We’re With The Big Guy

In high school and college my best friend was the center for our high school basketball team. He was a pretty tall big guy. When we would go places on the college campus, especially if we were out in the evening, it felt good to have him in the crowd with us short guys. Nobody messed with us. We were with the big guy. That was both comforting and encouraging because we felt like we could go anywhere, even way over to the student union and still walk back in the dark, safe. Its like that now, only better.

When I woke up this morning, before i had my coffee, my head began to bring up all of the things I had to do this week, all the things I had to do today, all the things I had to do before noon… You know the drill. Pretty soon the opportunity showed up to think about “what if I can’t…” and then anxiety would show up after that. In that moment, with both feet just touching the floor from the bed, I smiled. I thought of how big that list of things was. But then I thought of how big my God is. In my mind I compared the two. I had a picture of short stack of paper, and then a giant of a person so big that the stack was not as tall as His little toe. Yes sir, I smiled.

I’m with the Big Guy.

Prayer
Father, thank You for always watching our back. You always provide for every need of every kind. You walk with us one step at a time. You keep us in Your way, guiding our steps, helping us to understand Your commandments and Your statutes, and how they are markers, like lighthouses in the fog of life. Thank You for being the Big Guy on our side. We love You. In Jesus name. Amen.

Another Week, Another Road

On Monday mornings I try to think of something to encourage me for the week, more than just that first cup of coffee. It can be almost anything. Today it was very simple. I am encouraged because God has entrusted to me eternal life.

Growing up my Father gave me many instructions. Frequently he told me what to do, what not to do, when to do something, and so on. It was fairly restrictive. My heavenly Father is somewhat similar, and yet quite different. He gives me the basics and asks I commit myself to them. Then He lets me choose to serve Him forever or not. After that, He remains at my side, ever playing the coaching role. The really amazing thing is, He gives me eternal life. Why does that encourage me?

Because it means He believes in me. He believes in you. He believes that we will one day come together to be His bride and serve Him and make the right choices forever.

It is good to know that someone, like a very awesome and powerful God, believes in us, don’t you think?

Prayer
Father, thank You for believing in us. Thank You for giving us eternal life. Thank You that You are always there, our ever present help at all times. In Jesus name. Amen

God Remembers

Looking into the woods a few moments ago I saw some of the small summer birds. What type they are is unknown to me, but I call them summer birds because they are not with us in the snow. It reminded be of the scripture about God knows all about the sparrows, and knows about us.

In Luke 12:6 Jesus was telling people that when the sparrows are sold, God remembers everyone of them. Luke 12:7 says the hairs of our head are numbered. In Matthew 10:29 the story of the sparrow includes the fact that one cannot even fall to the ground without God watching over it. Matthew 10:30 repeats the comment about the number of hairs on our head. In both cases the story is near the teaching on how to pray (referred to as the Lord’s Prayer). All of this is in reference to being afraid of what man can do to us, our circumstances, and the challenges of life. The point He is making is that if God remembers the sparrow, and He knows even how many hairs I have, then we need not worry about our life but should be encouraged because God remembers, has a plan, is the All Mighty God, and is watching over us.

As I was writing this, I smiled. It occurred to me that God not only loves me, protects me, and is on my side, He also has a sense of humor. After all, As I get older, every day God has to change the numbers he has to assign for me on the hair thing… Yes, we can even have humor in our relationship to the King of kings!

Prayer
Thank You for watching over us, Father. Thank You that You know every detail about me, and love me anyway. It is good for me to know that You never fail and never give up on me. Praise be to the most glorious King of the universe! In Jesus name. Amen.

You Can Do It!

When you first read this title, how did it make you feel? Was there something specific that came to mind, some task or challenge? Did you wonder what the “it” was that is being referred to here? Most importantly, did you notice that somehow on the inside these words seemed to lighten the load, if even only for a moment? This last point is most important. There are times when we are heavy spirited, and in those times we can be lifted out of this through encouragement. But how?

In Samuel 30:6 we read about a time in David’s life when the enemy had come in and taken the people and goods of one of his villages. The people were so upset they wanted to stone David. Not exactly encouraging words, right? There have been times when the people around me, even the Christians, have said things that are not so wonderful. In this case, they actually were considering killing David. When people have said negative things to me, I can be discouraged. What did David do? He encouraged himself in the Lord. He called for the priest to bring him the ephod, which is a priestly garment. After putting that on, He asked God if he should pursue the enemy and overtake them. God’s response was to pursue and overtake the enemy because he would recover all. So David went after the enemy, and recovered all of the people and possessions, plus he captured the possessions of the enemy as well. What does that mean to us?

In Isaiah 61:3 we see that God has given us the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Sounds similar, right? This is the chapter that Jesus read when they handed Him the scroll to read in the synagogue. This is His eternal answer for our encouragement. If we read on we see that it is done so that people we see us as trees of righteousness, His planting, that He may be glorified. Sure sounds like David’s story to me. And, the great news is, it can be our story, too! Praise God and be encouraged, for He is truly the Deliverer King!

Prayer
Father, We praise and exalt You as the One true Most High God. Thank You for listening to our prayers when we cry out. Thank you for helping us overtake and destroy the enemy. Thank You for letting us bring back those that were captive by the enemy, our goods that were stolen from us, and to plunder our enemy as well. We put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, and we praise You, Mighty King! In Jesus name. Amen.

In the days of the Psalmists they were able to communicate with words very intense feelings, emotions, and thoughts that others to this day can still identify with in everyday life. In Psalm 88 the writer is lamenting their particular lot at that moment. We have to ask ourselves, why? Why is it that in a many of the Psalms the writers cry out to God. Could it be that they expected Him to answer and to raise them up? Think for a moment of the heritage – they were delivered by signs, wonders, and miracles from the evil in Egypt. They had this in their memory. They knew that God could and would deliver them. In Psalm 139 the writer asks God to destroy his enemies. He also asks for God to search him and let him know if there is any evil withing. He wants God to help him change to be a better person.

Me too. These words are a great encouragement to me.

Prayer
Father in heaven, King of the Universe, I thank you for all You do for us. I thank You that You can search me and help me to be better. I thank You that even thought I make mistakes, You never give up on me. You are my strength and my shield. I will not fear what man can do to me because I know that You are on my side.

Some days start out with a challenge, others with a blessing. In Psalm 118 the writer tells us an interesting story of oppression and deliverance. This is the Psalm that speaks of the stone the builders rejected becoming the Chief Cornerstone. It is the Psalm that inspired the song we frequently sing, “This is the Day which the Lord has Made.” It is a Psalm that encourages me that God is on my side and will deliver me from every downfall.

The Psalmist uses his faith in God and his voice in song for deliverance. He was attacked, but in the name of the Lord he fights back and destroys his enemies. His description of the enemy attack is graphic, describing them as a swarm of bees that try to force him onto his knees on the ground. Equally graphic is the deliverance where they become as thorns on fire, which will crackle and pop as they burn. In verse 15 it says that the voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous. In verses 19 and 20 it speaks of the gates of the righteous being our praise of God, and that we go through them. In 21 he praises God because He heard him and already answered. It is also interesting that after he understands that God already heard him, he cries out to God to send prosperity in verse 25 and beyond, where he proclaims that God sends His blessing upon us. Our Father God loves us, more than we can imagine. Be of good cheer, for Jesus has overcome the world!

Prayer
Father, thank you for hearing our prayers in times of distress. I ask Father that all those that read this receive a blessing while it is called today, that you fulfill their needs, that you raise up their heavy hearts. You are a righteous God. You love to hear our praises. You are our Deliverer, and man can do nothing to us! Thank you God for watching over Your people. Thank you for healing the broken hearted and raising up the downtrodden. Thank you for not forgetting us. Thank you for being King!

Have you ever noticed how often in the scriptures we are encouraged to be of good cheer, to be encouraged?

John 16:33
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Jesus told us that He wanted us to have peace. We would be accosted by the world in some way, but in the end we would emerge the winners. Interestingly enough, this also fits with the story we started yesterday about the first Passover and the Exodus from the bondage of Egypt.

It was daylight now, but the screaming began at midnight. There was death in every house except the houses of the children of Israel. They had obeyed God and put the blood markings on the doorposts and lentils, and Death had passed over them. Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron and told them to take the children of Israel, their cattle, and leave to keep the feast to God. They were given jewels of gold and silver from the Egyptians that they had served. Then at night time, as it moved into Nissan 15, they departed as God lead them through the wilderness by the Red Sea. Yesterday they were poor, destitute slaves. Today they were free, wealthy, and headed for their promised land. God is a very great God!

A Prayer
God, thank you so much for doing the wonderful things you do to sustain us every day. Thank you for keeping your promise to Abraham. Thank you for sending your Son to die on the cross that we might be saved and made whole. Amen.