Things that didn't

Things that didn't ... what an interesting concept. Didn't what? Well, in my way of thinking this morning, its things that didn't turn out the way expected. So what is new about that? Isn't it rare when things turn out the way we think they should? Whatever. Here's my list:

• the sweet corn and brats wasn't available on Thursday at the Cedar Falls Bible Conference. It was served on Tuesday. We were told it would be Thursday. Pie and ice cream was served instead, and Jim and I weren't interested in that.
• the speaker for Thursday evening was someone whose name I can't even begin to pronounce. He was Indian. He beat around the bush to get to the point, which was basically, "abide in my word and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." We wanted Bible teaching, but there wasn't much of that.

Now that I've written them down, they seem so petty.

Only able to spend two days at the Bible Conference this year. In previous years, when I had the whole week off and Jim wasn't working as many hours and the gas prices were not as such a premium, we would be there every night and some morning sessions. I miss that. Maybe another year, next year maybe, we can do that.

Harold DeCou, who has played the organ at the conference for many years and was scheduled to be there again this year, had to cancel. He has colon cancer. He and his wife live in the Peoria, Ill., area.

Are you ready?

If you died today, do you know where you will spend eternity? Don't presume there is nothing after death. There is heaven and there is hell. Hell is very real. You may think your life is currently a "living hell," but in death, without God, your torment will be much much greater.

Hebrews 4:7 (NKJ) says, "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts."

For when you refuse to obey the living Lord and live to self, you face eternal damnation. Always seek the Lord's guidance and be obedient to His commands. They are for our own good, not to destroy us.

But our decisions are our own. Know, seek what is right and true, not what you feel or think, but what IS.

Deliveries - and the lack thereof

Just want to vent a little here. I ordered a supplement from a company in Middlesex, New Jersey, on Nov. 29, 2007. It was shipped by DHL Express. It arrived at my door in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on July 29, 2008.

I wonder where this package has been sitting all this time.

DHL Express .... nothing express about this delivery!

Snapshots of time

Today's devotional brought me to Psalm 90. Verse 12 (NKJ version) says, "So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" -- meaning, it is not how long we live that counts, but how we live.

We talk about wanting to live a long life, but it may be pointless if our life is meaningless. I'd like to live to be 100, but I sure don't want to be a vegetable ... i.e., an invalid hooked up to machines, bed ridden, no one to love, no one to love me. I suppose that is being selfish. I don't know. I'm sure God will let me know.

I was thinking of how much I ask from the Lord. More than perhaps I have any right to do. Yet, He is my Father, and my physical father was mostly absent from my life. To the Lord I can talk and discuss my life, my feelings. He knows me. ... way more than I know myself. I need to be able to let things out to somebody. He doesn't judge me - He will judge me, but not the way I mean right now. He does not have a preconceived thought that I'm up to no good, that I can't do this or that. The Lord never considers me worthless. He loves me. For that and much more I am most grateful.

Thank you Lord Jesus for being my Savior, my friend, my confidant, my mentor, my all.

The necessity of trials

Yes, I suppose, trials are necessary. They bring us much closer to the Lord, that is assuming we are in a relationship with Him. I am. My husband is. I accepted the Lord as my savior in 1982, but the relationship didn't really start for many years after. Our church went through the Purpose-Driven Life. Many people don't give two hoots what Rick Warren has to say, but we found it brought us to a closerness we seemed to be lacking. I had always kept a journal, but after this study, my husband started keeping one too. His written thoughts are considerably shorter than mine, but that doesn't matter. The Bible studying, whether it be full-fledged into a particular book or word, or devotional studying, ... a beautiful relationship with our Lord was developing. The trials we find ourselves in, small or huge, doesn't matter the size, whatever we go through individually, if we stay focused on Jesus, look to Him for our needs, for our answers, be obedient to His instructions, we will overcome. For with God all things are possible. Without God, life is very hopeless indeed.

Learning

Learning, always learning - about what we say or don't say or do. Most recently I learned I still need to be more aware of what I may be about to say. Think, stay quiet before saying anything that may prove distasteful to another. How can you do that!? Pray that the Lord will enable you to build up another, not tear them down. Ah,... to put that into practice and do it at all times.

The Lord enables you to have this or that. Because of what He has given, because of who He is, don't follow those around you who follow dangerous paths - i.e., human sacrifice, witchcraft, occult, etc.

Deuteronomy 18:9-12 says, "When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. ...who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, ... practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer. ... or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you." (NKJ version)

Our future is determined by our faithfulness to God (the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit), not by our own selfish desires. Disrespect for the Lord, reliance on ourselves, shows a lack of trust in Him who IS.

So ...

So much that I think about in the course of a day, week, month, year. So much and yet so little. It can mean nothing or be rather useful. Very few actually read this blog, so it would seem no matter what I say, it won't matter. Well, so be it. It might matter to me and it always matters to God. So between me and God, that's pretty good.

Today's Scripture reading brought me to Romans 12:3b, which says "not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think" Don't think of yourself as too high and mighty, better than another. But then I thought, we shouldn't think too lowly either should we? So low that we become self-centered. Selfishness can be at either end of the spectrum can it not? Romans 12:3c says "God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." Well, if you don't have faith, you don't have God, and without God, you have nothing.

My editor loaned me the book "Obit" by Jim Sheeler ... inspiring stories of ordinary people who led extraordinary lives. It is the most interesting book I've read about news obituaries. I've often though I'd like to try my hand at news obits. I edit obits for the local newspaper. But editing them and writing a story, a short synopsis of one's life, is something else. I question my abilities. I don't know why. Fear factor gets in the way.

"With God I can do all things." "With God on my side, who can be against me." There is no one. With God in my park and me obeying his direction, I can do many things. To his glory. I can write a news obit. Just remember to whom, to what purpose you do this.

Sunday morning, I wrote in my journal, "If I died today, who would remember me?"
I imagine there are many who think that on any day. Is it selfishness or just a sincere desire that someone, anyone, would think well of another, that their life would mean something to another. Something important, not just stupid things, being silly or ridiculous. Perhaps being silly and people remembering that, is meaningful ...to someone somewhere somehow. I wonder.

There is a song included in this book "Obit" that one ordinary man sung ... about smiles. I like what it says. I don't know if these are his words or someone else, but still, I like it and its worth repeating here...

"There are smiles that make us happy,
There are smiles that make us blue,
There are smiles that steal away the teardrops,
As the sunbeams steal away the dew
Here are smiles that have a tender meaning,
That the eyes of love alone may see ...
And the smiles that fill my life with sunshine
Are the smiles that you give to me."

God saved the people

Yes, God saved the people! And that's what counts in the end. Not the stuff we collect, but our very souls. Coyle says it well ... The waters take our buildings, but not our souls. And now we build again.

I finally listed to the powerful words song by Jim Coyle, pastor of Ellis Community Church. If you want to listen to it:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8Tw9lgAdTw

When Christ returns.... not if

There is no if - and - or but about it. Jesus Christ will return. And when He does, He will conquer the world and defeat all the evil powers. You think not? Stick around, and if you should live so long, you will witness it. And if you are among those who do not follow Christ, your end will be imminent. No matter how bad things get around us, those of us who know the Lord, are assured that Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, will ultimately be victorious.

"And I saw the beast (Antichrist), the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to make war against Him (Jesus Christ) who sat on the (white) horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone." - Rev. 19:19-20 New King James version

Don't be deceived

Even though one church may be similar to another church, if (they) don't have the same beliefs, meaning 1 God, 1 son Jesus, 1 Holy Spirit = 1 Gospel, thou are a deceiver, a false apostle.

2 Corinthians 11:13b, 14b, 15a New Living Translation: "They have fooled you by disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. "Even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light. "So it is no wonder his servants can also do it by pretending to be godly ministers."

Don't become deceived like Eve was by the serpent. Don't believe what everyone tells you. If you preach something different, if you hear and listen and follow something different, you are deceiving others and being deceived. You are as the serpent.

Do you think all denominations preach the same ... or all religions? What do you think is the common denominator?

Disasters and our response

The message this past Sunday morning at church would have been about Father's Day, since it was Father's Day, but..... instead it was about disasters (Iowa floods), particularly about how we, as Christians, can and should respond to them when we're in its midst.

Our pastor read Job 1 and made these points:

• Disasters are not necessarily God's judgement
• Disasters can prompt us to turn from sin and turn to Christ
• Disasters can prompt us to a more fruitful life
• Disasters should prompt us to do what we can

Our response should start with faith in Christ.

1964 Goldwater glass for sale

We're planning a garage sale for Friday, June 13. No, I'm not suspicious. Hoping for good weather ... it will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. here in Cedar Rapids. Will have at least 1 collectible - a 1964 Barry Goldwater drinking glass. Asking price is $15. Other items include jelly glasses that I've decided to rid ourselves of and use instead the glasses we received as wedding presents. Also, a gas-powered weed eater, miscellaneous magazines, some small kitchen appliances and computer ware and other miscellaneous items. If interested, send an e-mail to cjandbeejay@gmail.com

A Time for Everything

"And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God's purpose in this is that people should fear him. Whatever exists today and whatever will exist in the future has already existed in the past. For God calls each event back in its turn." (Ecclesiastes 3:14-15, New Living Translation)

The events of today (the present) happened yesterday (in the past) and will again tomorrow (in the future). Each may be different to an individual but also similar. All events are for instruction ... from the Lord.

"There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven,
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to rebuild.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to lose.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak up.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace."
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven..." - Only God knows the true time. According to our thinking the time should be now, immediately. But it never is. When is now? To everything there is a time, a season - but it's not according to our time - it's God's time.
For we are created for His purpose. But we cannot lie dormant and expect God to take care of everything without us doing anything to accomplish it. Our efforts are required for God to bring about his purpose, his desires, for us, in us. God doesn't need our help ... but we surely need His.


"There is a time to plant ... a time to harvest."
Sometimes that window appears to be extremely small.

"...a time to tear down and a time to rebuild."

What goes around comes around again and again.

What day was the first day?

"God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day." (Genesis 1:5)
"Then God said, 'Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth; and it was so. Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. So the evening and the morning were the fourth day." (Genesis 1: 14-19)

The evening and the morning were the first day. What time did evening begin? When is sunset? What day of the week was the first day?

From my perspective, in current times, Saturday is considered the seventh day and Sunday the first day. But that isn't true everywhere. What is Saturday and Day 7 here may be Friday or Sunday somewhere else. And then, of course, evening-morning was changed to morning-evening (12:01 a.m. to midnight) as Day 1. And the same calendar is not used by everyone.

Does it matter? Is it important? We won't know, not as long as we live in this world. The day we are ushered into the presence of our Lord, then, we may know. If its important to know. Worshipping and praising our Lord and Savior just may be more important than trivial pursuits of knowledge.

Show mercy and compassion

The Lord tells us (in Zechariah 7:9-10) to
"Execute true justice,
Show mercy (or lovingkindness) and compassion
Everyone to his brother.
Do not oppress the widow
or the fatherless,
The alien or the poor.
Let none of you plan evil in his heart
against his brother."

Verse 11 says,
"But they (the Hebrew people) refused to heed,
shrugged their shoulders,
and stopped their ears
so that they could not hear."

And so, as says in verse 13, "...I (the Lord) would not listen."

Who do you think your brother is .... ?
Who is the widow?
Who is the fatherless?
Who is the alien?
Who is the poor?

Do you, do we, are we any more obedient to God than the people of Old Testament times?

The 4th Commandment of the Lord

Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy

So, what is the Sabbath? when is the Sabbath? When do we observe the Sabbath? When and how do we keep the Sabbath holy? How does the 4th commandment relate to the other commandments?

These are my my own thoughts based on what I have gleaned from the Scriptures.

God's law is principally about faith. Listening, waiting for God's answer, earnest prayer, then following through. The Ten Commandments are instructions God gives us. We are to learn and pass it on. Learn what God says, teach others what God says. Not learning and teaching what we think, what others think. We will know when we wait on God, seek him earnestly in prayer. Our faith makes us whole.

"Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law." (Romans 3:31)

Without faith we can not understand all that God's law entails. We can not know the whys and wherefores, we can not fully comprehend, not even partially. Obeying the commandments, the law, without faith is of no use. Works alone gets you nowhere. Works do not make you righteous. If you're not righteous, you are not in right standing with God. You are unrighteous, unholy.

"Observe the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. ... And Jesus said to his disciples - The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. ... Therefore the Son of man is also Lord of the Sabbath." (taken from Exodus 20, 23, 31, Mark 2)

The Sabbath is a sign between God and believers throughout generations, that you - we may know that "I am the Lord who sanctifies you - consecrates, makes holy, cleanses? purifies? sets you apart? We are to keep the Sabbath therefore because it is holy to you. A day of rest and refreshment.

"One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day (such as the Sabbath), observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day to the Lord, he does not observe it." (Romans 14:5-6)

What day is the Sabbath? - the 7th day. But worship is not just one day a week - it's an everyday happening.

What does it mean, 'remember the Sabbath - keep it holy? "And God blessed the 7th day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from his work of creation." (Genesis 2:3) It does not say He doesn't bless days 1 through 6 or that those days are not holy. Remember the Sabbath - a day of rest from work - keep it holy - reflect on the Lord, on all He is, all He has done.

The first day - the evening and the morning, sundown to sunrise - what day was the first day? When God created, days of the week were not established. There was no calendar. Where does it say day 1 is Sunday or day 7 is Saturday?

"And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made." (Genesis 2:2)

Again, as Jesus himself said, the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

A corporate day of worship - be it Saturday or Sunday or some other day - we have no individual right to judge the reasonings thereof. In this day and age, how do we remember, observe? How do we keep it holy?

Stimulus money - how grateful are we?

Ah, what a break! The government says, or so we hear, if you file a 2007 income tax refund, you will get $600 back for an individual, $1200 for a married couple ..... It's what in the very fine print .... where it says you will get up to $600, up to $1200. ... where it says you might get $600 or $1200. It's not set in stone. There are all sorts of scenarios the government has set up. If you make this amount, of if your net income liability is less than another amount.

A married couple filing jointly may only get $600. A single individual may only get $300. Depends on how much income you brought in last year.

But look on the bright side .... no matter how much or how little the amount is, its still a gift ... we didn't earn it. ... Where is our graditude?

BIBLE TRUTHS

• When confrontation is necessary to resolve conflict, Christians are to confront in love in order to restore relationships.
• Christians are to take the necessary actions to be reconciled to others in a conflict situation.
• Disobeying God has immediate and longterm consequences, including boggind down in one's journey of faith.
• Jesus desires to forgive our past sins and directs us to live pure lives in the future.
• When Jesus transforms a person's life, no arguments can convince that person that his or her experience is not valid.
• Like a good shepherd, Jesus knows, sustains, and protects His sheep. He even sacrificed Himself for them.
• Even when situations seem hopeless and are irreversible, Jesus is able to help people through tragedies and restore hope to their lives.
• Jesus, the Messiah-King, died on the cross for our sins.
• Because Jesus rose from the dead, His followers are to tell others Jesus lives for them and that He ascended to God the Father for them.
• Jesus wants His followers to serve others humbly as He did.
• Those who love Jesus do what He tells them to do and produce fruit that lasts.
• Christians should anticipate the world's hating them, continue to testify of Jesus during times of persecution, and remain steadfast and faithful.
• Conflict situations provide opportunities to please and honor God.
• In a conflict situation, believers are to accept responsibility for their attitudes and actions that contribute to the conflict.
• God wants His people to obey Him and blesses those who diligently do so.
• The Lord is God, and His people are to remember He is God in their difficult times as well as in their good times.
• When believers come before God in worship, they should seize the opportunity to renew their devotion to Him.
• Believers demonstrate unity by supporting one another.
• God calls each of us to use the gifts and skills He gives us to serve the body of Christ.
• Because God's offer of salvation is for all people we are to share the gospel with all people and invite them to faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus

Jews who still currently do not believe in Jesus will eventually, someday, come into favor with God the Father and receive Christ as their Savior.

Everyone, Jew and Gentile alike, who does not know Jesus, who have not accepted Him, believed in Him, acknowledged Him as their personal Lord and Savior, will have no part in His kingdom. They are spending eternity in hell.

Once you die, once you are physically dead, there is no turning back. That's it. It is The End.

Accept the Lord. Believe He died for your sins and rose again. Live in newness of life with Him before its too late.

We can walk....

We can walk through the darkest trials when we walk with God in the light.

Dearest Lord,

Your winds blow
and we think of the havoc it causes

Your sun / son shines brightly,
paving the way
enabling those in darkness
to see,
to find the way

but, we complain
that it's too Bright
we want to go our own way

Your word is ever present
in multiple translations
of The Bible
and through men and women and children of the faith
who present the Good News
to others in word and deed.

But still,
we do not see,
we do not hear,
we do not understand,
we remain ignorant.

Your calm stillness before a storm
makes us think momentarily
of the turmoil to come

But we do not reach out to you O God.
We seek to stop the inner pain
through our own means and methods.

How can I fix it...

Ah Lord,
I grow in understanding.
It is only with time,
with personal study,
with a close walk with you,
with listening, and asking questions
and listening, and obeying,
and knowing.

You are all things
You are in all things
Without you there is nothing
Without you I am nothing.

Thank you for me.
Thank you Lord
for my walk with thee
for finding me
for keeping me from being forever lost.
Thank you for sending your son.

Amen.

Cathy Orrick Luders

11.05.2007