Thus Says the LORD God of Israel

Exodus 5:1 - Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’"

I've mentioned before how I love how Sundays sometimes come together by the power of the Holy  Spirit when a word is spoken in Sunday school and a continuation of it occurs only by "coincidence" of God in church.

In Sunday school something was brought up about patience, waiting on God for "whatever." And how God's timing is always perfect. Just about that same time, in a flash through my spirit I heard: I'm not finished; I have more work to do. It's not yet time. I understood what it meant. And I wondered at first if I had thought those words or had they been given to me by God. Later in Sunday school more was said that drew a little tear to my eye. I knew the words were of God. So later we a marvelous song during worship that added to all I was feeling. Some of the words were:

Oh my God, you will not delay
My refuge and strength…always.
I will not fear, His promise is true.
His promise will come true...always. (Always, Kristian Stanfill)
                   
Pastor preached on Exodus 5 and 6. A phrase stood out for him: The LORD God says...

His promises are all true, always! And I heard the words myself in Sunday school and let me tell you Bible study and pastor's messages are not coordinated.

As pastor preached my mind was going in another direction. Words stood out.
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Now you shall see what I will do...I am the LORD...I have remembered My covenant...I will bring...I will rescue...I will redeem...I will take...I will be...I am the LORD your God...I will bring...I will give...I am the LORD. (Exodus 6:1-8) I am the LORD was emphasized four times. Do you think God wanted Israel to take notice? Unfortunately, they did not heed Moses, because of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage. (Exodus 6:9) 

I'm sure I've written something like this before, maybe a year ago when I was in Exodus then! If you are a follower of Christ, He promises never to leave you or forsake you. His promises are true for you. But…sometimes you just have to be patient. If He has given you a specific promise and it has not yet occurred, it is because He's not finished; He has more work to do; it's not yet time. All things have to be in His order and His time  for whatever it is that will come about…in God's perfect timing. Some might even become angry with God.

Some don't understand that God has promises for us. We don't have because we don't ask. In some instances we lack the relationship with God to receive His promises. I write about experiences I've had or that have happened in the Bible that others might seek that relationship and understand.

Although the following scriptures are referencing Jesus' return, they really are how we should be living out any and all things in life: But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness...Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; (2Peter 3:8,9a,14)

There you have it. Be in an attitude of peace until those things for which you wait happen. Ask Him to receive what He has to offer. Trust in Him, trust in His timing. We want things now. As was brought up in Sunday school, we are an impatient people. If we feel time has been lost in waiting, it hasn't. God has it all under control. He will restore the time in a way that we cannot understand.

Habakkuk 2:3 - For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. 

Yes and Amen

2Corinthians 1:20 - For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

God's promise are yes and amen. That's like the beginning and the end. It encompasses all. From the time the promise is made till the end result. No need to fret. No need to wonder when the promise will be fulfilled. No need to question the validity. If God promised, He will not reneg.

If you have received a promise from God...that you know that you know...it will happen, no ifs ands or buts. Maybe it won't happen soon enough in your time, maybe you won't see the promise come to fruition if it's not about you, but God will be faithful and right on His time. Events are still being played out in the background of life and when the moment is perfect, God will do His work.

Continue in prayer. Hold fast to the promise. Rest in God's words. When anxiety or frustration arise, recall the words (or vision) and remind God (although He doesn't forget) what He revealed to you.

Psalm 119:49 - Remember the word to Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope. 

Psalm 3 -

Psalm 3 - Our Shield

Psalm 3:8 - Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah

We all go through times of trials and testing. It's part of life.

I think of Job who lost all he had. He did not stop trusting in the Lord. I think about those in our own church who have prayer needs that seem to have gone unanswered and it's easy to wonder, God, why? And yet these people's lives, despite difficult situations and maybe even frustration, continue. They still hold fast, even if with wonder at how God will help them. Provision may not be exactly as they wish, but it is there for them, by God's hand. I think of my own seemingly small troubles and think either I am not struggling like others or I view my struggles differently...through the peace of God.

On the other hand, we have seen about four miraculous healings occur with members of our church over the past year. Prayers for these people were endless. And God was faithful. Why He chooses some and not others or all is only something He understands. He has reasons. We continue to trust in Him.

In Psalm 3 David was calling out to God for his life because of those who were against him as king, including his own ungrateful son, Absalom. Like Job he never let his trust and faith in God end. Instead, David continues to proclaim his God as a shield (he was not defeated). He realizes God hears his cries and he persists in praising Him for the peace and rest in these times of turmoil, for His provision, for His protection.

If we allow ourselves to praise Him in our times of stress, unsurety, anxiety, He will do the same for us. We will have that perfect peace knowing that no matter what happens, whether we are cut down by our enemy, destroyed by disease, in financial straits, or whatever is our turmoil, we can know where our strength and peace can come from.

David knew and trusted the Lord. He calls us all to do the same. He will hear the cries of our hearts, remind us of His promises, give us a peace that is indescribable. But these only come when we are focused on Him. We must first give up our own ideas of doing in our own strength and rely on God's. That only comes when we have received Him as our true Savior and know what He desires for us.

He came to save the world. We need to go to Him to be saved. He doesn't force us. It's our choice. Our troubles will not miraculously disappear but we will know where all hope lies. We will receive His blessings in this act of salvation. Take hold of it. Seek the Lord and He will lift up your head and provide the wherewithal to live your days in His perfect peace. Hard to explain, hard to comprehend, but it happens.

Psalm 3:3 - But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head.

Another Reminder!

Exodus 11:6-7 - Then there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as was not like it before, nor shall be like it again. But against none of the children of Israel shall a dog move its tongue, against man or beast, that you may know that the LORD does make a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.

Once again I pondered things in my heart. One day last week I wondered how, in the real day of trouble, God would protect His children. How would I know if I have enough knowledge and strength? Would I be found doubting?

As usual, I know the Lord was hearing my thoughts. He led me to think on some promises: He will never leave us or forsake us; He protects those who call Him their God; He is our provider. Oh, I know those promises...but HOW would I know when or how He would provide?

So the question came to mind, why do we doubt? The answer: because we are human. Another possible answer for some: because some of us have never undergone some of the difficulties others have. 

In the above scripture you can substitute Egypt with the world and Israel with God’s children. These events in Exodus were experienced and expressed that we might have an example of God’s faithfulness.

Well, since the time of my wondering, I have received three teachings to confirm that God will protect His children, those who call Him their LORD. Not that I didn't already know some of this! 

The first one came the morning after my questions. I was reading in Exodus (Chapters 11-15) about the departure of Israel out of Egypt, all done by the mighty hand of God. I won’t go into detail about the symbolism of how they escaped God’s wrath on Egypt. Read those  chapters if you want specifics. Just know this: It was by God’s command, and His Word, and the shed blood of an unblemished lamb that Israel, His people, His children, escaped the burden of slavery in Egypt and went on their way to their Promised Land, the land promised to His people by God. 

Jesus is our Word, the Word of God, He was the spotless Lamb of God who shed His blood that we would be taken out of the world and satan’s slavery, into our Promised Land in Heaven. The land promised to us if we choose to follow the Way that God has provided through Jesus Christ.

All that to say that God protected them. They saw miracle after miracle by His hand against Pharaoh and Egypt, but they were not affected by any of them! And amazingly, three days later they forgot and complained about not having water! What’s that all about?? They actually saw His miracles and were saved from their enemy’s hands! How could they? But this is where my doubts come in. I, we, have not experienced in our lives times, such things as recession, depression, hunger or need. We, for the most part, have had anything we ever wanted.

I’ve said this before and I’ll continue to say it...we are living in troubling times. Some may believe that we will bounce back from any calamity, but I believe we are experiencing what the Bible tells us is the “beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8). We are seeing natural disasters more frequently, governments and nations teetering, morality at it’s low point only to get worse, if that’s possible. God is unhappy...

But God...has promised that He will watch over those He calls His children. We may not ever have an answer to the how He will provide, but we can know He will. This is where faith and trust come in. I believe we have not yet seen disaster like Israel experienced in Egypt. We’ve had our freedom in this nation. If that’s taken away...disaster might arise. 

Then in Sunday school we talked about being victorious in this world if we proclaim the name of Jesus, are sealed by His blood, know His Word and know what His promises are for us. As we were in prayer the words came to me: remember, your name means victorious! Yes, my name--Laurie--a derivative of laurel, means victory. And He first chose us to be victorious. We need to remember He first chooses us; what a privilege. God tells us we are victorious, triumphant, if we have chosen Christ, and become overcomers because of Him.

Then our sermon! More on provision and protection. God’s plans are to prosper us, take care of us even though the winds of change blow into our lives, Pastor Rory Grooters told us. Sometimes we don’t make the right choice and we walk out of the provision and protection, but sometimes it’s because someone else chooses to make the wrong choice and we are affected by it. But God...still provides in spite of anything that may happen in our lives to bring upset...if we call ourselves children of God.

God is always in control. If we truly believe that and we truly know that we are called His children, that is His promise to us. We need not be afraid, nor do we need doubt. If Jesus could walk on water, He can calm the storm in our lives--till the end of the age. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. There are reminders all throughout the Bible of His provision.

Pastor Rory also told us, in addition to God being in control, that we need to see things from a different perspective (God’s). He might be making the winds to blow in our lives to bring about a necessary change in order to bless someone else or to become blessed. And we should work and be busy despite what winds are blowing; use what we’ve got. These blowing winds should not be thought of as an obstacle but a detour before our destination. We should let God lift us up over the storms of life, let us soar on eagles’  wings (Exodus 19:4, Isaiah 40:31).

The Lord has shown me in no uncertain terms, a gentle reminder, that He is in control and because I am His child He will provide, protect and prosper me. It may not always be in ways I would like or even fully understand, but He will be there for me. 

Should the days ahead become ominous, I hope you take this to heart, perhaps remember it. He will protect if you first choose the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and determine to trust in Him, let Him be your strength. He will deliver us. 

Psalm 37:3-4, 39-40 - Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. ...He is [your] strength in the time of trouble. And the LORD shall help [us] and deliver [us]; He shall deliver [us] from the wicked, and save [us], because [we] trust in Him.

What DO We Believe?

Ephesians 3:20 - Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us...

I was reading Genesis 15:5 where God was telling Abram that his descendants would be greater than the number of stars he saw in the sky. But Abram was an old man and his wife Sarai was no longer able to conceive. But God... There are countless stories of seemingly impossible situations throughout the Bible where people questioned God's promises, His power to act on what He said He would do. Sometimes they believed immediately, sometimes they went ahead of God because He didn't act quickly enough for them.

It is so important to realize that when God speaks and gives us a personal promise, He will fulfill it...in His time. It doesn't even have to be personal. There are so many promises in the Bible for each of us if we call ourselves children of God. But we need to understand it’s in His time, not ours. But I also think we can miss the actual timing if we are not paying attention. If He says now is the time, it's time!

We have not because we ask not (James 4:2). How much faith do we put into that statement? Just what do we believe God can do for us or anyone else?

This is a question born out of a statement made last night at prayer. It's time for all of us to believe that there truly is NOTHING, absolutely nothing, God can't do for those who call Him their God if we seek His face and believe that what we ask, according to His will, He will do (1John 5:14).

We had started out in our own separate times of prayer before coming together to pray together. One of the women at prayer read something the Lord had spoken to her. The gist of it was, biblically, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13) and faith without works is dead (James 2:26).

When she read what she had heard in her spirit, I had to share how it touched me because it confirmed what I had heard in my own spirit that night.

There is nothing you can't do when you abide in Me and heed My voice. Nothing. Do you understand that? Nothing! Do not fear. When you hear Me, without fear act on My words. You may be pleasantly surprised at the outcome. You have not because you ask not. You see not because you do not. I need you to act out. You sit quietly behind the scenes. Take that leap or even a step of faith. It's time. It's time. It's your time to bloom. Do not fear. I am with you. Do not fear rejection. It is not against you even if it appears so. It is Me and My power, My strength, My love, My healing that they reject because it is an unknown territory. It is familiar to you, though. Act out. Speak. Fear not. I am with you.

When I shared, others admitted they held back at times as well. What is this all about!? Where's our faith that God can do what He says He can? We hold back because we are fearful of what others will think. It's not about us. It's all about Him. If we hold back it is our own type of rejection of the Almighty God, the One who holds our lives in His hand, the One who has promised us His power.

We call ourselves children of God yet we still hold back sometimes. God came to me at a dark time in my life. He opened my eyes that I might see His glorious light. I will be forever grateful for that time. It wasn't the first time He'd tried to reach me, though. I just wasn't ready. We need to look for and be willing to respond to opportunities to be that same light in a dark world, even if we don't reach them. We still need to show others there is a hope, that there really is a Light named Jesus at the end of the tunnel of life.

As I drove home or when I lie in bed, I don't remember which, thoughts of how I could do this starting today raced through my head. I was stopped dead in my tracks! I was racing ahead to do something that may not be God's will. I need to wait until He says, "Now!" I need to just be open to hearing and available to do at His time because then the results are perfect, to start out the day asking, Lord, what would you have me do today?

When we receive Christ into our lives and are filled with His Holy Spirit, we have everything we need. We have His strength, His wisdom, His power, even His healing touch if we truly believe, if we truly allow Him to work in our lives. We just don't know how much we have. To find out we must act. It's the good works He has called us to do.

I cannot be satisfied where I am. I must move on. I must believe with all my heart that God really has given me everything I could ever need and not be fearful of acting on what I believe He has asked me to do or say. If His Spirit exists within me (and I know it does), He will be behind me. Will I fail sometimes? Yes, because I have attempted in my own strength. Will I find opposition or rejection? Yes. Do I stop? No. I must press on like the Apostle Paul was determined to do. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). All that should matter is the final outcome in life of a job well done to glorify God.

Jesus sits before the Father. He hears our prayers. He instructs. He directs. We can do all things, as He tells us in the scripture below. We must believe this. Our world is filled with even skeptical Christians. If Jesus promised this to us, we can believe it! There is a general consensus that God is developing us now because it’s time to start acting on what we believe. We must be about our Father’s business (Luke 4:29). All things are possible for those in Christ Jesus.

John 14:12 - Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.

The Choice is Yours

Joshua 24:15 - ...choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...

Serving. We all serve in some manner or another on a day to day basis. At least we should be. It isn't all about us. It's not about that's not in my job description. It's about lending a hand when you recognize someone else is in need of assistance...no matter who it is. 

The serving mentioned above is of a deeper nature. It's referring to serving God. The first part of the scripture says this: And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD... I'm sure there are those who can't imagine this level of service. I'm not certain that even I fit all the requirements. This scripture is stating unequivocally we must set our devotion and allegiance to the one true God.

This is a difficult concept sometimes. Is anything we tend to consume ourselves with over God? Can we not find time for Him? Is He not that important? Is He someone we will look to if some awful thing comes upon us, but not build up our strength before that happens?

We must exercise our faith. That means looking to the Lord before we encounter difficulties. It takes time to realize our faith. We practice other things in life that we might be better at them. This is what God would have us do with Him that our faith would be strong. We must give up some of the things we enjoy to serve Him. How else will He strengthen us? How else will He give us understanding? He asks us to seek Him each day. He asks us to serve Him in everything we do.

Oswald Chambers made this comment in today's My Utmost for His Highest, When God gives us a vision of truth it is never a question of what He will do, but of what we will do.

Chambers reminds us that when we are faced with some struggle or some important decision and we are taken aback by it to look back at a time when He had already worked out a problem...remember what you did when you were touched by God before--the time when you were saved, or first saw Jesus, or realized some truth.

Recall those moments when facing the next big thing. Know that He is greater than any problem we have. Know that He knows our wants and desires...and He knows which ones are worthy of wanting and which need to go on the back burner or thrown out! Oh, His answers may not always be what we would like, but that's because He has some other greater plan...and all we can do is trust Him.

We have the freedom to make up our own minds...to make right or wrong choices. It's which choice is the right choice? I know people who hang on for a long time waiting for the right job, the one they know God would like them to take. Others wait until the right person comes along to marry. Others have to make the choice to trust God with their children and their children's goals for life...especially if their serving the Lord might take them into battle or the mission field.

We also have the freedom to be victims or victors. I've known people who could not (would not?) shake their life's circumstances because they were comfortable in receiving "whatever" from others. They lived as a victim instead of walking away from that mindset and into the victorious mind of Christ.

Oh, don't get me wrong. We all slip sometimes but the Holy Spirit will guide us back when He sees us struggling. This is God's love in action. He will never leave us nor forsake us. His Spirit stands along side us, as close to us as our shadow...if we know Jesus.

Time and again I have had to remind myself of the promises God has given me specifically. He has shown me by His Spirit what I am to hold close to my heart. I'm thankful for these specific promises. They ARE what I hold dear to my heart. They ARE my hope. His words to us are truth and they are, as 2Corinthians 1:20 shows us: For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

Do we serve the world and it's ideas of what is right or wrong? I see a lot of that happening. Look at the news. There is a world out there serving only themselves. There are people who are determined to annihilate those they deem unnecessary...and we as a country are among those people. These people may seem, some day, that they are winning the battle, but let me tell you, I know Who wins the final battle. And I'm thankful I follow the Victorious One.

Serving isn't as dreadful as it sounds. We all like to think we're self-made persons. I can remember a time when I bicycled...a lot. Sometimes I would bike for weeks at a time. And I would pride in myself that I traveled from Point A to Point B under my own power. That was before I knew Jesus. Today I would be thanking Him for giving me the strength to do this, for allowing me to see the world from a bicycle, for not letting the scenery zoom by without really seeing it, but living in the midst of it for hours at a time.

So...serving...following. We all should follow someone's lead. But that someone should be Someone. This Master is not like worldly masters. This is the master Master. He knows what we need before we ask. His ways are greater than ours. His plans for us are good. Everyone wants to be successful. Success comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ and serving Him.

We are told in Revelation 7:15: Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. Those who choose to serve God today will get through all the things life has laid before us, even in death. The reward above, to serve God day and night, may be contrary to what some think heaven will be like...and some might think if all I'm going to do in heaven is serve God...(various answers could be given here). We have no idea what serving God will be like. Psalm 84:10 says this: For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. A relationship with Jesus helps to understand this!

Taking the step to be in relationship daily with Jesus Christ gives us the truth. Our understanding comes when we begin to live in relationship with Him. Who can understand these things? Begin to serve Him and we will be given this assurance: Hebrews 9:14 - How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? He is our living God. He is the one Person worth serving, with the promises of greater things eternally. Who will you serve today?

Psalm 100:2-3 - Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the LORD, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves.

Wow, What Just Happened?

Isaiah 55:10-11 - "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."

We have a God who cares, one who loves, one who protects and one who wants to see us have life...and have it abundantly...not in the way the world imagines life, but the way He has always purposed it to be...for those who desire to live it according to His perfect plan. He wants us to believe and trust in Him for ALL things.

We have a God who is in control of all things, too. And part of our life here on earth is to praise Him in all things. As He has said above that when His Word goes forth, it will be. He spoke the world into creation. His Word tells us all about life, its trials, its joys, His promises. And He will do what His Word says He will, at the prescribed times. At the same time if we speak forth His Word, believing it to be true, it will not return to Him void. 

So where am I headed with this?

This world has a lot to offer. For many, we have it made: it's a home, more than one car, children, a good job, food on the table, pets, a place of rest at night. Many have the ability to have conveniences, maybe more than needed. There are vacations and beautiful things to see and places to experience. Oh, God has provided these things, to be sure. He wants us to enjoy this life. We see things shifting a bit. Maybe we've taken advantage of all that we have or we feel, not so much privileged, but expecting the good life to continue.

But this is our earthly domain. These things are just that, things. They get lost, break (and replaced with bigger and better) or destroyed. How do we deal with that when it happens?

We've seen quite an eventful year of tornadoes, tsunamis, floods, fires and earthquakes. Lots of devastation. People's lives lost, property gone. Lives in upheaval. I don't know how I would take something like that without the peace that passes all understanding in Jesus Christ.

This week we had our own severe thunderstorms in the Midwest. And to add to that, our house got struck by lightning! Of course this is nothing in comparison to the other huge things that have happened. 

Now I don't fully understand the dimension of being struck. It didn't seem to damage the house; we didn't go up flames. But maybe there are some unseen things to be wary of. Time will tell. What was eerie was I was what seemed four feet from the strike, right outside a window where I was cleaning. Either it wasn't a bad strike, if there can be such a thing, or Someone was watching over the house and me. Yes, the damage will be somewhat costly due to the things that were pretty much fried.  

I have learned that patience is very necessary in all this. I've had that peace all along after the initial moment of "Wow, what just happened?" You learn to find new ways to do some things. Like using a broom and dust pan because the central vac fried. And thank heavens for cell phones because the phones are all dead. Thank heavens the cell phone connects to Internet!

It's a storm of life, although one of a smaller scale. Yes, there could be unseen electrical damage which needs to be checked. But we've been fortunate so far. I'm trusting God will keep us safe until all is resolved. I'm trusting He will protect. Trusting He will provide any miracle that we might not even be aware of...like no electrical damage throughout the house.

So, in the meantime I am proclaiming verbally, because it's always good to speak His Word forth, Psalm 107:1-2 - Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! And His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so. Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy... Remember, we do not fight against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12).

This might sound like a stretch to some. However, anything that might tend to wear us thin, cause concern, is exactly how our enemy the devil can work in our lives to cause us concern. It certainly doesn't hurt to ask Him for His peace and protection...and God's favor for a good word from an electrician regarding wiring!

I'm believing He will "deliver" us out of this. He will deliver us out of any stresses that might occur, but I'm at such peace! Thank You, Lord! Psalm 107:8 - Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!

I'm reminded of what Joseph, a godly man, said after going through some dreadful times being abandoned purposely by jealous brothers and living a most difficult life of captivity in Egypt. When God brought him back into relationship with his family...and his brothers...he said, But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.

Sure this was an act of nature. But who might have had His hand of protection on us? My shield of faith is raised to ward off any fiery darts of the enemy!

So my sacrifice is the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Thanks that it wasn't worse. I will declare His works with rejoicing (Psalm 107:22). He calms any storm that might arise in my spirit and brings a stillness (Psalm 107:29).

Psalm 107:43 - Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.

Though the Mountains Shake

Psalm 46:1-7, 10-11 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah. There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us...Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us... Selah

Who can deny what we see happening in the world? And devastation grows. In the end, God will be glorified. How, in the midst of all this destruction? Why is this happening? Perhaps as a warning...perhaps He desires to have you seek Him. We do not know all the things of God.  

I hear that there are those who claim what we see happening is because of global warming or mother nature (ugh). They do, however, agree that what we are seeing is "unprecedented." In an Examiner article it was suggested: ...there is another explanation that needs to be examined. And quickly for those not aware. This explanation offers a hope in connection with it and a promise from the very creator of the earth. 

That explanation, that hope, is Jesus Christ. I'm so glad I have this Savior who I can count on for strength, peace, wisdom and protection. You know...He protects His own! Could it just be He is wanting to get the attention of those who are not aware?

The world looks to answers in their own way. Often their answers do not provide continuous peace, rather a temporary sort. People will return over and over to searching for a cure-all that will satisfy their fears. They will constantly search via man's wisdom and they will not find it. There is only one way to have permanent peace in the midst of trials. Through Jesus Christ. Instead of searching the news, a crystal ball or the stock market for a word of hope, look up and search the things of God. Look up to the God of all creation, who has given us a promise like no other. He gave us His Son, Jesus, to allow us to secure this promise.

While catching just a split second glimpse of the news about the tsunami in Japan, I saw a solitary stranded car. I could see it's license plate. Although there were probably letters and numbers, all I saw was "3 16." Of course I was immediately taken to the scripture in John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. It's a reminder of the great love and the great promises of God. This is for the people of Japan as well as all people. 

Those who are not aware need to hear of this hope they can have. You might ask how I can feel I am under God's protection when all these recent disturbances are happening? 

Let me tell you...no matter what happens in our lives, whether war, persecution, famine, drought or pestilence, if we know that we know we have Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our future is secure. We have eternal life to always look forward to, we will not perish...even if we experience tragedy, like Japan or unrest like Cairo, Libya or whatever the next great uprising will be...and we will have eternal life.

When the world is in the midst of worry, concerned about it's future, we can have the assurance that we are covered by the blood of Jesus. If we have received Him, are filled with His Holy Spirit of promise, follow Him, trust in Him, and are obedient to Him, there is nothing man or this world can do to take away the life we will have at the end of our own earthly life. Hallelujah! 

Nothing in this world can save us. Nothing. There is only One who can. I cling to this promise of God and you can too:

Romans 8:38-39 - For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Do Not Worry, Part ???

Matthew 6:25 - Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life...

I don't often just open the Bible and read what's on that particular page, but I did this morning. What a delightful word, again. A word I needed to hear. That's God, all right. He knows what we need when we need it and although this may seem a coincidence to some, He knew it was a word for me today.

Deep in my spirit there is a knowing that all things will be according to God's plan and I'm so thankful for that. There are times though I want to see things happen now. The waiting period has been long and I must cling to the very personal promises God has revealed to me in the Spirit. That is hard when the days since those promises have been many. But then to the Lord a day can be as a thousand years or a thousand years as a day. God has no time schedule. But living in this 24-hour-a-day rigid world we have makes my patience a thing to be worked on.

Psalm 126:5 - Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. My mind has been racing again, filled with tidbits of seemingly disjointed ideas. I sense they are all connected and one cannot be removed from another. Yet to make sense of them altogether makes me nuts! It's like one of those crazy dreams we all have where you know what you dreamed but you can't put any of it into words except to say, "I had this weird dream last night." I'm not saying I'm crying over this, but there are times when the burden is heavy and yet you know that when it's done there will be rejoicing...and you might even think, "Oh, for Pete's sake, why did I fret so?"

I think it's more a frustration. I need a word from the Lord. And He says not to worry about anything. He tells me to just give it all to Him and He will handle everything in His perfect way and in His perfect timing. That's such a comfort until I think, "but when is that perfect timing?" And then I can hear God saying, "Oh, for Pete's sake!"

I'm reminded in Matthew 6 that I am of more value than the birds of the air which God feeds. Feeding...he feeds me with His Word. His Words are soothing in the midst of these times. Oh, the peace that comes when you just sit back and thank God for His understanding of your situation, when you choose this day to again lay that burden, or burdens, at the foot of the cross...and determine not to pick them up again...today!

I know that little by little those things racing through my head will one by one be taken care of. I might not even recognize it until one day later. Or God might suddenly put it out before me and show me what I must do now! A word might need to be spoken or an action taken. Lord, just let my eyes and ears be open to see this and respond accordingly.

We are to be flexible to the will of God. We cannot say, not today, Lord. We are to be ready at any time, in season or out. That's called obedience. And as someone once said, patience is a virtue. Wait and obey, wait and obey. Ah, Jesus!

Jesus goes on to say in Matthew Chapter 6 that my Heavenly Father knows what I have need of. But we are to seek Him first. That's the most important thing in the lives of all people. To seek Him first. That first thought in the morning. Do you do that? Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night thinking of Jesus? Do songs of praise lilt through your head as you sleep and you awake praising God? You're missing out if that doesn't happen. Seriously, you are.

I'm so far from being perfect it isn't funny. But my heart is stayed on Jesus. He sees my imperfections through eyes of love since I received Him 12 years ago. Oh, how did I live without Him before? That was easy...it was my "non-knowledge" of God that got me through. Amazing how blind we can be until the Truth comes into our hearts and lives and awakens within us a whole new spirituality based on Jesus. And the work begins, the work of patience, not worrying and obedience, not always in that order.

There is only one way to the Father. When we find that Way we no longer need to fear...we might forget on occasion and become humanly impatient, but despite that there is at the end of that long string of racing thoughts a knot of peace that is tied so tightly just for you. That knot is Jesus if you have reached out in a moment of despair and grabbed hold of Him.

I'm thankful in a way for the disruption in my spirit sometimes (note I said sometimes). It helps me to realize I'm still alive! I'm still under God's wing, under His watchful eye. I know that when things come at us there will be a day when the Lord will shine when His plan has been set forth in whatever way. It won't be me who accomplished thus and so but His work through me. I'm thankful it's by His strength, whether it be a world problem or a personal one, that we come through. This happens so we cannot boast of our own accomplishments. That's why He's God and we aren't. God is who He says He is, He can do what He says He can do. We just need that mustard seed of faith, recall we have that when we grow weary. Let go of those things that we cannot do anything about and just let Him be who He is best at being...the one true God.

After writing all this I checked in on Oswald Chambers. He talked about friendship with Jesus through our own sacrifice and surrender to Him. He writes: We never know the joy of self-sacrifice until we abandon in every particular. Self-surrender is the most difficult thing - I will if . . . ! ... As soon as we do abandon, the Holy Ghost gives us an intimation of the joy of Jesus...and the thought of sacrifice never touches us because sacrifice is the love passion of the Holy Ghost...when the sacrifice is made with the eyes on Him, slowly and surely the moulding influence begins to tell. We sacrifice to and for Jesus. Giving up our burdens is a form of self-sacrifice, a form of love for Jesus, knowing He can do a better job in any circumstance.

Let me end with this. It is partly a work (renewing) left to do in me and partly a wonderful promise (the eternal rewards are greater). We may weep today, but we will rejoice tomorrow:

2Corinthians 4:16-18 - Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Nothing, Absolutely Nothing

Jeremiah 32:17 - Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You.

I've said it before and I'll say it again...I have a long ways to go to feel I've arrived! And yet, we will never truly arrive until Jesus returns! None of us are righteous, not one (Romans 3:10). There are some days that scripture speaks more clearly than others. It's not something you always want to hear it but it's true! That's good because the conviction is the first step to healing. But I confess with a heavy heart I know how unrighteous I truly am, how I am so in need of that Savior who wipes clean the slate of confession.

Even after "getting right with God" we fail...those unintended times, those times we aren't purposely trying to sin, those "things we do that we don't want to" (Romans 7:15) but because our flesh rises up we end up doing. Oh, what a wretched man am I (Romans 7:24). I have missed the mark...again. The whole reason Christ died was so that we could come to Him personally and confess our sins and He would forgive. I'm thankful for convicting words, no matter where they come from!

We spent a long weekend golfing with our little traveling golf group. Sunday night my husband and I took the time to again watch an extraordinary movie called Facing the Giants. 

It's a fictional football movie and some might think a "bit over the edge" with the number of problems that could happen to one individual. But aren't there times when it seems life has fallen out from under us? When "things happen in threes" or fours, fives? When those become the giants in our lives? 

The story was based on a high school football coach whose team had been losing steam. He was about to lose his job. Not only that but his house was in need of repair, the only car he and his wife had was falling apart, the children they had been desiring seemed unattainable because he had yet another problem! He was in total despair and felt like a failure. This was a strong Christian man working at a Christian school.

Where had he gone wrong? Where was God in all this? What did he need to do? When you're in a pit whether literally or figuratively the only way out is up. He was absolutely powerless to turn his life around...on his own. He did not have the finances. He'd been doing so well but now the tides had turned on him. He finally took the time to seek God's help and wisdom. Then...things turned around little by little. FYI - the team they faced at the end of the movie was called the Giants. I won't spoil the ending because whether everything turned out good or not, praise went up to God, as it should.

In the movie it was said that "if my attitude is a problem then I've missed the mark." In Greek the word that means missing the mark is bluntly, sin. These words convicted me as I thought about the weekend and a discussion I had with one of the other women. I was reminded that my attitude was wrong. I was feeling sorry for myself about something and letting that get the better of me. We must love God even when we don't see the results of our prayers...no matter what...praise Him. I doubt that I showed that I still loved and trusted God in my life's situations. In fact, God wasn't brought up at all...mistake #1. All that was evident were the thoughtless feelings and words that came forth. 

Nothing, absolutely nothing, is impossible with God, no matter what we perceive in our lives. Nothing! And the amazing thing is when God's hand is in it, others will notice. I failed in my attitude about the situation. To be honest, my attitude stunk. I succumbed to allowing my flesh to take over. I failed, because of a momentary lapse in memory (Lord, forgive me), to speak the positive words I knew to be from God and allowed myself into that negative place. I failed to forget and just trust in God's plan. Instead of looking at circumstances through my own eyes, I should have remembered that God sets things in place for specific purposes, purposes that may include others' lives, no doubt my own!

Pastor James MacDonald had this in his devotion on trusting God yesterday: "[God] sees more than you can ever see. God, who loves you and is committed to you, will not disappoint you now or in the future if you put your weight fully on Him." That is His promise and I'd better not forget that next time!

There will no doubt be more times like this and I prayerfully hope that my attitude will not come through but that my trust in God's plans will. I just failed to forget for a time. My words were not the true reflection of what God has promised me. Instead James 3:10 sounds more like my problem: from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

Psalm 19:13 - Moreover, keep Your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule over me. Then I will be innocent, and cleansed from blatant rebellion.