Stop Asking Why

"Rabbi," His disciples asked Him, "why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents' sins?" "It was not because of his sins or his parents' sins," Jesus answered. "This happened so the power of God could be seen in him." John 9:2–3, NLT

I remember years ago when I asked God "Why?" on a daily basis.  I can only imagine His face as I began yet another conversation with Him about why my world had turned upside down and why everything I knew was lost.  The fact is He did listen and He did care.  The Bible tells me that God hears me when I call and that He has compassion on me.  At the same time I will never understand the ways of the Lord.  I will never know WHY God has allowed certain things to take place in my life.  But one thing I know is that John 9:2-3 is true for I have and continue to live it daily.

Jesus' disciples asked WHY, too, which is normal and completely okay.  Let's make that clear before moving forward.  They wanted to know why a certain man had been born blind.  It made sense to them that it must have been a punishment from God but we read that his disability had nothing to do with sin.  Jesus explained how his situation or circumstances had taken place so that "the power of God could be seen in him".  In other words, God allowed his blindness so the man, the disciples, and then countless others might experience and later hear of His healing power.  I mean, we are reading about it right now!

In our family I am quick to share stories of terrible tragedy so that I can quickly get to the part where God used it all for our good and for His glory.  Brian's heart failure has led to our family's total dependence on God, an outreach ministry for caregivers, a published book, and many lives changed in the name of Jesus.  My daughter's accident several years ago led to a miraculous healing and my husband learning what it was like to be a caregiver.  My mother's knee replacements and breast cancer lead to me becoming a caregiver to my parent and a new level of compassion.  The loss of a job I had for 17 years led to trusting God with my finances and provision instead of myself.

I know you have a list, too.  If not, I challenge you to begin one immediately.  Think about the good that God CAN DO with our hurts, disappointments, and troubles if we only give them to Him.  Instead of asking WHY begin to ask HOW.  I wonder HOW God's power can be seen through you today?

Different or Difference... Your Choice

Mark 16:15 

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

In our world today we are encouraged daily to be "different" which is defined as being an individual unlike anyone else on the planet.  In reality that should actually be an innate action for God created us just that way!  Funny how the "world" which doesn't proclaim the Word of God continues to preach it's truths daily.  God creates each and every human being unlike any other that has ever been nor ever will be.  So we inevitably spend countless hours doing things to ourselves in order to be different when God already did that for us. Hence the reason Jesus continued to compare us to sheep!

He did in fact call us to make a difference in the world around us.  Because of our difference, created especially by His hand, we can do things unlike any one else.  God desires each of us to do things that no one else can do.  The difference I can make is unlike the one you have been given opportunity to accomplish.  The reason is because our experiences, hurts, loves, and giftings are DIFFERENT and what God can use in order to make a difference in this hurting and broken world.

I am a caregiver so therefore my heart can relate and break for those who are fellow caregivers.  I know the pain of receiving bad news from a doctor at the side of a hospital bed.  I know the uncertainty of sitting for hours in a waiting room thinking the worst while holding onto the hope of the best. God has called me to make a difference that no one else can quite like I can.  Don't let this overwhelm you for He never asks you to do it alone.  He doesn't need perfect geniuses.  He needs obedient willing vessels.  Believe me.  He does all the hard parts!

Today realize God has already taken care of making you different now all you have to do is find a way to use those unique differences in order to make a difference for HIM!

Motives

Why do we pray and ask God for things each day?  Why do we go before His throne and bring our requests?  Do we do it with a heart of selfishness or with humility?  Don't worry.  This is not a beat down type of blog today.  I am talking to myself, too.  Recently I took the time through a Bible study I was a part of to take a serious look at my motives when I pray.  I thought about why I was asking God for certain things to happen or to be blessed in certain ways.  I had to ask, "Was it for Jessica or for Jesus?"  

Did I pray for protection so that I would be comfortable or so that I could be a fit vessel for Him to use each day?  Was I praying for financial blessings so I could have the finer things in life or so that I could use what I was blessed with for the glory of God?  Did I ask for open doors of opportunity so that I could just be happy and content or was it so that God could place me where He could best use me?  Man, these questions were powerful and changed the way I was not only thinking but praying.

I was touched by a woman I met not long ago named Ester.  I was invited to her home for a women's Bible study and after commenting on what a beautiful home she had I was blown away by her response.  She shared how she and her husband had prayed for God to bless them with a home where they could host events and groups each week that would glorify His kingdom and bring people to salvation through Jesus Christ.  I knew she was serious for I was standing in her kitchen while she spoke and was a product of that promise.  

Are praying with the same motives Ester and her husband had when they prayed for a home?   Remember, God wants to bless His children but only so we can be a blessing in His name to others. I can promise you that each time someone compliments Ester's home she is quick to tell them her home was a product of prayer and obedience to God.  What a great testimony!  The scripture above says, "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:4  

I challenge you today to examine your prayers and the motives behind them just like I did and am still in the process of doing. 

A Reason For the Mean

Acts 9:1-5

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest  and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.  Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.  And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”  And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

I watch a show called "Once Upon A Time" and you may be surprised to find that my favorite character is the Evil Queen, now known as Regina.  Yes, I know what you are thinking.  Why didn't you choose Snow White or Prince Charming or even Belle.  While they are all wonderful characters they don't have the one quality I have come to endear most about Regina, formally known as the Evil Queen.  They don't have a story of redemption.  I watched this character's story unfold week after week as the writers gave me more and more of her background story.  I learned what events caused her evil spirit to grow and how her past hurts blinded her to the way she was hurting others.  She has now changed for the good and I absolutely love it!  She is now using her power to help others instead of killing them!  Whew! What a relief this must be to all her fellow characters!

Yes, you know me.  I connect everything to the Word of God and aren't we supposed to?  I see many similarities between the character of Regina and the person of the apostle Paul.  Much like Regina, Paul was not always on the side of good and fighting for the "heroes" or followers of Jesus Christ.  Paul, like Regina, experienced a name change when his heart changed.  He was Saul, the enforcer and scholar practicing under the Pharisee Gamaliel, while the character of Regina was the Evil Queen practicing under the dark one, Rumpelstiltskin.   Both Regina and Paul were driven by a revenge on others which often ended in the death of those who they believed came against them.  Paul and Regina both experienced life changing events that helped them see how pointless their actions of evil really were.  This was when the change in both of them began to happen.  It was evident to all those around that something profound had taken place and they had changed for the good.

Paul now used his power and influence for good and to spread the gospel of Christ Jesus instead of using it to kill and destroy those who were Christians.  Like Paul, Regina stopped trying to kill the heroes and instead joined forces with them in hopes of finding her own "happy ending". The most ironic similarity has to be that as a Christian, Paul desired a happy ending as well.  Paul says in Philippians 3:14 " I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."  His happy ending was being one with Jesus Christ in Heaven. 

 Today I pray for each of you to use your own redemptive story of salvation for good.  There is power in your testimony.  The devil will tell you there is shame but that is a lie!  Share your salvation story today and just watch what God can do.

Suffering? Really?

For to you has been given the privilege not only of trusting him but also of suffering for him.

Philippians 1:29 TLB

Just when I think I am doing so much better trusting the Lord with my life I come across another scripture where I am reminded of how being a Christian doesn't exclude me from suffering and hardships.  What is wrong with this picture?  Isn't being a Christian supposed to be all butterflies and rainbows?  You mean real life happens to those who surrender their hearts to Jesus?  Wow!

The fact is that God NEVER lies or deceives us.  We say all the time that we want to hear and know the full truth but in reality we really only want to hear what we desire to hear and nothing more.  The truth is sometimes harsh and cruel.  The truth is sometimes a reality we don't want to deal with because it isn't easy or enjoyable.

This scripture is a great example of God telling us the truth.  He wants us to know what is coming our way.  We have not only a "privilege" of trusting God but also of suffering for Him.  What?  Suffering for the Lord?  Why have we got to face that?  I have one answer and that would be...JESUS!  Think about it.  Jesus trusted and suffered for His Father so why wouldn't we be okay with doing the same?  I mean, Jesus DID die to save us from an eternity spent in hell, right?  

Suffering is never something we would choose but I can't think of anyone else I would be more willing to do it for.  If Jesus can save me, protect me, provide for me, bless me, and love me, the least I can do is trust and yes, suffer for Him, too!

A Step In the Journey

Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

Genesis 39:1–2

I can imagine that after all Joseph had been through up until this point in his story, he thought that God had surely brought him into a blessed place.  He was no longer treated as a slave in Potiphar's house but as the head of the household.  The scripture states that Joseph was "a successful man".  For a time I bet Joseph thought he had finally made it.  What a disappointing moment it must have been when Potiphar's wife began to chase after him and then after being rejected lied about him.

What a horrible day when Joseph was accused of making sexual advancements toward Potiphar's wife and thrown into prison.  How could this have happened if God was with him? He must have wondered, "Why did God bring me to this place if wicked people were going to come against me?" Well, I wholeheartedly believe that everything in God's plan, good or bad in our eyes, is meant for good.  God used Potiphar's wicked wife in order to take him to the next step in his journey.  Had he not been falsely accused and thrown into prison. Joseph would never had ended up interpreting Pharaoh's dream and become the second in command for all of Egypt.  

I believe the theme of this story is true in each of our lives as much as it was for Joseph.  God is with us all the time and we experience His favor upon us wherever we go.  At the same time, things are never perfect.  Things have happened to me that I cannot understand. for I knew I was where God called me to be. Remember, being obedient is NOT easy.  God will allow things to go in what we feel is a bad direction in order to redirect us to a place we would never had never dreamed of.  He will allow evil or wicked people to enter our lives in order to push us to levels we would have feared even attempting to reach for. had things continued to be a bed of roses.  So, the next time you know you are in the will of God BUT are still mistreated or even persecuted, smile and get excited for God may be about to move you to the next step in the journey.

How Much More

...what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Matthew 7:9–11

Caregiver, when I read these scriptures written by the disciple Matthew, I knew I must share what the Holy Spirit shared with me.  I fully envisioned caregivers.  First, we see a picture of a son asking his father for bread.  Many caregivers, much like myself, find themselves caring for a sick child or child with a special need.  Are we not going to do all we can to help them?  Will we not give them what they need to be the best they can be?  Sure we will!

 

Next it shows the opposite which is actually giving our children something harmful when they need our help.  We would NEVER do that so why then would we ever think those thoughts against our Heavenly Father?  I must be honest and admit that I struggle with doubts and worries constantly and for no good reason.  I know the faithfulness and the pure goodness of my Lord yet I allow the outside voices of the world orchestrated by the enemy himself to blur my vision.  

 

When I read verse 11 I am reminded that as much as I desire to provide and care for my daughter it can NEVER compare to what God feels for me.  I am brought to tears for this type of love and thoughtfulness is beyond my comprehension.  God is our ultimate caregiver and His desire is to care for you.  Never lose sight of that.