Mary Cantell

Sep

19

Love for his bride

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By his grace, God has proven over and over again how much his people—the church—mean to him. Our Lord rejoices over us. How lovely is that?

As the story goes of Hosea and his wife Gomer, God delivered a powerful message to the people regarding their unfaithful behavior.  As Hosea’s wife, Gomer was unfaithful to her husband, returning to a life of prostitution; so, God felt betrayed by Israel’s infidelity as well. However, it wasn’t the end of the story. It didn’t end in divorce.

With every covenant God has made with man from Abraham through David and on down through the ages, God has remained faithful to Israel, an unfaithful people. Though man let go of his end of the relationship and left God in the back seat through sin, he has always remained faithful to us.

Though man broke the relationship through sin, God found a way to restore the relationship. That is where Jesus Christ enters the picture. The penalty for our sins ends at the foot of the cross. The Bride of Christ is now clothed in pure whiteness without spot or blemish, thanks to Jesus. We look forward to the marriage supper that one day will occur. Until then, like the parable of the ten virgins, be ready to meet the bridegroom as we are his bride!

The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness” ~ Lamentations 3:22-23

Sep

11

Shine on

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What’s the point of lighting a candle? Is the purpose for a candle to be set on fire and then placed in the closet? Or is it for hiding under the bed? Shouldn’t it be raised high and put on a candlestick, so the light may shine?

God’s word tells us to let our light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

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

What is this light? Is it not the Holy Spirit that dwells within all believers? This light allows us to be filled with thankfulness, love, joy, peace, hope and more as we walk the paths our Lord has for us.

Through the power of his light in us, we can face whatever may befall us because we know that as saved people, God is our guide. By our shining lights, we are walking proof that there is something special inside of us, and it becomes evident in our thoughts, words, and deeds.

So, let your light shine. Don’t hide it under a bushel. Keep the light on…to light your way and also to help light the way for others who may walk in darkness.

Sep

04

Trust or bust

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God’s inspiring love for humanity began in the Garden of Eden with the first animal sacrifice where he used the skin of the creature to clothe Adam and Eve. Why would God be so graciously inclined to show them mercy in light of their sinful disobedience?  Even after their fellowship was broken through their sin and God cast the couple out of his presence, his gracious love for them remained. His mercy continued so much that he eventually sent his son to redeem all of mankind from sin.

In times of fear or uncertainty, it should be comforting to know that God is closer than we think. If we are abiding in Christ, there is nothing to fear because we are held in the palm of his hand. We are as close as marrow is to bone.  Unlike worldly love that ebbs and flows at its own discretion, God’s love is an unlimited source that wells up from his true nature.

Today, Christ sits at the right hand of God after making the ultimate sacrifice. Those who’ve put trust in Him should no longer have any fears, worries, or doubts about the Lord’s love or his plans and provisions for our lives. Whether there’s famine, peril, nakedness, or sword, there’s nothing—at all—that can come between the Lord and His redeemed.

 

Aug

28

Joy overflowing

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Water not only quenches our thirst but is also a metaphor in the Bible for life. When we are parched—not only of physical thirst but the spiritual thirst of our souls as well—a never ending spring of life flows abundantly from our Lord and can satisfy like no other.

Living water is something Jesus promised to the woman at the well when he told her, those who drink of the water I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life (John 4:14).

The water of salvation that flows from the very presence of God is available in endless supply for humanity’s deepest needs.

When the poor and needy seek water,
and there is none,
and their tongue is parched with thirst,
the Lord will answer them,
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
I will open rivers on the bare heights,
and fountains in the midst of valleys;
I will make the wilderness a pool of water,
And the dry land springs of water… ~ Isaiah 41:17-18

Are you thirsty today? What God did for Israel, he can do for you. The Lord cares for you, and the water of salvation is yours for the asking when you have the faith to believe.

Aug

20

A glorious future

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In the Old Testament, the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the Jews who had been living under the controlling authority of foreign empires before they were sent away from Jerusalem into exile. One can only imagine how difficult it would be to live under that kind of domination and control.

Jeremiah told the people they would live in Babylon for at least 70 years, and they should settle down, build houses, marry, and even pray for the peace and prosperity of the city in which they now found themselves (Jeremiah 29:4-10).

His prophetic words were spoken to people in the midst of hardship and suffering, but God’s response then, and even now, is that he does not always provide immediate escape from difficult situations. Rather, God promises that He has a plan to prosper his people, sometimes in the midst of their current situations. We refer to Romans 8:28 that tells us, “And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose.” This should reassure us to look beyond our circumstances and focus on God in the storms of life.

Christians facing difficult situations today can take comfort in the words of Jeremiah, knowing that God is still on the throne and hasn’t forgotten us. He has a plan for our lives as we walk in faith trusting in Him. Regardless of our current state, especially in this current culture, we can be assured that He can work through it all to prosper us and give us a hope and a blessed future.

Aug

14

Our guiding light

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Where does one find help and guidance in times of extreme pain or difficulty? While struggling in distress, to whom do you go? Is there a special variant of escape that’s become a go-to standby? Seeking help for problems can be sought in numerous ways, but nothing can really cure the situation totally if we use only our own strength and muster. In fact, it may compound things.

The psalmist in Psalm 43 speaks of his oppression in the face of distress and questions God on why he seems so distant. Why do you cast me off…you are the God of my strength. So, why am I in mourning?

Sometimes, God is indeed silent, and tested people of faith sometimes ask this same question: Why isn’t God answering in the way I think he should? Our reasoning should be: God, only you can give me true peace. I need to be led by your light and truth…please send it to me and increase my faith. Until you answer, please be my strength.

Our road to the land of spiritual healing comes through submitting to God’s light and truth. It’s the only way to be led through our faith journey… unless we want to do it ourselves and wonder why life goes dark on us. We need God to lead the way to live abundantly.

In the words of Charles Spurgeon, “We seek not light to sin by, nor truth to be exalted by it, but that they may become our practical guides to the nearest communion with God.”

Aug

06

Bread of Heaven, Bread of Life

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So humble, our Savior. As down-to-earth as mere bread to which Jesus symbolically fashions himself… his very essence goes far beyond a food group and becomes the life-sustenance for all who believe.

At the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus used five loaves of bread and two fish. His miracle of the feeding seemed to go unnoticed by some of the Jews, who asked for another sign that Jesus was sent from God, as though this miracle didn’t satisfy them enough. Apparently, they were so enthralled with the free meal, the carbs must have fogged their minds so that they missed the whole message of Christ. He was their Messiah and was right in their midst, yet the concept went over their heads.

Do not labor for the food that perishes but for the food that endures to eternal life ~ John 6:27

While they may have remembered the manna from heaven that God had provided while they traveled the desert, they didn’t quite catch the metaphor that God, through Jesus, is the “Bread of Life.”

Our appetites are assuaged by the baker’s bread, but our lives can only be fully satisfied by the one true manna from heaven—the essential element for a complete, whole existence both now and through eternity.

Jul

31

Sing to the Lord!

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What better way to communicate to the Lord than through prayerful and joyous singing. God’s word is full of verses that encourage believers to worship him through music.

Ephesians 9:15 says we are to speak to each other in psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord. Colossians 3:16 says to let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

It was God and God alone who gave the Israelites the strength to conquer multiple enemies and bear a heavy load through their 40-year journey of temptations, trials, and afflictions through the wilderness. It is the reason they made a joyful noise at their special feast days. Standing before the tabernacle at the tent of meeting as well as in the temple, they used cymbals, harps, lyres, and trumpets—all to worship and glorify the Lord.

Like Israel, we too, have been brought out of bondage in our own personal deserts and now stand in Christ as redeemed citizens of the Heavenly Kingdom that is to come for each believer.

No matter the skill or pitch of your voice or whether you can even carry a tune, God is honored when the sound you make comes from a worshipful heart.

Jul

24

Just as I am

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There’s no pretense with God. No matter how much we want to dress up and present ourselves seamless and flawless to become acceptable, God sees the true nature of our character. No amount of starched collars or finery will cover our sins. Only the blood of Jesus.

When Christ came to earth, he was the division between the pompously proud and the humbly repentant. His purpose was to welcome into his family those who loved and sought the truth of God with a humble, open heart. No finery required.

The Lord resists the proud but gives grace to the humble ~ James 4:6

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled ~ Matthew 5:6

 Consider what the Lord has accomplished to welcome you into the family of God and know that as a son or daughter of God, truly you are loved and accepted through the redeeming work of Jesus on the cross. Nothing more, nothing less.

We don’t need to dress up for the Lord. Out of respect, we want to present ourselves clean when we come to church as members of a civil society. But remember, if you don’t have anything but the clothes on your back, the welcome mat to the Lord’s house is still free for you to set your foot upon. The Lord does not turn away anyone who comes knocking. By his blood, we are all cleansed of our filth in the precious blood of Jesus.

 O, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him ~ Psalm 34:8

Jul

16

Storm tossed

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When sorrows like sea billows roll is a lyric from a popular old hymn penned after a man’s personal tragedy. After losing his little boy in the great Chicago fire of 1871, hymn composer, Horatio Spafford, later lost the rest of his children—all four of his girls—in a ship accident at sea. Despite the heartbreak, Spafford remained close to Christ and wrote the hymn It is Well with My Soul, knowing that His comfort would be sufficient for anything.

Like Abraham, Stephen, Job, David, Paul, Daniel, Joseph and many other saints of old, they each leave a witness of hardship and persecution. With their dire troubles—even unto death—these men maintained an abiding faith as they rested in the spiritual arms of Jesus. These biblical legends are our great cloud of witnesses. Each one can inspire today’s believers as we share and follow these witnesses of the faith through God’s word while we travel our own individual path.

Some by the fire and some by the flood…but all through the blood of Jesus are we sifted and refined like choice silver and gold. It would seem like Horatio Spafford had been sifted with both water and fire in the Lord’s sanctification of this godly man. Like all of them, we can be a witness, too, and only through the power of God.