Alone Again, Naturally

On March 4, 2024   /   Word of the Day   /   2 Comments

Matthew 28: 20

“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

When I was a kid, there was a song by Gilbert O’Sullivan titled Alone Again Naturally. I liked the song back then but to listen to it now, well, I am in a much different place and have some answers I didn’t have then. It is quite a sad song should you listen to the lyrics. The thing is, most of us have dealt with loneliness at some time or another and so the lyrics resonate with many.

If you are a Christian, and I know you are, there is no reason to suffer with loneliness. Has not our own Jesus, our beloved, made us a vow. He is with us. In fact, his name means “God with us.” Yet, we have struggled. If you have felt alone, you are not alone in that feeling.

The problem is that we weren’t taught how to be so connected with Jesus that we can be fully aware of him with us. You can become so attuned to his presence with you that if you accidentally belch, you will apologize to him. I want to lead you into this kind of relationship with him today if I can. We also have personal coaching available if this is a longing of your heart.

You see, the church presents sermons on Sunday. They are instructive, corrective and sometimes inspiring. In small groups, we tend to do Bible Studies, or we are taught to follow Bible Studies in our personal time. If you have been with me for long, you know that I think the Word is powerful truth and I continuously encourage you to spend time amongst its pages. However, I am not trying to get you to become a Bible scholar. I don’t really care if you can quote scripture and verse. We were taught to study the Bible, but that led us to an intellectual approach to the Word. When you understand that Jesus is the living Word then it becomes more about meeting a person than becoming well versed. I encourage you to the Word because I want you to find Jesus among its pages. I don’t want you to study it. I want you to lose yourself in it. I want you to allow the Word to minister to your needs. When we approach the Word with our hearts rather than our minds, then amazing things begin to happen. One of those miracles is the full comprehension of Jesus with us every minute of every day.

Studying the Bible can be fruitful, but engaging in the Word is the real deal. That is where you let Jesus guide you. Sure, you read the words on the page, but it is more than that. I have had times when our Father has led me from one scripture to another to another until they all combined to create one narrative. It is an amazing experience but not a unique one. This becomes everyday engagement.

I want you to never feel lonely, and you absolutely can achieve that status, but it does not come from seeking Jesus with your mind or simply reading the Bible. You see, there is actually a big difference between the Bible and The Word. The Bible is an amazing book. The Word is a person. I can understand if this blows your mind, but once you cross over the river to bask in the Word, you will never be the same and you will never be lonely.

So, let me help you bridge the gap of difference. Before you open your Bible, pray out of your emotions, out of your heart for Jesus to lead you, to meet you in the pages and in your time with him. Ask him to lead you to what he would like to show you. If you begin reading the Word in an open hearted, submitted way, you will find truth and encouragement. If you are only opening the Bible so that you can do your duty, or to learn the words, then you won’t find Jesus. You’ll just find a great book. Listen, there are non-believers who are true Bible scholars. That’s not what you want for yourself. You want the embrace of Jesus. Isn’t that right? Isn’t that why you are a Christian?

Never be lonely again. Open the Word and find the lover of your soul. Don’t study the Bible, look for Jesus in it and if you can’t quote great passages, but you find Jesus and he wants to move in with you, then you win!

One last thing – I am writing this to Christians. I am not trying to convert non-believers. I am trying to lead well-intentioned Christians to a deeper relationship with our beloved. I know that no matter who you are and no matter how wonderful your relationship with Jesus, you still want more. I also know there are millions of Christians who have an intellectual relationship with the trinity and with the Bible and are unfulfilled. So, this is for you. Come closer and never be lonely again. You never have to feel that horrid feeling again, ever.

Be blessed my beloved.

If this has touched your heart and you want more, reach out to our coaching staff. We would love to help. www.iveyministries.org

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With You, With Me

On August 22, 2019   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Matthew 28: 20

I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

I had an interesting conversation with our Father this week. Let me share honestly and be completely transparent. I have had a bit of a frustrating week, not bad mind you, just some hiccups that I have allowed to derail me a bit. By the way, the remedy for this is always the same for me, spend more time with my Dad. And, so I did. We were talking about Him always being with me and truthfully, I felt a little selfish and told Him so. I confessed that no matter what I do right or how unfaithful I am to Him, I, none the less, expect Him to be with me all of the time. I expect Him to sleep with me at night, go to my workouts with me, write the Word of the Day and just generally accompany me in everything I do. So, as we were chatting guilt and condemnation poured through me, of my own devise though, not of His doing. I knew I didn’t deserve for Him to be with me every minute of every day and yet, I fully expect it. I knew I wasn’t spending as much time with Him as I should or in His Word like I ought. Now “should” and “ought” are always dangerous words so when you hear them you need to take care that you are not judging yourself and if you are, you need your own forgiveness. None the less, my heart was aware of spending less time doing the “churchy” stuff but still expecting Him beside me always. Then Jesus reminded me of this verse.

He promised to be with me “always” and he didn’t qualify it. He didn’t say he would be with me when I deserve it, thank God, because I never deserve it. He didn’t say he would be with me when I need him or when I ask. He said always. Therefore, if he didn’t stay by my side night and day, even when I don’t deserve it, he would be a liar and that just cannot be. He made me a promise and that’s the end of that.

However, there was a sting in the tail of this one. After reassuring me, he asked me a question. Ivey, I am with you all the time but are you with me? Ouch Jesus! That hurt. I had mentally back away because I felt my unworthiness. Usually I realize how unworthy I am, but I am so overcome with the worthiness of the lamb that my failures get overshadowed. Usually I am so bathed in the worthiness of the blood that I am confident before the Father and the Son. Worthiness just isn’t something I am generally concerned with. Even asking the Father about our own worthiness is so egocentric that it is repulsive. Still, in this case I felt the inequity of our fellowship and the high expectations I have of Him.

The moral of the story – it turns out that both Father and Son are happy that I have such high expectations of them. I believe in them and I believe their word. That pleased them. They were so nonplussed about what had me conflicted. And look, my response, thanks to their grace, was to run to them to spend more time with them.

I don’t deserve the love and dedication they show me. I don’t deserve for them to bless everything I touch, and to go with me everywhere. They don’t do it because I deserve it. They do it because they love me and the funny thing is, they enjoy my confidence in their presence. It is strengthening me even as I write this because their joy is in our being together. I hope they want to go to a meeting tonight because I am taking them with me.

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Help!

On September 3, 2015   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Matthew 28: 20

I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

I have a friend who is very mannerly and unimposing, so much so in fact that she doesn’t like to impose on God. You have to admire her consideration. However, Jesus says, “Hey, I am here with you anyway.” Therefore, we can involve him in the smallest issues of life as well as in the big things.

To tell you the truth, there is no such thing as a big problem or a little problem to God. They are all the same to Him. When you consider the creation of the universe, the earth and even our own bodies with all the delicate balance throughout them all you begin to realize that even our “big” problems are miniscule to Him. He can weigh a star in His hands so balancing your checkbook is no big deal to Him. Neither is finding your car keys.

The other perspective, the one that Jesus wants us to understand, is that he is with us every minute of every day. Whatever challenge you are having, Jesus is right in the middle of it with you. Since he is there anyway, wouldn’t it just be reasonable to let him help you with it? Imagine riding in a car with some friends when the car breaks down and you need to push it off of the road. Would you say to your friends, “I don’t want to trouble you with this. I will just push this heavy load all by myself.” 

Jesus’ idea of friendship is that you and he do everything together. He is there with you all of the time and there is nothing he wouldn’t do to help you. Not only that, but also he is well equipped to assist you in all matters. That was kind of the point of his ministry, to bring humanity and deity back in union. Besides, there is an easy way and a hard way to do everything. Why not choose the easy way letting Jesus aid you in everything?

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