Drought and Hope...Do They Go Together?

While spending time in scripture this morning I came across Isaiah 40:8 and visions of our Spring Break trip popped into my head.  We drove and drove and drove through Texas because it just goes on and on and on.  Don’t get me wrong – Texas is awesome we were simply reminded how BIG it was.  While driving we were able to observe the drought Texas is experiencing.  The grass is withered and the earth is definitely dry!  Listening to the farmers talk the lack of water is a concern and it is something many worry about.   There is an uncertainty of the how the crops will fair or how the needs will be met to water the livestock. 

Reading Isaiah 40:8 it shares the hope in all the uncertainty that exists in our lives.  “The grass withers, the flower fades but the word of our God will stand forever.”  It doesn’t matter where you live we all experience uncertainty.  The uncertainty might look different but ambiguity and concern are still present.  No matter the uncertainty we are experiencing there is one thing that is certain – God.  He never changes and His Word never changes!  His Word is still relevant to us today and will continue to be relevant until Christ returns.   There is Hope in whatever “drought” we are experiencing!  It is truly a gift to have His Word at our fingertips.

(The pictures were actually taken in NM - we crossed the border one day :-)

Cheryl

Everything...Lent Photo-a-Day

Everything...such a grand word!  It is a word that encompasses so much and maybe even somewhat hard to fully comprehend.  If you read 1 Corinthians 16:14 it states that we are to do everything in love.  There is that grand word – “everything”.  Do we do everything in love?  It’s easy to think about all the stuff we do in love but what about those things that we don’t particularly like?  Do we approach those things with a loving attitude?  1 Corinthians 16:14 is a tough verse to swallow; yet, provided by God for us.    

Everything is a concept that our God understands.  Our God knows everything.  Psalm 139:2 shares, “You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.”  God provided a promise for all of us so that we could have eternal glory in His kingdom.  He did everything He promised.  He gave us His word and everything in scripture is God-breathed; words that we can use to fill our lives. (2 Timothy 3:16)  

Everything might not be a concept that we can fully comprehend but “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).  Christ is everything!  

Cheryl

Endure...Lent Photo-a-Day

Endure…I don’t know about you but when I think of endure I imagine something that is not easy.  You can make it through it but it will take effort; ya know the just hang in there concept.  Even in scripture it talks about enduring the not-so-good stuff.  1 Corinthians 4:12b – “When persecuted, we endure…” Quite frankly, sometimes I don’t want to endure.  I want whatever the uncomfortable thing is to be over.  Could endure be that “four-letter” word you don’t want to hear? 

As I was looking through scripture the word endure doesn’t just represent the “hang-in there” concept.  It is a word that holds great hope!  “May the glory of the Lord endure forever…” (Psalm 104:31) “May his name endure forever…” (Psalm 72:17)  Endure is also forever!  Endure is not a “four-letter” word but a word that we need to hear. The glory of the Lord is forever!  His name is forever!  Christ endured death for us so we could have eternal life.

Rest in His endurance…His glory, death and resurrection!

Cheryl   

Mercy...Lent Photo-a-Day

Mercy...An act of mercy shows an act of kindness; maybe even in an instance where one doesn't really deserve the act of mercy.  In this photo, I am not sure who is showing who mercy.  The dog doesn't particularly care for the donkey and the donkey doesn't particularly care for the dog.  Yet, in this particular moment they were merciful to one another.  The donkey didn't kick the dog and the dog didn't chase and bark at the donkey.  Extending mercy to others can be difficult when we don't particularly like when someone has done something.  Thankfully, Christ's mercy has been extended to us despite the fact that we do things that are dumb.  Actually, he has abundantly provided His mercy.  "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions."  Psalm 51:1  And Lamentations 3:22 states, "His mercies never come to an end".

We screw up over and over and over again; yet the mercy of the Lord is extended to us.  We truly are blessed to have a Savior so gracious!

Cheryl

Go...Lent Photo-a-Day

Go...Such a little word but not a word without significance.  To go requires action.  If you are going somewhere it requires at least a little bit of preparation.  For instance one must think about how they are going to get where they are going.  If you don’t put in the preparation you may not get where you are going.  

Jesus has commanded us to go.  In Matthew 28:19 He says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” This is an action that will require some preparation.  It is not the preparation of packing your bags.  It is not the preparation of making sure you “know” everything before you go.  It is the preparation of spending time with Christ.  As you spend time with Christ you will see how He guides you.  You will hear Him as He guides you.  He will grant you the wisdom needed as He guides you.   

God didn’t say, “Go” and not give us direction.  He said, “Go” with His direction.

Cheryl 

Search...Lent Photo-a-Day

Search…I love how this word is used in scripture.  There is such comfort gained.  “O Lord, you have searched me and you know me” (Psalm 139:1) Our God knows who we are.  We are 1 in a few billion and He knows each and everyone of us.  The awe can be taken beyond the 1 in a few billion.  Really, who else knows us like our Father in Heaven?  No one! 

While sitting and pondering this for a little bit the comfort kind of dwindled.  He knows me…He knows everything!  All the times I’ve screwed up – ya know those things that you would just rather forget.  He knows them and that is intimidating and humbling all at the same time.  At the end of Psalm 139 it states, “Search me, O God, and know my heart…” (v. 23)  Um…I’m not sure I really want Him to search me?  Can I stand before Him with confidence that His search will result in innocence?

No, I cannot.  I cannot even come close!  I’m a broken individual; yet, still loved by God.  He has searched me and He knows the good, bad, and ugly and still offers His grace, His forgiveness, His Son.  We are in the season of Lent, a time to reflect on what has been done for us.  When I consider how I have a Father that knows all there is to know about me and still loves me enough to give His one and only Son, there is comfort!  “O Lord, you have searched me and you know me!”

Cheryl

Practice...Lent Photo-a-Day

Practice…Practicing something typically makes one better.  If you put the time and effort in results will be noticed.  I would guess that most people have stories about how the practice put in paid off in the end.  There are those stories shared about people making it “big” because of all the practice despite the lack of resources.  Practice is a great way to improve. 

What if practice wasn’t such a great thing?  What if one practices certain things and the practice makes them become better but the attribute they are becoming better at isn’t good?  Take for instance lying.  To become a good liar one needs to practice, which means the person is being untruthful with others as well as themselves.  The attribute being practiced doesn’t lend itself to a good outcome.  The practice of lying is not a great way to improve; it actually destroys. 

When looking through scripture to see what was said about “practice” there were some fairly tough words given.  1 John 3:7-8 states, “Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.  Whoever makes practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning.  The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”  Those words put a whole need meaning to the word practice!

If we practice the ways of the world we become pretty good at being “ok” with whatever the world says is ok.  It is easier to set aside what scripture says and do what we want.  If we practice the ways of God we become closer to our Savior.  We learn to lean on Him, trust Him, and believe that His word is Truth.  We have a God that gave us His Son to destroy the works of the devil and because Christ was victorious our eternity is secure! 

Cheryl