If you are a part of our church family, or if you read this devotional regularly, you cannot help but notice that our little church has been hit hard with its share of challenges. I have heard from many asking what is going on at NWBC? We have many friends and family who are dealing with cancer and other illnesses. It has impacted both the old and young alike. Like other churches, we have many who have done battle with the Covid virus; some have won and some have lost. We have people on our prayer list who have been killed in car wrecks, attempted suicide, and even murdered. Several of our people have recently gone through surgeries and gotten relief and others have not been able to get relief and have in fact received the news that everything that can be done has been done. We have loved ones who are battling the ugly disease of Ahlzeimers that robs your loved one of their mind and personality, almost making them a stranger. We have a friend who is currently battling ALS where his mind remains sharp and yet his deteriorating body restricts him from doing what he desires to do. We have another friend who has been unable to get relief from excruciating pain after visiting many doctors and taking many different medications. There are also those who are no longer with us and are now with Jesus and we are left to grieve and hurt and try to go on in life without them. We have been hit hard!

Where is God? Where is He? We are not the first people to find ourselves in this situation. The book of Job tells us about a man who God thought was head and shoulders above the rest. God is talking to Satan and He asks him if he has ever taken a good look at Job. God describes Job this way: “There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” (Job 1:8) If you think at ll like I do, the fact that Job lived like that, would automatically mean that he was protected from all of the kinds of stuff that you find on our prayer list. He was a good man! God said that he was blameless! Blameless should not equal trouble in my opinion. In fact, blameless, you would think, should mean exempt from trouble. That is what Satan thought too! That is not too comforting for me to know that I think and reason and rationalize a lot like Satan does. Satan said the only reason that Job is that way is because you have blessed him and protected him. Is that not true? Don’t you think that that is how things should work? The fact is that we think and reason and rationalize a whole lot more like Satan than we do like God. God was up to something and Job knew nothing about it. In ONE DAY, Job lost everything! He lost his businesses, his wealth, and even all of his kids. That’s a bad day! That is a horrible day! One day later, he lost his health! UNBELIEVABLE!!! What did Job do? He worshiped!  EVEN MORE UNBELIEVABLE!!! How did Job make it? Why did he not just fall apart? Because he knew that God was up to something. In Job 2:10 he asks his wife “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” That sounds like someone who knows who is in charge and who is pulling all of the strings behind the scene.

Friends come to console and pray with Job. Good friends! The consoling and comforting turns into a discussion and mission to look for the sin that Job committed to bring all of this on himself. There has to be a reason or perhaps something you did, because this is not the work of a sovereign and loving God who might be up to something. Is that not the way that we think? 1plus 2 always equals 3, right? One of his friends tells him in Job 22:21 “Submit to God and be at peace with Him; in this way prosperity will come to you.” Submit to God and you will prosper. That is exactly how we think! I find it interesting that all of this discussion with some good Christian brothers eventually leads to a downward spiral and Job says 23:2-5 “Even today my complaint is bitter; His hand is heavy in spite of my groaning. If only I knew where to find Him; if only I could go to His dwelling! I would state my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would find out what He would answer me, and consider what He would say.” For whatever reason, his time in discussion with his friends led Job to the point that he lost sight of God. “If only I knew where to find Him…”

WHERE IS HE?

Friend, He is right beside you!!! He promised that He would always be with us. He said so as He ascended from His earthly ministry to take His seat in the throne room of heaven. Matthew 28:20 tells that Jesus said “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” It ain’t over yet! That means that He is right there with you! Because of that, we are told in Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” He is faithful!!! In the middle of the heartache, pain, and fear, know that He is right there with you. Talk to Him. Tell Him where you are at and what you are thinking. You will find out that He already knows. Rest in that! Rest in the truth that God is up to something in your life and in your church! “Be still and know that He is God.” Psalm 46:10

I don’t mean to sound morbid, but I have been thinking about heaven a lot lately. You?  I have been forced to do it. This Friday I will be doing the funeral service for David and Helen Jenkins.  David went to be with Jesus a week ago this past Sunday and and Helen joined him in heaven two days ago. On Monday of next week, I will be doing the graveside service for Jimmy Johnson who went to be with Jesus back in February. All three of these people are from our church and in a matter of a little over two months, all three of them are now in heaven. Another friend of mine who was in a small group with me at our previous church also went to heaven a little over a month ago. My parents are in heaven. My father-in-law is in heaven. I have several friends who are already in heaven too. Robbi and I were just talking about several people who have recently left us and gone to heaven and the number is steadily increasing. Perhaps the thought of heaven and what needs to happen for you to get there scares you. The Bible tells us in Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.  As we continue to get news of the death of a friend, family member, or loved one we tend to ask “what is going on?” Job 12:10 tells us that In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. Job 33:4 says The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Are you getting this? Do you believe this? Are you okay with this? In fact, Psalm 115:3 tells us: Our God is in heaven; He does whatever pleases Him. These verses indicate to me that God is at work. God is doing something, and it is all about Him! Are you okay with that? 

Is His desire to make us miserable? In John 17:24 Jesus is talking to His Heavenly Father and He says this: Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, and to see My glory. If you are a follower of Jesus; if you are a born again believer; if you are a child of God; if you are a Christian; Jesus wants you to be with Him and He wants you and me to see His glory. In order for you and me to be with Jesus, unless He returns soon, we will have to die. That can be scary when you think about it, but if you are a believer, know this. The very moment that you draw your last breath here on this earth, your very next breath that you take, you will take in the presence of Jesus in heaven. 

Charles Spurgeon wrote the following in a devotional that I just read yesterday: “Stop fearing death! Ask God the Holy Spirit to grant you an intimate knowledge and a firm belief in your Redeemer’s death, so that you may be strengthened for that journey.  It is blessed to die in the Lord: It is a covenant blessing to sleep in Jesus. Death is no longer banishment; it is a return from exile, a going home to the many mansions where the loved ones are already living. The distance between glorified spirits in heaven and militant saints on earth seems great; but it is not. We are not far from home—a moment will bring us there. When the eyes close on earth, they open in heaven.” 

Please know that there is nothing wrong with grieving. There would be something wrong if you did not grieve, but remember that we do not grieve like those who have no hope. We will be with the LORD forever. Forever! Now, please pray for one another, be encouraged, and then go and encourage someone else with these truths from the Word of God. (1Thessalonians 4:13-18)

Blessings,
Jerry

I recently was reading my Bible and I came across a verse that was pretty thought provoking and convicting after I spent some time really thinking about it. Romans 12:18 says:  If it is possible; as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Is it possible? Is that even possible? There are some people that are simply just impossible and peace is not something that you would associate with the person that you are thinking about right now. That person that you are thinking about right now is the one that I want you to keep in the forefront of your thoughts as you read on. Paul says: “…as far as it depends on you…”.  When Paul says those seven words, the focus is shifted from the person that you are thinking about to you. If you were to break it down a little further it says: “…it depends on you…”.  Two chapters later Paul says in Romans 14:19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. This sounds like it might be a little bit of work! Is it possible to live at peace with everyone? I don’t know; in fact, I don’t think so, but it does sound like the intention is for us to work to that end.  Not just occasionally, but continuously. Make every effort.

With that particular person in mind and in full view, allow me to ask you something:  Is it someone that you see just about every day?  Is it someone you work with? Is it a family member? Is it your spouse? Is it someone who you go to church with? You come to church every Sunday and you intentionally look to see where they are sitting and you sit on the other side of the auditorium? Is your solution to Paul’s directive to making every effort to do what leads to peace by simply avoiding that person? That is an answer, but if it depends on you, is it the right answer? Is that what God is telling you to do? Why is the face of that person staring right at you in your mind right now? Who brought that person to mind? Who has ordered the steps of your life that requires you to cross paths with that person regularly? Who made that person your brother or sister? God. God did that! Notice that Paul says that we are to “…make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” It sounds like there is something in this not only for them, but for you too! In Hebrews 12:14 there is a very similar passage that says: Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the LORD.  Living at peace with all men does not get you to heaven; it does not save you. It is, however, an indicator that you have been set apart by God and are one of His children. You bear the characteristics of a child of God in that you love as He loves.

When our kids were younger, like all siblings, there were differences. As parents we tried different things to try to get them to understand that their actions were wrong. They would have to sit on the couch facing one another and look each other in the face for long periods of time. On several occasions, I, being the “spiritual leader,” would use the Word of God, the Sword, to try to get my point across. I would inevitably go to 1John 4:20-21 and read this to my kids as they were seething with anger while sitting in front of each other: If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother (or sister), he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, (he or she is sitting right there in front of you), cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother (or sister). I used the paraphrased edition by Jerry to try to get my point across. My kids were ticked at each other and now I was using the Word of God to attack them and their actions. Impressive!! They did not always receive that too well, but if you were to ask them, they probably remember it. A better plan would have been to impress this upon each of them when they were not angry with each other. My point is that you need to prepare to make every effort to live at peace with that person that is staring at you in your mind. Why? For the good of you and the glory of God! Do you ever wonder why you are bitter and nasty and grumpy and unhappy all of the time? Day after day, God allows you to cross paths with that person. Why? Because He wants to make you more like Jesus. Consider this: Jesus died for those who hated Him. Think about that for a minute! He is not asking you to die for that person. He is asking you to make an effort.

Ephesians 4:32-5:2 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children, and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

It might very well be that you need to forgive someone. They may have said something to you or about you that you just cannot or will not forgive. How bad is it? Does it even come close to how you have sinned against God? Make every effort. As far as it depends on you. 

Is it possible? TBD.  Time will tell!

As most all of you know by now, our friend and brother David Jenkins is spending his fourth day in the presence of Jesus in heaven today. As I thought about all of this and all that led up to it, I am reminded of how many times we prayed for David. His health has not been good for the last couple of years and yet David pressed on and was always happy when he was able to be in church. When he was able to come to church, if you were to ask him how he was doing, he almost always had a smile for you and would say that he was doing pretty good. A man on dialysis and struggling with an irregular heart beat and diabetes would not be how I would have defined “pretty good” if you would have asked me. I do not believe that David was putting on his “church face” like so many of us do each week when we walk through the doors and are greeted by someone. I believe that David was doing pretty good because he knew that the sovereign God who he loved and worshiped was giving him the strength to be there that given Sunday. David’s “pretty good” had more to do with his position in Christ than it had to do with how he was feeling that day.

David has been our prayer list for quite some time.  Helen too! They were a team who were there for each other when the need was real. We asked God to heal David. We asked God to help him get his medications under control. We prayed for Helen as we knew that she was weary at times, and we asked God to give her the grace that she needed to make it through that particular day and then the next day, and the next, and God was faithful to do exactly that. We all prayed for David. 

I came across a couple of verses in Luke 5 that many of us have probably read many times before. There was a man who had the dreaded disease of leprosy. Leprosy was a horrible disease that gradually ate away at the limbs of a persons body. Maybe even more painful was the requirement for that person to avoid all contact with people. On top of that, no one wanted to be around someone who was sick with that disease. They were to cry out the words “UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN!!” as they came close to anyone. Can you imagine that? We pick up the story in Luke 5:12-13 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged Him, “LORD, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

Did you catch that prayer? It lasts almost 15 minutes and it was filled with some of the most eloquent words and phrases that you might ever hear in a prayer. NOT!!! It was a pretty simple statement.  It was a very simple prayer. “LORD, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” This man knew his condition and his need and he also knew who it was that he was talking to. Have you ever heard anyone pray like that? Simple and right to the point. Maybe they have not yet been educated on how to pray yet? Perhaps they are new believers who really believe that Jesus can do something? I love to hear people pray who are simply talking to God. You can tell that they have talked to Him on several occasions prior to this. They actually believe that they are talking to the sovereign God of the universe who gives life, who sustains life, and who sometimes take life away. What if Jesus said, no, you deserve that leprosy? What if Jesus said I can take it away, but I am not going to right now? What if Jesus said yes I can, but I am not going to do it the way that you are asking me to do it?

We have prayed over and over again for David.  We have asked God to heal his body and to restore him to health and strength. Of course, our desire was that God would do it the way that we wanted Him to do it, but God has always got the best plan. He took David home to heaven and David is healthier and more alive than he has ever been or could ever imagine to be. Have you ever thought about that? I hear people say things like “he is better off…”. Really??? Do you really think so???  HE IS IN THE PRESENCE OF JESUS AND IT DOES NOT GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT!!! He is living the ULTIMATE because God took him home. Will we miss him? Of course we will. Is it okay to grieve? Of course it is, BUT, because of David’s position in Christ, we do not grieve like unbelievers do. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 tell us what we should expect concerning those who have died, and then v.18 tells us to encourage each other with these words. Go check it out for yourself, and then rejoice. Rejoice!!! REJOICE!!! 

How do you pray? When you pray, do you try to educate God? Do you even give Him suggestions as to how He might want to take care of your situation? Do you fill your prayers with flowery big words and try to impress those who hear you pray? Do you ever try to impress God? Look at the prayer of the leper. Learn from him, and then pray. Just talk to God, and then trust Him. He will ALWAYS do what is right. Just pray!

By the way, David is doing much better than “pretty good.” 

Just yesterday I was visiting with some very dear friends of Robbi and me, and as it seems to be more common recently, the topic shifted to our medical conditions. Our kids are out of the house and we are all empty nesters, so what do we talk about? Our doctor appointments and the following treatments. Some of you might be laughing as you read this and I want you to know that not too long ago, I was in your shoes. Old people talk about their grandchildren and their aches, pains, and medical treatments; at least that was my take. It’s crazy and yet, here I am. I have never been one to spend much time talking to doctors let alone visiting them in their offices. My philosophy has always been, if they look long enough, they are going to find something. Now they have machines that can take X-ray slices of your body. I don’t care how healthy you are, they will find something if they look hard enough. Why do we put ourselves through all of that stress and expense? Because we just want to know. Interesting. As we commiserated with each other about our challenges and various conditions, we ended up laughing with each other (and at each other) and we came to the conclusion that we ARE getting old, and that the more we look, the more we can expect to find. (By the way, he is MUCH older than me). My question is, do we really want to know? Honestly, how many of us would go to the doctor or the radiologist and ask them to check you out from head to toe? If they do not find anything, their instructions are to keep looking until they do. Is that normal? For some, it very well may be.

I was reading in Psalm 139 and I came across this passage of Scripture in vv.23-24 where David says this: Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. David is asking God to give him a spiritual CT scan from head to toe. Check everything God! Why would he do that? Because he wanted to know. David enjoyed communion and fellowship with God like few others in the Bible. He messed up big time and he did not like that feeling of disconnection at all, so he wanted a diagnosis. He asked God to give him a new heart and to renew his spirit in Psalm 5. Why? Because he lost the joy of his salvation. He got over what God had done for him. He took the blessing of God for granted. It was expected!

David knew that there was nothing that he was going to hide from God. At the beginning of this same Psalm in vv.1-6 David acknowledges that. Check it out: 
O LORD, You have searched me and You know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue You know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in–behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, to lofty for me to attain. God, You know me. You are better than any CT scan that has ever existed or ever will exist. Not only do You know everything about me physically, more importantly, You know my heart. You know my spiritual condition! Why is it that we will go to great lengths and expense to find out what is wrong with us physically, but we avoid the spiritual examination at all costs, AND IT’S FREE!!! All that it requires is a prayer. We try to spend our Wednesday devotionals and time together on Wednesday nights centered around prayer. My question for you and for me is, is that how we pray? Do we want to know? Do we want God to tell us what He sees in our lives? It is serious stuff, more serious than anything diagnosis from a doctor.

Just this past week, my family doctor’s 16 year-old daughter was crossing a railroad track out on a country road and she pulled out across the tracks not seeing the oncoming train. She was hit in the passenger door of the car and pushed 100+ yards down the track. She was rushed to the hospital where her father who is a doctor met her and what he saw was not good. There was severe head trauma and she was unconscious with a fractured pelvis and many lacerations. A shunt needed to be put in her head to relieve the pressure on her brain.The immediate fear and thought was that there was irreparable brain damage and they were not sure that she would even make it the next 24 hours. There was nothing that this father and medical doctor could do but call on the Great Physician who knew her every part and beg for mercy. Why?  For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:13-16)  Do you know what that means? Do you realize what that implies? There is nothing that is hidden from God. He already knows! He knows every detail of your physical body and He is the one who keeps it going. He gives life and He takes it away! He also knows the condition of your spiritual life. Regardless of what you have done, or where you might be right now, He loves you! He loves you! His desire is for you to live a life overflowing with the joy of your salvation. There may very well be something that needs to be taken care of first. You need to see the doctor. There is no guess work to be done with the Great Physician; He already knows. Schedule an appointment right now. Pray. Call out to Him in prayer and ask Him to give you His diagnosis. It’s pretty simple. No drinking 32 ounces of a solution containing iodine; no IV’s with contrast; no fasting; just ask! Pray! The real question is, do you really want to know?

By the way, my doctor’s daughter, Ellie, is a miracle. The Great Physician has spared her life and she is expected to recover completely.  AMAZING!!!

I have been spending a lot of time in Matthew 26-27 and there was another particular passage that struck me this past week.  Jesus is in Gethsemane with His disciples and He is talking with His Father. Last week we discussed Jesus’ statement “not as I will, but as You will.” This week I want to briefly touch on the statement that Jesus made to His disciples when He said “watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” (26:41)  What did Jesus mean when He said that to His disciples? Was He trying to divert their attention away from the problem by shifting their focus to something else? We have done that with our kids for years. When they would go to the doctor as children there was always a supply of suckers or candy readily available to shift their focus away from their vaccinations and the pain that they were about to experience, and I continue to do those kinds of things today with our grandchildren when they fall and get hurt. Is that what Jesus is doing here?

I have to think that watching and praying is more than a diversion given to us by Jesus. The passage does say “so that you will not fall into temptation.” Is that the only reason? How does that happen? What does “watching and praying” do? What am I “watching” for? The fact that I am watching is an acknowledgement that I have need; that I can very easily fail; that I am prone to wander; that I am a sinner. I am a sinner! You are a sinner too! The people that you live with are sinners! The person that you heard about on the news last night in the police reports is a sinner! We are all sinners! We are prone to wander! The disciples were in constant communion with Jesus for more than 3 years and Jesus tells them to watch. They were with Jesus in Gethsemane and Jesus tells them to watch. Aren’t you thankful for the Amazing Grace and patience of God? How many times would you extend grace to someone like them? How many warnings would you give until you finally gave up and said “they got what they deserved”? How many times would you extend grace to someone like you? If you are a Christian, you are a sinner who has been saved by the grace of God, and yet, we still need to watch.

Jesus goes on to say “pray”. What kind of prayer? What should you talk to God about? After all, talking to God is prayer. Do you realize who God is? He is the One who breaths life into you. He is the One who knows all of your needs. He is the One who controls all things. He is sovereign over all things, everything, and yet He has time for you and for me. Talk to Him. Know that He is Holy, Holy, Holy and that He hates sin. Even though He hates sin, He loves you, a sinner. He has time for you. 

If you know that you are a sinner, and if you know that He hates sin, do you suppose that might have an impact on you when you “watch and pray”? Do you suppose that you might give a second thought to what you are about to do if you are watching and praying? How might a life of watching and praying impact you? What do you suppose might happen to temptation when it comes along, and it will? Jesus knew what was about to happen in Gethsemane, and He knew what His disciples were going to be facing, so He told them to watch and pray. Why? Because He loves them. Because He loves you and me! 

The disciples failed three times; back to back to back, and yet Jesus loved them. He loved them so much that He went straight from Gethsemane to the cross, not because of anything that He did, but because we are sinners in need of a Savior. He loves you! He loves me! Is it too much of Him to ask us to watch and pray? It will be for our good and His glory, so why would we not do it? “Watch and pray!”

Monday morning I was reading in Matthew 26 where Jesus is in Gethsemane and He goes to pray. He told His disciples that His soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. That is something that some of you might have had a taste of yourselves. Jesus knows that death is just hours away and He talks to His father about a possible change of plans. “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me.” (Mt. 26:39)  Father, this plan that was laid out before the foundation of the world in eternity past, can we change it? This plan of redemption for people that continually turn their backs on Us; this people who are bent on rebellion; these people who want their own way, can We change the plan? Jesus prayed to the point of death. He was exhausted and full of grief because of what was about to happen.

Some of you have been there. Some of you are there right now. You might have a loved one who is slowly dying and you know it. You are thankful for the moments you have together, but you are begging God for more. You are praying like you never have before with passion and intensity. Some of you might be making deals with God. Some of you have stood beside the bed of someone you dearly loved and have grieved so intensely, that you did not know if you could take any more. Saying goodbye to a parent as they lay on their death bed. Saying good bye to a spouse who was taken too soon. Holding an innocent young child in your arms as they breath their last breath. You cannot possibly go on with life like this, so you pray and beg God to do something, anything to breath life into them. You do not want to let go and your anxious heart aches. You ache all over as you beg God to make everything good.

Jesus talked to His Father about this and He repeated His desire three times. I’m sure that each time He prayed, it was with greater intensity, but then He said, all three times, “not as I will, but as You will.” (vv.39, 42, 44) Was Jesus giving up? Was He done begging? Did His Father not hear Him? Did His Father not care?
No, no, no, and no again! This was God’s plan. This was not a plan that He whipped up at this moment. This was the plan to save you and me put together by the Triune God in eternity past. You, me, and millions of other Christians were on the mind of God in this plan because He loves us. As rotten and horrible and wicked as we are, He loves us! Jesus was not turning His back on us at this moment. God could have done anything to give us eternal life, but He chose to crucify His own Son for you and for me. You want to talk about grief to the point of death? That is amazing to me! Even more amazing to me is what the Supreme Sacrifice said to His Father: “not as I will, but as You will.” 

Charles Spurgeon put it this way: “Let it be as God wills, and God will determine for the best. Be content to leave your prayer in His hands, who knows when to give, and what to withhold.” Can you do that? Can I do that? Do I know God well enough to be able to say those words? We can pray for the same thing over and over and over again, and that is okay. But are we then willing, at the end of each prayer, to say “God will determine for the best?” We might say it, because that is how we are supposed to end our prayers, but do we believe that? Really?? God said no to Jesus, His only Son who was without sin. Does He not have the right to say no to you and me? Do you agree with Spurgeon that God will determine for the best? Can anyone tell me of a time when God has not done what is best? You may not have thought so at the time. You still might not think so as you struggle with the grief and anxiety of letting go, but I can assure you that the Father knows what is best.

We have no idea of where God might be taking us and what He is wanting to teach us. We may very well have no idea of what He is doing when He allows unexplainable and indescribable grief, but I can promise you that He is up to something. Look for His hand in your everyday life and rejoice in knowing that He is with you in everything. Because when the tough stuff comes, and it will, you will be able to say like Jesus did, after begging God to remove the hurt and sour of pain, “not as I will, but as You will” and then be able to rest knowing that He has determined what is best. Easy to say, but a whole different thing to live it.
Trust Him!
 

I read something pretty interesting yesterday morning that could explain the condition of the Church today. Every day, 66% of evangelical Christians are looking at Facebook, 39% are looking at YouTube, and 32% are opening their Bibles. In other words, a lot of Christians aren’t opening their Bibles today. Instead, they’re looking at social media. That just might be the problem with the Church today.

I don’t know about you, but there is not a day that goes by that I don’t take a look at Facebook. Sure, I post a Bible verse on my page every morning to just prompt thought and to be sure that the Word of God is seen.  But then I usually proceed to scroll the posts just to catch up on what is going on out there in the world. There are lots of interesting things that people post. Some people like to let the world know every detail of their life including when they are not going to be home so that thieves are able to go to their respective homes without giving it a second thought. Some of the pictures that are posted are hilarious, including some of the craziest selfies. People who stand in front of a mirror striking a pose with their lips pooched out are one of my favorites. Do they realize what they look like? There are interesting things about animals, huge construction equipment, and silly stunts gone bad. I come across some interesting quotes that make me think and some make me laugh. I am able to keep up with old college friends as well as friends from years past and their kids and grandkids. We read about people who are sick and in need of prayer or encouragement as well as people who are celebrating milestones and events in their lives. Before I realize it, I have spent 30 minutes or more just scrolling and reading.

If only 32% of Christians are opening their Bibles each day, I have to believe that the same can be said about prayer. What is the percentage of Christians who pray each day? It might be slightly higher because some “pray” for their food. We probably do pray more than we read the Bible because when we pray we often find ourselves asking God for something. “God, please help me find a good parking spot.” “God, please help me to get this done.” “God, please watch over my kids today.” “God, please let me get a good report from the doctor.” “God, please …God, please …God, please…” Too often we treat God like a genie in a bottle or maybe a bellhop in a hotel. If you rub Him a little bit or ring Him up, you expect Him to be there. When you pray like that, are you really talking to God? Really?? The amazing thing is that He is always there to hear you, when you want to talk to Him.

When does He talk to you?  When do you listen? Is it just on Sundays? Do you read His Word? Do you have any interest in what He has to say? Do you really care about what He has to say? Those are legitimate questions. If you want to find out what is going on in the world or if you want to get the latest scoop of gossip, it is nothing to spend 30 minutes scrolling though Facebook. You do that because you want to know! You are interested! Does your interest in the Word of God even come close to your interest in the latest on Facebook. You might say, “I don’t have Facebook!” Good for you. Pray for the rest of us who do. Maybe your time is spent watching the news or sports or the Voice or Hallmark or the Bachelor. Where are you spending your time? What is it that you will not miss? What is it that you have your DVR set to record every day or every week? I am not some legalistic nut-job who condemns all of this. I am guilty of the same. After all, March Madness starts tomorrow and I really enjoy it. The question is, do I have that same interest in spending time in the Book?

I have found that if you spend time in the Word of God, it will change the way that you pray. You will find yourself really talking to God because you have gotten to know Him better as you read the Book. You will realize the importance of prayer in your life as well as the lives of those who you are praying for. Wouldn’t it be cool to really pray with power? I mean to be totally in tune with the will of God and to pray His way rather than yours. A couple of days ago, I read a portion from Max Lucado’s book When God Whispers Your Name. He is talking about the unseen heroes that we just might encounter every day. Check out what he writes:

A hero could be next door and you wouldn’t know it. The fellow who changes the oil in your car could be a hero in overalls. Maybe as he works he prays, asking God to do with the heart of the driver what he does with the engine. The daycare worker where you drop off the kids? Perhaps her morning prayers include the name of each child and the dream that one of them will change the world.

I know—those folks don’t fit our image of a hero. They are too, well, normal. Give us four stars, titles, and headlines. But we seldom see heroes in the making. And we seldom recognize heroes, but we’d do well to keep our eyes open. Tomorrow’s great preacher might be mowing your lawn. And the hero who inspires that person might be nearer than you think — maybe in your mirror.

How do you pray like that? By knowing the heart of God. How do you know the heart of God? By reading His Word. Pretty simple, right? No, it is not. Satan will do all that he can to keep you from reading the Word of God, which will then keep you from praying with power centered in the will of God. Pray for me as I pray for you and let’s commit to spending more time in the Book!

Romans 12:1-2  Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.

Have you been there? Is He even listening? Does He really care? Is He too busy? Maybe I just don’t matter as much as so and so? Maybe you are there right now? You have been asking God for answers, and it seems as though your questions are falling on deaf ears. Things are not getting any better. It just seems to drag on and on and on, and still nothing. In fact, things seem to be getting worse. Why does God do that? Why does He not answer?

I have often said that I wish God would do some sky-writing for me, or maybe hand-writing on the wall. Why not a dream that is so clear that there is no question that God was talking to me? He could also send a text or email if He would prefer, but that never happens. In Psalm 13 David is living through one of those times. It becomes obvious pretty quickly that this is something that has been going on for a while. Four times in his prayer David asks the same question: “How long…?” His questions seem to get more and more intense. The first one sounds like it might be a little bit in jest; “Will you forget me forever?”(v.1) Sort of like “come on God, did You forget about me?” Then he asks God “how long will You hide Your face from me?”(v.1)  He then moves on to say something like“God, I’m really struggling with the way I am thinking about all of this“(v.2) and then he takes the focus away from God and puts it on the “…enemy that is triumphing over me…”.(v.3)  David wants God to do something, to give him just a little something or else he is going to die and his enemy is going to declare victory. How many times have you asked God for something, just something to give you a little hope. If you could only see the light at the end of the tunnel and know that it is not a freight train heading your way, you will be ok. I’m sure that most all of you have been there or are there now. If you don’t think so, take a look at our prayer list. There are all kinds of examples on that list; people who we have been praying for week after week after week.

Let me give you a few examples:

• David Jenkins has been battling health issues since I came to this church and before that. How long Lord?
• Glenna Musgrave has been battling dementia for over a year now. How long Lord?
• Loretta and George have been working through Loretta’s Ahlzeimers. How long Lord?
• Ed Askew has been living with pain for more than 2 years. How long Lord?
• Wendell Hawley and Nancy have also been working through Nancy’s Ahlzeimers. How long Lord?
• Suzanne Hicks and Myrna Harding both have burdens for their daughters and they pray and we pray. How long Lord?
• The Stoller family has been struggling with Joe’s ALS and it is not getting better; it is getting worse. How long Lord?
• Dan Simons and Bruce Faginkrantz have no desire to be with the people of the Lord. How long Lord?

I could go on and on, but do you get the picture? What is God doing? Twice David mentions his enemy to God. Who is that enemy? Was it king Saul? Perhaps. Was it Satan tormenting him? Possibly. I tend to think that it was the enemy of doubt and fear and the absence of hope. That will exhaust you! That will make you want to quit! That will bring you to the brink of sleeping in death! The God who was with David when he slew the lion and the bear; the God who was with David when he killed Goliath and removed his head; that God seems to be missing, but is He? Of course not! What is missing is David’s trust in God’s unfailing love. David had forgotten. It is almost as though after David has asked all of his questions and voiced his complaints, that he remembers something at the end of verse 4. David says: “But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation.”(v.5) David forgot! He remembers the amazing love of God that never ceases. He remembers God’s salvation, God’s salvation, and he rejoices! Have the problems behind the questions gone away? Probably not, at least not the perceived problems. King Saul may have very well still been out to kill him, but David remembers and trusts in the unfailing love of God. He remembers all that God has done for him. He remembers God’s salvation!!! Do you trust Him? Has God changed? NO!! Your circumstances may have changed, but don’t ever forget that your circumstances do not alter the character of God.

So how did David get through this difficult time? He sang to the LORD. He praised God! He looked back over his life and he remembered God’s unfailing love. David sings out “He has been good to me.”

As I was finishing this up I thought “I think I have written from Psalm 13 previously, and sure enough it was last year in April right after the pandemic had disrupted everything. Here we are, still in the pandemic, so that begs two questions: “How long Lord?” and “What is He doing?”  I don’t know and I am not going to pretend to know, but I do know this: God is up to something. Look for His hand as you go through your days and weeks and when you get discouraged and confused, trust in His unfailing love and rejoice in His salvation.

Praying for each of you!
Jerry

That is sure something to think about, isn’t it?  How would it change your day today? Who would you want to talk to? What would you say to that person? Think about that for a minute. What would you do? Take some time to think about that too. What is left on your bucket list to do? My intention is not to ruin your day, but the fact of the matter is that none of us is guaranteed tomorrow. Monday morning I attended the funeral of a good friend who I was supposed to have breakfast with later this week. Our plan was to have breakfast, not attend his funeral. I can tell you of many other similar stories of people who were here one week and stepped into eternity the next. None of us is guaranteed tomorrow.

What prompted me to ask that question was a quote that I came across from Benjamin Franklin where he said:  “Work as if you were to live a hundred years, pray as if you were to die tomorrow.”  We do live and work every day as if tomorrow is a sure thing. We have our weeks planned. We have our weekends planned too. Many of you are already planning what you are going to do for Spring Break or for summer vacation. Some of you already have Christmas Break all planned out. Many of us work as if we will never retire, and many work with retirement marked on the calendar even though it is 10+ years away. You are committed to working hard and there is nothing wrong with planning, but I am sure that your plans would change immediately if you knew that tomorrow was your last day on this earth. If the doctor told you that you only had weeks, I am confident that your plans would change immediately. After all, that is the responsible thing to do for your family and loved ones, right? 

How would you pray? What would you talk to God about? What is it that you would ask Him to do? Does it not make sense to talk to the One who gives you life and breath, and also the One who takes it away? How would you pray? Would there be any measure of earnestness behind that prayer? Would it include any confession? Is there anything that you would want to talk to God about? Would your prayer contain any thanksgiving? Would your words be filled with praise and adoration? Is there anyone who you would want to bring before the LORD in prayer? Is there anyone who you would ask, even beg God to invade their life and save them?

Psalm 34 gives us insight into the life of David when he was at his wits end. He was scared, fearful, and in trouble, but things changed when David prayed. Was trouble still present? Yes it was. Was he still tired? Yes he was, but listen to what he says:
I will extol the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them. Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing. (Psalm 34:1-9)

“I will extol the LORD at all times.” All times? Really? “His praise will always be on my lips.”  Always? Really? I hope that would be true of the person who knowingly is about to step into eternity tomorrow, but what about those of us who are left behind? What about those of us who will have to say good-bye to that loved one? Extoling and praise, at all times and always? David said that “…he sought the LORD and He answered him, and that He delivered him from all of his fears.” David did not try to make sense of what was happening. He did not run to his friends or even his family for comfort or answers. He sought the LORD. He tells us that he called and the LORD heard him. Not only did he He hear him, He also delivered him out of all his troubles.  Does that mean that the trouble was gone? I don’t think so, but I think it does mean that God provided peace in the midst of the storm. He says that those who look to the LORD are radiant. David’s focus had been on all that was going on around him. King Saul was in pursuit of him and wanted him dead because of his jealousy that followed when David killed Goliath. The people of Gath, where Goliath was from, wanted him dead too. Achish, the king of Gath had David in captivity and David’s faith was failing. He acted like he was mad and crazy to the point that the king had him put out of his city and David ends up in the cave of Adullam in the country of Judea. It is here, secluded from everyone and possibly wanting to seclude himself from God as well that David remembers two things: God protects and God provides. 

None of us know what tomorrow holds for us. Some of you may have been told that your time or the time of a loved one is short. Some of you might be facing a pretty difficult day today. It might not be life threatening, but it consumes you. Some of you might be charging into this day without a care in the world. Wherever you might find yourself, remember this:  God protects and God provides. Knowing that truth, I would encourage you to pray as if you were to die tomorrow, because the One who hears your prayers is faithful and true. He will protect. He will provide. He will give peace. How do I know that? Because David goes on to say “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them.” David experienced that first hand and I have too. If you are a child of God, you have too. Just remember. Take some time to reflect and remember. “Taste and see that the LORD is good.”

Have a great day and a better tomorrow knowing that “those who fear Him lack nothing.”