In the Midst of the Madness Podcast Episode

Do you get discouraged with everything going on in the world? How do you not feel like giving up? Tune in to hear what may be a friendly reminder of our purpose in the midst of the madness.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1806754

The Invitation

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In order to be transparent it’s important that we admit struggles. I’ve shared that the past month a part of me wondered what’s the point? I know there is one, but some days I just wonder why do we do what we do? It was a good time to read Ecclesiastes because this question is answered in those scriptures.

I’m human so I struggle. Sometimes I see the hurt and pain and wonder where God is? Which is probably a good time to read Job when this happens, which thankfully was another good reminder this week. In the end, Job (42:3) says, “I spoke to You (God) about things I know nothing about–too great for me to understand.” So, while that’s not always the most comforting thing in the moment, it can be comforting because it’s a reminder. There are things too great for us to understand. God’s ways are too great for us to comprehend.

I’m reading a book, and as an aside he mentions someone who was about to give up on their faith. They went to Rwanda and saw the devastation of genocide and were about to give up on God. In the moment, they heard the Lord say, this is what happens when people walk away from Me. This is what happens when love and compassion leave a place.

That was what I needed. I needed to remember this truth: When God isn’t invited into a situation, the hurt and pain we see are the results. It’s not for lack of love and concern from God. It’s from God being uninvited to intervene. Today, search your heart, and ask God to reveal any areas that you haven’t given Him an invitation. I truly believe we will start to see some things change when we do this.

Restoration

When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before! – Job 42:10 NLT

Timeout!

Do you know the story of Job? Please read it. In the meantime, a quick synopsis is this, and trust me, I’m not really doing it justice by summarizing it. God allows the devil to ruin Job’s life. Job is faithful to God, but eventually, he cracks and questions what’s happening.

He has a wife that tells him to curse God and die, and friends who pretty much say he must’ve sinned in some way and God is punishing him for it. Suffice it to say, his support system is lacking. But today, I read the verse above and felt something say, slow down when reading it.

So the Lord is angry with Job’s friends because of how they misspoke about Him. He tells them to make a sacrifice to Him and have Job pray for them. Job! The friend that they discouraged as he was facing his trials.

Can you imagine how Job felt? He probably didn’t want to pray for them. They’d accused him of sin and, most importantly, didn’t speak truthfully about God. If he was like me, he probably thought to himself, “All I wanted was for them to pray for me to help me overcome this, and they didn’t. Now I’m supposed to pray for them! I’m supposed to ask God to forgive them?! This will be tough.”

But look what happened after he did. It says the Lord restored his fortunes. He had twice as much as he did before he lost everything! Now, might God have been willing to restore Job’s fortunes either way? I don’t know. Was his restoration contingent upon his prayer for his friends? I really don’t know. I do think it’s interesting that it says that after he prayed for them, his fortunes were restored. I think this is here for many reasons, and I’m sure in due time, God will reveal more of them to me.

Today, I think this verse is here for us to do. I’m not saying God is going to bless you just because you prayed for a friend or enemy today. I certainly believe it won’t be a bad thing if you do. I think this verse is here for us to try and see what happens.

Pray for someone today, not simply to have your breakthrough. Pray for someone to help them see how to restore their relationship with God! You will likely be blessed in the process, but don’t do it for you. Do it to point someone to God and enjoy the results of that!

Crown or Cancer Podcast

A worthy wife is a crown for her husband,
    but a disgraceful woman is like cancer in his bones. – Proverbs 12:4

Am I a crown or a cancer to my husband? Crown or cancer to those around me? Am I a healthy thing or an illness?

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1806754/episodes

Right or Righteous Podcast Episode

Do you want to be right or righteous?

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1806754/12360017https://www.buzzsprout.com/1806754/12360017

Psalm 18 Prayer

What if we just paused and spoke this verse aloud?

I love you, Lord; you are my strength.
Psalms 18:1 NLT

I love you, Lord. You are my Father and Friend. You are my Savior and Sacrifice. You first loved me, and because of that love, I can know true love. I love you, and I want to live out your love in my life.

You are my Strength, God. Sometimes, I don’t feel like tackling the day or the task ahead. Sometimes, I’m weak and weary. Sometimes, I’m just tired or tired of trying, but You are my Strength. That even in the sometimes moments of life, I can lean and depend on You.

In fact, it’s never been more true that when I don’t feel like I can go any further, You are with me. For when I am weak, You are strong.

Thank you, Lord. I love You. You are my Strength.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

The Painful Process – Podcast Episode

Processes are painful, aren’t they? Think about it. Healing is painful. Growth is painful. But the process is the glory, and what comes from it can be glorious. Listen as I dive into this topic today, The Painful Process.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1806754/12360015

Colossians 3:6

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. – Colossians 3:5 NLT

Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. – Colossians 3:6 NLT

Why these sins in particular? I can’t say I know the answer to this. So I’ll simply share thoughts.

1) It could be that these were very specific struggles for the church in Colossae. Remember, Christianity isn’t something people have grown up with at this time, so there has been a lot of dabbling with other religions and beliefs.

2) Scripture says no sin so clearly affects the body like sexual sin. “Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body (1 Corinthians 6:18 NLT).” So, the importance of God’s anger due to these sins can’t be stressed enough.

3) If greed can lead to idolatry, then it’s leading people away from God. Greed won’t lead people to serve but to be served. It won’t lead to generosity but to stinginess. And if it’s that easy to idolize materials, how much easier will it become to idolize one’s self?

All in all, I’d say any of the above is a start for why these sins can infer God’s anger. Let’s be clear, God hates all sin. Sin places a barrier between us and Him. God does not want a barrier between us, that’s why He sent Jesus. God knows the full effect of sin, and in His love, He wants to save us from its destructive patterns. The question is, do we want to be saved?

Is There Love without Sacrifice?

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John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

God loves sacrificially. In fact, I’d venture to say that since God has given us the example of love as a sacrifice, we must ask ourselves, is there love without sacrifice?

Do I really love you if I won’t give up some part of me for you? That doesn’t have to mean death, but it may mean my time. That’s a big one for me. It may mean giving up my pride for you. It may mean my resources. Love is a sacrifice and love sacrifices for the good of others.

I’ve said this in the past, where there is not love, there is no point. I’ve likely expressed this sentiment, where there is no sacrifice or willingness to, is there love?

In this verse lies the greatest example of love. God put all the cards on the table, He held nothing back. He didn’t just make a sacrifice for us, He made the biggest and best sacrifice—His Son. Why? To show us what love really looks like, in its purest, sacrificial, undeniable form.

Made Holy

Let’s just pause for a moment. I know we can’t really fathom the Holiness of God, so let’s just pause.

God is telling Moses that He is going to live amongst the people. Physically, He won’t be there, but His Presence will be. Yes, I know, it’s a lot to comprehend, but it’s true. In fact, God says the place He meets them will be made holy BY His Presence being there. Can you imagine that? This place will (per online dictionary’s definition of holy) be a morally and spiritually excellent place, a sacred place. This will be for no other reason than God’s Presence being there.

Verses before, God said that the altar of sacrifice was going to be so holy (following His instructions completely) that whatever touched it would be holy. That’s the holiness of God! His very Presence makes where He is become holy.

But can I talk about the love of God briefly? The grace of God and goodness of God are incomparable. Because in these moments of God promising His Presence, the people He is making the promise to are on the brink of idolatry. In a couple of chapters, we’ll see them building an idol and worshipping it as their god, as their deliverer.

But God knows this! He knows what’s about to happen, and yet He’s still making His promises and keeping them! Why?!? To be honest, I don’t fully know, but what I do know is enough.

Great is His faithfulness. God will keep His promises even when we don’t keep ours because of who He is. His character is a promise keeper. His character is faithful. His character is loving. Even if we never appreciate it or understand it, He will honor His name and character. He can’t go against His character. And His love for you and me doesn’t even want to.