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