Jesus always remains the same

When I was a girl, I had a favorite television show. Once a week, I rushed home from school, completed my chores and homework then settled on the couch to watch.

If someone had told me that I would someday be able to see my television friends at any time, I would not have believed it. But fast forward a few decades (ok maybe more than a few) and here we are in a technological world where I can do just that.

Watching each episode as an adult was like watching it for the first time. Everything was exactly how I remembered it. The actors looked, dressed, and talked the same. Nostalgia grabbed hold of me and took me back to my childhood.

Then one day, I came across a special episode that was created a few years after the show had ended. And nothing was the same. The actors were older. They dressed older and talked older. Some of the actors were absent and some had passed away. The vibe the show once possessed was gone. Nothing was the same.

Life is like that – always changing. Children grow-up, jobs change, moves to new communities. The older I become, the faster change seems to happen.

There have been so many changes: Advances in technology, space exploration, education, hairstyles, politics, gun control, wars, protests, September 11, self-driving cars, climate change, electricity, Pearl Harbor, and a whole lot more.

The changes just keep on spinning around us like a reverse carousel. Instead of the carousel spinning in circles, changes spin around the carousel as we sit still. It’s enough to make us dizzy, distracted, and fearful.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. – Hebrews 13:8 (NLT)

But as we watch our world change, there is one thing we can count on – Jesus Christ does not change. He is the same now as when he died on the cross for our sins.

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom. –Isaiah 40:28

He is still passionate about each one of us.

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” – Isaiah 40:8

He will never change, and when we sit still and focus on his never-changing love, we are able to rest in his peace.

God’s unfailing love always saves us

4 / 6 / 17

God is faithful. His unfailing, everlasting love is always ready to save us.

The birds are chirping outside my window. It’s a sunny day with a blue sky and white clouds. The air is not too hot and not too cold. It’s a perfect day.

At least, outside it is.

Inside my life, a different weather system is brewing. A storm of sick loved ones is raging its fierce winds. It threatens to overwhelm me with tall waves and bury me in a sea of worry.

If I let myself focus on the overall situation, questions circle my head: What if? How will I?

I go in circles pondering these questions. Over and over like the pounding of the waves. They want to drown me.

[biblegateway passage=”Matthew 14:31 ” display=”Matthew 14:31″](NIV)
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, cried out “Lord, save me.”

As long as Peter focused on Jesus, he was able to walk on the water. But as soon as he turned to the wind and water, fear set in, and he began to sink.

I can relate to Peter. It’s easy to become distracted by things that are constantly trying to win our attention. Sometimes the distractions are out of our control like traffic, a sick child, or a broken appliance.

Other times, we choose our distractions. Video games, social media, television, money, relationships. The list goes on.

When we let them take over, we miss out on following Jesus.

But…

This is where it gets good.

[biblegateway passage=”Matthew 14:31 ” display=”Matthew 14:31″](NIV)
Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.

Did you read that? Jesus did not say “Hold on a second.”

He immediately reached out for Peter. I bet he was standing close to Peter the whole time. All Peter had to do was reach out for him.

And he stands close to us.

We only have to focus on Jesus.

There is a song from contemporary Christian band, MikesChair. The lyrics remind me of Peter in the storm.

I will swim in the deep
Because you will be next to me
You’re the eye of the storm
And the calm of the sea
You’re never out of reach

Do you think Peter’s faith was lost when he began to sink? Not at all. He knew Jesus would save him. And he saves us.

Jesus is our lifeguard. He is waiting to save us. All we have to do is ask.

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The cost of following Jesus

5 / 11 / 165 / 11 / 16

A friend and her family had recently moved to a new city. Their new home is hours away from the place she had lived her entire life. She was comfortable in her hometown, surrounded by family and friends, and had no intentions of ever leaving.

When her husband brought up the subject of moving, she immediately dismissed it. Her mind and heart were closed to any thoughts or discussions of the idea. She couldn’t bear the thought of moving away from loved ones.

How could she pack up her family and move to a place they have never been to? Where would they live? What were the schools like? There were so many unknowns.

She had committed her life to Christ many years ago and was passionate about following him wherever he would lead her. But she never imagined the cost of moving far from the only life she knew.

Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” – [biblegateway passage=”Luke 9:61-62 ” display=”Luke 9:61-62 “](NIV)

In Luke, we meet a man who had a choice between two paths. His left foot rested on one path while his right foot was situated on the other. He wanted to follow the path Jesus was leading him on, but he also wanted to stay on the path that was familiar to him – the one that kept him home with his loved ones.

Maybe, like my friend, he was afraid to leave his comfortable and safe life. Or maybe he thought he could ease into being a disciple by following Jesus part-time. When Jesus asks us to follow him, he wants our whole heart and willingness to go where he leads.

After a few weeks of praying, my friend opened her heart to the move. It was not easy for her. She was afraid of what lie ahead, but her faith in Jesus carried her on this new path of life.

She could have stayed on the path she was already on, but she chose to take the one Jesus was calling her to. If she had remained closed to following Jesus, she would have missed out on wonderful opportunities to serve him.

Like my friend and the man in scripture, we are all called to be a disciple of Christ. This may mean leaving the comforts of life to travel to unfamiliar territory, but when we follow Jesus in faith, we receive many blessings that will last for eternity.

Jesus is calling. Are you ready?

Discover the beauty of following Jesus where he leads in Suzie Eller’s book Come With Me . As you journey into the lives of the twelve disciples, you will discover how they were changed by accepting a personal invitation from Jesus to follow him. Suzie will speak straight to your heart and challenge you to live life as the thirteenth disciple.

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Where the dark valley meets Jesus

4 / 26 / 16

When I pray, you answer me and encourage me by giving me the strength I need.
[biblegateway passage=”Psalm 138: 3″ display=”Psalm 138: 3″] (TLB)

Recently, my family and I moved my mom into a nursing home. She suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and can no longer take care of herself.

Mom is a roamer. She cannot sit still and is constantly walking. I visit her often, and we spend our time together walking the halls of her new home. Because she can no longer form words, we walk in silence. Occasionally she will reach for my hand and at other times, I put my arm protectively around her.

These visits are emotionally hard, especially when it’s time for me to leave. I lean down to give her a kiss and tell her goodbye. She nods her head, turns and walks away.

As I leave the building, I turn to make sure she is not watching me. It’s easier this way. I then walk to my car where I break down in tears.

She has been in her new environment for a month now. I thought it would get easier, but it doesn’t. The struggle gets harder with each visit.

A few nights ago, I decided not to visit mom. I couldn’t bear the pain of leaving her again. But God nudged me, and I obediently went.

That night, we took the same silent walk through the halls, but when it was time for me to leave, mom did something different. Instead of walking away after saying our goodbyes, she walked with me to the door. She sat in a chair and watch me leave.

Did she think I was abandoning her? I can only hope she understands why it has to be this way.

Outside, I turned to see her in the window. Her face was expressionless as she stared at nothing. It was then the tears came, and my heart exploded in pain.

I ran to my car in frustration. I was angry and scared. All I wanted to do was run back inside and take mom home with me. But I knew that was not the best option for mom.

Instead, in this dark and heartbreaking moment, I reached out to Jesus. He came to me that night with open hands, and I gave him my frustration and anger over the present and my fear of the future.

And when I was done, he gave me something in return – peace.

Even when walking through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me, guarding, guiding all the way. [biblegateway passage=”Psalm 23: 4″ display=”Psalm 23: 4″] (TLB)

Since that night, mom has not been miraculously healed and our situation has not changed. But I have God’s peace and assurance that he is walking through this trial with me. His strength will see me through it.

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The celebrations are only beginning

12 / 28 / 151 / 13 / 16

As a child, the Christmas season was the best time of the year. For a few wonderful weeks, anticipation and excitement took over as I dove into celebrations with family and friends.

As an adult, my perspective has changed. I am older with responsibilities and those long ago feelings are now gone.

I sometimes long for the excitement to return, but know that some of those joyous feelings came from receiving gifts.

I now long for feelings of wonder and amazement that come with a deep and true meaning of why I celebrate Christmas.

[biblegateway passage=”John 8:12″ display=”John 8:12″] (NIV)

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

While shepherds watched their flocks

12 / 20 / 151 / 13 / 16

Have you ever experienced something so spectacular that you had to share it with everyone?

Receiving an engagement ring, expecting a child or getting a promotion at work fill us with so much excitement that we cannot keep it to ourselves. We need to rush out and share our news with everyone.

This is what happened a few thousand years ago, when a life changing moment happened to a group of shepherds.

[biblegateway passage=”Luke 2:11″ display=”Luke 2:11″] (NIV)

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

It was an ordinary night for these men. They were busy moving their flock from one pasture to another when the dark sky brightened and an angel of the Lord appeared to them.

The angel told them about the birth that had just taken place in Bethlehem – the birth of a savior.

Excited, they travelled to see the baby for themselves.

Upon seeing the newborn King, the shepherds were filled with wonder and awe. They knew he was the Messiah foretold by prophets long ago.