Pastor Stephen Dedman

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An Everlasting Love

Encouragement, Trust

“The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭31:3‬

This is a beautiful passage of Scripture. It is primarily directed towards the people of Israel and how God has loved them with an everlasting love. It states that the Lord will certainly fulfill His promise to regather His chosen people back into their promised land.

It is a reminder that His love for them is everlasting. The Lord chose the people of Israel to be His special people.

He redeemed them from Egyptian bondage and provided for them while wandering in the wilderness. Even in times of rebellion and unbelief, God never rejected them. Although there were times of discipline, He always restored them to a position of honor because He loved them so much. 

This is the love story told all through the Bible. It’s His Story of how He loves His special people unconditionally. No one can ever fathom how much love He has for us.

There may be times when you may feel that you are not loved, but be certain that God loves you. His love for you is everlasting just like the Israelites. We may go through times of rebellion and unbelief, but God never turns His back on us. No one will ever love you like God loves you. He doesn’t just say it, He proves it everyday. 

Pray

Lord, I love you. I am thankful for your unending love for me. As I show love toward others, let them sense your love.

Renewed Faith

Encouragement, Faith

“Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.””
John 20:19

After the crucifixion of Jesus, the disciples stayed in the upper room for fear of the Jews. Because they were disciples of Jesus, they feared they may be crucified next. But along with the fear, they were confused as to what to do next.

For three years they dedicated themselves to the ministry work that Jesus taught them. On top of the fear and confusion, the women reported to them that Jesus was alive and spoke to them. Fear, confusion and bewilderment!

All of a sudden, from out of nowhere, Jesus appeared to them in the upper room. There is a reason why His words were, “Peace be with you.” They were terrified. The doors were locked. And there appeared Jesus, alive and well.

Can you imagine what the disciples were feeling? How would you react?

There was a common response to everyone who witnessed Jesus after the resurrection. They were amazed and they wanted to tell others. They went from fear, confusion, and bewilderment to a new sense of amazement and excitement. The disciples were reenergized with faith and hope.

Are you energized with faith and hope? Are you eager to tell others that Jesus is alive? All it takes is to encounter a moment with Jesus and it makes all the difference in the world.

If you want to renew your faith and hope all you have to do is draw close to God. The Bible promises that whoever draws near to Him, He will draw near to them. (James 4:8)

Pray

Lord, I want to encounter You right now. Forgive me of my sins and refresh my faith and hope. I turn to You for everything I need.

Are You Questioning God?

Encouragement, Faith, Trust

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭22:1

Knowing God and His love is much more important than knowing why God is allowing something to happen in our life. Something amazing happens when we are faced with a difficult situation that challenges our faith. Sometimes God does not reveal the “why” but He does reveal Himself and His love.

The life of Job is a great example. Throughout Job’s suffering and questioning, God never revealed why He allowed Job to be tested but He did reveal His love to Job. Would you rather know the “why” or would you rather experience more of God’s love?

There are many times in our life that we tend to question God. “Why is this happening?”  “Why me, God?”  “Why us?” It’s a very natural question for for us to ask. Questioning God is not a sin. Doubting God is a sin, but asking God, “why?”, helps us to better understand the suffering or difficult situations we encounter. But is asking “why?”, the best response?

God allows us to endure hardships and trials for us to grow closer in our relationship with Him. God wants us to know Him and understand what He can do for us. When we better understand who God is, the better response we have to our sufferings. When we realize how much God loves us, there is no need to question Him.

If you are questioning God today, you should stop asking “why” and start asking “what”. “Lord, what is it that you are teaching me? What can I learn from this situation? What do you have in store for me?” This will change our perspective of what we are facing.

Pray

Lord, what do you need to teach me today? I want to know you more everyday. Help me to understand your ways and your thoughts.