If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans! That old saying is still true today. It doesn’t mean we’re stupid or anything. And God doesn’t really laugh at our feeble attempts at life. It’s just that we are so limited in our abilities and the scope of our vision in comparison to Him, that I’m sure He does smile a time or two at His children’s meager shots at solving life’s problems. So, no matter what your plan is, be open to God’s intelligent interference. His “plan” for us is ultimately to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever. All else…is just details. Even though sin diverted the course of mankind; it has not, in the least, thwarted God’s purpose and plan. Those who are born again of Him are permanently placed in His election. People aren’t pre-destined…His plan is pre-destined! Your free will allows you to choose for Him or against Him. I suggest you choose for Him! Endure the fire…it’s producing pure gold!
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You just never know what is going to happen next. It’s surely okay to plan, to learn, to progress forward in life; but always be aware that things can go wrong, and things going wrong may happen very often! Be careful, though, that you don’t react as if God is punishing you. He doesn’t work that way. All things are controlled by God, and even though He wasn’t the source of bad or difficult happening to you, the fact that He didn’t prevent it or stop it, speaks volumes. Instead of thinking negatively when something goes awry, switch that thinker over to view your difficulties as blessings in disguise! “What? Are you nuts?” you may say. Nope, just repeating what is mentioned in James 1:2-4, that you should consider trials with joy because when your faith is tested, you grow stronger in it. That kind of endurance will make you complete so you lack in nothing. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me. Do a daily workout in the “spiritual gym” and you’ll be ready to tackle those challenges as they come your way. Remember, trials and sorrows give you an opportunity to practice running to God for your refuge, trust and wisdom. And because “practice makes perfect”—expect those trials! See Psalm 55:17 and Psalm 62:8 for some frosting on the cake. Endure the fire…it’s producing pure gold! Are you longing for more miracles or more God? Well, if you think having more miracles in your life will make you closer to God—think again! Just look at all the miracles set before the Israelites: their release from Egypt; the manna in the desert; water from rocks, shoes that lasted 40 years, and oh, so many more! And what was their response…a deepening relationship with God and an attitude of gratitude? Yeah, right! They consistently distrusted God, and in their impatience, even built statues of pagan gods to worship while waiting upon the true God. They consistently whined and complained bitterly to Moses; even going as far as to say it would have been better for them to be back in the hell hole from which they had just been rescued! God’s not stupid. He did a ton of miracles previously, as we have seen throughout the Old and New Testaments. And I don’t know if you’ve noticed or not, but He’s not doing that same boatload of miracles today. Any seas parted lately? I think it’s because God proved His point a long time ago as it seems that “a miracle a day, often makes you stray!” Because of our broken nature, when miracles abound, we seem to get addicted to the miracles or worse yet, to the human vessel through whom the miracles flow. Nope—God wants you longing for Him and not what He can do for you. Don’t be like the Israelites who went on and on in their complaints. They complained that God was unfair because they were slaves—so He freed them; the Israelites complained that God was silent so He spoke to them; the Israelites complained that He was hidden so He appeared to them; and what was the result? Did they fall on their faces in adoration? Nope again. They screamed that they would die, that they were lost and, even worse, they said they didn’t want to hear the voice of the Lord or see His face for they would die! Real confidence builder those miracles were, huh! Trust God, my friend. He knows exactly when to break His silence; He cannot be unfair for He is perfectly just; and He knows exactly when and how to reveal Himself to you. Let Him be your God; and whether you get a miracle handed to you or not, He has proven His love for you and He is worthy to be praised! Endure the fire…it’s producing pure gold! “Love your enemies”. Is God nuts or something? Never mind “how” to love my enemies…why should I even try? With our limited viewpoint and broken nature, we often cannot see God’s viewpoint nor have full understanding of His ways. As you review the headlines recently about radical Islamists killing an American ambassador and three other American civilians; or Occupy Wall Streeters defecating on what should be our revered flag; or Iranian leaders threatening to bomb our military bases, you could be filled with hatred and anger toward them. But did you ever stop to pray for them? I never once prayed for Khrushchev when Russia was a Cold War enemy; I never once prayed for the Communists who invaded South Vietnam, especially while I served there as a military nurse and saw the horrendous wounds inflicted on our treasured young men. I never prayed for the Ayatollah when the U.S. Embassy in Iran was attacked and our Americans who worked there were held captive for over a year. I prayed for the Americans but never their captors. I have never prayed for the Taliban or any radical Islamist today. Have you? That surely made me start to think as the Lord has spoken to my heart over the years. Wow, can you imagine what might happen if we seriously prayed for a miraculous intervention in the hearts of those I just mentioned? The intervention of God won’t happen to everyone because some just have a hardened heart that will never warm up to God, no matter how much heat He applies to it. But there are many who have never had the truth hit their hearts and they would change drastically if it did. Praying for your enemies is crucial, not crazy. You see, Jesus died for them, too, as much as He did for you and me. Oh-Oh…I think we may have forgotten that. Instead of hating our enemies, we should be “herding” them into God’s flock! Who’s on your enemies’ list… former spouses, those who commit crimes, relatives and friends who have ripped you off, liberals and Democrats, conservatives and Republicans, pagans and politicians, the government, etc. If you want to be a true follower of Jesus Christ, you must put away the broken nature that leans toward hatred, hurting and revenge and put on the mind of Christ which guides us toward holiness, healing and redemption! Endure the fire…it’s producing pure gold! In Florida, we have a lot of hurricanes and many times we have to suffer through periods of electricity loss. When that goes out at night, boy is it dark! Not even the glow from the numbers of a digital clock, or a street light are present, no lights at all, nada…just all dark. Then, with hurricane plywood boards on the windows, it is still pretty dark once daylight hits the scene, too. Floridians, of course, have drawers full of batteries and flashlights and closets full of hundred hour candles and battery-run lanterns so the dark won’t be such a consuming distress. As I meditate on the common happenings of earth, I see such a correlation to a walk with God. In a storm, without that flashlight or lantern in the darkness, I am open to stumble over pieces of furniture, unable to see dangerous corners or sharp objects; am disabled in food preparation, clothing selection, etc. Every part of the everyday life is adversely affected without some light. The same is true as I plod through this earthly journey. Staying far away from the light of God will keep me and you in the dark or in the dimmest of lights, increasing the possibility of injury and damage to your body, mind and soul. Make sure you walk in the light as He is in the light, for His Word is a lamp unto your feet! Endure the fire…it’s producing pure gold! What’s this “grace” thing all about anyways? To some, it’s what you pray before eating; to others it means being mannerly and delicate. But to God it means that no matter what mistakes you make in this life, you will never be disqualified from His love. Now that’s some good news! The song “Amazing Grace” tells it all, “How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me”. I hope you get it seared in your head and your heart that God doesn't judge you on your past but on your future. Grace is an odd thing to the fallen and broken nature of man. We judge people all the time. We judge them by their behavior and pronounce harsh consequences upon those with moral failings. I wish it was “used to judge”, but I am afraid it is front and center in most of our lives. So to us, limited by that broken nature, this grace thing seems pretty irrational, even a bit unjust and unfair, that God would forgive someone and give them another chance. Makes no sense to a world used to revenge and punishment, but makes a boatload of sense if you believe in the God of second chances. God’s no fool, though; He’s not some vain dreamer hoping for deliverance and repentance from a hardened heart. Because He knows everyone’s heart, background, brokenness, gifts, etc., He knows who will turn to Him and who won’t. God knows those who more need healing than justice. Grace is the balm to that healing. Let’s make sure we let God’s grace flow through us to others. If we respond to evil with evil, the cycle remains unbroken. God’s grace ends that cycle. Remember, revenge will perpetuate the evil, justice can only punish it, but grace ends the cycle of death and brings life. Endure the fire…it’s producing pure gold! Yesterday’s blog spoke on prayer and how interested God is in each and every one of us. Today we’ll address our persistent, nagging disbelief about that! C’mon, admit it, when you see injustice, horror, terror, disease, natural disasters, etc., we get pretty shaken. Some start right away with “where’s God?”, “has He forsaken me?” etc. We need to look at Jesus’ example. Don’t you think He too saw some terrible things in His day? There were lepers with their flesh rotting away, banned from a normal life in the village. There were injuries, cruelty, divorce, drunkenness, anger, etc. He never lost a wink of sleep over it and never was He shaken in His trust of God. He left all of the earth’s concerns in God’s hands and went about tending to the people and the plans of God in His daily existence. Jesus’ prayerful intimacy with God is our example. Jesus walked in peace and rest because He knew without a doubt that God is faithful; never sleeping nor slumbering and can do all things. Times of trial came to Jesus and will come to us that will challenge and test that belief. Our response must be as His…cry out to God to renew your trust in Him. God desires an ongoing relationship with each of us; and He does that through prayer. God wants to close the chasm between Him and humankind; and He does that through prayer. Don’t worry that your prayer may be imperfect. Duh, you are imperfect! God doesn't care…just go to Him, He’ll take it from there. He knows how to “translate” what you really mean, weave it into what you really need and produce a plan that has His holy outcome…in spite of ourselves! Don’t be discouraged now if some prayers may go unanswered (meaning God didn't do what YOU wanted!), or if you don’t “feel” God’s presence as strongly each time. There’s still a lot of mystery involved this side of heaven! Keep on praying, keep on pressing in, for as Paul said, “Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known”. Translation: “You can run but you cannot hide!” God wants you, often times more than you want Him. What a ride, heh? Endure the fire…it’s producing pure gold! Ever hear someone say, “Oh, God’s too busy, I don’t want to bother Him with this small request.”? Wha-a-a-a-t? I guess you didn’t get the memo…the Gospel is supposed to be good news! Read the New Testament for crying out loud! It is full to the brim of examples of God’s desire and delight in being intimately involved in every detail of our lives. Remember the “even the very hairs of your head are all numbered” thing? Yet, even with that hyperbole, most of us broken and hurt little critters down here waddling around on planet earth find it very difficult to grasp the idea of a God that has such a personal interest in each and every one of His people. We think we “bother” God when we ask for help finding a job, or choosing a school or fixing a car. Hey, this is a big God! Look at some of the prayers that were in the Bible: a woman desperately wanted to have a baby, a widow woman asked for some cooking oil, yeah…some stupid oil; others prayed for victory in battle, or relief from drought or safe travels, prosperity in their endeavors, healing, etc. Heck, the Lord’s Prayer itself includes asking for “daily bread”. So, I think we can, with a fair amount of confidence, stop worrying if we’re going to “bother” God, either with what we consider big or small problems. Remember now, prayer is not just asking for stuff. Prayer is your primary way of basking in God’s presence. Talk to Him and then shut up long enough to listen to Him. You’ll be amazed at just how “two-way” this prayer thing is. Jesus tells us that nothing is too trivial; He relishes everything about you and wants to be there with you, helping you through “yourself”; your thoughts, motives, moods, feeling, desires…He is interested in it all…because He’s interested in you! Endure the fire…it’s producing pure gold! If anyone hasn’t noticed…we’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto! And that meaning…we are out of the Garden of Eden! The disobedience of Adam and Eve meant that they, and all of us, were plunged into sin and corruption…far from the delight of the Garden of Eden. Among other things, innocence was lost, the pain endured in childbirth was increased, and the ground as well as our own bodies were cursed, making it harder to even make a living—but the ultimate loss was the separation of man from God. This separation means corruption entered into the human existence. It is like a computer virus—it corrupts everything. The only remedy is to clean it out and run a new program. That new program is Jesus. Death came with Adam, but life with Jesus Christ. Thank you, Lord! Take Him at His word…come back to Him and enter into everlasting life. Endure the fire…it’s producing pure gold! You know…you can live a better life in a bitter world! But complain, complain, complain…that’s all some people do; you know them—the “glass is half empty” people. God doesn’t want us living like that. We are His children, the “King’s Kids”. Yet, how can we possibly live a better life in a world that seems so bitter and full of evil? Well, it comes down to viewpoint, viewpoint, viewpoint! From God’s perspective, all is well. He has a plan and we are chugging along just fine towards His final chapter. Don’t get me wrong now, there IS sin and tragedy and hardship all around us; but there is beauty and treasure and holiness, too. It is what you train yourself to see and think on that is the key! And that training must be based on your obedience to the Word of God. Endure the fire…it’s producing pure gold! |
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