Life is...A Roller Coaster - Psalm 31:1-5

 

 

 

 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge
Psalm 31:1

 

And I hate roller coasters!

I hate the feelings of anticipation as you ride up - slowly - 'click-click-click' - as your stomach drops like a counter-weight.
I hate the feeling of falling over the first hill at warp speed.
I hate the sensation of being thrust into your seat by centrifugal force.
I hate the little bar that is supposed to be the thing that keeps you from falling hundreds of feet to a splattery death.
And I hate having to trust a few inches of metal and wooden track to keep me on a speeding path and away from that splattery end.

Yep, I hate roller coasters.

But the thing is, life is pretty much one giant roller coaster.

Life is full of moments of anticipation...
Those moments when you want to speed ahead to the "good stuff". Moments when you want to force yourself through to the other side - to the 'peak moment'. And yet, you must endure the 'click-click-click' of anticipation.

And life can often feel like a free-fall after you reach a moment of pure success.
What do I do now? I've reached the mountain top - the good stuff - and it is only a moment before reality begins to invade.
And over the top of the hill you go, speeding toward the next challenge.

Each of our lives have moments of anticipation, great joy, fearful falling and speeding nearly out of control. And if we allow the roller coaster - the ups and the downs - to be the focus we will surely find ourselves nauseous with a bit of a headache from the twists and turns.

So, instead of focusing on the coaster - why not focus on the track?

God can be each of our tracks - if we choose to connect ourselves to Him.

He can be the metal and the wood that we can attach our crazy-life cars to.

He is the One element that will keep us safe, secure and loved in the midst of the twists and turns of the roller coaster of life.

When we "hitch" our cars to God, we can be assured that although there will be moments of shear panic in anticipation of what's to come or of falling into the unknown or of sheer bliss, we have the security of being attached to the One who gives us power and strength. We will be safe in the arms of Our Savior.

Just imagine riding a roller coaster without the security of the track? How dangerous and reckless that would be.

You wouldn't step into a roller coaster car that wasn't safely tethered to a track.

Why would you want to go through life without being securely attached to the life-giving track of God?

Scripture
Psalm 31:1-5

Quote
Trusting God is the greatest benefit we have as believers.
Joyce Meyer

Question
What is the scariest part of the roller coaster for you - and how can you trust God to help you through it?
 

John 3:1-12 ~ What Jesus Says is True....

There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus. He was one of the Jewish rulers. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. We know that God is with you. If he weren't, you couldn't do the miraculous signs you are doing."

John 3:1-2

When Jesus was first fully in his ministry, the stories of the miracles he was performing and the people he was healing traveled throughout Israel. Nearly everyone knew who Jesus was and this was before YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and even the good old fashioned telephone. 

Everyone knew because the stories of Jesus were so powerful, so amazing, that they had to be shared. And soon, by way of the Israeli pre-phone tree, the leaders of the church were discussing Jesus and his great power.

The leaders were torn and were unsure how to address this unknown teacher who was performing miracles beyond their broadest imaginings. Some wanted to ignore him, considering him a liar and a fraud, but others wanted to understand him. However, they feared, like many of us, stepping out in faith and aligning themselves with someone who would make them unpopular amongst their friends.

Nicodemus was one of the Jewish elite. He was a Pharisee and he was in power. He was a celebrity of sorts - a cross between an actor and a politician in our modern translation of fame. And by aligning with Jesus, he felt he had everything to lose.

If Nicodemus was found meeting with Jesus, he would face certain ridicule, possible ostracising from his friends, and a likely loss of power. So, Nicodemus went under the cloak of darkness so no one would see him, to learn more about Jesus.

His faith was weak at best - but it was there. A tiny grain of faith which Jesus tried to fertilize and grow by confirming who he was and what he said was true.

In his conversation with Nicodemus that evening, it is recorded that Jesus says, "What I am about to tell is true" three times. I believe Jesus did this for Nicodemus to help him trust in what Jesus was doing and to help him believe Jesus was the One and Only Son of God.

We are often like Nicodemus. We need the constant, gentle reassurance of Jesus - confirming who he is and how much he loves us. The love of Jesus and the unconditional nature of his sacrifice on our behalves can be overwhelming and doubtful, but we need to be like Nicodemus. We need to take that first step toward Jesus and trust that through his reassurance, his love and his grace we will come to understand that what he tells us is true.

He came so that we might one day be with him and the Father in heaven. He came so that we might be born again in faith. He came so that we might truly know the power and the love of God.

He came because he loves you.

Scripture

John 3:1-12

Quote of the Day

People see God every day, they just don't recognize him.

Pearl Bailey

Question of the Day

How can you make time to see God right before you?



Letting Go of the Boulder - Selah

The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
   What can mere mortals do to me?

Psalm 118:6

Some days I feel like I am pushing a one thousand pound boulder up a steep incline without any support. I get frustrated and fearful that I am in this world alone. In these times I allow the world to dictate my thoughts, but often I hear God in my heart saying:

'Selah'

Selah is a word we often see in the psalms. It is placed in the melodic phrases so that the reader or the singer will pause, stop and listen with his or her heart to what the Lord is saying; to take pause and simply be in the moment - to allow the Lord to wash over him or her.

In our world we will face many days when we are pushing a proverbial boulder up a hill. We will get frustrated and fatigued. We will become fearful over what the future holds. We will feel alone, left out and on an island no one else wants to reach.

But in the midst of these, and many more, woes we have the encouragement that God is always with us - what should we fear?

When those days of boulders bear down upon you take a moment - Selah - and listen to the love song the Lord is singing to you:

I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. I will build you up again, and you...will be rebuilt....go out to dance with the joyful

Jeremiah 31:3-4

Regardless of the situation, regardless of how huge your boulder is, the Lord is always with you and always cheering you on.

Today, take a moment and Selah.

Be patient, wait upon the Lord, delight in all that He has done for you and know that He is bigger than every boulder.

Scripture

Psalm 118 (a psalm of praise & thanksgiving)

Quote of the Day

Everything is okay in the end, if it's not ok, then it's not the end.

Anonymous

Question of the Day

How can you find time today to focus on God's grace?

GUMY is back this Sunday, January 15th

GUMY prep - 5PM

GUMY Dinner - 5:45 PM

GUMY JR - 6:15PM

If you are an adult who reads this blog, please join us for a special activity Sunday evening at 6:30PM.

Questions? email me: courtneyhilbert@aol.com