When Life Does Not Make Sense

This last week in Facebook I read a story of a mother who is a believer and yet she felt that God had forsaken her. I was also reminded of a conversation with a man I play golf with when he made a statement, “If there is a God how could he allow my daughter to have MS.” Then there is a young couple I know with two children and the mother dies of cancer. How about an older couple I love who served God their whole lives spreading God's word, and the wife gets a crippling disease and then God takes her husband home, and now she is all alone in a care-home. Or how about the man who never wanted to make a vow to God but was led by God to make one. This man did everything that he said he would do and yet God did not answer the man's prayer in the way he thought. 
Life at times seems very confusing and difficult to understand; yet when our life is over, and we stand before God and ask him "why?" He will say that when you were going through these things you were only halfway through your book of life. Just like a mystery novel halfway through never makes sense, it only makes sense when you know the ending.
I wish I could say wise and comforting words to the young couple, the father and his daughter, or the elderly couple, those whose lives seem so useless now.  But as the one who made the vow to God and didn't get what he expected then, I can say: WAIT! Wait to see what God has planned for your life, with all the hurts and losses and even doubts about God. Don't give up your faith in the LORD! Stay in His Word believing what He says. It's in the waiting on God that we come to know Him better and better and how He feels about us and how His plans and ways are so much higher than ours.  God is for us, not against us!
When our life is complete will others who have watched your life be able to say that your life was not useless at all? 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 "Therefore, we do not lose heart. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, fix your eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
When life gets hard it is very hard see this glory that God is talking about, therefore, we must be patient and soon we will understand it all. For now we only see through a glass dimly, but later we will see Him as He truly is: face to face.  Our life in retrospect will make beautiful sense and give glory to God.

HOPE

How can you have a ‘genuine’ hope amid all the atrocities, natural disasters, government tyranny and enemy threats and attacks – without knowing the truth that only comes from the Creator and Savior of our lives? A true hope has different results than a false hope.

 

The promises of God that are in His Word (the Holy Bible) are there to give us hope that lasts through all life throws at us. God’s perfectly worked plans for His children bring us to the fulfillment of every promise He gives.

 

People have a hope because of a new leader they voted in, but when we put our hope in a man, as right and true as he might be, that hope can be disappointed. People lose hope all the time because their hope is ‘misplaced.’ When I put my hope in the Word of the LORD GOD my hope will stay strong to the end, only because of who GOD IS.

 

God’s Holy Spirit helps the believer in Jesus Christ to ‘hold’ to the promises of God, so that when life is not what it’s supposed to be, or what we thought it would be – the hope in a believer never moves from its secure place within. So, it is critical to make sure your hope is true and not false. A false-hope will surely let us down, and then what? What happens when our hope falls flat? Insecurity, depression, addiction, suicide, anger, blaming, self-hatred, loss of confidence: these are all results of having hope that is not true.

 

Against all ‘natural’ hope, Abraham and all the other patriarchs of the same faith in what God said to them – in TRUE HOPE – believed and then realized the fulfillment of every promise God made to them, whether in life or in death. (Romans 4:18)

 

The apostle Paul was “convinced” that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate me (and all true believers) from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:38-39) What convinced him? Where did his hope come from?

 

Noah’s hope, that kept him building the Ark till complete, as ridiculous as it seemed then to all the people, where did Noah’s hope come from? Moses had hope as he defied Pharaoh and led millions of people out of slavery and through a desert of what seemed hopeless. God spoke to him too.

 

God’s spoken word to us IS OUR HOPE, and peace and joy as well! No matter what century we live, since time began, it has always been the Word of the living GOD that ignites true hope in people so that they will realize their hope come true!

 

I pray that this new year of 2025 will be a year of people getting into the Word of God, hearing God’s voice, whether for the first time, or whether returning after letting their Bible sit untouched far too long, or by wanting to go even deeper into the LIVING WORD OF GOD.

 

“For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so MY WORD that proceeds from MY MOUTH will not return to ME empty, but it WILL accomplish what I please, and it WILL prosper where I send it. You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace…”  Isaiah 55:10-12

 

Withholding from God

Genesis 22:
“Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son.”
While ready this passage, I asked myself what would I withhold from God? Health, family, fame, riches, position? What I withhold is what God will test me on since He wants to be first in my life.
The key is to understand that God already knows what I want to withhold from Him. It is my fear of losing what I love that will make me withhold from my Lord.
When I give to God what I love it releases the blessings of God, that will exceed the value of what I would have withheld.
“God will provide.”

Remember

Here we are again ending one year and starting a new year.  I wonder what this new year will bring to me and my family. I can say this, “My Lord will still be King, and it will be one day closer to His coming.”
This morning, I read this and if I had one word to take me through this next year it is ‘remember.’
From Lamentations 3:
If this next year brings suffering beyond words – I always will have hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.
When I truly accept this promise I can to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him! The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. It is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD. For you came when I called; you told me, ‘Do not fear.'”

God’s Direction For You

Next year will you know the direction that God wants for you? God has said to those who are willing to obey, even when everything looks like it is against you, a path you did not know was there – will appear.

 

Psalms 77: 19-20
You path way led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters – a pathway no one knew was there! You lead your people along the road like a flock of sheep.
Proverbs 2: 7-9
He guards the path of the just and protects those who are faithful to him, and you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go.
2 Corinthians 4:8-10
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed but not driven to despair. We are hunted down but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
For our present troubles are small and will not last long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So, we do not look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
The key to your pathway is to ‘know the Lord.’ Trust Him, and do not lean on your own understanding. When His way looks scary and unpredictable, it is at these times we see the impossible pathway no one knew was there.

Too Good To Be True

Thinking about my Lord God and the kingdom coming of His eternal peace, righteousness, joy, love and perfection – and at times how I think that it’s just too good to be true. People say that if it seems too good to be true – then it probably is.

 

 

But then I think about all the ways in which it seems “too good,” and how it’s unexplainable and mysterious; too amazing for the human mind. I ponder all the differences, like why each thing that lives is “one of a kind,” no exact duplicates. Why there is both evil AND good. Why our planet earth is the only planet in the universe that flourishes with life. Why the universe has no boundary. Why security and love of “family” is so powerful, healing and rewarding, and why orphans desperately long for their own. Why sexual intercourse has two blessings: a precious baby and a “climax” of physical enjoyment. Why humans are more superior to the animal kingdom; why we can read and write, reason and invent.  Why ‘nature’ has so much wisdom behind every part for our productivity and on-going existence; why it has within it all that we need to live, be productive and inventive. Why it feels good and rewarding to help and serve others, and how depressing and hurtful it is to be self-centered and self-serving. Why we know deep down inside that God is real. People lie to themselves that God is not real, but they first had it in them from God to later reject that truth. And, why people can ‘choose’ what to believe in, even if it’s a lie and is destroying them.  Why we each genuinely have hope for eternal life in heaven, and fear of an eternal hell apart from God and all that’s good. IT’S ALL FROM GOD OUR CREATOR!

 

So much is unexplainable and a mystery to us, so that we will come to realize ‘by faith’ that I come from God, and will return to God. But how we return to God is what we should be very concerned about, and that we are responsible for. This “human conscience” is also from our Creator.

 

And, why we also KNOW deep down that we need the Savior Jesus Christ, even though most resist His Holy Spirit who comes to show them this need, and to bless them!

 

And, why we have “faith” as humans, while all other life does not.

 

“Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1

 

“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” Hebrews 11: 3

 

Faith to believe: “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. HE existed in the beginning with God. God created everything THROUGH HIM, and nothing was created except THROUGH HIM. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought LIGHT to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can NEVER extinguish it.” John 1:1-5

 

“For unto us a child was born, unto as a Son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace THERE WILL BE NO END. He will reign on the throne of David and over His Kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from THAT TIME AND FOREVERMORE. The ZEAL OF THE LORD of HOSTS will accomplish this!” Isaiah 9:6-7

 

Too good to be true?  Ahhh, but it is TRUE!  And I for one, LONG for Christ’s return to do all He said (in His Word) that He will do for the life eternal with Him.  SO! Merry CHRISTmas and may we all worship the LORD GOD  in Spirit and in Truth.

My Unchanging God

Sitting here this morning thinking about how my Father God never changes, never has and never will – I am so very hopeful for the future. ‘Change’ was in His design of creation, but not in the wicked rebellious ways it has since Adam took the forbidden fruit from Eve.

 

I change as I grow old. The world changes with its new ideas and inventions, new presidents and rulers constantly change the way we all live, but God remains the same. Everything in life since the beginning of time – changes. God does not exist in ‘time.’ We do. He always was God and always will be God over all He chooses to do. God doesn’t even change His mind. He knows all, sees all, and has His own great plan for eternal life through His own precious Son.

 

One thing I am thankful for are the changes in my life because of the Word of God (that also has not changed) and my love for my Savior – that I pray never changes. When I came to know Him, my thinking changed in how I see my own life and death, and how I was able to see this world with a bigger perspective; an expanding perspective that empowers me to overcome fear, anger, revenge, self-deception, boredom and feeling unimportant.

 

As I sit here and meditate on how privileged I am to have my Father God and His Word and Spirit in my life – that awesome security of His personal peace, joy, comfort and favor is how I want to start each day. Before I start thinking of anything else, or even praying for people – I want to consider HIM in as many ways as possible, bringing my life before Him for humble daily renewal.

 

Imagine how this world would be if everyone started each day this way.

Christ’s Birth

Listening to a Christmas song this morning about the birth of Christ our Lord, I thought how HIS birth is GREATER than any other birth. When I think of how important and precious to us the births of our four children and 13 grandchildren are, I concluded: “what other birth, than the birth of Jesus could ever be more precious and meaningful to me.”  Sorry kids!

 

What ‘human’ birth ever resulted in a short life of 33 years of so great a purpose and work? He IS the first of all resurrections, the only way to life eternal; for He went to the cross and endured its extreme pain, with suffering and persecution before – FOR THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM. What is that JOY? All those who have and will receive Him in their hearts as their own Savior and Lord in their lives, desperate to know Him by the truth of His Word, by prayer and worship day by day.

 

Now what other “birth” could ever do what Jesus Christ was appointed and empowered by the Holy Spirit to do for all the people of this lost and hopeless world? Not even a government or all the world’s governments together, could accomplish what only Jesus Christ has, and still will very soon.

 

I know that many people see Christmas time as celebrating a baby being born who grew up to do good in our world, but Jesus Christ is so much greater!

 

I once walked in darkness, lived without the WHOLE truth about Jesus Christ; lived for myself; lived with questions and fears about death and what comes after, if anything. But because God my Creator Father loved me and knew me before I was formed in my mother’s womb – the LIGHT of HIS CHRIST was appointed a day for me in which I would hear what I needed to hear, see what I needed to see – so I would BELIEVE in the SAVIOR of the world. And I will be forever grateful and in His service!

 

“The people walking in darkness have seen a GREAT LIGHT; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a LIGHT has dawned.” Isaiah 9:2

 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. HE was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and without Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the LIGHT of men. And the LIGHT shines in the darkness, and the darkness has NOT overcome it.” John 1:1-5

 

My prayer is that people (walking in darkness) will have their blindness removed to see the LIGHT OF THE WORLD, as the only Savior for their life, and come to truly KNOW HIM in SPIRIT and in TRUTH; that they will hunger for the TRUTH of God’s Word, found only in His Holy Bible, His wonderful message to the world.

 

“BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN WILL BE WITH CHILD AND WILL GIVE BIRTH TO A SON, AND THEY WILL CALL HIM IMMANUEL (which means, “GOD WITH US”).” Matthew 1:23

 

What a Mess America is In – But Why?

Why can’t Christians see that when the Lord tells us to pray for those in authority over us – so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives, that HE answers our prayers through HIS own people, and not through those who are against God and His Word? Were not inviting Donald Trump over for dinner, but rather to do what is right and just for all LEGAL, LAW-ABIDING, TAX-PAYING, CONSTITUTIONAL, CAPITALIST, GOD-FEARING PATRIOTIC citizens of the U.S.A.

 

Government was established by God, but the ungodly have been ignorantly and purposefully instilled to corrupt governing and use their positions to control people and take from people what isn’t their right to do so. God ordained government to have the righteous and just (by His definitions) in authority, not the power-hungry self-serving workers of inequity who would be in power fleecing its citizens and slowly removing from them their God-given rights.

 

So if we (Christians) don’t vote for who is upholding the ‘right’ values and preserving the ‘right’ justice system (that is in our biblical Constitution) then HE WILL HOLD HIS PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE! Trump isn’t as “godly” as we ALL NEED TO BE, but we don’t need to approve of ‘personality’ or ‘mannerism.’ We need to see through it (as God does) to what the person is set to accomplish (with HIS help) that will greatly affect our lives and especially the livelihood of our children and grandchildren.

 

My prayer for America’s Christians (including myself): “Father God, wake us all up to common sense/godly wisdom for the unity we need; remove our veil of self-righteousness so we can understand what YOU STILL WANT DONE FOR AND THROUGH AMERICA. May we keep in mind that PERFECTION OF ALL THINGS will come with the return of Your Son, KING of kings and LORD of lords.

 

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior.” 1 (Timothy 2:1-3)

 

It is very clear which candidate of this POTUS election will work for us to live peaceful and quiet lives, in all godliness and holiness. It certainly isn’t those who are clearly opposed to biblical values and policies and true justice for all, even as they say they are.

 

How I see it, these Christians who won’t vote for whatever reason, or who are blind to what is at stake here, are infants in their biblical faith – unable to see what they need to see, hear what they should be hearing, and understanding what they need to understand – TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AND SHOULD DO – with God’s favor on them.

 

America is in the horrible mess we’re in because of God’s people over the decades lacking wisdom, courage, self-sacrifice and active faith in God’s Word. God have mercy on us! Raise us up to be what YOU want us to be in this nation that YOU started through men and women of great faith and the power from YOU to overcome their enemies, within and without. In Jesus’ Name!!!!

Is Jesus Sleeping?

DOES IT SEEM THAT JESUS IS SLEEPING IN YOUR LIFE?

 

Today I am going to share something that I am going through. In Mark chapter 4 the disciples are in a boat with Jesus, and He is asleep. It was Jesus who told them that they were to go to the other side of the lake, but He did not tell them of the journey to the other side.

 

While on the water a storm came upon them. It is said that this storm had winds close to hurricane strength, and the boat they were in was not a big one but around 8 feet wide by 17 feet long. These men were doing what Jesus had told them to do, and yet to them there seemed to be this Great Wall of oppression.

 

Just like these men, I too am doing what my Lord has told me. Everyone who follows Jesus will run into a wall of opposition that is overwhelming and beyond your strength to get through it. It will also be a time when you think Jesus is sleeping, because He is quite. It is in these times we can make a wrong assumption and think Jesus does not care about what we are faced with.
Jesus woke up and calmed the storm, and asked the disciples where is your faith? How could Jesus ask this; I am doing everything thing He has asked of me? So I have come to a conclusion in my life that when faced with troubles and God is silent, fear has a chance to take over. In the Bible some of the greatest men fell because they made decisions based upon fear. Fear without faith will always result in failure. Fear with faith will always lead to rest.

Lord I ask that my fears today will result in rest, not failure.

People Without Vision

People without a vision will not understand a person with a vision. This is very obvious today when you see people who have no vision, attack a person with a vision. A good example is the vision of Jesus, who would have all be saved. And look at how He was attacked.

It is the Lord’s presence in our life that sets us apart from other people. It is His Word that gives us hope and encouragement for each day. It is when we wait for Him to show us what we need to see, that we are filled with His vision which brings joy and peace. It is when we listen carefully to everything He says, that we have hope, and a vision for tomorrow.