"The Case For Christ

 If you know of someone who does not believe the Bible is true.  If you know of someone who claims to be an Atheist or Agnostic, then I will suggest a book for you.  Lee Strobel has written several books in his search for truth.  Lee was at one time a self-proclaimed atheist.  When his wife became a Christian it inspired him to do research in answer to his many questions.  No doubt, to dissuade his wife.  You probably have had many questions or doubts yourself.  There is nothing wrong with that, as God tells us to "seek and ye shall find".  Many of his questions are indeed deep and worthy of asking.  His books have certainly answered my questions and once I got started reading them, it was hard for me to put them down.  The ones that I have read are "The Case For Christ', "The Case For Faith" and "The Case for Creation."  These books are well worth the read and will help you in your quest for truth.  Enjoy them, then share them.  

What Do We Say To The Sufferer

 I have been reading "The Case For Faith" by Lee Strobel.  I have only read through the first chapter but what stood out to me was a question Mr. Strobel asked a man named Mr. Kreeft.  He asked; "If a woman who lived in a land of extreme drought was standing here before you holding her deceased baby, what would you say to her?"  Mr. Kreeft's answer was "nothing".  He would not say anything to her.  Instead, he said he would listen to her and learn from her. 

 How can a person know how another person feels in their suffering without entering that person's body and mind.  Sometimes our very presence is more of a comfort to a person than any words spoken.  I have experienced the pain of the death of loved ones, so many of my friends have to.  We have all suffered in many ways to the same degree but to each of us individually it is different.  What may look to us as a horrendous amount of pain to one may be looked at as a great blessing to another. 

 A young person abused at an early age may later become a great counselor for others who experienced the same shame and suffering.  For every source of pain and suffering can come an unexpected blessing.  One may say to another, "I don't know how you managed through your pain, I would have fallen apart."  Sometimes we just don't know how strong we are until we have gone through the trials of pain and sorrow.  Jesus Christ is the only one who can say He suffered as we have suffered.  He suffered rejection and ridicule.  He suffered loneliness, He suffered abuse and He suffered death on the cross for us.  His presence is always with us.  He is our source of strength.  Jesus' words are a great comfort to us, but knowing He is with us and will never leave us is a blessing  that compares to none other.  My prayer is that we be like Jesus and comfort those who are suffering, not so much in words but in our presence.  In our helping hands. 

 

"People will not care about how much you know, until they know how much you care.

Grieve with Me

 As of date, there are 2,607 cases of Covid19. 36 people have died from it just in McDonald County.  There are over 12,948 cases of cancer in Missouri according to the CDC records and state records.  

The grieving that comes after this proclamation is almost always hard to bear.  But Jesus reminds us in I Thessalonians 4:13 that we do not have to sorrow as those who do not have hope.  We as believers have the ultimate assurance that Jesus died, rose again, ascended and is coming again.  We also believe that He will bring with Him those that have died.  One day, all believers will be reunited in the grandest reunion ever seen!  The Bible also tells us that all of this will happen in a twinkle of the eye, and no man knows when this is to happen.  In other words, it could happen in the next minute or hour.  We do not have to worry as God's timing is the best timing and He will see us through to the appointed time.  "Wait upon the Lord", is His admonition to us.  Praise God, He will never leave us nor forsake us.  Please "rejoice with those that rejoice, and weep with those who weep"  

Roller Coaster Ride

 Have you ever been on a roller coaster ride?  I remember as a child I went on a roller coaster ride and decided right then and there that I won't ever do that again.  If you have been on a roller coaster ride, you will know what I mean. all the scenery around you becomes blurry.  You cannot focus on one single thing.  When the ride begins to slow down things begin to take shape and are less blurry until finally the ride stops and all is in focus once again.  While on the ride there is nothing to do but accept it's motion and be patient for it to end. 

Certain aspects of our life can be like a roller coaster ride.  Especially if you are a caretaker of a loved one who needs extra special care.  I remember such a ride when my husband, (who died years ago) was dying of cancer.  Procedure after procedure was done on my husband to keep him alive and to give us hope for the future.  Every day we were confronted with an explanation of a new procedure, only to be told the next day that it didn't work.  For six months our days bounced between good news and bad news.  We had no choice but to wait and see when the end would be in sight.  During that time, my focus never left God, everything else was blurry and confusing but I knew God had great plans for both my husband and myself.  God did heal my husband and is now in heaven and He gave me strength that I never knew I had before.  

My prayer for all of you that have experienced this roller coaster ride or are now experiencing it, is for you to keep your focus on God and let him handle the confusion.  Put your trust in Him and all things will come out good.  Remember too, that sometimes our greatest ministry in life just might be through our death.  Such as was Christ's death, the stoning of Stephens and the death of all the apostles.

What Are Our Expectations of Each Other?

 Every now and then I witness persons snubbing another person because they don't add up to their expectations.  Does that person expect others to be like him/her?  Do they expect that all people should believe as they do or act as they do?  Maybe they believe all people should do as they say because they are superior to all others.

Let's ponder over this a minute and think to how Jesus treated people while ministering to the people on earth.  Did He snub others because He was the Son of God and we are like sheep who have gone astray?  In all your readings of the Bible do you once know of any incident where other than Satan himself, He turned others away? 

 It was reported that Jesus sat and ate with the prostitutes and tax collectors.  He beckoned little children to come to Him.  He even went as far as dying on the cross for US.  You and me, sinners who are in need of God and His teachings.  Sinners who are in need of each other and the comfort we can share.  Whenever we look at others, whether they are dressed nicely or poorly. whether they live in mansions or the slums. we must consider all are the creations of God and with our help and example they can become Children of God.  Not one of us is more important than the other.  God knows your weaknesses as well as mine but He Loves us equally.  We should do the same with all who come our way.  Who knows that God didn't put that person in your life for a specific purpose.

Priorities

 I have been thinking a lot about priorities lately.  I don't feel I have a real problem with getting my priorities into place, for one thing I am way too organized.  But I see many people in this world living their lives as though priorities don't really matter.  If a person puts their job in top priority above family, faith and all else, then it tends to cause problems in the home life.  The spouse usually complains that the other is not home enough, or they don't pay enough attention to the children.  The excuse is usually they work (for the family) to provide food and clothing for them.  We might say " I work to give my children the good life."  God has already given us a good life.  The complaint alone is a good sign the priorities are not in the right order.  Maybe our family is our top priority and we spend most of our time in sports or traveling together.  That is wonderful, but who gave us this family?  Shouldn't we show our appreciation to the one that made it all happen?   If our top priority is not God, the one who truly provides for our every need. The one who gives us our families, then everything will suffer because of our lack of appreciation to God.  My prayer is that each and everyone of us strive to put God as our top priority, family next, then our job and all else after that.  "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God."

The Blame Game

 Genesis 3:15 "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate." 

 Everyone who has read the Bible knows about the dreaded first sin where Adam ate of the fruit of the tree and blamed his wife.  Then Eve turns around and blames the serpent.  Did the blame stop there?  No, we have been blaming each other from the beginning of time.  How many times do struggles come our way and instead of looking to our self, we look around for someone to blame?  There are so many things that can go awry in our lives and unless we seek to know the cause of it, within our own sphere of being, we will become miserable and make everyone around us miserable.  Have we not figured out yet that what problems arise in our lives is usually brought about by our own doings?  Blaming others do not solve our problems, it only escalates into more problems. 

II Corinthians 13:5 "Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; prove yourselves."  We must look deep into our life on a daily basis.  We must recognize our faults, admit our faults and carry them to God. Only He can help us overcome our faults.  Blaming others does not ease our pain, cover our sins, or give us rest.  

Look to God for guidance and direction, forgive those around you and ask for forgiveness for those whom you have blamed.  

I Corinthians 13:4-8 "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; love bears all things, endures all thing, Love never fails."