“Tis the season” refers to the holiday season, specifically the time we celebrate from Thanksgiving to Christmas. For many, this is a time of peace, happiness, generosity, and festivities. Most would describe it as a joyous time of year. But then December 26th comes, and it seems like that festive “season” is over. The season has changed. Aren't our lives very much like the Christmas season? There is a time of joy, but then the time changes into something different. Over the next few weeks, we will discuss the ever-changing seasons in our lives and some key points on how to understand them.
As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving this week; I always ask the question what am I (we) am thankful for? The common answers are family, friends, money, possessions, food, and hopefully Jesus. But I think many of us are do not consider the hard or difficulty times of our lives. Most may not contemplate the trials or hardships we have endured. But it is during those hard times we grow, we mature, our faith deepens, and our trust in God develops. I know I have endured many hard times, and I am better for it. I am thankful to Jesus for getting me to the other side of hard.
Every part of the body has its function. It's extremely important that each part continues to operate and function in a healthy manner. If your kidney begins to fail, you can't fool the body or dress it up to look like it's operating fine and healthy. In the same way that we, as the Body of Christ, cannot cover up our mess and dress it up to look "okay." The Church is called to become a Bride without blemish by perfecting the body and becoming more like Christ. This is a walking out process. The way we do this is by edifying one another and speaking truth through love.
Gideon is known for his great faith. In fact, he is listed among the great men/women of faith in Hebrews 11. But how did Gideon get there? In the book of Judges, it describes Gideon as a man that needed God to prove Himself several times; this does not sound like a man with great faith. Gideon’s past and current circumstance played a negative part in his faith toward God. Doubt has crept in, fear changed how he saw God, and Gideon’s faith wavered. But God’s love, patience and grace for Gideon and Israel was greater. God met Gideon right where he was, and helped him heal, be restored, encouraged, and grow in his faith. Let’s see how this story unfolds and how it is applicable to our own lives today.
Over the next several weeks we will spend some time discussing church. Many of us have our own ideas or views of what church is, who church is, and why have church. In fact, many are turned off just by the thought of church, which leads to a disinterest in knowing Jesus. The hope of this series is to provide clarity and revelation of who, what and why there is church. It is so much more than a building or a denomination or a theology.
As those of us in Florida prepare to face Hurricane Dorian, I cannot help but reflect upon the story of the disciples as they faced a storm in Matthew 8. They were fearful and cried out to Jesus to save them! But as we will learn, it is not about the external storms we face, but the internal storm we battle that Jesus came to deliver us from. Jesus and His Word is the only true foundation, and if your house is built on His foundation, you can withstand any storm.
We are continuing with our series: Lessons from Daniel. The life of Daniel, the prophet from the Old Testament, gives a great testimony of a man facing many challenges; everything from attack of his faith, to losing his life. It is a great example and inspiration of how we should live and trust in God. Daniel was truly a man that walked by faith. This is a series that will examine different aspects of Daniel’s life and how it can encourage us as we face many of the same challenges today. In part one we looked at how the world tries to change/reconstruct you, and part two was about the value of your testimony. In part three, we discussed how God is always there; even when we are NOT looking for Him, when we turn from Him, and even in the mist of our sin. God is always there. In part four and five, we discuss how Daniel trusted and obeyed God. An example for all us on living a life of faith and obedience in Him.
After death, when Jesus returned, He did not appear to His disciples as He was prior to death. In fact, they didn't even recognize Him when He returned to them. On the other side of death, Jesus is longing to reveal a newness of Himself unto us individually. We have to stop clinging to just one aspect of who Jesus is and realize there's a lot more He's waiting to reveal to us.
So many times, we are in a place where we are waiting on God to do something in our lives or give us an answer. More times than not, it is with an anticipation for relief in a trial/tribulation or maybe a blessing to improve our lives. Either way, our approach is when the answer finally comes that is when our breakthrough occurs. But can I tell you, it is in the waiting that the breakthrough comes. Because in the waiting is really where the breakthrough occurs. God uses those times to strengthen, to encourage, to equip, to anoint, to educate, etc. See the work God does in your life as you wait on Him, He is working in you. As you go into the waiting season, God is going to work, and when that waiting season ends, your Breakthrough happens. Not in the answer to what you been waiting for, but what occurred in that season of waiting. Waiting is working in you!!!
