Monday, February 29, 2016

LIGHT vs DARK



For ye were sometimes darkness,
but now are ye light in the Lord:
walk as children of light.
Ephesians 5:8

Living where we do, a stone's throw from a national park, it isn't unusual for an alert to go out that someone has lost their way in the park during a hiking trip. There have been times when a child has wandered away and become lost. One thing that has been suggested to hikers, especially children or very inexperienced ones, has been when one realizes he is lost, to stop where he is, sit down and wait for help to come. It is important at such a time for the lost one to stay on the trail and not venture beyond it hoping to find help. The tendency even when lost, and in a panic, to continue wandering hoping to see some place or some thing familiar. It can get where all trees look alike so the lost one can wander almost aimlessly becoming more and more lost.

When lost in the daylight, a lost hiker still feels encouraged until evening begins to set in. When darkness falls, in a setting like the park here, there is real panic...there are shadows, strange sounds...even various animal sounds of those that wander through the forest at night foraging for food. The darkness becomes a serious enemy for one who is completely lost, who cannot focus or see anything clearly. The lost hiker is thrilled beyond words at the sight of a flashlight beam in the dark from a searcher or to see someone walking toward him through the woods during daylight hours.

Scripture speaks in several areas about darkness, mostly a spiritual darkness that we can become exposed to or even find ourselves in the very middle of. We live in a country of moral and spiritual darkness. It's a darkness God hates and that a good many of Americans are choosing, sadly, even Americans of Christian faith.

Woe unto them, that call evil good, and
good evil; that put darkness for light, and
light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet,
and sweet for bitter!
Isaiah 5:20

This verse speaks to where many in our country are with regard to morals and standards...good is no longer just good and evil is coming to be seen in more of a good and positive light. What used to be wrong behavior and lifestyles are now being rationalized as being okay. Anymore, our culture isn't just black and white, but morals and standards are viewed as being more gray where people can decide for themselves what is good or evil. When this mentality becomes a reality, then, a person has come into the realm of darkness and has fled the light God intends for each of us. As Christians, we are meant to be people of discernment and thus of light.

Straying out of the light into the dark is now almost bragged about in public ways. I love game shows on television. I have noticed in recent years when people are introduced, some male contestants speak of their husbands. Some women freely speak of men they not only live with, but with whom they have had children with no marriage in sight. I can't imagine such things being proudly aired 30 or 40 years ago. It would have been totally unheard of then.

Our justice system excuses the worst of criminals with mere slaps on their hands whether it be serious drug offenses or child abuse. Women who are victims of rape have to prove they didn't consent to the act itself. Our society has slipped so far morally that right itself has slipped into the shadows of wrong, or so it would appear at times.

In our own confusion, observing the downward spiral into moral darkness, as God's children, we want desperately to do something about it all. If we had complete control over our country, we think we know the buttons we would push that would take us back to those “happy days” of the 1950's. There were problems of sin then as has been every for all generations since Adam and Eve. We are all born into sin...no one is perfect...all have sinned. Perhaps back then, we lost our alertness and were naive regarding Satan and his ploys. Whatever happened then and now, we want desperately to do something. So what are some things we can do in our day?

We must remember that where we are now is because of things that happened in individual hearts. Evil beings in individuals, but so does godliness. I read a little quote years ago that said, “If everyone in our country cleaned off their own doorstep, think what a clean country we would have.” If change is to come, it will come in individual hearts that includes that of Christians. We have dropped our guard and are spectators in all of this instead of being pro-active in standing for right and for the things of God

Our job is to get back to basics. We are to be people of prayer. Change will not come without a praying people. We must find our strength in God's Word. It is our sword in times of spiritual warfare. Christians must stop leading double lives. Christians often participate in those things that are unwise choices such as alcohol abuse or poor entertainment choices. Jesus made very clear in Matthew 7:

Ye are the light of the world....(14a)
Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in
heaven. (16)

We may be that beam of light a lost person sees in his/her darkness. They may not even have known they needed rescued, but when in the middle of their darkness, frightened of their futures, this light you and I show forth may be a more welcome sight than we can imagine.  Some such persons may have come to the end of themselves and are sitting, waiting for salvation. Others may be lost and still on the move trying to find their own way, but becoming more and more lost. Either way, we Christians are those lights in the darkness. Just as a flashlight can lose power when batteries run low, we can run low as well if we don't stay strengthened in the Lord. Let's not despair...we are on the winning side, but we still have things to do and lights to shine. Let's keep our batteries charged and let's shine our lights as commanded in the dark world we are seeing in our day.



Thank You Jesus, for dying for my sin and for saving me. I know You are THE answer to every problem in our dark society. There's no problem too big for You. I trust Your working in my life and always want to be open to how You want to use me. May I be “ever ready” to let my light shine for You. In Your precious name....Amen

Sunday, February 21, 2016

UP FRONT WITH GOD




Humble yourselves therefore under
the might hand of God, that He may
exalt you in due time:
casting all your care upon Him;
for He careth for you.
I Peter 5:7


You may have heard a friend say of a teenage daughter, “My child tells me everything.” Hopefully you haven't been guilty of saying something like that. It's a statement to choke on for those who hear it. That may be the way it is in the early growth years of a daughter/son where there is a more positive relationship with a child...when parents are THE main ones in their lives, but when the “mean teens” set in, children become more and more private. It doesn't necessarily mean they have anything to hide. It's just a part of the growing up process. I will hasten to add that most moms I've known going through those teen years with a child are not stupid and probably know more about the goings on of their children than children realize.

If someone had asked me if my children told me everything going on in their lives, I would have been quick to say, “I certainly hope not.” If someone were to ask me, “Do you tell your husband everything?” Again, I would have to reply, “Mercy no.” Think how time consuming that would be when there are more important things to talk about other than a hangnail or spilled soup.

There is something I'm ashamed of that I would also have to say... “I don't even tell God everything.” That statement may seem an odd one for a Christian to make. If I ever had the nerve to say it to someone even on impulse, I would have to recoil in shame. I don't like the ring of that statement, but I'm afraid that so often it is true.

There were things in the growing up years of our children when I enjoyed watching them at play or listening to their interactions and conversations, even in times of disagreement. There were so many things they didn't have to tell me. I was around them, and I had heard or seen them in action. In fact, much as they might disagree, I knew them better than they knew themselves. Some things they didn't have to tell me because in a parental way, I already knew. Guess what? Despite those things I already knew, I still loved it when they chose to tell me about those things I already knew. I didn't tell them I was already privy to their information, but just enjoyed listening to them share with me.

Can we be serious for a moment about this thing of being up front with God? I'm afraid at times, we don't share fully with God because we feel He already knows everything about us anyway. Other times, we may not share with Him those things we don't want Him to know. Sounds a little silly on our part. We have to know differently by now because of God's promise to be with us at all times, never leaving or forsaking us...even to the point of His holding us in the palm of His hand. He knows absolutely EVERTHING about us before we can tell Him ANYTHING. God knows the count of the hair on our heads. That's pretty precise.

When God created Adam and Eve, He was seeking fellowship. He created everything, preparing it with those two people in mind. He loved those days when he met with them in the garden where they shared and had times of fellowship. God didn't create robots. He wanted people with a mind and the ability to make choices. He wanted them to always choose to be with Him...walking and talking in that beautiful garden. That couple had it all. Viewing the scene, we can't believe anything could damage that fellowship.

All was well, BUT THEN...remember that thing of “choice.” We know what happened in that garden and nothing would ever again be the same. Adam and Eve hid and to this day, oddly speaking, we seem to feel we can do the same thing. We're smart enough to know that God sees and hears everything, but we still shy away from sharing our most secret of thoughts with Him especially if we think He will be displeased.

Why do we avoid being up front with God? Perhaps it has to do with trust. In our day, we aren't a very trusting people. We've been betrayed too often in past relationships. It could also be that we just aren't people of prayer, unless an emergency comes up. Maybe something in our lives is too bad to even tell God, if that's possible. It must sadden our Father though when we choose to not share with Him even the joys that come into our lives. I loved when my children shared positive things with me. I may have been uncomfortable, but wanted to hear the problems and concerns they faced. God our Father wants to be a personal and vital part of our lives no matter what is going on. We can never get beyond the fact of how dearly our Heavenly Father loves us and cares about every single thing in our lives, be they positive or negative in our own eyes.

We may even try with God to twist the facts of our circumstances. We might even want to give a positive spin to some things to make Him happy with us. With our Heavenly Father, we have a Father unlike any other we could ever have on this earth. He knows us through and through...nothing can be hidden whether we talk to Him about it or not. Our relationship can be so much stronger if we don't just trust God for our salvation, but in all of the every day situations that affect us. He wants us to be honest with Him...up front.



Dear Father...forgive my lack of total honesty with You in my prayer life even though I know very well that You already know me inside and out. Help me to appreciate that You want fellowship with me with no holding back on anything going on in my life. In Jesus precious name...Amen

Monday, February 15, 2016

Folks Along the Way




I will instruct thee and teach thee in the
way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee
with Mine eye.
Psalm 32:8

It was one of the most exciting days of my life. I was in first grade and after much begging over weeks, my Mother agreed to let me walk to my Grandma Benbrook's house. Now this was no small undertaking and people today would get cold chills at the thought of letting a child do such a thing. After much testing and traveling back and forth over many weeks, Mother agreed to my trek. You must understand that I grew up in a smaller town in Southern Illinois. Small compared to most, it was still a major coal mining center. Most folks in our town were born and raised there. Even upon graduation, guys for the most part went to the mines to work and girls married their high school sweethearts. I'm just saying that in our town, most people knew each other. Especially in one's own area of town, folks were almost on a first name basis.

My trek to Grandma's was going to be the distance of about a half mile or a little more. Mother called Grandma to let her know when I was on my way. After walking a half block, there was Mrs. Britton on her front porch. She simply said, “Good mornin' Glendarae.” I answered back and would have stopped to talk, but I was on a mission. The next block, Ruth Young from her porch called out to me. She was a lady in our church who did everything. Every small church needs a Ruth Young who runs the bulletin, banks the offerings, and heads Bible School. She was the first lady who told me when I was a freshman in high school that she saw me being a teacher someday.

I continued on my trek coming to our church and beyond where a couple of familiar faces had appeared to greet me. I made a necessary right turn and a few houses down was Mrs. McNeil who taught the older ladies Sunday school class at our church. She too smiled warmly and greeted me. A little further and over a hill was Grandma's house and she stood on her front porch waving at me.

I wasn't old enough to be curious about all of the familiar, helpful and friendly people I met on my trip to Grandma's, but into adulthood reliving that experience of “total independence” at the age of six and a half (the half is VERY important), I must say at times that I've since been suspicious of the goings on that day, but glad I didn't know it at the time. My Mother, I am sure, had prepared the way for my trek to insure my safety and well being.

In remembering this MAJOR incident in my life, I have to wonder about you and me as we are on this trek of life... how many folks God has placed periodically in our lives for His own purposes and for our very best. We may have thought that such folks popped up out of nowhere, miraculously and even mysteriously. We still think we are independent, making our way through life, doing well in our prideful state. I wonder if we ever think of how God looks ahead of us and how He strategically places special folks along our “sidewalks” of life. Such folks often have greater impacts on our lives than we can ever know. These are people who impacted our lives at just about every stage, but we were oblivious to their importance.

We can look back at the various stages of our lives, be they school days, career and even single times of life, marriage, and child rearing. Even if you are an “empty nester,” perhaps another such experienced friend came along side or met you along the way to be an encouragement or to give helpful advice. I knew my way to my Grandma's house, but I must admit there have been many times when I've had no instructions or road maps. Even when knowing the Word of God is my very best guide, I often couldn't even interpret it for myself. That was when I really came to know the Holy Spirit, my True Guide for life. If I've ever needed human direction, God has provided that with family, friends or others who seemed to appear on their “front porches” to wave me on.

Just as I believe my Mother orchestrated my very important trek seeing to my safety and well-being while never letting me in on her secret, God does the very same for us on a daily basis. He is interested in the most intimate details of our lives. When our walk through this life is over, we'll walk that last piece of earthly “sidewalk” and we'll see Jesus awaiting our arrival and “what a day that will be.”

Thank you Holy Spirit for being our Guide as I walk this life that is sometimes filled with illness, dangers, discouragements, but with lots of happiness and delight. Thank You for revealing Your Word to us, for making it clear to our hearts. Help us stay on the right path, trusting You always. Thank You Heavenly Father, for Your every provision for us. In Jesus' precious name....Amen

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Coming OR Here?

 

Do not fear, for I am with you;
do not anxiously look about you,
for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will
help you, surely I will uphold
you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10


It's not been that long ago that three of our finest American young men stopped a terrorist attack on a French passenger train. I couldn't help but feel at the time that the incident could be the start of something much bigger. I didn't know if it would happen anywhere in France, but to no one's surprise, Paris, France has had to endure horrible terrorist attacks on their city. 
 

Jesus spoke of end time days and things we can expect to see. Just in Matthew 24, Jesus gave a list with the caution in verse 4 to see to it that we allow no one to mislead us.

What are these things He spoke of in this chapter to watch for?

Pretend Christs will mislead
Hearing of wars and rumors of wars
Nation will rise against nation
Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places
Christians will be delivered to tribulation and persecution
False prophets will arise (just turn on your TV)
Lawlessness will increase
People's love will grow cold

I don't know about you, but I'm seeing all of these things going on and have for awhile. But now we are seeing most of these things full-blown in our world and and even in our country.

As one of Jesus' disciples and a part of Jesus' inner circle, Peter heard most if not all of Jesus' teachings and this portion of Scripture we see in Matthew would have been no exception. In Peter's two epistles later in the New Testament, he did all he could to minister to Christians who were having to flee to various countries to hopefully avoid persecution that was being stirred up against them. It has a familiar ring today, doesn't it? Peter's two small books were devoted primarily to one thing...preparation for suffering. Considering the subject, Peter made every effort to be an encouragement for those dear saints. He began in his first letter in 1:3:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who according to His great
mercy has caused us to be born again
to a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.


In his writings through the Holy Spirit, Peter made one thing perfectly clear...there will be suffering for Christians no matter where they are or in what time they live. Let me remind us that Peter is now in Heaven as are those Christians he wrote to. Through his words given to him by the Holy Spirit, He who dwells in the heart of every Christian, now speaks to you and me and gives us counsel regarding suffering we will be called upon to endure. We're called to that because Jesus was called to that and if we are following in His steps, suffering will come knocking on our doors. Peter wanted his readers to be prepared. Hiding our heads in the sand just isn't going to work. In chapter 2:13-15, he gives us suggestions for that preparation.

    Prepare your minds for action (Know what's going on, be informed, be ready)
    Keep sober in spirit (Sober means we are to be alert)
    Keep your hope completely in the grace of Jesus Christ (Place hope in the right place and in the right Person)
    Be obedient to the Lord (Obedience in that we don't just hear Him, but we act)
    Be holy in your behavior (Amid all of the mess, maintain purity of heart & action)

During difficult times, we may not feel like doing any of those things. However, the overriding fact in all of it is that we are to keep our focus on the Lord and not on everything that is going on around us. We must stay on top of things, but not to the point that we forget God's care and provision for each of us. Life will not always feel good, but with Jesus, it can be filled with His peace, a peace that passes all understanding.

Let's remember who our real enemy is. He may come disguised in black clothes, masks and perhaps carrying knives or guns. However, he can come in a three piece suit, as well, with smiles and words that are soon revealed to be lies. Peter went on to say that our real Adversary is the Devil. Peter cautions us to resist him with a firmness in our faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering we go through are being experienced by our brethren all over the world. (5:9)

I can talk to people, cry on someone's shoulder, but Peter tells us to:

Cast all your care on Him,
because He cares for you.
5:7


When horrible events occur whether in Paris, France or in any city of our own country, we must remember that in those times, God has not gone to sleep, He didn't turn His head nor is too busy to handle any situation. Nothing passes by Him...there is never an “oops” with God. Anything that touches our lives has to first filter through God's very strong and capable fingers. His love for you and me reaches far deeper than we can ever imagine.

Whether negative world events are coming or are here, God is totally in control even if we can't see or comprehend it. We are being loved and guided by THE real Overcomer and we can put our complete trust in Him.



Father, we get nervous when we hear of bombs, victims, and persecution. Help us to be alert and cautious regarding things around us, but still put our trust in Your care and protection. Empower us with Your strength and courage for these days. In Jesus' precious name....Amen