Posted in Bible Journaling, Eternity, Evangelism, Leadership, Life Inspiration, Political, Youth

The Day Religion played Politics

Last night was our Wednesday Night Bible Study at Victory Baptist Church and I dashed in the door at the last minute. I had come home from work earlier and sat down “for a minute” in the recliner before church. That minute somehow turned into an hour and I was almost late after a much needed nap from staying up with the election results. Well, I guess results isn’t a good word. 

My heart was a little broken. I felt like our country had betrayed our President and his job well done wasn’t appreciated. But my lesson for the night was on lying. And how not to believe a lie. I feel such an obligation to help my teens with life. I love listening to their little adult minds share their daily struggles and taking those angsts and making them into a lesson. Sometimes I’m the teacher, sometimes I’m the student. 

Last night they shared with me how they felt as they watched America determine their future without regard. Such maturity! 

We spoke about living in a society where the truth is not regarded of high importance. How it takes a toll on us personally and even Christians pay little attention to the ethical behavior of people. It’s just a part of life. But that is far from God’s reaction!

The first recorded lie in the Bible was in Genesis 3:1

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Imagine that day for God. He watched as the beings He had created betrayed Him. Satan, who at that time was called Lucifer, was created to be one of the most beautiful of God’s angelic host. That beauty had caused him to elevate himself (in his own mind) to desiring the role of God. And the desire turned in to the act of betrayal and the fall of man. I can’t imagine the level of broken-hearted ness the Lord experienced that day. I realize He’s all knowing, it didn’t catch Him off guard, but that would not have stopped the God of such compassion from feeling the slap across His face that Satan had yielded and Adam and Eve had fallen for. And so it began, the wickedness of men that over time certainly hasn’t gotten any better. 

But there came a day, Glory to God! When redemption of the world occurred in another act of betrayal, forgiveness and restitution for every sin, past, present and future. In the most dramatic turn of events man has ever known. I wasn’t there, I really don’t have too much of a concept on the power of the situation. My mind cannot comprehend the level of intensity of that day. But I’m grateful none the less, and I’m grateful for this message. I needed it. Maybe you do too in light of our current days of uncertainty. 

As I went in to election night, I had a sense of calm. I knew that God had it in control, and that regardless of the outcome, I was okay. That’s a nice religious statement isn’t it? It was true, but as the night progressed my sense of calm waned. Until I finally went to bed in frustration. I couldn’t shake the feeling of deception across America. The “magic votes” that just “appeared” in other States and the arrogance of the leftist who loved to mock President Trumps reactions to their wickedness. 

I was unsettled. But still believing God’s providence over the situation. I have to. My trust in Him is the only thing that keeps me sane. 

Hebrews 6:17-20 KJV

[17] Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: [18] That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 

The world will lie. God will not. He is willing more abundantly; meaning He wants to heap upon us, his children, the counsel through the Spirit and He promises it. It’s one thing that makes us far more advantaged in this world with regards to what’s been happening. The confusion heaped upon us because of the circumstances of politics and the virus, the arguments and differences of opinions are what Satan is using to discourage us from listening to the Holy Spirit. He knows if he can cause enough distractions our focus likely will cause us to miss God’s guidance. And we’ll most certainly not be focused on His immutability, unchanging God! Our world may change, but our God will not.

Two things never change:

It is impossible for God to lie the strong consolation (comfort) we have in that fact. Being able to trust someone without question brings great comfort! We not only have comfort, we have hope!!!!

[19] Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; [20] Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Trust, comfort and hope are built in a relationship, the closer we get to God, the greater will understand the working of the Spirit. 

The mention of “the veil” in verse 19 is what brought me to the thought of “the day Religion played Politics.” Imagine the arrogance and glee Satan got having thought he had defeated God. All of the conniving behind the scenes and betrayal by using the religious crowd, the political crowd and the gullibility of Judas to set that plan in action. But what none of them knew was that the very plan they had set into action was the very plan God had orchestrated from the beginning of time to redeem man and restore our relationship with Himself. Proven by the renting of the veil from top to bottom and meaning that there was nothing that stood between the Lord and His people any longer. 

And so it was as I sat trying to conceal my brokenness to the teens last night that I suddenly realized they had once again taught me by allowing God to work through their lesson and remind me that God will take care of the arrogance and pride in this world once more. And regardless of the outcome, we are one day closer to the return of Christ when we will meet Hope face to face. There will be no more hurt feelings by us or God and all will be right with the world. There will be no elections because we are the elect of God, the ones He has chosen to be His children, yes! He elected us and we ran unopposed because nobody is a match for the will and the Word of God!

That arrogant tribe of today will not likely read my blog, but that’s okay. I encouraged myself, and I pray I encouraged you!

Posted in Christian Service, Eternity, Evangelism, Faith, Life Inspiration

A Steadfast Hope!

A few days of Fibromyalgia kicking my tail and I am so appreciative of the sun shining outside my windows today. It’s humbling how the feeling of hopelessness can kick in so quickly and that defeat can consume the mind. Oh did I feel the drama queen coming out of me during that time! It’s not something I let the world see, or anyone other than the hubs usually. But it’s a very real side of my personality. Or should I say “personalities.”

Praise God! for the steadfastness of Jesus Christ. From the Old Testament to the New Testament God is still God! Somehow or another as I read in Daniel this morning it lead me to the book of Hebrews.

Stick with me, I promise in my “drama mama” way, this road will lead to discovery, at least it did for me.

Daniel 6:26 ~ I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

King Darius made that decree after Daniel was delivered out of the Lion’s den. And Daniel wrote in the following chapter (7:14)“And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

The same steadfast God of Daniel is the same steadfast God of the writer of Hebrews who wrote in Hebrews 6:17-19 ~ Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

Glory to God that stirs this girl’s soul this morning!

I made the mistake of tuning into a Fox newscast on Facebook this morning of the church bombing in Sri Lanka that killed 300 people on Easter Sunday. The day after I lay whining on the couch on Saturday.

It put my days into perspective.

What a wicked world we live in. Another thing that has not changed from the garden is the evil of Satan and his intention of destroying this world and taking as many souls with him as he can. He is the original drama king of this world. His focus is on destruction. But Halelujah! He cannot touch our world… you know… the one we’re headed to, not the one we live in. He’ll have his day down here, but not there.

Daniel knew and shared with Darius what I know and share with my readers. We serve a living God! That is reason to get dramatic on the side of good news!

Heirs of the Promise

Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

The Pain won’t last forever! My fibro-weekend wasn’t fun, but today is Tuesday, and I’m feeling so much better. Can you imagine how much better I’ll feel in that Promised Land! Glory to God let’s get dramatic!

Lay hold of His Hope

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

For a split second, okay, maybe several hours I lost hold of that hope on Saturday. The pain over took my mind and I was not in the mindset that I should have been in. I have no doubt that it’s for a reason, and one such reason is, it gives me a greater understanding of those who suffer. If I didn’t suffer too, I could never say “I understand, and really understand.” But praise God, I can share the hope He provides and the promise of a better day.

That hope is what brought Daniel through the lion’s den, because he knew that one way or the other there was a day Darius didn’t control. And so it was with the faith of the writer of Hebrews.

That Hope was Anchored at the Cross

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

We just celebrated the splitting of that veil that day of the cross when our Savior died. We now have that anchor to the soul ready and waiting for us to come to Him, not through a priest but personally, and it’s not going anywhere! From here to eternity our Lord is Alive and so will we be with Him one glorious day.

I may have many “fibro days” ahead of me. Or not… I still pray and believe my Lord can heal. But if He chooses that I go through instead of out, I’ll live for Him because He died for me.

I hope these words encouraged you today, because they sure did me… Let the Son Shine!