Casting All Our Cares

I was reading in a devotion about 1 Peter today where he says, "casting all your care upon Him (God), because He cares for you." The devotion author mentioned about the verb cast and notated two different ways to cast. You can cast a fishing rod where you will reel it back in to yourself. You can also cast a rock into the water where it will remain, never to be picked up again. It made me wonder how I cast my cares upon the Lord? He wants me to cast them upon Him like I would throw a rock in a pond - never to be retrieved again. However, do I? It seems too frequently, I cast them upon Him as if I'm throwing out my line to fish, only to reel it back in again and try to handle it myself. I had never really thought about it that way. Had you? The key to why we do that is found in the previous verse. It says to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. In order to cast it like a stone, we have to humble ourselves, admit that we can't handle the burden, only God can. From now on, I'll approach my time of supplication differently. I'll be more purposeful about casting my cares upon the Lord like I'd skip a stone across water, never to take it up again. I hope you will too.
 

Stand Still and See

 

Whether we realize it or not, we are engaged in a battle. The battle is with an unseen enemy, and it attacks in an unconventional way. Our first reaction is to fight. Go against the enemy with all barrels blazing while trying to shield the most vulnerable. How can we best win?

God shows us throughout Scripture with the largest battles that Israel faced. What did Moses tell the children of Israel when they were facing the Red Sea in front of them and Pharaoh's army bearing down on them from behind? Exodus 14:13 says, “Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today.”

When Gideon and his army were facing the Midianites, Gideon told them in 2 Chronicles 20:17, “You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”

Again, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. I am not saying we should not do anything. In each of these scenarios, God required them to do something. Moses had to use his staff. The children of Israel had to step into the Red Sea. Gideon had to reduce his troops, and his army had to blow their trumpets and yell. Action must occur.

Along with that, stillness must occur within each of us. We must be still for God to do His work in and through us. In Numbers 9:8, Moses again tells the children of Israel, “Stand still, that I may hear what the Lord will command concerning you.” He needed them to stand still so he could hear direction from the Lord. In Psalm 46:10, we know that it says, “Be still and know that I am God.” Be still.

As we go along our way, please take time out to be still. Pray. Do as it says in Job 37:14, “Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God” or as it says in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Take some time and stand still.

Kaizen

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

I am blessed to be a Christian that happens to do Process Improvement. We often do focused, week long improvement events called Kaizens. Kaizen is a combo of two Japanese words - Kai which means change and Zen which means good. So Kaizen means change for the good or better.
This morning as we were winding up a kaizen week, this verse came to mind. When we make the decision to repent and trust Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives, He starts a kaizen event in our lives. Having Christ as Lord of our lives and the Holy Spirit as our guide, God changes us for the better.
As you go into your weekend, think about if you need a kaizen in your own life. Why not trust Christ today?

Dross & Tin

Isaiah 1:25
And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:

This verse struck a cord with me when I read it. In fact, in my notes, I asked myself the question, “What is my dross and tin?” You may wonder what in the world dross even is. Dross is all the impurities that separates off of silver when it is refined in the fire. When the silver is pulled out of the fire, all that’s left is pure, shiny silver. We also know that tin is a silver impostor. It is shiny like silver, but it easily rusts. It can put up a temporary front from afar, but upon close inspection & a few storms, you can easily see it is not what it appears to be. And so we as Christians can behave.

The dross in your life is what you’re dragging around with you that prevents you from being all God has planned for you. You know, that stuff you won’t let God have? Part of mine is insecurities from my past. It can be guilt, shame, sin, lies from Satan you’ve bought like they were 10 for $10 at the grocery. Anything that prevents us from being able to reflect the Light of Christ as brightly as we can. Now here is the amazing thing about God and His relationship with us. He wants us to be the purest, shiniest silver ever to reflect His light to the world. Because of this, He will send us through the fire to remove this dross from our lives, and we come out so much better for it. For Him. Proverbs 25:4 tells us, “Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.” So while the fire is tough, you’ll be a vessel for the finer coming out!

We also need to monitor ourselves for tin in our lives. Tin is those things you do or say that have the appearance of being for God, but really are for yourself. Sometimes this is related to our dross. For example, with these insecurities that the Lord is slowly refining away, I sometimes think I need but actually only want to know I’m doing a good job at fill in the blank. I don’t need to know this. I want to know this to feed my own insecurities so I end up going beyond the extra mile. Not for God’s glory but to hear or feel like I’m doing a good job. That is tin. Paul tells us in several places that we’re to do all things to the glory of God and not for man. I had a lesson on that just this week and am working to throw that tin in the trash, not to be recycled! I praise the Lord for a wonderful friend who sharpens my iron!

What dross & tin is in your life? Are they interconnected? Let the Lord throw you in the fire for a bit and see how you come out for the finer.

Joy

This is the third week of Advent - Joy.  While looking for a graphic to post on our church Facebook page, I came across the one above.  It hit me because yesterday I was speaking with a colleague who also traveled the journey of infertility.  We talked about how difficult it was, but continuing in faith and finding something in the midst of it.  We couldn't really describe it.  She used the word "contentment", but I think we both knew it was more than being content.  Then this morning, I saw this and knew what it was we were trying to describe - it is joy.  Joy does not equate to happiness; oh, quite the contrary.  We both spoke of the indescribable sorrow we have felt, but in the midst of the deepest sorrow, you can still find joy.  Joy then does provide contentment and peace in the situation because joy does not come from ourselves.  It only comes from the One in whom we have faith - Jesus Christ.

So during this Advent season, ponder on what you can find joy in during difficult times. Ponder while you're waiting for an answer on the One who has the Master plan for your life.  Think on the Child in whom's arrival we're preparing to celebrate, and why He was sent here.  

Planted

Bro. Larry Hufhand preached at our church this past Sunday.  He has been doing a series for us about Psalm 1.  This Sunday he focused on verse 3, and a word jumped out at me.  It was the word "planted".  Let's see what verse 3 says:

He shall be like a tree, planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper.

This word struck a cord with me because according to the Dictionary, planted is a verb that means "To place or set (seeds, for example) in the ground to grow."  That is a very intentional act.  If you are the "blessed man" that is being talked about in this first chapter of Psalms, and you can deduct if you think you fall into this category by reading the first two verses, you have been intentionally placed in the spot you are in right now by God to serve a specific purpose.  This should be very encouraging!  Sometimes we go through trials that are not of our own doing, but we can always know that there is absolutely a specific purpose behind it!  That is pretty awesome to know!

Now, what sometimes happens is we don't like where God plants us, so we uproot ourselves and move to where we think we should be.  Been there, done that, and hope to not do it again because it never works out.  We need to bloom where we've been planted!

So as we go through our week this week, let's take a look in the mirror to see if we are living a life God can bless.  If we are, then praise God for where He has planted you.

Wait Upon the Lord

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

Came across a devotion about this verse the other day, and it mentioned something that I was never aware of but became a golden nugget.  The Hebrew word used means change, not renewed!  That was an amazing revelation to me.  Those that wait on the Lord actually have their strength changed.  It changes to become that of the Lord’s strength, not their own.  It is transformed!  How amazing is that?

This was so encouraging to me because there are quite a few things in my life that are in “wait mode”.  One prayer is waiting for hearts to be changed and softened.  A few others I don’t understand why, but trusting God has a plan.

If you are in wait mode right now, find great news in this verse.  God not only has a plan, but if you wait on Him, He will reward you with His strength.  Then whatever we’re waiting on is sure to bring Him all the glory!  So wait.

What a Friend

The past few months have definitely been a testing time.  It is a tough pill to swallow when you’ve had people in your life for several years, and you realize that the relationship you thought was there was not.  It is not reciprocal to the level of care or love you have for them.  I realize I’m not the only one this has happened to.  Everyone has had relationships that have ended up broken, and it stinks.  It hurts, and you have a tendency to want to be not very nice about it.  Well, as my mom always told us growing up, “two wrongs don’t make a right”.  We need to move on and be better.  What I cling to, though, is a very dear Friend that will never leave me or forsake me.

The Bible tells us in Psalm 9:10 “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who trust you”.  Isn’t that great news?  If we trust Him, he will never forsake us!  That is so comforting.  Also look in John 15 where Jesus refers to the apostles as his friends.  We have that same ability today – to be Christ’s friend.  If we keep his commandments and read his Word, we are His friend.  What a better friend could one have?

So as you go through the week this week, know that if you trust Him, He will always be with you.  If you haven’t trusted Him as Lord and Savior, why not start today?  It is very simple.  Pray to God admitting you are a sinner and asking forgiveness of your sins.  Then tell Christ you trust Him to be Lord of your life.  That’s all it takes.  After that, find a home church to support you and guide you in your new Christian walk, and take time every day to pray and read your Bible.  After all, you have a new Friend!  You need to really get to know Him!

Have a blessed week!

Trials

Was reading in first Peter today and a little gold nugget popped out at me.  Take a look at this:

Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.1 Peter 1:6-7

Praise God for our trialed or tried faith!  Look at this passage grammatically, especially verse 7.  Our tried faith is much more precious that gold…not just any faith – tried faith.  Faith that has been through the fire and has come through it still bringing praise, honor, and glory to Jesus.  That is the faith that is highly valuable to God, so the next time you go through the valley or a deep trail, just know to stand strong and keep your faith.  When you come through the other side, your faith will be stronger and highly valued by God.

Have a glorious Friday!