GJR056: The Cloud & the Fire

As the Israelites had traveled from the land to their new home, God sent a cloud by day and a fire by night.

Both of these were very real symbols to the nation that God was leading them, and they represented three beautiful things for the Israelites.

First, the cloud and the fire were God’s provision. The cloud gave shade to the tiny nation traveling through the harsh climate.

When God does a new thing in our lives, it can be scary.

While the Israelites were certainly thankful to be free, the idea of journeying to a new place had to be overwhelming at times.

Let God be your cloud by day and your fire by night and rest in His love.

Together, Giving Jesus,

-Lana

Of course, the victory celebration doesn’t end with the Israelites merely leaving the land of Egypt.

That would be a great, Hollywood-worthy ending complete with a young, chiseled Moses staring confidently into the sunset.

But once again, the Israelites are faced with a desperate situation as the Egyptians chase them in the wilderness.

Ahead of them is the Red Sea and the tiny nation has no boats, ships, or even floaties among them. Behind them is the life they once knew—cruel oppression and open hatred.

If there were ever a moment to dig deep and try to muster some faith, this is it. Yet the Israelites respond the same way we do when faced with a crisis.

Together, Giving Jesus,

-Lana

The truth is that sometimes God uses opposition to His will to further His glory.

So often God turns a test of our faith into His testimony. He does this for the honor of His name and to draw even more people to Him.

But this doesn’t mean the road is easy or painless. What happened to the Israelites was degrading, unfair, and just plain cruel.

Yet God never left the wheel. He still reigned on His throne, even as it looked like everything was spinning out of control.

Together, Giving Jesus,

-Lana

The nation of Israel had been enslaved for four hundred years. Four hundred years of crying out to God as generation after generation hoped their children and grandchildren would one day know the sweet blessing of freedom.

Some scholars refer to this period in Israel’s history as “The Silent Years” because from all appearances, God was silent during this time. Have you endured “the silent years” in your own life?

In these moments, it’s natural to wonder what’s going on. You question yourself—did you miss what God said? Did you fail to walk in His ways? Was your faith simply not enough to prompt Him to show up?

The Lord is calling us to be open to the new thing in our lives Join in drawing nearer to God and invite Him to do a new thing in our lives.

Together, Giving Jesus,

-Lana

I know there are times that we get discouraged by unfulfilled dreams.

And you might be in that place right now.

Sometimes our dreams appear barely still alive and some are just dead.

Your dream may be so dried up that you wish it were such that you could just walk away and start on something else.

Your dream can be resurrected!

God can restore your dream and lost hope and give you purpose.

Dare to Dream again!

Together, Giving Jesus,

-Lana

What about perhaps the most well-known resurrection is Lazarus apart from the resurrection of Jesus.

When Lazarus became ill, his sisters sent Jesus a message.

Jesus did respond…though he seemed much slower than they would have liked.

Her words flowed from an aching heart. How many times have you whispered words similar to Martha’s?

• If God had only acted, I would have had a family by now.
• If Jesus had only intervened, I would be fully healed.
• If God had only protected me, I’d still have a job right now.

It’s not wrong to ache in the space in between pain and resurrection.

It doesn’t mean your faith is small if you cry because everything in you is aching.

It’s OK to reveal the anguish of your soul to the One who formed you.

Listen as He is Risen!

Together, Giving Jesus,

-Lana

Sometimes when we go through seasons of heartache, it’s easy to assume that we’ve done something wrong.

We search for the sin or mistake we made that caused the calamity we’re experiencing.

We find in the story of Job how that sometimes our test has nothing to do with us at all.

What’s more God can—and often does!—restore what was taken from us during times of testing.

But emotional and financial resurrection begins when you remind yourself God is in control and choose faith in the midst of the suffering.

It seems easier to sing praise when everything is going well and you are feeling good.

But when things aren’t going so well and you emotions are not on the top of the world and you feel finances are drained it take tremendous faith to rise about the circumstances of life and praise God through the pain and suffering.

In the lowest of low and the highest of high we cling to the knowing that God is our Redeemer and has everything in control for our good.

“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!” - Job 19:25–27

Remember God is with you…

Together, Giving Jesus,
-Lana

When most people think of the word “resurrection” they think of Jesus Christ returning after the Crucifixion. This is definitely the most important resurrection in all of history.

In fact, it’s the Resurrection that gives us hope, comfort, and peace. But there are actually several different types of resurrection that can affect your life.

Relational resurrection happens when we think a relationship is over but God steps in. Sometimes, this resurrection might involve reconciling with a spouse after divorce proceedings were started.

Or your resurrection might be about making peace with a parent after a long season of silence or re-connecting with a sibling who abandoned the family.

Together, Giving Jesus,

-Lana

Expect to be tested

As we grow, we are tested and tried.

Sometimes it feels like we’re facing the same trials again and again, doesn’t it?

We don’t love facing the same tests over and over, still, we know God knows what He is doing.

I may not realize that I need the repetition, but He knows my heart. Not every test that you re-take is about teaching you something.

Sometimes God allows you to experience a trial so that you can model a grace-filled response for someone else. Listen as we learn how to see the blessing even in the battle.

Together, Giving Jesus,

-Lana

One of the ways to keep our eyes on the enemy is to not let our eyes get off our primary concern in our relationship with God and to see His Kingdome grow.

Many times adversity and obstacles can get in our way to cause us to take our eyes off Jesus and the path set before us.

We can get distracted by the obstacles and pretty soon we have lost sight of our purpose and just try to “make it through.”

The problem with this is that our energy and focus is on the obstacles. Because as soon as one obstacle is handled rest assured that another obstacle is right around the corner.

When we are focused on the obstacles then we are focused on the wrong things. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, keep your focus on the calling God has for you and the temporary concerns will come into proper perspective.

Together, Giving Jesus,

-Lana