Nothing to do with it

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God– having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.  They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires,  always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.”  2 Timothy 3:1-7

This was a bad week for our nation, and a foreshadowing of times to come.  Sadly, it confirmed what “terrible times” we are indeed in.  We saw a nation of people blindly following a conceited, narcissistic, slanderous, Godless  leader, and an evil ideology.  What is even sadder, is that WE have allowed this tragedy to happen.  WE have allowed God’s word to be perverted, without resistance.  WE have allowed our  homes and churches to be places of ungodly “tolerance”, rather than beacons of light in a dark world.  WE have vilified God himself, and rejected HIS word by our complacency.

Let’s be clear – socialism is NOT a Christian value – the redistribution of wealth is the embodiment of covetousness – wanting…stealing… the fruit of the labor of others IS SIN.

And what of “social issues”?  I’m not about to pussy-foot around on this one.  Abortion IS murder.  Period.  A child is not a “choice” once he or she is conceived.  Abortion is about a life, not a social issue.

And as for me paying for your birth control, well – if you sold your vote for a few bucks worth of pills or prophylactics, then you sold your integrity and virtue.  Ladies, if that is something that you opted for, then you are one of the “weak-willed women” that the Bible talks about – loaded with sin, and swayed by your evil desires.  I say that with a sincere hope that you will re-examine yourselves and return to God and his truth.  The Bible tells us that the wounds from a friend can be trusted (Proverbs 27:6), so please take my words as just that – the wounds from a friend.

And gay marriage?  God calls homosexuality “detestable”.  (Leviticus 18:22)  It is a sin, NOT to be celebrated.  Are there other sins that we all experience?  Of course!  But we in no way celebrate those sins!  Marriage is between one MAN and one WOMAN.  Period.  And a relationship outside of marriage is adultery.  A government that spits in the face of God and codifies, celebrates and protects sin is actively rejecting God and his protections.  We are not better off when we celebrate sin.  Our “tolerance” opens the door to God’s judgment even further.

These are just a few examples of what we are to reject as Christians, and we are told, in no uncertain terms, that we are to “Have nothing to do with them.”  We must be willing to stand up for the truth – in our homes, in our communities, in our nation, and in our churches.

The question for you today is whether you are FOR GOD or against him.  God has put before you life and death.  CHOOSE LIFE!

Heavenly Father, we thank you for your protection in our lives, and your provision in our lives.  We thank you for giving us your word to guide us in our lives.  We ask you for strength to hold fast to your word, and the strength to stand by your word and in your word when those around us choose the darkness of sin.  Give us wisdom and strength to proclaim your word in a world that is filled with evil, treachery, godlessness, sin and darkness.  Lord, let us be light to those who are in that darkness.  Help us to live lives that are pleasing to you.  Thank you for the hope of salvation, and guide us to bring others into that hope.  Lord, give us inspiration today, especially when we are hurting.  Inspire us to hold on to you when our own faith is weak.  Bless us, Lord, even in these terrible times.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

Copyright ConnieD. 2012.  All rights reserved.

 

 

A Double-Minded Man

” I hate double-minded men, but I love your law. ”   Psalm 119:113

and

“For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.”  Psalm 37:9

and

“When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.”  Psalm 29:2

I ordinarily don’t like to talk about current events when I write – I prefer not to get distracted by this world’s insanity, as I prefer to just focus on the eternal truths of God’s word, and the love of Christ.  It makes me feel better, and hopefully it helps you, my beloved reader, to feel better too.  After all, bringing that kind of inspiration to you is why I love doing this.

But today is a little different.  Sometimes things happen in the world that smack us in the head, telling us and showing us that we need to wake up.  These are screaming examples of exactly what God is telling us throughout His word.  So what exactly happened?  Well, we saw an example of how a single “double-minded” man has the ability to destroy good, and promote evil.  Last week the United States Supreme Court issued a decision on obamacare, and one man, one double-minded man – Chief Justice John Roberts – decided that he alone would impose on the nation a law that stripped us of our freedoms, that uses the fruit of our labor to corporately choose death over life through things like funding  the of murder unborn children and the effective abandonment of those who are old or infirmed, and that mandates that we effectively abandon our faith or be punished.  And Chief Justice Roberts heralded the cause of four other Justices, who have long track records of pro-death, anti-Christian sentiments.  And sadly, these few justices echo the desires of an entire group of people in government and society who also desire and strive for these wicked outcomes.

I was utterly stunned by this decision, but I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that such outright evil is taking control of this nation, and this world.

So what do we do?  What do we say?

We tell the truth.  The whole truth.  And nothing but the truth.  And not just “the truth” – but God’s Truth.

So that takes us back to the Psalms.  David’s words – God’s words through David – are so appropriate and comforting in days like these.  David wrote of the difference between God’s law, which is given to us in love and mercy and eternal Truth, and the imposition of arbitrary, self-motivated rules of “double-minded” men.  Isn’t that what we see today?  Double-minded men?  The Truth – these are people who are supposed to offer us justice, equity, and yes, righteousness, but who in fact are more in love with their positions, power and themselves.  The Truth -these are people who claim to have a superior moral core but who give in to the evil forces and temptation of this world.  These are the people who are willing to sell their souls for temporary gains of the world system.  The Truth – they are willing to fabricate their own reality to essentially become legends in their own minds.  And let me be clear – God “hates” those people.  THAT is God’s TRUTH.  God tells us that these people will be “cut off”.  And God tells us that there is a bright future for those who hope in Him.  In the middle of these dark days, we have to remember God’s promise to us.

I would encourage you to read all of Psalm 37 – God gives us some amazing promises there, and some dire warnings to the wicked.  In Psalm 37:13 God tells us that He laughs at the wicked, for He knows their day is coming.  Yes, you heard that right – he “laughs”.  He sees their evil ways, and He allows them to follow the path of wickedness all the way to their own eternal demise.  He doesn’t reach out, begging them to see the error of their ways.  He doesn’t stop them in their tracks and tell them that He’ll gently help them to see the light.  Nope.  He LAUGHS at them!  He turns them over to themselves and to the evil one.  Some of you may think it’s terrible for me to take comfort in this, but I do.  Why?  Because God wants us to know that the wickedness of this world will not go unpunished in eternity.  And He tells us this so that we might know about His justice, and His love, and His faithfulness.  God tells us this so that we won’t worry, and so that we will continue to put our trust in Him – not this world.

I ask you to remember that we are in this world, but we are not to be of this world.  And through it all, through the wickedness of this world, keep your eyes on the Prize – our eternal future with our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ.  Never retreat from standing up and speaking up for God’s Truth.  Hope in the Lord, and YOU will inherit the land.

Lord, we thank you for reminding us of your eternal love, and your eternal justice.  Thank you for your promises to bless your servants, despite the evil forces in this world.  Heavenly Father, I ask for your wisdom and guidance as we work to continue to stand for You, and speak up for You.  Bless us so that we don’t lose heart in these evil days.  Hold us up and protect us in your loving arms – when we are tired, when we lose hope and when we struggle to find faith.  Hear our prayers, Lord, and please show us reminders of the hope we have in You.  In Jesus’ name we pray these things.  Amen.

Copyright ConnieD.  2012.  All rights reserved.

 

 

Grafted In

” Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ”  John 15:4-5

Have you ever been to a vineyard?  Have you ever seen how wine grapes are planted and grown?  It’s actually very interesting, and it has our Father’s hands all over it.

This past weekend my husband and I went to a local vineyard and actually got to participate in planting grapevines.  What we learned set bells off in my head about just what Jesus talked about in John’s gospel.  We learned that to grow a great grape, and end up with abundant, high-quality wine, you have to have a great vine.   Did you know that the finest wines are made from grapes that are grown on branches that are grafted into a hearty vine.   The vines that are the best are ones whose roots grow very deep, even through the most difficult soil, and they have a very special resistance to disease and decay that other vines just don’t have.  These special vines are also willing to receive into them the graft of delicate branches of special kinds of grapes that are perfect for making high quality wines.  The vine actually protects the branches from the diseases and decay that might otherwise harm the branches and the grapes that grow from them.

Does this sound familiar to you?

We are very much like those delicate branches.  We are easily blown around by the winds of society, easily parched by the oppressive heat of our trials in the fire, easily drowned by the flooding torrents of the rain of tears and emotions, and easily brought low by the disease and decay of sin.  But as weak vines we have the hope of restoration, growth and bearing fruit when we allow ourselves to be grafted in to the vine of Christ.  Christ’s roots in the Godhead are deep and strong in even the most difficult soil.  The hope we find in Christ allows us to be refined in the fire of our trials.  The peace we find in Christ gives us calm in the storms and waves the emotions that we experience in life.  Christ’s sacrifice – His love and mercy – His salvation – allows us to break free from the disease and decay, and death, of sin.

And how do we become grafted in to Christ?  The answer is just like it is in the vineyard.  We must be willing to be cut away from our old roots, and allow our own wounds to be bound together with the wounds that Christ received on the cross.  When we hold tight to the sacrificial love of Christ we are joined with Him, and we become strong through Him when we become one with Him.

So if you want to bear good fruit, know that today is a new opportunity to be grafted into the Vine.

Heavenly Father, thank you for showing us your truth in the world around us.  Thank you for giving us examples of your Word in the things that we see every day.  Thank you for the opportunity to be grafted in to your deep, strong roots.  And we know that sometimes being cut away from our old roots can be painful, so help us to look beyond the pain and look forward to our new life in Christ.  Bless us and teach us to bear good fruit.  Help us to remain faithful, and to abide in you when life tosses us around, when trials are long, and when emotions run high.  Thank you for your love, and for caring so much for us.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

Copyright ConnieD. 2012.  All rights reserved.

A joyful morning

“I will exalt you, O LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me.  O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.  O LORD, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit.  Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name.  For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”  Psalm 30:1-5

David was a sinful man, and he knew that.  He recognized the seriousness of trials he’d been through, including the trials that he himself created, and he knew in the depths of his heart that it was God himself that delivered him from the very lowest places he ever experienced.  He also recognized that God saved him from even lower places.  I’m certainly no David, but I know that I’m a sinful woman, and I am so very in touch with my own trials.  And I know that it was God that saved me, and spared me, and it is Him that praise.

The Bible tells us that David wrote this psalm for the “dedication of the temple” and although Psalm 30 isn’t considered a Messianic psalm, officially, I can’t help but think of that first, joyful Easter morning when I read David’s words.  Here David is praising God for bringing him “up from the grave” and sparing him from “going down into the pit”.  Isn’t that exactly why Jesus went to the cross?  Isn’t that exactly what Jesus did for all of us that Easter?  HE rose from the grave, so that we could also rise.  HE went down into the pit, so that we would never have to.  Jesus IS the temple that was rebuilt that first Easter morning, so what better way to recognize that fact than to remember the words of David in his dedication of the temple.  Today we remember and celebrate the dedication of the Temple – Jesus himself.

Are you feeling as though you are experiencing God’s anger these days?  Some days I cry out to God, asking what I’ve done wrong – what I’ve done to deserve my trials – you know, “why is this happening to me?”  I lose sight of the goodness of God, and the great eternal salvation that He has already given me.  I’m selfish, foolish and lacking in faith – so very human, and so very fallen.  Do I weep?  Oh yes – and not so delicately either.  But I read David’s words, and God’s promises, and HE tells me that rejoicing comes in the morning.  So I hang on.

Let me reassure you.  Rejoicing does come in the morning!  And this Easter morning, let us all rejoice together!  He is risen!  He is risen indeed!

Lord, thank you for giving me the promises of eternal life.  Thank you for the loving, selfless sacrifice of Christ.  Thank you for knowing, from the foundation of the world, how desperately we need you, and for providing a new life for us.  Thank you for walking with us through our trials – even when we’re the ones who put us there, and for your unending love that saves us from the pit.  Thank you for the promise of the night ending, and the joy of the morning.  Bless me today, Lord, and warm me in the light of your love, and hear my songs of joy and praise that I sing for you.  Help me to cast off the grave, and to rejoice in the morning.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

Copyright ConnieD.  2012.  All rights reserved.

Hard to believe

“Don’t be afraid; just believe.”  Mark 5:36

It’s hard to believe just how time has flown by, and its hard to believe how much faster it seems to go by as we get older.  It’s hard to believe that so much time has gone by since those childhood memories were made, because the picture in my head just don’t seem to be that old.  Life goes by, with moments of joy, and with trials that challenge us.  And through all of it, is it so very often…hard to believe.  Hard to believe in God.  Hard to believe Christ died for me.  Hard to believe that things can get better.  Hard to believe that we’ve even made it this far.  Just hard to believe.

Don’t be afraid?  Just believe?  How on earth am I going to do that?

Well, Jairus did just that in Mark’s passage.  Here was a man whose daughter was dead.  Now, keep in mind that Jairus was hoping to talk to Jesus when his daughter was sick, but now…now she was dead.  Jairus could have just turned away and went home to bury his daughter.  But did he?  Did he go away, dejected?  No, he didn’t.  He stood there.  And it was Jesus who spoke to him first – “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”  Jesus spoke this to Jairus when his friends and colleagues told him to just accept the situation and forget about hope.  Jesus spoke to Jairus when his family scoffed at the notion that Jesus could turn death and despair into life, and joy.  But Jesus did just that.  Maybe Jairus couldn’t believe it at first, but Jairus knew in his heart of hearts that Jesus was his only answer – his only hope – in his lowest moment of despair.

I think we need to find that point in our own situation.  If Jesus is going to resurrect our own dead situation, we need to put away our fear, not just stuff it somewhere to pick up later, but really dispose of it, and fill ourselves with belief.  Belief that He, and He alone, will save us from our despair.  Its hard to get to the point where we stop looking to others to fix the problems of life, and rely on Jesus to fix it.  I don’t mean that you don’t do what needs to be done – God expects us to do our part in any situation.  But it also means that when we have done what we’re supposed to do, then we need to give the situation to Jesus – lock, stock and barrel – no holds barred.  Hard to do?  Yes, it is.  I know all about that.  But how I feel isn’t the issue – its about wiping away the tears, looking to Jesus and believing in and on Him – hard as it is.

Lord, thank you for letting me know that I’m so not alone, and that you gave me Jairus’ experience to strengthen me.  Thank you for showing me that Jesus cares for us when we are at the absolute end of ourselves.  Thank you for encouraging me when the world laughs and scoffs at our situation, and when those we love the most can’t even begin to help us.  Bless me, even when I don’t deserve it, and help me to believe, even when fear overwhelms me.  Give me your peace, Lord, when my heart needs it the most.  In Jesus’ name I pray this.  Amen.

Copyright ConnieD. 2012. All rights reserved.