Tag: God’s Presence

Devotionals

Straining at the oars

Loring Schultz

“He saw the disciples straining at the oars.” Mark 6:48a NIV

Have you ever felt abandoned from the Lord, especially in tough times? You may be facing difficulties at your workplace when 8-hour days are turning into 12 hours days with no relief in sight. You’re studying for a college degree and can’t keep up with the assignment load. You’re a young mother with a houseful of children all wanting and needing your attention. There are yet many other tough time scenarios we can apply, just pick the one that fits you best. But rest assured the Lord has not abandoned you, in fact He always has His eye on you.

Jesus’s disciples were put in a situation where it appeared to them, they were abandoned. Jesus sent them out ahead of Him by boat to Bethsaida across the Sea of Galilee, while He spent time alone in prayer with His Father. What should have been a relatively short trip was turning into an over 8-hour trip with constant wind not in their favor. The wind was carrying the boat towards the center of the lake instead of maintaining a straight course one or two miles offshore. Imagine what thoughts would have been going through the minds of the disciples. Perhaps the same thoughts we have in strenuous times.

The Bible explains to us Jesus saw the difficulty His disciples were having. “Later that night, (when evening came) the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake” (Mk. 6:47-48 niv) Jesus did not go out to them until dawn early the next morning, and He came out to them walking on the water.

During your long difficult days never lose sight that our Lord Jesus never loses sight of you while ‘straining at the oars,’ but He is watching and will be there with the help you need. You’re not abandoned. Learn to put your trust in Him for He sees, He hears, and He’ll be there.

Devotionals

How many people do you know?       

Loring Schultz

“The LORD replied to Moses, ‘I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.’” Exodus 33:17 NLT

Photo by Ben Kim on Unsplash

Have you ever thought about how many people you know? How about how many you have known over the years that you have forgotten until you are reminded by a photograph? Put them all together and the number of people who have come across your path can be staggering.

 Last Friday, July 11 was World Population Day. It was established by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Program in 1989. Its aim is to increase awareness of population issues such as family planning, social issues, poverty, health and human rights. The current world population is 8.1 billion people up from 7.4 billion in 2016. So, how many of these people do you know? What percentage of the 8.1 billion people do you know? (.1% is 8.1 million people) Do you know that many people?  I know I don’t, even if I forgot most of them. But there is one who knows all 8.1 billion.

There is so much about God we cannot understand. We need to take most of it by faith. But we can observe all of His creation from the universe, the earth, sun, moon, and stars, along with the intricacies of the human body and how it functions to know that only God is capable of such work. It wouldn’t be beyond His knowledge since He is all-knowing to know every person on the planet at the present time and whoever has walked on this earth since Adam and Eve. Yes, it is hard to wrap our minds around. So, since we can’t do that, let’s marvel in the fact that He knows each of us by name, all 8.1 billion of us.

Devotionals

Under Constant Surveillance    

Loring Schultz

“For your ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all your paths.” Proverbs 5:21 NIV

Photo by Jakub Żerdzicki on Unsplash

Have you ever thought about how many times you’re on camera throughout the day? Videos of you are stored on hard drives of any public place you have been to, indoors or outdoors. Not to mention, many private homes have surveillance cameras on their property for security. Law enforcement does an amazing job in piecing together videos from security cameras and personal cell phones taken from various locations to secure a timeline reel. This technology works wonders for capturing criminals but has also opened another ‘can of worms’ as they say.

We live in a world where nothing is kept secret anymore. Our lives are open for all to see whether we like it or not. If we behave ourselves there will be no embarrassing moments or be caught in the act of criminal activity to worry about. This should serve as a reminder to always be in our best behavior. But there will always be moments where we say the wrong thing, act irrationally, and just do stupid things that will be caught on video. In those moments, we need to get over it and correct any wrongs we may have done.

As sophisticated as criminal surveillance has become it can’t compare with God’s 24/7 camera located in every corner of the globe, in every country, every city, every home, and every room. Proverbs 5:21 says, “For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all your paths.” (niv) Yes, our lives open for God to see everything, whether good or bad. Just as in the world today, nothing is kept secret but remember with God nothing has ever been kept secret. I’m sure there are many embarrassing moments and sinful acts in our past, but they’re over. If we haven’t confessed them, it’s time to confess them now and move forward under the constant surveillance of God which is a good thing.

Devotionals

Movin’ On 

Loring Schultz

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26 ESV

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com

Our world has become a mobile society. People move about freely moving from one place to another. There are many circumstances behind someone’s decision to move on. Some we may know of, but there are times we do not know the reason why. Modern means of transportation and the advancement of face time communication on our cell phones have made it easier to accept when a relative, a dear friend, or a close neighbor moves away or leaves your church, workplace, or organization you belong to. You’ll miss them and perhaps feel abandoned, even though no one’s at fault. It’s called life, and doing what is best for all involved.

Christians have a unique bond with one another, or at least we should, in that as brothers and sisters in Christ even when we’re apart, we are together in Christ. We also have the assurance that God is always with us through the Holy Spirit, and we have His promise He will never leave us or forsake us. (Heb.13:5) It’s hard to see those we love to move away due to job transfers, seeking different employment, or needing a bigger home for a growing family, to a growing list of any number of concerns leading them to move on. But we can encourage each other as we both go through this process of moving on.

As Christians we pray for each other in God’s leading and for His hand of protection on us. We continue to encourage each other that we are one in Christ, and He is with every one of us simultaneously. We pray for God to use us through the experiences we shared together until we see each other again. So, it’s ok to move on, and it’s ok to miss one another.