God Cares

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV


I love this verse. God cares for me. God cares for you. We often hear about God's love for us in Sunday sermons, but care is a different verb. It means we are under God's protection, in His charge. So not only does He have a deep affection for us, but He is protective of us. So when the anxious days come, when the trials are way beyond our abilities, and we become fearful, we must remember this verse and go to God in prayer. Our God can do way beyond our expectations. When the devil is prowling the earth looking for the weak and defenseless, we can rest in the assurance that though we may be weak, we are NOT defenseless. 


Go to God in prayer and turn our concerns over to Him. Remember His promise to be with us ALWAYS. Not sometimes, not every other weekend, but He is with us always. Pray for the strength to handle your present situation and the wisdom to act appropriately. And then thank Him. Thank Him for listening, hearing and acting on your behalf. Thank Him for His care. Thank Him for His love, His mercy and His generosity. Thank Him for acting to answer our prayer before we even finish our thoughts.


Dearest Heavenly Father, be with our family tomorrow morning as my dad goes into surgery. Give the doctors skill and wisdom to heal his back. Give the nurses compassion as they deal with dad and with us. Give us strength and peace as we wait during the surgery. Give us love and compassion for each other. And give us yourself always, and in the days ahead during dad's full recovery to health and strength. In Jesus name. Amen

Be Brave

"Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love."
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NKJV

Our dear St Paul addressed this epistle to the problems within the Corithian church. Pointing them calmly, yet firmly, to the correct doctrine, Paul urged them to be imitators of Jesus. This reminded me that our daily challenges don't always come from the world, but sometimes they come from those we call brothers and sisters in Christ, our church community. Division is not new to church comunities, nor to those who are in positions of authority within those churches. Who do we follow? Who do we believe? Where are we spiritual fed the sweet fruit of God's truth? Why do Christians squabble among themselves when together--in unity--we could do so much good for the world?

Watch, be on guard, keep your eyes and ears open, do not become ambivalent or negligent. Hold fast to your convictions, test them against the teachings of the Bible and stand firm against any word or deed that comes against that faith. Be brave, fearless, courageous, valiant, in defending your faith and your family of believers against any that come against it. Be committed, resolute, determined and stand your ground in doing good, loving each other. And with love. Isn't that interesting? St Paul ends this admonition with do everything with love. Speak the truth in love. Act in love. Defend in love. Agape love is a demonstrative love. When dealing with family, friends, fellow Christians, lead with love. If your heart isn't guided by love, step back, pray, and then try again.

It takes a brave heart to follow Christ, to be obedient to God's word the Bible, and show love. Love makes us vulnerable and many of us avoid that state at all costs. Yet in loving we are the most like Jesus. So this week be brave in loving others and each other. Be brave in being faithful to your God. Blessings!

Fearlessness

"Do not lose your fearlessness now, then, since the reward is so great. You will need perseverance if you are to do God's will and gain what he has promised." Hebrews 10:35-36 NJB


I have looked at several different translations of this scripture since it was pointed out to me in the Bible Study I was doing by Kay Arthur.  In most others it says "confidence" instead of "fearlessness".  But since I have been seeking verses on fear, I thought it mighty sweet of God to share this one with me. So what does it mean? Still using the imagery of us being in a battle of good and evil, a spiritual battle, then this verse is telling us to hold fast, stand firm, be fearless in the face of whatever the world is throwing our way.  How are your circumstances defeating you or frightening you? We can be brave because our Lord God Almighty, our Warrior God, goes into the battle before us. He is always present, so we can draw courage from Him.


Do not lose your fearlessness "now'. I'm sure each generation thinks their decades are the worst. 2011 seems plenty full of frightening uncertainties to me. Our technology allows us access to the tragedies that occur worldwide in hours if not minutes.  We see the heartbreak of destruction from war and from weather, from Afghanistan to Japan to Alabama. It seems more imperative --this now. Today, we must be brave, hold our place in the line of warriors, and do God's will.  Protect our families, our friends, and the weak, the poor, the orphans, the widows, the unloved, the sick, and love them as He has loved us.  Unconditionally. Without restraint. Or as best we mere humans, created in the image of God, can do.


What is the reward? What has He promised? Heaven. A place with no sickness, no pain, no tears, no hatred, no wars, but plenty of joy, peace, love and laughter. I think that is worth being fearless for my God. So when the leaders of this world can't decide right from wrong, and the media appears to be simply there to scare us to death, I remind myself that God is in control. None of this is a surprise to him. And though we may pray for Him to end this spiritual battle now, He knows the time and His goal is to get as many of us to heaven as He can.  So let's do our part and hold the line against cruelty and hatred one more day.