Abraham and Fear.

Abraham married his half-sister. She was so beautiful that two kings wanted her for a wife; one was a Pharoah of Egypt, one was Abimelech, King of Gerar. Abraham had asked Sarah that when they traveled together to tell people she was his sister, not his wife. He was afraid men would kill him to have her.

Twice, God had to save Sarah from the kings who had taken her. Twice, he kept her from having sex with another man. She was to be the mother of a new nation and was to bear a child given to her by God. This was God's plan for Sarah and he would let no one change it.

Abraham did not trust God to protect him when it came to Sarah. He feared for his life, so he lied. Later on, his son Isaac did the same thing with his wife Rebecca.

How do we find faith when we believe our lives are threatened? How do we stay calm and believing in a situation like that? There are some statements from Jesus and God that can help us.

When the authorities were wanting to kill Jesus, the scripture says, "So they were seeking to seize him; and no man laid his hand on him, because his hour had not yet come." John 7:30

There was a time and an hour for Jesus to be arrested and to die. Many times people tried to kill him, but God did not allow it. Jesus lived as a man, he lived how we must live: dependent on God. After praying in Gethsemane, he said to his disciples, "It is enough; the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners." Mark 14:41

In Psalm 91:7 it says, "A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not approach you." This verse doesn't mean we will never die when thousands around us are dying. But it does mean that if God doesn't will it, you will not die at that time. David also said, "My times are in your hands." Psalm 31:15

Abraham may have had an excuse for lying about his wife once. But why after God intervened with the King of Egypt did he do it a second time? He had still not learned to trust God with his life. But what is wonderful about this story is how God looks. He comes through shining in glory and goodness. He protected Sarah, he forgave Abraham, he talked with pagan kings and was kind to them.

Thank you Lord that you are a loving, patient and kind God. We are so fortunate to have you ruling the Universe. Be with us God as we live on this dark planet. Keep us from the evil one as you have promised. In Jesus name, Amen.

Helping the Poor.

Yesterday, I wrote how God said one of the sins of Sodom was that they were rich, yet they did not help the poor. This is a grave sin in the sight of God. All through the Bible God tells us to help the poor and needy. In Leviticus chapter 19 he told Israel not to reap all the food, neither grain nor fruit, but to leave it for the poor. Here are some more verses on helping those in need.:

"How blessed is he who considers the helpless; the Lord will deliver him in a day of trouble." Psalm 41:1

"He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, but he who is gracious to the needy honors Him." Proverbs 14:31

"He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be answered." Proverbs 21:13

"The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor, the wicked does not understand such concern." Proverbs 29:7

"Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy." Proverbs 31:9

"What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the face of the poor? declares the Lord of hosts." Isaiah 3:15

"The people of the land have practiced oppression and committed robbery, and they have wronged the poor and needy and have oppressed the sojourner without justice." Ezekiel 22:29

"For I know you sins are many and are great. You distress the righteous and accept bribes and turn aside the poor in the gate." Amos 5:12

Jesus said, "Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back...Give and it will be given to you." Luke 6: 30 &38

"Sell your possessions and give to the poor; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:33,34

Helping Strangers.

Abraham was sitting under a tree in the heat of the day. Three men walked by and Abraham got up and asked them to come aside, have a drink and eat some food before they continued with their journey. Genesis 18

At first, Abraham did not know these three men were God and two angels. He merely wanted to help them and show hospitality. I have read that this custom is still practiced in the Middle East.

We don't do this often in western society. We barely speak to strangers, never mind asking them to eat with us. It is too bad we have become such an isolated people. Most of us don't even know our next-door neighbors.

My Spanish professor used to tell us what it was like growing up in Mexico. Every city has a town square where important events are celebrated - like a wedding. Every weekend people gather to sing and dance. People know each other.

I wish it was this way in our towns and cities. Once you know people, you find out what problems they have and can perhaps help them. If you are having a bad time or a good time, you can share this with your neighbors.

We help strangers by giving to charities, and that is a good thing. But when I think of Abraham giving lunch to God because he was just walking by, I feel like we are all missing something important.

Do We Deserve to be Sick?

John Chapter 9.

As Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?"

Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work."

"While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." Then Jesus healed the blind man.

While Jesus was in the world he was showing what God was like. He healed every person who asked. He does not do that now. Jesus went back to heaven and he hears all prayers, yet he does not heal everyone now.

My husband has Carcinoid Syndrome, I have fibromyalgia, some people are paralyzed, and some are blind. I have known some Godly women who have died; one of diabetes and one of breast cancer. They both had small children. Many prayers were said for these women. They were anointed with oil, yet God did not heal them.

Sometimes I hear sermons on TV and preachers say that God doesn't want us to be sick. God will heal us if we will only believe. But I disagree. I think the reason God doesn't heal everyone now and didn't heal everyone before Jesus was a man on earth is because if he did - all sick people would come to God just to be healed. No one would die, because if faith can always heal us then we would never die.

We are not sick because of our sins. Jesus himself said this. We are not being punished and God is not mad at us. Jesus said that that this man's blindness was so God's works might be displayed in him. What did he mean?

My husband has been asked time and again why he is so cheerful when he is always in pain and constantly feels weak. This has given him the chance to tell people how God has helped him through his illness. God has given him peace and joy in spite of how he feels. He has learned to lean on God for strength and patience. What Jesus said has happened; God's works have been displayed through his illness.

Many people come to God when they are sick or dying. The pleasures and trinkets of this life pale in comparison to the unknown ahead of them. God can take something negative, like illness, and use it to bring people to an eternal life with him where there is no pain, no sickness and no death. Therefore, God's works are displayed.

Life can make us bitter. Chronic illness can make us bitter. Both my husband and I wish we weren't sick, we have both been tempted to feel angry about it and bitter about all the things we can't do any more. But we have both talked with God about our feelings and he has given us peace and acceptance. We believe God will always bring good out of evil for people who trust him.

At the Right Time.

"For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a good person - though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die - but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life." Colossians 5:6-

Hope

"May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing with hope." Romans 15:13

Joy is never released through unbelief, but it is always present where there is belief. Believing is so much simpler than not believing. If we do not believe God, his word, and his promises, then we are left with the labor of reasoning and attempting to work out matters ourselves. (From the book, New Day, New You, by Joyce Meyer)

"Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and over burdened, and I will cause you to rest." Matthew 11:28

I have been a Christian for many years, yet hope eluded me. So many awful things had happened in my life, I just gave up and hoped for nothing. But Joyce Meyer taught me to hope again by believing God could give me good things.

I began trusting God and believing he would work for me, that he would make my life happier. I started quoting the Bible each morning with words of praise for God and his power and goodness. Very soon I experienced happiness and hope, and soon God brought things and people into my life that made me happier and gave me the feeling of accomplishment. I no longer believed my life was useless.

Believe God loves you, believe he wants nothing more than to help you, and you will see some marvelous things happen.

The Whole Armor of God.

"Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and as shoes for you feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints."