3 Certainties - I Finally "Get It"

Note: This is a really long blog which took many hours over a two day span to compose. God wanted to make sure I understood the significance before sharing it. Grab a cup of coffee or a Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi (my favorite) and enjoy......

While searching my Bible for what God wanted me to "get" during the earlier blog about our dog Angel, God also led me to a very important message he wanted me to understand.

In John Chapter 14 Jesus comforts his Disciples by explaining to them that he is going to His Father's House (heaven) to prepare a place for them. He said He will come back for them. He told them they know the place where he is going......

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house (heaven) there are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the place where I am going." - John 14:1-4

But Thomas doubted they would know the way since they didn't even know where Jesus was going. Philip wanted proof and said it would be proof enough if they could just be shown the Father. (That would be me, the skeptical one.)

Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him, and have seen him."

Philip said "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."

Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say 'show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. - John 14:5-11

Jesus was explaining 3 Certainties: He is 1) God the Father and also 2) Jesus, the son of God. Jesus in human form was explaining that it was God who was in him, and God was doing his work through him.

So in having a hard time understanding or believing in someone I cannot see (Jesus), God led me to read John 14:11 Jesus said Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. Being the skeptical questioning one, God knows I need tangible proof of things.

I for one, have seen evidence of many of His miracles in my life. I can attest to that. At first they seemed like "coincidences" but as more and more "coincidences" started happening in my life I began to view them as "freaky" due to my skepticism.

After many tangible ways of experiencing those "freaky" incidences in my life, (which most are journaled by the way) I can honestly say because of my "transparently following Jesus" there is no doubt that miracles DO happen. God knows what to do, how to do it, and when to do it, in order for me to "get it."

So in the attempt to fulfill the "purpose" God called us to do while here on earth, it is our choice to serve as Jesus was doing. We are to obey even though we might not understand or see what the "big picture" is. But if we respond with complete faith and with complete trust and ask with sincerety by prayer in His name, (not half-heartedly) He will do anything we ask in order to bring glory to God the Father.

I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." -John 14:12-14

In my worrisome way of wondering, I have questioned how on earth am I to do as Jesus did? But along with the 1st and 2nd Certainties, in John 14:15-20 Jesus Promises the 3rd Certainty, 3) the Holy Spirit as it is explained.....

"If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever -- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

The Holy Spirit is the third certainty and it is by the Holy Spirit living within us and guiding us that we can do amazing things for our Lord. This takes the pressure off of me in wondering how on earth am I going to be able to serve? A depressive ADHD "me" of all people. The timing and the place is not up to me though. I am to keep myself aligned with God's Will and in my obedience he will use me to fulfill the purpose he knit me in my mom's womb with long ago!

How wonderful it is that in this same Chapter which God led me to read, the hardest but most important question for me to "get" was also answered...

The most difficult thing for me to "get" has been knowing and believing the love Jesus has for me, especially when I often feel unlovable. Pastor Ellen and I have gone over this concept over and over again and I surely tried her patience with "not getting it." But she is very kind and never showed any irritation. And isn't it something that God would put her (a PASTOR) in my life!

There are bumper stickers or refrigerator magnets which say "Jesus loves you!" But those are just words in a statement. (well, in a song too) I understood in my head, but I did not feel Jesus' love in my heart. However, Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." - John 14:21

Jesus' love is not something to be tangibly felt. His love is not something we are able to physically feel. It is the promise of His love which we are told we are given in return for our love of Him and we show our love by obeying.

Jesus explained many things in this Chapter which God led me to find because of the messages which were sent earlier because of our dog Angel. Angel loves me very much and her love is unconditional. She is going to be sooo happy to see us when we get back home from Lake Tahoe. "Dog" spelled backwards is "God" by the way! Jesus loves me unconditionally too, but Jesus won't likely lick my face when I get "home!" (to Heaven)

I realize that the Holy Spirit is in me and it is because of the Spirit, my ability to have faith and trust will come more easily now. That's because my faith and trust is in HIM. There isn't reason for me to worry about how or when I will serve because that would mean having faith and trust in myself, which I certainly lack.

This is eactly what God wanted me to read today. God's timing is wonderful and he led me to read this at a time when it would be so easy for me to understand, and God knew rather than saying "Huh?" I would finally say "Ohhhhh, I get it!"

Indeed, there are 3 Certainties in life which would be........

Death, Taxes and Suzie asking questions and wondering why.

And by asking questions and wondering why, I am able to tell you there are 3 more Certainties in life which are of more importance and they are.......

Our Father, Son and The Holy Spirit!

By the way, there are 3 other Certainties which are Faith, Hope and Love, but the greatest of these is Love. - 1 Corinthians 13

Now I KNOW and BELIEVE that Jesus loves me and I am able to tell him "back at 'cha!"