Tag: Jesus

james 1.

james 1.

by Kathleen Moulton

Faith and Endurance

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.  But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.  Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field.  The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.

 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.  And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

Listening and Doing

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.  Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.  So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.  For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.  But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

trusting God.

trusting God.

by Kathleen Moulton

In Proverbs, the Bible says:


Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.


Two things stand out to me.


1. Don’t try to understand everything.
2. Straight paths don’t mean everything will happen the way you want.

We don’t like that.

Do you understand how the universe was formed? Or how a baby is formed in the womb? Or how birds migrate?

Yet, we want to understand the bad things that happen in our lives.

God doesn’t leave us without comfort. He promises us that one day we will understand. He promises us that he will give us comfort and strength to endure the pain we suffer in life. He promises he will wipe away every tear.

For now though, he gives us the strength to endure. The one who created the universe is able to do that.

In this instant gratification world, you are not going to understand. God makes it clear and he tells us to trust him.

I get it. You have heard claims made of God’s love and when things go sideways in life, you want to make sense of it. We even hold God accountable: “If this is how God loves I don’t want any part of him.”


Isn’t it interesting how we get on Amazon and look at all the reviews before a purchase? We research the next car, stove, and exercise equipment before buying. We try to figure everything out so everything will work out.

But this. Eternity. The most important “purchase”.

God has already created us to know eternity is real.


He has set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

We pay more attention here rather than there. When you live consistently with an awareness of eternity … trusting God will be a simple concept.

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context.

context.

by Kathleen Moulton

I had a thought this morning.

We are not all okay.

In other words, we think this person or that person is doing well because they look happy.

Not true.

Everyone of us have something on our minds. A place in our hearts or minds that have this empty space of disappointment, sadness, loss.

Then I began to think about people who lived throughout the centuries and what kind of life they had. Particularly, I thought about the pioneers who explored and the settlers who settled. The day to day, mundane, unpredictable existence they experienced.

Their world view was limited. Each day they had purpose and found a life of contentment in what they did. How do I know this? Because it’s in all of us. The ability to be content in undesirable situations. God created us and he put it in us. Some call it human potential or resiliency because you don’t have to be a Christian to have it. Most of us have the ability to get up, brush ourselves off, and keep going.

Fast forward to 2025. Look at all we have. Now compare yourself to them.

Are we any different? Obviously, we have amazing advancements in medicine and technology. And certainly, that has impacted our physical and mental compacity to not only have knowledge, but solutions, and the ability to exceed in ways that our predecessors never had.

Yet, inside, we are the same. We experience all of the emotions to life’s challenges.

That is context.

All of my life, I have taken a step back to consider the men and women who suffered throughout the centuries. It has given me inspiration, courage, and perseverance. What God has put in all of us can only be enhanced by knowing him through the promises of the scripture.

It reminds me of Hebrews 11, often referred as the faith chapter; a list of men and women who endured suffering. They endured because they saw things in context – that their suffering and ultimate death was not the end. They knew that God promised what was waiting for them in eternity.

Then Hebrews 12:1:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us; fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Not only does remembering the bigger picture step us out of our small thinking, exasperated by our tendency to be overly focused on ourselves, but it gives us the reason for context: there is an end to the story.

Get context.

it’s all i’ve got.

it’s all i’ve got.

by Kathleen Moulton ♥ 2 Comments

There are no words for what happened in Kerr County, TX, last week.

No words of comfort.

No words of closure.

No words that will stop the hemorrhaging or heal the shattered hearts.

In recent months, I was finally beginning to understand what God thinks about me. Maybe it has been a series of events of being abandoned that has taken me this long. I don’t dwell on that but I’ve spent a lifetime searching for meaning. All I know is I was beginning to relax in knowing that God really does value me, really does love me, and will not abandon me.

I was finally coming to a place of reassurance and peace. And then came this. The little girls ripped from their beds, carried away in horrendous fear, and ultimately, death.

Jesus loves me, this I know? Why didn’t he stop it? What is this thing Christians believe?

I am still in the process of trying to figure this out. I want so desperately to comprehend. I am frustrated because there is nothing that makes sense.

I ask God the question: how can I trust you? How can I believe that it is you who are helping me through life’s confusion and difficulties? How can I really believe that you are in tune with my life and that you hear my prayers? Obviously, the parents who left their little girls at this camp prayed for them – among other things – their safety.

And then of course, the triggers of emotions buried within me. I uttered these words so quietly: and you betrayed us. The tears welled up in my eyes of losing him 20 years ago. Tears that cannot fully come because I’ve cried so many there is nothing left. I want to cry. I can’t. But I feel it churning inside.

I remember when the disciples were confused and Jesus said to them, “Will you leave me, too?” And Peter piped up and said, “Where will we go? You have the words of life.”

You have the words of life.

Peter was right. No matter what we face in this world with all of its disappointments, sorrow, and confusion – where do we go? We can find temporary solutions but that is the problem. They are temporary. And we wake up the next morning with a hangover or guilt from the night before and what do we do? We go back for more.

You have the words of life.

But I can’t see you, God. And even though my mind tells me that I am seriously limited in trying to understand, it still hurts. 

I know people have suffered since the beginning of time. I know people are suffering today. But this. This hit me hard.

The Bible says God’s ways are not our ways and that his thoughts are not like ours. If we step back and believe he created the universe and everything in it, how can we possibly believe we can understand the why’s of suffering. It’s far too easy to say there is no God if he allows us to suffer. I cannot go there because then, I will find solutions elsewhere and honestly, there is nothing that will help. Every human solution I can think of often makes things worse.

All I have is this:

God says he will keep us in perfect peace when we trust him.

He says to trust him with our whole heart and not try to understand.

He  promises to fix it all someday by wiping away every tear we’ve cried.

That’s all I’ve got.

And Christians throughout the centuries – that’s all they had, too.

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in the context of things.

in the context of things.

by Kathleen Moulton

Have you ever thought about what life was like 100 years ago? 200? 50?

Perhaps there is no other time in history when we have we been so privileged – in the United States and other developed countries. (Although, there are people who live with far less access to wealth and opportunity who are reported to be content).

With all of our advances in science, medicine, and technology, are we much different than people who lived without it? Certainlly, we have it far easier. Even people who live below the poverty level seem to have a cell phone and can afford McDonald’s. It might not sound like much, but it would mean something to people who lived 100 years ago.

I think the context in which we live has an impact on our world view. People who lived 200 years ago did not have the abundance we have now. While there has always been the wealthy, for most people, I imagine there was more motivation to do all it took for survival. Time was spent working to that end. There was no television, Tik Tok, or Door Dash to waste the day away, putting off thinking about things another day.

Am I the only one who thinks about the suffering on the Mayflower? The colonists? The pioneers? People like you and me, hoped for something beyond here and now.

As little as 60 years ago, people sold their home in order to pay medical bills. I know of one person who said his father got up every morning at 4:30 am to take various modes of transportation, including walking, into NYC to work in a factory. This was common. People did what they had to do and I can only imagine the resiliency and perseverance factor was off the charts.

Humans suffered throughout the centuries and humans are suffering today. Perhaps the suffering is different but suffering is suffering no matter how you look at it. Suffering for one might be extremely difficult compared to another. Bottom line, no matter when we live, human suffering is with us.

There are times to fight against it and we should. But then there are times when there is nothing to be done but to accept. Not with a fatalist mindset. With hope.

When there is death of a loved one, there is suffering. I do not contend that people who lived 100+ years ago dealt with loss more easily than we do today but they experienced more of it. I think there was an acceptance of the inevitable since diseases were prevelant and life spans were reduced compared to today.

I think we take things for granted because we have so much available to us. It’s not really our fault. We are a product of our environment.

But I do think we are responsible for our responses to suffering. I think we have to expand our thinking beyond the four walls of our mind and looking at history is crucial.

Some of us look back into history, consider the challenges, and learn from it. If we compartmentalize history with the mindset of “that was then and this is now”, without considering our make-up is really not different than our predecessors, we will be missing something that is meant to help us.

When we lose a loved one, does it help us to consider how our ancestors processed it? Even though wearing black and spending a specific amount of days in mourning occurred, they felt what we feel today.

There is no amount of medical, scientific, or technological advancements that can change the pain. However, today, we have access to help through those entities with medicine, understanding the brain, and access to online resources to help us.

I think one of the best ways to look at death is to consider those men and women who lived throughout the centuries and remember we are “surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses“. There is something about connecting with people that understand. We are strengthened and even comforted.

I believe spirituality is a major component available to us. In the Christian faith, there are promises of hope, comfort, and eternity of being reunited with our loved one. Without this hope, what do we have? We can’t change the fact that if we are honest, we do wonder about life after death.

The Bible says that God has written eternity on our hearts. That means we are hardwired to wonder. What we have to do is respond to it in some way – or not.

Some people get angry at God for allowing bad things to happen. For me, it is very difficult when Christians have a good outcome of prayer and believe God will always give good outcomes. That is not always the case. Some people miraculously survive a car accident while other people do not. We have to do something with this fact. We either ignore it or accept it.

It’s more than just “taking the good with the bad”. We can’t survive only on that thinking. We were created to dig much deepr than that and only God can help.

Why is there suffering? I don’t know. I only know that God promises that one day he will fix it all. He will wipe away every tear and there will be no more sorrow or death.

We were made to look ahead. It doesn’t stop at death.

It begins there.

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optimism isn’t faith.

optimism isn’t faith.

by Kathleen Moulton ♥ 2 Comments

“To choose to be optimistic or pessimistic is to set up a confirmation bias of your own mind to view the world the way you want it.”

-AzaRaskin

I am optimistic by nature. It’s natural for me to have hope and believe for the best.

My favorite chapter in the Bible has always been Hebrews 11, known as the faith chapter. I was inspired by these men and women of faith who believed. They resonated with my optimism and active lifestyle.

After the Jesus Movement of the 60’s, evangelical, charasmatic, and/or non-denominational churches sprung up everywhere. People wanted more of their church experience. Not to be entertained, but to know God in deeper and richer ways, understanding throughout the scripture that God wanted this, too.

Many of these churches emphasized faith and/or word-of-faith.

But faith can really be optimism and not faith at all.

Hebrews 11 lists the exploits of men and women who had faith. They were “history makers” and “moved mountains”… all the things you hear in many churches today. I think this resonates with our Western minds. Compared to other cultures, we excel at burning the candle at both ends.

But then, the end of Hebrews 11 says this:

“They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated. The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.

These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised. God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.”

What? Why? Look at all they did for God. If this happened to them, could it happen to me? But what about all the promises found in the scripture of God’s protection, etc., etc.? What about the full armor of God? What about asking anything in Jesus’ Name?

Can our faith really be optimism viewing the world the way we want it?

When our world has been shattered, when it didn’t turn out the way we had prayed for, there is no optimism. Only pain and sorrow. But in the abyss, we can find real faith.

It’s not easy for Christians with the sword of the spirit in one hand and the shield of faith in the other hand to hear hard truths.

Faith isn’t based only on good outcomes. There is real suffering that goes on in the world and not everyone who prays in Jesus’ Name receives what they want or need.

If we say one day in His courts is better than a thousand elsewhere, then perhaps one day in the abyss with God is better than anywhere else. Emmanuel, God with us, who promises never to leave us or forget us.

The abyss only reveals Him in the way you’ve wanted to know Him all along. The shadow that hid His face from you for so long is gone. You would never have seen Him completely had you not entered the abyss.

God sees the shattered pieces all around you and promises He will take care of that. If not here, the promise of eternity when He will wipe away every tear.

Amazing how the darkness can show us the true way.

the event.

the event.

by Kathleen Moulton ♥ 2 Comments

Today, an event is celebrated around the world that knowingly or unknowingly affects every single person.

An event that knows no limitation no matter who you are or where you live. An event so momentus and of such magnitude, it caused an earthquake, yet unknown by so many.

The event is not deterred by race, life style, or belief system.

The event, believed or not, accepted or not, does not affect it.

The event was mocked, scorned, and rejected and still is today.

The event stands despite unbelief. It stands as sure as the physical laws we live by.

The Resurrection.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our Christian faith. This event, which occurred almost two thousand years ago, is the best attested fact in human history and experience. The resurrection of Christ was predicted in the Old Testament and by Christ Himself. During the forty days following His resurrection, Jesus showed Himself to be alive from the dead by “many infallible proofs”. He appeared at various times and places to many people who told others what they had seen.

– Moody Bible Institute

Other religious leaders have a grave.

Not Jesus.

But first:

God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

The key word is love.

We understand love. We talk about how important it is to love people and how much we want to be loved.

In my lifetime, I have seen humanity doing better in loving through listening, understanding, and accepting more than ever. Yet, we don’t always love the way God tells us.

God says this about love:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs …

God, the Creator of the universe, the Creator of humanity and all things, created love and defines what love is.

Because of love, God rescued the us from our sinful condition through sacrificing His life. It was the only way to be reconciled to God.

What does God ask of us? To love Him with all our heart, our soul, our strength.

That’s it.

It’s not about doing good things or being a good person. It’s not enough. How could it be?

The sinful condition of humanity is deeper and darker than we can possibly comprehend. Like a broken bone or cancer needs more than an aspirin or a band-aid, we have to be willing to look deeply into our human condition.

Shouldn’t our love be reciprocated as equally as possible? Aren’t we grateful for something someone does for us? Or gives us? How much more should our response be to God?

We can only do that when we willingly look at our hearts. God says he has written eternity on our hearts. That means we know there is something beyond living our lives here. He also says the commandments are written on our hearts. We know the difference between right and wrong.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not as a result of [good] works, so that no one may boast.

We don’t earn our way to salvation. It is a gift.

The gift can only be opened when we admit we are sinners in need of saving.

Jesus suffered and died a gruesome death to rescue us.

But today, we remember that Jesus defied the finality of death through the empty tomb.

No other religious leader makes that claim.

Those who believe will also be resurrected and with God for eternity.

I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.

Hallelujah!

leaving Christianity.

leaving Christianity.

by Kathleen Moulton ♥ 5 Comments

I watched a news program today about the Christian baker who will not bake a cake for a transgender. He was the baker who was in the news some time ago who did not want to bake a cake for a gay couple getting married. He said it went against his Christian faith.

During the program, a woman who was part of a panel said she used to be a Christian. She left Christianity because of this very thing and she did not “find Christ among the Christians”. She brought up the women who was accused by the Pharisees of sexual sin and how Jesus defended her. He who is without sin cast the first stone. That was loving your neighbor and clearly, the baker was not loving his neighbor.

It’s a shame, isn’t it? And I completely understand.

Without Jesus there is no Christianity. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength; and the second commandment is love your neighbor as yourself.

There are no excuses. I have grown to dislike the statement, “well, there is no perfect church”. It sounds too “get-over-it” when, in the name of love (1 Corinthians 13 – love is patient and kind) people who are angry or hurt at an injustice they see deserve care.

Love is supposed to be the core of Christianity. It is the essence of who God is. He loved the world, knowing our desperation without atonement for sin, that he came down to earth in the form of a man and took the bullet for the rest of us.

It’s sad when people leave Christianity having “not found Christ in Christians” because it’s not God’s fault.

I know what it’s like to feel the disappointment, betrayal, and pain of being hurt in a faith that should be loving.

Yet, God tells us to forgive.

When we don’t forgive, then aren’t we not loving our neighbor?

The Church has been advancing throughout the centuries. The Bible refers to the Church as the Bride of Christ and says that Jesus cleanses with the washing of his word, to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish … she will be holy and without fault.

We are not there yet.

After seeing many Jews stop following him, Jesus asked his twelve disciples: Are you also going to leave?

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Is there any other place to go? If so, where will it ultimatley lead you?

If you did not see Christ in Christians, then see Christ in the Bible.

destiny.

destiny.

by Kathleen Moulton

The baby in the manger was wrapped in swaddling cloths.

Even then, he was destined to be the sacrifice for the sins of mankind. The swaddling cloths would become grave cloths.

He entered the world and dwelt among us.

Love met sin and covered all who would believe.

star-of-bethlehem-magi-wise-men-or-wise-kings-travel-on-camels-with-entourage-across-the-deserts-to-find-the-savior-moon-desert-holy-bible-etching-1885

Star of Bethlehem, Magi – wise men or wise kings travel on camels with entourage across the deserts to find the savior, moon, desert, Holy Bible, Etching, 1885

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Photo credit: Wonderlane via Foter.com / CC BY

 

why choose God.

why choose God.

by Kathleen Moulton ♥ 1 Comment

I know.

There are multitudes of belief systems out there.

Do they work for people? I don’t know.

I do know the Christian faith has worked for me.

It’s natural for me to choose God because I am about bottom lines. Give me the starting point so I can understand. Don’t skip steps and go to #3 or #4.

Yet, everyone of us have a longing in our hearts to know the Creator. He designed us that way.

And everyone of us have a different way of attaining that.

I do believe what Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the father except through Me.”

I am rock solid in this belief.

And when you are suffering through tragedy, pain, or heartache, you want sure footing.

You need sure footing.

That said, people without God to turn to, what do they turn to?

Lots of things.

One thing is they turn to the “experts”.

But even the experts don’t always agree. That can cause someone who is already overwhelmed to become even more overwhelmed and want to give up.

Listen. I’ve done it. I have always thought most people knew better than me. It’s my nature.

Thankfully, I’ve grown since then. Yet, I remember being in a place where I sought answers and expected solutions from trusted people. There are so many differing opinions – even from the experts – psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists – and all of the others with letters after their name.

I’m not discrediting them. But if you find yourself on this quest to get help, get comfort, get understanding, get relief – you might find yourself going around in circles.

Some of us get lucky and find the perfect counselor or support group.

Some of us don’t.

When it is all said and done, God is always there. And he left his words to guide, direct, strengthen, and comfort us.

Words of truth.

Truth that has the ability to cut through it all, and yes, set you free.

Free from confusion, frustration, bitterness, sorrow – all of it.

You know in your heart there is a longing for God.

Why choose God? He is always there.

Get a Bible. Open it up. And read.

God will do the rest.

bible-in-abandoned-detroit-church

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