A BRUISED REED AND SMOLDERING WICK

Have you noticed the reeds at the edge of a river bank, a pond or a lake?  Is there anything more frail than a bruised reed?  They become bent over.  Once they were tall, sturdy river grass, they are now bowed and bent.  Did you know that reeds are used in musical instruments?  If they are bent and bruised they would only give out squeaky music.

Are you a bruised reed?  Did you once stand tall and proud?  You were upright and sturdy.  Then something happened.  Have you had sorrow and grief that bowed you over?  Do you have memories of abuse caused by those who were supposed to love and care for you?  The list could go on and on.  The world is full of bruised people, and we all know them. People hurt by the past, people who are bruised and beaten down, seemingly no hope.  Our God is the God of the wounded heart.  He’s the God who knows all the dreams and desires of our hearts.  Jesus came not to crush a bruised reed but  to heal with His gentle touch.

In the book of Isaiah, we see a beautiful prophecy of Jesus, the coming Messiah: “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight.  I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will bring justice to the nations.  He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.  In faithfulness, he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth.  In his law, the islands will put their hope.”  Isaiah 42:1-4

In Matthew 12:20, we see Jesus fulfilling that promise, that prophecy given by the prophet Isaiah.  “

A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.”

Are you bowed down today? Do you know someone who is bowed down and needs the gentle touch of the Master?  “The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.”  Psalm 145:14

He alone can lift up the bruised and broken reed and bring restoration and healing.

And what about the smoldering wick?  In Jesus’ time the wick or flax floated in the olive oil in a pottery type lamp.  It was once aflame, now flickering and failing.  It is still warm from yesterday’s passion, but no fire.  It is not yet cold, but far from hot.

Was it that long ago that you blazed with faith, witnessing, ministering to others, walking in the Spirit?  But what happened?  The wind came, the wind of adversity, trials.  You took your eyes off of Jesus and looked at your circumstances.  You got away from those precious times with Him in His Word and in prayer.  The constant wind bore down upon you.  Oh, you stood strong for a while, but the endless blast whipped your flickering flame.

It won’t take much to relight the flame, and it won’t take much to snuff it out entirely.  Jesus keeps the spiritual fires burning within by the power of the Holy Spirit.  A fire keeps burning as long as the coals stay close together.  However,  when they get separated the fire goes out.  As long as we stay close to the Lord  and let Him help us our light still shines and our fire doesn’t go out.

Pray, read His Word and hide His Word in our hearts that we might not sin against Him.  Stay in fellowship with other Christians to encourage one another.  When we take our eyes off Jesus, we will fall, our fire will become a smoldering wick.

Jesus Himself told us in Matthew 11:28: “Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

The Jewish people to whom Jesus was speaking were burdened with 628 different commands and requirements in the tradition of the Pharisees of their day.  Is it any wonder then that the people flocked to Jesus, who spoke with such gentle and loving authority?  He told them of His Heavenly Father, who has His children obey Him out of love and not from fear of punishment.

So, in conclusion, the Lord wants you to stand tall, not bent over and bruised from the past, receiving His healing touch.  Keep the oil burning in your lamp, don’t allow circumstances to take your eyes off of Jesus.

Father, in the Name of Jesus, I pray for all those who are bruised and feel like they are beaten down with past hurts and circumstances.  Lift them up, Lord, and help them to stand tall.  And those who have let their wick burn low, I pray that their fire will again burn brightly and they will be a light in this dark world.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Pastor Sharon

BEHOLD, I SHOW YOU A MYSTERY!

All of us wonder about life after death.  What is heaven like?  What will it be like to live forever?  And we also wonder what our bodies will be like in heaven and after the Resurrection.  Will we have spirit bodies that float around like that of ghosts, as some would have us believe?

These bodies of ours get old.  We hurt, we grieve, we go through great trials, and we wonder when it will ever end.  We wonder when Jesus is coming back, and wonder about the Resurrection.  The Apostle Paul calls it a “Mystery.”

We all have seen loved ones die, some tragically and we wonder “why?”  Some of us have seen children die of cancer and accidents and we hurt, grief hurts.  Some of our loved ones have had cancer and other terminal diseases and we have seen them suffer in pain.  And then, as I do, wonder what our loved ones are like in heaven.  “What will Grandma (Grandpa) look like?”

Let’s go into the Word of God and see what the scriptures teach us about these questions.  We know that God’s Word is true and brings us peace.  The Apostle Paul had much to say in I Corinthians 15:15-52:  “Behold I show you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed –In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

As Paul states, it is all a mystery.  In the twinkling of an eye we will be changed, both the living and the dead, and this change will take place at the last trumpet.  What has been true about Jesus and true about those who have died before us is true for us as believers.  We will be recognizable, though the form may be different.  As an example let us look at Jesus after He was resurrected.

In Luke 24:36-43, we read: “Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.”  And they were terrified and frightened and supposed they had seen a spirit.  And He said to them, “Why are you troubled?  And why do doubts arise in your hearts?  “Behold My hands and My feet, that it I Myself.  Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”  But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?”  So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.  And He took and ate in their midst.”

We see in this passage, that Jesus appeared in their midst.  He was flesh and bones.  And He ate before them.  We see in John 21 that He even cooked a meal on the seashore and ate with His disciples. 

In John 20: 25-28, we read about Thomas and Jesus appearing to him: “The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”  So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”  And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them.  Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!”  Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at my hands; and teach your hand here, and put it into My side.  Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

We see Jesus again mentioning His scars on His hands and side and in Luke He mentions the scars on His feet.  There is a wonderful thought here.  Jesus’ scars were on His body after the resurrection, and also as He ascended into Heaven, where He is at the right hand of His Father.  Jesus will have those scars throughout eternity, as a reminder to us of His great love for us.  We will always be reminded by those scars of His step into our world, to die for us so we could spend eternity with Him.  Oh, how Precious is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Here is a wonderful old hymn written by Fanny Crosby:

MY SAVIOUR FIRST OF ALL

When my life work is ended, and I cross the swelling tide, when the bright and glorious morning I shall see; I shall know my Redeemer when I reach the other side, and His smile will be the first to welcome me. 

CHORUS:  I shall know Him, I shall know Him, and redeemed by His side I shall stand, I shall know Him, I shall know Him, by the print of the nails in His hands.

Paul goes on to say in I Corinthians 15:54-55: “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is thy sting?” O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death and the victory of the grave have been observed by all of us who have seen loved ones and friends die, and stood by a grave and wept.  It hurts!  Paul is not suggesting that death is always easy to accept.  He was saying, “Death does not end it.  There is more.”  As we are encouraged to prepare for all stages of life, from childhood to old age, we are also encouraged to prepare for life after death.  We don’t know what a spiritual body looks like, but if we now are fearfully and wonderfully made, as the psalmist said, then it has to be a glorious creation.

So in conclusion, we will be changed in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye.  And what kind of body will we have?  We will have a body just like Jesus!

Even David in the Psalms knew what awaited him:  As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness."  Psalm  17:15

 We have another wonderful promise in I John 3:2-3: “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.  And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as he is pure.”

We don’t know what we are going to be like, but when we finally see Jesus face to face and see Him, just as He is, we will be changed and have a glorious new body just like his, no more pain, sorrow, sickness or tears.  Forever we will be with Jesus.  Praise the Lord!

In His Name,

Pastor Sharon Besler

DO YOU KNOW THE MASTER OF THE WIND?

HE IS THERE IN THE STORM!

Do you, my friend, know the Master of the Wind? Are you in the midst of a storm in your life?  In that storm are the waves crashing, the wind roaring?  Do you feel like your “ship” is about to sink?  You might be in the midst of a battle against cancer or another terminal illness.  You may have lost your home, your job and your finances. And you feel like it is so dark and cold where you are.  Do you feel like you have lost all hope?  But look through the darkness, and you will see Him in the storm waiting to speak “Peace, be still” to your fearful and troubled heart.  I meet many as I minister in nursing homes, foster homes and hospitals.  And God is always there to bring hope and peace.  I have seen Him bring peace and joy to a troubled heart.

In the Gospel of John, we read when the disciples were out on the sea in a great storm, they were so frightened and then they saw Jesus walking on the waves.  We read this account in John 6:16-21: “Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum.  And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.  Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing.  So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid.  But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.  Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.”

Do you feel like this is happening in your life?  You reel to and fro because of your trouble, and you are literally at your wits’ end.  But look, He calms the storm and the waves are still, and then He guides you into a quiet place of peace and rest.

Listen as the Psalmist describes the storm that you may be in.  Psalm 107:25-30: “For He commands and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea.  They mount up to the heavens. They go down again to the depths; their soul melts because of trouble.  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.  Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses.  He calms the storm, so that its waves are still.  Then they are glad because they are quiet; so He guides them to their desired haven.”

So I pray for you today, all you out there who are indeed in the midst of that storm.  But there is light ahead, for Jesus is there.  And when He is there, He brings calmness and peace to troubled hearts.  And He wants to bring you a joyful heart in spite of the troubles you may be facing.  And, my friend, He loves you so much that He gave His life for you, and wants you to serve Him and spend eternity with Him.

Father, in the Name of Jesus, I ask You to bless all those who read this blog.  Lord, I know that there are many out there who are going through great storms of life, wondering when they will see the light of day again.  But, Lord, you walked on the water, right through the storm and into the boat with your disciples.  So walk again through the storm and into the situations that bring fear, heartache and pain to these people.  Let them know that you love them with an everlasting love and bring peace to their storms.  In the Name of Jesus,  Amen

Pastor Sharon Besler

LORD, HELP ME, I JUST WANT OUT!

LORD, HELP ME, I JUST WANT OUT!

I was visiting recently with an elderly lady in a nursing home.  There she sat in her chair by the wall, where she had been sitting the previous week.  So I stopped to visit and see how she was doing this week.  She looked at me and said, “I just want to die and go home.  I sit here day by day all alone looking at these four walls and no one seems to care anymore, and I have no purpose in this life.

Maybe you feel that way. You feel like life has passed you by.  You love the Lord and just want out of this life. Maybe you are not a senior at all, but circumstances in your life have led you to this point in your life.

I shared with her that we are on God’s timetable. He has numbered our days and put them in His book.  In Psalm 139:16 the Psalmist wrote these words: “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.  And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them (NKJ).  Think of that verse, my friend.  God numbered your days before you were even born and when your days end, according to God’s plan, He will take you home.  He has not called you to “escape” this life, but walk with Him and serve Him until the day comes when He calls you home.  But you may ask, “How can I serve Him, when things are so complicated in my life right now, and I feel like I can’t go on?” “ What can I do for Him?”  You can pray and be a witness for Him.  Read the words of this wonderful Psalm.  “Now also when I am old and gray headed, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come” (Psalm 71:18).  

You are called to be a witness to those around you, and especially to the next generation, your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  He calls you to pray and intercede for your family, your friends and neighbors and even those on your job. If you are in your senior years,   you will never be too old to serve God, never too old to pray.  Though age may stop you from certain physical activities, it need not end our desire to tell others, especially children, about all that we have seen God do in the many years of our lives.

So He wants to give you hope, to live in peace and joy, and to walk in His strength day by day, no matter what your age or circumstances.  As long as He gives you breath, He calls you to walk in victory.

There is another wonderful passage of scripture in Psalm 73:23-26: Nevertheless, I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand.  You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.  Whom have I in heaven but You?  And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.  My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Here is His promise to you.  You are always with Him, and He holds you by your right hand.  All your life He has guided you with His counsel, and then when it is time to go home, He will receive you into Glory.  There is no one in heaven but Him, and He is your complete desire on earth.  Your body will fail, and even your heart may fail, but God is the strength of your heart and your portion forever.  Praise the Lord!

Father, in the Name of Jesus, I lift up all those out there who feel that there is nothing left to live for.  They feel lost, forsaken and in despair.  But You, Jesus, came to give them life, hope, and the will to go on until that time when they are called home.  So give peace to your people, and hope to all who read this.  That because of Your great love, we can walk on in victory with You.  Amen

Pastor Sharon

WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY WORLD?

Do you feel like your world has fallen apart?  Have you lost a precious loved one, your job, finances?  Maybe you have lost your health and the doctors tell you there is no hope.  Is your body wracked with pain?  Do you feel as if no one really cares?

In the book of Job, in the Old Testament, is the story of a man who lost everything.  He lost his children, his servants and everything he owned.  And then he lost his health and he literally sat in the dust and asked “Why?”

But Job, and in his questioning of God, he looked ahead and saw a day when His God would stand on the earth, and a day when his body would be resurrected.  Let me share Job 19:25-27: “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold and not another.  How my heart yearns within me!”

Yes, my friend, Jesus came, and as God in the flesh, did indeed stand upon this earth.  He walked this earth, ministering to those in need, and then was crucified, and on the third day rose again from the grave.  And because of His death and resurrection, he brought salvation and eternal life to all those who would call on His Name.

When we must endure suffering, we have an advantage over Job.  We know that the dead shall rise.  Christ arose and we have hope based on Christ’s promise in John 14:19: “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me.  Because I live, you will live also.”

So my friend, God loves you!  He even has written your name on the palms of His nail scarred hands.  “Can a woman forget her nursing child?  And not have compassion on the son of her womb?  Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you.  See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.”  Isaiah 49:15-16.

So my friend let Him be your comfort today no matter what you are going through.  Here is my prayer for you today:  Father, in the Name of Jesus, I lift up to You all those out there that feel as if their world has indeed fallen apart and feel like there is no hope.  I pray that You will wrap your loving arms around them right now, comfort them and give them your peace in the midst of the storm and that they will know that you are there.  Give them a light at the end of that tunnel, and light in their dark ness, for You are that light.  In the Name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Pastor Sharon Besler