A Word Worth Sharing

Here it is again . . . my favorite word: HOPE. I have some more uplifting and encouraging things to share about it, so let’s get started.

Hope in God is an option, and it’s through faith and hope that we receive God’s blessings, in this life and beyond. Here's a little acrostic reminder:

Having the

Option of the

Power of God

Eternally

Hope is not required for things we can see. It's only required for things we can't see (Romans 8:24-25). Paul said we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Hope is a great motivator and sustainer of life.

For me, faith and hope go hand in hand. Consider these scriptural concepts: (1) Faith is the substance of things hoped for (Hebrews 11:1), (2) fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12), and (3) hope in God’s word (Psalm 119:81).

No matter how tough the times, you’ll find His word is faithful to every generation (Psalm 119:89-90).

Would you rather be a dry bush or a green tree? This is the Prophet Jeremiah’s illustration: (a) The dry bush is the person who trusts in man and turns his back on God, and (b) The green tree is planted by living water where its roots are established, and it grows up to bear fruit (Jeremiah 17:5-8).  

This all takes time, of course, and that’s why hope is so important. 

Time brings us things both good and bad. Job certainly knew about living through hard times, but he declared his hope in God would never waver, even unto death (Job 13:15).

Hang onto hope and be blessed!

May the God of hope

fill you with all joy and peace

as you believe in Him,

so that you may overflow with hope

by the power of the Holy Spirit.

(Romans 15:13).

 

Pixabay: Faith, Hope, Love: geralt

 

Something We All Need

We’ve been talking a lot about our will. Today is no exception. In Psalm 101, David said multiple times, “I will” do this or that, but why?

It’s only eight short verses, but they focus on something we all need: Integrity. We don’t hear much about it these days, but it’s still an important character trait.

What does it mean to live with integrity? It means doing the right thing even when no one is looking (no one but God, that is).

People with moral and ethical principles are honest and consistent, in contrast to being dishonest and shifty. They are respectful of others, carry out responsibility well, and don’t mind being held accountable.

When I think of integrity, I think of self-control. Why? Because integrity doesn’t just happen. We live with integrity on purpose, by the choices we make.

Integrity can start at home. David said he would set no worthless thing before his eyes (V. 3). In our day, visual temptations and evil choices abound 24/7 . . . on our cell phones, in movies, books, and on TV.   

He expanded his integrity by choosing to: (1) Silence slanderers, (2) not endure the proud, (3) cut off evildoers, and (4) remove the wicked from the land (V. 5-8).

David wanted to surround himself with people of integrity Even his workers were those who could be counted on to be faithful, not to speak lies, or deceive him in any way. (V. 5-7).

By ferreting out evil in our homes and businesses, it should affect the city where we live in good ways.

There’s a similar thought in Proverbs 14:34: Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

Where do you line up on the integrity quotient? Fully engaged? Partially in? Could care less?

People who choose to live with integrity don’t have to wobble on their choices. They know where they stand and can be at peace.

Pixabay: Balance, Ethics, Values; Mohamed_hassan.  

A Matter of Will: Part 2

Thanks to our will, we get to make choices day by day, even moment by moment. Choices come first (our will), then actions. The same can be said for God.

Recently, I was intrigued by all the choices mentioned in Psalm 78. It was a reflection on the days of the Exodus. God had made His will known by giving some commands and laws (Psalm 78:5-7). Yet, the people made some bad choices.

God’s will exhibited as anger at times, and mercy at other times. We’ll touch on a few highlights, but I encourage you to read Psalm 78 for yourself. Notice the will of the people and the will of God.

God never leaves us clueless. We are blessed with His written word, plus the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, but He never overrides our will . . . the choice is ours.

First, we must choose to read or listen to His Word. Then we must choose to accommodate it. That may mean making some changes in our lives, but will we choose to obey, or not?

Let’s consider some bad choices. That would include refusing to live by God’s law, forgetting all the wonderful things He has done, willfully testing Him, speaking negatively against Him, not even believing Him nor relying on His salvation (Psalm 78:10-11, 18-19, 22).   

What about God? Was He smiling away at all this rebellion? No. The psalmist said He was filled with anger and wrath against them. Yet, He continued to lead them with a cloud by day and fire by night and fed them with manna in the wilderness (Psalm 78:21-25).     

God is longsuffering, but even He has limits. Way back in Genesis 6:3, He said, “My Spirit shall not contend with man forever.” The unbelieving people that are written about in Psalm 78 turn up again in Hebrews with a warning for us against unbelief (Hebrews 3:16-19).    

There will be a day of judgment for all people (Revelation 20:11-14). The “deed” to be judged on that day is found in John 3:16-18.

Please, don’t take that choice lightly.

Pixabay: Thinker, Thinking Person; Clker-Free-Vector-Im.

 

A Matter of Will: Part 1

I've been thinking about matters of will. Not the legal read-me-after-I-die kind, but something I think is more important.

I love reading Genesis One because item by item, day by day, God expressed His will as He made choices in creating sky, land, and sea.

When it came to the creation of mankind, God also made His will clear: (1) He created us in His image with a will and the ability to make choices, plus (2) He gave us an earthly assignment (Genesis 1:26).

Here's a story I wrote several years ago. I'm using it as an introduction to A Matter of Will: Part 2 which I will send next week.

DEAR WILL

What a pleasure to write this letter. I want you to know how much I appreciate having you in my life.

Thanks to you, I can make thoughtful decisions and not rush blindly into dangerous situations. You are the one who enables me to choose what to do, where to go, and what to say.

I appreciate the freedom you give me and how you wait while I search things out and review information to make a good choice.

Because of you, I am the captain of my own ship in many ways. Even when the storms of life cause me grief and troubled times, I don't have to bob along on unsettled waves. I can decide which life-saving actions to pursue.

I have learned from experience that you can be quite flexible. If I need strength and boldness, you rise to the occasion and people call me "strong-willed." If I choose to shrink back and let circumstances and others' choices control me, I get labeled "weak-willed." Either way, you stick with me.

I appreciate your respect. Others may try to pressure me into doing their will by threatening to affect my life in any number of uncomfortable ways, but you quietly wait in the background for my decision. Once it's made, you support me while I follow through. 

I thank God for you, Will. You have helped make me who I am today and will continue to impact my life right to the end. You accompany me as a companion, not a dictator.

My wrong choices cause discomfort, but you remain loyal, hoping I will see the error of my ways. I consider you an invaluable friend.

TWO EXAMPLES OF WILL AT WORK 

Ruth, in the Old Testament, chose to accompany her mother-in-law back to her homeland. She said, "Wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live . . . wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried . . ." (Ruth 1:16-17).

In the New Testament, before the crucifixion, Jesus prayed to His Father, "Take this cup from Me. Yet, not what I will, but what You will" (Mark 14:36).

I'm grateful God gave me Will. How about you?

Pixabay: Thinker, Thinking Person; Clker-Free-Vector-Im.

A Worldwide Symphony

I enjoy symphony concerts. The blending of musical instruments is beautiful as they join together in harmonies, rhythms, and melodies.

I also enjoy choirs. It was my privilege to be a choir pianist during the years my husband was a choir director. After that, I was a church pianist and the choir was the congregation. What a beautiful sound as voices blended in praise to God!

There’s a hymn I’ve always loved called “This is My Father’s World.” It was written by Maltbie D. Babcock, a Presbyterian minister, and published in 1901. According to Hymnary.org, it’s been published in 322 hymnals, so I’m not the only one who has liked it.

I wonder if Rev. Babcock was meditating on Psalm 148 when he wrote this song. The opening line says, “This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears all nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.”

In fourteen short verses, Psalm 148 lists created things from the sky to the sea to the earth and people. ALL are to praise God because they came into being at His command (V. 5). Also, He set them in place forever (V. 6). Isn’t it nice to be able to depend on night and day, the four seasons, the rain cycle, and food grown for all living things?  

What does it mean to give God praise? That’s when we express our appreciation, thanks, and/or admiration for things like: 1) Our amazing world, 2) personal blessings, 3) who God is, and 4) what He Is still doing.  

A major reason to praise God is for His great love. Jesus fulfilled the Father’s requirement of a perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins (John 1:29). Through Jesus, we have forgiveness of sins and life with God forever (John 3:16; Romans 10:9; Psalm 23; 2 Corinthians 5:8).  

You are invited to join a worldwide symphony of praise to Almighty God. Just like instruments played individually in a symphony, so are our praises to God, whether spoken or sung.

Note:  Psalm 100 and 1 Chronicles 16:7-36 give plenty of praise-worthy ideas. And don’t forget Psalm 148.

Pixabay: Sound, Sounds, Concert; geralt 

Freedom Unlimited

Not many options in life are unlimited. There is one important area, however, where we can determine how free we will be.

I’ve been studying *Parables” by John White. In Matthew 18:21, Peter asked a simple question, which in his mind had a simple answer. “How often should I forgive someone? Up to seven times?”

Wouldn’t that be easy? You wouldn’t even need all ten fingers to count them off!

Peter was probably shocked by Jesus’ response, but put yourself in his shoes. He was familiar with Old Testament scriptures which said you could retaliate an eye-for-an-eye, or a tooth-for-a-tooth (Exodus 21:23-24; Deuteronomy 19:21). With that mindset, doesn’t Peter’s idea seem generous?

Jesus was an expert at getting His point across. His parables or stories were simple enough for people of all ages and cultures to understand.

I was raised on the King James Bible which said to forgive 7X70, but some of the new translations say 77 times. I’m not going to argue over numbers because the point, as I see it, is this. Jesus was setting the bar high so we couldn’t easily say, “I’ve forgiven my limit. Now I quit!”

Forgiveness is not limited - - - it’s for a lifetime. What kind of life do you want to live? A stingy one, where you’re tied to a scorecard? Or, freedom - - - where you recognize the offense, but choose to forgive and move on.

There’s also a heavenly lesson here, not to be missed. Jesus had already taught about it in The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:12). But now He reemphasized the point with the story of The Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35).

What could be simpler than His closing line? To be forgiven in heaven, we must forgive on earth (V. 35).

Freedom unlimited is available . . . but the choice is up to you.

*Parables by John White. Life Guide Bible Studies by Inter Varsity Press (ivpress.com), Downers Grove, Illinois. Copyright 1988, 1999. (also available through Christianbook.com)

Pixabay: Sunset, Nature, Boy; geralt.

  

One Special Day

God hears and answers prayer. I know because He’s answered many prayers in my lifetime. But I have one daily request: “God, please put me in the right place at the right time today, whether I’m home or out and about.”  

Here’s how God answered that prayer one day this week.

As I was getting ready to run errands I started to tuck my cell phone in my purse. But I noticed a text message. A friend needed a ride. Could I help?

I called and said, “Good timing! I was just getting ready to leave. What do you need?”

I knew she had a son in hospice care in a city two hours away, but as his fiduciary, she was on a timeline to mail yearly reports. We decided to run her errands, then one of mine, and lunch would be later.

After her second errand, I had to admit I was very hungry. She was too, so we agreed on a favorite quick spot.  Over lunch, she said, “My son is not doing well. I wouldn’t be surprised if he passes away before the doctor’s three-month deadline.”

Shortly after, her phone rang. Her son had passed away, and that meant a lot of quick changes in her day. I said, “My errands can wait. I want to be sure you get these papers in the mail, and I’ll take you to the shuttle when you’re ready to go.”

At the end of the day, I gave thanks to God for answering my simple prayer.  It was such a good feeling to have been free to help her.

You see it was a day I could be flexible; my errands were not pressing. But the day before this, and the day after, I had someone scheduled to do house repairs.

I think my prayer does a couple of things: (1) It’s a way of saying, “Thy will be done . . . ” (Matthew 6:9-10), and (2) it fulfills Philippians 4:6: Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

God answers prayer! I have a plaque on my wall with this reminder:

Yesterday He helped me

Today He did the same

How long will this continue?

Forever, praise His name.

Pixabay: Sun, Cloud, Nature, Sky; kropekk_pl