“forgetting those things which are behind, I press forward…” Philippians 3:13
A few years ago there was a sanitation workers strike happening in my neck of the world. As you can see from the photo above I watched what started as a seemingly insignificant few extra boxes next to a dumpster grow into something that the Grinch would behold as his prized garden on “Mount Crumpit”. Yet even growing piles of refuse contain a valuable lesson, a reminder to take out the trash.
We carry around with us a lot of trash.
We carry hurt feelings, grudges, and past mistakes that fester within us and pretty soon start to look very similar to the image above. Today, the apostle Paul reminds us that in forgetting those things which are behind, we can press forward. Why not take out the trash in your mind and leave it at a curb called the cross. Jesus has already paid the price to take on and carry out our garbage. Consider making today trash collection day.
“Let patience have it’s perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing”. James 1:4
I have often said to friends and family that I’ve stopped asking God to give me more patience. Because, whenever I asked for patience, I would invariably be hit with five more things that I needed to have patience with. I then realized that whenever I’ve asked God for patience what I was really asking for was to have my own way, not His. James 1:4 says, “let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing”.
God Knows What You Need!
And God knows when you need it. He knows the strength you need, the confidence, and the will power to climb life’s mountains. God is the only One who can do a perfect work in you so that you lack nothing. Trust Him and you will be amazed at the results!
“Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation…” Genesis 1:11
There is a magnificent garden on Victoria Island in Canada called The Butchart Gardens. The Gardens were created as a result of the scarred landscape of mining for limestone. The landowner’s wife, Jennie Butchart, looked at the scarred landscape one day and was saddened by what she beheld. Thus began a decades long quest for a garden. The picture you see above is one of the rare photos in these pages that I actually took myself, and it simply does not do these gardens justice. They are extraordinary.
God is in the “spectacular” business.
Think about it. God created this beautiful planet, then decided that it was not enough and created you and I. We are the spectacular design He had in mind. Look around you today, but do it through Gods eyes. Every person has inside of them a spectacular garden just waiting to blossom. Yes, I’m talking about you.
“Those who dwell in the secret place of the most High shall dwell under the shadow of the Almighty” Psalm 91:1
It was after dark and I was already in bed as a young child when I heard the conversation at the front door outside my bedroom. I knew what was going on. No one had to tell me. I’d seen the suitcase before I went to bed, and even as an eight year old I was clever enough to read the atmosphere in the house. I did not know the details, but I knew some of them and that was enough. After a few minutes of muffled conversation outside my door my father came in quietly and said that he was leaving. I knew what that meant also. I asked him not to go and he gave a sad nod and turned to leave anyway. As the door closed behind him, in a moment of fear, my thoughts quickly turned to “where’s Mom”. Then I heard her footfall in the hallway not far from my door and I knew she wasn’t going anywhere. Through tears, as a car started outside, somehow my thoughts turned toward heaven. “God, where are you? Are you leaving too?” The words were just beyond my lips when I felt a flood of peace wash over me that I could not explain. Today I know what that peace was, but as a child, it was simply,
A hug from heaven.
It’s not the first time I’d received such a hug, nor was it the last. I’ve had a lifetime filled with them. So can you. When our thoughts turn toward God, in a moment of sincerity, you are now dwelling in the secret place of the most High, and you are covered by the shadow of the Almighty. And that’s just the beginning. Do yourself a favor today and read Psalm 91. By the end of reading this incredible list of promises from God, you will surely be dwelling in the secret place of the Most High. Thats when the hugs begin.
“For if anyone be in Christ, you are a new creation; old things have passed away, behold all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
My final semester as an undergraduate in college was spent attending school in a little town called Nantes, on the West coast of France. Traveling to Nantes from the bustling streets of Paris on the train was like traveling back in time. The lush green landscape of the Loire Valley seemed a peaceful throwback to another era when life was simpler. However, I could not help but notice the scars of the past as I passed through the villages. The stone on one side of a five hundred year old church was aged but smooth as if it had known nothing but peace and tranquility. The other side told a different story as it was filled with pockmarks from the ravages of war. One entire section revealed a much newer stone that had obviously been replaced leaving a scar in its wake where it met the original stone. Yet even in the repair there was a beauty to the old cathedral. Age had not diminished its effectiveness to keep the wind and the rain from the parishioners, nor its grandeur as a love testament by its builders to God Almighty.
The scars stood as a testament to fortitude
So how’s your life? Scarred? Bruised? Have a few cracks here and there in testament to having been alive? God has a miraculous way of patching us up and making us into a beautiful mosaic. “For if anyone be in Christ, you are a new creation; old things have passed away, behold all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
“Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines…yet I will rejoice in the Lord.” Habakkuk 3:17-18
When tragedy strikes all we see are shades of gray. Yet if we allow the clouds to part ever so slightly, you will soon
Feel Hope Again.
Yes there are days when it is hard to spot the miracles among our circumstances. We can still choose faith. Habakkuk makes such a choice. “Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Through the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls – Yet I will rejoice in the Lord.” God is your hope in the midst of your circumstances.
“Have you not known, have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary.” Isaiah 40:28
The Creator of the universe is always alert, and always hears our prayers. Combine this with the myriad of scriptures that tell us how God, our Heavenly Father, knows exactly what we need from day to day, and exactly how to
Provide Us With Our Daily Bread.
Our job is to trust Him, and reach out in prayer telling Him just that. Simply say Jesus, I trust you! My life is yours. Grant me this day Your daily bread. Whatever Your choices are for me today, I am so grateful.
“For He (God) looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens” Job 28:24
Have you ever felt invisible? That no one cares? You shouldn’t. There’s a party in heaven every time an individual reaches out to Jesus. If you’re amazed at how words, pictures, or events go viral, then you’d be shocked at the reaction in Heaven when
You Lift Your Prayers To Jesus.
In that moment God’s incredible attention is completely focused on what you have to say, and your words can shake the very foundations of this earth. Don’t believe the lie that you are invisible. You are a Child of the most high King! Hold your head high and give God praise!
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
Joy is the amazing breeding ground of peace, and joy filled peace yields hope. There is a reason Jesus spent so much time talking about having peace, having joy, and eliminating worry and fear. He knows that with Peace, Joy and Hope,
You Become Unstoppable
There are some days when you will not feel joyful. On those days proclaim the name of “Jesus”. “Jesus, you’ve got this”. “Jesus, what have I to fear for you are with me”. “Jesus, you are all I need”. With Jesus, your gloom and doom emotions don’t stand a chance. Joy will return.
“He makes me to lie down in green pastures,” Psalm 23:2
In Psalm 23 Psalm green pastures are a promise, not a proposal! I can say that because the very first verse of the 23rd Psalm says, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” In other words, God is all you need, no matter what life throws at you. God is saying to you,
Trust Me, I’ve Got This!”
Put another way, it doesn’t matter if your surroundings at the moment look rocky or barren because God is already ahead of you making a way. The pasture will be green soon enough! Trust Him!
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