BF2013: Isaiah on My Mind…

Yesterday Isaiah was on my mind. Words of hope, promise and love. Light bulb moments beaming with fresh realisations about God. Understanding Him more. Rationalising why the world is confused by Him.

God speaks with truth, consistency and love. He cherishes us. His purpose for us was made clear. He hasn’t digressed from that vision. That purpose, and His love, never changes (see Isaiah 44:8).

                HE WON’T CHANGE HIS MIND … EVER!

Relief floods my heart, and as I close my eyes I gain some steps forward in my journey with Jesus. Feeling His closeness and the peace that ensues is pure joy.

The world doesn’t understand God, and yesterday I realised that God’s proclamations of His power and greatness are misinterpreted.

He’s not saying those things because He’s bragging, or because He wants to intimidate us into following Him.

                HE IS SAYING THOSE THINGS BECAUSE HE LOVES US. TRULY.

He is declaring His love for us. Reassuring us that we can turn to Him and rely on Him without fail.

 

We need to be as bold as God. We need to proclaim that WE ARE SAVED. WE ARE LOVED. WE ARE VALUED. WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. Not to brag, but to share in love with others the joy that comes from knowing Jesus.

He is our living water. The only means of complete and thorough refreshment (see Isaiah 44:3-4).

He chose to give us His Spirit and blessing.

We are meant to THRIVE, and not just be.

Be bold.

Be brave.
Be courage.

Exude intrepidity.

Share His love. Share His purpose. Share His living water. Splash it out over all you meet. And remember that YOU are loved, cherished and made for His purpose.

On Jesus and Trust...

Is it OK for me to take a leaf out of Jesus’ book and decide to not entrust myself to others? Jesus did that in John 2 after many people began to trust Him on seeing the miraculous signs He performed. However, “He didn’t trust them, because He knew human nature. No one needed to tell Him what mankind is like.” (John 2:24-25 NLT)

Jesus was obviously a smart man. He knew the real deal because, basically, He came from God (the real deal) and so thus was, and is, the real deal. We, as humans, have to learn the real deal, and as I’ve found out, it’s tough. But I can understand exactly why Jesus chose not to trust, because I am at that place now.

In Matthew 9:4 He asked some teachers of religious law why they have such evil throughs in their hearts. On the outside they spoke forgiveness, but on the inside their hearts were evil. Not much seems to have change for some people in the 2000 plus years since.

The internet and social media has paved the way for many people today to justify the evilness in their hearts as sharing, educating, etc. Blog posts, tweets, you name it and some people are doing it. Even I am guilty of having a dig at others and letting the evil that is in my heart (because, let’s face it, we’re only human so we ALL have it) bubble up on the outside. But this is something that I’m training myself not to do. I can be a down right bee-atch at times, and pity the poor person who suffers my wrath. Let’s just say that geographical distance between me and some people has been a literacy godsend for me and them! But, with the wisdom of my Father God, the love of Jesus, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I am learning – rather quickly – to keep my evil thoughts between God and I. Others, hmmm, not so much from what I can see.

What appears to me as an attempt to prove a point has convinced me that a decision I recently made was a right one. Through the prompting of the Holy Spirit I decided to grant myself some space in a certain area of my life. This then appeared to be not acceptable and expectations were set, and I retreated based on feeling threatened and cajoled. I know who I am; I know how to process hurt and humiliation, so I knew that I needed space. I did not, and still do not, regret the decision to ask for space. And why? It’s because of John 2:24.

I don’t feel that I’ve misinterpreted what I’ve seen and read, but I do feel that I’m justified in feeling as I do, and in making the choice I made. Jesus made that choice too. The Bible doesn’t say must forget after we forgive. God says we must be cautious after we are hurt and forgiveness is granted. And I’m sure God wouldn’t want salt rubbed into a wound either.

No matter how you claim to live, but God’s grace or your own, having your actions cause someone to no longer trust you with their heart is a big deal; part of the real deal.

So, be careful with people’s hearts, especially your own. Whether your interactions are face-to-face or online, just be careful. The heart knows the truth of how it feels, and mine surely does. I’m OK with no longer trusting some people, and I’m sure that Jesus is OK with that too.

Who Should We Entrust Ourselves To?

"But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man." - John 2:24-25 NIV 1984

"But Jesus [for His part] did not trust Himself to them, because He knew all [men]; And He did not need anyone to bear witness concerning man [needed no evidence from anyone about men], for He Himself knew what was in human nature. [He could read men's hearts.]" - John 2:24-25 AMP

"But Jesus didn't entrust his life to them. He knew them inside and out, knew how untrustworthy they were. He didn't need any help in seeing right through them." - John 2:24-25 MSG 

"But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew human nature. No one needed to tell him what mankind is really like." - John 2:24-25 NLT 

 So, what's your verdict? Do you believe what God says about you, or what man says? Remember to make the right - and the liberating and freeing - choice. Remember ... no fence sitting.

It's Not About Trying, It's About Trusting...

Yes, I'm still here everyone! I seem to have hit a dry patch with my writing lately. Life has had it's fill of ups and downs recently and thus has caused my brain to go to moosh! But the more challenges that come my way, the more I'm learning, hence why I'm posting now.

I feel the need to share a snippet of a children's Bible story that I read to Jasmine earlier tonight. I love how I get the Word put on me so simply through her nightly Bible reading. Tonight's story was about Saul/Paul and his conversion. Here is the paragraph that moved me -

""It's not about keeping the rules!" Paul told people. "You don't have to be good at being good for God to love you. You just have to believe what Jesus has done and follow him. Because it's not about trying, it's about trusting. It's not about rules, it's about Grace: God's free gift - that cost him everything."

What happened to Paul? He met Jesus."

I love this! As I was reading it, I could feel the Holy Spirit telling me to lose my wrong attitude and ways of thinking and to just trust. And for me to stop trying to do the right thing all the time and just let God love me!

I have always tried to do the right thing, and as I fail miserably at that, one would think that at my age I would know better than to do so. But no ... not me. It seems I'm a slow learner. Hence why this reading from "The Jesus Storybook Bible" has reminded me that it's not about me, it's about Him. Trusting in Him because of all He did for me ... sending His only Son to die on the cross for my sins. He has let my sins (and my past) go, and so must I.

It's time to move on from self and embrace Him more.

My Unfailing Companion...

"Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me." - Psalm 27:10

"God is the only one who wants to be and always can be the unfailing companion on our journey." - Gini Andrews

Every December 7th when I turn over my daily devotional I read the above verse and quote. And every December 7th I am reminded that God IS the only one that will ALWAYS be by my side no matter what.

He provides me with...

...unconditional love...
...no risk of betrayal...
...trust unlimited...
...total reliance.

And why is this verse and quote so important this year, as opposed to others? Without getting into detail in this post, it is because I found out a couple of days ago that someone whom I held dear to me, and whom I loved, trusted and relied upon at one point in my life, betrayed me. While this news is not surprising, given the person and the circumstances, the emotional fallout from it will take a while to recover from. It will actually go towards re-writing some of my life’s history.

This verse and quote has reminded me that God, and our Saviour Jesus, are the only ones ever, and I mean EVER, who will NEVER ever, no matter what, forsake me. How comforting is that?! It’s amazingly comforting, and not just when I face trials, but in general.

Dear Lord, I am blessed by You, and blessed by Your reassuring words that come – that ALWAYS come – at the times when I need them most. You have not, and will not ever, forsake me and today, and always, I am grateful for that. In Jesus’ Wonderful Name, Amen.