Manna

I have often heard people refer to those unexpected blessings in life as "manna from Heaven".  Yes, there is an analogy to be made.

Of course, the provision of manna is much different than those blessings of abundance that come to mind when I think of Abraham and his riches, or Job and his riches, or Jacob and how God chose to bless his efforts when he was working for his future father-in-law, Laban.

In our current testing, we are learning a little bit about manna.  Manna is probably more like the way God normally provides for His children.  Not in the sense of going out every day and picking up food that God has miraculously caused to fall.

Manna is not a provision of abundance.  It is enough.  It is provision for our needs.  That is what Jesus spoke of in the Sermon on the Mount when He said not to worry about what we will eat or what we will drink since our Father knows we have those needs.  We should focus instead on seeking the "Kingdom of God", and "all these things shall be added unto you".

God has been blessing us through these months.  Not in the abundance that we may have come to expect or that we may want.  But, He has been providing our needs.  Enough.

The lesson God was teaching His Children through the manna was obviously trust.  Don't try to hoard today what God will provide tomorrow.  Allow Him the privilege of providing tomorrow again just like He did today.  It pleases Him to provide for our needs.

I have not shared some of the blessings that God has provided over the last couple of months.  Maybe that is because I'm looking for that provision of abundance.  But, in anticipating -- expecting -- that abundance, it is easy to overlook the blessing of today's provision.

My wife has been able to begin substitute teaching recently, and that helps.  It is not "regular income" that we have become accustomed to over the years, but it is a blessing.  She has been asked to fill in for a teacher on maternity leave for the first six weeks after the Christmas vacation.  This is a blessing.

We have (finally) gotten a bid on our house in Tennessee.  The bid is significantly lower than we were asking.  But, it will allow us to get out from under that mortgage and pay down some other debt, reducing monthly expenses considerably.  The process is moving along, and it appears we will close prior to Christmas.

I have been in contact with a recruiter recently about a specific position, and I found out today that I will be having a phone interview with the manager early next week.  I don't want to expect that this will be the job God is providing, but I know that if it is, then the details will be worked out.

Right now, God is providing for us.  He is providing Enough.  But, isn't that really the point.  He is Enough!  He is Jehovah-jireh!  He has provided the Lamb who has paid the penalty of my sin!  And, He has provided manna -- today.

We thank You, Father, for Your blessings, and we thank You that we have Your promises.  We wait on You to provide tomorrow just as You have today.

Image Clear Ultrasound

We all know that the world today more than merely "accepts" premarital sex as "normal",  but actually endorses it!  And, of course, if you happen to accidentally (really?) get pregnant, there is always a nice, clean solution that can be provided to young girls free of charge and without parental notice (let alone permission)...

Since we are unlikely to ever make any changes in our nations abortion laws, we need to be able to offer these young ladies an option.  Of course, we know that adoption is truly an option that is often overlooked.  However, if the baby is never born -- if the mother-to-be never makes the choice to allow her baby to live -- then, there can be no adoption...

We need to provide some means -- some reason -- for these girls to think twice...

There is a ministry that is growing -- it is called Image Clear Ultrasound, and they provide mobile units to bring the ability to see the baby in the womb right to the girls!  This is an amazing concept, and it is effective and growing!

From now until the end of October, 2009, there is a matching contributions gift on the table!  If you go to the website http://www.icumobile.org/ right now and give a gift online, your gift will be matched!  Can you think of a better ministry to give to?  Can you think of another cause that is guaranteed to save truly innocent lives?

Here is a PDF presentation with some more information...  ICU National (PDF)

A Plea for Your Life...

Today, I make a plea for you to consider your future...

You may believe there is no God – or you may simply be undecided.

You may reject that the Bible is God's written Word through which He wants to communicate with us.

You may be one who believes in God and in real places the Bible calls Heaven and Hell.

You may be one who believes that you are bound for Heaven or you may not be sure.

No matter your beliefs today, I am pleading for you to consider that the Bible might be true.  Consider this in light of the historic events that seem to unfold nearly daily.

The Bible teaches some simple but crucially important truths:

1. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
   We are all sinners.
2. Romans 6:23a “For the wages of sin is death...”
   The price our sin "earns" is death.
3. Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
   God chose to love us, sinners, in spite of our sin, by sending His son, Jesus Christ, to die as the punishment for our sins.
4. Romans 6:23b “... but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.”
   This demonstration of love is a gift from God to us, and the gift is eternal life.
5. Romans 10:9-10 “That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord', and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
   We are free to accept this gift or not.  The act of accepting the gift means we believe and confess.  We believe that Jesus first died and that He was resurrected.  We confess that we are sinners and in need of God's gift.
6. John 14:6 “Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”
   Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
   This free gift of salvation through Jesus is the only way to get to Heaven.  There is no other way and no other name through which we can be saved from Death in Hell.

This plea I make is an urgent plea.  Why is it so urgent?  Well, there is the old cliché that each day is one day closer to the end of your life – and one day closer to the end of this age.  The truth is that we do not know for sure when the end of time will come – or even the end of our lives.  But, Jesus does tell us in Matthew 24:32-33 that just as we can recognize the signs of the seasons (in a general sense), we can also recognize the general time when the end of the age is approaching.

Today, more than any other time in history, we see the jigsaw puzzle of history beginning to come together.  The world is volatile and yet, there is continual talk of peace.  The activity of our world continues to be centered around a tiny country, Israel, whose very formation in 1948 is the fulfillment of a most unlikely Bible prophecy.

While the promise of world peace has been a goal of many for more than a century, there are groups of powerful elite people who now speak openly of their goal to form a “New World Order” in hopes of achieving lasting world peace.

At the same time, there are treaties between nation-states of historic proportions such as Russia with Iran and China.

The rise of some world leader to broker a peace deal could literally occur at any day.  The Bible tells us that this attempt at lasting peace will be broken after only three and a half years.  At that time, life on earth will become a most miserable existence.

I am not trying to prove beyond all doubt that the end of this age will be today or tomorrow.  Rather, I am pleading with you to consider what if?  What if the end really is today or tomorrow?  Are you trusting in nothing but the blood of Jesus shed on the cross for your sins?  Or, is there some other way that you hope or expect will bring you to Heaven?

I can only extend the offer that God has made in His Holy Word.  The choice is yours.

I plead with you to consider what that book of prophecies has said.  This book, the Bible, has many, many prophecies which have been fulfilled with pinpoint accuracy – often with many centuries between the prophecy and the fulfillment.  It is this book that I ask you to consider...  What if the Bible proves accurate once again?  And, what if today or tomorrow is the beginning of the end of the age?  What if, “today is the day of Salvation” – as the Bible tells us in II Corinthians 6:2 “... Now is the day of salvation.”

Please, I beg you, pause today.  Place your trust in the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross.  Ask God to save you today.

My Father in Heaven, I thank you so much for the gift of Salvation!  I pray that you would work in the hearts of any and all that read this.  Please use Your Word to bring some to a saving knowledge of your Son, Jesus!
As I see events unfolding in the world today, I long for the Glorious Appearing of Jesus in the clouds!
Yet, I am thankful for your great mercy which causes You to delay the conclusion of this age -- so that many will accept your gift of eternal life!

---

If you have accepted God's gift of Salvation, I encourage you to pass this on to the people you know!  If you read this as a web page, an E-mail, or on a piece of paper.


This is also posted at: http://sites.google.com/site/pleaforyourlife/


A file can be downloaded and printed from: http://sites.google.com/site/pleaforyourlife/plea.pdf

If there is someone that you would like to hear this Great News, but you believe that they would be less likely to listen if it came from you, then please simply send me their E-mail address, and I will be glad to send this to them.  Please go to:

http://sites.google.com/site/pleaforyourlife/#form

NOTE: I will NOT send mass E-mail.  I will send this E-mail by request only.  The E-mail will be prefaced with the statement "Someone cared enough to request that I send this to you".

God's Provision -- God's Way...

Through the past many years, God has provided for the needs of my family through a regular, fixed paycheck.  One that I didn't have to wonder about -- is it going to be there next month?  Yes, I understood that it was God who gave me talents and abilities, and it was God who provided the job itself.

However, that was easy to "trust", if you can call it that.

Over the last months, we have seen God provide in ways that may not be "miraculous", but still bear the mark of God's hand...

1. We expected my severance pay to end after the August 15th check, but then there was another on August 31st, and that check was significantly more money than all the rest had been.
2. Then, we got another check from the money that had been held out from the severance checks for the company stock purchase plan.
3. Then, our church gave us a love gift of significant size.  We have received other gifts as well.  Of course, any gift is significant size today!
4. Then, I was having trouble with getting unemployment benefits established, but this week, they resolved this for me and we will have unemployment for the past 8 weeks (on its way here in a debit card).
5. Then, the bank inspected our house, and we were at 97% complete (closer to 100% now), and we were significantly under budget.  The rest of the money which we borrowed is sitting in the bank, and we can apply it to our mortgage month by month as needed for probably close to a year.
6. We have had friends bring food over several times which has provided relief from time to time.
7. Because we used a geothermal HVAC system, our power company (cooperative) gave us a $1000 credit which will cover several months of our electric bill.
8. Because we were on the plan to keep our bill constant all year round with the utilities in Knoxville, and because we have not used nearly the amount of water or electricity there, we had been overpaying for quite some time, and so now we have a balance that will allow us to make NO payments -- hopefully until the house sells.  And, if it sells soon enough, then we will be refunded whatever is left.

There is obviously a limit to how long we will be able to rely on the money we have, but for the immediate future, God has provided.

I do not know exactly how long each of these things will last, and I don't know whether I will find an appropriate job in the next months.  In other words, I don't know what the future holds.  But, I do know that today, God has provided, and He has been gracious enough to show us that He has provided for at least some time into the future.

In addition to all of the monetary provision we have seen these last months, we have the knowledge and assurance that nothing can separate us from the love of God and no man (or anything) can "pluck" us from Our Heavenly Father's hand!  So much in this life is unknown and unsure!  Will He provide -- even in this life?  Yes, Matthew 6 tells us that His eye is on the sparrow, and so we know that He will take care of His children.  But, we do know that His ultimate provision will be the full and final deliverance from Sin and Death as we spend eternity Worshiping our Beloved Savior!

Thank you, Father, for your promise of provision!  Thank you for showing us your provision through these recent difficult months!  Most of all, thank you for your eternal incomprehensible grace -- that if we accept that Amazing Grace, we KNOW we will have eternity to praise you and thank you for all that we do not understand today!

The Great Commission...

When Jesus was finished with His work here on earth, one of the last things He did was to give His disciples a final word -- we call this the Great Commission.

Just seven chapters into the book of Acts, Stephen became the first disciple to give his life for the unapologetic preaching of Christ and of the Salvation that His death and resurrection made possible.

In the centuries since this Great Commission, countless Christians have suffered and even died for their obedience to this command!  Many have dedicated their lives to obeying these "last words" of Jesus here on earth.

Over the last few weeks, God has been in the process of bringing me to a place where I realize that my life has not been so dedicated...

Of course, I could personalize this (and I do), but that would be difficult and challenging, so I'll speak for a moment in that all-inclusive plural -- "we"...  I'll share this conviction -- "if the shoe fits" and all that...

Here we are in our great free country where the Bill of Rights has declared that government cannot prohibit us from practicing religion freely.  Yet, the tide is turning -- we are told that this "right" simply means that government cannot have anything to do with religion.  Then, we are told that it means we must be tolerant of every other religion.  This is interpreted to mean that we cannot share our beliefs with other people because it is intolerant of their beliefs.  Some in our country are pushing ratifying the UN rights of the child, which would tell us that teaching our children about the Lord Jesus would be a violation of their rights.

We are right on the verge of completely losing this great freedom that we have to "practice" our religion -- because for the Bible believing Christian, sharing Jesus with other people is a crucial part of practicing our religion...

We think we have convictions -- that we would tell others about Christ even if it was against the law.  We believe this is a conviction -- meaning that we would be willing to die for this cause of all causes.

And yet, now, while we still have freedom -- and for the past (how many?) years, we have become absorbed with our lives -- our comfort.  We tell our children, "I just want you to have things a little better than I had them" -- probably stemming from the Great Depression era when that really meant something!  It might have been worded "I don't want you to have to beg in the streets for food" or "I want you to be able to have a job so you can provide for your family".  But, we don't mean that at all -- we mean "I want you to have a TV in every room", "I want you to have fun", "I want you to have a nice house".  Cell phones, computers, cars, you name it...  We have lost track of Christs "last words".

One day recently God hit me with this thought -- "If you are not telling people about Christ while you are FREE to do so, what makes you think you're going to tell them if it could mean you are imprisoned or killed?"

More than half of my life is now in the past.  I have loved God and learned about Him.  I have gone to Church and dressed nicely (to represent my desire to give Him my best).  I trust God for Salvation, and for my daily needs.  I believe He has a plan for my life, and I want His plan and only His.

I have worked and earned money and spent money and acquired for myself things and for my family that we wanted.  And, I conclude with Solomon that it is empty.  It just does not matter.  It is nice and fun and comfortable, and I thank God for these things.

But, have I missed something -- have I been so busy making myself comfortable in this life that I have failed to obey Christ's last and greatest command...  Have I laid up treasures on earth, or in heaven...

Lord, I have certainly passed up many, many opportunities to share Your Gospel with people you have brought into my life.  I ask that you would give me the wisdom to recognize opprotunities you bring and the courage to share You, my Savior, with the world around me.

Silence of The Lamb

I have been silent here on this blog for a month now. That is because we have been experiencing God's Silence...

What do we do when God is silent? Obviously, this depends on the nature of the trial and the nature of the silence... Well, I can't say that I have any real answers, but I have some thoughts -- some are not spiritual, but are reality...

• Pray
• Cry
• Wait
• Search the Bible for answers
• Panic, but with nothing to "do" to fix anything
• Worry
• Repent from Worrying
• Search in vain for some "Magic Formula"

Some trials have no "deadline" associated with them. My wife and I have both experienced the death of a spouse. This was a trial that just went on and on, but there was no date or time that something bad was going to happen. It was simply enduring the loneliness and grief of loss. Well, it wasn't "simply" anything, but we could just trudge along day after day waiting, waiting, and more waiting until we could see God provide comfort and relief from grief in various ways. He was and is faithful!

But, this present trial is much different and doesn't merely require "endurance". The truth is that our severance pay has now run out, and (even with unemployment, gifts, and other forms of income) we are going to run out of money to pay our basic bills. Waiting means something entirely different than it did after we each lost our first spouse. Waiting means running out, potentially losing the home we just built, having to find family or friends to let us live with them until we can find a job to begin the rebuilding process.

I have been told -- and I can see on the news -- that we are not alone. There are a lot of people across this "land of opportunity" that are on the verge of losing everything they have worked for. It may give a little comfort to know that others share the same dire circumstances that we are experiencing, but then, this is not really "comforting"...

So, is there any consolation? Is there any comfort? Well, I can list some things that I believe, but they sound very hollow when I think of the possibility that we might have to find friends to help us move those things that we don't want to part with -- though we know not where to store them -- and have our credit ruined while we go "beg" family and friends to help us. And, when we think about wanting to provide some sense of stability --- or even just food and shelter -- for our teenagers, who have already experienced the loss of a parent... Here are some thoughts that might be considered "comforting", though it does seem increasingly hollow:

• We have trusted in the blood of Jesus for our Salvation. Though our home, our "things", or even food can be taken away, NO ONE can take away the gift of eternal life that God has promised. Yes, this is definitely a comfort.
• We know that God "will never leave us nor forsake us." Of course, getting an understanding of what this means in this particular circumstance is definitely a challenge. Allow my humanness to show through for a moment -- It isn't Jesus in Flesh here with us. He doesn't require food or shelter. I know, He has a plan, and in His plan for us, He has not "forsaken" bringing His plan for us to fruition. (Though a different context) He who has begun a "good work" in us is faithful, and He will continue it to the "Day of Jesus Christ" -- He will not forsake His "Good Work" in us.
  
• James tells us that we KNOW that the trying of our faith will bring forth patience, ultimately making us "perfect" or "complete". Of course, it feels like a slap in the face to read (or be quoted) the verse to "consider it all joy"... I have to read these verses to say that we should consider the final result joy -- the result of maturity -- that is where we find the "joy" -- not in the trial itself! Yes, I know that in this trial, God has considered us "worthy" of these trials, and through this, He will bring us to greater maturity. Well, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it...
• We know that our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ, walked this earth and experienced all the different sorts of temptations and testing just like we experience, and yet he did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). And, we also know that He knows the infirmities we have in this life (Romans 8:26)

My prayers have become childlike. Maybe that is what my Daddy in Heaven wants. I have certainly been brought low. I pray as David did in Psalm 142:6 (though his persecutors were trying to kill him) -- Lord God, Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.

Heavenly Father, Daddy, please help us! Please, Lord Jesus, hear our cries, see our tears, and feel our longing for your help. We feel helpless. We try to do what we know to do, but doors continue to slam in our faces. We pour out our broken hearts before you. We thank and praise you for saving us from eternal damnation in Hell! We need deliverance here on earth today... We need a job that will allow us to be faithful to pay our living expenses -- to work for our food and shelter. We are truly incapable of fixing our current dilemma without your help...

In Jesus name -- through whom we have Salvation and whom we desire to serve -- Amen

Keep On Keeping On...

Well, this has surely been an interesting week in our lives.  It is like we are just on the verge of seeing God work great things, but just not quite yet...  We certainly see how He could bring this all together in the next week or month...

I have a job interview today, and I know that this could result in a job offer -- probably won't know until later this week, but I'm surely praying that He will allow me to KNOW that I will be offered this job TODAY!  That would surely be abnormal, but He is able!

And, we continue to work on our new home.  Many final details have come together in the last week -- the electrical boxes are all either done or covered with blank covers, the stairway has the rail on it, had the kitchen cabinets measured for the countertop, the deck skirting is finished (not to mention the railings), disinfected the well with chlorine, put the vent pipe through the roof over the weekend (still not sure if I'll have any leaks to fix),and today we put on the shutters out front...  It is coming together...  Still some things to do -- waiting on the water test (sample to be taken on Wednesday), kitchen and master bath countertop / sinks to be installed, and some details on the kitchen cabinets need to be finished.

And, we also have our pastor back in Knoxville working on fixing problems in the house we need to sell.  We have not had any contact with them in the nearly three weeks since we were last in Knoxville, but we will be driving back to get one last load of "things" this week, and we will find out the status then...

We are definitely in a position where several things could come together here in the next weeks, but there are no guarantees.  We don't anticipate any problems with getting the new house finished, but I have to leave room for the unexpected...  The job opportunity and the selling of the house in TN, on the other hand, are no where near sure at this point.

So, what do we do?  How do we proceed?  We keep on keeping on, and we pray that God will perform His work -- that He will clearly demonstrate His Sovereignty!  Just as He calmed the sea when He chose, He brought down fire from heaven when He chose, He brought the very universe into existence when He chose, He rose from the dead when He chose!  He will work out our relatively minor life problems when He chooses!

So, we will continue keeping on...  We will do those things that are within our power to do -- I will (and have) tried to prepare for this job interview, we will (and have) continue to work at those details to complete the house, we will (and have) continue to have our house in TN repaired and prepared for selling, and we will anticipate the Mighty Hand of God fulfilling all of those things which we are absolutely powerless to bring about!

Our Father, Lord Jesus, You indeed are the Almighty, the Faithful God, the Loving Savior, and the Sovereign Planner of all that is and all that will be!  You have sent your Holy Spirit to be our Comforter!  It is all we can do to admire Your plan and Your working out of that plan!  We ask today that (if it were possible) we would not "get in the way" of Your plan.  We ask that we would continue to rely on You.  And, we rest in those Everlasting Arms of which you speak in Deuteronomy 33:27.

Ye Have Not Because Ye Ask Not!

As I mentioned earlier this week, we have received an answer to prayer this week, but the prayer was vague, and so the answer is wonderful, but in itself, it is not going to pay the bills!

I also mentioned that I was going to begin praying more specifically this week -- I'm praying for the job -- full closure!

Well, I have been thinking about the verse in James that says "ye have not because ye ask not".  Now, I realize there is more to the context than just that phrase alone.  However, the statement is certainly true -- Jesus says in John 16:24 "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."

So, I have decided to ask my Heavenly Father for what I really need -- or is it want?  Well, I'll let Him decide -- if I don't ask...

Here is my prayer, and we know He "is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think"...

Heavenly Father, I ask today that You would provide not only a job, but also a buyer for our home in Tennessee, and that we will also be able to complete the new house -- all before the end of August -- even before my severance pay runs out!  Lord, finishing the house in itself may not be miraculous, but if You will answer all three of these requests, then You alone will be praised!  We will praise You no matter the outcome.  We thank you and praise you for the way you have already planned to work out all things!

God Answers Prayer...

So, we know that God does answer prayer, but it is nice every now and then to see very specific answers to our prayers.  And, then sometimes, our prayers are not specific themselves!

Late last week and over the weekend, we (and I'm sure most of you who may read this) have been praying that God would give us some light at the end of our tunnel.  That He would show us that He is listening and that He will provide.

So, some interesting things have indeed happened already this week.  I'll briefly itemize them here:

1. First, the guys came to measure for the countertop in our new kitchen, and one of them was an owner of the company.  He was an interesting man -- very sharp, though he is interested in living "simple" in terms of reducing his dependence on the "system" -- living off the land, generating his own electricity, etc.  So, he gave me the name of a recruiter that he said specializes in placing people in technical fields.  So, I have called her and set up a phone interview with her for Thursday.  This is not for a job, but so that she can see if she can help "place" me.
2. Second, I received a phone call from another recruiter, this one out of Chicago, who works in the midwest, and specifically places a lot of people with my skillset -- or so she said.  She has no specific jobs in mind at this time, but she will be looking also.
3. Third, this afternoon, I happened to check our phone messages even though the light was not flashing, and sure enough, there was a call from a recruiter in a particular company (not a headhunter, but employed by this company).  So, I called him back, and we had a short discussion, and he indicated that a hiring manager in his company is interested in talking with me face to face.  So, I am looking forward to a phone call from his coordinator to set up an onsite interview.  This should happen late this week or early next week, depending on their schedule.

Now, my first response to these developments is, Thank you, Lord, for answering our prayer for some sign or  indication that You indeed are listening and that you can provide a job even in this dismal economy!

Yet, I know that the first two recruiters could well go for months without finding a job that really fits my skills, and this company is likely interviewing many people, and I know they don't need much of a negative indicator in order to decide that I'm not the right person for the job!

Actually, yesterday, I made the decision to make my prayers more specific -- I don't want (or should I say NEED) just an indication that He is listening...  I NEED a job so that I can provide for my family.  I am praying that, whether it is one of these possibilities or another that He has yet to reveal, that He provide a job -- an offer and full closure -- a paycheck.  I am praying that through His provision, I will be able to provide for the NEEDS of my family.

We do serve a great God, and He is indeed capable of supplying our needs in mighty ways.

Please pray a more specific prayer with me this week, and until He answers...

Lord, we do humbly thank you for showing that You are at work!  Please, Lord, now transform one of the opportunities into Your specific provision for my family!  To God be the Glory!

Encouragement from God's Word...

The Bible teaches us that we should hide His Word in our hearts and that we should meditate on it -- making God's Word a very integral part of our thinking processes.

In my young years, I was able to be a part of an AWANA club and also attend a Christian school, where Scripture memorization and Bible study were a primary focus. As I have encountered circumstances of life, particularly trials, God has brought His Word to mind -- the right passage at the right time...

In the last weeks, we have truly struggled with the temptation to lose faith in our Savior. We are being tried and tested, and our hearts are heavy with the burden of not knowing how He will provide. We do know He will provide.

This has brought to mind that passage in Romans 8 where Paul tells us the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us with "groanings which cannot be uttered", as the King James Version puts it. I particularly like that translation -- it seems to be a clear description of those times when all that comes are tears -- and then sometimes there are not even enough tears. We are emotionally drained. We are truly beyond ourselves. God must be our Provider and Sustainer because it certainly isn't me!

As I read that verse, it is interesting to review the context of the passage. Going back to verse 1 of Romans 8, the context is really about the struggle we as Christians (but first as humans) have with sin, and that the struggle has ultimately been put to rest by our Savior. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." Paul picks up this idea again in verse 33 and following -- that sin can no longer separate us from Christ because that has been dealt with on the cross.

But, in the middle of the chapter, Paul spends some time considering the struggle that we have here in this flesh -- not directly with sin, but with the difficulties of life -- that are indeed a result of the sinful, fallen world we live in.

Here are verses 18 through 32 (KJV from the BibleGateway.com):


¹⁸For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
¹⁹For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
²⁰For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
²¹Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
²²For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
²³And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
²⁴For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
²⁵But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
²⁶Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
²⁷And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
²⁸And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
²⁹For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
³⁰Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
³¹What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
³²He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?


This passage uses that word "groan" several times -- first, the creation itself groans because of the bondage of corruption -- we live in a fallen world. Then, we ourselves groan in anticipation of having a redeemed body -- that is, we currently live in a fallen world, but we know there is a perfect heaven which awaits us (Christians -- since the context is the Church at Rome).

Paul then says in 24 and 25 that we have hope! The same "hope" we have in Salvation is the hope of the completion of our Salvation -- the full redemption of our bodies in heaven one day! This hope is obviously not the "nail biting" hope we usually refer to, but the surety that we will indeed spend eternity in heaven if we have trusted Him as our Savior.

Then comes that verse that God has brought back to me this week -- "Likewise, the Spirit itself also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."


This is where I find myself right now. I am at the end of myself. The Holy Spirit knows my heart, and He takes those unexpressable pains and "groanings" and, knowing the will of God, brings them before the Throne of Grace on my behalf...


And then Paul puts an exclamation point on this comfort in that more popular verse 28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."


Yes, these trials, or sufferings, are for some purpose that we may not understand. But, we know that these are not some random events that surprised God as much as they did us. Even being terminated by my former employer did not in some way thwart God's plan. No, this is His very plan! We are still living through His plan, but the plan itself is complete...


He does love us, and so we know that the working of this plan is ultimately for our good!


My Savior, I ask today that you would help us first to trust that your Word is true. And then, Lord Jesus, I ask that you would allow your plan to be revealed enough to strengthen our weakening faith. For, we still live in this fallen world. As you tell us in Psalm 103:13-14, you have compassion on us as a Father on His children because you know we are frail, but dust -- formed from the dust of the ground...

Trust and Obey...

We had a missionary speaker at church this week, and as we often find, the sermon seemed to be custom made for our ongoing trial...


He spoke today about the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand as recorded in Mattew 14:13-21.  I won't try to record the sermon here, but will focus in on a couple of the details that are particularly relevant to our situation...


The disciples had a tough job.  They had at least between 10 and 15 thousand people gathered to listen to Jesus, and the people were getting hungry...  Reminds me of everyday when my three kids start two or three times a day -- "What's for lunch" or "What's for dinner"...  But, this was a huge crowd.  They didn't have fast food or even the grocery stores like we have today with prepared foods and microwaves.  They had a real problem on their hands.


In fact, when the disciples thought the only solution was sending people home so they could feed themselves, Jesus told them to feed the people!  We may get all pious and think the disciples should have had faith or something, but how would we respond?  Feed 10 to 15 thousand people!  That would be like feeding 100 to 150 people all three meals for a full month!  This was no small task for these men!  The word impossible seems rather appropriate...


What I find interesting about how God chose to work this out is that Jesus required the disciples to take this small lunch of 5 loaves and 2 fishes, and actually go through the motions of starting to hand it out.  Now, we don't know just exactly how God caused it to multiply, but it would seem that they probably looked at this food that didn't even fill the first basket, and as they handed it to the first person, they thought that would be it.  Surely, the second person will be holding an empty basket and looking back up at the disciples...  But, Jesus made them go through that process -- no doubt thinking something about being doomed to failure.


Of course, they were wrong, but it sure looked like a silly plan...  But, somehow, when the next person in line reached into the basket, there was food.  And the third.  And so on...


I don't see God working this way with my checking account -- that would be nice!  But, He is requiring us to continue going about our daily life -- feeling like we are doomed to failure.  I am expecting Him to fulfill His promise to provide.  I can apply for jobs.  I can finish the construction of our home.  I can do what I can do.  I can even go to the government and get unemployment and maybe even food stamps.  But, I can't give myself an income.  God is going to have to provide that.


Lord Jesus, this is your Name that is on the line.  You have promised to care for us as a Father cares for His children.  As we take the steps that we can see, we continue to plead with you to bring us to a place of deliverance from the stress of having no idea how or where we're going to live.  We do love you and we have experienced your tender love for us in the past, and we so long to proclaim how you once again have delivered us!

Labor of Love...

Yesterday and today, we had planned to get our belongings in Tennessee loaded into a rental truck so that we can drive back to Ohio on Wednesday.  If you could only have seen the house, you would know this was an absolutely daunting task -- especially considering the recent "challenges" (to be politically correct) that have brought both my wife and I toward depression...

We had also planned to have someone come in and give us some sort of estimate on what we could get for our home and what we needed to do to help out.  We had spoken with our pastor and his wife here in Knoxville some time ago, and they have some experience in "flipping" houses (sometimes their own and sometimes on the side).  So, I called Caroline on Monday afternoon, and asked about the possibility of having them take a look, and she said that she and Pastor would be glad to come over in the afternoon to take a look.

After walking the house with us, the news was not great, but not as bad as it could have been...

However, it was during that time that both Pastor and Caroline realized that we were simply not going to be able to get the job done.  We have been emotionally exhausted and are have been plodding along these last days and weeks.

So, they graciously offered to help us get the furniture loaded on the truck.  It was between 4 and 5 PM on Monday when they offered to help us.

While asking for help goes against my nature, I felt compelled to accept their generous offer.

And so, they worked with us for about 4 to 5 hours on Monday evening, and we were able to get half of the truck loaded!  They had some meetings to participate in today (Tuesday), but they said they could be here after 4PM again on Tuesday.

We got off to a late start this morning, but we did work hard to try to get as much as possible done before they arrived to help us.

We did alright, considering our physical and emotional exhaustion, but our motivation really came from two things -- the progress we had made on Monday and knowing that we would have help again Tuesday afternoon...

Pastor and Caroline have their own situation to deal with right now.  The church where they serve is a very small church, and is not able to provide for them as a full time job, and so, Pastor has had to work in addition to pastoring (as if that isn't really "work")...  Pastor was laid off from work a few months back, and now he is also unemployed.

We have had the privilege of being helped by true Servants of God!  This was truly a Labor of Love!

Make me a servant, Lord Jesus!  As I have seen others in difficult times minister to us and to others, may we not let our trials prevent us from serving you!

Unto Him That is Able...

Listening to BBN Radio this evening, and heard this verse read:

Ephesians 3:20 "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."


So, I decided to take a closer look at the context...  What struck me was verse 13:


"Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory."


Paul was in prison at this time!  In spite of his own circumstance appearing dire, he was encouraging the saints at Ephesus that, the same Savior who made possible -- and who made known -- the Gospel and all that it means, this same One is also able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think!


Ok, Lord!  We're ready!  While we diligently try to do what we must do, at the same time, we await Your solution to our current dilemma!  We humbly ask You to help us get our things moved from the house in Tennessee, and to provide a buyer willing to pay the amount we need.  And at the same time, we ask that You would provide a job that will meet our needs and will be close to our new home!  We ask these things, knowing that You are able to do exceeding abundantly above ALL of this!  And, to You be the Glory!

The Test of God's Faithfulness

Sunday morning in church, our pastor touched on the faithfulness of God.  He displayed the words of the great old Hymn -- Great Is Thy Faithfulness...  Indeed, God is faithful.

Pastor Burns went on to say how we love to proclaim His faithfulness in those times of when everything is going well!  Yes, for years, I heartily sang Great Is Thy Faithfulness, and could think through many things in my life where I saw He had provided.

The promise of His faithfulness is not one that is particularly important when "all is well", but rather, when, human speaking, all is NOT well!

It is during this time of our lives that we must look to His promised faithfulness for hope of deliverance -- that is the surety of deliverance!

We continue through such a time in our lives right now.  We see possibilities of jobs, and we know this is a difficult time in the job market, humanly speaking.  Sometimes, even most times, God uses those "human possibilities" to provide deliverance.  But in those times, it is possible for the world to see the outcome, and explain it away -- an explanation absent the Sovereign God.

What if God decides to make His deliverance completely and profoundly His own Divine Deliverance in such a way that no careful observer can simply dismiss His Mighty Hand?  In that case, He must eliminate all human possibilities, and provide by an unmistakably miraculous means!

For those not already familiar with this great man of God, please permit me to introduce George Mueller.  Mr Mueller was a man who trusted in God's faithfulness like few others.  He believed that God had called him to open orphanages, yet he did not have funds with which to build them.  Of course, God did not call him to do something without also providing the means.  Yes, George Mueller was able to build and maintain many orphanages, and God blessed him for his trust.  However, God did not see fit to provide the sort of abundance that we might have envisioned.  He provided enough, and on time.

There was one particular evening when they were sitting down to eat dinner -- at an empty table.  And, George bowed to thank God for His provision.  While he was still in prayer, there was a knock at the door.  The driver of a truck full of baked goods had a dilemma -- his truck had broken down, and he had all this bread that was going to go to waste.  God provided, and right on time.

Do I want to be George Mueller?  Waiting for God's provision to come at that very last possible moment?  Well, no, that is very scary.  However, if that is the way God is going to provide, then may He receive the glory!

This waiting on God is a test of our trust, but it is equally a test of God's faithfulness.  How many promises would be broken if He is not faithful?  Of course, if He is not faithful, then we have many more problems than mere broken promises...

Heavenly Father, Divine Provider, please don't require of me the faith that George Mueller demonstrated!  Yet, if that is what you require, please help me and my family to trust in your Great Faithfulness!  Thank you in advance for whatever it is You have already planned to do!

New Every Morning...

Truly, God's mercies are new every morning...

My wife just told me this morning that some of our friends are getting ready to butcher a cow, and they need the freezer space, so they need to use up some meat. So, she is going to make a crock pot of meat and potatoes and carrots for us tomorrow.

God continues to surprise us in ways that we could never have fully appreciated had I been employed.

Something that has been floating around in my brain the last few days is that none of us can thwart God's plan -- least of all, Texas Instruments (who chose to reduce my job in January). God does have a plan, and He is Sovereign, and nothing we do can prevent Him from carrying out His will. Maybe we can do it the "easy way" or the "hard way" (as Jonah chose), but God's plan will be accomplished!

Lord, help me to see your mercies every morning (from Lamentations 3:22-24) -- whether or not You choose to provide a stable, fixed-income career for me. May I never again become so "secure" in my salary that I fail to see your hand in the small things as well as the big ones!

From Car Accidents to Providence

At the core of my belief system is that God is Sovereign. Scripture allows us to see God's Sovereignty from different perspectives. The book of Job shows God "allowing" Satan to tempt and test Job, showing that God could have prevented Satan, thus He was Sovereign over those circumstances.

Other passages, such as the Exodus of Israel from Egypt, shows God directly causing various events to occur -- particularly, the plagues, not the least of which is the killing of the firstborn sons (unless the blood of the lamb was found on the door way).

The storms that the disciples experienced at different times, and the calming of the sea, show God's power over nature and thus another aspect of His Sovereignty.

This doctrine is a controversial one, but when the rubber meets the road, the doctrine of Sovereignty is almost solely responsible for how we respond to our life experiences.

The rubber met the road this past week -- quite literally. Well, first, it left the road, and then it gripped the road, and then it left the road completely... We were making our bi-weekly round trip from Ohio to Tennessee and back with two vehicles and a big load of boxes and other belongings early this past week. I was driving the truck and 16 foot trailer fully loaded through the mountains of north-eastern Tennessee, and my wife was driving the car behind us with two of our kids.

There were pretty bad storms that day in spots as we drove over the mountains.

I was riding along, listening to the radio, and my cell phone rang -- I expected it would be my wife, but I was stunned to hear her crying in a panic, "Scott, I wrecked! We hydroplaned and then the tires caught grip, and threw us around backwards, and across the road into the ditch!"

Wednesday was another day when my understanding of, and belief in, God's Sovereignty was to be tested...

This episode started about 1PM on Wednesday, and by the time we had contacted AAA, waited on a police report to be made, contacted our insurance company, and waited for the tow truck, it was already nearly 4:15... We were also trying to work with our insurance company to arrange a rental car -- which turned out to take another 3 hours! There were no rental cars available within an hour drive in any direction, and after several missed calls and voice messages, we finally made contact with the rental agency, and they had to drive the car an hour to where we were stuck.

A minor detail -- the truck was loaded, and we simply could not have fit our whole family into the truck.

So, here we are, sitting in the car in the parking lot of the wrecker service, making phone calls, and trying to figure out our next step... It had already been about 6 hours since we left home, and we were long past due for a restroom stop... So, across the street we traipsed to the gas station where we quickly decided on plan B after one glance into the outside restroom... We ended up deciding to go into the church next door and ask if we could use their restrooms. We could see people arriving and their sign indicated VBS was this week, so there were plenty of people around...

Of course, they had no problem with us using their facilities, and my wife and I did so (our kids had stayed at the gas station to get something to drink). As we were walking out the door of the church, a gentleman asked us if we would like to join them for dinner -- they were serving their VBS workers and their families...

Now, this man had no idea of the circumstances we were in -- this car accident is not all that is happening in our lives right now. I still am unemployed, we are in the middle of building a new home (caught in between the finishing and moving stages), have two mortgages, and now, we have a wrecked car... Stuck in a town basically on foot (can't be running a 16 foot trailer through the drive through, and not enough room for all of us anyway), and our three teenagers helped remove all doubt that dinner time had definitely arrived!

So, when this man offered for us to eat dinner, the tears fell without my ability to hold them back. Through this humbling experience, I clearly "heard" God "telling" me, "I will feed you and your family."

I can scarcely recount this situation without crying -- out of a combination of thankfulness and humility before the Sovereign God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills!

Why is this so humbling? God had provided a good job for me -- the world may not have considered us "rich", but we certainly had plenty, and we knew that God had provided it. My wife and I were both burdened to be people that give and that help those in need. We have not been accustomed to being those in need -- who walk into a church off the street asking for help. God truly put us in a position where we did just that, and He used His children -- that we had never before met -- to provide a meal for us! They offered to feed us without knowing anything about us! We were total strangers, and yet, they offered God's love in the form of providing much needed sustenance!

God is definitely Sovereign, and while hearing my wife panicked on the phone seems like the result of a mere "accident", I can see God's Sovereign hand shaping and changing us through this scenario.

We can see several blessings through this past week... I first must recount the repeated humbling of God's provision since Wednesday evening!

On Thursday, my brother came to help me installing doors, and his wife sent a crock pot of ham and beans for dinner -- we have a trailer parked outside the new house, but we don't yet have a working kitchen, so cooking has pretty much been limited to microwave meals and the grill... God (through my brother and sister-in-law) fed us on Thursday evening... Then, on Thursday evening, my wife has been going to a Bible Study with some of our new Ohio friends, and she came home and told me that her new friends had decided to make dinner for us for Friday evening -- steaks, potatoes, and vegetables... Then, we got to church this morning, not realizing there was a covered dish church dinner today, and of course, they invited us to stay for that. On our way out the door, several people handed us full or nearly full bowls for us to bring home.

Each time, I have been brought to tears seeing God provide in such a real way since we cannot afford to be eating out, and the kids are sick of hamburgers and microwave meals...

We have been blessed by Providence!

There are other blessings that I have neglected to mention -- my wife and our kids were not injured in the car accident! It was not an "impact accident" -- the car basically slid to a stop (sideways and backwards), but with no sharp impact. The airbags did not even deploy! No other cars were involved! Though the traffic was heavy on the interstate that day, somehow, this all happened without even clipping any other vehicle! While we did have to wait several hours for a rental car, we were able to make all the arrangements using the cell phone, and we were able to arrive here in Ohio safely nearly 2AM Thursday morning!

I refuse to believe that we have seen the end of the blessings from this apparent "accident"... God will provide -- we have but to wait and see how...

Is God Sovereign? Yes, I most definitely continue to believe that He is, and He has seen fit to both test and reinforce my belief during this past week.

Lord, help me to trust what You tell us in your Word -- that you will take care of Your children (Matthew 6:25-34). Thank you for both your Sovereignty and your Love -- which together mean you can and will work all things together for good (from verse 28 of Romans 8:15-32).

The Lord is My Shepherd!

Sunday morning in church, we had the privilege of hearing from a representative from Shepherd's Ministries, Michael, accompanied by a resident, Terry.

Michael asked Terry to come up front and give his personal testimony of God's saving grace. Terry quoted many verses and told how God saved him from his sins. Then, Terry wanted to say some things from his heart. He then quoted Psalm 23, and then sang that great old song, Gentle Shepherd.

There I sat -- no job, no confidence that God is going to allow me to keep all the "things" I have accumulated, not the least of which is the new home we are nearly finished building... And, I heard the first verse of Psalm 23: "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want". I know that "want" here means "lack"... Even though the rest of the Psalm is equally comforting, I scarcely heard anything beyond that first verse -- until Terry began singing Gentle Shepherd. Then, God started pulling the tears from my eyes and I was unable to hold back. The Lord is MY own Gentle Shepherd, and I shall not want or lack!

And, there stood Terry. Having a pretty significant disability -- certainly lacking the abilities that God has given me to think and to earn a living. Yet, Terry trusted the same Gentle Shepherd that I can trust today -- if I will.

Lord, please give me the Grace that I need today to trust You for my needs tomorrow... May my weakness give You the opportunity to show Your Power to those who are watching me to see if my faith is real! (II Corinthians 12:9)

Why Another Blog!?!

You may have heard it said that you can read the same Bible verses at different times and learn a new thing each time.

Today while sitting in Church, I was wrestling with thoughts about God and how He is currently working in my life and the lives of my wife and children. It occurred to me why it is that we can learn different things from the same verses at different times.

As is true for each of us, the way we think at any given time in life is affected by the life experiences we are going through. Our perspective is altered by each test or experience that we gp through. And so, we may read a passage that we have read for years, and see a different aspect of that passage than we had noticed before. I am not suggesting that the meaning of the verses themselves changes. But, the specific problems we face during each season of life are like looking at the scenery with sunglasses with a little different tint, and that affects the aspect of the scenery that stands out to us. The scenery hasn't changed, but the colors that stand out to us are altered by the filter before our eyes.

One example of this that I have personally experienced is that God stretched my understanding of "the valley of the shadow of death" after my first wife passed away. I had always heard of that passage from the perspective of the person who walked close to or through death. Yes, David was talking about his own experiences and his own life. But, when one of our loved ones goes into that valley, we go into that valley with him or her. I can think of no better description of that dark grief that I experienced than the Psalmist's words "the valley of the shadow of death". And so, because of the path that my life took, my understanding of that passage of scripture was altered or expanded. I should be quick to add that God was indeed faithful to walk through that valley with me, and I can now look back and see His gentle, tender love for my children and me through that valley.

Another example, much more current for me, are Paul's words "I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content" (Ephesians 4:11). These words mean one thing when one is on a fixed (and reliable) paycheck. Those same words come to mean something entirely different when one has lost his job -- as I have. It is easy to be "content" when we have so much more than our mere needs. These words could become quite scary (humanly speaking) if God sees fit to test the limits of my "contentment" -- or maybe to teach me that there should be no limits. Contentment is fundamentally about trust -- trust in His promises to provide for my needs. The key word being "needs"...

And so, life is God's way of making our theology become real -- it is where the rubber meets the road, so to speak. It is like the sculptor who takes the partially finished sculpture, and decides what chisel is required to refine that next feature. So, God has carefully chosen the next events of my life to teach me and shape me as He desires. It might be trying or testing my faith, or it might be teaching me just a little more humility or unconditional love. It may also be to work through me in someone else's life, as Paul talks of his imprisonment leading to spreading the Gospel in ways and in places that he otherwise could not have reached (Philippians 1:12-14).

So, today, I decided to begin a blog relating some of those events and trials in my life that God is using to make my theology just a little more real.

Lord, make yourself more real to me today through the trials you are bringing me through.
Help me give you the praise and glory for both the trial and the results of that trial -- even before you have brought me through it... (James 1:2-4)

This blog is dedicated to the daily experiences that God is using to form my own personal Theology. It does not have to be public. It is enough for my life to be altered in a very private and personal way. However, I would like to allow my own personal spiritual growth to encourage others who may be going through their own life challenges, and who are having God challenge and develop their own understanding of Himself -- their own Theology.