A perfect article on being grateful even in times of trial…this is a great one.

Habakkuk 3:18 – Yet I Will Rejoice

yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. (Habakkuk 3:18, ESV)

Early on in my faith, I imagined that Jesus was going to make my life perfect. The impression that I had of my savior was that if I prayed, all the bad things in my life would go away. Eventually I discovered that following Jesus didn’t work like that. I had to reassess my faith in light of this new revelation.

I can’t help but wonder if Habakkuk had to re-exam his own faith when he realized what was about to happen to his people by God’s hand. The people of Israel were once again caught in a state of rebellion and through Habakkuk, God told the people of Israel that they were going in to exile under the cruel Babylonians. Habakkuk took issue with that and had a couple of tough conversations with God about His plans for the future of His people.

And yet, despite his misgivings about God’s purposes, he was willing to say, “…yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!” I had to learn that lesson early on in my faith journey, just as Habakkuk learned to trust the Lord implicitly no matter the circumstances. In fact, I’m still learning after 20 years of faith.

Do you trust God as Habakkuk did? I know I could use some work in this are. How about you?

Guest Devotional by Jeremy Andrews. Jeremy is the Pastor of College Ministries at the CMA church of Morgantown in Morgantown WV. Learn how you can become a guest writer.

Faith in the present tense….

Hebrews 11:1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. NOW faith is … not yesterday … not next week … NOW. You can’t believe that God is going to heal you someday. You’ll never get healed. You have to believe you are healed right now before it will work. “Now faith is …”

(Mark 11:24) Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Jesus is speaking and He is saying something very important. Therefore I say unto you, what things soever you desire … things … Health or other promises of God. Believe that you receive them … Received them … He didn’t say feel you receive them … He said when you pray believe you have received them, and you shall have them! When you pray … is now believe you have receive … is now. And you shall have them … is future. If you believe Gods word …and act on it, (that’s faith) … you shall have them. In other words He will bring them into the physical world to you. If you don’t act on His words you will not get it.

Now if you believe that you have received it than you will not pray for it again. Why ask God for something you already have? If you ask again it would mean you didn’t believe you got it the first time … If that is what you believe than you won’t get it. Faith is acting on God’s word, even if you don’t see it. For we walk by faith not by sight. If we act on God’s word He will fulfill the promise. “Believe you have received them, and you shall have them.” Many of us are waiting for God to work a miracle or give us a healing, and then we will believe it. (Luke 6:46) And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? But, you see, you have to believe you have it NOW. Act like it’s true, and then the power of God comes. Because that’s how faith works, dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s, following God’s instructions exactly.

Shoveling your way out of a negative attitude.

In order to better understand people’s views of the world, a researcher once placed two children, one a pessimist and the other an optimist, alone in separate rooms.

The pessimist was placed in a colorful room full of all kinds of imaginative toys…the optimist was put in a room filled with horse manure.

The first child played in the room for a little while, but soon came to the door asking to leave because the toys were boring and because they broke too easily.

Likewise, the young optimist soon came to the door…but rather than asking to leave, she asked for a shovel.

Of course, the researcher asked the child why she wanted a shovel.

She replied, “With all this manure around, I know that there must be a pony in here somewhere.”

So which are you? Have you been smacked around by life so many times that it’s hard to find anything positive? Is it just against your nature to see the good through the bad? Most people are, but just don’t like to admit it. But the Word gives us hope that no matter what the circumstances are, we can find that “Shovel” through prayer and daily Bible Study. Hang in there, and know that you can always call on me to pray for you as well. I’ve posted some verses below to give you peace during your difficult times. ay the peace of the Lord be with you.

Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

 

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

 

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

 

Isaiah 40:31 But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

 

Romans 5:2-5 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Confession…one of the hardest things we can do, but the best healer of all.

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.—James 5:16

Have you ever been wrong and refused to admit ot confess the act? I have recently been put into the position where I am being persecuted to the point of disbelief. I watch these people accuse me, then refuse to admit they were, or did, anything wrong. While I wish I could get an apology from them, my biggest concern is for the damage they are doing to themselves by not admiting their sin.

No one enjoys admitting they are wrong. We hope our spouse or kids or friends will overlook our shortcomings and not call us out on the mistakes we make. We want to preserve the appearance of having our life pulled together. No one wants to say, “I was wrong, and I’m sorry!”

But by avoiding those painful words, we miss the blessing that follows. When a wound is cleaned, the healing can begin. If we live with sin festering in our life, we miss the healing and wholeness that God has made available to us.

James tells us the next step after confession is also important for healing—we must also pray for each other. It’s hard to be angry with someone for whom we are honestly praying. By asking God to work through each other to advance his kingdom, we might find we can forgive as we have been forgiven.

Prayer

Gracious Lord, grant us the courage to admit our failings and to confess them to one another. Help us to forgive each other and to pray for those whom you have placed in our lives. Amen.

Carijng about what happens to others, the lost art.

Have you ever confided in someone about what’s troubling you only to have them turn and walk away like they could care less? Have you ever heard someone tell you their troubles and realized later that you inadvertantly dismissed them and just walked away witout even trying to be there for them? If either of these things have happened to you, you’re in the company of a lot of modern-day Christians. The act of carrying each others burdens is vanishing from out lives today, and it’s getting serious.

From a young age, children struggle to be independent: “I can do it myself!” We idolize independence and self-sufficiency. We value people who can “pull themselves up by their own bootstraps.” We pride ourselves in being “better” than others around us.

But Christ has a different idea about how we should interact with one another. We should be caring for one another and involved in each other’s lives.

This way of being connected means we care enough about our neighbors to find out what burdens they carry. In communities where we may not even know the names of our neighbors, God nudges us to hear the concerns of their hearts. Do you know about the struggles of others around you? Just caring enough to ask is a good first step. But I still think that a listening ear is the best way to begin carrying a burden together. GReal concern is a healer.

A next step may be prayer. Everyone needs prayer, and few people refuse an offer to be prayed for, even if they have little faith of their own. Pray over one another and lift each other up before God!

And maybe you can lift a burden by lending a helping hand or an act of service. Or maybe you’re the one in need. Can you, in Christ’s name, allow others to serve you?

Christ’s law is fulfilled when we can reach out with genuine compassion and care for each other.

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
—Galatians 6:2

Prayer:

Lord, help us to care for each other. May we show your love and lift others up in prayer. Amen.

Mental illness. It’s real, and needs to be addressed. A Godly look at this taboo subject.

Today I got an email from Pastor Rick Warren of Saddlebck Church, and the purpose driven life. He let us know that His son, Matthew, age 27, took his own life. It absolutely breaks my heart to see something like this happen. It pains me to see people who are victims of mental illness and depression go through what must be torture as they face their daily lives. It’s more common than you think, and believe me when I tell you that it’s a very taboo subject within the Christian realm.

I once talked to a Christian professional in the medical field and asked her if mental illness was a demonic thing, or a “real” illness. She explained it like this, “It can be both, but most people don’t want to think that it can be physical because they don’t understand what mental illness is in most cases.” She went on to explain that most cases of a mental disease are a result of chemical imbalances in the brain, and can be treated just as easily and appropriately as diabetis. So why then are we so afraid to talk about and deal more with people who are struggling with this affliction within the church?

I suppose that when we see someone who is suffering with a mental disorder, we may see our own weaknesses and want to shy away from them. Some people will actually go so far as to believe that the disease is a punishment for some sin the person committed. While others may believe that it’s a matter of demonic possession. The fact i, it could be any of these. But like the Bible says so often, we’re not to judge on the why’s, but we should instead focus on what we can do to help.

If you take a short look around you, I can almost assure you that you will see someone who is suffering from some form of mental illness. Don’t avoid them, pray for them. Be with them. Love them where they’re at. In many cases this is what they’re seeking more than anything. Just like Jesus as who so often went directly to the sick and lame to heal them, we should be spiritually drawn to those who suffer.

If you think you may suffer from depression or something else, I urge you to pray on it. Seek help. Don’t allow it to get to the point where you consider taking the precious life that God created, and that Jesus died for. If you know of someone who is in pain, be right next to them as they walk a very rocky path. Fair warning…walking this path with them is not easy, and it requires dedication, but it’s a must thing to do. It’s the Christlike thing to dToday I pray for all of those who are suffering on the inside. I pray for Pastor Rick Warren and all the others who have lost loved one to mental illness. I pray that we will one day be more bold in our approach to this taboo subject and be more proactive in helping others through the miracles of Jesus and prayer. Today I am broken hearted knowing how many suffer from a horrible anguish and ask that you do the same.

Psalm 103:1-22 Of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. …

 

Mental Illness in the Bible – you’re not alone.

Old Testament
A punishment for violating the covenant (Deuteronomy 28:28)
Feigned by David to escape capture (1 Samuel 21:13-15)
Prophets servant is thought mad (2 Kings 9:11)
Madness compared to foolish behavior (Proverbs 26:18)
Madness is the opposite of wisdom (Ecclesiastes 1:17; 7:7)
Nebuchadnezzar’s punishment (Daniel 4:32-34)

New Testament
Jesus is thought to be insane by His family (Mark 3:21; John 10:20)
Jesus heals a lunatic (Matthew 17:15)
Festus suggests that Paul is mad (Acts 26:24-25)
Believers could be thought to be mad (1 Corinthians 14:23)
Paul’s ideas so extreme as to be thought insane (2 Corinthians 11:23)

 

 

What are you thinking? How to master stinkin’ thinkin’

Most of you who know me are aware of the trials I am facing on a daily basis. I can honestly say that I cannot remember a day where I haven’t gotten some bad news, or a reminder of what I am facing, and will be facing, for many years to come. I sometimes laugh at an image I come up with, an image of a line of people ready to drop the next bit of bad news lining up behind me following me like I’m the Pied Piper. Please reserve judgement on my analogy until you finish reading this…

One of the things that I do give credit to the secular world is that they have a lot of motivational speakers. I even worked for one. But far too often we a Christians forget, or are to bombarded with bad news, to focus our thoughts on what we DO have. I mean if you look at my image of bad news following me above, it’s a prime example of what I call…”Stinkin’ Thinkin’. That’s when we focus our thoughts and energy on only the bad, while we forget the promise of peace that Jesus gave us over and over.

Our minds often become conditioned to the stinkin’ thinkin’ I refer to above, so the longer we allow ourselves to think only of the bad the more habitual it becomes. We need to get ourselves out of that sinful rut, and find the good in everything. Each time we become discouraged we need to pray on it, focus on our eternal salvation to come, and know that this is merely a speed bump on the road to everlasting glory with our Lord Jesus. We’ve all heard this before, but we need to hear it over and over again until giving praise in a bad situation comes as natuarally as thinking negative thoughts come to us now. We can do it.

I pray for you, as I hope you pray for me, that we can soon become as inspirational in the most dire of circumstances as the Saints in the Bible were persecuted to the point of death were. May we become like the Paul’s, the Peter’s, the great Martyrs who died for the name of Jesus praising His name and giving thanks. They didn’t complain that what they had wasn’t enough, they praised the name of Jesus because they had everything…Jesus.

I have listed some great scripture below to help us focus on the joy that is Jesus. So the next time you become scared of what the future holds, or the pain of an illness, replace the stinkin’ thinkin’ with the comforting God inspired words of the Bible. Be calm, and be at peace.

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Philippians 4:4-9 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. …

Anything but Good Friday….

“Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.”John 19:28-30

Good Friday … I am sure on that first Good Friday, that the first followers of Jesus would have called it anything but Good. That first Good Friday would have been an extremely long, tough, discouraging, dark day.You see these first followers who had followed Jesus for three years and had had such hope, such confidence and such anticipation of the exciting future that Jesus would bring to their world and to their individual lives. And yet on that Friday almost 2000 years ago they saw their dreams and hopes dashed. You see they hadn’t read the rest of the story, they didn’t know how this exciting historic story was going to unfold.

All they knew was this Jesus of Nazareth, whom they had learned to trust, was now hanging before their eyes … dead on a cross. What must have been going through their minds?

You see even as we read this painful description found in the Bible in the 19th Chapter of John, it is only natural to quickly want to turn to the 20th Chapter and read about the victory that came on Sunday. But for just a moment on this Good Friday, let’s imagine what it would have been like for the first believers in Christ to see the one whom they had come to believe was the Son of God, the Messiah, was now hanging on the cross seemingly defeated.

What feelings must have been rushing through their hearts? They must have been experiencing feelings of discouragement, defeat, and hopelessness? You see … its Friday and although Sunday is coming, they didn’t yet know it!

Isn’t that the way it is in our lives sometimes?

We experience a discouraging setback at work… or possibly lose that dream job and we feel discouragement and disappointment. It is Friday and although Sunday is coming, we don’t yet realize it!

We suffer another tough day in our personal life feeling defeated by that particular temptation, addiction or enslaving habit. We feel stupid, embarrassed, angry, and defeated! It is Friday and although Sunday is coming, we don’t yet realize it.

We experiencing a heartbreaking setback in a personal relationship in our lives … We walk out of court with the words “Divorce” echoing in our ears. We feel rejected, lonely and unloved. It is Friday and although Sunday is coming, we don’t yet realize it.

We hear a bad report from the doctor for ourselves, or a loved one. Our hearts race with fear, anxiety and uncertainty. It is Friday and although Sunday is coming, we don’t yet realize it.

We stand beside the grave of someone we love very much and we feel a deep loneliness and ache in our heart. It is Friday and although Sunday is coming, we don’t yet realize it.

It is in those moments that we feel the darkness of that first Good Friday!

It is in those moments that we need to take to heart the example of Jesus that is described in the Bible in the Book of Hebrews. In the 12th chapter of that encouraging book, Jesus is described as our champion who initiates and perfects our faith. We are reminded that as Jesus went to the cross he had the following focus: “Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross.” That was an incredible focus!

Corrie ten Boom, who suffered in a Nazi death camp, explained the power of focus: “If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ you’ll be at rest!”

… This morning as we allow ourselves to feel the darkness that those first believers must have felt, let’s focus our thoughts on the fact that … Yes at times in life, the candle might have been blown out temporarily, but it will shine again very, very soon! You see … it is Friday, but Easter Sunday is coming! Let’s take a moment now and reflect on what they must have felt and the reminder that no matter what we might be going through in our lives … It is Friday, but Easter Sunday is coming!

Patience and hope

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning- Psalm 30:5

Weeping does indeed endure. In fact, the night of weeping can sometimes appear to be endless. When sorrow comes over us in waves, when disappointments follow hard on the heels of each other, when physical pain wracks our body — the night stretches on and on.

But here is the great consolation of Scripture. Joy is coming! It may seem to linger, but it is irresistibly moving toward you and will reach you with the darkness-shattering power of the dawn. Now matter how severe the shadows, no matter how stormy the darkness, once the dawn comes the night is easily and quickly forgotten. No darkness is so great that the coming of the Son does not drive it away.

For the Christian, the best is always yet to come. Is the energy and beauty of youth behind you? The best is yet to come. Has health and strength left you? The best is yet to come. Have you lost a loved one to that old enemy Death? The best is yet to come.

Weeping may endure; there are sorrows that simply cannot be faced without tears. But joy is coming…dawn is approaching…the best is yet to come.

Lord, Give me faith, mine is out. Have you ever heard or uttered these words?

This father brought his afflicted son, who had suffered from childhood, to see if Jesus would heal him. He first ran into Jesus’ disciples and asked them for help, but they could not. By the time he finally gained Jesus’ attention, there had to be a growing doubt in his mind as to whether his son could ever be healed.

And the instant he comes into the presence of Jesus, his son wallows on the ground, foaming at the mouth. He timidly puts his request to Jesus, “If thou canst do anything… help us.” Only to have Jesus throw the ball back in his court, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible.”

How this father must have struggled to find the right words, the right response. Finally, through his tears, he gives this confession:

First, he calls Jesus his Lord. He knows Jesus has authority that is not of this world and humbles himself before him. Then he cries out, “I believe!” This is not an arrogant presumption that he has the faith Jesus requires, but a sincere statement of why he came to Jesus in the first place.

Finally, he admits his fear and doubt, and runs to the right place for help: “Help thou mine unbelief.” Without realizing it, this father displayed exactly what great faith looks like!

Genuine faith does not trust in one’s own ability to believe, to work, or to obey. True faith looks to Christ to fulfill all our gaping inadequacies.

Do you feel yourself doubting? Falling? Giving in? Don’t try to hide your struggles or difficulties from Jesus; take them to him, confess them to him, and let his grace supply your every need.