What is the World Coming to?

1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11

5 ^1-3 I don’t think, friends, that I need to deal with the question of when all this is going to happen. You know as well as I that the day of the Master’s coming can’t be posted on our calendars. He won’t call ahead and make an appointment any more than a burglar would. About the time everybody’s walking around complacently, congratulating each other—“We’ve sure got it made! Now we can take it easy!”—suddenly everything will fall apart. It’s going to come as suddenly and inescapably as birth pangs to a pregnant woman.

^4-8 But friends, you’re not in the dark, so how could you be taken off guard by any of this? You’re sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So let’s not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let’s keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we’re creatures of Day, let’s act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.
^9-11 God didn’t set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we’re awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we’re alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.

I think the news has been pretty forthcoming that the world is becoming a more dangerous place basically, by the hour. I had recently discussed with some friends that I didn't even want to go to the bigger cities right now because I think you could very easily be a victim of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I spent most of week before last in Springfield. On Thursday morning, Kathy, my traveling companion to Springfield many times, and I were hearing how a woman was attacked in a park in Springfield the night before while playing Pokémon Go. I had made the statement that I wouldn't tell my mom about this, because she had been leery of me even going to Springfield. Little did I know at the time that while the woman was being attacked in Springfield, a fatal shooting was taking place in my work town of Greenup, population, 1700.

As Christians, we have been told that things will constantly get worse until Christ comes back to get us and the tribulations starts. At the same time, as Christians, we should try our best every day to make it better. It would be so easy just to sit back and say, " We knew this was going to happen, so we'll just wait until Christ comes".

Paul tells us we are supposed to work for the Lord until the bitter end though.

Philippians 2:14-16 says Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You’ll be living proof that I didn’t go to all this work for nothing.

 

  I know several people this week that were going on vacation, they were going to the beach and couldn't wait to get their toes in the sand. I jokingly said, I think I would just as leave put my head in the sand. We can't do that though, to separate ourselves from what is going on in the world, or to hide our minds from it is not doing what we are supposed to do.

 

Salvation is a free gift from God, Christ paid the debt for our sin, so it wasn't free, but it is free to us. As Christians though, we are to tell the message about Christ. So many people are out there looking for happiness, when what they really need to be happy is the peace found in Jesus.

 

This goes all the way back to Love Thy Neighbor. I saw an interesting blurb this week that said Jesus' commands to Love the Lord your God with all your heart and to Love Thy Neighbor cancelled out the 10 commandments. It didn't people, it solidified them. If you truly love God and all the other people in the world that HE MADE (which is ALL of them), then all the 10 commandments would be obeyed. You wouldn't be jealous, and decide to steal, lie or cheat to get what your neighbor has. You wouldn't put material things on pedestals ahead of God, which means your heart would be right.

 

I'm leaving you with Billy Gilman's One Voice. I have a special attachment to this song as Robert used to sing it, in fact he sang it at a talent contest a few years ago. It doesn't mean that God only heard one voice out of all, we know He hears every prayer, it means that He needed that voice to ask and He needed His people to want this peace on earth. I believe it also means we need to be HIS voice to those who don't believe yet.

 

 (All Scripture was taken from The Message version this week, I believe it made it very clear)

 

 

 

Past, Present, and Future

As I was getting around this morning and checking the news, I saw one of the headlines concerning Melania Trump's education. Apparently, she started college but then dropped out. Her bio says she graduated. It saddens me that people feel pressured into lying about who they are and where they come from. I am not going into anything political on this blog, it just got me to thinking about how I feel about this.

A few years ago, my mom was asked to speak at a work function of mine. All of my coworkers were there and I knew, because the whole speech was to be about how our Weatherization crew had worked on her house, that some of my childhood would be brought to light. I was not ashamed of the things that happened, but I hated that they happened. I knew my mom, being who she is, would be very real. She was. One particular thing she told about was the fact that in the winter, we absolutely would not turn the heat up in or house, if we were the only ones there, we kept things warm enough to keep pipes from freezing but we just wore more layers--except on Sunday afternoons, Then, we would turn the stove up from the time we got home from church until time to go back to church that evening. It was a treat and we knew it.

I also remember coming home from school in those years after my dad died and my mom had been so sick to seeing her sitting at the kitchen table, paying bills. Our income was solely from survivor benefits and if you don't know how that works, the longer someone works, the more benefits go into that pot. Bluntly, the younger you die, the less your family gets. My dad was 44, just so you get the picture. Mom would be able to pay the bills but then wonder how we would be able to eat. My mom had one "good" arm, as she had multiple surgeries on the other one and when she would go to look for a job, people would tell her they had their quota of handicapped people. At the time, this was one of those things that I couldn't understand why God pulled the rug out from under us. We were a Christian family who loved Him and tried to do His will, and here we were.

I still don't understand why my mom has to have the trials she still does to this day, her life has not been easy, but I do know why I was brought through these things. My job is to try to help make that picture of those who struggle with the same situations less sad. To offer hope, and love, and help so that families can both have their bills paid and not have to worry about food. And contrary to those on the outside looking in, sometimes "get a job" is easier said than done.

That is a big part of my past, a part that I can't say I am proud of, or not proud of, but it is who I am.

As I got a little older, there are other parts of my past that I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt, I am not proud of. I had a time between high school and getting married that I wish wouldn't have happened. I was not a good person a lot of the time, and I am afraid many people who are reading this know it, and lived it first hand. God of course knew it too, Ephesians 2:3 states "Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." Sadly, I was saved when this time in my life happened, I just wasn't living a life for Him. Bottom line though, God knew this was going to happen too.

I would hate for my whole life to be judged by that time. But facts are facts, and it is part of me. I have also been noticing that people are wanting to change our History books, to cover up the parts of them that are unflattering to the United States, thing is, when you think about doing that, you also have to take away the glory of things changing. The honor of those people who had the courage to want to see change and went after it.

In my own life, there were so many factors that brought me back to God, and I will be one of the first to admit that after everything that happened to my family, I had reevaluated my love for Him and His love for me. I lost my dad, my mom had major issue and spent 3 months in the hospital, I lost 3 uncles (all 3 of my mom's sisters lost their husbands within 3 years and 3 days of my dad dying) and my grandmother who I loved dearly died when I was 18. My dad died when I was 13, so my world from 13 to 18 was a constant turmoil. I am going to throw out there that I had a few teachers who, somehow knew the best way to keep me going was to keep me challenged. So at least I didn't go through the screwed up times until after high school.

When I spend time in Springfield, especially downtown, I always get to thinking about how I got there. I am usually in a pretty nice hotel room, with a great view of the city, and the Capitol, and it seems to be a long way from the room I shared with my sister. I know it was by the Grace of God. It has been a long, bumpy, road, and I have had my doubts and fears, and God puts up with them and calms them and makes me feel so very blessed to have the life, family, friends, and job that I have.

I think what I want everyone to take from this is that our present and our future would be very different if it weren't for our past, good or bad. And something else I want to remind everyone, never judge someone by their past, they can't change it, and to try to deny it would be lying, which is bringing their past right back to the present.

I mentioned Ephesians 2:3 earlier but I want to actually give you a Psalm today. One of my favorites: Psalm 8.

O Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
²     Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
    to still the enemy and the avenger.

³ When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
⁴ what is man that you are mindful of him,
    and the son of man that you care for him?

⁵ Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings^[b]
    and crowned him with glory and honor.
⁶ You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
    you have put all things under his feet,
⁷ all sheep and oxen,
    and also the beasts of the field,
⁸ the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
    whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

⁹ O Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

I especially am thinking of verse 4, "what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?"

He gave us a past for a reason and He has always given us free will, so though He loves us, we don't have to love him, but (hopefully) we do, even if we have a funny way of showing it sometimes.

Today, I ask that you take a look back on your past and ask yourself how it shaped where you are now. Don't ever try to cover up or hide what has happened because as I stated earlier, to cover up what you don't like is to also cover up the courage you had to change. And if you are where you don't want to be right now, here is the chance to put that in your past. Don't make it your is, make it your was.

I am leaving you with Casting Crown's Who am I. One of my favorites, I have actually sang this at church several times.

Love you all, and know that the one thing I never regret from anything in my past is meeting the people along the way.

Our Awesome God

So, since I took my little hiatus, I thought I would share what has happened in my walk with God.

First off, the week I declared vacation, I was upset, and to be very honest, I was upset with God. It had been a very heart wrenching week for many people I know. Thing is, by the end of that weekend, it got so much worse. I found my self trapped in a spot where I didn't want to even speak to God and at the same time, I needed to cling to Him. By the morning of July 4th, our community was mourning the loss of two babies to a couple that everyone just cherishes, and two young men that, it seems everyone who knew them loved. Andrew and I had one of the young men in our youth group. He was always making people laugh, it was his gift, it was so unbelievable that he was gone and just 25.

I made the statement on facebook that it was probably time I stood myself in a corner, because that was probably what God was thinking I needed, a good ole time-out. One of my best friends texted me and told me she was right there with me, as badly as I was glad I wasn't alone, I felt so very bad that she was going through this too.

So, my week went on, I had a crazy week at work, and a trip to Springfield. I knew I had too much going not to get my head straight with God. Each morning, I would tell him, I am trying here, but I just don't get it.

Then, came Thursday night.
 Back in February it was announced that Casting Crowns would be coming to Effingham. I was thrilled, my FAVORITE group! Thursday was finally the night. I have never cried so much at a concert. Three songs in, God showed me that He knows everything. He knew back in February that everything that was happening was going to happen and that I was going to use this concert to truly get back in the right frame of mind. I came home and almost wrote my blog that night and then I thought no, I am going to take the full time off that I said I was--I'm going to wait and see what else God shows me.

It is just unbelievable what happens when you really get in that frame of mind, just waiting on God, I have a habit of thinking too much and trying to second guess Him. When I truly get in this, "I don't know what I am supposed to think, so here I am Lord, waiting for you to show me".

On Sunday, our pastor's message addressed all the things going on in the world, it was a really good message and I usually pick out a couple things that I can take with me long term. Pastor Dave gave us the differences between joy and happiness. It too, was just what I needed. Joy is that long term peace, that no matter what, we are His, and even when things are going on, and we may not be able to be happy, we can have Peace, think tidings of Comfort and Joy. We can find joy in the fact that we are not alone, God never leaves us and this is not our final destination. Funny, so many verses from Philippians have been running through my mind, Dave reminded us that Philippians was written by Paul, while he was in prison. Isn't it odd that one of the most uplifting and encouraging books in the Bible was written from behind prison bars?

This brought what happened on Monday morning even more divine. My devotional was centered around Philippians, 4:10-19, which I have actually used on this very blog before, but it was what I needed.

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
¹¹ Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
¹² I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
¹³ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
¹⁴ Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
¹⁵ Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
¹⁶ For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
¹⁷ Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
¹⁸ But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
¹⁹ But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

These verses could not have been more relevant to the way I had been feeling if God was sitting on my couch that morning, giving me advice after making the statement that I was waiting on Him to show me. He very definitely did.

I know God takes us through stuff, and I know He is always there, and I know I need to learn that no matter what the situation, He knows the ending.

These verses also reminded me that we need to look out for each other, Paul was thanking the Philippians for taking care of him, not that they weren't before, but God had truly given them opportunities with Paul being in prison. And then, look at verse 17, he says, "Not because I desire a gift; but I desire fruit that may abound to your account."  In this time where so many people are "choosing sides", I am choosing God. I am not putting my head in the sand, I know what is going on, but I chose to try to find where I can be helpful, and productive, and show a little bit of Jesus in a world that feels like He is getting more covered over every day.

THIS is what God did for me last week. Sometimes we all get off the path, and need a reminder that He is waiting at the end of my life.

I was sitting in the Casting Crowns concert and heard the beginning of Already There, and I knew immediately, this was where I needed to be. I could really see one of my  pieces fitting into place.

Thank you, Lord, for comfort, and healing, and joy.

And of course, I leave you with Casting Crowns----Already There. Ironically, Mark Hall said it took him forever to write this because he had so many of these questions too, and then, a bit of trivia-- Matthew West helped him write parts of this song. (He didn't share that at the concert, actually found it on YouTube, in a story about the song).

2 weeks

Hey all, decided to take a couple weeks off from the blog- doing some studying and regrouping - see everyone in a couple of weeks!