It’s okay to have questions

Doubt can be dangerous for Christians. Doubt often causes us to distance ourselves from God. Distance leads to disobedience and soon our faith atrophies. God wants us to believe without wavering. But sometimes that’s hard. If anyone should have believed without wavering, it was John the Baptist. Even in the womb, Jesus’ cousin recognized the Lord, leaping at the sound of Mary’s voice (Luke 1: 41-45). John’s whole life was, “to prepare the way for the Lord” (Luke 3:4). He declared Jesus as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” How did he know? “The one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen, and I testify that this is the Son of God” (John 1:29-34).
Later John asked a big question, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Luke 7:20). What changed? John was in a prison cell after speaking out against the Roman king and his adulterous marriage. He had faithfully proclaimed the coming of God’s Kingdom. He had rebuked the religious elite and the irreligious royals. And rather than blessings, his efforts brought down wrath. He did what God asked of Him and the results were harsh. He would lose his head over it. Can you blame the poor fellow? Haven’t you and I questioned God for less?
With all that he knew, John – weary and discouraged – began to doubt. But Jesus didn’t chastise John. He pointed him back to the evidence. “What do you see, John?” “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor” (Luke 7:22). Look beyond your circumstances, John. You preached the coming of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 3:1). You spoke of my power (Mark 1: 7). Your own words are being fulfilled in Me. Then He added, “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me” (Luke 7:23).
My questions made me search for answers. And those answers strengthened my faith. Ask your questions Beloved. He will not chastise you. He will give you answers that will ground and strengthen your faith. Jesus not only has the answers, He is the answer.

Advent 2023: When You’re Having a Blue Christmas

“And He will be called Wonderful Counselor . . .” (Isaiah 9:6)

It is well known that Christmas, the most joyful season of the year, is also the most prone to bring on bouts of depression. I get it. Boy, do I get it. When your family Christmas doesn’t measure up to the Norman Rockwell standard or the Hallmark ideal . . . When the truck repairs take all your Christmas money . . . When your company skips the Christmas bonus and gives you the boot instead . . . When crazy relatives show their worst side . . . When your heart gets broken . . . When you are just tired of the cultural “Happy Holidays!” . . . Well, I think you get the picture. Depression seems worse this time of year because you know you’re supposed to be full of joy, joy, joy but the reality is you’re having a “blue Christmas.”
My friend, you need a counselor – but not just any counselor – you need a Wonderful Counselor. You need a Counselor who knows you inside and out, who knows your past, your present, and your future. You need a Counselor who has perfect insight into your mind and heart and knows what will bring you peace and Joy. You need a Counselor who has invested His whole being – His very life – in you. You need a Counselor who loves you to death – literally. You need Jesus.
He is the Wonderful Counselor because He has perfect wisdom. His Word is full of righteousness with not even a hint of error. His counsel is perfect – He will never steer you in the wrong way. His ways and words are true as He leads you through the darkness and into his marvelous light. His counsel is without cost – in fact – He paid the full price for you with His own life.
And most importantly, He loves you. He lowered Himself and became a frail, helpless baby in the humblest circumstance to bring you into the family of God. He traded His throne for a cross and His crown for thorns so that you might sit with Him in glory.
Beloved, if your heart is not ringing with Joy this Christmas, may I suggest you get into counseling with Jesus? His office never closes and He is never too busy to meet with you. Your Wonderful Counselor is only a whispered prayer away.

Advent 2023: How Do We Get to Bethlehem?

“Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea . . . “Matthew 2:1

I had a conversation recently with a friend who is moving away. She is greeting this transition with both anxiety and excitement. “It’s all going to be so strange in a new town, but who knows what God has in store there?” I remembered my own move five years ago and that same mix of anticipation and trepidation. Like my friend, I believed God was behind our relocation and in the ensuing years He has confirmed that His will for me is here in this place. I believe God sets things in motion and orchestrates events so that His will is fulfilled. The Bible is filled with story after story of God’s hand in the events of human history, and in individual lives. But sometimes the path He chooses is hard and difficult to understand in the moment.

Joseph had a destiny in Egypt that affected his family, the forthcoming nation of Israel and the entire world. But God took him through pits and prison on the way. David would be king of Israel, but by way of the sheep fields and running for his life through the wilderness. I love the accounts of Paul; God had a purpose for him, to “carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel,” (Acts 9:15). He declared, “you must testify about me in Rome, (Acts 23:11). And he did indeed make it to Rome to declare the name of Christ Jesus, but he arrived as a prisoner, through a storm and a shipwreck and a snake (Acts 27-28).

Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem fulfilled a prophecy made hundreds of years before: “Out of you, Bethlehem Ephrathah . . . will come one for me who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2). How could that happen when His mother and father were in Nazareth, some 100 miles away? Watch what God did. “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone when to his own town to register,” (Luke 2:1, 3). Guess where Joseph’s family town happened to be?

Beloved, a life surrendered into the hands of the Lord God Almighty may have twists and surprises, and yes even doubts and struggles, but you can be assured that He is faithful to fulfill His purpose. Don’t be afraid of these “strange things that are happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12). It’s just God at work fulfilling His purpose for you.

Words of Wisdom

The book of Ecclesiastes was written by King Solomon, the wisest ruler that ever lived. His wisdom came to him directly from the Lord God when he took over his father’s throne as a very young man. He began his rule well, submitting to the Lord’s authority and Law. His decisions were righteous and just and his reputation for both understanding and wealth were known far and wide. Israel enjoyed peace and prosperity during his reign. But for all that God-given wisdom, Solomon acted very foolishly in his life. For starters, he got tangled up with multiple women – 700 wives and 300 concubines – most from foreign lands. “And his wives led him astray; [they] turned his heart after other gods” (1 Ki 11:3,4).

He also turned his heart toward himself. He “built houses for myself”, “owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem,” “amassed silver and gold for myself,” and  “denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure” (Eccl 2:4-10). The result of all his pleasure-seeking and self-satisfaction? “Everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind” (v. 11). He discovered what God knew all along – a self-centered life is a miserable life. Everything he did, everything he built, everything he gained was all for himself.

It’s a lesson humanity still hasn’t mastered all these generations later. We live in the age of self – self-esteem, self-worth, self-care, self-determination, self-knowledge, and selfies. No other generation seems more self-focused than this one.  When life is all about self, life is meaningless. People who do not have a relationship with God have such a sad outlook. But when our lives are about the glory of God, we find real meaning and purpose and passion. A life lived for self is wasted. A life lived for God is full and rich.

Solomon divided his discoveries into things “under the sun” and things “under heaven.” Under the sun referred to anything that was temporal: buildings, pleasure, wealth, possessions, reputation, earthly wisdom, position and popularity. Under heaven was anything with eternal value: love, Joy, heavenly wisdom, people, salvation, humility, kindness, peace, hope, and the glory of God.

In the end he said, “Here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Eccl 12:13). It was the wisest thing he ever said. Beloved, it is the wisest thing you will ever do.

God, I Don’t Understand

I looked up at the sky with tears on my face and said, “God, I do not understand this.” The situation was completely counter to everything I prayed for. I thought I had done everything He told me to do. Now this. The obvious question hung in the air – and in my heart: “Why?” I know you can relate. I’ve read your posts. I’ve heard you talking. You’ve cried on my shoulder, just as I cried on yours. Life doesn’t always follow our well-thought-out plans or our desires and passions. Our hearts are broken and our faith is shaken. And all we can do is ask “Why.”

I came across two passages in the Bible this morning that I believe can give us comfort. In Jeremiah, Israel was under oppression by their enemy. They had been captured and whisked away from their home. God declared His intent to rescue His people even though they had sinned against Him. But He would do it through a storm – “See the storm of the Lord will burst out in wrath . . . on the heads of the wicked” (Jer 30:23).

Much like the storm David endured in Psalm 18, His people would see the wrath of God. It would not be directed at them but it would still be a frightening ordeal. “The fierce anger of the Lord will not turn back until He fully accomplishes the purposes of His heart.” And then the word of comfort: “In days to come you will understand this” (Jer 30:24).

The other is in John’s account of Jesus’ final week. As He and His disciples we being served the Passover meal, the Lord knelt before each man and washed his feet. As He approached Simon Peter, the disciple questioned Him, in essence asking, “Why are YOU washing my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand” (Jn 13:6-7). The word in both verses is not just an “AHA! moment” but it is a profound knowledge that goes deep into the heart and soul.

What these Scriptures teach us, and what my own experience with God has proven is that He has a purpose for everything He does and everything He allows in our lives.  Every. Single. Thing. And one day you and I will understand. It will all make sense. We’ll look up to heaven and say, “So that’s what You were up to!” In the meantime, Beloved, will you trust Him?

Psalm 37

You say you’re in a difficult season, a hard spot, a fiery trial and you don’t know what to do. I understand, I’m in one too. But here’s a good word for you and me. David wrote Psalm 37 as an old man, full of wisdom gleaned from the highs and lows of his life. He had been in more than a few hard spots – some through his enemies and some by his own foolish hand. I want you to read the whole Psalm, but here are the high points:

v. 1 – Don’t fret – fretting ranges from worry to anger – it is an emotion that eats away at us from the inside out like cancer in your mind.

v. 3 – Trust in the Lord – He has never let you down, has He? He is as dependable and faithful as His name and His Word.

v. 4 – Delight yourself in the Lord – If the Lord is the desire of your heart, He will also be your delight. And if He is your delight, He will also be your heart’s desire.

v. 5 – Commit your way to the Lord – Make God’s will the focus of your life in everything you do. I don’t just mean God’s will for your career or your spouse or where you live. I mean to make God’s will – His Kingdom – your will. Have no other will but His.

v. 7 – Be still before the Lord – this one has come up for me more than once in recent days. Be still. Be quiet. Let Me do the talking and the doing. And again God says, “do not fret.”

v. 34 – Wait for the Lord – He may not come till the last minute (or second as He often does with me), but He will come. Always. Wait – and while you wait, keep practicing verses 1-7.

Wise words from a man who lived all out for God – and sometimes stumbled in the process.

I have a problem – Don’t fret.

I believe God can answer my problem – Trust.

I want God more than I want my problem resolved – Delight.

I will surrender to His will in my problem and my life – Commit.

I will leave my problem in His hand – Be still.

I will give God time to work – Wait.

It’s not a formula, it’s not even a lifestyle. It’s a relationship. Beloved, God has your problem and He has you.

Your God Will Come

I need a word this morning. I’ll bet you do too. This life can be tough. This world is a scary place sometimes. All you have to do is read the daily news and you will want to crawl under a rock and hide. Some of us are struggling with difficult family issues. Some of us are discouraged in our jobs. Some of us are facing health problems, or financial problems, or even car problems. Some of us are trying to pick up the pieces after physical, emotional, and spiritual hurricanes. Like I said, I—we—need a word.

God gave me the word we need this morning. It comes from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. “Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way, say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come . . .’” (Is 35:3-4). I can’t think of anything better to hold on to than knowing that God will come. He will come for the weary. He will come for the weak. He will come for the fearful. He will come for the lost. He will come for the sick. He will come for the persecuted. He will come for the lonely. He will come for the grieving. He will come for the poor.

He comes with sovereign power (40:10). He comes with gentleness (40:11). He comes with righteousness (Zec 9:9). He comes with healing (Mal 4:2). He comes with justice (Is 42:4). He comes with hope (Ps 10:17). He comes with peace (2 Thess 3:16). He comes with comfort (2 Cor 1:3). He comes with strength (Ps 29:11). He comes with Joy (Ps 30: 5,11). He comes with wisdom (Ps 25:8-9). He comes with love and mercy (Ps 31:21-22). He comes with help and deliverance (Ps 37:40). He comes with forgiveness (Ps 37:39.) He comes with grace (Rom 5:20).

Whatever your need, whatever your circumstance, God will come. How can I be so sure? Because His word declares it. His Son proved it. And His daughter has seen it over and over and over in my life. I may sound like a broken record but I will proclaim it till I draw my last breath: God is faithful. He will always be faithful because it is His nature.

I will leave you with the most encouraging words you will ever hear. It comes from the heart and mouth of Jesus. “Behold, I am coming soon” (Rev. 22:12). And He will Beloved. Maybe even today.

Building a Wise Life

I used to think if just studied the Bible enough, poured over it every day and memorized verses, I would be wise. Then I wondered, how can I know so much Scripture and do the foolish things I do? The Bible gives much wisdom about finances, yet I was always broke and drowning in debt. God has volumes to say about relationships, but I did not have good relationships with my family, friends or co-workers. Why? Because, while I knew a lot of Bible verses, I wasn’t being obedient to what I knew. I wasn’t following those Biblical principles for financial management or healthy relationships.

Jesus said “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matt. 7:24). Likewise, He says, “But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand” (Matt. 7:26). There are two components to the wise life: hearing God’s Word combined with obedience. Together they become the sure foundation for the life of a Christian. Listen to James: “The man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:25). God doesn’t speak just to be heard, He speaks to be obeyed.

The Bible really is very practical to our daily lives. There is nothing we will encounter in life that the Bible does not address, either directly or implicitly. There are “do’s and do not’s” and there are teachings that guide us in the best way to live. But they will just be words on a page to us unless we walk in obedience and submission.

Is there a particular area of defeat in your life Beloved? Look up Scriptures that address that area and ask God to help you put them into practice. Read and study the Word of God every day and consider how to bring your life in line with what He says. You may need to make some changes and hard choices, but the blessings that come from walking in obedience are worth it. Build a wise life on the Word of God and obedience to Him. Then when “the rain comes down, and the streams rise, and the winds blow and beat against your house, it will not fall, because it has its foundation on the rock” (Matt. 7:25b).

The Desire of Your Heart

Whenever we take Joy to a department store, she always convinces Poppy to head to the toy section. Up and down the aisles I hear “I want that, Poppy!” “I want that!” You and I are just like her. Our wants drive us to go places, make purchases, establish relationships, and yes, sin. It all starts with the desires of our hearts.

Go back to the garden with Adam and Eve. When the serpent tempted her, he didn’t say, “Look at this luscious fruit, Eve. It’s so tasty and pretty! Why, this fruit is full of wisdom. Don’t you want wisdom, Eve?” He let Eve tap into her own desires to make her decision. “The woman saw that the fruit was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, [so] she took some and ate it” (Gen 3:6).

Was it wrong for her to desire tasty, pretty food? Was it wrong for her to want wisdom? Not at all. The garden was full of food she was welcome to (2:16) and God would surely have told her anything she needed or wanted to know (Jas 1:5). Instead, she went after the one thing God had forbidden.

That’s the same picture James painted when he wrote, “Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed” (Jas 1:14). Remember Eve’s desire for food and wisdom were not wrong desires. But now with the introduction of sin, man’s desires are often laced with evil, and that evil desire – the original language called it “lust” – drives us all the harder to attain whatever it is we want.

Is there any hope for our wicked, evil hearts? Yes! David said, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart, (Ps 37:4). The answer is to desire God. Like Joy, whatever we want we will pursue. If we want toys, we’ll head to the toy aisle. If we want fruit, we’ll go to the tree (or the produce section of the grocery store). If we want immorality, we’ll search it out until we find it. And if we desire God – well, we don’t have to look far, because He promises we will find Him (Jer 29:13).

Because of our sinful natures desiring God is not our default. But you can ask Him for it. Here’s a prayer that God will honor: “Lord, cause me to want you above every other thing. Make Yourself the desire of my heart.” And He will.

Road Trip!

We’re planning a fun day trip with Joy today in Poppy’s truck.  Every mile of our adventure will be powered by the combustion engine under the hood. That engine has two jobs: to take in fuel and to put out power. My husband will provide the fuel by filling up the gas tank and the engine will produce the power which will push the truck down the road.

Paul knew nothing about a combustion engine, but he understood the principle. He wrote, “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose” (Php 2:12-13). Do you see the principle? What God works in – you work out. God is at work in you through His Word and His Spirit – providing power, wisdom, strength, and righteousness. Your job is to take what He provides and work it out in your life.

He gives you His power to overcome the devil. You work out that power by “standing your ground” (Eph 6:13) against the enemy until he runs from you (Ja 4:7). He gives you His wisdom to make godly decisions. You believe His wise counsel and act according to His will (Rom 12:2). He gives you His strength to endure the trials so that you can persevere with Joy (Ja 1:2), knowing that God is working all things for the good (Rom 8:28). He gives you His righteousness so you can live a holy life. He gives you a way out of temptation, and you take it. He gives you His love so that you can love others – even those who are hard to love. He gives you His Spirit, and you work it out by living by the Spirit (Gal 6:16), being led by the Spirit (v. 18), and keeping in step with the Spirit (v. 25). He gives you His Word to teach, rebuke, correct, and train you in righteousness – you work it out by study and obedience.

You would think we were crazy if we jumped in the truck and expected to make our trip without any fuel to power the engine. How crazy is it to try to live godly lives without the truth of the Word and the power of God’s Spirit? Beloved, God is providing the fuel for holy living (2 Pet 1:3) – all you have to do is work out what He is pouring in. Get your motor running – it’s time to hit the road!