pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: needs


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Alone Time

Life is busy.  When we have a slice of free time outside the requirements of work or school and the necessity if eating and sleeping, we have a myriad of choices about what to do with that time.  We can fill our ‘free time’ with things that are good for us or with things that are not.  For the interests or activities that we find valuable we usually schedule them in so that we do not miss out on them.

Time alone with God should be one of these priorities.  To find a space in the early morning or just before going to bed or someplace in between is so important to our faith.  Each day we must carve out time to read and reflect on God’s word and to spend time in prayer.  Through these two means of grace we draw closer to God and become more open to the Holy Spirit’s working in our lives.

This ‘alone time’ with God also serves to open us up to the world.  As our eyes, head, and heart become more and more in tune with God, we see both His presence in the world better and hear His call to meet the needs of others more clearly.  Through these we see and respond to the needs more readily.  We live and interact in the world as a follower of Jesus Christ.

Time dedicated to God is a commitment.  We are called to live in covenant relationship with God.  If time with God is a “when I have time” type of thing, one never seems to find the time.  Yet nothing in this life is more important than daily time alone with God.  This time is an absolute blessing.  May you be blessed every day!

Scripture reference: 2 Samuel 5: 9-10


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Trust

We often live in this weird balance between knowing God can fill all our needs and trying to fill them with everything but God.  What we know in our minds and what we do with our actions just don’t connect.  Struggle and frustration are often the results.

I most often try to fill my needs with myself.  I fall into the trap that I can do it,  figure it out, make it happen on my own.  After failing I usually realize that only God can do it.  He can use me, but He is the source.  I need to first learn to turn to Him all of the time instead of just some of the time.

Our struggles can be emotional, physical, spiritual, relational, occupational or combinations of these and more.  There is also a vast array of ways to try and fill our needs but really only one place we should start.

In verse 8 David writes, “Trust in Him at all times, O people: pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.”  Our refuge is strong and loving and completely worthy of our trust, for He never fails.

Scripture reference: Psalm 62: 5-12


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Truly the Family

Usually we read the story of the sheep and the goats from the perspective of the sheep and the goats.  We think Jesus is talking to us as we mentally note which poor person we may have helped or what orphan or widow we may have visited.  And often I think we ponder the missed opportunities and wonder if we are doing enough to be a sheep.  No one wants to be a goat.

But what if we read this parable from the other side – what if we are the opportunity?  What if we are the ones that others are sheep and goats to?  In this case I’d rather meet a sheep than a goat.  In need, I’d take sheep hands down.

Yet many people would not.  They would rather cross a goat when they are in need because some people just do not accept help well.  For some it is pride, for some a deep rooted individualism.  But this limits our community.  And it is important to minister to each other.  This builds up the bonds of faith and strengthens our fellowship as children of God.  At times, we must all allow others to see our inner self and to know our vulnerable spots if we are to truly be the family of God.

Scripture reference: Matthew 25: 31-46


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Allow Him

Think about a time when you felt trapped in a situation or when you felt that you were being treated unjustly.  If it got desperate you were looking for any way out.  At that point you would have taken a hand or a piece of good advice from about anyone.We’ve all been there.  And if we cried out to God for help, He was right there to share the burden or to maybe send relief or show a way out.  In need, we seek Him.

Yet in our day to day, how often we simply go it alone.  Even when it gets a bit hard, we put our head down – not to pray but to barrel through, to try and do it on our own.  God so wants us to seek Him, to be our all in all.  God will even send people across our paths that can offer a hand or a good counsel, but how often we miss them.  It is sometimes hard to look up when our head is bent down.

If we come to God each day with all of our thanks and with all of our needs, then we are more open to seeking His presence and allowing Him to lead in our lives.  The more we choose to honestly connect, the better the connection, the more in touch with God that we are.  Allow Him to draw near and to help carry that burden.

Scripture reference: Judges 4: 1-9


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Da Nile and the Cross Beside It

So often our stumbling blocks are tha things of men.  It is too easy to let our life revolve around our position at work or how our bank account looks or what other people think of us.  In our humanity, it is pretty easy to be human!  But we can also stumble on heavenly things.  For example, at times we can allow doubt or fear to keep us from doing what God calls us to.

Jesus calls us to deny self and to take up our cross to follow Him.  There are two parts here.  First, we are called to deny self.  When we deny self we are putting all others above ourself and our needs, desires, interests, wants…  ALL others above self.  That is not just family, close friends, maybe a few people from the church.  It is also that coworker you really don’t like that much and that homeless lady you walk by on the way to your car.  But certainly when we deny self, we have more to offer to others.

The second part of this call is to take up our cross.  For Jesus, His cross led to the greatest gift ever and also to His physical death.  For us, our cross is both what we can offer to our broken world and a spiritual death to the things that keep us from fully following Jesus Christ.  For Jesus, His cross held all of our sins and He took it up and bore it for our salvation, the forgiveness of our sins.  On Jesus’ cross was love for mankind.  Love was truly the gift Jesus had to offer.  He denied self to love others fully.

It makes me wonder – what gift for mankind is on my cross or on your cross?  Maybe it is our gifts and talents that are on our crosses.  So when we deny self, it is what we have to offer to our fellow man.  If compassion is our gift, then when one denies self and takes up their cross, is it compassion that flows out?  If ones gift is teaching, then when one denies self and pours themselves into being a teacher, is it learning that pours out for others?

Scripture reference: Matthew 16: 21-28


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Even in the Wilderness

After Jesus hears of the death of John the Baptist, He withdraws by boat to a solitary place.  But the people follow Him out into the wilderness.  They are seeking.  As they come to Him, Jesus is filled with compassion and heals many.  At the end of the day, out in the wilderness, some of the people find hope and love.

Out in the wilderness, as night begins to settle in, many are vulnerable.  They all have a basic need for food.  Once again (but after an interesting exchange with the disciples!), Jesus feels compassion for the people.  Again He responds out of love.  The people are seated and, from little, 5000 men plus the women and children all eat their fill.  In the wilderness the people encounter a loving God who meets their need not just with what satisfied but with abundance.

At times we to are in the wilderness.  In these times we often feel alone and vulnerable.  And Jesus comes to us too.  In His compassion and love we find healing and comfort for our souls.  In His presence our strength is renewed.  As He walks with us, our wilderness begins to fade.  We come to know that no matter where we are, His love and compassion will always help us through.  His mercies are new every morning and His love never fails!

Scripture reference: Matthew 14: 13-21