Consumed by Christ's Compassion

    

    

 

Remember my affliction and roaming, The wormwood and the gall.

20 My soul still remembers And sinks within me. 21 This I recall to my mind,

  Therefore I have hope.    Through the Lord 's mercies we are not consumed,

Because His compassions fail not.  Lam 3:19-21 (NKJV)

 

Through his mercy, we are not consumed!  Praise God.  There are things in life that can consume you.  Things that eat at you like a flesh-eating bacteria.  Worries that won't let go.  Dreams deferred, that cause your heart to sink.  Depression, discouragement despair.  (Have you ever noticed how many negative things start with a "D"?!)  All of these are things that would almost make you think that you will be completely devoured or consumed by the cares of this life. Almost.

 

If it were not for the mercy of God, my life would have a completely different look about it. Everything good, right and joyful that I experience is because of his mercy.  Every horrific end that I avoid is because of his mercy.  It is one of the most defining truths of my life.  Without His mercy, we would all be consumed- by evil, by death, by  torment.

 

His compassion does not fail.  My friends and family may tire of hearing of my distress and woe.  They can take a "same song/different verse" attitude toward my feelings.  But my Heavenly Father just keeps feeling my pain.  He is so connected to me that He is touched by my grief.  My pain, whether real or imagined, matters to Him!  We often like to decide for others how they should feel or how they should view a certain situation.  But the truth of the matter is, if it causes us pain, it is very real to us.  Who can understand us like our Manufacturer?  He has walked with us through every good and bad thing.  Every success and every victory, He either was a participant or witness to it.  He knows why we  have the defense mechanism we do.  He understands the things that color our perspective and our response to situations.  He knows every bit of it, and yet.... rather than be disgusted and fed up, He just loves us.  This is why we, along with Jeremiah, can "recall to mind and therefore have hope."

 

I have walked through some losses in my life, as I am sure you have.  I have found that people's patience with our pain runs out long before we quit hurting.  People want us "fixed" so that we are not a "downer" to them.  It is just human nature.  But it is one of the greatest reasons why we need a Friend that is not carnal and limited to humanity.  We must have a Divine Friend, with the unlimited compassion and agape love that we would be crushed without.  Because he loves us, we are not consumed.   Cast your care on Him.  He loves you so much!

 

 

Dear Lord, I receive your help today. I am a grateful recipient of your mercies and compassion.  O, God, pour into my life that which will sustain me!  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

Sherri

 

The Sinking Soul

   

 

Remember my affliction and roaming, The wormwood and the gall.

20 My soul still remembers And sinks within me. 21 This I recall to my mind,

  Therefore I have hope. Lam 3:19-21 (NKJV)

 

"Lower than a snake's belly." That is the Southern vernacular for what I understand Jeremiah to be describing here.  There are times that it seems all our mind can remember is affliction, suffering and roaming.  When our minds are consumed with the "negatives" of life, it just naturally results in the soul or heart sinking.  What an awful feeling it is as we feel ourselves sinking.  If we are not careful, we, as born-again children of God, can still sink into a pit of despair.

 

I often think of the Prophet Elijah.   After God used him in an awesome manifestation of His power, we find Elijah on the run, despairing of his very life.  He is so depressed that the Lord has to dispatch an angel to minister to his needs and to keep him going.  It is easy for us, the reader, to look  at the Scripture and question what causes these men of God to slip into despair.  I think it is important for us to understand that those who are "movers and shakers" in the kingdom of God, present a threat to the devil; and are consequently given more things to battle.  Thank God we have a ready and able Defender on our side!

 

I love how the prophet begins to call to mind, the One who gives him hope.  Before we continue to the next verse, just let today's verses sink in.  When it looks hopeless, when your face is downcast, when there is no obvious solution, recall to mind and therefore have hope, in the One who holds all the answers.  We do not have to understand.  We do not have to see the answer coming.  But we cannot occupy our minds only with afflictions, but rather, we must occupy our thoughts with the things that give us hope.

 

 

Dear Lord, I choose to call to mind Your faithfulness, Your love, Your mercy, and Your grace.  Help me to have hope and no longer recall the things that give despair.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

Sherri

 

The Things That Concern Me

 

 

The Lord  will perfect that which concerns me;  Your mercy, O Lord , endures forever;  Do not forsake the works of Your hands.   Ps 138:8 (NKJV)

 

 

Do you ever feel like life is spinning out of control?  Do you ever feel  frozen to come up with a plan?  I'll admit it, I am a thinker. And not in a good way.  I  can think something to death. I have a hard time putting something on a "back burner" in my mind.  When I do, my brain seems to shout, "You have something on the back burner.  And it is about to boil over!"

 

Tonight, as I was sitting in church rehearsing my problems and the countless solution options, this verse sprang up in my mind.  What a beautiful promise to know that He will "perfect" that which concerns me.  It will be a good thing.  It will be a whole and complete thing.  He will not forget a few of the details, and let issues go unresolved or forget where He is on the to-do list pertaining to me.  Isn't that comforting to know?!  No matter how big or small, how scary or trite, He will  perfect that which concerns me.  I see this in a two-fold way.  He will  perfect that which relates to me, or is concerning me.  As well as, He will perfect the things that cause me concern.  Either way, He is aware and He has a plan!

 

There are many issues and people in my life that matter a great deal to me.  As such, I am constantly worrying over these folks  and these things.  But I can give it up!  Because He has it in His control.  In modern slang, I can almost see Him tapping His holy chest, saying, "I got this!"

 

I may get some things right.  I may botch some stuff up.  But one thing is sure.  He does all things well and will do to trust with all that concerns us.

 

Dear Lord, I feel so foolish! How do I keep taking things out of your capable hands  and fretting over them?  I give it all back to you, as well  as all the people and situations heavy on my heart.  Thank you that you will take it and take care of it.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

Sherri

 

The Companion

    

 

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord  your God is with you wherever you go."  Josh 1:1-9 (NKJV )

 

 

Be honest.  Do you ever get weary of being strong and courageous?  Yep!  Me too.  Sometimes I fall into temptation to sit down and pout.  I give in to the desire to throw my weapon down and hide in fright. I don't feel strong, I feel weak and exposed.  I don't feel courageous, I feel frightened and timid.  At times like that, it is OK to just go with your feelings, right?

 

Obviously, this is one of those verses that negates our right to act on our feelings.  In fact, it is presented as a command!  Why can't the Lord just let us be who we are?  Because what He has for us is so much better than we can see or perceive when we are weak and weary.  But if we can just hold on to the good report.  If we can just believe the promise, we have such great and precious assurances that He will be with us; He will strengthen us; He will fight for us.

 

Usually, when I feel most lonely is when I feel most vulnerable.  But this verse assures me that I am never alone.   Jesus goes where no other human can go.  If you are  alone in a MRI machine, He is with you. There is no situation too dangerous or cramped for Him to keep you company.

 

Lord, it is  just one of those days.  I need you to show up and be Who you are.  I need Your strength, Your courage, Your presence.  Show Yourself mighty on my behalf.   In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

Sherri

 

Reckless Faith

 

    

 

"Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You."  Ps 56:3 (NKJV)

 

He had felt this way before!  He was  thrilled, he was ecstatic, he felt dangerous and adventurous.  But this time was different.  This was a very big deal.  This was a challenge like none before.  He kept his gaze fixed upon the goal- he could not look down, around or away from his destination.  He swallowed hard, and slowly, he began to move his trembling, sandaled feet.  Just a little more...  finally he stepped over.  Slowly at first;  but then, he began to pick up speed and confidence.  And then... and then, came the loudest howling wind he had ever heard.  The waves of the sea towered over him.  And for a moment, a single moment, he took his eyes off of his destination... he quit looking at Jesus and he faced the object of his fear.  Immediately his foundation gave way and began to collapse beneath his feet.  The water that had held him so soundly before was once again liquefied.  He was going under. He would drown.  Unless... he then turned his now-bobbing head to Jesus and cried out, "Lord, save me!"

 

Ah, the Apostle Peter.  The only recorded human to ever walk on water; besides of course, Jesus Christ.  What a story he had to tell his grandkids!  I feel that any time the story was repeated, it was with increasing bravado about the walk of his life.  Hopefully, he also had enough humility to recount how Jesus had saved him just in the nick of time. 

 

We face stuff in life.  Scary things; intimidating things.  The voice of Jesus continues to cry out, "Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in me."  (John 14:1)  Our minds and our fleshly nature wants to trust in the tangibles, the things we can control ourselves.  God is calling us to greater.  He wants to reach beyond what we can see, feel or understand.  "But I am afraid," you may say.  Me too!  Horrified even.  But today's verse puts it in perspective- when you are afraid, trust in God!  You are right, it is bigger than you.  The waves are, in fact, towering over you.  Trust on in faith!  Your ability to walk on water is rooted in nothing other than you trust in God.   Fix your eyes on Jesus, swallow your fear and do it afraid! 

 

I am out of the boat.  Care to join me?


Lord, I am leaving the safety of the ship.  You said, "Come,"  and here I come!  If you do not come through, I will go under.  Thank you that I can trust you to be greater than my fears.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

Sherri

 

Lifting Up the Bowed Down

 

"Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is  in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them- the Lord who remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord  sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous."  Psalm  146:5-8

 

These verses are so beautiful, they read like poetry.  It is more than beautiful lines or prose, it is a promise.  If we find our help in "the God of Jacob" we are blessed.  Often the Bible speaks of "the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob".  But it could also be said that it is the God of Sherri,  the God of Tim or the God of Christina.  He is a personal God!  If we look to him as our personal God, we find him willing to help us.  Yes, he was in covenant relationship with Abraham and his descendants, but what greater covenant can there be than the one written in the blood of Jesus at Calvary?

 

God made everything that we can see and He is mindful of even the smallest creature.  But you- my brother; you- my sister, were created in His likeness and for His purpose.  Of all the creatures He gave life to, He gave his life for you!  Because of that, we can count on him to set us free when we are oppressed; feed us when we are hungry.  He looses us from prison,  restores sight to the blind, and lifts up those who are "bowed down."  Surely, we fit into at least one of those categories!

 

I love the imagery of those who are "bowed down."  To me, this can mean either in humble, reverent worship.  Of  more likely by context, those who life has caused to stoop over.  This Word is promise for you, if the blows of life, have left your head hanging low and your countenance sagging.  Be of good cheer!  He will "lift you up."  He can change your circumstances and encourage your spirit.  So much of life is more than we can handle.  So what is our part to receiving the Lord's help?  Living righteously.  This does not mean that we will be perfect and never stumble and sin.  what it does mean, is that our heart is in right standing with God, and because of this, we seek to have our lifestyle follow suit.

 
 Dear Lord, thank you for these dear and precious promises.  I need you, O God, to set me free, to open my eyes and to lift me up.  Help me to live and walk righteously in your sight.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

Sherri

 

 

Friends by Faith

 

"And the scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness and he was called God's friend."  James 2:23

 

"I Am a Friend of God," is a lively song that we sometimes sing  at our church.  While we do, I often think soberly about what it actually means.  Being a friend of God is not a trite thing to be taken lightly, rather it is a high  honor. Abraham was called God's friend based on his faith walk.  Moses was called God's friend because of His time  spent with God and his desire to lead God's people. 

 

This generation can be "friends" with over a 1,000 people on Facebook.  But at the end of the day, these folks are more like acquaintances than true friends.  When we think of being's God friend, it is important to realize that we do not bring God down to our level.  Rather, He chooses  to condescend to us.  To show us His glory and majesty, to reveal Himself to us in a way that He deems appropriate.

 

Do you have enough faith in God and His promises to be counted as righteous and to be called a friend of God?  If not, wouldn't that be a goal to work toward?

 

Dear Lord, thank you that you choose to allow us to know You.  Please help me to exercise the same kind of faith that Abraham did.  Help me to live my life from a position of faith and not fear.  Help me to be found  worthy to be Your friend.  In Jesus' Name. Amen.

 

Sherri