GOD HAS A PLAN!

The king of Egypt, fearful of how quickly his Hebrew slaves were multiplying, said to the midwives,

"when you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy,

kill him . . ."

The midwives feared God and could not bring themselves to follow the king's orders.

THEN

Pharoah gave orders to all his people to throw every Hebrew boy born into the Nile.

Later,

When Moses had grown,

 a pharoah, again, tried to kill him.

But God had a plan.

God had a deliverer.

MOSES SURVIVED!

King Herod, having heard of the birth of Jesus, the "one who has been born the king of the Jews,

gave orders to kill

all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under."

But God had a plan.

He guided Mary and Joseph away from danger.

JESUS SURVIVED!

Not unlike Moses, when Jesus was grown men tried, again, 

to kill Him.

They succeeded,

Or thought they did.

God had a plan.

Our Deliverer.

Jesus rose from the dead!

HE SURVIVED . . . Again!

I am so disappointed----so disturbed, that men and women, for decades, have allowed the ending of unborn life, but life and humans just the same.

AND NOW . . .

they callously vote/agree 

to kill a child

who survives abortion.

That's so far beyond my understanding. I can't wrap my head or my heart around it.

But I believe, as before, that

God has a plan.

He has a deliverer.

I may not live long enough to see the deliverer, but one is coming.

One of those babies may survive, despite all plans to rid the earth of him.

OR

JESUS WILL RETURN.

"AT THAT TIME THEY WILL SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD WITH POWER AND GREAT GLORY.

WHEN THESE THINGS BEGIN TO TAKE PLACE,

STAND UP 

&

LIFT UP YOUR HEADS

BECAUSE YOUR REDEMPTION IS DRAWING NEAR."

I don't want to face Jesus without having defended the very lives He created.

lonnie

DEATH OF A CHILD

"I need God. I just need God. It's hard. When this happened (fatal car accident), if Jesus didn't come through for me, trust me when I tell you that I would have stopped preaching, but I have to say to you, it's all true.

I HIT BOTTOM AND GOD WAS THERE."

(emphasis mine)

Greg Laurie

Jesus Revolution  p. 215

Baker Books 2018

" . . . the reality of faith didn't anesthetize the pain."  p. 216

This whole book is good, but the last half, and especially this chapter, is excellent.

I've read what Pastor Greg Laurie went through and  I've wondered . . . how did that happen to such a committed and faithful Christian? 

I grew up in an era where you were told to say, "Praise the Lord" and your circumstances would turn around.

They didn't. 

I was told to plant a seed (of money) even if I was in need. That seed would multiply right into prosperity.

It didn't.

I wavered between accusing God and blaming myself for not being committed and faithful.

I've hit bottom, too.

And

God WAS there.

He's not my genie, but He's absolutely loving, wise, and faithful.

He is worthy of trust and praise.

And someday . . . my tears will be wiped away.

lonnie

PLAYING GOD

"Those who must make instant life and death decisions are put in the position of being God,

and being God is woefully addictive.

The great physicians are those who know that it is not their mortal hands which heal, but God's hands using the human  one."

Madeleine L'Engle

Glimpses Of Grace   p. 69

HarperSanFrancisco   1998

First: I'm struck with compassion for those who have to make decisions "in a moment." 

Second: I am ever aware that a doctor can put bones back in place and apply a cast to hold them in place, BUT he CANNOT knit the bones together.

Third: When I go to a doctor, am I expecting from man what only God can do?

Hmmmm ........

lonnie

JUST THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING YOU SAID . . .

"'You know, I was thinking about what you said to me last night.'

Did you catch that?

She went home that night, hours after I spoke to her, and thought about my words.

The next morning, when I saw her for the first time, they were still on her heart,

while I had not thought of them since I walked away from her desk."

Jessica Turner

A Moment To Breathe  p. 100/Nook

Broadman&Holman  2017


Just last week, I made a similar comment to a friend.
 A common phrase in her school was, "That (misbehavior) will be put in your permanent record."

Her friend, as an adult, went to the school and asked to see her 
permanent record.

My mind couldn't let go of my friend's experience . . . one that she was remembering decades later. 

"That was a fear tactic," I said. "And that permanent piece is like saying, 'You will never be forgiven.' That's awful!"


What words of mine (or yours) have people gone home with?
Did their mind/heart not let go of them because they felt . . .
stupid?
unappreciated?
encouraged?
valued?
loved?
enjoyed?

Words are powerful.
God, help me use them wisely.

lonnie

COMFORTABLE?

"The gospel is meant to comfort the afflicted

and 

afflict the comfortable."

A well-known adaptation of a 1902 quote by journalist

Finley Peter Dunne

The Jesus Revolution  p. 145

By

Greg Laurie/Ellen Vaughn

Baker Books  2018

Hmmmm . . . 

Good news, unless . . .

You're comfortable.

I guess we learn more from trials than from ease; 

Or at least the lessons last longer.

But then . . .

There are those 40 years in the wilderness.

Perhaps learning is a choice . . .

lonnie

QUOTING MYSELF 🤔

"We must be strong--not just for moments

but

for the long haul;

not for an occasional need, but daily;

not stored up--not just "maintained," 

but active and gaining strength."

I cannot do so without God's Word,

plus His people--their prayers, hugs, wisdom and encouragement; 

I cannot grow in strength without singing praises to God and by bringing my requests and those of others to Him.

Till I meet Him face to face,

lonnie

HONOR REVOKED

Tim Keller won an award for being a well-respected pastor and theologian. 

But public outcry caused Princeton to quickly revoke the honor.

Why?

Keller didn't support the ordination of women or LGBTQ causes. 

"In an example of Christ's humility and graciousness,

Keller suggested Princeton not give him the award

but still hold his lecture 
to foster dialogue, discussion, and greater intellectual exploration.

The university agreed, and Keller's lecture

was a huge success."

Ed Stetzer

Christians In The Age Of Outrage  p.24

Tyndale Momentum  2018

I'm impressed with Tim Keller's Christ-like response. I am more impressed with groups holding opposing views being willing to talk.

We need more of that,

lonnie

STUCK! WITH NO WAY OUT

"The reality of the Red Sea, in a word, is this:

God will always make a way for His tired, yet trusting, children,

EVEN IF HE HAS TO SPLIT THE SEA TO DO IT."

(emphasis mine)

Robert Morgan

The Red Sea Rules  p.xii

Word Publishing  2014

It looked impossible. It looked like God didn't care. 

Looks are

deceiving.

lonnie

MORNING PRAYERS

God, this nation is in such a mess!

Satan is intent on destroying a nation that has the freedom to worship You and also has the freedom to tell others about Jesus.

Disable him.

Cause his schemes to  not only be ineffective but to work against him.

Help us, as Your Church, to pray for our enemies--

particularly for their salvation, because You desire NONE to perish.

God, help us to repent--to read Your Word and live by it.

So many of us have mixed other religions with our faith in You--

even though, mostly in innocence. Please help us to see that oil and water don't mix--

nor do the practices of other religions and/or gods mix with Your Word and Your Ways.

Help us not compare ourselves with the less moral or less faithful;

help us, instead, compare ourselves to the love and righteousness of Jesus.

God, what is Your will concerning illegal immigrants and border security?

Is there an answer that No One has seen? Help our elected officials come to a good solution--one that is compassionate, firm, and effective.

For one thing, help us trust in You.

You may use men, women, political parties, and even walls--but our ultimate trust 

must be in You--because our battle is not against flesh and blood . . . 

God, help me

limit myself concerning TV and facebook. Help Your Body of believers to do likewise. Help us to spend time in prayer.

Man! I hate the thought of 2 years of mud-slinging (rather, 2 MORE years).

Help me not be discouraged or angry--or mouthy.

"Let no unwholesome word proceed from my mouth but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, 

that it may give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29)

In the Beautiful and Powerful Name 

Of Jesus,

Amen

HAVE YOU HEARD?

"Since we heard of

your faith 

in Jesus Christ

and

the love which you have

for all the saints."

Colossians 1: 4  NAS

Hmmm . . . 

Wonder what people are hearing about me . . .

Hmmmm . . . again.

How am I speaking of others?

(Ish. Especially after watching national news and campaign ads)

lonnie

WHEN I THINK SOMETHING IS IMPOSSIBLE . . .

I have gotten so that I PLOW through books. 

I have to know. 

I have to learn.

But books by Tom Doyle just won't let me do that.

I have to stop and just be in awe of God.

Sometimes I cry. 

Sometimes I worship. 

Sometimes I just sit in silence.

Doyle's books are about Muslims coming to Jesus. 

I just penciled a note in the margin of "Standing In The Fire;"

"My heart is bursting!"

"Why haven't you cornered me and made me confess that I've left Islam?"

(husband and Imam)

"I thought about it, Huda. I really did.

. . .

" But the changes I saw in you were hard to believe. The loving way you treated the children and me was so amazing that, well . . ." Adullah blushed almost imperceptively.

"Honestly, I didn't want it to stop."

P. 59

When I think something is impossible or too hard, even for God,

I remind myself of stories like these.

lonnie

AN APPROACHABLE GOD

"Don is one of those secretly incredible guys who doesn't talk about what he's going to do.

He just does stuff---not to direct attention to himself

but to point people to an approachable God."

Bob Goff

Love Does  p. 99

Nelson Books   2012

May I follow his example; for that is the desire of my heart:

For others to know that they can come to God

 any time,

anywhere,

as they are.

Will they be changed by the experience?

How could they not be?

Love does that.

lonnie

SHAPING A LIFE

"The words people say to us not only have shelf life 

but have the ability to shape life."

Bob Goff

Love Does  p. 88

Thomas Nelson   2012

Wondering . . . 

In my past beauty shop days, we learned that the definition of hair conditioner was that it "changed the condition." 

Mind you . . . changing condition does not necessarily mean for the better.

My words shaping a life? Same goes, don't you think?

lonnie

"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear."  Ephesians 4: 29

HOW HAVE CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED YOU?

"I used to think I could shape

circumstances around me,

but now I know

Jesus uses circumstances to shape me."

Bob Goff

Love Does   p. 31

Thomas Nelson  2012

I'm curious.

What circumstances have changed you?

Your illness? Or someone elses?

Financial lack, or abundance?

A compliment?

A forced move: home or job?

A death?

A birth?

A responsibility you never thought you'd have?

How have circumstances changed you?

Are you wiser, more compassionate, or more grateful?

Or bitter,

And forever waiting for the next shoe to drop?

No judgment from me. 

I've followed both paths.

lonnie

ALL I CAN SAY IS . . .YES

"I wanted to know, and be known by, people who

knew greatly more about Christ than I did,

were greatly closer to him than I was,

greatly more aware of what they were about

and of what he was about in them."

Frederick Buechner

Listening To Your Life   p. 31

Compiled by George Connor

HarperSanFrancisco  1992

All I can say is

YES.

lonnie

P. S. 
Isn't this how the Church is supposed to function?

THE COMPARISON GAME

"Comparison's stronghold plays games with our self-image,

so we build our identity on

others' expectations,

rubbing against God's view of us:

beloved,

cherished,

and worthy."

Jen Schmidt

Just Open the Door  p. 42/Nook

Broadman&Holman  2018

Comparison isn't really a game. It's brutal! We will never measure up.

What a cloud to live under!

So, let's not.

lonnie