Terror and times of trouble

I believe that in these times, it's important for believers to remember this one crucial thing...

          Jesus already won.

This morning, as I was praying for the victims of the Boston bombings, the Holy Spirit brought this scripture to my mind:

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. Matt 24:12,13

In times of terror and uncertainty, it's easy to question the existence of a loving God. But if we read our Bibles regularly, we'll see and understand that Jesus talked about this stuff thousands of years ago with his disciples. He told them exactly what he would suffer and what we would suffer as a result. When he left this earth, he left us with the gift of His peace.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:32-33

We live in a dirty, gritty, stinky world. We're chosen and put here to make this place better. When we're so graphically reminded of the pure evil surrounding us, it's good to remember who we belong to. We are in Christ.

Do you have his peace? I hope you feel it now, more than ever.

John, an apostle who knew about pain, loneliness and physical suffering, reminds us of our status and the state of the world. He says, "We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 1 John 5:19

Jesus' command to "take heart!" is a call for courage. It means, don't be afraid.

Take heart my friends, He has overcome and He is coming back for us.

Do Not Worry

This morning I awoke with an unsettled spirit. It's been a difficult week, but this morning had a special edge to it.

I've been praying for two special people who don't know God. They don't have the spirit of Christ in them, because they haven't claimed Christ as Lord and Savior. They don't know his peace or how he changes our hearts and fills us with love because...
                  They just don't. Or won't.

I took a call from one of them at 2:30 this morning and it still feels like a dream.

 "We got into a fight and I called the police. They're on the way."

I got further instructions to call the sheriff's department if I didn't hear back by morning.
                         

                               I haven't heard back yet.

It's fitting then, that today's bible study was about the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42.

Martha was a friend of Jesus, who'd opened her house for him. She was trying to get all the preparations made but her sister Mary, was sitting at his feet, just listening to what he was saying. Frustrated, Martha says, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

Jesus says, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed - or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

In my study Bible, this passage cross references to other stories about disciples dealing with life's concerns. One of those stories has to do with material possessions (Mt 6:25-34) and the other is when they're sinking in a boat during a storm at sea. (Mark 4:38)

Christ's command remains unchanging for all these situations.

       Worry is not allowed for followers of Jesus.

Christ didn't worry in any situation because he always trusted His heavenly father. He considers those who do it, to be people of little faith.

So I'll continue to sit at his feet every day and listen to him - and not worry.

     Will you join me?

Joy

The joy of the Lord is a strange, and yet wonderful thing.

Have you ever been in one of those situations that seems hopeless? Where if you looked at your life from the perspective of an outsider, you could think of nothing good to say? I'm in just such a place. If one of my friends was experiencing the crap and continual crisis I'm dealing with, I'd say, "Girl, I've got no help to offer. Only God can fix this one."

It's a good thing I'm looking at it from Jesus' perspective. It must be his perspective, because I am filled with joy. Unexplainable, inexplicable joy! At least for right now, and since right now is all any of us can count on, I'll happily take it.

The "Joy of The Lord" is a gift from God. Ignatius of Loyola called these gifts "consolations" and described them as follows: "I call it consolation when an interior movement is aroused in the soul, by which it is inflamed with love of its Creator and Lord...I call consolation every increase in faith, hope and love, and all interior joy that invites and attracts to what is heavenly and to the salvtion of one's soul by filling it with peace and quiet in its Creator and Lord."

Our God is the God of peace and quiet and it's because of Him that even though I'm in crisis, I can say, "It is well with my soul."

I hope your soul is well and that Christ will give you His consolations today!

               The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
                   because the LORD has anointed me
                   to preach good news to the poor.
               He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
                   to proclaim freedom for the captives
                   and release from darkness for the prisoners,
               to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
                   and the day of vengeance of our God,
               to comfort all who mourn,
                   and to provide for those who grieve in Zion -
               to bestow on them a crown of beauty
                   instead of ashes,
               the oil of gladness
                  instead of mourning,
               and a garment of praise
                   instead of a spirit of despair.
               They will be called oaks of righteousness,
                   a planting of the LORD
                   for the display of his spendor.
                              Isaiah 61:1-3
                                  

Standing On The Rock

You know it's going to be an interesting day when you find a baby crab wandering around the guest bedroom. My morning started with a scream and a thought: That is the biggest spider I've ever seen! I had to look closely three separate times - from a distance - while I tried to see exactly what it was, and decide if I was going to save it or kill it.

The poor little guy was lost and staring at me with those big crabby eyeballs. So I saved him. And, I might add, that finding a crab on the carpet far from the sea, is distracting and shoots strange thoughts through the brain.

      I still can't figure it out.

I haven't written in awhile because I've been doing some deep thinking, lots of traveling, and tons of praying.

Someone I love is in crisis and I haven't been able to think about much else. My focus has been on getting help and getting through the struggle. And, (at the same time) I've begun my new adventure as a homeschool mom.

Embarking on this journey has been a pilgrimage of sorts.

Last week, I went to Plymouth Rock. We took a field trip because we're studying Colonial America, democracy and the birth of our great nation. I wanted to take the opportunity provided by the upcoming Presidential elections, and teach my kids about God's role in the foundation of our country.

Plymouth is a beautiful little waterfront town in Cape Cod, and a replica ship, The Mayflower II, is docked close by "the rock". With great anticipation we went to check it out and this is what we found:

That's it. That's Plymouth Rock. Underwhelming, isn't it?

Actually, that's only the top third of it, and what's left of the rest is buried under the sand. Originally, it was larger but time and people did some damage to it. The park employee explained that it's now protected by a fence because during the 18th and 19th centuries, people chipped away at it for souvenirs. And they also dragged it around town trying to find a better place for it. During that process it cracked in half, which the townspeople considered a good sign. They thought it represented the splitting off from British rule and they consecrated it.

Personally, the rock reminds me of Jesus. Jesus was dragged around town and broken for our sake. He invites us to chip away at him, to eat and drink and feast on the bread of life.

He is my rock.

In this time of crisis, He's the only thing I can count on. The only steady thing I have and I thank God for Him - ALL of Him. I hope He's your rock too and I hope you cling to Him in times of trouble and simply because... He invites you to.

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. this bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. John 6:51

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 26:4