Why? (Part 2)

God has done something about the problem of evil and suffering. For most people the problem of evil is not an intellectual problem, but an emotional one. They want to know why God allows evil and suffering. When they can’t get a satisfactory answer, they become angry. They don’t like a God who would permit them or others to suffer. This is not an atheism of refutation, but of rejection. A child who is hurting needs reassurance, not an intellectual explanation. Atheism cannot supply this reassurance. It does not reduce suffering one bit-it just removes hope.

In an atheistic universe, there is no ultimate accountability or justice. Evil people will get away with what they’ve done. But in the Christian worldview, God has done something about evil in the person of Jesus Christ. He does not just say, “Okay, I created you. Now prepare to suffer!” He has given us a a down payment that He does have good reasons for allowing evil and that He does have a greater good in store. By appearing in human form, He showed us that we could trust Him. And what did He do while He was here? He suffered!

Jesus endured a suffering beyond all comprehension. He bore the punishment for the sins of the entire world! For all the evil that everyone of us from the beginning of our species has perpetrated, He paid the penalty. None of us can comprehend that suffering. Though he was innocent, He voluntarily took upon Himself the punishment we deserve. And why? Because He loves us. It is like He was saying, “I know you don’t understand why I permit every evil. It’s not possible for you to understand yet. But just to show you that you can trust me, I’m going to suffer with you.”

When we comprehend his sacrifice and love for us, it puts the problem of evil in an entirely different perspective. We see clearly that the true problem of evil is the problem of our evil. Filled with sin and guilt before God, the question we face is not how God can justify himself to us, but how we can be justified before Him. And it is through Christ’s payment for our evil by his death on the cross that we can be justified before God. Through Him we have forgiveness.

Many Christians will also testify that Christ provides inner resources to cope in the midst of difficulty and suffering. He promises that He causes all things to work together for good to those who love God in Romans 8:28. Ultimately, He promises victory over death, the ultimate evil. Those who genuinely choose to accept and receive his forgiveness will rise from the dead with a transformed, immortal, imperishable body to be with him forever in 1 Corinthians 15:42; 52. Death, pain and suffering have been dealt a fatal blow; they have suffered a crucial defeat.

So God is not banished because of the problem of evil, rather God himself is the solution.

Why? (Part 1)

There is no question that the world is filled with a major  amount of evil and suffering. We are impacted by this reality every day on all levels: emotionally, intellectually, and practically. As such, it is not surprising that people have a difficult time reconciling this harsh reality with the idea of an all good, all powerful God.

According to the Handbook of Christian Apologetics, the problem can be summed up by the apparent contradiction between the following four propositions:
(1) God exists.
(2) God is all good.
(3) God is all powerful.
(4) Evil exists.

If we affirm any three of these propositions, it seems we must reject the fourth. For example, if we accept that God exists, is all good and that evil exists, we must reject the idea that God is all powerful, otherwise He would put a stop to evil. Or, if God exists and is all powerful and yet evil also exists, then God must not be all good, because He wills or allows evil to exist.

The Handbook suggests five possible responses to this problem.

(1) Atheism solves the problem by denying proposition one, that God exists.

(2) Pantheism, the belief that God is everything and that everything is God, denies proposition two and allows that God could be both good and evil.

(3) Polytheism, the belief in many gods, denies proposition three, and reduces God to just one of many gods.

(4) Idealism, the belief that reality is a product of the mind, rejects proposition four and states that evil is just an illusion.

(5) Christianity, on the other hand, affirms all four principles and denies that there is any inherent contradiction between them.

How then is a Christian solution possible? Because it is always feasible that God could have a good reason for permitting evil; a reason of which we are not aware. As long as this is logically possible, there is no contradiction between the existence of an all good, all powerful God and the existence of evil. Just because we may not be able to figure out what that reason is does not mean it does not exist.

God has not left us completely in the dark. This world is clearly not the best of all logically possible worlds, but it is the best world God could create given His commitment to create genuinely free creatures like us. Free creatures are the only beings who can love and experience love. Since one of God’s main purposes in creating us was to have a reciprocal love relationship with us, God created the best of all actually achievable worlds. God cannot make people freely choose to good or freely love Him. If He makes them do it, they are not free. If they are genuinely free, then He can’t make them do it. That would be a contradiction. Therefore, the possibility of free creatures choosing evil is not something God can control without eliminating free will. And a free will is not just a nice addendum on human nature, it is an integral part of who we are. This being the case, if God were to eliminate evil, He would also be eliminating free will. And in doing so, God would be perpetrating the most horrendous evil of all: the annihilation of the human race.

How Long Shall I Cry (Part 3)

Habakkuk’s response to the answer. Verses 12-17 “Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction. Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he? And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them? They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad. Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous. Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?”

If all we did was read verses 12-13a, it would look like Habakkuk accepted the answer and was content. But 13bf shows that although he accepts the answer, he doesn’t like the answer.

He begins in verse 12 by claiming that God is eternal. I think the idea of immutability (that God does not change) is included here. The fact that God does not change is important because it means God keeps His promises and He has made promises to Israel. Habakkuk knows that God will not totally destroy Israel because of his covenantal promises. That is why he says, “We will not die.”

So, he believes God and trusts God, but he still doesn’t fully understand the answer. In 13b Habakkuk knows God hates evil and is amazed that God would use a nation even more evil than Judah to punish Judah. After all, even though Judah has her problems, she is still better than the Babylonians. At least that was true from Habakkuk’s perspective.

When you read the Book of Amos you will find the whole point of the book was that Israel was worse than all the rest of the nations because she knew better. She had been given the law while the Gentiles had not. The same would apply to Judah here. They weren’t better in God’s eyes. And God’s answer indicates that things are going to get worse, not better.

When he says, they offer a sacrifice to their net. The "net" was the war machine or might of Babylon. The Babylonians thought it was their own strength which allowed them to be so successful. They gave no credit to God. Habakkuk wonders how God would allow them to continue like this. And he asks that question in verse 17.

When you are talking with someone who has just experienced a tragedy, don’t just tell them “God is good. He loves you and He will work things out for the best and quote Romans 8:28-29.”  Sometimes it’s necessary to cry with them, hurt with them, question with them. Help them work through the pain, not ignore it. Of course you don’t want to stay there indefinitely, but it is part of the process.

Too often, Christians think the questioning part of the process is wrong. People have feelings and questions. You either suppress them or express them.

There is a balance between self-pity, hopeless resignation and staying mad at God. As usual, the correct response is somewhere in the middle.

How Long Shall I Cry (Part 2)

God’s answer to Habakkuk’s question. Verses 5-11 “Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days which ye will not believe, though it be told you. For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling places that are not theirs. They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves. Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat. They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand. And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it. Then shall his mind change and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this, his power unto his god.”

God is doing something. He is lifting up a foreign nation, the Babylonians, to come and destroy Judah. He tells Habakkuk, “You would not believe if you were told.”  Why? Because they are really wicked! They were worse than the Jews.

Verses 6-11 describe just how evil they are. The reason for this description is to show that they are so powerful, no one can stop them. They will certainly destroy Judah.

a. They are powerful as a force for evil.

b. They are mighty in the tactics of battle and warfare.

c. They are extremely deadly with their horsemanship and weaponry.

d. They show no mercy or justice to their captives or their victims.

We see in verse 11 that they will be held guilty for their wickedness, but God is going to use them anyway.
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Most of us have been praying for the evil in our society hoping for revival. What if God allowed America to fall just like the Roman Empire at the height of its glory? What would you think about that answer? Would you say God didn’t answer your prayer?

God teaches us through Habakkuk that He doesn’t always give us the answers we want or expect. We usually have it in our mind how we want God to answer our prayers, but when He does it differently, how do you respond?

How Long Shall I Cry (Part 1)

Habakkuk 1:1, 2 “The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! Even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!”

Have you ever finished watching the evening news with all the violence and injustice in the world and in frustration asked, “Why isn’t God doing something? Why do the wicked and the dishonest people prosper? Why do they get elected to a position of power?” Well, that is not a new feeling. A prophet named Habakkuk felt that way around 620 B.C. and wrote a book about it.

Habakkuk’s name means to “embrace” or “wrestle.” I think it relates to the fact that he was wrestling with a difficult issue. If God is good, then why is there evil in the world? And if there has to be evil, then why do the evil prosper? What is God doing in the world? Habakkuk is one of the good guys. He fears God and does what is right, but it is getting him nowhere.

Habakkuk’s question is simple-How long shall I cry? Verses 2-4 “O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! Even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? For spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.”

The HCSB Version says, “How long, LORD, must I call for help and You do not listen, or cry out to You about violence and You do not save? Why do You force me to look at injustice? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Oppression and violence are right in front of me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates. This is why the law is ineffective and justice never emerges. For the wicked restrict the righteous; therefore, justice comes out perverted.”

Habakkuk expresses the attitude that many righteous people have. He is outraged at the violence and injustice in his society. He lists six different problems. His list is repetitious, but it emphasizes just how bad things were. There was sin, wickedness, destruction and violence, no justice in the courts, and the wicked outnumbered the righteous. Does this sound like our society?

In verse 4 he says, "The law is ignored." God's word was no longer the standard. It is now illegal to have the 10 commandments hang on the wall in a public school, so I think things are even worse in America.

Habakkuk is preaching against the evils of society, but he is having little effect. Habakkuk raises a good question. Why does evil go unpunished? Why do the wicked prosper? Why doesn’t God do something?

Look back to verse 2. Habakkuk has been praying. Evidently, he has been praying for a long time because he says, “How long, O Lord, will I call for help, And Thou wilt not hear?” He also thinks God is indifferent and inactive.

Some people think that men of faith never question God. They just sit and wait faithfully and patiently. But one thing we can learn from Habakkuk is that this is a misconception because those who trust in God can and do question God when things seem to be upside down in the world that we live in.

I Have A Vision

-I have a vision about God reviving and mobilizing grandparents.

-In my vision God will inflame the hearts of older men and women, to ignite an unquenchable zealousness within their hearts, a fire that could not be put out.

-In my vision grandparents will band together to form an army to help change the world. They will boldly lead young people to Christ, they will take them to church, and teach them Biblical values.

-In my vision grandparents will teach the younger generation how to make and manage money, how to set priorities, encourage them to work hard, teach them how to fish, how to cook, how to build fences, clean house and do laundry. They will take them swimming and go on mission trips together.

-In my vision, grandparents will play a vital role in supporting orphanages and being involved with finding homes for orphans.

-In my vision, a huge army of grandparents will be praying for the younger generation and mobilizing other grandparents to pray.

-In my vision, grandparents will adopt children who don’t have grandparents.

-In my vision, lonely latch-key kids will chat online with their adopted grandparents.

-In my vision, grandparents will encourage and teach the next generation how to be grandparents.

-In my vision, God will use grandparents to help turn the younger generation to God - and change our nations.

-In my vision grandparents who care enough will rouse themselves and form an army zealous and determined to reclaim our youth for Christ. 

-I have a vision of grandchildren sharing stories with each other about how their grandparents and older mentors encouraged them, built into their lives, and affirmed them to be and do their best. They would tell their friends about how good they feel about themselves because their grandparents urged them to follow their dreams and told them, "You can do it."

-I have a vision of grandparents who have a purpose for living.

Be Clean

Matthew 8:3 “I will; be clean..."

A leper is encountering Jesus the Healer.  No one else would touch the leper’s case.  Certainly no one else would touch him.  Yet he came to the great Healing One with confidence.  He knew if he had come to an orthodox scribe or a rabbi he would have been repelled, even stoned away.  Simply, he makes his request:  “If You will, You can make me clean.  I am so tired of saying ‘Unclean, unclean’ everywhere I go.  I want to be clean.  You can do it if You will.

It was not a question of could You, just would You?
This should encourage anyone who feels he or she is incurable in body or too far gone spiritually for Jesus’ healing and cleansing touch. If you put yourself in the place of a 1st century Jew, you could not imagine anything more astonishing than that Jesus should “put forth his hand and touched him.” 

The incident underscores the painful ostracism of leprosy and the amazing love of God.That’s how it is with Jesus Christ - the leper or the sinner is not a loathsome spectacle or a menace to the community. 
He is a human being in need of help. So we are encouraged to see how this applies to us and then how and why we should make it our prayer.

Sin is spiritual leprosy.  It affects a person in similar ways. Leprosy was the most dreaded disease of ancient times.  And people who say sin can’t be all that bad have swallowed the Devil’s lie.  “The wages of sin is death” and as with leprosy that death comes by inches.  Like leprosy it separates us from others, from our true selves, and of course, from God. That is the ultimate price of sin.  

Isaiah 59:2 "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."         

The Word says that “all have sinned.” We all need to be cleansed of all sin.  David’s repentance makes use of the word “clean” many times.         

-God wants our hearts to be clean. 

-His intent for all creation is cleanness.

-His will for us is cleanness. 

-Before we ask for other blessings, we must pray as David did in Psalm 51:1-4: "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest."

If you ask He will hear and respond. Be clean!

The Race

Hebrews 12:1b "Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.”

Life is well defined as a race. It calls for discipline and determination, and, above all, perseverance.  We must be willing to lay aside every weight, and the sin that clings so closely.   We must lay aside the garments that would hamper our progress and even cause us to stumble.

We must make any sacrifice that is necessary.  If we think the race is important at all, it must become important above all.  We who travel far must travel light, but not alone.  Our inspiration comes from the heroes of the faith who went before us as the writer spoke of  in Hebrews 11.

Their faith was tested and it did not fail.  Above all, we are inspired by the examples of Jesus Christ.  He is our example by His life, His willingness to serve in John 13, and His triumph over suffering as described in 1 Peter 2.

Jesus doesn’t tell us how to run the race, He shows us how.  That is why we need to look to Him.  He doesn’t tell us that we must be willing to serve others and take care of the humble necessities of life that others might be blessed.  He shows us.  Jesus doesn’t tell us that our love should suffer long and be kind.  He shows us how, when reviled, not to revile again.  He shows us how, when treated unjustly, we may rise above it all and continue to live for Him and with Him, having hearts that are filled with His love and guarded by His peace.  He is saying, “You can do it.

You will be glad if you continue to run the race with patience, for you will finish the race with joy.”  He even endured the Cross for the joy that was set before Him.  “Look to me,” Jesus is saying, “I did it for you.  Now you do it for me and for the others who may be ‘looking to you’ and will be affected by the way you run the race.”

Self Control

Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the spirit is . . . self control."

Children and animals alike respond to gentleness and affection, but they both need a firm hand once in a while. When my granddaughter Hannah was little, one of her first horses was Mighty Mouse, a large Quarter Horse. One time in particular I remember her walking too close to his hind quarters. I had to teach her that it was very dangerous to get that close, as MM might kick her. Although gentle, if spooked, he could have hurt her real bad unintentionally.

Children need love, guidance, and parameters. If we as parents and grandparents don't set the boundaries, chaos will be the result. As a pastor I can't remember how many times I met with families of wayward teens who had grown up with no parameters.  Without rules and guidelines there is no self-control. It's sad to say, but even the best children can get caught up in stuff they don't understand sometimes.

Most of us respond to love and gentleness, but we also need parameters. Many times the satisfaction of momentary pleasures can be tempting, but the results can be devastating. God has set up boundaries in His word because He loves us. They are there to keep us safe. Practicing self-control means saying, ”No” to the things that God says “No” to. God’s rules are for our benefit, and we can follow them fearlessly.

Extenders Of Grace

Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

I have been contemplating God’s grace toward you and me, and how we, in turn, can extend His grace to others.

We naturally do just the opposite in most cases. We see and tell people how they should change and improve, rather than encourage them in what they are doing right. How many of us are impatient with a clerk who is slow in serving us or easily point out faults in our spouse and children without acknowledging our own. Many slander their co-workers, pastors, and church leaders. How can we learn to become gracious like Jesus who is supposed to live in us?

Richard Blackaby wrote a book entitled, "Putting A Face On Grace." He shares the following ideas about becoming an extension of grace:
           
-Speak words intended to build up, not to bring down.

-Focus on the needs of others, rather than your own.

-Freely forgive.

-Swallow you pride and say, “I’m sorry,” and “I was wrong.”

-Live your life with a goal of “no regrets.”

-Don’t keep score of what is fair.

-Don’t condemn or give up on people.

-Emphasize mercy, not justice.

-Read 1 Corinthians 13 regularly.

Always keep in mind that it is God’s Spirit within us who will change us into becoming people who extend grace to others. World changers are not born that way, but they become them by being extenders of grace.

Languages Of Love

It's important to know the five languages of love, which are: words of affirmation, spending quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service and physical touch. Knowing what a big difference these elements make in your own life, what can you do to help others "take heart" when the going gets tough?

-If an encouraging thought comes to mind, share it! It may not have the same effect if you wait. Don't let shyness hold you back. Instead, form a new habit as Hebrews 3:13 says, "Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today…"

-Remind fellow Christians of the specific promises of God and characteristics of God. We may know something with our mind, but need to be reminded in our heart. The Apostle Peter wrote in 2 Peter 1:12, "I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have."

-Write someone a note to tell them that you're praying for them. Tell them what you're praying. You can pray specific Scriptures for individuals such as Romans 15:13, "[I pray that] the God of hope [will] fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

-Encourage other believers with a reminder of Christ's coming. It redirects our thinking to an eternal perspective and ultimate deliverance from sin and death.

Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 18, "We who are still alive and are left will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words."

-Realize the power of your presence. Just being there is encouraging! When you're with others, you're telling them that they're important. The Apostle Paul closed his letter to the church at Colosse, promising to send his friend Tychius, "that he may encourage your hearts" in Colossians 4:8b.

-If you're part of a church, Bible study or fellowship, be committed to showing up. Your simple presence encourages others that they are part of a community of faith and that they are not alone. That's why the writer of Hebrews 10:25 says, "Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as we see the Day approaching."

Peace

Often when we have dealt scripturally with bad feelings that have been stirred by a certain situation, we like to believe that we will not experience them again. In some cases, we don't. But, as human beings, we may face situations in our lives that stir up painful feelings about certain persons or events. Those feelings in themselves are not sinful. But if we respond to them with unrelenting anger and hostility, they can rob us of fellowship with the Lord, His peace and joy, and abundant life. Psalm 37:1 advises us not to fret because of evildoers. We mustn't dwell on the grief others have caused us. Instead, we are to seek the Lord's help, and forgive again.
  
Someone said, "A wise man will make haste to forgive, because he knows the true value of time, and will not suffer it to pass away in unnecessary pain."  
  
Painful feelings may involve a missing or abusive parent, an errant or abusive mate, an ungrateful, uncaring child, or even something wrong that we did in the past. As an example of the latter, some folks I have counseled have told me of their guilt and self-accusation concerning the breakup of their marriages that have haunted them for years. Even though they had asked the Lord's forgiveness, they had not been able to forgive themselves, until they realized the depth and reality of Gods' forgiveness.
  
According to the Psalmist, God has removed our transgressions from us as far as the east is from the west in Psalm 103:12. Forgiveness is a key remedy for relief from painful feelings. If those feelings are caused by another person, we are wise to follow Jesus' advice when He said we are to forgive those who sin against us a limitless number of times, "until seventy times seven' according to Matthew 18:22.

Jesus gave us this teaching perhaps as much as for our sakes as for those we forgive. How can we enjoy His love, peace, and joy if we harbor wrath, malice, anger, bitterness and hostility toward someone else, or speak slanderously of that person. According to Ephesians 4:30, 31, we grieve the Holy Spirit when we do that. The Holy Spirit is the source of love, peace, and joy in Galatians 5:22. The proper response is given in Ephesians 4:32 "being kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving, even as God for Christ' sake forgives us." How can we do that?
  
The Son of God knew all things; so He also told us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us in Matthew 5:44. According to Roget's Thesaurus, 'persecute' means to molest, wrong, or 'torment' 'to annoy or disturb with hostile intent or injurious effect.'
When I've found it hard to love someone who has hurt me, I hold that person up in my hand to the Lord and ask His help. As I pray for that person I realize what a miserable person he/she must be to cause others pain. This gives me sympathy for that person, and the love of God fills in the rest.
  
Bitterness and anger at God and others because of past experiences cause many people misery for years. Such hurtful feelings can mar their lives and those of others close to them. How sad that they have thus wasted their lives on self-pity! The best way we can reject bitter thoughts and feelings is through forgiveness. "Make every effort to live in peace. See to it that, no "bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many" in Hebrews 12:14, 15. Wise Christians put their trust in the love and power of God and reject bitterness and self-pity. They have in childlike faith forgiven those who have hurt them and they continue to forgive whenever hurt feelings rise again, and turn their thoughts to better things. In so doing they have achieved Christ's abundant life in spite of whatever has happened in their lives, and they enjoy the peace of God that passes all understanding.

Who Is Jesus?

There are only four options for the identity of Jesus Christ. He is either:

-a legend

-a liar

-a lunatic

-or He is Lord and God.

There is little likelihood that Jesus’s claims are legend. There just wasn’t enough time for any legendary development of the story to replace what really happened. Also, if the claims Jesus made for Himself are legendary, the early Jewish opponents of Christianity would surely have charged that these claims never happened. Unlike modern skeptics, the rabbis apparently never denied that Jesus made such claims for Himself. Instead, they called Him a liar.

Jesus thought of Himself as divine. According to the various gospel accounts, Jesus believed He had the power to perform miracles and the power to forgive sins. He even claimed, “I and the Father are one” in John 10:30.

Since Jesus claimed to be God, His claims are either true or false. If false, He must have been a liar, deliberately misleading the multitudes. Or, He was a lunatic, sincerely believing Himself to be God, when in reality He was just a man.

Jesus’ moral character and His willingness to die for His claim to be God have convinced most people that Jesus was not lying. Jesus’ humility and unselfish love, His intelligent communication with the crowds, and His amazing self control and composure amidst the tremendous physical and emotional stress fo His betrayal and crucifixion, all point to His contact with reality. Jesus was no lunatic.

Since the evidence shows that He is neither a liar nor a lunatic, then the only other alternative left is that His claim is true. Jesus is Lord and God. And that conclusion is further supported by the remarkable evidence that Jesus rose physically from the grave.

He is, was, and always will be the Savior of the world! Let Him be yours in 2017!

Unfairness

1 Thessolonians 5:24 "The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it”

How many of you have been overlooked for a position time and time again, always seeing someone less qualified than you getting the promotion? You were committed, qualified, and more experienced, but never got that break you were expecting. Some would say you make your own breaks, but others just have things handed to them on a silver platter. It's in those times you wonder why the road seems to be so hard for you.

If this has happened to you, you know how painful it can be. You may have been down this road several times and you can tell you it doesn’t seem to get any easier. But along the way, you learn some special things. If God puts a call or desire in your heart, He will be faithful to do it through you. However, He may want you to expand your horizons in order to bring this dream to fruition.

God has put many dreams in peoples' hearts and He will help them to fulfill those dreams. Sometimes it takes a lot longer than you thought it would, but He will come through. God puts a dream in people to reach others throughout their lives and will faithfully provide the resources to do so.

Here's something good to remember. It's not original, but it seems to apply to those wondering why God has seemingly forgotten them when it comes to promotion: "It's not your job to change everyone’s mind. It is your job to obey and do whatever He is calling you to do. Keep yielded to Him and open the door to others, free in your spirit from any feelings of rejection or bitterness. Obey God and let Him take care of the results. It will eventually become clear to everyone that God has His hand on you.”

Sometimes life doesn’t seem fair. Perhaps God is using this “unfairness” to push you out of your comfort zone to show you He has something new and exciting for you to do. Why not ask Him? Ask God to show you other horizons where you can make your dream come true. Be strong and courageous. God will supply your needs.

Make The Choice

Are you someone who has suffered emotionally or perhaps physically at the hands of others? Have emotions such as anger, resentment, hate, hostility, bitterness and revenge entered your heart and mind? Have you become filled with an unforgiving spirit? Unforgiveness can be a hidden culprit. It can make you a prisoner within yourself.

When an unforgiving spirit lives inside you, it isn’t bothering those who have wronged you. They’ve gone on their way; but, if you are still holding onto something that has taken control of your thoughts, actions and words. It eats away at you like a cancer, and you find yourself bound, with no peace. In reality, you are punishing yourself.

To forgive in your own power becomes futile, because your heart must first be cleansed of all that the things that unforgiveness creates. Only Jesus can make that happen. He laid down His life and shed His blood to give us the gift of salvation and clean up our hearts. Through Him, there is freedom and victory.

Jesus said, “Come unto Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  in Matthew 11:28. Isn’t rest what we long for when filled with the torture of an unforgiving spirit?

Cast your care upon Him. Let Him do the cleansing. Let Him take that unforgiving spirit out of your heart and give you a new heart with a forgiving spirit. Again Jesus said in Matthew 6:14, 15: "If you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will forgive you. If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Heavenly Father forgive your trespasses."

That may seem harsh. But why shouldn’t God expect you to forgive those who have offended you, when He has forgiven you of so much more? Choosing to forgive, is a choice of your will. When you make that choice your heart is then open and ready for the Lord’s cleansing. Choosing not to forgive, is also a choice of your will. But the door of your heart is then shut and God will not do His cleansing work.

Because God

-Because God is personal spirit I will seek intimate fellowship with Him.    

-Because God is all-powerful He can help me with anything.

-Because God is ever-present He is always with me.

-Because God knows everything I will go to Him with all my questions and concerns.    

-Because God is sovereign I will joyfully submit to His will.

-Because God is holy I will devote myself to Him in purity, worship and service.

-Because God is absolute truth I will believe what He says and live accordingly.

-Because God is righteous I will live by His standards.

-Because God is just He will treat me fairly.

-Because God is love He is unconditionally committed to my well being.    

-Because God is merciful He forgives me of my sins when I sincerely confess them.

-Because God is faithful I will trust Him to always keep His promises.

-Because God never changes my future is secure and eternal.

Clinging To His Hand

Joshua 23:8 AMP "But cling to the Lord your God...”

When I was about 4 years old I was with my aunt and uncle in Robinson's Toy Store in North Charleston. Back in the 50's things were not like they are today, but I strayed away from them in the store. I was fascinated by the toys and just reached up without looking to grab my aunts' hand. To my surprise it wasn't my aunt! I grabbed the hand of a stranger, who was just as startled as I was. Luckily my aunt was close by and came running when she saw my predicament. Needless to say, I didn't let go of her hand the rest of the time and she didn't let go of mine.

I have learned as a Christian about clinging to the hand of the Lord in the good times and bad. God won't let go of your hand, but you have to be willing to cling to His.

-You have to open your arms and/or hands first.
You can’t cling to Him with your arms crossed or slack, or if your hands are clenched. He is there to carry you, but you have to trust Him and hang on.

-When you are clinging to Him, you go where He is going and fit into His way.

It's like the old song we sang as children, "When we all pull together." When you are holding His hand you don't manipulate Him. He is the director and the author and finisher of your faith.

-He invites us to cling to Him.
He is the strong One. We chose whether to cling to Him or go through life alone. It's the same hand that flung the stars into space and caresses a sparrow when it falls.

Are you clinging to the Lord or have you been going it alone? It is lonely and frightening with out someone to cling to. He is strong and mighty in battle and can reach farther down than you can reach up. Grab ahold of His hand and you will never regret it!

Deadly Beasts

1 Peter 5:6-10 “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him firm in your faith and the God of all grace will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”

Mike Woodard tells the story about a friend hunting elk in the northern wilderness of British Columbia hunting. He and his hunting buddy were positioned on a hill over looking hundreds of acres of range. Suddenly in the distance they spotted four adult grizzly bears charging down a ridge toward them. Fear gripped their hearts. There was no point in running; there was no place to hide or to find safety. The only hope was to stand their ground and do all they could hoping the bears would never reach them. They knew, even with high powered rifles the odds of dispatching four adult Grizzlies was slim. In the seconds it took to form a plan the bears disappeared into thicket just below them. They only had about a 20 meter window from the thicket to their position. The plan was to make as much noise, yelling and screaming to hopefully spook the bears. In the minutes that followed they could smell the stench of the bears. After exhausting their vocal cords and every ounce of adrenaline they stopped and waited. The bears never came. They must have entered the thicket and proceeded down the creek bed to the valley below.

When I read this story it occurred to me, “What are the deadly beasts I hope never reach me? What are the things that would destroy my life? The list included some of the big destroyers: adultery, addictions to alcohol or pornography, love of money and possessions. There are some more subtle ones like pride, bitterness, laziness and jealousy. What are yours? The real question is what am I doing to make sure they never reach me?

There are four things you can do to protect yourself from these deadly predators:

-First, identify what they are. They will be different or each person. You personally the things that you fear the most will destroy you. Too many believers have fallen to creatures they fail to identify.

-Second, don’t put yourself in harms way. People that play with fire get burned. Are your activities pushing you toward danger?  If so, then change them. Don't allow them to push you closer to the edge.

-Third, draw on God’s wisdom by spending time in reading the Bible and in prayer. Spiritual refreshing multiplies your ability to ward off the enemy.

-Fourth, realize there is a real spiritual battle you have to fight consistently. You can't serve Him on Sunday and reject Him on Monday. The devil knows your weakness and will make every excuse in the book to attack you with it. Make up your mind you're in this battle to win.

What Are You Standing On?

2 Timothy 3:16 NIV "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."

What are you standing on to make your decisions about what is right and wrong? Everybody has something that they use to help them decide if it is right to do something. Politicians use popularity polls to direct their campaigns. Actors and actresses are not considered marketable if their movies don't do well at the box office. When they are in a slump, the decision is made for them by the studio. Corporations make decisions based on the upward or downward turn of the graph line on a Profit and Loss Report. Many people use popular opinion of their friends or the media.

All of these things can vary depending on who you talk to, or the place or time you are living. Opinions vary. Sometimes the same source will change its mind concerning a topic and give the opposite advice at a later time. What do you use to stand on for your decisions? Many people are living miserable lives because they are confused about what guidelines to use for their life decisions. God gives us a sure foundation that is unchanging and eternal, which is the Bible.

God tells us that the written Word He has given us is "God-breathed," which means that the Bible was inspired by Him. Timothy explains how valuable God's inspired Word is to us for teaching and instructing, reproof when someone has done something wrong, correction to restore someone to the right state, and training in righteousness, which is instruction with the aim to increase virtue.

See it in the Word:

Hebrews 4:12 exposes the thoughts and motives of a man's heart.

Psalm 1:1, 2 tells us what a person has to do to be blessed.

Psalm 119:165 tells us what two things someone has if they love God's law.

Matthew 24:35 tells us His Word will never pass away.

So, what are you standing on? Make a decision today to find out what God says in the Bible and choose to live by it. Do you have a plan for reading the Bible? Why not make a plan today to start reading God's Word. It has never been influenced by popular opinion! Have a standard that never changes and will never pass away.