Trust in a faithful God

I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever!
    Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.
² Your unfailing love will last forever.
    Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens. Psalms 89:1-2 NLT

One of the most intimate parts of our relationship involves the growth of your trust in my faithfulness.  I keep all of my promises.  I am not like you in that I change often, rather I am steadfast in all that I do.  So why is it hard for you to place your continued trust in me?

Disappointment creates a fog that keeps you from seeing how I am leading.  You were hoping for a different outcome for the thing that was so important to you, but the end result has left you aimless about my leading.  You feel as though I am distant, unconcerned, too busy, or that I just don’t care enough.  You have convinced yourself that you are not worthy of my intervening.

You are my child! I will never fail you.  My faithfulness toward you means that I always keep my promises. As sure as spring time and harvest, summer and winter I will be present in the seasons of your life.  As a small child jumps by faith into his father’s arms, you can also learn that I am trusted to catch you.   To know me as faithful is to learn that I am always trustworthy.

My word can be trusted.  My son was asked “if it is truly you, command me to walk on water?”  He told Peter to come and he walked on water with my Son.  Peter’s walk was totally dependent on his faith in the command to come.  Trust my voice as I invite you to walk with me.  Even if you start to sink, I will lift you up for I am faithful. 

The bond of trust strengthens as you recount my faithfulness in your life.  The singing and remembering helps you to focus on my involvement in your life.  Others find my path trustworthy as you engage them in the retelling of my involvement in your story.  King David sums up my faithfulness to his life as he wrote, “I have been young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or His children begging for bread.”

Trust me when I say that I am faithful

Whispers from your Father, God

Something Big Standing In Your Way?

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the
​mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.  ² Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb ³ and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” ⁴ But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.  Mark 16:2-4 NIV.

 What’s the biggest thing standing in your way from accomplishing what you desire to do?  Sometimes we wait for the obstacle to be removed before we start.  Sometimes we never take the necessary steps to begin a project because there appear to be too many hurdles to overcome.   Yet our passage today encourages us to begin with what we have purposed in our hearts.

 These ladies bought spices for Jesus tomb.  We are not sure if they bought them in the market that morning or if they already had spices.  They did, however, coordinate who was bringing which spice and how much of it to bring.  It was customary to place the spices in the tomb to help with the smell of the decomposing body. 

 They also started their journey to the tomb without having all questions answered.  Not one male disciple or a son was present who would have been helpful to roll the stone away.  Nor did they have authorization for the soldiers to roll the stone back so they could add their spices.  But they went to the tomb.

 Talking about difficult circumstances can cause discouragement.  Some have turned back and some have quit their journey altogether because of hopeless dialogue.  Yet these women continued to the tomb with no knowledge of how to remove the stone.  It was a true fact that the stone was large.  Some believe the stone to be in the shape of a wheel that sits in a track or sloped ramp.  Several men would roll the stone back up the ramp to gain access to the tomb.  This procedure truly was difficult, but they continued to the tomb to perform their ritual.  Even though they discussed about how the stone would be removed, they did not turn back.

 Prior to their making it to the tomb, the stone was pushed over.  Not up the ramp, but falling flat out from the tomb.  One gospel records an angel siting on the tomb, while Mark records the angel inside the tomb.  Regardless, the stone was removed and Jesus had risen from the dead

Now these ladies were partakers of a new mission.  They were the first witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus.  They started their day with one mission in mind, but God had other plans.  Look what they would have missed if they had stayed home until all of the details were figured out. 

 Remember the last word that God spoke to you.  Then take the steps necessary to complete the task.  Be watching, for the journey may have a very different ending.  You may encounter your stone removed, and a whole new purpose to steward.  Plan well, but don’t remain idle.  Jesus commanded movement…He said go. And through the presence of the Holy Spirit, He will be with us always.

Eating words of life

And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.” ² So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.³ Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.

⁴ He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them.  Ezekiel 3:1-4. NIV

Don’t you realize that you can speak my words to others?  My words are not just symbolic.  My Son showed you that mankind does not live on bread alone, but My words of life and light can sustain you.  When I gave my scroll to Ezekiel he ate and his stomach was full.  It’s that feeling of being satisfied at a meal…when you say “enough, I’m full”.

When was the last time that you read my word with the anticipation that I was placing My word in you?  It is an infinite treasure to be explored and never disappointed.  I reveal My son, My purpose, My love for mankind through the entire story.  Take time to read.  I have placed a spiritual hunger for my word that is like the longing that a baby has for milk to survive.  Nothing in this world will satisfy that hunger and thirst.  Though there are many cisterns from which you try and drink to quench this longing inside, they will leave you empty and more thirsty than before.

Eating my word and filling your stomach is only half of my purpose.  My word is to flow forth for others to hear and digest, and that comes from you.  You are the path through which My word chooses to go and not return void.  My word is active and sharp and searches for opportunities to go into the ears of those who would listen.  It is through you that I desire to speak to all those in your sphere of influence.  But you cannot share what I have not given you.  TAKE time to let me fill you spirit man with the words of life.  Look at the revelation that flowed forth from Peter as he responded to My son, “where else could would go, you alone have the WORDS of life.”  Spending time reading My word and listening to My Spirit will always have immediate and long lasting impact. 

I am waiting to fill your life with good things and it begins with what you eat.  Read, memorize and meditate on my words of life.  Don’t let a day go by that these words depart from your mouth, they will bring life to your whole body.

Whispers from you Father, God.

Staffs of Favor and Union

So I shepherded the flock marked for slaughter, particularly the oppressed of the flock. Then I took two staffs and called one Favor and the other Union, and I shepherded the flock. NIV Zechariah 11:7.

These two staffs reflect My heart’s desire for your life as the one who shepherd’s you.  I am known as the one who rains on the just and the unjust.  My favor is the aroma of my presence that brings the constant gentle breeze of refreshing in your life.  Although you can’t see it, you know it is with you.  One who walks in favor is like the acknowledgement of honor that accompanies royalty or someone famous.  I place that honor upon my children who love my Name.

My staff of Union is the guidance of peace among all of your relationships.  My heart breaks for you as there is so much discord.  The closest relationship in the world exists between husband and wife, yet their lack of unity results in divorce damaging the lives of those around them.  Even though my Son broke down the dividing wall, there still exists dividing walls between people of race, color, origin, regions, wealth, education and more.  When brothers intentionally dwell together, my staff of Union is present and I command a blessing over their efforts.  There exists perfect unity among Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and I desire the same fellowship among my children.  It is possible and it is good.

Many of you don’t bask in the warmth of my favor because you feel as if you don’t deserve it.  You are still thinking you can earn my favor.  Deep down you wonder how I could choose you, especially when I know all of the yuck in your life.  Your attempts of “cleaning up” your life has never impressed me, because I love you just as you are.  Your faith in my Son to forgive you of your sins opened the path for my favor to pour forth in your direction.  When my favor is present, I will even confirm the work of your hands (Ps. 90:17).  My favor is never static, but you may continue to grow and increase in favor (I Sam. 2:26).  Seeking wisdom draws favor as two magnets that attract (Prov. 8:35).  I’ve even provided a path for you to extend my blessings through your proclamations over each other (Numbers 6:23-26).  Open your mouth and declare my blessings of favor over your life, the lives of your loved ones, and those among whom you live, work and play.

My favor lasts for a lifetime.

Whispers from your Father, God.

Merciful Father,God

Who is a God like you,

    who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
    of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
    but delight to show mercy.  NIV Micah 7:18

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. NIV Luke 6:36

I am holy and I am just, but I also delight in showing mercy.  Don’t get me wrong, every sin is offensive to me and must receive its payment.  I never overlook one sin, even the smallest of transgressions from your perspective is vomit in my mouth.  I can not tolerate it for even  one second.  Because of my holiness most of you only see me as an angry Father who has no time for people who violate my demands for right living.  Because my Son took all of the payment of your transgression on the cross, I wanted you to know how much I desire expressing mercy.

My Son expressed our heart for mercy through his interaction with my people.  He ate with Zacchaeus who had no friends, he partied with Matthews friends who were known to be sinners, he healed those noisy and bothersome annoying people, he was merciful even when misunderstood, he was patient with Nicodemus who was trying to understand this new kingdom thinking, he healed the gentile (those who were considered not My people) woman’s daughter AND he talked, walked, laughed and ate with Judas who would betray him to his death.

Your brokenness is the candidacy for my mercy.  Your independence will shield you from walking in my mercy.  Let down the walls and receive.  I will restore the freshness of a clean relationship that has no barriers.  For those who call on Me, I show mercy from generation to generation.  I desire to overshadow you with good things, because the blood of my Son covers your transgressions.  You cannot earn mercy.  I am not impressed by your intentions of doing better in the future.  I am never fooled by misdirected excuses of responsibility for your actions.  I know all that you do, say and think.  And still I love you and desire for you to experience the continual aroma of my Mercy.

Can you show mercy to others?  When you do, it is my mercy that they are experiencing.  Mercy is the antithesis to acts of the sinful nature.  Forgiveness is encapsulated in the whole experience of mercy.  When you show mercy there will be those who say you are weak and just being taken advantage of.  But trust my voice to lead you into showing mercy.   Your spouse needs mercy, your children need mercy, your parents need mercy, your coworkers need mercy, your boss needs mercy, your pastor needs mercy, and your neighbor needs mercy.  Show them what I am like…a Father who loves showing mercy.

Whispers from your merciful Father, God.