Video Bible Lesson - When You’ve Wandered Away From God by ARLENE PELLICANE

 1/2 Hour of God’s Power with Scott Ralls

9/11/2020

When You’ve Wandered Away From God

by ARLENE PELLICANE

“Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” John 13:1b, c (NIV)

When our firstborn child Ethan was about four, we decided to lose him in the department store.

Yes, you read that correctly, but let me offer more explanation as to why we intentionally did that.

While he was young, we wanted to help Ethan learn to follow us closely in public places so he wouldn’t get lost. Like most children, Ethan would often run away from us when he saw a beloved toy character on the store shelf. The power of those toys to capture his attention was irresistible!

One shopping trip, when Ethan stopped to examine bed sheets that had his favorite cartoon character on them, we decided to hide around the corner from him. When he looked up from the sheets, we were nowhere in sight … at least not from his perspective.

We had disappeared! His eyes welled up with tears as he stood there, stuck in his spot, not knowing what to do.

About 30 seconds later, my husband James swooped in and picked him up. “Ethan, we have been watching you the whole time. We were just around the corner. We never left you. But this is a big store, and you need to keep your eyes on us so you won’t get lost.”

And from that day forward, he didn’t. He learned his lesson well. I didn’t even have to hold his small hand to keep him near when we went shopping.

Like my son, we have a heavenly Father who guides us through this huge department store called life. There are many distractions along the way — shiny objects that vie for our affection and attention. It’s easy to take our eyes off Jesus, to wander, to get lost. We ask questions like “Where are You, God?” and “How could You abandon me?” Maybe you feel far away from God right now or like you’ve hit a spiritual ceiling you can’t grow past.

Yet even right now, God is near. We cannot shake ourselves from His presence. The psalmist David writes in Psalm 139:9-10, “If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast” (NIV).

Our key verse assures us of the unshakable nature of God: “Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” (John 13:1 b, c). He loved them to the end. Even the cruelest death on a cross could not stop Jesus from loving His disciples and loving us.

There is nowhere you can go and nothing you can do to shake the love of God.

Human hearts are prone to wander, but God’s heart is always toward you. You are never alone or abandoned. As we pivot away from worthless things and turn our eyes toward Jesus, we discover He’s been waiting for us all along!

Dear Jesus, thank You for loving me so much that You went all the way to the cross. Forgive me when I walk away from You, when I turn away from Your laws. Search my heart, and know my thoughts. I choose to follow You today and keep my eyes focused on You — and my future home in heaven. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

2 Thessalonians 2:15-17, “So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” (NIV)

#Jesus, #Christian, #Bible, #Salvation, #Heaven, #God, #HolySpirit

Streams in the Desert

Streams in the Desert

"And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise" (Heb. 6:15).

Abraham was long tried, but he was richly rewarded. The Lord tried him by delaying to fulfill His promise. Satan tried him by temptation; men tried him by jealousy, distrust, and opposition; Sarah tried him by her peevishness. But he patiently endured. He did not question God's veracity, nor limit His power, nor doubt His faithfulness, nor grieve His love; but he bowed to Divine Sovereignty, submitted to Infinite Wisdom, and was silent under delays, waiting the Lord's time. And so, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

God's promises cannot fail of their accomplishment. Patient waiters cannot be disappointed. Believing expectation shall be realized. Beloved, Abraham's conduct condemns a hasty spirit, reproves a murmuring one, commends a patient one, and encourages quiet submission to God's will and way.

Remember, Abraham was tried; he patiently waited; he received the promise, and was satisfied. Imitate his example, and you will share the same blessing.
--Selected

The Judge..... Dr. Charles Stanley

The Judge

Dr. Charles Stanley

Acts 10:42-48

During our life on earth, Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. However, as our days here draw to a close, and especially at the end of time, He takes His seat as Judge and prepares to reward believers for the good things they did in His name.

I think there is a widespread misconception that God the Father will be our judge. But it is Christ who gave us, His followers, the charge to go into the world and make disciples (Matt. 28:19). Therefore, He has been given the right to determine which of our actions and thoughts furthered His goal (John 5:22).

Christ is an impartial judge. He is not influenced by what others think or say, but rather, He determines what is right and good based on His honorable, just standard. We'll be stripped of our worthless works--in other words, the actions and words we used for selfish ambition or vain conceit. All that will remain are the worthwhile things we thought, said, and did to honor God. These are the valuable parts of our lives for which we will be rewarded.

Reward is the whole point of placing believers before the judgment seat of Christ. Shame and guilt over past sin and mistaken motivation have no place there (Rom. 8:1). Our loving Savior is eager to show us our heavenly treasure.

Christ will expose the real you at the judgment seat by casting away the worthless things you've done. What remains will be the man or woman who endeavored to please the Lord. Let us determine to be powerful reflections of our Savior, both on earth and in heaven.

The Discomfort Zone..... KELLY BARBREY

The Discomfort Zone
KELLY BARBREY

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)

I was getting ready to climb into bed after what felt like a pretty good day when I decided to check my email one last time. Scanning through the unread e-newsletters and discount promotions, one particular message caught my eye.

Clicking on it, my heart immediately dropped to my stomach. It pertained to a conversation I had with someone earlier that day — someone that I had unknowingly offended.

Wait, what? How did they get that from the conversation? Blood pressure rising, I immediately started typing a defensive response. I was going to “fix” this before the night was over. My finger hovered over the send button, but I hesitated.

Perhaps you have experienced the kind of misunderstanding I’m referring to. It feels like a sneak attack. You never meant any harm. You were just going about your day as you normally would when it hits you like a freight train: the call, text, voicemail, email or (worse!) in-person confrontation that you offended someone. Someone’s feelings were hurt, and your integrity and motives have been questioned.

In those situations, I often feel the need to spring into overdrive immediately. I’m only half-listening to the other person as I formulate my defense.

I’m skimming over their email, already stringing together the words of my response as my blood runs hot from my shaky fingers to the tips of my ears.

How can I fix it right away? Who can I call to set the record straight? Who will vouch for me?

The thing is, we don’t have to right the ship immediately. Sometimes God wants us to pray before we respond, listening to Him for guidance and allowing Him to cleanse us and remove the urge to clear our names. He knows our hearts, our intentions. I like to pray Psalm 139:23-24 when I’m tempted to reply rashly: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

During the knee-jerk moments following a misunderstanding, perhaps composing a hasty email or spouting off defensive words can add fuel to an already-smoldering fire.

God is the perfect peacemaker, able to help us approach conflict with grace. Allow Him to soothe those defensive feelings so you can return to the situation with understanding and, when appropriate, reconciliation.

Perhaps in that particular exchange, you were right. But what if you weren’t? Or, what if there is no right or wrong to the situation at all?

Feelings are often situated in a gray area. While unpleasant, it’s okay to sit in a place of discomfort for a while because it’s the only way we are going to grow in empathy and understanding.

Sometimes the best way to “fix it” is not to react immediately. And always, the best place to start is to go to the Lord. He will bring hardened feelings to your attention; embrace the discomfort of what may be found.

We are all imperfect people who are going to miss the mark from time to time. We will get things wrong and hurt others unintentionally.

Each set of circumstances is unique, but whether you are taking five minutes, overnight, or even longer to pray over the situation, you are sure to respond with a clearer head and better understanding of your own heart if you talk to the Lord first.

I’m so thankful I did not hit the “send” button after typing that emotional, late-night response, and my approach the next morning was rooted strongly in reflection and prayer.

Heavenly Father, it’s so easy to mount my defenses and want to clear the air quickly after a misunderstanding. Help me turn to You first. Search my heart. Lead me to Your Truth. Show me how to approach conflict resolution in a prayerful way and forge closer relationships through open, honest and thoughtful communication. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Romans 5:3-4, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (NIV)

Ephesians 4:2-3, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (NIV)

Where Were You When 9/11 Happened?..... by Veronica Neffinger

Where Were You When 9/11 Happened?
by Veronica Neffinger

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Romans 8:28

“Where were you when 9/11 happened?” This is a question that seems to come up in discussions every once in awhile. I think it’s because we all realize that, though we may not have known it at the time, almost all of us now remember vividly what we were doing the moment we found out about the horrific terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

Eighteen years later, I still have a clear memory of sitting in my fourth grade class. My teacher had a somber look on his face as he told us that school was being let out early and all extra-curricular activities for the day were cancelled. The classroom became abuzz with questions of what happened, to which our teacher replied, “Your parents will tell you.”

I remember being surprisingly angry at my teacher in that moment--if this was such a big deal, why couldn’t he tell us what happened?

I don’t remember the ride home, but the next thing I remember is seeing footage of the plane flying into the Twin Towers. Like many people, that footage has been seared into my mind and I can still see it, even though we were nearly 900 miles away from New York City.

It always leaves me with a sense of awe and wonder at the country’s connectedness as I have met people years after September 11, 2001 and we have talked about where we were and what went through our minds on that day. My husband grew up in New England and his father, as a firefighter, knew colleagues who were called in to Ground Zero. It boggles my mind that someone so far away from me geographically at the time was thinking about the same event at the same time I was.

At the eighteenth anniversary of this tragic day, I think I know why so many of us recall 9/11 so vividly and why it has impacted us so greatly: it’s the power of a shared experience.

And as the after-effects of Hurricane Harvey currently continue to wreak havoc on southeast Texas, I’m reminded that even tragedies and terrible disasters, whether manmade or acts of God, have great power to unite people and to dispel differences.

“That’s why America is so amazing,” my husband often says, “when something like 9/11 happens, people from Los Angeles and people from rural Montana and people from New York City and everywhere else come together.”

That is truly amazing. And truly beautiful.

And I can’t help but think that this also applies to the Christian faith. No matter your faith journey, no matter how you came to find Jesus, no matter how windy your road, as believers, we are all sons and daughters of God and we have a shared experience that is more monumental than anything else. At some point in time we all made the same decision and we are all on the same road, with the same Savior leading us.

There is a lot of tragedy, a lot of suffering, a lot of sin in our world. We see it in obvious ways like the evil that was carried out on September 11, 2001, and we see it in more subtle ways in our own hearts, but we can rejoice because God’s Word tells us that He is greater than all of it. Christ has overcome the world and the sin that weighs it--and us--down.

Intersecting Faith & Life: We can be united as believers in the assurance that, no matter what darkness and trials come, our God “causes everything to work together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28).

Further Reading:
Romans 8
Psalm 121

With Us in The Wilderness..... by Jennifer Waddle

With Us in The Wilderness
by Jennifer Waddle

When we find ourselves walking through a season of testing, most of us want to get through it as quickly as possible. The refining of our faith is never a pleasant experience. The Israelites knew all too well what it felt like to trudge through hard times. For forty long years, they traveled and camped and wandered, not knowing when they would reach the promised land. Perhaps, that is the most painful part about the testing of our faith. We don’t know how long it’s going to last or how painful it’s going to be.

But God…

God, in His faithfulness, walks through the wilderness with us. He provides what we need to make it through. Even though it is painful, it is crucial for the purifying of our faith. Just as the refining of silver involves extreme heat that allows impurities to rise to the surface, so the testing of our hearts involves uncomfortable pressure that urges us to surrender our thoughts, motives, and actions to the perfect will of the Father.

Though painful, we are never left alone in the process. The Refiner doesn’t put us through the fire just to stand by and watch. He stays with us, while lovingly turning up the heat until we release our impurities to Him. God knows our “trudging” through this life. He sees the trials and the hardships that come. But He doesn't stand by at a distance. He is with us, and in us, providing the strength we need to endure.

There is no doubt that the Israelites suffered greatly in the wilderness. What could have been a direct route, ended up being a very long road to the promised land. But if the Lord would have ignored their rebellion and skipped the refining process, the impurities of their hearts would have defiled His blessing.

The big question for us, is will we allow God to refine us, or will we continue to wander in the wilderness of rebellion?

Let’s willingly yield every impurity to Him. Let’s be open to the refining process, knowing that it is strengthening us and preparing us to cross over to the promised land.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:6-9

A Prayer for Relief from Pain..... By Meg Bucher

A Prayer for Relief from Pain
By Meg Bucher

“You heard my plea: ‘Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.’” - Lamentations 3:56

Anyone who’s suffered long-term pain can relate to the sentiments of the prophet Jeremiah in today’s verse. God does hear and answer our prayers, but His answers don’t always look the way we want them to, or happen in our time.

When my husband first complained of a pinched nerve, I honestly didn’t pay much attention. It happens every so often, and usually goes away in a few days. This time, it was much worse. He couldn’t lie down. Night after night he tried, but ended up down in the basement on the reclining couch. After living with the pain for a week, our friends and I pulled the reclining couch he’d been sleeping on upstairs. Weeks later, he was still sleeping there.

We take things for granted until they are taken away. Why does human nature have to be that way? God designed us, and did so perfectly… to need Him. He does give us more than we can handle and He does allow circumstances to bleed out beyond our control. There’s a lot of life He will withhold the answers to, and we don’t have the capacity to understand even if He explained it.

After weeks of pain, therapy, and doctor’s visits, it became clear there was something else causing his nerve to be pinched. Something, as I write this, only God holds the answers to. In prayer to Him, it’s tempting to beg for definitive answers over miraculous healing. But I know better from my own pain that hope deferred grows faith.

I pray for my husband to hear God’s voice through the pain, and feel His presence through the frustration. “Don’t be deaf to my call;” Jeremiah pleaded. When someone we love is in pain, we feel helpless to stop it. “Bring me relief!” When we are in pain, whether physical, mental, or spiritual, it takes over our focus. It becomes difficult to concentrate on the hope of healing, and hard to let go of what we think that should look and feel like.

Hold onto the hand that was nailed to the cross. That hand knows pain like none other. Our hope is in Him.

Father, we praise You for Jesus. No one has ever experienced pain like He did for us. Thank You for His sacrifice, which allows us to call out to You for help in full confidence that You hear us and will answer us and heal us. Forgive us for wanting to control what the answers to Your prayers look and feel like and when they happen. Bless us to be strong in Your Word, and rely on You for strength. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.