Failure: Life With No Direction

Focus Passage: Gen 15:7-21

Wouldn’t be nice to know the future? You could plan your life without wasting time and energy on false starts. You could have direction in life with as little pain as possible. Yet, what if the future contained hardships, too? What if your job would end in a year or the future held a serious illness for you or your wife? Would you want to know those things as well? God lays 400 years of history before Abraham. Yes, there will be successes, but there will also be hardship and pain for Abraham’s descendants. God has a lot to teach the scraggly and selfish sons of Jacob so that they can be the great nation promised to Abraham. Yet, we can know that God’s plan is bigger than we would have ever imagined. We have to trust God to take us where we cannot get by ourselves.

Abraham’s discussion of the future begins with a question. Abraham has spent ten years of wandering up and down the countryside and yet God’s promise that he is no closer to having this land for his offspring. It isn’t that life hasn’t been good. Abraham is becoming a rich man with large flocks and many servants. He just feels like he is treading water. Promises were made by God, but nothing much is different. Unfulfilled dreams can haunt us as well. God made promises that don’t seem to be coming true. We are facing illness and feel like God has not listened to our prayers. Money is tight when we thought that God would give us what we need. We have never been hungry, but this was not what we thought would happen.

God knew that Abraham struggled because he kept looking to earthly solutions for his problems. He had already turned to Egypt not God when he was hungry and lied about who Sarah was to save himself. He looked to solve problems by himself. God takes Abraham outside and makes him look up. It is as if God is telling Abraham that he is looking to the wrong place. You need to look heavenward and see what God can do. If God can make that many stars, is it really too hard to believe that God can give you that many offspring? Likewise, looking to earth for the answers for our future will stunt our growth. We need to look to the Lord who has the ability to do anything. Look to the stars and ask “What does God want for you?”

And when you look up to the heavens, trust God. Abraham has not learned to be patient. He will still struggle and try to handle it his own way. He would fail when he took Hagar as a second wife and again when he told everyone Sarah was not his wife a second time. Yet, for the most part, he believed. He cast his lot with the Lord. When the Lord said that he should go this way, he went. He leaned his whole life toward God’s will because he believed with all his heart that God really knew what was best. Be patient and cast your lot with the Lord. Start your day asking what the Lord wants of you today. Worship him and learn from him in his word. Trust that the Lord who created the heavens knows what is best for your life. Cast your lot with him and life will have joy.

Look again up to the heavens. Do you notice how small you and I are compared to all the stars? Sometimes, we have to look beyond ourselves and realize that God is ministering to the whole world. Abraham wanted the land now, but he would have to wait because God was still working with the Amorite people. They would have to fail before God would give Abraham’s descendants the land that was promised. That would take time because God is loving and very patient.  We often ask God to speed things up so that we can what we want without considering the world around us. God is orchestrating blessings for the world around us as well as us. Even if we are ready for the miracle to begin, others may not be ready or be in place. Patience is required as he brings all the pieces together.

The real question is, “Can you take the truth?” We want direction with as little pain as possible. Here, Abraham gets the awful truth. His descendants have a lot to learn. God will take the stiff necked descendants of Jacob and will mold them into a nation. Abraham wants the land now, but his descendants will not be ready for it. Can you take the truth? Do you really want to know where you will be five or ten years from now? Are you really ready to take the responsibility that comes with that promotion or jealous rivals that will come with your success? Sometimes we are better off trusting God and just waiting for His solution. Just look at Abraham. Abraham continued to prosper during his life. The simple man who left Ur with a few cattle and sheep had a large flock and much gold and silver by this time. Know that God will take care of you as He is working His plans. Look up, believe and realize that God is working great plans for us. He is a God who can be trusted. God’s plan is bigger than you could ever imagine. Trust him to take care of you till then as well. 

Failure: When life fails you

Focus Passage: John 4:1-26

Failure can feel like a hole so deep that you just can’t seem to get out of. You are fighting to get upstream and it seems the whole world is stacked against you. I bet that you either know what that feels like or you know people who feel that way. Taxes and expenses are up, but salary ends up going down. Family or friends doing stupid things and you have to pick up the pieces. You can try your hardest, but there seems no way to get out of the hole. You think of yourself as a failure with no hope. Such was the woman in our text. She has been divorced five times and is living with another man. You may have just consigned yourself that this is the way that it is going to be. Jesus gave hope to a woman who was a failure and He can help you and me when we feel that way, too. There are four questions for people when life is failing

What prejudices do you have? Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. We need someone to ask us the hard questions that shake us out of our failure. The first question that Jesus asks is about prejudice. The woman shows her prejudice when she is surprised at Jesus’ request for a glass of water. The woman had to set aside her “you think you’re so great” prejudice if she was to be healed. Sometimes people have prejudices against Christ and the church. They can’t see how Jesus wants to help them because they think that Jesus wouldn’t help someone who wasn’t perfect. They dismiss Jesus and Christians as being too good to help just as the woman did. Yet, that is not why we seek Jesus. We band together as a church because we need the healing. We want others to join us so Jesus can help us all be whole.

What preconceptions must you drop? Everyone has preconceptions. They are the framework that we view life through. Preconceptions are not always bad, but if we are not careful, those preconceptions enslave us. We get stuck in a box whose answers don’t work instead of seeking the truth. The woman has her preconceptions. She gets a little huffy when she thinks that Jesus is putting down Jacob, her great ancestor. Yet, all Jesus is trying to do is to get her out of her box. People can still get upset when you question their preconceptions. They see technology and the media as having all the answers, but reject the Bible as an old dusty book. Jesus has the real answers for our lives as He teaches us about things like finance, rearing our children or helpful priorities. We need to be open to His answers. They really help.

What sin must you confess? Sometimes the wrong framework causes us to make mistakes. The woman in the text had led life to the fullest. Jesus’ question is designed to help her to see that things had not turned out very well. With a series of divorces, she was ostracized by her community. She had messed up and needed to admit her sin was the cause of her pain. There can be no healing or change without an admission of sin. Sadly, we live in a society where everyone wants to do their own thing and is surprised that there are consequences from it. People can’t see that overspending can bring foreclosure. People ignore the connection between adultery and ruined families. Yet, ignoring sin doesn’t stop its disastrous effects. Only the mercy of the cross forgives us and helps us to overcome the consequences of sin. We seek him out because He is the only one who can forgive and restore.

What are you really afraid of? Have you noticed that when the questions get too intense or too close to the heart, people often change the conversation? The woman was uncomfortable talking about her sinful life. She tried to change the topic to talk about the differences between Jewish and Samaritan religion. This prophet was getting too close to the truth. She was a failure and she had no idea how to make things better. Truth makes us feel open and exposed. Often, they don’t want to talk about God or about the brokenness in their life. They pretend that if they avoid it, it will all go away eventually. Change is hard and so we often would rather stay in failure. Yet, the churches exist because we are all broken people in one way or another. We can come for support and for help. We are broken people walking together. Jesus can help us all.

Failure doesn’t have to be terminal. So many people think that life is as good as it is going to get. They have had problems and sins and they are stuck in that hole. All four questions are simply about the walls that we build around ourselves. The walls tell us that there is nothing we can do. Yet, the walls really keep us from seeing the real solution. Yet, Jesus has answers. Jesus patiently asked the questions and moved her closer to a relationship with him where she could be healed and her life could be change. It is only when Jesus breaks down our walls that the real answers come. Failure happens to every one of God’s people. Just look at Abraham, David and Peter to name a few. Success came to each one and to the woman because they opened up their lives to Jesus. The answer to failure is to let the walls come down and Jesus to come in. There is nothing our savior can’t help.

Faith's Challenges: Fighting Doubt

Focus passage: John 20:24-31

Most of us don’t care about problems in Greece or the success of terrorists in Syria. Yet, our doubts explode if a bond levy threatens our kid’s school programs or a merger threatens our jobs. We start to wonder and start to have our doubts when people say that everything will be OK. If it isn’t important, it really doesn’t matter to us. If something looks bad and it will affect us, we start wondering and doubting when people tell us it will be all right. Doubts often show us what is important in our lives. Doubts come when we want something to be true, but we are unsure. That doesn’t mean that doubts are a sin. There is a difference between doubt and unbelief. The problem is that doubt can lead to unbelief and rob us of faith. Yet, Jesus turned Thomas’s doubts into a stronger faith. His doubts gave him something to believe in.

Doubt misses out on joys v.24 Why Thomas was not with the others on Easter evening, we are not told. Was he so disappointed that he had gone for a walk? Was he discouraged and ready to give up? His absence increased his doubts. If he had been with the others, he would have seen Jesus for himself. Doubts flourish in the dark. Questions seem larger and we begin to fear things that have not come about. Don’t let isolation attack your faith.

Confronted by Jesus v.26 The good news is that Thomas came back the next week for worship and gave the Lord an opportunity to confront Thomas’ doubts. There in worship, Jesus appeared to Thomas and the others. He had demanded evidence and the Lord granted Thomas’ request. The worst thing that we can do is to stay away. If we continue to come to worship and if we continue to pray and be in the word, the Lord will help us with our doubts. He wants us to believe.

Faith defined by doubt v. 28 The result for Thomas was a stronger faith. To the best of my knowledge, Thomas is the first one to call Jesus God. His doubts had received an answer. His doubts which had pondered the truth about Jesus for a week had led him to see something that the others had not seen yet. Your doubts can become the basis of a greater faith. If you pray about your doubts, God will use that time that you share with Him to let your mind see truths that others have not seen.

How do you deal with doubt? The first thing is to admit to yourself and to others that you have your doubts. All too often we smother our doubt and pretend it doesn’t exist. Second, pray about your doubts and share your doubts with a fellow Christian that you can trust. God will use others to help you to find the answers. Third, analyze your doubts by yourself or with a friend. What is it exactly that is causing your to doubt? Look for answers to that doubt in God’s word and pray about them specifically. It is easier for you to overcome doubt if you know what it is. Finally, realize that doubt often comes because we are uncomfortable with truth. You don’t find flaws in God’s word, it finds flaws in you. Doubts often come because our beliefs run headlong into God’s truth. Thomas believed that no one could rise from the dead. Jesus showed that God could and it changed everything for Thomas.  Ironically, doubts can give us something to believe in as we bring them to the Lord and let Him help.

Faith's Challenges: Fighting Temptation

Focus Passage: Luke 4:1-13

No one said life would be easy. There are days that I really wish that being a Christian meant that I was above temptation. I know that is not true. I face temptations every day and fail more than I want to admit. Yet, I know that there can be a good side to temptation. It can be a tool used by God to make my faith stronger and to help me learn about the “inner me”. Abraham was tested when God told him to sacrifice Isaac and his faith grew so that he was a changed man. Job was tested with boils and learned that God is wiser than we are and can be trusted even in hard times. Yet the greatest temptation was the one that Jesus faced from Satan himself. In that temptation, we see three of our greatest weaknesses and God’s answers. 

We have physical needs and desires v. 4 Jesus was in the desert and He was hungry. Our first temptation is to take care of ourselves first and put everyone last. It is what makes a kid take the last cookie or makes us want to rest instead of helping someone else first. Jesus’ answer is a reminder that God will provide. God provided for the people during the exodus and He will provide for you. He sees your physical needs. You just have to trust that God will keep giving us what we need.

We want possessions and power v. 8 Satan takes Jesus to a high place and promises him the world if Jesus will just worship Satan. Our temptation is that we often want it all and want it to come easy. Why can’t I buy a new car or an apple watch? Jesus’ answer shows us that such things will not make life easier. Living with God’s character and values will provide a better life. God has a plan for you and wants good things for your life. Follow him not things which will only disappoint.

We want to know we are loved v.12 Satan’s final test was to make God prove that He loved Jesus. For us, it is the temptation of self-worth. Does God really love us? When life gets tough, we can easily accuse God of letting us down. Jesus answer recalls the time at Massah when the Israelites complained that God was going to let them die with no water. God’s children are encouraged to ask, but they should not demand. They should trust the Lord and not put conditions on God to prove Himself. Our self worth comes from the cross where we see how much God loves us.

It is nice to know that Satan can be defeated. After three tries, Satan left Jesus and waited to try again. Satan had failed because Jesus knew His bible and used the power of the word against Satan. Satan tried to make Jesus think of himself first, but He kept thinking about the Father. If we are to defeat Satan in our lives, we will need God’s help as well. We can pray that Jesus would stand at our side since he has already defeated Satan. We can arm ourselves with Bible passages or just take time to read the Bible since Satan can not stand to be near those who are in the word. If we lean on the Lord, times of temptation can be times of growth that stretch our faith. We will understand better what God’s will is for our lives and will be better equipped to handle the problems of life and to take the opportunities that the Lord wants to give. 

Faith's Challenges: Fighting Worry

Focus passage: Matt 6:25-32

We build our society on things that are not guaranteed. We want health, wealth, and happiness. From our early days, we often chase them only to find that we built a life of straw that can easily be blown away in a strong wind of change. Commercials promise that their pill or their financial knowledge can guarantee the life that we want. Yet we know that it may not work and so we get trapped in a cycle of worry. I admit to fighting worry all the time, but I also know that it helps to look to the things that the Lord guarantees in scripture. There are treasures that the Lord will bring to my life if I just keep my eye on Him. I am not free from worry, but it does help. Here are my four reasons to seek God instead of worrying so that you and I might have real happiness.

God can be trusted v. 25 The crowd stretched out on the hillside before Jesus was large and they lived in hard times. They hardly made what we would call a living wage today, but rather spent all they made on food, clothing, housing and taxes. Yet, Jesus’ message was to trust in the Lord. Keep close to the Lord and ask Him to provide what we need because God can take care of what we cannot manage. The world is uncertain, but God’s love is sure.

Worry hampers your valuable work today v. 26 Worry damages us as it takes away the time we have to help others or help ourselves. Worry can control us. It can dominate our feelings and rob us of the time that we need to do fruitful things. The wise man will do his work and trust the Lord for the things that he cannot control. He plans his day and tries to do the things that will make a difference, but doesn’t worry about the things that he can’t control. Such work gives us joy as we help others.

God cares for those who depend on Him v. 30 Sitting on a grassy hillside, Jesus may have gestured to the wild plants around them that are dependent on God for their future. Our focus should be on the Lord as well.  Those who build a relationship with the Lord and depend on Him will have an abundance that others will miss. Christians have an ace in the hole that no non Christian can match. We have a Lord with bountiful resources and the power to change anything.

Worry keeps you from realizing your future v. 33 Simply put, worry wastes time. God has a future for each of us and He promises to take care of earthly needs like food and clothes so that we can live with joy and do ministry for others. God says “seek first” his stuff and let him take care of the rest. You will make a difference in others lives by the power of God instead of getting trapped in the stuff you have no control over. You will make your world better instead of always worrying about what happens next.

The cure for worry is to look upward. Jesus calls us to store up treasures in heaven as we trust our Lord. There are no guarantees here on earth. You can’t guarantee your health or your finances. All you can do is worry when things start to fall apart. You can only seek the Lord and the spiritual things that are guaranteed. Trust in the Lord and ask Him to care for the things in life that you cannot care for. Place yourself in His hands in the battle against worry. 

Faith's Challenges: Fighting Discouragement

Focus passage: Nehemiah 4:1-15

 Discouragement is a constant battle for many of us. The world conspires seems to conspire against us and we lose heart. Every ounce of strength seems to be taken from our veins and we collapse in self pity. Sadly, Discouragement often comes when we are on the right track. Just because things are hard doesn’t mean that God doesn’t want you to be successful at your task. The workers rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls in the days of Nehemiah were definitely discouraged. Sanballat, the governor of Syria who desired to also be governor of Judah was terrified that the Jews were thinking of building the walls. He set out on a campaign of ridicule to discourage the workers and stop progress. You can see three signs of discouragement among the workers.

Fatigue overcame them v. 10a It would take the people 52 days to finish the wall around Jerusalem. The project was halfway done and some were so tired that they were ready to give up. They were priests, trades people and farmers; not masons. The work was going too slow for them. They wanted to be done one way or another. Sanballat had mocked them causing them to lose sight of the purpose of protection and safety that the wall would give.

Frustration caused burnout v.10b The Jews had to clean out piles of rubble from the wall before they could rebuild the wall in that space. It was a lot of unstacking and restacking stones. Years before the walls had been torched making many of the stones useless. In addition they were frustrated that their enemies would not let them build in peace. They had swords strapped to their waist and lived on a heightened sense of alert. Why were things so tough?

 Fear slowed them down v. 11 The rumor mongers were pronouncing doom and gloom on the Jerusalem Jews. The enemy is preparing a surprise attack. The wall you are completing will not stand. It was a message of criticism and not of encouragement. It slowed down the work because the fear of attack was real. Half the people worked and half stood guard against attack. Each man worked with a sword or spear in hand ready to fight. What good was a wall if you were killed before it could protect you?

So what did Nehemiah do when events discouraged the people? First, he prayed. He looked up to the Lord for hope and help. He knew that the people could not do the work alone. He asked that the Lord might judge the people keeping God’s city from being rebuilt. Nehemiah’s prayer encouraged him so that he could encourage others. In our times of trouble, we need to cry out to the Lord before we get discouraged. Let your prayer be the first thing you do and not the last. Ask the Lord for help. Don’t be afraid to ask the Lord to deal with people who are acting in evil ways. Ask the Lord to let His purpose not be defeated so that all those around you might benefit. You will impact the people around you and give them courage and strength as well. You will make a difference because you believe in the Lord and remember all the things that He has done.

Faith's Challenges: Fighting Fear

Focus Passage: Deut. 1:19-36

Camped on the east side of the Jordan River, the Promised Land was so close that they could smell and taste it. The children of Israel had waited 37 years for this moment, but they were not ready to cross. Their parents had failed at the edge of the Promised Land because of fear. Moses wants them to succeed where their parents failed. It all comes down to faith. There is a high cost for fear and their parents had paid dearly for their fear. People fail all the time because of a lack of faith. They are overwhelmed by the problems and they forget God. They wonder what they are going to do. Some even walk away from God thinking He can’t or won’t help them. This was a time for faith because people lose everything because they have fear not faith.

Failure comes when the enemy is too big v.27 Moses begins by recalling an. Many in the crowd were not even born, but that event 38 years ago affected their whole lives up till now. Scouts were sent into the Promised Land to determine where they should enter. Instead they came back with stories of giants and destruction. They cowered in fear in the barren desert instead of marching into the fertile lands God had prepared for them.

Failure comes when God is too small v. 32 Ten plagues had overwhelmed the Egyptians so that they begged the Jews to leave. Waves of water had washed aside the greatest army in their world. Food had fallen out of the sky so hundreds of thousands could eat each day. It was a miracle that the people were here in this place. Yet, they forgot what God had done. They forgot how God had defeated a great army and miraculously brought them to this place.

Victory and honor belong to those who believe v. 36 The model of such faith was Caleb. He was easy to pick out because Joshua and Caleb were the only men older than 60 years old in the whole camp. Caleb and Joshua had believed when no one else would. They had known that God could do great things for them and wasn’t afraid of the giants. Old as Caleb was, he and his sons would take the choice lands in southern Palestine that he had once looked 38 years ago.

Israel was at a crossroads. Would they repeat their parent’s failure or would they have faith. As God called them to cross into the Promised Land, obedience was important. Faith was essential. They need to trust the Lord so much that they would follow Him because they believed that He would not fail. It is a model for every person who finds themselves at a crossroads of life. Instead of panicking, you pray. Instead of worrying, you worship. Instead of stewing, you study. You bring the problems to the Lord on a daily basis and asking what He can do with the problems that you face instead of what you can do. You look into the word of God to find out how you live so that you avoid problems and do the kinds of things that will build life. Listen so you learn and live. Those who let the Lord be their teacher and guide will thrive in life.

Prayer Problems: Practice - 4 Relying on God in Prayer

Focus passage: Luke 11:11-13

A child should never have to ask for a roof over their head, for food or clothing or even the chance to go to school. It is what they should know that their parents will give them gladly based on their parent’s character and love for them. The second parable in this text is about God’s character. His children don’t have to beg Him for help. They know that God wants to give His children more than they could ever ask for. They know His love for them and eagerly come to Him for help.  

The Story - Joshua- Do We Dare?

Focus – book of Joshua

For forty years, the people have followed Moses. Now Moses is gone just as they are ready to enter the Promised Land and claim the promises given to Abraham long ago. The giants are still in the land like they were forty years before. How will they go and claim the opportunity that the Lord has given them? Who will lead them into the Promised Land? Joshua is the story of God building a people so that they can go and do the impossible. He will build up leader and people so that both are ready to claim His promises. He will show them that they will succeed if they follow Him and fail when they try to move forward without Him.

Prayer Problems: Power - 4 Do I Give Up Too Easy?

Focus passage: 1 Kings 18:41-46

I prayed for family night and none of the people I had invited came. I sat by a friend in the hospital who we had been praying about for weeks, but he only seemed to get worse. 

I began to wonder if it was not God’s will that our outreach would have success or that Jack was going to get better. How many times should I pray? How many times do I keep saying the same words toward heaven without getting the results that I so desperately want? Elijah doesn’t let go. He kept on praying even though there had not been a drop of water in three and a half years.

Who is God? Answer: God is Generous

Focus passage: 1 Chronicles 29:1-17

Somehow, we have become convinced that if I want more, then you must have less. We have been taught that there is only a finite amount of wealth in the world. The truth is that God’s treasury knows no limit. If God wants to give an abundant corn crop, farmers benefit. If God wants to let people discover a new vein of gold or river of oil, wealth will be produced. God can give without taking from others. When we look at the wealth of King David mentioned in 1 Chronicles 29:1-17, we can see the generosity of God in action.

"Who is God?", Part IV: God transforms our lives

Focus passage: Galatians 5:13-26

Many people give up on Christianity because they think that it is too hard. Christianity is often seen as a religion of dos and don’ts, but I see my faith as my freedom. The Holy Spirit transforms me so that I am free to live the life I want and not be a slave to my desires or to the world. My God is the one who frees me from the desires of this world and the expectations of others. Because of God, I can succeed where others will fail. I will have joy in life where others find drudgery. God transforms my life so that I can be different in three very special ways. 

"Who is God?", Part II: God is the Comforter

Focus text: Isaiah 40:1-11

We all need someone to care for us and console us. No one escapes trouble, but it is a joy to have a God who will be at our side to care for us when trouble comes. When good King Hezekiah died, the nation began a 100 year fall that ended in the Babylonian captivity. Things did not look good and would not get better soon. Yet, God calls on His servant to help them and give people the comfort that they and we often need. 

Read Isaiah 40:1-11 and notice four ways that God will comfort His people

• A comforter does not forsake His people. (v.2) God must allow bad things to happen to His people when they sin, but He will return to them when they have repented. God’s people will suffer the fate of the nation that they live in. When Israel or America forgets its God, you can bet that things will get rough. Christians are not exempt from the suffering, but they can look to God for hope.

• A comforter gives them help to make life easier (v.4). In the midst of suffering, God promised that He would be there to help. He put King Cyrus in place to free the Jews and God still gives us people to help us as we rebuild our lives. God works behind the scenes to help people when they face tough times so that they can have success in their ministry and their life. 

• A comforter keeps his promises (v.8). Grass withers and flowers fail, but we can take comfort that the promises of God will always be kept. God promised that He would send a Messiah and Jesus came to die on the cross. God’s promises are meant to give us hope and comfort that the future is in His hands. The world may fall apart around us, but not one of God’s promises will fail.  

• A comforter keeps His people close to Him. (v.11) Our Lord cares for us when we find ourselves hurting and in trouble. He provides resources when we are struggling. The comforter is one who is close to his people and who picks up his people and holds them close like a parent cares for their children. We may feel defenseless, but God will stay at our side and protect us.

The Jews were in for a rough time. Judah still had 100 years of trouble before Jerusalem would fall, then 70 years of exile and 100 years before Nehemiah would rebuild the walls. God would be with them through it all. We often think that if we work harder or smarter that we can overcome the barriers of life. Comfort does not come in working harder or smarter, but by spending time with the Lord. Let Him calm your fears in prayer. Let Him organize your thoughts as you read His wisdom in scripture. Next Tuesday, we will look at God the guide in life and see what a real GPS can do. 


 

Expect God to do something

Never Alone Again

He wants you to know Him deeply.

Weeks had gone by and daily Bible study and prayer had become part of Sandy’s life. Reading the bible was her “down time” at night and it relaxed her after a long day at work or a tough ballet or tap class. She began to need her daily time with God and found that she found it harder to sleep or to function the next day if she had to skip her “God time”. She was surprised how much she understood as she read the gospels and how often other voices told her things contrary to what the bible taught. Did God really want her to know Him and His ways? Could she continue to thrive the way she had started to do while reading Bible? Were there any secrets that God wanted to keep from her? Many people feel like the Bible is too hard to understand. The truth is that God wants us to know Him intimately so that we know what is true and what is not. Read John 10:1-18 and learn how close we can become to God.

Jesus’ people come to know the Good Shepherd’s voice. Just as a child can pick up his mother’s voice in a crowded room, a Christian can grow in their faith so that they recognize Jesus’ voice among the many voices that try to guide him or her in their lives. We listen to the Lord and follow His advice rather than listening to all the other voices in the media and among our friends. We want Jesus’ advice and solutions because, like a loving parent, He wants us to thrive and will give us the guidance that brings us long term joy. His voice becomes special to us as we spend time listening to His word and praying on a regular basis. The bible becomes our guidebook in life and helps us weigh the opinions that we receive from others. Like a child, we enjoy the time with our heavenly Father and learn to trust what He says.

The sheep in John 10 know that the shepherd cares. He will never abandon them and will stand between them and danger. Others might abandon them, but the shepherd will always be there. As they stay near Him, they find safety and food. It is the love of Jesus that makes us want to be near Him. He did lay down His life for us on the cross so that we might have eternal life. He is always with us even when we feel alone or abandoned. We listen for His voice because it is the voice of protection and provision. Others may try to lure us away from Jesus, but we know that we are better off with Him. We have seen how His ways work out better in our lives than any other counsel. He is a friend we can count on and a friend we can trust throughout our whole life.

Thursday morning was dragging on for Sandy at the diner when she noticed a wallet left behind in one of the booths. She picked up the wallet and noticed a lot of cash and felt the temptation to take part of it. She also noticed the driver’s license photo and saw that it was one of her regulars who worked just down the street. A little voice told her what to do. She asked her boss for permission to leave and return the wallet. The customer hadn’t even noticed he was missing it, but thanked her profusely for taking the time to return the wallet. As she walked back to the diner, she was glad that she had listened to Jesus. He always knew what to do. His sheep know His voice and listen to it. They trust Jesus and want to follow Him because He alone will bring them long term happiness. A faith may start out small, but it can grow to be a relationship that will touch every part of our life with Jesus’ love and guidance. Is God’s love the only benefit we receive as Christians? Join Sandy next week in the blog “Welcome to the family!” to find out.             

Ponder the answers to these questions.

• What was the greatest friendship you have ever had? What made that friendship special?
• Jesus is eager for a deep friendship with you. Are you willing to take the time to be with him so that friendship can blossom?

Failure begins with We

After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer." Mark 9:28-29

Joe began the men’s club meeting with a sigh. Only three people had shown up again. What was the use of even trying to hold the meeting? There weren’t enough people to get anything done. He remembered just a few years ago when the group numbered twenty each month. Now look at it. Some had suggested that the whole group disband, but Joe enjoyed the fellowship with the few who still came. This was a good group of men. There just weren’t many of them. What should they do to make it better? Why can’t we succeed like we did before?

Not that long ago, the disciples had gone out and cast out demons and healed the sick. Jesus was up on the mountain with Peter, James and John and so they thought it would be a simple matter to cast this demon out like they had done before. Yet when they tried, it failed. By the time Jesus got to them, the disciples were overwhelmed. One can picture the disciples discussing what to do next, the father screaming at them to do something as his son is out of control thrashing back and forth, and the teachers of the law mocking the disciples and telling them what to do. There question to Jesus is simple, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"

I am sure that many of you have been overwhelmed too. America is a place that of the busy and the broken. The margins in life are gone. You may be busy with a job that makes you travel or has a big project. It might be kids activities or caring for a family member. There just doesn’t seem to be enough time. You may be broken and struggling with health issues or with relationships that just don’t work. You may have had it up to here with your job and wonder if you can go on another day. You feel like life is shattered and lying on the floor. It feels like the “demons” in your life are getting the best of you. Our first question is often “What are we going to do?”

Sadly, that is the wrong question. So what should we do when we find ourselves beset by demons? The turning point for the father was when he heard the power and promise of Jesus in His voice and the Father believed. It was a weak faith, surely, but he turned to Jesus and asked for help. We need to believe in the Lord and not in ourselves. It is not the size of your faith, but who we have faith in that makes the difference. Second, the way to connect with Jesus and his power is by prayer. The disciples had not looked up to the heavens. They had not asked God to heal this man in prayer. Prayer is the avenue to faith and to believing. Prayer brings the problem to the Lord and asks for his help.

Joe began to cry and then he began to pray. He prayed for the men’s group and the group made a concerted effort to pray for the Holy Spirit to touch the hearts of people who were missing and for friends who were going through difficult times. As they invited people to the men’s club, God began to do miracles and the group slowly grew. It was all a matter of what “He” could do and not what “We” can do.  

• Where are you struggling right now? Have you given that problem to the Lord or are you trying to fix it yourself? What could God do that you can not do with your problem?