Trusting The Love of God

As kids, my brother, sister and I delighted in summer afternoons sitting on the front porch steps eating watermelon slices held in our hands. Red-hued juice ran out the corners of our mouths, dribbling downward on the concrete stairs. Large black seeds were regularly found in each bite. We spit them out upon the grass. Kiddingly, we joked that if you swallowed a seed, a watermelon would grow inside your stomach!

As children, life was full of simple pleasures. Those days remain in our memories and are good to look back upon with fondness.

Lord Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 18:3)

Children are rather simple. They know when they are loved. Then they trust, willingly, easily, and respectfully (most times).

We must know that we are loved. (1Thessalonians 1:4)

I once asked the Lord for all the love He would give me. He showed me in His Word that He has already done this. God the Father sent what was most valuable to Himself, He gave up His Son’s presence. He watched what His Son went through. Not easy. But God the Father did so out of His great love for us. He gave Jesus.

Isaiah the Old Testament prophet wrote, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) Immanuel means, “God with us.” How great is His love, to send His Son, to be with us, to be even one of us.

This prophecy was fulfilled approximately 800 years later in Matthew 1:23, “Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel (which means, ‘God with us’).”

How great is the love of God! The fullness of God completely and permanently dwells in Lord Jesus. (Colossians 1:19) He is the Trustee of God’s love to us. He intercedes for us. He is the Door to Heaven and to God the Father. (John 14:6)

Jesus did not grow up playing Nintendo, riding a bike, nor eating sushi. He did not have the luxuries of running water, electricity and the internet. He was not spoiled, though He was the Son of God. He came as a servant. He came to lay His life down that we would know God better, His love for us. He came that we would have eternal life.

All of this was done at the Father’s good pleasure, because He loves us.

It was not easy. It was not without thought. It was good.

As God planned in His love for us in the past, with His Son’s life, death, and resurrection, so He continues to plan for our future. Trust Him. It may not be easy. It is not without thought and planning. It is good. Trust Him as a child trusts his loving father.

(C) 2020 Kelly Jadon

Praying Through The Storm's Waves

Sometimes I find myself thinking too much about what is going on around us in the United States. We believers can sense that change is coming, is even upon us. The headlines and news are overwhelming and negative. We can feel isolated, being separated from the body of Christ, friends, and family for so long. This can lead to depressed thoughts.

Depressed thoughts can cycle down into a well of despair. Before I get too far down, I make a few Biblical moves on the chessboard of life.

First, I reach out to a close friend(s) for prayer. You don’t need to necessarily be specific, just text another person whom you know prays and say, “Hey, I need prayer right now.” On Facebook I have seen some of you reaching out, even while struggling with COVID 19 from the hospital.

If you can, talk with this prayer intercessor, explaining how you feel. It’s good to talk to another human being. Where two or more are gathered, in His Name, He is. (Matthew 18:20)

Prayer makes a difference. The prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much. (James 5:16)

Second, I focus on gratitude in my prayer life. Have you ever had to force yourself to sing in church or to smile when you didn’t feel like it? That’s what this prayer is about. Look around yourself and begin to give thanks for what you have—the simple things that do not exist in other Christian cultures—enough food, air conditioning, your family, your job, a home, even your little dog. Give thanks at all times. (1Thessalonians 5:18)

Corrie ten Boom learned to give thanks for the fleas while in a concentration camp because they kept the Nazi guards out of the prisoner barracks, enabling for the sharing of the Gospel before many of the women were sent to their deaths. Many times what we despise is being allowed by God for His higher purposes.

Psalm 22:4 says, “In You our fathers trusted; they trusted and You delivered them.” Trust in God, ask Him to bring you up and out of a deep well.

Ask Him to open your eyes and show you what He’s doing. Give thanks when He does.

Are you praying through the storm?

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CASTING YOUR CARES

(C) 2020 Kelly Jadon

Casting Your Cares

My freshman year in high school, I went out for the track and field team. One of the events I participated in was the shot put. The idea is to take a heavy silver metal ball, like a small canon ball, and push or put it farther than your opponent out onto the green. To put, you must bring the arm holding the shot back close to the neck, turn quickly giving the shot some momentum and then push or put it out and up as hard as possible. The distance thrown is actually measured from the marked circle the athlete must stay inside of out to the first landing spot. It’s not an easy task. My children later carried on our family heritage of shot putting when they were on track and field teams.

The Scriptures tell us as believers to cast all of our worries, anxieties, cares, troubles, you name it, upon The Lord. Why? Because He care for us. (1Peter 5:7) And because most of us don’t fully do this, I think that we do not completely comprehend God’s love for us.

The Greek word for “cast” is epiriptō; it means “to throw upon.” Where is Lord Jesus? He’s up in Heaven. Cast your cares up and out, as you would a shot put, into the Holy of Holies, to land right at His feet. We cannot and should not depend upon ourselves to carry around today’s burdens.

Our problems today stem from what’s happening in our environment, how it affects us, and what the outcome will be. In general, it can be summed up as FEAR.

COVID 19, riots, defunding police, churches burned, ankle monitors, vaccinations, elections. Income, jobs, rising costs, shortage of ammunition, masks, school openings, commercial real estate glut, economy. The list is endless. Give God these concerns. He is Sovereign and Almighty. He can assume our burdens. He wants to take on our burdens.

Putting those burdens on The Lord and away from ourselves takes effort, just as throwing the shot involves utilizing the mind (focus) and the muscles throughout the body working together. This focused effort improves with practice and builds faith. The muscles are like the prayer life. The more they’re used, the stronger they become. It’s time to truly trust Lord Jesus.

Giving God our burdens reduces what we’re carrying around mentally. The yoke of Lord Jesus is meant to be light. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls,” The Lord says. (Matthew 11:29) Let Him guide you through this time of uncertainty. He knows the outcome.

Giving God our burdens increases our rest. We need rest in the middle of this great storm engulfing the United States. “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul.” (Psalm 23:1-3)

Spend time in prayer and the Word. Give God every single care. He will provide. We shall not want. He will give us peace, not as the world gives, but as He gives, even in the storm.

This storm is not just a simple thunderstorm; it’s more like a hurricane. It comes in bands, a little at a time with a light letup in between, but with more to come. The purpose of a storm is to destroy. Surely you can see this pattern already. Remember, God is Sovereign. He is in control. Seek Him.

Do not let your heart be troubled.” (John 14:1) Lord Jesus is our Savior at all times.

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HE IS PRUNING HIS CHURCH

THE BLOOD ON THE BLADE

(C) 2020 Kelly Jadon

The Commitment to Jesus

One summer my son found work selling knives and kitchen tools for a well known U.S. company. He had to reach out to an adult contact list: people from church, neighbors, grandma, and friends of his parents. Not everyone wanted to purchase something. Many politely listened, giving him the opportunity to make a persuasive sales presentation; he even demonstrated the sharpness of a pair of scissors by cutting a penny in half, but in the end, most didn’t buy. Those who did bought out of love for my son, because they knew him as a friend.

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew people became enslaved to the Egyptians. God sent Moses, one of their own, to lead them out of bondage. Through Moses God worked many miracles of judgment upon Egypt. In the wilderness, God performed many life-giving miracles to help the Israelites. Yet, as a people, they regretted having left Egypt and slavery and returned to idol worship. Only two adult men who came out of Egypt actually loved The Lord and entered the Promised Land. Joshua and Caleb had followed The Lord fully. (Deuteronomy 34:10-12; Numbers 32:11-12)

In the New Testament, God sent His only Son, as one of their own to the Jewish people, that those who believed in Him would have everlasting life. Lord Jesus proved Who He was by the demonstrations of His authority. He healed the sick, cast out demons, opened the eyes of the blind, and raised the dead. Many believed. Yet after His death and resurrection, during a time of Roman occupation and persecution, only about 120 true disciples remained as followers. (Acts 1:15) They knew the Lord, had seen His resurrection, and loved Him. They would be the recipients of Holy Spirit baptism. (Acts 2)

Persuasive words may be spoken. Demonstrations of divine authority might be displayed. But true friends of God, and His Son, Lord Jesus, will remain even through dark times, fully obeying Him.

The covenant we have with Lord Jesus is as that of the marriage covenant, “in sickness and in health, for better for worse, for richer for poorer.” Commitment in the mind. Love in the heart.

Without commitment and love, we are not fully following God.

Lord Jesus stated, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)

Those who love Him and keep His commands will move into the abundant life. They will live full lives filled with Holy Spirit. They will walk in God’s power. They will fulfill their lives’ purposes.

The marriage covenant is about responsibility. We must uphold our side of the commitment, even in times of difficulty—the wilderness, even in times of political turmoil and occupation. He will keep His side of the covenant as well: “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” is the promise God gave to the Israelites as they entered the Promised Land. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

The promise made by Lord Jesus to His disciples, His last Words before ascending to the throne, “I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:20)

Are you keeping your half of the marriage covenant with Lord Jesus?

(C) 2020 Kelly Jadon

Is God Stopping You?

Summer vacations as a child in Michigan gave me endless opportunities to be creative. One week, when I was about 10, I decided to be a hairdresser. My sibling marketing team and I created signs for my new business and went door to door advertising to neighbors who humored my endeavor. Later, back at home, I hired a model to practice on, my five-year-old younger sister. She enjoyed the attention until the hairbrush became so twisted up in her white blonde hair that it couldn’t be removed. At that point, upper management was contacted. Mom came to the rescue with a pair of scissors and an out-of-business notice for me.

Sometimes parents must stop us, even when we’re having fun, because we could either hurt others or ourselves. Sometimes they stop us because they think we have better things to do.

God the Father works in the same way, out of love for us, His children.

Jonah was an Old Testament prophet called to go to Nineveh and preach about repentance, but he didn’t want to go. Instead, he ran away from his calling. Jonah found himself on a ship in a terrible storm. At Jonah’s request, he was thrown overboard by the boat’s crew and swallowed by a great fish. Jonah spent three days in the belly of the sea creature, then he was spit out upon dry land.

God had to stop Jonah from running away. He was hurting himself by not facing his future and endangering an entire city of people. In the end, Jonah obeyed God, fulfilled his responsibility and the people of Nineveh repented and were saved. (Jonah)

God the Father loved the people of Nineveh and Jonah.

After the Resurrection of Lord Jesus, He reappeared to His disciples a third time up in Galilee on Lake Tiberius. Peter had gone back to fishing, his original occupation. The Lord spoke to Peter, three times asking him, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Each time, Peter would answer affirmatively. Then The Lord would respond, “Tend My lambs.”

“Shepherd My sheep.”

“Tend My sheep.”

In a gentle rebuke, Lord Jesus was reminding Peter of his calling and his responsibility—to care for the Church. This ministerial work wasn’t performed as a slave, but out of love for Lord Jesus. (John 21:15-17)

Peter went on to become a patriarch in the Church. He was present when Holy Spirit descended and then he himself preached messages adding thousands to the faithful. (Acts 2) Peter also was the person through whom The Lord opened the door to the Gentiles. (Acts 10)

God the Father loved the Church, the Gentiles and He also loved Peter.

When God stops us from doing something we like doing, it’s for a reason. Most often, there is something better and necessary to Him that we must do. Read the Scriptures. Pray. Ask God what is His purpose, His calling, or the ministry He has for you. Following through on a calling of God brings great satisfaction.

(C) 2020 Kelly Jadon