His Butterfly

Be Still and Listen

2012-02-10T11:14:00.000-08:00

Going through difficult times is nothing new to Christians. In fact, if I had to venture a guess, it could probably be argued that Christians experience more difficulties than the average unbeliever, because Christians don't give in to the pleasures of this world.
So what is it that we are called to do when there are no answers? Be still and listen. Have faith that what you are going through is for our Creator's glory and for our own good...for from pain we can learn. Be still and listen. He's teaching us. Open your heart and stop leaning on your own understanding. Be still and listen. Have faith in the knowledge that the Lord of all the universe lives in your heart. So be still and listen for Him. We are not presented trials and tribulations just because. Rather, we are exposed to the hardships of this world so we can draw closer to Him. So be still, as His child, and listen.
Listen to the Voice that spoke the stars into being. Listen to the One who exists out of time. Listen to Judge who offers us redemption. Listen to the Lamb who know the trials of this world. Listen to the Spirit who guides us daily. Listen to the Lion who overcame all sin. Listen to the God of all who wants a relationship with us. Be still and listen to the words of John, "Jesus wept." Even the Messiah was moved by heartache. The Son of God was moved to tears at the sight of those who mourned for their departed friend. Even our Savior knew heartache and anguish. So be still, and listen for the One above all, He is calling, He is teaching, He is molding.
Have faith, be still and listen. He is there.

Indescribable

2012-02-09T07:07:00.000-08:00

What does it truly mean for God to be indescribable? To be indescribable means the words of this world cannot contain Him. Our small minds cannot possibly comprehend the gloriousness of His nature. He is beyond our comprehension.
Think about that for a moment. No matter how many praises we give, no matter how much glory we perceive, no matter the mercy we've received, no matter how much we shout His love from the highest mountain tops...we cannot even come close to understanding His magnificence. Our God is too great, too holy, too absolutely perfect, to describe.
Remember back when we were children and we used to claim that our relatives were stronger than whoever's we were talking to? We would exaggerate our family's attributes to make them sound bigger and better than they actually were. Looking back, we all admit that it wasn't exactly true that our uncle is 9 feet tall with legs like tree trunks, but, at the time, it sounded good. Now take our Heavenly Father. No matter how wonderfully we describe Him, He cannot be over-exaggerated. Take heart that the One who holds us is beyond words.
Think of that word that most of us resort to when we attempt to describe our Lord: perfection. We, who are mere mortals and live on this earth, attempt perfection every so often. But whether it be on a project to a weight goal to the perfect home, we all always fall miserably short. Not God. He is nothing less than absolute pure perfection. Take heart that the One who holds us succeeds where we all fail, for it is His perfect Son that suffered for our sins so that we may even attempt to humble ourselves before the Lord.

Fear Not

2012-02-08T11:03:00.000-08:00

Sometimes looking ahead at the life that looms before us, can be an incredibly daunting experience, if not a fearful one. Looking ahead means staring into the great unknown where, no matter the planning, nothing is set in stone. Seeing the unknown life spread before us, reminds us of our insignificance, not to mention our utter helplessness. Tomorrow you could meet the love of your life, or you could lose him/her. Next week, all the comforts of this world can be consumed in a fire. A year from now, who can say whether or not you will still have a job, a home, a family, or even a life. Lying before us is a great and terrifying unknown.
Yet no matter the future pain that may await us in the great unknown. There is one known fact given to us by the One who knows all. We are never alone. "Surely, I am with you always." Matthew 28:20 From the lips of the Son, we are given reassurance that no matter the pain, no matter the heartache, no matter the suffering, He will be with us, always.
Do not fear the unknown, for the Creator of the unknown is with us. Fear not the unseen frustration and heartache, for we are not alone. We have the all powerful Maker on our side. He is leading us through this life. We must cling to our Father, the great and powerful I Am, and in His all-encompassing love, we are safe. You are His child, and He will protect you and love you.
Life will not be easy, no. It will be fraught with suffering. Suffering that our Creator sent His only begotten Son to experience. But because of that Son, we can survive. We can live and worship and glorify Him in all things because He lives in us. And there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that God cannot do. Fear not! We are not alone!

Be Not Downcast

2012-02-07T11:41:00.000-08:00

Step back and think for a moment about your darkest hour. Think of that time when there seemed to be no hope, no healing, no redemption. It is undoubtedly true that these memories are surrounded by heartache and despondency. Perhaps you are even overwhelmed by heartache at this very moment. But do not fear, for, as His child, we know that He fights for us.
The all-powerful Beginning and End, the omnipotent Creator, the just and merciful I Am is with you now and always. Psalm 43:5 states, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."
Do not let your heart be broken, do not let your soul be tormented, for as a child of God who strives to live in His footsteps, we are a changed people. He lives within us, His Son died for us, and our hearts will forever be changed.
Just remember, you are a child of God, bought and paid for by the blood of the One who is blameless. Do no let your hearts be downcast for the heartache of this life is fleeting, but His Kingdom, His most glorious Kingdom absent all heartache, has been opened for you, His child. Rejoice! Be not downcast, for one day all will know His glory and one day we all shall sing His praises forever and ever.

The Touch

2012-02-06T12:45:00.000-08:00

Never underestimate the power of just being there for someone. Sometimes, growing into adulthood is tough, and all you want is for your mother to come chase the monsters from under the bed away and tell you that everything is going to be ok. At other times you just yearn for that friend(s) who live just beyond your visiting reach.
When someone is going through tough times, the power of the touch is indescribable. This doesn't necessarily have to be a physical touch, but more of a spiritual one. No words need be said, nor even physical contact be made, but to merely be there for someone in need is full of healing power. That is what we, as brothers and sisters in Christ, are all about.
Merely sending a thoughtful gift, taking the time to write a note or letter, showing up with a friendly smile, making a phone call, or devotedly praying can make a difference. All of these are ways to spread the love of Christ, which is much needed by us all.
We are a community. God's love lives in all of us. His gift of redemption binds us all on a journey together. We all travel the same path, and along the way, we will find those who have stumbled or even fallen or are just to tired to carry on. As the body of Christ, together, we can lift the lost ones up and help them regain their footing. For Christ died for us all and has touched all of our hearts. As His children, we should continue to touch the hearts of our brothers and sisters.

Sunday

2012-02-05T12:34:00.000-08:00

On the seventh day, He rested. May His day be filled with blessing as you reflect on the wonderful gift of Salvation that has been granted to you, His beloved child.

Pain and Suffering

2012-02-04T11:11:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, in life, difficult circumstances arise, and no matter how hard we try to understand God's reasoning, we find it impossible to see through the dark cloud that surrounds us. As human beings, we want to know why. Why was it that a fifteen year old child was called home to her Father at such a tender age? Why is it that an unknown and unsolvable disease riddles the body with pain? Why is it that the job that would finally bring a family out of debt was given to another applicant? Why is it that everyday at school you are made fun of? Why is it that no one on this planet understands? Why is there even pain and suffering at all?
At times like these, we have to remember that whatever trouble, whatever pain ails us...it is His doing. 1 Kings 12:24 contains four words that, if truly understood, can change confusing pain into comfort. "This is my doing."
Think about that for a moment. Our Father and Creator, the all-powerful mighty God, let the pain happen for a reason. How can we fear, how can we possibly be afraid of the unknown when the One who controls the entire universe is holding us?
Now when pain happens, the cliche sayings such as: "Everything happens for a reason." "Iron is strengthened through fire." and "How can you know love if you don't know pain?" always seem to surface. And, unfortunately, after hearing them for years, we chalk them off as what they have become...cliche. But let's pretend that you've never heard of these sayings before and they were first introduced to you in this, your time of hardship.
The first, "Everything happens for a reason." is a direct link to a true belief in our Father. Do you honestly think that He is not in control of what is happening? The Creator, who clothes the flowers of the field and fills the birds of the air, would not care for the one's He sent His only flesh and blood to die for? Jesus didn't die for the flowers or the birds; He died for us. If we were so important to God that His Son was crucified and brutally murdered for us, don't you think that He would have a plan for you, His beloved child? The plain and simple answer is: He does. He has not abandoned you but is holding you close to Him. For all things happen for His glory and for our good.
This brings us to the second saying, "Iron is strengthened through fire." Who are we to wonder if the God of Moses, who sent down the Ten Commandments, has ever done anything to harm his children? Many of us know the Ten Commandments by heart and follow them the best as any sinful mortal can. Think about these rules for a moment, though. These commands are for our good. To be a stand up and honest person just makes the world a better place to live. Stealing a life helps no one, it causes hurt and anger and even revenge. None of these feelings are good for us to feel. Then perhaps we can also say that the fire we are put through also is for our own good? Nothing, and I mean nothing, that God has ever done has been without a reason and for any other good than our own and for His glory.
The last saying is perhaps the most difficult to accept. "How can you know love, if you don't know pain?" The truth of the matter is, we would like to be happy all the time. We want to play, not work. We want to enjoy life, not be bogged down by its difficulties. But think of Christ. Think of the pain that He suffered through, not for Himself, but so that we could know love. Even God has known pain. Think of how much pain a Son would feel to be forsaken by His own Father and to die an achingly slow death hung merely by the tendons of his hands ripped through by nails, and struggling to provide His hands relief by putting weight on the feet that a stake is driven through? That is pain. Excrutiating physical, emotional, and spiritual pain. But that pain was for us. He did that so that we can know the ultimate love and joy of living with Him. Even God went through the pain of life and death in order to bring joy. Christ is our living example. He knew pain in order to know love. And to follow Him means to accept the pain and the fires and the unknown reasons so that we too may know His ultimate love.

Stop and Think

2012-02-03T17:28:00.000-08:00

     Have you ever stopped and thought about how totally insignificant you are to this planet, knowing that without the human race, the world could still go on, but without the world, we would die?
      And then have you stopped and thought, "The magnificent, holy, wonderful, omnipotent Creator of this all, sent the One He loved most, His Son, to die....for me."
     Then have you ever related that knowledge to your own life? Really think about what God must have felt. It would be like sacrificing the one you love most (mother, father, sibling, spouse, or child) on a cross for a homemade ornament you made in kindergarten.
      ...And we actually think we know what love is.