Tag: joy

  • Showers of blessing

    It rained some yesterday, and more rain is forecast. That’s to be expected this time of year in the Lower Mainland. Today’s image is a leaf I captured after another recent shower.

    Rain can certainly put a damper on things (pun intended). The shorter hours of sunlight can cause my SAD (seasonal affective disorder) to flare up some, and rain makes most outdoor tasks a little more challenging and uncomfortable.

    Still, as I must remind myself, we do need the rain. Water tables are very low, and that’s making it difficult for salmon to spawn. It’s been dry, so there were fewer berries for the bears and other critters to fatten up with for winter.

    PROMISED BLESSINGS

    The thoughts on rain showers took my mind back to a passage I read recently in Ezekiel.

    “I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild beasts from the land, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods.  And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing. And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, and they shall be secure in their land. And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke, and deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them. They shall no more be a prey to the nations, nor shall the beasts of the land devour them. They shall dwell securely, and none shall make them afraid. And I will provide for them a renowned place for planting so that they shall no more be consumed with hunger in the land, and no longer suffer the reproach of the nations. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Lord God. And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord God.” Ezekiel 34:25-31 ESV

    Now that’s a specific promise made in a given context to the people of Israel. Still, it shows His heart towards those He loves.

    Our Almighty, Loving God wants to “send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing.”  Think about that for a moment.

    God wants to bless you. It doesn’t mean you won’t face hard times or challenges. It does mean that whatever you face, God has blessings in store for you as a believer.

    Take some time today to reflect on the blessings God has already given you, and give Him thanks. Know there are more to come.

    Kevin

    SUMMARY

    Rainy days reminded me of God’s promise in Ezekiel 34 to send showers of blessing in their season. Whatever we face, God has blessings in store for us as believers.

    TAKEAWAY

    God’s promise in Ezekiel 34 was made to Israel in a specific context, but it shows His heart towards those He loves, and that includes you.

    God wanting to bless you doesn’t mean you won’t face hard times or challenges; it means that whatever you face, He has blessings in store for you as a believer.

    Take time today to reflect on the blessings God has already given you, thank Him for them, and know more are coming.

    CHECK THESE POSTS OUT

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  • Hope for the walking wounded

    Hope for the wounded spirit

    I stood talking with a Christian acquaintance who said, “God gave me a wonderful opportunity to do something special, and I didn’t take it. Now I’m afraid He won’t ever use me anymore.” 

    I’ve sometimes heard variations on that theme, “I fell back into terrible sin, and I’m afraid God won’t ever forgive me again.” “I wandered away from my faith for a while, and now I’m sure He won’t take me back.”

    Sometimes they are nonbelievers who have never been inside a church. They believe the lie “I’m too wicked for even God to save me.”

    These are ordinary people in great pain. If you saw them, you probably wouldn’t know they feel like they’re dying on the inside

    They might be sitting next to you on a Sunday morning; they might be ministering in your church, or they might even be part of your family. They might be workmates or neighbors. Often, they slowly and quietly slip away from the church, or never come near it because of self-imposed shame.

    When we’re physically injured, we usually get some form of medical help to heal our bodies. When we’ve been injured spiritually, we often run from the source of healing. Satan lies to us and tells us we can’t ever be forgiven. We’ve been hurt in the past by sharing with someone in the church when we shared our pain. Maybe our church doesn’t condone sharing.

    Like a bad physical wound that doesn’t receive attention, a wound to the spirit that doesn’t receive tending just keeps on bleeding. Infection sets in and makes the wound even messier. The pain festers, our spirit weakens, and we fall further and further away from the one who can heal us.

    Our healing comes from the Lord.

    But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 ESV

    I’m going to go out on a limb here and probably offend some people because there are different interpretations for this verse. If you disagree with me, I’m sorry, but that’s life sometimes. This verse isn’t a promise that God will heal all our physical ailments in this lifetime. Yes, He can do that and often does, but it isn’t a guarantee.

    It means that for our sin He brings healing. He heals our wounded and battered spirit. That’s the mot important healing there is, to be made right again with God. That’s an eternal healing not simply a transitory physical healing.

    God heals, and God forgives.

    If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 ESV

    He makes us new again.

    Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

    If you’re one of those people who is wounded in the spirit and wondering if you can ever go back, YES, YES, GOD LOVES YOU. HE’S WAITING WITH OPEN ARMS. RUN INTO THEM.

    Until next time, if you’re wounded in the spirit, run to our great healing God.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    SUMMARY

    I’ve met people who believe they’ve messed up too badly for God to ever use or forgive them again. Scripture shows that no matter how deep that wound runs, God heals it, forgives us, and makes us new.

    TAKEAWAY

    If you’re carrying an old wound over something you didn’t do or a way you failed God, hiding it only lets that wound fester, the same way an untreated physical injury gets worse.

    Isaiah 53:5 promises that Christ’s wounds bring you spiritual healing first, restoring your standing with God, even though total physical healing isn’t guaranteed in this life.

    1 John 1:9 and 2 Corinthians 5:17 promise that when you confess, God forgives you completely and makes you a new creation, so there’s no version of your past that keeps His arms closed to you.

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