Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep – Romans 12:15.

This verse is hidden inside a section of scripture on how believers are to be connected through thick and thin.

Think about this for a second, though. What does it imply? You are connected with other Jesus believers!

Our world is so easy to bash the “church” for not being there, but are you there for them? There is an old saying, “The only way to have a friend is to be one.” Connectivity is a two-way street.

The word church has been abused and misused. It simply is a group of people moving toward Jesus together. This group can be as small as two and as big as one can be transparent with others so they will know when you’re hurting or rejoicing.

Walking this journey on planet earth is not an easy one. There are highs and there are lows. And both are greatly enhanced if we have others to share both.

Don’t let past hurts or run ins with the church keep you from being there for others in a way they can be there for you.

I sure do appreciate those who wish to stay connected with me. I love the out of the blue texts, “How are you doing?” Or, “I was just praying for you.”

How about you? Take the time to invest in others! Stay connected.

I have great plans for you, will you trust Me? – Jesus

This is a picture of Saul’s encampment in the Elah Valley during the time when David nailed Goliath. It was taken from a drone, which gives you the bigger picture of what took place here.

It can see two exits/entrances, which means it’s an encampment, not a city, which would only had one. Given it’s vantage point, it could see what someone on the ground couldn’t. 

It is the same with our God. He can see things we can’t. And because He does, His plans are not only much bigger than ours, but are so much better than ours as well. (Isaiah 55:9)

We can only know what we know when we know it. We have a limited human perspective; yet, God’s perspective goes far beyond ours. 

He knows what He knows, but that knowledge includes information from yesterday, today, tomorrow, as well as all the what ifs and possibilities. 

With our limited knowledge, which is sometimes fleeting, will we trust His unlimited knowledge even when we can’t see it let alone know it?  

Waiting is never easy, especially when you are used to doing something! God, however, promises to give us the strength to wait on His better plan, if we ask.

Ask for that strength. As you learn to wait, you’ll experience your God in ways you never thought possible when you didn’t.

Never give up as that’s when you’re ready to be used by God.

Imagine returning to your homeland in order to share Jesus only to be thrown into jail for 14 years! Gregory of Armenia had just that happen when King Tiridates III threw him into a pit used as a jail.

If we are honest, we probably would have given up sometime during those 14 years. Yet, God brought the king’s sister to keep Gregory alive.

Throughout that time, Tiridates battled with bouts of insanity. History records that he was controlled by a demon. Whenever he was lucid, though, he would ask to be healed. No one could.

Until one day, the King’s sister was allowed to bring Gregory from the pit. He was and did cast out the demon. Tiridates’ sanity was immediately restored.

This lead to the entire country of Armenia hearing about Jesus through the King and Gregory.

Fourteen years of waiting for God to intervene. Fourteen years of surviving on bread and goat’s milk alone. Fourteen years of hanging out in a gross pit.

Yet after those fourteen years, Armenia became one of the largest Christian nations on earth.

The Father’s plans are bigger than yours and will always come about…in His timing. You are His servant, not the other way around. So, in between your time and His, let the Spirit grow your faith and prepare you and others for His will to be done.

The meaning of life is raised only through loving Jesus and His words of truth.

Jesus told His disciples that He instructed them while He was still on earth so they would not fall flat on their faces when He left it.

Instructed them with what? Words. Words that held specific truths that would keep them from hurtful falls.

Yet, we find ourselves in a world where the definition of basic words is constantly changing. For example, someone once said they couldn’t define the word “woman.”

Since when did the definition of woman change? Jesus’ definition of the truth based word woman has never changed. Yet, every time that word is used now, the listener can be left wondering who or what the speaker is talking about.

If a listener is hearing definition A for the word woman while the speaker is using definition B for that same word woman, and, the listener makes a decision based on the speaker’s definition thinking it’s the same as their own, they have just been deceived.

This is the basis for Jesus’ warning. He was telling them then and us today that only His truths will set us free from all the negative consequences of sin caused by acting upon lies/deception.

It behooves the child of God, then, to grow in their love for Jesus and constantly get better at listening to and following His life changing words of truth. As we do, the possibility of deception is greatly reduced.

Our love, which means trust, for Him must grow ever stronger in the days ahead. Words have meaning. Will it be His meaning or others? That question can only be answered by you, the listener.