Faith Under Trial

Throughout this week I have come across several scriptures and references all pointing to one theme.

My first encounter was in the book of Psalms. There were 2 or 3 of them back to back wherein David spoke to the fact that often the Lord leads us to a difficult situation in order that He may show Himself mighty.  Consider for instance, as does David in Psalm 105, all the evil that befell Joseph. 

What would have happened if he had taken upon himself to change his plight. What if he had sought escape? What if he had been bitter and not served with good character? What if… The list could go on. If at any point he had not rested in the Lord, the outcome for his family and hence the entire Jewish nation would have been much different. But instead, because of his immovable faith in Yahweh, we are blessed with a testimony of God’s goodness and His unfailing provision, as Joseph was positioned to be able to provide the young nation with food to survive the famine. What his brothers and even Potiphar's wife had meant for evil, the Lord had meant for good.

Then in Bible study this morning when we were discussing Yahweh Rophey (I AM Healer), we were guided to the book of Exodus. Specifically we looked at the story wherein the children of Israel are grumbling against Moses because they have been in the desert for 3 days and they have no water. When they come to the water at Marah they find they cannot drink it because it is bitter.

Though it was not the main thrust of the lesson, we briefly discussed, that often we are brought to a test for the Lord to determine whether or not we will “be still and know that I AM God,”  just as were the children of Israel. They were brought to the shores of the Red Sea with Pharaoh behind and waters ahead and Moses told them to stand still.  They were brought out into the desert where they had no water and required the hand of the Lord to provide water. They hadn’t enough food and relied on His provision for their daily bread. Over and over they were used of God to show His greatness in their time of desperation.

We have a choice to make. When we encounter trials, we can become anxious and lunge for whatever response seems best to us, or we can be still in faith and know He has not led us to this place to simply allow us to languish. If we find ourselves in the face of extraordinary difficulty (not of our own making through rebellious or sinful acts) then He has likely positioned us to receive greatly from His hand.

It was also pointed out in today’s lesson, as the tree used to make the bitter water sweet was in close proximity to the waters, so too the remedy for our bitter trial is always close at hand as well.

Thank you Yahweh Rophey that when you bring us to a bitter place, You Our Healer, Our Remedy are always close by. You stand ready to show us Your power and might. Thank You Lord that I need not worry and be anxious when I have obeyed You and given the situation over to You.  Thank You Lord that I can consider it all joy at the testing of my faith, knowing that such trials produce patience and endurance. And since through patient endurance I can be still and know that You are God, my faith is strengthened. Lord, I praise You that in Your wisdom You choose my trials for my good and Your glory. Praise You, Father! Amen.

Rachum Ve-Chanun

Rachum Ve-Chanun, God merciful and gracious. Until we studied this in Knowing God by Name, I never fully understood grace. “Unmerited favor,” is the standard Christian-ese explanation. But what does it mean?

I love how the author (Mary Kassian) defines grace in relation to mercy:

“Mercy is being spared from ill that is deserved.

Grace is being gifted with good that is undeserved.”

Said even more simply, “Mercy is holding back what is deserved, while grace is giving us what we don’t deserve.”

I love also that the Greek word for grace charis is defined as “a favor which brings, delight, joy, happiness or good fortune.” He loves to give us grace! He loves to give us joy and delight!

Now, when I began to write this evening, I was led to meditate over the entry for “Our Daily Bread” from January 14.  Stay with me here, as it appears on the surface to be unrelated.

In this devotional, the author discusses that we are not to grieve the Holy Spirit. The reading for the day is from Ephesians 4:25-32, wherein Paul directs us to put on the new nature. We are to stop doing immature things. What are we instructed to do instead? “²⁹Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it.”

We are often the means by which God Himself graces other believers. But we can only be a tool in His hand if we are obedient. If we are not compliant, He cannot use us. However if we obey Him in this command, we can extend His grace to another soul. We can bring His joy and delight to their hearts IF we use speech that is “good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others.”

I read another article today from a dear sister in Christ (http://www.bbmidlifewife.blogspot.com/), in which she discussed the scriptural mandate for choosing joy. For example, in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 we see, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

According to the Ephesians passage, if we follow the mandate of 1 Thessalonians to be joyful, and express it to others we will extend God’s grace. However, sandwiched in between the directives to put away negative attitudes and actions, it says, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…”

So the Holy Spirit is compelling us to be a blessing and give God’s grace to others, and if we choose instead to use foul, polluting language, evil words, unwholesome or worthless talk; or if we hold on to bitterness, indignation, wrath, and resentment then we grieve Him.

Oooo, ouch…there’s a lot of repentance in that sentence. Excuse me while I go take care of some personal business with the Lord….

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Let Everything That Has Breath Give You Praise!

This just blew me away with praise and glory for God!

In our Bible study on the Names of God, I got to the day where we learn about Yaweh Borey (LORD Creator). The assignment for today is to choose an item in nature to do a little research about and see how amazing He is just in that one little thing. She used the example of what she had learned about snowflakes (really amazing stuff if you ever have a chance, google it). Anyway, I began to ask the Lord what He would like to draw my attention to. He kept bringing me to the trees and to the leaves. 

I had done a project on photosynthesis in high school, so I asked the Lord to show me something new (since prideful, obnoxious me thought I already knew it all about that – confessing and now repenting ;) ).  He said, “The oxygen!” And so I began to think through the process by which the leaves convert Carbon Dioxide to oxygen.

Since I knew it all (eye roll), I half-heartedly googled it.  And I found this:

Through photosynthesis, plants use the energy from sunlight to produce sugar, which cellular respiration converts into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which all living things use for energy. Oxygen is a biproduct of this chemical process.

This is written:

6H2O + 6CO2 -------> C6H12O6+ 6O2

(6 molecules of water plus 6 molecules of carbon dioxide produce 1 molecule of sugar plus 6 molecules of oxygen)

Oh Yaweh Borey, You are magnificent! I LOVE THIS!!!!

“Cellualar respiration?” That’s breathing! Trees breathe. Plants breathe. Grass breathes. Flowers breathe.

I began thinking about how the Lord uses our breathing byproduct (Carbon Dioxide) to feed the trees who in turn create the very byproduct we need for breathing (oxygen)! We breathe together!

Also, I kept thinking of the scripture where it says that Jesus had the disciples pick up all the “scraps” of fish from the 5,000 He fed, “so that nothing would be wasted!” There is nothing in His creation that is not used for His glory. His system is perfect. That cannot be an accident or evolution. It is INTELLIGENT design. Intelligence beyond what we could think or imagine. We cannot fathom His depth!

Just as I was praising Him for this amazing awesome process, the Christian music station I was listening to played “Let Everything That Has Breath Give You Praise!” by Phillips, Craig, and Dean. 

Isn’t He sweet? He knows how my heart sings with music of praise for Him, so He had them play a special song just for me in that moment!

How could we hold back praise to Him?! As Jesus said, if we who have breath do not give Him praise, “Even the rocks and stones themselves would start to sing!” Praise You Father!

You'll Never Walk Alone

When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark.
At the end of the storm
Is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark.

Walk on through the wind,
Walk on through the rain,
Tho' your dreams be tossed and blown.

Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone,
You'll never walk alone.

This song by Rodgers and Hammerstein, made me stop and think.  I had the television on in the background while getting some things done, when a commercial played this familiar tune.

I did a little research and found it has been recorded no less than 80 times by various groups, including Elvis Presley and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It was sung at the culmination of every Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon from 1964 to 2010.

What is our fascination with this tune? And, is it true? “Walk on, walk on with HOPE in your heart, and you’ll never walk alone.”  Really, all we need is hope?  

Let’s assume for a moment the statement is correct. If you have hope, you’ll never walk alone. Where does this hope come from?

I believe it comes from belief in the Lord, Jesus Christ and Him alone. If your hope lies in Jesus Christ, then in fact, you have His hope in your heart, and indeed you will never walk alone.

But, if you have not the Lord Jesus in your heart, then where lies your hope?  Are you your hope?  Does it lie in your own ability? Or is it in some nebulous, feel good desire?  If hope is not based on something beyond yourself, then it is only a wish. If it is rooted in something greater, then it becomes realistic expectation.

Trust and faith in the Lord God Almighty means I have the hopeful expectation of victory through the power that breathed the stars in their place. Is there anyone more qualified to hold your hope? Is there any other hope upon which you can rely that will never disappoint?

Lord Jesus, Thank You that we can know we will never walk alone. Thank you for your hope that fills our hearts and walks with us, nay carries us, through any storm.  We love You Lord God, our only hope and we praise Your holy Name!

The Cross in Our Bodies

Many of you may have heard the message by Louie Giglio, "How Great is Our God," but this link is a doctor's response to what he saw. The grafic amazed me.

http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/jan2011/janm110-3.htm

Did you notice the photograph was Luminous?  I have been taking a Bible Study on the names of God and was interested to learn that holy ("Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord") not only means perfect, sanctified, and set apart, it also means illustrious, radiate, and shine brightly! "Be ye holy, even as I am holy." His light literally shines in and through us!!!

God You are so amazing! I know that when we meet You at the throne we will fall down in awe of Your splendour, but even now in these days I fall to my knees at your magnificence!! Praise You, Lord God Almighty! Yeshua, El Hakkadosh!

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From the East

The next thing that is so amazing about the Cross in the desert is its position. Every time the Israelites set up camp, the tabernacle was to be placed with its only entrance point facing east. Then, the tribe of Judah, who would have arrived first, was to set up their standard and their camp to the east of the entrance.

Since the Lord does not add such details to His Word without reason, what kernels can we glean from this information?  Where else is God’s word specific about the use of east to west?

There is the good news of our sins being removed from us “as far as the east is from the west.”

We see the Lord in Genesis 3:24 take the following action after sending Adam and Eve out of the Garden: “He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.” In other words, the garden and the tree of life were approached from east to west.

In Joshua we find that when the Israelites entered the Promised Land, they entered from east of the Jordon westward into Canaan. Coincidence? Why would the Lord take them all the way around to the east side?

When Jesus was born the wise men came from the east and followed the star to the west to find the Son of God.

The God who created the universe deemed that the sun should rise in the east and set in the west.

“For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” (Matthew 24:7)

In Revelation 7:1-3, we are told “After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. ² Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, ³ saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”

Very interesting…