Believe!

“I believe, I believe; I know it’s silly, but I believe.”  (Susan from “Miracle on 34^th Street”)  Macy’s had a holiday campaign based on “Believe” with the “magic of Macy’s” as it’s premise.   President Obama said in an interview with Barbara Walters: “I believe that the worst of this recession and crisis is behind us, I think better days are coming, but we’re not there yet.  I want the American people to have confidence in themselves and in the ability of Amerca to remake itself.”  

What does the word "believe" mean?  The dictionary gives some definitions: accept as true; feel sure of the truth; feel sure that someone is capable of a particular action; to have confidence in the truth, existence or reliability of something.  There are more but what confidence can we have, really, without something to back it up.  There is no real reliability without evidence.  Where is the foundation of that belief that can really give us hope and security?  I believe my mechanic can repair my car.  Reason?  He’s done it before and that’s why I continue to use him after fifteen to twenty years.  He is “capable” of that “particular action”.   If you do a search on “believe”, it has become a very popular word.  And it’s thrown out there with no substance, foundation, or truth.  People rally to it because it makes them “feel” better.  They have it tattooed in various places on their bodies, hang it as art on their walls and write it in beautiful letters to adorn their department stores.  But it is only “fluff and nonsense” without a foundation for truth.

Jesus told His disciples “not to let their hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.”  People don’t want to be troubled and the word “believe” gives them some hope.  However, there’s substance to the word when Jesus says it.  He goes on to say, “Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.  Truly, truly, I say to you…”  (When Jesus says “truly” two times, I’d say we need to perk up and listen.)  He says, “…he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also”.  And one more thing in this great chapter from the book of John, “Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.”  Jesus said it, told us to look at the works that He did and revealed things that were to happen.  I’d call that true evidence that gives real confidence! 

John Owen: “A sense of God’s presence in love is sufficient to rebuke all anxiety and fears; and not only so but to give in the midst of them solid consolation and joy.”  John MacArthur:  “The Christian faith is neither a blind, irrational “leap in the dark” nor a vague, mystical faith in faith itself.  It rests on the solid ground of overwhelming evidence.”  Notice the word “solid” in both quotes.  That word denotes true security based on a firm foundation.

“Miracle on 34^th Street” is a fantasy, fun but fluffy.  Macy’s campaign is definitely a “leap in the dark, vague and mystical”.  And Obama has no idea what the future holds, and no foundation for saying that “Americans are to have confidence in themselves”.  But we as true believers in Jesus Christ have a Book full of evidences declared and delivered.  He says, “My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.”  Our only confidence and peace in believing comes from trusting Him Who is the Way, the Truth and  the Life.  The evidence is overwhelming as John MacArthur says.  We have only to seek and find, listen and learn, rest and rejoice!

Men of God

While the first part of Ezekiel 14 deals with idolatrous men, the second part mentions three men God knew were righteous.  Four times God brings up these men using them as excellent examples of righteousness.  What He says though is that even though these three men were present, they would not be able to deliver Israel from the punishment He was about to bring.

The passage is more about the severity of the punishment Israel had brought on themselves but I was struck with the awesomeness of these three men being used as a good example by God Himself.  So I gave a bit of thought to their lives:  Noah, Daniel and Job!  (Of course it goes without saying that Jesus is the ultimate example of godliness.  But it's always good to be reminded of the lives of the saints who have gone before us.  Hebrews 12:1)

Noah:  A man that obeyed God by building a large boat, all the while witnessing to the very people who ridiculed his faithfulness.
Daniel: A prisoner of war so faithful to God that his peers could find no wrong doing in his life so they devised a scheme that took advantage of his daily conversations with God.
Job:  A man who was rich with the blessings of life, lost most all of them yet never became embittered toward God but worshipped Him more passionately, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord."

LORD, may I, too, be found faithful!!

Estranged from God

The word estrange means: to be no longer close or affectionate to someone; alienate.  What horror lies in the words: estranged from God.  Only those enlightened by the Holy Spirit understand the solemnity here.  And as the definition suggests "to be no longer" would imply a former relationship.  Unbelievers are in the dark as to their plight but believers cannot bear the thought of estrangement from God.

Ezekiel 14:1-11 gives one of the many writings in the Bible that expresses God's disdain for idolatry.  And the reader will not finish the passage confused!  God tells the prophet that the elders have "set up idols in their hearts and have put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity."  He goes on to say in verse 4 that these men will receive an answer from God in view of the multitude of their idols.  And why does God answer these people directly?  "In order to lay hold of the hearts." (v. 5)  The people of Israel were "estranged from God through their idols."

I've been reading this passage for weeks and it has burdened me greatly as a believer!  I must be vigilant
about the ridding of idols in my life.  There is nothing on earth I desire that is worth "estrangement from God"!  A believer can never have the joy and strength of God while harboring idols of the heart.  Verse 6 tells Israel to "repent and turn away from your idols".  May we be on guard from holding anything too tightly.  Praise God for the gifts and blessings of life!  But keep those hands open and raised to a merciful Father Who alone is worthy to be adored!

Real Men

I recently returned from a trip celebrating a thirty year relationship with a "real man".  An anniversary gets more special with each passing year especially in this media frenzied world where the lives of the rich and famous are splattered across our screens or magazines for all to see how not to live.  For many years I've reflected on the answer to the question: What is a real man?  And with each passing year, having good examples before me daily, I want to shout it to the world.  So here goes my shout!

A real man is one who pursues a woman of interest, marries her with the commitment "for better or for worse", lives with her, loves her, protects her and provides for her "as long as they both shall live".  This man does not shrink from this commitment; he grows in it, developing the spiritual muscles that give him the strength to do so.  He loves her through all the multitude of emotions she can display.  When she's a hormonal wreck, he takes her and holds her not needing to say a word but that she's secure in those protective arms.

I could go on, but briefly I'll say that men who marry and stray or those that don't marry but hop from bed to bed: "You are NOT real men and that is NOT a display of strength!"  Real strength is staying committed to one even when strongly tempted by another.

I mentioned daily examples:  One is the man with whom I've had to privilege to live.  But the most important One is Jesus Christ to whom both my husband and I committed our lives at the age of twenty-three.  He is the supreme example of a Real Man and that is exactly what He came to this world to do.  He committed to one purpose.  He gave up His rights to die for the sins of the world.  He is passionately protective of His bride, the church.  He suffered more than we'll ever comprehend to display the strength of devotion that guides us and gives us hope for each day.  He has been the example for this couple's commitment of thirty years.  And in Him alone will we have the strength to continue in a world run amuck.

Sin Makes God Sad

Read Ezekiel 13 to find out for yourself the consequences of being a false prophet.  God continues to  plow down every false act these wicked men had been performing.  But consider these statements He makes in regard to His people,  His compassion toward the wicked, and His intention toward them all.

First, His love and concern toward His children: "You disheartened the righteous with falsehood when I did not cause him grief..."  v. 22
Second, His desire for the wicked: "[you] have encouraged the wicked not to turn from his wicked way and preserve his life" v. 22
Lastly, His promise and protection: "I will deliver My people out of your hand.  Thus you will know that I am the LORD." v. 23

I would say in the words of a child, "Sin makes God sad!"  But He will have the final Word: "I AM THE LORD!"  Let us be encouraged that God hates when we are disheartened, He wants the wicked to turn and be preserved, and He will deliver us from the enemy!

"Ravage the Ruins"

Ezekiel, chapter 13 is a clear-cut warning to false prophets.  We've never been without them.  They are nothing new.  And they are saying nothing new.  In fact, God says they are saying "nothing".  So why do people listen to them?  Because like the false prophets, they are deceived.  And while God took action on those prophets discussed in Ezekiel, those today have the need to heed this insightful warning!

 God says in verse 2: they "prophesy from their own inspiration, 'Listen to the word of the LORD!'"  About this God says, "WOE!"  He calls them "foolish" and He says they are "following their own spirit and have seen 'nothing'".  Then God tells Israel that "the prophets are like foxes among the ruins." (v. 4)  A fox is described as devious, sly, scheming, shrewd, deceitful, duplicitous, mischievous and destructive.  None of those characteristics describe anyone I would like to be following for my spiritual growth.

 If the fox refer to the prophets, then the "ruins" would be the follower.   Not a good description of the man who claims to be spiritual!   And verse 4 says "foxes among ruins".  So the fox here is ravaging something that is already ruined.  NOT GOOD!  You look at the masses of people today following false prophets and apply this description, well it's like Jesus said about the Pharisees: "white-washed tombs full of dead men's bones".

As believers, we must pray for the eyes of the deceivers and deceived to be opened while they still have the breath of life.  But let us not embrace as brothers those deceivers who "prophesy from their own inspiration".  May God bless them with "the truth that will set them free".   Then He will clean up their ruins and build on the Foundation of Jesus Christ.  To God be the glory for His cleansing Word!

Eternal Excuses

Years ago in my young Christian walk, I read a book on prayer.  (I would like to give the author credit but cannot remember who it is.)  I remember very little about the book but one statement has blasted my memory multiple times a year: "Satan will give you an excuse for every day for the rest of your life to keep you from praying."  He would rather you read the Word, listen to preaching or serve in the church but he does not want you to pray.  He knows the battle is won through prayer.

All this came to my mind yesterday as I was vacuuming in the afternoon.  It hit me that my time with God had been interrupted that morning and I never got back to it.  I had many burdens to be praying about and began thinking of them as I vacuumed.  I thought, "I'll go pray after I vacuum."  Then the above quote came to mind.  I put down the vacuum and went to my room to pray, immediately.  But it wasn't that easy!  As I began to pray, I began to think about the quote and how I ought to put it on the Truthlet blog.  My mind went off course with what I would say (probably only for about a minute but still a diversion).  How quickly the enemy began to steer me from purpose.   But even in his ventures to steer us off course, he actually substantiates the effectiveness of prayer.   He is showing by his vehement attacks that great good is wrought with faithful praying!  PRAISE GOD for His Divine intervention through the prayers of His creatures!

As I write this I am looking at a picture of Daniel in the lions den.  The lions surround him with "mouths closed" as Daniel engages in prayer!  "Be of sober spirit; be on the alert.  Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  But resist him..."  1 Peter 5:8-9a

Our Father In Heaven

Have you stopped to reflect on the magnitude of those words?  "Our Father in Heaven".  We know

about fathers.  Even if our earthly father failed us, we have an idea of what that should be.  The New Oxford American Dictionary says of fatherly: protective, supportive, encouraging, affectionate, caring,

sympathetic, indulgent.  WOW!  Put those adjectives with omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, eternal and I could stop right here and have wonderful food for thought.  But I’ll continue with “in Heaven”.  Again, using the same dictionary: ecstasy, rapture, contentment, happiness, delight, joy, and paradise.   As Christians, we believe in Heaven as a place as revealed in the Bible, but we really don’t have much experience in regard to that place.  However, we know it’s beyond anything we could imagine, beyond magnificence.

So, what’s my point?  Well, if you are a believer, consider such access.  Here on earth, we have access to the Eternal Creator of all things, Who calls Himself our Father and lives in Heaven.  We should be running to Him moment by moment!  We should not be fretting about the things of life that disturb us!  We take these things to God, our loving Father Who is in Heaven…protective, supportive, caring, indulgent!  He is passionate about you, more than any earthly father, wonderful or not!  Wait on Him.  Trust Him.  Rest in Him.  He has your best interest planned!

I once heard a comedian talk about “life’s amazing and nobody’s happy”.  He spoke on different scenarios and one had to do with cell phones.  First, that we even have cell phones but also the impatience and whining that comes with not getting a signal or loosing the signal once we’re in conversation.  He said, “GIVE IT A MINUTE!  IT’S GOING TO SPACE!”  In reference to our heavenly Father, I would say, “Give Him a minute!  He created space!”  “God’s amazing and Christians aren’t happy”.

A good friend, who leads a prayer group, asked us recently, “We know we have hope in Christ.  What does hope look like?”  There were many good answers.  But it’s a very good question that should keep us thinking.  What does hope look like?  The thought for this post came one day as I prayed, “Father, in Heaven” and then I thought of my friend’s question.  I have a caring Father in Heaven.  Hope should look like “perseverance”.  Not persevering with clinched teeth and gnarled face.  The Christian’s face should reflect that we rest in an omnipotent, caring Father in Heaven.  We should glow with contentment, happiness, delight, and joy.  This must be the expression or our words cannot be believed.

Father, in Heaven, give us a countenance that reflects our total trust in your sovereignty!  Let this countenance precede every word of witness about our Savior Who gives us this access beyond magnificence!

Hell is Real or Jesus is a Liar

Why should a Christian have a “heart cry for the lost”?  Because we have a message of “Jesus saves”, as posted in my last blog.  Some may say, “Saved from what?”  From sin and ultimately, an eternity in hell.

Recently, I heard a message from Dale Cutlip on the subject of hell.  He preaches it quite often and said that it is not always well received in many churches.  In fact, many churches do not invite him back after such a message.  The following are some of my notes taken from one of his sermons on hell.

Our goal as a believer is to “love all men and only hate the sin that bought them hell forever.”  What is heaven and what is hell?  Heaven is a place where we will surrender to the whole will of God forever.   Hell is the world of the rebel, who refuse to bow down to the will of God.

Many do not believe in hell.  There are many questions regarding hell: why, when, where, what, who?  And the question that is the subject of our “goal as a believer”: How does one escape?

Why?  Hell was created for Lucifer and his demons.  They had become selfishly independent from God.  From this came the fall and sin nature, which is a spiritual cancer resulting in disobedience, discontentment, etc.

When?  Hell was created after Satan fell.  It might have occurred between Genesis, chapters two and three.  We don’t really know for sure since the Bible is not specific about this.  However, we do know that in the beginning everything was “very good”.

Where?  Ephesians four states that Jesus resurrected, ascended on high, far above all the heavens.  In verse nine, it also says, “He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth.”  Other references use terms such as Sheol, Hades, Underworld (lower parts), Bottomless Pit.  In Numbers sixteen, the people involved in Korah’s rebellion went “down alive into the pit.”

What?  Death, damnation, condemnation, judgment.  Eternal, conscious spiritual pain, torment, flames, gnashing of teeth.

Who?  Wicked.  There are the ignorant wicked and self-righteous wicked.  Pastor Cutlip said that some of the worst failures in this category are the religionist who sway away and cannot or will not follow Christ.

How does one escape?  Trust in Christ alone!  It’s not of works! (Ephesians 2:8)

The Triune God does not want you to go to hell! “’As I live!’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live.  Turn back, turn back from your evil ways!  Why then will you die…’” (Ez. 33:11) 

Either hell is real or Jesus is a liar.  (Matt. 5:22, 10:28 to state a few.)  And Mark 9:47-48, “If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’”

Let us be moved with compassion to a “heart cry for the lost”!!

A Heart Cry for the Lost

“As they were striking the people and I alone was left, I fell on my face and cried out saying, ‘Alas, Lord GOD!  Are You destroying the whole remnant of Israel By pouring out Your wrath on Jerusalem?’”  Ezekiel 9:8

Scripture records other incidents about great men of faith crying out to GOD on behalf of the wicked.   When I read one, it reminds me of the purpose of our walk here: to warn the lost sinner of his dilemma.  Ezekiel “fell on his face and cried out”.  He was passionately concerned about his people.  So must we be!

A young man told me once, “If you really believe in hell, that unbelievers are going there, then basically everyone you pass on the street is going to hell.   Shouldn’t every Christian be out there telling the world?”  Convicting? 

We as Christians should begin each day on our face to God and cry out for the lost, cry out about our own sin of silence and cry out as to how God will use us to tell the world that Jesus saves!!

“We have heard the joyful sound…Jesus Saves!  Spread the tidings all around…Jesus Saves!  Bear the news to every land, climb the steeps and cross the waves; onward!  ‘Tis our Lord’s command; Jesus Saves!!!”   (Priscilla Owens/William Kirkpatrick)

"Amazed at Sin"

A friend of mine this week asked some others at a prayer group, "Do you amaze yourself sometimes at your own sinfulness?"  Just her very question was an encouragement.  To know that others feel that way about themselves gave me a sigh of relief.  I don't mean relief that I should be content in sin but sometimes, knowing your own mind and it's wretched thoughts can cause you to despair, thinking, "How in the world could Christ be living in me and think such thoughts!"  Yes, I'm amazed and then it makes me more amazed and in love with the Savior who loved me in my sin and said, "Come!"

In Ezekiel 9:4, 9, and 10, we see God's mercy on those who find sin loathsome and His wrath on those who think He doesn't see.  "...put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst."  "Then He said to me, 'The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is very, very great, and the land is filled with blood and the city is full of perversion; for they say, 'The LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD does not see!"  But as for Me, My eye will have no pity nor will I spare, but I will bring their conduct upon their heads."

We are blessed with God's Spirit to convict us of sin and grow us into the image of Jesus-sanctification-until our last day.  Spurgeon says, "Genuine, spiritual mourning for sin is the work of the Spirit of God.  Repentance is too choice a flower to grow in nature's garden.  Pearls grow naturally in oysters, but penitence never shows itself in sinners except divine grace works it in them.  If thou has one particle of real hatred for sin, God must have given it thee, for human nature's thorns never produced a single fig. 'That which is born of flesh is flesh.'"

Be amazed at the sin still in you but don't despair.  Get on your knees and repent for the Spirit has blessed you with that awareness!  Loath the sin in the world and pray for others to see and "repent for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand!"  (Matthew 3:2)

Marked by God

Reading the major prophets has not been a real draw for me. I’ve read them through a few times but not with much excitement. However, several months ago, I was drawn to Isaiah.  I wanted to read it more thoroughly, more in tune to how God would teach me through it.  There are too many details of what occurred as I began this reading, but the main point is that God has truly blessed my seeking.  I went on to read Jeremiah, Lamentations and then Ezekiel.  After a few chapters of Ezekiel, I thought, “Ok, I guess the excitement’s over.”  Again, God began blessing me with truths about Him I had not considered before.  There are several in chapter nine alone.  My next several posts will come from this chapter.

Acceptance is something that every human desires and seeks.  I have no official documentation for that statement.  It comes simply from experience and observation.  But I believe I’m right!  And for the believer, everything in life revolves around acceptance.  But true acceptance comes from one source: Jesus Christ.  Ephesians 1:6 “To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved.”  WOW!  Love the feeling of that phrase!  So much hope, so much security, belonging, joy, peace…

And where does Ezekiel fit in?  God has been giving Ezekiel visions right and left.  Ezekiel is finding out many disturbing situations going on with the Israelites.  God is going to pour out His wrath.  He has had enough.  “The LORD said to him, ‘Go through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst.”  (more about sighs, groans and abominations in another post)  But to the others He said in my hearing, “Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare…but do not touch any man on whom is the mark….”  Reading that last phrase, “any man on whom is the mark”, I thought immediately of the phrase from Ephesians, “accepted in the Beloved.” 

What hope comes from knowing that as believers in Jesus Christ, trusting in His shed blood on the cross, we are marked for eternity from the wrath of God!  First Corinthians puts it another way, “confirmed to the end”(1:8).  I’d say that it doesn’t get any better than that!!!

Prayerfully Busy

I'm a busy person.  I use to believe my busyness was essential, important and useful.  Now, I'm not so sure about some of it.  I rush around doing things, not really realizing that I'm...well, rushing!  My first realization of this was a couple of years ago when I was flying through Walmart with my buggy, coming around a corner and almost giving grown men (tall manly men) coronaries as I screeched successfully to a stop before running them over.  (This happened twice in one Walmart trip.)  The looks on their scared faces have been etched in my mind.  Why am I always in a hurry?  Poor planning?  Wanting to finish the task?
I know I'm a goal oriented, task mastered, detail determined, my way or no way kind of a gal!  Apart from the Holy Spirit, I'd definitely be a "stepping on whomever to get that goal accomplished" kind of person.  Praise God for His transformation.  But I still struggle with it.  Staying in God's Word always brings me back to the place of dependence on Him and putting others before myself.  God knows it's been a process and He has definitely given me patience with others and myself as He works this out in me.

And the reason for the post?  Well, I've been reading Ezekiel and I found something that spoke to me about this very thing.  I'm sure it's not exactly the meaning of the passage but it was a great reminder for me!  Ezekiel 1:14, "And the living beings ran to and from like bolts of lightning."  So, when I read that of course my first thought was, "Wow!  That reminds me of me!  (And those men's faces came to my mind!)  As I continued reading the passage about these figures that Ezekiel says resemble four living beings and John MacArthur says were probably angels, most likely cherubs, I was struck with my need of awareness of my own actions.   Backing up in verse 12, it says, "And each went straight forward; wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go, without turning as they went."  And on down in verse 20, "Wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go in that direction."  John Mac says the "spirit" in these passages is the "divine impulse by which God moved them to do His will."

So how do I move with the "divine impulse"?  By reading the Word, learning it and living it.  By getting on my knees daily and asking God to move me as He wills.  By asking the Holy Spirit to live through me and guide me moment by moment.  Yes, I want my busyness to be essential, important and useful.  But it must be bathed in humble prayer and seeking God with all my heart.  Only then will I be more watchful, caring,  and resting in the results.   I want to go "straight forward", to go "wherever the spirit was about to go...without turning as" I go.  I want to go in the direction only as the spirit goes, God's divine impulse!

And I'm very thankful that I was not the cause of casualties at Walmart.  I am learning and thankfully not always is it a "learning the hard way".

Encouragement

Moses spoke to the Israelites all that God had instructed him to do as a leader.  In this long discourse stand two words God instructed Moses to do for a fellow believer.  And in fact, it was to one God was appointing leader in Moses place and would see the promised land instead of Moses.  "Encourage him."  Deuteronomy 1:38   Spurgeon, Evening, September 17th

God employs His people to encourage one another.  God does not tell the angels to encourage us.  If His purpose can be accomplished by ordinary means, He will not use miraculous agency.  A brother's sympathy is more precious than an angel's embassy.  An angel has never experienced the hardness of the road, nor seen the fiery serpents, nor led the stiff-necked multitude in the wilderness.  We should be glad that God works for man by man.  It forms a bond of brotherhood, and being mutually dependent on one another, we are fused more completely into one family.  God encourages you by His promises.  Christ encourages you as He points to the heaven He has won for you.  The Spirit encourages you as He works in you to will and to do of His own will and pleasure.  Imitate divine wisdom and encourage others, according to the Word this evening.

Unsolved Mysteries

God asked Job, "Have you entered into the springs of the sea?" (38:16)   Some things in nature must remain a mystery to the most intelligent and enterprising investigators.  Human knowledge has bounds beyond which it cannot pass.  Why then torture your brain with speculations as to destiny and will, fixed fate, and human responsibility?  Why am I so curious to know the reason of my Lord's providences, the motive of His actions, the design of His visitations?  Shall I ever be able to clasp the sun in my fist, and hold the universe in my palm?  Let me not strive to understand the infinite, but spend my strength in love.
Solving deep mysteries will [not] avail me a single whit.   The least love to God and the simplest act of obedience to Him are better than the profoundest knowledge.

My Lord, I leave the infinite to Thee, and pray Thee to put far from me such a love for the tree of knowledge as might keep me from the tree of life.     C.H. Spurgeon, September 5th, Evening

Man and the Sea

Man is more troublesome and unruly than the sea.  The sea respects its boundary and though it be but a belt of sand, it does not overleap the limit.  Mighty as it is, it hears the divine and when most raging with tempest, it respects the Word.   But self-willed man defies heaven and oppresses earth, neither is there any end to his rebellious rage.  The sea, obedient to the moon, ebbs and flows with ceaseless regularity and thus renders an active as well as a passive obedience.  But man, restless beyond his sphere, sleeps within the lines of duty, indolent where he should be active.

Oh that our nature were but one thousandth part as much conformed to the will of God.  We call the sea fickle and false, but how constant it is!  "Lord, rule us for Thine own glory!"    (Spurgeon, Sept. 16 Eve.)

"Woe is me!"

"Woe is me!"  Psalm 120:5  As a Christian, you have to live in an ungodly world and it is of little use for you to cry "Woe is me".  Jesus did not pray that you be taken out of the world, and what He did not pray for, you need not desire.  The enemy is ever on the watch to detect inconsistency in your conduct; be therefore very holy.  The eyes of all are upon you, and more is expected from you than from other men.  Strive to give no occasion for blame.  (Spurgeon, Sept. 5 Morning)

His Power

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe."   Ephesians 1:18-19

"...the exceeding greatness of His power..."
What shall we say of those who think that conversion is wrought by the free will of man and is due to his own betterness of disposition?  When we see the dead rise from the grave by their own power, then may we expect to see ungodly sinners of their own free will turn to Christ.  It is not the word preached, nor the word read in itself!  All quickening power proceeds from the Holy Spirit.  C.H.S

"Bring Him To Me"

The next several posts will be excerpted from Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, which can all be read in their entirety at spurgeon.org.  My first one is very near and dear to my heart for many reasons.  But I post it today in anticipation of finding out the gender of my first grandchild!   The excitement that grows in me only another grandparent can understand.  But also the passionate and fervent desire for the soul of that baby will be brought to Christ daily.  We pray and pray as though it depends on us but then in faithful submission trust and trust for it all depends on Him!

"Bring him unto to Me!"  Mark 9:19
Children are a precious gift from God, but much anxiety comes with them.  They may be a great joy or a great bitterness to their parents.  They may be filled with the Spirit of God or possessed with the spirit of evil.  O, for more agonizing prayer on their behalf while they are yet babes!  Sin is there, let our prayers begin to attack it!!

When they are grown up they may wallow in sin and foam with enmity against God; then when our hearts our breaking, we should remember the great Physician's words, "Bring him to me!"  NEVER must we cease to pray until they cease to breathe!!!  NO case is hopeless while Jesus lives!
AMEN

Sin

John MacArthur quoting Wesley's mom:  "Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the delight for spiritual things, whatever increases the authority of your body over your mind, that thing is sin."

Grumblings

They cried out in the bondage of slavery.  God delivered them.  They cried out in fear, caught between the sea and their pursuing enemy.  God opened the sea, they walked through on dry ground, and He brought the waters down on the enemy.  They cried out for thirst.  God gave them sweet water.  They cried out for food...  All this crying out-grumbling-was in the midst of God's miraculous deliverance from Egypt, the walk through the sea, bitter water made sweet and the guidance of a daily cloud by day and fire by night.  God graciously supplied their needs!  John MacArthur says, "... an attitude of negativism characterizes the whole nation.  Their complaining so soon after benefitting from miracles done by the Lord on their behalf points only to their short-term memory and self-centeredness."  Moses said to them, "He [God] hears your grumblings against the LORD; and what are we [Moses and Aaron] that you grumble against us?"   He goes on to say, after telling them that bread and meat will be raining down from heaven and they will be full, "the LORD hears your grumblings which you grumble against Him.  And what are we?  Your grumblings are not against us but against the LORD."

WOW!  I must say as a new believer, I was appalled at Israel's fickleness. However, as a thirty-five year veteran, I now stand along side them realizing my lack of praise and over-abundance of grumbling.  I know that as I read the book of Exodus today, I am just like them and it points to my own "short-term memory and self-centeredness".

Moses said to the fearful grumblers right before the miracle of the Red Sea, "Do not fear!  Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today...  The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent."    Stand by, see, keep silent!  All good advice to us in the midst of hard times!        Exodus 14:13-14; 16:7-8

"Bedrock of Faith"

To lament is to express passionate grief or sorrow.  The book of Lamentations does just that!  Jeremiah expresses the horrors and sadness of his devastated people and himself in this short book.  However, in the midst of all the passionate grief, he expresses hope.

In 3:22, he says, "The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease; for His compassions never fail."  No matter how you feel and what sadness you remember, this is what you must know!
3:23, "Great is Your faithfulness."  John MacArthur says about this verse, "The bedrock of faith is the reality that God keeps all His promises."  And last, 5:19, "You, O LORD, rule forever; Your throne is from generation to generation." Again John MacArthur, "Jeremiah was consoled by the fact that God always sits on His sovereign throne ruling over the universe from heaven."

God's lovingkindness never ceases!  His compassions never fail!  His faithfulness is great!  He rules from His throne forever!  Think on these truths.  Believe them.  Live them out.  They are your "bedrock of faith" to carry you through to the end.  "On Christ the Solid Rock I stand!!!"

Atheistic Rants and Raves

A friend of mine recently shared her feelings about some comments she read by Atheists about Christians.  She said, “I mean, really, if you don’t believe in God, just give it a rest, instead of talking about Him ALLLLLL the time!...What’s wrong with people these days??  It seems that atheist think about God more than Christians do…”

And I would say, why do they even care enough to think about it much less write about it?  If they don’t believe, why does it even bother them that others do?  Shouldn’t they just be content in the choice they’ve made?  That is, if they are really content in the choice they’ve made. 

I have to suspect that the ranting and raving about Christians has to do with the ranting and raving going on in their own minds that screams discontent, disconnect, disappointment and despair!  They can only know real peace when they are brought in line with the God Who is there and Who really cares about their condition and did something about it.  Jesus Christ came to seek and save the lost, to heal the brokenness caused by our sin.  What hope the Christian has in this dark world!!   Not so the “ranters and ravers”!  They have no hope because they have no God, not because God is not there.  But because they have said, “No God for me!”  

“They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious.  ‘Peace, peace’, they say, but there is no peace.”  Jeremiah 6:14

The Affliction of the Four J's and Their Response

The story of Joseph never gets old.  As I studied this morning for the teaching of preschoolers tomorrow, I was again struck by the beautiful integrity of Joseph.  His attitude shows that his affliction never seemed to shake his trust in God!

I began to think on my recent study of Jeremiah and his perseverance in affliction and then also,  Job.  I began to ponder these three men, three J’s, and another popped into my mind: Jonah-the affliction of the four J's  and their response.  How do I tie these four men together?

They tie together by their response!  Consider:

Job-wealthy, healthy, fruitful-in the blink of an eye-all gone!  Then from chapter three to forty-one, much contemplation!  The response:  “Job answered the LORD, ‘I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted…I will ask, You instruct me…I repent in dust and ashes.’”

Joseph-young, handsome, favored, happy homebody-in but a moment-zapped from home by his own kin!  We read with amazement at God’s complete care, compassion and control over his alienation from his home: “The LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man…the LORD caused all that he did to prosper…gave him favor…whatever he did, the LORD made to prosper.”  The response:  “How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?  God sent me before you to preserve life…God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”

Jeremiah-prophet, direct contact with God, obedient and fervent,  speaking with reckless abandon what God says-for all his effort-thrown in a cistern, mocked, laughing stock, kings seeking to destroy him!  For fifty-two chapters, we learn from Jeremiah’s faithful proclamation a glimpse of the personality of our awesome Creator and His complete control over all things.  Jeremiah, for all his labor, was afflicted as he wrote, “My soul has been rejected from peace; I have forgotten happiness.  So I say, ‘My strength has perished, and so has my hope from the LORD.’”  But what kept Jeremiah going were his foundational thoughts of God:  “My soul remembers and is bowed down within me.  This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope.  The LORD’S lovingkindnesses, indeed, never cease, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.  ‘The LORD is my portion’, says my soul, ‘therefore, I have hope in Him.’”

And last, Jonah.  It’s really hard to put Jonah in this list of faithful men.  I pretty much look at the first three with respect and admiration.  Not too much Jonah.  But I believe he gives us another personality we need to consider.  I mean, yes, he ran the opposite way of God’s call but we should be impressed that he was truthful with the captain and brave enough to give up his life for the good of the others.  His trust in God was great in the face of an emergency even though he was conflicted with the every day tasks of life.  Four short chapters reveal the conflict of Jonah’s back and forth battle between trusting God’s sovereignty and shaking his fist at Him.  While I would much prefer to be compared to the first three, I’m afraid I more like this man.  And yet God used him to save a city, including his story in the divinely inspired Book He gave man.  Yes, we need Jonah and all his warts to remind us that “it’s not of works”, it’s all of grace.  Jonah’s response as he lay in the belly of a “great fish appointed” by the LORD: “Salvation is from the LORD.”

Four men walking through life, blessed, afflicted, trusting, and used by God.  Let us bask in the thought of being “used” by God Almighty, no matter what blessings or afflictions come our way. “God can do all things.  God meant it for good.  Great is His faithfulness.  Salvation is from the LORD.”  This is the response of “the Four J’s”.  Let it also be our response.  God keep us strong!

The Much More of God

As I read the last chapter of Jeremiah, I was reminded of the unrighteous judge in Luke 18.  Jesus said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night and will He delay long over them?  I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly.  However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"

And Jeremiah 52:31-34: "...Evil-merodach, king of Babylon (and that was his name not necessarily his temperament though he was a pagan king), in the first year of his reign, showed favor to Jehoiachin, king of Judah and brought him out of prison.  (Jehoiachin was not a good king and had been taken into captivity early in his reign.)  [Now here's the good part...] Then he spoke kindly to him and set his throne above the thrones of the kings who were with him in Babylon.  So Jehoiachin changed his prison clothes, and had his meals in the king's presence regularly all the days of his life.  For his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king of Babylon, a daily portion all the days of his life until the day of his death."    I could not help thinking of us as we come to Christ: we change our prison clothes and we are in the presence of the KING of KINGS regularly all the days of our lives forever!

And Evil-merodach was an unjust king who showed this kindness.  How much more will God, our Father, through the Lord Jesus Christ be there for us.  He has told us the same thing.  God, as Jesus said in Luke, will not delay long over us.  He will bring about justice quickly.  Do we have faith to believe this and live like it?

To Know

“The people that know their God shall be strong.”  Daniel 11:32

To know God is the highest and best form of knowledge.  Knowledge strengthens faith.  Knowledge strengthens love.  Knowledge paints the portrait of Jesus and when we see that portrait, then we love Him.  We cannot love a Christ whom we do not know.  The more we know Him, the more we love Him.  Knowledge strengthens hope.  How can we hope for a thing if we do not know of its existence?  Hope may be the telescope, but till we receive instruction, our ignorance stands in the front of the glass, and we can see nothing whatever; knowledge removes the interposing object, and when we look through the bright optic glass we discern the glory to be revealed and anticipate it with joyous confidence. 

There is not one single grace of the Christian which, under God, will not be fostered and brought to perfection by holy knowledge.  How important, then, is it that we should grow not only in grace, but in the “knowledge” of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

(Taken from Spurgeon’s, Morning and Evening, August 4^th, Morning.)

Negligence or Vigorous

In thinking of these two words, which one would you rather be said in regard to what you do?  Jeremiah 48 tells about destruction that will be coming to Moab.  In the middle of all the prophecy, which is quite detailed in regard to Moab’s lofty thoughts of itself and its trust in achievements and treasures, there is a verse regarding the one who will be used by God to do the destroying.  “Cursed be the one who does the LORD’S work negligently…”  Maybe I pull this out of context but that verse has been to me quite a reminder of my walk with God in regard to everything: prayer, Bible study, witnessing, walking rightly, thinking rightly, speaking rightly.  Oh, God, let me not do your work negligently!!

Days later, I read another verse in Jeremiah that was starkly contrasted to negligent work.

In chapter 50, God tells about the destruction of Babylon.  The contrast is in verse 34 but 33 and 34 are both great in regard to how God views His own.  “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the sons of Israel are oppressed, and the sons of Judah as well;  and all who took them captive have held them fast, they have refused to let them go.  Their Redeemer is strong, the LORD of hosts is His name; He will VIGOROUSLY plead their case so that He may bring rest to the earth, but turmoil to the inhabitants of Babylon.” 

So, not only do we not want to do our work negligently, but we must do it vigorously! 

We must pray daily for this ability and know: “Their Redeemer is strong, the LORD of hosts is His name.”  He is able and willing to honor such requests.  Let us not be negligent, but let us be vigorous in the asking!  

Homemade Ice Cream

“Go and teach all nations…”, Jesus said to His disciples.  Evangelism should be an integral part of our walk as believers.  But it can be very disheartening!  As I walked this morning, I began praying for those I long to know Christ.  Frustration mounts as I pray, for some of these I have been praying a long time and I see no results.   Seeing no results does not negate the work.  As I prayed, I told God how frustrated I am not being successful.  But I know and I prayed that it is His Work not mine.  His Holy Spirit is the Mover, the Instigator, the Power.  God never said for us to save them.  He tells us to teach them.  I think of all the people I’ve talked to that still walk in darkness.  I thought of all the people great preachers preach to Sunday after Sunday that do not respond.  I thought of all the missionaries giving their entire lives for the gospel that see little conversion.

I read an autobiography of a man named David Brainard.  He poured out his young life to the American Indians and saw very little results.  The book was depressing and yet it has encouraged me many times because David loved Jesus with all his heart and the results did not hinder his passion.  He obeyed the call, persevered and left it up to God.

As I battled with these thoughts in prayer, I began to give up my angst to the Power of the Spirit.  The prayer time was intense because it became a hard battle.  With that and the heat index, I began sweating and thinking of homemade ice cream.  And I remembered times of making that wonderful treat.  There were a few times the ice cream stayed runny.  Why?  Because we forgot to put in the dasher.  That thought led to the hand-crank, turning, turning, turning for an hour and a half.  How utterly frustrating to finish such a labor to find it was in vain.   I know earthly illustrations break down but I could not resist the thought:  the Holy Spirit is the "dasher".  We can crank and crank and crank but for all our effort, nothing solid will occur without the movement of the dasher.  I repeat: seeing no results does not negate the work.  We teach, lead, live godly, working hard as though it depends on us BUT praying hard, knowing that it all depends on Him.
"and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."  Romans 5:5

                                                                                                                                                                                       

God Says It! He Does It!

"Ah, sword of the LORD, how long will you not be quiet?  Withdraw into your sheath; be at rest and stay still."  "How can it be quiet, when the LORD has given it an order?  There He has assigned it."  Jeremiah 47:6 & 7.
God has said in His Word that He does not change.  Believers draw comfort from this attribute and have hope.  However, I fear that unbelievers are deceived into thinking that God is like them and will change His mind about their sin.  This is a grave error in thinking.  This verse is one great big reality check into the actual thinking of God.  Once God gives the order, once He has assigned it, you can bank on its happening.  What God says, God does!
Therefore, as believers, we must "know the terror of the LORD and persuade men."  (2 Cor. 5:11)  God's orders, decisions are unwavering.  This needs to prompt our urgency in evangelism.  There will be a time when the waiting will be done.

Dry Springs

Spurgeon writes, "A selfish man in trouble is exceedingly hard to comfort, because the springs of his comfort lie entirely within himself, and when he is sad all his springs are dry."  He goes on to say that the Christian man has springs to comfort besides those which lie within.  "He can go to his God first of all, and there find abundant help; and he can discover arguments for consolation in things relating to the world at large, to his country, and , above all, to the church... Christian man!  learn to comfort thyself in God's gracious dealing towards the church.  That which is so dear to thy Master, should it not be dear above all else to thee?  What though thy way be dark, canst thou not gladden thine heart with the triumphs of His cross and the spread of His truth?  Our own personal troubles are forgotten while we look, not only upon what God has done, and is doing for Zion (the church), but on the glorious things He will yet do for His church."  

Prisoners

“There were those who dwelt in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in misery and chains, because they had rebelled against the words of God and spurned the counsel of the Most High.”  Psalm 107:10 & 11  

Yesterday a friend sent me her reflections on her meditation of Psalm 107:10-16:

“Prisons are most often not a room with bars.  They are darkness of heart, deluded thinking, a twisted philosophy.

                        Saved, but not free

                        Still chained in misery.

                        Not condemned, but yet bound

                        By ideas that confound.

                        To live in victory

                        He must shackle himself to Thee.”

As I read her thoughts on this passage, I realized that believers stay chained to wrong thinking way longer than they should.  Yes, her thoughts are about believers!  We tend to think more about unbelievers when thinking about prisoners in the spiritual sense.  But too often believers cannot be effective in the wonderful, transforming work of the Most High God because they stay “chained in misery” to their own thinking. 

God has given us a great work to do here on earth.  There are two parts to this great work.  The first is the transformation of our lives into the image of Christ.  The other is drawing those bound by sin to Christ that they, too, will be transformed.  That drawing, many times, is done with words blessed to us by the Holy Spirit through THE WORD.  But the drawing is also done by a life lived differently, victorious over sin and responding to the issues of life through Biblical eyes.  Yes, we’ll get depressed, beat down, worn out.  But by the grace of God, we do not stay that way!

As I continue to read through Jeremiah, this morning I read this cry from Baruch in the 45^th chapter: “Ah, woe is me!  For the LORD has added sorrow to my pain; I am weary with my groaning and have found no rest.”  Jeremiah in his response to Baruch says, “But you, are you seeking great things for yourself?”  John MacArthur writes the following on this passage: “Baruch had his expectations far too high, and that made the disasters harder to bear.  It is enough that he be content just to live.  Jeremiah, who once also complained, learned by his own suffering to encourage complainers.”

Prisons for us as believers can be manifest in many ways: complaining, setting expectations too high, bitterness over hurts inflicted by others, mental mulling, and the list goes on.  What this does to our witness is devastating.  We have no bars because “if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.” (John 8:36)  So what do we do with this prison of our own making?  Set our face toward heaven and fight the battle, tooth and nail until God takes us out.  He is true.  He is there.  He is real.  He is in control.  Live what you say you believe!  Just keep getting up and fight the enemy of our souls.   As long as he can keep you in those prisons, even though you are saved, he can keep you from being effective for the gospel of Jesus Christ.   Reflect on 2 Peter 1:2-8.  Shackle yourself to Christ!!  He has already won the victory and we know that this effort is not in vain!!

                        

It Will Cost Your Life!

Obedience, trust, faith!  When used about God, these words must go beyond mere feelings or emotions.  You either believe or you don't.  There is no middle ground.  Granted, it is a learning process but the cost is high when we doubt or stray.  Jeremiah 42:6 is a bold claim from the people of Judah.  They are good words but apparently they were based on momentary fear or need:  "Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will listen to the voice of the LORD our God to Whom we are sending you, so that it may go well with us when we listen to the voice of the LORD our God."  Great advice: "whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will listen..."  They knew the benefits of obedience yet going to Egypt was a temptation that held greater sway.  So in the same chapter, verse 20, Jeremiah tells them: "you have gone astray at the cost of your lives."

Recently, our pastor warned from the book of Proverbs, chapter 7, to be proactive in guarding against temptation and sin:  "Suddenly he follows her as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as one in fetters to the discipline of a fool, until an arrow pierces through his liver; as a bird hastens to the snare, so he does not know that it will cost him his life."

Men ignore the warnings of God to the detriment of their eternal destiny!  They have "gone astray at the cost of their lives."  Faith comes by hearing God's Word.  Trust comes by learning God's dealings with man in His Word.  And obedience comes as a result of our growing love for Him Who loved us enough to make every provision for our eternal safety.  It doesn't get any better than that!!

The American Dream

The following is a quote from a young man named Bryan, used as a promo for a "Don't Waste Your Life" Conference in 2008.
American Dream:  "A lot of it, I feel, goes back to the value system that we have.  Without a benchmark to ask the bigger life questions of what’s valuable, if we don’t go back to the Word of God, if we don’t go back to how God has revealed Himself to us, then we’re basically left with opinions and instincts.  And our instincts are corrupted by sin and the opinions are a dime a dozen.  And so to live according to instincts and opinions really is a worthless pursuit, when God has revealed Himself in His Word and through His Son, Jesus!  And what’s valuable and what’s worthwhile to pursue ourselves, to engage ourselves with, left to speculation, we will stray all the time, every time, we will sin, we will miss the mark and we will be judged for that!

In humility, if we ask the bigger question: What is valuable to God?  And as we look to the Word, as we look to the Son, God reveals those answers, and the answers surprise a lot of us.  Because really the answer is:  Make a life in pursuit of God and His greatness and you’ll be satisfied and God will be glorified."

"That Preacher!"

Jeremiah 42 tells of the Israelites asking the prophet to go and talk to God for them.  They say, “Please let our petition come before you, and pray for us to the LORD your God…that the LORD your God may tell us the way in which we should walk and the thing that we should do.”   Jeremiah answers, “I have heard you.  Behold, I am going to pray to the LORD your God in accordance with your words; and I will tell you the whole message which the LORD will answer you.  I will not keep back a word from you.”  They say, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with the whole message...”   Jeremiah does what they ask.  He prays and ten days later, God answers.  Jeremiah delivers the message to the people.  But in chapter 43, it says, “But as soon as Jeremiah, whom the LORD their God had sent, had finished telling all the people all the words of the LORD their God—that is all these words—all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, ‘You are telling a lie!  The LORD our God has not sent you to say…’”

I shake my head in wonder as to the lunacy of those people.  What are they thinking, going against the Word of God?  As I pondered this, a thought came to mind.  How like we, when the pastor delivers a sermon from God’s Word and we don’t like what we hear.  How many times I have heard, “That preacher!”.   We are quick to blast the messenger when all they are doing is delivering the message.   As I continued to think on this, I was reminded of the Spurgeon devotion of this morning:  “Brethren, pray for us.”  1 Thessalonians 5:25.  “We [ministers] treat with souls for God on eternal business, and our word is either a savour of life unto life, or of death unto death.  A very heavy responsibility rests upon us, and it will be no small mercy if at the last we be found clear of the blood of all men.  We see many backslidings, and our hearts are wounded; we see many perishing, and our spirits sink.  We wish to profit you by our preaching; we desire to be blest to your children; we long to be useful both to saints and sinners;  therefore, dear friends, intercede for us with our God.”

All I can add to that…May we be found faithful!

Blooming Toward the Light

Early this morning I went for my regular walk.  In one of the yards I passed were some yellow wildflowers about seven inches tall.  The blooms on the flowers were a beautiful, pale yellow.  I noticed the bloom on one was cocked to the right.  Looking again, all of the flowers were cocked to right (east) facing the rising sun.   I know this is not a new discovery, but it still intrigues me!  I turned completely around to look at the yard as a whole and all those little pale yellow flowers had their blooms completely turned the same direction as a well-trained army with their eyes on the commander.

I was reminded again (and actually this makes twice this week) that we need to “preach the gospel to ourselves” at the beginning of every morning.  We, too, should be like these little flowers with our eyes on the Light from Whom we get our direction and power for the day.   “Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith…”  Hebrews 12:2

Poppa

I had never used this term for father myself.   And the only times, I’ve heard it is on old movies.  It was usually a term used by a young woman, who loves, adores and depends on her father for everything.  She runs to him for advice or when she’s fearful or when she just wants to feel the security of his loving arms.  He is her protector; she admires and highly respects him.  All this thought is purely speculative from the viewpoint of a young woman who read a lot into a relationship in a two-hour movie!

But when I hear the word “poppa or papa”, that’s what comes to my mind.  I began thinking of this a couple of days ago as I stressed over a situation and without thought or ever using the term, I immediately went to God with the problem and addressed Him as “Poppa”.  I had never done that and it was curious to me, but also encouraging as I know it was the Holy Spirit’s prompting and reminding me of what I need to know about my Father.

My own father whom I always called “Daddy” has been gone now for many years.  I miss him and even though I wouldn’t say we had the relationship I described above, at least not in my older years, I know I am the product of this man I loved and he lives on in me as I am so much like him.  And he taught me so many positive traits that though I know he doesn’t hear me, I thank him many times.  

There is One Who does hear me and as I look over a long walk with Him, I see the wonderful traits that He is teaching me.  And He IS Poppa, Abba, Daddy or as I’ve read, the translation for Abba is even more like “Dada”.  That really puts the dependence in perspective.  We are babies, fully dependent on Him.  And I would say that spiritual maturity comes as we become more fully dependent on Him for everything.

Do I love, adore, and depend on God, my Father for everything?  Do I run to Him for advice or when I'm fearful or when I just want to feel the security of His loving arms?  God is our Protector!  Do I admire and highly respect Him?  These are not speculations or viewpoints when talking about the God of the Bible, The Creator, Our Poppa!  This is not just a two-hour movie and it's over.  This is God!  This is truth.  This will be for all eternity...forever and ever Amen!!

"Help, Lord!"

Thinking of kings and the eloquence with which you imagine they speak, I am drawn to Spurgeon’s reminder for this morning.  King David “mourned the fewness of faithful men, and therefore lifted up his heart in supplication:  Help, Lord.”  Psalm 12:1  How's that for "eloquence"?

I’m reminded of King Jehoshaphat in a difficult battle, short prayer to the point,  “We do not know what to do; our eyes are on You!”  And then remembering back a long time ago, a girl in her early twenties, living in sin and realizing her need: “Help, Lord!”  Dependence on God is a blessing with promise.   Kings feeling overwhelmed with enemies or poor young people living broken lives… all are needy and all by grace are brought to the place where: “In Him our help is found! Let us not be slack to cry to Him.”  

Too Difficult for God?

"To despair is to doubt God."  I put that in quotes as I think it a correct wording of what Marilla says to Matthew when Anne left them to take a teaching position.  They were sad to see her go.  It was Marilla and Matthew's empty nest initiation.   (Anne of Green Gables)

I had not planned to put the quote; it came to me as I pondered what I really wanted to share.  Jeremiah is definitely a picture of a man obeying God but sometimes wondering why his life is conflicted in the midst of obedience.  He has come to a place of great encouragement and expresses it to God: "Ah, Lord GOD!  Behold, You have made the heavens and earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm!  Nothing is too difficult for You..."  He says much more and then God responds, "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?"   Jeremiah 32:17; 26

Of course, Jeremiah rehearses this before God but it is only Jeremiah who needed to hear it (and us).  God did not have to "behold" that He had made the heavens and earth by His great power.  And He already knew that nothing is too difficult for Him.  No Jeremiah is "being still and knowing that He is GOD."  He is talking to God about God.  And God responded with, "yes, you are so right!  Don't forget."

I want to do that every moment of my walk.  I do not want to despair not just because it hurts so bad but because it dishonors God for us to doubt Him.  "Nothing is too difficult for God."  NOTHING!

"Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things you do not know!"  Jeremiah 33:3

Refreshment

I looked up the word "languish" which is taken from the verse I'll focus on today.  If you know the definition in a more detailed way, it'll make the verse more medicinal.

languish: person loses or lacks vitality; grow weak or feeble; fail to make progress or be successful; pine with love or grief; display a sentimentally tender or melancholy expression or tone; suffer from being forced to remain in an unpleasant place or situation.

God is telling Jeremiah what to tell His people Israel.  However, He is my God through Jesus Christ and this loving statement reveals more of the personality of my Father.  And it gives me great comfort, and I praise the Holy Spirit for the enlightening as I read the Word.

"For I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes."  Jeremiah 31:25

Stress Is Sin

Spurgeon with Fioa commentary.

“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee.” Psalm 55:22

Care (anxiety) even though exercised upon legitimate objects, if carried to excess, has in it the nature of sin.  (We tend to excuse this sin as we think anxiety too hard to be rid of.  However, it’s the essence of unbelief to allow this trait to dominate our minds.)

The very essence of anxious care is the imagining that we are wiser than God!  We attempt to think of that which we fancy He will forget and we labor to take upon ourselves our weary burden as if He were unable or unwilling to take it for us.  (Think carefully on the continuation of this hard truth expressed by Spurgeon!!)

He who cannot calmly leave his affairs in God’s hand, but will carry his own burden, is very likely to be tempted to use wrong means to help himself.  This sin leads to a forsaking of God as our counselor, and resorting instead to human wisdom.  Anxiety makes us doubt God’s lovingkindness, and thus our love to Him grows cold; we feel mistrust, and thus grieve the Spirit of God so that our prayers become hindered, our consistent example marred, and our life one of self-seeking.  Want of confidence in God leads us to wander far from Him.  Through simple faith in His promise, we cast each burden as it comes upon Him, and are “careful (anxious; full of care; troubled; all those emotions that give us a joyless countenance and thus dishonor God) for nothing”  (that means no stress about ANYTHING—WOW!!  Hmmmm-impossible?  I don’t think so!  Not if we believe what we say we believe!  So now to continue with Spurgeon…)  “careful for nothing” because He undertakes to care for us, it will keep us close to Him, and strengthen us against much temptation.  “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee.” (end of Spurgeon)  Or put another way…GOD will give and give and keep giving perfect peace (that’s a mouthful there… “perfect peace”!  I want it!) to those who keep their minds on Him because they TRULY trust Him!  Truly trust!!  Freefall!  I know God is there.  I don’t see Him but I know without a shadow of a doubt that He IS and is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.  The reward?  Perfect peace!  Not perfect circumstances…perfect peace.  And thus, glory to God!

"Frail Vessels On a Rough Sea"

“The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.”  Psalm 138:8

Here again a gem excerpted from Morning and Evening, some of it reworded slightly:

The Psalmist here expresses DIVINE confidence!  NOT “I have grace” or “my faith is steady” or “my love warm” or “my resolution firm”.  NO!  His dependence was on the Lord ALONE.  If we allow any confidence that is not grounded on the Rock Of Ages, our confidence is worse than a dream; it will fall on us and cover us with its ruins, to our sorrow and confusion.  God began the work in us; it is HE who must finish it or it will never be completed.  If there be one stitch in the “celestial garment” of our own righteousness which we are to insert ourselves, then we are lost!   Ah! yes, we should indeed perish if left to our own strength.  If we had alone to navigate our frail vessels over so rough a sea, we might well give up the voyage in despair; but, thanks be to God, He will perfect that which concerneth us, and bring us to the desired haven. 

Eclipse of Faith

The following post is an excerpt from Charles Spurgeon's, Morning and Evening, May 22-Morning, reworded slightly:
"They cried out to the LORD in their trouble; He delivered them out of their distress.  He led them also by a straight way, to go to an inhabited city." Psalm 107: 6 & 7
Change often leads the anxious believer to ask, "Why is it this way with me?  I look for light but find darkness; for peace, but I see trouble.  Lord you hide Your face and I am troubled.  Today I cannot see and my hopes are covered with clouds.  I have no hope, just fear; no joy, just distress.  Is this part of Your plan for me?  Is this the way toward heaven?"

Yes, it is so.  The eclipse of your faith, the darkness of your mind, the fainting of your hope, all these things are but parts of God's method of making you ripe for the great inheritance upon which you shall soon enter.  These trials are for the testing and strengthening of your faith--they are waves that wash you further upon the rock--they are winds which take your ship more quickly towards the desired destination.  Think not, believer, that your sorrows are out of God's plan; they are necessary parts of it.

"O let my trembling soul be still, and wait Thy wise, Thy holy will!  I cannot, Lord, Thy purpose see, yet all is well since ruled by Thee."

Be Still?

Being still is painful for me.   Yes, PAINFUL!  Some part of me must always be moving.  I remember coming upon the verse, "Be still and know that I am God."  (Psalm 46:10) as a new believer and thinking, "wow!  That's a hard one."

But to be still is very important when it comes to having conversation with God.  It says, "Be still and KNOW".   We get silent and think about all we know about God as revealed to us through His word.  It's an exercise, but a mental one!  And we must stop what we are doing and pray about God to God.  Rehearse God to Himself.  Remember all that you know to be true; think hard about all the truth you've shared with others about Him.  Rest in these sweet moments of what's really true and drink freely and deeply.  Rest there for a time.  Pressures you've built up will begin to fall into their rightful place: His Hands.  He is the one guiding us and everything else.  Trust Him alone with this burden.  

Be still!  And Know that I AM GOD!

Ms. Fix-it

A loose hair on a black sweater; a collar that is uneven; a tag sticking out of the back neck of a t-shirt: these insignificant aesthetic issues disturb me.  They must be fixed, and I’m  just the one to do it.  I look at it as unsought kindness, a favor that I do for the world.  Not that I’m a bold person, but I feel it to be my duty to let people know (that is unless I can fix it without their knowledge).  A few more off the short list would be lipstick on the tooth, an attached hair out of place (obvious place), an out of control nose hair (this one I admit is reserved only for family…if you’re not my family, you’re on your own), a dark smudge on the forehead (yes, it was a complete stranger who was clothes shopping in the same department as I.  And I’m here to say, I do now know about Ash Wednesday!)

Fixing things is just my nature.  I don’t like for things to be amiss!  When it comes to people whose lives are out of whirl, the pressure increases in my world.  It gets very hard to bear.  However, God does not put that pressure on us.  We most of the time do it to ourselves.  He has given to us the greatest privilege in the world at our fingertips: ask God.  He did not intend for us to fix the world.  That is impossible.  Yes, it is broken, but we can’t fix it.  Jesus already made that provision.  And we do have responsibility to “bear one another's burdens” and to “pray without ceasing”.  But to try to fix everybody that’s broken in our world is not possible.     

"For nothing is impossible with God."  We are to go to the God of all creation with all our burdens and the burdens of others.  James says, “the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”  The two adjectives in that verse are such that we can expect results.  God transforms, changes, makes new, “fixes”.  He does indeed use us and He will lead us when the time comes.  It is “our reasonable service.”  But it is not a list we grab and get to work on.  It is a privilege given by God as we seek Him.

Scripture References in order: Galatians 6:2;  1 Thessalonians 5:17; Luke 1:37 (also in Matthew 19:26)  James 5:16; Romans 12:1.

Faith and Trouble

"You must believe in order to see instead of seeing in order to believe."  I heard this a very long time ago.  It always comes to my mind when life get tough.  I don't recall whose quote it is but it came to mind as I read a devotion by Charles Spurgeon about faith and believing.  Charles Spurgeon has been a wonderful mentor in my walk as a believer.  Life may be pressing down but his words help lift me back up!  His sweet reminders, always drawn from the Word, are for me a "life preserver" that you grab and hang on as you pray for strength.  I'll share a few.

Hebrews 11:13  "These all died in faith."  "Behold the epitaph of all those blessed saints who fell asleep before the coming of the Lord!  It matters nothing how else they died, whether by old age, or by violent means; this one point, in which they all agree, is the most worthy of record, "they all died in faith."  In faith they lived--it was their comfort, their guide, their motive, and their support; and in the same spiritual grace they died, ending their life-song in the sweet strain in which they had so long continued.  They did not die resting in the flesh or upon their own attainments; they made no advance from their first way of acceptance with God, but held to the way of faith to the end...  Take courage, my soul, as thou readest this epitaph.  Thy course, through grace, is one of faith, and sight seldom cheers thee:  this has also been the path of the brightest and best.

John 16:33  "In the world ye shall have trouble."  (I will slightly paraphrase this one.)  Do you know what foes you have beneath your feet?  You were once a servant of Satan, and no king will willingly lose his subjects.  Do you think that Satan will leave you alone?  NO, he will always be at you, for he goes around like a roaring lion, seeking to "chew you to pieces".  Expect trouble, therefore, Christian, when you look around you.  LOOK around you.  Where are you?  You are in enemy country, a stranger and a traveler.  The world is not your friend.  If it is, then you are not God's friend,  for he who is the friend of the world is an enemy of God...  Look also within you, into your own heart. and observe what is there.  Sin and self are still within.  Even if you had no devil to tempt you, no enemies to fight you, and no world to entangle you, you would still find in yourself evil enough to be a pain, for "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked."  Expect trouble then, but do no despair on account of it, for God is with you to help and strengthen you.  He said, "I will be with you in trouble; I will deliver you and honor you.  I will overcome the world."

The Story of Me

“A friend drops in to see me.  What is he thinking?  Does he not understand that life is a movie about me.  The audacity to come to my soundstage and interrupt the obvious flow of the story…  My mind is like a radio that picks up only one station, the one that plays me.  This is the most difficult lie I have ever contended with:  Life is a story about me.  No rut in the mind is so deep as the one that says I am the world, the world belongs to me; all people are characters in my play.  There is no addiction so powerful as self-addiction.”

The above was excerpted from a once popular book by a popular author.  Who he is holds not the importance of what he says.   For the Christian, this is probably the biggest battle of our lives: SELF.  We will spend a lifetime ridding this flesh of self.  We reek with self.  Our thoughts are permeated with self.  Even our seemingly justifiable impatience with the sins of others is only selfish pride. 

David Platt said, “God is the goal…  People today are crying out for practical application when it comes to God’s Word.  They want to see the Bible’s relevance for their lives.  But there is a dangerous tendency in our day to focus so much on contemporary application that we begin to look at the Bible with man-centered eyes.  Our infatuation with practical application can cause us to overlook the most important quality of the Bible: its DIVINE feature.  We can run right past GOD looking for help for men!!!  The Bible is a book about God more than it is a book about us.  A picture of God feeds well!!”

He goes on to say, “God’s agenda in Scripture is to glorify Himself through the recreation of His image in His people.  We are to be conformed to the image of Christ, to look like Jesus!  The Divine Text is truth revealed by God to bring people to Jesus and to mold them into His likeness.  The more people look like Jesus, the more they are in tune with the Spirit of God when they face situations in life.”

Our prayer should be, “God cleanse me of me and fill me with Thee!”  It’s a daily battle well-worth fighting.  And the great news is that we are powerless but He is Continual Power as we call on Him.  “Filled to the measure of all the fullness of Christ.” “Run with perseverance, the race marked out for us.”  God has done the “marking” and He alone does the “filling”.  We just know the truth and obey.