God Speaks and Cares About the Future

The Future! I don't know about you, but whenever I think about that phrase, I can hear a garbled voice echoing those words over and over.  Maybe it is from a movie or TV show that I can't remember or just something dumb my mind has come up with. Whatever the case, thinking about the future often comes with much apprehension and even some scariness. 

Matthew 6:34--"So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time."

At the end of the past three school years (2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021), I have turned in my end of the year papers, badges, keys, etc. with expectations of going back to that same position in the Fall. God has always had different plans it seems. In August 2019, I was asked by that employer to work part-time instead of full-time. Since I need a full-time job to be able to help pay the bills, I had to search elsewhere. By God's grace, a position had just become open at a school system five minutes from my house. I worked there enthusiastically until March 2020, when CoVid hit. Even then, I continued to work outside my job description and contracted dates by helping with the Food Program there. It certainly was a time of great need for food as the students and their families were unable to get the food they typically did from the schools or from the grocery stores at first. Once I turned in my keys and badge, I had full expectations of returning IF schools were going to be open. Almost like deja vu, in August 2020, I was informed that I (along with 80 some others) were going to be laid off.  Again, by God's grace, I happened upon a new position opening. Although we went 6 weeks without a second income, God provided. Even though my current salary is 30% less than at my previous employment, God still provides. 

Psalm 94:19--"And when I was burdened with worries, you comforted me and made me feel secure

As I turned in my badge this year, I was met with a little apprehension. With the last two years in mind, who knows what will happen before the end of August. Two things I know are that God holds the future and He will provide. 

Luke 12:22-25--"(then, to His disciples) This is why I keep telling you not to worry about anything in life—about what you’ll eat, about how you’ll clothe your body. Life is more than food, and the body is more than fancy clothes. Think about those crows flying over there: do they plant and harvest crops? Do they own silos or barns? Look at them fly. It looks like God is taking pretty good care of them, doesn’t it? Remember that you are more precious to God than birds! Which one of you can add a single hour to your life or 18 inches[a] to your height by worrying really hard?"

God does not want us to worry about the future. For those who believe, He has us in His hands and will guide and direct our paths. God wants for all to trust and believe in Him!  Sometimes we are apprehensive about even our distant future. Sometimes we are confronted, not just with year to year questions, but questions about when we get old, when our parents get old, when our kids get old, when the grandchildren get old, and sometimes even when we leave this earth.  God does not want us to worry about any of those things either. Because we live in a broken world, there is no guarantee about the future for any of us. I wish I could tell you that trusting in God will bring bright and cheery sunshine rays to you for the rest of your life, but that is not the case. What I can guarantee is that for those that believe in God, once we leave this earth, it will be bright and cheery sunshine rays forever after. 

Jeremiah 29:11--"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

I also know that God will provide for our futures here on earth. Even when faced with an uncertain future, God will provide for those that love Him. His provision may not always be the way WE think it should be and we may not always see a way out or a purpose to what is happening, but God knows, God has His hand in it, and God will provide!

Philippians 4:19--"And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus."

God Speaks Even When...

Have you ever been discouraged or feeling run down? That is the way I have been feeling lately. It has taken me longer than I wanted to write this post because I have just been uninspired. Between CoVid stuff and other issues, I have truthfully just not FELT like writing. Many days I have prayed, "God I need some inspiration for my blog.  Give me inspiration!  How else do You speak to us?"  And then, after several days, God brings two things to mind.  The first is Habakkuk 3:17-18, which is one of my all-time favorite verses.  I've used it in a previous blog so didn't want to use it again, BUT when God is nudging you, you do it! 

Habakkuk 3:17-18, "Even if the fig tree does not blossom and there are no grapes on the vines, If the olive trees fail to give fruit and the fields produce no food, If the flocks die far from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls; Then I will still rejoice in the Eternal! I will rejoice in the God who saves me!" 

This is from "The Voice" translation. Another version says as its last line "YET will I REJOICE in the Lord" and another "YET will I TRIUMPH in the Lord".  What is exciting in this verse is the reminder that even when we feel discouraged, even when we feel down, we can and should still rejoice in the Lord. He is in control of everything and will continue to take care of us!

The other nudge that came to mind was "Seek God". Why should I just be sitting around waiting for inspiration when I should be seeking God for that inspiration?

Matthew 6:33, says, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and then all these things will be given to you too."

Seek God first! He promises that if we seek Him with all our heart, we will find Him!

Proverbs 8:17, "I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me."

Jeremiah 29:13, "You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart."

Deuteronomy 4:29, "But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul."

God not only promises that we will find Him is we seek Him. He also promises blessings to those that seek Him.

Psalms 34:10, "The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing."

Psalms 119:2, "Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,"

Lamentations 3:25, "The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him."

It is good to remember; however, that even though God promises blessings to those that seek Him, this does not mean that things will always be good. Bad times can still come upon those that seek and love God. It just means that God's blessings are more prevalent for those who seek Him and we will also have blessings in the future.  Even now, God is waiting for those that will seek Him. He is always there, it is up to us to make the move towards Him. God is constant and always reachable, we just have to make the move. He is not far from us.

Psalms 14:2, "The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God."

Psalms 69:32, "When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive."

Acts 17:27, "that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,"

1 Chronicles 22:19a, "Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God."

18

God Speaks About Faith

Gerd Altmann

Got Faith?  Those who are old enough will remember the commercials from a while back: "Got Milk?" This phrase became somewhat of a novelty and derivatives of it are still used to this day. At the time, I had written a little play for a local Christian school at which I taught. The play was entitled "Got Faith?".  Faith is defined as "complete confidence or trust in someone or something". To a lot of people, faith is a word often associated with religion/Christianity. Mainstream scientists and non-Christians will "fuss" with Christians about how they can believe in God of have faith in the things of the Bible when there is no proof. First, let me say, there is a lot of proof and it is becoming more and more evident everyday. Second, yes it is faith that allows us to believe in these things; however, those who believe in evolution and other non-Biblical science ideals must also have faith in something with little to no proof. They must have as much, if not more, faith to believe that all of the known processes in the world came about by chance, rather than by design of a Creator. 

PikPng.com

Everyday examples of faith, listed on Quora.com, include: buying products on-line without trying them first; many entrepreneurial endeavors; choosing a mate; and choosing a career with no previous experience in the field. Quora.com also says, "Faith is baked into how humans make decisions. It’s also baked into values, beliefs, and actions regarding the future". Additionally, "These are the acts of the courageous in history—these are the decisions about which the greatest acts in the history of humanity have been based." We can see that faith is involved in many things in life. I was listening to a local Christian radio station the other day and heard a song that I had heard many times before, but this time a particular phrase jumped out at me. The song was "Resurrecting" by Elevation Worship and can be heard here.  One of the stanzas in this song is "The tomb where soldiers watched in vain was borrowed for three days".  I have since seen this phrase (borrowed tomb) used in other songs and references and it really struck me. How much faith Joseph of Arimathea must have had to give his pre-purchased tomb for Jesus' burial knowing that he would not have to purchase another spot for himself and possibly his family too. 

The Bible tells us that Joseph was a rich man and a member of the Sanhedrin; however, he was also a secret follower of Jesus and was in fear of being persecuted by the fellow Sanhedrin. Some scholars suggest that he may have been a relative of Jesus as well. Whoever he was, we know that he was an avid follower as all four gospels mention him. We also know of his faith. The Bible tells us that Joseph asked Pilate for the body of Jesus after He was dead and that Joseph and Nicodemus took Jesus down from the cross and prepared His body for burial. They placed Him in the tomb that Joseph had purchased for himself (and maybe his family) and then rolled the stone in front of the tomb. Joseph must have known that this wasn't the end. As a member of the Sanhedrin, Joseph was likely a Rabbi and was well-versed in Scripture. He likely knew of the prophecies about the Messiah and knew and believed that Jesus was Who He said He was....the Messiah. This means Joseph also knew that Jesus would rise again on the third day. Because of this, Joseph was willing to LOAN Jesus his tomb for a few days.  He knew he would get it back and be able to use it for himself later or maybe even a family member. May we all aspire to have the faith of Joseph of Arimathea!