It’s Ok

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

I recently watched a video of America’s Got Talent from four years ago. A young woman singing under the name of Nightbirde sang an original song titled “It’s Ok.” But things weren’t really ok in her life. She had had cancer for several years and had been given only a two percent change of survival. Yet she lived with a life full of joy and happiness. She said, and I quote, “it’s important that everyone knows that I’m so much more than the bad things that happen to me.” And when she sang the words of her song, the calmness and confidence in her voice earned her the golden buzzer. She said that you don’t have to wait until your life is perfect in order to be happy.

And she’s right.

There was a look of astonishment on the face of each of the judges as they listened to her story. Those judges who had fame and fortune at their fingertips were very unsure of how to handle someone who was so calmly dealing with a life threatening illness. Little did they know at that audition that this young woman had only months to live. Oh. They gave her high praise, saying her performance was very powerful and authentic. They were touched not only by her voice, but also with her story.

You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy. That’s what she said, and she meant it. She lived through hard times, and yet she was glowing with peace and happiness. Knowing that she had only a two percent change of surviving the cancer that was ravaging her body, she lived well. And she lived forgiven.

This young woman was a child of God. She had laid her fears and faults and sins at the feet of her Savior, and he had forgiven her. She knew that if the ninety-eight percent chance of dying came true, she would spend eternity with Jesus Christ. And that’s where she is today. She’s in eternity. She didn’t let fear of the unknown diminish her joy.

I dare to ask myself. If I had a two percent change of surviving some horrendous disease, how happy and calm would I be? I’m not sure I can answer that today, because I haven’t been dealt that diagnosis. I don’t know how I would respond to a medical death sentence. Would I calmly look death in the face and keep moving forward? Would I fight back? Would I look for alternate treatments? Would I listen to my doctors? Would I stand strong in the face of pain and suffering? Would I shrivel up in the fetal position and not get out of bed? I don’t know.

And the song that she sang. It’s Ok. She believed it was ok that her life was falling apart. That there was a high probability she wouldn’t grow old. That she would lose her life before it ever really began. And she was ok with that? If I were in her shoes, would I be ok? I don’t know.

Her friend said that “Jesus is why Jane believed a painfully tragic life could still be worth living—that life could be beautiful even when the world came crashing down.” Do I believe that to be true? Absolutely, yes, I do.

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:2-3

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

We don’t have to be facing a death sentence in order for life to be difficult. We don’t have to be staring the end of life in the eye in order to be weakened by fear and the feeling of defeat. It could be getting up and going to a difficult job each day. Or, it could be facing a brand new situation that puts us way outside of our comfort zone. It could be a spontaneous moment when we are put on the spot and forced to defend our beliefs in a public setting. It could be a forced premature ending of a marriage we thought would survive until death us do part. It could be a financial crisis we’re facing. It could be the consequences of a very poor decision.

What I do know is that God is the God of the ages. He is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Everything that comes our way is ordained and approved by him. Just as he allowed Satan to sift the life of Job down to ashes, he could do the same to us without our consent. Will we still trust him? Will we, at the end of the day, say it’s ok that my life has fallen apart? Will we say that these grim circumstances that we face are worth every moment of suffering as we wait to stand in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?

There are many curves in the road of life as our faith is refined, and much of that is out of our control. Oh. We don’t have to sit back and watch life fall apart. We can do our part to pick up the pieces as we place our complete trust in God. As we come to learn through our times of suffering that the sole source of our strength is the Lover of our souls, we can look forward to eternity at the end of our days with calmness and confidence in our Savior.

In the midst of our suffering, can we sing to the God who is with us in our suffering? The song may not be joyful, but the joy of the Lord can remain in us even during those low days. We can have the joy of the Lord within us regardless of our circumstances. During our pain, we can sing songs of lament but we don’t have to wallow in it.

Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. 2 Corinthians 6:10

It Will Be Worth It All

Sometimes the day seems long,
Our trials hard to bear.
We´re tempted to complain,
to murmur and despair.
But Christ will soon appear
to catch his bride away!
All tears forever over
in God’s eternal day!

CHORUS:
It will be worth it all
when we see Jesus!
Life’s trials will seem so small
when we see Christ.
One glimpse of his dear face,
all sorrow will erase.
So, bravely run the race
till we see Christ.

At times the sky seems dark,
with not a ray of light;
We’re tossed and driven on,
no human help in sight.
But there is One in heaven,
Who knows our deepest care;
Let Jesus solve your problems,
just go to him in prayer.

Life’s day will soon be o’re,
all storms forever past;
We’ll cross the great divide
to Glory, safe at last!
We’ll share the joys of heaven:
a harp, a home, a crown;
The tempter will be banished,
We’ll lay our burdens down.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:1-6

Don’t Be Misguided

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The guy on the podcast I was listening to said that the world is watching to see if a believer’s conduct lines up with their confession of faith. And we know that’s true. There are watchers of people of faith. Who knows if they’re intentionally or unintentionally watching anyone who calls themselves a believer, but some notice when a Christian is in or out of line with what they say they believe. But we also have to know that God himself knows all about us. All the good and the bad and the ugly. He knows it all. He sees it all.

Justin Martyr, a Christian apologist from AD155 said that it is for us Christians to offer to all the opportunity of inspecting our life and teachings. That means we can’t rely on our own understanding, but we must trust in the Lord. We aren’t reliable when left to our own devices. We’re easily swayed by the ideas and opinions of others who seem confident in their own beliefs. We can be easily misguided if we’re not careful of who we’re following or listening to. Whether it’s the pastor of the latest megachurch. Or the best selling author. Or the most downloaded podcaster. Or the slickest politician. Or the newest spiritual fad. We can’t just trust every word we hear from those we listen to. We must do our own study and research. And most importantly, we must study to show ourselves approved when it comes to living out our faith.

Oh sure. Others will be watching to see how we live out our faith. But our Heavenly Father is watching always and forever. We can’t escape his eye or his knowledge of our ways. So, more importantly than doing the “right thing” for others to see, we must most importantly do the “biblical thing” as God directs us. And in order for us to know the biblical thing to do, we must read the Bible. We must study God’s word so we know exactly what God requires of us.

I recently read that, as believers, we shouldn’t have to ask God to guide us because He is automatically guiding those who have put their faith in him. But we must know the truths that he has put in place for his followers. We must be prepared to act on the trust we say we have in Him when push comes to shove. We can’t depend on our own understanding, our own interpretation of right and wrong, when we’re in the fire. We can be wishy washy. Untrustworthy. Unless our complete trust is in God, we may lean on our own misguided ideas.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6

The question is. Do we really trust Jesus? As believers, do we put our entire trust in Him for every aspect of our lives? If not, what are we holding onto for our own personal purposes? What part of our lives do we trust ourselves with more than we trust God? Are our ways higher than God’s ways? The Bible would say definitely not. So, why do we think we know better than God?

For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9

We’ve heard the famous saying “come as you are” when we come to Jesus. We’re told we don’t have to pretty up our behavior. We can come to Him asking for forgiveness with all the ugliness and awfulness of our lives in tow. But does Jesus really say that in the Bible? Actually, there’s no Bible verse that says those specific words, but Jesus does accept us as we are when we come to him in genuine repentance. We don’t have to change before we seek his forgiveness. But the thing is. We can’t stay as we are. We must change after we have asked him to forgive our sins. If we say that Jesus is Lord of our lives, then we must live as if what we said was true. We must live in accordance with our repentance and confession of faith. Otherwise, we are lying not only to ourselves but to the world and to God himself.

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23

So. If we say Jesus is Lord of our lives, then we have to trust Him. Oh. It’s a daily dying to ourselves and laying down our faith in ourselves. We must daily hand over our own desires and leanings to Jesus Christ. We must allow our will to be bent to line up with the teachings of our Savior. We aren’t better than Him. As ones who say we have bowed our wills to Him, we must then bow daily to His will. We must honor him not only with our lips, but also with our hearts and actions. How can we say we follow our Lord and Savior if we neglect His teachings and corrections? How can we say we’re His followers if we continually disobey and dishonor Him? Who do we think we are?

And so the Lord says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote. Isaiah 29:13

Much To Be Thankful For

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Oswald Chambers says it best when he says that troubles almost always make us look to God, but His blessings tend to divert our attention elsewhere. Isn’t that the truth? As I sit here in my warm house, I’m faced with a second day of plumbers trying to figure out why my water isn’t running. They have to resolve that issue before they can repair the burst water line that froze in the very cold temperatures over the weekend. There is now a hole in my kitchen ceiling awaiting repair.

The fun never ends with this house. We’ve lived here not quite five months, but it’s beginning to feel like five years. I have a bathtub full of water that is used for flushing toilets. I have bottles and gallon jugs of water ready for cooking. Every sound I hear makes me wonder if there is another leak in this house we thought was so awesome. Oh. It is still an awesome house, but I’m becoming weary.

I’m reading the book of Job right now in my yearly chronological read of the Bible. I know that my troubles are nothing like his. He lost everything. All he owned and all his children in a single day were just gone. Then he got boils all over his body. His wife told him to curse God and die. His friends tried to give him advice, but they had no clue. Oh. I know my life is nothing like Job’s, and if I’m honest I don’t want it to be.

Now. I know I’m not being persecuted for my faith, as the Bible says Christians can expect. And I’m not really living through a Job experience. I know all that. But for the last four and a half months, I’ve lived through more home repair issues than I’ve ever experienced in my entire life. And I’m tired of it.

You can make many plans, but the Lord ’s purpose will prevail. Proverbs 19:21

Oh. I’ve always dreamed of a rosy life. No hardships. No failures. No troubles or trials. No sickness. No empty bank account. Just a good and easy life. And really, if I’m honest. I have a good life. And it’s relatively easy. Oh. I’ve had hardships and failures. I’ve had troubles and trials. I’ve had minor sickness and definitely an empty bank account. But I’ve survived. And so far, I’m still standing. But I can’t take all the credit. I have a faith in God that is steady and continuing to grow. I know that as the Ruler of the universe, his plans are perfect. He directs my path just as he directs the blowing of the wind. God does not play favorites, so everyone of us can expect some good and not so good things in life.

And just when I’m in the midst of moaning and complaining, I feel as if a miracle has happened. Oh sure. I’ve had plumbers in my house two days in a row. And both days I was told that I would need to replace the water softener that was installed only four months ago. The plumbers weren’t even here to look at the water softener, but they assumed because water wasn’t coming out of the faucets that the water softener was the problem. But these plumbers got it all wrong. Somehow, they didn’t recognize that some of the water pipes were slightly frozen. And when a different team of plumbers arrived the next day, the water had thawed and was running freely.

Just to be clear. The plumbers on the first day got everything wrong. We didn’t have frozen pipes above the kitchen. That leak was caused by water coming from either the leaky roof or snow that had blown into the house and melted onto our kitchen ceiling, causing a huge mess. But they didn’t catch the fact that the reason the water wasn’t running was because of frozen pipes in the crawl space. And they cut the lines to the water softener, because they thought that was the problem. The plumbers on the second day realized there were no busted pipes above the kitchen, but they also said that we would need a new water softener. I’m not sure if they wanted to back up the story from their coworkers who misdiagnosed everything on the first day, but they were all wrong.

I called my kind next door neighbor who is also my water softener guy, and he sent his dad over to check out the situation. He quickly figured out the problem and solved it. There is nothing wrong with the water softener, and there never was. He was very kind not to insult the poor diagnosis given by the plumbers, but we both knew they had greatly misdiagnosed the problem. Once again, it pays to have a very kind neighbor. He didn’t charge me a penny for the repair work. He said it would have been covered under the warranty, anyway, if they would have replaced the equipment.

I did nothing to deserve the kindness of my neighbor, but once again he has extended grace when he didn’t need to. He has a business to run, and he has to keep the lights on so he can’t give everything away. But his father said they don’t charge for repairs such as mine, and for that I’m extremely grateful.

However, I am still waiting for the roofing repairs to be completed.

It’s a great reminder that some days we get things wrong and other days we get things right. I’m not angry with the plumbers, but I will not be as trusting the next time I might need them. Oh. We all make mistakes as we go through life, and some cost us and some cost others. We do need to show grace to those who have wronged us, either intentionally or unintentionally, as hard as it may be. But we would also want others to show kindness and forgiveness to us when we have wronged them.

Life is one big lesson of learning. One minute we can be anxious and frustrated, and then turn around and get good news that melts all of those pent up feelings. It just goes to show that we can’t live on our feelings, because they are fickle and unpredictable. Our faith needs to be firmly grounded in Jesus Christ, the One who will never fail us. He won’t make a wrong diagnosis or lead us astray. His ways are always perfect.

For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. Matthew 5:45

Like a Good Neighbor

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

I saw him through the window. He was shoveling the snow off my driveway with his seven-year old daughter. As they walked up the driveway, I opened the door to thank them. Here’s what he said to me. “You don’t mind if I do this, do you?” He asked if I minded if he shoveled my driveway. That was on Monday. Later in the week, after it had snowed all day Friday, he used the snowblower on my driveway. Again, when I opened the door to thank him, he asked the same question. “You don’t mind if I do this, do you?” What a kind man. He’s a good neighbor.

He called me one morning this week. This kind neighbor of mine. He asked if my house was staying warm in this frigid temperature. The previous week, I had told him that the furnace hadn’t been keeping the house warm. Oh. I had a repairman come out to solve the problem. It was a very minor repair. And my neighbor was calling just to see if I had a warm house. We had a very nice conversation as he began his workday that morning. What a kind man. He’s a good neighbor.

These aren’t the first acts of kindness this man has shown to his new neighbors. He has offered to drop off bags of salt to refill my water softener tank each month. He stopped by one day just to tell us that he had run into our brother-in-law at a football game. Knowing that my husband works out of state, he called me on Thanksgiving Day to make sure I wasn’t alone. A couple of days later, he dropped off some leftover turkey for us. He seems to have a genuine interest in getting to know the man of the house and makes an effort to stop by and talk to him almost every time he’s in town. He offered to help stain the deck next summer. And he offered to help clean out the firepit. He has a much bigger yard that requires many more hours of work than our property demands. And he has a family who depends on him. Yet he takes time out of his busy schedule to offer kindness and help to an aging couple next door. What a kind man. He’s a good neighbor.

A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.

Proverbs 11:17

Last week when the furnace was struggling to heat our house, everyone in our small group Bible study offered their empty bedrooms if I needed a place to stay.  Now, mind you, these people barely know me.  I’m new to the church, and I’ve only attended the group three times. But these fine Christian warriors are true neighbors, indeed. They’ve texted me to see if the furnace is working while my husband is out of town. They made sure to check on me at church to see if the house is warm.  They’re kind people.  They’re good neighbors.

Some may think there aren’t many good and kind people left on this earth.  But I’ve found a few good ones these last few months after our move to a new state.  These people aren’t lifelong friends or even family.  They’re new acquaintances who I hope will become lifelong friends for the length of time I have left on this earth.

And let me tell you about the goodness and kindness of my family members who live close by.  My brother-in-law dropped off extra space heaters to make sure I was warm enough. And he worked on my car when it wasn’t running properly. When our dog was on her deathbed, my sister came over and stayed with me during the final moments of my dog’s life. And they’ve fed me countless times. They’re kind people.  They’re good neighbors.

I didn’t grow up with next door neighbors. I grew up on a farm surrounded by fields. Oh. We had neighbors, but we could only see their houses clearly through the lens of the binoculars. And I didn’t mind being so far from anyone. So, as I’ve lived in true neighborhoods all my adult life I’ve seen how neighborly some people are and some people aren’t. Oh. My parents and other surrounding farmers were neighborly, all right. Even though we didn’t live next door to anyone, others were kind to our family. And my parents were kind to others. They helped each other out in times of need.

Whether we have next door neighbors or not, we can still be a good neighbor. We can still extend the hand of friendship to others who are in need. Just this week, I met the women from my small group for lunch. They were talking of the good deeds that they and others have extended to needy ones in the church. They weren’t bragging. They were just talking about the little things they’ve done over the years for others in a moment of need. That’s the kind of neighbor I want to be. Oh. It’s grand to have a great neighbor, but the help shouldn’t be one-sided. I need to keep my eyes and ears open for someone in need and then offer help. It does the soul good to be on the giving end.

The Bible tells us to treat others in the same way we would like to be treated. So, as followers of Christ, being good and kind to others should be a part of who we are. It shouldn’t be forced, but it should be a natural extension of our own blessed lives. As we see people who need a helping hand, we can extend ours with love and generosity. If each of us does our part to make our own corner of the world a place of care and giving, who knows what can happen. Let’s do our part and find out.

Do to others as you would like them to do to you. Luke 6:31

Living Through the Fire

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I don’t recall any of the events I’m about to share, but here are things I know. I lived through a house fire. I was roughly two years old when our family home caught fire. I was too young to remember any of the details. I don’t recall smelling the smoke throughout the day but not knowing where it was coming from. I don’t remember seeing the house in flames as my parents tried to save us as well as some of the household items. I don’t remember my six year old brother getting off the school bus to see his home going up in flames. I don’t know if my parents even had a phone in the house at the time. I have no recollection of any part of that day. I was way too young. But I know it happened, because my parents talked about it on occasion. But rarely. They never went into detail of the horrors that day. All I remember them saying was that there was a fire in the attic flue that they weren’t aware of until it was much too late.

The only things I remember that were saved, along with us four kids, was a cushion off the couch and my mother’s wedding dress. I don’t know if they were able to save any other furniture or clothes. I don’t know if they had to rely on family and friends to refill our new home with everything a home needs, but I’m sure they did. I know my birth certificate didn’t survive the fire. They did save some pictures, but I don’t remember what else from my early days of childhood survived.

When my dad built the house that we moved into later and my parents lived in for the next fifty years, I was subconsciously afraid that our house would burn down. When we moved into the new house, I was still very young. It was a ranch style house with a rough finished basement where we lived for seven years before the upstairs was completed. Every night when I went to bed as a child, I would pray that our house wouldn’t burn down in the middle of the night. My two sisters and I shared a bedroom that was next to the “furnace” room. It was a coal furnace, and in my child’s mind it was exactly like the furnace that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into. But the door of our furnace was a small square that would be impossible to walk into. But I could imagine the three men walking around in our furnace with the fourth person who joined them. Being so young and not remembering the fire, I was so afraid that the furnace would explode at night on the other side of my bedroom wall. I was afraid we would be caught in the fire and be unable to escape. Thankfully, that never happened.

As I see the horrific photos and videos of the fires of LA, I am appalled that such a travesty is happening. At this point, it is unknown if it was intentional or not. One can only hope and pray that it wasn’t. But I’ve read that due to mismanagement of the forests and funding, it was only a matter of time until a fire of epic proportions flattened the city, or at least portions of it. I think of the families and lives that have been disrupted. Some will never return to what was once normal for a very long time. These fires are as disturbing as the hurricane that disrupted and displaced so many lives in North Carolina and nearby states a few months ago.

We wonder and ask if these horrible events could have been prevented. We may never know.

Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:1-3

As I sit in my comfortable home, I think of the events of my week. Oh. I’ve had the heating man out to tell me why the furnace wasn’t heating our house properly. It was a very minor fix. And then the next day, the roofing guy was here to tell me why we had a leaky roof. This too seems to require a minor repair. All in a day’s work, some might say. I don’t have to worry about where I’ll sleep tonight or if I have a home to go to at the end of the day. I have insurance on my home if a natural disaster would occur. I have a home warranty that will help with repairs. I have a deed that says I own my home. I feel secure at the moment, but we all know that secure moments are fleeting. We don’t know when the winds of change will blow and remove all the security we once felt.

My parents didn’t own the home that burned.  They were renting it.  I don’t know if they had insurance or if insurance was even available.  But I do know that they rebuilt their lives. They didn’t let the tragic loss mar their lives forever. Sure. It was a monumental loss.  Losing your home and earthly possessions is beyond tragic.  It’s devastating.  They didn’t lose their faith in God or in humanity.  They just rebuilt and trusted that God would provide.  And He did.  For some, such a tragedy would test their faith, but my parents’ response to their loss was a testimony to their faith.  Oh.  I’m sure they were shaken to the core, but their faith wasn’t shaken.  At the time, they had four young children entrusted to their care, and they didn’t shirk their duty. Their faith remained strong, and they picked themselves up out of the ashes and rebuilt their lives.

Oh. The fires of LA are much larger and much more devastating than one small house fire. Any house fire and loss of property is tragic, but entire communities of families and businesses have been lost. Most lives have been saved, but it will take years to rebuild. Some may choose to never return. Many had lost their homeowners insurance just months earlier. What will they do? Only time will tell.

When we walk through the fires, we will be tested. Our faith in God can be the testament to others that we never walk alone when we walk through the fire or the flood. God is our ever present help in time of trouble, and he will not leave us. We may lose all earthly possessions, but God is with us even in the deepest, darkest trials of life. He never changes. He knows our names and he loves us with an everlasting love, regardless of our circumstances. Let’s hold tightly to that promise in the days ahead.

I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord ; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord ’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the Lord , and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Psalms 34:1-8

When Persecution Matters

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We are told throughout the Bible that as Christians we can expect to be persecuted for our faith. After all, the disciples of Jesus were imprisoned, beaten, tortured and killed for following him. Our culture may not be as barbaric as theirs was, but we should not be surprised when we face persecution of some sort. Oh. We may not be put in prison or beaten or tortured or killed. But then again, we may.

Our lifestyle of faith will not be accepted in many circles these days. Does that mean we should stay sequestered in our homes? Does that mean we should remain silent about the God we serve? Should we abstain from speaking up about our convictions when they differ from those who could make life difficult for us in our place of employment or any other place we go?

Have you ever wondered what would happen to someone else’s faith if they knew you were facing heavy persecution? Do you imagine that they were be silent and run in the opposite direction? Because some would. But not everyone. All some people need to see is that one who speaks up. The one who stands up for truth at all costs. And they are emboldened to do the same. Most people don’t really want to be the one to start a revolution, but it takes one willing soul to start it. Oh. It may be only one person who steps forward to continue the fight. But one is better than none. 

The knowledge that someone is being persecuted for their beliefs may cause some to remain silent. Not everyone is a risk taker or is willing to pursue the truth, come what may. But there are those who are willing to pick up the mantle and carry the fight through for the next generation. 

The apostle Paul knew what it meant to suffer for his faith. While he was in prison, he wrote to the church in Philippi encouraging the believers to stay strong in their faith. And because of his eloquent faith, the believers were emboldened to speak confidently of theirs, as well. Knowing full well that they could come to the same situation as Paul found himself in, they stood by him and stood strong. They were not deterred by seeing one of their own being persecuted for voicing his beliefs.

If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. John 15:18-20

And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear. Philippians 1:12-14

The spiral of silence theory tells us that an individual’s perception of the distribution of public opinion influences that individual’s willingness to express their own opinions. John Stonestreet of the Colson Center says that when people are silent about an injustice or falsehood, even if they personally disagree, more people will be silent. So it’s easy to see why people stay silent. But when only one person dares to speak up, others feel empowered to speak, as well. No one wants to be alone.

In his book, The 1916 Project, Seth Gruber tells the story of Anna Bowden, who was a missionary in India. She had a burning desire and calling to share the good news of Jesus Christ to a lost country. Earlier missionaries to the area had not challenged the cultural beliefs and practices, even if those practices opposed biblical teachings. But Anna was different. She courageously spoke up against the Hindu practice of the infanticide of girls and sacrificing widows on their dead husband’s funeral pyres. She was killed in an attack on her mission station due to her outspokenness against this pagan cruelty. Gruber writes that “Anna Bowden changed the world by her life and by her death because she knew the kingdom of God would have the final say. Though our circumstances may be quite different from Bowden’s in rural India, we have the same choice before us. We can hide our lives in safety and security, or we can spend them on that which is eternal.”

But this young woman’s death ignited the courage of other missionaries. Gruber continues on to say that “within India, missionary communities that had played it safe previously were emboldened and renewed their efforts. The result was the sort of fruit that hadn’t been seen in a generation.” Just as Paul’s imprisonment caused other believers to gain confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear, Anna Bowden’s death stirred other missionaries to take up the cause of the the sanctity of life regardless of India’s Hindu culture.

I wonder if the silent Germans ever looked back at the end of their lives and wished they had spoken up in support of their Jewish neighbors who were marched off to internment camps, never to be seen again. As we go about our lives, can we stand tall with a clear conscience because we speak up for our beliefs, or are we unable to look those in the eye who have suffered because of our silence? It’s not only that we must speak up for our biblical beliefs, but we must also speak up against the wrongs being doled out in the name of cultural acceptance. When we know how to biblically treat our neighbors and don’t do it, how can we expect to stand in judgment before our God and be rewarded for a life well lived?

Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. 2 Timothy 2:8-10

Human Conflict Defined

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

Cardinal Henry Edward Manning was a nineteenth century Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster. I never met the man. Obviously. But he made a statement that I recently read that I can’t get out of my mind. He said that all human conflict is ultimately theological. That statement tells the story of all the conflict this world faces. It’s a simple but profound statement, and the solution is as well. The solution, however, isn’t easy doable within human abilities. It’s the theological differences that must be addressed. We all know there are many theologies held in this world. And many will argue that their theology is the one true theology. So who’s to say who is right and who is wrong?

We read about conflicts throughout the Bible. Theological differences were the cause of wars amongst neighboring countries. Conflicts didn’t occur only between countries, but also between a king and his people. Perhaps the king was a dictator and the people revolted. He wanted control and his people wanted fairness.

Consider world events that are taking place. Multiple wars have started in the last few years. One country pitted against the other. One belief system against another. Both countries believe they are in the right and the other is wrong. They can’t seem to settle their disagreements. Perhaps they don’t want to settle. And so they fight.

We see in election cycles the two political parties at odds with each other. Behind the scenes, one party may have plans to thwart any advances the other party makes. One candidate starts slinging mud in the direction of the other party, and then some is thrown back in their face. And back and forth it goes.

Businessmen disagree and can tear a business apart with their differences. Marriages are dismantled when two people who vowed for better or for worse can’t get past the worst.

Battles have been fought over right and wrong, liberal and conservative, left and right ideals throughout the history of mankind. It all began when the serpent tempted Eve to eat the fruit God had told her and Adam to never eat. And thus began the war of theologies.

Whether we realize it or not when we argue an opinion or where we stand on any issue, it comes from our worldview. Is our worldview based on biblical teaching, or is it based on something else? Do we use secular thoughts to guide our decision making? Do we cut biblical thinking out when we are voicing our ideas, our political leanings or when giving advice? Or, do we search the Scriptures and allow them to guide us?

But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! Matthew 5:44

Where a person stands on social issues today speaks of their theological beliefs. Everyone’s belief system guides and influences their opinions and issues they support. Abortion vs. right to life. Sexuality. Immigration. Race. Police protection. Free speech. Euthanasia. Globalism. Each side of the argument presents arguments that are based on their theology. But personal theology doesn’t seem to be discussed during arguments of differences. It doesn’t seem to be publicly considered, but it is at the heart of the argument. It is the elephant in the room. Perhaps if theological differences were identified and addressed, proper discussions could be had with an agreement to disagree.

Every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different than it was before. And taking your life as a whole, with all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing into a heavenly creature or a hellish creature: either a creature that is in harmony with God, and with other creatures, and with itself, or else into one that is in a state of war and hatred with God, and with its fellow creatures, and with itself. To be the one kind of creature is heaven: that is, it is joy and peace and knowledge and power. To be the other is madness, horror, idiocy, rage impotence and eternal loneliness. Each of us at each moment is progressing to the one state or the other.

― C.S. Lewis

Our Christian faith is personal, but it should never be private. So when we let others know that we’re a Christian, they will know if what we say is Christian. They may be surprised to learn that someone who calls themselves Christian would believe a certain way or have a certain hobby or lifestyle. Because. Those who don’t call themselves Christian seem to think they know how a Christian should live. Right or wrong. And when a Christian voices a thought or opinion that sharply contrasts with what the nonbeliever thinks, the Christian must be willing to defend their belief and not compromise their faith.

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 1 Peter 3:15-16

The thing is. As Christians, we can’t compromise our biblical beliefs. We can never bend the knee to sin and continue to live in fellowship with our Savior. So when we find ourselves being asked to compromise our beliefs, we must stop and ask ourselves if the compromise would build or weaken our relationship with God. Would it put us one step closer or farther from eternity with our Savior? Are we willing to risk our soul being lost for eternity by compromising our beliefs for a moment of peace on earth?

Our spirituality informs our behavior. If we have a habit of lying or stealing, our form of spirituality is showing. If we set it in our hearts to always speak honestly and live with integrity, our spiritual life is on display. A spiritual life doesn’t necessarily mean that someone is living biblically. Spirituality is not based only on biblical teachings. Many religions are based on a human’s teachings and promote forms of spirituality that do not lead to God.

When God through His sovereignty brings us into new situations, we should immediately make sure that our natural life submits to the spiritual, obeying the orders of the Spirit of God. –Oswald Chambers

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

All human conflict is ultimately theological. –Cardinal Henry Edward Manning

When the Soul Rejoices

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

She was a teenager. Betrothed to marry a young man. Basically, they were in a legally binding contract which required them to wait a year to formalize their marriage. They were not to spend much time together or consummate their marriage until it was formalized. But she was visited by an angel who told her she would have a child. And she found herself pregnant without ever sleeping with a man. And without formalizing her marriage. This was not acceptable in her culture. She could pay with her life.

Imagine the scorn and ridicule this young woman faced as she walked the dusty streets of the village. As her belly grew, so did the rumors. The taunts from the townspeople may have drowned out the promises the angel gave her. The friends she once had may not have been so friendly now that she was with child. She was in uncharted territory. A betrothed young man could choose to have her stoned to death if he didn’t want to live with the embarrassment. To be a pregnant unwed woman was not for the faint of heart. Her social standing and future were hanging on a precarious precipice if the young man who had promised to be her husband backed out of the arrangement. She could be sacrificed, and he would be free to find a more virtuous wife.

She was young. Very young. And the young man, who was a distant descendant of King David, didn’t want to disgrace her. He decided to divorce her quietly. But then the angel who had surprised Mary with the news of her impending motherhood also visited Joseph in his dreams. The child is divinely conceived, he was told. She has not been unfaithful to you. She is faithful to me and to you and will have a son. You will name him Jesus, and he will save his people from their sins.

Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:19-21

This period in Mary’s life was full of tests and trials. Instead of pitying herself, she rose to the challenge set before her. She embraced the will of God and put each foot forward as she walked into an unknown future. As unfamiliar prophetic words were spoken over her, she took it all in stride and remained faithful to the call of God, her heavenly Father. She did not know the trials that lay before her throughout her life. Perhaps she knew the veiled prophecies of the Promised Messiah, but were they truly clear in their meaning? Most likely not. But she walked in faith that God would lead her into each tomorrow as the mother of this holy child.

She visited an older cousin who was also heavy with child. This cousin’s child was to be the voice in the wilderness awakening hearts and minds to prepare for the promised Messiah. The child in the cousin’s womb immediately recognized the babe in Mary’s womb and leapt for joy in his own mother’s body.

The question of Mary’s virtue, which had been suspect in the streets of her hometown, was laid to rest on the night of the babe’s birth. During the months of her pregnancy, her honor was veiled because only she and God were certain of her purity. But the angel’s celebration on that eventful night lifted the veil on any suspicions of her honor. The angels sang at the birth of her child.

Mary had much to ponder in her heart as she relived the events of the past nine months. The angel’s visit and announcement of her pregnancy. The prophecies about the babe to be born. The Roman emperor’s decree for a census. Even the shepherds who came to worship the child. How overwhelming it would be to think that you had just birthed the Savior of the world. There was much to consider in the days ahead.

Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! Luke 1:46-47

There are times when we think the events of our lives can’t get any worse. But then they do. Trials of every kind are thrown at us. And it seems as if there are seasons full of pitfalls and unexpected situations that are never ending. One incident after another seems to threaten the stability and security we thought was ours. As followers of Christ, we have a choice as to how we will face the challenges of life.

Will we continue to find joy in the God of our forefathers even when we don’t find joy in our everyday life? Do we only seek immediate gratification and fulfillment? Do we still find joy in the Lord when life changes instantly? Or, are we willing to find joy in the long obedience of following our Savior’s footsteps regardless of where those footsteps lead?

Sure. Mary’s tests at her young age were monumental, but they paled in comparison to the challenge of seeing her firstborn hanging on a Calvary cross. Did she fully understand that he would rise from the dead on the third day? Or, did she believe he was lost to her forever as his broken body was placed in the tomb?

As she stood watching her son die on that cross, did she recall the Magnificat she sang as the babe John leapt in Elizabeth’s womb? Did Mary recall the joy of being chosen to bear the Savior of the world now that his mission was being fulfilled? At what cost did she rejoice as a teenager? And did she still rejoice in the agony of seeing her son tortured and killed thirty odd years later?

Our momentary troubles can seem overwhelming and life altering. What once may have been cause for joy in our lives may have turned into a deepening sorrow as time passes. Can we still claim joy in the Lord during the passing test of time? Or, do we only declare joy when we get what we want?

Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful. For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.” Luke 1:46-55

Do You See What I See

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

Have you noticed the world events that have been taking place lately? World politics seem to be blowing up in major proportions. The leader of France was ousted in a vote by parliament. The South Korean president’s attempt to declare martial law was quickly voted down, and now he’s been impeached. Turkish rebels have overtaken Syria and sent the corrupt leader escaping to Russia by the skin of his teeth. The presidential election of Romania has been overturned. Israel has blown up pagers and cell phones in a direct response to enemies who attacked their innocent people and still hold some hostage. In an effort to ward off high tariffs, the newly elected President of Mexico and the Canadian Prime Minister have spoken with the incoming American President on border and fentanyl issues.  Antisemitism is on the rise around the globe. Regimes have been trying to wipe out the Jewish state for many years, and Israel is working hard to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Domestic events give us an assassinated healthcare CEO, and certain groups are applauding this horrific event. Posters calling for the assassination of other CEOs have been found in one major city. Music moguls are charged with heinous crimes, with more names expected to be released. Political appointees are targeted with highly publicized scandals that may or may not be true. Tiktok is close to being banned in this country in the new year. States ravaged by devastating hurricanes are still struggling as winter approaches, while our nation’s leaders send more foreign aid to a war that shouldn’t have taken place. A Marine veteran charged with killing someone who threatened subway riders has been exonerated. Members of violent illegal immigrant gangs have taken over apartment complexes in some cities. Multiple large mysterious drones have been spotted over different states. The American presidential election was won by a former President whose last eight years have been hampered by one unproven scandal after another.

The mayor in the largest city in the state where I live is proposing raising taxes in his fair city by an astronomical amount. A contest is underway for a new design of the state flag of this state, and ten finalists have been chosen. Aren’t there more pressing issues than the design of a state flag? A recent report shows that this state had the third highest number of residents leaving the state, mainly due to jobs and high taxes. The largest union for the teachers of this state is losing more members than it is gaining due to the organization’s increased spending. Nearly two million residents of this state were recipients of the federal food assistance benefit program.

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33

You may wonder why I give all these details of recent news events. The world we live in is very unsettled. There are record levels of violence and hatred. Taxes, inflation and unemployment are high. There are wars and rumors of wars around the globe. Global Christians are being persecuted. It’s as if we are close to having a new world war erupt at any moment.

Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.“ Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. Matthew 24:4-14

We see that violence and violent events are flooding the news. And this type of news won’t stop. It will continue to increase and worsen the closer we get to the Rapture. As God allows Satan to stretch his evil reach into all avenues of society, people of faith are being put on notice that different forms of persecution could be ahead. The Bible warns us that Christians will be persecuted in some manner. It doesn’t mean we’ll stand before a firing squad or sit in a prison cell. We may lose our homes or jobs. We may be debanked or endlessly prosecuted for crimes we’ve never committed.

Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12

As all the unsettling events take place in every area of the world and in homes across the globe, we pause to remember the birth of our Savior. We can still have peace on earth as the earth is in turmoil. Joy to the world is still possible as we celebrate the Promised Messiah who came to this earth long ago. Now, as the earth groans in anticipation of his return, we see and hear of the turmoil in places known and unknown. And yet we rejoice that those who have chosen him as Lord and Savior will one day be with him for eternity.

In this season, we celebrate the One who was born as a babe in the manger. Jesus, who was nailed to the Calvary cross and then buried, rose from the dead on the third day. We celebrate his ascension to heaven and now await his triumphal return to gather his people to him. Regardless of the events taking place throughout the globe, we can have peace in our hearts knowing that our Savior is coming to rapture his children. It could be at any moment. I pray that you’re ready.

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:9-10,13

The Light That Won’t Quit

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I have nightlights in every room in my house. When I walk through the house in the dark, I want to see the path in front of me. I want no surprises. I want to see at least a hint of light coming my way. I don’t like the darkness. Spooky things happen in the dark. So, as soon as it is dark outside, the curtains are closed and the lights come on. It all goes back to my childhood living on a farm in the middle of nowhere. Spooky things did happen in the dark on that farm. But that’s a story for another day. I’m just not a fan of the dark.

The thing about the darkness in my house is that once I plug in a nightlight, the darkness has no chance of winning. The light always wins in the dark, because it is immediately visible. The light can’t hide. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be the light. So. As soon as I turn on a lamp or light a candle, the darkness is in a losing battle. The darkness can’t overcome the light. Sure. There is still darkness, but it’s no longer everywhere. The light makes all the difference in the world.

Now, if the darkness had any sense, it would try to fight the light. Would it try to become even darker? Or would it try to spread its wings to other areas of the house? Would it try to extinguish the light? The darkness is in a battle for its life and has no chance of coming out the winner.

As soon as it’s daylight in the morning, I happily throw open the curtains and let the light invade the space. I want as much natural light as possible coming into my house. And in these short days of winter, there is just never enough daylight.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. John 1:5

I’m living alone for the most part these days. So after the move, I began a daily reading habit. One chapter a day. And I’ve finished a few books with this routine. I’ve recently joined a group at my church that has a required reading list. So I’m reading even more now. I don’t mind the reading. What I mind is that some books are so much deeper than my simple mind can comprehend. But I plug on anyway. I don’t want to get behind.

I finished one of the required readings earlier this week. It’s titled Three Apologies by G.K. Chesterton. Some say he’s a great Christian apologetics writer, but I struggled greatly to see his point. One of his final arguments in the book was that humanity cannot exist without a hope and aim of some kind. Too often our only hope and aim in this life is for the next best thing. If we don’t accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, our hope is lost. It’s empty and void.

One thing we must understand about God is that he is light. There can never be darkness in him. Darkness means there is an absence of light. And the reason light is so important in our understanding of God is that he is sinless. Sin in our lives is equal to darkness. And unless we live holy and pure lives in line with God’s Word, we live in darkness. God and sin cannot coexist, just as light and darkness can’t either.

The thing is. Eternity is set in the hearts of all mankind. Whether we acknowledge it or not, we know there is more to life than just our everyday lives. There is a life beyond our earthly years, and in order to live eternity to the fullest we must accept the Light of the world.

He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians that believers should not team up with unbelievers, because light can’t live with darkness. He asks how there can be harmony between Christ and the devil. And how can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? Believers must be set apart, because our hope is in the Light of the world. He will not be extinguished, regardless of what others say and do.

Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil ? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord . Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. ” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Human nature cannot subsist without a hope and aim of some kind; as the sanity of the Old Testament truly said, where there is no vision the people perish. G.K. Chesterton