Consistently Faithful

Jesus Christ is the same 

yesterday, today and forever. 

Heb. 13.8

No matter what we do, God is always moving towards us in love. He always wants the best for us and is sad when we go our own way, but he never abandons us. He just keeps moving towards us in love.

Here is a quote from Brennan Strawn who for twenty years tried to live life his own way resulting in addiction and depression:

In that moment I saw my heart the way God sees my heart.  I saw how much he was grieving for me..that he wasn't disappointed in me but instead was running to me..longing to just be with me and take all of the depression, shame, and guilt away. I felt loved and forgiven for the first time in 20 years.  He took it all away.. all of the pain..all of the things that I had done and the people I had hurt..he took it all.  Now I am filled with joy and love that I never knew existed.*

Lord, help us to see and know you as you really are a God who is not angry with us, but one who is consistently moving towards us in love.  Take away our resistance and let us receive all the love and joy you have prepared for us.

If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful,

since he cannot deny himself. 

2 Timothy 2:13 

*To read the rest of the amazing story click here:  Brennan Strawn - see his post for Dec 12

 Listen to a beautiful song: He's Been Faithful

Raised To New Life

Mt. Ngauruhoe, (Mt. Doom), NZ

But God is so rich in mercy,

 and he loved us so much, 

that even though we were dead because of our sins,

 he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. 

Eph. 2:4,5 (NLT)

To grasp the glorious truth that we have been raised to new life in Christ is the most freeing and empowering thing. 

I've spent so much time trying to crucify my old sinful nature, to change my behavior, but the trying never got me anywhere. But focusing on the truth that I have already been raised to new life has made all the difference.  Now, I'm not concentrating on dying but on living! - and that life is the life of Christ in me.

Lord, thank you for giving us new life through the power of your death and resurrection. May we walk in the joy and freedom of that new life today.

My old self has been crucified with Christ.

 It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.

 Gal. 2:20 (NLT)

Spirit

Queenstown, New Zealand
October 2015

But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, 

because if I don’t,

 the Advocate won’t come.

 If I do go away,

 then I will send him to you.  

John 16:7 (NLT)

On one occasion, while he was eating with them,
 he gave them this command: 
"Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, 
which you have heard me speak about.
 For John baptized with water, 
but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
Acts 1:4-5 (NIV) 

The greatest gift ever given is the gift of the Spirit.  Jesus told his disciples that he needed to go away so that he could send the Spirit to them.  He told them to wait, and not do anything until the Spirit had come upon them.

Without the spirit in our lives we are left to our own devices.  We usually make a mess of things.  Even if we try our hardest to be good and do the right thing it always falls short.  

God has given us his Spirit so that we can live happily and peacefully in this world.  His Spirit gives us the most amazing inner strength and wisdom to handle whatever life throws at us.

Let us be thankful and learn to trust in and rely upon and draw from his Spirit this Thanksgiving day and every day.

Thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to live in us. Help us today, Lord, to live and walk in your Spirit.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate,

 who will never leave you.

 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. 

John 14:16 (NLT) 

  The Spirit alone gives eternal life.

 Human effort accomplishes nothing.

John 6:63 (NLT)

Child of God

For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children. 

 Romans 8:16

The greatest awareness we can possess is the settled knowledge that we are truly God's child.  With that knowledge so many things are taken care of.  With God as our heavenly father we experience all the blessings reserved for his children.  

First of all, we experience his great love for us - a feeling of being wanted, accepted and cherished.  With that comes the knowledge that we are protected and safe. No matter what happens, nothing can harm us - we are safe in his arms.  He guides us with wisdom and gives the right answer for every situation.  As a good father he disciplines us that we might grow and become more like him. As we rest in him, all needs are supplied.  

Thank you, Lord, for the realization that I am your child.  As I trust in you, may I experience the peace, rest and joy that are my birthright.

See how very much our Father loves us,

for he calls us his children,

and that is what we are! 

1 John 3:1

Endurance

Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus,

 the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. 

Hebrews 12:1-2

Recently, I heard a story about a blind man who wanted to run the Boston Marathon.  With his helper, he started out on the 26 mile race.  Halfway through, he became terribly exhausted.  He staggered along, sometimes walking, sometimes stopping to rest, sometimes jogging a little.  When he got to the 25th mile his helper said, "This is the last mile.  You have to go in running."  The blind man reached deep down and found what strength he had and ran that last mile with all his might to the loud cheers of the crowd. Not realizing he had reached the finish line, he continued on until someone caught him and said "It's over! You've finished the race!" He collapsed to the ground.  He had given it his all.  Somehow he had found the strength to finish his race. 

We are all in a race just like that blind man. Sometimes, along our path we lose momentum, we stumble and fall or take a detour.  The race just seems too hard for us, too big, too long.  We get bogged down. Sometimes all we can do is put one foot in front of the other, sometimes just crawl.  

Then we hear the word, "Run with endurance the race God has set before you."  Where are we going to find the strength?  We must remember, we are not alone. We have our helper called alongside holding us up and showing us the way. We have the crowd to cheer us on and as we look toward the finish line we see the champion, who has gone before, waiting to welcome us.

Jesus has already run the race.  Along the way he endured the same trials and temptations that we face. He was tempted to quit.  He endured great grief and depression there in the garden. He endured tiredness and opposition.  And, he endured the cross. Through it all, he came through with flying colors and triumphant joy and is now seated in the place of honor. 

What is the word of encouragement to us?  Don't become weary and give up.  Look to your champion who blazed the trail and made the way.  He is the way.  He is the road we take on our long race.  And he is there cheering us on along the sideline and running along with us and greeting us at the finish line.  He is our champion.

                            Because of the joy awaiting him,
                                    he endured the cross,
                                   disregarding its shame. 
                       Now he is seated in the place of honor
                                     beside God’s throne.
                                         Hebrews 12:2

Strength

 Your roots will grow down into God’s love

 and keep you strong. 

Eph 3:17 

Foundation is everything.  No matter how beautiful a house may be, if it is built on a shaky foundation it will collapse. If a tree grows in shallow soil, when flood waters rise, it will be washed away.

We have only one foundation that stands firm through every earthquake and flood and that is the love of God.  That love never fails. When we allow our roots to go down deeply into that foundation, we will be kept strong. Nothing can shake us or wash us away.

Help us, Lord, to feel our feet planted on that solid rock.  Help us to envision our roots growing down deep into your love where we will not be shaken.

Let your roots grow down into him,

 and let your lives be built on him. 

Then your faith will grow strong.

 Col 2.7

One Thing Remains

Higher than the mountains that I face
Stronger than the power of the grave
Constant through the trial and the change
One thing remains...

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

On and on and on and on it goes
It overwhelms and satisfies my soul
And I never, ever, have to be afraid
One thing remains...

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

In death, in life, I’m confident and
covered by the power of Your great love.
My debt is paid, there’s nothing that can
separate my heart from Your great love...

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Click here to listen to the song:  One Thing Remains

Hope and Faith

True hope is faith in action

 and the constancy of faith in all contradictory circumstances.

 Praying Through the Tough Times, Lloyd Ogilvie.

Hope is trusting in God, having faith and holding onto his word and promises no matter how things look in the outward appearance. Sometimes hope is hard to come by.  We may feel so discouraged and weighed down by the the problems of life that we cannot even lift our head. 

David describes that feeling so often in the Psalms.

                                     I am dying from grief;

my years are shortened by sadness.

Misery has drained my strength; 

I am wasting away from within.

 Ps. 31:10

And yet, he always seemed to find a way to encourage himself.

But I am trusting you, O LORD,

saying, "You are my God!"

My future is in your hands. 

Ps. 31:14

No matter how low we may feel, we can still say, "I trust in you, Lord.  My life is in your hands." 

Lord, we sometimes feel so impoverished with no hope or faith of our own. When we feel that low, so drained and discouraged, grant us your inspiration and your gifts of faith and hope. We put our trust in you.  We know that you are in charge and are working everything out for our good. 

So be strong and take courage

 all you who put your hope in the LORD!

Ps. 31.24

The Humanity of Jesus

Image from The Humanity of Jesus, Dr. Dann Spader, sonlife.com

Because God’s children are human beings

—made of flesh and blood—

the Son also became flesh and blood.

 Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing,

 he is able to help us when we are being tested. 

 Heb 2:14,18 (NLT)

We think so much about Christ's divinity, not often about his humanity. But, it is Christ, in his humanity, who is our companion in our times of trouble or sorrow.

Because he is human, he feels what we feel. He is our helper and not just one who stands aloof, but one who enters into our suffering with us. He is for us, constantly interceding and pleading for our healing and well-being. Because of his deep empathy for us, he is able to comfort and sustain us. 

Nothing we ever go through will ever be able to separate us from this love. That is why we are exhorted to come without hesitation to him to ask and receive the help we need. He stands ready to come to our aid, to calm our fears and to comfort us with his love.

Who then will condemn us? 
No one

for Christ Jesus died for us
 and was raised to life for us,
and he is sitting in the place of honor
 at God’s right hand,
pleading for us.
Romans 8:34 (NLT)

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, 

for he faced all of the same testings we do.

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. 

There we will receive his mercy, 

and we will find grace to help us

when we need it most.

Heb 4:15-16 (NLT)

No power in the sky above or in the earth below

—indeed, nothing in all creation 

will ever be able to separate us from the love of God

 that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 Romans 8:39 (NLT)