Monthly Archives: October 2013

Recently, my paths crossed with someone I hadn’t seen in a few months.

When I asked her how things were going in her life, she quoted Hebrews 13:8, saying, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

At the time, I thought it was a rather strange response…but now I totally get it.

Nothing stays the same for long in this world, does it?

I hardly recognize this great country anymore. The evil tentacles of socialism are ever- expanding deeper into our society and that is terrifying.

As I write this, I am watching survivors of Superstorm Sandy relate their experience of losing everything (including loved ones) in the storm that roared to shore one year ago.

My kids are no longer little. They are teens who are taller than me and will soon be out of our home and on their own.

My brother and I took a road trip last week back to our hometown and it seemed that we spent much of our time remarking about how much things had changed.

Some family members were coping with physical challenges while we were there: one cousin was recovering from an extremely painful knee replacement surgery and one aunt had broken her foot in two places. Two active people stopped in their tracks by broken bodies.

We thought often about those  dear faces we used to see when we went home who are no longer there to greet us. Their number has grown over the years, causing us to deeply treasure the precious ones who are still with us. 

A simple look in the mirror reveals the march of time across my face.

Circumstances have changed over and over through the course of twenty one years of marriage. We have moved eleven times and owned four homes.

Trials, both large and small, have been permitted to enter our lives.

Currently, we are in the midst of a doozy, which has left us with many more questions than we have answers, sad hearts, some sleepless nights…and a dogged determination to cling to His Word and what we know is true of His character.

We have learned the art (and gift) of counting blessings in the midst of the hard. (That, by the way, is the key to guard against bitterness).

And yes, there have been many, many moments of joy and laughter.

My point is that life is in a constant state of flux. To search for security on this earth anywhere other than in Jesus is like trying to stand firmly on the surface of a restless ocean.

That’s why Hebrews 13:8 is such a comfort to us when our heads are spinning with the rapidity of change that we encounter on a daily basis.

Our risen Savior NEVER changes. Not one bit. Not ever. Not during job loss, divorce, illness, bankruptcy, funerals, difficult relationships, good times or bad times. He will never desert us. He will never stop loving us. He will never stop doing good to us all the days of our lives and into eternity.

Although we cannot see Him, He is more real than anything we can see or hear or touch.

We can firmly stake our lives on the absolute truth His Word. We can live by His promises. We can see by His Light.

We can visit His empty tomb and see that He has risen.

We live in anticipation of the fact that He is coming back in all His glorious power and every knee will bow before Him and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame.
—(Hillsong) 

Long after everything on this earth is gone, Jesus will remain.

He is the sure and certain Anchor for our souls as we walk through our days. And when we close our eyes in this life, the first thing we will see as we enter eternity will be His face.

Take some time to really soak in this glorious truth today.

You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning and the heavens are the work of Your hands; they will perish but You will remain. They will wear out like a garment, like a robe, You will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But You are the same and Your years will have no end.” —Hebrews 1:10-12 

This morning, I came across Psalm 18 and this verse jumped out at me:

In my distress ( when seemingly closed in), I called upon the Lord and cried to my God. He heard my voice out of His temple (heavenly dwelling place), and my cry came before Him, into His very ears. (Ps. 18:6)

The key word in this verse is seemingly. 

In the psalmist’s view, his troubles were closing in on him.  His eyes and his mind could see no escape. Doom was certain.

If you are currently feeling that way, the enemy is having a field day with you. He wants to to be hopeless and see only the darkness of the pit.

But that is simply an illusion.

Your Savior sees you. He hears you. He knows the big picture. He knows exactly how He is going to rescue you. Psalm 18:19 describes His deliverance:

He brought me forth also into a large place; He was delivering me because He was pleased with me and delighted in me.

You are not meant to live in the pit.

Jesus will bring you out into a large place. The One who called you out of darkness (I Peter 2:9) intends for you to live in the Light of His Presence.

He is pleased with you.

He delights in you.

These things are true whether you feel it or not.

Your deliverance is on the way.

Count on it.

 

“Somebody needs to do this,” The man spoke earnestly to his friend who works in the school.

He had been praying and felt it was extremely important.

“That someone is you,” his friend said.

With that wise commission, this beloved coach chose to leave his comfort zone and begin a Bible study that was open to all the kids in the high school.

The day arrived and both the doors and the coach’s heart were open.

One boy showed up.

And Jesus smiled.

This young man knew the coach, having played on his team. Unbeknownst to the coach, he had given his life to Christ last year during summer camp in the mountains.

But he was struggling to live his faith because he lacked a mentor. It’s hard for any of us to bravely live our faith in the midst of a sea of unbelievers; it is even more so for a young athlete trying to shine his light in the midst of a public high school.

Now this boy had a mentor and the coach rejoiced in how faithful Jesus is to meet us when we are willing to take one step outside of our comfort zones.

As I took a walk around the high school track the day after this happened, I found my eyes filling with tears at the tenderness of our magnificent Savior. In that building of hundreds, Jesus heard the prayers of one young man’s heart and He provided another one of His own to come alongside him just when he needed it most.

If you know Jesus, you are always being pursued by Him.

He hears your prayers.

He sees your need.

He knows the desires of your heart even more intimately than you do.

He cares.

He provides just what you need when you need it.

Keep your eyes open today to all the varied ways that He may answer your prayers. See who He might send across your path.

And if you feel Him inviting you to step out of your comfort zone…do it.

You never know who might be the beneficiary of your brave choice.