Moving Forward and Not Looking Back

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 1 John 4:18



I had a conversation recently with someone about Lot's wife and her desire to look back. 
We are often told that it was the loss of her possessions that caused her to look back. I have found myself feeling so sorry for her. How could she put any THING before God? Her family was with her and God was with her so how could she turn around? Is anything THAT important?

I often take these small assessments. I look around at where I am and ask myself if there is ANYTHING that I couldn't live without. If God asked me to let it all go...would I hesitate?

The hardest and longest look was when I came to my children. What if? WHAT IF? The thoughts scream at me. I have to be willing to put God above it ALL. This inner fear sets in. I don't completely understand. I know what God is asking and I believe that He is a God of love and mercy. Believing in these promises should give me peace, but there is still this nagging. I look at my children and I realize that they are not mine. I have two 21st century Samuel's in front of me. Could I be like Hannah? These children are mine, but they are God's first. 

With so many questions I search the Word and find this promise:

"I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:12b-13

God will take care of my family and of me. I can slowly loosen the grip and give it all to Him. They are safer in His hands anyway. By the way, I am in awe that I serve a God that will give me the reigns if I desire to take them. I really don't want them. If I search deep in my heart I KNOW that I NEED God to lead.

Sometimes I think about King David. I am reminded of the Bible stories that I grew up hearing and about how, with God leading, he defeated Goliath. I am also reminded that he had many many many flaws. He dealt with lust, he was a murderer, and he stole another man's wife, and yet...He kept turning back to God. God called Him a man after His own heart.

Am I after God's heart? Do I seek Him? Desire to do everything that leads me back into His arms?
 
I hope my God sees me in that light. That's what I want more than anything.

End

So yesterday I posted the blog entry titled New. Sadly and ironically today I was faced with something that was all about finding an end. Ending something can be a good thing, but in this case it was not. I work for a non-profit in social services. I am not a counselor, but I do hear about some of the extreme cases. Due to confidentiality I do not ask and they do not share names or details, but when there is a crisis we all have to chip in. The crisis came when a person came into the center at their wits end. Everything was shutting down around them. They were on the eve of an eviction. What had sent them so far down this path? Why did they wait so long to seek help? Why couldn't one of the children help? No great answers. The only answer that seemed clear (to this person) was to END it all. They had reached the feeling of hopelessness.

Endless Hope: I sing about it in EVERY concert.
I sing in a group called Message of Mercy. In recent years I have realized just how much pressure is put upon our group because of our name. We are standing under this title-Message-of-Mercy. If there is EVER a time when we do not show true mercy then we are put on the chopping block. I've seen it and heard it happen. The only MAJOR problem with this reality is that it's not REAL. The Message of Mercy does not come from US it comes from GOD through us. There isn't a single good thing about me without Jesus and HIS mercy. The Message is that WE (the group) have flaws and we NEED the Message of Mercy just as much, if not more, than those to whom we sing.

There have been times when I was ready to walk away...no, RUN away from this group. Times can get really tough. The devil presses hard on us. He knows every single weakness and boy oh boy does he press us. Sometimes people throw their hands up and leave. But, as a whole, we have tried to endure. The group has been through deaths, divorces, betrayals, and bitter goodbyes. Every time something happens that shakes us up we have to reassess where we are and try to regain focus. Jesus is the focus. It only works when the focus is on HIM. The ENDLESS HOPE comes from having your focus on HIM and not on ourselves. As soon as we allow self pity, loathing, fear, and defeat to overtake us...we reach an end. Looking at me only leads to more realization of how HOPELESS I am. When I keep my eyes on Jesus I will not sink. When I keep my eyes on Him I can walk on the raging water.

I am thankful for a God who believes in Happily Ever After.

New

A friend of mine just started a new decade of living. While at her party I gave a short vespers talk about starting new. While reading the Bible, in preparation for this talk, I came across SO many Bible passages that talk about something new. Sometimes the word is used in the text and sometimes it's not as blatant, but within the story itself you can see a new beginning springing up. Here are a few stories that I love to read. Notice all of the diversity in these stories. Sometimes it's a man, sometimes a woman, sometimes it's a group of people. The subjects are young, old, male, and female.God meets them where they are and offers them something new. Each person rises to the challenge, but only by allowing their faith to grow. They ALL have taken the big leap. They let go of EVERYTHING they thought they knew to be reality and allowed God to show them a NEW Way.

1. The Flood-God washes the Earth and everything starts fresh.
2. Abraham and Sarah- they welcome a new son (Isaac) into the world. This special child is used in one of the first living examples of the the sacrifice that was yet to come.
3. Esther- She moves to a new city, receives a new name, and becomes the new queen of Persia.
4. Peter (the Disciples)- Jesus calls each of them to a new life, a new purpose.
5. Jesus-He brings a new start and understanding of the Word.

Some other Bible passages:

Jeremiah 29:11 
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Isaiah 43:18-19 
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

John 3:16-17 
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Ephesians 4:22-24 
To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.


Revelation 21:4 
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”


  The Bible is FULL of fresh starts and forgiveness. It's  FULL of hope and peace.


 I am thankful for a God who is all for the NEW and doesn't dwell on the old. He forgives and moves forward.