Mary Cantell

A friend to the friendless

Friends are wonderful. Without them, where would we be? They are supportive, loving, and often go out of their way for us. While there are friends in name only—more like casual acquaintances—there are others who stick by closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24).

While we appreciate our friends and what they can offer, what’s even greater is that Jesus is so much more; he’s both our savior and our friend. He’s been called a prophet, a priest, and a king when he walked the earth. Today, he’s all of that—and more.

Bright Morning Star, the Alpha and the Omega, Prince of Peace…the list of Jesus’ names goes on… But with all of his titles, the fact that he is our friend, too, is stunning.

So, what has Jesus done for me lately? This may be a thought in your mind. Though if you have to ask that question, you may want to look no further than the book of John.

For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but has everlasting life ~ John 3:16

What Jesus accomplished on the cross in doing his Father’s will is above and beyond anything we’ll ever need. Whatever we may require, it surely will not go unnoticed to him. He is faithful to supply all of our needs.  Sometimes, it’s just a matter of trust.

His perfect peace

Pain and worry from personal struggles and issues of the day are often bound up in us when we take our eyes off the ball. Not a ballgame; it’s serious matters of life that so easily entangle us when we look at the problems instead of looking to Christ.

In difficult times of trials and troubles, Jesus—and he alone—is the only healing balm we need. With all of the power he has, what is your life’s situation that he cannot handle for you and give you peace in your soul?

Whose burdens are you carrying that you are so weighted…or that you’re overburdened and spread so thin that there’s nothing left by the end of the day and you are worn and stressed to the point of breaking? Is this where God has called you?

       For my yoke is easy and my burden is light ~ Matthew 11:30

No matter what is going on, the calming peace of Jesus is there to take in. It’s like no other. He leads us beside the still waters and restores our souls. His peace is like a river, and it flows as a fountain of blessings to his faithful followers, who put their trust fully in Him.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. ~ John 16:33

Holy is his name

No matter how holy we may appear on the outside, our righteousness will never be enough to please a holy God, as the word says in the O.T. that all of our righteousness is akin to filthy rags. Sadly, our goodness will never suffice in pleasing Him or pave a path for us into heaven because it’s not really about us. We can never become holy enough on our own unless we first “put on” Christ.

So many feel that they must earn their way into heaven…or do some kind of work or penance to appease our holy God. Really? Is that what God’s word is saying?

According to Hebrews 11:6, it is impossible to please God without a genuine conviction that he exists. And as far as getting into heaven…Ephesians 2 tells us that it is “by his grace that we have been saved through faith…” and by which we trust Him for our salvation.

Try as we may, God is too great to impress with our own self-righteousness. The only way to please God is by having faith in his Son, the Lord Jesus, who graciously gave up his life in order we may live.  No one can save themselves, which is good to know because Jesus did it all through his free gift of salvation by His grace alone.

Got hope?

Do you swim in a sea of doubt and fear and get so far off shore that you lose sight of your peace or hope? Satan loves to pull us into the deep and leave us there any chance he gets. Most of the world is floating aimlessly out in turbulent waters seeking comfort and searching for a life preserver somewhere in the waves.

The world offers relief from the burdens that can weigh us down, but it’s only a temporary fix. Just a crutch. For the children of God, our Lord supplies us with real hope and peace—not as the world gives—and it totally surpasses our understanding of how it works, but it does,

When struggles seem bound to steal our hope, now is the time to rejoice in the Lord and count it all joy (James 1:2) because the Lord has overcome the world, and as a believer, you have the Lord. Your trials are the chisel which conforms you to be more like Jesus…to make you more like him. Let him do a good work in you by faithfully keeping your mind on Jesus, and He will do the increase while he keeps your hope alive—in Him!

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” ~ Romans 15:13

The world is a battlefield for mind control. We will always be in a battle until we’re far away from this earth, though there is assurance that in Him, our battles are already fought and won. Our deliverer is Christ.

His light

God is all about the light. He doesn’t just display light, he is light. He is “The Light of the World” and the “Bright Morning Star.” There are plenty of knock-offs, but Jesus is the only real deal. He is the true light.

As believers, it’s our joy to bring the story of Jesus to others who may not know the Lord and who, as a result, walk in darkness. Though to people accustomed to living without the light, they have adjusted to it, and even a small ray of sunshine could, indeed, be harsh at first.

It’s uncomfortable to have a light shined directly into the eye, especially to creatures of the night. Though it should not deter us from sharing the love of Christ with them. The story of Jesus never gets old. For if we do not share our faith with others, we’re only making their path to hell a bit easier. If their route led them to a sheer cliff, wouldn’t it benefit them to know? If there’s danger ahead, it’s out of love that we tell people there is a better road to follow.

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am The Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life” ~ John 8:12

So, share the light of Jesus  with others however the Holy Spirit leads. As an ambassador for Christ, you may be the only source of truth they’ll hear today.

What time is it?

Some would define God as a great clockmaker, who wound the world up and then walked away to let the world-clock run on its own. But God is anything but negligent of his creation. Though God lives in eternity and dwells outside of time, he still plays an active role in it.

God’s gift of time is precious. As stewards of our time, it’s our decision in how we use it. With our pre-determined number of days, what are we to do with them?

With the 86,400 seconds in each day, the way we prioritize those moments is important to getting the best out of life. We can be distracted with the unimportant, or we can live each day as though it were our last. Oftentimes, for some, we are consumed with the unimportant. We can choose to honor him through what we spend our time on or dishonor him. It’s our choice.

For the saved, we’ve come to know that seeking his face in all we do is better than doing things on our own. Let it be our resolution to seek His kingdom rather than possessions and Godliness rather than selfishness. Though it is so easy to fall short, we should aim for the highest.

Always remember, our days are numbered by God for a purpose. Today could be our last. Make the best use of what he has given and know that each day is in his hands.

Like the eagle

With places to go and things to do, busy people often find themselves on autopilot. Meanwhile…stuck in traffic or running late with a thousand chores on the list, it would be great to hitch a ride on the wings of an eagle and move ahead swiftly.

When facing an impasse in life, soring ahead of our problems would make life so much simpler. Whether it’s a mere road delay or a problem so insurmountable that we want to escape it altogether, flying high away from the situation on this awesome creature would be our first option.

Interestingly, when a storm is brewing, an eagle can sense the incoming danger. Rather than becoming spooked, the eagle patiently waits for the wind to come and then uses it to fly high and above the storm. When we’re born again into a new life with Christ and the Holy Spirit now dwells within us, we are new creatures. Metaphorically, as the eagle sheds its feathers as it ages, we, too, shed our old feathers and now bear new ones in Christ. If only we could rise above the storms of life as seamlessly as the eagle…but we can! Not in escapism but rather in our faith walk with Jesus.

As we wait upon the Lord, it’s a precarious balance of trust and expectation. Though by his word, we are assured that like the stately eagle, our strength will be renewed. We can, indeed, overcome our problems as we are “more than conquerors through Him who loved us” ~ Romans 8:37.

An everlasting light

Did you ever consider that without God in the world, there would be no light? The world would be void. As God provides the light, it’s a different story—both physically and even more so, spiritually.

With God’s light, our paths remain clear to travel. While in the light and as we draw nearer to Him, we can clearly see the obstacles in our way. When we walk in darkness, do we not stumble?

Even as we are sanctified, every day trials can get us off track, despite the Holy Spirit dwelling inside us. Our minds often race to quell the storms, and our immediate reactions to life’s situations can be fleshly and prideful.

We may not see eye-to-eye on issues or life’s problems with each other, but a civil, peaceful plan of disagreement is far more profitable than a civil war. We may not always agree, but disagreeing peacefully goes a long way…as “the battle belongs to the Lord.”

“Man’s anger cannot accomplish the righteousness of God” ~ James 1:20.

 In an effort to deal with what comes our way, the only thing that will steer us in the right direction and bring us peace is leaning on the everlasting arms. So, as the new year is upon us, let’s take our first steps of the year being fully clothed in the light of Christ.

Our time is in His hands

On the cusp of the New Year, people make vows to change themselves. It’s the proverbial New Year’s resolution. Anything can be on the to-do list, including losing weight, quitting smoking, and cutting out carbs. Yet how many times have these pledges melted by the first snowfall?

It is an admirable goal to achieve these sweeping changes, yet by true grit and own strength, it’s often not enough. Sinners, as we all are, need not turn over a new leaf—but a new heart. We can’t use the stuff of flesh to make better flesh; we need the Holy Spirit to accomplish the work. It’s not about you or I becoming a better person. It’s about becoming more like the savior of the world. We can do “all things through Christ” who strengthens us by His spirit.

May this New Year be your opportunity to yield to God not just some but all of your heart’s goals, hopes, and dreams, so he may mold you into the image of his son.

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” ~ Psalm 37:4

 That is…because they will be His desires, too, which are ultimately what is best for you.

A Child is Born

The moment in time when Jesus arrived in Bethlehem as a baby, he was at the very beginning of a great mission. That he would leave heaven for earth boggles the mind, and to come in the humblest means possible to begin his life in a feeding trough in a lowly stable is unfathomable.

The baby Jesus grew to become prophet, priest, and King of Kings. His thirty-three years on earth created a mark in history that would be forever a turning point. For everything vile, despised, and eschewed by man, Jesus, our Emmanuel—God-with-us—gave his life. He became the sacrifice to bring all who believe in him into an everlasting fellowship with the Father. A gift to all men…and one that doesn’t stop giving.

We celebrate the savior’s birth this season and in our hearts all the year through. Like the angels sang in their celebration on that fateful, joyous day, we, too, rejoice. “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”