Thanksgiving

 Thanksgiving

This is the time of year to celebrate gifts received by showing it in thanks- giving. We have received life, freedom, food, clothing, homes, health, work, and much more. (Thank you, God!) And we can therefore give out of what we have received – love, food, clothing, encouragement, a listening ear, etc.

We may regret choices or mourn losses gone by making it difficult to express thanks. Looking at these there are still many things that deserve appreciation. However, being thankful – like all emotions - is a choice. The promise of Romans 8:28 assures those who love God that all things work together for good – fitting into God’s good purpose for us.

Perhaps you have seen Pollyana? It is an old movie with a young girl who becomes orphaned and then adopted by her aunt. She played the glad game to adjust her attitude toward the disappointments in life. For each situation she found something for herself and others to be glad. It took effort to change her attitude and outlook  into a grateful mindset.

Reflecting on the year gone by, challenge yourself in expressing thanks as a grateful giver to God and then others.

 

Psalm 106:1 ESV Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

by Joy Pedersen

Facing Challenges

 

Facing Challenges

Throughout life, we meet all kinds of difficulties and come face to face with our limitations. They may be physical, emotional, or spiritual – even a combination of all three. We may have tried to confront them by going to a doctor or adding exercise to our regiment. We may have sought counsel and gotten insight. Or we may have prayed and read the Bible, all hoping our situation would change for the better.

As Christians change can foster faith questions and trust issues with our Lord, but the Helper (Holy Spirit) can lead us through the dark valleys. For example, we might wonder:

·        Did God hear my requests?

·        Is it my failure to take care of myself that I face this problem?

·        Does God see me and care about my situation?

·        Am I doomed to be this way for all my life?

These are just a few things that might come to mind for you. I confess, at times they have caused me angst. Today as I write, I am faced with one more challenge. Several heart attacks have weakened my heart, and doctors tell me another heart procedure is needed. It is familiar, but because of the aging process and other issues, this is more difficult to handle physically and emotionally.

Because of the miraculous way God has brought me through past struggles, He will do it again but there are uncertainties. Thankfully His Word is speaking clearly these days offering comfort, hope in Him and my future, and a deeper love and appreciation for my heavenly Father.

Praise goes to my faithful and kind Father. Delight in Him is increasing while watching Him work in the lives of others and myself. Longing for more of Him to meet my every need grows along with confidence in His knowing what is best for me. Some of the verses that especially minister to my heart include:

·        When answers are not enough, I recall Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLV): Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not trust in your own understanding.  Agree with Him in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight.

·        When it feels like there is more to do to change things, I remember Philippians 4:19 (ESV): And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

·        When my mind begins to focus on things I cannot control I am reminded of Jesus words in John 14:27 (NLT): I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

·        When heaviness overwhelms me Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28 & 29b draw me to my Savior and healer: Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest ^… and you will find rest for your souls.

·        When I lose sight of who is supremely sovereign of everything my mind goes to Isaiah 41:10 (AMP) – God’s words: Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].’

           Do I fail along the way? Yes, I forget at times who is in charge with ability and attention given to aid as He did Paul, Job, Moses, and Jesus – but I know who I believe and He is keeping me safe in the hollow of His hand (even when I don’t feel it).  Like Paul in Philippians 1:6 (ESV), my confidence rests in Jesus:

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you [and me] will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

by Joy Pedersen

THE BRAVE AND THE FREE

 

THE BRAVE AND THE FREE

Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.  Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Romans 13:7-8 NJKV

Once again, we celebrate a day of independence here in the USA. It is a time to recognize the brave who have fought for lives and freedom available inside our borders. We pause to celebrate the lives previously or currently defending our liberties. We too recognize the defensive and offensive forces for their sacrifices and are thankful for what they have done and are doing. Battles have been fought to overcome tyranny, preserve freedoms, and defend the weak and oppressed on and off our soil - for God’s justice. The cost has been great because evil continues in this world. Yet, we have benefited by experiencing freedom of ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’ in the face of its chaos.  For men and women who stand in love with conviction defending family, friends, and strangers alike – thank you.

Long ago the great defender, God, fought for our freedom and continues to do so. The original intention of God for this world was to bring glory (praise, honor, and thanksgiving) to himself in our relationship with Him. Then with just one bite of a forbidden fruit things changed. Small skirmishes and large wars have been part of our world since that one rejection of God’s directive and His design to keep us from sin. In exchange for that freedom God’s requirement of us has not changed.

God instructs us to love Him first with heart, soul, mind, and strength and then others (Mark 12:29-30).  As followers of Christ, in some sense we are all soldiers armed with His love. Loving God we serve others defending, providing, and caring for and about those who are in need. This 4^th of July thank God for those who deserve honor for defending you. But also consider – in the year ahead - who you will defend in love. Make your home and heart one that resonates bravery and freedom in Christ. 

by Joy Pedersen

Love and Care

 

Love and Care

For me, Mother’s Day is always a difficult subject to address. Not because I had a flawless childhood (or was flawless) but because I had a good mother. Having listened to many others’ experiences of a difficult childhood, neglect, and poor role-modeling, I know this can be a difficult and delicate topic for some whose mother was not pleasant. How I pray these mother wounds will meet care that heals.

All of us are born needing nurturant love and care - mothers and children alike. These needs go well beyond food, shelter, and clothing. They are provided for or withheld from us by friends, teachers, siblings, media, church, etc. Even the evil in this world tugs at our peace.  Putting all these influences together, healing is beyond ourselves and those we encounter in life.

So, moms and ‘good or bad’ homes cannot take all the blame or credit for our development and outcome as adults. Ultimately, we can choose to react to our past believing what we lived is who we are stuck with. Or we can choose change within by transformation through Jesus Christ and become more than we hoped (Roman 12:2).

Followers of Jesus Christ find perfect love and care in a live relationship with the True God. In Matthew 6:30 Jesus challenges us to have faith in God’s care when he says:

“And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?”

Perhaps your answer has been because it is hard to believe anyone could love you fully?

Then in Philippians 4:19, we are reminded of His care when Paul wrote:

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”

Hope is stirred by believing in the Lord, Jesus Christ and promises are extended to followers of Christ. Every need (not every want) He will supply by His miraculous power. When we choose to believe God according to I John 4:16: “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love'. This is an all-consuming love and care
that has no limits. Letting go of the past pain and embracing the newfound lover of the soul is so healing. This is where mother wounds are healed!

Philippians 3:13-14 (MSG) “Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.”

The only perfect caretaker is found in Christ. His resume:  

Compassionate, Advocates, Excellency referrals, Understands needs even before being told, Effective communicator through the Word of God and provides an interpreter who is the Holy Spirit, Fulfills His promises and meets all needs.

by Joy Pedersen

Here Comes Easter!

 Here Comes Easter!

            For most people in this part of the world, spring and Easter represent new life after a dormant winter. Plant life shows up as buds and blooms pop out and green grass appears proving there is life after death. It is almost like a message and reminder from God that resurrection is real. So where did Easter come from?

Centuries ago, the Jews’ hardened hearts and lack of devotion to their heavenly Father led to subservience in a foreign land. The blood of a lamb on their doorposts brought forgiveness and freedom from slavery. (Hebrews 9:22 [ESV] “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”) Delivery was a reminder of God’s mercy and compassion. Today Passover is a solemn remembrance of that event. He provided a chance for a restored commitment to Him once again.

Easter season in the Christian community is similar to the Passover. Deliverance was provided for all of mankind through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ through His shed blood on the cross.  Jesus, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), has given all of mankind a chance to receive forgiveness from sin by way of salvation. This act paid for our freedom around the time of Passover – our Easter. To all who choose to follow Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, there is hope and assurance of one day being resurrected even as Jesus was for eternity. 

Followers of Jesus, join the family of believers in celebrating Jesus' resurrection on this day. Once enslaved to sin and the devil’s schemes to defy God, we have been released from Satan’s bondage into the loving care of the one true God. This is indeed a day for thanksgiving and praise to the only wise God and forever King Jesus!

I Cor. 15:20-23 (NLT): Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. So, you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.

Time with Purpose

Time With Purpose 

The history of Queen Esther is recorded in the Old Testament of the Bible. She was born a simple Jewish girl, faithful to God and family. Her parents died while she was still young so her cousin, Mordecai, adopted her and raised her as his daughter.

During that time in history, the Jews had been exiled from Jerusalem. They found themselves integrated into a community under the reign of King Xerxes in the area of Susa. It happened that Mordecai reported an assassination plot against the king and so earned favor with Xerxes.

It was also around then that the king unseated his wife and queen for embarrassing him. So he looked for a new queen. Searching for a beautiful replacement, several women in the area were chosen to ‘apply’ for the job.  Enter Esther! After meeting the requirements and being accepted by the king (short version), her influence saved the Jews from being destroyed by an evil man and his plot.

Esther 4:14 reveals Mordecai’s encouragement to deal with an evil plot. It gave purpose and incentive for her placement and role as queen. If she chose not to intervene, there would be devastating consequences, and all Jews would be murdered.

If you stay silent during this time, deliverance for the Jews will come from somewhere, but you, my child, and all of your father’s family will die. And who knows? Perhaps you have been made queen for such a time as this. Esther 4:14 (Voice)

I wonder if she might have had the message Joshua received from the Lord ringing in her heart and mind!

Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9  (AMP)

As we enter the new year of 2024, where do you find yourself in life? Tjoshua’s promise is true for us as well - the Lord our God is with us wherever we go. Have you been separated from family or friends, lost loved ones, are ill, or moved by unexpected circumstances to a new and uncomfortable home or job? Do you sense God’s purpose for your role and position? The challenge in each of our lives demands courage and faithfulness to what God has given to us or allowed for us. Perhaps you have been made _____ for such a time as this.

By Joy Pedersen

Christmas Peace

 Christmas Peace

Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]  
John 14:27 (AMP)

We are barely past Thanksgiving expressing gratitude for the many things that God has graciously provided, and now it is time for Christmas. It is time to celebrate His greatest provision. “Merry Christmas” is on our lips.

With all the adversity in the world, it may make being merry seem out of reach. Distractions abound with busyness and pressure – shopping, partying, entertaining, and decorating. Things will die down after Christmas, but over-spending, loneliness, and/or emptiness –possibly even personal tragedy, medical problems, or unexpected relocation of job or home – interfere with a need for calm - peace.

Jesus made His appearance knowing all our struggles, giving us a clearer understanding of God, showing His deep love for us, and providing a way for salvation. Foretold by Isaiah (9:2-7) of the coming Messiah, Jesus was identified as Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace.  In the ninth chapter of Isaiah some of the purpose for His coming was revealed - giving light in this dark world; defeating oppression; and lifting heavy burdens. Jesus is the One we celebrate at Christmas!

This historic and heavenly event is journaled in Luke 3. Shepherds heard the announcement from not just one but many angels. Sheepherders were invited to visit the baby - to ponder Jesus' lying in a manger. There was adoration, astonishment, awe, and peace around the manger! Their encounter caused them to spread the word of His arrival to other people.

The world needs the Prince of Peace. This Christmas season take time to close your eyes and imagine gathering around that manager where Jesus lay with Mary and Joseph. What would you say, think, feel, and experience? May you know the power of His peace now and year-round as you trust Him and claim the peace that passes all understanding.

Merry Christmas!

by Joy Pedersen