No Peace Now, No Peace Later

We have been in a very trying season of life lately. God has been teaching me a lot though. One of the things that He has been showing me is that peace that is dependant upon circumstances is no peace at all. If I cannot be at peace right now in this difficult season, I will not be at peace when it passes.

 I am reminded of what Jesus said to His disciples when they were in a storm, and they were afraid their boat would sink. He said, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (Mark 4:40). After reading this passage, I realized that my lack of faith is the reason for my lack of peace. If I were trusting that God knows exactly what He is doing and that He knows exactly what I need, I would not be without peace. True peace comes from faith, faith in the Faithful God. We can have faith in His promise that He will never leave us or forsake us, and we can have peace when our circumstances change because our God does not.

The Little Girl At The Laundromat

She held out her sticky popsicle to me and offered me a lick. The little girl looked about seven years old. "Oh, thank you. I'm okay." I said with a smile. "What's your name?" I asked. The little girl looked at me with her dark eyes and said "Bree"."What a pretty name; my name is Dallas. Is that a good popsicle?" Bree nodded shyly. My older sister and I sat waiting for our clothes to finish drying at the laundromat, and Bree, who was waiting with her mother, had wandered over to us.

My sister and I continued to talk to her. We played a game of tic-tack-toe and drew together on some paper my sister had with her. As we drew, I asked Bree, "Do you know who Jesus is?" She looked up and thought for a moment before replying in her little voice "Um... yeah, He's up there." She pointed upwards.  I asked her if she knew who Adam and Eve were, but she did not. I told her the story and explained that they disobeyed God and had to be separated from Him. I also explained that we too have disobeyed God, and we would have to die and be separated from Him too. I asked her if she knew what Jesus did for her so that she would not have to die and be separated from God. She did not, so I told her that Jesus is God's Son and God sent Him to earth to save us. He never sinned and He died on the cross to pay the price for our sins. I told her that if she asked God to forgive her and trusted in Him, that He would forgive her and give eternal life.

We had to dry our clothes at the laundromat because my little sister's asthma got worse when we dried them at home. I had brought a book to read while I waited, but God had something else planned. I did not know I would have an opportunity to share the gospel. Sometimes our opportunities to share the gospel come to us in unexpected places, and sometimes all we have to do is ask a few questions and show kindness to others. It could be a sticky little girl with a popsicle or an old lady sitting on the bench at Walmart. It could be somebody who you do not know, or it might be somebody in your own home. It is important to, "always [be] ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;" 1Peter 3:15. The truth is, we have many opportunities to share the gospel; sometimes we just do not make good use of them. Who knows, you might have an opportunity today. Ask God to help you make the most of every opportunity He gives you, and be sensitive to the spirit.

What Do You Want To Be Known For?

There are many things that I want people to think of me, but I asked myself the other day,"What do I most want to be known for? Is it my talents, my beauty, or my intellect?" As I pondered this, another question came to mind,"What should I be known for?" Then God brought a verse to mind, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."John 13:35

Of all the things that I want to be known for, the greatest thing I want to be known for is God's love in me. First Corinthians 13:1-3 says, "If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing." If I have all talent, beauty, and intellect but do not have love, I am nothing. If we are in Christ we should be known for love, for "God is Love"1 John 4:8. I want to be more loving.

What are you known For? What do you want to be known for? How can you become what you want to be?

Escaping

Just Relax
It's been a long day, and you are ready to just relax and turn your brain off. You grab your novel and find a comfortable position. As soon as you open the book, you are in another world. You no longer have to worry about anything that is going on around you, because you imagine you are a part of the world in the book. You can be anyone you want in this book. Life seems so much more exciting in the book that even when you are not reading it, your mind is there.

You find yourself feeling depressed or down, and you know you can always find something to do online. You surf around on Face Book, Pintrest, Utube, and check your emails. Somehow it seems to numb your mind, and the empty time you had is filled or rather passed.

You are board and you find a movie to watch. You can feel all the emotions of the character you like best. Somehow, you find yourself wishing that it were real. The next time you are board you just relive the movie in your imagination.

You are lying in bed drifting off to sleep and you imagine up your own utopia. All the things you wish could happen to you can be real in your mind.

It's that hobby of yours that you can turn to when you need something to occupy your mind. You can ignore all of the other issues in your life when you are shooting those baskets, playing that instrument,  painting that picture, finding the right shoes, or hooking that fish. You can just let your mind be numb.

Mental Escapism
All of your troubles, stresses, and worries can be forgotten and ignored when your mind escapes. We all have ways of doing it, whether I listed yours or not. This is a temptation for all of us, but our troubles will not dissolve if we try to escape them. Many of us do not realize that we have addictions that we use to help us cope. Perhaps we are not even escaping from something but to something. We may just be escaping from our boredom to a more thrilling, interesting, and exciting world. The fact is when we are discontent with the situation God has placed us in, the temptation is to create our own world in our minds. There is nothing wrong with reading, having a hobby, or watching a movie. There is a problem with using these things to escape reality though.

• Not God Glorifying One of the problems with escaping is that there are no other realities. No matter how much we fantasize and fancy we can only be in this world were God has placed us. If we are mentally in a world that does not exist or that we do not exist in, we cannot be glorifying the God who created us to live in this world in the place that we are in. 
• Shows Distrust in God Acts 17:26 says,"and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation," God knows all things. He knows exactly the right geographical location for us, exactly the right year for our birth, and exactly the right circumstances for us to be in. When we try to escape from the place that God has put us mentally, we are showing our distrust in God's ability to work out the details of our lives.
• Not Kingdom Building We are also not able to further God's kingdom when we escape from reality. We are supposed to be seeking first God's kingdom and His righteousness, not the most exciting or pleasurable life. Sometimes building God's kingdom means loving that little baby who cannot thank you, doing the dishes again with a cheerful heart. Sometimes it means getting out of your comfort zone and sharing the gospel. Anything done to build God's kingdom though, cannot be done in a fantasy world or in our imagination.
• Practicing Discontentment Another problem with escaping from reality is that we are not practicing contentment. Paul said in Philippians 4," I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." I have often had to repent of a discontented spirit and and pray for God to help me to learn to be content. When I notice that my mind is escaping, this is one of the major indications that I need to repent of discontentment.
• Not A Good Use of Time No matter how heroic, productive, talented, or virtuous we are in our imaginations, all of our accomplishments from our fantasies do not carry over into reality. In the same way that winning money in the game of Monopoly will not profit you the next time you make a purchase. It is simply not profitable to escape from reality. We are only given a short amount of time on this earth and we must use is well. Ephesians 5:15-17  says, "Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." This is not an option but a command.

Running From Problems, Tasks, and Responsibilities
Often we are like Jonah who tried to escape from the task God had given him, and Elijah who tried to run from his troubles. However, God has intentionally placed each of us exactly were we are for a reason. 

Embracing Your Circumstances

Esther was a Jew who was chosen to be the Kings wife without her consent. While she was queen, a decree went out to kill all the Jews; however, it was against the law for the queen to go to the king unless she was summoned. Mordecai was Esther's uncle and he worked for the king. Upon receiving this news he sent word to His niece. Esther 4:13-17 "Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, 'Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews.  For if you remain silent at this time, relief anddeliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?'Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai,  ^'Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.'  So Mordecai went away and did just as Esther had commanded him."

Such a Time as This

Perhaps you find yourself in a difficult situation that you'd just like to escape, but perhaps God has put you in it for such a time as this? No doubt, God had a reason for Esther becoming queen, and he has a reason for everything He does in your life too. If you find yourself having a hard time embracing the circumstances you are in, ask God to help you to see why He has put you there. God may have something to teach you, something he wants you to do, or a character he wants to refine in you. When you embrace the life that God has given you and the plans He has for you, you will find that life is not a thing to escape from but to live for the glory of God. 

Where does your mind tend to escape to? How do you think we can cultivate contentment in out lives?

Is there something you are try to escape from? How do you think God would have you deal with that situation? How can you build God's kingdom right were you are? Do you trust that God knows what He is doing with your life? How well are you using your time? Do you think that escaping your problems is a good way to handle them? May we live life to the fullest for the glory of God!

God and the Holy Trinity

I wrote this poem with the intention of displaying God's character in an artful way. It is when we try to gaze into the face of God that we realize our true sinful state. And when we see our true sinfulness, it makes His grace all the more precious, glorious, and wonderful. God is so vast, He certainly cannot be described or contained in one poem. He could not be contained in all the books and libraries that exist either. In fact, He is infinite and cannot be contained in the cosmos! Yes, this is someone worth writing about, reading about, and living for!

The Lord is God. There is no other.
He's infinite in being and perfection.
He is not dependant on another.
His essence is beyond all comprehension.

He alone has immortality.
He is a most pure spirit invisible.
Immutable and most holy
He works all things according to his counsel.

A God most wise, infinite, and free
Who's dwelling is in light unapproachable
Who's full of splendor and of glory
Unending, without beginning, eternal

A patient God who's longsuffering
One who forgives and pardons iniquity
Who's merciful, good, and loving,

Yet just and will by no means clear the guilty.

A God who alone is all-knowing

There's nothing that is hidden from His sight.

The Lord is powerful, almighty.

He's immeasurable in strength and matchless in might.

The Lord is completely sovereign,

Most holy in all His works, counsels, and plans.

He has dominion over all creation.

He deserves our worship and obedience to His commands.

In this one God are three persons,

All one in power, attributes, and eternity.

There are three persons but no divisions.

Each with different roles but equal in divinity.

(I used the "1689 Baptist Confession of Faith" edited by Peter Masters as a guide for this poem. I do not, however, affirm the impassibility of God. Thus, I did not include this doctrine in my poem. I have not found this doctrine to be biblical. Wayne Grudem's "Systematic Theology" is very helpful on this subject. He explains were this doctrine came from and why it is not Biblical.)

What The Disabled Taught Me

Two of my sisters, my grandmother, and I were blessed to be able to serve at a camp for people with special needs called Joni and friends family camp a couple of weeks ago. I went with the intention of blessing others, but I was the one who was blessed by the experience. The lessons I learned while being there were priceless! 

Every Good Thing

One thing that I became increasingly aware of was the fact that everything we have is a gift from God!

I discovered that I had thought of my mental and physical abilities as things that were rightfully mine. I did not realize that God did not have to give me the abilities that He would be totally fair in not giving them to me. As I spent time with the blind, the crippled, and the mute I realized that the things I thought were my right were really a gift.  I did not earn them, and God had no obligation to me, but he gave me everything that I have. The only reason I can speak, see, reason, hear, walk, read, eat, breath, or do anything is because God has given me that gift. Some of the people had feeding tubes and had never eaten anything orally. I realized that even something as simple as eating an ice cream cone is a gift from God! James 1:17 says, "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." God does not give us all the same gifts, but we are each given gifts. We must realize that they are from God and praise Him for them. I learned thankfulness.

Helpless

There were two twin brothers who were both in wheel chairs there. They had such bad seizures that they could not even be in a room with ceiling fans because the motion triggered their seizures. These two boys could do absolutely nothing for themselves and were dependant on others to everything for them. I thought, "How sad. They must feel so helpless!" It was then that I realized that all people are dependant on someone else for everything. We are all dependant on God For everything, some of us just do not know we need Him. Hebrews 1:3a says,"And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power." We are all helpless and our only hope is to call out to God for mercy.

No Room For Boasting

Over the week I was brought face to face with my ugly pride. I realized that if everything I had was a gift, then all the things my pride had stood on were crumbling. My academic achievements were only possible because God had given me a capable brain. My physical achievements were only  possible because God had given me a capable body. I can do nothing without Him! Romans 3:27a " Where then is boasting? It is excluded." I learned that there is simply no room for boasting. 

Valuable

There was one boy at camp who everybody knew and loved. His name was Judson, but everyone called him Juddy. His entire face was always absorbed in a smile. He could not do anything else, but his joy was contagious! I realized that I placed so much of my value and other's value in our abilities. I realized that I had been selfish in my relationships, seeking to gain rather than to give. True love is giving of ones self freely to benefit another. There were other children there who were moody and did not have pleasant dispositions. These children caused me to examine my own motives in serving. I had a choice to make, to love or not love. It is easy to love people with pleasant dispositions or people who are talented. The true test of our love is if we love those who have nothing to offer us back and who are not grateful. I learned that we should value people not because of what they can do or even who they are, but because they are valuable to God.

I hope to be able to serve at this camp again, and I am so thankful for the lessons God taught me! God used the disabled to enabled me to see my own disabilities and weaknesses. We are all disabled in some way or another, we all have special needs, and we all need a Savior! 

No Place Wither You May Flee

I do not really know who wrote this, but I thought It was worthy of being quoted. I read it in a book, and the author was not cited. It was actually a quote, of a quote, of a quote, of which I am now going to quote.

"When you wish to do something evil, you retire from the public into your house where no enemy may see you; from those places of your house which are open and visible to the eyes of men you remove yourself into your room; even in your room you fear some witness from another quarter; you retire into your heart, there you meditate: he is more inward than your heart. Wherever, therefore, you shall have fled, there he is. From yourself, whither will you flee? Will you not follow yourself wherever you shall flee? But since there is One more inward even than yourself, there is no place where you may flee from God angry but to God reconciled. There is no place at all wither you may flee. Will you flee from Him? Flee unto Him."

You can hide in your house, in your room, or in your thoughts. You cannot hide from yourself though, and you cannot hide from God. You will know what you have done, and God will too. The only way to flee from God's anger is to be reconciled to Him. Are you fleeing from God? Does your conscience bother you? Do you wish you could be at peace in your soul and at peace with God? "as though God were making an appeal through [me]; [I] beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:20. Trust in Christ for your righteousness and turn from your sins! Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved."When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross."Colossians 2:13-14. Your debt can be canceled, and you can be set completely free! Will you flee from Him? Flee unto Him!