Moving On

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

Well. We’ve done it. We packed up and moved across two state lines. It felt like a hasty decision, but we have also felt the hand of God guiding the entire process. To say it all went smoothly is an understatement. We found a new house quickly and sold a house quickly. And now the settling in and unpacking of many, many boxes begins. Oh. If anyone had told me at the beginning of the year that we would be moving out of a home we loved and journeying over three hundred miles to begin anew, I would have laughed. But the joke is on me. And here I sit in a new house near family members I haven’t lived near for over forty years. It feels good. And it feels right.

I know that soon the empty boxes will outnumber the full ones, but right now the task of emptying them seems daunting. The first priority is to repair any plumbing issues in the house. Homes have a way of aging, just as people do. And they need regular upkeep and maintenance to run smoothly and efficiently. Oh. We know there will be more repairs down the road. The inspection showed some minor issues that need tackled, so we’ve started our priority list.

Moving on from a beloved home is an adjustment. We loved our home and hadn’t really planned to leave it, but we found over the past year that our life priorities were shifting. We decided to test the waters of relocating, and now we’ve done it. The move has happened. By the end of the week, we’ll close on that beloved home and continue settling into this a-frame we now call home.

After this move and downsizing, I’ve decided that I have no desire to move again. We’ll see if I can hold to that. I sure hope so.

The thing about this change that warms my heart is that the suggestion to move two states away came from my dear husband. He said it was time to take me back to my home state after living away from my family for so many years. I didn’t know that my heart was leading me back to this state where I was born, but the more I thought about it the more excited I became. This man of mine is a gem.

One of the most heartwarming parts of the move thus far was having my family members come to help us unload all the furniture and boxes. Being closer to them is a dream come true. But honestly, I didn’t even know it was a dream until my husband suggested it. And then I realized here is where we belong.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

Now we begin the task of finding our way in our new life and home. New church. New doctors. New grocery store. New everything. It’s a much smaller town that we’re now in. A cornfield is our backyard. We moved from a city where we regularly saw wildlife along with freeway traffic. Now we’ll slow our pace and forget the headaches of stop and go traffic.

We’ve left longtime friends and church family, but we will always keep them in our hearts. And we’ll find new friends. A new church family. We’ll meet new neighbors. Starting over is daunting, but the excitement of the newness is within. I hope and pray it is an easy transition. We don’t know the road ahead, so we pray for God’s grace and guidance.

Sure. There have been sleepless night with all the planning and hoping and anticipation, so hopefully now peaceful sleep will find me again. But during this entire process, the peace of God has been a settling factor in progressing toward this change. The anxiousness has revolved around selling a house and packing up. Making sure all the moving parts move at the right time and speed. And hoping that nothing gets lost in the transition.

I’m looking forward to growing old(er) in this new phase of life. There will be adjustments, but change doesn’t hurt anyone. It’s just a fact of life, really. Most of us try to avoid change, but it’s good to embrace a good change every now and then. We are resilient people. But most of all, God is good and he’ll provide for every step of the way. I trust his guiding hand, and I know that he will carry us forward as we adjust to our new surroundings.

When Your Time is Up

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

His morning started rather early. It was still dark outside when he left the house. He hopped on his motorcycle and left to start the day. But somewhere during his ride, a horrible thing happened. A pickup truck rear-ended him and pushed his bike into the SUV ahead of him. He was ejected from the bike and died at the scene.

This man who breathed his last breath along the side of the road had just become a first-time father seven months earlier. A son who bore his name will never know him. His wife who is left to raise the child alone is now planning his funeral. He is in eternity. All his plans for the future have come to a grinding halt. No more work on earth to be done. No more goodbye kisses each morning. No more laughter from his lips. No more funny jokes and pranks to pull. What once was his future will never be.

I’ve recently read of a couple of freak accidents that have taken the lives of unsuspecting victims. Whether it was an act of nature or being in the wrong place at the wrong time no longer matters. The fact is, someone’s life was cut short by a situation that is difficult to fathom. And family members are left in a state of shock and grief that they never expected to experience. But they find themselves standing in front of a casket accepting condolences from friends and neighbors. Never in a million years would they have expected to lose their loved one in such a drastic and horrible situation. But it happens more than we realize.

Can we blame God when untimely death occurs to a loved one? Do we point the finger of blame at him and turn our back on him? Do we accuse him of not playing fair with our family? Why would he think it was ok to take them before they lived a full life to old age?

Someone else watches their elderly parent lose track of dates and names and events. And it could take years before they succumb to old age. And they may wonder why their loved one is allowed to linger when their quality of life is minimal. Others may wonder why their family member is walking through a painful, crippling disease with little comfort. And the suffering continues for years on end. We wonder why.

You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer. Job 14:5

We know that our days are numbered, but we don’t know the number. We take each day as it comes and live life to the fullest. We are living at God’s disposal. Only he knows the length of our life. We don’t control God, and we don’t control life. Oh. We may think we do, but ultimately our life is in God’s hands. Nothing is by chance.

We can’t assume that old age or disease will claim us. It could be a horrible accident. A freak accident. Or, heaven forbid, an act of violence. We don’t know. But what we do know is that we must be ready at any moment to have our number called. We must be on call for the hand of God to sweep us into eternity and stand face to face with him in judgment learning our eternal destination.

We can wonder about the suffering God allows, and we will never know the suffering we’ve escaped. But we do know that God’s hand is moving in our lives throughout the difficult days.

In the book of Matthew, we’re told that God values mankind more than any other of his creation. Humans are the only part of creation that has a soul, a part of us that is kindred with God. We are his prized possession. He cares about every aspect of our lives, and he oversees even the smallest part. So when he sees us suffering, or when he calls us home unexpectedly, he knows the ripple effect that will cause.

What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin ? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31

How do we know that God values us over every other living thing he created? He sent his Son to die for our sins. Jesus didn’t hang on the cross for the cattle on a thousand hills or for the whole flock of sparrows. They weren’t created with souls, a spiritual nature, that is. They don’t have an eternity. Only man was made in the image of God, and only man has the option to ask forgiveness for their sins and repent. Only man can become a child of God once they receive that same forgiveness. Nothing else with breath can.

So if God chose the human race to be recipients of his plan of salvation, he has his eye on every moment of our lives. He has his hand in every aspect of our days. Even when the days are evil and the circumstances are difficult, God is in them. Through it all, God is sovereign and omniscient.

It’s easy for me to say all this when I wasn’t the one who just lost my spouse. It’s easy for me to say that God is good in the midst of a deep, dark trial when I’m not walking through one. But I have walked through grief. I have lived through difficult moments, and God has proven himself to be all I need in those moments. He is faithful. My prayer is that when my next trial comes, and it will, I stand strong in his love and promise to always be with me.

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. Psalms 139:16

Stepping Out of the Fire

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Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego defied King Nebuchadnezzar’s order. They refused to bow to an idol that he insisted everyone bow to. They stood straight and tall and did not submit to a command to worship a false god. Oh. Nebuchadnezzar was furious. He had his men raise the heat in the furnace. And then he had these three faithful followers of God thrown into that unbearably hot fire. The heat killed the soldiers who threw them into the furnace, but soon Nebuchadnezzar saw not only those three but a fourth person walking around in the fiery pit. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego survived the death sentence.

These three young men had made a decision that they would rather suffer than sin. They knew they must not do evil so that good would come to them. Oh. It might have seemed like a fine line they were crossing, but they knew that to bow with the knee even though their hearts weren’t bent was too big of an ask. So they refused. They wanted to stand before God with pure hearts and clear consciences.

Walking through the fire is not for sissies.

This wasn’t the first time they chose not to defile their bodies. Early on in their captivity, they were among an elite group of young men selected for a rigorous training program for royal servants. And they were given food and drink that would have defiled their Jewish diet. They refused and were granted a reprieve and given appropriate foods. Now here they were being asked to bow to another god. They weren’t being asked to give up their God. All they had to do was just bow their knee. Just for a second or two. They couldn’t do it. Imagine the searing guilt on their consciences if they had just bowed. It would have been a quick and easy thing to do. Just dip the knee and stay out of trouble. But they knew in their hearts it was wrong So they said no.

You can read the story of these 3 brave young men in Daniel 3.

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

If you’ve read the story of these three guys, you’ll notice that when they walked out of the fire they were inspected closely by those who had watched their fiery trial. There was no smoke damage. No singed hair. No ashes. No scorched clothes. In fact, they were still fully clothed. The fire had not damaged them at all. Because with the fourth person in the fire with them, not only were they surrounded by flames but they were surrounded by the presence of God. An angel of the Lord was in the midst of the fire with them.

Oh. The cords that were wrapped around these men were burned off. But the clothes on their backs didn’t even smell of smoke. Isn’t it odd that the things that were binding them were removed during the fire, and the items of clothing that protected their dignity weren’t touched by the flames? Or, is it odd? The God of the universe is much more powerful than we give him credit for. He allows what he allows, and he forbids what he forbids. Only he has full control. Oh. Mankind likes to manipulate events to their own advantage, but God is still in control.

Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke! Daniel 3:26-27

What do you look like when you walk out of the fire? Are your clothes scorched? Is your hair singed? Do you smell of smoke? Does a pile of ash drop to the floor? Do you appear as damaged goods for having suffered for Christ? Are you angry? Are you insulted? Or, do you praise God that he was walking with you every step of the way? Do you thank God for the lessons learned as you were engulfed in flames?

Once out of the fire, we must realize the power that God has over even the worst moments of our lives. When we suffer for Christ, he is with us in those moments of crisis. He does not leave us to walk alone.

When we step out of the fire, our witness is on display for the world to see. And what do others see? They may know we have just come from the fire, but they will be watching our witness of God’s goodness and grace. They will want to know if we walk our talk. Even King Nebuchadnezzar praised God when he saw the three men totally uninjured from the fire. When he commanded them to walk out of the furnace, he saw a miracle appear before him. And he praised the God of these three men. He knew he was an eyewitness to the great power of the God of the Universe, and he gave God all the praise and glory.

We never know who our example of faithfulness and obedience to God will influence. We don’t know who’s watching, but we better believe that someone is. And they will note our obedience or lack of it. And then some will be influenced to follow our lead, regardless of whether we’ve obeyed God or not. Let’s be faithful to the God who has orchestrated every second of our lives, even those that are a fiery furnace experience.

The Foolishness of Idols

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We’ve been told in the Old Testament that manufactured idols can do nothing for us. Oh. Those who lived during those ancient times tried and failed to achieve anything with their prayers and sacrifices to their handmade idols. But it didn’t stop them from repeatedly worshiping these fake gods. There were those who actually made and sold the idols as a career. They believed these handcrafted objects could save them from war and disease and famine and anything else they didn’t want. They thought these idols would bless their families and their crops and their lives in untold ways. They bowed and worshiped a piece of wood they had carved into an inanimate object. And those objects. Those idols did nothing for them. Nothing at all.

The Israelites had been warned many times about their habit of idol worship. Through the years, many prophets had blasted their disobedience to God and warned of the impending punishment. But the people didn’t listen. It seemed easier and more convenient for them to bow to an image that couldn’t speak or move. After all, an image that can’t speak or move can’t convict you of your sins. It won’t bring shame or guilt onto your disobedient heart. It won’t even hear you when you cry for help. But the Israelites worshiped their idols and wouldn’t turn back to God.

This is what the Lord says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: “I am the First and the Last; there is no other God. Who is like me? Let him step forward and prove to you his power. Let him do as I have done since ancient times when I established a people and explained its future. Do not tremble; do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago? You are my witnesses—is there any other God? No! There is no other Rock—not one!” How foolish are those who manufacture idols. These prized objects are really worthless. The people who worship idols don’t know this, so they are all put to shame. Who but a fool would make his own god— an idol that cannot help him one bit? All who worship idols will be disgraced along with all these craftsmen—mere humans— who claim they can make a god. They may all stand together, but they will stand in terror and shame. Isaiah 44:6-11

We may think modern societies don’t worship idols. Especially nations that call themselves Christian. We may believe we worship the One True God and him alone. But when we look at our lifestyle. Our goals. Our wants. Our deepest longings. What do we see? Where are we headed? What is it in life that fully satisfies us? What do we call sacred?

The thing about idols. They can’t make anything happen, because they need someone to make them. They can’t make themselves, and they will wear out and possibly break. In other words, they’re useless. Who but a fool would make their own god?

Let’s see if your idols can save you when you cry to them for help. Why, a puff of wind can knock them down! If you just breathe on them, they fall over! But whoever trusts in me will inherit the land and possess my holy mountain. Isaiah 57:13

Idolatry. The worship of an image built on man’s imagination is a severe act of rebellion against God. An idol doesn’t have to be manufactured out of wood or stone or metal or ceramic. Idolatry is the act of giving sacred value or power over to something or someone other than God. We may worship our best friend. Or our spouse. Or our job. Or our fancy car. Or that designer handbag. Or our closet full of clothes. Or that sports team. Or that hobby. What holds sway over your life in the place of God? Where do you look for security and happiness? What do you bow down to?

Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today! Psalms 95:6-7

The person who made the idol never stops to reflect, “Why, it’s just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?” The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can’t help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, “Is this idol that I’m holding in my hand a lie?” Isaiah 44:19-20

Just as God warned his chosen people, the Israelites, that they must not worship other gods, he is telling us the same thing. The first and second commandments warn that we must have no other gods or idols. But we, like the Israelites, have chosen to place other gods above the One True God. And, unless we repent, there is punishment for that act of disobedience. God allowed his chosen nation to be attacked over and over in an attempt to make them see the error of their ways. Oh sure. They repented of their sins for a time, but they continued to return to their false gods.

We can’t think that we’re safe from God’s punishment for our waywardness as a nation and as individuals. Just as Israel did, we will bring disaster upon ourselves if we continue down the path we’re on. The truth will catch up with us sooner or later. And while it’s still today, we have time to repent and turn from our wicked ways. God is a jealous God, and he wants the hearts of all nations to bow to him. And they will. At the appointed time, every knee will bow. Why not today?

“What good is an idol carved by man, or a cast image that deceives you? How foolish to trust in your own creation— a god that can’t even talk! What sorrow awaits you who say to wooden idols, ‘Wake up and save us!’ To speechless stone images you say, ‘Rise up and teach us!’ Can an idol tell you what to do? They may be overlaid with gold and silver, but they are lifeless inside. But the Lord is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him.” Habakkuk 2:18-20

Many times we’re seeking God, but we don’t realize it. There is a deep longing, a yearning inside each of us that is looking to be filled and satisfied. And we search and search for the answer. We look in the oddest places to find fulfillment. We choose the most unsatisfying activities or items to try to fill that longing. We look for relationships or people who are broken to make us whole, and they’re not whole themselves. We aren’t happy. We blame others for our problems. We seek comfort in the wrong places. Nothing we try fills us. There is no manmade idol that can comfort us. That can forgive us. That can love us. Only God can do that. Only God will satisfy our souls.

Continue seeking Him with seriousness. Unless He wanted you, you would not be wanting Him.

C.S. Lewis

Self-Induced Stress

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It’s true. Much of our stress is self-induced. We bring it on ourselves. Our minds work overtime and cause us to stew about things that will most likely never happen. And we just stir the pot of fear and what-ifs as if that’s all we have to do. I guess it’s important to ask ourselves why we’re stressing over something that may never happen. Have you actually sat down and calculated the risks? Have you listed both the pros and cons to see how they weigh on the scale of equality? Or, are you just giving yourself over to the fears of what if the unlikely really does happen?

I know. I’ve been doing the same thing for the past week or two. I don’t sleep well. I’m edgy. I’m easily distracted. And I just want this issue to go away. But the problem is that I’ve willfully and gladly created it. So now I have to live with the circus going on in my head. I don’t yet know how the situation will fully play out, so I must wait. I have high hopes and even higher expectations that all things will be right in the end. But there’s a small but mighty argument going on in my head that tells me something different could happen. Something could go terribly wrong. And am I prepared for that ugly scenario to be acted out in real life? No. I’m not.

Here’s what I have to tell myself. I can’t control the next crisis. And honestly. There may not be a crisis. Oh. My imaginings tell me there could be a crisis of magnificent proportions. But when I lay out the situation on paper I can see the likelihood that that happening is pretty small. So why do I fret? Why do I fear? Because I don’t know the outcome of the situation. And I don’t like surprises. So I have to conjure up in my mind all the possible scenarios to prepare myself for the worst. Even though they’ll probably never happen.

I’m sure I’m not the only person on this planet who prefers a calm and smooth life. Oh. I know there are some who enjoy the chaos of the unknown. There are some who instigate trouble wherever they go. They seem to always know how to cause a scene or stir up someone in their circle. But that’s not me. I prefer peace and tranquility. And right now, well, I do feel peaceful. But I’m short on tranquility.

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7

The thing is. I do give my worries and cares to God, but then they seem to come creeping back to me. I find them swirling in my mind at different times of the day. Or when I’m lying awake in the middle of the night. It’s frustrating to be so anxious, but this anxiousness won’t last forever. It’s only for a season. I know that, so why can’t I just lay it all down and be done with it? Because when it’s all said and done, I really do trust God.

Just ask a pregnant woman if she is anxious-free for those nine months of growing another human in her own body. The positive pregnancy test. The morning sickness. The weight gain. The heartburn. The flutter of new life. The back aches. The unknowns of labor and delivery. The new wardrobe. The doctor’s appointments. The ultrasound. The birth plan. The name. The care of a newborn. The nursery. The financial burden. And then she must raise the child to adulthood. Talk about stress. But it’s a stressor that most women willingly choose to add to their resume of life.

Just ask a new employee on their first day of a new job. They’re in a position to start anew, sometimes willingly or sometimes forced. They’ve left the old and familiar. They’ve sat through numerous interviews. They’ve submitted to pre-employment screenings and tests. They’ve accepted an offer. Now they walk into their new job full of hopes and fears. They have no idea what lies ahead. But they do it willingly.

Life is full of unknowns. We don’t know what tomorrow holds, but we know who holds tomorrow. Even when we choose to walk through new situations, God is with us. As long as we aren’t choosing to sin, God is walking with us through life’s changes. Even when we don’t know all the minute details, we can trust an all-seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful God to go before us to chart the path and to go behind us to protect us. He is with his faithful followers as we walk through life.

Where Do You Get Your Confidence

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Sennacherib, the king of Assyria had threatened the nation of Judah. His plan was to attack and capture the city, much as he had done to many other neighboring enemies. His tactics for conquering the city were intimidation and threats. He knew that the other nations who had surrendered to defeat did not have gods that would work for them and against him. He knew their gods had no power. But he had heard of the great God of Judah. He had heard the stories of triumph and success that came with this mighty nation he now wanted as his own. So he had to use intimidation to make the people cower to his words of coercion.

Sennacherib had come for the country of Judah. He attacked and conquered their fortified cities. And, of course, King Hezekiah was very concerned. He had tried to align himself with the Assyrian king giving him all the Temple gold and silver. He thought it a better decision to pay off this evil king and become his subject rather than trusting in God. But Sennacherib wanted more. He wasn’t satisfied with just silver and gold. This payment only emboldened Sennacherib against Judah.

Sennacherib asked Hezekiah what he was trusting in that made him so confident. And honestly. Hezekiah was trusting in an alliance with Egypt rather than trusting in God. He got caught up in man’s assurances rather than God’s, and it could have cost him everything if he hadn’t set himself back on the path of following God’s leading.

Sennacherib threatened the people and tried to bribe them into following him. He belittled them. He tried to plant doubt in the people’s minds about their king and revolt against him. He reminded them of all the victories the great army of Assyria had accomplished in defeating the surrounding nations. And he reminded them that the gods of those nations couldn’t save their people. So how could the God of Judah stand a chance?

The king of Assyria knew that Hezekiah, the king of Judah, had destroyed all the shrines and altars to false gods. He insinuated that Hezekiah’s act of removing shrines so the people could only worship in Jerusalem was the wrong thing to do. He pitted the false gods of Assyria against the One True God of Judah. The one good thing that Hezekiah had done was remove the altars to idols. And he took advantage of Sennacherib’s false insinuations, because Sennacherib tried to use his lies against God and Hezekiah. He insulted God. He told the people of Judah that the God of Hezekiah would not be able to stand against him, just as the gods of all the other countries he captured couldn’t. He was bold in his assertions and assumptions of victory because he didn’t know the strength and power of the God of Hezekiah.

Oh sure. The king of Assyria intentionally put fear in the hearts of the people. He told them that Hezekiah would try to deceive them, all the while saying deceptive words himself. He knew if he could get them to cower before him that he would have subjects who would serve him. He and his men threw insult after insult upon Hezekiah to make the people of Judah wary of anything Hezekiah told them. He planted doubt in their minds. He wanted to terrorize the people so the act of capturing the city would be much easier than facing a slew of strong courageous fighters. He wanted weaklings who could be controlled.

Sure. The people were discouraged and shaken to the bone. They knew Sennacherib and his men had a history of torturing and abusing their captives. They knew he meant every word he said, even though his words were lies. When a tyrant or dictator gains power, he is never willing to relinquish it. He will do whatever it takes to maintain control over his subjects. And Hezekiah and his people had heard the stories of the horrible mistreatment of Sennacherib’s political enemies.

When Hezekiah’s men returned to the palace to present this awful message to the king, the king of Judah knew they were in big trouble. Changes had to be made. And the first change he made was a change of heart about God. He knew the God who could calm a raging storm could also part the seas. He knew God was a God of miracles, and that’s exactly what they needed. He sent one of his men to the prophet Isaiah to hear a word from God.

And Hezekiah prayed this prayer before the Lord : “O Lord , God of Israel, you are enthroned between the mighty cherubim! You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You alone created the heavens and the earth. Bend down, O Lord , and listen! Open your eyes, O Lord , and see! Listen to Sennacherib’s words of defiance against the living God. “It is true, Lord , that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all these nations. And they have thrown the gods of these nations into the fire and burned them. But of course the Assyrians could destroy them! They were not gods at all—only idols of wood and stone shaped by human hands. Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power; then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you alone, O Lord , are God.” 2 Kings 19:15-19

Through the prophet Isaiah, God gave Hezekiah a promising message of assurance that Assyria would not enter their city. God would defend and protect his people. The city was spared from the Assyrians.

You can read the full story at 2 Kings 18-19.

What are you trusting in that makes you so confident? 2 Kings 18:19

We have much to learn from the story of Hezekiah and Sennacherib. Two strong kings, both following different paths of leadership, clash in their beliefs and leadership styles. One is on a path of obeying God and the other is headed down the path of destruction and futility. One might wonder which leader will triumph, but the real hero of the story is God. The sovereign, omniscient God of the universe who sets the course of all men, knew exactly how to handle this rogue, manipulative king of Assyria.

God knew Hezekiah could have chosen the alliance with Egypt, which wouldn’t have honored God. But Hezekiah saw the writing on the wall, and he turned his confidence over to God’s power to fight his battles.

Satan will often attack us just as Sennacherib’s words attacked Hezekiah when he asked what he was trusting in. If our complete trust isn’t in God, what are we trusting in?

We must be prepared to be criticized, because our behavior is determined by facts which the princes of this world know not. (Meyer)

God is an ever-present help in times of trouble. We don’t need to feel discouraged or anxious because his will is perfect. He has ordained every step of our days, and he will guide us through each heartbreak, uncertainty, and dark day that we face. Each of our anxious thoughts are covered by him. We are not alone. We are never alone with God as our guide. That knowledge gives us the courage to get out of bed each morning and face the day with full confidence that we are surrounded by God’s army.

Just as Hezekiah prayed a mighty prayer of faith, we too have that same pipeline to God. We must know that every prayer of our heart goes straight to God’s ears. He hears our cries for help and repentance. The call to humbly present our requests to God is great because of his sovereignty. God deserves our respect and worship. He leaves nothing to chance. He is ready and able to do the impossible if we ask. As the nation of Judah placed their total dependence on God, so too must we.

When the Favorite Ones Disappoint You

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God’s chosen people disappointed him in a mighty way. But he had made a promise to them, and he never breaks his promise. He actually made promises to different members of his chosen people, the Israelites. His promise was that he would bless them and their descendants and make a great nation of them.

Before God gave promises to Isaac and Jacob, he made a promise to Abraham which set the stage for the Israelite nation. Abraham and Sarah were getting up in years without any children, and Abraham knew that he would have to leave his wealth to his servant if he had no sons. But God promised Abraham that his family line would grow to be too numerous to count. He would have children. And he promised this many, many years before Isaac was born.

The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1-3

Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith. Genesis 15:5-6

Abraham did not see the beginning of that promise until he was a very old man at his son Isaac’s birth. This promise to Abraham became the stepping stone to the nation of Israel, because out of Abraham’s family line came Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David and a long list of others. The family line can be traced down to Jesus. No wonder God showed favor on this group of people.

Abraham’s son, Isaac, also received a promise from God that he would be blessed. He lived in obedience to God and lived a long life, but he never met his son Jacob’s children. Before God had established with Jacob that he was the head of the Israelite nation, he reconfirmed his promise to Jacob’s father, Isaac.

A severe famine now struck the land, as had happened before in Abraham’s time. So Isaac moved to Gerar, where Abimelech, king of the Philistines, lived. The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt, but do as I tell you. Live here as a foreigner in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. I hereby confirm that I will give all these lands to you and your descendants, just as I solemnly promised Abraham, your father. I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed. I will do this because Abraham listened to me and obeyed all my requirements, commands, decrees, and instructions.” So Isaac stayed in Gerar. Genesis 26:1-6

Abraham’s grandson Jacob, who was Isaac’s son, made an early mess of his life. He coerced his older twin brother into giving away his inheritance and his birthright. This meant that Jacob now would be the successor to their father’s wealth instead of Esau. This caused great trouble in the family, so much trouble that Jacob fled for his life. He went to his grandfather’s house and eventually married two cousins, the sisters Leah and Rachel. Long story short, Jacob fathered twelve sons with the sisters and their two handmaids. Thus began the nation of Israel.

Meanwhile, Jacob left Beersheba and traveled toward Haran. At sundown he arrived at a good place to set up camp and stopped there for the night. Jacob found a stone to rest his head against and lay down to sleep. As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway. At the top of the stairway stood the Lord , and he said, “I am the Lord , the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants. Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.” Genesis 28:10-15

He is the Lord our God. His justice is seen throughout the land. He always stands by his covenant—the commitment he made to a thousand generations. Psalm 105:7-8

Why am I telling the story of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? What does it matter that God kept his promise even when his chosen people dishonored him time and time again? What does that mean for us today? What can we learn from Israel’s blatant disobedience to a God who chose them over all the other peoples on the face of the earth? Should we give up hope that life will be good even when our nation seems to be crumbling around us?

What did God do in his time of disappointment in a people he had specifically chosen to honor and bless? And believe me. The Israelites disappointed God and angered him not once, but many times over. They sure tested his patience.

The Israelite nation not only bowed to false idols, but they ate sacrifices offered to the dead. They traded their Holy God for a manmade image of a bull. They forgot God and all the wonderful things he had done for them. So he vowed to destroy his chosen people because of their disobedience.

Although the Jewish people turned their back on God long ago, he still calls them favored. He still loves them with an undying love that will never be revoked. He is still keeping the promise he made so many, many years ago. But they won’t escape punishment for their wayward acts of sin and rebellion. We Gentiles must know that we don’t enjoy favored nation status with God, but we will be grafted in when we repent and turn from our wicked ways.

God doesn’t applaud or encourage sins, not for his chosen people or for anyone else. We can’t expect him to show us favor when we don’t show it to him. He requires obedience and humility in our service to him, not haughty pride and self-righteousness. The book of Micah lays out a case against the unkindness, idolatry and injustice of the Jewish nation, but we know that God is in the business of forgiveness for anyone who repents.

Those who call on him have the right to be called children of God. Then and only then do we have full access to his eternal blessings. This is a lesson for us that gives hope and peace in troubling times. God loves us with an everlasting love. He will hear us when we sincerely call on him and obey him with a fully surrendered heart. 

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. John 1:12-13

The Underbelly of the Mind

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

The HVAC technician walked into my house and asked to be shown to the furnace. I mistakenly thought he would only inspect the air conditioner outside. But no. He needed to go into the corners of the basement to examine the workings of the furnace. And there, to my dismay, he saw not only the furnace but also the cobwebs, dust and clutter filling the laundry room. Now mind you. I like my laundry room because it is the size of a bedroom. It is spacious, but it is not a pretty place where one would want to entertain guests. The floor is plain concrete. A couple of the exterior walls are cinder block. The other two walls need a fresh coat of paint . The rafters, wiring, plumbing and insulation are exposed. The decor of the room obviously isn’t anywhere equal to those seen in magazines or design shows. It is not a sight to behold.

So when I realized he would see all the underpinnings of the ugliest room of the house, I was not delighted. My old dog and I escorted the young man down the stairs to see the furnace. And then he asked if we could move the storage shelving so he could get closer to it. Of course. Why don’t you just ask me to confess all my sins to you, as well as let you see the dust particles that I hoped would remain hidden. But no. He saw all the ugly. And he didn’t say one word about it.

I always try to rationalize these types of situations in my mind. I tell myself that surely these technicians who enter my home have seen other homes far worse than mine. Surely mine can’t be the most cluttered or unkempt that they’ve come across in the years they’ve been doing their work. But I don’t ask. And I don’t apologize. I pretend that clutter is just a normal part of life.

I was reminded that a similar incident occurred a couple of years ago when we had a new water heater install right next to the furnace. I had the same thoughts and feelings that time as I had this time. So, obviously, my cleaning habits didn’t change at all. I still have dust bunnies and clutter in hidden places of my home.

I confess. I’m not a perfectionist. I don’t demand a spotless house, but I know I could do better. I could keep a cleaner house, because I do have time for it. But that’s not how I choose to spend my time. After all, the only people who really need to see my laundry room are the people who live in the house.

May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. Psalms 104:34

And I think to myself. I could keep a cleaner mind, as well. Now mind you, I’m talking about removing the cluttered thoughts of annoyance and irritation. The internal moaning and groaning of my heart that leads me to think ill of others and myself. The pangs of worry and anxiousness over situations I can’t control and don’t need to concern myself with. Those unpleasant aspects of my thoughts should be put to rest, once and for all, but I continue to find them in the most unwanted times.

I’m thankful others can’t read my mind, because they would want to stand far from me or walk away. I’m afraid they would think ill of me and not bother with the good that is in me. It seems a good thing that most thoughts are kept out of sight.

When the curtain is pulled back from the corners of your mind, what is revealed? Who would you want to hide the view that has been exposed? Too often, I fritter away my thoughts on issues that should have no bearing on my life. They’re either history that can’t be changed or imaginings that will never happen.

I wonder how peaceful I would be if I focused my thoughts on God. What would happen if I sat in quiet worship of the God who is the Creator of the universe? What would transpire if I were to humbly consider the majesty of my Heavenly Father? Just the thought of his greatness and goodness should cause my heart to bow in reverence. When I consider all his creation that shouts for joy because of his goodness, why can’t I?

When I gaze into the far reaches of my mind, I glimpse memories and thoughts of the goodness of God. I recall answered prayers and the joy of the Lord’s presence as I walked through dark valleys. God’s promises are brought to mind as I remember the days where trouble loomed and uncertainty reigned supreme. And deep in those dark corners are the remembrance that God is an ever present help in times of trouble. He will not leave me or abandon me when I am faithful to him, no matter what evil may surround me.

I read that the God of all creation is worthy of our praise, and that is so true. We must look to him as our source of strength and comfort. He’s the only constant in a life full of ups and downs. All my joy and praise should be centered on him. Our hearts should be warmed when we praise our Maker and give him all the glory and honor that is due him. No one else can accomplish or plan as he does. He alone is sovereign and will always be. There is none like him.

Have you no fear of God, no reverence for him? Job 15:4

Send A Great Revival

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Hezekiah was only twenty five years old when he became king of Judah. He had succeeded his father, Ahaz, to the throne. King Ahaz was a wicked man who demanded that the doors of the Temple be closed to worship. And when Hezekiah inherited the throne, he reopened the doors of the Temple within the first month of his reign. Hezekiah had a heart for God, and he repented of the evil deeds of his father’s administration.

Hezekiah maintained his faith in God during his father’s idolatrous reign, and he waited until he was in power to make monumental changes in the country. No doubt, he was troubled by his father’s actions. Along with closing the doors of the church, Ahaz also set up idols to pagan gods in every corner of Jerusalem. He was unfaithful to God, and he encouraged his people to sin. He even offered some of his sons as burnt sacrifices on the altars of Baal. Needless to say, the sweeping changes that Hezekiah ushered in caused a revival for the ages.

Due to the horrible desecration caused by Ahaz, the nation of Judah was at a very low point when Hezekiah was crowned king. Instead of mounting a great political reign, his first act was to reopen the doors of the Temple and bring back the priests and Levities to perform their sacred duties. But the truth is that the priests and Levites didn’t come running back asking to serve. Hezekiah had to call them back. Some of them had even helped Ahaz build an altar to an idol, so Hezekiah knew that not all had kept their faith in God. How low will a nation go when their own holy leaders don’t maintain their faith and commitment to serving God?

But Hezekiah had a heart for God, and that desire to follow God’s commands didn’t start as soon as the crown was placed on his head. Hezekiah had a heart for God that, out of necessity, had stayed behind the scenes as his father allowed idolatry to ruin the nation. The nation was ready for a change, and the changed started immediately when Hezekiah took the throne. Not only did he throw open the doors of the Temple and call the priests and Levites back to work, but he began a campaign to bring the people of Judah back to offering sacrifices to God.

But don’t worry. This wasn’t a forced act of religion and repentance. Not everyone in Judah was willing to partake of the act of returning to God. Only those who were willing gave of their burnt offerings in sacrifice to God. But God performed a mighty act of repentance in the heart of the people. He stirred them to follow the Word of the Lord, and his hand was upon them. The people willingly obeyed the orders of the king. And when the priests and Levites obeyed the king by cleaning out the Temple and preparing it for worship, they were not just obeying the king but they were obeying the Word of the Lord that they had neglected for far too long.

You can read the full story of Kings Ahaz and Hezekiah in 2 Chronicles 28-31.

When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability. Proverbs 28:2

Let’s imagine that our great nation, the United States of America, elected a leader who declared that religion would come before politics. And not just any religion, but historic Christianity. Imagine the uproar that would take place. Those trying to eliminate Christianity from our country today would loudly cry foul. But just imagine if Christianity took hold today and actually became popular. Imagine the revival that would sweep our land. Imagine the wrongs that would be righted.

The leaders of our country have shown a huge neglect regarding the importance of faith. The changes that have been implemented in recent years have moved our country away from the faith of our forefathers and moved us into a time of moral rot. We must do better than this if our country is to retain any symbol of conscience and morality, not only for the sake of our country but for those countries that depend on our support and leadership. We have failed as a nation, and we are paying for it.

Unfortunately, if sweeping changes aren’t made soon, it may be too late for America. Like Israel and Judah, any nation that turns its back on God will be punished. Why can any nation expect to be shown favor by God when they don’t show favor to Him? It’s time for a revival in our land. It’s time to wake up, America, and repent of our national sins. We must open the doors of our churches and clean out the ungodly teachings that have been introduced, because some churches no longer preach biblical truth. We can no longer count on all churches that call themselves Christian to actually be Christian.

We have to know that God didn’t promise to protect and bless America if we stayed true to him as he did Israel. Israel was and always will be his favored nation, so we have no business claiming that he will honor our nation that has strayed from obeying him. God alone will decide the nations he will bless and the nations he will abandon. That doesn’t mean we can walk away from him at any time and still demand his favor. We must repent and stay true to his calling on our country to follow his commands.

He builds up nations, and he destroys them. He expands nations, and he abandons them. Job 12:23

We must pray that our political leaders and future leaders will lead our nation back to God, after they have repented. It only takes one to start a revival. Let’s pray that one godly leader can be found among us to lead us back to the fold of God’s favor.

When God calls a nation to repent, godly leaders will rise to lead. Those leaders may not be the ones assumed to be the top choice or best representatives, but they will be those who are faithful to God’s call. And God will mold these leaders to be strong in their faith and courageous in their convictions. Then the work must begin in earnest to turn the culture around to true religion and morality in the manner that God intended.

Why not allow the Good News of the Gospel message and clear rational thinking to become the order of the day? It is not too late.

~~Judge Phil Ginn

A Harrowing Experience

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We were settling in for the evening. Dinner was over. The kitchen was spotless. The bowl of ice cream was on its way to the couch. Time to turn on the tv and relax. It was Friday night, and the weekend had begun.

I noticed a couple of insects that appeared to be gnawing at the drywall on the edge of an outlet cover in the corner of the living room. I asked the man of the house to see if they were termites. But we had never had a termite problem, so why now? And they weren’t eating wood; they were eating drywall. So he bent to look. And then he got a flashlight for a clearer view. He reached to pick one up when all of a sudden the insects went crazy. They started flying around him, and then he felt the sting on his hand. Not once but twice. And then a couple more stings landed on his head.

I was carrying my ice cream to the couch when one of the attackers buzzed toward me. In my haste to get away, ice cream fell to the floor. As I swatted away my attacker, it went down the back of my shirt. Soon I too felt the sting of these varmints. I tore off my shirt and threw it on the floor. Later I picked it up only to see the flying insect was still in the shirt. Back down on the floor the shirt went and then was thoroughly stomped on. And let me tell you. Those stings were meant to do serious damage. The pain lasted for hours.

We quickly realized we were dealing with yellow jackets, not termites. We were attacked in our own home by a nest of small yellow jackets that had embedded themselves in between the drywall and the outside wall of our home. On the outside, we discovered their entry point. A hole for the cable wire was bigger than the wire, and the yellow jackets were small enough to squeeze in. There they made their home.

The exterminator came out to investigate and eliminated the villains. He said they were probably young, since it was early in the season for this type of invasion. He suited up and began the task of killing these vicious intruders. He advised us to sit out on the deck in a couple of weeks to see if we spot anymore of them. If we don’t, then we’re in the clear. If we see some, he’ll return for another application of the killer spray.

We never would have known the yellow jackets were living between the walls of our home, except I happened to spot them. They would have kept to themselves and not attacked us, because they’re typically only ferocious when provoked. And we unknowingly provoked them. Thankfully, we survived the attack. But even days later, I still had two large red itchy welts on my back.

It was a harrowing experience, indeed.

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Romans 8:31

A very short story in the Bible tells us about a man named Benaiah, who was a mighty warrior in King David’s army. He did many heroic deeds and once killed two mighty warriors of one of the enemy nations. But he also followed a lion into a pit on a snowy day and killed it. He was a very brave warrior.

All the harrowing events that Benaiah faced made him pretty famous. I wonder if he was fearful during his times of bravery. Or was he just a fearless warrior who took all these brave acts in stride? I’m sure we’ll never know. But David named him the captain of his bodyguard. I can’t say I blame him. Who wouldn’t trust a guy like Benaiah to protect the king.

You can read the story of Benaiah in 2 Samuel 23:20-23.

Others have recently experienced harrowing events in their lives. An invasion of raccoons. A rash of shingles. A cancer diagnosis. An asthma attack. A job loss. Not all harrowing experiences are life threatening, but others are. But even when life events take a turn for the worst, we know that God is ever present in our time of need.

We may face harrowing times in our lives. Maybe they’re not life threatening events, but still they are unexpected and undesired. We won’t always know how to handle the situation, and we may need to call in reinforcements. We may need someone else to help fight our battle. That’s ok. We need to be prepared to ask for help when the time comes.

We may need to remind ourselves on occasion that God is for us and always with us. He will fight our battles for us. We need to call on him and present our requests and needs to him. He will give us the strength and courage we need to fight our battles. It is never too late to call on him. He is ready and waiting for our cry for help.

Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you. Deuteronomy 3:22

On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased. Psalm 138:3