I've been seeing all the reports from the bombing at the Boston Marathon. Someone asked today why doesn't God just stop it.
Once He did decide to stop it and start over. Genesis 6:5 let's us in on what God thought of mankind in the days of Noah when He said, "...every intention of the thoughts of [man's] heart was only evil continually." And then God destroyed everyone and everything except those in the ark with Noah because "Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord." After the flood Noah planted a vineyard, made wine, got drunk, and passed out naked in his tent. Only evil, continually.
Unfortunately as long as we live on this planet, as long as people can choose, people WILL choose evil. Some evil, like this bombing, physically hurts so many people so publicly. It hurts us all as we ache at the loss and the senselessness of it.
Some might say I've never killed anyone. And I would counter with have you ever been really angry with someone? Have you ever called someone a fool or an idiot? Jesus said that can get you a ticket to hell. (Matthew 5:21-22)
Have you ever gossiped or told a little white lie or had a little too much to drink or used the name of God or Jesus as an exclamation? Welcome to the world of evil. We are all sinners by nature and by choice. (Romans 3:23)
The only "cure" for evil as we await the return of Jesus, is to surrender to Him as Lord and Savior. We have the responsibility and the privilege to tell others about Jesus so that they might be receptive to the voice of the Holy Spirit. There is NO ONE beyond God's ability to save. Does that mean everyone will be saved? No, but we don't know who will and who won't be saved. So we need to tell everyone we can.
One thing I love so much about NewSpring are the stories of life change that we hear. Stories of radical change in people some might have thought were hopeless.. www.newspring.cc/blog
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Life Is Good
That's all I really want to say. Life IS good! I am content with what I have, where I am, and where I am headed. God overwhelms me with His love and I just want to bless His name!
Friday, April 12, 2013
Time
Wow...I can't believe it's been three and a half months since I wrote something. It's not that things haven't been happening in my family or God and I haven't been having conversations as I read my Bible, it's just, well, time. I should have all the time in the world but it just seems to slip away.
When I was reading in Genesis this week about Abraham, and specifically about Ishmael, one little phrase in Genesis 17:20 caught my attention. Abraham was talking to God about the son to be born to him. He was asking for Ishmael to be the one God would bless. God said nope, the child will be yours and Sarah's, a miracle child of their old age. But God also said, "I have blessed him..." speaking of Ishmael. Although this blessing would not take place for some years, to God it was a done deal.
I know intellectually that God is not restrained by time, but sometimes I forget that He sees ALL of time as now. Even if I can't see the blessing or the fulfillment of a promise or the salvation of a friend, when God declares it will be done it has already happened in His mind. So I need to rest in that knowing that God will always fulfill what He says.
When I was reading in Genesis this week about Abraham, and specifically about Ishmael, one little phrase in Genesis 17:20 caught my attention. Abraham was talking to God about the son to be born to him. He was asking for Ishmael to be the one God would bless. God said nope, the child will be yours and Sarah's, a miracle child of their old age. But God also said, "I have blessed him..." speaking of Ishmael. Although this blessing would not take place for some years, to God it was a done deal.
I know intellectually that God is not restrained by time, but sometimes I forget that He sees ALL of time as now. Even if I can't see the blessing or the fulfillment of a promise or the salvation of a friend, when God declares it will be done it has already happened in His mind. So I need to rest in that knowing that God will always fulfill what He says.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
One Thousand Gifts
For Christmas I received a book titled "One Thousand Gifts: Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are" by Ann Voskamp. I thought this was particularly appropriate since the NewSpring Church preaching series for the month of December was titled "Fully Alive".
My intention is not to write a synopsis or a review of the book but to start my list of one thousand gifts. Ann had struggled with unresolved grief since her little sister was hit and killed by a truck when they young. As she studied scripture she saw how thankfulness was tied into salvation and blessings so she started a list - on a dare - to name 1000 gifts from God for which she was thankful.
These will not to be the ordinary family, friends, health, etc gifts but the unexpected or unnoticed gifts, the things we too often take for granted. So today I have started my list and have two items:
My intention is not to write a synopsis or a review of the book but to start my list of one thousand gifts. Ann had struggled with unresolved grief since her little sister was hit and killed by a truck when they young. As she studied scripture she saw how thankfulness was tied into salvation and blessings so she started a list - on a dare - to name 1000 gifts from God for which she was thankful.
These will not to be the ordinary family, friends, health, etc gifts but the unexpected or unnoticed gifts, the things we too often take for granted. So today I have started my list and have two items:
- the honking of geese as they fly over my house on their way to the pond
- bright sunshine after many days, and almost 6 inches, of rain
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Heartache
When I heard about the school shooting in Connecticut where elementary age children as well as teachers lost their lives, my heart was broken for the families of the children and teachers but also for the family of the shooter. I was thinking about good and evil and how do I really put together a God who is supreme and supremely good with such an act of evil.
This has been a question for the ages so I as glad today that I ran across this article by David Platt. He is a pastor in Birmingham, AL. What he says I already knew but was glad to see it said in a way that I never could.
Please take time to read his article.
This has been a question for the ages so I as glad today that I ran across this article by David Platt. He is a pastor in Birmingham, AL. What he says I already knew but was glad to see it said in a way that I never could.
Please take time to read his article.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Faith
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)
Why is faith in God so hard to come by? We have faith in our favorite team's coaches that they I'll supply a winning season. We have faith in the weatherman and take an umbrella when he says it will rain. Some have faith in the President or the stock market, some in their talent or good looks.
About 2700 or so years go the prophet Isaiah was sent by God to King Ahaz of Judah to tell him not to fear the kings who were plotting to capture Jerusalem. God, through Isaiah, said it's not going to happen. Then God said, "If you at not firm in faith, you are not firm at all." (Isaiah 7:1-9)
When Jesus began to interact with people, He marveled at the faith of a Roman centurion and chastised His disciples for their lack of faith. (Matthew 8, Mark 4, Luke 8). When the writer to the Hebrews wrote his letter, he listed a whole bunch of people known for their faith (Hebrews 11). However, this writer points out that they did not receive the promise that fueled their faith. That promise was the Messiah. But he also tells us in Hebrews 11:6, "And without faith it is impossible
to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him."
For most of us the problem comes with the word reward. We have the idea that God's reward will be financial security or a trouble free life or no sickness (or at least complete physical healing if we do get sick). In Hebrews 11, the writer lists a bunch of great things that happened to or for people of faith but he also tells us of those who "suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated..." (Hebrews 11:35-36) The rewards of faith are not always immediately apparent or received.
Jesus, as always, is the standard we follow, especially when it comes to faith, "looking to Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2). His reward was AFTER He became a human and AFTER He was despised and AFTER He was tortured and AFTER He became sin for us and AFTER He was crucified. All these horrible things had to happen so Jesus could show us His power over sin and death by rising from the dead and then ascending back to Heaven to receive His reward.
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)
Why is faith in God so hard to come by? We have faith in our favorite team's coaches that they I'll supply a winning season. We have faith in the weatherman and take an umbrella when he says it will rain. Some have faith in the President or the stock market, some in their talent or good looks.
About 2700 or so years go the prophet Isaiah was sent by God to King Ahaz of Judah to tell him not to fear the kings who were plotting to capture Jerusalem. God, through Isaiah, said it's not going to happen. Then God said, "If you at not firm in faith, you are not firm at all." (Isaiah 7:1-9)
When Jesus began to interact with people, He marveled at the faith of a Roman centurion and chastised His disciples for their lack of faith. (Matthew 8, Mark 4, Luke 8). When the writer to the Hebrews wrote his letter, he listed a whole bunch of people known for their faith (Hebrews 11). However, this writer points out that they did not receive the promise that fueled their faith. That promise was the Messiah. But he also tells us in Hebrews 11:6, "And without faith it is impossible
to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him."
For most of us the problem comes with the word reward. We have the idea that God's reward will be financial security or a trouble free life or no sickness (or at least complete physical healing if we do get sick). In Hebrews 11, the writer lists a bunch of great things that happened to or for people of faith but he also tells us of those who "suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated..." (Hebrews 11:35-36) The rewards of faith are not always immediately apparent or received.
Jesus, as always, is the standard we follow, especially when it comes to faith, "looking to Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2). His reward was AFTER He became a human and AFTER He was despised and AFTER He was tortured and AFTER He became sin for us and AFTER He was crucified. All these horrible things had to happen so Jesus could show us His power over sin and death by rising from the dead and then ascending back to Heaven to receive His reward.
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)
Saturday, December 1, 2012
They Bow Down
In Isaiah chapter 2, the prophet is speaking to the people of Judah and Jerusalem when he says God has rejected them "...because they are full of things from the east and of fortunetellers like the Philistines...Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land is filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots. Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made." (vs 6-8)
Just prior to this he has told them God is not pleased with their worship, He despises their sacrifices and celebrations because of their sin. But God also says, "Come now, let us reason together...though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool." (Isaiah 1:18)
As I read this I thought about idols we have today; how full we are of silver and gold and houses and cars...and technology. We have plenty of things and always seem to want more. Just look at the people who camp in front of stores for black Friday and stores that used to close on Thanksgiving but are now open so we can shop, shop, shop. The more we have the more we are likely to make "the work of our hands" an idol.
Our idols may not be getting the latest toy or car or computer or iPhone but may be getting the latest twitter or Facebook update or having the most followers or getting the most retweets. Idolatry comes in lots of different forms.
As a follower of Jesus Christ my salvation is assured and the scarlet stains of my sins have been erased. But is God pleased with my worship? Do I show up at church on Sunday with nary a thought of God all week and expect Him to tell me I'm a good girl because I sang a few songs and listened to a preacher? Do I treat God as my personal Santa to give me what I ask for without asking Him what He wants for me to have?
Do I really bow down to the Creator of the universe, the Savior of my soul, or do I bow to the world and its trinkets and secretly hope He doesn't notice? This Christmas I want to renew my focus on the marvelous gift of salvation freely given to me and to all who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God, who died for my sins, and rose from the dead three days later.
Giving gifts at Christmas is an expression of love but I want to be sure the love of Christ is the gift I share the most.
Just prior to this he has told them God is not pleased with their worship, He despises their sacrifices and celebrations because of their sin. But God also says, "Come now, let us reason together...though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool." (Isaiah 1:18)
As I read this I thought about idols we have today; how full we are of silver and gold and houses and cars...and technology. We have plenty of things and always seem to want more. Just look at the people who camp in front of stores for black Friday and stores that used to close on Thanksgiving but are now open so we can shop, shop, shop. The more we have the more we are likely to make "the work of our hands" an idol.
Our idols may not be getting the latest toy or car or computer or iPhone but may be getting the latest twitter or Facebook update or having the most followers or getting the most retweets. Idolatry comes in lots of different forms.
As a follower of Jesus Christ my salvation is assured and the scarlet stains of my sins have been erased. But is God pleased with my worship? Do I show up at church on Sunday with nary a thought of God all week and expect Him to tell me I'm a good girl because I sang a few songs and listened to a preacher? Do I treat God as my personal Santa to give me what I ask for without asking Him what He wants for me to have?
Do I really bow down to the Creator of the universe, the Savior of my soul, or do I bow to the world and its trinkets and secretly hope He doesn't notice? This Christmas I want to renew my focus on the marvelous gift of salvation freely given to me and to all who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God, who died for my sins, and rose from the dead three days later.
Giving gifts at Christmas is an expression of love but I want to be sure the love of Christ is the gift I share the most.
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