01.01.10
Hearing God’s Voice
Have you ever felt, “If I just prayed more often, or harder…I’d get closer to God and be able to hear His voice…?” I know I have – just this morning as a matter of fact. But then I read this Bible verse, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show Myself to him.” John 14:21 NIV (emphasis mine)
Suddenly I realized there is a PROMISE here! The Bible says God will reveal Himself to those who love Him and the way God knows we love Him is by obeying His commands.
There is no formula, or ritual, or rules on how/when/how hard to pray…it’s about a relationship that boils down to one question: Do I trust God? Can I trust God with my life, my family, my career, a job loss, my children, finances, sickness, finding a new home…whatever I need Him for at this very moment?
His commands are designed, not to keep us away from something, but rather to lead us each into our own ‘promised land.’ When we commit ourselves to following Him, to staying on the right path, we have positioned ourselves where we can both see Him and hear His voice. Do you want to be closer to God? Do you have God’s commands written on your heart? They hold the key to hearing God’s voice. In Matthew 22:37, Jesus spells out for us God’s greatest commandment, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (NIV)
It’s all about the relationship. It always has been. Because God, out of His deep love for us, gave us everything – even the life of His very own Son – are we willing to trust God enough to obey His Word? Not just the parts we’re willing to accept but all of it?
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” Isaiah 30:21 NIV
Shadia Hrichi
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11.27.09
Why is God holding back?
Just one glance at the news can make anyone wonder, “When are You coming, Lord?” It is a question God knows full well. In Luke Chapter 17, the teachers of the religious law asked Jesus the same thing: “When will [the Kingdom of God] come?” Jesus’ answer likely took them by all by surprise, “The Kingdom of God is already among you.” (verses 20-21)
The Kingdom of God takes residence within each and every person who welcomes Jesus into his or her life as Lord. Many of the disciples had experienced it, yet most of the religious leaders were still looking for it, blind to what was right in front of their eyes: Jesus, God in the flesh. (see John 1:1, 14) Interestingly, Jesus then turns to His followers (no longer addressing the religious leaders) and offers these illustrations:
- During the days of Noah, as people were mocking God and ridiculing Noah, God held back His righteous punishment until all of those on the earth who loved and trusted Him – who, in the end, amounted to only Noah and his family – were safe inside the ark. Then, the punishment of God came.
- In the days of Sodom, God held back His wrath until all of those in Sodom who loved and fully trusted Him – only Lot and his two daughters – were safe outside the city. Then, the judgment came.
Many are eager to embrace selective character traits of God (Merciful, Loving) yet they ignore His Holiness and Righteousness which require that wrongdoing be punished and Heaven remain Holy. God extends His offer to take away the stain of sin from everyone but He gathers only those who come to Him willingly. He will not force His love, or His Holy Heavenly Kingdom, upon anyone.
Trust Jesus today as your Lord and Savior. Just as Jesus was willing to step off His Heavenly Throne to bring you the Kingdom of God, His very Self, we, in turn, must step down from the throne of our hearts and invite Jesus to take our place as being King and Lord of our lives. Only then will we truly understand the immeasurable love of God who is holding Himself back, only for a time, from executing His Final Judgment upon the earth. The reason He is holding back, is you.
“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 NASB
Shadia Hrichi
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11.02.09
What Can You Learn From a Crook?
Have you noticed how often dishonest people seem to get away with their schemes? So many are willing to pay an incredibly high price for things that, in light of eternity, have no lasting value. In the beginning of Luke Chapter 16, we read about a dishonest manager who was embezzling money from his employer and got caught. His boss ordered him to get his books in order because he was going to be fired.
Sadly, instead of trying to make things right, the manager decided to “make friends” whom he figured would help him after he was fired. This way, he thought to himself, he wouldn’t have to resort to manual labor or begging in the streets. The manager decided to call in each person who owed his boss money. When they arrived, he offered to adjust the records to make it appear as if they owed less. Not only did the manager throw away a second chance to do the right thing, the debtors took advantage of the situation themselves, agreeing to the falsified records.
There certainly is a lesson here; however, it may not be the one you might have guessed. The lesson is not “though shalt not steal” but rather, don’t miss a great opportunity! The manager had no shortages of opportunities in life—as a matter of fact, he made the most of every opportunity to steer them to his advantage. He simply chose wrong over right, evil over good, his way over God’s way.
His boss, who saw what the manager was doing, was actually impressed by his shrewdness. We may be quick to dismiss the manager as having nothing valuable to teach us; however, Jesus says we should actually learn from him. Like the manager, we should use our resources, influence, and opportunities to “make friends.” The difference is that the manager was short-sighted and self-centered: he made friends purely for selfish reasons—to use them for what he could get out of them during the short time he had left on earth. But for us, we should make friends for their benefit, making the most of every opportunity to share Christ, to show people God’s love, and to make friends we will enjoy for an eternity in Heaven!
“Here is the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.” Luke 16:9 NLT
And here is the warning: “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose. It. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” Mark 8:35-37 NLT
Shadia Hrichi
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10.18.09
You Are Not Here by Accident
Do you know that when God fashioned the earth, sun, moon, and stars, He did it all for you? He was thinking of you when He created the trees, flowers, and all kinds of fruit and food. It is no accident that the first humans, Adam and Eve, were created only after everything else was in order. Let your heart really soak this in: when God set out to design the world, it was you He had in mind…
Take, for instance, a husband and wife looking forward to starting a family. Even before they learn they are expecting a child, they begin to dream about what their child will be like, start putting extra money aside, and excitedly talk about what name to give their child. Then, still long before the child is born, a room is cleared out, safety features are installed on outlets and cabinets…linens, furniture, and plush toys are carefully selected and lovingly arranged. Bottles, bibs, and perhaps a rocking chair are brought home; ready for the moment their child arrives. Everything is put in order before the child arrives.
As much as one couple may plan, prepare, and dream about their new life with a child, it pales in comparison to how carefully your Father in Heaven, who purposely conceived you first in His heart, set out to prepare a place for you. But it goes far beyond your earthly home, which He designed in perfect order, complete with everything you would ever need. Yes, God had far more in mind than a temporary earthly home when He created you. Ever since the creation of the world, God has been preparing a home for you in Heaven, far greater than anything you could ever imagine. But how do we get from here to there?
Just as a mother endures a painful childbirth to bring her child into the world, God was willing to endure the horrendous death on a cross in order to open the door to Heaven, a perfect, holy, and eternal home prepared just for you. Jesus said, “I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved.” and, “In my Father’s house are many rooms…I am going there to prepare a place for you…” John 10:9, 14:2-3 NIV
Have you put your trust in Jesus’ death as your passage home, to an eternal home with God in Heaven?
“Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy…[and] decided in advance to adopt us into His own family…through Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 1:4-5 NLT
“But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12 NLT
10.12.09
Lessons From a Soldier, an Athlete, and a Farmer.
It’s so easy to blame other people or our circumstances for the reason we don’t make time for God. A busy schedule, demanding children, your boss the taskmaster, are all fair excuses to sleep through what would have been a wonderful quiet time. But what happens when the missed mornings with God become a habit? A day may come when you stand before God in heaven and ask Him why you never became all that you knew He intended you to become. His answer may simply be, “I waited for you each morning with guidance, wisdom, and strength; however, there were many times when you didn’t show up.”
“…you didn’t show up.” You can hear the tender sadness in His voice. Your heart breaks when you realize His sadness is not because you’ve hurt Him but because you missed all the blessings He desired for you to experience.
Now picture your life right now, here on earth. If your professor or employer spoke similar words to you, you’d understand why you didn’t get an admirable grade or were passed up for a promotion. There would be no confusion; you’d know full well that you chose to focus your energy elsewhere, and as a result you simply missed out. In the same way, neither can we expect to advance in our walk with God without doing our part.
In 2 Timothy 2:3-6, Paul shares three illustrations to teach us how to do our part:
- A soldier – who focuses on his mission, refusing to be distracted by his surroundings
- An athlete – who disciplines himself to diligently train day after day
- A farmer – who, after putting in long, hard hours, waits patiently, looking forward to being the first to enjoy the harvest
These three pictures are not exclusive, as if we can succeed by following the example of one and disregarding the other two. Nor are they presented in random order.
- First, we must make up our mind to commit ourselves to the mission.
- Next, we discipline our bodies through daily training
- Finally, we can trust in our spirit that we will be first to reap the rewards
These illustrations depict the progressive, willful submission of first our mind (the soldier committed to his mission), then our body (once the goal is set, to begin organized, disciplined training), and finally, our spirit (trusting in God to produce the results).
If we live our lives according to this pattern of aligning our mind, body, and spirit with God’s purposes, then, like Paul, we may stand at the end of our life, look back, and confidently say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” 2 Timothy 4:7 NLT
What joy it will be to hear God say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:21 NLT
Shadia Hrichi
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10.05.09
Prayer: a Last Resort?
Do you sometimes pray to God as a last resort? Perhaps you suddenly found yourself faced with a challenge and without thinking, the first thing you do is call a close friend or family member for encouragement. You may even begin to grumble to your co-workers at the office, perhaps seek some self-help articles on the internet…or even call into the psychic help-line? (ok, maybe that’s going too far…) But the truth is that we as Christians, quick to proclaim how God is the answer to everything, are just as prone to look everywhere else but to Him for answers.
In the Bible, we read in Mark Chapter 9 how Jesus’ disciples could not cast out an evil spirit that was tormenting a young boy. Although Jesus heals the child, he uses the incident to rebuke both His group of disciples as well as the crowds of people, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?” (Mark 9:19 NIV) At first, His words seem harsh. Won’t we always need Him? Certainly. But at some point, He expects us to grow in our faith and learn from His example as we spend more and more time with Him. When the disciples later ask Jesus what went wrong when they tried to heal the child, Jesus matter-of-factly explains, “This kind [of evil spirit] can be cast out only by prayer.” Could the implication be that the disciples tried everything but prayer?
In looking back on the challenges I’ve faced in my own life, I can only wonder if perhaps my times of struggle could have been shortened had I come to God first, rather than as a last resort. All too often, when facing difficulties, our human nature strives to take over, tempting us to labor in our own strength and then, after all else fails, we cry out to God for help (that is, of course, unless we’ve already decided to blame God for the trouble in the first place).
Thankfully, we’ve been given Jesus Himself as our example. Whenever Jesus faced a challenge or had a difficult decision to make, His first response was to pray, thanking God for what He was about to do, and only then did Jesus proceed to take action.
When faced with a challenge, if, like many of us, you tend to want to act first and pray later… bring your fears and desire for control to God; ask Him to help you to become more intentional about seeking Him first.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 NIV
Shadia Hrichi
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09.28.09
What Does Evil Look Like?
Some things seem to automatically conjure up feelings of fear, revulsion, and warning. Take snakes, for example. For most people, snakes almost always invoke a sense of evil and danger. I personally don’t like snakes. They simply creep me out. If you were to ask me, there are plenty of good reasons: their beady little eyes, their stealth, undetectable movement, slippery smooth skin (I know, scales)…they’re sneaky, move sideways, and almost always appear ready to pounce on an unsuspecting victim. But if creepy and dangerous are all that it takes to be evil, why not sharks, spiders or even skunks for that matter?
I believe the answer goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. Satan, after rebelling against God and being thrown out of heaven, chose the serpent as his disguise. As a result, thousands of years later, we still associate snakes with evil in its purest form.
I was recently reading the book of James when I suddenly saw snakes in a whole new light – and the image that came to mind was more ugly than the first. In Chapter 3, James is urging Christians to recognize the importance of controlling what comes out of our mouths. He describes the human tongue as “restless and evil, full of deadly poison.” (Verse 8 ) But it gets even worse. “Sometimes [the tongue] praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.” (Verse 9)
Have you ever done that? I know I have. “And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth.” (Verse 10) The moment I read that verse, an image of a snake’s dual-pronged tongue immediately flashed through my mind. The NLT Study Notes describes improper speech this way: “gossiping, putting others down, bragging, manipulating, false teaching, exaggerating, complaining, flattering, and lying.” And goodness knows how many times we speak without even recognizing our hidden, less than admirable, motivations.
It’s so easy to picture evil as being heinous, sharp fanged, and full of lethal poison. Yet, when Satan, still furious for being thrown from heaven, approached Adam and Eve disguised as a serpent, neither were afraid. Nonetheless, what appeared to be an innocent encounter set in motion both the most disastrous and glorious chain of events in human history. How did Satan do it? Not with weapons, sorcery, or violence. No pitch forks, ferocious hissing, or magic tricks. All Satan needed was one small, but greatly underestimated, tool—a tongue. With it, Satan was able to tempt his unsuspecting victims with one simple question, “Did God really say…” (Genesis 3:1)
As Christians, we certainly make every effort to guard ourselves from obvious forms of evil. Murder. Adultery. Stealing. Yet, we often fail to recognize that what comes out of our own mouths is just as capable of inflicting pain, injury…and yes, even death.
“For whatever is in your heart determines what you say…for from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.” (Matthew 12:34, 15:18)
How do we protect ourselves from “gossiping, putting others down, bragging, manipulating, false teaching, exaggerating, complaining, flattering, and lying?” The Bible says that above all else, “Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)
And how do we guard our heart? By wielding the mighty power of God’s word, “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)
Shadia Hrichi
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09.21.09
Do You Need a Getaway?
I was getting desperate for some “quality” time with God. I knew what I needed: a quiet, secluded place, perhaps with a view of the mountains or ocean, a cup of delicious coffee…a walk on the beach…you know, “quality time.” My “QTs” at home just weren’t cutting it: someone or something always seemed to get in the way. If I was inside, the phone would ring, the dog needed to go out, or someone in the house was making noise, reminding me of my lack of privacy. If I sat outside, my thoughts were interrupted by the loud rumble of garbage trucks, the obnoxious buzzing of weed-whackers and endless array of noisy leaf blowers. I needed a getaway!
After grumbling about this to my co-workers, one of them suggested a lovely, inexpensive motel right on the beach, only an hour’s drive from where I live. The pictures on the Internet of the large private deck with comfy lounge chairs overlooking the ocean promised a place where time stood still. I was sold. I had a day off coming up and immediately began to dream about my getaway, “When I sit on that deck chair overlooking the ocean, then I’ll have my quiet, quality time with God.”
As the day drew near, so did the storm clouds (rare for Northern CA in June). The thought of being trapped in a tiny motel room while it poured down rain began to suffocate me. This is not what I signed up for! Turning back to the Internet to fantasize about my getaway, I read some more reviews. Only this time, they were far less appealing, “The motel and ocean were beautiful but we never got to relax as a drunken wedding party took over the motel.” Another review also commented how beautiful the setting was but “we couldn’t enjoy it due to all the construction noise.” And then it hit me—I’ll never have complete control over my circumstances. There are no guarantees and even if there were, closeness to God is not dependent on our environment. Hallelujah!
2 Corinthians 1:3 says that God is our source of all comfort. Not most, not some, but all. Paul then goes on to talk about how God was with him while he was in prison. And so I asked myself one question: If God can be so close to us in our most desperate situations, how could I think I needed to manufacture an “ideal” environment for me to sense God’s closeness? He has been here all along—it was I who, instead of seeking God’s closeness, sought my own comfort instead. I took my eyes off of “the source of all comfort.”
On the day I was suppose to go to the beach and enjoy my getaway, I found myself sitting in my backyard, listening to the garbage truck rumble by as nearby gardeners whacked away at overgrown bushes and shrubs… realizing how blessed I am to be living in such a beautiful place with clean streets and manicured lawns. Lord, forgive me for seeking my own comfort when You Alone are the source of all comfort.
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8 NASB
Shadia Hrichi
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09.13.09
Does God Know You By Name?
In our wealth and power-driven culture, we all know the “big names” out there. Our news and entertainment industries provide a never-ending stream of the latest triumphs, tragedies and gossip of our popular athletes, actors, and successful entrepreneurs. It would have been no different in Bible times. Everyone knows who the rich and famous are in their society, whether it’s 2000 AD or 2000 BC.
In the Bible, Luke Chapter 16, we read about a certain rich man who lived a life of luxury while a poor, diseased beggar named Lazarus lived at his gate, hoping for a scrap of food from his table. The rich man was most assuredly surrounded by attendants waiting on him hand and foot. His elaborate lifestyle would certainly not go unnoticed. However, not being immune to the inevitable, the rich man finally died. The poor man also died. Immediately, Lazarus was carried by angels into paradise while the rich man suddenly found himself in a place of torment. Being in agony, the rich man looked up and saw Lazarus with Abraham and called out to Abraham, “Have pity on me! Send Lazarus here to cool my mouth with water – I’m in torment with these flames!”
Let’s pause here and observe several things about the rich man:
- Although he ignored Lazarus during his lifetime, he not only recognized Lazarus in the afterlife, he knew his name
- He never repented for his self-indulgent lifestyle
- He still viewed Lazarus as an object, or a servant, refusing to speak to him directly even from hell, demanding that he be sent to help him
When he realizes his situation is hopeless, still making demands, he asks Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers. However, in response, the rich man is told that his brothers have already been warned and they have the ability to read all about it. The rich man shouts, “No!…if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God!” Once again, we see that Lazarus is clearly known. Even the rich man’s brothers would recognize him, otherwise he would not have asked that Lazarus be sent back to warn them “as someone who is sent to them from the dead.” (verse 30) But again he’s advised, “If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.”
Contrary to how the story might read in the local news, the one who is poor, disregarded, and insignificant by the world’s standards is repeatedly mentioned by name: Lazarus. In contrast, the rich man, living in splendor day after day, presumably well known among his neighbors, and surrounded by attendants, is never once mentioned by name.
The rich man had every opportunity to turn his life over to God, but instead, he chose only to live for himself. As a result, by the time he died, he had positioned himself as a complete stranger to God, being remembered only as ‘a certain rich man.’ Even going to hell did not bring a change of heart; the man never repented of his selfishness. As a complete stranger to God, he simply awoke to find himself in a place without God, spending an eternity with others who’ve chosen likewise.
Jesus warns us, “Not everyone who calls out to me, “Lord, Lord!” will enter the Kingdom of Heaven…many will say to me, “Lord, Lord!”…but I will reply, ‘I never knew you.’” Mathew 7:21-23
“If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” Rev 20:15
But there is Good News! You can know God today….if you feel like a stranger to God, call out to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you for living for yourself, to thank Him for paying the tremendous price for your sin, and to come into your life to help you live the life He always intended – together with Him.
Shadia Hrichi
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