El Shaddai

“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord

appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am [El Shaddai];

walk before me, and be blameless.”

     Genesis 17:1

“Also God said to [Jacob]: ‘I am [El Shaddai]. Be fruitful

and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall

proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body.”

    Genesis 35:11

One of the Hebrew names of God used frequently in the Old Testament is El Shaddai. It is often translated as Almighty God because He is sovereign, eternal, all powerful.  One of my study Bibles indicates that the name El Shaddai reflects God’s character as the strengthener and satisfier of His people. Thus, the name is also translated as the All-Sufficient One. 

I have experienced both aspects of El Shaddai and that causes me to fear and love Him all the more.  He has proven Himself faithful to me time and time again.  I have found out that He is always more than able to provide what I need--physically and spiritually.  His grace is sufficient for all my big issues and small issues, and everything in between. I find that the more I commit my ways, needs and concerns to Him, the more I see answered prayers every day. And that helps me to trust Him more and more.

I encourage you to spend some time pondering God as El Shaddai. Let the revelation of Him as the Almighty and All-Sufficient One quiet your fears and concerns, and bring peace to your heart. He alone can truly strengthen and satisfy.  Entrust everything to Him who is able and rest in the knowledge that He will bring His will to pass.

Thursday Devotional - Chasing after the Wind of Greatness

Solomon didn’t find satisfaction from chasing after wisdom, wealth or pleasure, apart from God’s plans. He also found chasing after greatness equally meaningless, apart from God.

Ecclesiastes 2:4-11      I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. ⁵ I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. ⁶ I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. ⁷ I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. ⁸ I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart. ⁹ I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

¹⁰ I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
    I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my labor,
    and this was the reward for all my toil.
¹¹ Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
    and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
    nothing was gained under the sun.

Solomon attained greatness that far exceeded anyone before, during or after his time (I Kings 3:11-13). He used his wisdom not only for his own benefit, but for the benefit of his entire country and those outside his country. Yet, attaining greatness for the sake of attaining greatness, didn’t satisfy.

Ecclesiastes 2:24-25     A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God,²⁵ for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?

God desires us to live, work and serve with excellence. If we pursue greatness on our own and for ourselves, though, it won’t bring lasting joy and true satisfaction.

Where are you and I more focused on earthly greatness than on the great things God has purposed for you and me? I can easily get caught up in my own expectations of myself or family members rather than what God deems important or a priority. God may have us pursue a prestigious degree or position, keep an immaculate house and pristine yard, or master a unique skill. Let’s make sure it’s the greatness He desires, used for His glory, then it will bring lasting joy that satisfies!

Alice

'The Other' John 3:16

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.  1 John 3:16

It is far better to give than to receive.  That was something my mom taught me when I was little.  As I look back, I reflected on those times that made me the happiest.  It was usually around birthdays.  My favorite childhood birthday was when I turned seven.  We were in San Francisco for my mom’s job, and her and some colleagues took me to an old-fashioned Italian restaurant.  I’m guessing my affinity for Olive Garden must have started there, but I digress.  We were done with dinner, and our server brings out a little birthday cake.  She begins to sing ‘Happy Birthday.’  But she was not the only one.  The tables around us began to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ as well.  Before I know it, the restaurant has become the Mormon Tabernacle Choir because everyone (I’m not kidding … everyone!) began to sing.  Tough act to follow for a seventh birthday.  My mom marvels that I remembered that day because to her, it was just part of being my mom.  To me, it meant the world, and it still does today.  However, it brings joy to my mother’s face that I remembered it.

As a Christian, I remember watching the Passion of The Christ for the first time.  I understood what Jesus had done for us, but that moment in the theater changed my trajectory.  Seeing the graphic nature of what Christ went through leading up to the crucifixion was simply at times unbearable to watch.  It was so painful (spoiler alert 😊) that I barely remember Him walking out from the tomb on the third day at the end of the movie.  While it is true that the depiction of His crucifixion was somewhat off, the concept one could get of what He went through was deeply impactful.  I can still remember it to this day.  It centers me whenever I wander too far from course.  It keeps my faith grounded on the solid foundation He made for me.  He went through all of that for us.

Real love is always about giving.  Not receiving.  Most of us focus on John 3:16, which says, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”  Today’s John 3:16 (1^st John, that is) speaks very similarly of the sacrifice Jesus made.  However, while one spoke of the gift God gave to us through His Son the other commissions us to give as Jesus gave.  Now this is not to say we are to lay down our life throwing caution to the wind.  However, it requires us to have a selfless love for others.  We are to give of ourselves so that others can know the love of the one true living God.  If you think of the one moment you truly knew God was real, what would you give for someone else to have that moment?  Couldn’t your selfless act be the one that either makes a difference in another’s life or helps someone recognize God truly at work?  My pastor understood this as he quoted from Philippians 2:4 saying, “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”

There is truly no greater love one can have for another than to give their lives for them.  My wife gives me the greatest amount of joy in my life.  It’s not because of what she does for me.  It is because when I do something for her and she smiles, nothing can ruin my day.  That is the kind of love today’s verse speaks of.  Jesus too spoke of this saying, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)  Whether it be for a child, a significant other, a parent, or someone in need, let us renew our commitment to God by committing to give more to others.  Where are you reserving space that God wants more from you?  How can we give more of us for our brothers and sisters?  My prayer is that while we find comfort the words of John 3:16, we act remembering ‘The Other John 3:16.’  Amen.

Serve humbly

Galatians 5:13-14

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.  For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  

America’s view of freedom seems to have gotten out of control.  We often hear comments about having freedom of speech and freedom to do whatever we want.  The time in which Paul wrote Galatians seems to not be all that different than how the world is becoming now.  He gave them, and us, a warning.  While we are called to be free, that does not mean we should misuse our freedom.  We are warned not to use our freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

So what does this look like for you?  It might mean that instead of going and buying yourself something, that when you see a person in need, you help them out.  Maybe it’s that single mom next door that is struggling to give her kids the best she can while trying to work two jobs to pay the bills.  Maybe you can show her love by mowing her lawn or helping with the kids.  Maybe even dropping a gift card to the local grocery store in her mailbox.

This week I want to challenge you to serve one another humbly in love.  Since I know that sometimes people can struggle with ideas on how to do this, I want to invite anyone who reads this to leave a comment on a way that you have been served humbly in love by someone else.  Read through the comments and see if something that you see gives you an idea for how you can serve someone else.  Let’s spread the Love of Christ this week to those we come in contact with.