Lord, I Need You

 Have you ever felt like your walk with Christ has hit a slump or even a detour and you feel a little lost?  God hasn't walked away from us, but we are the ones who have loosened our grip on His hand.  This is normal, because we are human. 

This can happen for many different reasons: maybe you feel overwhelmed by unanswered prayers, maybe jealousy of others has got you feeling bitter, maybe others have made you feel leel left out of the body of the church, or for whatever reason that you feel that you're walkng life's journey alone.  You are not, God will never be the one to walk away.

"God is and will forever be for you and not against you. Through the deepest trials, know that Jesus is with you and that He has already won the toughest battles for you. He asks that you simply trust in Him and know that He has always been there for you." [christiantoday.com]

Romans 8:31-32,  "If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"

Romans 8:31-32, This verse gives us hope, not that we will always prevail, but that our eternal destiny and the love of God are secure. Though we may suffer, we will not be destroyed. No matter how bad things seem, we must remember that “God is for us;” He loves us deeply. We are His children.

As sufferers in this sinful world, when we don't walk closely with Jesus then we miss in engaging in all He has planned for us.  Christians are reminded that to be in Christ means we have “crucified the flesh with its passions and desires”   Galtians 5:24  " And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

As for myself,  you've probably noticed that I haven't written a blog in quite a long time.  I just haven't felt like encouraging others, when the struggle to encourage myself is hard enough.  When we get in a rut, it's important not to stay there.  God has provided us resources to encourage us out of those deep valleys.  Others can tempt us to sin with their anger and unrighteous ways, but we have the ability to respond in the right or wrong way. I know I need to listen and follow the Holy Spirit within me, more than my flesh  I have been encouraged by sermons from my church and the summer bible study with my friends that I've had here in my home.  God is never the one to distance himself, we are the guilty ones. 

I always feel better, when I'm hand and hand with the Lord.  The world is always trying to tempt and distract me off the path that God has planned and set out for me.

---

A Job-Like Life

Have you really ever thought about the life of Job in the Bible?  Most of us have learned that life is not only difficult, but often unfair.  So, was true of the life of Job.  He was definitely quite blessed, but there also came a time of definite hardship, suffering, grief and pain.  

Eugene Peterson said, "It is not only because Job suffered that he is important to us.  It is because he suffered in the same ways we suffer-- in the vital areas of family, personal health, and material things.  Job is also important to us because he searchingly questioned and boldly protested his suffering.  Indeed, he went 'to the top' with his questions.  It is not the suffering that troubles us.  It is the undeserved suffering. "  [Charles Swindoll]

Job was once an extremely wealthy man, full of prosperity, a godly gentleman, a fine husband and a faithful father.  In just a short time, he was hit with destructive calamities that were of no fault of his own.  Soon, he was left homeless, bankrupt, childless, and helpless.  He was urged by his understandably grief-stricken wife to turn his back on God and to curse God for what he had allowed to happen to Job.  Job 2:9-10  "His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”

Job's faith is an exemplary example of trust in God, no matter how difficult his circumstances became his trust never wavered.  He knew and believed in God's character; of goodness, love and trustworthiness.   Is your faith in God that steadfast?

"Job realizes his pain was not permanent. With God, there is a way of escape. The suffering of this life is temporary and will end for those who trust in the Lord. After this life, there is eternal life with God in heaven for the believer. In fact, Jesus came to offer eternal life to all who would believe." [gotquestions.org]

Many people can relate to Job's suffering on the page, but when you really endure it yourself then it becomes more real.  Did Job have caregivers to help both him and his wife out at home?  Who helped their children in the dying process?  Who took care of the living animals and the carcasses, as Job laid in bed in pain?  Did friends donate money to help their financial burdens, like food, utilities, or basic needs?  Job's story is more than just about him, but also about how other's responded in a 'love your neighbor' way. 

"In short, Elihu condemns Job’s friends and Job’s claim of being without sin, declares God’s justice, condemns Job’s attitude toward God, and exalts God’s greatness.

Elihu’s life and speech offer many insights for today. First, he dealt with the real issues of the situation rather than looking at the situation from a human perspective. Second, he emphasized God and His greatness rather than focus on a human response to problems. Third, he responded with respect, allowing others to speak first before offering his own response. These traits can help us today as we seek to understand why God allows suffering and as we attempt to help others who face suffering."  [gotquestions.org]

As for myself, I have been greatly blessed in my life in a lot of ways like Job's life was.  Thru different life circumstances I, too,  have been stripped of physical health, material wealth, and independence.  I've had stressful family issues, in which some led to loss of loved ones.  Suffering involves much more than temporary physical pain.  There is an enlightenment in which I have seen God's hand working in my life. 

Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  This verse is so true in my life and it helps me to trust him even more on those hardest and darkest of days.  Psalm 118:1  "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."

---

Worth The Effort - Pt 2

So, last week's blog kind of went in a different path than my original intent. 

This week I want to follow up with verses that God uses to encourage us to put in the effort, when we doubt doing so.

Psalm 119:28—

My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.

Galatians 5: 13-15, "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other."

Galatians 5:17, "For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. "

Galatians 6:9-10, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Hebrews 10:23-25, "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

All of these verses, spur off of the command to 'Love one another' and to continue on.

As long as we have breath from God, we are to fulfill His plan thru the works that He gives us the opportunity to do. We will doubt and grow weary, but He will sustain us thru His Word.

Finish your race strong.

---

Worth The Effort?

Do you ever question the time and effort you put into things and people?  That's the devil knocking at your heart and conscience, saying 'it's not worth it'.  Life, along with its joys and highlights, also contains difficulties. Frustrations occur, illnesses come, and our health fails with time. Our bodies feel the signs that life on earth is not perfect and that we are not meant to be in this body for eternity.  Psalm 73:26  "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."  God encourages us to love, interact with and fellowship with our fellow man.  

"In Psalm 73, the psalmist Asaph laments the unfairness he sees in the wicked prospering, seeming to have no struggles, and being free of care. Asaph’s heart failed within him as he couldn’t understand God’s ways. Many today also become frustrated at God for allowing good things to happen to bad people. But they must, like the psalmist, realize that their perspective is off. When Asaph “entered the sanctuary of God; then [he] understood their final destiny”. While some people appear to prosper without God, there are consequences for the wicked: eternal life in hell and earthly costs, too. Having an eternal perspective gives us hope even when “my heart may fail” in disappointment or frustration."  [gotquestions.org]

"Our flesh will fail; each of us will have to face death. Yet the believer has hope for eternity. Christian hope is rooted in the salvation and eternal life available through Christ. This hope does not disappoint because nothing can take our salvation and hope away, regardless of life’s circumstances." [gotquestions.org] 

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Romans 5:5 "And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."

As for myself, I can get easily discouraged by people.  I can understand how non-believers see those who claim to be Christians as hypocrites.  Many people's talk and walk don't match up.  I support some in their talents, but yet I often get a snub in normal life.  I'm so thankful that my hope is founded in Jesus and not in people or this life here on Earth.  Wicked ways touch all of us, but we must choose to love anyway.  The devil seeks to divide and destroy our relationships, but with the love, like Jesus' in our lives, we can overcome.  My favorite  verse of encouragement...

2 Corinthians 4:16-18,  "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

---

Who Am I?

Have you ever struggled with your identity?  Do you define yourself by your job, your school, your role in your house, or how?  Sometimes when we lose our role or job, we wrestle with who we are.  Our identity must be grounded in Jesus and following Him.

"When I encounter the great I Am, that's when I discover who I am."  [M. Fry]

Just like Moses struggled with his identity, when God sent him to speak to the Israelites, then Moses found his purpose.  

Exodus 3:9-14 "And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them.  So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”  And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you[b] will worship God on this mountain.”  Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them? God said to Moses, “I am who I am.[c] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you."

Often we try to fill the void in our lives with the things of this world, but true satisfication comes from God alone.  "God can give you peace and purpose as you have a fresh encounter with the great I Am."  [M. Fry]

Ephesians 3:20-21  "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

God not only gives enough, but He gives more than enough.  We need to worship and praise God first for who He is and not just for what He can give.  God is more than a Provider, He is our Sustainer. 

Colossians 1:16 "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him."

As for myself,  I have been stripped of most of my titles that I have held in this world.  That's ok, because no one can take away or come between the love that Jesus has for me.  His plan and purpose for me will never fail.  In that, I rejoice…Amen!

---