Truth Bits “Stress Calming Remedy”

This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me – Psalm 119:50

When we feel stress creeping into our soul and stealing our joy, the last thing that we sometimes feel like doing is sitting down and reading the Bible. The frustration and grief feel too real, and reading seems too insufficient as a remedy.

This has been my story lately! With the stress of owning a house that I can’t sell and now having to figure out what to do? Add to that possible retirement decisions and future career moves, top it off with being a parent of two teenage children; the stress just feels all too real!

Many of you are going through situations just like this if not even greater. What I want to share with you today is nothing profound or new but a gentle reminder and that is; when we are in the midst of affliction, it is only the bible with its wonderful promises, startling standards, and exalted view of God, that can give us hope and help and healing to calm our stress. This is because God does not avoid the reality of our stress, but rather infuses it with purpose and meaning. When we see that God is actively at work in His creation, and is molding His people into the image of His Son, then suddenly stress takes on a silver lining.

The verse above gives us a snap shot of how King David dealt with stress. My prayers is that David’s comfort be your comfort in the midst of your stressful situation. May God’s Word calm your rushing heart. May you see, in the pages of His letter to you, that His love is just as true and full, His rule is just as good and powerful, and His wisdom is just as perfect and right in our times of stress as it is in our times of prosperity.

Until Next Time,
Eric W. Jackson Sr.

Truth Bits “In Your Face”

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. James 4:17

All of us have been defiant, some of us more than others. What amazes me is the older I get the more defiance I see displayed around me. I am not sure if that is because I am maturing more as I get older and the things I used to do I don’t do anymore  or are people just getting more and more defiant these days? This is a debate that we can chat about on your comments, however I would like to give you two examples that I just recently experienced. First story happened last Saturday. A friend of mine had asked me if I would go with him to check on his property. He owns some land and he wanted to check the fence line around the property. So we went and it didn’t take long when we came to part of his fence that was removed. He went to the house directly in front of this area where the fence was tore down and knocked on the door. When the man came to the door, my friend asked the homeowner if he removed the fence. The home owner responded with a hardy “YES”, this wasn’t as shocking as the next statement this homeowner made, “I took it down because I didn’t like it there.” I don’t know how I would have reacted to this response if it had been me in this situation, but I can tell you the word defiance came to my mind. The second story happened the other night when I went out to dinner with my wife for our anniversary.  After dinner,I went to the bathroom and the stall walls had been freshly painted; probably because of all the colorful words that people write on them. Well over that nicely painted wall was these words, “I AM WRITING ON YOUR WALL, HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT”. I just couldn’t believe my eyes. Now,  both of these stories would definitely classify as the definition of defiance. However these are what I call “Defiance Plus” because these were not subtle, these were and example or “In your face defiance”

As Christians, God has called us to a higher standard; one that requires a respect for other people’s property and a devotion to follow the rules. When we do this, it displays the utmost perfection that we find in Christ. Defiance is Sin, and if we have any area of our life where we are acting in this manner we need to get rid of it. The apostle Paul said to run from it. What are your thoughts on this subject?

Until Next Time.

Eric

 

 

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Truth Bits “Never Let Go”

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22

You know what I like about the promises of God? There are definite and for specific purpose. Like this verse, notice what God is saying here and what He is not saying here. First, He is not saying that just anyone can cast their “cares on” Him, but only those who know Him.  In describing who is He is talking about He uses the word, “Righteous”. In other words, this promise is  for the righteous of God, those who are saved, not for the unsaved who do not recognize God at all. Those who know God can always cast their cares on Him because they know Him! They know how He responds and how He does indeed care for those He loves. The ungodly, only cast their cares on God when they need Him, or when it benefits them. However, the righteous are those who walk with God, love God completely and others. He will never let you fall…. This is a very encouraging message and a promise of hope to those of you, like me who are struggling with life. Take your cares, burdens, struggles, and frustrations to God. He will never let go!

Until Next Time

Eric

Truth Bits “God’s Perfect Planning”

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 8:29

Suffering can be used to prepare us for a special task. The greatest example of this is Joseph, who was mistreated by his brothers and sold into slavery for 20 pieces of silver. His brothers thought they would never see Joseph again, but God, through His perfect plan, elevated Joseph to be the second most powerful man in Egypt, in charge of the food supply. So when a famine hit the land and the brothers of Joseph went to Egypt for grain, little did they know they were standing before the brother whom they had betrayed and sold.  They didn’t recognize him with the passing of time. And they certainly didn’t expect to see him in that position. But Joseph recognized them, and eventually he revealed to them that he was their brother. They collectively thought, And we are . . . dead. But then he made an amazing statement: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people” (Genesis 50:20).

Sound Familar? This statment manefests iteself in Romans 8:28! The same is true for us. Even when bad comes our way, God can bring good out of bad. We often isolate Romans 8:28 and don’t think of the verse that follows it: “For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

God’s end game, God’s big plan for you, is not to merely make you happy; it is also to make you holy. God’s desire is that you become like Jesus. So where does the story of Joseph relate to your story? How is God including you in His perfect plan?

Until Next Time,

Eric

Truth Bits “Overfilled Cup”

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:5 NIV

Maybe this has happened to you or at least you have seen it happen?  You’re sitting in a restaurant and the waitress is pouring water into a glass when she gets distracted and ends up overflowing the cup. Of course the water runs over the glass, onto the table and begins dripping on the floor. Possibly even your lap! God’s love is much the same. He pours His love into our hearts and life but he doesn’t get distracted, He purposely overflows us with his love; thus it overflows and reaches the heart of someone else. He does all of this by the promised Holy Spirit that lives in those who believe in Jesus as Lord. So the next time you are discouraged or ready to give up, just remember God is pouring His love into you to which it is overflowing to someone else. Let’s be that cup ready and willing to take all that we can of the Love God has for us.

Until Next Time,

Eric

Truth Bits “Copy Cats”

A righteous man who walks in his integrity, How blessed are his sons after him. Proverbs 20:7 NIV

Over the years I have spent being a parent I have noticed that my children copy alot of what my wife and I do. It could be as little as something we say, our facial expressions, and even our body posture. Basically, they are copy cats! I think it is important to understand that if our children are watching us than what we do in private behind the doors of our houses and what we do in public they will copy. Here is where it becomes so important as a parent; modeling a life of integrity to our children. Teaching them to be honest in everything they do. You see, if we live a life of integrity, they will copy this lifestyle and we won’t have to worry about our children blaming us for their wrong doing. In the long run our children will be blessed because we chose a life of integrity and they will too. What do you say parents? I think it’s time that we do the right thing all the time even when no one is watching, because we have copy cats in our midst….Just look around!

Until Next Time,

Eric

Truth Bits: The God Repellant “Worry”

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9

Worry, all of us do it and all of us find ourselves for the most part being consumed by it. We worry about our children. We worry about our families, our Jobs and even our health. We worry about our government, or the impact of new technology. We worry about who the next president will be and what country is making a nuclear war head. Worry, is a God repellant. Worry accomplishes absolutely nothing and it’s not good for you. Worry puts your focus in the wrong direction. Notice the writer says here that “Nothing is new under the sun.” God is not surprised by any of this stuff we worry about. God is not standing on the front porch, pacing back and forth saying “Oh No, What am I going to do? No, I picture God in a rocking chair, with his feet up, drinking a nice glass of “Sweet Tea”, totally relaxed because he is in control. Today, take a deep breath and trust in God to take care of all that stuff that you worry about. Believe me when you do you will feel so much better.

Until Next Time,

Eric

Truth Bits “Blessing for Mom”

Her children rise up and bless her;” Proverbs 31:28

While reading this morning I came across this story that I just had to share.

When Thomas Edison’s intelligent and sympathetic mother learned that his teachers felt he had inferior ability, she educated him at home. He said, “My mother was the making of me. She was so true, so sure of me, that I felt I had someone to live for, someone I must not disappoint.” A mother’s love and a mother’s time are vitally important to the development of a child.

Moms, you’re pulled in so many different directions today. The stress can be unbelievable, but remember that nothing is more important than the investment of time in the life of your child. God’s Word tells us that when a mother does this, Her children will rise up and call her blessed, and her husband will praise her, saying, “Many women have done virtuously, but you exceed them all.” Today many of you will celebrate Mothers Day with your Mom. Remind your Mother of how thankful you are that she invested all that time in you! Do as the verse above suggests. Bless your Mom today!

Until Next Time,

Eric

Truth Bits “Perfect Providing”

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Matt 6:26. NIV

Well this is definately a first; writting a devotion from a hotel business center can be quite tricky. I don’t have all my favorites on my desktop, don’t have my bible sitting next to me, and to top it all off the computer is running slower than trying to pour frozen maple syrup from a jar.  Everytime I travel I learn so much about God’s creation and the Grace He bestows on us each and everyday and today was no different! This morning when I woke up I decided since my wife was still sleeping to go for a walk. As I was walking there was this robin that just kept following me. Everywhere I would stop, that same Robin was just hanging around. Flying from tree to tree and watching me closely as if I was going to steal one of her eggs? She was just waiting for the opportunity to come swooping down and making a really nice morning turn into a feeding freenzy. Here’s the thing! I don’t pay much attention to things going on in this much detail, but as I keep thinking about this Robin I was reminded of a statement Jesus made to his followers. “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Matt 6:26.  I really believe that everything happens for a reason. This Robin was a gentle reminder to me that God provides! Now for some of us we might be thinking, “The things God is providing right now, I don’t neccessarly like? Cancer, Sickness, Finanical Hardship, Loss of a Loved One; I could go on and on, and I am sure you could add to this list. No matter how big we can make this list, God is still providing everything we need. Here is the ironic thing, Who is to say what we need in our life? If it was up to us we would never need the things God would recommend. Recently, I have really been struggling with the most recent news of my nephew Jalen who has a tumor in his hip area. Not really sure of the outcome at this point nor do I want to even think about all the senerios that could potentially happen. No, I want to lean on God because whatever the outcome? God’s providing is perfect! I recently went and saw a movie called “Letters to God” It’s about a little boy who has cancer and begins writting letters to God, there is a line in that Movie that just shook me at the core. “Are we only to accept the Good things from God and not the Bad as well?” That about sums it up. If the birds are even taking care of, how much more important are you to God? God knows you hurts, your struggles, and your disappointments. My family is having a very diffacult time with the news of our precious Jalen. The hope that I offer this morning to my family and to my readers is straight from the scriptures; “By his wounds you have been healed” no matter the outcome; if you are a follower of Jesus Christ you have already been healed! God has already provided you with the only thing that you will ever need; His Son Jesus!

Until Next Time,

Eric