Journey4Jesus
Praying Gods Word in all areas of life… The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
(TT) SO MANY QUESTIONS LORD… Show me the answers.
Welcome to Throwback Thursday, Oh the difference a year makes…
Have you ever thought of the “monuments” of your life? Those moments of time, that you could look back and see Gods hand at work so clearly? This blog post is one of those monuments for me, two years ago I was gasping for air, trying to keep my head above water with our finances…then Covid hit and we watched every other part of our world change before our very eyes.
Over the course of the year we have become aware of many new slogans: “flatten the curve, bend the curve, keep each other safe, social distance, self isolate, non-essential travel’… this list is pretty much endless. There are fear mongers and conspiracy theorists.. with most of us caught up trying to figure it out somewhere in between the two. News outlets no longer appear to have journalistic integrity or independence, as every major news cast speaks from the exact same script, world wide.
Then there’s the division, and WOW is there division; families divided, politicians against constituents, medical opinions vary widely and we are left scrambling to try to understand what is happening to our world. We are living in a new world of “cancel culture”, if you don’t like the narrative rewrite it, or better yet erase it. Differing of opinions is no longer accepted or welcome, we have to be of the same mind or we are to be removed from the platform. Growth no longer has multiple avenues as only one is currently accepted.
Yet, In the midst of all of this, I have seen Gods hand moving mightily. He has been at work molding and teaching us new things. He has strengthened and encouraged us, teaching us to trust when we cannot see and He has filled us with Hope rather than Fear. He has shown us to identify with the disciples and apostles who lived in a culture that could not accept them nor the message they chose to share, where God encouraged them to Love in a world that often hated them.
If you are struggling to overcome fear or simply can’t see where God is in the midst of this chaos, let me encourage you before going on…
God is still very much in control. His Word tells us what will happen and how these things must come about. So be at peace my friend, stay true to your faith, dig into Gods Word and allow the Creator of our universe to calm the stormy seas. Learn from the apostles and Fathers of our faith, recognize how He has gone before us preparing us for such a time as this.
He has a plan and a purpose in ALL things, so read on my friend and be encouraged…❤️
When I originally wrote todays journal entry, it was a year ago at the end of January and we were literally watching our life fall apart, unable to stop the impending implosion. As I start writing today for this Blog I can’t help but see the stark similarity happening in the world all around us .
It feels like much of our world as we knew it is Imploding, and it doesn’t feel like any of us can do much about it. With fear of spreading or contracting Covid 19, and the economic fallout looming in front of us, it can feel like everything is spinning out of control.
We are seeing natural disasters and manmade disasters all around us. There is so much divisiveness, anger & hate in this world that I find myself saying… ” Lord come quickly”. It’s hard to imagine that it can continue to get worse. I find my self questioning everything.
How should WE as Christ followers, be the light of Jesus in this broken world? How do we navigate the one sided narratives that we are told to believe, when so often they counter what God’s word teaches us? And most importantly, how do we Love our neighbours the way that Jesus did?
This doesn’t even touch on those questions as to how we Love those who hate us for believing in the Living Christ? Who hate us and call us intolerant because we believe Gods Word never changes, just as God never changes? How do we stay true to convictions that are unpopular in todays economy while continuing to Love those that God puts in front of us each and every day?
I think that these passages from the book of Hebrews actually speak into these things. These words were written for Jewish Jesus followers, they were both warnings as well as promises. How to follow Jesus rather than dead religion. In the days that these words were penned the Christian Life was not easy, everyone was against them. The religious leaders of the day wanted to wipe them out and whipped up accusations and lies against them… they wanted them to follow the “status quo or party line”…. Sound familiar.
Thankfully, ALL of Gods word is God breathed and useful for teaching us in so many ways… read on dear friends… read on…
Journal Entry #16
My friends, watch out! Don’t let evil thoughts or doubts make any of you turn from the living God. / You must encourage one another each day. And you must keep on while there is still a time that can be called “today.” If you don’t, then sin may fool some of you and make you stubborn. / We were sure about Christ when we first became his people. So let’s hold tightly to our faith until the end. / The Scriptures say, “If you hear his voice today, don’t be stubborn like those who rebelled.” Hebrews 3: 12-15 CEV
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your Word. Thank you for speaking to me and teaching me through it. “Your words are active and alive, sharper than any double edged sword. Your word can cut through our spirits and souls, through our joints and marrow, until it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts. Nothing is hidden from You Lord. you see everything, and we will have to tell the truth”
You tell us Father to be on guard, to watch out for the traps of the enemy. help me Lord to remain alert and grounded in your word. You remind us that we must keep on, while there is still time to be called today.
Protect me Lord from allowing my faith to become lukewarm. Teach me and strengthen me to stay true to my faith each and every day. Guard my heart Lord, so that sin (which is crouching at my door) cannot harden my heart. I know how deceptive he is and how easy it can happen if we don’t stay alert and on guard.
Thank you Lord, when I backslide from You, You never move away from me, You remain steadfast in place wanting me to return to You. Help me to hold tightly to my faith, increasing my love for You until the end. Help me to hear your voice today Lord, to follow what You tell me, in obedience. Protect me from the foolishness and stubbornness that can rise up so easily in me unaware.
Thank you Jesus, that You are the son of God most high. Thank you that You have promised to provide a way for your children if we stay true to You and your Word. Thank you Jesus, that You fully understand our human condition and weaknesses of the flesh. Although You never sinned, You felt the full onslaught of the temptations the enemy throws at us. Because of this, your Word tells us that when we are in need, we can come directly to You before the throne of our merciful father, and we will be treated with undeserved kindness and help.
Lord Jesus, I come before that throne today, You are aware of the huge obstacles that loom over me. Lord, I seek your kindness and mercy today, Give me I pray, the strength and confidence I need to continue going forward.
Help me I pray, to keep worry and anxiety behind me. Give me your directions and guide me through this impending disaster we have made of our lives. I pray Lord, for your hand of protection and mercy as we try to stay on your path, seeking your will for our tomorrows.
Thank you Lord for those special people You have placed around me , who hold me accountable and encourage me in this time. Help me Lord, to see those around me that need to be held up and encouraged by me also at this time.
Help me Father, to keep my vision outward focused rather than inward on self or pity, as this is just another trap of the enemy. We are told to be “joyful” in ALL things. “Joyful is to be anticipating with excitement things to come”. I wait in joyful expectation for your plans to unfold… recognizing that your ways may not be what I might chose, but your ways are always for our good. In Jesus name ❤️ Amen
My Final Thoughts & Encouragement…
Are you finding yourself with more questions than answers in these messed up times? Do you get tempted to retreat into the safety of your personal space, keeping. the outside world out and our nice little Christianity tucked neatly inside. In this space we don’t have to take a stand, or risk getting verbally attacked… we can easily Love our neighbours, as long as we are not adding to the chaos out there in the world… or can we?
I don’t believe we can. Jesus himself was maligned, He was accused. He grieved the state of the world, He hurt for those that could not or would not see. He Loved each and every human being ever created so much He was willing to die for each of us. He showed us how to Love with his very life.
I believe that we are to Stay Strong… Stay True…. Love Deeply… Take Risks… Trusting that Jesus himself will provide ALL that we need to do ALL that He has for us to do. If we stand by and stay quiet when we see injustices taking place, we are actually part of the problem. Jesus never looked away, He always responded in Love, Wisdom and Truth.
If God is calling you out of your comfort zone to share the Good news with someone He has placed upon your heart, the only Loving thing you can do is obey. If God is asking you to try something new or go somewhere else so that you can serve Him better, trust that He has already paved the way for you.
God is not surprised at the state of our world, and He did not cause it. He is well aware of all the pieces in play and He will bring about His Glory even through these things.
So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved grace, and we will find help. Hebrews 4: 16 CEV
Blessings, Janet❤️. Journey4Jesus
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Journey4Jesus 