Tag: uncertainty

What If …

 What If​​ …

 Anyone who has listened to any news report within the last several days as heard these words. ​​ Hours upon hours have been spent speculating the ‘what ifs’. ​​ Consider the time, energy and resources that have gone into the ‘science’ of trying to figure out what might happen in this election and how people will respond. ​​ This is the epitome of living​​ in​​ uncertainty, without structure and a path to follow. ​​ As often as the direction seems to change, the predictions change. ​​ This is the world, being thrown to and fro with every passing circumstance. ​​ There​​ is another way – ​​​​ 

 Deuteronomy​​ 32:4 "The Rock! His work is perfect,​​ for all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice,​​ righteous and upright is He.

1Samuel​​ 2:2 "There is no one holy like the LORD,​​ indeed, there is no one besides Thee,​​ nor is there any rock like our God.

2Samuel​​ 22:2-3 And he said, "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;​​ my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;​​ my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge;​​ my savior, Thou dost save me from violence.

2Samuel​​ 22:47 "The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock;​​ and exalted be God, the rock of my salvation,

Psalm​​ 62:2 He only is my rock and my salvation,​​ my stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.

Isaiah​​ 51:1 ​​ "Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness,​​ who seek the LORD:​​ look to the rock from which you were hewn,​​ and to the quarry from which you were dug.

 Above are just a few of many scriptures referring to God as our Rock. ​​ What do we learn from the above scriptures?

  • God’s work is perfect, just, and faithful.

  • There is only one who is God, there is no other.

  • God is our strength, and our protection.

  • God is alive; in​​ Him is our salvation.

  • God is our security, our constant in a world of change.

  • We are to keep our focus on God, remembering His mercies.

Recall Jesus’ words in Matthew 7 –

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. "And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and [yet] it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock. "And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. "And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall." (v.24-27)

You​​ have two choices – either​​ you​​ build​​ your life​​ upon the Rock or​​ you​​ do not. ​​ One will provide security and​​ protection​​ no matter the circumstances surrounding you, the other will result in uncertainty and ruin. ​​ As I look around, I am amazed at God’s faithfulness to a faithless people. ​​ His love for each individual He created is beyond what we are able to comprehend. ​​ Man is sinful, there is no doubt. ​​ God is holy, there is no doubt. ​​ The suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ provides the bridge between​​ God and man. ​​ We need a​​ Savior,​​ and His name is Jesus. ​​ You​​ can choose to live in the ‘what ifs’ or​​ you​​ can choose to live in Christ, with​​ your roots​​ and security​​ planted on God, the Rock of our salvation. ​​ Protection and purpose for today, and certain hope for eternity​​ is available for all those who place their trust upon the Rock.

 

Focus Heavenward, Sharyn.

God is in Control

 We live in a world that seems out of​​ control. ​​ No matter how powerful words or knowledge or position may be, man is unable to direct his cause. ​​ We see this​​ evidence​​ all over the world. ​​ The year 2020 has proven to be devastating in areas of health, natural resources, the economy, violence, and fear. ​​ Our nation is now entering into the additional uncertainty of a presidential election which is forecast to lead to​​ civil​​ unrest no matter the result. ​​ People are confused and angry. ​​ So how do we respond? ​​ What can we do? ​​​​ We use the inerrant word given to us from God rather than​​ relying upon​​ the​​ wisdom​​ of men.

 First, focus on the truth that we know – man is out of​​ control;​​ however,​​ the world is under Divine control. ​​ Nothing​​ takes place​​ without the knowledge and allowance of God. ​​ 

Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is [like] channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.

Proverbs​​ 5:21 For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD,​​ and He watches all his paths.

Jeremiah 16:17 "For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity concealed from My eyes.

Jeremiah 32:17-19 'Ah Lord GOD! Behold, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and by Thine outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for Thee, who showest lovingkindness to thousands, but repayest the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them, O great and mighty God. The LORD of hosts is His name; great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, giving to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds;

Second, there is one certain solution for each of us –​​ 

  • Personally​​ respond to God’s grace given, declaring Christ as​​ your eternal King.​​ 

  • Choose​​ to live in obedience to His commands, and​​ 

  • Seek the peace that comes from knowing God is in complete control. ​​ 

Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace,

Psalm​​ 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; Seek peace, and pursue it.

Romans​​ 14:19 So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.

Third, recognize that nothing will happen or has happened without His perfect knowledge and plan. ​​ Our understanding of His plan is not required. ​​ However,​​ we are to​​ accept His sovereignty​​ over the earth. ​​ This response brings peace in the midst of an unsettled heart and nation.

Deuteronomy 4:39 "Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the LORD, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.

Psalm​​ 93:1 The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The LORD has clothed and girded Himself with strength; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.

Finally, there is much we can do after we respond in faith through God’s grace to His perfect plan.​​ 

  • Be a light in darkness.​​ Have empathy and compassion for the​​ lost.

  • Share the hope you have​​ in Christ​​ to those who will listen. ​​ 

  • Pray for God’s intervention and mercy in a world that does not seek Him or recognize Him as King.

  • Live in peace with all men as far as you are able. ​​ Put self last and Christ first in all your interactions.​​ 

2Corinthians 1:12 For our proud confidence is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.

Ephesians​​ 4:29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such [a word] as is good for edification according to the need [of the moment,] that it may give grace to those who hear.

Colossians​​ 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, [as it were,] with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person.

God knows all, God understands perfectly, and God has a plan which will lead to His glory in His time. ​​ God loves you and sent His Son to pay the price for your sin. Because of​​ this,​​ confusion and​​ anger will not be your response. ​​ Instead, peace will reside in your heart​​ no matter what may come. ​​​​ ​​ 

1Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, [be] honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Have You Not Heard?

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired.

 It would be so easy to allow discouragement to take over right now. ​​ Most of us have been directly affected by Covid19 in some way. ​​ Weddings have been altered or postponed, graduations have been quiet,​​ trips have been cancelled,​​ babies are born without family visiting, and memorials of those we know and love who have passed on are held remotely. ​​ 

 Many individuals have learned to set up conference calls from home so they can continue to work, many others have been sent home without any return date for work. ​​ Still, those who are continuing to be needed in order to run our society, go into work​​ in​​ trepidation, wondering if they will be exposed to this virus and become the next casualty, or bring it home to their families.​​ 

 Children are home all day every day. ​​ Their team sports and activities have been cancelled; their uniforms are left unworn, high-fives left undone.​​ There is disappointment in considering the​​ things we may be missing.​​ ​​ The lack of social connection may be more difficult for some than others, yet there is no denying our lives have changed. ​​ We are used to celebrating and gathering. ​​ No one is immune to boredom, uncertainty, and depression.​​ ​​ Hearts are in danger of becoming heavy with anxiety and concern.

 If you have been to a store to pick up necessities, people keep their distance as directed by authorities. ​​ Empty shelves and long lines have become expected. ​​ The fight is real to remain focused on all that is good. ​​ I was surprised at my own response when my phone alerted me with several text messages, one right after the other. ​​ Instead of checking it right away, I waited and wondered if it would be news of someone I know having become ill. ​​ I now have a much better understanding of the word​​ pandemic.​​ If you look up the definition, you will read it is a disease spread over a wide geographical area, which affects a large portion of the population. ​​ From my observation alone, it appears the word​​ panic​​ should be included in the definition. ​​ 

 We may not have a cure for Covid19​​ at this time, but experts are diligently working to find one. ​​ It may seem that just about everything is completely out of control and this is​​ perhaps​​ a fair assessment. ​​ However, there is hope for​​ boredom, uncertainty and​​ depression. ​​ We are able to​​ find peace​​ in the midst of​​ crisis. ​​​​ 

 What​​ is the cure for boredom and weariness, uncertainty and depression? ​​​​ Jesus Christ, the Creator of the universe,​​ the​​ Lord and Savior of the world,​​ holds the cure for mankind. ​​ There is no greater answer. ​​​​ However difficult this period of time might be, this is a reminder to those who know God that He is in complete control – even of those things that do not make sense to us or seem exceptionally difficult. ​​​​ 

 Isaiah 40:28-31 Do you not know?​​ ​​ Have you not heard?​​ ​​ The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired.​​ ​​ His understanding is inscrutable. ​​​​ He gives strength to the weary, and to [him who] lacks might He increases power.​​ ​​ Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly,​​ yet​​ those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up [with] wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.

 Worldwide economic depression and mass unemployment, business closures, and even lives lost are not without​​ God’s​​ knowledge and understanding. ​​ There​​ are opportunities​​ in all of this​​ to share​​ the hope you have with those who need encouragement.​​ ​​ If you have breath for today, you have reason to​​ praise God.​​ 

 Look inside​​ your own heart​​ and ask​​ yourself, what or​​ whom​​ are​​ you​​ living for? ​​ What is​​ your purpose in life? ​​ What do​​ you​​ look forward to? ​​ The​​ answers to these questions, when​​ based on Truth,​​ are the same as they have always been. ​​​​ We live for​​ God, our purpose is to glorify His name and we look forward to an eternity in heaven with Him. ​​ Nothing that has true value has changed at all! ​​ There is hope for the future. ​​ I pray you are encouraged.

 

Focus Heavenward, Sharyn.

@focusheavenward

thensingsmysoultothee.com

“Until Death Do We Meet”

 

Be Still

Yes, I know; be still. It’s okay. Trust. No need to get all worked up. Take a deep breath. Shhhhh.

Babies. ​​ Toddlers. ​​ Busyness. ​​ Constantness. ​​ Nap time. ​​ Needed! ​​ 

Most of us can relate to the sudden, sweet quiet of a busy home during nap time or when, finally, children are in bed for the night. ​​ The atmosphere quiets down and suddenly you are able to actually think, or get something done, or just be still and breathe deeply for a few moments. ​​ I remember cherishing that small piece of quiet time where my brain could reorganize with no interruptions. ​​ We should wave a banner that says, ‘Adults need quiet time too’!

Or, picture a quickly beating heart stirred from emotions of excitement or fear or anger or​​ uncertainty or even​​ pleasure. ​​ Think of speech that elevates​​ in volume or has become nervously fast. ​​ The rushing around of needing to get things done. ​​ The feeling that you have to do something right now or fix a problem immediately. ​​ Sometimes we can feel like we’re on a playground merry-go-round. ​​ You know, the metal ones that have the bars you hold onto and then the ‘strong’ kid comes and decides to spin it really fast while you desperately try to hold on without getting sick?!

Be still.​​ ​​ 

2Ki 2:1-5​​ And it came about when the LORD was about to take up Elijah by a whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.​​ 2​​ And Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here please, for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.​​ 3​​ Then the sons of the prophets who [were at] Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?" And he said, "Yes, I know;​​ be still."​​ 4​​ And Elijah said to him, "Elisha, please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to Jericho." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho.​​ 5​​ And the sons of the prophets who [were] at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?" And he answered, "Yes, I know;​​ be still."

<chashah> to hush or keep quiet:--hold peace, keep silence, be silent, (be) still.

Elisha was totally aware that God had plans for Elijah. ​​ Only Enoch had been taken up to heaven in the same manner without a physical death. ​​ Others wanted to talk about it. ​​​​ As Elijah was making his rounds making his last visits, probably saying good bye,​​ Elisha was​​ being​​ questioned both at Bethel and again at Jericho. ​​​​ You can almost​​ hear​​ the prophets saying, ‘Oh my, you know what’s going on right, what are you going to do?’ or ‘Can you believe what’s going to happen?’ ​​​​ This must have been hard for Elisha. ​​ Consider, this was the one he had followed and walked through Jordan with. He learned from Elijah.​​ And​​ what​​ was​​ Elisha’s response​​ to the questions? ​​ Yes, I know;​​ be still. ​​​​ It’s okay. ​​ Trust. ​​ No need to get all worked up. ​​ Take a deep breath. ​​ Shhhhh. ​​​​ We know it was hard for Elisha to say farewell to his friend and mentor,​​ 2Ki 2:12 And Elisha saw [it] and cried out, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces,​​ but he gives us a great example of trusting God for His plan. ​​ What did he ask? ​​ For God’s blessing to be upon him. ​​ 2Ki 2:9​​ Now it came about when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you." And Elisha said, "Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me."​​ Not for God to change the plan. ​​​​ Be still. ​​​​ Hold your peace. ​​ Be silent. ​​ Trust.

Do we accept God’s plan? ​​ Choose to not question even if it seems ‘out of this world’ impossible? ​​ Even when we know it will cause pain through loss?

Turn to Nehemiah. ​​ Ne 8:11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved." ​​​​ We see the Levites repeating to those who could not hear Nehemiah to lay aside their​​ worry, their pain, their anger, displeasure,​​ and​​ grievances. ​​ Anything that was a distraction from worship. ​​ Be still. ​​​​ Right now, be still. ​​ For a time, be still.

<hacah>​​ to hush:--hold peace (tongue), (keep) silence, be silent, still.

When I read the above definition, I immediately thought to the struggle I had in keeping my talk silent. ​​ Some of us feel uncomfortable with​​ silence​​ when we’re with others or we feel there should be a conversation developing. ​​ Learning to be okay with ​​ unresponsiveness and not feeling the need to ‘fill in the gaps’ has been an incredible tool God has taught me in improving my listening and understanding of others. ​​ Silence is good. ​​ It gives us time to digest words said earlier. ​​ It gives us time to think. ​​ It gives others time to think. ​​ Try it! ​​ Stop talking and​​ be still.

Are we able to put our cares aside as we come before the Lord in worship and prayer? ​​ Do the concerns on our heart shadow our ability to fully rejoice in Him? ​​​​ Can we rest in His holiness?

Ps 4:4 Tremble, and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and​​ be still. Selah.

<damam>​​ to be dumb; by implication, to be astonished, to stop; also to perish:--cease, be cut down (off), forbear, hold peace, quiet self, rest, be silent, keep (put to) silence, be (stand) still, tarry, wait.

Read the first five verses​​ of this Psalm. ​​ Hear David’s call to God for his own safety, for the concern of others and then his trust in knowing God hears him and finally his response to wait. ​​ Be still.

Ps 4:1-5​​ (For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.) Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! Thou hast​​ relieved me in my distress; be gracious to me and hear my prayer.​​ 2​​ O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach? [How long] will you love what is worthless and aim at deception? Selah.​​ 3​​ But know that the LORD has set apart the godly man for Himself; the LORD hears when I call to Him.​​ 4​​ Tremble, and do not sin; meditate in your heart upon your bed, and​​ be still. Selah.​​ 5​​ Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and trust in the LORD.

Can we focus on the amazing wonder of God, quiet our heart and trust in His plan and care for all things? ​​​​ 

Hush. ​​​​ Keep quiet. ​​​​ Hold your peace. ​​​​ Be silent. ​​​​ Cease speaking. ​​​​ Be astonished. ​​​​ Stop. ​​​​ Quiet your heart. ​​​​ Rest. ​​​​ Wait. ​​​​ Be still.