Come and meet thy God

I was both humbled and encouraged when I was driving to do an errand in town yesterday.  On the corner was a man who was holding up a sign proclaiming come and meet thy God.  Around his neck he wore a sign saying Do you know Jesus Christ?  What courage to be standing on a corner with at least 100 cars an hour passing by.  He did not yell, nor did he act aggressive.  Rather, he stood waiting in patient angst to be given his opportunity to share his story.  Just in the short time we were at the red light several yelled out Amen and honked their horn.  He responded Praise the Lord and bless you!  We had the opportunity to share with this man who had a heart attack, watched the Chosen, and has now become on fire for sharing how he has been changed. 

Ironically, I then read Jer. 29:4-7 today.  Jeremiah is calling the captives in Babylon to move ahead with their lives and pray for the pagan nation in which they find themselves in.  We may not be captives; but we do not belong here as we are only passing through.  In verse 11 God proclaims he has a plan for our good not to harm us.  I had never put the whole paragraph together before.  We are not to become paralyzed when we are living in troubled times experiencing unpleasant or distressing situations.  Instead, we are to be leaning out to God, praying for him to bless those around us; to influence those in leadership and even bless those who are acting in their own interests instead of those whom they are to be representing.  It may be hard to pray for those who are acting in contrary to our believes, but that is when it is even more important for us to be praying. 

I like what our pastor this week explained.  Our personal theology is what we believe about God.  Theology builds how we view the world.  What we believe will define how we live; then how we live will show our testimony to the world.  It is so important what we put our minds to each day.  What we read, what we watch, and what we talk about defines what we are believing and then what we are expressing in our lives. 

What are you thinking and reading about today?  Will it be something which will be an encouragement to others around you?  Or will you just keep stuck in the mud of yesterday.  Are you thinking we are just robots in this world with no choice over what happens to us? Are you thinking God has predestined us to act and do what he has planned, and we have nothing but to live it out—we have no responsibility for what we do or think? Are you thinking we will do exactly what God programmed us to do and you might as well give up and just play the part until you die?  How depressing!  This thinking will keep you trapped in despair and never moving beyond what you could be. This is all mud of lies designed to keep you trapped.

This is my challenge for you today.  Make a choice to try something different.  Read the book of love letters God has given us.  Just a few minutes can make all the difference not only in your life but how you influence those around you.  You have an impact of one drop in a lake that will ripple out to every edge of the shore!

Jeremiah 29:4-11

English Standard Version

⁴ “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: ⁵ Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. ⁶ Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. ⁷ But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. ⁸ For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream,^[a] 9 for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the Lord.

¹⁰ “For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare^[b] and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Ephesians 2:8-9 English Standard Version

⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Psalm 122 English Standard Version

Let Us Go to the House of the Lord

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

122 I was glad when they said to me,
    “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”
² Our feet have been standing
    within your gates, O Jerusalem!

³ Jerusalem—built as a city
    that is bound firmly together,
⁴ to which the tribes go up,
    the tribes of the Lord,
as was decreed for^[a] Israel,
    to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
⁵ There thrones for judgment were set,
    the thrones of the house of David.

⁶ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
    “May they be secure who love you!
⁷ Peace be within your walls
    and security within your towers!”
⁸ For my brothers and companions’ sake
    I will say, “Peace be within you!”
⁹ For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
    I will seek your good.

Choosing my time during COVID

It has now been four months since I was diagnosed with COVID 19 (I don’t know which strain).  At first, I was angry, then sad, grieved the lost time, and now I am resigned to the long-haul effects.  Even though the actual occurrence of the illness was only a couple days, the long-term effects have been frustrating to depressing depending on the day.  The small tidbits of outdoor time with immediate family have helped.  Morsels of hope have come from my doctor as she attempts to find a solution to the ups and downs of this disease.  My lungs are functioning but the glands within my lungs are inflamed ready to fight any virus it finds whether there is one or not.  This causes breathing to be painful and coughing a constant occurrence.  Nerve pain is like a visitor who comes to stay the day even if not invited.  Fatigue, well he is a resident that won’t be evicted.  Viruses are not a visitor I want so I avoid his calls, visits, and intrusions.  Different anti-biotics have helped, and the herb and vitamins are being tried.  A cure, well, time is a visitor I can’t wait to see and visit me too soon. 

The recent exposure, illness, and consequent closing of my church family for quarantine and cleaning is only an evident result of this dreadful disease.  However, I have to remember there is a sovereign director behind the scenes who is working this all out for the gain and development of those who are playing a part in this season.  I like the quote our pastor has shared within this reminisce.  It reminds me of the blessings a time can give if you only look for them.  For within these blessings, you can choose to spend time wisely or you can waste it away within the pit of despair. 

For me, I choose looking for the blessings.  The wonder of the butterfly and graceful dance among the flowers.  The feeding of quoi in our pond enjoying the nibbles on my fingers.  Listening to the frog as the sun sets.  Dialogues with my Uncle Charlie and Bruce of times gone by, time of at the moment, and times to come.  Every moment is a gift.  How will you use it?