The Questions and the Questioner

The Questions and the Questioner
For anyone who has been around a two or three year old very long, I know you know the many questions they ask:. “What’s that? Why? When? Where? How?” At first it was endearing, but before long – we get worn out with all those questions. Can we even imagine how tired God must get from our questions? “Why, God, why?” “When will it happen?" “How can I do this?” “Where will we go?” "Where are You?" "Why did You allow that?" And as a loving Father – even beyond what we could ever be to our own children, He responds with answers that aren’t exactly those we want to hear – because His answers involve time, His timing! Father knows best for us.

God has questions of us, as well, not because He doesn’t know the answers. He knows all things. The questions God asked throughout Scripture were to get us to think, to repent, return and to be more devoted to Him. God’s very first question was to Adam in Genesis 3:9: "Where are you?" Oh, God knew where he was -- but God always gives His kids the opportunity to think --- and ask ourselves the questions: "What is going on in your heart? Who are you listening to? What are you believing about Me that is not true?"

Jesus, God in the flesh, asked questions to help us:
~ He asked: "Do you believe?" Many people came to Jesus asking for a miracle, a healing, a free lunch. Like those people we come to Him with our shopping lists, Jesus said: “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (Matthew 21:22) Oh, Lord, we do believe. Please help us overcome our unbelief!" (Mark 9:24)

~ Jesus asked "Do you want to get well?" What an odd question to ask of a crippled man. Of couse he wanted to get well, but that man gave excuses why he couldn’t get there. When we complain to God about our circumstances or give Him excuses as to why we are still in the same place, spiritually or emotionally, perhaps the question He still aims at our hearts is “Do you want to go to a new place where God can be your all-in-all?” I want my response to be be: “Lord Jesus, I want You. Open my eyes to see You for Who You are. Open my ears to hear Your voice. Heal my legs so I can follow You. Heal my heart so I can love You more.”

~ Jesus asked: “Why are you so afraid?” Oh we know that "ask" time and again to His disciples. In Matthew 8:26, Jesus asked them why they were so afraid about the wind and waves. After all, He was right there in the boat with them. If the Son of God was with them, surely they would know they would get safely to the other side of the lake. AND, you and I have Jesus with us in every circumstance we encounter. He promised to never leave us. (Hebrews 13:5) So, what are we so afraid of? I want my answer to be “Forgive me, Lord, for fearing that anything is stronger than You or outside of Your control.”

~ Jesus asked: “Why did you doubt?” It’s easy to believe in God when we’re asking for our daily bread and for Him to bless our jobs and keep our families safe, but what about when God asks us to do what seems impossible? Jesus told Peter to come to Him when He was walking on the water. Peter did step out of the boat but “when he saw the wind, he was afraid and began to sink and cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:29-31) Are we still doubting Jesus after what we’ve seen Him accomplish in the Scriptures and in our lives? If Jesus can walk on the water, turn water into wine, and give us living water, surely He can keep us from the waters that threaten to rock our boat.

When we have questions – He always has answers. And, just like our little ones who ask and ask and ask – we have the answers for them and in time – the right time – they’ll know the answers. May we come to KNOW our beloved Father God, Who is not only the answer-giver, He’s the answer-maker and in due time, we’ll know His where, when, and how, our answers will come. In the meantime, we become children, like He asked us to and we trust Him because He’s a good, good Father. He is perfect in all of His ways – and perfect in His love and timing for us.

Even in Messy, Whiny Days – God is Right Here

I’m here at my office desk typing this blog. My morning ritual is in progress. Wake up (thank God, I woke up), head to my office, look over my blog written yesterday with a fresh perspective, make necessary changes and publish on Facebook, Instagram, and my two blog sites. I look at my desk cluttered with papers, coupons, bills to pay, mail I haven’t opened and garage sale supplies (yes, I’m having a garage sale with my community this weekend – what a work-out that is). Please, God, don’t judge me on messiness or whininess today!

I have a lot on my plate today – some God things, but mostly Me things. I hear a voice in my head telling me what I do doesn’t really matter. It’s small stuff compared to others who are juggling way more than I am. And, not having all the responsibility that comes with raising a family, I still feel a bit overwhelmed today with “to-do’s”, meetings to determine if I should take that new ministry position, this garage sale, my volunteer job, and other commitments. But, does it all matter anyway?

It’s likely the opposing team, the enemy of my heart, that is causing this inner turmoil AND this whininess. He tries to make me feel insignificant and under-qualified. He plays a number on me. I recall a couple of days ago when my granddaughter had to let her brother use her car. She said: “I sure miss my car!” I replied “I sure miss Papa!” It put things in perspective for her and reality to me. I really do miss him when I could use his arm around my shoulder, snuggle me close into him, cheer me on and remind me “I’m here for you!”

A bad movie is playing in my mind: “You should throw in the towel and coast. You’ve earned the rest. You should sit back and let God use others. What you do doesn't really matter anyway. You should stop right now". Then into this space of doubt and anxiety, I hear God’s voice telling me I’m not alone in this “life” thing. He’s right here with me, always, still saying, “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). And this too: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).

If we are showing up to serve our Maker, if we are seeking to follow Him, and there is someone or some-thing trying to push us away, then we can be sure it is not God. He is not saying we are disqualified. He’s not hollering “shape up or ship out.” His instruction isn’t, “Come back when you’ve got it together.” Instead His invitation is, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

As I take hold of this truth today, my shoulders relax, my breath slows. I settle into my comfy office chair that has become a place of simple, enlightening, beautiful grace. I start typing this blog again – perhaps the words are more for me than you. I push the POST button and trust that there is someone besides me who needs an encouraging word that helps them know, they are not alone either. That whatever happens in this day and whatever we say and do, we will still have God by our side and on our side at the end of the day, telling us "You are enough!"

Trusting God When It Just Doesn't Make Sense

I sincerely ask God to give me the words I should provide in my daily posts, and today, I was compelled to share these words. Maybe your heart is breaking because of a recent tragedy and you don’t know if you’ll survive the pain and heartbreak. I know some of you who are there right now. You are on my mind.

I heard a speaker share about when his dad was so ill, and in so much pain, that he really thought his dad would take his own life. He called his friend, a Christian psychologist, for advice. His friend said, "We pray that he won’t, but you may be right. He just might. And, it would be heart wrenching and painful for you. But, you will be okay, because you will still trust in God's sovereignty. You will bounce back because you will hold to your faith in God and you will live on with hope and determination. I know you. I know the storms you’ve come through. You will survive.”

That is so true for those of us who have met with a personal crisis, have experienced the loss of a loved one, who knows the tragedy of financial loss, who knows the pain caused from a divorce or broken relationship.....and we carried on. We made it through those times or, we are making it through those times right now. The speaker went on to say that his dad lived beyond that time and, in fact, his last days were filled with sweet times with his family and friends and trusting in God.

Yesterday, after our faith community had prayed months together for a dear 26-year old man who was battling cancer, I received the request for prayer for his beautiful wife (just married in June) and his parents, as his battle with cancer was over. As heart-breaking as that story is, without a doubt, I know there will be loved ones and friends who are already stepping up to give them support and comfort in these very tough times. There will be a healing process and they’ll be desperately looking for answers. But, with God’s abiding faith and love, they will make it. I know it because I know so many tragic events and I know those families survived and are thriving today.

When tragedy comes, we have an Anchor, and if we hold onto that Anchor, we will not go under. Yes, it hurts. But we will be okay because we still trust in our loving Father’s plans and purposes for our lives. We will bounce back because we will hold on to our faith in God and live on with hope and determination. Yes, we will carry on -- that is, those of us who know that this life is just a breath, compared to eternity. We will live another day and rejoice in our ability to stand strong in the face of overwhelming circumstances -- not in our own strength, but in His strength. "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Jesus said, “Never will I leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5) One of the most beautiful promises in the Bible is that God “causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him…” (Romans 8:28). On this side of eternity, we don’t always see how He takes the broken pieces and creates something beautiful with them, but we can have peace in knowing that He will redeem the tragedy somehow in His perfect timing. Perhaps some of the good He will bring is to use the pain to bring us closer to Him or bring us into a relationship with Him for the very first time. And at the end of each day, we will still proclaim: "God is good. All the time. And, all the time, God is good!"

LORD, Let Me Let YOU Lead Me!

I was having a sweet time of morning devotion when I looked at this mug that sits on my dining room table. I purchased this mug a while ago as a reminder WHO is supposed to be leading in this "romance" and journey of faith between God and I. This day, I got the message, loud and clear!

By nature, I gravitate toward being a leader and really have to pull my reins in to be a follower -- especially since I'm "single" now and must make many decisions on my own. But, even as a trustworthy leader, I should still be submitting to THE LEADER who promises to make my way successful when I allow Him to lead in EVERY way. How many times have I started out on a project or plan -- on my own -- and realized I was expecting God to make my way successful on the decisions I was making. I often take in this scripture verse regularly (like a prescription) "Trust in the Lord with all your heart (that's putting Him first) and lean not to your own understanding (that's putting me second), in all your ways acknowledge Him (that's putting Him first again) and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5,6 That scripture sets the record straight. In this relationship, He is the leader and I am the followers.

I get it. Our ultimate success comes from letting God lead us.

The truth is -- God IS here for us, so we don't have to go this journey alone -- trying to figure out what to do and when to do it. He's here to lead the way -- to fight the battles for us -- and to give us His grace for the journey

"I will never leave you or forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

Then He called the crowd to Him along with His disciples and said: "Whoever wants to be My disciple, must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me." Mark 8:3

What Do You Do When Bad News Breaks Your Heart?

When Your Heart is Breaking -- Then What?
I sincerely ask God to give me the words I should provide in my daily posts, and today, I was compelled to share these words. Just maybe, your heart is breaking because of a recent tragedy in your life and you don’t know if you’ll survive the pain and heartbreak.

I heard a speaker share about the time when his dad was so ill, and in so much pain, that he really thought his dad would take his own life. He called his friend, a Christian psychologist, for advice. His friend said, "We pray that he won’t, but you may be right. He just might. And, it would be heart wrenching and painful for you. But, you will be okay, because you will still trust in God's sovereignty, you will bounce back because you will hold to your faith in God and you will live on with hope and determination. I know you, and I know the storms you’ve come through, and you will survive.” To that, I say "WOW"! Wow -- because it is so true for those of us who have met with a personal crisis, have experienced the loss of a loved one, who know the tragedy of financial loss, who know the pain caused from a divorce or broken relationship.....and we carried on. We made it through those times or, we are making it through those times now. The speaker went on to say that his dad lived beyond that time and, in fact, his last days were of sweet times with his family and friends and trusting in God.

Yesterday, I received a request for prayer for a family in my Tulsa home church. The wife/mother passed away just after delivering her newborn daughter. As heart-breaking as that story is, without a doubt, I know there will be loved ones and friends who will step up to give them support and comfort in these very tough times. There will be a healing process and they’ll be desperately looking for answers. But, with God’s abiding faith and love, they will make it. I know it, because I know so many tragic events and I know how those families not only survived, but they are thriving today.

I think that psychologist’s words, though straight-forward, were the words this speaker needed to hear. And those words ring true for all of us. When tragedy comes, we have an Anchor, and if we hold onto that Anchor, we will not go under. Yes, it hurts. But we will be okay, because we still trust in our loving Father’s plans and purposes for our lives. We will bounce back because we will hold on to our faith in God and live on with hope and great determination. Yes, we will carry on -- that is, those of us who know that this life is just a breath, compared to eternity. We will live another day and rejoice in our ability to stand strong in the face of overwhelming circumstances -- not in our own strength, but in His strength. "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

We know that this isn’t the end of our story. It’s a chapter in our story, and there are other chapters to write after this one. Our Savior isn’t a cold-hearted cosmic judge disconnected from our pain. He’s a loving Father and Friend who is walking with us and even carrying us through life’s most difficult times. Jesus said, “Never will I leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

One of the most beautiful promises in the Bible is that God “causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him…” (Romans 8:28). On this side of eternity, we don’t always see how He takes the broken pieces and creates something beautiful with them, but we can have peace in knowing that He will redeem the tragedy somehow in His perfect timing. Perhaps some of the good He will bring in our tragedy is to use the pain to bring us closer to Him or bring us into a relationship with Him for the very first time. And the end of each day, we will still proclaim: "God is good. All the time. And, all the time, God is good!"

I Can Do It Myself

I remember when my son was just learning to walk. Already, before he was completely steady on his two little feet, he had already gained the "I can do it myself" mentality. He'd try to pull his hand away from our clutches. On one occasion, we were walking down a slight incline and I was holding tight to his little hand to protect and guide him, but he managed to pull out of my grip. In about two or three steps, he lost his balance and footing, fell and rolled down the hill. When he got to the bottom, lying on his back, he looked up at me and asked "Why did you do that?"

Isn't that just the way we are? Do you remember a time when you were doing your best, on your own, to make it? We want to do it "my way", but when we do, and the outcome is less successful than we expected, we look up to God and say, "Why did you do that?" The fact is, God doesn't ever let go of us, but we pull away and say "I can do it myself. I'll lead. You follow Me!" Oh that we would hold on tight to God's plans, wishes and desires for our lives When we hold His hands, we are assured of His provision, His protection, and His peace. "I will never leave you or forsake you." Hebrews 13:5
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified for the Lord your God goes before you. He will never leave you or forsake you." Dueteronomy 31:6

If we've prided ourselves on not needing anyone, or have just feared trusting another person because of disappointment or betrayal, God wants to more than make up for our disappointment in someone else by showing us, in His Word, that He's the most reliable One we could ever depend on.

God is the One who protects us and keeps us safe. The Psalmist tells us: "I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8.

Whether it's protecting us, providing for us, or helping us to work out our troubles, God can be trusted to care for His own. I never want to be so independent, that I forget Who is my everything. My dependence is on Him. So, let's grab hold tight to his loving hands and arms. He assures us that He'll help to make our rough places smooth and our winding places straight! Back to where I started, my little guy got a little upset because "he let go", but look at what God says to us even when we let go of His grasp: Psalms 121:2,3 assures us "My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth He will not let your foot slip -- He who watches over you, will not slumber."