Who can help me sleep?

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.
² In vain you rise early  and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—  for he grants sleep to^[a] those he loves. Psalms 127:1,2

What does it mean to cooperate with Me in the tasks of life?  How do you know if you and I are working together or if you are relying on your own strength to accomplish these tasks?  Underlying motives reveal the foundation of faith that rests on Me or in your own understanding.

I want to be involved in your daily work.  I love your life of mundane activities and your creative expressions.  But it major league annoys me when the pride of your accomplishments forgets My gifts to you, involvement and presence in your life. No matter the strength of the material in which you use for building, it cannot withstand the pressures of life.  Invest in that which lives on through eternity.

Fear has dominated your lives ever since Adam and Eve hid themselves in the garden.  Weapons and walls give security, but fear can infiltrate through the strongest barriers.  My son, Jesus defeated fear when he faced the cross and trusted that He would live again.  Fear loses its grip when it stands before My love.  I am above and beyond the grasp of fear.  That does not mean that you will be excluded from pain and suffering, but My Spirit will comfort and lead you into My peace which goes beyond all understanding, yet remains tangible.

My Son told you not to worry about what you will eat, drink or wear.  This includes being anxious, troubled or concerned.  I ordained work when I created Adam.  But I also created the earth to bring forth food for your lives.  I made provision before I made man.  So, also, I make provision for your life.  My Son was not using a metaphor when He taught you to ask daily for bread, your food for the day.  Trusting me for your needs will teach you to be a good steward all that you have, including your food.  You do not have to be greedy or miserly.  Just listen to My Spirit guide you in your eating habits.  Following His lead will always be good for you.

Open your eyes and what do you see?  I am present all around you and I am guiding your steps.  Open your ears and what do you hear?  You hear my Son’s voice calling you to follow him into green pastures to restore your soul.  Open your mouth and taste and see that I am good.  I will fill your life with good things and you can declare to the world that I gave my Son because I love the world.  Open your hands and they may look empty to you.  But I see hands that have let go of trust in themselves and are ready for me to place my abundance upon them.  Open your heart, please.  I have removed the stony heart and replaced it with a warm and responsive heart.  Common union at this deepest level will last for eternity and has the capacity to grow more intimate day after day.  It is at this place that I grant life giving sleep to those who love me and are trusting their lives into my care.

Whispers from your Father, God.

Praise da Lord

While on my recent trip helping flood victims in Baton Rouge I heard a great sermon with three sentences.  Actually, I experienced a sermon that has continued to roll around in my thoughts.  One of our team members, Ryan Alford, recently graduated from high school.  His automatic response to almost every encounter was, “Praise da Lord, God is good and He loves me.”  It was genuine and simple.  In fact, it was catchy enough to repeat it with him.  Before the 3 day trip ended I was thoroughly intrigued by Ryan’s consistency (probably said this phrase 50 times) and downright good theology in his expression.

Praise da Lord – Psalms 103 starts with the psalmist reminding himself to “Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me bless His holy name.”  This side of heaven we get the privilege to open our mouths and declare aloud praises to our God.  This is not limited to church activities.  Just think of all of the words that flow forth daily through our lips.  How many times does our tongue declare praise to our God?  We are the only one controlling what comes out of our mouth.  Repetition of a phrase may not lead to genuine praise, but forgetfulness and silence rarely lead to an example of a worshipper.  When we truly see his infinite presence in every aspect of our lives our heart bursts forth in gratitude of praise and worship.  O for a thousand tongues to sing our great redeemer’s praise.

God is good -  The goodness of our God is the hook that all of God’s attributes hang on to display the splendor of his glory.  His holiness would be unapproachable save for the goodness of Jesus substitutionary death on the cross.  His justice is executed with such fairness that all proclaim His is good.  In our pain and struggles in life, we have hope because we are in love with a God who is good.

He loves me – Why? Not because he is obligated. Why? Not because I am somehow more worthy than others. Why? Not because I am the center of his universe.  Why? Not because of any works of good on my own...my righteousness is as filthy rags before him.  Why? Because as many as believe on the Lord Jesus shall became children of God.  Our heavenly father loves his children.  How great a love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God…and that is what we are.

I challenge you to say these 3 sentences together aloud throughout your day.  Don’t be afraid if someone else hears you…it may encourage them.  Believing God is good becomes even more real when you understand that everything that you are experiencing in life right now is filtered through a God that loves you.  The stress of life in all of it’s yuck that you are experiencing in relationships, health, finances, vocationally, or fatigue all falls under the category of God’s goodness and His love for us.

PRAISE DA LORD! GOD IS GOOD! AND HE LOVES ME!

Faith to walk on the storm waters in your life

²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”  Matthew 14:27-30. NIV

“Take courage” - 2293 /tharséō ("emboldened to show courage") refers to God bolstering the believer, empowering them with a bold inner-attitude (to be "of good courage” – a warming of the inside.) HELPS word studies. Bible Hub

How does faith grow in you when you are in the middle of a storm?  Maybe your storm is the culmination of a lifetime of seemingly wrong decisions or negative events.  Maybe your storm is the constant barrage of health struggles, lack of finances, loneliness, depression that you can’t wade out from underneath.  You probable agree all too often with Jesus- “in this world you will have troubles”.  These struggles can be so overwhelming that they narrow you vision so that you remained focus on the next wave that you see approaching.  Some have felt that their lot in life will only be managing the effects of wave after wave.

As a believer you have the wonderful gift of ears to hear Jesus voice, even in the middle of your storm.  Jesus said that his sheep hear his voice and follow him.  He is saying the same thing to you that he said to Peter on that night.  “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 

The root meaning of “take courage” means a warming on the inside.  As you hear Jesus voice, you begin to sense something.  It is called hope.  As you acknowledge that seed of hope, boldness takes root in the foundation that Jesus is now present in your situation.  Responding to his voice allows the aroma of faith to fill your mind, like the smell of freshly made coffee filling the home.

Faith was rising in Peter, but he still needed to know if it was truly Jesus.  “If it is you” is a question of faith not doubt.  Discerning his voice is of upmost importance in our walk of faith.  Some of you already know that Jesus is asking you to follow him onto the waves.  Be settled and know that if he says “Come” then you should go.  Speak it aloud.  “I trust you, Jesus, with my life”.

Every step of faith is like walking on water.  Trusting God for the outcome allows for no crutches.  Believing that you have made a step toward him means you have left the safety of the boat.  Trusting God means that you believe his way is more secure that your own way of thinking.  Believing God means that you can no longer remain idle trying to decide, you must move in the direction of his leading.  Trusting God means releasing the grasp of your fingers on what is familiar and taking hold of the warmth of his loving hand.  Believing God looks like an entirely poor decision from the world’s perspective, yet it will inspire others to follow in your steps.  Trusting God is like walking on an icy river it only has to be thick enough to carry you not dense enough to require no faith.

“Take courage.”  Let hope arise for your life in which Jesus is moving.  He is speaking to you about your present, your future, your family, your vocation, your finances, your today and your tomorrow.  He has great plans for you which include faith that he is with you in your next step.  His word is a lamp unto your feet.  Trust him today to be so secure that he will lead you at the pace that is right to fulfill his purpose in and through your life.