The storm

 

Matthew 8:23-27
tells us about a  day on the Sea of Galilee when Jesus and His disciples were hit by a storm.  Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat and the men were terrified.

Jesus had shown His power over evil spirits, disease, death and nature.  He had healed the sick, cast out demons, raised the dead, provided food and turned water into wine. Jesus was able to control anything -  any situation that they faced, and His disciples were afraid of a storm?

Hey, wait a minute!

That storm was absolutely huge!  It wasn’t just an ordinary squall.  The wind and the waves roared!  They covered the boat!  The boat was far from any harbor.  These guys were in the middle of something they had never faced before, and they were afraid.

Friend, are you in the middle of something you’ve never faced before?  Are the waves of pain, of loss, or betrayal covering the boat of your life?  Are you afraid?  Are you discouraged?  Do you feel abandoned?  Are you out of options?

Jesus understands the storm.  He sees the shoreline.  He sees beyond the clouds and the rain.

There’s a song I used to sing when my voice was young.  It was one by my favorite female singers, Dottie Rambo.  It speaks of a storm and a prayer -

Soul be calm, rest in His keeping.
Never fear, He has control.
He rides the wind and
He’ll chart the vessel
and calm the billows that toss me so.

Those words came from a heart that had endured much pain and trouble.  Dottie could sing it with conviction, and I would love to be able to say that I always believe them and trust with all my heart.  But still I've found that even in my fear, God always calms the storm. 

And Jesus said to the storm “Peace be still” Mark 4:39  and the wind died down and it was  completely calm. 

Bent and Broken

 Bent,

but not severed.

Cracked,

but holding on.

Shattered,

but not scattered.

Broken,

but not discarded.

Ruined,

not at all.

Her life was bent, not straight and pure

the cracks still held, though still unsure

‘til shattered pieces hit the ground

her heart lay broken – then she found

no condemnation in His face

no final ruin – only grace.

The Bible speaks of how sin has infected our world.  It bends, cracks, shatters, breaks and ruins  lives.  Sin destroys the pure heart and life that God had planned for man.  When sin entered into the world it destroyed so much, but it did not destroy the love that God has for His people.

John 4:4-30 tells of the event in which Jesus meets a woman at a well, we see in that encounter the way God meets with us in our brokenness.

The scripture says, “Jesus was tired from His journey, and He sat down at the well.”  This was a normal picture - a tired man and a water well.  Jesus turned up just where, in the normal course of things, a particular woman could be touched by Him.

He does that for us as well.  He meets us in our ordinary places.  He comes to help and heal us just as He did with this broken woman.  He comes if we let Him in - if we listen to Him.

So my friend, I know that even if the trauma filling your life is not of your own doing, as it likely was for the woman at the well, God wants to help you heal.  If you are broken – no matter the cause, there is only one who can put your life back together.  That “one” is the one who made you – the Master Potter.

So when you see the cracks appear, or when you feel bent or broken, watch for Jesus at the well.  He’s willing and able to give you life-giving water to heal your broken soul.  He will listen.  He’ll ask you questions. He’ll show you the way forward. 

He will help you see His face

No final ruin – only grace!

God bless you my friends,
Diane

Broken

There is so much pain and hurt in this world.  Some people are so broken that it affects the way they see themselves.  They have scars that hinder them from reaching out to others – even for help. 

I can’t put those broken pieces back together, but I do know someone who can.  And in the process, He can and will show His people how beautiful even scars can make their lives.

The Bible offers so much encouragement and help, if we only take God's words into our broken hearts.  Let's hear the words.

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

Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds,

Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

So my friend, if you feel like a broken pot, you are not alone.  The writer of this Psalm felt the same way. 

Psalm 31:12  I am forgotten as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery.

When I think of all the broken vessels in my world, I hurt for all of us.  But hurt is definitely not God's plan for the broken pots that inhabit His world - not hurt, but healing.

I recently found this article about Kintsugi and wondered if that is how God heals our wounds - not with Gold but with the blood - the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God.

Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, emphasizes the beauty of imperfection and the value of an object's history.  Instead of, concealing the damage, kintsugi highlights the cracks and breaks with seams of gold lacquer, creating a unique and often more beautiful piece than the original. This technique celebrates the object's history and transforms it into a one-of-a-kind work of art. 

The process 

Joining the pieces: Broken pieces of the pottery are carefully joined back together using a special urushi lacquer (made from tree sap).

The broken pieces of our lives can be joined together by Jesus, the potter.  He has sent His Spirit into this world to make of those pieces something beautiful.  It's impossible to repair that  brokenness without God's Spirit helping us to find out just where those pieces fit.  He knows the original plan for the vessel, because He/God is the potter. 

 

Next - Highlighting the cracks: The lacquer is dusted with powdered gold, silver, or platinum, creating a striking contrast with the ceramic material.

The blood of Jesus is the lacquer, mending those broken pieces.  His love is purer and more beautiful than gold or silver.  This lacquer doesn't erase the memory of the pain or betrayal.  Instead, if we put our broken pieces into the hands of the Master Potter, He uses them to create a life that, within the cracks, is more beautiful and exciting than it could possibly be without them.

Take a look at this picture and see the beauty created by the one who mended the broken bowl.  And then know that you can be just as beautiful, and useful in your new life, when you trust the true Potter.

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 

Looking in the Mirror

I've been looking in the mirror - Do you often  think about your “everyday shortcomings,” and see them as just that, “only shortcomings” – "not such a big deal?"  I know that sometimes I think that, but then - sometimes . . . 

I remember that they just might be a big deal - yes.  If I wish to be counted as a disciple of The Master; if I want to be His disciple - one who walks in the dust of the Master, I need to look at whose dust is covering my feet.  Walking in the dust - walking so close to someone that his dust covers my feet.

It’s so easy to accept and minimize my “shortcomings” if I walk through the day without a thought about how I'm living, or without wondering if my actions are a big deal to God.  So, before I greet one more day, I feel that I must personally look at the everyday things I call shortcomings and determine whether they are worth worrying about.  

In that vein, I want to look at the one I call Master – The only true God, Creator, Savior, King of the Universe.  And then I need to decide what I believe would be HIS view of the actions and thoughts that I see as only my “shortcomings.”

You may have your own list, but here are a few that I sometimes find myself struggling with.  Pride, envy, and anger – guess that’s a good start!

So if I take each one and dissect it in the light of God’s word, His purity, and His holiness, it may help me to see whether it is  serious enough to be too concerned about.

Pride – oh wow!  The Bible talks about that a bunch.

Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.  Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from The Father but from the world.

It sounds a bit like Pride is not something that I should tolerate in my life.

Then there is Envy

Envy comes in the back door, and some of the time I don’t see it until God points it out to me.  That envy isn’t usually a desire for wealth or talent, or even the beauty that another has. Most of the time it just says, “I wish I was as important to (this group, this person, this situation) as another person.  It’s still definitely envy and it’s grounded in comparison.  I have come to the realization that, when this “shortcoming” haunts me, it’s because I don’t see myself in the light of my importance to God – which is the only importance that really matters.

1 Corinthians 12:4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant.

Galatians 5:21 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

As I look at these scriptures, it seems to attach envy to coveting  the importance of others in the world’s eyes.  That was a bit eye-opening to me.

And Finally Anger

Jesus makes it very plain that my use of the word "shortcoming" would not be the way He describes anger - it's a slippery slope from anger to sin. Words and actions around us make it so easy to be angry. We have opinions about everything, in the Church, and in the rest of our lives.  Anger seems to be always in the air, in the wind and in the dust.  I must remember that this is not the way of The Master.

Colossians 3:8 but now is the time to cast off and throw away all these rotten garments of anger, hatred, cursing, and dirty language.

Matt 5:21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’  But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. . .

So to net it out

Galatians 5:19-20 The acts of the flesh are obvious: debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy, , ,

God is Holy, Good, and Pure. I want to walk in His dust, and He is more than willing to walk with me and give me strength to follow.

Chronicles 16:9 The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

• In pride I put myself in center stage – But the King humbled Himself by entering into our world.
• When I envy another’s situation, wealth, or status – I forget the family status given to me by the grantor of every good thing.  
• When my anger causes me to sin, I forget that when Jesus spoke of anger in His sermons, He even covered it in His discussion about murder.

As always, my friends, I'm looking in the mirror - not at you, but at myself.  We all must determine how well we will follow God's plan in our own lives.

The Open Secret

 

1 Chronicles 29:11 (ESV)  Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.

Dear Friends, lately it has occurred to me that our Christian world's focus seems to be on what God will or can do for me.  But when I think about it, I seem to be drawn to discussions on the Majesty of God, so I've spent many hours pouring through this book with my Bible and notepad.  The book - The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer.  

In this chapter I focused on one thing particularly that the author reminds us of.  He states that, if we are to live as God's  people in this world, we must “Acquaint ourselves with God.”   We must get to know Him as He is, not as we’d like Him to be.  

Mr. Tozer says, “God is not a utilitarian God . . ..  whose chief claim to men’s attention is His ability to bring them success in their various undertakings and who for that reason is being cajoled and flattered by everyone who wants a favor.”

He goes on to say that “The God we must learn to know is the Majesty in the heavens, God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, the Only Wise God, our Savior.”  Tozer almost shouts about the power, the works and the wisdom of God.

He mentions a few things that we can work on in order to “Acquaint ourselves with God.”  Here is one that I want more in my life.  That suggestion is to invest a great deal of time meditating on God as He is - on the majesty of God as our KING. 
 

There is a King of this world, and it is NOT me, NOT my family, Not my country, NOT this earth, NOT science, intelligence or knowledge, NOT strength and NOT my local congregation, a hero or a group.

God the creator is KING, and to truly know Him, I must worship, I must bow, and I must make sure I’m submitting to Him, His will and His truth.

There are no words that can sufficiently describe the Majesty of God, simply because He is not simple.  He is so complex and unknowable that we can only just TRY to know Him better. 
 

Many of us know the truth that God loves us, and that Jesus came and paid an unbelievable price for our eternal salvation.  We’ve been assured that God listens to us as our Father.  All those things we can understand in some way, but His Holiness, His Omnipresence (always, everywhere), His Transcendence (superior, beyond anything we can see or imagine) are somewhat beyond anything we can wrap our minds around, aren’t they?

So my wish is that I can begin to understand a little more, and worship a lot more – that I can rest in His promise that He loves and forgives me, and yet be forever acutely aware of His Majesty.

Love, Diane

 

Wait and Rest

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
  for my hope is from him.  
He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; 

I shall not be shaken. 
On God rests my salvation and my glory;

 my mighty rock, my refuge is God.  
Psalm 62:5-7 (ESV)

I speak to my God as I lie here awake
in the silence, my heart knows He hears.

I speak, and I wait for a word from my Lord, 

trusting He knows all my burdens and  fears.

Soon my God will release a vast vapor of love

that will send all my worries to flight.

No clouds will obstruct the view of His care

as I wait in the still of the night. 

My soul,

it will wait for my God to come near

for He is my shelter from harm.

My soul,

it will wait for His answer tonight.

He’ll give me sweet peace in this storm.

In this world He is steadfast - 

my trustworthy Friend. 

I cannot be lost from his sight.

So I wait for a whisper

from His Spirit of calm

as I silently watch in the night.

Fidelity

Recently we heard a podcast featuring a social movement begun by Dr. Robert P. George, McCormick Prof. of Jurisprudence, Princeton University.  The following is a short synopsis of what he is calling Fidelity Month.

Dr. George writes, "You may have read about the rather disturbing recent WSJ poll indicating a precipitous decline in our fellow Americans’ belief in the importance of such values as patriotism, religion, family, and community—the values that used to unite Americans despite our many differences. There are a million things we can and should do to restore the faith of our people, and begin to heal the dreadful division in our country, but I would like you to join in one small one."

Dr George goes on to explain the steps a person, a church, or a group can take to espouse fidelity to our God, to our families and our country.  I believe that this could be a movement which may change the way we look at our lives, our politics and other people.

Fidelity means: faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support and allegiance.
 
In a biblical context, fidelity means unwavering faithfulness and loyalty, especially towards God, one's spouse, and within the Christian community. It's about being true to promises, commitments, and duties, reflecting God's own character and the importance of covenant relationships.  This faithfulness is something that I believe is important for us to focus on.

From the Fidelity Month website - "The official symbol for Fidelity Month is a wreath, particularly a myrtle wreath, representing God, His eternal nature, and family unity. The wreath is designed with specific elements: the open top symbolizes divine embrace, the branches and leaves signify family dependence on and union with God, and the star and stripe at the bottom represent America's union. The color gold in the logo symbolizes generosity and compassion, while blue (background) symbolizes truth, loyalty, responsibility, and peace."

Thanks for reading through this. 
I hope it gives us all some food for thought.

Love, Diane 

Love from the Throne

 John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Beautiful words from someone who had been face to face with Jesus.  They were written by a man who was so overwhelmed with his knowledge of Jesus that he continually rehearsed in his mind the fact that Jesus could love even him.

He often referred to himself as “the disciple that Jesus loved.”

I truly believe that it was John’s humility that created those thoughts and words. 

John sees Christ in a special way. John’s words speak of Jesus as “the One who made all things” and “the light of all mankind.” He speaks of Jesus as “the light that shines in the darkness” and cannot be overcome by that darkness.

Can you imagine the way John's heart would pound when he saw our Savior face to face - as he watched Jesus' actions of love for needy people each day?   Can your mind picture his confusion and concentration as he heard the words of God from the mouth of this perfect one?

And finally, can you imagine how he must have felt when Jesus gave him the responsibility to take care of Jesus’ mother – words from the cross?

John spoke of Jesus as the one
who brought the world to life.
He spoke of what he’d seen and knew.
He spoke of Christ who loved him too.

He spoke of Jesus Christ, “The Light”
whose love shown through the darkest night.

His name!
“Immanuel” “God’s Son” “The King”

His purpose!
“Ransom Payer” “Go-between.”

His Gift!
Eternal life for those who bring
a humble faith in offering. 

If I see John, “the one Christ loved”
as a man who looks like me,
a sinful one in need of love, I cannot help but see
a trait that I must strive to have -
it’s deep humility.

If I see me, in Jesus eyes, as I look to heaven above,
then I can say with John today,
“I’m the one that Jesus loved.”

Emotions

Using social media we’ve begun to stress emotions through emojis - hearts, smiles, thumbs up, tears, and several pages of little “meaningful” pictures. They truly are a lot of fun, but are they real?  Do they picture our true emotions?

When we spend time listening to people, I mean really listening to them, we can truly read their heart’s emotions.  And only then might we get an idea of just how we can be a real friend to them.

I heard your heart today my friend

as I listened to the story’s end.

I heard the sorrow in your life and felt the awful pain

that you’ve endured through failing health
or acts you won’t or can’t explain.

I heard your tears, 

they fell 

despite the way you tried

to keep them to yourself – to hide.

Those deep emotions left inside
your broken heart 

held only fears.

I heard your pain. 
I heard the fear.

But friend, I cannot know

enough to help you on my own

or tell you where to Go.

Except
to trust the One who does -

the One who’s always there, 

the One who holds you in His hand

and hears each hurting prayer.

My friends, I pray that I can always be a real friend to you.

Love, Diane

Blessings

 

We pray, "God, thank you for our blessings.”  I wonder what we really consider as blessings when we say those words.

Sometimes we see them as “blessings” only if they are wrapped in pretty paper, or resulting in things we've wished for, or maybe only if they are clear and definite "yes" answers to our wants. 

The word “Raindrops” sound beautiful, soft and lovely. But when we use the word “Rain” it has a different sound to us. Like something a little harsh, like a trial. Let’s explore that a little.

Do you remember reading the book of Job? Job was a good guy. He did what God wanted him to do. He lived a pretty blameless life.  But there was more to the story.  Blessings?

Job lost everything. His children and servants were killed, and he lost all his riches. Soon he was afflicted with sores over his whole body.

Job laid out his complaints to God. But he also asked God to show him where he had fallen short.  He spoke of God’s goodness, and yet complained about the state he was in. He felt that God wasn’t listening to him - sometimes we feel the same way.  Job just didn’t understand – and that’s the crux of the matter. 

God’s answer set Job back a bit. In Job 38, we read.” Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm. . . In the storm He showed Job that God was God, and Job was not.

God was laying out for Job a picture of just who he was complaining to, and then God asked Job to answer Him.

Job didn’t know that God was so sure of Job’s love that He would allow him to go through these troubles for another reason. Job didn’t know what blessing was going to be his. He didn’t know that God was showing Job how to trust Him.The storm helped him grow, and because of it, Job learned more and more about God and learned that no matter where Job found himself, in the sunshine or the rain, God can be trusted. 

Job's blessings came through raindrops. This time the rain was a real gully washer, tearing through Job’s life was a real storm. The rain in Job’s life was a blessing, even though at the it didn’t feel like it.

A little aside -- Job’s “blessing” is really a blessing to us. It helps us to know God better. It speaks of an almighty God, a God we don’t always understand.  It also shows that man can have a conversation with God – not a “formal” talk, but a real conversation.  For although God basically scolded Job for his attitude, He continued to talk with him.  He didn’t shut Job out.  And in the end, God demonstrated His love for Job in a very tangible way. We may, in our rainstorm, hear a gentle word from our Savior saying, may this trial be a way for you to understand Me more.

Oh yes, sometimes in our storms we wonder if He’s listening - but the Bible tells us that God always hears His children.  Yes, sometimes our blessings come through raindrops. 

These were just my thoughts after I listened to this beautiful song.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKPeoPiK9XE

 

Pride - it's a Virus

Proverbs 11:2  
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

Pride’s a lethal virus that affects each living man, and in fact, man doesn't see how deep the evil in it stands.

We oft’ don’t know that pride is there within our human heart, unless we look beyond ourselves and take our thoughts apart.

        Possibly we’ll find it tucked within our halo’d hair,

preparing to reveal itself, when least expected there.

Pride masquerades as many things.
Pride’s costumes are so fine,

that we may sometimes see it as
"humility divine."

 

Pride’s a lethal virus that affects our walk as well.

We stumble on the “I” and “me” in the stories that we tell.

In tales of glory, we’re the ones that win the big grand prize

for deeds we’ve done, and races run; our works are supersized.

 

Pride enters through a mirror that reflects a wish to shine,

and to hear the words that puff us up; those words we underline.

 

You see –

When pride builds me and lessens you,

sin shows his ugly head - it’s true.

Whether searching for the spotlight, or looking in the glass,

If I am first, that pushes you

to second

or to last.

 

So, don’t be proud of your beauty,

or your talents

or your stuff.

Those gifts and possessions are

yours for today,

but in eternity -
not enough.

They may pass in a moment

since it’s not up to you

how the world sees your worth

and the things that you do.

Instead,

bow to the One who is perfect and wise,

to the God who will hear when His humble child cries.

On her knees,

and with tears,

see the love on God’s face.

Hear His promised forgiveness.  Know the gift of His grace.

Holy Week

 

I wonder what Jesus thought and felt during this week prior to His crucifixion and death.  He knew what was coming but was still determined to do what He came to the world to accomplish.   That week He confronted the merchants, and the pharisees, Judas, and even a fig tree. 

He met with his disciples and celebrated the Passover meal with the twelve.  He prayed for the children given to Him by the Father – His followers.  He also included us in His prayer – the ones who would hear of Him in the future, have faith in Him and would remain in the world.   

I consider and try to imagine the dread Jesus must, (truly must) have felt.  He was a man, after all and as a man as well as God, He would have had to viscerally dread what He knew would come.  When we read the accounts of this week, of His suffering, we can’t help but get physically involved as well.  If my heart does not ache, if I do not feel my blood pressure rising, if I can ignore the picture portrayed in the garden, in the courtyard, before Pilot, then I wonder if I truly understand the depth of His love.

All this pain, even prior to His actual crucifixion must have been unbearable – but He did bear it for you, for me, for all the people who would come, or had gone before. 

-----

He might have said -

The night that Satan thought he had me, the night he planned his victory,
the night his servant Judas kissed me – began my walk to Calvary.

Rough arms came, reached out, and seized me.
A dear friend drew his sword to fight.
I said “No angry swords are called for.
It has to be this way tonight.”

Oh don't you think I could withstand them at any time if I should try.
Oh don't you know ten thousand angels would be at hand with just a cry.
 
Lead me on the way to Calvary.
We'll take the road together now.
I'll walk along - no need to drag me
for I won't use my heavenly power.
 
Oh I could call ten thousand angels if I wanted to be free.
But my love for you will keep me silent.
For
I’ve lived to die upon that tree.

As you see the pain and suffering that He endured, may you also see the unbelievable love that He has for each of us.

Love,
Diane 

Hope in Christ's Sacrifice

Dear ones, 

Recently our minister spoke about true "hope."  This is what I heard in my heart.

Hope is spelled JESUS.
Hope means rebirth.
Hope feels like confidence while we live on this earth.

Hope doesn’t worry,
doesn’t fret, stew or wonder.
It’s assurance that God cares when your world’s torn asunder.

Hope isn’t just wishing.
No, it’s true expectation.
It's faith in God's promise that He rules in the nations.

Hope is spelled JESUS
Hope means rebirth
It came through the sacrifice of Christ for the earth.

As we approach Easter and look at the events leading up to Christ's death and resurrection,  I absolutely need to remember the HOPE that Jesus brings to us, don't you?

So Weep Not!

As I watch the clouds weep 

on this early Spring morning 

my tears join the clouds as they cry.  

My mind's full of grief for the sin that Christ carried 

and my heart's sick with sorrow 

as if no tomorrow 

will come, and my tears will not dry. 

Gently, there comes from the heart of the Father

a breeze whispering, “Daughter, don't cry.

Yes, the price for your sin was paid by my son.

He was willing to pay

and His life give away

so your tears could forever be dry."

"It was love for you child that He walked on that path.

It was love for all men that He'd die.

So weep not, 

see the morning

 as she shouts out in joy.

Weep not!

See the sun as He shines.

Weep not!

Hear the words, "He is risen.  He lives."

Weep not!

and remember, you're mine.

He has risen.

Joy will reign

on this earth and in heaven.

The price has been paid, and sin's power lies dead.

Sing, child!  

For your sins are forgiven."

Friends, I was thinking about what to write at this especially difficult time of the year - the days that we consider all Jesus had to go through for us.  I decided that something I had written last Easter season was what I needed to post again.  So....

It's almost time!  Easter is just around the corner!  But, before we sing of His resurrection, before we glory in the Conqueror’s might, let's take a minute to walk with His disciples during those dark days of uncertainty.  

I want us to walk with those men and women because I believe that we all have days of uncertainty as they did.  We all have days when we wonder what tomorrow will bring.  We all wonder, at some time or another, if tomorrow will even come, don’t we?

Can you imagine the disappointment?
Can you feel the aching pain?
Their leader is dead.  
Their hope was in vain.

Those hopes seemed to vanish, eclipsed by the roar 
of the thunder within, and the words “nevermore.”

Their plans for tomorrow were lost in the storm 
of the evil before them, 
in the winds of despair.
They questioned, “God, why,
and God how can it be
that Jesus, our Savior, is no longer there?”

As we walk with the people who walked with our Lord, 
we can feel in our hearts the despair they endured.

But today

on the other side of the cross, on the other side of the empty tomb, we can scarcely imagine what they might have felt.  

We can’t really walk in their shoes, especially since we know the rest of the story.  They told us!  And in their words we find our solid hope! 

I, for one, wish His friends hadn’t been required to walk that path.  But I’m so grateful that they were finally able to touch the scars and hear His voice, and to see and know that He was truly alive after all.

May you live in hope as you consider the joy that was just around the corner for those disciples, but is here - now for us. 

From my heart, Diane

 

 

 

Sometimes we Cry

 

Dear friends, 

I’ve been thinking about the fact that God is, according to the Scriptures, always present.  The word that theologians use is Omnipresent.  Omni, the Latin meaning, all or every.  God is present everywhere, every time.  But sometimes we can’t get our minds around that truth, since we see things from a human point of view. I tried to put myself in a place where doubt in His constant presence lives, so the following are those thoughts. 

If
When I’m heavy-hearted
or when dreams terrify,
or when the world seems broken
I cry 
"God, please tell me Why!"

If
Tears fall on my pillow
as the darkness rules the sky,
if
my plans and hopes are shattered
I can’t but wonder why, 
and I cry. 

I wonder
if God is a God of love 
but still my life feels gray.
If I’m a child of His,
but He seems so far away.
If He doesn't see my face,
from His great hiding place
beyond the heavens’ darkest space.

Or  

if God was absent now, today,
if on this path He wasn’t here 
and because of that I lost my way.
If that were true, I could but cry

“My God, Oh God, please tell me why?” 

But praise be to God 

HE IS PRESENT
GOD IS HERE 

He is filling, presiding, powerful and wise. 
He is always, eternal, the limitless King.
He is God above all, and to Him I will bring
Songs of rejoicing, my God and My King. 

I can give Him my worries, my cares and my sin.
I can trust His forgiveness again and again.
He’s the God who is close and will not move away.
He’s the God who will walk with me day after day. 

“God’s alive and He’s here!”
So, this I will sing
 "Almighty and present, my God and my King!"

1 Peter 5:7 (TLB) Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you. 

Jeremiah 23:23-24 (ESV) “Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.
 

To Rescue Me from Me

Today, I read some truly challenging words in a devotion book that my husband and I enjoy each morning.  The book is "New Morning Mercies" by Paul David Tripp.  Thank you, my friend Darla, for the gift of this book.

This morning's message focused on James 4:1-20.  The beginning sentences in today's  chapter speak of the sin in one’s heart - anger, bitterness, discontent, jealousy; sins that may result in difficult people problems.  Although the author didn't mention them, those sins can also result in health issues.  Those problems cannot always be laid at another door.

One of the important statements in this study is that much of the time the problem is me.  I'm desperately in need of the grace of God.  And, as Mr. Tripp says, "If I confess this, I am saying that I don't so much need to be rescued from people, locations, and situations.  I am in desperate need of the grace of God that alone is able to rescue me from me." 

I love what David asked of God in Psalm 51.  "Create in me a clean heart oh God and renew a right spirit within me." 

It's about the heart, isn't it?

It's all about what's in my heart
and how I think and feel.
It's not another's sins set free
or the way this evil world I see.
It's not those things that hinder me
from knowing grace is real.

When trials come, when anger lives, when bitterness is there,
when discontent and jealous thoughts are more than I can bear,
God's grace is still available.
His love can set me free.
When I kneel with all my heart and mind
in contrite humility.

And then I must depend on Him
to rescue me from me. 

Lord I Believe

This message could touch any of us at any time.  Right now, I'm more than convinced that our God has me in His hands.  Funny thing, my husband reminded me recently that prayer is not in the hands of the “prayee” but in the hands of the God we pray to.

When we pray, do we trust God to answer?  Have you ever been told that God didn’t answer your prayers because you didn’t trust Him enough?  Do we have to have perfect faith before our Father will hear and answer our prayers?

There’s a story in the Bible about just that.  We read in Mark 9 about a man in the crowd around Jesus who said, 

“Teacher, I brought you my son who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”

After some discussion the man said to Jesus,  "if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes."

”Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”  . . .and Jesus healed the child.

We pray, and God has the power to answer.

Life in this world seemed so troubled and torn

that I asked for a reason or plan in this storm.

Black thoughts may assail me,

and doubts may arise.

I want to see God, 

and to look in His eyes.

The wonder,

the worry,

the doubt will not leave

unless I can trust Him and truly believe

that

God holds tomorrow in the palms of his hands

and all things will work out in the way that He plans.

I plead that my heart will trust God today,

As the paths of my life turn and twist on the way.

I want to feel strong and to truly believe,

and to see in the future the pattern He weaves.

My mind must remember,

that His love will not end.

"My Father, my helper, my God, and my friend."

Today I will trust Him and truly receive

His help, and His love.

I will truly believe

what He’s shown in my life,
day by day,
hour by hour,

and remember the times that I witnessed His power.

I'll remember He loves me, so I trust in His care

and remember I’m His,

and He’ll always be near.