As we wrap our last day at Camp Wesley Pines, I want to share with you my last two Biblical and Star Wars comparisons. First, we’ll look at last nights, and then we’ll look at today’s. The Biblical character we … Continue reading
It seems like every few weeks, we are hit with some national tragedy. A mass shooting like Saturday night. We read the news and it seems like fear is always the watchword. So many things out there that worry us. … Continue reading
As Christians, we are told in scripture that we are supposed to live lives of victory. We are told that we are more than conquerors. We are told that we have faith that can move mountains. But in this world … Continue reading
I don’t know any of us that like waiting. I sure don’t. I just have no patience sometimes. I want to be going and going and going. Waiting, patience – those are things that I’m just not good at. So, … Continue reading
One of the things that we are promised in our life, in our faith, is this. It’s not always easy. There are going to be tough times. There are going to be times of trial and tears and hurt. There … Continue reading
This week we have walked together through all that Jesus’ experienced during Holy Week. Today is Good Friday. This is the day that our Lord was executed for us. For our sins. For our mistakes. For all that we have … Continue reading
In our readings this morning, I was drawn to one of my old favorites, Psalm 130: 1 I cry out to you from the depths, Lord— 2 my Lord, listen to my voice! Let your ears pay close attention to … Continue reading
One of my favorite hymns is that old favorite, “Love Lifted Me.” Today’s reading from Psalm 40 made me think of the first verse of that hymn – “I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more; But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry, From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.” Listen to what it says today in Psalm 40:
1I waited patiently upon the LORD; *
he stooped to me and heard my cry.
2He lifted me out of the desolate pit, out of the mire and clay; *
he set my feet upon a high cliff and made my footing sure.
3He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God; *
many shall see, and stand in awe,
and put their trust in the LORD.
4Happy are they who trust in the LORD! *
they do not resort to evil spirits or turn to false gods.
5Great things are they that you have done, O LORD my God!
how great your wonders and your plans for us! *
there is none who can be compared with you.
God heard the Psalmist’s prayers and lifted them up, out of the mire. Just like in the hymn, God lifts us out of the sinking waves. God hears the cry of those that He loves and lifts them out of the thing seeking to take our life.
He places us on sure footing.
He gives us a new song.
And we give Him the praise that He deserves.
Happy are those that turn to God, not to other places for their hope. Because our hope comes from God and from God alone. Not from any other source.
That’s why those that have their hope in God will never be disappointed because only God will not disappoint you. Others will, even those that do not mean to, they will disappoint you at some point. You will even be disappointed with yourself at some point.
But God will not fail you. He will not disappoint you.
But Andy, at this point in my life, I am disappointed in God. Things are not like I want them to be or need them to be.
As hard as it may be (and believe me, it’s really hard for me), wait upon the Lord. He has not forgotten you. He will not forget you. He loves you. He really does. He hears your cry. And He will lift you up from your time of trouble.
And when He does (and this is big), don’t forget. Sing the song of praise that He has given you. Give praise to Him when He saves you. Praise His name when He restores you. Give Him the glory when He places you upon solid ground.
Never forget what He has done. He will save you. He will. Hope in Him. Even when it’s hard. Even when it’s tough. Even when it’s a challenge. Keep believing.
He will not disappoint.
If you’d like to be added to my devotional list, shoot me an email, and I’ll add you!
One of the constant reminders of our faith, truths about our faith is this. Where is it that our strength comes from? 1 Corinthians 1: 26-31 today tells us exactly where that is:
26 Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29so that no one might boast in the presence of God. 30He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31in order that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’
Paul is speaking here to early believers, that were not powerful or wealthy, or had any status at all. He’s telling them, remember, God will take the weak, so that when they boast, they have to boast in the Lord.
God will take the humble, the small, the insignificant and use them. He will use them, so that when they win the battle, there can be no doubt. The victory is because of the Lord.
I once heard a Rabbi say the reason why God chose the nation of Israel in the Old Testament was because He could not find a more insignificant people. That way, with every battle, He would have to the receive the glory.
Look at what the text says in verse 30 – He (God) is the source of your life in Jesus Christ. In other words, our life, our hope, our everything, they are in Jesus Christ. Jesus is our all in all. If we have Him, we have all that we need. If we do not have Him, we have nothing.
Jesus is our life. With Him, there is peace in the storm, there is sense in the madness, there is purpose, there is life.
Without Him, we could have everything, but in the end, have nothing.
Jesus is life. Really. He is. He is life.
And we know Jesus because God has called us to Himself. He is the source of it all. All that is good, all that is pure, all that is life.
It comes from God. That is where life comes from. It all comes from God. And as long as we remember where our life comes from, we will have the joy that comes from that life.
Today, remember where life comes from!
If you’d like to be added to my devotional list, shoot me an email, and I’ll add you!
Today from our readings, we see on of those passages that we all know, that we have probably quoted from or heard sermons about. It’s one of those passages that all of us have at least a vague understanding of. It comes from Philippians 4:6-8:
6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
In this passage, Paul talks to us about that peace that passes all understanding. That peace that guards our hearts and guards our minds.
By the way, I love that concept. A peace that guards. A peace that keeps the worry and the evil away. I don’t know about you, but I need that type of peace in my life. I need a peace that protects and helps me.
Paul says that peace will pass all understanding. That peace will be so amazing, so great, that our minds will not be able to understand. There is a peace that is so amazing, folks will look at us and say, how can they have peace? How, with all that is happening, can they have peace?
How? Because that peace is not natural. It is supernatural. It is a gift from God.
But today, look at how we get that peace. We get that peace in this way. Through everything, with pray and supplication, with thanksgiving, we give our requests to God.
And then that peace comes. That peace comes from turning it over to God. It comes from trusting in God. It comes from truly letting go, giving it to God, placing it in His hands.
This peace that passes understanding is not an act of will. It is a gift from God. It comes only through surrender to God. Laying our life, our fears, our worries, our mistakes, our everything, laying them before Him.
And receiving His grace in return.
Today, we can have that peace. But first we have to give “it” to God. Whatever “it” is. Now, we may go back and pick “it” back up. But when we do, each time, return it to the altar. Give it God. And receive His peace.
He loves you. Really. He does. You can trust. And in that act of trusting, you will receive His peace.
That peace that passes all understanding.
If you’d like to receive these thoughts by email, be sure to click here and join my email devotional group!
RevAndy.org 