Weary

I found this over at Apprising. It’s just perfect for many of us. Be encouraged!!  Thanks Ken!

from Apprising Ministries by Ken Silva pastor-teacher

There was war again between the Philistines and Israel, and David went down together with his servants, and they fought against the Philistines.  And David grew weary.
(2 Samuel 21:15)

The life of David is a remarkable one that is filled with hardship and victory.  From the very beginning of his life, he is brought into the battle.  He faces Goliath early on when no one else will go out and fight.

David lives many years in the fear of death at the hand of king Saul.  He is betrayed, slandered, and ridiculed by the likes of his own Son – Absalom,  his own wife – Michal, the counselor to Israel – Ahithophel, the servant of Saul – Ziba, the family member of Saul – Shemei, his own commander – Joab, a worthless man named Sheba, and numerous others could be listed along the way.

He was tormented by those over him, those under him, and those around him.  He took abuse from his wife, his closest friends, and most assuredly from his enemies.  David did not experience a life of ease, but rather a life that was filled with difficulties.  It is for certain that David was not sinless in his life and it is for sure that many things that happened to him were a result of his own transgressions, but God had called him and set him apart to lead Israel and it is for certain that David had a heart for God (1 Sam. 13:14).

In all of David’s ups and downs we find him toward the end of life in war again.  When most men would have given up and quit, David picks up his sword one more time to face the next giant that comes his way.  David has the heart of a warrior.  Although his body is weak and feeble he rises to the occasion for the glory of his God and the good of the people that he leads.  David grew weary or faint as the text says, but David did not run and hide.  David did not give up.

David did not throw in the towel.  David did not succumb to the pressures of men and women around him.  David did not fold to the opinion of the day.  David fought!  David stood his ground and the Lord sent Abishai to help him in his time of need.  The Lord will always come to the aid of those who will stand by faith.  The Lord strengthens those who endure for him.

Dearly beloved, do not grow weary with well doing.  Press on for the glory of God from one battle to the next.  Thousands of once committed men quit to the shame of their God and the embarrassment of the church, but those who endure to the end will be saved.  Quit yourself like a man and endure to the end for the glory of God.

J. Randall Easter, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Briar, Azle, TX.
II Timothy 2:19
“He who sells cheapest shall have most customers; the devil knows that it is a cheap and easy doctrine which pleases the flesh, and he doubts not but he shall have customers enough.” (Thomas Watson)

A Witch’s Invitation

I’m feeling a little dramatic…

Years ago my daughter Jessica used to be in a mime/drama group called Christ in Action along with a very dear friend’s daughter. Together they reenacted this dramatic piece of Carman’s, A Witch’s Invitation.

This video brings back those happy moments which now seem more like another lifetime than they do memories of this one.

In honor of her passing 9 years ago (April 27), and in the hope that I will see for myself her name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life…

and as a testament that Satan is not the victor in her passing…

nor in the passing of the daughter’s mother that same year…

what else can I add, but the most important factor  – Christ’s meaning from the cross “It is Finished!!!”…

indulge me a moment – – 

and then give a shout. He is victorious in all things! 

(and I really hope that burns the devil’s butt tonight!)

A Brother in Chains

I found this article on Ian’s blog and was completely moved in my spirit to pray for this man, Youcef Nadarkhani, who is imprisoned in Iran and awaiting the sentence of death for preaching the gospel.

Who knows when any one of us can be found in a similar situation?  The bible tells us to remember those in prisons and while reading his story I kept hearing the words of Paul “remember my chains”.

You will want to read the comments under the article as the rest of Youcef’s story is told there. Ian’s first comment  is a letter from Youcef which I believe is written more for our behalf than his own. Be sure to read it and then pray for our brother and his family – and his captors -who do not yet have the hope in Christ as we do.

Blessings.

Restless

A friend sent this to me. It is beautiful.

Restless – Audrey Assad

A Word From Hebrews

About a week ago I came on this scripture. It is nearly exact as to what I had been praying about a few moments before, during a hard time.  After I read these words they went through me like a shot and all I could do was sit and cry. My tears didn’t come from a moment of sadness, but from what I believe was  a true impartation from the Lord!

Ever since, I have been reading these words every day. I thought I would share them with you as they have such richness and value. Read them, consider them. There is much said in a such a few words. If you are struggling, in need of encouragement or confidence, here is your word, right from His own.

Hebrews 10

35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you  have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

37 “For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”

39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

When You Can’t Be Sure Where That Loved One Is…

I was very much touched by this writing and wanted to share it with you all. So this is for all- for we all suffer loss of a loved ones in our lives. The pain is there regardless of who they were.  We know that nothing can take their place in our lives; that void is deep and long. Praise to the One – Jesus Christ – who holds us together during those times. Let us hold to the promise that grief is only for a time; an eternity of joy awaits at His coming.   Maranatha!

From Redeemed Hippie’s Blog here

“Mama, are you going to die tonight?”
“No, not tonight.”
“What about Daddy? Is he going to die tonight?”
“No.”
“When? When are you all going to die?”
“Doll Baby, we all have to die sometime. But Daddy and I are not going to die tonight. Hush, now. Go to sleep. I’m here.”

Every night it was the same conversation. Each time, my mother was patient sitting on my bedside, waiting for me to go to sleep before she left the room.

I was just a babe back then and outgrew her bedtime assurances. But the fear of her death haunted me all my life.

If I had only thought to ask my mother the same questions the last time I saw her back in October. Could she have told me? Would she have told me she was getting ready to die?

For months, I have asked myself where is my mother? Night time; bedtime is the worst time. I see her face and remember her voice, laughter and oh there is so much I remember. I can no longer pick up the phone and hear her voice giving me that instant assurance that she is alright. Where is she, God?

Painful words to have to speak – but I say them anyway — for they are true; the day will come when it will not matter to me where she is.

But for now, it is a type of torment to wonder where a loved one is after leaving this earth. See, a few weeks before she died, she and I were talking about the things of God. Well, at least I was trying to. She had brought the subject up and I tried to take it to salvation. She was getting irritated. And even told me, “Maybe, I’m going to hell.” She said it kind of angry and kind of bitter. I felt something like ice go through me and a wall went up. How Lord do I respond to this? I had no words. So we dropped the subject.

I did not know what she knew at the time…that her heart was at 40 percent capacity. I did not know the things she must have had on her mind. But God knew. No doubt, she was afraid and she was preparing to meet her Maker. She was not sounding a trumpet. It was as personal as the God she believed in. Most of her generation is like that: strong, silent, independent and determined.

We had talked many times over the past few years about salvation. She knew it was not church that saved anyone. She knew it was not being good enough that gave you entrance to heaven. She knew it was not having your name on a membership roll. She knew all these things. She knew that it was what Jesus did on the cross.

My mother was not someone I could fellowship with. The God she believed in was a personal God. As a precious sister pointed out to me: Our parent’s generation belief in God was personal. They didn’t sound trumpets. They just believed.

I’m glad my mother did not have to contend with false teachers of the past few decades. She would have been believing in a jesus contrary to the Word of God. She knew a phony when she saw one and no way would she have acted a fool by getting drunk in the spirit, barking like a dog, clucking like a chicken, smoking the Holy Ghost or trying to have her best life now. Surely, if she had been a follower of any of the modern day heretics, I would have some real cause of alarm. Her belief in God was simple:  Jesus died on a cross for us and we can only hope we go to heaven.

More than once — in my self-righteousness – I would tell her, “But Mom, we can have full assurance.”  I understand now. I understand what she meant. Too many times, we take salvation for granted.

We are told to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. I can’t speak for anyone else, but for myself, I’ve had some fear and trembling the past few months. Yet, still not enough or I would find it in myself to repent for every wrong thought or thing I do. Like my mother before me, I fall upon the mercy of God.

God is not a fair God. It was not fair that His only begotten Son had to die for MY sins. Yet, at the same time, God is a just God. He sees all and knows all. All through her life, He saw my mother’s heart. The past few months of her life, He knew what was in her. He saw how she was preparing herself to meet Him. Looking back, even I can see it now. If I had not been so wrapped up in what I believed was going to take place in the world at the time, I may have seen it then. But I didn’t see it and as one friend told me: “It was probably meant that way. If you had known, I don’t think you could have handled it.”

So, I lay in bed and wonder. I ask God, where is she? I get no answer. All I get is; when we see Him face to face we shall be like Him. That is when it will not matter to me anymore.

When we become just like Him, we will have the justice of God so ingrained in us that any preceived notions of what we believe to be right and wrong will no longer matter.

Did you know that in hell there is love? Yes, it is true. The rich man who asked Abraham to give him just a drop of water also begged him tell his loved ones about the place he was in. He loved them so such that he did not want them there with him!

I have comforted myself the past few months in remembering the last few weeks of her life. A subtle change had taken place in her. She became kind of sweet. Kind of soft. She still had her days of not feeling well, days of being stubborn as a mule and spunky to the point that her children did not know how to deal with her, but it was if a part of her had resigned herself in trusting something greater than herself and greater than those around her.

I have comforted myself the past few months in remembering not how good of a person my mother was. But in the fact that she knew the simple truth: Jesus is the perfect sacrifice.

One thing I do know — no matter where she is — if she could speak to me, she would tell me: Tell them. Tell my children and all those who loved me the truth. Tell all of humanity. Tell them about Jesus. Tell them the truth.

Until that day, when I see my Savior and Redeemer face-to-face, I will always wonder where loved ones are, after they depart from this earth.  But until then, I continue to comfort myself with this thought: When I can not understand His hand, I will trust His heart.

His heart for my mother was this: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. — Jeremiah 29:11,12 –

I can not help but believe that the last few weeks of my mother’s life she called upon the Lord in ways that she never had before. She was a strong gutsy woman full of vim and vinegar. Yet, she reached a point in her life where nothing and no one else would do, but God. A place where we all will reach sooner or later.

It has taken me months to write this. I still have not done the truth justice. Someday, when we see Him face-to-face, when we will be like Him, ALL things will be revealed. But until then, I will trust in Him. His ways are higher than mine and He is perfect in all of His ways.

My mother was right. We have such a beautiful hope in God. His mercies are new every morning. Our life truly is but a vapor. Nothing really matters but the truth. The truth is God loved my mother, saw her heart in all things, knew her inside and out, and He IS a righteous judge of us all.

May God be exalted in times of grief!

what a world

Yesterday we received more earth shattering news regarding a family member. No one died, but I won’t go into details because the details is not the point I wish to make.

I have been struck by the realization of the simplicity of Jesus and the cross and it as though I am seeing it for the first time. I am amazed that we have made it into something so hard to understand, so hard to accept. It’s really very simple. I am also amazed that we chase around in all of our busy time and energy -stealing schedules, in fruitless effort to concoct for ourselves  – life – when it has already been freely offered for our taking. It is not the life that we have hoped to create on our own, and sadly, because of the blindness we miss it altogether.

Jesus Christ having always existed as the creator of life, who, knowing all things about every  person who would ever live, knowing every event that would take place on earth, being in full knowledge of the mind of mankind, that  is sinful and futile in its attempts to be good – –

God by His own choosing stepped out of heaven, lived and worked here on earth among sinners, adulterers and thieves in the form of a man. Then, choosing a most hideous death, the sinless Man between two thieves, died for a crime a He did not commit, being completely without fault, sin or guilt. In so doing He took the sin of all those people upon His innocent and loving shoulders offering life to those who would follow His ways, the ways of the Father, the ways of love.

Why?

Because He loves us – everyone of us. Regardless of who we are or what we do. If we live in the gutter or in the greatest mansion we are the same in His eyes. And He did this so that we might realize His true and unwavering love and in return for such a great gift we would love Him back. In doing so, we would be  taught to love one another. If we could get ourselves around that simple but great truth! We would love, and would stop murdering one another with our words and deeds. We would stop chanting me! me! me and begin seeing with new eyes. We would shake off the inner covering of pride that makes us the worthless self centered beings that we are and come to the realization of why God created us in the first place – for fellowship with Him and with one another – to love, support, encourage, and to weep with those who weep and dance with those who are joyful!

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

What a world it would be.

…just like—that…

Well, maybe I have put this off long enough in wondering if I want to write about my emotions, the shock that is still with me (us) in losing Steven, and all the old buried emotions and memories of losing Jessica. Two deaths of two children 10 years apart in age, nearly 8 years apart in death. Steven and Jessica loved each other, not early on, but in the later years, the time just before her death. And how he cried for her, even lately, even he could not understand why she died and he lived.  Two children-one son, one daughter died very similar deaths, similar injuries, similar reasons with very similar birthdays, his February 9th and hers February 10th. And for all the facts I can put together there still is no reasoning why these two had to die. Stupid choices made by another in the heat of the moment, one is in jail, one is not. Head injuries – irreparable damage resulting in quick deaths. Only One could keep them alive, yet in His good reasoning chose not to.  I found a picture of them talking face to face at my grandmother’s funeral taken only a couple of weeks before Jessica died.  As I looked, the picture told me they had been conniving, together forming a plan to leave us then. We, as a family agreed it was so, it had to be that way.  It brought us peace to agree.

I put my mother on the plane this morning and wondered if I would see her again. We never know when will be our last conversation, our last hug, or even our last argument. Those we love are taken from us so quickly and without warning, more times than we think about. Yesterday I read the  news of a hiker who had fallen into the mouth of Mount St. Helens while posing for a photograph. The land beneath him gave away and he fell 1500 feet to his death. No warning. Not for him or for those who loved him. Just gone like— that, just that quickly.

And so it was for our son and our daughter. I was Steven’s step mother. I am not saying that to separate myself, but to give place to the respect of his mother as I believe that position is very important. Maybe more so in death than in life, but for reasons I cannot explain to you.  I heard his mother cry out in her grief in the loss of knowing she will never see her baby again and that is all she wanted, would give anything, go anywhere, do anything just for the chance to make this thing wrong death thing right, to again bring life back to her child. And that grief was mine – for a moment it made she and I one. And in his death, having already known first hand the loss of the death of a child that maybe only a mother can experience and the willingness to do anything, go anywhere to make this death thing right, but being granted only a black and stony silence in the response. It is dark, it is nothing short of hell as we know it this side of life. And there are no rose colored glasses to help paint a nicer picture. All that these two precious people were to us, their family and their friends, all that they could have become is forever lost. There will be no children borne through them to carry on their names, their smiles, their deep blue eyes or their laughter or hugs. All of it gone just like—that.

And so, as “deep cries out to deep” I can only trust in the love and peace my Father, our Father has to offer me (us) in the hope of a better day. A day when the pain will not be so intense, a day when my thoughts come back to me, a day when the memories of those loved and lost will no longer rip a hole in my spirit, but instead offer a giggle in my heart for their love, the laughter that we shared, and the peace that will come in the knowledge that they were only mine (ours) for a time.  I long for the day I see them again and there will be no more tears, no more loss, no more confusion or pain. But in that day, a brighter smile through clearer eyes. For what we see now in part we will know then face to face.

Thank you for all of your wonderful prayers and words of encouragement. They have meant more to us than words can express. We can feel them like a presence, like a warm comforter wrapped around an otherwise crazed world.  I cannot kick against this. For whatever reason, the Lord has allowed these deaths. It may sound very simple, maybe too simple, but I must say this here as I have said it aloud  – the Father knew they were going to die and He allowed it. So, the One who sees the beginning of all things to the very end, the One who knows all of the ins and outs and in-betweens has found reason for these two deaths to take place in our world, He has again allowed our lives to shatter.  So, I resign myself to His love and His ways as I again remind myself that His ways are not my own, but much higher and with greater purpose. As much as I can in this moment of life, I resolve in my spirit to live by His.

In loving memory of our precious children

Steven Gordon Kelly II and Jessica Nicole Brown

God is Watching

I felt like I needed to shift gears here for a little while. There is so much going on in our nation right now and so much needs the light and truth brought to it, so many need to be warned!  I never expected to get as deeply as I have in this health care issue.  But that is usually how it happens, isn’t it?  We look back later and say – wow.

I would like to focus for a moment or two on the Lord.  I get much peace in knowing just a few scriptures and so I wanted to share them here with you.  So let’s take a moment for a freshened and more Godly perspective.

I love that God is One Who Sees  – as Hagar called him in Genesis 16:13. Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “have I also here seen Him who sees me?”

God is watching.

Psalm 33:13-15

The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men.  14 From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth; 15 He fashions their hearts individually; he considers all their works.

He sees you, He sees me, He sees all that goes on and knows the intent of all hearts! 1 Samuel 16:7b For the Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

Ecclesiastes 5:8-9  If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent perversion of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter; for high official watches over high official, and higher officials are over them. 9 Moreover the profit of the land is for all; even the king is served from the field.

Those who look to do  evil are watched by those higher than they.

It is God Who is King!

Psalm 47:7-9 ⁷ For God is the King of all the earth;  Sing praises with understanding.
⁸ God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne.
⁹ The princes of the people have gathered together, the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted.

We are told to watch over and warn each other!

1Thessalonians 5:14 ¹⁴ Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. ¹⁵ See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

Remember it is Jesus who is our great Savior and Lord, whose kingdom will reign forever!

Luke 3:31-31 ³¹ And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. ³²³³ And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.

So as we go along, hearing bad news, warning others, remember to pray for those in high places. For many of them are lost, and though they speak against us, their only hope is the same as ours, Jesus the Messiah. Without Him, they have no hope and will be eternally lost.  Revelation 20:15 Anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Remember to take a moment for encouragement as it is much needed and to encourage those around us. We cannot find ourselves bogged down in the mire of bad news.   Revelation 2:10 “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer.  Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life”.

Remember, to look up for THAT DAY is closer than it has ever been!  Revelation 7:9-11 ⁹ After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, ¹⁰ and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” ¹¹ All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying;  Amen!  Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever Amen.”

Jesus is coming back as His own words remind us as many times as we care to read them of that truth and Who He truly is: Revelation 22:12-13 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

If you are a Christian, find encouragement in these words, and strength to continue your work. Let your light shine!

If you are not, repent!

There is no other hope for the lost, and no other way we can find salvation but through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to earth in  bodily form as a man, suffered and died as a man, and rose again proving he is God to bridge the gap between sinful man and a righteous holy God, restoring our relationship as His children.  Repent and turn from your sinful ways, turn to the Lord for forgiveness, strength and hope. Choose Him, for He is life.

The time is coming when all that we have may be taken from us, and we just may be seeing that unfolding before our very eyes!  No one can separate us from the love of God as His children.  In Jesus we find salvation for our sins and hope for tomorrow because He who has promised is faithful to never leave us alone. No man, or other religious belief, or system of government can do what only the Son of God can.  John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.