Faith When You Cannot See

During the day if you look into the sky you can see the sun. Then night falls and you can no longer see the sun. Does that mean it no longer exists? Just because you cannot see it, you still know that it still exists. Now think about the moon. You can only see it at night, but there are phases of the moon. A full moon is only seen one night of its cycle, there rest of that cycle you only can see parts of the moon and then there is the moonless night. It is still out there in space reflecting the light of the sun. Then there are cloudy, rainy and even stormy days and nights when you cannot see either, but they are still there.

Photos by Reiko Chinen/Julie Sheppard

During the dark periods of our lives it is easy to lose faith. It is hard to see beyond the problems we face in our lives. The trials, tribulations, storms and giants that we face can eclipse our view of God in our lives. This is when we need to hold on to faith. Faith is believing when you cannot see.

Hebrews 11:1-3

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. (Read the entire chapter)

Just because I cannot see the end of the storm does not mean it will not end. Also if you are in the boat with Jesus, you will make it safely through. Moses lead the Israelites through the Red Sea on dry land while Pharaoh’s army was in pursuit of them. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into a fiery furnace for refusing to bow down and worship an idol. They were no in the furnace alone. No matter how dark or stormy, or how hot the fire is, HE is always with you. He will never leave and abandon you. HE is faithful and true and the ONE who you can always trust. So what ever you are going through, know that you are not alone. HE is right there with you. Just because we cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel does not mean it is not there, we just haven’t gone far enough down the path yet. Just keep pressing through, and HE will see you through. Have faith, trust in Him, no matter how long it takes, and this is coming from someone who is still waiting to get to the other side of my own tribulations. Even though I cannot see the end of the storm, or the light at the end of this dark tunnel, I know HE is the ONE I can trust completely.

Art by Reiko Chine/Julie Sheppard – Light At The End Of The Tunnel

When I drew this picture I was actually going through an actual trial, but I chose to hold on to faith and believe that HE would get me through. A friend gave me a caption that I like, ‘There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Don’t worry, it is not a train. It is the Light of Jesus Christ.’

I do not know what trials or troubles you are going through right now, and just like I do not know when my own are going to end but if we hold on to faith in Jesus we are going to make it through.

Another Year Has Come And Gone

2023 ended and 2024 has begun. For too many the past year was filled with various trials and tribulations. The holidays were a happy and joy filled time for some, and for others it was dark and pain filled. I spent the last few weeks sick myself and alone. This on top of the struggles I already have. If not for God I would not get through the day. I don’t know what will happen from day to day but I have to trust in HIM if I want to make it to the other side. I have ten more months before the decision on my appeal for disability will be made, and I still have no income. The community service that helps pay utilities is so overwhelmed they are not currently taking applications for assistance at this time. I am trying desperately not to let fear and anxiety overcome me, when rent is due and bill collectors and disconnect notices come in. Yet no matter how big the giants are I have to trust God. The problem is even though I know HE is her for me, it is hard to see HIM when the mountain of unpaid bills and fear of not having a place to go is standing so clearly in front of me. There is never a good time to be homeless, and it broke my heart to tell someone who is need that I did not have the ability to help them. I was someone who was there for others, and not being able to help made me feel worse about my current circumstances. This is not how I had hoped this new year would begin. Yet now how big the storm is, the ONE who can calm the storm is with me. I do not how much longer I have to wait for my break through, I cannot give up. What is even more important is that HE will not give up on me. I pray for those who are facing their own giants, and are in the middle of their storms. May each of you be filled with peace, and may the Lord renew your strength, giving you new hope. Let us trust in God through it all.

Call To Prayer / Personal request Sept. 2, 2020

I have previously shared a global prayer request for victims of human trafficking. Today I am requesting prayer for myself. Yesterday, for the third time in the past four weeks I have injured my right shoulder while working, I am going to be seeing a doctor today thanks to workman’s comp. Something I would not be able to do if they were not providing the medical care. My request is not only for physical healing and for the extreme pain shooting through my right side which is now effecting my left arm as well, but for my mental state. Pain is a trigger for anger in me. When I am in consistent pain for long enough my thoughts and then my words go to a bad place that I do not like and the I repent a lot! As the saying goes ‘hurt people, hurt people’. Thankfully I am usually alone when I have one of these episodes, but I do not forget what Jesus taught about even thinking of a sin, is to have committed the sin, like hatred being equal to murder. I also think about what Paul said about doing what he knows is wrong and wanting to do what is right. I want to do what is right and not lash out because of my pain. As a woman who God saved from abuse and the long term physical effects that abuse left both my body and mind to heal from I do not want to go back to being the person I was before I let Jesus into my life.

April 18, 2020

Many these days are anxious because of the pandemic of Covid19, that is world wide. It is effecting people of all nationalities and classes. Social media has become the main way people are keeping connected. Unless you have a job that is deemed necessary, you are basically grounded. When the stay at home orders were first being issued, one of my first thoughts were about the parallel of Passover and the Exodus. One of the things Moses had told the people to do before Pharaoh would finally release the Hebrews, was that they were to put blood on their doorposts and were to remain inside. The reason for this was to keep their first born alive. For the plague of death of every first born was coming. yet those under the blood would be safe.

Exodus 12:22-23 22 Take a cluster of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin, and brush the top and the two side posts of the doorframe with some of the blood. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning. 23 When the LORD passes through to strike down the Egyptians, He will see the blood on the top and the two sideposts and pass over the door; so He will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.

We are all going through a terrible time right now and the treat to life is real, so I understand why so many are afraid. This virus does not care if you are a first born, what your religion is,what color your skin is, or if you are wealthy or poor. Any one of us could get sick from this virus. If we take the necessary precautions we should be okay. Looking at the story of Exodus I do see the reason to have hope. If you are stuck staying home you could very well have cabin fever by now, and are itching to get out. If you have a full house you may want to get away just to find some peace and quiet, if you live alone the desire for company can make you want to leave the safety of your home. As much as I do not like feeling like I have been grounded, I do see the importance of staying home unless I have an important reason to go somewhere.

We need to remember these is temporary and that we will get through this. There is hope. I turn to the Word for this hope and it never lies.

Art by Julie Sheppard

Light at the end of the tunnel is not a train but the Light of Jesus Christ!

A thought and a question continues 9/20/2017

When I started writing about taking control of my thoughts in my post A thought and a question ( https://emotionalpeace.wordpress.com/2017/09/15/a-thought-and-a-question-9142017/) I was faced with a challenge. Taking your thoughts captive and submitting them to God is not as easy as it may sound. We face many obstacles.

Here are two of the first things I heard when I told others that I would be not speaking anything negative.

1. Are you going to walk around blind, pretending everything is perfect and that nothing is wrong?
2. You are never going to be able to talk.

The answer to the question is no, I am not going to pretend that there is nothing wrong. We live in a world that has garbage in it I am not denying that. I can look only at the garbage and the destruction or I can change my focus and look to the One who loved us enough to die for our sin, our garbage.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV)  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Now for the second which was not really a question but a statement. I told them that yes I can speak. There are plenty of good things to talk about, like the Love of God and all the wonderful things He does for each of us, and the list goes on. This way of speaking keeps my focus on Him, which keeps my thoughts in check.

Proverbs 18:21(NKJV) ¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Question

How am I doing on this journey?

To be honest with myself I feel like I am failing miserably. I am not giving up though. Each day I am choosing to push forward, and when I stumble I will get back up again. This journey is far from over. I am not perfect and will not claim to be, but the One who died to save me from my sins, Jesus is perfect and His love is perfect.

PHILIPPIANS 3:12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

 

Kay Warren Choose Joy Day 22

Is joy your choice?

Romans 5:3-5(NKJV)

³ And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Kay Warren Choose Joy Devotions Day 9

Meditate on God’s Word

Where Was God?

Where Was God?

“Where was God?’ is a question you hear when tragedy strikes. Tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters happen and God is blamed.  Abuse, rape, and murder happen and once again the question is asked. It is as if people like to use God as an escape goat for anything bad that happens and forget everything He has done. Jesus when falsely accused and put on trial He did not offer up words in His own defense and He doesn’t need me to defend Him now. Yet I am going to take a crack at answering the question.

“He was crying for us. He was being beaten for our transgressions. He was nailed to a cross paying for our sins. He was in the grave fighting death for the keys for your life.”

He will never abandon or reject you. He suffers when you suffer, and cries when you cry. He feels your pain and your loss. He is a Father who watched His own child suffer and die.

There was a song by John Michael Montgomery that when I first hear it many years ago I had to pull off the freeway because it cause me to cry so hard I could not see. It is about a little girl and if you listen to it you will hear how even during a tragic event Jesus was with her.

We live in a fallen world filled with sin and violence but we are not alone God is with us. Even if He has to stand outside your door, and wait for you, He is there. He will always be there, in both good times, and bad.

Bible verses related to I Will Never Leave You Nor Forsake You from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance

 

Deuteronomy 31:8 – And the LORD, he [it is] that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

Deuteronomy 31:6 – Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he [it is] that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Hebrews 13:5 – [Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Joshua 1:9 – Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God [is] with thee whithersoever thou goest.

1 Peter 5:7 – Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Hebrews 13:5-6 – [Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.   (Read More…)

Matthew 28:20 – Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.

Hebrews 13:6 – So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Philippians 4:6-7 – Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.   (Read More…)

Isaiah 41:10-13 – Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.   (Read More…)

Psalms 55:22 – Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

Joshua 1:5 – There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, [so] I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

2 Timothy 1:7 – For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

1 Chronicles 28:20 – And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do [it]: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, [even] my God, [will be] with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

Hebrews 4:16 – Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Bible-Verses-About-I-Will-Never-Leave-You-Nor-Forsake-You/

Who is to blame?

As I was watching the end of a movie, and listened to what some of the people were saying about those who had saved their lives I thought how ungrateful these people were behaving.  Yes, I do know that it was just a movie but as I watched the end after the battle was over and how the heroes of the movie were being turned against by those who they fought to protect. These people that were saved were blaming them for the attack and the damage that was done. Their lives were saved yet they still had to complain and reject the ones who risked their lives to save the lives of these ungrateful people.

This made me think of how people treat God. They blame Him for all the tragedy and destruction that happens in this world. ‘Where was God?’, ‘Why didn’t God do something?’, and the list of things you may hear after an act of violence committed by a person (or group of people), or a natural disaster, and lives are lost and people are injured. Well the first thing I will say is God has done something. He sent His Son to pay the price for the sins of all men. He did this before most of us were even conceived. So He paid the price in advance for a large number of us, meaning that He didn’t wait for us to live righteous and pure lives, or even love Him in return. He loved us first as we are. Jesus proved His love by laying down His life for us while we were still sinners. Think about how Jesus was mocked while being crucified. They hung a sign above His head, ‘THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.’ Matthew 27:41-43 41Likewise, the chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked Him, saying, 42“He saved others, but He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. 43He trusts in God. Let God deliver Him now if He wants Him. For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” Yet still Jesus let Himself be crucified so that we may be saved. All we must do is repent and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.

The next thing I would like to say is that He gave us free will. We choose what we will do. Yes God gave Moses the Ten Commandments to give to us. The choice is ours if we are to obey those commands.  Since all have sinned that means we have all broken at least a commandment or more. God did not want puppets or robots when He created man. He created man to love, not to control. The first gift is free will. Unfortunately people do not always choose to do what is right and cause harm and even death. The second gift is redemption. Not all choose to receive this gift. He gives us life and saves us, but are we grateful?  For too many we are not. We blame God for all the misery, illness, destruction, violence and death etc… while we choose to do as we please without care of the harm we may do. We cause the problem then blame God.   I know not everyone blames God and there are believers who are grateful and they do not blame God, but we know that even in the darkest and most tragic times He is with us.

Blame comes with judgment, and turns one against another. There is no accountability and it is always someone else’s fault. This strife causes division. This only brings destruction.  Life will not grow with hatred. Ungrateful hearts wither and die.

So what do we do then? Acknowledge our sin and repent. Receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. Forgive as we have been forgiven. Be grateful and give thanks. Love because we ARE loved.

Father, please forgive me for all the harm I have done and for any pain I have caused. Help me to forgive those who have hurt me and love those who have hated me. Thank you for Your love and mercy. May I walk in love and peace. Let there be less of me and more of you, in Jesus name. Amen.

Dried Up

Do you ever feel that you have been drained of every once of life and that you have nothing left? I get this way more often than I care to admit. I feel like a barren desert, and that I am beyond exhausted. Even words escape me and I can not even think of anything to say. I have given all that I have and done everything that I could and I have nothing left. How terrible you think. It may seem to be that way but it isn’t. How can be exhausted, drained and basically all dried up be good? I seem to be contradicting myself but I am not. Okay then I must be crazy, right? Well I do have a crazy side but craziness has nothing to do with why I feel that being dried up and empty is good. It means that there is nothing left of me and now Jesus can fill me with His newness. I like the scripture where He is talking to the woman at the well. She is drawing water out of a well and they talk and He tells her that He can give her living water and she will never thirst again.

John 4:4-15 (NKJV)

A Samaritan Woman Meets Her Messiah

4 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John ² (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), ³ He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. ⁴ But He needed to go through Samaria.

⁵ So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. ⁶ Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

⁷ A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” ⁸ For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.

⁹ Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.

¹⁰ Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

¹¹ The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? ¹² Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?”

¹³ Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

¹⁵ The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.”

If are are full of ourself and worldly concerns where is the room for Jesus? He may get a small part of us, but He wants to fill us completely. To do this we need to empty ourselves out and get rid of all the old junk. Then open ourselves up to receive all the goodness He has in store for us. His storehouse never runs out. His love never dies. He is forever faithful. Isn’t this wonderful news? I just have to empty myself completely and then go to Him to receive all the wonderful blessings He has for me. So this is why I can say with confidence and even a smile that being all dried up is good because thats when He really sends the rain on me and refreshes me and then i will not grow weary but soar with eagles.

Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV)  

 But those who wait on the Lord 
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

Check out this blog and what the author wrote about being empty, she really has some good insight. http://rachelwojo.com/bible-verses-feel-empty/

I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. Psalm 81:10

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Rom. 15:13

Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” Psalm 126:2

When you feel empty God can and will fill you with what you need  and even more. I hope the next time you feel exhausted, drained and that you have nothing left that you are encouraged.

God bless you, I know He loves you.