Christian

In Times Like These

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

King Ahab. He had every opportunity to turn his heart toward God, but he always turned away. Even when God gave him victory after victory over his enemies, his heart was hardened toward God. And instead of admitting that his blatant disobedience to God was his problem, he blamed the prophet Elijah for all his trouble. Oh. Ahab’s failure to bow to God’s will wasn’t Elijah’s fault. Ahab had a choice, as always. Go God’s way or make your own path. And he always chose his own path, which later led to the destruction of his nation. Sure. He had some momentary victories. But momentary victories are fleeting. Sooner or later, the truth will find you out. And it found Ahab at an inconvenient time. As if there is a convenient time to have the truth shouted at you.

There are consequences for everything we do. And the consequences do not always affect only the guilty party, but others, as well. Our family. Our neighborhood. Our city. Our state. Our nation. Our employer or employees. Someone pays the price for disobedience or greed or violence or any type of ungodly behavior. Ungodliness has a price tag.

And what does this have to do with us today? You ask. Have you seen the news this week? The videos of the out of control riots in Los Angeles? Have you heard about the attack on a world terror a few days ago? Have you heard about the two state legislators and their spouses who were gunned down because of they way they voted? And the continual wars and rumors of wars? Have you heard of the threats to every American base in the Middle East from one of our adversaries? Have you heard of out of control politicians, not only in this country, but other countries, as well? Have you heard of the outrage about higher taxes and political leaders stuffing their bank accounts with money earned under the table?

It isn’t just ungodly politicians and politics. It’s anyone who doesn’t call on the name of God and repent of their sins. Any of us have the potential to live ungodly lives and snub our nose at God. We are all born with evil in our hearts. It’s just our bent. Sinning, that is. But we also have the potential to repent and live a life that honors God. We must humble ourselves before God and turn from our wicked ways. Only then will God honor us.

The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. Genesis 6:5

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. James 4:7-10

At times in life, it appears that evil is winning. We see it all around us. It was the same scenario in Elijah’s time. And Elijah was the bearer of bad news to King Ahab. But he knew that, in good time, Ahab would pay for his rebellious ways. The problem with Ahab was that he did what was evil in the Lord’s eyes, even more so than other kings before him. And he had married the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians. Her name was Jezebel. And she led him further and further away from God. She actually led him into idol worship, further angering God while at the same time pleasing his wife. The Bible tells us that Ahab did more to provoke the anger of God than any other king of Israel before him. He was evil.

But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the Lord ’s sight, even more than any of the kings before him. And as though it were not enough to follow the sinful example of Jeroboam, he married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians, and he began to bow down in worship of Baal. First Ahab built a temple and an altar for Baal in Samaria. Then he set up an Asherah pole. He did more to provoke the anger of the Lord , the God of Israel, than any of the other kings of Israel before him. 1 Kings 16:30-33

No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the Lord ’s sight as Ahab did under the influence of his wife Jezebel. His worst outrage was worshiping idols just as the Amorites had done—the people whom the Lord had driven out from the land ahead of the Israelites. 1 Kings 21:25-26

It wasn’t that King Ahab didn’t have opportunities to repent and turn to God. There were devoted followers of God working with him. He didn’t just hire rebellious thugs similar to himself. He had godly men in his circle, as well. One such man was a prophet named Obadiah. Imagine being in his shoes. A godly man working with the most ungodly king of all times. But Obadiah’s faith didn’t waver. He stood strong in a hostile environment. On one occasion when Jezebel was on a killing spree, he hid one hundred prophets who were as devoted as Obadiah was in following God.

Many devoted followers of Christ are walking in Obadiah’s shoes today. They stand strong in their godly convictions, determined to honor God, yet they work in an environment hostile to biblical teachings. Their jobs may prove to be on the line if they don’t bow to the demands to cater to secular ideals. They may feel compelled to hide their beliefs in order to stay employed. But they must know that God is with them. He will give them courage and strength to stand strong in their faith. They need only ask.

In times like these you need a Savior, 

In times like these you need an anchor; 

Be very sure, be very sure 

Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock! 

This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He’s the One; 

This Rock is Jesus, The only One! 

Be very sure, be very sure 

Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

 

In times like these you need the Bible, 

In times like these O be not idle; 

Be very sure, be very sure 

Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock! 

In times like these I have a Savior, 

In times like these I have an anchor; 

I’m very sure, I’m very sure 

My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock! 

This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He’s the One; 

This Rock is Jesus, The only One! 

I’m very sure, I’m very sure 

My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock! 

~~Ruth Caye Jones

So. The question is. What time is it for you? Do you have a Savior, or do you need a Savior?

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Isaiah 55:6

Pickleball Mafia

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

So I’ve joined the world of pickleball. And I’ve discovered that I like it. It’s fun. It gets me moving. I try to play once a week. I’m a beginner, but I’m seeing improvement in my game. So I think there’s hope. Oh. Not that I’ll ever be a professional or play in a tournament. Nothing like that. That’s not my goal. But it’s nice to get in an outdoor aerobic workout on a sunny day. It feels good to move around and hit the ball. And I’ve met some new people.

We’re a group of six to eight retirees who met at our pickleball lessons in April. We’re all at the same beginner level and have continued to meet after we completed the four-week class. Some of us have moved to the area in the last few years and others are long-time residents. We’re there to have fun and get a little exercise. So far it’s working.

There is one in our group who told me in front of the group that I needed to correct my serve. I kindly let her know that my serving style was completely legal in the world of pickleball. I could have pointed her biggest flaw out to her, which has to be obvious to the entire group. She doesn’t like to move, so she stands in one spot and never goes out of her way to hit the ball if it’s not directly in her path. And she calls the ball out too many times when her opponents can’t see if it really is in or out. We’re all beginners and have much room for improvement, so let’s be kind and gracious to each other.

We play at the courts in a public park. There are eight courts in this particular park and are open to the public. They’re free of charge and can’t be reserved. It’s first come, first serve. If you’ve been playing for an hour and there are groups waiting, then you must step aside to allow others a chance to play. Sounds harmless. Right? Right.

I’ve been informed by others who are more knowledgeable about these things that there are groups of pickleballers who take the game very seriously. I mean. They’re serious about their pickleball. I think our group has recently run into such a group. We were informed by a member of said group that they use four of the courts for advanced players and the other four for those less experienced. And then after each game, they rotate to play with different players in their set of four courts. And they also use a specific color of ball so they know who is in their group. It was subtly suggested to our group that we follow their rules. Really?

It seems that some in our group were willing to abide by this other group’s rules, but a couple of us were dead set against it. I reminded our group that we are playing at a public park where courts can’t be reserved. We play at our leisure and abide by the park’s rules and regulation pickleball rules. No one else’s. So, to back up my stand on the issue, I called the park district and talked through the situation with someone a few days later. When I explained our dilemma and provided all the details, I let the gentleman know that my goal wasn’t to cause trouble but to get the facts straight. He informed me that he knew exactly who I was talking about. Apparently, this group I call the pickleball mafia have done the same thing to other groups. He said he would speak to them.

And one in their group walked over to our group in the midst of our game and gave us a playing tip. Oh. She was polite, but it felt intrusive. Who does that? And a member of our group actually recognized her and called her by name. Then she was forced to acknowledge the relationship. How odd.

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17

Oh. I know. It’s just a game. That’s right. It is. And we want it to stay that way.

So. The question is this. How do we get along with others who try to manipulate us? How do we work with someone who tries to one-up us? Here’s the catch with that type of scenario. The more you give in to them, the more they’ll try to take. And how do you ever get back to the way things should have been, in the first place? It’s an age old dilemma.

Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins. Don’t eavesdrop on others—you may hear your servant curse you. For you know how often you yourself have cursed others. Ecclesiastes 7:20-22

At the same time, we don’t have to be a doormat and let others walk all over us. We should stand up for what we know is right and true and good. Fairness never grows old. And as Christians, how do we deal with situations where others are trying to exert more control than they really have? How do we kindly and Christianly stand up for ourselves without insulting others?

The Word of God offers so much wisdom on dealing with others and with how to navigate difficult situations. We must live wisely, because not everyone we meet is a believer. Not everyone is looking out for the best interests of others. As Christ followers, we must stand apart and be a godly example in our conduct and our speech. We can’t allow Satan to lead us down the path of ungodly behavior. And we can’t just look away and accept unacceptable behavior.

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. Colossians 4:5-6

We’re also told in the books of Romans that we can’t repay someone when they plan evil against us. We must do what is right in the eyes of everyone, because along with everyone else, God is also watching. And as far as it depends on us, we must live at peace with everyone. That is a tall order, it may seem, especially in certain situations. But when the other party is set on evil, we set our eyes on eternity and act accordingly. We must seek peace and pursue it, but not at the cost of accepting evil standards.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. Romans 12:17-19

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Colossians 3:12-15

As we pursue Christ, let’s remember to keep a sharp mind, a soft heart and thick skin.

Alisa Childers

The Heart of It All

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

So. We bought this house late last summer. Oh. The stone on the front facade is a look I have always disliked. I’ve just never cared for it, but there it is on the front of a house that I willingly bought. And I’m definitely not going to invest money to replace it with something I prefer. That’s just not in the budget. There are many other updates that I want to put my money and hard work toward, so I ignore the ugly stone as much as I can and concentrate on the parts of the house that I love.

And then I step inside my home. Oh. Every wall is still currently painted white. The floor is a lighter color than I would have chosen. I have paint swatches and wallpaper samples taped to the walls, and I’ve placed rugs in a couple of rooms. I’m making plans to update light fixtures and to paint the cabinets. I’d like to replace the garden tub with a walk-in shower. Those things will happen, but they will take time because we have some big ticket items to consider. We need to install a new HVAC system, and we need to replace part of the roof. We have foggy windows that need replaced. And these updates will come all in good time.

We’ve made this house our home, and it’s a comfortable place to live. Bright light shines in through the tall living room windows and the doors. Fresh breezes flow through the house on nice days. I’m working to make this house a cozy place where we will enjoy growing old. And so far, it’s working. We love being in our home.

The thing is. If I had to buy this house based on the exterior of it alone, I would have passed on it. Not because I disliked the shape of house, because I don’t dislike it. I just don’t like the look of the stone. It’s dated and ugly and way too expensive to replace. But it was the inside of the house that drew me in. The layout. The beauty of the tall wooden ceilings. The shape of the A-frame feels rustic and homey. It is a welcoming place.

The way I’m working on making my home a place I genuinely love reminds me of the story of how David was anointed as the second king of Israel. God was displeased with King Saul’s continued disobedience, so he let Saul know that none of his sons would inherit his place on the throne. Imagine being the prophet Samuel who had to break that news to the king of Israel. But he did it. He shared the bad news.

And God then told Samuel to go to the house of Jesse and anoint one of his sons as the next king. The problem is. God didn’t tell Samuel which son he had chosen. He told Samuel he would let him know who was the chosen son when he arrived in Bethlehem. When Samuel arrived at the house, he came with an offering to present to God. It was a heifer. Jesse and his sons were invited to the sacrifice where God would tell Samuel which son was to be the next king.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

When Samuel saw the first son, he was impressed and thought this must be the one. But God told him to keep looking. After checking out six more sons, God had still not given the green light to any of them. So Samuel asked if there were more sons. Oh. One more. The youngest. You don’t want to see him. He’s not worthy. Bring him to me, said Samuel. And when David was brought in to face Samuel, God let him know that the future king of Israel was standing before him. Samuel then anointed David in front of his father and brothers before they sat down to enjoy a feast.

Each time one of the first seven sons stood before Samuel, he thought they looked fine. All he could see was their physical appearance. But God was looking at their heart. And God had told Samuel earlier that he was looking for someone with a heart toward Him. He wanted a king who would obediently follow God while he led his country. Not a small task, at all. And when David entered the room, Samuel knew this was God’s chosen one.

Oh. We would later learn that David was far from perfect. He messed up big time. But he always turned back to God and repented of his sins. The results of momentary temptations and lusts brought him to his knees as he watched the son born of his sin die in infancy. But he arose from his knees a forgiven and changed man. He was a warrior and led the nation of Israel in many victorious wars against enemy nations. He planned and prepared for the temple that his son Solomon, the next king of Israel, would build. He was a man after God’s own heart.

Too many times we look at ourselves and wonder what God sees in us. But when we faithfully follow him, even though we may stumble, he is faithful to us. He will forgive us when we sin, as long as we repent. He knows our hearts. He knows if we have a true leaning toward being a child of God, or if we’re just playing around with our faith. He’s looking for seriously committed followers who will live out their beliefs in public. Oh. We’re not faultless, but we must be repentant when we do sin.

Just as my new home needs repairs and updates that may not be visible to the naked eye, so is our heart when it comes to spiritual growth. God sees us as we are, and he knows the work he has ordained for us. Throughout our lifetime of serving him, God will work on the areas of our heart that are not fully in tune with him. When we allow God to correct and prune us, we will grow in his likeness. When we surrender our sinful nature to him, we will experience a lifetime of growth. Just as my house has not been well cared for through the years, we can’t allow our spiritual growth to become stagnant, because our faith will erode and decay. We need daily spiritual nourishment from God’s word, prayer and fellowship with other believers. It is a lifetime of faithful obedience that draws us closer to God and makes us more like him.

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

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

Identical Twins

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

We were born a few minutes apart. Same day. Same mother. Same womb. One egg split in two. We’re wombmates. We’re identical twins. Actually, we’re mirror twins. She’s right handed. I’m a lefty. We see a lot of things the same, but there are some differences of opinion. It’s only natural. We’ve lived apart for over forty years. We’ve lived through many different situations. We’ve had different influences in our adult lives. But now we find ourselves living a few miles apart.

I told her when I moved near her that I didn’t plan to copy her life. I would find my own way here. I would attend a different church. Frequent different places. I didn’t plan to choose her doctor or hair stylist. I’m used to being independent, so I don’t expect her to want a tag-along. I also didn’t want to always run the risk of running into people who think I’m her. But this is small town America. And small town people know each other. That’s what I’m learning.

I’ve lived here for two months now, and I had three separate incidents in the same evening where someone thought I was her. The problem was that she was standing less than five feet from me when each stranger approached me and started a conversation. Our hairstyles are obviously different, and I always wear glasses but she doesn’t. How could they think I was her? I’ve had two other incidents when I mentioned her name and the person either knew her or knew of her. I just sigh to myself when these things happen. I’ve let her know that I try not to invoke her name when I talk to others, because I’m afraid this could happen frequently if I’m not careful.

Oh. There’s nothing wrong with being mistaken for someone else. I guess it could be a compliment. But on the other hand. I’d just like to be known as me and not someone else. I’ve spent my entire life being me, and I’m ok with that. She and I are alike, but we’re not the same. And don’t get me wrong. I love being a twin. It’s all I’ve ever known.

My twin and I dressed alike until we were sixteen years old. Apparently, we didn’t want others to tell us apart. But then we wised up. If we didn’t always buy the same clothes, we would have double the wardrobe. That was a win-win. Oh sure. We copy each other from time to time. We’ll buy the same clothes. Or the same artwork. Or the same vehicles. We wore the same hairstyle for years. One year we both unknowingly bought the same Christmas cards and wrapping paper. And if I’m honest with myself, I feel as if I’ve copied her more than she’s ever copied me. But we don’t keep score. That’s another reason I wanted to have a different life than her now that we’re living only minutes apart. She doesn’t need a copycat. And I don’t want to be one.

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 5:1-2

One of the hymns we would sing at church as kids was “Oh, To Be Like Thee.” One of the lines in the song was “stamp thine own image deep on my heart.” When we would get to that line in the song, my twin and I would reach out to each other and press our thumbs together to stamp ourselves. I find that today I need to continually make sure the stamp on my heart is the image of Christ.

Stamp thine own image deep on my heart. There is someone I do try to copy each and every day. My ultimate goal is to be a mirror image of my Savior, Jesus Christ. When others see me, I want to be recognized as one who is like him. When I think of all his characteristics that I try so hard to perfect in my life, I know I fall far short. But I keep trying. As a human, Jesus was morally pure. He was free from sin. He submitted to his father. He was humble. He was willing to suffer. He is loving. He is kind. He is gracious and merciful. He is patient. He is wise. He is honest. He shows unconditional love. He is forgiving. And the list could continue endlessly.

The apostle Paul told the people in the Corinthian church that they should imitate Christ. His image needed to be stamped on their hearts, just as He was stamped on Paul’s heart. The same is true for us today. It’s a question I must ask myself daily. Does the stamp of Christ’s image show through in my life?

And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1

Jesus, thy perfect likeness to wear. Do I wear the likeness of Jesus easily and naturally? If not, what must I do to change? Just as I am made in the image of God, I am to image God in my imperfect life. Each of us was made for God’s glory, and we can’t glorify him if we aren’t living in his image.

Since the beginning of creation, humanity has been designed to “image” God; this was the intended function. Edward W. Klink III

So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them. Isaiah 43:7

Make me a temple meet for thy dwelling. I am to offer my body as a living sacrifice to God. I am to live a holy life that is acceptable to him. As a child of God, everything I do must be done in the transforming grace of God. And I think to myself. I can’t be like him on my own. Can I not bow to my own desires and wants and surrender to him completely? Am I totally and fully surrendered to him? Just as the nation of Israel was holy and set apart for God and by God, we too must be a place where God can dwell.

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer;
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee!
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
  Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

O to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wand’ring sinners to find.

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer, others to save.

O to be like Thee! Lord, I am coming,
Now to receive th’ anointing divine;
All that I am and have I am bringing;
Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.

O to be like Thee! While I am pleading
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love.
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit for a life which Thou wouldst approve.

If you are properly devoted to the Lord Jesus, you have reached the lofty height where no one would ever notice you personally. All that is noticed is the power of God coming through you all the time. Oswald Chambers

Gaming the System

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

We’re the new people in our neighborhood. Three of the neighbors have stopped by to introduce themselves and welcome us to the town. They all seem to be very pleasant people. It’s a quiet little town where some people seem to know what’s really going on. And they’ve shared bits of information that we probably don’t need to know, but now we do.

The neighbors to the left of us are very kind and friendly. They’ve extended a warm welcome and made us feel at home in the neighborhood. The man stops over to chat. He’s offered to help with small yardwork tasks. Our house had sat empty for a year before we moved in, and this neighbor kept our lawn mowed the entire time. They’re good people.

The house on the other side of us is empty. Our view of the house is a boarded up window in their garage. Not too pleasant, if you ask me. The lawn isn’t mowed regularly. And they always have two vehicles sitting in the driveway. A few days ago, a crew showed up and began tearing out drywall and two by fours. Rumor has it that the house is full of mold. And it’s going up for auction soon. One neighbor mentioned that he hoped the house would be torn down.

Oh. We’ve never met the neighbors who own the empty house. The story goes that they are in foreclosure and have moved into government assisted housing less than a mile from us. But here’s where the story gets interesting. Both the man and the woman work. They drive very nice vehicles. In fact, we’re told they have four vehicles. Two personal cars and two work cars. Since they’re only allotted two parking spaces in their new housing complex, they keep their personal vehicles parked at their foreclosed home during the week. At the end of the workweek, they trade vehicles and park the work cars in the driveway next to us for the weekend.

My question about the situation is this. How do two working people who drive nice vehicles qualify for government assistance? Why did they forfeit their home? I realize that financial circumstances can upend us at times, so I’ll give them that. But I’m just wondering if they are gaming the system. Are they playing with fire? I mean. Technically, they aren’t allowed to be on the property at this point. But the man has been there the past couple of days working on one of the vehicles. And the lady was there a few days after we arrived. She must have seen me through the door, and she had an odd grin on her face. Yes. She had been seen walking around a property that technically is no longer hers.

Now granted. I don’t know their situation. It may all be legit. I’m not trying to be judgmental, but from what I see and know I have questions. And the neighbors told me other unsavory stories about these people. So I think there was bad blood in the neighborhood, and some neighbors were glad to see them go.

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17

I wonder if I’m guilty of gaming any system that I’m involved in. Do I overstep my privileges? Do I shirk my responsibilities? What areas of my life am I overlooking because I’m comfortable with how I do things? What might others see in me that causes them to question my motives and intentions? Do I represent Christ well in every area of my life? Do both my public and private actions scream selfishness and privilege, or do they show the love and adoration of my God and Savior?

Not that it matters so much, but what do others say about me when I’m not around? Do they complain about how I treat others? Do they notice that my walk doesn’t match my talk? Do they say that I speak out of both sides of my mouth? Do I?

What kind of representative am I for the gospel of Jesus Christ?

I recently read an article that said we should be a Christian in every situation. That means whether someone is watching us or not. Even when we’re alone or in the privacy of our own home, our attitudes and actions should mirror those of Jesus. The way we conduct business, whether it’s personal or professional, should be a statement to the fact that we are followers of Christ. There should be no question as to how we will conduct ourselves in any situation. We will be better and do better when we make a deliberate decision to represent Christ in every facet of our lives. Oh sure. We’re not perfect, and we’ll fail. But we can always rise and try again. This life is a life of choosing daily to live for Christ.

Do nothing that you would not like God to see. Say nothing you would not like God to hear. Write nothing you would not like God to read. Go no place where you would not like God to find you. J.C. Ryle

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

Foolish Doings

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

Asa. He was a notable king from the line of David. He trusted God. And God brought peace to Judah during the early years of his reign. But in his old age, he failed to ask for God’s help. Instead, he sought the help of the Syrian king, Benhadad, as he looked to stop the Israelite king, Baasha, from encroaching on his land.

What looks like an innocent request for help from a neighboring king was in fact a slap in the face of God. Asa was a faithful follower of God throughout the years of his reign in Judah. But for some unknown reason, when he needed help to stop his enemy, Baasha, from building a stronghold to stop the people of Judah from entering and exiting their own country, he turned to Benhadad instead of to God.  And what he didn’t know until it was much too late was that God wanted to help him. Instead of defeating Baasha and his Israelite army, God would have helped him to also defeat the Syrian army led by Benhadad. It would have been a double win.  A victory for the ages. But no. God wasn’t involved in this war at all. He had been pushed aside.

Asa somehow forgot that he had made a covenant with God many years earlier. When he asked Benhadad for help, he went with a bribe. He not only took gold and silver to his opponent, but they were treasures that belonged in the house of God. King Asa stooped low by offering God’s treasures to bribe King Benhadad to help him fight against someone that Benhadad had a treaty with. And Benhadad took the bribe and broke his alliance with Baasha, king of Israel. Shame on all of them.

When the prophet Hanani came to confront the king for the wrongs he had done, he boldly told the truth. And King Asa fumed at him. Asa didn’t want to be told he was in the wrong. He wanted to be congratulated on his victory against Israel. Up until this time, he had treated his people with kindness. But he threw Hanani in prison and treated some of the people with contempt. Asa was going down, and he was going down hard and fast. He had rejected God and God let him suffer the consequences.

Even when dying, Asa failed to ask for God’s help. He sought only the help of physicians, which in and of itself is not bad. But he had no desire for God to take part in his final years of poor health. The problem with the physicians of his day is that their remedies were superstitions and folk remedies. Relying on God for help with his health problem would have been much more effective. Once again, Asa failed to see that God was waiting for him to ask for help. But no. He had abandoned God, so God abandoned him. The story doesn’t tell us that God would have healed him if he had asked for help. But we do know that God would have been with him every moment in his final days on earth.

You can read the story of King Asa in 2 Chronicles 14-16.

The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war. 2 Chronicles 16:9

Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. When God leaves man to himself, he is a pitiful man. He becomes his own worst enemy and a tyrant to others. The Lord is looking for people who are fully committed to him so he can strengthen and help them. He knows we need his strength to win the battles the enemy is waging against us. But we must diligently seek his help. We can’t stand on our own. We can’t win spiritual battles on our own strength.

Of course. God puts people in our path to help us in our time of need and to give correction, as well. But our faith must be in God and God alone. Only he can fight our battles and heal our wounds.

It’s a long obedience in the same direction of following Christ that will ensure our entrance into heaven. We can’t think that we can be strong followers of Christ early in our life and then slough off at the end. No. As long as we have breath within us, we must fight the fight every day. We must put on the armor of God each morning so we can win victory after victory over the enemy of our souls. We must always be on guard for attacks of temptation and doubt. The enemy will not stop as long as we are breathing.

Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12

Christian Obligation

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

King Saul. Oh. He was the first king of Israel, and he was a complicated man. He never asked to be king, but he was chosen by God to serve his nation. He didn’t know how to be a king. And he blew it big time. He blew it so bad that God instructed the prophet Samuel to tell him that the kingdom would be taken from his family. None of his sons or anyone in his family line would ever be king of Israel. A different family line would be placed on the throne after Saul. What a blow to an arrogant man’s ego.

Saul didn’t start out in a royal kind of life. He was from the smallest family of the smallest tribe of Israel. He seemed to start out on the right foot in his kingly life, but things went downhill. He had great military success. Wherever he turned, he was victorious in battle because God was on his side. After all, God chose him out of all the other Jewish men to lead the nation. But Saul got ahead of himself. He didn’t remain faithful to God and refused to obey his commands. God rejected Saul and was sorry he had made him king.

In one particular battle, God commanded Saul through the prophet Samuel to kill every living being. This meant every man, woman, child and animal should be wiped out. This may sound like a harsh command, but God knew that anyone from the opposing side who was allowed to live was a threat to his people. But Saul decided to keep some of the best animals for himself, and he captured the opposing king and let him live. Oh. Saul defeated the other king’s army and slaughtered everyone and everything else, but he didn’t fully obey God.

Samuel stopped by to check in with Saul. Saul greeted him with open arms and proclaimed that he had carried out the Lord’s command. But Samuel asked why he could hear animals. Oh. Saul said. We saved some of the best animals to sacrifice to the Lord. And then Samuel laid him out right there. He told Saul that because of his disobedience, God had removed his blessing from Saul. But Saul insisted that he had obeyed God. Samuel said no. Obedience is better than burnt offerings and sacrifice. He told Saul that rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshiping idols.

You can read this story in 1 Samuel 15.

Saul’s disobedience cost him and his family the royal throne. While Saul thought that partial obedience was obedience, it really wasn’t. It cost him his soul. His obligation was to fully obey God to the fullest extent. And he didn’t. He had a rebellious streak that he pitted against God. Rebelling against God is never a winning strategy.

What can I offer the Lord for all he has done for me? Psalms 116:12

If we call ourselves a Christian, we have certain obligations. Oh. We may not like to hear that, but hear me out. To call oneself a Christian means that we have confessed our sins to God and repented of them. We turn our back on sinning and begin to walk in the teachings of Christ. We are Christ followers. And what Jesus Christ did for us before we confessed our sins was to die on the cross. He did that willingly and in accordance with God’s plan. Because once Adam and Eve sinned by eating the forbidden fruit in the garden, God offered a plan of redemption so we wouldn’t be doomed to hell for eternity. He offered us a way out of living in sin. And when we are forgiven, we are freed from our past. We can live forgiven, and we are no longer under a death sentence.

But is a free gift really free? The gift of salvation came with a huge price. Jesus died for everyone else’s salvation, so no one else would have to die. Christian faith costs something when we pick up our cross and follow Christ. The cross represented suffering, and it shouldn’t be taken lightly. Anyone flippant about Christianity isn’t serious about their faith.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. Matthew 16:24

Some may think Jesus is cool without ever taking their beliefs into consideration. Being a Christian doesn’t mean we have to be cool. Because very often, the Christian will be on the low end of the coolness meter, according to those on the other side of the fence. Christians don’t need to be cool. They need to be humble. Humility is a symbol of bowing to one’s own desires and submitting to the will of our heavenly Father. Obedience to the Father’s will is liberating.

We want to learn from Saul’s lesson of disobedience. Partial obedience is not obedience. We can’t have it both ways. We can’t just obey God fully when it pleases us and then turn around and partially obey. Dying to ourselves requires full surrender to God’s will and commands.

Religion is not a warm electric blanket, it’s the cross, and the cross holds the suffering of the world. This is a very profound symbol of human suffering and failure of community, that they can be presented with the child of God and crucify him. We live in a fallen world. To make it all nice and to make it all warm and fuzzy, you’re not really talking about faith.

Ethan Hawke