When We Need an Encouraging Word

     My father enjoyed watching many of the western shows on T.V. when I was growing up.  I don't think he ever missed an episode of "Gunsmoke" or "Maverick" among the many he watched.  He also liked to sing "Home, Home on the Range" as he prepared for work in the morning....especially the part that goes "for never was heard, a discouraging word, and the skies are not cloudy all day."  Most of us wish we lived in a world where there is more encouragement rather than discouragement on a daily basis, but if we are like most homes, we have such a resource.  It's called the Bible.

     A friend and I finished a Bible study this week which pointed to God's Word as a place of encouragement for all believers.  Not only does it lay down our moral law to live by, but it

also reveals God's character to us.  We find manifold promises, stories of faith, and the truth for how to live in a fallen world.  Perhaps one of my most favorite books of the Bible is the Psalms.  This book was made dear to me by my mother who encouraged me to read this whenever I needed a lift  or to vent my emotions.  Clearly, David, who authored many of the Psalms, released his deepest needs and greatest longings in song to God.  I find I not only love to sing the Psalms but I also love to use them as words in prayer before the Lord.

     One Psalm in particular (Psalm 119) points out to us why God's Word offers us so much encouragement.  Looking at verses 1-2, we see that we can find blessing/happiness in His Word:  "Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD!  Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart...."  Then, taking a look at verse 6, we can see that staying in the Bible is a way to avoid shame as we walk in His commandments.  Verse 9 answers the question of how we may keep safe:  "How can a young man keep his way pure?  By guarding it according to your Word."  Further down in this Psalm (Verse 24), we discover that the Bible offers us good counsel and who doesn't need that on a daily basis?  If we need strength, we can also find that in God's Word (verse 28):  "My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your Word."  Do we need hope?  Verse 43 says:  "And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in Your rules."  In verse 98-100, 130, we see that wisdom comes from looking into God's Word.  We all can use more of that!  Finally, in verse 105, we see that the Bible will guide us in the way we should go:  "Your Word if a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

     Of course, Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm in the book but it is filled with treasures we can mine all day long if we take the time to read and meditate on it.  Actually, this is just one small sample of what God's Word can provide for us  in terms of the encouragement we need each day.  Yet, so many fail to make use of this book that can radically change our thinking and outlook.  We would not think of neglecting to take a shower, get dressed and brush our teeth before stepping out the door to go to work.  Why?  Because we know it is important for our health to take care of our bodies, but the same is true for our soul as well.  We can better withstand the darts of Satan if we go out the door prepared with the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.

     My dad enjoyed starting his day with an upbeat song, but we can improve on that by taking time to wash in the water of God's Word before stepping out the door.  His Word is a powerful weapon for tearing down the strongholds, lies and discouraging words of this world.  Lets use the truth and be light and salt in this world!  Selah!

The Hardest Thing to Do

     Most of us can remember at least one road trip with our parents that seemed to take forever.  We often asked, "When will we get there?"  In my era, we did not have movies in the car, Kindles or electronic devices to keep us occupied either.  So when we took a long trip, my mother would devise games for us to play that kept us busy.  For example, she would ask us to count how many billboards we saw that advertised a tourist spot.  That kept us out of trouble for a while until we passed that location.  Then, we once again became persistent in asking when we would arrive.  This is not unlike Christians today who are anxiously looking for the Lord's return.

     Jesus Christ clearly told His disciples that He would return for them.  In John 14:2-3, He

said, "In my Father's house are many rooms.  If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also."  This is a promise we wait for in our confused upside down world in which we live, and it is one on which we can count.

     No one knows the hour or the time when the Lord will return but the Apostle James gives us wise advice on how to make the trip through this fallen world more productive.  His letter to the Jews that had been dispersed after the death of Stephen was meant to reassure them and give them guidance to be obedient to the Word of God.  In chapter 5:7-11, James encourages these believers to be patient during persecution and the hard times they faced.  He writes:  "Be patient, therefore brothers, until the coming of the Lord.  See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.  You also, be patient.  Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.  Do not grumble brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.  As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.  Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast.  You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful."

      As I read this portion of Scripture, I couldn't help but think of my father who was a farmer.  He had to be patient waiting for his crops to come in each year.  No amount of worry or concern could make them grow any faster than they did on their own.  He had to trust the Lord.  He faithfully worked the soil, fertilized the ground, planted the seeds, cultivated the soil and depended on God to do the rest.  He did NOT go out each day and dig up the seeds to see how they were developing.  That is a crazy thought isn't it?  Yet, he waited and watched.  James is telling us to do the same in this passage.  Instead of being caught up with all the news each day and worrying about circumstances here, we need to be looking for the Lord's return and be ready every day for His appearing.  Like my father, we have much to keep us busy.

     We can tell others the Good News of Jesus Christ, pray for friends and family, participate regularly in our church worship, help others in need and most importantly, study God's Word.  There is much we can do to pass the time until the return of our King.  By living for Christ instead of being anxious, we will have our lamps trimmed and ready like the ten wise bridesmaids in the parable of the Bridegroom and the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13).  Then, when the Lord comes, our joy will be fulfilled.  We will not grieve that we have wasted our time in worry or grumbling.

     James reminds us that Job suffered as did the prophets of old, but they never wavered in their steadfast devotion.  In the end, we saw God's great compassion and mercy in Job's life.  All that he had lost was restored.  Our Lord Jesus Christ has said that He will come back for us.  This trip around the sun that we are on day after day may seem like an unending journey, but we know we will arrive if we are patient and prepared.  May we spend more time looking up to God and around at those we can share Christ with and less time grumbling about circumstances we may not be able to change.  Not only will it encourage us, but we will be ready when the Bridegroom calls for us to come.  Selah!

Looking into the Mirror

      When we look into the mirror each day, what do we see?  A new gray hair?  A new wrinkle where there weren't any before?  Maybe we find a blemish or two.  Most of us are quick to pick out the imperfections we find rather than in rejoicing that the Lord made us just the way we are.  So often, we only see the imperfections in our reflection based on the world's standards or what others have told us.  If our evaluation of ourselves is based on faulty information, then looking into a mirror is like going into a fun house where images are distorted and twisted.  For example, there is a woman who very much wants to look like a "Barbie doll".

     Nanette Hammond (according to a TMZ website) has spent upwards to 500K in visits to a plastic surgeon in order to make her face and body look like a "Barbie Doll".  At 47, she plans to continue having procedures done to keep her looking trim and fit.  She has even had semi-permanent make-up applied to keep the look she so admires.  While this may last for a bit, there will come a time when age will catch up with her as it does with all of us.  Besides, why does she want to imitate the appearance of a doll?  What is wrong with being yourself....the person that God made you to be?

     Allowing people's opinions and the culture around us to be the only reference point for our appearance or self-worth can lead to depression as well as disappointment.  We will never be able to measure up to what others think we should be.  Putting our identity and inner peace into the hands of other flawed human beings ("For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23) is like handing a pack of matches to an arsonist.  We will ride a roller coaster of emotions and ever live to please others by performing in order to feel good about ourselves.  The good news is that we don't have to live like this.

     There is only one perfect mirror into which we need to look every day and that is the Word of God.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ frees us from the bondage of people pleasing, sin and death.  We don't have to look perfect or be perfect because we can't!  There has only been one perfect person in all the world and that is our Lord and Savior.  When our lives are committed to Him, God does all the inner working in us so that we might bear fruit for His glory.  He is our significance and our worth.  All the good deeds, all the make-up and plastic surgery in the world will not make us as beautiful as we are in Christ.  He alone makes us complete.  He alone can fill all the desires of our heart for acceptance and love.

     Psalm 139:14a-15 tells us:  "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made....My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth."  God made us just the way He intended for us to appear.  He purposefully knitted us together, and in this, we should rejoice.  In addition to this, God has given to us a new heart in Christ at the moment He brought us to life in Christ.  We are a new creation....no need for surgery.  God has already done the job!  Now we can share the light and life with others who are also trapped in the  people pleasing trap of life.  We are no longer chained to the old mirror on the wall.  Instead, God has give us His Word and the more we look into it on a daily basis, the more He will refine us to look like Jesus.  In addition, there will be a day when we get a new body that will never die, get sick or decay.  We will live forever in His presence.  Let us resolve today to spend less time looking into a mirror on the wall that shows us our flaws and more time looking into His Word/mirror that tells the truth about who we are and who He is.  We will know the truth and it will set us free!  Selah!