A BIG Hang In There!
It was a good day of labor and interaction on many fronts. Father, thank You for the wherewithal to accomplish what You set before me. May Your blessings be on it all.
********
I know of a man who has had his spiritual ups and downs throughout his life. He accepted Christ as His Lord and Savior at an early age but even though he has been very devoted to trying to keep in step with Jesus’ direction for his life, he feels that far too often he has undershot what should have been his goals.
At least in his own heart and mind, he is anything but a shining example of what a follower of Jesus should be. Yet he is amazed that God continues to use Him, though a weak and cracked vessel he may be.
Recently he was almost brought to tears when something came to mind that helped his day start on a much better note. It was nothing of any particular importance, but he got the distinct impression that the thought came not from his own consciousness but was whispered into his spirit by the Holy Spirit.
The reason it affected him so is that he seems to be struggling more in recent weeks than he has for a while but still God reached out and prompted him with a very small thing. It was as if he was being reminded, “Yeah, I know you’ve been having a lot of ups and downs recently. But I just want you to know…I still love you. You’re important to Me and I want to encourage you to hang in there. Keep at it. You are worth it, and all of your labors are worth it!”
He really felt that God was reminding Him that he was much more than useless!
So today, as you read this post, I want to encourage you to hang in there as well. Keep at it. If I am worth it – yes, I am the man – then you are worth it! And all of your labor is not in vain, but that which is done for the Lord, He will bless!
Jesus said in Matthew 5:48, “…you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” NLT
Reading it in from the Amplified Bible helps, too.
You, therefore, will be perfect [growing into spiritual maturity both in mind and character, actively integrating godly values into your daily life], as your heavenly Father is perfect. [emphasis mine]
We strive for perfection, but we mustn’t beat ourselves up when we fall short – even if that’s what happens regularly. The idea is to not stop striving! God is in our corner – mine and yours! He’s our biggest encourager! Do not let the devil undermine God’s work! God hasn’t given up on us and we need to encourage one another to not give up on ourselves! For we all are much, much more than useless!
Nov 17th, 2021, Wed, 8:39 pm
It’s OK to Doubt
The Incredulity of Saint Thomas by the Italian Baroque master Caravaggio, c. 1601–1602
It was a hodge-podge kind of day, Father. Thank You for enabling me to make progress on things for Sunday and for getting other things done as well.
John 20:24-29 (<<click here to read the passage)
I know it’s silly, but I’ve always been a bit offended when speakers have railed against Thomas and his doubts. A good part of it, I’m sure, is due to the fact that his name is my name as well. Just the idea that he’s always referred to as Doubting Thomas, I find irritating!
I mean, truth be told, is there one of us who has not doubted at one time or another? I would think that we all have doubts and frequently at that!
Now I realize at this moment in Scripture, Thomas is doubting Jesus’ resurrection – and that’s a biggie! When they told him, “We have seen the Lord!” His response was, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” v25 NLT
Until just a few days ago, things had been going along great for Thomas, as well as the other disciples who followed Jesus. It was a whirlwind of excitement. Each day held new wonders to experience and behold as they experienced every day with Jesus. And then something totally mind-numbing happened…Jesus was arrested, tried, convicted, and crucified – all in a matter of hours!
Everything Thomas had cherished crashed down around him. And they had convinced themselves that it was just a matter of time before they would face trouble before the powers-that-be. He had invested himself entirely, he had given himself over to Jesus…and now look where he was. He was shattered…
These were some of my thoughts reading through those verses, and then I read my Life Application Study Notes, and, wow(!), they really spoke to me!
Jesus wasn’t hard on Thomas for his doubts. Despite his skepticism, Thomas was still loyal to the believers and to Jesus himself. Some people need to doubt before they believe. If doubt leads to questions, and questions lead to answers, and if the answers are accepted, then doubt has done good work. It is when doubt becomes stubbornness and stubbornness becomes a prideful lifestyle that doubt harms faith. When you doubt, don’t stop there. Let your doubt deepen your faith as you continue to search for the answer.
Lord Jesus, yes, Thomas doubted but his doubts lead to questions which lead to answers and as he had with everything You had said or done or commanded, he embraced the answer he was given! And just as he had said at Lazarus’ death, he had to have proclaimed, “Let’s go, too—and die with Jesus.” John 11:16 NLT
Nov 16th, 2021, Tues, 6:43 pm
Breath
I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever!
….Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.
Your unfailing love will last forever.
….Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens. Psalm 89:1-2 NLT
John 20:19-23 (<<click here to read the passage)
One Sunday a minister with arms extended toward heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned face, began by saying, “Dear Lord, without you, we are but dust…” He would have continued but at that moment one very obedient daughter who was listening leaned over to her mom and asked quite audibly in her shrill little four-year-old girl voice, “Mom, what is butt dust?”
Yes, it’s potty humor, but you probably at least smiled a little!
Way back at the beginning we were created. God didn’t just snap His fingers and we appeared. Genesis 2:7 states,
…the Lord God formed [that is, created the body of] man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being [an individual complete in body and spirit]. AMP
There is life in the breath of God. And as the above minister began “we are but dust” and without God breathing into us the breath of life that’s all we would be…dust. We live because God’s breath is in us, whether we acknowledge that fact is beside the point. And that fact is what sets us apart from all other forms of creation.
God declared in Genesis 1:31 that His creation was very good but, as I said, that was just the beginning – God had much more planned for us! His ultimate goal was to bring about our completion and that would come through His Son.
In verse 22 of today’s passage, John wrote,
…he [Jesus] breathed on them [His disciples] and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. v22 NLT [emphasis mine]
My study Bible goes on to say,
…through the breath of Jesus, God imparted eternal, spiritual life. With this inbreathing came the power to do God’s will on earth.*
God’s full intent was to enable us to be like Him in all ways. God planned it all before His creation even came into being.
My favorite verse, Ephesians 1:4, from the Amplified Bible,
…[in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself as His own] before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight. [emphasis mine]
All praise to our Creator and Redeemer! We are only who and what we are because of His great love!
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
Nov 15th, 2021, Mon, 7:33 pm
Why Wouldn’t He Smile?
Father, I am so grateful for Your work in my life. Today’s sermon was most certainly a gift from You. May it touch innumerable lives with the message with which You have endued it. Amen.
John 20:19-23 (<<click here to read the passage)
I’ve spoken of this before, but Jesus was most certainly a man who experienced and expressed the entire gamut of human emotion. It’s so easy to picture Him as a person of utmost seriousness. We know He wept. (John 11:35) We know He lashed out in (justified and righteous) anger – numerous times actually. (One click on this list will bring them all up at once – Matthew 6:5, Matthew 12:10, Matthew 19:13-14, Matthew 21:12-17, Matthew 23:25-32, Mark 10:13-16, Mark 12:41-44, Luke 6:7, Luke 13:10-17, John 2:13-17, John 9:16)
It is not recorded in Scripture, but don’t you think that Jesus laughed? Surely, He had to have smiled on many occasions. Children were drawn to Him – and what child wants to be around someone who is always serious and stern. There had to be many occasions when silly things happened or funny stories were shared amongst Himself and His disciples.
In reading through today’s text, I saw the footnote on what Jesus said at the end of verse 19 from the Amplified Bible.
First, the scene needs to be set and the first part of verse 19 does that. This incident took place on the same day that Mary (and the other ladies), Peter, and John had paid a visit to Jesus’ empty tomb. And though they had been told specifically by Mary after her personal encounter with the risen Lord, that Jesus was alive, the disciples were [meeting] behind barred doors for fear of the Jews.
Who knows what all was going through their minds, but they weren’t taking any chances! The Jewish leaders could have been coming after them next! And then suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! NLT
He had not sent a messenger ahead to announce His pending arrival. He didn’t even knock. He just appeared in their midst! And what does He say? “Peace to you.”
The footnote in the Amplified Bible says that statement was a normal Hebrew greeting. And in my mind’s eye, I can see Jesus saying it with the biggest smile on His face. And I wouldn’t be surprised if He had to keep Himself from laughing out loud!
There they were hiding in fear and Jesus pops up right in front of their very eyes and gives them a “Hi, guys! How goes it?” Luke’s Gospel tells that they were startled and frightened. Luke 24:37 NLT
And all along it’s like Jesus is saying, “Hey, it’s me! Why in the world are you boys hiding?”
Oh, He knew what was going on, and really what else was He supposed to say? His, “Peace to you” just broke the ice to get things rolling. He loved them more than they could ever have realized – just as He does us. And He was filled with joy. It was finished! The work He come to do was complete! He was jubilant and wanted them to join Him in His joy! And honestly, why wouldn’t He smile!
Lord Jesus, may we share in Your joy! May it and the love You have for us spill out, splashing all those around us throughout each day of our lives. Amen!
Nov 14th, 2021, Sun, 7:11 pm
Don’t Look for Something Else – Expect Good Things!
…you, O Lord,
….are a God of compassion and mercy,
slow to get angry
….and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. Psalm 86:15 NLT
John 20:11-18 (<<click here to read the passage)
Today at the end of my routes, I stopped in the office to say goodbye to our new assistant for our Transportation Director. In the course of our short conversation, I made mention of an individual I know who is dealing with the onset of dementia and that their response to many occurrences in life is that they are the most beautiful ever. My fellow worker quickly responded that that was a wonderful response to life – always having a positive outlook on what, for many of us, has become repetitive and somewhat humdrum.
This morning, Karen and I texted between my routes, and she made comment about the beautiful sunrise this morning and how all the leaves we have down now made for a “pretty orange and yellow carpet” in our yard. As we wrapped up our conversation, she encouraged me to “enjoy God’s artwork” on my route and rounded it out by her love for His “choice of colors”.
Others may not have even looked out to see the beautiful sunrise but may have been distracted by their morning routine. They may have seen the leaves, but they only reminded them of all the work that yet needed doing.
My friend, I was reminded, had a wonderfully positive outlook on life. My wife had a like mindset in our earlier conversation. In both cases, they were looking for and embraced the beauty before them. And when they looked, they saw.
In today’s text, Mary Magdalene “was standing outside the tomb sobbing” v11 AMP She spoke with two angels dressed in white inside the tomb and it didn’t even phase her. Any other time in Scripture when someone interacted with an angle there was fear or at least some response of great humility. She didn’t even seem to know who and what they were. When she turned around and saw Jesus standing there her reaction was the same. She thought He was the gardener.
She was looking for Jesus’ body and in her extreme state of grief, she didn’t recognize Him because she wasn’t looking for Him – at least not in the state in which she saw Him. She didn’t expect him to be alive.
Both the angels and Jesus asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” vs13,15 AMP
A source I discovered online said that when Jesus repeated the question the angels asked, He reinforced for us as readers that the joy that should be experienced is absent here. In other words, by asking her, “Why are you crying?” He is saying that there is no reason to cry. Or better yet that she’s crying because she has lost her Lord and Savior, but He is standing right in front of her!
He says her name and recognition dawns on her. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”). v16 NLT
My source goes on to say, “Often in life, good things come our way, but we do not recognize them because we do not expect them or we are looking for something else.” *
My friend and my wife both expected to see the beauty that God gives us in this life, and they found it. That’s not always our first go-to, but we really should strive to make it so! Lord Jesus, open our eyes to the joy that should be experienced. It’s all around us!
Nov 11th, 2021, Thurs, 6:11 pm