I Will See God!

I know that I am not the only one who is dealing with heartache over the news from Connecticut.  I know that I am not the only one who was praying for the destruction and loss of life that occurred when hurricane Sandy hit the east coast. I know that I am not the only Christian who has prayed and struggled to find answers to why our nation voted in a president who does not care about the lives of the unborn.  I know that I am not the only resident of Washington state that is disgusted over the new laws that allows people to openly use drugs, and to "marry" a person of the same sex.  I know that I am not the only one to have been praying of late, "Come quickly Lord Jesus!!" 
As I was reading in Job this morning, I was in a way comforted to remember that sin and suffering have always been around...well, as long as humans have been around that is!  When God created man and woman He expected them to follow and obey.  He expected them to love one another, to have children, and to live a care-free life in the beautiful garden that He had created just for them.  But they did not obey...they did not follow.  Adam and Eve thought they knew a better way, they thought that it was no big deal to disobey God's command.....But it was and it is a big deal to disobey God's command.
I find it strange that we, as a nation, have taken God out of every nuance of public life, but then the people of this nation who wanted Him gone, blame God when horrible things happen!!

Proverbs 19:3 A person’s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the Lord.

As we can see from this verse it has always been so.  Man blames God for the choices that man makes!! 

I know that people do not choose hurricane force winds, and I know that the children in Connecticut didn't choose to die in such a horrible way, but God gives ALL men a choice!!  And (I hate that it is so) we ALL bear the consequences of anothers' CHOICE!!  That is why it is so important to make GODLY choices and to teach our children to make GODLY choices. For if we take God out of our day to day lives, then all we have left is......HUMANS!!  And humans, without God are evil!  They are selfish, mean, cruel to one another, back biters, haters, adulterers, murderers, sexually immoral, drunkards, liars, disrespectful of authority, war mongers, and they say that good is evil and evil is good!

 Lord Jesus, help us all!

When a Christian goes through a terrible time, when suffering is all around us, we need to know that God has a purpose and a plan for it.  Just as He had for Job.  Here was a man who in a matter of a few hours, lost everything that was precious to him.  He lost his home, his business, his children, and the respect of his wife.  He truly felt like he didn't deserve this kind of treatment from God.  As Job is pouring out his anguish, his pain, his heartfelt cry to God, the Bible says that he never sinned with his mouth!  This teaches me that God understands our heart's cry, He knows that we don't understand His ways, He knows that in our humanness, we feel like He is to blame for life's trials and heartache.  What I have found is that God allows me to go through times of heartache and pain so that I may bring glory to His name.  As I go through difficult and painful times with integrity and trust in my loving heavenly Father, people see that God is real, that He cares for me, that His love for me never fails.  It is in these times that I experience the peace that this life can never give to me.

I will end with these words from Job........

Job 19:25–27 I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

 

As A Child

Mitch and I enjoyed having our four youngest grandchildren visit last weekend.  I love having the kids around, but it can be quite hectic at times!  They are a bundle of energy and they all love to play rough-house, board games, and thy really enjoy coloring or creating paper crafts.  We had dvr'd the movie, Spy Kids, and they loved watching that (and acting like spies later on...too cute!!) along with other cartoons.
To digress a moment, Mitch and I were not able to have this kind of playtime with our older grandchildren, because we lived in Colorado when they were young.  Now, we get to take them to lunch, or to the movies or shopping.  I enjoy having grown-up conversations with them, but feel a bit "cheated" for not being around when they were little.
Anyway, while the little ones were here, there was a point where they were all in the kitchen asking for a treat, yet they had just asked to play a game.  One of the littler ones, who is potty-training, said "I need to go potty Ninnie, will you help me?"  Then, one of them asked for a drink!!  I told them that I could only do one thing at a time, and needed to help the one on the toilet, before we had an accident.  The other kids patiently waited while I was in the restroom, and when I came out, I gave them their treat, and then we played a game.  I remember thinking to myself, don't they know that I can only do one thing at a time?  I even told them, "give me a sec....there is only one of me and four of you!" I can still see their sweet faces, expecting their Ninnie to grant their requests!  There was no hesitation to ask me for these things, they knew that I would give them all that I could give.
 It was in this moment that God brought to mind these verses:

Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

Matthew 7:11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

God tells us to come to Him as little children. The Bible tells us that we cannot inherit the kingdom of God without being like a child.  It is an innocent child that trusts that the person they are looking to is eager to help and eager to grant their request.  This is how God wants me to see Him.

God was reminding me that He longs to hear my requests and that He wants to grant my every wish, so to speak, if it is good for me!  God loves to see my sweet face expectantly waiting on Him to do awesome things for me.