Tag: Devotionals

33.25

Thirty three  and a quarter years ago today, Wes and I were married in SanFrancisco.  The glow we had that 4th day of February truly was the glow of love, but it was also the glow of a high fever — a fever that led us to go to the doctor for meds and a fever that led to us to cancel our honeymoon plans to go to Hawaii — to Maui.

We’ve often commented over the years that we knew the Lord was in control of those plans — those cancellations — and had a better plan for us for that time.  We just dreamed we’d take that honeymoon trip someday.

As I type this message, I’m seated outside on a lovely lanai, beside Wes at a beautiful teak dining table — terracotta tiles under our bare feet.  Many times in the last couple of days I’ve been crying at the grace and mercy of the Lord as I reflect on the provision of the Lord, the experiences of the last year and a half and the exceeding merciful kindness He’s shown me – us. Tears of joy, tears of sorrow, tears of thankfulness, tears of regret, tears of hope.  This morning, I’m so humbled and cry more tears…

We’re having morning coffee together, rested from a day of travel and a wonderfully romantic night and first morning in a villa of indescribable beauty.   From this lanai, we hear the sweetest music as the birds sing from tree to tree.  As we look out, we have the most incredible view of palm trees, breathtaking  plants and flowers, the glittering ocean — the only sounds are our voices, the chirping of the birds and the swaying of the palms in the warm breeze.  And sunshine – glorious sunshine.

Someday has come and we’re on our honeymoon… thirty three years later.

But that’s not why we’re here — though it is truly a romantic, honeymoon-feeling trip, we know there’s a far greater purpose, a far more important reason we’re here… for we didn’t plan this trip — we couldn’t have; we didn’t choose this magnificent spot, we wouldn’t have been able to do so.  And the unbelievable accommodations and amenities… we’re almost unable to comprehend or absorb.  We’re simply  here by the grace and mercy of the Lord — through the generosity of someone who arranged this whole occasion for us.  We’re waiting on the Lord for His work to be done in and through us.  We’re waiting on Him to show us more of the why we’re here – and we pray for His complete restoration, rejuvenation, refreshment and ministry to be done in and through us.  Together and individually.

And so… to the Lord and to our generous benefactor we can only very humbly say:  Thank You and Thank you.

I’ll share more later.  But I want to conclude with a note about our prayer and Bible reading this morning – which I will also explain in more detail later.  I’m reading in Joshua 14-15… Wes is, in the natural course of  his daily reading through the Word, reading about the Lord’s direction to Elijah in 1 Kings 17 & 18.   This is of such extreme importance to us – for it is sort of a stunning & miraculous confirmation to us regarding the message our generous benefactor gave us in this gift.  It could not be coincidence that he would be reading there on this day.  A Co-incident, but not a coincidence.  Praise only the Lord.

And, by the way, the unbelievably deep blue of the water contrasted against the lighter blue sky and billowy white clouds… well, it’s just… unbelievable.  More tears.

Living Long

Living long.  I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently.  I’ve been wondering to my self: what would I be doing today if I had been living long for the last thirty-some-odd years?  What would I have accomplished or done differently had I been living long all these years of marriage and motherhood?

This train of thought is the sort of along the same track of thinking as the question:  How would God have used me (or my life) had my whole life been yielded to Him?  Where would I be today if my whole life had been yielded to Him?

So, living LONG —  I don’t necessarily mean focusing on living a long life, or working at attaining a long life, but rather, living in such a manner as to daily consider the ramifications of decisions, consequences of choosing to do or not do something because of long term effects or results.

Thinking long means weighing decisions more carefully – choosing plans, activities, actions wisely and with forethought instead of simply thinking now – living in the moment – carried away in carefree living.  O, there’s a place for spontaneity and light-hearted fun — but living spontaneously often has significant drawbacks and consequences.

Thinking long, changes the way we live – changes our daily living.  Thinking long changes what we purchase, things we acquire, how we spend our time – and who we spend it with.  Thinking long might mean that we choose to invest in something today — missing out on things we’d “rather” do or buy  — because experience has taught us the consequences of neglect or inaction.

So you can see why I am mulling this over – a lot – these days.  A couple more birthdays have passed in our family — milestones have been reached — time is passing so swiftly and my list of was going to do’s is much greater than my list of have done’s.

I could very easily talk my way out of these reflections – excuse my way out of the consequences or realities. I could (and with a measure of solid justification) explain away the lack of accomplishment, the lack of discipline or skill or whatever.  But the truth is, much of the time throughout my motherhood years I’ve not had long thinking — I’ve not intended to live long — I’ve not keep an eternal perspective as a garland over my days or as a path for my feet.

Caught up in the dailies — and you know the dailies are *so* daily —  in many areas, I’ve thought short.  In many ways, I’ve lived short.  In many instances, I’ve planned short.  Instead of thinking LONG — I’ve thought TODAY.  Instead of investing LONG — I’ve covered TODAY.

Now, at the risk of seeming to back-peddle, I do want to say that by the mercy of God, there are and have been many things — many times — many decisions that were made for the sole purpose of future benefit, future reaping, future provision.  The consequences of not doing things one way or doing them one way have been strong motivators in mothering and training the children.  Governed by “she will do him good and not evil *all* the days of her life” has been an extremely powerful and important “force” in my life.

I’ve sought to determine to live according to God’s Word — it’s governed my thoughts, decisions and actions… much of my life — but what about the times when that determination has waned or wavered?  And what about all those times I thought short instead of long?  What if, by faith, I had lived long?  What if I, by faith, had not wavered when I chose temporal things instead of eternal things?

What if, by faith, I daily had a long or future perspective when making purchases, spending time, loving my husband, teaching our children, keeping our home, planting and gardening, reading books, watching movies, talking with family or friends, making plans…

By the grace of God, I’m determining to live long while He gives me life.

Springtime… seasons

The lacy green leaves are slowly appearing and daffodils are beginning to bloom around the old willow tree.  Isn’t it an awesome wonder: Every year, every passing season, has its marvelous reminders of the lavish mercy and everlasting kindness of the Lord.  May I never take this for granted nor think it not majestic.

Passing through many seasons in thirty-three years of marriage, I so hope I never again take for granted my husband’s care and thoughtful gestures.   You know, it’s something we all do — take for granted things that are or have been long present with us.  We assume things will continue just as they have… and then an illness, an accident, a tragedy occurs and that once steady, once forever, once ‘always there’ part of our life is taken away, lost, given away — whatever.

I was reading a long, detailed obituary this morning — a recounting of the life of a beloved wife, mother, grandmother.  A story of a stranger, yet after reading her obituary, a friend.  I began to think of different things I might want to write about my own mother; things I might want to write about my husband, my children, my friends.   All filling different spaces, memories, needs and seasons in my life — yet, do I take them for granted?  Do I tell them today the things I might be called upon to record in tomorrow’s obituary?  Might I never have another season with them?

My husband has the music player beside our bed set to play a few songs for me to hear when he wakes me up each morning.  He’s carefully chosen such encouraging music for me — I’m so blessed and inspired by the music — but, really, it’s the words I hear that linger in my thoughts and set the tone of the morning.  Like prayer and God’s Word… the music stays with me, greatly inspiring me for the day.

Ever mindful of just what I need, lately he’s included a song that’s been particularly encouraging to me.  It’s called Springtime’s Coming, sung by Kim Hopper ( The Hopper’s are Southern gospel singers).  Interestingly, I actually only really like a very select few Southern Gospel groups and wouldn’t ordinarily choose this particular one, but there’s something particularly beautiful and instructive to me in the one song he’s chosen for me.  I can’t find a clip to post, nor can I find the lyrics to share with you.  But here’s my attempt to share it with you. It goes something like this…  I’m sorry to not have the beautiful music for you.

Springtime’s Coming

It’s been a long hard winter, Spring’s long overdue…
Icy wind, cruel and bitter has chilled hope out of you,
you want to look ahead, but your heart’s so full of dread,
you can’t see the subtle changes in the air…
Springtime’s coming…

On the heels of a Winter wind, balmy breezes
will blow across your garden again,
the seeds of hope you’ve planted,
are alive beneath the snow, the blooms are yet to show…
this season will end.

Springtime’s coming, after the winter wind.

I know it’s hard to imagine that Spring’s on the way…
With the trees brown and barren and the skies so gray

Right before your eyes God has the sweetest surprise
All the new things He’s prepared to colour your world…
Springtime’s coming.

As long as heaven and earth remain
God promises the seasons will change
Springtime’s coming.

My husband gave me this card some years back for our anniversary… Many seasons have passed from that anniversary to this day.  And I can truly say that God has had the sweetest surprises in store for me following some of the seemingly most barren seasons.  Praise the Lord.  He only does all things well.  May I never take this for granted.

The Love of the Truth

Can you believe we’re living in these days?  That in the history of the world — His-story — we’re alive in these days!  Remarkable!  Truly remarkable!  These thoughts and more came to me while reading in 2 Thessalonians 2 and elsewhere today.

All over the world there are great surges of sensational events  — and they truly are worldwide; the world is in chaos.  And the catastrophes  are piling up!  The multifaceted cataclysmic tragedy in Japan seems to me to be a great picture of these days — especially within the church.

And a subtle, but similar rumbling is afoot in the church today —  the  resulting conclusion will be the same: mass decimation.  Great spiritual death is occurring as the church succumbs more and more to great delusions (this example is but one).  People are seeking answers  for the  troubling questions they face and all too often are grasping and believing the most detrimental teachings to come along in the church.

 

The church — not separated from the world, believes worldly answers — easy answers given by the smooth teachers (especially when these teachers are well known and “popular” in bookstores and other Christian circles.

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Matthew 16.26

Thus, mainstream preachers teach lies to appease the masses by teaching easy stuff, entertaining the flocks, tickling ears with provocative messages.   Then, selling millions of books, deceiving great multitudes… giving in to the great lies of pride and humanistic thought they lead millions to believe great deceptions.

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
2 Thessalonians 2.10

The church is but one example, though,  because, in reality,  it’s seeming as though the whole world’s going completely mad.  Consider the great moral decline, the lack of sanctity of marriage, motherhood and human life.   Add to all that, the duping of America by those elected to lawfully govern — the empty promises, the great fallacy of budgeting by redistributing ill-gotten  funds, the preposterous demands, the assumption of entitlement and the fighting over non-existent  funds. Upside-down…

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;” Romans 1.28

Relationships are out of balance —  if you’ve not experienced tension, misunderstandings, disappointment in relationships lately, don’t be surprised if/when you do so.   That cataclysmic tragedy in Japan yesterday is on a greater scale what’s happening in marriages, families, friendships and churches.

More 2 Thessalonians 2.1-5

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,  2  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3   Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

You can continue reading your own Bible…  as you look at things from a spiritual perspective, you’ll believe you’re reading the front page of the daily newspaper.

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.”
Luke 21. 25-26

And now, one of my favourite words in the Bible — beside the word “but” —  is the word, “therefore.”

Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.  Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,  Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.”   2 Thess 2.15-17

I pray as I write this that I would be — that we would be — recommitted to “retaining the truth” and that we would increase, cultivate and reaffirm our “love for the Truth” and that the Lord God would be merciful with us all as we rededicate ourselves to the  great calling on our lives, to seek to serve Him more faithfully, to love the brethren and to proclaim His salvation to those who are perishing.

Then help me learn…

So many times — so many times over the years I’ve asked the Lord to help me learn… Lord, help me learn from this expensive lesson.  Lord, I know the situation I’m in is from You… help me learn.  Lord, if You have handed me this experience… then help me learn.  Lord, even if I say to You, I cannot do this, please do not leave me to myself… please help me learn.

These have been the pleas of my heart many, many times through the years.

There have been many “monuments of trust” or markers of faith in my life  prior to, and since, a  significant, pivotal point of trusting in the Lord.  It  actually came  through a series of events,  taking me quite by surprise, some fourteen years ago when my husband experienced a terrible injury to his hand.  With a newborn babe in my arms,  I entered the emergency room that morning and upon seeing my husband’s condition, I immediately said: All God’s ways are good. That phrase would intensify in meaning for me over the days, weeks and months ahead. I would say it over and over again; I would pray it and I would write it on our windows.

All God’s Ways are Good

Financially speaking, that event came at the lowest point in our “work year” in the swimming pool business — February.  In the Pacific Northwest, the swimming pool business-year is relatively brief and by  February, nearly every year, most every dollar’s been spent, most all the supplies have dwindled and doubts about how things will be taken care of begin to creep in.  Well, for that year, in particular, such was the case.

But God.  But God who is rich in mercy, and the love wherewith He loves us, saw us through.  My husband’s  hand, after much reconstructive surgery and minus an index finger,  took months to heal.  Even if jobs had come to him, he couldn’t have completed them at that time — but there was never a day that we did not know the clear presence and provision of the LORD — His mercies were new to us every morning and His grace saw us through.

It was then that I learned to see what some of you hear me say from time to time:  This is so big, God must be in it. For it was, to us, at the time… so big.  It was then, also, that I began to pray for the Lord to help me learn from this (and numerous other experiences), saying, Lord, this lesson is so expensive:  Lord, please help me learn what You have for me to learn in this.

And so it’s been through the years… lesson after lesson, experience after experience, that I have sought *in the trial* or *in the testing of faith* to ask the Lord:  I know You’ve given this to me, I know You’ve handed this to me,  Lord, help me learn…

One Monday afternoon, a number of weeks after his accident, a couple of friends stopped in for a visit. And as they were leaving and saying goodbye’s, they handed Wes an envelope — which, after they left, he handed to me, saying: This is for you! You see, just the day before, my husband had put a sum of money in the offering plate at church — many different people had given us financial gifts totaling more than we needed that week and so Wes offered it in thanksgiving to the Lord.  I had said, what if we need it next week?  He said, God will provide.

Well, you can see where this is going.  I went to the window that stormy afternoon, and while standing there, I looked out and much to my astonishment, there were daffodils ringing the huge old willow tree in our yard.  I’d not even noticed them before that moment. Further, since that was the first winter for us here in our home, I didn’t even know there were bulbs planted around the willow tree.  Looking back, it was as if the Lord had kept them covered until that day.  Surely, the Lord was  ministering to my heart that day. Seeing those daffodils just beginning to bloom was like seeing the promise of Springtime to come.  In tears of gratefulness, I opened the envelope — it contained the exact same amount of money Wes had  placed in the offering just the day before.  The men who had brought it had no way of knowing about the offering made the day prior.  God had clearly provided.  O Lord, help me to learn…

Help me to learn to trust in You.
Help me to learn to wait on You.
Help me to learn to hope in You.
Help me to learn to keep my eyes fixed on You.

Help me to learn  what You would have me to learn in each experience You hand me.  And help me to learn to accept Your will and way for my life.  With joy.  Whatever comes: Lord, help me to learn.

 

You’re going to need this

A mother hands a child a coat as he prepares to head out the door.  You’re going to need this, she says, it’s cold outside.  Another time, she hands the child an umbrella.  You’re going to need this, she says, it’s raining out and you’ll get wet if you don’t open it as you step off the porch.

The child might dutifully accept the coat or the umbrella; he might also be trusting  her judgment; in addition, he might be reflecting and acting on past experience.

Whatever the case — obedience or experience — in the coat or umbrella scenarios above, the external conditions are present and so it’s really quite simple to accept the coat for the present cold or to accept the umbrella for the present rain as these two situations can be either presently felt or presently seen.

Sometimes we don’t understand why we’re being handed something.

We receive unanticipated work and, thus, more income than we would normally have.  Accustomed to less, we might wonder, Why we have so much more?  We delight in our “windfall” and dream of the different things we want to get.  And then… an appliance breaks or a vehicle needs a new transmission or a tooth cracks and needs a root canal and crown. We feel surprised that we have just the right amount of money needed to cover the repairs!  We then remember we were handed something we were going to need.

Other times, we’re handed an experience or many experiences and we might ask or cry or even complain, Why is this happening?

The first days of running or dieting or learning a new skill sometimes seem so arduous — so impossible!  Most of us give up or what to quit in the face of such difficulties.  Then, someone comes along — say an experienced runner — and he says, don’t quit; keep going… you’re going to need this for the steeper parts of the road.

Sometimes we’re handed illness or tragedy or sorrow and we think, O, can’t do this, I cannot handle this — I just can’t do this — this is too hard for me.  We want to turn away from the problem — we want to run from it because looking at what we think we’re able to do, we can’t see our way through.  And then, by the grace of God, we see a little beyond what we see.

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46.1

 

As we continue to walk with the Lord, as we continue to trust in His Word, we grow… we grow in grace, we grow in wisdom and strength and we grow in trust that He *is* with us — He *is* for us and He really does do all things well.  Not that He will answer or provide or guide in the very same manner He has in the past, but simply: He will answer.

Each situation we face, each heartache that comes, each sorrow that washes over us, each disappointment, each failure, each loss — each thing can be a blessed experience that reminds us of God’s dealings with us in the past — as if He handed us something and said, You’re going to need this.  We may not understand why at the time, but down the road a bit, we’ll see…

We’re so tempted to measure a situation by what we can see — not by what God’s got planned or by what He’s doing.  He is our refuge — we can trust in Him.  He is our strength — we can lean on Him.  He is our very present help in trouble — we can accept what He hands us.  Even when — especially when — we can’t see the storm ahead, we can take the coat of His salvation and the umbrella of His Holy Spirit that He hands us, saying, You’re going to need this.

So, why does stuff happen?

Do you find yourself asking the “why did that happen?” question?

Why in the world did that happen? Or, why did this happen to me?  Or, how could this have happened?

We all ask some such question from time to time.  Even when we don’t mean to bring up our doubtful questioning in conversation, our comments betray us when we say something like, I don’t know how that could have happened, or some similar statement.

I think we all seem as though we’re surprised when things happen — as if we’d missed something in our vigilant attempts to prevent all problems.  Truth is, we cannot prevent things from happening any more than we can make things happen.

When we’re going through hard times, it’s especially common for us to question why the thing is happening — not because we can’t believe it, but because we can’t believe it’s happening to us!

The Word tell us in 1Peter 4.12-13

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:   But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

In recent years when hard things have happened, I’ve been quicker to consider that the trial or the hard thing has been allowed of the Lord for my good.   This is just one of the great blessings of a long walk with the Lord and it’s one of the great blessings of age and experience.  The longer we live and the longer we walk with the LORD,  the more we tap into the reservoir of His ways in our lives — it doesn’t mean that God is going to answer us the same way twice — for we know that God is not obligated to repeat Himself — but that we have a bounty of ways He did answer and it bolsters our faith that He *will* answer.

God allows “stuff to happen” in our lives so that we will depend on Him, so that we will yield to Him and so that we will have something to give to others who find themselves in situations similar to what we’ve experienced.

You know how that goes… someone’s going through a trial and they confide in you because they know you know what they’re going through.  They wouldn’t be able to lean on you, confide in you or glean from you if you hadn’t first gone through the trial or experience or “all that stuff.”

Many times in recent years, when facing difficulties — or hard stuff, I’ve consciously thought:  Omy, this is so hard, God must be in it… I’m going to need this!

I’ve been keenly aware that He only allows things for my good and His glory — and so He’s taught me that when I’m going through hard stuff, He’s at work.  Sometimes for my strengthening.  Sometimes for my chastening.  Sometimes for my lack.  Sometimes for wisdom.  Sometimes for identifying with Christ.  Sometimes for pride.  Sometimes for my worship… but always for my good and His glory.

Last year, the most sorrowful year of my whole life, I was keenly aware, time after time, that God was allowing all these things for my good and His great glory.  They were hard things.  Very hard things.  Why did they happen?  They happened so that I would *know* that I can trust God in *all* things.  He is only good.  All the time.

Don’t send opportunity away

What do you have in your hand?   Are you wanting to send opportunity away?

Most of the time, that’s the basis for our willingness to obey the Lord… our willingness to obey or our willingness to serve is based on what we’ve got in our hand or what we think we can do.  Our response to the prompting of the LORD generally goes through a process of reasoning. We think, well, it looks like this situation is doable; or, yes, I think I can do this because I have enough time, money, experience, etc., etc.

The real testing of faith comes when what the Lord prompts us to do seems “impossible” or, more often, when we reject the prompting due to our apparent lack.

Matthew 14.14-16
14  And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.  15  And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. 16  But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.”

This morning as my husband was closing our time of Bible study he was saying, How many times do we send opportunities away?

We were considering how the Lord has plans for whatever comes our way and yet our response is based on what we see — sort of the “what do we have in our hand?” or what are we able to do here?  We don’t often stop and think: Hmmm, this situation looks impossible… I’m sure the Lord wants me to stay and do something here.  More often we stop and think:   Hmmm,  this situation is hopeless, I’m out of here (or , at least that ‘s what we feel like saying/doing).

How often do we send opportunity away because it seems impossible to us?  Or, because it seems impossible, how many times do we miss opportunities to see God work?

The disciples wanted to send the people away because of the “obvious” lack of provision.  But later they would see and experience that with God, nothing’s impossible.

Do you have an impossible situation in front of you today?  Don’t look at the obvious…  don’t send opportunity away seeing or thinking that you lack resources.  For, in fact *you* surely may apparently lack resources.  But watch what God will do with what you have in your hand or what He will bring.  For with God, nothing’s impossible.

And then… the Truth will come

Today’s mess news:  Eyes on Wisconsin… then keep ’em open toward DC, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, California — and Idaho.   Just keep watching… this looks to be the groundswell of a massive eruption, an avalanche of chaos and destruction.   Omy, it’s just so incredible to be alive during this time in history.

I frequently find myself  marveling:  the whole world’s gone mad.  It’s all around us —  just open today’s paper, click on whatever news media you favour or whatever social media you frequent. The words, the sounds, the grumbling…  like the rumbling of the land before a volcanic eruption.  The land is surely rumbling today… emotions are surely erupting.  And it’s getting louder…

Mobs telling lies and mobs of people believing them — these are creating societal knee jerk reactions at rapid-fire speed, with mob mentality reigning the day.   Consider the oldest enticement of man: “Yea, hath God said , Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”  Rocking contentment with the oldest enticement: mockery.  And it’s continued in many forms from that day to this… appealing to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.

And then… the Truth will come.

I think ignorance and greed are the most destructive of all societal movements and, surely, it’s ignorance and greed fueling the protests and demonstrations now gathering unparalleled speed in our country and in the world.

Today’s a prime example of information technology being a blessing and a curse.  I.T. instantly imparts information and then creates or fuels or fans the fire of discontent, ignorance, greed and rage — for it is all of these human emotions that instantly react to the call of the mob.  All of these emotions can be manipulated to propel the cause — whatever the cause is… Unions, Abortions,

It’s all about power — the bigger the mob, the greater the power.  And, as was seen through the campaign process in the last Presidential election — it really doesn’t matter an iota if the mob knows what the rally is really about – what the ramifications of the protest will be or what they will really lose in the process. The mob wants power and they feel as though their voice is being heard and, thus,  they’re gaining power.  The mob becomes ravenous and, like most mobs, becomes unreasonable — even irresponsible —  defending the cause — even if they don’t really know what it is.

And then… the Truth will come.

I pray as I write this that I am keeping/will keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, trusting in Him — His Word — the Truth.  And that you, whoever you are, reading this, will trust in the Lord will all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…  I pray we’ll all see beyond what we see and hear beyond what we hear that we will be found occupying until we see That Day appearing.

It’s just a matter of time… the Truth will come.

Even so, Come, Lord Jesus.

Be ye not troubled

Reading today in the Word…
Over a cup of coffee with you.


Mark 13

7  And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.
8  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
9  But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
10  And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
11  But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
12  Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
13  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14  But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
15  And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:
16  And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.
17  But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
18  And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.
19  For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
20  And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
21  And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:
22  For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
23  But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.