Category: Hope

THE Bridge; not just a bridge

Seek Jesus, heed the Holy Spirit and skip joyfully to all that the Father has for you.

Meditation Thought: “But I have not come of my own accord; he who sent me is true, and him you do not know. I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.” (John 7:28-29)

God the Father is so far beyond human concepts of fatherhood that it is difficult to know Him. So He sent Jesus! Jesus is the bridge. He bridges the ‘credibility gap’, the ‘wisdom gap’ – most of all – the ‘love gap’.

Picture your joy in realizing that you do not have to remain marooned in a limited physical, difficult environment – lonely, confused and ignorant. You have come upon a bridge: a sturdy, easily crossed bridge which leads to a new kingdom. A place to dwell in peace, in love, in joy – dreams fulfilled. An exciting, interesting place!

You are on the bridge – and even to be this far brings hope and pleasure, even though some old problems remain from the former environment. Don’t look back – and don’t look down – look ahead. Look ahead to the Kingdom which has been described in such glowing terms throughout scripture.

If you find you’ve turned back; back to old ways and old thinking: stop! pray! Seek the Father’s will and the sturdy bridge beneath you, to turn yourself around, moving once again towards the promised Kingdom.

You will find others on the bridge. Encourage them! Be encouraged! Seek Jesus, heed the Holy Spirit and skip joyfully to all that the Father has for you.

Jesus’ Job Description for Us

Love from someone and love for someone both cast out fear.

Meditation Thought: “‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’ Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.’” (John 6:28-29)

If you believe in he whom God has sent (Jesus) to show you the way of life – which you were meant to take for your fulfillment and your joy – you will then desire to follow the pattern of his life: trusting in the Father; obedience to the Father and such love that all selfishness is eliminated as the joy of serving and observing the transformed lives as a result of that serving becomes natural and total.

What appears to the selfish ego as sacrifice and distasteful is the very light that reveals the kingdom beyond the more easily seen world. It is in the kingdom-revealed knowledge that one becomes a follower of Christ’s ways. It is possible to observe Christ’s ways from the viewpoint of the world, but it is only possible to emulate them through the viewpoint of the kingdom.

“Perfect love casts out fear.” Love from someone and love for someone both cast out fear. And when the love is flowing freely, this is the force that clears out sin and rebellion, that promotes health and healing, that produces joy and beauty and appreciation.

Unity of Spirit

You need not fear anything, or fret about anything, so long as you believe that My power is sufficient for you. Is the greatest power in the universe sufficient for you?

Meditation Thought: “To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure; their very minds and consciences are corrupted.” (Titus 1:15)

“The way to have purity in your life is be be pure. You be pure through the constant purifying stream of the Holy Spirit. This pure stream sustains you, refreshes you, cleanses you – if by your will, you allow it to flow into your being.

Seek to be pure and holy – not through stress of trying to work this out as your own accomplishment – but by simple faith that your loving Father has provided the way for you, through belief in Jesus as Lord and Savior, and as present strength, helper and guide in the form of the Holy Spirit.

We are one in spirit; we dwell together in unity of spirit, mind, conscience and purpose when you desire this and seek it. You need not fear anything, or fret about anything, so long as you believe that My power is sufficient for you. Is the greatest power in the universe sufficient for you?”

Release Your Burdens & Rejoice

O, Little One, My beloved child, My precious lamb – I would, I did, lay down my life that you may live. You are my beloved, my pride and joy.

Meditation Thought:  “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

“Yield yourself to Me – including your emotions and your desires. When you absorb My word, do My works of kindness and love, rejoice in the Spirit and seek Me as your constant companion, you can trust that I will provide the emotions which are pleasing to you and the fulfillment of your deepest longings and desires.

‘My yoke is easy and My burden is light’ (Matthew 11:30) is to be your theme song. When you yield the stress of decisions to Me, through prayer, praise, trust and doing what seems appropriate without fretting, you then put into operation My grace and My strength. I cannot take your burdens unless you let go of them as I reach for them.

I will not violate your free will. No, even I, who created you, who created the marvels of the universe, will not force you to do My bidding. Does this reveal to you the extent of your value to Me? Do you have any ides of the joy it brings Me to have you freely listen to Me and believe Me when I say I love you and seek good for you in all circumstances? (Romans 8:28)

O, Little One, My beloved child, My precious lamb – I would, I did, lay down my life that you may live – truly live – not just exist. This is who you are – a new creature in Christ: My beloved, but more than My beloved, my pride and joy.”

Crushing Evil: The Role of Peace and Wisdom in Our Lives

Evil can mask itself as good to an unsuspecting mind, and especially to unguarded emotions.

Meditation Thought: ” I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” (Romans 16:19-20)

Only by the power of the indwelling Spirit can we know what is good – and what is evil. Evil can mask itself as good to an unsuspecting mind, and especially to unguarded emotions.

To be filled with the Spirit is to allow eternal wisdom to flow into the mind, peace and joy flow into the heart (the emotions), and energy to do good works course throughout the body. Given these conditions, evil is simply not known – it is ‘crushed under the feet’, never being allowed to affect the Spirit-protected body. It is the way Christ lived, and the way the Father would have all of His children live.

When the children realize it is the way we want to live as well, then the Spirit is able to rush into our being – cleansing, renewing, transforming, reforming – doing a complete remodeling job according to the specifications set down at the beginning of creation.

Visions of Delight

Meditation Thought: “Trust in the Lord and do good; so you will dwell in the land and enjoy security. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:3,4)

Lord, sometimes I’m tired, confused
and ready to give up.
Then, as sunshine after a dark night,
Or rest after weariness,
The whole scene changes.
I glimpse You,
And what You would do –
In me, through me, for me.
Excitement mounts,
Energy flows,
I glow within
And sing with joy.
You are my delight.
I have the desires of my heart.
Not the desires I had,
But the desires You give
Once I come to know you.
I am a new creature in Christ.
Being so, I am your delight.
To know this
Brings gladness beyond measure.
I have pleasure – without guilt.
I have creativity – without strain.
I have love – without fear.
I am in harmony with you,
And peace and joy
Reign in my heart.
Hallelujah!

Seeds of Opportunity May be Found in the Weeds

Which means we may have to get dirty.

Meditation Thought: “Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.” (Acts 7:9-10)

“God rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharoah.” God raised Joseph from despair, from a low place, and put him in a place where he could be happy, fulfilled and honored while at the same time helping others. This was a process; it took time.

This is often the pattern. We may not choose to go where we must, to do what we must. Yet in those very circumstances are the seeds of the opportunity God perceived for us. If we are faithful, trustful and work to do our best no matter what the circumstances, then God’s provision for His faithful results in a joyful conclusion.

Embracing Challenges: Faith as Your Strength

Do not fret over what is past.

Meditation Thought: “I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:9-10)

“When you are too weak to stand and to walk alone, I stretch out my arm to support you. Lean on Me! Do not fret over what is past. Challenges will strengthen you and bring you into closer companionship with Me if you seek me in them and rely on my supporting strength.

Our working closely together will enable you to understand Me more clearly and emulate Me more perfectly. You very need of Me focuses your mind and spirit more fully – always this works good! Therefore, rejoice in your need.”

GPS to God’s Kingdom

There is no coercion, for love must be given freely to qualify as love.

Meditation Thought: “nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:21)

The kingdom of God exists wherever it is recognized as existing. When we, who have the capacity to do so, respond to God’s Presence within us, we are transformed by the knowledge of the magnificence of the Whole of which we are a part.

When we recognize that we are a part of a Whole and that the Whole is good – good for us and for others – and that goodness is that Whole’s innate Character and Nature, we perceive ourselves in an entirely new way. We perceive that the kingdom which Jesus referred to is actually within us! – to be discovered there and to be explored there.

We are so accustomed to having outside forces be the influence of our perception and decisions that it is difficult for us to realize that the Force within our own being is available and more powerful than any other.

We look inward in the wrong place: we look to the way we feel, and to the selfish desires of our own heart. We need to look inward to the right place: to the Father, the One who can guide us surely through the maze of life, that the Whole is healthy, as the parts are healthy.

We can find the Father and His kingdom within. Jesus is the key. God constantly urges us, and gives clues to us as to His whereabouts – but He desires for us to seek Him that both He and we are aware that the choice is ours. There is no coercion, for love must be given freely to qualify as love.

Transforming Chaos into Harmony

Harmony out of chaos, health out of sickness, hope out of despair, joy out of grief, and love out of hate.

Meditation Thought: “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” (Ephesians 6:10)

To realize that there is power beyond myself is to have confidence. And to have confidence gives courage. To have courage is to release action. Action causes change. When the power, the confidence, the courage and the action are all working out God’s will, then the change is for the better. The change is “all things working together for good”. (Romans 8:28)

The change is bringing harmony out of chaos, health out of sickness, hope out of despair, joy out of grief, and love out of hate. Grace abounds. Beauty evolves. All of life glows with the newness of the dawn, light penetrating into darkness and revealing Truth: Truth that removes fears which were manifested in the darkness. I can think and speak and move in the confidence of knowing “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life”. (Psalm 23:6)