October 24, 2012

Good morning all-

I'm on my way to the great western part of Kansas.  I go there often but today I will be driving for at least six hours, so tomorrow's post should be pretty long.  I don't really have much to say today but I do want to leave you with something to think about.  The  last couple of weeks I just have been concentrating on Jesus, what He means to us, why He came and what He will do.  His will be done on this earth as it is in Heaven.  At the end of the day, that's what we should be all thinking.

I think I have dissected this every which way because of the people around me that continue to skate into heaven. They haven't followed God all their lives, they might not even have been great people, but nevertheless, He called them and they came home.  I think we have a convoluted philosophy about God, who He is and what we are here for.  As long as life is going our way, everything with God is fine but the minute something creeps in we don't understand it's like we're two again.  The why's and how's start flying and of course, we are depressed, angry, and blame ourselves or God for our circumstances.  We really are no better than the Israelites half the time.

I've been there, yelling and screaming at God.  Often, I have felt like a two year old questioning His authority and choosing to believe I have all the answers.  Does a two year old have all the answers?  Of course not and compared to God that's exactly what we are.  We don't know the why's of the universe. We have gone to space, bored deep into the earth and opened up the wonders of the ocean and we still don't get it.  We see what God has created but for some, it's just too far a stretch that God did this.  We even question the time the Bible was written.  I've heard people say and by the way I think I did too, "The Bible was written long ago the times have changed."  Of course they've changed, they have gotten far more sinful, unbelievably fleshly, more confused and faith and joy have been robbed.  We look at money and power as the chief reasons to be here and we have forgotten to care about people.

We sit in our homes and think maybe I will give money to the poor but do we?  And I love this one the best, "Why does God punish me?"  Although our Father is more than willing to parent some of the tests we go through are because we are His chosen and yes, He is going to stretch us but that's to build our faith and help us to be able to stand, even when life gets tough.  If you want to know Jesus, you have to look for Him and believe that every word in the Bible is true.  We can't fudge on a part or two; we must believe.

I realize the older we get the easier it is to be skeptical.  The Lord and I both know I have been.  I have questioned, turned, twisted, procrastinated, until one day I finally said, "I'm Yours."  I have been stretched, pulled, pressed and crushed.  I have been molded, sanctified and justified.  I have been to the bottom of the pit and brought back up to see the light.  I have wondered how can a God be here when I don't see Him?  I have fought with God, questioned Him, and finally brought to my knees in a love I can't even describe.

I understand when someone says, "Why?"  And I wish that God would reveal it but often, we must walk blindly, trusting that He knows what's best for our life.  We may not always like the lessons, especially in the  middle of them, but we will like the results.  Because without a doubt, our Lord will grow us and guide us right by our side.  That's the kind of God we serve.  We can't work to get to Him but we can love Him and when we do, He grows us, feeds us and makes us His own.  Powerful stuff for Wednesday morning!

Well I'm off at 6:20 this morning.  I hope you all have a blessed day.  My prayer today is simple, look for the hand of our Father.  He is near.  You might not see Him but I guarantee He's there.  He promises never to leave or forsake us.  That's a promise I stand on.  Be of good cheer my sisters and pray for one another.  There's no better time to unite then now.

1 Peter 2:24-25 NKJV:

     who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed.  For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

By His stripes we are healed!  Join with me today thanking our Savior for every stripe and for every nail.  He knows our pain and through His death we are healed.  May God show You today the power of the cross!