Better Promises

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

May the king’s rule be refreshing like spring rain on freshly cut grass,
like the showers that water the earth.
May all the godly flourish during his reign.
May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more.
May he reign from sea to sea,and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.
Desert nomads will bow before him;
his enemies will fall before him in the dust.
The western kings of Tarshish and other distant lands will bring him tribute.
The eastern kings of Sheba and Seba will bring him gifts.
All kings will bow before him, and all nations will serve him.
He will rescue the poor when they cry to him;
he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them.
He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them.
He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him.
Long live the king!
May the gold of Sheba be given to him.
May the people always pray for him and bless him all day long.
May there be abundant grain throughout the land,
flourishing even on the hilltops.
May the fruit trees flourish like the trees of Lebanon,
and may the people thrive like grass in a field.
May the king’s name endure forever;
may it continue as long as the sun shines.
May all nations be blessed through him and bring him praise.
Praise the Lord God, the God of Israel,
who alone does such wonderful things.
Praise his glorious name forever!
Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen! Psalm 72:6-19 (NLT)

Have you ever read a psalm and it talked about how those who love the LORD or the king will always be blessed or receive such abundance? I have read those passages and wondered, “I have somehow missed this? What did I do wrong? Wait! Here I am!”

It is the mindset that God owes me something. I am entitled to some amount of prosperity here in this life. Is God focused on a kingdom here? Is He promising me abundance here in this life?

Have you ever seen a child “pitch a fit” in a store as he/she was riding in shopping cart through the toy department at Christmas time? The child wants the toy now and the parent has said “No” because they know that the toy is coming, wrapped in beautiful paper and a big bow! The child cannot understand not receiving instant gratification.

Too often I can read Scripture and I am thinking “Now” when my Father is thinking about the bigger picture that is all about eternity and “forever”. My life here is but a moment in the timeline of eternity. May I look up and beyond with the eyes and mind of Jesus. Living in the Hope of Jesus and knowing that God’s promises are fulfilled in His Kingdom.

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Question of each Day

Posted on August 29, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

Pilate responded, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”
They shouted back, “Crucify him!”        Matthew 27:22 (NLT)

Pilate may have been the first to ask the question but he wasn’t the last. It’s a question that I ask of myself. What should I do with the Messiah, this Jesus who is my Savior? Not shouting “Crucify him!” doesn’t mean that I do know what to do and then carry through with what I know.

Listen to Him. There is so much to learn from Jesus. Just pick a chapter in any of the gospels, have a seat in a quiet place and read (or listen) to Jesus’ words. It’s like the perfect nugget of wisdom. It’s like the perfect feast. I read a true story about American prisoners in North Vietnam during the war and how they began to put together Scriptures as they could remember passages. They would whisper the verses to each other throughout the night. It wasn’t just a mental exercise but they found such hope and courage in the words and in the sharing.

Follow Him. And then as I listen to Jesus and hear His testimony about the Father, I see His life here on earth well lived and I want to do the same. I want to serve others, magnify who the Father is through my life. I am not so good at that without spending time each day with Jesus and intentionally putting my feet right in His footprints. Keep it simple!

Worship Him. Paul says in Romans 12 to make my life a living sacrifice. This is my perfect worship of God. It is not the songs that I sing or how often and how long I sit inside a church but it is the sacrificial living that I do every day that brings the Father into the sight and understanding of others who either do not know Him at all or have been deceived. He is so tired of being misrepresented!!! The more time I spend with Jesus, listening to Him, following His example, and worshiping Him – the more likely that I will truly become His true ambassador.

Jesus will not live in a display case like a trophy or action figure. He does not want a “limited” relationship that is convenient and only on my terms. When I invited Jesus to be my life (not just a part of it), He will disrupt and bring me hard choices. Yes, His blessings are abundant and extravagant but they are also powerful and jealous. Jesus will not play “second fiddle” to some other top priority in my life.

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt where you were slaves.
You must not have any other gods except me.
You must not make for yourselves an idol that looks like anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the water below the land. You must not worship or serve any idol, because I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.”     Exodus 20:2-5 (NCV)

What am I going to do with Jesus in my life? My answer has forever changed my life. I invited Jesus into my life and told Him that He was welcome in every part of my life. He took me at my word. He continues to teach me and mold me into the child of God I was meant to be. He isn’t done yet! I began by touching just the hem of His garment and now my arms are around Him and I do not want to let go.

My Heart Will Trust in You sung by Hillsong Worship Team (2000)

 

 

 

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When the Storms of Life are Raging

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm.       Job 38:1 (NIV)

I said, “Oh that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest –
I would flee far away and stay in the desert;
I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.”         Psalm 55:6-8 (NIV)

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.            Psalm 107:28-29 (NIV)

The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.              Luke 8:24-25 (NIV)

Tropical Storm/Hurricane Isaac is coming ashore late tonight near or at New Orleans. As I thank the LORD that the storm did not come directly to my hometown in the panhandle of Florida as originally predicted, I am praying for those who will receive the primary fury of this storm. I am sure there are scientific reasons for why the storm moved as it did just as I am sure God has reasons for the storms that come into my life with a fury.

I read some about “storms” in the Bible last night as I watched the wind blow the branches of the trees surrounding my house.

God spoke to Job out of a storm. I think it might be hard to hear someone speaking with the wind howling and the rain beating down. Or maybe when my ears are tuned in like Job’s to God – I can hear His voice like it’s coming through Bose speakers! The point would be whether I am tuned in to the storm or to God.

The psalmist, as usual, expresses my experiences and my heart very well. Right next to the Psalm 55 verses in my Bible I made a notation that in 1998 my phone and my electricity had been turned off. I was divorced and trying to care for my three children and was at the end of my rope. I definitely wanted to “fly away” to some place where there were no bills and responsibilities. But God brought us through. Step by step, day by day, God showed us His power in our storms. I look back and sleeping on a pallet on the floor was some of the sweetest times with my LORD. I truly felt completely helpless and without any options but to trust in Him. I cried out to God and He stilled those storms to a whisper. “How can I say thanks for the things You’ve done for me?” (My Tribute by Andre Crouch, )

Arguably the most famous Biblical storm was the one that Jesus slept through until the terrified disciples woke Him up! He answered their cry and subdued the violent storm and then asked, “Where is your faith?” “Well, Jesus, I think I misplaced it.” When I misplace something, I go to the place where I last remembered having it. Or maybe I ask someone where they keep their faith. Jesus implies that just a bit of faith is all I need. I don’t have to have all the answers or understand deep theology – just know to whom to cry out! He is there, the Creator of all, including storms, can handle all the howling winds and slashing waves.

Stand By Me written by Charles A. Tindley (1905) sung by Willie Nelson

 

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How Do I Love Thee?

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

My lover spoke and said to me,
“Get up, my darling; let’s go away, my beautiful one.
Look, the winter is past; the rains are over and gone.
Blossoms appear through all the land.
The time has come to sing; the cooing of doves is heard in our land.
There are young figs on the fig trees, and the blossoms on the vines smell sweet.
Get up, my darling; let’s go away, my beautiful one.”    Song of Songs 2:10-13 (NCV)

Lectionary texts: Song of Songs 2:8-13, Psalm 72, James 1:17-27, Mark 7:1-23

The lectionary texts this week are all about love but I want to warn you that as I read them through – I wasn’t left with just warm and fuzzy feelings.

Do you love God? When you think about your relationship with Jesus, what words comes to your mind to describe that relationship? If you were painting a picture of your love for God what would it look like?

I am not a linguist like my husband but I have been married to him for over 12 years and have read some commentaries on the word “love” as it is used in the Bible. The love that God has for me isn’t distant and it isn’t reserved.

Giving and Serving. Psalm 72 speaks about “justice” and “redemption”. God’s love for me blesses me with what I truly need. He doesn’t give me chocolates – He gives me His Son as the perfect sacrifice that will allow me to live forever with Him. God doesn’t just bless me with “stuff” but gives me His time so that we can talk and grow closer together. He who is Creator of the universe spends time with me like He has all the time in the world. (which He does!) Jesus teaches me about how love shows itself in serving and giving without expecting a return. He gives freely and encourages me to give freely.

Passionate. Even if I had not taken the time to read about how certain words in Scripture that have been used to mean love are talking about passionate love I could “get that” by God’s actions. He forgives over and over and over and … (you get that!) provided a plan to eternally be in a relationship with me. He died for me. He held nothing back. There is no question that He will not discuss with me; there is no aspect of a full relationship that is “off limits” to Him.

All. Do you ever feel lonely? There have been times in my life when I felt completely alone. I looked around and everyone seemed busy in their own lives and I didn’t believe I haD anyone who was interested in listening to me or helping me or just spending time with me. That was a huge lie! There’s an old Southern Gospel song that says, “He was there all the time … Waiting patiently in line … He was there all the time.” Jesus has always been there. I can look back now at the times that I laid in my bed and cried until my pillow was wet from one end to the other because I thought I was all alone. Jesus was there. I know He was. He brought me through to where I am today. I still have times that I cry into my pillow – but I now know that Jesus is there with His hand on me, maybe even shedding a tear with me. “Jesus doesn’t cry!” you say? He wept at Lazarus’ tomb. He wept in Gethsemane. I believe He wouldn’t be weeping for the same reasons I weep but He would weep – because I hurt. I believe Jesus has that depth of love and compassion.

I am going to be reading these Scriptures this week because I want to spend some time “in love” with my LORD, my Jesus. It’s our time.

Come Away with Me written and sung by Norah Jones

 

 

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“I Asked God …”

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

During that same time King Herod began to mistreat some who belonged to the church. He ordered James, the brother of John, to be killed by the sword. Herod saw that some of the people liked this, so he decided to arrest Peter, too. (This happened during the time of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.)

After Herod arrested Peter, he put him in jail and handed him over to be guarded by sixteen soldiers. Herod planned to bring Peter before the people for trial after the Passover Feast. So Peter was kept in jail, but the church prayed earnestly to God for him.            Acts 12:1-5 (NCV)

Henry and I have spent the last two nights without air conditioning. Such a little annoyance but oh how my flesh can magnify it! But my LORD will never let an opportunity pass to teach me something. “Count your blessings, Jody.” He said as the fan stirred the humid air in our bedroom. And the list was long as my mind started with the fans and went on to our house and the ministry and so many people we have met because of His great mercy.

This passage in Acts has always been at once troubling and a comfort. The apostle James is killed by Herod. Peter is taken into prison with the probable intent to also be put to the sword as James was. It says that the fellowship was praying earnestly for Peter. I suspect they also prayed earnestly for James when he was taken into prison. And so the question comes: Why was Peter spared and James was not? Or more accurately, why was Peter spared then? He was later crucified. Right now, at this point in my life, the only answer that I find in my heart is that God can see the whole of this life and so only He can makes these decisions of who and when. Even if He were to give me some say in these decisions, I could not make such decisions. I don’t have the wisdom or the “knowing”. And so I learn more about trusting God in the unanswerable.

There are so many that I am praying for right now who are ill with life-threatening diseases. I pray for their health, asking God for His mercy and a miracle in their lives. I pray for their families that they will know the assurance of God’s love and care for those they love. I ask for courage and encouragement with every step in every day and night that they must walk. I pray for their doctors and nurses and technicians that they have His grace and His wisdom to see beyond the natural in making decisions. And I pray for all of us that we may come closer to the heart of God and learn from Him.

Peter was guarded by 16 soldiers and was chained in the bowels of the prison and yet God set him free. He even had to wake Peter up so he would not miss the miracle! As Daniel said, “My God can save me but even if He does not, I will worship Him!” (Daniel 3:16-18) All of God’s promises are true (2 Corinthians 1:20). I may not understand all of His promises but that doesn’t make them any less true. I may not understand that the area of a circle can always be determined by using the formula pi R squared, but that doesn’t keep the formula from working every time.

God doesn’t expect me to come to Him in prayer with perfect understanding of His Word and my theology all nice and clear. As my Henry says, “God answers my prayers better than I can pray them.” God just wants me to bring it all to Him. The requests, the uncertainties, the fears, the joys, and all the rest – bring it and let’s talk and cry and maybe even beat our fists. And in the end, He and I are still together.

Jesus, Lover of my Soul by Steve McPherson

 

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A Psalm for Meditation

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

I will see you back here tomorrow. BLESSINGS! — Jody

I trust in the Lordfor protection. 
       So why do you say to me, 
       “Fly like a bird to your mountain.
 2 Like hunters, the wicked string their bows; 
       they set their arrows on the bowstrings. 
    They shoot from dark places 
       at those who are honest. 
 3 When the foundations for good collapse, 
       what can good people do?” 

 4 The Lord is in his holy temple; 
       the Lord sits on his throne in heaven. 
    He sees what people do; 
       he keeps his eye on them. 
 5 The Lord tests those who do right, 
       but he hates the wicked and those who love to hurt others.
 6 He will send hot coals and burning sulfur on the wicked. 
       A whirlwind is what they will get.
 7 The Lord does what is right, and he loves justice, 
       so honest people will see his face.                Psalm 11 (NCV)

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God’s Language: There is no ‘But’, ‘Except’, and ‘However’

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

[reprinted from January 1, 2011]

I have set Yahweh always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.   Psalm 16:8 (WEB)

David, or another psalmist, states that he has made a choice: God is in front of him and everything he sees and how he sees it is through God’s viewfinder. I must remember that God’s perspective may not be the majority’s perspective or the perspective of the ‘loud’ minority.

David’s son, Solomon, continues the tough wisdom he learned – trust God. But remember – chances are that His way of doing things is not going to be the way you think or plan (Proverbs 3).

I wish there was some ‘wiggle room’ on this, Lord. I wish I could trust You and yet see clearly the path You have given me and understand it. Know the reasoning behind it and leave that ‘faith’ part for the ‘easier’ times. But in point of fact, the best way that I acknowledge You, especially in the difficult times, is when I move forward with You withoutknowing the way or the why.

My understanding of God has both improved and gotten worse! On the one hand, I
know God more today than I did 20 years ago. I know His characteristics, His heart. I have felt His love, His extraordinary comfort. But God still troubles me with what He allows to happen. I have difficulty connecting His deep love with the terrible suffering of innocents. And yet…even in those situations I also see the fruit of His Holy Spirit as those who are in those situations have great courage and strength that, in turn, inspire others. Maybe that is the point.

David also said in Psalm 16 that because he has made this choice and God is there, then there is nothing that can shake him from the path he is on or has been given. Where God is, that is where I want to be. I do not want to get distracted from that place.

As they went on the way, a certain man said to him, “I want to follow you wherever you go, Lord.” Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another, “Follow me!” But he said, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and announce the Kingdom of God.” Another also said, “I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to say good-bye to those who are at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.”       Luke 9:57-62 (WEB)

Accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord is simple but hard. It takes a step of faith. Following Jesus, being a disciple of Jesus means that I not only choose to put God in front of me every day but I also take my steps in faith every day, all day. I choose to go with Jesus first and have faith that all the other things demanding priority in my life will fall in line behind and be OK. For me, there is no ‘wiggle room’ here either. I must start my day and end my day with the Lord. and I must be willing to ‘adjust’ the rest of my day (week, month, year, season, life) when God taps me on the shoulder and gives me my orders. He is my Commander-in-Chief! I really don’t want God to leave it up to me but…there is no ‘but’.

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Facebook and My Tongue

Posted on August 21, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

People can tame every kind of wild animal, bird, reptile, and fish, and they have tamed them, but no one can tame the tongue. It is wild and evil and full of deadly poison. We use our tongues to praise our Lord and Father, but then we curse people, whom God made like himself. Praises and curses come from the same mouth! My brothers and sisters, this should not happen. Do good and bad water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree make olives, or can a grapevine make figs? No! And a well full of salty water cannot give good water.

Are there those among you who are truly wise and understanding? Then they should show it by living right and doing good things with a gentleness that comes from wisdom. But if you are selfish and have bitter jealousy in your hearts, do not brag. Your bragging is a lie that hides the truth. That kind of “wisdom” does not come from God but from the world. It is not spiritual; it is from the devil. Where jealousy and selfishness are, there will be confusion and every kind of evil. But the wisdom that comes from God is first of all pure, then peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help those who are troubled and to do good for others. It is always fair and honest. People who work for peace in a peaceful way plant a good crop of right-living.        James 3:7-18 (NCV, my emphasis)

I like Facebook. It is a wonderful way for me to keep up with my children and their families, even those who live right here in the same town. I can see those pictures of the first day of school minutes after they are taken. And those who are far away, even in other countries, I can reach out and connect with them too. It is a 21st century way of communicating. It is another way in which my tongue can spread blessings or – not.

This passage from James is often quoted when teaching about the need for someone else to learn to “hold their tongue”. Well, today, I am going to look at how I need to listen to what God has to say about my tongue through the apostle James. In his relatively short letter, James spends quite a bit of ink in writing about controlling my tongue. Makes me think that he has learned a few lessons himself the hard way! So I want to soak up his wisdom.

No one can control their own tongue. This first point must be understood before anything else makes sense. There is no duct tape made that can hold back my human desire to shoot off my mouth! I must have the control of the Spirit of God Himself. I know this is true because I have asked God for help and He has faithfully put the strong hand of His Spirit over my mouth and kept me silent when I really wanted to let go! “Humble yourself, Jody, under my mighty hand and I will lift you up” (1 Peter 5:6).

When we speak against someone, we are speaking about God. When I call someone a “moron” (recent ‘Share’ I saw going around on Facebook about the President!) or imply that they are less than – I am talking about one of God’s children and I do not like it when someone says something negative about my child so I bet God likes it even less than I do. Whether Muslim, Hindu, atheist, brown, white, yellow or any other category, we are all God’s children whether we acknowledge Him or not. This gives me a new set of lenses to look at everyone. Whoever they are, I can see their Father standing behind them, listening to what I say about them.

Wise words from God always reflect the character of God. If I speak as if I am speaking with wisdom that comes from God then my words will be fair and honest. They will reflect facts that have been tested and proven not just repeated rhetoric from an unknown or biased source. The words will be gentle and do good, not tear down and slander. Spending my time and energy encouraging and building up those who reflect God well is much better use of my life as a Kingdom builder.

I readily agree and know that what James says is right and true. It is when I do not see correction or change for the better that my tongue becomes sharper and less Godly. I wrestle the reins of control away from my LORD and tell Him that “Your way is obviously not working! Here let me show you how to correct this situation or this idiot who isn’t listening to You!” I am the one not listening! I have read the last chapter in God’s Book – I know who wins. I don’t need to prove anything. I only need to be the ambassador that He desires me to be and speak His words in His way and at His time. That will move mountains.

Breathe on Me by Rueben Morgan, sung by Hillsong Worship Team

 

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I Live …

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

He [Jesus] said these things while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Therefore, when many of His disciples heard this, they said, “This teaching is hard! Who can accept it?”

Jesus, knowing in Himself that His disciples were complaining about this, asked them, “Does this offend you?            John 6:59-61 (HCSB)

Lectionary texts: 1 Kings 8, Psalm 84, Ephesians 6:10-20, John 6:56-69

Jesus has just told His disciples a truth that unless they eat His flesh and drink His blood – they will have no life. The disciples exclaim that the teaching is hard and many left Him because of this teaching. Jesus is not oblivious to their reaction. He even asks if they are offended but it is important to note that He didn’t back off or amend what He said. So what does this passage mean? Am I being asked to become a cannibal?

1 Kings 8. King Solomon brings the Ark into the Temple that has been built. The Lord now has a home to live in. And then Solomon prays. He reminds God of His promises and asks Him to remember His great mercy for His children who want to have a relationship with Him but continue to fall into wickedness.

Psalm 84. This is a beautiful psalm that speaks of how God lives right here with me. It is because of our close relationship and His many blessings that I have strength to make it through each day.

Ephesians 6. The armor of God. One of my favorite passages in Scripture because I can clearly visualize how God prepares and protects me for each day in this world. Each piece of God’s armor is perfectly fitted to my needs and life experience.

All of these passages are about God living intimately with me. I can try to keep God in some temple or church but He doesn’t live in a building but inside of me. I am His temple! I worship Him not in a building but in Spirit (John 4:21-24). And I am beautiful – because where God lives there is beauty; there is strength; there is all the good of God.

And yet, here are disciples turning away from Jesus because … Jesus is telling His disciples that He is all that they need. And that is the hard teaching that keeps many from living as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Do I live with a home (a place that is my comfort and primary place of residence) here in the world or only in Jesus? Do I live like I know that I am an alien in this world? Do I live with an allegiance to both this world and my life with Jesus? Am I clear which is first in my life? Does how I live my life reflect that decision? Do I invitethe Holy Spirit to keep my ‘temple’ clean so that God is pleased and honored to live within me? Am I transparent so that others see only the One who lives in me? Am I offended because how I live is not about what I do and achieve but it is about what God does through me.

This song today is one of those that just washes over me. “Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord.” – Psalm 118:26

Baruch Haba B’shem Adonai sung by Paul Wilbur

 

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Family – Not Always Easy

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Jody Neufeld

Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but there was such a crowd they could not get to him. Someone said to Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”

Jesus answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who listen to God’s teaching and obey it!”               Luke 8:19-21 (NCV)

We had dinner last night with a friend and the subject of family came up. Probably everyone reading this can identify with me when I say that, “Family is a tricky thing.” By that I mean, relationships with family aren’t always easy.

In some cases you have a long history with family members and, like most of us, they never forget the stupid thing you did or how you used to be. It can be very difficult to “turn over a new leaf” because your family may be quick to remind you how you have failed in the past.

Then there is the family member who you may love but – you find yourself putting up with poor choices and bad behavior or attitude that if it was a co-worker or acquaintance – you would have cut them loose and walked away!

This discussion led us to looking at family in Jesus’ life. How did Jesus handle family?

He was respectful of His parents (Mary and Joseph) even when they were clueless. While it’s true we know little of Jesus’ early life, we are given the snapshot of them going to Jerusalem and losing Him in the crowd of travelers, only to find Him a few days later in the Temple. Some may think that Jesus’ comment about being about His father’s work was – well, smart alecky. I don’t think it was. He was just speaking the truth about what He was doing. And it is immediately followed by the note that He went home with them and submitted to them and learned and grew. He – God – submitted to those that His Father God had put in a position of authority over Him.

While Jesus loved His earthly family, He never forgot who had first place in His life. John 7:5 says that Jesus’ brothers did not believe in Him. This gives me some insight into Jesus’ response here in Luke when He is told that His mother and brothers have come to visit. Jesus is busy with the mission He has been called to do. His family will have to wait. If I have family that, by their behavior to me, distract me, are destructive to me emotionally or spiritually, or do not support what God is doing in my life – then I need to try to have some conversation with them but I may have to lovingly cut them loose. Just as I made it clear to Henry when we first began to get to know each other that God was #1 in my life and that would never change, so I must also make that clear to my family. That can be difficult because that may require me to make decisions about who I spend time with and how much time I spend with them. Seeking God’s wisdom in this dilemma is key. And allowing a godly sister to hold me accountable is also very helpful especially when I come under attack. This accountable person can truly help me keep the balance in a very emotional situation.

Jesus care for His family even while still moving on. From the cross, Jesus made sure that His mother, Mary, was cared for and would not become a homeless, starving widow on the streets (John 19:25-27) after He died. Caring for members of our family, moving in together or managing an alternative living arrangement is a difficult situation that is filled with many emotions. I don’t know how God may speak specifically to this in our lives, I just know that He is faithful to respond when we ask Him for His wisdom.

Yes, family relationships are tricky and filled with opportunities for both God and the enemy to lead us. Jesus knows the hearts and needs of each of our family members. He is right here, ready to share His wisdom and reassure us that there is enough wisdom and grace to get us through whatever the situation. Let us make our family an ongoing part of our prayer time. May we have the assurance that Jesus can advise us no matter how tangled the relationship.

I am a Friend of God written and sung by Isaac Houghton

 

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