Continuing with Christ

Good morning! I hope you are having a great Saturday. I woke up this morning to my son bringing me his toddler Bible. He said he wanted to read me something. When he opened it up he said "Jesus died on the cross...and rose again." And looked at me and smiled. It was the cutest, most precious thing I have ever seen.

Well, onto my thoughts this morning. Since I was so struck yesterday with Hebrews 4, I decided to continue there. I went on to read the last few verses in the chapter. This is what they said:


"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:15,16

So here it is. The final piece to yesterday's story. Not only are we to find rest in the Lord, but before we do, we are told to bring our cares and concerns to Jesus. Not casually, or carelessly, but with confidence! We are to come bold to the throne! That means we let Jesus know exactly what is going on with us. It means we can cry, laugh, mourn, hurt, be frustrated, confused, exhausted with Him. We can let our hair down and relax our thoughts and emotions at the feet of our intercessor.

The most interesting and wonderful part of these verses, for me, was about receiving mercy and finding grace to help us in our time of need. Ok, let me break it down for you. First we can receive mercy. This is great, this means it's something we can accept. It's something that Jesus can give us just for coming to Him. Wow, if we don't come to Him, we can't receive anything!! Next what we are receiving is mercy. Mercy is compassion. Don't we all need compassion? I don't know about you but this world is jaded, my family is jaded, and my friends are too! A bible commentary I read this morning states: "(literally, fellow feeling from community of suffering)." You know what that means right? It means that since we are approaching the throne, Jesus, He knows what we are going through because he has suffered as if in a community tragedy. Jesus understands what you are going through because HE HIMSELF went through it too! Wow.

So here we are, at the feet of Jesus, our intercessor, our High Priest, who not only KNOWS what we went through because He went through it too, but is able to intercede on our behalf with God the Father. Wow. It's like having a lawyer defend you for a crime you didn't commit, and the lawyer, personally having gone through the tragedy himself, defends you! Let that soak in a minute. I have someone on my side that knows PERSONALLY what I am going through. Don't you think when they are talking to the judge they will be passionate about your case? Don't you think that they will fight tooth and nail for you? Or nail and cross for you? So what we learn is: "Mercy especially refers to the remission and removal of sins." So the lawyer, Jesus, goes in front of the judge, God the Father, and says: "Lord, Lord, this person is innocent! I declare this person clean and holy! Nothing can touch them!" Wow - Jesus is so cool!

Here's where it gets better. The next thing we find at the Throne of Grace is grace itself. Again, in the Bible commentary it says: "grace, to the saving bestowal of spiritual gifts." Ok - so picture it with me again, Jesus in court, in front of the Judge and says: "And not only that Lord, but I request that this person be given back everything you have given them. I request that their life be restored spiritually." Amazing. So we get our sins taken away, washed clean BECAUSE of Christ, and then He says, that's not enough, give them back their gifts, their spiritual fervor for you! So amazing!

Ok - we are almost done. And this is my FAVORITE part - the part that struck me right where I was all last week. Right in the middle of my pain and suffering..."to help us in our time of need." Ok - so this is the part I like because it isn't conditional. This part says WHENEVER you need it! Whenever your life sucks, whenever your hurt makes you want to hurt, whenever you feel hopeless, frustrated, angry, disappointed! The Bible commentary says about help in our time of need: "Before we are overwhelmed by the temptation; when we most need it, in temptations and persecutions; such as is suitable to the time, persons. A supply of grace is in store for believers against all exigencies; but they are only supplied with it according as the need arises...that is, to-day, while it is yet open to us. He is able to succor them that are tempted."

Succor...

NOUN:

1. Assistance in time of distress; relief.
2. One that affords assistance or relief.

Selah...pause and think of that!!

Wow - so again, back at the courtroom...Jesus continues: "And Lord, as it pleases You, I would like to add that this person be able to come to the court at ANY time. Any time they need assistance in a time of distress, anytime they need RELIEF! I request that they be able to come to the court, with me, and address their needs and concerns, and ask for assistance and relief! Wow!! If you don't get it, I will be praying for you :)

In case you need more, I will recap...We have an open throne, a way to get to that throne of grace where God can restore our faith, remove our sins, and relieve our distresses...TODAY, as the need arises, while it is open for us, because He used His Son to take on your sins and hurts and pain, so that He now knows what you are going through, and can have compassion on you! But guess what? It all depends on you! It all depends on whether you are willing to humble yourself, go to the feet of Jesus, ask and RECEIVE!

WOW! I hope this becomes a revelation in your life! I know it has in mine. I love that Jesus understands me and wants the BEST for me. I love that God is so creative that He knew exactly what we needed in our sinful flesh, and allows us to come to Him anytime, through Christ, because of His community suffering!!

I love you and I hope you have a fabulous weekend! Spend some time thanking Jesus for what He died for you! It will turn your mourning into Joy, and your disappointments into Thanksgiving!

Praise be to you Lord, my God, my Refuge and my Strength. Thank you for your awesomeness and power! Thank you for your Words that speak to our hearts~

Blessings,
Cortnee :)

(please see the links above to access the Bible commentaries and verses)

Building your Faith

My latest revelation, breakthrough, what have you, is all about Faith. I have been struggling, like many of us, in these hard economic times. People are losing homes, jobs, and their sense of hope. I have been for 3 years now trying to live by Faith in Jesus Christ. For me, this season is not so new. It has been something that I feel I have been experiencing for these 3 years. Recently I have felt betrayed, brokenhearted, tired, frustrated, unhappy, exhausted and confused. Anyone else?

I know all of the things the Bible says. I have read so many books, listened to all the cd's, watched all the speakers, and done all the Bible studies. I know what I am supposed to do, but I didn't want to do it. I have been mad at God because I am still going through the hard times. I am still having to pay bills by what gets shut off first. I still have to dodge the phone calls and listen to the voicemail messages of people who want money from me. I know what it's like to run a business and not see the fruit of your labor. So I know and understand the struggle. I have been in it, and not always happy about it. I still love the Lord with all my heart and soul. I pray and read the Word every day. I seek His guidance even though I am feeling all of these things.

The point you may ask? Well, I discovered, because even in the middle of my frustration, because I sought the Lord on all these matters, He revealed Himself to me. This morning He led me to a passage in the Bible that I had written on a post-it and put in the front of my Bible. I started reading Hebrews 4:12. It says "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." At first glance, this was not the verse I wanted to read. It was not what I felt I needed in my hurting time. So I decided to read the whole chapter, starting at the beginning of Chapter 4. When doing so, I realized why God brought me there. And don't mistake it, it was God. What he wanted to show me was how the Israelites complained and lost Faith in God while leaving Egypt and heading toward the Promised Land. God did so many wonderful things for them. He split the Red Sea in half so they could pass without being consumed by the waters, and then closed the sea when the Egyptians came after them. Closing the gap between the Israelites, (God's chosen people), and their enemies.

After that, He provided food for them. He dropped it out of the sky and fell on the earth for them when they woke up EVERY MORNING! Wow - talk about breakfast in bed! Then..."By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night." Exodus 13:20-22. Another wow! Can you imagine, sit in it for a sec...I am fed fresh food every morning, I have God in a cloud to direct my path, and then a pillar of fire for night. I don't know about you but our God is amazing!!

Ok - so I am sure by now you are thinking, ok, so what else could He possibly do for them? I will tell you. God finally got them to the Promised Land. This was it. After 40 years, the Israelites are finally at their destination. They were finally home. The Bible says the Promised Land was "flowing with milk and honey." Exodus 3:8. The Lord told them they would have to fight for the land, but obviously it was worth it. There were many bad people living there and God knew they needed to be wiped out so the Israelites could have peace.

So the Israelites decide to send a certain number of people to go to the the Land and look to see what they were facing in regard to the fight. What they saw scared them so bad, they went back to the Israelites and told them they could never overpower the people in the land. They claimed there were giants and there was no way they could do this. Sadly, they missed the point that God was in control of everything, including the fight against the people in the land. Ring any bells?

So here we are, God gave them everything they asked for, or literally complained about, even though that was not what He desired for them. Wow. So God is ticked off at this point, and this is what the Bible says: "The LORD's anger was aroused that day and he swore this oath: ¹¹ 'Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of the men twenty years old or more who came up out of Egypt will see the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob" Whoa! After all that, the years and decades in the desert, relying on God to serve their every need, they decide not to fight, and God decides not ONE of them will enter. Tragic. I can't even tell you how horrible that would be! To finally get to the place where you are going, after half of your life is over, HALF, and not be able to settle in? Not be able to be spoiled once again by the Lord our God? It's not just tragic, it's insanity!

This whole back story is so important because it illuminates the Word I read this morning. In Psalm 95:11 and Hebrew 4:3 the Bible says: "So I declared on oath in my anger, "They shall never enter my rest ." What does His rest represent? The Promised Land, His PEACE, His comfort, His blessings! Do you see it yet? Because the Israelites complained, and feared, and worried, and tried to do things their own way, their ultimate prize...the Promised Land, the rest of God, was kept from them. Wow, thank you Lord! It hit me like a ton of bricks when I realized that because of my complaining, my frustration, my bitterness, and my bad attitude, I was withholding God's rest. I was exhausted, confused, tired, and brokenhearted all because I wasn't resting in the Lord. All I needed to do was stay present. I needed to stay in today and realize all the goodness, all the miracles, all the favor I had already received!! God has already given me a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He has already saved me from my enemies. He already closed the gap, Jesus Christ. He has already shown and proven Himself by sustaining my life the way it is. I have everything I need today. I am being held in God's hand so tight that there is an impression of me in His palm. He knows all and sees all and is always working on my behalf.

MY job, my only job, is to trust. I have to keep the Faith...at all costs! I have to thank God for what He has already done, in hopes of what He is going to do!! That's it. It's so simple, yet my flesh cries out when I try to do these things. That's why you have to do it until you feel it. I wanted to look ahead and complain about the bills that aren't paid, or the lack of business. But I am still here! I am still working, and eating, and driving, and sleeping, and warm and content! God hasn't changed, and yes, my circumstances haven't changed, but I realize now, it's ok. All I need is peace, love and joy. And in order to receive those things, I have to enter into His rest. And how do we do that? Trust, precious, trust.

Praise you Lord for your mercy and goodness!! Without you I would be a pitiful mess...but today...I am a precious mess :)

The Bible says: "But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.If you keep to my path,I will reveal to you the salvation of God.” Psalm 50:23

Let's all give thanks!!

Thank you Lord, my Saviour, my Conqueror, my Healer, my Strength, my Shelter, my Proud Adornment! Praise be to you, forever and ever...

Have a blessed DAY!
Cortnee :)