God Moments

Progress over Perfection

~Sierra Fair~

Perfect: a word that has so much power behind it, both positive and negative. On one hand, it reflects being complete in what we work toward. On the other hand, it reflects what we strive for yet never achieve.

Too many times I have found myself feeling disappointed and discouraged because I did not do something perfectly. Whether it was following a “Bible in a Year” reading plan, going to the gym everyday, or never being late to things (oops), I strive and then I fail. I make progress, and then I fall behind. When I fall behind, the lies begin to play in my head. “Why did you think you could ever do this?” “Of course you missed a few days at the gym, you never do anything right”. “How can you call yourself a follower of Christ if you do not read your Bible every single day?”

These lies that form come from the enemy of our souls: the one who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. But when we stop focusing on perfection, and start celebrating progress, we are able to live in the freedom God created for us. We take back the joy that was taken from us.

We can look at any number of people in the Bible and see how God worked through them and for them, in spite of their lack of perfection. King David failed repeatedly; God still used him. Moses had a speech impediment; God still used him. Sarah was barren; God still used her. Peter denied Jesus THREE TIMES; God still used him.

God does not ask us for perfection, nor is His love for us contingent upon it. In fact, He knows that we are so far from perfect that He sent His own son to atone for our shortcomings. But that is the beautiful thing about it, right? It is liberating to know that God’s love and affection for us does not stem from anything that we can or cannot do.

What God does ask us for, is our best. And your “best” looks different than my “best”, which looks different from anyone else’s “best”. I may miss a day (or a few) of my reading plan, but I am reading more than I did last year. Progress. I may not be at the gym every day, but I am eating healthier than I have in a long time. Progress. I may be late to something today, but I can try again tomorrow. Progress.

To be a follower of Christ you do not have to be perfect. You do have to work at it, and you have to be okay with failing sometimes. God created us to be creatures of resilience. That means when we fall, we rise again to take another step.

So celebrate the PROGRESS! When your goal is to lose 50 pounds and you lose one, celebrate! When your goal is to read the whole Bible and you read one chapter, celebrate! When your goal is to wake up early every day, celebrate that first day with a BIG cup of coffee! Step by step, little by little, we move closer and closer to where we want to be. And God is walking with you friend; through the victories and the valleys, He is with you.

2 Corinthians 12:9

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Wonderfully Made

~Dr. Teresa Blakney, faculty~

Nowhere is God's wonder displayed more vividly than in his creation of mankind. Man is not like any other thing that God created. Man was created in the image of God, and therefore is a reflection of God's nature. The Fall marred that image, and set man on a path of destruction and separation from God. But Jesus came to restore man back to that image again! He alone has the power to re-make and restore man back to the original image of God.

On the other hand, the enemy hates the image of God and wants to destroy it. He knows he is a loser, so he does the only thing he can do; he tries to take as many down with him as he can. He lies and deceives to trick us into believing that we are less human and less like the image of God. One way he does this is by taking advantage of man's need to belong. Identity determines actions and purpose. If the enemy convinces us that we are not worthy to be God's people because of our sin, then he has defeated us. Alternatively, if he can cause us to find our identity in something else (i.e.: sexual orientation, fame, power, vocation) and distract us from our identity as children of God, then, again, he has caused us to miss our true purpose - to reflect the image of God and thus make Him known.

It is no surprise that one of the biggest issues in the culture today is identity. Time is short and the enemy wastes no time in working his deceptive plans. With no moorings due to lack of the teaching of God's Word, our culture has embraced the lies of the enemy and fears offending others more than fearing God. It is time the true Church, the children of God, made in His wonderful image, begin to reflect that image again. When they do, Jesus will be lifted up again. He promises that when He is lifted up, all men will be drawn to Him. Satan fears this more than anything else. It is time to make him tremble.

Trusting God’s Left Hand

~Haley Barton~

One of the hardest truths to be learned as a believer is that walking with Jesus doesn’t bring the promise of an easier and happier life with absolutely no hardships or loss. When we experience the unmerciful storms of chaos, we often times look to place blame—majority of the time, placing that blame on God. If God is truly a relational being and desires good things for those who He calls His chosen, then why would God allow the storms to happen? Why wouldn’t He show His mercy?

My unmerciful storm was the loss of my best friend—someone I truly believe could have lived a life of service making others feel seen. Isn’t that what God wants, too? Why would He allow my best friend to embrace death if he could have made someone else’s world a little bit brighter. For 7 months, I struggled with these questions and fought with God. I learned months after his passing that his family held a memorial and because of that memorial—45 people received the gift of salvation.

Psalms 63:8 says, “…Your right hand upholds me.” We throw a fit when we don’t see His right hand doing what we thought it would do, but oh…that left hand. The hand we do not see is still working things out. God will comfort you and carry you when you experience hardship—He is walking in it with you. He offers peace and comfort with His right hand and He is working things out with His left hand.

Scriptures

Psalms 89:13- “You have a strong arm; Your hand is mighty, Your right hand is exalted.”

Psalm 139:10- “Even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will lay hold of me.”

Isaiah 41:13- “For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, “Do not fear, I will help you.”

Psalm 20:6- “Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand.

Isaiah 41:10- “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

He Is Still God

~Angel L. Bowles~

“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 NIV

Most of us do not doubt there is a God. But, sometimes, when going through difficulties, we can start to wonder, “Where is God?" Throughout my life, especially when confronted with major health challenges, I have had to quiet my anxious heart and ask for eyes to see and ears to hear. I have prayed that, regardless of threatening circumstances, I would be able to behold the unseen glories of God and embrace the peace he alone can give.

Over and over again, God has reminded me of his presence and whispered, “Do not fear.” As his word declares, “Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield” (Ps. 5:12).

This reminds me of the story from the sixth chapter of 2 Kings, when an enemy army was encircling the city and the prophet Elisha comforted his distraught servant who cried out, “What shall we do?”

“’Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:16-17).

I think it is interesting that when asked what to do, the prophet answered with what not to do. Do not be afraid. Then he modeled what to do: he prayed.

In other words, the takeaway here is that no matter how insurmountable the situation may seem, we must be still and know that God is still God. He is greater than any foe! Our decision to focus on the presence of God with us and in us, opens the eyes of our faith, essentially expanding our field of vision into the spiritual realm. But, it is a choice only we can make.

Like Mary, who quietly sat at Jesus feet listening to his teaching, we could be recipients of a gift that will not be taken away from us (Luke 10:42). Like David, who strolled beside still waters, we could know the Lord as the Shepherd who restores our souls (Psalm 23:1-6). Like Jesus, who went to solitary places to pray, we could find guidance and strength for the mission we have been called to fulfill (Mark 1:35-39).

In the middle of trying circumstances, questions abound. In those moments, I hope we will remember to humbly seek God for the answers, inviting him to know us in our weakness so that we can know him in his power.

May we quiet our souls in prayer, closing our eyes to fear so that God can open them to the miraculous. For there, in the holy hush of his presence, we will experience revelation, clarity, peace.

Where is God? He is in us and all around us. We do not have to wonder, when his wonders are everywhere. Father, thank you that because of Jesus we have peace with you. When troubles come, help us to be still and know that not only are you God, you are our God and you will defend us. Your shield of favor surrounds us. Like Elisha, we pray that you will open our eyes that we may see.

Amen!

Walking on Water

~Natalie Marin~

In Matthew 14:22-33, we read the account of Jesus walking on the water. We know the story- there’s a big storm, the disciples see Jesus on the water, and Peter asks, “Lord, if it is you, command me to walk on the water!” Sure enough, Jesus does ask Peter to walk on the water. As Peter walks toward and looks at Jesus, he walks. When he sees the wind and the waves, he drowns and cries out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus extends his hand, lifts Peter, and says, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

This account leaves me feeling convicted every time I read it. Jesus’ question is so impactful. He asks Peter, “Why did you doubt?” Peter certainly didn’t doubt in the reality of the storm; he doubted in the reality of Jesus. When Peter looked toward Jesus and not the storm, He walked on the water. When He looked at the storm, he fell. Life isn’t perfect, but we can walk on the water as long as we keep our focus and our faith in the God who created it. Our focus anchors us. If a boat’s anchor is tossed in a storm, in the deep ocean, the boat will sink. If a boat’s anchor is tossed on a dock or a landmass, the boat will stay afloat. If a Christian anchors themselves in Christ, they will not drown.

As Christians, we tend to unfairly criticize Peter. I think we do so because if we’re being honest, he reminds us of ourselves. When Peter began to drown, he called out the only one who could save him. He knew that he couldn’t free himself; he was human. We all fall sometimes and find ourselves caught in storms. The good news, however, is that Jesus knows our weaknesses. He sees us at our lowest points, and still reaches out his hand to us in compassion. If we choose to take it, he will lift us out of the water.

It Was Him

~Dr. Mike Clarensau, Dean~

… but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.

John 21:4-7

Sometimes you just know…

She sat erect and confident, the table’s corner between us further proved who would control this conversation. Never mind the camera over her left shoulder, its red light noting the plan to catch unexpected reactions that would cross my face. The coffee cup before me suggested a warmth that the current interrogation didn’t match.

“How,” she almost hissed. “How can you have faith now, after what’s happened to your friends? Where was God at six o’clock on Tuesday night?”

It was this that had led me to her TV studio, to this reporter and her imposing camera. She’d said she wanted to interview someone close to the tragedy. I had come unprepared for her tone, assuming she sought connection to the mass shooting that cut short eleven futures, among them a young mom and the curly-haired toddler that had once called me pastor.

“How are we supposed to understand…this,” she said accusingly.

“I…” I felt cornered and assumed my uncertainty would be clear to those who waited on the other side of the microphone around my neck. “I…” and then suddenly as if from an unseen spring, words I’d never considered began a soft flow through my thoughts. “I don’t think we will ever understand. You ask about faith…that’s a great question…but faith doesn’t mean you understand. In fact,” my voice grew slightly stronger, “faith is what you do when you don’t understand. Faith…only works in the dark.”

Tears burst from her dark eyes and there was no tissue close enough. The reporter waved off the cameraman and nearly sprinted into the adjacent hallway, the sounds of her sobs easily penetrating the sheet-rocked wall now between us. Minutes later, she meekly re-entered with a soft smile and then poured out a heartbreak that years had never found a way to soothe. “Thank you…I’m so sorry. I’ve been so angry…at Him—God I mean. I really needed to hear what you said. I…really shouldn’t have given up.”

As I steered my car away from the TV station a few minutes later, there was no denying what I knew. It is the Lord…my thoughts found a home in the stunned fisherman’s gasp. More than mere credit or explaining some cause, It was Him. Jesus had entered that conference room and brought words of life through my uncertain speech.

It was Him…sometimes you just know…

Report abuse