Even a Friend of Jesus ...

Good Evening Friends –

I pray your week is off to a great start

This is the first of two posts for this evening.

Now, I do not normally write two posts, however, I had two on my heart today so here it goes.

Yesterday it was rainy and drizzly here in Virginia Beach

It felt appropriate given my somewhat somber mood heading into the weekend

You see, normally, Mother’s Day would be an exciting weekend for me,

Where I would shower my mom with love and gifts.

However, when I went to see her yesterday, I knew it would not be quite the same.

The majority of the time she does not know who I am and it made me think about a message that I heard recently and a song that I have been listening to for the last week-and-a-half.

Last week at my church, our Executive Pastor Scott and his sweet wife Robin spoke together on a sermon titled, ‘The Struggle is Real’. And, in that sermon, they spoke of a very difficult season in their life. They lost one daughter during the eighth month of pregnancy; then Robin’s dad was in a motorcycle accident and hurt significantly to the point where he lost his leg. Then they were advised – pregnant again – that there were significant abnormalities and that their second daughter would experience a lifetime of special needs. Following her delivery and the challenges of having to adjust to a new normal, they also faced the loss of Pastor Scott’s Grandfather and Father. Now, I have been friends with them for years – I have been going to the same church for eighteen years. Yet, even knowing their story and having prayed with them and for them on numerous occasions, it touched my heart all over again. I mentioned them in my book When Storms Rage – under the chapter talking about spiritual giants. Their faith amazes and inspires and they have stood by my side through many trials. They are champions of faith!

Well – after hearing that message on Sunday

I do what we all do … I went about my week

HOWEVER -  Lately [especially last week], I have been listening to a song by Bethel called ‘You Came’. It is an amazing song, delivered from the perspective of Lazarus and starts off with the following verse:

You stood outside my grave
With tears still on Your face
I heard You say my name
My night was turned to day

You came, oh, I knew that You would come …

Now, if you are unfamiliar, Lazarus [and his two sisters Mary & Martha] were very good friends of Jesus. In fact, the Bible only speaks of one time where Jesus cried and it also happens to be the shortest verse in the Bible. ‘Jesus wept’ ’(John 11:35)

And those tears? They were shed over Lazarus and the broken-heartedness of his sisters who were grieving his loss. Now, the story ends well. Jesus arrives on the scene [a full three days AFTER He was notified that Lazarus was sick]. In fact, Scripture notes in John 11:6, ‘So when He heard that Lazarus was sick, HE STAYED WHERE HE WAS TWO MORE DAYS’ [CAPS emphasis added]

OFTEN, we do not understand WHY the LORD allows us to walk through difficult circumstances.

FURTHER, it can leave us feeling abandoned and hurt … and [left unchecked] bitter and resentful.

NOW – I do not think myself so brilliant that I would even attempt to explain Jesus’ actions

BUT– I KNOW THIS

I KNOW HIM TO BE A GOD OF LOVE, ONE WHO CAN BE TRUSTED ;

AND HE TRULY DOES CARE FOR THAT WHICH CONCERNS US.

EVEN WHEN WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY,

WE MUST UNDERSTAND THIS –

YOU CAN BE A FRIEND OF JESUS [A CLOSE FRIEND] AND STILL EXPERIENCE DARK PLACES IN YOUR LIFE.

Lazarus was in the tomb FOR FOUR DAYS

And it got me thinking …

How many have been in the ‘tomb’, in a dark place for LONGER?

4 Weeks, 4 Months, 4 Years … 40 YEARS!!!

BUT –

Jesus can turn your fear into faith

He can turn your night into day

That song I mentioned, it rounds about by repeating over and over again,

‘You are a miracle-working God!’

‘You are a MIRACLE-WORKING God!!’

‘YOU ARE A MIRACLE-WORKING GOD … A MIRACLE-WORKING GOD!!!!

And even when the miracle does not always manifest in the manner that I [we] thought it would,

HE IS STILL ON THE THRONE, He is still in control, and He is still actively at work in my situation.

I believe He is working in your situation as well.

SO – I pray this evening that He would open all of our hearts and minds to TRULY SEE HIM

He loves you so much … and so do I!

Praying You Have a Blessed Evening

JESUS IS THE FRIEND WHO STICKS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER

HE WILL TURN YOUR FEAR TO FAITH

TRUST HIM