Author: Chad Bandy

Our community has been recently struck by many tragedies. There have been sad stories of “good people” who have been diagnosed with life-threatening ailments, terminal cancer, and unfortunately, a few instances of death.

We naturally question and wonder the purpose of these tragedies.  We struggle and strain to understand how this could happen to “such good people.”  Then, one of the crazy Christians typically chimes in with “Well, it is all a part of God’s plan that (fill in the name) is sick and God is in control.”

Is that true? Am supposed to be ok with the fact that God allowed my friend to be sick or knew one of my family members was going to die?  Why would God want me to suffer, mourn, or be sad?

Honestly, I struggle mightily with this.  What I have come to realize is that faith in Jesus means we are focused on living for eternity and not for this world.  The intense pain and sadness we feel is real and can be unbearable.  Unfortunately, tragedy can drive a person to a very unhappy life of regret, anger, and sadness.  Tragic circumstances can drive us toward God, or unfortunately, farther away.

Jesus says in John 6, “I am the bread that gives life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”  This means if we live a life without Jesus, we will always “hunger” for what life in this world wants us to do.  We want more control, more material excess, more money, more whatever drives us away from our faith in Jesus.  We will never be happy nor satisfied. When we get what we want, we do not need anyone else, including Jesus. When we follow Jesus, he provides “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

Life is hard. Living life without faith can push us to the brink.  Tragedy infuriates us.  Sadness hardens us.  Bad relationships exasperate us.  Frustration and a lack of control create a never-ending cycle of bad decisions and regrets.

The Bible is filled with story after story of disciples, prophets, and characters who suffered heartache, torture, and death living and witnessing for Christ.  The road to heaven is not promised to be easy, without heartache, disappointment, trials and sometimes unbearable circumstances.   I am not here to say I deal well with challenges easily nor can I relate to the tragedies and horrible circumstances some of our friends and family deal with.  Many of you reading this right now have dealt with more than I can ever imagine.

What I have come to learn is that the only way to fulfillment and satisfaction in this life is through the humility of knowing that we are not always in control.  No matter how much we resist and fight that reality, we must ultimately put our faith and trust in the Lord.  In times of tragedy, faith in Christ is the ONLY thing that pulls some people through it.  Knowing that their loved one believes Jesus died on the cross, means they will see them again someday, if they too believe.  I am saddened to think of friends and family that leave this world, with their husbands, wives, or young children not knowing or believing they will ever see their loved one again.  To me, that is truly death.

As a Christian, I believe life in temporary.  The pain, trials, and suffering prepare and lead us to a relationship with Jesus.  My worst fear is that people who are suffering do not have a loved one, friend, or neighbor who reach out to witness or invite them to learn more about Jesus.  So many people struggle, and they have not been introduced to Jesus.   What I have come to understand is that learning about Jesus is a journey.  There are layers upon layers of learning that are strengthened when I devote regular time to listen, learn and pray.  I was never able to build a strong relationship with my Savior through a “drive by” relationship by attending church on an irregular basis or not reading scripture when I wasn’t in church.  The Bible is complex, can be confusing, and requires commitment to understand.  The more you study, the more you learn, the more you understand.

So, the answer is yes, God knows about our sadness, heartache and tragedies.  His ultimate purpose is for us to humble ourselves and seek Him.  He wants a relationship with us and uses all types of circumstances to get our attention.

If you are dealing with anger and doubt regarding your relationship with Jesus because of a terrible life event, please seek help “unpacking” the complexity of your situation and apply a Biblical understanding.  Seek a church community with brothers and sisters in Christ that will embrace your tragedy and help you make sense of it, when you are ready.  A challenging and evolving relationship with Christ is so much better than a wandering, purposeless life without Him.

Father God, please wash over us with your presence and peace when we are suffering.  When the sadness is nearly impossible to bare, we know that you are the ONLY thing that can heal our broken heart.  You are the only thing that provides a peace with understanding that brings our hearts and minds closer to you.  Lead us to you, oh Lord. We want to follow you.  Amen

This journal is written to serve as a resource for those that may not have found Jesus or individuals that do not feel confident as to how to learn more about Jesus.

Perhaps this journal is a resource to help you learn more about Christ.  Or, perhaps you may want to forward this journal to a friend or family to help “jump start” them with ideas to start their spiritual journey.

I have come to learn that spiritual health is an essential element to my well being.  When I stop reading, discovering and exploring the gospel, I can feel my hope and attitude slowly fade away.  Devotion to consistent Bible study is akin to my physical health.  When I am focused on what I eat, coupled with regular exercise, I feel more physically and mentally sharp.  The same goes for my spiritual health.  I need spiritual exercise.

Here are three areas that have bolstered my spiritual health.

1. Daily Bible Study

Devoting time each morning to read the gospel or listen to a podcast starts my day off right.  Some great resources I have found are the Bible app, where there are “reading plans” that provide a daily lesson to study countless topics and challenges.

I enjoy listening to podcasts while I exercise or walk.  My favorite podcast is Your Move, by Pastor Andy Stanley.  I also enjoy listening to the services of my home church, Cornerstone Chapel.

I have also found great Bible study books on Amazon or you can visit http://www.freebiblestudyguides.org/ where you can view free guides on any topic and where to find them in the Bible.

2. Find a Great Church Community

Finding the right church community can be challenging.  The positive thing about the pandemic is nearly every church offers online services and you can attend great churches all over the country.

Some of my favorites churches are Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, VA, Eastview Community Church in Bloomington, IL  and North Point Church in Atlanta.

I find it essential to take time each week to set aside time in my schedule to “be fed” the Word of God.

3. Small Group Fellowship

I am a believer in small group Bible studies to provide a deeper application of the Word.  There is a powerful impact when sitting with groups of people that have the same questions, doubts, and uncertainty that we do and hear their perspective and learnings.  Small groups are also a great way to get to know more people in your church and develop closer more meaningful relationships. Some of the kindest, sweetest people I have ever met were in my Bible study groups.  Join a church community and take a chance to join a small group.

I am sure there the readers of this post have more ideas and suggestions, and I would love to hear them in the comments! What do you do to build your “spiritual muscles” and learn more about Jesus? I love listening and learning from others as to how they stay diligent to “exercise” their faith on their spiritual journey.

I pray that each of you finds your way to your own spiritual journey. Please take the time to explore and pursue God.  Your life will be changed.

Heavenly Father, You are good.  A life with you is so much better than a life without you. Thank you for peace that passes all understanding when we know we are saved by you.  Please help us to reach every person who reads this and has a desire to find out more about you.  Amen.

There is strife, disagreement, controversy, and angst nearly everywhere we turn today.  We all feel it and it can be smothering.

The political climate is as polarizing and negative as it has ever been. The pandemic has riveted our way of life and there is persistent disagreement about masks, openings and closures of everything, and no end in sight.  Many people have lost their jobs, been furloughed, or live in fear that they will lose their job at anytime. Racial tensions are at an all time high with horrible instances of discrimination and death.

I believe that masks, although positioned that they protect us, are pulling us apart.  People are hiding behind their masks. No eye contact in the stores.  No “hello” or “how are you” when seeing people.  In fact, we are walking past people we know in public places because we do not recognize each other.  In addition, many are quarantining themselves to protect their health and don’t socialize or leave their home.  We are distanced, literally, from each other more and more each day.

Let’s talk about social media.  Political posts are everywhere.  Commercials and comments are never ending, and most are not nice.  The back and forth spewing of political and personal beliefs is rampant, and people are slinging negativity with no regard.

The verse that is on my heart today is “Do what is right to other people, love being kind to others, and live humbly.” Micah 6:8

Convictions and beliefs are important.  To some, their beliefs are the foundation of who they are as a person.  Our beliefs are different based on where we grew up, what type of home we grew up in, our faith or religion, as well as where we live today.

In John 13:34 Jesus said “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”  This was the last commandment Jesus gave to His disciples before he was crucified.

Jesus modeled kindness, devotion, love, and loyalty.  Jesus loved the tax collectors, prostitutes, thieves, Gentiles (non Jewish people) as well as sinners.  The Bible is filled with story after story of Jesus loving every sinner he came across.  He loved people of different color, background, and faith.

We can disagree with each other.  We can be irritated by one another. We might not even like each other.  But, we can still listen, acknowledge our differences, and be kind.  Perhaps it is best not respond to a social media post and not say anything.  Let’s slow down and see what is going on around us.  Let’s not take for granted a simple smile, compliment, or acknowledgment might be the only kindness a person receives that day.  Restrain from piling on with negative comments.  Don’t sacrifice your convictions but perhaps we should go about expressing our opinions in a different way.

I have as much intensity about my beliefs and convictions as anyone else.  I am a work in progress.  Let’s model for each other what love and kindness looks like, by loving one another.  Kindness is contagious.  So is negativity.  Let’s start with love and kindness first. Jesus did.

Heavenly Father,  We need you.  We need to feel your presence and power.  Wash over us with a sense of kindness, patience, and grace for others.  Help us have compassion and love, even though we disagree with others.  We know you are at work in EACH of our lives.  Help us to hear what you want us to hear and see what you want us to see. Amen

As a believer in Jesus, the hardest part of faith for me is to keep a positive faith-filled attitude when things are not going well. It is certainly much easier to have faith when I am not challenged.

Maybe you had an event in your life that caused you to lean in to God, or perhaps, to lean out.  Trials thrown at us like sickness or illness, tragic loss or death, relational challenges, or perhaps a job loss.  The world is crumbling around you and you don’t hear God speaking to you and He is not coming to your rescue. Where is He when I need Him?  Why should I continue to believe and have faith if it does not feel like God is with me when I am in a bad season?

Isaiah 8:14 says “He will be as a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both the house of Israel as a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.”

The context behind this verse relates to the prophet Isaiah and his counsel to the Jewish people when they were under the reign of King Ahaz.  The Nation of Israel was a very low point of faith and turned their faith to King Ahaz rather than to God. Isaiah urged the Jewish people to fear the Lord and put their faith in Him.  Isaiah is stating in this verse that God will challenge and “snare” the Jewish people with trials and difficult times to bring their faith closer to Him.

Wait!  You mean the Lord our God knows we will go through bad times and He lets it happen!  Why do I want to believe and have faith in a God that wants or knows that I am suffering?

The apostles that lived and traveled with Jesus carried on the expansion of Christianity after the death and resurrection of Jesus.  When Jesus died on the cross, they were devastated and I would be confident to say they, briefly, lost their faith. But that all changed with Jesus’ resurrection.  To add onto that, all of the disciples that carried the movement and expansion of Christianity around the world, endured imprisonment, ridicule, torture, and in many cases horrible deaths.  If they would have quit or not had faith, humanity today might not be saved. Although they put their lives at risk and suffered greatly, most of the books of the New Testament in the Bible were written by men who suffered more than we could ever imagine and they still followed Jesus.

The randomness and inconsistency of life does not shake my faith simply because of the resurrection of Jesus.  There are far better people than me that endured insurmountable obstacles yet they still believed in the risen Christ.  They were so moved and impacted by His resurrection, they were willing to suffer unimaginable circumstances to spread the gospel.  They believed and trusted that God would bless them even in the face of horrible circumstances.

There has to be a reason and purpose for our suffering is this life.  I must keep studying, asking, digging, questioning, and exploring my faith.  One of my favorite quotes about faith and studying the Bible is from Matthew Maher.  Matthew said “We cannot say God is not speaking to us when our Bible is closed.”

I will keep reading.  I will continue to ask questions.  I will strive to be reverent and curious to understand the meaning of this life’s events.  What I know is I may not always understand but I trust that my God has a purpose.  He is challenging me to learn more, explore more, and go deeper with my relationship with Him.

If the disciples who were tortured and died horrible deaths still believed in Jesus, I think my day to day life challenges can be overcome. I will not be shaken.

The book of Numbers was written around 1428 BC by Moses. He wrote about the prophet Balaam who was corrupted by Balak, the king of Moab.  Balak bribed Balaam to place a curse on the Israeli people because he was afraid of Israel’s mighty military. Balaam was a prophet with whom God spoke to many times.  Even though God directly communicated to Balaam, he consistently defied and resisted God.

Number 24:17 reads “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult.”

The Old Testament has been said to prophecy over 300 times the birth of Jesus. Our God spoke hundreds of times about the Savior he would send to forgive our sins.  God loved us so much, he wanted to show the ultimate demonstration of love by sending His Son to earth to model a perfect life for us, be crucified, and rise from the dead.  Hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus, God spoke of His Son and the promise of forgiveness that would come.

Do you ever feel like no matter how hard you try, you “fall short” of being the person you want to be?  Are you unable to understand why you cannot follow through on the things that you want to do?

Throughout the Bible, we learn that God created man (and woman) as sovereign and sinful beings.   We have the choice to choose sin or follow the right path the Lord puts before us.  Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, we choose the wrong path.

Paul said in Romans 7: 15-16 that “For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do.”

God created us as sinful beings. He knows your heart.  No matter how hard we try, we will “fall short” of what we deserve.  We will continue to make mistakes, lose our temper, and many times, regret the choices or decisions we make.  The guilt of failure and disappointment can sometimes pull us farther away from God because we do not feel worthy of his forgiveness.  Or, we might think that God will never forgive the horrible sin we committed.

No matter how rough or tough your life is, Jesus will forgive you.  There is no sin too great for Jesus to forgive.  There is no wrong that cannot be forgiven if you ask Jesus for forgiveness.  He is the ultimate source of redemption to remove us from the heavy burdens we carry in this world.  He forgives your sin of theft, deception, lying, coveting, adultery, abortion, and even murder.  There is no sin too great for our God to forgive.  There is no sin too awful that Jesus won’t provide us rest and redemption from.

Lord Jesus, please forgive me of my sins.  I believe that you sent your Son to die on the cross to forgive me of my sins. Thank you for the ultimate demonstration of forgiveness and peace.  I want to follow you, praise you, and glorify your name.  Please help me to be the person you want me to be.  Amen

I have found that I enjoy reading authentic writers.  When I feel like I know the author and what is going on in their mind, I enjoy their writings even more.  I like to read articles and pieces from authors that are honest and genuine.

So, here goes my attempt be a genuine and authentic writer.  I had a lousy week.

Things did not go as I wanted or planned in a couple areas of my life.  If I can be honest with you, I had a couple of really low days.  These were not “kicking the dog” kind of days but days where I was just quiet.  I was upset, disappointed, and candidly speechless a couple of times.

I sat down to write this journal and my pre-assigned verse for this week was Psalm 3:3, “But You, O Lord are a shield for me.  My glory and the One who lifts up my head.”  Certainly, a fitting verse for me more than ever.

Here is the story behind this verse.  King David had fled Jerusalem because his son, Absolem, was trying to kill him.  This verse is King David declaring his faith to the Lord, knowing that even though his life was in grave danger, he knew God would provide for him.  2 Samuel 15-18 chronicles the story in detail.  So, I guess my challenges pale in comparison to running from your son who is trying to kill you.

Some days, I just don’t feel like I am at my best.

Some days, it feels like there are so many challenges and problems, I don’t know where to begin.

Some days, I am overwhelmed with uncertainty and self-doubt.

Do you ever have those days?

What I have come to know as a Christian is that it is not a matter of if, but when, bad days will happen.  Life has disappointments, tragedy, sadness, and it is difficult.

What I know is that I worship a God that loves me.  I know that my God wants what is best for me.  I know that what is best for me is not always what I think the result should be, at the time.  I know that I will continue to grow and that my God will be with me the entire way.

So what do I do now?  I pray.  I pray for discernment.  I pray for guidance. I pray that I see what the Lord wants me to see.  I pray that I do what the Lord wants me to do.

I by no means have all the answers to my questions right now.  I have to deal with more challenges ahead.  What I do know is that I will be alright.  I trust my God.  He will provide a path for my walk, eventually, with sunshine on my face and the wind at my back.  Maybe not today, but I know it will happen.

If you need hope, Jesus is your refuge.  Ask him for strength and resolve and He will be there for you, in due time.  Be patient.

Heavenly Father. I pray to feel your guidance and presence in my life.  I know you have a plan.  I know you know that I don’t always like your plan.  But, I trust you.  I know you love me and will provide what is best.  I pray for your guidance and that I follow what you want me to do.  I pray that all who read this find their voice and peace in your Word.  I pray that we turn to you in times of need and trouble and trust that you will provide.  Amen.

We are in such a hurry, sometimes we do not stop to recognize what is going on around us. Someone is crying.  Someone is having a really bad day. A person is stranded with a flat tire.  A person ran out of gas. We keep our eyes forward and do not take in what is going on around us. Guilty as charged.

In his letter to the Ephesians, chapter 5, verse 2, Paul tells the people of the church “and walk in love as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

What does it mean to “walk in love?” How do we slow down, recognize, and empathize what is going on in our lives and immediately in front of us?

With less rushing to the next event, appointment, flight, or commitment, I am trying to take time and be more present.  Slow down and pay attention to the person that needs a helping hand, a kind word, or maybe something as simple as a wave or a smile.

Sometimes being nice to others depends on how we feel.  If we are having a bad day or not feeling great about ourselves, it can be easier to dismiss someone else’s needs.   Many times we are so consumed with our own feelings that we do not take the time to pay attention to others.

What a blessing it is to know that Jesus showed the ultimate kindness and love to us, when we were in need.  He was blameless and sinless yet He humbled Himself to suffer a brutal and painful death on the cross.  We can live each day knowing that Jesus showed kindness and mercy to us by dying for us to forgive our sins and save us from a hopeless life of sadness and despair. His kindness came in the form of pain and suffering, for us.

There are great examples of Jesus modeling kindness.

1. Healing the Leper: Matthew 8:1-4 tells of the story when Jesus healed a man with leprosy. Lepers were shunned in society at that time.
2. Dining with a Sinner: In Luke 19:5, Jesus tells Zacchaeus, a hated tax collector, that he would be going to his house for dinner.
3. Compassion for the Sick: In Luke 8:40-48, Jesus healed a woman who had bled for 12 years. She touched His cloak and He blessed her by stopping her bleeding.

Perhaps reminding ourselves of the selfless gift of our Savior, our salvation, we can remember to treat others without judgment and with kindness.  Jesus showed us time and time again his kindness towards his fellow man.  As one of His last acts before His arrest, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples modeling true kindness and love for His friends.  Jesus commanded us in John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

Take a few minutes and watch some great examples of kindness.  Watch here.

Heavenly Father.  We ask for your presence in our lives.  We ask to see what you want us to see.  We ask that you enable us to act how you want us to act.  Soften our hearts to love one another.  Create in us a generous spirit to give of ourselves selflessly to those that need us, in any way possible.  In your saving name we pray.  Amen

You lost your job.

Your house burned to the ground and everything was destroyed.

You lost a friend or family member in a accident.

You were betrayed by a friend or relative and the relationship is permanently strained.

Our world is unpredictable, unfair, and frequently not easy to cope with.  We feel like our lives are going well and then, out of nowhere, tragedy strikes. Your world will never be the same.  It can feel nearly impossible to deal with the intense feelings of sadness, loss, or mistrust.

Our God is a loving God who is a “refuge” in times of trouble.  The peace in our hearts that comes from trust and belief in our Father is unimaginable.  We are incapable of ridding ourselves of earthly feelings of sadness and loss if we focus on forgetting them through our own doing.  If we try to fight through tribulations without the assistance of our Father, it can be next to impossible.

How can you be ok when it does not seem like you should be ok?  How can you have hope, cope and be positive when your world is collapsing around you?

As a Christian, we believe that Jesus died on the cross to forgive our sins.  We know that the world we live in now is not the world we will live in forever.  The pain we feel now is “temporary.”  The years of tribulations felt on earth seem like an eternity.  It may seem like the suffering on this earth drives us to question the existence of a God.  But we know that our salvation comes from faith in our Lord.

Prophets and apostles tell us throughout the Bible that God is with us, no matter how awful or difficult the situation.

Anxiety: Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.  1 Peter 5:7

Sadness: He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

Fear: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you or forsake you.  Deuteronomy 31:6

Trust: One who has unreliable friends soon come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.  Proverbs 18:24

Temptation: No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind, and God is faithful, He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so you can endure it.  1 Corinthians 10:13

We worship a loving God who provides us solace and peace at the most trying times.  All we have to do is ask for the Holy Spirit to move our hearts and minds to peace.  God cares about your burdens and wants to resolve the conflict and sadness in your heart.  Just ask Him for strength and guidance.

Lord Jesus. Help us to turn to you in times of trouble and need.  You are our refuge and strength and we should not take on our burdens without you.  We know this world is temporary and we long for the day when we can be with you in Heaven.  Amen

“And then being assembled together with them, He commanded them to not depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, which, He said, ‘you have heard from me’.”  Acts 1:4

The setting of this verse is after Jesus had died and resurrected.  The apostle Luke wrote in Acts that Jesus appeared before the disciples many times.  Jesus was preparing the disciples for their ministry. This particular time he foretold of the disciples being granted the power of healing and to perform miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit.  The Bible tells us that the disciples performed many miracles along their journeys while they preached Christianity around the world.

“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with the other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:4

The disciples followed Jesus because he delivered on His promises.  Jesus modeled the traits of His Heavenly Father while He was on earth.

Father is a powerful word in our lives.  The mention of that word may evoke feelings of warmth and admiration or emotions of disappointment and sadness.  The relationship that we have with our earthly father, good or bad, may have a meaningful impact on how we view a relationship with our Heavenly Father. Is the word father a positive or a negative word for you?  Do you (or did you) have a father that delivered on his promises?

I am fortunate to have a wonderful earthly father.  He has been a mentor, counselor, comforter, intercessor, advocate, and when needed, a disciplinarian.   I believe my relationship with my earthly father allows me to know and yearn for an even better relationship with my Heavenly Father.  I am thankful everyday for the lessons taught to me by my earthly father.

Perhaps you did not or do not have a good relationship with your earthly father. Maybe you don’t know your earthly father or the thought of the word father does not inspire you to have a relationship with God the Father.  I can assure you, there is a Heavenly Father who loves you unconditionally and wants a relationship with you.  A relationship with your Heavenly Father will be very different than your earthly father.

We love and admire people who make us feel great and whom we trust.  We want to spend time with those that love us unconditionally and value us for who we are, flaws and all, and forgive us when we are out of line.  The best relationships are filled with honesty, candor, and the truest sense of expressing and acting on what is right for a person, even when they may not want to hear it at the time.

Our Heavenly Father wants one thing from us, follow Him.  God the Father has never promised us a life of joy and happiness every day.  In fact, our Heavenly Father is quite honest that our lives on earth will be filled with challenges and tribulations.  James, the brother of Jesus, said in James 1:2-4 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 3:23-26 is “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed.”

Did you catch that?  God could condemn us for the sins we commit today, tomorrow, and every day thereafter.  But, He chose to forgive us.  He wants to us to ask for His forgiveness and be honest with our sinfulness and understand the sacrifice that Jesus made with this death on the cross.  No other Father will love you as much as your Heavenly Father.  He knows by our nature, we are sinful beings.  We say and do bad things each day and have no idea why we did them.  And then, we repeat them again the next day.  It does not matter what the sin is, no matter how bad, your Heavenly Father will forgive you.  All you have to do is ask.

Given the love God shows and his demonstrated actions of forgiveness, and fulfilling His promises, that is the kind of Father that I want to have a relationship with.

Heavenly Father.  Thank you for your constant patience and forgiveness of my sins.  You are a good Father.  You are worthy of my praise and devotion.  You deliver on your promises each day and I want a relationship with you.  Please wash over me with your grace and peace.  Amen

Good, Good Father by Chris Tomlin

If I asked you to describe God, what would you say?  Is He loving?  Is He caring?  Does He show His love for you?

The thoughts I consistently have about God are interpreting the things I read in the Bible and comparing to the world we live in today.  That is when things get difficult, and complicated.

It is fair to say that trying to compare or analyze the Bible and the application to our lives today can be a challenge.  As a student of the Bible, I get “stuck” many times trying to understand the meaning of various passages and parables.  What does this mean and how can I apply this?  Scripture is not always easy to understand, but what I have come to realize, is that a lack of understanding does not mean it does not apply to my life.  I just need to be patient and seek to understand.

What I have learned is that God is very patient with us and has communicated what our life will be like with Him and without Him.  He demonstrates throughout scripture His love for us, and ultimately His desire for us to follow Him.  God’s demonstrations of love can be clearly articulated by digging into scripture and reading His Word.

2 Peter 3:9 says “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering towards us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (NKJV)

God’s relationship with man changed when He sent His Son, Jesus, to live on earth as a human.  God sent his Son to model a sinless life, preach God’s word directly to His people, and bring us to love Jesus and be saved.  In Mathew 5:1-8, Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” is chronicled to provide us eight ways to live our life.  Jesus says, “Blessed are…”

1. Those that are poor in spirit
2. Those who mourn
3. Those who are meek
4. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
5. Those that show mercy
6. Those that are pure in heart
7. Those that are peacemakers
8. Those that are persecuted for righteousness sake

Jesus was direct throughout his time on earth speaking of pain, tribulations, and the challenges of this world. The most profound experiences, trials, tribulations, and unfortunately suffering, can be the moments in which we build the most character.  Suffering and angst are horrible at the time but can have the most lasting impact on us and can strengthen our resolve and ability to overcome adversity. Scripture speaks frequently of adversity and provides us the roadmap to contentment and happiness.

Do you have a relationship with God?  Do you trust that He loves you?

Perhaps you struggle wondering how there is a God if He would “allow” tragedy, sadness, and hate in our world.  If you are looking for answers, my response is to dig into your Bible and seek to find what God says.  God never promised life would be easy.  God has never committed that we would be happy and fulfilled all the time.  In fact, Jesus spoke openly how we should not commit ourselves to love this world, but focus on following Him to pursue a righteous path to Heaven. God’s desire is for us to repent and follow Him, but the choice is ours.

My challenge to you is to not reject God because of the bad in the world or the unhappiness in your life. Run towards Him, not away from Him.  You will find the answers you are looking for, but not always in the timeframe you may want them. God is patient with us and wants us to love Him because we want to love Him not because we have to.  When we TRULY place our trust in the hands of the Lord, the Bible says in one my favorite verses, Philippians 4:7 “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Lord Jesus, calm our hearts and minds.  Help us to see You at work and seek to understand how to apply your Word each day.  We know you love us Lord, and we trust You.  We seek not acceptance in this world but yearn to be with you in Heaven.  Lord Jesus, please be with us on our earthly journey and we ask to feel your presence guiding us and leading us along the way.  Amen