Life is Like a Booster Shot

On the way home from Bible study I came upon a wreck.  A tanker truck had collided with a traffic light.  My way home was blocked off.  I prayed—“What do I do Lord?”  I switched on the traffic radio station.  The report was that they were detouring cars onto Shelby road.  Oh, all I have to do is go north and then turn around and head south and turn on Shelby, I thought.  But as I neared the desired road I was waved off and forced to go on the freeway.  My adrenaline rushed, my heart pounded, my eyes watered—I can’t take any stress because of my fibromyalgia.  For some reason my brain doesn’t work right.  “Why am I like this, Lord?” I questioned.  A normal person wouldn’t be upset like this.  I tried Lamaze breathing.   I exited at the nearest exit and then snaked my way on one road after the other trying to go north and turning off before the detour.  After several missed turns I saw my street.  I made it home in one piece.  “Thank you Lord!”  I survived!  Maybe I should have prayed for the poor driver of the tanker truck too.  I was focused on myself.  Maybe next time I will think of praying for the other person!

Even with the Lord we will have trials and tribulations.  We shouldn’t think it is strange when these things happen.  God didn’t promise us a rose garden but He did promise us that He understands what we are going through and He will send the Comforter.  He will be with us wherever we go.  This is all about learning perseverance.  Life is like a booster shot—it stings sometimes but it will do us good.  Thank You Lord!

Cheer up!

I’m planning to attend an Anne Graham Lotz Church Awakening Conference one evening this week.  Our prayer group at church has been praying for a third great awakening in this country.  We rest in the knowledge that God will do what He said He would do!  Revelation 22:20 says,  “He who testifies to these things says, surely I am coming quickly.”

Our country is being led astray by the flesh, lust, and the pride of life. Even believers seem to be buying into the lies of Hollywood and television.  One blogger was attacked on the Internet for saying that she was teaching her children abstinence education.  How times have changed.  In the past, a couple that was courting was chaperoned at all times.  In the 50’s and 60’s a good night kiss was permissible.  Now a person who remains a virgin until marriage is made fun of and called abnormal.  Here's what the left claims the right is trying to do--("Conservatives are trying--again--to block access to birth control. This time, they want the court to decide that a woman's boss should be able to make choices about what type of birth control she can use. Can you sign this petition from EMILY's List and UltraViolet to tell them to stop messing with birth control?")  Since when is it a right to have your employer pay for your birth control?  Employers are not messing with birth control!  Most people are capable of getting these things from a pharmacy.  There is no way that employers should even be involved in this personal decision.

Kay Arthur has published a book on teaching teen girls about what God's word says about sex and life style.  It is called "The Truth about Sex."  Apparently it has helped many girls to achieve a proper self image--made in God's image.  I pray that all kids and adults will no longer practice “free love” but will limit themselves to a good night kiss until they are married!  This is the only way to have stable families.  I pray that parents and churches will take on the responsibility to teach this by role-playing, or some other reasoning together.  I pray that schools will get out of the business of teaching sex education and stick to teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic taught to the tune of a hickory stick!   Maybe a little history, geography, and science could be thrown in!  Drama, music, art, and physical education are good things to have in schools too.  I pray that schools and the military will no longer be “social and cultural experiments.”

A letter writing or e-mail, Facebook, or Twitter writing campaign to newspapers, magazines, both print and Internet, and to the President and Congress encouraging good moral laws and fiscal responsibility could make a difference.  But only God—by the power of the Holy Spirit—will awaken this country to do the good works that He has ordained in advance for us to do.  Soon Jesus will come back so we need to bring as many as we can into the fold before it is too late.

And a Little Child will Lead Them

My eight-year-old granddaughter amazes me.  The other day I was talking to my daughter about changing my hairstyle because of an insulting comment somebody made to me.  My granddaughter listened and then said,”MeMa, it’s more important what’s on the inside than what’s on the outside!”  She was right.  The comment is something that I should just let go. 

I have, in the past, put mouth before brain and made comments that were not appropriate myself.  In James 3:8 it says, “…but no man can tame the tongue.  It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” But knowing that God has started a good work in me and He will complete it comforts me, (Philippians 1:6.)  Also, there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus, (Romans 8:1.)  All we have to do is admit our sin and turn from it and God will forgive us.  If we seek forgiveness from others and seek to live in peace with others as much as it is possible for us, that is all God asks of us (Romans 12:18.)  I will trust God to work on what is inside me!  I am blessed to have such a wonderful granddaughter!

Power

Power—there are so many forces of power!  I think of the powerful ocean, hurricane force winds, nuclear weapons, gravity holding the planets in orbit, the untold power of the ant, --but all are nothing in the face of the power of God.  In Precepts Bible study we are studying Kings and Chronicles this year.  In one scene Elisha was surrounded by the Aramean army, only he wasn’t worried, (II Kings 6.)  His servant was worried.  Elisha asked God to open the eyes of his servant so he could see who was with him. There were forces surrounding them that were more than the Arameans—the mountains were all full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha.  (II Kings 6:17)  I pray that God will open the eyes of His people so we can see who is with us—more than who is against us!

I appreciated what this blogger pointed out--“In recent weeks the evangelical world has found itself reeling from cultural setbacks it once took for granted. The re-election of President Obama, state passage of “gay marriage” initiatives, the uninviting of Louie Gigglio to the Inauguration, and even last night’s Super Bowl have signaled to some that Christians and Christianity have lost their welcome place in the public square. For the first time, some evangelical conservatives feel like an oppressed minority in the country.” Thabiti Anyabwile

 (Some say the performance of Beyonce during half time at the Super Bowl was a channeling of a spirit Beyonce calls Sasha.)  Now Tim Tebow has canceled his Easter talk at a Baptist Church in Texas.  Speculation has it that he was pressured to cancel by the homosexual activists.

I am reminded of Romans 1:32---

32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

I’m sure Tim Tebow doesn’t approve of what these homosexual activists are pushing.  Maybe he even has a plan to reach out to them.  Dan Cathy has made an attempt to befriend the homosexual activists who have been picketing Chick Fil A stores.  They have agreed to disagree and have called somewhat of a truce.

If the people of the light continue to love others enough to tell them the truth in respectful ways and not give up, many may turn to God before it is too late.  I commend Bill O’Reilly for standing up for the unborn and for children.  He is advocating for Jessica’s law in all 50 states. 

May God pour out his Spirit on our country and our world before it is too late.  May Christians stay strong and not become discouraged.