And then there are the hard days…

Posted on March 28, 2017 by | Comments Off on And then there are the hard days…

hard daysHard days happen to everyone. It is easy to remember that when you’re comforting someone you know who is having one of those days. It is easy to forget others have hard days when you’re having one of your own.  To be honest, it is a struggle for me some days to just keep functioning. And right now, I am having one of those hard days.

Words of comfort from the Bible

This morning, as things seemed to go from bad to worse, I had to force myself to do my daily Bible reading. In fact, since Saturday morning, I’ve had a verse that’s kept running in my mind: My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart (Job 17:11). When I first began this blog above all else, I wanted to share my triumphs with my failures. Too many Christian blogs give the appearance that Christians are never supposed to have hard days. In complete honesty, I’ve never found that promise in the Bible – and I’ve looked hard for it.

I am in a period of “hard days”

The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit (Psalms 34:18).

As I mentioned above, this morning was a fight to spend time in the Bible. But out of determination to keep my promise to the Lord, I did my reading anyway. I began my normal reading in Proverbs, but it was when I began to read the rest, a recurring theme appeared. God knows the reason of my broken heart. God also has a plan and even though I cannot see what that plan is, it is one that is best for me. But at times we all have days where knowing still does not ease the pain within my heart. And today is one of those hard days.

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken (Proverbs 15:13).

This verse simply states what we have all observed. When someone is truly happy, everything is impacted by that great joy. That joy becomes clear in everything they do. When someone has a heart that’s so heavy it breaks their spirit, they are almost inconsolable. When someone is that down and that broken, it’s often hard for their mind to make any sense of what is really happening around them. Right now, this is where I am. Not a lot makes sense right now.

What David said when he had  “those days”…

There are eight verses in Psalms that can be applied to “those days”. David, the Psalmist, calls them “days of trouble.” Eight is significant in the Bible because it symbolizes a new beginning. [1] It’s comforting to know that once these days of trouble are over, there’s a new beginning. A ninth verse, found in one of the minor prophets, states: The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him (Nahum 1:7). And yes, the number nine also has a significant meaning. It often refers to the fruits of the spirit or divine completeness from the Lord. [2]

There are times when we are going through “those days” where we do not want to hear the platitudes of others. I’ve heard so many “it’s going to be ok” and “you’ll come through this…” Right now, I do not want to hear those things any more. David understood those moments: In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted (Proverbs 77:2). David needed to hear from the Lord. I understand David’s mindset. I needed to hear from the Lord.

Continued on the next page.

Pages: 1 2

Comments Off on And then there are the hard days…

Posted in Christian Living, Difficulties and Trials, Our relationship with God

Tagged , , , ,

When life seems unfair, remember a simple lesson

Posted on March 24, 2017 by | Comments Off on When life seems unfair, remember a simple lesson

unfair“It’s so unfair!” I’ve heard myself say that in prayer to the Lord many times. There are times it is still a struggle to not allow this kind of spiritual bitterness settle within my heart. It’s easy to become bitter when we see others who are being blessed with things we think we deserve. Sometimes it’s a promotion at work or maybe some other sort of recognition. Maybe it is because someone bought a new car, a new house, or anything else we feel should be ours, there are times it is hard to keep a biblical perspective.

Unfair! God does show mercy on the lost

The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors (Proverbs 26:10).

Last week, while doing a daily Bible reading, I read this verse but what the Holy Spirit began to do in my heart was amazing. Normally, I’ve read over this verse with the thoughts of Yeah, that’s right… you’re going to get yours some day. And yes, that’s the context that we are most often familiar with. But I was led to another passage that really began to change my way of thinking:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16-18)

Unfair: Seeking and saving those who are lost!

Even when Jesus walked on this Earth, civilization was already ready to stand in the righteous judgment of God. Had God decided to judge what humankind was – sin was openly praised and encouraged. God’s plan for mankind, the Law that pointed for the need of grace and mercy, had been corrupted by those seeking religious and political power over others. God’s own chosen people had turned their back on Him, refusing to hear His message and to accept Him as their King. And in spite of all this, He chose to come to this world anyway. In Him came healing, forgiveness, and salvation. 

Why? We see in the passage above Jesus explaining this to Nicodemus. And if we have any doubts, the gospel of Luke offers this clarification: For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). He didn’t come because we deserved to receive Him. Jesus came because He wanted to be a blessing to all who would hear and accept His message. He decided to give sinners a blessing so they might come to know Him.

Unfair: The Lord’s plan has always been to offer redemption

In Isaiah there’s a verse that ties nicely into all of this: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it (Isaiah 55:11). In the gospels of John and Luke, the Lord clearly says He desires that all may come to trust in Him. The invitation is still open to all: O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him (Psalms 34:8).

Each of us who have come to put our trust in the Lord had to be pursued by the Holy Spirit. We have to be brought to the place where we have no other hope but to look towards the Lord. Each of us were touched in a different way by the Lord to get our attention. Some came to know Him because of unmerited blessings. And others came to know Him because of the testimony of His grace through a loved one. And some, like me, had to be broken to where the Lord was the only one offering mercy and love. The Lord will do what it takes to get us to make a choice.

 Continued on the next page.

Pages: 1 2

Comments Off on When life seems unfair, remember a simple lesson

Posted in Chrisitian Philosophy, Christian Responsibility, Our relationship with God

Tagged , , , , , ,

Church health: be a part of the recovery and protection

Posted on February 20, 2017 by | Comments Off on Church health: be a part of the recovery and protection

church

Church attendance was low yesterday. Maybe it’s been low for a while but you’ve just noticed it. The church where I attend also had low attendance. We had a couple of Sunday School classes where no members were even there – not even the teacher! Maybe you really noticed it in the Sunday morning worship service. The local church is diseased; already it is showing several symptoms that should concern us greatly. While living in Louisiana, I heard an old country preacher describe this as “church rot.”

Church rot: the dangerous progression

Church rot begins slowly. Normally we are unaware of it starting. We can see the final results of church rot  – church buildings sit empty, its doors closed forever. The building remains as a testimony of what was once an important part of the community. Maybe your church isn’t to that point yet.  Maybe yours is experiencing low attendance for Sunday School and Sunday morning worship. It seems like the excitement and energy has gone out of the worship time. These are all signs of the onset of church rot.

I am convinced that church rot begins so slowly that many are unaware of what is going on. Every church has its occasional Sunday where things seem a bit off. When these types of Sundays become the normal, rot has set in.

Warning about the impact of unscriptural teachings

Within the New Testament, there are several warnings about false teachers and teachings. Jesus taught, Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves (Matthew 7:15). Paul wrote: As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:9). Well-meaning members can be influenced by those having opinions or teachings contrary to sound doctrine. All a false doctrine needs is little space to grow and fester.

Peter warned of this: But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction (2 Peter 2:1). There’s a lot of effort by the apostles warning about those who bring these into the church.  The destructive potential is too great to ignore. Paul wrote to the Galatians: Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump (Galatians 5:7-9).

Continued on the next page.

Pages: 1 2

Comments Off on Church health: be a part of the recovery and protection

Posted in Christian Living, Discipleship, Our place within the local church

Tagged , , , ,