tested for glory...

February 8, 2013

1 Peter 1:7 So that the tested genuineness of your faith-more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ

Do we really want our faith to be sure? Do we really want our devotion to God to be absolute? Is so, are we willing to walk through the fires that make that necessary? Do we understand that we cannot become the Christians that can make a difference in our families and in the lives of those around us unless we experience some fire. I’m of course not suggesting that we “love” the fire; after all, it burns and it hurts. Yet, the fire changes us. It takes away the worthless parts of us to make more room for God. In the end, we as believers will be tested; how we handle ourselves and what we learn is up to us?

temporary pain still hurts...

February 7, 2013

1 Peter 1:4-6

V6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials

In this “need it right now” instant gratification society that surrounds us, this is a hard concept to understand. What we have now or what we are going through is just temporary. Knowing that and having to live that is altogether different, isn’t it? I know it. I believe it with all my heart; I believe that I have an “inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in Heaven,” I know that this is true. Knowing this doesn’t keep the arrows of life’s problems from stinging, and sometimes drawing blood. Knowing that I have a “rock” to go to for shelter from those arrows is what keeps us going in times of struggle and pain. How thankful we should be to know that the pain of today is just temporary?

a hope that is alive...

February 6, 2013

1 Peter 1:1-3

V3 …According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Sometimes life’s just hard. Sometimes it hurts. Sometimes it makes us cry. Sometimes it makes us mad even, and sometimes we want to scream so loud because the pain just hurts so much. Yet, through it all we can KNOW that God is leading us down these paths for our sakes; that even on the other side of the worst moments of our lives we will be better, maybe not good but better. I am comforted to know that I have a “living hope” I love that phrasing; “Living” it means to me that it is there. It is real. It can’t be taken away on the whim of a painful situation. We can KNOW that through it all we have hope because we have HIM.

piercing arrows...

February 5, 2013

Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

There is only one reason God would have chosen to put this beautiful verse in His scripture. He knew that His children would suffer broken hearts and have their spirits crushed. He reminds us through His Word that He is with us. How thankful that we should be to have a God and Savior so near to us that He knows in advance the arrows that will pierce our hearts, and is ready to comfort us.

being restored...

February 4, 2013

1 Peter 5:10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace who has called you to this eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you

**So sorry to have been away for a while but I’ve been battling a sinus bug that just wouldn’t die a quiet death**

I just rediscovered this little gem, and immediately after I read it I could totally relate to it. God has done this for me so many times over the past couple of years. This has been and is still so evident in my life. I would of course prefer to avoid the suffering portion of this verse, but without it I would never have received and felt the restoration. That in itself makes the suffering bearable. 

they know him...

January 28, 2013

John 10:1-4

V4 …the sheep hear his voice and he calls them by name and leads them out

It’s an interesting relationship, the shepherd and the sheep, I mean an actual shepherd and the animal. It’s an unusually close relationship; one that I’d say is closer than some human ones. The shepherd can recognize the sheep that belong to him; now, to me one sheep looks exactly like any other sheep, but each shepherd knows which are his. He takes care of them; he knows them, he even names them. The sheep aren’t the most intelligent animals in the kingdom but they know the voice of their shepherd. They know him enough that they will not follow any other shepherd out of the pen. His voice is theirs and they know it. When we think on our relationship with Jesus, are we this close with our Shepherd? If not then we should be…