Be Alert

I watched a christian film called Time Changer this weekend. It was about a professor who traveled into the future and found that a slight diversion in truth at present produced a huge deficit in truth later. In their time, the eighteen hundreds, they felt that living a moral life led their children in the way of Christianity. They, however, left out one instruction. Jesus Christ, the authority of life. The story unfolds and we learn that a slight diversion from the truth lead to a huge deficit down the road.

A parallel to this idea came to me this morning. Scriptures reveal that the Christian walk involves a humble existence in the physical and spiritual, a submissiveness to one another and self control; that God opposes the proud, that suffering is a must for maturity, that those of faith did not always receive what they believe God for in this life and that some even died through torture.

Yet today in modern, successful ministries there is much talk about faith that heals everyone regardless and an abundant life of wealth and prosperity in things rather than in spirit. Very little if any time is devoted to suffering, submissiveness, a humble spirit to God and others. Is it possible that a slight diversion in truth is taking place?

In the movie, the children of the future thought nothing of stealing, dishonesty, immorality. The church resembled a country club. Will our future produce children with similar problems? A church of Christians that will not learn from or tolerate suffering and that wealth is a right? What happens when trials come? Will they loose faith and faint.

• In this world you will have various trials but be of good cheer I have overcome the world.
• Humble yourselves, therefore under Gods mighty hand and he will life you up in due time
• Those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful creator and continue to do good.
• Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who sufferers in his body is done with sin. As a result he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

Are we alert to the lie of the enemy and self controlled?
1Peter 4 and 5; Heb 11;John 16:33

John 3:16

Seems everything in life leads me to Him.

Sickness visited our house this week. It happens each year with us as I am sure it does with you. This time it wasn't the usual cold, flue, stuffy nose can't breath kind but the old fashioned stomach stuff. (There is something about that type of flue that makes you wonder if you'll live) When I woke from it about twenty four hours later my husband said I talked nonsense all night. I remember the unrest the constant pain and the obvious 'no peace' in my body. Once I could sit up I went to God's word, thankful to be alive and thankful for eternal life with Him, a life with total peace.

Several things came to mind the morning after. Thoughts of those who suffer in their bodies on a continual basis because of terminal disease or bone disorder or the result of war. They live this life in constant pain. One friend I visited had a type of Parkinson's that slowly paralyzed her body till she died, a blessing. Her last year on earth was in that type of pain. But the strongest thought left to me was about hell. Hell on earth ends. Hell for eternity does not and for some reason, this time, I equated the sickness to hell. Hell, of course, is much worse than the unrest and pain I experienced in the body, the lack of peace in the muscles, the thirst not satisfied. But I thought of hell just the same. This misery only lasted twenty four hours. Can you imagine an eternity of gritting teeth, no peace,unrest, no love, no Abba?

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal live. John 3:16. Thank you Lord for salvation.

Angel

Proverbs 8:33-36

People often ask me, "how do you know when God is speaking to you?" There are so many ways. In fact, I have devoted one entire lesson in a workbook I wrote called Teach me, Lord
to 'His Voice'. But for today let me relate God's voice to a recent experience with a delightful pup called Angel.


God always speaks to us through the Scriptures; but it never ceases to amaze me how often the world around us leads our hearts to those scriptures. A water fall, for example, reveals His majesty, a bird nestled in a nest over that waterfall reveals what trust looks like and Angel reveals another lesson on listening to God.

We require Angel know heal, sit, lay down, stay and wait. She needs to find the dog door, be polite in the kennel and side step little one's on the floor. She's a Boxer and to my surprise a very find breed for family protection and enjoyment. She belongs to my younger daughter but spends time with me often. So naturally, maintaining her lessons pass my way.

You see, Angel can also be the most powerful, destructive dog I've ever known, if she remains confused about her job; and her job is to do what I tell her to do. Once I started giving commands and remained consistent she responded beautifully. At first I just required she follow me around the house, sit or lay down where I wanted and stay. But Angel turned out to be more capable. A story I will relate at a later date for sure.

Angel's necessary response to me resembles our necessary response to Christ. She needed to trust, respect and listen. Things we instilled in her through a gentle hand, no violence allowed.
Something God also instills in us with a gentle hand called grace.
Trust came when she believed we'd care, provide and keep her secure.
Respect came when we remained consistent and required her best.
Listening came because her life has purpose.

I remember the first time she looked, waited and listened for my instruction as if my every word gave her life. Nothing came between us in that moment. She connected and obeyed. A lesson we all need to learn.

"Lord, help me to escape destructive behavior, to give you my full attention and to listen, for Your every word is life to me."

The good life

1 Peter 3:8-21; Heb 13:15-1

It has been my experience often that children and now grandchildren bring words of wisdom, faith and encouragement to adults.
Example#1:

I, in fear said:
"Lord, please heal my Little one from this sickness today."
"Nana, I'm already well, Jesus healed me, I'm going to school today."
She did not go to school and she did not look well, eyes still dark with circles. Yet she believed health lived in her and it did according to the Dr who examined her that afternoon.
Words filled with trust and faith that encouraged my life.

Example#2:

In late 2006, my older daughter and I talked over a few scripture, as we often do, and I mentioned Heb 13 and how it spoke to me. She, known for her kindness, said:
"I've always believe that way. When people do good, evil is not in action. So regardless of the situation choose to do good. If everyone did this, evil would not continue."
How did she get to be so mature so young. I thought parents taught the children?
Faith, love,trust and random acts of kindness influence her life.
Her words pointed to 'The good life. It encouraged me.

Hebrews guides us in this way:
Offer a sacrifice praise, the fruit of the lips that confess His name; do good and share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
'The good life'.

1 Peter guides us in this way:
Live in harmony, be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble; do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, give out blessings and receive the resulted blessing; keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech, run from evil, do good, seek peace.

My children and now grandchildren get this message and finally...so do I.
This is 'the good life'.

My Valentine

John 3:16

I know this must be out there on the net somewhere but it actually came to me through the women's bible study I attend. Hats off to you, if you are the one that thought this one up and thank you. I keep a copy of it over my desk. It encourages me daily.

I've always known and am sure most of you do too by now, that God is the love of our lives. No one in this life can offer pure agape love, the kind of love that accepts us warts and all. Once we receive His sacrificial love for us, once we believe He is committed for all eternity, once we understand we are the love of His life, our life changes. We begin to Love.

"For God Lo V ed the world,
That He g A ve
His on L y
Begott E n
So N
T hat whoever
Believeth I n Him
Should N ot perish
But have E verlsting life."

Obedience

There's that word again, obedience. As a young Christian I thought obedience meant the Ten Commandments. Then I realized, no one can live the Ten Commandments. They were given to lead us to Christ, our only hope. Then I decided that obedience meant to keep on the straight and narrow as much as possible. That led to daily confession and repentance which depressed me. Like I can't even get through one day without failing (a product of pride). I've even known a few Christians that threw in the towel on Christianity and left the faith just because of a failure to obey the rules.

Then I discovered Grace Walk by Steve McVey and the writings of Bob George just to name a few of the grace teachers. They taught about a walk of faith not works. What freedom to know God is not irritated with me or that I am never disqualified because I fail so much.

Obedience and Trust are synonymous. Obedience to the gospel is to repent and ask Christ into your life. Obedience is trust, faith in Christ not works (though works follow). It is doing the right thing regardless because we trust His judgment and believe He knows best.

After a few years, we do begin to understand that it is just plain stupid to not do the right thing because the right thing is not as necessary for the other person as it is for us. I mean when you do what you want, experience everything your way (as a Christian) you will end up in a lot of pain. Even as a non-Christian you will end up with a lot of pain. When it is all said and done we all eventually come to the conclusion that God knows what He is doing and we will obey Him. We all end up saying "God I want to think, act, say and live your way." We repent, turn our eyes on him and say here I am help me live the way you want.

God is God and He will have it His way in the end for every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Prov 2:20-27 Phil1:6

I did it my way

When we see life through our eyes we see only personal goals, pride, lust, desires and needs unmet. If we saw life through His eyes, we'd see a peculiar people He designed for good works. We'd see the glorious things He's prepared for us; things that now, no eye has seen, no ear has heard. We'd see beyond today. We'd see life as it will become.

What do we have here on earth? Maybe 70 to 80 years, not much in comparison to eternity with Him. Not enough to invest all we have. No, the best investment is in Him and doing things His way.

It's not about us.
It's about God and His plans for us.
It's not about life's desires.
It's about His ideals
It's not about how we feel.
It's about Hm

It's not about our comfort
It's about the character He choose to develop
It's not about who I want to become.
It's about becoming like Him.
It's not about redeeming stuff to store.
It's about His redemption of me.
It's about Him

It's about our future with him
It's about His plans for our welfare not calamity
It's about the living hope.
Its about His goals for all humanity
It's about the new body and new life
Its about His eternal life living in us today and for ever
It's about Him

Lord, when it is all said and done, when I draw my last breath and stand before You, please don't let be said, "I did it my way."

God's Best

Gen 37- 47

If God has our best interest in mind, why does life so often look the opposite? Suffering, pain, loss, these are His best for us? No. These are a result of a fallen world. The great part is that regardless of what life throws our way He has a plan that promises God's best for us and those involved.

The scriptures above talks about the life of Joseph. There are plays, movies, stories for both youth and adult on this one. Yet the message never grows old and each day God's Word refreshes as if we'd never heard the story.

Listen to what these people say as a result to their various situations in this one story.

The brothers: "Surely we are being punished for our sins toward out brother."
The father: "You have deprived me of my children. First Joseph, then Simeon, now Benjamin. Everything is against me."
Another brother: "What is God doing to us?"

Sound familiar? We say things like. "Why God? Why did this happen? This is too hard for me God, you went to far. What are you doing to me?"

Well, we know the end of the story with Joseph and if we knew the end of the story about our individual journey we'd feel better. But, the walk is a walk of faith and we are asked to trust Him.

God, in this one story, saved a nation, reunited a family and made them whole.
Christ, in His story for us, saved us, plans to reunite us and make us whole.

Though for a little while it seems like life deals fatal blows, it's not true. Our future is in his hands and God's best is ahead.