Into each life some rain must fall

Life is going to bring disappointment your way. I’m not a prophet, it is the common human experience.  My Dad used to repeat these lines when he was struggling with things that made him sad:  “Into each life some rain must fall. Some days must be dark and dreary.” 

I don’t know if Dad knew they were part of a Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem.

Be still, sad heart! and cease repining.

Behind the clouds is the sun still shining.

Thy fate is the common fate of all.

Into each life some rain must fall.
Some days must be dark and dreary.

The poet was no stranger to sorrow. His father, mother and brother all died within a two-year span. His first wife died after a miscarriage and his second wife died tragically in a fire. His son was badly wounded at Gettysburg. Longfellow though broken at times by depression, remained sentimental and hopeful, and was popular in America in the mid -19^th century. Evidence of his hope is written into the poem sung as the Christmas Carol, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” -  “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep. the wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to men.”  He wrote those word at the height of the Civil War, with death and violence filling the nation.

What choice will YOU make when you deal with the difficulties of the day?

Will you become a cynic like Solomon protesting the supposed emptiness of life?  In his old age, after a life filled with wealth, fame, power, and pleasure, Solomon complained bitterly that all is vanity. "Smoke, nothing but smoke. There’s nothing to anything—it’s all smoke. What’s there to show for a lifetime of work, a lifetime of working your fingers to the bone? One generation goes its way, the next one arrives, but nothing changes—it’s business as usual for old planet earth. The sun comes up and the sun goes down, then does it again, and again—the same old round." (Ecclesiastes 1:2-5, The Message)  What a sad conclusion that closes the door to opportunity.

Will you let the battering break your pride and carry you to an total dependence on the love of our Father?  Paul, once a proud, self-sufficient Pharisee, came to Christ to find a life of rejection, persecution, shipwreck, and imprisonment! He realized that suffering allowed him to be identified with his Savior. He rejoiced in it as his pride crumbled and the Lord became his treasure and hope. From is experience he teaches us not "be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:13-20, NIV) What a stark contrast to the bitterness of Solomon.

Here in 2020, we are all, in one way or another, making our way through uncertainty, hard times, and perhaps even sickness. Our lives have been turned inside out by limits placed on us, fairly or unfairly, who knows? Businesses, thriving just months ago, are near wreckage now. Emotions are raw. Optimism is a like a rare and precious gem.

We have God and His promises to care for us, keep us, and lead us life eternal. So, we say, with Paul, ‘when I am weak, then I am strong.’ If we are willing to rest in Him, we need not become bitter complaining to God and everyone else who might listen about the ‘unfairness’ of it all. It is a temptation, however, isn’t it? Job is a model for those who are dealing with disappointment. He struggled to understand his life AND kept talking to God!  And, in the end, though the Lord never explained what He had allowed, He revealed His majesty and Job was both humbled and comforted.  “Without humility there can be no true abiding in God’s presence or experience of His favor and the power of His Spirit. Without it there can be no abiding faith or love or joy or strength.” (Andrew Murray)

Christian friend, come often to the throne of God. Hide your life in Christ through faith. Silence the rebel heart and submit to Him, listening, waiting, hoping. There is great grace to  be found.

Here is the word from the Word.

"He gives us more and more strength to stand against such evil desires.
As the Scriptures say, “God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble.” (James 4:6, NLT)

“I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word." (Isaiah 66:2, NLT)

"But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." (Matthew 23:12, NLT)

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Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)
This song was the anthem that sustained Bev and I as she was dying.
It is a powerful declaration of faith.

You call me out upon the waters

The great unknown where feet may fail

And there I find You in the mystery

In oceans deep my faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name

And keep my eyes above the waves

When oceans rise

My soul will rest in Your embrace

For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters

Your sov'reign hand will be my guide

Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me

You've never failed and You won't start now

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters

Wherever You would call me

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger

In the presence of my Saviour

I will call upon Your name

Keep my eyes above the waves

My soul will rest in Your embrace

I am Yours and You are mine

Joel Houston | Matt Crocker | Salomon Ligthelm

© 2012 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

I’m mad at Hell

Are you combative, aggressive, meeting life these days with angry words and attitudes? Anger is abundant in America and I am not just talking about the protests in the streets. Who among us has not reacted to life with a sense of outrage … How could he? What was she thinking? That is the most idiotic idea!  Sometimes the expressions are much more ‘colorful’ than I would care to repeat in this blog. 

Anger can be useful but, like an explosive, it can wound and destroy, too. When properly focused and kept under control, anger motivates us to make change, to get involved, to resist wrongs. Are you mad at the right things?

I hope that your convictions are deep enough that anger is stirred when you see injustice. I hope you love God enough to hate sin as He does. I hope you are passionate about owning eternal riches enough to reject the seductions of the devil and the trinkets he offers to you. Christian, we need to be capable of actually getting mad at Hell. AND,  we need to use that anger in a way that Christ desires.

My Scripture meditation took me to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians again today. He reminds us of our grace heritage, of the Spirit’s work on our behalf, and in his closing lines asks us power up!

"A final word: Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm.

Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared. In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere." (Ephesians 6:10-18, NLT)

Christians are wary of such militant language, for good reason.  Much harm has been done in the Name of Christ by people who got angry at the wrong things and sought the destruction of the wrong people. (Think Crusades, Inquisitions, Salem witch trials, and Falwell’s Moral Majority)  Our true enemy, the Word reminds us, is not other people – regardless of what we think about them.  We are engaged in battle with powerful spiritual beings who are deployed to resist and destroy what God loves.

Perhaps you are thinking, “How very medieval of you, Jerry, to blame demons for our problems.”  Whatever you may want to believe, the Bible is quite clear that evil is real, personal and active. There are not two gods, One good;  one evil. Scripture reveals to us that the Devil is a created being, a powerful spiritual being who hates all things God and good.  His agents (demons) act to kill and destroy, albeit, usually hidden behind the scenes.  Christians must pray to be discerning so that their efforts for Christ are like a guided missile and every resource has maximum effect.

Paul starts that revealing passage by urging us to put on the protective armor God provides – truth, His ‘righteousness’ that is being in close relationship with Him, the peace of Christ that keeps us from debilitating shame and guilt, and faith that shields us.  We must understand that we are saved from sin, by the gift of God’s grace. This new identity leads to transformation of character and is like a helmet that protects our thinking processes. We are equipped to meet the falsehoods that deceive others because we have the Word of God. What He speaks to our mind and heart becomes a sword that cuts down the lying spirits that advance against us.

And then there is this – which we must NOT FORGET.   "Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere." (Ephesians 6:18, NLT) Pray, pray, pray, and then pray again. Yes, this is the way that we wage war in pursuit of the Kingdom objectives.

If the only prayers we know are the childish ones like now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, or the selfish ones – God bless me, my kids, my friends. Amen we will not be very effective in dealing with those spiritual forces that want to destroy us.  If we only say prayers in church or on special days, or mumble our way through some sentimental thoughts as we drift off to sleep, our powerlessness in the face of evil will match our prayerlessness. 

Prayer is real work that involves heart and mind, that demands discipline, a constant engagement with the Spirit on behalf of the world around us.  Yes, the Word says we are to ‘pray without ceasing.’  We pray while we work, while we relax, when we are upset, when we are thankful – in short, all the time.  A glimpse of the practicality of prayer is found where Jesus says “when someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person.”  (Luke 6:28) Prayer is not an escape from the world, as some would see it. It is a primary way that Christians bring God’s will to bear on the world in which they live.  “May Your will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven.”  

If you don’t know how to pray, just start. Prayers are not effective because they are eloquent or long.  God seeks people who desire Him, who will pursue Him, whose lives are a conversation with Him. This is the heart of true prayer. How we pray will often mirror our personality.  Some will pray quietly, some will shout. Some will use many words, some almost none. Our most powerful prayers will not be those we pray in public forums because they are too often addressed to the crowd instead of God.  We will defeat evil when we learn to live with our lives hidden in Christ.

Our word from the Word are Jesus’ profound words from Matthew’s Gospel.

“Here’s what I want you to do:
Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God.
Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage.
The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.
The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant.
They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God.  Don’t fall for that nonsense. …”

“This, then, is how you should pray:
”‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’" (Matthew 6:9-13, NIV)

Christian, let God make you mad at Hell! Then, pray!

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Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing (Nettleton)

Pray along with this great hymn.

Come Thou fount of ev'ry blessing

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace

Streams of mercy never ceasing

Call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet

Sung by flaming tongues above

Praise the mount I'm fixed upon it

Mount of Thy redeeming love

Here I raise mine Ebenezer
(a marker stone of an encounter with God set by Jacob)

Hither by Thy help I'm come

And I hope by Thy good pleasure

Safely to arrive at home

Jesus sought me when a stranger

Wand'ring from the fold of God

He to rescue me from danger

Interposed His precious blood

O to grace how great a debtor

Daily I'm constrained to be

Let Thy grace Lord like a fetter

Bind my wand'ring heart to Thee

Prone to wander Lord I feel it

Prone to leave the God I love

Here's my heart Lord take and seal it

Seal it for Thy courts above

John Wyeth | Robert Robinson

© Words: Public Domain

God Re-discovered?

As this COVID thing drags on the impact on our lives increases. A few felt it early on, when the sickness hit hard leaving their bodies weakened or when death visited their family. The rest of us were coping with the loss of normal social interaction, kids at home, work hours curtailed, or the threat to our business. We complained about being ‘stuck at home,’ or not being able to go to a restaurant, or seeing grocery store shelves bare, but we assumed that we would find ‘normal’ in a few week’s time. Several months in, with no end in sight, we are realizing that life has changed, maybe forever.

Every decision, right down to deciding where we will eat, how we will worship, and who we will invite into our home now carries the weight of wondering ‘is it safe?’  Things we once took for granted like sending our children off to school, going to church, or taking a vacation are now sources of stress. Our governing authorities are unreliable guides, imposing capricious rules, issuing contradictory information. Often our leaders are outright incompetent.  Added to the weight of COVID is the social upheaval we are now experiencing.

The future is a murky mess. The result?

Stress is UP. Marriages are strained. Communities are breaking down. And, quiet yet urgent questions will not go away. A lot of us are re-thinking the way we live, the choices we make, the foundations on which we have built our lives. Is there a nagging sense that “there must be more to life” than what you have been chasing after?

It is time to return to Jesus Christ. You knew I would say that, right? After all, I am a Christian pastor. True, but even my faith is being re-defined. Church programs, religious shows that masquerade as ‘worship,’ celebrity preachers that offer self-help sermons about human potential are being shown for what they are; “clouds without rain.” Serious Christianity, a dedication to Jesus Christ; to love of God and love for others, is making a return. Little groups of people hungry for God are re-discovering the God of the Word.  At our core we desire immortality, want to know hope, and to live a life that means something. There is no one on earth that can offer us that, no place we can buy those things. Christ alone gives us life eternal, peace that is anchored beyond our present trials, and true purpose.

Real Christian discipleship will satisfy our soul hunger. Let’s not confuse our ‘church-ianity’ with real Christianity!  Recent history shows that millions can ‘go to church’ without having their lives even superficially touched by the Gospel of Christ. (Think racism that remained rooted in churches long after civil rights arrived in America.)  Church-goers of the last 50 years lived the same way as non-believers with a thin veneer of religion glued on the surface of their lives. The prescription for ‘life to the full’ involves radical repentance for sin, deep commitment to Christ, and profound care for others. The pursuit of Christ and a life that is holy will be costly, difficult, and yes – will change us and the world in which we live miraculously. (That is not hype or oversell. It is the Gospel Truth!)

Here is a word from the Word. Though familiar, take time to meditate on Jesus’ words. "Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:24-26, NIV)  

“Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as ‘Lord,’ but they still won’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven. ...

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse, because it is built on rock. But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will fall with a mighty crash.” (Matthew 7:21-27, NLT)

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Build My Life

(A great song that points us to real faith in the Builder)

Worthy of ev’ry song we could ever sing

Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring

Worthy of ev’ry breath we could ever breathe

We live for You

Jesus the name above ev’ry other name

Jesus the only one who could ever save

Worthy of ev’ry breath we could ever breathe

We live for You

We live for You

Holy there is no one like You

There is none besides You

Open up my eyes in wonder and show me who You are

And fill me with Your heart

And lead me in Your love to those around me

I will build my life upon Your love

It is a firm foundation

I will put my trust in You alone

And I will not be shaken

Brett Younker | Karl Martin | Kirby Elizabeth Kaple | Matt Redman | Pat Barrett

© 2016 Martin, Karl Andrew (Admin. by Arkyard Music Services Limited)

Kaple Music (Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing)

Bethel Music Publishing

CCLI License # 810055