The Winds of Faith

Posted on July 24, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.      Luke 2:8-9 (WEB)

I know it is July but I recently noticed several stores having “Christmas in July” sales so I thought I would read the Christmas Story again today. And I found a ‘gold nugget’ from God!

Here are the shepherds out in the field, in the middle of the night, and they are watching sheep. I don’t know a lot about sheep but I would think that the night shift in the life of a shepherd would be dull. Shepherds want the night to be dull! Any disturbance is going to involve carnivorous animals and/or poachers! The disturbance that night was like nothing they could have imagined!

“Change always brings fear before it brings faith.” (Max Lucado, God Came Near, ISBN: 0849944546)

TRUE! When God is leading me into a deeper level of faith, it is going to be characterized by change. Faith does not grow in my comfort zone! Faith grows in the garden of adversity that is found on the craggy slope of my fear. It is the moment when I wonder, “Where are You, God??!” There is a a few minutes or a few hours or a few days when I keep looking at myself and do not turn to God and the testimony of His Word or His actions in the lives of others – in my own life! Even in the glory of the Lord, the shepherds are terrified. Or maybe it is because of the glory that they are afraid.

The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. vv. 10-11 (WEB)

As I turn to the Lord and see His glory, it is important that I listen to God’s messengers and not – the other guy who will try to whisper hateful, destructive garbage into my ear. “Do not be afraid!” God wants to give me Good News! God wants me to draw closer to Jesus and be the disciple that He has envisioned me to be! Jesus said that He wants me to have a full (or abundant) life. (John 10:10) What does that mean to God? What does it mean to me? The answer to that comes as I spend time with God listening! Listening to God but also listening to what He has planted in my heart.

In faith I find the assurance about what I am hoping for; even those things I have not yet seen.      Hebrews 11:1 (my paraphrase)

Is the wind of change – I mean, faith – blowing through your life today??!

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My Best Friend

Posted on July 23, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

“This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn’t know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you.”        John 15:12-15 (WEB, my emphasis)

It is a wonderful (that word does not really express my heart but I’ll use it) – a wonderful place in my life that I know that I am God’s friend and He is my friend! For many years, our relationship would have been described as acquaintances. Friendship means both parties not only want to be friends but are willing to put forth the effort it takes to make and keep the friendship. God’s effort was done when Jesus made the perfect sacrifice that covered all my sins. My effort is a daily choice to be His friend and live with Him as He lives with me. It is a life that is marked with hope, forgiveness, and love.

Do you know someone who speaks about or lives their life in hopelessness? Do they say they do not know how to forgive someone who has hurt or wronged them terribly? Maybe they do not know how to forgive themselves? Do you know someone who is desperately looking for love? Have you offered them Jesus? How long are we going to allow them to suffer?

There are as many ways to show Jesus to someone as there are – commercials for cell phones! I just have to be willing and loving!

Live my life as Jesus’ ambassador. Walk out my life in the spirit and truth of who Jesus is. That means that anyone who meets me – meets Jesus’ kindness, gentleness, compassion, and forgiveness. I am what I show myself to be. Not perfect – just forgiven! This is the primary way to share Jesus with the world and we have no excuse not to do it! However, I do not believe it is the only way. People are going to ask, “How do you survive ____?” or “You never seem to get frustrated in this job. How do you do that?” A shrug or suggestion to take up palates is taking the easy way out and avoiding giving God the first credit for your life!

Share briefly how God has changed how you live or think. Everyone should have a three point, brief story to share about 1) how I was, 2) what happened/when I decided to make a change, and 3) how Jesus helped me to where I am now. It is not a sermon. It is a brief way to share that Jesus and your relationship with Him has made the difference that they see. You are not convincing them – you are sharing Who has changed you!

Suggest they might want to listen or read something about Jesus that has helped you. Maybe you have recently read a Max Lucado book or listened to a CD that you could suggest. I have discovered a website that is awesome for someone who maybe did know Jesus but has let their relationship slide away or they think Jesus could not possibly forgive them for what they have done. It is Prodigals Only. It is Jesus in the 21st century – inviting the prodigal home!

“I call you friends…” Come meet my best friend, Jesus. You’ll like Him.

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God’s Love – Stand in it!

Posted on July 22, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.       1 Peter 5:12 (NIV)

In my reading of Peter, he certainly seems very driven; someone who did not speak gently or even politely. And yet here Peter says that he needed Silas’ help to to write. Peter was a fisherman and in those days may not have had much of an opportunity to receive education. He may have needed Silas to write so that what he was hearing in his spirit or feeling in his heart could be put into language that is readily available and understandable.

Unlike Paul, Peter’s letters were more to the point and matter of fact. In this one verse, Peter sums it up: “I wrote you a few words to encourage you and as a testimony to the truth of God’s love. STAND FIRM in that LOVE!”

My heart is “strangely warmed” as John Wesley said, by Peter’s words. God’s love is a fact. It is a fact that I can stand in when the winds of adversity blow! It is a fact that I can stand in when no one else brings their love my way without conditions! It is a fact that I can stand on when I have nothing else on which to stand. If I fell I have lost everything – I am still loved by God.

God’s love is a burst of encouragement in a draining world. I have spoken about how I have noticed the stars and the clouds and their beauty. God’s love is in those clouds and stars. I have stood and watched in awe as thousands of gallons of water rush over Niagara Falls and thought what it must have been like for those first Indians. They were walking through the trees wondering what was the sound that seem to grow into a louder roar. Then they followed a large river until – they beheld those magnificent falls. They must have fallen down on their faces in fear and awe! Thousands of years later, I too stood there and wept, not in fear, but in wonder of my Creator who made those Falls just for the good pleasure of His children! God who made the falls so great can still hold them in His hand! And He can also hold my heart ever so gently in His hand. Neither His power nor His gentleness has no end!

How GREAT is our Lord and WORTHY to be praise! Thank You, Lord, for Your extravagant, unsurpassed love! Thank You that You care for me in every minute, even when I am asleep or any other time that I am unaware. Thank You, Lord. Thank You! I will STAND today in Your Love! May the words that I speak and the thoughts that keep today – be pleasing to You, in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

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More of God’s Gifts

Posted on July 21, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and the extract of the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is your servant warned. In keeping them there is great reward.
Who can discern his errors? Forgive me from hidden errors.
Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I will be upright. I will be blameless and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight,
Yahweh, my rock, and my redeemer.                Psalm 19:10-14 (WEB)
Yesterday I studied the first 9 verses of this psalm and learned more about how much God loves and cares about me. He desires so much for me to be in a close relationship with Him that He teaches me through His many faceted ways. I spent some time yesterday looking at clouds and then the stars last night and thought some more about God’s magnificence.
The psalmist tells me that God’s commands, ordinances, precepts, laws, and statues are better than gold! That in their wisdom I am warned; I am guided in Jesus’ path that leads to more than I could ask or imagine! I do not start out to drive somewhere I have never been without first reading the directions, do I? Then spending time studying and learning God’s way seems like wisdom to me!
Then the psalmist asks a pointed, right-on-the-point question: Who knows his/her own errors? I thought it was interesting that the question did not use the word ‘sins’ but said ‘errors’. It occurs to me that to be able to know my errors is to have an opportunity for correction that will come before sin! God’s ways will help me to avoid the sin that can so easily tangle me up! (Hebrews 12) And when my ‘error’ comes because I ignored the warnings or just plain take a wrong turn – I am reminded that God’s mercy, His forgiveness, is there. It has no limitation. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, there is no ‘error’; there is no ‘sin’ that God will not forgive. Am I unworthy of such love? Well, duh. Again, it is the gift of Jesus, my Savior, that tilts the scales.
The last verse is familiar. It is one that I have repeated on many occasions. I will be saying it more often. I have a new perspective on what the words means to me.
“Lord, may Your words that I think about and speak be pleasing to You because I speak and think of them often. In the midst of whatever storm or rocky path that I navigate, You and You alone, are my Rock and my Redeemer. Thank You, Lord, for these gifts. It is in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
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Posted on July 20, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

Learning More About God
The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork.
Day after day they pour forth speech, and night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
Their voice has gone out through all the earth, their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his room,
like a strong man rejoicing to run his course.
His going forth is from the end of the heavens, his circuit to its ends;
There is nothing hidden from its heat.
Yahweh’s law is perfect, restoring the soul. Yahweh’s testimony is sure, making wise the simple.
Yahweh’s precepts are right, rejoicing the heart. Yahweh’s commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring forever. Yahweh’s ordinances are true, and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and the extract of the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is your servant warned. In keeping them there is great reward.
Psalm 19:1-11 (WEB)

I had to work this past weekend and during a slow time I went to the online Bible (www.ebible.org) and read this psalm. I am not gifted to write poetry but, praise God, I can appreciate it!

If you haven’t taken time to sit outside and look at the sky, I hope you will take some time this week and do so. Wherever you live, the beauty of the night sky with the stars winking against the dark expanse is time in a beautiful sanctuary uniquely created each evening by our Lord. And then there is the daylight when clouds move softly through or quickly darken as a storm moves in. Even the flash and crack of thunder and lightening are magnificent in their power. I enjoy a storm as I watch through the window in the safety of my home.

Taking the time to look and marvel at the creation of God is a time of worship and encouragement. It affirms to me the reality and supremacy of my Creator and God. I connect to the presence of God and arrive at a new level of awareness that He is Elohim, mighty God, and yet knows me as His child.

The writer of this psalm is not just looking at the beauty. The writer is also celebrating the law, statues, precepts, commands, and ordinances of our God. Now what do all of those words mean? There are books written about that! And for me, when all is written and said, it matters what God says to me about those words and how that will affect the life He has for me to live. So here is what I have learned:

– God’s Law – to the Jews, the Torah, teaches, reviving my life in Him. It is the parental side of God trying to teach me right from wrong.

– God’s statues – They are His testimony to who and what He is. They are to be trusted and give wisdom to anyone who has ears to hear.

– God’s precepts – The principles that I can learn as God teaches me. His principles are written on my heart.

– God’s commands – These are the “mitzvahs”, the good deeds of my Lord. They are the light in a dark world; even a revelation.

– God’s ordinances – God’s judgment is always just. God has no prejudice or bias. God is the only judge.

Depending on the translation you read, different words are used in the verses we have meditated on today. But all translations use five different words to describe these God-words. As I read and spoke with Henry about the Hebrew words that the words tried to describe in their translation, I understood that finite (limiting) words will never be able to completely describe our infinite God! However limiting, I came away from this psalm with new views and felt closer to my God. And that is what I believe God wants for me – to be closer to Him.

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The Kingdom of God is Near

Posted on July 17, 2009 by Henry Neufeld

14Now after John had been arrested, Jesus went to Galilee and proclaimed the gospel about the kingdom of God. 15He said, “The time is now! The kingdom of God is near! Repent, and keep believing the gospel!” — Mark 1:14-15 (ISV)

Jody asked me to write a devotional today, and suggested I might say a few words about the kingdom of God.  She has been looking at it from a number of angles throughout the week.

So I look at this proclamation of the kingdom.  I like the gospel of Mark because it doesn’t waste any time getting to the point.  That’s something I don’t do well at all.  I like to ramble, just as I’m doing right now!

I think we have a problem hearing what Jesus says here in modern America because our world is so much different.  We think primarily of rights, power that derives from the people, and individual success.  The idea of a kingdom is truly incomprehensible to many of us.

But the people to whom Jesus spoke lived in a very different world.  Rome did not rule by consent of the governed.  Revolts against Rome generally had nothing to do with giving power to the people.  They were about giving power to a different monarch.

Further, there was no distinction between a religious kingdom and a secular kingdom.  This is a distinction we will think that we understand today, because we are used to such separation.  In religious matters we owe our allegiance to a church and in secular matters we owe our allegiance to the state.

But when Jesus spoke these words, that sort of separation didn’t exist.  The state claimed authority in all spheres.  When the Jews revolted against Rome, it was not merely a political act.  They were asking for sovereignty over their own religion at the same time.

When Jesus told people that his kingdom was not of this world, it was not an effort to claim that he was a “safe” person and that the Romans had nothing to fear from him.  They weren’t happy with anything less than full sovereignty.

The Jews who were listening were also not going to be happy with anything less than full sovereignty.  So when Jesus said, “Repent, and believe the good news,” they would have understood a call to commitment.  N. T. Wright has suggested a good translation would be “Give up your agendas and trust me for mine.”

Jesus did not call his disciples to a democracy either.  He called them to belong to a kingdom.  “Kingdom” would have been understood as a place where the king has all the authority and the subjects are, well, subject to him.  Jesus didn’t offer a bill of rights or a list of options.  He called for full and total sovereignty.

Is that how you understand God’s kingdom?  Is it your first allegiance in everything?  Or is it something that controls just the part of your life labeled “religious” or “spiritual”?


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A Kingdom of Heaven Life

Posted on July 16, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If my Kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn’t be delivered to the Jews. But now my Kingdom is not from here.”

Pilate therefore said to him, “Are you a king then?”

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I have been born, and for this reason I have come into the world, that I should testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”    John 18: 36-38 (WEB, my emphasis)

This week Jesus has been speaking to me about the Kingdom of Heaven. Frankly, He is trying to get me to lift my eyes off myself and consider how I can live by Kingdom principles.

One of those principles is about truth. Pilate asked, as many philosophers before him and to the present ask, “What is truth?” Some might say that truth is reality. It is what I can see and/or touch. Truth is much more than that. It is more than a transient moment. Truth should be something that guides how I live.

“You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”     John 8:32 (WEB)

When I know something to be true, it can be part of a revelation that I begin to know for what reason I am here.

Jesus is a truth to me. Someone reading this may dismiss that statement because they feel I am unable to prove Jesus and His reason that He cam to seek and save the lost and to testify to that truth. Jesus is as real to me as my husband. His impact on me has been life-changing and forever-changing. I was lost. I am no longer. I don’t have to prove anything more. You would have to dis-prove it to me! The truth of Jesus and that which He has shared with me has set me free.

A disciple of Jesus is more than a Believer. It is making a daily choice to live a Kingdom of Heaven life in this world. It is walking that choice out as a living testimony to what Jesus is doing today.

One of my favorite books is The Nun’s Story by Kathryn Hulme. (Audrey Hepburn starred in the movie.) It is the story of the life of a young girl during WWII, who made the decision to become a nun and the subsequent spiritual battle she wages to become the Bride of Christ that is demanded of her. She is told that it is her quest to become so perfect in the Living Rule (the life of service, humility, and chastity to which she has chosen) that a novice coming into the life could follow her and be following what is asked.

Jesus shows me His perfection and His standard is the only one I should follow as perfect. My walk is far from perfection. It is an imperfect testimony that (I pray) says to anyone looking at me: I walk beside my Savior, humble that He would invite me to do so and joyous that He has given me a Kingdom of Heaven life that can never be destroyed.

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“The Kingdom of Heaven is like…”

Posted on July 15, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like…”     Matthew 13:24 (WEB)

Yesterday I learned that the Kingdom of Heaven is in me even though I am ‘way imperfect! Today, God led me to the parables in Matthew 13 to read how Jesus tries to tell what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. Take out your Bible and join me in Matthew 13:

vv. 24-30 God sows His good Word in my heart. He teaches me so that good fruit (check Galatians 5) will grow in me. The enemy also sows seeds; destructive seeds. God does not prevent the seeds from being sown. He could but He doesn’t. Remember in Matthew 5 that Jesus even said that the sun and rain comes to evil and good. Not until Judgment Day does sifting harvest occur.

vv. 31-32 God may call me to the smallest of jobs by the world’s standard but God can take that small, insignificant seed and make it BIG in His Kingdom.

vv. 33 The yeast of God’s goodness can work all through me and affect everything that I do. Remember Jesus also warned that yeast not of Him can also affect me. (yeast of the Pharisees, Luke 12:1)

vv. 44-45 When you find the treasure in your walk with God – it is worth whatever the price. You may think you have lost the big home, many clothes, big vacations, but you will find what will never rust or decay in Jesus.

vv. 47-50 The Kingdom of Heaven has all kinds of fish. Jesus casts His net wide and long. It is at Judgment Day that the fish will be divided, until then, we are all together!

vv. 52 Jesus ends this series of parables telling us that in the storeroom we bring out new and old treasures. In my heart, Jesus will bring treasures that have remained fresh for 2000 years. He will also bring new treasures that do not replace the old but, in fact, bring a bountiful harvest in my heart.

The Kingdom of Heaven is here and now in me and that means it is not the perfection that it will become when Jesus comes as King of Kings. How the Kingdom will live and grow in me depends on my choices. All that I need to glorify God’s Kingdom is available to me – but will I choose to follow Jesus and build the Kingdom by His example and choose my own plan. Seems like a no brain-er but in the choices there will be a ‘letting go’ of what may be easy and what may be expected by the world.

The Kingdom of Heaven – it’s where there is God’s grace and mercy. Is it in me?

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Where is The Kingdom?

Posted on July 14, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

Where is The Kingdom?

Being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, he [Jesus] answered them, “The Kingdom of God doesn’t come with observation; 17:21 neither will they say, ‘Look, here!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ for behold, the Kingdom of God is within you.”   Luke 17:20-21 (WEB, my emphasis)

Yesterday Jesus was speaking about how much He loved me – even when I didn’t ask and couldn’t earn His love. Today, Jesus took His love a step further and says He has picked me (and you) to be His Kingdom.

Jesus says the Kingdom, in its glory and as He promised, will not come with my keen religious knowledge and/or prophecy of what is to come or should happen. In fact, Jesus says that no one will be able to say “Here it is!” or “There it is!” because –

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, [not giving us what we deserved!] and having committed to us the word of reconciliation. We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For him [Jesus] who knew no sin he [the Father] made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. [in right relationship with God] 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (WEB, my emphasis and paraphrase)

Paul said, it well. God had no Plan B. It was God’s plan all along to come in the flesh – as man – and be the only sacrifice that could cover my sins so that I could be Jesus’ ambassador; His representative 2000 years later to others. I am the representative of God’s Kingdom! ME! Less than perfect – still in need of forgiveness when – after choosing to follow Jesus in 1995 (and I haven’t changed my mind!) – I still need Jesus to bring me back to His chosen path for me when I wander off. How far have I wandered since 1995? (If you could see me right now you would see me blush, roll my eyes, and drop my head in shame.)

If I reference the Bible, the writers, taking down God’s words for me, do not list sins as “little” or “big”, do they?

Jesus said, He did not get rid of the Law but He tried to get me to understand that sin is not just my actions but more about my heart. (Matthew 5) Paul comes along in Galations 5 and while he gives a list of what is my sinful nature and how that reflects my life, Paul is trying to say what Jesus said, “Jody, it’s about what is in your heart that builds my Kingdom. If your heart is sold out to me first, your life on earth despite all its imperfections will build My Kingdom.”

How the Kingdom grows in me is for tomorrow.

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Jesus Came

Posted on July 13, 2009 by Jody Neufeld

[Jesus said,]“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.”      Luke 19:10 (WEB)

Look at that profound and yet beautiful statement: Jesus came to seek and save what was lost. Jesus came as a man. I can not even understand the many reasons why Jesus came fully man and fully od. I can’t really wrap my mind around what that means much less the ‘why’ of it. I do know that God Himself came here on earth as a man. He had to sleep. He had to eat. He had to earn a wage. He had to love – some people easier than others maybe in His humanness! He had to grieve when His earthly father, Joseph, died. He had to suffer physically the whipping and crucifixion. He had to suffer the scorn of His family and His church. Jesus did all of this (and more!) because of love. Love that I did not deserve or ask Him to give. Love that had He asked I probably would have refused it. Up until the age of 40, I was convinced that I could handle (and should handle) my life and if I just worked hard and had some ‘breaks’ from fate – my life and that of my family would be OK. I signed up for church. That was an important box to be checked. I like to do stuff and I could use my expertise and talents there. I did not accept free gifts. Church was a place to pay my dues so I stayed on God’s good side so He would like me.

Jesus came to find me even when I did not know I was lost and needed saving. And there is also the fact that there were times I did know I was so very unhappy (lost) but still thought I could make it better. I should be able to do this!

“He was there all the time. Waiting patiently in line…” – Gary S. Paxton, 1975

Jesus came and when I stopped digging that hole, sweaty and dirty like I was, and reached out my hand, helpless to do anything more on my own, Jesus’ hand was there waiting to grasp mine and lift me up. I still get sweaty and dirty when I step off the path. But that is for tomorrow.

Thank You, Jesus. Thank You. You love me even when I am most unlovable. You see me as I can be and show me the way – walking before me. Thank You. Those are my words for today: Thank You.

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