Devotions For Real Life

God moments, lessons learned, and hope for the journey

Look for a new post every Sunday. My hope is you find encouragement, wisdom for real life moments, and share them with others who may benefit from any of the posts.

  • Grace

    Like love, my view on grace has evolved significantly over the years. As I journey through life, experiencing and observing, I find myself in need of grace more and more. Life becomes increasingly complex and grey, but God’s grace brings clarity and simplicity. We recognize that it is only through God’s grace that we receive salvation, hope, and peace, as it strips everything else away. You might say “but I” and list your mistakes and faults, but God says, “My grace is sufficient,” and looks upon you with love and forgiveness. You might say, “If only,” but God responds, “My grace is sufficient for you and is everything you need; my power is made perfect in your weakness.” You might see others through judgmental eyes, but God sees them through eyes of grace, just as He sees you. Do you get the point? When grace enters, the past no longer matters.

    Unlike the world’s version of grace, which is temporary at best—like a grace period for bill payments where they don’t charge you a late fee for the first five days—God’s grace is permanent and everlasting. His Amazing Grace, which He has given us, is forever. He offers us salvation, not as a temporary coverage that is later revoked, but as an eternal gift. This is unlike any grace we know or have the capacity to extend to others on our own. That’s God’s grace for us.

    What about how God wants us to extend His grace to others? For this, I’m reminded of the story of the unforgiving servant. His master forgave him a great debt, a debt for which the servant could have been punished severely if he was unable to repay. Instead, the master offered grace and completely forgave the debt. In return, the servant went out and did not offer grace to his fellow servant who owed him only a small amount of money. The servant could have easily forgiven the debt, especially in light of his recent debt forgiveness, yet he did not. Instead, the servant demanded his fellow servant be punished severely for being unable to pay the debt he owed. The master heard of this and brought the unforgiving servant in to be even more severely punished, greater even than what it would have been for just owing the debt. His crime was not only the debt he owed but his unwillingness to forgive. How could that man not forgive another who owed him so little when he had been forgiven so much? Have we not been given grace to cover a great debt we could never repay? How can we not offer God’s grace, his forgiveness, to others, considering how generously and freely it was given to us?

    I know I seem to have switched from grace to forgiveness, but they go hand in hand. Grace is a game-changer, a life-changer for so many of us. Isn’t it time we extend that to others?

    I want to take a moment to marvel at God’s grace. It’s not just because there’s a song called “Amazing Grace” that we know grace is amazing. We know God’s grace is amazing because none of us would belong to God without that amazing grace. The amazing grace of God that called us before, that carries us during, that covers us after, and that continues to hold us every moment. Amazing! God, help me not just to marvel at Your grace but to walk in it. Furthermore, let me be able to extend it to others. Help me to trust and rest in it, and to declare every day what a marvelous grace You’ve offered us!

    Scriptures: Heb. 4:16, 2 Cor. 12:9, Rom. 5:1-2, Matt. 18:21-35

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  • CommUnity

    Today, I had the privilege of attending the Emmaus gathering. Every time I participate in any Emmaus-related event, I am reminded of the beauty of community. We come from all ages and backgrounds, attending churches of different denominations. I’m sure we have varying beliefs on issues such as politics or some of the controversial topics in churches like music. Yet, when we come together, it is all about edifying and encouraging each other. It’s absolutely beautiful. I’ve never experienced unity in the body of Christ quite like I have at Emmaus, given the diversity of people and backgrounds. It’s amazing how we can be so different, yet in all the ways that matter, we are exactly the same.

    Not only do we stand unified, but we also edify each other. It’s all about showing love towards one another, serving each other, showing concern, praying for one another, grieving with each other, and celebrating each other’s victories. One of the comments you often hear from pilgrims who have been on the walk is that they have never experienced the love of God like they have at Emmaus. I wholeheartedly agree, and it doesn’t end with the weekend; it continues into all our fourth days, every day for the rest of our lives.

    I am not exalting Emmaus itself because the reason it is so wonderful is that it is Christ-centered. Even more than that, it is centered on a life of discipleship and servanthood. It is all about living as Christ lived and demonstrating God’s love to everyone around us, including each other. So, we give glory to God, not to the experience. We understand that the reason it works is that we have all submitted to what God is asking of us. Essentially, the good in it is because God is in it.

    As a believer who has served the Lord since I was eight and attended churches from every denomination (nondenominational, Assembly of God, United Methodist, Presbyterian, Evangelical, Church of God, Baptist, Pentecostal, Catholic), I can tell you that there is a sense of community within each denomination but not across denominations. It’s as if some denominations think they are the only ones who have it right, like they will have a special place in heaven. I’ve even heard jokes about how some will be surprised to see people from other denominations in heaven. It’s sad. That’s not the way God intended it to be.

    There’s something incredibly special about an organization that brings all God’s people together, making denominations irrelevant. The differences disappear. It’s powerful to think that it doesn’t matter if we are Baptist, Presbyterian, or Pentecostal; all that matters when we worship together is that we belong to Christ. This reminds me of the scripture where Paul addresses the people, saying that they were claiming to belong to Paul or Cephas. Paul said that we don’t follow people (denomination or pastor); we follow Christ.

    So, I would argue that as a Christian community, we should stop identifying ourselves by our denominations and instead say, “I belong to Christ.” The truth is, when we worship in heaven, we will all worship together as one. I’m excited that there will be so many of us from varied churches and denominations, all praising our one Lord together. That’s how we stand in unity. We must put aside ourselves and our ideals and instead promote Christ and Him crucified as all that matters. We choose to show love and serve each other as Christ served His disciples and all people, even though He was so much greater.

    We need to return to a place of community because that’s where the power lies. It’s the body of Christ working together to build the Kingdom of God. That’s what He’s called us to do, not to build our denominations or our own kingdoms and ideas.

    I praise God for showing me this little piece of heaven on earth, where a Christian community loves and serves each other without the hateful divisions that denominations have created. And yes, I don’t think division is good. I understand that people have doctrinal concerns and different worship styles, so we might have different gathering places to worship. What I don’t understand is the idea that we could hate our brother over matters such as the way we take communion, how we baptize, or how we worship. When did it become about these practices or traditions? Do these things save us? No, heaven forbid, we are saved by Christ and His sacrifice alone.

    I’m advocating that we lay down our arms and stop seeing ourselves as divided. We need to understand that we are called to live in unity with each other. The same beauty and strength in unity that I have experienced at Emmaus could be realized in all our churches if we would just lay down our arms against each other, stop drawing lines in the sand where they should not exist, and instead link hands and stand together as we walk forward as disciples of Christ. As those willing to lay down their lives for Christ. Those same people that Christ said would be known by their love are waiting for us to demonstrate true love and unity. Can we honestly say that’s how they know we’re Christians, or is it just from a sticker on our car, a cross around our neck, or the sign on our church building?

    Let’s get back to it, church. Let’s be the community that God called us to be. Let’s be the body of Christ, diverse in its parts, giftings, and functionality, with every piece working together to thrive and live. All of us working together to build a Kingdom of God that doesn’t have denominational signs at the head of it, with the only label being God’s Kingdom. It’s His and His alone. One Lord, and one body to serve Him. Unified!

    Scriptures: 1 Cor. 1:10, Eph. 4:1-6, Phil. 2:3, 1 Cor. 1:10-17

  • A Time to Win

    I’ve always thought of myself as tenacious. I’ll fight for things I want or know are important. So, my realization tonight was difficult. I was watching a show about an interesting method a physical trainer used to help someone lose weight. To be empathetic, the trainer gained weight and then had to lose it alongside the person he was training. It’s reminiscent of Christ coming as a man to live the life we couldn’t live. Back to the story, but it’s a cool parallel to draw.

    In one of his conversations with the person he was training, he said something that struck me. After being so motivated initially and encouraged by the trainer as his teammate, the man felt discouraged and lacked motivation to keep fighting the good fight for himself. He could fight for someone else; he could fight when the trainer was beside him encouraging him, but when he was alone, the truth was there wasn’t any fight left in him. The trainer told him that when he made a promise to himself, he needed to walk in integrity and keep it. He needed to be motivated in himself and for himself. That’s a lot easier said than done.

    Watching this exchange struck me because I struggle in the exact same way. There are certain disciplines or goals I’ve had because I know I need to be healthier, whether physically or financially. I find myself constantly sabotaging myself or doubting that I can be my best self. I make promises to myself, and I don’t keep them. Sometimes I’ll joke and say that I’m a great starter and motivator, but when it comes to follow-through, well, that just doesn’t always happen. It’s not something I like to admit about myself, but it’s true. Watching them in their exchange made me realize why. I haven’t operated in my life in a way that shows I value myself. I honestly don’t like myself most of the time, so why would I bother to keep promises to myself?

    Why would I write about this? It does cast me in a very positive light. Still I know I can’t possibly be the only one who feels this way or struggles with these feelings. It isn’t just me and that man on the show who struggle with keeping promises to ourselves or seeing ourselves as valuable and worthy. I’m sure we won’t be the last either. So, I want to speak some truths for those of you who, like me, find yourselves struggling to love yourself and keep promises to yourself.

    First, you need to understand your value. We are not worthy or valuable because there is anything about us that is lovely, good, or special. We are valuable because God values us. Although He shouldn’t, but for some amazing reason, He valued and loved us so much that He paid the price of His only son’s life. He values us so much that He sent His spirit to dwell in us, empower us, and comfort us. He values us so much that He knows the number of hairs on our head, every thought and word we’ll ever think or say, our true name, and He’s calling us to be His. To Him, we are treasures beyond price.

    Not only does God value us, but He’s also strengthened us for the journey. I don’t have to accomplish goals or keep promises to myself in my own strength. I can lean on Him to support me. I can live and operate in wisdom, which He has given me, so I can accomplish the goals I’m setting for myself to be healthier in all areas of my life. Not only has He given me strength of my own spirit, but He’s also given me the strength of the entire body of Christ with other believers who will support and encourage me. It’s my choice to reach out and borrow that strength if needed. I can confidently say that I know there will be times when I will need to ask for support..

    Greater still, we have been given grace. Part of the reason why follow-through often fails for me is because I’m human. I’ll make a mistake and do that activity I promised myself I wouldn’t do or eat that piece of cake I know I shouldn’t. In shame, I’ll beat myself up over it and then think, well, the cat’s out of the bag, so it doesn’t matter; I wasn’t going to succeed anyway. Basically, after one failure, instead of persevering, I’ll give up. Life is full of opposition; every single day we face challenges of every kind. It would be easy, in the face of challenges and our own failures, to throw our hands up and say, what’s the point? I kind of think of it like this: someone standing in the middle of their dirty kitchen and throwing their hands up, saying, well, forget it, I’m not going to clean any more dishes because they’re only going to get dirty again. We would never do that because, well, you’d probably die from some disease you contracted by using the dirty dishes, and you need clean dishes, so even though they’re going to get dirty again, you still clean them. You have to persevere to maintain a healthy environment in your home while disciplining yourself for cleanliness.

    We also have to persevere in many other areas of our lives. Choosing disciplined financial choices so we don’t end up with mountains of debt and frustration. Living disciplined when it comes to food and nutrition so we can maintain these bodies that are the temples of the Holy Spirit to minister for Christ more effectively. Finally, disciplining our minds to continue studying and learning from God so we can grow spiritual and become maturity believers. I know you want me to tell you that growth just happens with the snap of the fingers or an abraka-Jesus, as I heard my Pastor say on Sunday. But it doesn’t. Instead, all growth comes through perseverance, through endurance despite the challenges we face. Discipline is not given; it is earned through time and practice. We have to clean the dishes in life even though we know that we will have to do it every day, over and over again.

    I’m thankful for these truths that can encourage me to keep promises I make to myself because I know it is not easy and it probably will never be. However, it is worth it to keep promises that I am endeavoring and challenging myself with, such as maturing as a believer, taking care of the body and temple that God has given me, having a balanced and productive life, and not overloading myself with undue burdens. I wonder what your pain points are. Where is God calling you to persevere and live a disciplined life?

    What is not going to happen is that I get up tomorrow and I’m magically transformed into someone who finds it easy to live a disciplined life and always follow through. It won’t happen magically for you either. What we will both find, though, is that with continued perseverance and endurance, while holding on to the truth of the value we have through Christ Jesus and the strength we can lean on in Him, we can succeed; we can follow through to the end. One day at a time, one step at a time, one more promise kept at a time, and no matter how many times I might fall, I’ll get up, brush myself off, and keep going. I hope you will do the same. He who endures to the end will win the prize. I don’t know about you, but it’s time to win, one challenge at a time, yes, but ultimately victory.

    Scriptures: James 1:3, Lam. 3:22-24, Phil. 1:6

  • Powerless but Powerful

    I’ve never considered myself weak. Not that I thought I was some kind of super strong, amazing saint. For most of my life, if I set my mind to do or not do something, I could muster enough willpower to follow through on my decision. Whether it was related to health, spiritual matters, or other areas, if I felt convicted to get healthier, make better choices, or operate in wisdom, I could follow through. I had the motivation to try to be the best version of myself. This is not to say I didn’t have any hang-ups or struggles with sin, just that in general, I was able to change or work to change my life. Or so I thought. Until recently, when a darkness and a period of emptiness threatened to consume me.

    I started a Celebrate Recovery step study. Why? Because for the first time in my life, I no longer wanted to do what was right. My tendencies were leaning toward selfish, sinful behaviors, and I didn’t know why. I knew I should be content with the life God had given me. I should be satisfied and feel like it was enough. But in all honesty, I wanted to walk away from being a mother, from being a dedicated and contributing member of the Body of Christ, from everything I had ever known. To the depths of my soul, I felt so very empty. Despite all the love from my Savior, my friends and family, and the great affection my children had towards me, nothing was satisfying that part of me that wanted, and I had no clue why or how to remedy the situation.

    I had spent my whole life making the right choices and wondered in frustration where it had landed me. I was stuck in single parenthood, in constant work and struggle. Home only represented work and unrest for me, not peace or safety. I wasn’t exactly bitter, although I may have been a little bitter, but I was certainly tired of it all. I wanted out but could not leave because too many people needed me. Mostly, my four kids, and I couldn’t hurt them. Not to mention the horrible witness it would be if I chose not to show God’s light. Maybe I didn’t think my scope of influence was very large, but others would be affected if I walked away, and it would reflect poorly on God. I would be just another fallen saint. How could I do that after all that God had done for me? He had done so much for me, even if I was numb to it.

    So instead, my destructiveness turned inward and private, and I could not really share all the struggles. I often chose things that were not the best ways, healthiest outlets, or godly ways to cope with these feelings of inadequacy, self-hatred, and loneliness. I knew that I would have to deal with my damage because holding it in was becoming impossible. People always see the cracks, even when you desperately try to hide them.

    The truth was, I really didn’t want to hide them anymore. I was reaching the point of being brutally honest about my situation, but not in a good way. I just couldn’t make myself care anymore. A friend told me, you can only hold the beach ball underwater so long before people realize you are trying to hide something. Yep, that was me, trying to hide things from others and myself and wearing myself out in the process. It was time to let go of the beach balls in my life that I was trying to conceal, to stop denying, and let them come to the surface and just deal with the real issues. Not something I had ever done, as I had learned to deny and hide all my life since childhood. Honestly, I was terrified. Yet, I couldn’t maintain my godly, perfect veneer any longer and knew it was time. So I became real with myself and decided I needed to deal with my damage before I did something stupid I could not recover from, that would not only hurt me but those I loved and was working to protect.

    Here’s the thing, this damage was only a small part of my story. The larger part of me was a responsible person, living what most consider to be a very Christian life, yet there was a darker part of me, and it seemed like it was growing and overtaking the other part. So I went to Celebrate Recovery because I knew things were not going well. I was silently screaming desperate for assistance and rescue, begging God to help me get out. I needed rescue. From what I wasn’t 100% sure of, but whatever it was, it was slowly killing me.

    What I thought was, at CR, I would get lessons on overcoming through pure willpower, like I had overcome before in life. That’s got to be the solution, right? After all the way to fix it was to just move forward and determine that you can do this, and then it happens. However, that is not what I found. Instead, I found lessons on how I have to admit my situation as it really is and not live in denial. That I was powerless to change, at least on my own. Really, God, powerless? Yes! There was more though, I had to admit that what I had thought my entire life was wrong. I can’t save myself through determination or willpower; I won’t choose what’s right because I am unable to do the right thing in my own strength. I only wanted to please and appease myself, my flesh. I was willing powerless sinner.

    I remember recognizing that I was a sinner who needed God as a child, but I don’t ever remember acknowledging that I was powerless to effect change or bring true transformation in my life. Outside of God, I am nothing; I have nothing. It’s not a simple, “ok God, I’m a sinner.” It’s realizing that I would wallow in it and enjoy it and continue to do it. It’s recognizing that I was truly wicked, unwilling and unable to do what is right. That even the “good” I did was done with wrong motives all to ofter. My friends, without God you are utterly and completely ruined, truly lost, and absolutely unable to do anything that saves yourself in your own power. I don’t think I had ever acknowledged that, but it was time I did.

    You see, I always thought I was a little good because I chose right most of the time. Yet, during that dark time in my life that led me to CR, any assumption of goodness or worthiness on my part based on my merit proved to be a lie. The reality was I could not save myself. Powerless is what I was. I could deny the truth no longer. It made me angry at everything—at myself for being so weak, at God for making me this way and not naturally instilling all goodness and discipline in me, and at others for disappointing and hurting me in ways that drove me to seek solace in any way possible due to pain and desperation. I didn’t want to have to surrender, to know that I couldn’t make this better no matter how hard I tried.

    What’s more, how could anyone love such a weak and powerless individual? I certainly could not. Yet the person Christ died for, she was that weak, useless person. The person I was disgusted with, who I hid for fear that others would see her for who she really was (the person who I truly was and did not want to admit to myself), she was the one He was wooing. Wow, He was calling to me in my wretched state, “Come to me just as you are, I love you.”

    So here I sit, realizing that yes, I am truly powerless, but I have hope. The truth is, knowing I’m powerless to change myself does not make me weak. It’s the beginning of strength. Powerlessness and weakness are not the same. Although I am powerless and a sinner but I am not weak when I surrender to God’s will and respond to his call. Weakness only remains if I don’t admit my need and seek God’s help or if I keep trying to save myself, which I can never do. Perhaps I am helpless to save myself from my hurts, habits, and hang-ups, but God is not!

    Strength comes when admitting the truth, and that is the starting place for true freedom and life changing transformation. When I surrender to the Lord, He can begin his work in me to create in me a new heart. When we recognize that we need the great physician to open up our hearts and work on us, that’s the start in the right direction. It will be in His way, in His time, and with His strength. So much strength and power comes from surrender, submission, and absolute trust in our Savior. Wow, the light of truth shone brightly that day in my heart, and I pray you see the truth clearly also.

    It’s ironic that God has brought me to that moment when he did. It was no long after I attended the Walk to Emmaus. During dying moments, I asked God what to lay down this time. He spoke to my heart, “My child, you always bring me your problems and your stuff. I just want you!” Fully surrendered, recognizing my own powerlessness and His powerfulness, my weaknesses that are strengths in His hands, and my trust in the process that He is walking me through is what God required that day.

    What now? My life isn’t going to change, at least not right away; it will be challenging. I will continue to be the mother of four children with all the same struggles and responsibilities. However, my focus and the attitude of my heart will change. I choose to change it. I will face one day at a time. I will recognize my source and stop trying to be what I was never meant to be. He is the Savior, provider, and chain breaker. That is His work to do.

    I pray you will resolve to do what I am doing now, no matter how painful or how long it takes. He can work in you what He thinks is good, right, and acceptable.

    I will not get up from the altar that I laid prostrate before the Lord on during dying moments when I surrendered (well, I will have to get up physically, but my heart and my soul will remain in His hand alone). You also can learn how to live surrendered and recognizing the truth of your powerlessness, and his powerful work and transformation he wants to bring about in you. This is the starting place from where you can finally walk into full peace, healing, and freedom. A place of full surrender and total reliance on Christ. Weak in the world’s eyes, but strong and powerful in Jesus.

    Scripture: 2 Cor. 12:9

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  • Live Now!

    When I grow up, I will… So many people spend their lives thinking about what they will do when they finally grow up, or when they retire, or just later. Why wait? Why not do those things now?

    Sure, some things require preparation, but at least start preparing. I recently watched a movie called “The Last Holiday.” The main character had a book of possibilities filled with things she dreamed of doing but had never done because she was too busy working and saving. She might never have carried out those dreams had she not received life-changing news. She found out she was dying, or so she thought. Upon learning she had only two weeks to live, she set off to fulfill her dreams and finally experience her adventures.

    Why does it take bad news to move us? A life-or-death ultimatum before we start living fully? It’s like we think we are going to live forever. Here’s a newsflash: you are dying, and so am I. It is inevitable, and we do not know when or how, at least most of us. So, although the when is unknown to us, we live knowing it could happen at any time. We should live like that and take advantage of the opportunities we have right now.

    Don’t wait to grow up to pursue your dreams. Don’t wait until you get old to live out your bucket list; you probably won’t have the energy then. Don’t wait for the perfect moment; it may never come. Today is a day full of promises and opportunities for us all. Today is a day that we’re alive, so we should live. Live it to the fullest. No more waiting, no more putting off. Instead, live the moment you are in boldly.

    Scripture: Deut. 31:6

  • Trust and Surrender

    Recently, I watched a movie called “The War Room,” and it brought me to my knees. I had been exhausted, trying to fight the battles in my life alone. I searched for solutions, and when I did pray, it was to ask for resolution in the way I thought God should provide it.

    With each lost battle, there were more casualties in my life, and I sank deeper and moved further away from the only one who had true victory for me. By the time I saw the movie, the fallout in my life was substantial. I had never felt more worthless, less deserving of love, hope, or the victory God had promised. I was buried under the rubble, trying to find the strength to push the load off my back and stand again.

    I couldn’t do it in my own strength, but praise God, I was never meant to. That’s the point. I needed God to move the mountains, the boulders, and all my heavy burdens.

    The good news was that I was already in the proper place to ask for His assistance. I was on my knees. Here’s how I start winning: I quit struggling and surrender, not to the burdens but to God. I ask Him to help me, to dig me out, and to move my mountains.

    Once the way is clear, I reach for His hand so He can pull me out and get me to my feet. Then I depend on His strength and His alone to keep me standing. I trust Him and don’t rely on my sight or my own thoughts and wisdom but instead depend on His vision and wisdom alone, trusting in and leaning on His understanding.

    I also have to realize that my surrender will be a state I must stay in. I didn’t get here under the rubble in one day, I wasn’t brought low quickly, it was a gradual decline. Although victory is assured to me, it will take time to be complete the process of restoration in my life. It may take my entire life to be fully realized. Until then, I have to continue to trust and fully rely on God. Most importantly, once the restoration is complete, I still must remain dependent and fully surrendered to my Savior. He is and will always be the one who knows and sees, the one with all the solutions, and the one who will complete the work in my heart and life. He is the only true answer for me, whether in trial or success. He never changes! God, give me the strength to surrender and trust. To live in surrender and trust. It’s the only path to true victory and freedom.

    Scriptures: Proverbs 3:5-6, 1 Peter 5:6-10, Col. 4:2

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  • Who Do You Say I Am? Part 2

    Earlier I have written about who Jesus is to me. I was inspired by the question asked in scripture where Jesus said “who do you say I am” and also by the message my pastor was sharing. Initially, my first thoughts were he’s my friend, my provider, my hiding place or refuge, my anchor, and the lover of my soul. Yet as I contemplated, as I challenged you to contemplate, I realized there was even more. That’s what I want to talk about today. Although these things Christ is to me, these roles that He plays in my life are for me.  They are not just offered or done for me, but it’s honestly what he offers to be to all of us. Yet I think each of those roles that he takes is worth examining. Even if we have them in common. So I want to look at things he is to us that we all have in common.

    First, he’s, my Redeemer. One of my favorite Big Daddy Weave songs is “I am redeemed.” See, I’m not the only one who sees Christ as my Redeemer. In the song he’s talking about how Christ has redeemed him and set him free from the chains and the stains and guilt of his sin. There’s a scripture that says “I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are mine.” Even God declares himself as our Redeemer. But what does it mean that he’s our Redeemer? A Redeemer is someone who redeems and that means someone who repays or recovers or saves something for something else. So, we are saved from sin, from death and separation from God. And we are saved to Christ. We are saved in order that we can have a relationship and the connection to God. Pretty amazing isn’t it when you think about it. That he said he didn’t just save us from something as I was so often told as a child. Now I can understand as a more mature Christian that I was saved to something as well. The amazing thing that I’ve come to realize is I wasn’t saved to service or work but instead I was saved in order to be connected and have that relationship with the creator and the maker of my soul. So, if the Redeemer is someone who redeems, then Christ is our Redeemer. He saved us and recovered us from eternal punishment and to eternal life. That’s not just true for me, that’s for all who call him Lord, who call him savior, and who know him as their Redeemer.

    Along the same line but with a different angle, not only is Christ our Redeemer but he is the one who has justified us. Christ’s justification of us it’s very unique. Justification is simply the action of showing that’s something is right. Theologically it means the action of declaring or making righteous in the sight of God. So, he saved us from sin and death, in order that we can have the relationship with God which we can’t have without justification. God is holy and we have to be holy to be part of his kingdom and we’re not. This is where justification comes in. He puts us in right standing before the father. It’s interesting because like I said this is unique to Christ. That he justifies us not based on our actions is unique to the Christian faith.  In many other faiths you have to earn it or justify yourself.  That is not so with Jesus. We are sinners, and as long as we are in our flesh we will continue to sin. Yet by grace, simply through faith, he justifies us. It’s a state of grace that we live in. I’ve always loved that scripture that says “Though our sins are as scarlet, he makes us white as snow.” I’ve always wondered how can red blood, a scarlet flow, purify and make anything white, gleaming, and new.  Just like so many other things about God it is a mystery and it’s not something that we are ever going to be able to fully understand in this life, yet we see the reality and the truth of it even if we can’t fully wrap our mind around it. After all, how can we be justified when we’ve done nothing to deserve it or earn it. Even more than that, how can such an amazing justification be free to us by faith and belief alone, it’s given. It’s unfathomable to our human minds. We only give when we get. But here Christ is giving freely his whole life, his lifeblood poured out to cleanse us and justify us, and once again this is not just for me, but this is for us all. For any who would believe and call on his name.

    Not only has Christ redeemed us and justified us, but he also defends us. It’s interesting in Job you see this picture of God’s throne whether you consider it figurative or literal. Where Satan actually approaches God and accuses one of God’s people, Job. He doesn’t actually accuse Job of what he’s done wrong, no he says if you weren’t good to him then he would not be good to you. Now we all know the story of what happened in the end, but I want to point out that you see here Satan as the accuser of the brethren. The Bible actually calls him that, and in Job you see him doing that. We have an accuser, and he has plenty of evidence against us. More importantly, we have an advocate. First John 21 says that “Christ is our advocate with the father.” It says “I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin, but if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the father, Jesus the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” When someone would propitiate in ancient times, they were doing something to appease their gods. But in this context, it is something different because there’s nothing that we can do to appease God for the wrongs that we’ve done. So, when it’s talking about how Christ was the propitiation for our sins it’s referring to Christ sacrifice and how God righteousness was completely satisfied by the death of Christ on the cross. It’s not as if God was some God that was angry about something, and he was appeased. No, it’s that God is perfect and holy and can have no part with anything that is not perfect and holy. A sacrifice was required to make right what was wrong. Christ then received the punishment that we deserved. Sin was committed, punishment had to be given, Christ took the punishment for all of us, for the whole world. That’s amazing. Our defender is the one who took the punishment on our behalf. It’s baffling and it makes no sense when you look through the eyes of the world wisdom. 

    It’s also very humbling when you realize what he did for us while we were still his enemies. And greater still that not only did he take the punishment for us, but he also continues his defense of us as a says in Hebrews 7:25 that Jesus lives to intercede for us. He is able to save us, he’s our Redeemer, he was the propitiation for our sins, and scripture goes on to declare that he could do this so that we can come to God through him because he always lives to intercede for us. Every moment, even with all that he already has done, he still is working on our behalf making intercession for us before the father, advocating for us. That whole if God is for you who can be against you thing is real. If Christ is for you and interceding for you and has done all of that he’s done for you, how could you ever question his ability to save you and keep you and sustain you. It really is amazing.

    We’ve seen how to us Christ redeems, justifies, and even defends. But there’s even more that he does. He goes further and he clothes us. Do you remember in Genesis when men sinned initially and was expelled from the garden that God clothed them. He didn’t send them out without a covering. All those thousands of years later when Christ came and sacrificed himself to redeem that relationship that had been broken by sinning in the garden we see that Christ once again steps into that role that God had established thousands of years before when he clothed man. Our flesh is sinful and corrupt. Our bodies are dying from the moment we’re born. But it’s not just our bodies that are corrupt it’s also our spirits. Through Christ sacrifice he offers to make us new, and to literally clothe us in his righteousness. What his father will see when he looks at us is Jesus and all of his righteousness, and not the sinful unworthy creatures that we are. Instead, he makes us like himself by literally clothing us in himself. 

    For now, while we walk through this world, he’s also given us another clothing of sorts. Scripture refers to the armor that we should cover ourselves with. The breastplate of righteousness, the sword spirit, the helmet of salvation, the belt of truth, our feet shod with the readiness for the preparation of the gospel. He tells us to just stand, because he’s already won the victory. We just simply need to stand armored. So not only has he clothed us with his righteousness and in the hereafter will be transforming us.  As scripture says when we see him, we will be as he is. He’s also equipped us for our struggle and our challenges in this world with his armor. Pretty amazing how he’s made provision for us. The mind blowing thing is that by clothing us this time, remember the first time when men sinned he clothed them when they left the garden, Christ clothes us in righteousness and then brings reconciliation so we can be back with him. Interesting how that comes full circle. So many things are like that in scripture if you see it as the full story. 

    Now the above are more well-known roles that we all have Christ playing on our behalf in common. For all of us Christ is our Redeemer, our justifier, our advocate and defender, and the one who clothes us reconciling us to God himself, But there’s one more way that’s not as well known that I would like to highlight. It’s not as acknowledged but I actually think it’s one of the most important. You see he’s our sustainer. The Bible declares that he who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it. In Isaiah 46:4 it says “even to your old age in gray hairs I am he, I am he who sustains you.” In Psalms 119:113 the Psalmist asks God “to sustain me according to your promise and I will live.” 

    I was actually doing a little research while writing this about God as our sustainer and saw that justification behind the idea that he can be the sustainer of our soul is his attributes. If God is all knowing, all powerful, and supremely good then he’s well equipped to be the sustainer of our soul. Recently, I watched “Thor, Love and Thunder.”  One of the scene showed Thor going to the other gods in Olympus where Zeus was the head god. Of course, there was trouble in the human world but here all these gods sat uncaring worrying more about their own pleasure. They didn’t care because the people’s troubles couldn’t touch them. When I was watching this, it was a reminder that our God is not like these fake gods that men have made. We don’t need a God of Thunder and a God of the sea and a God of the vine or whatever. We have one God who is the God of all gods. There’s no other needed, his is our all sufficiency. God is the one who does it all. He is the one who made heaven and earth, he is the one who causes the lightning or could stop it, he is the one who made the sea and everything in them, he is the one who made all of the living things that are on land including people. He is the one and there is no other. Yet even being that great, and even being one who needs nothing from us, he still chose to be involved with his creation. To love us by coming and serving us and sacrificing his one and only son for us. He is not some man made up story to help us cope and deal with difficult life. No, he is the one who is above it all, yet, because of his great love chose to reach down to bring us up when we did not have the ability to do that. It’s amazing and not only did he concern himself with our salvation, but he also concerns himself with our life. He knows everything about each one of us, the countless trillions that have existed. He knows how many hairs are on each of our heads, he knew every day of our life before we had lived even one of them, before we speak a word, he already knew what it would be. Not only does he know all of us, know all about us, but love us.  He longs to save us and promises that he will keep us. In 1 Corinthians 1:8 scripture declares that “he will keep you firm to the end so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

    If I think about these things that Christ is to me, that he is to you as well, It’s overwhelming. I don’t know how to wrap my mind around him being one who redeems the unworthy, who justifies the undeserving, who advocates for us even while we were still his enemies, who clothes us with holiness and righteousness and glory that’s his own, and who continues to sustain us and provide for us and concern himself with us. Those are only just some of the things he is to us. There are the things that he is to each of us individually because of our life experiences that I wrote about before. Remember for me he’s my friend, my refuge, my provider and my anchor. And that’s just some of the things he has shown to me, not all of them. I could probably write the rest of my life and keep discovering new ways that Christ is amazing in that he has provided for every single detail of my life. But he hasn’t just done that for me, he wants to do it for you, for all of us. 

    Maybe you think that you know who Christ is, and what answer you would give. I challenge you to look again today and see a way that he’s working new things in your life. Maybe these things that Christ is to you don’t seem amazing to you anymore, you’ve heard them your whole life and well, they just don’t seem like a really great thing. I challenge you to look again and understand the depth of what he’s done for you and continues to do in each of his roles towards us. We will spend our lifetime discovering who Jesus is to us, probably only to get to the end of our life and find that we’ve barely scratched the surface. In our relationship with the Lord he doesn’t want us content to dip our toes into the water at the shore line, no, he wants us to step out and go into the deep waters of who he is, there’s always more to discover and find if you keep searching. 

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  • Who Do You Say I Am?

    Throughout my life, I’ve read about who others say Jesus is. Through their experiences and encounters with God, they’ve come to know Him in unique ways. Their understanding of Him is slightly different from mine. These encounters shape their perception of who God is to them. Each of us has different lives and perspectives, so our understanding of God is unique to our needs. Yet, we also encounter Him in similar ways. It’s not that He is a different God; He is the same God, though we might perceive Him and His actions in varied ways. His vastness and depths are beyond our imagination, allowing us to see different aspects of who He is. If asked, “Who do you say I am?” we would each have different answers. This morning, I am overwhelmed as I reflect on who Christ is to me and the ways I have encountered Him.

    For me, it has always been Jesus and me. Though grammatically it should be “Jesus and I,” it’s true. He has always been my friend. I can share everything with Him—the good, the bad, the ugly, and everything in between. As a child, an adult, a mother, a wife, a single woman, and in every role, I’ve held, He has been my friend. Through it all, He has been my confidant, someone with whom I can share the joys and concerns of my life. He’s my longtime friend, the one I cry with, laugh with, and deeply love. Things I could never share with anyone, I’ve shared with Him—my greatest shames, deepest secrets, and my raw, unfiltered self and he has loved me all the same. Knowing He is my friend means that prayer is not work; it is a conversation with my very best and longtime friend. Even study tranforms into an opportunity to know my friend more, so it’s not work either, or at least not work I dread.  It’s amazing to realize that He seeks to know me in return, he wants time with me too.

    Christ has always been my friend, but He has also been my refuge. My childhood was filled with frequent arguments at home. My parents tried their best, but it wasn’t always easy. Most days, I felt my father hated me and that nothing I did was ever good enough, even though I desperately wanted his love. It was incredibly hard. I remember finding solace in Christ, hiding with my friend Jesus in my closet as my parents argued. During my teenage years, He continued to be my refuge. This support persisted into my marriage, which was often disappointing and difficult due to separations from deployments. Being married to a soldier meant I often lived like a single mother. God was my hiding place as I faced infidelity, body image struggles, and managing expectations from others and myself. In all these challenges, He was my refuge and the place I hide away when it all becomes too much. He is an eye in every storm, a shelter from the wind and rain that beat at me so often in life. I see myself as the psalmist described—a babe chick huddled under His wings, protected.

    One of my favorite songs for a long time has been “You Are My Hiding Place.” It simply declares that He is my hiding place and that He preserves me whenever I am afraid. I trust in Him. I openly admit that I experience real fear and am overwhelmed by my life at times. I struggle with anxiety and worry; this is not an easy world we live in. But I take all those feelings to my friend Jesus, and He lets me hide away inside of Himself, under His wings. It should be clear why, to me and many others, Christ is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble.

    He is also the lover of my soul. Now, I’ll try to keep this PG, but this aspect of Christ is very important and deep. What is a lover, really? It’s someone who attends to and gives love or pleasure to another. Our relationship with Christ is intimate. How can that be? He is closer to us than anyone else and knows us deeper than anyone else. This is something I’ve found to be true throughout my life. When I am close to Him, there is such a feeling of peace, joy, comfort, and yes, pleasure. It’s like nothing else to be in the presence of God, to be absolutely held and enthralled in the moment with Him. It’s heaven on earth.

    For me, this began with Christ through worship and prayer. I was blessed to attend a church full of passionate worshippers. I saw others seek God, losing themselves in His presence as they completely focused on Him. When I focused fully on God in worship or prayer, this intimate exchange with God became very real to me. I fell in love with Jesus as He lavished His love on my soul.

    The closest thing I can explain is that He is intimate with us; we become one with God, not sexually, but just as intimately. He is the lover of our soul. Through worship, we forge a connection with God and lavish Him with adoration and praise. In return, He enfolds us and envelops us with His very spirit. It brings a feeling of closeness and connection to God that’s as close to heaven as we’ll ever know on earth. It’s complete rapture, being caught up in His presence. I know people only use words like rapture and ecstasy to describe sex, but being in God’s presence in that intimate way is better than anything.  It completely transforms you and you are never the same. This is what it has been for me.

    Of course, just like with sex in a marriage, our worship and intimate times with God can become routine and even boring when people have been in a relationship for a long time. In the same way, we can take our worship and intimate times with God for granted if we let that happen. So, we must keep it fresh and vibrant. We must show up when we worship and not take it for granted because we value the connection with him. If we lost that connection, it would be devastating. The truth is that it is not just in those mountaintop moments that we’re connected with God; He is the lover of our soul our whole life. Scripture declares that I am His and He is mine. Always.

    Now, I’ll move back to some more PG things that God is to me. I know not everybody is comfortable viewing God as the lover of their soul, but wow, if you could only grasp that, it would change your life.

    Something more practical that God has been to me is my provider. Jehovah Jireh, my provider. Time after time, in every way—physical, financial, and emotional—God has been faithful in meeting my needs. As a kid, He provided peace when I first came to Him, and I had never felt peace before I gave my heart to Him. He sent mentors to guide me throughout my teenage years and into my young adult life. He gave me friends to walk with, some of whom I continue to live my life alongside. He provided His word and His spirit to guide me in every moment. He always comes through financially. Whether through charitable church giving, providing me with a job just in time, or unexpected blessing in other ways. He has given me a home to live in, a career to allow me to be sufficiently provided for, and not only survive but thrive in life. This role of being a provider is not a small thing, and it is not one I take for granted.

    Declaring God is my provider is the declaration that everything I have been given or provided with has come from God and God alone. I may make money from my job, but God provided me with the job. He provided me with the good health and with the intellegence I need to work and complete my tasks. Everything, all of it, is provided by my Master and King. He is my sole sufficiency, and He has proved Himself faithful in this role year after year, day after day, and moment after moment. This will never change. He is forever faithful.

    God is also my anchor. In my life, He is my peace and he holds me steady. I have found that life is very much like a tumultuous sea. Sure, sometimes the waters are calmer, but there are always waves. My boat would be tossed about if not for the anchor. When I was in my early 40s, I got a tattoo. It is an anchor, and no, I’ve never been in the Navy. I got it as a reminder of a very important truth. There is a scripture on it, Lamentations 3:21-24. Why did I choose this scripture? Well, Lamentations is more of a darker book in the Bible, honestly; it’s a lament. So, you don’t think of it when you think of inspirational sayings. However, in the middle of this book, the author stops lamenting and remembers that he has an anchor for his soul. This is what he says: “Yet this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed.” We aren’t tossed about or destroyed by the things that happen in life. No, the author goes on to say, “God’s compassions are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness! I say to myself, the Lord is my portion; therefore, I will wait for Him.”

    He, God alone, is the anchor for our souls, the steady in our life. I don’t have peace or hope because my life is easy or because things are perfect and always good. No, I have hope in Christ as my anchor. He is my portion, and I know He is enough! He can hold you steady, be your friend, be your hiding place, lavish love on your soul, and protect you too. I challenge you to think about what your response would be if asked by Christ “Who do you say I am?”. Share your testimony with others and walk in the joy of all Christ is and has been to you. 

    Scriptures: Lam. 3:21-24, John 15:15, Psalms 32:7, Psalms 17:8, Hebrews 6:19, Psalms 91, Song of Solomon 6:3, Phil. 4:19, James 1:17, 2 Peter 1:3, Psalms 3:3

  • The Unpacked Boxes

    The boxes sat packed in my garage for three months. I avoided them. I told myself that it was because I was busy. That was partially true, I was quite busy. However the whole truth was that I was avoiding the boxes because of what they held.  

    They were memorabilia boxes that held the remnants of my life with my ex-husband. It hurt; it would probably always hurt. There were family pictures, old love letters, letters that he had written and gifts that he had given me to me. Every item holding the memories of things that we had done and shared. 

    I couldn’t face it, so I just left all the boxes packed up, till yesterday. I started to sort through some of the unpacked boxes. I found something kind of cool. It was funny how symbolic it was to what had become my life at the time. A few years before I had painted a tea set. The scripture on the teapot itself declares that “these three remain faith hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” Along with the teakettle was 3 teacups. One for faith, one for hope, and one for love. In the move my love teacup was completely broken, repairable but it would take a lot of effort to get it close to its original state. I realized that even if I repaired it, the teacup would always look as if it had once been broken. Rhere might be a few missing chips and pieces and the cracks were scars that could not be hidden even with glue. The faith cup was mostly intact. Only the handle was broken. I fixed it right away. The only cup out of the three that was perfectly intact was hope. My hope had not been broken. Though my faith had been shaken and my love, my heart was broken I still had hope.

    The tea set reflected my life and heart. Just like my cups God could repair my heart but it would take a great deal of time, and care. Honestly, I knew it would never be exactly the same because there would be scars. Visible signs that it had once been broken.  My faith had been tested but God proved faithful and so it was a clean break, one that could be quickly repaired. Just like my faith, shaken but still strong. The one thing I never lost was hope. I carried it and held onto it.  Doing that caused hope to carry me in return.  How could I have hope?  My hope remained because I knew that no matter my present suffering, nothing could compare with the glory to come. My hope was in the Lord, not in my circumstances. 

    Here’s the reality, I found these boxes did not only hold pain, but they also contained joy. Joy because I knew that I had survived and thrived. Even in my our pain there can be found joy, peace, and yes, hope if you look for it. When all else fails, when hearts are shattered, and the pain in trials seeks to destroy us.  We can find opportunity for a stronger faith in God, and we can know God is constant and steady. 

    What are your boxes that you’re avoiding? What are you afraid of going through because all you think that you will find is pain and sorrow. Look again, you will find opportunities for healing there also.  You will see how he has been faithful and will remain faithful to you.

    Be brave, don’t just focus on the outward, go inside yourself, into your heart. Clean the clutter, unpack the boxes you have avoided, and find true peace. As long as the boxes are there, there is no true peace or resolution.

    Scriptures: Psalms 16:8-11, Psalms 73:26, 1 Cor. 13:13

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  • Middle Age

    The other day, I used the term “Middle Aged” to describe myself, and it’s not entirely inaccurate. Even if I were to live to 90 years, I would be halfway through my life now. That means I am indeed middle-aged.

    I remember hearing stories about middle-aged people, in an effort to feel young, doing dramatic things such as buying a motorcycle, leaving their long-time relationship to find a new one, changing their career, or getting a crazy hairdo. I always thought it was kind of funny and never really understood what would prompt someone to do any of those things. I didn’t understand until I became middle-aged myself. The realization of the reasons behind some of the crazy decisions is clear to me now because I feel them too. After all I am middle-aged myself. What feeling am I talking about?

    Well, for those of you who have not experienced it yourself, let me explain. It started when I noticed that many things in my life were losing their luster. They still shined but not nearly as bright. They just weren’t very exciting anymore. Whether it was TV shows or books, places I would go, or things I would do, everything started to feel humdrum. This blah feeling kind of settled over my life. Simultaneously, there comes a realization that I’d lived a great deal of my life and could see that the end was coming much closer than before. So, you experience an urgency to enjoy life and grab onto it like a bull by both horns and ride it off into the sunset. Sounds funny, but it’s true.

    I’ve heard people suggest that you should live like you’re dying; there’s even several song about it. When you’re middle-aged, you realize that it’s true since death seems closer. Simultaneously, you recognize that you want to keep living and enjoying this life. That the proverbial timer of your life is running down. It’s not over yet, but the end is getting closer. On top of that the pace of life has quickened. When things roll downhill, they gain momentum and go faster. It’s true that the speed of our life as we age picks up, and it passes by more rapidly. For example, I remember thinking in days as a kid and maybe weeks as a teenager. As an adult, I moved on to seeing things in months or seasons. The thought that one day I’ll wake up and life will flash forward in years is becoming something that I realized might happen. People call old age as being “over the hill”, so when you are middle aged that must mean you are at the top. We all know there is only one direction to go when you are at the highest point. This is the current state and position I find myself in and now things are beginning to make sense that did not before.

    Perhaps I have judged people harshly for their reactions to being “middle aged” in the past. I should have had more grace for them. After all, I find myself wanting to react to this new situation just like they did. Maybe not in the same way, but the desire to do something dramatic is there. Starting a blog was a reaction birthed out of the realization that I should do this while I’m living and have a chance to share what God has given me now. I determined that I didn’t want to wait till I died to share it. After years of waiting, all these years, I got to the place where I’m acting on something that I’ve been sitting on for a long time. Maybe this is in some way due to my midlife crisis.

    I do find it interesting that the thought of some things that I used to think of as crazy now sounds interesting. I am beginning to understand why people get motorcycles or skydive because there’s this desire to feel that adrenaline rush and really live. Rational or not, I get it, even if I’m not going to get a motorcycle and probably will never skydive. There are some things I’m going to do, though. Like maybe go white water rafting or rappelling. Those are things I’ve always wanted to do, and I’m going to do them while I still can. Maybe it takes more to feel alive, and that’s why people do that, because this blah feeling that has come over me is very unsettling.

    It’s disturbing to me that things that I know should be fulfilling and bring joy just don’t have the same potency that they once had. It makes me wonder if this is a passing phase, or at least I pray it is. The blame for this dullness is not on the things; they’re the same as they’ve always been. I know internally that it’s me; it’s an internal struggle. Any other middle-aged people out there going through this like me? I’d say I’m the only one, but I don’t think that’sntrue. Knowing that these feelings are a part of being middle-aged helps because you know you are not alone, and you know they are passing feelings.

    Not all things about being middle-aged are bad, though. We should focus on the positives for a bit. Here’s the good thing about being middle-aged. I’ve learned a lot and lived a lot, and if I apply all those things that I’ve learned as I’ve lived, then I can make the last half of my life better than my first. That is truly a gigantic blessing. I don’t have to make the same mistakes; I have the wisdom to know which roads I should go down, which are worth it, and what to avoid. Yes, my body is aging and slowly falling apart, but I will be at peace with that too because, well, I’m a believer, and I know that one day my youth will be restored even if it is when I get to heaven. Till then, I’ll take the best care of the vessel that I have and be at peace with the fact that gravity is not my friend. No point thinking I won’t get old; we really can’t get out of that, and is the alternative really the option we want to go with?

    Every stage in life is a different season. Middle-aged is a time that we will go through if we are blessed to continue living long enough. Each phase has its great parts, and it also has its hard parts. As I move into this middle-aged phase of my life and begin to understand with new eyes what it means to be here, I pray that in this season, I can see God in just as real of a way as I saw him in my other seasons. I pray that I’ll be less concerned about what I don’t have in my life anymore and more concerned about what God is bringing into my life and what he’s asking as a part of this new season. To keep looking for new adventures he is leading me towards. As I move into the years when my children are grown and beginning to move away, I hope to find time to do missions and ministry that I’ve always dreamed of. I pray that even though I won’t be a youth with vibrant, endless energy, God will revive me to serve in a capacity that I have not had the ability to do because of life responsibilities, work, and lack of time/opportunity.

    Middle-aged is a place and a season that we will all go through, God willing. Humdrum is a valley we will all experience; it’s just a feeling. Aging is a reality we cannot escape except through death, all of us. What do we do in the face of it, in the passing of seasons? In our middle-aged life, and even beyond?

    We live our best life anyway, no matter our season. We keep perspective; the things haven’t changed, we have. We use that newfound time and wisdom to pursue God and the adventures he wants us to pursue, not some crazy pipe dream we think will make us feel alive or young. Finally we continue to grow spiritually. Our bodies might age and decay, but our spirit grows stronger with maturity, especially when it’s rooted and grounded in God.

    Keep perspective my friend and remember that in every season of your life God has called you to be his. He has placed his light in you so you can shine, and he has called you to live your best life, middle-aged season included. Just think, once you get past middle-aged life, well, you know what comes next. But even there, in that season, God has new adventures, new purpose, and new opportunities for you. Wait for it; if you are lucky, you will get to have all the seasons. Enjoy the one you are in; I’m learning to, and I hope you can too.

    Scriptures: Isaiah 40:30-31, 2 Cor. 4:16, Isaiah 46:4, Job 12:12, Joel 2:28, Psalms 73:26