When Jesus Christ was born, a group of Wise Men undertook a long, arduous journey to reach the house where He was living as a young child. They did not travel such a distance simply to see a little boy. The Magi asked, “‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him’” (Matt. 2:2). These individuals had one purpose for their expedition, and that purpose was to worship the King of kings and Lord of lords. They faithfully followed the star, which led them to their destination. Along the way, they did not become discouraged. They did not lose hope that they would actually be able to find Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Nor did they fail to remember their reason for traveling so far.
God’s Word says, “They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him” (Matt. 2:11). When they arrived, the first thing they did was to bow down and worship Jesus. After their tiresome trek, they did not complain about sore feet or aching muscles. Their minds were not on acquiring a hot meal, finding a place to bathe, or locating a bed on which to lie down. No one proceeded to present the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh the moment they set foot inside the house. They stayed focused on their primary goal, to worship the newborn King.
In the twenty-first century, we could take a lesson from the Magi. They trekked many miles in order to reach the place where Jesus was living. On the contrary, some people nowadays find it a struggle to get in their air-conditioned automobile and drive to church every Sunday morning. They complain about the service being too early or running too late. When they arrive, they get upset if someone is “sitting in their pew.” How would church sanctuaries look different if believers joyfully walked through the doors, headed straight to the altar, and wholeheartedly worshiped our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? What sort of impact would it have on our workplaces, schools, and other locations we visit throughout the week if we worshiped the Lord during our commute as well? Surely, making worship a priority would be a step toward pleasing the Lord in all we do (Col. 3:23). I am certain we would see a significant change in the way people interact with one another. Certainly, our testimony for Christ would have a greater impact on those around us.
Furthermore, giving praise to the Lord would ultimately make a difference in our own lives. Look at the shepherds who came to see Jesus when He was born. In God’s Word, we read about how they told others what they had witnessed. Luke 2:18 says, “All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished.” They could not keep this Good News of great joy to themselves. Having knelt in the presence of the Almighty God was the most marvelous experience of their entire lives. When they shared their testimony of seeing Christ with their own eyes, other people were amazed at what they heard.
Like the shepherds, we should have the same reaction when we stand in the presence of the Lord. When we worship our Heavenly Father, we need to open our hearts, allowing God to change us from the inside out. This heartfelt worship will lead us to follow the will of God in our lives, to love the Lord with all of our heart, our soul, and our mind (Matt. 22:37). By giving ourselves to Him, He can use us for His divine glory. Just as the shepherds were able to give testimonies of their encounter with Christ, we should share what God has done in our own lives. It should not be a burden, or an embarrassment, to tell what the Lord has done for us; instead, it should be a desire we cannot suppress. It should be a joy.
A.W. Tozer once said, “No one can long worship God in spirit and in truth before the obligation to holy service becomes too strong to resist.” Our utmost desire should be worshiping our Heavenly Father and sharing His amazing love with everyone around us. Like an avid angler who restlessly looks forward to the next time they can cast their bait into the water, we should have an even greater longing to fish for souls (Luke 5:10). There should never be a time when we are not fully devoted to the Lord’s service. When we put our trust in the one true living God, we should yearn to serve the Lord in all we do. No matter where God places us, we should take every opportunity to be witnesses for Christ. As Christians, we are commissioned to share the Good News to the entire world (Mark 16:15). We should be eager to share encouraging testimonies of what God has done in our lives. We should be unable to refrain from telling everyone about the marvelous love of Jesus Christ, whether we are speaking to the cashier at the local supermarket, the server at the café downtown, or our neighbor right next-door to us.
Personally, I cannot refrain from sharing the love of Jesus Christ, even with complete strangers. On one of our trips to New York, God gave my dad and me a divine appointment to speak to a Muslim family in Brooklyn. As we were taking a walk one evening, one of my earrings fell off, slipping through a metal grate in the sidewalk. Although the earring was very inexpensive, its retrieval posed an interesting challenge. The next day, my dad fashioned a catch hook out of a couple of paperclips and attached it to a long thin audio cable, which we had with us. After several successful practice runs in our hotel room with the matching earring, he was able to retrieve my earring from a ledge on which it had fallen. As my dad was sitting on the grate, pulling out the earring from below, a woman approached us to see if we needed assistance. She said her family had experienced a flat tire. Almost immediately, I also learned their child had been born prematurely, just like me. This common ground opened the door for a conversation that would soon become a thorough religious dialogue. Our conversations with this family lasted for nearly two hours, with me witnessing to my newfound acquaintance and my dad sharing the Good News with her husband.
Although they were practicing Muslims, the mother seemed open to hearing the Gospel. She said one of her coworkers attended The Brooklyn Tabernacle. I gave her a copy of my book, When You’re in the Sunset, There’s Sunshine Awaiting You. She told me she would read it. I pray she has since read my testimony, so she can learn more about the truth of the Gospel, for it is my hope that I will see this family in Heaven one glorious day. If it had not been for my losing an earring and the family having car trouble, our paths would likely not have crossed. God is the One who orchestrated the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with them. I pray God has sent others to water the seeds He chose us to plant, so this family will discover the truth of the only living God.
Although I often feel inadequate in confrontational situations like this one, where our conversations resembled an Islam versus Christianity debate, I know God is more than enough. No matter the circumstances, God will give us the confidence we need to deliver the message, and He will even give us the words to speak. We only have to be willing to answer His still, small voice, by saying, “Yes, Lord, I will follow wherever you lead.” Reflect back on the Wise Men and the shepherds. They did not know exactly what they would find when they followed the star. Nevertheless, they were compelled to follow the star and see what God had in store. They had a desire within their hearts to worship the Lord Jesus Christ. We need to have that kind of devotion and that level of trust. We need to step out on faith, knowing God will guide us. While we may not be renowned theologians, the promise of Acts 1:8 says the Holy Spirit will empower us to be witnesses of the love of Jesus Christ.
In case you wonder if your life will change when you share your testimony, I can tell you that your life will never be the same again. For when “the shepherds went back to their flocks,” they were “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:20). Yes, they still had the same profession, but a change had taken place within their hearts. They were now fully in tune with the One who had created them. They were worshiping the Lord, even in the midst of the field among their sheep. Instead of bitterly enduring long hours tending sheep, they realized their purpose in life beyond the grassy fields. They knew God was the One who had miraculously sent His Son to earth, and they knew their calling was to tell others about the moment they saw our Lord and Savior face-to-face. The joy from their encounter with Jesus was too wondrous to contain. Much like the shepherds, may we all find ourselves in the position where we cannot resist sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others, for there is no greater message we could ever convey.
Unfortunately, many people do not want to share the Good News or even worship God. It is saddening to see the number of people who are adamantly against worshiping a higher authority. Instead, they want to worship entities created by man. Whether it is an electronic gadget, a celebrity figure, or an athletic team, people find an infinite number of idols in which to put their hope. Yet nothing made by any human being on earth can ever provide eternal hope. Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who gave His life for us, is the only source of everlasting hope. Why should we desire to worship anyone or anything else? Our complete adoration should go to the only One who can truly help us in our time of need. He is the only One who can save our souls.
We must surrender our all to Him. He is the only One we are to worship and adore. This is the heart of worship: surrendering ourselves to the only living God, trusting Him as a child would trust their loving father. We cannot worship the Lord sincerely until we take ourselves out of the picture. According to Tozer, “The essence of surrender is getting out of the way so that God can do what He wants to do.” Worship should never be about us, but it should always be about Him. Jesus Christ should always be the center of our worship. Let us worship Him for all eternity!
Showing posts with label journey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label journey. Show all posts
Yesterday morning, my dad and I began our journey to
Sanderson, Florida. As I was driving
down the road, my heart filled with excitement and anticipation as I looked
forward to seeing my dear friends, Karen Peck and New River. On the way there, my complete and utter joy
briefly faded when we encountered an unexpected detour. When we were less than 30 minutes away from
the church, we came to a place in the road with a large sign that said, Bridge
Out.
We had driven for over an hour for the sole purpose of
attending church and fellowshipping with dear friends, just to find that the
road had been closed. I immediately
began to silently pray that God would show us how to find our way as my dad
studied the road map to find an alternate route. With several twists and turns on winding dirt
roads and one particularly narrow little bridge, we finally reached the main road
once again, beyond the point where the bridge was out.
As we proceeded on our way to the church, I thanked God
for giving my dad the wisdom to use his expert navigational skills in order to
find the best route to travel to reach our destination. Fortunately, we allowed some extra time for
wiggle room, just in case we encountered any obstacles along the way. As such, we arrived at the church with plenty
of time to spare. The service was
anointed and the fellowship was sweet.
It was a morning that encouraged, uplifted, and inspired me. But without that wiggle room, we would have
missed out on a blessing straight from Heaven above.
On the way home, I couldn’t help but think about the way
that life is a lot like our encounter with the bridge being out. Many times, we are sailing along through
life, going to work, going to church, fulfilling our daily obligations, and
then, suddenly, we come to a point in the journey where the road has been
washed out. All of our routines and
schedules come to a crashing halt. We
sit staring at the Bridge Out sign, uncertain as to what we should do. Should we sit there in despair, look for a
detour, or simply give up on life because of this obstacle that has entered our
path?
Sometimes, there will be things in life that are beyond
our control, much like a road or bridge being closed. It could be that someone in our family gets sick,
a friend is in a car accident, or a neighbor’s house burns to the ground. But when something unexpected comes our way,
we have to learn to make allowances for these things that alter our plans, no
matter how difficult this feat may seem. We cannot dwell on the sign that says Bridge
Out. Instead, we have to allow wiggle
room. We cannot abandon the hope that we
have in Christ. We have to remember that
He is faithful and He will never put more on us than we can bear. We have to take our eyes off of the road
ahead of us and fix our eyes on Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ
will be our Guide through every moment of our lives. He will make a way when there seems to be no
other way. Jesus
Christ is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). By focusing on
Him, we will be able to overcome any obstacle that we face. If we allow some wiggle room in our lives,
then our lives will be forever changed.
He will bring peace that passes all understanding, hope in the most
hopeless of situations, and infinite joy along the journey. So the next time you come to a Bridge Out
sign, don’t give up. Allow Jesus to
intervene in your circumstances. Jesus Christ
will be your Bridge when the bridge is out!
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer
A couple of weeks ago, I purchased four sympathy cards for four different families who had lost loved ones. There’s something a little unnerving and very sad about buying four sympathy cards in the same day. As I stood there reading the verses in the cards, I wondered how those overly repeated words could possibly have any meaning at such a difficult time in these families’ lives. Still, I hoped the thoughts and prayers being tucked inside the card would bring some form of comfort to their broken hearts.
That same week, we said goodbye to a family friend who was an elder in our church and first and foremost, a dear man of God. Earlier this spring, I attended the memorial service for a fourteen year old girl. Several friends have lost parents and other loved ones in recent months, while others are battling cancer and other illnesses. And one thing I’ve noticed is that age doesn’t make a difference, ethnic background doesn’t play a part, and socioeconomic status is not a variable either. No one is immune to death any more than they are immune to life.
Ecclesiastes 3:2 (NIV) says, there is “a time to be born and a time to die.” As Christians, the Bible tells us that we do not have to grieve as those who have no hope (I Thessalonians 4:13 NIV). Instead, we should rejoice because the end of our life on this earth is the beginning of something far greater. For if we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, this world is just a waiting room, a temporary resting place, on our journey to our eternal home. While some people may regard Earth as paradise, others do not find that it fits this description.
My dad often tells a profound story he heard on the radio broadcast of Dr. J. Allen Blair. A man had lived for the Lord all of his life and was lying upon his death bed. One of his friends sitting beside him said, “‘Farewell, brother. I shall never see you again in the land of the living.’” The dying man said, “‘You will see me again in the land of the living, for I am leaving the land of the dying.’” You see, this man knew that this world is not a permanent dwelling place. He knew there was something better waiting on the other side.
In the meantime, we need to enjoy life. We need to embrace our family more, tell them we love them more, and spend time with them more. We need to live more fully, laugh more heartily, and love more deeply. I can tell you from experience, you will never regret an extra kind word spoken. You will never be able to take too many photographs of someone dear to you. And you will never feel like you spent too much time with someone you love. Cherish life and never let a day go by without thanking God for another sunrise, another memory, another breath.
Live life like you are on a trip to somewhere you’ve never been but have always dreamed of going. Don’t let the trials you face in life steal your joy. The life we live down here may be full of heartache, sorrow, and despair. But where we are going is full of jubilation and peace forevermore. God’s Word tells us that we cannot comprehend what God has in store for us. It is truly beyond the limits of our imagination. And one day, when we have fought the good fight and finished our race, we will step through those gates of pearl and enter into the presence of the Lord God Almighty. This, my friend, is when we will finally realize that we have been living in the land of the dying. But we’re going to the land with no tears, no pain, and no death. That’s Heaven. That’s the Land of the Living.
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer
When was the last time you sat in a waiting room in the doctor’s office? I want you to visualize the setting. Perhaps the room was crowded, full of people you were sure carried multiple types of diseases. The children sneezed and coughed profusely, never once covering their mouths. You picked up a magazine to try to occupy your mind, only to find that it was the same magazine you already read cover-to-cover three months ago. Sitting there, you wonder why you even made an appointment. You still have to wait along with everyone else. You’re probably getting sicker by the minute, being subjected to this germ-infested environment. Just when you were about to throw in the towel and give up, the nurse opens the door and calls your name.
Life is a lot like a doctor’s waiting room. Each day, there are difficulties we must face. These struggles will often weigh us down, infecting us just like the germs that may be found in a doctor’s office. The constant battles we have to fight cause us to grow impatient, much like someone who is waiting for an appointment that is overdue. Just like the patients sitting in those uncomfortable straight-backed vinyl covered chairs, our names will soon be called. Unlike the nurse who calls our names from a clipboard in her hand, our names will one day be read directly from the Lamb’s Book of Life.
I want to encourage you, if you are not certain that your name is written in this Heavenly Book, make today the day that you begin a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Today could be the day that you are called from this temporary home to your permanent home on high. Have you made your appointment? If not, it’s not too late. You have no guarantee that you will breathe another breath. No man, woman, or child, young or old, has the certainty that tomorrow will even come. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Make your appointment for Heaven today. Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins, and ask Him to be the Lord of your life. If you do, your life will never be the same. And you will know that when your name is called, you will walk through Heaven’s gates to live eternally with the Lord.
This morning, I attended the memorial service for a young teenager whose name was called this past weekend. There was little warning for her and her family. She lost her life due to injuries sustained in a accident. As I sat there, I continuously began to ask myself, “Why?” Why did this young girl not have the opportunity to graduate high school, go to college, or get married? Why was she taken from this earth at the young age of fourteen? Why didn’t God spare her life? Of course, I know I am not alone. I’m sure that everyone in the sanctuary had similar questions on their mind. While sorrow filled my heart, hearing the stories of her vibrant, yet short-lived life, I also felt peace in my heart. You see, she knew Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior. She made her appointment in Heaven long ago. And I know that her name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and I will see her again one day.
While we may not be able to comprehend why things like this happen, we can rest assured that God has everything under control. He knows our hearts are sad. He feels our pain. He sees our tears. Yet, He knows how our story ends. Romans 8:28 (NIV) says, “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Notice this scripture does not say that all things are good. Instead, it says that God will work everything together for our good. Does this mean that we will never encounter a trial? Does the scripture mean that we will never have a bad day? No. What it does mean is that God will take each trial and every single bad day and in His own special way, use them for our good.
You may be thinking, how could the death of a young girl be used for good? I cannot answer this question. Only God knows what the future will bring. He knows our future and He knows our past. And He is walking beside us right now, in the present, holding our hands as we stumble along the road of life. Through every illness, tragedy, and even death, He will be our strength when we are weary, our peace when we are distressed, and our hope when we are hopeless. Even in every moment of heartache, God has given us a promise that we can stake our lives on. He has promised us that this earth, with all of its turmoil, is only temporary. We are just passing through on our way to our eternal home, Heaven. We won’t have to wait in this dreary waiting room much longer. 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 (The Message) says:
For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven—God-made, not handmade—and we'll never have to relocate our "tents" again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move—and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what's coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we're tired of it! We've been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what's ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less.
If you want to experience the joy of knowing that this life is only temporary, don’t wait until tomorrow. Don’t sit there in frustration, uncertain of where you will go when you die. Don’t leave your family and friends wondering if they will see you again. Don’t sit there miserable because you feel like you are a prisoner to this world of sorrow; instead, cling to the One who will restore your joy, set you free, and light the way home. Jesus Christ will be a friend who is closer than a brother. He will love you when you feel unlovable. He will pick you up when you fall. And best of all, if you have a personal relationship with Him, He will welcome you with open arms when your life on earth is done. Don’t sit there, trying to remember if you made an appointment, growing agitated with the long wait. Make your reservations and set your sights on Heaven until the day you make it home!
In Christ's Love,Jennifer
Have you ever said, “I’m on cloud nine?” If you have, it is likely that something
wonderful happened in your life at the exact moment you uttered these
words. Perhaps you heard the words,
“You’re hired!” or “It’s a Girl (or Boy)!” or “Will you marry me?” And you likely remember the date, time, and
location where this special event in your life took place. But, what about all of the days, months, and
years leading up to this exhilarating moment?
Undoubtedly, you experienced some highs and lows, and maybe even some disappointments
along the way. Still, you eventually arrived
at the moment where you reached the destination on your journey – cloud nine.
When I think about the journeys we take in life, I have
come to realize that there are many similarities between our day-to-day
experiences and those of many reality television show contestants. Their journey through various challenges is
not unlike our journey through life, with its many highs and lows. At times, contestants may make a mistake or
encounter an unexpected detour. Along
their journey, they make good decisions and bad ones. Yet, one team always prevails and finishes the
journey victorious, having made it to their “cloud nine” experience – being
proclaimed the winner of the competition.
Our lives bear a striking resemblance to these programs,
in that our lives are also a journey.
While we are not striving to win $1,000,000 or the title of sole Survivor, there are many daily
challenges that we must face. For
instance, in the business world, everyone wants to get ahead. Instead of clues, they attend “power lunches”
to try to get to the next rung on their way to the top of the ladder of
success. And a mistake may not cost them
their lead position in a competition, but it may cost them a promotion, their
job, or even their reputation. But in
the end, there will be those who make good decisions and find their way to the
“cloud nine” they are searching for, such as a promotion or increase in salary.
Personally, I find that the journey to cloud nine can be
quite difficult. Now, I am not talking
about the end of a race, or even recognition in the workplace. I am talking about this journey we call
life. And no, we’re not truly searching
for cloud nine. But, we are on a journey
to eternity. This journey is very
difficult at times. While we may have
joyous times to celebrate, there may be other times when sorrow fills our
hearts. We may hear the words “You’re
Fired” or “You’ve had a miscarriage” or “We’re getting a divorce” instead of
the words above. During these times, God
will bring you peace. He will remind you
of the cloud nine that you seek. And He
will help you move toward your goal, filling your heart with joy once more.
There are times when it would be easier to just
quit. Or it may be tempting to follow a
different path. God’s Word says, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that
leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many” (Matthew 7:13 ESV).
It might seem easier to travel down the
wide road, at least for a little while. Inevitably,
though, you will find that this road leads to great disappointment. The decision to travel down this road leads to
a dead end – Hell. If you’re on this
road, I want to strongly encourage you to turn around. It’s not too late. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. Ask Him for directions to cloud nine. Follow His steps and don’t look back. You will be on a journey like no other, never
seen on television. God can do more than
you ever imagined, and I can assure you, His dreams for your life are truly
incomprehensible!
Every day, I continually strive to put one foot in front
of the other on my journey to cloud nine.
In my life, I have experienced many ups and downs. Some have been minor, such as the
disappointment of a missed visit with a friend, and some have been major, such
as the saddening loss of my mom. Still,
I know that God will be with me in every circumstance. He will give me strength when I am weary, joy
when I am sad, and hope when I feel hopeless.
The road I am traveling on may be straight and narrow, but God is
leading the charge. Won’t you join me on
this direct route to the ultimate “cloud nine” – Heaven? The journey to cloud nine may be challenging,
but just wait until you see the view from the top!
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer
Two years ago, I felt like I was trying to do everything for everyone and all the while, doing it all alone. I continually strived to get everything done, but never asked anyone for help. I thought I was more than capable of completing the daily tasks on my own, but I was completely wrong. It became so much of a burden that I began to get very stressed out. The loss of my Mom had caused my patience to gradually fade away. Because of this, every little thing got under my skin, so to speak. While I was doing a balancing act, figuratively spinning an incredible number of plates in the air, I found myself seeking new tasks, or plates to add to my collection. I literally volunteered for everything, seeking to fill the void in my life. I felt if I got busy enough, it would relieve me of some of the sorrow. If I took on enough responsibilities, life would be busier, but less complicated. If I filled my schedule full enough, I wouldn’t have time to think about the virtual cloud hanging over my head.
Sadly, I was entirely wrong. The more responsibilities I took on, the more stressed out I became. The more stressed out I became, the less sleep I was able to get. The less sleep I was able to get, the thinner my patience became. The thinner my patience became, well, I ended up being somewhat like a pressure cooker about to explode. At least, that’s the analogy a friend of mine gave me when I confided in her about my attempts to fill the void in my life. I couldn’t understand why God would take my Mama away. I tried and tried, but I could not wrap my head around the reason for such a tragic event in my life. What was I to do? How could I get through each day if there was any down time whatsoever? Downtime meant time to think, and time to think meant time to think about the void in my life.
Through my experiences, along with much time spent in prayer and the study of God’s Word, I gradually realized that I was not in accordance with God’s will for my life. I did not have to do this alone. That, and the fact that I needed to stop spending all of my time thinking about what was bothering me. Instead, I needed to think on positive things. Philippians 4:8 (NIV) says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” You see, I was thinking about the negative aspects in my life. I thought about how I did not know how to get all of my daily tasks completed each day. I thought about how I wished my Mom had not passed away. I thought about how life was not the way I planned, and how everything seemed to be going wrong.Instead of thinking about the things that were wrong, I have since realized that I should have been thinking about the things that were right. Instead of worrying about the things that were not going according to my plans, I could have been delighting in God’s plan for my life. In life, we often do not see the big picture, but God sees our entire lifespan. He knows all of our comings and goings, even before we have come or gone. He truly does know what is best. He wants us to live a life of joy. He wants us to think positive thoughts, full of truth, nobility, rightness, purity, loveliness, admiralty, excellence, and praiseworthiness. Doesn’t that sound better than thinking thoughts of negativity, falseness, and impurity, just to name a few? Surely, we want to think on positive things. Still, there are times when the worries and cares of this life outweigh the positive aspects of life. In these times of distress, we need to call on the One who created us, the One who created our ability to think. God can give you a mind-set of joy for your journey and peace that passes all understanding.
Along my journey, I still have moments when I momentarily fall into the trap of negative thinking. I wish I could tell you I had found the method to avoid such thinking altogether. What I have found is that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Although things in my life may change, whether it is friends moving away or loved ones passing away, I know that He will never change. And I will never be alone. He is always with me. It doesn’t matter if I am sitting in silence in my bed at night, or if I am at work with a list of a million tasks to be completed. He is with me. It doesn’t even matter if I am at my wit’s end, building up steam like a pressure cooker. He is with me. He overlooks my shortcomings, my outbursts, and my attempts to do this thing called “life” on my own. Why? Because Jesus loves me unconditionally, even my imperfections.
So, the next time you find yourself at the end of your rope, call on the name of Jesus. He will do the same for you. Jesus loves you more than you can imagine. Begin thinking positive thoughts, and you will be amazed at what positive changes take place in your life. Don’t try to do it all alone. Ask Jesus to help you. He is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. Whenever you need Him, He is waiting with open arms. If you feel like you’re taking on too many responsibilities, seek God’s plan for your life. He knows which things you should be doing and which ones you would be better off leaving for someone else. And when you do accept a task, ask God to help you. He’s already been there, so He’ll know the best way to handle things. Will you allow God to be a part of your life, directing your paths and helping you through this thing called “life?” Or will you go it alone, gradually building up steam until you explode? It is my prayer that you will allow God to be the Lord of your life, your help in times of trouble. He longs to help you. Ask Him for help. Why? Because life’s too complicated to do it all alone.In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer
In 2004, I graduated with high honors with an Associate in Arts degree in Liberal Arts. Additionally, I was invited to be one of the featured speakers at the commencement ceremony. Two years later, I wore my third funny shaped hat, the first being for my high school graduation. This time, I was graduating with high honors from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in English. In June 2008, I am proud to say that I graduated with a Master of Science degree in English Education with highest honors. I earned a 4.0 GPA. And yes, I had the opportunity to wear my fourth funny shaped hat, enormous gown, and another collection of honor cords and a stole. Oh, and I did manage to find the teaching job of my dreams, and I have found that giving grades is much more pleasant than trying to earn them.I am so grateful to the Lord for not only giving me my dream of graduating, but showering me with the abundant blessing of having this experience not once, but four times. Not only that, but He gave me the desires of my heart when He gave me the opportunity to speak, and even add color to my ensemble by enabling me to achieve highest honors. There are some things in life that happen so perfectly. And other times, there are moments that transpire that leave me wondering why they had to happen at all.
Yet, with these six years of higher learning and five years of teaching under my belt, there are times when I feel that I do not know anything. While I may be able to explain hyperbole and onomatopoeia until I am blue in the face, there are an infinite number of things that I cannot even begin to comprehend. Although I could write a qualitative essay in the amount of time it takes some people to drink a cup of coffee, the mysteries of life often stop me in my tracks. In short, I simply do not understand why some things happen.
When I take a closer look at the trials people around me are facing, as well as the trials that I have endured in my own life, I often wonder why God does not always intervene. As the evangelist David Ring has asked so many times before, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Why do Christians have their children taken away too soon, whether through a miscarriage before they are born or an accident when they are older? Then other people live a life straying away from God, only to have healthy children falling out of their windows. Why does the drunk driver sometimes walk away unscathed while innocent people’s lives are lost? Why do people who spend their lives happily helping others have to fight internal battles, whether emotional, mental, or physical? I don’t understand. Do you?
Even with my educational background, I am unable to uncover all of the mysteries of life. No college degree can provide the knowledge that is possessed only by a sovereign God. There is no institution, no matter how prestigious, that can explain why these things happen as they do. While I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to become a college graduate, I know that there is more to life than what university professors and college textbooks can teach you. There is only one Teacher who can impart the knowledge necessary to survive this broken planet. This world is full of trials and tribulations, and a myriad of things that we do not understand. And in reality, there are some things that we will likely never understand.
As I look back on my life, I don’t understand why I have seen loved ones pass away all too soon. I cannot comprehend why I have endured physical problems. I don’t know why there are times when I feel lost, uncertain which way to turn. What I do know, with complete certainty, is that Jesus Christ has walked with me through every victory and every defeat. He walked me to class when I was in college. He walked across the platform at each of my graduation ceremonies, cheering me on. Likewise, He walked with me through long hospital hallways, funeral homes, and cemeteries. He is sitting beside me, even now, guiding my fingers as I write about the times I don’t understand life itself.
No matter what you are going through, Jesus Christ wants to walk beside you each and every day, just as He does for me. If you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you will never be the same. You will experience the peace that passes all understanding. Sure, you still may not understand all of the mysteries of life, but you will have the One who does understand with you always. He said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5 NIV). It does not matter if you have a college education or not. What matters is whether you have Jesus Christ beside you, guiding you and directing your paths. He will teach you how to overcome the trials of life. He will show you how to enjoy living. Even when you don’t understand, Jesus loves you. He understands exactly where you are in your journey, and He will never leave you alone.
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer