A Follower's Thoughts - Hold On Tight

Isaiah 41:13 says, “I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.” I will never forget the birth of our children. I can remember watching as my wife gave birth to our son, and three years later, the birth of our daughter. These were the most amazing events I have ever witnessed and probably ever will! What a joy it was to hold them and reach down and grab their tiny hand and fingers. Feeling them grip my hand brought tears of joy; seeing their little chest move in and out as they breathed in the air that God provided for them left me in awe and wonder! Words can’t describe the love I felt for my wife and them at those moments.

Our children are all grown up now. My son graduated college and is following his dreams. Our daughter is in college pursuing her dreams. Every time we see them, we hug them and let them know how much we love them. Most of all, we pray for them. When I read Isaiah 41:13, I’m reminded of how much we loved our children and still do love our children. You see, God does the same things for us that we did and still do for our children. Isaiah said that God takes hold of our hands and says, do not fear. When trials come our way, God takes us up into his arms and holds our hand, just as I had done those many years ago with my children—just knowing that brings peace of mind to me. What about you? Jesus wants us to come to him in times of fear. When we reach up and grab Jesus’s hand, I can only think that he will shed tears of joy, knowing that we trust in him to get us through difficult times in our lives. Are you going through a difficult season in your life? Take heart, reach out and grab the hand of Jesus, and trust in him. Just as little children trust in their parents to provide, we must trust in our Heavenly Father to provide because when we do, a wave of peace will come upon us and assure us that everything is going to be alright.

God Bless.

Correll

Woe Is Me

“Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” These words are spoken by Isaiah as he experiences the pure holiness of God and is called as God’s prophet. It is an awesome and humbling encounter convicting Isaiah with a sense of guilt and unworthiness and causing him to feel reluctant and hesitant. This captures, in a true sense, what many have felt as they answered God’s call to be witnesses and teachers. I believe some observable attributes have always characterized the lives of the saints in our history. Following are some thoughts:

1. The authentic call of God is evidenced by unconditional love and compassion for all people in all places and all times. “For God so loved the world… God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him (John 3:16-17).”

2. Saints have a hesitancy to judge others usually brought on through a deep and contrite awareness of their own sin. “How can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye (Matthew 7:4)?

3. Saints are truth-telling, neighbor-loving, humble-walking witnesses who engage others in prayerful, inclusive, loving dialogue and understand, clearly, that our passion to defend our own personal beliefs often blinds us to God’s call to love.

As I pray this morning and reflect on the above, I feel my heart moved and I understand, “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” And, for me,…. It’s back on the Potter’s wheel over and over again…….. “How is it with your soul?”

Brother Mike