Blog Surfing or Divine Direction

Just a short post...

I was reading my son's blog today and noted a link on his blog to one of his recommendations. It is a post by Lauren on Britt and Lauren's blog regarding the result of the recent elections. She reminds readers that God has not failed to be in control regardless of the outcome.

I appreciate the fact that there are young people in this country that:
1) Didn't fall into the 'Follow Obama' fad.
2) Still hear the speaking of the Holy Spirit saying I (God) am in control. Don't be swayed by every wind and wave in these stormy times.

The Spirit showed me the outcome of this election long before the votes were counted. I believe that our new president elect is one that God intends to use to attempt to awaken the comfortable, slumbering church. The truth of God's love and His Redemption for man is desperately needed in this increasingly narcissistic society in which we live. Only God can satisfy the longings of hearts and church of God is needed to spread the Good News.

Heavenly Father, pour out your Holy Spirit as you said you would in these last days.

Grieving

I have not much to say besides my heart is stirred with anguish and grief.

Two shootings today here in Colorado. Both at places of committed to serving and loving others; places committed to sharing and spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ come to earth that we might be forgiven from our sin and that we might inherit eternal life.

As of the most recent report, four people are dead, many others wounded.
Two of the staff at a Youth With a Mission (YWAM) ministry center in Arvada.
Two people at the campus of New Life Church. One an attendee and the other the shooter.

I have wept and my heart continues to grieve.

Come forth Holy Spirit, Comforter, to these many here who need you. Be poured out I pray on this generation.

Oh God, unless you guard the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain.

Be Doers of the Word

I was strongly reminded of where I've been reading lately after reading a couple posts by some single ladies, Ame and Lizzie.

James 1:22-27 (Amplified Bible)

22 But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].

23 For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror;

24 For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like.

25 But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience).

26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person's religious service is worthless (futile, barren).

27 External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.

My heart hurts to think how we dishonor and disgrace and cause to be put to shame, our Lord the Christ because we are such a self-consumed people.
Will we be those to whom Jesus says "Depart from Me, I know you not."?

Strange...

I just got off the phone from talking with my mom. She called to ask me a question about an email exchange between myself and my uncle (her brother) many, many months back.

My uncle bought himself a nice Harley-Davidson motorcycle, the like of which I would love to be able to have myself. We exchanged emails regarding having bikes and toying with the possibility of meeting up and riding together. I thought it sounded like a wonderful idea and if I could have fit some time in this year, would have been glad to do so. Then all email from him stopped. I haven't received any email from him since, even when I'd sent him some.

Back to the phone call... my mom was talking to my uncle yesterday (called to wish him a Happy Thanksgiving) and he came out with a story that I had responded to him in a rude manor, saying something to the affect that I would have to burn the email he sent me. Makes no sense what-so-ever. I never responded to him any such way. That, at least, explains why the emails ceased. The only thing is, I kind of wish I understood where this came from.

I guess there just isn't any explaining some things. I am aware that there have been many strange things like this that have happened between members of this family - misunderstandings or misreadings or something - that have caused rifts, hurt feelings, or something... and then instead of working things out, the just get in a tiff and quit communicating.

My nature doesn't lean that way, so it is very bizarre to me when this kind of behavior occurs.

I only hope that someday, somehow, God will work through to the hearts of all in my family, and that in the way that only He can, heal each one.

The Announcement...

We had a young couple come to our church today. This young couple also came to the picnic we had afterward and at one point stood up, asked for everyone's attention and shared their special news.

Setting the stage: One of these young people is a young man I have known since he was born, nearly 20 years ago. The young lady I have known for about four years. She was one of my son's very good friends in high school and even dated my son for a few months. I love both of these young people and have been praying for them both.

Their announcement is that they are engaged and are planning to wed either this winter or next summer.

I should be blessed for them, and I seek with my heart to bless them, yet deep within me is a lot of concern for them for many reasons. I'll not go into those reasons here, but suffice to say that I shall be praying for them all the more, and even more than that I shall be praying for God's timing for them, and for them to hear God's timing for them.
I know so well that it is easy to be anxious and impatient when we are young and desiring to be with someone that we care about, that we love. We were there once too.
I also know how difficult the road is, and can be, if we are moving forward without vision and especially without God's vision.


Lord God, I trust you with this young couple; with their lives; with their love for one another. You know that they are dear to my heart, and I know that they are even more dear to Yours.
I know Lord Jesus that they both love You and desire for You to be first in their lives. Help them to hear Your voice above all the voices that are speaking to them. I pray, Father, for Godly counsel and wisdom to be spoken to them from those to whom they will listen. I ask, Lord, that their ears won't be closed to the words spoken to them that may not agree with what they think and feel.
Please, dear God glorify Yourself and Your Name, for Your sake and Your testimony in their lives.
--Amen

Lights to the Soul

There have been a lot of painful experiences going on in lives around us. I understand that pain is part of this life, and that we can't avoid it.
* A friend of ours, a financial officer for a worldwide ministry, had one of the employees that worked for him brutally murdered in the parking lot of their workplace yesterday morning. She was a single Christian woman with two daughters and was caring for her mother.
* Another friend of ours has a friend with breast cancer. (Also a Christian.) The lady had major surgery this past Monday. She is now recovering and awaiting pathology reports. She will have to start chemotherapy in a couple months.
* Another friend of ours knows a lady who lost her 10 month old baby.
* A lady my wife has worked with lost a son this past week. (Also a Christian.) Not sure from what or how old he was.
* We know several Christians with physical afflictions of some sort or another and with varying degrees of pain; some are pretty extreme. Some have had knee surgeries, some ankle surgeries...

Jesus did not promise us that this life would be free from all pain just because we chose to follow Him. Rather, He told us that we would encounter pain and difficulties; then we are to count it all joy. That we are to persevere through these trials. That is no small order.

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

I saw a picture of a friend the other day and was reminded of something I've read in scripture: That the eyes are the lamp (or light) to the soul.
The person in the picture is a Christian and it was a wonderful picture of that person. But behind the smile, the eyes reveal years of hurt and pain. I had to stop and pray for this one, and it has been heavy on my heart since.

Father God, You know the plans You have for us and Your Word says that Your plans are for good, not for evil. We live in a sinful, fallen world and we are affected day after day by those around us; some believers, some not. Only Your mercy and grace extended to us allows us to carry on and still have hope. We cannot hope in ourselves nor can we hope in even those close to us whom we love and care about. We can only place our hope in You, the Sovereign King of all Creation. Lord I pray for these around us that are enduring such difficulties and pain and I humbly ask that You would send Your ministering angels to them and Your Holy Spirit to comfort them in their hours of distress. Thank You precious Lord Jesus for interceding for each of these and for us before our Father in heaven in the perfect way that only You can do. I love You Lord and I continue to place my trust in You especially in the midst of these times in which I am not able to understand or comprehend Your purpose and plan.
I would also ask for my friend in the picture, that You will heal the scars of the deepest hurts and pains of heart that this person bears. I know that Your will and desire to do so and You will accomplish it in Your perfect time.
Amen.

Thank You God!

I just visited the blog for Especially Heather who I wrote about a few days back.
The Lord moved mountains for her to be able to have surgery for a brain tumor within literally about two weeks.
I have to confess that having her come through well (better than might expected for a surgery that traumatic) brings me to tears of gratefulness before God.
The number of posts to encourage her is over 320 since yesterdays post. That is a lot of support for somebody that most, like myself, don't personally know.

Please join me in giving thanks and praise to God for His mercy to Heather and her family.

Humbly Grateful

I've been praying for a lady I don't know named Heather.
Why, you may ask, would I be praying for somebody I don't know? Because God has moved my heart with compassion for her and for her family is the only thing I can reply.
Heather has a tumor on her brain and is currently wisely seeking for medical expertise. Heather is a Christian woman with a strong faith.

Why does God choose to allow some people to walk through extremely difficult circumstances?
I don't know.
Why does God allow the same people that have had one difficult circumstance to go through another, and maybe another, and maybe another... maybe what seems like a lifetime of one thing after another?
I don't know.
Why does God allow His saints, His people to endure these kinds of difficulties?
I don't know this either.

As an example, we have personal friends that have had many difficult things in their lives over the past many years: Multiple Sclerosis, cancer, tumor, family estrangement, other medical problems.
Sometimes it just seems like it will never end. I know from the Bible that God does not impose these circumstances on His people, but I believe from reading Job that if it occurs, it is because He permits it; and from reading Jeremiah 29:11, that there is a purpose in it.

These people are strong, well-grounded believers in God; they believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He came in the flesh as dwelt as a man; that He died for the forgiveness of our sins as the perfect atoning sacrifice; and that He rose again from the dead three days later and after appearing to those who had known Him, He ascended into heaven to be seated at the right hand of God the Father.

Then I consider that there many others that believe the same, but for some reason are not touched directly by these seemingly overwhelming trials. I am humbly grateful to fall in this category. Thank You Father God.

Jesus, it says in Your word that Your heart was moved with compassion for those that came seeking You and for the healing You have the power to give: paralytics, blind, sick, diseased, oppressed and possessed by demons; even the dead. You touched them and healed them and made them completely whole and set them free. Oh Lord, we long to see Your glory fall in these days for healing and deliverance. We desire to see Your majesty manifest in these days that many souls would come to know You and worship You. We live in a lost and dying world that desperately needs the hope and life that ONLY YOU can give. Come Lord now in these days and display Your power for all the nations to see. Lord we need You! And Lord... I love You!

VT Tragedy

There is not much I can say that hasn't already been said by so many others. This much I must share:
My heart grieves over the this tragic, senseless act of violence and the loss of life.
My heart grieves for the parents of the young man who needlessly took so many lives, and is now absolutely lost as well. There is no hope for his salvation.
My heart grieves for the families and friends of those who were slain and injured. Their lives will never be the same. Their hurt, unimaginable. Their trust is shaken.
My heart grieves for the students and faculty at VT. There is no way any can remain untouched by this horrific event.

Dear merciful Father God, You Who comfort those who mourn. Comfort those now who are mourning for their loved ones lost to them. Send forth Your Holy Spirit to touch hearts as only You can. Send forth Your workers into these fields to share Your Word, Your hope, and Your promise of eternal life for those who will believe that You Jesus are truly the living Son of God. Lord, forgive me that I am unable to fully see how You will use this to Your purposes, but Lord, I know You will do it.
Thank You for making us bold to proclaim Your gospel in these days, in this time, to this desperate and dying world that so needs You.