Hope Over Doubt
A very long night followed by a very productive day. Thank You Father for the focus given me to accomplish the things I did.
Acts 12:6-19 (<<click here to read the passage)
I often struggle with overthinking things. Often, they involve doubt over something I’ve done. In most cases, I didn’t do anything wrong but that doesn’t stop me from fretting.
They can be very simple. For example, recently a parent complained that I’d driven past her child at her stop. Of course, I’d never intentionally do that, though I might do so absentmindedly. I knew I had stopped. I knew I had looked up and down the long driveway, but I saw no one. My supervisor spoke with the parent, and all is well but for the first few days following the “incident” if she wasn’t waiting at her stop, I took extra time to make sure I wasn’t missing her.
Why do I doubt myself? I diligently adhere to protocol when it comes to safety and getting my kids to and from school. For whatever reason, I don’t have to think about doing it, my brain just does it!
There are other things much more complicated. I’m sure that I spend far too much time mulling them over from multiple angles. Honestly, letting doubt rule is a waste of time.
We all struggle with doubt, but most of us, regardless of the situations we find ourselves in, hold onto that small flicker of hope, no matter how hopeless things may seem.
As we move on with Peter’s story of incarceration, Jesus’ followers were letting their doubting minds work overtime, even though they prayed with fervency and persistence. In their hearts, they held onto the hope that by some miracle, Peter would not die.
It’s funny in a way but even when Rhoda, the servant girl, insisted that Peter was knocking at the gate, they wouldn’t believe her. They had to go see for themselves – honestly it seems that they went along with her just to prove that she was wrong. There was no way that Peter was where she said he was! They even went so far as to exclaim, “You’re out of your mind!” But, nope, she wasn’t but the problem lay in the fact that they were too much into theirs!
Aren’t you glad that God doesn’t go with our heads but with our hearts?
Regardless of their hesitancy and doubt, God answered their prayers in a mighty way, accomplishing what only He could do! His messenger – His angel – showed up right in Peter’s cell and after waking him up with a swift kick or a smack with his hand, Peter got up and followed directions (it just says he struck his side). Peter must not have been too worried because he was out for the count! And God’s will was accomplished despite their doubt.
I know it’s asking a lot, Lord Jesus, but we cannot stop doubting on our own. Help us to cry out like the father of the demon-possessed boy in Mark 9:22-24 who said,
“…if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” Jesus said to him, “[You say to Me,] ‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts [in Me]!” Immediately the father of the boy cried out [with a desperate, piercing cry], saying, “I do believe; help [me overcome] my unbelief.” AMP
Apr 14th, 2022, Thurs, 8:02 pm
Our Front Line of Defense!
Our Spring Break has finally arrived, and we are so ready for it! Father, may we be able to rest and to accomplish things that need to be done. And most importantly, may You be in the midst of it all! Amen.
Acts 12:1-5 (<<click here to read the passage)
Have you ever caught yourself saying, “I guess all we can do, is pray.”? When I’ve caught myself on the verge of speaking that phrase, I pause, because as I think it, it always seems to have a sense of hopelessness about it.
Yes, some situations in which we find ourselves, from pretty much every angle, look hopeless. Cancer. Horrific accidents. Marriages on the verge of divorce. A child raised in a Jesus-honoring home, who pretty much shouts, “I’m outta here! I’m done with all of this ‘church’ stuff!” The impossibilities of life…right? We have to admit that there are times when those situations bring a seemingly unbearable end to how we understand life.
For example, in today’s passage, King Herod Agrippa…had the apostle James (John’s brother) killed with a sword. vs1a-2 (He was also one of the three who had joined Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration.) His life was taken without the least bit of warning! That’s not fair. It’s just not right! But it is the way life is far too often – no rhyme or reason…just pain and loss. We often want to shake our fingers at God, demanding an explanation. Only He sees the big picture and all we can do is speculate…and trust Him. I have no better answer than that, for there is no other answer than that.
When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter. v3 NLT
But instead of having Peter killed right off, he is imprisoned and put under heavy guard, with a pending “trial” and inevitable execution.
But this time the church had time to act! But they didn’t try to break him out of jail. They didn’t hire an assassin to take Herod out. They didn’t try any of those things because every single one of them would have been an exercise in utter futility! It was far beyond their means and experience. Those things were impossible!
So, what did they do? They did the only thing they could do! They immediately took it to the only Person who could do anything about it. They had no idea what God could do but they believed – at least they hoped = that He would do something. So, the church pounded Heaven’s doors with fervent and persistent prayer for him… v5 AMP
We’ll look at how God answered their prayers tomorrow but the thing for us to understand today is the fact that they may have realized that prayer was their only choice, but it was not entered in with any hesitancy. It was not a last-ditch effort. It was their front line of defense, do everything, expect-God-to-do-what-only-God-can-do effort!
So, the next time the “impossible” falls into your lap, give it over to the only One who can do anything about it. Leave it in His hands. Be fervent. Be persistent. But trust in our Almighty, All-knowing God to do what is best!
Apr 13th, 2022, 7:26 pm
Beauty Reflected
Though I am still not back to normal, I do feel somewhat better today. Thank You, Father. Help me to connect with You in our time together.
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One great benefit of my early morning route is the regular beauty of creation I get to see! I shared a couple of weeks ago about my view of the crescent moon and Venus as the sun was rising. Today’s sunrise was breathtaking like so many are – regardless of how many I see!
The above picture was taken by a dear friend of the sunrise as seen from their home overlooking their pond – the beauty of God’s handwork! But this morning, one scene, in particular, caught my eye, yet it was how I saw it that got me thinking.
Obviously, I cannot have my phone out while I am driving my bus. Otherwise, I would have stopped and snapped a quick picture of the view I came across.
I had turned on a road that ran past a farmer’s field – one of many that dot our part of the world. It was a simple field that last year held corn. Following the harvest, all that was left was the bottom of corn stalks, dry and dead in the muddy ground – nothing beautiful about that, at all.
But what caught my eye this morning was a pool of standing, stagnating water. Still nothing outstandingly beautiful about that. But what made it beautiful was the fact that at just the moment I drove past it, the sun had begun to color the lightly clouded sky. And the color of that event was not drab or boring but full of glorious radiance as only the Master Artist could paint! And lo and behold that small, insignificant expanse of water reflected that splendor!
It may have been small; it was but a fraction of the acreage in that field. It may have been insignificant; I am sure there was no one else in the near proximity of what I beheld…but it was no less beautiful.
How often do we feel the same way? Small…insignificant…and far from anything, anyone would describe as beautiful.
But wait, someone else did see what I saw! God sat beside me and so enjoyed the view as well! It may have been small and seemingly insignificant but even in that state, it was a perfect reflection of His creation. And nothing could take away the beauty of that moment!
God sees each one of us as He and I saw the sunrise reflected in that standing pool of water. Our lives may not be the way we had dreamed they would be. We are surely a little frayed around the edges, with a little too much taken off the top. The winters of our lives have left us ragged and worn and we many feel that life has sucked us dry and left us for dead. Our time apart from God has not helped us. But when we reflect the beauty of our Creator in our lives, do you know what God sees? He sees His beauty reflected in us…and nothing else matters.
Our goal as His children is to be the most perfect reflection of God as we can possibly be to the world around us. Our prayer should be that someone in passing should catch a glimpse of His beauty in us. It may be fleeting but even beauty in passing can have long-lasting impact.
And unlike the field with the remnants of corn, we can choose to change. We can move on with our lives. And best of all we can make the best choice and move on with our Creator by our side, and as each day passes our reflection of Him will continue to improve, as well. May we strive to reflect His beauty in our lives will all our might!
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6 NIV
Apr 12th, 2022, Tues, 1:08 pm
Those Who Sow (Crochet?) Generously Will Also Reap Generously
I need You, Father. I am out of whack on a couple of different levels and don’t feel my best on any of them. Set me straight, hold me close, for I know You will never let me go. Amen.
Acts 11:27-30 (<<click here to read the passage)
My mom, a while back, was inspired to begin crocheting baby caps for newborns. She works in conjunction with volunteers at a local hospital. She also crochets bigger caps for cancer patients who have lost their hair. Her enthusiasm has spread. One of her good friends, a lady by the name of Matsuko has joined her. The last time they dropped off their creations, Matsuko had 30 made to graciously donate! I’d say that was a charitable deed!
At the end of Acts 11, the story is shared of great need soon to come upon the church in Judea. In the course of events, the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could. This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem. v29-30 NLT
There seemed to be no hesitancy on their part whatsoever, they gave and gave with joy! I would think that this early experience in Saul’s (Paul’s) life had to come to mind as he wrote to the church in Corinth years later.
Now [remember] this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to others] will also reap generously [and be blessed]. Let each one give [thoughtfully and with purpose] just as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver [and delights in the one whose heart is in his gift]. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 AMP
My mom and Matsuko live out this verse. They do not sow (crochet?) sparingly, they do so generously with the sole intent of blessing others. Mom has shared that Matsuko is constantly on the hunt for good prices on yarn to continue her ministry – I would say that giving thoughtfully and with purpose! Every time they wrap up the final stitch, they feel the blessing upon them, knowing that someone else will feel blessed because of the time, love, and as Paul states heart, that they have put into their gift.
Lord Jesus, there is so much need all around us. Inspire us – motivate us – to be cheerful givers. In doing so, may the ripples of Your love spread far and wide, touching innumerable lives! Amen.
Apr 11th, 2022, Mon, 6:11 pm
God’s Perfect Timing
Shout to the Lord, all the earth;
….break out in praise and sing for joy!
Sing your praise to the Lord with the harp,
….with the harp and melodious song,
with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn.
….Make a joyful symphony before the Lord, the King! Psalm 98:4-6 NLT
Acts 11:19-30 (<<click here to read the passage)
One troublesome time in my past took place at the end of my time of ministry as a Children’s Pastor. Through my course of study, I decided to pursue becoming an elder in the Church of the Nazarene instead of a deacon. Everything went well and long story short I was in a position to pursue my own pastorate. My first interview went well and church leadership above me encouraged me to accept the offered opportunity. But I didn’t feel I was ready for it and felt pretty confident that God wasn’t calling me to serve that congregation. So…I turned it down. There’s a lot more to the story but I will leave it at that.
Back in March, I spoke of not realizing that Saul (later named Paul) didn’t go straight from his conversion in Damascus to Jerusalem (Read What He’s Written). When he did go, some three years later, due to an uproar with Jewish religious leadership (they were actually seeking to take his life!) the apostles sent him home to Tarsus. Now the Scriptures are not clear on how long he was there, but I have seen speculation anywhere from 4-14 years! One of the greatest teachers of the Gospel and all its many nuances was not even in action for several years after his conversion – and that took place at the very hands of the Lord Jesus Himself.
We don’t know a whole lot about the whys of Saul’s situation but there’s a good chance that basically, he just wasn’t ready. I cannot begin to imagine all that he had to work through. He was one of the biggest antagonists of those who followed Jesus…and now he was one of them. I wouldn’t be surprised that he spent days working through Jewish Scripture, studying and comparing all the many passages that spoke of who and what the Messiah, the Christ, would be. As he did so, the Holy Spirit opened his mind and heart to the reality of who Jesus was. But the foundation had to be set. And once that was the case, he would not be moved.
Barnabas, I’m sure, was guided by the Holy Spirit, to seek out Saul. Acts 11:26 states,
When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)
God’s timing is perfect. Yes, sometimes we are hesitant but He knows exactly when and where we need to be. Barnabas listened and obeyed. Saul listened and obeyed. And they were used of God in a mighty way. So, we too are called to do the same…listen and obey. In God’s perfect timing, we can be secure in knowing He will not lead us astray.
Apr 10th, 2022, Sun, 7:00 pm