Does God Really Care?

If God really loves and cares about us then why is there so much evil in the world; pain, suffering, broken families, addicted children, disease, death, greed, hatred and destruction, etc.?  Can a loving God stand by and watch while evil men fly planes into buildings that kill over 3000 people in the name of religion?  Can He watch while a hurricane levels entire communities leaving thousands homeless and destitute?  Can a God that truly loves us allow an infant to die quietly in his crib only to leave his parents filled with grief and asking the question we all ask one time or another in our lives “why”?  Why me, Lord?

Is there a purpose in our suffering?  Is God truly Sovereign and in control of our lives?  Why do bad things happen to good people?  These are legitimate questions and we can find the answers in God’s Word.  “and they brought to Him all who were ill , those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics ; and He healed them”.  Matthew 4:24  “And a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak”  Matthew 9:20  “Then He got up and left the synagogue, and entered Simon's home. Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Him to help her” Luke 4:38 What do each of these scenarios have in common?  Each of them expected something from Lord.   And because of their faith HE had mercy and healed them AND God was glorified!!

God still heals, He still answers prayer, He still shows His mercy on each of us.  We are human and bad things are going to happen, things that are out of our control but that doesn’t mean that it is out of God’s control.  On the contrary, every good and bad thing must pass through the hands of the Lord before it reaches us.  It is up to us to continue in our faith that God has a plan, a better outcome from which we will benefit and God will be glorified. 

Yes, God does allow all these things to happen.  We are a haughty people and we sometimes forget that HE not us is in control.  As much as we would like to think we are – we’re not.  Sometimes God allows circumstances in our lives in order to bring about the greatest change in our relationship with HIM.  We must come before Him with a broken and contrite heart and He will have mercy on us and heal our wounds and make us whole.

For this is what the high and lofty One says-- He who lives forever, whose Name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.  Isaiah 57:15

 

The Seed of Doubt

Lately I’ve been feeling like I’m not living my life as God expects me to as a Christian.  You know, like there is more I should be doing for Him.  I feel a sense of guilt that I am not reading a book on bible prophesy or studying His Word to gain wisdom more often than I do.  Maybe I should watch less reality T.V and invest more time in the reality of life. 

I know there is so much more that I can do for the Kingdom and yet I’m not. I want so much for the transformation of the hearts of the world to take place.  I want the world to know the Jesus that I know.  I want the world to live by the Word of life; the bible.  So why am I not doing more to make that happen?  What is my true purpose in this life? 

As I work on this E-Votional tonight I wonder if God is really using it each week to do His work.  I know I feel inspired to write and sometimes the words just flow but am I speaking truth?  What do I have to say that is worth hearing?  Honestly?  Nothing.  I write to share my heart and the love of the Lord.  I want the world to know Him.  This is my contribution to that end.  It’s not much but I pray the Lord is pleased and He is glorified through the message I write.

Who do you think put that seed of doubt in my head?  Who wants me fail?  Who doesn’t want the world to know the truth?  That’s right Satan.  He will not win!  I will not allow my doubts to stifle the message of hope.  Hope in salvation; hope in heaven; hope that this life is not all there is.  I will continue to contribute to the glory of God each week as He leads me.

SCRIPTURE

The LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come ?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it."  Job 1:7

Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things that be of men.    Mark 8:33b

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.  2 Corinthians 10:3

Endurance

Is there someone in your life that makes you smile every time you think about them?  Someone who makes you want to be a better person?  Someone who makes a difference in your life?  The boy in this picture is that someone in my life.  Don’t get me wrong I don’t love him more than any of my other children/grandchildren.  I just love him differently.  He saved me from living my life as a lukewarm Christian. “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot ; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth”. Revelation 3:15-16

Jason has been dealt a hand that most adults could not handle.  Three years ago he was in an auto accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down.  He endured several surgeries and setbacks yet he thrives.  He is smart, funny, sweet, considerate and polite.  He likes most things that other boys his age like, especially video games.  Although he cannot play the video games with his own hands he can direct the hands of whoever is willing to take direction from him. He says “I will teach you grandma” when there is a new game that I don’t know how to play; and there is always a new gameJ

Why this happened to Jason  is not for me to ask.   The question that I do ask is “How can Jason’s life show the world the love and mercy of our Lord”?  Some people say that a loving and merciful God wouldn’t have allowed this to happen to him in the first place.  To that statement I say “what about Jesus”?  He was beaten almost beyond recognition, humiliated, spat upon and crucified on a tree between two criminals.  Jesus didn’t do anything deserving of this yet God allowed it to happen.  God, in His infinite mercy allowed Him to be a living sacrifice to save the world from eternal hell.  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that who so ever (you and me) believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16

Yes, God does allow things to happen, bad things, unimaginable things but that doesn’t change who He is.  Tragedy, hardship, death and heartache are experiences that we will all have in our life time.  But we cannot endure them in our own strength.  We endure and even preserver because of the love from the Father and through His strength. “We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is mercifull”.  James 5:11

Jason has touched my life in a way that no other human being ever has or probably ever will again.  God used him to bring me and my family into a closer relationship with Him.  I wish that He could have used another way to get our attention but His ways are not our ways and His ways are perfect.  One day we will know just how many lives this little boy had a hand in saving.  I know for sure I will be counted among them.

To God be the power, the praise and the glory forever and ever.  Amen

Evidence of A Creator

In 1500 B.C it was believed that the earth sat upon a large animal or giant.  Job 26:7 says “He stretches out the north over the void and hangs the earth on nothing.”  It wasn’t until 1650 that scientist discovered that the earth hangs upon nothing.  The scriptures also reveal that the earth is round.  Isaiah 40:22 says “It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,”  Aristotle suggested that the earth might be round, too…………… 300 years later! 

There are many other examples of how the Word of God reveals the complex nature and makeup of our world.  Scientific discoveries only prove what the bible has already revealed to us.  That is why it is amazing to me that so many “smart” people refuse to believe in a Creator when the evidence is right before their eyes.  But the Word of God says “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." 1 Corinthians 1:18-19

Being wise doesn’t get you to heaven.  The bible clearly states that His Word is folly to those who are perishing.  Do you know someone who is perishing?  Time is of the essence to tell them of the Savior who died for them. 

I believe, as many Christians do, that we are living in the last days.  Our time on earth is short and getting shorter.  Therefore we must live our life as if Jesus was returning today.  Tell the people you love about Jesus.  If you truly love them you will take the time to ask “Do you know the Savior of the world?  Do you know my Jesus?”  Please don’t assume your loved one knows the Lord.  That assumption can mean the difference between eternal glory or eternal hell.

Please keep our soldiers in your daily prayers and pray for God’s continued mercy upon our Country.