Light in the Darkness

We’ve probably all heard about the proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel”. And for some these last few months have seemed like an endless tunnel with the light snuffed out. This is a path we have never walked before but let me tell you there is Someone who has and He has promised to lead us through!

“Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.” John 14:6 ERV

We can put our hope, our trust, our faith in Jesus. He knows the way through and He promises to lead, to be our guide in every situation. Years before He came to earth the prophet Isaiah foretold what Jesus would do for us. Even when we feel we are walking blind we can trust Him.

“Then I will lead the blind along a path they never knew to places where they have never been before. I will change darkness into light for them. I will make the rough ground smooth. I will do these things for them; I will not abandon my people.” Isaiah 42:16 ERV

In times when we are frustrated, disappointed, angry and uncertain we can come to the Lord and tell Him exactly how we feel and He will answer us and give us direction.

“I gain understanding from your instructions, so I hate anything that leads people the wrong way. 105 Your word is like a lamp that guides my steps, a light that shows the path I should take.” Psalm 119:104-105 ERV

The Lord’s instruction to us are written in His word. Fear Not – Trust in the Lord – Let Peace Guard Your Heart – Don’t depend on your own understanding. All of these words give light to our path today.

Many times I have felt like the Lord wants me to be a cheerleader for those who are discouraged. I’ve been through discouragement, disappointment, fear and anxiousness and I know this as sure as I am breathing this morning “God is faithful and He will not abandon us”.

“This is God’s Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: ‘Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.’” Jeremiah 33:2-3 MSG

Long before social distancing and streaming church services, Dave and I attended an on-line church. Living rural like we do it’s nice to have worship services come to our home. We can watch services from anywhere in the world, any day of the week and be encouraged by the songs and messages. One song that has been particularly uplifting lately is called Way Maker. I’ll leave you with some of the lyrics. I can’t think of a much better way to start the day. (Click the link and hear it for yourselves)

Way maker
Miracle worker
Promise keeper
Light in the darkness
That is who you are
Way maker
Miracle worker
Promise keeper
Light in the darkness
My God
That is who you are

Please let me encourage you – if you feel you are walking around blind, that there is no light at the end of this tunnel, there is hope and His name is Jesus! He is our light in the darkness!

Building Trust

I have spent my life learning, growing and developing trust.

I’m not sure I can say that I have complete trust – if that shocks some of you, I apologize but I am being honest. I know in my heart of hearts that God is always faithful and His love is unconditional and His Word never fails but I don’t always let that lead me. Sometimes I get out ahead of God and sometimes I fall behind.

However, I trust the Lord more now than I did ten years ago. I have experienced more and experience builds trust. It works this way with the people in our lives and also in our relationship with the Lord.

“Your teachings are wonderful, and I respect them all. 130 Understanding your word brings light to the minds of ordinary people. 131 I honestly want to know everything you teach.
132 Think about me and be kind,  just as you are to everyone who loves your name. 133 Keep your promise and don’t let me stumble or let sin control my life. 134 Protect me from abuse, so I can obey your laws. 135Smile on me, your servant,  and teach me your laws. 136 When anyone disobeys you, my eyes overflow with tears. 137 Our Lord, you always do right,  and your decisions are fair. 138 All of your teachings are true and trustworthy.” Psalm 119:129-138 CEV

As I read God’s word it teaches me and gives me amazing insight. I know that God can’t and doesn’t lie – I know His love never fails – I know that He is faithful to a thousand generations! I know that He is my Savior, my healer, my provider, my counselor, my peace, my protection, my all-in-all!

Then why do I let fear or anxiety, frustration or anger, or self will invade my world? It’s because, like Peter, I take my eyes off Jesus and look at the winds and the waves. I neglect to “consider” the one thing that always provides the right answer. “All your teachings are true and trustworthy”.

Joshua and King David both said that we are to meditate on the law of the Lord day and night, then we will prosper and have good success. The Apostle Paul said that we are to renew our minds and not be conformed to this world. Jesus went aside to pray and spent time with His Father on many occasions, renewing His mind and refreshing His spirit.

Complete Trust! It’s something we grow toward and grow in as we spend more time in God’s word and in prayer. We bring our minds into obedience with His word. There is only one thing that has always been right – God and His word!

We can trust Him with our today and all of our tomorrows. I love the words of an old hymn, “Trust and Obey for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey”.

Keep building trust!

Moving Mountains

Have you had days when you felt weak and undone? Just didn’t know if you could go on for another day? I know, I have had those days too. Believe it or not Jesus had days like that too.

God, the Father, is a God of faith. Jesus Christ walked this earth as a man of faith. The Holy Spirit’s presence fills us so we can be men and women of faith.

God the Father spoke “Light be and there was light”. He didn’t speak just hoping something would happen, but He spoke in faith.

Jesus lived a life of faith while He was here. He pleased the Father. “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. 30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.” John 8:29-30

The writer of Hebrews tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God; so if Jesus pleased the Father it was because he was living by faith. “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

When we are adopted into God’s family, we are saved by faith in God’s grace. Our faith is in what God has done, not in our own works but in God’s grace, his kindness. The fruit of the Holy Spirit, who indwells us, is “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

Faith isn’t something we have to WORK to get, it’s something we have been given freely by God the Father. “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Romans 12:3

Faith isn’t based on our effort, our goodness, our works or our holiness but faith is given to us by God. It’s a gift! A gift we unwrap, take out of the box and use. Even if we feel that we only have small faith, Jesus said it’s enough to move mountains. Once again, God kind of faith isn’t in our abilities or worthiness but it is in Him and His faithfulness to do what He says He will do.

There was a man in the Bible whose son was plagued by seizures. He brought his son to Jesus’ disciples but they couldn’t heal him so the father came to Jesus. He asked Jesus to heal his son. Here is Jesus response: “Jesus asked the boy’s father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ The father answered, ‘Since he was very young. 22 The spirit often throws him into a fire or into water to kill him. If you can do anything, please have pity on us and help us.’ 23 Jesus said to the father, “Why did you say ‘if you can’? All things are possible for the one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father shouted, “I do believe. Help me to believe more!” Mark 9:21-24 ERV

I’ve been like that father. I’ve come to Jesus with life’s challenges, struggles and pain. In my desperation I have said “Lord, please help.” Then the Lord reminds me of His many promises, assuring me that He will help. Like that father I have responded “Lord I believe Your word, help me trust You more”.

He’s never broken a promise. God doesn’t lie. He keeps His word.

We need to evaluate our faith today. Is it faith in ourself; in our works; in our abilities; in others? If so, that isn’t faith at all. We need to place our faith, our trust, in the Father, the same faith we used when we asked Him to forgive our sins – faith based on God and his power to save and on the love of Jesus who died and rose again.

When our faith is placed in God we will walk by faith and see life’s mountains move by the power of God.

“Lord, I believe in You. Help me be stronger in my belief.”

VICTORY!

As I was waking up this morning I was thinking about a letter I am going to write, you know, composing it in my head. Over the years my closing signature has most always been preceded by something like this, “Victorious in Him” or “Victorious in Jesus”. I’ve been signing my letters like that for over thirty-five years.

Those of you who have read my blog for any length of time know that in the early part of my Christian life I went from one defeat to another. Disappointments and struggles were the norm but about thirty-seven years ago I began to hear teaching on the truth and power of God’s word. I learned from reading the Bible that God had designed a life of victory and blessings for us.

“We show our love for God by obeying his commandments, and they are not hard to follow. Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is what gives us this victory. No one can defeat the world without having faith in Jesus as the Son of God.” I John 5:3-5 CEV

Victory? Yes, victory.

Things began to change. The Lord put such a hunger in my heart to read His word and put it into practice. The Word became my final authority on every subject. God is infinitely greater than the wisest of men and He has promised to bring us through any situation in victory.

“But thank God for letting our Lord Jesus Christ give us the victory! 58 My dear friends, stand firm and don’t be shaken. Always keep busy working for the Lord. You know that everything you do for him is worthwhile.” I Corinthians 15:57-58 CEV

“I am grateful that God always makes it possible for Christ to lead us to victory. God also helps us spread the knowledge about Christ everywhere, and this knowledge is like the smell of perfume.” II Corinthians 2:14 CEV

The Bible is filled with stories of God intervening in the lives of every day people. But they aren’t just stories, they are examples of what God can and will do in the lives of those who put their trust in Him. I have seen true miracles and everyday blessings too numerous to count.

I have had my share of failures as I have learned to trust God’s word. The outcome hasn’t always been victorious but it’s not because God didn’t want it to be. Like Peter, who started to sink while walking on the water, I would get my eyes off the Lord and on my circumstances and fear would take over. But also like Peter, when he cried out the Lord lifted him above the waves and got him to safety, the Lord has been there to rescue me and bring me to safety. Victory has been flourishing and defeats have been diminished.

The Lord desires to do this for all of us. Did you notice in the verses from I John that it says “Every child of God can defeat the world”? Everyone! God has put all His blessings and power at our disposal when we put our trust in Him. Faith is believing that God will do what He says; trust is believing that He will do it for us.

I don’t know when or how this coronavirus will be contained but I do know that we can trust God to bring us through it victoriously!

These are the words of Jesus: “A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest. ” John 10:10 CEV

Join me, will you? Let’s put our signature at the bottom of today’s letter –

Victorious in Him, Kristi

We Need A Bigger Boat!

Do you remember that classic line from the movie Jaws? Roy Scheider had just seen the shark and he called to Robert Shaw, “We’re gonna need a bigger boat”. Great line.

Have you ever been on the water in a storm and felt your boat might now handle it? I have. We were out for ride on the Mississippi, in a pontoon boat about ten years back. We actually had two boats; it was a break from work. Picnic on the beach type day. But, as the clouds began to gather we knew we had to get back up stream to the docking area. Lightning was flashing, the wind was blowing, the water was choppy and the motors on the pontoons were running full speed and still they were struggling to get us to our desired end.

I was praying!

Don’t consider the boat or the waves!!!  It was a struggle but we finally got back safely. I felt like I was living a story from the Bible.

Jesus had just learned that his cousin and dear friend, John, had been beheaded. He wanted to go somewhere to be alone so he got in a boat with his disciples and crossed the Sea of Galilee. The people heard where Jesus was headed so they ran ahead on the shore and were waiting for Him when He got out of the boat.

Jesus didn’t consider his own sorrow but instead was moved with compassion for the people – He healed them and taught them God’s word. What a terrific way to handle a tragic situation! Satan had used Herod to kill John the Baptist and Jesus approach to the situation was to go out and heal people and set them free from Satan’s oppression. (That’s another lesson for another time).

The people stayed late into the day. The disciples told Jesus to send them away so that they could go eat. Jesus said, no you feed them and then we have the miracle of the five loaves and two fish feeding over five thousand men and their families. Another great miracle!!

After the meal, Jesus told his disciples to get in the boat and head home. He would come later. Jesus sent the people away and then He went up into the hills to pray. Out on the sea it was turning into a scene from Gilligan’s Island. What should have been a couple hours on the water had turned into an all night adventure and they still weren’t to shore. Now these disciples were seasoned fisherman and they knew how to handle a boat in a storm but they were having no success. The Bible says it was about the third watch of the night, between 3 and 6 am, and Jesus came walking to them on the water.

The disciples were very frightened when they saw Jesus and thought that He was a ghost. He said something to them that He repeated many times during his time with them, “Fear not”. Jesus knew that fear, considering things other than God’s word and God’s way, will overpower faith if it is allowed to run unchecked.

So Peter looking at Jesus, said “Peter said, “Lord, if that is really you, tell me to come to you on the water.” Matthew 14: 28. Now what was Jesus to say – “No Peter it’s really not me but just your imagination” or “Peter, it’s me but you can’t handle this so don’t come.”  No, Jesus response was one of faith. “Peter, come.”

Peter “considered not” the boat, the other disciples, the wind or the waves and he got out of the boat and started walking to Jesus. WOW!  But wait, Peter keep looking at Jesus – don’t look at the waves!!!

 “Then Peter left the boat and walked on the water to Jesus. 30 But while Peter was walking on the water, he saw the wind and the waves. He was afraid and began sinking into the water. He shouted, “Lord, save me!”  31 Then Jesus caught Peter with his hand. He said, “Your faith is small. Why did you doubt?”  32 After Peter and Jesus were in the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the followers in the boat worshiped Jesus and said, “You really are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:29-32 ERV

I’ve heard one preached ask, “What did the wind and waves have to do with anything? Peter couldn’t have walked on water on a calm day if it wasn’t for Jesus.”  And the same is true for us!

We see a truth in God’s word, we get out of the boat of public opinion and the world’s way of thinking and start to walk by faith to Jesus. Then we see the winds and the waves of family criticism, a call from the bank or a doctor’s report and we start to sink.  Call out to Jesus – He’s there and He’ll lift you up.

Keep your eyes focused on Jesus today. Don’t let fear of cause you to sink. Consider them not but consider the One who told you to come, He truly is the Son of God.

Casa de Paz

I wanted to continue on with yesterday’s teaching on peace. Can we ever have too much peace? I don’t think so. As I said in my post script to yesterday’s blog, I just about lost my peace when I went to post what I had written.

My computer was acting strangely and since I’m not skilled in trouble shooting computer situations I figured it was best to save my work, exit the document, refresh the screen and return to it. Before I did that, I saved a copy of my writing and then proceed with the steps I just mentioned.

Coming back to the post I found the original work there but none of my recent edits. I “paste” the copy I had saved to the clipboard and nothing happened. The document had not saved and I had none of my changes. It was so frustrating! Why? Where did it go? I had no answers and realized the more I messed with it the more my frustration increased. So I prayed, committed it to the Lord, as is, and posted it for all of you to read.

Just moments after I clicked on the publish button another Scripture verse on peace came to mind. It is one I knew I needed to share with you. One that I pray every morning. I pray it over my children, grandchildren and now my great grandchild.

“I, the Lord, will teach your children, and they will have real peace. 14 You will be built on goodness.  You will be safe from cruelty and fear. So you will have nothing to fear. Nothing will come to hurt you.” Isaiah 54:13-14 ERV

My words each morning are these “Lord, thank you for always being with my children. ‘Great is the peace of my children this day because they are taught by You, Lord’. Teach them today. Let them know that You love them and You are there for them in every situation.”

We never really know what our children, grands and great grands need throughout the day but the Lord does and He is always there to teach them and protect them. I trust Him to do that because He says He will and He doesn’t lie!

When we moved to our current home we named it Casa de Paz, house of peace. We want it to be a place of peace for our friends and family. God wants our lives to be filled with peace also.

The message that the angels proclaimed on the night of Jesus birth was one of peace. Peace on earth; good will to men. Jesus also declared peace, peace with God, and that message still continues today.

I encourage you to pray for your families – children, grands and great grands. Pray that their lives are covered with peace. Let peace reign and rule in every situation that you face – small and large. The Lord wants us all to live in a house of peace. Remember some of the final words of Jesus, this was part of His last will and testament – it is our inheritance.

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27 NLT

Powerful Agreement

Have you ever noticed how much easier it is to get things done when you have someone agree with you? It just seems to get done faster and more efficiently when there’s agreement of at least a couple of people. Agreement is built on trust.

When I can trust that you will do what you say you will and you can trust me, we have agreement. Each of us are commitment to seeing things through and contributing all we can to the success of the project. Never enter into a contract with someone you don’t trust. Work relationships, friendships, marriages and our relationship with the Lord are all built on trust.

“I promise you that God in heaven will allow whatever you allow on earth, but he will not allow anything you don’t allow. 19 I promise that when any two of you on earth agree about something you are praying for, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20 Whenever two or three of you come together in my name, I am there with you.” Matthew 18:18-20 CEV

The ability to work in agreement can be world changing. Being in agreement with the Lord and what He says in His word is powerful.

Many times throughout the Old Testament multiple kings would join together to attack and defeat the nation of Israel. They would make an alliance. Power in agreement. However, there was a stronger alliance that had formed.

“The kings and their armies went to Merom Pond, where they set up camp, and got ready to fight Israel. It seemed as though there were more soldiers and horses and chariots than there are grains of sand on a beach. 6 The Lord told Joshua: Don’t let them frighten you! I’ll help you defeat them, and by this time tomorrow they will be dead.” Joshua 11:5-6 CEV

Joshua also had an alliance, his was with the Lord of hosts. Now Joshua wasn’t limited to mere human strength and ability, he was in agreement with God which gave him and his army a supernatural superiority. He trusted God.

“Joshua captured all the towns where the enemy kings had ruled. That’s what the Lord had told his servant Moses to do, that’s what Moses had told Joshua to do, and that’s exactly what Joshua did…23 That’s how Joshua captured the land, just as the Lord had commanded Moses, and Joshua divided it up among the tribes. Finally, there was peace in the land.” Joshua 11:12, 15, 23 CEV

Joshua put himself in agreement with what God had said and because of it he was victorious! He knew God would never lie.

I’m here to tell you God’s word always means what it says. Joshua didn’t stop to see if all the army were in agreement with the way he set the battle plan; he just made sure he was in agreement with God. Many times Jesus went off by himself to pray and after those pray sessions he would work great miracles; he and the Father were in agreement. The early Christians joined themselves in prayer multiple times and saw Peter released from prison, Paul rescued from harm, the sick were healed and lives were changed.

It’s time we realize that the enemy may appear to be greater than the sands on the seashore but when we are in agreement with God and His word, we become an unstoppable force! Miracles will happen, prayers will be answered!

“We can come to God with no doubts. This means that when we ask God for things (and those things agree with what God wants for us), God cares about what we say. 15 He listens to us every time we ask him. So we know that he gives us whatever we ask from him.” I John 5:14-15 ERV

As A Little Child

We have all have noticed how innocent and trusting little children are. Those of us who have an influence in their lives are given a strict mandate not to lead them astray.

When Jesus was teaching his disciples He used a little child to convey His message. Children are the perfect example of trust. They will believe what they are taught. They are dependent on others. Jesus said it was very important that no one misdirect them or lead them in error.

“About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

“And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea” Matthew 18:1-6 NLT

The adults around Jesus were vying for greatness. Their motives were selfish and prideful. Jesus corrected them quickly and told them they needed to be child like in their motivation.

Child-like faith!

We would do well to learn from this example too. Its easy to be caught up in our own importance and our own abilities. The Father wants us to trust Him. He wants us to admit our need and to place our faith in His strength and wisdom. That’s where our greatest comes from.

Is there a circumstance in your life that’s too big for you to handle? Good. Come in child-like faith and let the Father take over.

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Hebrews 4:16 NLT

End of the Weak

Many of you are at the end of another work week and all of us are almost at the end of the month of January. Oh my, that went by so quickly!

How many times has worry captured our attention and weakened our resolve in the past few weeks? How many times have we ended the day exhausted and stressed out because of the circumstances we have faced?

“Jesus said to his disciples: I tell you not to worry about your life!” Luke 12:22

It just doesn’t get much plainer than that. This isn’t a suggestion or a nice idea and it’s not an impossible concept. It is a direct admonition from Jesus and because of that He must have the solution to our propensity for worry.

Plain – simple – truth! I love that the Lord knew we would have multiple opportunities to worry each day yet His instruction is that we do the exact opposite. How can this be?

He knows something we all should be learning daily. He knows how much the Father loves and cares for us.

“Don’t worry about having something to eat or wear. 23 Life is more than food or clothing. 24 Look at the crows! They don’t plant or harvest, and they don’t have storehouses or barns. But God takes care of them. You are much more important than any birds. 25 Can worry make you live longer? 26 If you don’t have power over small things, why worry about everything else?

27 Look how the wild flowers grow! They don’t work hard to make their clothes. But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn’t as well clothed as one of these flowers. 28 God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. Won’t he do even more for you? You have such little faith! 29 Don’t keep worrying about having something to eat or drink.” Luke 12:22-29 CEV

This means that we don’t have to worry about the finances that we will need to buy the groceries, the clothing or to provide a place to live. We can trust our Father. I remember when our kids were younger. They weren’t concerned about having enough to eat; they just expected to open the fridge and find something to eat. They trusted that we would provide for them; in fact, they would add items to the grocery list.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

We can’t trust and worry at the same time. They are contrary to one another. I encourage you, don’t let another week end where you are stressed or worried. Worry weakens the body and the emotions. Each day hand your cares to the Father and trust Him to handle them. He can and He will!

A Trusted Friend

Who is your most trusted friend? Your spouse, someone you’ve known for years or someone new in your life? This is the person that you know would never lie to you…when they give their word, they keep it even if it is detrimental to their own well being. They know you are counting on them and they would never let you down.

Think about them for a minute. I’ll wait…(silly fact, I am sitting here waiting for you to think).

Now let me share with you what I found in God’s word this morning.

“We believe what people tell us. But we can trust what God says even more, and God is the one who has spoken about his Son. 10 If we have faith in God’s Son, we have believed what God has said. But if we don’t believe what God has said about his Son, it is the same as calling God a liar. 11 God has also said that he gave us eternal life and that this life comes to us from his Son. 12 And so, if we have God’s Son, we have this life. But if we don’t have the Son, we don’t have this life.” I John 5:9-12 CEV

We can trust what God says even more than we trust our closest friend. When we read God’s word and hear what He has promised do we believe He is telling us the truth; that it really will happen or are we just wishing and hoping that God’s word is true and going to work for us?

How would our relationship with that “trusted” friend be hindered if they knew we weren’t really confident that they were going to do what they said they would? It would weaken the relationship for sure.

I’m encouraging you this morning to strengthen your relationship with the Father. Don’t hope His word is true – spend time talking with Him, watching Him and listening to Him speak through the pages of His word and then confidently trust Him to do what He says He will do.

I grew up with the mindset that we hope for the best but never really know what to expect from God. We just never know what He might do. Yes, God’s ways are higher than ours. He never lies or misrepresents. He doesn’t mislead by insinuation. His thoughts and ways are so much better than anything we can imagine.

Can you imagine if you had been David facing Goliath and only “hoping” that God would show up and things would work out right? Or Moses standing at the edge of the Red Sea with the Egyptians behind him and hoping that God was going to provide a way across to safety? These men had trusted God, taken Him at His word and they knew God would not lie.

Trust, complete trust, should be our response to God’s word. It has never failed and it never will! That’s why I’ve chosen Numbers 23:19 as my favorite verse in the Bible.

“God is not a man; he will not lie. God is not a human being; his decisions will not change. If he says he will do something, then he will do it. If he makes a promise, then he will do what he promised.” ERV

When we make God’s word the final authority in every area of life we will never be disappointed. His counsel is trustworthy.