Joy

 

This has been a difficult year for me. I started fighting an infection on Father's Day which they treated with tons of antibiotics. The antibiotics caused a severe fungal infection but never cleared the bacterial infection. Six months later and I am still fighting these infections. How does one not lose joy in the midst of the suffering? Living in pain daily, losing independence, struggling with mobility? Where is there joy in that? 

God's Word states, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." James 1:2-3

Our circumstances do not control our joy. My joy is not found in my ability to walk or have a day without pain. Those are my circumstances. Joy is found in our firm belief and intimate relationship with God. When I am spending time with God, my heart knows true joy. Joy is not an emotion. Joy is a gift from God: a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), 

"…but I [Jesus] will see you [The Disciples] again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy." John 16:22 When I read this verse of scripture the lyrics to Old Church Choir by Zach Williams sweep through my heart. I have been saved by God's grace. Because God chose me, I will have joy indescribable. Though life circumstances and a persistent enemy will try to quelch my joy, they will not succeed.

Jesus humbled Himself and came to earth as a vulnerable baby. He was tempted by satan. He was betrayed. He faced an agonizing and painful death. He did all of this so that we might know joy everlasting that no words can do justice. 

If you find yourself in a tough season, remember that you are not alone my friend. God is with you always and He won't allow anything to steal your joy. Please feel free to share your prayer requests and praises in the comments section. 

Prayer:

Papa God, Thank You for Your never ending presence in our lives. Thank You for the gift of Your indescribable, indestructible joy. No matter what valley we are wandering through like a lost sheep nor what mountain we're struggling to climb, we trust that You are not only with us but will use it to grow our joy. Amen!

Faith

When you hear the word faith what comes to your mind? Please feel free to interact in the comments.

Faith is believing in things that cannot be seen but still choosing to trust. For Christians, faith is trusting in God's love for us even when we are unable to see His hands at work in our lives. We trust in His great love for us. He sent His only Son Jesus to bridge the separation sin caused between us: His people and Him. That divide is gone!

The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines faith as a firm belief in something for which there is no proof and as belief, trust in, and loyalty to God. 

A Biblical verse that helps describe Faith in a way we can grasp is found in Hebrews 11:1-3 NIV  "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.  This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible."

Faith is standing firm in what we believe because we know that God always keeps His promises. He proclaimed everything into being: the land, sky, waters, trees, animals, and humans. None of that was visible until He created it. He provided manna to the Israelites. They couldn't see it until it appeared but they had faith He would deliver it. 

God had promised the world a Messiah. Many saw Him but some missed the boat because they couldn't see how a tiny babe, born in a manger, with a messed up lineage, could be the Savior. Because they expected a king or a warrior, they didn't see Jesus. They didn't have faith which included the Jewish religious leaders.

How sad to miss the greatest gift ever given to you because you couldn't trust that Jesus was Lord! I certainly don't want to miss out on God's love and grace. Because of this, I will choose to have faith in God's immense love for me and trust that even if I can't see His hands at work that I can trust that He is working all things out for my good.

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart." Proverbs 3:3

Prayer: Papa God, Thank you for being as real as the very air we breathe. When we are in a valley and struggling with what life is throwing at us, help us to trust that You are in charge and fighting our battles so that good things can be done in our lives and You can be glorified. Amen!

Hope

Hope What does it mean to you/what does it look like to you? (Feel free to comment below.)

When life seems overwhelming when the storms threaten to blow us down, when we feel we can't press on one more step, how do we persevere?

For me Hope means unwavering trust in my Papa God.  I call Him Papa because He is my heavenly Father and He deeply desires an intimate relationship with me.  

My Hope comes from God! I know He is with me always, will never forsake me, and will fight my battles for me. I trust in Him because He is God and worthy to be praised.

The Baker Biblical Dictionary defines Hope as to trust in, wait for, look for, or desire something or someone; or to expect something beneficial in the future. According to Bakers one of the Hebrew roots for Hope is to teach that the Lord is the hope of Israel. This meant/means that Israel's God is worthy of trust.

"Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day lone." Psalm 25:5

"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord." Psalm 31:24

Bakers Bible Dictionary states that the Greek word for Hope means to wait, to be patient, to endure. 

Wow! This definition is asking much more of us. In the Old Testament, we just had to trust. In the New Testament, we are asking for our faith to be acted upon.

God gives me physical, mental, and spiritual strength when I personally have nothing left to give. He holds me while I endure agonizing pain. I have certainly learned patience through my trials. In all that I go through, I can still say God is my Hope for He is always good!

May each one of you find true Hope in God as you learn to trust in Him especially as you wait and endure!

Dear Papa God, Thank you for being our Hope in a world of chaos. Continue to guide us as we navigate life. Be our strength and help us to endure and wait upon You. We thank you for Your goodness! Amen!

God Is Fighting for You

Today has been a rough day filled with severe pain. With six rare diseases and upcoming testing to confirm two additional ones, I have stopped trying to determine the cause. What I haven't stopped doing is trusting in Papa God. He is always faithful!

One of my "go to" verses that I recite when I'm feeling defeated or pressed in from every side is found in Exodus 14:14. It simply states, "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." Wow! Not only is God already handling the situation and dousing the fiery arrows of the enemy but I just need to stay out of His way by being still, communing with Him, and trusting Him. Even on rough days like today, I trust that He is fighting for me. When I can't see His hands at work, I choose to trust in His love for me.

Exodus 14:14 was written as the Israelites were fleeing Egypt. Moses longed to comfort and encourage the people. Through this verse, he reminded them of the "wonderful deliverance" God had brought them. He also reminded them that God heard and provided during their time of need. (Matthew Henry Complete Commentary) Sometimes, we need to be reminded too. This morning, God encouraged me through two wonderful praise times and an excellent sermon from my former youth pastor and the brother of my heart. May each of us be encouraged so that we can encourage others!

He Is Risen

 

The stone was rolled away from the tomb and His body was gone. Where is His body? Someone must have stolen Him! Where could He be? These must have been the thoughts running through the minds of the women who went to care for Jesus' dead body. Luke 24:4 tells us that the women pondered this.

Angels appeared to them and asked, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ”Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” (Luke 24:5-7)

There is the importance of Jesus rising on the third day. Firstly, the Talmud or Jewish burial practice required that a dead body be checked on the third day to ensure the person was truly dead. Putrefaction, or decay, of the body would have begun. This is why Jesus lingered when Lazarus died. After four days, Jesus knew Lazarus would truly be dead. Mary questions Jesus when He asks for the tomb to be opened because she knew that after four days of death there would be an awful stench coming from the tomb. Jesus had waited to ensure no one could deny His raising of Lazarus was a miracle.

Jesus predicts His third day Resurrection twenty-one times in the New Testament. Do you think He felt it was important for us to understand? I do! God was creating new life and covenant (eternal life through the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus and His subsequent Resurrection) with those who believe and confess their sins. 

Jesus already did the hard work! Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Silent Saturday, and Resurrection Sunday are all about Jesus. I choose Jesus! Do you choose Jesus? He is my hope, my joy, my Savior! He gave me the greatest gift. One I didn't earn nor can I buy it. Simply, it is a gift of unfathomable, endless, unyielding grace, mercy, and love. He gave my all for me when I had nothing. How can I give Him any less than my all? 

Trial of Jesus

 

It was on the evening of Maundy Thursday that Jesus retreated to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He asked Peter, John, and James (John's brother) to join him. According to the Greek Lexicon, Gethsemane means oil-press. The garden was filled with olive trees. Merriam Webster refers to Gethsemane as a place of great agony and mental or spiritual anguish. When we think of Gethsemane, we often associate it with prayer. However, Jesus was anguished. In Matthew 26: 37-38, "he (Jesus) began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them (the disciples), 'My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.'" Luke 22:43-44 gives us another vivid picture of Jesus' torment: "An angel from heaven appeared to him (Jesus) and strengthened him. And, being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." 

You may be saying, "Jesus was tormented, anguished, sorrowful? He was Jesus!" Yes, He was and is and always will be Jesus. He willingly came to earth in human form. He knows the degradation and pain he's about to face. He asks God the Father to release him from this trial. Yet, he also said, not my will but Yours be done. When you think about Gethsemane, being an oil press for olives you can picture the immense pressure needed to squeeze the oil out of the olives. Now, return to Luke 22:44. Jesus' sweat was being pressed by anguish to the point that drops of blood were falling to the ground. Think of the pressure he had to be feeling. He knew that He was about to face a very agonizing death because He loved us so much that there wasn't any other choice for Him.

Later that evening, when he was arrested "Jesus answered, 'I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men (the disciples) go.' This happened so that the words he had spoken (in His prayer in Gethsemane) would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.'” (John 18:8-9) We've always believed that Jesus was all alone during His trial because the disciples abandoned Him. In Matthew 26:58 and Luke 22:54 we read that Peter followed Jesus at a distance, right up to the high priest's house while John 18:15 states that Peter and another disciple (John) were following Jesus. Because John was known to the high priest, he was permitted to enter and gained Peter entrance as well. John was also present at the crucifixion as noted in John 19:26-27, "When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved (John) standing nearby, he said to her, 'Woman,here is your son,' and to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.' From that time on, this disciple took her into his home." 

Final ponderance about Jesus' trial: the High Priests took Jesus to the Roman government to be put to death because it was against their religion. Wouldn't them asking the government still leave Jesus' blood on their hands. Yes, it would. They are the ones who still shouted crucify Him. The Roman government could find nothing wrong in Jesus' actions. Pilate didn't want to crucify Jesus. He was stunned that the people would rather let Barnabas, a known murderer, go free than Jesus. The pressure of the people won out and Jesus died a violent death as it had been prophesied.