Ouch and Amen!

Luke 2:15-16 - So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord  made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

Well, another Christmas has come and gone. I have a confession. I don’t enjoy celebrating Christmas like I used to. Whaaat? 

It has grown more and more commercialized and less about Jesus. It’s been this way for awhile. Oh, it’s a time of year when love is extended by giving gifts, like the Magi gave to King Jesus. But what did the humble shepherds have to give? Might I say their gifts of worship and praise were what were befitting this Child? 

The shepherds were first to be notified! Not the Magi. The lowly before the grand. Look at it this way, too. Jesus came humbly into the world, not in some grand manner. He also came to become our Shepherd. If Jesus humbled Himself both in birth and in death, shouldn’t this be our example? This is what the Bible tells us about humility:

• The meek shall inherit the earth. 
• The proud will be humbled
• The humble will be raised up
• With the humble comes   wisdom
• The foolish and weak things of the world bring shame to the wise and mighty

We are to come to Christ as little children, in anticipation and trust, seeking Him and less self-seeking. 

Our pastor had a very good message for Christmas Eve. It was based on the Luke 2 scriptures above. The shepherds made haste. They heard the good news of a  Savior, Christ the Lord, being born. Imagine...they also were the first types of evangelists:

Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. (Luke 2:17-18,20) 

These shepherds had no gifts to bring but they carried away with them and shared what they had seen about this Child who was and is the greatest gift of all. \

So the verse above, Luke 2:16, shares that the shepherds made haste to see this Child. They made haste. They didn’t drag their feet or decide to wait till they felt the time was right. They were called and went quickly to see what God had told them about. 

I wonder how many have heard the good news but have failed to receive it and Him? That’s the “ouch.” The “amen” goes to those who have and love what has transpired. 

God still is in the business of telling the world about this Child, His Son Jesus. He’s still in the business of sending His Holy Spirit to open eyes, ears and hearts to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. He uses others to do as the shepherds-evangelists of that day/John the Baptist/the disciples/pastors/evangelists, any and all who have made haste (and sometimes not so hastily) to meet this Child-King. Here’s another verse so well known and so well spoken by the prophet of Isaiah...

Isaiah 55:6 - Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.

Hebrews 3:15 - ...Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.

Only One Race

Ephesians‬ ‭6:12‬  - For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

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There is only one race...the human race. This is a bit off my normal blog. I was listening to a very old sermon, probably recorded in the 50’s. But the message was ever as relevant today as then. The message doesn’t change, though the messenger might! The preacher was A.Z. Tozer. I was riveted as I took notes. So this is his paraphrased sermon with my added comments, in italics where I remembered! 

This is also a sober reminder to myself!

There coexists only two kingdoms: the kingdom of man and the Kingdom of God. They touch at least, living side by side. We are born into the kingdom of man. This is the rebellious, fallen kingdom, exiled from God. By nature we are a fallen race. For the most part this human race disagrees on many things. There is division among races and division politically, division on ways of life...”local” things. But we do agree on one thing. The basic principle of human self-sufficiency...instinctive wisdom of the race. 

However, God talks about the folly of the human race. We don’t know our spiritual home nor the hand that feeds us and are not sufficient unto ourselves. The human race believes in moral judgment with a mistake being made here and there. We “basically” know what is right and allow for a few flaws but we are basically good! We do have institutions and people who do good things for others. But there still is a basic evil of the human race. 

We can be distressed over the world conditions. Don’t we realize that this is proof of the depravity of the human race? The human race is nothing unless God is involved in lives. Until then goodness is man-centered. Man’s kingdom is filled with organized evil from satan. It is implemented by science, history and personal success...all of the flesh for the desires of the flesh. All part of the human race. 

Then there’s the Kingdom of God! It’s a totally different Kingdom. This is made up of people who have been re-created, born again into His Kingdom. Persons who have given their lives to Christ. Persons who have no confidence in man’s successes and goodness because man can so easily fail without God. 

I added these:

Without Christ I can do no good thing.

God is my strength and my shield, my help in times of weakness. 

Only God knows just what we really need. Only He knows what is truly the best for us. The world has nothing to offer compared to what He has for those who seek Him. 

These two kingdoms will touch, maybe even seep into one another. Sadly, there will always be a little world that spills into the church because man does that. And there are churches totally given over to man’s kingdom because they don’t really know God; their belief is that man can do good apart from God. Motivational speakers and businessmen are brought in to bring success or tell people the best life is now, here on earth, be the best you can be...without the help of God. 

**I can do nothing apart from God.**

Mankind cannot be made good on their own but only through Divine help. The Church cannot succeed without God’s intervention. Only God in us can do a good thing. 

So if we cannot do anything on our own, apart from God, we must seek Him daily, in prayer and supplication to help us make the right decisions. I know someone who (used to) ask God what she should wear every day. That might be a little overboard but we should at least seek Him about guiding our days, our thoughts, our words. We can so often fail here... So we need a Savior, One who will guide.

Examples of how to do this!!

The world says, "in everything by money"...if you have enough you’ll have what you want. Money talks and opens doors. More money, more success. If we, according to God’s Word, offer up first to the Kingdom of God, He will bless us (not necessarily with more money but spiritual blessings...what we truly need). However, money without prayer behind it, can become a curse.  Even money given to a church without prayer behind it! If a church only wants a person’s money, they do not care about God. And likewise, giving because it’s an obligation, it’s not for God. So, how about everything by prayer and supplication...

The world says "it’s about social prestige," climbing the ladder, success. It’s not what, but who you know. Winning friends and influencing people. What we need is the power of God! We shouldn’t care what the world says; it’s what God thinks of us that matters. He has the power over life and death. 

Let this sink in...Christ was born in a manger. Peter and John were fishermen and Matthew a despised tax collector. The early church rose up out of people with very little, not those in power or wealth. Paul was learned and he persecuted the early church. But he was humbled! He was brought to his knees before God. And converted! Peter was not very learned, but when God got hold of him it was the power of God in him that led 3,000 to Christ! They were a praying bunch! They sought Him. 

When we come to Christ it’s usually when we realize a need, our awfulness, our miserableness, our poor spirits. We are humbled. When all else fails, Christ is there. It is through our testimony that others see Christ. Everything by prayer ... and it doesn't need to be in a mega church; a small, modest one will do too.

With the power of God, all things can be settled...better than any man or group of men committed to doing it their way. Pray more, talk less! 

When a church begins to backslide it tends to try to educate itself through man’s ways. Get books on this, study this...as opposed to being directed into the Word of God. What does He say? 

The world says everything by compromise. Could that be like being politically correct? Trying to be in harmony? All at a level playing field? The Word doesn’t suggest any such thing. There is only one right way. As much as people will balk at this, it is the truth. There is only one way! Through the power of God because His ways are perfect, His ways just.

Compromising in the Kingdom of God has deadly consequences. Yet some churches choose to compromise by seeking what the world wants over what God wants. Letting the church get along with the world, not standing alone with God. Like the "coexist" movement, regarding religion. Not taught in the Bible. 

People have a problem with believers who won’t budge when it comes to the truth of the Bible...the world says, “Did God really say that? If He did He’s a tyrant; He’s supposed to be a loving God.” The Church is not to be used by man but by God. God does not compromise because...He IS God. He IS Creator of all things. He IS all powerful, all knowing, always present. What He commands will happen with or without man. He doesn’t need us but we certainly need Him. I'm thankful for a pastor who is diligent to seek God in all things.

But if we call ourselves to prayer and seeking (and trusting) God in all things, He will deliver. Prayer is what gives power to all the necessary things of life. We’ll find out some day whether the good that we did came to anything. That’s a scary thought. How much of my life will have been stubble which will be burned up, useless? 

This is all truth and yet it is something that needs to be brought into our minds through the Holy Spirit. We will always fail at some things. It’s this fallen human nature we have as a human race. When we fail we rise up and start over.

Must be why Tozer titled the sermon Everything in Prayer! 

Philippians‬ ‭4:6-7‬ ‭- Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

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Close(r) to God

Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:11‬- He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

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One year at Christmas, in my early thirties, divorced, living alone in a small apartment in Milwaukee’s downtown, I felt a need to “go to church.” I needed to feel close to God. And it seemed because it was around Christmas it was a good time to go. I walked exactly two blocks from my doorstep to the doorstep of St. John’s Cathedral. 

I sat in back because I did not come from a Catholic background and I was not a regular church-goer. I guess I was feeling guilty. I wanted to hear the choir. I hoped to feel the presence of God or His angels. The choir was beautiful, maybe even in Latin. I don’t remember if I stayed for service. 

I’ve mentioned this several times in my writing: there is a God-shaped hole in each of our hearts. It is there just for Him to fill. Nothing...nothing...nothing else can fill it no matter how hard we try. That’s how I must have felt even then, before I knew Jesus as my Lord and Savior. How we who know Him can look back sometimes and see the hand of God in our lives...how He wooed. How He was piercing my heart that night. Someday I need to list all the times I know He saved me from this or that, or was clearly showing Himself to me, yet I was unaware of it at the time. 

I’m reading a little book that should be an easy, quick read, but it’s taking me deep in thought about this amazing God we have. Truths about this God through everyday occurrences that I realize I have been missing at times. 

The writer was explaining a similar experience as mine: he was with a group of his high school boys at a basketball tournament. He was not on the team but just along. The gym was next to a “towering white tabernacle.” He felt led to leave the gym at one point and go to the tabernacle: “Finding a private place in back, I reached out and place my hands on the outside walls. As I did, my heart ached deeply to go inside. I wanted to walk through the locked doors to feel the wisdom and peace of that secret building. That is, I wanted to step closer to God, my eternal home. Although the cares of the world may bury this yearning to step closer to God, it’s common to all. (Trust in the Lord, Deen Kemsley)

Earlier this week I’d heard a southern Gospel song I’d never heard before. The gist of it was that no matter where you are in life and have no idea what the next day will hold, God is already there. I can’t for the life of me find the lyrics based on my remembrances!! I didn’t rush to my phone to see the playlist because I thought I’d remember, although occasionally the tune to the chorus will come to me. 

He’s always a step ahead of us and also beside us. He was with us even before we knew Him. He has an everlasting love for each of us, no matter how we feel about Him. But what joy we can have if we submit ourselves to growing closer to Him. You might be able to think of all the times in your past when He’s been showing Himself to you. Maybe you don’t recognize them, but He’s hoping you will notice.

Another time as a youngster. I would go outside after dark in the dead of winter. I would lay down in the snow and search the sky. My thoughts were how the stars go far beyond what we can see with our eyes. I was so amazed I could hardly breathe. Like my heart would burst if I could fully understand it all. I don’t remember being taught this but I’m sure confirmation classes were where I heard it. (And secretly, I was hoping I’d catch a cold so I wouldn’t have to go to school...never happened!) 

God wasn’t done with me. He kept wooing me. It took a very long time, but He was persistent and while I wasn’t so willing to drop everything to follow Him, the desire for Him was there buried deep. 

Oh that more would tap into this. We can all attain it. No matter what! No matter who we are, what we have done, how simple or smart, good or bad. I hesitate using this phrase but I will: we can come as we are; Jesus doesn’t want us to stay that way though and He will make us into the person we were truly meant to be. “We have but to repent from our sins, place our trust in the light, and turn to Christ. If we do, we will feel his comfort and know his peace, being born of him. Through the voice of the Spirit, we will know God is there, even in our days of loss and despair.” (Trust in the Lord) Or as the words to the song go, He’s already there. 

Jesus Christ is our treasure in heaven. He is the most important possession we can have. The things of this world are temporary. Heaven is permanent to those who seek Him. And...He’s already there. He’s guiding those who want to be led. He’s calling out. He’s showing Himself in our daily lives if we only look intently. Do you want to be closer? I am declaring His name through the few circumstances listed here. He is worthy! 

Isaiah‬ ‭12:2-4‬ ‭- Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; “for YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.” Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And in that day you will say: “Praise the LORD, call upon His name; declare His deeds among the peoples, make mention that His name is exalted.”

Rock or a Hard Place?

Acts 4:11-12 - This is the "stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone." Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

I wrote the other day, as many other days, about the only way to reconciliation with God being (through) Jesus. He is also called the Door. My thoughts continue.

When we are in a dilemma and anxieties hit and we feel we are between a rock and a hard place, what do we do, where do we turn?

The message in the Church should always be: for a multitude of issues, and sins, seek first the kingdom of God. There are no multiple ways. He provides all we need: guidance, wisdom, peace, protection. Buddha can't do it, a pastor or priest can't do it, nor a rabbi; no astrologer or palm reader or spirit guide or self-help book or psychologist. There is only one way. Jesus. He can be the Rock in the midst of a hard place.

Do we ask Him daily for His wisdom, guidance and peace in all situations? Why not? If He is the way, truth and life, why wouldn't we? By the power of His Holy Spirit we can know His eye is on us, His sparrows. He will never leave nor forsake those who seek Him first. 

He will guide and give wisdom to those who seek Him through His Word and through conversing (praying) with Him. He will listen if He knows we are truly seeking.

He knows those who actively seek Him. He opens eyes, minds and hearts to them. If you knew someone who wanted nothing to do with you, did not appreciate you or pay attention to you or respect you, wouldn't you choose to shake them off? In a way, that's what God might do. He still knows everything about you and knows what you're up to, but until you pay mind to Him, He might back away and leave you to your own devices.

If, however, that person suddenly, humbly, changes their mind about you, maybe because they finally see a need to believe and trust in you and seek your guidance, wouldn't you give them a second chance? Just what God does. 

A rock and a hard place. The Rock and a hard place. The Rock is strong, solid. When you need security, He's the Rock to stand on.

2Samuel 22:2-4 - And he said: “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; the God of my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my Savior, You save me from violence. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.”

Diligence

Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Our sermon yesterday was called Pursuing God and the opening scripture the one above. For the true believer this is done with diligence which is described as with haste, earnestness, striving after anything, interest, one's self most earnestly. 

I'll tell you the scripture above touched a few hearts. It's all about faith. A lot of people I know are faithfully waiting on God for something. By faith we believe all that God has promised. By faith we believe that He exists. By faith we believe that nothing, absolutely nothing, is impossible with God...not always happening, but still not impossible. The question has been asked several times, if our prayers aren't answered will we still trust God? My answer, who else can I trust? 

Driving to church I was trying to imagine how much more there is to God than what we see. What might it be like to stand before God someday? Standing probably will not happen for me. I will be flat on my face before Him. We can look around us and see His beauty, His character, His nature, but with our finite minds, we cannot possibly comprehend the absolute greatness of who He is. We just can't comprehend Him. Our minds can't go there. It is purely by faith that we know some day we will understand. We cannot comprehend all He is. 

I remembered a part of a study from the Book of Revelation where the angels in heaven were heard crying out, Holy, holy, holy. They did this 24/7. Can you imagine doing that? I sure can't, but imagine seeing Him face to face...which even seems impossible. We don't know what it will be like and how we will react. It was said that perhaps these angels, for every "holy" they cried out, they were seeing yet another of the infinite...infinite...attribute of God. It will go on for eternity.

People, we think we are so smart. We might have degrees, even really fancy ones. We might have the highest IQs. We might be able to quote scripture or have memorized poetry or lines from movies, even know the stats of our favorite ball team from today to years past. We may be successful in whatever we do. We may be well-known in business or sports or entertainment. But the fact is, we are absolutely nothing without God. None of this matters more than He. Our pastor said he heard one time, The answer is always Jesus. So what is the question? 

Diligently seeking the Lord will provide some knowledge but certainly not all. I know that one day every knee will bow and tongue confess that He is Lord, out of absolute reverence for Him. Not one will be able to not do it. Some will still hang on to their rebellion against Him, but they will bow. Their end will not be good. I pray when I bow it will be out of sheer love and humility before Him. 

So in the beginning here I said our minds cannot comprehend Him and all He is. This is what faith is all about. Faith in what we cannot see, touch, taste, or smell. Nothing. We just have to believe...and look forward to the day, with hearts just bursting, that we will see a glimpse of more than we can know with our finite minds. I long for the day when I hear or participate in all the holy, holy, holies. I long for the day when my faith becomes sight and I see Him face to face. I long to see the greatest Promise of all.

We are to pursue Him today. We will get glimpses of Him but only glimpses. Our earthly bodies or minds would not be able to tolerate more than the little we do see. Those who diligently seek Him will be rewarded someday. Hallelujah. I hope this includes you. 

Oh, Lord, how I love You.

Romans 11:33-34 - Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?

Assuredly, I Say

Matthew 6:2,5,16 - Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

Three times Jesus tells His disciples these words. He has been sharing with these men how to act with humility and how to remember that God sees not only our acts but our heart's motives. 

The first time He mentions these words is in regard to charitable deeds. It is better to quietly do or give rather than openly. He says, ...do not sound a trumpet...that you might receive glory from men...do not let your left hand know what your right is doing...

Then Jesus tells these men: ...your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 

Likewise when praying it is not necessary to do so with fervor, flowery words or repetition to draw attention to self. It is to be done humbly, often in a quiet place, alone. Again, your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

And then when fasting it is not good to have the appearance of one who is. It draws attention to the individual. He says, yet a third time ...your Father who sees in secret will reward you. All we do in the quietness of our inner selves is what He sees and rewards. 

Remember, Jesus came humbly into this world and He lived a humble life. He left this world in a tragic manner yet humbled Himself even then by not speaking up to defend Himself. He is to be our example of humility. I believe pride is the root of all our sin. It is not all about us but all about what our Father does in and through us and whether what we do is for self or for Him. We seem to have a problem with this pride, all of us.

Later in this chapter of Matthew Jesus is talking about where our treasures are, there's where our heart is. Is it all about Him or all about us? Are our hearts set on Him or our achievements and accomplishments? Do we give Him any glory for what He has done through us? Do we give Him any credit at all? Do we want recognition or do we want God to be seen in us? Do we shine His light or our own?

Jesus concludes by telling the disciples, as a teaching also for us, that we are not to worry about our lives because God's got a handle on it all. He's got the control if we allow Him. If we believe we must be in complete control, we've no faith in our Father in heaven. I look at the vitriol after this last presidential election. We need to understand that God is in control and He knows just what He is doing. If it means one side determined to go after the other, who knows what it might bring about in God's plan. Some will have faith in God, others will believe He has nothing to do with anything. 

This God is the only means to life. We cannot do any more ourselves to bring life. He has complete control of our lives, even the number of hairs on our head, the number of our days. It is suggested we turn to Him and trust Him for that life. If we follow Him all our needs are met. Even if we do not have much, He supplies the necessities...the first being salvation of our souls with the end result being life everlasting. It's that life that is most important.

Apart from God we do not have this. Apart from God we will have our own reward, which amounts to very little. With God, we are secretly rewarded...a better reward than that which we receive from our own means. 

Matthew 6:32-33 - 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.

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What More Can I Say?

Isaiah 55:6 - Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.

What more can I say? It's always about Jesus. His love, His mercy, His desire that all should know Him intimately.

Nothing satisfies more than the deep knowledge of an unseen God. Just because we cannot see Him doesn't mean He does not exist. He's always a prayer away to those wanting to know Him.

Isaiah tells us in Chapter 55 that God has what we need. Thirsty? Hungry? ...Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. (Isaiah‬ ‭55:1-2‬) ‭Why else would He be called the Bread of Life or the Fountain of Living Water? He has all we need. Our soul, our spirit is the most important part of us. 

If we give up our own ideas of what life should be like, what we think we need to make us happy, and accept Jesus, we shall be satisifed. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you... (Isaiah 55:3) Everlasting = lasting through all time, eternal. Without Jesus we will always flounder.

Hah! Bear with me here! Flounder? Didn't Jesus enlist the help of fishermen? Didn't He say they would become fishers of men? Isn't that who we are without Jesus--people who just flounder through life without a purpose? Haven't we all at one time asked what we are here for? Let Him catch you in His net. Let His words pierce your soul and spirit.

What more can I say? He is a merciful God to anyone who seeks Him, no matter where you are in life, no matter how 
good or bad you are. Even those who think on their own merits they are good need Jesus because there is none righteous without Him. Period! 

Isaiah 55:6-7 - Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. 

We can search all we want for the truth in this world but we will never find it here. It can only be found by taking our eyes off this world and looking up to God. It works.    

When I was 40 I lost my mother to cancer. That time was all a blur. It must have taken its toll because I decided to quit my job and get away from it all. I packed my bike, got a plane ticket to Luxembourg and spent seven weeks biking through Europe--searching for myself. I believe God was with me even then, when I didn't yet know Him. He was there every step of the way, in the people I met and safety I experienced, even down to very real moment-to-moment needs that I expressed out loud to myself. God heard me and those needs were met--without my knowledge of His hand. He knew a day would come when my searching for myself would end when I found Him. How I praise Him today for that. 

Now I know my purpose--even though I may not live it perfectly--is to glorify God in everything I do. To know Him as Truth and to trust Him with my life.

Why should we trust our own ideas? Who gave us life? Who gave us our abilities and gifts? If we do according to His plans we will not fail. Some believe our gifts and ideas are our own; they are gifts but gifts from God. He knows what's best for us. It's true, our Father knows best!

What more can I say? Despite the troubles life can bring, He gives us peace, joy, singing, blessings instead of cursings. With or without us God's plans for this world will be accomplished. I'd rather be on the safe side, on God's side. Seek Him and His Word. That's all I can say...for now!

Isaiah 55:11 - 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.

Let It Go

1John 2:5 - Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Hey, another post from nine years ago! God's Word is timeless.

Yesterday it was impressed upon me that there is nothing more important in this life than having a fear of the Lord. Nothing else in this world matters as much as that reverent fear. Our whole spiritual life and eternal life hinges on this fear. If we fear the Lord we will make a concerted effort to please God, obey his statutes and live according to His will.

A couple in our church gave a testimony on Sunday. Their house burned down Christmas Eve destroying everything. There was nothing left worth trying to restore. As devastating as that was they trusted the Lord. There were questions, of course.  Why? Why Christmas Eve? Despite the sorrow of having lost all their things they learned that it was just that--things. Their lives were not destroyed and God was still with them. What more could they need? Their house and their furnishings could be replaced and their lives would be restored. Their God had been alongside them. An amazing story and one which I cannot fathom.  Steve explained how he was awakened by the sound of tapping on their bedroom window--but no one was there. It was either sleet or God. Whichever, it allowed the entire family to escape destruction. They have been able to rebuild and restore--debt free. Anything they chose not to keep others would ask if they could buy. They gave the things away and the Lord provided for their needs.

So...I have fretted for about a day now at the loss of something that I have deemed important! And I'm sorry to say it's nothing like losing everything. I have misplaced or thrown out completely, a week's worth of slides from a bike trip I took in 1987. I can see some of the pictures in my mind. In the process of bemoaning the loss, I have come to have a sense of peace about it. I have kept telling myself they were just photos. I still have the memories--to the best of my recollection.  

I'm thankful the Lord works in us to teach us and show us what truly is important. When we get the idea, the reality, the fact that the Lord of all the earth is the most important object (for lack of better word) of our affection, the better off we are. We will have obtained the most precious bit of wisdom. He created us for His pleasure, not that we should put all our emphasis on the pleasure of the things of the world that have very little meaning. I'm not saying we shouldn't look back and be grateful for the experiences of life that He has given us. Oh no! They are part of our growth and makeup. But it's today that counts. The loss of those photos have not crippled me. What's more important is what I am doing for Him today.

I'm still in a process of learning. I will always be there. I praise God that little by little He is showing me what truly IS important. I'm thankful that as I continue to seek Him above all things, He will instill more and more godliness into my spirit, that the world's pleasures would matter very little.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  ...godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.  (Matthew 6:33, 1Timothy 4:8)

Father God, there is nothing in the world as great and as important as You. I praise you for the lessons of life I have learned and how You have steered me to where I am despite my wrong turns, doubts and wanderings. Lord, I ask that you take hold of my hand and my heart yet again today and in the days ahead and continue to show me what is important. My greatest desire now is to sit at Your feet and learn obedience and Your desires for my life. In Your name I pray.  Amen.

Seek for Wisdom

Matthew 6:33 - But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 

I got to dwelling on a thought this morning. Find that hard to believe!!! 

God tells us to seek and we will find. As our pastor said a few Sundays ago, if we chase after God, He will let us catch Him. This is what He wants, that we be in relationship with Him, in constant communion with Him, seeking Him in all things.

We are discussing the Book of Ecclesiastes in Sunday school. It's not the most uplifting book but it has an excellent message. It speaks honestly, of course, and about the reality of life. It's not that big a book. It's worth reading, more than once.

King Solomon wrote the book. It's about the vanity of life...or vanities! He asked God for wisdom above all things. God not only gave him wisdom but all the other things one could ask for...all things were added to him. But somewhere those things became things of the world and got the better of him. So as such a wise man as he was, how could this happen? He made a mistake. That mistake was going against what God warned him about. It's too much to go into...he made himself an idol, ignored God, and faced God's judgment. But...God is merciful if we see the error of our ways.

Ecclesiastes shows how he came out of the vanity of life. He shares with the reader the consequences and what to do. That's a wise man!

These are written as the main subject of each page of my Bible in this book:

Wisdom excels folly - everything has its time - a time for every purpose - two are better than one - enjoy what God gives you - the value of wisdom - wisdom strengthens the wise - fear God and enjoy life - time and chance happen to all - wisdom brings success - remember your Creator - wise words are like goods

As Ecclesiastes says often, all is vanity and grasping for the wind. Several Bible passages refer to this wind: It goes toward the south and turns to the north and whirls about continuously. It blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. We do not know what is the way of the wind. (Ecclesiastes 1:6, John 3:8, Ecclesiastes‬ ‭11‬:‭5‬)  The point is, only God knows. He directs the wind. It makes sense that we seek Him and He will, as He says, direct our paths (Proverbs 3:6).

Everything in life, according to Solomon, is vanity. Everything...unless God is the center of it. Another sermon from our pastor asked us to examine the motives of our heart. We may think we do good for a cause but maybe the motive is to point to ourselves, even ourselves to God, as if to say, Look at what good I've done. Everything is to be done in humility, without expecting recognition. The only thing that should matter is if we have done it out of love for our God, not self. And that means we must have this close communion with Him. That always comes first...not works to make God notice the good we've done (No one is righteous, no not one - Romans 3:10). 

The conclusion, therefore, is to seek God first. As Ecclesiastes says: Fear God and keep His commands, for this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

I pray often, but probably not often enough, for wisdom for the day. With that wisdom to know what God desires will come all those added to me things! I'm not looking for riches or fame or success in the world. My desire is success in my relationship with God. Out of that is a desire that others know the goodness of God too. I want to be assured of heaven as my final home. I want Him to be the focus and center of my every day.  Seek first the kingdom of God...

Isaiah‬ ‭33‬:‭6‬ - Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; the fear of the LORD is His treasure. 

Shame Can Bring Forgiveness

Psalm 83:16 - Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O LORD.

I don't care how repetitive I am in my blog. The message will always be the same in the end...the most important thing there is is having a relationship with Jesus Christ, Son of Almighty God. Jesus, the only way, truth and life. Jesus, who died for our sins...something no one else has done.

In this nation we see people living lifestyles that exclude God. Many just don't think there is a need for Him. Maybe they hate anything He stands for and are offended. Or maybe they have been so badly hurt by a church that anger and bitterness consume them to a point where they will not step into a church again. Maybe they lost someone or something so horrible in their life that they are angry with God because they believe that a good God would not allow something so bad to occur.

I believe, as I have for a long time, that we are seeing the consequences of a nation turning its back on God. Do things look all that great these days? We are in days like the days of Noah: And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. (Luke 17:26-27) They heard the warnings Noah was putting out there but they did not want to believe them. Then it was too late.

Timothy later added this about those living in the last days: 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...(2Timothy 3:2-4). Ouch.

Some see what they want to see...because they have not God and have bought into the delusion: The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2Thessalonians 2:9-12) Strong words? I guess!

I ask you to open your eyes and allow God to fill you with the wisdom of truth and knowledge. I ask myself time and again, who am I that God would allow me to see these things? I'm no one special...to the world...but to God...wow. It is a privilege to be counted as one who has just a tiny bit of wisdom and discernment.

Oh...but wait. That might be considered arrogant. And you know what? It might be. Some look at believers as arrogant because we say we have received Christ, believe we have a special relationship with Him, have changed spiritually, understand better His truth and, as one of these friends says, hold firm to our beliefs and have the hope Christ gives us, something others who aren't sure of this hope or have no beliefs don't understand because they have not heeded these words of God. Is it their fault? I don't know. If they have heard...even in these blogs (which are far from perfect)...and have laughed or determined the subject matter too absurd for their thinking, or they are offended because sometimes the content seems to offend...because it is the truth of God's Word...then, yes, they have chosen not to believe the truth and have believed the lie.

The truth is not difficult to grasp if one really wants to know it. God wants none to perish and there are many who will whether they live to be a hundred or die in an instant tomorrow. There is a very great need to know Jesus and His saving power. We cannot work for it. We must, though, desire and then seek it. Seek God.

Anyone who does not know God is His enemy of sorts. My prayer is that He would fill the faces of unbelievers with shame. Sometimes that's what we need to do...we need to see for ourselves the dreadful lives we live without Him. We need to see our sin and be ashamed, repent of those sins and seek Him. Then...He is just to forgive. He forgives as far as the east is from the west. The shame is then removed. A change will take place.

My message will not change. If it is offensive the offense is not with me but with He who showed us the truth. It's all about Jesus. Do you choose to follow Him or choose to live with others as in the last days of Noah? He's searching to and fro for those whose hearts are for Him that He might show Himself strong on their behalf. Will you join those He has sought and won over? It is unlike anything you have known. Join the "arrogant" ones who have a belief in something real and a hope like no other.

Isaiah 56:6 - Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.

There is None Other

Romans 3:10-18 - As it is written:
• There is none righteous, no, not one; 
• There is none who understands; 
• There is none who seeks after God.
• They have all turned aside;
• They have together become unprofitable;
• There is none who does good, no, not one.
• Their throat is an open tomb;
• With their tongues they have practiced deceit;
• The poison of asps is under their lips; 
• Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.
• Their feet are swift to shed blood;
• Destruction and misery are in their ways;
• And the way of peace they have not known.
• There is no fear of God before their eyes.

These Words came from God, not me.

I watched a short video today. So often I read or view things, listen to other people speak and relate so well with what they said and wish I had been able to come up with the same words. I may have said similar things in my own way, but another way seemed better.

First of all, might I just add that no matter what I say, the Bible says it better! If posted only scripture, it would be better. Because it is alive and speaks of truth.

But I digress. The video was about a woman dying of cancer with only weeks left to live and she spoke at a function to tell her story. We all have one, you know. We all have some history…abuse, prostitution, alcoholism, abortion, drugs, anger issues, theft, murder…the list can go on for a very long time but you get the point. Her point was this: we are all sinners, we all need salvation. She was dying and God did not spare her. But as she was preparing to die she had a message to share that others would find peace, hope and comfort, as she had. One seed that has died, when planted firmly in the ground, bears many more plants and many more seeds. This was her intention.

We are all born into this world into sin. There's no getting away from it. It's the way of the life in the flesh. It doesn't matter how good a life we try to live, how much we do for others, how much we donate to worthy charities, we are all filled with sin. It's human nature.

There is a way to change our nature. This involves some sort of death within us. At any stage of life we can find out or have heard what how to go about this. Perhaps some don't at first get it; some will reject it; some will take it and go with it. It's what we do when we hear that truly matters. It takes us from our fleshly nature and causes us to have a spiritual nature. Oh, we still do things in the flesh. It will always be something we have to fight.

Like I said, there is a way to change. I can tell you that I'd heard a couple of times how to make this change but the first time I went only through motions because I felt obligated to. I had ignored the whole evening by the time things were over. Many years later thoughts and yearnings were beginning to emerge which I didn't quite understand. And finally the day arrived when I came to real grips with the way to change.

This way is Jesus Christ, the Way, Truth and Life. He is the only Way to our Father in heaven. He is all the Truth we need to know. He brings us Life everlasting. He is the bridge that gaps that immense chasm between man and God that came as a result of Adam and Eve's sin.

They were sinless, like we should all have been, until they made one mistake. And that mistake changed the lives of each person after them. You cannot dispute the fact that you are wracked with sin. We all are. If you say that is not you, you believe a lie. Your eyes, heart and mind are blinded to the truth.

There is only one Truth and that is Jesus Christ. When you know Him you see the lies that have been sowed over the years of your life. Lies of a church, a clergyman, parents, friends, authority figures, news stations…another list goes on.

When you know Jesus, you know the Truth. Your eyes which were blind now see; your heart which was hardened has become flesh and moldable; your mind begins to take on true wisdom and knowledge…all which are amazing when you know Christ.

God sent His only Son to live a sinless life on earth that mankind would see, hear, believe and follow Him. Those that did carried on in His footsteps preaching what He preached. It has continued since then. What makes anyone today who lives for Christ any different than those disciples back then, I ask?  If you believe Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter or Paul, why not someone else preaching the same message? The Word of God has remained a constant in this life. (Although there are those who have distorted such truth.)

The Word of God will never completely be destroyed because it is from Him. Scripture states that the grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever (Isaiah 40:8). There is power in the Word. Christ is called the Word. The Word will never be destroyed…that same Word, Jesus, died and rose again to live forever. How powerful is all that? Here's more to chew on: 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).

The Word (Jesus) of God knows all about you. He knows your sin…yet He loves you still. He is alive and active and as you read the Bible, the Word, you hear Him speak. And He knows you are a sinner in need of His salvation.

There are many religions in this world. Many also claim all religions somehow worship the same God/god. But it is not true. There is only one God, who created all things and all people. Man has chosen to make their own gods to suit their own purposes. There is only one God who can hear your prayers. No statue or idol or icon or whatever can do that. They are not alive; they have no spirits. It's a lie to think something other than direct communication with God will work. He does not come in the shape or personification of an animal. He also is not reached through the prayer to a dead person like a saint, or even His mother. He and He alone has the time and ability to hear our prayers. No man can stand in the gap between God and other men. Only one Man, the Lord Jesus Christ.

We do not live in a perfect world. We all struggle with something. We all have faced loss or illness and all will face death. Where we go after death lies in a decision we make while we're still able. We are to seek God while we still have the time. That means now, today, because we don't know what tomorrow or even the next hour will bring.

I have received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I am still learning how to trust, obey and place my faith in Him. It's part of my own personal struggle at times. But through times of doubt and struggle I hold on to my belief in all Christ has done for me, what He has taken me through, gotten me out of, and from which He has protected and freed me, even before I knew Him. Struggles in life will never go away. It's part of this sinful world we live in with an enemy of our soul who is literally hell-bent on bringing us down to his sorry level. Where God wishes that none should perish, satan wishes that all would.

I continue to pray that when the real troubles come I can share what this young woman did. God will not always take us out of our struggles but use them to strengthen us. And sometimes our personal struggles, even to death, are ways God can use the right person(s) to lead others to the saving grace that only Christ can bring. Lord, let me be as strong and courageous as this woman. Let me not ever ask, why me? But instead use me for Your glory to show who You are in this fallen world.

As she said so aptly: Jesus suffered. God did not spare Him. Why would He spare me if my suffering would result in good for you? If my suffering is the means God would use to bring even one person to Himself, it is an honor to suffer. Does that seem strange…but it is the only way that all of this makes any sense at all.

Some may argue that God is unkind to let us suffer. But knowing He has a plan for each and every one of us and that He is the one who will bring those plans to whatever fruition it will be, should take all the worry from us. In Christ we do not have to worry about what to eat or drink, what to wear, even what the next day will bring. We are to just "go against the flow" in Christ. I have an old t-shirt that says this. It referenced Romans 12:2 - And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Not being conformed to this fleshly world, but submitting to spiritual life in Christ, where by His Word we learn the way and the truth to receive the life. 

The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one. "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." ...from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Psalm 14:2-3, Jeremiah 33:3, Deuteronomy 4:29)

See, I Will Do a New Thing

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.

Mary and Martha, sitting at His feet, a heart after God, seeking God, fallow ground, sowing, unfruitful trees.

Wow, the thoughts that ran through my head yesterday. There can come a time when God wants to draw you out of what you are comfortable in and that might mean separating yourself from that which has seemed comfortable. He wants to shake you up, get your attention, teach you new things or deepen your understanding of Who He is. You may not recognize you have grown comfortable at first, but if you've been there, in that comfortable zone, for too long, He may ask you to get a move on!

I had a decision to make. Was I going to ignore a subtle urging, no command, or was I going to believe I'd not heard His voice? I'm believing that God has a greater plan for me in another church, if for no other reason for a different perspective...perhaps even to do something necessary in me. Our growth is continual. I am moving on!

I do wonder if there's more to this. Time will tell. But when Pastor Terry Fischer of The Church in Wisconsin spoke on the parable of the barren fig tree (Luke 13) it seemed to poke at me. Or should I say convict me? And the other scriptures and stories above came to mind as I meditated on his sermon.

Mary and Martha: Martha was busy about things that were necessary but not like Mary, who sat at His feet to listen to what Jesus had to say. While Martha's business was good, it was not the best. And Mary was praised for spending her time with Him. Have I stopped doing this?

David had a heart after God...He sought Him. We can have a heart after God by also seeking Him...like Mary, sitting at His feet and hearing what He tells us about life and sin, right and wrong...even listening to (reading) His parables (like about unfruitful fig trees!) Another questioning, even though I wonder where my blogs come from if not from meditating on His Word.

The unfruitful tree...am I fruitful? I don't know.  I want to think I am but I wonder... Do I really hear from the Lord? Again, I want to believe I do. Maybe my hearing has grown selective...and yet I knew in my spirit I must make a change. I knew it was the Lord. It was not a decision I would have made on my own. And little by little looking back I could see where He had been showing me things, for about a year. But then I was comfortable...I'd miss my friends. However I was reminded: "Who is My mother and My brothers?" If Jesus had to make a choice, shouldn't I? Friends or a deeper relationship with the Lord? Isn't He to be our first love? And all things follow after that according to His will.

Sowing: There is this parable that talks about the condition of the heart when the Word of God is sown. If seeds fall by the wayside where no ground even exists, they are blown away, never to take root. If seeds are sown on rocky soil, birds snatch it up before it takes root. Seed might be sown among bushes or brambles where it is choked out altogether. Or it falls on good soil where it is good and moist, germinates and sprouts. What is the condition of one's heart? And yes, He is about His business making change.

Digging up fallow ground: if ones heart grows weary, it may have grown cold and calloused. It may seem like a desert or wilderness. It needs a good dose of furrowing and watering, like in the case of this barren fig tree. God will not always leave us alone if He believes there is still something worth salvaging. He will work at digging up that fallow ground. He will open eyes to the things that need to be shaken. Sometimes it's a new voice with a different message we need to hear. It could be what is necessary to get us back to sitting at His feet or doing less (of whatever keeps us from Him) so we may seek Him.

We have a God whose desire is for us (Solomon 7:10). When we came into our first real knowledge of Him He did a new thing. The soil then may have been so fertile that it was easy for Him to bring us into an awareness of Him like we'd never known. We were made new. Our old man was gone and the new man emerged. If that has faded we need to find out why and look within. He might move us to shake us.

I know there's more to this change I've made than what I see on the surface. I sure don't know what it might be. I am trusting the Lord for His guidance and His provision in whatever way He wishes. A heart that seeks Him, waits on Him and obeys and is satisfied in the process. I'm thankful for a God, our Vinedresser, who chooses to dig up the soil of hearts in order for new growth and fruitfulness. I'll present an update this time next year!

Luke 13:8-9 - "But he [the vinedresser] answered and said to him [the owner of the fig tree], ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’"