God Says... "Call to me and I will answer."

By Peter Pollock

"  God doesn’t hear me..."

How often do we say, or at least THINK this?

Probably all of us know or believe that God DOES hear us… but what we’re really saying is that he doesn’t respond.

I can’t even count how many times my kids have said to me “You’re not listening” when I’m hearing everything they say.

What they really mean is “You’re not responding the way I want or when I want!”

The problem they have is that they don’t always have all of the information I have or they can’t see the bigger picture the way I can.

They use the word ‘listening’ to mean ‘responding the way I want.’

By that definition, God rarely ‘listens’ to me.

A different way of thinking.

None of us are ever going to convince God to do what we want, when we want. It’s just not going to happen.

God knows an infinite amount more than us and sees EVERYTHING.

We only see a tiny amount and we know a lot less than we think we do.

The only answer here is for us to change our way of thinking. We need to go from thinking ‘God’s not listening to me’ to ‘maybe I’m not listening to God.'

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Clear Vision

By Pat

I have finally reached the age that I need to wear glasses for reading purposes, anything close-up, so I bought some "readers" and use them for most of my smaller print reading. When used for this purpose, they are perfect. But yesterday, I left them on while I was walking around the house, and had to take them off. Everything that wasn't in my immediate sight was blurry and distorted and I'm lucky I didn't walk into a wall and bust my head open!

My faith is sometimes just like that. If I can't make sense of what is going on right now, I try to peer into the future and create scenarios for the days ahead that are blurry and distorted. I worry about the days ahead. I forget that today is the only day I have to reckon with, and that by focusing only on what's close-up and right in front of me, and trusting God with my tomorrows, I will be given what I need to successfully complete my tasks for TODAY. Only God can see the distance clearly. My perceptions may be inaccurate and unfocused, but God already has my future mapped out. If I focus on and live just for today, I can see clearly. God can handle the rest...I just need to trust and obey.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."  (Matthew 6:33-34)

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.

Obstacles

By Pat

In Matthew 16:21-29, we read about how Jesus rebuked Peter for trying to prevent Him from the harm Jesus had been predicting would befall Him. Even though Jesus had a great love for Peter, He rebuked him. "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but of men." (Matthew 16:23). He would not allow Peter to prevent Him from the job God had for Him.

Do we rebuke our obstacles? As Christians, we are to push forth with the tasks God has for us regardless of what stumbling blocks are pushed into our path. Whether it's the stumbling block of a loved one, friend, or co-worker, or the stumbling blocks of busy-ness, laziness or complacency, we are to push aside the hindrances and push ahead in our work for Jesus, just as Jesus plowed forth, allowing no one to come between Him and God. It's not always easy, but it's definitely worth it! It would have made the Lord's life much easier if He had permitted Peter to save Him from what He knew was to come, but He also knew He could not be obedient to God if he followed the path of least resistance (often my favorite route, I'm sad to say).

So when you're facing trials and tribulations, remember that God is in it, and that God won't bring you to it if he can't bring you through it. Don't be tempted to take the easy road and find a way around whatever difficulty God has brought you to. If you remain steadfast in the journey regardless of the obstacles, it will all be worth it!

"I  have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
(2 Timothy 4:7)

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.

God says... "You were never meant to understand My Word on your own."

By Jason V (Ponderings of a Pilgrim Pastor)

Be honest: Have you ever read a passage of Scripture and thought, “What in the world is going on here?”  Have you ever thought that maybe God never intended you to be able to understand it on your own.

The Lone Ranger is a quintessentially American style of hero.  The iconic image of the lone gunman, enforcing the law against all odds, is one of our favorite images.  Bruce Willis picked up the Lone Ranger motif in his series of Die Hard movies and Kiefer Sutherland played that role of man-alone-against-all-odds as Jack Bauer in the hit TV series, 24.

In the Middle Ages, images of heroism and villainy were quite different.  The great heroes were those who were most loyal to their Lord or King and who stood with their brothers in arms.  The “Lone Rangers” were the black knights, who were almost always bad guys.  The knight who rode off into the forest alone was perhaps brave but also shifty, unreliable and not to be trusted.

As American Christians, we need to realize how much of our life of faith is shaped by our culture and not by God’s Word.  One example is the belief that every Christian can understand the Bible on his own.  God did not say that in His Word.  Ephesians 4:11-12 says, “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”

The apostles and prophets received God’s Word and wrote it down for us.  Evangelists proclaim the Gospel to unbelievers to bring them to Christ.  Pastors and teachers serve the church by preaching and teaching God’s Word.  Christ calls us to belong to His church, where we can each exercise our gifts in building up the whole body together.  Cut off and left on our own, we just don’t grow and thrive as God intended.

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Trust Like a Child

By Pat

Any time I am with my little grandchildren, I am amazed and how completely trusting they are. When I throw them in the air, they laugh, knowing I will catch them. When we're crossing a street or walk in a parking lot, they hold my hand, knowing that I know when it's safe to proceed. They never question the safety of what we put on their plates, because they know that, even if they don't like it, it's safe to eat it if it's been given to them by someone who loves them.

It reminds me and helps me to truly understand what Jesus meant when He said we must have the attitude of little children. Children trust us to care for them, keep them safe, and lead them. They know we can help with their cut and bruises, and they open their hearts to us with honesty and purity. They don't have to question our motives...they feel safe. How I want to be that way! How I want to show Jesus that same, sweet, childlike love, trust and faith, and stop doubting. I want the same hearts my grandchildren have!

"Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."  (Mark 10:15)

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.