card

Christmas cards. Punctuated promises! On this special day, can I share words from my favorite Christmas cards?

“He became like us, so we could become like Him.”

“Angels still sing, and the star still beckons.”

“God has given a Son to us. His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God, Prince of Peace.” “He became like us, so we could become like Him.” (Isaiah 9:6)

And my favorite:

“If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent an educator.

If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist.

If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist.

But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a Savior.”

Merry Christmas!

right

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:6-8).

At just the right time when we were struggling with temptation the right person came to be with us. They did not know we were on the verge of giving in to the temptation. They just came to be with us. Because they came at just the right time we were able to stand firm and not fall.

At just the right time when we were feeling lonely the right person showed up at our door. There did not know we were lonely. They simply came for a visit because they wanted to be with us. Because they came at just the right time we were able to get through another night.

At just the right time when life appeared to be over the right person reminded us of all the reasons we have to live. We were ready to quit. We had no energy or desire to stay in the race. Because they came at just the right time we saw another sunrise and look forward to the next.

At just the right time when we were struggling with our marriage the right couple invited us over to dinner. We were talking divorce. We saw no reason to keep up appearances any longer. They did not know how hopeless we felt, but because they connected with us at just the right time we continue to celebrate anniversaries.

At just the right time when we were at our lowest as parents the right people sat next to us in church and visited with us when the assembly time ended. We were filled with despair. Guilt was destroying us. They did not know how heart-broken we were but because they were friendly at just the right time we did not give up.

At just the right time when we were searching for a church home the right person came by for a visit. They listened to our story. They understood our situation. They helped us find a place. They did no know how homesick we were but because they took the time we now have a church family.

At just the right time when we were most desperate the right person called to offer assistance. They hardly knew us, but heard that times were hard. They said they remembered what it was like and wanted to help. Because they demonstrated that they cared at just the right time we were able to survive the crisis.

At just the right time when we were still powerless, Christ died for us. God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still a sinners, Christ died for us.

At just the right time God uses people to represent Him in the lives of those who need Him. Be aware that today you may be His instrument for someone He needs to help. It will likely be at just the right time.

-tom norvell

maths

Moses and the people were in the desert, but what was he going to do with them? They had to be fed, and feeding 2 or 3 million people requires a lot of food. According to the Quartermaster General in the Army, it is reported that Moses would have to have had 1500 tons of food each day.

Do you know that to bring that much food each day, two freight trains, each a mile long, would be required! Besides you must remember, they were out in the desert, so they would have to have firewood to use in cooking the food.

 

This would take 4000 tons of wood and a few more freight trains, each a mile long, just for one day. And just think, they were forty years in transit. And oh yes! They would have to have water. If they only had enough to drink and wash a few dishes, it would take 11,000,000 gallons each day, and a freight train with tank cars, 1800 miles long, just to bring water!

 

And then another thing! They had to get across the Red Sea at night. (They did?) Now, if they went on a narrow path, double file, the line would be 800 miles long and would require 35 days and nights to get through. So, there had to be a space in the Red Sea, 3 miles wide so that they could walk 5000 abreast to get over in one night.

 

But then, there is another problem. Each time they camped at the end of the day, a campground two-thirds the size of the state of Rhode Island was required, or a total of 750 square miles long...think of it! This space just for nightly camping.

 

Do you think Moses figured all this out before he left Egypt? I think not! You see, Moses believed in God. God took care of these things for him. Now do you think God has any problem taking care of all your needs?

-author unknown

r a c e

For several weeks recently I spent a lot of time in the hospital where my son was being treated.  One day as I was walking through the halls to get yet another cup of coffee, I noticed on a wall a glass case with a fire extinguisher inside.  Across the front of the case were 4 large letters...  R   A   C   E.  That seemed a bit odd so I decided to delay my mission and read on. 

RACE did not mean  "Hurry"  or  "Run For Your Lives"!   It was a very interesting acronym.

R - Rescue the patients...  

A - Activate the alarm...  

C - Close off the corridors...  

E - Extinguish the fire...

In a way people can remember, RACE set out the goals for whenever there’s a fire.  And just as the letters must come together to form the word, so each of these activities must come together in order to properly take care of a danger that threatens lives.  Focusing on only one part doesn’t get the job done.

If I only rescue the patients, other lives are ignored and put in jeopardy.  If all I do is sound the alarm, I put all of the responsibility for saving lives and putting out the fire on others who may not be able to get there in time.  If I close off the corridors as I run out of the building, not only are lives ignored and possibly lost, but the benefit of my effort is temporary at best.  And what if I focus solely on putting out the fire?  Well, if the fire is greater than what I can handle...all is lost.

As I stood there staring at the glass case, my hands beginning to shake from caffeine deprivation, I realized something.  This idea behind RACE works for the Body of Christ, too.  Whether we’re talking about the Church, a ministry, or the life of one believer, it all applies.

Rescue the lost and hurting...     by being there...listening...caring...gaining knowledge.

Activate the warning...       by telling others of the problem...calling for help...seeking wisdom.

Close off what feeds the danger...       by sharing the truth...exposing the lies...finding discernment.

Extinguish the threat...      by taking a stand...following the example of the One who survived the fire.

The author of Hebrews wrote, "Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." (Hebrews 12:1).  “Race” here is not meant as a competition, but a way of life.  I believe RACE also describes that life.  In this time of spiritual war, if we fail to rescue the lost and hurting, if we do not activate the alarm to warn others and call for help, if we choose not to close off what feeds the danger, and if we refuse to allow God to work in and through our lives to extinguish the evil around us...then he who is in the world wins the battle.

Remember the RACE of life.

-chuck

water

After a brief illness, my mother died on January 30, 2012. Not only was she my mother, she was also my best friend. I was in shock. One day she was recovering; the next, she was gone.

For two weeks, I grieved heavily and could not focus on anything else. But life got in the way. My son was to be married on February 18, so there was little time. My husband and I were giving the wedding and I was blessed to have the help of a wedding planner. She had taken on more and more of the wedding tasks during my mother's illness and after her death, but there was still the urgent need for me to shift from deep grief to joyous anticipation.

With only four days remaining before the wedding, I went into my prayer closet. Pouring my heart out to God, I told Him how desperately I needed to feel joy about the wedding. Immediately, His still small voice replied, Life is about the living.

His meaning swept over me. My mother was in heaven, having a blast singing praise songs with the angels. There was nothing else I could do for her. Memories are still to be cherished, but that life was finished. However, my son was getting married (a miracle in itself). He had gotten his life turned around and the future was before him. Life is about the living.

Instantly, I felt the weight of my grief lifting from my heart, slowly replaced by joy as I found myself looking forward to my son's wedding and beyond. Some grief still lingered but it was manageable. No longer burdened with tears of pain, I could now go through the wedding with smiles of joy.

A couple of weeks later, God revealed to me some deeper meaning to His Life is about the living. Not only do we humans grieve the death of loved ones, we also grieve about other dead things.

We grieve about our past sinful lives before we were saved. God has forgiven us, but we won't forgive ourselves. We grieve over a past hurt, whether it occurred thirty years ago or just last month. We don't forgive the one who hurt us. And we grieve about the if onlys of our past. We beat ourselves up about all the what-might-have-beens if only we had done something differently.

One day my husband and I were sitting on our front porch. As we admired the beautiful blooming azaleas, he mentioned we had a dead one. There it sat, all dried up and brown. Then God gave me a wonderful illustration of what He had been revealing to me -- No one waters a dead azalea...or weeds around it...or fertilizes it. Instead, the focus is on living azaleas. They are the ones to be cared for.

So why on earth do we spend time watering the dead things of our past when there are millions of living people who need encouragement and to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior?

The Apostle Paul long ago addressed this very thing. "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13b-14)

No one ever saw Paul watering a dead azalea. He knew. "Life is about the living." 

-susan paradise

?...well

"A certain man was there who had an infirmity for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been in this condition for a long time, He asked him, 'Do you want to be made whole?" (John 5:5-6)

You have probably heard the old story (a fable to be sure) about the father who knocks on his son's door. "James" he says, "Wake up!" James answers, "I don't want to get up, Papa."

The father shouts, "Get up. You have to go to school."   James answered, "I don't want to go to school."   "Why not?" asks the father. "Three reasons," says James. "First, because it's so dull; second, the kids tease me; and third, I hate school."

And the father replies, "Well, I am going to give you three reasons why you must go to school. First, because it is your duty; second, because you are forty-five years old, and third, because you're the headmaster."

When I ask people in seminars how many believe that God has a purpose for their life, most will raise their hand. But when I ask how many know what it is, only a few have any idea what it might be, and even fewer have clearly defined it. Most say they want to know what it is, but don't diligently seek God to discover what it is.

Many people say they want to overcome their problems too, but are not prepared to do their part to make it happen. Even the best psychologists will tell you that "people don't really want to be cured. What they want is relief; a cure is too painful." One surgeon said that many patients who come to him with a problem would rather that he operate on their body than they operate on their lifestyle, and that only about 25 percent of his patients accept responsibility for their wellness.

Jesus didn't say, "Do you wish to be made well, but rather, do you want to be made well?" To be made well needs to be more than a wish. It needs to be a true desire, with determination and commitment to do what one has to do to get well.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me the 'want' to get well in every area of my life, and reveal to me any areas of resistance so I can deal with these issues, and accept full responsibility for my wellness. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10)

-dick innes

concerns

"I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers." (Isaiah 65:24)

Literally, I had no agenda. Many things had been on my mind, though.  Several situations I’d been mulling over. A few people that had been especially on my heart. Some unresolved issues stewing in the back corners of my brain.

So, I had no agenda when we went to church for an evening service of refreshing and renewing. I just know that there would be a time to be quiet and be still before the Lord.

With beautiful music in the background, I began to zone out, let my mind wander. As I was still, sitting there, I felt so thankful to be in the presence of the Lord.  God began to whisper softly to me, not in an audible voice, but ever so gently. He began addressing one by one the concerns of my heart. Gradually I began to be aware that He was sharing with me direction and answers to these unspoken concerns.

Later, I thought about how amazing God is.  Amazing God! Amazing grace! How good to remember that God knows our deepest needs and desires before they are even fully formed in our minds, or on our lips. And, that in His time, the perfect time, He will answer the concerns of our hearts. Even if we have ‘no agenda’.

-sally i. kennedy

seen

Have you ever felt you were invisible? Perhaps you have sometimes felt you were so insignificant nobody knew you even existed?

I have a garden shrub like that. It is weak and spindly and it leans on the trees growing around it for support. It weaves its way up through their branches and is so hidden you don't really see it. Its leaves are insignificant and its flowers are just five, simple, white petals forming a miniature saucer.

However, this plant has one attribute that makes it stand out from every other plant in the garden and that is its perfume. It is sweet and heady and you can smell it from the other end of the house and all down through the garden. For a few brief weeks every year, visitors close their eyes, sniff, and ask, "What is that heavenly perfume?"

Invisible and insignificant the shrub may be, but its perfume is its memorial. It reminds me of an uninvited, insignificant woman who broke open a jar of perfume at the feet of Jesus. He said, "I tell all of you with certainty, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told as a memorial to her." (Mark 14:9)

Her jar of perfume, like my shrub's perfume, was her memorial. Perhaps you, also, have a hidden memorial jar. Will you break it open at the feet of Jesus?

-elizabeth price 

paint

"Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." - Isaiah 1:18

This past Sunday, members of my church's Men's Ministry gathered in the Atrium of our church to paint the walls as this quarter's service project. The two-story walls have not been painted in almost 10 years and were showing signs of dirt, grime and few unsightly gouges. Our task was to repair areas where necessary and re-paint with the same white color.

If you've ever painted a wall with the same color, you know the problem that lay ahead; you can't tell where you've painted and where you haven't, except in those dirty areas where the new coat of fresh white paint stood out.

The dynamics of sin and grace have the same problem. We cannot fully understand or comprehend the magnitude of God's grace without realizing the magnitude of our sins and our helplessness to save ourselves. Salvation and redemption look the best when painted on the canvas of our fallen humanity.

The cost to bring us out of these shackles of sin is high...extremely high. After all, "the wages of sin is death!"  But Jesus stepped into our place, to take our sins upon His own back and die the death prescribed for us, so that we may be made righteous before God.

Grace may be freely given, but its cost was anything but free.

-glenn w. miller

plan

It is so easy to see ourselves as insignificant in a world with billions of people.  However, every one of us is an important part of God's plan! We have been given the directive to change the world, transforming it with His Good News.

"To the world you might just be another person, but to one person you may be the whole world."

D. L. Moody told the story of a man crossing the Atlantic by ship. One night, as he was confined to his cabin due to seasickness, he heard the cry, "Man overboard!" Being so weak from the seasickness, he felt as though there was nothing he could do to help, but said to himself, "At least I can put my lantern in the porthole." He struggled to his feet and hung the light so it would shine out into the darkness.

The next day he learned that the person had been rescued and had told others, "I was going down in the dark night for the last time when someone put a light in a porthole. As it shone on my hand, a sailor in a lifeboat grabbed it and pulled me in."

God has chosen us to reach out and light up lives, no matter how small or insignificant we may feel!

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’" Matthew 25:21

Are you leaving a mark in your neighborhood? Is it barely seen, or is it bold and permanent? What kind of steps can your family take to make sure you leave the right kind of mark for Christ?

settle

The story is told of a professor who stood before his class of 20 senior organic biology students, about to hand out the final exam.

"I want to say that it's been a pleasure teaching you this semester. I know you've all worked extremely hard and many of you are off to medical school after summer.  So that no one gets their GPA messed up because they might have been celebrating a bit too much this week, anyone who would like to opt out of the final exam today will receive a "B" for the course."

There was much rejoicing amongst the class as students got up, passed by the professor to thank him and sign out on his offer.  As the last taker left the room, the professor looked out over the handful of remaining students and asked, "Any one else?  This is your last chance." One final student rose up and took the offer.

The professor closed the door and took attendance of those students remaining.  "I'm glad to see you believe in yourself." he said.  "You all have "A's."

Too often, we're content to settle for second best.  A lot of students would be thrilled to settle for a "B" ("That's better than I usually get." "That's doing better than most of the others I know.").  And most students, I think, would rather get a "B" with little time spent studying, than to make the effort it takes to get an "A".

A lot of us are content to settle for second best in our spiritual lives as well.  We're close to God (at least closer than many people we know), but we aren't willing to take the time and the effort to have the kind of relationship we know God wants us to have.

The biggest problem with settling for second best is that we miss out on that which is best.

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.  She came to him and asked, 'Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?  Tell her to help me!'  'Martha, Martha,' the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.' " (Luke 10:42)

What Martha was doing was good (second best, even), but "Mary has chosen what is better."  May we always seek out and choose "what is better" in our relationship with God!
-alan smith

guest

Matthew 5:16 says, "Even so, let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."  While reading this passage tonight, I was reminded of a poem I learned as a teenager entitled "Sermons We See" by Edgar Guest.  The first line says, "I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day; I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way."  I pray that each of us would be "Living Sermons" - today and every day.   

"Sermons We See"

 

I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day;

I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.

The eye is a better pupil, more willing than the ear;

Fine counsel is confusing, but example is always clear,

And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,

For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.

I can soon learn how to do it if you will let me see it done;

I can watch your hand in action, but your tongue too fast may run.

And the lectures you deliver may be very wise and true,

But I'd rather get my lesson by observing what you do.

For I may misunderstand you and the high advice you give,

But there is no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.

One good man teaches many; men believe what they behold;

One deed of kindness noted is worth forty that are told.

Who stands with men of honor learns to hold his honor dear,

For right living speaks a language which to everyone is clear.

Though an able speaker charms me with his eloquence, I say,

I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day.

-edgar a. guest

1881-1959 

embroidery

When I was a little boy, my mother used to embroider a great deal. I would sit at her knee and look up from the floor and ask what she was doing. She informed me that she was embroidering. Looking at her work from the underside, I told her that it looked like a mess from where I was.

As I watched her work within the boundaries of the little round hoop that she held in her hand, I complained to her that it sure looked messy from where I sat. She would smile at me, look down and gently say, "My son, you go about your playing for awhile, and when I am finished with my embroidering, I will put you on my knee and let you see it from my side."

I would wonder why she was using some dark threads along with the bright ones and why they seemed so jumbled from my view. A few minutes would pass and then I would hear Mother's voice say, "Son, come and sit on my knee." This I did only to be surprised and thrilled to see a beautiful flower or a sunset. I could not believe it, because from underneath it looked so messy.

Then Mother would say to me, "My son, from underneath it did look messy and jumbled, but you did not realize that there was a pre-drawn plan on the top. It was a design. I was only following it. Now look at it from my side and you will see what I was doing."

Many times through the years I have looked up to my Heavenly Father and said, "Father, what are You doing?" He has answered, "I am embroidering your life." I say, "But it looks like a mess to me. It seems so jumbled. The threads seem so dark. Why can't they all be bright?" The Father seems to tell me, "'My child, you go about your business of doing My business, and one day I will bring you to Heaven and put you on My knee and you will see the plan from My side."

 

hurt

Grudge is one of those words that defines itself. Its very sound betrays its meaning.

Say it slowly: “Grr-uuuud-ge.”

It starts with a growl. “Grr…” Like a bear with bad breath coming out of hibernation or a mangy mongrel defending his bone in an alley. “Grrr…”

Remove a GR from the word grudge and replace it with SL and you have the junk that grudge bearers trudge through. Sludge. Black, thick, ankle-deep resentment that steals the bounce from the step. No joyful skips through the meadows. No healthy hikes up the mountain. Just day after day of walking into the storm, shoulders bent against the wind, and feet dragging through all the muck life has delivered.

Is this the way you are coping with your hurts? Are you allowing your hurts to turn into hates? If so, ask yourself: Is it working? Has your hatred done you any good? Has your resentment brought you any relief, any peace? Has it granted you any joy?

Let’s say you get even. Let’s say you get him back. Let’s say she gets what she deserves. Let’s say your fantasy of fury runs its ferocious course and you return all your pain with interest. Imagine yourself standing over the corpse of the one you have hated. Will you now be free?

The writer of the following letter thought she would be. She thought her revenge would bring release. But she learned otherwise.

I caught my husband with another woman. He swore it would never happen again. He begged me to forgive him, but I could not—would not. I was so bitter and so incapable of swallowing my pride that I could think of nothing but revenge. I was going to make him pay and pay dearly. I’d have my pound of flesh.

I filed for divorce, even though my children begged me not to.

Even after the divorce, my husband tried for two years to win me back. I refused to have anything to do with him. He had struck first; now I was striking back. All I wanted was to make him pay.

Finally he gave up and married a lovely young widow with a couple of small children. He began rebuilding his life—without me.

I see them occasionally, and he looks so happy. They all do. And here I am—a lonely, old, miserable woman who allowed her selfish pride and foolish stubbornness to ruin her life.

Unfaithfulness is wrong. Revenge is bad. But the worst part of all is that, without forgiveness, bitterness is all that is left.

The state of your heart dictates whether you harbor a grudge or give grace, seek self-pity or seek Christ, drink human misery or taste God’s mercy.

No wonder, then, the wise man pleads, “Above all else, guard your heart.” (Proverbs 4:23)

David’s prayer should be ours: “Create in me a pure heart, O God.” (Psalm 51:10)

-max lucado

burden

Come with me to the most populated prison in the world. The facility has more inmates than bunks. More prisoners than plates. More residents than resources.

 

Come with me to the world's most oppressive prison. Just ask the inmates; they will tell you. They are overworked and underfed. Their walls are bare and bunks are hard. No prison is so populated, no prison so oppressive, and, what's more, no prison is so permanent. Most inmates never leave. They never escape. They never get released. They serve a life sentence in this overcrowded, under-provisioned facility.

 

The name of the prison? You'll see it over the entrance. Rainbowed over the gate are four cast-iron letters that spell out its name: 

                                                                                        "W A N T"

The prison of "Want". You've seen her prisoners. They are "in want." They want something.They want something bigger. Nicer. Faster. Thinner. They want.

 

They don't want much, mind you. They want just one thing. One new job. One new car. One new house. One new spouse. They don't want much. They want just one.

 

And when they have that "one," they will be happy. When they have "one," they will leave the prison. But then it happens. The new car smell passes. The new job gets old. The neighbors buy a larger television set. The new spouse has bad habits. The sizzle fizzles, and before you know it, another ex-con breaks parole and returns to jail.

 

Are you in prison? You are if you feel better when you have more and worse when you have less. You are if joy is one delivery away, one transfer away, one award away, one person away, or just "one thing" away. If your happiness comes from something you deposit, drive, drink, or digest, then face it -- you are in prison, the prison of "W A N T".

 

"... for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."  (Philippians 4:11-12)

 

And what is that secret?  Paul answers that question in the next verse.  "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." [Philippians 4:13)

fire

"And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness." (Malachi 3:3)

There was a group of women in a Bible study on the book of Malachi.  As they were studying chapter three they came across verse three which says, "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.

One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and to report back to the group at their next Bible study. That week the woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that, in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest so as to burn away all the impurities.

 

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot - then she thought again about the verse, that He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver. She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. For if the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" 

 

He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's the easy part -- when I see my image reflected in it."

If you are feeling the heat of the fire today, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep His hand on you and watch over you until He sees His image in you.

hurting

Have you ever uttered the words "Why is this happening to me?  I mean, after all, we try to live right.  We pray, we go to church, we read our Bible, we try to be a good husband (or wife), but still this terrible thing has happened to me. What did I do to deserve this? Why did they treat me so badly? Why do things happen to hurt me so much? Where is God when I need him? Why did he allow this to happen?"

If you are looking for some fantastic, new revelation to answer these questions you're going to be disappointed, because I don't have one. I have only the old answers you have heard before, but that doesn't make them any less true.

You see, more than likely you don't deserve all the bad stuff that is happening to you.

Where is God and why didn't he stop it? He's still in heaven watching over his creation. Why didn't he stop it?  For the same reason he didn't stop it when they came and took his son to be crucified.

There are some things we just have to see through to the end on our own, not because He doesn't care, not because He doesn't love us, but because that is one way our faith and reliance upon Him grows and is strengthened.

There is a good chance you have heard the following story, because it is a favorite of preachers. A man tells that one morning he had discovered a cocoon in the bark of a tree. He noticed that a butterfly was trying to emerge from the cocoon. He waited a while, but it took so long. Finally, he decided to help the poor creature along. Slowly and carefully he tore the cocoon to help the butterfly escape. The butterfly started to come out, but its wings were folded back and crumpled. The butterfly valiantly struggled but could not make it and soon died. The man had forced the butterfly to come out before its time without a struggle. As he held the little body in his hands he realized the terrible thing that he had done. It was the struggle to come out of the cocoon the butterfly needed to pump the fluids into its wings and give it strength - without the struggle it died.

If you are going through tough times right now or if you do in the future, don't label God as uncaring and don't give up on Him. It may be that you need to strengthen your wings of faith to be what you're supposed to be. If he reached out and interfered, you may never grow into what he has intended you to be. Paul writes "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthinas 10:13)

what....?

Have you ever uttered the words "Why is this happening to me?  I mean, after all, we try to live right.  We pray, we go to church, we read our Bible, we try to be a good husband (or wife), but still this terrible thing has happened to me. What did I do to deserve this? Why did they treat me so badly? Why do things happen to hurt me so much? Where is God when I need him? Why did he allow this to happen?"

If you are looking for some fantastic, new revelation to answer these questions you're going to be disappointed, because I don't have one. I have only the old answers you have heard before, but that doesn't make them any less true.

You see, more than likely you don't deserve all the bad stuff that is happening to you.

Where is God and why didn't he stop it? He's still in heaven watching over his creation. Why didn't he stop it?  For the same reason he didn't stop it when they came and took his son to be crucified.

There are some things we just have to see through to the end on our own, not because He doesn't care, not because He doesn't love us, but because that is one way our faith and reliance upon Him grows and is strengthened.

There is a good chance you have heard the following story, because it is a favorite of preachers. A man tells that one morning he had discovered a cocoon in the bark of a tree. He noticed that a butterfly was trying to emerge from the cocoon. He waited a while, but it took so long. Finally, he decided to help the poor creature along. Slowly and carefully he tore the cocoon to help the butterfly escape. The butterfly started to come out, but its wings were folded back and crumpled. The butterfly valiantly struggled but could not make it and soon died. The man had forced the butterfly to come out before its time without a struggle. As he held the little body in his hands he realized the terrible thing that he had done. It was the struggle to come out of the cocoon the butterfly needed to pump the fluids into its wings and give it strength - without the struggle it died.

If you are going through tough times right now or if you do in the future, don't label God as uncaring and don't give up on Him. It may be that you need to strengthen your wings of faith to be what you're supposed to be. If he reached out and interfered, you may never grow into what he has intended you to be. Paul writes "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthinas 10:13)

major

David just showed up that morning. He had left his sheep-watching to deliver bread and cheese to his brothers on the battle front. That’s where David hears Goliath defying God.

 

Read the first words he spoke:  "David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26)

 

David shows up discussing God.  The soldiers mentioned nothing about him, the brothers never spoke his name, but David takes one step onto the stage and raises the subject of the living God...

 

No one else discusses God. David discusses no one else but God!!!

 

David sees what others don’t and refuses to see what others do. All eyes, except David’s, fall on the brutal, hate-breathing hulk,,,  The people know his taunts, his demands, his size, and his strut.

They have majored in Goliath.  David majors in God. 

He sees the giant, mind you; he just sees God more so.  Look carefully at David’s battle cry: “David said to the Philistine, You come against me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” (1 Sam. 17:45)

 

Prayer:  Lord God, train us to walk on your path. Teach us to see you in situations that are dangerous and difficult. Like David, when we are surrounded by overwhelming challenges may our thoughts and words turn first to you. Rather than discuss the problem, remind us to discuss you. May our first thought in the morning and our last thought at night be centered on you. Rather than worry about the impossibilities, let us major in your mighty power. When we am tempted to look at the giants in our lives, we will choose to look at you, Amen.

 

dresser

A woman is dying from an STD.  A minister is summoned to visist with her.  He attempts to share God's love with her, but to no avail.

"I am lost," she said. "I have ruined my life and every life around me.  Now I'm going painfully to hell.  There is no hope for me."

The minister saw a framed picture of a pretty girl on the dresser. "Who is this?" he asked.

The woman brightened. "She is my daughter, the one beautiful thing in my life."

"And would you help her if she was in trouble, or made a mistake? Would you forgive her? Would you still love her?"

"Of course I would!" cried the woman, "I would do anything for her! Why do you ask such a question?"

"Because I want you to know," said the minister, "that God has a picture of you on His dresser."

...wait

"...but those who wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint."  (Isaiah 40:31)

 

We spend many minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years rushing through life only to find ourselves waiting, waiting, and waiting some more.   We wait at the doctor's office; we wait at the grocery store; we wait at the post office; we wait at the pharmacy; we wait for our children to grow up and then anxiously wait for them to come home again. Waiting is hard, exasperating work. The fact that we hate to wait has created a "quick fix" society.

 

We microwave our food;

We pump our own gas;

We process our words on a computer;

We write notes of affection on the internet (not paper);

We jet to locations far and near;

We hear news from across the world in fractions of a second;

We eat out because it takes too much time to cook...  and so on.

 

In our world, waiting is bad. However, in God's world, waiting is good. God has given us many instructions on the necessity of waiting. Let's look at some of these:

 

"My soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation." (Psalm 62:1)

 

"Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart" (Psalm 27:14)

 

"Blessed is he who waits..." (Daniel 12:12)

 

"We have waited for Him and He will save us." (Isaiah 25:9)

 

"I will wait for You, O You his Strength; for God is my defense." (Psalm 59:9)

 

Did you notice the words used by those who wait on God? These are not words of frustration and confusion. These are words of strength, salvation and blessings. Waiting on God, as David, Isaiah and many others learned, means letting go and letting God. It involves study, reflection, prayer, solitude and time apart from the world.

 

We microwave...

    God works miracles.

We rush...

    God refreshes.

We get angry and impatient...

    God gets busy reorganizing our priorities.

 

Hurry Up And Wait!

Spend time giving time to God.

Block out a section of your calendar for the Son of Man.

Then sit quietly...

     sh... shhhh... and wait on God.