Direction for the Journey

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10).

When I go on a trip, before I even leave home, I check on the map where I am headed. I make sure I have the necessary directions to arrive at my destination. If I have some place specific to be, I want good directions. I am not fond of getting lost. Directions provide guidance of how to travel from point A to point B. With today’s GPS systems, one can have step-by-step directions from door-to-door.

An angel appeared to several people on this journey to Bethlehem, preparing them for journey with two simple words of direction, “Fear not.” The journey of life, like that journey to Bethlehem 2000 years ago, can seem frightening, overwhelming. At the time of the birth of Christ, the journey to Bethlehem was a dangerous one to on which to embark. The route, a seventy mile journey which Joseph and Mary took was in rocky highlands in which bandits lay in wait for those who risk traveling. The travel is exhausting and vastly uncomfortable.

However, God told the travelers to “Fear not” for He was with them. As God was with those weary travelers long ago, He is with us today. Our journey may not be without pain, it may not be without risk and it may be tiring and uncomfortable. Dear one, fear not, for God is with us; we need no other direction.

Digging deeper: 2 Timothy 1:7; Mark 6:50; Matthew 17:7; Revelation 1:17; Genesis 26:24; Isaiah 41:13; Romans 8:15

Rejected Again

“He came to his own, and his own people did not receive Him…. There was no room for them in the inn” John 1:11, Luke 2:7b

Anticipation and dread mix together as the e-mail is opened. Then the words “we thank you for applying but”; rejected again. Louise Brown wrote “I could write an entertaining novel about rejection slips, but I fear it would be overly long”. Rejection hurts; it pierces the heart and wounds the pride.

The Christmas story is not without rejection. It came about because man rejected God. How this must grieve the Father’s heart. No room at the inn for the weary travelers, one who is carrying the Christ child, purports rejection. Back in that time, hospitality was very strong part of the culture and yet no one could make room or give up their comfort for a very pregnant woman. This rejection speaks much about the very heart of mankind during that time and of mankind right now.

Christmas today is stilled filled with rejection by mankind. Room is still not given for the Savior; comfort is not put aside to do the work of the Father. Too many still reject the ultimate gift, that of eternal that God in His infinite mercy offered by sending His son, who experienced rejection before He was even born.

Neal Maxwell writes “Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus”. Are you handing out the rejection slips? Are you rejecting the greatest gift of all? You need not; just accept Him into your heart and know true acceptance for none are rejected.


Digging deeper: I John 1:9; Joshua 25:15; I Kings 18:11; I Peter 2:4; Psalm 94:14

Filtering

“It's not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth." Matthew 15:11 (NLT)

I watched with curiosity as my husband took a drink of his coffee and then dumped the rest down the sink. He then reached into the cupboard and took out a filter, poured a second cup of coffee into the mug, which he then drank. You see, the first cup had coffee grinds in it and for it to be more palatable a filter was needed to get rid of the grinds.

Not everything we think or feel should come out of our mouths. We should not let the words we speak hurt others; rather we are “to encourage one another and build each other up” (I Thessalonians 5:11). We are admonished to speak the truth, but to speak it in love; in other words, filter what comes out.

The best way to filter what comes out is to filter what goes in our minds. We are admonished to “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:8). Therefore we need to be conscientious about what with what we are filling our minds. What kind of music are we listening to, what is our chosen reading material, what are we watching on television or in the theater? How are we spending our time? Perhaps the more time I spend in the Word and with the Father, the less will need to be filtered that comes out of my mouth. How about you?

Tenacity

Chris told me I needed to post an update, so darling, this is for you.

Tenacity

Matthew 15:25 “But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, "Lord, help me!" (NLT)

Tenacity can be defined as being constantly in action, not just in motion. It requires faith, willingness to continue until the job is done and not quitting when you are tired.

October 2011 found two important steps of the long journey in the doctorate process completed. Really that does not appear to be much of anything until one understands some of the statistics that accompany those steps. The doctorate program that I am currently pursuing has three main steps after being accepted into the program (and that is a hurdle in itself). The steps are:
1. Successfully passing 16 classes;
2. Passing the comprehensive exam;
3. Successfully writing and defending one’s dissertation.

The statistics that accompany the first two steps are what makes completing those steps so meaningful. First off, in the United States, less than one percent of the population has a doctorate degree. Not quite 50% who enter the program successfully pass the sixteen classes. Only 20% who take the comprehensive exam, pass.

For the past 2 ½ years I have questioned at least once a week what I was doing in this program. The challenges have been staggering, pushing me beyond what I have ever known. Tears, doubt, and discouragement have been constant companions. However, encouragement came through Chris who has yet to cast any doubt on me completing the program, through my mom who has prayed for me daily, and through my kids who ask how it is going. I push on through with tenacity that has served me well in my educational endeavors, but most of all through the strength that has flowed from the Lord. “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13); my life verse, the one I cling to and claim in this journey.

So, what do you need to be tenacious about? Trust the Father; He will give you strength.

Digging deeper: 2 Timothy 4:17; Psalm 18:29b; Hebrews 10:23b; Proverbs 4:12

Circumstance and Choices

"When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other..." - Ecclesiastes 7:14

A minor situation today has left me pondering this subject. Years prior to the prolific ability of obtaining most anything from businesses through the internet and a living in a better economic position, if a need arose for something that the small town I lived in did not have, I was given a wonderful way to obtain the needed item and quell the ever-present restlessness within me. Just hop in the car and head to a bigger town to search out the said item. Now, with the cost of a gallon of gas at an exorbitant price and income so very tight, with the ability to just go online and purchase the said item at the same or even a less price, the choice to just go has become for most a no-brainer; order the said item off the internet, stay home and find another way to curb the restlessness.

However, the very act of going settles me down, allows me to process, evaluate, and examine my circumstances. The restlessness within abates so that I am more productive, able to better handle what is happening in my life, deal with what needs dealt. Going gives me greater clarity of my thoughts, of really seeing my circumstances and the path that has led me here. The bible tells us that “a cheerful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22) and going helps me to be cheerful so I can give of God through being me better.

The choice is left in my hands. It’s not a big decision, a huge choice. It’s not even an important choice. Yet, how I make the choice and how I choose to see this is as a choice is what is important. For each choice made and in choosing how to view the choice has repercussions. Yes, like ripples in a pond. Today I went from being frustrated at the circumstances believing in some part of me that brought me to the choice to be made, to understanding that it has been and is choices that have brought me to making yet another choice.

Today, I choose to once again cling to the scripture and believe that “I can do all things in Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13). I will “commit to the Lord whatever (I) do” (Proverbs 16:3a). How about you? What kind of choices are you making?

Digging Deeper: Deuteronomy 31:6; Jeremiah 29:11

This Too Shall Pass

2 Cor. 4:17 “…For what is seen is temporary..”

Our oldest grandson, Caleb is a bit of a dramatist. He very much enjoys the water and when he was four years old, he took swimming lessons. One day his lessons were canceled as the pool had no chlorine and were waiting for the shipment to come in so the pool could be used. Caleb didn’t believe what he was told and had to see for himself that the lessons for the day were indeed canceled. After looking at the non-chlorinated pool, he dropped his head, slumped his shoulders and told him mom that “his life was over”. Our daughter answered him with “Perhaps, but tomorrow your life will go on as you will have a swimming lesson then”.

This lesson for Caleb reminds me of the lesson that God has faithfully through the years been teaching me: “This too shall pass”. Change is a constant in life. However, there are times in my life when it feels like change is never going to happen or the change that has happened is always for the worse, when I feel as if I am in a never-ending valley. It is then that I tend to focus on the temporary, the here and now.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us that “There IS a time for everything”, and as I go through seasons, I need to remember this. Each season, while it may seem lasts forever, really does not. This too shall pass. To endure the some-not-so pleasant seasons, I need to be sure I am grounded in the Word, am truly walking with the Father. For God is bigger than our grief, sorrow, pain and every problem that any of us could face. God is eternal and has a good plan for our future. We are not like those who have no hope. In Christ, our future is full of His promises and we are promised victory over death and the grave!

Dear Lord, as we pass through the seasons in our lives, remind us that this too shall pass, that you are in control desiring to give us a future and a hope. Thank you for that. Amen

Digging Deeper: Ecclesiastes 3:1,14, Philippians 3:13, Hebrews 11:1, Jeremiah 29:11

Standing Firm During Adversity

Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (NIV)

I was watching a robin outside my window the other day. The winds were blowing, gusting to 25-30 mph, yet that robin stood firm on the swaying branch. All around the robin, the branches of the tree were swaying mightily, including the branch upon which the robin had perched. Not to say the robin’s feathers were not getting ruffled, for they were, yet that robin did not waver on that branch.

Oh, were I more like that robin, standing firm during adversity. Too often it seems that I give way during troubles, doubting rather than clinging to the Father. God has promised that when temptation comes that He will provide an out for us, that we will not be tempted more than we can handle. “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” (I Corinthians 10:13, NIV) All we have to do is call upon Him.

Prayer: O Father, may I cry out to stay strong with your power, your might during adversity. May I not waver, but stay firmly planted in your will. Thank you that you are faithful, holding me up during troubling times. Amen.

Digging deeper: Matthew 6:25-34; Proverbs 13:12, Psalm 25:2a, 105:4, 118:5-6; Jeremiah 29:11