Meditations

It seems that for the many years, every January, God has given me a word of encouragement to help get me through the year ahead. Then when trials and troubles come my way, as they inevitably do, He graciously brings those words of encouragement to the forefront of my memory. They always tend to sooth my weary mind and bring peace to my spirit. I suppose it is His way of letting me know that I am not alone in my trials, that He cares about every detail in my life, and that He is in total control even when all else seems out of control.
Several years ago I noticed this pattern from my past and therefore asked God to show me what His “words of encouragement” would be for that year, 2005. Well He didn’t waste time, every time I turned around, this particular verse would show up! “And my God will fully supply your every need according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” [Phil. 4:19] This promise may not sound all that profound to you, but if you knew the financial strain we were under that year you would understand how this verse encouraged me and gave me hope in place of despair. You see, He kept His promise that year, and has kept it ever since, and in the process has taught me that I can depend on Him for all my needs. Yet there was more! I joyfully observed that this promise was not limited to my financial and physical needs, but to my every spiritual need as well.
In 2006 God had these “words of encouragement” for me. “For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” [Jer. 29:11] Throughout that year the Lord continually showed me that His grace is sufficient for me, He was not out to punish me, but to teach me a better way, and secure a hope for the future. Finally I was able to put to rest, any remaining notions I had that God was out to punish me for my weakness and inability to live perfectly before Him.
Then in 2007 God had this to say, “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. [Isa. 43:18-19] Praise the Lord, I did perceive it, and I was able to put my past behind me. This enabled me to embrace the “new things” that God had for me. Though I still must walk through the wilderness, I now know the way, and when I cross through life’s deserts, I no longer thirst.
Now in 2008 I was given this verse. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” [Josh. 1:9] At first this didn’t sound very encouraging, it sounded more like a forewarning that there was something scary up ahead. Turned out there was! Lots of very scary, you could only have imagined in your worst nightmare, kinds of things, and it’s only April! Yet God in his amazing grace prepared my heart and strengthened me. These turned out to be very encouraging words, indeed! Again God Has kept His promise and “is with me where ever I go”, and we have already been to some pretty undesirable places this year. I am learning that God, in His infinite wisdom does not keep us from going through the “undesirable” places in life. Instead, He strengthens us for the journey and continually walks by our side, sometimes He even carries us. Through these journey’s He helps us to grow, puts us where we need to be to help others, and displays His glory and grace for all to see.
January is long gone, and you may have, like me, already failed at this years first attempts at self-improvement. So you might as well join me also, in asking God for this years “words of encouragement”. Then be prepared to be encouraged and edified in God’s Spirit, as well.

“Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you; turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” [Josh. 1:7-9]

The other night the moon was barely a slither in the sky and it was especially dark outside. I had to make several runs from my house to taxi my kids around and ended up making quite an unusual observation on my many trips to and from my car.
I couldn’t help but notice every time as I was leaving, and walking away from the back porch light, I couldn’t see a thing. I would fumble through the darkness feeling my way around till I got to my car. Then upon my return, in exactly the same lighting conditions, I was surprised to notice that when I was walking toward the light I could see perfectly every step of the way. On my second trip out, again, the same thing.
By my third trip I found myself standing there halfway between my house and my car, turning back and forth, to and from the light, to make sure my observation was sound. Frankly it doesn’t sound scientifically plausible and it was clear this was not caused by my shadow.
Sure enough, I could see almost as clear as day all the way to the source of the light, yet as soon as I turned my back to the light I couldn’t even see my very next step. I tried this again several feet nearer the light source and several feet further from the light source. It didn’t matter where I stood, when I looked towards the light I could see clearly, and when I turned my back to the light I could only fumble in the darkness. You probably won’t try this at home because you are not as strange as I am, but if you do I’m sure you will make the same observation.
Those who know me know that I rarely make a physical observation without making a spiritual one as well. My mind was flooded with visions of my past and I could immediately see that this has been a great truth throughout my lifetime. As long as my eyes are on God and His glory, I can see clearly my next steps, yet as soon as I avert my eyes from His glory to earthly cares I fumble around as in darkness.
Jesus said, “… I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” [John 8:12] This is strongly demonstrated in how my life was transformed when I set my eyes on Jesus, just as foretold by the prophets millennia ago.
Before the promised messiah was even born God promised through Isaiah, “… I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do to them, and not forsake them.” [Isaiah 42:16]
There are more prophecies than I could ever list here. Many prophets of other eras have shared similar messages, such as these who spoke at the time of Christ’s birth. “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began.” [Luke 1:68-70] “Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. [Luke 1:78-79]
I find it easy to believe these prophets because this is exactly what Jesus has done in my life. He has brought me from darkness to light, from ignorance to knowledge, from foolishness to wisdom, from chaos to peace. This list could go on forever, but the bottom line is that He has given me beauty for ashes and life in place of death.
So therefore I shall fix my eyes on the light of His glory and listen for Him to speak to my heart, because, “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of your countenance. In your name shall they rejoice all the day: and in your righteousness shall they be exalted. For you are the glory of their strength: and in your favor our horn shall be exalted.” [Psalm 89:15-17]
Now, “…Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” [Ephesians 5:14] “While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light…” [John 12:36] For Christ said, “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” [John 12:46]

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, there lived a man. Though this man lived in this world, he was not of this world, for he talked of a kingdom far away which he longed for, and this mans ways were alien to all those who lived around him.
They were perplexed that he didn’t seem to care about or take pride in his appearance. He would often show up at various community functions with his clothes wrinkled and covered in grass and grease stains. Sometimes he even had grime on his hands and face! Yet, little did they know that he would leave his house clean and well groomed. Though that wouldn’t stop him from climbing under the engine of a single mothers car stuck on the side of the road, or changing a tire for an elderly gentleman. When ever or where ever he saw a need he would fulfill it, without giving it a second thought.
Because this man was often late and running desperately behind, people would often jump to the conclusion that he was careless, disorganized, and self-centered. Yet they were clueless to the fact that the reason for his tardiness was that he always put others needs before his own needs and considered people far more important than the trivial things on his to-do list.
This man always wore a generous smile, displaying teeth that looked like they haven’t been cleaned in years. Not long ago he had managed to save enough money to go to the dentist. Before the day of his appointment had arrived, the Lord brought to his attention a relative who was suffering greatly with an abscessed tooth. How could he spend his hard earned money on something purely cosmetic when another of God’s children were experiencing such pain and suffering? ” Now I know why the Lord has led me to make this appointment”, he thought,” or who knows how long their suffering would have been prolonged.” So he cheerfully took them to the dentist in his place.
His neighbors cringed at the sight of his property, clearly he was white trash. He didn’t have a perfect manicured lawn like everybody else. Sometimes two or more weeks would go by before he would mow his yard! The truth was that he considered fixing this ones refrigerator or that ones washing machine far more pressing than a well kept lawn, which would still be there when he finally did get around to it.
The sight of his lawn was nothing compared to all the broken down cars in his yard. It was starting to look like a junkyard over there! But not to the people who those cars belong to, to them it looked more like heaven on earth. Where else could they go on their limited budgets to get their cars running again, without a car to get to work they would surely lose their jobs. They couldn’t afford to pay for labor, they were lucky to come up with the money they needed for the parts.
The neighbors observed that the mess didn’t stop there either. All the stuff in his workshop and garage were continually spilling out all over the place, he must not care very much about his things. Well, they got that much right anyway. Things were only as important to him as to how they helped him serve peoples needs. Besides, the needs never ended, aren’t you supposed to clean up when the work is done? Also I suppose that considering all the gifts and talents that God has bestowed on him, it would be unreasonable to expect God to have given him organizational skills as well.
People would often shake their heads and roll their eyes in disdain, because he neglected to provide his family with modern securities like insurance. When questioned he would offer up some excuse about how he didn’t put his trust and confidence in institutions, but in the unfailing faithfulness of his creator, who cared for all of his needs. How foolishly naive is that, they would muse.
One would think that at his age he would have enough foresight to hoard money into a savings account, for what is sure to be an uncertain future. Yet he would say that he stores all his treasures in heaven, where they are eternally secure. The people figured he was in for a rude awaking one day, for sure.
There were days when he didn’t even know where his next meal was coming from! The people had never witnessed such blatant irresponsibility before, and he didn’t even have the decency to be ashamed. He would just smile and say, “The lord will give me this day, my daily bread. Besides, I have bread that you don’t know about, It is doing the will of my father in heaven.”
Yet the thing that chaffed the people the most was the fact that this man acted as though he were the richest, happiest, most successful person in the world. How this man could spend all his time doing trivial, menial tasks, and have the audacity to walk around as though he were a child of the king they just couldn’t understand. You see, though he was extremely intelligent and also very educated he never got offended when people treated him like a servant. To him it was alright, because he was a servant. He was a servant of the most high God, and he knew that whatever he did for the least of these, he was doing for Christ.
Now like every good fable, there is a moral to this story as well. The moral here is; ” Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seem to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He takes the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men…” [1 Cor. 3:18-21]
“…You are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” [Luke 16:15] “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.” [I Cor. 4:5]
“Who are you that judge another man’s servant? to his own master he stands or falls. Yes, he shall be held up: for God is able to make him stand.” [Romans 14:4] “There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who are you that judge another?” [James 4:12]
“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” [I Cor. 4:2] ” …Yes, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care on Him; for He cares for you.” [I Peter 5:5-7]
“I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.” [Romans 12:1-3]
“So speak you, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has showed no mercy; and mercy rejoices against judgment. What does it profit, my brothers, though a man say he has faith, and have not works? can faith save him?” [James 2:12-14]

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof… [II Tim. 3:1-5]

Does any of this look familiar to you? All I know is, I can hardly bear to watch or read the news anymore {or any other media for that matter} because traits like this have become all too familiar these days. Headline after headline, it’s all the same. Just when you think it couldn’t get any worse, you hear of something even more perverted, more appalling, and more heinous than our somewhat normal minds can even comprehend. I find myself reeling and literally feeling ill from the shocking, demented things I see daily in the media.
I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. “Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” [I Tim 4:1-2] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables.” [II Tim 4:3-4] “… evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” [II Tim 3:13]
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has showed it to them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” [Rom. 1:18-20]
“For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him. Instead, their thoughts turned to worthless things, and their ignorant hearts were darkened. Though claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images that looked like mortal human beings, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles. For this reason, God gave them over to impurity to follow the lusts of their hearts and to dishonor their bodies with one another. They exchanged God’s truth for a lie and worshipped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” [Rom. 1:21-25]
“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful.” [Rom. 1:28-31]
Yet, God’s love for His creation is so great that He warns us in His word, “Woe to them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!” [Isaiah 5:20-21&23]
Though this doesn’t sound very comforting, don’t let it discourage you, it is an admonition for our own good. The rest of the story is “Good News”. “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” [I Tim. 2:3-6]
You see, just as we all find ourselves guilty of one thing or another listed above, God in His infinite mercy and grace, has laid out a plan of redemption for all who sincerely seek the truth and a higher way. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you: For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.” [Matt. 7:7-8]
Yet, “first of all you must understand this: In the last days mockers will come and, following their own desires, will ridicule us by saying, “What happened to his promise to return? Ever since our ancestors died, everything continues as it did from the beginning of creation.” [II Peter 3:3-4] But, “Don’t forget this fact, dear friends: With the Lord a single day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a single day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some people understand slowness, but is being patient with you. He does not want anyone to perish, but wants everyone to come to repentance.” [II Peter 3:8-9]