Tag Archives: devotional thought

Surviving A Deep Hole 

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By: Tammy McGuire, Ph.D., Professor of Communication

This is probably an old-person’s reference, but I’m wondering if you have ever read or heard of Corrie ten Boom’s book (also a movie), “The Hiding Place”? It’s the story of a Dutch family who hid Jews in their home during the Holocaust; the family was later arrested and sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp. Just Google Corrie ten Boom’s name and prepare to be inspired.

I read “The Hiding Place” when I was in college, and there is a very sad part of the story (no spoilers here) where Corrie ten Boom shares a quote from her sister Betsie that has always stuck with me – in part because for many years I really didn’t understand just what it meant. The line is this: “There is no hole so deep that God is not deeper.”

Today, however, I believe I understand the beauty, hope, and depth of that line much better. For example, I see its meaning reflected in the beautiful poetry of Psalm 139: 9, 10 (read the whole Psalm for more inspiration):

“If I take the wings of the morning,

Or dwell in the uttermost part of the sea,

Even there your hand will guide me, 

Your right hand will hold me.”

There is no joy too great where God is not with us. There is no sorrow too deep where God is not with us. We cannot descend to any depth where He will abandon us. This beautiful truth is woven throughout the Bible. As Paul puts it in Romans 8:38-39:

“For I am persuaded, that neither death nor life … nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God …”

We have gone and are going through difficult, painful, and even wrenching times. Many are facing sorrows and bereavements and anxieties whose depths may seem bottomless.  Amidst all this, the truth remains unchanged: There is no hole so deep that God is not deeper. There is no darkness that can extinguish His love. There is no place we can go where He is not willing and able to walk with us.

May this thought bring us comfort on our journeys.

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Stay Still and Trust 

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By: David Arriaza

When I was still in high school, I had a history teacher who taught me a very important lesson. We were getting ready to take a midterm exam the whole class had been dreading for weeks, and we were all quite stressed and unhappy. Before administering the exam, the teacher stood in front of the class and said, “don’t worry, in the great ocean that is your life this test is just a small drop of water”. This statement changed my perspective and I’ve been able to rely on it ever since. 

Even though current times might be confusing or hard to get used to, it’s important to remember God is on our side and when you put things in perspective, problems start to look a lot smaller. Sometimes, stressing and worrying is only detrimental to your health and well-being, and only leads to more anxiety. This might be a good time to remember and take to heart the words God said to the Israelites when He said, “you need only to be still”.  

“Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” – Exodus 14:13-14 

 

Take God’s Direction 

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By: Dylan Gray

What’s up, everyone! I’d like to share a couple of verses with you that I came across this week while doing some of my devotions. In Philippians 4:11, Paul says, “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” Growing up I was always looking forward to the future and college where life would be perceivably better. When I got to college, I looked at my life in the future again. I couldn’t wait to be independent and work after I graduated. It seemed so nice in my imaginary future and I couldn’t wait to get there. 

There was a common theme that surrounded my outlook in both of those periods of my life; that was the discontentment that I was feeling about my present state. I was missing a purpose. I looked to the future where I thought I would find it, but all it did was make me even more unsatisfied with my current state. I wasn’t taking my situation and working it for God’s glory. I was stuck on myself and my insecurities. I was thinking, “I don’t like where I am so I’ll just make a plan to leave.” I would think about how much I disliked where I was and I refused to change my perspective on life. 

That’s not how the Bible conveys the life of somebody who has Christ in their hearts. In Philippians 4:12, Paul says, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to have an abundance. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance, and need.” That sounds like a man who lives as if there is no tomorrow. He takes every moment and every situation, whether he likes it or not, and is not phased by what is happening around him. It doesn’t matter what’s happening around you. What matters is what is happening inside you. Paul latched on to that secret and he kept it inside him.

That secret is in Philippians 4:13. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Paul had a relationship with Jesus so strong that no matter what happened he would not move from the rock that he planted himself on. He tells us about this faith and assurance  he has in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, (39) neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I don’t know about you, but I would sure like to have that type of relationship. God is with us no matter where we are and right now things are hard. We are stuck at home. We can’t go and experience things the way we used to, but we can still be content. As I was comparing our situations to Paul’s, I realized he did most of his ministry while he was in prison or on house arrest. Under quarantine, if you will. This made me realize even though we are all spread apart we still have three things: a community that we are a part of (PUC Students, Faculty and Staff), Jesus by our side every step that we take in the new challenge we are facing, and the plan that God has for us even if we can’t see it. We just have to have the mindset that lets God lead us and provides that contentment that is available to everyone. 

As we continue, I want to challenge all of us to let God take us where we need to be, not just where we want to be. Along that journey, hold on to the promise that you can do all things with Christ who gives you strength. As you go don’t worry because “My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

 

Healing in Hope

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This week’s devotional thought comes to us from PUC’s SA RVP, Noah Ofisa.

“And let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. Therefore, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to a household of faith” -Galatians 6:9,10 

Today, we are facing one of the most stressful times. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, there were already diseases and deaths sweeping across our nation and the world. Now there is panic running rampant across the world. According to the news, there have been thousands of deaths in Italy, Spain, China, and the U.S. since the beginning of the spread of this “CoronaVirus” so far. So how does this affect us as Christians today? How should we respond when dealing with things such as social distancing in this time? 

Jesus says He is the light of the world (John 8:12). But He also calls us the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). As God’s beloved chosen people, we have one of the greatest opportunities to share the everlasting hope of Jesus Christ (John 3:16). We must continue to speak life and hope to those around us. We must encourage people that there is an eternal home beyond this perishing world where death, disease, and sadness are pervasive. His word declares He “will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). Moreover, Paul encourages God’s beloved to not grow weary in well doing because we shall reap if we faint not. This is our call to continue to bring comfort and healing especially to those in our homes and even through social media. One powerful thing that is happening now is that God’s people across the world are uniting in prayer for healing and His kingdom. May God’s love continue to be shared in this crucial time and may His peace and promises comfort you today.

Here is my prayer today: 

Father, thank you for your infinite love and mercy upon us. Thank you for your eternal promises that lift our eyes above the storms we face here on Earth. Thank you for your presence with those across the world that are in need of your healing hands. We ask for an outpouring of your Holy Spirit. Help us Lord to continue to bring healing and comfort to our families and loved ones. Help us to continue to share your message of hope wherever we are. Lead us, God, in your love for the kingdom. We love you, Jesus!

In Jesus Name, Amen. 

 

Rejoice In The Lord Always

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Stephen Staff graduated from PUC with a degree in communication in 2010. He went on to receive his masters in student life and development in 2018 and is now the boy’s dean and athletics director at Dakota Adventist Academy. Stephen loves PUC and was happy to share a devotional thought with all of his fellow Pioneers.

These are troubling times. We have people getting sick at alarming rates. Countries are closing borders, people are being asked not to leave their homes, and schools are closing. You might be feeling anxious or worried about this. You may know a person that has been directly affected by this, or you might be affected in some way. So what should we do? Do we worry and give in to fear and make sure we have enough toilet paper to last through the apocalypse? In times like this, we need a firm foundation to stand on.

In the book of Daniel Chapter six, we find Daniel in an interesting situation. He has been taken as a captive when Babylon conquered Jerusalem. He served under two different kings, and both saw the power of God through Daniel. Then the Medes and Persians conquered the Babylonians, and Daniel was serving under a new king. This king liked Daniel, but the other officials did not. So they conspired against Daniel. They had the king sign a declaration if anyone made a petition or prayed to anyone other than the king they should be thrown into the lions den. Daniel heard about this declaration, and continued to pray to God just as he had before the declaration. The other officials brought this before the king, and the king was distraught. He followed through with the law and before he sealed it shut he told Daniel he hoped God would protect him from the lions. The king spent a restless night anxiously waiting to find out what had happened to Daniel. When they checked on him in the morning, Daniel was unharmed.

No matter what challenge we are facing, we can have faith that God is always going to be there with us. He is always faithful. Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” Just like Daniel in the lions den, we have faith we can trust this to God and know  He will deliver us.

God Is In Control

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“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” Psalms 62:5-8

A few kayaking excursions on the East Coast taught me something important. The days were sunny and pleasant and the scenery was awesome. There was no hint that things would suddenly change to foreboding skies and fierce winds. I fought hard to paddle myself back to shore wondering if I would make it before being engulfed by the waters. I cried out to the heavens for help, remembering the boat story (Luke 8:22-25) when Jesus calmed the storm and even the winds and the water obeyed him. I did make it safely to shore by persevering and by God’s grace. It was a reminder to me that in the midst of the storms and uncertainties of life, we can be at peace, knowing God is in control. Let’s trust God and make him our rock in our everyday lives, allowing him to perform wonders on our behalf.

Crista Peterson,

Executive Assistant for Student Life
International Student Advisor

A Message Just For Me

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Yesterday, I sat down to read my Bible. Before I opened it, I prayed God would bless my time and give me peace during the craziness happening around me. I opened my Bible and there it was, God’s blessing for the day. It felt like a blessing just for me but I would like to share it with all of you!

My Bible opened to John 14:1, “Do not let your hearts be troubled … believe in God.”

That really struck a chord with me. And then verse 27 popped out, “… Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Wow, I hadn’t been looking for that message, but God planned it for me, for just this moment. In this time of upset, with so much changing around us, it is so reassuring to be reminded that God does not change. He is always the same. He is, always has, and always will remain constant. He is safe to trust! I find much comfort and confidence in knowing and believing this.

Jaime Herman, administrative assistant for student life

 

 

 

 

Love One Another

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Hi PUC!

My name is Lindsey Gullett, née Orellana. I’m a PUC alum from the class of 2015, and I am so excited you’re reading this! One thing I think we can all use a refresher course in, especially during these times of uncertainty, is loving others, no matter what comes our way!

It’s crazy to think  Jesus summed it up in one phrase, “love God and love people” (My paraphrase). In other words, the greatest commandment according to Jesus is all about love (John 14:15). If we love God first and foremost, then out of that love we should love others. Even when all the toilet paper is gone at the store! It sounds simple enough until we start attempting to put it into play. When we begin to look at the reality of how we should love God and people versus how it plays out day-to-day, we’ll probably feel a little guilty of all the times we fall short, I know I do!

 Thankfully, Jesus knows we’re not capable of overcoming our natural selfishness on our own, so He sent us a guide; The Holy Spirit. When we come to know God through Jesus, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Think of the way a friend, counselor, or even a nurse supports, encourages, and walks with you through a tough season. The Holy Spirit does the same thing by helping us follow God’s word.

 What does the Holy Spirit do, exactly? The Holy Spirit begins to transform us from the inside out, helping us reflect the spirit and character of Christ. It’s the Holy Spirit that transforms our perspective from “ought to” to “want to” when it comes to listening to God’s Word–and that makes all the difference in how we live out God’s love.

 As we navigate this time of global crisis, ask God for a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit to help you love others well. This might mean showing extra patience towards your spouse or kids who are stuck at home, offering to pick up groceries for your elderly neighbors, or perhaps it’s praying for global leaders making decisions and medical workers who are on the front lines caring for the sick.

 Hoping these few words have given you a little break from all the craziness out there and that it serves as a gentle reminder as to how we can be a positive light to others through love and kindness!

 

Call On Jesus

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PUC alum, Brad Gienger, graduated in 2010 with a religion degree and clearly put that to good use as he is now serving as the pastor of the Champaign Seventh-day Adventist Church in Illinois. Brad was kind enough to share with us a little Friday worship thought!

“Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?”, these are some of the most biting words in Scripture. This question is especially hard-hitting in light of the context, a storm. As Jesus and his disciples are crossing the Sea of Galilee a storm takes them with such ferocity that hardened fishermen find themselves fearing for their very lives, “Save us, Lord: we are perishing.” As I read that cry I immediately experience empathy, we all should, who has not been caught in a storm? Often it has been a great comfort to me to know that in the storms of life, literally and figuratively, I can cry out to Jesus. When I read the response of Jesus to that plea I must admit to finding it troubling. Why would Jesus rebuke the cry of his follower in the midst of a storm? Would Jesus do that to me?

In the course of serving the Lord storms arise, in fact, if your life of service is stormless it is time to do some soul searching. What do we make of this interaction Jesus has with his disciples? Is it wrong to cry out to God during the storms of life? No, in fact, we are urged to ask Jesus anything many times in Scripture, called to know God as our Rock and Shield. So how then do we understand this story? The disciples unwittingly reveal the answer as they comprehend the capability of Jesus to calm the storm, “What sort of man is this?”. The rebuke of Jesus has nothing to do with the storm and everything to do with the relationship. The issue is not that the disciples are afraid due to the situation they are in, but rather that they are afraid in the company they are in. Jesus wants us to call out to him in the storm, but to call out to him in the knowledge he is with us “even to the end of the age,”.

Our King Is Always With Us

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“I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

It’s been a wave of emotions in the last few weeks. Routine has been stripped from right under our feet and we’re having to adjust to new platforms of existing. As we face this time of struggle, I find the need to be reminded of God’s plan and who He has called me to be despite the current situations. 

I’m reminded of the story of three young men who were taken captives and asked to do things outside of who they knew God had called them to be. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced a king who wanted to instill fear and power over his people in order that he might reign superior. These young men knew who their true King was and stood up against the peer pressure to serve otherwise.

As many of our counties are asked to ‘shelter in place’, we can be consumed by fear. To name a few: the fears of sickness, the fear of missing out, the fears of not experiencing life as we thought we would in the season we thought we would be, you name it. The fear is there and when there is no one else to speak power and life over you, our thoughts consume us. 

I want to gently provoke a desire and need in us during these next few weeks to take the time to pray, meditate and worship our King of Kings because ‘He who began a good work in us will bring it about to completion’. We have hope beyond that of the social media and news stations, we are the generation the Lord has called to bring light and direction to others. 

As Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego expressed to king Nebuchadnezzar they would not bow down to his standards, expectations, or gods, he was filled with rage. The king turned up the fire seven times more so they would truly burn. He tied them up and threw these three young men into the fire. The story then continues, “Look! I see four men, not tied, walking around in the fire unharmed; and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” (Daniel 3:25).

What we do in times of trials determines who can join us. We have the opportunity to welcome the presence of God into our homes, our lives, and our hearts. I imagine these young men not just walking around but praising God at this moment. Though everything was blazing around them, their God was not only protecting them but with them in the fire. 

“There’s a grace when the heart is under fire

Another way when the walls are closing in

And when I look at the space between

Where I used to be and this reckoning

I know I will never be alone

There was another in the fire

Standing next to me

There was another in the waters

Holding back the seas

And should I ever need reminding

Of how I’ve been set free

There is a cross that bears the burden

Where another died for me

There is another in the fire”

 

 

Our King is always with us and unlike king nebuchadnezzar, he does not need to instill fear to show his power, he stands with us in the fire that we would not be burned (Isaiah 43:2). Our King speaks life into existence, the storm to be still and today he is knocking at the doors of our hearts and homes that we would welcome him so that he can be with us in this season. 

– Mayte Jimenez, visit coordinator