Lidocaine Jesus

Back in the day, my wife and I used to watch a lame old TV show called Emergency!  It fearured two paramedics saving people's lives in a variety of situations, all sprinkled with a dash of humor.

When they arrived at the hospital, doctors quickly took over. Often, they would have a nurse hook up an IV to the patient and say, "Lidocaine drip! Stat!"

A lidocaine drip is an intravenous infusion of lidocaine, a local anesthetic, used to manage acute pain.

You and I can also get into "times of trouble" occasionally. Jesus has told us we would.

"In this world you will have trouble, but take heart. I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

Jesus is our lidocaine, in a manner of speaking. He eases the pain in our lives and makes tense situations more peaceful.

The problem with my analogy is "the drip" eventually gets disconnected. That's not a good thing where Jesus is concerned. If anything, let us increase the flow!!

"Oh, precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow.

No other fount I know

Nothing but the blood of Jesus "

Yes, please! "Jesus drip, only LET IN RAIN!"

And that reminds me of a worship song.

Lord, when times get tough, when we go through things that would break many, You rescue, you save. When those we love are sick or hurting, may your healing power rain down on us from heaven. You reign over sickness, death, and pain. Heal this land, Lord. Heal this people. Itvis your merciful name I pray. Amen.

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” - Revelation 31:4

Nothing But The Blood of Jesus

Let It Rain - Michael W. Smith

Job On Jesus

In the Book of Job, supposedly the oldest book in the Bible, there are a few verses that made me stop and contemplate them again this past week.

Job was talking with his friends about God...

"If only there were someone to mediate between us (God and man), someone to bring us together, ³⁴someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more." - Job 9:33-34

Well, Job, let me tell you about Jesus. That's exactly what He does. He is a mediator between God and mankind. Jesus intercedes for us with God the Father. He also removed "God's rod" from us by sacrificing HIS life for ours, taking God the Father's punishment upon Himself.

 Here's another verse from the Book of Job.

"I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth." - Job 19:25

That's right, Job. Our Redeemer surely does live. He rose from death to life on the third day. And you are right again when you say "that in the end He will stand on the earth."

All this stuff is from the oldest book in the Bible! And it's talking about Jesus!!

"I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, ¹⁰Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,’" - Isaiah 46:9-10

God is simply amazing! He knows our hearts. He knows what we are thinking before it comes into our minds. The sooner we repent and seek Him, the better off we will be.

"To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." - 1 Timothy 1:17

Watch Over Me

I saw something recently that made stop and think for a moment. It was SO true. 

"What if we woke up tomorrow with only what we thanked God for today." Ooo. Ouch. Would we still have our jobs, our houses, our cars? What about our family and friends? Would our hearts still be beating? And what about our lungs? Still breathing?

It is VERY easy to take things for granted in this world. And yet, we are not promised even one more day. Are we living with gratitude for all of the things that God has provided?

God watches over those who truly believe in Him. How do I know this?

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." – Isaiah 41:10

"The Lord will keep you from all harm; he will watch over your life." – Psalm 121:7

That should do it.

If God watches over us, shouldn't we thank Him for His protection? Of course! In addition to other thousands of things He provides for us!

Lord God, thank you for your ever-watchful eye and your mighty hand. Your provision is unmatched and there is no other god like You. We thank You and praise You for all that You have done, and all that You have yet to do. Amen.

Watch Over Me - Aaron Shust

The Parable of The Kreg Jig

Today's story is one of provision. God's provision - and how He sometimes gives us things we never even knew we needed. Or, as in the example for today, God provided something I never even knew existed.

Do you know what a Kreg Jig is? I didn't either, until about a month ago. I had gone nearly 63 years in my life without hearing the term "Kreg Jig", then, suddenly, I was hearing it at least once a week!

As you may or may not know, I am building a Tiny Home. I haven't gotten very far. I have a trailer. That's it. I have watched numerous videos of Tiny Home designs so, when I saw another one pop up on Facebook, I watched it. At the end of the video I was invited to the person's web page for more designs and DIY ideas. That link was the beginning of God's provision.

I began looking at all the furniture ideas, being interested in space-saving furniture ideas. At the bottom of each post was a list of materials and tools needed for the project. Nice. Hmm. Kreg Jig. What's that? So I clicked on the convenient link supplied. Ohhhh!!! So THAT'S a Kreg Jig! Cool!!

A week later a young friend at work came into my cube to show me a picture of some furniture she and her boyfriend had made. She handed me her phone with the picture of a very nice entertainment center on it.

"Cool!! How did you make the top?"

"We used a Kreg Jig."

"What!? That's the second time I've heard that term this week!"

Fast forward to last weekend. My wife and I were in Michigan visiting family when my sister, right out of the blue, asked, "Do you know what a Kreg Jig is?"

"What!?!"

I told her the story of my friend and the web page."

"Wow! That's amazing," she replied. Would you like one? I have two and I was hoping you might like one."

What do you think I said?

Do you think God plays a role in our daily lives? I sure do! Arranging, conducting and orchestrating things that happen in it, that will help us bring glory to His name. I have never used a Kreg Jig but I get the feeling God wants me to. And so He has provided.

What is the "Kreg Jig" in YOUR life? How has God provided for YOU? What gifts has He given YOU? Are you using them for HIS ultimate glory?

Father, I pray that our every thought, our every deed be done to bring glory to your name. When we rise in the morning, glory be to God. When we go to work, let us work in a way that reflects who YOU are. Let us love others in ways that remind people of you. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of The Lord!

^"28 When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. ²⁹ And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, ³⁰ saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. ³¹ And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’”

³² So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. ³³ But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?”

³⁴ And they said, “The Lord has need of him.” ³⁵ Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. ³⁶ And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road.

³⁷ Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, ³⁸ saying:

“ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Open Concept Tiny House - Ana White
How To Build A Wood Tabletop - Ana White

Brothers In Arms

I am a firm believer in the sovereignty of God - that all things are under God's rule and control. That even when we are in doubt, God is not, and that he "works all things together for the good of those who love Him."

Wednesday night I had dinner with a good friend of mine. I hadn't seen my friend for several months and it was good to see him and hear his stories of how God is working in his life.

His story actually started a few months ago when I heard that he had lost his job. That loss for my brother-in-Christ resonated with me. A handful of years before, the same thing had happened to me. That's the reason I had wanted to get together with my friend. To reassure him that God is in control, God saw ME through, He will do the same for you.

There is much that goes through the mind of a man when life-changing things like that happen. Sudden events, out of our control for the most part, it is difficult to rationalize and make adjustments on the fly. Yet we do. And we grow as a result of them.

I am reading through the Book of Ruth right now. What an amazing story of faith, family, redemption and God's provision and sovereignty. Read it. It's only four chapters.

The Book of Ruth

In chapter one we learn of Ruth's devotion to her mother-in-law Naomi. Devotion to family. In chapter two we meet Boaz, a relative of Naomi's dead husband - her kinsman redeemer. Basically, He was Naomi's relative and she was in trouble so he came to her rescue. A wonderful foretaste of Jesus and what He did for us on the cross . . . but back to the story about my friend.

As we ate our food the other night, my friend told me about the interview process he had for his new job. It was very typical of how God works. The company he applied at wasn't hiring, yet they hired my friend. The interviewer spoke of a spiritual need in his company. My friend was created to do the very thing that his new employer needed - to share the love of Christ and His message to those who are in need. God is using my friend, a willing participant, to reach people with the Gospel.

I'm sure there were nervous moments for my friend and his wife, just like their were for me and my wife when the same thing happened to me. But there is great comfort to be found in the Book of Ruth, where we can see how God orchestrates and conducts this amazing symphony called life. There is also great comfort in looking back at things from where God has placed us - to see all of the steps He had us take along the way.

Yesterday morning as I was getting ready for church, I grabbed my belt and began to thread it through the loops on my pants. These verses came to mind and I thought about my friend. Read it as a prayer. A prayer for my brother-in-arms.

¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints - ¹⁹ and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." - Ephesians 6:14-20

We are all soldiers in God's army. Our battle is "not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). And "if God is for us, who can be against us." (Romans 8:31)

Love you, my brother. It is a pleasure serving along side you.

"Through these fields of destruction

Baptisms of fire

I've witnessed your suffering

As the battle raged higher

And though they did hurt me so bad

In the fear and alarm

You did not desert me

My brothers in arms" - Dire Straits

Brothers In Arms - Mark Knopfler
Hacksaw Ridge Movie Trailer