Matthew 1:18-23 (NKJV):
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.
20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,”[a] which is translated, “God with us.”
In continuance with my last blog entitled "The Author and Finisher of Your Faith", the Lord took some time this morning to expound upon the situations in which faith effect our lives, and our decision making, whether it be to follow man's wisdom or God's wisdom in life. Out of this scripture, God pointed out some very clear points to me:
1.) Joseph, in his own understanding of the situation with Mary's pregnancy before their marriage, sought the counsel of MAN, and was going to put away Mary secretly. But the counself of GOD entered into the situation through the angel Gabriel, and Joseph was told to not be afraid to marry her, for the child within her was conceived of the Holy Spirit and would be the Christ (the Savior of the world). He even gave Joseph the name "Jesus" for the baby which is translated "God with us."
2.) At this very point in the story, Joseph has a major decision to make...whose wisdom does he follow? Does he believe this angel of the Lord who tells him to take Mary as his wife and not put her away, even though men will not understand his reasoning and purposes (and FAITH)? OR--does he believe the angel of the Lord (and God's divine counsel) and take Mary as his wife and not be ashamed to be with her because he believes this child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and is the Son of God?
I don't know what you think, but there was definitely a lot riding on this decision to trust in either man's wisdom or God's wisdom. The interesting thing about this passage which relates to our lives today is that many times, God will reveal information about our current situation through the voice of prophecy, the church, the body of Christ, our circumstances, and prayer...and we find ourselves in the same place as Joseph did. Often times, when faced with a major decision, we seek the counsel of man. Although it is wise to seek the counsel of other Godly people, ultimately the decision to believe God lies only with each one of us. It is an individual place where we stand before God with all the information and confirmation we have received and must make this same decision....man's wisdom or God's wisdom?
This can be especially hard when the circumstance involves a great deal of change, possible ridicule, and even shame being brought upon yourself or your family. God never led us to believe that following Him was without serious cost to ourselves. Often times, He will bring us to this place of decision, "the river", where we choose to cross over from wandering in the spiritual wilderness (as Israel did for 40 years) or believing God despite the report of man (Numbers 14), and crossing over the Jordan River into the Promised Land. God will only bring you to edge of the river, but He will not make that decision of faith for you! It is up to you to decide what, and WHOM, you will believe.
Jeff and I came to the edge of the river when we chose, by the Lord's counsel, to leave the military life and move to Colorado. Jeff did not have a job, and we knew there would be enemies in the land where God was taking us. We knew ahead of time that the battles would be great and fiersome, but we also knew that the reward for obedience is GREAT. We may not see the full reward as of today, so every day, we must choose to continue to seek the Lord's counsel and His wisdom, and follow Him at any cost. There are many we know who have chosen to stay on the wilderness side of the river, and as can be seen in Numbers 14, there are consequences for choosing to believe the report of man over God's report! This can be seen in the example found in:
Luke 1:10-20 (NKJV):
10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’[a] and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18 And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.
20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”
This is another example of a man seeking God, who God brought to the place of decision. Was he going to trust his own wisdom, or the wisdom of man, which told him he was too advanced in age to bear children? OR--did he believe the angel of the Lord who came to tell him that he and Elizabeth would bear a son in old age? This is once again a question of FAITH. In contrast to what we saw with Joseph, Zachariah questioned the wisdom of God and the angel Gabriel who brought good news, and as a consequence...he was made mute until the day of his son's birth!
Ultimately, God's plans still would have prevailed in both situations, but one chose to be a cooperative and faithfilled part of the process, while the other questioned the power and wisdom of God, and received consequences for it. John the Baptist was still born of Zachariah and Elizabeth, and became the man God intended for him to be, but Zachariah was disciplined for his unbelief.
So, today, I ask you...has the Lord brought you to the valley of decision? Has He placed you at the edge of the Jordan River and is just waiting for your answer to obey Him, or not. Are you putting your trust in the wisdom of man, or the wisdom of God? Should you choose God above man, you can be sure that persecution and battles will follow, but ultimately...this decision brings you into the Promised Land that God has intended for you since before the foundation of the world. There is a LOT hanging in the balance of your decisions to have FAITH in God.
Make your choice wisely today....
May God bless you with faith from the hearing of His Word, and open your hearts and minds to the truth within. May you follow Him wholeheartedly and without regress so that you might one day find yourself in God's Promised Land. I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
Thankful for God's wisdom,
Sarah
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
The Author and Finisher of Faith
Do you ever realize that life is a journey, and it is always headed somewhere? I recently was told by a man I know that sometimes, it is like we are on a dark and winding road at night, and we have a look of uncertainty as to where we are going. This is equally true in the Christian life, when a person is walking with God. Sometimes, we don't know what path we are on, what step comes next, or even where it will lead us eventually. One thing we CAN know for sure is that Christ is the "author and finisher of our faith." It is His path that we are on, and ultimately, He knows the way to living victoriously, even when we cannot see two feet in front of us!
Hebrews 12:1-3 (NKJV): "Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
There are a couple of things about this scripture that stand out to me, first that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. We have people all around us who will encourage us to believe in Christ and His continuing work, as we are constantly given testimony by other believers of what He has done in their lives. We are able to view and hear about the other paths that Christians are walking with God and be encouraged that God is always with His children, and is not leaving them to ruin or destruction. Second of all, the word endurance stounds out as it is spoken of as something we need to run the race (the path of life) set before US, but also that Christ already demonstrated that this can be done by "enduring" the cross. He endured His own life path all the way to the end of suffering on a cross. He is setting an example for those of us who would like to follow Him in His own footsteps, and become Christ-like.
The word "patience" (or endurance) that is being spoken of in this verse is from the Greek word "hypomone" which means "steadfastness, constancy, endurance" and in the New Testament, it characterizes a person who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and suffering."
The scripture also says "despising the shame." Have you ever felt persecuted, or felt as though others around you were trying to put you to shame for what you believe about Christ, His power and His resurrection? I certainly have. I have endured shame from others because I was bold enough to proclaim that Jesus was alive and that I walk daily with Him. I have made proclamations of things that Christ has told me in the secret place of prayer with Him, shouting from the rooftops what I have heard in secret, and I have endured ridicule and shame....as all His prophets did before me. Christ, himself, was a prophet of God proclaiming God's Word, and His promises, and His plan for the redemption of mankind. Yet, Christ was (and still is) ridiculed to this day, and there are many who love to put His holy name to shame over the things He proclaimed as truth. The more we speak of the truth of God, the more we can expect to endure the same suffering and shame as Christ. But, there is redemption in the last line of the scripture. You see, Christ was exalted to the right hand of the throne of God, the place of greatest honor in the kingdom of God. We, too, after suffering, will be seated in the heavenly places with Christ and we have become co-heirs in His inheritance. We will be exalted as well.
I have been pondering this idea of being in shame by the world's standards for believing in Christ, His plan and His purposes for my life. I have endured ridicule, mocking, and utter disbelief, even from my own brothers and sisters in Christ. Why do I continue to run the race set before me (by Christ) with endurance? Because as I suffer with Him, I will also be exalted with Him in the heavenly places.
Romans 8:16-18 (NKJV): "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
I exhort you and encourage you to consider whether or not your suffering is for the kingdom of God, or you are just suffering in vain. This is all determined by whether the Spirit of God bears witness with your spirit as to whether you are a child of God. If you are suffering currently and are a child of God, I encourage you to run the race set before you with endurance! You will be exalted in that final day with Christ, and you will receive the inheritance that was given to you by the Father God in heaven. Just remain on that course that you are set upon, and remember that Christ is the one who is the author and FINISHER of your faith! May God bless you and keep you through any trial and suffering, and comfort you with the knowledge of your own exaltation alongside Christ. In Jesus name, I pray that God would open your hearts, minds, ears and eyes to see the truth of His Word, and the glory contained within.
In His glorious grace,
Sarah
Hebrews 12:1-3 (NKJV): "Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
There are a couple of things about this scripture that stand out to me, first that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. We have people all around us who will encourage us to believe in Christ and His continuing work, as we are constantly given testimony by other believers of what He has done in their lives. We are able to view and hear about the other paths that Christians are walking with God and be encouraged that God is always with His children, and is not leaving them to ruin or destruction. Second of all, the word endurance stounds out as it is spoken of as something we need to run the race (the path of life) set before US, but also that Christ already demonstrated that this can be done by "enduring" the cross. He endured His own life path all the way to the end of suffering on a cross. He is setting an example for those of us who would like to follow Him in His own footsteps, and become Christ-like.
The word "patience" (or endurance) that is being spoken of in this verse is from the Greek word "hypomone" which means "steadfastness, constancy, endurance" and in the New Testament, it characterizes a person who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and suffering."
The scripture also says "despising the shame." Have you ever felt persecuted, or felt as though others around you were trying to put you to shame for what you believe about Christ, His power and His resurrection? I certainly have. I have endured shame from others because I was bold enough to proclaim that Jesus was alive and that I walk daily with Him. I have made proclamations of things that Christ has told me in the secret place of prayer with Him, shouting from the rooftops what I have heard in secret, and I have endured ridicule and shame....as all His prophets did before me. Christ, himself, was a prophet of God proclaiming God's Word, and His promises, and His plan for the redemption of mankind. Yet, Christ was (and still is) ridiculed to this day, and there are many who love to put His holy name to shame over the things He proclaimed as truth. The more we speak of the truth of God, the more we can expect to endure the same suffering and shame as Christ. But, there is redemption in the last line of the scripture. You see, Christ was exalted to the right hand of the throne of God, the place of greatest honor in the kingdom of God. We, too, after suffering, will be seated in the heavenly places with Christ and we have become co-heirs in His inheritance. We will be exalted as well.
I have been pondering this idea of being in shame by the world's standards for believing in Christ, His plan and His purposes for my life. I have endured ridicule, mocking, and utter disbelief, even from my own brothers and sisters in Christ. Why do I continue to run the race set before me (by Christ) with endurance? Because as I suffer with Him, I will also be exalted with Him in the heavenly places.
Romans 8:16-18 (NKJV): "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
I exhort you and encourage you to consider whether or not your suffering is for the kingdom of God, or you are just suffering in vain. This is all determined by whether the Spirit of God bears witness with your spirit as to whether you are a child of God. If you are suffering currently and are a child of God, I encourage you to run the race set before you with endurance! You will be exalted in that final day with Christ, and you will receive the inheritance that was given to you by the Father God in heaven. Just remain on that course that you are set upon, and remember that Christ is the one who is the author and FINISHER of your faith! May God bless you and keep you through any trial and suffering, and comfort you with the knowledge of your own exaltation alongside Christ. In Jesus name, I pray that God would open your hearts, minds, ears and eyes to see the truth of His Word, and the glory contained within.
In His glorious grace,
Sarah
Friday, July 24, 2009
Walking by Faith Not by Sight
Hmmm...what to say. So much has happened in the past few months that I would not even begin to know what to say about it. I have been on yet another leg of an amazing journey walking side by side with the Lord. The last blog I wrote told of what it was like to arrive in God's country (Colorado) and be overwhelmed by sights, sounds, and people around me. God has certainly chosen an amazing place for a new revelation of Himself to me and my family. We have been down a rocky road here, but I am beginning to see that with each turn that we take, God is teaching is something new and incredible about His ways, His purposes, His faithfulness, and His great love for me and my family.
We arrived here in Hesperus, Colorado and God was faithful, giving Jeff a job through a family friend. Within two weeks, a better job seemed to have appeared and Jeff accepted the second job. Within a month, his entire view on life, work, and family had begun a rapid transformation! He left the second job without having a third job lined up, but once again...through prayer, God was faithful and provided yet another job. Meanwhile, it felt as though we were in the eye of a hurricane. I say that eye, and not the wind, because even in the midst of change and uncertainty, God provided peace. I went to God many times admitting that I had no idea what was happening in our lives, or what direction He was taking us in...all I could do was praise Him and let Him comfort me, guide me, and in the end...I just kept hearing the Lord say "Wait upon the Lord..." Waiting has never been my strong point, and waiting around with bills to pay, mouths to feed, and emotional strife on every side did not seem ideal to me....but I know that the Lord's ways are higher than my ways, and I finally surrendered and just told the Lord "I trust you." The Lord had always provided me with such clear insight, direction and the constancy of His voice in times of trouble. Now, suddenly, His voice had gone silent. I found myself digging through His Word trying to find some sort of revelation, comfort, wisdom...anything to speak to me and get me through...and once again, I could hear the Lord saying "Wait."
God's Word tells us that the "just will live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him (Hebrews 10:38)." I keep believing that the Lord would ask me to put one foot in front of the other and just walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7)." No matter what I saw happening around me, and how fearful it could try to make me, I was just going to hold onto the Lord and walk faithfully by His side. This included trusting Him with my children, my parents, my finances, my sustinence, my peace and even my sanity. In my life before Christ, I suffered deeply from anxiety, fear and depression. This could have been a dangerous place in my life with so much uncertainty encircling me, but that is where God began to shine...in the darkest places of my life. He began to show me that my very survival, my salvation, depended on Him. He began to show me how much peace He was providing to me and my family. He began to show me how He provided for us, and assured me that He always will. He has sustained my health and given me joy in pregnancy this time around. He is building relationships where they are broken, and He is healing those around me. He is at WORK ALL AROUND ME. But sometimes, in the darkness, we begin to focus only on ourselves. We begin to think that God is not at work, God is not answering prayers, God is not hearing our cries for mercy and deliverance. It was not until I went honestly before God and cried out before Him that He began to show me how much work was already done, while I was busy worrying and complaining. He told me that He will use us in spite of ourselves. When I felt useless, God was using me to bring edification, even healing to other lives. Now, THAT is God's glory...
My final thoughts are where I stand right now....God spoke wisdom to me the other day and said "To the degree that we surrender (to Him) is the degree that we will experience freedom." This whole time, God has simply been asking me to surrender more of my life to Him. He wants to provide me with greater freedom from the cares of this world, and continue to sanctify me of all filthiness and unholiness. Praise God that He is wiser than me. I would not trade or take back one single moment of being in this place with God. I have no idea if we are staying here, or simply being a "sojourner," but I am going to continue to wait upon the Lord and worship Him for His greatness and glory.
I pray that this testimony to God's all sufficient grace and wisdom has blessed you today. I pray that God will open your heart and mind to all He has for you....and that you will seek the fullest surrender to Him, that we may all be free in Jesus Christ!
Loving Him,
Sarah
We arrived here in Hesperus, Colorado and God was faithful, giving Jeff a job through a family friend. Within two weeks, a better job seemed to have appeared and Jeff accepted the second job. Within a month, his entire view on life, work, and family had begun a rapid transformation! He left the second job without having a third job lined up, but once again...through prayer, God was faithful and provided yet another job. Meanwhile, it felt as though we were in the eye of a hurricane. I say that eye, and not the wind, because even in the midst of change and uncertainty, God provided peace. I went to God many times admitting that I had no idea what was happening in our lives, or what direction He was taking us in...all I could do was praise Him and let Him comfort me, guide me, and in the end...I just kept hearing the Lord say "Wait upon the Lord..." Waiting has never been my strong point, and waiting around with bills to pay, mouths to feed, and emotional strife on every side did not seem ideal to me....but I know that the Lord's ways are higher than my ways, and I finally surrendered and just told the Lord "I trust you." The Lord had always provided me with such clear insight, direction and the constancy of His voice in times of trouble. Now, suddenly, His voice had gone silent. I found myself digging through His Word trying to find some sort of revelation, comfort, wisdom...anything to speak to me and get me through...and once again, I could hear the Lord saying "Wait."
God's Word tells us that the "just will live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him (Hebrews 10:38)." I keep believing that the Lord would ask me to put one foot in front of the other and just walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7)." No matter what I saw happening around me, and how fearful it could try to make me, I was just going to hold onto the Lord and walk faithfully by His side. This included trusting Him with my children, my parents, my finances, my sustinence, my peace and even my sanity. In my life before Christ, I suffered deeply from anxiety, fear and depression. This could have been a dangerous place in my life with so much uncertainty encircling me, but that is where God began to shine...in the darkest places of my life. He began to show me that my very survival, my salvation, depended on Him. He began to show me how much peace He was providing to me and my family. He began to show me how He provided for us, and assured me that He always will. He has sustained my health and given me joy in pregnancy this time around. He is building relationships where they are broken, and He is healing those around me. He is at WORK ALL AROUND ME. But sometimes, in the darkness, we begin to focus only on ourselves. We begin to think that God is not at work, God is not answering prayers, God is not hearing our cries for mercy and deliverance. It was not until I went honestly before God and cried out before Him that He began to show me how much work was already done, while I was busy worrying and complaining. He told me that He will use us in spite of ourselves. When I felt useless, God was using me to bring edification, even healing to other lives. Now, THAT is God's glory...
My final thoughts are where I stand right now....God spoke wisdom to me the other day and said "To the degree that we surrender (to Him) is the degree that we will experience freedom." This whole time, God has simply been asking me to surrender more of my life to Him. He wants to provide me with greater freedom from the cares of this world, and continue to sanctify me of all filthiness and unholiness. Praise God that He is wiser than me. I would not trade or take back one single moment of being in this place with God. I have no idea if we are staying here, or simply being a "sojourner," but I am going to continue to wait upon the Lord and worship Him for His greatness and glory.
I pray that this testimony to God's all sufficient grace and wisdom has blessed you today. I pray that God will open your heart and mind to all He has for you....and that you will seek the fullest surrender to Him, that we may all be free in Jesus Christ!
Loving Him,
Sarah
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Living in God's Country - Colorado
This past week, I have been being nudged in my heart to check in with this blog and write something...anything, to let the readers know that I am OK and arrived in Colorado safely. The days have been moving so fast that I have neglected to write and say anything regarding my new life here in Colorado. We arrived in Durango, Colorado on April 9, 2009, and were graciously welcomed by my parents at the airport. After shivering our way from the plane to the car, we realized that we were not in Guam anymore! We arrived at my parents' home which they had beautifully arranged and decorated in preparation for our arrival. I almost felt like royalty, and certainly appreciated every moment of their hospitality.
Since arriving, Mariah is finishing the first grade at a local elementary school and doing fantastically well! Krischan is settling is after having some initial sleeping problems, but seems to be in love with the horses, and definitely leaning toward being a cowboy. Jeff took a 2 week vacation and then started work at a concrete company this past Monday. I am staying home with Krischan until he hopefully starts preschool in the fall. Just about the same time we will be expecting our newest addition, baby #3. I am currently 13 1/2 weeks pregnant and have safely made it through the first trimester with no complications! God is good!
God has also blessed us quickly with a new church home - Pine Valley Church in Bayfield, Colorado. We have loved the two services we attended and both feel this is where God would have us stay to worship. I remember before I left Guam, I prayed for three things over and over....Jeff to have a job the would provide for our needs, a car and a home to live in. God has answered all three prayers already. He has also answered my prayer for a bible-believing church where people were in love with the Lord!
The added blessings here in God's country are that we are all healthy and safe, we get to revel at God's majestic creation (snow-capped mountain range) every day, we have the pleasant companionship of four horses, four dogs, and God is filling this home with love and peace, and most of all - joy in being together. I don't think I could ask for a better place to be right now - although I do miss my friends and church family back in Guam. God keeps telling me to look ahead and not behind....to focus on the things to come and not the past....so I am going to do that!
Today, I pray that you find those special blessings in your life and really thank God for each and every one of them! God is always good, and always at work around us. Sometimes, our lives and decisions do not make sense to others, but they always make sense to the author and perfecter of our faith - the Lord Jesus. He knows just what He is doing, and as our new pastor said "God is not through with you yet."
Be blessed in Jesus' name.
Sarah
Since arriving, Mariah is finishing the first grade at a local elementary school and doing fantastically well! Krischan is settling is after having some initial sleeping problems, but seems to be in love with the horses, and definitely leaning toward being a cowboy. Jeff took a 2 week vacation and then started work at a concrete company this past Monday. I am staying home with Krischan until he hopefully starts preschool in the fall. Just about the same time we will be expecting our newest addition, baby #3. I am currently 13 1/2 weeks pregnant and have safely made it through the first trimester with no complications! God is good!
God has also blessed us quickly with a new church home - Pine Valley Church in Bayfield, Colorado. We have loved the two services we attended and both feel this is where God would have us stay to worship. I remember before I left Guam, I prayed for three things over and over....Jeff to have a job the would provide for our needs, a car and a home to live in. God has answered all three prayers already. He has also answered my prayer for a bible-believing church where people were in love with the Lord!
The added blessings here in God's country are that we are all healthy and safe, we get to revel at God's majestic creation (snow-capped mountain range) every day, we have the pleasant companionship of four horses, four dogs, and God is filling this home with love and peace, and most of all - joy in being together. I don't think I could ask for a better place to be right now - although I do miss my friends and church family back in Guam. God keeps telling me to look ahead and not behind....to focus on the things to come and not the past....so I am going to do that!
Today, I pray that you find those special blessings in your life and really thank God for each and every one of them! God is always good, and always at work around us. Sometimes, our lives and decisions do not make sense to others, but they always make sense to the author and perfecter of our faith - the Lord Jesus. He knows just what He is doing, and as our new pastor said "God is not through with you yet."
Be blessed in Jesus' name.
Sarah
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Choosing Hope in Christ
Throughout my life, I have been through many dire circumstances, many of which were my own doing. I have lived through days when I had no hope of a better future, and I felt hopelessly lost and miserable. I have felt deep pain and I have endured poverty, sickness, loss, depression, heartache, failure, and a never-ending stream of bad circumstances. This characterized my former life before Christ. It was one mistake after another, and I say this...not to dwell on the past, but to make a point to you today. Even after accepting Christ as Lord and Savior, life has had some difficult twists and turns. In the past two years, as I have said before, I endured marital problems, my son's enduring illness and sleepless nights, the loss of two pregnancies in three months, and the loss of my grandmother this past Christmas. I have had financial ups and downs, but mostly skating the edge of not having enough. Our country is currently in a time of financial hardship, our families are seeing hard days with increasing rates of divorce, abortion, and homosexual unions becoming the norm. Our country is at war, and we are seeing unemployment rates climbing and more heinous crimes. Quite honestly, reading the news every day is quite depressing to me because it reminds me of how much evil exists in our world today.
You may ask, why am I telling you what you already know?
I am telling you because in the last week, the Lord has reminded me of a very important fact about being His child. We have a decision to make each and every day about our attitude toward this world and its current state. A couple of weeks ago, I was at the hospital and I ran into an acquaintance of mine. She was there to get a dating ultrasound for her first pregnancy. She was sharing with me how she was anxious over her pregnancy and just wanted to make sure everything was going well. She began to tell me how her sisters had miscarriages and she was afraid it might happen to her. It was the perfect opportunity for me to share with her what I had been through this year with having miscarriages, and how we have to put our trust and faith in God alone. Then these words just jumped out of my mouth (I didn't feel like it was me talking).
I said to her, "The way I look at it, I have two choices at this point in my life, I can live my life in fear, worry and anxiety over what is going to happen next, OR I can CHOOSE to have hope and be a fool for Christ."
After I said those words, I began to think about what I had just said. The rest of that day, and the day after, I meditated on those words. I CHOOSE to have hope, rather than despair. I realized that I am enabled to hope because I know that my Lord is coming one day to bring me to be with him forever. He says He will wipe away ever tear from their eyes.
Revelation 21:4 (KJV):
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away."
This scripture gives me something great to hope FOR. When I am with my Lord someday, I will not have the worries and cares that I do today. I will not be worried over having a miscarriage, or going into poverty, or feeding my children, or disease, or death. In these times where life can be so difficult because of so many different twists and turns in life, we are forced to make a decision:
DESPAIR OR HOPE?
If you have nothing to hope for, then I pray that you will allow your hope to rest securely in the salvation that can only come through Jesus Christ and his death on the cross for your sins. Without Him, and His promises found in God's Word, there is no hope.
Psalm 31:23-24 (KJV):
"O love the Lord, all ye His saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord."
Psalm 71:14 (KJV):
"But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more."
Psalm 119:114-117 (KJV):
"Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of God. Uphold me according to thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually."
Proverbs 10:27-29 (NKJV):
"The fear of the Lord prolongs days, But the years of the wicked will be shortened. The hope of the righteous will be gladness, but the expectation of the wicked will perish. The way of the Lord is strength for the upright, but destruction will come to the workers of iniquity."
During these trying times, the only safe place to be is resting securely in God's salvation through Christ. We can always have hope because God never goes back on His Word, and He has promised to save us from this world and bring us into heaven for all eternity. That makes life on earth much more bearable, and we are even able to have joy during tribulation.
Now that is amazing.
I pray today that if you have not found the security and hope found only in Christ, that you would pray today to receive Him as your Lord and Savior. After you have found security only in Him, you will no longer be shaken by the circumstances surrounding your life, because His mercy and truth endures forever. There is nothing left to fear because God is with you. I pray today that God would open your eyes to see, and your ears to hear the truth of His gospel of salvation. I pray that joy and peace would be with you in the Holy Spirit. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Resting securely in Him,
Sarah
You may ask, why am I telling you what you already know?
I am telling you because in the last week, the Lord has reminded me of a very important fact about being His child. We have a decision to make each and every day about our attitude toward this world and its current state. A couple of weeks ago, I was at the hospital and I ran into an acquaintance of mine. She was there to get a dating ultrasound for her first pregnancy. She was sharing with me how she was anxious over her pregnancy and just wanted to make sure everything was going well. She began to tell me how her sisters had miscarriages and she was afraid it might happen to her. It was the perfect opportunity for me to share with her what I had been through this year with having miscarriages, and how we have to put our trust and faith in God alone. Then these words just jumped out of my mouth (I didn't feel like it was me talking).
I said to her, "The way I look at it, I have two choices at this point in my life, I can live my life in fear, worry and anxiety over what is going to happen next, OR I can CHOOSE to have hope and be a fool for Christ."
After I said those words, I began to think about what I had just said. The rest of that day, and the day after, I meditated on those words. I CHOOSE to have hope, rather than despair. I realized that I am enabled to hope because I know that my Lord is coming one day to bring me to be with him forever. He says He will wipe away ever tear from their eyes.
Revelation 21:4 (KJV):
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away."
This scripture gives me something great to hope FOR. When I am with my Lord someday, I will not have the worries and cares that I do today. I will not be worried over having a miscarriage, or going into poverty, or feeding my children, or disease, or death. In these times where life can be so difficult because of so many different twists and turns in life, we are forced to make a decision:
DESPAIR OR HOPE?
If you have nothing to hope for, then I pray that you will allow your hope to rest securely in the salvation that can only come through Jesus Christ and his death on the cross for your sins. Without Him, and His promises found in God's Word, there is no hope.
Psalm 31:23-24 (KJV):
"O love the Lord, all ye His saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord."
Psalm 71:14 (KJV):
"But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more."
Psalm 119:114-117 (KJV):
"Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of God. Uphold me according to thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually."
Proverbs 10:27-29 (NKJV):
"The fear of the Lord prolongs days, But the years of the wicked will be shortened. The hope of the righteous will be gladness, but the expectation of the wicked will perish. The way of the Lord is strength for the upright, but destruction will come to the workers of iniquity."
During these trying times, the only safe place to be is resting securely in God's salvation through Christ. We can always have hope because God never goes back on His Word, and He has promised to save us from this world and bring us into heaven for all eternity. That makes life on earth much more bearable, and we are even able to have joy during tribulation.
Now that is amazing.
I pray today that if you have not found the security and hope found only in Christ, that you would pray today to receive Him as your Lord and Savior. After you have found security only in Him, you will no longer be shaken by the circumstances surrounding your life, because His mercy and truth endures forever. There is nothing left to fear because God is with you. I pray today that God would open your eyes to see, and your ears to hear the truth of His gospel of salvation. I pray that joy and peace would be with you in the Holy Spirit. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Resting securely in Him,
Sarah
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
