Tag: #devotions

Katie Ganshert Contemplates God’s Grace

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Katie Ganshert is back with us today sharing a devotion that touches on one of the themes her heroine, Robin has to contemplate on–one we all do! I hope you’ll join us Friday for our group review of Wishing on Willows! 


When I
contemplate God’s grace, I often think about good things. Forgiveness,
obviously. Restored relationships. Healing and freedom. Sometimes I even equate
God’s grace with finding a spouse or getting a promotion at work or populating
a big house with healthy children or fulfilling a dream.
But what if
that’s only one side of the coin?
What if God’s
grace comes wrapped in deferred dreams? Or broken relationships or scary
prognoses from doctors or unemployment or infertility or any thorn that pierces
our flesh?
As much as that
empty tomb shouts “Grace! Grace!”, let’s not forget that the cross does too.
With those nails and on that tree, grace and suffering are so tightly woven,
the two are indecipherable.
I read the red
words of Jesus—blessed are the poor in
spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for
they shall be comforted (Mt 5:3-4) and I’m reminded of a woman I met in
Africa. A woman, who by America’s standards, had nothing. Abandoned by her
husband, sick with AIDS, six children in a squalid shack and somehow, she
radiated joy. This woman didn’t have to wonder if God was enough, she knew it
in the marrow of her bones.
There is a
special blessing that comes in the midst of hardship. It’s in those moments,
when we fall on our faces with nothing, our dreams dashed, our plans and our
goals no longer, that we cling to Him with a ferocity we don’t find in the
midst of prosperity. God’s presence is magnified in the hard. We don’t just
have an intellectual knowledge about His strength, we experience it. It holds
us together. It keeps us breathing.
And Paul’s
nonsensical words—when I am weak, then I
am strong? They make sense and our definition of grace expands.
Scripture:
The Lord is
close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
~Psalm 34:18
(NIV)
Prayer:
Father God,
would your grace rain down, no matter what season or circumstance we find
ourselves in. Hold us as we cling to You.
Have you found that special blessings come in the midst of hardship?
Does a second chance at life and love always involve surrender?
A
three-year old son, a struggling café, and fading memories are all Robin Price
has left of her late husband. As the proud owner of Willow Tree Café in small
town Peaks, Iowa,  she pours her heart into every muffin she bakes and
espresso she pulls, thankful for the sense of purpose and community the work
provides.
                                      
So when
developer Ian McKay shows up in Peaks with plans to build condos where her café
and a vital town ministry are located, she isn’t about to let go without a
fight.
As
stubborn as he is handsome, Ian won’t give up easily. His family’s business
depends on his success in Peaks. But as Ian pushes to seal the deal, he wonders
if he has met his match. Robin’s gracious spirit threatens to undo his resolve,
especially when he discovers the beautiful widow harbors a grief that resonates
with his own.
With
polarized opinions forming all over town, business becomes unavoidably personal
and Robin and Ian must decide whether to cling to the familiar or surrender
their plans to the God of Second Chances. 

If You Keep On Believing…

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

 

 
“Then they said to one another, “Look, this dreamer is coming!” Genesis 37:19
 
These are the words Joseph’s brothers said as they saw him coming toward them in a field. Words said in a snide way, dripping with contempt and envy.
 
Joseph made a mistake sharing his seemingly impossible i.e. God sized dreams with his brothers. Not everyone will celebrate our big dreams and there is a lesson to be learned in that.
 
But I love the statement, even if it came from bitter hearts.
 
Look! This dreamer is coming!
 
I want to be known as a dreamer. I want to always dream and dream big.
 
I just finished one of the most incredible books by Mark Batterson–The 

Purchase your copy
HERE!

Circle Maker. I’ve been begging friends and family to purchase and read it.

 
Batterson says, “There is nothing God loves more than keeping promises, answering prayers, performing miracles, and fulfilling dreams. That is who He is. That is what He does. And the bigger the circle we draw, the better, because God gets more glory.”
 
This morning I was praying scripture over my circles, my big dreams and a song popped into my head. Cinderella sang it.
 

“A dream is a wish your heart makes, when you’re fast asleep…”  In the context of God planting dreams within us, they aren’t wishes, but promises. If we don’t believe–it truly is a wish our heart makes. A wish lacks faith.
 
But dreams do come from our heart. (Not all are God-given and it’s important for us to daily spend time with Him so we can let Him establish which ones are and are not.)
 
I do get what Cinderella is singing about. And on some level I agree with her.
 
 Our hearts dream and sometimes it happens in sleep–when the busyness of the day and what we consider hopeless reality consumes our thoughts. Sometimes it’s in that quiet place of sleep or nodding off or when we first wake…God can whisper endless possibilities into our hearts.
 
It kindles and burns.
 
It causes us, like Cinderella, to put one foot in front of the other. To look out with longing and dream of what could be. Something much bigger than us.
 
 

The clock–a killjoy–ticks, robbing her of her dreams. I don’t think time itself robs us of our dreams (God uses time to fulfill our dreams), but I think it represents day to day activities and all the troubles that tick by that hinder us from dreaming.

 
“In dreams you will lose your heartache, whatever you wish for you keep…”
 
If they’re God-given dreams it’s true! God never changes His mind about us. He never revokes our calling and purposes. “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” Romans 11:29
 
“Have faith in your dreams and someday, your rainbow will come smiling through, No matter how your heart is grieving if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true.” Rainbows are a sign of promise!
 
And our hearts do grieve us, don’t they? “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.”(Proverbs 13:12) That blasted Grandfather clock ticking!
 
The key: Have faith. Believe. The grandest dreams, the impossible, the scariest in a sense, dreams do come true.
 
Look at Cinderella. She wanted out from under the bondage she lived in,

 

enslaved to people who used and abused her. She wanted to feel beautiful, cherished, loved. She was made to be more than a slave. Like Joseph. Thrown into circumstances he couldn’t control.

 
She had faith. She kept dreaming even when “reality” told her it was impossible. When her heart was grieved. When the killjoy clock ticked and forced her into a day she would not have normally chosen for herself.
 
And things began to click into place. Unexpectedly. A ball. Resources and people who were put in her path to help her succeed. When God has a plan for you, and He does, He will go far beyond your expectations. You won’t have a simple carriage, you’ll have the best carriage–made from the impossible! A pumpkin! Miracles happen.
 
You won’t have a nice dress. You’ll have the best dress.
 
It won’t come without some troubles, stumbles, and opposition along the way.
 
But in the end…
 
If you keep on believing. The dreams, that you prayed will come true.
 

 

How big have you been praying? Has fear been holding you back? How can you change that today?

 

Musing on Genesis 37:19 Always Dream

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

In the words of
Lennon, “Some may say I’m a dreamer. But I’m not the only one.”
Are you a dreamer?
Wednesday, we’ll be
talking about God-given dreams, always dreaming, and we’ll take a closer look
at a fictional character who brings us truth through a melody. Dreams can and
do come true.
Musing/Meditation Prompts: Think of your
dreams. How big are they? Can you accomplish them on your own? Have you prayed
about them? Are they from God? How do you know? If you haven’t written your
dreams on paper, take a few minutes and prayerfully write them down.
Do
you still believe in your dreams? Why or why not?

Does God Help Those Who Help Themselves?

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

 

 
Monday we mused on
Psalm 62:8
 
“Trust in Him
at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for
us.” NKJV
 
Here it is in the
NCV.
“People,
trust God all the time. Tell him all your problems, because God is our
protection.”
 
God
never mishandles our heart. People do, for sure. But never God. In the Bible,
you’ll find many verses about pouring out a drink offering, pouring out water
and then pouring out your heart.
 
In Acts
(and Joel) it talks about the Spirit being poured out.
 
In
Philippians, Paul refers to himself as a drink offering poured out, obviously
familiar with the concept.
 
Today, I
want to look at a tiny little snippet in the book of 1 Samuel. Chapter 7.  The ark had been captured by the Philistines.
Then it caused all sorts of trouble for them, this is where I smile and say
duh! So they sent it away and the men of Beth Shemesh took it but they looked
inside and they died. Hello, Holy God can’t be looked on and they knew it. So
they were afraid and they sent it to Kirjath Jearim.
 
The
people of Israel mourned (for like 20 years) and lamented and sought after God
so Samuel (who was judging Israel) came to them and here’s what he said:
 
“God
helps those who help themselves.”
 
I’m
kidding. God didn’t say that. In fact, that particular phrase makes me slightly nauseous. I suppose it depends on the context. Do you mean God partners with
us and we have a physical part we have to do? Yes, I might buy that phrase for a dollar. We do have an ACTIVE part to play. 
 
If we could actually help ourselves, why would we need God? I
think that is a confusing turn of phrase, especially to new believers who might think it means if they don’t act right and do things “perfect” God won’t intervene on their behalf. They might think it’s all about “works” in our own strength and ability. And me no likey. Not everyone is a “seasoned” Christian who can break that phrase down and pick it apart for what it is. Be careful what you post on facebook! (officially sort of done with my soapbox  exhorting mature Christians to be careful with young Christians or less mature ones.)
 
Here’s
what God (through Samuel) actually said:
 
“If
you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the
foreign gods and Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the LORD and serve him
only and…” (1 Samuel 7:3)
 
 
So we
see that the people of God wanted God to help them, to provide for them but
they were still putting other things (other gods) first. In place of Him. Many
times, it’s a struggle to rid yourself of things you really love–love more
than God. But He gives us the strength to do it. Partnership.
 
“…and
He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” (rest of that
verse)
 
So they
did. And they served God only.
 
Samuel
assembled them at Mizpah, which means “watchtower.” It was 8 miles
north of Jerusalem. There Samuel interceded for them.
 
At
Mizpah, “they gathered together…drew water, and poured it out before the
LORD. And they fasted that day, and said there, ‘We have sinned against the
LORD.'”
 
God doesn’t help those who help themselves. He helps those who
have a repentant heart. *in this context of being a believer, not the fingerprints of God as He has guided us unknowingly before salvation. God has always been working on our behalf whether we have known it or not.
 
Pouring
out the water was symbol of repentance. It’s also a symbol of pouring out the
heart–giving it all to God. Surrendering. They also gave up food (fasting), as they’d
rather have God and His guidance than to fill their bellies.
 
At that
time the Philistines were on their way. The enemy was marching.
Samuel
was in the middle of offering a burnt offering for the people, an atonement for
their sin.
 
Look
what God did!
 
At that
moment, “the LORD thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that
day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel.” 1 Samuel
7:10
 
When we pour it out, when we repent, God gives us the strength to knock down all things
that come before Him and it moves mountains of opposition. It confuses the
enemy and gives us the victory.
 
God
doesn’t need our help. He needs our repentant hearts. Thank God for the Holy Spirit that convicts and brings us to a place of repentance!
 
“Then
Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name
Ebenezer, saying ‘Thus far the LORD has helped us.'” 1 Samuel 7:12
 
Ebenezer
means stone of help. I think it’s important for us to put up a reminder,
whether physical or symbolic, to remind us that God has helped us so far. And
He will continue to be our refuge.
 
The key
is to pour ourselves out like water. Daily repenting–not b/c as Christians
we’re supposed to, but because we are truly sorry and we truly mean to turn
away from our sins and those things that come before God in our lives.
 
One
year, I gave my husband a clay jar that had a 3-tiered fountain. A reminder
that he might be clay, but his life overflows into others. A reminder that God
has  helped him thus far.
 
What “stones” have you set up to remind  you that God has helped you so far? If you
haven’t, give it some thought. What might you use as a “stone”?
 

Musing on Psalm 62:8, Pour It Out

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

This is a Psalm of
David. Sometimes it blows my mind how he put his faith and trust in God
especially in troubled times.
I love this picture
with this Psalm. Pouring out our heart–just small us. A vapor in the wind. A
withering sliver of grass. It must seem so microscopic, like this trickle of water
surrounded by the vast mountains and valleys.
But pouring out our
heart isn’t just a small trickle. It has the power to move these mountains!
I can’t wait to talk
about pouring ourselves out, like water on Wednesday! It’s a fascinating
concept to me. But today, let’s just take a few minutes to muse on this verse.
Musing/Meditation Prompts: Take a few minutes
to look at this picture and imagine yourself pouring out. All around you are
mountains that need to be moved. What would your heart pouring out like water
look like? How would it sound? How would it feel? Maybe you need to pause and actually
cry out and pour out. Notice the first sentence of this verse: Trust in Him at
all times. I love how God prefaces us to trust Him at all times before telling
us to pour out our heart. Hearts can be hurt and He’s letting you know that He
won’t hurt your heart. You can be vulnerable. You can pour it all out to Him.
He’s your refuge. He’s a safe place to tuck into.
Notice how the
mountains seem dark, but the sun is peeking over them as that trickle of water
pours out into a sea of waters. When I see it, I think new mercies every
morning and also the verse from that song: It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day…and
I’m feelin fiiiine. Is that Buble?
In this context, what does the sun peeking over mean to you?

Passport To Your Dreams

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

 

 
When God first plants a dream in your heart, it bubbles to
overflowing with hope and expectation. But as time passes, it can be
discouraging. The bubbly fountain gets clogged with rocks of doubt and clumps
disappointment.
 
But God
tells us to wait, hope, and expect.
 
As most of you, who routinely read the blog or know me
personally, I talk often about my BFF “Jane” whose name is not really “Jane” at
all, but I like to call her that. And it’s my blog  so I can.
 
My friend “Jane” loves the Lord. I don’t know if I have ever
met anyone who loves Him and has a relationship with him like her. No one. I
admire that about her.

 

Several years ago, during a conversation the Lord told her
to go get her passport. It came out of nowhere, but when you spend as much time
with God as “Jane” you know His voice well.
 
Now, let me just say money was tight in their home. Really
tight. So spending a little over $100 for something for no apparent reason was
tough, but she went to her husband and said, “God said I needed to get my 
passport.”
 
“Where are you going?” he asked.
 
“I don’t know. Nowhere. Somewhere.”
 
Me and “Jane”
“Okay.”
 
So she did. It’s so cute with her big ole’ smile. She came
home with hope and expectation. Just a trip to Wal-Mart is fun travel. Four
hours with nothing but empty bean fields and ugly prairie to see on the way to
my hometown is exciting for “Jane.” She loves to travel.
 
But a few months passed and God never said another word
about it.
 
And then one year passed.
 
And another.
 
And then God told “Jane” to go back to school and get her
teaching degree.
Money was tight. But they were faithful to give. And “Jane”
trusted God.
Just to let you know not only did she get her degree, but
her husband is almost done with his four-year degree as well and they haven’t
taken out a single loan!
 
She was certain that she would teach elementary English—third
grade being her favorite. She graduated.
 
And still no place to take that passport. She’d take it from
her drawer and 
pray over it, ask God what that was all about? Was it just to
see if she’d obey? Because she did. No, there had to be more. “God, take me
somewhere. I’ll go anywhere with You. Just…just take me somewhere.”
 
Fall came and the only job offered to her was teaching a GED
class at the high school where both her oldest daughter attends and one will in
another year (how convenient for God). She took it and experienced some of the
toughest kids in her life—kids who needed a godly example.
 
But it opened the door for the next year.
 
To teach history.
 
Well, she loved biblical history. She could do this.
 
And she began teaching U.S. and World History. She especially
loves U.S. history.
 
Last week, she squealed over the phone and for once it wasn’t
about her lunch which could have been filet mignon or a hotdog out of the
microwave with one end blown up—both squeal-worthy to “Jane”.
 
“Guess what?”
 
“You’re eating lunch?”
 
“No, I mean I am! I just had the most delicious hot pocket
with—”
 
“Move on.”
 
She laughed. “Right. So I just found out that I get to go to
Europe! (She pronounced it Yerup) For a WWII tour. Lundun, Germuhny, Fraaance.
And some other places! And guess what?”
 
 
“You’ll eat real sauerkraut on polish sausages?”
 
“Oh my gosh, that would be so good. And Belgium…I could buy
chocolate.”
 
“Back to point, Jane.”
 
“Right. I’m going to finally get to use my passport! And not
only am I going to Europe, I’m going for FREE!”
 
Years went by and “Jane” wasn’t sure what her future held. But
she didn’t give up on her prayers.
 
When
God does something, He has a purpose behind it. And it’s always big.
 
He didn’t ask her to get the passport to long for a dream
that wouldn’t come. 
 
It wasn’t to remind her that she wasn’t ever going
anywhere.
 
It was a reminder that God was taking her somewhere.
Physically. And spiritually.
 
She never gave up hope. She waited for years. She circled
that passport in prayer.
 
And He foot her bill for her.
 
She leaves in June of next summer. And that Fall, her
passport expires.
 
God
doesn’t let our dreams expire on us. He fulfills everything He’s set out to
accomplish concerning us.
 
I’m reading a book right now by Mark Batterson called the Circle
Maker. It’s

about praying circles around your dreams with scriptural promises
and not giving up on them. I recommend it highly.

 
Are you still waiting, hoping, and expecting. The key is to
expect. When we stop expecting God to do something wonderful, we lose hope and
waiting seems like being locked Houdini style in a water tank without the
skills to get out. And if I was tightening word count, I would have just said,
drowning.
My point. Keep expecting. God doesn’t disappoint.
 
Where
are you? Waiting expectantly, inching your way to the dunk tank…are you in the
tank?
 
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Musing on Psalm 31:24

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Sometimes God will
ask you do something so far out there you have to ask, “God, was that you
or that extra chili dog I ate last night messing with my brain?” Those are
the times we have to lean on this verse. Be strong, take courage to obey and while
He works behind the scenes, wait, hope and expect!
I have a such a
great story to share with you about wild commands, crazy actions and a long,
long wait full of hope and expectation and yes even questioning, doubt, and
angst. So come back on Wednesday!
Musing/Meditation Prompts: What promise has God
given you? Are you waiting with hope and expectation or are you full of anxiety
and doubt? How can you actively take courage today to revive that hope and
expectation? Strengthen yourself by musing on past victories, past promises fulfilled.
What
is one thing you can do today to take
courage?

Understanding the Impact of Passover

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch



The Old Testament isn’t a dry piece of bread. It’s moist and delicious, full of juicy details that consistently point the way to Jesus.

What does the Passover story mean for us today? I wish I had time to touch on all the details, but I don’t so here is the big picture!  Some of you already know. Keep reading, maybe you can offer extra insight or you’ll learn something new. Maybe it’s going to be a reminder of Love that made His way into our hearts and lives. 

The Lamb

Exodus 12: 3 “On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb…”

Exodus 12:5 “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year.”

God’s people are about to be delivered from Egypt–from bondage–into freedom. This is the last plague God institutes before that freedom comes.

Look at what the prophet Isaiah says, as he prophesied of another Lamb. “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter…” Isaiah 53:7. 

John 1:29, “…Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!”

1 Peter 1:19, “but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish or spot.”

Revelation 5:12, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power, and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

Removal of Leaven
Exodus 12:8, “Then they shall eat the flesh on that night…with unleavened bread…”
Leaven represents sin and corruption in the Bible.

“…Do you not know that a little leaven spoils the whole lump. Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump…For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” 1 Corinthians 6-8

Blood on the doorposts and lintels
Exodus 12:7, “And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it.”

The blood applied on the door saved all who chose to enter into it. 

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in  Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness…”  Romans 3:23-26

Not only is Jesus’ blood what covers and saves us, He is also the door. He says so Himself in John 10:7-10.

Notice the blood wasn’t applied to the threshold, where people would walk upon. Why? Because the blood of Christ will not be trampled.

“How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?” Hebrews 10:29

God executes judgment. We are exempt.

Exodus 12:12, “For I will pass through the land of Egypt…and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt…and against the gods of Eygpt I will execute judgment; I am the LORD.”

Exodus 12:13, “Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses, where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to to destroy you…”

“Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” Romans 5:9

Whoever eats leaven, dies.
Exodus 12:15, “…For whoever eats leavened bread…that person shall be cut off…”
“Cut off” meaning death. Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death.”

Jesus entered Jerusalem at Passover time. He became the spotless sacrifice needed to save us, to give us eternal life. One sacrifice for all. No more sacrifices under the law. A new Covenant established in blood. It was His joy to endure the cross. For me. For you.
**this was a revised repost


What are your Easter plans?

photocreditfreedigitalphotos

Straighten Up

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

 

 
Monday I shared
Isaiah 42:16. I like it best in the NJKV.
 
“I will bring the blind by a way they did not know;
I will
lead them in paths they have not known.
I will
make darkness light before them,
And
crooked places straight.
These
things I will do for them,
And not
forsake them.”
 
This
verse gives me hope for myself and also for those who are struggling in
darkness, who do not know Jesus yet. Now is the time of salvation!
 
I love
it when hands raise to receive salvation in church. I’m thrilled beyond
measure. They’re saved. But even more so, I get an amazing opportunity to sow into their lives. To help build a foundation for them through the New &
Growing Believers class at my church.
 
As God
opens their eyes, as light dawns, and crooked paths straighten, my eyes fill with
wonder at the miracle I witness. Knowledge and wisdom take residence in their
hearts, minds, lives. It’s amazing.
 
My
favorite conversion experience in the Bible is Saul (who became Paul). He held the coats of those
who stoned Stephen, a godly man. Jesus Himself stood up. He did not stay
seated.
 
He
persecuted the Christians. Stripping families apart as he imprisoned mothers,
fathers. And he says he was zealous about it. The worst of sinners.
 
And yet,
in  Acts chapter 9, “Then Saul still
breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the
high priest and asked letters from him for the synagogues of Damascus, so that
if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them
bound to Jerusalem.” (verse 1-2)
 
Saul was
on his crooked way to imprison those were of the Way (the Truth the life and
the Way–the Way =Jesus, those who had entered through the way of the narrow
gate.)
 
But on
the road to Damascus, Jesus had other plans for Saul. Plans for hope and
future. Regardless of his past. In spite of his past.
 
“Saul,
Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
 
“Who are You, Lord?” So blind. Yet
not physically blinded at this point, but spiritually.
 
“I
am Jesus…”
 
“Lord,
what do You want me to do?” A genuine encounter with Christ demands a
submissive response.
 
Jesus
sent him to the city for further instruction. Right here in this moment, Jesus
begins the lesson of faith. Not giving him but one instruction. Will you trust
Me?
 
Saul
arose and opened his eyes.
 
And he
was blind. A physical picture to remind him of how blind spiritually he’d been.
He had a good while to think about it.
 
And here
is one of my favorite parts. Ananias. A man of faith. God appeared to him in a
vision.
 
“Arise
and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one
called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying..
 
How
absolutely fitting. How absolutely on purpose
did God send Ananias to Straight
street.
 
Ananias
had a moment of melt down. Everyone knew how murderous Saul was against
Christians.
 
“Go,
for his is a chosen vessel of Mine…” Hallelujah! Hallelujah! God’s chosen.
 
 
It was
on Straight Street that Saul’s crooked path, his crooked ways were revised,
straightened out. It was on Straight Street, God removed the blinders from
Saul’s eyes and he saw.
 
For the first time in his life, he actually saw.
 
And he
spent a few days there to be discipled. 
 
How
important it is to invest in new believers. In growing believers. How important
it is to know that when we’re on a crooked path, when we feel blind. God has a
Straight Street waiting for us.
 
What can you do to invest in lives of those who are just starting
out? Who had invested time in your spiritual journey?
 

How to Find Your Song

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Monday we meditated
and mused on verse 6, the last verse in Psalm 13. Today, we’re going to look at
the entire Psalm written by David. It came from a dark time in his life.
I think in the dark
times, we write some of the most brilliant lyrics and compose the most
thrilling melodies.
Here is the Psalm in
the NKJV:
“How
long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?
How long
will You hide Your face from me?
 How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart daily?
How long
will my enemy be exalted over me?
 Consider and hear me, O Lord my God;
Enlighten
my eyes,
Lest I
sleep the sleep of death;
 Lest my enemy say,
“I have
prevailed against him”;
Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I
am moved.
 But I have trusted in Your mercy;
My heart
shall rejoice in Your salvation.
 I will sing to the Lord,
Because
He has dealt bountifully with me.”
Someone
very dear to me said almost verbatim the words expressed in verse 1: “I
ask God to show me He’s real. But I get nothing. It’s like He’s hiding…or maybe
He doesn’t care at all.”
Have you ever felt that way? Wondering where God is, as if He’s
hiding from you, as if you’ve been forgotten.
David
says, “How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart
daily?”
I know
from personal experience that when my heart is failing, giving myself solid
counsel–trying to find something based on scripture is difficult.
Emotions
become a tangled mess. Much like my loved one, who knows deep down that God is
near. He never leaves nor forsakes us. Nothing separates us from His love. His
thoughts toward us are so many–more than the sands of the sea. All good.
But when our hearts fail, when our soul feels alone and
drowning, our thoughts stray. What we believe can become clouded if we
let it.
The
enemy dogs us, like David’s enemy. Surrounding us. Taunting us. Vicious.
Merciless. He uses anything and everything to tear us apart. Health,
relationships, loved ones, finances…you name it.
David
cries out and is in essence saying, How long? I don’t know how much more I can
take of this. Please hear me. Answer me. I need a word from you…I’m going to
die if I don’t. How much more can I handle? My heart says none.
But we can’t give up.
David
knew this. He needed to hear from God. The silence was enough to drive him to
his grave. He didn’t want his enemies to get the victory, but he was wearing
thin.
And then
we make it to the last verse. David remembers times past.
He has
trusted in God’s love, his mercy. He has been saved before, rescued, loved,
taken care of, blessed. And he knows that God, even though He seems hidden and
quiet, even though his enemy is all around, even though his emotions are messed
up and his soul tortured…
God will
come through.
God will
rescue.
God will
protect.
God will
never leave.
God will
never give up.
God is….
NEAR.
And that
is reason to sing. 
Even in
the dark times.
Especially
in the dark times.
What
will you sing today? Favorite hymn/chorus?
I
will be singing this today: