There Might Be Giants

“Then they told him and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless, the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities cities are fortified and very large; moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan.” Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”

~Numbers 14:27-33

It took a very long time and a lot of patience for Moses to lead the Children of Israel to the promised land. They whined and complained every step of the way, turned against God, disobeyed Moses’ instructions, and generally created havoc even after seeing great miracles along the way. First, they were rescued from 400 years of Egyptian slavery, then they witnessed the parting of the Red Sea, and saw God’s protection when He covered them with a cloud during the day and led the way with a pillar of fire at night. He provided manna for them every day, allowed fresh water to come from a rock, and then rained meat down on them when they complained about the manna. They had everything they needed to get to the promised land, yet it took them 40 years to walk a distance of about 350 miles. And if you figure they could walk only 10 miles a day, it’s still only a 35-day hike. After 40 years of wandering, the Israelites finally reached the Jordan River, the last obstacle to cross to the Promised Land. Yet, none of those who originally followed Moses and Aaron out of Egypt were allowed to cross into the land of milk and honey. Even those who would cross the river were scared to do so. They sent spies into the land, instead of trusting God to lead them into safety. What they saw there was large, fortified cities, food growing everywhere, fresh water, and animals grazing the land. What a difference it must’ve been from the dry, barren land they had traversed for 40 years. Still, they were afraid of the people, who were apparently much larger than the Israelites, and didn’t want to cross over into the land God promised would be theirs. They had already faced many giants in the trip across the desert, and God met them at their need every time, but facing these giants filled them with fear. During the 40 years of wandering, the Israelites also did quite a bit of procreating, and one of those descendants was Joshua, who led the children of Israel across the Jordan to face the giants of the land. It wasn’t that Joshua didn’t feel fear, it was that he trusted God to lead and guide him in his decisions.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).”

We all face giants of one kind or another in our lives; obstacles that prevent us from getting to where we want to be. It might be financial, physical, emotional, or we might just be flat out scared to take the next step. It happens to all of us. One minute everything seems to be going exactly as we planned, and the next, it’s been derailed, and we don’t know where to go next. Life will throw us curve balls when we least expect it, but it also gives us opportunities to move past the detours and get back on track. That is part of the lifelong learning curve we have with God. No matter how off-track the Israelites got, God kept patiently leading them in the direction they were supposed to go. When we trust God knows best, and we choose to follow Him, we can be assured that we will continue in the right direction even when life tosses us around.

“But I, through the abundance of Your steadfast love, will enter Your house. I will bow down toward Your holy temple in the fear of You. Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make Your way straight before me (Psalm 5:7-8).”

Read Psalm 26-31

©2018 Marie McGaha

Let Freedom Ring

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

~2 Corinthians 3:17

As most of us know, the United States of America was originally founded by a group called Pilgrims who had sailed from England to escape threats of death for separating from the Church of England. When the “Separatists” left England, they originally sailed to Holland and lived there for some time. However, life was difficult for the immigrants, work was scarce and poorly paid. They struggled with poverty, and they feared for their children, who were assimilating into Dutch culture and abandoning their Christian beliefs, so, for the sake of their children and the Gospel, the Separatists left Holland and sailed to America. Life was very difficult in the new country and more than half of those who arrived on the Mayflower would not survive the first winter, but those remaining persevered, and God blessed their decision to remain faithful to His Word.

“They cherished a great hope and inward zeal of laying good foundations, or at least of making some way towards it, for the propagation and advance of the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in the remote parts of the world, even though they should be but stepping stones to others in the performance of so great a work.” (William Bradford, Separatist & Governor of the Plymouth Plantation from 1621-1657)

Basing life upon the foundations of the Bible, the Pilgrims worked to make a life of freedom in Christ for everyone who followed. They did, in fact, become stepping stones toward a new country. The fight was not easy, and England did not go quietly. This country was founded upon the belief that freedom was worth fighting for and the blood of patriots seeps deeply into the ground. It eventually led to that momentous occasion known as the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, which, in fact, was based on the dictatorship and censorship of the King of England.

“IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.”

It goes on in great length and detail listing the facts against the king and concludes by severing all ties to England and pledging allegiance to God and country. These people were terrorists in the eyes of the Crown, and radicals according to the Church of England. The pilgrims went against everything they had been taught to stand up for what they believed to be right in the eyes of God. Those who followed laid down their lives for those same beliefs and founded this country on the belief that what was true and right and godly for one group of people was true and right and godly for all people. It is something still worth fighting for, even though now our fight is on our knees.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:2)”.

Read Psalm 21-25

© 2018 Marie McGaha Happy 4th of July!

The Ripple Effect

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

~Romans 5:1-2

Each of us has, at one time or another, done something we’re not proud of. Some of us have done things that caused others harm that cannot be undone, like a stone in a pond, the ripple effects of our actions continue for years to come. Often, those events are like ghosts in our minds, reminding us of the horrible things we’ve said and done, which can be worse than what we have done. No matter what we’ve done, whether in a moment of weakness or as the result of a calculated plan, we must live with the consequences of our choices. Some consequences are immediate, and we get to move on, while others play out over time and can cost us everything we hold dear. “I didn’t mean for this to happen” may be true, but hindsight won’t help us when we’re in deep trouble. Sometimes, we only learn because of what we lose along the way, and often, what we lose can never be regained. Sometimes, those losses are so great that we also lose a piece of ourselves, sometimes, several pieces. Loss is never easy, especially in the realization there is no one to blame but ourselves.

“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ  and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3:7-11).”

If anyone knows about harming others, it was Paul. His sole job was to seek out Christians and kill them (Acts 9:1), and he was present when the disciple, Stephen was stoned to death for his faith (Acts 7:58). I’m sure he told himself it was just his job, he had orders, and there was nothing wrong with what he was doing. And while the Bible doesn’t specifically say that Paul felt guilty, in Romans 7:14-25, he expresses frustration over wanting to do good in his mind but failing in his actions. I think we can all identify with him. I know I’ve thought how I’m going to make a new start, be a better person, speak more kindly, control my temper, and be the person my head tells me I can be. It usually lasts a day, maybe two, before something happens, and I say something unkind, or speak in anger. There is a huge contradiction between what the spirit wants and what the flesh does.

“But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.  And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus (Acts 9:1-8).”

We may not all have the same type of experience Paul did, but each of us will have our own Damascus Road moment. The moment we have to make the choice of where our future will lead, in spite of the earthly consequences. We will be faced with life in Jesus or death in this world. We will have to decide who we are, where we are going, and more importantly, who we want to be from now on. No matter where the ripples of our actions are felt at this moment, no matter what we have done in our past that hurt us and others, no matter where we are sitting right now, we have to decide who we want to be from now on. We can make the decision, like Paul, to cause a different kind of ripple in the pond. The kind that will have a positive affect on our lives and the lives of others.

^“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:8-13).”

Read Psalm 18-20

©2018 Marie McGaha

The World We Live In

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.”

~1 Timothy 4:1-5

There are some pretty weird trends across the world. I can look back in my own life and see when some of them began. The 60’s brought about free love and said marriage isn’t necessary; it’s okay to live together and when you get bored with that partner, just get a new one. Abortion became legal with Roe v. Wade and now nearly 4,000 abortions per day are performed across America. It’s okay to kill a child you don’t want. Sex became a sport instead of a sacred union between husband and wife; same sex couples are considered a normal part of life; using drugs became a recreation; spanking your kids became child abuse, and now, it’s all completely out of control. Of course, most of those things have been going on since time began. Even in biblical days, the pagans tossed their children into the fires as sacrifices to their gods. The debaucheries of life have always gone on but today, they are simply accepted, celebrated, and taught in our schools to accept everyone’s “alternate” lifestyle so as not to offend. What we should all be worried about is offending God.

^“If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.  Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe (1 Timothy 3:6-10).”

Even the diet and exercise market is out of control. While I see nothing wrong with staying in shape and eating right, there has been a huge increase in fad diets, exercise equipment, and quick fixes for those who worry about their weight. And everyone worries about their weight because the media tells us we’re supposed to. We have to be thin to look good. We have to use their product to get there, and they show models in bikinis to prove their point. Models who probably have never used that product, starve themselves, and have surgery to look the way they do. And while we’re all being berated for not looking like a model, and diet sales skyrocket, America has grown to be the fattest nation in the country with record highs of diabetes, heart attacks, high blood pressure and other weight related problems. There is something seriously wrong.

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved (1 Corinthians 10:31-33)”.

Everything in life, it seems, is intent on drawing us away from the truth of God. We must be diligent in our faith, in seeking God’s will in our lives, and keeping our minds focused on Him. The world is full of distractions and contradictions, and if we allow those things to guide us, we are going to be headed down that wide path to hell. There is something very satisfying in knowing the Lord intimately that can’t be found anywhere else. There is a peace that comes with salvation that can filter out the ridiculous world we live in. There is an all-encompassing feeling of love and satisfaction in knowing that no matter what happens worldwide, we are in the arms of Almighty God. What is right and pure and trustworthy will always be right and pure and trustworthy no matter what the world says. Our filter is Jesus Christ and He will never steer us wrong.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (Philippians 4:8).”

Read Psalm 11-17

© 2018 Marie McGaha

The Path of Righteousness

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

~Psalm 23

Some of the most touching and powerful prayers are in the book of Psalms. In King David’s psalms, there is much heartache, heartbreak, fear, and loneliness, but there is also much joy. David knew God was with him no matter the circumstances. He experienced great highs and great lows but his faith that God would deliver him never wavered. We, like David, also experience these same times of great highs and great lows, but are we always sure God is with us? The strength of our faith will determine how we handle the ups and downs of life.

Verse 1: The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.

A shepherd is one who keeps the sheep from danger. He will go to any lengths to fight off wild animals to keep his sheep safe. If we truly believe the Lord is our Shepherd, how much further will He go to keep us safe? The shepherd makes sure his sheep are fed and watered, they have no need to go in search of food because the shepherd provides for them. They want for nothing, and when we depend upon the Lord, neither will we (Philippians 4:19-20).

Verse 2: He leads me beside still waters.

Sheep can’t drink from running waters, it has to do with the shape of their mouths. They have to have a still pool to drink from to satisfy their thirst. Still waters also indicate peace, so when we trust the Lord, He will make sure we have His peace, no matter what’s going on in our lives (Ephesians 2:19).

Verse 3: He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

When we live in sin, our souls are in turmoil but when we have our lives in Christ, our souls are at peace. They have been completely restored by Jesus. He becomes our Shepherd and directs our paths for His name’s sake. Why? So that He will be glorified. We are the glory of God and when we walk the path He has for us, everything we do will glorify Him to the rest of the world (2 Corinthians 13:5).

Verse 4: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

The valleys we walk through can be dark and fearsome. The events in life can make us feel like life isn’t worth living, or if a lot of traumatic events have taken place in our lives, we can live in constant fear that something else is going to happen. But when we walk the paths of righteousness in Christ Jesus, we do not have to fear because He is our comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). When we trust completely in Him, our fears are put to rest.

Verse 5: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

I love this verse. Imagine your enemies all around you, the way they were David, yet, in the midst of the chaos, you sit down to eat the finest meal you’ve ever imagined, without a care in the world. I think it would blow the enemies’ minds! Jesus is like that. He will lead us right through the fire without letting us get singed even a little bit. He anoints us with heavenly oil that marks us as belonging to the only true King, Him! He provides for us to the point that no matter what we do, we can’t contain the provision that is pressed down, shaken together and running over (Luke 6:38). Our Shepherd cares for us, keeps us, loves us, provides for us beyond anything we can ever imagine.  

Verse 6: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Because of Christ’s immense love for us, He pours out His goodness and mercy upon us all the days of our lives. We are His children, and like any proud daddy, He wants to give us everything we need. Of course, we will have trials in life but that’s just how a fallen world works, but unlike those who drudge through, we, the children of the Most High, can walk through life with our shoulders back and our heads held high. If God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)? We have all that Heaven offers through the blood of Jesus Christ and in the end, we will realize the fullness of that love when we step from this life into everlasting life in Heaven. We will dwell in the Lord’s house forever.

No matter what is going on in your life, Jesus Christ is with you and He will not leave you (Deuteronomy 31:8). Your Shepherd is with you and He will protect you.

Read Job 38-42

©2018 Marie McGaha

Something To Believe In

“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:17-20).”

When we are children, our world is confined to the house we live in, our parents, siblings, and perhaps, grandparents or other extended family members. And we are perfectly content in that world. As we grow, our world expands to include school, friends, and outside activities. Our world continues to grow larger the older we get. There eventually comes a point when we want to know what is beyond our city, state, and even our country. It’s a big world and we often feel the need to explore whatever it is we think lies outside of our view. It’s how the world was conquered. If not for those who wanted to know what lay beyond the great oceans, the New World would not have been discovered. If there had never been anyone who looked into the sky and thought, what if I could build a rocket to take someone there, Neil Armstrong would have never set foot on the moon. We have an inborn desire to know who we are, where we came from, and why we are here. People have traveled millions of miles, built monuments to unknown gods, and traversed the stars seeking answers only to find they still have questions. We are all simply searching for something bigger than ourselves to believe in.

“By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible (Hebrews 11:3).”

Belief in anything takes faith. If you go rock climbing, you have faith in your gear and your training so that you don’t plummet to your death. When you jump out of an airplane at 13,000 feet, you have faith that when you pull the cord, the parachute will open. Every morning when you jump into your car to go to work, you have faith that turning the key will start the engine. Everything we do requires some belief that what we are doing will succeed. But what about the biggest questions of all – is there a God? If there is a God, why is planet earth so messed up? What is the purpose of life in the grand scheme of things? Why am I here? Those are questions I’ve had too. And after a lot of exploration and faith in things that did not matter, or were not good for me, I came to the conclusion that no amount of education or knowledge of this world is going to answer those questions for me. Those answers were inside of me my whole life and are completely answered by faith and belief.

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).”

We are born with a God-shaped hole inside of us. I tried to fill mine with everything but God, and I was never satisfied until I filled it with the Word of God. No, I didn’t come to the conclusion that Jesus was the answer because there was suddenly some enlightened place inside of me; I concluded Jesus was the answer because all else had failed. Nothing I had tried in life fulfilled me, nothing had made me feel as if I had the answers, and almost everyone in my life had let me down. Yet I knew somewhere deep down inside that there had to be an answer, there had to be more, and when I was out of answers, God gave me His.

“There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).”

God created everything that is created from nothing. He spoke it into existence. He also gave us that desire to create, to explore, to expand, to reach for more. But He never intended for us to do it without Him. That is where people went wrong. We became more, had more, did more, went farther and created monuments, not to unknown gods, but to ourselves. We stepped outside the scope of creation in the false belief that we could do it ourselves. That’s why, no matter how successful we are or what we accomplish, we still feel unfulfilled. That God-shaped hole can only be filled by one person—Jesus Christ.

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  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 4:14-16).”

Read Job 32-36

©2018 Marie McGaha

Whisper Hope

“When his vision came round there was a young girl on the ground
And he knew she was finding it hard to cope
She never was a fighter until he laid beside her
And gently whispered hope
They got up to their feet and they sang Hallelujah
People in the street were turning around
They looked them in the eyes and they sang Hallelujah
Oh, there's someone here that we have found
They sang, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
We are the voices crying in the wilderness
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
The people in the street started their sins to confess and a chorus of
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Every knee will bow and every tongue confess
And the voice of one crying in the wilderness
Crying out Hallelujah, Hallelujah.”

~Lyrics from Gabriel and the Vagabond by Foy Vance

This is from one of my favorite songs by Foy Vance on his album, Hope. It doesn’t take much to give someone the hope that tomorrow is going to be a better day, or that their life is worth living. For some, life seems to be a series of disasters lined up like thunder clouds in the distance. For others, life seems to come up roses no matter what they do. The disparity between us can sometimes feel unfair and not worth the trouble. But when we look at others to compare ourselves, we are always going to come up lacking. That is part of the problem in our world today; we are so commercialized and constantly inundated with the idea that if we have more, bigger, better, shinier, and newer things, our lives will be better, happier, and successful. In reality, it’s a lie being sold by an industry that is not in the least bit concerned about anyone’s happiness or success, they are interested in lining their pockets with our money. There’s a line from a movie where the actor plays a person who makes commercials: “It’s sell, sell, sell and we’re all going to hell, but here’s a huge check to smooth out the ride.” Yet, in the midst of all our wealth and the mountains of things that we own, the number of people who are in therapy and on drugs for depression and anxiety are at an all-time high. There is something very wrong with our priorities and how we live our lives.

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:4-10).”

I like putting the first words in verse 4 with the last words of verse 10: Rejoice in the Lord and the God of peace will be with you. What we need for peace and happiness will never come from what we can buy, it will always come from what we find inside of us through a relationship with Jesus Christ. That’s not to say we won’t have trials. Our children won’t suddenly become angels, and our spouses won’t become some 50’s TV show idea of marriage, and the bills will still show up on a regular basis, but when we have the peace of Christ within us, those things won’t be our focus. And what we focus on is what we pursue.

^“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.  But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses (1 Timothy 6:9-12).”

When we pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness, fighting the good fight of faith, we are also called to help others. Hopelessness is all around us, but it doesn’t take much to share our hope and faith with those in need. Hope can be seen just as hopelessness can be seen, and it takes so little to share real hope with another person. We are the hope of Jesus Christ to someone who has no hope for tomorrow, so share!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in Heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:3-7).”

Read Job 27-31

©2018 Marie McGaha