 "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?" (Psalm 139:7 NIV)
When my younger daughter was a toddler, we were at our central downtown library with its three floors and lots of rooms, rather than the smaller, one-story branch where I could easily see her from any vantage point. At "the big library," my daughter knew she was supposed to stay close at hand, but I'd only been looking a few seconds for a book for myself when I realized she was nowhere in sight. I raced down the flight of stairs to the one place I thought she might have gone, and there, under the door of the bathroom stall, I saw her innocent pink flip-flops. God, the Perfect Parent, has no such trouble keeping track of us. The Psalmist reminds us that there is nowhere we can go where God does not see us...nowhere in this life we can be present apart from God's presence. In my own mind and heart, I've been lost in sin, lost in uncertainty, lost in heartbreak and discouragement. But every time, as I've cried out to God and sought Him through prayer, worship, and His Word, He's pulled me back. It wasn't as if He had gone anywhere. God is not some standoffish being who makes Himself hard to find. But He gives us the free will to seek Him because He knows that is the only way for the search to be genuine. How hard it must be for our loving Father to watch us choose not to seek him. And yet what joy it must bring to God's great heart when we do look for look for Him—a greater joy, even, than when I saw those little pink flip-flops on that library bathroom floor. -Elizabeth
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 "O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways." (Psalm 139:1-3 NIV)
My husband has been stealing my mail. Well, not stealing it, but intercepting it. He knew we'd be getting something that would upset me unnecessarily. It wasn't something I needed in any way to know about or deal with. So he checked the mail ahead me, took care of the matter...and then told me about it. My husband knows me well, and in our relationship, I find acceptance and security, because his knowledge of me is preceded by his love for me. God's knowledge of us is a thread woven throughout Psalm 139. David praises God's intimate knowledge of him, but there is no sense of unease or discomfort. Rather, we feel David's trust and confidence. And this confidence can be ours too, because we are known and loved by the One who knows all and loves most. We can say to this God, "You have searched me, and you know me...You are familiar with all my ways"—and find in that knowledge and familiarity the full assurance of our Abba Father's love and protection. “This is the most shocking truth of all: the God who knows us truly, loves us still.” (Bryan Chapell) -Elizabeth  "How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!" (Psalm 139:17 NIV)
I love fall. It's my favorite season because it never lets me down. Here in the Midwest, when it's hot and sunny, we say it's a "last taste of summer" and wear shorts and eat salads. When it's cold and rainy, we say that it's "autumnal" and wear fleece and eat pot roast. I love everything about fall, but maybe what I love most is that Thanksgiving is its signature holiday. I'm crazy about Thanksgiving, which is why I'm so excited we're going to be spending the next month here on TruthBytes feasting on psalms of praise and Thanksgiving. This is a wise thing to do because praising God and giving thanks reorient us. These intentional practices redirect our minds away from what we don't have to what we do have. They refocus our vision away from who we are and cast it on who God is. And both of these are to our good and His glory. Maybe you, like me, could use a reboot. Maybe your mind and heart, like mine, could use a redirect. Maybe you'll want to join me in asking, "God, please reset, refresh, refocus, and renew us with Yourself." And He will, for He is faithful in every season. -Elizabeth  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:37-38 NIV)
Father, I’m forever grateful that Jesus has a heart for people. May my heart be moved by the things that move him, and may I have eyes to see the harassed and helpless souls around me. Help me to be a faithful worker in your harvest, winning souls for you, starting in my very home. And God, when I feel tired and worn out remind me of your faithfulness, dear Father. Renew my hope in you so that I may serve you faithfully and joyfully every day. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. -Marva  Throughout Matthew 9, we find a central theme of God’s faithfulness to us and our faithful response to Him.
“Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, ‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.’” (Matthew 9:2 NIV) No matter what age or stage your children are, your faith still has a place in their lives. As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. (Matthew 9:9-10 NIV) God is not turned off by my messy life. He wants to come in and clean up the mess for me. Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. (Matthew 9:22 NIV) When all else seems hopeless we can take heart knowing that our God is faithful. He may not reveal the answers when and how we think, but He never lets us down. Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you” (Matthew 9:29 NIV) God continues to do the impossible in the lives of those He loves, so whatever you ask for, believe that He can do it. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:36 NIV) Jesus, the Shepherd of your soul, longs to guide, protect and renew you. -Marva  When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:36 NIV)
My daughter is not a fan of bedtimes. As a compromise, we sometimes let her lie in our bed and read until she falls asleep. Then my husband has the task of picking her up and taking her to bed. It’s so endearing to see her lanky body swung over his shoulders with her arms and legs swinging helplessly from side to side. The kind of “harassed and helpless” the Bible talks about in Matthew 9 goes way beyond a sleep-induced, tired state. It’s probably more like what us moms can relate to. A feeling of utter exhaustion. You know, that feeling you have when you’ve had it. When you’re so tired you don’t even know which way to turn. Spiritually speaking, we can also be harassed and helpless, flailing here and there with every new proposition the world throws at us. But it need not be that way. We don’t have to be tossed about by the latest thoughts on parenting, or the latest social media changes, or even the emotional and physical changes our body goes through. We have a Shepherd who sees our harassed and helpless souls and has compassion. In the midst of uncertainty, He longs to guide, protect and renew us. Jesus wants to be the one constant in our lives, offering us stability, hope, peace and grace. If we keep our eyes on the Shepherd, we will find fresh servings of hope and even the energy to face each new day. Start by putting Him first and watch how He will take care of you and all the details of your life. Follow the Shepherd and allow him to renew you today. -Marva  Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you” (Matthew 9:29 NIV)
In today’s story in Matthew 9:27-31, we meet two blind men. The men followed Jesus, begging Him to have mercy on them. The first question Jesus asked was, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” Here’s a question for you too. What have you been asking God for, my friend? Is it health for a sick loved one? Restoration for a broken relationship? A way out of an impossible financial situation? For your children to know and love God? Healing in your heart? Now let me ask you, do you believe that God is able to do it? Let’s go back to the two blind men. Up until then, we know of no one whose sight was restored just by following someone around and begging for mercy. Still, they believed that Jesus could do the impossible. It wasn’t their courage or even their determination that healed them. The Bible tells us that it was done according to their faith. Now, Mama, I know there are times God seems silent and slow in answering our prayers, and we wonder if it’s because of our lack of faith. Be encouraged today that God has not forgotten you. Keep your faith strong and know that He works all things out for good. God continues to do the impossible in the lives of those He loves. And one thing is sure, without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). So, hold on to your faith, dear sister. Whatever you ask for, believe that God can do it. -Marva  Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. (Matthew 9:22 NIV)
There was a time shortly before my son turn one that he became ill and absolutely miserable. Our little fella couldn’t find a way to tell us what was going on, except through his squirms and obvious discomfort. Desperate to find some relief for him, we naturally took him to the doctor. It turned out to be a simple ear infection which could be treated with antibiotics. Relieved that the solution was so simple, we started him on the medication. But then, he developed a rash all over his little body. And it kept getting worse. So back to the doctor we went. Turns out that our little boy was allergic to the antibiotic. We’re grateful that we figured it out in time and he was able to switch medications quickly. For the past 12 years, we’ve had to be cautious about any treatment he receives so as not to expose him to a potentially harmful drug. So I can’t imagine how the woman in Matthew 9:20-22 must have felt. She had been bleeding for 12 years. We spent 12 years armed with information to deal with our son’s allergy while she spent 12 years racking up doctors’ bills wondering how to get better. Her illness was a mystery to her and her physicians, but it wasn’t a mystery to God. She had all but lost heart until she met Jesus. Friend, I don’t know what you’re going through that has caused you to lose heart, but I believe God is speaking these words to you today: “Take heart, daughter”. When all else seems hopeless, we can take heart, knowing our God is faithful. He may not reveal the answers when and how we think, but He never lets us down. So, keep hoping, keep trusting and take heart. -Marva  As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. (Matthew 9:9-10 NIV)
Have you ever had a friend stop by unannounced so that you wished you’d done the dishes instead of watching Netflix? Or maybe just the thought of hosting the weekly ladies’ Bible study throws you in a tailspin. Who could possibly keep up with all that cleaning? In today’s verse we learn about the encounter between Jesus and Matthew. Jesus asked Matthew to follow him, and the next thing we know, He’s over at Matthew’s house having dinner with him and his friends. We don’t know if Matthew had to hold Jesus off while he ran home to clean. But we do know that Matthew’s life was messy. Yet, there was Jesus at home and at ease with Matthew and the other sinners. Friend, I don’t know about you, but like Matthew’s, my life is messy too. Still, Jesus doesn’t wait for me to clean up the mess to visit with me. He asks me to follow him, and once I accept the invitation, He makes himself at home. Today’s message is not about how to pick up your house in 15 minutes or how long it’s been since you cleaned your windows. It’s about a God who wants to spend time with you despite your mess. God is not turned off by my messy kitchen or my messy life. He just wants me. It’s so refreshing to know that I don’t have to clean up or have it all together before I can invite Him in. So, today, I encourage you to let Jesus in. He knows your mess, and He still wants to bless you. And the best part of all is that He wants to clean up that mess for you. It all starts with following Him. -Marva  “Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, ‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.’” (Matthew 9:2 NIV)
When my children were babies, they depended on me to meet their every need. Over the years I’ve watched them grow and become less and less dependent on Mommy. It’s certainly bittersweet to see how our relationship is evolving as they slowly test the waters to figure out what it means to be their own little people. While we could have a whole discussion about how prepared I am for these changes (or not), I’m clear that there’s one thing I can hold on to as they grow; that is, my faith for them. Here in Matthew 9, we meet the paralyzed man whom Jesus miraculously healed (both his body and his soul). But when we look closely, we see it was his friends who stood out. When the friends couldn’t get the man to Jesus because of the crowd, they took drastic action and lowered him through the roof, right in front of Jesus (Luke 5:17-20). The Scripture tells us, “When Jesus saw their faith,” that’s when he responded. Now that’s the kind of faith I want to have for my children – a faith that moves the heart of God on their behalf. Here’s the thing, it doesn’t matter the age or stage of my child – whether she’s little Miss Sassy-Pants or she’s grown and flown the coop – my faith still has a place. So, hold on to your faith, Mama. Because faith still moves mountains. -Marva |
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December 2018
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