Behold and Be Bold

Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].  Hebrews 4:16 (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition)

What an on-time God we serve! It’s no small thing to think of how He meets needs with a word from Scripture. Just when anxiety creeps in and diminishes your confidence, if you are engaging in His Word, He answers with His perfect message. He sees you! He hears you! He cares for you! He is so good. He is so faithful.

I’ve a restorative story to tell those who need encouragement. It’s a story of God’s redeeming love. Though trials beset my life with a prodigal daughter, she came to her senses and “returned home” to the God that loves her so. While I waited for her return, God taught me about His character, replete with His promises from Scripture. He supplied me with strength and comfort for which I am eternally grateful. 

But I had allowed time to fade some of my memories until I was asked to give my testimony live on a local television station. Then doubts filled my mind. “I’m not capable,” I said to God. 

And I heard God say to Moses from the fourth chapter of Exodus, “Who has made man’s mouth? Is it not I, the Lord?”

Humbled but with boldness, I told the Lord of my fear, and He answered with His Word from John 14:26. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Memories flooded my mind and I echoed what He had taught me. I remembered what He had done for me and my daughter. Boldly I proclaimed His power to all those who would listen. All glory to God through Jesus Christ who brought both my daughter and me out of darkness into His glorious light. From bringing home captives in Isaiah 43:5-7 to praying persistently in Luke 18:1, God caused me to remember His goodness. He is so faithful. 

What’s your story? How has God made Himself known to you? Which of His characteristics most resonate with you? If He is a new acquaintance to you, allow Him to help write your story. If you have walked with Him and continue to walk with Him, tell your story. There are many ears that need to hear of the goodness of our loving God. 

Maybe the lyrics of H. Ernest Nichol (1896) will inspire you to boldly go before God’s throne of grace and find the help you need to share the good news of Christ Jesus, the Savior of the world with family, friends, and even strangers.

We've a story to tell to the nations,

that shall turn their hearts to the right,

a story of truth and mercy,

a story of peace and light,

a story of peace and light.

Refrain:

For the darkness shall turn to dawning,

and the dawning to noonday bright,

and Christ's great kingdom shall come on earth,

the kingdom of love and light.

We've a song to be sung to the nations,

that shall lift their hearts to the Lord,

a song that shall conquer evil,

and shatter the spear and sword,

and shatter the spear and sword. [Refrain]

We've a message to give to the nations,

that the Lord who reighth above

has sent us His Son to save us,

and show us that God is love,

and show us that God is love. [Refrain]

We've a Savior to show to the nations,

who the path of sorrow has trod,

that all of the world's great peoples

may come to the truth of God,

may come to the truth of God! [Refrain]

A New Thing

“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up;
do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. 
Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

I'm stuck in the past and downcast. The trials of today draw my mind to former days when life seemed easier. Are you dwelling on times gone by instead of focusing on the present, the now? 

The year 2020 is about to be a memory, an impactful memory. It’s left devastation in its wake while replenishing each day with more uncertainty, fear, and hopelessness. Most of us long for the good ole days. Or we at least yearn for a change as we seek a better future. But what about today? What about now? What are we doing to make the most of our present? 

This year has sped by, but the days have dragged on. Trepidation, apprehension, and isolation have almost been established into our everyday routines. With many churches shut down, it appears hope is lost. The past materializes mentally as a divine dream while the present petrifies our day-to-day existence. The comfortable order of things has changed. Powerful people continually remind us to adjust to a new normal. We submit to fear and surrender to masks and quarantine. Anxiety blooms, worry flourishes, grumbling bears fruit, rotten fruit, and the will to thrive dies. The sight of our situation shakes our faith in an Almighty God. 

God’s chosen ones, the Israelites, also failed to recall the power of their Savior God. They had been enslaved in Egypt for over four hundred years. When the time was right, God delivered them from the injustices they had endured. He used Moses to lead His people out of slavery. God sent disease and death to cause the Egyptians to let His people go. As the Israelites fled Egypt, God parted the waters of the Red Sea, forming dry land for His people to cross over into safety. Those same waters swept away the enemies who had enslaved them. God’s people had witnessed a mighty miracle. It was then that they praised and worshipped their Savior God. 

Yet only three days later in the desert without water, they began to grumble against Moses and before God. “What are we to drink?” they whined. Oh how soon they forgot.

God performed another miracle through Moses as he threw a piece of wood into the water, turning it sweet. Imagine being a spectator of such supernatural phenomena. Wouldn’t your faith increase substantially? 

Because of God’s love for His people, He made a decree for them. He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and listen to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer.” 
Exodus 15:26

God then added grace to His command. He provided springs of water surrounded by shade where His people could camp and rest for a while. What a faithful God.

But after traveling in the desert for a month, the Israelites began complaining again against Moses and before God. They said, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread until we were full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this entire assembly with hunger!”  Exodus 16:3

Were the Israelites stuck in the past, clinging to their slavery? Even though they had been removed from their brutal slave masters, they looked back to what seemed like a good thing. The comfort of routine, no matter how harsh, had become customary. But was it good? Were they allowing the wilderness in which they now walked cause them to forget the freedom they had gained by the hand of a Savior God?

“How quickly we forget God’s great deliverances in our lives.
How easily we take for granted the miracles He performed in our past.
~David Wilkerson”

We are no different than the Israelites walking in the desert. The stark reality of this pandemic called Covid has exposed, revealed, and uncovered abundant omissions about ourselves, our institutions, even the church. We believers have failed to heed the decree of our Lord, disregarding His spoken Word. Instead of standing up for God’s absolute truth, we’ve surrendered to the ever-changing morals and values of this land. Manmade religious traditions have enslaved us. Christianity in America has become casual, where only a crisis causes us to turn back to God. We’ve allowed the church to become a cruise ship instead of a battle ship. Our Heavenly Father never intended for us to have an apathetic relationship with Him. 

When God rescued the Israelites, He wanted them to rely solely on Him, to trust Him for daily protection and provision. He wants the same for us. Family and friends will disappoint us. The things of this earth will disappear. Religious and governmental leaders will let us down. But God never disappoints, disappears, or lets us down. He won’t fail us. He never changes. He, Jesus Christ, is the same yesterday and today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). We can surely trust Him. 

Could it be possible that God has allowed disease and violence to restore in us a powerful prayer life? Deep faith in a trustworthy God will cause us to rely on His daily provision instead of looking back to what seemed comfortable. Why grumble about the presence of Covid, masks, lockdowns, and change. Instead choose to allow God to move us forward as He does a new thing.

Each day is a new day, another chance to begin again. God says to forget the former things, remember Him, and focus on the new thing He is doing right now. His mercies are new every morning. 
Isaiah 43:18-19, Lamentations 3:22-23

Do we have confidence in the power of Almighty God? Will we hear and follow His Word? Turn away from the deficiency of earthly things. Hope in the One who loved us enough to offer salvation in His Name, the Name of Jesus. Watch and wait expectantly for His new thing!

“God is not running an antique shop!
He is making all things new!
~Vance Havner”

“Trust the past to God’s mercy,
the present to God’s love,
and the future to God’s providence.
~St. Augustine”

May I?

He will cover you with His pinions,
And under His wings you may take refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and wall.  Psalm 91:4 (NASB)

“Mother May I” is a game for the ages. A group of players selects someone to be the Mother who faces away from the group. Her goal is to bring the players toward the finish line as equally as possible, hampering anyone in the lead. The goal of the players is to be the first one to reach the finish line and replace Mother. The players politely request they take various steps to move them closer to the end. Mother controls when and how they move. It takes quite a bit of maneuvering with some luck to reach the end and become Mother. 

God stands in sharp contrast to the image of Mother in this game. He watches over us (Psalm 33:113-14). He invites us to call to Him for answers (Jeremiah 33:3). He instructs us to follow Him (Matthew 4:19). He directs us to remain in Him (John 15:4). He longs for us to be saved (Ephesians 2:8-9). And He promises He will provide refuge under His sheltering wings (Psalm 91:4). 

God loved us so much that He sacrificed His own life to free us from the bondage of wickedness. He died to set us free, yet He doesn’t force His will upon us. He allows us to choose whom we follow and serve. Even if we choose to go our own way, He waits with open arms for us to return to Him. 

Who knew that 2020 would usher in a plethora of struggles? Covid and death, fear and detachment, division and strife, distress and despair, suffering and sorrow, political rivalry, virtual reality—have I left anything out? During these many conflicts, I wonder where people sought help. Where did you go for help? Who or what do you trust to protect you?

Months ago while quarantining, I began to search for help. I opened my Bible to Psalm 91. An intensifying calm settled in my soul as I read each verse. I decided to read it again, but the fourth verse interrupted the flow. I needed to unravel the meaning. What I discovered has imprinted my mind with beautiful imagery—God is like a mother hen. 

Yes, God is like a mother hen where we can find shelter. Listen with your heart as you read these words: He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may take refuge.

The flight of birds, especially eagles, renders vigor. Their wings mirror strength. Scripture informs us that hope in the Lord renews our strength, like soaring on wings of eagles (Isaiah 40:31). The image of such a flight illustrates the power God supplies His people. 

But oh the surprising and yet comforting picture of a mother hen. The hen moves about in a big backyard near the chicken coop. Her little chicks are scattered and roaming all over. Suddenly a shadow flies over, resembling that of a hawk. The mother hen sees the danger, but doesn’t chase after her chicks. She simply expands her wings and clucks her warning sound. It’s the choice of the chicks to run to her for shelter. Once she is surrounded by chicks, she pulls her wings in close, tucking them close to her. If the hawk plans on getting the chicks, he must go through her first. What a beautiful illustration of Jesus’ love for us all. 

The depiction of the sheltering winged feathers of a mother hen exemplifies God’s protection and intimacy over us. He offers His help while allowing us the freedom to choose. He will cover us with His feathers where we may take refuge if we run to Him with faith, confessing with our mouths and believing in our hearts.

When Jesus walked the earth, He tried to warn the religious leaders about all the evil they were involved in. He reminded them how prophets had been sent to them with God’s truth. He loved even them and yearned to save them. But they chose not to take heed. His heart grieved as He spoke these words to them:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.”  Matthew 23:37 (NLT)

Father God loves us like a mother hen. He will shelter us under His strong arms, if we run to Him. We can find refuge under His wings, but it’s our choice. If we choose His protection, we can rest assured that any danger lurking nearby must contend with Him first. Secured under His wings, we gain trust in Him because He is faithful to His promises. 

20/20 Vision

“
Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes.
Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored,
and he saw everything clearly.
Mark 8:25 (NIV)”

          Suppose you lived on a city street corner, a vagrant with no place to call home. The sounds of gathering crowds and the unpleasant smells of livestock daily pass you by. You begin to imagine what it would be like to take a look at your environment. But you know that will never happen because darkness engulfs you. You are blind.

          There was a blind man in Bethsaida. When news spread about the arrival of the Man who performed miracles, the blind man’s friends led Him to Jesus. The disciples and bystanders all watched as Jesus lay hands on the man’s eyes. Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

          The man said people appeared dim. He described them as trees walking around. Jesus again placed his hands on the man’s eyes. Immediately his sight was restored. His eyes were opened. He saw everything clearly. What a miracle to have experienced. 

          Earlier Jesus had initiated a tough discussion with His disciples after abundantly suppling bread and fish for a massive crowd of people. The bounty was so great that they had experienced an overflow. Following the massive meal, the disciples had picked up baskets full of leftover pieces. Jesus then warned the disciples of the yeast of religious leaders and the adherence to man’s ways. But they failed to understand Him. “Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?” Jesus asked.

          Throughout His cross-examination, Jesus tried to enlighten His disciples about God’s ways. Jesus, the Bread of Life, had supplied the needs of a hungry crowd and the disciples had witnessed the miracle. But the Pharisees tried to deny the supernatural event with requests of more signs. Jesus recognized the dangers of the religious elite’s unbelief circulating among His followers. Though He reminded the disciples of His divine power, He knew they misunderstood.

          Like a loving teacher who desires for His students to learn, Jesus closed the discussion with another miracle. He healed the blind man brought to Him in Bethsaida. After placing His hands on the man’s eyes twice, his vision was restored. He saw everything clearly. Did the disciples now see and understand?

           Again, suppose you encountered vision problems and your world began to grow dark. Would you follow the ways of man and allow fear to consume you? Or would you cling to faith in God even though you couldn’t see what stood in front of you? 

          I recently discovered that three of my friends grappled with eye disease. Struggling with cataracts and glacoma, all three needed surgery. I could only imagine the uncertainty they faced. Asking for prayer, these ladies resisted fear and clung to faith. And praise God, they’ve all had successful surgeries. 

          Are you burdened with a bodily disease? Or are you overloaded with dis-ease and difficulty from work and finances? Most likely Covid and its ramifications have stressed you to a maximum level. Has your focus been faith or fear? Can you hear Jesus saying, “Do you still not understand?” 

          After Jesus gave sight to the blind man, He continued on with His instruction to His disciples as they traveled to neighboring villages. Jesus asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

          Several of them offered various answers, but Peter said, “You are the Messiah.”

          What a declaration. It seems the disciples were finally developing eyes to see and ears to hear. Was truth beginning to be revealed?           

          How about your eyes and ears? Have the happenings of the year 2020 distracted you with fear and terror? Or have you been awakened to God’s powerful presence and His promised faithfulness? Jesus is the Bread of life. Everyone who is spiritually hungry will be satisfied by belief and trust in Him. 

          Focus on Jesus, the Bread of Life, the spiritual staple that fills hearts and souls. Look to Him and know He is God. With clear vision and receptive ears, grasp the truth of His words. And He will supply all your needs abundantly, even to an overflow.

Seeing is Believing

          “Do you still not understand? Do your eyes fail to see and your ears fail to hear?” Jesus asked His disciples as He attempted to warn them of the corrupt religious elite. “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod,” He declared. 

          Prior to that discussion, Jesus had miraculously fed 4000 people from several loaves of bread and some fish with an abundance of leftovers. The disciples were eye-witnesses to this supernatural event. After the miracle, Jesus began to speak about yeast. But the disciples became confused. They failed to notice the spiritual depth behind such a phenomenon. Have we too overlooked the wisdom God provides in His marvelous Word? Must it always be hindsight that clarifies God’s work in our lives? 

          Many years ago I sat alone on a back pew at a church concert. While enjoying the worship music, a Bible verse came to mind. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11).

          My daughter happened to be a senior when this seemingly overused Scripture verse became popular among high school graduates. I felt as if God had spoken it directly to me for my daughter. It brought me overwhelming peace. I left the concert joyfully trusting God’s promise for her life. 

          But when my daughter began making poor life choices, I forgot God’s words. I gave into fear. I shuddered with panic. Worry consumed me every single day month after month. When I finally regained my senses, I humbled myself in prayer before Almighty God. I cried out to Him in praise and He reminded me of our long-term relationship. He had proven Himself faithful throughout my entire life. He even miraculously restored me to health after a dangerous bout with clots in my lungs. How could I have allowed doubt to compromise my faith in Him? Why had I focused on life’s adversities instead of God’s victories?

          Hindsight is 20/20. Sometimes in our moment of discontent, we can’t see the forest for the trees. We get so wrapped up in the situations around us that we fail to see the bigger picture. We struggle in our troubles instead of first praying to an Omniscient God. El Roi, the God who sees, knows all about us, and yet we fail to see His power prevail over our suffering. We lose sight of Him until He’s all we have. When we return to Him in repentance, His light shines in the darkness and our vision clears. Finally we begin to acknowledge with clarity His faithful presence in our lives. 

          Have you found yourself riveted by fear this year? Have your eyes focused anywhere but God? There are certainly plenty of problems to pinpoint—pandemic, panic, isolation, violence, hatred, death, masks, cancel culture, personal struggles, no church gatherings. The problems of 2020 continue to intensify. Many of us are nearly undone with the weight of it all. And Jesus says to each of us, “Do your eyes fail to see and your ears fail to hear?”

          Just as Jesus warned His disciples of the yeast of the religious elite, I can hear Him questioning me for my lack of faith with the words of the apostle Paul. “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. A little yeast works though the whole batch of dough.”  (Galatians 5:7-9).

          The yeast of corruption has definitely escalated throughout our institutions. Control and overreach has restrained the lives of the masses while evil and lawlessness has flourished. Churches are shut down, fellowship and worship are frowned upon. And Jesus says, “Do you still not understand?”

          In this ninth month of the year 2020, where are our eyes focused? Are the maladies so tremendous that we fail to see what God is doing? Are we allowing our physical sight to outweigh our spiritual sight? 

          Mankind hungers for more than this world offers. Wandering souls long for the liberating authority of a Mighty God. And humanity desperately needs a Savior. I hope you’ll return next time to discover more of Him with me.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)”

When Clouds Gather, Eradicate Fear

“When we fear because our treasures have been stripped away, choose to treasure Jesus anyway.
~based on Matthew 6:19-34”

“Therefore, you should pray like this:

Our Father in heaven,
Your name be honored as holy.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.”
[For Yours is the kingdom and the power
and the glory forever. Amen.]  Matthew 6:9-13 (HCSB)

Several months have passed since a pandemic swept across our world. Has the disease been destroyed? Facts tell us no. Has fear been eradicated? Facts seem to say no. But hopefully you’ve had time to mull over your own worries and fears. Reading Jesus’ words from the sixth chapter of Matthew was a cure for my anxieties. It helped to calm my distress as I put it into practice. I pray my experience will encourage you as we continue together into the near future with uncertainty. 

Anxious emotions have materialized out of the social distancing directive. I can’t sleep. We’ve lost a lot of money in the stock market. Do we have enough food and supplies? What if I catch the virus? I sure hope no one in my family gets sick and dies. God, I am so afraid. 

My daughter immediately fretted over the delivery of her baby. My sister stressed about her job and began applying for another one. My nephews lost their jobs. My husband and his co-workers received pay cuts. Businesses shut down. Schools and universities shut down and resumed online. While grocery stores remained open, employees and customers exhibited apprehension. Quarantine changed our lives.

The initial fright of this pandemic caught everyone off guard. Panic seemed to escalate, as shock dissipated. Fear of the unknown now seems to multiply daily. Worry continues to prevent sleep. We are simply undone. 

And God says, “Do not fear. Don’t worry.”  

Is anyone listening? We’re trying desperately to fix our problems, find a cure, figure out a plan to survive instead of first following the instructions of God. We seem to have forgotten that He is God and we are not.

Through the years, people have been busily trying to achieve and receive more stuff all the while complaining of little time to accomplish everything. Priorities have become skewed. Modern norms have eclipsed the traditional family. Desire for possessions have exceeded desire for the One who supplies them. Churches have cruised into assimilation with culture instead of battling to stand firm on God’s truth. 

All of a sudden we have time. We have been forced to stop, to social distance, to stay inside, to settle into a new way of life for a while. And it’s tough. Many things of our lives have been stripped away while the beauty of nature has been brought to light. 

Daybreaks and twilights display designs of exquisite grandeur. Have you noticed them? Birds express melodious praises with warbles and trills day after day. Have you heard them? Spring has arrived and bounteous blooms of vivid splendor reveal new life. Have you seen them? Even though our human situation has drastically changed, nature presses on. All because Someone greater is in charge.

So Lord, give us this day our daily bread. Reciting this statement within the Lord’s Prayer may have become rote. Believing its truth requires trust. It’s evident from the sounds of chirping that God daily feeds the birds. Have you noticed their praise choruses rising up before dawn? Do we trust God for daily sustenance like the birds? Do we trust Him in the dark? 

And Jesus says, “You are worth more than the birds.”  

If God takes such good care of the birds, won’t He do the same for us? We are remarkably made, knit together since conception (Psalm 139). And throughout our lives, He offers provision. His Word assures us of His promises. So why worry? God knows what we need. 

God desires for us to seek first His righteousness and trust Him for our needs. If we worry about tomorrow instead of simply trusting for today, we create anxiety for ourselves. Daily troubles abound. Why add more to the day?

But do as I say, not as I do because honestly, I’m worried. My pregnant daughter lives in Southern California with her firefighter/paramedic husband. They are due to have their first baby in a few days. The “what ifs” keep welling up inside of us all. This virus has hindered my plans to meet my new grandson and help out my daughter as a new mother. I am mad. I am sad. I am fearful. 

And the Holy Spirit says to me, “Debbie, I offer perfect peace. Will you trust Me?”

As Jesus carried our sins to the cross, He also carried our worries. He put an end to fear. He destroyed those things that try to destroy us. He even defeated death. If He is so powerful and mighty over harmful things, why do we choose them over Him?

Are you afraid of this pandemic? Has it created worry about your future? Maybe you’ve lost treasures—a job, a home, money, or even a loved one. Most likely all of your plans have changed. What is your response? Are you worrying about this worldly situation or are you trusting and treasuring the One who controls it all? 

When worry begins to creep up within our souls, remember Jesus who gave His life to save us from all that the enemy sends to destroy us. Be still. Have faith. Trust in the power of an Almighty God. Know He is in complete control. 

“Whenever I feel my foot slipping, your faithful love steadies me, Lord. When my anxieties multiply, your comforting calms me down.
Psalm 94:18-19”