Tag: trials

Memorial

Memorial Day is a day when we remember those who had served, past, present and future military for the sacrifices that they had made. It is a day to praise God for the freedom that we have here in America because of those courageous ones who are on the front lines everyday protecting the freedom.

I’d like to take a different perspective on the word “memorial” as we look to
Joshua 4:1-7

4 When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man,3 and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’” 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5 And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”

These verses tells us the significance and importance of memorials. We have so many here in the United States. So many statues of former people who have paved a way somehow in this country. What is their purpose? To remind us of the past victories that were made.

What memorials, what victories in your own life have you forgot about? What trials had you gone through, what rivers did you cross, what valleys of the shadow have you walked through, have you forgotten that He, God was with you through it all?

God is not asking us to buy a statue or a plaque after every time He comes through for us, for our homes could not contain them. He’s asking us not to forget His goodness, His faithfulness in the past, in the present and in the future. Because your past memorials are today’s testimony to this generation.

“What do those stones mean to you”

STAY IN THE FIGHT

Who and what are you leaning into? That is the question.

26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” – Genesis 32:26

Maybe at times we have wrestled with God about a certain situation. We think of all the why’s. Why hasn’t He fulfilled that promise in my life, why hasn’t He performed this miracle that He said He would do? Our mind could go in a thousand directions off of just one why. But we are told to not lean on our own understanding. So who and what are you leaning on?

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When we experience the pain from those “why’s” we have two options.

  • Lean into God
  • Lean on self

It took me years, I mean years to learn not to lean, to listen to others, to figure out my understanding of the issue. But to “Be Still and know that I am God” resting in Him will divert your own solution to the issue.

Questions to ask yourself:

  • Are you leaning on His guidance? The direction of the Holy Spirit?
  • Or are we leaning on ourselves to figure the why’s of life out?

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” – James 1:2-4

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  • There’s value in struggles
  • There’s value in trials 
  • There’s value in temptations 

Jacob didn’t understand in that moment but he still leaned into Him…

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. (Struggle, trial, sickness, temptation,) In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”- Proverbs 3:5

…And whenever God is ready there will be a blessing in the release. 

James 1:12 blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life.


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Rest

In Luke 8 beginning with verse 22, we hear of a story that is preached many times over and over, but are we missing the meaning of these verses? I know for myself and others that we can go back to the Bible and read the very same chapter and we will go over it next week or a little longer and there will be something that God magnifies to you different from before. What I had got out of this chapter and verse is that the disciples were awake when Jesus was sleeping. So?  When Jesus is resting we should rest, when He is healing we should be laying hands on the sick, when He is telling the good news we should be out telling the good news to those who sit out in darkness. I am impressed by the fact that He could sleep. His mind and heart were peaceful enough, trusting in the love and care of His Father in heaven, that He could sleep in the storm. Yes there was a storm but He new the care of His Father in Heaven until the disciples awoke Him.

That question was asked one day last week when I was laying in bed and had all these worries that I was thinking about like “What if” or “Is this possible”, those thoughts were quickly extinguished by the spirit saying over and over “rest”…”rest”

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We all have payed more attention to the waves instead of Jesus at times, but how can you not? You have this huge mountain that is not moving, it’s there you think for good. Or is it?

“And they awoke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!”

The disciples were filling “un-easy” and they immediately went to Jesus, ask yourself this how many times have you went straight to Jesus in your trials?

“And He awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?”

Are we resting in Him? Giving Him our everything? Where is your faith?

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