trusting...move forward

artwork by Cherry Ashen Fargo

This beautiful work of art, Move Forward, by Cherry Ashen Fargo reminded me of an old chorus by songwriter Oscar C. Eliason who wrote, "Got any rivers you think are uncrossable? Got any mountains you can't tunnel through? He responded to these questions by saying, God specializes in things thought impossible. He does the things others cannot do." As followers of Christ, we face obstacles in our lives, and walking in God's will doesn't guarantee that our way will be easy. It helps me to remember that no matter how difficult our trials and tribulations may be, we can trust God and move forward in faith. I often think of this when leaving a gated community. There is an automatic gate designed to open when a car activates a hidden sensor near the entrance. When I drive toward the gate, it remains closed, blocking the entrance. But as I get closer, the gate opens, allowing me to proceed. If I stop my car a few feet from the entrance, the gate would stay closed. Only when I move forward does it open. It's the first step into the unseen that proves we have faith. Abraham, for example, "went out, not knowing where he was going." He obeyed God and relied on Him to clear the path. When we walk in obedience to the Lord and come upon a closed gate, we can confidently take the next step of faith. As we move forward, we will see God make a way where there seems to be no way.

As we move forward in this series of posts on Romans 8, I felt led to do a word study of the word, written, from Romans 8:34-36…

NASB: Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

Amplified:  Who is there to condemn [us]? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who died, or rather Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as He intercedes for us? Who shall ever separate us from Christ’s love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword? Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter.

NLT: Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”)

Phillips: Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ, and Christ died for us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us! Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, pain or persecution? Can lack of clothes and food, danger to life and limb, the threat of force of arms? Indeed some of us know the truth of the ancient text: ‘For your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter’.

Wuest:  Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus, the One who died, yes, rather, who has been raised, who is on the right hand of God, who also is constantly interceding on our behalf?  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword?  Even as it stands written, For your sake we are being put to death all the day long. We were accounted as sheep destined for slaughter.

Young's Literal: Who [is] he that is condemning? Christ [is] He that died, yea, rather also, was raised up; who is also on the right hand of God -- who also doth intercede for us. Who shall separate us from the love of the Christ? tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (according as it hath been written -- `For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long, we were reckoned as sheep of slaughter,')

In Greek, the word, written, is grapho which means to engrave or inscribe with a pen or stylus characters or letters on a surface which can be wood, wax, metal, leather, stone, parchment, dirt, paper, etc. The verb grapho is in the perfect tense (gegraphtai) signifying that God's Word has been written down at a point of time in the past and remains on record as the eternal, unchanging Word of God. The perfect tense signifies the permanence of the written word of God. The phrase it is written (in perfect tense) always refers directly or indirectly to an Old Testament quotation and thus it carries great authority for the believer. The idea is that this divine revelation was written down at a specific time in the past and stands written and effective. As Jesus declared, Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away. (Matt. 24:35)

Warren W. Wiersbe commenting on the significance of the phrase it is written reminds us that "Our Lord used the Word of God to defeat Satan, and so may we. But the Word of God is not only a sword for battle; it is also a light to guide us in this dark world, food that strengthens us, and water that washes us. The Word of God has a sanctifying ministry in the lives of dedicated believers. Those who delight in God’s Word, meditate on it, and seek to obey it will experience God’s direction and blessing in their lives. The Word reveals God’s mind, so we should learn it; God’s heart, so we should love it; God’s will, so we should live it. We do not study the Bible just to get to know the Bible. We study the Bible that we might get to know God better. Too many earnest Bible students are content with outlines and explanations, and do not really get to know God. It is good to know the Word of God, but this should help us better know the God of the Word."

Lord Jesus, without You, I can do nothing. May Your Holy Spirit so flood my soul--the seat of my emotions, and my body--my fleshly desires and appetites, that only You remain and I remain in You...my determined purpose is that I may know You, that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with You, recognizing, perceiving, and understanding the wonders of Your Person more clearly and more strongly...resting in who You say I am... blessed, accepted, adopted, chosen, redeemed, forgiven and loved with an everlasting love and underneath are Your everlasting Arms. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Previous word studies from Romans Chapter Eight…

Romans 8:1-3

Romans 8:10-11

Romans 8:14-15

Romans 8:24-25

Romans 8:26-27

Romans 8:28

Romans 8:31-33

12 word studies from Ephesians Chapter One…

Weekly LinkUps…

blue yarn bracelets

Bookmarks with blue yarn bracelets from Believing God Bible Study

Sometimes it’s just the mention of a phrase from Scripture that brings the memories flooding back. Recently, it was the mention of “blue cord with tassels” from the book of Numbers that took me back to the first time I completed the online Beth Moore Bible Study, Believing God several years ago. I still have the bookmarks from Believing God, with blue yarn bracelets attached in my Bible. I wore the blue yarn bracelet during the Bible study as a reminder to be presently, actively, continually Believing God, focusing on Christ.

The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘You must make tassels on the corners of your clothes. A blue cord must be on each tassel. You must do it for all time to come. You will have the tassels to look at. They will remind you to obey all of the Lord’s commands. Then you will be faithful to him. You will not go after what your own hearts and eyes long for. “‘You will remember to obey all of my commands. And you will be set apart for your God. I am the Lord your God. I brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord your God.’” Numbers 15:37-41

The Believing God Bible study focus scripture is...

“You are My witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and My servant whom I have chosen, in order that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me.” Isaiah 43:10

Over these past several years, I have incorporated the Five Statement Pledge of Faith shown on the bookmark as a part of my daily prayer life...

1. God is who He says He is.
2. God can do what He says He can do.
3. I am who God says I am.
4. I can do all things through Christ
5. God's Word is alive and active in me.
   I'm Believing God.

 

God is Who He says He is.

You are Jehovah Ra’ah, You are my Shepherd, I lack nothing. You make me lie down in green pastures, You lead me beside the still waters. You restore my soul. You lead me in the path of righteousness for Your name’s sake. Even when I walk THROUGH the valley of the SHADOW of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and Your Staff, your Holy Spirit and Your Word, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  

SEVEN NAMES OF GOD	PAIRED WITH PSALM 23:1-6
JEHOVAH-RA’AH The Lord, my shepherd (Psalm 23:1)	The LORD is my shepherd;
JEHOVAH-JIREH The Lord, my provider (Genesis 22:14)	I shall not want.
JEHOVAH-SHALOM The Lord, our peace (Judges 6:24)	He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters.
JEHOVAH-RAPHA The Lord, my healer (Exodus 15:26)	He restores my soul:
JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU The Lord, our righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6)	He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
JEHOVAH-SHAMAH The Lord, ever-present (Ezekiel 48:35)	Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
JEHOVAH-NISSI The Lord, our banner (Exodus 17:15)	Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
JEHOVAH-RAPHA The Lord, my healer (Exodus 15:26)	Thou anoints my head with oil; my cup runs over.
JEHOVAH-JIREH The Lord, my provider (Genesis 22:14)	Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

God can do what He says He can do. Nothing is impossible for You, Lord Jesus, Absolutely Nothing!  I am casting all my cares upon You because You care for me. Supply the needs I have today to know You and believe You, to glorify You, to find my satisfaction in You, to experience Your peace, and enjoy Your presence...

Five Key Benefits God Intends for His Children	Obstacles which stand in the way of the Five Key Benefits God Intends for His Children
To Know God and Believe Him	Unbelief—I pray to roll away the obstacle of unbelief which is revealed in my doubt, fear, worry, and discouragement.
To Glorify God	Pride—I pray to roll away the obstacle of pride which is self-absorption, whether I am absorbed with how wonderful I am or how miserable I am. Forgive my self-focus. Worship is focus, help me focus on Jesus Christ alone.
To Find Satisfaction in God	Idolatry—I pray to roll away the obstacle of idolatry which is putting anything ahead of or instead of Jesus Christ.
To Experience God’s Peace	Prayerlessness—I pray to roll away the obstacle of praylessness. Prayerless lives are powerless lives; prayerful lives are powerful lives. Peace is the fruit of authority—let the peace of Christ rule. Christ brings His peace where He is Prince—the Prince of Peace.
To Enjoy God’s Presence	Legalism—I pray to roll away the obstacle of legalism with a heart which desires an intimate, personal relationship with my Lord Jesus Christ, not rules, regulations, and religion.

I am who God says I am. In Christ, I am blessed with every spiritual blessing, accepted in the Beloved Son of God, adopted as a child of the King, chosen before the foundation of the world, redeemed by the blood of Christ, forgiven by His grace, loved with an everlasting love and underneath are the everlasting Arms.

I can do ALL things through Christ Who gives me strength. Lord Jesus, I cannot do this, but You can!

God’s Word is alive and active in me...I’m Believing God.

Take a moment to ponder these wonderful words of life from the old hymn, "Before The Throne of God Above," written in the 1800s by Charitie Less Bancroft...

Behold Him there! The risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless, Righteousness, The Great unchangeable I AM

The King of Glory and of Grace

One with Himself I cannot die

My soul is purchased by His blood

My life is hid with Christ on high

With Christ my Savior and my God

With Christ my Savior and my God

What is important is that you see Jesus. The main thing in the Bible is the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ on a mission of salvation, on a mission of redemption, that He would save His people from their sins. If you are coming to the awareness that “I have never believed upon Jesus Christ. I have never committed my life to Christ,” you are invited to believe upon Christ today. He entered this world born of a virgin. He lived a sinless and perfect life. He lived the life that you and I could never live, and His perfect righteousness is what is credited to our account when we believe upon Christ. He was qualified to go to the cross, and there He was lifted up to die upon Calvary’s cross. God transferred the sin of all the people who would ever believe upon Him and He transferred that sin to Christ. And Christ, who knew no sin, God made to be sin for us. He suffered, and bled, and died upon that cross. He gave His life that you and I might have life. He shed His blood to make the only atonement for our sin. He was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. They took Him down from that cross, having made the atonement for sinners. They buried Him in a borrowed tomb. And on the third day, He was raised from the dead, and He then entered into glory on the day of His ascension. He is now seated at the right hand of God the Father. And the Bible says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

You must believe in this One who suffered upon Calvary’s cross. He suffered the wrath of God in the place of those for whom He bore their sin. And He has now entered into glory. And if you’ll commit your life to Jesus Christ, He will take you into glory one day, when He returns or when you die. There is salvation in no other name. “For there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” There is one God and one Mediator between the Lord — One God and one Mediator which is the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave His life a ransom for many. If you will commit your life to Jesus Christ; if you will deny yourself, and take up a cross, and become a follower of Christ, if you will enter through the narrow gate that leads into the kingdom of God, if you will take that decisive step of faith, and surrender and submit your life to the lordship of Jesus Christ, He will receive you. And one day, when you die, He will take you home to be with Him in glory. He is preparing a place for all those who will commit their life to Him.

This is the message of the entire Bible — that our all-loving, gracious God has provided salvation in the Person of His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus, as He walked on the road to Emmaus with his disciples and looked into the Scriptures with them, He said, “They testify of me. And they speak of my suffering and my glory.” May you know what it is to enter into the kingdom of God and enter into His glory one day when He comes for you.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the preeminence of the Lord Jesus Christ in all of Scripture. We praise you that He steps out of the pages of even the Old Testament as the central message, as the object of our faith, as a Savior and Lord. Father, thank you that you have opened our eyes, that we might behold our need of Christ and see who Christ is. If there is anyone who has never come all the way to faith in Jesus Christ, oh God, we pray that they would surrender their life to Christ and enter in to the kingdom of God. Father, we are believing You, and we pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Look up – Meditate on Isaiah 43:10. Pray to see what it reveals about the character of God.

Look in – Meditate on Isaiah 43:10. Pray to see how you might apply it to your life. Be propelled to ask galvanizing questions about your discoveries: “Because God is ______________, I will ______________.”

Look out – Meditate on Isaiah 43:10. Pray to see how you might apply it to your relationships with others. Let the nature of God impact on every relationship, for your good, and for His glory. 

* If you liked this post, you'll love this book – Name Above All Names Devotional: Focusing on 26 Alphabetical Names of Christ

if you have gone a little way ahead...call back

Looking Glass Falls, Brevard, NC

During a recent trip to Brevard, North Carolina, we followed a Waterfall Hunting Guide in search of one beautiful waterfall after another. Sometimes the climb to see one waterfall was a little more strenuous than another...it took a little more energy and determination to make it to the summit to see the beauty. During our trek, the words of a poem I had read many years ago in the daily devotional, Streams In The Desert, kept coming to my mind. Once we got home, I located the poem in the following December 19 devotional, and thought it might be an encouragement for fellow travelers...

"It shall turn to you for a testimony."--Luke 21:13

Life is a steep climb, and it does the heart good to have somebody "call back" and cheerily beckon us on up the high hill. We are all climbers together, and we must help one another.

This mountain climbing is serious business, but glorious.

It takes strength and steady step to find the summits.

The outlook widens with the altitude.

If anyone among us has found anything worthwhile, we ought to "call back"...

If you have gone a little way ahead of me, call back­;

'Twill cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track;
And if, perchance, Faith's light is dim, because the oil is low,
Your call will guide my lagging course as wearily I go.

Call back, and tell me that He went with you into the storm;
Call back, and say He kept you when the forest's roots were torn;
That when the heavens thundered and the earthquake shook the hill,
He bore you up and held you where the very air was still.

O friend, call back and tell me, for I cannot see your face;
They say it glows with triumph, and your feet bound in the race;
But there are mists between us, and my spirit eyes are dim,
And I cannot see the glory, though I long for word of Him.

But if you'll say He heard you when your prayer was but a cry,
And if you'll say He saw you through the night's sin-darkened sky,­
If you have gone a little way ahead, O friend, call back,­
'Twill cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track.

- anonymous, December 19 Streams In The Desert devotional

Pisgah National Forest Waterfalls

Triple Falls, Dupont State Forest

Upper Whitewater Falls

(c) 2011 beth willis miller
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What are your thoughts about this post?
      In what ways have you been inspired by a poem or a scenic view in nature?
            How has a scenic view in nature reminded you of a familiar poem or song?

Elijah on Mount Carmel

Our last day of this marvelous journey in March 2000 took us to the top of Mount Carmel. My prayer this day is beautifully expressed in this excerpt from the book, "Meeting God in Holy Places," by F. LaGard Smith: "It was Elijah who announced the famine that would come over the land of Israel because of its idolatry; who was fed meat and bread by the ravens while he hid out from the king; who performed the miracle of the widow's replenishing flour; and who raised the same widow's son from the dead. But we remember him best for the great contest with prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, which had been covered with shrines to Baal. Elijah prayed to God, and God sent down a ferocious fire which consumed the sacrifice--meat, wood, water, stones, dirt, and all! 

As demonstrated so powerfully in the story of Elijah, we're just liable to get what we pray for! Can you imagine it? A fire coming down out of Heaven, consuming every selfish desire, every stubborn will, every wayward thought, every misdirected word, every evil motive? 

Lord Jesus, Your power is too great, too consuming for my wavering faith. Send me this day the tiniest spark that might ignite in me a flame of passion for Your Greater Power in my life. Prepare in me a heart willing to accept Your overwhelming love, and only then, Lord, pour down upon me the fullness of Your Self until my own being is wholly consumed in Thine."

Jesus Christ in the snow patterns

Jesus Christ in the snow patterns

It was 1962, I was the little nine year-old who moved into the house behind Bob and Mildred Farrell. I was an only child who had moved for the first time from her home in Lakeland to Sebring, leaving grandparents and cousins behind. Bob and Mildred would provide the security and stability which I needed—they indeed left their handprints on my heart. Bob and Mildred never had children, and they had retired and moved to Sebring from Ohio after Bob had been paralyzed from the waist down in an automobile accident. They seemed delighted with me, the inquisitive, curious little girl who started a conversation with Mildred while she watered her periwinkles by the chain-link fence that separated our backyards. I had never seen periwinkles before and Mildred had bunches and bunches of them growing along her fence.

I became a regular at Bob and Mildred's, after school, and on weekends. They always welcomed me and seemed excited to see me. We would sit and talk, or just sit, without having to say or do anything for hours. The most fascinating thing I remember from Bob and Mildred’s home I saw on my first visit to their house—it was what appeared to be a photo, with a title below it which read, "Jesus Christ in the Snow Patterns." Mildred took the framed photo off the wall and read me the story printed on the back..."This photograph was taken by a Chinese photographer who was riding home one day through the snow. According to the story, his soul was deeply troubled. He felt strangely compelled to take a photograph of the melting snow forming pools of water and revealing here and there the black earth. Curious to know the outcome of the incident, he developed the film at once upon returning to his home. Out from the black and white areas of the snow scene, a face appeared, full of tenderness and love--the face of Jesus Christ. He became a Christian as a result of the experience."

Bob and Mildred believed—Jesus Christ was their Savior and their Lord, they loved Him, and they knew He loved them, even though they had been to several faith healing services and were told "they didn't have enough faith" for Bob to be healed of his paralysis. “Jesus Christ in the Snow Patterns” served as a constant reminder to them of the presence of Jesus Christ in their lives, even in the perplexities and turmoil of life, we can suddenly become conscious of His Presence. Even this week, when I opened the door to go to work, and the brilliant rays of the morning sunrise came bursting through our neighbor’s tree, directly into my eyes, I paused, amazed at the beauty, I moved slightly to the right and I couldn’t see the sun’s rays, moved slightly to the left and I couldn’t see the sun’s rays, but as I returned to the center point, for what seemed to be several minutes, those rays shown straight into the eyes of my heart, and I suddenly became conscious of His Presence.

Bob and Mildred had a powerful influence on my life. They were always so glad to see me, smiled, hugged me, and seemed to just enjoy my presence. I didn’t have to perform, or be something I was not. They just enjoyed my company. They taught me that “just being” with friends was enough. They taught me to appreciate little things, like periwinkles growing along a chain-link fence.

periwinkles

 Now, every time I see wildflower periwinkles growing in unexpected places, I smile, and remember Bob and Mildred, and powerful influence that their faith, and their acceptance of me—not my performance, but just me—had on my self-concept, my growth and development. I wonder—in what ways might I encourage and accept those around me, the way Bob and Mildred encouraged and accepted me? How about you...your thoughts?