Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘love’

DADDY, IT’S DARK AND I’M AFRAID

Posted in A Nation Divided, tagged , , , , , on March 1, 2013| 2 Comments »

What mom or dad hasn’t heard these words? Many times. And what did you say to that frightened child? Be quiet and go to sleep? Did you fuss and tell your child you needed to sleep? Or did you get up, go to your son or daughter and lovingly give them proper comfort and instruction?

But where does a parent go when shadows fall like a shroud and pitch you into the depths of unknown terror?

If you haven’t been there yet, just wait. It will come.

Twenty years ago my husband had an aneurysm rupture in his leg. Petrifying weeks followed as we waited to see if he would loose his life or his leg. Waited to see if he would be able to work or still have a job. Waited for that time of unequivocal darkness to pass.

Until job loss, heart attacks, financial distress, deaths—all long black tunnels of fear, sucked the light from our lives and plunged us into the inky abyss of anguish. We couldn’t hop over ‘em, dig under ‘em, or run around ‘em. I sobbed, “Abba, Father, it’s so dark and I’m afraid.”

And when I cried, my Father was faithful to hold me, comfort me, and give me His strength. Strength to put one foot in front of the other.  One step at a time. And travel with Him through the sightless night back into the light. During that time I feared I might stumble and die in the process.

But God taught me there were lessons I must learn in the dark. Lessons I can’t see in the bright light of day. Lessons I must learn in the discipline of darkness.

This discipline required me to walk in lock-step with the Lord Jesus, forced me to focus on His face, instead of the things that creak and groan in the night. And reminded me to call out, “Daddy, I’m afraid.”

I only do that when I’m forced to abide behind the sooty curtains of heartache.

God shines the truth of His love on me in the light of day. But in the darkroom of trouble He develops the knowledge and understanding of my faith in Him. Then I see the profane and unclean things lurking in my mind, things I have refused to acknowledge in times of blessing. I see pitfalls and traps that would have entangled me, had I not slowed my pace and clung to Jesus. And I am convinced it is better to walk with God in the dark than to stand alone in the light.

But as sure as day follows night, turmoil will pass and His light, like the sunrise, will disburse trials and tragedies. I will blossom again, strengthened by His comfort to know when darkness returns all I have to do is cry “Abba, Father—Daddy— I’m afraid.”

And if you’re His child, He will wrap you in His arms of comfort and carry you through ’til morning. Because He loves you.

“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but  you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Romans 8:15 NAS).

“What time I am afraid I will trust in Thee” (Psalm 56:3 NAS).

Read Full Post »

WHAT IS LOVE?

Posted in A Nation Divided, tagged , , , , , , , on January 10, 2013| 10 Comments »

         

Do you remember Fiddler on the Roof? There’s a scene I love between Tevye and his wife, Golde. They’ve worked hard with little to show. Their mood is bleak. All they own is piled on an ox cart. They must leave their meager home. Their daughters have refused their traditions. The Russian army is coming. There is no hope. And the wife asks, “But do you love me?”

In the middle of hopelessness, love brings hope.

Tevye gives Golde a litany of the reasons she should know he loves her—because of what he has done and she is convinced he loves her. But if my memory is correct, a try-out relationship wasn’t part of the deal. Neither were money, fancy clothes, nor a fine house.

No, love is a choice. Not warm fuzzy feelings.

Love is a commitment. A choice to endure. Love nurtures and respects through good times, difficult times, illness, until death. Love is selfless. Considering what the other person needs rather than putting one’s self first.

But we have raised several generations who have no understanding of the meaning of the word love, relationship, or lifetime commitment. Their focus is Me. What I want I deserve. And I will get my way, regardless of the cost.

Welcome to the age of  entitlement. And we created it.

America is a deeply divided nation. Not between the haves and haves not, as some politicians would lead us to believe. But between those who adhere to God and His Word as a model for life and those who reject the authority of God and His Word. The mantra of those in rebellion is Me—I—Mine. Left to itself, America’s great divide will vanish as the World War II generation dies, unless God returns or sends revival, America will become a united pagan nation.

Where are America’s watchmen and women? God fearing preachers, parents and prophets? The trumpet of warning is silent.

Generations coming out of the Depression through the ‘40’s were determined to give their children more than they had. And we have, but not always things of eternal value. Then these adult off-spring followed our example and gave their children even more and more and more—with borrowed money.

The result? Americans are completely out-of-touch with the reality that God brings His judgment by bringing a nation’s actions back on their own head. God prospered America because of the reverence and obedience of our forefathers to His Holy Name. He requires four things out of men and women: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8 NAS).

And the fourth thing? “And you shall teach them (the above things) diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up” (Deuteronomy 6:7 NAS). We’ve taught them everything but the right things. God’s things. The necessary things. If the harvest is displeasing, the sowing has to change. And the harvest of what we have sown has only just begun.

God told Joshua when he led the people into the land of promise, “Be strong and courageous…Only be strong and courageous; be careful to do according to all the law…do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then  you will have success” (Joshua 1:6-8 NAS).

God brought our forefathers across the raging Atlantic, fleeing to a promised land where they could worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in any manner they chose—not any god they chose. They set up a government of the people, by the people and for the people according to the Word of God.

On a score of 1 – 10 how are we doing, America? Remember Tevye’s song? “If I were a rich man…” Well, America has been rich in the things of this world, but look at the mess we’ve created. I can hear your groaning.

We have squandered God’s blessings. We have rebelled or been silent as our nation turned away from His Word. We have allowed deception to fill our ears. Like ancient Israel, we have cozied up to those things God calls profane, embraced them, and called them good. We have refused to come apart and be separate as God commanded. To be a people holy unto God. We’ve invited pagan gods into this land of God’s blessing and those false gods are gobbling up the hearts of our children with their lies.

I don’t listen to those who make predictions for the New Year. But according to the Word of God I can make this forecast for America—the New Year is going to bring increased judgments from the hand of God on this land and her people. God forbid. Perhaps even a judgment as final as the one He brought to Israel in 597 B.C. Unless we repent. As individuals. As His people. As a nation. And if God’s people will humble ourselves, repent, and blow the trumpet loud and long, perhaps He will show us His mercy.

God tells us in Ezekiel 33:11: “As I live!’ declares the Lord God, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die…?”

God’s desire is always to lead us to repentance and restoration, to be a people after His heart. A relationship. But don’t miss the warning of the word of God: “In that day…”

What day? The day that this age of grace will be over. Finished. Completed. The day that God will require from the hand of every man and woman an answer why they didn’t choose Jesus. Why they didn’t accept and believe the revelation of His perfect love. His sacrificial love.

The love Jesus committed to, before the manger in Bethlehem. The love He displayed on the cross. The sacrifice of His life for you and for me. To all who come through the cross. God’s way. The only way to the Father—through His Son, The Lord Jesus Christ.

Have you chosen Jesus? If so, are you sounding the trumpet?

If not, I plead with you—consider Jesus. Accept Him. Believe Him. Trust Him. Because He loves you and died so you could live with Him. Forever. No sin is beyond His ability to forgive and cleanse.

We are created beings with eternal souls and the sand in the hour-glass of your life is slipping away. Please don’t delay. Choose Jesus’ eternal love today.

Read Full Post »

WILL YOU BE A WATCHMAN?

Posted in A Nation Divided, tagged , , , , on December 17, 2012| 4 Comments »

Do you remember a number of years ago hearing the story of the nurse who stumbled upon a partial-birth-aborted baby the doctor had left in a hospital sink to die? She appeared on the Bill O’Reilley show and upon hearing her account, O’Reilley was speechless.

She wept and said, “The only thing I could do was sit and hold this precious baby and watch it die.”

You and I know those who kill innocent babies will stand before the King of Kings one day to receive His just judgment. But do you know in Ezekiel 33:1-9 God says that you and I will also stand before Jesus to hear Him say:

“When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man,  you shall surely die,’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require from your hand” (Ezekiel 33:8 NAS).

Shortly after the nurse’s account became public, Congress passed legislation out-lawing late term and partial-birth abortions. This nurse became a watchwoman on America’s wall.

Would that there had been a watchman on the wall in that quiet Connecticut town before the events of last Friday. The evidence of impending tragedy was apparent and seen by many. But not a soul sounded the alarm.

Up to this point in America’s history there have always been chosen watchmen. Preachers who have spoken the truth of God’s Word and sounded a warning about the consequences of ignoring God and turning to embrace wickedness.

During the course of my lifetime Billy Graham has been sought by previous Administrations to seek God’s blessing upon our nation. The last evangelist who advised, gave counsel, and prayed with the presidents of his generation. But Billy Graham has not been an invited guest and counselor to this Whitehouse. Will another man of the Lord God Almighty be invited to fill this gap?

There are a few men who stand and boldly proclaim God’s Word on the national scene, Dr. Robert Jeffress, Dr. John Hagee, Dr. David Jeremiah, Dr. Charles Stanley, and a few others, but we are left without a recognized and nationally accepted watchman on the wall of America.

America’s spiritual bulkhead is broken and crumbling. We are a people divided. Half the people have no interest in repairing the barrier—they don’t even recognize the fortress is fractured and disintegrating—yet. And the other half are too timid to speak the truth of God’s Word. Afraid of ridicule.

God appointed Ezekiel to be a watchman for the house of Israel during his lifetime. A prophet called to speak God’s truth to His people and God told him whether they listened or not, they would know a prophet had been among them. He told Ezekiel:

“I have made  your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. Like emery harder than flint I have made your forehead. Do not be afraid of them or be dismayed before them though they are a rebellious house.”

The priests of Ezekiel’s time were participating in despicable abominations—in the Temple—telling the people everything would be okay. Telling them there would be peace and prosperity.

But God said judgment was coming. And it did.

God has used pagan nations to deliver His judgment. And yet Israel still does not accept Jesus as God’s Lamb and their Messiah. But the Word tells of a day when they will wake up and recognize Jesus as Lord. Not because of their wisdom and understanding, but because of God’s faithfulness to His Word. However, they’ve never worshiped  idols since their journey to captivity in Babylon.

Well folks, history indeed repeats itself. America has preachers who tell their congregations lies too. Preachers who never mention sin. Preachers who never mention the blood of Jesus Christ, the only remedy before the God of all Creation for the cleansing of sin. Preachers who, as Dr. Homer Lindsay, Sr. said, “deliver sermonets-by-preacherets-to-christianets.”

Have you considered that God has called you and me to be His watchmen on the wall in our times? Watchmen and women in your home, your neighborhood, your work place, your school?

Ezekiel didn’t have to stay up half the night to prepare a sermon. No sir. God told him, “speak to them the words I speak to you.”

Words recorded in the Bible, the complete Word of God.

Do you know enough of His Word to tell your friends and neighbors what He says about …you name the subject? The list of discrepancies against His Word is abundant and practiced by many today, and some of those who rebel against the Word sit next to you each Sunday morning.

But the truth you must deliver is:

“God sent Jesus to pay for your sins. God still loves you and so do I.  If you are sorry about your sins, turn from your sins and trust that what Jesus paid was enough to present you before His righteous, holy Father, then, by the power of His Spirit, you choose to walk in obedience to God’s Word for the remainder of your life…scripture tells us you will be saved” ( Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, John 3:16 NKJ).

This past week I received a large red lapel pin that states, “It’s okay to tell me Merry Christmas!”  I went to the mall and grocery store wearing my pin. Many folks stopped me and asked, “What does your pin say?” I pulled my jacket back each time so they could read the words and their reactions were astonishing. Many faces smiled and said “Merry Christmas”. But just as many looked at me with faces hard as flint, turned, and walked away. What a sad commentary of our times.

But God’s Word is clear. “Go tell and make disciples.”  Tell them what? What has Jesus Christ done for you. For me. If we don’t tell and they continue in their wickedness and rebellion they will be doomed. Separated from Christ forever, and God will require their blood from our hand.

This could be our last Christmas celebration before Jesus returns for His own people.

Will you stand on America’s wall to be God’s watchman? Will you go and tell? Better to speak-up now than be required to give the Sovereign God of the Universe the reason for your silence.

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts