Category: From Pastor

This week’s devotions are based on Week 4 of Stormproof – Election Earthquakes (CLICK HERE)

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Nine days.

Hopefully in nine days we will know who our next president and vice-president will be.  

I hope we do and we can put this election cycle behind us (although it seems as though as soon as one election is done, new people start engaging in the next election cycle.)

To whatever extent you are engaging in politics, I pray we as God’s people can navigate it well, without allowing it to disrupt our peace.

But maybe it already has.

There are strong opinions when it comes to politics.   I am not exempt.  My prayer in this week’s devotions as we can return to God’s Word and put perspective on our role in government and especially this year’s election.

As Christians we hold a worldview that God is the creator of the universe.  Genesis 1 starts with the phrase, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”  While this may seem as simple verse, it sets the worldview for the rest of not only the Bible, but all who believe the Bible.  It also sets the reality that if God is the creator of all, there is nothing in this world that is above God’s power and authority…including government…including the government of the United States.

But that is not the case if one throws out the reality of God.  Without the biblical worldview and understanding of God, humanity becomes its own god.  As a result, human beings, believe they are their own gods and can determine all that is right for them.  Also, government becomes god in that people look to it to provide only what God can provide.  And then as a result, anyone who has power in government can look at it as a godlike position that has power to wield.

Christians don’t think that way do they?

They shouldn’t, but sometimes we do.

Sometimes we can equate the election of a politician as somehow measuring the impact or demise of God in the world.  Sure, some politicians will acknowledge God as the ultimate authority and others won’t.

But here’s the point.  God is not on the ballot.  Therefore God’s control and guidance of the world around will not change with a presidential election year.  In fact, because he is the creator of all things, he controls all things.  As he controls all things, whether someone realizes it or not, he will be using the next administration in some way for his purposes.

God’s people have acknowledged his control and guidance of the nations of the earth.  We can do the same.  Here’s King Hezekiah facing the threat of Synnacherib:

2 Kings 19:15 And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: “Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.

What’s even better for the Christian is we can have the confidence that no matter who is in political office, Christ is over all and orchestrating the events of history for the blessing of his church.  Consider Ephesians 1:19-23 That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

So where does that leave us?

Simply remember that the Lord is still the creator of all and has all power and authority over all.  November 5 is not going to change that!

 

Apply: What happens in your heart when you remember that God is overall and guiding all for the benefit of his people, his Church?

Prayer: Lord, as you guide and direct the affairs of the kingdoms of the earth, guide and direct the election of our country to continue to be a blessing to your Church and your people.  AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on Week 3 of Stormproof – Hurricanes of Hurt (CLICK HERE)

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Often when we interact with someone, we ask, “How are you doing?”  The typical response is, “OK.”  We move on.

How many times have you said you were “OK” even though you were hurting inside?  How many times did you wish someone would hear between those two letters, “I am hurting and I just want and need someone to listen!”

When we are hurting, we want someone to care, to listen, and to love us.

The hurt may not go away, but we know we are not journeying through the hurt alone and sometimes that’s all we need.

Tuesday’s devotion encouraged us to cry out to the LORD.  He is always ready to listen, even when others aren’t.

But maybe it’s more than listening we desire.  We want love and to know it’s going to be ok.

The Psalmist writes this in Psalm 130:7-8:

 Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
    for with the Lord is unfailing love
    and with him is full redemption.

8 He himself will redeem Israel
    from all their sins.

When we walk with the Lord through our hurts, how do you know it’s going to be OK?

The Lord gives us hope.

There is no promise the LORD hasn’t or won’t fulfill.  It may take him longer than we would personally want, but his promises are sure.  He will not forget about them or go back on them.  So when we go through hurt, here’s one promise to hold onto that gives us hope.

Romans 5:2-5 And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 

The Lord loves us.

Fixing our eyes on the cross reminds us there is no extent to which the LORD won’t go to ensure we are with him forever.  His love is boundless and eternal.  His proof of how much he loves you is that he sent Jesus to die for you.  He has made you his child through baptism.  He has a room being prepared for you in heaven.

1 John 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

The Lord will make it right.

The greatest hurt we would ever experience is the hurt caused by our sin.  The LORD took care of that on the cross, providing the payment that our sin deserved.  As a result, we know that when we enter heaven, all the hurts we have experienced will disappear.

Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 

Hurts will come.  When they do, put your hope in the Lord!

 

Apply: What do you need most in the middle of hurt?  Someone to listen to you, love you, or care for you?  How can the LORD be the first to do this for you in your hurt, even as you are blessed by relationships around you?

Prayer: Lord, in the middle of my hurt, help me to always put my hope in you.  AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on Week 3 of Stormproof – Hurricanes of Hurt (CLICK HERE)

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How long is this going to last?

When you are in an hour workout class, you know that the longest you will have to endure is one hour.  You know when the end is coming and there will be relief from the workout…until you subject yourself to it again.

When you are in school, you know that if you are really struggling with a class, you have to do your best for the duration of the semester and then it will be done and hopefully you won’t have to retake the class.

When you have a loved one deployed in the military, you generally know the deployment end date and realize that the challenge of being a military single parent will come to an end.

But waiting when the end date is uncertain is very hard.

Waiting is very hard when an end date itself is even uncertain.

Some are in the middle of waiting with no end date in sight.

The emotional hurt still weighs heavy.

The sense of loss is still very real.

The burden of the challenge gets wearisome.

How long, O Lord?  How long?

If you have ever asked this question, you are not alone.  A number of times in the Psalms the inspired writers have asked the Lord, “How long, O Lord? How long?”

Waiting in the middle of hurt is hard, but sometimes the reality.

So in the midst of the waiting, what do we do?  Psalm 130:5&6 say:

5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, 

    and in his word I put my hope.

6 I wait for the Lord
    more than watchmen wait for the morning,
    more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Remember this Psalm was sung as people were traveling to the temple in Jerusalem.  Around the temple area were watchmen who would have the all night shift.  They knew the morning would come, but not sure when.  But when the first light of the sun hit, they would sound their bugles and be relieved of their duty.  The morning sacrifice would be offered.

I can imagine at the end of a long shift, you would be longing to see the end where you could go home and rest.

More than watchmen wait for the morning do we wait for the Lord to relieve our hurt.

So what do we do while waiting?

1. Don’t lose hope…the morning is coming.
2. Be in God’s Word…his promises are real.

One of the best ways to make waiting easier is to be busy.  Here the Psalmist encourages us to be in the Word.  Read it.  Reflect on God’s promises. Revel in the reality that you are still loved, God hasn’t forgotten you and he still loves you.  You can have hope that the morning will come and the hurt will be gone…even if that is the moment you experience heaven for the first time.

 

Apply:What makes waiting hard for you?  Pick a reading plan from God’s Word and watch him work hope in your heart as you spend time in his Word.

Prayer: O Lord, I wait for you and your perfect timing to alleviate my hurt.  AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on Week 3 of Stormproof – Hurricanes of Hurt (CLICK HERE)

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When we are hurt by someone, the impact is real and lasting.

Especially hurts that are very personal, very emotional and very wrong.

How does one heal after abuse? An ugly divorce? A business partnership gone wrong?

It’s not easy.  Professional counseling may be needed.

However, when we have been wronged in any way, but especially something very horrific, it is very hard to forgive that person.

Years after the divorce, a woman said, “After all he did to me and my children, I just can’t forgive him.”

After discussion, here are four clarifications that were helpful.

1. Forgiveness does not make the horrific actions and impact of what a person did ok.  To forgive someone implies that what they did was wrong and they sinned against you.  It does not make what happened OK.
2. Forgiveness does not mean that a person has to once again put themselves in a situation where they will be harmed.  Forgiveness does not mean a person will be trusted again.
3. Forgiveness does not mean the impact is gone.  Forgiving one who wronged you doesn’t mean the effect of that action disappears.  The divorce is still real.  The emotional scars don’t fully disappear.
4. Forgiveness does not mean that one forgets.  So often the phrase is said, “You have to forgive and forget.”  Forgiveness is not like a reformatting of one’s brain so that you can’t remember anything that happened.  The memories don’t go away.
5. Forgiveness does not mean that one might still pursue legal action.  One may choose not to, however inviting the legal system to adjudicate a wrong may still be pursued.

So what is forgiveness and why forgive those who have hurt you.

1. Forgiveness gives up the right to get even.  When we are hurt, our natural response is to have the person who hurt us hurt more.  Forgiveness frees our heart to allow the judicial system and/or the Lord to handle the justice. Romans 12:19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
2. Forgiveness of others reflects the forgiveness we have been given by Jesus.  As we pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.”  When we forgive others, we reflect the fact God is no longer going to seek vengeance for our sin.  He has done that in his Son Jesus.
3. Forgiveness releases my heart from anger, rage, and bitterness.  Forgiveness allows my heart to be free from carrying the emotional heaviness of getting even. Ephesians 4:31-32 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

The Christian is not immune from hurt, sometimes very serious hurts.  Yet, one of the great blessings of being a Christian is we live in the personal forgiveness the Lord gives.  He doesn’t keep a record of our hurts/sins toward him.  As a result, we can take the same forgiveness we have received and share it with others who have hurt us…as hard as that can sometimes be.

Psalm 130:3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
    Lord, who could stand?

4 But with you there is forgiveness,
    so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

 

Apply: Forgiveness can be hard.  Ask the Lord to work in you the ability to forgive someone who has wronged you.  If you know someone struggling to forgive and this devotion was helpful, forward it on to them!

Prayer: Lord, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.  AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on Week 3 of Stormproof – Hurricanes of Hurt (CLICK HERE)

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When we are hurting inside, we often suffer in silence.  Especially if your personality is one that tends to be an internal processor.  As one person put it, we can often take our hurts and treat them like a trash compactor.  A hurt goes in…we smash it down.  Another hurt goes in…we smash it down…until we can’t anymore.

As we suffer in silence, the burden becomes heavier and the hopelessness becomes greater.  We may generate the narrative that no one cares and that really we might be the cause of hurt and want to end our lives.  (Suicide is a permanent fix to a temporary problem.  To be sure, if you are having suicidal thoughts…please seek help!)

So where do we turn before it gets too late?

The psalmist says this: “In your hurt, cry out to the Lord!”

Psalm 130:1      Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; 

         2      O Lord, hear my voice. 

         Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

When it seems like no one will listen, the LORD will.

When it seems like no one cares, the Lord does.

Did you notice the first reference to LORD is all capital letters?  This name for God is the reference to the “I AM” God who is always present and always faithful.  It’s just the one who we want to be available to listen to us.  We want someone who is not too busy, but is always ready to listen and share his faithfulness with us.

The second reference to “Lord” is capitalized, but followed with lowercase “ord.”  This is the name for God, “Adonai,” a name for God that refers to his “lordship” and power.  He is over all and to him all must submit.  So when I cry out to the Lord, its a confidence he can do something about it.  Perhaps our hurt is calling for restoration or healing.  The Lord can do something about it.

While we cry out to the same God, the psalmists points us to his faithfulness and power to heart and answer our cry for help.

Did you notice the place from which the cry originated?  “Out of the depths…”  In the Hebrew culture a word “Sheol” was used for hell.  This word indicates a depth just short of Sheol.  It’s a deep pit, emotionally and spiritually, yet still within the earshot of the LORD, the Lord.

Yes, as brothers and sisters in Christ we want to be available to others to listen when they are hurting.  It’s a reminder that the business of our day can often crowd out a ministry opportunity to listen to a hurting heart.

And it’s a great reminder that in the middle of our hurt we can cry out to the Lord…and he will listen.

David knew that:

Psalm 86:6 Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. 7 In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me.

Jesus invited it:

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 

We get to do it.

 

Apply: What hurts are on your heart this morning?  Take time to “cry out to the LORD’ with them.  Let him know the depths of your hurt and your confidence he can do something about it.

Prayer: Out of the depths I cry to you o LORD, O Lord, hear my voice.