Future And Hope

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

I love the Word of God. I have since I was a little boy toting around my King James Bible. But I have always enjoyed reading the New Testament more, with the exception of the Psalms and Proverbs. I have read the New Testament more times over the years than I can count, and the Old Testament numerous times as well. Yet, the Book of Jeremiah is a perfect example of why I have most often stayed within the pages of the New Testament.

The Book of Jeremiah is a slog to read. Having just read it again I have not changed my opinion. In Jeremiah God has had it with the Jews of that time and their idolatry along with their other sins. The Prophet Jeremiah was given the unenviable task of telling the Jews that they are going to be taken captive by the Babylonians and if they wanted to live they had better give up and surrender to the Bablyonians and not fight them. Wow, what a cheerful message to deliver to your Nation!

Yet God also gives them many promises and offers hope to them that they will one day return and become a Nation again.

As we face a New Year we may not have the best outlook before us. Nationally things are pretty grim, just tune into any one of the Prophets of Doom and Gloom on the news channels. Then there are individual challenges with health issues, financial difficulties, and the everyday problems we all face. 

Nevertheless, God does not leave us without help and hope anymore than he did those Jews facing very tough times. God gives His children both help and hope for a brighter future as we follow Him and honor Him. Right now things may be tough, but for those who put their trust in God better days are ahead and our ultimate glorious outcome is assured as Jesus awaits our arrival at the end of our time on this earth.

Do not be discouraged about this New Year. While challenges always come with any year, so do opportunities. And for those who rely on God, you can be sure He has both a future and a hope awaiting you in the year to come.

Dear Lord, being pessimistic is easy. But help us to lift up our eyes to heaven and rely upon You for opportunities we may never even have dreamed of. When You are with us we have every reason for hope and optimism. Amen.

Christmas Worth Remembering

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2

When my siblings and I were young, mom always had great Christmases for us. Though a mostly secular home we learned about Jesus at church, while looking forward to Santa Claus at Christmas time. 

As children we would have difficulty falling to sleep as the excitement built on Christmas Eve. We hoped for a glimpse of Santa, but always seemed to fall asleep just before he arrived. Mom would complain as we were up at the break of day while she understandably wanted more sleep.

There were packages galore in colorful paper that we tore apart with great eagerness and our hoard of toys mounted. Stockings came later, after the initial excitement. They were filled with fruit, nuts, and assorted candies. We ate well, and slept well that night as our bellies and Christmas wishes were fulfilled.

Christmas is never quite the same as when you were a child. Yet as you get older and wiser you come to understand that Christmas is not about presents, lights, trees, or even full bellies. No, Christmas is about that first Christmas where a Child was born in humble conditions. A Savior came to earth to give us not only hope and joy but eternal redemption in a heavenly kingdom that will far surpass the greatest days and moments of our earthly life.

“Jesus is the Reason for the Season” is much more than a nice statement at Christmas. It was a true Holy Day when the earth was touched by the Divine in a way never before seen. God came to earth in the humble form of a baby who would grow up in poor conditions and see the worst humanity had to offer so that we might receive the best God has to give.

I miss those days when my brother and sister and I were filled with the childlike joy and wonder of Christmas. Yet I’m content to trade all that happiness for a greater joy, an eternal Gift we three children each received as we accepted the Lord Jesus into our hearts at a young age. And now my mother too has received that Greatest Gift.

Christmases come and go quickly, but Jesus is forever. I hope you have received God’s greatest Gift into your heart. If you have not, ask Jesus to come into your life and discover what Christmas is truly all about.

Prayer: Dear Lord, an eternity is not long enough to celebrate how much we love and appreciate You. How glorious it will be to see You face to face as we step from this world into your heavenly kingdom. Amen.

What Is Your Identity?

“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” Judges 6:15

I decided years ago that I do not want to be known as the guy with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or Crohn’s Disease, or Diabetes, or the guy with an Ostomy. I have no desire to be seen as a victim. I don’t hide these things, but I don’t dwell on them or introduce myself by saying: Hi, nice to meet you, I’m the guy who almost died of Crohn’s Disease.

Whatever our challenges in life are, we should never be so focused upon our weaknesses and disabilities that we fail to realize there is help and hope available in Jesus Christ. And our connection to Him is all that matters.

Some people take their identity from their jobs, position, or title. Some are famous, or politicians, or celebrities. No matter what your title, job, or station in life, you should never take your identity from such things. Those things can change or be lost and then who are you?

We who have believed in Jesus as our Lord and Savior are identified with Him. Whether you are lying in a hospital bed or sleeping in the White House there will be one question asked when your life is through: Who Are You?

Your position in life and job title will mean nothing. Rich or poor, loved or despised by the world, it will not matter. Whether you are a follower and believer in Jesus is the only thing that counts both now and in the hereafter.

Prayer: Dear Lord, it is easy to get caught up in what the world thinks about us. But let us never forget that only our relationship to You really matters. Strengthen us in our faith, and make us bold in our testimony about who we are because of You. Amen.

Practice Thankfulness

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Collossians 3:15

Gratitude and thankfulness is much needed in this world. Too many people are ready to complain and gripe about everything in their life. They do not stop to appreciate the help of others and the goodness of God that comes to each of us every day.

I have cultivated a habit of thanking people. Much of that stems from years of help from nurses, doctors, and other healthcare workers who have ministered to me in one way or another. When you are in a hospital and feel completely helpless, totally dependent upon others to aid you in the most basic functions of life, you learn to practice gratitude and thankfulness.

No matter who you are or what you are going through you can always find something to be thankful for if you try. Even better, make a habit of praying for those who help you in a variety of ways. From the nice waitress at the restaurant, to the person loading your groceries, to the mailman dropping off your mail, pray for them and be thankful. 

Often we get so caught up in the negative things in this world that we fail to stop and count our blessings. Our perspective changes when we can see beyond our troubles to a good God who blesses us daily. He gives us family, friends, clothing, food and shelter and too many blessings to list.

In America we have the best Holiday in the world. Thanksgiving involves no gifts, no endless shopping, is not buried in commercialism, and is not tied to secularism. Thanksgiving has an object, God. Its sole purpose is to thank God for all His blessings. From the first Pilgrims grateful to be alive and in a New World to practice their faith, to President Lincoln who officially set aside one day each year to thank Almighty God for the blessings bestowed upon us, Thanksgiving is unique among our Holidays.

Before the turkey dinner, and before the parade and football games start, take a few moments to add up your blessings. Then stop and thank the Lord who has given them all to you.

Prayer: Dear Lord, each day brings a fresh batch of blessings, help us not only to count them, but to let them add up to a grateful heart of praise and thanksgiving to You. Amen.

Get Understanding And Wisdom From The Lord

“I gain understanding from Your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path” Psalm 119:104

    I was not long out of high school when it dawned on me just how ignorant and dumb I was. Then I read about Solomon in the Bible asking the Lord for wisdom, and I asked for wisdom as well. While I am no Solomon, I would like to think I am not as dumb as that young man was years ago, yet I was already wise in one way–I knew to ask the Lord for help back then.

    Many people in this world have knowledge, but very few have any real understanding or wisdom. And my experience has been that the higher the IQ, too often the less common sense is found. You cannot give anyone common sense, you cannot drill it into their head. Only God gives wisdom and understanding.

    You could set wisdom in a golden bowl in front of them and it would still elude them. Common sense, understanding, and wisdom are gifts from God, and can be found even with the most feeble minded of people. Yet it is rarely found among those considered wise by the world’s standards.

    I have said all of that to point you to this–you are going to need wisdom from God to survive and thrive with sickness, disease, disability, and the common everyday difficulties and afflictions we all will face in life.

    The only way to find meaning and purpose in your troubles is through God. The Lord can bring healing and restoration within us that is beyond the knowledge and scope of medicine or science. He can give you peace and joy and purpose despite your terrible problems and difficulties.

    Look up and ask God. Ask Him for wisdom and understanding, call upon Him for the gift of common sense and wisdom to see you through the dangerous road ahead. And then have faith that with all of His wisdom to aid you that nothing, not illness and disease or any problem and difficulty can take your hope, joy, or purpose away from you.

    Prayer: Dear Lord, we know we are foolish and in need of wisdom, please give us guidance and understanding to live the life You have given to us. Amen.

When We Stop Working

Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:25

I’m a fan of the old Babylon 5 science fiction TV series from back in the 1990s. Stop reading if you have not watched it and plan on doing so as a major spoiler is ahead.

John Sheridan is the major protagonist of the series starting with season 2. At one point in the series he is dying and an alien gives him some of its life force to save him, but tells him he will only live twenty more years and he will simply stop working and die. He will run down like a toy operating on a battery. So Mr. Sheridan knows when he will die, and gets to enjoy twenty more years, but he must plan for that time twenty years ahead for when his “battery runs out”. He visits old friends during his last days, takes care of any loose ends, and gets to say goodbye to his loved ones, then stops working. It is a satisfying ending to the series and to the life of its hero. But sadly, such a picture perfect ending is not a reality for most of us.

I have a growing suspicion that aging and the processes and effects involved are meant to help us loosen our hold upon this life. Think about it. Our eyes grow dim, our hearing fades, new afflictions arise, old afflictions keep coming back, even food and drink is not what it once was.

I’m not saying these things to be gloomy about getting old, but how hard would it be to leave life in our latter years if everything just got better and better?

Normal aging itself is a challenge, but add in things like diabetes, high blood pressure, autoimmune diseases and other common afflictions like arthritis and life simply is more challenging as we get older.

Yesterday I visited my doctor. I have a lung infection causing me pain and grief, and also shingles causing me pain. That’s on top of a litany of other “normal” health issues I face. I can honestly say the horizon of heaven is more appealing at such times as compared to trouble free, or at least mostly trouble free, days when the world looks much brighter around me.

We Christians are strangers in a strange land. We all know deep down we are destined for better things than this world and that it is not our true home. When we get forgetful, something often comes along to remind us of the truth.

Those of us who struggle with finding and holding onto the good things in life will have an easier time letting go when our time is up. Our troubles, afflictions, pain and suffering have loosened our grip on life as we look forward to an eternity free of pain and suffering and filled only with joy as we live in the very Presence of God.

Yet I suspect those who have had a much easier time in life, even in old age, will struggle to let go of this world when their time is through. And I understand that. On those days when the sunshine breaks through the clouds of my adversity, life is much sweeter and it is easier to take one's eyes off of heaven and the glory that awaits us there.

It is important to remind ourselves that this world is nothing more than a stopping place on our way to our eternal home. When life is bad–we remember and see the truth more clearly. When life is easy–we can lose focus and get our eyes off of Jesus.

While one foot is grounded upon the earth do not lose sight of the long road and our eventual home. Do not get too comfortable here or you may find as I often do that life and its vicissitudes will grab you and redirect your focus.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us not to be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good, and help us not to be so earthly minded that we struggle to let go of this world when our time comes to go home. Amen.

Who Taught You To Tie Your Shoes?

“Not one of them grows tired or stumbles, not one slumbers or sleeps; not a belt is loosened at the waist, not a sandal strap is broken” Isaiah 5:27

    My aunt taught me to tie my shoes when I was a little boy. Over the years I have tied my shoes thousands of times and I have not forgotten my aunt’s kindness all those years ago.

    I doubt my aunt even remembers teaching me to tie my shoes, but thanks to her I have been able to put on my shoes everyday with tightened laces. I have traveled many roads and trodden many paths because of her help and act of kindness to a boy struggling with his shoe laces.

    Little things can mean much and can add up over time. Little acts of kindness or generosity can mean far more than we realize and do much good that we do not account for.

    I once talked to a lady who went on a missionary trip to India. She told me of the poverty, difficult conditions, and about showing love to the little children there. My guess is that those kids will never forget the kind lady from America who cared for them and showed them loving kindness.

    We may never be missionaries to India or to any other country. Yet I believe we can teach someone to “tie their shoes”. And through small acts of kindness we can be a blessing to others far more than we realize.

    Too often we are focused on our limitations brought about by our inability or lack of skills. Perhaps we should consider the small ways we might bless others or show some little act of kindness. It could have big benefits for someone else.

    Let’s not allow our limitations to define us, but rather find ways to bless people. Even if only through prayer, a kind word, or a generous act, we can be fruitful despite our limitations.

    Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for the many acts of kindness that have come our way, and for giving us opportunities to show kindness to others. Amen.

Did I Do Something Wrong?

“Teach me, and I will be quiet; show me where I have been wrong” Job 6:24

    It seemed much had been going wrong over several months. Then one day my wife woke me up to tell me the furnace was broken. And then I discovered my phone had been disconnected, both on the same day. She asked me: “Are we doing something wrong?” I knew what she meant.

    It is a natural reaction for the Christian to examine their lives regularly, and especially in times of trouble. I told my wife: “No, sometimes things just happen.”

    Yet it is no fun to be on the receiving end of trouble and unwanted challenges. We can begin to develop a “persecution complex” after problems grow and mount in our lives, especially when it seems everyone around us has managed to avoid those same problems and challenges.

    God blesses His children, and while it is true that He sometimes chastens us when we go astray, He has also chosen us. God is never “out to get us”.

    God makes a way through everything life throws at us when we rely upon Him. Sometimes that way is into His arms as we leave this world and its tasks behind, and at other times it is battling through to the other side of trouble with another victory under our belt thanks to Him.

    Troubles come, they always will. But so does victory, so does experience as we overcome trouble through the One who has called us.

    Perhaps the problems coming into your life are not because you have done anything wrong, but because you are a child of God living in a hostile environment on your way to your true home.

    Fulfill your purpose as Christ’s faithful representative in good times and bad.

    Prayer: Dear Lord, sometimes life is hard, terrible, and frustrating. But sometimes life is good, and that is because of Your presence. Thank you Lord. Amen.

Is Your Mind Too Cluttered?

“All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless” Ecclesiastes 2:23

   Years ago I found myself in an office where the walls were cluttered with signs.

    Everywhere you looked, large, small, even tiny signs could be found with a wide variety of sayings and quotes. But the sign that stuck out from the rest, paradoxically, was the sign that said: Simplify.

   That office and its multitude of signs struck me as a metaphor for my own mind. It is too often cluttered with thoughts and ideas going this way and that. I am being pulled in one direction and then another just as my eyes bounced from one sign and its message to the next in that office.

   How easy it is to let our minds get cluttered with thoughts, ideas, fears, anxieties, and doubts. How much better it would be to quiet our busy minds and focus instead on God.

   When we turn our minds toward God rather than chasing after endless ideas and thoughts that carry us away from what is most important, we remove the endless clutter that weakens our focus and fruitlessly scatters our thoughts.

   I think if that had been my office I would have removed every sign and added only one in their place: Trust in God. This is the sign every Christian should have foremost in their thoughts.

    When all of our gimmicks and ideas fall flat, when all the best plans we can come up with fall short of our needs, it is then time to turn to God and fill our minds with Him instead.

    When you live with illness your life can quickly fill up with worries and cares, leaving you with scattered thoughts instead of focusing upon the one important thought: JESUS.

    Prayer: Dear Lord, still our busy thoughts and free our cluttered minds. Fill our hearts and minds instead with You. Amen.

My Testimony

My soul faints with longing for your salvation,

    but I have put my hope in your word.

My eyes fail, looking for your promise;

    I say, “When will you comfort me?”

Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke,

    I do not forget your decrees. Psalm 119:81-83

    Every believer has a testimony. I’ve heard incredible ones over the years about people who were in prison, addicted to drugs and alcohol, were prostitutes, all sorts of sins and situations that were unimaginable until the Lord saved them and turned their lives around.

My testimony starts off a bit boring. When I was around eight years old a couple of wonderful Baptist fellows came to our neighborhood to invite kids who were willing to go to Sunday School. They sent a church bus on Sunday mornings to pick us up and we were introduced to church, God, and the Christian way of life.

 

When I was about fourteen years old a visiting evangelist at our church preached and gave the altar call. I felt God tugging at my heart and like a fish I was gently reeled in and was born again that Sunday morning.

I spent years wrestling with God, ignorant and foolish through most of my teenage years. I got serious about God around the same time I got married and then put down solid Christian roots in my early twenties.

By the time I was twenty eight years old my health had broken down and what should have been some of the best years of my life were years of constant affliction. Diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and other illnesses, it felt like my life was falling apart. But the killer would be Crohn's Disease. By the time doctors realized I had the disease it had done its worst. I was anemic, wasting away, suffered daily fevers, had infections and open wounds. By the year 2010 I was circling the drain. I was dying.

This is not a testimony about how wonderful and easy the Christian life can be. After years of Bible reading, and feeling the closeness of God even through my difficult years of Affliction, by 2010 as I was dying God had gone silent on me. Though I knew God was still there, He was no longer speaking to me in my spirit as He had done for years. 

On the night before I was to meet the surgeon God finally spoke to my spirit and He essentially said that the choice to have the surgery was up to me. That I could continue on my present course and be with Him in heaven, or I could take a chance on the surgery. 

You must understand that there was a serious question as to whether or not I would live through the surgery. I was as weak as a newborn kitten. Without the surgery it was unlikely I would live another six months to a year. And at that point if the surgery did not kill me, there was no guarantee I would live long even after I went through the surgery.

It was only later, well after the surgery and during my recovery that I understood what had occurred regarding God’s silence during the worst of my illness before the surgery. God would not ask me to suffer more. He saw what I had gone through not only in 2010 but the preceding years of my affliction. It was His goodness and mercy that led to His silence. That sounds strange, I know. But God did not require me to suffer more. He also knew it had to be my choice to go on fighting, and without my choice to commit to continue fighting I would never survive. It required my choice and will. God could not do it for me.

So what is my testimony? That God entered my life at a young age, and because He did so I did not end up in prison, or a drug addict, an alcoholic, or dead like some of the friends and kids I grew up with. Except for the grace and goodness of God I could have gone to prison like one of my best friends. God had His hand on me in my youth. And as a young man with horrible afflictions I could have taken my life due to despair if not for my knowledge of God and His intercession for me. As a middle aged man God handed me the reins of my own fate and trusted me with a life or death decision that would take a big leap of faith.

I was 46 years old when I entered the surgeon's office. I was anemic, weighed 143 pounds down about 90 pounds from around a year earlier. I took a leap of faith not knowing whether I would live or die, but knowing that whatever my choice, I would either be with God or He would be with me.

Testimonies about those who have had amazing turnarounds are wonderful. They grab our attention as they should. But there are other testimonies of Christians who have survived horrible circumstances because they had God in their life. People like Joni Earekson Tada a quadriplegic who nevertheless testifies about God and His goodness. Survivors who continue through suffering and affliction because they hold onto God through it all. And even those who did not survive, yet trusted themselves to God.

Faith preachers love the Bible book of Hebrew chapter 11. It tells of the wonderful episodes of God’s miracles, transformed lives, and impossible situations that God turned around. But that’s just part of Hebrews chapter 11. We are also told of those who suffered horribly and did not receive a miracle or deliverance, but they still kept their faith. 

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.

And:

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, Hebrews 11:13,39

My testimony is not glamorous, but it is about the goodness of God. Whether I would have died at 46 years old, or remain alive years later as I write this and still wrestle with afflictions, I can say that God is good.

 It could be said that those like me suffering horrible things do not deserve to go through such pain and misery. But neither did I deserve such a good wife, a wonderful daughter, and loving family members and friends. I didn’t deserve any good thing God has ever given me. Yet He put His hand upon my life as a boy and set me on a path of both blessings and difficulty. I am alive today by faith and the help God has given me over the years. Even when God was silent and allowed me a choice in my own fate God was being good to me. And when it is all said and done I will be with Jesus in heaven, again because of the goodness of God. That is my testimony about the grace and goodness of God even in this my land of affliction. What is your testimony?

Prayer: Dear Lord, we suffer many things in this life, but when it is through we will see Your guiding hand in it all. You have blessed us far beyond what we deserve, and these momentary afflictions are nothing compared to what awaits us in Your kingdom. Thank You for choosing us not because we are worthy, but because of Your love for us. We will praise You for it eternally. Amen.

What Is In Your Plus Column?

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

    Maybe you have made a list of pros and cons when trying to make decisions or when considering a project. There have been times when I have counted up the things against me and have come away rather discouraged, perhaps you have done the same.

    But today I want to encourage you to make a list, even if it is just a list in your mind, of things in your plus column. What things are working for you? What is in your favor?

    We can start right at the top. God is for you, He is the biggest plus in the column of the list in your favor. God wants you to succeed, to overcome, to endure, and to prosper in spite of your afflictions and challenges.

    We can also add in the Lord’s presence working in and through us manifested by the power of the Holy Spirit. We live, breathe, and exist in Him as the children of God. Jesus has made a covenant between God the Father and ourselves so that we are in a state of being right with God and having the favor of God through Jesus Christ.

     Right now you should be feeling much better about your plus column. But we have more, we have God’s holy angels watching over us, protecting us, strengthening us, and blessing us because we are the children of God. I feel like one of those TV infomercials, but wait, there is more:

    We have God’s written word reminding us of all His blessings, and giving us strength when we have doubts about God’s goodness or will for us. And one other thing we must consider, God has given each of us spiritual gifts, your gift may be to encourage, or as a prayer warrior. Maybe you have the ability to communicate God’s word to others. Perhaps you are one of those people who can minister to others through your faith, or kindness, or your joy and hopefulness in spite of your difficulties. You may have gifts you have not even discovered yet.

     All of us have a list in the minus column of things that weigh against us, but never forget that all important plus column. It far outweighs everything else.

     Prayer: Dear Lord, help us never to forget that with You, there is much more that is for us than can ever be against us. Amen.

The Danger Of Fear

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

The Covid epidemic was not just a viral epidemic. It also brought with it an epidemic of fear. Usually perfectly sane people, when driven by fear from 24 hour cable TV news, and the myriad of rumors that swirled all around covid, they acted insanely.

Here is one horrific example. At the first surge of covid a couple came down with the typical flu-like symptoms and they knew they had covid. The couple got tested, but they knew. In their despair, and what they were sure was their impending death, they took their own lives. A few days after their death the test results came back. They did not even have covid.

Fear is a disease as dangerous as cancer. Fear stirs dread in the human heart, raises anxiety levels, kills hope, brings despair. Suicide is one of the top killers across the world. Fear is a primary ingredient that makes suicide possible.

I will not die but live,

    and will proclaim what the Lord has done. Psalm 118:17

As I write this I have the latest Covid variant. And yes, having a fever, extreme fatigue, aches and pains, along with the coughing and sneezing and sleeplessness is no picnic. But I will get better. Despite worst case scenarios that have been painted by those in the media, most people come through Covid just fine and scaremongering doesn’t help anyone.

So what have I learned? Don’t feed your fears! Don’t watch the news 24 hours a day. Their job is to keep you worked up with fear and watching/listening to them. They will always give you the worst case scenario!

Remember covid? Remember all the horrible “facts”? Such as: Don’t wear masks, wear masks, a vaccine won’t be ready for years, we have the vaccine, get the shot but only seniors need to get it, healthy adults don’t need the vaccine, then all adults should get the vaccine, children don’t need the vaccine, children should get the vaccine, etc. I could go on but it was a clown show that brought about the realization that truth was a floating option with the media and could change at a moment's notice if you listened to so-called experts. Sadly, even the government proved they didn’t know what they were talking about much of the time. And all that insanity drove at least two people to end their lives due to fear. Fear of Covid also did countless damage to others.

The real truth for the christian is that even if we find ourselves in a stressful life-threatening situation, or even if the Lord is taking us home–we need not fear.

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2:14-15

So believer, if you find yourself on your deathbed you need not fear. You have the very Spirit of Jesus within you. Angels of God are right there with you. Your heavenly Father is waiting for you to shed your old body and He will give you a heavenly body free of sickness, disease, and death. You will see loved ones who have passed on, and will only be apart from those on the earth for the blink of an eye. What are a few short years on the calendar of eternity?

Fear has no hold and no place in deciding the thoughts and actions of God’s children. When you understand that fear is a tool of the enemy, you will stop embracing it.

Prayer: Dear Lord, deliver us from fear. Fill us with faith and hope so that there is no room for doubt and fear in our hearts. Amen.

Avoiding Clutter

 

“There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. ‘For whom am I toiling,’ he asked, ‘and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment? This too is meaningless–a miserable business!'” Ecclesiastes 4:8

     I watched a documentary about a man who built himself a tiny house. And I learned there is an entire movement around the world of people building and living in tiny houses. Some do it for financial reasons, others for the environment, and some do so to live simply.

     My first reaction to this was: That is insane. How could anyone live in a house of 100-500 square feet? But then I thought about it awhile, and asked myself: Is that any crazier than one or two people living in 3500 square feet homes?

     I have a feeling the Lord would approve of the idea of living simply, and of finding a way to live an uncluttered life. Having a roof over our head, clothes on our back, food in our belly, and a bed to sleep in–what more do we really need?

    Living with illness causes you to continually re-examine the amount of clutter and non-essential items in your life that steal time and energy. We need to live simplified lives. We may not need to move into a tiny house, but we could improve our lives by living small, living simply. Indeed, that would benefit anyone whether healthy or well.

    People living in tiny houses cannot afford clutter. They are limited in their storage space, and must choose carefully what they add to their lives. By living in a tiny house they will never become hoarders, and they will never buy or collect nonessential items.

    We may not live in tiny houses, but we could benefit from their mindset. Do we really need to clutter up our lives with non-essentials? How often could we benefit by keeping things simple, avoiding clutter, and better managing our resources?

    I think everyone could improve their lives by embracing less and avoiding clutter. Quality of life improves when it comes to keeping our lives simple and free of unnecessary burdens.

    Prayer: Dear Lord, help us stay free of clutter and avoid unnecessary burdens. Amen.

God Meets Your Need When You Need It

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:9

 A baby is wholly dependent upon its parents to do everything for it. But as the child grows up, the parents expect that child to do more for itself, from walking to running. As the child becomes an adult the parents are still there, still part of their life, but maturity is the order of the day.

It is the same with us as Christians. God is tolerant of our ignorance and childishness when we don’t know any better. Yet as the years go on if we are still “in diapers'' there is something very wrong with us and our lack of faith and maturity.

"It's a good thing to have all the props pulled out from under us occasionally. It gives us some sense of what is rock under our feet, and what is sand." — Madeleine L'Engle

God wants us to mature as Christians just as we want to see our children grow up into healthy adults. God’s tolerance and patience is not endless. 

Those of us who have suffered sickness, disease, affliction of any sort over the years have come to depend upon God and hopefully have grown in wisdom and understanding. 

Like a child who wails for all the world to hear when pain enters their life in some form, we too at the beginning of our afflictions wail and bemoan our suffering and the unfairness of it all. But over time we must get beyond our childish reaction to pain and suffering. I do not say that lightly or without regard to just how horrible pain and suffering are in the life of a believer, yet we have a Savior who suffered much, and remained faithful in His suffering.

Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him Hebrews 5:8-9

Christ Was perfect in His suffering. He suffered unjustly, without having done anything wrong. And often we also suffer without having done anything wrong. We can wail and moan about how fate has wronged us, or we can turn to our Lord’s example and never lose sight of the fact that God controls our fate.

No one gets through life without pain and suffering. We are surrounded by turmoil and troubles. Pain is a part of life. How we respond to pain and suffering is up to us. We can react with faith and hope, remembering all that the Lord has already brought us through, or we can go into a fetal position and forget we have a Heavenly Father overseeing the entire universe.

We all depend upon God. But it is time for many of us to get out of our spiritual Depends diaper and grow up in the faith of the Lord.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to remember that although we may have no control over the events in our lives, You are in control of everything. Open our eyes and strengthen our faith as we mature in our walk with You! Amen.

Overthinking Your Problems?

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’” Matthew 19:26

     Recently I was connecting an electronic gadget to the Internet and getting it set up. I went into the advanced settings and tried everything I could think of to try to set up the device, but it ended up creating a mess.

    Eventually, after much frustration and irritation, I finally realized the Only Thing I needed to do was connect the device to the Internet and it would do the rest of the setup. I was seriously overthinking the problem.

    We do the same thing with many of the problems that come into our lives. On more than one occasion God has told me to “leave it alone”, that either He would work it out, or the problem would work itself out.

    But often we want to “fix” things ourselves, to figure things out on our own. And too often we make a problem worse.

     While reading the Charles Stanley Study Bible I came across his suggestion that we should consider HALT before making any decisions. This acronym stands for:

H – Hunger

A – Anger

L – Loneliness

T – Tiredness

    We should HALT and never make a decision when these affect our judgment.

    That is good advice. It is also worth considering that many problems and challenges should be wholly placed into the hands of Jesus, and quit trying so hard to figure everything out.

     We need wisdom and guidance from God to deal with all the problems in our lives, and often we need to be patient and trust the situation to God.

    My State’s motto is “with God all things are possible.”

    I can’t think of a better motto. When we trust God with our problems, giving our challenges completely to Him, the pressure and stress of our difficulties are placed into the care of the One who can actually do something about them.

    When we have done all we can, we need to let God do the rest.

    Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to know when to act, how to act, and when to simply give our problems completely over to You. Amen.