September 1, 2023

 

Call Out to God

 

We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.

– 2 Chronicles 20:12c

 

I love this passage of Scripture. God’s people were about to face a mighty army that they couldn’t possibly defeat. Jehoshaphat was terrified. He took his fears and his petitions before the LORD, the Mighty One who could help.

 

How many times do we run to God with our petitions and our fears, our needs and our wants? It’s when we have used all our resources that we plead to God Almighty for help.

 

How do you stand against the enemy? It could be sickness, a job loss, betrayal. It might be depression, caregiving, financial uncertainty. The enemy takes on many, many cloaks with one end in mind – to derail God’s people from our purpose.

 

But we are not without help. We have a God who loves us more than we can ever comprehend. He stands ready to help but we must ask for that help.

 

This is what God told King Jehoshaphat: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. (2 Chronicles 20:15b)

 

We don’t have to battle the enemy alone! God doesn’t expect us to. God knows what we need and he’s right there beside us, in the battle, strengthening us and giving us the courage and wisdom we need to accomplish His purposes.

 

Does that mean that God always answers us in the way we would choose? Not at all. Sometimes the answer He gives will break our hearts. But we can trust that God loves us more than we can humanly comprehend. God sees the big picture and knows how it’s all going to turn out. For our good and His Glory.

 

Don’t ever be afraid or panic when the enemy seems to be closing in. Call on the power and wisdom of the One who created the universe. Cling tightly to His promises and He will cling tightly to you.

January 20, 2022

 

Pharisee or Sinner?

 

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. – 2 Chronicles 7:14

 

How many times have we seen this verse on social media? People begging for Christians to bow down and pray for God to heal our land from this awful disease called Covid. People asking God to restore Himself to leadership in this land. People demanding that God restore Donald Trump to the presidency. People living in comfort crying out for God to increase their prosperity.

 

The one thing we haven’t seen a lot of are those same people admitting their own sins. They’re too busy pointing their fingers at the sins of others to acknowledge that maybe they should change their own hardened hearts before they demand the same of others.

 

If Christians truly lived as Jesus lived, our country wouldn’t need social media posts demanding our will from God. We’d be too busy praying and serving, extending kindness and grace and a helping hand. But that might cause us to get our own hands dirty. It might make us admit we’re wrong in our judgements of people we do not know.

 

In Luke 18, Jesus told a parable about a Pharisee and a tax collector both going to the temple to pray. The Pharisee was thanking God that he wasn’t like other sinners. He was praising himself for fasting and tithing. The tax collector would not even lift his eyes to heaven as he begged God for mercy on himself, a sinner.

 

Which are you? Are you the Pharisee who is so busy praising himself that he has forgotten how to humble himself before God? Or are you the sinner who names himself as such as he bows before God Almighty? Reread 2 Chronicles 7:14. Are you the haughty Pharisee or the humble sinner? Your words and actions reveal your answer.

April 15, 2019

Choose Well

The high places were not removed from Israel. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was loyal all his days. – 2 Chronicles 15:17

Are you a good Christian? Do you know Jesus as Lord and Savior? Do you wear a cross around your neck? Maybe pray before meals? And you attend church when it matters – Easter, Christmas, when your children are involved in something special?

Here’s a hard truth: We all fail Jesus. Every. Single. Day. We choose a ball game over a church service. We put ourselves before someone else. We cling to money, calling extras a “need” and refusing to tithe because we don’t have “enough.”

We do good. We do. Well, we do good when we like the person and consider them worthy of our time or money. We set ourselves up to judge and condemn others while making excuses for ourselves.

We love Jesus but His ways and our ways aren’t always the same. Each day is filled with choices. Those choices may seem small but each one shows the world how much you truly love Jesus. Choose well.

October 10, 2018

God of the Impossible

“Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

– 2 Chronicles 20:12

I love this passage in 2 Chronicles. God’s people were facing an army they had no chance of defeating. It was an impossible situation. But, then, that’s where God shines the brightest.

Jehoshaphat inquired of the LORD and He answered them with a powerful victory. God turned a hopeless situation into a triumph.

As I write this, Hurricane Michael batters our area. It is the worst hurricane to strike the Gulf Coast in more than a century. We have no idea yet how bad the destruction is but we know the area we love is destroyed. It will never be the same.

Hurricane Eloise hit just below Panama City in 1975. It was a Category 3. Hurricane Michael is a Category 4. Eloise forever changed the area, destroying so much. Michael, too, has destroyed many homes and businesses, landmarks and roads. A hospital has received major damage. And the unrelenting rain and wind continues.

Life is like that sometimes. We are weary and weakened by the continual onslaught of illness, financial troubles, family issues, job stress and all the other issues that come at us every day. We want relief. We want peace. We want a break from it all.

We focus on all we face instead of the God who can save us.

In recent days, we’ve seen people panicked over what was coming and what they could not change. Some of the nervousness is understandable. It’s been awhile since we’ve faced a major hurricane. Some in our area have never faced one.

But, really, what can we do? We can prepare with water and flashlights and plenty of food that doesn’t need refrigeration or reheating. We can heed the warnings of officials and stay off the roads. We can pray and trust God to keep us safe.

There’s good that comes from storms like this. We tend to focus on what’s important. We tend to reach out and help others. We look beyond ourselves. We see others. We become a little kinder as we realize how fragile life can be.

I wish we could take those lessons into the days that will come when we’re headed toward recovery. We never do. But we can enjoy the time we have when people remember what’s important.

Tomorrow we expect the sun to come out. I’ll be out clearing the driveway and checking fences and being thankful for what didn’t happen. Others will let the shock of loss settle in, facing an uncertain future after the loss of all their material possessions. We will reach out. We will help them as we can.

And we will remember on the hard days that God is there in the impossible. When the days are long and hard, He takes our hands and guides us. All we have to do is cry out to Him. That’s it. God is right there waiting for us to ask Him into our impossible situation.

January 11, 2016

Stop Judging and Start Praying

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. -- 2 Chronicles 7:14

Most of us are familiar with this verse. We share it on Facebook and when we’re pointing our finger at all those “liberals.” We’re using it as an excuse as much as ammunition against others.

This verse talks about “my people.” That would be you and me and all of us who call ourselves Christians. Are you doing your part? Are you down on your knees every day seeking God and praying that you and others will turn from wickedness?

The other day a sweet woman said she admired those who yelled insults and demonstrated outside abortion clinics. I was appalled. No. I don’t support abortion. But hate won’t change anything and it is definitely not from Jesus.

I would be impressed with someone who took one of those young women into their home, fed and clothed her, provided medical care and, oh, loved her unconditionally. That would be what Jesus would do.

God is all about love but what the world sees from us is all about hate. You can’t reach someone when all they see is your hatred for them and their actions. Love doesn’t mean you’re condoning their behavior. It means you’re being Jesus in a hurting land.

Christians should spend more time on our knees, truly seeking God’s will, and less time pointing fingers and blaming someone else. Do you truly want God to heal our land? Then start with yourself. Pray without ceasing and seek to truly reflect Jesus in this hurting world. 

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Listen To What God Really Says

Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God, “O LORD, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in you alone. It is in your name that we have come against this vast horde. O LORD, you are our God; do not let mere men prevail against you!” -- 2 Chronicles 14:11

We celebrate our country’s birthday today amid a sometimes bitter debate over philosophy and direction. Many proclaim God’s name as they argue their views, pointing fingers and spreading mistruths.

What is truth: God wants us to call on Him to lead and guide us. He wants us to live our lives according to what He actually says rather than what we wish He had said.

What? Well, that certainly didn’t go over well with some of those ultra-conservatives who claim the Republican platform is the only one that promotes Jesus. Because it isn’t. And, in some ways, it is the opposite of what the Bible actually says.

For example, we’re all in a tizzy about immigration laws. Some (conservative Republican Christians) want to fence our borders and deport everyone who can’t prove they’re here legally. The opposite side prefers to look the other way. Neither view is totally right or wrong on this complex issue. But what we know, what is clearly written in the Bible, is that we are to do good and show kindness and mercy to those foreigners in the land God has given us. Fear, hatred, mistreatment, ugly comments -- well, those things have no place in God’s world.

Health care reform is another big issue. The Bible tells us to share and care for those who have less than we do. How can anyone believe that Jesus wouldn’t support efforts to make health care available to everyone who needs it? Yet, they get so caught up in their own finances and their perceived unfairness of it all, that they can’t clearly see what God would have us do. I’m sure this plan isn’t perfect. No plan crafted by humans could or will be. But we are to share and care and provide for others.

That always brings us back to those who work and those who don’t, and those who have wonderful jobs with great benefits and those who have menial jobs with no benefits. The haves vs. the have nots. And it’s all the have nots fault. I had hoped that the last years of economic distress would show us that some people are unemployed through no fault of their own. Obviously, when it comes to politics it is always the struggling person’s fault.

Today is a day to celebrate our wonderful nation. The United States has so much more, does so much more, provides so much more, than most nations in this world. But we have pulled away from God and those leading that gap are the ones proclaiming His name the loudest.

Monday, September 26, 2011

God Guides Our Path

“Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?” -- 2 Chronicles 1:10

Have you ever been in over your head? Has God ever called you to do something that you knew you weren’t qualified to do? Yeah. I’ve been a member of that club too. It’s totally scary. But I’ve found that following Solomon’s lead really does work.

Many years ago I was asked to take over the Children’s Church program at the church I was attending. I thought the preacher was kidding when he asked me. Really. I did. I don’t have children and I’m not a teacher. Who could possibly be less likely to teach a group of children aged three to five?

The truth was that I wasn’t the committee’s first choice or even the second or third. They couldn’t get anyone else to do it and I seemed gullible enough to take it on. I prayed about it and felt certain that God was telling me to do it. So I said yes.

All was well until the next Sunday morning. The thought of facing all those children -- alone -- was terrifying. I didn’t have a clue what I was supposed to do. Oh, I had a lesson and a craft but there’s a whole lot more to teaching small children than having a plan. Even I knew that much.

I hit my knees in prayer. And I laid it all before God and on God. He had gotten me into the situation and I firmly expected Him to save me. And the children. Really. I told Him that. You know the wonderful thing about God? He doesn’t get mad when you demand that He do what He said He‘d do anyway. In fact, He probably chuckled at my near hysteria. Because I don’t believe God had any intention of leaving me on my own. He just wanted me to cry out to Him for help.

God ‘s help came in the form of a wonderful retired teacher who is incredibly gifted with small children. She was in our Sunday School classroom when I walked in that morning. I just knew God had sent her to help me. Of course, I told her right away. How could she argue with that?

God doesn’t throw us in to the deep end and then let us drown. He throws us in to the deep end so that we can learn that with His help we can do anything He calls us to do. We can cry out to Him and He will reach out His hand and save us. Just like Jesus calmed the sea, God will calm whatever storm of life threatens to overwhelm us.

It’s so easy to say no to something because we’re afraid. But when God calls you to do something, no matter how far beyond your comfort level it is, He will guide you and help you. Follow His plan and you‘ll likely discover things about yourself that you never knew. He really does know what He’s doing.

Oh and just a follow up on my Children’s Church days: I actually turned out to really love it. I held that volunteer position for several years. Now I teach adult Sunday School and, yes, God is still holding my hand and leading me every step of the way.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

God Defends His Own

“O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”

-- 2 Chronicles 20:12

It takes a while to get to this point. For most of us anyway. It’s when we’ve exhausted every avenue, tried every thing we can think of, and still face certain defeat. Then we give up and give it to God. Finally.

We like to fool ourselves most days. We want to believe that we’re in control. We make decisions and dance around the constraints of life. We believe we’re doing okay. Then something or someone just knocks us down. We struggle to get up again but we’re shaky at best and wounded deep inside.

We don’t know what to do. How can we possibly win a battle against someone so evil? How can we forgive and yet still stand against a formidable opponent? Where can we turn when it seems like the world is more than we can handle?

God is waiting for us to reach this point. He’s right there. He never left us. Not for one minute. God was just waiting for us to cry out to Him. Sort of like a small child toddling forward until he stumbles and cries out. Then his loving parent swoops in to pick him up and set him on the right path again.

God is our Father. He is loving and kind. Full of mercy and understanding. And quick to defend what is His. And we are His. God sees our broken hearts. He feels our tears. He soothes our anger. And He remembers our pain.

One of the hardest parts of life for me is dealing daily with people who don’t like me. I am a necessary appendage they’d rather not need. But they do need me. That need, however, doesn’t stop the lies or the barbs or the pain of cruelty. I’d rather throw in the towel. I’d rather just let someone else do it. I’d rather not face another day with its unpleasant surprises.

But God has called me to this time and place. I am doing what I must for as long as I can. I don’t know what else to do. I don’t even know how to do this. Nothing prepared me for this.

So I turn again to God. This is His battle. This is His lesson. This is His journey for me. I have no idea where I’m headed. Oh, I know heaven is on the horizon. But for here and now, I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Jesus said not to worry. That’s not so easy to do some days.

Still I am confident that God is mightier than anything anyone can do to me. God is looking out for me. God is preparing me. And God will sort it all out. Come, God, please come. I don’t know what to do and I really need your help. He hears my cry just as He hears yours. Go forward confidently, knowing that your Father will help you

Friday, February 11, 2011

Follow God In All Things

"In everything that he undertook in the service of God's temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered."

-- 2 Chronicles 31:21

This is how life is supposed to be. We're called to love God with all our hearts, minds and souls. We're to follow Him in all things. We're to work hard doing whatever it is He has called us to do. And, in turn, we will prosper under His guidance.

Sounds like a good plan. It is a good plan. Too bad we have so much trouble following it. Life would be so much easier if we did.

But we're so busy getting through the day, planning for tomorrow and worried about life to really sit down with God and listen to what He wants us to do. It's that control thing. We want to think we're in control. We're not, of course. Still, we like to pretend. Then something happens, life swerves from the path we'd planned and we realize we were never in control after all.

It's at that point that we cry out to God to rescue us from the disaster we created. We're ready to listen, to learn, to follow Him anywhere so long as he'll help us. And He does. He's our Father and He loves us so, of course, He helps us. God picks us up, restores us and strengthens us until we happily chart our course once again. Won't we ever learn?

The best course is to spend time with God every day. Read His Word. Learn from Him. And take time to listen for His voice. Pay attention. He'll tell you what to do. Follow Him. And you will prosper in ways you never imagined.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Revival Starts With You

"if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." -- 2 Chronicles 7:14

The fingers are pointing before anyone finishes reading this verse. Judgment has begun and it is someone else's fault. Here in the Deep South, the culprits are those folks out in California and all those liberal Democrats. Most folks are in church every Sunday morning in this part of the country and the ones that aren't certainly know they should be.

The thing they, and many others, are missing is that revival for the church starts with the individual. It spreads from there. Revival, or reawakening, doesn't happen first with large groups of people. And it doesn't not happen because of one group or another. Revival starts with one person and then moves from individual to individual. That means taking a hard and sometimes difficult look in the mirror.

Following God is more than condemning abortion. It's certainly more than judging homosexuals or drug addicts or criminals. Following God starts with a loving, kind and compassionate heart for ALL people. It doesn't involve hoarding money or deciding who deserves Jesusves.

Loving Jesus involves giving more than we get in order to be blessed more than we could ever imagine. It means doing what we thought was impossible and loving people others deem as worthless. Being a Christian isn't about judging and condeming. It doesn't involve political parties and which church pew belongs to who on Sunday morning. Loving Jesus pushes us out of our comfort zone, out of our focus on ourselves, and toward people who are hurting and angry, lost and alone. Those are the people Jesus expects us to love.

We all want a revival in this great country of ours. We want people to turn back toward God and seek Him with all their hearts, minds and souls. It starts with you and me following Jesus on a path that's different from where we ever intended to go. Are you willing?

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Live Your Christianity

"The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord -- to follow the Lord and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book." -- 2 Chronicles 34:31

This afternoon my Mother came home from the doctor's office with quite a tale. It seems that she overheard the doctor cussing his nurses out. Not just one or two curse words, she said. He just gave them -- and his patients -- an earful. He later came into the exam room full of sweet smiles and test results. There was no indication of the anger she'd overheard.

Why am I bringing this up? Because this doctor and I attend the same church and I am appalled that he would treat his employees that way. Maybe they did something horribly wrong. But profanity-laced shouting didn't fix anything. It never does.

It bothers me when I witness Christians trying to live two different lives. There is the Christian life they live at church and with church folks they socialize with. And then there is the boss or worker who has a whole different attitude. I don't understand how a Christian can turn his/her faith on and off like that. I know I can't.

Don't get me wrong. We all sin. We all lose it every now and then. We all make mistakes. Those are momentary lapses that usually make us feel guilty. What I'm talking about is a pattern that says the person doesn't live his Christianity in his daily life.

Well, that's not you. I agree. Most of us are not doctors and we don't scream profanity at our nurses. But do you gossip around the breakroom table every afternoon? Do you pad your receipts "because everyone does it"? Do you help yourself to office supplies because no one will know? Do you take credit for something when it wasn't really your idea? Do you tell yourself that "stealing" a customer is just business?

We aren't Christians only on Sunday. It doesn't work that way. When Jesus enters our lives, we change. We become new. That means we live differently. If you're a Christian, people should know it from your actions and not just your words. And if they don't? Maybe you should spend a little more time alone with God and ask Him to show you a different path.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

"In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the Lord."

-- 2 Chronicles 28:22

Somehow I think that the person who started that saying "two wrongs don't make a right" read this sentence in the Bible first. I guess since King Ahaz wasn't getting his way, he decided to go ahead and really finish destroying his relationship with God.

It's difficult sometimes to wait for the Lord. We are human. We want it now -- whether it is safety, revenge or healing. God has perfect timing. We don't. It doesn't stop us from stamping our foot and trying to get what we want on our own.

Ahaz decided that God wasn't going to help him. Or maybe that God just wasn't going to help him fast enough. So Ahaz decided to offer sacrifices to other gods. He rationalized that since those gods had helped his enemies, maybe they would help him. Oh my. That was a really dumb thing.

But aren't we guilty of the same thing? We know that the Bible says vengeance belongs to God but still we want that satisfaction for ourselves. We try to destroy, or at least seriously hurt, any person we think has wronged us. We don't wait for God to handle it.

Or we grow desperate because we don't have money to buy food or pay rent, mortgage or utility bills. We call out to God but we don't see His hand at work. We panic. We steal. We lie. We turn away from the God who loves us. We move so far away that we don't see the help He planned for us.

Maybe we lose faith when illness strikes. We want immediate healing for a loved one. The suffering tears us apart. How could a loving God allow such a thing, we ask ourselves. We harden our hearts and turn away from the peace and salvation that He offers as we weather the storm.

I could go on and on. Bad circumstances don't justify desperate acts that lead us away from God. I don't know why bad things happen. Only God knows the answers. Maybe we are being tested. Maybe other people made choices (that free-will thing rearing its head) and we are suffering the consequences. Whatever the reason, He will save us. Maybe not in our time or even on this earth but He is there with us in that storm.

Don't be like King Ahaz. Wait for the Lord. Stay faithful to Him, no matter the circumstances. He will provide all you'll ever need.

Monday, June 21, 2010

God Can Heal the Gulf

"The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him."

-- 2 Chronicles 20:4

So what do you think President Obama should do about the Gulf Oil Crisis? Come on now. Everyone has an opinion. We can all tell you what he should have done or needs to do. We can point fingers at the Coast Guard and BP. Some of it may even be justified.

I find it interesting to listen to all the ideas. Some are downright bizarre. Please, please do NOT put beeswax in the Gulf. Even if there was enough beeswax, which is doubtful. Some ideas work to battle the oil but cause more trouble for marine life. It's not always so easy to make right decisions.

But we want action and we want it now! Well, there is something we can do. We can follow the example set out in the Bible. We can come together and pray. We can set aside a time of prayer for the Gulf. We can ask for His healing touch.

It's so much easier to point fingers than to get down on our knees. It's more difficult to come together and jointly seek His help. We don't always like the other people we need to pray with. We worry we'll offend someone who has different beliefs. We don't want to, gulp, embarrass ourselves by being the first to suggest a prayer time for the Gulf. So time passes and the crisis worsens and we worry that the Gulf will ever heal at all.

"If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us." -- 2 Chronicles 20:9

I really don't need to say anything else. God has said it all. The rest is up to us.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

God Is The Ultimate Healer

"In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from physicians." -- 2 Chronicles 16:12

This just blows my mind. King Asa supposedly followed God. He did a lot of good things. He had foreign altars removed and cut down Asherah poles. He told his nation to seek the Lord. But when it came down to his life, he sought physicians instead of the God who could heal him.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not one of those people who think we should avoid doctors. I believe God gives us doctors for a reason. But I also believe that doctors can only do so much. God ultimately is the only One who can heal us.

I didn't include the next verse in this passage but in it Asa dies. The physicians didn't heal him. They couldn't. Only God could. Why didn't he ask God for healing? Did he want to believe he didn't need God? I really don't understand. Yeah, I know he was mad at God. Asa had done something he shouldn't and there were consequences. But Asa belonged to God and God always answers the cries of His children.

A friend of mine had major surgery earlier this year. He sought a specialist and really did his homework. His surgeon had a wonderful reputation and friendly manner. He also is a Christian who believes in prayer before his surgeries. My friend made a complete recovery. I know the surgeon did an excellent job. I also believe God guided his hands and those of the others in that operating room. God always shows up when we invite Him in.

We never know when we are going to be blindsided by a major illness. God offers us strength and comfort for that journey. We won't always find physical healing on this earth. Sometimes He chooses a different path for us. But He promises to be with us, to hold us up when we can't do it for ourselves.

How can anyone get through something major without God? I stumble and fall, take wrong turns and really mess things up on a good day. I couldn't even make it through a good day without God. How could I possibly make it through a life or death crisis?

Asa missed a wonderful opportunity to cry out to God. It is when we are most broken that God's light shines through the brightest. Physicians can be wonderful healers but God is the ultimate healer. He's also our Father. He loves us and He always comes when we cry out to Him.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Seek God; Find God

"They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the Lord gave them rest on every side." -- 2 Chronicles 15:15b

I love this passage because it reminds me that God is always there. No matter how far I drift or how distant I might feel, He never leaves. He loves me. He's not going anywhere that I can't find Him. His door is always open.

I figure God gets as upset with me as He used to get with the Israelites. In this passage, Judah gave a bold declaration that they were God's people. They rejoiced and He welcomed them and gave them rest. Now, anyone can read about all the times in the Old Testament that God's people let Him down. Like me. I do that sometimes. Don't you?

I know it's impossible to make it through a day without sinning in some way, shape or form. I'm human and that makes me a sinner. You too. But when we seek God with all our hearts, He lets us find Him. Indeed, He welcomes us with open arms. That is just so awesome to me.

As a child, I always wanted that kind of unquestionable love. I wanted the security of knowing I was loved no matter what I did or didn't do. Who knew? I had it all the time. I just didn't look for it in the right place.

People reject us. They let us down. We let them down. We may question our feelings for them and their feelings for us. But God is our security, no matter the storm. His love never wavers. He Presence never leaves. He is there. Always

I am so grateful and so thankful that I can find rest in His love, any time and any place. All I have to do is seek Him and there He is waiting with open arms filled with love.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Do Good Anyway

"But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded."

-- 2 Chronicles 15:7

We humans are something else. We want to do good. Truly we do. We just want the pats on the back -- now. We want to be acknowledged for doing good. We want the promotion. We want, if not the headlines, then certainly the grateful tidings of those around us.

We forget sometimes that doing good should be the reward. We do good because we belong to Jesus and He called us to do good things for others. We shouldn't expect anything in return. Ever.

Of course, it feels good when we do get recognized. But even if we don't, we know we'll get our reward one day. That reward comes along with a ticket to heaven. When Jesus lives within us, we have the promise of eternal life with Him.

I know. It's difficult to keep pushing forward, especially when no one seems to notice the good we do. Sometimes it seems that we aren't making a difference, that our little bit of good really doesn't matter. But you know what? That meal you delivered matters to the person who ate it. That phone call brightened a lonely person's day. Those kind words helped a depressed teenager make it through another day. The small things we do each day matter to someone.

The radio station I listen to (HIS Radio 94.3) has started a new promotion. They've posted a message you can print out. The idea is that when you pay for your food at a drive thru window, pay for the person behind you and leave the note for the cashier to pass along. It's a small gesture. It's called kindness to a stranger. It's letting someone know that Jesus lives within His believers and that they matter.

Sometimes people do recognize us for the good things we do. Sometimes they don't. Do good anyway.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

We Need God's Healing

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." -- 2 Chronicles 7:14

We sure could use God's healing on our land. The image of oil washing up on Orange Beach is just so sad. What have we done?

This is where the finger pointing starts. The Republicans and Democrats are each blaming the other. The President gets it from every side. BP can do nothing right. All this bickering doesn't do anything constructive. It just fuels more anger and hatred in a disaster that truly needs more prayer, compassion and togetherness.

This Bible passage clearly tells us what to do. First, we must humble ourselves before God. That means taking responsibility for our part in all this. We haven't taken care of God's earth. We use so many natural resources without a thought to the earth. We should stop pointing fingers and worry about our own guilt.

Second, we must ask God for forgiveness. Sure, He knows. But it's really important to get down on our knees, outline our sins and ask Him to forgive us.

Third, we should seek God with all our hearts and minds. We should read our Bibles daily -- not just talk about it. We should pray -- and listen for God to answer.

Last, we should turn from our sinful behavior. We should work with each other to clean up the oily mess. Animals and marine life should be first, followed by the Gulf, marshes and beaches. We should alter our lives to reflect a newfound respect for God's world. We should conserve fuel, recycle and work toward making our lives less of a burden on the planet.

God promised to heal the land if we would do what He says. Are you willing to do your part?