Re-Center

When I was teaching, there was an intriguing assignment I gave my students: they had to communicate the gospel message in a poster, and the only rule was they couldn't use any words. This wasn't to be a series of "step by step" instructions on how to be saved, but instead, using one image, symbolically show the gospel. I loved it. They hated it. It was tough, but I still carry in my head some beautiful and incredibly moving images of what the gospel was to them.

So now I ask you... in your own words, what is the gospel message?

...And He Saved Them From Their Distress

Psalm 107

Are you feeling distressed?

"Some wandered in desert wastelands..."

"Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom..."

"Some became fools... and suffered affliction..."

"Others... saw the works of the Lord... their courage melted away... they were at their wits' end."

Which one are you?

Sometimes we feel aimless, lost, needing direction and to be satisfied.

Other times it's our own fault. We feel surrounded by darkness, suffering because we wanted to do things our own way. Or we've turned off our minds and ignored wisdom, and then suffered physically and mentally from it.

Then, sometimes, we're just minding our own business, and are suddenly overwhelmed by a great trial that has brought us to our wits' end.

Read about these circumstances in Psalm 107.

There you will find one action that -- in all of these cases -- we can take and God will completely reverse our situation. Once you find it, see what the writer says God will do every time, and notice how He will do it. Also notice how the chapter opens (see verse 1) and how each of the circumstances end the same way. How is this important?

If you don't identify with one of these situations right now, you probably have at some time. Is there some who would like to encourage us with their story? "Give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men." Tell us of the wonderful deeds He has done for you!

Putting It All Together

As I've been discovering lately, anything good, anything worthy, anything right in our lives begins with God. Recalling Romans 5:8, God saved us before we even knew we needed Him. In Matthew 6:8, Jesus tells us God knows what we need before we ask. And James tells us everything good and perfect is from God.

These truths are just part of God's glory.

Do you need hope? You will find it when you see and know God's glory.

Do you need joy? You will find it when your hope is in the glory of God.

So it all begins with God.

And if that is true, what will happen as He grows ever larger in our field of vision? As we seek Him and His righteousness, what new beginnings will sprout in us?

Ask God to grow in your vision today. Ask Him for new beginnings! Then share any assurances He gives you, will you please?

The Joy

Now looking at the last key word (moving backwards) in Romans 5:2...

"We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."

Rejoicing involves joy... it's expressing the joy we have. And joy comes from a God-perspective of our lives. Paul has just been talking about the miracle of faith and how through the simple act of believing, we have peace with God (5:1). This peace, this relationship with God doesn't come through doing the right things or even by obeying rules (4:13). Looking just a bit further down the passage, and we see one of the most amazing statements in the Bible: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (5:8)

What does rejoicing mean to you? How do you rejoice in the present situations you are in right now? Please share with us, if you feel comfortable.

The Hope

(Even though there's another post today, I still want to hear your thoughts about God's glory!)

Still working on Romans 5:2

I suppose most humans have some kind of hope in their lives... in my own life, I've hoped in doctors to help me get better, in my husband and family to love and support me, and in a future where all are well and happy. If I didn't think these things would happen, what would be the point of hoping? Problem is, there's no guarantee they will. Doctors have messed up, and even though my life has been blessed with love and well-being, unthinkable things could happen and that hope could be shattered.

As we see in Hebrews 11:1, hope is a vital part of faith. In faith, there is "the assurance of things hoped for"... Stop and think about that for a moment. The ASSURANCE of things hoped for. No possibility of a hope being shattered...

So what kind of unshatterable hope do you have?

Look back at yesterday's post, and the definition you hold of God's glory...

Would some of you share with us what hope you have?

The Glory

Romans 5:2

"And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."

I was reading the larger passage this verse comes from and kept coming back to this little sentence at the end of verse two. Normally, it seems like a pretty easy verse to understand and say "yes, of course" to, but I didn't feel like I completely understood it... and it's not exactly a difficult statement. So do you mind if we take a closer look? (Best to start of small and simple...)

For some reason, it was the last bit of that sentence -- the thing that gives us hope -- that made me think:

What is "the glory of God"? Why does it give us hope -- a hope we can rejoice in?

To help you think through this, here are some other verses that talk about God's glory:

Exodus 15:11
Psalm 19:1
Psalm 72:19
Romans 3:23
Exodus 33:18

(these links will take you to an online Bible... you can use the buttons above the verse to see the next verse, previous verse, or the whole chapter so you can read it in it's context... or just look them up in your own Bible!)

Please pray for God to give you wisdom, read through these verses, and then leave your comments below... please don't be afraid to make a comment! We need to hear your thoughts, and what God reveals to you (because He will if you ask!).

PS. To easily see this post with any comments that have been made, simply click on its title. It's also easy to add your own comment from there.

Let's Begin

Okay, this is just a test to see how things will work. I miss digging into the word with friends, and I am hoping this will prove to be just as encouraging as meeting face to face.

Almost daily, I will try to post some scripture, and some thoughts and questions. But I want to hear from you too! I need to hear what God is revealing to you, as do others, so please don't let me be the only voice here (oh, how frightening!). Ask God to fill you and us with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. (Col. 1:9) Pray with me about this place. It needs to be simply a tool for God. It needs His blessing, and we need His Spirit to teach us.