Tag Archive | Nashville Rescue Mission

Chaplain’s Corner – Goals of Christian Living: Trust

Dec1

“Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

I usually write about resolutions and goal setting in January, but I almost always begin thinking about this process about now. I am a planner by nature, and I love to have goals to work toward. As I look to the Bible for guidance, I am compelled by the passage above that whatever my goals, seeking first the kingdom should be my first and foremost goal. Which brings me to a big question: How do I press on toward this goal?

Here are five objectives that are worthy of working toward in our efforts to reach the goal:

  1. Trust
  2. Wisdom
  3. Love
  4. Joy
  5. Unity

This Chaplain’s Corner will focus on #1: Trust. Trust in God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is foundational to the Christian faith. In fact, “In God We Trust” is the official motto of the United States of America. But do we?

What do we mean by “trust?” For our purposes, this concept shares some meaning with faith, belief, hope, and surrender. When we trust someone, we have faith in them, we believe them, we hope in them, and we surrender our well-being to them. Or perhaps it’s the reciprocal: when someone trusts us, they have faith in us, they believe us, they hope in us, and surrender their well-being to us. Sometimes trust must be earned. Sometimes, it is there until it is lost by a negative behavior.

Another way to define trust is to consider its opposite: distrust. Why would you distrust someone? Because they don’t do what they say they will do, either because of lying or just not being dependable. One must have character and competence. One without the other just doesn’t work. Also, we distrust someone who doesn’t have our backs; perhaps they have ulterior motives, or just are not concerned for our best interest. When you are relying on someone with something that is important to you, for example, a medical professional, a legal professional, or someone responsible for the care and education of your children, you must be able to trust them.

The Good News is that the most important person in our lives is Christ. In Him we place all our hope, faith, and belief for our eternal lives. And he is entirely worthy of our trust. We can rest in Him, confident that he is willing and able (he has character and competence) to save us. He has our backs. In Him we have our rest.

So how do we exhibit trust? How do we work toward the objective of trust?

  1. We continually remind ourselves and reinforce our knowledge of His Goodness by reading His Word.
  2. We develop our relationship with Him by praying to him and thanking Him for his Goodness.
  3. We go to Him with our needs and refuse to worry about our circumstances, knowing that he has promised to prosper us and not to harm us.  
  4. We let go of our hurts, forgiving others, and resolving to live in peace with other; trusting the LORD to avenge and make everything right.

Over and over in the Bible we are admonished not to trust in kings or other men, but instead to trust in the Lord. “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7).

Let us encourage each other as we commit to growing in how we live out our trust in the LORD.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 103:2–5

Chaplain’s Corner – Gratitude for Provision

Nov24

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Psalm 95:2

God made us to have certain physical “needs.” We need food, water, shelter, clothing. Most of us have lived through times of hardship as well as times of relative prosperity (I say relative because prosperity means different things to different people and doesn’t always mean money). I grew up with the essentials but not really any extras. In my adult life we have had times when there was more “month than money” if you know what I mean. But somehow, we always made it.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:25-34 not to worry about our physical needs. Paul, who also experienced his own ups and downs, goes a step farther than just not worrying or even coveting what someone else has. Paul encourages us to be content in our circumstances. He says “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13)

And what is that secret? Paul trusted God. He knew that “… my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Let us give thanks for a God who answers our prayers, even the ones that seem unanswered. Let us give thanks to God who gives us what we need. “For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 8:7-11).

Let us give thanks to our Good Father for His provision. Just as he sent manna from heaven to the Israelites (Exodus 16:35), just as he kept Elijah supplied with flour and oil (1 Kings 17:16), God will provide. He is Jehovah-Jireh (check out both the NIV and KJV).

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17).

In Christ,

Judy

Chaplain’s Corner – Gratitude in Circumstances

Nov17

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Psalm 95:2

As believers, we are not granted a pass to escape all of life’s problems. In fact, Jesus told us in John 16:33 – “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

We learn in Deuteronomy 8:2 that sometimes God tests us like he did the Israelites: “You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.”

We know that ever since the Garden of Eden, Satan seeks to tempt us and make us fail. BUT “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

However, Jesus did promise us that He would be with us in the storms of life. He would send the Holy Spirit to be with us always, to provide his presence and power to help us to deal with the troubles we will undoubtedly experience. As the ever-suffering prophet Jeremiah proclaimed in Lamentations 3:22-23 “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is Thy Faithfulness.”

I will be thankful in my circumstances, even the hard ones, because the Bible assures us that “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11). James took it a step further when he exhorted the Jewish believers who were struggling with trials, prejudice, and suffering, to “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:2-3).

I pray that we will be thankful even in our circumstances, even the challenging ones, because we know that “God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

I pray that we will “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 103:2–5

Chaplain’s Corner – Gratitude for Salvation

Nov10

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Psalm 95:2

What a mighty God we worship! He is King of kings, LORD of lords, robed in majesty and armed with strength. He is our God, and above all, we should be thankful for who He is and how He loves us.

I don’t know about you, but I am especially fond of the name of our organization. The name “Mission” conveys not only our purpose, but also that we are a place where the work of missionaries takes place. What I really respond to, however, is the name “Rescue.” It reminds me of the hopelessness of each of us before we find our salvation in Jesus. And combining “Rescue” with “Mission” speaks to the true work that is carried on in this special place.

As the Creator, he chose to make us in His image. And then, in our disobedience, our Merciful God chose to forgive us. Not only that, our loving Creator God, full of Grace and Mercy, designed a most beautiful way to rescue us from the pit of hell and restore us to His Heavenly Kingdom. All we must do is to ask for forgiveness of our sins and accept this precious gift of salvation, made possible by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, son of God. My heart is full of gratitude for His love for me, a sinner.

We serve a God who seeks us to rescue, redeem, and reconcile us to Himself; to save us by his beautiful, wonderful, and powerful name from the eternal fiery pit of Hell. Praise God, What a Beautiful Name!

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 103:2–5

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Chaplain’s Corner – Gratitude

Nov3

“Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” Psalm 95:2.

Do you remember when you were a child how you took pride in comparing your stuff to the stuff of others? My (Dad, house, you name it) is bigger or better than your (Dad, house, you name it). While that sounds immature, guess what? It is perfectly acceptable to say that about our God. To quote Chris Tomlin: “Our God is greater, our God is stronger. God, You are higher than any other. Our God is Healer, awesome in power. Our God! Our God.”

My God is bigger, my God is better. Just like Samuel, I can proudly acknowledge: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. (2 Samuel 22:2-3).

What a mighty God we worship! He is King of kings, LORD of lords, robed in majesty and armed with strength. He is our God, and above all, we should be thankful for who He is and how He loves us. We worship the Creator. All other “gods” are created and are powerless against the mighty God we serve.

This week, I am thankful for God, and I am thankful for everyone in my life who has pointed me toward God: My parents, my extended family, my church, my friends, and my coworkers at Nashville Rescue Mission.

This week, I am thankful that God loves me and made a way to ensure that I would forever be a part of his Kingdom. “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

Judy

Psalm 103:2–5

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Chaplain’s Corner – Passion

Sep29

Oxford’s definition of passion: a very strong feeling of love, hate, anger, enthusiasm, etc.

The root words for “passion” in Latin and Greek are passio or pathos, respectively, which mean suffering and also love. The original Latin definition of passion meant “enduring” or “suffering.” I This meaning continues in the word “compassion” which means “enduring with” or “suffering with.”  This is where we get the idea of the passion of Christ; Jesus suffered for what he loved: US, You and Me.

These days, we use the word passion to describe our feeling for something that we love. It could be a person, it could be a pastime, it could be a food. My four-year-old grandson has a passion for dinosaurs. He sleeps with his stuffed “dino.” He has many books on the subject, and he has memorized them all. He stayed with us over the weekend, and his Poppa took him to see some dinosaurs in Bellevue. He had also seen some dinosaur bones at a park in Utah earlier this summer. He has talked non-stop about those dinosaurs, with such excitement and enthusiasm.

Can you relate? Do you have a passion for something, or does someone you know have a passion for something? I know people who have a passion for the Predators, or the Vols, or the Titans. My father-in-law had a passion for the Chicago Cubs. (So sad that he didn’t live to see them win the World Series in 2016.) Others have a passion for a hobby, or a cause. We just observed the Olympics, and we watched athletes who certainly have a passion for their sport; why else would they devote so much time and money to perfecting their skills.

Many of us, hopefully most, experienced a strong feeling of love and enthusiasm  for Jesus when we were first converted to Christianity. I think about this when I read the letter to Ephesus in Revelation 2:4. The church at Ephesus is admonished by John, in a letter dictated by Jesus, “Yet I hold this against you: You have forgotten the love you had at first.” Remember when we couldn’t wait to go to church, to read our Bibles, eager to serve, and wanting to tell everyone about our conversion experience, about our church, our pastor, our new life? Honestly, I still feel like that about Nashville Rescue Mission. I have a passion for this place and the work that is done here, and especially how God is at work through each of you. But for many of us, that original high level of passion fades. We “forget the love we had at first.”

Despite all their good works,  God still saw that they had lost their original passion, and He told them “Yet I hold this against you.” Not good. God desires our love, our passion, our worship. How do we keep the passion alive over time? How do we fan the flame? The subject of the next few weekly devotions will be dedicated to keeping the passion alive.

“But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

Chaplain’s Corner – You Become What You Worship

Sep22

They ignored the Lord’s warnings and commands, and they rejected the solemn agreement he had made with their ancestors. They worshiped worthless idols and became worthless themselves. The Lord had told the Israelites not to do the things that the foreign nations around them were doing, but Israel became just like them. (2 Kings 17:15)

The proverb in the title of this devotion is true in almost every aspect of our lives. In the case of the Scripture reference, this reminds me of what my mother would often tell me: that I would be known by the company I keep. Of course, it really means that I will be known by the people I choose to emulate. When I taught Sunday School to middle schoolers, I used the phrase “garbage in, garbage out”, often known as GIGO, referring to unwholesome books, movies, and music. And then we also hear from our health advisors that “you are what you eat.” Does that mean that when I eat chicken, I will become a chicken? Of course not! But I’m sure you get the point.

Standards today are so different from even fifty years ago, and even then, they were different from the previous fifty years. The culture, rather than reinforcing Christianity, is now the enemy of all of us who want to honor God with our thoughts, words, and actions.

Daniel is a perfect example of one who overcomes the ungodly culture, and he is one of my most treasured role models. Daniel was a good Jewish boy who became a young adult during the time that the Babylonians conquered Judah. Daniel and his friends were taken captive by this enemy country and subjected to its pagan religion, culture, and food. The path of least resistance and risk was to go along. But Daniel did not believe that becoming a captive of the Babylonians meant that he had to become like them, even at risk to his life and well-being, and even when going along might have even seemed more delicious.

For example, when King Nebuchadnezzar “assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table,” “Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine.” (Daniel 1:5,8)

And when King Nebuchadnezzar ordered Daniel to be taught “the language and literature of the Babylonians,” “God gave (Daniel) knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning.” (Daniel 1: 4:17)

When King Darius ordered that everyone pray only to him, Daniel “…went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to God, just as he had done before.” (Daniel 5:7,10) Postscript: this is when Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den and then was miraculously spared from becoming their dinner.

As a result, Daniel (a Jewish exile) became a highly respected and trusted advisor to at least four foreign kings: Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar of Babylon, and Darius and Cyrus of Persia; and all without compromising his worship of God. In fact, Daniel was able to influence those cultures rather than to be influenced, as we see in the verses below:

  • “Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. The king said to Daniel, ‘Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.’ Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men.” (Daniel 2:46-48).
  • “At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever” (Daniel 4:34).
  • “Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom” (Daniel 5:29).
  • “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. ‘For he is the living God, and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.’ So, Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.” (Daniel 6:26-28).

These were no small accomplishments! Daniel is such a great role model for us all. He could have easily become a follower of Nebuchadnezzar, and perhaps would have had enjoyed a high position anyway.  However, Daniel refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar or the kings that followed. He steadfastly followed the teachings of the Bible, even at risk to his own life, and because of that he is known as a godly man with a godly influence.

Paul, writing to the Ephesians, put it like this:

“So, I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.” (Ephesians 4:17-19)

“That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:20-24)

In other words, you become like what you worship. So, let us together worship the one true God, the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

Chaplain’s Corner – Prescription for Confidence

Sep15

Warning: the following words are good medicine; however, they are only effective if you actually follow their advice and do what they say! Note to self: The aspirin, as long as it is in the medicine cabinet, won’t relieve the pain.

1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

How do we have confidence in face of uncertainty? These certainly are uncertain times.  One of the most favorite passages, Psalm 23, is a picture of how God guides us, how he provides for us, how he leads us. We are not in control, praise God, He is!! God knows who we are, where we are, and what we need. That should give us confidence.

Verse 1: Contentment.  “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”

This verse speaks first of relationship. We are never alone when we have a relationship with God. “The LORD” (note the all-caps} refers to our awesome, sacred, sovereign master. “My shepherd” is possessive, the LORD is MY shepherd. In John 10:11,14 Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd.”  Just think of it: the Great I AM, The God of the universe, the God who is self-existent, holy, powerful, is present with his people (you and me) in a personal way! Just as shepherds are always thinking about how to best care for their sheep, Jesus provides this analogy to tell us how he cares for us.

Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? (Matthew 6:25). I shall not want. In other words, I have all I need, because Jesus cares for me.

Verse 2: Rest. “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters.”

This verse reinforces the first one. In other words, the LORD gives us rest. To rest is to be free from worry about where our next meal is coming from, free from worry about our safety, free from worry about tomorrow. When you rest, you are at your best. “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34). “Therefore” in verse 34 refers to the command in verse 33 to seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness. In other words, if we seek the LORD as our Master and Shepherd, then He will take care of everything else.

Verse 3: Restoration. “He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.”

This is so important to us right now. When we feel like we are absolutely poured out and used up, then the Holy Spirit restores what we have spent, whether it be our energy, our stamina, our patience, our compassion, our love. The Word of God renews our mind; makes us whole again.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2).

Verse 4: Protection and comfort. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

My image of this valley is a low spot with steep sides all around, and the only way out is to climb. We will all get in a valley, but we don’t have to stay there. With Jesus at our side, we can walk through, and not find ourselves overwhelmed with the insurmountable. Valleys can have some ominous shadows. These shadows can become our reality, especially when we allow them to control us. Have you ever been freaked out by a shadow? Just remember:

  1. Shadows are not real; they cannot hurt you, and they can’t fight back.
  2. Shadows often look bigger than the real thing.
  3. Shadows only exist when there is light.

Don’t let a shadow stop you from being what God has called you to be. This path you are on has a heavenly purpose.

Back to the analogy of Jesus as our shepherd: a shepherd carries a rod and a staff. The rod was for protection, a club, a symbol of strength, power, and authority over the flock. The Word is our rod. The staff was for direction, a crook or hook to guide the sheep. It is a symbol of Holy Spirit, our comforter and guide.

Verse 5: Abundance. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.”

God loves us so much he set the banquet table with his son and invites us to join in. Back in Biblical times, anointing the head was common courtesy if you could afford it, and it signified prosperity and blessing. It is linked to presence of Holy Spirit in our lives today. Satan is trying his best to bar our way to the banquet, the blessings that God has laid before us. We sometimes struggle to find joy in our troubles; and this is why it is good to remember all the Scriptures where Jesus found time to celebrate and fellowship with his family and friends. Most importantly, don’t miss the opportunity by turning down Jesus’ invitation to the banquet (Luke 14:15-24).

Verse 6: Goodness and mercy. “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

David, the author of this psalm, made some crazy mistakes, yet he was confident of God’s goodness and love leading to his everlasting salvation. Mercy is frequently used to describe God in Scripture; it sums up what Bible is all about. From the time of the Fall, God has been working His plan to redeem us, to reconcile us back to him. It is only by his mercy that He wants to do this for us. But we can’t fully understand how merciful God is unless we understand how vehemently He hates sin. For us to have God’s goodness and love, and for us to dwell in the house of the Lord forever, we must repent of our sin and seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness.

Psalm 23, written by King David (once a shepherd, himself), is fulfilled in Jesus, the Good Shepherd.  “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11).

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

Chaplain’s Corner – Knowing God

Sep8

“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)

Over the past few weeks, we studied the I AM statements of Jesus as he uses earthly metaphors such as “bread”, “light”, “door”, “way”, and “vine” to help us to better know Him. It is useful for us to learn about the attributes of God and his Son Jesus. But truthfully, we will never fully comprehend who He is until we see Him face to face.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa. 55:8–9)

I am oddly comforted by the fact that I cannot fully comprehend God. I can try to explain the Trinity, but I can’t really comprehend the fullness and perfection of the Three-In-One.  By His divine nature, God is all-knowing, omni-present, and omni-powerful.  I am thankful for how He is perfectly just and perfectly merciful at the same time; and although I am such a benefactor of this aspect of His perfect goodness and love, I do not have the capacity or power within myself to perfectly emulate it.

“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.” (Ps. 145:3)

As a human, I have a sinful nature; as a created being, I have my limits. As our Creator, God is limitless and without sin. He is simply bigger and more than my human mind can comprehend. I have a choice: I can accept this and trust Him, or I can disregard him. For me, I choose to trust His word and His promises in Deuteronomy 30:15-16 “See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase….”

So why is this comforting? I guess it is because I know my own limitations, sins, shortcomings, and sorrows; and I am so relieved that my God, as my Creator, does not possess these same limitations, sins, and shortcomings. I know that my own disappointments and grief here on earth are temporary, and that when I finally leave this earth to spend eternity with God, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

In the meantime, we as believers have been given a great gift. Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit, one of the three Persons of the Trinity, to be with us while we reside here on earth. While we are human and do not possess in and of ourselves the attributes of God, we do have the power of the Holy Spirit residing in us to empower us to live and walk confidently and obediently with our Lord and Savior.

 “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”  (Romans 15:13)

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

Chaplain’s Corner – Trust and Obey

Sep1

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).

“Because I said so!” thundered my dad (way too many times).

I hated when my dad answered my “Why” questions like this. I vowed that I would never do this to my kids; that I would always explain my reasons. And then I had my own kids, and, and well, I did honestly try to explain to my children. I wanted them to understand. But sometimes, I knew that because of their immaturity, there was no way they could understand. Maybe I knew the truth would be just too much for them to carry. Maybe it was because I knew that I was hoping to have something better for them but was still working out the details. Maybe I could not offer an explanation because I needed to honor someone else’s confidentiality. So, I would become my dad and tell them, “Because I said so.” I now believe this to be one of the Godlier expressions a parent or anyone in a responsible position can utter. Not that it should be overused, but sometimes, it is the best answer.

Sometimes, we can’t understand. Sometimes we just don’t need to know why, at least right now. I feel like that is where we are in our current circumstances. Why are we dealing with so much change, while we are dealing with so much sickness, while we are dealing with such a worker shortage? Why? It is just not for us to know.

Acceptance of this response “Because I said so” comes down to trusting the one who has spoken. Oh sure, we can tolerate the news or instruction with resentment, but if we love and respect our dad, we will instead trust and be obedient. We will keep on honoring the work set before us, the mission of the Mission.

This calls to mind the old song, Trust and Obey:

We are in a season of trusting right now. Let us seek to trust and obey. And one thing we know is this, God will surely bless us for our faithfulness, in His own timing and His own way.

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.” (Matthew 24:45-47)

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

Trust and Obey

1 When we walk with the Lord 
in the light of his word, 
what a glory he sheds on our way! 
While we do his good will, 
he abides with us still, 
and with all who will trust and obey. 

Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way 
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. 

2 Not a burden we bear, 
not a sorrow we share, 
but our toil he doth richly repay; 
not a grief or a loss, 
not a frown or a cross, 
but is blest if we trust and obey. [Refrain]

3 But we never can prove 
the delights of his love 
until all on the altar we lay; 
for the favor he shows, 
for the joy he bestows, 
are for them who will trust and obey. [Refrain]

4 Then in fellowship sweet 
we will sit at his feet, 
or we’ll walk by his side in the way; 
what he says we will do, 
where he sends we will go; 
never fear, only trust and obey. [Refrain]