November 22nd - It Is Well

November 22, 2017 - Thoughts for your Week

Scripture: Philippians 4:11-13

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Revelation 21: 4

It Is Well

The hymn; "It Is Well With My Soul" was penned by Horatio G. Spafford, a very successful lawyer and devout Christian from Chicago. In October 1871, the Great Chicago Fire brought the city of Chicago to ashes, and Horatio and his family lost everything. Wanting rest for himself, his wife Anna, and their four daughters, Spafford planned a European trip for his family. At the last minute, he had to remain in Chicago, but sent his family on ahead with the plan to join them soon after.

A few days into the voyage, the ship carrying his family was struck by another vessel, and sank in twelve minutes. All four of his daughters lost their lives, but Anna was saved. She sent a message to her husband with these simple words; 'saved alone'. Spafford left immediately to join his wife. 

There on the sea, near the spot where his daughters had died, he contemplated all he had lost. His grief must have been overwhelming, but he was sustained by his faith. Knowing that his daughters were not at the bottom of the ocean, but were rather with their Heavenly Father, he retired to his cabin and wrote the hymn.

This life God calls us into is not an easy one. There is often something brewing before us or chasing behind us, but if we have anchored ourselves to Christ, then we can withstand anything that comes our way.

Let the words of this hymn be a reminder to us that in all things we can say; “God is good”, and because He is good, it is well with our souls.

“Why, my soul, are you downcast?  Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God,  for I will yet praise him,  my Savior and my God.”

Psalm 42:5

“Return to your rest, my soul,  for the Lord has been good to you.”

Psalm 116:7

Will your circumstances dictate your worship, or will your worship dictate your circumstances?

  

It Is Well With My Soul

By Horatio Spafford

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

November 8th - Psalm 23

November 8th, 2017 - Thoughts for your Week

Scripture: Psalm 25: 14-15

"The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare."

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

"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: 15-16

"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."

Isaiah 46: 4

Receive from Him...

Isaiah 61:10 says: I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God,

for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness.

Deuteronomy 33:27 says; “The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”

Psalm 27:5 says; “For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.”

Psalm 71:3 says; “Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.”

Proverbs 14:26 says; “In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And his children will have refuge.”

Receive these promises. Let Him be your safe place and your refuge from all things. Take a few moments to reflect on these promises.  

Call out to Him...

Psalm 63: “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.  Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.  So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.”

Let these words sink in for a moment. Realize that He is your everything. You don’t require anything else but Him. Think about what you need from Him. Be honest. Be real. Don't mince your words. It can be personal. It can be for your family. Your community. Whatever is on your heart. Do you need comfort? Relief from physical pain? Wisdom? Patience? Whatever it is, let it surface, and give it to Him.

Respond to Him...

Psalm 84:11-12 says; “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.”

-      Consider how you trust Him. Do you trust Him enough? Can you push forward to give Him more of yourself? Is there something in particular that He wants you to trust Him with?

Exodus 34:5-7 says; “The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.”

-       Consider His mercy over you. Here is a great God who, even though He knows of your sinful nature, made a way for you to receive His love and mercy forever. Is there some unforgiven sin in your life? Or is there someone you have sinned against, or someone who has sinned against you and you’ve not forgiven them? Make it right now before the Lord.

Revelation 1:12-15 says; “Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.”

Consider His awesome power and might. Here is a God who can see all things, who knows all things and has power over all things. This is a God and Father who can meet all your needs.

Revelation 19:11-16 says; “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.”

-       Consider that you serve and are loved by One who is the King and Lord of everything. He is a powerful and mighty God, the great rescuer, the great sustainer of all.

Isaiah 40:28-31 says; “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but 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.”

-     Consider that you are loved and saved by a God who has no end to His compassion and mercy over you. Who understands everything when you do not. Who can give you strength when you have none left.

Take a few moments now to reflect on these verses that describe how awesome and great our God is. 

What has He shown you that you haven’t known or seen before?

How do you think God is inviting you to respond to this?

·         How would you like to experience God over the next few weeks?

October 25 - For Good

October 25th, 2017 - Thoughts for your Week

Scripture Prayer: Psalm 25: 14-15

“The Lord confides in those who fear Him, He makes this covenant known to them. My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only He will release my feet from the snare.”

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
Genesis 50:20

For Good

(The following devotional is from Our Daily Bread)

Jay Bufton turned his hospital room into a lighthouse. The fifty-two-year-old husband, father, high school teacher, and coach was dying of cancer, but his room—Room 5020—became a beacon of hope for friends, family, and hospital workers. Because of his joyful attitude and strong faith, nurses wanted to be assigned to Jay. Some even came to see him during off-hours. Even as his once-athletic body was wasting away, he greeted anyone and everyone with a smile and encouragement. One friend said, “Every time I visited Jay he was upbeat, positive, and filled with hope. He was, even while looking cancer and death in the face, living out his faith.”

At Jay’s funeral, one speaker noted that Room 5020 had a special meaning. He pointed to Genesis 50:20, in which Joseph says that although his brothers sold him into slavery, God turned the tables and accomplished something good: “the saving of many lives.” Cancer invaded Jay’s life, but by recognizing God’s hand at work Jay could say that “God intended it for good.” That’s why Jay could use even the ravages of cancer as an open door to tell others about Jesus. What a legacy of unwavering trust in our Savior even as death was knocking at the door! What a testimony of confidence in our good and trustworthy God! By God’s grace, we can have our best witness in the worst of times.

When hard times come in our lives, it can be difficult to navigate through them and we often ask; “why is this happening to me?”. These past few weeks have brought a few struggles my way and, while spending time in prayer over them, God led me to the above devotional. It was a humbling moment for me as I wondered how I could have so quickly forgotten that there will be tough times and why I was so surprised that they were happening to me? I’m sure God gave Jay a special peace and ability to trust as he did. Maybe we can all be asking for that same trust and peace; to have an attitude and heart like Jay’s. To be open to what God might be wanting to do in and through us as He walks us through tough times.

No matter what it is we're going through; whether we're facing death or a physical challenge, or dealing with something from our past, or going through something that's completely unfair; whatever it is - we need to remember that we have the opportunity to show the world how good our God is by the way we act and live through our crisis. When these times come, can we be ready and willing to be a beacon of light to those around us who have no hope? Can we trust that ‘what is meant to harm us will be used for good’? 

Spend some time now asking God for that same peace and trust, and that the Holy Spirit will empower you to be strong in the time of crises.

"…to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."

Isaiah 61:3

October 11 - Holy Living

October 11th, 2017 - Thoughts for your Week

Scripture: Psalm 27: 4

“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.”

Holy Living

Eugene Peterson says; “God cannot fit into our plans, we must fit into His. We can’t use God – He is not a tool or appliance or credit card. Holy is the word that sets God apart. Holy means that God is alive on God’s terms, alive in a way that exceeds our experience and imagination. Holy refers to life burning with an intense purity that transforms everything it touches.”

When we talk about living a holy life, what does that look like to you? Is God a part of your life, or is He your whole life? Do you only think of Him when you are in need of something, or do you bring Him into your daily moments and decisions?

We need to change the way we view our relationship with Him. It can’t be a separate thing for us. It has to be everything to us. We need to give our time to Him until He has all of it. The more we give, the more we will live our lives the way He wants us to live them. We need a revival of our heart and mind, but that won’t happen unless we bend our will to His. We need to be asking for this daily, and laying down our pride that tells us we can do life on our own, our way instead of His way.

Henry Blackaby writes; “Christians lose many opportunities to experience God’s activity because they have not devoted enough time to their relationship with God. If you have not developed the habit of daily prayer and bible study, why not begin now, so that you will be equipped for whatever life brings?”

Are you growing deeper in faith and trust, or are you complacent in your relationship with Him? Is He everything to you or just a part of you? How much of yourself are you willing to give over to Him? Take some time now to consider these questions and pray that He will give you what you need to move forward in relationship with Him.

"A true revival means nothing less than a revolution, casting out the spirit of worldliness and selfishness, and making God and His love triumph in the heart and life."

-       Andrew Murray

"Revival begins in the individual's heart. Let it begin with you on your face alone before God. Turn from every sin that might hinder. Renew yourself to a new devotion to the Savior."

-       Lee Roberson

"Revival is the visitation of God which brings to life Christians who have been sleeping and restores a deep sense of God's near presence and holiness. Then comes a vivid sense of sin and a profound exercise of heart in repentance, praise, and love, with an evangelistic outflow."

-       J.I. Packer

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

Psalm 51: 10-12

September 27th - Standing Still

September 27th, 2017 - Thoughts for your Week

Scripture: Deuteronomy 1: 29-30

“Do not be terrified; do not be afraid.

The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you.”

Standing Still

 “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The LORD will fight for you; you have only to be still.”

Exodus 14: 13-14

What does it mean to you when you read that “the LORD will fight for you”? Do you believe it? Does it bring you a sense of peace, or does it feel more like a loss of control? Consider the Israelites as they stood before the Red Sea, hemmed in by the sea before them and the Egyptian army behind them. It must have felt like an impossible situation, but God had a plan to rescue them; they just couldn’t see it yet. When Moses told them; “You will not have to do anything but stay calm. The Lord will do the fighting for you”, I’ll bet none of them imagined He would part the Red Sea and ask them to walk through it.

What are you facing today? What challenge is before you that seems daunting and impossible? Is it possible that your God is ready to fight for you and only requires you to be still? Can you wait on Him until He tells you it’s time to move, and trust Him to meet you in your steps even if you don’t feel brave or strong enough? He always prepares you for what you must face. He will never send you into battle unprepared if you keep your eyes on Him. When we choose to stand still and trust in God who is greater, it releases us from the chains of fear, doubt, and hopelessness. Nothing is too big, too scary, or too much for our God. Ponder these verses of times God fought for His children, and know that He WILL also fight for you, and that He calls you to trust with a childlike faith.

“No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (When Joshua was to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land)

- Joshua 1: 5

You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you. (When Jehoshaphat was faced with war against Moab and Ammon)

-      - 2 Chronicles 20: 17

Even in the waiting He is at work to make you more like Him. Trust the process. Trust Him. Be brave. He won’t let you down.

“But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.  I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain.  I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.”

- Psalm 3: 3-5

“Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from His heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of His right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

- Psalm 20: 6-7