Hands of Love

Nahum 1:12, "Tho I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more." 

The afflictions that God allows are soaked in grace. I don't think God is necessarily asking us to rejoice about the trial, but to rejoice about his presence in the trial. Rejoice in the knowledge that the trial has immense power and purpose because he is in it. We are only mounds of clay, slabs of marble, blocks of wood, seeds in the darkness, coal in the depths. Without his precision and holy craftsmanship wielding the tools, we are hopeless, shapeless, without meaning or purpose. Being his child means trusting our Father (Abba) to not only push us beyond our limits for our own good and for his glory. But, to also have complete and utter faith in him that he knows exactly when to withhold and withdraw the heated process. Humans love comfort. However, God, in his loving wisdom knows we need to be pushed out of our comfort zone for our full potential to bring him glory. The process is what makes us who we were intended to be. He loves us too much to leave us untouched by the master's love and skillful hand. Only he knows who we were truly meant to be and what purposes we were meant to fulfill. 

Romans 12:2, Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then, you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will.

"The Book of ______"

Every year when I read through the book of Exodus I'm tempted to just skip over all the details that seem redundant. But a few years ago I found the beauty that God wanted me to see in the book of Exodus. What I gleaned was how detailed God was and how he blessed and equipped through the Holy Spirit people that were called to do specific things to bring him glory. Two specific men are mentioned in Exodus chapter 35, Bezalel and Oholiab. Every project needs a project manager that can head and direct all the workers to achieve one goal. God chose Bezalel and through his Holy Spirit he gifted him with everything that he would need to be the head craftsman for the building of the tabernacle tent. Similar to how God gave Joshua as an assistant to Moses, God gave Bezalel, Oholiab.

You can read Exodus 35:30-35 or all of Exodus 35 or all of Exodus to more deeply understand God's precise plans and how he provides for those plans to come to fruition. When we look at Exodus it provides a blueprint of how God works. As detail oriented as he was with the building of the tent, That's how detailed he is in how he  blesses you with specific gifts and how he provides from all kinds of sources for you to do the work that he calls you to do. 

Not one person is born without a purpose from God. It may be as simple as serving others in the mundane of daily life to choosing to glorify him on a stage rather than pleasing the world from that platform. Some of us are gifted with artistic abilities, some with crafting. Some have a small quiet area of service while others might be leaders and delegators. Some may be called to be foster parents of 12 children where someone else could be called to mother one child. Some are called to be married and some are not. Some are called to build families and some have not been given that ministry but are called to minister to others by understanding their disappointments and pain, called to comfort and council. Some are called to cook meals and serve in their community where others may be called to other countries to bring the gospel to those who have not heard it. 

Large or small, noticed or unnoticed, we all have gifts that we are called to use for God's glory. Whatever gift we are given he will surely bless us with the abilities that we will require through his Holy Spirit. He will also provide all resources that are needed.

I encourage you to do this assignment. Sit down with paper and pen and write your book of the Bible. Title it the book of ______. Put your name in the blank. Ask God to help you write the story of what he has called you to do and how he's gifted you to do it. What he wants others to read and glean from your story. How is he being glorified in your life through your gifts that he gave you. 

When our lives are over and we stand before the King, he will ask us one question, "What did you do with the gifts that I gave you?"

Visual eyes

Psalms 94:18-19 NIV

[18] When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. [19] When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.

I used to judge people that had a fear of heights. I would say to them, "What if your child was at the edge of a cliff and they were going to crawl off?! You wouldn't have a fear of heights then would you?!" I had no concept of that kind of anxiety so I had a very hard time empathizing. Until, we were on one of our yearly trips to the High Sierras to go hiking. We had to go up Tioga pass which is a very narrow two-way road that was carved into the side of a sheer cliff. After doing it year after year, this one particular year my heart started to pound! I had seen a larger view from the car of exactly where we were and realized if one rock came loose it would pop us and the car into oblivion. The fear became so overwhelming that I felt paralyzed. Like I couldn't move, but the inside of me was a storm of anxiety. Ever since that day I have had that reaction to heights. 

As I read today's scripture it made me think of that memory. I have formed a habit of closing my eyes after I read certain scriptures and putting myself into a situation in my mind that would make me experience that Scripture on a full level. I was stuck climbing once and I was slipping. All I could think of was falling to my death or that I would be paralyzed the rest of my life. I remember those moments of fear before I found a steady place for my hand to grab on to. 

While reading the scripture I pictured myself on a high, sheer cliff. The kind you see mountain goats on. So incredibly high that you could almost see the rest of the world from it. My heart was pounding and the anxiety was so great inside of me because I couldn't find a place for my foot to go and my hands were getting so tired. Then, I envisioned Jesus cupping his hand under my foot. Oh, that feeling of relief and support. The comfort of knowing I wasn't alone with that horrible feeling and situation. The exhale of relief. He securely stabilized my foot and lifted me to a secure place. He came up beside me and secured his arm around my waist. He supported me when I couldn't support myself. Each step we took he encouraged me and consoled me. 

After arriving at the top of the mountain we sat together. We talked for a long time and I knew that I would never be the same. I knew that whenever I was afraid I would know that he was there. That, in the future when I had great anxiety he would console me and comfort me. What joy I felt knowing how precious I was to him. Through those times of suffering he built in me endurance, character and hope. (Romans 5:3-5). And through those times of trusting him with all my heart, I learned how to stop trying to control everything and to trust him in all my ways. (Proverbs 3:5-6), "Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

    and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways submit to him,

    and he will make your paths straight." 

When you read scripture, try this visual exercise. Close your eyes and picture yourself in a situation where you would be feeling those feelings. Then, see your Savior doing exactly what he promises in his word. It's a very powerful experience that cements his word into your brain cells. You may not recall that scripture but you will recall his faithfulness and goodness. You will never forget the experience or the lesson that he taught you through it.

Psalms 94:18-19 NIV

[18] When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. [19] When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.

Don't just read God's word, experience it.

The Joy of Hope

Genesis 37-50. 

When it came to Joseph's heart, reconciliation and reuniting with his brothers and family was more important to him than holding a grudge or punishing them. Joseph said, "What Satan intended for evil God worked out for good." (Genesis 50:20). Joseph saw the bigger picture and looked forward not backward. Jumping into forgiveness with both feet was the vision he had for those relationships. His heart was not stubborn or revengeful. It was THE JOY OF HOPE that he trusted in through all of his struggles. The joy of family ties being mended and restored. 

If you're having problems in a relationship whether it be friend, family, spouse... I encourage you to quiet yourself before the Lord and ask him what he wants to change in YOU first. Humble yourself before him. Let him point out the areas in you that he wants to work on. Before you try to work on any other relationship you have to give God permission to work in you. Whatever relationship is suffering let it just set on the back burner until you are right with God. You need to trust me on this one. When you sit before God and ask him to be honest with you, he will reveal things by speaking the truth in love that you need to hear. (Proverbs 13:24, Hebrews 12:6, Proverbs 12:1) ⬅️ Read these.

Then, start praying for those that are involved. Pray that God would humble their hearts and heal them of any control issues. Pray that they would find Peace in forgiveness and humility in their stubbornness. 

When God sees that those involved have let him work in their lives he will draw them together with soft hearts and new attitudes. Reconciliation can bloom and forgiveness lovingly given. All Hearts will have been submitted to God and desiring to be obedient to his definition of love (Corinthians chapter 13), not ours. 

So many relationships today are fractured. It's as if some people are standing on one side of a great ravine and others are standing on the other side. Everyone's yelling at each other, turning their backs or walking away. The only bridge is Jesus Christ. He is the example that we should all follow. Talk less, forgive more and trust God to change all hearts involved. Only he can do the changes that need to be done. Humility, forgiveness, reconciliation and healing are only possible when you know the love that he showed toward us. Stop trying to fix things. Give God full control over the situation. We cannot bring about those changes with human effort. His love needs to penetrate deep into our pain and change us from the inside out. Building his character and attributes in us. Blessing us with his wisdom, knowledge, understanding, discernment, insight... He needs us to ask him to do great works in us through his Holy Spirit. To replace our emotions with the Spirit of God. 

What is broken, He can repair, what is crooked, he can make straight, but we must step aside and not shadow the work that he wants to do. Find your peace with God before you try to find it with another human being. Pray that they would seek healing with God before they try to fix things with you. 

We can do nothing apart from the vine. (John 15:4-5) If we want to see good fruit in our life, we must let him flow through us. That's the only way other people will see the goodness of God in our lives. And if we are up against someone who is stubborn and prideful we must forgive them and pray for them fervently. That they would humble themselves before God. God wants there to be "glory stories"  that bring hope and wisdom for other people that are going through such circumstances. 

Lastly, I encourage you to praise God before the blessing. Thank him and praise him for hearing your prayers and for answering them. Changing people's hearts takes time, so be patient. God can do it in a second but he has to work with stubborn hearts and that's what makes it take so long. Be patient, be still and know that he is God. (Psalm 46:10). Stand on his promises (read your Bible and keep a journal of his promises), rejoice in him no matter what the circumstances. The fervent prayers of a righteous person availeth much. (James 5:16).

Think about small children. There are some that have such a spirit of stubbornness that they make life hard for themselves and those around them. Then, there are children that love to crawl up on your lap as you tell them a story. Both can have the blessings of God to their fullest but one will have a harder path than the other. Which kind of child of God do you want to be? Will you dwell in your emotions while you kick and scream that things aren't fair. Or, will you sit on the Father's lap and humble yourself to listen to his instructions. 

And the little children came to him and he blessed them.

Matthew (19:13-15), Mark (10:13-16), and Luke (18:15-17).

 

Note: I was a little bit of both. I was stubborn and emotional but at the same time I knew that God had a plan for me. I made a lot of lessons harder than they had to be. But, finally I learned to stop blaming God and realized that all he wanted was to bless me. I came to realize that growth comes through pain. SEEDS have to die before they can live, they are put into the cold dark soil and they have to fight to break into the light. Pearls, sea glass, diamonds... All have to suffer constant aggravation and pressure to shine. If you're feeling that your heart is stubborn before God, then, I encourage you to surrender. There is such peace when you don't have to control everything anymore. Trust in God's timing and rest assured that he hears your prayers and wants to bless you. When we are blessed he is glorified! So, ask him to work on you first. Pray for the others that are involved. Then, rest, knowing that he has everything under control.

All things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Proverbs 3:18, Wisdom: She is a tree of life for those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.

AI Overview

The Book of Proverbs emphasizes wisdom as crucial for a blessed life, starting with fearing the Lord (Proverbs 1:7, 9:10) and valuing it above riches (Proverbs 3:14-15, 16:16), as wisdom brings long life, peace, and success (Proverbs 3:16, 8:18). Key scriptures highlight that wisdom involves seeking understanding, listening to counsel, and applying knowledge for righteous living, contrasting it with foolishness (Proverbs 4:5-6, 12:15, 19:20). 

Shalom, Shalom