Focus on What Matters In Luke 10: 38-42, we read of Jesus' visit to the home of Lazarus, Mary and Martha. Martha was the dutiful host, working hard, most likely preparing a meal for their guest that day, their beloved friend Jesus. Martha was put out with her sister Mary for not helping her. Mary, instead was sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to Him. Martha rebuked Mary in front of Jesus and then went on to accuse Jesus of "not caring". Not a very hospitable reaction to the circumstances. What does it mean to choose the better portion? How can we, like Mary, overcome distractions, worry less, and focus on what truly matters? This passage teaches us valuable lessons about faith over busyness, trusting God's provision, and finding peace at Jesus' feet. Let's explore the deeper meaning behind this story and how it applies to our daily lives. Find the Better Portion Jesus scolded Martha, not for being a bad hostess but for being "worried and distracted". He informed Martha that Mary had chosen the better part. The Old Testament has this to say about the better part or portion: "You are my portion, O Lord; I have said that I would keep Your words." Psalm 119: 57 "My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73: 26 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” Lamentations 3: 24 What do these scriptures have in common? If God is our portion we will have hope, we will have strength when we feel like giving up and we will be obedient to Him. When someone is worried about tomorrow and distracted, they have trouble finding hope, they often don't feel like they can face their life and may even have problems being obedient to God. When we are worried and distracted, we often feel the unfairness of life. Like Martha, we see what is happening to "us" and are concerned less with others. Worrying Changes Nothing Jesus has much to say about worry. In Luke 12:25, He tells us that worrying won't make us grow taller. In other words, worrying won't change anything. It's an unproductive behavior. God will provide for our needs without it. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus repeats the admonishment to not worry and says that we should seek Him and His righteousness first and then our needs will be met. Mary knew what the better portion was. She was seeking Him first and not worrying. Excuses For Worrying When Martha accused Jesus of "not caring," isn't that what we tend to do in our own lives. When things aren't going right, when troubles abound don't we forget sometimes that God truly loves us. Deep inside don't we think , "Well maybe He just doesn't really care about me." Don't we excuse our worrying as, "Well I just care so much about this situation that I can't stop thinking about it." How Do We Approach Jesus? Another noticeable difference between Mary and Martha was how they approached Jesus. In John 11:32, we are told that Mary fell on her knees before Him. In Luke 10:39, we find Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus and in John 12:1-8, Mary anoints the feet of Jesus with costly oil and wipes His feet with her hair. Time after time in the gospels people approach Jesus with great humility, falling on their knees. In James 4:6, James says that God gives grace to the humble. Nowhere do we see Martha doing this. Was she too distracted, too worried about "having to do it all" to understand how she should approach her Savior? Are we? Do we serve the Lord with humility? Sit At His Feet The Bible tells us to be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). Matthew 11:28-30 says that we will find rest for our souls in Him. In 1 Kings 19, God speaks to His depressed and worried prophet Elijah in a still, small voice. Like Mary, we need to find the better portion. To hear God we need to still our minds, pray for God's peace, remembering that He is the Prince of Peace, read His word, and find a quiet place to be alone with God minus all the distractions of our modern world. Find rest in Him, humble yourself before Him, listen to His words, sit at His feet and never forget, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13: 6 (b)

The Ascension and the Promise of Power In many Christian traditions the Ascension of the Lord is celebrated as a special day. This day commemorates the resurrected Christ returning to Heaven in front of His disciples. Shortly afterward, the fire of Pentecost would fall in the Upper Room as the Holy Spirit came upon the believers. But centuries before Pentecost, another mysterious ascension took place in the book of Judges when the Angel of the Lord rose to Heaven in the flame of an altar. This is the connection between the Angel of the Lord and the fire of Pentecost Before Christ returned to God, the Great Commission was announced. Jesus told us our mission—to tell people about Him, and where our mission field should be—the world. After this event the disciples would receive the Holy Spirit, like tongues as of fire, in the Upper Room. This would empower His people to carry out His mission. Manoah and the Angel of the Lord But now, I want to take you back, much further back, to the book of Judges. In Judges 13 you will find the story of the parents of Samson, a future judge of Israel, and how they were told that Samson should be raised. It was who told them and the manner of the telling that is so amazing. The wife of a man named Manoah was visited by an Angel of the Lord who told her, that even though she was barren, she would have a child. She was told what to do during her pregnancy and that he was to be raised as a Nazarite. This was a person set apart for God who never cut his hair. This child, Samson, would begin delivering the Israelites from the Philistines. When she told her husband about the visitation he prayed that God would again send the Man of God, as they called him, to instruct them. The Lord heard his prayer and the Angel returned. When Manoah asked him if he was the same one who spoke to his wife he said, "I am." Was the Angel giving a hint as to His identity when He answered, "I am"? Then he proceeded to reinforce what he had told Manoah's wife. The God Who Ascended in the Flame This is where things get exciting. The Angel of the Lord was not just a normal angel, nor was he even Michael or Gabriel. The mission of angels, created servants of God, was never to receive worship. This appearance is was what is known as a Christophany. A theophany is when God appeared to people in the Old Testament, particularly in Genesis, Exodus, and Judges. Sometimes it was a Christophany, where Jesus appeared in physical form. Manoah still didn't realize who this Man of God was, so he offered him food. The Angel declined but told him to offer a burnt offering to God instead. At this point, Manoah wanted to honor the man and asked him his name. This was the reply, "And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?” Judges 13:18 Perhaps you remember the verse in Isaiah 9:6, which says in part, "and His name shall be called Wonderful ..." Manoah obeyed and sacrificed a goat and a grain offering. The goat offering was associated with atonement for sin, while the grain offering represented thanksgiving and devotion to God. As the flames of the offering rose towards Heaven, "He did a wondrous thing" (Judges 13:19), while Manoah and his wife looked on. The Angel of the Lord ascended into Heaven in the flame of the altar! Immediately they fell to the ground face down. Manoah exclaimed they would die because they had seen God. But his wife reassured him they would not die because their offering had been accepted and they had been told these wonderful things that would happen to them. Just as had been predicted, their son Samson was born and the Spirit of the Lord fell on him. You may remember the story of his last act of destroying the temple of the Philistines with his bare hands. He judged Israel for twenty years and ultimately began the destruction of the Philistines. From the Altar Flame to Pentecost The story of Samson was only part of a much greater story God was revealing. Centuries later, Christ would return to earth to live among us in sinless perfection, be crucified, rise from the dead and then return to Heaven as His disciples watched. Indeed, His name is Wonderful! But that is not all, just as He rose in the flames of the burnt offering, so fire fell on the disciples at Pentecost. Those flames in Judges represented God's consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24), revealing His power and desire to be with His people. They consumed what was offered on the altar, symbolically removing the sin of the people. The offering, going up in a blaze, was a visible sign that it had been accepted by God. The flames of that burnt offering remind us of Pentecost. They displayed His power and they were visible proof that He would not just live among His people, but quite literally live in them. That same power is living in believers today. The fire of Pentecost is purifying. It represents a holy people, set apart to serve God. The Angel of the Lord and the Fire of Pentecost Can you see it? This man whom they did not know, this Angel of the Lord, is revealed to them as their holy God. They don't know about Jesus yet, but when we look back on this event we symbolically see a foreshadowing of Christ offered for our sins as our atonement in this story. He was the perfect sacrifice. When this happened Manoah and his wife had no doubt to whom they had been talking. They knew the events that were foretold would really happen. The Holy Spirit and Our Calling Today Do we recognize Christ and the Holy Spirit at work in our lives today? Do we desire to see the unholy things in us to be consumed by His holy fire? Today we have the Holy Spirit living in us and empowering us. It may be difficult to grasp that He speaks to us just like He did to Manoah and his wife. We may not have a visitation from God, but He speaks to our heart every day if we listen. He has a job for us to do. All of us are called to be a Christian witness in a divided world. You have a calling from God Himself, no less important to obey than it was for his people in the book of Judges. One day we will also rise to meet Him in the air having been purified by His perfect sin offering on the cross. If you don't know who this man Jesus is, I pray that you will see him as your holy God, just as Manoah did. My prayer is that we all are ready for that great and wonderful day when we go to live with Him forever. He is faithful and true. Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

“The most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved.” —Mother Teresa The Holy Spirit and the Love of God The Holy Spirit is God's answer to loneliness and feeling unloved. Romans 5:5 tells us that God's love is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. In Ephesians 3:14-21 Paul's heartfelt prayer to the Ephesians is that they be strengthened by the Holy Spirit to comprehend the enormity of the love of Christ. Paul wants them not to just know about Christ's love, but to fully grasp it in their heart of hearts. The same power that lives in Christ, lives in us, because we are born again by the Holy Spirit. Paul wants the Ephesian Christians to be sensitive to the move of the Holy Spirit in their lives. As Jeremy Linneman puts it, "Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit is the primary difference between a dry, complacent believer and a warm, passionate one." Our Comforter and Advocate The Holy Spirit that lives within us is a witness to God's love for us. He is our paraclete the Bible tells us. Parakletos is a Greek word that refers to legal counsel, like a family attorney. In Romans 8:26 Paul tells us that the Holy spirit intercedes for us with God. To intercede means to intervene on behalf of another person. When we don't know what to say to God in prayer, when we are so distraught that words just don't seem adequate, the Holy Spirit steps in on our behalf to communicate those innermost thoughts and feelings to God. God in His great love for us gives us this undeserved blessing. We don't struggle in this life alone, because we have a Comforter. Jesus has much to say about the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as the "Comforter" or as it is sometimes translated, the "Helper"(John 14:16; John 14:26; John15:26). Finding peace through the Holy Spirit helps us to face trials. “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me." John 15: 26 The Spirit of Truth Who Guides Us Our Comforter comes from, and in fact, proceeds from the Father. This same Holy Spirit who was active at the creation of the world (Genesis 1:2) lives in us as believers. The Holy Spirit according to Jesus, convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement (John 16:8). This conviction should lead to repentance and salvation, but when people oppose Jesus, they have no excuse because they have rejected the conviction of the Holy Spirit Himself. In John 16:13 (a) Jesus also tells us, "when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth." The Holy Spirit of God is our guide to know truth. What a great blessing it is to know that if we let Him, He will lead us into all truth. Gifts Given for the Good of the Body The Holy Spirit blesses our Christian walk with gifts. These gifts are to be used for others. They are listed in 1 Corinthians 12: 8-10. They are: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues. Other gifts to equip us for ministry are mentioned in Ephesians 4:7-12. They are: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. In Romans 12: 3-8 we read that different gifts are given according to the grace of God: prophesy, ministry, teaching, exhortation (encouragers like Barnabas), giving, being a leader and being merciful. The Holy Spirit empowers each of us to live out our calling for God. Using the Gifts God Has Given A gift, by definition, is something that doesn't necessarily have to be accepted. Perhaps God has given you a gift but you have never exercised it. Perhaps you wonder if you even have any gift at all. You probably know people who seem to be using their gifts, I know I do. I have friends who are great encouragers, friends who are incredibly generous, friends who show mercy, who have great faith, who are teachers of the Word, and on and on. What is your gift? Have you used it for the benefit of others? Paul begins 1 Corinthians 1:4 by saying he hopes the Corinthians (as a whole) are not lacking in any spiritual gifts. The body of Christ needs these gifts to be exercised. This is how we build each other up in faith. Fruit That Reveals Who We Belong To The result of these gifts of the Spirit are the fruits of the Spirit. Our fruit is the proof of who we belong to. Listed in Galatians 5:22-23 they are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If we can imagine a tree, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are its roots and the fruits of the Spirit are the fruits that grow on the tree. What is our purpose? Our purpose is to grow in love and wisdom so we can share Christ with others. The Same Power That Raised Jesus In Ephesians 1:17-20, Paul tells the Ephesians that he prays they will be given the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Paul prays that the Ephesians will understand the hope they have, the richness of their inheritance and the incomparable power that works in the life of a believer. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead, that now Paul says, lives in them. Can we begin to fathom that power? Can we get a glimmer of comprehension that that power truly lives in us? Jesus told his disciples in Acts 1:8 that they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit for a purpose. Jesus says we will be His witnesses to the ends of the earth. In Matthew 28:19 Jesus tells His disciples, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," What purpose does the Holy Spirit have for your life and your gifts? Whatever purpose it is, the same power lives in us that rose Jesus from the grave, and He will strengthen you for His plans. Enjoy the beautiful song, "Same Power" by Jeremy Camp. Click here.

Preparing the Field for God’s Work I live in a farming community and my husband is a farmer. He has a particular way that he likes to see a field worked, particular equipment he likes to use and a particular schedule to get his fields prepared for planting. In 1 Corinthians 3:9 Paul uses a metaphor comparing the church to a field. "For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building." God's Field Paul discusses the fact that he and Apollos were both doing the job that God required them to do. They both prepared the field, the church, in their own way. They are nothing important. Only God, who uses them to do His will, matters. As Paul says, "God gives the increase." Christ is the Foundation As one farmer does things one way to produce a good crop and another farmer has a different way that also produces a good crop, so preachers and teachers come and go but the thing that matters is that Christ is the foundation of their teaching and preaching. We are not to align ourselves with a person, but with Christ. What does God expect in our worship? If Christ truly is the foundation of the church, then our lives should reflect Him in the way we treat and serve others. Act Like the Church We are not to align ourselves with a building but with the One who builds. We are the church, not our beautiful places of worship. When we act like the church, the true church grows. When we fail to act it does not. What good is a field if it produces nothing? What good is a building without a firm foundation? How do we "act like the church"? We throw around this expression a lot but what does it really mean? We are, as our Lord tells us, a light to the world. If we stay to ourselves all the time and never interact with others, how can we be a light? It is easy to say we don't have time to get involved with other people but that is our duty as children of God. We are to show the world hope when it seems hopeless, to love when it seems no one does and to care when others do nothing. Being the church is not merely about beliefs we confess, but about love that is visible in everyday life. Make a Difference Being the church doesn't require anything especially difficult. It just means not looking the other way when we see that we can make a difference. Does your neighbor's yard who has been out of town for a few days need some trash picked up? Does your elderly neighbor need to be checked on? Does someone need a shoulder to lean on, or a listening ear just so they know someone cares? Can you help in your community by volunteering in some way? Do we go the extra mile? Remember, we serve because He served. We are all so busy these days it seems. It feels like we are too busy to attend to the needs of others, but that is how we are used as salt and light. Even the smallest things we can do can make a difference in the lives of those around us. And if we have the opportunity to share Christ with them while we do it, so much the better. For those who are disabled or elderly, you can offer your prayers. Nothing is more needed now than that. Serving others should naturally flow from hearts that are truly focused on Christ in worship. Why Are We In Church? If we believe the church is failing people these days perhaps we should look inward. How are we failing Christ by not showing His love to others? Perhaps we should expect that those who preach and teach place Christ above everything else. Are we in church for a performance, for a feel-good message, for what WE can get from it, or are we there to worship our wonderful, loving God? Years ago my pastor used to say that we should give God our time, our talents and our treasures. What we have in this world was given to us by Him, so it is our duty to share those blessings with others. We may find ourselves easily sharing our time but hesitant to share our talents. We may find ourselves sharing our treasures but jealously guarding our time. God wants us to open our hearts fully and completely to Him, so that people around us see Him in everything we do. Because you are God's field let's be sure to produce the best crop possible for our Father. Enjoy the hymn - He Wants it All by Forever Jones- here.

Living in Resurrection Victory Are you overwhelmed by life? Does it all seem too much sometimes? If you are a Christian you need to know that God is preparing us to rejoice in victory. As Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, "the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality", then the sting and victory of death will be gone. Death is handed its final defeat and God gives us the victory in Jesus Christ. "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith." 1 John 5:4 We Have Victory in Jesus Even in the midst of persecution, famine, peril, war and other tribulations, nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. In Romans 8:37, Paul says, "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." We can conquer because of Christ's love for us and nothing can separate us from that love. Jesus is our Overcomer Christ is our overcomer. Through His strength and faith in Him we also can be overcomers of the world. Revelation 3:21 says that to those who overcome He will grant us to sit with Him on His throne because He also overcame. Scripture not only tells us that believers overcome through Christ, but also points us to the One who overcame first and alone is worthy of all praise. He is Worthy And in Revelation 5:5, John weeps in his vision, as he looks and sees no one worthy to open the scroll and its seals until one of the elders before the throne of God cries out, "...“Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to be able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”" It is our overcomer, our Savior, who can open the scroll, the Lion from the tribe of Judah! Worthy is the Lamb! With Jesus We Are Overcomers You and I will be victorious. As Christ is an overcomer so, through Him, are we also. How can we be victorious in times of trial? By remaining faithful and true to Him who died for us. By rejoicing in suffering that may lead others to Him. By living with Him, not just in Heaven after death, but living with Him daily. By dying daily to our flesh and becoming more like Him. Deuteronomy 31:6 reminds us that God goes with us; that he doesn't leave or forsake us. This verse reminds us to be strong and courageous because God shows Himself strong for us. This victory is not only a future promise in Heaven, but a present reality that can sustain believers even through suffering and weakness. We Can Live in Victory Victory is something we can live in today as well. Eugene Bartlett had a long career writing many hymns we are familiar with. In 1939, at the age of 53, he was struck down by a stroke which left him unable to walk or talk. At this time he wrote one of his most beloved hymns, Victory in Jesus. One of the lines goes like this, "I cried, Dear Jesus, come and heal my broken spirit and somehow Jesus came and brought to me the victory.’’ Stories like this remind us that true victory is often seen most clearly during seasons of suffering and hardship. In Hard Times We Know Where Victory Lies It isn't hard to live in victory when everything is going our way and life is easy. When we face challenges and hardships, when we see our world crumbling around us, that is the time to remind ourselves where our true victory lies. In 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul says, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." In this verse, Paul is looking towards the end of his life. He knows his time is short, but he also knows that he has the victory because he has "fought the fight" and "kept the faith". Hopefully we can all say this as we approach our end. In the midst of sorrow and suffering we have the victory in Jesus. God is our refuge in sorrow. In the midst of trials and persecutions we can overcome. We know this because of faith. Not faith based on wishful thinking, but faith based on the things we have seen God do in our lives, and the lives of others. Why can we overcome? Because our God goes with us and before us, ever present in time of need. Overcomer of death and giver of abundant life, we thank You, O God! Enjoy Shane and Shane's version of Victory in Jesus.

God’s Presence in the Midst of Suffering When terrible things happen, when we lose everything we have, when our loved ones are gone—God is still with us. Because of the sin and brokenness in our world, suffering exists. Our Father has never promised us a life without sorrow, nor has He ever promised a life without loss or pain, but He has promised to be with us through everything we are required to endure. His love is everlasting and His peace is promised to us. It is a peace that the world simply cannot understand—a peace that allows us to praise Him even in the midst of pain. Finding hope and peace in God amidst suffering and loss is not impossible. Through prayer, praise, and trust we are able to have faith that He is with us. Finding Praise Amidst Sorrow Psalm 147 begins by telling us that it is good to sing praises to our God. Sometimes it may be hard for us to think of anything to praise Him for. In our great sadness we cry out, sometimes without words, not knowing what to say, needing and wanting to be comforted by Him. We have a choice to make when we experience pain and loss—do we trust God's loving character or do we blame Him? God Heals the Broken Hearted In Psalm 147:3, the psalmist tells us, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their sorrow." We know that this healing and binding are supernatural. We know it is only the Holy Spirit who can do this. He works in us, in our prayers, and in the prayers of those around us to do this. We can praise Him for this promise of healing our broken hearts. God's Nearness in Suffering He is especially near to those who are suffering. Psalm 34:17 tells us that God hears the cries of the righteous and delivers them. Psalm 34:18 continues to say, "The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves the crushed in spirit." Trusting God's Plan Isaiah 41:10 reminds us that we are not to fear because, no matter our circumstances, He is with us. He promises to strengthen us, help us, and uphold us. It may seem impossible, but only when we rely on Him and not ourselves will we feel His nearness. This cannot happen if we don't fully trust God. It is normal during bad times to be tempted to blame God for our suffering. However, suffering exists because we live in a fallen world. To trust God doesn't mean that we ignore our very real pain. We need to give that pain, that terrible burden, to God. We have to trust that, in our suffering, we will grow closer to Him. Suffering helps us examine our hearts and deepen our relationship with Him. We know that He loves us so much He sent His Son to die for us. Scripture not only tells us that God is with us in suffering, but also that He can use suffering to shape and strengthen us spiritually. Finding Hope and Peace in God Amidst Suffering and Loss Paul speaks of finding hope and peace in God amidst suffering and loss in Romans 5:1-5. The passage is often described as "Faith Triumphs in Trouble." In it, Paul tells us that because our faith has justified us, we can have peace and rejoice in the glory of God. In Romans 5:3, Paul says, "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance," (ESV). He then says that endurance produces character and character produces hope. This is a hope, Paul tells us, that does not disappoint because God pours his love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. The suffering and trials we experience build endurance, which then shapes our character and leads to hope. Our hope is not in what we have done, but in what the Holy Spirit has done. We do not find joy in the suffering itself, of course, but we can find joy in what it produces within us. Just as hope is born out of suffering, praise becomes an act of faith when everything seems lost. We can choose to praise God. This leads us to the importance of praising God even in the midst of our sorrow. Praising God When All Seems Lost How do we praise God when our world has collapsed around us? Psalm 22 is a prophecy concerning our Messiah, Jesus. In Psalm 22:3, it says, "But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel." We often hear this verse explained this way, "God inhabits the praises of His people." We can choose to praise Him because, as Lamentations 3:24 tells us, “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him." No one demonstrated this trust and praise in suffering more perfectly than Jesus Himself. Jesus, Our Model of Suffering and Trust Jesus was a "man of sorrows and acquainted with grief" Isaiah 53:3 tells us. He truly understands us when we are at our lowest. In the midst of Jesus's suffering, He placed absolute trust in God's plan, knowing that God was holy and worthy of praise. He knew that He would be delivered (Psalm 22:4-6). We have an eternal hope in Christ—this is a promise from God. We may not see our deliverance on this earth, but we will see it. God has promised. If even our Savior found strength in trusting God’s plan during His greatest suffering, how much more do we need to rely on prayer and praise to draw near to our Father in our own trials. The Power of Prayer and Praise Pray, pray from the heart. Pray for yourself and pray for others who may also be experiencing great loss. Praise Him for your salvation, for the beauty of His creation, for the small things that are God's abundant blessings that we may not have appreciated before. Praise Him because He is in control and that He has a plan. We may not understand that plan. We may not be able to see it, but if we are His obedient servants it is there. God’s Compassion for Our Tears In 2 Kings 20:5, God says that He has heard King Hezekiah's prayer and seen his tears. This applies to us today as well. In Psalm 56:8, David tells us this of God, "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book." (NLT) This is figurative language, indicating that God cares for us so much that He knows our sorrows and sees our tears. You may be wondering, "Where is God in all of this?" The answer is that He is by your side, watching you, loving you, just waiting for you to praise Him in the midst of your sorrow. He is waiting for you to realize that you have absolutely not been abandoned. Not only does God care for each of our tears, but He also sees the depths of our struggles. As Hagar experienced, He is a God who sees and meets us right where we are. The God Who Sees Us In Genesis 16, we read the story of Hagar. Hagar was an Egyptian maidservant of Abraham (Abram) and Sarah (Sarai). Sarah treated Hagar, who was pregnant with Abraham's child, very harshly, so she fled to the wilderness. There the Angel of the Lord appeared to her. This was how Jesus appeared to people in the Old Testament. He told her to return to Sarah and that she would have many descendants. Hagar called the Angel of the Lord the God who sees. God saw her, a lowly servant, and cared enough to watch over her, promising that she would be blessed. When we feel that our sadness is not seen by God, we are mistaken. He does see us, as a loving Father would. Peace in the Midst of Anxiety Sometimes, in the midst of tragedy, we have so much anxiety about the unknowns. What are we going to do? How will we survive? How can I ever have peace again? But God is the one who promises us a peace that passes understanding. Philippians 4:6 tells us not to be anxious but to bring everything to God in prayer with thanksgiving. This peace that is beyond human understanding will guard our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7). If we ask for that peace, believing that He can and will provide it for us, it can be ours. When anxiety overwhelms us, God’s peace can calm our minds. In the depths of mourning, we need a deep comfort—the comfort that only Christ, who experienced sorrow Himself, can provide. The peace God gives us is ultimately found in the presence and promises of Christ Himself. Jesus, Our Comforter in Mourning There is one who "sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). One who can be a blessing to you. That One is Jesus. This same Jesus who was a "man of sorrows." As Jesus said in Matthew 5:4, those who mourn are blessed. Isaiah 61:3 tells us that Jesus wants to bring consolation to those who mourn, beauty for ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. We need to trust His promises, and believe He is faithful, to be blessed. God’s Tenderness Towards the Brokenhearted Zephaniah 3:17 explains that God will quiet us with His love. When we are distraught, anxious, and close to the breaking point, what a comfort it is to know that God Himself will "quiet us with His love." Praise God for His consolation here and praise Him for our eternal consolation in Heaven. How tender our Father is. How close to the brokenhearted. Dear Father, We pray that you would be a consolation and a hope for those grieving loss, suffering, and troubled in spirit. We praise you for your love and faithfulness. We pray that you would give peace to all those in need. We thank you for the example your Son Jesus gave us. We pray this in His name, Amen

Why Christians Cannot Earn Righteousness Does it make you as uncomfortable as it does me, when someone says Christians should be righteous? A righteous Christian is one who keeps God's commandments. But what are they you say? We think it must be a list a mile long of do's and don'ts. Rules to follow like a play book. But no, Jesus tells us the greatest commandments: to love God above all and to love others like yourself. But just because they are few does not make them easy. In fact, Scripture tells us that none of us have kept God's commands perfectly. That is why righteousness cannot come from ourselves. Many people spend their lives trying to feel worthy before God. We compare ourselves to others, try harder to be better people, and carry guilt when we fail again. Deep down, many of us fear we will never truly be good enough. That is why the righteousness of Christ is such good news. The only way you or I can be righteous is to be clothed with Christ's righteousness. We know this because we are told there is "none righteous, no not one" (Romans 3:10). The only true righteousness we can have comes through Jesus Christ, the only sinless man who ever lived and the perfect sacrifice for sin. It is not our righteousness that God sees but His Son's when we belong to Him. Righteousness Comes Through Faith in Christ Where does this righteousness ultimately come from? From faith. Paul explains in Romans that righteousness is received through faith, not earned through human effort. And what is faith? Hebrews 11:1 says "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hope in Greek does not mean what it means to you and I today. Today it has the idea of being lucky. I hope something happens means that it may or may not but we sure wish that it would. In Greek, hope means that you are waiting with expectation for something you know will happen. Faith is our evidence. And faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). This is why Paul connects faith directly to our justification before God. Justified by Grace Through Redemption "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, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed," Romans 3:23-25 Paul says we have been justified, at no cost, by God's grace through redemption. Paul packs several important truths into these few verses. To be justified is to be changed in status, from guilty to righteous. And what did we have to do or pay for this to happen? Paul says nothing. That is not to say there was no cost, but it was a cost that we did not have to pay. Now the grace of God is not earned. If it could be earned, it would no longer be grace but payment for works. We cannot do something to receive His grace. It is quite simply a gift through redemption. Interestingly, even the modern legal understanding of a gift reflects this principle. A true gift involves three things: the giver must genuinely give it, not merely lend it; the giver must surrender control of it to the recipient; and the recipient must actually accept it. In a similar way, God freely offers His grace through Christ, but we must still receive it by faith. What Redemption and Propitiation Mean To be redeemed means to be ransomed. We are bought out of slavery to sin by the death of Jesus on the cross. God sent His Son to this world to die for us so we could be redeemed by His blood. We are brought into a right relationship with God and rescued from the wages of sin—death. Redemption can sound like a difficult theological term, but the idea is actually very simple. Imagine it this way, if you pay someone's bond to get them out of prison you have redeemed them. It was your gift to them. They did not earn it. Perhaps they were even guilty of the crime they were charged with. But you secured their freedom, most likely because you loved them. Why would God do such a thing? Because this was the only way to restore the broken relationship of humanity to their Father. Since Adam and Eve, no one, not one person has been righteous enough to have this relationship restored (Romans 5:12-19). Only God Himself, becoming truly man while remaining fully God, could bring about this reconciliation; a family reunion between God and His children. How Jesus Became the Perfect Sacrifice for Sin Paul says that Jesus is our propitiation. Jesus is a sacrifice that turns away God's anger. In ancient times man brought the sacrifice to God to turn away His wrath. For example, on the Day of Atonement the Old Testament high priest would offer sacrifices to God for the sins of the people. But here, it is God who brought the sacrifice, not man. Humanity could never provide a sacrifice sufficient to remove sin completely. The sacrifice was with blood. Jesus Himself tells us in Matthew 26:28 that His blood was poured out for the forgiveness of sins. No longer was it the blood of lambs or bulls, but the blood of God's own Son. Paul says this is all done, "through faith." This is how we receive the benefits of Jesus' sacrifice. Faith is not just acknowledgement that Jesus exists. There is a difference between belief and true faith. Jesus tells us the devils in Hell know that. It is trusting in Him as Savior and relying on His finished work for forgiveness and salvation. His atonement brings about our reconciliation with God and will change your heart. God’s Justice and the Gift of Grace This entire process demonstrates God's righteous judgment. God did not ignore sin or pretend it did not exist. He is just in all things. Sin must be punished and and at the cross it was. Yet God provides a way of escape, a way to become righteous where no righteousness exists. Paul says that God "in His forbearance God passed over previously committed sins." In the Old Testament era, he explains that our merciful God did not immediately execute the full judgment those sins deserved, but looked ahead to the cross where judgment was ultimately poured out on Christ. This forbearance is seen in God’s patience throughout history. God is patient even when He is provoked. Israel sinned again and again but God's punishment was delayed to give them an opportunity to repent. He sent many prophets to warn them of what would happen. Even now He delays His return, not wanting anyone to miss the opportunity to repent and turn to Him. All of this was a demonstration of God's righteousness. It was the purest form of justice. In this way He justified those who had faith in Jesus. There was no other way. Only those who have been made right through the blood of His righteous Son could live eternally with a righteous God. This righteousness is never something we produce through our own efforts. Good works cannot create it, and they cannot replace it. But when a person is made right with God through Christ, that gift does not remain hidden. It begins to shape how they live, not as the cause of salvation, but as the result of it. When we talk of God's free gift of salvation, for us it was just that. But that free gift came at a great cost. When we speak of our righteousness or that someone has become a righteous person, we are not saying that they have done it themselves. We are saying that the righteousness of Jesus has become theirs. God sees His holiness and calls it ours. We can never deserve such a gift and that is why it is called grace.

Our Different Walk The world walks differently from the walk of the Christian. As Christians we are called to a different walk, a walk in the light, not in the darkness. We are to be a light to the nations. "This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." Ephesians 4: 17-19 The Futility Of Their Minds The world walks "in the futility of their minds". What a strange expression, "futility of their minds". Futility means uselessness or pointlessness. The world seeks answers from themselves. A place where there are no answers. All the answers they find are empty and useless. Darkened Understanding The world has "their understanding darkened". This means that while engaging in sin people lose their ability to see the beauty and goodness of righteousness. The indulgences of people in the world give them excuses for their sin. The light is there to be seen, but they don't want to see it. Alienated From God The world has been "alienated from the life of God". The world wants no part of God. They are isolated, estranged from God. They have no spiritual life in God, no indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Ignorant, Blind and Unfeeling Why do these things happen to those who don't know God? First, because of the "ignorance that is within them". They don't know God. They don't even understand what virtue really is. Secondly, because of the "blindness of their heart". St. Augustine said, "The blind man is the human race. Therefore Christ came to illuminate, since the devil had blinded us." And because the world is "past feeling", in other words the world really doesn't understand the fact that sin is sin, they don't see wrong doing for what it is. They feel no remorse because they don't think they have done wrong. They have become callous. This blindness, this callousness, has led them to give themselves over to lewdness. This is not a word we hear very often today. Lewdness means that you indulge in things like lust, fornication (sex outside of marriage) or adultery. They continue voluntarily in their sin and with zeal, with a passion, for the things that are not of God. And they do this with greediness. They can't get enough of sin. They wallow in it with no remorse, willingly. The New Man But, as Christians, Paul says we have "put on the new man which was created according to God". How does this new man act? Ephesians 4: 25-32 tells us that he doesn't lie, get angry, steal, or speak evilly but instead is kind, tenderhearted and forgiving. So, we Christians are told to stop lying. I see lying everywhere. It almost seems like everyone lies. If we are angry, it should not lead to sin. We should forgive quickly. We should not steal what we need, but work so we can be charitable to others. We work so we can share what we have with others. We should speak words that build up others morally, and in the faith, not words that are ugly, hurtful, tempting someone to do wrong, or cursing. We should not speak using idle words (Matthew 12:36). We should not grieve or sadden the Holy Spirit by living in a sinful way. Walk In The Light Our anger, our foul speech, our bitterness should be gone. Instead we should be kind and forgiving, tender toward each other. Why? Because" Christ forgave us while we were yet sinners." We are light bearers to the world. We should walk in the light because the Holy Spirit lives in us. Walking in the light is not just a one-time choice but a daily renewal of the mind and heart. Each morning we must decide whose voice we will follow, the world’s or God’s. When we choose God’s truth, the darkness loses its grip. We grow in holiness through small, faithful steps of obedience, letting the Holy Spirit shape our thoughts, words, and actions. This daily walk keeps our hearts soft toward God and open to His guidance. Paul opens chapter four of Ephesians by explaining that we are to walk worthy of our calling. We are to be humble, gentle, longsuffering, loving, and trying always to have a unity of the Spirit with each other. Becoming Reflections of His Light The more we walk in the light, the more others can see Christ reflected in us. Our kindness, patience, and humility are not signs of weakness but evidence of God’s strength working through us. The world may walk in darkness, but when believers live out truth and love, that light pierces through. Every act of forgiveness, every word of encouragement, and every moment of grace points others toward the Savior who said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). A Poetic Reflection on Walking in the Light Praise God your Great Story Let us worship above, Bearing each with love, The one who is worthy, The one who is love. As we call on His name With a gentle refrain, We'll seek out his mercy Till we all can exclaim, Praise God your great story Till we see your glory! With the bond of your peace We'll tell all your story! -Carol Plafcan A beautiful hymn about this can be heard here.

Preparing to Be an Unashamed Worker Have you ever been ashamed at work for doing a bad job? I know I have. Maybe I wasn't as prepared as I should have been. Maybe I didn't try hard enough. Maybe I just didn't care like I should. As a Christian I certainly don't want to be a worker who is ashamed. Do you? Our desire should be to work diligently to be approved. The Bible teaches that we should 'rightly divide the word of truth' (2 Timothy 2:15), ensuring that our faith is built on sound doctrine. How can we study Scripture in a way that strengthens our understanding and prepares us for God's work? Let’s explore how God's Word equips us to be faithful and unashamed workers in His kingdom. "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 2:15-16 How do you prepare (equip) yourself to be a good worker for God? Paul pretty plainly tells us it is through studying the scripture. Who is Paul talking to? To Timothy who has been with Paul and who knows scripture. If Timothy needs reminding, how much more do we? But studying Scripture is not just about gaining knowledge. We must also understand the purpose behind that study. What Is Our Goal? When we rightly divide the word of truth we should be focused on our goal, on the outcome of our Bible study. The goal is to serve God more perfectly. We don't need to put our own opinions in the mix. We need to stay true to the Scriptures and what it says, not what we may want it to say. We must serve the God of the Bible. What God do you worship? The God of your own making? Too often, people create an image of God that aligns with their own desires rather than seeking the true God of the Bible. Are we worshipping God as He has revealed Himself, or are we following a version of Him that we’ve shaped to be more comfortable? This is why sound doctrine matters so much. Without Scripture guiding us, we can easily replace God’s truth with our own ideas. God's Word Gives Us Four Things The Bible is not just a historical book—it is God-breathed and given to us for a purpose. According to 2 Timothy 3:16, Scripture provides four key benefits for spiritual growth: 1) doctrine - literally what the Scriptures have to teach us. 2) reproof - scolding or rebuke 3) correction - to straighten up or to make right 4) instruction in righteousness - our training and education on the standards God uses to determine if something is right or wrong, righteous or unrighteous. If we want to grow spiritually and serve God effectively, we must let Scripture shape our beliefs and actions. Work Diligently to be Approved Clearly, according to Paul this study takes commitment and effort, in other words, WORK. This study is not to show other people how "good" we are. It is for God that we study. It is God who is determining if our study shows us approved. It takes study of God's word for us to know what good work it is that we are being equipped for. Part of becoming an approved worker is being willing to admit when we are wrong and allowing God’s Word to correct us. Accept Correction When we study let's do it with humility and a teachable heart. We might think we have all the answers and that we perfectly understand what we are reading, but I think it is important to listen to those who know more than we do. Accept correction graciously when we are wrong. We must serve the Lord with humility in all areas of our lives. If Scripture truly equips, corrects, and trains us, then we should treasure it far more than we often do. The Bible, Our Greatest Treasure God’s Word is a precious gift, yet many of us take it for granted. In some parts of the world, people risk their lives just to read a single page of the Bible. But in places where the Bible is freely available, it often sits unread. What a treasure we have in our Bible. One that sadly we seem to take for granted. I remember hearing the story of a woman from Eastern Europe where it was illegal to own a Bible at the time. As a Christian she was literally starving for the word of God. A woman came to her home who had secretly taken a portion of the Bible. She was handing out pages from it and gave the woman one of them. This page of the Bible was her most precious treasure. When she was finally able to come to the United States, she was in awe that in every bookstore there were multiple copies of the Bible. Such a treasure, so easily available to all and yet to her dismay she discovered that it was rarely read. We must ask ourselves: Do we cherish the Word of God as we should? The Bible isn’t just another book—it is the living Word that equips us for life and godliness. With its words in our hearts we will work diligently to be approved. God's Word Work Diligently To Be Approved Perhaps we won't know what we have till it's gone. I hope that won't be the case. I pray that we will work; work hard and work diligently to read and equip ourselves so that we will be approved and not be ashamed. If doing poorly in our earthly jobs is embarrassing how much more so will it be to stand before God in shame knowing that we took for granted His very own words. We are to be diligent Christians. Our Instruction Manual I always told my children in Sunday School that if we call ourselves Christian then we should want to read the instruction manual the Lord has given us - the Bible - on how to be one. I don't want to get in a car with someone who isn't trained properly to drive it and I don't want to be someone who knows so little of the Bible that it is difficult to be a good servant of the Lord. Let's strive with the help of the Holy Spirit to do what God calls us to do. Let's truly work diligently to be approved and unashamed. "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." Colossians 3: 23-24

Israel's Cycle of Sin and Deliverance How does God discipline us when we abandon Him? What is the point of that discipline? What biblical lessons can we learn about sin and God's discipline? On a national level, every time the children of Israel abandoned God and turned to idols, they were disciplined by God who would send a conquering nation to attack them. Eventually God would hear their cries and provide a deliverer. Faithfulness would follow, at least for a while. We can see the same pattern in our own lives. Have you allowed idols, things that are more important to you than being faithful to God, to rule your life? Have things gotten worse for you in some ways since that happened? Has your peace begun to disappear? Every time something bad happens, it is not a judgment of God. We know this from the book of Job, but you know in your soul if you have been unfaithful to Him. We can recognize unrepentant sin in our lives if we examine ourselves. Modern Idols Still Pull Us Away From God It is easy to recognize an idol when it is carved of gold or placed on a pedestal for worship, but what about in our daily, modern lives? Idols can be yourself. Do you want an easy, comfortable life more than the self-sacrifice Christ demands? Sometimes we seek the approval of others over God's approval. We may be obsessed with our physical appearance and not so much our spiritual heart. Even good things like family, career, or church work can quietly take God’s rightful place in our hearts if we’re not careful. Our proper order should be God first, then our spouse, then our children, and finally others. They are gifts from God, not idols meant to replace Him. A good question to ask yourself is: would I be willing to give this up if God asked me to? Like the rich young ruler who wanted to follow Jesus until Jesus asked him to give up his idol—his money. What in our lives makes us pause when we think about losing it? Eventually, these idols fail us. Then our emptiness can feel overwhelming. We realize the peace we once had is gone, our joy feels hollow, and deep down we know there is a danger in spiritual drift that takes us far from the One who truly satisfies. Reaching for God at Our Lowest Point At our lowest point, we finally cry out to God and that’s when we discover He has already reached out to us through Jesus, our true Deliverer. But will we stay faithful to Him, or will He need to discipline us again, like a loving Father, to bring us back to our first love? Deborah, Barak, and Israel’s Unfaithfulness A powerful example of sin and God's discipline appears during the time of Deborah in the book of Judges. Israel had again turned from God, and as a result they fell under the oppression of a foreign power until they cried out to Him for deliverance. The people called on God only after their suffering became unbearable. Forgetting God comes with a price. Let's look at the story of Deborah (Judges 4). She was a prophet of God, a wife, and a judge of Israel. The word of God came to her to tell Barak to lead their armies against their enemies. Barak would not go unless Deborah went with him. Barak believed God enough to go, but not enough to go alone. He only partially trusted God. Because of this Deborah told Barak a woman would deliver his enemy into his hands. Barak and Deborah went to the place of battle. Barak and his armies destroyed the enemy but the commander, Sisera, escaped. He fled on foot and hid in the tent of a Kenite woman named Jael who he thought was on his side. The Kenites however had historically been friendly with the Israelites. Their connection went all the way back to Zipporah, the wife of Moses, who was a Kenite. Jael covered Sisera up, gave him milk, and allowed him to sleep, but while he was asleep she drove a tent peg through his skull and killed him. This fulfilled Deborah's prophecy: the enemy would be delivered to Barak by a woman. This embarrassment was the cost of Barak's hesitant faith. Do we hesitate to obey God like Barak or do we answer His call with a committed yes? After these victories, Deborah led Israel for forty years of peace. Yet again and again they did evil in God’s sight. We are often the same. We enjoy God’s blessings but quickly forget who gave them and drift back into old sins. Yet even in their repeated failures, God did not abandon His covenant people, and He will not abandon us. Sin and God's Discipline of Those He Loves God loved Israel and was in a covenant relationship with her. If you are a Christian, God is in a new covenant relationship with you. He will not forsake that covenant. God’s love for us is steady and faithful. He lovingly corrects us not to punish us, but to restore the close relationship He wants with us. Hebrews 12:6 quotes Proverbs 3:12 and tells us, "because the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastens everyone He accepts as His son." (NIV) The word chastens here in the Greek means discipline, like from a father, designed to correct behavior. It is not vengeful wrath, but is meant to instruct. This is why Paul reminds us not to be discouraged when we experience it, because it is proof of His love (Hebrews 12:5). According to this verse "everyone" who belongs to the Lord will experience this at one time or another. None of us are perfect and none are without the need for correction. God’s correction is meant to restore our faithfulness, even when it is painful for a time. If we have never received any correction, that is a sign that we are not really children of God (Hebrews 12:8). The Consequences of Sin Choosing sin always has consequences. Sin quietly robs us of our peace, leaves us with lingering guilt, damages our relationships, and can even lead to sickness or death (1 Corinthians 11:30). As Christians we know God forgives our sin and He does not remember them against us. Although we are no longer condemned, we still face earthly consequences of sin. However, the natural effects of sin are not the same as God's discipline. If we murder someone, the consequence is jail or worse. If we lie, the result is that people don't trust us. Discipline is different. It is for loving correction and it teaches something. It is how we teach our children what is good for them and what is not. God does the same. A child who is disciplined properly knows their parent loves them. In contrast, the child who is screamed at, belittled, and beaten has no respect and little love for their parent. That is not how God disciplines. Sin destroys us. God corrects us, just as He did the Israelites. To bring them back to Him He used plagues and war, but only after sending prophets to warn them first. Today, we have the Word of God to warn us, we have the love and sacrifice of His Son, and we have the Holy Spirit within us that speaks words of wisdom to us, if we will hear them. Even great heroes of faith like Moses, David, and Solomon received God’s correction. They faced the fallout from their sin, were rebuked by prophets, and disciplined by the Lord. If they needed it, who are we to think we are exempt? When we truly repent as they did, God forgives us completely. Sin brings painful consequences, but God’s discipline goes beyond punishment, it restores us. God's Discipline Restores Us God does not ignore our sinful behavior. God's correction is meant to turn us away from destruction and back toward a sanctified life, that is, a life of holiness with Him. Through discipline He molds us into the vessel He needs for His kingdom; a "vessel for honor" (2 Timothy 2:21). He is our potter and we are His clay (Jeremiah 18:6). I want to be the vessel that fulfills His purpose, don't you? Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me and providing for me. Help me to always place You first in all things. I ask your Holy Spirit to show me where I have failed You. Forgive the times I have turned from You to make something else my idol. In Your Son's name, Amen

Nehemiah Chapter 8 In Nehemiah chapter 8, the priest Ezra for the first time in many, many years reads the Torah, the books of Moses, to the people. They stood in front of the Water Gate, a gateway to the rebuilt temple complex. The following is written from the perspective of someone who was there. A great revival was about to occur. Captivity Ends Finally, after seventy years we all eagerly awaited Ezra. Seventy years of being in captivity in Babylon had finally ended. We knew this was a special day. We could all feel the presence of the Lord in this place. Something wonderful would happen here today. We all sensed it. The Reading Of The Word. We stood before the platform waiting excitedly for Ezra to begin reading the word. The sun had just come up. I looked around and saw so many people, people just like me who were moved to finally hear the word of God after so many years. The Spirit of God was surely in this place because as Ezra began to read, we all stood. These were God's Words, Words of life and worthy of reverence. The book of the law that Moses our deliverer had recorded - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Because of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah our temple was finally rebuilt. Because of Ezra we were able to come together and worship with one mind and one heart. Those of us present were ones who were able to understand the word when it was read. Ezra read till midday. For six hours we listened attentively to God's word. I am sure God was with us because otherwise it would have been nearly impossible to focus for so long on these words from long ago. Amen, Amen As he began reading, we stood, with heads bowed and lifted hands knowing that the blessings of God would fall on those who would hear these words. When Ezra blessed our great God, we all responded in agreement, "Amen, Amen". There were additional men there who helped us to understand what was being read. It would be no good to hear the word and still not understand it. The goal was hearing God and understanding. They helped us to understand it not just with our minds but with our hearts through the working of God's Spirit. They helped us to understand what those words from ages past meant to us in our present time. Convicted By Our Sin When we heard and understood the words, we wept. I could hear people around me quietly sobbing. They were convicted, as was I, of our great sin before our Lord. They realized how they had failed Him even though He never failed or abandoned them. But Nehemiah, our governor, Ezra our priest and scribe, and the other Levites told us not to cry. God was doing a great and holy work and we should rejoice. They told us, "Do not sorrow for the joy of the Lord is your strength." I wiped my tears as did the others and realized that God was doing a mighty work in His people and we should rejoice. We had sinned but our gracious God has forgiven us. Praise and thanks be to Him. Understanding The Word On the second day the heads of households were brought together to understand the words of the Law. It was important that people in leadership roles be able to explain to the rest of us exactly what the words meant for us. As they read we understood that we should have been celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles. We had not celebrated this feast since the days of Joshua, but in obedience we built our tabernacles and continued hearing the word of God for several more days until, to conclude, we had a sacred assembly. ______________________ A Great Revival This great revival and spiritual awakening, came from the reading of the word of God to His people. The Word was not just read, but explained. True understanding is necessary for true revival. We need people who know more than we do to help us get this understanding. Paul reminds Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:13 not to neglect the public reading and teaching of the word of God. Just as in Acts 2:37, after hearing the Word from Peter those listening to the word were "cut to the heart" by their sin. But then their sorrow is turned to joy. They rejoiced in hope. "Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:8(b) - 9 Pray For Revival Even today, as we pray for a great revival for ourselves, our church and our nation, let us not forget the importance of reading and understanding the Word of God and how the Holy Spirit uses it to convict us and bring us to repentance. Thanks be to God for His Word, His grace and His Spirit who help us to understand and have a greater knowledge of our Lord. Our greatest gift is the gift of His Son that we should share with the world.

When People Wound Us People can be mean. They hurt us, sometimes very purposely. They like to see us be hurt, cry, or feel angry and helpless. God cares about your suffering, even when others do not. Does anyone remember being bullied in school? Sometimes those scars last a lifetime. Has anyone ever had a verbally or physically abusive spouse? How about a parent who seemed to not really love you? A friend of mine once shared how he was bullied relentlessly in middle school. Even decades later, he noticed that when he faced criticism at work he would feel as if he were back in school again. At one point, he admitted that he often felt like God had forgotten him. Over time, however, he came to realize that even when those memories returned, God had never stopped seeing him or caring for him through every stage of his life. This kind of experience is not unusual. Scripture speaks directly into it. God Sees the Suffering of His People In all these situations there is a common thread. We often feel alone, as if we have no one to turn to who cares, or no one who really sees our pain. Even though we may not know it or even feel it, God cares. He feels your pain, as any truly loving parent does. Our response to this is often, "Well, if He loves me so much why does He let this happen?" God hates sin and the damage it does to people. It is important to remember that God has never promised us a carefree life. Suffering is part of this fallen world. What we as His children need to remember is that our suffering will end and be replaced with an eternity of joy. Those who reject God don't have that promise. Throughout Scripture God reminds us of His loving care. In Exodus 3:7 God says He has heard the cries of His people in Egypt and He was concerned over their suffering. God doesn't stop at just being concerned. He acts by sending them a deliverer—Moses. God has heard your cry as well. He is just as concerned about your suffering as he was His people in Egypt. We can't know ahead God's plan for us, but we know He has sent our deliverer—Jesus. Psalm 103:13 tells us that God pities those who fear Him. He crowns us with "tender mercies" (Psalm 103:4). He responds with justice (Psalm 103:6). It may not be something we ever see in this life, but He promises us that our enemies will not go unpunished. Your Tears Are Not Forgotten David writes in beautiful Psalm 56 and describes God's regard for us this way, "You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?" Psalm 56:8 Imagine God loving us so much that He metaphorically takes our tears and saves them. They don't go unnoticed. They aren't forgotten. They are remembered. Knowing that our tears are precious to God allows David to have confidence. David continues and asks, "Who should he fear?" There is no one to fear because God is for him. He trusts God to love him and protect him. "What can man do to me?" he asks. When we are being abused or enduring suffering sometimes some of us believe we deserve it. Sometimes we just can't feel this love everyone tells us God has for us. It seems He doesn't have the time to help us because we don't really matter to Him. But we do matter—we mattered even before we were born (Psalm 139:13-14). He is near those who suffer. We often struggle with unanswered prayer, feeling emotionally numb from abuse, or not feeling God's presence. When God is seemingly silent, that doesn't mean we have been abandoned by Him. Sometimes He is harder to hear because our pain is so great. We may even give up trying to hear Him. Even then, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1). Even when we struggle to feel God’s presence, Scripture gives us a clear direction for what to do next. We are called to continue trusting Him, seeking Him in His Word, and patiently enduring until He brings us through the trial. One of the most difficult parts of suffering is waiting for it to end. Waiting seems endless when bad things are happening to us. The Bible often talks about endurance, being steadfast, or as it is often called, longsuffering. We don't see that term used much anymore, but isn't it aptly named. It is hard for us to see any reason behind suffering for long periods of time. We can't know ahead of time God's plan for us, but the Bible tells us that God's ways are not our ways. God will work His will even during difficult times. Drawing Near to God in Pain In Psalm 34:18 the psalmist reminds us that "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted." Perhaps we don't feel His care for us because we aren't close enough to Him. James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." Have you tried drawing near to Him? I remember seeking God once and saying, "I just need a hug. I need a physical hug from you Jesus." I had been going through a lot of tough times. I honestly didn't expect that prayer to be answered, but it was in a way I never expected. I started attending church again and went up for communion. I realized that my experience of communion was a spiritual hug, if you will, from the Lord. He and I and all those present were united as one in love and family. I can't describe the powerful feeling of the Holy Spirit that day. Experiences like this remind us that God meets us in our pain, yet we still face a daily choice in how we respond to it. Do we turn inward and try to handle the pain ourselves, or do we trust Someone greater than ourselves to care for us? Trusting God—God Cares About Your Suffering Our loneliness and pain sometimes make us bitter. We don't trust God to watch over us. Maybe we aren't thinking about God at all. We just want the pain to stop so we take matters into our own hands. We need to rely on God, not ourselves. God can take our suffering and use it for good, just as He did with His own Son's suffering. It is not the suffering itself that is good but the outcome can be. It can deepen our faith. It can help us be more empathetic to those around us who suffer. It can test us and refine us for His good use. Good purposes can be accomplished by God even through bad things. This brings us back to something very fundamental. Do we trust God? Are we willing to give Him control of our emotions and our pain? Or do we stubbornly cling to the mirage of control over our lives that we think we have? Whatever happens to us, if we rely on God, we can face it. Do you believe He is a good God? Really believe? Christ Remains Faithful in Every Trial There is a popular song many of us have heard. In this song, there is a line that says, "All my life you have been faithful. And all my life you have been so, so good." The sinful actions of people that hurt us may make us doubt the truth of this. But our Jesus has a name, "Faithful and True" (Revelation 19:11). He stands with us in our trials and offers us a blessed home with Him in Heaven. The trials that some Christians face make many of our bad times seem paltry by comparison. I may not ever be asked to give up my life for Christ, but whether the persecution is large or small, He sees the pain we carry. God has a plan in our suffering. Remember, Jesus "is a friend that sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). He promises never to forsake us. There is so much comfort in that knowledge. Call on Him in your sorrow. Seek Him with all your heart, soul, and mind. Study His Word so you can be prepared for the onslaught of our enemy, Satan. Even in that battle, He is not distant. He is there with loving arms ready to receive you, like the prodigal son returning to His Father. God cares about our suffering. Rejoice in knowing we are His beloved children. Even if no one else cares, He does above all.