God is Faithful

God is Faithful by Helen Lescheid “Because of the Lords great love we are not consumed, for His compassion never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22, 23 King David, who frequently found himself in deep trouble, wrote about God’s faithfulness often — sometimes from a cave.  Trying to escape the jealous fury of King Saul, he had fled to the wilderness. At the end of another harried day, I can see him sitting by a dying camp fire writing on a tablet. His ragamuffin group of men have found a place to lie down and sleep. But David couldn’t sleep. His reputation ruined, and his life in danger, David poured out his heart to God in another psalm. Often he would conclude his writing with a joyful declaration of God’s faithfulness: “All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of His covenant” (Psalm 25:10). “Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies” (Psalm 36:5). “But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” (Psalm 86:15). How could David sing of God’s faithfulness when everything seemed to be going wrong in his life? His confidence was in God who he believed to be faithful to His children. We can have the same assurance. When winds of adversity blow against us, we can know that God is present and God is working. Great difficulties provide a unique opportunity to see, firsthand, the faithfulness of God in taking us through the trial to greater blessings. As surely as spring follows winter, new life will follow. That’s why, we can sing of God’s faithfulness — even from a cave. Thank you, Father, that your unfailing love never ends. Great is your faithfulness to me, and your mercies begin afresh each day. Therefore, I will go into this day with confidence and hope.

What is Fear of the Lord…?

by Rev. Daniel Forster

I read the daily scripture this morning and I came across this:

Psalm 103:13 (ESV)

“As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear Him.”

Immediately my eyes and thoughts were drawn to the words “those who fear Him”. My mind raced around this concept as I thought about how I don’t so much fear my God as I revere Him. Our relationship is one of intimate love, one of a Father and a son. Can there be true fear in such an intimate relationship?

So I opened up the textbooks and began to study, and this is what I found. According to the Strong’s Concordance and Dictionary the Hebrew word for fear…does not just mean fear. In fact it is more commonly used to mean reverence. We see the Hebrew word is pronounced yaw-ray’ used in many scriptures of the Old Testament. In a perfect example of where yaw-ray’ does not mean actual fear, yet reverence; we see a scripture quoted by Jesus from the Old Testament. In quoting this scripture, Jesus does not use the same words as we have translated it to mean; in fact, He brings a whole different light to it. This scripture is:

Deuteronomy 6:13 (ESV)

“It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.”

And we see Jesus quoting it in:
Luke 4:8 (ESV)

“And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’ ”

We should worship, and reverently love our Lord our God, for only Him should we serve. If we fear our Lord our God, how can we reverently love on Him? How can we surrender completely to be in Christ and let Him abide in us if we have some form of fear? Yes I know, there is such a thing as healthy fear…and its called reverence, respect, love…not fear. When we talk about or put in our minds the word fear, we open a door or a footstool for the enemy. We then allow him to twist Fathers Words around; something he is very good at doing, and has been doing since the beginning of time.

There are other places in the Old Testament where this translation error stands true as well. The King James translators chose to translate the Hebrew Word mowra as fear, although it also means reverence, object of reverence, or an awe inspiring spectacle or deed. Another Hebrew word guwr, which can mean fear, but which also, means to stir up, sojourn, dwell with, remain, and dwell in or to stand in awe.

Father, let us worship you in our lives today, not fear you…let us come to you my God, my Savior, and seek a deep and intimate loving relationship with you; not one of where I am afraid and see you as one who cannot be reached or one who is unobtainable. Father, let us remember your word, and plant it deep in our hearts…

Revelation 3:20 (ESV) “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”

 1 John 4:18-19 (ESV) “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.”

Ephesians 3:17-19 (ESV) “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

We Will Not Fear

by Bethany Hayes

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea”.
Psalm 46:1-2 (NKJV)

Living near one of the most majestic mountains of the Cascade range, I am constantly reminded of the might and presence of our Creator God.  Rounding a corner as I drove to work one day, I was met by another breathtaking view of Mount Hood.  As it towered directly in front of me, its beauty and steadfast presence brought these verses to mind:  “We will not fear. . .though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.”

My imagination began to run wild.  What if something as sure and steadfast as Mount Hood did uproot and was suddenly hurled into the Pacific Ocean?  A mountain dropped in the sea would cause an alarm greater than its splash.  Fear would be the most natural result.

If that were to happen, what would we do?  Scripture says, “We will not fear.”  If we will not fear, even if the most terrifying “natural disaster” were to occur, will we fear in financial uncertainty, political upheaval, an unknown future, or a scary diagnosis?

“We will not fear” is not a mantra to be recited continuously until we convince ourselves to do what we say.  It is the response of faith in the character of our steadfast God – a God more steadfast than the highest mountains and more present than our overwhelming troubles.  We will not fear, because “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Prayer: Father, Thank You for being our refuge and strength. Thank You for Your abiding presence.  Grant us the faith to trust You with our uncertainties.  Grant us the faith that swallows fear, for Your Name’s sake. Amen.

No Visas Needed

by Marilyn Ehle

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going… I am the way, the truth, and the life…“ 
John 14:1-6 (New Living Translation)

We recently returned from an international trip that involved crossing country borders and—more critically—facing stony faced government officials who examined our passports and visas. In addition to these authorities, we also watched uniformed officers scrutinize our luggage. While we had followed all the instructions given by our own and other governments, there were still moments of apprehension. Had we done everything right? Did we have all the correct papers? Would we be stopped for some infraction that we hadn’t known about?

Edwin Lutzer writes, “At death we cross from one territory to another, but we’ll have no trouble with visas… Our Representative is already there, preparing for our arrival. As citizens of heaven, our entrance is incontestable.”

Perhaps you have fears about crossing into that heavenly territory. Or you know of others who live with paralyzing questions about whether they will be welcomed by our Savior, our “represen-tative.” But Jesus’ words are clear: “Don’t let yourselves be distressed or agitated. You have been trusting in and relying on God the Father; you can also trust in and rely on me… I’m going away to prepare a place for you…and I WILL come back to get you, to take you into my presence, so that we can be together always.”

We lived in Europe when the borders of most countries became free. No longer did we have to stop the car and show official papers when crossing from Germany to The Netherlands or France or Belgium. In fact, the gates which formerly stopped traffic had been dismantled and the small buildings at what had once been “checkpoints” were now deserted.

When we place our faith in Jesus Christ as the one and only Way, when we trust that His death on the cross and bodily resurrection provide all that is required to enter into His presence—now and forever—we can look forward to crossing that final border with confidence and joy.

Step By Step

by Katherine Kehler

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.” Psalm 37:23

After ten days of ministry in California, we were on the road, making the two-day drive home. The first day was sunny and bright and we could see for miles. Beautiful scenery. The traffic was light.

The second day was very different – torrential rain, fog and poor visibility. The splatter from the wheels of the big trucks made it harder to see. Most of the time we could only see a few car lengths ahead. We had to really concentrate on our driving.

We had no long-distance vision. We knew, however, that if we stayed on the I-5 north freeway, we would eventually get to the US/Canadian border. The road signs also assured us that we were heading in the right direction, even though we only see a few feet ahead of us.

As Marvin was driving, I thought of the verse:

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105

Life is a journey. If we have asked Jesus to be our Savior and Lord, our destination is heaven. Some days are sunny and bright. Others are foggy and have torrents of problems. In the same way big trucks can it make it harder to see the road, sometimes difficult people or circumstances can cloud our thinking. Still, we can be assured that the path hasn’t changed. God hasn’t changed. Only our ability to see clearly has changed.

During those foggy days, we need to remember God has ordered all of our steps. We are on the right road – the one pointed to heaven. The Bible gives us the road signs. The Bible is the light to our feet.

I encourage you to read the Bible every day so God can encourage you. He will keep you from stumbling and falling. If you fall, He will pick you up again. If you haven’t made it a habit to read the Bible every day, let me encourage you to begin – start with the book of Proverbs and read a few verses every day.

Father, thank You for ordering all of our footsteps. Thank You for your Word, which lights up our day and our way. Give us the sense to go to You for assurance when we need to be reminded that You are directing us and haven’t forgotten us. Amen.

He Has Not Deserted Me

by Dr. Bill Bright “And He who sent Me is with Me – He has not deserted Me – for I always do those things that are pleasing to Him” John 8:29 If we have a conscience free of offense, and if we have evidence that we please God, it matters little if men oppose us or what others may think of us. “Enoch, before his translation, had this testimony – that he pleased God.” It would not be fair for you or me to profess ignorance in this matter of pleasing God. If we had never known before, we know now that it comes from doing always those things He commands – which of course are the things that please Him. Jesus is saying here, among other things, that God is with Him in the working of miracles. Though men had forsaken and rejected Him, yet God stayed by Him and worked in and through Him. In the same way, God has made it possible for us to please Him by giving us His Holy Spirit to indwell, enable and empower us for service. With the available enablement, we are without excuse in the matter of doing the “greater things” He has promised for those who love and serve Him. What better goal for today, tomorrow and all our coming days than to seek to please Him? Bible Reading: John 8:25-28 Today’s Action Point: So that Christ might be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death, I will seek to do only those things today which please Him.

The Rewards of Patience

by Dr. Charles Stanley

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” (Galatians 6:7-9)

Photography has taught me a great deal about patience. I once spent four days waiting to photograph the Matterhorn in Switzerland but inclement weather was keeping the peak totally hidden. On the last night of my stay, I went to sleep praying. Very early the next morning, I opened my eyes to see that huge white mountain glistening against the pitch black sky. I had not even realized the inexpensive hotel we’d selected had a view of the mountain!

Rather than waiting until we reach heaven to reward us, God sends many blessings to us now – particularly in response to our attitude of patience.

1. We see God at work. His way is the best way, and we become more aware of this when we observe Him working out His plan in our life.

2. We can achieve our objectives. The Lord knows the right moment to provide what we want or need. If we give up too soon or try to manipulate circumstances, we miss out on God’s best for us.

3. We have God’s favor. When we are patiently waiting for His will, then He can freely bless us. God certainly wants to pour out His love on our life.

The Lord has many rewards available to us when we abide patiently in His will. We will all face circumstances in which we are tempted to be impatient. What determines whether or not we express patience is the value we place on whoever else is involved – a brother, friend, co-worker, or God. Do you value Him enough to be patient with His timing?

Question: Where can you develop patience in your life?