Trusting

Personally, I'm really bad at trusting, which is honestly, very strange. I know many trustworthy people. Somehow, I still manage to doubt -- and unfortunately, I'm pretty good at it. Today I read Genesis 12:10-20. In this story, Abram temporarily moves to Egypt because of a famine. However, like any good husband, he knows men will notice Sarai, his wife, because she's "beautiful." So Abram thinks, "I'll be killed, but Sarai will be spared because the Egyptians will want her for themselves." Thus, he makes a plan: "Sarai, tell everyone you're my sister. That way, you'll not only be treated well, but I'll also live ... and I like living." And what do you know? Abram was right. The Egytians note her beauty -- just imagine the whistling and pick up lines as they pass through the land -- even Pharaoh's officials notice, and tell their Pharaoh of how hot she is, so Pharaoah invites Abram and Sarai to his palace. Abram was treated well for Sarai's sake. But to Pharaoh and his household's surprise, the Lord inflicts disease upon them! Logically, he calls in Abram and asks, "What have you done to me?! Why did you lie to me and say Sarai was your sister? Why did you let me take her, but not tell me she's your fricken' WIFE?! Take her and go!" Then Abram, upon the Pharaoh's orders, are sent on their way, "with his wife and everything he had" (Gen. 12:20).

I find this sort of a humerous story. However, this shows God's grace on Abram, by allowing him, his wife, and everything he had to go on safely! Abram didn't trust that God would protect him and his wife, even though he was just trying to do what was right. I wonder if he asked God what he should do before he left on his trip. I wonder if he complained, saying, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God" (Isaiah 40:27). Who knows? One can tell by his actions that he wanted to protect like any good husband; that's a give in. But to me, it also shows Abram's inability to just trust God that everything's going to be okay. I suppose in today's society it is easy to not trust someone, even though God is more trustworthy than any human being on earth! Do we not know? Have we not heard? "The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom" (Isaiah 40:28). Why don't we trust Him all the time? Why do we doubt that we can't handle something? I love the saying, "If God brought you to it, He'll bring you through it." Even when we make a mistake like Abram, He works through it. If we know Him, we'll trust Him, because He never forsakes those who seek Him (Psalm 9:10). Jesus showed me Proverbs 8:34-36 recently, and I think it's fitting for today's post:

"Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors.
For whoever finds me finds life,
And obtains favor from the LORD;
But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul;
All those who hate me love death.”

I pray I can watch daily for Him; wait patiently for doors to open and close; and lastly, find favor in the Lord. Love never fails. I hope the Creator of love itself can guide me -- and you too! "How he loves us all ..............." I hope I never forget. I hope I trust the rest of my life in His love.

One Day; Three Lessons

I'm definitely not a morning person, but God's an all-day guy :) I woke up to Psalm 143:8 (on Facebook haha). I love his "good morning" greetings. He's awesome. Like I said, God's an all-day sorta guy, so I learned not one ... not two ... but three things today :) and all I did (for once) was stay at home!

Lesson #1: Directly after breakfast, while enjoying my coffee, I had an epiphamy, word for word:

"When you're selfish, nothing is enough. When you're not, everything is too much."

Let's marinate that thought and put it in our little fying pan we call a brain, shall we? ;) As far as I know, that quote is original! When that thought popped up into my head, I realized how very true that quote is.

Lesson #2: John 6:16-21. "Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened. But He said to them, 'It is I; do not be afraid.' So they were willing to recieve Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going."

Today, I saw this in a new light. When we try to do things on our own, it doesn't normally work out. A lot of times, we get impatient, so we set off without Him, fingers crossed, hoping everything works out for the best. But then, a storm arises -- a spiritual storm -- that knocks us down and beats us up until spiritually, physically, and/or mentally, we just can't handle it anymore. We're ready to give up, when Jesus walks into the scene of trial in our life; sometimes, it's hard to accept Him after all that's happened. But He says, "It is I; do not be afraid." But He only comes when we're "willing to recieve Him." To break it down ... The price of setting off in a boat: $10. The price of losing boat pieces and buying new parts: $40. The price of counseling from seeing Jesus walk on water: $60. The rewards of Christ in our lives: priceless. When we accept Him, not only is there a calm in the storm, but eventually, that storm will end.

Lesson #3: Genesis 3:1. In this verse, the serpent asks Eve, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" Look at the serpent's word choice: "Did God really say ... " Interesting, isn't it? This verse specifies that the serpent is crafty enough to place doubt in our minds. Doubt is one of the first steps to unbelief. But as Benjamin Franklin said, "When in doubt, don't." Jesus constantly says, "you of little faith" to people. Even Matthew's account mentions after Peter doubts Jesus, "You of little faith [...] why did you doubt?" (Matthew 14:31) If we have faith that was even as small as a mustard seed, we could tell a tree, "Be uprooted and planted in the sea," and it will obey us (Luke 17:6). If only we had faith ...
Jesus is the most faithful person that ever walked -- or will walk -- this earth. Don't doubt. Instead, depend (on Him).