.  I didn’t deserve to ask Him for help.

            These thoughts could not be further from the truth. One thing is certain:  God does not intend for us to continue in a spiritual drought. Scriptures tell us that God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22).  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).  Jesus told the parable of the prodigal son whose father welcomed him back with great joy (Luke 15:11-24). 

            Isaiah 41:17-20 clearly shows God’s desire to restore life to our dry and thirsty souls:

The poor and needy are seeking water, but there is none, and their tongues are parched with thirst; I, the Lord, will answer them Myself; as the God of Israel I will not abandon them.  I will open rivers on the bare heights, and springs in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land fountains of water…that they may see and recognize, and consider and gain insight as well, that the hand of the Lord has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it.

We have just celebrated the resurrection of Jesus! As He was raised from the dead and ascended back into heaven, He offers living water, His Holy Spirit, to live in all who believe and receive Him as Lord and Savior. He will never leave us, and we can experience life in His presence daily, no matter what season of life we are in, no matter what our circumstances are. We can trust Him for His lifegiving living water!

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Is your current walk with the Lord better characterized by “spring rain” or “drought?”  If your answer is “spring rain,” take time now to thank God for the refreshing sense of His presence you are enjoying.

If your answer is “drought,” ask the Lord to reveal anything that needs to be confessed and forgiven.   Ask Him what He wants to teach you during the drought period.  These desert experiences can provide rich times of learning. Trust that He will restore you in His time and create fountains of renewal and refreshment.

Consider writing a prayer of thanksgiving for His living water, the Holy Spirit.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face

1 Corinthians 13:12a

At this Easter season, our hearts turn especially to the amazing gift of salvation that Jesus made possible as He died on the cross for the sins of all who would believe in Him and receive Him as Lord and Savior. Because of His death and resurrection, we have the promise of seeing Him face to face and spending eternity in heaven with Him!

Ever since studying art history, English literature, and the history of Western civilization in college as an adult, I have had the desire to travel and visit the places I have only seen on large screens in the lecture hall or read about in books.  I traveled with a friend on a two-week trip to England soon after we graduated.  Wandering through palaces and castles where many hundreds of years of history have unfolded was an unforgettable experience.  We stood in the bedchamber where King Henry VIII slept four centuries ago and walked through the castle built by the order of William the Conqueror near the end of the 11th century.  We attended a service in the magnificent Canterbury Cathedral where Archbishop Thomas a’ Becket was martyred in the 12th century. We climbed the steps where thousands had come to see his shrine hoping for miracles of healing, pilgrimages that inspired Chaucer’s writing of The Canterbury Tales.  We strolled through art galleries and viewed the original paintings of my favorite Impressionist artists.  We visited the British Museum and saw the original manuscripts of some of the British authors and poets we had both studied so diligently.

            As I reflected on how much greater it is to see these relics of history in person than to merely read about them in textbooks or view them as a slide show, it made me think of what it will be like when we see our Father face to face in heaven.  Scripture tells us that now we see him as through a mirror dimly (1 Corinthians 13:12).  It’s like trying to see in a foggy mirror after a hot shower.  We can’t see a clear image.   We can read about God in the Bible and know Him personally through the indwelling Holy Spirit.  But it is only a shadow of what it will be like when we stand in His presence. 

            Right now, in the limitations of our human body, we could not even see Him in all His glory and live.  But someday we will be changed, and we will be able to stand in His presence and see Him in the fullness of His majesty and glory.  We can read about heaven in the Bible and try to imagine what it will be like, but we are told that things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the human heart, all that God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9). 

            We can’t even begin to imagine what it will be like!  The most magnificent cathedral with the sun gleaming through the stained-glass windows and the angelic sound of a boys’ choir filling the vast heights cannot begin to compare with what is yet to come when someday we will be with God in person.  Every knee will bow …and every tongue will confess that Jesus Chris is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11).

            Castles, palaces, works of art, entire civilizations come and go, but God is the same yesterday, today and forever.  And we can be assured that someday we will no longer have to see just a shadow of His glory — we will see Him face to face. 

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Are you putting your faith and hope in anything besides God — financial security, material possessions, a career, physical ability, talents, a husband or wife, children?  All of these are temporary, even if you have them for your entire life here on earth.

Are you spending your life on things that will wither and fade away?  Or are you living your life in the truth of God’s Word, that only what is done for Him, through the strength and ability He provides, will last for all eternity?

Take time to evaluate before God how you are living the life He has given you.  What will be your response when you see Him face to face?  Will it be one of joyful fulfillment of the growing relationship you have had with Him here? 

What changes do you need to make in your life in light of the truth that only the Word of our God stands forever?

Whatever a man sows, this he will also reap…and let us not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we shall reap, if we do not grow weary.

Galatians 6:7-9

Sowing and reaping used in these verses give us the picture of planting seeds in the ground and the assurance of a harvest to come.  Long ago, a friend gave me the leaf of a plant so I could start my own.  She instructed me to put the leaf in water until roots were established, then plant it in a pot and wait for new leaves to appear.  She said that the new leaves would start at the roots before they were visible above the soil.  After what seemed like a very long time, I became impatient and began digging under the soil to see if any new leaves were being produced.  In the process, I broke off the parent leaf and, out of frustration, threw the whole thing in the garbage.

            I’ve read these verses in Galatians many times in the past, but I often need to be reminded of the message.  In the past, I volunteered at a drug and alcohol recovery program.  There were several times when I found myself asking “Why am I doing this?”  It is heartbreaking to work with people who have made the decision to make a change in their lives, to recover from their addiction, and then suddenly leave the program and go back to the drugs and alcohol.  When I began to question why I was doing this, the answer was always the same.  God reminded me that I was there because this is where He wanted me to be. 

            Whatever God has called us to do, that is what is “good.”  And He encourages us not to lose heart in doing good.  Don’t give up.  Maybe you are a parent struggling with the frustrations that come with being responsible for preschoolers day and night. Or perhaps you have an extremely difficult employer .  Maybe your marriage is not going the way you would like it to and you’re tired of trying to make it better.  Ask God to show you if you are where He wants you to be.  Ask Him for the resources to continue to be faithful and to give you His strength for what He has called you to do.

            Jesus tells us, Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit (John 12:24). He is speaking of our lives.  Have you made the commitment to “die” to your own desires and demands and to ask the Lord to give you His new life?  That is the only way our lives will ever produce the harvest of eternal fruit.

            We may never see all the fruit of the seeds that have been planted in the lives of the people we work with, but God promises there will be fruit.  If we are faithful to God in the ministry He has called us to, that is all that matters.  In everything we do, we are to do it as unto Him.  He is responsible for producing the fruit.  If we are “sowing” God’s seeds, we can be assured of a fruitful harvest.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Where has God called you to “sow?”  Is it in your family?  Your marriage?  Your church? Your neighborhood?  Your job?  School?  Caring for elderly parents?

Consider your attitude toward the place God has called you.  Are you serving as unto Him?  Are you willing to continue “sowing” even if you are not able to see the “fruit?”

Are you discouraged about where you are right now?  Ask God to show you if you are where He wants you to be. 

Are you willing to die to your own desires and demands in order to be where God wants you to be?  Ask Him to make you willing to be like the grain of wheat that must fall into the ground and die before it can bear fruit.

Remember that we are only responsible to sow faithfully where God has placed us.  He is responsible for producing the fruitful harvest.

Those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired; they will walk and not become weary.

Isaiah 40:31

What does it mean to wait for the Lord?  Think of servants waiting upon a master.  They don’t act on their own initiative. They wait for instructions and strive to please the master, and they obey without question.

            Waiting for clear direction and answers to prayer is difficult for most of us.  We want a clear answer right now.  At times we may begin to doubt whether we will hear the Lord when He does answer.  When I struggle with waiting, I remind myself of the truth in Isaiah 30:21 And your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left.  I am convinced that if we truly seek guidance from the Lord and are willing to follow whatever He says, He will guide us.  It may not come exactly according to our time schedule, and we may not get the answer we want to hear, but His answer will come.  In the meantime, we are to wait patiently until we do hear His answer (Psalm 37:7).

            One of my favorite Scripture illustrations of waiting on the Lord is the account of Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus. She sat quietly listening to Him as He taught.  Her sister, Martha, was busy in the kitchen preparing food for the guests.  Of course, that was a necessary activity, but it was Martha’s attitude that Jesus pointed out when she complained that Mary wasn’t helping her.  Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one (Luke 10:41).  Jesus told her that Mary had chosen the good part which shall not be taken away from her.

            Being bothered and distracted is the opposite of waiting upon the Lord.  I really notice the difference in my life when I am not spending quality quiet time alone with the Lord.  Soon everything gets a little out of focus and I don’t have clear direction about how to spend my time each day.  Little things that normally wouldn’t bother me get blown out of proportion and somehow seem frustrating or unmanageable.

            Jesus Himself set the example for us to follow.  He would get up while it was still dark and go to a place where He could be alone with the Father (Mark 1:35).  He could talk over the coming events and receive the Father’s wisdom and direction to accomplish His will.

            Years ago, I would get up early every morning (even Saturday and Sunday) to have a quiet time.  But I have to admit my attitude was not right.  I was doing it out of a sense of duty.  After all, isn’t this what a good Christian has to do daily?  Often, I would fall asleep reading the Bible, or my mind would wander as I had the Bible study notebook open on my lap.  This was not productive and couldn’t have been very pleasing to God.  I began to ask the Lord to change my attitude and give me a true desire to spend time with Him.  He has accomplished that change in me. Writing regularly in a journal is a helpful way to record ideas and insights from scripture, specific things that God is doing in my life, prayers for clear direction, Scriptures that have special meaning for me. I can look back and be encouraged by what the Lord is teaching me and clear answers to prayers for direction and wisdom.

            Once I have my time alone with God in the morning and commit the day and myself to Him, I trust that I am in tune with His perspective on what things are truly important.  I can then walk through each day with a calmness and stability that comes from complete dependence and trust in Him.

            This hymn beautifully describes the attitude of waiting on the Lord: 

“Have Thine own way, Lord, have Thine own way.  Thou art the potter, I am the clay.  Mold me and make me after Thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.”

If we too often find ourselves like Martha, worried and distracted by so many things, we can ask God to help us choose to sit quietly at His feet like Mary and focus on the things He shows us to do.  We will be able to go through each day with wisdom, strength and the peace He provides.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

In what ways do you identify with Martha?

In what ways do you identify with Mary?

Is time alone with God a priority in your life? 

Describe your present attitude toward Bible study, church attendance, and quiet times with the Father.

Ask Him to show what changes need to be made.

He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters; He restores my soul…

Psalm 23:2-3

Years ago, I restored an old piece of furniture.  It was a solid wood dresser that my dad had built for me when I was a baby. It was just the right size and very sturdy, but it had been painted several times over the years with colors I would never choose again.  So, I began the process of stripping off the paint.  A lot of it came off with the first application of paint remover, and another application took off even more. I used sandpaper to remove the rest.  Once the old paint was completely removed, I stained it and we could finally use the beautifully finished product. It was a long process, but worth every moment!

            The Scripture about God restoring my soul came to mind after a time of walking away from the Lord and choosing my own way.  My soul — my mind, will and emotions — definitely needed to be restored.  I was confused and felt helpless to “fix” myself and my marriage. As I prayed and asked God to help me find my way back, He led me to a Christian counselor who was clearly His answer to my prayer.   The journey was long and painful, but even in the emotional pain, there was assurance that God was doing a work in me that would lead to emotional and spiritual healing. 

             The process that leads to restoration of a right relationship with God begins in our mind.  We are told in Romans 8:6-13 The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace…If by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.  Just as layers of paint had to stripped away to restore my childhood dresser, so we have layers of “self” that need to be stripped away, sin that needs to be forgiven and cleansed in order to restore the beauty of the image of Christ in us. 

            Romans 12:2 instructs us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind.  How is our mind renewed?  We must choose not to give into the temptations Satan offers us.  Instead, we need to focus on truth. I’ll never forget a retreat speaker who encouraged us to check out every thought that comes to mind.  She said, “Philippians 4:8 it.”  That verse says, Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind think about these things.  We are to check every thought against this standard, and if it doesn’t meet the qualifications, don’t think about it!  We would save ourselves so much grief and pain and sin if we would follow this guideline. 

            A right relationship with God is restored immediately as we confess our sins and receive His forgiveness.  Restoration of our soul — mind, will, and emotions — takes time.  Healing will come as we focus on the truth of God’s Word, not on feelings, not on what we think we need to make us happy. 

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Read Romans 8:6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.

Is there an area of your life right now that needs to be restored? Have you been damaged by choices you have made yourself?  Have you been damaged by actions of someone else?

Ask the Lord to reveal the areas in your life that need to be restored.  Remember that the process of restoring your soul begins as you turn to the Lord and set your mind on His truth.  Trust Him to do the work in you to bring you back to a right relationship with Himself. 

He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. . .

Psalm l:3

Living through several years of drought in California gave me a new appreciation for rain.  I used to think of rain as just a nuisance, something that would spoil my plans for a tennis match or a hike.  Those who have lived in drought conditions remember the changes that occur — landscaping dies as strict water rationing is enforced; the hillsides that were once lush and green turn dry and brown, and the danger of fire increases dramatically. Things we once took for granted, like washing the car, taking long showers, even flushing the toilet after every use, become strongly discouraged luxuries.

            Have you ever experienced a spiritual drought?  God seems far away.  The desire to spend time with Him is gone.  The time spent with Him out of sheer obedience seems unproductive and ineffective.  I remember times like that when I even began to question whether or not I am really a Christian.  Surely a true Christian would not feel so out of touch with God or have so little desire for fellowship with Him.  Unfortunately, the problem is magnified as we follow our feelings and choose to isolate ourselves, not only from God, but from church, Christian friends or other opportunities for fellowship.

            Many have experienced this feeling of distance from God at some time in their Christian life.  For me personally, it has been the result of disobedience.  I made the choice to go my own way instead of listening to God. I began to think that God wouldn’t even want me to come back to Him.  I didn’t deserve to ask Him for help.

            These thoughts could not be further from the truth. One thing is certain:  God does not intend for us to continue in spiritual drought. Scriptures tell us that God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22).  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).  Jesus told the parable of the prodigal son whose father welcomed him back with great joy (Luke 15:11-24). 

            Isaiah 41:17-20 clearly shows God’s desire to restore life to our dry and thirsty souls:

The poor and needy are seeking water, but there is none, and their tongues are parched with thirst; I, the Lord, will answer them Myself; as the God of Israel, I will not abandon them.  I will open rivers on the bare heights, and springs in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land fountains of water…that they may see and recognize, and consider and gain insight as well, that the hand of the Lord has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Is your current walk with the Lord better characterized by “spring rain” or “drought?”  If your answer is “spring rain,” take time now to thank God for the refreshing sense of His presence you are enjoying.

If your answer is “drought,” ask the Lord to reveal anything that needs to be confessed and forgiven.   Ask Him what He wants to teach you during the drought period.  These desert experiences can provide rich times of learning. Trust that He will restore you in His time and create fountains of renewal and refreshment.  Write your prayer of response to Him.