If I Told You My Story… August 30, 2017

I had occasion recently to write a Personal Statement of Faith. While I have strong convictions and generally know what I believe and why I believe it, it was a challenging exercise.  I’m glad I did it.  Here it is.

I came to Christ with saving faith as a newlywed over 25 years ago.  Through my childhood I learned several important truths about God: that God was real, God was good, and God was important.  I knew about Jesus, that He was the Son of God and that He had died and had risen again.  However, I had never learned about His complete work of grace that completely saved sinners just like me.  When someone finally shared the Gospel with me plainly, clearly, and personally, I surrendered to the Holy Spirit’s invitation and was born again and became a new creature.

As a new Christian struggling with how God could use me and I could walk in His will, I found Romans 8:28  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” What a treasure and an encouragement that verse was to this new believer trying to reconcile my past with His plans.  Years later, as an older Christian trying to reconcile my future with His plans, Luke 1:45 became very meaningful to me.  “And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.”  Indeed, I have been blessed when I have believed, and He has always kept His word.

Since He saved me, God has graciously ordered my steps through His sovereignty.  He has placed godly people in my life to teach me and to guide me.  He has made provision for me and opened doors of opportunity for me.  He has taught me of His faithfulness through trying and nearly impossible circumstances.  He has never left me nor forsaken me.  He has challenged me to serve Him and provided the people and places that have needed that service.  He has called me to believe Him.  He has equipped me for every spiritual battle that I have come upon.  He has forgiven me and shown mercy to me too many times for me to count.  He has given me good gifts of family and children and has entrusted their hearts to me for a time.  He has changed me.

I’ve learned so much about God and His love for His Church that it is difficult to put everything I believe into words on one piece of paper. But I’m grateful to have an occasion to try.

Here is my simple personal statement of faith.

• God knew me before I was born. He made me and had plans for me long before I even acknowledged Him, and while I was yet a sinner, Christ died for me.
• The Holy Spirit of God drew me, comforts me, strengthens me, and fills me.
• The atoning sacrifice of God’s Son Jesus Christ saves me eternally.
• The resurrection of Jesus Christ gives me FREEDOM from sin and death.
• The grace of God moves me to inexplicable gratitude.
• The mercy of God covers me.
• The Church of God gives me a place to serve, to be built up, and to belong.
• The Word of God is the only Truth in this world.
• The command of God is for His children to love Him and to love people, with the ultimate expression of that love being to share His Truth and His Gospel with the world.
• The promise of God is that He will return for His people who were bought with the blood of Jesus Christ.  I will serve Him until He comes.

I’m a Believer!

Laura

Perspectives on Motherhood May 9, 2010

Me with the girls who call me "Mom"

The idea of motherhood for me has changed a great deal from when I was a child and HAD a mom (note:  I still have a mom!), to when I had children of my own and BECAME a mom.  Here are some things I have learned:

• When you are a child and you HAVE a mom, you may think she has some pretty strange tastes.  She likes the end piece of the bread, she always eats the burnt piece of chicken, and how can she stand those licorice jelly beans?

When you ARE a mom, you realize that when you go to make yourself a sandwich, the only pieces of bread that will be left in the bread bag are the end pieces.  At dinner you know that lonely burnt piece of chicken will just sit there unless you eat it –besides, you burned it, you earned it, you get to eat it!  And black jelly beans… well if you ever hope to eat another jelly bean at Easter time, you better learn to like the black ones.  They are my mom’s favorites.

• When you HAVE a mom, you think it is sooooooo sweet that she always saves that last piece of cake and puts it up on a special little plate up in the cabinet just for you.

When you ARE a mom, you remind yourself once again, that next time you need to find a better hiding place for your secret snack time treats.

And just when you are tempted to have a pity party for yourself, you realize that Mom does not live by bread (or chicken or jelly beans) alone and that the most important nourishment you can get will come from God’s word.  (Luke 4:4)

• When you HAVE a mom, there may be times when you are convinced that she is not nearly as fun as Dad and wonder why she doesn’t always come with you and Dad to the park, or the lake, or on a bike ride.

When you ARE a mom, you find yourself daydreaming about Dad walking in the door and announcing Prince Charming style that he is taking the kids to the park, because you know what that means…. you are going to get…. a BATH!

And just when you are about to lose your mind wondering if you’ll ever wash your hair again, you are reminded that a clean pure heart is even more important to God.  (Matthew 5:8)

• When you HAVE a mom, you may think she does some strange things like crying when she is happy?!

When you ARE a mom, you know in your heart that those initial tears of joy you shed when you first saw your baby’s sweet face are only the beginning of many tears that you will have throughout the life of this child:  happy tears, sad tears, frustrated tears, worried tears, prayerful tears.

And just when we begin to wonder what all this crying in about, we can remind ourselves that our tears are precious to God.  The Bible says He sees our tears, saves our tears, and one day will wipe away all our tears.  (Psalm 126:5, Psalm 56:8, Revelation 21:4)

• When you have a mom, you may find yourself wondering why she can’t be a “cool mom” that’s more like a best friend than a parent.

When you ARE a mom, you will find yourself calling your really cool best friend (who just happens to be your Mom) and asking her when you can quit being mom & just be a friend to your child.  She’ll tell you that the better parent you are now, the better friend you will have later.

And just when you are about to give up on your child having the kind of friends she needs, you will remember to tell her that Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother, and He is always there. (Proverbs 18:24)

• When you HAVE a mom, you know that if you cry out because you had a bad dream, she will be beside your bed to comfort you.

When you ARE a mom and you hear that little cry from down the hall, first you wonder why Daddy ears don’t work as well as Mommy ears in the middle of the night, and then you rush to your child’s bed to assure her everything will be ok.

Just when you start to wonder how long you will have to make these midnight comfort runs, you are reminded that you won’t always get to, but that you serve the God of all comfort who promises His children that He is a very present help in time of trouble. (Psalm 46:1)

• When you HAVE a mom, you know she loves you.

When you ARE a mom, you suddenly know HOW MUCH she has loved you.

You also begin to get a glimpse, just a glimpse, of how much God must love you. (John 3:16)

• When you have a mom, you are convinced that even though she does some things you don’t understand, she is the greatest mom in the world.

When you ARE a mom, you look around at other moms and you are convinced that you are NOT the greatest mom in the world.

Then you remember who gave you this job.  God Himself has graciously given you this job!  Your job is to raise your children so that they can move from depending on you to depending on God.  And as you serve this great God, He has everything you need to be the mother He has called you to be.  (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

Motherhood itself is the perfect Mother’s Day Gift!

Happy Mother’s Day to my mom, who has taught me so much & loved me through all the tough stuff, and to all the other moms out there trying to do the best you can for your children.

I’d love to hear what perspectives motherhood has changed for you.  Leave a note in the comments…

I’m a Believer!
Laura

Daily Mercies…His Enduring Mercy Every Day August 6, 2009

My sweet friend Ginger @ Here’s My Cup Lord asked me to write about MERCY a few months ago for The Daily Mercies, and I’m finally getting around to it.  (Sorry for the tardiness, Gin!  But I do thank you for extending this challenge to me.)  When I accepted, I didn’t know that it would prove to be such a challenge, but as I’ve consciously looked at God’s mercy for the past few months, I began to see how vast His mercy is and how freely and justly He extends it – far more than could be expressed by my simple words in a blog.

Mercy and grace are often paired together when describing some of God’s greatest gifts to us.  Grace being the giving of good things undeservedly, and mercy being the withholding of bad things, also undeservedly.  They go together beautifully, but I believe that mercy must be greater or at least come first, because without the gift of mercy, we would never even have the opportunity to enjoy God’s grace.

It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.  ~Lamentation 3:22-23

As I studied the GOODNESS of God, I became more and more convinced that God’s goodness is epitomized in His mercy.

O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.  ~Psalm 136:1

Psalm 136 says that because of God’s enduring mercy, we can know and be thankful that He is good.  After beginning with a declaration of God’s goodness and his mercy, the psalm lists all the things God has done for His people and repeats 26 times that God’s mercy endures forever!  Were it not for His great mercy, we would not be able to receive His great blessings.

In who He is, God is merciful.

In creation, God is merciful.

In defeating our enemies, God is merciful.

In delivering us from bondage, God is merciful.

In making the impossible possible, God is merciful.

In leading us through the wilderness, God is merciful.

In slaying the strongholds in our life, God is merciful.

In giving His children a heritage, God is merciful.

In remembering us, God is merciful.

In redeeming us, God is merciful.

In providing for our physical needs, God is merciful.

I give thanks to the Lord for He is eternally merciful!

When the Solomon’s temple was completed (2 Chronicles 5), and  the congregation gathered together to restore the ark of the covenant to its rightful place, they praised God together and declared God’s goodness and mercy with amazing results:

It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;  So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.  ~2 Chronicles 5:13-14 (emphasis added)

God has a supernatural mercy both for His children and for unrepentant sinners that I cannot comprehend, yet for which I am eternally grateful.  This supernatural mercy was extended to me while I was in the process of rejecting Him.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  ~Romans 5:8

It continues to be extended to me now that I am one of His own.  Daily He gives mercy freely and completely.  Christ died for ME! and declares now that since I have received His ultimate gift of mercy, the sacrificial death of Jesus, that I am the temple of His Holy Spirit.

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  ~1 Corinthians 3:16

Imagine the power we will have as Christians, when we declare that God is good and recognize that His mercy endures forever, when the glory of the Lord fills our temples so completely that our flesh cannot stand because of His glory!  My challenge to myself daily, and to any of you who would pick it up, is to declare daily the mercy of God in all things, and then to walk in victory because of the glory of the Lord that will fill your temple.

Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.  ~Psalm 118:4

I’m a Believer!

Laura

is of] the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
	Lam 3:23		[They are] new every morning: great [is] thy faithfulness.

Things I Learned From My Dad May 27, 2009

My Daddy celebrated his birthday this past Monday, so I thought it would be a good time to share some things that this unique man has taught me throughout the years.  Once you meet him you will find that he truly has the mind of a mad scientist and a heart of gold.  He is a great adventurer and a student of many things.  He always carries a pen or pencil and a notebook, a tire gauge, a pocket knife, a little plastic coin purse, and if you are really lucky, some electrical tape.  I’ve tried to learn as much as possible from this man who likes a thorough experience of life.  Here are some of the things I’ve learned:

• Curiosity is Good! Not only is it good – it is imperative. “Curiosity killed the cat” has never deterred my daddy from anything. He has the curiosity of at least 90 cats, and he must have the 810 lives to go along with it. “I wonder…” has been the beginning of many of Dad’s great adventures. As we drove over a bridge on vacation it would suddenly become necessary that we know how the bridge holds up all that weight, how it was built, and what the bridge was made of. It has always been important that we not only understand what something is, but how and why it is the way it is. Curiosity has served my daddy well.  He is curious about everything except computers.  Although I think he and Mr. Google would quickly become fast friends!
• When you get sleepy, the grass is the best place for a nap!

• Good snacks are important. Some of my favorite memories of my Dad involve yummy things to eat.  I remember when I was very little and he traveled in sales, we could always count on him bringing us back “Stage Plank” or “Rock N Roll” cookies (the gingerbread with the pink icing… mmmmm….).  As I got older, I was able to “help” him on jobs in the summer.  We always stopped to get a good lunch – I remember my first personal pan pizza at a Pizza Hut somewhere in Texas at lunch with my Daddy.  In recent years, he has showed up at my house with a box full of orange push up pops for my girls.  He’s even been known to travel with a brown paper bag of boudin.

• Velcro is amazing! When my dad discovered velcro, nothing was safe from being velcroed.  The dashboard of his car was a masterpiece of velcro art.  I believe he still loves velcro, though I haven’t seen as much of it in these past few years.  Perhaps he is past his “Velcro Period.”  He also had a “Copper Period.”  (All great artists do this, right?)

• Dancing at weddings is one of life’s great joys (for Dad, if not always for his partners).  You must dance like you mean it at the weddings of those you hold dear.  From the 20-somethings to the little old ladies, no one is off limits as a partner.

• Helping people is good. It might be difficult, but it is good to help those in need.  Dad has always been available to help family and  even the occasional stranger stranded along side the road.  He has stopped at accidents and offered encouragement to people at some of the most difficult times in their lives. He’s cared for old lonely people, he’s changed flats for strangers, and written letters of encouragement to hurting people.  The world would be a better place if we all cared for people so fearlessly.

• Water in the back of the toilet is clean enough to drink. (No explanation available at this time)

• When streaking (yes, that kind of streaking) always wear your shoes, and keep your undergarments in your hand. Also, when you hit 50 (years old, not MPH), you aren’t running as fast as you think you are.

• Children are not insignificant. Dad has always been a family man. With great joy he still loves to tell of bringing me home from the hospital in a box. He was amazed at how tiny I was. (I would need a refrigerator box now!)  As I grew I remember sitting on his shoulders, rolling in the grass with him, him teaching me to ride my bicycle.  I remember him taking me & my brothers out in the boat and teaching us to swim.  I remember Dad taking us to the park when we got bored at Grandma’s house.  We could always count on him to push us the highest on the swings.  As children, we were not insignificant.  He enjoyed us, and we enjoyed him.  This is why I smile when he takes my little girls on walks to the park or to the McNeese farm:  because I know he knows they are significant.

• You can make it through hard times and come out better. Mom & Dad did have some hard times and several challenges throughout their 41+ years of marriage.  Employment was a challenge for a few years when I was growing up, but he always did what was necessary to support the family, and when he started his own business, it gave him great freedom to be a husband and a dad, as well as a breadwinner.  He and mom were always committed to each other and to us, and they made sure that we knew it.  I felt so secure in knowing that…I still do.

• It is a parent’s right (and responsibility) to embarrass their kids thoroughly, and often. As your children get older, it is not only a right and a responsibility, it’s downright enjoyable.  Favorite moments typifying this:
  • Dad standing in the middle of the road in front of our house waving madly and yelling “SLOW DOWN” at the “cool people” driving down my street.
  • Sitting at the table with one of my high school friends as Dad wrote her a speeding ticket for “talking too fast.”
  • Standing at McDonald’s wondering if that really is my dad walking behind the counter to turn off the French fry buzzer because it is getting on his nerves (or perhaps it’s a dream…  Nope, not a dream.)

  If you are really good at the embarrassment strategies, you will eventually embarrass your children without even trying.  As you approach your senior years, it gets even easier to embarrass the grandkids.

Killing 2 birds with one stone - showing love & embarrassing the kids!

• Spray paint and epoxy are AWESOME, but the greatest is love… My daddy is a man who thinks deeply, and loves even more deeply.  Many a tumultuous teenage argument ended with his assurance that he loved me.  Whether it’s sneaking an embrace from mom in the kitchen or still kissing me goodnight when we spend the night, I’ve never had any doubt of the love of my father.  I count myself privileged to be loved by him.

Happy birthday, Daddy (2 days late, of course!).  I love you & I’m glad you’re my Daddy.

I’m a Believer!

Laura

(To read about my Mommy, click here.)

Bloggy Recommendations April 27, 2009

Hello!  I pray everyone had a blessed celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord and an equally blessed spring break.  I know I did.

I’m busy in preparation for our upcoming beach retreat.  Please pray for us this week as a group or 19 ladies head to Fort Morgan for our spring retreat.  This year’s theme is Taste & “Sea”. 

O, taste & see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.
~Psalm 34:8

I’ll be leading the teaching portions and ministering with the retreat team.  (Going to the beach is a tough job, but someone’s got to do it… GRIN!)

I plan to share much about what I learned when we get back.

In the meantime, I would like to share a couple of blogs with you that I LOVE!

One is my friend GINGER.  Her blog has a brand new look, and she is celebrating her one year “blogaversary”.  It is not only beautiful to look at – complete with my favorite color (red) and animated ladies drinking coffee in a little sidewalk cafe, it also has great content:  from recipes, to spirit lifting scriptures, prayer requests, beautiful writing, and much encouragement.  Stop by Here’s My Cup Lord and allow the Lord to fill your cup to overflowing. 

The other blog is a blog of someone I’ve never met, but her strength and boldness during a difficult time encourage me every time I stop by.  Her name is Lori Moon, and she is battling cancer.  Her blog, My Own Road Home, is full of the word of God and testimony of His faithfulness even in the dark times of life.  She has beautiful music, things to laugh about, and personal stories.  Stop by and be encouraged.

I’m a Believer!

Laura

He Is Risen! April 12, 2009

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.  

~Matthew 28:6

Father, Into Thy Hands (Surrender) April 11, 2009

(This is part of an Easter series: The Seven Sayings of Jesus on the Cross.  To view all posts in this series, click here.)

PRESENTATION OF HIS LIFE & SPIRIT – Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. ~Luke 23:46

Again, Jesus prays.  He began with a prayer, He prayed in the midst, and He ends with a prayer.  As He lived, so He died, in perfect communion with His Father.

At this point, Jesus has been brought through anguish, obedience, darkness, and recognition of the completion of God’s plan.  It has been a long, painful day.  And so at the end of this day He prays and addresses God again tenderly as Father. 

Again He prays scripture:

Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. ~Psalm 31:5

Psalm 31:5 was the “now I lay me down to sleep” type of prayer of the day.  Many Jewish mothers undoubtedly prayed this prayer at the end of long days with their children.  Perhaps even Jesus had done so throughout His life.  Now He prays it one last time, knowing that even though He had felt forsaken only hours before, His spirit will be safe in His Father’s hands.  These words speak the ultimate surrender to the will of the Father, and now the redemption spoken of in the psalm is completed.

There are several noteworthy things about this presentation of his spirit, but the main one is this:

IT IS LAST!

Many times we think that we can just skip to this step when trying to walk through something difficult, trying to crucify something about our flesh.  We yearn desperately to press the fast forward button to get to the finish line and run headlong into the arms of our Father who is waiting for us.  But can we really expect a heart of surrender toward Him if we aren’t willing to walk in forgiveness, mercy, grace, provision, spiritual dependence, obedience, knowledge of God’s plan, as Jesus did on the cross?

We must walk through what God has for us.  Jesus had to – what makes us think we are so special??  We ARE special though – God sends the Holy Ghost to empower us – to help us as we walk by faith seeking to do the will of the Father.  He is conforming us to the image of His son. 

To commend our spirit into God’s hands demonstrates complete and total trust in the nature of God and the plans of God, as shown in the Word of God. 

At death, after living a perfect life, as Jesus presented His body as a sacrifice for all believers, He commended His Spirit into the hands of His Father.  If you have accepted the sacrifice of Christ as atonement for your sins, when you come to the end of your life, you need not be afraid.    If you practice a daily life of surrender into the hands of God, how much more joyous will that day be when you confidently and with sweet surrender and relief run into the open arms of your loving Father who waits for you.  I’m looking forward to it! 

I’m A Believer!

Laura

It Is Finished (Surrender)

(This is part of an Easter series: The Seven Sayings of Jesus on the Cross.  To view all posts in this series, click here.)

In previous posts we looked a Jesus’s selflessness in the dying process and His endurance in the dying process.  The last part of the dying process that we are going to look at is SURRENDER. 

I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. ~Galatians 2:20

As we are in our dying process, we will go through a lot.  Usually it is very painful.  Whatever part of our flesh we are seeking to crucify puts up quite a fight.

Whether it is attitude, habits, rebellion against God, pride, lack of faith… there is something in our lives that we need to crucify.  During this process, we will have opportunities to die gracefully, as Jesus did, and experience the resurrection power of God, or to put up a kicking, screaming, fight and experience continual turmoil and grief.

We will have the opportunity to pray for others, to forgive others, to extend undeserved blessings to others, to make provision for others’ needs.  We will have times when we have to endure pain & hardship, at which times we can either let our anguish or our faith take over.  We will have opportunities to cry out to God. We will have opportunities to know the heart of God, to ask for help from others, or to bear more than God has required.  We will have the opportunity to do our part in the fullness of God’s plans, or to take shortcuts.

All this will bring us to the ultimate point of surrendering our SELF to God.

Let’s look at Jesus’s next statement from the cross.

PROCLAMATION OF COMPLETION – It is finished.

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.  ~John 19:30

He makes a statement, a simple statement of three little words.  What does this simple statement mean?  What is finished?  What does it mean for us?

It is a statement that the sin debt has been paid.

As God speaking to us, Jesus lets us know that the amazing, gracious redemption plant is completed.  No more are we under the old covenant of law, but under the new covenant of grace offered freely for all who will call upon the name of Jesus.  The redemption plan established before the beginning of time has been completed and believers are the beneficiaries.

I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow

Elvina M. Hall, 1865

Statement of victory.

This simple statement is a statement of triumph!  I like that He didn’t say “It is over.”  That would imply defeat or giving up.  No – Jesus did not come to abolish the law, He came to fulfill it, to complete it, to FINISH it! 

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  ~Matthew 5:17

How joyous to be a part of God’s plan and to see the accomplishment of that plan.  This is ultimate accomplishment.

Jesus knew that a debt had to be paid.
Jesus knew his part in paying it.
Jesus knew when his part was completed. 

There is a lot of “knowing” involved. 

There are a lot of things we KNOW that God wants us to do.   Have we taken steps to complete these?  How close are you to your “It is Finished” line?

It is an example to us that we can complete the work God has given us.   

Wow!  What an accomplishment – to finish the work that God has assigned us.  I hope that every day I’m striving to seek God’s will and God’s way so much that I am finishing the work He has for me.

Another interesting thing that I think we can learn is that when we are finished doing God’s work here, He promptly takes us home where we receive our reward.  The everlasting presence of the Lord is quite an incentive to work towards the “IT IS FINISHED LINE”;  to deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow.

I’m a Believer!

Laura

Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me? (Endurance) April 9, 2009

(This is part of an Easter series: The Seven Sayings of Jesus on the Cross.  To view all posts in this series, click here.)

And He said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.  ~Luke 9:23

Jesus gave us three ways that we are to follow Him  (deny, take up, and follow), and then demonstrated these ways as He bore His own cross.  In complete selflessness He denied Himself as He prayed for His persecutors, promised paradise to the thief on the cross, and provided for His mother.  SELFLESSNESS is first called for in following Jesus. 

In taking up our cross daily, we are called to ENDURANCE.  Once again, at His own crucifixion, Jesus demonstrates the kind of endurance that we are to have. 

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?  ~Mark 15:34

 A PRAYER OF DESPAIR –  My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

The fourth thing that Jesus says on the cross is once again a prayer.  I find it interesting that the first, the middle, and the last statement of Jesus are all prayers.

He cries out with a loud voice…loud enough for all to hear.  At this point Jesus has been on the cross for about six hours.  The world has been in darkness for three hours.  And He makes this cry of “God-forsaken”ness.

Honestly, this portion of scripture has troubled me.  Here’s why – because I know that God promises to never leave us nor forsake us.  The 23^rd psalm says “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.” 

But there are times in our lives, dark times, when we feel forsaken.  God-forsaken even; as if God Himself has forgotten us.  This is where Jesus was.  It had been completely dark for three hours.  He had been on the cross for six hours.  It was a dark time.  It was during this time that the judgment of God for the sins of the world was being poured out onto Him.  Because of this, God will never have to forsake me – that price has already been paid.

And so He prays.

When we are in dark times, what should we do? 

Pray and seek the Word of God! 

Prayer will help you endure!  In this verse, Jesus does just that.  He is actually praying the 22^nd psalm.  This was familiar to Him and the Jews of His time, just as perhaps the 23^rd is familiar to us.  We can even just quote a couple of words from it, and it elicits a response from people who know it.  Simply say “The Lord is my shepherd…” and you will get heads nodding in recognition because they know the rest of it. 

I believe that is what Jesus is doing right here.  Let’s look at His words first, then at the actual psalm.

MY God

Again he is expressing his relationship – MY God.  This is not an “Oh, God if you are there” prayer.  This is a prayer to a God with whom He has a relationship.

He didn’t turn into one of those people who say, “That might be your God, I don’t want a God that allows this type of suffering.”

Even in the midst of this pain, God is still His God.  Jesus did not allow circumstances to override His faith and His relationship with God.

 My GOD

He acknowledges that God is still God.  In fact, this is one time where Jesus does not call Him “Father.”  God is still in control of this situation and worthy to be called on, even in the midst of allowing this to happen.

A God that still hears

The fact that Jesus calls out, and even asks a question, indicates that even in feeling forsaken, He knows God still hears.  And not only does God hear, He knows why the suffering is taking place.  God always knows why, even when no one else does.

Even when we feel forsaken, God still hears and knows the answers to all those tough questions.

Praying the Word of God

Jesus was the word made flesh that dwelt among us (John 1:14).  Why would the Word have to pray the Word?  Once again, I believe that Jesus is giving us the ultimate example of how to live while dying.  In the process of dying to ourselves, during the most painful dark times, we need to remember to pray the Word.  The Word will always assure us of who God is and who we are.

Take a look at Psalm 22.  Read it…

 In this psalm (a Messianic psalm) we see that the psalmist goes from desolation, to praise, to describing his situation then back to who God is, what God can do, what God has already done, what God will do, and what God will do through him.  The psalm ends in ultimate victory, wrought by the hand of God.

I believe that Jesus, in quoting this psalm, is reminding people that He is the fulfillment of this psalm (written 600 years prior to his crucifixion, when crucifixion was not even done).  By quoting this psalm, by praying this psalm, He claims victory in the midst of despair.  This allows him to ENDURE. 

Endurance begins with prayer to a God with whom we have a relationship, who is still God even in dark times, that still hears us, the God who gave us His precious Word, the God who delivers victory to His people.  Hallelujah!

I’m a Believer!

Laura

Today shalt thou be with me… (Selflessness) April 7, 2009

(This is part of an Easter series: The Seven Sayings of Jesus on the Cross.  To view all posts in this series, click here.)

 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.   ~Luke 23:39-43

PROMISE TO A REPENTANT SINNER

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Jesus promises revival and resurrection. 

These words were spoken to one of the criminals beside Him on the cross.  Back up and you can see this criminal’s confession and repentance in the previous verses.

I believe here Jesus speaks as God and makes a promise to a repentant sinner.  Do you know any repentant sinners?  Have you been one?  This is a promise of revival and resurrection to this man because of his repentant heart, and acceptance of Jesus as savior.  Here Jesus speaks as God and forgives this man BECAUSE HE COULD!  When we come with repentant hearts, recognizing who He is and who we are, He offers us this same forgiveness.

When this criminal recognized Jesus was the merciful & gracious savior, he received both mercy (lack of eternal punishment) & grace (gift of eternal paradise).  He simply asked to be remembered, but he received the ultimate gift – salvation!

Jesus demonstrates His immediate acceptance of someone’s repentance. 

I believe in this respect Jesus is acting as a fellow man & showing us how we are to relate to others. 

How many times have we heard (or said) “I’ll forgive, but I won’t forget”.  Or perhaps we decide that repentance must be proved by a change in attitude and actions.  Only then, after our conditions have been met will we consider forgiveness.

But Jesus DID NOT say “Ok, but first you have to prove yourself to me that you are truly rehabilitated, then I might think about paradise for you.”  No, it was urgent for this man that he receive immediate forgiveness.  Jesus said TODAY you will be with me!  Not only was it immediate, this criminal would get the ultimate reward – being with Jesus!

Jesus did not withhold forgiveness from this man, neither does He withhold forgiveness from us, and as such, neither should we withhold forgiveness.

Jesus did not forget his ultimate purpose in the midst of pain.

As Jesus is dying a very excruciating, completely 100% undeserved death, a “malefactor” – a criminal – asks Jesus to remember him.  Wow.

 Even if I am involved in a pleasant task, watching a movie, talking on the phone, reading a book, I don’t really like being interrupted by even my children to do something for them.  Now if they are behaving like a “malefactor” or criminal  you can believe that I am even less inclined to want to fulfill their request!

Now let’s say I’m doing something UNPLEASANT – cleaning the toilet, talking to the IRS on the telephone, or perhaps even vomiting.  Now my child asks me to do something for them…  Something that is my job to do, something that I am capable of doing.  What kind of attitude do I have then?  Sadly, I have to say that more times than not, my attitude is bad.  It is my job to help my children, I’m capable of it, yet often I let my circumstances keep me from doing so.

None of that even begins to compare to Jesus and his circumstances on the cross.  Jesus’s ultimate purpose on the cross was the redemption of mankind.  He did not become angry at one who asked Him for something which He was capable of giving.  He did not forget, in the midst of paying the price, what He was actually paying for!

Have you ever been in the middle of a serious situation (I mean a really bad time, horrible, maybe illness, death of a family member, divorce, financial ruin) when you run into someone who needs ministry?  The only way you would even have met this person is to be in this particular type of trouble.  The only way you would even know how to minister to this person is the fact that you are also in this trouble.  What then?  God is right in the middle of preparing your victory, of preparing your method of reaching people with His message of redemption.  He sends someone to you.  Are you too busy suffering to take time to minister? 

 If we are not careful, we will waste our pain because we forget our purpose.  Jesus remembered his purpose in the midst of pain and generously, selflessly, offered the gift for which He paid.  Not a drop of His pain was wasted in selfish suffering.

I’m a Believer!

Laura