It seems that whatever direction I look I see something that troubles me. It starts with small things like seeing people sick all around, just feeling bad or hurting. Then I saw a young mother and wife suddenly have her world rocked by a tumor. My grandma had to go to a nursing home. My grandpa is heartbroken. I see people around me that go through life every day filled with spite, hate and bitterness. And the worse, are those who have rejected the redemption and deny the truth of Jesus Christ.
You read the paper and watch the news and see an entire religion of people who hate Americans and wish to kill us off. We watch the elite take care of the elite while the rest of us work hard to get by. More and more each day I see those who want to work hard but have not job. Our government goes broke and prints money. Now businesses go broke and have the government print money and give it to them. Unemployment increases, savings decreases, dependence on the government reaches an all time high.
I see people worry more about themselves than others. Many plan their vacation but never plan for eternity. We feed our stomachs but fail to feed our soul. We know the words to all our favorite songs but don't even try to memorize scripture because it is too hard. We know our rights and are willing to sue to hold onto them, yet many of us ignore promises of God and leave them unclaimed. Lottery takes our money, vending machines, vices, hobbies and entertainment - God gets what's left or nothing at all.
Every once in a while, I see someone special. They care for others, they have compassion, they go out of their way for others. I see them smile and are polite. These people are rare and they encourage me. I wonder if they are Christian. I guess I need to ask. When you people like this do you wonder how people see you? Do you reflect the Son?
In all these circumstance I hold tightly to a sovereign and holy God. He is in control. I see things that bother me and in my heart I feel Him ask me, "Do you trust me?" And I do, but pray for more faith, more trust and direction.
How about you? Do you trust Him? Are you willing to turn over all your desires, wishes, hopes and dreams to Him. Are you a living sacrifice for Him? He scourges us because He loves us as sons and daughters. He is growing us to be more Christlike. Many times that growth seems to come through pain and grief. Do you trust Him with your life and the life of your family?
In whatever circumstance you find yourself in, you can know that your heavenly Father loved you so much that He sent His Son to give His life for you. That really is an incredible thought that we sometimes gloss over. God became a man; became the perfect sinless sacrifice to pay the debt we owed for our sin. That payment was accepted by the Father and the proof of that was when Jesus overcame death. He took our sin, we got His righteousness.
Jesus said when we know Him, we will follow Him. When we know Him, we will know the Father. He says that we can bring every thing to Him in prayer and that we can cast our cares upon Him. Regardless of the pain you feel, it is not beyond the control of God. Find God in your circumstance. Cling to Him.
Jesus Christ is our Rock. The things of this world will pass away. Reality is not the things of the flesh but the things of the Spirit. We need to anchor our lives in the only Rock that is the same yesterday, today and forever. We can become decieved so quickly and that's why we need to feed on the word of God daily. Walk in the Spirit and trust regardless of what we see. We walk by faith, not by sight.
Live in peace when there seems to be no reason for it.
Love others when they don't deserve it.
Be joyful, because the source of joy is the Lord.
Have faith when your need seems impossible.
Have patience, because He has been so paitent with you.
Persevere, today could be the day.
Just Thinking
Doug
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