November 2021

The Assurance and Evidence of God’s Good Hand Upon Us

Faith, Knowing God / By / May 18, 2021 / , , ,

Lord, will you give me a hand?!

“Help!” I cried from the top of the ladder. I balanced precariously, arms ladened with heavy boxes of Christmas decorations, some of them quite fragile. I had thought I could handle this chore on my own, but at that point, I knew one of us was going down.

My husband rushed out just in time to catch the boxes.

Life often feels like a dangerous balancing act. How can we know for certain God will catch us when we cry for help or lead us when we’re unsure about what to do? The Bible provides us with the testimony of Ezra, an Old Testament saint who teaches us a lot about the good hand of our God.

Assurance

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,  . . . ; But his delight is in the law of the Lord,” Psalm 1:1-2. When you read through the book of Ezra, you discover how well this Paslm describes him. Ezra delighted in God’s law, obey God’s word, and diligently sought the Lord, trusting God to supply all his needs. Ezra hated sin and humbly confessed his need for God’s intervention.

Do we delight in God’s word? Are we quick to confess our sin? Do we lean on Him and not our understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6)? Then Ezra’s promise applies to us, “The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.” Ezra 8:22b.

If we humbly, honestly seek the Lord’s help—He guarantees we will have it. But how does God’s hand on our life look? In other words, how do we know when we have His help?

Evidence of God Good Hand

Ezra reveals the evidence of God’s good hand. I found three elements of God’s intervention.

  • First, God gave Ezra the favor of the king (Ezra 7:6). When we receive the permission of those in authority over us to proceed with a plan, that is evidence of God’s favor.

When I celebrated my third twentieth (you do the math) birthday, I took a trip to Savannah. I went with my husband’s blessing. He provided me with an allowance for the journey. I also have my husband’s permission to pursue a writing career that currently runs on red ink. We have been a single-income family for most of our married life. I appreciate that my Sweet William affords me these opportunities. It’s a joy to submit to a generous man. God designed authority for our good, and He does not bless rebellion. So, the first thing to do in seeking God’s direction is to ask for permission from those He puts over us.

  • Second, Ezra arrived at his destination unscathed (Ezra 7:8-10; 8:31). Journey’s mercies and success in an endeavor are more evidence of God’s blessing.

As Christians, many of us pray for God’s safety when we travel. We’re in good company. So did Ezra. The Bible reminds us that we don’t have because we don’t ask (James 4:2). Dependent, humble believers ask their Father for everything (1Thesselonians 5:17). If you arrive safely or succeed at a goal after you asked for God’s help, His good hand is upon you.

I have yet to get a book published, but I trust, in His time, God will bring it to pass. When I planned my trip to Savannah, I struggled with wondering if I was selfish. I wanted to see sprawling oaks draped in Spanish moss and witness the spectacle of giant Magnolia trees in bloom. I wanted to celebrate the life God gave me by traveling back to a childhood home. I made it there and back safely. God showed me all I desired and provided perfect weather: sunny in the low 80’s with next to no humidity. My friend Cindy, who’s from there, said, “We get two days a year like this, and these are the two!”

We must remember when we pray; our Father is the God who provides exceedingly, abundantly, above all we can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).

  • Third, the joy of the Lord strengthens Ezra, and he sought community with other believers (Ezra 7:28b; 8:18). When we face a challenging endeavor, it’s easy to get discouraged—but if God is in it, we can depend on Him to give us the strength and people we need to complete the job.

Noah may have been the only man who found grace in the eyes of the Lord, but he didn’t build the arc alone. Instead, God provided Noah the help of a community—his family. My life isn’t about me, and your life isn’t about you. Together we are God’s people.

So I planned my celebration in Savannah as a girls-get-away with three of my closest friends. The four of us had babies and raised them together. These sisters discipled me. We’ve laughed, cried, worshipped, and prayed for each other for over thirty years. Maintaining a relationship with these women is a vital part of my spiritual welfare.

God made us communal creatures. If your flying solo, going through life alone, trust me—the good hand of God is not upon you. I should never have tried to get those Christmas ornaments down alone. God uses other people to encourage us and brings others to join us in a work we can never accomplish by ourselves.

When I finally publish a book, there will be a long list of acknowledgments. Communities write books. Friends celebrate together. I know writing and celebrating don’t compare to Ezra’s call to rebuild the temple. But I also know God cares about every detail of creation, including what we do. So when we benefit from the fellowship of other Christians, let’s remember it’s because the good hand of our God is upon us.

With Ezra’s account in mind, how do you know God’s hand is on you today?

Tranquili*Tea

2 Comments / Knowing God, Teatime Qualities, Trials / By / February 4, 2022 / , , ,

Welcome to Teatime

Tea Time is a quarterly (February, May, August, and November) reflection on various qualties.

Tran*quil*li*Tea \tran-ˈkwi-lə-tē, traŋ-\ – n A steady state of peaceful calm. The quality of being unflappable while enjoying the aroma and flavor of earl grey.

Draped in a drafty hospital gown, sitting on the hard, cold x-ray table, I waited for the technician to return with my second mammogram and breast ultrasound results. A few weeks before, the previous imaging had revealed something that seemed amiss, and the Doctor wanted a closer look. Oddly enough—I felt tranquil.

“Whatever it takes, Lord, to bring You glory in my life—I’m game for it. If you allow me to have cancer, You’ll give me the grace to endure; I’ll either survive or go home to Heaven fighting the good fight.” I silently prayed as I sat.

I know this sounds absurd, but I almost hoped it was cancer because I felt the need for new growth in my faith: I desired the Vine Dresser to prune me. I longed to be conformed to Christ’s image regardless of the cost.

“You (Lord) keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3

The technician returned, happy to tell me there was nothing to cause worry. I had dense breast tissue. So, I changed back into my street clothes and went on my merry way; there were no new storms to face that day. Yet, that strange feeling of peace seemed to lift me. I praised God, not for the clear mammogram, for His calming presence.

I can assure you it is not something I’ve always had. My heart is prone to anxiety and fear, just like yours maybe, but that day, I enjoyed the presence of the God of Peace because I focused on His goodness—His glory. And there, on that cold x-ray table, I enjoyed the aroma of His presence like my first cup of Earl Grey in the morning. The one I sipped at breakfast with Jesus, reading my Bible and pouring out prayer.

These quiet breakfast conversations strengthen and sustain me more than tea and toast. I pursue tranquility first; The Lord fills my soul with inner peace. Seeking the peace of God before it storms provides an umbrella of stability in case a downpour arrives. Forgetting about His presence and power produces anxietea, a bitter brew that leads to fear and depression.

God tells us to cast our troubles on Him because He cares for us. We see His care in creation.  Consider, for instance, bergamot, the delightful citrus fruit used to flavor black tea and create Earl Grey. Bergamot is a natural anti depressant. Its fragrance is bright, calming, and joyful. Just smelling it produces a calming effect.

It is possible to have a stormy heart in a tranquil setting. It is not circumstances that create anxiety in our hearts; it’s unbelief.

 After a cup of Earl Grey and a conversation with God, I’m good to go, unhurried and unflappable, tranquil inside.

How do you find tranquility in the hustle and bustle of life? What are some ways you enjoy fellowship with God? When is a time you enjoyed His peace through a trial?

Dear Father, may we enjoy Your calming presence daily. May we experience the peace You offer, the peace that passes all understanding, as we relinquish our futile attempts to control what we cannot. Amen

Honoring Survivors: This Veteran’s Day, how will we honor those who served us?

celebrations, Community / By / August 18, 2021 / , , ,

Let’s Remember

My husband watched in shock as Afghan allies clung to the sides of U.S. aircraft, hoping to escape the Taliban take-over. He cringed as some fell to their death on the abandoned tarmac. And he was not alone.

(William Gasser, U.S. Navy and Marines 1974-2017. Thanks for serving, Sweetheart!)

Thousands of U.S. troops spent time in Afghanistan fighting the war on terror. My husband spent just nine months there. He came home physically unharmed—but mentally, he formed an attachment to the people and their need for a stable government and freedom. For many U.S. veterans who fought in that nation, the debacle of that exit feels like a defeat. The same failure our Veterans from Vietnam and Korea felt. These men and women faithfully obeyed when duty called. They are not losers.

(David Donaldson, Vietnam veteran U.S. Navy 1957-1977. Thanks, Daddy!)

The responsibility to honor their sacrifice and courage rests on our shoulders.

“Whereas the first nationwide observance of Veterans Day was on November 11, 1954: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That Congress hereby— (1) encourages Americans to demonstrate their support for veterans on Veterans’ Day by treating that day as a special day of remembrance;” (117 STAT. 2958 CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS—OCTOBER 31, 2003).

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs data, around 19 million U.S. veterans populate these great United States. That’s close to one in ten adults.

Janet Manseau U.S. Army 1955-1957 Thanks, Mom!
  • 18.2 million living veterans served during at least one war as of 2018.
  • 9% of veterans are women.
  • 7 million veterans served during the Vietnam War.
  • 3 million veterans have served in support of the War on Terrorism.
  • Of the 16 million Americans who served during World War II, about 325,000 were still alive as of 2020.
  • 2 million veterans served during the Korean War.
(The sailor in the middle is Jonathan Gasser. Currently serving in the Navy. Thanks, Son!)

As followers of Jesus, we not only have a national responsibility to give honor to who honor is due (Romans 13:7), we must also be mindful of Kingdom soldiers suffering for their faith.

“Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you

yourselves are in the body also.” Hebrews 13:3

A map from the Voice of the Martyrs hangs in my study. The band of blackened countries representing nations where the Christian faith is illegal reveals an ominous reality. Among those nations lies North Korea (a war the U.S. lost), Vietnam (another failed military action), and most Middle Eastern countries. The other surprising fact is that many of those middle eastern countries once housed the infant church of the first century.

(Thank you, Jesus, that you are building your kingdom and the gates of hell will not prevail!)

Jesus asks us a poignant question, “when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8).

Today by faith, let us remember not only American veterans; let us pray for our brothers and sisters worldwide who lay down their lives for the One who died for them. Those Kingdom veterans storming the gates of hell to recuse those lost in darkness need our prayer support as much as our U.S. troops need to be honored.

Here are a few ideas of what we can do:

  • Write a thank-you note to veterans you know personally.
  • Attend a parade
  • If you home school, teach about the founding of Veteran’s Day earlier in the week, make the 11th a day to remember for your students.
  • If you send your kids to public school, you can pull them out for a special day of homeschooling and take them to a parade.
  • Post a “thank you for your service; you are not forgotten” banner in your front yard.
  • Set aside a meal and spend that time fasting and praying for persecuted Christians.

These dark days—filled with wars and rumors of war—will end. Soon our King of Kings will come, and a glorious day of freedom will dawn. Until that day, let’s shine in this darkness by sharing our gratitude and concern for all the veterans.