Almighty God is ...

     Every day as we look around us, things change.  People change, positions change, prospects change and even our health changes.  Some changes elicit new attitudes, growth and potential. Some do not. In the natural world we watch plants sprout, leaf out and eventually produce flowers or fruit.  If we look upward into the cosmos, into realms we are just discovering,  we even see changes and mysteries in the stars and galaxies we find so fascinating.

     So what does it mean if there is “no variation or shadow, or turning” with God the Father?  Does it mean that He is unresponsive?  No, God is affectionately responsive and always gives good “good and perfect gifts.”  The gifts that He gives and the discipline that He allows bring changes to us as we are regenerated and remade by the Holy Spirit. He loves steadfastly, slowly graces us with wisdom through His Word, reassures us with His care and presence as He watches over us as our Father.  His giving of everything good remains rock solid in a changing world. He is unchanging in a changing world. srm

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” (James 1:17-18, ESV).

Do you look for the Master in the midst of the storm?

     Why are we so easily immobilized in fearful situations and why do we look at the situation instead of looking for the Master who could help us?  If we followers of Jesus, we know that He is the Good Shepherd and He knows all about us, as His sheep.  That means that our situations are known to Him.  It means that He is nearby. It means that He can do mighty things in the midst of the troubles and dangers around us.

     When Jesus lived amongst His disciples, they saw the many miraculous things that Jesus did.  Healings, miracles of food provision for thousands of people and the literal calming of a vicious storm.  Still, when they found themselves in a serious storm a short time later, they did not call out to Him, they did not see Him nearby and they were very scared and troubled.  Even when they saw Him … they perceived that He was a ghost, not the Master of the storm they so desperately needed.  Still He saw their plight and came to them and calmed their storm in a marvelous way.

     To know, the Good Shepherd cares for us is a wonderful thing.  To realize and remember that He sees us in our troubled place and will come to our aid with tremendous power even when we are not looking for Him is amazing. srm

“They all say him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed” (Mark 6:50-15 NIV).

Let the Builder build your house.

     If we were to build a house,  we would thoroughly look at designs, blueprints, estimates and supplies before we would ever start to build.

     As we started to build, we would choose our materials with care and hire a builder with integrity.  We would want every effort to be dedicated to adherence to the blueprints so that the finished house would be as it was chosen and purposed. We might choose modifications if they benefit the function and beauty of the house and we would trust those changes to the builder. 

      God has perfect  designs for the our lives, blueprinted paths that bring blessings and joy and He know the best supplies of character to finish the house we are to become. He works with our selfish modifications and redeems them to be useful and for our good.  He is the Master builder (Ephesians 2:10) and He creates masterpieces that will stand for eternity.  Let Him build your life. “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1 NRSV).

Our days are His ...

    

What do tears have to do with joy? During moments of intense stirrings in our heart we may feel joy intermingled with tears as we become overwhelmed with elation.  Holding a newborn child, hearing expressions of love from another that overflow with feeling and even seeing something with our eyes can become overpowering to our senses ... any of these and many others can bring forth both tears and joy at the same moment.

      At other times, tears flow from our deepest anguish when words falter and fail. They can seem to come from an endless source of heartbreak as they bathe our face as grief and sorrow pour forth. These tears ache with questions and brokenness in endless waiting and joy cannot be seen or much less found. At times our tears come as think of our gracious and loving God and remember His grace as we travel through difficulty or fall in repentance.

     Jesus walks with us throughout all of our days upon the earth. He celebrates with us in those joyous times and weeps with us in our deepest anguishes. We also know that we will join Him in eternity and for certain, a day is coming when "death is swallowed up forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces" (Isaiah 25:8).  What is too deep for us to really comprehend when our tears are wiped away and our joy is fulfilled in the presence of our Lord forever. srm

And it will be said in that day:

“Behold, this is our God;

We have waited for Him, and He will save us.

This is the Lord;

We have waited for Him;

We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”

Isaiah 25:9

"Let us learn to think of tears as liquid prayers; and of weeping as a constant dropping of importunate intercession which will wear its way right surely into the very heart of mercy, despite the stony difficulties which obstruct the way." Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)

His mercies are upon us.

     Hopefully there is a season of warmth just ahead and hopefully we have left the season of white and cold behind us.  As the seasons change and as we go through good days and bad, it is always good to remember the faithfulness of God in the days that have passed by.  No matter what you have gone through, He was there with you. As you look back on the blessings and what you have been privileged to be granted as gifts of grace, we can be thankful.  As your life changed and as you aged, felt joy or adjusted to difficulties or pain … He has not changed.  His mercies were upon you.

     His love is steadfast.  His interest which is ever protective and ever watchful … it has never turned from gazing upon your life.  His loving comfort was applied through the presence of the Spirit and is even now being applied, even if we are just slightly aware.  Be thankful for His great love, no matter what the season and know this same love is the only real hope for all the seasons to come.  That it is by far the most important reflection,  possible for any of us. srm

“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.   It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness”  (Lam. 3:21-23 KJV).