Sunday, July 9, 2017

July 10, 2017

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones." Proverbs 3:5-8

What does it really mean to trust God?

Or, you could ask the same question this way, “What does it mean to really trust God?”

That is THE big question, isn’t it? It is important enough to address it with a Proverb from the wisest man who ever lived.

To begin answering the question, consider this simple story:

I heard a story of a missionary in Africa who received a knock on the door of his hut one afternoon. Answering, the missionary found a native boy holding a large fish in his hands. The boy said, "Reverend, you taught us what tithing is, so here. I've brought you my tithe." As the missionary gratefully took the fish, he questioned the boy. "If this is your tithe, where are the other nine fish?" At this, the boy beamed and said, "Oh, they're still back in the river. I'm going back to catch them now."
Like this young boy shows us, trust is giving God your first, your best, and your all!

Like this young boy shows us, trust believes God for the rest!

Like this young boy shows us, trust is giving with zest!

Like this young boy shows us, trust believes that God will bless!

Does your trust in God pass this test?


July 9, 2017

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones."  Proverbs 3:5-8

Most of us have read the beautiful poem called Footprints. It’s brought comfort I think to all of us. If you haven't read the poem I am confident you have seen the painting inspired by it.

What’s interesting is that the lady who wrote "Footprints", Margaret Fishbeck, went through amazing trials. The person that she loved left her, she caught meningitis, and was literally bedridden for many months. She came to the lowest place of her life. During that time, another man fell in love with her and wanted to marry her. But she wouldn’t marry him. She basically said, "I’m out of trust. I’m not sure I trust God. I know I don’t trust men. I’m out of trust."


One night in her diary as she lay in bed, she began to write that beautiful piece, "Footprints". And that night she saw the answer. I’ll just take a moment to read it to you, if you’ve never heard it: "One night a man had a dream, and he dreamed that he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes of his life, and for each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to him and the other belonging to the Lord. After the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. And he also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and at the very saddest times of his life. This really bothered him, and he questioned the Lord about it. He said, ’Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I’ve noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there’s only one set of footprints. I don’t understand, Lord. Why, when I needed you the very most, you would leave me?’ And the Lord replied, ’My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.’"

Trusting God requires many different responses from us. This third chapter of the Proverbs gives a helpful listing of those requirements.

Let's focus on this one today. Trusting God means believing that He is carrying you when it feels like it and when it doesn't. Sometimes the footprints don't appear until the end of the journey. But that is the point of trusting - His promises are His proof of His presence - not His footprints!

Will you rest in His arms today and enjoy the journey?