Decisions, Decisions!

We are constantly faced with decisions. Most of ours do not impact our community, our city, our state and very few of any one’s impact the entire world. One of ours will impact eternity.

Each of us must make the decision whether or not to accept God in our lives. Some will deny His existence. Others deny His interest in mankind. Still others will deny either His mercy, or His judgment. God’s people were given a choice that is available today:

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: (Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV)

Joshua made his decision clear, and challenged the others:

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:15 KJV)

Not deciding does not solve the issue, but may remove it from consideration. Years ago I knew a woman who moved out of her home, away from her husband and sons, to decide what she wanted to do about her marriage. She did not consider that her husband would make decisions of his own. Once his decision was made, her ability to choose was removed. She lived with his decision.

There are those today who are not ready to make a decision about God. Yet we know we have only now. The only day we can live in is today. We can plan for tomorrow and more tomorrows to come, but they may not.

And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? (Luke 12:19-20 KJV)

God’s revealed plan includes a time of judgment for our actions, for our decisions.

Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. (1 Timothy 5:24 KJV)

But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? (Romans 2:2-3 KJV)

When I stand before God’s throne, He will judge me:

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. (Matthew 12:36 KJV)

At that point, I will have an advocate:

Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: (Luke 12:8 KJV)

For that, I am eternally grateful.

At A Loss

I don’t feel alone. I believe, at times, others find themselves at a loss for words when bowing for prayer. Or when seeking to know God’s will. Or recognizing His purpose, though we know we are in His will. Perhaps while we know we are in His will, we wonder about those walking with us.

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:24-27 KJV)

That’s longer than most of the verses I post, but it’s a lesson for me right now. I have faith in Jesus Christ, Son of God, my Lord and my savior. I understand the meaning of faith:

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 KJV)

Back to Romans, where we’re told first that we cannot see what we hope for – therefore, how can we pray for it? God provides for that, too. The promised Comforter. The Holy Spirit God introduced through Christ:

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26 KJV)

Our Comforter is the One who intercedes for us where we cannot imagine what we need. Or, where our imagination takes us far from what He has for us.

He is the One who searches our hearts, as David described:

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalms 139:23-24 KJV)

Solomon knew this was path God set out:

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV)

We must trust that even when we know life will bring pain and sorrow that God’s plan leads to perfection. We must trust, as Mary trusted when told of Jesus’ birth:

For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. (Luke 1:37-38a KJV)

We must trust that even when faced with death, our own or a loved one’s, that God’s plan provides salvation:

He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. (Matthew 26:42 KJV)

God has provided for us when we know not what we should pray for as we ought. We simply come to Him in faith, and in prayer.

What Service?

Following the plague of darkness Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, ready to make a deal. The children of Israel could go, along with their families, but not with their cattle. Moses declined:

Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God; and we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until we come thither. (Exodus 10:26 KJV)

... we know not with what we must serve the LORD. Most of us feel the same way, at least some of the time.

I recently read of a family who left their home, moved to another state, believing it within God’s will. How does one reaction when a husband is losing his job? Her reaction is “God’s at work again.”

I can relate to that. In the ‘80’s, during an earlier recession, my Beloved Husband was offered a job that was better in several ways from the one he had. However, his current job (he thought) was important to the owner and he felt he could not only make a difference where he was, but he felt an obligation to remain. Never a word to his employer, and he was to call the offering company back the next Monday.

My co-workers could not understand my happiness when my husband called the Friday before Thanksgiving to tell me he had been laid off. Perfect! Now he had week’s vacation during the holidays before starting his new job. God provides.

And, He tells us about serving Him. To Israel He said:

And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, (Deuteronomy 10:12 KJV)

As Christ He said:

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. (Matthew 22:37-38 KJV)

Through Paul He tells us:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1 KJV)

With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: (Ephesians 6:7 KJV)

The wonder of it all is that He wants us to know what He has done, and we’re to tell others:

And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD. (Exodus 10:2 KJV)

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13 KJV)

(The photo was taken while serving our Thanksgiving buffet.)

Without Miracles

Glenys Hicks posted two blogs, with paintings of two midwives, Shiphrah and Puah. Ever heard of them? It’s right there in Exodus:

And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. (Exodus 1:15-17 KJV)

Think of the Bible stories you’ve heard from your youth. Most of them do not have to do with miracles, but with people doing what they know is right. Doing God’s will.

The results of their well doing is not always what we would like to hear. Joseph heard God, shared his dreams with his brother and ended up in a pit in Dothan. In the second act he rose to prominence, was faithful to his employer (though Potiphar’s wife was not) and ended up in prison. In a third, he saved his people and Egypt. All the while within God’s will.

The book of Esther doesn’t even mention the Lord’s name, yet one of my favorite verses tells of His plans. If we aren’t where He wants us, another will take our place.

For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14 KJV)

Among the best examples are what we call the minor prophets.

The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel. Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers? Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. (Joel 1:1-3 KJV)

Out of these dozen books, most were men who answered God’s call to admonish His people. Jonah did need a bit of miraculous persuasion, however. These men were called to deliver God’s word to His people. They include a judgment speech, giving an accusation, along with a call for repentance, then a focus on the Lord’s provided salvation. I thoroughly enjoyed these books this year as we studied through the Bible.

Paul’s letters tell us of many examples of people following God’s good news. How about Priscilla and Aquila?

And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. (Acts 18:24-26 KJV)

We could fill page after page of additional examples. Can we follow them? Can we accept that our own lives are lacking, will be called in judgment, heed the call to repentance then follow the words God has provided?

Bible?

What do you do with your Bible? Read? Study? Research? Memorize? Talk about it? Gather dust?

Our pastor gave an example during Sunday evening services. As a young man out of Bible college, he was at work and he was memorizing the twelfth chapter of Romans. His day was interrupted when someone coming into his office. It was a somewhat disreputable stranger, asking for help with a broken down car. His response was “I’m busy right now.”

The woman left just as he reached Romans 12:16. You won’t have to go get your Bible to read it, here it is:

Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. (Romans 12:16 KJV)

Wow, when the Lord lays it out in front of us, it is so hard to ignore Him. But we continue to try. His train of memorization was broken. He was struck with the meaning of that passage. He then answered for himself my original question.

Live the Bible. That is what a Christian is to do.

We can read it daily and think wonderful thoughts about how we would apply it to our lives. We can study to show ourselves approved. We can research each verse, tracking those quotes from the prophets, know about when and to whom books were written. We can be as the Bereans and search scriptures daily. We can memorize it and quote more scriptures than our neighbors. We can teach and preach it.

Won’t amount to anything unless we live it.

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. (James 2:18 KJV)

Oh, yes, the woman’s car was started, with our pastor’s help. God’s lessons are taught to be lived.

We’ve read the lesson. Can we teach it? Can we live it?

Breath of Life

I have four cookie sheets full of pigs-in-blanket ready to go into the oven. We take turns each Sunday morning fixing a small breakfast for our kids who ride in on the vans. This week belongs to a couple in the church who use breakfast sausage instead of the little smokies and make a good sized PiB.

This Sunday, though, they will be at the hospital with their son who is in ICU. He is able now to breath on his own, but having Mom there is a comfort. His situation brought home to us how we take for granted breathing.

Unless afflicted with a pulmonary disorder, we seldom think about breathing. It’s natural. We don’t count how often it happens each moment, each day, each lifetime. But when we cannot breath, it is terrifying.

The Bible tells us it is God given:

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7 KJV)

Job knew this:

In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. (Job 12:10 KJV)

The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. (Job 33:4 KJV)

Luke, too, acknowledged God’s creation as he documented Paul’s sermon:

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; (Acts 17:24-25 KJV)

So, this morning as the fragrance of baking fills my kitchen, as the children reach in for one of the tasty treats, as a mother watches over her son, we’ll give thanks for all of that and more. We’ll thank God for every breath He has in store for us, for the nourishment He provides, for the healing and comfort He brings to our lives.

Most of all, we are grateful each day. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (2 Corinthians 9:15 KJV)

Family Prayers

They range in age from three to ten. Even adjusting for their age differences, their personalities are forming, in completely different directions. They are individuals, distinct from their parents, just as they are distinct from theirs. My beautiful great-grands.

For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: (Romans 12:4 KJV)

Thus it is with families. There are different gifts, different talents. When the family is seen together, though, the similarities become apparent. We are much as was the church:

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. (Romans 12:5 KJV)

We share common memories, yet seen from varied viewpoints, separated by age, interests, education, and others. We are dysfunctional in some ways, but quite capable of productive output, and full of love. We are much as is the church.

For the body is not one member, but many. (1 Corinthians 12:14 KJV)

This is what concerns me about the generations that follow:

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV)

Yet I am confident that prayers will make intercession for them:

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:26-28 KJV)

Just above these verses, Paul teaches us hope and patience.

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Romans 8:24-25 KJV)

So, I have hope for my family, and I wait. Still, I Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV)