Jul

30

Until I went

By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off


 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God.  Psalm 73:16-17

I sat in the pews as if struck by lightening. All the people around me faded into a blur. The rest of the sermon sounded like background noise. One sentence spoken from the pulpit was all it took. A question I had, a deeply seated doubt, had been answered before I had found the time to really get down on my knees and ask it. From the lips of a man of God came the voice of God.  My angst melted into humbleness. God had reached down into my soul and touched me – again. 

And to think I had contemplated staying home that day because I was having one of those chronic pain days. Yet experience told me to go. How many times has Satan stepped on my back - yet I got up, got going and later found out why. Each time, God had an answer for me-in the hug of a friend, in the words of a hymn, in the midst of prayer, or from the pulpit. And each time, it humbled me to know He actually hears, cares and responds.

Our God is a creative God. He loves to act and interact through us imperfect humans. Sure, He can speak to us at anytime, but He calls us to come together for a purpose. United we are stronger. The Christian walk is going against the flow. We need to push forward arm in arm and with His help, help each other so we can in turn help others.  That is the purpose of coming into His sanctuary. 

Until I went, the deepest confines of my heart were still unrevealed. Until I went, I was not able to plainly hear His response. Until I went, I was not yet awed by His grace filling me with His presence and showing me how He can use others and myself to help Him touch lives.

This Sunday, get up and get to His sanctuary. Answers, comfort and strength await you. Who knows, something you do or say may be what the person in the next pew needs, or they may be just what you need. Go, and watch God in action.

Jul

28

Least Expected

By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off


Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, and the Lord raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud, the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man.  Judges 3:15 

This begins the one of those gory Old Testament tales. But what is significant is who God chose to deliver His people. A left-handed Benjaminite. To be a Benjaminite was to be in the least powerful of the tribes, the one with the least territory and power. It was like being voted the least likely to succeed. To be left-handed meant you were to be an outcast. Left hands were unclean, so left-handed people were unclean. Cleanliness was next to godliness for the Israelites.  So, God chose an outcast from the weakest link to be the deliver for His people from their enemies, the powerful,idol worshiping Moabites.

Scripture doesn’t tells us the man Jesus was tall, dark or handsome. He was ordinary looking ( John 9:16). Moses was a studderer, Jacob was described as a “plain man”, David the youngest and a shepherd. Joseph was bullied by his brothers and a dreamer. Paul was not easy on the eyes either. God takes the ordinary, often the least expected, and does mighty things. His miracle is transforming lives.

Through God, you can grow in strength, if you rely on Him and have faith. You can have courage to step out of your box and do what He asks of you. You may not see much results (and perhaps neither will others close to you), but in His timing and at His command, the least expected act can be the mustard seed that grows a tall sturdy tree.

Never buy into the negative that you are not worthy, or smart enough,  or pretty enough, or good enough to be used by God. And don’t discount the lowly Benjaminites He brings into your life.  With Christ as our strength, who or what can stand against us? Ehud obeyed and became bold enough to be used by God. Will you?

Jul

23

Spread the Real News

By Julie B Cosgrove | 1 Comment


and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, 21 but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.”  Romans 15:20-21

Today, it is hard to fathom that there are people who have not yet heard about Jesus Christ.  In Paul’s day, the Good News was still new. With television, radio and the Internet, more and more people are being reached.  But here is the problem. There is also a great deal of misinformation out there. People are defining who and what Jesus was and is to meet their own agendas. They are trying to mold Him into their own image.

Some claim, even from the pulpit, that Christ is a way to God, but no more than Buddha or Mohammad. Others are saying that Christ was a victim of oppression and the only way to receive salvation is by raising up the oppressed and giving them power. That was what Judas thought. It is called collective salvation. It is wrong. Salvation is an individual thing. The Bible says “if any man sins we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.” (1John 2:1)  Jesus spoke of the lost sheep, that He seeks out that one, not a whole herd.  He told the thief on the cross he would be in Heaven that day, not everyone else. Jesus told the woman who touched his garment her faith, not a collective one, had healed her. He asked his disciples, “who do each of you say that I am?”

Jesus’ ministry didn’t die with Him on the cross.  He is not a victim. He chose that path so He could  fulfill his duty – to become the ultimate Victor. He conquered death itself.  Yet many Christians are not hearing that message. So, perhaps Paul’s statement still stands. There are those who have not yet heard the truly Good News. There are plenty of wrong messages floating around. Some people have gone to church their whole lives and not been told the Truth. Others have never darkened the doors of a church. Many of them live right down the street from me and you.  They needed the Good News in Paul’s day – they really need it now.

Jul

19

In the Heat

By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off


The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. Genesis 18:1

For a nomad, the heat of the day was the time to rest. Stay out of the sun. Living in Texas where the heat index has been 108 degrees, I understand that concept.  So, why did God appear to him then instead of in the cool of the morning or as the sun set and and the desert plains cooled?  Perhaps to get Abraham’s attention since no one should have been out and about that time of day. Maybe to see if Abraham would come out in the sweltering heat to offer him hospitality ( which he did). 

As I read that passage, I thought about the so called inconvenient times God has called me to do something. Such as stop by a friend’s house and bring her flowers as she recovered from surgery when I was way too busy, or deliver meals to the elderly even though I had a deadline, or go to church and help serve the snacks despite the fact that my back was killing me. How about getting up and getting to church on those cold, rainy days when I’d rather lounge around the house and veg out on a good movie wrapped in a quilt and sipping hot tea.

Sometimes God call us out of our comfort zones to serve Him.  He comes at the most importune times, and says “I have something I want you to do.” Our inner soul can shuffle its foot and whine, like a child told to clean his room or take out the trash before they can go play. Or, it can be like Abraham – jump up and go the extra mile to serve.

When Abraham served God, God granted him a blessing. He was promised that he and his wife would bear a child, in spite of their age.  What blessings are you and I missing out on if we do not jump up and serve when the Lord calls upon us?  Remember when Jesus said if we do things for the least of the poor or hungry or naked, we do it for Him? 

 Let us vow not to sit comfortably in the shade of our tents and not take the opportunity to go out into the heat of the world. The world needs us out there. God wants us out there because that is where He is working miracles each and every day.

Jul

16

Who Do You Say He Is?

By Julie B Cosgrove | 3 Comments


And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”  And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” . . . Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”  Matthew 26:21&26

When I read this passage today, something new popped out at me. Perhaps it is not new to you.  But, I find when, “new” things emerge from Scripture, it’s always a lesson I need to think about. In this case, the lesson I see is how the disciples responded to Jesus. Their responses reflected their faith and intentions. All of them called Jesus “Lord”. Except for one. Judas called him “Rabbi”- or  simply, teacher. 

In another circumstance, Jesus asked them, “Who do men say that I am?”, and they responded back Moses, Elijah, etc. Then he asked them, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “the Messiah, (the Christ).”  Jesus told him that response came from God.

Who do you say Jesus is? Is he just a great teacher and someone we should imitate? Or is He Lord over your life? Is He your Messiah – the one that can deliver you from evil and bring you salvation?  Or was He just a charismatic historical figure that was wise beyond his years?

Each day we can decide anew who we say He is. Each time we face the world, our own temptations and doubts, we make the decision how to respond. Do we search our memory banks for the man Jesus’ wisdom, go on our own experiences, or seek the guidance of our Savior and put Him in control? Eventually, all the disciples ran that day, leaving Jesus alone.  But, He returned to them, forgave them and gave them His Spirit. Even if you said He was someone else yesterday,  it doesn’t matter today. Today, you have that choice to make again.  Who will you say He is?

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