Simple Thoughts

We know the slogan, “Do Not Touch.” Why? Is it wet paint? Is it fragile? Can we just take it at face value and move on? A child may linger, tempted to touch but the mature adult reads the sign, sizes up the area and moves on.

“Hands Off” as a mature Christian can be difficult. If you, like I, have family members, teens, young adults, we want to come to their rescue. We size up their circumstances, come up with a solution and offer aide. While sometimes this is practical and prudent, there are times we need a “hands off” approach. We need to trust God with our adult children. We need to pray for patience for ourselves, wisdom, for discernment. But we also need to put our children in God’s hands. Pray for strength, clarity that our children would see God in their circumstances and trust Him. Obey His words. The same words they learned as a child are the same words they can trust as an adult.

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.  And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.”

Work turned in that is unfinished. A house under construction sitting, waiting for more materials. A room partially cleaned by a child. This week, I have pondered the term “incomplete.” In my own life, I have started projects, full of excitement, trying something but losing steam and not seeing the project through to fruition.

As I reflect on my Christian life, how has my obedience to God’s word been? As an empty-nester, I have more time to devote to God. But even with more available time, I have to check my heart attitude. Am I checking off a to-do list for God, looking good to the world but empty inside? Or am I earnestly seeking to grow in Christ, under the working power of the Holy Spirit?

I know in this life, my faith will be incomplete. It isn’t until I meet my Savior face to face, “I will be like Him because I will see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2) Until that day, though, I continue to live as a Christian, in a sinful body, being resolute each day in my focus of walking in Christ-like obedience, looking forward to the day when my faith will be complete.

Listening to Mercy Me the other day, I heard this phrase, “Beyond the noise.” I started thinking, “How do I pursue God beyond the noise?”

When my boys were little, I found a quiet respite in the bathroom. At work, I would close my door at lunchtime to get past the noise, the distractions, the to-do lists to pursue God. Now, I wake up early, before my day starts, to spend time with God.

Some seasons of life are busier, noisier than others. In those seasons, maybe 5-10 minutes per day is all you have. Other seasons quiet down. The children are grown, the busy season over so you have more time to pursue God. Praise the Lord. Whatever season you find yourself, I pray you would find 5-10-15 minutes each day to move beyond the noise. Put down the to-do list, quiet the worried and anxious thoughts filling your head and pursue God.

In vs 35 of Romans 8, Paul is asking us questions? What is our belief in God? In whom are we placing our faith? Do we believe God and His promises? Despite the troubles we have, the calamity, persecution, hunger, danger we endure, if we are destitute or threatened with death, does this all mean God no longer loves us? And what does Paul say in vs. 37… “No! Despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.”

Where are you in your walk today, Christian? If you are like me, it is not a trouble free life. We all have worries, pain, anxiety, loss, struggles. Some physical, some emotional. But when we walk in faith, when we are reminded we are HIs. When we believe that “nothing in all of creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord,” (Romans 8:39) we can find peace and comfort in the truth of His Word. Our spirit is strengthened as the Holy Spirit convicts us of these truths. Let us embrace these truths as we journey into our day, into our Christian walk.

“Perhaps our struggles aren’t a hinderance to our walk with God, but instead a point of strength. Perhaps the afflictions we experience in this life, whatever they may be, are cause for us to soldier ahead by the strength of God. Perhaps the brushes we have with anxiety aren’t a punishment or a fate of doom. Perhaps it is an opportunity to cling to the Lord, letting Him fight (and win) the battles for us.” Sarah Morrison

Just pray. It’s not the only thing you can do. It’s not just a saying or rote memorization. It is the MOST, the BEST you can do. Be an intercessor. Intercede on behalf of those in pain, in need of direction, in need of a Savior. You try to speak into a world that has closed its ears to God’s word, God’s way. Seeking self, seeking truth apart from God. How many of us have heard, “That’s nice you believe that but I don’t.” It hurts your heart. But don’t give up. Go to God in prayer. Be an intercessor. Intercede like Abraham did for Sodom and Gomorrah. (Genesis 18:23-33) Abraham was interceding for a city but also on behalf of his nephew, Lot, that he might be delivered from the judgment that was coming.

Let us be Christians who use the word of God in prayer. We pray for the saved as well as the lost. We know nothing is impossible with God. No friend, acquaintance, leader, family member is too far from the saving hands of Jesus. Be intentional. Be resolute. Be a believing, trusting, obedient prayer warrior.

1 Timothy 2:1 “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people”

Empower: give (someone) authority or power to do something (dictionary.cambridge.org)

In a devotion I was reading, I came across a quote by Dr. Henry M. Morris about why Christ died for us.. As a Christian, trying daily to live in humble, obedient submission to God and His word, I found this quote to be encouraging. “Christ did not merely die to save our souls but to empower us to live in a way that would glorify God right here on earth.”
I recently had a friend flying home. As she was walking through the airport to her connecting flight, she had an anxiety attack. Out of the blue. Heart pounding, hands shaking anxiety. She was not sure she had the strength to move towards the gate so what did she do? She called upon God to empower her. She prayed and recited bible verses to bring her comfort and strength to make it to her gate. As a new believer who has been regularly attending church, Sunday school and a bible study class, she said,”I don’t have many verses memorized yet but the two I had, I just kept repeating.”

As we move through our day, let us greet our responsibilities as God given opportunities to “empower us to live in a way that would glorify God…”

Being an identical twin, my sister and I got used to the stares. Over the years, it doesn’t phase us much. We’ve gotten used to it.

As we go through our days, are we mindful of what we are looking at? Perhaps you are blessed with gazing on a newborn baby. The soft touch, the sweet smell, the miracle of birth. Or maybe you have a mountain view. The majestic mountains, the bright blue sky, the cool, swift stream. Or are you in the confines of your home? The four sturdy walls, the roof that provides shelter from the storms, a view through a window.

As we look out, let us pray and give thanks for today’s view. God is with you wherever you are. I pray you allow Him to be with you as your eyes view the world through His lens.

Job 12:10-13 ” For the life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being. The ear tests the words it hears  just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.
 Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old. But true wisdom and power are found in God;  counsel and understanding are his.”

The word “steadfast” has come up multiple times lately. First, in a sermon from my pastor. Then, in a morning devotion I am reading. Wanting to know more of its meaning, I decided to do a word study. Dictionary.com defines “steadfast” as this: to be fixed or firm in a direction or purpose.

Thinking practically, I see this trait in people close to me. My sister and husband remain steadfast on the hiking trail, to accomplish a goal. My son’s girlfriend is steadfast as she pursues her dream of becoming a veterinarian. If we look deeper, though, we see the Hebrew word for steadfast is chesed (kheh’-sed). It refers to God’s devout loving-kindness, mercy and faithfulness at the very core of His character. (LaurenIbach.com)

He loves us with a steadfast love. He shows mercy through His steadfast kindness. He is with us in our trials, our loneliness, our wandering through His steadfast presence. Being steadfast is part of who God is, part of His character. As Christians, we too, are called to be steadfast. 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” In our humanness, we tire, get discouraged, lose hope. But praise God! Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, being steadfast in the Lord’s work is what we are called to do. So let us be fixed in our purpose, steadfast in our faith, keeping our eyes on Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith,” (Hebrews 12:2)

You’ve heard the expressions, “It’s a two way street.” Marriage, friendship, respect to name a few. There is a give and take on both sides. If it is all one sided, the relationship will usually fail.

As I am studying God’s word about a “Friend of God,” John MacArthur says as a Christian, my relationship with God is a two way street. We did nothing to initiate or accomplish our salvation. That is all God. His plan, His Son, His drawing. When we say yes though, He wants to know us intimately, to enjoy fellowship with Him. We come to Him in worship, to intercede in prayer for others, to confess our sins to Him, to study His word to learn more of Him. (John MacArthur: Genesis 12-33 Bible Commentary)

Do we find ourselves in our relationship with God as the taker: take, take, take? I need. I want. Please give. How many of us know people who call themselves Christians but there is no evidence that they have a relationship with God? When you say yes in faith, you are not done. Your relationship with Jesus has just begun. Turning away from this world and pursuing your relationship with God is not a one time event. You can’t just be a taker. You need to be a giver, as well. Giving God your time, your gifts, your talents. Expressing love, joy, thankfulness for what you have so graciously received. Let us examine our own hearts to see if our relationship with God truly is a two way street.

The morning after a heavy rain. The birds are out in force. Finding food plentiful. Dropped seeds and displaced worms. They are chattering, chirping, squawking, playing “King of the Trees!” Getting the best view, the choicest seeds and worms. It was a pleasure just being a casual observer to my backyard habitat.

The Bible tells us not to fret. Jesus says, in Matthew 6:26 “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Are we running to and fro with our worries, fretting over the troubles of the day or are we resting and meditating in the truths and promises God shares with us in His word? He made us in His image so that we can worship and grow in our faith to be more Christ like. Does your walk represent and testify of your faith in the eternal, sovereign, promise keeping God or are you flying to and fro, trying to manage everything on your own and exhausting yourself in the process? I pray you would sit and fill up on God’s words for it is there you will find nourishment for your soul.