Don’t let your heart be troubled. . .

The reading in Jesus Calling today is both powerful and timely!

In this passage of John 14, Jesus knows the coming events that will shake each loved disciple to their very core. There are events just around the corner that will bring them to their knees in despair and hopeless – yet, He says “Peace!”

 His peace, only His peace. Peace that is powerful enough to defeat any fear! His peace -  that immediately calmed the rough and violent storm that terrified his disciples in that small boat on the sea of Galilee. His peace that calmed the grieving disciples – huddled together, afraid, broken and hopeless after his death.

“Peace, I leave with you . . .My peace I give you! Don’t let your hearts be troubled or afraid!”
Jesus’ Peace – powerful. Able to calm the raging sea, dry the tears and heal the broken, instill hope in the heart and banish despair. 

And it is promised, given, available right now to each of us! In His Presence there is Peace. At His feet no fear can live. His touch heals all. His unconditional love welcomes without condemnation. Peace, be still!

Don’t let your heart be troubled! We have a choice. 

The power of His peace is real. It’s ours. No matter the event, the circumstance – He is greater! Jesus instructs us, no, commands us – “let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid!”

We can show those around us His peace . . .let it overflow. Allow His peace to power our lives to draw others to Him!

Are You there????

Have a precious friend who is going through things I can’t comprehend. 

The pat answers come easily to my lips, even though every word is true:

God will hear

God is listening

God is working

It’s the pain.

Several times, over the years, that gut twisting, sharp heart pain that “never” seemed to go away  brought me to my knees, left me weak and curled in ball on the bedroom floor or holding tightly to my soaked pillow on the bed while screaming into it, “Are You there?”

For the onlooker it is easy to say “look up”, “just believe, just trust” and in our minds we know all this. But the pain, it draws our focus back to that dark, hurting place we want to flee. It locks us into the darkness and throws away the key. Are You there?

I loved the morphine pump by my bedside after my surgeries. The button never left my hand the first 24 hours post-op.  Each time I pushed that wonderful red button I would feel the numbness and drift off . . . a break in the cycle, a few minutes to let go and find relief.

In the pit of emotional pain – where is the red button?

I remember asking the Lord “why, Lord, is this path, my path?” His answer astounded me, “to keep you on your knees and in my arms!”

True, if, for these particular seasons in my life, would I be where I am in this spiritual journey? Would I draw close to Him as quickly as I do now if not for the “scar tissue” of my heart that keeps me bent over,closer to the ground, easier to fall on my knees before the Father?

Do we see the One holding us, no. We are wrapped in His arms tightly, our head buried deep into His chest, straining to hear His heartbeat – we can’t “see” Him because we are being held in the everlasting arms of our eternal Lover, our Bridegroom. Eventually He puts us down, holds us steady and we see His smile!

Are You there?

Where shall I go from your Spirit?

Or where shall I flee from your presence?

If I ascend to heaven, you are there!

If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

 If I take the wings of the morning

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

 even there your hand shall lead me,

and your right hand shall hold me.

 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,

and the light about me be night,”

even the darkness is not dark to you;

the night is bright as the day,

for darkness is as light with you. 

Yes, in the pain He is there . . .His hand IS leading me and His right hand Is holding me.

 

hearing that still small voice . . .

Jesus spoke to His beloved disciples three specific times in Mark about His soon coming death. But they didn’t listen. They had other things on their minds, many other things, all revolved around self.

Mark 8:31 – Jesus explained completely the upcoming circumstances of His arrest, trial, death and resurrection. Details that were hard for the disciples to hear. Words turning their world upside down and inside out. Shock, denial, fear, definitely surprise, even anger followed the quiet words of the Savior! Totally missing the promise at the end of His speaking. Peter, ready for bear, stood up and said something like this. 

“No, Lord. You don’t mean that. Ummm . . . You can’t see the whole picture. You are here to be King! The better way is . . . I think this would be smarter if . . . Now, if you just take a minute and listen, this would be a better way of handling the situation . . .”

Jesus response? “Out of my sight, Satan, You do not have the mind of the things of God, but the things of men!”

Wow – Looking at our circumstances with our human reasoning blinds us to God’s heavenly perspective. Throws DOUBT of God’s Sovereignty  and purpose – DOUBT - Satan’s main tactic for temptation! 

Obviously, the still small voice is not heard over the loud, angry, bargaining protests. 

Am I listening or arguing when things don’t go “my” way, trouble comes, I’m blindsided . . . missing the promise in the “still small voice”?

Mark 9:31- 36, Jesus again reminds them of painful events to come, letting them know what will happen, finishing with the wonderful promise of His resurrection. Again, so wrapped up in self concerns they missed the point. Instead they focused on the fear, the what if’s and then the selfish concerns of who was the greatest . . .

Jesus, with words of love, knew their hearts and said’ “If anyone wants to be the first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Double meaning – who could compare to His humility in coming from Glory, the King of Kings to be the Son of Man???? Yet, encouraging the spirit of humility in His followers . . .they still missed that quiet voice.

Do I, wrapped up in my life issues, my problems, become deaf to His “still small voice” of guidance along the path? Consumed with “me” instead of submitting to Him, His loving directions quietly spoken to my soul.

Mark 10: 33-34, Jesus again shares His heart about what is to happen ending with the promise of His resurrection. The disciples reaction? Move from fear to: 

“Ok, So we want you to do for us whatever we ask!” 

Whoa!!!! Seriously? Our Lord just said He was going to be betrayed, beaten, spit on and killed. Then by the power of God, would rise the third day . . .and they wanted Him to grant their desires, grant their wishes . . .

They missed His reason for being there, they passed over His purpose of coming to earth, they skimmed over the details and went to – “So because you are God will you grant us whatever we ask!” Wow, never heard the whispers of love, songs of mercy, poetry of grace, or felt undercurrents of power!

Don’ I?

In ignoring that “still small voice” and  take for granted HE IS GOD . . .Don’t I do this very same thing?

Lord, let me hear that “still small voice” in the quietness, in Your Presence!

Would I?

Last week I was given a thought provoking book to read. 

My emotions have been stretched – thrilling at the Lord reaching out to the Muslim people in dreams and visions and their  breath-taking response, then tears for the persecution these dear ones face in making that decision. The book – Dreams and Visions by Tom Doyle.

Would I, if faced with pain and torment – stand alone for my Jesus?

Would I?

Would I, as Stephen, look above as stones are hurled, as each one lands and takes its toll?

Would I?

Would I, as loved ones turn away, take up a knife to kill me – grasp Christ’s hand?

Would I?

Would I, with threat of death, in love proclaim “I do!” when asked do I follow Christ?

Would I?

Would I, “Be still and know that He is God” when faced with hatred, threats and evil?

Would I?

Do I, in safety and in peace – stand alone to share my Lord?

Do I?

Do I reach out, share Christ’s touch with no threat of blade or deadly thrust?

Do I?

Do I, when life is sure, proclaim my pledge to God alone?

Do I?

Do I stand firm or run when questions fly, rejections comes?

Do I?

Follow the Leader

When we moved into our home four years ago we did not realize it was already occupied!

Our little companions actually think we are the visitors not the owners.

These small creatures go about their day oblivious to our routine and frankly, could care less about us. 

They are focused and persistent. 

They have a goal and are determined to reach it. 

Their leader has given them a task to follow and a path to walk. 

Distractions are ignored. Obstacles are overcome without hesitation. Their life is tuned into following their leader’s fragrance. They know that straying from this special path given to them by their leader will mean danger, hardship, even death.

Ants, don’t ya love ‘em!

 I've been watching these tiny black things travel along the grout line in the living room. We have called the “pest guy” multiple times. This morning I got out the flashlight and followed a couple of these little guys from our front bay window to a tiny hole in the chalking on the pantry door. A very long journey for such small insects. I watched how they greeted one another, passed on their leader’s fragrance as they moved by each other going to and fro. It is amazing how they find the scent of the leader ant that blazed the trail, in and out of the grout line, on slick tile, on the baseboard, up the wall and out the bottom of the window. 

A marvelous example to us in following our LEADER!

Psalm 23!

Squeezing pressure! No escape!

 
Ever felt squeezed, hemmed in, no escape, unable to turn (tribulation) . . . reminds me of the “valley of the shadow of death” in Psalm 23. Mountains so tall on either side you can’t see the tops, pitch blackness behind, only the light ahead seen dimly down the narrow path – how do I know there’s a light? because there is a shadow! And, oh, what a Light it is!!!!
 
In the Daily Bread this morning the scripture reading is 2 Corinthians 1: 3-7.  I am in a rush today, lots to do, things to accomplish and I thought “I’ll just read the verses quickly then move on.” Not happening! 
 
Look at verse 3 – Bless be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ – the Father of ALL  mercies and the God of ALL comfort
 
Mercies – deep feelings for us by God as He sees us in our difficulties – that little word ALL is not insignificant
 
Comfort – Our ever present God provides to us ALL encouragement, refreshment, strength, aid, assist,  help in the time of our need

Verse 4 just made me sit back  -  when we are hit with trouble, and it will hit time and again, what is our first thought?
 

” I don’t like this. Why me! I want to run. I want to escape the pressure”, right?

 

I know these times come, lovingly allowed through our Lord’s fingers to draw us closer to Him, to work our trust muscle – praise Him for that. 

BUT, look at verse 4. It is not focused on us . . . first, we fall on our knees and trust . . .
THEN . . .“that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort which we ourselves are comforted by God”!
 
Verses 5 to7 continue to amaze!The second half of our sufferings, difficulties, tribulation (squeezing pressure) is not for us or about us! It’s for the onlookers – our family, our friends, our neighbors, our co-workers, anyone who comes in contact with us! What was the reason for Christ’s sufferings? To bring us to the Father! 
 
What if all this “uncomfortable stuff” is a gift? A wondrous privilege, us to be used by the God of the Universe, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We suffer in order for those around us to be drawn to His beautiful light shining from us. What if our hands touch others with the love and comfort given to us by Him that nudges their heart closer to our Lord? What if our face reflects His joy through the hardship to cause others to marvel at His strength given to us so that they in turn seek Him and are provided with their own source of unlimited strength? What if our words dipped in God’s comfort and mercy point them to the very heart of God?
 
And what of the great cloud of witnesses surrounding our lives? Are they not encouraged? Are they not bringing down the rafters with cheers and praise to our God? Are they not standing, shouting “hallelujah” watching our Lord rise  and shaking Heaven’s foundations with His applause for us????
 
Puts a new perspective on “getting through” our difficult times!

Wisdom vs Smarts!

What is wisdom? How do you get it?



Do we need wisdom? Absolutely. The first thought that comes to mind is what degree do you have and how many years have you attended school . . .impressive, but that is not what the Bible says! Check out James 3.

There are two kinds of wisdom - God given and demonic. Wow . . .

Demonic, earthly and unspiritual wisdom, according to James,  is self serving, full of ambition, envy and bitter jealousy resulting in confusion and everything evil.

On the other hand, wisdom given by God is pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy, full of good deeds, not biased and  without  hypocrisy  -  transparent. God's wisdom produces those who are humble, not jealous or self-centered, honest with integrity, easy to live with and a joy to be around, mindful of others and their feelings and willing to listen to others without being defensive.


Sound familiar? Galatians 5, maybe?

So apparently wisdom is noted by character not "book smarts" - the heart, not the head.

I like the statement I read in the Daily Bread - "life is dynamic - we are either growing sweeter and wiser or foolish and even sour-faced curmudgeons!''

Charles Spurgeon stated, " Wisdom is the beauty of life that can only be produced by God's workmanship in us".

And what an encouragement! Although changes to our heart when embracing God's wisdom might hurt and the process not as quick as we would like,  IT WILL HAPPEN! God cannot lie. He will fulfill His promise to give  His wisdom liberally to all those who ask!

James 1: 5
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives generously to all without finding fault,and IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU!!!!!