Daily Wisdom

 Pro 10:12 “… love covereth all sins.”

This is a powerful and challenging verse all in one.  Love first covers sin, not exposing it, then it forgives and forgets, without judgment. But man can be quick to mentally, emotionally, and spiritually harbor, fuel, and hold on to such pain that the regret, bitterness, and anger consume them. One must cry to God in such pain for the power to obey His injunction, “love covereth.” And then mentally dig a grave, emotionally lower the pain into the depth of the pit and spiritually cover it and plant a new beginning of green sod and white roses on top of it, and quickly walk away in love and peace. It’s then the wound that seemed spiritually deadly will heal without a scar.

When it hurts to look back, and fearful to look ahead, look up and find your peace… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 Gen 41:52 “… God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

The beauty of rain is in what we don’t see, the life and beauty it brings forth. As the rain pours the poet stands peacefully at the window, seeing not raindrops, but a myriad of flowers which will soon bloom forth and pens: “It isn’t raining on me, it’s raining flowers I soon shall see.” When the rain in life is pouring down in measure beyond what you can endure, know that it’s not raining on you, but rather for you! IF you’ll hold to the Father’s promises, under the beating down of the rain will spring up beauty you never saw coming! It’s not raining affliction, but assurances of love, hope, and promise which will bloom forth beauty and fruit that otherwise you’d never get to see.

Nothing blooms without a little rain; everything has purpose, even pain… HSAY 

Daily Wisdom

Jn 9:1 “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?  Jesus answered, neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.”

It’s interesting to see the illusions that offer two images in the same picture (Old Woman – Young Girl). That’s often an accurate interpretation when it comes to life when looking at the hurting and evil around us.

Depending on my perspective, I’ll either find purpose or pain. 

When I hurt physically I understand there is something that needs to be addressed or corrected.  The pain is purposeful and helpful despite the discomfort and pain I must endure.

The disciples decided to focus on the hurt and sin instead of seeing the picture of God working through it. I can do the same thing. Why did God allow this to happen in my life?  I must stop focusing on the “disease” and should focus on the cure that is in Jesus.

Stop looking for something to blame and start looking for God in praise!

I can’t be blinded by the problem pain brings, instead of seeing God’s glory displayed through it.  If not, like the disciples I’ll miss out on the wonderful works of the Lord.  Knowing in the worst of pain, “God’s glorious works should be manifest in it.”

I often think of Joseph (Gen 50) when facing painful and difficult problems. The darkest of evil was perpetrated by his brothers, and yet God turned the pain into a glorious work that even blessed the evil who were responsible.

Sometimes the greatest pain inflicted upon those around me, as well as myself, can manifest the greatest blessing. I must choose the right perspective, I can focus on the hurt or the Healer!

The right perspective keeps me from living in the shadows of yesterday and allows me to walk in the light of today and the promised hope of tomorrow.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Psa 34:18 “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

We read our verse and yet, it can feel as if the Lord is a million miles away.

As the deep aches of grief and guilt surface and the tears run down my cheek, they bring with them the question of how could I have changed this situation?  Longing to be able to change it by any means necessary, but the pain burrows in and the daily frustrations wear the soul down.

These are not comfortable feelings and thoughts. Pain and grief are never comfortable. It’s human nature to want to pull in, away from the world. To want to go silent, keep to myself all the thoughts I dare to shout out loud.

Running from it. Numbing it. I distract myself.

Yet, the loving voice of God says that he is close. He is there to comfort me, he has rescued me.  Some answers we will never know this side of Heaven. The pain may have to be my cross to bear the rest of my days, but I must find comfort because I’m not carrying it alone.

Psa 56:8 is a beautiful verse, the Lord captures every tear I shed and bottles them… Even in my deepest sorrow, God cares!

He promises to be "close to the brokenhearted" and my source of power, courage, and wisdom, helping me through my trials. Don’t let your lack of ability to feel His presence fatigue you, know His promises. Sometimes he chooses to deliver us through our situation and not from it.

Often our greatest ministry will come out of our greatest pain.

I do my best to lean into the pain and not run from it, I’m promised on the other side is peace!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

“The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land. Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth….” Isa 21:1; 3

Isaiah’s burden was foreseeing the destruction forth coming to Babylon, Edom & Arabia (ch. 21-23). His pain was felt even though their destruction was over 100 yrs. in the future. God is longsuffering when it comes to his judgment on us, he gives us ample opportunity to make things right (Eze 18:23). Our burden comes when we delay our response to make what is broken in our life right. For these nations, they refused to make things right, and their destruction befell them as promised by Isaiah. For us as Christians, while we may not be in the midst of judgement we may be burdened with indifference with loved ones who we deeply endure pain over. Isaiah had a heart like God’s, he would rather see Babylon get it right than get judged. God’s is always about making wrong right, this must be our heart-beat as well. Not in order or attempt to judge others or determine who’s wrong or right, but to make right the kindred spirit God calls us to. Pro 17:17 “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” While the friendship/brotherhood may have already been established, the love must endure greater than he adversity, and only deepen through it. Phl 2:1-2 Paul exhorts Christian as to their Christ-like duties. He presses them in conformity to the example of Jesus in humility and love towards each other.

Our greatest concern should never be if God is on our side, but instead are we on God’s side… because God is always right.

HSAY… Todd