Confused?

Do you ever feel confused? Like, you think you have life figured out, God figured out, but then something happens that doesn't line up with your beliefs?

Yeah, me too.

I read something yesterday that helped me see why that is. That even when I'm following God and think I'm hearing Him fine, why seemingly everything goes sideways.

Whenever that happens, it makes me feel like everything is a lie. That nothing I believe is true. That's it's all nonsense and I shouldn't bother to have faith and hope, only to end up disappointed or heartbroken. What am I even doing with my life?

Stop sharing the "truth" with others; I'm just misleading them! The blind leading the blind: what a waste of time, how dangerous! Who am I corrupting with all my foolish talk?

But here's what I read that changed my thinking. Jesus is telling the crowd about seeds and soil. He says that how we receive the truth (seeds) depends on the condition of our hearts (soil). You can read about it in Luke 8 if you're not familiar with the parable (an illustration or story that teaches spiritual truth). But basically He says, the more ready our hearts are to receive spiritual truth, the more of that truth we will absorb and put into practice.

Things like a hardened heart, doubt, fear, and "the cares of this world" will get in the way. We might receive some truth but not all. We might think we have it all figured out, and we're bearing fruit left and right, but then, Bam! A hurricane hits and wipes out everything we thought we knew.

In Luke 8:16-18, Jesus goes on to say, "No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house. For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all. So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening (fully), even what they think they understand will be taken away (lead to confusion)." 

In other words, God is not hiding the truth from us or giving us false hope. What He says is true, and He will prove it! But be careful about how much you think you know and understand. Don't think you have it all figured out and there is nothing more to learn. Don't think if you live this way, your life will be peachy all the time.

Confusion is part of the Journey.

So all I can do is live what I know to be true today, even when it's hard--especially when it's hard, because God has more to show me. He's not done showing me His glory! If I'm confused, that's okay. I can only wait for more truth to be brought to light.

When Jesus is done speaking, some people say that His mother and brothers are trying to get to Him but can't make it through the crowd. He responds this way: "My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it."

Family ~ That's what He calls His followers.

Intimacy with God is not for the faint of heart, and yet it is, because when we are at our weakest, the glory of God can be most evident. If you feel lost and confused today, or tomorrow, you're in a good place to be an eyewitness of the glory of God.

 

"I will be your Father,
and you will be my sons and daughters,"
says the LORD Almighty.

2 Corinthians 6:18

 

Scripture taken from the NLT

Sunsets and Sabbaths

I love a beautiful sunset. From where I sit in my living room, I can usually tell if a colorful sunset is glowing along the ridgeline, even if I can't fully see it from there. I often get up to go out my front door and get a clear view of the yellow and orange hues, or pink and purple; whatever colors God has on His palette that night.

No one forces me to take a look, and how long I gaze at the nightly show varies. Sometimes I just take a quick peek, especially if it's cold outside. But in the summer or when the colors are particularly vibrant, I might stand there for twenty minutes, even getting my camera out to capture the breathtaking scene.

Whether you like to watch sunsets or are drawn to other wonders of nature, can you imagine if you were obligated to get out and take a look rather than making that choice? If there was a law that said, 'You must always watch the sunset on Tuesday evenings for ten minutes, no more and no less.' Or 'You must walk to the nearest park twice a week and sit on a bench to observe the trees, listen to the birds, and feel the sun on your face.'

Enjoying nature is not meant to be an obligation. It's a choice, and that's part of the joy. Mandating it would be ridiculous and take away from the awesome wonder and personal preference of what moves you. Some people like the beach, others the mountains. Some would hike all day or fly in an airplane to see beautiful sights, while others are content and delighted to watch the birds that come and go in their backyard.

God, in His infinite wisdom, knew that the people He created would all be different, with varied interests and fascinations--as vast as the earth and even the heavens. He made it all beautiful and amazing and eye-catching and soul-touching; but beauty has a thousand shades and facets; It's not one-view-fits-all.

 

Modern Day Galilee

In the First Century A.D. when Jesus arrived on the scene in Israel, the landscape was varied with hills and valleys, seas and rivers, farmland and wilderness, just as it had been from the time of Abraham and King David and still is today. But the places of worship, the synagogues where faithful Jews met each week were pretty much all the same, as far as I can tell.

The people gathered on the Sabbath. Songs were sung. Prayers were uttered. Scripture was read. Rabbis taught.

God's People were not allowed to do any work on the Sabbath, according to the Torah, and I can imagine these gatherings being rather boring as a result. No one could set up tables and serve donuts and coffee beforehand; Carrying in a sleeping mat to get comfortable? No. Women bringing their knitting along to make a shawl while the teacher droned on? Absolutely not.

So when Jesus showed up one day and healed a man with a withered hand, gasps of shock and dismay rang out. 'He can't do that! Who is He? Why is He performing a miracle on the Sabbath? That can't happen!'

Some people are so stuck in their religion, they forget what it's supposed to be about.

Meeting together was not meant to be joyless and dull. It wasn't supposed to be a lot of work either, but meaningless ritual was just that: meaningless (Isaiah 1:13); The purpose of the Sabbath was to have a day of rest where no backbreaking labor was performed by anyone, not even servants, but that didn't mean no one was supposed to rescue an animal from a ditch (Matt.12:11-12), pluck a few grains of wheat when they were hungry (Matt.12:1-8), or help each other when someone was in need (Isaiah 58; Matt. 12:12-13; John 5:1-11; 1 Cor. 11:20-22; 12:4-7).

Jesus said, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." (Mark 2:27)  The Sabbath was supposed to provide rest and renewal: time with family instead of working, gathering with friends and community, serving one another with joy, resting from an aching back or sore feet to bring healing to the body--and a weary soul.

No matter what church you attend or how you choose to worship, it should be refreshing, uplifting, and encouraging. It should never feel burdensome, demanding, or something to just get through before you go on with your day. It should not make you feel guilty, obligated, exhausted, anxious, or depressed.

You might be convicted by the Spirit to make changes in your life that are ultimately weighing you down and keeping you from the abundant life Jesus came to bring; but you should also feel hopeful, empowered, and encouraged that you can make those changes with God's help and you will be better off for doing so.

 

 

Just like a beautiful sunset that you get out of your chair to see, or a cascading waterfall you are willing to hike to, or distant lands you take a plane to visit--so your spiritual journey should be: an eager choice to discover and enjoy God's beauty. He is love, peace, joy, hope!

 Jesus said His burden is light and that rest for the soul is the goal. 

Is that the God you seek and worship and serve? Or are you chained and bound by religious duty and obligation? Are you refreshed and encouraged on your Sabbath day, or just bored, or exhausted? Do you feel loved and valued? Are you familiar with how God actually sees you? Is He your loving King, Father, Savior, and Shepherd?

Is He your place of rest, peace, and healing? Is He your Sabbath?

 

"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

(Zeph. 3:17)

 

He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them close to his heart and gently lead them.

 (Isaiah 40:11)

 

"Come to Me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

(Matt. 11:28-29)

 

Scripture taken from (NIV-84)

Israel photo courtesy of freeimages.com 

Water for the Soul

 

I am mesmerized by the flow of water. I could watch a rippling river, a cascading waterfall, or ocean waves rolling onshore for hours. I love the way the water looks and sounds and feels. I believe water is one of God's greatest wonders.

At its most basic level, water helps sustain our bodies and our world. But on a deeper, human-spirit level, water for the soul is equally valuable. There's something about a tumbling ocean wave, rushing river rapids, or a gentle stream that can bring peace to my weary soul, healing to my troubled heart, or awesome wonder that makes me feel God’s presence.

There's a story John the disciple told of a time when Jesus met a woman by a well. As she came to draw water for her daily needs, Jesus was waiting for her. She was surprised when He even acknowledged her and furthermore when He made an unanticipated offer. He invited her to ask for Living Water:

"The water that I will give will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Obviously Jesus was talking about a different kind of water than what we know as H2O: a spiritual, soul-quenching form of sustenance we all long for; when we’re tired, when we’re lonely, when we’re feeling defeated, when we’re heartbroken, confused, lost, scared…

 

 

I find this life-giving water as I seek Jesus, learn from His Spirit, receive His love and peace, and trust Him daily. But I also get this feeling of God's presence and love and power and gentleness when I see and hear the flow of water. As I was walking along the river behind my neighborhood this week, I began to wonder why that is. Why am I so mesmerized? Why is the flow of water so peaceful, inspiring, and enchanting? Why does it always make me feel so close to God?

I looked in the Bible for answers to that question, and first I found others felt the same way. In Psalm 42, the writer compares a deer longing for a stream of water to their own longing for God. In Genesis 16 an angel of the Lord meets Hagar in the wilderness when she is sitting beside a spring, feeling lost and abandoned. In Genesis 24 when Rebekah meets a servant of Abraham who wants to take her back to Canaan to wed Isaac, their encounter takes place at the community water spring, and she just knows she’s supposed to go with him. In Isaiah 58, those who are guided by the Lord and live obediently are said to be like a well-watered garden, and a source of refreshment for others.

 

Water is mentioned over 450 times in the Bible and is often associated with longing for God, being in God’s presence, hearing God, and following God. And you don’t have to read far to find the first instance water is mentioned. In Genesis 1:2 it says, The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

 

 

God doesn’t even get to the first recorded day of Creation in Genesis 1:3 when He created light before He mentions water covering the earth! Before there was light, there was water, and God's Spirit was there, "hovering". This word for hover can also be translated as, "move with the feeling of tender love; like an eagle brooding over its young, or parents who cherish their children."*

 

 

Huh, imagine that.

In John 3:16 it says, For God so loved the world... And from the very beginning, He was there, bringing our world into existence and crafting it so beautifully for us to inhabit and enjoy—and to know Him. He's as close as the nearest drop of water, and considering our bodies are more than 50% water, that's pretty close.

So the next time you're walking on a beach or hike to a waterfall or hear a rippling river or let water flow from your kitchen faucet, let it be a reminder to you that God is close; He is love; and He is there to meet your every need.

 

 

"Let us press on to know the LORD...He will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.”

Hosea 6:3

 

 

*Taken from Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon, courtesy of BlueLetterBible.org

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version. (ESV)

New Year, New Life

Peter was ready to go back to his old life. The one he had before Jesus interrupted him on these shores, and out there on the sea. His grandfather had been a fisherman, his dad, and he was too. That's just who he was meant to be. His heritage, his identity, his destiny.

"I am going fishing," he said to the others. "Who's with me?"

"I'm in," Thomas said, needing to clear his head. He was still trying to figure out if he'd actually seen Jesus before they left Jerusalem. It had seemed so real, but--

"Me too," Nathanael sighed, not understanding why they were back here again--why Jesus had told them to return home to Galilee instead of remaining where all the excitement was. Sure they were scared, but at least the news was buzzing of Jesus being alive.

John was reluctant to follow the others. They had waited all day for Jesus to meet them here on the hillside like He said, but Jesus hadn't come and he was hungry. They had nothing left to eat.

"Come on, little brother," James said. "You heard the boss."

He went to get in the boat with the others who had all agreed with Peter, as usual. One of these days he was going to get up the gumption to not follow that know-it-all, but tonight he felt powerless, hopeless, and abandoned.

It had been a crazy two weeks. First Jesus had ridden through the streets of Jerusalem on a donkey with everyone calling Him the Blessed One sent from God, only to call for His death after the Passover feast. He'd never been so scared in his life or devastated, but Jesus was alive? He had risen from the dead like He said, and he had seen with his own eyes--twice? Could it really be?

Peter was beyond confusion. Beyond understanding God at all. Was He going to rescue them or not? First Jesus was dead, and now He was back? What the heck? He was done trying to figure that dude out. So he was back to fishing. Something predictable and worthwhile and...'Where are all the fish? We should be bringing in our first catch by now, but the net is still empty.'

By dawn everyone was ready to head home and get some breakfast. Nathanael knew it would be good to see the wife and kids. He wasn't sure what to tell them. Surely they'd heard the terrible news by now, but would they believe the good news? He sighed at the thought of having to tell another tall-tale, but what else could he do? He'd come this far with getting everyone to believe his latest Jacob's-ladder sighting; And only time would tell what the Messiah's resurrection meant. Jesus had told them it would happen, but He hadn't said what came next.

They were getting close to shore when he saw someone sitting beside a fire on the beach. Standing to His feet the man called out, "Do you have any fish?"

"No!"

“Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.”

He heard John gasp. "It's Jesus!"

"No, it's not," Peter argued. "You're imagining things."

"No, I'm not! It's Him! Do what He said!"

Nathanael had never heard young John be so adamant with Peter. He could get riled up with his brother sometimes, but he had a respectful fear of others with strong personalities, until now. He didn't even take it from Thomas when he tried to agree with Peter.

"You finally saw Him for yourself! Do you still not believe?"

"I'm not rowing all the way back out there," Peter said in his matter-of-fact way, but John held his ground.

"He didn't say we have to go back. Just let the net down here! If it's Him, we'll know soon enough."

So they cast the net into the shallow water, and sure enough the fish practically jumped into the boat. When they tried to haul the net in, they couldn't without fear of breaking it.

"It is the Lord!" John said again, and they all knew he was right.

Even Peter didn't argue and jumped into the water, heading for the shore. Nathanael wanted to do the same but just smiled and helped the others with dragging the full net to the beach. He wasn't sure if he was ever going to get used to Jesus proving Himself over and over, but for the moment he had no doubt, and he knew there was no rush. Jesus would be waiting when he got there.

***

It's easy to think that once Jesus rose from the dead and they saw Him with their own eyes, His disciples never doubted Jesus' words again, but I'm sure they did--many, many times. It's just human nature to doubt, like Adam and Eve did in the Garden, like Abraham did in Canaan, like Moses did in the wilderness, like David...On and on we see God's people doubting His words, His presence, His promises, and we see ourselves in their stories.

But even though we doubt, our God is still faithful. He patiently guides us, helps us, teaches us--day after day, week after week, and year after year.

We celebrate Christmas to remember the birth of Jesus--God coming to be with us and become one of us; to become a sacrifice for our sins and provide salvation for all people.

And I think celebrating the New Year can be a time for us to remember that Jesus rose from the dead, ascended into Heaven to sit in the place of authority at the Father's right hand, and then sent His Spirit to be with us and bring new life to our often doubtful and troubled hearts. It's 2023 but He still has not abandoned us, just as He promised: I am with you always. (Matthew 28:20) 

I hope you step into the New Year with confidence. I hope you don't feel abandoned or powerless. I hope you are counting on Jesus to see you through the coming days, weeks, and months; whatever they hold. I hope you are expecting Jesus to fill up your net with abundant blessings and miraculous moments.

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong...May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. (Eph. 3:16-19)

I wish you a joy-filled, hopeful New Year, full of grace and truth. 💜

Italicized scripture taken from John 21, Matthew 28, (ESV); and Ephesians 3 (NLT)

Truth Over Fear

 "Peace be with you."

John 20:26

 

Several months ago I wrote a blogpost titled, "Love Over Fear". We looked at how love leads to joy and joy leads to peace, as Paul indirectly points out when he wrote about the Fruit of the Spirit. I encouraged you to focus on loving God, loving others, and loving yourself. Having a heart of thankfulness, unselfishness, and trust in God's love for you can go a long way to help in overcoming fear.

Today I want to talk a little more specifically about how focusing on love can bring peace by looking at how truth plays a role in this. Truth is something that can bring on feelings of fear and also chase them away. Your fears may be for yourself or for those you care about, such as your spouse, your children or grandchildren, another family member, a friend, neighbor, or those you minister to. You know bad things happen in our world. This is a sad reality of life. Those you love, and you yourself, are vulnerable to physical, mental, or emotional trauma every day. Natural disasters, health problems, violence, crime, financial hardship, cruel words of others, just to name a few, are all very real and can threaten our well-being. But the truth also tells us that God will care for us, protect us, and bring good things out of bad circumstances.

The same is true regarding the condition of our hearts. We are sinful. We do the wrong things, make poor decisions, put our own needs above the needs of others. The reality of our sin can make us cower in shame, try to cover up our mistakes, and leave us feeling guilty and unworthy of anything good.

But God's mercy is also real. His love brings forgiveness and the courage to come into the light, admitting our failures and weaknesses and asking for help to overcome our clumsy, messy selves.

In 1 John 4:18 it says, There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

Believing in God's love is a key factor to overcoming fear in your life, whether it's fear of your mistakes being exposed, others hurting you or someone you love, or not having what you need. These are real fears with real consequences. But God's love is greater than anything we could ever face in this life.

In John 20:26, we read these words of Jesus: "Peace be with you." His followers were gathered together, still trying to process what had happened concerning His death and apparent resurrection. Not everyone there was convinced He had risen from the dead, and whether He had or hadn't, they were obviously fearful because they had locked the doors.

Then Jesus appears and says, "Peace be with you." He didn't want them to be afraid and wanted to assure them everything was going to be okay. And, if we are willing to hear Him, He can speak these same words to us today in the middle of our fears and uncertain circumstances.

I encourage you to make a list of your current fears--fears you have for yourself and for others. Write them down to get them out in the open, not merely swimming through your mind. When you've completed your list, go through them one by one. How can believing in God's love for you or those you care about erase these fears? Try to write one truth beside each current or potential crisis, such as: God is with me/them, God will protect me/them; God will provide for me/them; God will help me/them; God forgives; God loves unconditionally; God works all things together for good, or whatever truths can apply. Finding a specific Bible verse or recalling a certain Bible story may be particularly powerful. Write whatever comes to mind on the same line as your fear and then cross-out the fear you listed.

When you are finished, pray about the fears you crossed-out; Ask God to help you believe what you already know is true. Then ask Him to reveal truths that are greater than your fears that remain. You might need to search the Bible or ask someone to help you look for specific words God spoke and promises He has made that can bring you peace about these things.

If God didn't want us to have peace, He wouldn't have given us the Bible and His Spirit to teach us the truth and help us believe. But the truth is He did; and He can put our fears to rest and help the fruit of peace to flourish in our hearts and minds.

 

Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil...having fastened the belt of truth...and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

Ephesians 6:10-11,14-15

 

 

Scripture quotations are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

When God Paints the Clouds

 

There is no one like my God. He rides across the heavens to help me, on the clouds of His majesty.

Deuteronomy 33:26

I love clouds. I love when they bring refreshing rain. I love them on sunny days when they appear like fluffy marshmallows in the sky. And I love when they turn beautiful colors of pink and orange at sunset.

 

 

But clouds aren't always welcome. Sometimes they bring too much rain and long, gloomy days. Sometimes they bring terrible storms that cause floods and great destruction. Sometimes they block the stars and the moon when I'd like to see a celestial event--I'm a bit of an astronomy nerd.

 

In the Bible, clouds are often used to remind us of God's presence. When Noah and his family emerged from the ark to a whole new world of shifted lands and climate change, God knew the rain and clouds might be a reminder of the terrible flood, so He made them a promise:

"I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth...Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life." (Gen. 9:13,15)

 

  

Many years later when Moses was blessing Israel, he said:

“There is no one like the God of Jeshurun (Israel), who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." (Deut. 33:26-27)

 

David wrote a song that says:

 

Sing to God,

sing in praise of his name,

extol him who rides on the clouds.

(Ps. 68:4)

 

  

And in the Book of Revelation, John proclaimed: 

“Look, he is coming with the clouds." (Rev. 1:7)

 

  

When God paints the clouds with a beautiful sunrise or sunset, I believe He's reminding us of His constant presence in a beautiful, eye-catching way we can't miss. From morning until night and throughout the darkness, He is with us--always.

 

But when clouds come into our lives, they can make God's presence and truth seem--well, cloudy! And it can be discouraging, disheartening, and difficult to believe He's still with us. But He is! Clouds of gloom can become clouds of majesty.

 

 

When I was young, I went through a difficult time of being bullied. I didn't want to go to school, but my mom shared a verse in the Bible that says:

"Be strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid;

do not be discouraged,

for the LORD your God will

be with you wherever you go.”

(Joshua 1:9)

I asked God to help me not be afraid, and I trusted Him to take care of me, and He did. It was still hard at times, but He showed me His presence in many ways, and He was faithful to lead me into new friendships and activities I may not have chosen otherwise. I've lived a lot of life since then and I've been through a lot of trials, but I've always found God to be faithful to me.

 

I think this one looks like a heart 💙

 

I want to encourage you to trust God with whatever you're going through. Ask for His help. Ask Him to show you He is with you. If you did something wrong and need to confess your sin, confess it and believe in His forgiveness. And if you did nothing wrong but life is hard anyway, look for better days to come. Look for the rainbows. Look for God to paint your clouds, and He will, because He is always there.

 

 

Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100:3-5

 

 

 

Deut. 33:26: personal paraphrase mine

Jesus Is With You

 

The eyes of the Lord watch over you,

and He hears your prayers.

1 Peter 3:12

You are never alone. Jesus is always with you. Do you believe that?

Whether you have known Jesus for awhile, as far back as you can remember, or have recently started to follow Him, He walks beside you; He leads you; He protects you from behind and on all sides; He lives within you. You are never alone.

Even if you wander away from Him (which technically is not possible, but your thoughts and actions can make you feel distant from Him); He is always watching over you, and He is always listening.

What does that mean for you today?

Maybe you've been distant, not listening, doing your own thing--Is it time to "come back"? Is it time to ask for His help, His forgiveness, His guidance?

Maybe you've been trying to listen and follow and do the right things, but it seems too hard; Is it time to remember He loves you no matter what, to simply receive His love, rest in it, and rely on His strength, not your own? It's okay to just Be still and know that He is God--that He is your God, your Savior, your best friend; You can trust Him with your imperfect self.

Maybe you've been following Him closely and living in His presence daily, but everyone around you seems off-course, troubled, or lost. You feel burdened for them, but you don't know how to help. You feel at-odds with them, but anything you say or do just pushes them further away. You don't understand their behavior or attitude or can't relate to their pain. Do you need to just keep following and trusting, but the waiting or loneliness seems unbearable?

Sometimes Jesus has great things for us to do, new places to take us, ways to use us, things to show and teach us. But sometimes it's just about being with Him. Believing in His love. Believing in His faithfulness. Believing He sees your deeds and knows your heart and hears every prayer--even if it's just a whisper or desperate cry.

To just be known.

Seen.

Heard.

Loved.

He sees you. He knows. He listens.

He is with you. You are His.

Jesus is with you.

 

 

"I am with you always."

Matthew 28:20