There You Are

“Where can I go from Your spirit, or where can I flee from Your presence?” Psalm 139:7

Sometimes life throws things at us that we simply do not expect. We use the term ‘blindsided’, but that hardly describes the darkness or pain we feel as though we’d just been run over, either physically or emotionally. From such a dark place we wonder, which way to turn. Yet in such times there is a Psalm that perfectly describes what we are going through, and at the same time gently reminds us that

God Is Always With Us.

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.  If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.” God is not missing, He is always with you.

Endless Possibilities

Jesus said, “With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

My father in law, Dr. Robert H. Schuller once said, “The only place where your dream becomes impossible is in your own head.” That’s because he knew the words of Jesus – with God all things are possible. What does God know that we don’t? The answer is, plenty!

Where We See Impossibilities God Sees Possibilities.

Faith is trusting that God will have the last word and that word will be good. Our job is to love one another, and do what we can with the gifts He has given to us, and then trust that God will guide our steps every minute of every hour of every day. This is the reason Dad Schuller encouraged me to cut the word “impossible” out of my dictionary. I’ve done that, perhaps you should too.

Inseparable

“Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness or peril or sword…Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:35 and 37

What tries to separate us from God? The answer is summed up in a single word: LIFE. For just as Paul says in Romans, we will all face tribulation, distress, peril, persecution, famine, nakedness and sword. Thankfully,

Jesus Is On The Throne

This is why Paul also says, in all these things we are more than Conquerors through Him (Jesus) who loved us. The reality is, nothing can separate us from God’s love.

Lift

“I will lift my eyes to the hills, from whence comes my help. My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2

David tells us in Psalm 121 is that we need to take the time and look up in prayer and wonder. Something miraculous happens when we do, for all too suddenly God will be standing right beside you, and lift you into His arms to carry you.

You Can Experience God’s Lifting Power

Some may say “you can’t be serious, how is that even possible”. There is one five letter word that will unlock this experience for yourself. It’s called “FAITH”. Jesus said, if you have faith you can move mountains. Faith is lifting your eyes and saying, Jesus, I believe you are for me and not against me. I need Your help for I can’t do life alone. I believe in you as my Savior. Save me today, Lord. Look up, lifting power awaits.

Rejoice

“This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

Each day is a day that God has laid before us. The day may be filled with laughter or with tears, with heartache or with possibilities, but whatever comes does not really matter for it all pales in comparison to the glory of God. That is why David says in the second part of the verse,

“We WILL Rejoice And Be Glad In It!”

While not always easy, I do my best to live with this verse at the forefront of my mind. Each day we rise from bed should be a day of rejoicing. Jesus himself said, “I have come that you would have life and have it abundantly.” With that kind of support from our Heavenly Father there is always a good reason to rejoice.  

Compassion

“He (Jesus) had compassion on them.” Matthew 14:14

The great automotive statesman Henry Ford was famous for saying, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right”. The simplest translation to this quote is that life is lived between our ears. How we process in our mind the joy and sorrow and pain and excitement and stress in life largely determines our outlook, our relationships, and our success. Jesus knows exactly what we are going through, and not just because He is Devine and knows everything. It’s because Jesus walked among us as human to experience our massive array of emotions we live out on a daily basis. He’s more than qualified to understand what you are going through. That’s why Matthew 14:14 is so comforting.

Jesus Has Compassion In Supernatural Measure.

Don’t get caught up in the lie that God simply wound up the earth like a top, set it spinning, and then took his hands off and passively stands back and watches to see what happens. That thought could not be farther from the truth. He cared so much that He sent His son Jesus to walk among us, to demonstrate through miracles that He’s for us and not against us, and ultimately to pay for our sins that we would be restored in our relationship with God our Heavenly Father. The most famous song in the world really does say it all. “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

Welcome

“In God’s Presence there is fullness and joy.” Psalm 16:11

So many I have talked with in life approach God from a point of intimidation, or fear, or uncertainty. And yet, scripture tells us there is fullness and joy in God’s presence. Romans even says, “May the God of all hope fill you with joy and peace”. Only a joyful welcoming God could create all that our eyes behold. God is constantly extending an invitation to you that says,

You Are Most Welcome In My Presence!

All that guilt or trepidation you feel when approaching God, He wants to take care of that for you, and through Christ’s forgiveness put it behind you, then move forward with an incredible relationship. Get past your fears and come before the Lord with thanksgiving! A joy filled life is waiting for you.

Love Never Fails

“The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness”. Psalm 145:8

In 1st Corinthians 13 we read the familiar attributes of love. That love is patient, kind, does not envy or boast, is not arrogant or rude, is not irritable or resentful, does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. The passage completes by saying “love never fails”. To me, this passage about how I should strive to live life also points out one very significant thing. This passage describes God, for as 1 John 4:16 says,

God Is Love

He is the very definition of graciousness and mercy, slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. If you look up those words from Psalm 145 you’ll actually find them repeated many times throughout the Old Testament. So, the next time you feel unworthy of love, don’t believe the lie. God is love, whether we deserve it or not God is still love.

Time With God

God said, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

There is a peace that only solitude with God can bring. We fill every minute of our lives with something. Even when we are alone we turn on music, or have the television playing in the background, or scroll our phones through social media or news or podcasts. We tune God out, and then not surprisingly we find ourselves asking, where’s God? The reality is, He’s right there with you. You’ve just chosen to stop listening to the only voice that really matters in life.

God Is With Us Even When We Don’t Realize It.

And yes, even when we’re not asking for it. When God says, “I will never leave you”, He means just that. It’s your choice whether you want to accept that precious gift. Tune out the world and tune into God. Spend some time alone with Him. Peace awaits.

Beach Walk

“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand.” Psalm 139:17-18

Psalm 139 has to be one of my favorites, for in this wonderful passage David tells us of God’s great love for us. That God’s precious thoughts toward us are

More Numerous Than The Sand.

It’s easy to feel like we are lost in this vast world filled with 8 billion people. With all of these people, how in the world can I possibly matter? Don’t kid yourself. God, who created the heavens and the earth, and every single human on this planet, has infinite capacity. You are precious to Him, much more than you will ever know.