God’s Holding Patterns

God’s Holding Patterns by Helen Grace Lescheid “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, put painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11 When our old farm house was being renovated ceilings, walls, and floors were ripped out to make room for new ones. Dust and debris lay everywhere. We bumped our legs on scaffolding in the living room and stepped over cans of paint in the kitchen. The bathroom was out of commission as the water had been shut off. Trying to cook meals and carry on a normal family routine was a challenge. As the days crawled by and I saw little progress, I began to complain. “This stage is no fun,” the contractor agreed. “Later when you see the finished product, though, you’ll be glad you persevered.” For peace of mind, there was only one thing to do: trust the contractor that he knew what he was doing and that the end result would make up for the temporary inconveniences. When God wants to do something new in our lives, it is often preceded by major renovations. Take for instance, Joni Eareckson Tada’s life. During a diving accident at seventeen, this vibrant athletic girl broke her neck and became a quadriplegic. Joni’s promising life lay in shambles. She was confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life. At first she couldn’t see how any good could come out of all this suffering. But God had a plan far greater than she could imagine. For the past 34 years, Joni has headed up an organization called ‘Joni and Friends‘ which ministers to people affected by disabilities and supplies wheelchairs to thousands around the world. She has written several bestsellers, paints beautifully by holding a brush in her mouth, and is in demand as an international speaker. She says, “God is big enough to understand suffering, wise enough to allow it, and powerful enough to use it for greater good than any of us can imagine.” Renovations are messy. Holding patterns are not fun. It’s the end result that makes it all worthwhile. Have things turned upside down in your life? Let Paul’s words encourage you: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). Thank you Father that the plans you have for us are plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future.

Be Confident in God’s Strength in You

Be Confident in God’s Strength in You

by Jon Walker

“Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, ‘We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.’”
Numbers 13:30 (NIV)

God wants you confident in the truth that, through him, all things are possible. Your focus will determine your behavior and it will influence your faith.

When the Israelites first approached the borders of Canaan, Moses sent scouts into the Promised Land to assess the situation. Ten of the scouts came back with reports that focused on the giants in the land, men so big and powerful the scouts feared they could not be defeated.

However, two of the scouts remained focused on the promise from God that he would hand the land over to the Israelites. One of those scouts, Caleb, silenced the others when he said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it” (Numbers 13:30 NIV).

He was focused on the magnitude of God, not the magnitude of any giant challenges ahead. Today you may see many giants that challenge your faith — giants of time and energy, finances and resources, fear and faithlessness.

God wants you to be confident that he’s pouring his strength into you so you can do whatever it takes to defeat these giants. God says you can take possession of an abundant life because he is with you.

By seeing his hand sweep away the personal giants in your life, you’ll be even more confident that you can do all things through him who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13).

What are you thinking -

•     What are you facing today that seems too big to handle? Are they too big for God?

•     Do you focus your day by studying God’s Word in the morning? How would doing so give you confidence in God’s strength throughout the day?

A Hard Road Ahead?

A Hard Road Ahead?

by Mike Woodard

The past two years I have been slowly entering the world of cycling. I just purchased a proper road bike this year. (My last one was saved from recycling.) I enjoy the outdoors and am starting to appreciate the healthy workout that cycling provides. I ride in an area that has a good mix of flats and hills. I really like the thrill of the long downhill grades. The long uphill grades, not so much!

Along the way I have been learning some cycling techniques. One is focus.  In the difficult uphill sections I have found if I focus on the long road ahead to the crest of the hill, I get overwhelmed and want to quit. But if instead I focus on just the next few meters of road ahead of me, I’m more successful and able to conquer the hard road ahead. The key seems to be where I place my focus, the next few meters or the long road ahead. The physics does not change, but just focusing on getting through the next few meters makes a world of difference.

In life, like cycling I like the “long downhill grades” where I just sail along. I attempt to avoid the hard uphill stretches, if possible, but they always seem to find their way into the road ahead even with the best planning on my part.

Jesus has some words of encouragement about focusing on the road just ahead in these moments…

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”  
Matthew 6:34 (The Message)

He is My Helper

He is My Helper

by Dr. Bill Bright
“That is why we can say without any doubt or fear, ‘The Lord is my Helper and I am not afraid of anything that mere man can do to me‘” Hebrews 13:6
Do you and I really exercise perfect confidence that God will help us in our times of need?
The writer to the Hebrews borrows a clause, an expression, used by the psalmist. “The Lord taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me” (Psalm 118:7, KJV).
With the Lord as our helper, mere man can do nothing to us or against us except that which God permits (Acts 4:28). Whatever trials we face, the fact remains that God will be our protector and friend in and through them all.
One effective tool of the enemy is to bring up “exception clauses” time and time again. “My God is able to do anything, but…I’m not quite sure of His interest and/or power in this particular situation.” “I know He can help me, but it may not be His will at this particular time or in this particular case.”
In the face of God’s power, mere man begins to look pretty small, and that is just the way God intends it to be. He wants to give us confidence that He is able for every need we have: large, small or medium. None is too large, none too small for Him.
Bible Reading: Psalm 118:5-9
Today’s Action Point: “Dear Lord, thank You that You are indeed my Helper. I will depend upon You as never before in living the supernatural life which will bring the greatest possible glory to You.”

The Lord is My Shepherd

The Lord is My Shepherd

by Katherine Kehler

“Because the Lord is my Shepherd; I have everything that I need.”
Psalm 23:1

One night, just before bedtime, I was reading my Bible–Psalm 23. After I finished reading, I meditated on what I had read. I was going through a particularly difficult time and felt very much alone. I wondered how I could apply this Psalm to my life.

Through the years, the Lord has sometimes given me forewarning about changes coming in our lives. Sometimes He spoke in a dream, sometimes through what other people said, and of course, the Word. On this particular night, as I sat meditating on Psalm 23, God put a picture in my mind that was almost like a video clip.

In the picture I was in a valley with Jesus. I was a child – His child – and I was holding His hand as we were walking. He was very friendly and kind and I was very happy and content. We were climbing a hill out of a valley. We were near the top, but not quite there yet.

I looked up at Jesus and very excitedly asked Him, “What are we going to do now, Jesus?” Again He looked at me with that wonderful, kind smiling face. He didn’t answer my question but I knew our life would be another great adventure with Him. A few months later, the truth of that picture began to become a reality.

Life is changing for my husband and me. We are not sure exactly what God has planned for us, but we know that Jesus is holding our hands as we go. We know that God is always with us. Psalm 139:17-18 tells us,

“How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly. I can’t even count how many times a day your thoughts turn towards me.”

Father, thank You for thinking about us all the time. There is no one who cares for us as much as You do. Amen.

Patience and Trust

Patience and Trust By Darren Hewer “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 Today’s technology lets us connect with anyone at any time. If telephones and email weren’t enough, we now have texting and Twitter to add to the mix. We have to make an effort to NOT be connected. And we expect that when we want a response, we’ll get one quickly. My grandparents were late arriving to a recent family get-together. We worried that they were lost, driving aimlessly, trying in vain to locate the restaurant. Naturally I pulled out my cell phone to call them, but quickly realized my grandparents don’t own a cell phone. It’s hard to remember a time before we had the ability to be in constant communication and get instant feedback. And maybe this helps explain why it can be frustrating to not hear a clear word from the Lord, especially in times of distress. We call, and seemingly there is no immediate reply. How do we respond when, amidst deep discouragement, we don’t receive the instant divine feedback we’ve been conditioned by our culture to expect? At times like these, it’s helpful to remember a simple but powerful fact that God is with us always. Always. (Matthew 28:20) If you are attempting to serve Him faithfully and fully in faith, He is pleased with you, even if you see no immediate results and have no earthly reason for confidence. (Hebrews 13:16) We are “sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1) because we place our trust in God, who has demonstrated His trustworthiness based on His divine character. By the way, my grandparents were a little late arriving, but were able to find the restaurant on their own. Unfortunately, in the meantime we lost my mom, who rushed out of the restaurant to look for them. We must be patient and trust that God is in control. Although we cannot know definitively why things happen since we know now only in part, we will someday know fully (1 Corinthians 13:12) and in the meantime we have God’s word, the Bible, to instruct and enlighten us as much as God chooses to reveal. We may not see the dark cloud’s silver lining, but if we are following God faithfully, we should harbor no guilt or fear. Instead be confident in the wisdom and love of our Lord, whose loving sacrifice of His Son cleanses us of all sin and fills us with His Holy Spirit, full of mercy and grace. Question: What about your life tries your patience, and how can the things that cannot be changed be offered up to God to help us through?