Nothing New

June 22, 2020

My Devotion

My Heart

Nothing New

Teresa Jenkins

 

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

 

Solomon, the wisest man ever.  When he became the king of Israel after his father David died, God appeared to him and said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”  Solomon answered God.  “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place.  Now, LORD God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth.  Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”  God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches, and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”  2Chronicles 1:7-12

 

Every night I go to sleep and ask God for peace, for reconciliation, for this country to stop fighting.  Every morning I wake up and all is right with the world again…within the walls of my home...the news reminds me the opposite is true.  It seems every day it gets worse, but does it?  “What has been will be again.”  In this world we will have trouble of every kind possible under the sun.  “Let there be peace on earth,” is a very nice sentiment, it’s also a wonderful goal.  There is no peace as long as there is no good will toward men, women or children. 

 

God has made a way available for every person to know peace and has given them the choice to make.  What we see all around us is so many want what they want and will do whatever it takes to get it.  There is nothing new under the sun, everything we see happening on the news has happened before and unless this is the final phase for Jesus’ return, it will happen again.  History unless it’s been removed or rewritten shows us wars, plagues, greed, and control since the beginning of time.  But the news targets the fear factor that nothing like this has ever happened before.  But it has and those who have gone before us and survived know that adversity and burdens made them stronger.  Ecclesiastes is a book of life lessons and the truth that God’s way is the only way to truth and life.  That everything we chase for happiness is futile, but God’s way leads to everlasting peace, joy, and even happiness.  It also says the sooner, younger, we learn this the better off we will be.

 

We who believe in Jesus Christ, know that He is the only way, the truth and the life.  I think this truth that we believe in is why we are dismayed because it appears that there are fewer and fewer that believe it, much less live it.  I am just trying to grab a tight grip on the joy of the Lord and the peace that He has promised, but there are so many distractions, so many interruptions.  All the more reason to stop trying to understand and seek and hide in the shelter of God.  Have you ever read Psalm 91?  Have you ever made it personal when you read it.  The Bible teaches us that we will find God when we seek Him with our whole heart.  Psalm 91 says if we just stay in His shelter, even His shadow will protect us?  His shadow alone is that awesome.  Shadow: outline, shape, profile; an inseparable attendant or companion. 

 

Although there is nothing new under the sun, what we see happening is new to us, it’s frightening to say the least, but we have the truth.  When it appears that God has turned His back, He is working all things together for our good.  He may restore our land or take us to His kingdom.   It’s good news when we face trials of many kinds, because we rest in the shelter of the Most High.  Count it all joy and the joy will make it known that the King of kings and Lord of lords is, was, and will be on His throne.

 

I'm coming back

I have not published on my blog in a long time, no excuses, I just haven't.  Life happens so quickly and so many things happen in a day that it all blurs together.

I still write and send out via email, and sometimes on facebook, but not on my blog.  I hope to share what I write more this year in this media outlet.  For those still looking for me, thank you.  I appreciate your prayers and support as I share the daily struggles and encouragement I try to offer.

Blessings
Teresa

What is Your Purpose

January 8, 2020

My Devotion

My Heart

What is Your Purpose?

Teresa Jenkins

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.  I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.  That power is like the working of His mighty strength.  Ephesians 1:17-19

“I find no pleasure” (was my mother’s substitute for saying “I hate _____.”) in this question that comes around at the midnight strike of January 1 and continues to haunt me several times through the year.  Purpose, that word sends me into doubt and fear because my definition of purpose means something I’m supposed to be doing.  My feeble understanding of purpose is an assignment, it’s used in Bible lessons, sermons, and counseling sessions and that word seems to be everywhere this time of year.  I want to know my purpose; I want to be what God created me to do.    

The dictionary definition: (noun) the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.  Which leads me to another question.  “Why was I created?”  For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10. I look at God’s workmanship all around me and think to myself, God still made me? 

The age of technology has succeeded to show me just how significant I am.  Have you ever searched your location on a map website?  You can zoom in really close and see your street and even the lot on which your house is built.  When you zoom out your “space” on earth quickly disappears.  Suddenly, individually we amount to a microscopic size on a map.  Still Ephesians 2:10 says you and I were created to do good works, that He prepared in advance, before He created us.  Psalm139 goes into great detail of our significance to God, there is no where we can go that He is not already there with you and with me and with every other person.  We are all God’s workmanship and He had and still has a plan.

We have no clue, really to the significance of our existence, but one day we will see as we are seen.  Paul describes it as looking at a dim reflection in a mirror, we cannot see exactly what God is doing through our life.  Every day we have a purpose…some are more significant in the eyes of the world, but every thing we do affects the space in which we are.  My problem with the idea of purpose, I see it through the comparison mirror of what I see others doing. 

From my perspective, I don’t see much change or influence that I have.  Most likely when I get to heaven, I’m going to be shocked when Jesus tells me the good things that happened because of me.  Satan wants me to fear going to heaven because of that part of judgment when God points out all the things I did wrong or the things I didn’t do.  That’s His tool to shut me up, making me believe that God’s vengeance is going to be pointed at me for my mistakes that led people astray, or that I wasn’t a better mother to my children, or that … the doubts and fears run rampant in me holding me back from living the faith that I am a child of God, yes I will make mistakes, I will do things wrong, but Jesus is my advocate, He sits by the Father’s right hand interceding for me.  Though I’m peeking through the window of the “twilight” years of life, as long as there is breath in me God’s purpose for me will prevail.

So, as this year proceeds, and the question, “What is my purpose?” rolls through your mind occasionally, the answer is quite simple.  Live in such a way that when people see you, they see Jesus. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Mark 6:33  Speak the truth in love.  Smile. Be friendly.  Be helpful.  Give generously.  At every opportunity, share Jesus.

I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today.  I know that He is living no matter what men say. I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer and just the time I need Him He’s always near.  He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!  He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.  He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!  You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.  (by Homer A Rodeheaver, 1933)