Category: Faith

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Heart Smart

So many advertisements and commercials encourage us to be “heart smart”. They focus on proper eating habits, exercise, refraining from smoking and living stress free.

I agree that we need to protect our hearts but it won’t come from eating a certain cereal, taking a low grain aspirin everyday, or any other thing that man can advertise. To be truly heart smart take a good dose of Scripture everyday.

“Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.” I Kings 8:61

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Psalm 27:14

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Matthew 22:37-39.

if you really want to do something to keep your heart healthy keep it centered on God’s Word!

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Trail Blazers

Each day takes us somewhere new; somewhere we have never been before. Our house might be the same; our place of business and our co-workers may not have changed but the day is new and so that makes the situations different and unique. With each day we are trail blazers following God’s plan.

Five years ago today everything we owned was either in a U-Haul box van or in the back of the Excursion. We said good bye to neighbors and friends and left Montana for our home in Arizona.

I think we felt like the children of Israel coming to the Promised Land. We had been marching in the wilderness for more years than we had cared to admit. Trying to do things our way and not realizing what the Lord was directing us to do was frustrating to say the least. All that time we “thought” we were following the Lord but we had missed the trail.

When good things would happen we would give Him glory and when times were tough we were praying and asking His direction. However, many times we would go with the thing that “seemed right” and logical instead of really waiting to see if that’s what He wanted.

God was always faithful. His arms were always open wide and His love was always unconditional!

Five years later, we can look back and see how He did guide us even when we chose the path and how He brought us full circle to bring us Home!

Thank you Father for your faithfulness.

“You are my God. I worship you. In my heart, I long for you, as I would long for a stream in a scorching desert. 2 I have seen your power and your glory in the place of worship. 3 Your love means more than life to me, and I praise you. 4 As long as I live, I will pray to you. 5 I will sing joyful praises and be filled with excitement like a guest at a banquet. 6 I think about you before I go to sleep, and my thoughts turn to you during the night. 7 You have helped me, and I sing happy songs in the shadow of your wings. 8 I stay close to you, and your powerful arm supports me.” Psalm 63:1-8 CEV

“My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.” vs 8

Five years later we have such joy to know that the Lord led us here. It’s Jesus who goes before us leading the way, setting the course. We need to listen as He says this is the way – walk in it and be obedient.

“So you people must be careful to do everything the Lord commanded you. Do not stop following God! 33 You must live the way the Lord your God commanded you. Then you will continue to live, and everything will be fine with you. You will live a long life in the land that will belong to you.” Deuteronomy 5:32-33 ERV

Happy Trails!

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Heads or Tails

This morning I was reading in Mark where Jesus was teaching his disciples about faith. All of Jesus’ teachings have faith as their foundational premise. We are told in Hebrews that without faith it is impossible to please God; Jesus was all about pleasing the Father in all he did so he lived and taught faith.

I often hear folks say, “I wish I had more faith or I wish my faith was bigger or stronger”. This morning I would like to share a couple of thoughts on “Faith” and “Unbelief”. Imagine you are holding a coin in your hand right now. One side of the coin is faith and one side is unbelief. The outcome of the situations in your life are directly affected by one or the other.

There are many Scriptures when Jesus addressed “Unbelief” in the hearts and minds of those that he was ministering too. In Matthew 13 it says that Jesus couldn’t do any mighty works in his own hometown because of their unbelief. In Mark 9 the man who had a demon possessed son brought him to Jesus for healing. Jesus told the father if he could believe all things were possible to him. The father responded Lord, I believe – help my unbelief. After Jesus healed the boy his disciples came and asked:

“Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 [b]However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17:19-21 NKJV

Jesus didn’t say that it was because of their “little” faith or even lack of faith but because of unbelief. He then goes on to say that with faith as little as a grain of mustard seed, nothing would be impossible to them. When Jesus said “this kind” goes not out but by prayer and fasting, He was talking about the unbelief.

Faith, simply put, is our belief that God not only can do but will do those things that He has promised. Abraham is our example of this. He had a lifetime of evidence to support his unbelief that he and Sarah couldn’t have a child. Both he and Sarah were barren. If they had gone to the fertility clinic, everyone would have laughed at them and sent them home. But thank God, Abraham didn’t listen to all the unbelief (his own or that of others) he was strong in faith.

“And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” Romans 4:19-21

When we give our life to Christ and are born again, we are given faith as a part of our new nature. Romans 12 says that God has given all of us “the” measure of faith and then in Galatians 5, Paul tells us again that faith is a fruit of the Spirit.

We can all agree it takes faith to get saved. “For by grace are ye saved through faith”. Faith, believing that God will do what He says He will do, and grace, God giving us what we don’t deserve and can’t earn on our own. This was the time in our life that our faith in God was the smallest and yet it was enough to create the greatest miracle – salvation.

What situation has you focused on unbelief? Go to God’s word, find His answer, feed your faith (Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God) and it will cause your unbelief to shrink. When unbelief shrinks “mustard seed” faith is more than enough to move mountains.

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I’m Alright!

I woke up this morning with the words to the chorus of a song running through my mind as I prayed and read my Bible. When I’m talking with the Lord and hearing His words come from the page of my Bible I know I’m alright.

I’m all, I’m all, I’m alright
It’s a beautiful day, not a cloud in sight
So I I guess I’m doing alright
I’m all, I’m all, I’m alright
by Jo Dee Messina

Life is messy sometimes. Things get hectic and cluttered, sometimes it seems that our boat is about to sink but the Lord has a message for us all.

“Do not trouble yourself because of sinful men. Do not want to be like those who do wrong. 2 For they will soon dry up like the grass. Like the green plant they will soon die. 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good. So you will live in the land and will be fed. 4 Be happy in the Lord. And He will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Give your way over to the Lord. Trust in Him also. And He will do it. 6 He will make your being right and good show as the light, and your wise actions as the noon day.

7 Rest in the Lord and be willing to wait for Him. Do not trouble yourself when all goes well with the one who carries out his sinful plans. 8 Stop being angry. Turn away from fighting. Do not trouble yourself. It leads only to wrong-doing. 9 For those who do wrong will be cut off. But those who wait for the Lord will be given the earth. ” Psalm 37:1-9 NLV

Trust the Lord. Rest in the Lord. Do Good. Be happy in the Lord.

Yes, the Lord will make all things right. He has the master plan. He wants us to trust regardless of what the circumstances look like. He is the circumstance changer. His is a plan to bring us good and not destruction.

Yesterday I heard a message from the book of Daniel. You know, Daniel in the Lion’s den. Circumstances didn’t look good for Daniel. All of his peers plotted against him; there was no alternative, the king had to punish him for breaking the law. The lion’s den was the death sentence.

“The other men tried to find something wrong with the way Daniel did his work for the king. But they could not accuse him of anything wrong, because he was honest and faithful and did everything he was supposed to do. 5 Finally, they said to one another, “We will never be able to bring any charge against Daniel, unless it has to do with his religion.” Daniel 6:4-5 CEV

But God…

God intervened and closed the mouth of the lions. Daniel rested in a place meant for his destruction.

“At daybreak the king got up and ran to the pit. 20 He was anxious and shouted, “Daniel, you were faithful and served your God. Was he able to save you from the lions?”

21 Daniel answered, “Your Majesty, I hope you live forever! 22 My God knew that I was innocent, and he sent an angel to keep the lions from eating me. Your Majesty, I have never done anything to hurt you. The king was relieved to hear Daniel’s voice, and he gave orders for him to be taken out of the pit. Daniel’s faith in his God had kept him from being harmed.” Daniel 6:19-23 CEV

If I were writing these verses this morning I would have Daniel singing – I’m all, I’m all, I’m alright.

If God could protect Daniel from the lions he can certainly protect us from the situations and circumstances that we will face today. We need to follow the examples of Daniel and David; stay focused on God’s promises and His power.

“God, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to those who trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 ERV

Say it with me – I will trust in the Lord. I’m alright!


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Where To Now?

I’m sure that must have been a question on the mind of the disciples as they talked among themselves after the crucifixion. Where do we go from here?

I ask that of myself. Where am I going? What do I depend on to guide me through life? Jesus has the answer for me and for you also. He said “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.” John 14:6 ERV

The whole purpose of His ministry was to bring us to place where we would put our faith in God’s love and be brought into relationship with Him.

“But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us.

9 We have been made right with God by the blood sacrifice of Christ. So through Christ we will surely be saved from God’s anger. 10 I mean that while we were God’s enemies, he made friends with us through his Son’s death. And the fact that we are now God’s friends makes it even more certain that he will save us through his Son’s life.” Romans 5:8-10 ERV

There are four verses that are the basis for my daily walk. In some way or another, each day I remind myself of my foundation in the Scripture. These verses guide my life and my relationship with the Lord.

“But without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and that he rewards everyone who searches for him.” Hebrews 11:6 CEV

“…Anything that is not done in faith is sin.” Romans 14:23b NLV

“When someone belongs to Christ Jesus, it is not important if they are circumcised or not. The important thing is faith—the kind of faith that works through love.” Galatians 5:6 ERV

“Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn’t selfish or quick tempered. It doesn’t keep a record of wrongs that others do. 6 Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. 7 Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. 8 Love never fails!” I Corinthians 13:4-8 CEV

So here’s the progression of thought.

  1. I want to please God the Father so I must have faith and believe that He wants relationship with me.
  2. I recognize whatever I do that is not done in faith is sin.
  3. In order for faith to truly work it must have love as its foundation.
  4. Finally to have effective faith I must be walking in love and love is kind, patient, unselfish, not rude or jealous, boastful or proud. Love assumes the best and is supportive, loyal and trusting – it never fails.

My decisions, actions and reactions need to be based on knowing God’s amazing love for me; His character is love and He shares that with me so that I can walk in faith and please Him. My faith is never in my own works or abilities but always in His! Then and only then is my day truly successful!

This Easter morning is a good time to examine and evaluate our path in life. Let’s walk in faith and please the Father today!

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It’s Who You Know

The Lord reminded me this morning that although I’m not the richest or most educated person, I have value and worth beyond measure. He reminded me of something that I shared with some of you about three years ago. It’s worth sharing again.

If you have been reading these morning posts for very long you know that I sometimes have a different outlook from those around me. I realized that I don’t know the premise of Batman vs Superman, nor do I know the characters and the plot of Star Wars (none of them). I’ve never read one of the Harry Potter books and I don’t know the name of the American Idol winners, nor those from the Academy Awards, the Grammy’s, the ACM or the Emmy’s.

I don’t remember which team won the Super Bowls or the World Series. I don’t understand the rules of soccer or ice hockey. I’m not up on the lastest fashions or trends on Wall Street.

My goodness there is a lot I don’t know!

However, I do know the Creator of the universe. I know the One who sees the sparrows fall and He knows how many hairs I have on my head. I know the One who gave strength to Samson, gave intellect to Adam so he could name all the plants and animals, I know the architect who gave Noah the plans for the ark.

I know the One who gave Solomon his wisdom and the One who took Elijah home to heaven in a chariot. I know the One who cleansed lepers, raised the dead, healed the sick, provided food for the multitudes and the One who turned water into wine.

I don’t need to book an appointment or acheive to a certain status to talk with the One who is CEO of the universe. I call Him daddy and I can run boldly to Him and He never refuses to see me.

I know the Good Shepherd and He knows me by name. He causes me to lie down in green pastures and He leads me through the valley of the shadow of death.

I know the One who loved me enough to leave heaven, take on the form of man, lived a sinless life, died a sacrifical death and then rose triumphantly just for me. He made me new!

And I know that as much as I know Him now, I want to know Him more.

“I want to belong to him. In Christ I am right with God, but my being right does not come from following the law. It comes from God through faith. God uses my faith in Christ to make me right with him. 10 All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him from death. I want to share in his sufferings and be like him even in his death.” Philippians 3:9-10 ERV

I can introduce you to Him if you don’t already know Him. His arms are open wide to all who would come to Him!

” Everything and everyone that the Father has given me will come to me, and I won’t turn any of them away.

38 I didn’t come from heaven to do what I want! I came to do what the Father wants me to do. He sent me, 39 and he wants to make certain that none of the ones he has given me will be lost. Instead, he wants me to raise them to life on the last day.” John 6:37-39 CEV

So some may think that I’m not very well informed but I can tell you with certainty that I KNOW the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and that is more than enough!

“…nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” II Timothy 1:12 KJV

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Out of Balance

Do you remember those days in seventh grade Science class when your teacher brought in a set of scales and weights? I do!

Mr. Fox put the scales on the front lab table. There were a set of graduated weights and there were various other objects too; an apple, a brick, a coin, salt, and feathers. We then embarked on a series of trials. One of the objects was the exact same weight as one, or a combination of, the weights. It was up to us to determine which one.

Nine times out of ten we were out-of-balance!

Have you ever felt that way? That things in your life are out-of-balance. This morning I’m going to tell you why that’s a good thing.

When it comes to our walk with the Lord we need to be top heavy. Jesus disciples came to him and asked Him to increase their faith.

“The apostles said to the Lord, “Give us more faith!”6 The Lord said, “If your faith is as big as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Dig yourself up and plant yourself in the ocean!’ And the tree will obey you.” Luke 17:5-6 ERV

Notice Jesus didn’t tell them that they needed BIG faith. No, He told them that if they had little faith, faith as little as a mustard seed, that they would be able to accomplish big things. The question was how to use the faith they had. Look at the example he gave them.

“Suppose one of you has a servant who has been working in the field, plowing or caring for the sheep. When he comes in from work, what would you say to him? Would you say, ‘Come in, sit down and eat’? 8 Of course not! You would say to your servant, ‘Prepare something for me to eat. Then get ready and serve me. When I finish eating and drinking, then you can eat.’ 9 The servant should not get any special thanks for doing his job. He is only doing what his master told him to do. 10 It is the same with you. When you finish doing all that you are told to do, you should say, ‘We are not worthy of any special thanks. We have only done the work we should do.’” Luke 17:7-10 ERV

Here, Jesus is referring to faith as a servant. He told the disciples to put it to work. Faith is doing what the master has told you to do. Jesus had told them to go out and teach, preach, heal the sick, raise the dead and cast out devils. They did as he told them and they came back amazed at the results they had. But then there were other times when they let the circumstances stop them from doing what the Lord had said. He told them to get in the boat and go to the other side; they let the waves and the storm overwhelm them with fear and they almost capsized. Then there was the night that Jesus was arrested. He told them to pray with Him so they wouldn’t fall into temptation, instead they fell asleep and scattered in fear when the soldiers took Jesus away.

There are no great accolades for doing what you are told to do but there are great results. Faith is a tool that God wants us to use. Using our faith is as simple as obeying what God says. Just like a servant obeys his master.

If little faith can make great things happen then where’s the problem? It’s fear. Do you realize that fear is also a form of faith? Fear is a belief that the negative will happen. Instead of trusting God and putting faith in His word fear believes that circumstances will overwhelm and shatter God’s promises.

“In Christ we come before God with freedom and without fear. We can do this because of our faith in Christ.” Ephesians 3:12 ERV

“The followers went to him and woke him. They said, “Lord, save us! We will drown!”26 Jesus answered, “Why are you afraid? You don’t have enough faith.” Then he stood up and gave a command to the wind and the water. The wind stopped, and the lake became very calm.27 The men were amazed. They said, “What kind of man is this? Even the wind and the water obey him!” Matthew 8:25-27 ERV

If we have little faith and great fear we will be out-of-balance and the results will be disastrous. But if we have little faith and no fear or doubt we can move mountains.

“Jesus answered, “Have faith in God. 23 The truth is, you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, mountain, fall into the sea.’ And if you have no doubts in your mind and believe that what you say will happen, then God will do it for you. 24 So I tell you to ask for what you want in prayer. And if you believe that you have received those things, then they will be yours.” Mark 11:22-24 ERV

Let me ask you this. What types of things cause fear in your life? It’s important to identify them. Is it cancer, bankruptcy, divorce, rebellious children, loss of employment, auto accidents? Find what God says about each and every one of these things and as you do you will begin to remove them from the fear side of the scale. The more items you remove, the greater the weight of your faith becomes. Soon, faith in what God says and will do will tip the scales and you will be out-of-balance in faith.

“We thank God for you always. And that’s what we should do, because you give us good reason to be thankful: Your faith is growing more and more. And the love that every one of you has for each other is also growing.” II Thessalonians 1:3 ERV

It’s time to tip the scales in the right direction!


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God Is In Control

I am really enjoying reading through Genesis and following the events that took place in Abraham’s life. His story is filled with adventure. His faith and trust in God is bold and dynamic.

In my reading this morning the Lord comes to Abraham with a request of paramount portion. Isaac, the son God promised, had been born and was probably about twelve years old at this time.

“Some years later God decided to test Abraham, so he spoke to him.

Abraham answered, “Here I am, Lord.”

2 The Lord said, “Go get Isaac, your only son, the one you dearly love! Take him to the land of Moriah, and I will show you a mountain where you must sacrifice him to me on the fires of an altar.” 3 So Abraham got up early the next morning and chopped wood for the fire. He put a saddle on his donkey and left with Isaac and two servants for the place where God had told him to go.” Genesis 22:1-3 CEV

The thing I find amazing about this record of events is we don’t see Abraham trying to bargain or negotiate with what the Lord is telling him. He is obedient without delay or hesitation. He gets up the next morning, makes preparation and leaves.

Here is a Abraham, a man who is approximately 112 years old. He has a pre-teen son and two servants and is headed to the wilderness. They travel for three days when Abraham sees the mountain where God has instructed him to go.

“Three days later Abraham looked off in the distance and saw the place. 5 He told his servants, “Stay here with the donkey, while my son and I go over there to worship. We will come back.” Genesis 22:4-5 CEV

There is no worry, no fear in Abraham’s comment to his servants. He is confident in the promise that God had given him many years earlier. God told him he would have a son and his descendants would be many. Abraham isn’t the only one walking by faith in this story. Isaac demonstrates great faith in his father and in God.

“Abraham put the wood on Isaac’s shoulder, but he carried the hot coals and the knife. As the two of them walked along, 7-8 Isaac said, “Father, we have the coals and the wood, but where is the lamb for the sacrifice?”

“My son,” Abraham answered, “God will provide the lamb.” Genesis 22:6-8 CEV

We have to remember these are real people with real emotions and this is a father who has waited for years to have a son. This son is the apple of his eye; the heir to all he possesses. Abraham is obedient to God, fully trusting Him to provide.

They get to the place of sacrifice and Abraham has Isaac help him build the altar, set the wood in place and then Abraham takes the next step and ties the hands of his son.

“The two of them walked on, and 9 when they reached the place that God had told him about, Abraham built an altar and placed the wood on it. Next, he tied up his son and put him on the wood. 10 He then took the knife and got ready to kill his son. 11 But the Lord’s angel shouted from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am!” he answered.

12 “Don’t hurt the boy or harm him in any way!” the angel said. “Now I know that you truly obey God, because you were willing to offer him your only son.”

13 Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in the bushes. So he took the ram and sacrificed it in place of his son.

14 Abraham named that place “The Lord Will Provide.” And even now people say, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” Genesis 22:9-14 CEV

The Lord will provide!

Those were the words that Abraham lived by. His first instruction from the Lord was “leave this land and go where I will show you”. Then there came the day that he and Lot separated their herds and went different directions. Lot took the better portion of grazing land but God provided and Abraham flourished. God promised to provide a son and now God provided a lamb.

The Lord provides.

“God tested Abraham’s faith. God told him to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham obeyed because he had faith. He already had the promises from God. And God had already said to him, “It is through Isaac that your descendants will come.” But Abraham was ready to offer his only son. He did this because he had faith. 19 He believed that God could raise people from death. And really, when God stopped Abraham from killing Isaac, it was as if he got him back from death.” Hebrews 11:17-18 ERV

Abraham had faith that God was able to bring Isaac back to life. He knew that God would provide. As far as I know, none of us have ever been through such a test of faith. The circumstances in our lives seem small compared to what Abraham experienced. However, each day we have the opportunity to put our faith in God and say like Abraham, God will provide.

“Without faith no one can please God. Whoever comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who sincerely try to find him.” Hebrews 11:6 ERV

Faith is believing God is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do. It pleases Him when we trust that He is in control!

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Make A Request

I hope you don’t mind but we are going to spend some more time with Abram this morning. There’s so much that we can learn from his relationship with the Lord. Yesterday we focused on his obedience. Today we’ll look at the beginning stages of his friendship with God.

“It happened as the Holy Writings said it would happen. They say, “Abraham put his trust in God and he became right with God.” He was called the friend of God.” James 2:23 NLV

There are several mentions throughout the Bible where Abram is referred to as God’s friend. I love that! God wants us to have relationship with Him; not only is He our heavenly Father but He also desires that we become friends. Friendship takes time to develop, a true friendship is built on trust. God wanted Abram to trust Him and have confidence in what He said.

I would really like to encourage you to take time to read Genesis chapters twelve through twenty-five. This is the account of the one hundred year relationship between God and Abraham. In chapter 15 of Genesis, Abram has just returned from rescuing his nephew, Lot, who was captured in battle. Here is what the Lord says to Abram.

“After all these things happened, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision. God said, “Abram, don’t be afraid. I will defend you and give you a great reward.”

2 But Abram said, “Lord God, there is nothing you can give me that will make me happy, because I have no son. My slave Eliezer from Damascus will get everything I own after I die.” 3 Abram said, “You have given me no son, so a slave born in my house will get everything I have.”

4 Then the Lord spoke to Abram and said, “That slave will not be the one to get what you have. You will have a son who will get everything you own.”

5 Then God led Abram outside and said, “Look at the sky. See the many stars. There are so many you cannot count them. Your family will be like that.”

6 Abram believed the Lord, and because of this faith the Lord accepted him as one who has done what is right.” Genesis 15:1-6 ERV

The Lord told Abram that He would protect him and give him a great reward. Many people would be very excited to hear the words “great reward”. It didn’t seem to faze Abram, he was already a very wealthy man. Abram told God that the thing he desired most was to have a son. God heard his friend’s heart and made him a promise that he and his wife would receive the thing they desired most.

King David had that same confidence in his relationship with the Lord.

“Trust in the Lord, and do good. So you will live in the land and will be fed. 4 Be happy in the Lord. And He will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Give your way over to the Lord. Trust in Him also. And He will do it.” Psalm 37:3-5 NLV

This type of relationship with the Lord isn’t exclusive to people who lived long ago. Jesus was teaching to the people of His day and giving them instruction on trusting God and believing in His word. Here’s what He said.

“Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks. 9 Would any of you give your hungry child a stone, if the child asked for some bread? 10 Would you give your child a snake if the child asked for a fish? 11 As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask.” Matthew 7:7-11 CEV

Did you notice that Jesus points out the loving relationship that His Father wants to have with us, His children? He desires to give us good things just like He did with Abram. He wants us to trust Him and He wants us to ask.

Before I end today’s blog I’ll get you reacquainted with a man I’ve introduced you to before. This man was there that day when Jesus was teaching on the hillside. There was a multitude of people but this man stood out in the crowd. He was a leper. He had to be segregated from all the others. He was considered unclean and couldn’t have human contact. When Jesus came down the mountain, this man who heard Jesus say “ask and you will receive”, walked up to Jesus, risking all, and he asked.

“As Jesus came down the mountain, he was followed by large crowds. 2 Suddenly a man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus. He said, “Lord, you have the power to make me well, if only you wanted to.”

3 Jesus put his hand on the man and said, “I want to! Now you are well.” At once the man’s leprosy disappeared.” Matthew 8:1-3 CEV

Every time I read this it brings tears to my eyes. This man, who was an outcast, had probably gone years without anyone touching him. No hugs or handshakes, no pats on the back, no physical contact, no expressions of love and kindness UNTIL Jesus reached out and touched him and showed him the Father’s love.

The Bible doesn’t tell us of anyone else in that crowd asking Jesus for something but this man heard the Word of God and asked. Just like Abram, this leper believed that God would keep His word and so he asked for what his heart desired. He was healed and Abram received the promise of a son.

I’m not sure what you are needing but I do know that God’s Word is still true. He loves us as much as He loved Abram and the leper. He wants us to have the relationship of Father/child and the closeness of trusted friends.

“Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 CEV

Don’t be like the people in the crowd who walked away and didn’t act on what Jesus had said. Be like the leper and Abram and ask!

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The Unexpected

In a few days we will be entering a New Year. As a child I thought something magical happened on New Year’s Eve and now I realize it’s no more than turning the pages on a calendar.


People spend a lot of time thinking about the future and wondering what it holds for them. I’m sure that Mary and Joseph also spent time wondering about their future.

A new son. Not just a son, the Son of God, had come to live with them and life as they knew it was going to change. Have you ever thought about what happened in Mary and Joseph’s lives after Jesus was born.

“The time came for Mary and Joseph to do the things the Law of Moses taught about being made pure. They brought Jesus to Jerusalem so that they could present him to the Lord. 23 It is written in the law of the Lord: “When a mother’s first baby is a boy, he shall be called ‘special for the Lord.’” 24 The law of the Lord also says that people must give a sacrifice: “You must sacrifice two doves or two young pigeons.” So Joseph and Mary went to Jerusalem to do this.” Luke 2:22-24 ERV

The Scripture really doesn’t give us much insight into the lives of the young family. We do know that Mary and Joseph were required by Jewish law to offer sacrifice for cleansing, a woman was considered unclean for seven days following birth, and then a first born son also had a special offering to be made.

What did they do for those seven days? Bethlehem was almost one hundred miles away from their home in Nazareth. They didn’t go home. Did they stay in Bethlehem for the seven days. If so, what did they do? We do know they came to the Temple in Jerusalem to offer the proper sacrifices. The trip to Jerusalem was only 5 miles. An easy walk, even for a new mother.

Now it was time to return home to all the relatives. Would there be a celebration or would they shun the young couple and child? Again we don’t have any information on their day to day life. Many times we wonder if God is concerned about our day to day life.

He is! He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. He has promised to give us strength in all things. He has told us to pray without ceasing – to rejoice always – to come boldly to His presence in our time of trouble. Money won’t solve our problems; our own abilities will leave us lacking; worry and anxiety change nothing; it is God who has the answer and the help we need in every situation.

“Keep your lives free from the love of money. Be happy with what you have. God has said, “I will never leave you or let you be alone.” Hebrews 13:5 CEV

“Christ is the one who gives me the strength I need to do whatever I must do.” Philippians 4:13 ERV

“Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. 7 Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.” Philippians 4:6-7 CEV

“Let us go with complete trust to the throne of God. We will receive His loving-kindness and have His loving-favor to help us whenever we need it.” Hebrews 4:16 NLV

My 2019 has some big unknowns. I am really excited to see what the future brings. Each day is a blank slate and the outcome is unknown to us but just remember there are no “unknowns” to God. Nothing catches Him by surprise.

“Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge. 6 With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way.” Proverbs 3:5-6 ERV

Trust in the Lord today and He WILL direct your path.

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