Snow!!!

(Screen capture from CBS 11's website)

Well, we're under the white part. Appears that we'll come out from under the snow shortly, maybe without receiving much more. When I let the dogs out this morning, the snow was packed up against the doggie door -- and that's on the south side of the house! Well, sort of southwest, but the bulk of the house should have protected their run slightly.

I wondered how many times snow was mentioned in the Bible and found twenty-four verses. Most references were descriptive:

His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: [Matthew 28:3 KJV]

Or:

I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. [Daniel 7:9 KJV]

Which is so similar to:

And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; [Revelation 1:13-14 KJV]

More often being white as snow refers to leprosy, as in the first reference, where God is preparing Moses to confront pharoah. God tells him why, then creates miracles upon command:

That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee. And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh. [Exodus 4:5-7 KJV]

I was also reminded:

For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; [Job 37:6 KJV]

Each reference speaks of His abilities that are so far above ours, yet He cares for us. Simply awesome.

So, we continue to await spring. I know many of you are affected by the storm and I pray for your safety.

Stepping Out

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. [Isaiah 55:8-9 KJV]

Isn’t that the truth?!?! And I’m grateful for that. I’m reminded of it when I read about Christ’s life.

And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. [Matthew 14:25 KJV]

See what I mean? How many of us even think about walking across water, much less do so? We think it can’t be done, just as Christ’s disciples.

And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. [Matthew 14:26 KJV]

Just as the disciples, we cry out in fear when we realize that Christ can do things we cannot, therefore we do not understand and we back away. Peter didn’t, though. Impetuous as usual, when Christ identified himself, Peter wanted to join Him.

But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. [Matthew 14:27-29 KJV]

You know He calls us, still. One of my favorites is where Peter tells us that in 2 Peter 3:9. He wrote from his own experience. Jesus called him to be a fisher of men and he responded. He called to Jesus to “bid me come unto thee.” Jesus responded, “Come,” and Peter did. He was walking on the water just as the Christ. For a few moments, then worldly things got in his mind.

But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. [Matthew 14:30 KJV]

Not that the wind affected him or caused him to fail, but his fear did. He had sufficient faith to step out onto the water and head for Jesus. He lacked the faith that Christ could uphold him in the boisterous wind.

And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? [Matthew 14:31 KJV]

As Christians today, we react much the same. You’d think we’d learn over the centuries, but every once in a while those white clouds in the distance become dark and boisterous and we lean to our own understanding, even when we’ve been told not to:

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. [Proverbs 3:5 KJV]

Step out in faith. Even if it is not as we expect, for His thoughts are not ours, He is able to sustain.

On With The New

Would you really want to crawl around chewing on leaves in a lumpy body with dozens of feet? How about if you knew that there would be a period of rest, then you could fly?

That’s such a beautiful picture of what Christians expect. No, we do not think it’s the same as the butterfly, but the analogy fits. We’re humans, tied to this earth, confined to work and eat and sleep and repeat. I wrote a children’s story about Billy’s Garden where Clarence Caterpillar did just that, then changed and learned to fly.

He did not change on his own. He changed according to God’s plan for his species. Now, let’s take a look at God’s plan for us.

God’s plan has stages for us, too: Without God; with God in us; with God. Too often that middle stage is missed and God is not to be found in us. There is no ‘fruit of the spirit’ (Galatians 5:22, Ephesians 5:9) to show how we love Him because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19) Once we’ve accepted Christ as our savior, the first change takes place and God is in us:

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:16-17 KJV)

Then begins the change – the putting off of the old, and putting on the new:

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24 KJV)

That doesn’t get us to the flying stage, though. Those changes just help us keep His commandment to love Him and others, and show that love in our actions. The real change comes in the transition from this life to our home.

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:6-8 KJV)

Paul speaks of this last change:

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:52-53 KJV)

So, I will not have the beautiful wings of a butterfly, but I will put on incorruptible immortality. He says so. I believe. Do you?

Schedule!

No, that’s not really my calendar. I keep mine on my iPhone so the changes are not as apparent. But this past week’s schedule might have appeared this way had it been on paper. So very much happened. The one day I wasn’t at a doctor’s office or hospital, I attended a funeral.

Two days were spent with First Daughter, one while they did a mylegram and and a scan at the hospital (she had minor complications and remains dizzy), the other was an EMG where they place electrodes and poke needles into nerves. Neither one much fun at all. The other medical trips were for a Good Friend’s pre-op and Beloved Husband’s therapy. Both are recovering. My own health seems to be fine, thank you very much for asking.

First Daughter, though, is not, and prayer for her upcoming surgery will be greatly appreciated, please! She’s paying a neurosurgeon to slit her throat. Don’t worry, it’s not only the same operation that gave me relief several years ago, it’s the same surgeon. Odd, it’s not really for the same reason, though.

I had a herniated disk between C3-C4 and congenital stenosis of the spinal. Hers is caused by the multiple rear-end accidents people have given her since she was eighteen. Most of them occurred when she was stopped at a stop sign or stopped by traffic in front of her. It’s almost as though there was a sign on the back of her car with a huge target.

What ever the causes, she will undergo surgery next Thursday morning and we truly covet your prayers for her speedy recovery.

When praying, please give thanks.

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (Ephesians 5:20 KJV)

Throughout the Bible, we are exhorted to give thanks.

Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. (1 Chronicles 16:8 KJV)

We give thanks for the ability of the surgeon, for the caring staff at the hospital, for the congregational prayer support. All of these available by the mercy of God. For these blessings and much, much more, we give thanks. Please, join with us in prayer.

To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. (Psalms 30:12 KJV)

Contradictions

There it is, in one sign. What a contradiction. How can this be the entrance when we’re told not to enter? Of course, it brought to mind a scripture:

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (1 Corinthians 14:33 KJV)

Many would refute that verse. They say the Bible is full of contradictions. That there are verses that say one thing and a bit later other verses state the opposite. I’m certainly not going to list anyone’s list here, especially since I do not find truth in that statement.

Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16 why we have scriptures:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16 KJV)

The Greek written for “inspiration” is theopneustos. That first syllable relates to God, the remainder of the word is used for ‘breathed.’ I would assume the author meant that all scripture comes from God. Peter confirms this viewpoint as he wrote of what first century Christians considered scriptures:

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:21 KJV)

(That takes me back to High Priest Caiaphas’s prophecy we discussed a couple of days ago – speaking words given by the Holy Spirit.)

A bit later, Peter writes of Paul’s epistles:

And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; (2 Peter 3:15 KJV)

John, in Revelation 22:18-19, outlines how serious it is to add to or to take away from the word of God.

To paraphrase a statement made by Charles Wesley, the Bible is either right or wrong. It was created by good men, bad men or God. Good men would not tell lies, bad men would not write condemning their own sins, and themselves to hell. If it is of God, it must be right.

Some philosophical debater could refute my statement and show contradictions, and in fact, some have done so. I believe the Bible has shown to be true in what it says about men, God and itself.

Whenever I hear of such contradictions, I turn to the Bible in prayer and study before and after those verses. Are they talking about the same thing, or are there differences in time, place, persons? Is it language differences where a word is used in a different context, could the word have varying meanings? Study the variables, for it is important to find the answers for yourself.

We can’t know it all. There are things we will not know. Daniel and John were given major prophecies to tell the world. Both were told to keep some things back, things we are not to know. But I do not believe contradictions were among those things.

Find out for yourself about the Bible. Is it an entrance? Are we not to enter?

Wish you had been here …

… with us.  Back in March of 2010 I wrote about a Baptist Funeral, telling you a bit about what I have in mind.  Statistics show it wasn’t well read (probably because of THAT word) but there were two comments.

Wednesday I attended such a Baptist funeral, designed to celebrate life.

That is a copy of the banner lifted behind the pastor.  It was created by her husband to help us celebrate her life.  Earlier Marty had written his beautiful feelings acknowledging God’s sovereignty and kindly allowed it to be reposted.  In Wednesday’s service we did celebrate her life with us, and her life that continues with the Lord.

A slide show of Lisa’s beautiful smile (always as in the banner) in so many photos crossed a screen to the front right of the sanctuary as we entered.  Their previous pastor gave her favorite verse:

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)

She displayed her trust throughout her life, even in her last conscious interaction, and He had directed her path, all the way home. Her pastor spoke using “Lisa is …” for our God is Lord of the living, as He said:

I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. (Matthew 22:32 KJV)

Attendees had an opportunity to write a card of our memories to leave for Marty.  Several were read during the service by her dear friends and all will go to Marty and the children for their own memory building.

Our pastor spoke of Lisa’s homeschooling; how she taught Sunday school classes; how she taught piano (without charging) to anyone interested in music; how she and Marty had boxes of Bibles in their home to give away.  He spoke of the recent times they discussed her future. While she held no fear, there was some apprehension about the process of death, but no hesitation regarding what awaited her afterward.

And, he gave the gospel – just as I explained in my earlier post.  He gave us John 3:16, along with John 3:18, then the end of that chapter, John 3:36.  He moved on to Romans 10:13, and reminded us that for all the good we know about Lisa, none of that helped her into heaven. Her belief in Christ fulfilled the scriptures.

Pink and silver balloons were released by those who went to the cemetery.  They were to remind us of the last song during the service, Chris Rice’s untitled that calls us to “Come to Jesus, and live.”

I’ve been involved in on-line discussions that include how much denial there is about our own death, or of those we love.  I must remind my readers not to avoid the subject nor the preparations, especially the spiritual.  And, I’ll leave you with my favorite, most faithful feelings about my own home going:

Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. (John 14:28 KJV)

Grieving for what we miss is natural, but rejoicing about the future we attain is truth, too.  Come to Jesus, and live.

How Much Change?

”Paul in Damascus” Detail from unidentified work on Wiki Commons

Following his conversion from non-believer to accepting Jesus’ deity, Paul’s change of heart was noticeable – and noticed.

And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? (Acts 9:20-21 KJV)

Most Christians do not find their conversion changes to be this public, but they certainly should be noticed by those sharing their lives. We all do things as unbelievers that we should not be doing as Christians.

A recent lesson for our Junior High Girls was taken from Ephesians 4 – putting off the old and putting on the new. The old unbeliever might have held grudges, participated in gossip, used inappropriate language, lied, stolen – a dozen little things.

Now that doesn’t sound like felonies, does it. Especially among teenagers, right? Their emotions leap by bounds from one to another, and their conversations do the same. They do get angry, they do hold grudges, gossip about the latest piece of information they’ve heard, repeated conversations with language they’ve heard at home or at school, lied for protection and swiped a pen or pencil without thinking.

The problems grow when we continue to do these childish things as adults. Yes, we grow angry and hold grudges, even against family members. We read gossip in the headlines of major papers and accept it as news, spreading our own unsupported viewpoint without research. We allow inappropriate (= foul) language into our homes through television and pay to hear it in movie theaters, without complaint. Then we’re shocked to hear children repeat those same words. We lie. Again, for our own protection or to hurt another. As for stealing, we take things from others, ranging from their time to their money. Haven’t you? I know I have.

When we become Christians, the old should be put off and the new put on. That new is laid out across many scriptures. A few examples follow this scripture:

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:24 KJV)

Not self-righteousness, but God’s. Paul’s writings about putting off the old and putting on the new followed his own conversion, his own change.

But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. (Acts 9:22 KJV)

He converted people then and his writings helped convert me, proving that this is the very Christ! May we also confound those who do not understand our belief. We should always measure our interaction with Paul’s chapter close:

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32 KJV)