Am I Worthy?

Well, that’s a loaded question, but with a reassuring and definite answer. Yes, you and I are worthy!

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.”

Matthew 10:30-31

“And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid: you are worth more than many sparrows.”

I’m pretty sure that at some point, or even at many points in life, every single person has wondered, “Am I worthy? Am I good enough? Do I deserve this good gift or experience? Is there something wrong with me?”, or we might have asked a multitude of similar questions. Do we feel inadequate or ashamed because of our past way of life, mistakes or bad judgement calls? Do we feel at fault because we’ve been bullied, overlooked, passed over for others with apparently more to offer, abused in any way (physically, mentally or emotionally), or even because we didn’t do very well at school? Have we ourselves treated people badly?

I have asked every one of those questions, and experienced everything referred to, and then some! When a person feels broken, whether in a small or big way, we react & act differently. Some people choose to bury their feelings and just get on somewhat bravely, while some use their experiences as an excuse for bad behaviour and to gain sympathy. If I’m honest, I think my personal experiences made me less compassionate toward people in some ways, less tolerant; more pragmatic & realistic. Chats with friends over recent months, has led me to question and rethink my attitude and actions when encountering difficult or painful situations. How would Jesus react and act? What do I need to work on?

In John 4, we learn about the encounter between Jesus and a Samaritan woman. The Samaritan woman had been cast out, her life was in turmoil and she felt broken; she felt ashamed and inadequate. Sound familiar? Jesus did not judge her or her circumstances. Bearing in mind that Jews were not supposed to associate with Samaritans, Jesus spoke gently and kindly to her, inadvertently helping to mend this emotionally broken woman. He looked at her through the eyes of His Heavenly Father; our Heavenly Father! Jesus made the Samaritan woman feel worthy, good enough, deserving, because that is how God sees each one of us. We are worthy because, by God’s grace, we are children of God!

“Your worth is not based on what people think of you or how they treat you. It is determined by who God says that you are.” ~ Joyce Meyer

Prayer: Thank you Heavenly Father, that despite my flaws and unworthiness, to you, I am worthy! Please help me to be gentle and more compassionate in my relationships with others. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

Am I Blinkered?

Deuteronomy 15:10

“Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

What does it mean to be blinkered? It is, apparently, having or showing a narrow or limited outlook; a subjective and limited viewpoint or perception. Not something I really thought about, until recently! I kept going back to a conversation, because it made me think about how I view God, His gifts, and my relationship with Him. Do I really see and understand what He does for me, and why? Why do I/we (my family) do the things we do? Are we blinkered (narrow-minded) in our service to God, in our view of others?

We’ve had a rather eventful couple of years. The biggest ‘event’ was the open-heart surgery our son had last year. I can honestly say that we all clung to God, our faith in Him and His plans throughout that time; His choice of procedure and medical staff, etc. By His grace, our son’s recovery time was nothing short of miraculous! We were so thankful for the love and support of family, friends and our church family. God placed specific people in our lives to help at that time. We wanted to express our gratitude.

After much prayer and planning, and only with the assurance of His blessing and providence, we sent invites to our celebration of thanks. Our family culture has always been to provide more than enough to share in what is on the table, in gratitude for God’s abundance to us. My husband’s family has always done the same. It’s not a cultural thing. We invited people who had been there for us, though in different ways.

For this celebration, God’s provision was beyond even what we thought we could do. He knew our hearts, and that the glory was His! I was told recently that we clearly have a gift of hospitality, but we always provide too much food. Is that the view that was taken away by our guests? The amount of food? It was not done to impress! Throughout our years of giving and sharing, had anyone ever seen past our gestures, and instead, felt God’s love through our thanks and appreciation being shown for His glory?

I spent a lot of time wondering if we should stop doing what we do as a family; stop giving and being hospitable. I prayed a lot about how it made me feel. There’s still more praying to be done! This experience has taught me to question my thoughts and actions; how I view things, to rely only on God’s word and not the opinions of people. It’s taught me to view God’s daily provision what it really is, a gift of love. It’s taught us that we need to continue giving, in thanks to God, to continue to share His love, for His glory!

“Giving is true having.” ~ Charles Spurgeon

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please open my eyes that I may see past the things and opinions of this world. Open my eyes, mind and heart, that I may see people and situations as you want me to see them, that I may not be blinkered. Give me the courage to shine the light of Jesus at all times, no matter how hard or painful, for Your glory! Amen.

Am I Focusing On Jesus?

Deuteronomy 31:6

“for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

I was given a task; something I’d never done before, so I had absolutely no experience. I felt way out of my comfort zone, and my instinct was to refuse. We sat discussing the task, and all that kept going around in my mind was “I can’t”, "Why me?" My next thought was to ask myself, “Is God saying something to me? What if I miss a lesson or blessing? What if I don’t produce what has been asked of me?” I had to try!

Learning something new can sometimes feel overwhelming, and daunting. To be totally honest, I felt sick to my stomach; I had many almost sleepless nights with a million thoughts running through my head, and exhausting days. For me, the first and most important step was to be willing, and to remember that God promised to never leave us nor forsake us; His grace would be sufficient for us!

Keeping Jesus as the reason & focus for decisions, actions and what we say helps. It’s a bit like driving; if we don’t focus on what’s ahead, or where we want to go, and get too distracted by things in our peripheral vision, it could very well end in disaster. The same applies in our daily lives.

Do we have an idea of where we want to be, or what direction we want to head in? Are we focused on what we need to do to get there, how to plan our time, or are we too distracted by the daily norms; family, chores, friends, TV, etc.? What is God’s plan for me (you)? Do we need to re-arrange things in our lives, or sacrifice anything, in order to focus on Jesus, and to be in alignment with His plans for us?

Learning to focus is an entire lesson in itself and will require the willingness to persevere; it can be tough, but we can do it! Parents & teachers support children in their lifetime of learning and encourage them to persevere. Our loving and gentle Heavenly Father (divine parent) does the same for us, throughout every step of the way, providing the ‘maps’ and tools we will need, more so during the bumpiest, darkest, and most difficult times in our journey. When I struggle to focus on Jesus, or cope with the goings on in my life, I close my eyes, imagine Jesus and all He’s done for me; I sing or recite the following words to help me regain focus. It really helps, I promise!

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace”.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please help me to focus on Jesus, in all I do and say. Thank you for promising to always be there for me, to provide everything I need. Grant me your courage to face each new lesson Lord. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Misunderstood?

Deuteronomy 15:10

“Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

Being misunderstood can be exhausting. Recently, I kept going back to a conversation, because it made me think about how I and others view God, His gifts, and my relationship with Him. Do I really see and understand what He does for me, and why? Why do I do the things I do? Why does my family make the choices that we make? How do others understand our service to God?

After much prayer and planning, and only with the assurance of His blessing and providence, we sent invitations to our celebration of thanks. Our family culture has always been to provide more than enough to share in what is on the table, in gratitude for God’s abundance to us. My husband’s family has always done the same. We invited people who had been there for us, in many different ways.

We asked God to provide for this celebration of what He has done, and God was good, beyond anything we could have done ourselves. He knew our hearts, and that the glory was His! Even so, when I was told recently that we, as a family, have a gift of hospitality but we always provide too much food, I worried that others might think we provide to impress others. All I hope to do is demonstrate God’s love to others and show that we want to give Him the glory for His goodness.

I even wondered if we should stop doing what we do as a family; stop giving and being hospitable. I prayed a lot about how it made me feel. There’s still more praying to be done! This experience has taught me to question my thoughts and actions, to think about how I view things, and to rely only on God’s word and not the opinions of others. It’s taught me to view God’s daily provision what it really is, a gift of love. It’s taught us that we need to continue giving out of thanks to God, to continue to share His love, for His glory!

“Giving is true having.” ~ Charles Spurgeon

What Condenmation?

John 3:16-17

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”

Romans 8:1

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Lamentations 3:22-23

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

I must have read Ephesians 4 at least 20 times in the last couple of weeks. I was advised to read it and to be focused on what it was saying to me. I couldn’t wait to get home and start. I was apprehensive, and very excited to learn more about what God had to say.

When I read it the first time, I felt so discouraged. I asked my husband, “Why have I been asked to read this specifically? Am I a bad person, who’s being told that I’m not humble, gentle, patient, kind, compassionate; not living in unity and peace as God instructs? Was I asked to read it as a polite way of telling me what was wrong with me and what I needed to change?” OK, I make a lot of mistakes in life, but this felt harsh, somewhat condemning. I prayed, and prayed, asking God to show me what He was saying, not how I read into it. I was, and still am desperate to understand His scriptures, to do His will and be in alignment with His plans for me.

The more I prayed and asked the Holy Spirit to reveal His word, the less condemning it felt. I still don’t understand it fully, but our gentle, Heavenly Father reminded me that He sent His one and only precious son to die on the cross for me, and you, for our sins, and for our salvation! And then, Romans 8:1 came to mind, followed by something very special that our minister said to us as a church, and he said it again a couple of months later. “God will meet you right where you are!” I felt hopeful, not condemned; glad I was asked to read it, glad for what it was teaching me.

I will never forget those words; I cling to them when things often feel tough. Be assured that despite our past, and our current mistakes, God will come down to meet us, right where we are, and gently guide us as we learn to live according to His word. He is a present help, now and always. God loves us and is ever faithful!

“Once we understand how God sees us through Christ, we can refrain from caring what people think about us and feeling bad about ourselves. We don’t have to be addicted to their approval, because we already have God’s.” ~ Joyce Meyer

Prayer: Heavenly Father, as I read your word each day, please teach me to understand it, and live it as you want me to. Thank you that life with you is only filled with love and nurturing, not condemnation. Help me as I put aside my former way of life,

to live in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Whose Battle Is It?

2 Chronicles 20:15
“Do not be afraid or discouraged… For the battle is not yours but God’s.”

Exodus 14:14
“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

Ephesians 6:10-11
”Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full amour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

Fire Fighters have many roles within the fire and rescue service and community, but their primary roles are to attend road traffic collisions, and to obviously, fight fires. Some situations or incidents are more difficult to deal with than others. Fires are destructive, and unforgiving. Fire fighters not only fight a fire, they battle other elements like smoke, heat, lack of oxygen, wind, etc. that seek to spread and destroy, and sometimes they deal with various traumas, including the loss of life. At the end of an incident, it can leave them feeling physically and mentally exhausted, even deflated, questioning their decisions, actions, and reactions.

We too face difficult situations and people; situations and people that try to sap everything out of us, cause us to falter. For me personally, various situations in my life have felt increasingly difficult to deal with, despite much prayer. At times, my feelings have overwhelmed me; I have felt like I’m fighting battles, leaving me feeling beaten, alone, totally drained, exhausted, with nothing left to give.

The Lord reminded me that the situations and people I’ve been up against are spiritual battles, and they are not mine or yours to fight. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

The next time you feel like you can’t deal with a situation, person or people, feel like you’re fighting a battle that is beating you, put on the armour of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), stand firm, and remember these five crucial words, “The battle is the Lord’s!”

“Stand firm in the Lord. Stand firm and let Him fight your battle.
Do not try to fight alone.” ~ Francine Rivers

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to let go, and let you fight the battles for me. Give me the courage to stand firm in you and your ways, to rest in you. Amen.

Who's Your Best Friend?

John 15:13-14

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.”

Matthew 28:20
“ And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 11:28-29

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Throughout my life, I have heard people say that they have lots of friends; a few have said that they have no friends. The latter declaration would always make me feel sad. It has led me to question myself, especially in recent times. “What kind of friend am I in the eyes of others?” “What do I expect from friendships?” I would say that I know a lot of people, or have many acquaintances, but who do I consider a true friend, and why?

I’m sure we all try our best to be a good friend to others. We do anything we know how to in order to show we care. We act on what we know about and can see, if we can; after all we are their friend! What if people act against us in any way? What if we feel betrayed by the people we trust? What do we do then? Whom do we turn to? Jesus, always Jesus!

Jesus is our true and ultimate best friend. We can trust Jesus without question and put all our faith in Him! Jesus gave his life on the cross for you, and me, so that all our sins may be forgiven; past, present, and future! We can talk to Him anytime, day or night. We can talk to Jesus with joy, in deep sadness, and even in anger or frustration. Jesus will never do anything to hurt us. Jesus is totally trustworthy. Jesus came down to experience everything we experience; love, kindness, anger, betrayal, persecution, sadness, disappointment, confusion, etc., that He may understand our every emotion. Jesus is gentle, kind, compassionate and forgiving. Jesus doesn’t only tell us what we want to hear or show us what we want to see. He corrects us because He loves us! Jesus is a friend like no other. His friendship is real; filled with understanding and grace. Talk to Jesus!

What a friend we have in Jesus

All our sins and griefs to bear

And what a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer

Oh, what peace we often forfeit

Oh, what needless pain we bear

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer.

Prayer: Thank you Jesus that you are my trusted friend. Help me to be a humble, kind, and trusted friend to others, in good times and through adversity. Amen.

Are You Afriad?

Isaiah 41:10

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Joshua 1:9

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Psalm 23:4

“Even though I walk through the valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

We all feel fearful about one thing or another at some point in our lives. I most definitely have, on countless occasions. Fear can be healthy, if it encourages us to be cautious, avoid danger and preserve life. It can also be unhealthy, if it takes over our mind and personality. Fear transcends differently in each person, and in different situations, but is overcome by God’s love for us.

I have had several operations for various things over the decades. Some have been with a local anaesthetic, and quite a few under general anaesthetic. I don’t remember feeling fearful about any of the operations, except one! I felt anxious because I was having a lump removed from a glandular area of my groin, and fearful at the possibility that it might be malignant. I was in the operating theatre, surrounded by several medical staff and the surgeon. I was instructed to count backwards from ten as they administered the anaesthetic. Instead, to my own surprise, I started singing (rather loudly), ‘Turn your eyes upon Jesus’. I have no idea where I got to in the song, but at least some of them, if not all, must have thought that I was completely bonkers! I felt mortified by that memory when I awoke but look back now in amusement. Oh, to have been a fly on the wall that day!

The point is this; I felt at peace, not filled with fear, in that situation once I included Jesus in it. My husband fears going to the dentist, I get anxious around lots of people, but try hard not to show it, and have a terrible fear of heights. We all feel anxious or fear many things; rejection, failure, finances, people, flying, preaching, clowns, exams; we fear animals and some fear death. Fear says: “Avoid.” Faith says: “Confront.” (Selwyn Hughes).

If we put our trust and faith in Jesus, we have the assurance that we can move toward our fears and He will help us get through anything. I hope the words of this song will help you, as they have helped me. Try it, and picture Jesus!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of the earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.

Prayer: Thank you Heavenly Father that I need not fear anything for you are with me, and within me. Amen.

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