Stubborn Hearts

 JERIMIAH 5

"Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not. "-Jerimiah 5:21

STUBBORN HEARTS

In Jeremiah 5 we see Gods righteous heartfelt anger towards the Israelites as they are actively abandoning the blessings the Lord has given them. The account that God gives to us in this chapter makes our hearts burn for him as we feel the pain of betrayal in his words. "How can I pardon you? Your children have forsaken me and have sworn by those who are no gods. When I fed them to the full, they committed adultery and trooped to the houses of whores." God's beloved people are resisting to give in to him, resisting to repent, resisting to acknowledge they need help.

What areas do you find yourself struggling to give over to the Lord? How are you like the Israelites in this chapter?

God, I pray that you search my heart and find any way in me that I am turning away from you and give me the strength to overcome it. God I love you and I give my heart over to you.

-Isaac Noble

When I read this devotion, it spoke loudly to me. How many times do I walk away from what the Lord has for me? How many times do we try our best to remove ourselves from that special place in our relationship and walk with God? Do we work well with God? In sports, I at times needed to remind myself to not depart from what my coach was saying and trust his view, or even another players. It was hard and many times I believed that I could see or do it better and stubbornly would go my own way. In our walk with the Lord, we can tend to trust our own path more than God's guidance. It is hard to give up our control, our pride, and especially our desires so that they align with His. We may even tell God that we will do all those things and then lose the heart to when we see something unexpected. We betray God when we give promises we don't intend or work to keep. Yes, God is always forgiving and willing to move forward with us even in broken promises, but what promises could we be taking more seriously? What place do we need to realign ourselves with the Lord? Apply what God shows and where He leads to your life and be willing to see through to the end on where it takes you. 

I’m A Bit Behind…Again

While playing in sports, I would shut down when I felt behind. If I noticed someone my age or younger that had a much better skill set, knew more about the game, or had more experience, instead of feeling motivated to work harder, I felt like I lost my chance. In my mind, I could do just as much work, maybe even more, but I would still come up short because they had the head start. As I’m sure some of you have noticed, I’m behind on writing these devotions. I had been struggling to find a place that I could feel motivated to write this out while swimming in my to-do list. I felt awful every time a Monday would pass by, knowing I was letting myself down to the commitment I made but still would stare at a blank page, unable to muster a lesson I learned or Biblical application I needed. There is something to setting a plan and sticking to it, but there is also something to writing as the Holy Spirit leads, not out of necessity. I don’t think either is all wrong or all right. I do think I needed that time with the Lord to hear what He was speaking to me, before I spoke on it to others. It’s kind of like the log in someone’s eye as they speak on the splinter. I needed to identify my log. 

Self reflecting is a hard place to be. It’s uncomfortable. It’s demanding. It’s difficult to be honest and willing with yourself and your own actions and thoughts. I needed to set that time aside with myself, with the Lord. I needed to ask for council on the areas I struggled. I needed accountability for where I was trying to change and grow. I need to keep on seeking that truth in my life and the growth God has for me. I challenge you to set that time aside and let yourself be uncomfortable. Be in the dark place and prepare to grow.

Verses: 

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Would You Fight God If He Came and Told You Himself

In sports, dad always taught me to be a “shot doctor”. When I’d take a shot, he told me to “pause” and ask myself what went wrong and what went right. I would stay standing there, checking if my hips were aligned with the goal, if my hand was in the cookie jar, elbow above eyes, and so on. If I made it, I knew if i made it well, or honestly by accident. If I missed, I knew it was just unlucky or if I made a bad shot. I tend to find myself doing that in my life. I look at where I am in a situation and assess why I’m there, how I’m handling it, what I can change to better serve my purpose. In basketball, when someone else doctored my shot, I became stubborn and only wanted to prove them wrong. Often time I was coachable by my dad and close friends, but others made me feel competitive and challenged. I would begin to shoot worse out of the pressure I put on myself to prove something. As we’ve dealt with all of the things going on, I’ve felt like I’m asking God to doctor my place, my attitude, my reactions…when I feel like I hear an answer, I then reason differently. I try to explain my side or dwell on all the “what-ifs”. I caught myself in this, and thought back to the Bible. I always have been jealous of the Bible characters that got to so clearly experience the Lord. I always said that I would never question God like that if He spoke that to me. I found that for me, I would probably still question if God knew the whole story, or knew my heart in it even if He was right in front of me. Comprehending His all-knowing power is something I fail to have confidence in if I’m honest. I challenge you to ask yourself, would you fight God if He came and answered your questions Himself? Would you trust Him if it wasn’t comfortable or wasn’t what you expected?

Verses:

“If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭15‬:‭32‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“The Lord will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭58‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

There Are Too Many Stinky Feet

While dad was talking with a nurse, she was wiping down his feet. She jokingly said that he must feel like a big-wig getting his feet washed for him. He replied, “you’re the big-wig. Service is what makes a great person and a great leader”. In the midst of all that has been going on, he remembered how Jesus served first, and helping others up the ladder was much better than stepping on toes and pushing others down to raise yourself. I’ve been challenging myself to be a woman of service in everything I do. Work, sports, friendships…lately life has made it harder. I have struggled to even see where I can help others when I feel so focused and exhausted in my own struggle. While that’s understandable, it’s honestly pitiful of me. Jesus was hanging on a cross and still prayed “Father forgive them” in the midst of it. He still made time for the other man being crucified. He made His struggle an opportunity for service. The crucifixtion was God taking our place, He served us when we could do nothing to truly serve Him. He did not act all high and mighty, better than everyone, but washed feet instead. How can you wash someone’s feet this week? How can you serve? 

“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭40‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Play Through The Game

 When I desperately want to know why something hard is happening, I remember, Jesus had all the answers and He still wept. - Lysa Terkeurst

    I try to find ways to write devotions that aren’t only built around what’s going on in my life, but it’s honestly the place I’ve been having to learn the most. I talked about Job, and he is still ranking high on people I relate to. He questioned God, he struggled, he was hurting, confused, and tired. He didn’t have much else to give but the trials kept coming anyway. People struggle with the book of Job. It’s contents breed room for the question, “is God just?” It seems like an extremely unfair scenario. I was watching The Bible Projects video on Job and they explained that the book never really answers the question of why. However, it does reveal that our scope is too small to make that judgment. If we had to micromanage all that was going on in the world in a way we saw fit, even for just a day, we would be exhausted and want to quit. No one would be happy because everyone’s opinion is different on what Justice looks like. What is the best punishment for sins? Do you use positive or negative reinforcement to teach? What does discipline look like? Ultimately, God is bigger than we ever could imagine. He sees a greater scope than we ever could. Our tiny lens of seeing the world is not nearly good enough to judge God in His work. Yes, Job questioned God, but he also went to God for answers. He struggled, but he prayed. He was confused, but he was willing to hear God out. God understands that it is difficult, he understands that we want answers, and we want to be in the know. But nothing would genuinely be accomplished if we just skipped to the end because we knew it. If you knew whether or not your team was going to win the game in the end, you may not give the same effort or utilize that time the same. If you’ve already been told the movie or the books ending, it’s not as influential to go through the rest. We probably all think that life would be so much better if we knew the answers, but like the quote said, I don’t think it would change things as much as we hope. Things would still hurt. Things would still be upsetting. All the better reason to leave it in God’s hands and understanding, lean into Him, and let Him lead us. Let the person who sees, lead the blind, don’t just go to other blind friends. 

Talk Is Cheap, Time For Action

 Honestly this time of grieving is a time of applying. I’ve written and worked on a lot of devotions that may say the right things, but this week is the time to practice them, put them into action. I know it’s small, but I challenge you to take some step this week, whatever's been on your heart whether it’s in attitude, or action, and implement it. Give yourself the space and dedication to fulfill it. Write it down somewhere, or have someone to hold you accountable to it. Have a great week of growth, I’ll try to get back on track with devotions as soon I can! I love you all and there is nothing you can do about it!

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God of Peace

 This devo was actually for the week I missed. With everything going on we forgot the computer and couldn't access things without the saved passwords!

I’ve decided to cheat again…if you’ve seen the recent updates I know you will understand. This week has hit me hard and I’ve struggled to even look at my phone. This devotion I had written while in another stage of my life that felt very similar to this one. It was at a time that new trials seemed to pop up like weeds and trusting God was never more important while never being more difficult. I’m praying God uses my discomfort, my dependence on Him to get through the tears and trials. I am aiming to be “spiritually fed so I will not be emotionally led” (Tara Bialek). 

Hello everyone, I know it has been a while since I last posted. I must confess that I have been slow to get it done due to traveling and stress. I have had a different devotion ready to post but I never felt like it was complete. Lately, I have been dealing with a lot of depression and confusion. I am anxious of next steps and confused about them, and where they will lead. I have felt like there are fifty open tabs in my head and I only know what five are about. I feel comfortable and yet that comfort makes me uncomfortable because there seems to  always be something around the the corner. The truth is that I am terrified. Terrified of the "what-ifs" and the fact that I "could" never get over my anxiety and depression. At the same time, I am scared to lose it because it is the feeling I am used to. I know that medicine doesn't work for me. The one thing that I have left to depend on is God. Though it may seem like things have only gotten worse, I am trying to look through God's eyes. I see that I have gone through anxiety, depression, OCD, possibly PTSD, and suicidal thoughts, and yet, I am still standing here alive and with God who has helped me through it all and will continue to do so. I don't say that to brag, I say it from a spot of brokenness in hopes to encourage others to know they can go through it all with God's helping hand. I also see that through my pain and brokenness, I have been able to share and connect with people not only through this blog, but in my everyday life. Whatever you are going through in life, God can and will help you to overcome, grow, strengthen, and reach others through the broken pieces. Our talents and trials can be used to God's glory. He is our shelter and guide. Trust God, He is waiting for you, arms wide open to all. 

I also want to encourage everyone to try and look at your life, circumstances, and trials through God's eyes. God is our role model that was the hero to our stories. He saved us by defeating and overcoming death itself by being hung on a cross and rising again three days later. All we have to do is believe in Him and we shall be saved. 

Isaiah 41:10

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.

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Isaiah 12:2 

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord Himself, is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation.”

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

Philippians  4:13

I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.

Try writing down some of these verses down so that you can reference back to them through the trials, pain, ,heartache, and joy. We are children of God, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, all powerful, loving Emanuel. 

Jehovah Shalom- Peace.

Christ-Like Community

 

As  school starts up again I’m reminded of the the years of playing sports and belonging to a team. I had teams that encouraged me, and made me fall more in love with the sport. I also had teams that drained me, and tore down my desire and drive to play. The people we surround ourselves with matter! 

Community has never seemed so important to my family as it does now. It’s been such a blessing and we cannot sing enough praises of gratitude for all of the fellowship, prayers, and words of encouragement we’ve been blessed to have. It truly would be so difficult to have hope and joy in a situation like this, if loneliness or a lack of understanding was added on top of it. However, with community, there is joy, laughter, support, and help coming from every corner. Right now our community is much like being in a great online church. It’s nice, it’s convenient, but it doesn’t replace a hug, it doesn’t replace someone truly looking in your eyes and feeling your pain. A couple weeks ago we were blessed with a few nights in a condo at the beach, it was a huge, much needed blessing, but what God ordained while we were there was even better. God blessed me with an amazing surfing community of believers. I sat on the water for four hours praising Jesus, and having the best time of fellowship with people who love the ocean as much as I do. The next morning we went to church where my mom’s college friend led music, and to her surprise her first youth pastor preached. That weekend we felt (physically felt) what community felt like. It was beautiful, peaceful, and desperately needed. I implore you reach out, search out and find your community!

The Bible mentions community and fellowship over and over again. Even Jesus surrounded himself by community. According to the Greek, fellowship is not just the idea of spending time, or thought with someone but instead taking part in someone’s situation and committing with them! 

“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV

“Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Philippians 2:1-4 NKJV

“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

I Corinthians 1:9 NKJV

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Galatians 6:2 NKJV

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;”

Ephesians 4:1-4 NKJV

Don’t Give Up

I’m cheating this week…I was lost trying to think through what the Lord had been speaking to me this week. Not that he isn’t speaking, but I hadn’t tuned my ear to Him. I went back to my old devotions I wrote from my personal blog years back and saw this one. Although some things have changed, the concept was something I most definitely needed to hear and reapply in my life. 

Three Minutes of Faith blog: 

This week I have realized that I keep telling myself, "Don't give up!" I was trying really hard to fix everything in my life and get control but I was met with the disappointment of realizing again that I had failed. Through the years it became more fake feeling to say don't give up. I haven't given up, but I have felt more defeated than ever. I didn't understand how I could not give up and still be weak and defeated. I realized that I had not only begun to give up on trying to fix things, but I also had begun to give up on God. I felt abandoned by God because I didn't know if He was ever going to help me. I can type up a lot of devotions about how to trust God but it's a whole different thing to put into action in my life. I try very hard but I still find obstacles in my trials. I still have times of doubt in wondering if God is really apart of my trial. "If God was on my side, why have I gone through this for so long?" I had to learn that sometimes it takes a while. God has a plan that we can't always see. It can take years to see God's plans through. I don't mean to say that as a discouragement. I am trying to encourage myself and readers that God has plans to use you. Through any trial He can make a difference, I know I emphasize that a lot but it is easy to get discouraged when you don't see as much change as you hope. My main point is, DON'T GIVE UP ON GOD! God is working in your life no matter how hard it gets. He has plans for you to prosper and grow. Sometimes we don't see the growth from the seed we plant. One day, we may get to Heaven and someone could come to us to say, "You may not know this but, what you said fifteen years ago helped me to realize God's work in my life." We can impact others and our own lives by keeping the attitude of Christ with patience for God's plan in our lives. Don't doubt in the dark what you know to be true in the light. Keep holding onto God even when you feel like there is no response from Him, He is working in your life, in your trials, and in your victory.

One thing I try to tell myself is to take down the mask so you can connect your real self to God. I had to take time to confess. Confess that I am broken and flawed. I was reminded that yes that's true, but God still loves me through that. I knew that if God loved me through my junk, I should share that love with others. There is a line in the movie "We Bought A Zoo" that says, "You know, sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage, just literally 20 seconds of embarrassing bravery, and I promise you something great will come of it." I think that another way to put that line is, "If you have 20 seconds of insane faith, of possibly embarrassing bravery, I promise you something great will come out of it." That great thing could be, a missions opportunity that you don't know how will be funded. It could be by sharing the Gospel with someone. It could even be trusting that God will get you through a storm and choosing to have that insane courage in your faith instead of falling into that feeling of I can't go on. A small glimmer of hope can change your outlook or someone else's outlook on life. You can change someone's destiny if you let God work through you. The difference between us, as Christians, speaking up about the Gospel, is Heaven and Hell.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

Joshua 1:9

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Philippians 1:6

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 6:10

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

Holiness and Religion Aren’t Synonyms

Dad always talked about differences he would see in players. There are those who truly wanted to learn, that were coachable, and watched their character, not just their sport. There is also those who were there to just play, or go through their regiment, even if it was a committed one; they did it out of a feeling of necessity or just to look good to someone else. This difference between a shallow regiment and a heart of dedication to the practice made very impactful changes in how things ended up for that player. It changed their joy, commitment, desire, and possible next steps of their sport. The way we live life, our motivation towards it, can make those impactful changes as well. There’s always been the Christian battle of religion v.s. relationship. We are called to be in relationship with the Lord. The Bible constantly mentions the love of the Lord and our walk with Him. The Bible even explains how God is our father and we are His children; that calls for relationship. There is also mentions of all the religious and ritualistic patterns of the Old Testament and Jewish beliefs. It’s the do’s and dont’s, right and wrong rules of the Bible. Unfortunately I see all too often that people stay to one side so heavily, that we mix up the vocabulary. Relationship with God brings in all of the love, freedom, grace, and mercy but many become comfortable with taking that grace and forgiveness for granted. Religion shows reverence and respect for God, as well as a sense of dedication. However, the motivation for religion lacks in what God wants from us, which is our hearts. Again, our outlook of these words, and the negative connotations we can give them is the problem, at least in my mind. The ‘rules’ of the Bible, are honestly just a good way/guideline for anyone to live life. It is what God knows will bring us a better life. He loves us and desires for us to live a good life which is why He sent his son to describe to us and walk out what that should look like! Since we are all NOT Jesus and haven’t lived perfect lives as He has we are all in need of grace, but Paul says this about this relationship with grace in Romans 6:1-4, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Religion is often a mandatory and/or showy attempt to get right with God or show-off to God or others. It’s often found in selfish ambition or acted out with no love or genuineness. Holiness on the other hand is a pursuit to use freedom not for the sake of doing whatever you want, but to do what is right. Holiness is an act of gratitude for what Christ has done as we try to look more like Him. It’s not mandatory, and we will never be perfect, but it can be our active heart and mind's pursuit to honor God. Our sins have been forgiven, by the finished work on the cross. However, that forgiveness isn’t supposed to be a get out of sin free card. Our walk with the Lord, should not look like a friend always taking advantage of the others kindness, and never giving anything in return. If we constantly are going to God for forgiveness, and never try to live a life that honors Him, we won’t have a good relationship. Holiness should set us apart. It shows a dedication and desire to be in that healthy relationship with the Lord. Holiness and righteousness shouldn’t be ‘bad’ words, they should be motivations of ways to act out our gratitude and look more like the God who has saved us! Our salvation is set by what God has done, but our relationship and how deep that becomes is up to our pursuits. 

Battling To Blessing (7/22/24)

Are you in a place of life that you are praying for something to happen? Maybe it’s for a door to open, a door to close, a financial breakthrough, getting the job, etc. We all can understand that God isn’t a genie, we don’t have three wishes, He will answer your prayers, but it may not be in the way that you wanted or expected Him to. Many times we can get caught in the struggle of the fine lines in life. There’s a fine line between leaving something in the Lord’s hands out of trust, and fulfilling the command to go and make disciples, to not be lazy, and to do all things in a way that honors the Lord. It’s hard to figure out the balance. It’s like when I was in basketball. I wanted to be the best I could be, I wanted to honor the Lord in how I played, but I also rarely practiced extra, I didn’t always give everything I had at practice. I saw a quote that I think explains this thought well, “God doesn’t expect you to lean on a shovel and pray for a hole”. God says He will open doors for you, but He also says to knock. Right now my dad has been given the ability/ opportunity to heal and get well enough to come home one day. However, it wasn’t the type of miracle that skips the pain and let’s him walk out better than before. It’s going to take hard work, it’s going to challenge him physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Each day he is going to ache with the reminder of how much work he has to put into it, he is going to be sore from digging his way out of this pit. There are many days that he doesn’t really want to go to physical therapy, or answer the speech therapist’s questions, but he thinks of what he is doing them for. He pursues healing to honor God through his time here. He pursues healing for his wife, his kids, his grandchildren, and his friends. He even talks about healing so he can go and minister and preach the Gospel more. When the end goal takes a step of faith, maybe that step of faith is going to feel weighted or wobbly but it may be what works you so that you have the strength for His end goal. Peace about a decision or step is when people say to know it’s from the Lord, but if you are not having peace, make sure it’s that and not just discomfort; is it your own discomfort because you’ve looked at the effort it will take. I don’t mean that to make people think I am calling them lazy; hard work is never desirable and is rarely fun. That’s why there is the saying “work smarter not harder”. People want to get the work over with and reap the reward at the end. At least I know I do. That’s just it though, no one wants to, but if you do what other people do, you get what other people get. If you don’t put in the work to whatever you’re doing, your reward may only be worth how much effort you put in. Trust God, but also make it happen, take a step, and see what happens. Let peace be your green flag at the starting line to hit the gas.

Worry or Worship? July 15, 2024

Lately life has felt like the story of Job. One thing after another, beat down, waiting for the next thing to go wrong. Job dealt with turmoil-losing everything in a day. I decided to look into Job’s reactions and try to find how to handle this time in my families life.There are a few things that really stuck out to me. God had confidence in Job, his character and response. We see that Satan accuses Job of not being true and genuine in his faith, but instead having more faith in his standing and blessings than he did in God. It makes me think of my own circumstances, and if Satan‘s accusations against me would be true; would God have that much confidence in me and the way I responded? Another thing I noticed in Job 1:12, and Job 2:6, God always made sure to keep an area of his life blessed/protected. Something he could hold onto in his time of struggle as a glimmer of hope and gratitude. God never left him completely high and dry, He still always had His hand in his life. I think it’s hard as readers of Job to notice that when you read chapter 1, verses 14 through 18, and see that one messenger couldn’t even finish giving the bad news before he was interrupted with  another messenger with more bad news. It’s amusing to me that even us as readers have a frustration towards what Job went through even though Job did not react the way most of us would. Verse 20-22 shows his reaction- “Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.” (NKJV). He also mentioned in Job 2:10 something that has honestly become a mantra of motivation for me in this time- “But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” (NKJV). Again, I don’t think that would be my immediate reaction, mine would come from a much more selfish place, I know because I’ve had to check myself in my reactions to life plenty of times recently. My integrity has been challenged. People may know someone’s reputation, but integrity challenges who someone is when no one is looking, when it’s between you and the Lord. Even the Lord bragged on Job’s integrity in chapter 2 verse 3- “Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.” (NKJV). 

It’s almost funny how much I relate to the things Job went through, even down to what I wrote on about miracles not feeling miraculous unless they look the way we except/want. God protected Job’s life, and demanded that Satan not take Job’s life. That same blessing became something Job cursed and asked to be taken in his time of turmoil. It’s easy to neglect and forsake our fear of the Lord. We get comfortable with God our father but throw reverence for his holy power out the window or vice-versa. We make excuses for our sins and find comfort from worldly things and reactions when life challenges us. Job’s struggle with that was evident in chapter 6 verse 14 and chapter 7 verses 11-14. 

In all of these takeaways, I ultimately was challenged to worship with fear of the Lord, and the comfort of the father. My circumstances don’t change the goodness of God. I can grieve, and feel, and still trust the Lord’s hand in all of this. I was telling my dad about what I was writing on and he said “it’s better to practice and prepare more than to stay in a pity-party”. It made me think, am I worrying more than worshipping? Even my dad was singing the song Goodness of God in the midst of his trials and often times pain. What a challenge, to look hardships in the eye and still proclaim God’s glory in action and speech. My dad always taught me the “no palms rule” in sports. I couldn’t throw my hands up at the ref or the coach and complain when my job was to just play, not to ref or coach. I need to treat God with that same level of respect and confidence. I need to throw my hands up in worship and reverence, not in complaint and questioning. 

Silence Of God (7/8/24)

I’ll be honest, I’m probably not the best person to be writing this devotion. I have been angry, not even at God but life. I understand He has a plan, I understand He knows better than I do, but it’s so hard to see what God wants from me in this time; especially when God has seemed silent. I see God working and see the impact and growth that has happened, but in my one on one time with God…crickets. I know He is speaking and moving in people’s lives but it feels like He skips over me at times. Christians can fall into a habit of thinking a problem will eventually go away or they don’t even realize how long it’s been since they genuinely felt connected to God. So how do we escape the loop? How do we handle the times of darkness? 

In my dad’s basketball clinics, he always taught the importance of being able to dribble without looking/searching for the ball. He said if you’re stuck searching for the ball, you can’t look at where you are heading, the defense, the open player, the lane to the hoop, and so on. If you don’t have fundamentals, you can’t really get anywhere and get caught in the mess. 

 As I was thinking on that, I also thought back to my camp days at Grace Farm. We had so many spiritual challenges given to us, but by the end we were pumped up and closer to God for it. For example, memorizing scripture, taking time to rest and recuperate, morning/daily devotions, and creating random Jesus talks for fellowship and evangelism. It also got me wondering why did we stop challenging ourselves like that outside of camp, as adults, whether we are farther into our faith or brand new to it? Why do we act like it’s only for kids when all of us are called to it? 

 What area can you dive into? How can you challenge yourself? In the times God seems silent, or life just isn’t going right, you can be readily prepared and not searching for the fix/the truth in the moment of darkness! Let Gods truth become a fundamental, muscle memory for your mind and heart! Disconnect from the distractions and actively practice connection with God. 

 For verses, let’s go through these one at a time: 

 1.) Memorizing Scripture- 

            -“But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ 

            -“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬

            - “Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge; For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; Let them all be fixed upon your lips, So that your trust may be in the Lord; I have instructed you today, even you. Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, That you may answer words of truth To those who send to you?” Proverbs‬ ‭22‬:‭17‬-‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬ 

            -“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;” Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬ 

            -“Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways. You have commanded us To keep Your precepts diligently. Oh, that my ways were directed To keep Your statutes! Then I would not be ashamed, When I look into all Your commandments. I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments. I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly! How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.” Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭2‬-‭12‬, ‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭NKJV ‬ 

            -“Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,” Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ 2.) 

2.) Take Time To Rest and Recuperate-

            -“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ 

            -“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work,” Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ 

 3.) Starting Your Day With God/ Having Personal and Intentional Time With Him- 

            -“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NKJV 

            -“Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬, ‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ 

            -“Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.” Psalms‬ ‭143‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ 

            -“My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ 

 4.) Creating Jesus Talks (For Fellowship and Evangelism)-

             -“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” I Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ 

            -“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” I John‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ 

            -“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ 

            -“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ 

            -“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬

Time to Grow Up

How do we grow as believers? It is, in part, by making sure we are properly nourished. According to an article on better health, starting babies on solids too late can cause growth issues and feeding problems. The same can be said for our spiritual development. When we become believers it is important for us to spend time learning the basics, but after a certain point, we must move past relying on milk alone and move on to the meat of scripture. Otherwise, we risk becoming malnourished. When a baby is ready to have solids introduced into their diet, they show signs such as increased hunger and interest in food around them, as well as being able to support themselves by sitting up and controlling their head. As you grow as a believer you should find yourself hungry to learn more, and you will begin to have more control over your actions. As this growth happens you need to be feeding yourself the right “food”. Growing as believers helps us to be strong and grounded, not easily swayed by the world and trials. We are better able to recognize good and bad doctrine as we mature and we can know what is good “food” to chew on and what needs to be tossed out. However, it is not enough to focus only on what you are eating, but also how much. Would you feed a newborn baby once a week? Would you yourself only eat once a week? Going to church on Sunday and then never diving into the Word again until the next Sunday is a quick way to become spiritually malnourished. You must feed yourself daily! Furthermore, you would not expect a baby to drink milk one day and then hold their own knife and fork to eat a steak the next; they must be taught how to properly feed themselves. It is the job of the body of Christ to teach the new believers and to assist them in their growth. But if new believers never move past elementary teachings then there will be no one to teach the next generation, and the whole body of Christ will grow weak and easily swayed by the ways of the world. We as a community of believers must be willing to speak truth in love so that everyone grows into their roles. “...until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:13-16 NASB1995 “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.” Hebrews 5:12-14 “I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?” 1 Corinthians 3:2-3

God Is Moving In The Now

If you’ve ever played a sport, you know one of the biggest challenges you face is getting stuck in your head. Being worried about how many more points need to be scored, or that bad play you had a couple of minutes ago. Maybe it’s the score the other team got that they shouldn’t have…it’s easy to become so distracted about the past mistakes or future goals, that you forget to be in the game and make the next move, play, or point happen. We can become so caught up in those moments that when it’s time do something in your present place, you can’t or you’re not able to do it to the best of your abilities. Distraction is often times satan’s most used weapon, at least for me it is. I get distracted by the prayers that weren’t answered the way I expected and miss the miracle of how others were. I get distracted by the things to do and finish, looking in the future and missing opportunities in the present. Something I have had to ask myself is, “what is Satan using as a distraction to me now?” Is it my worry, doubts, errands, control, disappointment, desires…? What is it for you? As you are reading this I challenge you, is there anything you have allowed yourself to be distracted away from?What things are you dreading giving attention to? It’s most often the first thing that comes into your mind that you quickly try to get out of your mind. I challenge you to sit with it. Truly consider it and pray with the Lord on it. Surrendering to God only goes as far as you allow it, what things are you giving more worth to than God? Maybe you are being called to a mission or service, but are too concerned with the finances. Perhaps you are called to reach out to a friend but you are caught on how much time it would take. Whatever it may be, I challenge you to be smart but also be in the moment. We get so wrapped up in the future, the past, or circumstances and forget to be where our feet are planted, where God has us in this present moment. If you are reading this in your home, what friend could you reach out to after to check on, maybe send them a prayer. If you are in a coffee shop, maybe pay for someone’s coffee and tell them God loves them. We are called to be bold in our faith, and to be here now. Look at where God has you and make the most of those moments. I had heard a quote the other day from Craig Groeschel that said, “surrender the past you can’t change and trust God with the further that you can’t control.” Do we have that confidence in the Lord? Can we allow time for His movement in our life. God allowed there to be interruptions in His walk, even on the way to certain destinations, He was present enough to see the blind man on the side of the road, to see Zacchaeus and eat with him, and to stop to help the disciples, walking to them on the water, instead of just meeting them on the other side as intended. God allowed time for interruptions, I have to ask myself if I will do the same. Verses: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭25‬-‭34‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us THIS day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead 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 ‭NKJV‬‬ “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”” ‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬, ‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “THIS is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭118‬:‭24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.” ‭‭John‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land. Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭6‬:‭47‬-‭510 ‭NKJV‬‬

Eager Anticipation

I asked dad what topic he wanted written on for this weeks devotion. His response was “what I’m going through”. He had just mentioned how he feels trapped and worried to be a burden on us. He mentioned feeling like he is in a cage. Even still we are reminded of Paul; sharing the Gospel while legitimately in a cage, in shackles. While dad has been laying in the hospital, his testimony and love for the Lord has spread. Nurses all throughout the Neurology ICU floor have talked about how involved they feel to take care of their Godly friend…whom they only saw awake for a day. That says a lot to leave a legacy for God in a few hours span. To strengthen your testimony even under tribulation. A lot of times in life, we are going after something but feel trapped or stuck. Maybe something is legitimately in the way… prison bars, sin, or fear. Maybe it’s us saying we are stuck out of not truly wanting or feeling ready to make next steps. Perhaps we are so caught on where we want to be, we can’t find how to get there. In the midst of waiting, struggling or figuring, we are called to be patient but also called to be ready to move when the Lord clears the path. We can live life in ministry to others while waiting for our opportunity ahead. Are your current circumstances being used to create Christlike interactions? In Psalm 40:1, The Bible calls us to “wait patiently” which some say closer translates to “eager anticipation”. In Basketball, dad always taught me to be ready to jump in, get the pass, or make a move, no one will pass you a ball if you don’t stand looking ready to get it, and do something with it. Are you letting your comfort stop you from being ready to get the next moves from God? Are you making a difference even as you wait? Psalm 40:1 “I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me and heard my cry.” (NASB) James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭ “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (NASB) 1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭58‬ ‭ “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” (NASB) Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭ “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” (NASB)

Fix Your Eyes and Walk

While I was down in Florida, I found myself trying to cling to every single blessing and every sliver of hope. After spending over 30 hours in airports not knowing what would happen while I was on the other side of the country I had finally made it to see my dad. I got to see my brothers for the first time in two and a half years, I got to meet my niece Ember, and I got to witness the first few miracles God had in store for my dad. I knew I had to focus on every good moment, big or small, because the second I took my eyes off of God’s blessings I couldn’t hold myself together. I started thinking about Peter walking on the water with Jesus. In Matthew chapter 14 we read that Jesus sent His disciples ahead of Him so he could take time to pray. While the disciples were crossing the sea a huge storm surrounded them. As they struggled through the wind they suddenly saw a figure walking across the water to them. The disciples were terrified, but Jesus called out to them to not be afraid. Peter recognized and believed that it was Jesus walking to him and he called out “Lord if it truly is you, command me to come to you on the water”. Jesus replied “Come”. I know if I was in the middle of the sea during a huge storm, my last thought would be “well why don’t I just get out of the boat and walk to this figure that just appeared out of nowhere,” but Peter knew that if it was truly Jesus walking towards him that he could do the impossible. He had God in the flesh standing in front of him, arm stretched out to him, and calling him to walk. So he stepped out in faith and while his eyes were trained on Jesus he was able to do the impossible, but the second he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the storm around him, he began to sink. “Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭31‬ Peter had a faith bold enough to step out on the water but it wasn’t sustainable when the storm did not immediately cease. So often in life we become distracted by the storms around us, we take our eyes off of God, and focus on the things of the world instead. We may be willing to take that first bold step out, but are we able to continue in faith when we are scared of our circumstances. Sometimes we step out boldly expecting God to immediately make the situation better for us. But it is only through learning that God is there, ready to pull us out of the water even when we falter that we can strengthen and grow our faith. It is when we learn to keep our focus on God that we can faithfully weather every storm. So take a bold step of faith, fix your eyes, and walk. “You will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you.” Isaiah‬ ‭26‬:‭3‬ ‭CSB‬‬ 2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Written by Christa Glass

When Our Miracles Don't Seem Miraculous June 5 2024

I've been praying for a miracle. It’s funny how often times, at least for myself, I forget to recognize miracles, unless they’re extravagant and obvious... Obvious in the sense that it’s the one I wanted, or the one that was most convenient. With everything that my fathers been through , the fact that he’s alive is a miracle. It’s a miracle that he is able to breathe on his own now. It’s a miracle that he is starting to move. It’s a miracle that he’s interacting. In my mind, they were all good things and absolutely blessings, but I still found myself wishing God would perform a miracle . A miracle to me, would have been that my dad was out of the hospital and out of his bed, or that they ran his tests, and he was miraculously healthier than before.
I once read a book called Disobedient God: Trusting a God Who Goes Off-Script by Albert Tate. The book talked about how to handle God when he is “disobedient” to our plans and our desires. The words from that book have been spiraling in my mind throughout these past three weeks. On page 120, Tate says “One of the greatest strategies that Satan will use to get you to lock into your doubt and never confess is the embarrassment and the fear of you being the only one.” So let me be far from the first to say, I want to fully trust God's will, but I still have an idea of what I think God’s will should be and when God’s will starts to look different to that, I find myself questioning His judgment. I sometimes think my plan would have been better. Deep down, I know all the right things to say, and do in these scenarios, but it’s hard to put into action when it involves someone you love, and you feel helpless. I know, with confidence, that this is all in God's hands and His will and His plan is better than mine, but I also know that if that will doesn’t look the way I had hoped it, I easily become disappointed. But I do not want to get myself in the habit of negating God’s powerful moments. Just because my dad is still fairly unresponsive, doesn’t change the fact that the amount of response he has given is still miraculous. It’s made me look hard at my life at how many times I think I don’t see God in a situation. In reality I don’t see the version of God that I wanted in that situation. For example, I recently was playing in the Mercedes Benz Stadium for Flag Football Nationals. I felt like I had worked hard to get there and was expecting to have more playing time. When I didn’t get much, I was pretty disappointed and confused and lost track of what an incredible opportunity I had just to be standing on the field and the blessing it was to play on it, even if it was for a short time. I have a bad habit, I want God to always make sense. Denying myself, denying control is one of the hardest things I have had to learn. I don’t know that it’s something anyone could ever perfect but it is worth aiming to achieve. The peace that comes with having your life in the hands of God who is on your side and loves you, someone you can trust no matter the outcome is worth pursuing. In the wise words of dad, found in the lullaby he wrote for us “Rest, be still, know that God is real, and He wants to take care of you”.
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
Job 5:8–11
As for me, I would seek God, and to God would commit my cause, who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number: he gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields; he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
Psalm 9:1
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
Below are some songs that Christa felt tied in well with this devotion.

 https://youtu.be/uuKrDnVub4c?si=TdX3klWuz2WQmfSc

 https://youtu.be/mxW_Zvt5Ze0?

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Preview YouTube video He Is Able

He Is Able

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How It All Matters

Where is my hope? 5/27/24

Reverence to God's power can be a confusing battle to be caught in. In our minds, characteristics of God can seem contradictory. We hear things about God's love, grace, mercy and compassion while also hearing of His judgment, power and all knowing knowledge. We can come to God the Father but are also called to have the fear of the Lord. Where is the balance in all of this?

With everything going on with my dad, I’ve struggled with not being afraid of hope. I try to hold on to peace in the Lord in the midst of my confusion. I trust that the Lord can give complete healing and work miracles in my dad's condition, but I also understand that healing may not come in Earthly measures. What better healing than heavenly relief. God can use the testimony being made now, but He can also use the struggle to be an opportunity to share exactly the message my dad has lived for. There is love, and compassion, but also power and divine understanding that I find myself battling in. I have hope for the healing I would selfishly prefer while being concerned and trying to trust if the Lord chooses the latter. I look at it like God the father. For my dad, I respected that he would discipline me for learning sake but I could always trust that he loved me and would do anything for me. I also trusted that, especially in younger childhood, he saw and understood things I didn’t know. For example, even though my basketball bounced better in the road, dad understood an important thing, cars hurt and I didn’t know how to look for them yet. At first I was so upset because he “ruined the fun” but I found trust in understanding his teaching and correction was out of a loving protection. If God knows more than I do, which is definitely true, I can understand that whatever route He takes, He is on my side. One character in God does not negate or contradict another. They work together to make a God we can depend on. Dad always has mentioned to his players he was coaching that he was on their side, so when he taught, corrected, and coached them through practices, games, and even life at times, it was for their good, out of caring love. The way he went about in his actions and reactions, was to make a lasting impact for those around him. Something I’ve asked myself is, am I genuinely trusting God like I trust a coach to make the right calls in a game, do I trust Him like I trust my own dad, or more so? He is a safe and secure place to put my faith in. God is omnipotent (powerful), while being omnipresent (near). If I trust that God is on my side, I can trust that whatever happens is good and for His glory. Ultimately I’m learning that my hope should be found in Christ, not the conditions I find myself in. That I can trust His character, nearness, and power; not just one or the other.

• Romans 15:13: "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit"

• Romans 5:5: "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us”

• Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”