A Man After Malachi

As Christmas approaches us, our tendency is to concentrate on the preparations, rather than the reason we celebrate it.  Lists of  card and gift recipients are written.  Frustration over what to buy certain individuals consumes us.  Decorations are brought out and dusted off and days are spent setting up the icons and doodads that represent this holiday season.  Plans are made for the feast that will be served on Christmas day and, in the meanwhile, candies, sweets, and treats begin to pile up on every corner of the counter top, threatening to add those extra pounds that eating them brings.

Don't be mistaken.  I love the Christmas season and see nothing wrong with making preparations for it, including putting up a tree.  The sights and smells along with the excitement in the air bring back memories of my childhood.  I look back with longing for the times I spent preparing the festivities for my children and my grandchildren, waiting with great anticipation to see them gather around my tree and watch their expressions as they opened the gifts I had spent hours purchasing and wrapping.  These are memories that are dear and precious to me and I will always treasure them.

But when I think about the years that I did not fully understand why we celebrate this season, I am reminded of the greatest gift I failed to give them and often wish I could turn back the clock and re-do all of the Christmas's where Jesus Christ was not fully represented as He should have been.  I wonder with awe over the emotions that came over me as I listened to the songs written about Him and gazed at the twinkling lights on the  tree - even though I didn't know Him then.  I am sure that past Christmas's would have been much different if I had known Him completely as I do now, and the appreciation for all the hard work done in preparation for that day would have been greater.

When I think about it, we are not much different than the Israelites were in their forgetfulness during seasons of celebration.  As time went on, God's chosen people moved farther away from the true meaning of their existence and what was expected of them.  They exchanged their relationship with the LORD for one of complacency and apathy, mingling with the pagan world and disregarding His will for them.  Intentionally overlooking the real meaning of worship and service to God, the people ate and drank without forethought, failing to remain mindful of the reason for their festivities and rituals and the solemnity that should have preceded them.

Over four hundred years before God sent His Son into this world as a lowly babe, He spoke through His prophets one final time.  In the book of Malachi, God warned the priests and the people of their unfaithfulness to Him.  During the daily sacrifice, the priests had presented "polluted" and imperfect food, sick, blind and lame animals not even fit for their "governors," let alone the King of the universe.  God's condemnation for this offense was great as He thundered His accusations of their unfaithfulness towards Him, cursing them for breaking the Levitical covenant He had made with Aaron (Num. 3:44-48; 18:8-24; Deut. 33:8-11).  The priests were not only intended to represent the people before God, but also to represent God and the law of Moses before the people, and they had failed miserably.

One would think that after hearing the accusations, the priests would have mourned and repented.  But as Malachi so clearly reveals, with the exception of a few who heeded God's warnings, they whined about and questioned His charges, denying the grievances of wrong-doing He was bringing against them.

Unlike other prophets who revealed the future coming of Messiah (see Isaiah 53 for the most astounding example), Malachi leaps across centuries to "The Great Day of the LORD" in his final chapter when God will avenge His name and His honor.  Although it appears God used Malachi as His last messenger, the ending verses speak of another man whom God will choose and who will announce the arrival of the greatest gift God has given to mankind (Is 40:3-5; Matt 3:1-3).  John the Baptist, the man chosen to herald the coming of the long-awaited King and Messiah, would prepare the Way for God's entry into the world to save men from their sins in one final and glorious sacrifice.

The sacrifice that was to come would rival the most perfect sacrificial lamb to be found amongst the people's flocks and laid upon God's altar.  Unlike the imperfect animals brought before God by the priests in Malachi's day, this Lamb would be spotless and unpolluted, defining perfection to the utmost degree.  God would demonstrate to the people what a true sacrifice was intended to be and one that would bring Him the greatest honor and glory.

The animal sacrifices made to God prior to this final sacrifice were not able to cleanse man completely and forever of his sin.  The ritual  had to be performed daily in order for God's mercies and providence to continue.  But this Lamb would once and for all do what the others were unable to do.  The blood that would spill from its veins upon the sacrificial altar would be shed for the sins of mankind, once and for all, its efficacy completely satisfying the requirements demanded by God, restoring His relationship with His children, and giving them life eternal. 

This is what Christmas is all about.  It's not about the festivities, the gifts, the food, the revelry, and everything else that is defined by the world.  Although these things have their place in our celebration, the season is about a Man who was chosen before time began to become the sacrificial Lamb of God.  And it just so happens that His birth and the circumstances surrounding it happened exactly as the prophets who spoke for God said it would.

Although God remained quiet for over four hundred years following Malachi's scorching condemnation for the unworthy sacrifices the priests brought Him, God spoke one final time through His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, "God with us."  Jesus would tell of all the wonders of God and reveal to men His divine and holy nature.  He would heal the deaf and the blind, the lame and the sick, and teach man the Way to eternal life.

There are many theories about when Jesus knew or understood the reason for His entry into the world.  Some say He had awareness as a baby from the beginning.  Others say that awareness did not come until later in His life.  I have often wondered about this myself and have a tendency to lean towards the first theory.  But one thing we do know is that everything He did moved Him closer to His ultimate destination.  He began in a manger for all men to wonder about and walked willingly to the cross to fulfill the Father's perfect plan of redemption and eternal salvation.

When you look at the nativity scene that most likely is placed in a position of prominence in your home, take the baby Jesus from the feed crib and see Him as a man on the cross.  His birth is, indeed, a magnificent and glorious gift to all mankind.  But it was on the cross that the perfect sacrifice was made, and the benefit of Him willingly spilling His blood to atone for our sins reveals the greater gift.

After you have seen Him on the cross, see Him as your risen Savior seated at the right hand of God in all His beautiful glory and perfection (Luke 22:69; Mark 16:19; Acts 7:56; Heb. 1:3). Once you have done this, the Christmas season will hold greater  meaning for you.  The decorations, the food, and the gifts placed under your tree will have more significance and your heart will be better prepared to celebrate our LORD'S birth. 

Merry Christmas, everyone!  May it be filled with the presence of His Holy Spirit and His outpouring of love upon your family.  And may you and yours worship Him in humbleness as you celebrate this season, remembering that God did not forever remain silent after Malachi.  Four hundred years later, He brought us His eternal Word and a perfect sacrifice, the Lamb of God, our blessed Savior and King Jesus the Messiah.  And, 2,000 years later, we His children continue to celebrate in remembrance of that day with rejoicing and gladness.

May God bless us all with His Holy presence and pour out His grace upon the world. 

And to our blessed Savior Jesus Christ who was born in the city of Bethlehem while the shepherds watched, the angels sang, and heaven rejoiced:  may He receive all the glory, the honor, and the praise, both now and forevermore!

Our Pastor's Prayers

"See him on his knees: he talks with God; he pours out his heart before the Lord; and in return—whether the world chooses to believe it or not, it is a matter of fact with us—in return the great Invisible Spirit pours into the praying heart a stream of sacred comfort, stays it in its time of trouble, and gives it to rejoice in its moments of sadness." ~ C. H. Spurgeon

For yesterday's devotion time, I opened a book I just received from Grace To You entitled "At the Throne of Grace - A Book of Prayers" by Pastor John MacArthur.  After reading the forward written by his children, the preface written by MacArthur, and the first prayer, I am confident that it will become a treasured book.  It will be one of those that can be read over and over again because of the depth of his expressions to God with cited Scripture verses to further exhort and encourage.  They may be Pastor MacArthur's words, but they reflect what I am sometimes unable to express.

I often wish that I had the same eloquence that men like my own Pastor, Paul Guay, MacArthur, and Spurgeon were so blessed with.  When you read their writings or hear their utterances, there is never a question as to what it is they are conveying.  Although they may have a stack of papers in front of them blackened by ink with their sermon notes, the words that flow during their delivery issue from their hearts.  It is from there that the Holy Spirit speaks through them in order that we, God's children, are able to glean His perfect will for us.  They are teachers in the true Biblical form of the word and the man who is privileged to sit under men like these are truly blessed.

But we sometimes view prayer as a more personal relationship with God, one we are unwilling to share with others.  I understand Pastor MacArthur's hesitancy to allow them to be put into book form.  After all, for the honest preacher they are an unwritten and unpracticed intimate conversation with his God, an expression from the place with which only he and the LORD are familiar.  His concerns that they may be wrongly used are well-founded.  All too often, people merely go through the motions as they stand in public prayer, reciting by rote, half-listening, then mumbling "Amen" at its conclusion without really understanding where they are standing and the One who is seated before them.

The pastoral prayer given before the service starts is perhaps the most important time of worship.  It is the Pastor who is able to open his heart and make it visible to others that unites us to humbly approach the throne of grace where our Holy God is seated.  We stand together as one like-minded body with similar petitions, drawing us closer to the LORD we love.  This all so important prayer prepares our hearts and minds for what is coming next.  It is an opening statement to God that we have gathered to come before Him in worship, praising Him, laying our petitions before Him, and anxious to hear His word.

The second prayer in MacArthur's book had a different theme.  It told the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness.  I believe the prayer's intent was to reach into the minds and hearts of those who may have been sitting idle in their pews, unconcerned or unaware of all that God the Father through God the Son has done for them.  And for those who had already received salvation, it was confirmation of this truth; a reminder, so to speak.  Reading Pastor MacArthur's words took me back to my beginning,  the time of not knowing Him and of my former depravity.  They made me appreciate the love God has for His children, and of the selfless sacrifice He made to save me.

When our Pastor starts the service with prayer, rarely does he speak for himself.  Rather, he employs what is commonly called the "third person" form of the subject.  The pronoun goes from being singular and aimed at oneself (I and me) to plural (we, us), drawing the congregation together as one body with similar conditions, praise, hopes, and pleas.  Although it is a way of uniting us with one voice, our hearts meld together and we join with him as we approach the throne of grace to lay our petitions before the LORD.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to be alone with God, to commune in prayer with Him in the privacy of your "inner room" (Matt. 6:6) where it is just you and Him.  These are moments of intimacy and closeness that are unequaled, for the believing man is confident he is in God's presence and that He hears every word.  Jesus often slipped away from the throngs to have those intimate moments with the Father (Mark 1:35; Mark 6:46; Luke 5:16; Luke 9:18; Luke 22:41).  But we should also delight and take comfort in the times when others are speaking for us.  God's presence is no less real, and His ear is just as receptive in these circumstances.

The pastoral prayers that are being spoken define the commonality we have with each other.  They are a way of sharing the precious and divine attribute of knowing Jesus Christ and the gift of salvation He has so graciously bestowed upon us.  It is a way for God to draw our minds and hearts away from the pressing issues that may have followed us into His sanctuary, and to place our focus on Him as our worship begins.  The Pastor's words prepare our hearts for the sermon to come that will further exhort and encourage us.

Although there are those who have been gifted with the ability to speak fluently or persuasively, just the simple words of an honest heart is all that is necessary to secure an audience with God.  It is often said that others covet our prayers for them and their needs.  But the LORD covets them the most.  He longs to hear from us, regardless of the number of words used or how they appear to sound to others.  Whether our prayers are presented singularly or in unison, He is waiting for us to approach Him without fear or feelings of inadequacy.

Therefore, when your Pastor stands before you and asks you to bow your head with him in prayer, do so with all humbleness.  Be grateful for the faithful servant God has placed before you, one who is willing to speak not only for himself, but to also include you and your needs  in his prayers (1Tim. 2:1-2). 

Unite with him in spirit as he adds your unspoken praise or requests to his own.  Delight in the knowledge that the family of God to which you belong are joined together in what God desires the most from us: desiring His presence and approaching Him in humble gratitude.

And when your Pastor is done, don't just mutter your agreement.  Let your "Amen" be filled with heartfelt sincerity, expressing recognition with one united voice for the prayer that has been presented before the throne of grace.

Asking the Right Question

"At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, 'Ask what I shall give you.'  And Solomon said, 'You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you.  And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day.  And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in.  And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude.  Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?' " ~ 1Kings 3:9

When you go before the throne of God in prayer, what do you ask of Him?

I am not talking about petitions for those things that are common to prayer: healing, protection, comfort, peace, and usually presented with a plea for immediacy.  What if you already have all these?  What if, like King Solomon, God had already blessed you with position and that which comes with it, yet, like Solomon, you long for more and know that it is not within you to accomplish it?

Although Solomon's situation was a tad bit more complicated and God came to Him in a dream instead of the other way around, he carefully chose his words.  But do we?

God's response to Solomon, "Ask what I shall give you," gave the king the perfect opportunity to have anything and everything a man could want.  He could have just as easily asked God for diamond-studded chariots, a bottomless vat of wine, fields yielding crops year round, and a treasury overflowing with the earth's riches.  Solomon could have requested that God give him long life, or for the defeat of all his enemies without lifting a finger.  In other words, he could have employed what is being taught by today's blab it and grab it preachers who tell you to pray for health, wealth, and prosperity, demanding it to be given to you because you are told you are deserving of it.  But God had chosen Solomon for a purpose and, because His decision was a wise one, He also foreknew Solomon's response and gladly granted him that which he asked, and more.

I am going to go out on a limb and say that the vast majority of us would not have asked for wisdom and discernment.  The proof is best given by the multitudes who believe what they are being told by the prosperity preachers and are practicing it.  Our sinful nature would have compelled us to ask for a long life of ease, the fancier car, the bigger house, and an endless supply of cash to throw around on worthless things that bring temporary pleasure.

Because most of us consider our own wants and needs before we think about how we could use it to further God's kingdom, greed and covetousness would be our first reaction.  (If you think you wouldn't be prone to this, consider what you would first do if you won the lottery.) We probably wouldn't even be aware that it had crept to the forefront, overshadowing His purpose for asking the question.  That is, until conviction over just how depraved our hearts really are washed over us, or we later learned that what we thought we needed only brought temporary pleasure, more disappointment, or misery.

God isn't a genie in a bottle to summon and ceremoniously present us with everything that woos and tempts us.  If He was (and thankfully, He's not), our first request would always be for a better position in life, more money, more comforts (what was your first answer to winning the lottery?).  You may argue that Solomon already had more than most, a palace, wealth, and a position of authority, so what more did he need?

Solomon understood that it was his immaturity in leadership that caused him to lack the most important thing which would ensure God's will for His people was accomplished.  He needed God's wisdom in order to correctly discern the difference between good and evil.  With this precious gem, Solomon would be fit to rule and lead his adulterous kingdom with righteousness and Godly justice and his throne would be secure.  And because he recalled that God had fulfilled His promise to his father, David, and gave Him the praise for doing so, God was pleased and gave Solomon what he did not ask for - health, wealth, and prosperity, including the wisdom to properly dispense it.

"It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.  And God said to him, 'Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word.  Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.  I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.  And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.' " ~ 1Kings 3:10-14

Notice the condition at the end of God's announcement - the "if" attached to the beginning of the last sentence.  Considering that David had sinned many times against Him, it boggles the mind that God only mentioned David keeping His commandments.  After all, Solomon's mother was Bathsheba and we all know that story.  But Solomon would have his own problems that were brought about by disobedience to God's statutes, and he would struggle and prove his own weaknesses many times.  As his life concluded, Solomon gained the greatest piece of wisdom man can attain.  He  understood that the most precious thing man can possess is a right relationship with God and the wisdom He imparts upon His children to walk in obedience and righteousness.  All else is meaningless...

"The end of the matter; all has been heard.  Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.  For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil." ~ Eccl 12:13-14

A long time ago, I began to ask God to pour out His wisdom upon me.  Like Solomon, I knew that I was incapable of judging correctly without it.  I was no different because my life was also full of mistakes and errors in judgment.  Charles Spurgeon sums me up, and what I came to know, quite nicely:

"Many a man might have known if he had but been aware that he did not know.  A sense of ignorance is the doorstep of the palace of wisdom."

Because of my past and the folly I so energetically found myself in, I yearn for God's wisdom, asking Him to always keep my heart and mind firmly fixed upon Him and His desire for me.  Without it, I would be helpless and unable to live my life for Him.

In response, God is slowly but surely honoring my request, giving me only what I need at any given moment- no more, no less.   To be honest, I don't think my mind could handle the profound wisdom He gave to Solomon.  The term "information overload" has significant meaning in that regard; my mind is too puny to handle it, and God knows it.  However, it doesn't mean that I don't occasionally hit Him up for more comforts and ease.  But they are becoming less frequent because He places my focus on Him and the things He desires, rather than my own perceived lack.  Although it is often an uphill battle, God is helping me learn to be content and thankful for the bounty of blessings He has given me.

If God chooses to impart upon us His wisdom, what more do we need?  Buried within its eternal depths are the answers to everything, even those occasional unexpected and unwelcome things that life throws at us.  There is nothing we, with His help, can't overcome.  The discernment the Holy Spirit has given us is the necessary tool to understanding and applying the wisdom He chooses to give to those who ask.

God doles His wisdom out to us in predetermined increments according to the person and the need.  We will never know the length and breadth of it.  He is God and we are not.  But He wants to share much of it with us, and I gladly embrace it when He does.

Therefore, when you go before God's throne to present your petition, follow Solomon's example and first praise Him for the things He has already done for you.  Then ask Him for wisdom to discern between the waning good and the growing evil that is so predominate in this world and threatens to discourage you.  That request alone will assure the ultimate answer to whatever it is that sends you there in the first place.  The wisdom He blesses you with will help you understand the "why's" over the issues of life and better yet, equip you to handle the next thing that comes around. 

"God’s heart, not mine, is the measure of His giving; not my capacity to receive, but His capacity to give." ~ C. H. Spurgeon

Who knows?  As He did for Solomon, God may even give you a unexpected bonus for asking the right question.   There is no guarantee that He will and, if that is your purpose, it would be best to rethink what you are doing.  However, if He does choose to do so, count it as a blessing, then consider doing this:

Return the favor.  Take the gift He has graciously given you, lay it at His feet, and ask, "What is it that I can do for You, LORD?"

Differences and Distinctions

Wongani before Beka took him home to be with her

As most of you know by now, I have two blogs - this one and Wongani's Hope, which is dedicated to a wonderful young woman and missionary in Malawi, Africa by the name of Beka Feth and her soon-to-be-adopted son, Wongani.  Beka's journey has been an incredible one and I hope you will take the time to read her story.

Beka has been going through the process of adopting Wongani.  Unfortunately, what she has discovered is that it's not as easy and convenient as it was for Madonna when she adopted a child from Malawi.

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Beka isn't a world-renowned secular music star like Madonna who brought international media attention over her second attempt to adopt another child.

But maybe it has more to do with the fact that Beka doesn't have the bankroll that made it possible for Madonna to adopt two children from Malawi, in spite of her not meeting the legal requirements.  Madonna was able to appeal the lower court's decision, gaining approval by Malawi's Supreme Court.  After all, she donated $3.8 million dollars to "help Malawi orphans with food, school, and shelter."  It's clear that money and status incline the ear and persuade loose legal decisions, especially in nations as poverty-stricken as Malawi.

Only those who share Madonna's home or are intimately connected to her and the children she adopted know if the court made the right decision.  It goes without saying that the children would definitely experience a "richer" life than that which they were brought out of.  With her kind of money, they would never lack for anything, unless her motives were more driven towards how it would make her appear to her audience.  Celebrities are motivated by "image," but it doesn't guarantee that the children will receive the quality of love and devotion they need.

What is disturbing, however, is that the second child, David, was not an orphan.  His mother died giving birth to him, and his uneducated father, Yahone, was led to believe that he would still have contact with his son after the adoption.  When it became apparent that his parental rights would be completely taken away from him, he attempted to stop the process.  Even though Yahone was a poor potato farmer, he loved his son.  But, once again, money and fame spoke louder and he was convinced to allow Madonna to take him home with her.

By the way, three years passed before Yahone was given the privilege of seeing his son.  Time and distance has a way of destroying any relationship that may have been developed between them, and I'm sure that any memories of his father had been erased from David's mind.

Where does Beka Feth fit into all of this?

There is a vast difference between the two women.  One is motivated by money, fame, and ungodly behavior.  The other is driven by faith, trust, and a willingness to serve the LORD, even though her pockets are empty.

One was driven by questionable motives concerning adopting an orphaned child in Malawi.  The other compelled by a love so deep and abiding that her heart could not be without him.

One woman used her influence and fortune to attempt to establish a $15 million school for 400 Malawian girls.  The other woman relied upon prayer and her own sweat and blood, hard work and the beneficence of her family and friends to build a place of hope for all the toddlers who are thrust back into poverty once they are too old for the Crisis Nurseries.

Madonna feels $18 million isn't enough.  Beka Feth is thrilled when $18.00 is placed in her hands.

One woman parades herself before the poparazzi who splay images of her walking among the orphans and destitute of Malawi for all the world to see.

The other woman, Beka Feth, quietly and humbly waits for recognition and support; never expecting notoriety, never wanting glory for herself.  And when trials are thrown in front of her progress, she only asks for our prayer.

The difference between the two women is startling.  Madonna is driven by altruism and her own works, seeking glory for herself.  Beka is led by God to complete HIS work, giving Him all the praise and glory He expects and deserves.

Because Beka lives on hope and prayer and a meager allowance, the threat of losing Wongani is looming over her.  She also doesn't meet some of the legal requirements Malawi has instituted for adoption.  Recently, she was instructed by Social Welfare to secure an attorney to complete the process, and the outlook is dim.

Beka needs our help.

Let me put it this way:  God requires our help.  If you have read Beka's story, the evidence of His providence and His will cannot be disputed.  As I mentioned in the most recent post on the other blog that outlines Beka's present need, He is fully capable of seeing Beka through this latest trial with positive results.  But He prefers that we join with Him.  He is looking for hearts that are after His own, hearts that are willing to dig deep and pray often.

Wongani, safely home with Beka and thriving!

Who knows?  Maybe this test is as much for us as it is for Beka and Wongani.  If it is, I hope you are paying attention.  I am, and I am trusting the LORD to meet her needs and forever bind her to Wongani - with my help.

Please take a moment and visit Wongani's Hope.  Read the update that is there.  Pray, and pray some more.  Then, if your heart is compelled and you have the means, please cheerfully consider helping Beka (2Cor 9:6-8).

Your gift won't be wasted or spent foolishly.  It will be greatly appreciated by Beka and faithfully used for God's glory and to further His kingdom.

When Something Is Too Deep For Words

If you are like me, the turmoil around the world can sometimes overwhelm you.  You watch it on television, read it in the news, see it shared on a social site, or actually witness it yourself.  A range of emotions can wash over you, from grief to outrage.  If it sticks with you, you feel compelled to pray for the situations and the people involved.

But that's where it can sometimes stop.

Words will not come, even though you desperately understand the need for them.  The images and the story spin like a whirling dervish in your mind.  Discomfort grows as you struggle to form a petition to bring before God's throne.  You want to express yourself, thinking that if you are unable to make your thoughts clear, He won't understand them.  You attempt to frame your words in such a way that causes you to think you sound more like a frantic, babbling idiot than a sensible child running to his Father for intercession and intervention.  And when you are done, you wonder if your prayer reached Him, or merely bounced off the ceiling.

I think thoughts like what I described are common with us.   And we certainly know where they come from.  Perhaps the adversary's greatest weapon in his arsenal is to try and draw believers away from an intimate relationship with the LORD.  He knows he can't have us, but he will sure continue to try and discourage us and draw us away from God's merciful throne.  He has been very successful in this endeavor over the centuries that have preceded us, turning multitudes away from the life-giving grace God has extended to all men and making His children question His continued presence in their lives.  The sad part is that the enemy will continue to attempt to deceive us until he's finally defeated.  Personally, I look forward with great anticipation to that day, and it can't come soon enough.

After reading two articles the other day that spoke of the total depravity of mankind and the depth of the dark pit that the world is falling into, I found myself in the condition of being speechless.  "Shocked" is too mild a word.  In fact, I was unable to apply any words to the emotions I felt.  I was struck dumb and mute.  My heart felt as thought it was being ripped from my chest as I stared in disbelief at my computer screen.  Surely, what I was reading couldn't be true!  But when I realized that it was, it became nearly impossible for me to express myself in prayer.  Instead, I languished in utter disbelief and profound grief.

It is during times like these when something too deep, too disturbing, too depraved prevents me from forming and defining clear petitions to present to God.  Paralyzed with utter dismay and astonishment, I am only able to groan with painful mourning over the condition man finds himself.  At that moment, there is no earthly language that is adequate enough to express myself. 

But that inarticulate sound that comes up from the depths of my soul is enough.  No words are necessary.  God has always been aware of what I have just come to know.  It is not required of me to give Him the details, only to let Him know I am aware of it and to express my deep desire for Him to respond, even if it is in the most primitive of ways.

When I am at a loss for words, I need to remind myself of the Holy Spirit's continued indwelling presence and one of His reasons for it.  If I become so weak with despair, grief, or anger and can only moan over the grievances of men, my pleas won't stop at the ceiling.  He will swiftly carry them to the throne of God, express them in the heavenly language, and intercede on my or others' behalf.

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.  And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.  And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose." ~ Romans 8:26-28

Knowing and believing that the Holy Spirit is there to speak for me when I cannot is enough.  And it is comforting.  It is a precious reminder that even my unformed words that are battering my heart, when expressed in "groanings," are heard and carried to God's inclined and willing ear. 

So, if the things you see, read, or experience are just too deep for words, don't feel troubled over your inability to eloquently express yourself in prayer.   Sometimes it only takes one word.  But if you are unable to form even a single word, the groan that rises from your heart and escapes your lips is also sufficient and carries with it all that is necessary to be understood.

How Big Is Your Heart?

Or perhaps I should ask, "How deep is your pocket and how willing are you to reach into it, regardless of the amount, and give what you find to God?"

That's a tough question.  It forces us to examine ourselves, something most of us are unwilling to do for fear of what we might find there.

We want to think we have a big heart, don't we?  But the truth is that most of the time we look to our own wants and needs first without giving His a second thought.  Other times, we make a mental assessment of how our money and time will benefit us before giving it to God for Him to use.  If there is a little left over after addressing our own comforts and desires, then we will consider giving a pittance for a cause.  But only a pittance.  After all, we wouldn't want to completely empty our pockets...just in case an emergency or something else more important comes up.

I am once again reminded of the rich young man who approached Jesus and asked Him how he could find the way to eternal life (Matt 19:16-24).  As he patted himself on the back for his self-perceived obedience to the law, Jesus looked into his heart and revealed what was really lacking.  This man's pockets were deep, yet he only did that which was legally required of him and nothing more.  When Jesus told him to empty those pockets and give all he had to the poor, his unwillingness to do so was obvious as he walked away, dejected and sorrowful.  The cost was far too high for him.  He had no desire to rid himself of his wealth because he considered it his most prized possession and what it could do for him, not what it could do for Christ's kingdom.

The object lesson here is not that it is wrong or sinful to be wealthy.  Nor does it teach us that good works will somehow gain us a toehold in heaven (Gal. 2:15-16; Eph. 2:8-10).  Rather, Jesus'  intention was to reveal what truly ruled this young man's heart.  There is no doubt in my mind that, if his heart had been different and he had joyfully done what he was being asked, it would have been returned to him one-hundredfold (2Cor. 9:10-11).  That's the message we miss in this story.  Some of the blessings that are bestowed upon us are to be showered upon others in order that God will be glorified and His work completed.  And when we open our hearts to generously give our time or money for His purpose, He will turn around and continue to bless us.  Maybe not by refilling our pockets, but certainly in the reassurance that we aren't valuing material things above Him, and the evidence of His constant presence in our lives.

To be honest, I am no different than the rich young man, other than the fact that he had more money than I do.  I can make all the excuses in the world to justify what little I do for God - a dwindling savings account, the economy, joblessness, giving to my family who really don't need it, first meeting my own comforts.  But none of them satisfy the guilt I often feel when I see others in such great need.  I live like a king compared to some.  There are times when their hopelessness screams from the images I see or the words I read, and conviction that maybe I'm not doing enough washes over me.  I consider that a good thing, though.  It means that God has opened my eyes and ears and that my heart is being conformed to better serve Him.  Hopefully, it's getting bigger, and my fear of being left without at my age is being exchanged while I'm still here for joy in sharing what I do have.

It goes without saying that everyone who has a hand out wanting it to be filled are not necessarily where you should give your time and money.  It is also worth repeating that good works will not gain you favor with God.  Those works of your own  are seen by Him as "filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6) that will be burned life chafe and their ashes blown away in the wind.  Only His works that we joyfully perform for Him will bring us a lasting and eternal reward.  But, I would bet the ranch that somewhere there is a place or a person He has in mind that could use your help and He might be waiting for you to take the challenge.

So, how big is your heart?  Five dollars, here; a pocket full of change, there?   I'm not trying to send everyone on a guilt trip.  It's not my business how you spend your money, or the amount you place in the offering plate, anymore than how you think I should spend mine (2Cor. 9:6-8).  But ask yourself if you really need that latte, dinner and a movie, or a bigger and better something that you think will improve your life.  Look around you and count the things the LORD has already blessed you with.  Then broaden your horizon and, through new eyes, look at the possibilities a dollar or two, or a few moments spent, would make in the life of someone else.

I have begun doing this merely because the LORD brought someone into my life that has caused me to reexamine how big my heart truly is.  I think when He created me, a corner of my heart was reserved especially for this person.  But it was slumbering until the appropriate time of my life that He had determined for me came around, then He awakened it to be used for His glory, His work.  Without a second thought to what I had in my pocket, I grabbed the opportunity to be a part of His plan, even if it's only what I perceive to be a small and seemingly insignificant role.

It was all God's doing, not mine.  When I think about how quickly I responded to His gentle nudge, I am left in wonder.  I will say that I do have a generous heart but, in the past, I had to carefully weigh how much I would give.  If the circumstances surrounding meeting this person had been different, I would probably have had mild interest and less enthusiasm, maybe making a one-time gift.  But because my heart belongs to my Savior,  after awakening it He began watering that small corner in my heart, making it grow and spread until it was nearly consumed with the desire to joyfully assist Him any way that I could.

That's the benefit of having your heart get bigger.  It means that He is gradually molding and shaping it to reflect His own heart so that the love He has for you can be spread abroad and sown upon other hearts in need of Him.

If you are looking for a more worthy place to spend that latte money, just let me know.  I am positive I can suggest an alternative.   But, if you think you have already stretched yourself as thin as you are willing to go, remember that God created our hearts with lots of extra room for more.  After all, we are always asking Him to make our hearts like His, and the depth of His heart is bottomless.

Who knows?  Just maybe there is a corner of your own  heart in slumber and waiting to be awakened, too.  Allow God to stir it from its sleep and then reach deeper to see what might be caught in the seams and lying idle at the bottom of that pocket.   Use your time and money wisely for His honor and glory.  Believe me, the reward will be far greater than a fleeting moment of pleasure sipping on a latte.

Strange and Unlikely Visitors

Wow...I didn't realize that this blog has suffered so much because of the necessity to write on my other blog, until I looked at the date of the latest post.  I apologize to those of you who have faithfully returned to see if there is anything new.  But I want you to know that the well isn't dry.  Between squeezing in flurried moments of cleaning, shopping, meals, trying to stay ahead of the game, and everything else that tries to consume our daily lives, it is just pouring out its precious waters onto other pages that have a more urgent need.

Although I haven't added a new post, lately, I still check in every day.  As I have mentioned before, the first place I look is at you.  My traffic counter lets me see the state or nation you reside in and, if you have a blog of your own, a peak at what makes you tick.

Blogs are revealing and their intended purpose varies.  Some people merely create them to keep other family members up-to-date on what's happening in their tight circle.  Many have become an avenue through which a person can unload their thoughts and express themselves in ways that he or she is unable to do face-to-face with others.   And then there are those who use it to elevate themselves while hiding behind an avatar of deception, those who expound upon their misguided perceptions/ideologies/philosophies, or  the occasional atheist who enjoys transferring his hatred for God onto its pages.

It sometimes saddens me to see a blog writer's empty and troubled life spread so vividly for all the world to view.  It is as if they are crying out for help to an audience of strangers that border on voyeurism and who could care less about the person behind the words.  Their posts express a need, they long to be heard, but there is no physical hand to help lift them up and  help put their focus on what really matters.

Confusion and desperation for answers is prevalent on some of the blogs I visit from my traffic counter.  It is especially obvious on those which haven't been constantly maintained and updated.  Their last post often reflects a void they are unable to fill; empty, meaningless, a wandering befuddled mind searching for answers, but finding none.

When I first started this blog, I had the idea that it would only be read by those of like-mind and spirit.  I couldn't have been more wrong.  The majority that stumbles upon this site cover a very broad spectrum of false beliefs or utter unbelief.  What is most revealing about them, however, is what they lack: the One that so many of them reject or deny and that could bring them the peace and tranquility they so obviously desire.

Although I was once just like them, it is now strange for me to think that there are those who believe that their hope relies upon themselves, their own work, or a mute, deaf, and lifeless idol of wood or stone (Lev. 19:4; Psalm 31:6; Psalm 96:5; Psalm 106:36; Isaiah 2:8; 31:7; 40:19-21; 42:8, 17; 45:16, 20; 1Cor. 10:14; 12:2; Rev. 9:20).   Or, worse, the belief that there is no hope at all once their lives end here.  They are unlikely visitors who have unknowingly found themselves on a blog that is dedicated to the One they are searching for or Whom they have chosen to reject, a blog that I try to fill to the brim with His Word, His Ways, His will, His Truths.

I have often wondered how long my strange and unlikely visitors linger here.  Do they pause and wonder what this blog is all about and spend a few moments to read the things I have written?  Does any of it penetrate that diamond-hard shell that has encased their hearts?  (Zech. 7:12)  Or do they suddenly see that this blog is not a place they want to be and leave as empty and despairing as when they first came?

Whether you want to believe it or not, my unbelieving friends, Jesus Christ is also your LORD, your Savior, and the purpose of this blog is to point you to Him.  It has been created with the hope that it will bring you to the Light of understanding, repentance, belief, faith, and trust in the One True God, Jesus Christ.

And this blog is intended for you, believer, who has been accepted into the beloved family of God, to exhort and encourage you as we await the glorious and imminent return of our LORD and Savior.

To my readers who have not yet believed this Truth, He has delayed His return because of you.  His desire is that through this blog, or through another form of intervention that He chooses, you will believe He is your Redeemer and your God and will worship Him.  There will be a day in the not-so-distant future when you will come to that realization.  When you do, you will either gladly and joyfully bow your knee and profess Him to be LORD, or be forced to as you recognize your grievous error of unbelief and await your eternal judgment for it.

"For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written,

    'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me,
   and every tongue shall confess to God.'

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God." ~ Rom. 14:10b-12

If you find yourself to be an unlikely visitor to this blog, I am asking you to take a few moments and thumb through its pages.  It goes without saying that I am positive you will find something here to give you pause and cause you to examine yourself and where you really stand.  If you are looking for answers to what life has dealt you or what lies beyond your perception of reality and eternity, there is hope contained within its words.

Read the things written here with an open mind and a willing heart.  Search the Scriptures that are cited.  You can even view them by hovering your mouse over the citation.  After all, nothing you read here is of my own making.  It is borrowed from God's own Word and His Word is trustworthy, faithful, and true.  It is a seed to be planted and it will never return void of fruit when it is shed abroad on man's heart.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will hear you." ~ Jer. 29:11-12

To all my strange and unlikely visitors, I hope you will become a "return visitor."  If you do, it will tell me that you did find something or Someone you were looking for.  Maybe it will even encourage you to change the reason for and the direction of your own blog. 

If that happens, then you will know the true purpose for stumbling upon mine and that it wasn't just an accident. 

Let me know if it does, will you?

180 Movie: I Dare You to Watch This

How many times have you found yourself engaged in a lengthy and often heated conversation with someone who is pro-choice only to leave feeling more frustrated and heartbroken than you were before you began?

Anyone who values the life of an unborn child has experienced this at least once, if not more times than you can count.  But there are those whose hearts are so deeply affected and grieved by the horror of abortion that to be involved in this type of conversation leads them to go to extraordinary measures to try and convince the one they are speaking to that their thinking is a grave and deadly error.  Ray Comfort is one such person and he has gone the extra mile with his new video production, "180."

Those who are familiar with Ray Comfort and his off-beat but effective brand of street preaching know of his success in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  If you have watched the videos of Ray and his associates, like Tony Miano and Kirk Cameron, boldly approach sinners on the mean streets of southern California, or are a regular reader of his many blogs and websites, you understand and approve of his style and delivery and applaud the conviction that quite often comes across the faces of those with whom he is speaking.

Sin is sin.  We all know that no one sin is greater than another in God's eyes.  As Ray and the others always reinforce, if we have broken one, we have broken them all (James 2:9-11).  But I can honestly say that I have rarely, if ever, witnessed the speed of conviction over the obvious sins Comfort lays out in his street witness than when the topic of abortion is presented in "180."  As is displayed in this pro-life video, the results and the time it took to convict  are nothing short of jaw-dropping.

I am sure there will be some who will condemn Ray Comfort for using the analogy of the Holocaust to present his case against abortion.  Although the images are graphic, you will see just how effective the parallels are and how our society, especially our youth, are not being taught about important historical facts and the people who have played a genocidal role in our world.  I share in his tremendous dismay and grief over the reaction he received to his initial question about who Hitler was.  But Ray is successful in tying the two together because the Holocaust and abortion are equally atrocious and destructive to the sanctity of life, and both should be viewed as unmitigated and unwarranted slaughter of the innocents.

I hope you will take 33 minutes and 3 seconds to watch this video, even if you are of the mindset that you wouldn't personally abort your own baby, but feel that a woman has the right to choose for herself, or there are special circumstances that make it acceptable.  As my niece wrote when she shared it on Facebook, "I dare you to watch this."  You may just find that you also will take a 180 degree turn in your thinking.

That is the reason this pro-life video was produced and that's what Ray, the producers, and I are praying will happen.  If our prayers are answered and your heart is changed, please share this on your own blog and ask others to do the same.  Purchase a copy for mere pennies and hand it to someone you know, share it with your church, or even give a copy to a stranger.

By doing one or all of the above, together we can end abortion and give the unborn the first breath of life they deserve.

Just A Note

As many of you know, I have two blogs.  The second one, Wongani's Hope, has a new post, the third installment of Beka's story.  I hope you'll take a few moments and visit it.  If it's your first time there, you can read the whole story to date by scrolling to the bottom of the page and working your way up.

I am praying that Beka's mission will touch your heart and that you will become a "Follower" of the blog.  Please leave a comment, too, so that Beka will be encouraged by your support.  She's an amazing young woman and the LORD is doing marvelous work through her.  We would also love it if you would share this blog with others so that others will pray for the children of Malawi.

Thanks for taking the time.  Beka and I both appreciate it and we know you won't be disappointed!

In Christ's and Beka's service,

Karen