Nothing Wavering

Two people. One a man, one a woman. One lived in bible times, one lived in the 20th century. They both faced beasts. One faced a real beast, one faced a beast called Nazism. They both rejoiced in the face of their adversity.

Wednesday night in our church’s bible study the young preacher gave a great message.
While the message was not on this topic he did get me to thinking about the similarities
between the two people. Daniel faced the lions. Corrie ten Boom faced the Nazis running the concentration camp. Their situations are so different, yet startlingly similar.

Daniel was a devout man. He was taken captive at a young age, and forced to be live in
the king’s palace. He had seen his friends placed in the fiery furnace. He interpreted the
dream for King Nebuchadnezzer, which helped to prove his wisdom and courage to the government of the day. He lived in Babylon at the time when Nebuchadnezzar went crazy, and grazed in the fields. He was present to see the handwriting on the wall, and interpret and deliver God’s message to the King and all those gathered there.

You would think that would have been enough testing and proving. But after a new King had come into rule, certain princes, who were jealous of Daniel, approached King Darius with an idea. They asked that anyone caught worshipping someone other than the king be thrown into the lion’s den. Daniel knew he must still honor the Lord, and he was caught praying to Jehovah. Daniel was thrown into the den. There was no escape, but Daniel, who’s faith in God never wavered, cried out to God, and He miraculously shut the lion’s mouths, thereby saving Daniel’s life.

If I had been in Daniel’s situation, had I lived a just and upright life, my response to this
problem would have been quite different. I mean, come one, Daniel gave up everything, and he always followed God’s will for his life. My response to being thrown in the lion’s den would have been to pout and say to God “come on already! What more do I have to do before I can have a good life?!” In fact during a time of severe testing my response has sometimes been to sit down and pout like a three year old. But let’s look at Daniel’s response. When the King opened the den the next morning the first thing out of Daniel’s mouth was “O king, live for ever.” He showed reverence. Instead of going on a tirade about how much he had done for God, he praised God.

Corrie ten Boom was just protecting God’s chosen people. Yet when the Nazis discovered their involvement they placed her and most of her family in concentration camps. After suffering terrible abuses, lack of food and medical help, she even lost her sister and dearest friend. Shortly before she died her sister Betsie told her that “no pit is so deep that He is not deeper still.” Corrie wasn’t perfect. She struggled with bitterness towards the guards, she suffered from a broken heart that comes from losing a loved one. But in the end she was still able to say “Joy runs deeper than despair.”

So dear one, if you find yourself lost in the midst of the storm, don’t despair. When it seems as if you are struggling to keep your head above water just rest in Christ’s saving grace. His mercy is endless, His power is boundless, His love has no boundaries! God is never bothered with our questions of Why’s and When’s. He simply wants us to “be still and know” that He is God. I have learned through my storms that faith is a choice. Either you choose to trust Him, or you don’t. It’s as simple as that. God doesn’t promise that there will always be sunshine. But He does promise to never leave you.

“But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because
thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.” ~ Psalm 5:11, 12

These two people both knew the ultimate ending to their story. Heaven. They both knew that someday this life, these trials, these tears would be replaced the moment they saw their dear Savior’s face. Our life is but a vapor. That appeareth for a short time and vanisheth away. Think about life in that perspective. Even if you were in the worst of the worst situations for your entire life on this earth, what is that compared to glory? If you are a Christian you will live in Heaven forever. No more tears, no more death, no more sorrow, no more pain. Forever. Our life is but a vapor. When you look at your life on this earth with the properperspective it certainly makes the future look a lot brighter, and this life a little more bearable.

My faith is not always what it’s supposed to be. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed in my
circumstances. Sometimes it feels like there is darkness pressing in all around me and I
cannot see any way out. But then I have to remind myself to keep my eyes fixed on Him. I read this quote over Christmas vacation: “Look at the world and be distressed. Look at yourself and be depressed. Look to Christ and you’ll be at rest.”

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea
driven with the wind and tossed.” ~ James 1: 2-6

Keep your eyes fixed on Him.

Turn Your Mourning into Dancing

Ecclesiastes 3

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance…

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace…

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end…

I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.”

These are some of my favorite verses. They remind me to rejoice in the sunshine because I know the rain must come. They remind me to be joyful in the storms because I know the sun will shine again. ” To everything there is a season…”

Miracle of the Moment

“It’s time for letting go
All of our if only’s
‘Cause we don’t have a time machine
And even if we did
Would we really want to use it?
Would we really want to go change everything?
‘Cause we are who and where and what we are for now
And this is the only moment we can do anything about

So breathe it in and breathe it out
Listen to your heartbeat
There’s a wonder in the here and now
It’s right there in front of you
And I don’t want you to miss
The miracle of the moment

There’s only One who knows
What’s really out there waiting
In all the moments yet to be
And all we need to know
Is He’s out there waiting
To Him the future’s history
And He has given us a treasure called right now
And this is the only moment we can do anything about
And if it brings you tears

Then taste them as they fall
And let them soften your heart
And if it brings you laughter
Then throw your head back
And let it go, let it go
You gotta let it go
Listen to your heartbeat

So breathe it in and breathe it out
Listen to your heartbeat
There’s a wonder in the here and now
It’s right there in front of you
And I don’t want you to miss
The miracle of the moment

So breathe it in and breathe it out
Listen to your heartbeat
There’s a wonder in the here and now
It’s right there in front of you
And I don’t want you to miss
The miracle of the moment“ 

-Stephen Curtis Chapman, Miracle of the Moment

“Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God. ” – Isaiah 50:10

My Quote Book

I have been trying to decide what to post as “lite” posts. I finally pulled out my trusty quote book. No, it’s not a book that you buy at the local Christian bookstore full of inspirational quotes by Billy Graham, it’s a big beautiful, somewhat-blank book in which I write my favorite quotes. And not quotes of me saying things, because that would just be wacky. ;) No, I take quotes from here, from there, songs, verses, poems, anything that inspires, convicts, or encourages my heart. My beautiful “little sis” (who is not so little anymore) gave this quote to me right after I moved away. It helped me so much at the time, and it continues to be a big encouragement today!

“Our Father knows what’s best for us,
So why should we complain.
We always want the sunshine
But He knows there must be rain.
We love the sound of laughter and
the merriment of cheer,
But our hearts would loose their tenderness,
If we never shed a tear.
For our Father loves His children,
and to Him all things are plain
So He never sends us pleasures
when the soul’s deep need is pain.
So whenever we are troubled
And when everything goes wrong,
It is just God working in us
To make our spirit strong.”

~ Helen Steiner Rice ~

In Sickness and In Health…

Most people usually associate the phrase “In sickness and in health” with marriage vows. However God has been teaching me about quite a different kind of “in sickness and in health” application. Almost two weeks ago I came down with a nasty virus, complete with a high fever that was extremely hard to bring down. Thankfully I began to recover, but Saturday afternoon I began having severe back spasms. These have been going on for about a year, but this time was the worst it has ever been. They lasted until Tuesday, and in those four days I experienced much pain and tears, but most of all I experienced God’s sustaining hand. He held me through all the pain, nauseas, sleepless nights, and unanswered questions. I have realized something this year. And that is that pain goes hand in hand with questions. Questions of “Why”s and “When”s; questions that seem to have no answer. God has not answered all of my questions. He hasn’t appeared to me in some magical vision. But He has taught me how to trust Him even in the darkest storm. He has whispered to me the sweetest songs, to sooth my tears, and calm my fears. He has taught me to name my blessings in the midst of a trial. He has taught me to be more sensitive to others in their time of pain.  He showed me that even if this pain lasts until I die His love will still extend farther than this worldly trial. A quote that has been a favorite of mine, and has ministered to me during the darkest times in my life is by someone who knows about darkness. Betsie ten Boom was put into a concentration camp for simply hiding Jews from the Nazis. She went through pain, sickness, cruel and horrible treatment, but in the end she was still able to say “No pit is so deep that He is not deeper still.” The thought of this trial lasting forever brings tears to my eyes. But knowing that Christ is waiting with open arms to comfort and welcome me the very second this life is over makes it all worth it. Knowing that He will never leave me nor forsake me even in this hard time is worth it all.

“But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour…” ~ Isaiah 43:1-3

I would appreciate your prayers during this time of recovery. I need wisdom on how to treat this problem, and provision when the answer comes. But I’ll be okay even if the answer never comes.

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This song has always managed to bring tears to my eyes. No matter how often I sing it, or what I’m going through at the time, it reminds me over and over of His infinite love for me.

“Oft times the day seems long, our trials hard to bear,
We’re tempted to complain, to murmur and despair;
But Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away,
All tears forever over in God’s eternal day.It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.
When We See Christ”