Category: Provision

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More “Good” News

I’d like to share a story with you this morning that sometimes gets overlooked in the Bible.

John the Baptist and Jesus were second cousins; their mothers Elizabeth and Mary were cousins. John had been raised knowing his purpose in life was to prepare the way for Jesus. When Jesus started in ministry, His first stop was the shores of the Sea of Galilee where He was baptized by John in water and baptized by the Holy Spirit descending as a dove from heaven with the anointing and power of His Father.

John’s testimony of Jesus was great! He spoke with unwavering conviction of the “One coming after me, whose sandals I am not worthy to unlatch”. John preached with such power against sin that he angered the political elite.

He was thrown in prison by a lust-filled man and a revenge-filled woman.

This is where today’s message begins. John’s followers have come to prison to tell him what they’ve heard about Jesus. So, John sent them to Jesus.

“When these messengers came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask, ‘Are you the one we should be looking for? Or are we supposed to wait for someone else?’ ”

21 At that time Jesus was healing many people who were sick or in pain or were troubled by evil spirits, and he was giving sight to a lot of blind people. 22  Jesus said to the messengers sent by John, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard. Blind people are now able to see, and the lame can walk. People who have leprosy are being healed, and the deaf can now hear. The dead are raised to life, and the poor are hearing the good news. 23 God will bless everyone who doesn’t reject me because of what I do.” Luke 7:20-23 CEV

Jesus could have answered their question with a simple yes, but he didn’t. He let the miracles tell the story.

The blind see – good news. The lame walk – good news. Evil spirits are being removed – good news. Lepers are being healed – good news. The deaf hear – good news. The dead are raised – good news. The poor are hearing good news.

Good news. Good news to those receiving a touch from Jesus and good news to John who knew the Old Testament scripture about the Messiah.

“The Spirit of the Lord God has taken control of me! The Lord has chosen and sent me
to tell the oppressed the good news, to heal the brokenhearted, and to announce freedom
for prisoners and captives. 2 This is the year when the Lord God will show kindness to us
and punish our enemies.” Isaiah 61:1-2 CEV

The message and ministry of Jesus is just the same today. It’s Good News!

Good news to the sinner and the sick; good news to prisoner and the king. Good news to young and old. Good news!

“The book of Isaiah the prophet was given to him. He opened the book and found the place where this is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me. He has chosen me to tell good news to the poor.
He sent me to tell prisoners that they are free and to tell the blind that they can see again.
He sent me to free those who have been treated badly 19 and to announce that the time has come for the Lord to show his kindness.”

20 Jesus closed the book, gave it back to the helper, and sat down. As everyone in the synagogue watched him closely, 21 he began to speak to them. He said, “While you heard me reading these words just now, they were coming true!” Luke 4:18-21 CEV

Good News! Jesus came to tell US the good news!

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It’s All Good

Yesterday I had a regular check up with the doctor. When we came to the end of the exam he said, “It’s all good, I won’t need to see you for another year”. I like those words.

It’s All Good.

Yet, this morning as I sat here thinking about the second part of that phrase “I won’t need to see you for another year” it made me sad. Not sad because I won’t be seeing the doctor, I’m glad of that, but sad because that’s how so many think of their relationship with the Father.

When He walks us through the tough times and we find ourselves on the other side of the adversity some find it easy to go back to their regular routine which doesn’t include as much time with the Lord. It’s that time with the Lord that brings us to the good life.

“We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him. These are the people God chose, because that was his plan.” Romans 8:28 ERV

Yesterday I ended with Jesus telling his disciples that He is the good shepherd. Amen!

“The sheep know their shepherd’s voice. He calls each of them by name and leads them out. 4 When he has led out all of his sheep, he walks in front of them, and they follow, because they know his voice…14  I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and they know me. 15  Just as the Father knows me, I know the Father, and I give up my life for my sheep.” John 10:3-4,14-15 CEV 

I love this analogy. Sheep following a shepherd. King David used it as well when he wrote Psalm 23. “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. He makes me lay down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.”

A good shepherd, our Good Shepherd leads us and feeds us. He brings us to a place of rest, and he also cares for us in the presence of our enemies. It’s a daily leading. If sheep are left to themselves in a pasture they will eat the grass to the ground and then colic because they ingest the soil. They need to be led each day, making sure they are still well fed and safe.

“Show me your faithful love this morning. I trust in you. Show me what I should do. I put my life in your hands! 9 Lord, I come to you for protection. Save me from my enemies. 10 Show me what you want me to do. You are my God. Let your good Spirit lead me over level ground.” Psalm 143:8-10 ERV

It’s wonderful to know that the Father is there every morning to show us His love. Every morning. He protects and leads. Holy Spirit is a good leader.

I was so pleased to hear my doctor say all is good, I’ll see you next year but I am more delighted to hear my Father say, “all is well and I’m here to show you my faithful love this morning and each day that follows”.

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Like A Child

Several weeks ago, our oldest granddaughter started a family text page. She wanted to send pictures of their daughters to all of us at the same time. I love that!

We get pictures of our four-year-old and our 3-month-old great granddaughters. It’s wonderful. Often the pictures show the girls with their parents holding them or playing with them. We can almost hear the giggles as we see the smiles.

The girls are content. They are happy. They trust mom and dad. This is the picture that came to mind as I read these verses in Psalms this morning.

“I am not conceited, Lord, and I don’t waste my time on impossible schemes. 2 But I have learned to feel safe and satisfied, like a young child in its mother’s arms. 3 People of Israel, you must trust the Lord now and forever.” Psalm 131 CEV

Oh my. Three short verses but so much wisdom.

Don’t waste time on impossible schemes. Yes, I’ve done that regretfully. Thinking surely this time I have the right idea or am following the right lead, ignoring the uneasiness in the pit of my stomach and moving forward without asking the Lord for direction. Been there, done that, don’t recommend it at all.

Feel safe and satisfied, like a young child. Those images we have been receiving picture this perfectly. Contentment, safety, security, peace and joy. Safe in my Father’s arms. I remember holding one of our granddaughters as I visited with her mom. She was squirming, trying to snuggle in, fighting sleep. And then there was a deep sigh, her body relaxed and rest came. Safe and satisfied. That’s how the Father wants us to be – dependent on Him.

Trust the Lord now and forever. When we trust the Lord, it isn’t a momentary thing. It’s a lifetime experience. These words were written by King David. The young boy who fought the giant and won. The king who ruled Israel. He made mistakes, many of them are recorded in the Bible for us. He’s also the one who wrote Psalm 23, “the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want”. Those words came from a heart filled with trust.

As we start this New Year, I hear the Lord telling me to trust! “Like a child, Father I come to sit safely in Your arms, allowing You to lead and direct the concerns and challenges of my life. I trust You!”

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Preparing for the Journey

It’s chilly this morning. I have the heater on, a hot cup of coffee at my side and I’m wrapped in my comfy fleece blanket. It’s a cozy way to start the day.

That being said, my thoughts turned to Mary. I know there are differing opinions on the time of year when Christ was actually born but Mary’s preparation would still be the same. The trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem was approximately 100 miles. Traveling by foot, aided by a donkey, the trip would have taken several days.

“ So Joseph had to leave Nazareth in Galilee and go to Bethlehem in Judea. Long ago Bethlehem had been King David’s hometown, and Joseph went there because he was from David’s family.

5 Mary was engaged to Joseph and traveled with him to Bethlehem. She was soon going to have a baby,” Luke 2:4-5 CEV

Preparations had to be made before embarking on such a journey. There was bedding to gather and pack, food to prepare, clothing for the baby and personal hygiene items. Much thought had to be put into these preparations.

How many days would they stay? What would be their immediate needs when the baby was born? Where would they sleep? How would they prepare for the customary presentation of a new child to the priests?

So much to consider.

I did just a little Biblical research to see what type of food they might take for the journey. I found this in the Old Testament. It seems these foods were common when traveling.

” …brought food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen, abundant supplies of flour, cakes of figs and raisins, wine, [olive] oil, oxen, and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.” I Chronicles 12:40 CEV

Bread, raisin cakes, wine, oil and roasted meat. Mary had a lot to do. Was she weary at the end of the day, even hormonal? Did she question if she should even be going on this trip? Did she remember the angel’s words, “You have been chosen by God”? Did she remember the words of the psalmist?

“Our Lord, you keep your word and do everything you say. 14 When someone stumbles or falls, you give a helping hand. 15 Everyone depends on you, and when the time is right,
you provide them with food. 16 By your own hand you satisfy the desires of all who live. 17 Our Lord, everything you do is kind and thoughtful, 18 and you are near to everyone
whose prayers are sincere.” Psalm 145:13-18

Instead of being overwhelmed I believe Mary continued to trust God and take Him at his word. She was carrying the Messiah, the Savior of the world, and God would provide all she needed.

When we are overwhelmed, anxious because of all that needs to be done, worried about the unknown, we can trust the Lord. “Everything you do is kind and thoughtful”.

Preparing for this journey called life – not knowing what the days ahead hold, we can have confidence to know that Immanuel, God with us, has not left us to travel the road alone!

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Christmas Traditions

What brings a smile to your face as you remember Christmases past? What things do your children request that you did with them when they were small?

In our decorating there are a few items that MUST be put out. Each person has their own personalized Christmas stocking, some of them made by my mother and now the rest that I have made.

Movies and books. I’ve been watching White Christmas since I was 8 and there are books at stories that were always a must.

What’s meaningful about the traditions of Christmas is not how big or expensive the gift but the memories that bring us together, things we share from the heart.

“Teach your children right from wrong, and when they are grown they will still do right.” Proverbs 22:6 CEV

The one tradition that is center stage is the reading of the Christmas story from Luke 2. When I was little, my daddy read it each Christmas morning. When Dave and I married and we took our kids to my parents’ home, my daddy read it. All the years that we had the kids at home Dave has read the Christmas story and even when they were all gone, the two of us sit and open the Bible and read before we do anything else. One year he read the story with our oldest daughter and family via Google Chat.

So many distractions try to rob our traditions, the constants in our lives, the things that bring us hope and peace.

Traditions are important reminders of where we’ve been and what God has done for us. The Jewish people had Passover to remind them of their deliverance from Egypt, something they were told to always remember and to teach their children about God’s goodness and power.

This year I pray that everyone would return to the joy of that first Christmas. The awe, the wonder and that hearts will declare with the angels:

“Then suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host (angelic army) praising God and saying, 14 ‘Glory to God in the highest [heaven], And on earth peace among men with whom He is well-pleased.’

15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying one to another, ‘Let us go straight to Bethlehem, and see this [wonderful] thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.’” Luke 2:13-15 AMP

Like the shepherds let’s seek this wonderful thing the Lord has made known to us.

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Nothing Is Impossible

I want to tell you this morning that this may not be what you would consider a “Christmas” teaching, but it is exactly the message that Christ came to deliver. I know it will be an encouragement to many who need an answer from the Lord today.

Can you imagine what it was like to be Jesus? People live under the impression that since He was God in flesh that everything went well for Him. He was perfect, right? Yes, that’s true; He experienced everything that we do and He did it all without sin.

“Like a young plant or a root that sprouts in dry ground, the servant grew up obeying the LORD. He wasn’t some handsome king. Nothing about the way he looked made him attractive to us. 3 He was hated and rejected; his life was filled with sorrow and terrible suffering. No one wanted to look at him. We despised him and said, ‘He is a nobody!’” Isaiah 53:2-3 CEV

Isaiah prophesied that He was common looking, unattractive and nothing special as far as physical traits. He wasn’t Charles Atlas; he wouldn’t have been the captain of the football team or even voted most likely to succeed. His own family and disciples didn’t understand Him.

One time He was holding a meeting and his mother and brothers were outside and sent a message to him.

“ Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to talk with you.” 48 answered, “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?” Matthew 12:47-48 CEV

If they had truly believed Jesus was God’s Son, the Messiah, would they have interrupted his teaching? Or how about the disciples when they became upset with Jesus because the ship they were in was taking on water and about to sink?

“Jesus was in the back of the boat with his head on a pillow, and he was asleep. His disciples woke him and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re about to drown?” 39 Jesus got up and ordered the wind and the waves to be quiet. The wind stopped, and everything was calm.” Mark 4:38-39 CEV

If their faith had really been in Jesus as the Son of God, they should have approached it this way. “Hey, let’s wake Jesus up because He’ll have the answer to our problem. This storm isn’t a surprise to Him. He’ll know what to do.”

I find it encouraging that those who were closest to Jesus had to grow in faith to accept Him for who He said He was, who they knew Him to be. Just like us – when we cry out “Lord, don’t you care I’m about to go under; cancer is about to sink me, the waves of debt are flooding my boat, the storm of rebellious children or a typhoon with my mate is about to capsize me in this ocean? Don’t you care?”

Even when we come to Him in that kind of desperation and fear, He will speak to our storm and say “Peace, be still!” Then He takes time to teach us again – Come boldly to my throne and find help in your time of need.

But then He expects us to accept, by faith, that help is on the way!

In the old Westerns you could always hear the Cavalry bugle before you saw the soldiers. The invitation to come boldly or “to call on me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things” (Jeremiah 33:3) is the sound of the bugle. It’s then our responsibility to “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day” (Exodus 14:13)

Let God be God in your life today. Don’t limit Him by what you see. As the angel told Mary, “with God nothing is impossible”!

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With Us

I woke up several times during the night with these two words “with” and “among” going through my mind.

Last night we had been at a game night, and we were among a large group of people but we were sitting with only two of them. We could hear the conversations of those around us but we could personally interact with the two sitting across the table from us.

Do you know where I’m going with this?

“ All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).” Isaiah 7:14 NLT

God is with us.

For thousands of years, God had been among His people revealing His character and His holiness. The occasions when He was with individuals is noteworthy. He was with the three young men who were thrown into the fiery furnace, He was with Daniel in the lions’ den and He was with David as he faced Goliath. He was with Joseph, Abraham, Noah and others.

And now, according to Isaiah’s prophecy, God was making Himself available to be with us through His Son.

“ All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:

23 ‘Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’

24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.” Matthew 1:22-24 NLT

We have all been given a personal invitation to be with God. He chose us before the foundation of the world. Christ’s mission was to reconcile us with God.

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.” Romans 3:23-24 NLT

“Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.” Colossians 1:22 NLT

“Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. 18 God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others.” II Corinthians 5:17-18 CEV

Our heavenly Father knew that human efforts were not good enough to bring about reconciliation with Him. In His unconditional love for us He sent Jesus to provide the way for restored relationship.

Every day I am thankful for Immanuel – God with us. He will never leave us alone!

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Time to Celebrate

I remember years ago when our oldest daughter was just a toddler we had bands of sheep across the road in the fields. I would walk her across the road and she would watch the sheep.

My husband grew up with sheep herders and had the opportunity to watch their ways. Interesting people. One man with several working dogs could control a large band of sheep – protecting them and moving them from one field to another.

Shepherds care for their sheep. They live with them in the field. They don’t abandon them. They protect them personally and then leave the dogs with them to keep them safe from predators in the night.

The shepherd makes sure they have plenty of grass in the pasture and when it is eaten down they move the sheep on to the next field. Shepherds also make sure their flocks have plenty of water. They pay close attention to the weak and injured; nursing their wounds and seeing that they aren’t picked on by the stronger rams.

I have a good shepherd. He loves me, He cares for me, He feeds and protects me and He searches for me if I get lost and He brings me back to His fold!

” Jesus said: I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead of going in through the gate to the sheep pen. 2-3 But the gatekeeper opens the gate for the shepherd, and he goes in through it. The sheep know their shepherd’s voice. He calls each of them by name and leads them out.

4 When he has led out all of his sheep, he walks in front of them, and they follow, because they know his voice. 5 The sheep will not follow strangers. They don’t recognize a stranger’s voice, and they run away…

7 Jesus said: I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep. 8 Everyone who came before me was a thief or a robber, and the sheep did not listen to any of them. 9 I am the gate. All who come in through me will be saved. Through me they will come and go and find pasture.

10 A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest. 11 I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd gives up his life for his sheep. 12 Hired workers are not like the shepherd…

14 I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and they know me. 15 Just as the Father knows me, I know the Father, and I give up my life for my sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not in this sheep pen. I must bring them together too, when they hear my voice. Then there will be one flock of sheep and one shepherd.” John 10:1-16 CEV

“Then Jesus told them this story: 4 If any of you has a hundred sheep, and one of them gets lost, what will you do? Won’t you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until you find it? 5 And when you find it, you will be so glad that you will put it on your shoulder 6 and carry it home. Then you will call in your friends and neighbors and say, ‘Let’s celebrate! I’ve found my lost sheep.’” Luke 15:3-6 CEV

I am a loved sheep -> lost but now I’m found. It’s time to celebrate the Shepherd’s great love!!

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More Than Enough

When I was a little girl, I was intrigued by one of the Thanksgiving decorations I saw. It was a cornucopia or otherwise named, horn of plenty.

I learned that big word and liked using it. For a seven-year-old, a five-syllable word was a big deal.

Wikipedia describes it like this: “In classical antiquity, the cornucopia, from Latin cornu (horn) and copia (abundance), also called the horn of plenty, was a symbol of abundance and nourishment, commonly a large horn-shaped container overflowing with produce, flowers, or nuts.”

A symbol of abundance and nourishment.

I believe you know what I’m going to say next. Reminds me of the promises and blessings that are in God’s word.

“The Lord will love you and bless you by giving you many children and plenty of food, wine, and olive oil. Your herds of cattle will have many calves, and your flocks of sheep will have many lambs.” Deuteronomy 7:13 CEV

Moses was preparing the Israelites for their new life in the promised land. God wasn’t taking them to an impoverished home, on the contrary, He was leading them to a land that was “flowing with milk and honey”.

The Lord made them some very specific promises and they still hold true today.

“You will have many children. You will harvest large crops, and your herds of cattle and flocks of sheep and goats will produce many young. 5 You will have plenty of bread to eat. 6 The Lord will make you successful in your daily work.” Deuteronomy 28:4-6 CEV

When I look at the cornucopia now, I see overflowing abundance. Most of the items are fruit. The very thing that Christ says will be produced in our lives when we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.

“But the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these kinds of things.” Galatians 5:22-23 ERV

My thoughts take me to the mountainside where Jesus multiplied the fish and the bread of a little boy’s lunch.

“Jesus took the bread in his hands and gave thanks to God. Then he passed the bread to the people, and he did the same with the fish, until everyone had plenty to eat.” John 6:11 CEV

But more than that, I remember another mountainside message.

“Don’t worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?” 32 Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows you need all of these. 33 But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.” Matthew 6:31-33 CEV

When we put God’s word and His will first place we will have a virtual spiritual cornucopia. In Christ we have more than enough.

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Grateful for Strength

This morning’s teaching is for me, and I invite you to join me.

I woke up feeling weary, something that I rarely do. I’ve sat here for the last hour talking with the Father and thanking Him for His promises of strength. These verses immediately came to mind as I was listening to God’s spirit speak to me.

They are food for my soul.

“Surely you know the truth. Surely you have heard. The Lord is the God who lives forever! He created all the faraway places on earth. He does not get tired and weary. You cannot learn all he knows. 29 He helps tired people be strong. He gives power to those without it.
30 Young men get tired and need to rest. Even young boys stumble and fall. 31 But those who trust in the Lord will become strong again. They will be like eagles that grow new feathers. They will run and not get weak. They will walk and not get tired.” Isaiah 40:28-31 ERV

Our Father renews our strength.

“Remember, I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 ERV

“But let those who trust in you be happy forever. Protect and strengthen those who love your name.” Psalm 5:11 ERV

“There is no God except the Lord. There is no Rock except our God. 32 God is the one who gives me strength. He clears the path I need to take.33 He makes my feet as steady as those of a deer. Even on steep mountains he keeps me from falling.” Psalm 18:31-33 ERV

“To end my letter I tell you, be strong in the Lord and in his great power. 11 Wear the full armor of God. Wear God’s armor so that you can fight against the devil’s clever tricks.” Ephesians 6:10-11 ERV

“ Christ is the one who gives me the strength I need to do whatever I must do.” Philippians 4:13 ERV

Being weary is a common condition of our physical bodies. God knew that and so He gave us His promises to infuse us with His strength.

Yes, Father. I thank you for giving me strength for each day. I depend on You!

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