There is no other time of the year quite like Christmas time. The old song sung by Andy Williams, says “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” I would agree, Christmastime is truly wonderful. It is estimated to be celebrated by up to 2.3 billion people each year. Here in the United States, data shows that 93% of the population celebrate Christmas.
Christmas is also the most celebrated holiday in which people have established and follow traditions. One on the traditions that I grew up with and continue with each year, is the reading from the Gospel of Luke Chapter 2 in the Bible. Typically read prior to opening our gifts from under the Christmas tree.
This same manger scene, or nativity, as described in the Bible is often seen on Christmas cards, displayed with glowing colorful lights on snow covered lawns. It is reenacted in church programs and in homes where children often play-out the characters before their families. Most often there is a baby doll lying in a manger, or beside the manger lovingly held in Mary’s arms.
We know this as The Incarnation. Were God, through His divine plan came into the World in the form of the man. Thereby making baby Jesus the most precious gift to all mankind. His birth, life, death, and resurrection, made a way for all (absolutely anyone) to believe in Him as their savior. If you don’t know the story beyond his miraculous birth, Jesus grew-up and lived a life as an example for us as one (who like we) can connect personally with God the Father.
Sadly, many people today still picture Jesus as a baby in the manger scene. They have not taken the time to consider why Jesus came, nor do they ponder the rest of His earthly life. Jesus is no longer baby Jesus! You see, not only did God come to us through the incarnation…not only did Jesus live a life as an example for us…but at 33 years old, He willingly died at the hands of self-righteous people and evil rulers. Why? This too was all a part of Gods plan. Jesus died as a once and for all sacrifice, allowing us unmerited grace and personal access to God.
Perhaps you have read this Bible verse or even seen it pop-up on your TV screen as you were watching a professional sporting event. It’s John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”
The Bible also tells us that after Jesus died, He rose again and ascended to heaven, where He is now continuing to serve as our intercessor (see Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25, and 1 John 2:1).
God’s love came down for us…for you friend. If you have not invited Him into your heart or maybe it’s been a long time since you have considered opening your heart to Jesus, why not do that today…this Christmas. Salvation and a life through Jesus is a gift, and all you have to do is receive it. It truly is the best decision and gift you could receive!
Also, I would challenge you… Don’t stop at the Christmas story. I remember receiving my first Bible when I was about 13. That Bible (which I still have today) had the words of Jesus printed in red. Although, I did not truly heed to these words until I was 21 years old, my heart opened up when I actually started to read the Bible for myself. So, I encourage you, read Gods Word. Whether through electronic Bibles or paper Bibles, I encourage you to pay particular attention to the red-letter-words of Jesus; they truly give us a pathway to follow in life. Read through the Gospels (Mathew, Mark, Luke & John). These are foundational to understanding and seeing Jesus as so much more than a baby in a manger 😊 READ THE RED-LETTER WORDS 😊
To our family and friends: We continue to be blessed this year with a loving family and God’s incredible faithfulness. We (Mark, Tracy, John & Jan) traveled to Cheyenne Wy over Thanksgiving and had a great time with Rick, Teri and family. In November we were able to get the Stuberg Fam all together for the first hockey tourney of the season (see Pic below). Celebrations start tonight with John & Jan. Followed by Christmas Eve at our house with John, Jan, Eric, Jess, Roman, Kingston & Lachlan. Then Tracy & I will be in Bismarck on Christmas Day with Alisha, Brandon, Skylee, Harlow, Cash, Pike & Honey. Returning to Oak Grove for Jana’s visit, who is coming on the 29th.
Pictured are (left to right), Skylee (17), Alisha (X), Tracy (XX), Mark (XX), Jess (X), Eric (X), Roman (14), Brandon (X). Top row: Harlow (14), Cash (13) Kingston (13), and Lachlan (10).
From our home to yours…Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Blessed by The Best,
Mark & Tracy
P.S. Please feel free to pass along this message or any one of the messages on seeyouintheriver.com They are written to encourage others, and this past year alone has been viewed by people in 69 different countries.
Two men were walking through a field one day when they spotted an angry old bull who wanted them out of his pasture. Instantly, they darted toward the nearest fence. The storming bull followed in hot pursuit and it was soon apparent that they wouldn’t make it.
Terrified, one man shouted to the other, “Put up a prayer right now, John! That bull is about to catch up to us!
But John answered right back, “I can’t. I’ve never made a public prayer in my entire life!”
“But you must!” yelled his companion. “The bull is catching up to us. Just use a prayer you have heard before!”
“All right,” panted John, “I’ll say the only prayer I know, the one my father used to repeat at the table at Thanksgiving: ‘O Lord in Heaven, for what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful. Amen!'”
Lol! Well, Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you are all able to be surrounded by people you love on this special holiday. I titled this message Why God why, When God When because I know it’s likely something that we all have asked at some time or another. Why God…am I having to go through this trial…this situation? When God…will this ever end? Perhaps you are even going through the fire right now, and you are in need of a boost of faith. I sincerely pray that this message is an encouragement to you. So, why and when…Let’s get into it and start with some questions.
Is it possible to still be pleasing to God, while at the same time we don’t totally trust Him? Scripture has a very clear answer to this found in Hebrews 11:6,”Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him”
Next question: How then can a person stay faithful (full of faith) and is it OK to question God?
It’s OK to sometimes question God; but never let that be an excuse to do so. What do I mean by that? We have often heard that it is OK to be honest with God and tell him what is on your heart. Which I totally agree with. God wants us to be transparent with him. But we also need to be aware that satan is always trying to get his foot in the door and turn us away from faith and trust; but rather into complaining and doubting, which is a very slippery slope.
Let’s be honest, it’s much easier to have faith and be thankful when we are experiencing blessing in our lives. It’s much more difficult to demonstrate our gratefulness to God and others when we are going through hard and difficult times. I also know that when we are in the thick of tough and trying times, our natural man does not want to hear verses such as this one from the book of James. But that does not negate the fact that we still need to hear it.
“Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing” James 1:2-4
It’s a hard thing for a Christ follower to admit that they truly don’t have faith, or when and if their faith is wavering. It tends to be a subtle shift that we may not even readily recognize. We even rationalize our own thoughts saying things such as, “It’s OK that I am frustrated and angry at God for allowing this to happen… after all God knows my heart.” Yet, while it is true that God does know our heart, that does not mean that He is ready to move us out of a situation when we are not truly demonstrating faith and trust in Him. As we continue in this pattern, we lose sight of trusting God with the why and all we can think of is the when. Frustration sets in and our peace is leaving us along with our faith.
We must remember that satan knows that victories in our lives will only be won when we are truly trusting in God with a heart of gratitude and thanksgiving—all of which are things that he is diabolically opposed to. I realize we are not perfect saints and may not show gratitude 100% of the time. However, if we merely excuse our attitude, we will soon begin to question God about the things we normally would have no other reason to. We will begin to be critical of other Christians, and leaders. We will look enviously at other people, other families, and those who seem to be more blessed. As I said, we are sliding down a slippery slope. Only pride will tell us differently.
Once again, it’s easy to demonstrate our faithfulness and gratitude to God when we are in good times. When we get a new car, a new house, when we find a mate, when we get a promotion at work. At these times we are full of thanks and gratitude toward God. But what does God see and hear in the midst of the tuff times of life? When we are going through it, are we still honoring God with a faithful heart?
God’s Word tells us:
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thes 5:18
In every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Phil 4:6
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Ps 100:4
Let’s look at the life of King David. One of the most prominent figures of the entire Bible. As we read in 2nd Samuel, we see a man who from a very young age had amazing faith and courage in the Lord. He was anointed by God as King and yet had to flee into hiding in the desert from and angry and jealous King Saul, who had turned on him and sought to kill him. David (the anointed king) was forced to live in caves. He was on the run for many years, until the death of Saul, when David actually took the throne as Israels king. He was a king like no other. Was he perfect? Far from it. Adultery and murder were part of his history. He had drastic highs and terrible lows in life. Yet still today we read his humble and awe-inspiring love songs and letters to God in the book of Psalms.
God actually said that David was a man after His own heart. How? Why? Because David was marked as one who had a repentive heart. His faith and dependance on God was remarkable. He had longed for the presence of God to come to be among his people. And on the day the Ark of the Covenant was presented in Jerusalem, David threw off his royal robe, now covered by only an ephod (basically underwear) and led the celebration by exuberant dance of worship before the Lord. Although his wife Michal saw it as totally undignified and embarrassing, David’s actions once again demonstrated humility and showed that his devotion to God superseded his kingly status and the opinions of others.
Truly, the key to Gods heart is humility. Davids was humble no matter what his situation in life. He gave God the glory for the good, he confessed and repented for the bad. He chose not to exalt himself, but God did it for him.
James 4:6 says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Another great example is found in the book of Exodus, where it tells us about the Israelites who spent 40 years wandering in the desert, when all along God had promised to give them a promised land where they would have lives of abundance and freedom from their former torment of slavery. But only if they put their trust in Him. Sadly, it took them forty years…they went around and around the mountain in a journey from Egypt to their Promised Land. A direct, straight-line route would have been about 150 miles (about an 11-day journey), but the journey took them 40…FORTY years. Why? It was a direct result of their lack of faith. It was their constant grumbling and complaining.
Friends, there can’t be a better example of the consequences of what grumbling and complaining can do? Can we really expect God to still hear us and bless us when we grumble and complain? No, He will have no part in it. If you are a mom or dad, you know what I’m talking about. Would you lavish your child with gifts if they were constantly grumbling and complaining? Of course not!
How about the story of Job (see the book of Job). This story is used and illustrated very frequently, even in non-Christian circles where it is used primarily by agnostics who question why one would serve a god who punishes his people. That sad falsehood aside, we know that Job was an upright and blameless man who feared God. He was also a very prosperous man who had a large family and many workers.
Contrary to the agnostic’s belief, the story of Job shows that God saw and was well aware that Job was a humble servant of the Lord. It also tells us that God did not punish or was the direct cause of Job’s pain and suffering. Satan on the other hand was the power behind all the torment. God had only allowed satan to torment Job to prove a point to him and to the rest of the world, that Job’s faith and loyalty to God was not based upon his receiving blessings in life.
Job was put to the test and was afflicted with terrible pain and suffering, to the point at which even his own wife told him to curse God and die. He had three friends who came to comfort him, only to end up wrongly accusing him of sin. Then all in the course of a single day, Job lost all his livestock, servants, and all ten children. And still, he refused to curse God.
Because Job maintained his faith and trust in God throughout his suffering He was visited by God, his friends were rebuked, and God restored Job, giving him double his previous wealth and a new family. Job lived to see his grandchildren into the fourth generation.
Even some Christians have thought of Job’s troubles by saying, God may not have caused all of Job’s suffering, but He still allowed it…so what’s the difference? There is a big difference. We must remember that we all have an enemy who is very real and working on the earth today. Remember, he was cast down and out of his place of leadership in heaven—all due to his self-pride. In this story of Job, God used this real-life situation put satan in his place. Prideful satan had the audacity to think that the only reason Job was serving God was merely because Job was blessed.
To summarize, here are some important take-aways from this important story of Job:
God knew Job’s heart prior to satan’s attacks upon Jobs life. And therefore, God did allow it, but primarily for two reasons: 1) To prove to satan that Job and potentially other people do not love and trust God simply because they are blessed, but because they truly love and trust God.
God always knows and sees the big picture. We only see a snapshot in present time. This is why we need to truly trust Him. Whether He allowed it should not be the big question. He for sure is aware of it, so the more important response is “God I am trusting you to work this out for your good, show me how I can partner with you in doing that.”
Our words have power. The Hebrew word for “curse” is barak, which means that when Job’s wife was telling him to end the pain and suffering it would admit that God brought the suffering, and it would be better to die. When we are going through tough times, are we speaking faith and truly trusting God, or are we speaking out complaints and making comparisons? Would God be as confident in us as he was with Job?
God ultimately wants to bless us. Don’t let the story of Job tell you otherwise. What God is looking for is our unwavering trust in Him. Let’s be thankful, stay grateful, and trust him.
Here are a few more encouraging verses:
“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work”. 2 Cor 9:8
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus”. Phil 4:19
“I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:24
“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace”. Numbers 6: 24-26
Friends, if you are currently going through a tough and trying season in life, I am truly sorry for what you are going through, and I certainly don’t want to make light of the difficulty and pain of anyone’s situation. But I do know this—God sees you, and God also sees the bigger picture. As well, I know that God is ALWAYS worthy of our praise and gratitude. Speak it to Him, speak it over your situation, and don’t let the enemy put a muzzle over your praises. Don’t think or speak the enemies’ deceptive ways. Give glory to God in EVERY situation and watch Him turn your situation around. Stay strong, battle through your situation by putting on the full armor of God (see Eph 6) and don’t let down your shield of faith 😊 God is for you, not against you.
Many times, in my own life, when I am praying over a difficult situation, I have followed the example of King David and danced. Honestly, I get alone with God, sometimes with worship music—sometimes not, and I do a victory dance. I have found this act of worship to be a game changer…and believe me, it’s not because of my great dance moves lol… 1) It shapes my attitude. And 2) God sees me and he loves it when I trust Him with a heart of gratitude. God sees you too—
From the words of King David: “He will turn your mourning into dancing” Psalm 30:11
A man arrives at the pearly gates and sees St. Peter, who is looking over a very long ledger.
“You just barely made the cut,” St. Peter says. “Your good and bad deeds were about 50/50. Can you describe one truly selfless act?”
The man thinks, then says, “One time, a group of big, mean-looking bikers were harassing a poor girl on the street. The man got out of his car, walked up to the biggest biker, and said, ‘Leave her alone, you big bully, or you’ll have to deal with me!'”
St. Peter is impressed. “That was incredibly brave,” he says. “When did this happen?”
The man looks at his watch and replies, “About five minutes ago”.
Haha! Right? We throw these funny jokes around, but in reality, there are some major theological issues with these types of jokes. I know…I know, it’s just a joke. I laughed when I read it as well, but sometimes I wonder if even some of our humor has more negative influence than what we realize.
We all have values in life, don’t we? Some of us glean our values from our parents and how we were raised. Others from our education, or vocation. But in today’s modern world, most of life’s values are driven by media. It’s sad, but true. It is the power of influence.
For example, we all have you heard—either in person, movies, social media, or jokes—that 1) When a person dies there is a meeting at the “pearly gate” with St. Peter. And 2) At this meeting an entrance decision is made based upon a review of the individual’s good and bad deeds in life.
In reality, many people have adapted to this belief. They think, “I’m a pretty good person. I mean, I haven’t robbed a bank or killed anybody. As long as I’m more good than bad, right?” And so life goes on, fingers crossed that St. Peter’s scale will tip in their favor. Yet, the Bible is very clear that this type of qualification is completely false. WHAT!?
I’ll debunk that fallacy with Scripture, but first I want to focus on the predominant issue of following the social norm. Following the social norm is not something most would admit to doing, yet it is a major player that can have a huge impact on our lives. In fact, by following these norms, it can seductively rule the way so many otherwise “good people” think. The good verses bad scale scenario is just one example.
What is acceptable from a social perspective seems to be the compass by which many people live. Think about that for a minute. It may be a hard pill for many to swallow, but sadly it’s true. Additionally, many of these social followers do believe in God but sadly do not take the time to read His manual for life—The Bible. Their reasoning—which is also a social perspective—is that the Bible is too controversial and is no longer relevant for today. A percentage of these people may have actually had negative experiences with Christian people or churches. And although I cannot speak to those specific situations, the common result or reaction to these perceptions is that it’s simply easier to go with the flow and follow the norms of society.
What does the Bible say about gaining access to heaven?
When we die the Bible says that there will be a meeting, but not with St. Peter. Every person will come face to face with the one and only Jesus Christ. At this particular meeting, one’s good or bad deeds in life will not be the question. No, a book will be opened which is called The Lambs Book of Life. Jesus (being The Lamb of God), will open this book where He will find only those names recorded of the individuals who had chosen to accept Jesus into their hearts prior to their death. At this holy moment there are no excuses, no second chances. It’s either recorded in the book or not. (see 2 Cor 5:8, Revelation 20:12, 21:7)
Those recorded in the book are saved and given access to God’s eternal kingdom. Those who are not recorded must face eternal consequences forever separated from the joys of heaven and the presence of God Rev 20:5, states that they ultimately will be cast into the Lake of Fire, which translates to eternal punishment.
Two distinct judgment seats are mentioned in the Bible: The Judgement Seat of Christ (Bema Seat), exclusive to the followers of Christ where their lives are evaluated. The results of which are rewards, not condemnation. (see 2 Cor. 5:10). The other Judgment Seat is called The Great White Throne Judgement, where the unsaved are judged according to their works. The results of which are entirely condemnation (see Rev. 20:11-15)
Matthew 16:19 says, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” It’s important to note that binding and loosing is translated to mean, what you allow and what you don’t allow in your life.
Most would agree that there are both good and evil influences on this earth and that we and the friends we choose should all esteem to be good. That’s what we teach our children, right? For example, all little children will one day ask, “Mommy, Daddy, what happens when people die?” By in large, most parents will answer in the same way…”Well, little Johnny, if you are really good, you will go to heaven.” Instantly, this mind picture pops into little Johnny’s head that is further supported by society for the rest of Johnny’s life. And at Johnny’s funeral people will be internalizing in the very same way.
Please understand, I’m not saying that we should not strive to be good people; we absolutely should. But, if we expect to be accepted into heaven based upon our goodness, we have bought into a lie. Who’s lie? Satan, the great deceiver—the god of this world. He will do whatever deceptive technique possible (See 2 Corinthians 11:14). I know people don’t like to talk about him…satan (I refuse to even capitalize his name), but reality is reality, and we must face the fact that we all have the same arch enemy. Pride is the devil’s best tool (it’s what got him kicked out of heaven), and we are all subjected to his influences.
Pride-It comes in many forms, but ultimately from only one source.
Believing that one’s own goodness is sufficient for access to heaven is nothing more than a form of pride that prevents people from recognizing their need for a Savior. Jesus taught that good people don’t go to heaven because their pride keeps them from admitting their need for a Savior. The hard truth is that only those who do go to heaven are those who see their sinfulness before a holy God and cry out to Him for mercy. When we stand before Him, holding onto the hope that our goodness will save us is futile.
So, I know at this very moment there are some who are welling up with defensive thoughts towards me. I can understand that. But for whatever reason, you logged onto my website. You are free to disagree. Just hear me out—my motivation is not merely to voice my opinion or to gain xxx followers. I truly want to help and encourage people. I’m not pointing a finger; in fact, we all deal with various forms of pride.
That said, I do diligently study Gods Word and have spent a lifetime gleaning from respected teachers and authors. I have also had countless conversations over decades of time in the workplace, rubbing shoulders with some very smart and degreed people (Dr’s, Chemists, Engineers and qualified Technicians). It is my experience, that many say that the Bible is controversial and is not relevant for today. Have they read or studied the Bible? No, their opinions have merely been dictated by society. These are good people. They are dedicated citizens and strive to be good parents. But again, how good is good enough? Will the scale tip in their favor? Will they be rewarded somehow based upon a measure of goodness?
So, if the proverbial scale and St. Peter at the pearly gate is a fallacy, what does the Bible actually say about how to obtain the joys of heaven? I’m glad you asked. 😊
The Bible clearly states that salvation (eternal life in heaven) is a gift from God. But as with any gift, it must be received. That’s basically it. The Apostle Paul explains it perfectly in the book of Ephesians.
“You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about.” – Ephesians 2:8-9 CEV (Emphasis mine)
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life!” Jesus also said, “Without me, no one can go to the Father.” – John 14:6. Sounds exclusive, doesn’t it. Well, it is. It’s not through Muhamad, Allah, Buddha, or by goodness/self. It’s only through Jesus.
The fact is that we all fall short of the glory of God (see Romans 3:23)
There is a standard of goodness and that alone is Jesus Christ. He is our standard.
The Bible teaches that a person’s inherent goodness is insufficient for salvation (see Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:20, Luke 18:18-19, Galatians 2:16, and Titus 3:5), meaning you can’t earn it. Simply being religious won’t get you there either (see Isaiah 29:13 and Galatians 3:10-14). Probably the most compelling story is found in John 3:1-21, where Jesus was speaking with a man named Nicodemus who was a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin (Jewish authority who insisted on strict adherence to the books of Moses and its traditions).
Nicodemus was so drawn to Jesus and his teachings that he arranged a secret meeting with Jesus. Here Jesus told him that his earthly obedience and goodness was worthless, unless he was born of the Spirit and accepted the gift of God’s Son into his heart. This was a hard concept for Nico to grasp, since his very livelihood was so ingrained in performance and obedience, but his heart was tender, and he knew in his heart that Jesus was from God. Nicodemus continued to follow Jesus’ teachings and eventually was the one who purchased the burial spices and assisted in the burial of Jesus after the crucifixion.
This is also why scripture teaches us that we must acknowledge our sinfulness before a holy and righteous God (1 John 1:8-10) and continually depend on Christ as our flesh continually wars or battles against our spiritual nature.
Friends, God loves you. Regardless of who you are or what you have done—He still loves you. The god (little g) of this earth is spewing out all forms of lies, deception and instilling self-pride in people in order to keep their hearts from God. Who will you follow?
A simple prayer to God is all you need to do to assure your salvation and begin an exciting life of following Jesus. Just pray and believe (even in your own words) this prayer from your heart…
Dear Jesus. I am sorry for trying to live my life without you. Thank you for loving me enough to be crucified while paying the price as a sacrifice for my sins. I accept your love and forgiveness today as you freely give it to me. I give you my heart today and want to follow you for the rest of my life. Amen!
If you prayed that friend, you are on your way to heaven. That’s so awesome! But hold on, it doesn’t stop there…you are now in for the ride of your life…Jesus take the wheel 😊
Blessed by the Best,
Mark
If you have questions, pray and ask God to reveal truth to you as you read the Bible and study Gods Word. Attend a solid Bible based, spirit filled church. Find friends that love Jesus. The Christian life is so absolutely amazing! I hope to see you in the river.
I’d love to hear from you. Just click on the “Contact” tab on the Home Page.
Tracy and I live in a rural township just North of Minneapolis, MN. My morning commute to work starts around 5 am. Many of you are thinking 5 am, yuck! But I love my morning time. The coffee maker grinds beans for a fresh cup of java at 3 am (non-workdays it’s a little later 😊). But even on days off, I enjoy my morning time with God and then devotions and prayer with Tracy. Mornings are awesome! I also love experiencing nature come alive as the night turns into day. Watching the vast solar system slowly fade into a glorious sunrise never gets old. It does something incredibly refreshing to my soul.
On my morning commute, I drive East for a few miles before heading South towards the city. This typically gives me great views of the night sky just prior to sunrise. This August there have been amazing views of the two brightest stars of our solar system, the planets Venus and Jupiter. From our vantage point on Earth, early August revealed these two (Venus and Jupiter) farther apart, but each new day they appeared closer and closer. On August 11th or 12th, they appeared only 1 degree apart, as if they were grazing each other. Following days revealed them drifting apart again. They were joined by a very vivid crescent moon on the mornings of the 19th and 20th, and then an amazing alignment of 6 planets occurred on August 21st. It was an incredible display of which Tracy also enjoyed popping out into our front yard a couple of mornings.
What was most interesting to me was the day-to-day distance change of Venus and Jupiter. Its incredible that even when these two planets appeared to be almost touching, they are still millions of miles away from each other. Isn’t that amazing? Still millions of miles apart.
Scientists estimate estimated that there are at least 10 sextillion (10²²) stars in the observable universe, a number so vast that it cannot be counted by humans. Our solar system alone is estimated to be at least 18.6 trillion miles in diameter.
So, here is a question for you, and one that I’m sure many of us have pondered at one time or another. Have you ever felt that in the big scheme of Gods massive creation, that your life is very small? That your life, in view of God’s creation and plans for the entire world…you and your life are less than significant to Him? Thinking, “Surly the God of the universe has bigger and more important people and situations to attend to than me and my life?” Perhaps you have even cried out to God at some point of your life and said…
“God, do you even see me…”
Feeling as though you and God are millions of miles apart?
In Genesis Chapter 16 we are told of a woman named Hagar. It is a powerful story of a young woman who finds herself in a very misfortunate situation and of how God meets her in the midst of what she is going through.
We often pay more attention to the story of Abraham and Sarah and the fulfillment of God’s promise to make Abraham the father of many nations. But within Abraham and Sarah’s story, we discover the faith and perseverance of Hagar, a woman who was pulled in and then cast out into the wilderness due to an impatient and jealous woman and her husband. Two imperfect God-fearing people, who temporarily got off track.
Abraham was an Israelite who had heard from the Lord that he was to become the father of many nations. He and His wife Sarah journeyed to Canaan as God had promised them, and somewhere along the way picked up an Egyptian servant girl named Hagar.
Abraham was focused on fulfilling Gods promise, which he eventually did. But not without a time of great turmoil, tension and long-lasting consequences. As the story unfolds, they were desperately trying for Sarah to get pregnant. After all, how do you become a father of many nations without children, right? Ater 10 years of trying, Sarah became very impatient.
In desperation Sarah constructed her own plan. She convinced Abraham to sleep with their servant girl Hagar in hopes she would bear Abraham a son. But after Hagar conceives, Sarah’s jealousy swells, and she bitterly mistreats Hagar.
The pregnant Hagar runs away to the wilderness. She runs from humiliation and oppression into almost certain death. But she encounters angel of the Lord that tells her to return and submit to Sarah. God assures her that she, too, will be the mother of a great nation. In response, Hagar gave this name to the Lord: El Roi, which means, “You are the God who sees me,” (Gen 16:13 NIV).
Fast forward in the story to Genesis 21, and Hagar is sent away a second time to die in the wilderness, this time with her young child, Ishmael. Though she is met and saved by an angel again, this time her exile is permanent.
Hagar shows us that even when we wander in wilderness places, even when life’s circumstances and situations push us into a corner, God is near to us and listening for our cry for help. Hagar was in a very difficult situation, and what did she do? She fled. Isn’t that often our natural tendency? “Get me out of here, this is too painful, too hard.” But still, God found her, right there in her hurt and in her need. He saw her; saw right into her situation, into her heart.
Friends, you are not invisible. You are not unseen by God, God sees you. You are seen and known and loved by the very God who hung the stars in the sky and formed you when you were in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13-14 and Jeremiah 1:5).
Listen, it does not matter what you have done or have not done. God sees you right where you are and His arms are wide open to you (1 Cor. 16:23-24). Jesus said “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28)
He is God, El Roi. He does not have a seeing problem; we do. His vision is perfect: ours impaired by the disease of sin, of weakness. But God says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” (Psalm 32:8)
This is all good news for those of us who are less than perfect 😊We all may go through times when we may wonder “God, where are you?” Here’s what I’ve realized: When I feel unseen, chances are my eyes are not truly focused on Jesus, I’m focused on myself. I may feel invisible, but that’s on me. If I’m perfectly honest with myself, I can start to justify my poor eyesight by my works for God. “But God, I did this for you…I followed what you wanted me to do…and now, where are you?” My focus is on me—not Him—and what I have accomplished to somehow gain favor points with God, which is actually legalism.
This is what we need to do more than anything else: Set our eyes upon Jesus and truly worship Him. I have found that the best path in any situation in life is to raise my eyes to heaven and set my mind “on the things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Col. 3:2). Just like the old hymn says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”
So, remember, if and when you ever feel unseen by God.
God is not the one with the vision problem—you are. Right now, you only see in part, while He sees the entire picture.
He is El Roi—the God who sees me. He sees all wounds and worries. He sees your heart. Look to Him and trust Him.
God is no respecter of persons. Hagar was a non-Israelite, a woman with no power or status.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus—praise Him, worship Him, and trust Him.
May God bless you richly today as you put your trust in Him. Until next time…
This past week I posted on X (Twitter) a quote that I had heard on a podcast from Rick Warren. He said, “We get to choose if God will bless us and our lives or not.” Although I am in alignment with that statement, it also occurred to me that to many, that statement may sound presumptuous and dictatorially unrespectful toward Gods sovereign plan for our lives. Others my readily discount this phrase as one leading into another prosperity gospel message. But none of these first impressions point to the truth of this statement.
Sadly, there are many people who picture God as one who rules with a big ugly stick, just waiting for us to mess up from following His rules. Nothing could be further from the truth. Those who have this impression of Him have clearly not read the Bible or experienced His love. The Bible is very clear that God seeks intimacy with every person and desires that all will open their hearts to His love (see 1 Timothy 2:4, Jer 29:13, Acts 17:27). As well, His desire as a loving Father is to bless his children (see Gen 1:28, 12:2, Deut 28, Jer 29:11, Matt 6:33, Romans 8:28, Phil 4:19, 2 Cor 9:8). Rick Warren’s statement is 100% accurate. We do get to choose. We choose to either follow Jesus or not. The blessings of God are reciprocal. Keeping in mind that we do not control “how” God blesses us—but we choose trust in Him and His faithfulness in every area of our lives.
The blessings of God are immeasurable. And although God does bless in material ways, the spiritual blessings are even greater. Ephesians 1:3 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”
Years ago, I received a series of visions/dreams from the Lord. These were bonified encounters from the Lord which led to my writing and publishing The River. Chapter 6 of that book is called The Lake of Blessing in which I explain a vision from God of an actual lake that was filled with Gods blessings (also made known to me as His liquid love). This may seem a little abstract, but God often uses illustrations to help us understand. I have included a small portion of chapter 6 below.
I included that portion of The River in order to help you understand the magnitude of Gods desire to bless you and to pour his love into you and into your life.
And once again, I will repeat Rick warren’s quote, “we get to choose if God will bless us and our lives or not.” The choice is ours, and when we put our trust in God, He will illuminate the boulders that have been holding back the flow of God’s blessing upon our lives. Let’s say, for example, that you have unforgiveness toward someone. That unforgiveness is a huge boulder (and there may be others). God didn’t put it there, so it’s your choice to forgive or not. If you do truly forgive that person or the offense, the boulder is removed, and Gods River of blessing begins to flow.
I recently had a conversation with someone who had been going through a rough time in life. There was a series of recent events ranging from family sickness and death to car problems. I responded that I would be praying for him. His reply was, “Thanks, but it won’t matter because God is mad at me.” He continued, “I’m sure there is a verse in the Bible that says, God will punisheth us, or something…it’s just my lot in life.” We continued our conversation a bit, and of course I tried to correct his thinking. But the thought later occurred to me, how many people see God in this way…as a punitive god rather than a loving Father?
According to Pew Research, 40% of Americans view God as one who punishes people. How does this happen? I believe one way is from previous generations who had unbalanced religious teaching that has bled over into our society today. This has resulted in the fallacy of salvation based upon works (aka Performance Theology). As well, others have latched into an Eastern believe in “karma”. Again, the results based upon being blessed or punished according to works. Fingers crossed…that the balance weighs heavier in one’s favor.
The Bible says that God, has chosen to be known as Love (see 1 John 4:8, 4:16, Ro 8:38-39). He has also chosen to be known as Father (see Jn 20:17, Matt 6:9 &25-34, Luke 15:11-32). Is it any wonder that satan fights tooth and nail against peoples understanding God as a loving Father? Wouldn’t it make sense that satan would say “God does not love you, He wants to punish you.”
There are some folks that seem to think that any time we emphasis Gods love and grace, that we should somehow always balance the conversation out with Gods wrath and judgement. Again, I believe these are remnants of unbalanced teaching. God’s love is a reflection of His character. God does not have a two-sided face—one side showing love, while the other shows anger. His love is unconditional.
Yes, God hates sin and sin has its consequences. But thank God for His grace that allows us to overcome sin and its consequences as we grow from Gods love. Romans 2:4 says, “It is His love and kindness that leads us to repentance.” We must all seek to better understand and seek God as loving Father and thank Him continually for offering us grace. This grace is priceless and has never allowed us freedom to continue a sinful lifestyle. Jesus did not go to the cross merely so we could continue to live sinful lives. Truly, we are all a work in progress but should be seeking to be more and more like Jesus every day.
We must also recognize that with Gods love, He may allow trials in life as opportunities for our growth. However, His love, and presence remain for us even during difficult times. God looks at the heart, and He knows those that have truly turned their hearts over to Him. God is not punishing us. If we truly love Him, we can be confident that His blessings will continue as Gods Word guides us, and His Holy Spirit empower us.
If you are far from God because you either feel God is angry with you or you feel you must somehow be a better person before He will accept you, please don’t listen to the lie of the enemy any longer. God loves you—right now—enough to allow His son Jesus to die as a sacrifice for you. He does not want to punish you. No, this loving God wants to have a meaningful relationship with you. Trying to do life without God is futile. Starting a life with Christ today is as simple as humbly admitting your sinful pride and asking Him to take the wheel. 100% best decision you will ever make!
How would you describe the word PEACE? Many of our words are associated with our life experiences. I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s when “peace” was top news as people in our country were protesting the Vietnam War. The peace sign was everywhere you looked. As a kid, this made a lasting impact on me. Maybe peace paints a different picture to you. What comes to your mind?
The word PEACE can be used as either a noun or a verb. In either case, it clearly describes something that is desirable by all, but something that one would hope to have both now and for all of eternity. So, what exactly brings or gives peace?
Life in our modern world is becoming harder and harder. We’ve all heard the phrase, “Things were so much simpler back in the good ole’ days?” This is very true. Depression and anxiety disorders continue to grow in our world in alarming numbers. They are clearly the most commonly treated symptoms by doctors. Termed as “states of negative expectation,” there are over 301 million people being treated, particularly in young adults and children where it has increased over 92% in the past 10 years (ref, WHO). Clearly…people are in need of and searching for PEACE.
What does God’s Word say about peace? Some say that the Bible is “outdated,” and “no longer relevant.” I maintain that these people clearly don’t “study” the Bible—but that’s a whole other topic—I will continue to use it as my source reference for a successful life. The Bible references “peace” over 400 times. Jesus said it this way, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27). Jesus is clearly pointing out that the peace He offers is one of hope and reassurance that goes far beyond anything that the world can offer (see Phil 4:7). It is permanent, guaranteed, and eternal. But it also requires ongoing action on our part as we are encouraged to “hold fast to this hope that is set before us.” (see Heb 6:18-19).
The peace that Jesus offers us is so absolutely amazing, that it is actually mind blowing. The Bible says, “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understand, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:7) I can personally attest to this. So, when the things of this world come pressing in on us, we must remember to turn to Him and take refuge in Him. I also love this verse and how it worded in the Amplified Bible where the psalmist, who recognizes the turmoil that is going on inside of himself, and he actually speaks to his soul and says, “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become restless and disturbed within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence.” (Psalm 42:5)
Seeing and navigating where and what environments are conducive for our own peace is something we need to be intentional about. We must remember that the enemy of our soul is constantly trying to distract us from having and enjoying Gods peace. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He sent some of His followers out two by two to do His kingdom work and he gave them some very practical advice. He said to them, basically, “Go and find a house and say, “Peace be unto you.” And if your peace settles on that house, then you can stay there. If it doesn’t, shake the dust off your feet and go on” (Matthew 10:12–14; Luke 10:5–11).
Have you ever returned home from a long trip and the minute you stepped in through your front door you felt that fuzzy-warm feeling in your spirit and said, “It’s good to be home.” Regardless of how enjoyable your trip was, nothing compares to the feeling of peace and security from being in your own home. I hope that is true for you. Sadly though, I realize that is not always the case.
Our home most often refers to our private environment. There are a lot of things in life that we cannot control, but our homes are typically the place where we have the most control over what we allow or don’t allow to affect our lives. Be assured of this, both God and satan are aware that our homes are the areas where the majority of life’s choices and decisions are formed. What we are and what we experience in private will most assuredly have an effect on the rest of our lives.
Can I share a personal story with you?
As a child, I grew up with loving parents and 3 older siblings. As I grew older however, I began to understand that my dad had a drinking problem. I didn’t realize it at the time, but my dad was going through some life issues. Into my teenage years my home life was no longer peaceful. My siblings were now mostly gone, and although dad was never an abusive drunk, his addiction was getting worse. Late afternoons he would disappear, which often led to many evenings of hearing my mom calling around town and adjacent small-town bars trying to find out where my dad was. Sometimes she needed to be somewhere (she didn’t drive), or there was a school function or a sports game that I would be playing in, that she wanted them both to attend (with him being sober). Other times, she was just frustrated because she needed grocery money to make supper that night, and she not only wanted him home, but she didn’t want him spending grocery money at the bar. I remember many nights listening to hear my dad’s car coming into the driveway. Would he make it home safely? I’m angry, do I even care? And my mom, I felt so sorry for her, yet she stayed so faithful trusting in Jesus. I was embarrassed to ever have friends over for fear that my dad would come home drunk. He had developed a reputation as a town drunk to them, and I knew it. I even joked about it with them in order to cover up. I felt sorry for my mom but deep inside me I was very bitter and resentful toward my dad. There was no peace and security in my home, and I started to look for it in other things and other places. I couldn’t wait to leave home, and quickly moved-out the day after my high school graduation.
In order for us to serve Him most effectively, we all need a peaceful base of operations, a place from which we can go out and to which we can come back. For most of us, this place is our home. If our homes aren’t peaceful, we need to do whatever we can to gain and maintain a calm, peaceful atmosphere, because strife and confusion adversely affect the anointing of God that rests on our lives. For some, a peaceful home environment may be more difficult because other people refuse to be peaceful, but you can remain peaceful in your heart. Let me encourage you to do all you can do to ensure peace in your “home base.” That way, everyone who lives and works from that place will do so with God’s grace and peace—and they will have success.
Husbands and wives, how do you feel when you come home at the end of the day? Are you truly glad to be home? Are you bringing peace and security with you when you return home, such that your spouse is happy to see you? Do you value each other above all others? Are you each other’s “safe place?” Are you worthy of trust and does your spouse feel that you prioritize and protect your relationship with them above all others?
Moms and dads—do your children see the two of you as a loving team that they can run home to when they are facing tough and hard issues of life? Are you truly there for them? Do your kids know how much you love them? Do you tell them you are proud of them? Do they truly feel valued by you? Do they come or do they run when you come home? Is your home a place of refuge where there is peace and security for them? It’s important to provide for them, but they need you even more than the provision. I have heard so many testimonies where others have said, “my parents and family never had much money, but we always had each other.” Parents, your kids need YOU more than anything, and you have the power and responsibility to create an atmosphere of peace in your home and in your kids’ lives. Is your home and your relationship with them their safe place?
When I was 21 years old, I turned my life over to Jesus Christ. In fact, Tracy and I made that choice together on the very same night. By far…the very best decision in life I have ever made. Also, remember the story about my dad? The night Tracy and I accepted Christ, I told my parents what had taken place and it brought them to tears. Not many months after that, my dad finally turned his life completely over to Jesus. Later, both he and mom hit the road as traveling gospel singers and recorded 3 gospel albums. Dad continued to share his story, “from a drunk to a disciple.”
I would be amiss today and within this context if I did not present an opportunity to receive peace from the very one who created you and knows the very tiniest of details in your life…Jesus Christ. Jesus loves you so much that He died as a living sacrifice for YOU. The Bible teaches us that He was “wounded for OUR transgressions and that He was crushed and bruised for OUR iniquities: the chastisement of our PEACE was upon him; and with His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5).
The Bible also says that “we all like sheep have gone astray as we have turned to our own way.” (Isaiah 53:6). Friend, we ALL are in need of a savior. Jesus said these words, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6).
Today you can receive everlasting peace and eternal security if you turn your life over to Jesus Christ. Say this prayer with me and mean it in the depths of your heart: “Jesus, I am tired and sorry for trying to do this life on my own. I recognize today that you willingly laid down your life for ME and I from this day forward, I want to live my life according to your awesome plans for me. Thank you for loving me, teach me your ways so that I may have PEACE. Amen!
If you prayed that prayer today, I would encourage you to reach out someone you know who is also a Christ follower. It’s so important to stay connected with encouraging believers and in an environment where you can grow in your faith. I recommend that you find a good church that will help you in your journey. Tracy and I would love to hear from you, pray for you, and help with these things. Either hit the CONTACT button above or email mandtstuberg@gmail.com All comments are always welcome.
If you live around the Twin Cities this billboard is likely very familiar to you. This local realtor went on an advertising blitz a few years ago and has flooded Minnesota and Wisconsin with now over 600 billboards. His famous “arms outstretched” pose can also be seen on city buses and buildings. Each one exhibits his famous pose. He even purchased a 30 second add during the 2024 Super Bowl… No audio, just his distinctive pose where his arms magically stretched wider and wider until the end of the video.
To be clear, I am not advertising for his business. I have never met Kris, or even anyone associated with him. But his vision and marketing campaign is impressive to say the least, and his bold advertisements have definitely sparked some thoughts in me. I hope these thoughts are a blessing and encouragement to you and to others in your life as well. 😊
I grew up attending my family’s small-town church that foundational in some ways, but was very conservative in the nature of worship. I gave my heart to the Lord when I was 21 years old, and started attending a church that was contrastingly very open in worship. There I witnessed many who worshipped Jesus with hands raised in the air. This was new to me. It was later explained that it was an act of worship that demonstrated to God—not others—a sign of surrender and honor to the Lord. That made sense to me. However, I wasn’t about to just start doing it just because others were. I vividly remember the struggle I went through with that.
I searched the Bible and found that it was indeed a very common form of worship—and not just when accompanied with worshipful music. One of the most well-known references to lifting hands during worship is found in Psalm 134:2, which says, “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord.” Still, I struggled with it. Keep in mind, my previous paradigm was that being silent whilst in church was a sign of respect. Also, I was more concerned about what the people around me would think if I did or didn’t raise my hands.
But soon I learned of the incredible release of self as I incorporated this powerful function in my time of worship. Basically, I got over the stigma of what people may think. And just focused on the Lord. After all, He is the one who is truly worthy of my praise, right? Lifting my hands was and is just one of the many ways to honor Him. Soon, raising my hands to Him, became a natural response of my gratitude. It no longer seemed weird. Besides, people express their emotions in all sorts of ways when they are cheering for their favorite sports team or anything really, that they are passionate about. Why would I not be passionate in my worship to King Jesus? Now, are there times that I don’t feel like worshiping? Absolutely. But in those times, choosing to worship actually has more value. He is worthy of my praise—all the time.
I am in no way suggesting that one needs to raise their hands in order to worship the Lord. There are so many ways in which we can give heart felt worship, to include times of in silently sitting or kneeling before Him. Additionally, no one should ever feel expected to worship in a certain posture or specific way etc. The heart of worship is exactly that—it comes from the heart. I am merely sharing that (#1) we are encouraged to do it—many scripture verses support that. And (#2) when combined with our heart, this posture has significant ties to honor, surrender, and freedom. He is worthy!
There is another physical posture to mention, which is more of a receiving posture. A few years ago, our senior pastor, when closing our services, would encourage everyone to put their hands out in front of them as though they were about to receive a gift. Then as a loving shepherd, he would proceed to pray a prayer of blessing over the congregation. This is a posture of receiving. Although I can’t find a particular Biblical reference for this exact posture, it is an incredibly impactful physical act that allows one to understand that God truly wants to bless us. Although our pastor speaks many encouraging words during his blessing, his premise comes from Num 6:24-26, “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.”
One article I read said that Kris Lindahl’s famous-around-town marketing campaign is based on the tenants of kindness and giving to others. Once again, I don’t know Kris, or if he knows Jesus, but his chosen way of advertising speaks volumes to me as a Christian. Isn’t the posture of arms being wide open how the world should be seeing Jesus through us? Isn’t that how Jesus reached out to people while He walked the earth? He fed the hungry, healed the sick, comforted the lonely, encouraged the depressed, raised the dead, wept with the weeping, and had significant relationships with many.
I have seen a sign in some churches that is posted just above the inside of the main exterior doors. One can read it while exiting the building… “You are now entering the mission field.” What if we as Christ followers sincerely took that to heart? What if we had the mindset that as we left the church building and entered into our mission field, our arms were figuratively wide open, and the joy of the Lord was reflecting a genuine infectious smile? It is reported that Kris Lindahl has invested millions of dollars in his massive advertising campaign. What if we were similarly invested (not financially, but intentionality) in reaching out to those in our sphere of influence? Kris Lindahl’s sign to the community reads “GUARENTEED OFFER.” As Christ followers, what’s our guaranteed offer to the people we see and interact with in life? Do they even know that we care about them?
Years ago, during the Jesus Movement, there was a popular song that was being sung in many of our churches called We are One in the Spirit. There was a chorus line that said, “And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes…they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” I believe this comes directly from Scripture, as Jesus said, , “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (see John 13:34,35)
Jesus also said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself'”(Matt. 22:37-39). Jesus gave love priority over all other Christian virtues. Every thought, response, and act of goodwill must first pass through the fine filter of love, or it means nothing at all. As Christians, I believe it is our responsibility to truly discover the meaning of this command and seek passionately to live it out in our daily lives. I understand this may be difficult in the world we live in today. One can easily become discouraged by all the chaos and injustices that we see in our society
From the very beginning, God’s plan was to develop a people that reflected His character. And what is His character? Love. “God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. In this, love is perfected with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; for we are as He is in this world” (1 John 4:16-17). Believers are God’s advertisement to a watching society as to how individuals could best live in that society. And listen, many of us have possibly said or thought these words during tough times, “Life in our world is getting to be so bad, I just Jesus to come back now.” But we cannot afford to lose our focus…our purpose. As much as we all might look forward to eternity in heaven, as long as we are living and breathing on this earth, God still has a purpose for us, and that purpose is to continue to be a conduit of His love. This, after all, is why we are here.
I encourage you today to picture the three postures mentioned (hands raised in worship, hands stretched out as to receive, and arms wide open to others) and realize that they follow a pattern. First, we worship the Lord. Second, He blesses us. And third, we reach out to others.
The most epic image of someone with arms stretched wide open is not Kris Lindahl. It is the image of none other than Jesus Christ while he hung on the cross of Calvary and became the ultimate sacrifice of love for you and me. Many churches display this image in the simple form of a cross, while others may display a cross in their home, or perhaps even on a necklace or keychain. All reminders of the sacrifice Christ made for all who will receive him. Let’s let it also remind us of His words, “Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (see John 13:35)
Let’s stre………ch out those arms of love! Blessings to you all.
See You in the River 