Hope, Faith, and Love

Scripture:
1 Samuel 1:1-18
1 Peter 1:3-5
Luke 8:40-53

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Don Fransico has a song that tells the story of Him healing Jairus's daughter.  It is a story of hope, love and healing.  1 Samuel also gives us hope in Hannah's story.  Over the course of the last several months I began looking for a new job.  I have found it hard not to be discouraged.  As days drag on hope seems to slip.

Earlier in December Lois had gotten sick and Nancy stayed home Wednesday night.  I took Megan and Aaron to their programs that evening and I went to InDepth.  During our meeting I shared about Lois being sick.  I had mentioned that we just hoped and prayed everyone would be healthy for Christmas.  Prayers were offered and given.  Lois was quickly healthy again.  Everyone was healthy for Christmas.  It truly was a case of answered prayers.  Sunday evening after Christmas Lois got sick again.  She ended up with two ear infections and ran high fevers all week long, even with antibiotics.  Toward the end of the week Cora got sick.  Finally Jane got sick Sunday after New Years Day.  She started running a low grade fever and has what we think to be a mild case of Chickenpox. 

Who says God doesn't have a sense of humor...  I give praise and thanks that everyone was healthy for Christmas.  I give praise and thanks for Lois's healing.  For God is truly with us.  He truly blesses us.  Our scriptures are filled with hope and love. 

As I find myself getting discouraged or losing hope I just have to remind myself that God is with us.  1 Peter1:5 "Who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time."  God is with us, He protects us, and He provides for us.  We have all the hope we need.  We just need to keep our faith.  We need to rely fully and completely upon Christ.  God hears our prayers, petitions, and requests.  He will answer each and everyone of them according to His will.  Let us stay within the boundaries of His will...

His Love And Compassion

Scripture:
Isaiah 42:1-7
Hebrews 4:14-16

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Compassion is often found as weakness in society.  We dare not show emotion or compassion.  If we do we are deemed weak or foolish.  when I was little our family moved from the South to the North.  I had a strong southern accent going to the second grade.  I became the but of everyone's joke.  My emotions got the best of me time and again.  I guess that helped me become more compassionate as I grew.  I had someone once tell me I had the gift of compassion.  I could feel your hurts and pains right along with you.  I somehow new how you felt and felt it with you.

How much more does Jesus feel?  How much more does he understand.  His love for us is so great that He came to this earth to be human.  He felt everything we feel. He suffered great pains and was rejected by all.  Even His closest friends turned away in His our of need.  How much greater is Jesus' compassion for us.  Next time you think how can God know what it is like just remember Jesus has been there and done that...

Most likely this will be my last devotional thought before Christmas.  So I want to take a moment to Wish you all a very Merry Christmas...

Waiting...

Scripture:
Psalm 27:14
Luke 2:1-7

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¹⁴Wait for the LORD;
         Be strong and let your heart take courage;
         Yes, wait for the LORD.

At one of the In-Depth small group meetings I shared some concerns and issues I have been dealing with.  I told them that I was praying over it all.  I shared that I firmly believe I am where God has placed me.  I was asked what was God telling me at this time.  My answer after a brief pause was that God is telling me to wait.  I need to wait upon Him.

It is difficult dealing with these things on a daily basis.  I have reached a point of dread.  However, I do feel God has placed me where He wants me.  I do know He is with me.  He hasn't forsaken me or left me. Some 2,000 years ago Jesus was born to be our savior, our salvation.  God's people had been waiting for years upon years.  When He came many of His chosen people rejected Him.  They waited for a savior and didn't see it when He did come. 

Let us not be like that.  Let us take courage and wait upon the Lord.  Let us see and hear Him when it is time. We need not to act in haste or prematurely.  If we wait and rely on God everything will work out so much better.  If I were not where I am today, where He placed me.  I would not know the people I know.  I wouldn't have the fellowship I have.  I wouldn't have the encouragement and strength offered by fellow Christians.  I wouldn't writing this email today.

God has His reasons and He has His plans.  They are much better than mine.  So will I will wait upon Him...

To Trust or Not To Trust...

Scripture:
Proverbs 3:5-6
Luke 1:26-38

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God is so good and loving and yet we have a hard time trusting in Him.  God sent us the greatest gift of all time.  He gave Himself for our salvation.  Over this past year God has brought me to levels of dependency that I didn't even know I could get to.  Every time I turn around I have found I had no choice to to rely on Him.  Every time He has proven trustworthy.  So why is it so hard to trust.

We live in a world of cold hard facts.  If you cannot see it, touch it, heart, smell it, it doesn't exist.  Facing a mountain of bills or troubles of any kind we think how can God possibly help me.  We think we can do it better ourselves.  We think I have been hurt before, why would God help me now.  We feel rejection from the world and associate it with God rejecting us.

When we believe this we are so far from the truth that we cannot comprehend the truth.  The simple answer but so hard to do is turn to God and trust.  Turn to the Scriptures for answers.  Go to God in prayer.  I often ask God to help me with my  unbelief.  I ask for help to over come my doubts.  When I find it hard to trust God I force myself to stop and take a step back.  I have to say God this is beyond me and I can only trust You.  I can't count the number of times I fail.  God is loving, kind, and merciful...  We can trust Him...