August 29, 2006
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1: 17)
Our oldest daughter was married this past weekend. A year's worth of planning culminated on Friday with gorgeous weather, smooth going and a truly beautiful wedding. Biased as I am, I must say that she was a beautiful bride. I have never seen her so happy. Only weeks before, her husband became a believer in Jesus Christ, making this union perfect. They can now be "equally yoked" as they begin the exciting journey of their life together. God is so awesomely good!
After we dropped them off at the airport on Sunday, my husband reminded me that Hurricane Ernesto was approaching Florida. Michelle and Jeff are honeymooning in Orlando, at Disney World for one week. You see, their destination had been kept a secret, even to the bride, until we reached the airport, so I had never even thought about the hurricane. Frankly, I thought that they were going to Hawaii. As we made our way home from the airport, I started to think about how things can change so quickly in our lives. Within minutes of sharing the joy of my daughter and son-in-law excitedly going on their honeymoon, concern about the weather they would be facing set in. Honeymoons and hurricanes.
Life changes. People change. Weather changes. So do circumstances. During the days preceding the wedding, God taught me some valuable lessons concerning change. He showed me how to be a cool hand on a hot head when tempers were short, and led me to be a peacemaker and a calm influence instead of contributing to the chaos like I would have a few years ago. He taught me how to humble myself and serve quietly behind the scenes to make this wedding perfect for my daughter. He taught me to give and not to be selfish. And when things got hairy, He reminded me every time to just look up and say His name, and He came running to lead and guide and bring His peace that truly passes all understanding. He has changed me. I'm not exactly where I need to be, but thank God, I'm not where I used to be. Change for the good.
I saw how people have changed. Old friends were at the wedding who 16 years ago took sides in a messy divorce and were not my friends any more. Some were gracious enough to be nice, some were not. Some more recent friends were there who, while they smiled, were not really all that happy for our family. Dealing with their own issues, jealousy and bitterness were evident. Remember, not everyone that's around you is for you. I watched as old friends united at the wedding and shared fun and conversation even though there had been a season of hurt and sometimes anger. I was inwardly rejoicing at one particular friend who attended the wedding who had shared a fractured friendship with me, but God has repaired that relationship and we are friends again. I observed that some people weren't there with us due to death or unwillingness to forgive. People change...relationships change.
Today I remember Michelle when she was a little girl and she was pulling all of her clothes out of her drawer while I was talking on the phone. I remember her playing the violin and Barbie dolls with her sister. Now she is someone's wife. She belongs to him now. Yes, I'm still her mom, but our relationship changes now. She is a woman. A wife. On Friday, I was excited, proud and so happy for her. Today, there's a small knot in my stomach reminding me that I have lost my little girl. We begin a different journey with each other. Circumstances have changed. I watched the good change in my other children who have grown up and made me so proud. They always step up to the occasion and the growth and change that I see in them gives me such occasion to really praise and thank God!
The Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, said, "There is nothing permanent except change." You may have a job today and a pink slip by tomorrow. That small pain you've been feeling today, could be cancer next week. That man or woman that you placed all of your hopes and dreams in at the altar could let you down five or ten years down the line. The friend who knows all of your secrets today could betray you tomorrow. Someone's nineteen year old son was buried this past Saturday. A parent gets Alzheimer's disease. You get evicted. Your car gets repossessed. Children grow up. Jobs change. Friends may come and go. Healing comes after an illness. Financial set backs happen and financial windfalls come as well. You meet the perfect one for you. You are delivered from drugs. You are let out on parole. Life rolls along like the ever rolling waves on the ocean. Sometimes for good, sometimes for bad. Change in life is inevitable. It is unavoidable. It is a permanent and a constant in life. Whether it is change for the good or change for the worse, change happens!
But, my friend, one thing never changes. I should say "the One" never changes. The Bible says that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13: 8) He never changes. He is always the same. Life does change like shifting shadows, but our Heavenly Father does not. There were times last week where God's presence was so thick you could feel it. Other times, we go through changes and we feel like God isn't there. But the truth is that He is there and He is unchanging. His love, His grace, His mercy and His faithfulness do not change.
You are in one of three places today. You may be on a honeymoon of sorts. Enjoying a season of blessing. It is God who is blessing you. Giving you every good and perfect gift. He is there. He doesn't change. You may be living your Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday life...nothing good, nothing bad. God is there as well. Use this time to pray, be in His Word and draw close to Him. Soldiers prepare for battle when there is no war. When the storm hits it's too late to start boarding up the house. A hurricane could be just around the corner. Or you may be in the middle of that hurricane today. The winds are blowing, the rain is coming down in sheets and you don't know if you'll survive. But Jesus promised that if you have given His Word priority and you have put it into practice by sowing it (obeying) in your life, that your house will stand in that hurricane because it has its foundation on the rock of Christ Jesus, who never changes. (see Matthew 7: 24-27, and look at the alternative to not building your house on the unchanging One)
People change, circumstances change, life changes. Remember that change is inevitable. But Jesus Christ never changes. He is there for you. Always strong, always immovable, always unchanging. He is your Rock. Stand on Him. Stand on His Word. You will survive through both the honeymoon and the hurricane. The Rock of Ages will stand through all of the changes of time.
Donna Schultz
Savemom@aol.com
See www.tuesdayswithjesus.blogspot.com for archives.
If you would like to receive "Tuesday's with Jesus" in your e-mail box each week please contact Savemom@aol.com and you will be added to the list.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
#60 "Is There Anybody Out There?"
August 22, 2006
"When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it." (Genesis 28: 16)
Early in the morning Abraham was on his way up Mount Moriah to sacrifice his son Isaac at the command of God. Little did he know that God was on the other side of the thicket preparing the ram for the sacrifice. His son would live. Isaac was feeling sad because of the death of his mother, Sarah, but little did he know that the camels were coming down the road, bringing the love of his life, Rebekah. Joseph was in a pit and a prison, mistreated, falsely accused and forgotten. Little did he know that behind the scenes God was preparing for him, a palace. Moses had left Egypt as a fugitive. No more palace for Moses. He became an alien in a foreign land. Little did he know that there was a burning bush on the mountain of God. His life would be transformed forever. Gideon was the least of his family. His family was the least of the tribes. But God would turn him into a mighty warrior. David was tending sheep and God was preparing his destiny to be a king. Esther, oh my favorite Esther! Brought to Persia, for "such a time as this." Appointed by God to save a nation, but unaware of God's plan for her life. Peter, James, John....fishing, living ordinary lives until Jesus....Saul falling off of his horse on the Damascus road. Meeting Jesus....all part of the plan. Surely the Lord was in those places all along, but they were not aware of it.
I believe that Scripture was written for us to be examples, warnings and encouragements. (see 1 Corinthians, Ch. 10) All of the people we just read about, who were real flesh and blood individuals like ourselves, went through trials. And possibly they were unaware that God was with them all the time. How about you? What place are you in today? Do you feel God in your situation? Or does it seem that He has forgotten you?
We cannot live our lives by what things feel like. We must know and believe "truth". As we saw earlier, things are not always what they seem to be. And God does not show favoritism, He is no respecter of persons (Romans 2: 11). If He was there in those people's crises, He is in yours as well.
I'll bet that you can even look back at your own life for the same kind of encouragement. How many times have you prayed for something and God did not answer quite the way that you wanted Him to? And then, on the other side of the mountain, maybe even years later, the light goes on and you say, "Ahh, I see now. God knew what He was doing. He was there." They say that hindsight is always 20/20, but we have to believe, in the midst of the trouble, that God is present. He is there. He does have a perfect plan and He'll be there until the storm has passed. If you trust your feelings, you'll lose heart because you will not always feel His presence. But that does not mean He is not there. You just may not be aware of it. But facts are facts. He has promised to NEVER leave you or forsake you. He is there.
In Genesis 28, after Jacob woke up from his dream and realized that God was there, he set up a memorial. People would be reminded for years to come that God was there in Jacob's loneliness. We don't set up memorial stones anymore these days. But may I suggest, if you are in a pit of despair today, that you get a paper and pen and think of all of the times that God provided for you. All the times that He delivered you from harm. All of the prayers He answered and especially all of the times you realized that He had been there all along. All of the times that later, when the storm had passed, you saw that He was there after all and that His plan and His answer was the best action for the problem. It always is, you know. When discouragement sets in, get our your list and encourage yourself in the Lord and in His faithfulness to you throughout the years. He is the same yesterday, today and forevermore. I can't speak for you, but I can honestly say that my God has NEVER let me down. I may not have understood. I may have thought my plan was better. I may have not been too keen on the timing. But not once has He ever disappointed me, abandoned me or harmed me. Truly, Romans 8:28 is true..."in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
God is with you right now. Be aware of it. Don't wait for some future date to realize He was there all along. Believe it now! Wherever you are..whatever you're going through.... If you're lonely. If you're ill. If you're feeling abandoned. If you're rejected by someone you love. If there are more bills than money to go around. If your child is running wild. If your boss doesn't appreciate you. If people are talking about you. If your husband ran off with the devil with the blue dress on. If you lost your job. If you didn't get that raise you worked so hard for. If you're in jail, rehab, the hospital or just alone in your room.....He is there. He has a perfect plan for your life. He knows what's best and when the best time is.
As they say, "this too shall pass". And when this is over you will set up a memorial to God that He was surely in this place with you. Loving you, caring for you, protecting you, sustaining you, strengthening you, giving you His grace, His strength, His mercy, His help, His peace, His provision and His protection. Never giving you more than you can bear. But giving you amazing grace to bear it. You survived!
Peter Marshall said, "God will not permit any troubles to come upon us, unless He has a specific plan by which great blessing can come out of the difficulty." Everything must pass through His loving hands before it gets to you. Trust Him. He loves you. He is with you. Believe it! Along with Jacob say, "Surely the Lord is in this place." Because He is!
Donna Schultz
Savemom@aol.com
If you would like to receive "Tuesday's with Jesus" in your e-mail box each week please contact savemom@aol.com and you will be added to the list.
"When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it." (Genesis 28: 16)
Early in the morning Abraham was on his way up Mount Moriah to sacrifice his son Isaac at the command of God. Little did he know that God was on the other side of the thicket preparing the ram for the sacrifice. His son would live. Isaac was feeling sad because of the death of his mother, Sarah, but little did he know that the camels were coming down the road, bringing the love of his life, Rebekah. Joseph was in a pit and a prison, mistreated, falsely accused and forgotten. Little did he know that behind the scenes God was preparing for him, a palace. Moses had left Egypt as a fugitive. No more palace for Moses. He became an alien in a foreign land. Little did he know that there was a burning bush on the mountain of God. His life would be transformed forever. Gideon was the least of his family. His family was the least of the tribes. But God would turn him into a mighty warrior. David was tending sheep and God was preparing his destiny to be a king. Esther, oh my favorite Esther! Brought to Persia, for "such a time as this." Appointed by God to save a nation, but unaware of God's plan for her life. Peter, James, John....fishing, living ordinary lives until Jesus....Saul falling off of his horse on the Damascus road. Meeting Jesus....all part of the plan. Surely the Lord was in those places all along, but they were not aware of it.
I believe that Scripture was written for us to be examples, warnings and encouragements. (see 1 Corinthians, Ch. 10) All of the people we just read about, who were real flesh and blood individuals like ourselves, went through trials. And possibly they were unaware that God was with them all the time. How about you? What place are you in today? Do you feel God in your situation? Or does it seem that He has forgotten you?
We cannot live our lives by what things feel like. We must know and believe "truth". As we saw earlier, things are not always what they seem to be. And God does not show favoritism, He is no respecter of persons (Romans 2: 11). If He was there in those people's crises, He is in yours as well.
I'll bet that you can even look back at your own life for the same kind of encouragement. How many times have you prayed for something and God did not answer quite the way that you wanted Him to? And then, on the other side of the mountain, maybe even years later, the light goes on and you say, "Ahh, I see now. God knew what He was doing. He was there." They say that hindsight is always 20/20, but we have to believe, in the midst of the trouble, that God is present. He is there. He does have a perfect plan and He'll be there until the storm has passed. If you trust your feelings, you'll lose heart because you will not always feel His presence. But that does not mean He is not there. You just may not be aware of it. But facts are facts. He has promised to NEVER leave you or forsake you. He is there.
In Genesis 28, after Jacob woke up from his dream and realized that God was there, he set up a memorial. People would be reminded for years to come that God was there in Jacob's loneliness. We don't set up memorial stones anymore these days. But may I suggest, if you are in a pit of despair today, that you get a paper and pen and think of all of the times that God provided for you. All the times that He delivered you from harm. All of the prayers He answered and especially all of the times you realized that He had been there all along. All of the times that later, when the storm had passed, you saw that He was there after all and that His plan and His answer was the best action for the problem. It always is, you know. When discouragement sets in, get our your list and encourage yourself in the Lord and in His faithfulness to you throughout the years. He is the same yesterday, today and forevermore. I can't speak for you, but I can honestly say that my God has NEVER let me down. I may not have understood. I may have thought my plan was better. I may have not been too keen on the timing. But not once has He ever disappointed me, abandoned me or harmed me. Truly, Romans 8:28 is true..."in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
God is with you right now. Be aware of it. Don't wait for some future date to realize He was there all along. Believe it now! Wherever you are..whatever you're going through.... If you're lonely. If you're ill. If you're feeling abandoned. If you're rejected by someone you love. If there are more bills than money to go around. If your child is running wild. If your boss doesn't appreciate you. If people are talking about you. If your husband ran off with the devil with the blue dress on. If you lost your job. If you didn't get that raise you worked so hard for. If you're in jail, rehab, the hospital or just alone in your room.....He is there. He has a perfect plan for your life. He knows what's best and when the best time is.
As they say, "this too shall pass". And when this is over you will set up a memorial to God that He was surely in this place with you. Loving you, caring for you, protecting you, sustaining you, strengthening you, giving you His grace, His strength, His mercy, His help, His peace, His provision and His protection. Never giving you more than you can bear. But giving you amazing grace to bear it. You survived!
Peter Marshall said, "God will not permit any troubles to come upon us, unless He has a specific plan by which great blessing can come out of the difficulty." Everything must pass through His loving hands before it gets to you. Trust Him. He loves you. He is with you. Believe it! Along with Jacob say, "Surely the Lord is in this place." Because He is!
Donna Schultz
Savemom@aol.com
If you would like to receive "Tuesday's with Jesus" in your e-mail box each week please contact savemom@aol.com and you will be added to the list.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
#59 "How Close Are You?"
August 15, 2006
"Come near to God and He will come near to you." (James 4:8 NIV)
Tucked away in the middle of the book of Jeremiah, God asks a question. The context of the chapter is the restoration of Israel after the Babylonian captivity, and God is talking about a Ruler who will arise from their own people and will come close to God as the Lord brings Him into His service. In Chapter 30: 21, he asks, "for who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?" That hit me hard. It stood out on the page of my Bible. Would my name be included in the answer to this question? Could I say, "I will!"
"Who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?" Who will take the time? Who will make the effort? When I studied this out, there is definitely time and effort involved. We all know that we are only willing to put forth time and effort when we think the cause is worthwhile. So, do you think pursuing, devoting yourself and being close to the God of the universe is worthwhile? Assuming that you do, let's go deeper.
The word "devote", according to the Dictionary by Merriam-Webster, means "to commit by a solemn act, to vow, to set apart for a special and often higher end." Would you be willing, by an act of your will, to commit and make a vow to God to pursue Him, seek Him, trust Him and obey Him with all of your heart? With all of your time? With your money? With your gifts? This is a pretty big commitment. I'm not just talking about salvation. I'm talking about the giving over of your whole life to Him now, after salvation. A lot of Christians have just enough Jesus to keep them from going to hell. But God wants more than that. He wants someone "who will devote himself to be close to Him." How committed are you? It's a busy, fast-paced world and we're always seeming to run out of time. But what are your priorities? Take an inventory of what you do on any given day. Is there time spent with God in prayer, bible reading and just sitting still and listening for His voice? Are you devoted to your tasks, your schedule, your plans or is spending time with your Heavenly Father a priority in your every day?
A young man wrote this to his girlfriend. ?Sweetheart, if this world was as hot as the Sahara desert, I would crawl on my knees through the burning sand to come to you. If the world would be like the Atlantic Ocean, I would swim through shark infested waters to come to you. I would fight the most fiercest dragon to be by your side. I will see you on Thursday if it does not rain.?... Do we tell God we'll see Him when the stress eases at work? When the kids are older? When the house is organized? What are your excuses?
Let's go even deeper. God wants you to be close to Him. He says so. To be close is to cling or adhere to something or someone. Figuratively, it means to catch by pursuit. Are you pursuing God? It means to abide, to cleave, to follow close or hard after something, to be joined together, overtake, stick like glue. The Hebrew word for "close" is the same Hebrew word, dabaq, that is used in Genesis 2: 24; "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and they will become one flesh." God wants to be so close to you that you are one with Him. Jesus said it best when He prayed for all believers before His death on the cross. "Father, just as you are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me." One with Jesus and your Heavenly Father. Cleaving, sticking to Him like glue, following close and hard after Him. Does that describe your relationship with Christ? Or is it a casual, Sunday morning kind of relationship? What about your Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday life? Or one that you draw on only when you're in trouble? Just like you can't draw money out of an empty bank account...well, that's another message.
If I understand Jesus' words correctly,when we are one with Christ, the world will believe that God sent Jesus! You will be a witness in your world! God will also be close to you. James 4:8 says, "Come near to God and He will come near to you." Lest we take this verse out of context, let's look at what comes before and after it. In verses 7-9 we get a series of commands that if followed will contribute to harmony and holiness. We are called to commitment (v. 7), cleansing (v. 8), and contrition (v. 9). We are commanded to "Submit to God" and "Resist the devil". Submit is a military term meaning "to be subordinated" or "to render obedience". "Resist" means "take a stand against." So, take a stand against the devil and he will flee. Drawing near to God also requires cleansing. "Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." We must recognize our need for cleansing and follow it with confession. Then submit to God, resist the devil, draw near to God and He will cleanse you and draw near to you. Be single-hearted, not double-minded. Have no divided allegiance.
Whether you are reading this in the comfort of your living room or from a jail cell, God is there asking, "who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?" "Who is she?" Is it you? Only you can make that decision. Only you can decide what (or Whom) you will pursue. Only you can set the priorities that you will concentrate on in your life. There is not one earthly thing, I repeat, not one earthly pursuit that will yield a better return and give you more fulfillment than the pursuit of God. He always satisfies. He always comes through. Devotion and closeness to Him have no equal in anything you can buy or receive from this world. No person, no job, no amount of money, no church, no relationship, no drug.....can ever satisfy the deep longing in your heart and soul that only God can fill. I urge you today to make that decision. Devote yourself to God. Draw close to Him. Stick to Him like glue. And whether you feel Him standing there with you or not, lift your eyes toward Heaven and say, "I will."
Devoted,
Donna Schultz
Savemom@aol.com
If you would like to receive "Tuesday's with Jesus" in your e-mail each week, please contact Savemom@aol.com and you will be added to the list.
"Come near to God and He will come near to you." (James 4:8 NIV)
Tucked away in the middle of the book of Jeremiah, God asks a question. The context of the chapter is the restoration of Israel after the Babylonian captivity, and God is talking about a Ruler who will arise from their own people and will come close to God as the Lord brings Him into His service. In Chapter 30: 21, he asks, "for who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?" That hit me hard. It stood out on the page of my Bible. Would my name be included in the answer to this question? Could I say, "I will!"
"Who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?" Who will take the time? Who will make the effort? When I studied this out, there is definitely time and effort involved. We all know that we are only willing to put forth time and effort when we think the cause is worthwhile. So, do you think pursuing, devoting yourself and being close to the God of the universe is worthwhile? Assuming that you do, let's go deeper.
The word "devote", according to the Dictionary by Merriam-Webster, means "to commit by a solemn act, to vow, to set apart for a special and often higher end." Would you be willing, by an act of your will, to commit and make a vow to God to pursue Him, seek Him, trust Him and obey Him with all of your heart? With all of your time? With your money? With your gifts? This is a pretty big commitment. I'm not just talking about salvation. I'm talking about the giving over of your whole life to Him now, after salvation. A lot of Christians have just enough Jesus to keep them from going to hell. But God wants more than that. He wants someone "who will devote himself to be close to Him." How committed are you? It's a busy, fast-paced world and we're always seeming to run out of time. But what are your priorities? Take an inventory of what you do on any given day. Is there time spent with God in prayer, bible reading and just sitting still and listening for His voice? Are you devoted to your tasks, your schedule, your plans or is spending time with your Heavenly Father a priority in your every day?
A young man wrote this to his girlfriend. ?Sweetheart, if this world was as hot as the Sahara desert, I would crawl on my knees through the burning sand to come to you. If the world would be like the Atlantic Ocean, I would swim through shark infested waters to come to you. I would fight the most fiercest dragon to be by your side. I will see you on Thursday if it does not rain.?... Do we tell God we'll see Him when the stress eases at work? When the kids are older? When the house is organized? What are your excuses?
Let's go even deeper. God wants you to be close to Him. He says so. To be close is to cling or adhere to something or someone. Figuratively, it means to catch by pursuit. Are you pursuing God? It means to abide, to cleave, to follow close or hard after something, to be joined together, overtake, stick like glue. The Hebrew word for "close" is the same Hebrew word, dabaq, that is used in Genesis 2: 24; "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and they will become one flesh." God wants to be so close to you that you are one with Him. Jesus said it best when He prayed for all believers before His death on the cross. "Father, just as you are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me." One with Jesus and your Heavenly Father. Cleaving, sticking to Him like glue, following close and hard after Him. Does that describe your relationship with Christ? Or is it a casual, Sunday morning kind of relationship? What about your Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday life? Or one that you draw on only when you're in trouble? Just like you can't draw money out of an empty bank account...well, that's another message.
If I understand Jesus' words correctly,when we are one with Christ, the world will believe that God sent Jesus! You will be a witness in your world! God will also be close to you. James 4:8 says, "Come near to God and He will come near to you." Lest we take this verse out of context, let's look at what comes before and after it. In verses 7-9 we get a series of commands that if followed will contribute to harmony and holiness. We are called to commitment (v. 7), cleansing (v. 8), and contrition (v. 9). We are commanded to "Submit to God" and "Resist the devil". Submit is a military term meaning "to be subordinated" or "to render obedience". "Resist" means "take a stand against." So, take a stand against the devil and he will flee. Drawing near to God also requires cleansing. "Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." We must recognize our need for cleansing and follow it with confession. Then submit to God, resist the devil, draw near to God and He will cleanse you and draw near to you. Be single-hearted, not double-minded. Have no divided allegiance.
Whether you are reading this in the comfort of your living room or from a jail cell, God is there asking, "who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?" "Who is she?" Is it you? Only you can make that decision. Only you can decide what (or Whom) you will pursue. Only you can set the priorities that you will concentrate on in your life. There is not one earthly thing, I repeat, not one earthly pursuit that will yield a better return and give you more fulfillment than the pursuit of God. He always satisfies. He always comes through. Devotion and closeness to Him have no equal in anything you can buy or receive from this world. No person, no job, no amount of money, no church, no relationship, no drug.....can ever satisfy the deep longing in your heart and soul that only God can fill. I urge you today to make that decision. Devote yourself to God. Draw close to Him. Stick to Him like glue. And whether you feel Him standing there with you or not, lift your eyes toward Heaven and say, "I will."
Devoted,
Donna Schultz
Savemom@aol.com
If you would like to receive "Tuesday's with Jesus" in your e-mail each week, please contact Savemom@aol.com and you will be added to the list.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
#58 "Forgiven"
August 8, 2006
"He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103: 10-12)
I read in the paper this morning that there was a 60% increase in the number of ex-cons whose files were cleared and records expunged in the first six months of 2006 as compared with the same time frame in 2005. After petitioning the court, going before a judge and paying fifty dollars, their criminal records were erased and background checks would show that they had no convictions. Some believe this is a great idea, allowing the ex-cons to find work and get a chance at redemption. Others don't. I'm not here to comment on that...but it did remind me of the forgiveness of my sins that I have received in Christ.
When a record is "expunged" the offense is struck out, obliterated, or marked for deletion. It is eliminated completely and caused to vanish. Sounds a lot to me like what happened over 2000 years ago on Calvary's Cross. When Jesus took His last human breath and said, "It is finished", our sins were paid for, once and for all, forever "expunged". When God laid it on my heart to write about this today, I said, "It's all too simple. People know about this already, Lord." But He told me to write about it anyway.
I don't know about you, but I have a tendency to ask God for forgiveness more than once when I do something that's against His word. I guess I think that if I ask at least three times God will see how penitent I really am, how sorry I am and finally forgive me. What a bunch of hogwash! Being totally transparent with you, I know where this behavior comes from. I have had to ask forgiveness many times from my earthly parents and more often than not I have not received it. Do you ever catch yourself transferring the attributes of people that you know to your Heavenly Father? I'm getting better at it and really coming to realize that God is not my earthly father...they are nothing alike....when God says that if I confess my sins, He is faithful and just to forgive my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness...(see 1 John 1:9) He means it and He does it. End of story. And I didn't have to do one thing. Jesus did it all when He shed His blood for me. Forgiven. It is finished!
Do you ever confess your sins and then try to find ways to serve God a little more vigorously in order to "make up" for the transgression? Pray a little longer, walk a little old lady across the street, give more than your tithe in your offering? Again, more hogwash! If forgiveness depended on us...we'd never be able to give, buy, or serve enough to receive it. If our good works could get us forgiven, Christ would not have had to die. There is no sacrifice or work that we can do to get forgiveness. Hebrews 10:10 tells us that "we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ Once For All." He doesn't need our help. And Isaiah 64: 6 says that "all our righteous acts are like filthy rags." We can't do it. He did it. It is finished!
So let's say that you've sinned, confessed and asked forgiveness from God. But you still feel guilty, condemned and unworthy. You feel estranged from God and don't even think that you have the right to pray and receive from Him in His word. Let me be the one to tell you that God is not making you feel that way. This is exactly the point where you need to draw even closer to God and commit even more to being in His word. Those feelings are the tactics of the enemy. Your mind needs to be renewed by what God's word says about forgiveness. Read it and memorize it anyway, whether you feel worthy or not. Pray whether you feel like you're deserving or not. The devil would like nothing more than to keep you from God. He likes to keep you dwelling on the past and your shortcomings. Psalm 103:3 says that all of your sins are forgiven. Not just the small ones...all of them. "All" is the whole amount or quantity of. Psalm 32: 1-2 says that "Blessed (happy) is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed (happy) is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him." Be happy. Stop dwelling on the past. Your sins have been thrown into God's sea of forgetfulness. That idea was taken from Scripture and it is found in Micah 7:19 where it says: "He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea." God does not bring charges against you. He does not condemn you. That's the enemy. (Read Romans 8:31-34)
Simply put, if you are beating yourself up today over a sin that you committed yesterday or even ten years ago...STOP! If you have confessed that sin, you are forgiven! God doesn't see it when He looks at you. He sees Jesus. Confess once and move on. Accept the free gift of forgiveness bought for you with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Don't get stuck in the mire of your self-condemnation and feelings of unworthiness. You'll be right where the devil wants you...ineffective and useless for God's plan and purpose for your life.
James Garfield was a lay preacher and principal of his denominational college. They say he was ambidextrous and could simultaneously write Greek, with one hand and Latin with the other. In l880, he was elected president of the United States, but after only six months in office, he was shot in the back with a revolver. He never lost consciousness. At the hospital, the doctor probed the wound with his little finger to seek the bullet. He couldn?t find it, so he tried a silver-tipped probe. Still he couldn?t locate the bullet. They took Garfield back to Washington, D.C. Despite the summer heat, they tried to keep him comfortable. He was growing very weak. Teams of doctors tried to locate the bullet, probing the wound over and over. In desperation they asked Alexander Graham Bell, who was working on a little device called the telephone, to see if he could locate the metal inside the president?s body. He came, he sought, and he too failed. The president hung on through July, through August, but in September he finally died?not from the wound, but from infection. The repeated probing, which the physicians thought would help the man, eventually killed him. So it is with people who dwell too long on their sin and refuse to release it to God. (Roger Thompson)
May you know today that you are loved by God. Your record is clean. It has been expunged. You don't need to go to court. You don't need to pay fifty dollars. The Righteous Judge has reached His verdict and declared you ... forgiven.
Donna Schultz
Savemom@aol.com
If you would like to receive "Tuesday's with Jesus" in your e-mail each week, please contact Savemom@aol.com and you will be added to the list.
"He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103: 10-12)
I read in the paper this morning that there was a 60% increase in the number of ex-cons whose files were cleared and records expunged in the first six months of 2006 as compared with the same time frame in 2005. After petitioning the court, going before a judge and paying fifty dollars, their criminal records were erased and background checks would show that they had no convictions. Some believe this is a great idea, allowing the ex-cons to find work and get a chance at redemption. Others don't. I'm not here to comment on that...but it did remind me of the forgiveness of my sins that I have received in Christ.
When a record is "expunged" the offense is struck out, obliterated, or marked for deletion. It is eliminated completely and caused to vanish. Sounds a lot to me like what happened over 2000 years ago on Calvary's Cross. When Jesus took His last human breath and said, "It is finished", our sins were paid for, once and for all, forever "expunged". When God laid it on my heart to write about this today, I said, "It's all too simple. People know about this already, Lord." But He told me to write about it anyway.
I don't know about you, but I have a tendency to ask God for forgiveness more than once when I do something that's against His word. I guess I think that if I ask at least three times God will see how penitent I really am, how sorry I am and finally forgive me. What a bunch of hogwash! Being totally transparent with you, I know where this behavior comes from. I have had to ask forgiveness many times from my earthly parents and more often than not I have not received it. Do you ever catch yourself transferring the attributes of people that you know to your Heavenly Father? I'm getting better at it and really coming to realize that God is not my earthly father...they are nothing alike....when God says that if I confess my sins, He is faithful and just to forgive my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness...(see 1 John 1:9) He means it and He does it. End of story. And I didn't have to do one thing. Jesus did it all when He shed His blood for me. Forgiven. It is finished!
Do you ever confess your sins and then try to find ways to serve God a little more vigorously in order to "make up" for the transgression? Pray a little longer, walk a little old lady across the street, give more than your tithe in your offering? Again, more hogwash! If forgiveness depended on us...we'd never be able to give, buy, or serve enough to receive it. If our good works could get us forgiven, Christ would not have had to die. There is no sacrifice or work that we can do to get forgiveness. Hebrews 10:10 tells us that "we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ Once For All." He doesn't need our help. And Isaiah 64: 6 says that "all our righteous acts are like filthy rags." We can't do it. He did it. It is finished!
So let's say that you've sinned, confessed and asked forgiveness from God. But you still feel guilty, condemned and unworthy. You feel estranged from God and don't even think that you have the right to pray and receive from Him in His word. Let me be the one to tell you that God is not making you feel that way. This is exactly the point where you need to draw even closer to God and commit even more to being in His word. Those feelings are the tactics of the enemy. Your mind needs to be renewed by what God's word says about forgiveness. Read it and memorize it anyway, whether you feel worthy or not. Pray whether you feel like you're deserving or not. The devil would like nothing more than to keep you from God. He likes to keep you dwelling on the past and your shortcomings. Psalm 103:3 says that all of your sins are forgiven. Not just the small ones...all of them. "All" is the whole amount or quantity of. Psalm 32: 1-2 says that "Blessed (happy) is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed (happy) is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him." Be happy. Stop dwelling on the past. Your sins have been thrown into God's sea of forgetfulness. That idea was taken from Scripture and it is found in Micah 7:19 where it says: "He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea." God does not bring charges against you. He does not condemn you. That's the enemy. (Read Romans 8:31-34)
Simply put, if you are beating yourself up today over a sin that you committed yesterday or even ten years ago...STOP! If you have confessed that sin, you are forgiven! God doesn't see it when He looks at you. He sees Jesus. Confess once and move on. Accept the free gift of forgiveness bought for you with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Don't get stuck in the mire of your self-condemnation and feelings of unworthiness. You'll be right where the devil wants you...ineffective and useless for God's plan and purpose for your life.
James Garfield was a lay preacher and principal of his denominational college. They say he was ambidextrous and could simultaneously write Greek, with one hand and Latin with the other. In l880, he was elected president of the United States, but after only six months in office, he was shot in the back with a revolver. He never lost consciousness. At the hospital, the doctor probed the wound with his little finger to seek the bullet. He couldn?t find it, so he tried a silver-tipped probe. Still he couldn?t locate the bullet. They took Garfield back to Washington, D.C. Despite the summer heat, they tried to keep him comfortable. He was growing very weak. Teams of doctors tried to locate the bullet, probing the wound over and over. In desperation they asked Alexander Graham Bell, who was working on a little device called the telephone, to see if he could locate the metal inside the president?s body. He came, he sought, and he too failed. The president hung on through July, through August, but in September he finally died?not from the wound, but from infection. The repeated probing, which the physicians thought would help the man, eventually killed him. So it is with people who dwell too long on their sin and refuse to release it to God. (Roger Thompson)
May you know today that you are loved by God. Your record is clean. It has been expunged. You don't need to go to court. You don't need to pay fifty dollars. The Righteous Judge has reached His verdict and declared you ... forgiven.
Donna Schultz
Savemom@aol.com
If you would like to receive "Tuesday's with Jesus" in your e-mail each week, please contact Savemom@aol.com and you will be added to the list.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
#57 "Be Still And Know That I Am God"
August 1, 2006
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46: 10)
A true story: A retired couple was alarmed by the threat of nuclear war so they undertook a serious study of all the inhabited places on the globe. Their goal was to determine where in the world would be the place to be least likely affected by a war, a place of ultimate security. They studied and traveled, traveled and studied. Finally they found the place - an island. And on Christmas they sent their pastor a card from their new home - in the Falkland Islands. However, history tells us their so-called "paradise" was soon turned into a war zone by Britain and Argentina. - James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988), p. 402.
This morning bombs and missiles are flying in the Middle East. Terrorists are out to destroy Israel and anyone who supports her, namely the United States. Half of the country, including Detroit is experiencing record and dangerous heat. Babies are being murdered before they have a chance to live. A few more court decisions made today will push God out of our schools, families and nation... just a little bit more. People in Sudan are starving to death and children in South America are suffering from intestinal parasites. The streets of Honduras are filled with street children who have literally been discarded by their families to live alone and fend for themselves.
Closer to home...today someone will be served with divorce papers after many years of marriage. A doctor's report will come back with the dreaded diagnosis..cancer. A phone call will come from the police that a son has been arrested. A daughter is on drugs. An abuser strikes another few blows at the face. A parent dies. Job stress and grouchy co-workers ruin a good work day. The sun rises on another day behind bars. Reckless words pierce like a sword. Gossip and slander ruin yet another reputation.
Psalm 46 warns us about adverse circumstances and perils that we will face. And it also provides us with the answers that we need to find that ultimate place of safety and security. Unlike our retired couple, the place to travel and study is in God's Word, not in travel brochures and The Travel Channel. Ultimate security is in God, not in the world. Ultimate security comes from faith, not our circumstances. Ultimate security comes from knowledge of Eternity, not in the present.
God is so fair. He is so honest with us. He doesn't make us believe that when we are His children we will not have to suffer perils, trial, tribulations and troubles. Jesus Himself tells us that "in this world you will have trouble." (John 16: 33). James tells us that we will fall into divers temptations and trials of many kinds. (James 1: 2) Peter says we may have to suffer grief for a season in all kinds of trials. (1 Peter 1: 6 ) I think of the old saying, "Forewarned is forearmed." Psalm 46: 2-3 says that "the earth may give way, the mountains may fall into the sea, the waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." Perils can be great...but God is greater and He is "our refuge" (Hebrew word: mahseh means "shelter from danger") and our strength, our courage. He is an ever present help in trouble. (Psalm 46: 1) Verse 7 tells us that God is our fortress (Hebrew word: misgob means "a high, safe place). God is present whatever the outward circumstances may be. He is our shelter from danger and our high, safe place.
It's just like our loving, wonderful God to step in right when all seems lost and give us a word of hope. Right near the end of the Psalm, He draws near to us and whispers in our ear, "Be still....and know that I am God." The Amplified Bible says "know (recognize and understand) that I am God." I love the way the Message says it: "Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at Me, your High God, above politics, above everything." He says, "Look at Me. I've got it all under control." He tells us in Psalm 47 that He is seated on His holy throne. He didn't get up and leave. He's still there. He's still in charge. He's still in control. The world and evil haven't swallowed up all of your hope. Circumstances haven't ended it all for you. God wants you to refrain from your vain strivings and lack of confidence and have a silent trust in His saving power.
The power that will give you strength to go on without that man. The power that will make you wise to help your child through the crisis, without falling apart yourself. The power to believe that the treatment will work and that you will be healed. The power to face grief and mourning with hope in eternal life. The power to smile and speak kindly to those grouchy co-workers and show them the love of Christ in spite of how ugly they act and to do your job "as unto the Lord." (see Colossians 3: 23) The power to be like Teflon and let the slanderous words and the gossip about you just slide off and allow you to overlook offense and forgive. (see Proverbs 12: 16) The power to take a deep breath and do what you must do to leave that abusive situation. You don't deserve to be treated that way. Arm yourself with who you know you are in Christ and move on! The power to be free in your spirit even when you're looking at prison bars.
Know today that He is God. Isaiah 43: 2-3 says, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." The only way out is through. But He is there, with you, right by your side. He covers you with the shadow of His hand. (see Isaiah 51: 16) You are protected. You are not alone. Take His hand and go through with Him. From the other side of the world in the Middle East to the quiet of your bedroom where you shed tears of grief, loneliness and confusion, He is God in all things, in all places, at all times.
The rock badger hides in the crags in the rock. They are gray in color and blend well with the rocks. When a predator comes to attack, they will run into a hole, the crag in the rock. The vulture or eagle must sweep down on them before they get into the rocks. The badgers know where their security lies. If they decide to go off to the field or forest, venturing away from the rock, then it is vulnerable. It doesn?t matter how courageous they are, it doesn?t matter how strong or fast they can run, the most courageous badgers can fall victim to the smallest wolf or lion. When it wanders away from the rock, a badger is dead meat. If you have the wisdom of a badger, you?ll know where your security is ? the Rock of ages. The security you must have is the security of God himself. (Christian Cheong, www.sermoncentral.com)
Be still and know that He is God!
Donna Schultz
Savemom@aol.com
If you would like to receive "Tuesday's with Jesus" in your e-mail each Tuesday morning, please contact savemom@aol.com and you will be added to the list.
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46: 10)
A true story: A retired couple was alarmed by the threat of nuclear war so they undertook a serious study of all the inhabited places on the globe. Their goal was to determine where in the world would be the place to be least likely affected by a war, a place of ultimate security. They studied and traveled, traveled and studied. Finally they found the place - an island. And on Christmas they sent their pastor a card from their new home - in the Falkland Islands. However, history tells us their so-called "paradise" was soon turned into a war zone by Britain and Argentina. - James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988), p. 402.
This morning bombs and missiles are flying in the Middle East. Terrorists are out to destroy Israel and anyone who supports her, namely the United States. Half of the country, including Detroit is experiencing record and dangerous heat. Babies are being murdered before they have a chance to live. A few more court decisions made today will push God out of our schools, families and nation... just a little bit more. People in Sudan are starving to death and children in South America are suffering from intestinal parasites. The streets of Honduras are filled with street children who have literally been discarded by their families to live alone and fend for themselves.
Closer to home...today someone will be served with divorce papers after many years of marriage. A doctor's report will come back with the dreaded diagnosis..cancer. A phone call will come from the police that a son has been arrested. A daughter is on drugs. An abuser strikes another few blows at the face. A parent dies. Job stress and grouchy co-workers ruin a good work day. The sun rises on another day behind bars. Reckless words pierce like a sword. Gossip and slander ruin yet another reputation.
Psalm 46 warns us about adverse circumstances and perils that we will face. And it also provides us with the answers that we need to find that ultimate place of safety and security. Unlike our retired couple, the place to travel and study is in God's Word, not in travel brochures and The Travel Channel. Ultimate security is in God, not in the world. Ultimate security comes from faith, not our circumstances. Ultimate security comes from knowledge of Eternity, not in the present.
God is so fair. He is so honest with us. He doesn't make us believe that when we are His children we will not have to suffer perils, trial, tribulations and troubles. Jesus Himself tells us that "in this world you will have trouble." (John 16: 33). James tells us that we will fall into divers temptations and trials of many kinds. (James 1: 2) Peter says we may have to suffer grief for a season in all kinds of trials. (1 Peter 1: 6 ) I think of the old saying, "Forewarned is forearmed." Psalm 46: 2-3 says that "the earth may give way, the mountains may fall into the sea, the waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." Perils can be great...but God is greater and He is "our refuge" (Hebrew word: mahseh means "shelter from danger") and our strength, our courage. He is an ever present help in trouble. (Psalm 46: 1) Verse 7 tells us that God is our fortress (Hebrew word: misgob means "a high, safe place). God is present whatever the outward circumstances may be. He is our shelter from danger and our high, safe place.
It's just like our loving, wonderful God to step in right when all seems lost and give us a word of hope. Right near the end of the Psalm, He draws near to us and whispers in our ear, "Be still....and know that I am God." The Amplified Bible says "know (recognize and understand) that I am God." I love the way the Message says it: "Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at Me, your High God, above politics, above everything." He says, "Look at Me. I've got it all under control." He tells us in Psalm 47 that He is seated on His holy throne. He didn't get up and leave. He's still there. He's still in charge. He's still in control. The world and evil haven't swallowed up all of your hope. Circumstances haven't ended it all for you. God wants you to refrain from your vain strivings and lack of confidence and have a silent trust in His saving power.
The power that will give you strength to go on without that man. The power that will make you wise to help your child through the crisis, without falling apart yourself. The power to believe that the treatment will work and that you will be healed. The power to face grief and mourning with hope in eternal life. The power to smile and speak kindly to those grouchy co-workers and show them the love of Christ in spite of how ugly they act and to do your job "as unto the Lord." (see Colossians 3: 23) The power to be like Teflon and let the slanderous words and the gossip about you just slide off and allow you to overlook offense and forgive. (see Proverbs 12: 16) The power to take a deep breath and do what you must do to leave that abusive situation. You don't deserve to be treated that way. Arm yourself with who you know you are in Christ and move on! The power to be free in your spirit even when you're looking at prison bars.
Know today that He is God. Isaiah 43: 2-3 says, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." The only way out is through. But He is there, with you, right by your side. He covers you with the shadow of His hand. (see Isaiah 51: 16) You are protected. You are not alone. Take His hand and go through with Him. From the other side of the world in the Middle East to the quiet of your bedroom where you shed tears of grief, loneliness and confusion, He is God in all things, in all places, at all times.
The rock badger hides in the crags in the rock. They are gray in color and blend well with the rocks. When a predator comes to attack, they will run into a hole, the crag in the rock. The vulture or eagle must sweep down on them before they get into the rocks. The badgers know where their security lies. If they decide to go off to the field or forest, venturing away from the rock, then it is vulnerable. It doesn?t matter how courageous they are, it doesn?t matter how strong or fast they can run, the most courageous badgers can fall victim to the smallest wolf or lion. When it wanders away from the rock, a badger is dead meat. If you have the wisdom of a badger, you?ll know where your security is ? the Rock of ages. The security you must have is the security of God himself. (Christian Cheong, www.sermoncentral.com)
Be still and know that He is God!
Donna Schultz
Savemom@aol.com
If you would like to receive "Tuesday's with Jesus" in your e-mail each Tuesday morning, please contact savemom@aol.com and you will be added to the list.
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