Category: Truth

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our trouble, so that we can comfort those in trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

In this world we will have troubles, we were told this by Jesus himself. He was the man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. People either loved him or hated him and would do anything to get rid of him. He definitely could relate. He said, “ If they hated me they will surely hate those who follow me.” He was born poor and looked down on because he was born out of wedlock. He came to show us the ways of his Father but also to understand what it meant to be human and walk among men. He saw hurting people and had compassion for them because he knew everything about what they were going through. If someone couldn’t fend for themselves or have the money to have someone take care of them they were overlooked. He came here to do the will of his Father but his Father watched all he suffered through at the hands of evil men. Their love for mankind was so great that they just wanted to make it better. That is why Jesus healed so many lives. When I had my stroke 20 years ago I thought I was no longer useful to God because I couldn’t do much after the stroke. But I began to see a new strength arise. People who were hurting could relate to someone else who was hurting and going through difficulties. God had been working in my life helping me grow towards him and learning to trust him more. The closer I grew to him the more joy I had in my life and they could see that in me and that gave me a platform to reach hurting people. Someone hurting and dealing with difficulties doesn’t want to approach someone who has it all together because they can’t understand. When someone can relate and God has been comforting them they can share that comfort with others. God began using me to encourage other Christian’s with wisdom and strength. I wrote books and this blog to encourage. Trials and tribulations are all allowed by God for a purpose whether we like them or not. God will not allow needless suffering because he is a good God and he will always be just and with us through it all and giving us the strength and wisdom to deal with them.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” Matthew 6:25

When you trust God you realize that he knows more of what you need than you do. We can be concerned with so many unnecessary details. Things that one day really don’t matter at all to eternity. Food and clothing don’t really matter when you think about forever with Jesus. We are told just to love others and God more than anything. He already loves us more than anyone and has promised to take care of us and he is very faithful. It is more about relationships and integrity than about us. Sure we need to try to look nice but it is our heart that is more important. People may not care what you wear but they care how you treat them. God wants to be the one we rely on. That’s not our job. We need to work to take care of our needs and we shouldn’t be lazy. God knows. He says those who won’t work won’t eat. But he understands everyone’s reasons. Maybe you have small children to take care of or an injury that keeps you from working or other responsibilities. Our society is very good at saying you deserve it. Just go for it. You need that new gadget. You are worth it. More and more stuff. People end up hoarding because they believe the lie. Things can’t make you happy. I’ve known people with money who have everything but are miserable and lonely. People can make you happy but God is why they make you happy. In poor countries people can be so much happier with nothing if their needs are met. They are also more generous than wealthy countries. They share everything they have with all those around them. They know God provided it and they are grateful. If someone stops by it is an occasion to celebrate and invite friends and neighbors to join and fellowship with all the food they have.

“The heavens declare that glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalms 19:1

If you really think about all that is around us it is difficult to deny God’s amazing glory. Most people just don’t think about it. They just take one day at a time, struggling through. If they just pondered for a moment nature’s faithfulness. The world starts brand new every morning and it is a brand new day not like any day before. The sun comes up at the same time every morning. The weather is always different, whether it is sunny, raining, snowing and hot or cold there is something new all the time. But the plants thrive and animals have water to drink or just play in. He not only takes care of people but every organism. Tides go in and go out. Moon is full or dark. But the sun and moon do Gods bidding and sustain life. Summer turns to fall and then winter to spring. Variety so we have it all. The world has been spinning around for thousands of years. Clocks tick perfectly the same all the time. Christmas, Easter, Fourth of July. So much to enjoy. Nobody wants to go through life on their own. We all need companionship and family. God thought of everything. The best friend we could ever have is Jesus Christ, and he will never leave us or forsake us. He is daddy to his children and never minds sitting and listening to us. When you need a hug or wisdom, or the fires of life are getting close he is there. I can look back at all the mountains you have moved and miracles you have done. I know there is nothing you can’t and won’t do, if I ask. Your power is amazing but you care so much about each one of us. You even care about a sparrow and you know when it falls to the ground. They never worry about what comes next. You have it covered. One day we will breathe our last breath and you will bring your children home to your mansion to live with you forever as one big happy family.

“God made him who had no sin the sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

From the beginning of the world there has been darkness and sin. There is no way we could breech the distance between us and a righteous God. So he sent his one and only son to be sin in our place. Light came into the world to show the way of the Father. Just like every morning the sun rises so we can see clearly to enjoy our new day the Son came to bring us light so that we could see the truth. When we are surrounded by darkness we can’t see clearly to enjoy. Until the Son showed us the ways of the Father we didn’t know we were in darkness. Once we knew the truth we had to let that light into our hearts and believe in him. Once that light came to live within us we no longer need to walk in the dark. Even if my room is totally dark at night I still have Jesus with me and know he is watching over me. My job is to shine my light into the world so that others might believe also. You don’t always have to preach to others but how you live can say it all. We have all sinned there is no perfect person but Jesus. We could do nothing to save ourselves. Nothing I could ever do is good enough. I remember singing a song when I was young. “I can see clearly now.” I’m so glad I had my stroke and that I didn’t die because my life is so much different now. Back then I just wanted to do what I wanted to do. Now it all seems stupid, what I thought was living. Ha, was I wrong. But at least I got a do over before it was over. Now I know what a full and abundant life really is. “Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” How will you live?

“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, the colt, the foal of a donkey. Zachariah 9:9

This week is Holy Week and we are celebrating all that Jesus did for us. As he rode into Jerusalem the beginning of the week people cheered and waved palm branches to celebrate the victorious King. Palm leaves are decorative for military and other important people. They were declaring him as King although many didn’t believe. Many who saw his miracles knew that only God could do such amazing things. The Messiah. The long awaited savior. They also shouted Hosanna, which means God save and deliver us. Jesus did just that by giving his life for ours. The palm branch is a cymbal of honor, respect and reverence for someone important. It also is resilient and can tolerate poor conditions and is considered eternal. Things that Jesus definitely is. As he willingly let his palms be nailed to that cross he did bring victory by saving us from death and giving us eternal life to all who would believe in him. By his stripes we have been made whole in more ways than one. Satan and the religious leaders thought they had gotten rid of something that irritated them and took the attention off of them. But he was doing just what his Father sent him here to do. He was here to show us the Father by doing just what the Father would do. His great compassion and love for people lets you see how God really feels about each of us. He is not demanding and harsh the way some think he is. The more you get to know him the more you see how much he is interested in helping us to have what is best for us. His death shows what a great price he was willing to pay so that we could be together for eternity. Because God loves people just like the Son.