No Dead Ends With God!

photo credit: aopsan

Have you ever looked ahead and seen nothing but darkness, a bend in the road, or an obstacle across the path? Or, even worse, have you looked ahead and seen a brick wall, or a drop off straight into an abyss? Have you ever thought that there was simply no way to go forward and you may as well just sit down now and give up?

I have. More times than I want to count I have felt that horrible sense of hopelessness and simply wanted to quit. Most people have had these times at some point in their life, some more than others. 

But I'm so glad that God doesn't leave me in the place. Instead, as I choose to continue to walk forward with Him he shines His light into that darkness so that I can see which step to take next. He straightens the bends and removes the obstacles. And, when there was simply no way forward, when there seems to be a complete dead end and no way to turn around, He makes a way. The God Who created the universe and everything in it from nothing is completely capable of making a way forward where there was none before. Where there is no hope, no solution, no answers, He makes them when we trust in Him. He never fails us.

I am the way, the truth and the life. John 14:6

Isn't it amazing to walk with Him?

photo credit: twobee

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He Saw Jesus

It was a fairly typical weekday lunch time. The kids and I sat at the kitchen table eating and talking. The bird feeder just beyond the kitchen window was busy with a variety of birds and we were enjoying watching them and talking about the different kinds of birds we saw. Suddenly, in the middle of a sentence  Michael interrupted himself. "I saw Jesus!" he exclaimed, his eyes shining. Of course we all looked in the direction he was looking, but saw nothing unusual.  "Where?" one of the other kids asked, puzzled. "Oh He went up to Heaven" he replied casually as if seeing Jesus in our yard on His way to Heaven was an every day occurrence. He then went on with the previous conversation as if he had never changed the subject. The rest of us had a little trouble switching back so quickly, but within a few minutes the announcement seemed forgotten.

But I didn't forget quite so easily. In fact it was on my mind all day and I wondered what the meaning of this was or if there was any meaning to it. Was it just an overactive imagination? Did He really see something? Why didn't I get to see it? When I looked out the window I didn't see anything out the ordinary. And, while I don't have any solid answers to any of these questions it did lead me on some interesting paths of thought.

Michael has been very curious recently about where exactly Jesus is. "Where is Jesus?" is a question he has asked often. "Is He in Heaven?" I answer that yes, He is in Heaven, but He's also all around us and when we love Him He lives in our hearts as well. At this point he will sometimes look down toward his chest and say "Jesus, are You in there?" or "I love Jesus" One night after he had gone to bed I heard him talking to himself and peaked at him to see him and patting his arms, his legs, his stomach and saying "Jesus is in in here, and in here, and in here." Another time, while he was eating I heard him say "Jesus is in me, I'm feeding Jesus." And while this is cute and sweet and makes me smile indulgently I  realize that there is something I am learning from it as well. 

Because he is teaching me what it's like to truly seek to know and understand Jesus and to find Him and live in His Presence. While his is a very childlike searching, it is also a very real quest for him. And I believe that quest is being honored in his young life in ways that he sees and understands even if I don't. In Mark 10:14-15 Jesus  said “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Jesus loved, and still loves the heart that searches for him with childlike faith, whether in a child or an adult. This is how I want to seek Him today and every day.

And I have to say I find it very comforting to think of Jesus walking through my yard on His way to Heaven. 

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Encourage One Another

Finally. brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with You. 2 Corinthians 13:11

Therefore, encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:18

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called "Today," so that none of you may be hardened by sins deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13

So many times I think what a good job someone is doing, or how much I appreciate that person's positive attitude and approach to life, or what an encouraging blog post someone has written. And far too often, I then go on with my life, enjoying the blessing I have received without encouraging the person who gave me that blessing. But over and over and over in the Bible we are told to encourage one another. God knows that even though He gives the power and strength to live a life of blessing to others, there are still times when the way is rough and He wants us to be there for each other - encouraging each other each step of the way. I can think of a number of people in my life who I could encourage today - my husband who so faithfully fulfills his role as husband and father, my kids, my kids youth leader at church, our pastors who show me Jesus both in word and in deed, writers who encourage me daily. Who in your life could use some encouragement today - a phone call, or a quick email or even a text to say "I'm thinking of you, praying for you, and just want you to know you are a blessing to me." 

Let's go encourage someone today!

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I Will Rain Down Bread

"I will rain down bread from Heaven for you" said the Lord to Moses.

This line from the book (Child's Story of the Bible by Mary A. (Mary Artemisia) Lathbury) I was reading to CJ and Michael before bed one evening jumped out at me. Wow! Can you imagine how Moses must have felt and what his reaction was to that amazing statement? Bread raining down from Heaven? No one had ever seen or heard of that before!

Did he say - "Really God? Am I supposed to just sit here and wait for You to rain down bread? You gave us brains and arms and legs, and I know You expect us to use them."

Or maybe - "Ok, God, I'm pretty sure I didn't just hear what I thought I heard. My ears are obviously playing tricks on me. I'd better go have them checked for wax."

Or he could have simply walked away with no further conversation and ordered the people to get an extra early start in the morning on the hunt for food, in which case they would not have been around to pick up the bread that did, indeed, fall from Heaven the next morning.

But no, Moses truly believed what the Lord was telling him and so he had the people stop and wait on the Lord, knowing that He would be true to His Word and provide what He said He would provide. And guess what? That is exactly what happened (Exodus 16). Food was provided for all the people. Bread fell from Heaven. And not just one day - every day for as long as they needed it. 

What if, like Moses, I stopped trying to fix things my own way, and simply trusted God to do what He says He will do - supply all my needs, provide strength for the day, give me rest, lift me up, fill my heart with joy, give me hope and a future, and complete the work He began in me? What if I simply stepped out in faith that no matter what He has called me to do in this moment He will rain down the bread needed (figuratively or literally) for that calling? The Hebrews were called to go to Canaan and build a nation of their people. God promised He would provide all they needed on the way. And He never let them down. As long as they followed Him He provided not only for their needs but safety, power and victory as well.

He is the same God today that He was then. Today, I am trusting Him to rain down bread from Heaven, not only in my life but in the life of each one who is following Him. 

Look up, my friends. It's going to rain today!



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