Barbara's Banter

From God comes…

From God comes help. The bleak truth is that we are inadequate in so many ways. Does that mean we are failures? Of course not, but neither are we totally self-sufficient. If we were, we wouldn’t need God. I don’t know about you, but I desperately need God. Sometimes just facing another day requires help from the Lord.

This point was reinforced for me recently because I have been mourning the loss of one of my dearest friends. Evonne and I had been kindred spirits since the second grade—and believe me, that’s a long time. Fortunately, Evonne was ready to meet her Maker face-to-face. She shared with loved ones that for her “to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21).” She had lived a long, full life and God had rescued her from the jaws of death more than once. Plus, she had survived the death of her husband and other family tragedies. Now she was diagnosed with liver cancer and ready to start chemotherapy. This was not really her desire, but it’s what everyone wanted her to do. So, she approached the prospect in her usual positive manner. She would have rather just drifted off to sleep.

I flew back to Missouri for a visit. We had a wonderful time—two soul sisters giggling like school girls as we reminisced. One night, before we nodded off for the evening in her king-sized bed, we held hands a bit and declared our sisterly love for each other. That night God granted her wish and she drifted off to sleep, passing into the arms of Jesus. I found her the next morning. She was at peace.

Academically, I know she is with God, but emotionally I miss her so much. She is fine, but I am a mess. Those of us who have lost loved ones know what a struggle it is to let go. Gone are those little inside jokes that only the two of you shared. Gone are the walks down memory you took together. Gone is that sweet encouraging voice letting you know you matter. Gone is the wit, wisdom, and laughter that got you through so many difficult times. The grieving process is not easy, but God knows our frailty and gives us permission to mourn (Ecclesiastes 3:4).

In addition, God offers us help in the direst of circumstances. God is our help in times of pain and trouble (Psalm 46:1).  Life goes on and responsibilities must be fulfilled, so God helps us face each new day. That doesn’t mean we always leap from our bed singing. Sometimes just getting out of bed can be an accomplishment. Turning to God can give us the strength, comfort, and courage we need.

Our help comes from God (Psalm 121:2; Psalm 54:4). Of course, we mustn’t confuse help with taking away our problems, but rather, God helps us cope with them. Let’s face it, if the all-powerful, all-knowing, merciful, grace-filled, ever-present God who loves us unconditionally can’t help us face another day, who can? Thankfully, God has assured us that we are never alone or helpless (Hebrews 13:5-6).

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God…”

~James 1:17 (NLT)

From God comes…

From God comes His presence. Of course, God’s presence is everywhere (Psalm 139:7-12) However, when we surrender to Christ, we get the added bonus of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us (1 John 4:13). As we yield to God, His presence transforms us to be more like Him (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).

There may be times in our lives when we actually feel God’s presence. I’m reminded of the old hymn Surely the Prescence of the Lord Is in This Place. The lyrics say we can feel God’s power and grace. There have been times when I’ve sung this hymn with a multi-denominational group and actually felt God connecting us all.

Sometimes we do not feel God’s presence immediately. The scriptural passage that inspired this hymn is about Jacob awaking from an inspiriting dream and saying, “Surely the Lord is in this place and I did not know it” (Genesis 28:16).

Sometimes we don’t feel it at all. Some Christians want a feeling instead of a relationship, so they search high and low for something that is already with them. People who base their relationship with Christ on their feelings, seldom have a stable Christian life. They have not learned that whether we feel it or not, God is with us. Whether we feel it or not, God loves us. Whether we feel it or not, God will never leave or forsake us.

The classic poem Footprints in the Sand illustrates this point. It is about a man who dreamed he was walking on the beach with God. He could see two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonged to him and one to the Lord. However, there were troublesome times in his life where he could only see one set of prints. When he asked God where He was when he needed Him most. God answers, “My dear child, during times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you!”

God’s presence helps us survive the storms of life. Most people don’t know that ships have a little gadget called a gyroscope. It helps stabilize the vessel and keep it on an even keel even though storms are raging. That is what God’s presence does in our lives. When the storms of life begin to rock our boats, God’s presence keeps us stable so we can have peace.     

When Jacob realized God’s presence was in that place, he said, “How awesome is this place!” (Genesis 28:17). How awesome that we have God’s presence with us all the time, whether we feel it or not!

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God…”

~James 1:17 (NLT)

From God comes…

From God comes consistency. To be consistent means acting or doing thing in the same way over time, especially so as to be fair or accurate. God is consistent but humans are fickle which means they frequently change and are inconsistent. Humans easily get caught up in feelings and fads, not realizing that feelings can change quickly and fads come and go.

Customs and perceptions change as well. There was a time that full figured women were considered beautiful as portrayed in paintings by the old masters. Pleasantly plump people were a status symbol because it meant they were somewhat wealthy and had plenty of money to eat well. Now being pencil thin is considered beautiful. Denim pants with holes in them once meant you were poor. Now holey (no pun intended) jeans cost far more than those without rips and tears.

Personal feelings are ever changing as well. Feelings are unpredictable, unreliable, and deceptive. One day we are up and the next we are down. Some say, “If it feels good, do it.” Afterwards, those same people might say, “Boy, I wish I hadn’t done that!” What feels good one day may feel horrible the next. Feelings are not facts. Just because we feel something does not make it true. Our feelings can be as fickle as we are and that’s why we can’t afford to let them rule our lives.

However, we can let Jesus rule our lives because He is consistent. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). God does not change (Malachi 3:6). We can trust what God says because it is impossible for Him to lie or mislead us (Hebrews 6:18). Even if we are unfaithful, God is always faithful (2 Timothy 2:13). He will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

We can always count on God instead of our feelings. There may be times we feel alone, but God is always there. There may be times we feel unloved, but God always loves us. There may be times we feel forsaken, but God will never forsake us. There are times we feel misunderstood, but God always understands. God is not fickle. We don’t have to worry that He will whimsically offer us salvation on Monday and snatch it away on Tuesday. God fulfills His promises.

In a fickle world, it’s unwise to use absolute words like always, forever, and never. However, we can use those words when referring to God because He is always dependable, reliable, trustworthy, and consistent.

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God…”

~James 1:17 (NLT)

From God comes…

From God comes spiritual rest. When we read scriptures about God giving us rest, many people equate it with physical rest. Which is understandable, since most of us are extremely tired and completely exhausted most of the time. Gone are the days when we wake up and cheerily exclaim, “Good morning, Lord!” Most of us hit the alarm button and groggily moan, “Good Lord! It’s morning!!”

Our society wants more, more, more productivity without providing the time and resources to accomplish it. I recently read an article about an overworked “administrative officer robot” experiencing metal fatigue in Gumi City, South Koreas. The robot threw itself down a flight of stairs in an apparent suicide. Witnesses say that before its fatal plunge, the robot was “circling in one spot as if something was there.” (The Week Magazine, June 19, 2024) It’s pretty bad when even the androids are jumping ship. Of course, this illustrates how desperately physical rest is needed. However, in addition, this can also illustrate the restless spirit of those who do not have God in their lives.  

Scriptures encouraging us to rest in the Lord or stating the Lord will give us rest, refer to spiritual rest, not physical (Psalm 37:7; Hebrews 4:1-11). St. Augustine wrote in his Confessions to God, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” Until we totally surrender and acknowledge our dependence on God, there will be no rest for our souls.

Those who believe in Christ can enter into His rest (Hebrews 4:1). Christ tells us to come to Him and He will give us rest for our souls (Matthew 11:28-30). The Hebrew word in the Old Testament translated as “rest” means “to be at peace,” “to be still,” “to be quiet or calm.” The Greek word for rest in the New Testament metaphorically means “the heavenly blessedness in which God dwells.” Spiritual rest comes through relying on God and having confidence in Him. Only God can give us rest from worry, doubt, confusion, and fear.

Resting in the Lord does not come easily. We must be diligent to actively follow the teachings of Christ (Hebrews 11:9). We must yield and submit which are not natural tendencies. Learning to let go and trust God takes a bit of practice, but turning our problems and anxieties over to Him through prayer can bring us a peace and calm that surpasses all human understanding (Philippians 4:6-8).

Through Jesus, God guards our hearts and minds (Hebrews 4:8). God is in control. When we truly believe God is working all things out for our benefit, we do not have to wander aimlessly in circles like some rabid robot searching for solutions. Nor do we need to fret or be frustrated. We can rest in the Lord.

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God…”

~James 1:17 (NLT)

From God comes…

From God comes the ability for Christians to be of one mind. 1 Peter 3:8-9 says, “Finally, all of you be of one mind…”     

A dictionary explanation of one mind means to have the same opinion or same desire. To find two Christians who think the same, feel the same, and view things the same way might not happen until Christ returns. After all, God created us to be diverse. Plus, we all have different life experiences and backgrounds. However, it may be possible to have the same desire. That desire should be to live a Christian life reflecting the attributes of God.

Those attributes are emphasized as this passage continues which says we should have compassion for one another, love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous, not return evil for evil or reviling for reviling. (1 Peter 1:8-9) In other words, we want to have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)

No where is this concept of having one mind tested more than when two Christians discuss politics. Have you noticed we are in an election year? Emotions run high. We all have personal candidate favorites and can be very intolerant with those who do not share our preferences. It is difficult to respond in kindness and show love to those with whom we disagree. Especially when we know we are right and they are wrong.

What can we do? We can pray for the wisdom to reflect Christ when we engage in political discussions. Discussing is different that debating. It includes give and take responses. Debates try to convince others our view is right and their view is wrong. Many times, it results in angry words. Proverbs 15:1 says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Whether we agree with another’s politics or not, we want our interaction with them to result in peace, not conflict. (Ephesians 4:3) Therefore, we might want to guard against being baited or provoked into volatile conversations where neither party will be glorifying God. (1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17) Instead, we should ask God to fill us with His love and peace. Only God can change our inner thoughts and minds so we focus on what is important to Him.

We sometimes forget that presidents will come and go. Only God remains constant and is ultimately in control. (Hebrews 13:8) God is our only hope. Campaign promises often fade into the atmosphere after the election. I’m sure you’ve heard that not all fairy tales begin with “Once upon a time…” Some start with, “If elected, I promise…” We seek security in an elected official, but only God can deliver on promises He makes. 

It’s an election year. We are all entitled to vote and share our opinions—but in a godly way—with humility, courtesy, and kindness. Those who have the one mind of Christ know how to respectfully agree to disagree about politics.

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God…”

~James 1:17 (NLT)

From God comes…

From God comes value. In other words, we are valuable in God’s sight.

In the eyes of the world, we aren’t worth much. Constant media messages convince us we don’t measure up. We aren’t good enough. We aren’t rich enough. We aren’t successful enough. We aren’t smart enough. We aren’t thin enough. Sometimes we feel like we have the word LOSER stamped on our forehead for all to see.

In addition, many feel unloved and worse than that— they feel unlovable. Perhaps they were constantly criticized or ignored as children. Perhaps they were rejected and told they would not amount to anything. Perhaps they were teased and ridiculed for things beyond their control. Perhaps they made some bad choices which only reinforced their belief that they truly were not worth anything and certainly not worthy of anyone’s love.

Yet, love has a lot to do with how we live our lives. Sigmund Freud once said, “Love is the first requirement for mental health.” Victor Hugo said, “The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved.”

Here’s some good news! God loves us! While it’s true we may not seem valuable to the world, we are valuable to God. God loves us more than we could ever imagine. He doesn’t love us because we have a great personality, are flawlessly beautiful, like to laugh, or extend kindness to others. God loves us unconditionally. He loves us when we are good. He loves us when we are bad. (Ephesians 2:4-5) We don’t need to earn His love. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

God loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to die for us. (John 3:16) Jesus laid down His life for us and He did it while we were sinners. (1 John 3:16; Romans 5:8) God’s love is unwavering. It’s there if we want it. It’s there when we need it. It’s wide and deep and high. (Ephesians 17-19) Nothing can separate us from God’s love. (Romans 8:35-39)

Knowing we are loved can change our whole outlook on life. Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote the song, Love Changes Everything. Although it’s written from a physical perspective, the concept is true. Love can change how we live and how we die. Once we embrace God’s love and see ourselves as God sees us, our motives and attitudes change.  

Our self-worth should not come from those around us or a fickle society. It should come from God. Our value doesn’t decrease based on someone’s inability to see our worth. God calls us His children. (1 John 3:1) He sees us as a masterpiece. (Ephesians 2:10 NLT) In God’s eyes, we are a valuable work of art. And why not? Jesus living in us gives our life great value. (Galatians 2:20)

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God…”

~James 1:17 (NLT)

From God comes…

From God comes transformation. Transformation means a thorough, dramatic change.

The Christian journey starts with repentance which means to change one’s mind and heart. We can’t serve two masters, so we turn away from our sinful nature towards God. (Mark 1:15; Matthew 4:17)

However, repentance is just the beginning. Transformation is the continuation of what starts with repentance.  

When we surrender to God we are born again. (John 3:1) When one is physically born, their life develops. They must learn to crawl, walk, run, and grow into physical maturity. When one is “born again” in a biblical sense, they must begin the same process from a spiritual perspective. This is when gradual, more dramatic changes take place transforming us into the image of God. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

This happens because God’s Spirit comes to live within us to help us reevaluate our objectives, goals, attitudes, and responses. (Romans 8:9) This is quite a miracle when you consider that we actually have this treasure (the Holy Spirit) in our earthen vessels (physical bodies) to guide and motivate us. (2 Corinthians 4:7) It helps us discern the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1-2) We learn to look at situations from God’s perspective, not our own.

Spiritual transformation is not a magic immediate metamorphosis. It does not happen all at once. It is a daily process.  In fact, we will spend the rest of our lives learning what it means to follow Christ and become more like Him. This transformational process continues even unto death when God transforms our lowly bodies to conform with His glorious body. (Philippians 3:21)

Our Christian journey will have many ups and downs, but we don’t need to worry if we yield to God. We are assured that God will be faithful to complete the work He starts in us. (Philippians 1:6) Until then, we must strive to be patient with ourselves and with others—because we are all a transformational work in progress.

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God…”

~James 1:17 (NLT)

From God comes…

From God come the way—not “a” way, but “the” way. The way is Jesus Christ. Jesus tells us in John 14:6 that He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Jesus. In fact, there is no other name by which men can be saved except Jesus. (Acts 4:10-12)

Oddly enough, many evangelical Christians no longer believe Jesus is the only way. They make an analogy that all religions are like spokes of a wheel leading to God. However, I suggest that if those spokes don’t emphasize Jesus as our personal Savior, they aren’t going in the right direction. Jesus did not say, “I am one of many roads to God.” He said, “I am the way!”

Not only is Jesus the only way to God the Father, He is the only way to anything worthwhile in our lives. He is the way to joy and fulfillment. He is the way to freedom from doubt, fear, worry, and the penalty of sin. He is the way to salvation, love, peace, and grace.

He is also the one who makes a way when there seems to be no way. (Isaiah 43:16) The Israelites found this out when Pharoah and his armies were pursuing them. Suddenly, the Red Sea parted and there was a way out. (Exodus 14:21-22) The disciples found this out when Jesus rebuked the winds and calmed the sea. (Matthew 8:23-26) The wedding guests found this out when Jesus turned water into wine. (John 2:1-11) We find it out every day when we rely on God. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

In the early church, disciples of Jesus were called followers of the Way. (Acts 9:1) The Hebrew word “derekh” is often translated as “way” and can refer to a physical road or pathway. In history class, I remember learning about the Appian Way which was one of the earliest and most significant Roman roads of the ancient world. Metaphorically, “way” often refers to the journey, manner, and course of one’s life. Spiritually speaking, it refers to our Christian-walk with God’s guidance. “This is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21).

If we are followers of the Way, we never have to worry about getting lost. There’s an old story about a father who took his young son on a walk in the woods. As they strolled hand in hand, he asked the boy, “Do you know where you are? Are you lost?”

The boy looked up at him and said, “How can I be lost. I am with you.”

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. If we stay close to Him, we will always be on the right road!

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God…”

~James 1:17 (NLT)

From God comes…

From God comes your testimony which is your story of becoming a Christian or perhaps a specific time when God protected, delivered, or did something special that impacted your life greatly. Testimonies of encountering God are personal and meant to be shared with others.  

The Latin root for testimony is “testis” which means “witness.” A personal testimony is an “eye witness” account of what happened to you from your perspective. Jesus told the early church that they would be witnesses for Him throughout the earth. (Acts 1:8)

Witnesses in biblical times were very important. Most of the people were poor and many were illiterate. The average person couldn’t read or write, so many things weren’t written down or recorded. Therefore, sharing what you had seen, heard, or experienced was important. Therefore, the Bible is full of examples of those who witnessed for Christ in various ways. Here are a few examples.

A man who had been blind from birth was healed by Jesus on the Sabbath. As a result, the Pharisees declared that Jesus could not be from God. The blind man responded by stating that he didn’t know who Jesus was, but he did know one thing. “I was blind and now I see.” (John 9:25)

The apostle Peter was a tent maker. He was a bit impetuous and made mistakes, yet his love for Christ and enthusiasm for the gospel was almost contagious. When Peter gave the sermon on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem, he could attest to the miracles, wonders, and signs Jesus performed. He said, “God has raised Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of that fact.” (Acts 2:32)

Paul was an intellectual. He knew the arts, philosophy, and law. He used his logic and reasoning to become all things to all people. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23) He once persecuted Christians but then became one. His changed life was part of his testimony, but he was also a persuasive orator. He spoke comfortably in Athens, the center of philosophy, and defended himself in court so adeptly that he almost persuaded King Agrippa to become a Christian. (Acts 17, Acts 26:28)

The Samaritan woman had three strikes against her. First, she was a Samaritan. Jews did not speak to Samaritans because they were considered religiously impure. Second, she was a woman. In those days, women were to be seen and not heard. Her third strike was living in adultery. Yet Jesus chose to share the gospel with her. (John 4) She was so happy about this that she told all her neighbors, family, and friends. As a result of her testimony, many believed. (John 4:39-43)

Testimonies are important today, as well. (Revelation 12:11) I don’t think God wants us to pounce on unsuspecting people and shove Christ down their throats. However, He doesn’t want us to shy away from sharing what God has done for us. God has given each of us a personal testimony, so we can readily share it with those who ask—for the hope that lies within us! (1 Peter 3:16) That hope is Jesus.

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God…”

~James 1:17 (NLT)

From God comes…

From God comes seasons. Spring, summer, winter, and fall show God’s diversity. Many life lessons can be drawn from watching God’s seasonal creation unfold for it is God who changes the times and the seasons. (Daniel 2:21)

If our biological lives were divided into stages, they might parallel the four seasons. Spring brings new birth and early growth, so it could represent our childhood and teen years. Summer is a time of productivity, so it could be like becoming adults and taking on more responsibility. Fall is when things slow down a bit and could be likened to experiencing empty nest syndrome and a few gray hairs showing. We think of winter as old age. Of course, only we can determine when that starts. It is said that old age is always ten years older than what we are.

The Bible actually shows a certain amount of respect for the aging process. Jesus encouraged us to become like little children. (Matthew 18:3) Paul told Timothy not to let anyone despise his youth. (I Timothy 4:12) Titus 2:3-5 tells the mature women to encourage the younger women. Wisdom should come with old age. (Job 12:12)

These life stages were designed by God, and should be embraced, not feared. Each part of our life cycle has pros and cons. Only we can choose to dwell with a positive or negative outlook of where we are in life. God wants us to make the most of every season. That’s why we are told to number our days so we can may rejoice and be glad all our days. (Psalm 91:12-14)

Another analogy of seasons can be found in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. It starts by saying, “To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven.” It goes on to explain that events will happen in our lives which may leave us happy and joyous, or perhaps sad and depressed. There are seasons we wish could last forever and others we want to go away as quickly as possible. God doesn’t require us to be upbeat all the time. He gives us time to mourn and reflect when needed.

God meets us where we are. James 5:13 says, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing Psalms.” Our lives will always be a mixture of sunshine and rain, but Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) He is our constant in our everchanging lives.  

From God comes seasons in the weather, in our aging process, and in our daily lives. God designed it this way. However, He wants us to know that whatever the season, we can always rely on Him. He’ll walk with us or even carry us if that’s what we need. Seasons change, but God doesn’t!

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God…”

~James 1:17 (NLT)