“God Knows Best”

Posted on April 11, 2014 by Jody Neufeld

“So I said to you: Don’t be terrified or afraid of them! The Lord your God who goes before youwill fight for you,just as you saw Him do for you in Egypt. And you saw in the wilderness how the Lord your God carried you as a man carries his son all along the way you traveled until you reached this place.”        Deuteronomy 1:29-31 (HCSB)

When I was a little girl I used to watch a TV show, “Father Knows Best.” Like much of television in the late 50’s and early 60’s the show portrayed a family we would all like to have, not the reality of what we did have. In this particular show, Jim, the father, went to work Monday through Friday and came home every day in time for the supper that Margaret had prepared. The three children, Betty, Bud and Kathy all brought their problems to dad and he dispensed quiet wisdom and occasional discipline, like being grounded. In each 20-something minute episode, a crisis was identified and resolved and closing credits would roll as the family smiled, hugged or laughed at their life. Hollywood hasn’t changed much. They still produce television and movies which have only a passing acquaintance with reality and truth.

About twenty years ago, I found my true Father who always does know best!

Lord, You have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I stand up;
You understand my thoughts from far away.
You observe my travels and my rest;
You are aware of all my ways.       Psalm 139: 1-3 (HCSB)

God knows my life. I cannot lie to God like I did to my parents as a rebellious teenager. God knows every step I take in obedience – or not. He knows every kind word I say and all those unkind ones even when I have wanted to call them back. God doesn’t need me to explain to Him why I behave the way I do but when I sit down with Him and tell Him about my day, His light of truth shines to reveal any distortion or lies from my own flesh or to confirm or deny the advice of another.

Have you never heard? Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding.        Isaiah 40:28 (NLT)

Father God is always there for me, day or night. One of the major mistakes of my early adult years was to expect another human being to be the one I could count on. I was putting them into a position in my life that belongs to God. My Father and Savior will never leave me or bend under the weight of of pain or need. I especially found the depth of God’s strength and love during the ten years that included the death of both of my parents, divorce and the diagnosis of my son with cancer and his death five years later. In the darkest of nights, God was always there to bring His Light, comfort and healing to my bruised and battered spirit.

Where is the philosopher? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish? For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of the message preached. For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom, because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.          1 Corinthians 1:20-25 (HCSB)

His wisdom is without flaw. In this world there are events and situations not covered in philosophy classes or self-help books. There are decisions to be made which have no quantitative pros and cons to work out like some algebra equation. The most wondrous thing occurs when I spend time with the LORD. I learn His voice and His character. And I learn to trust Him when I cannot see the solution in front of me but must take one step at a time with my hand in His to lead me.

As I enter into Holy Week this Sunday, I will be thinking about the depth of my Father’s love. He loved me so much that He sent His Son into my world. Father God promised if I believed in His Son, I will never truly die but will live forever with Him. I look into my Father’s eyes and see – love, so much love, for me.

My Father’s Eyes written by Gary Chapman and sung by Amy Grant

Posted in 1 Corinthians, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Psalms | Comments Off on “God Knows Best”

Jesus Who?

Posted on April 8, 2014 by Jody Neufeld

When Jesus came to Jerusalem, everyone in the city was excited and asked, “Who can this be?”
The crowd answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”       Matthew 11:10-11 (CEV)

These two verses intrigue me. “Everyone” asked who was this man who spoke with authority about God and His relationship with His children and performed so many miracles. And then “the crowd” responded with a name and where He was from in their world but was like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others who were called “prophet” in their history.

I do not have an educational background in the ancient Near East history. I have only studied the Scripture for about 20 years. My faith is heavily experiential. Jesus is very real and intimate to me.

Jesus came into my life in a dramatic way. I went to church nearly all my life but my relationship with Him was a character in folklore stories I heard in church. But when I accepted and realized how full of sin I was and how far from God that put me, I felt crushed under the guilt and shame of the choices I had made in my life. And so when I heard Rev Steve Hill proclaim “If you are ashamed of God, He will be ashamed of you.” (Luke 9:26) I wanted so much to jump up and move toward Jesus that even a whole division of soldiers with automatic weapons would not have deterred me from standing up and saying “Yes, I need You, Jesus!” that night. And with that simple sentence a flood of warmth and joy came over me! It truly felt like I was finally home.

Jesus has been the One who has saved me. Since that night my life has had many wonderful times when I was a witness to God touching people with His extravagant love, including me. In my lowest, darkest days, I have never felt alone. When grief was so HUGE I felt I might suffocate, it was Jesus who showed me I was in the Gethsemane Garden just as He had been. And just as the Father sent His Son angels to minister strength to Him, Jesus was with me to comfort and strengthen me. Jesus’ perfect sacrifice to atone for my sins was only the beginning. He continues to save me every day.

Jesus walks closer to me every day. Every day, however many times a day, when I talk to Jesus about whatever is on my heart, He is there to listen. And if I will listen, He speaks His wisdom and comfort to me and continues to teach me about the Father who loves me.

When I am asked “Who is Jesus?” to me, there are several answers I might share. It is the Holy Spirit who recalls to my mind and heart a story about Jesus and me which may encourage someone who is looking for the truth, looking for the only Savior.

Who Jesus is to me is not about dates and facts. He is the One and the Only who continues to give me a Living Hope. His promises are true and He keeps them. He loves me more than anyone else in my life. He is my Savior who has reconciled my sinful self to God. He is my Savior who has overcome death and will one day come and take me home.

I Need You More written and sung by Lindell Cooley

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Working Together

Posted on April 7, 2014 by Jody Neufeld

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.      Philippians 2:1-5 (NLT)

This is an interesting passage of Scripture to consider as we walk towards Palm Sunday and then next week, known as Passion Week which brings us to Resurrection Sunday. It feels like we coast along in the year hearing good messages of encouragement and discipline and then as the days fall away and come closer to what we see as the sacrifice of the Messiah, the messages become more focused and the extraneous falls away. Or maybe that is what is going on inside me. In my spirit I know my time has a finite number in this world and I hear the call to “Pay Attention!” and not be distracted.

Paul’s letter to the Philippians is a relatively short letter but it is filled with points to hear and absorb.

If I am being blessed by God, then do not hoard the blessings. I believe it is God’s intention to bless me because He loves me. Like any good parent, it is wonderful to give your child what they need and give even more than what they need. God also blesses me with the intention that I will be a conduit for His blessings to flow in others who, for many reasons, do not connect directly to Him to receive these blessings. God wants me to “leak” on others and refills me as I spend time with Him every day.

If my prayers are all about me, then I am not understanding God. One of the truths which Jesus spoke during His mountain sermon was for me to seek His Kingdom and a right relationship with Him first and everything else? He will take care of me (Matthew 6:33). And oh how I spend time with Jesus pointing out what I don’t have and what I need! Like He doesn’t know! And, yes, prayer is for me to learn from my Savior but I learn when I hush – and listen. Often when I pray for others I remember how God has taken care of me. I recall His power and great love. And when I do, I also hear and know that He will take care of me, no matter what I am going through now.

How do we work together with one mind and purpose? One of the best memories I have during the five years of the Pensacola Outpouring (revival) is sitting up in the balcony of the church and looking down at all the people singing their love for God together. I saw Catholic/Anglican priests and nuns, Baptists, Seventh Day Adventists, Methodists, charismatics and evangelicals standing next to tattoo’d and pierced kids, young children and senior saints. They were all singing and worshiping their LORD. It was a wonderful sight!

My husband and I are blessed to see the same spirit of fellowship happen among the authors in our publication company. They come from many different Christian backgrounds and each has a personal relationship with their LORD. They express their love for Him in different ways and use different words. They don’t agree about many things. We could not homogenize their books into one cohesive text. But – they agree that Jesus is their Savior and God is the Creator and author of their life. Many work and play well together! What a marvelous, extraordinary blessing from God that is!

Pay attention this week to opportunities to work together with Christians outside your immediate circle. Get involved and learn about the many people who are out there doing God’s work. You may be surprised and blessed to seek first God’s Kingdom together and all the rest? Let God handle it.

Majesty written and sung by Michael W Smith

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Only God

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Jody Neufeld

Only God can save me, and I calmly wait for him.
2 God alone is the mighty rock that keeps me safe
and the fortress where I am secure.
3 I feel like a shaky fence or a sagging wall.
How long will all of you attack and assault me?
4 You want to bring me down from my place of honor.
You love to tell lies, and when your words are kind,
hatred hides in your heart.
5 Only God gives inward peace, and I depend on him.
6 God alone is the mighty rock that keeps me safe,
and he is the fortress where I feel secure.
7 God saves me and honors me.
He is that mighty rock where I find safety.
8 Trust God, my friends, and always tell him each one of your concerns.
God is our place of safety.
9 We humans are only a breath; none of us are truly great.
All of us together weigh less than a puff of air.
10 Don’t trust in violence or depend on dishonesty or rely on great wealth.
11 I heard God say two things:
“I am powerful, 12 and I am very kind.”
The Lord rewards each of us according to what we do.      Psalm 62 (CEV)

The NIV and some other translations may flow better than this version but sometimes I just need to really hear and read the words in my heart and head. If you go to Biblegateway.com, you can choose 3-4 translations or paraphrase versions and it can be a real blessing to read a passage like that.

This is a psalm of encouragement and truth.

I feel like a shaky fence or a sagging wall. Oh, how often this can describe me! See, I am a wall. I want to hold the line to what is true and right in my life but how often is that a facade? The world batters at the walls. I get distracted by the busy-ness of my life and neglect to “tend” to needed maintenance. It is Jesus who is my sure foundation. It is His Spirit that is the mortar which holds His promises and truths in the place of refuge He has given me.

Only God gives inward peace, and I depend on him. Who of us does not look for inward peace that does not depend on our circumstances? I remember when I was in college, transcendental meditation was all the rage. One of my dorm mates was all into it with incense and Eastern music. (Well, she said it was music!) So of course I had to try it with Exam Week coming down around me. I could not last ten minutes of sitting on the floor with my legs crossed like a pretzel and chanting some words which made no sense. I was kicked out of the room for being disruptive. Apparently laughter is not helpful in finding inner peace!

Almost 25 years later, I accepted the real One, the only One who gave me the peace I sought. He didn’t require chanting. I just pull up a chair or lay my head down in His quiet place and with Him, there is peace.

Trust God, my friends, He is very powerful and very kind. And here is the whole truth of God. He is powerful. He is the Creator of all, including me. He speaks and life is there. He has no beginning and no end. I am His child. I needed a savior so I could live with Him. I could not save myself. I could not be “good enough” and so He gave me eternal life by providing the perfect sacrifice – Himself in the flesh. And then He gave more as He taught me and showed me how to live. God is kind.

Only God. So much in my life is traced back to – only God. I am humbled. I am eternally grateful.

In the Secret written & sung by Andy Park

Posted in Psalms | Comments Off on Only God

Every Day with Praise

Posted on April 2, 2014 by Jody Neufeld

[reprinted from November 20, 2009]

– Henry Neufeld

1 A praise song, for David.
I will exalt you, my God and King,
I will bless your name forever and ever.
2 I will bless you every day,
I will praise your name, forever and ever.
3 YHWH is great and fully deserves praise.
No one can fully comprehend his greatness.
4 One generation praises your works to the next,
They tell of your heroic deeds.
5 Of splendor, honor, and majesty,
Of your marvelous deeds I will sing! — Psalm 145:1-5 (HN)

The Psalms are a wonderful book, not only for the many things we can learn from them, but because they provide us with something to read or to pray for almost any mood and any occasion. When we’re down, there are laments (Psalm 28). When we’re up, there are short, lively praise Psalms (Psalm 150). In trouble, we find prayers for safety and rescue (Psalm 140). Ready to meditate? Look for Psalms of wisdom (Psalm 104), telling you of God’s power (Psalm 29), his law (Psalm 19, Psalm 119), and his covenant (Psalm 89). Angry? You can even find some Psalms with a tone of vengeance (Psalm 137). Overcome by temptation? There are Psalms of penitence (Psalm 51, Psalm 32).

There is a time and place for all of these things, and there are ways for us to bring our joys and our sorrows to God on all those occasions and more. God can handle the way you’re feeling and can help to lift you up from wherever you are to place your feet on a rock.

But there is something that we find easy to leave out of our life, and that’s praise. I know some of you will wonder just what I mean. After all, you praise the Lord in church on Sunday. Perhaps you play praise music in your home during the week. I know some people who leave songs of praise on the CD player 24/7. That’s not a bad thing.

But have you ever come to a time of prayer when you have a hard time finding something for which you can thank God? Maybe you are having one of those days in one of those months in one of those years, or at least it feels like it. The idea of expressing praise to God seems hypocritical in some way. You’re not feeling thankful, why should you speak thanks? If you’ve never been in such a place, I envy you. If you understand what I’m talking about, read on.

Even when you don’t feel thankful, there are things to be thankful for. I recall sitting down to eat one night recently after a day in which almost everything went wrong. I did not feel like praising God or thanking anyone. I started my prayer by saying, “Lord, you know I’m not feeling thankful right now, but I’m going to thank you anyhow.” Once I had said that, I started to remember things for which I really was thankful. There were blessings the day before, and I knew there would be blessings the day after, and at a minimum, I could thank God that I had a roof over my head and a meal to sustain me while I yelled at him!

There are Psalms for your bad moods. Take advantage of them. Realize that you can be honest with God. But remember the Psalms for all the time. “I will bless you every day!” Yes, even on the bad ones. Even on the day of your death. “Of splendor, honor, and majesty . . . I will sing.” God’s splendor, honor, and majesty don’t diminish when I have a bad day.

There may be a duty here, a duty to praise, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the benefit of praise. If I deny myself the opportunity to praise God when I’m down, I’m going to stay down. Things are going to get worse, not better. I need to praise, because I need to get out of the pit and get on with life. Psalm 145:1-5 gives me that opportunity. These things are not things that change with the moment. They are there all the time. You can honestly praise God, no matter what.

“I will bless you every day!” Call that a plan!

Blessed Be the Name of the LORD written & sung by Matt Redman

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He Touches Me

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Jody Neufeld

The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones.2 He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. 3 Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?”

“O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.”

4 Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! 6 I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord…’”

“They will never again pollute themselves with their idols and vile images and rebellion, for I will save them from their sinful backsliding. I will cleanse them. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.”       Ezekiel 37:1-6, 23 (NLT)

These are Words of Life for the Israelites, spoken by God through His servant, the prophet Ezekiel. They are also Words of Life for me, spoken by God to my heart.

I always wanted to be a “good girl.” Thanks be to God, I never did drugs, despite the offers. I was certainly strong-willed and rebellious toward my parents and their rules. My relationship with God was superficial at best and involved ignoring Him as much as possible.

I tried my best to navigate through life on my own intelligence and choices. By the time I had reached the age of 40 I was exhausted and at the end of my rope with no safety net. I could not figure out how to live a “good” life. I was losing, in so many different ways, in this game called life. Was there any possibility that God was interested in me? Would He forgive me and heal me and bring life into this dried up spirit? Can I become a living person again? Truly, only God knew the answer.

This imagery of a valley of dry bones does describe where I was living. There was no lasting life, no strength, no joy inside of me. Until the night I reached out and said, “Help me, LORD!” and He took my hand and life came into me! It truly did feel like I went from being cold and lifeless to warm and alive! God’s breath, His Spirit, came into me and I knew I was His child and He was my LORD.

And God did not stop there. Isn’t that the most extraordinary thing? God sent His Son to be the perfect, the only sacrifice that could cover my sins and give me e-t-e-r-n-a-l life and He didn’t stop there! He sent His Spirit to continue to teach and guide me. When I begin to slide back into my old life, God is there to show me the road where He is.

God spoke to my dry spirit and breathed His Spirit into me and continues to do that every day when we spend time together. I am His child. He is my LORD.

He Touched Me written by Bill Gaither & sung by The Bill Gaither Vocal Band

I hope you enjoyed the comedy of Mark Lowery! I meant to send you the song, “He Touched Me” so here is the link. — Jody

Posted in Ezekiel | Comments Off on He Touches Me

Live in Faith

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Jody Neufeld

Jesus then said, “I am the one who raises the dead to life! Everyone who has faith in me will live, even if they die. And everyone who lives because of faith in me will never really die. Do you believe this?”      John 11:25-26 (CEV)

There is such Hope in these words. Live, not because of what I have achieved or even because of my failures, but live because of faith in Jesus. My life is not limited because of any earthly circumstance.

Each day is an opportunity. Every day is an opportunity to begin again. If yesterday was the pits (for whatever reason), today I can start again. I can turn in a new direction. I can view a problem or my present circumstances with a new perspective. I can even lay the burden down into the hands of my Savior. If the burden I carry is heavy and destructive, it is for God to carry because He said His burdens are light (Matthew 11:30). Am I wimp if I admit I can’t “do it,” and turn it over to God? I believe I am being a child of God who has learned how ridiculous it is to say, “I do it myself, Daddy” and instead allows my Father God to care for me.

Pain, suffering and death are defeated. There will be pain and suffering in this life. Those are characteristics of this world. Whether disease, mudslides, terrible random accidents and crimes, this world is a place where suffering permeates the lives of us all. Without the knowledge and faith in God’s promises, I would be overwhelmed and beaten down by the pain in so many lives. This does not mean that I understand the “why” of it all nor do I have a definitive answer as to God’s plan in all of it. What I do know is that God is here in all circumstances and He is faithful to hold and comfort me and carry me through every day.

Abundant life is a reality. I have often heard people quote John 10:10 as if it is some contract between them and Jesus to fulfill their every wish. God is not Santa Claus and Jesus is not the Genie in the lamp! An abundant life is one filled with God’s grace and mercy, freeing me from the prison of my sins and allowing me to joyfully follow Christ’s example to serve God’s children and magnify God so we may all know Him better.

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth.“Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”

“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered.“This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.”      John 9:1-3 (NLT)

Am I transparent so God’s power can be seen in me? Do I live honestly, admitting when I just do not know but trust God’s goodness and mercy in my life? When the winds and storms of this world blow, do I bow my head in prayer and allow the rain to roll off my back? Do I allow God’s children to surround me with prayer and the power of His love in them?

What do you believe? Have faith in Jesus Christ and LIVE an abundant life!

Above All written by Paul Baloche & sung by Michael W Smith

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Weep Not for Me

Posted on March 27, 2014 by Jody Neufeld

No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. 4 And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads.5 And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.    Revelation 22:3-5 (NLT)

In this life, I have been blessed with some wonderful people who have left footprints on my soul. By that I mean they made an impression on my life that has changed the course of my life. They have taught me, sometimes in words but often I was taught by being a witness to their life.

I was taught the LORD’s meaning of grace as they poured out love on others without fanfare or any recognition or payback.

I was shown a true to life reenactment of Christ’s mercy as they forgave another and freed themselves from the destructive intent of unforgiveness and bitterness.

I learned what it meant to be a servant of God as they put aside their own agendas for visible success and instead chose to be invisible and forgettable as they gave of their time and talents in God’s vineyard.

I learned how to reach out and plug into the Holy Spirit for His courage to live in the face of life-threatening illness and face death as already defeated while taking a last breath in this life.

He [Jesus] replied,“The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.      Acts 1:7 (NLT)

I do not know the day or time when Jesus will return to bring God’s children home any more than I know whether He will call me home before He comes back. But like those who have taught me so much and gone to their promised reward, I have also learned from their perspective that death is not the ultimate ending but instead the most glorious beginning! The opening of the door into eternal life is the fulfillment of the greatest gift of God’s love for me. Jesus, the Son of God, my Savior and prefect Redeemer chose to lay down His life so that I might live.

My tears at the departure of those I love are tears for my own mortal grief at our separation. They do not weep for they are finally headed home. Home means they will never again be separated from their Creator and Father. They make that journey, not reluctantly, but fly away on the wings of God’s glory. “Weep not for me, Jody. I am headed home.”

I’ll Fly Away written by Albert E Brumley (1929) & sung by The Preservation Hall Jazz Band & The Del McCoury Band

Posted in Acts, Revelation | Comments Off on Weep Not for Me

Grace: Comes Full Circle

Posted on March 26, 2014 by Jody Neufeld

[reprinted from January 15, 2010]

— Henry Neufeld

When Jesus and his disciples had finished eating, he asked, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than the others do?” Simon Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know I do!”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus said. Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you!”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus told him. Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus had asked him three times if he loved him. So he told Jesus, “Lord, you know everything. You know I love you.”
Jesus replied, “Feed my sheep. I tell you for certain that when you were a young man, you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will hold out your hands. Then others will wrap your belt around you and lead you where you don’t want to go.” Jesus said this to tell how Peter would die and bring honor to God. Then he said to Peter, “Follow me!”         John 21:15-19 (CEV)

Jesus had found the disciples on the shore of Lake Galilee. They had gone back right to where they had started. They were out fishing on the lake.

I would feel very discouraged if I had taught a group of folks for more than three years, expecting them to take up teaching when I left, and then found that at the first opportunity in my absence, they went back to their old profession.

Jesus doesn’t respond in frustration to people in that way. Jesus patiently leads people back to the path that he has tried to set them on. He’s here to remind Peter—along with the rest of the disciples—of what their mission is all about.

Jesus doesn’t talk in terms of respect that they are to show him. He doesn’t ask them why he has to fix breakfast when he visits a bunch of fishermen. He doesn’t scold. But he does question. “Peter, how important am I to you? Do you really love me?”

Do you ever hear Jesus asking you that question? “Do you really care about me? Do you care about the gospel? Are you thankful that I came and died for you? Does that thankfulness extend beyond an hour of church time on Sunday morning?”

Our human hearts would lead us to ask, “Well, Jesus, how much time do you want me to spend in church? Is two hours good enough?”

I suspect that Jesus would ask again, “Do you love me?”

Jesus doesn’t want our love counted in hours in church, or in time spent in Bible study, or in the various things that we like to do that make us feel good and pious and righteous. He doesn’t want love that is calculated at all. He gave incalculable love to us. What is the proper size of the response? All those things, Bible study, church going, fellowship, listening and meditating, are things that we would do just to be near him—if we loved him.

Coming to the point of love that is a real response to the sacrifice of Jesus will mean that we no longer count and calculate the time we spend with him. Jesus didn’t talk about the time Peter spent or should spend with him. Jesus looked at it very differently. “If you love me, care for the ones I love. Feed my sheep, feed my lambs.” John, in his first epistle puts it this way:

But if we say we love God and don’t love each other, we are liars. We cannot see God. So how can we love God, if we don’t love the people we can see? The commandment that God has given us is: “Love God and love each other!” 1 John 4:20 & 21 (CEV)

John got the message that Jesus was giving to Peter. It’s not how good or active we look. The activities we do to be in the presence of Jesus are just the result of love’s desire to be with the object of love. We long to be with Jesus. We don’t count the hours. If we are counting the hours, perhaps there is something wrong.

Jesus asks that we have an active love for those he loves; that we share his heart for other people.

“Do you really love me? Will you feed my sheep until it costs you what it cost me?”

And Can It Be written by Charles Wesley, arranged & sung by Lindell Cooley

Posted in 1 John, Devotional, John | Comments Off on Grace: Comes Full Circle

Why Not?

Posted on March 25, 2014 by Jody Neufeld

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there,2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”          John 2:1-3 (NIV)

The apostle John gives this account of the first miracle in Jesus’ ministry. As I read I see John getting to know this Teacher he is following. They are invited to a wedding feast. Weddings in this time and place were celebrated for days and wine was as important as a wedding cake is to our modern celebrations. If the wedding cake does not show up for the wedding – everyone will notice and the family giving the celebration will be embarrassed. Wine for this feast had run out and Mary was moved with compassion for the family. There was a problem and she took it to Jesus.

As I meditated on this principle – I have a problem. I take it to Jesus. – I asked myself, “Why not?” What keeps me from turning to Jesus, from praying or talking a problem over with Him first? Instead of Jesus being my first inclination, I struggle and then say, “Well all I can do is pray” as if it is the only option left.

God did not intend for me to just sit and use Him as a vending machine. This is not without merit. God gave me a brain and talents and He expects me to use them and not waste them. When I was in nursing school, I learned many new skills. The first time I scrubbed for an operation, my instructor was right there with me. I had read and seen the scrubbing technique demonstrated but I needed someone right with me to make sure I carried out the theory in practice. I believe God would like to be in on more discussions about problems and He might have some input on potential problems in my plan!

I want to be independent. I was watching a video of a toddler as she used a spoon to eat some fruit. She stuck with it and was getting most of it to her mouth but the last pieces were a bit small so she dropped the spoon and just stuck her hand in the bowl, which was a technique in which she had more experience!

From childhood, I struggle to become more independent. My first car and my first apartment were milestones I celebrated as I moved away from my dependence on my parents. I quickly learned independence had hidden costs but I learned and succeeded. I also learned that depending on someone else came with disappointments which spurred me on to be more independent.

While independence is a good characteristic of growing up and maturing, I believe a parent should also instill in their children that no matter how old they are or how far they roam, their parents are there for them. And I have certainly learned God is always there for me.

The problem isn’t really important. When I look at my problems and concerns, I often think that in comparison to the global problems, I am pretty insignificant. I apply my limitations to God. He has only so much time and attention to give and my problems fall off the list to make room for wars and catastrophic disasters.

God told Zephaniah that He “rejoices over” His children (Zephaniah 3:17). The psalmist said God rescued him because He “delights in him.” (Psalm 18:19) God loves me. So why not bring my problems and worries to Him?

So I’m going to put the tea kettle on and pull up another chair and talk to Jesus about what is on my mind today. And I’m thinking, based on the testimonies of others who have gone before me, I will leave the burdens with Him and do what He says. Yes, why not go with God’s plan?!

Through Heaven’s Eyes composed by Hans Zimmer and sung by Brian Stokes Mitchell

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