Helpless and Mighty

Mark 4: ²⁶ And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, ²⁷ and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. ²⁸ For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. ²⁹ But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

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When the car stalled out for the fifth time it seemed like we would never get home. The two hour journey had now turned into six. My cousin and I sat there waiting yet again for something miraculous to happen. After fifteen minutes I started the car again. This time it made it all the way home.

• Sometimes I have problems I cannot fix.
• Sometimes I have a desire but no solution.
• Sometimes I have an immediate need but have no way to meet that need.

Helpless is never a fun feeling but it is definitely useful. Looking back on the car situation, I can truly say that it was only GOD that brought me through that situation. I had nothing to offer, no power to give.

• JESUS says to me “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
• JESUS says to me “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.”
• JESUS says to me “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see GOD.”

In my weakness GOD’s might is made perfect. GOD is the one who knows how seeds sprout in this story. JESUS lets HIS disciples know that the power comes only from HIM. I am supposed to go out and plant seeds of love, knowledge and faith to many and let GOD grow the seeds.

As much as I may want someone to believe in CHRIST, I am helpless BUT GOD is mighty! HE wants me to be ready for HIS harvest so HIS glory will shine bright.

• Are you ready for GOD’s harvest?
• Can you stop fearing and allow GOD to deliver you the way HE wants to?
• Will you continue to spread the seeds of GOD wherever HE sends you?

Harassed and Helpless

Matthew 9: ³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

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Walking down the hallway of my dorm, a guy stuck his head out of a room and screamed “Hey [racial name]!” and slammed the door giggling. Filled with rage, I went to the night clerk who was six feet, five inches and my friend. We banged on the door until they opened it, there were seven or eight guys in the room.

“Who is the guy who made slurs at my friend?” I pointed the guy out by hitting him on the back of his head. Nothing good came out of the situation. For the rest of the year, the floor had tension.

• There were times when I have been harassed.
• There were times when I have felt helpless.
• There have been times I have taken matters into my own hands and did not get very far.

Rage, anger and hatred are values that get me into trouble. When I feel like retaliating, but cannot, I feel helpless. When someone else attacks me I immediately go on the defense, ready to go to war with them. We will go blow for blow until everyone loses. BUT GOD wants me to behave differently.

• GOD wants me to see the sickness and disease of humanity.
• GOD wants me to have compassion on the crowd.
• GOD wants me to ask HIM “Please send out workers into YOUR field.”

Falling down the hole of rage blinds me to the ailment “we” all have, namely sin. I elevate “that” person’s sins over mine and blame them for all of the world’s problems. GOD wants me to calm down for a moment and pray to HIM so HIS Good News can be spread. The Good News is that JESUS has already won and there is no fight!

GOD wants my rage to be replaced with HIS compassion. HE took care of it all.

• Are you being harassed by life?
• Do you feel helpless?
• Can you stop focusing on the harassment and look at GOD’s deliverance?
• Will you ask GOD for more of HIS workers to help spread the Good News?

The ONE WHO IS

Amos 4: ¹³ He who forms the mountains,
    who creates the wind,
    and who reveals his thoughts to mankind,
who turns dawn to darkness,
    and treads on the heights of the earth—
    the Lord God Almighty is his name.

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Perplexed and nervous, I felt I had nowhere to turn. It seemed like my wits were at their end and I could not see how to get out of the snare I was in. I was sick of being of where I was but too tired to climb out or the hole I was in. “Will I ever graduate” was the thought.

• Sometimes I am sick of where I am in life.
• Sometimes I am tired of where I am in life.
• Sometimes I am sick and tired of being sick and tired!

One reason for my exhaustion is I had nothing to guide me at the time. I mean people gave me a good reason for going to college but never filled in the blanks specifically for me. I struggled wondering if this trial would ever be done. Since then there have been other trials that went even longer. No matter how much intellect I would throw at my problem, I could not get out. Who can help during these times?

• GOD says to me “I formed the mountains and created the winds.”
• GOD says to me “I reveal my thoughts to you.”
• GOD says to me I turn dawn to darkness and tread on the heights of the earth.”

What GOD is saying to me is HE IS in total control of my life. There nothing too hard or too big for HIM. HE sends difficulties in my life to get my attention. HE wants me to turn totally to HIM, seeking HIM daily. GOD wants total acceptance of where HE has me. HE deserves praise daily with a song on my lips. Instead of bringing HIM down, I raise HIM up to be GOD in my life!

• Are you going through something?
• Do you feel like giving up?
• Can you stop looking at your success and start looking at GOD’s mighty power!
• Will you turn your face to GOD today?

I’m still here so I should get to work

Philippians 1: ²¹ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. ²² If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!

²³ I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; ²⁴ but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

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One day I just sat on the edge of my bed wondering “what’s the purpose?” I mean it seemed like working was futile because I didn’t have enough money to cover my debts, people in the world were mad at me and I wasn’t getting any of my desires met, or so it seemed. Preachers kept speaking about heaven being a wonderful place to be and I thought “LORD can’t you just take me home?”

Meanwhile, more tragedy kept coming my way. Ailments hit various people, death seemed to loom over some of my friends’ families and the news channels never stopped being dismal. When will there ever be peace?

• Life has many difficulties and sometimes I get tired.
• Life has some tough news and sometimes I get weary.
• Life has a lot of bad news and sometimes I get distressed.

It seemed like GOD was taking HIS sweet little time when it came to “my” problems and I found myself pouting in the corner wanting “my” situations to change. GOD didn’t change the situation but HE did do something greater.

• GOD opened my eyes to see other people are hurting and need to hear a word of peace.
• GOD opened my ears to be able to hear the needs of others instead of wallowing in my pity.
• GOD opened my heart to feel what other people are feeling and finally understand I need to show compassion no matter the circumstance.

I’m still here on the Earth so I should get to work telling people about GOD’s compassion.  “What compassion” you ask. Well, in the middle of my sin CHRIST took my punishment. HE paid the ultimate price for me and showed compassion for me that I can never repay. Now HE sends people to me one at a time to hear about HIS grace, mercy and love.

There is plenty of work and so few to take on the challenge of compassion. GOD says “remain and I will be with you.”

• Do you feel like giving up?
• Are you frustrated with your current results?
• Can you realize that your current situation is right where GOD wants you so HE can grow you?
• Will you take the time to tell someone about GOD’s grace in spite of your circumstance?

My prayer for you

Ephesians 1: ¹⁶ I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people…

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• I also pray that the thing that clouds your view of GOD be reduced today.
• I hope the person you are toiling over can hear what GOD has to say.
• I pray the ailment not control you so you can still find HIS peace.
• I pray the job situation not deter you from praising HIM.
• I hope you find blessing today and you know where it comes from.

I pray for GOD’s wisdom, knowledge and understanding for only in HIM can we live.

I “hope” it will happen

Romans 8: ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

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With wind and snow hitting my face staring down the street was all I could do to make the bus come faster. It was helpless to look at my watch because that seemed to prolong the bus. All I could think about was the warmth I would experience and then my mind would drift into imagining getting a seat this time.

My excitement turned into elation as an empty bus arrived with all the windows closed and the heat blasting!

• When I set a time on GOD to do something it is always wrong.
• When I think GOD should solve a problem my way in my time I guess wrong.
• When I see that GOD is taking HIS time I panic instead of being patient.

When there is a problem in my life GOD seems to be in no rush to fix it. The winds of issues spray in my face and it seems like GOD just sits there. I mean HE has all the power and here I am powerless to take care of the situation.

• Fortunately for me GOD provided the HOLY SPIRIT to bring comfort to me at the right time.
• Fortunately for me GOD gave me the HOLY SPIRIT who reminds me of times past HE has brought me through.
• Fortunately for me GOD imparted the HOLY SPIRIT to give me wisdom where I have none, patience where desire overflows and hope when defeat stares me in the face.

Faith is the substance of things “hoped” for, the evidence of things not seen. GOD wants me to have faith that HE “has” and “will” take care of everything. HE grows the hair on my head and watches over my feet. All of my situations are HIS to do as HE pleases so I will put my hope in HIM.

• Where is your hope?
• What are you hoping for?
• Are your hopes aligned with GOD’s plan for you?
• Are you living a life of purpose and faith or are you nervously waiting on evidence with doubt?

From bad to worse.

Acts 27: ³ Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. ⁴ When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” ⁵ But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.

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Darkness seemed a little darker this particular night as my car sputtered and died on the side of the road.  I had no idea how far I was from my town and cell phones, well let’s just say, they were few years away from being sold to the masses. “Come on GOD!” “I live in a town I don’t like and now this!?”

As I sat on my trunk in the middle of nowhere I wondered if anyone would ever stop. A couple stopped, asked me if I needed help and volunteered to take me to the nearest rest stop. On the way they told me about the Great News about JESUS. “Whew” I said to myself. GOD sent them!

• Sometimes when I think I am in a bad to worse situation, I can no longer see or hear GOD.
• Sometimes when I think I am in a bad to worse situation, I think there is no way out.
• Sometimes when I think I am in a bad to worse situation, I feel pitiful.

Paul went from bad to worse, from out of a shipwreck and into a snakebite. What more could happen to him? All he was trying to do was live for GOD. Everyone around him thought he deserved the things happening to him and they just didn’t understand he was being used as an example of GOD’s power.

• GOD can handle all situations especially when things get worse.
• GOD can handle all situations especially when I take my hands off of them.
• GOD can handle all situations especially when I believe HE will use this for HIS perfect plan.

In my mind, it’s actually great when things go from bad to worse because I believe I am on the right track. The enemy wants me to stop believing GOD will deliver me so he tries harder and harder to make me give up and conform to his ways. GOD says “stand still and watch MY deliverance.” Believing in GOD’s plan grows my faith more than I know.

• Have situations gone from bad to worse for you?
• Do you think there is no way out of your circumstance?
• Will you praise GOD for HIS deliverance even before it happens?
• Can you put your trust in HIM first and then watch HIS deliverance from your trial?

GOD’s prayer for you

John 17: ¹⁵ My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. ¹⁷ Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸ As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

 

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JESUS walked the earth and was tempted in every way that I have been tempted. HE faced life’s struggles with more intensity because HE knows what HE created. HE knows every doubt, every sinful thought, every joyful moment and every sorrowful time. HE has a purpose for me staying here.

 

• Since GOD has the power to snatch me up and place me into heaven right now, why doesn’t HE?
• Since the world is so sinful why doesn’t HE take all the believers away and leave those who don’t believe here?
• Since GOD knows what trouble I have to go through, why doesn’t HE prevent the pain instead of having me go through it?

 

Once again my questions are selfish. GOD desires that “no one” should perish. No matter how wild and crazy a person may seem, GOD infinitely loves them and doesn’t want to eternally punish them. HE left me in the world to share HIS grace even though at times it I very difficult.

 

• Since GOD left me here, I should make time to tell people about HIS SON.
• Since GOD left me here, I should focus my attention on others as well as on myself.
• Since GOD left me here, I should understand HE loves me and is protecting me and is right by my side.

 

JESUS has full empathy for me. HE knows my every struggle and forgives me for my failure. As HIS follower, I should do the same.

• Will you pray for the person who seems to have no regard for you?
• Will you stop looking at people with disgust and open your heart to them as GOD does for you?
• Will you stop trying to protect yourself or justify your actions enough so “that” person will focus on CHRIST?

Hope

John 16:  ³³ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

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Many times I have struggled with fear, worry and doubt. Whether it was an upcoming test or a short deadline or watching my bank account dwindle, every situation had the same ingredient. I was scared! Each situation seemed hopeless.

I mean once “I” was lost at the amusement park and I lost five dollars and couldn’t ride the rides. I cried! Wait that was kid stuff, what does being scared as a child have to do the big troubles I face today?

• Just like a child, I get nervous about situations.
• Just like a child, I think the worse is going to happen instead of the best.
• Just like a child, I cry when the situation seems hopeless and then I start praying.

When I go through circumstances, it’s hard to see how CHRIST has overcome the world’s troubles. I mean, I’m still going through trials and it just doesn’t feel like GOD has a handle on “insert worry.”

• When GOD says “Have peace” HE means for me to sop being frantic and calm down a minute.
• When GOD says “Don’t worry” HE wants me to stop letting my mind go wild, thinking negative thoughts.
• When GOD says “I have overcome the world” HE means HE has taken care of “EVERY” situation.

JESUS death, resurrection and elevation enables HIM to be “the” authority over any and every situation. What seems hopeless to me is easy for HIM. In, what seems to be, amazing moves, HE orchestrates situations that require me to walk with HIM, talk with HIM along life’s narrow way.

My current pastor says “GOD will make a way when it seems to be no way.” GOD says, “I AM the way so DON’T worry!” The two statements go hand in hand. I can rest assured that GOD has definitely taken care of everything!

• Are you worried about something?
• Do you know that you will go through troubles?
• Since you expect troubles can you trust that GOD will deliver you in an amazing way?

Feeling Helpless?

Matthew 8:  ¹ When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. ² A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

 ³ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.

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Being all alone with an injury was one of the many fears I had to face in life. Sitting in my apartment I clutched my chest in riveting pain. I couldn’t breathe and I was too scared to move. This was different than a pulled muscle or gas. I felt helpless.

I called on the LORD and made empty promises of the sins I would never do again. After a while the pain subsided enough that I could drive myself to a friend’s apartment who promptly took me to the doctor. Looking back, there was nothing I could do to make myself better.

• Sin in my life is like a physical ailment, I can’t remove it.
• No matter how hard I try, my sin condition permeates my soul and I need someone else to remove it.
• When I look at my sinfulness I feel helpless because I feel that GOD has the right to ignore me.

Just like a physical ailment sin is a deadly condition that leads me to eternal separation from GOD.  My thoughts and actions are sinful and I need help with my condition. Fortunately for me I have someone I can call on.

• When troubles get to difficult for me I can call on the LORD and HE is willing to rescue me.
• When I am feeling low and nothing is going right I can call on the LORD and HE is willing to pick me up.
• When I am broken by wrong choices, bad decision or misguided plans, I can call on the LORD and HE is willing to heal me.

It feels great to be able to call on the LORD and ask “If you are willing…” HE is faithful and willing to help me with my needs!

• What difficult thing are you facing in life?
• Have you reached out to ask GOD if HE is willing to help?
• Do you have the faith to know HE will do just as HE says HE will?