You Shall Not Pass

    I had a friend who worked at a pizza place a while ago. One day there was a fire at the shop. Much of it burned down and they were out of business for 2 years. As they were going through the wreckage, he found a Christmas sweater of his that said, "you shall not pass."

   If you are familiar with this quote, you know it is from the Lord of the Rings. Gandalf says it as he is facing the Balrog, a creature covered in flame. Gandalf knows that he must stop this creature if the fellowship is to continue with their journey. Stop it he does.

   My friend's sweater went through a fire and survived. Gandalf faced a fire and survived. We, too, face fires in our lives. The fire may look different at different times. Sometimes we face temptation, jealousy, hatred, and many other sins. During these times, we must say to the devil, "you shall not pass."

   1 Corinthians 10:13 says, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." Temptation is common to us all. God is with us in the fires of temptation. He is there reminding you of his love and that he has given you a way out of the fire.

   We know we will face the fire. Yet, there are ways we can become more fireproof. As we grow in God, we learn more about him. We learn about his desires and love for us and all those in the world. We know he loves us, but we should not go on sinning. One of the reasons we are here is to learn about who God is and have a relationship with him. It is through a strong relationship with God, that we can better defend ourselves against the fires of temptation.

   So, what fires have you faced in your life? How can you defend yourself against temptation? How can you show God's love to others today?

Fear in My Heart

    One day I was going about my morning, and I began to wonder why my head felt like it was swimming. I shook my head and continued with my day. Then, a bit later, my heart felt like it was beating fast. I used my watch to see what my pulse was, and it was normal. So why did my heart feel like it was beating fast? That's when I remembered, I hadn't taken my anxiety medication that morning.

   Suddenly, it all made sense! I had felt off all morning. I hadn't been smiling or feeling like myself. Then I wondered if I should go home and take my meds or if I should try to tough it out. Was I showing distrust in the lord if I didn't finish my day without my meds? 

   I was going to try to tough it out. But it wasn't easy. My heart felt like it was being ripped out of my chest, I was almost frowning the whole day, and I felt like I needed to punch something and cry at the same time. 

   I stopped what I was doing and sat. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and cleared my mind. I asked God to help me find his peace. Feeling a bit better I went back to what I was doing. Then the anxiety began to come back. I didn't understand why it was happening, but it wasn't my job to understand why it was happening. It was my job to trust God.

   I had time to sit down, and I began to write how I was feeling. What did I write? What you are reading now. As I began to write I felt God's peace. I wasn't focused on my fear or problems. I was focused on the Lord and the talents he has given me. 

   Philippians 4:6-7 says: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." In this situation, I did what God asked me to do. I went to him. I trusted in him. Because of that, this blog was written.

   I don't know why God wanted this written. I don't know who this was written for. I don't know why God hasn't taken my anxiety away even though I've asked. What I do know is that God loves me. He cares for me and has a plan for me. Because of that I don't have to fear, even when anxiety comes into my heart. I know God is with me no matter what happens on this earth. Do you believe that? What battles are you facing right now? How can you grow closer in your walk with God?

Alone

   One day my co-teachers were mocking about how my definition of fun is different from theirs. I was okay with that because I do have fun but it's not the kind of fun they like to have. Then one said, "oh but remember, she's a different person now because she has a boyfriend." I was like, "I'm not different, I'm the same person." She replied, "yeah you are, I'd never thought I would see you with a boyfriend."

   To be honest I was a bit shocked. I asked, "why." She said because I never seemed interested in anyone. That's when I realized that my coworkers didn't know me as well as I thought they did.

   Now, I am a very open person. If someone asks me a question, I answer honestly. But I realized that I didn't share about how alone I felt at times. See, as Christians, we are to love others, reflect God's glory, and spread the good news. But it's not always easy to share your weaknesses. Especially when those weaknesses make others possibly question God.

   I know that I'm never alone. I know Joshua 1:9 says, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” I know that. But it's not always easy to feel that God is with you when you wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep.

   Usually I have found in those moments that I need to stop focusing on my worries or fear. Instead I need to focus on God. I read the Bible, pray, and change how I think. That made me not feel so alone.

   So, when you feel alone, what do you do? How often do you spend time with God?

A Tale of Two Thieves

    It is a Friday. A man who people thought would be king, is now walking through the streets carrying a cross on his way to Gethsemane to die. The crowd cries out, spits on him, and yell in anger. 

   Finally, the man arrives at the hill. His body is spread out on the wooden beams. One hand is gripped firmly as a nail is pounded into his flesh. This process is continued with his other hand and his feet. Then the cross is lifted up so that all can see the man. Above the man's head is a sign that says, "This is the King of the Jews."

   Time passes as the crowd watches, waiting for him to die, waiting for some kind of miracle. The soldiers stand waiting to quicken the process to death if needed. The man hears a voice above the din. "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" This came from one of the criminals on the cross. 

   On the other side of him, he hears another voice, "Don't you fear God, since you are under the same sentence? We are getting punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." The man then looked at Jesus, "Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom. 

   Jesus, who was the man on the middle cross replied, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

 

   There were two thieves on the cross. One mocked Jesus and, in his pride, expected Jesus to save himself and him. The other, humbled himself and knew he was getting what he deserved. He asked Jesus to save him. Which thief are you?

Mundane Obedience

    You ever go about your daily schedule and think ugh, another day of the same old same old. Why can't my life be more exciting? How can I get out of this rut?

   While it can sometimes be good to get out of a rut did you ever stop to think: maybe God wants me in this mundane place? What if God has you in that "boring" schedule for a reason? 

   This may have been how the Israelites were feeling outside of Jericho. In Joshua 6, we see God talking to Joshua. He tells Joshua that all the armed men are to march around Jericho once each day for six days. Then on the seventh day they are to march around the city seven times and cry out. Then the walls would collapse.

   Now Joshua and the Israelites had seen God do miracles in the past. But now God was asking them to do something so simple and mundane. Why couldn't God just break down the walls so they could defeat Jericho right away?

   Well, he could have done that. But God was showing the Israelites and the other nations his power. He was asking the Israelites not to rely on their own power. He was asking them to trust him.

   Are you facing a time of walking around Jericho now? A mundane time but God wants you to face it? If you are, you can be sure that it's for a reason. Perhaps God wants to show you his power. Maybe he wants to reach someone through your testimony or work ethic. You don't know that, but God does. Are you trusting that he has a plan for you even in the mundane?

 

I Am With You

     Hard times: they always seem to come up in life. People hurt us, we make mistakes, the world seems to come against us. In those times we must remember that we are not alone.

   I was reminded of this fact as I watched the 2019 version of The Lion King. In this movie a young lion named Simba loses his father in a tragic way. Simba grows up and seems to be trying to forget his past. Then, one night, his father Mufasa comes to him as a ghost. He says to Simba: "As king I was proud of one thing, you as my son. That alone. No, that is forever. I never left you. I never will. Remember who you are."

   Think about that quote. Now, think about God saying that quote to you (replace son with daughter if you are female). God is always with us. It doesn't matter what we have done in the past. It doesn't matter what we will do in the future. God is with us. He never leaves us. In hard times we should remember that. That's how much he loves us.

   I encourage you to think about that today. Think about how much the Lord loves you. Think about how he is always with you. What can you do to remind others of that fact in hard times?

   Joshua 1:9