Why Not, Lord?

 I worshipped on Sundays; I read the Bible, yet I always seemed up to my ears in problems. Hadn't I endured two years watching my mother die of cancer during a seven-month long divorce struggle with only a few specific days when I felt God's presence. Mother's burial was the worst, yet the sweetest, knowing my God stood beside me, keeping me on my feet. In between a few ah-ha moments when occasional glimpses of sunshine broke through the clouds surrounding me. I knew God was--and is--in control of the world, but I felt His distance from my daily life.

I had read enough Bible stories about God's intervention in helping men overcome disastrous odds, unsolvable problems melted away before His sovereignty. After the dust settled on the two major crises I just mentioned, other surprises seemed to pop up with increasing intensity: Both daughters married the same year. My miracle car, which God had provided though my budget could neither afford repairs if the old one or payments for a new one, finally wore out. my crippling terror of tornadoes dominated me, my house was broken into (thankfully, all that was lost was my mother's wedding ring, pearl earrings from my Dad, and a turquoise bracelet--nothing that affected my comfort in the home and wherever those things are, they still belong to God and I would NOT want to have them in MY pocket when God decides to collect them!), I lost my job where I had worked for 15 years. At one point during those years, while rereading the miracles God performed in those long-ago superhumans God used so mightily, I got fed up and talked to God about it. 

You did it for your people then and they seemed never fearful, ever faithful; what about me? Why not ME?  I want to be strong and do good things to please you. I went to sleep that night with those words on my lips. Remembering this now, I seem to sense God releasing a deep breath and saying, "I thought you'd never ask." and I remembered: ye have not because you ask not! Oh, nothing seemed any different the next days or years following, yet......

From that day I threw down the gauntlet, (daring God?) small changes in circumstances, new positive friends, new little changes in how I spent my time prepared me for another distinct life, very different from before. I believed in my independence from every fear--I was now bulletproof, fearless! Miniscule daily changes often happen without your awareness, but with time and distance, looking back and seeing your changes and growth takes your breath away, even though you know you're still far from your goal of pleasing your Maker!

And I slogged through each with increasing gratitude, recognizing God was bound to have more for me just ahead, and He did: a 15-year career at Abbott Labs, where I thrived and found time to develop my as yet untapped talent of writing (little knowing how dominant that would become some 20 years later.) I seem to have acquired through these blessed years a level of financial wisdom, which God blessed, a boldness to share my faith, complete trust replacing any former doubts, experiencing and acknowledging God's absolute presence daily, and the joy which overcomes any physical attributes lost or greatly diminished during these 8+ decades and call it an excellent trade, preparing me to one day meet Jesus, face to face.

 

... , you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." ... can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you ... " And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, ...   Matthew 21:22

 

Doubt Your Faith Much?

 O)f course not! Nor me. I walk with God all day, read Hus Word, talk to Him, trust Him for my daily needs. Doubt? Who, me?

However, in the gloom of oncoming night, just a smidgeon perhaps. In throes of a nightmare, a category 5 hurricane of troubles piled so high I can't see daylight, much less "feel" God's presence, His protection, His love?  Truth? I quake in fear of being alone in the cold, dark universe.  What if...?

Not nearly as often as I once did; it now presents very occasionally and briefly, because through the years I have seen His hand bringing me through many crises, building my trust and security and confidence, consciously reminding me daily of His Presence, His Power, and unfailing Promises kept as He successfully brought me through, building my faith-muscles and confidence in His constant presence as He steers me through this battle-scarred mess His flawed creatures have  created of His world and our lives.

Doubts used to freeze my brain, making it difficult to pray, until one day I rebelled against these thoughts that held me at a standstill -- my mind was flooded with strong words that always quiet any doubts trying to cripple me: DON'T DOUBT YOUR FAITH; DOUBT YOUR DOUBTS!

Once I heard a story of a child who was asked "What do you do when Satan knocks on your heart's door?" She smiled and said, "I let Jesus open the door."  Same thing I had learned.

 Memorize a few scriptures that can wipe out any doubt trying to move in. Wake up each day taking inventory over all the ways God has guided you through detours, crossroads to negotiate on your way Home to Heaven. At first perhaps you can't see over the huge problem filling your view of the world. Brain freeze. Start with basic truths of God's presence: life--you are here after all and could be in lots worse places. 

You have air to breathe, probably food and shelter, perhaps family or friends, the Bible, which shows myriads of examples of God's provision overcoming chaos and loss. Be still and think back through your own life about all the terrible auto accidents that never happened, the narrow escapes you have experienced as you learned to follow Him more closely, His guiding hand teaching you to remember pitfalls so as not to repeat them--God is faithful. loving, patient as we gradually lean on His superior understanding of what will be best for us, in spite of our efforts to do life on our own terms. 

God is.  and you are His. That's all there is. 

          To God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion                                                                      and power, both now and forever. Amen.  (Jude 1:25)

Mr. Know-it-all

 Have you met him? Are you him? Have you met Mr. Yes Lord?  Big difference in the success of their respective lives.

Mr. Know-it-all kneels in prayer to seek answers about his future, which decisions will be blessed with success, and he waits patiently for his roadmap to appear.  Mr. Yes Lord kneels also, thanking God for His watchful eye keeping him secure and blessed, then asks what is His will for today, and then arises to meet the day, alert and confident that he will receive any up to date changes required by the day's trials.

Mr. K accomplishes little for God's kingdom because he expects to receive a roadmap and calendar revealing a 5-year plan at least, so he will understand what is ahead before he sets out. After all, he wouldn't want to waste his time on anything other than a sure thing. So he sits, waiting for God to reveal His plan. And God waits for him to get up and begin the task He will reveal all--gradually, eventually, or in eternity, when Mr. K will trade in his human mind, suited for earthly living, for a glimpse at God's eternal, complicated weaving together all the many strands of unexplained life of ALL God's children.  

One little perk of 20th century living is the motion-activated electric light. If you wait outside the door for the light to turn on, you will remain in the dark, clueless to see what's inside. But if you step inside, without slowing down, your way will be well-lit so long as you walk in the light. Stop moving forward, stop for a nap, and the light goes out!

Same thing. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world." That's His promise to tell us what we need to know, when we need to know, and if we're looking back later, we may receive insight on what He was doing while we weren't looking!

He even gave us His book, filled with examples, good and bad influences, demonstrating how lost and confused we get if we try to use our human logic instead of following his step-by-step guidance. He used the whole nation of Israel to show that following our own choices can lead to slavery to sin, loss and loneliness. He assured them daily of His providence by providing manna, food for the day, and 2 days supply on Friday for the Sabbath,  

He could have told them to bring food for the journey but chose to demonstrate His provision daily, even while disciplining them by extending their short journey from Egypt to the promised land to 40 years and denying all the adults who had left Egypt and sinned, falling into unbelief by refusing them to enter the land. They had forfeited their right to partake of His Land--only those who  had left Egypt as children would inherit. 

Do you want to know your future or are you content to know the One Who Holds Your Future? Beloved, walk in the light you have today!

 In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.  John 1:4

“The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.” - Psalm 19:8

The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
Psalm 119:130 
 

Help Wanted: Diversity United in Love

So now you're saved. What's next? Relax in His care? Did Jesus relax?

A truth often overlooked is the axiom that something--an organization, an orchestra, a church, for example, is more valuable than the sum of its parts. No, really. Ponder this. A church is like an orchestra.

Both need a leader to teach, direct and harness together many different people with various talents and goals for a common goal. Many members, many individual goals and hopes of being part of something none can accomplish on his own. (After all, who would enjoy listening to a drummer alone? A piccolo would seem to screech.  It takes many people with unique talents and jobs to produce results:  Music through an orchestra--growth and service through a church. Yes, even a pew-sitter is a participant in the overall makeup of the congregation, praying for the pastor and others, whose problems he sees around him, bringing visitors to the church's potluck dinner, smiling, greeting those around him daily (Yes, even the biggest pain in his neck at the office). 

We're accustomed to seeking recognition for anything we do that is praise-worthy for ourselves. We want admiration for our efforts and feel like we're being rained on if no one notices, and few of us receive all the recognition we crave. But on the other hand, as Jesus followers. we're not judged for every small thing where we fall short of the glory of God, because of His grace.  Once we see and confess our need for redemptive rescue from our sin nature, we acknowledge where we stand in God's court of eternal law and hope that somehow, He will enable us to call Him Father and wish for our lives to fulfill His plans for our lives. Now, trusting His guidance, the sky is our limit as we learn more about His goals for our growth Next, He sends us to school as any loving parent would do, so we will thrive in the environment where He places us.

We begin at kindergarten level: spend time in His church and do our homework: read from His Holy Book to prepare us for upcoming tests and exercises to build our relationship with Him and each other. (Do you now see purpose behind some of those tough days or weeks you have passed through?)  His textbook teaches us about life: with Him or without Him. His church reinforces our training and offers many ways we can survive our on-the-job training--earn as we learn!

During those kindergarten days, we wonder -- and dread a little bit -- that He will immediately require us to be His ambassador to darkest Africa, far from our comfortable seat in the pew of our neighborhood assembly. Soon we begin to feel that He has many others more sanctified and better prepared for that life and grow content in our back row pew, content to doze, basking in the warm, undemanding corner we claimed as our own. And for new members of His family, that's a good start, but growth is expected for us living people and responsibilities added gradually and demonstrate actual life. 

Eventually, this can get boring, listening to the preacher, who isn't perfect after all, and begin to seek somewhere else to nourish our spirit and spoon-feed us all the blessings we came to expect would drop into our laps. Lately it has seemed that the preacher had begun to expect us to do something more--but there are plenty of others in their pews he could draft for his little projects--we came to be taught, not to teach someone else. Maybe another church---? 

Well, we flunked that test. They call Jesus the Great Physician, right? How do doctors learn their job? They are told "Watch a procedure, perform the procedure, teach the procedure"--on the job training!  We were not called to sit comfortably and observe His obedient team, but to suit up and join them on the field of combat and no one else can take our place--they are all busy covering their own part He assigned only to each of them! 

Do you have a job in your church?  Preacher? No, got one already. Music director? Got one of those too. Teacher? Let's face it. They always need more of those but until you actually open your Bible regularly, you would embarrass yourself if you volunteered for that. Choir or orchestra member? No voice, no training, but whose fault is that? You consider preparing yourself for your next job, but today you can begin where you are, with the personality and enthusiasm God gave you: Speak to someone else nearby your pew, invite someone to attend with you next Sunday and introduce them to folks after the service. Do something, while still learning to do something more, so you will be ready to say yes when God leads you to your purpose. Get up from your easy seat in the stands, suit up, get down to the battlefield and join your family's cause. Getting rid of bad habits takes restraint; forming good ones take discipline and effort.

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!     1 John 3:1

“Give me understanding, that I may observe Thy law, and keep it with all my heart. Make me walk in the path of Thy commandments, for I delight in it.” - Psalm 119:34-35

 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.   1 Peter 2:9

“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” - Philippians 1:27

4For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us 

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:16

4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5And there are varieties of ministries, and the same But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 6There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.  1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 11

 

Would You Decline an Invitation to a Feast?

Once long ago, while getting acquainted with a new family member, I was unable to find an acceptable rely to her comment "My husband leans toward the Catholic".  What came to mind I rejected:  he could starve to death while leaning on a refrigerator door.  Decades later I learned a reasonable, kinder explanation I wished for on that day.

No one makes a habit of eating only one day per week--Humans require daily recharging of energy to get through their day. Our spirit requires daily recharging to keep us on our daily path. Going to church once a week may give you a needed boost, but not enough to permit you to grow spiritually, to learn the Godly behavior needed to follow our Leader Jesus and serve His kingdom.

The Bible illustrates His truth and provision for His children in the great exodus of His people from Egypt after freeing them from slavery. He didn't tell them to pack provisions for their journey: no one brought food supplies and their entire wardrobe for the journey. After surviving the night of death by obeying God's instructions and eating their dinner--the first Passover feast--they left the next morning, trusting Him to provide for them. Daily for 6 days a week, they would find manna for that day's meal and on Fridays there would be a double helping to cover their Sabbath meal. 

Juist as He provided for their physical needs daily, so He also desires to do for each of us to come to His Word for nourishment of our spirit, encouragement and strength to conquer that day's problems and trials--and expects us to come to His table daily for nourishment, refueling on His wisdom, endurance and courage to triumph over doubts, tribulations, and whispers in our ear straight from our enemy who hates us as he does our Savior Jesus.  

While we may survive frugally on a single helping a week from His table. 1 John 4:11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  e, we will never thrive and will miss opportunities to serve His kingdom -- we will arrive in Heaven alone, taking no friend with us, smelling of the fire we narrowly escaped, perhaps our coattails still smoking.

John 13:35 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 

1 Corinthians 3:16  Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?

Worthy of our Trust, Due our Faithfulness and Loving Obedience

 

13For He rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  Colossians 1:13-14

Be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.     Col 1:9-11

     15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.  Col.  1:15-16

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together     Col.. 1:17 (col.)

      6Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.  Col 2:6-7

“See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”  col 4:17

                        My answer is "Yes, Lord"  What's yours?

                Do you really have anything better to do?

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,   2 Peter 1:5

 

The Joys of Aging

What? Yes! there is a special joy as your days bring Heaven closer. Remember Christmas morning when you dug into your stocking to find all the little treasures inside? The best was always deep into the toe. For a child of the King, the best, after much anticipation, comes last! Check out the Bible's list of Godly men and prophets -- Noah was 80 when he began building God's ark. Abraham became first of Jesus's earthly lineage because he was given a child in his 80s. Years of faith and obedience led to blessed accomplishments--in Moses' life and many others. 

As your 9th decade looms on your horizon, you become hyper-aware of the many blessings God has brought you during your journey. You may become aware that your memories seem to cluster around one Godly attribute or another which remain, celebrated and fresh, in your memory. Thanks to arthritis or other such frequent companions, we now have time to sit and remember our long relationship with our King, to pray for those we love who need His presence in their lives, to begin our eternal life praising our Lord even before we join that huge choir at His throne.

Some of us find our aging mind concentrating on how others treat us; others--children of Royalty--tend to focus on good memories, remembering times we have treated others well and been blessed and acknowledge God's hand of protection, guidance, and love.  

Some may still feel resentment for slights and hurt feelings in a glow of self-pity for all the suffering they have survived-- but the point He wants us to remember is not the pain, but that He was with us, and we survived, a little stronger than the day before!  Perhaps He has noticed we are lagging behind on the golden trait of forgiving.  And then He reminds us of those forgotten times when we failed Him and came to Him for forgiveness. or have hurt someone and been forgiven. And we remember all that Jesus suffered without complaint the penalty as He paid the sin death we earned, 

Sometimes for example, when He discerns our need for gratitude, he brings to mind all the narrow escapes He brought us through or all the good times we have shared in His prese4nce. We may or may not clearly recall details of blessings bestowed over a lifetime, but we will remember all the sudden growth spurts in our spirit, or days we felt His hand holding us up in times of extreme pain, fear or despair--He was surely there--we survived, right?  

Earthly friends may desert you or be unavailable or dealing with their own problems, just when you desperately reach out for their help. No one was there for Jesus in His last moments here on earth and He resolves that no one belonging to Him will ever be completely alone or helpless, but always safe in His hand, softening the blows this world delivers and holding us close, promising to wipe away our tears and bring us joy in His presence forever.

Today's crises will be forgotten as we reject worry and doubt sent by the enemy and give our hearts, minds and spirit into Jesus's never-ceasing watch care. And no matter how bad yesterday was, it was not all bad:  now you're now a day closer to Heaven!

Trust with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.    Proverbs 3:5-6

I will love those who love me and those who seek me diligently will find me. Proverbs 8:17

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” 1 Timothy‬ ‭6:6-9‬ ‭NIV‬‬