It Can't Get Much Better!

John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

When we have Sunday school we use no other book but the Bible. Why do we need any other book anyway? The scripture above shows us one of the greatest truths: the WORD was and is...Jesus...and the Book. We dissect scripture in Sunday school. It takes weeks to get through a book of the Bible. It's life. It's rich. It's true. And it happens to be the bulk of this blog! 

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

So, we're finishing up 1Timothy. And what we discussed in much detail in Sunday school today were these verses:

COMMAND those who are rich in this present age not to be HAUGHTY, nor to TRUST in uncertain riches BUT IN the living God, WHO GIVES US RICHLY all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be RICH in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves A GOOD FOUNDATION for the time to come, that they may lay hold on ETERNAL LIFE. (1Timothy 6:17-19)

There is nothing wrong, as we discussed, with having riches. Even the poorest in this country are rich compared to other countries. But, there's an even greater thing we can have that produces riches that far surpass the things in this world. Sooooo...as I pondered these words from 1Timothy, more came to me:

...NO OTHER foundation can anyone lay THAN THAT which is laid, which is JESUS CHRIST. (1Corinthians 3:11) The Foundation (hah, FOUND-ation) that is Christ, the Word of God. The greatest Treasure to be FOUND.  Foundation: a body or ground on which other parts REST or are overlaid.  Strong's Concordance's definition of foundation in this verse: the foundations, beginnings, first principals; of institution or system of truth. Not only is He above all things but the solid ground beneath. And all things in between for those who desire Him. We are called to rest in Him. He holds the greatest system of truth being He is the Truth. Foundation - beginning (and the end) - first. It doesn't get much better. 

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; BUT lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For WHERE your treasure is, THERE your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

And there's a promise for anyone who seeks these better things:

I will give you the TREASURES of darkness and hidden RICHES of secret places, that you may know that I, the LORD, who call you by your name, am the God of Israel. (Isaiah 45:3)

And there's even more! 

...as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the THINGS WHICH God HAS PREPARED for those who love Him. (1Corinthians 2:9)

                                                                          

His Spirit will let our spirits know the deeper things of God. These are the treasures we should seek. 

Thank You, my God, for trusting me with just a hint of those treasures! May my desire for more continue to grow. May nothing, absolutely nothing, take this desire away. No thing, no person, no trial. May this desire be met by You and revelation knowledge be passed on to me. I want to continually grow in Your wisdom and knowledge. 

Oh myyyyy...

Matthew 6:31-33 - Therefore do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Listen Up!

2Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭1-5 - But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 

Read this again. Do you see this in this world today? Wow, the first thing is lovers of selves, one of the biggest reasons one does not want to receive Christ. Lives seem most important as they are today. Six times in the New Testament Jesus said: He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. We must give up our lives to and for Christ, like He did for us, that we, being then in Christ, will live forever in and for Him. This is not just knowing who He is, but believing what the Word (which is also Jesus) says, not a church or denomination. It is giving your life for Him.

But look at the rest of this list. Can't you see all these in this world? If you look at the news, which we should have some interest in, can't you say each one of these things has risen up? I bring this up because of the latest news about the mass shooting in a South Carolina church last night. We don't know the motive yet; they haven't as of this writing found the shooter. But here we have a pastor, also in politics, killed, along with others in his congregation. I'm certain all this pastor wanted, and others who seem to be rejected for their beliefs, are things done honestly and in order, the way God requires it, not man. The foundation God requires...one based on Him. The foundation this country was founded on. The foundation some do not see a need for because they are "lovers of self."

It's a shame more people don't see this. It's their way or the highway; it's antagonism against, and sometimes hatred for, all things true and just. Sometimes it's just man wanting to do what man wants...lover of self, pride. This goes for both sides of the political aisle. This is also the way that will usher in the return of Christ, which I'm sure many will scoff at. The enemy is hard at work because he knows his time is short and he wants to take down as many as he can. Will you be along with him and apart from God when that happens?

In an interview with a congressman and congregant of this pastor's church, he spoke truth: We're entering a new phase in politics; the politics of hate. They've always been around but they're rearing their heads to new levels, new heights. There's always some people who will express some sort of hatred toward politicians, but there things that do unite us as a people and when people of goodwill come together our nation prospers. We need prayer, we need God, we need to return to our founding principles more today than any time in our nation's history. These are truths because he understands the things of God. If we do not understand we are in deep trouble, just where the enemy the devil wants us. I am reminded of this: ...if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (‭2Chronicles‬ ‭7‬:‭14‬)  Why can't we see this and understand? Because we need Christ to do so.

We must be in relationship and living for Christ.  When we are we are ...no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭19-22)  Neither our church, pastor, priest, rabbi, nor denomination, but Jesus alone, is to be our foundation. The Church was built on Jesus Christ. It's about one Man who died for our sins. One Man who was concealed in the pages of the Old Testament and revealed in the New. And we need to bow before Him. 

Heavenly Father, as we see these things occurring more frequently, I ask for Your strength and peace throughout it all. I have had occasionally an overwhelming discomfort in my spirit. Things are not as they have been, nor will they ever be the same again. I know You are at work bringing about Your return. As we hold our heads up and look to You, remind us of Your power, grace, mercy and love. Give us discernment. Bring the masses of unsaved to an understanding of who You are. Let more find that narrow road You talk about. Open ears and minds to receive the wonderful, saving knowledge of You and help us to boldly to reach others. 

1Corinthians 3:11 - For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

Blessings, Hope and Trust

Jeremiah 17:7-8 - Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.

Oh, this so spoke to my heart yesterday morning after I laundered this tee shirt and took special notice of the scripture on the back. It fits in with what I wrote yesterday about drawing water, trusting in God, having no fear. This is what comes with the territory from our devotion to God. How often does one worry about money, jobs, war, government control, terrorists, children and home grown evil pervading our cities? Not everyone worries, but everyone should be aware because some day something will cause worry.

Those who trust in the Lord, who know Him, know His ways, know His goodness and judgment because of sin, need not fear. We will not be immune to the troubles of life, but there's that hope that when all is said and done, we truly will be in a better place. 

I was thinking yesterday about a young family. Good people, two sweet children. But they don't know Jesus like they should. Their world is all that goes on in their lives, their accomplishments, their children, their friends and parties. They are happy. But what happens if the bottom falls out...you know, anything could happen in their lives, just like it could happen in ours. We don't know what tomorrow brings. And without God, it might be a horribly tragic event. 

Those who know the Lord have a foundation, like I said yesterday, like a tree planted by water. Nothing to fear as long as that water is there. Where do we get this water? We draw, like the Samaritan woman, from the living water which is Christ. He removes our sin so He can be our all. He cannot be our all without that recognition that we are sinners and He is our Savior. We then drink of His strength and there is no fear as long as we hold to the belief He is there for us and will see us through, not always out of, our circumstance. Praise Him. Praise Him. Praise Him. The song from a grateful heart. 

In the midst of our trouble we can still proclaim His goodness...yielding fruit of righteousness and witnessing. I will praise Him again.

Psalms‬ ‭91‬:‭1-6,14 - He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name."

Sure Foundation

1Corinthians 3:10-11 - According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

I was talking to a friend the other day and as usual the things of the Lord entered into our conversation. It can't be helped because we so share in the love of Christ. We love to discuss spiritual things. They are most important and satisfying, energizing.

Somehow we got to talking about how things are playing out in the world and how we so see the last days as represented in the Bible taking shape. We see how people are lovers of self, deceit and anger and hatred rising and other things. While we do not know today who the players are in the end time events, we can discuss those who look like they fit the bill, but may not be.

To add to what we discussed, I see how God is being mocked or rejected, how there is an attempt to sweep Him under a rug or ousted out of public view. I'm so glad in my little world, He still exists on a daily basis and for many others He does also. I'm thankful we still have the freedom to talk about Him in public yet I know there will be a day when that may cease. If it's in my lifetime, that will be soon!

We might even have to go into hiding to have church, just like some other countries where worshiping God is allowed.

It is written in the Bible about a day where a one world religion and one world government will take place. Not in those exact words. This will be forced on us. Many today, even those who say they are Christians, who believe that there are many ways to God. This is a lie of the devil. And those who believe the lie, well...woe to them some day.

Jesus said He was the way, truth and life and none go to the Father except through Him. But then you need to believe the Bible to believe that...

As we talked, my friend and I, I confessed that I have a difficult time understanding parts of biblical prophecy. It's where my mind can't wrap itself around it all. Ezekiel, Daniel and Revelation in particular. I seem to have difficulty putting them together, like my mind goes blank, as it did in school during algebra, science or geography! I understand it  just enough to recognize the signs and maybe that's enough. God will reveal it in due time. I just know it won't be pretty. It won't be life as we are accustomed to, which is quickly eroding.

I am also thankful that despite any dark days where we are no longer allowed to worship God in public, no one can take our Lord from within our hearts. He can remain our hope for the days ahead. In fact, He will most likely be all the more present in our lives when more of our freedoms are removed. I am sad that others will have no hope in those days. Fear will rise up.

Doom and gloom?? No, reality. For my friends in Christ and I it is an exciting time. We have a sure Foundation.

So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?” And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them. But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.” Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls. (Luke 21:7-19)

As I read this I saw something I swear I never read before! Verse 13: But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Yes it will. People are going to, and probably already are, wondering what is going on in this world. How can anything get worse? Or, we've recovered before, we can recover again...but will it? It's not just about what we see happening in our own country with all the corruption taking place. It's also about Israel...and Russia...and Iran...and Islam. All these things are part of the last days scenario. The pieces of the end time puzzle are getting ready to be out into place to finish the picture.

Praise God He wins in the end. Praise God as He came to save multitudes on earth, He will return with those people to live in peace on earth for a thousand years more. Woe to those who have rejected Him. Praise God there is still time to receive Christ now. He can be our sure Foundation.

When I came to Christ, April 18, 1999, 15 years ago, I thought because it was "so late" for me I needed all the training I could get and I studied. I think if the days are short, the Lord can hasten our understanding. He will put that new heart and new desire in anyone in an instant today. He is being patient that as many as will receive Him will before the end times. But His patience will give out also in His perfect timing. I would not want to be hard hearted to Him.

Isaiah 28:16 - Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily.

One Thing You Should Not Do!

Hebrews 3: 3-4,6 - For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. ...but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

No matter what anyone thinks, Jesus is always in control. No matter what we see transpiring in this world or in our own lives, He already knows the outcome. He's setting things in place for His plans to be worked out. His will IS being done.

As Hebrews 3 above says, He has been...and always will be...counted worthy...more than anyone else. If we could all understand this, but sadly many will not. He is not the first Person in many people's lives. He is not counted worthy as the One who gives us eternal life. All He has done for us should be so prominent in our minds and lives. It's sad so many will never get this.

He calls us daily. He then responds to those who answer His call. He IS worthy...to receive honor, glory and power. If everyone knew the power He has over sin and death... If everyone knew the power He gives to those who follow Him. If even WE knew the power we have...

The foundation of my hope and faith is in Christ Jesus. An old hymn says: My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand... Without Jesus there is no hope. Period. Government can't help, insurance, doctors--even the best...only Jesus. He is the best.

One thing we should not do: harden our hearts if we are confronted by Him, if He is reaching out to us. If someone reaches out to share Him, do not harden your heart. He is the only hope we have. Neither man nor government will give us what we need most. Neither man nor government will secure our eternal life. In fact, we can be assured that man can suck the life right out of us.

Here's what Psalm 146:3-5 has to say: Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; in that very day his plans perish. Happy is he who  has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God.

Our eternal life is secure in Jesus Christ if we want it, if we do not harden our hearts to His beckoning. It can be easy, even among believers of Christ, to shake a fist in the face of God when tragedy comes or difficulties arise. We can angrily say, Where were YOU, God, when this happened? It might just be He was right there. He wants us to trust that He will bring good out of any circumstance we find ourselves in, no matter what it might be or have been.

Do not harden your heart, either to His first calling to believe and follow Him or to the trials that will always be part of our lives. Cling fast to the hope we have in Him, Hebrews 10:23 admonishes. Listen for His call and answer it. If you have already done this then remember He is the hope in difficult times. Seek those you know who understand this and look to them for encouragement in Christ.

Hebrews 3:7-8,13 - Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, but exhort one another daily, while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Our Foundation

Our Foundation

2Timothy 2:19 - Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

We all know what foundations are. The meaning of the word is: the act of founding; a basis upon which something stands or is supported (Webster's).

All things revolve around God, if you don't already know that.

If we look at the world, God brought about the act of founding, in His act of creation. He also was the foundation of this nation. He is to be our foundation. Upon His foundation we stand secure, in life, in death. He was, is and is to come. His Word should be the foundation upon which we learn how to live, how we conduct business, deal with people, worship Him, know His Son. It should be our standard.

Are we perfect? No. But we have the means to righteousness through Jesus Christ. Our flaws and imperfections and sins can be covered by Jesus' atonement for our sins. If we sin, we have only to ask for His forgiveness and He will forgive. It is the foundation of these truths that make us His children.

I'm still thinking about Jonathan Cahn's book and DVD series, The Harbinger and Isaiah 9:10 Judgment. There are way too many occurrences that have happened to Israel thousands of years ago and what happened here on 9/11. Way too many to be considered coincidences.

If the Bible and God are to be our foundation, we should be able to see how what transpired in biblical history can show us what our present and future will bring.  We are truly seeing God at work today.

God is always at work, even in the little things that go by unnoticed in our daily lives, things we may never know about. But He's setting stages all over the world to put His plans in motion. The ultimate goal is for people to see Him as Sovereign Lord of all, One who knows the beginning from the end, who knows what is best for us, who attempts to interact in our lives every day. He's not some overbearing God who only wants us to do for Him because He says so. He has given us a choice in following Him. But for those who do, for those who listen, take heed, actively seek Him and obey Him, those He will bless.

Yes, He wants us all to worship Him...because He is the Sovereign God. He's not some ego maniac. He wants only what's best for us. He's like the greatest Father we could ever want. He will provide all we need...not necessarily all we want. He will protect us from our enemy. He will keep us safe and He will allow us to live forever in glory with Him...providing we seek Him, live for Him. Yes, there are provisions for this eternal life.

It is necessary to be in relationship with His Son. It is important to have the Holy Spirit  in our lives that we may learn, may see, may understand the deeper things of God. That only commences with receiving His Son. It's the infilling of the Holy Spirit upon this receipt. I can truly say I know how I felt the day I allowed Jesus to enter into my life. It was a real feeling that took weeks for me to find out what it was I'd felt. Oh happy day!

This relationship  with Jesus/God is our foundation. It all starts there. We can read the Bible or go to church but until one sits alone with the Bible in hand (open!) and sits and listens for the words of the Lord, we are not experiencing the Lord. He's still some idea somewhere out there that we cannot see or touch. But if we have this foundation, His presence is with us continually. He walks beside us.

I've had very moving experiences where I knew that I knew Jesus was holding me. He'd be taking me deep into the recesses of my memory, bringing up old hurts, then letting me experience the pain one more time before comforting me in such a way that I knew He was healing me and I not longer needed to cling to the hurt or guilt. He has also been strength in difficult times when I knew the people around me had been placed there by Him.

This is one reason why He should be our foundation. His healing power. His strength for any difficult situation. We live with stuff that we hide or cover up because it's hurtful or embarrassing or shameful. Thank God He wants to forgive those things. And He is right beside us when something unexpected happens. That foundation of strength.

Our foundation...that solid footing under us. That belief system that is a sure thing. That solid rock we can stand upon surely. That is what Jesus can be for us, what He is for those who have gone through a true face to face meeting with Jesus. I can't tell you the peace in the midst of all that's going on in this world. I am secure in Christ.

On the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, the old hymn goes. I think there is a time coming when it will seem as though the world is in this sinking sand. Those, however, who have the rock, the foundation beneath their feet will not sink. It will not take away the stuff that's happening. We will still have to go through stuff, but our faith will hold us up. And the Lord will deliver us from it all.

It's hard to know if my faith is strong enough, but I have sensed lately that I am placing more faith in the unseen. I'm feeling a bit stronger that God will provide. I think we still need to prepare to some degree for disaster, when we begin to see things happen in today's Israel. It will be our clue that God is planning something big. Better to know that now. Have that firm foundation beneath our feet now than to scramble on unsteady rocks or sink in the sand of uncertainty.

Matthew 7:25 - ...and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 

Come, Holy Spirit

Lord God, Your Holy Spirit is what brings life. Some of Your churches have lost this Spirit. They have become as dry bones. Come fill those churches again. Revive them. Bring Your power. Renew spirits by Your Spirit, not for just a few but for the most! Let those who don't feel Your Spirit be touched by it. Soften hardened hearts, O God. Let us arise again.

It is, after all, Your Church. You have the power to bring Your Church up out of the ashes. I say this about our church...we have been burned and sifted and shaken. We feel we lie in a wasteland. Your breath is needed again to bring life. We must have a sense of Your Spirit again. We are hanging in wait. We are submitting to the sifting. How long, O Lord?

Yes, I believe there is more sifting to take place. I'm so thankful You can raise up an army, Your remnant, from the burning ashes. The ember has not completely been extinguished. There is still a people who desire to see You victorious in this church.

Help Your Church to see not the negative in sifting and shaking, but the positive. Help everyone to not make it a thing about themselves or their feelings or the "wrongs" to others but about You. You are the One doing the sifting. Open the eyes of those who only want to place the blame on others, as is our nature. Remind these people it's about what You are doing...and for our own good.  

We have been cut down like a tree, no more than a stump. It looks lifeless but, Lord God, we know from nature that live trees cut down begin to grow and bud again. Their roots are strengthened in the pruning process. The foundation, as it were, has been strengthened, the roots stretching out yet further for a better foothold.  The Foundation for many in our church is You. You have maintained a hold in the lives of those who have seen the pruning; and we're thankful to be left. Help others to enter into this place. Let us rise above our circumstances in one accord.

Let all in our church have the wisdom to know that great things result when we are in one accord and standing firm on the Foundation of Christ. It is by Your hand that churches come and go. You will work mightily, You will prune and You will grow. You will remove the dross not only from our lives but from Your church. Only by pruning, in both our lives and the Church, can we grow.

You ask when you might see My hand upon this church and I say My hand is upon this church. You desire to see a move of My spirit in a big way. Sometimes My ways are small and they grow. I am waiting to see who will continue to trust in Me, who will not walk away in search of greener pastures where "the Spirit of the Lord resides," where My Spirit is strongly felt. Stand strong and do not falter. Continue in your worship and trust in Me. You will see the day you desire if you hold strong and do not fail. Those who can't wait will move on. My work is never ending. My plans will always come into fruition.

Look for Me in the little things. I'm in all things. I do great works even in the small things, including in My church...I will bring healing. Nothing is as it seems. I work silently behind the scenes. One day you will look back and know that the pieces of My puzzle were being put together, one by one.

A day is coming when there will be a Church that will worship in Spirit and in Truth. It will not worship for the sake of being seen with hands raised but it will worship because it is in the presence and power of You. Let our church be counted as one of them.

Let our prayers be lifted high to the heavens; let them be a sweet incense to Your nostrils. Hear the cries of the hearts of those who only want more of You. Open the eyes of those who have lost their first Love. Are You peering through the lattice? Are You waiting for the cry of all, not just some? Will You find more than 50, 20 or 10 truly desiring Your presence or will You destroy, like You did Sodom and Gomorrha? If there be 10, Lord; if there be 10...

Will You speak to us these words of hope, promise and change for our/Your church:

Song of Solomon 2:10-13 - [and He said]: “Rise up, my love, my fair one... For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines  with the tender grapes give a good smell. Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away!"

Will those words be heard among those awaiting Your Spirit to again not just rest but dwell within our church? Come, Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 44:3 - For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring.

Crumbling Foundations

Psalm 11:3 - When the foundations are being destroyed," cried the psalmist, "what can the righteous do?

Jesus tells us that the poor will always be here…For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always (Matthew 26:11). How are we to understand such a thing? Could it be another way of God's telling us that the poor include those people without a connection of any kind with Him? I think so.

I wrote about death to life Monday. How much poorer can one be than one who has no hope in their future? One who is dead in their sins right now, today. One who looks to the world for all things? One who can't see their foundation crumbling or the world's foundations being destroyed? How much more alive and fulfilled can one be when Christ is their Foundation? One no longer needs to feel poor. We still have struggles but we can still rejoice; we can be poor and have nothing yet be rich and possess all things, as followers of Christ (2Corinthians 6:10).

When the foundations are being destroyed…aren't the foundations of this country being destroyed? Is there confidence in our leadership? Some would say yes. Is there confidence in our economic system? Same yes answer or others are anxiously waiting for "the system" to turn around again. The foundations will continue to crumble if they are not built up again on a sturdy Foundation. 

We have seen a change take place over the past 60 or so years. Because we have allowed ourselves to lighten up or tolerate those things that are now considered good and once were looked at as evil, we see our society crumbling. We have so bought into lies. I bought into it myself. What happened to waiting until marriage to consummate it? Now it's "get to knowing them first…live with them for awhile to see if it works." Now it's "don't worry about getting pregnant…you can always have an abortion." Alcohol and drugs are now substitutes for therapy...or love. Drown your sorrows or boost your self-esteem. Now it's tolerance for all religions because "all religions lead to God…" And even worse, far right conservatism and Christianity are intolerant...for what? Embracing the truth or not wanting to live a lie? Embracing diversity is a phrase we've coined so that all forms of lifestyles can be accepted even though what once was intolerable (and wrong in God's eyes) now can be. All lies.

Oh, I so realize that people will say God is a loving God and wouldn't disallow anyone access to heaven. But if He says it's wrong, it's wrong. In many cases He calls certain things abominations (dishonesty, arrogant pride, alternative lifestyles, shedding innocent blood, idol making and worship, wickedness, turning away from what was right and good, lying...). You can find many more listed in the Bible. 

The foundations are crumbling. And those who are so fully aware of it realize that this is the way it must be for Christ to return. There was a reason for the passage of scripture that tells us: But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away...always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  (2Timothy 3:1-5,7) Oh, don't think anyone is immune from one or more of these things! We can brush it off with the thought that times have changed. Yes, they have; they are a sign of the times. A sign that Christ will return for His people...but not all people.

Unless one has their head in the sand, one cannot help but recognize these signs. It's not all about us. We have it so wrong. It's about God and why He created this world and His plan for us for a life well-spent and well-lived because He knows just what we need. What does it tell us when we watch the news and feel nothing about what we see going on? Have we become so hardened? Have we become so complacent? Wait till what we see becomes more personal. This is not the way God wanted things to pan out. And yet He knew it would. 

Lord God, forgive us for getting to this place in our lives. Forgive us for our own hands that prepared these horrid lifestyles. Forgive us for falling for the lies at one point in our lives. And thank You, Lord, that we can have our eyes opened to what once seemed right. I'm far from being a prude or holier than thou, but I do see things differently and I'm so grateful for those eyes you have opened. It so saddens me to se people living without the truth in their lives and believing that this is all there is to life…living the way they want because there's nothing else to look forward to.

Lord, open their eyes to see that what there is in the future is so much more glorious that what is here on earth. We DO have a purpose and it's Your purpose. It's your design for our lives and it's so much more fulfilling than what the world has to offer. Open eyes to see this. Open eyes to see the light at the end of the tunnel of their lives. Open their eyes that they might see Your Light standing there beckoning them into a life worthwhile instead of a life in the world that just plain sucks! 

Father God, lift up Your people. Help us to live the way You want us to. Give us all a voice that cries out in the wilderness, the wilderness that this world is becoming. Let the Church arise out of the ashes of today's humanity. Let the Church remember what it was called to do...speak the truth of God's Word and draw people into knowing a God who is alive and desiring of relationship with each person.

I realize that the days need to become grim for people to recognize the tragedies of life and begin a search for answers and a way out. Jesus is that Way. He is that Truth and the Life. He holds the hope for real life. He is the One who will forgive all your sins and heal all your diseases (Psalm 103:3). A person only needs to get to that place of affliction that cannot be removed with money, alcohol, drugs or sex, to finally seek something more. Jesus is our more. He is our portion. He is our strength and refuge. In Him we are to trust.

Righteousness, as awful as some people think this sounds, can be attained and it is the best thing. It doesn't make one holier than thou. That's just what is perceived when lies take over for truth. We are called righteous and holy when we come to Christ. These are the people who recognize the foundations of this world are crumbling. As the psalmist questioned above, "what can the righteous do?" The righteous can stand firm in the Foundation that is Christ. It's accepting Him as one's Foundation. This Foundation brings hope in a world whose foundations are being destroyed.

1Corinthians 3:9-11 - For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

Reading the Constitution

Psalm 119:16-18 - I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word. Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law. 


My, oh, my. The thought occurred to me, as it so often does, that what we do in life imitates, both greatly and sadly, the lives that are depicted in the Bible. You will hear this a lot from me: history repeats itself. Will we ever learn? Probably not all of us.


I received an email  recently from Focus on the Family, a Christian ministry formed to promote and strengthen the family. In this email they discussed the rereading of the Constitution. Here is a quote: It is critical that the new Congress consider every piece of legislation's impact on families. The family is the bedrock of our society, our local communities, our economy, and our very way of life. The strength of the family is one of the principal reasons for America's moral and economic greatness.


Well, the Focus foundation or bedrock also is the Word of God. This is what we should all adhere to. Where is our foundation? In the world, the worldview, government, people? Our foundation should be the Foundation of Christ. The Word, which is Jesus and the Bible, should be the bedrock of our society, our local communities, our economy, and our very way of life, just like the Constitution in this nation is it's foundation.


Psalm 119 talks endlessly about God's statutes, His laws, and how we are to delight in them. We are not to lose our focus, but have these laws in our hearts as the ancient Jews did. These laws are there to help us, not to hinder us. These laws were made for all mankind. God's laws are right, true and just. When we understand the concept of God's laws being good for us, we will see them as Psalm 119 says, as wondrous.


What happened when Israel stopped heeding His laws? Their lives fell apart. They ended up in captivity as slaves. At the end of the Old Testament God was so fed up with His people He became silent for 400 years to cause His people to yearn for Him. Then Christ was brought into the picture for His plan of salvation. His laws remove boundaries. God only has good things for us if we would just let go of the things of this world. If we would no longer as a people choose to manipulate, control, steal or destroy, as our government would like to do, our lives and the things that keep our lives intact. 


Like a family that looks out for one another shouldn't we as a nation do the same? We the people... We are in the hands of the enemy...our adversary the Devil...and as Pogo once said: We have seen the enemy, and he is us. Don't we also often hear we are our own worse enemy? What does that say about a people and a nation whose foundation is not God? We cannot survive successfully without His guidance. Wasn't this the tenet of our founding fathers?


The reading of the Constitution, unfortunately, left out words that could be construed in today's world as offensive. I had hoped that reading the Constitution would remind people what this country has stood for for so many years. Maybe it still jogged their memories and brought reminders of what we used to be and how we lived and how we overcame obstacles, how we pulled ourselves up by our own bootstraps. It should be a reminder of the rights and wrongs and how we can avoid these in the future. But to deny that we said some things is covering up the truth.


The same goes for the Bible. There are some things in it that are considered offensive to some. But there's a very good reason...it's the truth. We cannot take the Bible and pick and choose what we want to believe about it. We can't do the same for the Constitution.


Our Constitution and the Bible are there for "we the people," not for the government's benefit..or God's. Let me clarify what I mean by God's! He wrote the Book for us; He doesn't need it...He doesn't need improvement! These laws here that we might benefit. It may seem as though the Bible is nothing more than a bunch of commands to stifle people, but they are not. Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.


Who knows us better than the God who gave us life...from the beginning of the earth and until the end of the age? He has created us. He knows what's good for us. If only we would trust Him in this and see for ourselves. There will always be those who take a different route. Our founding fathers understood this and wanted this country to follow in His blessings.


Jesus is the Way, Truth and Life. His way is narrow and few follow it. He is the Lamp that guides. He is the Light that shines in the darkness. God's Word, Jesus, and our Constitution. A common theme. We can learn from both...they are both there to help us overcome. When did we stop doing what the Constitution suggests? When did we start being deceived? When did we stop focusing as well on God? When did we decide His Word wasn't applicable anymore? When did we start falling away as a country and as individuals from trusting Him? More than these, why did we allow it?


James 1:21-22 - Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 

Grain, Stumps and Small Armies

Daniel 4:26 - And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules.

I had to check what God has to say about stumps! 

I was talking to a friend yesterday. We got into yet another discussion about the changes that have taken place in our church over the past few years and the direction we seem to be headed. I've shared before how our church has gone from 1,500 congregants to about 300. We've seen changes, felt pain, shaken our heads. We both agreed, of course, that God has control of the situation and although we live it day by day wondering where we're going, God sees the end result. All we need do is trust Him through all this and pray that His will be done. This takes patient and persistence.

What happens when a tree is cut down but the stump is allowed to remain? The roots grow stronger and little by little new shoots emerge and the tree comes back to life. We prune shrubs and cut back flowers in the fall for the same purpose...to bring about stronger roots and more abundant foliage in the spring. This tree stump picture was what was on my friend's heart as she viewed the troubles our church has gone through. Perhaps first God needed to prune and then just plain had to cut back our church to get us nearly to the point of death. We are like that stump...we've been cut down...but our roots are getting stronger. 

It's like the scripture in John 12:24 telling us that unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it cannot bear fruit. Perhaps our church had stopped bearing fruit. Like that grain of wheat, we have fallen, but we are in the next phase...regrowth that we might bear good fruit. Grain has taken root and shoots from the stump are beginning to emerge. God has some great examples of life coming out of death...even like Jesus.

Then there's also the story of Gideon's army. He had thousands of men enlisted in his army...but God...wanted to prove to the people and Gideon that it was HE who would win the battle by paring down the size and using only 300 men to defeat the enemy. Was that 300? Hmmmm, that number sounds strangely familiar! 

Then, isn't this a bit like what's happening in our country too? There finally was a change that took place, but not quite what we had been promised. However, our country may just have seen the woodsman with his axe taking down the tree. Although we are not out of the proverbial woods and there are no doubt some rough times ahead, we may be getting to the place (of humility) where we will be that stump in the ground, where the roots of our foundation will once again become strengthened and the new shoots will spring forth.

God will do that in all areas of life. Perhaps our church was going more in man's direction. It may have been God's desire to "pare us down to size" that we might realize our need for Him to regenerate us. He can use people and circumstances to bring us to a place of humility. It's been a humbling experience for those who remain in our church...as well as those whose eyes have been opened in this nation. Humbling yet revitalizing as we know in our hearts God's plans will begin to take shape. 

In our church I believe I am part of a remnant...we are the roots that are growing stronger...and from that remnant will grow a people who desire a change, desire God's intervention and His will for us. In this country, there were people who sat silent too long--perhaps forming stronger roots?--and who now are beginning to emerge and sprout.

These three examples are for us to learn from, not only in our churches, but in our lives and in our government. I'm so thankful God has laid them out before us in His Word. God will be glorified in our new growth and the direction with our country if we look to Him. What we perceived as being a bad thing, a struggle, a time of wondering and questioning, God is seeing as a necessary thing. 

In our own lives we can experience a personal "cutting down." We get to a place where we feel we have fallen. We don't know which direction to go anymore. We can't cope with the things in our lives. We're unhappy, unsatisfied, feeling as though life is out of control. Many times that's when God will intervene. He allows us to stumble and fall so that He can pick us back up so we will see His hand being outstretched that we might grab onto it and be lifted up. We are humbled by our circumstances and we finally recognize a need for One greater to get us out of our mess.

Let's begin to look at all the troubles through the eyes of God. He sends us difficulties that we might be humbled. He allows us a time of chastening that we might be reacquainted with Him so our foundation will be strengthened. He is to be that Foundation. The Foundation for our individual lives, the Church and our government. Without God nothing can survive. When will we see this being woven into the fabric (as my friend said) of our lives. Our God brings good out of bad circumstances. Let's thank Him for these wake up calls in every aspect of our lives. Let's believe that He knows the perfect directions we are to take. Heaven rules.

Jeremiah 10:23 - I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his [own] steps.

What's Missing?

Deuteronomy 8:11 - "Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today..."

Again we were astounded by the class we are taking on Wednesday nights called The Truth Project. It is such an eye-opening and sometimes confirming series on what truth truly is. 

The truth is that God is missing today. Our lesson last night was History: Whose Story?  It explained what history is. It explained how history can be changed by no more than a lie being spoken and an ear willing to listen and believe. History is made nano-second by nano-second. When you've had a thought, read these words, or have spoken, as soon as you're done it's history.  

"What you believe in the present is determined by our past." And what is happening today? God is being covered up, removed, being made unspeakable. We were told that our problem is we remember what we should forget and forget what we should remember. God is so very much a part of our history as our Creator because it's His-story that has been forgotten. It is His-story that is being abandoned. 

Proverbs 1 explains knowledge. It tells us that knowledge comes from fearing the LORD and that fools despise wisdom and instruction (verse 7). But, it goes on to tell us, we will begin to believe a lie and walk in the ways of evil which eventually takes one's life.  God tells us: "Surely, I will pour out my Spirit on you; I will make My words known to you...but if we refuse to listen God says "Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, because you disdained my counsel....I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes."

God is in control. Period! History is all about Him. This history should be the most important. But we as a people in general have disdained this knowledge. God is mocked. A point was brought up: Is there any question that Plato lived? Is there any question that he wrote great works? No. You can pick up a book of his and know that he wrote it. What about the Bible? What about God? What about Jesus? How can anyone claim most emphatically that they do not exist? There are more historical manuscripts that show us proof of the Bible's existence than there are for Plato's books. Yet because it takes faith to believe, there are some who will not.

People have believed a lie. The first lie was in the Garden of Eden when the serpent asked Eve if God really said they could not partake of the that certain fruit-bearing tree. We've been fed lies every since. 

God asks us to remember Him so we can be part of the fulfillment of His purpose. Today, as it was said in the lesson, if we can rewrite the past we can get people to believe what these people want. So the lie is perpetuated. It's in our schools, on television, in the movies, in books, in the media. The only truth is the Word of God and that is being silenced. 

Did you know!? The words of Mayflower Compact stated that the Pilgrims came to our country "for the glory of God and advancement of the Christian faith." However, textbooks today are taking every reference of God out of them, as well as an attempt to remove the name of God from currency, off courthouse walls, and state mottos. These Pilgrims laid the foundation for this nation, that it was not about "me" but about God. How can people do this? Despite the harshness of this new world, they chose to stay because they believed in a Cause greater than they.

There was a time in the Old Testament when the people knew God, knew what He had done for them, knew of His works. It was remembered and passed down. Memorials were made. But there came a worldly king who did not know this God of these people and eventually He was phased out and they were under pressure to succumb to a lie. Sounds like today. And the Bible was meant for us to use as a guide for living. We are not paying enough attention.

Thankfully there is a remnant today who will not forget, no matter what. The number is few. God told us that there would come a day when there would be famine in our world. The famine would come in the form of not hearing the word of God. Hmmmm.

God is still in control. Hebrews 11 lists all the people who were "caught up in the grand story of God," by faith.  There is a larger historical story than the one we see today. The larger story of God. Let's be sure that this is the foundation of our lives. It is the sure foundation. It is the truth and our freedom lies there. Our own stories of life are meaningless unless God is the Foundation, the Cornerstone. 

John 8:31-32 - Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Watch What I Am Going To Do

Isaiah 43:18 - Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.

Sunday at church our Assistant Pastor, Cliff Cameron, discussed how, every nut and bolt of space shuttles have a specific function and are created just for that reason. Just like the men who designed the intricacies of the space shuttle, we have a God who has designed every part of us. He formed us in our mother's wombs. We each have our own DNA that differentiates us from the person next to us. At one point in the sermon Pastor made a statement about not thinking about our past. It immediately brought to mind what I believe God was showing me once before, years ago: Watch what I am going to do.

What happens if we don't realize we are all cut out of a special mold by God? What happens if all we can do is think about our past, who we were, what we went through, what we learned and inherited from parents or teachers...or anyone, how we molded our own lives? And--what happens if the Church never wants to let go of the things that hold it back from receiving more from God?

The good news is we don't have to be what we think we are. When we realize who we are in Christ, we are new and whatever lies we might have believed once before (you're not smart enough, you're not pretty enough, you'll not amount to anything, you make too many mistakes) we can cast aside all those lies and believe what Jesus tells us about ourselves... we are a new creation; we are God's workmanship; we are made alive; we are victorious; we are blessed; we are righteous (2 Cor.5:17; Eph. 2:10; 1Cor. 15:22; 2Cor. 2:14; Eph. 1:3; 1Cor. 1:30).

I've mentioned that our church is undergoing a trial, another division. Attendance has dwindled and we are in another transition. From outward appearances it looks impossible to imagine a church full and vibrant again. But God... I could use that phrase for just about anything because He is so able to turn things around.

A few years ago when our church underwent the first division I sought the Lord for guidance about what I was to do, to leave or stay, for discernment and about why those I knew had left. I remember the thought going through my head: Stay, get involved, dig in your heels and watch what I am going to do. How could I walk out because others I'd known did or because it was uncomfortable for a time? I didn't want to follow just because. Isn't it about banding together, becoming unified and in a God-like manner face the problems, with His help?

Needless to say, after division #2 I questioned again. I recalled the thought "watch what I am going to do." And no sooner did I pose the question "what did that mean?" the thought came to me that statement might not have had anything to do with what happened after division #1! He's just letting me know that He IS doing something and it will be done in His timing, not when I think it should. I feel as though today every person still attending is a special person, like the nuts and bolts of the space shuttle. Perhaps we're getting to a place as a church where we are not being molded by man but by God Himself.

I believe my faith is strong and I'm just going to continue to wait to see what He's going to do! Sometimes God has to do some things we don't always understand to get us trust that in the midst of difficulty He is doing a work. I believe our church needs to let go of some baggage. It's not about a man in the pulpit but about Who stands behind that man, Who is the heart and soul of the Church. The Church foundation, after all, is Jesus. Isaiah 28:16 prophesied Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation... and Ephesians 2:20 makes it clear, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone... Did you notice the progression...a stone...a cornerstone...a foundation. Tried...precious...sure. Progression that Jesus went through in His own life, trials that continued to strengthen. Now He is our Foundation. Watch what I am going to do, He's telling us.

I believe God reminded me of Gideon's army. He had a very large army with which to fight the enemy. But God wanted Gideon and His people to realize that it was not the size and strength of the army but that it was He who would be their strength. He tells us He is our strength and our portion. So from 22,000 men to 300, Gideon proceeded to fight the enemy and won--through the power of God. In the world view there is strength in numbers. In God's view nothing is impossible with Him and strength comes from trusting and faith in only Him for all our needs.

This example is not just for our church but for each of us. We cannot allow our past...our past sins, disappointments or failures, to keep us from moving forward. If we follow God in faith and trust we cannot lose. We just don't know what behind-the-scenes things He needs to do before we see the results of His work. That's the beauty and mystery of God.

I can tell you I am still anxious to see what He is going to do...in my life, in my church and in the lives of those who know Him...even those who are going to know Him some day. We live comfortably for now day by day. But what happens if government fails us, people fail us, our spouses fail us, even our church fails us? God will always be there if we seek Him for our provision.

Isaiah 43:19 - Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.