God is NOT on Holiday (and neither is the enemy)

During this time of year in Brazil it is hard to get anything accomplished until after Carnival which takes place around February or March depending on when Easter is going to be. We are about to go into summer break for schools and people get their “13^th” salary.  Christmas, New Year’s and Carnival just puts people in a festive party mode.

I remember when we first arrived in here as missionaries I was pregnant with my youngest.  I found a doctor shortly after moving into our duplex and since we were just beginning language school, I needed a doctor who spoke good English. I wanted to emphasize my desire for DRUGS during labor and be understood! I had a tendency to have 10lbers so I wasn’t going to experience labor without all the help I could get.  When my doctor found out that I was due in February, he shook his head and said “No”.  I remember wondering if he didn’t know his months in our language.  He went on to explain that there would be no doctors and very little nurses in the hospital because they would all be at Carnival.  Mark and I were not familiar with the culture yet, but now looking back after all these years it makes total sense.  In the end, the doctor took Sam by C-section prematurely in mid-January.  All because of stupid party mentality.

As an American I shouldn’t be overly critical of Brazil’s “Party mode” because Thanksgiving starts a festive time of year for us too doesn’t it?  American’s don’t want to hear about the negative during this time of year.  We send our double missionary offerings and Christmas shoe boxes to 3^rd world countries with good hearts, and we make amends with people we have been on the outs with because we really love celebrating this time of year.  But really we want to shop, see the lights and get together with family and ride the holiday high until New Year’s.  Then, and only then, do we remember our schedules, diets, revivals and, oh yeah, BILLS. 

These thoughts caused me to wonder about God’s attitude towards His creation as we experience our highs and lows.  I wondered how He views us as we turn off the sad and turn on the glad this time of year.  Does He rest and celebrate? Is God kicking back with a slice of fruitcake and glass of eggnog?  What if something negative happens in my life?  Will God be there to hear me, or will He be too busy watching all our Christmas Cantatas and patting us on the back for taking a moment to remember the Christ in Christmas?

Genesis 2:2-3 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. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

The above verse says God rested.  When I think of the word rest, I view myself getting off the treadmill sweating, heaving out of breath and sitting down to “rest” and wipe my face with a towel.  But that isn’t what God did after Creation.  I mean, come on, He is God!  He has an endless supply of energy and He doesn’t get out of breath or tired.  He isn’t overweight, out of shape or unhealthy.  He is Perfect. 

So, why does it say He rested?  He paused, looked at His perfect work and was content.  He even blessed that day that He rested.  Man is the one who has taken the day of rest and turned it into something else by laws and traditions in different religions.  But man shouldn’t dictate to me as a Christian how God rested and how I should observe the Sabbath.  I need only to look at God and follow His example.  God paused, stopped and was content with Creation, I need to pause, stop and be content with my Creator. 

There is nothing wrong with being festive and enjoying the fruit of our labor or our life. 

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.

God has given us a life to live here on this earth.  We are to live it for Him and His Glory and whatever our hands find to do, we are to do it with all our might.  That is Scriptural.  It is okay to be happy and enjoy life.  But look out, there is an adversary out there, wanting to rob us of our joy and our happiness, even our lives. 

Job was minding his own business and minding it well.  His sons and daughters apparently had a reason to hold a feast and get together and be happy.  It is interesting to note though that God wasn’t on holiday and neither was the adversary, Satan.  We have all read and heard about Job’s trials and patience.  But I think we forget that while we live and enjoy this life, we do so while forgetting about God AND the enemy.  We get so busy in our holiday times that we compartmentalize our thoughts of Heaven or Hell and the rulers of each. 

If, during this season, God allows something in your life that could be labeled negative, don’t think He is on Holiday.  He isn’t.  He is still very much in control.  If the enemy comes a lurking, threatening to steal your joy, don’t think God isn’t paying attention, He is. 

While we are in this busy time of year and while we want to focus on the “good”, let’s not get twisted in our thinking that God is also celebrating and busy with the holidays as well.  He is maintaining an even Spirit.  He is pleased with good and displeased with evil.  He still smells the sweet incense of our prayers towards Him but notices our neglect as well.  The enemy remains on his path to destruction and won’t take off for Christmas or Carnival either.  He is busy wrecking and ruining anything he can get his claws into, so don’t cease your prayer life during your busy life. 

Enjoy your family, enjoy worshiping the Lord and celebrating His birth, but if something happens and you are left despondent, just remember, God is NOT on holiday.  He is available 24/7.  He will hear, He will answer and He will help. 

Until next time, Lord willing,

Sheri

Weekend Getaway # 47

Prohibited, or just warned?

Two little fellows were in trouble and it seemed the only way for me to get through this time was to take them on a mission of work detail! Both the same age from different classes, they took their bags and began picking up trash on the property.  One boy hunted the trash while the other glanced here and there. It was astounding to see the difference in the two. I just sat there under the pavilion watching them while pretending to do some work. I wanted to pick them up, hug them and send them on their way, but they had to learn a difficult lesson. Why is it that some get it while others do not? These children are just like us adults, aren’t they? God warns us in His Word but we just go on ahead and do our own thing and wham, the consequences come flooding in, don’t they and we ask ourselves, “Why?” knowing all along that if we had just been obedient such things would not come to pass.

Every problem has a solution if we try and look through the eyes of God’s Word. If we expect obedience from our children in the class or in our own ministry of the church, we must FIRST be obedient to our own authority, wouldn’t you agree? For a leader to leave home without FIRST getting into the instruction book of the Bible and SECONDLY, without falling on the knees in prayer is simply asking for a day of problems! We cannot ask others to do what we ourselves do not practice. God sees ALL! He expects us to be obedient……or we suffer consequences ourselves.

Reading this 21st chapter of Acts, I see a man in total obedience to God even when it appears he is warned to NOT go to Jerusalem.

 Ac 21:11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
Ac 21:12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.

Was Paul prohibited from going or was he just warned that these things will happen?

Watching the youngsters pick up the trash, I wondered which one would learn to obey and serve the Lord one day? Are they learning now or are they just going through the motions looking to the 3:20 bell to end so they can go and do as they wish? Not sure, but I did see that one of the boys had a unique eye for trash! He saw what the other did not see. One boy was lazy, while the other was not. There was character in the midst of the one rebellious boy and I needed to make note of it and work on it. The lazy boy just needed more trash to pick up for longer periods of time, I suppose.

Interestingly, I had given each boy a bag with handles, but one boy had a larger bag than the other. Did they think I expected them to fill their bags? I don’t know….I didn’t ask but one boy had much more in his bag than the other. We look at the task and think we cannot do it. We get loaded down with the “what ifs” don’t we. We stop before we ever get started.

One boy began to cry, while the other took off and got busy. I’m not sure who was learning a lesson…...the boys or me but I do know the character in one boy was one that I saw potential of steering in the right direction in order to make a strong leader among his peers.

Paul had character! Once upon a time, he consented in killing Christians. He believed in what he was doing was right until God slam dunked him! God saw something in Paul that could be directed to the good. What does God see in you? I ask myself that question often. To the Lord, I would see the small pieces of trash, walk the long hot trek and not give up until the day is done or until the Lord calls me home.

What do I know better about HIM in this Acts 21? I know that Paul listened and heard what his dear friends told him knowing that they were right in their decree of going to Jerusalem, but I also know that Paul’s ear was to the mouth of God and he was willing to die for Christ’s sake! Oh my, Paul, what character you had and what character I need!

Some commentators say that Paul was prohibited while others say he was warned. Either way, he went!

Sheri has entered into a ministry of reaching the “Bettys of the street” while fear grabs my throat, but she must listen to God and do as He commands. Pray for her and protection upon the family. Each of us have the opportunity to do the impossible but most will not, did you know that? Maybe the character to trek on is deep inside of you. What keeps you from taking the next step? Why not get to know HIM better than others think they know!

Until next time, Lord willing.

Sharon

God is Good!

Psalms 33:5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

In light of the recent attacks of ISIS, one would begin questioning the goodness of the Lord.  I have heard people wonder, “If God is good, why would He allow such suffering?”  I am sure you have had a similar thought before in your own life. 

To say that God is good, we would need to understand what the word good means.  It would seem to be relevant here on earth because what some people think is good, others do not.  For example, up on the Rio Negro in northern Brazil, people love to eat turtles.  More specifically, people love eating turtle eggs.  When it is turtle egg season, people go nuts and though it is against the law to gather the eggs, much less eat them, people take the risk because to them it is “good” eating.  Down here in the southern region of Brazil, people don’t eat turtle, but they do like cow tails.  It is a big deal when it is cool to have a get together and make cow tail stew.  See what I mean?  Good is a relevant word depending on the person.  So what do I mean when I say, God is good?

I could make the case that He is good because His mercy endures forever like it says in Psalms 118:

Psalms 118:1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.

I could say He is good because He does good:

Psalms 145:9 The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

I could also say that He is good to those who wait on Him:

Lamentations 3:25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

Maybe He is considered good because He is a strong hold:

Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

Each of the verses I just quoted uses the exact same word for GOOD (טוֹב towb). 

Now, I have eaten Turtle and I have eaten cow tail, I have tasted both and have my opinion of both.  I would choose turnip greens, cornbread and fried chicken over either of these two Brazilian meals any day because I am a southern gal and to me, Southern food is “good”.  It is all in the taste.

Psalms 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.  

I believe that when I was 14 and I felt God tugging at my heart because He was drawing me to Him, I had my very first personal taste of the goodness of God.  Over the past 31 years I have gone back and sampled that goodness of God.  The very fact that I am living and breathing today is testimony of His goodness.  I should have been dead long ago.  But God is good, because His mercy endures forever.

Have you tasted the goodness of God?  It is the earth’s greatest natural resource.  Maybe life and sin have left you with a bitter taste in your mouth towards all things concerning God.  Maybe someone has disappointed you so badly that you have tucked your heart away so that no one can ever hurt you again.  But if you will but have the faith to trust in God, you will experience His goodness as He heals those hurts and bitter spots.  He said BLESSED is the man that trusteth in Him.  Blessed means happy.

Do you want to be happy?  Really happy?  Taste and see that the LORD IS GOOD!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Until next time, Lord willing,

Sheri

Are You Listening?

A teacher stood in front of my desk and said, “Mrs. Loyd, I’ve never had a class like this one before. They do not listen.”

“Did you listen when you were their age?”

“I think I did.” We both laughed a little but I knew deep down it was not funny.

“Give me an example of why you think they don’t listen.” She did, and I thought it was normal for children to not pick up details of a story when they couldn't relate to the subject matter to begin with…..thus, I smiled and said, “I hear you, and I am listening but I don’t hear what you are trying to say."

Children hear more than we give them credit, but I totally moved into her frustration corner! They were not picking up the necessary details she wanted them to know.

“Have you listened to God this morning,” I asked. “Well, I read my Bible, and yes I listened to Him.”

“What did He say?” She just smiled and said, “I don’t remember.”

“Was it not important to you to remember?”

“That’s not fair and you are not listening to me right now!” We chuckled again, and I said, “Look, ‘change up’ something and go back to doing what you are excellent at doing and that is teaching! Step away from the routine and ask God to show you their little minds and what they need. Back up, if needed and get your manipulatives out and spread them on the floor. You KNOW what to do.”

Growing up as a child, I did what I was supposed to do because I was afraid not to. I am seeing more and more children  NOT AFRAID of anything. Parents are not taking the time to train their children because they say they don’t have time between church, ballgames, ball practice, piano practice, and a hundred other things besides being at home together, LISTENING TO EACH OTHER!

No one has time anymore to listen to each other. We are too busy spending our precious time on “other” things while our children grow up without Godly supervision and instruction. God, HELP US! May I ask, "What is important to you?"

Just recently someone asked me why my daughter and her husband, who are missionaries,  were building a house. I said, “Well, they live there and need a home!”

“Do you mean they are going to stay there?”

“Yes! That is their home, their ministry. They are called of God to minister to the people of Lages, Brazil. Their home is their resting place for the family. The city is huge and they will build one church, and then another, and then another, but at night they go HOME.”

“I never thought of it like that!” she said.

She was finally listening to me. We sometimes have in our minds the way something is supposed to be, but all the while, it isn’t, simply because we miss the information along the way and an opinion is formed based on information and/or false thinking.

Taking these two examples, I am reminded of why it is important to “Listen” to God’s Word rather than just sit by and hear “words” which make absolutely no sense and leave us making decisions contrary to the truth of God’s Word.

Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Pr 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.

Getting to know God more is to “LISTEN” to Him and then “ACT” on His Word. I’m afraid we have stepped away from the training of our forefathers in that we are not opening the Bible up in the mornings around the breakfast table, training our children to “LISTEN” to the Words of God and we wonder why they don’t listen to their teacher and other authority figures. The ultimate, my friend while we train them to listen to us, is to LISTEN to God when He calls their name for salvation and then hopefully calling them to service.

What is more important to you? Maybe, it is time to ‘change up’ some things and get out there and do what you do best but take time to LISTEN as well!

Until next time, Lord willing.

Sharon

Does God Hear Us When We Cry?

Does God hear us when we cry?

If you have done any traveling outside the United States or spent any time in a big city, you will eventually wonder to yourself, “Does God even care about these people?”  It is a hard thing to witness true poverty and hopelessness, especially when you see it with children. 

My youngest son, Sam, who is about to turn 16, sat down on the grass in the front yard this week and exclaimed, “Man, what are the chances of me being born into a Christian family?!”  His words are thoughts I have had many times myself.  How thankful I am that I was born into a home where God was exalted and worshiped consistently.  This leads me to naturally pose the question, “Does God love me more than He does Fabiana, a little girl who comes to our church?”  You and I both know the answer is no.  He loves us each the same, but our hearts and minds can’t make sense of why some people seem more blessed than others.  It is this type of thinking that also makes us question if God hears us when we cry to Him.  Sometimes it seems He answers everyone else in the world but us doesn’t it?  Let’s look at what His Word teaches us so we have some Truth to stand on the next time we are crying and alone.

I read each verse in the Bible where crying or some form of crying was mentioned.  I found that a LOT of people cried throughout the pages between Genesis to Revelation.  In fact, some of the cries mentioned have not even happened yet because they are prophetic.  So, I can be rest assured that I am not the only person in history that has cried or will cry.  I am not alone, and neither are you. 

In Psalms 22 there is a prophetic account of Our Saviour crying.  Before we read it, I want you to think about the fact that Jesus was not some helpless, hopeless man, He was and IS God.  The One who created the tear ducts, uses them in these verses.  The One who spoke the world into existence, speaks here in this chapter and He cries out.  If you and I are going to answer the question: Does God hear us when we cry? We need to look at Psalms 22.

Psalms 22:1-31 To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.

They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.

I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.

Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.

Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.

They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.

Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.

Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.

For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.

My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.

The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations.

All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.

A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

This Psalm starts with a cry and ends with a cry.  The first is in the form of a question and the last is a declaration.  I believe this needs to be the pattern you and I follow in our life’s quest of knowing God better.

We are going to come up on a moment in our life when we will cry out to God in agony.  Jesus did this in the garden and on the cross.  He who knew NO SIN, BECAME sin for you and me.  (2 Corinthians 5:21) Just thinking about the sin I have committed in my life makes me know for a fact Jesus definitely cried on my account.  Think about your life, He had to cry because of you too didn’t He?  And he didn’t just cry softly, He roared.  Jesus knew the ultimate sacrifice He was making, and He did it out of love for us.  We made Jesus cry, but He thought/thinks we are worth it.

Did God hear Jesus when He cried?  I believe He had to hear His own voice! 

Jesus cried to God and it is very interesting to note verse 6.  Jesus compares himself to a worm.  Why?  Was He saying he was a squiggly nasty piece of bait on the end of a fishing hook?  NOPE.  The worm referred to in this Scripture is a crimson grub that was crushed in order to use the red color for the dying of king’s robes.  He was crushed and bruised and despised of men, but not by God.  And again, Jesus did this for you and me and every other person in this world so that we might, by faith, be clothed in the "King of Kings" robes of righteousness.

God allowed the crying, but it was for a purpose. Psalms 51:17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.  God heard the crying and if there was ever a day we KNOW HE paid attention it was the day Jesus was covered in blood as He hung on the cross of Calvary, torn and beaten for our transgressions.  If God heard the cries that were wept because of us, that proves His love for us and gives us great confidence that He hears our individual cries today.

Now, the end of Psalms 22 is a cry of declaration, “Finished”.  There was a reason for the cries of suffering, but there is also an end to them.  It is vital we declare that God is at work and give Him the glory!  Will you and I fall for the lie of Satan that our Heavenly Father doesn’t hear our cries?  Or will we face our night seasons KNOWING God is hearing and working His plan? 

Are you in a night season in your life right now?  Are you wondering where God is in all that is going on?  It isn’t easy is it?  Go ahead and cry when you pray, there is nothing wrong with tears, but when you finish, be sure to stand up, wipe your face and look up.  Glorify God and KNOW He has heard and is hearing you when you cry.  He is at work in your life and the lives of others.  Sometimes it is painful, but it is pain with a purpose my friend.  Praise God for what He did for you, and for what He is doing for you because it is leading you to KNOW Him better!

Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Press on toward the mark!  You aren’t alone and God DOES hear your cries.

Until next time, Lord willing,

Sheri