The Elderly Man

One evening a man and his wife were eating supper and someone knocked at the door. The man went to see who was at the door and an elderly man was at the door. When the man opened the door the elderly man didn’t say a word and just handed the man $100 bill and walked off. The man questioned him as he walked off, but got no answer. He returned inside and told his wife about the peculiar event that just took place. They both were pleased, but confused.

The next evening the same exact thing happened again. He tried to ask the elderly man why he was doing this and all he would do is smile and walked away. This behavior went on for about 5 years. The couple would sit and wait for his arrival and even had some of their friends come over to witness this blessing they couldn’t understand.

Then one day without warning they were prepared to receive and he never showed up. This puzzled them because the elderly man had been so punctual. They figured he must have had something come up and couldn’t make it. The next evening the same thing happened and then the next. Their imaginations ran wild. What could of happened to the elderly man. Maybe he’s in the hospital or worse, maybe he died. Concern quickly turns into disappointment and eventually into anger. How could he do this to us? Didn’t he know that we have come to depend on this as a part of our livelihood?

Months had gone by until one day while he was at the market he saw the elderly man. He ran over to him and asked him what happened to him. He simply answered, “Nothing.” We have been expecting you every evening and you never showed up. We have been worried about you. The elderly man answered, “No, I’m fine and everything is going well.” This angered the man and he explained how they got to depending on this and when he stopped giving it really put them in a mess. He demanded, “How could you have done this to us?”

The elderly man explained, “Sir, when I began giving you the money I simply did it because I wanted to and when I quit giving you the money I simply quit giving because I wanted to. It never had anything to do with you or your wife. It was simply my choice. Instead of being grateful for the time of blessing you’ve become bitter over something that started and stopped which you had nothing to do with.” Then the elderly man walked away.

You see, God blesses those who He wants and when He wants. It has nothing to do with how good or bad we are, it’s simply His choice. It could be money, health, talents or abilities. The fact is, it was God’s to give us and His to take away. So why do we get angry instead of praising Him for what He has done and what we have now when it really never belonged to us anyway. I know I have so much to be thankful for and I know I’ve done nothing to deserve it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

“Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” Job 1:21

Rescued

I know there are many times in my life that I have been pulled from the fire. You can probably testify to it as well. As I reflect over my past I see a multitude of incidents where I was either snatched from the jaws of death or some kind of personal destruction. I’m not going to give you all my examples, but take a minute and think about your own situations.

When I got to thinking about this the other day I first began to see the physical situations, but then as I continued to think I saw the many times God had rescued me from spiritual destruction. Of course the first one was when I accepted Jesus into my heart. I’m just thankful God chose me and rescued me.

There have been many times I have strayed from the truth, but God was there to rescue me. There have been several times when I believed I was doing the right thing and following truth but then God opened my eyes and snatched me from the trap. Right now in our time that are so many clever traps and it’s so easy to be beguiled.

If there is one thing I have learned in recent years, if it wasn’t for Jesus walking beside me and guiding me then I would be susceptible to just about everything simply because I can’t see what’s ahead. I don’t mean to be vague, but it is really difficult to put into words. I do know that pride can easily make me fall. This is why we have to hold on tight to Jesus.

He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. Psalm 18:17

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.

• Refrain:
  Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
  Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.

Don’t Think!

This advice is often given to people. The culprit behind this philosophy is usually from our enemy satan. You may have heard “Don’t Think, ACT Quickly or Just Do It or maybe it’s just, Take a Chance.” There are maybe a very few situations that call for spontaneity which I do believe in, but there are so many situations that do require deliberation and truth seeking. There is an old saying that says, “Those who want to deal the worst get the worst deal.” I’ve proven that many times in my life. There are many unwed mothers that gave into Don’t Think, Act! The wise watch their steps and avoid evil; fools are headstrong and reckless. Proverbs 14:16

As in all things there is balance. Satan wants to throw everything out of balance and one of those areas is to get people to quit thinking. Don’t think about what your government is doing, don’t think about what your church is doing, don’t think about what the schools are teaching our children and don’t think about what the Bible is saying, act on what makes you happy. Of course the other side of this coin is, analyze everything to death. Both ways can be dangerous and destructive.

We live in an age that our minds and lives are so full of clutter that we have little time to ponder the truth of God. There are constant distractions that send our thoughts into many places at one time. As it says in Psalm 46:10, Be still and know that I am God. I even noticed that in our churches they seem to work at not losing the momentum in the services and keep us from reflecting on our hearts. I’m not saying they do this purposefully, however it is happening. It’s an old salesman’s game. Don’t give them time to think.

All I am trying to say is slow down. Don’t get ahead of God and ponder what He’s trying to tell you.

Where’s the Proof?

Several times in my life I have occasionally fallen into doubt. Questions come over me concerning the reality of God. I know that when we are down heartened and discouraged these feelings come, but when everything is going well or maybe even while I am praying or reading the Bible these thoughts come. Now I know this is harassment by the enemy (demons) trying to throw me off balance. However, the question remains…do I have a response to these doubts or will I let these thoughts burden me.

I know if you are a living breathing human and no matter if you are a born again believer, attended church all your life or even have a deep relationship with God you have or will be attacked with these questions…Is Jesus really coming back…Does God really exist or is this something we have just accepted without question…Is there really a heaven and hell…Could this be all that there is? These are not questions that have come to me only recently, but they have returned throughout my life.

So what if these doubts attack us what do we do? Pray harder, read the Bible more, ignore it and hope it goes away, get counseling or just run away? Some of these things may help, but this morning God renewed a truth in me and helped me to see it more clearly than I’ve understood before. Where is it?

Israel! Just look to Israel and God’s chosen people. The proof will always be there and visible for all of us. Think about it. Why would practically every country in the world want to see Israel destroyed? Why is it that this small piece of real estate is so valuable to so many? Israel is only about the size of East Texas. Why is it that this small country has caused so much attention throughout the world and time? Why did Hitler try to totally eliminate their existence? I could go on and on. Think about it.

Satan knows that if he can destroy Israel he can destroy the reality of God and he will continue to do so to the very end. However, I have read ahead and I know this doesn’t happen. Israel has always been a constant source of affirmation of God and irritation to Satan. Satan tried to destroy Jesus and did that ever backfire on him.

I’m not a historian or theologian on Israel, but it’s impossible to deny what’s right in front of me. Israel is not God, but they continue to validate His existence and truth. If you were to conduct a historical study of Israel you’ll see God’s fingerprints everywhere; Not only in the past, but up to this very day. They’re always in the news.

America has always been support for Israel and this would explain our bountiful blessing from God. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. Genesis 12:3

However, America has been leaning on the edge of removing our support from Israel and if it ever happens all I can say is look out.

Lifeline

The other day I was pondering my life and came to the conclusion that I couldn’t believe I had made it as far as I have. Meaning, I can’t believe I’m still alive. I sat in amazement wondering how God could have put up with me for so long.

I also began to think about my past and for so long I thought I understood God, the church, Christianity and the right way of living. Then I thought about how the church, preaching and God just made me feel worthless and like a failure. In guilt I came to believe I must have been God’s greatest disappointment.

I remember many times I would go to church camp, revival or seminar and decide within my own will power that this time would be different. (By the way, I have no will power to do what is right, only wrong.) I was going to make further down the road this time. Nothing was going to stop me. I was going to serve the Lord and nothing was getting in my way. No more failure for me. This would last for at least 2 – 4 weeks, then Boom! My spirit was willing, but my flesh was weak. By the way, that’s a false statement. The truth is/was my spirit was weak and my flesh was strong. I didn’t want to walk away from the sinful desires in my life and I was easily influenced to return to them.

Where did I develop the belief that I was supposed to be perfect? Why didn’t God help me like He said He would in His word? Over the years I came to believe that God wasn’t true to His Word and in my late 30’s I was getting pretty angry at God and everyone else. I’d try blaming everyone that I could. I believed that everyone else had it figured out and I was standing ignorantly out in the cold rain. After years of believing this there was no place for me to go but depression.

After wallowing around in depression for over a year I was getting close to hitting bottom. I hadn’t hit bottom yet because I still hadn’t ran to God. I was still trying to figure it out on my own.

Then God began to lovingly and gently throw me lifelines. He wasn’t pushing me, but was drawing me in to safety. I will never forget His loving gentleness and patience as if I was a skittish, timid, abused puppy. He continued to gracefully and calmly throw me lifelines and led me to a place to release all my hurt and anger and to restore our relationship in truth. All my life I had succumbed to the many lies satan has so carefully weaved into my heart. Now my Lord and God continually removes the lies and is replacing them with Truth. I didn’t learn all the lies overnight nor has God removed them overnight. You see, I had to be broken and flushed out completely before I was willing to look up.

Many times I have believed that these lifelines didn’t start occurring until this time in my life, but the truth was that God had been throwing these lines to me all my life. I can’t help but think of this song:

Time after time I was searching for peace in some void
I was trying to blame all my ills on this world I was in
Surface relationships used me till I was done in
But all the while someone was begging to free me from sin

Chorus
He was there all the time
He was there all the time
Waiting patiently in line
He was there all the time

Never again will I search for a fake rainbows end
Now that I’ve found the answer my life is just starting to rhyme
Sharing each new day with Him is a breath of fresh life
Oh what I've missed He's been waiting right here all the time

Repeat Chorus

This describes where I was very accurately.

You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn't care? The proverb has it that "he's a fiercely jealous lover." And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you'll find. It's common knowledge that "God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble."

So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet. James 4:4-10