Jacob's promises

Jacob was a mess! He had deceived his own father by stealing the firstborn blessing from his older brother Esau, and now Esau was angry and wanted to kill him. In her despair, his mother Rebekah devised a plan for Jacob to run away to her brother in search of a wife. At least that’s what she told Isaac. After one lie too many, Jacob was now running for his life. That first night away from home he got a stone for a pillow and laid down to sleep. I can’t imagine having to use a rock as a pillow. Jacob had hit a low point in his life and felt lonely now far from his beloved home and family. However, he was not alone. Someone was watching him. Someone who had been present from the very beginning was there with him. God was there and He wanted Jacob to know it, so He gave him a dream. 

You may know this story. If not you can find it in Genesis 28. In the dream Jacob sees a stairway connecting Heaven and earth, angels going up and down, and God standing on top. Then God speaks and fills Jacob’s mind with promises of prosperity and peace. God promises He’ll take care of Jacob until he returns to his family’s home and that He’ll bless others through him. Finally God says He won’t leave Jacob until all His promises are fulfilled.

As I read this story my first thought was “wow, what a dream. With promises like this Jacob had no reasons to fear for his future.” I was slightly jealous that Jacob heard from God Himself that He would take care of him all the time. As soon as that thought entered my mind though, God flooded my mind with Bible promises reminding me that they are mine too. I too had no reason to fear for my future.

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

“God has said, ‘never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?'" Hebrews 13:5,6

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth…” God's dwelling place is now among the people and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.” Revelation 21:1,3
 
These and so many other promises are for all of us. We too are promised peace and prosperity and God will use us to bless others. God promises to take care of us until the day we arrive Home and He will never leave us until all His promises are fulfilled. May we respond like Jacob did when he realized God was there with him that first night away from home and make the Lord our God. 

The Champion is coming!

July 11, 2016. I woke up to find my Facebook flooded with red and green. Portugal had won their first Euro cup the day before and the fans were celebrating big. I watched some of the highlights of the games and felt proud of my favorite soccer team. They had done great! Curious I checked the news for photos and videos of the celebrations. I was delighted watching the team arrive in Lisbon and the thousands of people singing and shouting for joy as the new champions arrived home. The day was packed with festivities, including a stop by the presidential palace, and many opportunities to sing the national anthem throughout the country. One could feel the joy that an entire nation was feeling. You see, this is the first big championship the Portuguese team has won. The Euro cup began in 1960 and even though Portugal played in several semi-finals and finals, this is the first time they won. They never gave up, trained hard, and finally won. And they won big!

As I was watching the many celebrations, the thousands of voices singing together, I couldn’t help but imagine how it will be when the biggest celebration of all times finally takes place. You see, one day, the Champion of all champions will come to earth to take His children home. The Portuguese team won a beautiful trophy for all their hard work, but Jesus won eternal life for all of us. Can you imagine the celebration when we finally see Him coming? And He’s not coming on an airplane, large boat, or decorated bus. He’s coming in the clouds! He will bring tens of thousands of His angels with Him, and will come in the glory of His Father. The whole world will witness His coming and trumpets will fill the universe with an incredible sound! It will be the event of the events. Can you imagine what God’s children will do when they realize that their beloved and much wanted best Friend is finally here? Just thinking about it makes me smile ear to ear. Oh the celebration! The dead in Christ will rise, we will be reunited with our loved ones, and we will finally meet our Lord face to face. The whole world will be shouting for joy, praising the King of kings. I think the celebration will be such that we will shake the earth out of orbit!

That day is coming and is coming very soon. Sometimes we think that Jesus is taking too long to come, but we can’t lose heart. His promises are sure. His love for us is so great that knowing we would be tempted to feel discouraged by His seemingly delay, He told us ahead of time that He is coming even if it feels like it’s taking too long. Just like the Portuguese soccer team never gave up the dream of winning the Euro cup after all these years, we too cannot give up the dream and assurance of seeing Jesus face to face. Even if we have to go through the sleep of death first, His promises are sure. In His infinite love for us, He’s not going to let anyone miss out on His coming and the celebrations that will take place. It’s going to be amazing!

Hold on to your faith. Hold on to God’s promises. Be strong, courageous, and faithful. Fulfill your mission and keep your eyes on the prize. The Champion is coming!

"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first."

I Thessalonians 4:16

"At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory."

Mark 13:26

"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

2 Peter 3:8,9

Worry free!

 I love early mornings because they can be so calming and refreshing. Exactly what I need at the beginning of my very busy days. This morning I read the story of creation in Genesis 1, a story I have read since I was a child, so I know it well. The Bible however, is a well of amazing never-ending discoveries and once again God showed me something new in a story that is so familiar to me. Have you noticed how much work it took to create this whole world? All God did was speak and things happened. If I could speak my work into being, I could get so much done!! Yet if we look closer, God did not speak a bunch of stuff into creation all at once. He took His time. The first day all He did was create light. How long do you think it took Him to say, “Let there be light”? Not very long. And when he finished speaking, there it was, beautiful light that He got to call day. And that’s it! That was the first day. Evening and morning of the first day. He didn’t create anything else until the second day. And on the second day all He did was to tell the waters to separate into two groups: waters below and waters above. Nothing more! The same pattern went on for the whole six days of Creation, with the exception of when God created mankind out of the dust of the ground on the sixth day. God slowly, gently, and with extreme perfection put this world together, one day at a time and then on the seventh-day He rested. Not because He was tired, but because He wanted a full day of enjoying all the beautiful work He had just done. In His love and wisdom, He gave the seventh-day as a day of rest for us too.

As I read the story of Creation with this new perspective for me, I was reminded of several Bible texts. Throughout scriptures God is calling us to rest, to take things calmly without rushing. Often He tells us to be still. He asks us to come to Him when we’re tired, because He will gives us rest. He tells us not to be anxious or to worry about anything. The Bible also says that in the last days people will be rushing here and there and the book of Ecclesiastes speaks often of all the toil we do under the sun as meaningless. Do you notice a trend here?

Life can be very hectic. In fact, when you ask someone how they are doing, people don’t answer with an automatically “I’m fine” any more, but answer instead with just one word: “busy.” Humans are very busy. I know I am. We are constantly bombarded with information that tries to incite us to do more and more with our time and organize our life better so we can do even more. There are many things calling for our time and attention. We are too busy, but God does not want us to be. He doesn’t want us to live this chaotic, anxiety and worry filled lives we have been living. He wants to live a life of peace and calm, as we faithfully and gently work for Him.

Today, look at your busy schedule and see what can be crossed off that ever growing to do list. Looking at mine I can see plenty of opportunities for improvement. And then go enjoy your day. Spend time with your family, your friends, and serving others. Take care of your body and your mind. Truly stop and smell the flowers. Sit outside and soak in some vitamin D from the sun without a cell phone in front of your eyes. Just sit and be. We’re not guaranteed the future, so let’s use well the present.

Of course the devil will always be tempting us to do more and more. He knows that we’ll forget the important things in life when we’re preoccupied with the cares of this world. The wonderful thing is that we don’t have to try to simplify our schedules alone. God is ever available to help us. His strength is the one that is perfect, not ours. He is the One who is all powerful. Our part is to go to Him. His part is to give us rest. Sweet, beautiful rest.

“... seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase.” 

Daniel 12:4
 

“Be still, and know that I am God.” 

Psalm 46:10

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” 

Matthew 11:18

“Do not be anxious for anything.” 

Philippians 4:6

“Do not worry.” 

Matthew 6:31