But God…

Have you ever heard anyone tell you that the truth is only due to those who deserve the truth?  For instance, people will say this to rationalize and justify the lie of the Hebrew midwives in the account surrounding Moses’ birth.  This is the account:

Exodus 1:15-21: “The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, “When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.” The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?” The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.” So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.”

From the above passage we learn that the midwives feared God more than the king of Egypt. Matthew 10:28 states it this way: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Due to their reverence for God, they would not kill the baby boys. This is absolutely commendable. But God doesn’t commend them for the lie they devised to protect themselves from Pharaoh. He blessed them because they feared God.

There is another account recorded in Scripture that people who believe it is acceptable to lie in order to save a life use to support their stance. It is the account recorded in Joshua 2.  Two spies were sent into Canaan to get a view of what they were up against as they prepared to conquer the land. They began with Jericho. Rahab hid the spies. The king of Jericho insisted she bring them out. She came up with a believable lie so that those hunting the Israelite spies would fail. As the account continues, God had determined that the city would fall to the Israelites, and that is exactly what happened as they obeyed His instructions. 

This familiar Bible account describes the miraculous destruction of the walls of Jericho. Joshua 6:3-5provides the specific details of what the people of Israel had to do for victory over their enemy: “March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”

Once the walls were down, the Israelites successfully completed the victory by the hand of God, and Rahab and her family were spared because of her assistance in protecting the two spies. Please note, there is nothing in Scripture commending her for her lie. Hebrews 11:31 states: “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.” Rahab believed God and acted upon that belief. 

Now consider the following two accounts from Scripture:

In Daniel 3 we are given the account of three Hebrew young men who stood for truth. They were ordered to worship an image erected at the order of King Nebuchadnezzer of Babylon. However, these young men loved God and were determined to worship only Him.

Daniel 3:16-26: “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.” [Bravo young men! This is confidence and trust that is exhibited when we have faith in God.] “But even if” [Note the “even if” not “what if” or anything else that shows a lack of confidence in God.] “he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” [They had no fear of death.] 

“Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual” [Still, these young men stand firm in their trust in God, even if it means death.] “and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.” [Personally, I don’t think they needed to be tied up.] “So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers” [What a lack of caring for people on the part of the King.] “who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,” and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.”

“Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire.”

This account reveals the power of God. His power over death. His power over whatever tactics evildoers want to employ against God’s people. However, we know for certain, that God does not always deliver from the hands of evil. “Even if” He doesn’t, God’s people have the assurance that we are safe for all eternity in His loving care. The body may be destroyed, but our souls and spirits live on in the power and authority of God Most High.

Can I help you work through a tough situation?  Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com.

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK!!!

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Though we do not always know why we suffer, God’s word provides us with some of His purposes for the trials, hardships, and suffering we experience.

From Genesis to Revelation, God is conveying His plan and purpose for us. 

In Genesis, we understand that God created Adam and Eve. He provided an amazing garden for them to enjoy. He gave them one rule: Genesis 2:16: “And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

God gave the first people the opportunity to live in harmony with Him. They chose to break faith with God, to rebel against Him, by choosing to eat from the tree they were simply created to admire.

With that one act of rebellion, all descendants of Adam and Eve would also rebel against God. But Godalready had in place His plan to provide a way for that chasm between us to be bridged [“But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.”]. 

Jesus Christ is the answer. He is God’s one and only Son.  He, in collaboration with the Father, provided the way for us to have a living relationship with God: John 6:29: “Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

Since there is this chasm, and God has a plan to enable the chasm to be bridged, He needs to get our attention. One way He does this is through suffering, trials, etc. When people are hard pressed, it often results in that person seeking God. He alone is truly all powerful, all knowing, and everywhere. To choose not to seek God is never a profitable option.

1 Peter 1:6-7 states: “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

Suffering has purpose. It is our choice to allow our suffering to prove our faith in Christ is genuine and to build our relationship with our Creator God or not.

God also purposes to create a Christ-like character through our suffering: Romans 5:3-5 states: “… we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” 

Suffering has purpose. It is our choice to allow God to use our suffering to build Christ-like character or not.

Experience has taught me that trials are God’s way of protecting me from making a decision that would be detrimental to me. The trial preoccupied me in such a way that I didn’t have time to act or speak with regards to another situation. It wasn’t until later that I recognized God’s intervention through the trial.

Suffering has purpose. It is our best choice to allow our suffering to open our eyes to see God’s involvement in our lives.

It is easy to praise and worship God when we are not threatened by a trial or hardship. But God wants us to praise Him and worship Him in the midst of our struggles. 1 Peter 2:9-10 shows that God desires for us to praise Him: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

Suffering has purpose. It is our choice to praise and exalt God’s Name in the midst of suffering.

Each morning it is my practice to kneel before God. I find that when I’m in the thick of a trial, this is the best place for me. I fight with wanting to take some action to resolve or deal with the trial, instead of taking the time to kneel before my Maker, but God reminds me that on my knees is the best place for me.

Suffering has purpose. It is our choice to take time to kneel and pray to God in the midst of suffering so that He can speak to our hearts through His Holy Spirit and His word.

Hebrews 12:5-11 tells us that discipline (which may come through suffering) reveals that we belong to our Heavenly Father. It is a means of identification with Him. Hebrews explains that earthly fathers discipline their children, and our Heavenly Father is the perfect Father, so He will discipline us, with mercy and grace.

Suffering has purpose. It is our choice to allow suffering to correct us and identify us with our Heavenly Father.

This is a quote from something I read: “The third thing is the conquering grace that he provides, “the way out” that is always present, never failing. What is that way of escape? It is dependence. Discipline is necessary, but so is dependence. All through the Old Testament the heroes and heroines of faith have taught us that in the hour of testing God strips away all human support so that we may learn that he is enough. “God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in time of trouble” (Ps.46:1), and we will never discover that until everything else has been taken away. Then we begin to discover that God can hold us steady. He himself is the way of escape, and that is why he puts us through pressures and testings.”  

God often stated to the Israelites, through His prophets, that one reason for their discipline was for others to know that He is God. The Israelites failed to magnify God to the other nations. They adopted the ways of the world rather than adhering to the God who had delivered them from Egypt and gave them their land.

Suffering has a purpose. God will be magnified. He gives us sufficient grace to work through the challenges [See 2 Corinthians 12:9.]

Are you having a challenging time seeing God’s purpose in your trials, hardships, or suffering? I would be happy to pray with you, and listen to you.  Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Have you ever considered the influence others have had on you, especially as it relates to knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior?

Before I committed my life to Christ, we had family members who professed Jesus as Lord and Savior. However, their lifestyles were similar to mine. These so-called Christians were committing the same sins as I was. They failed to model what true faith in Christ looked like.

Once I came to a saving knowledge of Jesus, God, through His Holy Spirit, began to convict me of my sin. I sought to be cleansed of all unrighteousness. 

God is always faithful to cleanse us of unrighteousness when we confess our sins. It is promised in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” The condition in this promise is that we confess our sins. That means that we must accept the responsibility for our sins. We then need to be honest with God as we confess to Him our guilt. His Holy Spirit will relieve our hearts of the burden that sin cast because Jesus bore the burden. All praise and glory to our great God.

When we confess our sins to God that may be the only action necessary. However, if our sin impacted someone in such a manner that we need to make the situation right with that someone, we must ask the person’s forgiveness. This action goes a long way in portraying what faith in Jesus looks like.

When God’s people take responsibility for their sins, it goes a long way towards others showing how great our God is to us. Isn’t that what we want others to understand? We want others to come to the knowledge of how great our God is, how forgiving He is, because we all need His forgiveness. 

When God’s people have wronged someone and fail to apologize and ask forgiveness that can cast doubt on Jesus. As God’s people we represent Him. It is our responsibility to represent Him well.

Consider God’s words to His people, the Israelites, given to His prophet, Ezekiel, to deliver:

Ezekiel 36:16-21: “Again the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by their conduct and their actions. Their conduct was like a woman’s monthly uncleanness in my sight. So I poured out my wrath on them because they had shed blood in the land and because they had defiled it with their idols. I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered through the countries; I judged them according to their conduct and their actions. And wherever they went among the nations they profaned my holy name, for it was said of them, ‘These are the Lord’s people, and yet they had to leave his land.’ I had concern for my holy name, which the people of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone.”

Do you see how God’s people had cast doubt on the character and person of God in these verses from Ezekiel? Do you see how God held them accountable for that behavior? What steps might you and I take so that we walk humbly with our God, rather than profaning His name in any way?

As a follower of Jesus Christ it is my privilege to have an intimate relationship with Him. As a result, I don’t want to cast any doubt about Jesus’ love, forgiveness, mercy, grace, compassion, power, wisdom, knowledge, and so much more. 

When I fail to exalt Him, I confess my sin to Him, and because of Jesus’ cleansing blood I am able to continue without condemnation. Romans 8:1 assures me of this truth: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

If you are living under condemnation, you can be released through a relationship with Jesus. Do you want to live in true freedom? Freedom only comes through Jesus. Freedom will never be found in amassing worldly wealth, obtaining a worldly position, or in having people as friends who are esteemed by the world. 

Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com if you would like to talk about a living relationship with the Lord.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

The online dictionary defines relinquish in this way: “Cease to keep or claim (something); give up”.

My greatest desire is to have God rule my life every moment of every day. I know He is abundantly able to make every decision for me. His decisions will only benefit me. So why do I still fail to relinquish everything to Him? Why do I continue to keep or claim any decisions, when I know He only has the best for me?

I know it stems from pride. I know that my pride will be something I have to deal with every day of my life until Jesus takes me from this life and into eternity with Him.

But God wants me to walk humbly with Him. Since humility is a theme in Scripture, I know that God will help me in my quest to honor Him more each day. When I consider my character from 5 years ago, I know that God (not me) has changed me for the better. 

This time in my life has had more tumultuous activity than I ever had at any time in the past. But God has helped me through it. I know this because I sleep peacefully at night, when in the past I would have been in turmoil.

But I know I have so much more to relinquish to God and that it is good for me to do so.

I know I need to be unoffendable – humble. I’m experiencing God giving me the ability to rest in Him when people treat me unkindly. It is also helping me to hold my tongue so that I am less offensive to others.

Recently I scratched the side of my vehicle. Obviously I was not happy about it. No one needed to tell me it was my fault. It was. I knew it. I knew it would cost to fix it. But God gave me peace about it. Later, someone saw me who knew about the accident. The remark that was made caused me to have to deal with my pride and to relinquish being offended. The person called me “crash”. Of course, this person thought it was funny and when I didn’t laugh, I was the one at fault.

I had to fight from being offended. I did nothing to cause unkind words to be spoken to me. God knew. He comforted me and encouraged me. This made me stronger for the next unkind remark that would come my way. It will come. Jesus warned us that we will have troubles in this world, and many of them stem from people’s unkindness.

When I am offended, I think it’s because I’m still too full of myself. Do you know people who are so full of themselves that everything has to be their way? I want everything to be God’s way, don’t you? I know some people may think I’m always trying to get my way, but God knows that is not the truth.

How can we help one another to walk in the light, as Jesus is in the light? Walking in the light helps us to relinquish our lives to God and to be unoffendable.

These verses help spur me on to relinquish myself to my great Lord and Savior, Jesus:

1 John 1:7: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” We can only have true fellowship when we are walking in the light. 

Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” The Bible reveals God to us. It reveals Jesus and His Holy Spirit. It reveals God’s plan for people. It reveals His character. It reveals what sin is. It reveals so much that we cannot understand it all in a lifetime.

Ephesians 5:8: “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” 

1 John 2:9-11: “Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

John 8:12: “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

How do I walk in the light and relinquish the darkness of my former sinful lifestyle? God’s Word shows me the way to walk humbly with Jesus. Throughout the Bible God clearly outlines the manner of life we should be living for Him. In order to live for Him we need to relinquish our ungodly thoughts so that His thinking becomes ours.

God’s people need to allow the Spirit free rein within us so that we can walk in His light. 

What does the Bible have to say about who the Holy Spirit is and what he does?

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity. God is One and God is three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It’s a truth we cannot fully grasp with our finite minds. 

He is Spirit. We do not see Him, but those of us who have an abiding relationship with Jesus experience His work in our spirits, souls, and minds. 

The Holy Spirit can be grieved. In the same manner that the sinful behavior of a child grieves a parent, God’s people can grieve the Holy Spirit. Consider what Ephesians 4:30 states: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

Romans 8:26: “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”

John 14:16: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever.”

These are just a few verses from the Bible that help us begin to understand the Holy Spirit and His work in and for people. He helps us relinquish our prideful selves so that we can exalt our God through Christlike behavior.

What is God helping you relinquish today? How do you think this will strengthen your relationship with God?

Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com for any questions regarding God.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

The Psalms have so many references to God as the refuge for those who belong to Him:

Psalm 46:1-3: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Since God is our refuge, we do not need to fear or allow anything in this world to trouble us. “Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah”. Selah is a pause to give us time to consider and reflect. 

Psalm 62:8: “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah” God is trustworthy. We can tell Him all our troubles. He is not surprised by them, as He already knows them. He simply wants us to seek Him for help, and to find refuge in Him.

This is how the online dictionary defines Biblical refuge: “In a Biblical context, “refuge” refers to a place or person offering protection, safety, and shelter from danger or anxiety, with the most profound meaning being God as a refuge for His people, requiring trust and dependency on Him rather than worldly sources of safety. The Hebrew word machaseh (Strong’s H4268), commonly translated as “refuge,” signifies a shelter and a place of trust rooted in the verb chasah (Strong’s H2620), which means “to flee for protection” and “to seek refuge”. “ 

Do you need protection, safety, and shelter from some person or event in your life? Do you struggle with anxiety? How might seeing and believing in God as your refuge help you put fear to rest and cause your anxiety to flee?

Is Jesus your Lord and Savior? If yes, then you have access to Him to be your refuge. If not, then you can confess Jesus as Lord and Savior. This opens up God’s promises of being your refuge.

Psalm 18:30: “This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.” I love the picture of God being a shield for all who take refuge in Him. God’s shield will give us protection. The shield a soldier carried would have provided the readers of that era with a vivid picture of protection. We need to understand that God is our true shield.

 But God may allow some darts of the enemy to get past His shield. When He does this, it is only because He allows them, and He has a good plan for us in the midst of the troubles. However, as Psalm 18:30 states, His way is perfect! Only what God intends to benefit can ever touch our lives, when we belong to Him.

Psalm 91:6: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Where should we dwell? In God Most High’s shelter! 

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines dwell as: “To abide as a permanent resident, or to inhabit for a time; to live in a place; to have a habitation for some time or permanence.”

Do you permanently abide in Christ as your Lord and Savior, or do you turn elsewhere? We can cry out to Jesus to ask Him to help us as we abide in Him. 

If Jesus is your refuge, whom might you share this truth with so that they can also find safety, security, and rest in Jesus?

Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com if you would like to talk about a living relationship with the Lord.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Have you ever considered the influence others have had on you, especially as it relates to knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior?

Before I committed my life to Christ, we had family members who professed Jesus as Lord and Savior. However, they committed the same sins as mine. They failed to exemplify a Christian lifestyle.

Once I came to a saving knowledge of Jesus, God, through His Holy Spirit, began to convict me of my sin. I sought to be cleansed of all unrighteousness. 

God is always faithful to cleanse us of unrighteousness when we confess our sins. It is promised in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” The condition in this promise is that we confess our sins. That means that we must accept the responsibility for our sins. We then need to be honest with God as we confess to Him our guilt. His Holy Spirit will relieve our hearts of the burden that sin cast because Jesus bore the burden. All praise and glory to our great God.

When we confess our sins to God that may be the only action necessary. However, if our sin impacted someone in such a manner that we need to make the situation right with someone, we must ask the person’s forgiveness. This action goes a long way in exhibiting what faith in Jesus looks like.

When God’s people take responsibility for their sins, it goes a long way for others to experience how great our God is to us. Isn’t that what we want others to understand? We want others to come to the knowledge of how great our God is, how forgiving He is, because we all need His forgiveness. 

When God’s people have wronged someone and fail to apologize and ask forgiveness that can cast doubt on Jesus. As God’s people we represent Him. It is our responsibility to represent Him well.

Consider God’s words to the Israelites, given to His prophet Ezekiel to deliver:

Ezekiel 36:16-21: “Again the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by their conduct and their actions. Their conduct was like a woman’s monthly uncleanness in my sight. So I poured out my wrath on them because they had shed blood in the land and because they had defiled it with their idols. I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered through the countries; I judged them according to their conduct and their actions. And wherever they went among the nations they profaned my holy name, for it was said of them, ‘These are the Lord’s people, and yet they had to leave his land.’ I had concern for my holy name, which the people of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone.”

Do you see how God’s people had cast doubt on the character and person of God in these verses from Ezekiel? Do you see how God held them accountable for that behavior? What steps might you and I take so that we walk humbly with our God, rather than profaning His name in any way?

As a follower of Jesus Christ it is my privilege to have an intimate relationship with Him. As a result, I don’t want to cast any doubt about Jesus’ love, forgiveness, mercy, grace, compassion, power, wisdom, knowledge, and so much more. 

When I fail to exalt Him, I confess my sin to Him, and because of Jesus’ cleansing blood I am able to continue without condemnation. Romans 8:1 assures me of this truth: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

If you are living under condemnation, you can be released through a relationship with Jesus. Do you want to live in true freedom? Freedom only comes through Jesus. Freedom will never be found in amassing worldly wealth, obtaining a worldly position, or in having people as friends who are esteemed by the world. 

Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com if you would like to talk about a living relationship with the Lord.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Duty is defined online as: “a moral or legal obligation; a responsibility” and “a task or action that someone is required to perform”. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines duty as: “That which a person owes to another; that which a person is bound, by any natural, moral or legal obligation, to pay, do or perform.”

Service is defined online as: “the action of helping or doing work for someone”. The Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines service as: In a general sense, labor of body or of body and mind, performed at the command of a superior, or the pursuance of duty, or for the benefit of another. service is voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary service is that of hired servants, or of contract, or of persons who spontaneously perform something for another’s benefit. Involuntary service is that of slaves, who work by compulsion.”

When I contemplate the distinction between duty and service with regard to the life of a true follower of Jesus, I recognize that there are certain acts that define me as a Christ follower. 

Consider what God asks of His people in John 6:33:

John 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” If I am truly a follower of Jesus, it is my duty to seek God first. In this verse Jesus was reassuring His followers that in seeking Him and His righteousness above anything else, that He would provide for His people’s needs. 

The requests God makes of His people are for our benefit. When we seek God first, and put His kingdom’s purposes above our earthly ones, it is an act of worship. Service to God is an act of worship. What comes across as a duty, will actually facilitate our worship and praise of God. 

Worship of God is our chief goal. To have Him honored and recognized as our Provider brings Him glory – that should be the joyful goal of everyone who follows Christ.

Life is not about me. It is not about you. Life is all about glorifying God!

I came across this quote from Spurgeon: “You will never know the fullness of Christ until you know the emptiness of everything else.”

Some people can look at something they believe is a “duty” from a negative perspective. Some might feel as if it is hindering their free will. But God sees everything He asks of us as His protective provision for spiritually healthy living.

Let’s consider what Paul teaches in Romans 8:5-8: “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

How we view our duty and service for God depends upon our mindset. In the above passage, Paul helps us to understand that our minds should be set on God’s Spirit. God’s Spirit will help Christ’s followers to reject sinful temptations. We will not do this every time.  As we grow in our relationship with Jesus, His Spirit will build our resistance to sin’s temptation as we are focused on the things of God.

But God does give us the freedom to reject His help and there are always negative consequences to choosing the ways of the flesh. 

When we set our mind on the Spirit, we please God. As a Christ follower, that is my goal. If it is not your desire, why not? 

When we turn our minds to the things of the flesh – desire for a spouse, desire for a child, advancement in worldly endeavors, etc. – those are not necessarily unhealthy for us, but if God is not the priority in the desire, there are negative consequences.

However, there are positive consequences when we set our minds on the Spirit, and what matters to God. God’s presence, provision, protection, and our future with Him are all positive consequences.

Consider what Paul states above about the consequence of not setting one’s mind on the Spirit: “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, … For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

One day our earthly life will end. What you believe about God matters for your eternal existence.

What do you believe about the existence of God? 

What do you believe about your eternal existence?

I have confidence that I belong to Jesus, and that my eternal destiny is with Him. I am secure. I cannot lose my place in His kingdom, because His Spirit did an irrevocable work in my life. I gain confidence that I belong to Jesus because each day I find my mind is more fixed upon God, His Spirit, and what matters to Him. 

I don’t consider my life one of duty, in the negative sense of the word. I consider my life blessed because I get to serve the living God, the Creator of each of us. I am grateful He gives me secure parameters to live by. I am grateful I know His expectations. I am grateful He blesses me in the midst of trials. He blesses me always! I am grateful He called me out of my sinful lifestyle into a Spirit-led lifestyle.

Do you have a true relationship with Jesus? What do you base your answer on?

Do you look at life through the lens of the Bible and by the power of God’s Spirit? If not, why not?

These questions were posed to me in one of my daily devotions. How might you answer them: “Is the chief end of our lives the glory of God and our enjoyment of Him? How does this affect our reactions to losses and gains of earth’s treasures and pleasures? Do we need to seriously reassess our priorities?”  

If you want to have a relationship with Jesus, I would be glad to talk with you. 

Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com if you would like to talk about God, the Bible, and how Jesus gives us a much better life.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Perspective matters. 

What do you think about that statement?

I’ve heard that statement, and it has increasingly helped me to gain a better attitude when I’m working through a troubling situation.

The best perspective for me is to focus on God to gain His eternal perspective.  When I do that, my focus changes and even the difficult tasks have a different perspective with eternal value.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, His forgiveness of my sins changed my life. I went from being condemned, eternally separated from God my Creator, to the guarantee of being in the everlasting presence of His Son, Jesus.

As a result of that transition, everything I say and do should have the goal of honoring Jesus. No matter what situation I find myself, my desire should be to exalt the name of Jesus Christ. That is the best perspective I can have. 

I find that praising Christ changes something within me for the positive. But God knows that is not always what happens with me, as well intentioned as I may be. I don’t always stop to praise my great God, and to pray for His help.

But God extends His mercy and grace daily. 

Lamentations 3:22-23 states: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

James 4:6 states: “But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Due to God’s mercy and grace we can regain our focus and perspective when we stray from focusing fully on the Lord.

What might cause us to lose our eternal perspective?

Doubt – Doubt is a tool of Satan, the Christ follower’s enemy. Jesus is not offended by our doubt. When Thomas doubted Him, Jesus met Thomas in his doubt and brought him around to faith.

John 20:24-28: Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!””

Fear – Another tactic of the enemy is planting seeds of fear into our minds. Numerous times in the Bible God tells us not to be afraid. Why can we turn our fear to faith? We can do this because Jesus conquered death and our enemy, Satan, when He went to the cross and rose from the dead. 

The Amplified Version states this about fear in 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].”

Self – Placing too much emphasis on ourselves, rather than focusing on the Lord and others.

Romans 12:3 states: “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”

Trials – When we are struggling with situations that press us beyond our comfort zone, we can be inclined to forget to look to God for His help. But God is at work purifying our hearts, and working to help us to focus on Him. That focus makes all the difference in how I handle myself in my trials.

James 1:2- 5 states: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

Illness – Illness weakens us, and is another cause for us to focus more on ourselves than on God. Illness is a form of a trial, so the same verses apply. We need to be aware that when we are in a physically weakened state that we are increasingly susceptible to take on a wrong perspective.

When we consider our week, was our perspective more God-centered with eternity in mind, or more self and worldly centered? How might we become more centered on God?

Begin with establishing a relationship with the living God through Jesus. Follow this with spending time in the Bible on a daily basis. Ask God for a friend who can help you grow in your relationship with Jesus. Spend time thanking Him for the many blessings experienced each day. Praise Him for who He is – the Supreme God, the One and Only living God, and for many other aspects of His character. Become involved in a local Bible believing, Bible teaching gathering of believers.

I’d be glad to talk with you about this further, or to talk about anything else that might be troubling you.

Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

Thinking back on my choices prior to accepting Christ’s gift of salvation, for the most part, I truly knew what was right and what was wrong. Now, with Christ’s indwelling Spirit, I not only know what is right and what is wrong, but I have God’s power enabling me to do what is right. I’m referring to what is right according to God, since He alone is the true standard of right and wrong.

Having God’s power enabling me to do what is right does not always mean that I make the choice to do what is right.

This quote gives me pause to consider before making my choices:

“In all temptations let us consider not what he offers, but what we shall lose.” Richard Sibbes

That quote is a great statement for us to consider in making choices. When we choose to obey God, and follow what He asks of us, we are always blessed. The blessings are not always instantaneous, but God will be sure to bless us.

Disobedience to God always results in loss. We may not always recognize the loss at the time of our choice, but God will bring conviction through His Spirit so that we can confess our sinful choice, and be restored to complete fellowship with Him. The greatest loss we can experience is that of intimacy with our loving Heavenly Father. 

Jesus gave His life so that we can have that intimacy. Without a personal relationship with Christ, there is no relationship with God. Our sin has broken that relationship, and it can only be restored when Jesus is our Lord and Savior.

One way we know that Jesus is truly our Lord and Savior is our response to our sinful choices. On this side of eternity we will sin, but God through Jesus has made it possible for us to have a living, active, intimate relationship with our Creator because He paid the penalty for all sin. Therefore, we need to confess our sin on a regular basis.

1 John 1:9 gives us God’s promise for restoration after we have confessed our sin:“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

When you and I made [make] that choice to sin, do we really believe we didn’t know better? Today people can be confused because so much sin is accepted by many in our society. But God has put within each of us a conscience. 

Romans 2:12-16 states: “For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them [We do know what is right or wrong.] on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.”

Consider what King David confessed and prayed in Psalm 51:1-17:

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” [Consider this statement. David understood that he was never without sin. He grew to understand that God’s forgiveness for his sin was greater than we can comprehend.] 

David continued to write: “Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.” That is the NIV version. The Amplified Version states this verse this way: “Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part [of my heart] You will make me know wisdom. 

David sought God for cleansing from his sin: “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.”[God’s Spirit did not permanently indwell people until after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension.]

What David looked forward to from God: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” 

What David would do with his restored relationship with God is stated next: “Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”

What can you learn from Psalm 51 that will help you make Godly choices, so that you can honor our great God and Savior, and be blessed beyond measure? How might you also be able to help someone else make a Godly choice instead of an ungodly decision?

Since we know what is right and wrong, why do we insist on choosing the wrong, harmful choices? What do we believe about the potential consequences of our wrong choices? Do we believe we can make ungodly choices without consequences? Do we think we can ask forgiveness later? Maybe we won’t have that opportunity and will have to live with the consequences of a hurtful decision for the rest of our earthly lives. We may experience God’s forgiveness, but we should also ask forgiveness of the person we sinned against.

Perhaps you are being faced now with the decision to accept or reject Christ. That is the ultimate decision we don’t want to get wrong. The consequences are profound. The consequence of rejected Christ is eternal life separated from God. We don’t even know what that will be like, because His presence is all around us, and in those who love Jesus.

God’s clear expectation for us to make choices that honor Him are plainly seen in the words of Scripture.

Are you struggling with a decision? Can I help? Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.

I am at a time in my life when stress wants to rule my days. But God doesn’t want that. He tells me in

James 1:2-4 that the pressures and troubles of this life have an eternal purpose: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

One phrase stood out to me as I read the above verse: “trials of many kinds”. That is exactly how I can describe my life today. I was contemplating the intensity of the spiritual battle behind my trials. Ephesians 6:12 reminds me that it is not the people, though they are tools in the hands of the enemy, but it is spiritual warfare between Godly and ungodly forces: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

As I care for my 95 year old mother, manage her care, watch my 6 year old granddaughter, and am involved in various Bible studies, the enemy of our souls does not like any of this because I attempt to live for God’s glory in all I do, as it states in Colossians 3:23-24, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”

I have to guard against bitterness, anger, and losing my passion for serving my amazing God.  This quote was from my BSF [Bible Study Fellowship] study: “When routine dulls my passion or when I forget the eternal value of the tasks you entrust to me, help me to see my work through your eyes—as sacred and purposeful.”

The best way I guard my heart and mind is to remember what Jesus has done for me – for each of us.  

He came to earth and put on a human body – how confining that must have been for God.

He came and suffered but was victorious over the enemy’s temptations.

He came and walked and talked with people, and ate with sinners to show us His love, forgiveness, compassion, and so much more!

He came and willingly died the shameful death of a criminal on a cross.

He came and powerfully rose from the dead.

He came and visited many people before He ascended, proving He has the power to raise us from the dead and forgive our sins.

There is strength in my trials as I remember Jesus, who He is and what He has done for us.

There is strength to be victorious in my trials as I seek God, talk with Him and read His Word.

My trials are not more powerful than our living God! They may appear overwhelming to us, but God is never overwhelmed or impotent when we need help.

Remembering Jesus is profitable. Having a pity party doesn’t produce anything positive.

Remembering Jesus and helping others to remember Him is profitable.

Remembering Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life is profitable because He ignites His Spirit in me so that I can also rise above my trials and challenges.

Too often I fail to remember Jesus, who He is and what He has done for us, but God patiently envelopes me with His love, and leads me in repentance and restoration.

I am grateful to God that He called me out of the darkness of my sin, at His cost, not mine.

I am grateful to God for His daily mercy and grace.

I am grateful to God for His work of restoration in my life…it is lifelong and He is patient with me.

Are you struggling under the weight of trials and burdens? I would be glad to talk and pray with you if you want to reach out to me.

Please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com if you want me to come alongside you.

Living for Jesus, Donna

P.S. If this has helped you, please share it with others!

Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.

Copyright 2025 Donna Shappy   All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.