Waiting on God is just a sliver of a thought

Enduring and waiting

Is 40:30-31

Israel, why then do you complain    that the Lord doesn't know your troubles
    or care if you suffer injustice?   ²⁸ Don't you know? Haven't you heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God;    he created all the world.
He never grows tired or weary.    No one understands his thoughts.
²⁹ He strengthens those who are weak and tired.
³⁰ Even those who are young grow weak;    young people can fall exhausted.
³¹ But those who trust in the Lord for help    will find their strength renewed.
They will rise on wings like eagles;    they will run and not get weary;
    they will walk and not grow weak. GNT

Yet those who wait

וְקֹויֵ֤

ve·ko·v·ye

6960a

to wait for

a prim. root

You’ve made a decision and it doesn’t seem to be working out….do you continue?  You felt as if God told you to move in a certain direction, but the pieces don’t seem to be falling in place.  You pursued a relationship and the person isn’t who you thought they were.   They are not perfect, so do you end it?  You are talking with God again…but He seems silent.  How does God expect you to continue to wait?

This step of waiting is the maturing of faith in a believer.  It fine tunes our ability to follow God’s leading.  We have stepped into an unsure and unknown future that we thought  was the right direction.  Now God is allowing the roots of faith to grow deep.  Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, but he waited to go to him.  God was wanting to raise Lazarus from the dead.  Jesus had to wait until he died.  This event also inspired Jesus just a short time later to know that God the Father, would raise Him up into The Resurrected life.  He is the first born of the dead…never to die again.

Have you ever braided small rope or strands together?  After a few braids you pull and stretch to test their strength.  If it breaks, you then start over, but you twist and add more strands, until the desired strength is found.  A strong rope actually starts with fiber or filaments that are twisted together to form a sliver.  These slivers of many fibers is then woven into yarn.  The yarns are then braided into a strand.  Finally the three strands are woven together into a rope.  Hence a cord of three strands is not easily broken.

This is the primary root of the word wait (kavah) n this passage.  It means to twist as in strengthening a rope.  So waiting or hoping in the Lord is not a one time event that is so monumental that you “learn your lesson”.  Rather it is a series of intentional redirecting of your thoughts toward the knowledge of who God is and how He interacts with your life that produces a strong faith in God, so that you know He is good and never grows weary in His support for your life.  You see when we are overwhelmed with life, it’s problems and issues…it’s hard to look to God.  Our gaze is fully on our struggle and why God doesn’t intervene.  But He wants us to add another sliver of trust.  Peter said it best, “where else can we go? You, alone, have the words of life?”  There is no other option available.

That doesn’t mean you are stuck.  Rather, it is a renewed trust to follow God in every decision for your future.  As for making that decision, Charles Davis (an anointed teacher with lots of wisdom) gave some great thoughts about following God.  “When you have a deep inner conviction accompanied by a strong inner peace, then move forward.”  This of course will not violate any of God’s commands or His direction to always love others.  Be humble in your listening to counselors…they may have walked that path before.

Wait or hope in the lord is to take you thoughts captive and twist another sliver of faith toward God who loves you.  Then you can expect to be refreshed, strengthened, new ability to soar like eagles.

Father, you know all things and you do all things well.  Today we once again acknowledge our faith and trust in you lead and guide us in every decision.  We do not want to follow our own way of thinking.  Help us to see how we are to place our trust in you.  Help us to see how to endure, wait, and hope in your deliverance.  We position our thinking today to follow you the author and the finisher of our faith.  In Jesus name, Amen

Happy Father's Day

my fathers day gift from Jon and Jess

¹⁴ I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children. ¹⁵ For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you. ¹⁶ So I urge you to imitate me.

¹⁷ That’s why I have sent Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in all the churches wherever I go.  I Cor. 4:14-17

Happy Father’s Day! Some are celebrating being a dad for the first time, some are seasoned dad’s, and some have lost their father within the past year.  Father relationships have the potential to stir up intense emotional responses.  Some of you had wonderful interaction with your dad who has spurred you on in life.  Some of you maybe had a dad present, but he never engaged with you on an emotional level.  Others grew up with without a father being present in your home, either through death or divorce.

Within this passage we can glean several things about fathering.  First, fathers have a role to protect, this is why Paul is writing this letter to the Corinthians.  He tells them that he wants to “warn” them as children.  Dad’s  we must set boundaries for our children.  This would include not putting fingers in electrical sockets, don’t play in the road, and don’t touch the hot stove.  As they mature, it would also include warning about choosing friends wisely, responsibility of car driving, and steward money and possessions.  DAD SAY SOMETHING!  Have those conversations! God has imparted a wisdom to you that you need to share with your kids.  Make sure the children know what Dad would say or think about the issue they are facing.

Second, Paul tells us that we all have the potential to be fathers through the gospel.  A father produces or originates something.  Children are the fruit of the father’s seed.  Spiritually Paul says that sharing the gospel can see people come to Christ.  In this sense, we have a responsibility to the new child of God to help them mature.  No sharing of the gospel, means no spiritual children.  Take time to learn how to effectively share…the harvest is plentiful.  God is looking for workers to tell others the good news.

Third, Paul says that we will be imitated, so we should live in a way that is worthy of imitating.  The phrase, “don’t do as I do, do as I say” is hypocritical.  All dad’s know we are not perfect and there may be personality choices that we hope our children do not imitate.  But God allows imitation  to encompass imperfection.  Losing your temper and yelling at the driver in front of you is not the problem.  How do you respond afterwards?  Do you let you children hear you ask God for forgiveness?  Do they see you humble yourself before God, by acknowledging your bad behavior?  Do they hear you speak blessing and safety over the driver that caused you frustration?  Children watch the whole event.  They see you argue with mom, but they also see you make up and resolve the conflict.  They WILL imitate you..make it a good impression.

Finally, Paul gives a proof text of his fathering.  He sends Timothy to the Corinthians.  Paul is so confident in his son in the faith that he tells them, Timothy will fully re-represent my model and teaching before you.  Do you know someone like that in your life?  Have you spent enough time with a spiritual son or daughter in the faith that they will be able to communicate those things that are important to you?  You see Paul was exhibiting faith and confidence in Timothy.  Children will grow up.  They need to know that you believe in them.  They need to know that they have what it takes to make it in life.  You can’t do it for them.  But you have to let them go.

Happy Father’s Day!  Remember to include the Paul’s in your life.  They made an imprint in you that impacts your Christian walk, even to this day.

Pastor Greg

Taking authority over Worry

³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things

will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  Matt 6:33-34

Don’t worry, easier said than done. Most of our worry occurs inside our thoughts.  Yes, it comes out when we share our fears and thoughts with others, but the battle is in the mind.  Maybe you can’t sleep at night because this worry thought keeps replaying over and over.  Or maybe you rehearse the scenarios again and again of how the situation is going to play out.  What you want to say or will say or should have said are examples of the relentless thoughts rolling around your mind. Make no mistake, this is called worry and Jesus commands us to “not worry”.

Recently, I performed a job for someone but used a different part than what they wanted.  Served the same function, but they wanted a specific part to be used.  I was frustrated that this information was not explained beforehand because I will have to change the part and because I failed to meet expectations.  I rehearsed what I had been told, I thought about arguing back to the letter of the law, I rehearsed my response endlessly in my thoughts.  I could not sleep because the event kept replaying in my mind.  I was justified, I thought.  Then I realized it was worry.

At the core of worry is our frustration for not being God.  Not that we want his job.  We just want to be able to control the outcome of our lives.  When problems arise that we have no control over, we worry.  Maybe it is a bill that needs to be paid, maybe it’s a confrontation that needs to take place, maybe its an illness that needs a healing, maybe its looming foreclosure or repo, maybe its harassment on the job, or maybe it’s a fear that you don’t have what it takes to be successful.  All of these can cause stress that leads to worry.  So what it the answer?

First, call a spade a spade.  Worry is wrong.  Do not try to make worry something other than it is….lack of faith in God to handle our future. Admit (confess) to God that you have been worrying.  Do this verbally.  Let yourself hear that you have not trusted God for your future.  Daniel could have worried about the lions den, but we remember Daniel as someone who trusted God.  You may have to do this repeatedly, as it takes a while to establish a new godly habit.

Second, Matthew 6:33 tells us to replace worry with “seeking God”.  As individuals this may have a different application for each of us.  But it is not neutral or passive.  Tell God that you know that He is in control and He already has the best plan for your future.  Tell Him that you are willing to do anything in regards to a resolution of your problem.  God will lead you as you ask for ears to hear in what to do next.  Trust that God’s perspective about your crisis is the right one.  Seeking God could include reading of scripture, singing worship songs, praying aloud or serving as an act of trust.  Again, seeking is not passive, you will need to do something in order to say that you are seeking God.

Third, take authority over your thinking.  All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Jesus.  He has now delegated that authority to us as his children and ambassadors.  He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind.  Those who worry are not operating from a “sound mind”.  Romans 8 tells us that we have not been given a spirit of fear leading to bondage again, but we are engaged with a heavenly Father who knows every need that we have.   We have the mind of Jesus, so we can operate as children of God.  Demand worry to leave you alone.  Ask for peace in your heart and mind (Phil 4:6-7).  Faithful is He who calls you and He will also bring it to pass.  Don’t curse your life, in saying that you are just like you mom,  aunt or whomever had a tendency to worry.  You are a new creation in Jesus. The old has gone and all things have become new, including your ability to take authority over a worrying nature.

No amount of discussion about tomorrow’s worries solves those problems.  However, walking close to our Shepherd lets us know that we are being cared for.

Praying that you will be freed from Worry.

Pastor Greg

put on your gospel shoes

and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; Eph

6:15

How much did you spend on your last pair of shoes?  Did you go for style, comfort, or ease of putting them on?  Most of the time we forget about our feet…unless they hurt.  Then every step becomes the center of our attention. 

Paul reminds us today to focus on our feet.  The whole encouragement about putting on the armor is for us to engage in this activity daily.  We understand the armor is spiritually metaphoric. In other words you are not putting on a physical helmet.  But there still needs to be the intentionality of putting it on.  Just thinking about putting my shoes on is not the same as going through the exercise of slipping them on and tying them up.

Could it be that our lack of seeing the reaping of the harvest that is plentiful is our failure to put on the gospel shoes daily?  We choose our physical shoes for color, but primarily to “fit” the occasion.  My primary gift mix is not evangelism.  But, I know that the harvest is plentiful.  When I make myself available to the Lord, He gives me opportunities to tell the good news that a relationship with Jesus offers.  Not every time, but my awareness increases when I am ready for it.

Your feet will take you everywhere you go…they even assist in driving your car.  You will be carrying the treasure of heaven within your earthen vessel.  There will be people who need what you have…a family relationship with Father, God.  Who is going to tell them?  People who are dressed for the right occasion.

Take a few seconds and verbally ask for God to give you gospel shoes.  Ask God to bring opportunities across your path today.  Then be ready to give an answer for the hope that is within you.  

I am praying and believing that somebody gets saved today.  God moves us to be in the right position and then allows us to share the good news.   Let me know how it went for you as you shared.

Father, today we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit.  There are too many who are lost and need to be transformed by the gospel.  Mess with our hearts to grow uncomfortable about the plight of the lost.  Let us be moved with compassion as you were when you looked over the multitude.  Guilt will not motivate us, but compassion n will.  The gospel still has the power to transform….help us to be faithful in sharing.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Breathe, I am here.

The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

Breathe, I am here.  Be silent, I am here.  Sleep, I do not leave.  In your hurriedness, you can’t out run me.  When your worry, I watch over you like the flowers of the field and the birds of the air, I am with you.  When you lack resources, you have abundance for I am with you always.

I am never idle, for the blood of my Son cries to Me for justice.  Rescuing those who are in bondage is the cadence of my heartbeat.  I am fighting for you to let you walk in the freedom that I have already purchased.  Do not think of my as neutral, uninvolved, or unconcerned.  My Son endured the cross, for the joy of knowing you would be one of my children.

I long for you to remain open with me about all issues in your life.  I am here to listen, give wisdom, laugh with you and to comfort.  Yes, I even sing over you.  Those songs of faith that flash across your mind are My encouragement to you to sing with Me.  My presence is not inhibited by the old style hymns, nor do I have a preference of style.  But I inhabit the praises of my people.  New songs are stories of My engagement in your journey.

Please never forget my bent to love you.  Because of my Son’s sacrifice, you are and always will be the apple of my eye.

Whispers from your Father, God

Wavering between two opinions?

I Kings 18:21

And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word.

There is a time to be silent, but there is also a time for action that declares your trust in Me.  Hesitation is good when you are about to lose control of your temper or you are about to violate My plan for you. But it is not honorable when you are trading away my bread for what does not satisfy.

If you need wisdom for a decision, I give it away freely to those who ask of Me.  Some hesitate because of fear.  You are afraid of making a wrong decision.  When My son asked men to follow him, they left their work immediately.   I love calling you forth you into action.  I love to see when men step up to do just and righteous actions.  David responded like this when he fought Goliath.  Boaz became the kinsman redeemer because he knew it was right.  And today, you have the wonderful opportunity to act in my behalf representing Me to those around you.

Don’t hesitate to do good.  Don’t let fear rob you of the joy of obedience.  There is so much fulfillment in life when you choose to follow the leading of My Holy Spirit.  Don’t be afraid of the great adventure of following me.  It may not be easy to walk the path, but the view is breath taking.  Don’t settle for your own idols of fame and prominence.  I alone have the words of life and peace.

Oh, how I love you!

Whispers from your Father, Godw

Feeling Pressure

Psalms 118:5-6

From my distress I called upon the LORD; The LORD answered me and set me in a large lace. The Lord is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? NASB

When Pam delivered the twins, she almost died.  She was healthy through the delivery of the C-section.  The boys were healthy.  But later that night she was rushed into intensive care because of high blood pressure and her inability to receive enough oxygen.  That morning she was giving birth to our babies…that night next to her bed someone coded.

It took nearly a week to find the cause of all of the pressure.  We literally had people praying all over the world as one of her cousins had a prayer request for her spoken on the 700 Club.  The prayer and medical world converged in the diagnosis of Miyo-carditis. Understand I am not a physician, but this is a condition when the lining of the heart is inflamed and begins filling up with fluid.  In my mind that should just stretch and get bigger.  But in reality it puts the pressure inward…on the heart.  Thus the heart responds to the pressure by beating faster, even though the body is at rest.  Pam was feeling as if she was running a sprint that would not end.  They were able to drain the fluid out of that lining with a needle…30 minutes later she was free from the pressure and began her healing.

Pressure in life seems to always compress.  It makes you feel as if you have fewer and fewer choices.  Some can literally feel the pressure of limited decisions throughout the body.  Heaviness on the chest, pressure on membranes in the head, and a fallen countenance are the weight that people carry every day.  Maybe that describes how you are feeling.

Knowing to call out to the Lord and humbling yourself to do it are two different things.  Out of your distress or in the middle of it, call out to the Lord.  Your voice of crying to him is the relief valve of the pressure.  The old pressure cookers on the stove would begin to whistle when the heat and pressure reached a certain point.  The heat was still going to the pot, but the pressure was being released.  Call unto the Lord and tell him your difficulty.

Verse 6 brings comfort in knowing that God is on your side.  You are not calling to someone who cares little for you.  Rather, GOD is on your side.  He is for you.  He knows about the pressure and He has a solution for you.

When you call out to God…options become available.  He enlarges your perspective.  You may still have to walk through the fire, or go through the painful experience that is in front of you.  But When God is Waling With You…everything is different.  Just ask Daniel in the lions den, or Shadrach in the fiery furnace, or Moses in the Red Sea, or Joseph in the pit, or Paul in prison or Jesus on the Cross.  Connecting with God relieves the pressure and gives you options to make the right decisions.  Don’t ever compromise from the direction that the Lord has already given.   He makes a way that is spacious in the middle of your desert.

Go to Him in prayer today

Jesus is waiting for your plea

Though you’re overwhelmed in every way

His truth will set you FREE

When life looks like it has failed.

Hab 3:17-19

Though the fig tree should not blossom,
    nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
    and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
    and there be no herd in the stalls,
¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
    I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
¹⁹ God, the Lord, is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the deer's;
    he makes me tread on my high places.

To the choirmaster: with stringed^[d] instruments.

I did not create the deer to defend itself by sheer force, rather I gave them ability to quickly move to safety.  What may have looked like easy prey, has now removed itself to a place with a whole new perspective and peace.  I gave the deer feet that could run, jump and maneuver among the small rocks.  I made their feet and the rocks to work together.

Finding joy in Me sounds easy.  I am always near you, even in your mouth.  However, only you can declare your trust and devotion to Me with your mouth.  The strength that I give you starts with the declaration from your own lips.  I already know the short comings, the lack of enough money, the mounting bills, the failed jobs, the lack of influence with your children, and the fear of never enough.  From your perspective, I begin to move and support you with strength when you change your focus from your problems to Me.  I am looking at you, when you turn your gaze heavenward.  Pour forth verbally your trust in me even before the need is met.  I am already at work with the solution.

I have created you with feet to maneuver to safety.  I have also created the rocks that could cause you to stumble if you focus behind you.  Look up and skip and jump with the strength and peace that I give.  I am your strength when life looks like it has failed.

Whispers from your Father, God