Why?

There are terrible tragedies that occur in this world. We are all aware of this. Many times we question, "Why did God allow this?" Most, if not all, of the time, we do not know.

When Job's six children died in an accident, when he lost his business and his friends, and finally when he became very ill; he asked this question. He did not understand what was happening. He had lived a good life and had expected God to reward him.

Job asked a lot of questions, but in the end he said, "I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will take his stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God; whom I myself shall behold, and whom my eyes will see and not another."

I think we can learn from Job not to ask, "Why?" It is a natural, human thing to do but it is usually useless to ask and erodes our faith. I have been guilty of asking this question of God. He has never told me why. Either I learn to trust God's judgement or I hold rebellion in my heart. It is an individual choice God has given to everyone.

"My thoughts are not your thoughts, and my ways
are not your ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways." Isaiah 55:8-9

Renewal.

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind..." Romans 12:2

"Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day." 2 Corintians 4:16

Although, when we first give our life to Christ, we may be conformed to the world; yet God promises to change our hearts day by day. We do not become what we should or could be overnight. It takes time for our hearts to change; in fact, it takes a lifetime of learning. So, as Paul says, "Do not lose heart." God is patient, let us be patient with ourselves.

Why Do You Judge?

Jesus said, "Why do you stare from without at the very small particle that is in your brother's eye but do not become aware of and consider the beam of timber that is in your own eye?" Matthew 7:3-5

I had a good friend at church who had a young son who was a quiet, placid child. He was obedient and respectful. My friend was very critical of other parents whose children were unruly at church. She would comment negatively on their parenting skills. She couldn't understand why they didn't restrain their children.

Then my friend had a second baby. She had a little girl who was so uncontrollable my friend quit coming to church for a time. She couldn't make her child quit crying and whining. She couldn't make her obey.

I think one of the beams of timber in our eyes is judging others unfairly. And I think my friend learned not to judge other parents through this experience. Perhaps God allowed this to happen in order to teach my friend not to judge.

I was a harsh judge of others until I fell and make some huge mistakes. Those mistakes humbled me and showed me I was capable of great sin. Knowing this has kept me from judging people a lot of the time. I have not reached perfection in this area, but I am asking God to fill me with love for everyone, because where there is love there is acceptance.

We are Not Alone.

I heard a preacher say, "Sometimes when you obey God, you will be all alone." I thought about that and remembered that Jesus was alone; his friends ran off and left him to be arrested by himself. Noah was alone. Of all the families in the world, his was the only one to obey God and go into the ark. Daniel was alone when the law was passed forbidding prayer and he prayed anyway. He was alone in the lion's den. Esther was alone when she risked her life and walked up to the king's throne.

These people didn't care what other people thought of them. They did what they knew was right, even though everyone said they were wrong. They were alone by human standards, yet they knew they weren't alone, for God was with them.

Jesus said, "He who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone..." As it was for Jesus, so it is for us. God will not leave us alone.

"Look, I am with you always, even until the end of the world." Matthew 28:20

Living Water.

"On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"
John 7:37-38

Jesus calls his water "living water" because his water brings life to all. If we drink from his water, it will flow out of us to give to others. If they drink it, they will also live.

"Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up into eternal live." John 4:14

Father, fill us with your living water.

A Heart to Obey.

In Deuteronomy 30:11-14 God is speaking to his people as they were moving into the land God had given them. He told them to remember his commandments and then went on to say:

"Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, 'Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?' Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, 'Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?' No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it."

He was trying to encourage the people to believe that he would help them if they wanted to obey him. He does the same thing today. He gives us a new heart that loves what he loves. Verse 6 says:

"The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live."

Choose.

"Today, I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call upon heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your children might live." Deut. 30:19

God loves us. He wants us to choose him, for he is the way to an eternal life of happiness. He wants us to choose him, for he is the way to a deep, abiding love. Outside of God is darkness and hate. Inside of God is light and love. He longs for us to join him. Please join him.

The Bible

Jesus said, "You search the scriptures, because you believe that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me. Yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life." John 5:39-40

The men Jesus was talking to were experts on the Old Testament. They were the scribes, Saducees and Pharisees. They seemed to think that by obeying the letter of the laws, they would be saved. Jesus told them this was not true. In concentrating on the rules they had missed out on the intent of God.

"You are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law - justice, mercy and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things." Matthew 23:23

We must all be careful of doing this. We should do what Jesus said and lift up justice, mercy and faith. Jesus also said that love was the greatest commandment. As we read the Bible, let us remember that.

I Will Go With You.

When Jacob was told his son Joseph ruled Egypt, he left the land of the Caananites to go live in Egypt. He must have been worried about leaving Caanan, for God had promised that land to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But God came and spoke to Jacob to set his mind at ease.

God spoke to Jacob in visions of the night and said, "Jacob, Jacob." And he said, "Here am I."

He said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there."

"I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will close your eyes (in death)." Genesis 46:2-4

These verses show the kindness of God in reassuring his friend Jacob. He reiterated his promise of making his descendents a large nation and of giving them Caanan. But the most beautiful promise of all was, "I will go down with you to Egypt..."

Wherever we go, God goes with us. He never loses sight of us and he always keeps his promises.

Worship.

Jesus said, " The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such people to worship him."

John 4:23

When Jesus spoke these words most people went to temples to worship their God. The motive could have been fear, habit or love. Jesus told this woman it didn't matter where you worshipped God, what mattered was the motive and heart of the person.

"In spirit and truth." Do we come to God with our spirit open and wanting to know the truth about Him? This is all he asks. A true seaching for him.

Under God's Wings.

Joyce Meyer wrote this wonderful piece on seeking God. It is found in her book, "New Day, New You."

"But seek first of all His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you." Matthew 6:33

"Too often we spend all of our time seeking God for answers to our problems when what we should be doing is just seeking God.

As long as we are seeking God, we are staying in the secret place, under the shadow of His wing. Psalm 91:2 says, "Under His wings shall you trust and find refuge." But when we start seeking answers to all the problems and situations that confront us, trying to fulfill our desires rather than God's will, we get out from under the shadow of His wings.

For many years I sought God about how I could get my ministry to grow. The result was that it stayed just the same as it was. It never grew. Sometimes it even went backward. What I didn't realize was that all I needed to do was to seek the kingdom of God, and He would add the growth.


Do you realize that you don't even have to worry about your own spiritual growth? All you need to do is seek the Kingdom, and you will grow. Seek God, abide in Him and He will cause increase and growth.

A baby just drinks milk and grows. All you and I have to do is desire the sincere milk of the Word and we will grow. We can never experience any real measure of success by our own human effort. Instead, we must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; then all these other things we need will be added to us."

Banners

"He has taken me to his banqueting hall, and his banner over me is love."
Song of Solomon 2:4


The word for banner comes from the Latin name "bandum" a cloth used to make flags. Banners were used by ancient Israel as a rallying point for battles. They were hung in castles in medevil times. The one on the right is Richard the Lionheart's banner.

The word on God's banner is Love.

This is the banner that hangs in heaven.

This is the word that is most important to God.

We are under his banner of love. We may not have love in our lives from people in this world, but we have the love of God over us. All we have to do is believe it and accept it.

Seek My Face.

You have said, "Seek my face."
My heart says to you,
"Your face, O Lord, do I seek."
Psalm 27:7

How do we seek the Lord's face? By prayer and Bible study.

The Bible says God is our friend. When we have a close friend, we seek their company. We ask them to go to a movie with us, or go camping with us. It is the same with God. We ask him to be with us each day. We tell him what we have been doing and what we are thinking. Yes, he already knows these things, but he wants us to share our thoughts and feelings with him as with a friend.

Reading the Bible can be hard for some people. However, it can be made easy this way. Start with the New Testament, say the book of John, and read one or two verses a day. Think on what those verses are saying and how they could apply in your life. Talk with God about those verses and ask him to help you understand and remember what he is trying to teach you.

So, "Seek the Lord, while he may be found. Call upon him, while he is near."

Our Life is but a Breath.

"O Lord, make me know my end
and what is the measure of my days;
let me know how fleeting I am!

Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
and my lifetime is as nothing before yo.
Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!"

Psalm 39:4-5


Even if we live to be 100, compared with the age of the universe it is but a breath. Even if our lives are happy all the time (and I've never met anyone like that), even if we have all we desire from this life, even if we have found our true love for a partner, it will be over all too soon.


"Let me know how fleeting I am." If you think over all the happiest days of your life, know and understand that God will give you days like that for all eternity, if you give your life to Him. How can we compare a life on earth to eternity in heaven? "Eyes have not seen, nor has it entered into the heart of man, what God has prepared for those who love him."


Some people are afraid to give their lives to God because he may make them give up things, he may change things in their lives. He does do this, but what people don't realize is that he changes your heart so that you no longer want those things. You don't even have to work at it or even try. You feel no loss, you don't long to go back; at least that is the case in my life. And the best part is that you realize what a great person God is. Actually, that can take a while, but eventually you do realize how lucky you are to have him for a friend.

Don't be a Mule.

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you."

Psalm 32:8-9

I love these verses.

"I will instruct and teach you": What a great promise! The God of the whole universe teaching us.

"With my eye upon you": Think of this; his eye is on us always.

"Don't be like a mule." Mules and horses have to be forced to go where you want them to go. God doesn't want to force us.

"...or it will not stay near you." God wants us to stay near him because we choose to. He won't put a bit and bridle on us. We must choose to be near him; then he will teach us.

"For My Mother and Father Have Forsaken Me, but the Lord Will Take Me In.

We have a young girl living in our home because her mother has thrown her out of the house. When I was acting up as a teenager, my father wanted to throw me out (I would have loved it), but my mother wouldn't let him. My grandsons have friends who have been told to leave. This is how the world is sometimes.

Apparently, David's parents turned their back on him. King Saul was looking for David to kill him. He was a fugitive, always on the run and hiding in caves. He took his parents with him, but they must have left David and been angry at him for all the trouble he brought upon him, for in Psalm 27:10 David tells us they had forsaken him.

Then he says, "But the Lord will take me in."

One thing we can count on; the Lord will never forsake us. Jesus says, "Behold, I am with you until the end of time." Matthew 28:20 If you feel all alone in the world, you are not. God is with you, he is only a breath away. Just ask him to come into your life and help you and he will.

Joseph - A Slave, A Convict, A Prime Minister.

I have always admired Joseph. The story of his life is found in the book of Genesis Chapters 37-50. For me, he is the ideal believer in God. He never lost faith and trusted God in every circumstance.

Joseph was sold as a slave by his brothers. Imagine yourself, a 17 year old, being sold as a slave. What would be your feelings? I would guess:terror, sadness, despair.

Did Joseph turn from God because God had let this terrible thing happen to him? No. He was such a good slave that his master Potifar, Captain of the bodyguards of Pharoah, promoted him. "...he made him overseer over his house, and all that he owned he put in his charge."

In Chapter 39 verse 2, the Bible says, "The Lord was with Joseph..." Yet a new trial awaited him. Potifar's wife wanted to sleep with Joseph and asked him over and over. Joseph said to her, "How could I do this great evil and sin against God?" But this made her angry and she accused Joseph of trying to rape her. Potifar had him thrown into prison.

In verse 21 it says, "But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer." He gave Joseph the job of looking after all the prisoners.

These are the years of Joseph's life that I especially admire. It seems that nothing on earth could shake his faith in God. In this age, when many preachers tell us God will make us rich - God will prosper us in every way - God will not let anything bad happen to us if we have faith; I look at Joseph and I know this is not true.

We do not know the plans God has for our lives. He could have kept Joseph safe from all these troubles, but he didn't. It would have been so easy for Joseph to question God's love but he didn't. God's wisdom is so far above ours we can trust that whatever is happening in our lives, he is with us as he was with Joseph.

Strength.

"I love you, O Lord my strength." Psalm 18:1

Many times, when I have felt tired, I have asked God to give me strength to do something and he has given me that strength. My mother, who is 83, has a weekly Bible study with a friend who lives in her apartment building. Sometimes, at the end of the day she is very tired. But she has asked God for strength to do the study and God has always given her that strength.

Of course, God is not just our physical strength when we need him. He is our Spiritual Strength. "The Lord is the strength of my life." Psalm 27:1, is one of my favorite verses. Without him, I know I would be lost. Not only lost spiritually, but in every way.

Before I gave my life to God, that is how I felt: lost. Lost and groping like a blind person in this dark world. I had tried to find my way through drinking, drugs and men, but it didn't work. I felt despair and hopelessness.

Thank God he was there for me, pushing and pulling me towards himself. Thank you God. I love you God, you are the strength of my life.

Understanding.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
And he will make your paths straight."
Proverbs 3:5-6

There have been times when I have been upset or worried about something and this verse has come into my mind. My own understanding of things is sometimes distorted or skewed. I don't see the way God sees. He is wisdom and knowledge itself.

I love the fact I can just say to God, "Well, I don't understand why this is happening, but I will trust in you. I know you can bring good out of this, and you will make things clear some day."

Where Are You God?

Psalm 13:1-6

"How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart all the day?"

Many people have felt as David felt; forsaken by God, ignored by him. But I like how David ends this Psalm:

"But I have trusted in your loving kindness;
My heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
For he has dealt bountifully with me."

After what David said at the beginning of this Psalm, how does he then end with trust? He didn't feel God's presence, he felt abandoned and alone.

This is what faith is; believing in spite of our feelings. Because David knew that God was good, he knew he should trust him. He remembered how in the past God had led him. He remembered that he was saved. David could rejoice in that - he could rejoice in who God was and that God had saved him spiritually.

We should never rely on our feelings. Feelings mean nothing, it is the truth that means everything. I pray that we will lean on the truth that God loves us.

Being Negative.

"There are many who say, 'Who will show us some good?'
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord! You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound." Psalm 4:6-7

I have a real problem with being negative. I have always leaned towards looking on the dark side of life. I have asked myself, "Where is some good?" David's answer is the truth. God can put great joy in our hearts. When I feel negative I try to look up to God. I thank him for all the wonderful things he has done for me. I thank him that my name is written in Heaven and that he is with me every moment of the day.

Phil.4:8 says,

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."

Is Anger a Sin?

Psalm 4:4 says "Be angry, and do not sin..." This seems to be saying it is not a sin to be angry. But what do we then do when we feel this way?

The verse goes on to say, "...ponder in your own hearts on your beds and be silent. Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord."

When we are angry, we are not to lash out in revenge or tell people what we think. We are to go by ourselves and think about why we are angry. We are to be silent and talk with God about what happened and about our anger.

I have found this to be wonderful advice. I have done this when hurt or angry at people and God has given me peace. One thing also He has taught me. Don't tell anyone else about what happened. Be silent. Only tell God and ask for his Spirit of love and forgiveness.

Sometimes anger still gets the better of me. Sometimes if hubby gets mad at me I get mad right back. Sometimes I get mad at something someone has done and tell people. But I am working towards God's ideal for me. I am trusting him to create in me a good heart.