#5 of Top Five Posts on my Blog - Hope in Hard Times

Though this is a little early for Advent, I wanted to repeat some of my top five
blog posts. I thought this one was appropriate for the times we are finding this
world in today and hope it encourages you to remember how God sent His
only Son for you. 

Advent Thoughts - Week 2: Hope in Hard Times

Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy:

 “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people.

 He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David,

 just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago.

Now we will be saved from our enemies 
and from all who hate us.

He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant— 

the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham.

We have been rescued from our enemies
 so we can serve God without fear,

in holiness and righteousness
 for as long as we live.

“And you, my little son,
 will be called the prophet of the Most High,
because you will prepare the way for the Lord.

 You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.

Because of God’s tender mercy,
 the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,

 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”

(Luke 1:67-79, NLT)

Birth of John the Baptist, by Tintoretto

A priest in Israel, Zechariah wasn’t a young father filled with his own hopes and dreams. For many years, the dream of having a son eluded him. Yet, he and his wife, Elizabeth, the cousin of Mary, still followed God’s law faithfully. They must have trusted that God knew what He was doing, though they went through great disappointment.

Israel wasn’t going through the best of times either. The Lord had seemed to be silent for many, many years, they found themselves under Roman rule and they awaited the Messiah. Life was difficult. Under Roman oppression they were taxed heavily and their sons and daughters could be whisked away any time at the bidding of occupying forces.

Yet, when Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, gave birth to their son, John, the focus was on God’s own Son, still in Mary’s womb. The Holy Spirit testified to that precious life that Mary carried, a fulfillment of God’s promises. As Zechariah prophesied, “. . . he has visited and redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty Savior . . . just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago.” God kept His promises in what might have seemed the bleakest of times. The Lord remembered the sacred covenant He made with His people, a covenant He cannot break, and sent His Son, Jesus.

Madonna with Child and St. John the Baptist
by Guido Reni

And in the moments of joy, when Zechariah named his son, the Holy Spirit gave him a glimpse of what that special child would do—introducing the Savior of the world to the people of Israel! There would be forgiveness of sins and the washing away of guilt. In a dark time when some waited for death, a deliverer was coming to give them hope and new life!

It encourages me to know that God remembers His people. Even in the hard times, He knows what I’m going through and gives me hope for the future. His promises are still true! If you are God’s child by faith, be encouraged that He has not forgotten you. As promised in Romans 8, He has a purpose in your life for what you’re going through and nothing can separate you from His love!

Father, help us when we hurt and feel left alone, to remember we are yours and You haven’t forgotten us. Please help us to focus on Jesus, even in the hard times, knowing that nothing can separate us from You and your love. Amen.

(Images in public domain. Source: WikiPaintings.org)

I am praying for those in Paris to feel God's comfort and

experience His grace and mercy during this awful time

and also for Christians suffering around the world.

Who are your special prayers for today?

Saturday Spiritual Uplift - Just Rest

Just Rest

 After Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt to Mt. Sinai, God gave his people a set of commandments to live by. The fourth one began like this: “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God . . . “  Having been slaves for so long, they must have rejoiced that they were commanded to take a day off from their physical labor.

Today’s world never sleeps, let alone rest. With a global marketplace and connectivity made possible by electronic communication, someone somewhere is always working. It’s too easy to stay constantly connected. Even on days off, there are emails, Facebook and Twitter feeds to check, people to text and work to do. Smart phones are almost too smart for our good!

I’m not actually picking on the connectivity the Internet, laptops, pads and smart phones have made possible. Used with boundaries, they are wonderful tools. But what I want to compare it to is my own constant thought patterns. It’s so easy for me to think about things I can’t change, worry about the future, about loved ones, etc. Sometimes there is a panic going on in my brain worthy of comparison to global connectivity!

Instead, I need to be giving that panic, the things I am worrying about and can’t fix to the One who is in control. The Lord Jesus Christ said to a weary Jewish people, under the oppression of the Romans, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29, NLT)

My focus needs to be on Him, sharing my thoughts and feelings, giving the Father my worries on a daily or moment by moment basis, leaving them with Him and having the rest and peace He meant for me to have. Of course Jesus’ offer goes beyond that. Have you come to Him to confess your sins, to let Him bear the burden only intended for Him? Jesus’ finished work of His death for our sins and His resurrection is the only hope for our forgiveness, for true peace with God. But it’s a burden Jesus gladly took out of love for us when we didn’t deserve it. 

On top of that, if we are His, He wants us not to have a frantic mess of worries to carry, but the confidence to know He is caring for us and our loved ones. He knows what the future holds and will give us the grace to handle it one day at a time.

It’s time to hit send on those texts and emails of prayer we lift to the Lord and let Him carry them all for us, while we wait to hear back through His word.

Father, help us to give our worries to You each day, to be thankful for each moment of grace and take on the peace You give each day. Thank you for love us so much. In Jesus’ name we ask this. Amen.

SATURDAY SPIRITUAL UPLIFT

 A Little Girl’s Prayer

When I was around 10 years old I was introduced to a gray tabby kitten. Its big green eyes, soft warm fur, affection and sweet playfulness charmed me. I went home to my parents and asked them to let me bring him home. I begged and begged, but to no avail. Mom and especially, Dad, figured that though I promised to take care of the cat, they would ultimately wind being responsible for it. Though I begged God to help me out at that point, the answer was still, “no”.

I’d had goldfish and gerbils, but I was growing up by myself, since my brother and sister were already out of the house. Having a cute little cat seemed like the perfect solution to the loneliness. As time passed, I took up residence at Michigan State University, eventually married and started a family.

My days were filled with caring for my sons as they grew, homemaking and eventually homeschooling. My desire for the little gray striped kitten was long forgotten, like a childhood book closed and shelved for many years. When the boys were still young, we went to look at a litter of kittens, but my husband wasn’t crazy about the idea.

When the youngest of my sons left for Army basic training, my days of being needed as a full time mother were officially over. I was used to having someone else around. Each morning I awoke to an empty, silent house. Even after I had returned to school, I felt isolated. Looking for a job turned up dead ends and my time volunteering at Bible study only filled so much of my time. Even Jack said the house seemed as quiet as a tomb.

My sister had a cat named Tigger, a sleek and handsome gray tabby, who would sit near me when I visited. He evoked the memory of the kitten I had once wanted so badly. However, I had married a man who once had an allergic reaction to cats. Jack had grown up with dogs and I was almost sure he was an official card carrying member of “The Cat Haters Society”. It seemed I was doomed to a cat-less life. Two cat lovers who are dear to me insisted that I needed one to keep me company and help fill the maternal void.

I had secretly prayed on and off that some forlorn little feline would appear at our patio door and I could convince Jack that God had sent us a cat. Finally, I appealed to Jack that I needed another living creature around during the day.

Being merciful, Jack approved and we went to Last Chance Rescue, where I asked for a lap cat. The rescue worker pointed out a little gray cat with black and brown stripes. We took her into a sheltered area to get acquainted. She stood on my lap and reached her front paws across to Jack’s. I knew I’d found the right kitty. My husband survived the two-week trial period and the petite cat, no bigger than a kitten and nearly as playful, had wriggled her way into our hearts.

Photo courtesy of my nephew, John Hensel

I named her Lily-bits, because she is just a little bit of a thing. She became my buddy, following me around much of the time and sitting on my lap when she deems necessary. That desire for a gray tabby kitten had been placed in my heart when I was only 10 years old. Thirty-eight years later God answered that prayer and a cat that needed a home was provided with one. It explains why Lily is so special to me, though she is only a pet.

The Lord’s timing isn’t always our timing. In fact, most often it’s not. Often the answer is “no” and we have to ask for the grace to accept that. But when a prayer is answered the way we hoped, we can be assured the Lord will make it worth our wait. He hears His children’s prayers and cares about the big and little things in our lives. He cared about this little girl’s prayer and He cares for you!

Answer my prayers, O Lord, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful (Psalm 69:16 NLT)

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. (Psalm 37:4 NLT)