Easter Hope

 What's your favorite part of the Easter story this year? I have a few. The ripped veil giving us access to God. The loving words of Jesus on the cross.

But I needed to teach the story of Mary Magdalene at school. Preparing the lesson the night before was the very last thing I felt like doing. But afterwards I felt like I had been there and gotten a glimpse of how Mary would have felt! She went from having a broken heart to having a bursting heart. All because she had been in the presence of the One she loved. She had heard His voice and seen Him.

That joy can still be ours today because Jesus is alive, very real, personal and still gives hope today.

I love the song, I Talked to Him Today.

But I talked to Him today, and my cares all fell away

He made me feel like life had just begun
He said all of my trials can be turned into triumph
Through the victory that He's already won
And I talked to him today, and the comfort that He gave
Filled me with desire to tell the world, yet on Calvary he died
But right now He is alive, I know because I talked to him today

Testing Times

There are times when God feels so close and the verses in the Bible feel like they were written personally for you. You see God answering your prayers. It's exciting!

 But then there are the times when it feels like God has forgotten about you. You pray and pray and see no sign of your prayer being answered. Nothing particular in the Bible stands out. God seems to be silent.

In those times I like to remember this thought...
When you are going through something hard and wonder where God is, remember that the teacher is always quiet during a test.

In those moments of feeling like God is far away, maybe you are going through a test. When students are taking a test, the teacher is quiet. The teacher doesn't answer questions like they usually would. But there is a good reason.

When teachers give a test, they prepare their students first. First they learn about something, then their knowledge is tested. The student has to remember what they've already learned. Although they may not be able to remember everything, they have already learned everything they need for the test. And when we go through testing times, we can take comfort in the fact that we have been prepared for this. (That is, if we are learning from our Teacher) We need to remember what God has already taught us and it will help us through this test. 

Teachers do not forget about the student during a test. Being silent doesn't mean that they don't care or that they're not there. And when you are walking with God and He seems far away, don't presume He's not there or that He doesn't care. A name for God I recently learned is Jehovah Shammah which means "The Lord is there." God is always there even when He seems silent. So don't stop praying and reading the Bible when God is silent, because He is always there and He does care. He is no less close than at other times. Tests don't last forever. They always pass.

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 1 Peter 4:12-13

God's Plan For My Life

 

Too Late

 "Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazerus.
When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was." John 11:5-6

I have been thinking on this story, and these are some things I have noticed. (Read John 11 for the whole story.)

*Sometimes we doubt God's love and care when we are waiting for Him to answer. And yet it may because of his love and care that He is waiting.

*Waiting times do end. Jesus did come.

*What God has in mind is always bigger and better than what we have in mind.

*With God, there is always hope.

*Jesus is not heartless. He cares about our pain and the fact that we don't understand.

*Mary and Martha both went to Jesus when they heard that He had come. They took their pain and questions to Him. They didn't avoid and stay away from Him because they didn't understand. We need to take our pain and questions to Him, too. Then He will help us.

*We need to follow God's instructions and obey His promptings even when they make no sense to us. (Take away the stone from the grave!)

*Sometimes we object at the way God wants to answer. (Lord, by this time he stinketh)

*God always hears our prayers and knows our needs. Just because He hasn't answered yet doesn't mean He's forgotten about you.

*With God, all things are possible. He's limitless!

*God's timing is different than ours. What we think is "too late" to God is "right on time!" We need to trust God's timing.

Only Jesus

 Only Jesus 

Only Jesus, precious Jesus,

Can our every sorrow know;

He alone can truly help us

Through life’s journey here below.

Only Jesus, precious Jesus,

When life’s thorns have pierced the heart,

Can relieve the wounded spirit,

Needful help and grace impart.

Only Jesus, precious Jesus,

When temptation’s billows roll,

Can command the angry tempest,

Strengthen, soothe the trembling soul.

Only Jesus, precious Jesus,

He alone in life and death,

Can support me and I’ll trust Him,

Till my life’s last fleeting breath.

Other friends may bless and comfort,

Speak a kind and cheering word;

But the balm to heal the heartache

Only Jesus can afford.

-Daniel O. Teasley

Living While You're Waiting

Waiting is never easy! And yet most of the time we are waiting for something. So it's important to be thankful for everything we do have right now and learn patience and contentment while waiting. Also, we should not stop living while we are waiting. I like these closing words from a devotional. 

 ...Make sure you keep living while you're waiting.
It takes courage to wait patiently and yet get out there and embrace life. But you can do it. Lean on God and courage will never be in short supply.   Joni Eareckson Tada from Glorious Intruder

Jacob's Prayer

 Jacob is on his way back to his homeland. He has just gotten news that his brother Esau (who had wanted to kill him years back) is coming towards him with four hundred men. Jacob is terrified and worried.

This is when he prays this prayer. I see 6 things from his prayer than we can learn from (Genesis 32).

1. He's obedient.

He's coming to God in prayer after obeying Him. God had told him to return to his homeland. We can't expect God to answer our prayers when we're not obedient to His will. But if we are obeying Him, then we can have confidence that He will answer us.

2. He's humble.

He knows and admits that he deserves nothing. Neither do we.

3. He's thankful.

He acknowledges all that God has already done for him. When we pray, we should remember to thank God for all He's already done for us.

4. He's specific.

He tells God exactly what his problem is. He asks very specifically for safety. We can also be very specific with God, if we want to see specific answers.

5. He's honest.

He is honest and tells God exactly how he feels and that he is scared that Esau will come and kill him and his family. We don't need to be afraid to be honest and tell God our feelings and fears. He knows them already.

6. He reminds God of His own Word.

He pleads God's promise to make his seed as the sand of the sea. We can also plead God's promises when we pray. How can God deny what He has promised?