TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE?

 Dear Family and Friends,

This morning I received a wake-up call so strong I hesitated to share it. After praying and considering it the rest of my day, my first instinct of "too little, too late" and just now read my email devotionals from 3 pastors I follow, which encouraged me to share my awakening and am compelled to share a note of courage to us all.

Like many concerned Christians, I had almost given up on saving our country and our people. I regret to confess that sadly I had mentally bid farewell to the world, counting it as lost. Many of us, I fear, have heard enough about earth's last days that we're beginning to hunker down, clutching our loved ones, mentally bidding the rest of the world farewell -- and perhaps--good riddance.

Now, I'm older than our dear Pastor Jeremiah, and the only muscles I have left are above my neck and in my heart, so I had mentally given myself a pass from the biggest battle we will face in this world, yet this world needs each of us and we were each carefully placed here at this time for a purpose--for God's purpose and to glorify Him. 

While I was moaning (praying) this morning, I was interrupted by a clear picture of all the times Israel left God, was enslaved, redeemed and forgiven, only to repeat. Perhaps Sunday morning Christians and the rest of us must go through a dark patch of history, along with those who we believe deserve it, before God snatches us back from the brink! (Perhaps the Israelites thought they faced the end too) 

He seems to be saying to me, "Your nation has had it so easy, you thought I owed it to you. Now you must take your turn with My discipline as is fitting to remind you whose you are--now, roll up your sleeves, hunt up that suit of armor gathering rust in your hall closet, listen for marching orders and stop packing for your trip home--I'll tell you when the battle is over. You have work, much work, to do before I call you home! Reread the last pages of My book:         W E    W I N!

At my age, I figure my chances of being around for the fireworks to come are slim, but I have family I love, including 2 tiny great-grandsons and want them to know our God and be safe from evil as they enjoy their time on earth, before following me to Heaven, without any distraction from the terrible evils we have allowed to run free. I know you hope for safety of your own loved ones too.

We all crave to arrive home to be with the Lord, but it could be decades, eons, weeks or seconds before the trumpet will announce that day. Yes, it could be tomorrow--perhaps not--but when He comes, His bride, the church, must be ready, prepared, without guilt for work never done.

Dear Ones, I pray our Father gives each one of us the vision and determination to say, "Not yet.  Lord.  Lead us, give us wisdom and strength and courage to speak, love, act, and vote together." We may be the last generation of adults educated before moral choice is dead history, never to be known by our children in tomorrow's schools! Don't wait by the door to be taken out of this mess, waiting for someone else to fix what's broken--good riddance to it. So long as we each know someone not yet booked in for this flight to Eternity, let's not act like the game is almost over, wash our hands and wait - alone - by the door without holding the hand of a friend or family member and bringing him with you to the Door to LIFE, while it is still open. Don't show up alone! 

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.  Romans 8:16-17

 I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. Philemon 1:6

 

Growing Up

 Thinking about my newest family member, my great-grandson and watching him grow and learn more about the world around him, has shown me a clear picture of life's stages and milestones as we grow and learn about this broken world and the next perfect home now being created for our eventual home, if we choose to walk toward it.

He already has strong opinions on what he wants and needs at 9 months and insists on getting it   N O W!  As his simple diet gives him strength and his eyes see more things just out of reach, he will begin to try to get what he wants and he will squirm, crawl, climb and stretch out his hands to reach something new, something so attractive that he will push himself to find a way--learning to walk, to extend his reach to sample more new things daily. Never satisfied to stay quietly in his crib, playing with simple toys that formerly amused him, he grows as his vision of the world grows.

Occasionally, a child is born with problems that fail to allow him to grow and mature due to our imperfect world, tainted by sin of our first mother and everyone is saddened by the tragedy of its fail to grow and mature, perhaps growing to adult size, without the ability to care for himself, thrive or understand the world around him.

Perhaps that is how our Father God sees us, watching us discover new things about the world we hope and try to ready ourselves for--or are we sitting in our crib, waiting for someone to feed us and bring us new toys to entertain us, never venturing to crawl across His floor, never trying to use our unformed muscles to extend our reach, our potential capabilities we were born with.

Many Christians are content to live in the shadow of His palace, feeling our way through life, wishing to become wiser, stronger, bolder, to prove our devotion, yet never see why we're missing the life like other people we know--with abilities we can only dream of. We're now bored by the pablum for babies and covet the meat other Christians seem to thrive on, with their strong teeth devouring strength-giving vegetables and proteins. 

We've read about the exploits of God's people throughout time and finally we cry out to our Father, "You used them and blessed them mightily--why not give me those abilities?"

Then, if we truly listen for His reply, we hear Him say, "I thought you'd never ask. Remember, I challenged you, "You have not because you ask not?"

As your eyesight clears, you can now begin a dialog with your Creator as you grow and learn what He expects you to do: learn, grow, serve, and love, one day at a time.

        “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” - Romans 8:26

The Good Parent

 We didn't choose our parents--they chose us. They invited us to share their home, their lives, taking responsibility for training us to build good, wise, strong adults who can make intelligent choices for their lives. 

Some parents choose to ignore their duty in this regard; they figure the "universe" will teach their unfortunate children to avoid repeating mistakes through conflicts and lost battles with someone stronger, often resulting in bitter, unhappy people who learn to fight for everything they want.

Some doting parents want their children to have all the finer things they themselves never had, everything they want; the parent will sacrifice themselves to indulge every craving, creating disillusioned immature adults who will believe the world owes them whatever they want, when they want it--with no effort from themselves. Their goal becomes more, more, more! 

Blessed are the children of wise, dedicated parents who try to instill in their children self-respect and respect for others, teaching them the balance between privilege and responsibility. In short, these parents are more concerned that others will respect their children than whether their children will love them. They strive to instill a moral compass leading to the child choosing the wiser path for their future. 

Would the wise parent let a 5-year-old play in the street, dodging traffic? Would he buy a 14-year-old a car?  Is it cruel to deny his child such fun when they see other kids with those playthings?  A wise parent sees farther ahead than his child can visualize. A wise child raised in love can trust that his parent knows things he himself cannot fathom.

God tells us He is our Loving Father, and proved it through the life, death and resurrection of His Son Jesus for our sin and rebirth. If He could sacrifice His beloved Son in our behalf, would He be petty enough to deny us anything we desire, unless He knew (as we do not) what great harm would befall us if He allowed it.

Why do we have problems? Exercise and effort build muscles. Problems build spiritual strength and faith--same thing. Our lives are spent experiencing problems, leaning to overcome them and learning from them how to trust our Father more every day. Want to know your future? He says, "No way!  Know, trust Who holds your future!"

    “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.  I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.” - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11

 2Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.          James 1: 2-4

Bad News

Queen Latifa once made a movie about receiving bad news--the worst news--death just around the corner, she didn't take it well. In fact, she blew all her savings on one last extravaganza party, using all her assets for nothing of permanent value--a marathon of fun. Of course, the happy ending eventually proved the doctor wrong, she saw the error of her ways and had a wonderful happy ending.

But in fact, all of us have a day like that in our future and there is no guarantee of a happy ending. Who and what you are will have a bearing on your outcome on that fateful day. Unless you prepare for it, you may spend your handful of days on this earth striving for fame or fortune, leaving you alone, empty-handed, to face the God you have learned so little about, and unprepared to enter the paradise you may have heard of, leaving you to pay the cost of your self-serving past, the hard way. 

Following examples of wealthy, successful people you admire, perhaps you wisely invested income for rainy days ahead to guard against hard times, and bought life insurance, but that will only protect loved ones you leave behind--what insures your future on that judgment day, which comes to us all? Oh, yeah, back when you were going to church every Sunday or so, you probably took out "fire insurance"--Remember that? You'll be okay, no problem, but what about those around you? 

Your mama raised you to be polite when you enter someone's home--always take a little gift for your host or hostess--at least flowers or?  But what can you give to the Creator of All There Is?  When you were younger, you told yourself once you learned a little more and had time to plan, you would give more time and money to the church. Someday you would make Him proud. Someday. 

Someday is now! One day. Will you meet Him empty-handed, remembering the friend you kept promising yourself to bring to church, the empty offering basket you kept promising to fill "next time"? Or will you greet friends who are there because you introduced them to His perfect love?   

One day is all we have. Invest in leisure and self or invest in Eternity?

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”(Matthew 6:19-20)

 

WHAT IF..........?

TODAY IS ALL YOU HAVE

Stop!!! Breathe. It's got to be a joke--or nightmare! But it's written on your mirror. Boldly. In huge letters. But who would have, who could have done it? What if----? 

Okay, think. Just in case, cancel today's game of golf, or was it tennis? Think of something very special, a great day of fun to look back on and rem- but wait, if it's true, you won't be around to remember it! Your heart is beating hard and fast at the thought.

Something great, a big splash, a party for your friends to remember you for. You would never feel their gratitude, your reputation for your past will be what folks will remember about you. That surely won't improve your future.

Reputation? Tucked away you surely have a list of good deeds you would someday do, to make up, perhaps, for any sorrows you ever caused friends or family. Oh, yeah, you remember a few--dozen! But they can't be done in one day. You've gotta make the most of today, no time for self-pity.

You could have thought about improving your reputation by doing a few good things for the world around you. You are lost. No hope?

Oh, yeah. whenever anyone asked, you always said, "Sure, someday I'll go to church with you. I'll change my ways."  And you were going to, but first you wanted to have your fill of good times and enjoy yourself before getting serious.

Well, you did that for sure. but the clock is ticking; the sun is racing toward the horizon--and you'll never see it again!!! You're alone now--your good-time friends are off having fun so ---- Will you disappear totally in a puff of smoke? Go somewhere horrific to spend your time in regret and loneliness? God forbid!        God?

We're not promised tomorrow--Today is the only day you have, Tomorrow may vanish as a puff of smoke.

Sunset of your day comes without warning. Will you face it alone?

You might try this "God, I avoided You, denied Your role in my life, my existence, denied Your right to my life and obedience, denied Your great love. I give whatever moments are left of my life to You, as pitiful as it is, nothing held back.

              "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God" (Psalm 20:7).

              "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin"                                 (Hebrews 4:15).

             “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19-20)

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)