Twofer

The last week has gone by in a blur.  We've been gearing up for Vacation Bible Camp in our church and now it's here!  It's a fun (for the kids and adults), exhausting (for the adults) week where we get to share the  story of Jesus and prayerfully sow seeds into the lives of these little ones.

The weeks leading up to this seem to be a time of satanic attack on the adults that are participating.  And I was not immune.  Depression plagued, self-doubts assailed and my old self-esteem issues arose in full force.  But through it all, God reigned, God spoke and God delivered.  I am so grateful.  Even when we know and expect these trials to come when we step out for the Lord, pushing through them can be can be a rough road. 

Last week was spent trying to get the loose ends tied up.  And I had a lengthy list of things I needed to pick up.  Of course I couldn't find it before I had to leave the house.  Oh boy, was I annoyed.  And blaming.  Myself, God....I was muttering and complaining under my breath when I got in the car to go to the store and see what I could remember from the missing list.  As I drove down the block I realized I had forgotten my phone.  More muttering lol.  Time was tight, and now I had to turn around and go back for the phone.  SMH  Why was I so forgetful and disorganized?  Self-recriminations raised their ugly head in my mind.  "You never get it right." rang through my head.  

Well God.....I get back to my house and find my phone in the bedroom.  And lo and behold, right underneath it was the list!  LOL  God is quite funny.  I'm guessing He had this plan all along to let me know I needed to be relying on Him not myself, to keep focused and not scatter my thoughts in a million different directions.  Take a breathe, calm down, and remain in Jesus.  Peace and clarity live there. 

Ok, so that was God visit #1.  Onto #2.  

Sunday night I was driving to our 6 pm service.  Again I was struggling that day, praying for change that I never seem to get.  My thoughts were negative and I couldn't understand why our Lord had not delivered me from the years long battle of wrong thinking.  Conversations with others ran through my head...nothing positive.  Habits and food addiction that I struggle with and can't seem to get victory over, all of it flooded my mind and I was doing the "Why, God, why?" and "When, God, when? routine in full force.  As I pulled into the church parking lot I reigned in my questions and thoughts and tried to put on right mindset, one ready to hear God's Word. 

Well God.....He had an answer for this day too.  John 3:16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.  The answer, part one.  God loved ME so much that Jesus came to die for ME.  This answer for mankind came at a precise time, a perfect time, God's time.  

James 5:17-18  Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! 18 Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.  God answers prayers offered in faith.  The answer is in His time and His control.  And notice the other little nugget of truth there; Elijah was a man just like us!.  Answer, part two.

As I drove to church I felt so overwhelmed by despair.  Waves of doubt and failure, frustration and sadness felt as if they were crashing over my head again and again.  I really have been feeling like I've been drowning lately.  If you've ever body-surfed and got caught up in the wrong way of a big wave, you know the feeling.  You feel like you are in a washing machine getting tumbled over and over, not knowing which way is up until you are finally slammed into the sand.  

The next set of verses given Sunday night really sealed to answers for me.  Mark 4:35-40 35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.  38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”  39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Answer part three.

As I sit here writing this, I have to wonder if when Jesus was saying "Silence!  Be still!" if He was not only talking to the storm, but to the disciples as well.  And to me.  Silence the doubts and fears, the failures and the frustrations.  Don't be afraid, but have faith.  The One who quiets the winds and the waves with His Word will quiet the tempest in our hearts.  Have faith.  He's not sleeping, He's never unaware or slack, but purposeful.  His answers are well thought out and perfectly planned.  Have faith! I think this was the final answer to God's correction and direction. 

Lord, forgive me for going down this road again.  Thank You for Your rebuke, and Your comfort.  I will have faith, help my unbelief!  I know Your answers and Your timing is perfect and I know Your love is all encompassing, a love that died for me before I even knew You.  Each one of us was on Your heart when You came down to earth and sacrificed Your life for us.  Lord, so often we forget how much joy it gives You to bless us and care for us.  We forget Your love and don't trust Your wisdom.  Help us to leave those childish ways behind and to put on the mind of Christ--fully mature, fully trusting.  Thank You again for all the ways You speak to us and train us and love us.  In Jesus' Name, amen. 

Luke 12:29-32 29 And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. 30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. 31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.  32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.  

James 1:2-4  Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

What Matters Most

Unrest.  Chaos.  Wars and rumors of wars.  Bombings. Fires. Riots. Hatred.  Anger.  That seems to be our world today.  As Christians, it's hard to even know how to pray for all this mess.  We are told that all this would come.  Jesus warns us about it in Matthew 24:3-14   3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.   9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Today is a big day of protest in the United States.  Many are very unhappy with the way our government is being run.  Even members of my own family are siding with this movement called "No More Kings."   In my opinion there is a spiritual reference here that many are missing.  The people in this movement are referring to the sitting president of our country, but I believe it has a spiritual reference to rejecting the throne of Jesus Christ Himself.  They do not want to bow before the King of kings and Satan is planting these seeds in the hearts of many people.  But that's just an aside that's been in my head lately. 

So this was my God visit for the morning.  I know my job today is prayer.  Prayer for safety, peace, and a laying down of hatred.  But....I was angry and saddened by the fact that my family members seem to be siding with chaos and lawlessness.  So as I was driving around to do errands and struggling to pray like I have been called to do, the Lord confronted me with a profound truth.  It's eternity that matters.  

No matter what side of the political spectrum you fall on in this country or any other, it's where you spend eternity that matters most.  Presidential terms are four yrs.  At most they are here for eight.  Government leaders come and go.  Political winds change for decade to decade.  But God and the salvation found in Jesus Christ are forever.  I may not agree with another's point of view on how society should be run, but I do agree that they need Jesus.  God needed to remind me to look beyond the present troubles of this world and focus on the future of each person I care for, love and meet.  

I will not be able to convince anyone to agree with me on every social issue.  But I can let the Holy Spirit work through me to convince them of their need for a Savior.  And that is what we are called to do.  Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

In the end, every knee will bow...either willingly ending in eternal life, or begrudgingly ending in eternity in hell.  My prayer is that more and more and more people will choose the first option.  Revelation 15:4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.”

Romans 14:9b For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.”

Of course we should work for justice and peace.  We should plead the cause of those who are oppressed and needy.  God calls us to help others.  What I think God was saying to me today is don't get co caught up with sides that you forget to carry out the great commission, and forget that where people eternity is what matters most.

Lord, let me be focused in my prayers, actions and words to glorify You, to be a blessing, to stand for Your righteousness.  Let my heart be broken for the lost instead of angry at people that don't agree with me or You.  Help Your children to be salt and light not matter which way the political and societal winds are blowing.  People need You!  They don't need this human leader or that human leader...they need the one and only King of kings.  Open hearts and eyes today to the truth or eternity.  Bring peace between You and each and every man, woman and child.  In Jesus' Name I pray, amen.  

Quotes

"Every parable that Jesus ever told is an absolute miracle of divine wisdom, and every miracle that Jesus every performed is a parable of divine truth and divine power."   

This is a quote I heard in a sermon last night.  The speaker was teaching on Mark 3:1-8

Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand. 2 Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus’ enemies watched him closely. If he healed the man’s hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath.  3 Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” 4 Then he turned to his critics and asked, “Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” But they wouldn’t answer him.  5 He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! 6 At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus.  7 Jesus went out to the lake with his disciples, and a large crowd followed him. They came from all over Galilee, Judea, 8 Jerusalem, Idumea, from east of the Jordan River, and even from as far north as Tyre and Sidon. The news about his miracles had spread far and wide, and vast numbers of people came to see him.

The speaker went on to say that in the parables and stories we need to look for where we "fit in."

I've known that the miraculous healings of Jesus pointed to a bigger picture.  Jesus physically healed those who believed in Him, those who had faith.  But the real healing, the healing He longed for them to have was the healing of their hearts.  

In this miracle we see a prime example.  The man with the deformed (or withered, as some versions put it) hand was willing to believe and obey Jesus.  Jesus told him, "Come and stand in front of everyone."   The man came forth.  Jesus then told him, "Hold our your hand."  Again the man obeyed.  It was in this faith and obedience that the man found his restoration.  The man found truth and power in the person of Jesus.  He found healing and restoration, not just for his hand but for his soul.

Conversely, the enemies of Jesus, (the Scribes and the Pharisees) found fault.  The found a reason for more hatred and more jealously and more motive to get rid of Him.  Their hardened hearts could not see the truth in front of them  They walked away unchanged, still withered of soul.  

Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

Proverbs 2

My son, if you receive my words,

And treasure my commands within you,

2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom,

And apply your heart to understanding;

3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment,

And lift up your voice for understanding,

4 If you seek her as silver,

And search for her as for hidden treasures;

5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,

And find the knowledge of God.

6 For the Lord gives wisdom;

From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;

7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;

He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;

8 He guards the paths of justice,

And preserves the way of His saints.

9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice,

Equity and every good path.

10 When wisdom enters your heart,

And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,

11 Discretion will preserve you;

Understanding will keep you,

12 To deliver you from the way of evil,

From the man who speaks perverse things,

13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness

To walk in the ways of darkness;

14 Who rejoice in doing evil,

And delight in the perversity of the wicked;

15 Whose ways are crooked,

And who are devious in their paths;

16 To deliver you from the immoral woman,

From the seductress who flatters with her words,

17 Who forsakes the companion of her youth,

And forgets the covenant of her God.

18 For her house leads down to death,

And her paths to the dead;

19 None who go to her return,

Nor do they regain the paths of life—

20 So you may walk in the way of goodness,

And keep to the paths of righteousness.

21 For the upright will dwell in the land,

And the blameless will remain in it;

22 But the wicked will be cut off from the earth,

And the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.

In every act of Jesus', every story, parable, word,  miracle...all of His life here is truth, power and wisdom for us.  We are instructed to seek, to come to Him! It is God's pleasure to reveal Himself to us.   And we are instructed to obey Him.  When we do, we find healing for our lives, our souls and hope (solid, assured and definite) for our eternity.   Jeremiah 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.   

As you read through the Gospels, the whole Bible, look for ways to apply it, maybe there's a principle, or a parallel, instruction or warning.  The Lord wants us to look beyond the surface and dig deeply into Him.  He wants to heal our withered parts, our deformities and our lostness.  Don't be afraid to come before Him when He calls.  

Lord, You truly are our truth, healer, savior, power and life.  Let us search for You with all our hearts.  Share with us Your will, Your wisdom, Your truth and Your heart as we read Your Word.  Only You have the words of life.  Only You can heal the deformities of our souls.  And as You do this, we will be walking sermons of hope and deliverance drawing others to You.  We love You and need You each moment of each day.  Thank You.  It's in You we pray and have hope Jesus.  Amen. 

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.