Tag Archives: Trust

The Big Picture

Posted on by

0

Sometimes we lose site of the big picture.

With all that we have going on, with all the we worry about, with all the stresses that pound at us each day, we think that the world hinges daily with us.

We think that we carry the weight of all of creation with us.

We think that the expectation, the stresses, the pressures of life, of family, of being right, we think these things are too much for us sometimes.

And, if that is the perspective we live with, then I can be so.  If that is the way that we truly feel, then it can be so.

I’ve never been a big fan of the book of Revelation. But, as I’ve read through it some during my readings in the morning, verses like this one today have stuck out to me:

7 Then one of the four living beings handed each of the seven angels a gold bowl filled with the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. 8 The Temple was filled with smoke from God’s glory and power. No one could enter the Temple until the seven angels had completed pouring out the seven plagues.

The Temple was sill with smoke from God’s glory and power.

Wow.

That’s a powerful God. That’s an awesome God. That’s an amazing God that holds it all in His hand.

That’s a God that’s in control, that’s a God that at work.

That’s a God that can handle it all.

Even your life.

Even your stress.

Even your pressure.

It’s not all up to you today.  You don’t have to be perfect. The fate of human civilization is not resting on your shoulders.

There’s a God whose glory and power fill the temple.

He’s got this.

He’s God.  You’re not.

Don’t lose site of the big picture. Don’t let the stress of the day blind you to reality.

He is God.  Trust Him.  He’s powerful, amazing, mighty, loving and graceful.

Trust.  He is an awesome, awesome God.

You can trust Him.

Dont’ forget the big picture.

God Will Take Care of You

Posted on by

0

One of the things that I feel like I have to do is take care of myself and my family.

That’s part of my job in life. That’s part of my responsibility. That’s part of what I’m supposed to do.

As a man, a husband, a father, I’m supposed to do everything I can to take care and provide for those that I love and those that are in my family.

That’s a good thing, I believe.

But, with that said, it a good, good thing for me to read a passage like this today, from Luke’s Gospel:

14 For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, ‘Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each.’ 15 They did so and made them all sit down. 16 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 And all ate and were filled. What was left over was gathered up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.

It’s a good thing to remember that the crowd couldn’t feed themselves.  They were following Jesus, listening to His teaching, and they didn’t have the ability to take care of themselves in that place.

What did Jesus do?  He provided for them their needs for that moment.

He will take care of us.  He will provide.  He will not forget.

We see it in this passage, that He took care of those that were following Him.

We pray in the Lord’s Prayer – give us this day our daily bread.

We read in the Old Testament that the Lord sent mana to take care of them in the wilderness.

In life, we are to do our part. Work hard, take care of other people, do our best.

But, even more important than that is to trust.  Trust in the power of God.

Trust in the provision of God.

Trust in the love of God.

God took care of the many in scripture today.

He will take care of you.

Today.

It’s All About Timing

Posted on by

0

God hears every prayer.

And God answers every prayer.

We like that notion. We like that truth.

There’s only one problem.

Sometimes, the answer is not the one that we’d like. Sometimes, the answer to our prayer is not the answer that we would wish for or that we would hope for.

Sometimes the answer is no.

Sometimes the answer is even harder to hear.

Sometimes it’s wait.  No is not the time or the moment. The time or the moment may be coming.  But now, now may not be the time.

We see an example of that in Acts today:

6 They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7When they had come opposite Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them;

They were forbidden (by God) from speaking.

Why? Why would God do that?

Why would God keep them from speaking?

That may not have been the time. That may not have been the moment.

It’s all about timing.  What you think is the right time might not be the right time. What you think is the right moment might not be the right moment.

God’s time and God’s moment may be very, very different from ours.

So, even if the answer is no, have faith. This may not be the right time. Don’t give up. Don’t lose hope. Don’t quit.

Even if the answer is wait.  Even if it’s no.

Now may not be the time.

It’s ok. God is at work. Believe. Have faith. God will not leave you.

Trust in God’s timing.  Even if it’s not your own. Trust in God.

Today.

Just in Time

Posted on by

0

I’m a schedule person. I put everything that needs to be done into my phone. I joke with church folk that if I don’t put the things that I need to do in my phone, it’s not going to get done.  I’ve got a schedule that I keep, things I check off my to list, places to go, people to see.  Wesley said don’t be trifling with you time, and I try not to be.

So, there’s nothing that irritates me about myself more than when I’m late for something. I’m normally on time for stuff, or early, but man oh man, I’ve had a run of lunch meetings recently where I leave the office just a few minutes later than I’d like then, bam, I’m late.

That always drives me crazy when I do that.

No one likes it when folks are late.

Particularly when we feel like God is late.

We’ve got our schedule. We’ve got our time that everything is supposed to happen on. We’ve got ideas about how things are supposed to run.  We’ve got our plans!

And, God doesn’t always work on time frame, does He?  He doesn’t always do things the way or in the time we’d like, does He?

His way is different than our way, His time is different than our time.

I was reminded of that while reading Psalm 102

12 But you, O LORD, endure for ever, *
and your Name from age to age.
13 You will arise and have compassion on Zion,
for it is time to have mercy upon her; *
indeed, the appointed time has come.

The appointed time has come.  Perhaps not in the time the people would like.  But, the time God has appointed. The time God has desired. The time God has planned.

God is never later.  God’s clock is just different from our clock.

God works things out in the time and in the way that they need to work out.  Maybe not in the time and in the way that we’d choose. But in the time and in the way that is best.

Today, trust.  Even if we think God is late.  Even if things are not coming on our schedule.

Trust.

God is never late.  He is always on time.  Even if we don’t realize it at the time.

There Ain’t No Stopping Us!

Posted on by

0

I’ve mentioned before that one of my favorite Christian Artists is Rich Mullins.  He did a song we all know and we’ve sung a million times, “Awesome God.”  In worship Sunday at Asbury Church we sang a song “He Reigns” which takes Awesome God and adds to it these words:

There ain’t no stopping us (naw)
Devil there ain’t no blocking us (naw)

I was thinking about that song this morning as I read this passage from Acts:

34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a short time. 35 Then he said to them, “Fellow Israelites, consider carefully what you propose to do to these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and disappeared. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up at the time of the census and got people to follow him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case, I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; because if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them-in that case you may even be found fighting against God!”

If it is of God, there is no stopping it.

Their ain’t no stopping God. There’s nothing that can stop God. Their’s nothing that can stop God’s people from doing what He wants to accomplish.

Nothing.

There’s nothing in front of you this morning that can’t be worked out by God’s plan and God’s grace. Nothing.

As Jesus told Peter, even the Gates of Hell will not stop the Church!

If God is for us, who can be against us.

You don’t have to live a life of defeat this morning.  You don’t have to live a life as it’s always been this morning. This is a new day. This is a new beginning.  This is a new gift from God!

Live in it.  Live this day to the fullest. Live this life to the fullest. There’s nothing that God can’t accomplish.

If it’s of God, nothing will stop it.  Or stop you.  You can live with courage and boldness today.

Don’t live defeated.  Live victorious.  There ain’t no stopping us! Though God.

Lights and Lamps

Posted on by

0

Today in Psalm 119, I read on of my favorite passages of in all the Bible.  It says in verse 105

Your word is a lantern to my feet *
and a light upon my path.

I remember hearing this passage when I was a kid at Johnston Chapel UMC when we did Vacation Bible School and did the pledge to the Bible during each day’s opening ceremony.  It’s one of those verses that always stuck with me.

And that verse makes us feel good when we are thinking about trusting in God, because it promises that God will be a light to us and show us where we are going.

There is something about that text, though. Look what it promises. The word is a lantern (lamp) unto my feet and light unto my path.

A lamp and light are great. But, they are not spotlights.  They simply shine enough light for us to take the next step.

God does not always given us enough light for 10 steps from now. He gives us enough life for the very next step and tell us to trust Him.

He will show us the next step. And the next step.  And the next step.  And will lead us where we need to be.

But, we have to trust in Him in that.  We may see what is next. We may not see what is come.

So, we trust.

Today, take that next step that the Lord has given you enough light to see. And trust Him for the step 10 steps from now. He will lead you where you need to be.

Good Reminders

Posted on by

0

What is it in life that worries you?

What scares you?

What robs your sleep?

We’ve all got something.  Something that makes us uneasy, something that makes us fearful, something that keeps our hearts afraid.

What is that for you.

I’ve got a list of things that worry me.  I’m a worrier, it’s just how I’m wired.  I worry about church, I worry about family, I worry about friends. It’s just what I do.

So, I need to the words of Psalm 71 quite often

3 Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe; *
you are my crag and my stronghold.
4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, *
from of the clutches of the evildoer and the oppressor.
5 For you are my hope, O LORD God, *
my confidence since I was young.

As big as my worries are, God is bigger.  As big as my problems are, God is bigger. As big as my stresses are, God is bigger.

And God is at work in all our lives. Do we really believe God led us to this point to leave us here?  Do we really think that God will abandon us after all these years?

God is with us. He is now, He has always been. He will be with us today and will be with us tomorrow.

What do we have to worry about?  What do we have to fear? Why do we have to be afraid?

We don’t.  God is with us.

I need to be reminded of that every once in a while.  Like today.

I don’t know if you needed this word this morning, but I did.

Thanks be to God, who is bigger than whatever it is we face.

Now, go out and live today with the confidence of being a child of God!

His Mercy

Posted on by

0

One of parts of the Bible that has always been the hardest to understand, hardest to wrap our minds around is that section of Romans from chapter 9 through 11.  In here Paul writes about things like election and predestination, for knowledge and hits upon free will.  It’s an area that has produced a lot of conversation, discussion, and yes, even arguments through Church History.

I will not attempt to explain this section this morning, don’t worry 🙂

But as Paul writes through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in this text, he says something today that sums it at all up nicely:

33 O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Or who has given a gift to him,
to receive a gift in return?”
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.

Paul says there are many things about God we don’t understand.  There are things about the mind of God that our finite human minds simply can’t grasp.  But, the one thing that we do know is this – God’s mercy.

What can we do to earn God’s mercy?  Nothing.

How can we seek to know the ultimate plan that He has? Nothing.

Is there anything we do to “make” God do anything?  No, He is an amazing, powerful, wise, loving, merciful God. He is above us, beyond us, strong and might.

He created everything.  Us included.

And, the mighty God chooses to love us.  Chooses to show us mercy.  Paul writes so much about the unknowable mind of God – but always reminds us of His mercy.  Of His love.  Of His grace.

So, instead of worrying about not being understand those mysteries, rely upon this – He loves you.  He shows you mercy. Rely upon that.

And let that knowledge call you to love God with all that you are. And love your neighbor as yourself.

For that’s the response He really wants from us.  The depths of His mercy know no limits.  May we see to love in the same way.

God’s Last Hope?

Posted on by

0

I had a professor of mine in college that used to always remind us that we are not God’s last hope. God has more up His sleeve than any of us can imagine. God is always doing more than we can see.  He always has a great plan than our minds can fathom.

We need to be reminded of that. Sometimes we can feel like we are God’s last hope. That we are all He has.  No one is righteous, just us.  We are all that He has.

This can be a problem for a couple of reasons. First, we forget that God has a plan.  Do we honestly think that God is surprised by anything that happens?  That He is shocked?  That He thinks, wow, I didn’t see that coming.

Of course not. God is at work in all things that are happening in our life, and in our world.  God has not forgotten us, forgotten the world, forgotten His plan.  He is at work, even in the things that we feel like He can’t be.

Even in a bad economy.  Even in a fearful age.  Even when we are worried about all kinds of things.

God is at work.

The second reason we are not God’s last hope was driven home to me into day’s reading from Romans 11 where Paul writes this:

17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place to share the rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not boast over the branches. If you do boast, remember that it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you.

It is not we that support the root, it is the root that supports us. We don’t support God, God supports us.

God does not need us.  He is God. He was here before us and will be here after us.  He doesn’t “need” us.

We need Him.  We need Him to live.  To serve. To be faithful. For all of us life.  We need Him for every breath, for every hope, for every dream.  We need Him.

Now, He wants to be in relationship with us.  He loves us.  He desires to know us.  He created us.  And He supports and loves us.

And we need Him.

So, don’t feel like you are God’s last hope today. Be faithful. Do good work. Love, support, pray, forgive.

But also know that God is a work in ways we can’t see. Trust in Him.  Rely on Him.  Know that the root supports you, not the other way around.

God is always at work, even today. Trust in His work, trust in His plan.

Do Not Fear Them

Posted on by

0

Some days when I come into prayer, I really need to hear a specific word from God. Somedays I’ve got something on my heart that’s really bothering me.  Something that’s worrying me, taking my joy and taking my peace.

There are some days when there is just something heavy on my heart that I need the Lord to speak to.

We’ve all been there, haven’t we?  We’ve all brought our stuff to God and said – God I need to know you are here with this.  I need to hear your voice, I need your word, I need your assurance.

Today was a day like that for me.  Nothing major, I just had a couple of things I was praying about, both personal and church related, a couple of things I was trying to figure out, some things I needed discernment over.

And as I read through some of the readings this morning, I read a verse in Deuteronomy (yes, Deuteronomy!) that really hit home with me and gave me some assurance.  It says there in chapter 3:22

22 Do not fear them, for it is the LORD your God who fights for you.”

A simple verse, a short verse. How can that say what I needed to hear this morning?

Well, it reminds me to be brave and that God is bigger than whatever it is I face. I reminds me that no matter what challenges I may face, God is bigger.  God is stronger.  God is more mighty.

I don’t fight alone – God fights for me.

And because of that, I have no reason to fear. For, God is with me.  If God is for us, who can be against us, as Paul reminds us!

What have we to fear?  What have we to fret about? What have we to worry about? For, God is with us. God fights for us. God strengthens us!  God is our might and power and hope.

Why do we worry?  Why do we fear?  God fights for us.

Today, no matter what you face, God is bigger.  Today, no matter what you are worried about, God is bigger. Today, no matter what is in your future, God is bigger.

Do not fear. God is with you. And He fights for you.