I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8NIV
The day of my son's wedding was the very day my wife and I received the call we've been waiting for letting us know that far away in a Cuenca, Ecuador orphanage would be a son that would become our own. I remember standing in the kitchen when the phone rang at the same time as our in-laws arrived down to the cities from Warren, Minnesota. I heard my wife screaming with tears of joy with the news. As I let my in-laws in the house, I explained to them about the child that would be our own while listening to the excitement in their voices. Through time, our son never disappointed us. His vivaciousness and his zest for fun kept our family going. Like all children, we were amazed at the wonderful gifts God would bestow on our son- his perfect pitch, his love for the piano and reading would always challenge him for discovering things in life and God. It seems as parents we try to skip to the end of the book rather than savor each moment of a child's life. A friend I spoke with reminded me of this very fact when she had wished she would have savored each moment in the life of her recently departed grandmother. As my wife and I watched the bride being escorted by her father down the Isle to the place my son, dressed in his suit, stood I had tears of joy as I witnessed the new chapter in his life. It was a moment that we had been waiting for since we first met Morgan. I was reminded while watching my son and new daughter-in-law recite their wedding vows how much God truly loves each of us. I was reminded even in the face of grief, God continues to desire to 'write' future chapters to your life. As he does so, you will begin to see how those previous melancholic chapters fit into the mighty crescendo chapters ahead. I was also reminded of how much God truly loves us and wants to be part of our lives if we would only let him. Yes, weddings may have a temporary sadness as we watch our son and daughter merge their lives together, but we rejoice to watch those future chapters of their lives unfold. God will never disappoint if we choose to trust him with whatever we are going through in life because He loves you.
Sunday, October 14, 2018
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:24
There is nothing more disturbing to my senses than having others remind me that my personal faith in Christ is useless and has no relevance in today's modern and enlightened society, or when supposedly 'smart' people try to dissuade me after taking a couple of quarters of philosophy classes. As they pound me with their arguments for atheism, they refuse to remotely consider why I choose to believe. They neglect the very idea that God sent Jesus Christ to down to earth to individually touch each of us and then to give us the power of His holy spirit to guide us through the waning days of life.
These same bittered and distrustful people, if I could spend any amount of time with them, will almost certainly relay stories of traumatic losses as reasons why they do not believe. While we all want a 'good' life free from pain and suffering, it isn't going to happen as long as men and woman choose to do the things that upset God as found in the commandments that he gave to Moses upon his close encounter with God. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+20&version=NIV
If these supposedly 'enlighten' people would only read and re-read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and ask God to 'enlighten' them with his truth I can assure you that they will be persuaded to believe in God's living power to change lives. They would see the miracles and the changed lives of those he healed. But, if they choose to believe in the philosophical 'God is dead' mantra, they do so at their own risk.
As long as one has breath God will continue to knock on the door of your heart wanting to come in and teach you His ways. He wants to walk with you through whatever trauma you might be experiencing right now- the loss of a child, the sudden loss of a parent, sibling, or some other unexplainable life event that seems so incomprehensible to you.
Our faith in God has to be built on a rock instead of sinking sand. In Matthew 7 Jesus is reminding us of this very important reality with these words, "But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Now contrast this passage with the one where one has their Hope built on a rock. 4 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
I remembered meeting with the architect who built my home and listening to him describe the foundation that would hold my house up through the years of living in it. Over the course of that time, my physical house, because it was built on a solid foundation, has stood through many storms that have happened through the 30 years of living in it.
There are so many people who try to build their lives on forever changing philosophies that collapse like a house of cards when traumatic events in life occur. In a city that is home to millions of 'enlightened' people is the Golden Gate Bridge the place that thousands take their lives each year.
God has a better way. He sent his son, Jesus Christ, down to earth to die for everyone and He wants you to consider the truths that have changed lives of those who heeded the call and opened up the door of their heart.
In 2007, I never expected my 10-year-old daughter to die unexpectedly from a medication she could not metabolize, but I do know that out of this traumatic event, I experienced Jesus Christ walking by my side on this tumultuous journey. I can assure you that if you said 'yes' to Jesus he will come into your life and help you build a foundation on rock, not sinking sand and walk with you when the next 'storm' occurs.
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
The recent devastation in the panhandle region is a reminder that we need our Lord Jesus to guide us in life. It is so easy to be discouraged as we read the daily headlines, or listen to the words of the nightly newscaster. We forget that even they are equally disturbed by these national events like the one caused by Hurricane Michael.
Psalm 119:105 reminds us that God's word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. When devastation hits and loss of life occurs, our Lord is there to guide you through the devastation that lies around you.
Even as you learn about the loss of precious loved ones he is there to comfort you and give you a hope for tomorrow.
On a missions trip several years I was reminded of what is truly important in life when the pastor spoke that what is truly important isn't a bank account, nor an inheritance, but giving our children a faith in Christ- so that when things go bad in this world our children will find their hope in God
The recent devastation reminds us that our hope is found in the words of our Lord People may disappear from your life, but God's word remains forever He is always there to support you, no matter what you may be going through in this life.
He is our hope!
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path
