Category: Blog

Your parents told you to sit still when you were young. Later in life, someone indicated you should sit still to enjoy the music or someone speaking. As you age, there comes a time when you stand still and appreciate the events before you. 

On the spiritual side of life, we go through developing times to hear God’s voice. In our early days of knowing God, the Lord takes us by the hand and gently leads us, instilling a deep sense of trust within us. As we gain confidence, our wonderful God releases our hand and walks beside us, amiably nudging us along the way to keep us going in the right direction. Then, He allows us to venture on our own spiritual walk, permitting us to make our own decisions. We might have obstacles along the way, but that’s good. Those difficulties show us we need to walk with Him and not get ahead of our Lord. 

Another stage of spiritual growth may feel like God has disappeared, nowhere to be seen. It’s a test of who we trust more, ourselves or God, even when He seems silent. But remember, His silence is not absence.

What do we do? Our two popular choices are: don’t try to be spiritual or go to the Bible. If we choose the Bible, the search may be trying at times. Discovering James 1:5 is a tremendous help. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God.” So, you ask, then discover “who gives generously to all without reproach, and it is given him” (James 1:5 ESV).

As you progress on your spiritual journey, you begin to see with ‘spiritual eyes,’ meaning you start to perceive people, events, and things from a perspective aligned with God’s will and values. Your actions then naturally reflect His mindset.

You have progressed on your spiritual journey; you arrive at a different location. Here, you begin to desire His will over your own. You start to see “mountains” move for His glory, not your desire, which is a significant step and a sign of your spiritual growth and progress. You’re on the right path.

The journey isn’t complete, but you’re in a greater place for God to use you and make you more productive. Isn’t that what you always wanted? For God to use you. So, take a moment or two and sit still to allow God to speak to your heart.

It was a life-changing moment for the women who were the first visitors to the empty tomb at sunrise. These women, who were followers of Jesus, saw the stone rolled away with an angel sitting on it. The shock they encountered was beyond words. Having an angel speak to them was a surprising experience. Even the nearby soldiers were shaking in fright.

The second set of visitors came to bring burial spices (Luke 24:1). As they appeared in the empty tomb, they, too, saw angels, but not Jesus. They quickly returned to tell the remaining disciples who didn’t believe the ladies. Peter and John decided to see for themselves. Upon their arrival, there was still no Jesus. All that remained were His burial clothes.

Being bewildered about spiritual things is nothing new. God uses these moments to get our attention and to remind us of His presence in our lives. Our circumstances may differ from those experiencing the first Easter morning, but the events, words, and people involved reveal a different mission for us.

What’s our reaction? Excitement to tell others, like the women visiting the empty tomb. Or it could be like Peter and John, showing disbelief and thinking, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” Whatever the case, would you be open to a personal leading of God?

When the Lord leads us into new experiences, one thing is sure: He is with us, reassuring us of His presence. Making that decision to follow God’s leading is an act of obedience, an adventure, and a promise of future rewards.

It is good to look back at times. Doing so gives us a fresh reminder that God is always with us.

Let’s set the scene by reflecting on the past Sunday and the meaning of Passover Week. Our week starts after the Sabbath (Saturday), the Jewish worship day. We recognize Sunday as the first day of the week. This past Sunday was Palm Sunday, seven days before Easter. 

In biblical times, this day was the day Jesus approached Jerusalem riding on a young colt—our Lord was its first rider. The multitudes rejoiced as they drew near the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem and recognized Jesus, the Prophet from Nazareth (Matthew 21:11), as King and Lord (Luke 19:38). 

The people were joyful, celebrating by throwing down their outer garments and cutting palm branches, paving the way for the Lord’s lowly steed.  

The question that comes to mind is, how did the people know when Jesus would arrive in the Holy City? Who announced the Lord’s route? The arrival time was anybody’s guess. The only logical conclusion is God! But how did they know that Jesus would arrive on the first day of the week? God is still my answer.  

Sincere believers ‘know’ certain things that others do not. The tender leadership of the Holy Spirit always has you in the right place and time if you’re willing to obey. Just as the crowd followed the Spirit’s leading on Palm Sunday two thousand years ago, we, too, can trust in His guidance. 

Fast forward to today. How is your walk with the Lord? He is always with you wherever you are. However, we often fail to acknowledge His presence, leading to significant issues. He is ready to help us if we ask. Miserable results usually happen when we act independently, leaving God out of the picture.  

As you celebrate Easter Sunday, invite Jesus to be with you as you worship. 

What do you need to do when you don’t know what to do? Quite often, that question can leave you feeling uncertain.

I was going to a meeting this rainy morning. I decided to take a shorter route that would save me five minutes, but it turned out to be a bad decision. The rural roads were accommodating school traffic. Two stop signs were my undoing, taking 26 extra minutes for my trip (yes, I did check the time).

I kept reminding myself during the wait all things work together for good (Romans 8:28). I must have reminded myself 20 times of this verse on my way to the pastor’s meeting. I arrived ten minutes late. So, I placed my umbrella and book on the table and proceeded to the buffet. When I got back to the table, I sat at the end with three empty seats between me and the next person. At the invitation of this person, I moved. We chatted for a while before the speakers did their presentation. 

Meanwhile, the book I brought was for a friend who left towards the end of the presentation. I thought, “Now, what am I going to do?” I reminded myself of my prayer. All things work together for good. As I looked around the room—I asked myself, “Now, who should get this book?” One of the twenty pastors in the room, but I didn’t have an answer.

Finally, the meeting was over. The guest who I sat beside and I chatted for a minute. Then, she identified herself as the speaker’s executive assistant.

To make a long story short, I asked her if her boss read devotionals—the reply was “when she has time,” which was mainly on a plane to the next meeting. I asked her if she would pass my book to her for reading material on her next trip. She accepted “He Had to Ask” with my business card.

The next time you don’t know what to do, pray. You may be surprised how God closes one door and opens another. It’s in these unexpected moments that we often find our faith lessons. All things do work together for the good of the trusting believer. 

While playing on the back deck, my two-year-old great-grandson was climbing over the back of the couch. Suddenly, several voices rang out. Stop! They knew he was about to fall. The danger was imminent. All caring parents watch over their children. 

Psalm 139 relates a similar picture of God watching over his children. You may not hear an audible voice saying STOP, but He will issue a warning for you. So, how does He do it?  

His watchful eye, a metaphor for His constant attention and care, knows your next action. He’s not spying on you to catch you doing wrong but to protect you.  

Below are the additional six loving characteristics of God in this Psalm. 

He always knows your location and where the danger spots are. In doing so, somehow, He interrupts your travels by delays. Waiting on the Lord is the best solution when the help you need isn’t on your schedule.  

Thirdly, our all-knowing God knows your plans. He knows your thoughts. That’s a scary dilemma but a helpful one. Jesus is constantly thinking positive thoughts about you and how to care for you if you would only listen. 

The following motivational point reminds us that God directs our steps and puts us in the right place at the right time to do His will. God knows everything about you, even all your travels. He knew them before your parents thought about having you.  

Sometimes, we wish God would give us the right words to use in difficult situations. You will find that is true if you ask for guidance. However, without His leadership, we can put ourselves in hot water; those results are not God’s intentions, but we put ourselves there. 

The Lord’s divine protecting hand is a shield from the fiery darts of others. When someone wants to harm you, pause to reflect; by doing so, you will realize His guarding hand is there to defend you from harm. 

Do you know someone very well? So much so that you can complete the next thought. If you can, it is evident that you two have spent a great deal of time together. You saw their good times and times not so good. The important part of your relationship is time, which is valuable time. The kind that is irreplaceable nor duplicated.

Our heavenly Father cherishes you in a way that surpasses human understanding. God—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have invested part of their lives in you. They knew everything about you before your mom gave birth to you. Our heavenly Father watches over you. Jesus loves you. He brought salvation to your eternal soul. The self-exposure of your sinful nature came about by the revealing power of the Holy Spirit.

This trio cooperated in unison to make you part of the family of God. They knew the thoughts of your heart, the words within your mouth, and the needs in your life.

By being a child of the King of Kings, you experience the protection and provision of the Holy Spirit. He equips believers to realize some of the things God does for each of us and others that are too wonderful for us to comprehend. The inclusion in God’s family makes us see life and this world differently.

There’s another notion to consider. Jesus’s heart’s desire is for his family to increase. He loves the entire world, and he would like the world to come to know him (John 3:16-17).

May we remind ourselves once again that God watches over us. He loves us, and he loves the world. His love is a source of security and comfort, so much so that he wants the world to know Jesus as Savior.

Believers have the privilege of talking to God. Anytime and anywhere. God’s voice is also available to our ears if we listen. The Lord has a unique way of speaking through His Word, the Bible, to our hearts.  
 
Scripture is not just a book; it’s a direct line to God’s guidance. The book of Psalms is a wellspring of inspiration, while the book of Proverbs offers insights into our society. These two books in the Old Testament are like a roadmap for everyday living and serving. The Lord’s guidance is always within reach, whether through His instructions or the orchestration of circumstances. 
   
Every event in our lives, even those we can’t fully comprehend, serves a purpose. God has allowed these things to happen for a reason. Our journey is not haphazard but carefully designed with boundaries to keep us on course.  
 
When we feel adrift in life, scripture is our anchor. It always has the right words or examples to refocus our lives, guiding us back on the right path. It’s a comforting reminder that God will always help us find our way again.
 
Our wonderful Lord changes some things in our lives to get us back on track. His method may be a relocation, a friend, or a stranger to say something strange within our hearing.   
 
Change can be good, especially when we obediently follow the Lord’s leading. In those moments of obedience, we realize the Almighty has been guiding our steps all along, empowering us to make beneficial changes in our lives.  
 
We are privileged to hear His incredible voice speaking ever so softly to our hearts.

Compliments, a rare gem in today’s world, are often hard to come by. Their scarcity makes them all the more precious, but who truly notices? What’s the typical reaction? Those who witness your actions, for the most part, remain silent. Such is the reality of life in the 21st century. It doesn’t have to be this way. We can change; we can be the ones who notice and acknowledge the efforts of others.

If you fail in your endeavors—people notice. They may even comment, not to the one who’s struggling but to others. This raises the question—where are the encouragers? The “try and try again” mentality seems to have faded. But remember, no one is perfect, and not everyone achieves their desired results. Mediocrity happens, and so does excellence. The latter requires diligence and hard work. Success in your eyes may come slowly, but it will never happen if you stop striving towards your goal.

Only a few enhance our life’s journey by taking the time to help and express their appreciation. Saying “thank you for trying” is a phrase that’s rarely heard. But every average objective completed is an achievement in itself. Life happens every day through routine activities, which are the means to sustain our lives. Without them, there would be no food on the table and no clothes on our backs. The average is normal, and that’s not a bad thing.

Expressing gratitude for your possessions may not be a habit, but it should be. Each day, I thank the Lord for the privilege of prayer. My morning communion with the Lord includes a time of gratitude. Thanking the Lord for my health and listening to my prayers. Have you ever pondered over the fact that God really does listen to all your prayers? What a privilege we have. Let’s make gratitude a habit for the blessings we have. 

Praise is a good thing. So, every day, take the time to praise our wonderful Savior. Also, thank God for the gift of each of your blessings.

“Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health” were part of the traditional marriage vows of yesterday. I thought about those words several times in the last month. Sickness visited my body twice in three weeks, and it’s still lingering.

There she was—my wife, caring for me “in sickness.” Love will do that. When everything else fails, love will triumph. If you are fortunate enough to have a good mate, would you take the time to thank the Lord for providing such a wonderful person in your life?

As a believer, you will someday be the bride of Christ. “Let us be glad, rejoice, and give Him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has prepared herself. She was permitted to wear fine linen, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints” (Revelation 19:7-8 HCSB.) The question comes, “Are we worthy of Jesus’ love.” The answer is short: “No!” Love is love. It’s not merit-based. It’s unconditional, accepting us as we are. 

There’s something special about the one you love. Money, fame, and prestige don’t matter. It’s just their heart, something unique and unforgettable. That’s the reason we love Jesus, His heart. He looked beyond our faults, shortcomings, and lack of talent. He received our repentance and made us new, clean, and acceptable. Showing us His love both now and forever.

Now, it’s our turn to live in such a way that He deserves. Sure, we will occasionally fall short and mess up big time, but His love overlooks those mishaps. Once again, He proves the sincerity of His commitment to us—to love us always, no matter what.