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.

A Crystal Goblet or a Cool Whip Bowl?

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, [and] prepared unto every good work. 2 Timothy 2:20,21

I've read those verses many, many times and heard them preached probably as many. In my reading I always assumed the vessels of honor were the gold and silver ones, and the wooden and earthen ones were the ones to dishonor.

The verse doesn't say which are to honor and which are to dishonor. The next verse goes on to say if a man will purge himself from "these" he will be a vessel unto honor. What are "these"? Well the preceding verses name two individuals who deny the resurrection, and the following verses list a more comprehensive list of sins to flee (the very next verse saying "flee also...").

It would appear that the emphasis isn't one the material the vessel is made with, but the contents the vessel carries. A very simple, but practical example would be to have two cups on a table. Both contain water, but one of them hasn't been washed well. (perhaps it still has a lipstick smudge, or a milk ring...you get the idea!) Which one will I choose to drink out of? If I'm smart, I will choose the clean cup. It's the one I'll choose to USE. I will set aside the dirty one because it needs further washing.

You may say, "But the dirty one is made of fine china! It's beautiful and expensive. The clean one is just a plain, mismatched cup someone found at a thrift store. Look at it! It even has a chip or two in it!" I would have to answer you this, "What you say is all true. Yet however beautiful the cup may be, it still contains filth that I can not use. The other cup is simple, not worth much, and a little chipped around the edges, but it's clean."

I would even take it a step further and say I prefer the "wooden and earthen vessel" to the gold or silver one. Why? Let's go to the average kitchen.

On one wall of the kitchen is a fine cabinet containing beautiful china and crystal. Everyone who enters the kitchen always find their eyes drawn to the finery on display. People always comment on their beauty.

"Look at me!" cries a china plate edged in gold, "I'm beautiful, expensive, and desirable! I am fit for display and show, I am something great!"

Perhaps a crystal goblet echoes, "Yes, I too am fit for display! Only reserved for special people to touch me. No sticky fingers of a child or careless hands of a passer-by can lay hold on me! I'm not like those in the DISH WASHER!"

And so we turn our attention to the dish washer. Opened up it might reveal a hodgepodge of dishes, cups, and bowls.

Perhaps they are a bit like the dishes I grew up using on a daily basis. Some of the "glasses" are just jelly jars saved for further use. The "bowls" were collected from the makers of Cool Whip, and the plates were found at various yard sales. There's nothing impressive about them. They are relatively inexpensive, some downright worthless. Some of the plates are chipped, and some of those Cool Whip bowls are a little faded. Yet here they all are, in the dishwasher. The very fact they are in the dishwasher testifies of their recent use. If they could speak what might they say?

"I'm just a worn out Cool Whip bowl, but the mother of the house used me to provide the most important meal of the day to her children this morning."

"I'm just a recycled jelly jar, yet Mama used me to give her toddler juice today."

"I'm a plastic plate. One time the kids couldn't find a Frisbee so they used me. The family dog got a hold on me, but Dad rescued me, Mom cleaned me up, and now even though I have a few teeth marks, I'm back."

"I'm just an old, chipped plate Mom found at Goodwill. I only cost her 10 cents, but I'm big and sturdy, and even though I'm chipped I've seen a lot of good years. She always serves her husband dinner on me, because I'm the biggest serving plate she has, and Dad loves a hearty meal."

Collectively they may chorus to us, "We don't match, aren't worth much, and aren't reserved for special occasions. But Anyone can use us, even little children, or clumsy hands. We don't break easily either. We can take the heat from the dishwasher and still keep going. We don't spend our time sitting on the shelf, but are used and washed constantly. We don't belong to a set or group of dishes; we are individuals, none of us are the same."

In other places in Scripture we find it said,

for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7b)

and also:

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, [yea], and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. 1 Corinthians 1:27-29

God made all of us unique. According to Paul's epistles, He gave us spiritual gifts and those are not the same for each person. Some may be great, mighty, rich, intelligent, beautiful, accomplished (fill in the blank) and I'm not saying God can't use them, but according to the Bible, I think the majority of those God uses are weak, insignificant, unattractive, battered, foolish, base, and the ordinary.

God used a shepherd boy to become a king, a lowly prophet to rebuke a king, a barren woman to birth Samuel, a man that stuttered to free God's children, a sinful couple to parent the first family, a persecutor named Saul to become the Apostle Paul, a jailor to start a church in Phillipi, a fisherman to preach at Pentecost, etc...

And God also used Job (who was rich by the standards of his day)to suffer for the Lord, Artaxerxes the king who sent Nehemiah to rebuild the wall, Paul's converts among the household of Caesar, King Solomon in his wisdom and other great men and women from the Bible.

The important issue at hand isn't if you are made of gold or made of clay; the issue is, have you fled from the things listed in those verses. It doesn't matter if you're a Cool Whip bowl or an expensive crystal goblet, if you aren't clean, you aren't useable.

If you find that you are in need of a washing, well don't be discouraged! Every vessel has the be cleaned on occasion. You just have to be WILLING to be cleansed! Just like the verse up top says, "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, [and] prepared unto every good work."

The Broken Ones are Pretty Too!

Earlier today I saw a facebook status a friend wrote about her little girl. She was gathering sea shells and kept picking up broken ones. Her mother told her to put them back in favor of the shells that were whole, complete, and pretty. The little girl looked at her mother and said, "But Mama, the broken ones are pretty too!"

Maybe that's why Jesus wanted us to have the faith of a child, for sometimes they see things more clearly than we do. Her innocent logic speaks so much truth!

How often do we see someone who is disabled, or elderly, or physically unattractive and we inwardly cringe. They don't meet "our standard" of pretty or acceptable. It's almost like that element of "high school" never gets out of our system even as we age. You know, that time of life when everyone wants to be friends with the popular kids and no one wants to be friends with the overweight boy or the girl who stutters? Or how about, "I'm don't want to date them...they're ugly!" I wonder if it's humbling to them when they realize in adulthood that they secretly never moved past those thoughts?

You see, I know that some adults don't grow out of those thought patterns--because I have been the unattractive, physically impaired woman. And I know how it feels to be rudely stared at, or worse! Like when complete strangers feel they have the right to publicly question you. "What's wrong with you?" "What were you diagnosed with?" (Eventually you move past the awkwardness and embarrassment and learn that pointed, stern expressions "help" them learn manners fairly quick.)

What is it about us that makes us think we have a right to decide who is "pretty" or not based on their level of "brokenness?" I suppose the answer is found in human nature, pride, and the desire to be superior to others. After all, growing up all the teachers told me I was bullied because the other person had issues with inferiority. (I think they just had issues plain and simple, but what do I know, right?)

The wonderful thing is, God and His Word are diametrically opposed to that school of thought! His Word tells us to esteem others better than ourselves. He tells us that He uses the weak, unwise, and unlovely to confound the strong.

The Bible says,

"For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]:But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, [yea], and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

I am SO thankful for that truth! God wants us to glory in HIM! Not in anything else.

There is however, a frightening trend in secular science and higher education to eradicate the human race of the "undesired." Just this week I read that advances in DNA testing during pregnancy are getting closer to telling us if a baby will be disabled or suffer from disease, and even what their physical characteristics may be.

I think that is dangerous and unethical. I firmly believe in the pro-abortion world we live in, this technology will be used to "cure" diseases by aborting children who may have them. Worse yet, the idea that you could genetically engineer a child gives me chills.

Scientists call it a mutation or mistake when children are born disabled, deformed, or with some disease. They of course do not accept the fact that there is a God in Heaven who created in His image and who takes an active role in conception and birth today. They don't understand the sovereignty of a creator God who can teach, grow, help, or encourage a person impacted by or living with some "mutation, genetic disorder, or disease."

You see, it confounds the wise! They don't see that GOD can receive GLORY through those living with physical or mental impairments. It's sad that they can't know the the overwhelming feelings of joy I've experienced after being tightly hugged by a child with Down Syndrome or smiled at by a child with cerebral palsy.

They don't understand how a person like me who lives with daily pain, multiple medications, and limited mobility can have a happy, ABUNDANT, joyful life.

They don't understand what an amazing asset it is to have an elderly, bed ridden person interceding for them daily in prayer.

They can't see beauty in broken things. They are the ones with a vision problem. They are the ones who are truly impaired.

Only knowing God as Creator, Saviour, and Master will change them.

It is our impulse to run FROM the leaper. Jesus touched them, healed them, loved them.

Jesus touched blinded eyes, raised the dead, healed the deaf, cast out demons, and miracle of miracles! He reached down to the lowest depths and pulled out a wretched, filthy sinner (ME!) and set her on a solid rock, established her goings, and put a new song in her mouth.

Jesus sees all the broken, sinful, hopeless throwaways of this world and stretches out His hands saying there is hope!

He can reach the jail cell, the drug house, the hospital bed, and the homeless shelter and take broken lives and make them trophies of grace.

He can take the disabled, sick, poor, unattractive, uneducated ones too and do amazing things that leave great and wise shaking their heads in wonder!

You see my God delights in using those people for His glory!

He took a single, physically unwell, and eventually bedridden woman and used her as a missionary who rescued children from prostitution. You know her as Amy Carmichael.

He took a short, greedy man and turned him into a generous witness for Christ. You know him as Zacchaeus.

He took a man who had next to nothing and used him to smuggle Bibles all over the U.S.S.R. He is known as Brother Andrew.

He used a little girl with an incurable genetic disorder who has suffered all four years of her life to bless my heart. I just learned this week she is in hospice care and is not expected to live many more days. I also learned her baby brother is suspected to also have this disease. They've been heavy on my heart this week.

Don't try to tell me that broken things are useless and hopeless. I agree with my friend's little girl; broken things are pretty too! In fact, I think they are beautiful! They are a testimony to the praise and glory of GOD! And I believe He thinks they're beautiful too!

Breaking, Remaking, Molding, and Fire

Dear Father,

if my life must be spent, let it be spent for You. I am imperfect, unworthy, and many times I am everything I shouldn't be. In the eyes of this world I am far from beautiful, intelligent, or even useful. But because of Your love, mercy, and grace I am Yours. With You, through You, and because of You, I can do anything. So Father, put me through the fire, break me, remake me, mold me into what I SHOULD be and USE me for Your glory until You see fit to call me Home.

John the Baptist said that You must increase, and he must decrease. So it must be with me. So often I want to say what I think, how I feel. In all reality, I must die to myself and respond as YOU would have me respond. It is easy for me to become impatient or even angry with people, circumstances, trials, and heartache. In all these things You have commanded that I bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, and not my own feelings. When I am tempted to speak in anger at those who have done me some disservice I must deal with them in love and mercy. In my strength this is impossible. With God all things are possible.

In honesty Father, I do not like this process of breaking, remaking, molding, and fire. It's uncomfortable, unpleasant, and sometimes it just hurts. Yet how else am I to become less of me, and more like You? How else will I become more heavenly minded than earthly minded? I must learn to see things with eternity in view, but can not if I hold on to the flesh. For truly my spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak.

Help me to understand that pain, sickness, thoughtless and unkind people, heartache, loneliness, burdens, tears, disappointment, and trials are but tools to cut away and shape me into what I must become. Help me to yield rather than rebel. Help me to yield sweetly rather than begrudgingly.

If the steps of a good man (or woman!) are ordered by the Lord, and they are, then help me not to doubt You or hold back in hesitation when You ask me to step where I can not see. When I can not see Your ways help me to trust and have eyes of faith to continue onward in spite of the darkness.

Help me not to see people, with their faults and failures (as I am prone to see them!) but rather to see them as what they can become with Your grace. Or simply, help me see others as You see me; with patience, mercy, and compassion.

I can never repay You for all You have done for me, and I can offer You nothing but myself. Take me, and what life I have left and use me in Your service. Pour me out, and use me up. Use my hands to minister, my voice to speak truth, grace, and comfort. Let my ears hear the cry of the hurting, and my eyes be attentive to the needs that You can meet through me.

You said that You chose to use the unwise, the base, the foolish. You take the unlovely and the broken and make them trophies of grace. So there is hope for me!

Father, in the few years that I've been Your child, I have done more to displease You than please You. I have remained silent when I should have spoken, and spoken when I should have remained silent. I have failed You and sinned against You. Sometimes I wonder how You could possibly forgive me ONE MORE TIME. I question in my mind how You could have loved me when You knew that I would often be complacent, disagreeable, and unbelieving.

You are loving when I am not. You are faithful when I am not. You are patient when I am not. You are all things that I SHOULD be. So I know there is still work for You to do in me, and I ask that You help me yield to that.

I ask the You remember my prayer of years past: That You would never have to set my vessel on shelf. But instead to continue breaking, remaking, molding, and putting my through the fire until I become what You would have me be.

Father, I love You, but help me love You more.

In Jesus' name I pray these things,

Amen.

Keep Your Eyes on the Skies!

Anyone who pays any attention at all to the news, knows in the past few weeks there have been uprisings all over the Middle East. Now this week two earthquakes and a tsunami in Japan. No one knows the hour Jesus will come, but the Bible warns of "perilous times," "wars and rumors of wars," and while there is much about End Time prophecy I don't understand, I do know Jesus is coming, and if nothing else we are one day closer to that event.

Some say, "Oh I've heard that all my life. He's not really coming. Bad things happen everyday. That doesn't mean anything." Oh but it does! Things are lining up like never before for the rapture.

The one world government, one world currency, one world religion is closer to being a reality today than ever before. (Ever heard of the one world order, United Nations, and world wide failing economy?)

Last year we saw earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, China, and massive volcanoes that closed air space over Europe.

There have been riots and protests all over the Middle East, and countries and governments are falling. Iran sent ships into the Suez Canal for the first time in a VERY long time, and Israel rests in a more precarious state than ever. (I wouldn't want to bother Israel if I were them! Israel has a highly trained military and sophisticated weapons, AND the God of Heaven fights for them. Unpleasant odds for the enemy I'd say.)

Right here in America the economy has nose dived in recent years. Unemployment is at an all time high...and so is government spending. They keep telling us it's getting better but with gas prices at $3.50 a gallon, and news reports that food, clothing, and medication is expected to go up 10% in costs this year, I'm slightly inclined to doubt the so called "good news." Even the Bible says when they say peace and safety, look out! Destruction is on the way! (1 Thessalonians 5:3, "For when they shall say, PEACE AND SAFETY; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.")

I read and watch a lot of news, and even mainstream media clearly shows the writing on the wall as to our personal liberties...they have and will continue to become less and less in the coming days. We said what happened in the Soviet Union couldn't happen here. However, barring a miracle, or national revival, I believe those days are just around the corner.

This country, this world is becoming more and more hostile towards true Christianity. (I'm not referring to the "everthing's ok, lets love everybody, lets be politically correct and stick our heads in the sand" Christianity.)

With our world in shambles, (literally...just look at the earthquake/tsunami photos from Japan circulating the internet right now.) we should be sitting on pins and needles biting our fingernails, right?

Wrong! For the true believer we can rest in the knowledge that God is on the throne and absolutely everything that happens is "Father-filtered," that is, nothing happens that He doesn't allow. Whether Obama, or Qadafi, or Castro care to admit it, the heart of the king is in the Lord's hands. (Proverbs 21:1, "The king's heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.")

As I said, there is a great deal to end time prophecy I do not understand, but I do know nothing is holding back the Lord from returning and it would appear things are lining up. That doesn't frighten me, rather it excites me! To think we are one day closer to seeing the Lord face to face! It excites me to know my generation may be the one to go in the rapture!

However I will say I'm concerned for this nation, but only because it grieves my heart to see the greatest nation on the earth headed on the fast track for ruin. It grieves me because so many of our men and women fought and died for our liberty on and off the battle field so that the very things that seem to be overwhelming our shores would NOT.

In a day when Sharia law seems to be creeping in, (Have you heard about Deerborne, Michigan lately? How about that nice new mosque they plan to build at GROUD ZERO! Or the fact that they close down New York City streets once a MONTH for Muslim prayer! They wouldn't do that for Christians, that's for sure!) we must realize our enemy is no longer in a foreign land...it's taking over from within.

And I do wonder if we Christians may see widespread persecution in the future. I've thought we might for many years, but the climate is sure ripe for it now. Are we still so prideful to think it couldn't happen here? It happened on our shores before the Revolutionary War (just read any volume written by ANY early American Baptist historian. It will bring you to tears!) and it's happened all over the world. God is no respecter of persons. Just because we live in America does not exempt us.

Even that isn't cause to fear. If you've read even small amounts of church history (or the book of Acts for that matter) you know that Christianity only spreads exponentially during times of persecution.

So we shouldn't fear the events falling upon the earth (we should definitely pray for those affected, whether here, or around the world) but rather rest in the knowledge our Father is in control.

So who should fear? Those who are not saved. Some refuse to believe in a God, much less the truth of His Word. Others know the truth but think they have plenty of time to live their lives before surrendering to salvation. Some have even made false professions (Hey, I did! I played church for five years before I admitted I was lost.) but all the lost are in the same boat.

Should the rapture happen today, those left behind have plenty to fear. The Bible tells us after His Holy Spirit endwelled Children are out of here, He's going to dump judgment all over this world like no one has EVER seen. It will make the frightening events going on now look tame in comparison.

So I plead to you who may not know the Lord, do not wait until it's too late! It's still the day of grace. There's still time left. Don't play Russian Roulette with your eternal, never dying soul. You can't afford to gamble with it.

You say, oh you're just a fear-mongerer. You're just trying to scare me.

DING DING DING! You got it. If scaring your socks off is what it takes for you to realize your need for salvation, then praise God. My grandfather read a passage of Scripture for family devotions dealing with the tribulation the night I got saved. It scared me silly...and I got saved...and I've never been the same person, and I'm so thankful!

However I'm not just trying to scare you. The Bible is true. Hell is real, and Jesus is coming and those left behind will suffer His wrath.

But just as that is true, it is also true that Jesus loved you enough to give His life's blood at Calvary. You can be saved and go to Heaven instead. It's up to you, but I wouldn't wait much longer.

Keep your eyes on the skies! Jesus is coming soon!

A Soldier of the Cross

Just because something is difficult doesn't mean it isn't worth fighting for. Just because you face obstacles doesn't mean it isn't the will of God. And sometimes, those obstacles, difficulties, and trials are sent by the Lord to make you stronger.

Sometimes the journey to the goal is just as important as the goal. Our goal in all things should be to glorify Christ; to live the abundant life He gave us for Him; to press on in the steps that He ordered for us. Even when it's difficult It's required that a good soldier endure hardships. When we come to the end of our life, may our Commanding Officer, the Lord Jesus Christ be able to say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

The devil may pursue us with his fiery darts of discouragement, temptation, or fear; but we must put on the armor of God and go forth to battle. We must not give up. Fulfilling the will of God in our lives and the eternal souls of man are at stake, and both are priceless.

It's not enough to start well. It's important to finish well. How many have started out with fire and passion, but later fizzled out, never to be heard of again? No! God requires faithfulness of His children. He promises before we ever start that there will be difficulties; that the world will hate us; that there will be temptations to flee; that there will be dark nights and tempestuous seas.

If we lay down in the battle we bring shame to our Lord. It's alright to be knocked down, but it's never alright to remain there and claim defeat. Not when we are told that we are more than conquerors in Christ. He has never lost a battle. He has never known defeat, and never will He lead us astray. We must follow Him faithfully; for He will lead faithfully.

He may ask us to bare hardships and suffer loss. He may ask us to press on in the dark. He may ask us to do hard things, but we must follow knowing that the Bible is true; these things are for our good and for His glory. He is still on the throne, and He sees all things, even when we can't see the next step.

Nuggets in the Word

Recently I found myself discouraged. I'd been up sick most of the night, so I'd had little sleep (about two hours to be exact). I was dealing with personal struggles, and people who had said hurtful things. Emotionally I was worn thin. Physically I was in a lot of pain, and weak. Spiritually I was hurting and needed help from my Father. I really felt as though every aspect of me as a person was being attacked and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it.

The Bible talks about women being a weaker vessel, and right then I was feeling the reality of that verse. I felt like a fragile china plate that had been carelessly broken.

Like David cried out in Psalm 22 I wanted to cry, "But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me." That was my prayer.

God, being the wonderful Father that He is, did. I sat down with my Bible and felt impressed to read Song of Solomon. I rarely read there, but what treasures I found that day! I know that literally this is Solomon's song to his bride, and I know it's applied as Christ and His church (bride). Well, I'm part of that bride, and so as I read the following verses they spoke to me in a special way. I hope they will be a blessing to you as well.

There was chapter two, verse 1 which says, "I [am] the rose of Sharon, [and] the lily of the valleys." Oh my! How can you know of the roses and lilies unless you have to walk in the valley? Truly in my valleys He will be my Lily!

Chapter two, 16 says, "My beloved [is] mine, and I [am] his: he feedeth among the lilies." I am His, and HE IS MINE! GLORY TO GOD!!! Whenever I feel as though I belong no where and to no one, I'm reminded that I BELONG TO HIM!

Chapter four, verse 7 says, "Thou [art] all fair, my love; [there is] no spot in thee." How wonderful to know even though I've failed the Lord many many times, even since my salvation, He still looks on me and says there is no spot in me. He sees me as pure and white as snow. It's enough to make me shout His praises!

Chapter six, verse 9 says, "My dove, my undefiled is [but] one;" It reminded me of the song, "He loves me like I was His only child." Yes, I know, the Lord loves all His children, but His love is so special and so personal that it feels as though I am but one. I know that if you know Him, you feel the same way.

Chapter seven, verse 10 says, "I [am] my beloved's, and his desire [is] toward me." It blesses my heart to know that the Lord loves spending time with me. He wants me to seek Him out. He wants me to talk to Him. He's never too busy or bothered. He'll never push me away.

Chapter eight, verse 6 says, "Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love [is] strong as death; jealousy [is] cruel as the grave: the coals thereof [are] coals of fire, [which hath a] most vehement flame."
This verse almost sounds like a poetic verse. I suppose since it's Solomon's "song" it should, right? But I love the words here. God wants us to love and worship Him. He's a jealous God. "love is strong as death." Well death is unstoppable, therefore His love must be as well!

I'm thankful for a Father who knows our pain, and hears our heart's cry. I'm thankful His Word is alive and able to speak to us in any situation.

The Attitude of Gratitude

Thanksgiving is just a week away from tomorrow. It's so hard to believe that yet another year is almost over. I suppose it's normal that around Thanksgiving time, we begin to focus more on thankfulness. In truth, we should focus on this year round.

In the Bible you will find an account where ten lepers came to Jesus. Jesus, in His mercy, healed them all. They went on their way rejoicing, but only one returned to say thank you. Think about that. One out of ten were thankful. Those aren't good odds!

I can't help but feel disgusted at the others. Why, didn't they realize that they had experienced a personal encounter with the Messiah? After all their time exiled from friends, family, and the temple, weren't they just a little bit grateful for their healing? In one moment their despair was turned to rejoicing. They were, in a very literal sense, given their lives back. Yet only one said thank you!

Remember the Children of Israel wandering in the wilderness? All they did was murmur and complain. God daily met their needs, but they complained it wasn't good enough. It wasn't enough to have food literally from Heaven...they wanted the flesh and garlics and leeks of Egypt. In the end only two of the original two million made it to the promised land. That first generation died for their unbelief. Even Moses died for disobedience.

It's so easy for us to look at those Biblical accounts and pass judgment on those people. Yet if we really stop to think, many of us are just like them and worse.

Just like those lepers, Jesus touched our lives and healed our souls. We should thank Him every day of our lives that we aren't going to hell for starters, and that's not the tip of the iceburg when it comes to salvation.

There is a verse in the Bible that says it's possible to forget we were ever saved. If it weren't in the Bible, I wouldn't believe it. What a shame that there are Christians that walk away from God, who is so good to them, and live life their own way to the point they forget they are Christians.

We are also so like those Children of Israel. God daily meets our needs. I know I can testify that I don't always know where my next meal is coming from or how my bills will be paid, but never once have I gone without. God is always, always on time.

Yet I know many times I don't thank Him as promptly as I should. And at times, I'm tempted to murmur and complain about circumstances that don't please me, when really I should rest in my Lord and His wisdom.

There is so much we take for granted. I was thinking this afternoon about how I am able to go to church tonight. No one will be there to drag me to prison. No one will torture or kill me for going. We can meet publicly, and openly, rather than in secret. My dilemma isn't IF I have a Bible to take with me, but WHICH one I choose to bring.

There was a time in America when my Baptist forefathers couldn't worship freely. They were imprisoned, fined, and in some instances whipped. There are times in England's history that Baptists or Protestants were imprisoned, or burned. The same could be said of many European countries. Many of them also have a history of religious persecution.

China even today suffers. Many believers must meet secretly, fearing repercussion from their government. North Korean Christians fear death. Just the other morning I heard of a Pakistani woman who received a life sentence for telling other Muslim women they needed to know Christ. And there are other countries, other places where this is so. That's not the 1700's, or 1600's. That's not the early church era under Rome. That's not the true church seeking freedom from midevil Catholcism. That's 2010 in our world. Dear friends, we are blessed.

If we have food and raiment the Bible said for us to be content. That's more than much of the world's population has. But I would say, most reading this have a home to live in (it may not be a mansion, but it's a roof over your head.) and a car to drive (it may smoke, cough and sputter worse than a chain smoker, but it gets you were you need to go.) food to eat (so it's beans and taters? Sounds good!) and clothes to wear (maybe they did come from Goodwill...those are my favorite kind! They don't cost much!).

My point is, there is so much to be thankful for. We have spiritual blessings (salvation, religious liberty, the Word of God, a good church home, the Holy Spirit to lead us, a home in Heaven, knowing God personally) physical blessings (a home, clothes, food, transportation, and I'm sure a whole lot of extras) and the blessings of family or friends. Even someone with no family or friends left can claim Jesus if they are saved!

How blessed we are! I can't even begin to count them all! God has truly been far better to any of us than we deserve! Let's take time to thank Him!

Train up a Child...

The Bible says: Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.

I've been reading though the book of Jeremiah, and the other evening I read an interesting account that I know I've read before, but I suppose on this occasion I saw it in a different light.

Chapter thirty-five of Jeremiah gives an account of the Rechabites, the son of Jonadab. Their father commanded them that they abstain from wine and dwell in tents. Jeremiah brought them to the house of God and set wine before them and told them to drink. They refused.

Jeremiah didn't ask them to drink wine so they would sin (he knew they would refuse), rather to make a point to the rebellious nation that God was about to punish for their disobedience.

The end of the chapter shows God blessing them, promising them that even though judgment would come to the rebellious, God would bless them and their future generations for their obedience.

What a blessing this passage is in that respect! The Rehabites obeyed and stayed true to what was right, even publicly. They refused to sin against their father, and ultimately their God. Because of this, God blessed them and promised their protection.

Oh that we would follow their example, and obey our Heavenly Father; even when it may not seem to be the popular thing to do. Even if the rest of the nation around us refuses.

It is also a blessing to see the respect they had for their earthly father, who obviously instructed in them what was right. Jonadab must have been a Godly man, who shared that heritage with his children. It should encourage us to do likewise.

And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you: Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever. Jeremiah 35:18, 19

Be of Good Cheer

My pastor is going through the book of Mark in Sunday School, and last week he taught on the portion of Scripture where Jesus sends His disciples into a boat and tells them to cross to the other side. A storm comes and they are fearful. In those verses you will find the little phrase spoken by Jesus before He calms the storm, "be of good cheer." So I started thinking on that little phrase...

It's used another time in Acts, when Paul is being transported on a boat as prisoner. Paul told them it wasn't a good idea to go the direction they were going, but they did anyhow. They faced a horrible storm. They were shipwrecked. Paul told them, "Be of good cheer" because the Lord told him everyone would survive.

I think that phrase is interesting in both of those situations. It's found other times in the Bible (I did a search with Bible software) but these two times it is mentioned in connection to sailing in the midst of a storm.

I thought of how in life we will face storms. Sometimes God allows them (as in the first case, when He commanded them to go over) and sometimes we create them (like the men whom Paul warned to not go) but in each instance, there is a command to be of good cheer.

In the first instance, it is given by Jesus, Himself. In the second, it is given by a man of God who'd received answers from God while praying.

This tells me something very important: when we face storms in our lives, no matter the circumstance, our attitude is important. We are commanded to "be of good cheer." Nowhere does it say, "be of good cheer...if you want to. If you feel like it. If things are going well." It just says to be of good cheer.

The Bible also tells us to "rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say, rejoice." Notice it didn't say "rejoice in the Lord when you are blessed financially, when someone is healed, when God gives a blessing, when you get a good doctor's report...whatever." It doesn't say rejoice when things are going well. It says rejoice alway! That means the good and the bad.

You don't have to rejoice necessarily because something bad happens, but you should rejoice in it.

For example, when my Papa died, I was not glad he died. I was grieving and hurting. BUT I could rejoice in the storm because I knew the Lord's will was sovereign, and because he was saved.

When I have received bad reports on doctor visits, I'm not glad I'm unwell, or there's no cure, or a test came back with odd results, but I'm rejoicing in that my Father holds my life in His hands and His will is perfect.

A few years ago I heard a veteran missionary tell of when he and his wife where in Bible college. They had no money to buy their baby milk. Instead of being angry that God had allowed them to be in that situation, they got on their knees and humbly asked God to provide. A few minutes later (this is a true story) a woman knocked on their door with milk for them, saying she was driving home from the grocery store and felt God wanted her to stop and give them the milk. What if their attitude had been wrong? What if they gripped and complained? Perhaps they would have missed a blessing, or perhaps they would have received it anyway, but saddened they had missed an opportunity to trust God.

All these thoughts spoke to my heart. I am quick to worry. I always fear the worst. Over and over I am reminded that without faith, I can not please God; and whatever is not of faith is sin.

God allows me to go through things...some He has allowed in my life because it was His plan. Some...well...sadly I bring on myself. Yet always, I am to be of good cheer. Even if I don't feel like it.

Feelings...oh boy! They come, they go...and some people change feelings more than they change clothes. They're up, they're down...they're all around. Many want to tag those individuals with a "mental disorder" and excuse them. That being said, I am aware there are some people with legitimate mental issues who need pastoral counseling and maybe even medication to correct an imbalance . However, I think a lot of it is just a failure to have some self control and trust the Lord.

David faced times in the Bible where he was deeply discouraged/distressed/depressed, however the Bible also records him as going to the house of the Lord and gaining understanding, and in another place it says he encouraged himself in the Lord. He says he hoped in the Lord, or that the Lord was his strength. Yes, David got knocked down, but he didn't stay there on and on and on and on...he got up.

Feelings are not an excuse for disobedience. How many times has a parent told their child to do something and the child responded, "I don't feel like it." Um, I don't know about you, but when I was growing up, not only did I still have to do what I was told, but I got in trouble for complaining instead of obeying.

How much more so should we obey our Heavenly Father? He said be of good cheer. "But God, I don't feel like it." I can complain all I want, but that does not make my storm go away. Sometimes it makes it worse.

It's important for me to realize, my feelings may come and go. Sometimes I'm happy, sometimes I'm sad. Sometimes I'm laughing and sometimes I'm crying. My feelings come and go, but God's Word forever stands.

Another thing to notice, and this really encourages me; in the storm God allowed, and in the storm they chose, not only were they given the command to be of good cheer, but they made it to the other side.

You know, in our lives we face storms for many reasons. Sometimes God allows them to teach us or strengthen us. Sometimes they are to teach others watching us. Sometimes they are because of our disobedience; but no matter what the reason, we as Christians WILL make it to the other side! We are Heaven bound. Nothing can change that. No circumstance, no feelings, and no storm. Nothing can take away from the fact that we WILL make it to the other side!

Sometimes we face a storm, for whatever reason, and we are, well, to put it mildly, not of good cheer. (I don't know about you, but I fail a lot in that area) but even then, we will make it over to Heaven's shore. Now I do think, that sometimes because my attitude wasn't right, I may have missed God's blessings in that storm (remember, when the men disobeyed Paul in Acts, they were shipwrecked), but never do I doubt that I will make to the other side.

If we are saved, we will make it over to the other side, and that...that is a great reason why we should be of good cheer.

Exceeding Grace

Saturday night I heard a powerful message on Exceeding Grace. The Preacher used the text about the woman at the well, and sin is like that. Sin is a well we have to dig deeper and deeper into and always leaves a thirst, and we always have to come back for more.

Then he talked about the Living Water Jesus offered; how those who drink of it will never thirst again. He talked about where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. I'm so thankful for that.

As I listened to the message my mind went back to who I had been before salvation, and even, who I have been since salvation. When I think of how God's grace supersedes it all, it blesses my heart and makes me want to shout God's praises.

I am not what I should be, but I am eternally thankful I'm not who I was. I'm so glad that the sin I once carried is GONE! As far as the east is from west, cast into the sea of forgetfulness, put behind God's back, blotted from the book, justified as if I'd never sinned....did I mention they were gone?!

You can trade your guilt for grace, your vices for victory, your hurt to hope, your bitterness for blessing, you sin for salvation! I'm glad He washes white as snow and that His grace exceeds it all!

Trust in the Lord...

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Recently I have been under several burdens. Sometimes it seems difficult situations, or stress, or whatever it may be, come in groups! When I find myself feeling overwhelmed I cry out to my Father.

I suppose the first verses I think of are Proverbs 3. Have you ever wondered why God said NOT to lean on our understanding? Because He knew we would. (And you thought I was going to say something profound!)

When faced with difficult circumstances, the first thing a child of God should do is pray. However, that is often the last thing! (Been there, done that, have the tee-shirt collection!)

The first thoughts that enter most people's mind are: What can I do to fix this? How can I make this work? Maybe it would be better if I...

It reminds me of a little boy wanting to help his dad put something together. The father knows what he is building--the child does not. The father knows how the pieces fit--the child does not. The father knows the end result--the child does not. But often the child with cry and beg, "Please let me try! Let me fix it! I know how!"

Perhaps that father might even let them try their hand in it. What usually happens is the child makes a worse mess than there was before. Then the father has to undo what has been done, and continue the process.

We are so like that. I am so like that. "Oh Father! I know how you could fix this! Lord if you would only do it this way! Please, can't I have it my way?"

The Bible says God's ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. Why does the Bible tell us not to lean unto our own understanding? Because our understanding is flawed. No matter how intelligent or well learned we are...we are still human.

God is omnipotent (all powerful) and omnipresent (space and time are not issues for Him!) He knows the beginning and the end, because He IS the Alpha, and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. He sees the "whole puzzle" together and finished. We just see the jumbled pieces. If we try to put them together, we just make the situation worse. If we let Him put the pieces together, there is a beautiful picture.

Someone said a good definition for stupid is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results. I'd have to agree, that logic is flawed. So why do we still do it in our lives?

I mean, how many times do I really have to learn the hard way that God is able to handle my problems, my needs, my fears, my dreams, my hopes, my everything?

One preacher said one time that we are funny Christians...we trust God to keep our eternal souls, but not to solve our mortal problems. We think that we, the finite, can solve problems better than God, the infinite.

God gave us a beautiful picture in the book of Job. Poor Job. I don't think anyone alive could have possibly suffered worse than he. In one day he lost ten children. He lost all his wealth, and his health...and his wife wasn't exactly encouraging! (to be fair though, she was suffering too.) If that wasn't bad enough, his friends came, stared at him for days, and then accused him of living in sin. I don't know about you, but by that point, all thoughts of wisdom and civility would be lost on my part!

Eventually Job cried out to God, begging for answers, feeling forsaken, unable to understand. God answered him though, and asked Job where had he been during creation, and who had been God's counselor? In other words, No one needed to tell God how to do things.

Job didn't know the end result of his trial, but God did. Job had no way of knowing that God would give him back everything he lost and then some. Job's trial proved to satan and Job's friends that Job was a faithful man. Job's trial has served as a help and encouragement to others who read his story in the Bible. It was for his good, and for God's glory.

Those verses from Proverbs also say, "in ALL thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths." I can't pick and choose what I let God handle and what I tackle myself. Well...I can, but I'll mess it up every time!

I must give every burden, every situation, and every part of myself to God. I must yield myself entirely to His will. Only then will I find peace and rest.

Only in surrender to God will I find freedom. Freedom from sin, fear, worry, you name it, only in giving it wholly to God and allowing Him to work, will I find freedom.

All to Jesus, I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

Refrain

I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessèd Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

Refrain

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

Refrain

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

Refrain

All to Jesus I surrender;
Now I feel the sacred flame.
O the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!

Refrain

And He Made the Stars Also

When I was a little girl I lived in the country with my grandparents. Sometimes in the summer time, on a really clear night they would take me outside to look at the stars and moon. My Papa had a set of binoculars, I remember how excited I would get to look through them and see everything so close and clear. Many times I would sing the children's song, "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."

I've been privileged to look through a telescope on occasion, and I'm amazed at what I see! Everything is so vast, so gargantuan, so humbling. Really, who am I compared to such amazing things?

When you consider the first few chapters of Genesis, you get to know our great Creator God. In six literal days (Yes, I believe it wholeheartedly) He created everything! In Genesis one I read of God doing, and speaking, and making all the things we take for granted. The things scientists study and hope to learn secrets of. The things that have confounded the wisest of the wise. In the middle of that chapter in verse 16 you'll find a phrase, "he made the stars also."

I love it! I love my King James Bible! I can't be certain, but I almost imagine it being said offhandedly....kind of like, "Oh by the way, while He was at it, He made the stars too. Just because He could." I know He spoke creation into existence, but I kind of like to imagine Him just slinging out some stars and they going exactly where He wanted them to go.

I live in a larger city now, and while I am happy where I am, I sometimes miss the country. Just being able to look up and see miles and miles of everything. And even now, sometimes on a very clear night I look up and see the stars. I can usually pick out the big and little dipper, and Orien. Every time I see them, the innumerable testaments to our Creator, I think of that simple phrase, "He made the stars also." It makes me smile.

Yes, I still feel tiny and insignificant in compare to all God created. When I think of how He holds the world in place (by the way, if the earth varied in it's position we would either burn up or freeze to death.), how He keeps the times and seasons going, how He orders the affairs of this world (whether people wish to acknowledge it or not), and how He guides daily affairs, well, I'm amazed and feel pretty small in comparison.

But then I remember God took such care in making Adam and Eve. God was so merciful to them when they plunged mankind into sin. He knew they would. It was His plan all along to redeem man. God may be the Creator of the universe but He also is the Father of His children. And He cares about our burdens and He wants to hear from us no matter how insignificant we think it is. He said, "Casting all your care upon Him for He careth for you."

He cares about me! He loves me! He wants to have a personal relationship with ME! And yet...He made the stars also!

Here is my newest poem. I hope it's a blessing.

The God of All

God made the Earth
in outer-space,
hung the stars
in perfect place.

He scooped up mountains
with His hand.
He numbered the stars
and the grains of sand.

He created the birds
that soar and fly.
He hung fluffy clouds
in a bright blue sky.

He made the seasons,
Spring, summer, winter, fall.
He made the animals
and the bugs that crawl.

He made the fishes
and the bright, blue sea.
But wonder of wonders
He created me!

Though by Him
all things Consist
He's never to busy
His child to assist.

He loves us and watches us
with tender care,
and He's never too busy
to answer a prayer.

~ALA

The Power of Words

Have you ever imagined the power that words have? Words are wonderful things. As babies, our parents coach us and coax us hoping to hear our first words. I find it humorous that parents spend the first few years of a child's life teaching them how to speak, and then the next several years of the child's life trying to get them to be quiet!

Then there's the joy of seeing a child finally grasp the concept of reading. I can still remember the frustration I felt as a five and six year old girl, sitting with my grandmother sounding out the words to the simple readers assigned to me. Then one day the confusion of letters and sounds made sense, and I began to read words, and sentences, and then paragraphs and books!

Books opened a world to me I'd never before known, and the spoken word was no different for me. My family could testify I was seldom caught without SOMETHING to say! Then there came the day that I realized not only could I read what others had written, but I could write for others to read!

My love for words began when I was young, but it has never diminished. When I think of the power that words can have I'm amazed.

Think of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution! Pieces of paper with words...but what powerful words! Words that have shaped the country we live in the freedoms we hold dear.

When I think of the power of words I think of all the classics of literature that have survived for hundreds of years.

I think of the power words have when put to music. Handel's Messiah comes to mind, as do many great old hymns.

Words can be fun, such as jokes, riddles, and rhyming words. I love to play with words and find those that sound alike. (I write poetry, of course I like rhyming words!)

Words can have a bad power too. Just as the words of the Constitution give us words of liberty, words can also bring about bondage.

Just as the beautiful words of some works of literature can inspire, works by the likes of Adolf Hitler can corrupt.

Words of great classical music and hymns of the church can bring joy and worship for God while the words from rock and pop encourage demonic activities and glorify the singer.

Just as words can be fun, they can be hurtful. Children, if not taught differently, can tease mercilessly those who are different than they.

Parents can encourage their children with words, and teach them truth through words, or they can criticize and harm with words.

How many times have I heard it said that communication is important to a good marriage. Lack of communication and words of criticism or sarcasm can ruin one.

Words of love and kindness, and at times, needed rebuke can build a friendship. Words of gossip and lying can destroy it.

Politicians, storytellers, writers, journalists, teachers, and preachers will find that the words they use have power behind them.

I've read many books and articles about many different things. I've known some great teachers, and wonderful preachers. I keep a journal, write on this blog, write poems, and I have even published two books, and continue to write, but if I spent the rest of my life writing and talking I could never, ever even began to capture the love of God or all that He is.

Frederic Lehman said it best in his hymn, "The Love of God." It is said that the third stanza was written on the wall of an insane asylum by one of the patients.

"Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky."

It seems to me that the person who wrote that had more sense than the average person today.

Words bring to life knowledge, and there can be no greater knowledge than that of God's love. And God Himself.

The greatest book ever written is the Bible. It is after all, the Word of God. What greater word could there be than that which comes from our Creator? That blessed Book tells me how we go here, and what our purpose is.

That Book teaches me how to treat others, and it teaches me about freedom in Christ.

The most important thing is that it teaches me about Jesus Christ, who was virgin born, lived sinlessly, and who was God in the flesh. It teaches me that He died on Calvary so that I might live and live abundantly and eternally! It teaches me that God hates sin, but that God loved me enough to die for me so that I could escape hell and join Him in Heaven.

It teaches me to pray and to love and to serve. It teaches me the very foundations for living.

Words have power, but the most powerful words are those that are inspired of God...the Bible.

"Wonderful words in the Bible I read, but this is the dearest: That Jesus loves me."

What words do you read? Do they teach you truth in Christ?
What words do you speak? Do they glorify God?
What words do you write? Do they point to the Saviour?
What words do you hear? Do they encourage Godliness?

Peace, peace, wonderful peace!

If Christ can speak and the storms cease, I should have faith to believe that He will speak peace to my soul! He does not always choose to calm the storm, but He will calm His child.

Isaiah 26:3 "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

That's been on my heart today. Sometimes we go through things that we do not understand, but God is always there to give that peace that passeth all understanding.

His ways and my ways

I wanted to share something with everyone that blessed my heart the other day! I was listening to Dr. Ron Gatlin preach a message on the will of God. The main verse he used was Psalm 18:30, which says, "As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him."

He spoke about how sometimes God's will isn't easily understood, but that it's always perfect. He referenced Romans 12 and said that God's will is good, acceptable, and perfect.

As I was sitting there, I looked down into the following verses, and though I've read the Psalm many times before I noticed something new. (I love how God's Word is this way!)

The verses directly to follow say, "For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect." Did you see that?! Earlier he said the Lord's way was perfect. Now he is saying the Lord "maketh my way perfect." That "eth" implies continuous action! My God's way is perfect. I would NEVER doubt that; but not only that, if I allow Him to direct me, He will make my way perfect!

That is such a comfort to my heart! As one song writer said, "This changing world alarms me." Well it alarms me as well. So many things are uncertain, but God's Word and His promises are the one thing I can always rest with trust in! If He says it, it is so!

For in the very next chapter, verse seven says "The law of the LORD is perfect..." He is perfect and so is His Word. I can trust Him, though I may not understand. Though I may cry out in fear, though I may may be tempted to worry, HIS WAYS ARE HIGHER THAN OUR WAYS AND HIS WAY IS PERFECT!!!

His ways are perfect, full of lovingkindness, tender mercies, and grace unspeakable! I'm so glad that I belong to Him, and that He will make my ways perfect!