Taste and See

7-6-5 This is the number sequence I use to remember the date my mom passed away (July 6, 2005).  It is hard to believe it has been 18 years ago today. Days like today make me wonder many things since she would now be 78.  If she were still here, would she still be gardening – growing the best cucumbers in the world (according to Nicole, Josh and John)?  Would she still be fishing? I know she would be enjoying her family.  It also makes me ask the hard “Why” questions.  Why did she have to get cancer?  Why was it not curable? Why did she die so young?  But as I ask those questions that there are seemingly no answers to, I have to go back to the truths I do know: 

We live in a fallen world where there is disease, pain, suffering etc.

God is Sovereign, and His ways are not my ways (they are much higher).

God knew her and she was created with a purpose
Jer 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart”

Our days are numbered 
Psalm 139:16 “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in Your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”

Her days were decided to be 21,979 or 60 years, 2 months and 2 days.  That is true for all of us.  We all have a number that is pre-decided. Only God knows. Are we living our lives to the fullest in light of that information?  I would say probably not, or at least not all the time.

My mom kept a journal through her cancer journey and it is a treasure to have.  It is hard to read sometimes as it stirs up all sorts or emotions.  I am so thankful for her entries like this on May 1, 2005 – “Thank you Jesus for Your loving kindness & mercy.  Your will be done.”  And then on May 4, 2005 (her birthday) “Thank you Lord for 60 years of blessings”.  She gave glory to Jesus during the hardest time in her life.  What an example she set forth.  Because of her faith in Jesus, I know I will see her again. It is only a matter of days.

The old saying goes “a picture is worth a thousand words” and while that is true, a picture can also be worth so much more than it seems.  Ironically, this is a picture of my Dad taking a picture, but to me it means more than that.  I recently read the following written by a friend named Liz at church and it captures this so much…

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My Abba Father Holds My Hand

As a little girl, I always considered myself to be a daddy’s girl. I loved nothing more than being next to my daddy and holding tightly to his hand with him holding tightly to mine. This morning, as I was sitting in my quiet place, I envisioned myself as a little girl again. I was doing the thing that I loved to do the most. I can still remember the smell of those rugged, strong hands. When I would walk away, I could still smell his scent on my hands. As a little girl, I loved that scent. That scent gave me the feeling that my daddy was always with me.

While my earthly father is no longer here, I was reminded once more this morning that the love of my heavenly Father will never be taken away! You see, He holds my hand continually! Isaiah 45:1 says, “Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus (to Liz), whose right hand I have grasped…” He wants nothing more from me than for me to crave to be in His presence, to hold His hand, and to receive the scent of His presence. As I walk away from that place, I still carry the scent of being in His presence.

As I went to that secret place today, I tried to determine that I wasn’t going to ask for anything. I just wanted to sit in His presence. I walked away with so much more than I ever imagined.

How many times has He tried to take my hand when I’ve been determined to do it myself? I probably can’t count that high! We all do that though. That’s what Adam & Eve did in the Garden of Eden. I picture a child yanking his hand away from the parent in defiance. That’s what I’ve done so many times. Yet, my Father says He will never leave nor forsake me. He’s always right there just waiting for me the see Him and let Him take my hand once again.

Isaiah 43:25 – “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” Notice, He does everything good in me for His own sake! He made me. He has every right to do whatever He pleases for His glory.

As flawed as I am as a parent, I still love for my “children” to just want to be with me. I love being in their presence. How much more does my heavenly Father want me to just come to Him just because I want to BE with Him! That presence is what was lost in the Garden of Eden due to Adam and Eve’s rebellion. That presence is what was purchased back by the precious blood of Jesus as He offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. Because of Jesus, those of us who have surrendered our lives in exchange for His can now boldly enter back into the presence of our loving heavenly Father. May we live longing to be in His presence, grasping to His hand, and walking away with the scent of His presence. It’s all about relationship…NOT religion!

Elizabeth Williams

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Oh how this captured my heart because I always thought of myself as a Daddy’s girl too.  His hands were always big and rugged, scarred from working with them all his life.  And the smell, usually always of sawdust from working with wood.  I would spend time with him at his shop when I was young and he would sing out “DeAnn Sanders is a good ‘ole girl.”  I am confident of my Daddy’s love for me, even now at a much older age. So it is easier for me to come to a better understanding of God’s love for me. My dad has always been there for me and I know to this day, he is only a phone call away if I ever needed him.  There are others who are not so lucky and I’m sure that can distort their view of God, our Heavenly Father.  Their fathers may have been harsh, unloving or even absent and that is how they think God is or can be.  But oh, how wrong that view of God is.  Like the story says above, He loves us, He longs to spend time with us and we can be confident in His love for us! 

God’s love is:

Unfailing (it does not fail)
Merciful (not getting what we deserve)
Full of Grace (giving us what we don’t deserve)
Long-suffering (He puts up with a lot)
Faithful (He keeps His promises)

The list can go on and on but the main way He shows us love is found in Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” He loved us enough to send His own perfect Son to die because we cannot be perfect. Jesus took the punishment that I deserve so that I would never have to experience God’s wrath.  Believing that Jesus took on this punishment for me now lets me relish in my Heavenly Father’s love. Thank you to my dad for being the picture of it – it is worth so much.

(Written August 23, 2019)

Luke 13:1-5  ¹Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. ² Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? ³ I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. ⁴ Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? ⁵ I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

This passage of scripture has come to mind several times over the past year or so.  Mainly trying to make sense of Covid-19 and what all that brought about – especially so many people dying from it.  I’ve asked all the ‘why’ questions and gone through every emotion in the book: fear, anxiety, anger, disbelief, doubt . . .  and the list could go on.   Then today I hear of a condo collapsing in south Florida and some people were killed.  That really made me think again of this scripture because it talks about a tower falling on people.  I guess the point to think about is none of us really know when or how we will die – we just know we will.  We tend to hope later than sooner for sure.  And this is what Jesus is saying to the people. He mentioned two disasters – one an evil done by the hand of man and the other was seemingly a natural disaster. Things happen – not because some people are worse than others or because they are being punished but just simply things happen. 

Hurricanes – Disease – Murders – Tornados – Cancer – Car Wrecks – Tsunami – Freak Accidents

The bible tells us our days are numbered.  Job 14:5 says “A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.”  Psalm 139:16 says “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”   Jesus turned his focus from the question “why did this happen?” and turned it to the question, “what does this mean to me?” We all may die at any time, so repentance must be top priority. Those who died in these two instances probably did not think they would die soon, but they did, and we can suppose that some of them were not ready. Jesus’ heart here for the people is saying repent, believe in Me, believe that I died on the cross for you and if you do, you will not perish but have everlasting life no matter when or how your last day on earth will be. We don’t know what tomorrow brings. Are you ready?

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life –  Psalm 23:6a

This past Sunday John sang a song at church entitled “Fierce” by Jesus Culture.  The song is basically talking about how fierce God’s love is for us. There is a line in the song really stuck out to me.  It said:

“Like a hurricane,
That I can’t escape,
Tearing through the atmosphere,
Your love is fierce”

I had never thought of God’s love this way before.  Since we recently experienced Hurricane Irma a few weeks ago, I could really relate to these lyrics.  Robert and I debated escaping (evacuating) but we really didn’t know where to go.  Every time we watched the weather, it seemed the direction changed.  So where were we to go?  And boy did it tear through the atmosphere in many areas. Luckily, we were spared any damage but many people we not so fortunate.

We know God loves us, but do we think of His love as ‘fierce’ for us? As fierce as Hurricane Irma?  I like how the verse above refers to His unfailing love that will pursue me all the days of my life. To think that He pursues me like a hurricane and I can’t escape from it.  God has always loved me, even before I was born.  He sent His one and only son to die for me.  He has been with me every moment of my life and promises to never leave me. It is just amazing to think about.  I will leave you with Psalm 139 as it explains it completely:

Psalm 139

¹ You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. ² You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. ³ You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. ⁴ Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. ⁵ You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. ⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? ⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. ⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, ¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. ¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” ¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day,  for darkness is as light to you.

¹³ For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. ¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,   I know that full well. ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place,  when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. ¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. ¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! ¹⁸ Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand—  when I awake, I am still with you.

¹⁹ If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! ²⁰ They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. ²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? ²² I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. ²³ Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. ²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

This is taken from a book called “Healing Prayer” by Reginald Cherry, M.D. and it is the best, easiest explanation of becoming a Christian that I’ve read:

There are four basic Scripture passages that outline what you need to know to become a part of the family of God.  They are not complicated or hard to understand. Let them be your stepping-stones to a new life.
First, the Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23 NIV).  Sinfulness is universal, a fundamental part of the human condition. “All” doesn’t leave anybody out. So we must start by knowing where we stand in God’s eyes.
Second, there is a penalty for sin. The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23 NIV). That’s pretty drastic, isn’t it?  Sin is no laughing matter.  No wonder it casts such a dark shadow on our pathway and hangs such a heavy load on our shoulders.  We are sinners, and the penalty for sin is death. Is there any hope for us? Is there any way of escape?
Third, yes.  Someone else has already paid the penalty for our sin!  The Bible says, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8 NIV). Isn’t that amazing?  Why should He love us so? What a tremendous sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf.  What a wonderful gift is ours!
Fourth, we can claim the benefit of Christ’s sacrifice only as we confess that our lives belong to Him – that He is Lord.  We must also believe that He is alive, resurrected from the death He died on the cross for us.  As we do these two things, we are saved.  The Bible says, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” (Rom. 10:9-10 NIV). Also, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NIV).
That’s it – that’s all you need to know and do to become a born-again Christian.                Born again? Yes, Jesus Himself used that term to describe the new life He gives to those who come to Him.  He told a Pharisee named Nicodemus that no one could see the kingdom of God unless he was born again – “born of water and the Spirit.  Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (John 3:5-6 NIV).
When you are born again, you relate to God in a new way.  He is not simply your Creator but your Father, and you are His child. “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:12-13 NIV).  This is a new and very special relationship.
The Bible also says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17 KJV).
Are you ready for a new life? Pray this prayer with me:

Father in heaven, have mercy upon me, a sinner.  I recognize that I have failed to please You with my life and way of living, and that my sins have separated me from You.  I am sorry for my sins and ask Your forgiveness.  Wash me and cleanse me because of the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus.  Lord Jesus, I accept You as my Savior and invite You to live in my heart and life.  Send Your Holy Spirit to teach me and guide me step-by-step according to the plan You have for my life.  I give myself to You. Help me to live for You and to do Your will in all that I say and do from this day forward.  I love You and thank You for saving me – from my sin and for Your glory. Amen.

If you prayed and meant it, God has heard and answered your prayer.  You are forgiven. Old things are passed away and all things have become new.  You are a new creation, born again into new life in Christ.  Welcome to the family of God!
Now, as a new Christian, you need to grow and become strong in your faith.  The step you have taken is not the end but a glorious new beginning.  The best way to find the daily nurture and care you need is by talking to God in prayer.  Don’t worry about thee’s and thou’s and theology.  Just talk to God like a Father.  Talk to Him daily, hourly, without ceasing.  You are never alone.
Then begin learning about God and His will for you through reading His Word, the Holy Bible.  Yes, you can understand it.  The more you read it, the more meaningful it will become.  I’d suggest starting with the Gospel of John in a modern translation that’s easy to understand.  You’ll also be blessed by the Psalms and Proverbs.  Don’t try to read the whole Bible all at once, just read some every day.  Open your mind and let the Lord speak to you through the Scriptures.
It’s very important for you to make some Christian friends and start associating with other believers who can encourage and assist you in your walk with God.  Find a good church that offers both support and opportunity for Christian service and teaches you the Word of God.
Don’t try to go too fast or get impatient with the progress.  God will make Himself real to you and help you.  Remember, you’ve been born again and are a spiritual infant.  You need time to grow in strength, knowledge, and wisdom.

And do not grumble as some of them did….     1 Corinthians 10:10

In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul gives warnings from Israel’s history – specifically from when they were in the desert.  He says in verse 6, “now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.”  He warned against idolatry, sexual immorality and of testing the Lord.  Then the last warning – Do Not Grumble (complain).  I felt pretty confident as I read this list until I came to that last one – Guilty!

We give the Israelites a hard time and think that we would have done so much better if it were us in the desert – Moses did refer to them as a stiff-necked people.  Never mind the fact that we’ve read the whole story and know how it ends and what God’s plan really was for them.  Doesn’t that make it so much easier than when you are smack dab in the middle of it? Here they were, directly in God’s will and on His path for them.  He was literally leading them day and night by cloud and fire and they still grumbled and complained.  I guess it is hard to see the good sometimes when you are in the midst of a trial. I tend to think it is OK for me to grumble because I’m not always sure of God’s will for my life.  I want to be in His will and always on His path but I don’t have that cloud showing me the exact way and that can be frustrating.  Sometimes He is silent, so I grumble when He is not speaking or revealing to me what I am seeking from Him.  Sometimes my prayers aren’t being answered the way I want so I grumble.  Sometimes all I hear is “wait” or “be still” so I grumble because I want action.  I feel like I need to be doing something.  In those times though, maybe the something I need to be doing is just sitting at the feet of Jesus like Mary did (Martha was the one busy doing something and ultimately missing out being with Jesus).  Just drawing close to Him and getting to know Him better – resting in Him.

Many times God’s will and His path are not easy for us, just like it wasn’t easy for the Israelites in the desert.  But none the less, He is in control and He is working all things out for us and those around us so who am I to grumble? I think it is really a trust issue.  Do I really trust that He loves me and wants what is best for me? The Israelites were His chosen people and He wanted the best for them – a land flowing with milk and honey. We need to die to self, take up our cross and follow Him. It will not be easy, but I think it’s worth a shot to grumble less and trust more.

And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me. Luke 7:23 NKJV
(Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me. Luke 7:23 NIV)

My first answer to this question would be a definite “no way, I love Jesus – He doesn’t offend me!”  As I was reading in Luke and came across this chapter where this verse comes from, I started digging deeper.  John the Baptist is in prison and he is struggling while he is there wondering if Jesus really is the Messiah.  It seemed John had clearly recognized Him as the Messiah before when he baptized Him. But now he was doubting and questioning his faith.  Funny how that happens to us when things are not going well isn’t it?  We start to doubt Jesus – does He really love me? Does He see me?  Does He know what I’m going through? Why aren’t you doing anything Jesus?

The Jewish people were looking for a mighty king or warrior in Jesus.  They wanted him to rush in and take over and free them from the Roman rule and oppression of that time.  They had their minds made up of what Jesus was supposed to do.  But Jesus had a whole different plan and purpose for being there. He saw things from an eternal perspective and not the here and now.  Jesus’ focus was not their focus and that offended them.  How often does this happen in our lives?  Probably a lot but our goal is to keep an eternal perspective when things don’t go the way we think they should.  The bible tells us in Isaiah 55:8-9 “ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.  As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  It doesn’t get much clearer than that.  God is God and we are not.  He is in control and things happen and work according to His plan and not ours.

My mother was diagnosed with cancer back in 2004.  She fought a long hard battle and I prayed for her to be healed of this terrible disease.  I knew He was capable.  He healed many people in the Bible and performed many miracles.  Luke 5: 12-13 is a story of a man with leprosy and he encounters Jesus and says “Lord, if you are willing you can make me clean.”  Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man and said “I am willing – be clean.” And he was healed.  Needless to say when my mom lost her battle months later, I was offended.  Jesus apparently wasn’t willing to answer my prayer and heal her.  I was not only offended – I was angry.  Luckily God understands us in these moments of emotional unrest and is still patient and loving toward us –wooing us back to Him.

Jesus sent encouragement back to John the Baptist while he was in prison.  Confirmation that promises found in Isaiah about Him were being fulfilled – the blind see, the lame walk, the deaf her, the dead live and the poor hear the good news. He ultimately did not save him from prison or death as he was soon beheaded but Jesus knew where he was and what he was going through.

Jesus sent encouragement to me after mama’s death also in two ways. As I was sitting in Sunday School one morning, the teacher had us be quiet and just listen to a song.  I don’t even remember the song but I remember Jesus speaking to me in those quiet moments.  He said “This life is about Me and you.  If you also lose your dad, your husband, or others – you will still have Me. And that is what matters.”  That changed my whole perspective of Jesus being Sovereign and in control.  It’s not about me but about Him.  The second thing that happened as a result of mama’s death was that John started asking a lot of questions about dying and going to heaven.  This gave me the opportunity to tell Him about Jesus and explain how he could be saved and know for sure he would go to heaven and see his Nana again.  He was shortly baptized after that.  God had eternal things in mind when I only had the here and now. I thank God so much that I did not “fall away” because of Him as the NIV words it.  I did not let my anger grow to the point of turning my back completely on God and writing Him off.  No matter what happens I need to believe the promises of the God in the bible:

God loves me, no matter what
God is good, and works things out for good, no matter what
God will never leave me nor forsake me, no matter what
God’s will always has my best interest at heart, no matter what

I made a post on Facebook with a video of Christina Grimmie singing “In Christ Alone”.  The comment I made was  –

So sorry to hear about the senseless murders as of late. Saw this video and I think she did an awesome job with this song. I couldn’t help but really think about the last verse of this song that says “Jesus commands my destiny” and “Till He returns or calls me home”. We must always be ready because we never know when that time will be. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”-Romans 10:13

I have continued to think and ponder on this situation – this young woman in the prime of her life –  dying so young.  I only know of Christina Grimmie from being on The Voice.  I really did not know her songs or follow her career. She seems to be very talented and has a beautiful voice. Reading about her, Wikipedia said she identified herself as a Christian.  That is great news.

I can’t help but wonder how well she embraced the song she was singing in this video.  Did she really think about the words “Jesus commands my desinty” and “Till He returns or calls me home.” Do we really think about those words?  Our lives as we know it can end suddenly, in any moment with no warning.  We all tend to live thinking we will die of old age or that will never happen to me or my family.  We forget that our destiny is in the hands of a Higher Power.  The bible tells us our days are numbered.  “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” Psalm 139:16

This brings up two points.  First, we need to live every day to the fullest, knowing it could be our last.  Death is a reality of life. I’ve been guilty of not even wanting to think about it – for myself or for others.  I’ve experienced death through my grandparents and most tragically through my mom with her cancer. But there is hope, a comfort in knowing I can and will see them again one day in heaven because of Jesus.  He made a way for that.  Sorrow and sadness are temporary when we look at the big picture.  Yes, our lives are changed when loved ones pass on.  We miss them and want to see them again.  That is only possible if you place your hope and trust in Jesus and what He did on the cross.

The cross brings up my second point (hang with me on this one).  When we sing and praise God through song do we really think about the words we are singing?  Do they mean something? Do you dwell on what it is saying and really sing it from your heart?  Or are they just empty words coming out of your mouth?  In the hymn The Old Rugged Cross it says “I will cling to the old rugged cross”.  Are you clinging to it?  Do you even think about it and its meaning?  Are you clinging to what Jesus did on that cross for you and why? We are loved and redeemed by that cross, our hope is in that cross.  Cling to it not only in hard times but in joyous times as well.  Another song by Hillsong called At the Cross says “At the cross I bow my knee, where Your blood was shed for me, there’s no greater love than this”.  Can you picture yourself bowed down at the actual cross with Jesus on it as if you were there that day (yes, close your eyes and imagine it).  His blood pouring down it. You grasp the base of the cross and cling to it, humbled.  The blood runs down over your hands.  You look up and see this amazing love being shown for you at that moment and for all your days. All that can and should come forth is thanksgiving and praise.  Isn’t that how our worship should be all the time? Another hymn says “Count your many blessings, name them one by one”.  Do we stop and think about all of the blessings God has given us or are we focusing on problems?  The new song Christ in Me by Jeremy Camp says “I want my life to be, only Christ in me”.  Is this the true cry of our heart?  Do we want our life to be like Jesus or look like the world? Maybe we want a little of both.  We are called to be set apart so are we? I could keep going with other songs but I’m sure you get the picture.  Whether they are hymns or praise songs, they are packed with powerful words to help us worship, praise and give thanks to our Savior, Jesus. Sing them with meaning and passion and hopefully your worship time will have a whole new meaning.

I have posted the video below of Christina Grimme singing In Christ Alone.  Be in prayer for her family and the families of these affected in Orlando.  Our only hope in our lives and in this nation is in Christ ALONE!

Listening to the radio the other day I heard the song “Just Be Held” by Casting Crowns. I’ve heard it before but this part really stood out to me:

If your eyes are on the storm
You’ll wonder if I love you still
But if your eyes are on the cross
You’ll know I always have and always will

Wow! How simple but yet so profound.   When problems/trials come what is the first thing we tend to do?  We wonder about or even doubt Jesus’ love for us. We wonder if He has forgotten about us.  We feel all alone. All of these thoughts and feelings escalate and our storm becomes greater than it originally was.  Remember when Peter walked on water? (Matt. 14:22-33)  Jesus was there out in the storm and told Peter to come.  He stepped out and walked on the water toward Him.  But then what happened?  Peter took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the storm.  I can only imagine what went through his mind at the moment – the waves, the wind, the reality of what was happening.  He began to sink and Jesus saved him.  If he had only kept his eyes on Jesus and kept walking, would they have embraced and celebrated this miracle?  Maybe they would have beckoned for more to get out of the boat and do the same?

So how do we keep our eyes on the cross (Jesus)? We must KNOW that Jesus loves us.  So much that He died for us on that cross.  That was not just a onetime thing but an ongoing, every day, every minute thing.  He cares about us and what is going on in our lives.  We must trust His sovereignty and know that He is in the midst of our situation whether we think He is or not.  We will have trials and problems and they are meant to grow us in our faith – to make us mature and complete.  James 1: 2-4 says: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

So keep your head up, picture that cross and keep your eye on it.  I leave you with one more verse (emphasis mine): Hebrews 12:1-3 says:  ”Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Be still and know that I am God – Psalm 46:10
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still – Exodus 14:14

Do you ever feel like you are drowning?  Drowning in a sea of problems?  Problems like family issues, financial hardship, work issues, health problems, self esteem issues and the list could go on. You may be facing not just one but several things at one time and you feel like you are just trying to keep your head above water, trying to survive. We find ourselves striving to figure it all out, to fix it, to know what we need to do to make it all better or better yet to just go away. We feel helpless but we are trying. The NASB version of Psalm 46:10 reads, “Cease striving and know that I am God.” When in the midst of problems it seems hard to be still and cease striving.  I feel like I need to be doing something – if not physically then at least mentally by worrying and thinking about it all the time.

Imagine with me a person drowning in the ocean.  They are struggling to survive, fighting the waves and the water.  The harder they fight, the more tired they get and their situation becomes worse. Panic sets in. A rescue swimmer finally makes it to them.  Their first reaction is to grab hold of the rescuer and almost fight with him in an effort to get help – possibly causing them both to be drowned.  But the rescuer is trained and experienced and knows how to deal with this exact situation.  The person drowning just needs to rest in the rescuer and let him do all the work.  Let him fight the waves and the water and just rest in his effort to save him.

Isn’t this a picture of how to be still and cease striving; how to rest in God as our Savior (rescuer) when problems seem to overtake us?  He knows each of our problems and our struggles.  He longs for us to just sit back (rest) and let Him do all the work – to trust Him to handle things – to fight for us. So many of our problems are really out of our control anyway.  I can’t make people think or act differently.  I can’t heal people that are sick or diagnosed with cancer or disease.  I can’t just get more money when I need it to pay bills. And as much as I desire for people to be saved and know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, I can’t save them.  Only God can do any of these things and we have to trust that He will handle ALL things according to His perfect will.  Sometimes it may not be the exact outcome we wanted or hoped for but we know that because God loves us, it will ultimately be the best for us. So I invite you to join me in resting more and striving less – to let go and let God!!!