Expect His Glory

Expectations can change everything. A few years ago, my family planned a week away to the beautiful Lake Tahoe. It was a beautiful adventure that was timed during the fire season. This left the normally breathtaking views to be nearly completely covered by a thick off-white cloud of smoke. It was still very beautiful, very fun, and a wonderful time with family.

 

But, many of our family members had researched Tahoe before we left and, therefore, had a slightly different picture in their heads. This set up many people to be a bit underwhelmed and therefore disappointed…by Tahoe! Even with the smoke, it was one of the most beautiful lakes I’ve ever seen, but I had lower expectations. I knew the smoke was there. I expected it, therefore I was less surprised and it was easier for me to catch the beauty.

        

I recently read the story of Lazarus who was raised from the dead by Jesus. Lazarus’ sisters, and even His disciples, had mixed expectations. They knew the Lord Jesus loved their brother and could do miracles, so they knew He could intervene. But they had no idea He would delay. Actually, Jesus delayed intentionally so that “they may believe.” It was for a strengthening of their faith that Jesus allowed that suffering to take place. He even shared in that suffering. He was not immune to it. He wept right alongside the siblings.

        

I believe that the expectations of Lazarus’ sisters for WHO Jesus was kept them from sinful responses to their loss. They knew He was the resurrection and the life and that Lazarus would return in the end. This Hope in the end and this Hope in Jesus allowed them to suffer and not blame God.

        

It is tempting to blame our trials on God, because we know God uses trials for our good…so it seems like He is the source. But God is the source of our healing, our strength, and the hope for future with Him. If we believe God will keep us from trials, or keep us from suffering, we set ourselves up for unmet expectations. Unmet expectations lead people away from walking with the Lord. I never want my struggles to hurt my faith. I want my struggles to strengthen my resolve to seek more of Jesus!

 

So, there are three things I can expect:

-Suffering

-God to be present

-God to be glorified

 

Romans 5 tells us that suffering produces perseverance, character and hope. I love that what the enemy uses to break us down, God uses to build us up!  God doesn’t want His followers to be weak. He does allow us to be sharpened and refined. Therefore, I can expect trials of many kinds.

        

Psalms 121 describes God, “He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” He’s not taking a break from keeping things running. Even in the vilest of situations, which seem like pure evil, we can be confident and live expectant that even in that darkness, God is present.

 

Just as Jesus declared in John 11, “God will be glorified!” He recognized that the death of Lazarus was going to lead to the miracle of life.

 

I want my life to point to the glory of God. I can choose to allow God to be glorified THROUGH me or DESPITE me. I choose through me. I will stay close to Jesus, and strong in trials, allowing God to receive the glory for carrying me through it all. God is glorified even in the difficult things. Plus, we know God is victorious over all things in the end, even all of the effects of sin. This is the expectation we can live with today.

 

How do these expectations change the way you see your today?

 

 

Candace Cortez is Executive Pastor at Koinonia Church in Hanford, CA. She can be reached at candace@kchanford.com or 559-582-1528.

Known by God

 These past couple of months have been troubling for all of us. In one way or another, we have been impacted by inflation, gas prices, rent, getting our kids ready for school, navigating new careers, as well as local and global events. My wife and I have been in an extremely fortunate position to be able to assist a few of our friends and neighbors amid these events. Since nobody is immune to the items listed above, I believe it is crucial for believers to reach out to those around us, all while being available to be used by God.

 

To be honest with you, my wife and I were able to assist those in need because God has blessed us with resources and, for another simple yet overlooked reason, we knew people around us in need. These people are friends, family members, and neighbors. This got me thinking about how we tend to gravitate to help people who we know. Just as we see our friends standing in the lunch line, we immediately cut the line because we see people we know. If we are driving around town and we see somebody familiar walking down the street, we are more inclined to give them a ride because we know them. This is nothing new, and I believe it is human nature to increase our chances of helping each other if we know the people who are in need.

 

Do you know that you are known by God? It is true. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you are known by God. I am reminded of Galatians 4:8-9: “But in the past, since you did not know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods. But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elements?”

 

I love this passage for a few reasons. One, it has a direct contrast between knowing God and not knowing God. For those of us who follow Jesus Christ, there was a period when we did not know God. But now, since we know Him, there should be a difference in our lives, a complete contrast. Second, it is not enough to just know about God; the key is to follow God. In following Him, we become known by Him.

 

Think about that for a second: God knows you. That means, if you are going through challenging times, God knows you, and He is willing to help you. I think about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, praying for you and me - so intently that He was sweating blood. I think about the injustice He faced, as a victim of crimes He did not commit and suffering a horrible death. He has experience loneliness, pain, turmoil, abandonment, stress, and weariness. I have experienced some of these things a few times myself, and Jesus knows this in its entirety.

 

I think back to when I used to play soccer in high school, and I had to run mile after mile just to build endurance. Looking back, I vividly remember not minding the running so much; after all, I was not alone doing all those crazy soccer drills. The unbearable moments in life are somehow manageable when we know that other people are in the same boat that we are. Remember that God knows us through and through. He has experienced what we are going through, and He knows you.

 

Just as we go out of our way for those that we know, trust that God knows you and has not forgotten you. He knows what you need. He knows what you are going through. This truth should also drive us closer to Him as our will, soul, and mind can be strengthened by knowing that Jesus has gone through it. Not only did He experience what we have, He made it to the other side. He is in heaven seated at the right hand of the Father, in full glory and grace.

 

May I remind you that – if you know God – He has not forgotten you. If you are not sure if you are known by God, let me show you how to know:

 

But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.”

-1 Corinthians 8:3

 

What does it mean to love God? Let’s look at what Jesus said:

 

“If you love me, you will keep my commands.”

-John 14:15 CSB

 

“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word…”

-John 14:23 CSB

 

It is clear that if we follow Jesus, doing as He has said and done, then we are loving God. For those that love God, they are known by God. God does not forget those who He knows, and He will always be there to encourage us along the way.

 

 

 

 Mauricio Paredes is Junior High Pastor at Koinonia Church in Hanford, CA. He can be reached at manny@kchanford.com or at 559-582-1528.

Hunger for God

We can be hungry for a lot of things: food, money, status, possessions. There are many things in this fallen world that attract us and create that deep desire for acquisition or the simple satisfaction of basic needs. When you've had a good meal, you feel content. When you've reached a milestone in your career, you feel accomplished. When the real estate agent gives you the keys to your new home, you feel excited and fulfilled. However, when you look deep inside your heart, are you truly satisfied?

 

There is a desire in us to be accepted, loved and protected. All of man’s endeavors can be traced back to this desire. In the end, the greatest desire of man is relationship, and the greatest relationship we have is with God.

 

In the book of Genesis, we learn that God had a very intimate relationship with Adam and Eve. In fact, even after they had sinned and eaten the forbidden fruit, God was walking in the garden looking for them. He was seeking them out; but His heart was broken when He realized what they had done.

 

“When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So, they hid from the LORD God among the trees. Then the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”   Genesis 3:8-9 NLT

 

Until Jesus redeemed us and reconciled us to Him, we were separated from that most beautiful relationship.

 

As a toddler, I learned that eating food made me feel better when I was sad or lonely. Despite being the youngest of eight children, I felt very isolated in our strict home. To comfort myself, I often stole crackers or slices of bread from our pantry. When I was 8 years old, I broke my arm. I used the sling I had to wear with my cast as a hiding place for the bread I took out of the cupboard. Thankfully, at the same time, my faith in God was beginning to grow and I began to look to Him for comfort. I still struggle with wanting food when I’m emotional, but my relationship with Jesus today fulfills me and gives me peace and contentment. Food will never fill that space in my heart that only God can fill.

 

What do you struggle with? Is it hunger for acceptance or achievement? I can relate to that, too. I believe that one reason I drove myself academically as a child was to receive positive attention from my parents, especially my mother. That desire for acceptance and acknowledgment followed me into adulthood. It took my growing relationship with Jesus to finally realize that, although it is good to work toward excellence for the glory of God, it is not healthy to drive myself for my own gain and accolades.

 

As you study the Word of God, it becomes clear that seeking anything in the world without first seeking God is a fool’s errand. In the end, desiring worldly possessions, money, comfort, and status will leave you empty and dissatisfied. As the apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians:

 

“…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”  Philippians 4:11-13 NIV

 

How can you find this contentment and fulfillment? Make it a priority to spend time each day reading God’s word, even if you only have a few minutes. The natural outpouring of your time with God will be joy, peace and contentment as your desire changes from fulfilling your own needs to wanting to be obedient and share Jesus through your love, actions and activities.

 

If you find it difficult to commit time each day and keep focused while reading the Bible, here are some modern resources for enhancing your quiet time each day:

 

YouVersion Bible App: a comprehensive app that provides dozens of translations of the Bible along with hundreds of reading plans that guide you through the Bible or devotionals on topics such as marriage, work, youth, leadership, prayer and many others.

 

Abide: this app provides guided biblical meditations and prayers. The company also has a YouTube channel with many videos that you can watch or listen to that will help you enter into quiet moments with God.

 

Pray: this app is similar to Abide, but specifically features guided prayers. The prayers are usually only a couple of minutes long.

 

In summary, taking the time to feed your hunger for God is what will bring you the most contentment, joy and peace. If you are constantly pushing yourself for more, driving yourself to succeed, yet are struggling to slow down and be at peace, ask yourself this question, “What am I hungry for?” You will find the answer to that question in the presence of God.

 

 

Paula Aiton is a member of the Koinonia Church worship team and a freelance writer, musician and artist. Her blog, ‘God’s Glory Girl’, can be found at godsglorygirl.com

He’s mindful of you

There is a beautiful Psalm in the Bible. It’s a song about how majestic God is. If you have ever thought about how big the world is by studying the galaxies, looking at the vastness of the ocean, or visiting the Grand Canyon it will put into perspective how small we are. 

 

We are 1 out 7.7 billion people on the planet. How insignificant we are when compared to the masses. There are billions of people, millions of stars, and 352 quintillion gallons of water in the ocean! 

 

Yet, the Bible talks about how loved we are. The God who made the galaxies actually thinks about you! Psalm 8, beginning in verse 4, says, 

“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.”

The Psalmist sings, “look at all this glory and yet You’ve chosen man as the apple of Your eye!”

God thinks about you. Another Psalm says His thoughts about you outnumber the grains of sand on the shore. 

God isn’t just thinking about you but desires to bless and restore your life. Look at Psalm 8 again. He crowns man with glory and honor, gives him dominion, and puts all things under his feet. 

I know it’s hard to accept because we are our worst critics but God is for you. 

I once heard it said, “the Creator knows His creation best.” That stuck with me. No one knows you better than God. He knows you better than you know yourself. Shouldn’t His thoughts mean more to us than anyone else’s?

That’s why Jesus is so important. We broke our relationship with God through sin. We broke oneness with God. Oneness with God comes with no guilt, shame or condemnation. That’s what the book of Genesis tells us. Adam and Eve lived in the garden with no shame or guilt. They lived in an optimal place with God. 

Jesus came to restore our sonship back to us. John 1:12 says this: “But to all who did receive him (Jesus), who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

Aren’t you tired of trying to figure out your purpose or how your life is important when compared to the masses? Well, our Creator knows you best. He knows how to use you the best because no one knows creation better than the Creator. 

I think you need relief from your thoughts and the thoughts of others. God’s thoughts about you are the most accurate and will restore true life to you. 

today, I beg you, come to God, ask for forgiveness and allow Him to restore the relationship with you. 

He thinks about you. You’re the apple of His eye. He has the best thoughts about you. He knows your purpose and your importance. Stop looking elsewhere; you’ll never find it there. 

Blessings,

Pastor Chad Fagundes 

 

Chad Fagundes is Men’s and Outreach Pastor at Koinonia Church in Hanford, CA. He can be reached at chad@kchanford.com or 559-582-1528.