Category: Hebrews

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Carry the Load

I know there are so many hurting people in the world and those who are friends and family need us to help them with our prayers and encouragement. But as hard as we try, we can never really know the pain they are going through.

We can empathize and sympathize with them, but we are limited in truly understanding their grief, sorrow and personal battles.

However, there is One who knows the depth of the pain and has come to carry it.

“He was hated and men would have nothing to do with Him, a man of sorrows and suffering, knowing sadness well. We hid, as it were, our faces from Him. He was hated, and we did not think well of Him.

4 For sure He took on Himself our troubles and carried our sorrows. Yet we thought of Him as being punished and hurt by God, and made to suffer. 5 But He was hurt for our wrong-doing. He was crushed for our sins. He was punished so we would have peace. He was beaten so we would be healed.” Isaiah 53:3-5 NLV

In one version of these verses it says, “He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief”.

Christ came to carry the load. We are limited in our resources and understanding to help in life’s most trying times but not Jesus. He knows the depth of the hurt and He doesn’t want us trying to handle it on our own. He wants us to let Him carry the load.

“ Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you.” I Peter 5:7 ERV

We can become weary, exhausted and emotionally drained from “trying” to do it all on our own. Our own efforts will fall short every time. But there is a place of rest and that is found in Jesus.

“If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 CEV

Jesus grieved the death of His friend Lazarus. He wept. His heart was broken over the calloused ways of humankind. He wept. He was moved with compassion over those suffering with sickness and disease and also those who were ridiculed and considered social outcast.

He came to bring comfort and healing. He promises to be our help.

“ We have a great high priest who has gone to live with God in heaven. He is Jesus the Son of God. So let us continue to express our faith in him…16 With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.” Hebrews 4:14-16 ERV

When we come to Him, He promises to carry the load.

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Increased Knowledge

For those of you who aren’t very tech savvy you will be able to empathize with me.

In the past week I have backed-up my old phone and activated and downloaded all my info to my new phone. Then I received my birthday present from Dave a couple weeks early – an Apple watch. Final tech treat was a GoPro camera which we will take to Greece with us in September.

My goodness I had to go to YouTube just to learn how to charge and turn these things on! I do ok with my laptop and my old phone (which had started to malfunction) but three new devices in one week put my brain on overload.

“But as for you, Daniel, keep these words hidden and lock up the Book until the end of time. Many will travel here and there and knowledge will be more and more.” Daniel 12:4 NLV

We are definitely living in a time when knowledge is “more and more”, increasing. Every year or so Apple comes out with a new phone, so do the others. More advancement. Technology hasn’t just aided communication but it has also brought great advancement to the medical field. In my younger years, a surgical procedure would require several days stay in the hospital but now those same procedures are considered outpatient surgeries and you go home in the same day.

I could go on with the list of advancements in industry – automobile, entertainment, travel, information technology and so many more. Knowledge is amazing, just what I have seen in my lifetime is mind boggling.

But I like simplicity.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 NLV

“ God’s plan looked foolish to men, but it is wiser than the best plans of men. God’s plan which may look weak is stronger than the strongest plans of men.” I Corinthians 1:25 NLV

The Gospel of Jesus is simple and it’s unchanging. The love of God will far surpass and outlast the knowledge of man.

“Love never fails— but where there are prophecies, they will pass away; where there are tongues, they will cease; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.” I Corinthians 13:8 TLV

Although the knowledge of this generation is greater than any generation before it will never compare to love of God. Technology will always require an update to function properly but the love of God will never fail.

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Covered by Love

I have a fleece throw that I use every day – warm days, cold days it doesn’t matter. I find a sense of comfort in cuddling under that blanket. I like being covered. I guess that’s why these verses mean so much to me.

 “The mouth of the one who is right with God is a well of life, but the mouth of the sinful hides trouble. 12 Hate starts fights, but love covers all sins.” Proverbs 10:11-12 NLV

I’ve been taught when we have a heart of love we don’t expose someone else’s weaknesses or their wrongdoing. We cover them. This is a true teaching but it goes deeper than that.

It has to do with me and my Father. He loves me and His love covers my short comings and my wrong doings. He doesn’t come to you and tell you all the things I’ve done wrong. He doesn’t go to my husband or my kids or my friends and point out how many times I’ve missed it.

He covers me – He covers me with His love and in His mercy, He forgives, and He forgets.

WOW!

Does that mean we don’t have to accept any responsibility for what we do wrong? Not in the slightest. If we drive drunk, there are consequences. If we steal there are consequences. If we gossip or lie there are consequences.

However, we have the Father’s promise that He will and has covered them and He won’t use our past failures to embarrass us or berate us.

“With one sacrifice Christ made his people perfect forever. They are the ones who are being made holy. 15 The Holy Spirit also tells us about this. First he says, 16’This is the agreement I will make with my people in the future, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts. I will write my laws in their minds.’ 17 Then he says, ‘I will forget their sins and never again remember the evil they have done.’ 18 And after everything is forgiven, there is no more need for a sacrifice to pay for sins. 19 And so, brothers and sisters, we are completely free to enter the Most Holy Place. We can do this without fear because of the blood sacrifice of Jesus.” Hebrews 10:14-19 ERV

Because of Christ’s sacrifice our sins are not only covered, but they are also completely blotted out and forgotten. We are forgiven, we are free to enter the Father’s presence.

When I was a kid we sang a song in church and the meaning of the words were lost to me until I was older. Now, when I sing them, my throat tightens, and tears come to my eyes:

“Calvary covers it all,

My past with its sin and shame;

My guilt and despair Jesus took on Him there,

And Calvary covers it all.”

I don’t know about you but I am certainly glad that His love covers my sins!

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Eating Worms

As a kid, I’m sure most of you said this little chant once or twice. “Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, guess I’ll go eat worms. Big fat juicy ones, little, tiny scrawny ones, oh, how they do squirm.”

Kids stuff right? Not so much – that feeling is all too prevalent in adults as well, but we just don’t sing the chant.

The feeling that we’re all alone and that nobody really understands, or loves us can be overwhelming. We’ve all had people let us down, turn against us or just ignore us as if we don’t exist.

It seems we are justified in our little chant. However, I’d like to give you a different perspective on that little song. I’m going to turn it upside down. Instead of seeing it as a declaration of self-pity, I’d like us to look at it as a jingle of provision.

A worm-eating bird is the perfect example of God’s provision. It doesn’t go out in the morning complaining that no one cares – it goes out singing, knowing that God will provide all it needs for the day.

“Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth much more than birds?” Matthew 6:26 CEV

That same Father is the One who promises to never leave us or forsake us.

“God has said, ‘I will never leave you; I will never run away from you.’” Hebrews 13:5b ERV

Now that’s good news but let’s read it from the Amplified version to get a greater understanding.

“for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]

6 So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5b-6 AMP

Please read that again. The Amplified version gives us the depth of the meaning of the words the way they were written in the original language. God, the Father, is intense and emphatic in declaring His love to us.

This is how God feels about us. This is how He feels about you! He’s there for you. He will not leave you. His love never fails.

Welcome the day with singing. Our Father is protecting and providing all we need and we’re never alone.

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On The Rock

Yesterday I wrote about “Standing on the Promises”, a sure foundation, the Word of God, that won’t fail in the storms of life.

“So when God wanted to prove for certain his promise to his people could not be broken, he made a vow. 18 God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed. We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us. 19  This hope is like a firm and steady anchor for our souls…” Hebrews 6:17-19 CEV

This morning I woke up thinking of motherhood and how each of us ladies must hold firmly to the hope that God has given us for our children. How appropriate it is that Mary, the mother of Jesus, stood on God’s promises, in the midst of her storm .

“Then the angel told Mary, ‘Don’t be afraid! God is pleased with you, 31 and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was. 33 He will rule the people of Israel forever, and his kingdom will never end.’ 34 Mary asked the angel, ‘How can this happen? I am not married!’ 35 The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God’s power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God. 36 Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. 37 Nothing is impossible for God!’ 38 Mary said, ‘I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.’ And the angel left her.” Luke 1:30-38 CEV

In Mary’s day, the law demanded if a woman was not a virgin when she was married that she could be stoned. Mary was very aware of this. She knew that by consenting to what the angel said, it could cost her life. It would certainly cost her the relationship she had with Joseph, the man she was engaged too and could cause her to be shunned by her family and friends.

Mary knew the prophecies of the coming Messiah and that he would be born to a virgin so she consented. She would stand on God’s word and become the mother of the Messiah.

A young girl who was willing to obey God’s leading; who gave up her reputation and the possibly of family and friends to stand on the Word of God, changed history as we know it. A young mother chose to be believe God’s promises for her child. She held fast to God’s Word and stood strong in a storm.

If God’s word was the sustaining force for Mary, it will be for us as well. Mom’s don’t give up on the promises of God for your children.

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Stand Strong

This morning I’ve been thinking about the course of events that brought Dave and I back to Arizona in 2014. We moved away in 1989. It was a long journey to faraway places like California, Washington, Idaho and Montana but eventually, we ended up back in my home state, Arizona.

Each place we called home, we made friends, and the Lord was faithful to always provide and care for us. However, there was a longing to move on and as the Lord opened the doors, we did just that. In 2014 we moved back to Arizona; we were home!

I have identified with Abraham on more than one occasion. God called him to leave his family and travel to an unknown land. He lived in a tent, not a permanent dwelling. He moved quite a bit. A famine took him to Egypt and a prosperous, growing herd of cattle caused him to relocate and allot part of his land to his nephew.

“It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. 9 And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise.” Hebrews 11:8-9 NLT

All the while, Abraham and his wife, Sarah, had no children. At age 75 God made Abraham a promise that he would be father to many nations. Abraham clung to that promise. You know the story; it wasn’t until Abraham was 100 years old that he was blessed with the birth of his son Isaac.

“It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. 12 And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.” Hebrews 11:11-12 NLT

“He never doubted that God would do what he promised. He never stopped believing. In fact, he grew stronger in his faith and just praised God. 21 Abraham felt sure that God was able to do what he promised.” Romans 4:20-21 ERV

Abraham never doubted God, he never stopped believing and he felt sure that God was able to do what He promised. Sarah had her moments of doubt, but God reassured her that He was faithful.

I too had doubts and wondered what God’s purpose and plan was for me and my family. That’s when I learned to get up every morning and thank the Father for His faithfulness and abiding presence. I haven’t had to wait 25 years, like Abraham, to see a promise of God come to pass but I have waited 8 years.

What promise has God made you? Are you having to wait on it? Don’t give up, don’t give in. Never stop believing.

Stand Strong!

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Gold Top Ice Cream

Yesterday we went to our youngest daughter’s to celebrate her 37th birthday. Pappy (Dave) and I took take-n-bake pizza and Blue Bell ice cream.

After we had finished our pizza and were ready for ice cream our almost 6-year-old granddaughter told me, “we have gold top ice cream”. I wasn’t quite sure what she was talking about until I opened the freezer drawer and saw it, the ice cream with the gold top.

Below it was another tub of ice cream, the kind you buy when you are wanting to economize, that really doesn’t taste as good. I took their gold top carton and the one we had just brought from the freezer, telling her that today we all got to have the gold top ice cream. We all got to have the best!

Before I went to bed, I was remembering how excited she was – how her eyes sparkled when her mom opened the containers and put big scoops in each bowl. It was if the Lord was saying to my heart, “Kristi, I always want you to enjoy gold top moments”.

This morning in my reading I came across three gold top moments that I would like to share with you.

“ I love those who love me, and those who look for me with much desire will find me. 18 Riches and honor are mine, lasting riches and being right with God. 19 My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold. What I give is better than fine silver. 20 I walk in the way that is right with God, in the center of the ways that are fair. 21 I give riches to those who love me, and fill their store-houses.” Proverbs 8:17-21 NLV

Wisdom is the one speaking. Those of us who seek God’s wisdom are promised His blessings.

“ He said, ‘Listen, all Judah, the people of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. The Lord says to you, ‘Do not be afraid or troubled because of these many men. For the battle is not yours but God’s. 16 Go down to fight them tomorrow…17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Just stand still in your places and see the saving power of the Lord work for you, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid or troubled. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you’.” II Chronicles 20:15-17 NLV

Jehoshaphat and his people were facing overwhelming odds in battle. They humbled themselves, prayed and sought God’s direction and the Lord fought the battle defeating their enemies.

A gold top moment!

“He answered, ‘A Man called Jesus made mud and put it on my eyes. Then He said to me, ‘Go and wash in the pool of Siloam.’ I went and washed and I can see.’” John 9:11 NLV

A blind man had an encounter with Jesus. His obedience to Jesus’ word gave him his sight.

God’s word is filled with hundreds of examples like these. He wants us to be the recipients of His promises.

“A man cannot please God unless he has faith. Anyone who comes to God must believe that He is. That one must also know that God gives what is promised to the one who keeps on looking for Him.” Hebrews 11:6 NLV

Come to God, believe Him and receive His promises. Enjoy the Father’s “gold top” moments!

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An Intimate Courtyard

One of the first group of verses I memorized as a young girl was Psalm 100.

“Earth, sing to the Lord!
2 Be happy as you serve the Lord!
    Come before him with happy songs!
3 Know that the Lord is God.
    He made us, and we belong to him.
    We are his people, the sheep he takes care of.
4 Come through the gates to his Temple giving thanks to him.
    Enter his courtyards with songs of praise.
    Honor him and bless his name.
5 The Lord is good!
    There is no end to his faithful love.
    We can trust him forever and ever! ERV

That’s exactly what I’m doing this morning – being happy and grateful to be in the Father’s courtyard.

When Dave and I did the landscaping at our home in southern Arizona we designed a front courtyard. It was my place to sit and pray; a place to always be thankful for the many blessings the Lord has given us. I miss the courtyard but the praise I always have in my heart.

Another memory I have of my childhood is a song I used to sing, In the Garden:

“I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses

And he walks with me
And he talks with me
And he tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known

He speaks and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing…”

There is a relationship that we can share with the Lord that is incomparable to any other. In the joy and in the sorrow, in the struggle and in the rest, we are invited to come into his courtyard, into the pasture of green grass and cool water, into His presence where there is fullness of joy.

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 NKJV

There’s a progression here. In Psalm 100 we are told to come through His gates and into His courtyard. Praise and thanksgiving are the ticket to enter. The writer of Hebrews tells us we can come boldly into His throne room.

“So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved grace, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:16 CEV

Our heavenly Father is generous and welcoming. He wants to come bravely, He extends His grace and provides us with the help we need.

There’s an intimacy in our relationship with Him. When we come into His courtyard, He meets us there.

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Acquainted with Grief

Just days before Easter and I wanted to share a few thoughts with you about the struggles Jesus went through in the garden before He was arrested.

The book of Isaiah gives us this insight.

“For sure He took on Himself our troubles and carried our sorrows. Yet we thought of Him as being punished and hurt by God, and made to suffer. 5 But He was hurt for our wrong-doing. He was crushed for our sins. He was punished so we would have peace. He was beaten so we would be healed. 6 All of us like sheep have gone the wrong way. Each of us has turned to his own way. And the Lord has put on Him the sin of us all.” Isaiah 53:4-6 NLV

For days before the Passover celebration Jesus had nothing else on His mind except the events that were about to take place. He knew his death was eminent.

 “Now My soul is troubled. Should I say, ‘Father, save Me from this time of trouble and pain’? No, this is why I came to this time. 28 Father, honor Your name!” John 12:27-28 NLV

Jesus took time to visit with his dear friends Lazarus, Mary and Martha. He spent time teaching the disciples on the importance of putting others first, laying down their lives for those who needed to hear the Gospel and then instructing them on how to truly love and serve their fellow apostles with pure hearts.

“ I am the Vine and you are the branches. Get your life from Me. Then I will live in you and you will give much fruit. You can do nothing without Me.” John 15:5 NLV

Without Me, you can do nothing.

Those words hold true for us as well. Jesus is our example for living. Having our lives mirror His should be the desire of every Christian.

As He faced His greatest hour of anguish He set His eyes on the Father’s mission; He needed to die as the sinless sacrifice for the sins of the entire world. How did He do it? In His humanity He wanted to quit – He wanted the Father to find another way. The Bible tells us He was in such anguish that He sweat drops of blood.

“And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:44 KJV

Jesus took His disciples to the garden to pray!

He knew the only way He would have the strength and the resolve to endure such anguish and pain was to draw it from His Father in prayer.

Our experiences in life no matter how horrible we think they are can’t be compared to the suffering that Jesus went through for us, for our salvation.

“ Let us keep looking to Jesus. Our faith comes from Him and He is the One Who makes it perfect. He did not give up when He had to suffer shame and die on a cross. He knew of the joy that would be His later. Now He is sitting at the right side of God.” Hebrews 12:2 NLV

Always remember this, Jesus was acquainted with grief for us and He can and will give us His strength in every situation. Look to Jesus!

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Troubled Times

You may think that I am going to share some rich insight this morning on the situations and circumstances that we are facing in our nation and our world today but that isn’t my focus.

Each generation and millennia have had their own share of crises, disasters and unrest.

Jesus lived in a troubled world. The governmental rule was anti-God. The Romans, who ruled over the nation of Israel, preached Caesar as god and his word as infallible. They were living in political slavery when Jesus was born.

I find it interesting that God the Father didn’t use Jesus to rescue the Jews from the Romans in a similar way that he used Moses to rescue the Jews from the Egyptians. Jesus didn’t come to save just one nation. He came to bring reconciliation, peace and freedom to all who would believe.

“Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages. He taught in their synagogues and told people the Good News about God’s kingdom. He healed all kinds of diseases and sicknesses. 36 Jesus saw the many people and felt sorry for them because they were worried and helpless—like sheep without a shepherd to lead them. 37 Jesus said to his followers, ‘There is such a big harvest of people to bring in. But there are only a few workers to help harvest them. 38 God owns the harvest. Ask him to send more workers to help gather his harvest.’” Matthew 9:35 – 38 ERV

Jesus was about His Father’s business – a worldwide harvest.

But the corruption of the government was always on Jesus disciples’ minds. They heard Jesus preach; they saw the miracles. In fact, they did miracles themselves but still they wondered when Jesus would take control and change things. Here are Jesus’ last words to his disciples.

“While the apostles were still with Jesus, they asked him, ‘Lord, are you now going to give Israel its own king again?’ 7Jesus said to them, ‘You don’t need to know the time of those events that only the Father controls. 8But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world.'” Acts 1:6-8 ERV

Today, many are asking the same thing. When Lord are you going to do something about political unrest and corruption? Things are not good that is for certain.

Jesus’ answer to us is the same one He gave the disciples. Don’t worry about the political situation and those in power. Leave that up to the Father. Instead, take the message of my salvation to those in your world.

“God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed. We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us. 19  This hope is like a firm and steady anchor for our souls.” Hebrews 6:18-19 CEV

In troubled times we can run to the Father, we can put our hope in Him.

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