The previous few ABC posts are as follows: Lord of my Life; Make Me, Mold Me, Move Me; and Name above all Names. Today, it's Offer help Often.

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Offer help Often? Synopsis of Luke 10:25-32.

‍Jesus spoke a parable to a certain lawyer in order to explain the statement, Love your neighbor as yourself. The parable unfolds: A man was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho when robbers attacked him, leaving him beaten, stripped, and half dead. A short while later, a priest came upon the dying man, observed him, and chose to walk to the other side of the road. Likewise, another religious man, a Levite, came upon the wounded traveler and he, too, deliberately passed to the other side of the road. Neither of these men chose to offer help at all.

Offer help Often! Synopsis of Luke 10:25-37.

‍However, a Samaratin came upon the beaten man. When he saw him, he bandaged his wounds, pouring his oil and wine on them. He then put him on his donkey and took him to a nearby inn. The whole day the Samaritan offered help often to the wounded traveler. From this point forward, he made sure all the suffering man's needs would be met, and was willing to pay these expenses. The Samaritan portrayed a beautiful picture of what it means to love your neighbor as yourself.

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What a contrast in this one parable. And how convicting it is! When I look at the merciless inaction of the priest and the Levite, both "righteous" individuals, I have to ask myself:

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Am I, in any way, disregarding someone in need?

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Am I afraid to get my hands dirty?

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Am I too busy to offer help?

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There are people on the "roadside of life" who are wounded and broken. There are people who are crushed in spirit. There are people who are suffering and in need. These people are waiting for someone, a close friend or even a distant stranger, to stop and touch them boldly and mercifully and abundantly. Let's be that person.

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‍Lord, please make me like this Samaritan, full of mercy, full of compassion... full of action. Show me who it is You want me to touch with Your love, and give me the ability, the energy, and the obedience to follow through. I want to offer help often. I want to love my neighbor. Amen

My three previous ABC posts are: Make me, Mold me, Move me; Name above all Names; and Offer help Often. The next phrase is: Prince of Peace, Please Come.

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‍Prince of Peace, Please Come? Synopsis of John 8:39-42, 56-59.

‍During Jesus' day, the leading scribes and Pharisees could not accept Jesus as the Son of God. They considered their "father" to be Abraham and they strictly followed the rules and regulations from long ago. These religious men did not understand that Jesus was the fulfillment of the law, as well as the new law- full of freedom, peace, and joy! Jesus told these Jews, "Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw and was glad…Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." When Jesus claimed to be greater than Abraham, and equal to God, they became enraged. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, had come and He was standing directly in front of them; but sadly, these men did not recognize Him.

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‍Prince of Peace, Please Come! Synopsis of Daniel 3:8-30.

‍However, there were three other men, many hundreds of years prior, that had an unshakable faith in their God. At this point in history, the Israelites had been taken into captivity. All the people were commanded to bow down before a giant golden statue erected by King Nebuchadnezzar. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused, the king ordered them to be bound and thrown into a fiery furnace. The courageous young men said, "The God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O King. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." While the young men were in the midst of the fire, the king saw and spoke with amazement, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?…Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." Most certainly, the Prince of Peace had come.

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When I look at these two stories side by side, here are few questions:

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Do I believe God is with me, even in (especially in) difficult times?

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Do I believe God will not leave me, no matter how hard things get?

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What are practical ways that I can remind myself of the peaceful presence of God?

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The Jewish scribes and Pharisees in the passage above simply could not and did not believe Jesus to be the Messiah. They closed their ears to His words and their eyes to His works. Therefore, His presence meant nothing. However, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, although they could not see God, they believed He existed as Savior. Their unshakeable faith gave them courage to step into the fire. There, they recognized the Prince of Peace.

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Are you in the midst of a "fiery furnace" right now? Are there flames of anxiety, fear, sadness, or disappointment waving about?  Believe He is with you. Know that He cares for you. What God did physically for these three faithful men long ago, He will do for your heart and soul today. Call on your Prince of Peace and He will come. Recognize Him, trust Him, walk with Him, even in the midst of the fire.

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‍Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

My past three ABC posts include: Name above all Names, Offer help Often, and Prince of Peace Please Come. Today, it's Quiet my Questioning heart.

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Quiet my Questioning heart? Synopsis Exodus 15:23-16:1-17.

‍Long ago, Moses led the Israelite nation out of slavery from Egypt. They survived the ten plagues and made a grand exit, straight through the parted Red Sea. These people saw and experienced God's powerful work on their behalf. Three days into their new freedom journey, however, they began to grumble due to lack of water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter…So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?" Likewise, two weeks later, they grumbled again, "If only we had died by the Lord's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you (Moses) have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death." The Israelite nation could not trust the faithfulness of God due to their unquieted questioning hearts. In spite of their grumbling, the Lord provided food and water daily for them during the disciplining forty years in the desert.

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Quiet my Questioning heart! Synopsis of Genesis 37, 39, 50:20.

‍If only these Israelites had remembered the story of their great ancestor Joseph. As a young man, he was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers; then later, once in Egypt, he was thrown into prison for a crime he did not commit. For a decade, he had reason to cry out often, "Lord, quiet my questioning heart!" In His time and in His way, God did send His peace and provision as Joseph continued to put his trust in the Lord's direction. He eventually was released from prison and rose to the position of second in command in Egypt. Joseph continued to walk with the Lord; he even gave forgiveness to his brothers, saying to them, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish now what is being done…".

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When I look at these two stories, here are a few questions:

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Do I tend to grumble and complain when things don't go my way?

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Do I trust God with ALL my heart in times of uncertainty?

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What practical ways can I trust him more in a difficult situation or unknown path?

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In these stories, I see both parties questioning God. Really, I think God is fine with our questions. Even Jesus questioned His Father on the cross. What God is after is the attitude of our hearts. Do the questions we raise to Him come from a place of angry mistrust, or are they a plea for His help in the midst of our diverse circumstances? He must discipline the former, but He honors the latter. Let's bring our BIG questions to the Lord, and ask Him to quiet us in whatever answer He chooses to give, all the while remembering, He is ALWAYS working for our ultimate good.

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Will you trust Him?

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‍Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord; O Lord hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy…I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope. Psalm 130:1-2, 5

The previous few ABC posts are entitled: Offer Help Often, Prince of Peace Please Come, and Quiet my Questioning Heart. Today, it's Rest with Him, Run with Him.

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‍Rest with Him, Run with Him? Synopsis of 1 Samuel 18:5-16, 19:9-18.

Long ago, a man named Saul became the appointed king of Israel. The people were proud of King Saul, for he was taller than any of his people from his shoulders upward (I Samuel 10:23). The Israelites wanted Saul to represent strength and power to all the other nations. King Saul did lead mightily for a time but his heart did not rest nor run with the Lord. As a matter of fact, Saul was driven by jealousy and anger because of a young shepherd boy named David who had killed the Philistine giant. The Israelites began to praise David's name over that of Saul's, which was infuriating to him. Many times Saul tried to kill David with his own spear, causing David to flee from his presence. Instead of pursuing God, King Saul ran after David; because of this misdirected ambition, his soul never found rest.

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‍Rest with Him Run with Him! Synopsis of Psalm 23, 18:28-36.

‍David, on the other hand, both rested and ran with the Lord. As a young shepherd boy, he learned how to be quiet as he watched over the sheep, and also, he learned how to fight as he protected them from predators. This trust and training is what gave him the confidence to face and then slay Goliath. In time and by God's appointment, David became king over Israel. Although his reign was not flawless, his life was marked by receiving forgiveness and then living in obedience to his God. Because of these qualities, God called David "a man after His own heart." David knew how to both rest and run with the Lord.

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When looking at the two men, I have to ask myself:

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What controls my thoughts, and then possibly my actions?

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Do I desire "rest" or do I just want to "run" on my own emotions and actions?

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What are practical ways that I can implement "resting with the Lord" each day?

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It is safe to say that if you're not resting with the Lord, then your soul is ...restless. Saul was fitful because his mind was full of jealousy; this emotion drove his actions. But David, on the other hand, knew how to be still before the Lord. In this quiet space, he poured out his heart and he knew he was heard.  We see much of his raw emotion and his absolute trust throughout the pages of the psalms. After David poured out, God was able to pour in. Then, and only then, was David ready for battle.

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Let's learn how "to be" and how "not to be" from these two men.  Choose to be still and bring all your hurts and all your desires before the Lord. Daily rest with Him, so that you can daily run with Him.

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‍For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In repentance and rest you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength." But you were not willing. Isaiah 30:15

My previous three ABC posts are entitled: Prince of Peace Please Come, Quiet my Questioning Heart, and Rest with Him, Run with Him. Today, it is Stand Steady in His Strength.

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Stand Steady in His Strength?  Matthew 14:22-33.

‍Jesus' disciples were on a boat in the midst of a fierce storm. Late into the night, they saw a ghost-like figure walking on the water with the waves swirling all around him. Jesus called out, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Then Peter confidently called to Him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." So the Lord called him, and Peter stepped out of the boat onto the water with his eyes fixed on Jesus. But as he was stepping forward, he started panicking because of the wind and the waves; consequently, he began to sink. He was no longer standing steady in the strength of the Lord. Jesus, however, held out His hand to Peter, and once they stepped into the boat, the wind and the waves became calm.

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‍Stand Steady in His Strength! Synopsis of Mark 2:1-13.

‍On another occasion, Jesus was teaching a crowd of people in a house in Capernaum. Four men were carrying their paralyzed friend on a mat towards the house with intentions of getting close to Jesus for healing. The room was packed, so they climbed to the roof, pulled it apart, and then lowered their sick friend down into the room directly in front of Jesus. Jesus spoke these words to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven…I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." The paralytic obeyed Jesus. This healed man was now able to stand in the strength that the Lord had given him. He and all the people in the house were amazed at Jesus' wonderful work.

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In these two passages, here are a few questions:

In the midst of a trial, where is my focus?

Am I willing to obey the Lord when he says "rise", or am I somehow more comfortable in my misery?

What are some practical ways that I can keep my eyes fixed on Christ?

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In these passages, I see one man sinking and one man rising. Peter, who often wrestled with over-confidence, realized he was "in over his head." When he took his eyes off of Jesus, he momentarily thought it was up to him to keep himself afloat. (Thankfully, he cried out, "Lord, save me!") On the other hand, the paralytic, who knew he could do nothing in his own power, obeyed Jesus' command, rose to his feet, and then walked home with confident joy.

How often we, in our flesh, become unstable. We can either sink down into a pit or climb up onto a pedestal. Those of us who tend to have a self-PIT-y mindset say things like: "I'm a failure", "I don't measure up", "Nobody loves me"; they blame and shame themselves. On the other hand, those who tend to have a man-made "pedestal" mindset say things like: "I'm in control", "I'm always right", "I don't need anybody"; they blame and shame others. These mindsets, although very different from each other, both have self at the core. Neither pit nor pedestal will ever provide a firm foundation for standing.

But then, there is a not-of-the-flesh-power that we as Christians inherit through faith. Let's remember, His Spirit is alive in us! When we realize, like the paralytic, that we can do nothing in and of our own strength, and when we decide, like Peter (at first), to fix our eyes only on Jesus, then and only then, can we stand steady in His strength. His power, not our own, makes our feet firm and our foundation solid so that we can do all we were created to do, for His glory.

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Ask the Almighty One to pull you out of your pit before you get stuck there, or ask the Exalted One to help you to step down from your pedestal before you fall. Allow Him to set your feet upon the solid rock so that you can do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that you ask or think according to the power that works within you. (Eph. 3:20) It's how Peter walked on water; it's how the paralytic skipped home; and it's how you can live your life, every day.

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‍He sent from on high, He took me; He drew me out of may waters… He brought me forth also into a broad place… for by Him I can run upon a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. (Ps. 18:16, 19,29)

The three previous ABC posts I have written are: Quiet my Questioning Heart, Rest with Him-Run with Him, and Stand Steady in His Strength. Today's post is: Totally Trust the Truth.

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Totally Trust the Truth? Synopsis of 2 Chronicles 15:1-5; 16:1-9; 12.

Long ago, King Asa ruled over the nation of Judah. For most of his reign, he did good and right in the sight of the Lord. He removed foreign altars and high places from the land. As a result, God's blessing of peace was on the nation during this time. However, in the 36th year of Asa's reign, Baasha, King of Israel, planned an attack against Judah. For some reason, instead of turning to the Lord first to seek help, King Asa sought to make an alliance with an earthly king, Ben-hadad of Aram. Asa chose not to trust the truth that God was the Almighty One who could and would fight for His people. As a result of this decision, wars began and continued for the duration of Asa's reign.

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‍Totally Trust the Truth! Synopsis of 2 Chronicles 20:1-28.

‍After Asa died, his son Jehoshaphat became the king of Judah. King Jehoshaphat loved the Lord and sought to keep His commandments. At one point in his reign, enemies from all sides were coming upon Judah. King Jehoshaphat was frightened by these strong armies, so he turned his attention to seek the Lord. He brought the people of Judah together in order to fast and pray. God spoke to them through a prophet, "You need not fight this battle, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf." Instead of fighting, God told the people to worship Him with praise through music and song; they were to totally trust the truth that God would deliver them from the enemies. The people obeyed, and God's hand was victorious on the battlefield on their behalf.

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When I look at King Asa and King Jehoshaphat in the midst of their battle decisions, here are a few questions:

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Do I tend to try to figure things out by myself before I seek the Lord for help?

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Who am I asking for advice in a confusing situation? Are they wise?

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What practical way can I implement "seeking the Lord first" in heated situations? (Notice, the people of Judah sang worship songs!)

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Why is it that we tend to first exhaust all our human resources during crisis mode before we remember to turn to the Lord and seek His help? We must remember, He is the One who is in control; He is the One who has all the answers; He is the One who can defeat anything that we are up against! Because of these truths, HE IS THE ONE to turn to!

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I want to seek Him first!

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‍Lord, please help me turn to You and totally trust the truth of Your word. Give me songs in my heart, songs of praise and adoration, songs of hope and deliverance. And as I sing, I will watch expectantly with full assurance that You are fighting for me as I am trusting in You. Amen