So Shall We Ever Be

"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." 

1 Thessalonians 4:17-18

I have a friend right now who is getting all of her 'ducks in a row.'  Putting things in order for the 'just in case.'  It's hard to try to figure out the future when we are still trying to figure out what we need to do today.

Sometimes, when I read a book, the middle of the story begins to get intense.  I don't like intense, so I will read the last few pages in the book, just so I know that everything works out OK and to my liking.  lol. (I'm not going to read a book that doesn't end the way I want it to; I believe in Happily Ever After.)

But real life is different.

Things are going great and then WHAM!  From out of the blue something enters our lives that rocks our boat and shifts the solid ground we are standing on.

But if you are a child of God, then you already know the end of the story: Jesus wins, and one day we will be in heaven with Him forever.

If you could know what tomorrow holds, would you want to know?  

I don't think I would.  I think it would ruin my 'today.'

God is already in our tomorrow, and the next day and the next day after that, and He has promised to go before us in all things.  Isn't it nice to walk into the unknown and have our Saviour already there with His arms wide open for us letting us know that everything is going to be OK and that we are not alone? I take comfort in that. God sustains us in all things.  He never fails.

No matter how my life or your life may be right now...

    we can still rest in the fact that we know the end of the story...

            But that's just me!

But for A Moment

"For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;" 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

In Mark 5, Luke 8 and Matthew 9, there is an account of a woman who had a chronic illness, an issue of blood, for twelve years.  She had seen every doctor, and she had spent all the money she had to get help with this illness and instead of getting better, her condition worsened.  I can relate; and I'm sure many of you can as well.  We live with a chronic illness every single day.  We wake up each morning and wonder if this is going to be a good day, or if our condition will flare up and our day will be one filled with pain.  Pain that is often debilitating.

I often read this account and try to imagine the joy this woman experienced at the moment she touched the hem of our Saviour's garment.  She reached out in faith, and 'straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.' (Mark 5:29) This woman found healing.

Then there is the Apostle Paul, who earnestly poured out his heart to God in prayer to be healed from the thorn in the flesh, and God told him that rather than being healed from his infirmity, the Power of Christ would rest upon him. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Paul woke up every morning with his chronic illness, but was reassured by God Himself that the Power of Christ would be upon him!

Can you imagine?

And it was the Apostle Paul who penned 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 under the power of the Holy Spirit that reminds us that our chronic illness that we wake up with every single morning, is merely a 'light affliction, which is but for a moment.'

Sometimes it doesn't feel that way, does it?

I've been dealing with my chronic illness for 34 years now.  Some days are manageable, and some days are hard to bear, but in the context of eternity, this pain truly is 'but for a moment.' Our afflictions in the here and now, are 'light' and are 'short-lived' compared to what eternity holds for us one day.  

Albert Barnes once said, 'Our trials are not meaningless. The afflictions actively prepare, build, and secure spiritual maturity and heavenly reward for the believer.  While earthly pain is fleeting and weightless, the glory of heaven is substantial, rich and eternal."

The Apostle Paul didn't describe his affliction 'light' because it didn't hurt.  No, he described his affliction as 'light' because of what he compared it with: an eternal reward.

We can look past our fleeting pain today...

    when we focus on our eternal healing in heaven...

        But that's just me!

Until

"Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast." Psalm 57:1

These words were sung from a cave. David was hiding from Saul, and in his current position and his current state of affairs, he turned to The Only One Who could help him.

God.

Have you ever been there?  In a cave? Hiding from the enemy?  Have you ever been backed into a corner and realized that there was only one way out of that corner?  

You will have to walk past your enemy.

Is your cave of your own making, or a result of someone else? 

Are you hiding from a person? Finances? Bad news? Health?

Your situation can be anything, but the destination always seems to be the same: The Cave.

I've been in a cave for almost two weeks now, so when I opened my bible and read David's heart cry, I found comfort in his words.  He was in a dire-straight.

But he was not alone.

His prayer was so serious, he asked twice for God's mercy.  He also reminded God that it was in Him alone that He trusted.  But what is so beautiful to me is that in the midst of the cave, David found refuge in the shadow of God's wings. 

We also know, by the words of David's prayer, that he realized that his calamity would eventually end. He knew he was in a cave right now, but he also knew that he would not be there forever.

UNTIL: Up to the time that.

David would remain in the shadow of God's wings UNTIL it was over.

David also knew that this would not be his last calamity.

When David prayed, he asked for God's mercies UNTIL THESE calamities be overpast.

'These' is the plural form of 'this.'

In other words, David was praying, 'God, be merciful to me, be merciful to me, because you are the only One I can trust, and I will remain in the shadow of your wings until this calamity is finished because You are my refuge!'

Sometimes when we find ourselves in a cave, it seems like we will never make our way out; but we will.

But UNTIL then...

    Remain nestled in the shadow of God's Wings...

        He is our refuge and strength and through Him we can overcome our enemy...

            But that's just me!

"The marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome. The hilltop hour would not be half so wonderful if there were no dark valleys to traverse." Helen Keller

Fears

 "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1 (and in the margin of my bible, I added, 'Or what?'

Turning on the News, every day is enough to make anyone fearful.  The unrest, anger, and hate in our society causes most sane people to want to crawl under a rock. Crime, Food Recall, Viruses and the list could go on. Fear will take hold of your heart...if you let it.

So, what exactly is fear?

Fear is an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger, a particular instance, emotion, reason for alarm. (Webster's Dictionary)

Now that we know what fear is, do you recognize it in your own life?  Are you going through a situation right now that is causing you great fear or anxiety?  Is there someone in your life that you are afraid of?

And what about fear itself?

During the Great Depression there was much fear and panic going on in our Nation.  During his first inaugural address on March 4, 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke these famous words, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself."  What he was trying to say was that panic and paralyzing terror are more dangerous than the actual crisis we face because they stop us from taking action."

I believe it.  When I'm afraid, I shackle my mind to my fear and I am rendered useless.

But when I finally calm down by quoting God's precious promises to me, I'm reminded of another definition of fear:  It's the reverential awe of God.  It's amazing that when I focus on God, my fear turns into trusting in His promises, my fear turns into courage, confidence and fearlessness!

When I focus on God, fear runs!

Isaiah 41:10 is one of my all-time favorites.   It says, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." 

I can't tell you how many times I have repeated this verse over and over in my mind through different situations in my life.  God's ever presence, comfort and encouragement removes fear and anxiety!

When I fear God, I have nothing else to fear, why?

    Because everything I'm afraid of...

        Is afraid of Jesus...

            But that's just me!

"God's presence brings quietness in the midst of alarm." F.B. Meyer

'Fear not' appears 71 times in the bible.

'Do not be afraid,' or 'Be not afraid,' appears roughly 30 to 40 additional times, depending on the exact wording.  The combined total of similar comfort phrases adds up to around 100 to 145 times in the KJV

 

Pardon the Interruption

 "He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him."

Proverbs 18:13

Has someone ever interrupted you while you were speaking to answer a question, they think you are about to ask?

Has someone ever interrupted you while you were speaking to finish your sentence for you.

Has someone ever echoed the words you are speaking while you are saying them because they think they know what you will say?  

Has someone ever just interrupted you before you finished your sentence at all?

This has happened to me, and guess what?

I've done it to others.

It's annoying, isn't it?  Especially when our spouse does it.  I can't count the number of times I will be telling my husband something and he will finish my sentence before I do, and I have to say, 'That isn't what I was going to say.'

And guess what?

He has had to say the same thing to me just as many times.

Kidner once said, "This is 'a special snare of self-importance.'" 

Matthew Henry notes that a "ready wit is fun, but solid judgment requires patience."

But when you come right down to it, it's pride and it's just plain rude; and when we speak before knowing the full facts, it exposes us to disgrace.

I wonder if I've interrupted my Lord?  Have I been too impatient to fully listen to what He is trying to teach me?  Have I interpreted His Word incorrectly because I haven't read it in context?  Am I hasty in going about my Father's business and doing something He didn't even call me to do?

I'm sorry, Lord.

Do you interrupt the Lord while He is speaking to you...?"

    Let Him finish speaking...

        You might be surprised by what He says....

            But that's just me!

The Network

"Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." 

Philippians 2:4

There was a storm rolling in.  I could see the black clouds on the horizon.  I could smell the rain in the air.  And of course, I checked the radar on the Weather Channel. (lol) I knew it was coming.  I quickly finished the task I was working on, gave my little dog, Grace, her anxiety calming treat, and we hunkered down on the couch to wait for the storm.  As the thunder crashed, the lightning flashed and the rain came pouring down, I thought of a few people I knew who feared such storms, and I began to text each one.  I asked them if they were okay, and then I reassured them that no matter how dark it may get, or how hard the winds blow, yet there were no tornados predicted.  Each text that I sent out was met with a reply telling me how much they appreciated being thought of and being checked on.

Then a funny thing happened: I got a text from my husband and then my son asking me if I was okay.  I smiled to myself and thought of the wonderful 'Network' we had going during the storm.  The comforts of communication that got sent out to reassure everyone that we would all be okay.

I was reminded of another Network.  A Network that connects each Giant Sequoias tree along California's rugged northern coastline.  These mighty, gigantic, ancient trees that tower over 350 feet tall have a shallow root system.  So shallow that if they were to stand alone, they would not be so mighty after all.  In fact, they probably would not survive a storm.  Standing alone, they would fall.  But because their root system intertwines with the other trees around them, they can stand through any storm; and so can the tree next to it.

I love that!

You don't have to wait for a storm to blow through before you connect with someone...

    Just reach out and let someone know you are there for them...

        You just may have prevented them from falling...

            But that's just me!

My Personal Bible

"The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." 

Proverbs 11:25

Brother Larry Ingalls recently visited our church and shared a video of his ministry, Baptist Couriers for Christ, with us.  In one picture, it showed a room full of people listening to the Word of God being preached.  Among the hundreds of people in that room, only two bibles were among them.  The two people with the bibles, sat in the middle of the room and when the Pastor referred to a specific verse, those two people would hold their bibles up in the air for all to see. As soon as the bibles were held up, the entire room turned to look at the precious word of God.  You could see the longing in their eyes; to one day hold a bible in their own hands.  

When I saw that picture, I cried.

I have a bookshelf full of bibles that I have purchased and used throughout the years.  When one bible shows wear and tear, I go online and order a new one and place the old one on the shelf with all the others.

Six years ago, I began an email bible study with my aunt who lives in a different State.  She asked me if I had a bible I could mail to her.  Her request made my blood freeze in my veins.  The thought of having to choose one of my personal, precious bibles to give away was like amputating part of my body.  Years of experiences and years of notes written in the margins seemed all too personal to me.  I couldn't believe her request.  Deep down I thought to myself, 'What?  Send you one of my bibles?'  I began to sweat.  Then I thought that maybe I could just buy her a brand new one.  But no.  She wanted one of my personal bibles.   I began to pray.  I prayed and I prayed and I prayed about which bible I should send her.  I ended up sending her one of my favorite bibles that was jam packed with notes, answered prayers, heart-cries and praises.

And do you know what?

I don't regret it for a minute.

Proverbs 11:25 tells us that a generous person will prosper and whoever refreshes others will also be refreshed.

I had nothing to lose.

And everything to gain.

I learned a lot about myself that day, and it also reminded me of something:

The Christian life is all about giving ALL.

The Christian life is giving SELF to OTHERS...and

It's about giving family and strangers the best of what you have in ALL things.

I also learned that giving a bible away...

    whether or not it's one of my own, or one I purchased to give away...

        is the most rewarding gift I can give to anyone...

            for them, and for me...

                  But that's just me!

            

Baptist Couriers for Christ was founded as a Bible smuggling ministry on November 6, 1979, by Donald Stertz.  During a survey trip behind the Iron Curtain in 1978, he made a chilling discovery; in a church of 100, only 2 had bibles. Since then, this ministry has grown to use containers of all shapes and sizes to send Gospel literature and Scripture around the world.  This material is printed in thousands of different languages and sent to churches and missionaries throughout the world. If you would like to help in this ministry, you can find Baptist Couriers for Christ online, or write to them at:

3030 Witzel Ave. Oshkosh, Wi 54904