Give Time Time

I recently heard an expression that I absolutely love, and that is, "Give time time." When I first heard this, I thought to myself, "What great advice!" This is advice that I wish somebody had given me during some dark times in my life when I was experiencing a lot of pain. For example at the end of a relationship when I experienced deep emotional pain, or right after my knee surgery when I had physical pain. This is also advice that I would like to give to those who might be experiencing some sort of pain right now, "Give time time."  

God's word in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 says:

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

With that being said family, I encourage you once again to give time time. If you need healing, give God time to make you whole. If you are mourning, give God time to give you peace, if you are angry give God time to give you grace and understanding, and most of all, trust in Him because His timing is the best!

What are Your Dreams for Life?

This is a hard question for me to answer because I never really knew what I wanted to be when I grew up.  At one point I said I wanted to be a veterinarian, but I knew for a fact when I said it, that it would never really happen because it required another 12 years of school and there was no way I was doing that!

I also dreamed one day to have a nice house in a peaceful neighborhood, with a husband and a family, but after some major disappointments and some hard life lessons, those dreams fell by the wayside too. Instead, I was a single mom with 3 kids, working hard but never having enough money to survive, living in a rough neighborhood, and our lives were anything but peaceful.  My children and I witnessed crime on a daily basis, and I worried about them playing outside or walking to and from the bus stop for school every single day.

So, what were my dreams then you might ask? To get out of that neighborhood and buy a house, that’s it and that’s all, so I did, but life was still a struggle. I still had money problems, and neighbors that were not very neighborly, but one thing that I have learned to accept over time is that this is God’s plan for my life, and not mine.

The reason that I say that is because I know now that if I did not struggle the way that I did, or experience the pain that I went through, or if my heart had never been broken, then I could never truly understand the depth of the love that Jesus had for us when He suffered and died on that cross. 

In my mind, I think that to know love is to know pain because pain changes us, and it changes our hearts. You see, we are all perfectly imperfect human beings, meaning that we fall short of God’s perfect standards because of sin.  With that being said, we are bound to hurt each other at times, and cause each other pain, but what do we do with that pain when it comes?

Do  we bottle it up inside until we explode in anger and frustration, or do we give it to God and move on?

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me…” Philippians 3:12

Do we continue to run it through our minds over and over again, thinking about what we could have said, should have said, or shouldn’t have said?, or do we give it to God and let go?

“Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

Do we get down ourselves and become sad and depressed, or do we learn to deal with people accordingly? Are we listening more than we are talking? Are we making an effort to understand where they are coming from, or what they might be going through? Are we loving unconditionally and giving them grace like Jesus gives us.

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Last but not least, I leave you with this, how many times does the bible say that we should forgive others?  “Not 7 times, but 77 times” (Matthew 18:22), meaning that you might have to forgive somebody more than once.  In fact, you may have to forgive them over and over again, and boy is that hard! 

With that being said family, my prayer for you today is that you will know love because of your pain, and that you will embrace these experiences as something that made you stronger and brought you closer to God because you needed Him to get through it.  I also pray that you are able to forgive anybody who has hurt you and caused you pain, not 7 times, but 77 times, so that you can move forward and experience the dreams that God has planned for you and not just your own. 

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

A Zamar Praise

A Zamar Praise

As I was listening to some worship music on Pandora the other day, there was a message in a song that caught my attention.  The song was “The Anthem”, by the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International Praise and Worship Team. The part that caught my attention was at the 5 minute and 40 second point where the pastor starts to talk while the band plays in the background and the choir sings Halleluiah, and this is what he says:

 I want you to lift your hands for just a moment, let’s worship God.

I want to hear that guitar for just a moment.

I just want you to minister on that guitar.

The bible calls it a “Zamar praise”

The praise upon the string instruments is a Zamar praise.

The bible says that Saul called for David to offer a Zamar praise when he was troubled with the Spirit.

There are some of you that are troubled in your spirit,

But as we worship God in this fashion, He is going to set you free!

Zamar praise? Worshipping on a guitar? Praise upon the string instruments? Set me free? Yes! He definitely had my attention because I love to praise God through worship music, and I can be the first to tell you that doing so will set you free! It will also change your mood and take you from anger to forgiveness, hurt to healing, and it can turn happiness into gratitude so much so that your heart explodes and sometimes tears will flow down your face releasing so many emotions that you never knew you had bottled up inside of you.

But a Zamar praise? What exactly is that? I had to know! So, I started out by asking Google, “Where in the bible does Saul call for David to offer a Zamar praise?” and that led me to 1 Samuel 16:14-23, titled:

 David in Saul’s Service

14 Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil[a] spirit from the Lord tormented him.

15 Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the lyre. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes on you, and you will feel better.”

17 So Saul said to his attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.”

18 One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him.”

19 Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” 20 So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul.

21 David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers. 22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”

23 Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

As I read this passage, I found that I could relate to Saul because I too can be soothed with music, and as I read about David playing the lyre for him, I could actually imagine and see all of his anxieties and fears leave his body as the music played. I could also see him start to relax because this is what music does for me too.

I also think about “ministering on the guitar” like the pastor talked about, and although I can’t play the guitar myself, or any other instrument for that matter, I can see myself listening to this Zamar praise with my eyes closed, and my hands in the air, praising God from a space where there is music all around us, but in that moment, it is just me and Him together. A Zamar praise, the praise upon the string instruments, a praise where you can worship God when you feel troubled in your Spirit and know that He will set you free! Thank You Jesus!

Prayer

Father, thank You for teaching us different ways to praise and talk to You. Abba, sometimes we just don’t have the words to say in prayer, so the opportunity to connect with You and worship You through Your Spirit is a beautiful blessing.  Thank You for Your gift of music and stringed instruments, and the way that they can calm us when we feel troubled, and also for the way that they help us lift You up in praise when we feel joy! Thank You for Your word, Your love, and Your grace.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Jude

Jude 1:16

“These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.”

When I first read this verse, I thought I was reading about my ex-boyfriend, but something told me to dig a little deeper, so I did.

I did this first by looking up who Jude is, and I learned that he is the son of Mary and Joseph, the brother of James, and the half brother of Jesus. 

After that I went to the beginning of the chapter and started reading at verse 1.  This is where I realized that Jude was writing a letter to other Christians, because he addressed it to, “those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.”

He then said in verses 3-4, “though I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you….”

So, what did Jude mean when he said, “I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith”? Well, the definition of contend means to assert something as a position in an argument, so in my mind, contending for your faith means to stand up for what you believe in, and to uphold the truth of the gospel. 

How do you do that you might ask…Well, as I went on to read through Jude, I read in verse 9 that, “even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

Now I used to think that rebuking someone or something meant to banish them from your life forever, but while doing this devotion, I learned that the biblical term of rebuke is actually used to convey a strong expression of disapproval, or correction of someone’s behavior, attitude, or actions.  It is tied to discipline, correction, and the pursuit of righteousness. 

So, with that in mind, I would say that when a person does something that runs contrary to scripture, or in other words, something that we know is wrong in God’s eyes, then we should contend to our faith by reminding them of the truth in love, even if they slander or challenge this truth, because in verse 10 Jude says, “These people slander what they do not understand.”

I would also go on to say that Jude is reminding us in verses 18-19 to be mindful of the company that we keep and the people that we hang around with when he says, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires, these are the people who divide you…”

And I think that Jude gives us the most important reminders of all in verses 20-23 when he says to:

• “build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.”

• “keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”

• “Be merciful to those who doubt.”

• “Save others by snatching them from the fire.”

• and “Show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”

Prayer

 Thank You Jesus for pouring out Your wisdom when You speak to us through Your word.  Thank You for speaking to us today through the book of Jude, teaching us to “Contend for our faith”, and to stand up for what we believe in.  Thank You also for reminding us to be mindful of the company that we keep, and how to treat others in our midst.  Father, it is hard sometimes not to become offended when our faith is slandered, so please help us in these situations to be like the Archangel Michael and not condemn them, but instead rebuke them in Jesus’ name, by speaking the truth to them in love, and by being merciful to those who doubt. Please also continue to remind us to build ourselves up in Your most Holy faith, by praying in the Spirit, and to keep ourselves in Your love as we wait for eternal life in Heaven.

In Your Mighty Name,

Amen

Favor

What is the definition of favor?  This is something that sparked my attention when we were working on our "Where Do I Come In?" book study last Sunday during life group.  It started when we were discussing the "Bible Study" questions on page 50 and talking about the key practices that the early Christians devoted themselves to, and how we continue to devote ourselves to these things today. That conversation then led us to start talking about how we treat others, and how listening is one of the most important things that we can do when it comes to building relationships. For example, how many times a day do you walk past a person and say, "Hi how are you?", and then keep on walking without stopping and listening for a genuine answer?  Or on the opposite end, how many times have people asked you that same question, and you said, "I'm OK", when really that wasn't the truth, and you could have used a listening ear or a friend? 

This conversation then led me to share a story with my group about a time that I walked past a gentleman and asked him how he was doing without slowing down, but when I heard his response, it stopped me in my tracks. He was an older gentleman who lived in the same senior center as my grandpa who I was visiting that day, and as I walked by him in the lobby on the way to my grandpa's door, I said, "Hi, How are you doing?", and he said, "I don't know why you ask me that when you don't really care anyways." When I heard him say that I stopped instantly and walked over to sit down next to him, because I did care, but my actions said otherwise, so he felt like I didn't.

That situation was a real eye opener for me. You see, after telling that story, Jack, who is another member of our group mentioned that how we respond to others is called "favor", and I thought a lot about that afterwards because I do believe that how we respond to others matters and makes a difference in our relationships with them.

So, after group that day, I went home and looked up the definition of "favor in Christian relationships", and this is what I read:

The best definition of the word favor is “demonstrated delight.” The favor of God can be described as “tangible evidence that a person has the approval of the Lord.” When we favor someone, we want to be with him or her. We delight in him. We connect with her in a way we don’t connect with everyone. We usually favor people who also favor us. In the same way, God shows favor to the ones who delight in, connect with, and give honor to Him. (gotquestions.org)

With that being said family, I encourage you to show favor to others today with both your actions and your words, and my prayer for you is that you might also be described as "tangible evidence" that you have the approval of the Lord.  I also pray that others find delight in you and can connect with you in ways that they don't connect with everyone, and that all of these things give honor and glory to the Lord.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

Christmas

"Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:8-9.

I came across this verse today as I searched for one that spoke to my heart about the meaning of Christmas, and I thought to myself, "How perfect!" How perfect it is that the best gift that we can ever receive at Christmas time, or any other time of the year, is the "salvation of our souls."

This verse is also a wonderful reminder that our love for God is not based on what we see of Him with our own eyes, but instead it is founded on all that we know of Him in our hearts by faith. We love Him for all that He suffered on the Cross for us, for the life that He gives us through His Resurrection, and for the glory that He is preparing for us in heaven, and although we have not seen Him in person, we love Him passionately. With that being said family, lets thank God today for this inexpressible gift, the gift of glorious joy that allows us to find the true meaning of Christmas and the life that we have in Him.

J. Henry Moores

At what used to be the entrance to Moores Park years ago, there is a plaque that says, "Presented to the people of the City of Lansing, by J. Henry Moores, September 1908."  Then underneath that it says, "I shall pass through this world but once.  If therefore, there be any good thing I can do to any fellow human being, let me do it now for I shall not pass this way again."

Now I can't speak about how Mr. Moores felt when he wrote that quote, but when I read it, I feel a sense of nostalgia because it makes me think about how I am here right now in this moment, but tomorrow, this moment will only be a memory.  With that being said, if I pass up any chance that I have right now to help a fellow human being, then I will never get that chance again.  I might get one like it, or something similar to it, but that chance, that moment right there to be the hands of feet of Jesus to that specific person is gone. 

This my friends is another reason on my list of 1,001 reasons why I love Moores Park, because when I see this sign, or even when I just look in that direction knowing it is there, I see it as another one of God's gentle reminders to be kind and to reach out to help others when I see them struggling.  Now I know that this is not always easy to do for many reasons, but trust me when I say, if it is because a person is difficult, then they probably have a lot of pain. So, dig a little deeper, spend a little bit more time listening instead of reacting, and give them a little bit more grace.  Love them like Jesus.

Prayer

Abba,

 Your word in Romans 13:8 says, "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law." 

Thank You for this reminder and the many others that you give to fulfill Your law by loving one another.  Thank You for leading us to people that might need a friend or a listening ear, or maybe something more.  Thank You for opportunities to be the “hands and feet of Jesus” to others and thank You for helping us to take advantage of these opportunities instead of letting them pass us by. 

Its in Your name that we pray,

Amen

True Ministry Flows from a Heart that is Prioritized by Jesus.

"True ministry flows from a heart that is prioritized by Jesus."  We talked about this in our staff meeting today, and I think that it is worth repeating.  So, what does this mean exactly?  Well, without going into the whole devotion, I would sum it up by saying, our love for God is the well from which all life and ministry flows. With that being said, I encourage you today to make sure that your well is full.  Fill your well by prioritizing "being with Jesus" over "doing for Jesus".  After all, how can we give our best to others if we feel depleted?  Spend time with Him alone in prayer or in silence just listening.  Take time to retreat to that quiet place and read His word. Sing songs of praise and worship and cherish Him for who He is because these are the things that are the key to ministering from a heart that has a true desire to be like Him and to share who He is with others along the way.

God Said...

God said, “All those things that you are distracted by, I gave them to you.” 

·        “I gave you that phone.”  

·        “I gave you that TV.”

·        “I gave you your husband/ wife/ girlfriend/ boyfriend.”

·        “ I gave you that money.”

“But when I call your name, you don’t hear Me.”

Does this sound familiar? Have you ever called your child’s name and they don’t answer?

A pastor asked this question via a Tik Tok video the other day that I happened to scroll across. I’m sorry I didn’t get his name, but needless to say, lots of hands went up in the congregation when he asked this question, and the parents in the audience just laughed and laughed!  

Later on, that same afternoon, I sat at the park flipping through the pages of my notebook, looking for a word, and I randomly opened it up to some notes that I had taken during the worship service here at Immanuel on March 12 of this year.  At the top of the page I read, “The Ugliness of Idolatry is Sin”, and as I went on, I read that ugliness is defined as, “Taking a created thing and worshiping it in place of our Creator.”

It was in that moment that I knew God was speaking to me and had been all day, but was I hearing Him, or was I distracted?  Well, I was looking at Tik Tok videos when I came across the first message, so I think that speaks for itself.  Then, later on that day, He gave me the same message in a different way. Did I pay attention this time you might ask? Absolutely! I actually started writing this devotion in that moment.

So, what was God trying to tell me?  I think He was trying to tell me that I have been distracted, and honestly, I believe that He was trying to pull me back to Him, but the questions still remains, “Am I paying attention?  Am I spending time with Him?  Am I praying and making my needs known, and trusting Him to take care of them, or am I begging and telling Him what to do?  Do I listen in silence?

Sometimes I feel like the more I become distracted, the farther away from God I get, but is this really the case?  No, I don’t think so, because like I said earlier, He reached out to me two different times today and pulled me in closer, reminding me of where I belong.

Dear God,

Thank You for loving us enough to reach out and pull us closer during the hardest of times.  Times when we feel distracted, times when we feel weak, and times when we just don’t answer when You call our name.  Thank You for being a Father who refuses to be ignored because You know what’s best for us and we are Your children. Thank You also for Your grace and for Your patience with us as we mature and grow spiritually in You.

 “Many, Lord my God,
    are the wonders You have done,
    the things You planned for us.
None can compare with You;
    were I to speak and tell of Your deeds,
    they would be too many to declare.”

Psalm 40:5

"Regrets Land on the Windshield, but then Comes the Wiper of Prayer."

I read in a book yesterday called, "Before Amen, The Power of a Simple Prayer", by Max Lucado.  On page 9 he said, "Regrets land on the windshield, but then comes the wiper of prayer."  I really liked this quote because it is such a simple visual of what the power of prayer can do.  I mean honestly, we all have our regrets, but what I think this quote is saying is that once we give them to God, He has the ability to take away the hurt and the pain that comes along with them. So, with that being said friends and family, I would just like to encourage you today to remember this simple quote when you are feeling weighed down with regrets, and instead of wallowing in the pain and the hurt that comes with them, give them to God so that He can wipe them away and turn them into healing and transformation! 

Oklahoma Sooners

As I listened to the press conference recording that Pastor Matt played toward the end of the sermon on Sunday, with 3 young ladies from the Oklahoma Sooners softball team talking about joy, these are some of the things I heard:

"Joy that doesn't fade is from the Lord, everything else is happiness from circumstances and outcomes."

"I was happy to win, but without joy, I didn't know what to do the next day, I had to find Christ in it."

"Keep your eyes up and fixed on Christ, you cannot find fulfillment on the outcome, win or lose."

"Use the game to glorify God, this is our purpose."

"Jesus changed my outlook on life, not just softball."

"Exemplify His Kingdom."

"It is awesome to play for something bigger." 

"It is not the end of the world if you lose because our life is in Christ."

"This isn't our home; we have an eternity of joy with our Father."

This short recording was chock-full of wisdom, and that is why I wanted to share some of it with you again today.  So, with that being said, let's take a moment to thank God for these wonderful words of wisdom so eloquently spoken through these amazing ladies, and let's remember that as we go throughout life, our joy is found in Christ and not in the world.  Thank You Jesus!

Be Kind

I was in deep thought the other day, remembering a time, when I was in my early 20's, running on the treadmill at the gym. As I ran, I looked around and noticed that most of the "older" people (about 50 and up) were riding the bikes, and the "younger" ones were on the treadmills.  At the time, I couldn't understand why anybody would want to ride the bike over the treadmill.  I mean, you could get a much better workout on the treadmill.  You can adjust the incline to go up and down hills, you can adjust the level of difficulty, and you can even choose the weight loss setting if you would like, but the bikes were pretty standard, and when I looked over at the people riding them, I thought that they looked a little relaxed. Now, we can fast-forward 20 years or so, and as I sit here pedaling away on my bike in physical therapy, I finally get it, their knees hurt! Lol!

Family, I guess what I am trying to say is, you never truly understand somebody's pain until you have experienced it yourself, and even then, your situations are not exactly the same.

Another example is the loss of a parent.  I have watched my mom lose both of her parents.  My sister Chloe lost her mom, and I know countless others who have also lost one parent or both, and my heart was broken for them, but I never truly understood what it felt like to have a part of your soul gone forever until my dad died last year. 

There are all kinds of pain in this world.  Mental illness, physical illness, emotional pain, heartbreak, depression, the loss of a child, the loss of a family member or friend, regret, PTSD, etc., and you never know what kind of pain somebody else is going through, especially if it is a complete stranger who you may cross paths with during your everyday life. 

With that being said family, I bring this bible verse before you today from Colossians 3:12-14 that says, "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

This is a reminder today family, for you and for me, to be kind.  Be patient with the person who cuts you off in traffic and don't tailgate them.  Thats a hard one for me!  Be patient with the people who may irk your nerves a little bit at work and give them grace. Love on the kids who seem like bullies, and the ones who whine a lot because that is usually a call for help. Say "Please" and "Thank you", smile often, and remember it's the little things that matter.

The Ressurection of Jesus Christ and the Lord's Work

I would like to begin by sharing with you a little bit from our devotion in our staff meeting this morning.  We were talking about how the Resurrection of Jesus compels us to do better work in our daily lives, and how in light of the Gospel, what we do here and now will have lasting and eternal purpose.  Here are a few points that I wrote down during our conversation that stood out to me:

• "The work you do is not meaningless, it is done for the Lord."

• "Your work is not in vain if you work for God's purpose and His glory."

• "What you do now will matter in God's future."

• "Think, live, and feel in light of the resurrection."

When I think about the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I think about an empty tomb, new life, Easter egg hunts at church, etc., but I never thought about the most important thing of all when it comes to the resurrection, and that is the implications of our everyday lives and the work that we do. Specifically, our work and our jobs.

I can remember a few years back when I was not being intentional about perusing a relationship with Jesus Christ that I dreaded going to work some days. My boss frustrated me, certain people got on my nerves, and I felt like I was doing the same thing over and over again every single day.  I was tired, and then one day, all of that changed. 

One day, as I sat in the park listening to a sermon by Rick Warren, I heard him say, "The work that you do is for the Lord, therefore, everything that you do should be for His glory and not your own."  This one statement changed things for me because it changed my mindset. It made me realize that I am not here working for myself or just to pay the bills, but instead, I am working for the glory of God, and I am a representation of Him. This changed things for me because now I wanted to make Him proud, and I wanted people to see Him in me, so I put more effort into doing my job well.  I also put more effort into loving on the people that I work with, and in turn our relationships blossomed and got better.  It changed things for me because I no longer dreaded going to work every day, but instead I looked forward to it as an opportunity to build God's kingdom. 

So, with that being said, I would just like to remind you today of what our devotion reminded me of this morning, and that is that the Lord’s work is never in vain because Jesus rose from the grave, and everything that we do in His name gives glory and honor to Him.  This is the reward family, and this is why we do our best. 

How is the world around us different because we have experienced the grace of God in Jesus Christ?

How is the world around us different because we have experienced the grace of God in Jesus Christ? 

This is the question that Pastor Matt asked us on Sunday, and I am just wondering if you have had a chance to think about it yet? It's a pretty deep question.  When I think about it, I think about changing the world by being an example of Christ.  I think about being kind to others, having patience with people, loving people unconditionally, withholding judgement, and helping when I am able, but it's more than that. 

I also think that we change the world by sharing our stories of transformation and giving others something to relate to.  We change the world by sharing where we used to be and where we are now.  We change the world by being open about our faults and the mistakes that we have made, and then giving God the credit for redeeming us, and also by giving Him the credit for our strength, our wisdom, and the joy that comes from a relationship with Him.  In my mind, this is how we change the world and make it different, by being different ourselves. After all, just as Matt said on Sunday, we have been set apart to live differently, and to be a witness to God's redeeming mercy and grace.  In my mind, we can change the world by giving people hope and confidence that if God can do these good works for us, then He will do it for them too. 

So, with that being said, I encourage you today to keep thinking about this question and come up with some ways that you might share your story with others.  I also encourage you to take advantage of every single opportunity that you have to lift God up and give Him praise in front of other people so that they too can appreciate Him and hopefully decide to make a difference themselves.

The Lord Rejoices Over Us!

"The LORD your God is in your midst, a Mighty One who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing." Zephaniah 3:17

God gave me this verse to share with you today as a reminder that He is always in your midst and that He never leaves your side. This is also a reminder that He does rejoice over you. Can you believe it?  God actually rejoices over us, and He exults us with loud singing! 

I looked up the definition of exult, and it says, "To be extremely joyful, to express great pleasure or happiness, to rejoice exceedingly, or to be highly elated.", and this is how God feels about us!  So much so, that he expresses it with loud singing! What happiness this brings, knowing that we are never alone, even when we feel like it.  What happiness this brings, knowing that God is mighty and He WILL save us, and what happiness this brings knowing that He takes pride in all that we do because He is a proud parent and we are His children!

So, with that being said, I encourage you to take a moment today to thank Him for this word, and to praise Him for the happiness that it brings.  Let's also thank Him for the comfort that it brings as well as we are reminded that His love is what quiets us and brings us peace.  Amen!

Crying Out to God

After the MSU shooting last week, I had no words.  I think like many others, I was in a state of shock and distress and I had absolutely no idea what to say.  So instead, I spent a lot of time in prayer, and yes, I even cried out to God asking Him why?  Why did He let this happen and why didn't He stop it?  Why do these kids and their families have to suffer, and why do so many lives have to be affected by this tragedy and others like it?  "I just don't understand, God, why?"

As I sat with these questions all week long, my heart was broken because there are no answers as to why this happened, none at all.  So, we are left with these feelings that weigh us down and fill us with sorrow, and that is why I was so grateful for the time that we had to lament on Sunday.  I feel like I was in the beginning of that process already when I cried out to God during the week, but as Pastor Matt said on Sunday, "We are not immediately comforted." "We are still left without answers, but we now know what to do with our pain and our grief, and that is to cry out, and bring it before an All-Powerful God, because even in our crying out, we experience His faithful presence."

So, with that being said, I encourage you to cry out as well when you are hurting and give it to God. Remember that it is OK to question Him and it is OK to be honest with Him about how you feel.  He wants to hear you and He will respond.  I actually feel like I received a response from Him this morning when I came across this verse from Psalm 91:1-2:

"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say to the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'"

I find great comfort in this verse because it is a reminder to seek God when we are in need of refuge, and for me, it is a reminder to trust Him.  It is also comforting to me because when I read it, I can actually close my eyes and physically feel His presence all around me.  I can imagine His shadow covering me, keeping me safe, and giving me the peace that I so desperately need.  I hope that this might bring you some comfort too.

Change

When Pastor Matt talked about New Year's resolutions on Sunday and told us that only 20% of people make it until February and only 8% make it the entire year, I could definitely relate.  I thought about all of the resolutions that I have made in the past that didn't make it, and about how I didn't make a resolution at all this year just for that reason.  I also thought about how most of the time when I got into trouble as a kid, it was a reaction to some kind of change going on in my life either at home or at school, and I think about the kids that I watch at school now, and it seems to be the same thing for some of them too.  We just don't do well with change, not as children and definitely not as adults. I don't know about you, but the older I get the more set in my ways I am.  Change is scary, change is taking a chance on something when we don't know the outcome, and change can feel really overwhelming at times.

So why is that?  Well, in Pastor Matt's words, it is because we fear loss and we sometimes begin to lose trust and start to doubt that the change is good.  We think to ourselves, "Do I really need to do this?"  We even question change when we are the ones that wanted to do it in the first place. 

So, with that being said family, I would just like to remind you to think about the question that Pastor Matt asked us toward the end of the service on Sunday, and that was, "What is God calling you to trust Him with, and how will you respond?"  Are you willing to change and try something new?  Are you willing to trust God and follow Him even when you feel afraid or unsure? 

When Moses was leading the Israelites through the wilderness and they were learning to trust God, the Lord said to him, "My presence will go with you and I will give you rest." (Exodus 33:14) Rest means to be at peace, to be still, or to be calm, so when you are feeling unsure or anxious about a change in your life, I encourage you to remember that God is with you just like He was with the Israelites.  I also encourage you to dwell in His presence, surrender to Him, and remember that God promised the people of Israel a life of peace in the Promised Land, but this restful, peaceful living depended on the Israelites remaining faithful and obedient to Him alone, and your rest depends on this too.

The Definition of Grumbling

Boy oh boy was I surprised to hear the definition of grumbling on Sunday: Rebellion against God, failing to trust Him, doubting His abilities, and questioning His motivations.  Can anybody relate? I hate to admit it, but I can.  When Pastor Matt talked about God parting the Red Sea to save the Israelites, and how they celebrated afterwards, only to grumble against Him 3 days later when they became thirsty in Exodus 15:24, and then again when they became hungry in Exodus 16:2, I think to myself, "Oh, what people of little faith!" But who am I to judge?  The reason I say this is that I have also experienced the miraculous work of God in my life on more than one occasion and then turned around and questioned His motives just a few days later, even after all that I have seen Him do.  

So, I encourage you to keep the definition of "grumbling" in your thoughts today, remembering that it is not just complaining when it comes to God, it is actually a lack of faith in Him, and a failure to trust.  I would also like to remind you of something that Pastor Matt said on Sunday when he was speaking about the Israelites, and that was, "They had to learn to trust, God had already delivered them and He had already come to their rescue."  With that being said, we must also learn to trust because God has already come to our rescue and delivered us too!  Thank You Jesus! 

God's Wonderful Creations

I went to Moores Park this morning to sit with God before coming into work, and as I sat there enjoying the view and the sun that was shining on my face through the window, I looked over at the water and noticed a duck that was floating there and I wondered to myself, "Why is it that ducks feet don't freeze while they are in the water that is still so cold at this time of the year?" Yes, I know that this is an odd thought to have while I am supposed to be spending time with God, but that is how my wandering mind works sometimes, and I just had to have the answer, so I pulled out my phone to Google it and this is what I read:

"Those bright orange legs are equipped with an amazing counter current exchange system.  The counter current exchange system is a unique alignment of blood vessels, with veins and arteries lying next to each other, that allow for the exchange of materials.  In this case, the system allows for the exchange of heat. In a nutshell, warm blood from the body, in the arteries, going into the duck’s feet is used to warm the blood coming from the feet and back into the body, in the veins. This has two advantages. First, it ensures blood going back into the body is warm. Second and more importantly, it conserves body heat by minimizing heat loss."

Now you're probably wondering why I am telling you this, and the only answer that I have is that I found it to be absolutely amazing!  I mean look at God's handiwork!  He actually created these little ducks so intricately that they have a heat exchange system in their feet allowing them to be in the water for great lengths of time, even in the cold!  I just think that is so cool, and I also think that if God spent so much time and paid such close attention to the details of a duck, then imagine how much more time He spent on you and me!  So, with that being said, I invite you today to think about this, and I encourage you to give Him the praise that He so greatly deserves for all of His wonderful creations, including yourself!

It's Easy When You're Comfortable

As I listened to Pastor Matt's sermon on Sunday, one thing that he said really resonated with me, and that was, "It is easy not to doubt God when you’re comfortable."  He said this when he was talking about "Testing Moments", moments when our faith is tested.  Moments when the outcomes are uncertain, and the future is unknown, or in Matt's words, "Moments when we embrace our weaknesses and lean on the strength of an All-Powerful God."  This resonated with me because when I think about it, it is easy to trust God when things are going well.  I mean I can sit here and thank Him all day long for the good things that happen in my life, but when things go sideways, what is my immediate reaction?  Is it to get angry or frustrated and ask god "Why?", or is it to pray about it and trust in Him? 

Well, as much as I would like to say, "Pray about it and trust in Him", I have to be completely honest and say, that is not always the case.  Instead, I probably rant about it to the first person that will listen, or I will cry about it and retreat to a dark place inside myself.  So, with that being said, I was very grateful for this reminder on Sunday to trust in the God who has delivered me, and to remember that I HAVE seen the mighty hand of His work in my life many times.  How easy it is to forget until once again we find ourselves in a situation, crying out to Him and asking for help.

So,  with that being said family, I would just like to remind you once again that faith is "Hoping amidst uncertainty", and that when we are in these "Testing Moments", they are being used to form us so that God can use us for His plan and His purpose. 

Last but not least, I would just like to quote Pastor Matt one more time because I think that this is also an important reminder, "We cannot stay in our old lives and follow Christ into our new ones." 

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me." Matthew 16:24.