Christmas in Heaven

Many years have passed since that Christmas week that forever changed me. I think of him often, but never more so than during the week of Christmas, and especially on December 23rd--the day he died. I go to his grave every year on that day; not to be near him, because only his earthly shell remains. I go to talk with the Lord and thank him again for the wonderful man that loved and raised me as his own, never gave up praying for my salvation, and who led me to Christ. I go to thank Him for His grace and His blessings. And I go because a small part of me hopes that just maybe the rapture might take place and he and I can make the trip together in glorified bodies. Time does not heal wounds. But God's grace does.

It's at this time of year I think of others I know who have lost their loved ones in recent years. If you've never lost anyone you dearly loved, you might not realize that as wonderful as Christmas and all those special times throughout the year are, those moments are bitter-sweet for some of us. Have patience with us, if at times we smile, holding back unshed tears. We are thinking of a different Country and a different gathering for just a moment.

For some of us, family reunions and holidays are never quite the same. (And if you live long enough, chances are you'll find yourself in a similar position.) Though we enjoy those moments and are thankful, we know our family circle or gathering of friends will not be complete until that great Reunion Day in a wonderful place called Heaven.

To those of you who understand what I am speaking of, especially if you have lost someone in recent years or perhaps even this year, may God's grace comfort your hearts. Though you rejoice in knowing their suffering is over, you miss them. You wish for one more hug, one more kiss, one last conversation, or to hear "I love you" just once more. But you know that once will never be enough. You sometimes long for the trump of God, and you're listening just a little more closely than before to hear, "Come up hither!"

I pray for God's grace to be present for you in a special way in the next few days as you remember your loved one spending Christmas in Heaven, and I remind you, keep looking up because there is a glad reunion day coming, and it won't be much longer!

"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory^? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." I Corinthians 15:51-58

God's Precious Things

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

Isaiah 55:8

 Awhile back, a dear sister in the Lord and I were talking about the need for revival. I said something to the effect of, "I'm not complaining about God's blessings to us, but it seems we've allowed ourselves to become so busy. Too busy for God and the moving of His Spirit. I'd hate for Him to have to remove our blessings as a nation and a church, but I sometimes wonder if that is what it will take to drive us to our knees seeking His presence." (And I was talking to myself as well, by the way.)

Her response? "Sometimes I think the things we see as blessings are really hindrances. I'd hate for my children and family and all of us to know the reality of what Christians in other countries experience, but could it be they are really the blessed ones?"

I thought for a moment, and knew she was on to something. Even if you barely know me, you probably know that I love Baptist history. One thing that has always blessed my heart about my dear Baptist brethren (and sisters!) is that whether in New Testament time, under Nero, in the Middles Ages under the Catholics and Protestants, In early Colonial America under the Standing Order, or in the Soviet Union under Communist rule; one thing I see constant: many of them stood boldly in the power of Christ. I admire them so much for that. I know it was God's grace they stood and still do. 

They saw God revive them and spread their movement. When others saw they had something worth suffering for, even dying for, they wanted to know what it was! Thus the Gospel was spread and revival fires burned.

I still say I hope that never comes to America (though I've long thought it would unless the rapture takes place first) but that's not my point in writing this. My conversation with my dear sister caused me to remember the verse I started with, and others like it. 

I am mortal being with a finite mind right now. That won't change for me until I pass from death unto life eternal and put off my corruptible flesh. Until I am in my glorified body, I look through a glass darkly. I don't always see things with eternity in view, but God does. I can't see the end from the beginning in any situation, but God does. I don't always understand, but I don't have to. God does. 

The Bible makes it clear: our ways and our thoughts can't compare to those of God. 

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

These are wonderful verses. They are verses that bring hope and comfort. Do you know when I find myself turning to these verses the most? When I'm in the midst of a trial. When I'm in the storm and can't see that end from the beginning; when I'm in a fiery furnace; when I don't know what God is doing; when His ways don't make sense to me, THAT is when I cling to those verses and others like them.

Those verses sound so cheery, so peaceful, so hopeful. Yet often we must face a fiery trial or raging storm before "all things work together" for an "expected end." To my limited understanding that doesn't make sense at first. 

But God's ways are not my ways and His thoughts are not my thoughts. 

There are many things the Scriptures say are precious to God. The shed blood of Christ (I Peter 1:18,19), The Word of God (I Samuel 3:1), the redemption of a soul (Psalm 49:8b), His thoughts of us (Psalm 139:17), and I could on. However, there are a few things that are precious to God that don't readily make sense, at least not on the surface.

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: I Peter 1:7

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. Psalm 116:15

He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126:6

 The first verse I mentioned says our trials are precious. The second says our death is precious, and the third says in bearing precious seed we must weep before we can rejoice. It doesn't seem logical at first, but as I read that first one, that talks about how gold that will perish is tried with fire, it makes more sense. 

Silver and gold are precious commodities today. Our money used to be based on them, our jewelry is made from them, monuments have sometimes been made with them. To us, gold and silver are precious things. The gold must be purified in the fire and silver must have it's dross purged. Even diamonds and rubies and rare stones that to us are precious, are made under pressure and must be cut and chiseled before they can be a thing of beauty. And yet, they perish. One day God will melt the earth with heat so fervent that all of it will be burnt up. 

Well, if He said our soul's redemption was precious (Psalm 49:8b) enough that Christ would shed His precious blood (I Peter 1:18,19), then are we not of more value to God than corruptible things? And if corruptible things must go through pressure, fire, cutting, and molding, then how much more so must we? 

I admit, I have a hard time wrapping my mind around that when I'm in the midst of a trial. That process isn't very pleasant to me at the time; and my human response is to run from it, or at the very least, squirm under it. 

It's true that God has some precious things that I can't always readily understand, but that's alright. His ways and thoughts are superior to mine. I'm glad for that. I'm not interested in a god I can understand and figure out. If I, in my limited intelligence--I who so often fail and sin--could figure out God, then I'd be in a world of trouble! I need a God who sees beyond what I can see. I need a God who thinks higher than me. I need a God who has ways I can't figure out. I don't have to understand...BECAUSE HE DOES and He holds me in the palm of His hand. And if you are saved, he holds you as well, and WE are PRECIOUS to Him!

  

Letting God Write My Story

I never imagined that I would one day be the author of anything (well, except maybe disaster!) but God, in His goodness, has allowed me to write and publish four books to date. One is a work of poetry, but the other three are works of historical fiction, mainly dealing with some aspect of Baptist history. There's one thing I've learned about fiction: as the author, I have the final say. In events I deal with concrete facts that can not be altered, but in characters I have the license to decide personality, background, and the outcome of their "lives."

Recently I was looking through a notebook I'd written my notes in it for my last book. I, ever the obsessive organizer, had written pages and pages of research, historical information, and character details. I can be forgetful and writing down everything is helpful as I work on a book so that I can keep everything straight in my mind.

It can be difficult keeping everything together in my mind even with detailed notes. That's when it occurred to me: the Lord does this but on a much larger scale! Think of it; He deals with every single person ever born! He knows their names, their lives, even the number of hairs on their head! He knows if they are saved or lost, and He has a perfect plan for each and every person who yields to Him. According to the book of Revelation, He keeps good records! Unlike me, He never forgets anything in His omniscience, yet He still keeps a written record. I find that in itself interesting.

I find God referred to as an author at least three times in the Scripture:

"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." I Corinthians 14:3 

"And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;" Hebrews 5:9

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2 

He's the author of peace, the author of eternal salvation, and the author of our faith. Another passage refers to Christians as His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10). I once heard my pastor say that word ,"workmanship" has to do with the word "poem."  As one who enjoys writing poetry, that presents a beautiful picture to me. I believe in one sense, poetry is the art of words. One doesn't just put any word or phrase down, but rather thinks it through and gives attention to detail. 

So our Saviour does with us! Right down to the simplest things, the most minute details: the number of our hairs and the tears that we cry, He knows! Different personalities, different abilities, even different fingerprints! Every single part of us is the result of His handiwork.

It reminds me of the Hidden Treasure Principle. Hidden Treasure is a wonderful place; a Christian School that works with special needs children to help them reach their full potential. It was started when the founder's daughter was badly injured and required a different kind of education that other schools could not provide. Her father wanted her and others to have every chance to be everything God intended them to be.

I knew this. I live in the same town as the school and knew the story behind it. What I did not know was what they refer to as the "Hidden Treasure Principle." One day I was complaining about my inability to perform a certain task. The person I was speaking to shared with me a simple truth I've tried to remember ever since: God has given you everything you need in order to do His will for your life. 

Everything? My weaknesses? My flaws? Even those? Everything. 

Even a weakness can be given to God and turned around for His glory. For example, stuborness. That's more than a weakness, it's a sin, and in the flesh can cause problems. Yet given to God, and He can use that in a person to make them stand firm for truth. 

"What about my sinful past?" one might ask. Can even that be used of God? Oh yes! God is an expert at taking lives stained and scarred by sin and turning them into vessels of honor, and trophies of grace. 

Everything! God is the author, therefore He has a will for us. Psalm 37:23 says that the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. Not suggested, but ordered. 

Do you know that in all the times I sat down to work on a book, never once did a character complain about what I had written? Never once did I hear, "Wait a minute! I wanted blond hair. I don't want to live there! Why did you make me part of this family? No, you can't do that. I'd rather live in another country. Why did you have to allow that to happen to me? Are you picking on me, or something?" Etc, etc, etc...

No, they never complained. I was the author and I had the final say. Guess what? Complain or not, bitter or accepting, mad or glad, GOD not I, has the final say in my life. He is the Author.  He never said I couldn't question (if any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God) but He also never promised an answer. He answered Job, but He didn't have to. At times He has answered me, but He's not obligated. 

I mentioned stubbornness earlier...because I know a little something about that! I look back over my life and how at times I've thought I knew best. "Why can't I have this strength, why this weakness? Why did you make me deal with this situation? Why do I have to bare this burden? It would be better if..." 

Oh my! Sometimes I laugh, sometimes cry, and often regret all those moments. I serve a patient God. Even His chastening was never to crush me, but draw me back in love. 

He hasn't always given answers to my questions, but He has at times allowed me to see that if He had allowed me to have my way, my life might be very different (and not in good ways!). Sometimes I looked at broken pieces with a question in my heart, only to later realize He allowed it so I might one day help or at least empathize with someone else. And sometimes it was so I could be helped by someone else. 

For all the hard things there have also been the blessings. He has blessed me in ways I never could have planned or dreamed on my own! He has done marvelous things and I must stand back in amazement. 

He's also not finished with me. How many days or years are left to my life? Only He knows. I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know the One that holds it. Trial or blessing, my steps are ordered by the Author who makes no mistakes. 

Slowly, oh so slowly, I am learning that He really does a better job than I! In my flesh, I might still complain or worry, but I can rest knowing the end result of a circumstance is in His hands and He knows what He's doing. 

I encourage you to let God write the story of your life. He makes no mistakes. What He does is done well. He can restore, He can bless, He can comfort, He can do anything. If you are a Christian then you are His workmanship, and He gives attention to every detail of your life. Truly, He knows what He is doing. And one day, when we stand before Him, if we have allowed Him to have His way with us, we will be glad we did.

 

 

Green Leaves in the Drought

I am constantly reading something. Often, I am reading multiple books on multiple things at the same time.  Right now I am in the midst of a book by Elisabeth Elliot on grief, a book about Hillary Clinton's rise to power (which serves to raise my blood pressure!), a cook book (yes, I'm a strange one, but I love finding older cookbooks at Goodwill and reading through them.), and yesterday I started one by Isobel Kuhn about her family's struggle to escape China's Communism (they were missionaries with China Inland Mission).

I am only a short way into this book, but she talks of the joy they all felt when the very last of their board's missionaries were safely out of the country. Some of them had been held prisoner for a time before their release, and she recounts that during a prayer meeting for them, one of the missionary's wives prayed that God would keep their leaves green in the drought time.

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3

In the Scripture I read that the Godly man's leaf shall not whither. Why? Because he is like a tree planted by the rivers of water! He has a constant spring to draw strength from! That dear woman knew this, and prayed they would be sustained by the One who is able to minister to our hearts even in times of drought. The Godly man is able to be this way because he meditates in God's Word day and night. It is nourishment to a thirsty or hungry soul!

To me that is a beautiful thought. Though we are not held captive in a communist and war torn land (that may not always be the case for us!) we are in a daily spiritual battle. There are times when we go through a dry spell. There are times we are not only in a drought, but possibly even in a desert place.

I don't know about you, but there are days when I am absolutely overwhelmed! The cares of this life press in, the burdens I'm under get to be so heavy, and some days I just don't want to even try to smile and say, "I'm fine," when really I feel like I'm going to break into a million pieces!

I know, I know! I'd like to tell you I never feel that way. I'd like to tell you life is always sunshine and flowers...but you wouldn't believe me, and rightfully so! Because if you're honest with yourself, you have to admit occasionally you feel that way too.

If we're honest, if we're REAL with one another, we must admit we all fight similar battles. The Bible tells us we will, and warns us to get our armor on and stand ready to fight and endure hardness.

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (II Timothy 2:3)

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;  (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Yes, we're in a battle; a daily, sometimes grueling battle. My trouble is I often forget that I am, in fact, in a battle. Sometimes the battle is hot, and we know without a doubt we're fighting, but there are times when the devil's darts are a little less obvious to our eyes. They are darts of discouragement or complacency. If we don't have our armor on and if we aren't prayerfully watching with eyes of discernment, we are apt to be wounded along the way.

The answer for the drought and the answer for the battle are found in these verses. First of all, I must meditate daily in God's Word. That is my main source of strength. If I soak in the Scriptures then the drought won't affect me. My leaves will be green when everything around me is dried up and dead.

Secondly, I need to get my armor on...daily! No good soldier goes to battle without his equipment! It would be foolish for him to show up without his weapons, ammunition, body armor, and methods of communication. (not to mention provisions and first aide!) His Commanding Officer would have something to say about that! So it is with us! We can not show up for the battle without our armor and hope to be successful!

The year that I spent researching the Soviet Union and Communism allowed me to see some truly exemplary Christians. They had endured the absolute worst. Yet they still praised and glorified God! Some of them even testified that after being in solitary confinement for months or years, that they were willing to go back because God was more real to them there than in freedom. Can you imagine?!

But you see, they knew a secret the Communists refused to see! They knew their source of strength was in seeking and communing with God!

Isobel Kuhn mentioned that the letters of Christians in captivity compared with POW's who did not know God were like night and day! Whereas those who were without Christ cursed their captors, those who knew the Lord were full of praise to God!

I remember reading in several places the account of Baptist historian Isaac Backus's mother being put in jail during the colonial times because she refused to submit to the standing order church (which was the government then). She wrote a letter to her son, and in it she was cheerful, even calling her pathetic prison conditions a palace.

Natasha Vins, daughter of the Baptist pastor Georgi Vins, stood on top of her chair right after her father was sentenced to ten years in prison and yelled above the KGB officers mocking her father, "With Christ you are free in prison!"

The difference between people like this, and those without God in captivity is simple: they knew the truth of God's Word and the joy of His presence.

Isaac Backus's mother and Natasha Vins' father knew how to have green leaves in the drought. There is much we could learn from people like that. There is much we can learn from the Blessed Book that will be our sustenance, even in the drought, even in the desert, even in the battle, and even in prison.

Of Roses and Thorns

I'm sure we're all familiar with the phrase, "Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it." Years ago, when I had not been saved terribly long I remember one morning specifically praying for God to help me in an area I struggled. I had a horrible temper with a very short fuse (I still get angry from time to time, but truly with God's help, He's worked in me regarding that. He's not finished, but He's made improvements!) and I knew I needed help in that area. So, I prayed for God to give me patience. At the end of the day, after my pocketbook was stolen and I'd fallen down a flight of stairs, I decided praying for patience might not be the best approach to gaining victory in that area of my life! Feel free to laugh, because I can...now! You see, I'd not yet ran across the verse that says, "...tribulation worketh patience." (Romans 5:3 b)

I didn't yet know that God has a very different idea of how to give us something than what we might think. We live in a day of instant everything. I still struggle to set the clock on my microwave, but did you ever dream there would be a day when five year old's would own cell phones and people would consider it normal? (I do NOT consider it normal but that's another subject entirely!) Some things about technology are nice like communication with people far away, but one effect I've noticed is that it's brought about an attitude of, "I want what I want and I want it NOW!" I mean, really, I've seen people blow their horn in a fast food line because they waited longer than five minutes! We laugh about things like that, but I think it's carried over into how we view God.

We pray for certain things, and expect immediate results. "Lord give me patience, faith, grace, power..." Fill in the blank, whatever it is, we ask for it and then wonder why we aren't immediately endowed with what we asked for...and then we complain when a trial comes into our life. Yes, I said we. I've done it, I admit it. We fail to realize the very trial we complain about could be the method God wants to use to answer that prayer with.

We know tribulation "worketh patience" and also we find in the book of James that, "...the trying of your faith worketh patience."

You prayed for your faith to increase? Wonderful! Now here's a financial difficulty that you can't see your way out of. That's not what you prayed for, you say? Oh but it is! It will teach you to have faith in God to provide.

You prayed for a measure of God's grace? That's great! Now here's a chronic health condition. It doesn't seem like the answer you wanted, but grace comes when we endure thorns.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. II Corinthians 12:9,10

Paul had a physical condition, a thorn in the FLESH that he begged earnestly for God to remove. God told him he'd have to bare the thorn, but it would come with extra grace.

You prayed for God's power? Don't be surprised if it comes with a measure of persecution. I believe it was Dr. Curtis Hudson that said in regard to the book of Acts, "They prayed, the power fell, they preached, the people were converted, then persecution came. They prayed, the power fell, they preached, the people were converted, and persecution came. They prayed, the power fell..."

I say all of that in sincerity, by the way, because other than the persecution part, I've been in those places at one time or another and I must admit, at times I didn't handle the situations with...uh...the sweetest spirit!

I don't know what you're praying for, but over the years I've found myself praying God would make me more compassionate. I've asked Him over and over again to help me see people as He sees them; with faults, yes, but also with the potential to glorify Him. Should it then be any surprise to me that God has put in my path from time to time those who may need an extra dose of compassion? After all, if He has been compassionate to me in my brokenness or stubbornness, does He not require the same from me? He does say, "...For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required..." (Luke 12:48) 

It's the valley we find the Lily. It's on thorns that roses bloom. It's in darkness we find treasures. It's in weakness we find strength. It's in simplicity that we find wisdom. 

It's so opposite of what we humans would design....thankfully! His thoughts are not our thoughts, and it's a good thing too! If I'd never experienced deep heartache I would not value my blessings nearly so much. If I hadn't been wounded I'd not be nearly so appreciative of the healing. If it didn't rain from time to time I'd not appreciate the sunlight nearly as much. 

I love to cross stitch (though my eyesight is poor and I rarely do it anymore) and from the bottom side of my needle work it looks pretty hopeless. The mingled threads don't make a lot of sense, and no clear picture can be seen. Yet on my side, I can see something beautiful emerging as I follow the pattern. God has a perfect will for our lives and sometimes we don't understand why things unfold as they do, but I have to remember, I'm not viewing it from God's perspective, and He sees a result I can't even comprehend.

In the Old Testament God is a potter molding, breaking, and remaking His people; conforming them to His desired image. In the New Testament He calls us vessels, His workmanship. He wants us to be clean, usable, functional, available. Sometimes the work He must do in us to bring those things about isn't pleasant, but when He's finished, if we yielded, we'll be vessels of honour. 

Just remember that with a trial of thorns, blooms a rose of grace.

What does God Require?

That's a question I sometimes find myself asking. For any question, the best place to find the answer is in God's Word. What does the Bible say?

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. I Corinthians 4:2

As Christians, we are stewards. We've been entrusted with precious things like God's Word, the Gospel, and the faith once delivered unto the saints...what we do with those things matters for eternity. When we stand before God, what is the one thing we should desire to hear?

His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  Matthew 25:21 and 23

 That verse is mentioned twice in that chapter. Both times Jesus emphasizes good and faithful. I realize He is relaying a parable, but it is a picture of meeting our Lord in eternity, and the one thing we should desire our Father to greet us with upon entering Heaven should be, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

Notice He doesn't require us to be rich. Or talented. Or famous. Or popular. Or even a great soul winner (though He does want us to lead people to Him). He doesn't ask us to be powerful, or scholarly, or important. Just simply...faithful.

Anyone can be faithful. If I had to be any of those things I listed above, there wouldn't be much hope for me! I have no great talents to claim, and no great deeds have I done. I'll never be famous or rich, or powerful. I may never be a great soul winner or a mighty prayer warrior (those two are things to strive for though!) but one thing I can do is be faithful.

Over the years I've seen the "numbers" mentality in action. "How many do you run at your church?" "How many joined this year?" etc etc...and I am convinced God is not impressed. His Word emphasizes that the strong will confound the weak, the unwise will confound the wise, and the meek will inherit the earth.

We've allowed the world's mentality of success to affect our churches and our lives and we've lost sight of the fact that God's Word is diametrically opposed to their philosophy. I'm also convinced it discourages some Christians needlessly. They feel they can't measure up to the spiritual "giants" around them so they think to themselves, "why even try?"

Please don't misunderstand me, if you are in a large and growing church that preaches that Blessed Old Book in the straight and narrow way, I'm not being critical, not at all! Praise God that He is blessing you. If you won thirty people to Christ last month, then glory to God! My problem is not with growth, but the mentality that if you aren't "great" then you aren't important to God.

I just believe God views things from a different lens. I could be wrong. I often am. Yet, I believe His Word supports that.

I just want to encourage myself and others who feel discouraged at times, that little is truly much when God is in it. The widow's might was priceless to the Lord. A young shepherd boy defeated the giant. The alabastor box was an act of worship to Christ, and I could go on and on.

And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. Exodus 4:2

So, what's in your hand? We know what Moses did with the rod in his hand. He used it to confound Pharaoh and led millions of people out of bondage. It was just a rod, but he allowed God to use him and that made all the difference.

David had a sling. A young boy had a lunch of loaves and fishes. A woman broke an Alabaster box.  So I ask you, and more importantly, the Lord asked, "What is that in thine hand?"

Whatever God has given you, no matter how insignificant you might think it is, and no matter how insignificant you may think that you are, give it and yourself unto the Lord. Be faithful with what He has given you. You may not lead millions like Moses, but perhaps you'll find yourself worshiping at the feet of Jesus like that woman with her broken alabaster box. Just be faithful. It's what is required, and it's what will be important when you stand before Him.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might... Ecclesiastes 9:10 a

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Colossians 3:23

The Promises of God

Adoniram Judson, first Baptist foreign missionary from America, once said, "The prospects are as bright as the promises of God."

I'd say those are pretty bright prospects, wouldn't you? I've been thinking about God's promises lately, and how His timetable is not on our schedule.

In God's Word we find many promises. Most have been fulfilled, and there are a few prophetic ones yet to come. Even in Scripture, especially in Scripture, we see the human nature to doubt God's Word.

From the very first promise (If you eat that, you will die!) humans have doubted God's Word.  People today are still doubting.

As I thought about promises I realized something; Anyone can make a promise, but you're only credible if you've been faithful in the past. If you promise me you'll do something, I'll take you at your word--until you break your word. After that, I'm not so prone to believe you! I know people who make promises but never fulfill them. I don't love them any less, but I tend to take their word with a grain of salt. I smile and say, "That's good." Yet I don't have any expectations that they'll do what they say. Their actions have born witness against their words. (It's not that I don't forgive them, because truly I love them, I just know from experience not to believe it until I see it.)

People may let you down, intentionally or unintentionally, and that's a simple part of life, but why do we treat God as if He will do that? Why do we doubt His promises when He has never once failed us or let us down? We have a Bible full of instances where God promised something and honored it. It may have taken a very long time, but in His time, He brought it to pass.

I thought of Abraham and Sarah who had been promised a son that all nations would be blessed by. At 90 and 100 they were still childless, and when God reaffirmed the promise, Sarah laughed. I don't think it was a laugh of joy, but rather a laugh of incredulity. "A baby? In my old age I'm going to be a mother of a bouncing baby boy? Oh sure! Like that's going to happen."

The Bible doesn't say, but I imagine that in her old age, being reminded yet again of a promise that seemed out of reach, caused her pain, and resulted in a laugh of bitterness. Oh, but God!

Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.Genesis 18:14

The key here, is that God appointed a time...and in that time He fulfilled His promise.

What of His other promises? I thought of the promise of the Messiah's birth. Again, from the very first book of the Bible there was a promise given to the first family that a Saviour would come. All throughout the Old Testament there are prophecies and types of Christ given to Israel to confirm to them that God would do as He said.

But then, there were four hundred years of silence. Some cults would like us to believe that inter-testament period was filled with the writings of the Apocrypha. No, this was a time when God was silent to His people. Can you imagine four hundred years without hearing from God? It tears my nerves up when I've broken fellowship with Him and can't hear from Him on a daily basis. I'd never want to think of centuries without His word, His presence, or His power.

Then one day an angel appeared a young virgin girl and told her something that would knock the socks off of most women!

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Luke 1:30-33

Keep in mind, Mary is most likely young, has been raised in a time where God has been silent for four hundred years, and she's espoused to a well respected man who is expecting her to be pure when he comes for her.

Telling her she's about to become a mother is not what a girl in her position wants to hear. She could, according to the law, be put away from Joseph (in fact, he intends that very thing when he learns about it) and there is a strong possibility that she could be stoned publicly to death.

So what is her response?

For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:37-38

Did you catch that? Both at this birth announcement, and the birth announcement of Isaac, there is affirmation that NOTHING is too hard or impossible for God! In both circumstances neither of these women, for very different reasons, should be able to have a son. Yet, in both circumstances, God overruled the expectations of man and did something great.

Did you also notice Mary's response? She basically said, "I'm God's servant. Whatever He wants is fine by me." She said that, knowing what the consequences might be, and knowing God had been silent for 400 hundred years, until this very moment when He sent His messenger.

Imagine her telling her beloved Joseph...

"Dear, I have something to tell you. You see, I'm going to have a baby! Not just any baby, but the Messiah, the Saviour! An angel appeared and told me so! Isn't that wonderful? Aren't you just so excited?"

I imagine as Joseph willed his heart to start beating again he might have said something to the effect of, "What do you mean an angel spoke to you? God hasn't spoken to His people like that in at least 400 years! All of a sudden He chose to speak to you?"

Yet in Luke 2:6, we read that God had purposed and promised a time, and it WAS fulfilled!

Again, let me restate, God has a timetable, though it may not line up with ours, and regardless of what anyone thinks, He will fulfill what He promised.

One last promise I want to share, and it is one that is precious to me! This one doesn't involve a birth, but rather, a resurrection!

 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. I Corinthians 15:52-58

It's easy to look back and say, "Sure, God promised Sarah and Mary something and fulfilled it." We know He did because it's already taken place. It's not as easy to believe a promise if you're still waiting on it to be fulfilled, but that's why faith is so important.

I have heard my entire life that Jesus is coming soon. Back in the 70's and 80's it was a common thing to be preached. Not so much now.

Years ago, some ladies in my family and I were sitting around my aunt's living room. One of them said, "You know, Daddy always said Jesus was coming soon. Daddy's dead but Jesus still hasn't come. I think they used to say things like that to scare us into getting saved." 

I spoke up and assured them, Jesus was indeed coming again, and even the Bible warned of those that scoffed that promise. Whether they believed me, I don't know, but one thing I do know, and cling to in this ever increasingly wicked world is that,

JESUS IS COMING AGAIN!!!!

Believe Him or not, He is. He's coming, and those of us who are saved are going with Him! He's coming a I pray it's soon! We can have confidence that God will fulfill His promise, not only because He said it (and that would make it good enough!) but because we have a Biblical record of Him fulfilling all His previous promises. He will do what He said He would do, so no matter how dark this world grows (and I can't believe the changes for the worse I've seen in my lifetime!) know with surety that He is coming! He hasn't forgotten us, He's just waiting for that moment, and when it happens the trumpet will sound....                         

Repeating History

Let me ask you something: If all the dictators and tyrannical regimes of this world insist on repeating history in a negative way, then why can't we Christians repeat history in a positive way? 

The Baptist preacher, Shubal Sterns started a church in Sandy Creek, NC that birthed churches all over the southern US. George Whitfield and D.L. Moody turned two continents upside down for God. Hudson Taylor had a vision to see missionaries in every Chinese province AND he saw it accomplished with God's help. The Ulster Revival of the 1850's saw over 100,000 souls saved. Lord Radstock was the tip of the spear for the Russian Awakening. The Russian Baptists persecuted under communism flooded Russia with the Bible even under nearly impossible circumstances. Men prayed underneath Charles Spurgeon's pulpit and he is known as the prince of preachers. The Baptists of Revolutionary days would not support James Madison without being granted freedom to worship and today we have the first amendment as a direct result. The early church had the testimony of turning the world upside down and being so much like Christ that they were called Christians. 

They were ORDINARY men who served an EXTRAORDINARY God...and that God is the same God we serve today. He is alive and well, and HE IS STILL ON THE THRONE! So WHY don't we (yes, we, myself included) seek His face, trust Him for great things, and see Him do a mighty work that impacts the history of tomorrow? 

I believe with all my being that HE IS COMING SOON and I also believe just as strongly that HE IS NOT COMING FOR A DEFEATED CHURCH! 

"Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me." Isaiah 45:11

Build the Wall!

Nehemiah built the wall. He didn't care about satan's emissaries in high places of government that tried to stop him. He didn't care about the rumors stirred against him, and he possessed discernment when the false prophet lied to him. 

He stood firmly, with his sword in one hand and his tool in the other. He was on a mission for God, sanctioned by his king and he didn't stop until the task was finished. 

I want that! I want that Determination, Discernment, and Dedication to stand firm, do what God has given me to do until I'm called home and never hesitate in the face of opposition. I think however, the key to Nehemiah's faithfulness started in the first chapter when he prayed brokenly and fervently to the Lord. That's where all the rest comes from.

May God grant us the three strengths I see in Nehemiah: Determination, Discernment, and Dedication. And may we find them in the throne room of our God.

My Blessing Today From a World Away

I have not logged on to this blog since January. Since then, blogspot has changed some things. Among the things they've changed is that I can now get details about the locations of people reading or at least, viewing my blog. Relax, it only tells me the country that visits, not your actual location! :)

Among the countries reading here is Russia. There have been eleven hits recently and two in the past week. Why am I sharing that with you? Because it blesses my heart. Why, you may wonder?

 It's a long story and one I don't think I've shared here. A year ago this month I attended a play my church's Christian School performed, entitled "No Place to Flee." It was about Georgi Vins, and other Baptists of Russia who stood for Christ and suffered persecution. It spoke to my heart in a special way.

I love Baptist history, but I've mostly studied early Baptist history and Baptist history in America. I knew very little about the Baptists of Russia, but that was about to change. I had just published my third book and was praying about whether I should write another or not. I was actually working on a sequel to my second book at the time, but I could not get away from those dear saints of God who had lived a world away from me.

I knew if I were going to write about the Baptists of Russia there was so very much I had to learn. Their culture, their history, their personal stories and so much more. Finding all of this information wasn't as easy as it sounds. Since the fall of the Iron curtain and the end of the Cold War not a lot has been written. What had been written was from the fifties to the seventies, and though that wasn't long ago, some of it was out of print. Friends and missionaries began suggesting books and sources for me, and Amazon became a very good friend! (I could find a lot of the books I was looking for cheaply!)

So I spent the next eight months reading everything about the Soviet Union, Russia, and the Baptists of Russia that I could. My heart was broken. My heart was encouraged. My heart was blessed!

Most of the people I read about are now with the Lord, but I'm looking forward to meeting them in Heaven one day. Those men and women stood for God at all costs and to me they are heroes of the faith and men and women I gladly number in our great Baptist heritage. I could sit all day and talk about individual stories, but one that I love best is that of Georgi Vin's daughter Natasha.

 As her father, a Baptist Pastor of an underground church and leader in a Bible printing ministry, was sentenced to prison for the second time, she climbed on top of her chair and shouted above the crowd: "Without Christ there is no freedom, but with Christ you are free in prison!"

At the beginning of this year I finished my book, and just a few weeks ago it came back from the publisher. They did such a great job! The book is titled, "Faithful in the Fire," and it is a work of historical fiction dealing with a Baptist family and their trials and victories in Christ.

I actually didn't title the book until I'd finished writing, and of the four books I've written, that is the first time I've done that. The title actually came from the last few sentences of the book. Those dear Christians were faithful to God in their fiery trials, but God was also faithful to them!! That is what I wanted to share with people.

Through the research, reading, and writing I've done in the past year, I have come away from this experience with a deep love for a country I've never been to, and a group of people I've never met. I don't know anyone there, not even missionaries currently serving there. However, I know for a fact that I don't have to know God's people personally to love them!

So dear friends from Russia who are visiting here, I hope you'll continue to do so, and know that I pray for you and for your country. And if you don't already know, I want to tell you that God loves you very much.

A Blessing in Persecution

I reached Revelation the other night in my Bible reading, and I still can't get over being blessed! I love that the Bible is a living Book and no matter how many times you read a passage you can always glean something from it.

I've always read Revelation with my focus on the "prophecy" theme; and of course, it is a book of prophecy. However, after having spent the past few months focusing a lot of study on Christian persecution, I thought more about John and his circumstances. He had been mistreated and exiled to Patmos. Not exactly what he'd hoped or bargained for I'm sure!

I'm also sure he depended on the Lord (he was in the spirit on the Lord's day!) but how frustrating it must have been for him! He had been tortured, denied fellowship with friends and family, and left there to die he might have presumed, and I'm sure that's just the "high points" of his experience.

Then the Lord showed up and gave John a vision of Himself, Heaven, and the wonderful victory God would bring about for His people Israel and the Church, AND told him to write it down!

Perhaps up to this point John may have felt he'd outlived his usefulness to the Believers he'd left behind back in civilization. Yet here was God telling him to write what would be the final book of the Bible that would foretell the final events of the way of life as we know it. God was using what was perhaps John's lowest point in life to bring about one of the greatest highlights of his ministry.

Not even the great Apostle Paul was allowed to write or tell about his vision of Heaven; but John was commanded to! And what a book he wrote!

To me, Revelation is a book of hope. It let's us know that no matter how hard the devil works to destroy and corrupt, no matter what the evil people in government or religion have up their sleeves, ALL of it will come to naught because God will (and already has!) conquer all. God and His Word triumphs over all.

Revelation also is a book of conviction. As a lost person, the end time prophecies of Revelation had a lot to do with the conviction I felt that ultimately caused me to cast aside excuses and become a Christian. I was faced with the reality that Jesus was indeed coming again, at any possible time, and I was not ready and would face judgment if I failed to submit to the Lord and be saved. I wonder how many other Christians could testify that Revelation had such an impact on their lives? I'm sure there are many.

Revelation is a book that gives us details about Heaven, and New Jerusalem. John also describes God and the throne. I wonder how many dear saints, knowing they would soon be going to Heaven, spent time studying Revelation in their latter years for that reason?

Revelation truly is a wonderful book, and it was written by a man who had spent most of his life serving God. He knew, lived, walked, and talked with Jesus during Jesus' earthly ministry. He witnessed the miracles and the preaching of Christ. Now he had been cast aside on an island of exile, but wait! God was NOT finished with John!

That in itself blesses my heart!

It also tells me something important: God doesn't forget, leave, or neglect His children. They may face persecution, exile, or death, but God will be with them, and sustain them; and perhaps in the process or even because of the process, use them for His glory to do something that will be a blessing to many!

Will Your God Withstand the Storm?

A few nights ago I watched a program about earthquakes and tsunamis. Of course, it highlighted some of the most severe recent quakes and storms. They showed video from some of the events, and what really caught my attention was video from the 2004 Indonesian Tsunami. In the midst of all the destruction of that area, you could clearly see a statue of a god being carried away. It made me want to cry.

It's horrible enough when faced with the reality of life's storms (literal or figurative storms all included) but the only thing worse than enduring the storm, would be to endure it without God. No doubt people worshiped and served that god, and in their time of need, he was washed away with them. He could offer no safety, no hope, and no eternal home if they perished in that storm--because he too was a victim of the storm.

I serve a God who controls the storms of my life. Those who know the one, true living God have the assurance that even in a literal tsunami, even if they perish, they have the hope of eternal life. In a figurative storm they have the hope of God's comfort and grace. He will be with them in the storm not because He is being washed away as well, but because He promised never to leave them.

That video broke my heart, because even in this modern day there are still people in spiritual darkness, worshiping idols who can not hear their cries, have mercy, or answer prayer. The god of humanism and the gods of false religions won't bring comfort in time of need. Only the God of the Bible, the God of Creation, the God of salvation can.

The fact that there are unreached countries on this earth today is to the Christian's shame. There are people in darkness all over this earth who need to know there is a God who can withstand the storm.

Over and over the Bible tells us we are soldiers in a Spiritual battle. God is our Commanding Officer and our adversaries are the world, the flesh, and the devil. These three forces are at work enslaving people around the world. It is our job to go to these people and bring them the hope of the Gospel or to send laborers in our stead. Before another literal storm washes them and their false gods away again.