I don’t get it? Why this way God?

December 5, 2019December 5, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

I have been pondering today’s scripture for several days. Luke 1:34-38 continues the encounter of Gabriel and Mary. She begins with a question and listens as the angel explains how and why Mary will become pregnant. Amazingly Mary states her unwavering obedience to God before Gabriel leaves her.

And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” ³⁵And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. ³⁶And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. ³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God.” ³⁸And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Where is God in this encounter? God is the Sovereign force behind the events happening right then. He is All-Powerful, Omnipotent God who can make the impossible happen. But, the attribute that has stuck in my mind is Incomprehensible. Not in our wildest human plans would we have come up with a miraculous birth by a lowly young Jewish maiden to save all mankind. We cannot understand God’s thoughts, plans or ways with our finite minds. His ways are always righteous and good for all people. His ways and plans bless us and glorify Him. Here are a few verses that speak to the incomprehensibility of God:

Job 5:9 “He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.”

Isaiah 40:28 “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.”

Isaiah 55:8 ““For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.”

Romans 11:33 “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “

How big is your God? Mary knew God could do great and impossible things in the world and in her life. She experienced the incomprehensibility of God in her life and accepted it on faith. Can you do that too? When you face hard to deal with questions or situations in life, can you trust in Jesus anyway? Walking with Jesus is a life long journey of learning and discovery as no one can plumb the depths of God’s Word or fully know His character. He wants to teach us to love and trust Him realizing He is incomprehensible and His ways are not our ways.

Linda

Mary and Me too, God knows our NAMES!

December 4, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Gabriel next appeared to Mary, the young virgin betrothed to Joseph, and told her she was going to be the mother of the Son of God. Mary was fearful and concerned about what this would mean for her future. The angel calmed her fears and pointed her to God. Luke 1:26-33

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

²⁹Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ³²He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

There is so much to see about God in this portion of the Christmas Story. God is all powerful and can do all things, Omnipotent. God has a plan for the redemption of mankind and has had it since the beginning of time and He is using a young girl to move His plan forward, Sovereign, Eternal. But today, I see a personal God. The angel told Mary not to fear and called her by name. God knew her personally. She was not just some girl but one God had specifically chosen for the task of being the mother of Jesus, His Son. God is a person who knows us, desires a relationship with us and communicates with us. Here He spoke to Mary by name through the angel Gabriel, but He also speaks to us today through His Word and in prayer.

Jesus assured us in John 10:3-4 “The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” Jesus as our good shepherd knows each one who believes in Him by name. We are also assured that as believers we can and will recognize Him when He speaks or calls to us.

Mary as a young girl knew this too and trusted her future to God. God knows you personally; He knows your name. Call out to Him today with assurance that He will answer because He knows you and knows exactly what you need even before you ask. Be greatly encouraged, the God of the universe knows you by name.

Linda

Are you doubting God? Careful…He knows.

December 3, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Our story continues today in Luke 1:18-22 with Zechariah, the priest, talking with the angel Gabriel. His first words to the angel were words of doubt. He doubted God’s ability to make a child happen for he and Elizabeth. His doubting heart and words of disbelief brought condemnation from Gabriel in the form of muteness that would last until the child was born.

“Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years. ¹⁹The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. ²⁰And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

After leaving the temple, the people Zechariah met could tell he had seen a vision and realized he could not speak. Consider Elizabeth’s reaction to the impossible news, “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” Luke 1:25 By contrast Elizabeth accepted as possible the impossible since it came from God.

What is your reaction to God’s power, His plans, His blessings? Do you doubt that God can do what He promises? Do you question His plans? Do you accept His blessings with grace? God knows our hearts. There is no hiding from Him or disguising our motives, tone or real feelings. Being honest with God, brings immediate blessing and a lightness to our souls.

Where do we see God in today’s story? We definitely see God’s power to make Zechariah temporarily mute, but we also see God’s Omniscience; He is all-knowing. God knew what was in Zechariah’s heart, what his doubts were about His power and ability to make things happen as He ordained. God is Omniscient meaning He is never surprised by things that happen, He know all there is to know and nothing can or is hidden from Him. David described God’s Omniscience in Psalm 139:1-4 “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. ²You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. ³You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. ⁴Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.” David knew what Zechariah forgot that God knows all and can do all things. Zechariah let his human doubts cloud his judgement as he spoke with Gabriel.

As you ponder this story today, look at your heart. Is your response one of faith and trust in our Omniscient God? Be honest with God and open yourself to trust in His loving care and blessings of peace and assurance will flood your soul.

Linda

God’s Power in our Lives!

December 2, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Our story of Advent began even before Gabriel approached Mary and Joseph as it was in the mind of God from the beginning of time. The arrival of the Messiah, one who would save mankind from their sins, was told throughout the Old Testament. Scripture also mentioned one who would come before this Messiah, Savior, and prepare the way for His arrival. Today in Luke 1:11-17 we find two people, Zechariah and Elizabeth who were consider devout and blameless (verse 6). This didn’t mean they were sinless, but that God recognized their devotion and love for Him. They had been married many years and had no children. Zechariah was a priest and Elizabeth his wife was called barren. They were both considered old, and she was beyond child bearing age.

Zechariah was serving in the temple and an angel appeared to him. “Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. ¹²When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. ¹³But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. ¹⁴He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, ¹⁵for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.” The angel told Zechariah their prayers for a child had been heard and would be answered with a son he was to name John. Then the angel continued and told him about this unusual child, what he would be like and what purpose God had for him. “He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. ¹⁶He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Can you imagine Zechariah and Elizabeth’s surprise at hearing this news? Their prayers had been heard and the answer was forthcoming. It was not only their prayers but the prayers of the nation of Israel for a Savior, Messiah, that would to come and save them from their sins. Zechariah and Elizabeth’s son would go before this coming holy one and prepare the way for Him. What honor and joy they must have felt!

How do we see God in this portion of our Advent story? As I began yesterday, knowing that God would hear my cry for understanding through His Word so Zechariah and Elizabeth were assured by Gabriel that their prayers had been heard for a child. They had prayed for years for a child to raise and love. God had chosen them to parent this coming one who would proclaim the Messiah. What joy they must have felt at knowing God heard their prayers and that they would have a child. On a bigger scale they would have understood that they would all be part of God’s plan for the redemption of mankind.

This reveals that God is accessible to us in prayer. He hears us and responds in His own way and in His own time. All God’s plans are for His glory and our good. I also see God’s infinite grace in revealing His plan to them, showing them how He was going to use them and their son. God did not need to tell them all these things but showed them His grace in revealing it to them. Grace is God showing us kindness or favor we do not deserve. One does not earn grace, it is freely given by God. Psalm 84:11 says “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” We also see God’s ability to know the future and have all things under His control, Sovereign. His supernatural power to provide an impossible child for Zechariah and Elizabeth also shows His love and care for us as individuals.

May you see our Accessible, Gracious, Loving, Caring and Sovereign God at work in your life today.

Linda

Let Advent Begin with a Call to Understand- Join me!

December 1, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Several years ago, I endeavored to see the Christmas story through the lens of God’s attributes knowing that all God ordains reveals His character to us. His plan and will always brings Him glory and us good. I invite you to join me this Advent Season to journey through the scriptures with an eye towards God’s character and see what wonders we can discover about our Almighty God. Jeremiah 33:3 will be my guiding verse this season- “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” I am asking God to reveal His character to us though the Christmas stories. May we be mightily blessed and find out many things that were previously hidden to us.

God’s attribute that gives me confidence to ask and call upon Him is His Accessibility. James 4:8 promises “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” Ephesians 3:12 ^“In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence” and Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” These are just a few verses that confirm to us that we can indeed approach God and seek Him through prayer and study. As we draw near to Him this Advent Season, He will meet us just as He has promised.

Seek Him with me knowing with confidence He will reveal Himself to us through His Word.

Linda

Lessons learned this month-did you get it too?

November 30, 2019January 1, 2020 nofearlindaLeave a comment

A lesson and truth I received from the scriptures we studies this month on cultivating a habit of thankfulness in our lives is this: Thankfulness has a powerful affect on me and all those around me.

How have you seen this to be true this season of thanksgiving? Is your mindset towards thanks contagious? “How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence.” 1 Thessalonians 1:9 Paul felt that the thanks he had for his fellow believers, for their faith and love for God, caused him to rejoice. He saw God working in their lives and this brought joy and thankfulness to his own worship. I would call that contagious thanks. Have you ever been thankful for someone or something and it caused you to give thanks to God? As we live our lives, we need to look for those things that God gives us that create ‘contagious thanks’ within our hearts. As we give thanks to Him in these situations, God will faithfully create in us a thanks that will be contagious and will result in our being in a constant state of thankfulness and joy. Paul left the Thessalonians with these words in 5:16-18 “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

blessings jar Develop that attitude of gratitude and watch it grow in your own life and then watch it rub off into the lives of those around you.

Linda

The Blackest Friday = Profit for you and me!

November 29, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

I was thinking this morning about the designation ‘Black Friday’. It seems that since the 1950’s the day after Thanksgiving has been called ‘Black Friday’. It began as a term to describe the crowds, like the street was black with pedestrians. It then became a day to retailers signifying when they began to turn a profit and moved from the ‘red’ into the ‘black’ as the volume of their sales increased. In the Bible the blackest Friday would be the day of the crucifixion. It was the day when the skies turned black and darkness covered the land. “It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, ⁴⁵while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Luke 23:44-46 The blackness of that Friday is a picture of the sin that Jesus bore on the cross for you and me. His death on that darkest day brought the greatest profit for us. John 12:46 puts it in perspective for us as to why that blackest of Friday’s had to happen. “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”

Even on that blackest of Fridays, the people were rushing around preparing for their Sabbath. Since they could do no work on the Sabbath, they hurried to get Jesus down from the cross, buried and settled in a borrowed tomb. Mark 15:42-47 describes these events done in haste. After the Sabbath was over, several women came back to the tomb to anoint Jesus with spices as his burial had been done in such a hurry they felt they had not been able to treat his body properly on that Friday. “When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.” Mark 16:1 Their walk to the grave site was done in sadness but their return was joyous as the learned of Jesus’ resurrection and defeat of sin and death. An angel spoke to them when they got there, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. ⁷But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” What joyous news they had to share!

That blackest Friday brought death to Jesus and burial brought the greatest profit to you and me. Colossians 1:21-22 explains where we were on the black Friday and where we are now because of it. “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, ²²he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,” That was the the biggest gain or profit for mankind ever in history. Christ reconciled us to God so that we can be in communion with Him and have our sin’s forgiven. We are free to live a life in Christ that is pleasing to God and that is free from the penalty of death brought on by sin. That Black Friday was the best one in history for you and me.

As you venture out today to do some shopping, think about that blackest of Friday’s and how much you gained through Christ. Praise Him as you do.

Blessings,

Linda

May Thanksgiving be on your lips today!

November 28, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

happy-thanksgiving As you gather around your Thanksgiving table today, let praise and thanks lead your discussion. David expressed it this way in Psalm 107:21-22 : Let them praise the Lord for his great love
and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
²²Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving
and sing joyfully about his glorious acts.

What praises do you have for the Lord today? Can you tell of things He has done for you this year? As you tell your family, offer your words in thanksgiving to God for His gracious provision, help, love, care and guidance. All we have we owe to Him as He is the provider of all things. If things look dark today, place your hope and trust in Him remembering His promise in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” God is good and has good things planned for you just as He promised.

Have a day filled with thanksgiving and praise!

Linda

Thankful in all things, really Lord?

November 27, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Paul’s final words to the Thessalonians in his first letter to them shows his pastor’s heart. He told them to take care of one another, be patient, not to seek revenge and always try to do good. Then in 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 he includes these thoughts: “Always be joyful. ¹⁷Never stop praying. ¹⁸Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” He concludes this passage with admonitions to them to not try to block the Holy Spirit’s work and always seek to do good.

What would our lives be like if we really tried to do these things? Being patient with those who frustrate us, seeking to take care of those who are weak or in need, not being vengeful, always being filled with joy, thanks and praises to God, being known as a prayer warrior, seeking to do the will of God in all things and always looking for the good. But that is what Paul is saying is God’s will for us. God wants us filled with joy, always looking to Him in prayer and being thankful in all circumstances. Scripture does not say being thankful for all things but in all things. We do not need to be thankful for the hurricane, car accident or someone’s death, but we need to be thankful during those times of stress, deprivation, sorrow or calamity. We need to have an attitude of gratitude towards God at all times. That can be very hard in difficult times but as Paul says “this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” This is the key to having a grateful heart which God desires of us. I love the way David expresses this is Psalm 86:11-13 Teach me your ways, O Lord,
    that I may live according to your truth!
Grant me purity of heart,
    so that I may honor you.
¹²With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.
    I will give glory to your name forever,
¹³for your love for me is very great.
    You have rescued me from the depths of death.

Is this you in all circumstances? Let David’s words be your prayer today.

Lindar

Abounding in Thanksgiving….is that you?

November 26, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

What causes you to be thankful? There are lots of sights, things and people that bring a smile to our faces, but what gives you the most gratitude in your heart? God’s Word gives us the ultimate reason to give thanks in Colossians 2:6-7^“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Paul was teaching the Colossians that the freedom they have in Christ will cause them to be grounded and not easily swayed by the world. They will be able to live full lives because God lives within them and empowers them to live for Him. By faith in Jesus they can walk with Him daily. Paul explained to them, and us, that the result of an empowered and indwelt life would be thankfulness. Having Christ with you 24/7, guiding, protecting, building you up, and loving you would result in great thanksgiving.

Is that true of you? Do you live with thankfulness in your heart because of what Jesus did and continues to do in and through your life? Ask yourself-am I abounding in thankfulness? Abounding means having thanks in great quantity, being rich in thankfulness, being filled, teeming with thanks. If you are struggling to abound in thanks, think on a few of the things Christ did and is doing for you: He provided the way for my salvation from God’s wrath through His death on the cross, calls me a member of His family, gave me eternal life, is accessible to me 24/7, will never leave me nor forsake me, gave me citizenship in heaven, intercedes for me before the Father, gave me His Holy Spirit to indwell me, and He promises a life that is full, abundant and rich in love. Take a minute today to thank Him for being the reason for your abundant and abounding thankfulness. He is worthy.