Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘Jesus’

My Redeemer Lives

Posted in Bible Study, God, job, Spiritual Growth, Trials, worldview, Worship, tagged , , , , , , , on January 11, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Job 17-20, My Redeemer Lives. Lately I have had this tremendous sense of gratitude that we live in a day and time when God’s progressive revelation of Himself has come so far. In the days of the Prophets, the understanding of God was limited to the Law and the mixed messages coming from true prophets and false prophets and priests. When the people were wandering in the wilderness, they had Moses and the stone tablets, but we saw how much weight that carried. That whole generation (except Joshua and Caleb) died because of their lack of faith. From Abraham to Moses, there was God’s promise to Abraham, but not a lot more to rest your faith on. So, for Job to proclaim this truth, years before God spoke to Abram (who became Abraham) in the midst of his great suffering, is a testament to his faith. And it is BIG faith statement.

I have this mental picture right now that won’t go away. I see a kitten hanging on the end of a rope. There is both terror and determination in the kitten’s eyes. The caption reads, “Hang in there, baby.” Job’s cry are the words the kitten is thinking as it dangles. And there is a reward as the rope is pulled up and rescue ensues. Our Redeemer does live and He is our Rescuer. Job may not be correct in saying his suffering is from God, but he is absolutely on target when he says My, and Our, Redeemer Lives.

Faithful Redeemer and Lord, we thank you that in all things and at all times we can trust you. Even when we are at the end of our rope, you are there. Psalm 139 comes to mind, you know me, you know us, and we are yours. Thank you for rescuing us, for sending Jesus to die that we might live. Thank you for redeeming us, purchasing us with a price far beyond our worth. We pause to let that sink in… You paid so much for us because you love us and you have good plans for us. Such knowledge is too wonderful, to amazing. But that is who you are… our wonderful, amazing, glorious Redeemer, Savior, and Lord! Amen!

Read Full Post »

Patience in Pain

Posted in Bible Study, God, job, Spiritual Growth, Trials, worldview, Worship, tagged , , , , , , , , on January 11, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Job 14-16, Patience in Pain. As an engineer I see most things in a cause and effect paradigm. Having experienced God’s grace in many tangible ways, I fully count on His sovereignty to win the day and outcomes to be good, eventually. There are many Biblical promises such as Jeremiah 29:11 that point to this. God’s past actions and His present promises provide the framework for my belief that my current pain will be transformed into future blessing. Grief, suffering, and heartache are not to be denied, but they can be tempered and endured with the knowledge that the One who has been faithful will remain faithful.

I read the story in Acts 5 yesterday where the Apostles were beaten for preaching the Gospel. Their response to suffering the beating was rejoicing. How could they rejoice when their backs were bruised and bloodied? Because they were able to look beyond the pain to the wonderful work the Holy spirit was doing. They could see the kingdom of God growing. As I type, I get a glimpse of the millions of martyrs through the ages, and I realize that there has never been a tear shed or blood spilled by one of the Lord’s saints that hasn’t resulted in the kingdom expanding. What the enemy means for evil, God turns into good. That’s why we can have patience in the pain.

Father, we are so thankful that you walk with us through life, even carrying us when it gets overwhelming. Job’s friends could not see past their paradigm that had only an earthly cause and effect perspective. We know that you move in heaven and earth and sometimes we won’t see the great good you are doing until later… sometimes much later. We simply ask today that you will help us to grow in faith to exercise patience in the painful times. That includes not just our times of pain, but that of our friends, neighbors and people we meet. May your grace flow through us today. In Jesus’ Name.

Read Full Post »

Power of Community

Posted in God, Jesus Christ, The Father, worldview, Worship, tagged , , on January 11, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Genesis 8-11, Power of Community. There is tremendous power in an aligned community. A new “technology”, the brick, gave the people of Babylon the opportunity to build a structure that would rival any that then existed. And community pride was the vehicle that drove them to try to do just that. I hear echoes of the serpent’s temptation of Eve in the garden in the rationale behind building the great tower.

God calls us to community too, but it is to be God-centered community. Knowing Him and following Him is the way to life to the full. Jesus said this very thing in the Gospel of John. Connecting John 14:6 and John 10:10, Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and in him alone is life to the full. When we follow Jesus in discipleship community, we will find ourselves surrounded by brothers and sisters in the ultimate community of mercy, grace, and power.

Lord, guide us to seek you first and foremost. Help us to properly prioritize everything in our life that you are the center of our thoughts, our words, and our actions. We desire to live in a faith community that continues to grow and fill the whole world with the knowledge of you. Be glorified in and through us, faithful LORD.

Read Full Post »

Arguing with God

Posted in God, Prayer, Spiritual Growth, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on January 9, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Job 21-23. It was freeing for me when I realized I didn’t need to act pious before God. As I grew in our relationship, recognizing that His love and forgiveness were way bigger than my sin and assorted stumbles in life, I became able to stop trying to be righteous. It made any perceived distance between us shrink and I began to understand what it meant to “walk with God”. And instead of striving and trying to act right against the current of the world, my fleshly desires, and the temptations of Satan, my heart and my mind became more desirous of pleasing my faithful Lord. Doing what brings joy to Him became my desire. Because I knew He loved me unconditionally AND knew all that I thought, it became totally fine to talk it out when I was unhappy, confused, angry or any other emotion that I had attempted to stuff when I was trying to act righteous.

I recognize this in Job today. He is ready to argue with God. We know He doesn’t have the whole picture and some of Job’s assumptions are not correct, but I am encouraged because He never loses faith in God. He may be ready to challenge God that He has made a mistake in punishing him, but He does not lose faith that God is there or that He will listen to Him. While very limited in the New Testament, lamentations are a common theme in the Old Testament. As many as 60 of the Psalms are considered lamentations and there is even one whole book that is a collection of distressed heart cries to God called Lamentations. Being honest with God, even if it is an argument we are going to lose, is the path to greater intimacy with the Lover of our soul.

Father, thank you, that we can be real with you. We do not need to hide how we feel. Beyond the fact that there is nothing we can hide, there is truly more mercy, grace, and love readily available to us, that we can only receive when we let down our guard and let you in. That you gently, lovingly, pursue us, encouraging us to open up, is truly a great gift. Even when we don’t fully understand what’s going on, we put our trust in you. You are faithful and true. Blessed be the Name of the LORD, our God! Amen!

Read Full Post »

Scriptural Promises of Hope

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , on January 2, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Any blog post written is only as good as the source material used. I wrote earlier today about the difference between Optimism and Hope. Hope has its foundation on the promises of God and the reality of Jesus Christ’s sacrificial life, death, and resurrection. Thanks to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for sending me a daily word of encouragement. I am forwarding these 15 scriptural promises they shared with me for you to read and use as a foundation for your hope today.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
—Jeremiah 29:11, ESV This was a life verse given to me when the entire office where I worked was notified we had been downsized. They said they needed us to stick around a few months for transition. That entire first week, this verse kept coming to mind unbidden. I knew it was the Holy Spirit building my faith for what was likely to be a challenging time. Because of this verse and other ways the Lord chose to encourage us, our hope never waned. In the end, after 15 months, they gave me a new job within the company that became one of the best jobs I ever had.

He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.
—1 Peter 1:3–4, ESV

Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
—Philippians 3:20, ESV

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
—Zephaniah 3:17, ESV

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
—Romans 15:13, ESV

They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
—Isaiah 40:31, ESV, I’ve lost track of the number of times I have sung this as a reminder of God’s mercy and grace when I was worn and weary. And every time His Word has lifted and refreshed me for my next steps. And I am still stepping because He is my strength and my refreshing.

And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.
—Psalm 39:7, ESV

… waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ …
—Titus 2:13, ESV

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
—Romans 12:12

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.
—2 Corinthians 4:17–18, ESV, This scripture is such a comfort in times of difficulty. Sudden job loss, two near death episodes, a cancer diagnosis, and other challenges of life truly shrink to insignificance when compared to life with God that will go on into eternity. This life is but a prelude to the larger, brighter, better life God has prepared for His children.

The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
—Romans 8:18, ESV

Behold, I am coming soon.
—Revelation 22:12, ESV

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
—Romans 15:4, ESV

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
—Revelation 21:4, ESV

This I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
—Lamentations 3:21–23, ESV, Context is important. Jeremiah wrote this as the southern kingdom of Judah has been crushed, most of those not killed have been carried off into exile in a foreign land, and Jeremiah is left with a group of the poorest of the land with enemies all around ready to swoop in and crush whoever remains. His prophesies went unheeded yet came true. Even now the people ask for his prophetic word but then ignore it. If anyone had reason to lose hope and feel sorry for himself, it was the weeping prophet Jeremiah. Yet he reminds himself of God’s faithfulness and then hope rises.

Read Full Post »

Is It Optimism or Hope?

Posted in God, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, The Father, Trials, worldview, tagged , , , , , , on January 2, 2026| Leave a Comment »

As followers of Jesus, we are uniquely equipped for life in all it’s chaotic messiness. Being connected to the source of life and indwelt by the Holy Spirit gives us a perspective that transcends the loss, pain, suffering, and heartbreak present in this fallen world. It does not mean we don’t experience it or feel it. It simply means that we are aware that this life, all its highs and its lows, are but a precursor to the larger life God has in store for His children.

My boss often corrects me when I use the word hope about future prospects concerning work. I have pushed back lightly telling him that I cannot help but be a hopeful person because of my faith. I haven’t taken the conversation farther than this yet, but I think 2026 will see that happen. Today’s post captures the gist of what I want to say.

I will begin using the word “optimistic” when I am talking about work. Optimism is this recognition that things are trending in the right direction. Optimism is first cousin to hope in that it believes there is a desired final destination and the path we are on leads to it.  There is confidence that the path is correct and the destination will be reached.

Hope is bigger than optimism. Hope is grounded confidence that the final destination is not only desired and good, but that it will be reached no matter what. That grounding is in a person, Jesus, and a path, following Him as revealed in His Word.

There are two key differentiators between optimism and hope. They are 1) what happens when the path becomes difficult and the final destination is in doubt and 2) what is the source of the confidence.

Optimism is largely based upon circumstances being right and things working out in a particular way. Optimism usually includes a good bit of intervention on our part to keep things moving toward the desired destination. Optimism can also be seriously eroded when circumstances wane and turn against us. Because it is based upon reaching a final destination, when that becomes “unrealistic”, optimism can fail.

Hope, at least Biblical hope, is not based upon circumstances. It is based upon God, His promises, and most especially, God’s Son – Jesus. Because we have an amazing record of His life and His words to us, we can learn the path He has called us to. He warns us about the inevitable challenges on the way, but He promises to be with us. He tells us that He who has overcome the world will be with us in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Hope is not eroded when circumstances seem to fail. If anything, hope shines brighter when circumstances fail.

There are three cardinal virtues Paul mentions in his first letter to the church in Corinth. In chapter 13 we read, ‘And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.‘ This trio of virtues build and strengthen the body of Christ, the Church. They also demonstrate in a powerful way the reality of our final destination – eternal union with God, the Lover of our Souls.

While it is good to be an optimistic “glass half full” kind of person, the true blessing and joy comes from knowing Him and allowing that relationship to fill us with HOPE!

Read Full Post »

What’s in Your Diet

Posted in exercise, Priorities, Vision, worldview, tagged , , , , , , , , on January 1, 2026| Leave a Comment »

It’s New Years Day and like many people my mind has been on things I would like to do differently in 2026. Turning the page on a new year always seems like the right time to turn the page to a new and better me. As I woke this morning my mind flitted back and forth between what do I want to exclude and what to include in my diet in 2026. Too many sweets, too large portions, too many snacks were all a challenge in 2025 that I aim to rectify. But as I pondered and prayed (and it is not a bad thing for these to blend together) I sensed the Holy Spirit broadening me to consider ALL that I take in and / or exclude from my life in 2026. His gentle guidance is to continually orient ALL of me toward the Lord and His “kingdom purposes” for me. By definition that must include reorienting myself away from the lesser things that draw me away from Him and from walking in kingdom living.

A friend of mine just sent me this text which fits for flipping the page. It also happens to be the founding verse for our church – NewSpring Church. ‘“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

So, I begin with setting the foundation for what we are created for. That is to know God and to make Him known.  To enjoy Him and to share that enjoyment with others naturally flows as we grow closer to Him. His love gradually saturates us and becomes the engine that drives our witness to who He is and what He has done in our life. It really is not about a formula or methodology. It is about living life the way He designed it to be lived and allowing the fruit of that life to grow and be shared with others.

I love growing and working with plants. Retirement, when it finally comes, will include plenty of time spent with dirty hands amongst green growing things. I have learned that healthy, nutrient rich soil is vital to strong, vibrant, beautiful plants. The plants take these nutrients up through their roots and this feeds the whole of the plant. There are only a few plants that can grow in poor soil and the vast majority of these are weeds, plants that do not add beauty, delight, or in the case of fruit and vegetables, anything worth eating. This truth carries over to our lives. What is the “soil” we are planted in? Where are your roots? Are you getting the nutrients you need to produce good fruit, godly fruit?

Because we are created as more complex beings than the flowers and tomato plants in our yard, lets zero in on the areas of our diet we will consider in 2026. Our complexity can be grouped into our physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. I’m sure there are sub-divisions to these and for sure some overlap such as emotional and social, but my feeble brain can work with these divisions, so please bear with me.

The huge number of gym memberships and diet plans started in January of each year testify to the awareness we have of our physical needs. We are overweight and / or out of shape and we want to do something about it. By the end of January something around 2/3 of the diets and workout routines have been abandoned. One of the causes is that a wholistic approach is not considered. Our physical being must align with the other facets of who we are. Improvement in one area alone will not be sustainable.

So, when I consider my diet, I will look at the food and much more. It will include the exercise I will intentionally undertake. It will guide what I do to expand my knowledge of the world I live in. I will be aware of and practice activities that meet my true emotional needs while discerning and addressing the lies that would lead me to bad decisions and emotional harm. I will look for healthy social interactions and ways to make a positive impact in the areas where the Lord leads me. And the true foundation for a believer is how do we nurture our relationship with the Lord of life in such a way that we grow closer to Him and better able to follow His leading in all things.

Here are a few things I am going to do or do differently in 2026. Most are extensions of things I have either done in the past or I am doing now, but need reinforcement. This is my list and should not necessarily be your list. However, these may stir something in you that you want to take to the LORD for consideration. That is truly my hope that the LORD would encourage you in some way that helps you to grow closer to Him in 2026.

I will read the Word every day and capture at least one key thought to share with others. I will share this through a GroupMe group.

I will read through the entire Bible chronologically this year.

I will reestablish a prayer discipline that has waned some in the recent past.

I will read at least 10 pages of non-fiction (other than the Bible) every day.

With the Holy Spirit’s help, I will engage in at least one new ministry this year.

I will revisit the Spiritual Disciplines I am currently using and, with the Holy Spirit’s help, refresh and start anew.

I will drastically reduce the amount of sugar and sweeteners I consume.

I will limit portion size on my meals. It is okay not to clean my plate. At the first sign of fullness, I will stop eating.

I will engage in intentional exercise of 45 minutes duration at least 3 times per week.

I will engage in some form of exercise for at least 20 minutes per day resulting in at least 7000 steps per day.

I will limit my social media viewing to 30 minutes max per day.

I will have a date night at least once per week. Lisa deserves my undivided attention and I am blessed by hers.

I will make at least one new acquaintance each week. This can be while traveling for work, on the golf course with our son, Sam, during one of our “adventure trips”, or through church.

I will complete the story I began writing in 2025 (Titus’s Travels) and share it with at least 10 friends.

I will post at least four longer blogs to areliablefaith.com each month. This is the first one and it is going out on January 1 so I am making a good start.

I will actively support the ministries we have partnered with… NewSpring, More 320 Haven, YWAM-Matthew, CRU-Emily & Forrest, SOW- Coleman, SOW- Lifespring School, Kenya, Hounds of Heaven – South Anderson

Visit, call, or text Mom at least once per day.

Visit, call, or text each of my children at least three times per week.

Visit at least one new National Park.

Visit at least one new Country and learn three things about their culture I did not know.

Write at least two papers / articles / blog posts for work this year.

Speak at a work conference this year.

Have at least one touch base with every Consultant each week.

Participate in Wednesday Men’s Bible Study every Wednesday that I am in town.

Follow up on the possibility of buying property for our retirement home.

I am going to pause for now. I surprised myself with the amount of pent up things to do, things to change, that I had. I can see how these would provide some helpful guardrails that have either not existed or have become ignored over time. Because I am an engineer at heart, there just might be a spreadsheet to track my progress. Again, I don’t know that this is for everyone, but I find it helpful to hold myself accountable.

I encourage anyone who reads this to let me know at least one thing you have taken away from this post.

I wish you all a blessed start to your new year of 2026.

Read Full Post »

Desire to be a Doorkeeper

Posted in Church, God, Jesus Christ, Prayer, Worship, tagged , , , , , , , , on July 31, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Psalms 82-82 Romans 2. I like the image that comes to mind when I read Psalm 84:10. ‘Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.’ The picture is one of joyful exuberance as I swing the door wide to welcome people – young and old, excited and exhausted, some that look like me and many who look nothing like me, multi-colored, varieties of dress, just lots of people who are drawn to be near the Lord God Almighty.

I can clearly see the smile on my face and the joy in my eyes as I know Who awaits them inside. Many streaming in already know Him and have an abiding relationship with the Lover of their soul. Some do not, but they have hope and so they come. God, who is Love, has brought them to the doors of faith and He is ready to meet them where they are and draw them to Himself.

There is historical context to this Psalm that is helpful to know. The Jewish people had three high feast days when it was expected that they would travel to Jerusalem to worship as God’s gathered people. For a time, God placed a unique manifestation of His presence in the Temple. While God is omnipresent, i.e. present in all places at all times, He can and does chose to manifest His presence in a more tangible way in discrete places for periods of time. He can do this in human form like He did in Babylon in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abenego, He can do it like He did with the Ark of the Covenant, or He can do it like He did in the Temple in Jerusalem as a cloud. The point is God is both always present and, at times, manifestly present. To come to the Temple is to say, I want to be as close to the Lord as I possibly can. And that is a good thing.

One final thought. Standing at the door we get to experience God’s presence while at the same time extending His invitation to others who have not experienced Him. Being in His presence and soaking up His lovingkindness does wonders for us, but it is also meant to motivate us to share it with others. God’s love in contagious in the most wonderful way. We work in concert with the Holy Spirit as we do life with others, taking the opportunities presented to point to Him, to speak of Him, to live in a manner that represents Him well. As we do, we are swinging the door wide and offering the invitation, “Come inside, the LORD invites you to join Him. He is so glad you came!”

LORD, you are Holy. That you invite us to join you is wonderful, amazing, and a bit surprising. But through your Son, Jesus, you made a way that we can enter in. You offered cleansing from sin by His precious blood spilled on our behalf. So, with gratitude and in great humility we bend the knee and say, “thank you”. While we rightfully should remain in this posture, you reach down and lift us up, saying, “Arise my child, your sins are forgiven. Come join the celebration!” And we do. Glory, honor, and praise be ever to our King, our Lord, the one true God. Amen and AMEN!

Read Full Post »

Dichotomy

Posted in Bible Study, God, Jesus Christ, Romans, Salvation, Spiritual Growth, The Father, worldview, tagged , , , , , , , , , on July 30, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Psalm 79-81, Romans 1. Paul’s letter to the Romans is a beautiful treatise on the difference between life without God versus the transformed life in union with God. This first chapter provides a 30,000-foot view of this dichotomy where Paul is setting the table for what is to come.

Life can be parsed into three phases – transgression, transaction, and transformation. Transgression is the first phase and sadly, many people never leave this phase. Romans 1:18-32 describe life in the transgression phase – broken, sinful, and separated from God.

The transaction phase is when we hear and receive the Gospel – the good news of Jesus Christ. Romans 1:1-5 touches on the heart of this transaction which Paul will elaborate on over the coming pages. In this phase God exchanges our sins for Jesus’ righteousness in an act of ultimate mercy and grace. He changes our heart, our direction, and our ultimate destination.

Then there is the transformation phase where our lives become aligned with God’s will over time. I can’t help but jump ahead to Romans 12:1-2 as I think about this. It follows the transaction where we lay down our old lives and say yes to Jesus as Savior and Lord. This transformation is our lives becoming increasingly aligned with Jesus. In one place it is called putting on the “mind of Christ”. It is where our habits are changed from being dictated by self and the world’s ways to becoming directed by the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit. It is a time of partnership with the deep working of the Holy Spirit in us to bring about a total transformation of how we think, speak, and act.

The Gospels give us a clear picture of Jesus – who He is, what He did while in the flesh, and what the life He calls us to looks like. Acts describes this glorious giving of the Holy Spirit who indwells us as redeemed children of God. We see how the Holy Spirit works within the gathered body of Christ as a group as well as in individuals who are in the transformation process.  In this letter to the Romans Paul connects the dots between these three phases, reaching back to the beginning of the story in Genesis through the Gospels, into the time of the book of Acts, and, under the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, all the way to us as we read his words today.

I love the book of Romans because it articulates the path I have been walking on for 40+ years. When I read it it’s like looking at the map to check my location, my destination, and to correct where I may be a little off. It is a gift from the Lord to lead us home and to help us finish strong!

Lord, thank you for all the saints who have gone before us. Today as we launch into the letter you inspired Paul to write, we thank you for the wise words that help us on our journey in faith. Your plan for us is good and we desire to walk it out with constancy and purpose. Take what we read, the circumstances of our lives, and the needs within us and bring about your perfect will. We want to become more like Jesus today. We want to shed whatever vestige of our old self that might rise up so that the new creation in You might be revealed. We want to please you in word, in deed, and even in our thoughts. Lord God, you are our God, you are our hope, you are our All in All. Blessed be your Holy Name!

Read Full Post »

Psalm 76-78, Acts 28:17-31. God’s Past Provision Contains the Promise of His Future Faithfulness.

Posted in God, Prayer, Spiritual Growth, tagged , , , , , , , on July 29, 2025| Leave a Comment »

We are inheritors of God’s promises given repeatedly since the beginning of time. From Genesis 3:15 on, God has promised He would send a rescuer, a deliverer from the enemy who accuses us and the sin that binds us. In Abraham, God chose a family line to bring forth this redeemer. Throughout the Jewish Law and Prophets, God’s provision and these promises are repeated. Sadly, despite this the people repeatedly failed to live according to God’s direction and they forfeited their place in these promises.

I was the oldest of four children. Lisa and I raised four ourselves. One thing I have noticed is that the youngest children have a great advantage should they choose it. They can learn from the oldest children’s mistakes. My younger siblings benefited greatly from the discipline that I rightly earned. I won’t necessarily say they were perfect, but they at least knew where the lines were that they should not cross. But even better, they knew the things that created peace, happiness, and harmony in the home.

Psalm 72 gives this look back over Israel’s past, highlighting God’s faithful provision even in times of trial and difficulty. It was a call to the Jews in that day, but it is also appropriate for us today to see where God has been and what He has done on our behalf. We are not orphans abandoned to ourselves. We are His children.

There will be times when He draws us close and holds us tight. There will also be times when He calls us to stand firm in the face of adversity, knowing that He is with us. He is raising us up and training us to be people who faithfully follow even when we don’t feel it, when the view of His hand is obscured. We are learning to be people who trust His heart even when we can’t see His hand.

Having passed through more than one hard place and dark time, His presence on the other side seems a little more real. The delight in His eyes and the smile on His face seems a little richer. And for sure, the joy in my heart lifts me a little higher. And when the next challenge comes, I have His past provision to hold onto because I know it contains the promise of His forever faithfulness.

Lord, thank you that you are always there, even in those times when we don’t feel you. Help us to look at your past provision and faithfulness to the people of God in the Bible as well as in the lives of our believing friends to buoy our faith. When the going gets tough, bring to mind the times you have provided for us, the times you have nurtured us in sweetness. Lord, we surrender our need to have a specific solution, and we accept your presence and your provision as we put our whole trust in you. For you are our provider, our healer, our redeemer, and our Lord. To you be all glory, honor, and praise, now and forever!

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »