Mindful of the Past

Hebrews 11:15 - And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, the might have had opportunity to have returned.

This scripture from the book of Hebrews might seem a bit odd if we don't understand the context. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews is often called the "Faith Hall of Fame." It speaks of people like Noah, Abraham, Samson, David, and many lesser known heroes of the Old Testament. Verse 15 is speaking of Abraham when he left the Chaldean city of Ur in pursuit of his promised land. It is also a reference to the children of Israel after they left Egypt. They were seeking a place God had promised them. In the case of Abraham, he left family, friends, and everything to obey what God had put in his heart to do. He went where God lead him, not knowing how it would turn out, but simply obeying God by faith. No doubt there were hard days when he wondered if had made a mistake. But he didn't let himself dwell on those thoughts for long. For if he had, he might have turned around and gone back to where he started.

I once heard a conversation between two men whom I knew had been delivered from a lifestyle of drugs and alcohol when they came to God. One guy was talking about his "testimony" of where God brought him from. The other guy basically said, "I don't like to dwell on those things to much. God has delivered me from that and I like to leave it in the past." The first God responded, "I like to remember where I came from." Sadly, the guy who liked to remember where he came from has returned to his former lifestyle. He must have spent too much time dwelling on the past. When the pressures of life mounted up, it was easy to go back to what he used to be.

The point I am making is this: all of us have a past. All of us have made choices. We can't undo yesterday anymore than we can see tomorrow from today. We must do the best we can by faith. Yes, we learn from the past. The past is important so that we don't make the same mistakes again. But too much time studying the past will rob us of the joys of today and the hopes of tomorrow.

Today is a brand new day. Let us live it with joy and appreciate what God has given us. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow may not come. Live for the moment with joy. If is all we truly have!

Trusting in Jesus,

Sullivan Jones

What is Faith?

Do you know why its so hard to have faith. Simply put, its because we can't see the future and none of us like to make mistakes. The very definition of faith is "believing in the unseen." It is trusting in God to know that he has never let me down and will not start now. When God speaks to us to do something, it is usually something out of our comfort zones. We all have a comfort zone of things that we are willing to do. When we are compelled to move out of that safe are we are not very happy with life. Like any good parent, God has a way of encroaching on our comfort zones and exposing us to more.  In those times when we are feeling God lead us to do something that wouldn't normally make sense, we must use our faith. It can seem like we are going out on a limb, as the old saying goes, to follow God's leading. But there is no safer place to be than when we know we have done our best to obey God. Faith is following a God I can hear and feel to lead me where I can not see. It might seem difficult (and even crazy) but the benefits always outweigh the doubts. Faith in God will never lead us wrong !

Trusting Him Daily,

Sullivan Jones 

Do you believe in angels?

Do you believe in angels? The scripture says  in Psalm 37:4 that the angel of the Lord encamps about those that fear him and delivers them. Wow! What a promise. God's angels are with me wherever I go to protect me. They are not to be worshiped nor prayed to but they are there for the protection of God's children. They have been known to make themselves visible when the occasion calls for it. Countless people have told stories of "someone" showing up at just the right moment when they needed help.

A lady minister whose husband was a commercial fisherman once told me the following story. As a commercial fisherman he had financed an engine for his boat with a bank in a nearby town. It was a very poor season and he did not have the money to make his bank note that Friday. Toward the end of the week she called the bank to talk to the loan officer. The loan officer assured this lady that her husband, I'll call him Bob, had come into the bank several days before and paid the note. Now the lady knew this was impossible but the loan officer was insistent. She said, "I know your husband and talked to him myself. He came up to my window and paid his note in cash." She thanked the lady and hung up. That evening when her husband came home she asked him and he denied paying the loan. The only explanation was that one of God's powerful angels went into that bank disguised as Bob and payed his bank note. God is good!

The angels are spiritual beings who were created to worship and serve God. As God's children, he often sends them to serve us as well. We need never be distraught, afraid, or frustrated when in need. God's angels are watching over us every minute of every day. Allstate has a saying: "you're in good hands, Allstate." Well, I would like to tell us all that we are in in even better hands, the hands of God and He is always right on time.

Living confidently in Jesus,

Sullivan Jones