Category: Knowing God

Many times, when we hear people talk about the miracles of God, we perceive it as God doing something miraculous to bring about a positive outcome.  And yes, God DOES perform miracles like this every single day all over the world. He heals people of every disease, He restores relationships, He empowers the addict to kick the habit, He restores sight to the blind, He draws sinners to himself to receive healing in their hearts and salvation for their souls.  The Bible is full of stories such as these.

Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: ⁵ The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy^[b] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.  Matthew 11:4-5

“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.”  Matthew 4:23

It is easy to praise God and trust in Him when things are going well and we see miracles such as these happening around us.  But what about those times when our prayers seem to go unanswered?  Those times when we cry and beg, praying and desperately asking God to intervene.  Those times when we really NEED that new job, when a loved one is in the hospital, when your child is missing, when we don’t have enough money to pay the bills, when someone in your life is abusing you or someone you love, when you’re pregnant, going into early labor and begging God to save your baby. And then, despite all your prayers and petitions to God, the thing you fear the most happens anyway.

Is God any less mighty or less loving when our prayers aren’t answered the way we expect them to be; when we are experiencing unbelievable pain and loss?  Is God still good when the enemy of your soul comes to you in those dark hours and whispers in your ear that you are unworthy and God doesn’t really love you?

My friends, let me encourage your heart.  God IS continually GOOD and His love and mercies will never cease! It is times like this when we need to remind ourselves that God is LOVE, that He is GOOD, and His character doesn’t change.  The Bible assures us that He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  He is the Creator of this whole universe, He knows you by name, and He loves you so very much.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

So why does God allow bad things to happen? Partly this is due to the fact that we live in a broken, sinful world, and sometimes there are natural consequences that occur.  And sometimes, as we learn in the Book of Job, God allows us to be tested for various reasons.  That being said, we are assured in scripture that God can take what the enemy intended for evil and turn it around and use it for good.  We can trust Him that, no matter what He allows to occur in our lives, that He’s in control and that someday He will turn our mourning into dancing. Psalm 30 promises us that wailing and sorrow may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning.  Many times God will, if you allow Him to, use you to minister to others who are going through a similar pain that you have already endured.

Following is a tremendous worship song called Miracles.  This is a song of declaration about God’s love and power, but it was birthed out of the tremendous grief and loss of a child-yet-born.  It is the confession of a grieving father who, despite his unbearable heartbreak, is reminding himself that no matter what we face in life, God IS a good and loving God, that He IS a God of miracles and He’s deserving of our faith and trust.

“I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
    yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
¹² I will consider all your works
    and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

¹³ Your ways, God, are holy.
    What god is as great as our God?
¹⁴ You are the God who performs miracles;
    you display your power among the peoples.” Psalm 77:11-14

My hope is that God will speak to your heart as you listen to this song, and that your heart will be encouraged that He IS a God of miracles!

Until next time, be blessed!

 

I had the opportunity to attend my 30^th high school reunion last summer. And while, for the most part, it was a wonderful opportunity to catch up with old friends and acquaintances that I haven’t seen in over 25 years, I also had the opportunity to see some people that brought back some pretty painful memories. It was very bittersweet for me. These painful memories were some of the best times, and some of the worst times in my life, in fact the very lowest points that led me to God in the first place.  But I realize I wouldn’t be where I am today in my relationship with God if not for the pain that drove me to Him.

As most of us do, I made some mistakes in high school, even some extremely big ones; decisions that impacted my closest relationships and left a huge hole in my heart that only God can fill.  Decisions that will impact me for eternity.  I still have regrets that I didn’t work harder to communicate and share my pain. I should have attempted to make certain decisions with the input of another, instead of blazing forward with my own choices, covering my heartbreak and fear in a show of strength and determination, oblivious to the unspoken wants and needs of another. And the fact that my decisions likely left deep and wounding scars in others is, at times, too heavy a burden for me to bear alone. So I took that pain to God and allowed Him to begin the process of healing me, but I had to turn my back on one of the closest relationships I had on earth at the time, and I know he didn’t understand then; I’m sure he still doesn’t understand now.

All that to say, I gained an eternal perspective after that high school reunion – the pain of your past, even the pain of today, are but ripples in the tapestry of eternity. God reminded me that He is the God of every moment; He was with me then, and He’s with me now. And while I thought my pain was dealt with long ago, I’ve come to find pieces of it still yet reside under the surface. But it is that pain, that horrible sin, that anchored the Lamb of God to the cross in my place, and so it anchors me to Him. He is the One who was, who is, and who is yet to come again. He is worthy to receive all the glory, all the praise; He is the One I bow before and He is my King. He reigns over my life in power and strength; He is forever crowned and exalted high above all my mistakes, and He loves me with an everlasting love. I cannot live without Him.

So I want to encourage you today. He sees all your scars, the broken and missing pieces of your heart, the mistakes of your past, and He loves you anyway. There is no sin too great that can keep you from Him, unless you allow it. In fact, He set aside his glory in heaven, crossed eternity, laid down his life and allowed himself to be beaten near death and then crucified on a cross because He loves you so much; He wants to reconcile you back into relationship with Him, right now. What are you waiting for? There is no hurt too deep, no sin too great, that God cannot cover and heal. Trust me when I say, He will forgive you much faster than you can forgive yourself – for whatever you may have done. If you haven’t yet done so, I urge you to turn to Him today and choose your eternity with Him.

Until next time, be blessed!!

Yours (Glory and Praise)

Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace)

Jesus I Come

People often ask, “How do I have a relationship with God? I can’t see him or hear him talk to me audibly, and he seems so far away.” Perhaps you feel this way too.

Well, how do you get to know another person and develop a deeper relationship with them in your every day life?  By spending time with them and talking with them. You don’t learn to recognize another’s voice if you aren’t speaking with them and listening to them speak to you regularly, correct?

A relationship with God is very much the same way. If you want to develop a closer relationship with God, you need to be intentional about betting into his presence, spending more time with him and getting to know who he is and what he’s like. This is primarily done through the following methods:

1. Spending time reading scripture (the Holy Bible) daily;
2. Spending time with God in prayer daily (this involves talking to him, but also listening to what he has to say to you);
3. Spending time in worship, singing praises to God and telling him how much you love him;
4. Attending a good Bible-based teaching church; and
5. Spending time with other Christians (we often call this “fellowship”).

God deeply desires to have a personal and intimate relationship with you – yes, you! Just as he walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, so he desires to spend time with you and communicate with you one-on-one.  You are on his mind, and he seeks you out!

I have found that one of the easiest ways to get into God’s presence, and to remind myself of who he is, is through worship.  We are instructed throughout scripture to praise the Lord, especially in the book of Psalms. It is through worship that I can set aside all the problems and worries that I’m dealing with, put my focus on God and pour out my heart to him. To quote a worship leader, Mike Harland, “As we focus or time and attention on the Lord in worship, proclaim his place of honor in our lives, and thank and praise him for his eternal promises, we can expect God to intervene in our circumstances.” And he often does! Many times I will feel God’s presence so strongly during worship as my heart draws close to him, and I will usually receive a bigger perspective (God’s perspective) on the things I’m facing in my life. It encourages me and lifts my spirit to be reminded that God loves me, he sees me, he cares about what I’m going through and he has the answers and is able and willing to help me.

Psalm 145:17-20 says, “The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made [that’s you!]. The Lord is near to all who call on him [in prayer and in worship], to all who call on him in truth.  He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.  The Lord watches over all who love him ….” [emphasis mine]

So, in the hopes that it will prove helpful, I’m including some of the worship songs I have found that draw me closer to God and really magnify how big he is over my life. I hope, as you listen to these and focus on God, that you’ll feel God’s love for you and how much you mean to him – he died for you.

Until next time, be blessed!