Category Archives: Faith & Hope

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

December 31, 2015

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Faith & Hope, Holy Spirit, Knowing Him, Obedience, Salvation: A New You, Today: Make it Count, Wisdom & Guidance

I AM WHAT?

This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I have been sent out to tell others about the life he has promised through faith in Christ Jesus. [2 Timothy 1:1 (NLT)]

This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives. [Titus 1:1 (NLT)]

julia butterfly- NBG2122aweb“I am….” How would you finish that statement? I recently came across an Internet article by Mark Papadas in which he posits, “How a person finishes that statement defines who they are, their beliefs about themselves and the world, and the standards they live by.” While we commonly say that people will live up or down to our expectations, Papadas writes that, in reality, they will live up or down to their own expectations and adds that people rarely give conscious thought to what it is they expect from themselves.

The Apostle Paul certainly knew who he was and what he expected of himself. I wonder if the rest of us are that clear about our identity and purpose. Who am I? Am I a wife, mother, grandmother, homemaker, writer, volunteer, photographer, retiree, senior citizen, or friend? Yes to all but, while those words may describe me, none of them define me. We’re not our roles, resumes, paychecks, pasts or pedigrees and we mustn’t let those define us. We’re human beings and not human doings.

Who am I? I am a child a God and a follower of Christ. As such, I know He expects me to love Him completely and my neighbor as myself. As a child of God, what do I expect of myself? I should love God and man, repent and forgive, study God’s word and pray, be part of the church and spread the gospel, live an upright life and do God’s will. I want to be as much like Christ as humanly possible. Can I live up to my expectations? Probably not completely but, with the power of the Holy Spirit, I can sure try. Why? Because I am a child of God.

What you are is God’s gift to you, what you become is your gift to God. [Hans Urs von Balthasar]

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. [Galatians 3:26-27 (NLT)]

Copyright ©2015 jsjdevotions. All rights reserved.
Standard

Posted by

Posted on

December 29, 2015

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Challenges & Difficulty, Faith & Hope, Holidays & Holy Days, Prayer, Wisdom & Guidance

DELIGHT IN OUR WEAKNESSES

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. [2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV)]

dame's rocket wildflowerWell, I can’t say that I do – delight in my weaknesses (or, as far as that goes, in insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties). In truth, I find it so much easier to write about God’s word than to live it. While I may accept God’s word in theory, pray about it, try to act in line with it, and even write about it, my weakness (one among many) becomes clear when I must actually put my faith into practice. In the last month, I’ve written several devotions about keeping Christ in Christmas, trusting God, keeping priorities straight over the holidays, staying calm, and finding peace. So, with a shipping deadline looming, what was my first reaction when faced with a list of family members to whom I wanted to give gifts but had no idea of what to purchase? Complaint, panic and tears! In fact, I considered becoming Jewish for the month of December until I realized that, instead of just one day of Christmas presents, I’d have to find eight days’ worth of Hanukkah gifts. I quickly abandoned Judaism and wondered about temporarily becoming a Jehovah’s Witness. That way I could skip everything from Thanksgiving through New Year’s (including the three December birthdays). With my luck, however, I’d be in a car accident and need a transfusion; besides, I love birthday cake and singing Christmas carols! Of course, I’m just joking—I’m not about to abandon Christ over Christmas! In spite of the words I’d written for the past month’s devotions, however, I felt anything but calm and peaceful and was having a hard time finding any joy in celebrating Christ’s birth. No, I can’t say that I delight in my weaknesses; in fact, I wish I didn’t have any of them.

Nevertheless, along with being incredibly humbling, those moments of weakness are opportunities for real glory moments with God. Our failures remind us that we’re nowhere near finished and still have much to learn—we’re simply works in progress. Our weaknesses challenge us to think and act in a way that recognizes God is in every situation. It’s recognizing our insufficiency that truly reveals God’s all-sufficiency. When we finally admit, “God, I can’t do this alone!” we open our hearts to His presence. When we have to lean on Him, when we finally relinquish control, all of God’s power starts to work in us. When we admit we are weak, when we feel overwhelmed, that’s when the Holy Spirit does His best work in us.

After a pause for prayer and a much needed attitude adjustment, my Christmas preparations continued, joy and peace returned to my heart, Christ returned to Christmas, and everything got done. My prayer became one of thanksgiving for the way God has an uncanny way of reminding me of my weakness and how much I need Him to get me through each and every day. I thanked him for the reminder that, while I am clearly on the right track, I am nowhere near where I should be. Unlike Paul, I’m still not ready to delight in my failures but, like him, I will be thankful for the opportunities to grow stronger in my faith.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. [Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV)]

Copyright ©2015 jsjdevotions. All rights reserved.
Standard

Posted by

Posted on

December 15, 2015

Posted under

Challenges & Difficulty, Faith & Hope, God's Grace & Love, God's Promises, Salvation: A New You

SAVED

The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. [John 6:18-20 (ESV)]

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. [Ephesians 2:8 (ESV)]

Lifeguard rescue boat
Several months ago, two young men were fishing from shore at a nearby Florida beach. Seeing a sandbar further out and thinking better fishing might be found there, they swam out to it. Unfamiliar with the ocean, they hadn’t taken into account the rising tide. When they arrived at the sandbar, they found it to be ten feet under water. With no way to stand and rest, the exhausted men panicked and started to swim back to shore. One managed to save himself but the other young man couldn’t and drowned.

If a lifeguard had been present, perhaps this story would have had a better ending. Our southwest Florida beaches, however, have no lifeguards. Although onlookers did their best to find the man in the murky water, they were unsuccessful.

When encountering difficulty in the rough seas of life, sometimes we can save ourselves and sometimes we can’t. When it comes to our final salvation, however, no matter how good we can swim, there is no way we can save ourselves. Fortunately, we have a lifeguard on duty at all times, one who can walk on water, and He is the only one who can truly save us. He offers us the only salvation we really need—all we need to do is believe in Him.

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. [Acts 4:12 (ESV)]

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. [Romans 10:9-10 (ESV)]

 

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

November 11, 2015

Posted under

Faith & Hope, God's Grace & Love, God's Promises, Peace of God, Sorrow, Grief & Regrets, Thanks & Praise, Trusting God

PUT ON YOUR RED DRESS

Then everyone who believes in him can have eternal life. Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life. [John 3:15-16 (ERV)]

Jesus said, “Don’t be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you.” [John 14:1-2 (ERV)]

When you hear of my home going… Don’t worry about me. …Hey… I’m just another soldier, going home to be with the Lord. [Gospel hymn – author unknown]

While chatting with a friend, I mentioned how my little black dress has served so well at visitations and funerals. “Well, you better not wear that at my funeral,” she protested. “You better wear a bright red dress; I want a celebration!”

cardinal - CSS2592web“I’ve got a home in gloryland that outshines the sun,” goes the old familiar gospel song. If we believe that, why are we so somber when a believer passes away? Why the long faces? Of course, we mourn the loss of a loved one—their death leaves a void in our lives. I’m not trying to minimize the loss of life or diminish anyone’s sorrow. Life here on earth, however, is just the prelude to an eternal life with God. Rather than focusing on our grief, we need to celebrate the life our loved one lived and rejoice at the beginning of his or her new life. Although we’ve lost a friend or family member, Heaven has gained a new resident. The angels won’t be draping black crepe on the clouds when someone new arrives. They’ll be posting “welcome home” signs and hanging colorful streamers and balloons to celebrate another resident. Picture St. Peter busily painting a new number on the population sign at the Pearly Gates. As beautiful as God made earth, imagine how magnificent heaven will be. Moreover, it will feel more like home than any house in which we ever lived.

I imagine few in my circle, with the exception of my friend, would understand if I attended wakes and funerals in a brightly colored dress, so I will continue wearing the same black one. But, when our time is over here on earth, my friend and I have specific instructions—no dirges, just joyful songs of homegoing and no weeping or somber faces, just tears of joy and a little laughter. Ladies, when it’s time for me to go home, get out your red dresses and have the men come in their favorite aloha shirts!

Some day you will read in the papers that D.L. Moody of East Northfield, is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it! At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now; I shall have gone up higher, that is all, out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal- a body that death cannot touch, that sin cannot taint; a body fashioned like unto His glorious body. [D.L. Moody]

We know that our body—the tent we live in here on earth—will be destroyed. But when that happens, God will have a home for us to live in. It will not be the kind of home people build here. It will be a home in heaven that will continue forever. [2 Corinthians 5:1-2 (ERV)]

 

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

November 6, 2015

Posted under

Bible Stories, Faith & Hope, Joy, Miracles, Peace of God, Thanks & Praise, Trusting God

CHARM BRACELETS

Joshua erected a monument at The Gilgal, using the twelve stones that they had taken from the Jordan. And then he told the People of Israel, “In the days to come, when your children ask their fathers, ‘What are these stones doing here?’ tell your children this: ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry ground.’” [Joshua 4:20-22 (MSG)]

Zion 041webIn a television ad for a popular brand of charm bracelet, two couples meet and then go their separate ways. One wife proceeds to tell her spouse all about the other couple: the number and sexes of their children, where they’ve vacationed, and their interests. When her husband asks how she got that much info from a brief greeting, she smugly replies that the bracelet told it all. My granddaughter has one of those bracelets and, when gift-giving occasions occur, I enjoy looking at the charms and trying to decide if there are any that commemorate a special event or accomplishment of that year. I wonder if, many years in the future, she will look at the bracelet and fondly recall her riding lessons, theater classes, trip to China or the grandparents who gave her the charms.

Jacob placed a stone pillar to mark the place where God spoke to him, Joshua erected a monument of stones so the Israelites would remember that the river stopped flowing so the Ark could pass through it, and Samuel used a boulder to mark the spot where God gave victory over the Philistines. I’m not sure placing stones and monuments is that easy or practical today; perhaps all we need are some charms. They wouldn’t be made of silver and semi-precious stones nor would they be worn on our wrists or around our necks. They would be made of memories and kept in our hearts. The charms would remind us of those special moments when God revealed His divine presence in our lives. Yes, I know he’s always been there and always will be, but we’ve all had extraordinary times when we truly felt God’s special touch. The charms would commemorate the times we experienced miracles, the moments we had tangible evidence of God’s help or provision, and the supposedly chance conversations that put us on the right path. The charms would bring to mind the times we received His guidance, wisdom, or strength and those instances we knew without a doubt that God was there with us, holding us in His loving arms. Every time we doubted, every time we felt lost or alone, every time we were afraid or felt unworthy, incapable, abandoned, or lost, we could take out a few charms to remind us of God’s loving provision. Looking at them and remembering those times, we would again have confidence and our faith would be renewed.

What occasions would be commemorated on your bracelet?

Samuel took a single rock and set it upright between Mizpah and Shen. He named it “Ebenezer” (Rock of Help), saying, “This marks the place where God helped us.” [1 Samuel 7:12 (MSG)]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

November 4, 2015

Posted under

Challenges & Difficulty, Faith & Hope, God's Word: The Bible, Nature, Prayer, Temptation & Sin, Trusting God, Wisdom & Guidance

CYPRESS KNEES

cypress knees - Corkscrew Swamp
The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. [Luke 8:13 (NLT)]

But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. [Matthew 13:21 (NLT)]

The summer storms caused a few of the palms trees by our ponds to fall over. The landscapers had to pull them back up and erect wooden supports around them to keep the trees upright. They’d been planted too shallow and, without a deep stable base, it didn’t take much water or wind for the palms to go down. I couldn’t help but compare them with the bald cypress trees found in the nearby swamps. While the fallen palms in our neighborhood are barely out of their teens, some of Corkscrew Swamp’s enormous bald cypress trees are over 500 years old. Our palms had trouble with a few summer storms but those cypress trees have survived centuries of hurricanes! Granted, like a lot of old folks, the years have taken their toll and they look a little worse for wear. Hurricane winds may have blown away branches and pruned off tree tops, but they remain proudly standing in the swamp.

Perhaps the biggest reason these trees (cousins of the Redwoods) have survived so well is their unusual root structure. They have an extensive system of horizontal roots and woody conical bulges called “knees” that grow up from those roots. No matter how deep the water in the swamp, cypress knees protrude out of it in a fascinating variety of shapes and sizes. While there are a variety of hypotheses about these quirky swamp sculptures, it is commonly accepted that their unique root system is what gives these trees the extra stability needed to grow over 120 feet tall while standing in several feet of water and still survive centuries of storms and hurricanes. Their knees serve another, totally unrelated purpose in the swamp, as well. They serve as “nurseries” by providing a surface for smaller plants to take root and reach toward the sky.

The point is simple – we need a strong root system if we are going to survive the storms of life. With a firm faith foundation, while life may leave us a bit battered and bruised, like the bald cypress, we can remain upright and survive both temptation and troubles. Instead of knobby wooden knees, we have the word of God, prayer, our church family, and the Holy Spirit to keep us strong. With a foundation like that, doubt is replaced by belief, deceit by truth, worry by hope, and fear by trust. Moreover, just as the cypress knees nurture the ferns of the swamp, our faith examples can help inspire the faith of new believers. Remember, if we don’t stand firm in our faith, we won’t stand at all.

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. [Colossians 2:7 (NLT)]

Wickedness never brings stability, but the godly have deep roots. [Proverbs 12:3 (NLT)]