A Child's Faith

"Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength" - Psalm 8:2

Our granddaughter has been visiting with us for the past few days. Mom and dad were enjoying some alone time and my wife and I were only too happy to babysit. We have wonderful grandchildren and love watching them grow and learn new things. However, this old man was the one learning things yesterday.

My granddaughter and I were in the living room where I watched as she played. It was day two of her being without mommy and daddy. Toys were strewn everywhere as she played with one thing and then another.

She had never really showed any signs of missing her parents until she noticed a picture of her family on a small table in the living room. She walked over to the collection of pictures and began pointing at each person in them, saying each name.

"Grandma, Grandpa, Ryan, Lleyton . . . " We have lots of family pictures.

When she came to a photograph of HER family she again named everybody but then she reached out and picked up the picture. She looked at the picture for a while and then carried it over to the couch where she sat, staring at it. Then she hugged it.

Later that same day I saw her standing on the couch, looking out the window, waiting. I smiled, remembering days when I was a child doing the same thing for MY parents.

What a wonderful example of a child-like faith our granddaughter is. Waiting, hoping, yearning. I remembered Jesus saying to His disciples, "Let the little children come to me."

Where is OUR childlike faith, I wondered? Where is our yearning for the return of our King? When have we read God's Word as intently as our granddaughter stared at the picture of her parents. And have we ever clutched our Bibles to our chest as we prayed?

We need that kind of depth in our love and in our faith. It's exactly what God is looking for,

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." - Matthew 19:14

Do Not Pray?

I recently read something in the Bible that I found hard to believe, at first. But then I realized that it was God simply reaching the breaking point with His people. Are we as a nation getting to that point? That God would not even want to hear prayers for our country?

“So do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or petition for them; do not plead with me, for I will not listen to you. 17 Do you not see what they are doing in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?" - Jeremiah 7:16-17

I read that and thought about our own country. We sacrifice our children on the altar of convenience by killing them while they are still in the womb. We perform sexual acts that are an abomination in the eyes of God as the LGBTQ+ movement gains a stronger foothold. We cheat in our elections just to get some agenda into power. We have stopped at nothing to satisfy our bloody deeds and our selfish needs.

Has God gotten to the point in his incredible patience with us that He no longer wants to hear our prayers? It's possible. A sinning Israel and Judah have proven that. They were God's chosen people! I pray we will never get to that point.

God drives home His do-not-pray command again in chapter 11.

“Do not pray for this people or offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their distress." - Jeremiah 11:14

Shortly after God spoke these words to the prophet Jeremiah God's people were attacked, put to the sword and what was left were carried off to Babylon as slaves. What will be OUR fate be in the hands of Almighty God?

Why is Joe Biden in the White House? Why are all of our evil acts and laws being given free reign to flourish and thrive in this country? It's because God willed it. The Apostle Paul gives us the answer.

"Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator - who is forever praised. Amen." - Romans 1:24-25

We will be doomed to the same fate as God's people unless we repent. But honestly, I think we are beyond that point - nearing the breaking point with regard to God's patience. But there is hope. Again through the prophet Jeremiah.

"But after I uproot them, I will again have compassion and will bring each of them back to their own inheritance and their own country. 16 And if they learn well the ways of my people and swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the Lord lives’ - even as they once taught my people to swear by Baal - then they will be established among my people. 17 But if any nation does not listen, I will completely uproot and destroy it,” declares the Lord." - Jeremiah 12:15-16

Read that last sentence again. ANY nation. And notice that God handed out His punishment before restoring His people to their land.

Let us repent and then pray in case God is still listening to us. He IS a loving and compassionate God who desires the very best for us. But, although God is patient . . . He is not tolerant. Pray!

Change My Heart

One of the biggest obstacles we face in life is our unwillingness to be transformed into what God wants us to be. We fight it. We resist it. Why? It's because of our sin nature. God wants us to live a sinless life. And, quite honestly, we struggle to do that.

There needs to be a willingness in our hearts to transform. But so often, although God is willing to shape us, unless WE are willing it's just not going to happen.

Of course, God will try to change our hearts through trials and struggles. But even that doesn't change some of us. We are too unwilling to even consider Him. And that's too bad because of the joy that awaits us if we do.

The prophet Isaiah referred to a perfect relationship with God as being like that of clay in the hands of a potter. The potter knows what type and shape of art He would like to create. He knows how beautiful the finished work will be.

However, to arrive and that finished work, pressures and outside forces are applied to shape is. Exaclty like a potter and his clay.

"Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." - Isaiah 64:8

We always have to try things our way. Just as often, those ways don't turn out exactly as we had planned. But if we would just be willing to be molded into God's finished creation, we would become a thing of beauty in God's eyes.

The question each of us must answer is, "Are we willing?"

Change My Heart O God - Maranatha Music

Line Crossing 101

Lots of people are drawings lines in the sand these days. We look down at our feet and there are so many lines, we can't help but cross a few. People get upset when we do that. Are they right? Are we on the right side or should we move?

The other night my wife and I watched one of the worst movies we have ever seen - Volcano. I'll spare you the details. We fast forwarded through most of it. At one point though a young female scientist named Rachel was gathering a geologic sample at a large crack that had opened up in the city sewer.

She had one foot one on side of the line and one foot on the other. The next thing you know the crack opened up and in a flash of fire and lava she was gone. Poor Rachel. But what a perfect example of what can happen to us if we dare to cross the wrong line.

"I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them." - Romans 16:17

Faith in Jesus is "a line" we must choose whether or not to cross it. The Bible says that people on the side where Jesus is will be safe and live an eternal life because of their faith. Those on the other side? Well, as it happened to Rachel, so it will happen to them.

"Then Moses said, “This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: 29If these men die a natural death and suffer the fate of all mankind, then the Lord has not sent me. 30But if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the realm of the dead, then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt.”

31As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart 32and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions. 33They went down alive into the realm of the dead, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. 34At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, “The earth is going to swallow us too!” - Numbers 16:28-34

Find out what side of the line Jesus is on and cross over to HIS side. We must repent of our sins and trust in Him. Then, and only then, will we be safe from the fire.

Cross The Line - Superchick

His Many Blessings

"Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. 8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." - Jeremiah 17:7-8

How have you ever been blessed in your life? A wonderful spouse? Kids? Grandkids? A special friend?

Of course the world tells you that blessings come in the form of wealth, power and fame. God's blessings seldom come with price tags attached. That's because God's blessings are usually priceless.

I was sitting in church this past Sunday when the pastor asked us to stand for the last worship song. We were just starting to sing the first verse when I sensed movement to my left. Someone was approaching me. It was my friend Chris. He walked up and stood right beside me.

I put my arm around him and patted him on the back. Chris has been through a lot recently. His brother is battling cancer right now and he is Chris's best friend.

Each time Chris sees me in church he always asks me if I am going to Lifest - a Christian music festival in Oshkosh.

"You goin'?" he asks.

"Yep" or "We'll see," are my usual replies.

As we sang I prayed. Why had Chris come over to stand by me? He'd never done it before. Did he think I looked lonely? Or did he just want to hang out with a friend?

Chris and I finished singing the worship song and then we turned and gave each other a hug.

Who cares why he came over. It was a blessing to me. I looked at Chris as we walked out of the sanctuary.

Nope. No price tag.

How will God bless YOU today?

Blessings - Laura Story

Doors

Walk down any street, in any country. You can see them everywhere. Visible representations of invisible decisions to be made.

Have you walked through any doors in your life that you wish you had left closed? How about unopened doors you wish you had tried to open but didn't?

Life is a series of doors. Decisions. Each of us, right now, is the result of every door we've ever opened or doors we've chosen to leave shut. And here we are.

I have opened doors in my life that should have remained shut. I have also walked right by an open door that God intended for me to enter. I never even saw it. How can we keep from making mistakes with our critical life decisions?

"They said to him, “Inquire of God, please, that we may know whether our way on which we are going will be prosperous.” The priest said to them, “Go in peace; your way in which you are going has the Lord’s approval.” - Judges 18:5-6

We can be so sure of ourselves. SO sure that we will keep trying to open a closed door. Or we will come to an open doorway and refuse to enter. If only we would ask God in prayer what He would like us to do . . . which way we should go.

"There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death." - Proverbs 14:12

The times I have "inquired of the Lord" in prayer before making a critical decision, sadly, are few. But when I have prayed about a particular thing before hand and followed God's leading, I have always been blessed as a result.

In the Book of Revelation, Jesus warned seven churches. All of the churches had something wrong with the decisions they were making. Jesus corrected them. One church however was doing things well - the church in Philadelphia. And what did Jesus offer them? An open door.

"I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name." - Revelation 3:8

When we arrive at the gates of heaven one day we want to have an open door standing in front of us. Pray that God would open that door for you. Pray that God would lead ALL of your decision making. Pray for open doors AND closed ones, according to God's will . . . not our own.

Riders On The Storm - The Doors

Spiritual Intimacy

Imagine knowing someone so intimately that they knew when you were hurting, when you were struggling, even what you were thinking. It IS possible. Here's how.

First, Let's clarify the word 'spiritual.' That's a pretty broad term. Today, and every day, I am writing about the God of The Bible. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The God of the Trinity - God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus.

Another thing we need to get out of the way before we can talk about spiritual intimacy is that God already knows everything about us. He knows everything we've done, everything we have thought, and everything we WILL do. Every intimate detail. The problem with our lack of spiritual intimacy with God is us.

Do you have a close friend you share your inner most feelings with? Is it God?

The problem with many of our earthly relationships is that we are "unequally yoked." We believe in different things, we have different interests. We don't actually know the other person or where they are coming from. The same thing can happen in our relationship with God.

"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" - 1 Corinthians  6:14

Are we "equally yoked" with God? Probably not. God is God. All-knowing, all-loving. We are not. And that's the problem. So, how to we become equally yoked with God? Well, we can't, but we can try. We can start by reading our Bibles. Get to know Him, His likes and dislikes. His laws.

I just finished reading the Book of Psalms. There's a lot on information inside that book. All of it good. We should read it. A lot!!

"For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies." - Psalms 57:10

"Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you!" - Psalm 63:3

"As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him." - Psalm 103:13

"Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul." - Psalm 143:8

The best way to have an intimate spiritual relationship with God is to get to know Him more and more. We do that by reading. We do that by praying. We do that by following His commandments. If WE are the problem in our relationship with God, shouldn't we try to change that.

Your Love, O Lord - Third Day

What's In A Name?

Each of us has a name. What does YOUR name mean? My name is Robert and I was named after Robert the Bruce, a Scottish king. Cool!

Robert means "fame, bright, glory, honor, renown, shining." None of those descriptions describe who I am except maybe 'shining' - as in my forehead, where my hair used to be.

Have you ever heard of the name Eliezer? Not likely, unless you have read the 15th chapter of Genesis recently. Eliezer was the trusted servant of Abraham. Do you know what the name Eliezer means? El means 'God' and azar means 'to help.' God's helper.

Fast forward to the New Testament. when Jesus was talking with His disciples. He's telling them about the Holy Spirit who will come from The Father. 

“When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, namely, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, He will testify about Me," - John 15:26

Now read Genesis 24. I hope you are ready for what I am about to tell you. I wasn't when our pastor delivered his message in church last Sunday. Ready? The Old Testament story of Abraham sending his helper to get a bride for his son Isaac is a foreshadowing about the rapture of the church.

Think about it. Who is the bride of Christ? It's the church. Abraham represents God, Isaac represents Jesus, Eliezer represents The Holy Spirit, and Rebekah, Isaac's bride-to-be, represents The Church.

The Holy Spirit was sent to find God's church just like Eliezer was sent to find Rebekah, the bride. The Holy Spirit is with us now. When it is time for us (the church) to meet our bride, Jesus will come to meet us. He will meet us in the air. Isaac also came to meet his bride, Rebekah.

"Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev. 63 He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. 64 Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel 65 and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?”

“He is my master,” the servant answered." - Genesis 24:62-65

Foretold in the Old Testament and promised in the New Testament . . . but when will it happen? Soon my friends. Soon. God ALWAYS keeps His promises. ALL of His promises. And for that we should be grateful.

[Special thanks to Pastor Dave for providing an amazing sermon on Sunday, the inspiration for this story]

Wedding Day - Casting Crowns

Love Never Fails

Every once in a while one of us slips under the radar and delivers a hidden message of hope to the unsuspecting masses. Last night it was Russell Wilson's turn.

The secular media didn't catch it. Why? Because Russell's message sounded all warm and fuzzy to them. And it was! Not worthy of any censoring at all. Yet it was there for all to hear. The love of Jesus.

Russell Wilson, a former Wisconsin Badger, won the 2021 Walter Payton Man of The Year award last night. In his acceptance speech he quoted from 1st Corinthians 13 - "The love chapter" in The Bible.

Russell spoke about love and hope - two things the world needs a lot of these days. Russell finds HIS love and hope in Jesus, his Lord and Savior.

In his acceptance speech Russell quoted his father who said, "Love changes things." That it does, my brother. That it does! Russell also quoted the Apostle Paul at the end of his speech. Words we ALL need to remember today.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love never fails.

Russell Wilson Speech - Walter Payton Man of The Year 2021

The Laws of Man

My wife and I watched a movie last week, I wasn't really expecting to get a theology lesson from Ant Man, but I did.

During the first part of the movie, a conversation takes place between Darren (the soon-to-be villain) and the unsuspecting Frank (who was about to become a small stain on the restroom floor). Here's their conversation:

Frank: Unfortunately, we can't just do whatever we want. It'd be nice though, right? But there are laws.

Darren: What laws? Of man? The laws of nature transcend the laws of man. And I have transcended the laws of nature.

Frank: Darren, I don't think you understand.... 

Darren: [picks up ray gun] ZOT!!

Frank was right. Darren did NOT understand.

When man starts messing around with the laws of nature, bad things usually happen. As an example, I give you the recent pandemic that came out of a Wuhan lab in China. That hasn't gone well, has it?

God is the Creator of all things. When we start thinking that WE can create things, we are placing ourselves above God, or at least equal to Him. Things never end well when we do that. Satan, a created being and former angel in heaven, tried to make himself God. He's STILL trying. And failing.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, said the LORD." - Isaiah 55:8

King David, a man after God's own heart, loved and embraced God's law. Perhaps we should too. Let's start with the 10 Commandments and go on from there. Anybody in Washington D.C. listening?

"Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long." - Psalm 119:97

Darren Cross Kills Frank

Roomba Christianity

Are you a Roomba Christian? We should be . . . I think. It all depends on which way we're going.

Climbing aboard the Christian faith can be a lot like riding a Roomba. We start off going in one direction, believing certain things in our faith, then, just when we think we are right on track, we hit something - a verse, a sermon, a tragedy in life - and our faith becomes changed.

The cat in the picture is just cruising along. Life is good, right? What happens when he hits the edge of the carpet or an open stairway? I don't know about Roombas but in our faith we can become stuck or we can loose our faith all together. We need to keep out eyes focused on where we are going.

"Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil." - Proverbs 4:27

We must constantly assess our direction in life. Does our faith line up with the Bible? Are we headed in the right direction?

The Roomba's job is to pick up whatever is in its path - dust, M&M's, cat hair. That can be good but it also can be bad. What happens when your pet leaves a little smelly gift for you on the floor and the Roomba gets to it before YOU do? A total mess! Christians must also be cautious with the direction we take in our faith.

"So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." - Matthew 6:31-33

Being a Roomba Christian is good but WATCH WHERE YOU ARE GOING!! Read the Bible. Our only source for checking the direction of our faith.

Alive For Christ

It is easy for me to sit here in the comfort of my home and write these stories. I have power for my computer, lighting and heat. My wife and I have money in the bank, gas in our vehicles and plenty of food in the fridge. Others on this earth however have none of the above.

The lady in the picture is Janette. She lives in the Central Africa Republic. She loves her community and family just like you and I love ours. That all changed one day when some Islamic extremists rode into town. All of the Christians were either killed or driven out. Janette's church was burned. Yet she still smiles. Why? First, another story.

I watched a undercover video of some missionaries smuggling Bibles into North Korea. The video also showed some footage taken of the concentration camps - where the missionaries would go if they ever got caught.

Back to Janette. She survived the attack on her village because she grabbed her kids and disappeared into the bush. No shoes, no food, no clothing, no shelter . . . just what was important.

Janette still worships. She sings worship songs in her burned out church. No roof. No home. But she has a merciful God who kept her and her family alive. And she praises Him for that every day of her life.

And here I sit in my comfy little house wondering if I should go to church or not because it's snowing.

What's that in my ear I hear? It is God's Holy Spirit saying, "I dare YOU to move in His name."

Let's go!

Janette's Story - Voice of The Martyrs
Dare You To Move - Switchfoot