He Is is Who – That's Why!

5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me? 

    Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.
– Psalm 42:5

He Is is Who – That's Why!
Did you ever wonder why we question everything?  From the time we are able to utter our first words, we are questioning.  I remember when I was a teenager, I spent the weekend at my grandparent's home doing yard work and helping out with some painting that needed to be done.  My cousin was living in a studio apartment that was attached to their garage and during the entire weekend, her daughter, my 2 year old niece, followed me around and asked me two questions over and over.  "Whatcha doin?"  and "Why?"  By the end of the weekend I vowed never to have children.

This is what we must sound like to God sometimes: 
us:     "Lord, whatcha doing?"  
Him:   "I'm teaching you to be a fruit tree."
us:     "why?"
Him:   "Because I need you to become an orchard."
us:     "why?""
Him:   "Because I need you to give good fruit to my people."
us:     "why?"
. . . and on and on it goes.  

I'm sure glad He has more patience than I did – or still do for that matter!  I think I'd be tempted to answer all those "Whys" by sending down a lightning bolt.  But asking why is part of who we are – it is our nature – we will always want to know why. 

Now don't get me wrong,  I am just as inquisitive as the next person, and I think we are always going to try to understand the reason that things happen the way they do.  But the truth of the matter is that we will never know the answer to some of the "whys" – not while during our time on earth anyway.

Instead of asking "Why?"  we should be asking  "Who?"  Who knows the depth of my pain?  Who sees the bigger picture in my life?   Who is interested in forming my character through various trials?   Our heavenly Father is the answer.  He is the one who knows, who sees, and who cares.  He loves us so much and He wants us to know and love Him, despite our painful circumstances.  He wants us to believe in Him and to Have faith that He will see us through – every time.

He wants us to know that He is God and He needs us to know what that means – no fear, no doubt, no concern – just Him . . . that's Who!

Prayer
Father, You are the one who knows the reasons for all things.  You have my life in Your hands and as You shape and mold me into the man You want me to become, I will yield myself to Your way.  Please forgive my selfishness and for questioning Your motives.  I pray that as I continue to grow in Your grace, my need to satisfy my curiosity will diminish and I will learn to wholly trust and believe in You and allow You to reign freely in my life – for all of my life.

Have a blessed day everyone!

– Richard

Dying to Live – John 12:24

24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone ; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
- John 12:24

Dying to Live
Can you recall the day or the time when your Christian "honeymoon" came to a screeching halt?  You know what I'm talking about...the day when the enemy finally took you seriously as a Christian and decided to put his full effort into seeing you stumble?  It could have been a major illness, or the loss of a job, or betrayal by a loved one; it could have been almost any negative thing that burst your baby Christian balloon.  That was a tough time wasn't it?  I mean, none of us could have been prepared for the full-on attack, and I think it's safe to say that almost none of us handled it all that well.

But do you remember when you finally realized that it was an attack and that God hadn't forgotten about you?  The revelation probably came about because some brother and/or sister in Christ came alongside and taught you how to pray for breakthrough – and prayed with you –  through your trial.  It was your first baby step towards becoming a mature Christian and it was then that God was able to advance you in ministry.

For me, divorce was the attack.  Don't get me wrong, I was as much to blame in the failed marriage as she was but the enemy used our past hurts (pre-Christian) to drive a wedge between us, so that as I drew closer to Christ, it pushed her into the waiting arms of the enemy.  I thought I was going to die through that experience.  I was so hurt and at first, like a spoiled child I blamed God, but with time and the help of praying brothers and sisters, I was able to grow and to see God as the Healer and my Redeemer.  I was able to see Him in a new light and I loved Him more than I ever did.

He restored me and He brought me to a new level in my walk, and when I was ready He brought me a wife who would challenge me to be a better man – and she still challenges me today.  He birthed in me a desire to share His Word and to help others who were hurting.  He expanded my capacity to serve and He showed me how to love – even when things aren't going well.  He brought me out of the dust of my despair and He lifted me up to heights I could never have imagined.

There have been many many trials since then and through each one, the enemy has tried to ruin my relationship with my Father – but God has seen me through each trial.  And through each trial, as I have looked to Him to sustain me, He has changed me and molded me into a new fruit tree.  And now, when I start going through a trial, I know that the enemy is at work trying to establish a stronghold in my life, and I am able to recognize it and I draw closer to my Father.  I draw near to Him and I start thanking Him for the new work that He is about to do in my life.  I start praising Him for the overabundance of joy that He will bring into my life and I am humbled because I know that He has a mission for me and that He has chosen me to further His kingdom.

Are you going through a trial?  Are there people at work who are trying to make you look bad?  Are you beginning to feel depressed about something that is out of your control?  Just know that God has something bigger and better in store for you.  All you have to do is draw close to Him.  Start praising Him and let the world see you smile (the enemy hates when you smile).  God is about to promote you and He is going to grow you into such a beautiful fruit tree and all who taste your offerings will know that God is great and that His love is far better than anything this world has to offer.

Prayer
Father, I am learning to count it joy whenever I am faced with a trial.  I have seen You bring me through so many tough times in my life, and through each one, I grow stronger in You. Thank You for being there and for sending Your Holy Spirit to comfort me and to help me keep my head held high.  You are my Joy and the Light of my life and I will praise You throughout my day.  

Have a blessed day everyone!

– Richard

Gather 'Round! – Psalm 66:16

16 Come and hear, all who fear God, And I will tell of what He has done for my soul.
- Psalm 66: 16

Gather 'Round!
Was anyone as dysfunctional a human being as I was until they were saved?  I was pretty messed up - but in my mind I had it all together.  I really didn't think I needed any help and if you were to ask me, I knew everything about . . . well, everything.  I had pretty much closed myself off from the rest of the world and I didn't really care about anything or anybody.  All I lived for was getting high and if you could help me accomplish that, then I valued you - as long as I could keep getting high.  Yup, I was a real piece of work.

God knew exactly how to reach me.  One day, just after getting high, the thought of Jesus came into my head (I knew about Jesus from my Catholic upbringing).  All I could think about was Jesus and how much He loved me!  Now you have to understand that this was very strange because in my experience (up to then), Jesus did not love me.  If He did, he would not have allowed all of the abuse that happened in my childhood.  He would not have allowed that priest to molest me, nor would He have allowed all of the beatings and emotional abuse that I received.  I mean, I just knew that Jesus was not my friend, yet here I was fixated on Him, and because of that I was not able to enjoy getting high at all!

Do you know that from that point forward, every time I got high, Jesus was all I could think about.  I mean, it totally ruined getting high for me!  One day, after attempting to get high and NOT think about Jesus by playing loud heavy metal rock in my headphones (it didn't work by the way), I was walking down the hall in my house and as I passed a bookcase, my eye caught the title on the spine of a book - The Good News Bible.  Don't ask me how it got there, or why on that particular day it caught my eye, but I stopped, and as if in slow-motion I found myself taking it from the shelf.  Before I knew it, I had read through the book of Matthew and was well on my way into Mark.  I couldn't put it down.  Within 2 weeks I was at the altar of a local church giving my life to Jesus.  I no longer needed drugs to get through my day and for the first time in my life (that I can recall), I was truly happy.

Jesus found me and came to me in the only place and in the only way I could be reached.  He knew just the right approach to reach me, and He knew just the right time.  He changed my life forever and I will always serve Him and Praise Him for reaching down to take my life and to call me His own.

What about you?  What's your story?  When was the last time you shared it?  Why not take the time this week to tell someone how Jesus touched your life and called you into His waiting arms?  Someone will be blessed and it will take you down memory lane and maybe help you to remember where you were and appreciate the new life you now have - in Him!

Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You so much for taking the time to find me in the midst of my terrible life.  I would surely be dead if You hadn't reached me in just the right way all those years ago.  I know I should share my story more often and I thank You for reminding me how important it is for others to hear.  You have seen me through so many things and I just want to take this time to praise Your name and to tell You that I am so thankful and I love You so much!

Have a blessed day my Brothers!

-Richard