Much of the world has lived under the regulatory system of the Gregorian calendar since October 1582, and was preceded by the Julian calendar that was introduced in 45 BCE. However, the Eastern Orthodox and some Eastern Catholic Churches still follow the Julian calendar. Both the Gregorian and the Julian calendars are based upon the Sun’s solar cycle.

Comparison Between Georgian and Julian Calendars

The adoption of the Gregorian calendar reduced the calendar drift that was associated with the Julian calendar. The calendar drift was most evident in the Julian calendar as related to the lack of standardization of the equinoxes and solstices because of one day added every 100 years because of the 11 extra minutes per year. The Gregorian calendar adds one day every 3,300 years. Currently the Julian calendar is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar.

There are numerous other calendars being used around the world other than the Julian or Gregorian. Each of the other calendars are used for various reasons that match the needs of those who embrace the calendar’s nuances. Some of those calendars include the following:

• ISO calendar is used in logistics, finance, and software
• Hijri is the legal civil calendar in Iran and Afghanistan
• Hebrew/Jewish calendar incorporates the festivals found within the Bible
• Chinese calendar recognized by mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore
• Korean calendar recognized in both North and South Korea (ancestral rights and festivals)

Another calendar comparison is between a solar, a lunar, and a lunisolar calendar.

Which calendar do you believe would be a better fit for you? Are you better suited to live by the passing of the sun or the moon? Does a liturgical calendar full of festivals and celebrations seem appealing? Whichever calendar regulates your life, we need to remember that God is the “Master of the Universe” and scripture describes how He holds within His hands the times in which we live.

It is He who changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and [greater] knowledge to those who have understanding!

Daniel 2:21

There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

My terms are in Your hands; Rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from those who pursue and persecute me.

Psalm 31:15

We must release our anxiety that often is created by trying to live within a limited amount of time with an overload of activities. Jesus said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is easy [to bear] and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30 AMP).

If you want to know more about how to have God be the Director of your life, let us know!

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Each one of these names are mothers mentioned in the Bible. And there are even more (lesser known) mothers that stood in the gap for the health and well-being of their children in both the Old and New Testaments.

Every one of us are here on Earth because we were born of a mother. Each person’s relationship with their mother is unique. I hope that your relationship
with your mother is a cause for joy. But for some, thinking about your relationship with your mom might evoke moments of sadness or even anger. When we step into the Family of God, we need to allow the Word of God to guide our hearts and minds to understand the importance of mothers in our lives.

A Call to Honor Mothers
We begin with God’s command to value our mothers with love and respect.
● Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the
Lord your God is giving you.”
● Ephesians 6:1–3
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and
mother’—which is the first commandment with a promise—’so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.'”

A Portrait of a Godly Mother
Scripture praises the strength, wisdom, and dignity of a mother who walks with God.
● Proverbs 31:25–28
“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She
speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue… Her children arise
and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.”
● Proverbs 1:8–9
“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s
teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.”

A Mother’s Comfort and Devotion
The tender love and sacrificial devotion of a mother reflects God’s own heart.
● Isaiah 66:13
“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted
over Jerusalem.”
● John 16:21
“A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when
her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born
into the world.”

A Legacy of Faith
Mothers pass on faith and wisdom, shaping future generations.
● 2 Timothy 1:5
“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois
and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”

Mary: The Blessed Mother
Mary’s example reminds us that a mother’s faith, humility, and sacrifice are deeply honored by God.
● Luke 1:46–48
“And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my
Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on
all generations will call me blessed.'”
● John 19:26–27
“When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing
nearby, he said to her, ‘Woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is
your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.”

Closing Reflection:
Mothers who interact within our lives can come in various forms. We may have mothers we acknowledge because they are a biological, spiritual, or adoptive mom. We are blessed, honored, and strengthened by the love, wisdom, and grace of God demonstrated by these mothers. May we be filled with an awe-inspiring mandate to reflect these same Godly qualities to those around us. Whether you are a mother with your own offspring or whether you stand in the gap as a spiritual or adoptive mom, you have a great opportunity to influence individuals who are needing the loving embrace of a Godly mother.

The post What Does The Bible Say About Mothers? appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

However, did you know we most likely grew up not learning a foreign language that has hindered us from speaking it fluently and the ability to immerse ourselves in that culture? Of what language am I speaking? I’m speaking of the Christian Biblical Worldview. Many of us say that is our frame of reference. However, recently I have been challenged to dig deeper into what IS the Christian Biblical Worldview.

The following is an abbreviated explanation of my research on a Christian Biblical Worldview:

Every person has a “worldview“—a lens through which they interpret life, reality, and their purpose. It’s shaped by experiences, education, culture, and beliefs. A Worldview answers big questions like:

• Where did we come from?
• Why are we here?
• What is right and wrong?
• What happens after we die?

A Biblical Worldview is one that interprets all of life through the teachings of the Bible. It hinges on the existence of God, that He created everything, and that the Bible is His authoritative truth.

1. God is the Ultimate Authority

• Biblical View: There is one sovereign God who created and sustains the universe (Genesis 1:1, Colossians 1:16-17).
• Other Views: Some believe in multiple gods (polytheism), an impersonal force (pantheism), or no god at all (atheism).

2. Absolute Truth Exists

• Biblical View: Truth is defined by God and revealed in Scripture (John 17:17).
• Other Views: Truth is often seen as relative or shaped by personal experiences (postmodernism).

3. Humanity is Created in God’s Image

• Biblical View: Humans have inherent value and purpose, created to reflect God’s nature (Genesis 1:26-27).
• Other Views: Some see humans as purely biological accidents (naturalism) or deny any higher purpose.

4. Sin and the Need for Redemption

• Biblical View: Humanity is fallen due to sin, which separates us from God, and only Jesus Christ provides salvation (Romans 3:23, John 14:6).
• Other Views: Some deny sin altogether, believe people are inherently good, or seek salvation through personal effort or enlightenment.

5. Moral Standards Come from God

• Biblical View: Right and wrong are based on God’s nature and commands (Exodus 20:1-17).
• Other Views: Morality is often subjective, based on societal norms or individual preferences.

6. Purpose of Life: To Glorify God

• Biblical View: Our ultimate purpose is to know God, love Him, and serve Him (1 Corinthians 10:31).
• Other Views: Purpose is often defined by personal happiness, success, or social progress.

7. Eternal Perspective: Heaven and Hell

• Biblical View: Life doesn’t end at death; there is eternal life for believers in Christ and judgment for those who reject Him (John 3:16, Revelation 20:15).
• Other Views: Some believe in reincarnation, annihilation, or that there is no afterlife at all.

In contrast to secular or non-biblical Worldviews, a Biblical Worldview is centered on God rather than human reasoning or cultural trends. It shapes how Christians think, make decisions, and interact with the world.

What is the benefit of living a Biblical Worldview immersed lifestyle? I just made a Grandma Video for my grandsons to explain in their language what a Biblical Worldview is. I told them that God loves us more than we know as a perfect Father. A perfect father is absolutely good and never wants to harm his children. A perfect father always wants to bless his children with an environment that is nourishing and supportive. There are family rules that act as a guideline to live within a safe environment. I went on to tell them our choices can take us out of that loving home environment and protection of our father. Our father’s love never changes based upon our “poor choices,” but there can be consequences that we must face.

When we step outside of living based upon a Biblical Worldview, we often open ourselves up to the attack of satan. Satan’s mode of operation is to steal, kill, and destroy. God didn’t send the consequences, it was our choice to live outside the safety of our Father’s protection and that opens us up to the attack of satan. I also explained to them that Jesus said we would always have trouble in this world, but be of good cheer, for He has overcome the world. I told them about this, because there are times we are living a Biblical Worldview life and bad things can happen to us. However, those bad things aren’t caused by God, but someone else’s poor choices outside of God’s safe environment.

Much of our world does not acknowledge God or the Bible as the source of absolute truth. Therefore, a Biblical Worldview is like a foreign language to the masses within society. The Biblical Worldview may be the language many Christians speak, but they may not have a full immersion into the living and breathing aspect of how the Biblical Worldview can and should impact their daily lives.

Just like my experience in Belize with knowing Spanish that procured a successful outcome, we as Christians need to make sure we know our Biblical Worldview language and immerse ourselves in a daily practice of its principles so that we will live in a greater protection by our Father and reflect the TRUTH to those around us that are unfamiliar with the language of God.

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But it doesn’t happen all at once. The calendar saying “spring” doesn’t make winter disappear overnight. There are still gray skies, chilly mornings, and unexpected storms. We want the warmth and light of spring and summer, but it seems as if it will never come.

Our lives sometimes feel like that. We know God is always working, but we feel stuck waiting for Him to answer our prayers, waiting for a situation to be resolved, waiting for a new chapter to begin. So let’s take a look at nature to see what it can teach us about God.

The seasons always change in God’s perfect timing. No matter how long winter lasts, spring will come. The Bible says there is a season for everything and a time for every event that happens (Ecclesiastes 3:1). When we feel that we have been waiting for such a long winter season, remember that God has been working the whole time. The trees and flowers do not panic. They rest in waiting, knowing God will bring growth at the right time.

Growth happens below the surface. In the spring, we do not always see growth. Flowers haven’t bloomed, and the trees are still bare. But growth is happening beneath the ground, and roots are growing deeper.

We may not see any growth in our lives either, but in our patient waiting, God is strengthening us and deepening our trust and dependence on Him. The waiting isn’t wasted time; it is when most spiritual growth occurs. We do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Storms come before blooms. Spring in Ohio means rainstorms (sometimes snowstorms!) and unpredictable weather. But when that is over, we will have flowers, green grass, and new life. Our lives often work the same way. In the storms of life, God is doing amazing things. The storms are not meant to hurt us but to nourish us, to feed us, and prepare us to bloom. When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow (James 1:2-3).

God’s plan is always greater than we imagine. Despite the dreariness of March, we see hints of encouragement – a robin in the lawn, daffodils pushing up through the ground, and buds on the trees. These give us hope for what is coming.

Even if you haven’t yet received what you are waiting for, look for the small signs of God’s grace, goodness, and faithfulness in your life. God is working, and what He does is always bigger than we can even imagine. No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9).

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We as Christians need to begin to see that God does not leave us hanging out to dry in an effort to test us and see if we will make wise decisions to better our lot in life. The wisest choice is to “seek God and His righteousness, and all the things we need will be added unto us” (Matthew 6:33). These “things” don’t have to be material items that can sidetrack us from the true needs within our lives.

Our true needs that might send us over the edge of despair are our needs for safety, health, and peace of mind. The Bible is FULL of encouragement to lead us to the source of hope, as well as the power to provide us with what we need.

Psalm 91 is a vivid picture of God’s provision of hope through many dangers. God rescues us from the snare of the fowler. God protects us under His wings. God fights our enemies. God provides energy for us to keep going forward. All of this provision is because of our trust and dwelling in His presence; not our own efforts.

We need to have a mind shift to trust in God, the unseen, more than we trust in the seen. So many say that is foolish. But Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:27 says, “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world, to confound the mighty things.”

The many Bible stories and Bible verses we have learned over our lifetime, need to now be put into demonstrated power actions that reveal we have our faith in God who is our rock and fortress (Psalm 18:2), and not in the temporal things of this Earth…even though God will provide things we need…homes, jobs, transportation, food, etc. “Some trust in chariots, some in horses, but I trust in the Lord my God” (Psalm 20:7).

That kind of abandoned faith causes us to say, as the words of the song, “I Surrender All.”

Surrendering to God restores us with His authority and power living in us as “Christ the Hope of Glory” (Colossians 1:27). His power moves mountains (obstacles). His power is creative and demonstrated throughout the Bible with examples of providing out of nothing: manna, quail, and water. His power demonstrated the parting of the Red Sea and everyone crossing over on dry ground while moments later drowning Pharaoh and his army. In the New Testament, Paul was saved from death: shipwreck, beating, and snake bite. God says, “Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27). We say God is the same yesterday, today, and forever…therefore we should have that God kind of faith to believe He will use His power to provide us hope. Hope in His love that was so strong, He gave His only son so that we would be brought into His family to dwell (John 3:16).

As we become part of His family, we need to move away from the idea of doing life on our own efforts to the realization that “I can’t do it myself.” We MUST live only through God’s power moving in and through us. That is when we become the Kings and Priests God intended to step out in His Name to do great exploits (Daniel 11:32) to win the lost and to disciple the nations toward His Glory covering the Earth as the water covers the sea (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, Habakkuk 2:14).

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The older I get the more I wonder, “What is God saying through nature?” I used to think it was a crazy idea that God spoke from the heavens because Disney videos portrayed the sounds from heaven as gods or imaginary characters playing 10-Pin in heaven, and I knew that wasn’t true.

God started telling us the heavens and stars were important in Genesis 1:1 when “In the beginning God created the heavens and earth.” Later in verses 3-5 God says, “Let there be light” that separated the light from the darkness and created the first day. This was not the ending of God’s creation of lights. In verses 14-19 on the fourth day God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years…And God made two great lights – the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.”

Now let’s return to Psalm 19. Verses 2-4 tell us what is occurring all around us, but because of our human nature we are so woefully unaware.

V. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.

V. 3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them.

V. 4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.

I ask the question again, “What is God saying all around us that we cannot currently understand?” I find myself listening to the wind blowing through the trees, listening more intently to the rumbles of thunder in the distance, and viewing the clouds, the leaves, and the change of weather with a spoken statement to the heavens, “God, what are you saying?”

In the Bible there are several references of God speaking and those in hearing thought it was thunder or didn’t understand what they experienced.

Matthew 3:13-17: At Jesus’ baptism “as soon as he was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and Jesus saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’”

John 12:27-29: Jesus was telling of his coming death and resurrection to his disciples. Jesus said, “‘Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.’ The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered, others said an angel had spoken to him.”

Matthew 27:32-56: Jesus’ crucifixion records the following nature reactions to his death. “From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli lema sabachthani?’ (which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’)…And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.”

Acts 9:1-7: Saul, a murderer of Christians had a conversion to Paul, becoming the anchor of God’s New Testament. Saul had a life-changing heaven encounter from God. “As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ ‘Who are you, Lord?’ Saul said. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.’ he replied. The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anything.”

What is God saying to us through His nature that surrounds us today? Realize that it is possible that no one else may hear or see what God is telling you. Maybe God’s words to us may be through the reading of the Bible or an encounter with a person giving us encouragement. However, in each of the Biblical examples above, the people who encountered God’s breakthrough from Heaven to Earth were forever changed, and their change impacted the people and world around them. I encourage all of us to ask God, “What are you saying?”

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I’m more of a task-oriented person, so if you give me a job and a deadline, I will usually push to get it done, but I found that after a while, I was reading the words of Scripture as just words to get through. Now, I still think it is a good idea to read the Bible all the way through. God left us one book that tells us about Him and that He wants us to read, and I think I’d feel kind of stupid standing in front of Him some day with Him knowing I never even read it.

But this year I tried something different – I have been reading an archaeological study Bible. If you are imagining boring measurements from a dig site, it is not like that, but there are hundreds of photographs of artifacts and places. You will get an idea of what some ancient tools, seals, and pots looked like and learn how they demonstrate that the stories of the Bible actually took place. Pictures of ancient buildings and fields and mountains near where events occurred bring context to your reading.

Who, Where, Why, and When

But the archaeological Bible does more than explain the archaeology. It helps out with geography, history, and culture too. Maps illustrate the relation of one event to another, often answering the question why something took place where it did. The notes will give you a more complete look at history. It tells you what else was going on in the world at the same time Bible events were happening. And the many footnotes and side articles give insights to the people both of the Bible and their neighbors. Their culture is not ours, and the articles point out what was going on at the time God was speaking to them.

Ancient writers are quoted. These quotes have been found on monuments, carvings, and scrolls – poets writing about kings or regular people discussing regular people. One insert I recently read was text on a tablet from a Sumerian scribal school in which an older student mockingly criticized the work of a younger student – makes even the really ancient people sound just like us!

Slow Down

If you chose to make a more academic study of things, you could. There are notes, concordances, and charts. I don’t; I just use it for my personal reading. The most valuable part of all is that it slows you down. You won’t feel the same pull to rush through to get so many chapters read, but your understanding will grow.

Some examples of archaeological Bibles and similar cultural background Bibles you might want to check out are:

1. Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible (NIV and NKJV) (sampler)
2. ESV Archaeology Study Bible from Crossway (sampler)
3. Archaeological Study Bible (NIV and KJV) This is the one I use, but unfortunately, it is now out of print. There is a digital version, and there are still copies available on places like eBay. (a helpful personal review found on youtube)

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Realizing this darkness is often hard for us to know because we are so engulfed in the world as we know it. However, Isaiah 60:2 describes the world as it is, “Darkness now covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples.” However, God has ALWAYS determined to rescue His creation from the grips of satan and his effort to “kill, steal, and destroy” (John 10:10). The second half of verse 10 has Jesus again declaring darkness to light saying, “I have come that they (creation who believes) may have life, and have it to the full.”

Isaiah 60:1 tells of God’s speaking of light into darkness. God through the prophet Isaiah states, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.” While this is a reference to the coming Messiah, we as Christians are the body of Christ to distribute the light of God to a dark and hurting world.

The first verse of the Christmas carol “O Holy Night” describes the world at Jesus’ birth, but also mirrors the world of today.

Oh, holy night,
The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night
Of our dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world,
In sin and error pining,
Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks
A new and glorious morn.

The key line that jumps out to me is “till he (Jesus) appeared and the soul felt its worth.” As I said earlier, we often don’t realize that we are in a dark world without the light of God. Our hope is in our “soul” finding the light of God, not the acquisition of wealth and things.

God never leaves us in the dark. God ALWAYS introjects light into the darkness. God’s light is the good news of Jesus coming as the Savior of all Mankind. Isaiah 61:1-3 declares:

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion –
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy instead of mourning
and a garment of praise
Instead of a spirit of despair.

This is the “Good News” that God has commissioned us as His children to declare to a dark and dying world. Light penetrates through darkness. Light attracts those who want warmth and direction. Light generates hope of a breakthrough of the darkness that so enslaves us as humanity. Jesus’ light in our life is the true FREEDOM of the “soul finding its worth”. Let us take the torch of Jesus and hold the “Good News” high to draw those who are still in darkness into the light and warmth of God’s eternal plan of salvation. This is the ultimate darkness to light that God provided through His son Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

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Surprisingly, there’s a story in I Samuel that talks about hemorrhoids. You may already be familiar with it. Toward the end of the time of the judges, the Philistines attacked the Israelites at a city about twenty-five miles from Shiloh, the home of the tabernacle and the ark of the covenant at the time. The first day of the battle, the Israelites were soundly defeated. When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders had the idea to send men to Shiloh and bring the ark of the covenant to the battle site so that “it” would save them from their enemies.

When the ark arrived, the Israelites shouted so loud, the ground shook. The Philistines heard the shouting and wondered what the noise was all about. When they learned the ark of Yahweh was there, the Philistines were afraid. And they had reason to be. They believed a god had actually come into the camp – one of the gods who had earlier “struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert.”

But they knew they had to win or be slaves, so they fought hard and defeated the Israelites – killing 30,000 – and what was more, captured the ark of God. They took it back to Ashdod and put it in the temple of their god Dagon, until their god broke falling down before the ark. God not only judged their god, but their people as well. The author said the Lord’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and He brought devastation and afflicted them with hemorrhoids. The Philistines recognized the punishment was from the God of Israel, so they sent the ark on to another city. The same death and affliction happened there and wherever they moved the ark, so that after seven months, the Philistines called all their priests and diviners and asked what to do with the ark.

They told them to send it back to the Israelites – with gifts – but they also warned their fellow countrymen to not “harden their hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did.” Send the ark back now before we get nine more rounds of hemorrhoids and worse. What I want you to notice is that the Philistines knew and were afraid of the power of the God of Israel. They knew and believed the stories of the plagues on Egypt – that had happened in a different country 400 years earlier! The Israelites, apparently not impressed by their own God, had not asked for His help but dragged around the ark of the covenant like a good luck charm.

When I see the sin and craziness going on around us now, I am fascinated by how hard the world, like the Philistines, fights against God, as if they know how powerful He is and need to fight as hard as they possibly can. They go all out and sometimes even throw up their fists in victory, seemingly unaware that God has already won. Let the strength and hope of that knowledge give you peace but also inspire you to bring those fighting so futilely to the winning side.

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You know our children often ask us, “Are we there yet?”  They ask us how high is the sky or ask us how deep is the ocean?  Those questions actually do have answers even though they may be much larger than a small child could comprehend.  We as adults usually know that an answer is available for our children’s questions, but know explaining the answer to the young inquiring minds will be difficult for them to understand because of their lack of experience and knowledge.

However, when we ask the question “How big is God?”, we really can’t conceive that answer for ourselves.  We have to realize that compared to God, we are the young inquiring minds that lack experience and knowledge.  When we read the Bible it says that God is the Alpha, the Omega, the Beginning, and the End.  How do you measure anything that has no beginning or end?

One of my previous pastors, focused our congregation on praying and realizing we have so often view God as having limits, therefore putting Him in a box. The congregational focus was to meet in small groups and pray that God would reveal Himself outside of the box.  We were to look around us in nature and our every experience to notice where God was.  We learned that so often we miss the greatness of God because we might not be looking.  Our expectation is that God is far away and doesn’t take interest in our daily lives.

I’ve been reflecting again on how big IS God?  I was reminded of a song, “How Big is God?” that encouraged me when I was a child.  It was written by Stuart Hamblen.  (A side note: look Stuart Hamblen up and read his biography, it is a very encouraging life story).  The song lyrics push us to focus on God’s perspective of His greatness.  When we remember that His GREAT LOVE sent Jesus to rescue us as His children and to restore the family relationship He intended from the beginning of creation, we continue to fathom, “How Big is God?”

Song Lyrics:

Though men may strive to go beyond the reach of space

To crawl beyond the distant shining stars

This world’s a room so small within my Master’s house

The open sky’s but a portion of his yard.

Chorus:

How big is God? How big and wide is His vast domain?

To try to tell these lips can only start

He’s big enough to rule His mighty universe

Yet small enough to live within my heart.

As winter chill may cause the tiny seed to fall

To lie asleep till waked by summer’s rain

The heart grown cold will warm and trod with life anew

The Master’s touch will bring the glow again.

Science and the Size of God

Now let me blow your mind of how big God IS!  In my contemplation of this question I became aware of a statistic.  With this statistic I truly feel like the little child that lacks the experience and knowledge to grasp the greatness of God’s greatness.  Remember, I am a science geek.

The electromagnetic spectrum is 0.005 of what exists in the universe.  That includes: radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-rays, and gamma rays.  0.005 is five-hundred thousandths…that is a SMALL amount of what exists in the universe.  The light that we can see is visible light and is considered a “smear” within that spectrum.  So, if we are judging God’s bigness on what we can see, we are only seeing a smear, not even a fraction of how big God IS!

I started to think about the scriptures like:

He made darkness His hiding place, and storm clouds a canopy around Him.

Psalm 18:11

He shrouded himself in darkness, in thick rain clouds.

2 Samuel 22:12

There is MORE of what we can’t see, even beyond the electromagnetic spectrum.  Have we unwittingly put God in the box of only what we know or can see?  How big is God?  God is bigger than the universe and bigger than our minds’ can conceive.

I challenge you and me to trust God like our children trust us when we can’t give them the specific answer they are wanting.  We may be asking the wrong question.  The real question may be, “How can I experience you God, in my everyday life in both the big and the small issues?”  This is what my former pastor was challenging us to do.

A minister I listen to exhorts us to know that “God is ABSOLUTELY Good!”  Knowing that God is absolutely good can allow our hearts and minds to be settled that no matter what we see around us, only good comes from God.  Let’s cling to James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”  Also Matthew 7:11, “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who seek him.”

Let’s stop asking as the children do, “Are we there yet?” and just enjoy the ride with God as our Heavenly Father and seek to know him and experience the adventure He has laid out before us.  Remember He said in Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD.  They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.”

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Within that trek for success, individuals are also looking for that perfect spouse, the perfect house, and the perfect everything to fulfill their dreams.  However, I want to distinguish the concept of purpose.  Purpose is different from career or any token of success we may gather along the way.

Purpose is an inward longing that can only be fulfilled by letting it out.  But, how do you find that purpose?  Many individuals may live a lifetime and NEVER find their purpose.  Not having a purpose can lead to a life characterized by chasing after something and everything in an effort to satisfy a deep inner emptiness.

So much of our world today is on “speed-dial” and we miss the quiet moments to reflect on who we are and for what we have been created.  During the time our world was locked and sequestered away I spent much of my time reading, writing, and praying.  I found that the more time I spent seeking God rather than seeking the purpose, my purpose became apparent.  I reflected on my journey from childhood to adulthood and the opportunities and trials that I encountered.  I spent quite a bit of time looking at the path that God had guided me through.  That reflection revealed talents and tendencies that God planted within me before the foundation of the world.

The Bible states in Jeremiah 29:11 (God speaking), “I know the plans that I have for you.  They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.”

What I am learning is that God isn’t into always telling us the full plan up front.  If He did that, we wouldn’t need God.  We also might get impatient as children and ask, “Are we there yet?”  God gives us an adventure.  As we seek more of Him, He reveals more of us to ourselves.  I know that sounds weird, but God is a good God and He is a loving father.

Do you remember having the opportunity to play “Hide-n-Seek” or “Scavenger Hunt”?  Do you remember that whether you were the one hiding or the one seeking in either of those games, you were watching the faces of those with whom you were playing?  Everyone was thrilled for the unknown.

Have we ever thought about God as our Heavenly Father wanting to reveal to us our hidden treasure as we spend more and more time in His presence?  In His presence is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11).  Our number one purpose is to “LOVE God with ALL our HEART, and lean NOT to our own understanding, and in all our ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct our path” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

The Path of God leads to purpose.  Our purpose is to become more like Jesus every day.  As we become “Christ-like” (Christians), then our purpose is to let our lives become a reflection of God Himself.  Our purpose is able to be fulfilled in whatever career we choose.  Whether we are a doctor, a lawyer, a teacher, a nurse, or a parent…our ultimate success is found in the outward expression of LOVE to the people we encounter every day.

Don’t get caught in thinking you have missed your purpose because you didn’t get the right job, finish the degree, or acquire the house with a picket fence and 2.5 kids.  Purpose is more than what you do as a profession; purpose is who you are as a person and how you “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as you love yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39).

Some of you will find that your purpose is demonstrated in acts of generosity.  Others will find your purpose in being a listening ear.  Purpose of God includes “seed planters” sharing the Good News and “harvesters” to usher in new believers to God’s Kingdom.  Purpose is more often found in the little nudges that are triggered in your heart after spending time with God.  The best way for you to really find your purpose is to ask God to reveal the purpose He had in mind for you before you were formed in your mother’s womb.  The Bible states in Psalm 139:13-16 (The Message Bible):

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;

You formed me in my mother’s womb.

I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!

Body and soul, I am marvelously made!

I worship in adoration—what a creation!

You know me inside and out,

You know every bone in my body;

You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,

How I was sculpted from nothing into something.

Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;

All the stages of my life were spread out before you,

The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.

The Bible tells us that when we call upon God He hears us and is faithful to answer us.  However, remember, you probably won’t get a loud thunder clap…but a still small voice.  “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).

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Psalm 18:21 reads, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue”.  This is a parallel to Deuteronomy 30:15, 19; “Today I offer you life and prosperity or death and destruction…I call on heaven and earth as witnesses today that I have offered you life or death, blessings or curses.  Choose life so that you and your descendants will live.”

The creative power of words goes back to Genesis 1:3 when God said, “Let there be light!”  That began the precedent of speaking into existence things that are, out of things not yet seen (Hebrews 11:1-3).  What have we become accustomed to speaking without thinking?  Have we become like the song in Hee Haw, “Gloom, despair, and agony on me?” or the sayings of Job, “What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me” (Job 3:25).

We as God’s children have been given the Holy Spirit as a deposit in our souls (2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5).  The Holy Spirit becomes our teacher and guide to grow in the grace that Jesus’ redemptive sacrifice afforded for us (The Great Exchange).

Paul tells us to throw off every weight that so easily besets (distracts) us from running the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1-3).  Are our words one of those weights that so easily distracts us from the life giving power of God’s Holy Words?  We go back to Psalms 18:21 and Deuteronomy 30:15, 19.  God through the Prophets have instructed that we need to choose life.  Life not only of salvation, but life of the fruit of our tongue.

Every word we speak is a seed.  What type of seeds are we planting with our speech?  Seeds of life or seeds of death.  So often we may not realize the significance and the power our words have on ourself and on others.  Sometimes we just blow it off and say, “I’m only joking.”  Have we ever considered that every word we speak becomes a seed that either God or Satan can take to bring about life or death?

God is absolutely good and provides only perfect gifts of life.  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17). God says, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Jesus tells us about Satan, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

Jesus lived and taught many of His parables in a farming community.  He often talked about the seed or the crop.  We need to take seriously that the words we speak are creating a crop…a crop of life or a crop of death.  Don’t be discouraged if to this point the majority of your seeds have been less than life.  That is why Jesus came and bought back (redeemed) our relationship to God the Father.  That is why Holy Spirit came to be alongside us every step of the way…because in and of ourselves…we can’t make the change.

It isn’t a “mind over matter” or a “I can do better” effort.  James Chapter 3 expresses that the tongue is a fire and “is itself set on fire by hell” (James 3:6).  The only way we have a chance to plant better life crops is to turn our lives over to the care of God who loves us so much He gave His only son (Jesus), so that whoever believes in Him (Jesus) will have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Begin planting seeds of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23) and watch and wait expectantly like the farmers for a yet unseen crop to come to harvest as long as they (we) don’t get weary in well doing and not faint in their (our) planting and watering (Galatians 6:9).  Water those life giving word seeds with the scripture, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing and acceptable unto you O LORD, my rock and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

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                But there is a well-known story in the Bible that takes place after Jesus’s death and resurrection in which His disciples were at one point “overjoyed,” but it seems that was not enough to conquer their fear and doubt. The story is the one we refer to as “Doubting Thomas.” On the evening of the day Jesus rose from the dead, most of His disciples were together in a locked room. The doors were locked because they were afraid the Jews would find them and take them away as they did Jesus. But that night, Jesus came in the room and showed them His hands and side, which filled the disciples with joy. Their teacher was alive!

                But the next week, the disciples were again gathered together in a locked room, apparently still afraid. This time Thomas was with them. He got his nickname because when the disciples who had been at the first meeting told him that they had seen Jesus, Thomas, perhaps thinking they had seen a ghost, said he would not believe until he put his finger where the nails were and his hand into Jesus’s side.

                As you probably know, Jesus again came into the locked room, told them to be at peace, and then spoke directly to Thomas: Put your finger in My hands and your hand in My side. Stop doubting and believe.

He Got It

Thomas no longer needed to touch Jesus. He immediately said, My Lord and my God! Yes, their teacher was no longer dead, but now the disciples, at least Thomas, saw that Jesus was not just a teacher, their rabbi, but God Himself. He was known as a doubter, but he was apparently the first person to understand that Jesus was deity. He was God.

The disciples had thought Jesus was bringing the kingdom, but He had been killed instead. Now they had seen the risen Jesus – they had joy but not hope. They were confused and scared. They had seen Him alive again, but He still wasn’t challenging the Romans. Who was this man they had followed for years? Did His resurrection make any difference to them?

But Doubting Thomas got it. Jesus was God, and that changed things. The disciples no longer needed to be afraid of the Jews or anyone else. In just a few weeks, instead of hiding in a locked room, they were all speaking in public to thousands, preaching to the very people who had killed Jesus. Almost all the apostles would eventually be beaten, jailed, and murdered for the name of Jesus. Back in the locked room, Jesus replied to Thomas, Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. That’s us, you and me. We’re blessed because we have the joy and the hope. We would have doubted too, but we have the Bible which put it all together for us and the Spirit, whom Jesus sent when He returned to the Father. Knowing who Jesus is and that we will be resurrected too, changes us. We no longer need to hide in a locked room but can live and speak without fear, with joy and hope, just as the disciples did.

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Clouds actually benefit the daily cycle of life.  Clouds protect from the burning rays of the sun.  Clouds are like a blanket and trap in the warmth of the sun.  Clouds hold moisture to eventually pour out over the earth to refresh and bring life. Clouds also are used as weather forecasting tools.

When we experience emotional, physical, or spiritual clouds, do we look at the benefits, or only see the dark clouds as ominous and foreboding?  What we need to remember is that behind those clouds, the sun (SON) is still shining.

Jesus said,

“I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12

Jesus living in us gives us the rays of light that pierce through the darkness of our eyesight.  We as humanity are so tied to what we see.  Dependence on Jesus is a walk of faith.  The faith walk is a journey that begins with asking Jesus to take you out of the darkness and bring you into the light.

Many people may not realize or want to admit they are living in darkness. 

Isaiah explains,

“See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.”

Isaiah 60:2

Our daily walk is to believe that Jesus, God’s Son, came to earth, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, rose again, and lives today ALWAYS praying for us to see the LIGHT OF LIFE he provided.

I’d like to share the words of that childhood song I mentioned earlier.  First, the title of the song is “I Found the Answer” as sung by Mahalia Jackson.  The line actually reads, “the sun is shining for me (not on me) each day.”  This song can help you and me remember that JESUS, the SON is ALWAYS SHINING, and He is the ANSWER.

I found the answer, I learned to pray
With faith to guide me, I’ve found the way
The sun is shining for me each day
I found the answer, and I learned to pray.

I was weak and weary, I had gone astray
Walking in the darkness, I could not find the way
But then a light came shining to lead me from despair
All my sins forgiven, and I was free from care.

Keep your Bible with you, read it every day
Always count your blessings, always stop and pray
Learn to keep on believing and faith will see you through
Seek to know contentment, and it will come to you.

I found the answer, I learned to pray
With faith to guide me, I’ve found the way
The sun is shining for me each day, yes
I found the answer, and I learned to pray.

Mahalia Jackson

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1. To give something to someone and receive something in return.
2. A marketplace where financial securities are bought and sold.
3. A conversation or discussion between two or more people.
4. A point where passengers, cargo, or vehicles change from one form of transportation to another.

You have probably experienced each form of exchange listed.  Can you imagine what the number of exchanges is per day worldwide?  I asked the app to tell me.  It replied that based upon the four listed definitions, it could be billions or trillions.

The Great Biblical Exchanges

Did you know Biblically there have been only two great exchanges?

• The first exchange was when Adam traded the Glory of God as his covering and inheritance.
• The second exchange was Jesus redeeming and buying back the covering of God’s Glory and the inheritance God intended for His children.

Every account within the Bible demonstrates God’s interaction with humanity as individuals and as nations.  The Bible proclaims God’s communication in an effort to showcase how Adam’s and Jesus’ choices affect humanity’s lives today.

Many people live day to day without awareness they are living in a spiritual realm governed by God. This spiritual realm is governed by the choices we make regarding our belief or not in God.  Our day-to-day living is a constant marketplace of whether we receive or deny the gift of Jesus’ redemption to buy back our inheritance.  The destination of one’s soul and spirit after the physical body dies is a transition to either Heaven or Hell. This is an example of the transportation of exchange.

What Are the Great Exchanges?

If you are like most stock traders, they never make an exchange without researching the commodity in which they are interested.  Here is a brief overview of the GREAT EXCHANGE that governs the lives of humanity.

Adam and Eve

• Made in God’s Image

“So God made man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

Genesis 1:27

“This is the book of the generations of Adam.  When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God.”

Genesis 5:1

• Communicated With God

Genesis Chapter 2 and Chapter 3

• Administered God’s Authority (Inheritance)

“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”

Genesis 1:28

• Forfeited Inheritance

“The ground is cursed because of you.  Through hard work you will eat food that comes from it every day of your life.  So God sent the man out of the Garden of Eden to farm the ground from which the man had been formed.”

Genesis 3:17, 23

GOD TO THE RESCUE

• We are His Children

“Know that the LORD is God.  It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”

Psalm 100:3

• This is My Father’s World

“The earth is the LORD’s and all that is in it.”

Psalm 24:1

• Plans to Provide for Your Future

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

• Knew You Before Your Birth

(King David speaking of God) “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb….Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

Psalm 139:13-16

Jesus and the Cross

• Significance of ATONEMENT (EXCHANGE)

Definition of Atonement: Noun – Satisfaction or reparation for a wrong or injury; amends.

• Jesus the PERFECT SACRIFICE (EXCHANGE)

“God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood – to be received by faith…”

Romans 3:25a

“For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.”

Romans 5:19

What is Our Response?

Not making a choice is choosing to remain in the separated state from God that was initiated by the transaction of Adam and Eve.

God knew His love would be spurned even before time began.  But, He provided the exchange to align His children with the Glory and inheritance He planned from the beginning.  A choice to believe that God has loved us since before time began is the BEST choice we could make.

When we choose to believe in Jesus’ transaction of redemption, we also now choose to allow our lives to be transformed into His image and reflection of His character here on Earth.  We become part of the Great Exchange and tell others of the unimaginable, but free LOVE gift of being brought into the family of God.

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What Is Lent?

is meant to commemorate the forty days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness, so some Lenten traditions do include self-sacrifice and special acts of charity during this time. Most involve confession and repentance. But for all religious traditions, Lent is a time to prepare for Easter, a time to actively prepare ourselves through Scripture, prayer, and repentance. We know there is nothing we can do to earn God’s favor and His love, but I think the very idea that we can do nothing, that it was all the work of God, sometimes causes us to take it all for granted.

Because we were, through God’s grace, crucified and buried with Christ – with no pain and suffering on our part – it seems easy. And it is:

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.

Acts 16:31

But if we don’t remember what that gift cost, we can also forget its value. We perhaps forget what sinners we were, how desperate our need was, and how great a sacrifice Jesus made for us, not just in His death, but in His very life here on earth.

But the other part of the story, the reason why Lent has an end, is because we were not only crucified and buried with Jesus, forgiven and made righteous, but we were also resurrected with Him into eternal life.

I Can

Attending this new church forced me to think about Lent. Whatever it was in my mind before or maybe what it is for others, it did not have to be for me. The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ are the most important events in the history of the world. Believers, hopefully, are always mindful of this, but it is not wrong to spend a little extra time focusing on Jesus, the cross, His love and sacrifice for us that allows us to experience the amazing unearned and unending joy of Easter morning.

By the time you read this, Lent this year will have already begun, but the number of days doesn’t matter. Use whatever time you can to reflect on what a selfless gift Jesus gave us. The reflection, meditation, and prayer of the days of Lent can lead us to appreciate and value even more Christ’s sacrificial death for us.

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Have you ever experienced something like that? I think on one hand, we’re wired to be drawn to kindness because we’re created in God’s image- our souls gravitate towards the characteristics of God. On the other hand, sometimes our response to kindness is so strong because we’ve either not seen enough of it, or stopped expecting it all together.

One Kind Word

As Christians who desire to lead people to Jesus, kindness is the key. One kind word can open the door to conversation, friendship, and beyond. We can see through Jesus’ interactions with people that He took the time to listen, spent time with them, and imparted truth.  I’ve gathered 8 scriptures about kindness to encourage and equip you to show God’s love through kindness. 

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Ephesians 4.32 ESV

So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them

Matthew 7.12 ESV

So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2.7 NLT

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Isaiah 54.10 NIV

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience

Colossians 3.12 NIV

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

Romans 2.4 NIV

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Galatians 6.10 NIV

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13 NIV

I hope you’ll take the time to meditate on these verses about kindness. You’ve heard it before, but it’s worth repeating: you never know what someone is going through, so be kind.

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Do you ever feel like you’re just barely making it through? Don’t try to make it through hard times on your own strength…lean on the One who promises to be close in times of trouble and to be our strength when we are weak. Meditate on these Scriptures, and this short teaching from David Jeremiah to help you recenter on Jesus and His amazing love for you. 

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4.16 ESV

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9.8 ESV

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3.22-23 ESV

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34.18 ESV

Strength for Today by David Jeremiah

“You and I have the privilege of getting up every morning and spending time with the Lord. None of us know what tomorrow holds, so how do we want to start tomorrow? How do we want to be sure? How do we want to be able to live peacefully, confidently, boldly, productively, fruitfully, tomorrow? By starting off the day with the One who will give us guidance and direction, enable us in every single way. What does He want first? He wants you. Just you alone- no iPhones, no iPads, no computers, and no this and no that and all the things that jam and crowd us. He just wants you. Don’t you think God deserves your undistracted attention? Look at all the benefits of solitude, just you and God:

1. It’ll make your busy days much more fruitful. Why? As you begin the day with Him, and you’re listening to Him, and God is guiding you and leading you because you open your heart and mind to Him, you’re going to be more productive.
2. He repairs the damage. Let’s say you’ve had one of those days and you come home and you think ‘I can’t handle any more of this,’ and what happens? Time of solitude drains all that out. And this idea of ‘I can’t’ and ‘He won’t’ and ‘they will…’ no. Just give Him time. It’s like sometimes He squeezes it out of us. It’s like sometimes He pulls the drain and it just pours out and what happens is we’re free. We’re liberated. That’s the benefit of just being alone with Him. Listen, God’s not uptight. There’s not anything about us He can’t fix and He will fix it if we give Him time. It just refuels us emotionally. He’ll meet you anywhere you’re willing to meet Him. 

He’ll meet you anywhere you’re willing to meet Him. 

3. Solitude equips us to face the tough days. All of us are going to have them. All of us are going to have trials; all of us are going to have heartaches and burdens and things we have to deal with. Solitude equips us to face them confidently and assuredly, without getting all nervous and upset, frantic and thinking ‘God, what’s going to happen?’ It’ll make a difference in your health, it’ll make a difference in your relationships to other people. You’re going to have a sense of peace, and joy, and confidence in your heart that no matter what comes your way, when you get alone with Him, He stills your heart, quiets your spirit and makes you an overcomer no matter what you’re facing in life. There isn’t anything else that can give me all that but time alone with Him. 

“Now I simply ask you this: do you want God’s best? This is the avenue. Do you want life’s best? This is the avenue. Do you want peace in the midst of storms and quietness and joy when turmoil is all around you? This is the answer.” ~David Jeremiah

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“When you look at the original Hebrew, fearfully means “with great reverence and heartfelt interest,” and the word wonderfully means “unique and set apart.” It makes me realize how much love, thought, and concern went into our unique design as God carefully created each of us. We are His masterpieces, walking around with flesh and blood. 

And if we let that really sink in, we can comprehend maybe just a little bit how much He loves and cares for us. None of us is here by random chance. We were knit together with great reverence and deep emotion by our Creator- every fiber of our being. He could have made anything, but He chose to make you– with all your quirks and freckles and personality.”

Melanie Shankle, Everyday Holy (Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, pages 154-155)

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139.13-14 ESV

Many people these days say that animals, plants, and even bugs are equally as valuable as humankind, or that your worth as a person has nothing to do with God. However, we can see a different story in the Bible. In Genesis 2, we read that God formed man from the dust of the ground and “breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.” Genesis 2.7. There is no other creature God breathed His breath into, just as humans are the only creation made in God’s image. 

Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”

Genesis 1.

When you look in the mirror, would you consider yourself a “masterpiece”? God does. Ephesians 2.10 NLT says: “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” To fully absorb what this verse is telling us, let’s look at the Greek word for masterpiece, aristourgima. It means “the most outstanding work of a creative artist or craftsman” and “an outstanding achievement.” Think of how grabbing ahold of this truth could change the way you live; how you might make different decisions. Think of how differently you might treat the people around you. 

“We are a divine work of art.”

CS Lewis

“If Rembrandt’s artistic masterpieces have great, undisputed value, would not God’s one-of-a-kind human masterpieces convey even greater value?”

D Robertson

Our worth as a race is inherent, based on the fact we were created by a holy God. It’s no wonder that as more and more people lose sight of that truth, we see more crime, more hopelessness, more suicide. Look back at the quote at the top…how does it make you feel to think that God created you with “great reverence and heartfelt interest”? Does it make you see yourself a little differently?

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It’s easy for us to forget that the little things matter.

So, you all know we’ve been moving and situating…we’ve had so many things going on. Honestly, just to find my toothbrush is a feat every single day, much less finding all my kids’ toothbrushes. We’re just in that transition period. I was at our house, and I looked at the front door, and I was like, “what’s that?” It was this big, chubby package and I opened it, and a friend of mine from California had sent it to me, and she said, “Hey, I just wanted you to know I love you and I’m thinking about you.” It was a blanket that she and her daughter had made. It had puppy dogs all over it. If you don’t know this about me, I’m a big animal lover. I would have one of everything up in our house all the time if my husband would let me. And I would love to have farm animals, but he’s like, “no- because you would want them all to be in the house, especially when it’s rainy or cold.” And I would. 

So it’s just sometimes a small little thing, and nowadays it’s so easy to let people know that you’re thinking about them. I know you’re like, “I’m busy, Lauren. I don’t have time,” but just the people that mean so much to you, or your friends that you know of that are going through a lot, or maybe someone just comes into your mind and you’re like “Why am I thinking about them?” Stop and pray for them and just say, “Hey! You’re on my heart.” I wanted to share part of a Scripture verse with you, and I’ve heard this Scripture verse, but I’d kinda forgotten about it:

“…a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.”

Proverbs 27.9b

I’m just thankful today for friendship, and I pray the Lord brings sweet friends into your life and people that highlight your day and make you feel special and cared for. The Lord loves us and cares about us so much that He gives us each other to lean on. 

~Lauren Kitchens (Living Life with Lauren)

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