Archives for July 2019

July 30, 2019 by smattern 2 Comments

Beyond Your Expiration Date

When my feeble life is o’er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

Just a Closer Walk with Thee
By: Anonymous

Listen as you read. This is a really nice gospel instrumental version.

We turn our attention back to Just a Closer Walk with Thee and consider the implications of doing so when we come to the end of our lives. When you can see the end clearly, it helps you determine which steps to take, and tuning our hearts to the reality of eternity is a part of that exercise. This week let’s spend some time thinking about what it will be like to live beyond time. Let’s tune our hearts.

Feeble

Now there’s a word not in common use today. The phrase that comes to mind for me when I think of feeble is from another great hymn, “O Worship the King”. It describes us this way, “Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail.”

The older I get the more I understand the truth of that poetic expression. We are made of dust, and it is impossible to escape that reality. Existing simultaneously with it is another reality expressed in the wisdom of Solomon.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11 ESV

Though we are increasingly mindful of our mortality, even it causes us to be more helpful of our eternal state. God is there from the beginning to the end. We were not there at the beginning, but will be at the end.

Our advancing years reveal the frailty of our physical bodies. We get stronger for a time, then begin the long, slow descent to our eventual demise.

How are you mindful of that today? Are you trusting Jesus in spite of that limitation, and maybe even mores because of it? Thank Jesus for His strength, made perfect in your weakness.

Over

We will come to our end. That is well established. There is no good argument against this encroaching reality.

There is a plot in the ground waiting for each of us, unless of course we choose cremation instead, but you get the point. I routinely face this as I have the privilege of serving families at the funerals and memorials for their departed loved ones, but it came painfully close this spring when my father died.

I had watched his painful decline over the last couple of years in particular as his body became increasingly feeble, no longer able to do the things he had previously. Then on a day back in March I heard what was still the somewhat surprising news that he had taken a turn for the worse and within a short period of time had come to his end. Though I could see it approaching, his final demise was still difficult to fathom, only comforted by the confidence I have that He is with the Lord.

He was gone from this life. His journey here was over. Never more was this more clear than at the graveside when we said our final goodbyes, for now. There in the cemetery it is clear what eventually happens to us all, which we are inclined to try to ignore.

If your life to be over today, are you prepared? Do you have a peace about what is in store for you beyond the grave? Does that confidence rest in Jesus? If so, you can face the end of your time here assured of what is to come. Thank Jesus for the confidence.

Time

As we tune our hearts against the impeding reality of the the passing of time, are you conscious that as each second ticks away you are nearing your final ones. It is hard for us to imagine it, but we all have expiration dates. They are not printed on a label somewhere, but that makes them no less definite.

It is wise to embrace this truth. One of the ways we acquire such wisdom is actually in the numbering of our days, or as the old adage puts it, to acknowledge our days are numbered. Not only is there an incredible order in that, but an awareness that we can then translate into the decisions we make. For some people act as though they will live forever, when all of us know that is not the case.

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 ESV

Though it is wise to number your days, the promised wisdom actually emerges from doing so. To put it another way, wisdom is not in counting the grains of sand, but acquired by the discipline of doing so. When we are willing to face our mortality, only then are we truly ready to embrace the promise of immortality which our walk with Jesus affords.

No More

Time has run out. Strange to think of it in the past tense? That will be true of each of us at some point. We will look back at a life lived, like the last grains of sand having passed through the hourglass.

We can do so with hope. Now, simply hope. Then, hope fulfilled. We can approach the end of our feeble lives, the end of time as we know it, with peace. At rest with our frailty and our mortality.

Do you have the hope, that peace, that rest? You can. Then the confidence that Jesus will guide you safely to heavenly shores will flood your soul. More on that in our Thursday Thoughts.

I hope you will come back and tune with us again, but for today make certain to enjoy the resources below which are companions to these Tunings.

Honest Tuning!

Jesus, make me mindful of how feeble this life is so I may escape the temptation to put my hope it in. Instead, teach me to number my days, and gain wisdom from resting in You. In Jesus name. Amen.

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Subscribers enjoy this video! Everyone else, the transcript below.

Video 7.3 Transcript

Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.

When my feeble life is o’er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

We live our lives at times with little awareness internal or otherwise that this life is but a vapor. We become increasingly aware as we grow older how frial our lives are becoming. Have you determined to trust God through all your days, whether many or few?

There are two realities of time in play here. First, our time is running out, for we are mortal, we each have an expiration date. Second, it is difficult to imagine what it will be like to be beyond time, living eternally. Ask Jesus for an eternal perspective.

If Jesus answers our prayer and teaches us how to walk closely with Him, it will be much easier for us to trust Him with the last leg of our journey here, even as the rest commences. Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to teach you to trust His gentle leading in these days.

That way, we those moments come for you to step beyond time and into eternity it will be as peaceful as slowly coming to rest on the calm shores of a placid lake. That is what awaits all those who walk closely with Jesus. Determine to walk one step behind Him today.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.

Sing

Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, be Resonant.

Image Attributions
Feeble Life – https://pixabay.com/photos/born-died-life-lifespan-cradle-1264699/
Over – https://pixabay.com/photos/cemetery-grave-graves-tombstone-989920/
Sands of Time – https://pixabay.com/photos/pocket-watch-time-of-sand-time-3156771/
No More – https://pixabay.com/photos/time-clock-hourglass-hour-1817726/

July 25, 2019 by smattern Leave a Comment

What If You Could Text Jesus?

I may have doubts and fears, my eyes be filled with tears,
But Jesus is a friend who watches day and night.
I go to Him in prayer, He knows my every care,
And just a little talk with my Jesus makes it right.

Just a Little Talk with Jesus
By: Cleavant Derricks (1909-1977)

Listen as you read. This is an updated version of this old hymn.

On Tuesday we continued our walking and talking journey with Jesus by remembering how He is our friend always watching over us. And that is a good thing because we face many challenges and difficulties. We can take it all to Him though; but we often fail to do so. Why do you think that is? Let’s think about this.

Go to Him

We have access through our faith in Christ to the throne of mercy. Any time we want to we can lift our gaze from the darkness of this weary world and find that light from heaven which is ever-ready to flood our souls. Unfortunately, we just fail to look up. Ever wonder why?

I think there are a number of reasons. I wonder which of these you may have used, maybe even as recently as today. Here are a few, with some thoughts.

“I don’t want bother Him with this.” As if anything is too small.
“He may not answer.” He always answers, just rarely when or how we wish He would.
“I can probably handle this.” Maybe, but it would be better to trust God and watch for His provision.
“I am not sure what to say.” Just talk to Him and listen to what He is saying to you. Don’t complicate this.
“_____ _____ _____ ___ _____.” Are you mindful of your most common reason for failing to pray?
“I am not really convinced He cares.” Of course He does, that is why He tells us to bring everything to Him.

This last one may be the real reason most of us pray less than we could. Not sure you have been commanded to bring everything to Jesus in prayer? Consider this Scripture.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 ESV

Plain and simple. What should we bring? Everything. How? Prayer. To whom? God.

He Knows My Every Care

Does He really?

Did you notice that last phrase of the verse? “Let your requests be made known to God.” (emphasis mine) What do you think that means?

Most English translations use some version of that wording implying, it seems, that God does not know your requests. That is not what the verse means. Rather, it is another command, this one having to do with the practice of simply presenting these requests to God.

Think of it this way.

Often parents are able to anticipate their children’s needs. Why? Because we love them and we know what is best for them. Sometimes they ask for those things. Sometimes they ask for other things. As parents, sometimes we want to hear their heart expressed. We occasionally even have the answer behind our back in our hand, but we just want to hear and see that longing expressed in making the request known.

In many ways that is also true of God, only His expression of it is perfect! I wonder what He has behind His back for you, waiting for you to ask. Some relief? Some blessing?

Against that backdrop, it truly is a mystery why we do not take more things to Jesus more often. Child are not afraid to ask. Somehow that is a behavior we have learned. How unfortunate.

Just a Little Talk

It is unfortunate because of the impact on us and our situations when we have a little talk with Jesus. When you think of that, what kind of communication comes to mind? A text. A call. A face-to-face. Each have their place and accomplish certain things.

Texting is truly best for communicating simple bits of information. It obviously lacks the emotional component, which no emoji can make up for. When you need an answer to a complex question, this is probably not the best choice. It does however accomplish what it was designed to do.

You: Are you coming to the prayer meeting tonight?

Jesus: Yes, I will be there. 😉

Calling allows you to pick up on the emotion of the other communicant and exchange more commentary than the bare facts. Still you can not see the person, unless you are FaceTiming them. Yes, I believe that is actually a word now. Even then there are other cues that are harder to pick up on unless you are in person.

A face-to-face encounter is the best because you can read the person’s body language in conjunction with what they are saying. If there are inconsistencies they are easier to identify. There is much more connection when you can look someone in the eye, for it is like looking into their soul.

I use this imagery to help you think about your interactions with Jesus. Which of these three characterizes your communication with Him? Is it more bits and pieces, but impersonal? Does it have some genuine interaction going back and forth? Or is it deep and intimate?

Wherever it is in that continuum you can change it. How?

Have a little talk with Jesus. Have several. And keep having them. They will make all the difference!

Jesus, thank You that I can talk with You. My talks with You really make a difference and so I want to do it more. Help me to develop from wherever it is to a deeper level. I find great comfort on the fact that You know every care, but I want to present my requests with greater consistency. Help me please. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Practical Thinking!

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Subscribers enjoy this podcast and the transcript below!

Podcast 8.2 Transcript

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.

I may have doubts and fears, my eyes be filled with tears,

Psalm 42:3 ESV

My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”

Here is a stark and honest description of the weight our souls feel at times, pain within, unbelief without. This is likely not your constant condition, but like the Psalmist and our song writer we all have seasons when we feel this way. Thank God that He and His word acknowledge that.

But Jesus is a friend who watches day and night.

Psalm 121:4 ESV

Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

Take comfort in the fact that though you may cry yourself to sleep in the midst of your torment on the nights you can even get to sleep, the Lord never slumbers, so vigilant is He in His care for you. Indeed, Jesus watches over you day and night.

I go to Him in prayer, He knows my every care,

1 Peter 5:7 ESV

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

We have been commanded to bring all of our cares to Him, yet at times we fail to do so, choosing instead to try to work things out ourselves. How foolish, not to mention disobedient? Jesus cares for you and wants you to talk to Him about everything. What do you need to talk with Him about today?

And just a little talk with my Jesus makes it right.

Philippians 4:6 ESV

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Anxiety appears again in this verse which adds a command to not be anxious to the one to pray. We needlessly carry anxiety. Jesus gladly takes it. Keep nothing back. Give Jesus all your cares and leave yourself with nothing to be anxious about today. Go ahead, do it right now.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.

Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, be Resonant.

Image Attributions
Prayer –https://pixabay.com/photos/looking-up-hope-black-white-906888/
Cares – https://pixabay.com/photos/woman-desperate-sad-tears-cry-1006100/
Talk – https://pixabay.com/photos/phone-communication-connection-2499668/

July 24, 2019 by Sherri Woods 6 Comments

Mind Battles

Hello, my name is Sherri Woods and I will be your journey guide for Wednesday Wanderings. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, to wander means to move about leisurely without a fixed course or goal. The purpose of Wednesday Wanderings is to set aside time to allow Jesus to accentuate our creative mind and fill them with His truths. For Wednesday Wanderings, we will be journeying with Jesus into encounters to heal our mind, body, and soul. You may want to consider utilizing a journal to record what I have termed the “transformational conversations” of your venture.

Watch the Wednesday Wanderings Welcome.

Now that we have cleared our minds of the clutter, we can wander on the journey of examining what it means to Have a little talk with Jesus.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering we explored the components of a transformational conversation. This week we will delve into battles of the mind. When you are ready, you may begin the dialogue of mind talk with Jesus by stating:

” Jesus, I invite you to help me to wander aimlessly into your Presence where my mind, body, and soul can be transfigured. I welcome your truth and a holy encounter with your Word. Illuminate my spiritual senses that my eyes may see you, my ears may hear you, my body may feel you with me, and my heart may receive you.”

PROMISE: Our mind is where our thoughts develop into the actions that keep our hearts captive. If we want to experience transformational conversations with Jesus, it is necessary to acknowledge that our minds are battlefields and to seek a mind of Christ that will take our thoughts captive so our hearts can hold the evidence of freedom. Phillipians 4: 6-7 provides us with the remedy for the battles of our mind.

Phillipians 4:6-7 Amplified Version

⁶Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything (every circumstance and situation) by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your (specific) requests known to God. ⁷And the peace of God (that peace which reassures the heart, that peace) which transcends all understanding, (that peace which) stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (is yours).

The scripture instructs us not to BE anxious or worried. It does not say we won’t FEEL anxious or worried. It is human to experience the pain of anxiety that is created when our thoughts lie to us and handcuff us to self-reliance during difficult circumstances. When we are unable to separate our feelings from our being —anxiety and worry accost our hearts, sabotage our mind of Christ, and paralyze us with self-fulfilled future thinking.

PSALM: The song writer of Just a Little Talk with Jesus transparently shares the battles of his mind in his transformational conversation with Jesus.

Verse 3:
I may have doubts and fears, my eyes be filled with tears,
But Jesus is a friend who watches day and night;
I go to him in prayer, He knows my every care,
And Just a little talk with Jesus makes it right.

The writer acknowledges that thoughts of doubt and fear lead to tears. His confession demonstrates the importance of acknowledgement. Acknowledging in our transformational dialogues with Jesus that we have anxious, fearful, doubtful, judgmental, and worrisome thoughts begins the process of casting our cares upon the one who cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). Casting our cares will lead us to being sustained (Psalm 55:22) in peace and rest.

PARABLE: Verse 3 introduces us to two of the four common battles of the mind. Thoughts become actions. Actions are guided by our feelings. Battles of our mind engage our emotional being to experience feelings of doubt, anxiety, confusion, and judgement.

Four Common Battles of the Mind

The Doubting Mind (indefinite in thoughts which manifest wavering and uncertainty)
The Anxious Mind (worried in thoughts which manifest fear)
The Confused Mind (deficient in wise thoughts which manifest doubt)
The Judgmental Mind (critical in thoughts which manifest suspicions)

The reflections of “what if”, the questions of “how”, the perceptions of uncertainty, and the rationalizations of suspicions paralyzes our PRESENT living.

The remedy to the battle of doubtful, anxious, confused, and judgmental thoughts and feelings is a Mind of Christ.

Phillipians 4:6-7 provides us with the strategies to demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we how to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

In every situation or circumstance to obtain a mind of Christ that is able to capture thoughts we are to:

Pray (Have a transformational talk with Jesus)
Make petitions (Ask for what you need Jesus to do with the battle in your mind)
Offer thanks (Use future thinking the right way to assure yourself that Jesus WILL care for you and your situation)
Continue to make specific requests (Tell God about your doubts and fears, invite Him into your tears and His peace will reassure your heart)

PONDER and WANDER:
When we deliberately take the time to wander aimlessly into the presence of God we build our arsenal against the battles of the mind.

Photo courtesy of Christina Patterson www.belovedwomen.org

The Mind of Christ is obtained in His Presence through a life of prayer (transformational conversations with Jesus). We can use anxiety and worry as barometers. If a circumstance or situation is enough to bring worry or anxiety upon us, it is enough to pray about and cast upon Jesus. Know that any time, any place, in any situation Jesus is petitioning on your behalf to El Roi, the God who sees you.

Lets take some time to wander with Jesus and ponder a few questions. Take a few breaths in and out. In and out. As you breath in invite your spiritual imagination to become activated. As you breath out, release the clutter of concerns and anxieties. Breath in and out.

As you wander with Jesus, invite the Holy Spirit to sanctify your spiritual imagination. Now invite the Holy Spirit to bring to your mind the root of your doubtful, anxious, confused, and/or judgmental thoughts that you battle in your mind. When you are ready, have a little talk with Jesus and ask and record the answers to the following questions.

What is at the root of my doubt, anxiety, confusion, and/or judgement?
When I feel doubtful, anxious, confused, or judgmental where do I feel it in my body?
When I feel doubtful, anxious, confused, or judgmental what does it do to my mind?
When I feel doubtful, anxious, confused, or judgmental what does it do to my soul?

Now that you are aware of these things, with your spiritual imagination view the baseball and baseball mitt. Imagine that the ball represents your cares. As you have a little talk with Jesus, throw them into His hands with the assurance that His hands are big enough to catch every care you throw at Him.

PRAYER: As you Watch the waterfall video invite the Holy Spirit to sanctify your spiritual imagination and pray this prayer.

Water of Life flow within me today. Saturate me with your Presence. Like rushing waters, let your living water drown out the thoughts of anxiety, doubt, confusion, and judgment that attempt to accost my mind. I need you Lord Jesus to help me invite you into the situations and circumstances that feel antagonizing. I do not desire to BE anxious or worried about anything. I know that trust is the antagonist to the emotional upheaval that tries to capture my mind, body, and soul. Help me surrender my self-reliance and solutions to your purposed will and plan for my life. In your Presence I can walk through the shallow waters of every situation without sinking. In the name of Jesus, my mind regulator I pray, Amen.

PRAISE:

Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to offer a praise of thanksgiving. Let the work of your wandering transform your mind into a mind of Christ and the assurance that there is a remedy you CAN choose in the midst of every mind battle permeate your soul.

Then take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

July 23, 2019 by smattern Leave a Comment

Fears and Tears…But Jesus

Just a Little Talk with Jesus
By: Cleavant Derricks (1909-1977)

Listen as you read. This is an updated version of this old hymn.

Last week a little walk, this week a little talk. Walking and talking with Jesus, spending time with Him, changes us and our perspective. I hope you will take a little time today to tune your heart, and tomorrow as Dr. Sherri Woods returns with her second Wednesday Wanderings, a different look at the text we will use to tune today. You can be certain of getting if you are on our list, since it will come directly to your email. If you are not on our list, sign-up today in the box to the right.

Let’s tune our hearts!

I May Have…?

Our text today starts with those words. “I may have doubts and fears”. May have? Will have! Oh yes, I will have doubts and fears, but they will not have me.

It is important not to take things out of context. These first two lines which we will use to tune today are really one thought. I understand the writer is saying that though I may have doubts and fears, I also have Jesus, and that awareness changes everything. We will be examine this more thoroughly, but I think it is valuable to consider the difference between having something and it having you.

We all have doubts. We doubt others. We doubt ourselves. We even doubt God. There is a difference between having doubts and doubts having you, and it is a very important distinction. You see, to have a doubt means simply that you lack certainty in something that may actually be worthy of it. This can be overcome as we allow God to replace our doubt with faith.

It is another matter altogether for doubt to have you. By this I mean that rather than simply possessing some doubt, doubt possesses you. It takes you captive. It overwhelms and controls you, influencing you in ways of which you are not even fully aware. It is possible to overcome even when doubt has you, but it is much more complicated and challenging.

The same is true of fear.

Like doubt, fear comes in a variety of packages and from a myriad of sources. Those listed in the image here are not an exhaustive list, but you quickly get the gist of the different kinds of ways fear manifests in our lives, often masking itself in other feelings. So what are the most prevalent feelings for you which show the underlying root of fear? Helpless, worthless, powerless, inadequate, lost, shameful, etc.

Before we move on to consider the tears they cause, take just a few moments to recount some of the doubts and fear you have, and evaluate if any of them have you. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal them and help you see them clearly.

Tears

We all have doubts. We all have fears. And those doubts and fears fill our eyes with tears on more than one occasion. This is true not only for us, but all others who have professed our faith. The Psalmist indicates as much on numerous occasions. Here is one of the most common.

My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” Psalm 42:3 ESV

See, you are in good company with the very ones who experienced the inspiration of the Scripture. Even they shed tears from doubts and fears. Though it may not feel like much of a consolation now, as you reflect on this reality you will quickly see the universal condition of the human soul.

Life has many challenges. Many of them leave us feeling very powerless and small. But we are never without hope. We will examine why that is true as we tune our hearts to the truth of the next phrase, but first…

Take a few moments and have a little talk with Jesus about the tears you are shedding today or this season. I am certain you do not have to think long and hard for these things tend to be near the surface, but ask Him to reveal anything that might be below the surface so you can deal with that pain and its’ causes.

But Jesus…

So you have done a little inventory or the doubts and fears that are causing the tears in your life. Let’s bring them to the One who cares for you. Your friend. Your shepherd. Jesus.

I do not live in a society that is intimately familiar with shepherding so I do not have a deep experiential understanding of this illustration as used in the Scripture. I can appreciate that Jesus watches over me not like one who is doing a job, but as one who has taken a personal interest in me, in you.

Over the years however I have learned some things about shepherding which have aided my understanding of this powerful image. The most powerful one says a shepherd is willing to go to extreme measures to exercise his care for his sheep. A lamb prone to wander must be taught stay near the shepherd to avoid danger.

If a lamb continues to wander, a good shepherd is willing to break the leg of the lamb and then carry it until it heals, so the lamb gets so used to the shepherds voice it will no longer wander. That seems like going too far, but when you realize if could be the difference between life and death for the lamb, it seems less so.

The same is true for us. I imagine there are some tears the Lord could spare us, but they are worthwhile if through the shedding of them, and the nearness to our Good Shepherd they foster, are are sparred much greater harm. That possibility may give you a much better perspective on the things that have been the source of your tears.

Thank Jesus for being such a good shepherd that He would allow some pain to spare you far more.

Day and Night

Allow me to leave you with one final thought.

Jesus is eternally, continually vigilant in His care for you. Even when you are sleeping, He never is. Not only is He a good shepherd, but He is one who NEVER stops shepherding, even when you are asleep, or in many other ways unaware of His care.

…indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep. Psalm 121:4 (NIV)

That is hard for me to fathom, but I believe it is true. Like that statue looking down upon Rio de Janeiro depicts, Jesus is watching us. He never closes His eyes to us. He never quits. So I can always talk with Him since He is ever inclined to hear from me. Hallelujah!

We will continue to warm our hearts with these truths as we continue considering our conversation with Jesus on Thursday and subsequent weeks, but be sure to take a few minutes and cultivate that heart to converse with Jesus through the video log and transcript below the prayer. The video is available only to our Subscribers, but the transcript is available to everyone. Become a Subscriber today. Simply click here.

Restful Tuning!

Jesus, I have my share of doubts and fears, and they cause me many tears, but You are always watching over me. I believe this, but I pray you will help me walk with a greater awareness of that, especially in those moments when I may be tempted to act like it is not true. In Jesus name. Amen.

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Please comment below and share if you have found this helpful in your journey of being more resonant.

Subscribers and Free Members enjoy this video! Everyone, the transcript below.

Video 8.2 Transcript

Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.

I love the honesty of the opening line. We all have doubts and fears and things that bring us to tears. What sets the believer apart is that we can take all those things to Jesus. What do you need to bring to Jesus today?

There is no friend like Jesus. This reminds me of His suffering in the Garden of Gethsamane when He asked His disciples to watch and pray but they kept falling asleep. Thank Jesus that He is always watching over you.

Because He is always watching over you, He knows your every care, even the ones you have trouble articulating. Fortunately, the Spirit helps you even when you do not have the words to speak. Maybe you need some help like that right now?

I love the idea of a “little” talk. Many words are not needful. Like sitting with a friend who knows you so well that few words get the job done. Some of the together time is spent just being. Spend a few moments right now with Jesus.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.

Sing

Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, be Resonant.

Image Attributions
Doubts – https://pixabay.com/photos/depression-sadness-man-2912424/
Fears – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/fear-emotion-anxiety-vulnerability-2083651/
Eyes Filled with Tears – https://pixabay.com/photos/eye-tear-cry-sadness-pain-emotion-609987/
Jesus is a Freind – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/angst-anxiety-anguish-apprehension-802639/
Day and Night – https://pixabay.com/photos/jesus-christ-redeemer-231724/

July 18, 2019 by smattern Leave a Comment

Lord, You Care

Thro’ this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.

Just a Closer Walk with Thee
By: Anonymous

Listen as you read. This is a great gospel guitar version.

As we established in our Tunings on Tuesday (find it here), God cares for us, even when no-one else seems to. Who can question this, especially when we are the source of the faltering, but even then the Lord cares for us. Let’s think about this.

Toils and Snares

Immediately I think of the similar line from Amazing Grace which speaks about “dangers, toils and snares”. We examined these challenges earlier this year in both a Tunings and a Thoughts. You can find them at those links.

For our purposes here I want to look at this a little differently. Or rather I want to look at one aspect we considered in the aforementioned Tunings a little deeper. That aspect is the reality that all the things that tempt me to wander away from the Lord come from one of three sources.

The World
The Flesh
The Devil

Within that context we acknowledge the toils and snares I face, whether of my own design or someone else’s, are sometimes avoidable and always able to be overcome.

Avoidable

Some of the toil we face is actually our own design. Take the poor sap in the image above. I imagine he feels like he needs to turn that gear, either out of some obligation to someone else, because it is his duty, or maybe for no good reason. I also have to imagine that he probably resents it at some level because it appears futile. There is no end in sight and no apparent benefit to all the work.

Resistible

I think I made up that word. You get what I mean by it, right? Though things sometimes seem irresistible, or unable to be resisted, nothing is truly irresistible. That means everything is “resistible” or capable of being resisted.

It is possible to resist, but it is certainly not easy. Say your are hungry and you come across a lovely piece of cheese laid out there for the taking. Seems simple enough, grab it and go. You reach out to take it and SNAP!, you are caught, if not broken it two.

Obviously, someone set that trap, and it must had been alluring. But it was also avoidable and resistible. I could have chosen to walk away. Alas, there may very well be another one around the corner. Unfortunately, it seems I can not escape them all, even with the utmost exercise of determination.

Now it is just painful. And snares normally are that, as well as dangerous. I mean look at that poor finger. It is turning purple and blue. My soul has turned purple and blue, and yours has too, even as you writhed to escape the snare. Remember that feeling? It is an awful feeling. And it is compounded by the fact that it was all avoidable and resistible were it not for the world, the flesh and the Devil, particularly our flesh.

The world and the Devil usher in no shortage of toils and snares, but if were not for my flesh, they would be avoidable and resistible. My flesh is the weak link here. If we were on our own to face this predicament it would be pretty depressing. But fortunately we are not. More on that in a moment.

If I Falter

Though the writer uses the the word “if” here to describe the possibility of my faltering, I know that a more accurate choice would have been to use not “if” but “when” to describe the certainty of my faltering. Unless we learn to identify and then avoid or resist the toils and snares, we will end up in a lot of trouble and no shortage of pain. Take heart there is some help available on that front. More on that in a moment.

What makes our faltering even worse is that not only do we already feel foolish for not seeing the traps beforehand, but we sometimes find that others are scoffing at our failure to do so. Adding insult to injury as the old adage goes, they not only failure to care to address the injury but do not mind adding insult to the pain.

You probably are very familiar with the emotion associated with the question asked here. “If I falter, Lord, who cares?” Think of a time when you were painfully aware of that feeling. That awareness creates a backdrop for your gratitude to blossom when you realize that even though there will be moments when no one else cares the Lord always does. More on that in a moment.

We all falter, and truthfully far more often than we would like to admit. But when we do, thankfully God does not join in the finger-pointing but rather reaches out a hand to help us. That hand looks different based on the help the Lord is providing.

Sometimes it is a hand of compassion when we are hurting. Sometimes it is a hand of correction when we have done wrong. Sometimes a hand of direction when we have lost our way. Always it is a hand of caring. Unmistakeable caring.

Lord You Care

We are often like little children who have simply lost our way in a dark and dangerous world. Sometimes we are willful in our stumbling and bumbling, but children are too. Fortunately for us, Jesus cares and is willing to meet us wherever we are, if we will simply reach out to Him.

This is a very powerful image. It illustrates for us our predicament and Jesus’ solution. He cares so He steps in our darkness and guides us toward the light. His care in and of itself is a huge part that changes the situation, even before we go very far, just knowing He is with us and for us.

We are all tempted at times to honestly ask the question, “Lord who cares?” But we must also be willing to be equally honest and confess the Lord has said He does over and over again, not to mention the many ways He has also demonstrated that in our lives. Take this Scripture for instance.

Though the Lord is high above all, he cares for the lowly.
Though he is in heaven above, he sees them on earth below. Psalm 138:6 (NIRV)

Many times I have experienced the power of this promise. Even when the cause of what drove me to the low place was of my own design, Jesus still saw me and cared for me. He sees you too.

And how about this expression of His care.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 (ESV)

He is near to us and He saves us. Who can find a better expression of His care? Use the podcast below, available to everyone today, to spend a few more minutes thinking about this powerful truth and allowing it to resonate in your mind, even as you work to remove the things that might otherwise dampen it.

Jesus, thank You for Your consistent care, even in the face of my consistent faltering. Teach me anew today that I can rest in your care for me. Help me to acknowledge Your many expressions of it, so I may find my mind overwhelmed by the cacophony of care You sound into my life each day. Make me resonant! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Careful Thinking!

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EVERYONE enjoy this podcast and the transcript below!

Podcast 7.2 Transcript

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.

Thro’ this world of toil and snares,

Psalm 140:5 ESV

The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net; beside the way they have set snares for me.

Whether toil I choose to engage in, or snares others lay to catch me, this is a troublesome world. There are dangers all around and we must be diligent to stay out of them. Ask Jesus to help you identify toils and snares and then help you to avoid them whenever you can.

If I falter, Lord, who cares?

Psalm 138:6 (NIRV)
Though the Lord is high above all, he cares for the lowly,
Though he is in heaven above, he sees them on the earth below.

The Lord cares for us, even when no else seems to. Though He is high He is not far off, but near. His perspective allows Him to see us and enables Him to act in a way that demonstrates His care. Thank Jesus for caring for you, even at the times you did not know it.

Who with me my burden shares?

Psalm 55:22(ESV)
Cast your burden on the Lord,
and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
the righteous to be moved.

What burdens have you weighed down today? Will you cast them on the Lord? Maybe you are weary of trying to sustain yourself. Use that energy instead to actively give your concerns to God so you can know His sustaining power. Ask Him to help you do that routinely.

None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.

Matthew 11:28-30(ESV)
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

What a gracious invitation, which at the same time is a beautiful reminder that the Lord cares for us. If you want rest from your toils and snares, someone to faithfully share your burdens, then come and take a closer walk with Jesus. Ask Him to help you stay one step behind Him.