What Encourages You?

During the times of the year when there are holidays, I find myself asking what is it that I am thankful for and what is it that encourages me. Maybe you ask these same questions for yourself. In communications today with a friend, he had several co-workers that faced tragedy and disappointment over the last few days. This morning as I was reflecting on a sunny day and asking these very questions, I was lead to Psalms 103.

Psalms 103:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

In this passage we see the psalmist blessing God, and then listing a list of all that God does for us.

• Forgiveness
• Healing
• Redeemed from destruction
• Love and mercy
• Every good thing
• Renewed youth.

What an amazing list of things God has in store for us, and this was only a few verses! Our God loves and cares for us. He is on our side.

I think I found my answer.

Prayer
Father, we praise You today for being our God. Thank You for all You do and provide for us. Today please touch the lives of Your people to lift them up. reach out to those in need and tragedy and give them strength. Me too. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

One Thing We Should Rule

As believers there are many things we can do to walk out our lives with God. Perhaps none is more important than to watch over one thing that has great power. That one thing is our tongue. James made a strong point of this in his letter.

James 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

In this chapter James was making a point. At one time I thought the point was that controlling our speech was not possible. I no longer believe that. I believe he was trying to point out how powerful the tongue really is, that it can change the very course of our life and the lives of others. For us to use it recklessly is not good, for we can harm others and ourselves. Instead, as he says in the last verse, we can use it to bring peace, to encourage others and ourselves.

James 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

It is up to us really. Will we do God’s work to bring peace and wholeness into our life and the lives of others, or will we instead cause damage and harm. WE choose.

Prayer
Father, we praise You as King. Your thoughts are pur, holy, righteous, and merciful. Help us to bring these same thoughts into our minds and hearts by the words we speak. Help us to learn to speak the words You would have us speak, and only those words. Help us to sow peace. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

What Can The Righteous Do?

This morning I read a scripture that I had not read in some time. It is Psalms 11. In verse three we find the title of today’s writing. At first I was puzzled as I read these words because it seemed as if they were encouraging me to give up. But when I read the entire seven verses of the psalm, I was once again encouraged to face the day. Let me explain.

Psalms 11:1 In the Lord put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?
2 For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.
3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
4 The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.
5 The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
7 For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.

In the first verse we see that someone has said something to the writer about running away from the battle by fleeing to the mountains. He responded by saying he trusts God. In verse two he says that the wicked will shoot at him, and if the very foundations of the place where he is making his stand, what does that matter (what should the righteous do)? Because God is in His temple, God reigns from His throne, and though He is trying His followers to temper them like metal, He hates the wicked. He is using life to bring us along, but He will destroy the wicked, and that shall be their reward for harming His believers. God loves His followers, and His appearance holds us up.

Now that, my friends, is encouragement for us today!

Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You. You are always upon Your throne, looking to encourage us. You train us up as Your children, but You destroy our enemies. Today Father I ask for a great miracle. I ask that today Father You rise up and do mighty works on behalf of Your children, those that follow You to do the things You have commanded. I praise and thank You. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

Encouraging Others

This morning in the early hours I sat thinking about encouragement. As I considered what is something that encourages me, it dawned on me there is one thing that really helps. It is when I encourage others. We are here in part to love others as we love ourselves. Most of us enjoy receiving words of encouragement. I know that I do. When I tell someone that they are looking pretty or happy or that they have a great new shirt, they seem uplifted. In that moment, I feel uplifted too. I think God has created us all to really need each other.

Today, if you are in a place where you really need some encouragement, try this. If you see someone having a tough day, smile and say hello. Tell a stranger it will get better. Tell someone you think their car is really looking good. Tell the cashier at the store that you appreciate their hard work. Try to find about 10 people to encourage. Then look back on what was troubling you. I think you will find that God will encourage you as you encourage others.

Prayer
Father, we thank You for being God. It seems like it could be a tough job because all us humans always seem to need You for something. Please help us to encourage each other today. Please send us you mercy and kindness, and help us to share it with others. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Cast The Net On The Right Side

There have been a number of times in my own walk with God that my efforts seemed as though they were not being very fruitful. In times like those I try to remember the story of the disciples fishing in the last chapter of John. First we set the story by saying Jesus (Yeshua) has died and He rose again by this point. He had shown Himself by walking through doors and doing many signs in the presence of the disciples since His resurrection. Then we get to John 21 and Peter makes a comment.

John 21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

There are two interesting points here. After all these things, it seems as if Peter is fed up and going to take off to go fishing, back to his old profession, back to what was comfortable. It raises a question for me. If he had left all he had to follow Jesus (Yeshua), where did he get the boat? Maybe he did not quite leave everything behind. Also, the other disciples that were with him could have encouraged him to stay the course. What did they do? They said, “Me too.” It is interesting what happens as they do not catch any fish, fishing all night.

John 21:4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

So a stranger appears (they did not know it was the Messiah) and tells them to cast their net to the right side of the boat. They act in faith and throw the net in and they get so many fish they have to drag the net to shore. From this they realize it is Jesus (Yeshua) and they eat fish and bread with Him, which He prepared for them. I get several things from this. Jesus (Yeshua) is always trying to provide for us, even to the point of actual preparation of what we take in. Sometimes we may not even know it is Him, but if we act in faith, trying to walk things out with God, we will get there and He will provide. I also found this interesting in the light of a couple Psalms.

Psalms 109:30 I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.
31 For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.

Psalms 103:7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

In Psalms 109 we see that the Lord stands at our right side to defend us and to save us, just like the fish were on the right side of the boat when the disciples needed something to eat. We can be like Moses if we have faith like he did, and we will see God’s ways, His paths, that get us to the end. The children of Israel only saw things as they unfolded, never really participating in the unfolding and always living in doubt, unbelief, and fear. But God wants to show us His ways. He wants to stand at our right side to defend and deliver His people from all that attempts to oppress us. For me, that is very encouraging!

Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You. Thank You for always being there to defend us and to provide for us. Help us to be like Moses who had faith to trust You and who got to see Your ways. We want to be able to do that Father. Please help us when we fall into fear and unbelief. Please help us to escape these things, and to be close to You. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Counting On God

Paul spoke about having the experience of both having more than he needed and less than he needed in his letter to the Philippians.

Philippians 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

For me, I have both experienced times of plenty and times of lack. Paul was discussing in this passage the physical needs we have, I believe, like the means to live. It is easy in these times for us to be faced with the fear of not having enough. It is also then easy to think it is because of some sin in our life. But we must be careful about this approach, because it would imply that our well being is of our own doing. What do scriptures say?

Psalms 103:10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

This seems to imply that God is merciful and what happens is not based upon our actions. Perhaps another way to think of this is that if we were dealt with according to our actions, ultimately we would perish. However, God does not remain upset and always has mercy on us.

Psalms 103:8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

So there also seems to be some part of our actions that can result in us losing blessings. However, the good news is God has given us a path out of our sin. He always hears our cries, and Jesus (Yeshua) died for every sin, even before we were born, All we need to do is remember God and find the path back.

Psalms 119:59-60;67. 59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

The affliction here refers to feeling depressed, or pressed down. This is what happens when we do not follow God’s way and go our own way. But if we are willing to consider our ways and our paths, and return to the testimonies of God, confessing our sin and seeking His forgiveness and mercy, He will be pplentious in mercy. We can be encouraged that God will not forget us and will be on our side. I believe this is what Paul was saying in his message about being both abased and abounding. If this is you today, then let us be encouraged and say together with Paul,

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You, the Most High King. Thank You for Your mercy toward us. Thank You for all You do, and for not withholding Your provision from us. Thank You that You supply all our need. Please send today Your plentiful supply for Your children that the whole world may know that You alone are God. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Ye Are Gods

In John 10:34 we read,

John 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

Why did He make this comment to them? If we read in chapter 9 up to this point we see that Jesus (Yeshua) had healed the blind man by making mud from spit and having the man go to the pool to wash it off. When the man comes to Him, He discovers that Jesus (Yeshua) is the one that healed him and gave him sight. The Pharisees were upset because Jesus said,

John 9:39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

What came next was the comparison to the thief and the shepherd. Jesus (Yeshua) is the Good Shepherd. He says His sheep hear His voice. He also drew a sharp distinction between Himself and darkness,

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

When I first read this I had difficulty understanding why the Pharisees were so upset. The answer comes from their belief that He was claiming to be God. For me, this was difficult to see by just reading this passage. However, if we go to verse 22, we get a clue,

John 10:22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.

The feast of dedication mentioned here is Hanukkah which celebrates the re-dedication of the temple after the Jewish people took it back. This was when, according to tradition, they had only enough consecrated oil for the lamp stand in the temple for the flame to burn one day. It burned eight days, allowing for the consecration of more oil and thus the consecration of the temple. At Hanukkah, the menorah (lamp stand) is changed from seven candle sticks to eight in front with one behind. The one behind is lit first, and then each day an additional candle is lit by using this candle in the back. This candle in the back is referred to as the Light of the World, and is representative of God. While this is not a High Holy Day, Jesus did celebrate this tradition.

The Pharisees were aware of this tradition. They knew what time of year it was. The statements by Jesus did imply that He was God. In John 10, Jesus (Yeshua) eluded to being God by referring to God (the Father) as His Father. However, there is a more direct claim by Jesus (Yeshua) to being God, if we understand this tradition. To understand why the Pharisees believed that Jesus (Yeshua) was claiming to be God, we have to back up a couple chapters. It is important to remember when we read scriptures that the original writing did not have the chapter and verse markings. If we go back to chapter eight, which would still be near the feast of dedication with the tradition clearly in everyone’s mind, Jesus forgave the sins of the woman caught in adultery by challenging those without sin to cast the first stone. When they all backed away, He forgave her her sins, and said this to those around, including the Pharisees,

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

The Pharisees begin to be outraged at this clear declaration by Jesus (Yeshua) to be the Light of the World – God.

The reference to “Ye are gods” goes back to Psalms 82. Essentially Jesus (Yeshua) was telling them that they were unjust judges. Their judgements were wrong in the Psalmists’ day, and they were wrong about Yeshua (Jesus). They walk about in darkness. He is the Light of the World.

Prayer
Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Yeshua (Jesus), to be the Light of the World. Thank You for giving us such a great gift. Thank You for providing for us deliverance, healing, and the power over sin. Please touch the hearts and minds of those that need Your powerful touch today. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

From Heaven To Earth

In reading today about what John, Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) cousin, said about Him I was encouraged. In John 3:31-32 we read,

John 3:31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.

John’s disciples were concerned because Jesus (Yeshua) was baptizing people. John explained that he, John, was not the One sent from God, but Jesus (Yeshua) was that One from the heavens. It was very interesting to see that John said Jesus (Yeshua) had been in heaven and had seen and heard things. Then when He came to earth, these same things He had seen and heard, He testified of to people. It made me wonder if that meant He just spoke the same things heard in heaven. Later in John 5 we get our answer.

John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

Jesus (Yeshua) was telling the Jewish leaders that wanted to kill Him that He was doing the things He saw the Father doing. It appears that the testimony was both words and deeds. Another way of saying it is that wholeness was what the Father was all about, so Jesus (Yeshua) was all about wholeness as well. This was what the Messiah had seen in heaven and what He was about doing on earth.

One additional point that I find interesting. Jesus (Yeshua) kept the law and the Feasts. If He only said and did what He saw the Father doing, what He saw in heaven, then the Father must be doing the same. It would seem then the practical application of wholeness includes the law and the Feasts. Very interesting.

I am encouraged today that Jesus (Yeshua) has come to show us His way of life, and we can enter into that wholeness that exists in heaven. Truly, God’s kingdom can come to earth!

Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You as the Most High Ruler of the universe. Thank You for the wholeness that is in heaven and for bringing this wholeness to earth. Thank You for reaching out to us as humans with all of the weaknesses we bring, and not turning away from us. Thank You for turning to us when we call, with Your loving kindness and Your mercy. Let Your kingdom come to earth today. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

We Can Learn From The Changing Leaves

Here in the upper Midwest the leaves are beginning to change. Every year my yard gets almost knee deep in leaves. I live on the edge of the country boundary with the city, so the property is bigger than many. That means, what a lot of leaves to rake! I was reflecting on the scripture from a previous post, Jeremiah 33:20-21,

Jeremiah 33:20 Thus saith the Lord; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season;
21 Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.

I was trying to better understand encouragement. In this case God was pointing to something we can watch happen every day that is unchanging, the separation of day from night. He then compares that with the unchangeable promise He made to David. He also speaks of the restoration and return of Israel. He was encouraging Jeremiah. Encouragement is offered about future events. They may be soon, or they may be after our life time. So why does God encourage us?

Looking back to Jeremiah there in prison, it reminds me of how we all at times feel like we are bound up by things we cannot control – work, PTO meetings, family gatherings, etc. God offers encouragement so we won’t give up. He offers encouragement so we will stick to the plan – His plan. And why would we stick to His plan? Because, in God’s plan, in the end we win. We will be at peace. We will be at rest. And God is ushering His plan to earth right now. We can be a part of that, right now.

Yes, there are many cycles in life. The leaves turn and fall to the ground, but then comes the spring with new growth and new green leaves. God has a plan and a promise for good for us, both now and in the future. Can you stop the day and night from being separated? Me either. That means, God will keep His promises to us, to you. Never give up!

Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You for being our God. thank You for the cycles in life. Thank You that Your promises are for now and for the future. Please encourage the hearts of those that feel imprisoned and down trodden today, God. Please do it speedily. Help the lowly to rise up. take the poor out of the dust. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

God Will Bring Us

There are good times and there are bad times in life. Have you ever felt like there is this continual struggle back and forth between these two in your life? As believers we face these same challenges, but we have a hope. Our hope is in the Lord. But the daily struggle between these good and bad times can wear us down. This is not new to us, for all those that have gone before us faced these same feelings, yet God even then called to them as He does to us, to have hope.

In Jeremiah 30 God told Jeremiah that He heard the voice of the people. They had experienced the result of their sin, but He was delivering them. In Jeremiah 31:9 He tells Jeremiah that He, God, would make it possible for them one day to walk with God in His ways:

They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a Father…

This same message is continued in Joel 2:32:

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered…

This message was continued when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, when in Peter was speaking in verse 21:

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

And it was echoed again by Paul in Romans 10:13 when he quoted the prophet Joel:

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

God always knew we would face troubling times or times of being wearied. From the very beginning He had a plan for us to be made whole. Our hope is in God, that when we call upon His name, the name of the Messiah Jesus (Yeshua), He hears us and will deliver us to walk the straight ways by the rivers of waters and be renewed.

If you are feeling weary, call upon His name, and let Him give you peace in your spirit and wholeness in your soul today.

Prayer
Father, we thank You for being our God. Thank You for creating a path home, even from the beginning. Thank You for always calling us back to the straight path by the river of Living Water, Jesus. Please encourage our hearts and renew our strength today, Lord. In Jesus name. Amen.