All in Faith/Trust
Think about the smell of a batch of chocolate chip cookies or a hot apple pie baking in the oven. The scent of a vase full of Stargazer Lilies is distinguishable among all other flowers and is one of my favorites. These aromas fill the air around us, are beautiful and pleasing, and they bring joy. Paul describes the knowledge of God as a pleasing aroma.
Why is it sometimes scary to take hold of a promise? Especially if it is something God has told you about and prepared you for it? The Israelites faced this fear about a year after leaving Egypt.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live our whole life on earth in our “land of milk and honey”? Unfortunately, that just isn’t the case. When God finally led the Israelites out of Egypt (after 400 years in captivity), He didn’t lead them directly to their promised land. They spent the first year in the wilderness..
Have you ever found life has you between a rock and a hard place? When Pharaoh finally released the Israelites, they quickly found themselves in this predicament. God led them to make camp between the Red Sea and the wilderness. When Pharaoh soon changed his mind and pursued them, they were caught with no way to escape.
The Egyptians held the Israelites captive for 400 years. When they cried out to God, He heard them and got Moses involved.
Through the burning bush, God spoke to Moses, I have observed the misery of my people in Egypt, and have heard them crying out because of their oppressors. I know about their sufferings, so I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and to bring them from that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:8).
The writer of Hebrews offers a not-so-gentle prod to these Judean Christians—you who believe and are saved are not to shrink back (10:39). Rather, remember those earlier days after you had received the light (10:32). Then, they had full assurance of faith (10:22), knowing they were able to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way (10:19-20) rather than by the Law. Then, they had hope (10:23) of their eternal reward. Then, they stood (their) ground in a great contest in the face of suffering (10:32). Now, their confidence is fading.
I shudder in disbelief at the headline news these days, ladies. What in the world has happened to faith, to truth, to living to please God! How do our children and grandchildren stay strong in the present academia? How do we maintain moral integrity in the workplace? How do we not compromise our values? Oh, for the good old days!
Job uttered these words, “I know my redeemer lives.” Job, of all people – deathly ill, loss of children, misunderstood by friends. Those words did not come at the end of his struggles -- he spoke them in the midst of them. What an encouraging testimony!
Although God forbids having or worshipping idols of any kind, he did instruct the Israelites to put tassels on the corners of their garments to remind them of the importance of his commands. The tassels also served as an admonition to obey those same commands.
Have you ever played the game of Risk? The game can be described in two steps. Step one: build up your army and develop a stronghold. Step two: move forward and conquer, keeping in mind that moving forward involves “risks.”
Are there things in your past you wish could be undone? Many of us have something that was done by another person that we would love to erase from our lives. If we could change that one act, perhaps the hurt, the scarring, the shame would vanish.
Albert György created a statue to portray his intense grief after the death of his wife. The statue, called Melancholy, is located in Geneva, Switzerland. If you haven’t seen it, look it up. It’s been said the statue’s bowed head, huge hole in the torso, and missing pieces of flesh and muscle express as nothing else the feeling of deep, consuming grief.
But, Lord, when will I sleep?
These were my words to God after being asked to take a position in a Bible study that seemed overwhelming and impossible. Our youngest daughter was four months old, and sleep was already something I might or might not have the privilege of enjoying. Was this God’s plan? I prayed and believed it was.
Have you ever had a conversation that helped you reframe a current circumstance? Recently my husband’s comments about a difficult situation provided me much-needed perspective.
After we’d discussed the situation for what seemed like the forty-second time, he said, “This gives us an opportunity to trust the Lord.”
John Loss (J.L.) Hancock was a rifle marksman in the United States Marine Corp (USMC). He faithfully served his country in World War II. In the Battle of Tarawa, J. L. Hancock, along with many fellow Marines and Sailors, gave the ultimate sacrifice on November 22, 1943.
If you read through Psalms 77, you will find that the psalmist was in a tough spot, in deep distress. He opened his heart to the Lord, and he was honest about how he was feeling. Then he turned his attention to what the Lord had done. He remembered God’s goodness and His mercy.
I have heard of women asking the Lord for a word from Him at the start of a new year. This word might be a direction, a quality, a verb, or just about any word. It seems to me to be kind of like a theme He wants to speak over us at that time, or for that year. I honestly had not done that before, so this year, that is exactly what I did. I asked Him for a word.
Quiet is nice sometimes. You know how it feels when that car alarm won’t stop? And then it does - ahhh. Or how about when the restaurant is so loud you can’t enjoy conversation with a friend or family? And then you leave - whew. It’s like you can finally relax again.
Have you ever had a season in your life in which a character quality of the Lord continues to come to mind? God keeps reminding me of His faithfulness these days. Maybe it’s because I am in a season of transitions. My oldest child is transitioning into adulthood, making decisions about life and future as she navigates college. My 16-year-old is now driving, transitioning into a more independent teen. My home church is even in transition to a new pastor. But God is faithful. In all things. He is faithful.
I taught writing to 4th graders. Showing 9-year-olds they have stories to tell and how to put words on paper was fun and rewarding. Except for the state-mandated test.
