Tag: trust

Embarking on “Hard-Ship”

~ Barbara ~ 1 Comment

Hard-ship is the vessel no one wants to board. When we hear the alert: “Rough waters ahead,” we batten down the hatches and prepare for a storm. When health, relationship, or financial crises threaten, we shudder at the thought of facing choppy waters, but storms are unavoidable. No one goes through life without them.

Hard-ship is the barge that slowly pushes forward with its heavy load. The only way to safely move ahead and avoid a shipwreck is to put our trust in God.

Remarkably, we can have peace in the storm, despite the enormity of the unwelcome load. We can be assured of safekeeping and confident in the promise that God mysteriously makes all things work together for our blessing (Romans 8:28). We are merely crew members with limited control of our ship or our destiny. But we have a Captain who is in full control! He has power, capabilities, and knowledge we cannot fathom.

Let Him be our focus in the midst of a storm.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, 
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7

Boarding Fellow-Ship

~ Barbara ~ 3 Comments

Today we sail into deep waters. Friendship is priceless, but fellowship is richer, venturing into uncharted, sometimes stormy waters that reveal hidden strengths and weaknesses. While friendship reflects mutual interests, fellowship is about growth and encouragement, moving beyond shared laughter and tears to unveil our deepest questions and highest aspirations. The vulnerability is frightening, but the rewards can be immeasurable.

Fellow-ship must be approached carefully and with discernment. Boarding may cause waves and expose us to storms we’ve long avoided, but consider the blessings. Hidden thoughts warp over time and skew our perspective. They fester when kept in the dark, but exposing them to light brings health and freedom.

The first and primary friend we need to fellowship with is God. Honest conversation calms the soul and frees our hearts. His presence counters our fears with truth, spoken by His Spirit and written Word. God is utterly trustworthy, loves completely, and never turns us away.

Human fellowship is also precious. We find freedom and growth when we reveal hidden feelings and fears to people who will share our burdens and accept us. But before we offer our trust, one qualification must be met—they need to have a living, vibrant relationship with God. It is good to be cautious. We should not reveal our hearts to someone who freely offers personal opinions that are not informed by God’s wisdom.

With God, there are no restrictions on sharing. With people, we need discernment and time. Trust needs to be established. Parameters need to be set. We also need to guard those who have caused us pain and not reveal their sin to others.

Fellowship is a good ship to sail. It is strong and holds steady in storms. It will carry us on high waters and set a course to wholeness.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, 
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

2 Corinthians 13:14

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Herod’s Decision

~ Barbara ~ 1 Comment

King Herod failed royally when faced with two historic decisions that revealed his pretentious pride and pathetic insecurity.

The Wise Men came to Herod’s palace seeking the newborn king, which was sensible. But when they told Herod a star had led them from the east in search of a new King, they rocked his world. He directed Jewish leaders to research the Magi’s claim and found it to be accurate. Decision one: Protect his kingship. Find this child under the pretense of wanting to honor him.

Aided by the results of the king’s research, the Magi found the Child in Bethlehem, presented their gifts, and worshipped Him. Herod had asked them to come back and tell him where to find this new king, but they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod and took a different route to their home country. They rocked Herod’s world again.

He was furious when he realized he’d been outwitted. Decision two: Double down on protecting his kingship. Find this child-king and make no pretense of worship—kill him. To ensure he destroyed the king-child, he ordered the murder of every boy under two. There was no Mary-like humility, no Joseph-like submission, only militant pride.

A decision is a personal choice, and there is always a choice. Only a humble, submitted heart—one that wants what God wants—will keep pride and resentment from affecting a choice. Obedience can make us uncomfortable and often brings challenges, but God is watching, guiding, and protecting us, as He did for Joseph, Mary, and Jesus.

An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

Lord, may our hearts seek only you, and nothing of self, pride, or control. You are fully trustworthy.

Quote is from Matthew 2:13.

Established & Eternal

~ Barbara ~ 4 Comments

In five days half of America will be relieved and the other half will be devastated.

Has there ever been an election more emotionally charged? I dare say, not many are overjoyed with our options. I hear phrases like, “the lesser of two evils” and “vote policy, not personality” spoken with both panic and resignation.

We may forget that our single vote is not the determining factor. Nor is the electoral college. Nor is the last minute campaigning. As much as news outlets alarm us, the psalmist calms us. He refocuses us in Psalm 75:1-2 with God’s words.

“I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge with equity.
When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm.”

God’s vote is the determining factor. “He brings one down, He exalts another” (v7).

Is that too simplistic? Faith is simplistic. It’s affirming that God is God and I am not. The sum of my intelligence, influence, and intuition amounts to an anemic, limited understanding. I will gladly defer to the God who holds the pillars of earth firm, measures time in His hands, and judges with justice. I don’t know what tomorrow (or next Tuesday) will hold, but God knows the end from the beginning.

I invite you to simply rest. Trust the Creator of the world—He is dependable and steadfast—for time and eternity.