Mustard Seeds - Walking on Mustard Seeds

Is Fruit Enough?

Please open your bible and read Nehemiah 9:15. Today, I am going to quote a verse from the New Testament. But, I hope you will first read the verse out of Nehemiah.

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. (John 6:35, NASB)

To sustain the Israelites, God provided manna, water, and directions.

Jesus gave all, so we could have life.

As day after day of shelter in place, for some, continues, let’s remind each other what Christ gave us for this very day. His promise is beautiful. Today. His promise is trustworthy. Today. It is the best promise of all. Today. Until we meet him in eternity.

Today, have you…

shown love to someone?

experienced a moment of joy?

felt peace?

taken a deep breath and been patient?

been kind to someone?

experienced goodness?

been faithful in a task?

Each of these fruits are possible due to our faith in, and relationship with Jesus. (Galatians 5:22)

Lord,

These reminders that you are at work in us are sweet gifts to our day. Because of you, we can have joy even if we are uncertain about tomorrow. Thank you, that we can be kind when feeling sad. Thank you, that we can accomplish small things today. Thank you for all these gifts. May your peace and love overflow in us today.

Is it hard to believe you can have all of these things, today? I encourage you to open Galatians 5:22. Sit there for a while, and hear God’s love for you through those words. He cares so very much for you.

“Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation” http://www.lockman.org/

Need a Guide?

Welcome back! Hope your weekend was blessed. Open your bible to Nehemiah 9:13,14. As we continue, let’s remember the people are praising God. They are proclaiming his greatness throughout all time.

“You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven and gave them right rules and true laws, good statutes and commandments,” (‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭9:13,‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

On the job training can feel like a crash course of how to perform a new job. Paying attention and asking questions goes a long way in job security and confidence. The personal instruction is invaluable, as long as what they are teaching is correct.

God took the time to tell the people how to be his holy people. And how to remain his holy people. He was invested in their success. He is invested in our success. His instruction is perfect and can be fully trusted and followed.

Lord,

Thank you for guiding us on firm ground. You desire for us to live as you designed. Your word tells us that your yoke is easy. Help us remember this, as we go about our day. It is so easy to forget and add things to our day you never intended. To pile expectations upon ourselves or our loved ones. Help us sit with you and your word, seeking your guidance and will for today.

“Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

God Leads Us

Welcome back! Grab your bible, today we will cover Nehemiah 9:11,12.

“By a pillar of cloud you led them in the day, and by a pillar of fire in the night to light for them the way in which they should go.” (‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭9:12,‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Traveling alone to a friend’s funeral, I got lost. Very lost. A trip that should have taken under an hour, led me up into redwoods and campsites. This was the time of folded up road maps stored in glove boxes and hand written instructions. And stopping and asking for directions. Being an extreme introvert, fear kept me from asking for the help I needed.

The Israelites would have become lost without God’s continual guidance in the desert. He led them every step of the way. In verses eleven we are reminded that God parted the Red Sea. The enemy was behind them and the only way out was directly in front of them. Step by step.

Then God led the people through the desert with the cloud in the daytime and the fire during the night.

Comfort comes from clear direction.

Jesus gave his life so we could receive clear direction from the Father. Jesus is the new path. The Spirit of life. (Romans 8:2)

We can never be lost when we follow God’s lead, even when walking this new ground of the restrictions and realities of Covid-19.

There are people who would have willingly given me directions when I was lost, if I had stopped to ask. Is there anyone you know who looks lost in this epidemic? Would you answer the call of showing them the light of Christ?

Lord,

You have led me to your gift of everlasting life and love. This day will bring more unanswered questions. But I have you to place my trust in. Show me someone who needs help finding their way to you.

Hello, thanks for joining me this week. I hope these short reflections have brought you peace and strength in the Lord. They have helped me in weak moments of the day.

Please, always, look up the scripture I quote, and read it in its entirety. I may quote only part of a verse. For example, verse 2b, I am indicating the second half of the verse. But look it up and read the whole verse. I am highlighting a portion of the scripture to speak about God as clearly as possible. All of the other words are important too. The entirety of scripture is the full picture of God.

Hope to see you back here on Monday! As always, please comment, I would love to hear from you.

“Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

God is Our Comfort

Welcome back. I am glad you are here. Let’s open our bibles to Nehemiah chapter nine.

“You made a name for yourself that endures to this day.” (Nehemiah 9:10b CSB)

Returning home from the hospital with my first born, a friend came by with a gift. It would become an everlasting possession for my daughter. A lovely golden brown teddy bear, about a heads length taller than her tiny body.

Teddy, who never knew another name, brought comfort throughout her childhood. If she woke in the night, she would snuggle in closer to him. His presence kept fears far away.

Rescuing the Israelites from slavery after they cried out for help, God revealed his comfort to the Israelites through miraculous acts.

By the fourth plague, flies, God did something different. He separated his people to a location unaffected by the infestation of the flies. (Exodus 8:22-23)

Was it a great comfort to the Israelites to be protected by God’s power, far from the infestation of flies? I don’t know. Unfortunately, in the story of God’s people, they find a lot to complain about. But God rescues them anyway, for his namesake.

Lord,

When we grow fearful or unsure on this day, help us remember to draw close to you. No matter the restrictions or confusion that may come, you have set us apart and we will choose to cling to your love and comfort. Show us how to thrive within these boundaries.

Scripture quotations marked CSB are been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible•, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

God Sees After Us

Welcome back. Let’s open our bibles to Nehemiah 9:9.

Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay

“You saw our fathers’ affliction in Egypt, and You heard their cry at the Red Sea.” (‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭9:9,‬ ‭AMPC‬‬)

Envy filled my heart as I babysat my friend’s newborn baby. She had a quick errand to run and her sweet son was sleeping. As she ran through the important details of when she would be back, I stared at the baby monitor. It had live video and sound! We could watch her baby sleeping. The difference between a cry uttered in sleep or a true, “I am awake” cry, could be discerned quickly by glancing at the screen. This device would have relieved a lot of stress when my girls were young.

God has never needed technology to see our hearts and thoughts. He saw the suffereing of the Isralites when they were in slavery. He saw them when their backs were against the Red Sea while Pharaoh’s army pursued them.

God sees our worries about the economy, the health of our loved ones, and concerns about life returning to normal. He knows each fear as it tries to grip us.

God has compassion for us. Out of his compassion he provides. For the Israelites, that meant freedom from Pharaoh and an escape through the Red Sea.

He provides joy every morning. (Psalm 30:5) He provides an easy yoke. (Matthew 11:30) He provides his hand in ours. (Isaiah 41:13)

Lord,

You guided the people through the Red Sea. Their fears were turned to awe and worship. You are here, guiding us through this day. I am going to tell you my fears and hard situations, just like the Israelites did. I will cry out to you when fear starts to direct my day. And sit in awe and worship you as you provide a way out from my fears.

“Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified^® Bible (AMPC),
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. http://www.lockman.org/ “

God Upholds Us

Glad to see you back again. Grab your bible and open to Nehemiah 9:7-8.

“You have kept your promise because you are righteous.” (‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭9:8‬b, NIV‬‬)

Entering college after high school, I am embarrassed to say it took me twice as long to earn my degree as it should have. Many times I felt lost on my college path. With an undiagnosed learning disability and my desire to finish, eventually I earned my degree. Completing the requirements for my major, the college upheld their promise of a degree upon completion of units and courses.

God’s promise to Abraham, found in Genesis chapter seventeen, is contingent upon God wanting Abraham to choose God’s ways, always. For Abraham’s heart to be devoted to him.

Abraham was walking toward something greater than a degree. He was walking toward his legacy. Did Abraham make some questionable decisions along the way? Yes. But he moved forward in faith because of God’s promise.

He promises to never leave us. To watch over us. To go before us. To light our path. To be at our back. To love us forever and ever.

Because he is faithful and righteous.

Lord,

During this uncertain time of sheltering at home and some areas opening up, we can gather hope from you. You are with us right now. You offer peace and joy to our souls. Nothing stops your love for us. You care deeply for our hearts that are full of worry. Thank you for being a loving Father who seeks to comfort us. Let us seek your comfort today.

How is God comforting you during this pandemic? Please share in the comment section.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®

God Is Preserving

Welcome back! Grab your bible and open to Nehemiah chapter nine.

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

Have you had this conversation before?

Child: “I love you.”

Parent: “I love you more.”

Child: “No, I love you more!”

Parent: “Impossible, I love you more!”

Sometimes these conversations occur after I have corrected my child’s behavior.

In chapter nine, we find the people are freshly aware of God’s laws. After they apologize to God, they turn their hearts to praising him. What follows is similar to reading a Father’s Day card listing the qualities of a great dad.

If you read Nehemiah 9:6, we find praise to God for his creation. The world, everything on it, and outside of it.

“And you preserve all of them.” (Neh 9:6b, ESV)

He is keeping everything going. To preserve is an action word. As another version reinforces, “You give life to everything.” (Neh 9:6b, NIV)

He is why the tide of the oceans ebb and flow.

The kiss of the morning sun upon your back is from God.

The beauty of nature reveals his creativity.

God’s creation sings out to him. We can too.

Lord,

We can feel far from you at times like these. Looking at your creation brings you closer into view. Thank you for the reminder of the scope of what you created and preserve. In your creation we have the abiding assurance you love us deeply. And yes, you do love us more.

What are you praising God for preserving? Let me know in the comments below.

Hope to see you back here tomorrow for another reason in this ‘Father’s Day’ card to praise God.

Response to Fear

Have you been overwhelmed with questions about COVID-19? When will we return to normal? What will normal look like? So many are not allowed to work, how will this affect the economy? Will I get sick? Who will care for my family if I do? Will there be what I need at the store? Maybe your questions are different or similar. Some of us are still being asked to stay home. No matter where you are in the world, we are all affected by the new coronavirus.

I do not have answers but I know who does, God.

Walking through the pages of my bible the other day, I came across a familiar chapter tucked in the book of Nehemiah. Chapter nine depicts a celebration of rebuilding. At the start of the book, we meet Neheimah, overwhelmed with grief at receiving news of Jerusalem’s wall and gates being destroyed. (Chapter 1, verses 1-4) By praying to God, and submitting to his king, Nehemiah was allowed to begin rebuilding the wall.

In the rebuilding process, Nehemiah’s work and life were threatened several times. It was financially and politically impossible to rebuild the wall. If you are not familiar with the book of Nehemiah, maybe take this weekend to read it, or chapter nine.

This impossible task was completed because God cares, God has a plan, and he is sovereign! We, like Nehemiah, have hope in knowing God.

Let’s meet back here, Monday, as we look at God’s compassion and love for us in response to our fears.

Hope to see you here Monday!

Your Love Remains

As I sink into the pages of my God, comfort envelops me. Assurance of knowing His word provides the direction I need for today, drawing me closer to His heart. Concerns for how vignettes of my life will turn out filter away as stress leaves my body.

“Oh God, my God, you are so good to me. You show me how to get back on the path of obedience. Your voice calls to me day after day and night after night. My wanting of you is small when reflected against your desire to be heard and to have me draw near.

The world’s voice calls me out Lord. It calls and won’t let go. I must go and begin this day with motion and tasks to be completed. But you call me back to this quiet place and I do not want to leave it. One more moment God. One more moment with you, pouring your love into me. Nothing else. No spoken correction or direction. Simply you and me, love unfiltered, unending…

As I step into this day Abba, the pulling and tearing begins. I must do this and that, but wait, your perfect love remains. Enough love to see me through. Enough love to pour out to others I pass on this day. Enough love to give me breath and refreshing when I need it…in today.

I am rejoicing now! Heart held high in my chest. You have covered me with the oil of hope, love, peace and joy. Oh what a bounty I have! Enough to share and give away. And still your love remains.”