Open any newspaper and you will see headlines like, “Tornado rips through town, killing twenty.” Or, “Earthquake hits area.” Or, “Gangs on the move in small town, causing havoc.” You get the point. Seems like these type of things are increasing in intensity. There’s some good stuff happening, always has, always will, I suppose. But the bad stuff seems to be exploding all around us. Could it be that it’s closer to Christ’s return than we ever imagined? Read Matthew, chapter 24 for some insight. I think more than ever, God’s people need to be praying for the lost because people don’t realize how much is at stake…

Pippa’s Song - Robert Browning

The year’s at the spring,

And day’s at the morn;

Morning’s at seven;

The hill-side’s dew-pearl’d;

The lark’s on the wing;

The snail’s on the thorn;

God’s in His heaven -

All’s right with the world!

 

And with God - all is right with the world - for He is in charge and He has the final say! Just thought I’d share a poem about our Lord in honor of national poetry month.  

 

 

Talking to a fellow believer this morning, I really realized why God must detest complaining. (This person I’m speaking of was complaining about EVERYTHING). It’s like saying to God, You’re not in charge, You can’t change my circumstances, You aren’t bigger than this problem. It’s showing a lack of faith. It’s saying we don’t believe He knows what He’s doing. I was reminded anew how important it is to believe - and not complain! 

Praise the Lord - He is risen! And I can count myself dead to sin and alive to God. Wow. What a blessing!

Happy Easter! 

Some people say let go and let God. Some say God helps those who help themselves. So…which is it? Actually, it’s probably a little of both. Say you’ve been praying about something that you need. I believe our job is to pray - wait on Him - and them do what He tells us to do. When we step out and do what we want to do without waiting on Him, we often just get in trouble. When we just sit around doing nothing, expecting God to do everything, we often get in trouble. All things in balance. Pray, wait on Him, then step out in faith and do what He tells us to do. He knows best. And He longs to be our great Shepherd. After all, we’re all just a bunch of dumb sheep!!   Baaaahhhh!!

I’m noticing it in myself. I’m noticing it in others. That spirit of discontent. Complaining. Seeing the bad rather than the good. Boy, have I had to repent (over and over and over again!) How many of us are really happy right where God has us? Do we really believe He can change our circumstances? Well then, why doesn’t He? Maybe he wants us to be contented right where we’re at. He’s sure made that clear to me lately. I found the Serenity Prayer online and I’ve been praying this to the Lord about a trillion times a day:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardships as the pathway to peace.

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.   Amen. 

Yep, that’s what the bible says. Easier said than done, I know. I struggled (and still struggle at times) to get my thought life under the control of the Holy Spirit.  It’s easier to dwell on negative, unthankful, fearful, ugly, and sometimes (yes, even Christians!) out of control sexual thoughts. With porn running rampant, it’s no wonder. But the bible also says in Proverbs 4:23 (amp.) Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. 

When a thought pops into our heads, it’s so easy to just go with it. We don’t examine it or wonder if it’s the devil attacking our minds. We just follow it. And soon enough we’re…depressed, angry, ready to cheat on our spouses, hopeless. The battle begins in the mind! If Satan can control our thoughts, he has us right where he wants us. It’s not easy to take our thoughts captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ. It begins with being aware of what we’re thinking, measure it against what the Bible says, and then cast it out if it’s not Christ honoring. Sometimes the devil has managed to develop a stronghold in a persons mind. This is where we have to dig our heels in and work with the Lord until that stronghold is broken! The devil wants to see God’s people living broken and in bondage lives. I say - NO WAY! Jesus Christ came to SET US FREE!! Be determined to break free from wrong thinking! As a man thinks in his heart, so he is…    

Watching my dog the other day, I thought to myself, I wonder if God sees us that way. No - not as dogs - but as never satisfied. You see, I had just given my dog a little bite of my dinner and yet there she sat, waiting for more. One bite wasn’t enough. She wanted more. I wonder if that’s how God sees us. He gives us little blessings day in and day out. Yet we want more. Our flesh is never happy. It always wants more. I would be thrilled if my dog would say (now wouldn’t that be something!) “I’m satisfied with that little bite you gave me. Thank you.” Wow! Maybe we should try that with our Heavenly Father. This quote from Rudyard Kipling seems to fit: Teach us delight in simple things.

Watching all the drama around me, I am reminded that us humans are a walking variable. Fickle. Unpredictable. Our emotions are all over the place. We NEED a constant. His name is Jesus. Only He can give us some stability in our lives. Only He can help us manage our crazy emotions. We need to get in the Word, stay in the Word, and rely heavily on the Constant that we all need - Jesus. 

Help! I am having a difficult time writing my next book, which is about a woman whose husband is addicted to porn. It’s fiction, yet still I’ve had to do quite a bit of research to know what I’m talking about. The problem is every time I sit down to write I go blank. It’s just not coming together. I feel sure I should write this story so I’m asking my fellow Christians out there to please be praying for me. I need God to give me the words and make it a story worth reading. And of course, a story that gives hope and points to the Lord. Thanks in advance!