Author: Jayne Lawson

I remember growing up believing that if I swallowed chewing gum, it would sit in my stomach for 7 years! I also remember being told that if crossed my eyes too much, they’d stay that way!

Both of those “facts” (and others!) were never questioned by me because I figured that my grandmother certainly knew everything there was to know about everything, and my friends had also been told these same things by their family members! After I grew older and learned more about the human body, I realized both of these “facts” were not facts at all! Simply handed-down traditions that may or may not have been believed as facts at one time.

Traditions are easily assumed to be facts by many people. No one really checks them out because it’s easier to accept them as truth. Unfortunately, when it comes to Biblical truths, it is not okay to believe something just because someone told you, or it’s been handed down from one generation to another.

Here’s an example that many of us have accepted as a Biblical truth: Jesus was born in a stable. Truth: There is nowhere in the Bible that states Jesus was born in a stable.

Here’s a personal example that’s a bit backward. I had always been told that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Then someone told me that nowhere in the book of Jonah does it state that. So I checked it out. Sure enough, there is no mention of what this “big fish” was, so I figured it wasn’t a whale after all. However, I didn’t check with one out thoroughly. I have since found out that it was indeed a whale! How did I come to that conclusion? I read Matthew 12:40. It states, “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Now that’s the truth!

Traditions vs truth is addressed in the Scriptures. In Matthew 15, Jesus is confronted by the religious leaders when his disciples didn’t wash their hands prior to eating. The Lord exposes the Pharisees as being blinded by their traditions when He rebukes them for the accusations. They chose to follow traditions passed down through the years instead of relying on the Word of God.

Assumptions are comfortable, and being comfortable feels good. Questioning something that has been passed down from the family or a church is not comfortable, but choosing to believe something because it “feels good” is dangerous. Jeremiah 17:9 reminds us that “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

The Bible instructs us to check out what we are told to what God has said in His Bible. Acts 17:11 tells of the Bereans who “searched the Scriptures daily” to determine if what Paul and Silas had preached to them was truly of God. These believers did not simply assume since Paul said it, it had to be true, and the only absolute truth is in the Word of God.

It is important for each of us to make a personal decision when it comes to what we believe. Do we want to know what God says about a particular subject, or do we want to assume something we’ve been taught as truth without knowing for certain? Often, assumptions are not necessarily the whole truth, and sometimes these assumptions can yield fatal consequences. The Titanic was believed to be an unsinkable ship; it was not. Spiritual gambling via assumptions can have negative eternal ramifications for an individual’s soul.

One of the most dangerous assumptions that has been assumed through the years is that belief that salvation is conditional. Some churches teach that a person has to work for their salvation. The Bible clearly states that the forgiveness of sins is a gift of God in Romans 6:23.  Another fallacy is that a person can lose their salvation. Again, there is no verse in the Bible that supports this. The Scriptures clearly tell us that we cannot work for our salvation, nor can we lose it. One verse that confirms this is I John 5:13 (although there are many others.) “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

If it is the truth you seek, ask God to help you. Jesus tells us in Luke 11:9, “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

The choice to assume or be sure is yours. Will you be a “Berean”?

Simply trusting every day, trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small, trusting Jesus, that is all.


Trusting as the moments fly, trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall, trusting Jesus, that is all.

(from “Trusting Jesus” by Edgar Page)

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” – John 8:32

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“It is far better to know God’s truth than to be ignorant of it.” – Billy Graham

 

At the approximate age of 33, Jesus was condemned to death by crucifixion.

Crucifixion was a common method of executing criminals that dates back to the time of several ancient cultures including the Egyptians, Assyrians, Persians, and at the time of Christ, the Romans. It was a tortuous and excruciating way to die used by Rome to kill traitors, slaves, Christians, and political activists as well as other “enemies” of the state. Cause of death was from asphyxiation (suffocation), loss of bodily fluids, and massive organ failure.

The process of crucifixion involved two wooden beams to which a condemned man was affixed with nails and/or rope. The nails used by the Romans measured five to seven inches long and were driven through the wrists and feet to secure the victim to the cross. The executions always took place in a public area where the dying could be easily viewed by all.

In the case of Jesus’ crucifixion, nails were used in both the wrists and the feet to secure Him to the cross. According to various medical reports, searing pain would come from nerves in the wrists and feet damaged by the nails and from intense muscle cramping caused by fatigue and lack of oxygen.

Once suspended on a cross, Jesus’ unsupported body weight on His arms and shoulders made it virtually impossible to exhale fully after each breath, causing a slow and painful death from respiratory failure as the lungs were rendered incapable of adequately ventilating the body. Death would usually occur anywhere from 6 hours to a few days later, but in Jesus’ case, His death occurred anywhere from 3-6 hours after being crucified (Mark 15:25, 34). Historians speculate a quick demise, most likely due to the severity of the horrific scourging from the Romans.

The nails used to affix Jesus to the cross were hammered into his wrists, not the palms. There are two main reasons for this conclusion. The primary is that the palms were more fleshy than the wrist and would not support a weakened and dying body, leading to the ripping of the hands from the nails as the body sagged. The wrists have 7 bones in them that provided more stability and strength to keep the body on the cross. The second reason is that hammering into the wrists tear tendons which prevent the condemned from pulling themselves up to help draw in oxygen. The victims instead must try to use back muscles to enable chest expansion, scraping the already flogged and exposed torn muscles alongside the rough surface of the cross, which inflicts more pain and suffering.

The slow suffocation of crucifixion was caused by the inability of two sets of respiratory muscles to continue the breathing process effectively. As Jesus became progressively weaker, He would be unable to empty His lungs of carbon dioxide, and asphyxiation would ensue.

Prior to walking the long road to Golgotha, Jesus was mercilessly scourged by the Roman soldiers. “Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.” (John 19:1) This inhumane torture prior to His execution yielded extensive trauma to His body. The enormous amount of blood loss would have severely weakened Him before He went to the cross. Roman scourging could be so severe that flesh would be torn from the body resulting in massive bleeding. His face was pummeled by the soldiers as they mocked Him (Luke 22:63). His beard was ripped from His face (Isaiah 50:6), and a crown of thin sharp thorns was jammed onto His head (Matthew 27:29). All of this brutality led to dehydration and hypovolemic shock, which resulted in falling blood pressure, rapid heart rate, and accelerated respiration as the body tried to compensate for the traumatic loss of blood volume.

After this savage torture, Jesus was forced to carry the crossbeam part way to the site of His crucifixion. The preferred place for Roman crucifixion was outside of the main city along the road most commonly traveled. This site was chosen primarily to allow passersby to see the dying and to serve as a warning as to the punishment for those who dared to rise up against Rome.

For Jesus’ crucifixion, the main road connecting Jerusalem to Jericho, was most likely the place of His execution. Along this road was a place known as the “place of the skulls” where travelers coming to Jerusalem would be “head counted” for tax purposes by the officials. “And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:” (John 19:14). Everyone passed this way to enter the city, and thus would see the condemned men hanging on the crosses as they neared Jerusalem.

Once the criminals were on the crosses, Roman guards stood by, forbidden to leave until the criminals were dead. This would often lead to the soldiers speeding up the death process by breaking the lower legs of the victims to prevent breathing, spearing them in the heart, delivering hard sharp blows to the chest, or building nearby fires to speed up asphyxiation.

In Jesus’ situation, the spear thrust by the Roman soldier entered the area near the heart, most likely releasing the clear fluid that accumulates around the heart or lungs as a result of heart failure, then penetrated the heart muscle itself to cause the outpouring of His blood. Scripture tells us “But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water” (John 19:34).

On the cross, the convicted man was stripped either naked or down to minimal clothing adding humiliation to the physical anguish. Death by crucifixion was intended to be a slow and agonizing death with deep shame, unbearable pain, and maximum suffering.  Jesus, the beloved and precious Son of God, endured this for me and for you, and the Bible tells us why.

• Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
• Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
• Romans 5:8 – “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
• John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
• Romans 10:9-10 – “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
• Romans 10:13 – “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

The followers of Jesus were stunned into disbelief that this could have happened. They witnessed His death at the hands of the Romans. Their Messiah had been brutally executed. They fled and went into hiding afraid of their lives… afraid of their future. They had lost hope.

But it’s always darkest before the dawn.

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where’s thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!

Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia! Praise to thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia! Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!

(from “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” by Charles Wesley)

“He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” – Matthew 28:6

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Jesus died for me and for you. He’ll never force Himself upon you, but simply invites you to trust in what He did for you… paid the price for your sins on the cross… that you might have eternal life with Him one day in heaven. Won’t you trust Him today? If you have any questions about salvation, please send me a message. I’d love to share how you can come to know Him as your Saviour and Lord today!

 

I remember when my husband and I traveled to South America a few years back. We visited several churches that had the various “stations of the cross” in stained glass on the exterior walls of the sanctuary. The 14 scenes, artistically beautiful, focused on Christ’s journey to the cross beginning at his trial in Pilate’s hall and ending with the placement of Jesus’ body in the tomb.

As important as these 14 stations are, they only tell part of the story. If the story ended here, we would be without hope, as Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 15:16-17, 19, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins… If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” We must remember that the story ends with the empty tomb and a resurrected Saviour!

The resurrection is the culmination of Jesus’ ministry. It is important to remember that He came from heaven, lived a sinless life, and died on the cross for the sins of the world. But if He simply came, He would only be considered a visitor. If He just died, He would have been remembered as  a great teacher…

But Jesus rose from the dead, proving that He was exactly who He said He was! Jesus was God Himself!

Today, there are many church services across the country that remember “Good Friday” as the day of Jesus’ crucifixion, but like Christmas, when we celebrate the birth of Christ, these are just two moments in time. Those events came; those events passed… unlike the resurrection. When Jesus arose, He rose to live eternally! It was not a single event that occurred sometime in history, but is an event that continues to day! Jesus is alive!

Because of the resurrection, there are four wonderful things that we have!

1) Love – 1 John 4:9 states, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”

• We see the extent of God’s love in a very real and painful way. The love of God sent Jesus to the cross, but it didn’t leave Him there. The love of God resurrected Christ.
• Romans 5:8 tell us “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” It is the death of God’s own Son that provided a way for us to be reconciled with our Creator. He loved us so much that He made a way for us to live forever with Him in heaven and that was for Jesus to take the punishment for our sin, which is separation from God. Think about that moment on the cross when Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). For the first time in all eternity, God the Father became separated from Jesus, His beloved Son. The agony must have been incomprehensible for both the Father and the Son. Because we could not atone for our own sins, Jesus willingly went to the cross in our place. That is the manifestation of the love of God. That is John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

2) Life – Romans 6:4-5 records, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:”

• Those who have accepted Christ as their personal Saviour have a new birth and a new life! We are “new creatures” in Christ. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” As Christians, we now show the love of God to others in our new life in Jesus.
• Our identification is with Christ. In baptism, we “die” to our old self and “… the sin which doth so easily beset us” (Hebrews 12:1), and we emerge to a new walk in life where we are united with Jesus in His resurrection life. “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Romans 8:11). With His spirit within us, we become spiritually alive! Jesus alone has the gift of eternal life that he freely offers to us.

3) Hope – Titus 1:2 states, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”

• As believers, we have hope through the resurrection of Jesus. Why? Simply because He is risen! Think about that for a moment… Jesus rose from the dead! He is our hope! We have hope for today, tomorrow, and forever!
  • Today – Regardless of what happens today, we have hope that God will carry us through. In Paul’s day, the church and its believers were constantly and terribly persecuted. To the Christians in Rome, he wrote, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Romans 15:13). He is reminding them of the hope that is within them through the power of God… the same power that resurrected their Saviour. We have that same hope.
  • Tomorrow – If tomorrow brings struggles and challenges, we have hope that Jesus is with us. We know that He holds us firmly in His hand, and we are promised victory through Him. “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22
  • Future – When we look at the chaotic global situation, we have hope that there will be something greater, better, and eternal for us! Titus 2:13 states, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” We hope because we know that Jesus is coming to take us home to be with Him forever as He states in John 14:2-3, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
  • Death – When death comes, we have hope that it doesn’t all end with the grave. We go through death with Jesus; He is at our side, and we don’t face death alone. He doesn’t wait in some heavenly realm for us to find our way to Him. He will come for us as Psalm 49:15 reassures, “But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.”

4) Power– 1 Corinthians 6:14 states, “And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.”

• The power of God is available to everyone who has trusted Christ as Saviour. God raised the Lord Jesus from the dead, and one day, He will raise us up in his own power either when the church is raptured or from the grave, whichever should occur first in our lives.
• The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is also available for our daily lives. To have victory over daily lives, to reject the temptations of sin offered by the world, to enable us to worship, to face anything, to have hope… we are empowered by the Holy Spirit of God to do all of these and more! 2 Timothy 1:7 states, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Because of the resurrection, all who know Christ as their Saviour have God’s divine love, His promise of new life, hope for all eternity, and the power to live godly lives now and forever! Without the “15th station”, the first 14 would be meaningless. Praise God for the empty tomb!

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!
 
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living, just because He lives!

(from “Because He Lives” by Bill and Gloria Gaither)

“And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” – Matthew 28:5-6

Many thanks to David Wade, whose message inspired this post.

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If you’ve never received the forgiveness of sins that Christ offers… never trusted Him as Lord and Saviour of your life, you can do that right now. Simply bow your head and pray to God. Admit you’re a sinner who needs the forgiveness that only Christ can give. Repent and ask Jesus to forgive you and become the Lord of your life. It will be the best decision you’ve ever made, and you’ll see Easter in a whole new wonderful way!

A lot of people wonder how the children of Israel, who were led out of Egypt by Moses, turned against God after seeing all the miracles He had done. After all, this was the generation of Israelites that had been present during the 10 plagues of Egypt, walked on dry ground through the Red Sea, and had been fed heavenly bread in the desert. This was the generation who was being led by the Lord Himself by a pillar of fire and one of a cloud.

There are several instances recorded in the Bible where these Israelites rebelled against God.

1. Exodus 32 recounts the story where the Israelites rejected the deity of God. This happened shortly after Moses had gone to Mount Sinai to meet with God and ultimately receive the 10 commandments. The people, including Moses’ brother, Aaron, turned to idolatry and made a golden calf to worship.
2. Numbers 11 tells us about the Hebrews bitterly complaining about having only manna to eat. Manna was a food sent from heaven to sustain the people as they traveled. Their dissatisfaction led God to sending quail to the people that also resulted in a plague that killed a great deal of the people.
3. Exodus 15 states that after wandering for 3 days without finding water in the Wilderness of Shur, they arrived in Marah to find bitter water and complained again to Moses. God miraculously made the waters sweet, reinforcing to the people that He was fully capable of taking care of their every need.
4. Numbers 14 tells about the 12 spies who return from researching the land of Canaan. After hearing the report about the “land of giants”, the people begin to complain against Moses and Aaron, saying, “Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?” Additionally, they began to make plans to choose a new leader to take them back to Egypt.

The children of Israel continued to grumble against God and Moses until finally God chose to pass judgement on them for their murmurings against Him. The Bible tells us in Numbers 21 that God sends fiery serpents among them. Whoever was bitten by these creatures were sure to die a horrible death. (Snakes living in this region today have venomous bites that can cause intolerable burning pain and inflammation from the poison.)

It wasn’t long before the Israelites realized they had sinned against God (again!), and they begged Moses to intercede for them. Numbers 21:7 records, “Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.”

The Lord then gives Moses instructions on what needs to be done in order for the people to be saved from the fiery serpents.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.” (Numbers 21:8-9)

Salvation was available to any bitten Hebrew. If they repented, believed God, and looked at the brass serpent, they would not die. Look and live. It was as easy as that.

We are really no different than the Hebrew children.

God continually performs miracles around us every day, yet we so easily forget those times when He has done so. Maybe it’s in the birth of a child; the good news from a physician; the offer of a job desired, or an incredible sunrise.

But our sin nature never rests, and like the wandering Israelites, we encounter our own moments when we “forget” God. We choose an idol over God (social media, sports, food…etc.) We grumble about having aches and pains as we grow older, or we become discontent about a situation at the office. We allow undesired circumstances to make us bitter or angry toward God. We forget the blessings that He has given; the life He has allowed us to live; the prayers He has answered in the past. We murmur against God. In our discontent, we become just like the children of Israel. And like them, we need to “look” in order to “live”.

Today, we don’t have to look at a brass serpent on a raised pole; instead, we need to look at an old rugged cross. This is the cross upon which the Son of God, Jesus Christ, sacrificed His life so that he could become sin for us and pay the debt that all humanity owed, but could never pay ourselves. By taking our sins upon Himself and then dying on the cross, Jesus bought our salvation. When He rose from the grave three days later, He proved He was truly the Son of God, as He had said, and He alone was qualified to be the Saviour of the world.

All we have to do is look and live! Look to Christ, accept Him as your Lord and Saviour, and you will LIVE forever with Him.

I’ve a message from the Lord, Hallelujah! The message unto you I’ll give.
’Tis recorded in His Word, Hallelujah! It is only that you “look and live.”

Life is offered unto you. Hallelujah! Eternal life your soul shall have
If you’ll only look to Him. Hallelujah! Look to Jesus, who alone can save.
 
“Look and live,” my brother, live. Look to Jesus now and live.
’Tis recorded in His Word, Hallelujah! It is only that you “look and live.”

(from “Look and Live” by W.A. Ogden)

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:14-16

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“My most cherished possession I wish I could leave you is my faith in Jesus Christ, for with Him and nothing else, you can be happy, but without Him and with all else, you’ll never be happy.” – Patrick Henry

The beginning of Revelation 8 states, “And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.” It doesn’t elaborate on the reason for the silence, but immediately following that, an angel presents prayers and incense to God. This event happens just prior to the onset of God’s trumpet judgments on the world.

I wonder if these judgements, soon to be released upon humanity, were so shocking that heaven was stunned to silence.

Maybe all heaven was simply waiting for God to utter the command for the first trumpet to sound.

Maybe God needed some time to grieve over what was about to happen to His creation. The  world had rejected the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus, who gave His life a “ransom for many” (Mathew 20:28). The world had refused to accept Christ as its Saviour; sin was rampant, and evil was celebrating itself. As a result, God’s wrath was about to be poured out.

Regardless of the reason, there was complete silence in heaven. Even the throne room angels had ceased crying out, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come” (Revelation 4:8).

Heaven held its breath, waiting on God the Father.

Perhaps, like the angels, I need to be silent and wait on God’s signal to act. I noticed in this passage of Scripture that after the silence in heaven came prayer and worship. Again, I can learn from this example of heavenly behavior. I must take time to listen for God’s response after I pray.

I often forget that His ways are higher than mine. As recorded in Isaiah 55:9, God states, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” When I act impulsively, it is definitely not in His power, and in my own strength, I never succeed to the level that I can when I am in God’s will.

My life’s verse is Isaiah 40:31. It states, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

I am still learning to wait.

Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
in every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

(from “Be Still, My Soul” by Katharina Schlegel)

“The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.”- Lamentations 3:25

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“Waiting on God requires the willingness to bear uncertainty, to carry within oneself the unanswered question, lifting the heart to God about it whenever it intrudes upon one’s thoughts.” ― Elizabeth Elliot

 

 

 

 

(photo courtesy of Renee Chesson)

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.”- Psalm 28:7

Ever find yourself worried and unsettled about things? It seems like worry is a part of every stage of life. When I was a teen, I worried about school, my grades, my friends, my weight, and even my hair!

When I was a young married, I worried about finances, juggling a household and work, and not burning the dinner.

As a mom, I worried about everything and anything that had to do with my children. Sickness, bullies in school, their salvation, etc. When they went off to college, I worried about their safety, the decisions they would make, their grades, who they might meet and marry, etc.

And now that I’m a grandmother, well, I seem to worry about similar things for my grandchildren. It’s almost like starting all over again!

Today, we live in a very chaotic and uncertain world that can cause our hearts to be extremely troubled. Things are happening all around us in which we have no control. We face an unstable economy, a weakening governmental system, a terroristic war in Israel, the lack of respect in society for law enforcement, threat of unknown viruses emerging, and the deterioration of traditional and Biblical values. (I never thought I’d see a time when American churches were ordered to shut their doors and pastors were arrested for keeping them open!)

So how do we keep ourselves from being overwhelmed in worry and fear?

Here are God’s answers to a heart that is T-R-O-U-B-L-E-D.

1. Trust the Lord

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

To trust someone means to believe in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of that person. Remember the saying, “Let go and let God”? Trusting allows us to do that very thing. When we trust God, we don’t play tug-o-war with Him over the problem or situation. We don’t even try to figure it out. Instead, we totally rely on Him for the answer and the timing of that answer.

However, it’s not very easy, which leads us to the second remedy for the troubled heart.

2. Remember

“I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.” – Psalm 77:11

One of the things that happens with advancing age is the change in memory. The interesting thing about that is that memories of years long gone by remain. That’s referred to as long-term memories. Short term memories tend to be harder to recall as you age. At times, that is a tremendous blessing for me! It’s easy to reflect on the past works of God that I’ve experienced, and this helps me remember who God is.

There is a song that I love, and it’s about an elderly lady who is suffering from loss of memory. It’s entitled “She Still Remembers Jesus”, and it speaks of how she has forgotten things, including her children and even her husband, but she still remembers when she got saved, Bible verses, and Sunday school songs. There is a lot of truth in this song.

In order to trust in God, we must remember who He is and what He has previously done for us. I am sure if we asked our family and friends to share how God answered a specific prayer in their lives, we would all be praising His name for His goodness to us.

3. Open the Bible

“My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.” – Psalm 119:28

Usually when my heart is troubled,  I turn to two of my favorite books in the Bible… Psalms and John.  Both are full of calming words for me. Specific Psalms that minister to me when I am burdened with cares and worries are Psalm 46 and 61.  In John, I gravitate to chapter 14. I also have specific verses that target areas in which I am struggling. What are your favorite passages that help de-escalate your moments of worry?

The Word of God is truly like a healing balm to a troubled heart. There are many verses to remind us that God is with us; that God cares for us; that God is in control… sometimes when we are fearful, we forget the truth of Scripture that can calm our hearts, but that is why we have His Holy Spirit within us. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26) He brings to remembrance all things… including the verses you’ve memorized or passages you’ve read… to help you through the trials and tribulations of life.

4. Use prayer daily

“Pray without ceasing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:17

The first thing to do when your heart is troubled is to pray. However, prayer often is a last resort for many of us. We need to flip that switch!  God wants us to share our fears, concerns, and worries with Him. We are told to “cast our cares upon Him” and to “pray without ceasing”.

Praying settles my troubled heart because I know whatever I bring before Him, He gives His full attention. I give all my fears and worries over to the One who is in total control. Remembering and realizing who God is, and what He can do through prayer, brings peace to my troubled heart.

5. Ban negativity

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” – Philippians 4:8

I no longer start or end my day by listening to the news on television. It usually invoked three types of emotions in me. Fear, anger or frustration. This then would be what I would dwell on as I headed to work in the morning or prepared for sleep at night. Once I eliminate the negativity of the world that can so easily invade my mind and fill my head with good things, my heart ceases to be troubled with all the “what-ifs”. To help prevent a troubled heart, I now chose to start my day in the Word of God.

That doesn’t mean we are to be ignorant of what is happening in our world, but we must exercise wisdom in regard to what we put into our minds. If I were a soldier, I wouldn’t run into battle to check out the enemy and then return back to the barracks to get my gun and ammunition. I would first equip myself to protect myself against the enemy. We must do the same with our spiritual lives. (Ephesians 6)

6. Lean on others

“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” –  I Corinthians 1:9

Christian friends are a wonderful source of encouragement and support when we need a shoulder to lean on, someone to pray with you, or someone to give you a hug when you need one. Often when my heart is troubled, I can share my burdens with a sister in Christ, and she can share verses or experiences that have helped her in the past. Being in church with the family of God is a tremendous source of comfort for a troubled heart. Hebrews 10:25 urges us to be there for each other: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

7. Engage in service

“That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,”– Luke 1:74

When our nerves are frayed and our hearts unsettled, reaching out and doing something for someone else is a great way to forget what is ailing us.  When we are concentrating on someone else, it is easy to forget about ourselves.  Serving others is a wonderful way to keep us focused on God and soothe a troubled heart.

8. Delight your soul in song

“My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.” – Psalm 71:23

There is a saying that music calms the savage beast. Well, music calms the troubled heart. Singing has often calmed my heart… not singing in the church choir, but singing to the Lord in my own private place. I like to listen to instrumental hymns at home and sing along with them, and when I am troubled and start singing those old traditional hymns, like “It Is Well with My Soul” or “Great is Thy Faithfulness”, my heart moves from a state of worry to one of worship.  When I am worshiping God in song, my heart rejoices in Him and troubles dissipate.

If you pass through raging waters in the sea, you shall not drown.
If you walk amid the burning flames, you shall not be harmed.

If you stand before the pow’r of hell and death is at your side,
Know that I am with you through it all.

Be not afraid. I go before you always.
Come, follow me, and I will give you rest.

(from “Be Not Afraid” by Bob Dufford)

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

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You may feel out of control, but remember… God never is!

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” – Psalm 139:23-24

With election day approaching, there are lots of political advertisements about the various candidates on the television. I notice that many of them focus on a particular candidate’s negative choices made a long time ago. Few discuss the recent decisions or positive successes of the same candidate, especially if they have changed from years earlier. It’s as if an individual’s character is judged by one or two bad decisions in the past, and by those decisions, a person is forever judged, never being given the opportunity to demonstrate a changed heart. Even if these candidates have done good things in their political career, they are overshadowed by the mistakes of the past.

Through some extensive soul-searching and illumination by the Holy Spirit, I found that I had been guilty of doing the very same to some people in my life. I realized that I had judged these individuals by a single event in the past in which my heart had been hurt.  I never allowed room for any forgiveness in my heart for those who simply said a hurtful word or made a bad choice in a particular situation. My hurt was nurtured by my insecurities, and then my pride took hold, and I began to listen to the lies of Satan.

I know his goal is to destroy Christian relationships, and thereby the church of Christ, but I believed the lies and allowed myself to get sucked in to the self-righteous behaviors and thoughts that I “just knew” were justifiable. How blind I have been to my own sin in my prideful judgments! Through Bible study, wise counsel, and prayer, I now understand the root of this sin, and with God’s grace, I was able to deal with the underlying issues.

In Matthew 7:5, the Bible says, “Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” It’s a wonder I can “see” at all! I know that in the past I have been guilty of also saying the wrong things, doing the wrong things, even thinking the wrong things!

I have made numerous apologies to many different people throughout the years, and have received forgiveness from all. Not once do I remember anyone withholding forgiveness from me. Most importantly, I have sinned repeatedly against my God, and each time I ask Him for forgiveness, He forgives me! I cannot imagine how it would be if God only judged me by the wrong choices I have made in my own past!

So now my prayer is in the Bible passage for today. Search my heart, Lord. Find all the wickedness… the pride, the self-righteous attitudes, the fears, the lack of trust, lack of love… all those “wicked ways” in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Help me to recognize every sin for what it is… the beams in my eye… and help me to find true repentance in my heart for each one. Give me the strength I need to be forgiving in my heart to others just as Christ has forgiven me.

Search me, O God, and know my heart today,
Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray;
See if there be some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin, and set me free.

I praise Thee, Lord, for cleansing me from sin;
Fulfill Thy word and make me pure within;
Fill me with fire, where once I burned with shame;
Grant my desire to magnify Thy name.

(from “Search Me, O God” by James E. Orr)

“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” – Colossians 3:13

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From whom do you need to ask forgiveness today?

 

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.” – I Peter 5:10

In the times of the early church, persecution of Christians was rampant. In his first book, Peter encourages those believers who find themselves in precarious situations because of their faith in Jesus. They lived in a time when anyone remotely associated with Jesus was targeted for harassment, imprisonment, or even death by both Gentiles and their own countrymen. Those who were living testimonies of what Jesus had done… the blind who could now see; the lame who could now walk; the leper who was healed; the dead raised to life… were well aware of the dangers they faced, and now that Jesus had returned to His Father in heaven, anyone who stood for Christ was sought out to be silenced in order to eradicate the spreading of the Saviour’s teachings.

Peter reminds his fellow believers that God allows hard and challenging times to come into their lives in order to strengthen their faith. He goes on to say that this earthly life is only temporary, and that one day, they will enter God’s promised eternity with Him in heaven forever. Through these reminders, Peter seeks to encourage and support the Jerusalem believers and urges them to continue living for the Lord.

While I have never been persecuted like the believers of the early church, I have experienced many situations where my faith was shaky. Doubts crept in amidst the turmoil, and with those doubts came fear and worry. It was difficult to see how God was working because I felt so helpless and unsure of what tomorrow would bring. Through my own battles with cancer, my husband’s experiences with heart disease, my family’s struggles with life in general… I prayed and prayed, but my heart was unsettled, and I was afraid. Often the Lord brought to remembrance what the prophet said about the heart in Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Ah, yes… I needed to retreat to the Word of God for its truth and assurance that I was firmly in the hand of God. (John 10:28-29)

Through the Scriptures, God reminded me that I live in a sin-cursed world, and I will not be free of its trials and tribulations until He takes me home. Meanwhile, He will be with me as I travel through this life, and He is working in my life to make me more aligned with His precious Son, Jesus. I am reminded that I am a work in progress… His progress, and He will complete His work in me! (Philippians 1:6)

Until that day, I know I will face situations that will be out of my control, and that I will not like. I may even ask God, “Why?” But through them all, I know He is with me and is working in me… to make me “perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you” just like He was doing with the believers of the early church. And for that, I am so very, very grateful!

Have thine own way, Lord!
Have thine own way!
Thou art the potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.

(from “Have Thine Own Way” by Adelaide Pollard)

“But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” – Isaiah 64:8

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Without Jesus, facing the trials and tribulations of this world are impossible. Do you know Him as Lord and Saviour? If not, I’d love to introduce you to Him!

 

 

 

 

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” – 2 Corinthians 4:16

Have you ever heard people say, “Christmas is for the children”? It sure seems that way when you stroll past the stores at this time of year. We often see adults scrambling to find all the presents they hope to buy for their kids. Lines of children wait in the malls for a chance to talk with Santa, and many of the store decorations are meant to attract the younger generation.

The older generation, people like you and me, aren’t usually in the forefront of people’s minds when they think of Christmas. Even our own families have this perspective. The focus is often on their own children or the festivities at their workplaces, or the parties with their friends. Sometimes, this results in some of us feeling, lonely, neglected, or even forgotten.

However, in God’s eyes, the elderly are very important.

Here are a few things that the Bible tells us about God’s relationship with the elderly.

1. He will always be with us.
   1. “And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoary hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.” – Isaiah 46:4

2. God continues to meet our needs and keep His promises with us.
   1. “With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.” – Psalm 91:16

3. God tells others to respect the elderly.
   1. “Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.” – Leviticus 19:32

4. God desires the elderly to share Christ with the next generation.
   1. “Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.” – Psalm71:18

5. God wants us to teach the younger woman how to live lives that honor Him.
   1. “The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” – Titus 2:3-5

6. God tells us that the elderly are wise and have knowledge.
   1. “With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.” – Job 12:12

7. God informs us that the elderly can still win souls to Christ despite their age.
   1. “They shall still bring forth fruit in old age…” – Psalm 92:14

Let me share one example of a very important woman in the Bible, who happened to quite elderly, but is always associated with Christmas.

Her name is Anna.  Her very brief, but important story, is recorded in Luke 2:36-38. “Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”

As a young woman, Anna got married, and like most of us, she probably had all the same dreams and hopes that young brides have. She looked forward to a wonderful life with their husband, but that was not to be for her.  After only 7 years of marriage, her husband died, and her life changed dramatically.

She now had to decide what she was going to do. Should she seek another husband? No doubt she was young enough to find another husband. Should she go live with relatives? Widows did not hold jobs, so it would have been acceptable for her to return to the home of her family, but Anna made a most unusual decision for her young age. Anna decided that the best way for her to spend the rest of her life would be to love and serve God.  She desired to be as close to God as possible and for that, she chose to spend the rest of her life in the temple. The Bible tells us “she did not depart from the temple, but served God with fasting’s and prayers night and day.”  Even though she is only mentioned  in 3 verses, Anna had a powerful testimony for the Lord. Powerful enough that He wanted to include her in Scripture.

At the time of Jesus’ birth, Anna had served in the temple for more than 60 years, and she spoke to everyone about the coming of the Messiah and the redemption He would bring. Finally, at the age of 84 years old, when Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the temple for the first time, she finally got to see God’s promise fulfilled! After all the years of serving God and waiting for the Messiah, she finally was able to behold God’s promise in the flesh! All through the years, she never wavered in her belief that God would keep His promise, and when she saw Jesus, she rejoiced at God’s faithfulness!

Anna possessed one of the things that God prizes the most in His children: a heart of devotion and trust. No matter what had happened to her in life, her trust in God did not waver. Her life certainly didn’t turn out the way she had hoped, but she did not allow the circumstances to shake her faith. Her testimony spoke volumes to the people. Everyone knew that Anna loved the Lord and His people. And He used her to proclaim His message of promised redemption.

Her faith in God endured through the years, and the Bible records, “…coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Israel.”  Anna never stopped telling the people about God and the promise of Jesus.

We hear the Christmas story every year. We read how God used a carpenter, a young virgin, and shepherds… but God also uses the elderly! He reaches out to those whom society sees as no longer useful, a burden, or simply just forgotten. Anna would have been labeled as such even in her culture. First, she was old, and thus no longer a significant contributor to society.  Second, she was a woman, and in her culture, women were not valued. Third, she was a widow, a burden to others as women did not customarily hold jobs in her culture. Anna was not a valued individual in the Hebrew culture, but Anna was not too old to be useful to God. She was a faithful follower of the Lord, and her testimony demonstrated her love for and trust in God to everyone she encountered. She was valuable and worthy in the eyes of the Lord, and her reward was to be one of the first to see the manifestation of God’s promised Messiah. Think of how that must have impacted her testimony and service to God!

Sometimes, those of us who are in the twilight years of our life harbor the fear that our best days have come and gone, and there’s nothing left for us. Life is now passing us by, and all we can do is be an outsider looking in, but the Biblical account of Anna tells us that the elderly have a special place in God’s heart, and we are still able to be used of Him.

We’ve all been through the trials and tribulations that come with getting older. It could be sicknesses, financial struggles, the loss of a spouse or even an adult child or grandchild. What makes us so valuable to God is the testimony that we have as we’ve navigated through the good times and the bad times, and the challenges and struggles of daily living. As “seasoned” Christians, we have held on to our faith and hope in the Lord Jesus Christ throughout the years! We are a powerful testimony to the world… to the younger generation… as to the faithfulness of God and the truth of His Word.

Our lives are not over because we are in our latter years. No matter if we are widowed, live in a retirement facility, have seen most of our friends and family pass on… as long as God gives us breath, He has a purpose for us… especially at this time of year when people are more receptive to hearing about Jesus.

It’s the perfect time to share what Jesus has done for you through the years. We can always share how God has been with us all through the ups and downs of life, and how He promises to continue to be with us. We can always offer our testimony of God’s faithfulness in our own lives; how God has always kept His Word. We can always share our own story of salvation through Jesus Christ, and offer the hope that only Christ can give.

Like Anna, we are here to share the story of God’s redemption through His Son, Jesus Christ. You can be an Anna. No matter how old you are, you can share the gospel.

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be
Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.

(from “Great is Thy Faithfulness” by Thomas O. Chisholm)

“The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.” – Proverbs 16:31

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Are you ready to be an Anna? Or a Simeon?

 

“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” – I Samuel 16:7

Halloween is right around the corner. Houses are decorated with all sorts of spooky things like spider webs, ghosts, and jack-o-lanterns, and children are busy choosing the perfect costume. Soon, the streets will be filled with children meandering through the neighborhood visiting each home.  Princesses, lions, storm troopers, and zombies will be knocking on doors hoping to reap a handful of candy as they shout, “Trick or treat”!

The intent of a costume is to hide the identity of a person, making it difficult to recognize what normally would be a familiar face. Fake hair, overgrown teeth, make-up, and masks are all part of the disguise. It is not until the trick-or-treater reveals who they are that we know for certain to whom we are giving the sweet treat!

We can only know the identity of someone when we look at their true appearance. However, the Bible tells us that God sees us differently. He looks at us on the inside, not the outside. He sees our intentions. He knows our thoughts. He sees our potential… that is, how we can be used for His service and His glory. He sees into our heart.

The Bible tells us in I Samuel 16:7 that God doesn’t look at the outward appearance of a person, but rather, He looks at the very core of a person… their heart. He knows the inner depths of our being… not just the physical, but the mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of ourselves as well.

We know from the Scriptures that when people looked at David, they saw a puny shepherd boy. In fact, I Samuel 17: 33 records King Saul’s response when David suggested that he fight Goliath. He said, “… Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” But God saw beyond that.

When God looked at David, He saw a mighty warrior in the young shepherd boy, an inexperienced teenager whose faith in God would provide the courage needed to defeat the giant enemy despite the overwhelming odds against victory. God also saw a boy that would grow to be a godly leader of Israel and become the greatest king that the Jewish people would ever know. The Bible records God’s high praise of this little shepherd boy. “…I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.” (Acts 13:22) What an amazing statement! God saw beyond what others saw!

It is so easy to hide who we really are from others. A smile can hide a broken heart. Busy hands can hide a spirit of pride. Seemingly unfriendliness could come from the fear of rejection. A passing nod could be a sign of loneliness. We can wear a “mask” in our daily lives, but God always see our hearts.

God sees every heartache, every fear, every doubt, and every sin. But He also sees every possibility and potential in each one of us, and He is ready to forgive, heal, encourage, and empower whenever we go to Him as our true selves. Regardless of the mask we wear to the world, God sees us for who we really are… good or bad.

You may see a shepherd boy when you look into the mirror, but God may see a king!

Search me, O God, and know my heart today
Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray
See if there be some wicked way in me
Cleanse me from every sin, and set me free.

(from “Search Me” by James E. Orr)

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” – Psalm 139:23-24

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How does God see you?