Psalm 37, Day 10

Psalm 37 tells us just what we all can do if/when the cares of the world get the better of us. We know we live in disturbing times. (Some will view this disturbance one way, others another, depending on where their allegiance is: with God or the world.)

Do you trust in HIM alone? I know that God is in control, that He knows the beginning from the end, He absolutely knows the hearts of man. He has stated that by nature, apart from Him, man’s heart is geared to do evil. He will return to bring His wrath on evil man and the righteous will be saved. By knowing God’s views and submitting to Him now we can be counted among the righteous. We have been both warned and promised! Our only hope is in the Lord. Which side are you on?

Psalm 37:35-40 - I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a native green tree. Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; indeed I sought him, but he could not be found. Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; for the future of that man is peace. 
But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; the future
of the wicked shall be cut off. But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him.

Amen!

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Psalm 37, Day 9

Psalm 37 tells us just what we all can do if/when the cares of the world get the better of us. We know we live in disturbing times. (Some will view this disturbance one way, others another, depending on where their allegiance is: with God or the world.)

Do you trust in HIM alone? I know that God is in control, that He knows the beginning from the end, He absolutely knows the hearts of man. He has stated that by nature, apart from Him, man’s heart is geared to do evil. He will return to bring His wrath on evil man and the righteous will be saved. By knowing God’s views and submitting to Him now we can be counted among the righteous. We have been both warned and promised! Our only hope is in the LorD.

Have you received the gift of God and His inheritance of eternal life?

Psalm 37:29-34 - The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell in it forever. 
The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of justice. 
The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. 
The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to slay him. 
The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. 
Wait on the LORD, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.

Psalm 37, Day 8

Psalm 37 tells us just what we all can do if/when the cares of the world get the better of us. We know we live in disturbing times. (Some will view this disturbance one way, others another, depending on where their allegiance is: with God or the world.)

Do you trust in HIM alone? I know that God is in control, that He knows the beginning from the end, He absolutely knows the hearts of man. He has stated that by nature, apart from Him, man’s heart is geared to do evil. He will return to bring His wrath on evil man and the righteous will be saved. By knowing God’s views and submitting to Him now we can be counted among the righteous. We have been both warned and promised! Our only hope is in the Lord.

I have been young (and foolish) and now I am “old” and hopefully wiser. God IS merciful. Departing from evil is always a good thing.

Psalm 37:25-28 - I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; and his descendants are blessed. Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell forevermore. For the LORD loves justice, and does not forsake His saints; they are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off. 

Psalm 37, Day 7

Psalm 37 tells us just what we all can do if/when the cares of the world get the better of us. We know we live in disturbing times. (Some will view this disturbance one way, others another, depending on where their allegiance is: with God or the world.)

Do you trust in HIM alone? I know that God is in control, that He knows the beginning from the end, He absolutely knows the hearts of man. He has stated that by nature, apart from Him, man’s heart is geared to do evil. He will return to bring His wrath on evil man and the righteous will be saved. By knowing God’s views and submitting to Him now we can be counted among the righteous. We have been both warned and promised! Our only hope is in the Lord.

Psalm 37:21-24 - The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous shows mercy and gives. For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, but those cursed by Him shall be cut off. The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with His hand. 

Psalm 37, Day 6

Psalm 37 tells us just what we all can do if/when the cares of the world get the better of us. We know we live in disturbing times. (Some will view this disturbance one way, others another, depending on where their allegiance is: with God or the world.)

Do you trust in HIM alone? I know that God is in control, that He knows the beginning from the end, He absolutely knows the hearts of man. He has stated that by nature, apart from Him, man’s heart is geared to do evil. He will return to bring His wrath on evil man and the righteous will be saved. By knowing God’s views and submitting to Him now we can be counted among the righteous. We have been both warned and promised! Our only hope is in the Lord.

Psalm 37:16-20 - A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. The LORD knows the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. But the wicked shall perish; and the enemies of the LORD, like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away.

Psalm 37, Day 5

Psalm 37 tells us just what we all can do if/when the cares of the world get the better of us. We know we live in disturbing times. (Some will view this disturbance one way, others another, depending on where their allegiance is: with God or the world.)

Do you trust in HIM alone? I know that God is in control, that He knows the beginning from the end, He absolutely knows the hearts of man. He has stated that by nature, apart from Him, man’s heart is geared to do evil. He will return to bring His wrath on evil man and the righteous will be saved. By knowing God’s views and submitting to Him now we can be counted among the righteous. We have been both warned and promised! Our only hope is in the Lord.

We all will reap what we have sown.

Psalm 37:12-15 - The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth. 
**The Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming.**
The wicked have drawn the sword and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to slay those who are of upright conduct. Their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

Psalm 37, Day 4

Psalm 37 tells us just what we all can do if/when the cares of the world get the better of us. We know we live in disturbing times. (Some will view this disturbance one way, others another, depending on where their allegiance is: with God or the world.)

Do you trust in HIM alone? I know that God is in control, that He knows the beginning from the end, He absolutely knows the hearts of man. He has stated that by nature, apart from Him, man’s heart is geared to do evil. He will return to bring His wrath on evil man and the righteous will be saved. By knowing God’s views and submitting to Him now we can be counted among the righteous. We have been both warned and promised! Our only hope is in the Lord.

Psalm 37:10-11 - For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; indeed, you will look carefully for his place, but it shall be no more. But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 

Psalm 37, Day 3

Psalm 37 tells us just what we all can do if/when the cares of the world get the better of us. We know we live in disturbing times. (Some will view this disturbance one way, others another, depending on where their allegiance is: with God or the world.)

Do you trust in HIM alone? I know that God is in control, that He knows the beginning from the end, He absolutely knows the hearts of man. He has stated that by nature, apart from Him, man’s heart is geared to do evil. He will return to bring His wrath on evil man and the righteous will be saved. By knowing God’s views and submitting to Him now we can be counted among the righteous. We have been both warned and promised! Our only hope is in the Lord.

Psalm 37:8-9 - Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret—it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. 

Psalm 37, Day 2

Psalm 37 tells us just what we all can do if/when the cares of the world get the better of us. We know we live in disturbing times. (Some will view this disturbance one way, others another, depending on where their allegiance is: with God or the world.) 

Do you trust in HIM alone? I know that God is in control, that He knows the beginning from the end, He absolutely knows the hearts of man. He will return to bring His wrath on evil man and the righteous will be saved. By knowing God’s views and submitting to Him now we can be counted among the righteous. We have been both warned and promised! Our only hope is in the Lord. 

I will post a little of the psalm each day so as not to overwhelm! The psalmist not only writes truth but suggests: 

Psalm 37:5-7 - Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. 

Psalm 37, Day 1

Psalm 37 tells us just what we all can do if/when the cares of the world get the better of us. We know we live in disturbing times. (Some will view this disturbance one way, others another, depending on where their allegiance is: with God or the world.) 

Do you trust in HIM alone? I know that God is in control, that He knows the beginning from the end, He absolutely knows the hearts of man. He has stated that by nature, apart from Him, man’s heart is geared to do evil. He will return to bring His wrath on evil man and the righteous will be saved. By knowing God’s views and submitting to Him now we can be counted among the righteous. We have been both warned and promised! Our only hope is in the Lord. 

So, I will post a little of the psalm each day so as not to overwhelm! The psalmist not only writes truth but suggests: 

Psalm 37:1-4 - Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 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.

That He May Be Glorified

John 11:1-16

Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick."

When Jesus heard that,  He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. Then after this He said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again." 

The disciples said to Him, "Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and You are going there again?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." These things He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up." 

The disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well." However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him."

Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him."


The Book of John describes Jesus the best. From the words in the beginning of John that He is the Word, is with God and is God, to His death, resurrection and reappearance to His disciples, we begin to know Jesus. We see His compassion, judgment and power through healing and miracles. All designed that we might know and believe like those in His days.

All that is written in the Bible from Old to New Testaments is there that He may be glorified. Nothing less. While some may believe He is too judgmental, it's only because those who think this are convicted...which brings anger and a turning away from Him. No one wants their sin revealed. None of us do. But for those who believe, we know it is for our good.

So here we see an account being set up. Jesus knows a family: Lazarus, Martha and Mary. Lazarus has become ill and Mary and Martha call for Jesus because they know He can heal him.

The odd thing is Jesus doesn't rush to handle the situation. He lingers awhile before deciding to head back to Judea, where His life is in danger, to Lazarus and his sisters. But this, as He says, is to glorify God...and essentially Himself. May sound a little arrogant but I assure you it is not. It is just added proof of His previous miracles and statements that He is the Son of God and that He does nothing apart from His Father's will. An attempt to reveal Himself. And attempt to show us who we should be putting our trust in.

Even the disciples who had seen the miracles and healing He had performed needed more proof. I look at how we live our lives in Christ. We do not see where God is doing something and we might even forget to trust Him until we are reminded of how He works, which in each of us is different. It's all part of how we believe and trust Him in all areas of our lives.

Examples: a serious illness overtakes us and we don't see how we will be healed; yet God might withhold healing for a specific reason. Or what seemed to be the perfect job isn't received; God may be withholding that for His perfect job, one that is even better suited. Something unexpected shakes up our comfort zone and we are forced to change our lifestyle, if even for a season. Unexpected death might bring about a miracle in someone else. We just don't know all of God's plans. And we can't second guess God. We shouldn't.

The disciples had heard Jesus say returning to Judea would glorify God. They heard when He said "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." (John 8:12) and now He's talking about walking in the day because they might stumble at night? What's this all about? They were confused about Jesus' words about Lazarus. He's asleep; he's dead. Which is it? How was He to be glorified by someone's death? He hadn't gone directly to help this good friend of His. I suppose it takes us all some time to get stuff like this into our heads.

And they thought by going back to Judea He might be killed...so Thomas determined at least himself, but urged the others, to go and die with Jesus. They couldn't see past what was in their minds as impossible. Haven't we read and stated many times that "nothing is impossible with God?" Sometimes not until we see His hand at work do we truly believe. They would soon learn that He was the Way, Truth...and Life.

I'm sure the rest of the story of Lazarus is well known. We will see how we are all like Lazarus. We will see the glory of God. We will see Truth in action. But all that's for tomorrow!

John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

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.

Gifts of God

Blessed  is  the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. (Jeremiah 17:7, Psalm 37:4,5)

We surely do not understand all the things of God, as a friend pointed out in Facebook post. Some things are only for Him to know. It is up to us to just trust Him. That trust in the Lord takes time to build up. We have to first know Him before we can experience how He works in our lives to the point of trust. 

How many times I've heard or prayed over someone regarding how we don't know what we would do without the knowledge of God and His presence in our lives. Circumstances might seem hopeless without Him. But with the intimate knowledge of Jesus, despite whatever we are going through, we know He is with us. His arms are outstretched for us or they are wrapped around us in comfort. His words from His own mouth, clearly written in the gospels, can be the greatest comfort, as are those of others in His Word that bring hope, comfort, joy and promise.

How I thank the Lord for His everlasting love toward those who seek Him. He will turn away no person truly seeking and desiring His presence in their lives. 

I am especially grateful for Him in these unsettling days. I'm grateful knowing He will be my shield and my strength. I know that no matter what I/we go through I am secure because of Him. I won't get out of going through difficulties but have a God who is bigger and will guide me through by His strength, His Spirit within me.

This is when we don't understand the how or why of whatever situation we are in (apart from what might be going on in the world that the Bible shows us is to be) and we just trust...and rely on His Holy Spirit to guide and remind us of the promises we have as children of God.

Oh, the fear that can strike the hearts of men without the faith, trust and hope Jesus brings. He will see us through.

If your heart is weary, fearful, seemingly without hope, ask Jesus to make Himself known to you. Ask Him to step into your life and take control because He knows best your need. He knows best. Period.

Trust in Him alone. He can set things in order in your life. He will heal old wounds, heal and restore broken relationships, repair the pain of rejection and unforgiveness. Again, we don't know how He does it but He does. Somehow He works in our hearts and changes them. He opens blind eyes. He gives understanding we could not have imagined. It is nothing we can do ourselves through self-help books or therapy! It is purely through the amazing, healing power of Christ. But we need to take the first step in wanting to receive this. 

What is "this?" All these gifts of God and more--all free through your receiving of Jesus Christ: eternal life (Romans 6:23); grace, sufficiency, righteousness (2Corinthians 9); wisdom, knowledge, riches, wealth (He knows what we truly need) and honor (2Chronicles 1:12); good and perfect gifts (James 1:17); rest for our souls (1Chronicles 22:9); peace (Leviticus 26:6); bread of life and living water (John 6:50-51, John 7:38) ; His Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9).

John 1:12-13 - But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 

Psalm 5

Psalm 5:12 - For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.

As I continue with the Psalms we will see similarities. It's all about believing in, trusting in, praising and worshiping our God. If David writes about these things, maybe there is very good reason. It might have to do with those He will hear when they cry out.

God hears the cries of His people toward Him...if they first have that belief in Him and have allowed Jesus to become a part of everyday lives. If we have given ourselves over to Him and truly trust Him in all things, He will bend a ear toward us when we cry out to Him in our distress.

Distress for David was mainly enemies not holding strong to his God, who desired his death. But David maintained his focus on the LORD. He made it a point to call out to Him first thing in the morning. He took the time to worship Him, generally with musical instruments and dancing. Worship today might be song, or just praising Him, calling on Him, talking with Him, spending time meditating on His Word. These are all forms of worship. Anything that puts our focus on Him.

Our stresses or distresses are multitudinous! Finances, illness, enemies to those who do good, relationships, even mundane daily issues of life.

Like David, we are to thank Him in all circumstances. We are to maintain righteousness. He sees our devotion and He directs our paths, keeps us safe, gives us peace and strength and gets us through if we are focused on Him.

Things God does not delight in: wickedness, deceit, those who lie or kill. He will bring a guilty sentence upon these people some day. Even if they go through natural life without punishment, it's the sentence after death that they/we should be concerned about.

If we have belief, trust and confidence in the Lord, we can rejoice all our days. Who wouldn't want this assurance? Rejoice even in the midst of trouble because our God is greater...because we trust in Him we will be held in the palm of His hand--even in death.

If we have trouble, He is there to be our defender. Give it over to Him and let Him straighten things out in His perfect way. He does this for any who take Him seriously, who love Him. He will bless the righteous. Though we don't see Him, if we know Him with all our heart and deep within our soul, He will be our protection and shield. That's called faith.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 5:11 - But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. 

WHY....For the Better Thing

John 16:33 - These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

In a  little informal setting in the lobby at church last Sunday, Pastor Andy Horn and a small group approached the subject of who we are in Christ. It reminded me of an email devotion I'd received earlier that week that told us that although we call ourselves Christians it doesn't make us better; we do not have an upper hand in either perfection or fallenness (see my October 1, 2011 blog). The difference is knowing where we've come from and in Whom we now are, where our strength now lies. And it doesn't prevent us from going through difficulties.

We still have troubles in our lives, but how we go through those struggles comes from  knowing Who we are in Christ and Who we can call on to handle those troubles. I recall asking so many whys before I knew Christ when things didn't work out for me. I could always find someone else to blame, too. Today it's different. The why questions might at first want to be thought, but immediately the frustration or anger are replaced with, Okay, Lord, why is this happening? What do you have planned? What new thing is in the works?  That takes away part of the frustration of not knowing...and a good deal of trust in God...and asking for His guidance through it.

It's remembering He knows the beginning from the end. Imagine having confidence in Him, knowing that if you lost something or someone or something didn't work out it might very well be God has something greater and He has to break the ties with current situations/people in order for you to move forward elsewhere, to that better plan He has, even though you might be doing well where you currently are. If you know the Lord, you know you can trust His plans are good even when there are unanswered questions...there's a reason we must have faith.

Another email devotion I received this morning points out that even Jesus was filled with times of unanswered questions: My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me (Matthew 27:46)? He called this out as He hung on the cross. He was asking why. He knew why He was there, but couldn't understand His Father's absence at this particular moment. In His greatest time of need He received no answer. Out of His suffering the cries erupted, although He really knew the answer, that at this particular time Jesus had all the sins of the world upon Him and His Father could not be in the presence of sin. A great mystery, seeing as how He and the Father are one...

As Christians we have access to this wisdom of knowing despite our struggles, God still holds us in the palm of His hand. This is not a wisdom that should have others consider us arrogant or superior. It's just knowing who we are in Christ. It is He who is the superior one and He lives in us when we have made the choice to receive Him. It is He who is at work in us. And He is available to all who seek Him for this. Anyone willing to make the choice can be counted as a follower of Christ, a believer, whose thoughts about the way life is are different now because we know Who has set things in motion, Who has created us and all things around us and takes us on incredible journeys.

As Jesus struggled, despite being the Son of God, so we do also. That's why He is to be our example. However, we have the same assurance as Jesus. Look what happened to Him: He lived, He died, He rose again and now lives forever. This is the hope we have. It's that perfect "happy ending." Although we might not have all the answers, our eternity is secure as long as we trust in Him.

Listen to what the writer of today's email devotion had to say: As strangers and exiles, this life is not a journey towards certainty, nor is it always a journey guided by easy answers. It is a journey of trust through unknown territory and even to places of forsakenness. - Margaret Manning, a member of the speaking and writing team at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Seattle, Washington.

Unknown territory and places of forsakenness. A non-believer might ask, What's the point in believing if we're still going to go through the same things? It all boils down to that knowing Who is on the other side of the struggle and why He has us going there and the final outcome. Without the Lord we do it in our own strength with anger, fear and frustration or we have the choice to do it aided by His strength with joy, peace and patience knowing He is in control and His ways are right and just. Which would you rather have?

We all have a choice. The biggest struggle for some is making that choice. Once it's made life is different. Choose today whom you will serve (Jeremiah 24:15).  The choice will determine your future. It will mean the difference between victory or defeat. Your choice. Jesus Christ is Lord. He reigns victorious. He reins forever. And we can too. What better a Person can you have on your side? You can be an overcomer, like Christ.

Later that morning at the end of our service, our Pastor, Rory Grooters, made the emotional and sad announcement that because of finances they were going to have to release Pastor Andy from his duties as pastor. Later I wanted to ask God why. As soon as the thought began to form I stopped, knowing it was wrong to ask. I even heard the words, Don't go there, when my mind was zeroing in on an area of complaint I shouldn't have entered!

I was reminded of something else that recently happened in Pastor Andy's life, something that may have happened as a precursor to this event. It could be the better thing ahead for them even though it seemed things were going so well. I am deeply saddened by this announcement but also know only good will come from this. There's also that unanswered question of why looming before Pastor and his wife. And yet...although the door to this part of he and his wife's life may seem to have closed, I know they are trusting for the better thing to come from this. I'm thankful their faith in God is as strong as it is. 

Philippians 1:6 - being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Which Side of the Fence?

Psalm 62:4 - They only consult to cast him down from his high position; they delight in lies; they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah 

Selah...think on this!

I was listening or reading about how this administration is planning on downplaying the idea of terrorist activity of 9/11. I had mixed feelings of anger, frustration and sadness, probably in that order! And as usual, I am reminded that this is what is to happen in the last days. The days will grow dimmer and dimmer, depending on which side of the fence one is on.

It's hard to comprehend that anyone would believe 9/11 was something other than a terrorist attack. I don't believe our current leader is that ignorant. Maybe offended by the idea for some reason. I do believe he is part of the movement today that touts the idea of tolerance to the needs of some over others. But where's the sensitivity to the rights of Christians? The world view is taking over...and the truth is limited to those who seek it. Again, this all depends on which side of the fence one is on.

As I read Psalm 62 this morning I saw parallels. It is about those whose trust is in the Lord. King David showed his absolute trust in God over man. He calls Him his salvation, his rock, defense, glory, strength and refuge. He is the One he waits silently for, whose mercy is His only, who renders each according to his work. And so we who know Him wait silently, or not so silently, for honest justice. When Jesus returns justice will be done. So we wait...

David describes more than once that God is his refuge. He declares that the enemy, despite his attack on mankind, will be slain, his high position brought down (Isaiah 5:15). David waits silently as the enemy speaks lies, blessing with his mouth yet inwardly cursing. He declares that man of low degree is but a vapor but those of high degree are a lie, meaning all men are sinners in need of a Savior; and then there are those who think their station in life takes them out of the position of mere man. 

David tells us that we just cannot trust man. Period. Trust only in God. His power will withstand all other power. It is His and His only. 

So, tolerance. Yes, a touchy subject. There is evil in any society, in any religion, in any culture. But when we can pinpoint where the evil has come from, don't we need to acknowledge it rather than be sensitive to it? This is our freedom we're talking about, our safety and security. 

There will be a day of judgment for the people in high places making wrong decisions, promoting evil and telling lies (unless they come to their senses and seek forgiveness). There will be a day of judgment for all people, for that matter. We are all to face it some day. The difference is who our lawyer is! If it's Jesus and we have acknowledged our sin before God and Him, and have received Him, we know we are not guilty.

Little by little the evil of the world is attacking our lives. We are called to be tolerant, to embrace diversity. More and more people are jumping on the bandwagon, even some who appear to be promoting good when they are really promoting themselves. Truly we are seeing a rise in false prophets who speak words to convert to their form of thinking...and duping people into believing that what they speak is truth.

There is only one Truth. That is Jesus Christ. As we are being told we must be sensitive to the needs of terrorists, why is it there is no sensitivity to Christians? Why is there a double standard? Depends on which side of the fence one's on, I guess. And tolerance toward Christianity is waning while tolerance to evil is on the rise.

Thankfully when we know Christ we know the power behind our God. Despite all that happens in this world, we know the final outcome. It will not be good for those who like double standards or seek to tolerate what should not be or who misunderstand the idea that no one is above needing a Savior and prefer to promote evil. 

God is for those who trust in Him. Stand with Him over the beliefs of man. His promises are true. Selah...think on this.

He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. (Psalm 62:2,6,  Isaiah 41:10)