It is truly amazing that the Lord chose the Shepherds to deliver the news of Jesus' birth so dramatically! They weren't considered to be of "high station" and were looked down upon by many. But there was value in them and God established that by having the angels proclaim to these men. The greatest concert ever given and it wasn't to dignitaries, clergy, politicians, or the wealthy...no, it was to the Shepherds. "How wondrous can it be, though it's only me, I should get to see, see my King!" God truly came for ALL of us!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Are We Forsaken?
My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning? Psalm 22:1
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" Matthew 27:46
On a previous Visitor article I wrote about feeling like God just wasn’t paying attention at times. Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever felt so bad about something in your life that you wondered if God was noticing much less helping or doing anything at all? If you have, you know that it’s not a good place to be; if you haven’t, you need to understand that this is very painful. What I had been speaking about was a devotion I heard from Pastor Michael Katt (from the Georgia church who produced "Facing the Giants"). He said that sometimes we wonder if God is even paying attention; if He really understands the pain we are feeling or the desperate situation we find ourselves in. Can you relate to that? Have you, in so many words, asked God, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
The answer to that question is "He hasn’t!" David cried out to God those very words, yet we know David to be a man of faith who knew God was with him. Jesus cried out those words on the cross, yet we know that He knew better; after all, He was God. But there’s a part of us that sometimes doubts what’s going on; it’s not necessarily sin to doubt something, it’s just the humanity inside of us that raises questions and we have to deal with them. Jesus didn’t sin when He wondered why God had forsaken Him; He didn’t sin when in the garden He asked for the cup to be taken from Him. But Jesus also became flesh, became a man in order that He might save humanity. And the "human" side of Him was afraid and having "trouble" dealing with the situation. But He never for once believed God had really forsaken Him; He knew God, He knew His Father, He knew God wouldn’t do that.
We know God. We read about Him and study Him and sing songs of praise & worship to Him. We know what He’s done in our lives; in the lives of others. We know He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We know that He knows us intimately and loves us more than we can understand. We know God wouldn’t forsake us.
When we face difficulties in our lives we also face our own desires, impatience, and lack of faith. Those are the human side of who we are crying out in fear. We want things to change now and we want them to be what we want them to be. Jesus didn’t sin when He said those words and He didn’t sin after He said those words. He stayed the course and kept His faith and believed in His Father. That’s what we are to do as well; to stay the course, keep the faith, and believe/trust in our heavenly Father. He says to us, "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" (Isaiah 41:10).
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" Matthew 27:46
On a previous Visitor article I wrote about feeling like God just wasn’t paying attention at times. Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever felt so bad about something in your life that you wondered if God was noticing much less helping or doing anything at all? If you have, you know that it’s not a good place to be; if you haven’t, you need to understand that this is very painful. What I had been speaking about was a devotion I heard from Pastor Michael Katt (from the Georgia church who produced "Facing the Giants"). He said that sometimes we wonder if God is even paying attention; if He really understands the pain we are feeling or the desperate situation we find ourselves in. Can you relate to that? Have you, in so many words, asked God, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
The answer to that question is "He hasn’t!" David cried out to God those very words, yet we know David to be a man of faith who knew God was with him. Jesus cried out those words on the cross, yet we know that He knew better; after all, He was God. But there’s a part of us that sometimes doubts what’s going on; it’s not necessarily sin to doubt something, it’s just the humanity inside of us that raises questions and we have to deal with them. Jesus didn’t sin when He wondered why God had forsaken Him; He didn’t sin when in the garden He asked for the cup to be taken from Him. But Jesus also became flesh, became a man in order that He might save humanity. And the "human" side of Him was afraid and having "trouble" dealing with the situation. But He never for once believed God had really forsaken Him; He knew God, He knew His Father, He knew God wouldn’t do that.
We know God. We read about Him and study Him and sing songs of praise & worship to Him. We know what He’s done in our lives; in the lives of others. We know He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We know that He knows us intimately and loves us more than we can understand. We know God wouldn’t forsake us.
When we face difficulties in our lives we also face our own desires, impatience, and lack of faith. Those are the human side of who we are crying out in fear. We want things to change now and we want them to be what we want them to be. Jesus didn’t sin when He said those words and He didn’t sin after He said those words. He stayed the course and kept His faith and believed in His Father. That’s what we are to do as well; to stay the course, keep the faith, and believe/trust in our heavenly Father. He says to us, "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" (Isaiah 41:10).
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Tomorrow
I really love the movie "Annie"... probably for the music more than the story; though the story definitely has some redeeming qualities about it. The song that's the most famous one from the movie is "Tomorrow." The sun'll come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow there'll be sun. Just think'n about tomorrow clears away the cobwebs and the sorrows...till there's none.
Aren't those great words!?! But what is it that clears away the cobwebs and the sorrows? What is it about tomorrow that has that effect on us? Is it the newness of what tomorrow brings? Is it that today is soon to be over? Is it both??? I don't know if there is just one answer; I think it depends on the person doing the singing/thinking. For me there have been tomorrows that I did not look forward to. There have been tomorrows that scared me. There have been tomorrows that tested my faith. But there are also tomorrows that tell me the current day is almost over. There are tomorrows that mean something's coming that I'm really looking forward to. Tomorrw sometimes means that I've got a chance to start over and get something right this time. But the greatest truth for me about tomorrow is that God is already there. When I'm worried about the day and just waiting for it to end or when life is gripping me by the throat and threatening to end what I've always known, I know that there is a God who is bigger than any problem, stronger than any circumstance, offering peace that I couldn't imagine or create, and joy that completely boggles my mind. It is through Him and Him alone that I can find...that any of us can find true peace. For me, He is the reason I can sing about tomorrow; and not just for what He has waiting for me but because of what I've already received. I look forward to tomorrow because I know who God has been, who He is, and who He will be. The Lord makes my good times better and my bad times easier to deal with. He laughs and rejoices with me when things are good and comforts me and cries with me when things aren't. The phrase "He is everything to all people" comes to mind. When I need a high-five, He's got His arm raised. When I need shelter, He's already waiting with the key to where I will be safe. And the cool thing is that He's always with me!
So bring on tomorrow, rain or shine, I look forward to it! God has always been there for me; He's with me now; He's waiting for me tomorrow! It's only one more day from now...it may be scary or it may be exciting...doesn't matter, I'm not going there alone! Don't you go there alone either. Let me know if you want to know more about that!!!
Aren't those great words!?! But what is it that clears away the cobwebs and the sorrows? What is it about tomorrow that has that effect on us? Is it the newness of what tomorrow brings? Is it that today is soon to be over? Is it both??? I don't know if there is just one answer; I think it depends on the person doing the singing/thinking. For me there have been tomorrows that I did not look forward to. There have been tomorrows that scared me. There have been tomorrows that tested my faith. But there are also tomorrows that tell me the current day is almost over. There are tomorrows that mean something's coming that I'm really looking forward to. Tomorrw sometimes means that I've got a chance to start over and get something right this time. But the greatest truth for me about tomorrow is that God is already there. When I'm worried about the day and just waiting for it to end or when life is gripping me by the throat and threatening to end what I've always known, I know that there is a God who is bigger than any problem, stronger than any circumstance, offering peace that I couldn't imagine or create, and joy that completely boggles my mind. It is through Him and Him alone that I can find...that any of us can find true peace. For me, He is the reason I can sing about tomorrow; and not just for what He has waiting for me but because of what I've already received. I look forward to tomorrow because I know who God has been, who He is, and who He will be. The Lord makes my good times better and my bad times easier to deal with. He laughs and rejoices with me when things are good and comforts me and cries with me when things aren't. The phrase "He is everything to all people" comes to mind. When I need a high-five, He's got His arm raised. When I need shelter, He's already waiting with the key to where I will be safe. And the cool thing is that He's always with me!
So bring on tomorrow, rain or shine, I look forward to it! God has always been there for me; He's with me now; He's waiting for me tomorrow! It's only one more day from now...it may be scary or it may be exciting...doesn't matter, I'm not going there alone! Don't you go there alone either. Let me know if you want to know more about that!!!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
God is in Charge
Last weekend I was at a conference and the visiting pastor said something in his devotion that made me think. He mentioned that sometimes we find ourselves thinking God isn't paying attention to us. Sometimes, when we are in a desperate or seemingly hopeless situation, we tend to believe that God is not watching us; that He's unaware of our "terrible" situation. Have you found that to be true for you? I know that I have. I have been in a situation that is unbelievably difficult; one filled with pain, misery, fear, and hopelessness. And I have caught myself believing that God wasn't concerned with me and my "problems." Why did I think this? Because life wasn't going the way I wanted it to. Because the resolution wasn't happening in my time frame. Because God wasn't being obedient to me. It was as if I was the master and He was my servant. How foolish is that?! Did my realization of this foolishness change my situation? Nope! Would you want your life to be controlled by a fool? Apparently I did because I was trying to be in charge.
I'm reminded that God is God whether or not my life is the way I think it should be. I'm reminded that I'm not alone; Isaiah 41:10 tells us not to fear because God IS with us. We are not to be dismayed because He IS our God! He promises to strengthen us and help us and uphold us with His righteous right hand.
My problems may not be resolving like I'd like for them to or in the time I'd like, but I will put my trust and faith and hope in the Lord! Where does my help come from? It comes from God alone who promises to be with me, to go before me, to prepare me, to never leave me, to prosper me, and to give me a peace and a joy that surpasses all understanding. How am I able to have joy in the midst of terrible circumstances? How am I able to be "strong?" Because the joy of the Lord is my strength! He is the song of my heart and the Light of my life!
I'm reminded that God is God whether or not my life is the way I think it should be. I'm reminded that I'm not alone; Isaiah 41:10 tells us not to fear because God IS with us. We are not to be dismayed because He IS our God! He promises to strengthen us and help us and uphold us with His righteous right hand.
My problems may not be resolving like I'd like for them to or in the time I'd like, but I will put my trust and faith and hope in the Lord! Where does my help come from? It comes from God alone who promises to be with me, to go before me, to prepare me, to never leave me, to prosper me, and to give me a peace and a joy that surpasses all understanding. How am I able to have joy in the midst of terrible circumstances? How am I able to be "strong?" Because the joy of the Lord is my strength! He is the song of my heart and the Light of my life!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
First Blog
Hey there friends,
I am excited and apprehensive about starting my own blog and site. I am hoping to use it as an outlet and a ministry to my friends and family. Let me know what you think!
Rusty
I am excited and apprehensive about starting my own blog and site. I am hoping to use it as an outlet and a ministry to my friends and family. Let me know what you think!
Rusty
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
