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“He will tend to His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in His arms; He will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” Isaiah 40 v 11

There is a simple assurance that comes from knowing that you are not alone. When we are facing challenging circumstances or unfamiliar terrain it is nice to have the support of a loved one. I remember going into my first surgery at age 40 and holding on to my husband’s hand for dear life until I surrendered, quite unwillingly, to the strength of powerful anesthetics. There is just something about holding on to someone who seems more stable then we are in the moment.

Of every experience I’ve had in my life, there hasn’t been one as powerful and fierce as motherhood. It has given me the highest victorious-yell-off-the-mountain-top moments as well as the lowest balled-up-in-a-fetal-position-in-the-closet days. And it is mostly a journey you do on your own. Can my fellow mammas say “amen”? You may have a helpful spouse, very involved grandparents, and hire all the help available, yet the journey of motherhood is mostly a lonely one and an immensely heavy one. Not because motherhood is burdensome but it is definitely unique in the loftiness of the responsibility a mamma feels watching over such a great treasure. And it is most beautiful, encouraging and reassuring to know that our good Father gets this. The only hand to hold on to that is never going to let go is that of the Father.

To my fellow mammas out there, especially those with really young ones, know that you are not alone in feeling the way you do. Your mind wants to read the Bible, pray, spend time with God, be there for your husband, love on your friends, and care for others, but you are sleep-deprived, tired and quite useless for anything else half-way through the morning. This verse is such a beautiful reminder that the Father understands. He gently leads you through this season, keeping you company as He draws you close to Him. Know this. Rest in it. The Word assures us of His love and care for us even when we can’t respond to Him the way we want to. Take heart.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”. Matt 11 v 28

What do we do with all that 2020 has thrown our way – death of loved ones, loss of jobs, loneliness, anger, realities of racism, stress, depression, the list goes on? Trying times have exposed some pretty dark and ugly truths about ourselves and our fellow beings. Restlessness fills us as we confront the truth that no amount of human effort can help us overcome these things. I would categorize 2020 as heavy laden, wouldn’t you?

Jesus was speaking to the people of first century, Rome-occupied cities and towns. They people were even more tired and burdened physically, emotionally and spiritually than we can imagine. It is in the midst of this that Jesus sends out an open invitation. “Come to me,” he says. To come to Christ means to trust him. He promises that in His care, there is rest. To take His yoke means to follow where He leads. In discipleship to Him, He promises a deeper understanding of this world. Why it is what it is? Where is it leading? What is your purpose today beyond your job, despite your health, and in the midst of a pandemic? Our souls need this rest that only the sovereign God can provide.

As we look to 2021 with hope and expectation, don’t let 2020 just slip away as the worst year of your life. Jesus’ invitation to come to Him, is still open. Let 2020 be a reminder of how much we need Him in our lives. Not as as a genie who grants wishes because that is not who He is. But as the One true savior who gives us rest in the midst of our troubles.

In these last few days of 2020 take the time to draw near to God. Pray and read your Bible. Come to Him and find rest for your soul.

New Year blessings, PUYB readers.

A long time ago, as a matter of fact, so long ago that it was before time itself, God in his providence chose an earthly family to fulfill an impossible mission. Imagine making that choice – all the possibilities! I guess we couldn’t even if we tried. In His infinite wisdom, of all the time that ever was and ever will be, of all the places that ever arose and ever will arise, and of all the people that every lived and ever will live, God decided that in 1 AD, Mary would give birth to the Messiah, holding the hand of her betrothed husband Joseph in a little town called Bethlehem.

We may imagine God in this brainstorming session, considering multiple situations and finally choosing the closest to perfect timing, place, and persons He’s ever gonna get. Well, we would be wrong. Truly it had nothing to do with the qualifications of any of them. There is no historical or biblical evidence that Mary and Joseph were exceptionally spiritual, or that the stable in Bethlehem was remarkably clean, or even that the first century was an especially great time in history. In fact the Bible reminds us of the contrary. 1 Corinthians 1 v 27-29 describes the true nature of God’s work –

“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise. God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”

Mary and Joseph, Bethlehem and the first century had nothing to boast of. Yet, each was used by God for a great mission. He enabled each to serve a purpose beyond their abilities, expectations, and potential. When many of us rack up our accomplishments to being the right person, at the right place, in the right time, be wiser in knowing that God doesn’t work within these parameters. And if you feel that God will never choose you because you have nothing to offer, know again that it’s not about you.

I hope 1 Corinthians 1, v 27-29 will come to mind when you feel like you don’t measure up to the task that lies before you. If you have trouble remembering long verses, like I do, here is the best summarized version I read somewhere on the ‘interwebs’ and kind of liked – “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called”.

May the Lord change your perspective on life when you read His word.

“I will ask the Father and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth…” John 14 v 16,17

Red letters light up the Bible as Jesus says goodbye to his beloved disciples in the book of John, chapters 14 -16. Sitting around a table, sharing their last supper together, He comforts them. He reminds them to trust in God and His plan. He promises that He will return for them and that they will be together forever. The disciples can’t believe their ears. Sorrow fills their hearts. They had left everything and known nothing but Jesus for the past three years. In shock and despair they can’t recall anything they learned from their beloved Rabbi. Confused and troubled, they take turns trying to convince Jesus that they don’t know enough, they haven’t seen enough, and they definitely can’t do His work without Him. The image of ‘The Last Supper’ etched into our minds by Leonardo da Vinci is the scene of this heart-wrenching farewell.

Jesus’s heart filled with compassion, purpose, and love reassures them. He promises not to leave them as orphans (John 14 v 18). He guarantees that His Father will send them a Helper who will be with them forever.

This same Helper, the Holy Spirit, is promised to you and me who follow Christ today. He dwells with and in us (14v17). Through Him we see Jesus (14v19). He teaches us all things and helps us remember it too(14v26). He is the peace that Jesus leaves with us (14v27).

Sometimes, Christian, we forget this. We long to walk, talk, and be with Jesus. The truth is He is doing all these things with you even now. Yes, He will return one day to redeem this world and take us to Himself. But we do not wait in despair or sadness or even in His absence. He has come and made His home with each of us through the Holy Spirit (14v23).

Today, I challenge you to pick up your Bible and read the gospel of John, chapters 14 through 16. I promise that it will bring joy and courage to you no matter the circumstance.

“We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” Romans 5 v 11

What does reconciliation mean? We must understand this as we discuss the last of the seven spiritual blessings listed by Paul in his letter to the Romans – Reconciliation with God.

My friends over at Merriam- Webster define the verb ‘to reconcile ‘ as ‘to restore to friendship or harmony.’ In order to thoroughly grasp this remarkable position of being reconciled with God we must process our state of being prior to it.

The need to be restored to friendship with God implies that we were not friends to begin with. Restored to harmony infers we were in disharmony . The Bible clarifies it further when it says we were enemies (Isaiah 63 v10). We walked away from Him. We rejected Him. We accused Him. Our rebellion against God earned us nothing but eternal damnation. Yet He saved us. We tend to construe salvation to simply be an act of kindness upon our unfortunate souls – He helped pay a debt that poor us couldn’t pay on our own. The truth is Jesus didn’t die for his friends who needed him. He hung on that cross in passionate love for his enemies that despised him (Romans 5 v 10).  While we waged war against God, He initiated peace through Jesus, that we might be reconciled to Him.

Through Christ, we abound in these blessings that ensure the eternity our salvation. This is not just a promise for the future. This is a statement of current status. We are now at peace with God, in whom we have access to glorious hope, by whose gracious love we have been saved and are being transformed to be more like Jesus, and to whom we have been reconciled.

Amazing!

“Since, therefore, we have now have been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.” Romans 5 V 9

Day 6 of the account of the spiritual blessings we have through Christ brings us news of a future gift: Salvation from the wrath of God.

No one likes to think about the wrath of God.  We quickly divert any thoughts of a just and indignant God sitting on His throne and swap it for the image of sweet and loving Jesus carrying a lamb over His shoulders. And understandably so. The wrath of God is truly unbearable, even for thoughts. This is why this blessing is promised and spoken beforehand. It enables us to live free in the knowledge of our pardon from judgement and with the expectation of an eternal life in Christ.

The spiritual blessing of salvation from future wrath is more than mere swapping of thoughts. God has made a way for this to become our reality on judgement day. Jesus, who paid the great price, has claim over you and promises to carry you.

Know that your past, present, and future is secure in the One who loves you and gave His life for you.

“God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5 v 5

I missed you over the weekend PUYB readers!

But we are back, exploring the seven spiritual blessings that the Father has given His children through the redemptive work of Christ. Today, blessing 5: God’s love in the person of the Holy Spirit.

You may have heard many describe the Bible as a love letter from God. I am one of them. Let me tell you why. A zoomed out view of the history of mankind can be divided into three parts – Creation, Fall, and Redemption. However, the Bible is neither a creation textbook, nor a detailed account of our failures (which could both fill many shelves).  The Bible is His written word describing His response of love to the fall of man, constantly reminding you that you are not defined by your failures but by His love. Yes, it is the massive, 66 chapter, longest, and deepest love letter, you have ever or will ever read,. Yet, it is but a glimpse of Him (1 Corinthians 13 v 12). This is why I encourage you to PUYB.

But God didn’t just write about His love to you and say go figure it out. He left you with the precious key that unlocks the truth and understanding of what was written and what was done through Jesus Christ – the Holy Spirit. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us (1 Corinthians 2 v 12).

God showed His love to us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for our sins (Romans 5 v 8). But it didn’t end there. He continues to pour His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. He did not show up and leave in the person of Jesus Christ. He continues to dwell within us. The Holy Spirit is the continuous presence of God in our lives through whom we experience the continuous love of our eternal God. This love is patient and kind. It doesn’t run out. It doesn’t fade. It endures all things. This love never ends.

How great is His love!

“We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character and character produces hope.” Romans 5 v 3,4

This is Day 4 of the PUYB 7 day series on the spiritual blessings we have in our redemption through Christ. The fourth blessing we are promised is Christ -like character.

No matter who you are, in this world you will experience suffering. Pain spares no one. It is a fact of life. Reading this might immediately bring to your mind experiences that were near unbearable for you. The suffering and pain that changed you forever. Intense experiences in our lives tend to do that to us. The effect it has on one could vary. Bitterness and anger rule in some. Strength and a fighting spirit define others.

For the believer, enduring suffering with Christ by your side changes you to the very core. In your suffering He begins a work in you. He is sculpting away the parts of you that do not come from Him. He is molding and shaping that which remains, even adding to it, to build in you a character like His. Does this suddenly make experiencing suffering easier? No. It does not. However, in knowing that there is a set purpose to everything you go through (we talked about this yesterday), you rejoice in your suffering because Christ is working out that purpose.

Jesus, for the joy set before him, endured the cross (Hebrews 12 v2). Christ knew that his suffering would fulfill its set purpose which was the reconciliation of mankind with it’s Creator. He also knew that beyond his suffering was a reunion with His Father. This is the character of Christ – one that doesn’t let suffering take the center stage. To Him, suffering was the means to accomplish His purpose.

Having Christ-like character prevents your suffering from becoming bigger than you and overcoming you. Christ-like character enables us to endure much for that which lies beyond. In your suffering remember that you are not alone – Christ is with you. Remember also, that the night does not last forever. Darkness must give way to light. The morning shall come and when you step out into the light, you will be more like Christ.

“Through Him…we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 2

Our current topic of discussion on PUYB is the 7 spiritual blessings that Paul lists out in Romans 5. In the past two days we covered the first two of the seven blessings that we receive from God through redemption in Jesus Christ. Today, we will discuss the third: Glorious Hope.

Hope is such an interesting and important characteristic of the Christian life. So much of the richness of our Christian lives is tied to hope – the hope of the glory of God. In hope, we can understand the purpose of our past and present struggles and accomplishments. The Bible says that He has set purpose to every one of our days even before the first came to be (Psalm 139 v 16). His purpose for those whom He foreknew is to be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8 V 29).

This means that anything and everything that we have encountered or will ever encounter in our lives has the preset purpose of leading us closer to God and creating in us His character. Nothing is meaningless. Not your cancer, not your broken marriage, not your wandering child, not your struggles with sin, not your car accident, not your dysfunctional home, not the death of your loved one, NOT ANYTHING. Everything is meaningful, purposeful, intentional and necessary for your Christian life.

Hope also gives meaning to our future. Our hope does not put us to shame (Romans 5v5). Our hope, as followers of Christ, is not in the world we see but in the things not seen (Hebrews 11 v 1). One day, the things of earth will pass away and we will be with Him in eternity. He will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away (Revelation 21 v 4).

This is the glorious hope we have in Christ.

There is more to know about this glorious hope we have in Christ. Pick up your Bible!

“Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace by which we stand” Romans 5 v 2

When God redeemed you and declared you righteous through Jesus Christ, He gave you seven spiritual blessings. Today we are covering the second of these: access to the grace of God.

For the past few months, our family and friends have been praying together daily for a couple of different people who are dear to us and who will soon go before a judge that will make decisions changing their lives forever. Standing undeniably guilty before a judge, your life being completely at his or her mercy is a grave and dire situation, but not one that anyone of us will escape.

There will come a day that you and I will stand in God’s presence and be judged for the lives we live. Not one of us that stand before him will be guiltless. Not even the best of us. We have all sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3 v 23). And we all owe a penalty we cannot pay. Had we been standing before an earthly judge, where justice prevails high above mercy and grace, there would be no hope for us.

But God is neither more merciful than just, nor is he more just than gracious. In God, the attributes of justice, mercy and grace all abound immeasurably and equally; and in His just court, our merciful God has made a way: Jesus Christ. Jesus having paid the penalty on your behalf has fulfilled the justice of God. And when you, Christian, stand before God on judgement day you are pardoned solely on the basis of being His. It is the way He has made for man to be right with God. It is mercy. It is grace.

In addition to justification on judgement day, you have access to God now. When life gives you more than you can handle, you can run into His presence. You can lean on the chest of your heavenly Father. You can cry for help, for love, for tender care.

This is what access to His grace means!