God Is In Control

Yesterday had been disappointing for my son. Last week he had been given some good news in his situation that had been such a burden over the past couple of years.

But now, what he had been told was not going to happen. Not yet anyway. There is still hope that it will. But when?

When he called me to tell me, I myself was disappointed. 

But my son brought me back to the fact that God has this situation. He is in control. It is in his time. Not ours.

Throughout the time that this thing has been going on, my son has been under a lot of stress. He hasn't slept well at night, so he stays up and prays a lot and reads his bible.

He has come a long way in his spiritual journey because of it and maybe that is why God has him going through it, at least in part. And for that I am thankful because that is what has kept him from the breaking point that could have been. 

Thankfully, God has taken some of the stress from him due to more recent developments. But there had been a promise of sorts that would bring even greater relief. 

Sadly, that fell through. But my son is now strong enough to stand up and not fall. To be strong and not weak. To battle for the good and not be defeated by the evil. 

And most of all, to understand that GOD IS IN CONTROL and in the end will bring it all to his good. (Romans 8:28)

If you are in a spiritual battle today, this week or will be next month, God has our backs against our enemy the devil to bring all things to our good. We must learn to lean on him and trust him if we truly want to win the battles that come against us.

 My son is learning much through this. Because God is teaching him. And he is learning to give me back the hope that I have tried to give him at times, when I get disappointed.

And God?  He still teaches me, no matter how old I get.

Thanks for coming by today, Friends. God bless

God's Laws, Good Enough For Me

 

Have you ever wondered if it is a sin to gamble? I ran across this very subject this morning and thought it to be a good topic for today's post. Please read on:

Is it a sin to buy a lottery ticket, make a sports bet, spend a little at the casino?

By Mark Creech, Op-ed Contributor

Is it a sin to buy a lottery ticket? What about making a bet at a casino – so long as it's a budgeted amount of money and made responsibly? How about dropping a sports bet? Is it a sin to gamble?

Some people would argue there is nothing sinful about it. Recently, after posting on Facebook one of my editorials against the legalization of sports betting in the Tar Heel state, a woman said in the comments section: "I've never found any basis in the Bible to oppose gambling specifically, even though I have searched." Another woman wrote, "Nowhere in the Bible does it say gambling is a sin — not one single sentence about gambling."

Guess what? Those two women were right. One cannot show any place in Scripture where it directly says, "Thou shalt not gamble." But is the matter that easily dismissed?

The late Dr. D. James Kennedy, a renowned Presbyterian minister, used to counter this argument in favor of gambling by explaining it's also impossible to find in Scripture where it directly says, "Thou shalt not watch pornography." Nevertheless, the Bible does talk about the sin of lust and advocates principles that would prohibit doing anything that would entertain, generate, or provide for the means and expression of lust.

The Bible also talks about the sin of covetousness. "Those who cannot see the connection between pornography and lust are not likely to see the connection between covetousness and gambling," said Kennedy. "The truth is, however, that gambling is a form of the sin of covetousness."

What is covetousness, one might ask? In short, covetousness is an inordinate desire for wealth and possessions or someone else's possessions.

Rex Rogers, in his book Seducing America, rightly says there are only three ways to legitimately acquire property: 1. as a gift, 2. as a payment for labor, and 3. in fair exchange. Anything else is covetousness and gambling certainly doesn't fit any of these criteria.

Covetousness is a violation of the 10th Commandment of God, "Thou shalt not covet …" (Exodus 20:17). Gambling flows from a spirit of avarice and greed. This is what makes it so exciting and addictive. It stirs up what is depraved in human nature and can make a person lose their way. Gambling is born of the burning desire for quick earthly riches.

Thus, the Scriptures provide strong warnings about covetousness. Jesus said, "Take heed and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses" (Luke 12:15). The apostle Paul admonished, "But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains" (I Timothy 6:9-10).

(Source: The Christian Post)

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Mr. Creech makes some good points. Right? However, the commandment he refers to only means we should not covert what belongs to our neighbor. Also, right. Right?

That may be a point of argument for some people. However, I would add that if you go back up to the first commandment, God said:   

Thou shall have no other God's before me.

Gambling can become an addiction for people. It can ruin lives. It can become a god. 

Why then, would we ever want to even be tempted to play the lottery, or go into a casino? 

Even if we do not feel it is a sin to play that first lottery ticket, it can draw us in deeper. To deeper sin. Why go there?

I prefer to go with the God's commandments than to take a chance on what can happen if I don't. 

Thou shall have no other God's before me

Thou shall not covet

Those laws that God gave us.

They are good enough for me. 

How about you?

Thanks for coming by today, Friends. I apologize for not getting here yesterday. Have a blessed day!

Come Boldly to My Throne of Grace

 

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.    Hebrews 4:14-16

Do you need mercy today? God wants us to go boldly to his throne of grace whereby we can obtain it whenever we need it. 

His throne is big enough for all of us to be there with him. His mercy is great enough all of us to receive. All we have to do is ask. Not in a timid way but BOLDLY we go into his presence. BOLDLY we ask.

Thank you, God, for the invitation you give us to come to you boldly to receive your mercy for we need it today. In Jesus Precious Name, Amen.

Thanks for stopping by today, friends. Have a blessed day

God Doesn't Give Us More Than We Can Handle? Wait. What?

 

As Christians we often hear people that will say that God doesn't give us more than we can handle. They never quote the verse in the bible that actually says that because.... there is no verse that does say it. 

Life is hard. And it has been, not just for me but for our whole family as well. We have four adult children, each with their own unique family situations that they go through on a daily basis by which they struggle.

My youngest is my son, who is now 41 years old. He has been going through some horrific problems for the past year and more. But despite the pain and sometimes anger that he has felt, he has tried hard to latch on to what he learned growing up, that God is for him and will help him get through it. 

He got some good news yesterday that his situation is finally turning around. It lightened his load for sure. The load that God did not take away from him but has been carrying him through it. 

He told me that during all this time, he felt there were times he would break but now considering the situation, and reflecting back over it, it is amazing how God hasn't let him break but has been working it out.

I know the relief in his voice because we have talked about it many times inf the past year and until recently, the stress was taking a toll on him. Not only physically but mentally. 

Praying for him, and his own prayers to God did not magically take away his situation or relieve what the effects it was having about it.

Instead, God has brought him through it, and will continue to do so until it is completely resolved.  Because the battle belongs to God and my son can and now does rest with that knowledge as he sees that yes, God has been in it throughout the whole time it has been going on.

We live in a broken world. God is going to let us experience the things that sometimes make us feel like we are going to break if He doesn't answer our cries right now. 

But as we go to him, in our labor and are weighed down by the problems we are facing, he promises to give us rest.  (Mathew 11;28)

If you are struggling today, rest assured that if you belong to the Lord, he is your constant companion and is always with you. (Mathew 28:2) He has his reasons for whatever you are facing. But he will never, ever leave you. 

And in his time, he will work those things out for those that love him. 

Thanks for coming, Friends. God bless you!

No Temptation

 

Have you ever wondered why the milk and eggs are in the back of the grocery store? In the one we go to, not only are those items there, but the bakery goods are back there too. Those sweet pleasures that we sometimes cannot overlook.

The candy, soda and candy aisles hit on us very quicky once we enter the store, to tempt us to not forget them as well.

These products are well placed by store managers so that we might walk out of there, having spent more than we meant to sometimes.

And so, it's with our adversary, the devil who wants to tempt us with the things in life that he knows will pull us away from God.

That good looking person that we see across the room at a party when we are already married and should not be looking at other people.

That bottle of alcohol that tastes so good, but spells trouble for us as we drink it down. 

What about that credit card that already has too much debt on it, but come on, one more thing can't hurt? Can it?

These things and many more beckon us to forget the goodness of God and instead play havoc with us, if we are not careful. 

Thankfully, we can pass up all those things that would cause us heart ache, and go straight for God who promises...

There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.     1 Corinthians 10:13

And so, the next time you go by those "sweet temptations" in the business of daily life, remember to go back to the truly goodness of God, and ignore the enemy's attempts to get you to a place of darkness. Because that is where he wants you to live. 

Thanks for coming by today, Friends. Have a blessed day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

Happy Valentine's Day to my Friends. May God richly bless you today and always!

In His Time

I want to share one more bit about this chapter in Ecclesiastes 3:11

God has made Everything Beautiful in His Time.

Not in my time. Not in yours. In His.

Just one example is this:

When we hold that little newborn baby in our arms for the first time and sometimes tend to think what a beautiful child we have created. It wasn't us that created him or her. That baby was created by our God, and He just used us as the vessel by which His beautiful creation came to be in this world.

From the beginning of time, and right up to this minute, He has made and will continue to make all of earth beautiful. 

As we look around our world, and especially with spring coming when the flowers will grow once again and maybe to our dismay, the grass will pop up, we can forget if for a few minutes all the evil in the world that surrounds our lives. And look around at the beauty that He alone has created. 

Thanks for coming by today, Friends. Enjoy your day and be blessed in the beauty that is still to come into your world. And maybe you will want to share it with some way, to someone in your life. 

God Bless!

g

War and Peace

...a time of war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:8

Why would God, who in the Bible we know is love, approve of war? Does he? Or is the bible just a bunch of fables about God, with no real meaning?

Again, going to questions.org we find that indeed there is a time for war, and a time for peace. Read on:

In the final couplet, Solomon states that there is “a time for war and a time for peace.” In the original language, the term for “war” refers to “the waging of armed conflict against an enemy.” “Peace” (shalom in Hebrew) is the state of “harmonious relations and freedom from disputes, especially during the absence of war.” Shalom also describes an inner condition of total well-being. In general, “a time for war and a time for peace” could represent the spectrum of national concerns and sociopolitical conditions humans confront in life.

In ancient times, people did not wage war during harvest season. Soldiers went to battle only at specific times of year (2 Samuel 11:1). Today, nations go to war only in response to certain situations.

While war can never be classified as good, Scripture reveals that God has an appointed purpose for it (Psalm 144:1; 2 Samuel 22:35). In the Old Testament, the Lord at times commanded His people to go to war to bring judgment on sinful nations (Deuteronomy 20:1–4; Numbers 31:7; Joshua 8:1, 10:40; Isaiah 13:3–4).

War is part of the reality of living in a fallen world (Exodus 17:16; 2 Samuel 3:1; 2 Samuel 3:1). Humans are flawed and sinful (Romans 3:10–18), and war results from hatred and sin (James 4:1–2; Psalm 140:1–2; Proverbs 10:12; 29:22). Evil people such as Adolf Hitler make going to war unavoidable and necessary to prevent even greater atrocities from being committed.

“A time for war” is also associated with end times. In Matthew 24:3–14, the disciples ask Jesus, “What will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?” (verse 3). Jesus answers, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. . . . All these are the beginning of birth pains” (Matthew 24:6–8).

On this earth, perfect peace is only found in God and preserved through having a close relationship with Him (Philippians 4:6–7). “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you,” declares Isaiah 26:3. “A time for peace” is the opportunity and blessing of every believer in all circumstances (Romans 5:1–5; John 16:33; Philippians 4:11–13). Life in the Holy Spirit offers righteousness, joy, and peace (Romans 14:17–19; 8:6; Galatians 5:22).

“A time for peace” is the reward of those who love and obey God’s Word (Psalm 119:165–167; Philippians 4:8–9). The Bible says that “those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die” (Isaiah 57:2, NLT).

The Lord is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and, ultimately, it is His will that wars cease to exist on earth (Psalm 46:9; Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3). There will come a day when weapons of war will become instruments of peace.

A future “time for peace” is promised in the New Jerusalem when God Himself will make His home among His people (Revelation 21:1–4; 22:3–5). “In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all. The cow will graze near the bear. The cub and the calf will lie down together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm. Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the LORD” (Isaiah 11:6–9, NLT).

The fact that there is “a time for war and a time for peace” reminds us that we are utterly dependent on God to make it through the ever-changing, often turbulent seasons of this life. In all circumstances and every relationship, God holds us firmly and forever in His sovereign hands. Even in the most hostile situations over which we have little or no control, we can know peace by trusting and resting in God, knowing that He orders our times according to His good pleasure.

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One day, all war will be abolished when Jesus comes back for His church. There will be none anymore. Peace will forever reign and Jesus will wipe the tears from our eyes. I look forward to that day because as we go forward into our future here on earth life grows crazier and scarier

And yet God tells us to trust in Him. He knows what He is doing. Even when we don't.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Thanks for coming, Friends. May God bless you today and always.

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A Time to Love and A Time to Hate

  A time to love, and a time to hate... Ecclesiastes 3:8

Wait. What?

I thought the Bible teaches us not to hate?

Let's then take a look at gotquestions.org again to see what it says about this bible passage:

Is there ever a time for Christians to hate? The Bible mentions several things God hates and, therefore, believers should also hate (Revelation 2:6, 15). Jeremiah highlights God’s hatred of idolatry (Jeremiah 44:4–5; see also Deuteronomy 12:31; 16:22). Isaiah and Amos speak of the Lord’s hatred of hypocrisy (Isaiah 1:14–17; Amos 5:21–24). Proverbs 6:16–19 lists arrogance, deception, murder, wicked plotting, evil inclinations, slander, and troublemaking as seven things that are detestable to God.

The psalmist declares, “Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 97:10). In his wisdom literature, Solomon instructs, “To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech” (Proverbs 8:13).

Loving God means hating sin. The whole truth of God’s love includes getting angry about sin and its effects on humanity (Psalm 7:11). Jesus was furious when He cleansed the temple, but His anger did not change His nature as a loving God (1 John 4:7–21).

“A time to love and a time to hate” cover the full range of human affections and emotions. Our capacity to both love and hate is part of being created in God’s image. Therefore, sometimes hatred and anger are manifestations of the fullness and intensity of our love.

Jesus explains the high cost of loving and following Him: “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26, NLT).

While there are times when hatred is appropriate, love is the defining characteristic of true believers (John 13:34–35). Jesus calls us to love in His two greatest mandates: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37, 39). In addition, He asks us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:43–44).

Scripture is filled with examples of “a time to love.” We love because Christ first loved us (1 John 4:7, 19; Romans 5:8). Even our ability to love comes from Him (Galatians 2:20). When we feed the hungry, care for the poor and needy, visit the sick and those in prison, not only are we loving and caring for people, but, ultimately, we are serving Jesus Christ Himself (Matthew 25:34–46). Believers are to “be devoted to one another in love” (Romans 12:10), serve one another (John 13:1–17), and live in unity with the same attitude and humility as Christ (Philippians 2:1–4). Everything we do is to be done in love (1 Corinthians 16:14).

Solomon’s reflection on “a time to love and a time to hate” is also an excellent reminder to love sinners while hating their sins. God accomplishes this perfectly, but how do we in our human imperfection love sinners as God loves them, in holiness and without malice? We love them by sharing the truth of the gospel message with them so they can find forgiveness and freedom from sin in Jesus Christ. We love sinners by showing them kindness, acceptance, and respect even as we disapprove of their behavior. We hate sin by not excusing it, ignoring it, or partaking in it.

Love and hate. Emotions that we all feel about, at some point, about something or maybe even someone,

As with the point I made yesterday. The difference is knowing the difference of what or who to love, and what or who to hate. Again, not always easy. That is why we need to be close to God to hear what he wants us to know and do in all given circumstances.

Because let me assure you, the closer we are to Him, the more we listen to him, the more we do what He wants us to....

the least messes we get into. And....

the more blessing He gives our lives!

Thanks for coming by today, Friends. 

God Bless!

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