There may yet be hope…

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Sarah

Sometimes I just feel discouraged. Sometimes I wonder why the LORD doesn’t provide the way I think He should. Lamentations 3:20-29 have given me new perspective this week.

My soul continually remembers my affliction
and is bowed down within me.
But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
His mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in Him.”

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
to the soul who seeks Him.
It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
It is good for a man that he bear
the yoke in his youth.

Let him sit alone in silence
when it is laid on him;
let him put his mouth in the dust—
    there may yet be hope!

Sometimes I am tempted to complain about the trial the Lord is currently bringing me through. Sometimes it seems like the same thing over and over again. Instead, what if I silence myself – because there is still hope. My hope is not of this world but is from the Lord God Almighty who has rescued me from eternal darkness to bring me into relationship with Him. What could be more glorious?? I pray that my hope may rest in the Lord and not in the things of this temporal world. The LORD always has a purpose.

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Sacrifice

Posted on May 5, 2012 by Sarah

“With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you…as an act of proper worship, to give Him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated and acceptable to Him.” Romans 12:1

“Having presented our bodies, is there anything else we may give? The answer is yes, there is everything else–everything God has given us.” Blessings and gifts are given, not to fill us, but that we may have something MORE to offer to God in worship. (Elisabeth Elliot)

Categories: Spiritual Growth, Surrender/Repentance | Leave a comment

Humbly Surrendered

Posted on April 29, 2012 by Sarah

Today I am learning a lesson in humility. It is only natural for humans to seek their own glory. Therefore, as Christians we have to fight to seek the glory of God instead. In friendship I am finding that I sometimes want others to sing my praises, to acknowledge how great a friend I am. Yet any love or encouragement I am able to give a friend is from the Lord, and He alone is worthy to receive the glory. If I am loving others with the love of Christ, I should be pointing them to Him.

God has used Malachi 3:6-10 to humble me in this: “For I, the LORD Yahweh, never change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers, you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you, says Yahweh Tsebaoth (the LORD of hosts). But you say, ‘How shall we return? Will man rob God?’ Yet you are robbing Me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. And thereby put Me to the test, says Yahweh Tsebaoth. See if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”

I realize this passage is talking about tithes and contributions – money. However, God expects us to give every part of ourselves to Him. Seeking our own glory is selfish and only leads to disappointment and emptiness. It is in seeking the glory of the LORD Almighty that we are filled with joy. He is God and deserves our every praise. Wholly surrendered to Yahweh Ra’ah, our good Shepherd who will provide for our every need and pour down blessings upon us, we can truly say, “I am never in need.” (Psalm 23:1)

May my heart truly rejoice when God receives the glory, for it is His work! “Because Your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; in Your name I will lift up my hands.” Psalm 63:3-4

Categories: Spiritual Growth, Surrender/Repentance | Leave a comment

Be Still

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Sarah

“Be still, and know that I am God.” ~Psalm 46:10

What does it mean to “be still”? I recently got a new Bible translation (the God’s Word translation), and it has added a new perspective to my faith. Psalm 46:10 is translated: “Let go [of your concerns]. Then you will know that I am God.” I am in the process of finding a condo to buy for myself. I did not realize how much this process would involve waiting, and I am learning that waiting is more a test of my faith in God than I imagined it would be.

Both of the offers I have made on condos have been multi-offer situations, and it feels like I have to fight for what I want – or for what I think I want. Today has been a day of turmoil in my heart over decisions. What do I really want? What are my priorities? Am I willing to make a higher offer? Am I ok with a different condo complex? The questions have swirled in my head, and I have felt distant from everything all day because I can’t find peace in my heart about this decision.

I have spent most of tonight alone. Earlier I talked to several friends, my sister, my mom, the realtor – but nothing helped. They gave advice, they listened, they helped me weigh pros and cons – but they cannot give me peace. Finally, I turned my phone off, closed my bedroom door, and fell face-down on my bed in prayer to the Lord. Rain sprinkled softly outside and every once in a while I would hear a soft rumble of thunder.

I began to think about Psalm 46:10. How can I “be still” when my heart feels so restless? How can I “know He is God” when I feel like this “perfect” condo that I desire might slip through my fingers? I noticed that in the God’s Word translation this verse reads like a cause and effect. When I finally let go of my concerns, then I will know that He is God. As I laid there, I prayed that God would help me to be still and let go. Do I not trust that He will provide what is absolutely best for me? If this condo on which I currently placed an offer does not work out, it is not what is best for me. It’s hard to let go and believe that He will work this out for me. But the longer I prayed and rested in Him, the more I felt I was coming to believe that He is God.

Upon getting up 45 minutes later, a fresh and overwhelming sense of peace washed over me like the rain that freshened the air outside tonight. Where I felt unsure about the decisions I have to make about condos, I now feel confident and at peace. My mind is made up what to do when the time comes to make a decision tomorrow. No one else is here with me, but I received the peace I needed from the Prince of Peace Himself. My heart is still, and I know that He is God.

Categories: Peace/Contentment, Spiritual Growth | 1 Comment

From Death to Life

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Sarah

Life. Most days it doesn’t even cross my mind how little control we as humans have over life. We go about planning our busy schedules, and death does not seem to fit in the picture. Somehow we come to feel as if we are keeping ourselves alive. Yet if Elohim, our Creator, was not at every second sustaining us, we would not live.

It is He who speaks life into existence: “In the beginning, Elohim created heaven and earth.” (Genesis 1:1)

It is He who sustains life according to His purpose: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (Hebrews 1:3)

Easter is a holiday celebrated in the spring – spring, which is symbolic of life. Traditionally, Christians celebrate the death of Christ on Good Friday and the life of Christ on Easter Sunday. “It’s Friday…but Sunday is coming.” Though sorrow and grief cover like a dark veil, joy is coming.

On that first Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary approached the tomb in grief. The One they thought would be their Savior and King had died – a brutal and gruesome death. Mourning and preparing to say goodbye, what a shock for them to find that Jesus was no longer dead, but alive!

What a different shock my family and I experienced yesterday on Easter Sunday. After a normal morning routine, we found our sweet golden retriever Sadie Rose lying lifeless in the yard. There is no other explanation for the cause of her death – her heart simply stopped. Life was taken from her. Life. The Sustainer of life gave her to us as a gift when we needed her. By His word, now she is gone. How does this connect with Easter Sunday? How can we find joy in life when our hearts are broken with such grief in death?

Somehow there is a connection between death and life.

“There is a higher Throne than all this world has known…
And there we’ll find our home, our life before the Throne.
We’ll honor Him in perfect song where we belong.
He’ll wipe each tear-stained eye, as thirst and hunger die.
The Lamb becomes our Shepherd King; we’ll reign with Him.”
(Keith and Kristyn Getty)

Death is not the end. “On this mountain God will remove the veil of grief covering all people and the mask covering all nations. He will swallow up death forever. Adonay Yahweh will wipe away tears from every face, and He will remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth.” (Isaiah 25:7-8)

Christ’s sacrifice of death on the cross was not complete until He conquered death by coming back to life. His death satisfied the wrath of God, but His life completed the punishment that we deserve. Our sins are paid for. It is finished – because of Christ’s resurrected life. Easter eggs and bunnies may symbolize life, but the Resurrection symbolizes life from death, and that is so much more powerful.

On earth we are still covered with a veil of grief. We face the darkness of night. But night does not last forever. If we truly believe that God can turn death into life, we know that a day is coming when all our current earthly darkness and sorrow and grief will be turned into joy.

In our new home, “the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)

The Lord God Almighty will be our light. “The city’s gates will be open all day. They will never close because there will be no night there.” (Revelation 21:25)

Hallelujah! Yahweh our Elohim has the power to turn night into day, grief into joy, death into life!

Categories: Perspective, Spiritual Growth | Leave a comment

Psalm 42

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Sarah

I felt discouraged frequently last week. The refreshing words of Psalm 42 encouraged me this morning. (from the Names of God Bible, God’s Word translation)

El, Elohim = Creator God, El Chay = the Living God, Yahweh = Lord

As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for You, O Elohim. My soul thirsts for Elohim, for El Chay. When may I come to see Elohim’s face? My tears are my food day and night. People ask me all day long, “Where is your Elohim?” I will remember these things as I pour out my soul: how I used to walk with the crowd and lead it in a procession to Elohim’s house. I sang songs of joy and thanksgiving while crowds of people celebrated a festival.

Why are you discouraged, my soul? Why are you so restless? Put your hope in Elohim, because I will still praise Him. He is my Savior and my Elohim.

My soul is discouraged. That is why I remember You in the land of Jordan, on the peaks of Hermon, on Mount Mizar. One deep sea calls to another at the roar of Your waterspouts. All the whitecaps on Your waves have swept over me. Yahweh commands His mercy during the day, and at night His song is with me–a prayer to the El of my life.

I will ask Elohim, my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why must I walk around in mourning while the enemy oppresses me?” With a shattering blow to my bones, my enemies taunt me. They ask me all day long, “Where is your Elohim?”

Why are you discouraged, my soul? Why are you so restless? Put your hope in Elohim, because I will still praise Him. He is my Savior and my Elohim.

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Compliments

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Sarah

I don’t know why I’m so worried about keeping my job. If my principal has anything to do with it, I will still be a teacher at Platteville Elementary. I had my summative evaluation yesterday, where we look at the year as a whole. He didn’t say anything about next year but complimented me practically the whole time.

He is astounded by how much my classroom management has grown since last year – he told me that he just can’t believe it’s only my 2nd year (with a full class). He said I am just a natural teacher and that I am enthusiastic in my relationships with students, parents, and staff.

But the compliment that leaves me in awe of my Savior is when my principal told me that he didn’t know how else to compliment me but to say that I make Platteville Elementary a better place because of my powerful positive attitude. In Christian language that means: “the love of Christ is shining through you and making a difference at our school” – which is exactly what God revealed to me last August when I drove through Platteville to see the sun’s rays streaming down out of the clouds to illuminate the school. (See https://sarah.4jcg.org/2011/08/09/follow-doesnt-always-mean-go/)

And, in fact, it is not me, but God Himself who is making a difference at Platteville Elementary this year. I can only stand in awe and worship of my God.

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