Hebrews 11:1, 3 - This trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see...By faith, we see the world called into existence by God's word, what we see created by what we don't see.
THE WORLD DIDN'T DESERVE THESE PEOPLE
Hebrews 11:13 -16 - Each one of these people of faith died---Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah--- not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world.
Hebrews 11:17 - 29 - By faith, Abraham, offered Isaac back to God....By faith, Isaac reached into the future...By faith, Isaac blessed each of Joseph's sons...By faith, Joseph, while dying prophesied...By faith Moses' parents hid him away...By faith, Moses refused the privileges of the royal house; he chose a hard life with God's people rather than an opportunistic life...By faith, Israel walked through the Red Sea...By faith, the Israelites marched around the walls of Jericho for 7 days....By faith, Rahab, the harlot, welcomed the spies...There are many more---Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets....Through acts of faith, they toppled kingdoms, made justice work, took the promises for themselves. They were protected from lions, fires, and sword thrusts, turned disadvantage to advantage, won battles, routed alien armies. Women received their loved ones back from the dead. There were those who, under torture, refused to give in and go free, preferring something better: resurrection. Others braved abuse and whips, and, yes, chains and dungeons. We have stories of those who were stoned, sawed in two, murdered in cold blood; stories of vagrants wandering the earth in animal skins, homeless, friendless, powerless—the world didn't deserve them!—making their way as best they could on the cruel edges of the world.
Hebrews 11:39 -40 - Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were exemplary, got their hands on what was promised. God had a better plan for us...
THESE PIONEERS ARE CHEERING US ON
Hebrews 12: 1 -3 - Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!
Hebrews 13: 1-6 - Stay on good terms with each other, held together by love. Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," we can boldly quote,
God is there, ready to help; I'm fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?
MY PRAYER FOR YOU THIS DAY
Hebrews 13:21 May God now put you together, provide you with everything you need to please Him, and make us into what gives Him most pleasure. All glory to Jesus forever and always! Oh, yes, yes, yes.
Deborah, I really appreciate your comments yesterday. But then, I always greatly delight in reading them as they are saturated with grace and just beautiful. I'm glad you felt the freedom to question the author's words. I don't know how to crucify the HOW question. Sounds like you answered your own question. Self-obsession. Self-love. We all deal with it every day. Thanks so much for asking---I know so little about what it truly means.
ReplyDeleteWould you guys pray for my youngest, Britt. He is very ill with same symptoms that put him in the hospital in October. He went to a doctor yesterday, Sunday, but they have referred him to an otolaryngologist for an abscess on his tonsils. He is in a lot of pain. Pray that we get in today and that he gets some help. He also has a suspicious spot on his face that needs to be checked. We've had so much cancer scare this past year or so with myself and both of my girls. Pray not for relief but for the presence of God in all of our lives. Isaiah 40:4. Thank you so much.
Bev, this whole year you have been an example of one who has had your "eye on the One no eye can see, and [you've] kept right on going." By Faith. (Hebrews 11:27)
ReplyDeleteYou please God. "Anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him." (Hebrews 11:6 ) You believe that.
I'm so sorry Britt is having trouble with his tonsils again. I will be praying for him and the Presence of the One who assures us: "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you..." And I will ask for the Great Physican's healing touch.
Thank you, Bev, for your honest, searching words this year! And to think we will have all eternity to share!
May God's riches blessings be extended to all of the Pearls today!
FG
Yes, yes, yes. The God Who makes us Whole. Praying for Britt this morning for healing and for His abiding presence and peace for you all.
ReplyDeleteI can't thank you all enough for your shared hearts, your faithfulness and love poured out here on this blog. Bev, you've inspired each of us as you walk through tough days clothing yourself with Christ and moving forward with such faith and grace. Your steady and heart-searching writing here on the blog must please Him so much. He loves each of us so.
And it is by faith we know it will be a great eternity sharing heaven with each of you.
Keep us posted about Britt, Bev. I hear your mom heart's cry.
Grace be with you, every one!
Praying for Britt. You truly have showed us a beautiful example of one who has walked by faith. You may not see it or acknowledge it, but it is true. And the beautiful thought that we will have all eternity to be together, even though never having laid physical eyes on one another in this life...in the next life we will all never be separated. Praying for Britt,doctors and you.
ReplyDeleteHebrews 12: 28 -29 "Do you see what we've got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. He's actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won't quit until it's all cleansed. God himself is Fire!"
ReplyDeleteWe are all facing challenges, all dealing with others, family, ourselves. Hold fast, stay firm. Jesus is our rock, our salvation, in this constantly changing time, know that He is always the same, He never changes.
Hebrews 13
Jesus Doesn't Change
1 -4 "Stay on good terms with each other, held together by love.."
Oh wow! Reading your comments in the doctor's office and I was so touched! Britt has tonsillitis and they don't need to do the surgical procedure---so grateful! His tonsils need to come out but not enough time over this break. Will try to make it to the summer.
ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you, thank you for encouraging me! I struck a panic button this weekend thinking we were headed toward the hospital with Britt and we haven't paid off the last hospital visit. But more than money, I feared for his health as though that's the most important thing. Second things. Why am I not more on my face for his spiritual life than physical life? I read James 1 waiting in the office. The accounting term, "count" it joy. I was counting on a HALL PASS not the ticket to suffering. Our flesh just does not want to suffer. I felt like we had had enough for this year. Done. Not right to re-write the script. I am grateful he is going to be fine after steroids and antibiotics. Life reveals more about what's wrong inside me. God is so wonderfully patient and knows our frame and what we deal with. May we all know a little more fully this Christmas what it means to count it joy, no matter what. Thanks for praying for Britt.
Asking for prayers also for Lauren this evening. She has had lots of respiratory stuff going on and went last Friday to the doc. They did a chest x-ray and called today that she needs to return--there is an "opacity" on the x-ray they want to check out. I think we're talking possible pneumonia, but I sure don't like the sound of that word. My mind goes to all the bad places, too. Pray for her healing, please, spiritually, physically, emotionally. They are suppose to take their wedding present trip from us to Disney World the day after Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI'll take her to the doctor Wed. morning. Thank you for your faithful hearts in praying. I really appreciate it more than you can know.
So sorry about Britt but thankful he doesn't need to go to the hospital! Hope he's able to rest some during the holidays and will soon be back in good health.
ReplyDeleteHebrews 13:22-23
"Friends, please take what I've written most seriously. I've kept this as brief as possible; I haven't piled on a lot of extras. You'll be glad to know that Timothy has been let out of prison. If he leaves soon, I'll come with him and get to see you myself."
I kinda giggled at the writer of Hebrews saying he hadn't piled on a lot of extras and had kept this as brief as possible. 13 Chapters!
I write too much.
And it was interesting as I read the end and found out that Timothy had been in prison. I guess I missed that when I've studied Hebrews before. Makes me think this book must have been written by Paul since he and Timothy were so close.
Take this book seriously!
How about take this entire Bible seriously?
Bev, I appreciate your faithfulness to this String of Pearls. I believe you have fought lions to keep us daily in this Love Letter and I thank you. And thanks for your sharing about crucifying the How? I guess I was thinking you were asking that as a question at the end of yesterday's opening post. I was just confused.
Today, I'm tired. My mind is overwhelmed with so much going on. I think I'm a little sad. These next words from today's reading mirror my own prayers for us:
Hebrews 13:18-21
Pray for us. We have no doubts about what we're doing or why, but it's hard going and we need your prayers. All we care about is living well before God. Pray that we may be together soon.
May God, who puts all things together,
makes all things whole,
Who made a lasting mark through the sacrifice of Jesus,
the sacrifice of blood that sealed the eternal covenant,
Who led Jesus, our Great Shepherd,
up and alive from the dead,
Now put you together, provide you
with everything you need to please him,
Make us into what gives him most pleasure, by means of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah.
All glory to Jesus forever and always!
Oh, yes, yes, yes.
Praying for Lauren, Annette. No drama. Praying for her like we prayed for your son at the ranch.
ReplyDeleteLove you!
Oh Annette, I cringed at the word "opacity." I would love to pray for your sweet girl---she has been through so much illness, so much. May her body respond to the medicines and to the Great Physician who is calling her close. My prayers and love!
ReplyDeleteThe steroids gave Britt some new life today!