Alive and Active Life

Go back with me into your childhood – as far back as you can remember. What comes to mind? Maybe special people who love you, or a very special day. Maybe a favorite toy or snack. A dear childhood “pal” may come to mind. You may have some painful or disappointing memories, as well. Incidentally, all through years of growing up, you change. Additionally, this is true of growing up in your faith in God. Subsequently, what are you doing to grow up in faith?

(This is Part 4 in a series on faith. See below for the entire Faith Series articles/podcasts links.)

Growing up is hard work. Nevertheless, it’s normal work. That’s what people do: grow up . . . in body, mind, heart, relationships, and emotions. Similarly, people who trust Jesus grow up in their faith.

To grow up is to live with challenge. Have you seen a baby learning to walk? Or a toddler figuring out how to use a spoon? Then there’s the pre-teen who just can’t come out of their room with clothes that match – or fit. Remember those teen years – trying to be grown-up and say the right thing? In young adulthood, you grow up into careers and possible permanent relationships. Smack in the middle of adulthood, you grow into the disappointments, losses, unfairness, and burdens of being alive. And the challenges of growing up continue for the rest of your life, even when you grow old.

Sometimes, it helps to look at what something is NOT. In the case of growing up – even though it is hard work, to NOT GROW UP is unnatural, unhealthy, and even tragic. So, we can conclude – to grow up is normal. It’s healthy.

This content provides four tips to grow up in your faith. But first, some helpful ideas.

Being human means you are always growing and changing. Essentially, you are never static. Even parts you’ve decided will always stay the same keep pulsing with new energy and increasing understanding. Consequently, you are alive!

Even though you will continue to grow up all your life, there comes a time when you “are up.” What happens then? We already touched on some challenges that take place as you become an adult. When you “are up,” new responsibilities land in your daily life that were never part of childhood.

Graduating from one life stage to the next – and continuing that process to reach maturity – is healthy development. Subsequently, this is a process you want to happen – for you, your kids, your friends, your colleagues.

Unfortunately, when people “are up,” they sometimes lose some of the most important traits of childhood. For instance,

Yet, at the same time, we also start to care about things that DO matter when we “are up” – things of the adult world.

“Being up” should include a purposeful mix of perspectives and values. Adults have the capacity to create a collage of deliberate life choices. So, what’s in your collage? Have you included the perspectives and values of Scripture? Is your faith growing you up into the person God designed you to be? He has a good design and plan for your life – one you participate in. Essentially, this means using your mind and will.

So, are you “up” yet?

Growing up in faith often gets left out of the picture of growing from infancy to mature adulthood. Basically, you need to grow up in your inner person – heart, soul, and spirit. God wants you to become the person He had in mind when He created you, and not just your body. Subsequently, God loves the “whole you!” Additionally, He wants you healthy – and “up!”

Your inner person can grow up in the Lord as you live in relationship with Him each day. As you apply His Word in practical daily issues, you begin to see the “real you” God designed. So, why not find your life purpose?

Every stage of growing up in faith has a glory. You already resemble your Father – made in His image. To become more like Him in character is the goal. God wants to share each stage with you. Are you sharing back? Do you believe God loves you? Or do you put up walls to protect your heart? When you see God as your Partner and dearest Friend, you will include Him in details of your day. You will grow up in faith.

For the person who has not grown up in their faith, many truths in Scripture are hard to understand. Principles of the Word can be challenging for even a seasoned believer. There is mystery in God’s Word. If you think about it, that only makes sense. Why? Because God’s Word is His very life on paper. Taking His life off paper and into your life to pulsate in practical ways each day involves a bit of unknown, some mystery, and lots of adventure.

Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned Christian, you decide your level of participation. Let’s unpack this. Here are our four helpful tips:

You decide if you ask the Lord to open your understanding to His Word. Are you willing to navigate the unknowns, troubleshoot the mysteries, launch into the adventure? It all starts by asking God for it. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask of God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.“ (Jas. 1:5)

PRAY for growth.

You decide how much time you will spend in the Word. Yes, it takes a commitment of time and energy. It also takes planning. That means re-working your daily schedule to regularly include study. Scriptures says, “Study to show yourself approved by God, a workman who need not be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15) This kind of “life study,” shows you how to rightly handle and apply God’s Word. It affects your response to each day.

So – STUDY for growth.

You decide if you will go the extra mile to memorize Scripture. There are many strategies to use – from pop-up reminders on your device to the old fashioned 3X5 cards. Sticky notes posted here and there help (if you repeat the verse when you see them). It’s amazing what you remember if you repeat something morning and night. The human brain captures those repetitions into memory. Hide God’s Word in your heart so you have it when you need it – 24/7! (Ps. 119:11)

MEMORIZE for growth.

You decide if you are going to allow Scripture to land in your life. Turn your thoughts often to what you read from the Bible each morning. Ask yourself – how do I apply this in practical ways today? That’s what meditate means in a nutshell. “. . . meditate on His Law night and day. . . “ (Ps. 1:2)

MEDITATE for growth.

We already said you decide your level of participation. You have “say” in your spiritual development and growth. You could also say you decide if you grow up in your faith – or if you remain under-developed: an infant sucking on a bottle of milk someone prepared for you. Crying for nourishment. Feeling helpless. Needing someone to get you through the night.

The reality is this. You are able to take in the meat and potatoes of the Word – cut it into small pieces, chew it, swallow it, and digest it. Get out your knife and fork. Dig in. Start to hunger and thirst for righteousness, and you will be filled. (Mt. 5:6) It’s a partnership for your growth. God works. You work.

Partner with Scripture to grow up in faith. Then, share the four tips with others: your kids, friends, co-workers, and colleagues.

What are those four tips that help you grow up in faith?

P.S. You can still have your milk. No problem. Just lose the bottle. Gulp down a satisfying tumbler of cold milk with cookies. Or enjoy a cup of warm milk before bed with a touch of nutmeg.

Faith Series

Here are links to the entire Faith Series articles/podcasts. Lots of encouragement, help, and hope!

Visit our website for devotional materials, articles, podcasts, and resources to help grow your faith in God. Pursue noble character and an Alive and Active Life.

Recently, I wrote a letter to a friend. As I re-read and pondered my message, I realized there was a stunning, fresh faith application point in my letter – for me! It was simple, yet profound. I’ve thought a lot about this ever since. Essentially, that message boiled down to one word. Would you like to know what I wrote?

(This is Part 3 in a series on faith. See below for the entire Faith Series articles/podcasts links.)

”Our winter has been piercingly cold. But there are reminders of God’s love everywhere – and the promise of spring. Dependable things are coming again. Warmth. Flowers. Fresh new life.”

 . . . That’s what I wrote to my friend. (I told you it was simple.)

So, what was so profound to me? What was the one word that stood out and really landed in my heart? Interestingly, it was – “fresh.”

I’d like to develop this idea of fresh as it applies to faith and daily living. But first, let’s define fresh. Actually, it’s a little hard to pin down with synonyms, but we all use this word and seem to know what it means. Ideas like:

You can add your own words and expressions to that list.

Fresh is something everyone wants. Incidentally, it has become a strong marketing word. Basically, it makes something sound really worth having.

Fresh is often used for food or edible products. Fresh can also range from fruits and veggies in the grocery produce section to dairy products in those living-room-size store fridges. Then there’s bread or cinnamon rolls straight out of your oven. (Who wants stale bread.) A fresh salad – oh yes! Lots of people like fresh cold water with healthy chunks of fruit that has marinated in it a while. (Old, warm bottled water in your vehicle glove compartment – yuck!)

Or soft thick linens for your bath area. (Everyone likes fresh linens.) There’s nothing like a freshly washed face or newly shampooed hair. Or a recent shave.

There are fresh, young plants you put out in your yard each spring. Nothing beats the smell of fresh herbs in a spring garden. Here’s a good one – freshly cut grass. I’m sure you agree fresh flowers put a smile on most people’s faces.

Consequently, fresh is desired.

Invisible fresh blessings are just as real as these physical examples we’ve talked about. What does this mean? Your inner person longs for fresh and new . . . the “enjoyables” of heart and soul.

Have you received fresh words from God today? Additionally, have you paused long enough to hear from Him through His Word? Finally, do you apply freshness to your life?

The kindness of friendship or a family member pours freshness over a tired, weary heart and can last for days – a hug, smile, text, email, phone call, even snail mail still works! Consequently, they share freshness.

Simply sitting in nature to look and listen involves your heart and soul – taking in sights and sounds that follow a long winter: new flowering growth poking through the soil, cheerful songs of a variety of birds, breezes gently flipping a curtain, simple – pure peace and quiet, warmth of the sun soaking through layers of your body into your very soul, grass becoming green again, tiny buds on bushes and trees. Consequently, all these fresh signs of spring touch your invisible inner person.

Jesus reminds how critical “fresh faith” is every day. Incidentally, it’s not yesterday’s stagnant faith. That was fresh for yesterday. Additionally, it’s not the stale stuff that got you through past years. That faith was fresh back then – and valuable when you needed it. Consequently, fresh faith is new faith for now – a supply of what you need from the source.

Fresh faith in a faithful God lifts your heart and cheers your spirit. Incidentally, God promises your losses and trials are a stage on which He can display His fresh love. His love is new every morning. Consequently, He intends to share His love, provisions, and wisdom for every challenge.

Lam. 3:22-24 says, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new (fresh) every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.’ ”

Trusting a God is the only way to do fresh. Scripture talks about our amazing God. He never gets boring. Rather, His interactions bring surprising developments and provisions.

God’s tender love leaves you cheered – worshipful. Interestingly, He rarely does something exactly the same twice. That’s because He is extraordinarily strategic.

God’s unique, creative, and colorful methods are fresh to the human imagination. Equally, nothing satisfies your heart like His Spirit, filling you with the presence of Christ. Therefore, blessed is the person who pauses to take in all this freshness by faith! God gives you a fresh, blank page to write the rest of your life onto.

There are components necessary that come together to make fresh faith. So, let’s look at some of them.

Fresh faith means need. Yes, it takes need to seek provision. Additionally, need pushes you toward seeking a solution. Plus, it gets you doing what humans do – solving problems with creative energy and available resources. God designed you this way. Strategically, you are created in His image. Since He is fresh each day, your need is satisfied.

Fresh faith also means supply. It takes energy and work to manage your life. You need a good supply of excellent resources. God always has resources for you. Additionally, He gives new answers for new seasons and issues. He also gives comfort, provision, peace, wisdom, and companionship. The human design is His genius. So, it is fresh. You are human. And He is your Supplier.

Fresh faith means a God worth trusting. Imagine trying to trust in something that doesn’t exist or will not last! Actually, that sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Nevertheless, that’s what has become common in current culture. Take a look around. Listen to news reports. Hear what people are focusing on and putting their hope in. Sadly, it’s a concerning GULP! Thankfully, you belong to a dependable, never-changing God who never runs out of fresh ideas and options.

A grateful heart sets your perspective and rhythm. Thankfulness looks into the past – remembering all God has done. “Seek His face always. Remember the wonders He has done.” (Ps. 105:5) Additionally, thankfulness looks at each day – even today – with eager expectation for God’s involvement in big and small ways. Even in troubled times, thankfulness looks into the future with confidence in God. Remarkably, the entire span of your life is secure and fresh in Jesus. Now, that’s something to be thankful for! 

Humility enables you to cry out for God’s help. Why not swallow self-sufficiency? Because, with even tiny faith, you have God on your side. Ps. 50:15 says, “. . . call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.” God’s powerful humble heart keeps your heart beating. Consequently, choose to be humble in responses, and He will lift you up. (Jas. 4:10)

Desire is something you pursue with all your heart. Interestingly, it’s not a feeling. Instead, it’s what you decide to do and how you carry it out. How good to desire God and His blessings. Additionally, how wise to desire to be the person God created and pursue your original design. Desiring God means putting Him first in your heart. When you desire God’s principles and His good ways for your life and others’ lives, you pattern yourself after His fresh approach to life.

The God of yesterday, today, tomorrow never changes. He’s dependable, faithful, loving, just, and good. Heb. 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” He is powerful and involved in this broken world.

God will help you with your life, if you let Him. He’s leaning your direction, ready to respond in fresh ways to your faith.

God is always fresh. So are His mercies, His love, His help. And He always rewards fresh faith.

Faith Series

Here are links to the entire Faith Series articles/podcasts. Lots of encouragement, help, and hope!

Visit our website for devotional materials, articles, podcasts, and resources to help grow your faith in God. Pursue noble character and an Alive and Active Life.

Have you watched paratroopers flinging themselves from the safety of an aircraft into the vast skies at a very unsafe height?  To accomplish their mission, they just . . . JUMP! Paratroopers are equipped and trained to do something super scary and hard for most people. But for them, it’s as natural as walking. In the same way, living by faith can seem super scary and hard. It takes a daring leap. But with practice and determination, you can be just as equipped and trained as a paratrooper. So, are you ready for a faith jump?

(This is Part 2 in a series on faith. See below for the entire Faith Series articles/podcasts links.)

To make your faith jump, you need to know how God sees faith? Actually, it’s something He came up with.

God has no favorites when it comes to faith jumps. Essentially, no person is better at faith than another person. So, it’s something everyone can do. In other words, this one’s for you!

There are principles that make faith valuable. Let’s explore four.

How is your relationship with God these days? Are you close to Him? Do you know His heart? (He knows your heart – inside out.) Do you enjoy His love? (He loves you deeply.)

You’ve probably figured out many relationships are unreliable. As years go by, people and life circumstances tend to shift, which changes relationships. Nevertheless, there is one relationship, you can depend on 24/7. It’s safe and stable. Additionally, this heart-to-heart connection will never be severed – if you stay in faith. Relationship with God is the most reliable in your life.

Eph. 2:8-9 says, “It is by grace you have been saved through faith . . . not of yourself . . . a gift of God . . . not by works so no one can boast.” To be saved from sin, death, a broken life, being a failure – you need faith in Jesus. In essence, this act – the faith jump – puts you in the safe skies of God’s grace.

Acts 16:31 says, ” . . . believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved . . . “ In other words, only by believing Jesus can you know God. So, as soon as you faith jump into Christ from your heart, you become part of God’s family. 1 Jn. 3:1 puts it this way – “. . . that we should be called children of God.”

Have you made your faith jump into the friendly skies of God’s grace? Are you pro-actively going after relationship with Him?

Faith in Jesus gives you something you didn’t have before. Forgiveness, eternal life, and relationship with God. And that’s only the beginning. A faith jump also gives you connection to God’s power, the greatest force there is. Basically, there’s nothing God cannot do – nothing He does not know.

We already know when you trust Jesus at the cross, His Spirit comes to live inside you. But, do you really “get” what this means?

If you get what it means to have God living inside, you live differently. Basically, you’ll have power to break old dysfunctional patterns and build new godly habits. Additionally, you will have found “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens  me.” (Phil. 4:13) Essentially, the power of being a “living sacrifice” becomes your secret. (Rom. 12:1)

There’s a huge bonus. You actually begin to resemble your Heavenly Father’s character. Consequently, you start acting like Him! (very cool)

Have you made your faith jump into God’s power?

Now, let’s take these one by one.

STRATEGICAL – A faith jump is something you purposefully do to –

These actions don’t happen automatically. Actually, a faith jump means renewing your mind – Essentially, aligning it with God’s mind. (Rom. 12:2) You bring every thought captive to align with God’s thoughts since they are higher than yours. (2 Cor. 10:5; Is. 55:9) Then, God’s strategies become yours.

PRACTICAL – All the zeal in the world is worthless unless it’s practical in daily living. Faith helps you bring together the impossible with the possible. Additionally, it nurtures healing of heart, body, mind, soul. A practical faith jump connects you with your original design and purpose. Incidentally, you need practical action steps to carry out daily responsibilities. Faith ensures your success as you apply practical Scripture action steps and stay in God’s love.

MIRACULOUS – A true faith jump is a miracle you participate in. You can’t do it without God. However, with God, you can literally fly with wings like the eagle. (Is. 40:31) The sky that once felt dangerous becomes your play ground, your practice terrain. And as you train under Jesus, you change!

Heb. 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”  In other words, there is no way to know God, to please God, and to build a meaningful relationship with Him – without faith!

You could do amazing things, be a great philanthropist, complete a triathlon, invent an important thing, or travel the world. That won’t get God’s attention like simply putting your faith in Jesus in the details of each day.

This next point is critically important. Jude 1:5 says, “. . . I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered His people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe.” In other words, faith is on-going, all your life. The faith jump affects every issue, every need, every detail of everyday life. Stay in a faith jump.

Not only will you find yourself pleasing God as you live by faith; you will also have an Alive and Active Life.

Although we could get very complicated answering this question, we will choose a simple answer. Faith is throwing yourself – all of you – into the safe love of God (His skies of grace). You jump into Jesus with all your life. You let go of you to grab onto Jesus. This is a jump into eternal salvation that works into the tiny nitty gritty things of every day.

This is how Jesus put it – “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for My sake will find it.” (Mt. 10:39) Are you giving your life up to Jesus – losing yourself on purpose into Jesus’ purposes? Doing life His way? Trusting and obeying? Why not find your true self?

In case you doubt, let me say:

The truth about you and faith is this: you are already oozing with it! You cannot be human without faith. God’s template for a human person puts faith in the most central place of your design. God intended you to be intimately connected to Him in these ways.

All this only happens with a faith jump. Your trust is never misplaced in God. There is no mistake adopting God’s original design and living in it. Jesus, the God-man, is a picture of what you were created to be. Use your will to fit hand-in-glove into God’s design. Ask God to fill you. Watch the old pass away as the new comes alive. (2 Cor. 5:17)

God is in full control of this broken world. If you don’t believe He’s doing a good job – you’d quickly lose that opinion if He were to suddenly stop what He IS doing! God is amazingly able to take blunders and sins of people – and still bring about good. His creative power and love brilliantly shape people, time, and eternity.

To address any doubts about Him – my best suggestion is a faith jump. It’s a decision, and these things will likely happen.

Your –

Don’t let those things stop you from making a faith jump! You are right where you need to be to make the leap into safety!

You have some decisions to make.

I invite you to jump into faith. Even though it may feel scary, it’s a simple decision.

Here are links to the entire Faith Series articles/podcasts. Lots of encouragement, help, and hope!

Visit our website for devotional materials, articles, podcasts, and resources to help you make a Faith Jump. Pursue noble character and an Alive and Active Life.

Everyone needs heroes, especially in difficult times. That means someone to look to for inspiration, courage, and noble character. Have you ever run out of heroes? Sometimes it’s hard to find a hero who lives an Alive and Active Life. So, this content is about some ordinary people who are faith heroes.

(This is Part 1 in a series on faith. See below for the entire Faith Series articles/podcasts links.)

As things are now globally, it seems there are fewer heroes. But I don’t think that’s true. There are heroes all over the world and all through history. However, many are regular people who have decided to bravely do the right thing – the thing that must be done.

I remember years ago when I felt I’d run out of heroes. God opened my eyes to see heroes all around me. Faithful, thoughtful people with integrity.

Before we begin, I simply must ask – who is your hero? Go ahead – think of them now. Maybe you have several. They could live near you or far away. Maybe they’ve already died. I wish I could hear your list.

Perhaps you’ve run out of heroes! That can be discouraging. As a result, you wonder who to look up to, who provides a tangible example to follow – the people who made it through, and you wonder how they did it.

Where can you turn to find good options when you run out of heroes?

Scripture provides a good running list of regular people like you and me who became heroes. As we look at some, you’ll be encouraged. And you’ll see you can become a hero, yourself. Why? Because these ordinary folks never set out to be heroes. They just believed God and worked to be faithful each day. Sometimes they even failed and then put energy into correcting their missteps.

Let’s see what we can learn. We’ll look at each person, their response, and the result.

Zechariah: An angel said to him, “Your wife will have a baby even though she’s too old. So, you don’t believe me? OK. You won’t be able to talk till the baby is born. By the way, name him ‘John.’ ”

RESPONSE: Zechariah had trouble believing the angel. So, he was unable to speak from that moment on. Meanwhile, the baby was conceived and born. On the 8th day after birth, people asked if the child would be named after Zechariah. Since Zechariah still couldn’t speak, Elizabeth said the baby would be called ‘John.’ Surprised, the people turned to Zechariah and asked him the child’s name. Still unable to speak, He had to write the baby’s name to make it official for all to see. He wrote, “His name is John.” Suddenly, Zechariah could talk again. (Lk. 1:57-66)

RESULT: Zechariah didn’t respond like a hero in the beginning. As a result, he lived in silence (about 9 months) while he worked on ordinary faith in an extraordinary God. Then he responded with excellence and became a hero.

Mary: An angel said to her, “You are going to have a baby without being intimate with a man. The baby will be the Son of God.”

RESPONSE: Mary was not intimate with a man, yet she chose to believe. This is stunning! In fact, she praised God ahead of time for what He was about to do in her body. She became pregnant and remained a virgin until after Jesus was born. Jesus grew up sinless and died on a cross to cover all sin. What a story!

RESULT: Mary quickly responded to the angel’s shocking message – “I am the Lord’s servant. May Your word to me be fulfilled.” (Lk. 1:38) Mary practiced the heart of a hero! All her life she likely lived under the stigma of getting pregnant before marriage. So, she may have endured long-reaching consequences for choosing to trust and obey God – not giving in to the fear of man. She is a model hero. What a wonderful mother and godly woman!

Joseph: An angel appeared in the middle of the night and said to him, “Take Mary and baby Jesus – and flee to Egypt. Herod is going to try to kill Jesus.” (Mt. 2:13-18)

RESPONSE: Joseph obeyed and fled with his family – in the middle of the same night. He didn’t ask what would happen to his home or stuff. He just obeyed. Herod did kill all the baby boys two years old and younger in that town. What a bad man!

RESULT: Joseph woke out of grogginess into immediate surrender and action. He woke his family, pushing them out the door in the dead of night. Because his response was urgent Joseph trusted his house and belongings to God’s care while they were gone . . . not knowing if or when they would return. Joseph partnered with God and helped save Jesus’ life. He practiced resolve in a high form of heroism. No wonder God chose him to be Jesus’ earthly father. Just an ordinary man.

Lot: Angels said to him, “Get out of Sodom. God is going to destroy the wicked city. Save yourself and your family. Don’t even look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plains! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!”

RESPONSE: Lot lingered a while. What a decision and so immediate! He had trouble responding like a hero. The angels helped him by taking his family by the hand out of the city. Lot and his family fled. God rained fire and sulfur down on Sodom and wiped it from the map. Lot’s wife turned to watch, and she was turned into a pillar of salt.

RESULT: Lot had observed a hero in his uncle Abraham. He also learned from the angels as they took his family from their home, life, friends, and belongings on short notice, knowing all would be destroyed. In other words, Lot would be starting over completely. He certainly practiced being a hero to keep fleeing even after his wife was turned to a pillar of salt. What a terrible reality to leave her in that state! (Gen. 19:15-26)

Joshua: God told Joshua the battle plan to conquer Jericho. The people were to march around Jericho once a day for six days. Leading were priests with trumpets in front of the Ark of the Covenant with an armed guard in front of them. Another guard of soldiers followed the Ark. On day seven, they were to march around seven times. What an unusual battle strategy! (Josh. 6)

RESPONSE: Joshua gave the Israelites God’s battle plan. They chose to trust Joshua – and God – instead of snickering and doubting God’s strategy. They walked around thick walls one time for six days. Each day was a test of faith in God’s strategy and deliverance. On the seventh day, they geared up for the “hero walk” – seven laps around the city. The citizens of Jericho stood on the wall and watched, wondering about these crazy people who claimed a powerful God loves them. “Weird, naïve” – perhaps they thought. After the seventh lap, the Israelites yelled really loud. No catapults or dynamite. Thick, stone walls collapsed under the pressure of hero faith and obedience.

RESULT: Joshua was respected yet again as the great leader of Israel. He had a special, intimate relationship with the God who could do anything. Every time Joshua obeyed God’s words, powerful things happened. The people were encouraged and strengthened as they watched this hero. They ignored the mockers on the wall, kept obeying God, and turned away from doubts, fears, and the temptation to be embarrassed. As a result, their fame became even greater, causing enemies in the Promised Land to tremble when they heard Israel was headed their way. Joshua was a hero, and he helped God’s people become ordinary heroes of faith.

Several previous examples involve angels actively involved. That isn’t always the case. There are examples of heroes – like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Paul, Esther, Abraham, Timothy, Joseph – real people who chose to trust God. Most did not have angels. These people tapped into God’s power to rise above circumstances and become heroes.

May I just say this. Any person who trusts and obeys God is a hero to Him. This is good news. It means you can be a hero. You can encourage others around you to be heroes. Ordinary people. And in a world that has run out of heroes, this is a game changer.

Why not start now to fill the void of world heroes in your ordinary, daily responsibilities?

WE NEED MORE HEROES!!

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us . . .” (Eph. 3:20)

Here are links to the entire Faith Series articles/podcasts. Lots of encouragement, help, and hope!

Visit our website for devotional materials, articles, podcasts, and resources to help grow your faith in God. Pursue noble character and an Alive and Active Life.

“Fall Forward, Fail Fervently.” What an unusual title! That’s a lot of “F’s.” You certainly can’t say it very fast without getting tongue-tied and sounding pretty weird. Still – falling and failing are scary to everybody. Those two concepts are associated with missing the mark. Most people want to succeed. Well, by just adding two describing words to falling and failing, it changes everything. Fall Forward – Fail Fervently. Now – we’re back to that unusual title. What on earth does that mean?

Falling and failing directly affect you. We already stated they affect everyone. If severe enough, they can devastate you because their effect is strong. Since falling and failing have such power, and since they happen to everyone at some point in life, it makes sense to find a way to fall forward and fail fervently. In other words, milk these disappointing missteps of every bit of good you can get out of them.

It’s not sin to fall or fail when you are working to be who God created and accomplish His purpose for your life. In fact, it’s human to fall and fail as you learn, grow, and master various life skills. Working at concepts, developing your skills, trying something new – these open doors to future success. And they build character. But there are some risks involved.

Confronting fear and practicing courage are two effective ways you can minimize risks. When you are courageous in the face of fear, you can fall forward and fail fervently.

There was a time when we all did better confronting fear and exercising courage. We need to take a look at “the little guys” to remember.

Let’s learn from babies. We can glean a lot by watching them. That’s how we used to do it. That’s our beginning. No one graduates from toddlerhood without some falls and failings. But babies and toddlers seem to fall and fail better than adults. Maybe we can learn from their unpretentious example.

When a baby first starts to walk, they are on their bottom (and other parts of their body) more than on their feet until they get the hang of it. They barely balance as they put the weight of their wobbly body over each next step. It’s endearing to watch – although they may not feel thrilled about scraping themselves off the floor again and again. Still, they get up and try again.

Some babies even learn how to l-e-a-n and fall forward since they know they might fall again. That sounds like a reasonable strategy. It gets them closer to where they are headed.

When we grow up, maybe we should learn how to lean into our falls, bringing our very best forward . . . and not letting a fall keep us down.

When “the little guys” begin to exercise skills they will use the rest of their lives, they find themselves learning maneuvers. Whether it’s balance, muscle control, nerve responses, judgement, or even lack of practice – it takes a lot of failing before these little guys figure stuff out. It’s part of learning.

You’ve got to give them credit. They fail fervently. It is with passion and zeal they go after new abilities. And seriously? They figure stuff out! From physical maneuvers to power struggles to communication and relationship skills to rewards and aspirations.

When we grow up, maybe we should live with more passion and zealous energy as we go after things that really matter. Maybe we should watch children and re-adopt good things we see as they strive to trouble-shoot this complicated world.

Have you ever noticed toddlers just never give up (well, not often)! If there’s something they want, they are simply NOT DONE until they have what they want in their cute, pudgy grasp! The goodness or badness element is learned as they invest their endless energy into figuring life out. If it’s a good thing and they want it, they go after it. It it’s a bad thing and they want it – despite repeated warnings of “no!” – they still go after it.

As you and I mature, surely we can at least come to terms with striving after good and side-stepping bad. Surely we can make better-informed decisions as we apply our increasingly limited energy each day. Why don’t we still go after it?

When we grow up, maybe we should go after God and healthy habits that make us better people. Maybe we should get our cute, pudgy grasp around these patterns and perspectives – and God – and never let go!

Let’s look at the word “fervently.” What does it mean? How does it function?

FUNCTION: Fervently is an adverb. That means it modifies – or is associated with – verbs, the action piece of things. So, right up-front, we can know that fervently will be paired with some kind of action.

DEFINITION: Fervently is defined as “with great intensity of spirit, feeling, enthusiasm” and so on. We already used the words passion and zeal earlier.

We can know that fervently is part of the action of getting in there with your whole self while engaging your every best intention. The circumstances don’t really matter so much. You can live fervently despite things outside your control. If you choose an Alive and Active Life in everything you do, and if you courageously overcome crippling fears, you can fall forward and fail fervently. This kind of “missing the mark” will give you valuable experience, insight, and skills. In fact, learning to fall and fail in a healthy way will help you become a person of integrity, maturity, and influence. These people are highly respected. They are often excellent leaders.

There are times it’s just as important to know what NOT to do as what you should do. There are elements of falling and failing that can and should be avoided at all costs. Those missteps occupy the territory of sin. It is “not innocent.” Deliberate, negligent, angry, not focused, quitting. This kind of falling and failing changes your heart and works against your ability to live an Alive and Active Life. These elements also block your fellowship with God.

Scripture assures God is patient with His children. He knows about healthy falling and failing. God wants you to succeed. But He also wants you to avoid unnecessary trouble and keep your heart from sin. When people decide to make sinful mistakes a deliberate practice, that tests God’s patience and twists it into a weird dysfunction. Deut. 6:16 says, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” 

So, to avoid a devastating fall and side-step avoidable failure, be on your guard. God instructs you to guard your heart. Prov. 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” God will help you fall forward and fail fervently.

Confronting fear and exercising courage requires paying attention. In many places, Scripture says:

Jesus said we should be like little children. He was talking about their most endearing qualities with uncomplicated faith and simple obedience. Do you know how to fall, fail, and never give up – like the little guys? How to be humble, teachable, responsive, and unpretentious? How to avoid a misstep when warned? Becoming like little children is a principle necessary to live in the Kingdom of God. (Mt. 18:3)

God cares about you (even when you feel little). Cast your cares on Him. (1 Pet. 5:7) He loves you with an everlasting love. (Jer. 31:3) He has a plan to prosper you. (Jer. 29:11)  You can grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord. (2 Pet. 3:18)

Here are some ways you can cooperate with God as you learn how to fall forward and fail fervently:

Little guys know who loves them and who will help them fall forward and fail fervently. Your heavenly Father invites you into His love to learn how to fall forward and fail fervently. You are His little one. This is a safe place.

Stay close to your Father. Get to know Him more. He wants you to be yourself and succeed in your life.

Article developed from 2 Pet. 3: 15-18.

Articles to help you live a healthy, godly life.

There is an alarming development over the past several years. People wonder if they actually matter. These “wonderings” happen deep in people’s hearts. Sadly, depression has broken some people. Additionally, discouragement wraps devastating effects around serious global developments. Pandemic, natural disasters, wars and rumors of wars, global warming, political unrest. I think it’s time for a strong look at Special Ways God Loves You. May you be encouraged as you connect with the God who loves you.

The idea that God has chosen you because He wants you – is the perfect place to start. As people feel devastating effects of too many tragedies and challenges, hope starts to slip off. Even if the result isn’t serious discouragement, there are at least grave concerns.

Going back to roots that stabilize life helps re-set perspective. Those roots strongly feed hope. Interestingly, roots are “under” things, mostly invisible. However, they are real. Also, tenacious. Gnarly roots speak of history: past growth, overcoming difficulties, nurturing what is visible as they spread underneath and across vast expanses, stabilizing what still matters.

Let me say it again. God has chosen you because He wants you. Most important, God wants you because He loves you.

Sometimes people find it hard to connect with God’s love for them. Essentially, God’s love seems kind of distant, obscure, intangible. Basically, it can feel like trying to grasp the beautiful clouds in a sunny, blue sky.

There are reasons people wonder about God’s love for them – especially since it feels like trying to hold a cloud:

Those are some of many barriers that keep you disconnected from God’s tender and tenacious love. Yet, He loves you. God designed and created you. Just like every individual on the globe, you are precious to Him. God is not just concerned about the big picture, nations, creation. Additionally, He is concerned about you and the purpose for your life.

From the root of His love, God grows up a sturdy, resilient existence that thrives even when times get really bad. This existence can be yours. You can thrive.

Here are a few of many proclamations and promises of God’s love for you:

The special ways God loves you eliminates performance issues most people seem to have. You don’t have to perform to enjoy God’s love. It’s free! God wants you to be you! As your loving, brilliant Creator who knows your design, He is the best person to help you know how to be “you.” He helps you fulfill your life purpose.

Too often when you figure out the unique aspects that make you “you,” it’s tempting to think – “those things make me special.” God does not see you that way. He simply decided you are special to Him – as you are. He wants you!

What an undeserved honor! You can be “you” without apology. God sees you with grace. And He wants you to see yourself with His grace. God also sees you with unending knowledge and future possibilities. Do you see yourself this way?

Now it’s time to dive down into the roots and identify the special ways God loves you. Remember: roots are “under things” – under you. Roots stabilize and strengthen what is over them. They are invisible but they nurture what is visible. Roots are gnarly from experiences and struggles and they spread over a vast territory. Roots support you.

You have been created in God’s image, a little lower than angels (some translations say – a little lower than God. Ps. 8). You have been crowned with glory and honor – made to rule over your domain. Your domain is your world, your life, your influence. God decided to give you this position of power. You are also God’s child from the beginning. All these things represent God’s heart toward you.

Why? Because you are special to Him.

Whatever is in your life now – sorrows, losses, difficulties, challenges – God helps you overcome. “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who saves us.” (Rom. 8:37) He saves you now and on-going – both for eternal life and in your daily problems and life issues.

Why? Because you are special to Him.

It was His decision! God partners with you – if you let Him. Yes, sin changed things, but it did not change His original design. The cross brought the original design back into your reach. By now, you’ve figured out you can’t live your life well on your own. God has great news for you. He has decided to let you partner with Him. This partnership, this friendship, this “Father and child” relationship is how it’s supposed to be. In fact, Scripture says you are made to rule under Him. (Gen. 1:28) That’s pretty awesome! Is. 9:6 reminds that God is your Counselor. Is. 7:14 and Mt. 1:23 reveal your Companion: Emmanuel (God With Us). He helps you care for your life and domain as a partner.

Why? Because you are special to Him.

You get to use your free will. You get to choose. God made you intelligent and creative to make good choices. Why not pull everything in your influence back to the original design – your thoughts, choices, relationships, career, influences, etc.?

God wants you to manage your life with integrity and goodness as you put yourself under His authority, strength, and power. Don’t let your current situation keep you from being who God created you to be.

Why? Because you are special to Him.

God lifts you up to make a difference in this broken world. Why not welcome Him in your daily life? He promises to make all things new. (Rev. 21:5) This starts here and now. God wants you to live in glory, wonder, and honor every day. Even in this broken life, God makes His love and power yours because He lives inside you. God lifts you up to be the person He created.

Why? Because you are special to Him.

You are free to grow. If you’d only quit squirming and wiggling out from under His grip. Just be still. Know He is God. (Ps. 46:10) As you release yourself into His care, you will grow in new ways. You will grow into yourself and your life purpose. You can grow strong from your roots up and out.

Why? Because you are special to Him.

It is your choice to honor God and live by faith. He crowned you with glory and honor to live an Alive and Active Life that points to Him. Your glory doesn’t start someday. It doesn’t start when Jesus returns. It starts now. And it is your most effective tool to turn eyes to God.

Why? By now – you know why! He loves you with an everlasting love. (Jer. 31:3)

SPECIAL: God decided you are special to Him. He has made His love undeniably clear.

THE CROSS: The cross of Jesus secures you to live forever with God. That cross also provides roots under you so you can have an Alive and Active Life in every life detail.

GOD’S WORD: God’s Word provides all the principles, promises, and action steps you need to have a purpose-filled life in Christ.

QUESTIONS:

(Article developed from Heb. 2:6-10.)

For additional resources on how to want God back, order Reach Back: Intentionally Reaching Back to God.

Ever wonder what God looks like? I remember being intrigued with this as a child. What does God look like? How about Jesus? There were no phone cameras back when Jesus lived on earth. So we have no pictures. We don’t have any life portraits of the God, either. So a lot is left to imagination. Still, God’s Word gives clues – not about God’s physical appearance. Rather, it paints a masterful portrait of God’s nature, personality, and character. And it uses characteristics of God’s face as a tool to communicate His appearance.

Let’s look at some characteristics of God’s face from Scripture. These are a few of many personifications of God.

In my quiet time with God recently, I studied a passage from Psalm 11. Something caught my attention. I could have just breezed over the words, but surprise caused me to linger. As I leaned in to hear from the Lord, I saw something new. But first, I’ll set the context.

This psalm talks about God as a refuge during sorrows and long waits. He brings justice. His throne is established. It also says He tests the righteous but hates the wicked. Readers must decide for themselves about God’s love and character – and if He is for you!

The psalmist nods at “wicked archers who bend their bow and shoot in the dark.” You know – those enemies that pursue you every day. Guess what they are aiming at. Your heart. The psalmist feels under attack, misunderstood, abused. So he decides to trust God and take refuge in Him.

He hints that he doesn’t need to understand before trusting God. It’s not necessary to have things all figured out before surrendering to the God who loves him. He simply chooses to trust and obey – even while under attack. Then he rests in God during the aftermath.

However, he says a most interesting thing about God’s face! This is what caught my attention.

The end of verse 4 says, ” . . . His eyes see, His eyelids test the children of man.“

Eyelids. Not just eyes. I pondered what this might mean and started cross-referencing other Scriptures. I found some interesting ideas:

How interesting! Testing mankind every moment. Testing the minds and hearts . . . your mind and heart – and mine. Proving, searching. I thought God knows everything. He knows every mind and heart. Every outcome. What is this saying about God as He tests our hearts?

I think these Scriptures are more about us than God. And I think it has something to do with His eyelids!

Just so you know, I didn’t remember God’s eyelids ever mentioned in the Bible! I’ve read and meditated on many other personifications: God’s face, His eyes and ears, mouth and nose, His arms, etc. Why mention eyelids? It seems very specific – a new idea.

I’m not a Bible scholar, but as I prayerfully spent time on this, couched in the context of this psalm (which I’ve shared with you), a thought occurred to me. This thought grew into something that excited my heart, and I found myself encouraged and blessed. A possible interpretation landed. In fact, I even smiled as I pictured the idea of God’s face – specifically His eyelids.

I journaled thoughts as I pondered this idea of “eyelids.” Specifically that eyelids blink. Here are some things I’ve written.

“You love me, but wisely test my heart and character. You see all things. Your ‘eyelids test the children of man.’ It’s as if You give me (and all Your children) the space of a ‘blink’ to respond back to You in faith and obedience. You create a pocket of time – a blink of Your eyelids – for me to practice Your character, to pass Your test and prove my faith and love for You. As Your eyelids blink each day, I have many opportunities to grow in obedience to You. I can flesh out what Your eyes already see – my original design.”

This is hope even as it supports human free will.

A blink! Go ahead and blink right now. Less than a second, but still a space in time. Let’s creatively develop an allegory. The eyes of God give a blink to you – a pause – to give you time to decide if you are “all in” with Him. To believe and obey – no matter what. Even when “wicked archers who bend their bow and shoot [at you] in the dark.”

You can bring your pierced, shot up heart to God who loves you. He wants to heal your heart. God’s love means there is no need to understand before trusting. His love enables you to wait in obedience, even if it’s a long time. In a blink of God’s eyelids, you can respond back to God with love, faith, and obedience.

A blink of an eyelid is a small space in time. God knows and sees all. But He gives you the space of a blink to respond back to His love. His penetrating gaze and knowledge are couched with purest intentions for you, the child He created. God loves you so much. And your love, freely given back to Him, is a priceless gift.

In a blink, you can agree with God and declare – “Yes! I’m with You, Lord. You know me inside-out. And I want to pass this test. I want to be the person You created and accomplish my life purpose. Help me obey and be willing to wait. Even as I suffer, help me pass Your test and be healthy in my mind and heart.”

How are you responding to God’s blink as His eyelids test your heart? Why not welcome your heart and character being measured?

Do you know what else eyes can do? They can wink. A wink can –

Why? Because the One who can make a difference is watching you. He is giving you a “blink” of time to trust Him. And He reminds you with a “wink” that He loves you as you are. God is committed to your life and well-being.

THOUGHT: The blink and wink of God’s eyelids assure you of His love.

On the big scale of the world, so much is out of your control. Events happen and history is changed. You can feel pretty small when your life is lined up next to global issues. Still, your own life affects history. So, as you consider your life in the world, your community, family, career, you may wonder – “Realistically, what can I do? How can my life matter?”

God changes history. Every time He intervenes in history, something significant happens. And it often revolves around the question, “What can I do?”

Before God created anything, He essentially asked, “what can I do” as He contemplated what He already knew. Mankind (His very own creation) would turn away from Him, and this decision would be catastrophic with eternal consequences for each person. His beloved children would “surely die” (Gen. 2:17) if He did nothing. So, when He asked, “what can I do” the answer was an extraordinary strategy.

” . . . the Lamb . . . slain from the creation of the world.” (Rev. 13:8) God answered the question, “what can I do” definitively as the decision to sacrifice Jesus on the cross was made. Then God created everything.

This proves how much God loves mankind . . . how much He loves you. It also proves God’s respect of free will. By answering His own question of what to do, He made it possible to ask each person to answer “what can I do” in response to His question, “Do you love Me (back)?” You decide how you will respond to Christ’s extreme sacrifice. God lets you decide.

When Jesus, the God-man, lived on earth, He often asked, “what can I do?” Here are some examples from Scripture:

God’s interventions are fresh, creative, needed, and always a great improvement. God is very innovative. He may introduce something new or change the norm into something better. Fixing human blunders on the human timeline is His specialty. He heals, forgives, renews, empowers, and blesses. He is always saying, “What can I do?”

This question never means He is at a loss. Far from it. There is no limit to God’s knowledge and creative power in addressing issues. But His question hints at something rich: God’s design is interactive with mankind. It changes history through a partnership with anyone who will trust and obey Him. The deep investment of His own life into human affairs turns centuries of losses into gains. And His love for people – for you – will never end.

Not only does God ask, “What can I do” as it affects the world scenario. He also ask you, “What can I do to help you?” So, what’s going on in your daily life? What situations are you facing where you need help, love, encouragement, a friend?

God cares. He loves you so much. His commitment is to help you succeed in your daily living. And He will help you carry out your life purpose. What is your answer back to Him? Do you know what you need from Jesus? Why not simply ask for His help, His intervention, His healing? Why not receive His love with an open heart?

What about you? Do you ever turn this question around and ask God what you can do for Him? Is it even on your radar? This question is one of the most important you will ever ask in your lifetime. Why not ask God, “what can I do” in reciprocation to His love? Because you are created as His partner, His beloved, His child – He has a unique purpose for your life. You are not an accident or an oversight.

Just like you need to answer His question, God has answers for your questions. He provides clear guidelines, power, promises, and His presence to help you live successfully in this broken world. You are the child of His heart.

Jesus helps you know what to be and what to do so you can accomplish your original design. You get to choose if you agree with Him by using your free will.

Options to look forward and participate in Jesus’ return are present in your life each day. Since you are living in times leading up to Jesus’ return, you can be and do to make a difference. In essence, you daily become the person God created while leaving a special mark on history. Why not fill your active waiting and eager expectation with constructive decisions and great character that matter?

The “comings” of Jesus have been captivating to people for centuries. Let’s look.

The first coming of Jesus was almost unnoticed, even though it was announced since creation. He quietly, strategically slipped into the human timeline to win back the hearts of His children. If it weren’t for angels, shepherds, and wise men – His first coming might have been off radar. In a silent, dark night, Jesus was born into a broken world with a brilliant, extraordinary plan that would forever change the destiny of any who believe on Him.

The second coming will be unannounced. No one knows the timing: not you, not the angels, not even the Son. (Mt. 24:36 – only the Father knows) Super-secret!

With that coming, Jesus will take back from the enemy what is rightfully His: all creation. He will restore original design. It will be a shock event, unexpected as a thief, definitely on everyone’s radar after it hits. This one event of history will alter everything. Extreme things will happen as everything is laid bare. Power never experienced by human beings will introduce eternity.

This coming event should impact your daily living as you be and do. It’s not a fairy tale. As a wise and glorious King, Jesus will never misgovern in any way. His decisions will be exactly what the world and people need. And His loving sacrifice for His children at His first coming will have completed His extraordinary strategy of free choice.

This is profound. You actually help determine your future!

The most important question you can ask is recorded in 2 Pet. 3: 11-12. “What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.”

Ask God to help you answer critical questions.

Article developed from 2 Pet. 3:10-13.

Visit our website for more articles, podcasts, devotional books, and life tools to help you live a noble life!

Would you say your life matters? You have great value. God intends you to have an Alive and Active Life. Did you know Scripture teaches specific qualities of that kind of life?

How do you define an Alive and Active Life? What qualities go into that lifestyle? Perhaps words like “involved, -pro-active, positive, cheerful, hopeful, informed, healthy, engaged, good decisions, helping others, integrity, excellent character.”

Now, pick four or five words that describe how you interact and problem-solve.

God is an Alive and Active God. He intends people to be like Him. After all, He created us in His image. Even with a broken world, that gives us a blueprint. In fact, being alive and active is the original design of creation. It’s your original design.

An Alive and Active Life is something you can aim for, practice, and measure. Every person can. YOU can have an Alive and Active Life.

God made you in His image. Ps. 8: 5-6 says amazing things about you – about all people. Here are some of them:

Did you know this is how God thinks of you and designed your life? This information is significant – a game-changer.

Let’s look at each statement one at a time.

Did you know God thinks of you this way – a little lower than the angels? Angels are powerful, great, and beautiful beings that carry out God’s ways. They worship Him – because they “get” who He is. In some Scripture versions, believe it or not, the phrase – “You have made him (mankind) a little lower than the angels” – is worded like this:

Wow! Does this not grab your attention?! Talk about incredible value! This is how God sees you and me. Your design is modelled after God’s.

Various versions of Scripture say “You have crowned him (mankind) with glory and honor – or splendor, or beauty, or majesty, or greatness. God made you like this.

Are you living in this knowledge? Do you see yourself like God sees you? If not, why not? I’m not talking about having a prideful self-image! I’m talking about a humble awareness of who God designed you to be. And I’m talking about agreement with God regarding the highly sophisticated functions you are to carry out.

Your life has value! Your life matters!

So – how can you be this kind of person? You may need to change the way you see yourself.

Did you know this is part of your life purpose? If you are like me, you feel rather small compared to the huge globe and complicated creation. But God doesn’t intend you to be Superman or Wonder Woman. God intends you to be “the best you” possible. And He intends to help you do that.

Is this your intention? Do you trust God, obey Him, and seek His input in your daily decisions? Do you honor other people? What about the environment? Are you ruling your own property in a way that cares for His creation and our climate? Do you promote the health of His earth, skies, and seas? What about the soil? Emissions into the air?

How are you ruling your part of the earth?

Life sometimes feels way too big. And you get tired. What does it even mean to manage everything under your feet?

Let’s start with your personality and skill sets. Your family and friends. Your job and community influences. What about your aspirations and dreams of what you could accomplish? These are all ways you manage what is “under your feet.”

Your life has great purpose. Your life matters.

As you navigate each day, there are things you can do to “put everything under your feet.” Maybe it would help to think of this as “responding with wisdom and grace to each person and each activity you have influence over.”

Most of all, it means God made you for Himself. He wants relationship with you.

Here are four ways you can manage what’s under your feet:

Philippians 4 helps define healthy thinking with a “Thinking Grid.” [Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praise-worthy]

First, engage healthy thinking with this list instead of negative, critical, angry thinking.

Second, ask practical questions to define and roll out dimensions of your life. Use the Thinking Grid:

It helps to remember truth comes from God’s Word. Anything that agrees with Scripture is truth, no matter where you find it. Knowing God’s Word helps you assess things. So, you need to spend time in it.

A quick list of some truths that will never change:

Scripture urges to set boundaries with people who live for their own pleasure, who mock or make fun of others and God’s ways. Ps. 1:1 says, “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers.”

Other people have direct influence over you. Carefully choose your influencers.

Jesus guarded His heart and did not sin. He wants that same boundary for you. At the same time, He loves and values all people. He doesn’t have favorites. Jesus is on a mission to take back anyone who will respond – from the enemy who tricked them. And He wants you to partner in this work.

So, let’s re-evaluate our relationships and their purposes. Let’s set boundaries with scoffers who lack integrity and who make fun of others and God’s ways.

Sometimes you have done exactly what you should have. You’ve served, sacrificed, stayed the course. Yet you still wait for results. Where’s the harvest? Will God keep His Word?

God will always keep His Word. Whether it’s the Second Coming Of Jesus, or simply blessing you with the harvest you labored for, there is timing involved. God is fully engaged, aware, and working where we cannot see. His thoughts, ways, and timing are not ours. 2 Peter 3:8 says, “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” God sees results differently than we do. But He also sees your hard work.

God is faithful to Himself, to His promises, and to you. He will bring both results and reward as you accept the wisdom of His timing. This isn’t so much about Him as it is about you (and me). What kind of character are we practicing as we serve God each day and trust Him for results and timing? Are we patient like He is?

Ps. 37:4 says God will give the desires of your heart if you first delight in Him. This defines living an Alive and Active Life!

Remember to engage healthy thinking. Hold to truth you already know. Set boundaries with others who lack integrity. Trust God’s timing.

In the movie, “The Kid,” Bruce Willis plays Russ Duritz, a grown-up under stress. He regresses to a form of comfort when he was a kid – a sandwich. He begins to make one and repeatedly says – “There’s safety in a sandwich!” As he tries to convince himself in his self-dialogue, he grips his almost finished sandwich and flips it around expressively while talking. Alfalfa sprouts fly everywhere. Then lettuce flips out. It’s not much of a sandwich any more. Many people think there’s comfort in a sandwich.

Life is often like a sandwich. Sometimes there’s comfort in a sandwich. Other times, it has all the wrong ingredients, and when you try to find relief with stress all around, stuff just flies everywhere. This only makes things worse.

You need comfort and safety when things go from bad to worse. When you are severely tempted, you need a good sandwich action plan. When suffering lingers for a long stretch, you need provision and nourishment from God.

Friend, you can have comfort and be refreshed. God wants to provide for you and nourish your soul. But this comes in a very unusual sandwich with ingredients none of us would have guessed. God chose these ingredients to combat loss, temptation, loneliness, and suffering.

This unusual sandwich is found in Jas. 4:7-8. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you.” Do you see the slices of bread and the filling?

Where are you going for help, safety, and comfort? Who intervenes for you? Is someone providing wisdom, direction, and companionship in your difficulties? What about strength in temptation?

You need support – a good sandwich in your stress? Don’t take the sandwich you threw together in desperation, flip it around with stuff flying everywhere as you talk to yourself – angry about what has happened – wondering where on earth God is in your struggles?!

Simply Submit – Resist – Come near.

Jesus calls Himself the Bread Of Life – for you! He invites you to “feed on Him.” I know that sounds a bit weird, but take the allegory as Jesus intended. Jn. 6: 51a says, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” He is saying – “take in what I offer. Submit to Me and My ways. Because you can trust Me, you will find yourself nourished, safe, comforted, and loved.”

He is also saying – “don’t listen to the enemy. He will trick you with lies. My sandwich has power to help you make good decisions. If you let me, I will support you with power and strength to do what is right. I will comfort you, provide all you need. Eat of Me and be satisfied!”

What a sandwich! Bread, filling, and more bread. The Son of God who fed the multitudes with bread and fish wants to feed your life.

Here’s how this looks – “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20) He feeds you as you trust Him.

I remember when this verse really landed for me. I was on my treadmill, working on memory verses years ago. When I got to Gal. 2:20 and repeated it again and again to get the words in my brain – the meaning suddenly landed. I started tearing up as I ran. The Son of God loves me . . . and gave Himself for me! It was a game-changer for me. Every need – provided by God who loves me. “Eating the Bread of Life.”

I urge you – always go for God’s sandwich when you have any kind of hunger in life. “Taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Ps. 34:8a)

The person who gets nourished deeply by God is humble. God favors that person. And He gives extra grace to the person who is not arrogant. Jas. 4:6 says, “. . . He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’ “ 

The “take-away” is two-fold.

And there’s even more than that. God wants to make His home in you. He wants you to be His “resting place.” Is. 66:1 says, “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be?”

In the Old Testament, God dwelled on the Mercy Seat – the lid of the Ark of the Covenant kept in the Tabernacle first, and later, in the Temple. After Jesus came, God’s home became the hearts of His people. You and me. Rev. 21: 3 uses this phrase – “God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them.” 1 Cor. 3:16 says, “Don’t you know that you, yourselves, are God’s temple?”

When you come near to God, He promises to come near to you . . . very near. His Spirit lives inside you. You will, indeed, taste and see He is good. You will be filled with His goodness and amazed at His love for you – the One who loved you and gave Himself for you!

Simply put? God makes a really good sandwich. And there is so much safety and comfort in how He nourishes your life, even to your deepest inner spirit.

What has your experience been finding comfort in a sandwich? Maybe you prefer pizza? God specializes in pizza, too. In fact, there is nothing under the sun He has not creatively made to encourage and delight His precious children.

Do you see God’s love like this? Is it delightful to you? Safe? Comforting?

To stick with our allegory of a sandwich, let’s consider two things that feed your soul and give you comfort. These both nurture you, but it may surprise you to consider that one is something you need to surrender to in absolute obedience. The other is a tool used for prodding to stay on a good path, nudging, even loving discipline. Here they are.

Some of the thoughts in this article came from Celebrate Advent, Dec. 1 and from Jas. 4:7-8.