Category: Faithful

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A Crutch or an Anchor?

At the end of 2020 – we all shared a collective sigh……………it’s been so much……too much. 

On the other hand, it’s brought out some very good things in people.  And – I am convinced we will never take certain things for granted…………………ever again.

  • Eating together at a restaurant.
  • Worshiping at church or going to a bible study.
  • Going shopping – not the targeted stuff we do now, but sauntering through a store just to look.
  • Singing in a choir.
  • Hugging…………………………oh my word – yes, the hugs we have missed.
  • Holding hands, touching a face, being close………….the communication of……..TOUCH!

The struggles we have been through cause me to think about what we are holding onto.

Over the years, I’ve heard people talk about faith and liken it to a crutch.  After losing my husband 6 ½ years ago, I am here to tell you and anyone who will listen – – – – – it’s NOT a crutch – IT’S AN ANCHOR !!!

God’s people have had their faith tested sorely this year. And while we are all tired and sad and struggling in one way or another, we are still standing…………….if our faith is truly an anchor. 

We’ve generally had a pretty easy time of things over the years – with a few major bumps in the road.  This year – the whole road is bumpy. It pushed us, tested us.  Do we really believe what we say we believe??? 

Scripture holds promises – precious promises.  And – we learn so much about God’s character in scripture.  But how well do Christians know scripture?  I don’t mean that we need to sound like we’ve been to seminary.  But what do you know for certain from God’s word, whether you can quote the address of it or not?  Have you had scripture you memorized because it was intensely personal to you? 

It’s all of this that we can hold onto right now…………….and it matters.  And. . . .it will matter, truly matter as we move forward in the days ahead.   

I heard Dr. Charles Stanley say that we need to “obey God and trust Him with the consequences.”  That’s so good.  Do we trust Him?  Do we firmly believe in His character?  He is always faithful.  He will never leave us or forsake us.  He’s the only one that will do that & oh by the way – never change.  Everything around us changes……………..He doesn’t. 

This brings me back to the crutch vs Anchor subject.

A crutch props one up to assist giving extra support.  An anchor is a reliable support, holds an object firmly.  One is temporary and may or may not be reliable.  The other is reliable and can hold firmly.  I don’t know about you, but I want the second one.  No matter what happens, I want something that’s sure, that’s reliable, that will hold me firmly while the storm rages around me. 

Jesus is my Anchor!  The hope, a know so hope, we have in Christ is sure, certain, reliable.  Hebrews 6:19 says – This hope is a strong & trustworthy anchor for our souls.  Hebrews 13:5 says – For God has said, I will never fail you.  I will never abandon you.  (NLT)

That’s what I want.  That’s what I hold to.  That’s my Anchor.

As one who has gone through the top 2 experiences on the Trauma Scale – Death & Move – let me share a couple scriptures that have encouraged me and helped me maintain my focus.

Isaiah 41:13 – For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who says to you, ‘Fear not, I am the One who helps you.’ (ESV)  Deuteronomy 31:8 – The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. (NIV)

Horrible 2020 is done.  Welcome 2021 !  While it feels like a fresh start, we know everything isn’t going to be normal for quite awhile.  But God……………………oh yes, God’s got this.  He has not relinquished authority or command. 

So dear one, do you have a crutch or an Anchor?   Take time to examine your heart.  Where are you putting your hope? 

Now is the perfect time to seek God’s face and reaffirm that He is your Anchor – for  now & for always. 

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A Spark of Faith (reworked)

Ruth 1:7

With her two daughters-in-law she set out from the place where she had been living, and they took the road that would lead them back to Judah.

 

 

Naomi gets lots of criticism, but I get where she was and what she was feeling. Like Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh, Naomi had a negative attitude.  But as a widow, I feel that weight.  I understand it.

She’s lost her husband, which is devastating enough on its own.  But she has also lost her two boys.  In that culture, this means she has lost all financial support and care.  She’s faced with a nearly empty life and huge decisions to make completely alone.  I can’t imagine the fear she’s feeling for the future.  So you see, I truly understand why she is bitter.  And I understand why she feels like God has done this to her or at least allowed it. 

Right now, I’m facing big life decisions completely alone.  Everything feels overwhelming.  My life was never supposed to play out like this. I have an ache in my heart and fear of the future – fear I will make a mistake.

It’s hard to say exactly what made Naomi choose to go to Bethlehem.  But I think it’s logical.  She was going home.  She would know people there, family lived there and maybe someone would help her live out the rest of her days in peace.  She chose to go where the blessing of El Shaddai was present.

See, the thing is, even with all the negative in her life and clearly a poor attitude, I believe there was still a tiny spark of faith. She knew about the God of Abraham and she knew God could bless.  Though I’m sure she felt shaky, this choice was solid.  She chose to put her faith in God even though she was feeling bitter.

It’s that tiny spark of faith that gives me hope.  In Luke 17:6, Jesus talked about the power of faith the size of a mustard seed.  Some days my faith feels big, but others it feels mustard seed size.  So I cry out to God and say like the Dad in Mark 9:24 – I believe; help my unbelief.

No matter how daunting the situation or day, I need to exercise that spark of faith, clinging to God’s Word.

When I feel tossed up in the air, uncertain and when everything is overwhelming, God’s promises can calm my spirit.  He will never leave me or forsake me.  He promises He has a future and hope for me.  He says don’t try to figure it all out on my own, but to trust Him. 

My trust, that sometimes seem as small as that mustard seed, might be rocky.  But God knows me – He knows you.  He knows we won’t get it perfect.  How thankful I am that He looks at my heart, what little I bring to the table, and loves me anyway.  He will multiply my not enough.  He does amazing things when I let go and give Him my spark of faith.

Maybe you are in a hard place too.  You don’t have to be widowed to understand the heartache and angst of Naomi.  Life has a way of crushing us. Doesn’t it seem like difficulty shows up in a domino effect?  But even when it does, I bet you have a spark of faith.  Grab onto that and hold onto Jesus. Everything may be crashing, but we have an anchor for our soul.  It’s the one sure thing that will never fail us.

I believe God can take our tiny spark and grow it into great light.  He can do beyond anything you could imagine.  He can take your hard place and turn it into blessing.  He did that for Naomi.  Matter of fact, her story has a happy ending that gives me an ear to ear smile.

Hold onto that spark and watch what God does.

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Every Part of My Heart

Oh Lord of Heaven’s Armies, you make righteous judgments, and you examine the deepest thoughts and secrets…… Jeremiah 11: 20a

When you watch a magician, do you ever long to know the secret of the trick?  I do.  Intellectually I realize much of it is slight of hand, hidden elements or trap doors.  But the experiential, looking at it right now, in me is frustrated because I can’t figure it out.  I don’t have a clue.

The magician has mastered the covering of secrets.  He’s cloaked it all so well that no one can explain.

We do that too.  If we’re honest, there are deep thoughts and secrets buried in our hearts.  Perhaps some are awful things.  But I know in my own heart, some are often simply too personal to share. . . with anyone.

But God knows.  He sees. 

We’ve all heard that God knows “the thoughts and intentions of the heart”, taken from Hebrews 4: 12.  But did you realize that idea is expressed in other places in scripture?

Back in Genesis when Noah presented a sacrifice to God after coming out of the ark, we see that God looks on “the intent of man’s heart” in Genesis 8: 21.  In Samuel 16: 7, we see God telling Samuel that  “God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart”. And today’s verse says in the New Living Translation, “You examine the deepest thoughts and secrets“.

Everyone else around us would never know, but God knows.

That can be frightening when we harbor sin in our heart.  It’s more than a little uncomfortable thinking about God seeing those thoughts we work hard to cloak.  Scary…….guilty…….confession & forgiveness – the only way out.  And praise Him for that process !  He’s provided a way for that dark stuff to go away. . . forever.

But what about the other stuff?  The intense hurt.  The stark loneliness.  The fear.  The flood of tears held in secret.  The uncertainty.  The searching.  The doubt.

God sees all that too.  And instead of being frightened, we feel seen, understood, comforted and loved.

I’m glad God can see these things in my heart.  I’m glad I don’t have to work at hiding them from Him.  He will never judge me as others would.  He knows I’m dust.  He knows my weaknesses.  He knows it all and loves me just as I am.

Familiar phrase, but it seriously blows me away to think the God of the Universe would even want to look at my heart.  Do you get the magnitude of this deal?  Billions and billions and way beyond that – all those hearts stretching across past, present and future.  Every. Single. Heart. And He not only takes the time, but wants to look at my heart.

Yep.  It scares me a little to think He will find some secret sin I have forgotten or buried so deep even I can’t see it.  But I am so incredibly thankful to know He sees my struggles and wants to help me through them, loving me beyond what I can understand, but so desperately need.

So go ahead and be the magician of your heart with people around you.  But open your heart to the One that loves you no matter what.  No matter what deep thoughts and secrets He finds, He won’t beat you up.   He won’t kick you out of the family.  He will love you through every moment.  He will forgive.  He will strengthen, comfort and encourage.

He will love – because He is love itself.

That makes my heart feel better just knowing it’s true.  I hope it makes your heart feel better too.  

Lord – Only You know every part of my heart.  Thank you for loving me no matter what You find there.  Help me to be honest in confession.  And please give grace, comfort and love as we tackle the hard things together.  I would be so lost without You.  Thank You for never giving up on me.    Amen

 

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Is It Well With You?

Obey My voice, and I will be your God,, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you that it may be well with you.  Jeremiah 7:23

 

Before we ever walked into the store, I told my two kids how I expected them to behave. . . . .in detail.  This particular store brought out the worst begging in my children.  In addition to my detailed outline for good behavior, there was also a reward of sorts for obeying. Maybe a small something from the store or an ice cream cone, or even going to McDonalds or Sonic for lunch.  And no, we didn’t do that lots.  Cumulatively, eating out, even at McDonalds, was expensive and we had to watch our pennies.

I wish I could tell you they always obeyed so the rest of the day went well for them, but I can’t.  They, like all kids, chose to disobey at least half the time, maybe more. 

Today’s verse reminds me that when I obey God’s voice & walk in the way He shows me, it is indeed well with me.

But I tend to be like my children at that store.  I choose to disobey.  We all do this.  Sometimes we do it outright.  Sometimes the enemy sugar coats things and we fall for it, not realizing at the time what a bad choice we are making. 

How thankful I am for God’s grace and mercy.  He is faithful even when I am not.  When I confess my sin, He is faithful to forgive.  I get to start again with a clean slate.

The same thing happened with my children.  The next time we went to that store, they had another opportunity to obey. 

God loves us like that too.  He forgives us.  He picks us up and dusts us off.  He asks us to obey Him and walk in ALL the ways He tells us.  We have another opportunity to obey.

Obeying isn’t always easy.  But the closer I stay to Him, the better I am at it. 

Dear one, press in closer to Him and see how good it is.  And when you disobey ( notice I didn’t say if ), confess it.  He will be faithful to forgive and give you a fresh start.

We all want it to be well with us.  Lean in closer to God.  Stay in His word and talk with Him.  It makes all the difference.

Lord – Help me to obey Your voice and walk in ALL the ways You command.  Thank you for Your grace and mercy even though I don’t deserve it.  Help me to be all you want me to be.  Amen