Empty Cups | Fuel For The Weekend

I have been talking to a couple of my dearest friends. Both of my friends live in the western part of the United States, quite a ways from me. These friends have been sharing with me issues and situations they are dealing with in their corners of the world. They do not know each other, but if the three of us sat down in a room and had a good chat, we would realize we are very similar. It has been a dry season, spiritually speaking. One friend said, "My cup is empty and my plate is full." And I felt that in my very soul.

The world is still reeling with the pandemic. So much sickness and loss has been felt by many. Increased responsibility for loved ones who need more help and sometimes it feels like they are leaning too heavily on us. In some settings it seems like the distance is more than what is "socially" required. We can feel isolated and forgotten. As we continue to pour love, hope, encouragement, and strength into others around us, our cups become empty. We have to find our way back to the refreshing wellspring of life and His name is Jesus.

Do you remember the woman at the well? She went out to draw water when no one else would be around. She knew she had a bad reputation. She knew others would talk about her and ignore her or worse, make fun of her. She had been in one broken marriage after another and the one she was intimate with at the moment was not even her husband. I can imagine her cup had been dry for a while.

I love that Jesus does not leave us dry and discarded. He comes to give us life and hope and love and peace and joy and.... all the good things. He gives us living water that will never run dry but we have to stay connected to the water source.

Jesus knew the woman would be coming to the well. His disciples went into town, but Jesus hung around, waiting for her. I want to encourage you today that Jesus is waiting for you. He is not waiting for you in some distant place. He is waiting on you in the mundane chores you do every single day.

JOHN 4:7-15 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give Me to drink. (For His disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto Him, How is it that Thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and Who it is that saith to thee, Give Me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water. The woman saith unto Him, Sir, Thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast Thou that living water? Art Thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. The woman saith unto Him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

The first key to getting your cup filled is to recognize that you are not the water source. Jesus is the giver of the unending water. Have you taken the time to lay your water pitcher down and talk to the Jewish stranger? Have you encountered His presence in your home among the piles of laundry and dirty dishes? Have you actually had a moment to give Him your time? He is waiting for you on purpose. He is wanting to give you a cool, refreshing drink.

The second key to a having a full cup is to realize Jesus has time for you. He wants to talk to you. You matter to Him. You are important and cherished by Him. He is not too busy for you. He is making time for you so take the time to spend with Him. It will not take up the whole day. You will still have time to do all the things. He is seeking you out.

The third key is to ask for the water. Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well if she had known Who she was talking to she would ask Him for a drink. Have you asked Him for a drink? He is able and willing. He has an endless supply and there is plenty of refreshing, renewing water just for you. He has a full cup with your name on it. He wants you to ask Him for it.

This water is going to carry us and sustain us through all the trials and hardships of this life. We have to stay connected to the source of the water. Otherwise cares of this life and tough circumstances will rip you away from the spigot. It is time to hold tight to the well of living water and His name is Jesus.

Practical ways you can stay connected to Jesus is having quiet time in His presence. Speak to Him. Do not ask Him for anything, just begin to praise Him for Who He is. Thank Him for the goodness and the mercy He gives. Tell Him how much you appreciate Him and how you cannot make it without Him. And the water begins to flow. Invite Him into your day and ask Him to take charge. Ask Him to order your steps and use you as His mouthpiece to your family and friends. Ask Him for a drink of the water and as you experience His presence, you will feel the sweet water rising inside of you. Do not let anyone or anything distract you from just being present with the King of kings and Lord of lords. Allow Him to have your entire focus. You will feel hydrated and strengthened.

It is easy to get away from the life-giving water source. It is easy to rush through Bible reading or to push back time you could have spent in prayer. We cannot be too busy to sit at His feet a while and learn about Him. Take the time to read the Bible and find out what He is really like. Read the red letters and you will discover the truth about who Jesus Christ is. Let Him give you a refreshing drink. You will never regret it.

God bless you friends.

~Bridgett Owens 

 

Thankful For Death? | Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for God taking my loved ones, even though I prayed He wouldn't.

That statement sure does sound funny, doesn't it? Why would I be happy my loved ones died? I am not happy, but I can rejoice in knowing where they went and have hope I can one day join them. I did not want my dad to die. I was very clear in my prayers I wanted God to give my dad a miraculous healing. I did not want my dad to have cancer anymore or the paralyzing effects of the stroke. I wanted a divine miracle where my dad was restored to health. It was a tall order and God is very capable of answering my prayer in a supernatural, extraordinary way. But I also prayed for God to have His way. And so I was at peace when the initial shock and extreme grief left.

Do you remember in the Bible when David saw Bathsheba naked? He desired to have her, it consumed him, but there was one problem; she was another man's wife. David had more than one wife. He could have chosen any number of women to add to his collection, but he was fixated on someone else's woman. He had someone bring her to his bedchamber. Scripture does not tell us if she was willing to commit adultery with King David or if she felt like she had to because of David's power and position. Regardless the two were intimate and she conceived.

Now David has a real problem. He not only slept with another man's wife; he got her pregnant. Now David tried to be clever and have her husband come home from war and sleep with his wife, but Uriah was too noble to do that. He knew his comrades were missing their families too and if they were out in battle, he wanted to be, too. So Uriah did not take advantage of some alone time with his wife. David's plan to cover things up backfired. He knew in time it would be obvious that his wife was pregnant and the math was just not going to add up, so he has Uriah sent to the front lines and killed. Now that Uriah is out of the way, David can marry her and raise his own child. But there is another issue that David did not consider in the heat of his passion.

God saw the whole thing! God was upset. David was a man after God's own heart, but this is not something God would ever go for. So God sends a messenger, Nathan the prophet. Nathan pays David a visit in 2 Samuel chapter 12. Nathan knows that David is mostly an upstanding guy, an ethical man. So he tells David a story. He tells David that there are two men in a city, one is rich and the other is poor. The poor man had nothing except one little lamb. The poor man had raised the little lamb and it was like a member of his own family. The rich man had all kinds of lambs to choose from, but when he needed to kill a lamb to have a dinner party, he chose the poor man's lamb. The rich man stole that poor man's lamb and fed it to his dinner guest. 

David was so upset about what Nathan had told him. David demanded that whoever did such a thing would pay dearly for that lamb. He was outraged that anyone would be so cruel to do so. In fact, David went so far as to say that the rich man would die for doing this because he had no pity. Nathan looked at David and said, "You are the man."

Whoa! What a blow that must have been. He could have reacted a lot of different ways but David immediately confessed that he had sinned. He did not try to deny it, cover it up, excuse it away; he simply admitted that he was wrong. God did not make David pay for this transgression with his life, but God did say He would take David's son away from him. What a terrible feeling that must have been. David knew the baby was innocent but God had made His decision.

2 SAMUEL 12:16-23 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead? But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house, and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and I wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

I think about when Dad was so sick and the cancer was everywhere. The doctors gave us zero hope. They assumed Dad would die any day. They told us to cherish every MOMENT because they did not expect many MOMENTS to come. Mom, my brother, my sister and her husband and their children, my husband, our children, and I all joined together. We started meeting for church services in my dad's music studio. We met each week and we rallied around Dad. We prayed and fasted and we believed. We had faith and we had hope and we were expecting great things.

God gave us many miracles with Dad. But one day God told me that Dad would not see the New Year. I was so upset. I cried. I begged God to not let Dad go on Kadesia's birthday, so He honored that request. He took Daddy home the evening of Kadesia's birthday party, December 29, 2013. 

I am glad my Dad is no longer in pain, not suffering, not miserable and disabled. My dad served God his whole life. He made mistakes, and chose to run after other things and away from his calling for a while, but in the end he came back to God with everything in him. It seems that facing eternity will make a person take stock of their life. Dad was given the gift of time and he had a lot of it to reflect on his life and the way he raised us and the things he taught us intentionally and unintentionally. He had the opportunity to repent of some stuff, to ask forgiveness from some people, and to make things right between him and God. 

When Dad went to be with God, I did not pray or fast for him anymore. There was no bringing him back. There was no trying to bargain with God for a Lazarus-type resurrection. Dad got what he wanted, to be with God. So I did something similar to David. I worshiped God for being good and faithful. I thanked God for the Comforter who will comfort like none other. I thanked God for the good times and the laughter and the new memories of a wonderful earthly father. I knew that I could not bring Dad back, but I have confidence that one day I will go to him.

We do not always understand God's ways or His timing. Why did God punish David by killing his baby? Why did God not let things happen differently for Dad? We can worry ourselves sick over the questions, or we can embrace the truth that God's timing is not our own and His ways are higher than ours and we cannot figure them out. (Isaiah 55:8-9 and Romans 11:33)

Death is not easy. We have lost a lot of wonderful people recently. Last year cancer took many of my relatives' lives and spilled over into the first few days of this year. We do not know everything God is doing. We do not always understand, but He promised to never leave us or forsake us, but will go with us all the way to the end of the world if we allow Him to. (Matthew 28:20 and Hebrews 13:5)

If you are suffering loss or enduring sickness, hardship, or despair please remember that Jesus loves you. He is walking through this with you and He is near to you. Do not allow the grief to consume you. Stay close to Jesus. His Word says He is near to the brokenhearted. (Luke 4:18, Isaiah 61:1, Matthew 5:4) He promises we will be comforted and I can attest that is the truth.

I pray healing, comfort, peace, and love be yours today in the name of Jesus. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Psalm 4 | Wednesday Bible Study

This week we are in Psalms chapter 4. The eight verses are a prayer of David to God. If you have not taken the time to read today's passage, do that now and then we will continue with today's study. 

Verse one begins with David addressing the God of his righteousness. He is asking God to hear his prayer. He praises God by recalling that it was God who relieved David when he was distressed. He asks God for mercy and again to hear his prayer. Have we been there? Have we ever wanted God to hear us and we even throw in some praises about how God has met our needs before? It is sort of like we are encouraging ourselves, or maybe convincing ourselves that our problem is really not too big for God to solve. Here David is asking for mercy and to be heard. We all just want to be acknowledged, don't we? We just need to know that our concerns matter.

Verse two David addresses his enemies. He wants to know how long they will dishonor him. He wants to know how long they will love vain words and seek after lies. Have you ever been there? Sometimes we are doing the things that are right and pleasing in God's sight and we meet opposition on every side. Someone is always trying to tear us down and wound us. If we have a good reputation, others seek to tarnish it.

Verse three David continues to address his enemies. He tells them God has set apart a people who are holy. David informs them that God in heaven hears when he calls. I think we miss this part a lot. We do not want to offend anyone, or make ourselves a bigger target, so we just "mind our own business" and do not call out the wrong. David clearly has boldness when he tells them that God has set apart a people who follow after Him. David includes himself in that and says that he has a relationship with God. How often do we see others doing wrong and we just remain silent? This verse encourages me to share my faith with others, especially unbelievers. How else will they know?

Verse four David is still talking to his foes. Here he is imploring them to search out their own hearts, to not sin, and then adds Selah at the end of this verse, which means to pause in His presence. He is asking for the unrepentant to take a close look at their actions and intentions; to search their heart and turn from it. Again, how often are we asking others to change their behavior to a way that honors God? It is hard to get into people's personal space like that, but it is so important! There are people who are kind and good and gentle and they are going to hell because they never accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. There are people who are rude, obnoxious, self-serving and they are going to hell if they do not repent and turn from their wicked ways. We have the answer and it is so important to share the secret of salvation, Jesus Christ!

Verse five David tells them plainly to offer sacrifices of righteousness and put their trust in the Lord. Before Jesus came to the earth, sacrifices had to be made for sin. David is essentially asking them to put faith in a God they cannot see. This was a time of idol worship and David is clearly trying to show them that there is a God in heaven and He is the only One who can help them. Since Jesus died for our sins we can put our faith in Him because we know He died for our sins. We no longer need to kill an animal to sacrifice it to cover our sins. Jesus' blood covers and cleanses us from all filthiness of the flesh and makes us whole. (2 Corinthians 7:1)

Verse six David said there are so many who want to see GOOD in the world, so then He addresses God and asks Him to light up the world with the glory of His countenance. It is a beautiful illustration. Our world is dark and lonely and seeking good but they cannot find it apart from God. David asks God to show the world how good He is. Are we praying this? Our world today is dark and gloomy and dismayed and everyone is searching for life beyond the pandemic, and ease in circumstances. The truth is we don't have to wait for better days. We can experience all the fruits of the Spirit every day that we serve Jesus. We need to be praying, God shine the light of Your face on us again!

Verse seven David is doing a comparison in this verse. He says the people are ecstatic when their harvest yields abundantly and produces wine. There is great joy in seeing the fruition of their hard work and they enjoyed drinking wine. David said that God put so much gladness in in his heart that it was even more joy than they could ever experience over a good harvest. In today's terms, someone may be happy to win the lottery or come into a great sum of money, but God's goodness and joy far surpasses even those feelings. There is nothing like the joy of the Lord that He puts down into the hearts of those who trust in Him.

Verse eight Sometimes we see the hardships, the negativity, and the pain and it keeps us up at night. Sleep is hard to come by. We may toss and turn, worry, complain, and we just don't rest well. David found the solution to insomnia. He has acknowledged God, requested to be heard by Him, and recalls how faithful God is. He faces the problem head on and realizes it is God alone that can solve it, so he asks those who are lost to follow God and repent. He remembers the joy God brings him and now he is content. He is no longer upset or worried. He is at peace knowing God will take care of everything. Now David says he can lay down in peace and sleep because God alone makes him live in safety.

What a wonderful example of how to pray for others. It is a timely illustration of how to witness to those who are unsaved. It is also a beautiful reminder of how we can truly have joy, peace, and rest when we hand over all of our troubles to God. Isn't He so wonderful? If you have not experience the love, peace, and joy of knowing Jesus Christ as your Savior, I hope that today is your day of salvation. Do not put it off. You do not want to miss heaven for the world!

I hope you have been encouraged by today's message. It has been a real pleasure to break the bread with you all today. I hope something I have shared with you has been strength for your journey and light for your way. Have a wonderful Wednesday and may God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Racing | Fuel For The Weekend

 

Racing?

My husband was a race car driver when we met. He drove a bomber on dirt tracks here in southern Indiana. I spent a lot of time at Brownstown Speedway and Bloomington Speedway while we were dating. As Paul has been hanging out in the bedroom, we have been watching racing videos. As I am typing this blog post, the excited announcer is giving play by play details of every turn. And I think how much this is like our lives going through this world.

I imagine an announcer looking down on David and Goliath, and the excited monologue may have gone something like this:

Goliath, the great Philistine warrior is in the center of the valley smack talking the army of Israel. They are shaking in their armor! Who is brave enough to face this 9 foot giant? No one is making a move on the side of Israel, but wait --- Who is this kid on the field? There is a young boy approaching the giant. There is some verbal exchange and what is that? The boy just accepted the challenge! This is crazy! He has no armor on. Has he even seen a battle before? What is he thinking? Look at the young boy. The giant is laughing! What is that in the boy's hand? Is that a sling? It is! It is a sling! He has a sling in his hand, waving it in the air as he runs toward Goliath. What is he doing? Oh wow! He launched a stone. What? Oh my gosh! I cannot believe it! The giant has fallen. He is down! What an upset! If I didn't see it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it! They say his name is David and he is a shepherd, visiting his brothers in the Israeli army. Wow! What an upset. The Israeli army chases down the Philistines. What a victory!

Sometimes we are in the heat of the battle, just like the Israeli army. None of the men of war had the courage to face the Philistine giant. Goliath was known for slaughtering his opponents. None of the men were willing to go down and fight him. David did not plan to kill a giant when he set out to give his brothers some food from their father. He was checking in on them so he could report back to his father. David was a young boy. He was not in the army. So why did he get involved?

David heard the Philistine slandering God. David was not going to sit by and let that continue. He had been a good shepherd to the sheep he was given. He fought a bear and a lion and he knew God had delivered these dangerous, wild beasts into his hands. So he knew God would protect him from a loud-mouth giant.

Have we got to that point yet? Have we decided that God has seen us through these trials and hardships before and He is not going to fail us now? We need to get our hope back. We need to get our courage up and tell the enemy we are not going to be backed into a corner. We are children of the Most High God and He is our buckler and shield. He is our protector. He is our triumphant champion and He will win every battle for us.

1 SAMUEL 17:45-46 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, Whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air; and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

Some of the talk of the talented race car drivers are how at a young age they showed real potential and ability. Each race hones their skills and enhances their performance. They have to beat and bang their way to the front but the ones who want it most will be hyper-focused on getting the lead and keeping it. Sometimes it seems like we go around and around the same situations and the same problems. Each time we go around we learn something new and if we hold tight to faith, we will eventually get the victory. The stakes will get higher and the payout more but the battles do not get easier. The victors will be those who keep showing up when they get their cars torn up, make mistakes and learn from them, and never lose focus of getting the checkered flag.

What battles are you facing? When it rained, what made it pour? Do you feel beaten and battered by the enemy? Do not lose focus. Do not give up. Do not let the times you spin out or run off the top of the track sideline you. Get back in the race! Keep going! Stay strong and finish well.

I know this illustration is a little silly to some, but if you think about it, it makes sense. What is the announcer saying about the race of your life? Are they saying, "Coming from the rear is (insert your name here). What an upset! No one saw them coming! They are headed to the top spot! Look at them go. God is with them and they are getting the checkered flag. We will catch them in Victory Lane!"

I encourage you to read 1 Samuel chapter 17. It is an awesome account of what happened the day that the giant fell! What giants do you need to slay in your life? Let this chapter be some fuel for your weekend. I hope it is a great one. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

God In Charge | Thankful Thursday

God in charge?

I have been intentionally giving God my day. I start out reading my devotional and have some quiet time with God. I pray and ask Him to take charge over the day ahead of me. I want Him to order my steps, lead me and guide me. He never fails to show up for me. He always takes over and the difference is huge compared to days I take life on by myself. I am so thankful He is in charge of my day.

Things do not always go easy, or smooth, when I place my day in His capable hands, but the stress level is diminished to nearly nothing. If I get worked up when things don't go my way, Holy Spirit reminds me that God is working all things for my good and it brings calm to the chaos and I feel relieved. Have you ever tried that? Have you asked God to take over your day?

It's Biblical to do this. I have four scriptures to share with you that not only encourage us to do this, but gives us a promise. Check it out:

PSALM 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He delights in his way.

The steps of a good man are what? Ordered by the LORD. That sounds like God is in charge. It delights Him when we walk in the way of holiness, in the way that God has outlined in His Word. This particular verse reminds us that if we give God our day, He will set us on the path He wants us to walk in and it will make God happy!

PSALM 119:133 Order my steps in Thy Word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

I have to be honest. I do not remember reading this verse. I know Psalm 119 is a long chapter, but what a gold nugget nestled in this lengthy portion of Scripture. The common denominator in this concept of giving God our day is that we are walking in the ways of God. We are living what we read. Remember we are called to be a hearer of the Word and a DOER! (James 1:22) If we are walking according to God's plans and purposes for our lives then sin will not have dominion over us. We will not be overpowered by sin, even though temptation is all around.

JAMES 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Usually this passage is quoted when we go through trials to encourage us. It can also be used when talking about giving God our day. We can be in the perfect will of God and still be tempted. We are human. We live in a fallen world and the enemy wants to tempt us at every turn. But if we hold fast to faith we will be grow in patience. Our spiritual fruit will grow and become evident in other areas of our life.

PROVERBS 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

If we admit God is who He says He is in every area of our life, we will be directed by Him through this life. Is He Jehovah Jireh, God our provider in our finances when the bills are due and the money is gone? Is God Jehovah Shalom, God our peace when we feel anxiety or depression? Is God Jehovah Rophe, God our healer when the doctors give up hope and have no more answers? Is God Jehovah Nissi, God our battle fighter? We do not have to fight these battles, God fights for us and He always causes us to triumph according to 2 Corinthians 2:14.

Friends, it is not only a good idea to give God our day, it is vital for our spiritual survival. The times I rush ahead and go about my day without God leading me has been hard and frustrating and I always think to myself, What is this, Pick-On-Bridgett-Day? But the then the Spirit of Truth reminds me that I have not handed the day over to God. The good news it is not too late. When I realize what I have done, I can quickly ask God to forgive me for not making time for Him and ask Him to help me. You know what He does? He doesn't pout, scold me, ignore me, or abandon me. He lovingly comes alongside me, scoots me back on the path He wants me to walk on and leads me gently on. He will do the same for you.

This Thankful Thursday I am thankful God is in charge. He knows what is best for each one of us. He sees the beginning, middle, and ending. He knows what roads we need to travel to build our character, draw us closer to Him, and increase our endurance. I hope this has been encouraging for you. I hope that something I shared today has been strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Psalm 3 | Bible Study Wednesday

 

This week we are going to study Psalm chapter three. It is a Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom, his son. You can read 2 Samuel 15:1-18:18 the story of how Absalom deceived the people and was able to win them over with his craftiness. David ran away for his life and devised a plan for how to overcome this treason. Let's read today's passage in light of what we know has taken place.

Verse one David calls upon God. Notice when David needed strength, help, healing, or anything he always turned to God. He knew that God would help him because He had done so over and over throughout his life. He tells God the problem right away. David is overwhelmed by the amount of people coming against him. Have you ever been there? Have you ever felt like you were outnumbered and you didn't even know why everything seemed to be against you?

Verse two David told God what others were saying about him. Have you ever told God what others were saying about you? I have experienced people being cruel and lying on me. I told God what they said and how it made me feel. It is better to take these issues to God in prayer, than to retaliate and tell others what is going on, broadcast it on social media, or gossip.

Verse three David begins to brag on God. The reason it is best to go straight to God with our burdens is because of who God is. He is a shield for us. He is our glory and He lifts up our heads. We get beat up by the enemy and like a good, good Father, He steps in between us and the ammunition of the enemy. He protects us and He picks our chin up. He encourages us.

Verse four David is rejoicing. He was so overwhelmed and dismayed when he first started this prayer, but now God has already begun to turn things around. David is jubilant because he knows that God heard his prayer. We do not have to worry when circumstances weigh heavy on our minds and we feel defeated. God hears our prayers and He is on the move. He is shielding us and lifting us up.

Verse five David got rest! When problems are many and solutions are few, we often find ourselves unable to sleep. We toss and turn and often sleep eludes us. However, when we give our burdens to God and leave them there, He will take care of it. We can then sleep and be well rested. David gives God the credit. He said he laid down and slept and was awakened only because God sustained him. In Proverbs 3:24 it reads, "When thou liest down, thou shall not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet." Isn't that a wonderful promise?

Verse six David gets his courage back. He said he will not be afraid of 10,000 or more people that have surrounded him. David started remembering how God spared him with the lion and the bear when he was shepherding sheep. David remembered how God kept him alive when Saul tried to kill him over and over again. David remembered the many battles he fought and won because God had His Mighty hand on him. We need to get our courage back, too. How many times has God paid the bill with money we never saw coming? How many times have we found favor we knew we didn't deserve? How often has God come through for us to deliver us in our times of great need? Over and over God has proven Himself faithful.

Verse seven David calls on God for help. He says God has struck his enemies in the face and knocked their teeth out. In other words, God has disarmed the enemy. He has helped David by cutting the enemy off at the knees and rendering them helpless. God will do the same thing for you and me. He is fighting on our behalf and the good news is God has never lost a battle and He never will.

Verse eight David ends in praise. He proclaims salvation is God's to give and He acknowledges that God has blessed His people. We can go to God in tears and anguish over the trials and tribulations of this life. We should go to Him. He wants us to. Then we need to remember how good God is and we can go to sleep and rest well knowing God is taking care of it. Finally we can step back and watch God shield us and lift us up all while knocking the enemy out and winning the battle for us. He is a good and faithful Father and friend. He loves us and He will help us. He helped David and He will help you and me and like He has over and over again.

Friends I have enjoyed taking a look at Psalm 3 with you all. I hope this has encouraged you. I pray that this Bible study today has given you strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Time For Healing | Fuel For The Weekend

 

Time for healing?

It is no secret that our nation is suffering. The whole world is suffering. There is a major sickness traveling the globe and causing many to suffer and it is called sin. The one thing most people avoid talking about in our culture is holiness unto God. The Bible says in Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." We are in a global pandemic and it started back in the Garden of Eden when Eve and Adam sinned first. Yes, we need a physical healing in this nation and internationally as well, but the need is so great for a spiritual healing, too.

3 JOHN 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things (pray that in all things) that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

John said he was praying that in every area of our lives we would be successful, have all our needs met, and have health, in relation to our soul prospering. You see, there are many anorexic Christians. Many Christians are snacking on God's Word, breaking off a piece here and there as it suits them, but never getting satiated on the meat! Churches are full of members who have been faithful in giving of their time and money, but they are still on the milk. You would not give an infant a steak dinner because it would strangle on something it is not ready to consume. What do you do? You give the baby milk and you control how often you give them a bottle, or nurse them. As they grow stronger, they can try baby food which has a little more consistency than milk but it is still gentle enough the baby will not choke. As the fine motor skills develop, the child can pick up finger foods and often these are biscuits that turn to mush in the mouth. Again, it is taking one step closer to the meat and potatoes, but not forcing things too fast. One day you will look across the table at your child who may be taller than you, stronger than you, and they effortlessly chew up vegetables, fruits, and meats. We must continue to feed our inner man spiritual food. We must consume the Gospel and as we learn and grow, we can understand more and take in more and then we are sharing our "lunch" with others as we share the Good News.

John's prayer was not that all who follow Jesus would be wealthy, possess material goods, and be popular. John's prayer was that he wants all Christians to prosper and be healthy just like he wants the same thing for our souls.

PSALM 107:20 He sent His Word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Do you remember what the Centurion told Jesus? He impressed Jesus with his great faith. He asked Jesus to heal his servant. Jesus said, "I will come and heal him." (Matthew8:7) The centurion said he was not worthy for Jesus to come to his house. He respected Jesus. He had been observing the things Jesus did and how he had power over sickness, mental illness, and physical infirmities. He tells Jesus in Matthew 8:8 & 9, "Lord I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it."

The centurion understood more than all the religious leaders of that time. He had great faith and he fully understood that Jesus's words were able to speak healing to his servant, though they were not in the same area together, and he would be made whole. It was exactly what Jesus did. He sent the word and the servant was healed. Do we fully understand that concept? We have been trained to believe that if we are good enough, or do enough good things, then God will be happy with us and give us what we want, but if we don't measure up then God is not going to bless us. That is a lie from the enemy. Our own righteousness is not in this equation. God is a healer and when we ask in the name of Jesus for it to be done, it will be done according to our faith. What happens is we often do not have faith. We have a wait and see kind of mindset and then wonder why God is not moving on our behalf. Where is our faith? Where is our confidence in what God can do?

2 CHRONICLES 7:14 If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

We have some things to do if we want God to forgive our sin and heal our land. What are we supposed to do? First of all we need to humble ourselves. James 4:10 says, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up." We must remember we are not the Creator, we are His creation. We need to step off the pedestal others may have placed us on, or the high places we have lifted ourselves to, and remember who we are. We are nothing without God. He gives us hope, joy, purpose, love, and peace. We have to become humble servants. We are not teachable if we think more of ourselves than we should. We are not able to be molded and shaped into the image of Christ if we think we are good enough on our own.

We have to pray. James 5:16 tells us the fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. If we want to get things done, strongholds to break, unsaved loved ones to be converted, and healing our physical bodies and our nation from our sins, we have to pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) We must be in communication with God. He tells us to pray and ask Him for things and to have faith that He will do it. Do not think it could happen, or it might happen. Know that it will happen if you have the faith to believe it.

Finally, we are to seek His face. We often seek God's hands. We want Him to give us more money, give us a better job, give us a spouse, give, give, give... but that kind of relationship is one-sided and it is not fair to God who is our faithful partner. We are not faithful. We fail Him every single day. That may not be what you want to hear, and you may think you don't, but we do. We are flawed human beings and that is why in His great love and mercy, He extends grace to cover us. He wants us to desire His face. He wants us to seek His presence and to be with Him, near Him, intimately acquainted with Him. He wants us to look into His eyes and see the love and mercy of a wonderful Heavenly Father. He wants us to see His expression as He smiles at us. He loves us so much. He has accepted us as we are and then loves us way too much to leave us like He found us. Jeremiah 29:12 & 13 says, "Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart." Does He have your whole heart? He does not want parts and pieces; He wants the whole thing. 

God is so patient with us. He was patient with the children of Israel, even when they were disobedient and hard-headed. He still fed them, gave them a pillar of fire for protection, was in the cloud to lead them, and always watching over them. In Psalm 78:40 & 41 it says, "How oft did they provoke Him in the wilderness, and grieve Him in the desert! Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel." When we follow our own path, and seek out our own desires for our future, and want to be adored by the masses, we are provoking Him and grieving Him. We are limiting God on what He can do for us. Let's take God out of the box we put Him in, and let Him be God like only He can do! He is a BIG God and He desires to give us good things, perfect gifts, and grace. We have to turn from evil thinking and idolatry. 

If we do these things, He promises to forgive our sins and heal our land. We need God now more than ever before. Things are getting worse in the world instead of better, but we knew that it would. These are just signs for the Christians. Jesus told us what to watch for. These are the days of healing and restoration if we will let Him. Are we standing in His way? Have we been treating God like a spiritual Santa Claus? We have our lists and we want Him to check all the boxes and then we run off to do whatever we want with little to no gratitude for the things we are blessed with. Our Heavenly Father wants regular visits with His children. He wants your time, your focus, your passion. He wants you to love Him and serve Him. He is a wonderful Father and He has promised us amazing things if we will follow Him and allow Him to lead us.

I hope that you have a wonderful weekend. Some of you may be working, and others may be about to enjoy a three day weekend with Martin Luther King, Jr Day on Monday. Spend some time with God this weekend. Give Him the firstfruits of your day. Give Him your very best and watch what He will do. I hope that something I have shared today has given you strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Clarity | Thankful Thursday

Thankful for clarity?

I have been fasting this month. I do not say that to boast, because I could not do that if it wasn't for the Lord helping me. I am on a 21 day fast where I have chosen to give up one of the biggest conveniences in my life: fast food. I am on the road a lot. I travel a lot for work. My schedule is such that I can be pretty flexible with my schedule so if I want to run through a drive-thru and grab something to eat I am able. Giving up fast food has turned out to be a bigger sacrifice that I first thought it would be. But something happens when we fast and pray. God always hears and answers our prayers, but when we add fasting to our prayer life, it takes things to a deeper level. God starts revealing things to us. I have been seeking clarity in some areas of my life and He is definitely bringing it.

My word for the year is FOCUS. This is quite interesting, because I thought it was PLANS at first. Turns out as I was seeking God at the altar that God spoke to my heart that I am to FOCUS on Him. He said He has great PLANS for my life this year. He will bring it all to pass as long as I remain laser-focused on His Word, His love, His goodness, His grace, and His mercy.

One of the things I got clarity on was my writing. I am to stay on task for writing three blog posts a week. I am also supposed to finish the last portion of edits so my book, "Who Wants The Bread," can be published and made available to anyone who wants a copy. I have had multiple people ask about the Youth Prayer Journals and so I am excited about getting those uploaded as well. The Youth Prayer Journals turned out even better than I expected. I give God all the glory and honor. It was absolutely His ideas and design.

If you need clarity today for something you are going through, turn to God. He will give you wisdom and help you make your decisions. He is for you and not against you. He wants us to ask Him for things we lack in our lives. He is there to strengthen us, settle us, and surprise us with His wonderful blessings.

HABAKKUK 2:2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

It is important to write down the vision we have for our future, including what God's plan is for our future. If we keep it simple and read it often, we can focus on where we are headed. God has done miraculous, wonderful, supernatural things in 2021 for us, but we are now in 2022. He is going to do big things this year, too. He has already done some wonder-working, awe-inspiring things this month. We have to keep the vision in front of us so we can run! We need to move forward rapidly to be a part of all that God is doing around us.

HEBREWS 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

We have to focus on Jesus and not take our eyes off Him. He is the author of our faith; it originated with Him. He is the perfecter of our faith. He finishes the work He has begun in us just like He said He would in Philippians 1:6. He endured the cross, so if we think this year is going to be all pleasant and delightful with no pain or discomfort, we are missing the work Jesus did on the cross. This year began with laying to rest my husband's uncle. We have had some fun times and happy moments so far this year, but it has not been without its share of disappointments and sad times, too. If we focus on Jesus, the rough times will be smoother and the good times will be even better.

COLOSSIANS 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

The more we keep our eyes on Jesus and focus on heavenly things we will be content with where we are now. Storms may rage around us and threaten to destroy our vessels but God is with us and we will survive. This verse is one I am memorizing this month. It is important to set the things we care about the most in heavenly storage. The key to getting clarity is to stop looking around at the circumstances, or checking bank statements over and over, and to avoid letting these trials get us down. I once read a quote that says, "Ships don't sink because of the water around them; ships sink because of the water that gets in them. Don't let what's happening around you get inside you and weigh you down." I love that quote. It is so true.

JAMES 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

What a great verse to encourage and uplift us. If any of us lack wisdom, we can ask our Heavenly Father, and He will generously give it to us without ridiculing us or putting us down for not knowing. I always disliked asking someone to tell me what something meant and then they end up making fun of me for not knowing. God never does that to us. He is willing and able to give us all the wisdom we need to navigate through this life.

I thank God for the clarity He has given me on many things already this month. What are some of the things you are thankful for today?

Stay thankful! God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Psalm Chapter Two | Bible Study Wednesday

PSALM CHAPTER TWO BIBLE STUDY

Verse one begins with a question. "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?" That is a question that we can ask today. Why are the nations so angry and come up with malicious plans? It goes on in verse two and three to say the rulers of the world get together and they come up with an evil plan to come against God's anointed people. They want to break off the bands that hold us together. These evil kings and rulers are against God. They want to separate themselves from God and anything to do with following His commands and rules. They would rather be slaves to sin and darkness than to be bound to God and His light and His love.

These first three verses are so timely for the age in which we live. There is evil all around us and it seems like the kingdom of darkness will push their agenda at any cost. How far will they go? I shudder to think of how far they will push their wicked schemes. We see death celebrated: it is glamorized and sensationalized by television shows and movies where death scenes are gruesome and chaos is embraced. Confusion and senseless violence fill the screens and draw many away from the plans God has for us and down a wide, overly crowded road to destruction. We must wake up and take notice of what is happening all around us.

Verse four says God will laugh at these people. He will have them in derision. What is derision? It means He will mock them and ridicule them. They think they are coming up with a plan that God knows nothing about, to destroy the very ones He has redeemed unto Himself. God thinks that is funny! It is laughable to the Creator of all that His own creation should think they can outsmart Him, or overpower Him. It did not go well for satan when he tried that in heaven and it will not work now. 

In verses five through eight, He speaks in anger and distresses them in His fierce fury. God says, "I have installed My King on My holy hill of Zion." The Lord tells us we belong to Him. We are His Sons, His children, and He has begotten us today. He is our Father. He tells us to ask Him for the nations and it will be ours. We are given power to break them with a rod of iron and destroy them like a potter's vessel.

The final three verses is a warning and a blessing. Verses 10 through 12 warn the kings, the judges, the rulers of this world to act with wisdom. They are to serve God with fear in reverence and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Embrace Him and love Him so that God's anger is not kindled against the people and everyone is destroyed. Blessed, we are called, who put their trust in God.

It is not popular with the world right now to say this, but I am going to say it anyway. If we have not put our trust in God and what He can and will do for us, then we are like the rulers in the beginning of this chapter. We are blessed when we run to God, our Father, and put our trust in Him. The world is losing their minds over what to do. Listen to the mandates and rules they keep trying to put into place. It confuses everyone. Some say get out and don't let fear keep you from living your life. Others say stay isolated and you will not get sick. Some say they trust in medication and unknown treatments. Others say they need more information, and yet others say, "Not on your life!!" Cloth masks are okay in some places, but banned in others. Some say wear N95 and others say surgical masks are okay, and yet others say a thin, plastic face shield will suffice. Keep your distance? No, mingle. No, do both! It is back and forth. Right and wrong. Division, division, division and it equals great loss. We need something to cling to, something to hold on to when times get rough. We need an anchor and we have One. His name is Jesus Christ.

There is always a major issue to deal with. Sickness, disease, racism, abortion, suicide bombers, earthquakes, locusts, wildfires, drought, famine, wars, rumors of wars.... sound familiar? Did the Bible say we would live in dangerous times when the end is near? It does! So, when we see these warning signs it is time to put our hope and trust in Jesus as our Savior. When He comes back, He is looking for His Bride. The spotless Lamb is looking to take His people Home and the only decisions that will matter is how you prepared for eternity. Please do not skip over this second Psalm and think it is just ancient writings and obsolete. This is such a timely message. If you do not know Jesus, then please do not wait. Do not put it off any longer. I am begging you to trust Jesus and accept Him as your Lord and Savior. He is waiting for you. He loves you. He wants you in His family. He died to save you and He is waiting on you to let Him in your heart.

I hope that you have learned something new in this second chapter of Psalms. I plan to stay in the book of Psalms until God tells me to do something else, or until we reach the end of the book. These psalms are so important to read and study and dig into. There is so much treasure to be gained by taking the time to read your Bible. Pray and ask God to reveal to you what He wants you to know. Let Holy Spirit teach you like only He can. I pray that something I have shared today has been strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Working It Out This Weekend | Fuel For The Weekend

What are you working on this weekend?

I do not have to work this weekend and I am really thankful. I have a lot to do and it seems like I just get going good on a project and then I have to stop and get ready for bed. There never seems to be enough time to tackle everything on my to-do list. I save a lot of things for the weekend but it would be really nice to have a break and not really have any special plans for the days I am off. What are you planning on doing this weekend?

The Bible tells us some things we need to be doing, not just this weekend, but each and everyday. There are a few verses over in Colossians chapter three that I want to cover. I hope this gives you some insight on what God expects from us. I will be working on these things and I will be praying God strengthens you for the work He is calling you to do. Please say a prayer for me, too.

COLOSSIANS 3:12-25 (12)Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; (13)Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. (14)And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. (15)And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (16) Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (17)And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. (18)Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. (19)Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. (20)Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. (21)Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. (22)Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God. (23)And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily; as to the Lord, and not unto men; (24)Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. (25)But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

That's a lot to take in all at once. We will begin in verse 12 and dissect each verse to see what it is that we should be doing according to the Word of God. We may think we know what is expected and we may know in part, but it is always good to read it for ourselves and then ask God to help us get in line with His plans for us. That truly is the best way!

Verse 12 tells us to put on bowels of mercies. What does that even mean? This is a place of tender and sympathetic feelings. The world needs more kind, sympathetic people to meet them where they are, especially in the world crisis we are living in. It says to put on kindness. Just like putting a coat on before we go into the cold weather, we should be putting on kindness. We need to be kind to one another. It is a cruel world we live in and everyone we meet is fighting some kind of battle, whether we know it or not. We are to be kind to others, whether they are kind to us or not. What does it mean for us to put on humbleness of mind? It goes along with being meek. It is not thinking more of ourselves than we ought to; realizing we are all flawed human beings and we all need grace, love, and mercy. Do I have to tell you about longsuffering? It is having patience, suffering long with others. We may get frustrated or upset when others do not respond the way we want them to, or as quick as we want them to, but friends may I remind you that you and I are still on the Potter's Wheel. We are still being shaped and formed into the men and women God wants us to be, to reflect His image. We must be quick to help with loving kindness just like Jesus does for us.

In verse 13 it continues the list of things for us to do. It tells us to forbear one another. That means to not punish someone when you have the right to do so. It is being merciful just like God is to us. He does not hold our sins against us after they have been nailed to the cross of Calvary and cleansed by the blood of Jesus. He could have made us all suffer death but instead He gave us eternal life. We are to forgive one another. It does not matter who is right and who is wrong. Choose to forgive those who have wounded you. It is not worth it to hold grudges and harbor unforgiveness in your heart. It clearly says we are to forgive others as Jesus Christ forgave us. And verse 14 tells us above all of the other things we put on, we must not neglect to put on charity. Charity, or love, is the bond of completeness. When you love others you will want to show them mercy and kindness and think more about them than you do yourself. You will quickly forgive because you know what it is like to be forgiven.

We get a benefit if we are doing these things. Verse 15 says the peace of God will rule in our hearts. We are called to live in peace and harmony with other believers in the body of Christ, and we are to be thankful. I keep a gratitude journal and I found it changed my whole outlook on life. I journal at the end of the day what I am thankful for. I have a little journal I like to write my top three things in. I have another journal that I just write a few sentences. It caused me to focus more on the good things in my life than on the bad. It changed how I looked at things I once perceived as negative. Now I can see good in nearly any situation. It is wonderful how many benefits come from having a thankful heart.

None of these things come naturally to us. We only know to do good things from reading God's Word every single day. In verse 16 we are urged to let the Word of Christ live in us richly in all wisdom. When we fill our minds with the things God wants us to know, to learn, and to do we will respond in a way that pleases Him when troubles and trials come our way. We are to teach and encourage one another, warning each other of danger that comes from living apart from God. We do that in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. We are to sing with grace in our hearts to the Lord. We do not sing to one another, but our audience is One: Christ Jesus. 

You may already know what you plan on doing tomorrow and all weekend long. You may have everything planned and ready to go. So verse 17 applies to you, too. It says no matter what you do or say, do it all in Jesus's name and give thanks to Father God by Jesus. No matter what we say or do, it should always honor our Heavenly Father and glorify the work Jesus did on the cross. Whether we are going on a trip, spending time with others, or doing routine housework, we should make sure we are loving others and following the principles found in God's Word.

Verses 18 through 21 are directed to the family unit. We wives are supposed to honor our husbands and respect them as the spiritual leaders of our home. We are to respect their authority and place as head of the home. We should be praying for our husbands who have a great responsibility to lead us and the children. Husbands should love their wives and not be bitter against them. If they come home to someone who is constantly complaining, ignoring them, saying unkind things about them to the children or others, it could be hard to want to come home. We need to make sure our home is a safe place for them. We want them to find refuge in our home from the unkind, cruel world. They shoulder much responsibility and will have to answer for the way they led their families and we must not hinder them. Children are reminded to be obedient to their parents because this pleases the Lord. It makes Him happy to see the family unit working properly. It will not be perfect but if we follow God's guidelines it can be close. Fathers are instructed not to provoke the children because it can discourage them. A child who is picked on and teased mercilessly will tend to rebel and withdraw. We have to be so careful to love our children and rear them in the fear and admonition of the Lord. They will get enough provocation from the world.

When we work for someone we are to do our best, not in order to please them or get a promotion or self-gain, but so we can honor God with all we do. We do not earn salvation by doing good works, but when we know what a tremendous sacrifice Jesus made for us, it will cause us to want to do whatever we can to honor Him and please Him. We may get a paycheck from that employer but our provision comes from God and He will choose any company or organization He desires to meet our needs, so we need to work enthusiastically and sincerely for God when we go to work. If we are doing yard work, we need to do it to the best of our ability, thankful for the opportunity to do things that others may not be able to do. If we have the mindset that we want to honor God with our words and actions, we will find the day goes better and we have that peace ruling in our hearts. We know from verses 24 and 25 that God rewards our efforts. We will either be blessed because we have done the things that please God, or we will be punished for doing wrong. God does not play favorites. He does not bless one person and harm another. He daily loads us with benefits. He loves us so much that He has ransomed us from our sinful ways and redeemed us to be a part of God's family. We have eternal life to look forward to.

I hope that if you have any bitterness in your heart toward others that you will take it to God and ask Him to help you forgive and forget. Let Him help you mend the breach so that you will be surrounded by peace and joy and love. I am going to work on these things today and all weekend and not just for a few days. I want to make this a way of life. I have been working on it for years now and I know God continues to help me learn and grow as He continues to shape and mold me into His image. I hope and pray something I shared today has been strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

What Is Love? How Should We Love? | Thankful Thursday

 

Thankful for love???

Love is a word that is thrown around all of the time. It is one of the most overused words in the English vocabulary. We love ice cream. We love sunny days. We love weekends. We love paydays. We may enjoy those things and really like them, but to emphasize how much we care for those things we say we love them. I did an experiment a few years ago. I intentionally listened to times I said I love something. I would immediately correct it. I might have said, "Oh I love this show!" I heard myself say that and I was like, wait a minute, I do not love this show. I like it and enjoy watching it, but I do not love this show. So then I said, "I mean, I really like this show." And whoever I was talking to would kind of laugh it off and probably thought I was crazy because we are so accustomed to hearing love be thrown around like confetti at a New Year's party.

I want to share some scriptures on what the Bible says love is and a few verses about how the Bible says we should love. Valentine's Day will be coming up in mid-February. In stores now you will find Valentine's Day themed cards, mugs, kitchen towels, fuzzy throw blankets and more. Our culture will try to insist that it is a day of love and encourage us to spend as much money we can on candy, flowers, cards, and decorations. It is insinuated that if one does not participate in purchasing this plethora of loveliness, then our love may not be sincere. I do not care to discuss the practices of our modern age. I want to go to the Ancient of Days and hear what He has to say about it; after all, God is love. He loves us and it is something He does well. It is a part of His character. God is love. You cannot have love apart from Him. If you are curious about what the Bible has to say about the subject of love, you will enjoy today's blog post.

PROVERBS 10:12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

In Proverbs, King Solomon shares his wisdom about love and hate. He says that hatred stirs up strife. When a person hates another person, it is difficult for the two to have a civil conversation. Instead of listening with an open mind, they are tainted by their feelings for one another and a simple statement can lead to an argument. One might say, "I didn't mean it like that." The other person may reply, "It sounded that way to me. You are always saying things like that." And on and on it goes. Hatred is the opposite of love. You take two people in love with one another and mention a flaw the one has and listen for the comment they make. "Oh, I don't know. I think he is cute when he's angry." And say something to him about her, "That's just something I love about her." They overlook one another's flaws because they love one another. This happens a lot after someone dies. Many times you would think the deceased was the perfect person to walk the face of the earth. No one but Jesus is perfect but when we love someone, we tend to focus on their good features and we overlook their faults. The Bible says love covers all sin. There is no record keeping. It is just loving each other and realizing we are all human.

PROVERBS 15:17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox (fatted calf) and hatred therewith.

What a picture this proverb is! It is better to have a nice salad with love in the home than eat a juicy steak dinner where you are hated. The food will taste better when you are enjoying a meal with someone you love than if you are elbow to elbow with someone who hates you. Think of that concept. Have you ever been somewhere and you could cut the tension with a knife? The meal is just not as enjoyable and I have been known to lose my appetite in the middle of conflict. If I am on a date with my wonderful husband and we are eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches it would be far tastier than a meal mixed with strife.

MATTHEW 24:12 And because iniquity (lawlessness) shall abound, the love of many shall wax (grow) cold.

In the New Testament, the disciples privately approached Jesus to ask Him to give them some things to look for signifying the end of the world. Jesus wanted them to know what to watch for, and He wanted us to know, so that we were not deceived. He wanted it to be crystal clear what would happen as time marched on and our world's end was nearing. We are in the end times. I am not saying the world will end tomorrow, but we are in the final chapters of this world's existence and just like you can see the book pages getting fewer and fewer as you approach the end of the novel, Jesus gave us some things to watch for, too. 

How interesting that we find a correlation to lawlessness and a decrease in love. Jesus said that because iniquity would increase and things would get worse instead of better, many people would love less. This is so evident today. People who once would smile and wave, even though you were strangers, today are fearful and do not even make eye contact. No one wants to be in close proximity to others because of sickness abounding in our world. I held the door for an elderly couple and they stood there looking at me, not sure if they should slide past me holding the door for them. I grew up doing this and it's second nature to me, to hold the door for someone who is older or disabled. People commit crimes and instead of knowing whether the person arrested is actually guilty or not, we have already sentenced them to life with no parole. Look at this country right now, the UNITED States of America has been the disjointed and disconnected States of America. There is division about nearly every topic on anyone's minds and it is ripping this country apart at the seams. The love of many is definitely growing cold.

JOHN 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if he have love one to another.

Jesus taught us that the world is watching us. They are looking at how we treat one another. The moment we start acting like the world, passing judgment instead of offering grace, we lose our witness. Jesus said the world will know we belong to Him if we love one another. The world may lose their minds and treat each other with malice and unforgiveness but it should not be done in the Church. The Body of Christ, God's chosen people, should not be named among those who are disrespectful, unthankful, and unholy. It should not be! It is our biggest witness that we love Jesus and that He loves them! If I am verbally wounding others who have not yet come to Christ because I think my righteousness will get me somewhere, I will never win anyone to Christ. My righteousness is as filthy rags according to Isaiah 64:6. If I hear of someone struggling with addiction and I come alongside them, offer them some hope, help, and grace, then they are more willing to listen to me speak about Jesus. They do not care what I have to say until they realize they are not in danger of venomous words. We have to love others!

JOHN 15:10-14 If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Jesus once again tells us what to do to love like He did. He was willing to lay down His life for us and if we are willing to do the same, then we are going to honor Him. You may not actually have to take a bullet for someone. You may not have to die for a neighbor or someone, but then again, you may. Look at the firefighters who run in to burning buildings when everyone else is running out. Look at the courageous men and women in the military willing to leave home, family, friends, and all they own to die for their country if it is required. Think of the incredibly brave men and women and children all over the globe who will die with Jesus on their lips instead of denying Him and living a longer life. This is the greatest form of love. To love others more than your own life.

I am so thankful that Jesus loves me so much that He died for me. He died for all of us. He chose obedience which meant death on a cruel cross, for sins He never committed. His motivation, the driving force behind His decision, was love for the Father and love for us. He was the only One able to redeem us. So He did. I am so thankful for the times He explained what love is and how to love and how to live in a loving way to honor Him. I barely scratched the surface of what all the Bible says about love. I will end with one last scripture on love. It sums it all up and it is for every single human on the face of the planet. No discrimination. No rules. No regulations. No money required nor accepted. It is a free gift of grace and mercy and love.

JOHN 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

What a beautiful promise He offers all of us. Do not let the day end like it began. Trust the Savior. Put your hand in His nail scarred hands and let Him lead you Home. He loves you so much. Accept Him as Lord and Savior. Pray earnestly from your heart and allow Him to set you free. You will never regret it and you will truly never be the same again.

I hope that something I shared about love today has given you strength for your journey and light for your way.

God bless you,

Bridgett Owens

Psalm Chapter One | Bible Study Wednesday

PSALM CHAPTER ONE BIBLE STUDY

Verse one says those are blessed who choose not to live their lives after ungodly advise. Blessed are those who choose not to spend time with the ungodly. Blessed are the ones who do not sit and fellowship with scorners. The book of Proverbs tells us in chapter four, verse 14, "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men."

The Psalms are written by David, Moses, and others. My Bible does not say who wrote this first Psalm but it is one of my favorite passages to read. It is packed with wisdom; real-life, timeless knowledge that has remained true through the ages.

So if the blessed person is one who does not do those things, what should they be doing? Verse two tells us that they delight in the law of the LORD and think about it day and night. These people are actively pursuing the things of God. They check in with Him before they make decisions or go about their day. These are the ones who have focused on putting God first in their lives and the Bible calls them BLESSED. In Joshua chapter one, verse eight it reads, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make they way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." Staying in the Word of God is key to being successful in 2022.

The promise of God to those blessed people, (which includes you and me if we are doing those things), is found in verse three. You and I will be like a tree planted by a water source like a river. The roots go deep and are watered by the river. We can plant ourselves in the center of God's Will. He is the Water of Life and we are to drink freely. He sustains us. He nourishes us. He refreshes us. In time, in the right season, we will produce fruit that shows we are rooted and grounded in Christ Jesus. The things we say, the way we do anything, the way we treat others will all reflect back on our relationship with Jesus and we will bear much fruit. 

The Bible says our leaves won't even wither. This is huge!!! The scorching sun beats down on the plants and when it hasn't rained and it has not been watered, the leaves dehydrate and shrivel up. If we get away from the source of life-giving water, which is Jesus Christ, then we will dehydrate. We will become sick, and dry and we will collapse. The Christians who crawl through troubles and tribulations are those who have been disconnected from the water source. They need refreshing from the well that won't run dry! If you can relate and you say, "2021 drained me dry," then I have great news for you, get up, crawl if you must, but go to the source of the living water. His name is Jesus and call upon Him. Ask Him for a refreshing and watch Him do it.

We get disconnected from the life-sustaining water source when we take our eyes off Jesus as the author and perfecter of our faith. When we grow weary in the waiting, we look at the circumstances and temporary situation we are in. This distraction has now caused us to worry, doubt, fear the future, and lose hope. We start to dehydrate. The situation God placed us in for a time, but not forever, has now become a source of despair and with the disconnection to the well of Living Water, we are now collapsing beneath the weight of the worry and sorrow we have allowed to take up residence in our hearts. If we had remained connected to the Living Water, we would have been unmovable. Have you ever seen a tree near a river? Those things are huge! They are strong and you cannot budge them an inch! They are steady and unmovable. That is the way God wants us to be: strong and unmovable regardless of what is going on around us. Snow and bitter cold may be near the icy stream but you cannot knock that tree down! Extreme heat and dry ground may be around the tree but the roots are down into that river and it is not going anywhere!

Jeremiah chapter 17, verses 7 & 8 read, "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green: and shall not be careful (or anxious) in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit." The key to producing fruit when others are not, when the circumstances around you says you should be failing, too, is remaining connected to the God who can never fail. How do we do that? We look to God, hope in His Word, and trust Him to see us through. We understand that things are tough and less than ideal, and maybe even scary, but we know our God is bigger and capable of bringing us out better than when we entered.

What about those who choose to live life on their own terms? We were given the choice to follow God or to say no and do our own thing. God will never force anyone to serve Him or love Him. He does not desire robots to do His bidding, but rather desires a relationship with His children that He loves so much. The Bible has a promise for them, too. Verse four says that these promises are not for the ungodly. They are life chaff, not much substance to them, and when the wind blows it scatters them. They are not steady, they are not secure. They are blown away and separated from the familiar and what once held them together. Job 21:18 says it like this, "They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away." Isaiah paints a vivid picture of what this look like. In Isaiah 17:13 it reads, "The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind." Chaff is the unusable part of wheat. It gets discarded. We are to be like the wheat and not the chaff. Let's remain rooted in Christ so we can be useful to Him and not blown away when life's storms threaten us.

One day God will return for His people. We all face the judgment seat of Christ. Some will see that they have been washed in the blood of the Lamb and are wearing the righteousness of Christ. They will receive the crown of life that has been promised to them. Others will stand before God as judge and jury. He will have Jesus sitting right by His side and they will be without excuse. The perfect Lamb of God offered them the gift of eternal life and they refused. Verse five says this, "Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment." Remember the way the leaves collapse without water? These trees were never rooted and grounded. Their leaves always dried up and withered and were unable to stand erect. These people are unable to stand in the day of judgment. There is nothing they can do but bow the knee and confess Jesus Christ is Lord, though they will forever be separated from Him. Verse five goes on to say, "Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous." God will separate the sheep from the goats. There will be no sinners among the congregation of the righteous. The righteous made a choice to follow Jesus and live for Him. There is no fellowship with sinners because they do not want to hear about the things of God. They do not want to praise God or talk about His goodness or read His Word. So they will not be found in the congregation of the righteous. Why would they be? They do not desire to be among God's people.

The sixth and final verse says that the LORD knows the way of the righteous. In Psalm 37:18 & 19 we read, "The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied." What an incredible illustration of how good God is. When the rest of the world is starving, God's people will be not only filled, but satisfied. They will have more than enough! The end of verse six is this, "but the way of the ungodly shall perish."

Today is the day of salvation. If we are rooted and grounded in Christ, we have promises to be: sustained, satisfied, helped, refreshed, renewed, and bear fruit. If we are not, we have a chance today to get connected to the life-giving Living Water of Jesus Christ. If you once were rooted and grounded but you feel yourself slipping away, leaves withering, collapsing beneath the load of care, it's not too late for you. Plant yourself in the Word of God and allow the fertile soil to give you nutrients you are longing for. Stay by the River of Life and allow your roots to be hydrated by the source that will never run out. Come back to the refreshing stream.

I want to pray with you all before we end our Bible Study session today,

Heavenly Father,

I thank You for my friends and family that read my blog. I do not know every single person You lead here but I am thankful for them just the same. Lord I am asking that You bless my brothers and sisters in Christ who are planted by the streams of Living Water. I ask that You continue to bless them and nourish them like only You can. Father God, I am asking that You would show my brothers and sisters who were once deeply rooted and grounded in You, how to make their way back to You. Your arms are always open and You love them so much. Help them plant themselves in Your perfect will and help them to heal and refresh and renew at Your healing waters. Raise them up God so their leaves never wither or dry up. And God I am asking that You would save those who do not know You. You love them so much You sent Your Son Jesus to die on the cross of Calvary to give them eternal life. He died but You raised Him from the dead and I ask that Your resurrection power would quicken the spirits of those who do not know You. LORD I pray that they would forever be changed and would begin to grow roots that will ground them to You and Your Word in the precious name of Jesus. Amen

I hope something you have read today has given you strength for your journey and light for your way.

God bless you,

Bridgett Owens