Aug

28

Joy overflowing

Uncategorized  Posted by / 0 comments

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

Uncategorized  Posted by / 0 comments

 

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

Uncategorized  Posted by / 0 comments

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

Uncategorized  Posted by / 0 comments

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!

Uncategorized  Posted by / 0 comments

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.