Monday Morning Encouragement -- Shine the Light

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Dear Friends,

My heart is hurting for the many people suffering from the devastation of Hurricane Helene. Many homes have been lost, injuries have been sustained, and in some cases lives have been lost. At the time of this writing the number of casualties has been listed at nearly 100, though many more are missing. For any of you who have been affected personally, please know that you and all those involved have my prayers. 

For those of us not affected, there is a practical way we can help. We can be the instruments of God's mercy and grace by making a charitable contribution for disaster relief assistance. Personally, I have made a donation to Samaritan's Purse, which I believe is a wonderful organization that makes excellent use of the resources God provides, and ministers in Jesus' name. If you would like to make a donation of any amount to Samaritan's Purse disaster relief, here is the link:

Samaritan's Purse Starts Five-Site Response to Hurricane Helene

Whether we are financially able to give or not, we can pray. God bless you.

Monday Morning Encouragement -- Our Faithful God

 

"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." Isaiah 46:4

Today's scripture reminds us that God's faithfulness never wanes. He never grows tired of us. He never turns away from us. He never gives up on us. He will always "carry" us, always "sustain" us, always "rescue" us. This is a wonderful promise, and I believe the longer we live in His presence the more convinced we become of its truthfulness.

I am now an elder with gray hair. I've lived through difficult times and I'm more convinced today than I was 40 years ago that God is and always will be faithful to me. I know it because His words says so, and I know it from experience. He has never failed me. Not once. This promise is for all who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ. He is the Faithful One. He came to earth with one mission, and He fulfilled it perfectly. He who bore our sins on the cross is faithful!

I came across a quote from the late great preacher J. Vernon McGee that beautifully illustrates my point:

"As a young preacher, I spoke a great deal about standing for the Lord and about suffering. I used to go to hospitals and pat people on the hand and pray with them. I would tell them that the Lord would be with them. At that time I was a professional preacher, saying what I did not know to be true from my own experience, although I believed it. But the day came when I went into the hospital myself. Another preacher came in and prayed with me. When he started to go, I said to him, 'I’ve done the same thing you have done. I’ve been here, and I have told people that God would be with them. Now you are going to walk out of here, but I am staying, and I will find out if it is a theory or if what I have been telling people is true.' Friend, I found out it is true. Now it is no longer a mere theory. I know it by the fact that the Word of God says it and by the fact that I have experienced it. I don’t argue with people about these things any more because there are certain things I know. I would never argue with you about whether honey is sweet or not. If you don’t think it is sweet, that is your business. I had some this morning for breakfast, and I know it is sweet. That is the knowledge that comes from experience."

Today's music video Faithful One by Brian Doerksen is a gentle praise song to our "Rock", "Our Anchor". A reminder of God's faithfulness.

I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.

Monday Morning Encouragement -- The Word of God, Our Sure Evidence

 

"So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts." 2 Peter 1:19

Peter had walked side by side with Christ for three years. He had been on the mount with Him and witnessed the transfiguration. He had seen the miracles Jesus performed and ate breakfast with Him after His resurrection. Yet with all this evidence of the truth, Peter points to scripture -- the "prophetic word" -- as the more sure evidence. All the prophecies -- and there are over 300 of them - are fulfilled in Christ.

Monday Morning Encouragement -- Persevere

 

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing." 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Dr. David Jeremiah recounts the following:

"In 1896, an American track and field athlete named James Connolly ascended the victor’s podium at the first modern Olympic games. He was the first Olympic champion in 1,400 years. Connolly embodied the Olympic motto, 'Faster, Higher, Stronger.' That’s a good slogan for the Christian life too."

Monday Morning Encouragement -- Trust With All Your Heart

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

This past week an acquaintance wrote to me, "I'm so very thankful for everything in my life, including the 'set backs' as they may be protecting me from something worse." Here is a prime example of a woman living out Solomon's admonition in today's Bible verse. Trusting in the Lord with all her heart, even when things don't go as planned. 

Trusting God in this way brings freedom. Freedom from fear and anxiety. Freedom from trying to micro manage our lives, which in my opinion (and experience) is exhausting. Charles Bridges writes: “This trust is not the mere cold assent of enlightened judgment. It is trust…with all your heart. It is a childlike, unwavering confidence in our Father’s well-proved wisdom, faithfulness, and love.”

Our Heavenly Father loves us, and He never intends anything but good for His children. We may not understand the process He ordains to accomplish His will, but we must trust His motives. They are always pure.

I like what David Gruzik has to say about Proverbs 3:5-6.

"When we:

· Decide to put our trust in the LORD.

· Decide to not trust in our own understanding, but give attention and priority to God’s revealed word.

· Decide to acknowledge and honor God in all that we do.

When we do those things, we can trust that God will direct our paths. We can go forward in peace, believing that through His word, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, through the counsel of others, through godly common sense, and through life circumstances, God will direct our paths. We will walk along our way of life and come to see that we have been on the path God intended all along."

Today's music video Lord, I Trust You by Selah is a song of encouragement to trust God in the worst of circumstances, knowing that He is with us every step of the way.

I  love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.

Monday Morning Encouragement -- God's Faithfulness to Daniel

 

"To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for You have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king's matter.” Daniel 2:23

The life of Daniel is a testimony to his faithfulness to God. But more importantly, it is a testimony to God's faithfulness to Daniel. Not once did God fail Daniel. It was the Lord who gave Daniel the gift of interpreting dreams, and Daniel was very much aware of that fact. When he was asked to interpret the king's dream, he sought the Lord for the answer. And when God gave him the answer and he in turn gave it to the king, Daniel glorified God by giving Him the credit for the interpretation. 

Monday Morning Encouragement -- Encourage the Younger Generation

"One generation shall commend Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts." Psalm 145:4

Last week I had the privilege of overhearing a conversation between two of my co-workers. One of them, a young Christian woman, was talking to the other, a young man, about God. She was witnessing to him as they worked side by side. He had lots of questions and it was clear to me that he is a skeptic. Nevertheless, she patiently shared her faith with gentleness and respect.

Monday Morning Encouragement -- He Who Is In You

 

"Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than He who is in the world."    

1 John 4:4

Recently a friend and I had a conversation about the current state of the world. Wars and rumors of wars, the decline of morals, lawlessness, and so on. She pointed to history and submitted that these things are not new; that there have always been times just as bad as what we are facing now.

I don't entirely disagree. However, we have never had the kind of technology such as what we have now. And while this technology can certainly be used for good, there is just as much evil that has come through it. Think of how the internet alone has negatively influenced our culture. Pornography being just one example.

In light of the challenges that we are facing, we need to remember that we Christians have within us a strength unlike anything the enemy possesses. We serve the Living God whose Holy Spirit dwells within us. He empowers us. He equips us. He provides wisdom and encouragement to stand strong in the midst of adversity. 

This is not the time to shrink back in despondency. This is the time to move forward in faith and claim the victory that has already been won through the precious blood of Christ. We are overcomers because He has already overcome the world for us! Stand strong in this truth and never back down!

Today's music video Greater Is He by Blanca is one I think you'll enjoy. Her music is combined with a moving storyline that illustrates the power of our God. He is able!

I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.

Monday Morning Encouragement -- The Great Encourager

"Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken." Psalm 55:22

Have you ever had times in your life when you questioned if you were hearing God correctly? You've set your feet on a path that you believe is the one God has chosen for you, but then somewhere down the road the scenery looks unfamiliar and you wonder if you misread God's road map. The burden of doubt presses down on your shoulders and you think "Maybe this isn't where God wants me to be after all. Maybe I'm supposed to be doing something else." 

I remember clearly a time in my life when this happened, and I fretted and stewed and hoped that very soon God would give me a sign that showed me I was in the right place. How foolish I was! Our Heavenly Father is compassionate and loving and kind. He wants us to immediately come to Him when we're discouraged and ask Him for the encouragement we need. When we are weak, He is strong!

It took a few days for me to remember this, and once I did I prayed, "Lord, would you please encourage me in this?" And you know what? He did. He showered me with encouragement. Through an email I received, a phone call from an out-of-state friend, and the words of a friend nearby the Lord spoke right to my discouraged heart and assured me that I was right where He wanted me, doing just what He wanted me to do. 

Our enemy Satan wants to keep us from taking our burdens -- whatever they are -- to the Lord. He doesn't want us to depend on God, and to give Him the glory. But let's not let him do that. Let's remember verses like Psalm 55:22 and cast our burdens upon the Lord. He's the Great Encourager!

Today's music video Strong by Anne Wilson points us to the One who makes us strong when we are weak: Jesus!

I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.

Monday Morning Encouragement -- The Best Book of All

 

"The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body." Ecclesiastes 12:11-12

There are some non-fiction books on my shelf, and many more on the shelves of bookstores and the public library that I will never have time to read. They are not divinely inspired. In fact, there are some authors who, after they have written a certain work, comment years later that they wrote in error. 

Monday Morning Encouragement -- Building On The Rock

 

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock." Matthew 7:24

Back in the late 90's a class-action lawsuit was brought against a builder in the town where I lived. About 15 years prior he had developed a neighborhood with lovely homes. Unfortunately, in order to cut corners, the homes were built on  faulty foundations, and over a few short years the foundations failed and the homes were literally caving in. Imagine the horror of the homeowners when they realized all their hard-earned money had gone into a house that now was worthless.

Any good engineer will tell you that when considering the purchase of a home, the condition of the foundation is the most important aspect. "The foundation of a house is crucial . . . serving as the bedrock upon which the entire structure stands. It provides stability, ensuring that the house remains upright and secure, even under adverse conditions such as strong winds, earthquakes or heavy rainfall." (https://www.forbes.com)

The foundation of our spiritual lives is even more important than the physical foundations of our houses.  Jesus made this clear in Matthew 7 when he compared the two men who built homes: the wise man built his home on rock, the foolish man built his home on sand. We know the outcome of each. The wise man's house built on rock stood firm when "the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on the house." But the foolish man's house built on sand fell when the floods came, and the winds blew, and "great was the fall of it." 

The rock on which we stand must be Jesus. His words are the words we must take to heart and to which we must be obedient if we want to stand firm in the storms of life. The foundation the world offers us is as shifting sand. Trusting in man-made institutions and getting our security from our bank account balance is futile. These things can change with the wind, but Jesus is forever the same! 

"Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock." Isaiah 26:4. 

Today's music video The Solid Rock (My Hope is Built) is a modern arrangement of an old hymn by Nathan Drake. I'm sure it will be familiar to many of you.

I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.