Angry … at God?

 

Bev became ill 9 years ago.  In March, 2014, we learned that her diagnosis was grim.  I remained hopeful, prayerful, expecting that God would reveal Himself in a miracle. A year passed and she seemed to be getting better, regaining strength until that awful day in April 2015 when the oncologist’s words brought our world to a trembling halt, full of tears, as he told us that her cancer had returned in a way that would no longer respond to treatment. God did give us a different gift than the one we expected. Those final months of her earthly life were filled with love – love of friends, love from our children, our love together which became deeper than ever. Then, she died.

I found great comfort in the story recorded in John’s Gospel, 11, of Martha and Mary. Jesus loved this family from Bethany, spending time in their home and enjoying their hospitality.  One day He received word that His friend, Lazarus, was very ill. “Come and heal your friend,” those sisters requested. But, He did not go!  Finally, after four days delay He traveled to that village, where He was told that Lazarus had been dead and buried for four days.

When Martha heard He was in town, John tells us this: "When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died." (John 11:20-21, NIV)  There is anger in her words. When needed most, Jesus did not show up. What kind of friend is that?  Then we read this: "And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you. … When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”" (John 11:28, 32, NIV) There it is again, that muted anger, respectful, but there.

Are you angry with God, wondering where He was when you felt you needed Him most?  

Do you look at the state of the world, or your family, or your own heart and wonder where He is, what He is doing?

That story teaches us that Jesus does not take offense to our doubts or anger.  When Martha and Mary dumped their accusation on Him, He was tender and invited those grieving women to trust Him. John tells us that He entered into their emotion. "When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled." (John 11:33, NIV) He wept openly!  Then, He invited them to trust Him implicitly.

If you are angry with God, do not bottle up the emotion or cover it up with so-called ‘faith’ words.  Get alone and tell Him about your stormy emotions. Admit your confusion. He will not reject you, nor turn away from you. Then, wait. Don’t spread your anger far and wide, rehearsing your resentment. Share a trusted, godly friend to help you pray, but wait … patiently.  

 David wrote of a time of anguish in his life with this song. "For the choir director: A psalm of David. I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be astounded. They will put their trust in the Lord." (Psalm 40:1-3, NLT)

I cannot promise you the miracle you want. I cannot tell you that God will do what YOU think needs to be done. However, I can assure you that He will be present, that His Presence will be healing, and that He will accomplish HIS purposes in those who wait on Him.  For Martha and Mary it was the restoration of their brother to life.  For me it was the renewal of His grace in me, the gift of a more gentle spirit, and the opportunity to see Him use me to share comfort and hope. And yes, He healed my heart, too.

Faith is not always easy nor is it simple. It is God-focused and willing to live with things that find no explanation within our limited understanding. If we will turn to Him, open up to Him honestly, He will love us still. So, are you angry, fearful, doubtful?  Be honest with God and yourself and then pray for faith to wait on His ways to become clear.

Here is a word from the Word. Let it encourage you today.
"And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering.
We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us.

Now that we are saved, we eagerly look forward to this freedom. For if you already have something, you don’t need to hope for it.

But if we look forward to something we don’t have yet, we must wait patiently and confidently. And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray.

But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." (Romans 8:23-28, NLT) 

How about an Amen?

(Video of this blog at this link)

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Keeper Of My Heart

From the first to the last breath I breathe
The Lord watches over me
You hear my cry and You know ev'ry need
The Lord watches over me
You never fail me God

I lift my eyes
I lift up eyes up
Maker of the heavens
Keeper of my heart
I lift my hands
I lift my hands up
Standing in Your presence
You are never far

I look to You where my help comes from
The Lord watches over me
Your mercies are new with the morning sun
The Lord watches over me
You've never failed me God

Keeper of my heart
Keeper of my heart
Jesus You are
(Keeper of my heart)

Bridge

My strength
Your never-ending love
I know You have overcome
I'll sing when all is said and done
(You're) My hope my only hope

Chris Tomlin | Jason Ingram | Kari Jobe

© 2014 Kari Jobe Carnes Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

S. D. G. Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

 

What is repentance?

Who among us has not felt the ache of guilt, the realization that what we have done is wrong?  In a moment of clarity we wonder, why don’t I want to forgive that person, or why did I allow such anger to overwhelm me, or why do I make the same hurtful choice again and again? A key part of change is repentance, not to be confused with regret!  

Regret is focused on the pain of the sin, on the potential consequence of some wrong decision.
Repentance is focused on God and His will for our lives.
Regret is an emotion.
Repentance is an action, a choice to ‘turn around,’ to change course to pursue the purpose and will of God.

Christians sometimes mistakenly believe that because the grace of God is all-encompassing, because Jesus forgives our sins completely, there is no need to deal with the choices of life. In truth, Jesus insists that we grow, change, and repent from sin throughout life, calling us to repentance. The aim is not to create misery or shame in us, but rather to allow us to experience the fullness of the Spirit’s life. Jesus told this parable.

After speaking of repentance, Jesus said “A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ ”‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-9, NIV)  I love the themes woven into His little story – patience, the persistence of God’s mercy, and the importance of ‘bearing fruit.’  One lesson is clear – we will not be fruitful in the life of the Spirit if our lives are cluttered with sins for which we are unrepentant.

Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, a divided, prideful, sensual church. His words of correction in his first letter were sharp and apparently caused those Christians pain, stirring up guilt.  In his second letter he writes this: "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." (2 Corinthians 7:10, NIV)  When we feel sorry for our sins and failures, it is not to be the regret of being ‘caught,’ or the loss of face that motivates us. Such guilt will be temporary, quickly forgotten leaving our hearts and lives unchanged. Rather, we need a godly sorrow, feeling the heart of our Father, knowing His pain when we choose something less than His best for us. This will bring us to a place of desiring to deal with our sin and find the way to overcome through Christ.

David wrote these amazing words of repentance in a well-known song – Psalm 51.  "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." (Psalm 51:7-12, NIV)   Hyssop was an herb long associated with cleansing and healing. 

On the night of the first Passover in Egypt, God directed His people to take a branch of hyssop and sprinkle a lamb’s blood on the sides of the entry to the home. This act of faith ‘covered’ the first-born of the home when the death angel passed through Egypt. David prays first for a ‘blood-cleansing,’ knowing that regret along was unable to change his heart.  This, my friend, is where our prayers of repentance begin as well.  We turn to the Cross of Christ Jesus, seeking to be made clean by His offering of His life-blood for us.

David declares that God’s cleansing is complete – “I will be whiter than snow!” He focuses on the joy that is found in  release from guilt. And then He prays for a ‘clean heart.’  Real repentance is not outside in, but rather inside out. It is our response to the Holy Spirit drawing us to know anew the Father’s love. This Lenten season know and love the Grace of God, but do not neglect the importance of true repentance. Listen to the quiet voice of the Spirit. Let your heart be touched by His holiness, even if that leads to tears; then – receive the gift of restoration and reconciliation that He gives.

The word from the Word is direct. Hear and know the joy of the Lord.
“The time has come,” Jesus said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”
(Mark 1:15, NIV)  Amen.

(Video of this blog at this link)

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Change My Heart Oh God

Change my heart oh God
Make it ever true
Change my heart oh God
May I be like You

You are the potter
I am the clay
Mold me and make me
This is what I pray

 Eddie Espinosa © 1982 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Integrity Music)

CCLI License # 810055

 

God Almighty!

 

Is your world neatly divided into ‘things God cares about’ and those that do not concern Him? Do you engage the Lord on Sunday morning or in your prayers before you drift off to sleep but leave Him out of the other hours of your life? Eugene Peterson, pastor and author, points out a common mistake that people make by dividing life into things ‘secular’ (that don’t concern God) and things ‘sacred.’   

The truth is that our God does not live in churches, concerned only about our songs and liturgies. He is Lord of our work life, our family life, our inner thoughts, our recreation, our finances, our politics … yes, Lord of life.  There is a sweet peace, a genuine spiritual wealth, that is discovered by those who desire to walk with God, who learn to live in an awareness of His Presence.

The preacher Isaiah encountered the living God and recorded the life-changing experience for us. His words are full of image and drama. They fill me with awe.  "In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. Hovering around him were mighty seraphim, each with six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with the remaining two they flew. In a great chorus they sang, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty! The whole earth is filled with his glory!” The glorious singing shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire sanctuary was filled with smoke. 

Then I said, “My destruction is sealed, for I am a sinful man and a member of a sinful race. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord Almighty!” Then one of the seraphim flew over to the altar, and he picked up a burning coal with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.” Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to my people? Who will go for us?” And I said, “Lord, I’ll go! Send me.” (Isaiah 6:1-8, NLT)   

What happened to Isaiah as a result of this experience?

First, he comes to understand that the Lord does not only live in the Temple. He fills the earth with His radiant beauty!

A person who is living with God-awareness will see the beauty of His work everywhere and desire to reach places that are darkened by sin and suffering with the Light of life. This is what Jesus means when He invites us to be light. When we are filled with the Spirit of God the Presence, the Radiance, will be reflected in our lives. Paul says this: "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, NIV)

Second, he becomes even more aware of his own sin!

An encounter with our holy God will make us humble, aware that we are unworthy, in need of a Savior. If our ‘worship’ is misfocused on our own physical and psychological needs rather than on the majesty of God, we will gloss over our failures. Isaiah was reduced to terror in the Presence of a holy God. There is no real intimacy with God, no real spiritual power, apart from the revelation of our sin and His grace. When Isaiah cried out about his sin, God moved to make him clean. He does the same for us!  Many churches have erased the mention of sin because it makes people feel badly.  True worship becomes all but impossible because when God’s Presence comes near we will inevitably see ourselves more clearly. The grace of God that makes us new and holy becomes a precious gift to those who know they are forgiven! 

Third, he gains a life-consuming mission!

“Lord, I’ll go. Send me.”  He became God’s man in that age. When we encounter the living God we too become people who live on purpose. We see more clearly that life is so much more than what we eat, what we wear, or the house in which we live. Peter says we begin to live as “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9) 

Pray to know Him fully as the Holy One, the Mighty God. Begin the day with a prayer of commitment, asking to live near to His heart, to be His ambassador in your world. This does not mean that we lose all the joy of being human, that we can no longer love and laugh. That understanding of holiness as a constricting piety ignores the truth of the rich and full life that is found in the Spirit of God. Jesus called this way of living the ‘abundant life,’ one that offers ‘joy to the full, overflowing.’  He is as close as the mention of His Name. God Almighty invites us to know Him. Will we?

Here is a word from the Word.

“Let the Holy Spirit fill and control you.
 Then you will sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves,
making music to the Lord in your hearts.
And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5: 18-19)

(Video of this blog at this link)

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Good God Almighty

I can't count the times
I've called Your name some broken night
And You showed up and patched me up
Like You do every time
I get amnesia I forget that You keep coming around
Yeah ain't no way You'll ever let me down

 

Good God Almighty
I hope You'll find me
Praising Your Name no matter what comes
'Cause I know where I'd be
Without Your mercy
So I keep praising Your name at the top of my lungs

 

Tell me is He good (He's good)
Tell me is He God (He's God)
He is Good God Almighty

 

You say Your love goes on forever
That Your mercy never stops
So why would I assume
You'd be somebody that You're not
Like sun in the morning
I know You're gonna be there every day
So what on earth could make me be afraid

 

Praise Him in the morning
Praise Him in the noon time
Praise Him when the sun goes down
Love Him in the morning
Love Him in the noon time
Love Him when the sun goes down

Jesus in the morning
Jesus in the noon time
Jesus when the sun goes down
Jesus in the morning
Jesus in the noon time
Jesus when the sun goes down

 

 

Ben Glover | David Crowder | Jeff Sojka

© 2021 9t One Songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

Ariose Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055