What a Coincidence!

What a Coincidence!

             Have you ever had two things come together at the same time and place and you laughing said, “What a coincidence.”  I’ve had these ‘coincidences’ happen many times.  One of the most recent ones was to be at a certain place at the same time as another person.  We did not know each other, but began politely talking and as we talked, I knew she was a Christian who was going through a rough time.  I was able to give her words of encouragement from the Bible and when we parted ways, she was smiling and filled with hope.

            This isn’t about me; it’s about God drawing two people together at the same time place when one needed help and the other had God’s Word to give her.  Coincidence; no!  It was God’s plan that it should happen that way.  I call it “A Holy Coincidence’.  Another time of deep discouragement, God sent a person to speak to me on a lonely rest stop in mountains of Tennessee.  Many years ago when I didn’t know Jesus as my Savior and all hope was gone,

      I watched a Christian program that led me to ask Jesus into my heart and set me free.  Coincidence?  I don’t believe so.  I never watched Christian TV in those days and this program was about another person struggling in the same ways that I did.  Think of it; a program I never watched coming on at the same time I had given up hope and showing another person with the same problems who made it because of Jesus.  I don’t know if I would have made it without seeing this, or if I would even be alive today. 

            How about the time we were driving and suddenly our car stopped and we were right by a garage.  We tried several times to start it, but it wouldn’t work.  We sat there about ten minutes and the mechanic came out and looked at the engine.  He didn’t see anything wrong and got in, turned the key and it instantly started running.  We didn’t understand it, but went on down the road and came up on a terrible accident.  Could that have been us if our car hadn’t stopped?  Coincidence?   I don’t know, but our car never stopped like that again the whole time we owned it.  

            God pre-planned ‘coincidences’ all through the Bible, but we should call them ‘Miracles’.  In Acts 8, we read about a eunuch, Treasurer of Ethiopia, who was riding in a chariot and God sent Philip to witness to him.  In verses 36-37, “As they rode along, they came to a small body of water, and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! Why can’t I be baptized?"  "You can," Philip answered, "if you believe with all your heart." And the eunuch replied, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

            In John 4, Jesus and some of the disciples were going through Samaria and stopped at a well.  At the same time a woman came to the well to draw water.  Jesus asked her for a drink and then began telling her about salvation and also revealed things in her life he could not have known.  She went into the city and told everyone about him.  In verse 39, “Many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all that I ever did.” She became the first woman evangelist.  Coincidence; no, it was planned by God.

            I’m sure if you think about it, you can recall things that happened to you and you said, “What a coincidence!”  No it is God’s hand in your life and in others.   God has a plan for your life!  It’s not always easy to see what that plan is, but accepting that God wants the best for your life even if it seems difficult sometimes, makes life easier. 

            Things have happened in my life that was so difficult, but when I look back I know why it had to be that way.  I believe that all things are interconnected in some way.  Today, when trouble comes, I tend to ask God, “Father, what are you trying to show me?”   When I had cancer two years ago, I asked him that question and he answered with this, “El Shaddai” which means ’God is enough’; He is all I need.  I keep that note above my desk where I see it every day.  A year ago I broke my right shoulder in four places and an amazing surgeon pieced it back together and I am whole again.  When the pain was bad, I again asked God if I would ever be alright again and He gave me the same answer; “El Shaddai”.

            It’s time for Believers to not claim coincidences, but to rejoice in the greatness of God.  Think on these words and believe them; that’s what faith is all about.

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

 

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God;  to those who are the called according to His purpose.”    Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

 

 

                                                                                                 

 

 

 

           

           

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God;

to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

 

 

 

RECOGNIZING 'END TIMES'

Recognizing ‘End Times’

      Jesus gave us so many warnings about the ‘end of days’ and most of them come in the book of Matthew. However, all through the Old Testament many prophecies concerning this subject were written.  We are going to see things we have never seen before and experience events that we can’t even imagine in our own country; in our cities, in our churches and in our homes.  What are some of the things we can expect?

      Weather Changes:  In the last very few years, we have seen such devastation in our country.  We’ve had everything from horrible hurricanes to record droughts and floods.  There have been raging forest fires and more tornadoes in a short time span then have ever been.  The forecast is for more severe weather changes to come.  The following article appeared in the Washington Post,

      Future Forecast-Extreme Weather: It's going to be a wild ride, especially for specific regions," said the study's lead author, Claudia Tebaldi, a scientist at the federally funded academic research center. She pointed to the Western United States, Mediterranean nations and Brazil as "hot spots" that will get extremes at their worst, according to the computer models. Some places, such as the Pacific Northwest, are predicted to get a strange double whammy of longer dry spells punctuated by heavier rainfall.  The changes are very significant and it’s enough to say we're in for a bad future.” Matt. 24:7 “And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.”
      What about earthquakes?  Those in China, Indonesia and other places have been so devastating.  China alone claims 70,000 or more died in their last great earthquake.  Let’s look to science predictions for an answer for our future.  The Earthquake Hazard program says they expect about 17 major earthquakes (7.0 - 7.9) and one great earthquake (8.0 or above) in any given year.
      Meteorites:  What can we expect?  Mat.24:29  "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Isn’t it interesting that the government won’t let you know if one is coming near to earth?  This happened a short time ago and was not disclosed until it had passed.  So, it’s nothing to worry about because we probably won’t know until it actually hits.
      Perilous Times - What other things should we be watching for?  2 Timothy 3: 3:1-7 “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  It is obvious that all these characteristics in today’s world are on the rise. 
      There is another thing that Jesus strongly warned us to be aware of and that is False Prophets.  "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.” Matt 24:11 How will we know them and how can we keep ourselves from falling into their clutches? “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”    I John 4:1  How do we test the ‘spirit’ or the ‘prophet’?  The only answer lies in the Bible.  Matthew 7:15-20 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”You will know them by their fruits.
       Let’s think carefully on this, because with all the television and internet connections, you may hear people promote these men or women, but don’t believe everything you hear.  Go to God for answers!  I always go back to the scriptures in Matthew 24: 23-26 “Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it. "For false Christ’s and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. "See, I have told you beforehand.”Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it.”  Perhaps some of these people really believe what they are teaching and preaching, but beware – they are not always getting their information from the right ‘spirit’. 
      Angels:  Col. 2: 18 “Don't let anyone condemn you by insisting on self-denial. And don't let anyone say you must worship angels, even though they say they have had visions about this. These people claim to be so humble, but their sinful minds have made them proud.”  TLB  
      There are people today who claim to have almost constant visits from angels who direct them in how they should minister and what they should do and who they should heal.  Be aware if they preach this.  I have read of one prominent evangelist who claims his angel, named Emma, is who he relies on in his ministry.  He also brings in lots of money through following directions of his ‘Financial Angels’.  I can only tell you that many follow this man, but I would ask you to pray about it if you happen to listen people like him.
      Ephes. 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” We must be on guard at every turn and so as Ephesians explains, “Put on the armor of God.”  When?  Every day!  If you think we aren’t in a spiritual war, don’t kid yourself.  The enemy is at work in frenzy because he knows his time is short.  Come, Lord Jesus!
       Another thing we need to be aware of is DECEIT.  2 Tim. 4: 2-4 “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” Today there are those who change the scriptures to benefit their agenda.  It is through deceit they will show you more than one way to salvation; acceptance of another life-style, ways to cheat by using the scriptures to justify the means.  Listen to what Paul says in Col. 2:8. “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.”
      In this instance what does it mean, ‘according to Christ’?  I John 5:7 “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.” Jesus is the Word made flesh.  John tells us Jesus was the word.  Rev 19 tells us he is ‘The Word of God’.  People sometimes think they need to adjust the Word of God; update it for modern times and give it new meanings.  God help those who do this.  Some people will argue that there are ‘new waves’ of God.  Yet God says he is the same yesterday, today and forever.  God never changes; Mal 3:6 “For I am the LORD, I do not change”. 
      So, how do we know we are really in the ‘last days’?  Take a look around you; watch the news, read the paper and don’t bury your head in the sand.  Prepare your heart for whatever is ahead and then go on about your business.  Share Jesus with others wherever you go; that’s what we are commanded to do.  “And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:15-16

WHAT IS A FATHER?

What is a Father?

 

            Every year when Father’s Day comes around, I think of my father who passed away in 1972.  Although he’s been gone a long time, my memories bring his image to the front of my mind.  He was not the ‘perfect’ father; he had many faults and caused much sadness to my mother, I choose to think of the good times.  He taught me how to swim, showed me how to hunt morel mushrooms, took me fishing in the lake and showed me how to shoot and handle a gun.  I remember the Sunday afternoon drives and picnics at roadside parks.  He was a fur buyer and trapper and he once gave me a pearl-handled jackknife and showed me how to scrape the fat off the inside of a fur pelt.  I was so proud of that job.  I also learned how to sort the furs by size and kinds (muskrat, mink and fox).

            This all sound like a great dad, but sadly he never attended church or any school functions; never prayed out loud; didn’t care what grades I got in school, or that I was in all kinds of plays and musicals.  He would leave the house when I practiced piano and refused to pay for more than 9 months of lessons.  He didn’t care when I made cheerleader.  He had little interest in what any of our family did.

            Regardless of all of this; I loved my father!  I also knew he loved me, although he never was able to say the words.  It was things he did that let me know how much he loved me.  When my husband and I had to move to Texas for my daughter’s health, he drove all the way there with my mother and little sister to visit us.  Years later when we moved back to my home town, he would come to my house several days a week and bring me and the children so we could have lunch with him and my mother.  Many times he just stopped by to see if we were okay.   

            Most fathers are not like the old TV show, “Father Knows Best”.  They have faults; some more serious than others.  However, you would not be here today except for your father and mother.  Regardless of how accepted ‘same sex couples’ are, they cannot have children together.  It still takes a sperm and an egg to create a human being.  Yet, that is not to say that stepfathers cannot be great examples. 

            When we look in the Bible and read about fathers like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we see some things in them that don’t make the best fathers.  Read about Joseph and his brothers; Lot and his daughters, or Moses and his relationship with his sons.  It gives you a great deal of thought on what constitutes a ‘Father’.

            Abraham sent his first son out of his camp with his Egyptian mother.  Can you imagine how that young boy felt being rejected by his father?  Moses left his boys with their mother and took off for parts unknown.  They really never had a father to raise them as they grew to manhood.  Isaac loved his eldest son, Esau, more than his son Jacob.  Jacob retaliated by robbing his brother of his birthright and his father’s blessing.  Of course he received the consequences of being cheated by his Uncle Laban.  Then Jacob himself had twelve sons, but favored Joseph and the other boys revolted and tried to kill Joseph.  How about Lot who moved into the evil city of Sodom?  God showed him mercy and saved him from death, but his daughters were perverted and had children with their father, who apparently didn’t turn them away. 

            These great men of faith certainly weren’t the best of fathers, but God still blessed them and forgave them.  If God can forgive these fathers of the past, why can’t we forgive our fathers at this time of history?

             I like to think of the good father whose son left home so he could enjoy the sins of the world.  I have so often marveled that as this young man built up enough courage to come home to ask his father’s forgiveness, his father saw him coming ‘a great way off.’ In my mind, I see the father as a man who loved his son deeply and was so hurt his son left like he did, that he daily stood looking down the road. He obviously longed for his son to return.

      I don’t know how old this father was, but it says he was filled with compassion and took off running down the road toward his son. [This is the only time in the Bible that refers to God running to welcome home a lost soul.] Oh, that all parents would react like this father, when their children have been wayward and then come back home.  “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his Father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.”  Luke 15:20.”                                                       

      When the father reached his son, he threw his arms around him; hugged him and kissed him. What joy there was in the father’s heart. Father’s, don’t wait to repair a broken relationship with your son or daughter. Be forgiving and compassionate. Remember, you weren’t perfect either.

Sons and daughters, forgive your fathers for any wrong that was done to you in the past. You can’t force a person to change, but with forgiveness and compassion they can and it also eases your own heart.

      Close your eyes a moment and envision a father (or mother) running down a road towards their lost child and think on this scripture in (Ephesians 5:2-4) "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth”. And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord”

 

     Forgiveness works both ways, just like love.

 

 

 

A SOUND IN THE MULBERRY TREES

A sound in the mulberry trees

A sound in the mulberry trees

And it shall be, when you hear

the sound  of marching

in the tops of the mulberry trees

then you shall advance quickly.

For then the lord will go

out before you to strike the

camp of the Philistines.

(2 Samuel 5:24 NKJV)

Whenever I have sat with eyes closed in the shade of a leafy tree on a warm summer’s day and heard the wind rustle the leaves overhead, I am reminded that God rides the wings of the winds.  “He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.   He makes winds his messengers.”  (Psa. 104:3-4 NIV).  Feeling the caress of the little zephyrs against my cheek and brow makes me know there is nothing quite as peaceful and comforting.

      Although, I have never recognized the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, I know that it has happened many times in my life, just as it did in David’s time.  The Philistines were the greatest enemy of Israel and were constantly at war with them.  When they heard that David was made king over Israel, they went after him.  They set up camp in the Valley of Rephaim and prepared to do battle.
      David knew what was happening, so he prayed and asked God what he should do.  The Lord told him he would deliver the enemy into his hands.  Then he gave David these instructions, “Don’t attack them from the front, but circle around and attack from the rear.  When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, act quickly, for the Lord will go before you.”    David followed the Lord’s directions and drove the Philistines out of the land.
      This scripture is a paradigm of the attack by the enemy (Satan) against a child of God.  When we become God’s children, by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior, we become royalty and part of the household of God.  Then the enemy sets out to destroy us, the same as the Philistines did King David.  Each of us must come up against the Philistines (the enemy) throughout our life.
     We know ahead of time where the battle will take place - in the Valley of Rephaim.  In Psalm 84:6, we read about walking through the Valley of Baca, meaning Valley of Weeping.  This place of trials and sorrow is in actuality thought to be the Valley of Rephaim. 
     To further verify this location of battle, we read in 2 Samuel, there were mulberry trees in the Valley of Rephaim. We think of mulberry trees as those that bear edible fruit and leave a mess in our yard.  However, the mulberry trees spoken of in scripture were actually a type of balsam trees.  Going back to Psalm 84:6, the word, “Baca” has another meaning and it is the Balsam Tree [see TLB)!  This means the enemy sets up the battle in the valley where the balsam tree grows.  It is not coincidental that God showed us the Valley of Weeping and the Valley of Battle (Rephaim) are one and the same.  

These balsam trees are a type of fir tree with branches spreading outward.  The sound of marching in the tops of the trees was that of angelic armies of God going ahead into battle.  This is not unusual; we find it throughout the Bible.  What is unusual in God’s eyes is that Christians no longer believe it.  Most of us go into battle against the enemy under our own power.

When going through battles, we need to be on our knees before the almighty God, crying out to him for direction, then listening for the answer.  How often we tell God, “If you will do it this way, or that way…..”  We should be praying, “God, give me direction and I’ll do as you say!”  Perhaps then, we would hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees. 

There are times when we feel like David did as a small shepherd boy; God called him to go out and slay Goliath, the giant.  His heart must have quaked with fear and he felt very small in the shadow of Goliath, yet he went forth proclaiming, “The battle is the Lords!”  David must have heard the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees.

Perhaps you feel very small and weak, without the ability to battle an enemy that seems unapproachable.  Remember, you are not going into battle alone, nor on your own strength and intellect.  There are three things that will give you victory in any battle.   

·       Pray for direction and help at the beginning of the battle.

·       Pray for endurance and wisdom during the battle.

·       Pray prayers of Thanksgiving after the victory.

Each time we go through a raging battle in our lives, we must be refreshed in body and spirit in order to obtain victory.

 

The battle was before me, O God.

I asked you for direction and you gave it to me.

I asked you for strength to complete the battle

And you strengthened me.

I heard the sound of your angelic hosts;

Going before me into battle.

You ran quickly to fight at my side.

Now I am battle-weary, O God.

Heal me with the Balm of Gilead.

Refresh me with pools of refreshment. [Psalm 84:6]

May I always listen for the sound of marching

In the tops of the mulberry trees,

Knowing with certainty,

The battle is the Lords!

                                                Wanda Ritter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BEAM ME UP, SCOTTIE

BEAM ME UP, SCOTTIE

 

      Can you believe they’ve came up with another Star Trek movie?  I haven’t seen it yet, but I probably will. Almost everyone at some time has either watched Star Trek or has seen pictures or articles about this program that first came to the television screen in 1966.  It has held its popularity for thirty years. Why?  It looks toward a future in which humankind has achieved world peace and equality for all.  Captain James Kirk of the Enterprise made the statement, “There are always possibilities.”  A statement like that may be the reason the program has held such an appeal for people all these years.

      One of several technical items used on the early programs was similar to our cellular flip phones.  In 1966 this was a possibility; today it is a fact.  The one thing that still holds fascination for “Trekkies” today was the transport room where Captain Kirk, or Spock’s voice was heard from the surface of a planet saying, “Beam me up, Scottie”.  Then we would first see the beams of light that transformed into the actual person.  People in their living rooms across the country would breathe a sigh of relief, “Whew, they made it," as the outline, then the body of a crew member appeared out of the light.

      For a Christian, this is not just “possibilities”, but is an absolute. When we are obedient to God, we are constantly being transformed into God’s likeness. “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]

      It is not in the realm of science fiction that we are being transformed from the darkness of the unknown, into the light of God.  We are chosen and belong to God and it is the realm of spiritual reality that we are changed into the whole person.  [I Peter 2:9]  “But you are 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.”   He called us out of the darkness, much like the crew of the Enterprise.  They would leave the dark of the unknown planet and suddenly find themselves in the wonderful light and safety of their ship.

     In the book of Psalms, we find the writers (sons of Korah) calling out to God to send the light to them so they could be transported to the place where he dwells.  “Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.”  [Psalm 43:3]  The light of God shines out like a beacon and the truth is revealed to those who are calling out to him.  Once the Truth is revealed, there is a deep longing to draw closer to God; to know him better.

     Once we are transformed by the light, we must let others see it in us, so they will also long to know our heavenly Father.  [Matthew 5:16] explains this.  “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”  There is a light that shines from the born again believer who communes with the Lord and walks in obedience.  Like Moses, as he came down from the mountain, or when he was in God’s presence, his face shone with the Glory of God.  He wore a veil, for the people unable to look at him “But whenever he entered the Lord's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD.” [Exodus 34: 34-35]

     Many of the things we see on television that seem to be beyond our human capabilities, are as nothing to God.  “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”  [I Corinthians 2:9] Time travel will definitely be at “warp speed”; strange and wonderful sights will await the believer and the “Glory of God” will light the Celestial City “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.  On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.  For that will be our eternal dwelling place.”  [Revelation 21:23-25]  This makes Star Trek look like child’s play.

      There are two ways for a Christian to gain access to this Celestial City.  The first is for these mortal bodies to die.  Now I want to tell you, that over the years, I have grown rather fond of this worn out, aging body. That’s how I feel about my body.  We’ve been through a lot together and I’m not ready to give it up yet.

 

      It may come as a surprise for you to know that you are wearing a space suit; we just call them ‘bodies’.  The Bible is quite clear that we are aliens, or strangers, here on earth.  “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” (Heb. 1:13)

     Even the Old Testament Psalmist believed that all were but visitors on earth; “Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry!  Don’t sit back, unmindful of my tears.  For I am your guest.  I am a traveler passing through the earth, as all my fathers were.”  [Psalm 39:12 TLB]  It then makes sense that these ‘suits’ that allow us to live on the earth, are not fit for the kingdom of God.  Therefore, the old must pass away.

     The second way to get into the Celestial City is to be taken up in the “Rapture” (meaning: a snatching away).  Even then, we must take off this earth suit and put on a new type of body.  This will happen much like you see the crew of the Enterprise transported from one place to another. However, it will be an even greater wonder, in that we will be changed into something better. “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed”. [I Corinthians 15:52] 

      You may wonder what your new body will be like.  As we see in the above scripture, it will be incorruptible, meaning free from physical decay.  It will also be just like the risen Savior’s, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” [Philippians 3:20-21]  This means several things will happen:  we’ll be able to be visible or invisible, eat food [Luke 24:36-43], pass through solid material, [John 20:26] and alter our appearance [Luke 24:13-31]. 

     Given a choice, most Christians would choose to be changed in a twinkling of an eye.  Friends, the best is yet to come; it may happen today.  “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” [I Thessalonians 4:16-17].  Are you ready to meet the Lord in the air, or will you be left behind?  Let us with all faith be ready to call out to him, “Beam me up, Jesus!”

 

 

 

 

 

THE BURNING BUSH

The Burning Bush

 

“Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian.  And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.  And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush.  So he looked and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.” (Ex. 3:1-2 NKJV)

Moses had been raised in the splendor of Egypt, in the palace of the great Pharaoh,.  He was brought up to worship the Egyptian sun god, Ra, and Osiris, god of the dead.  Many times, he must have gazed in awe at the huge statues of the god, Horus, with the body of a man and head of a falcon.  How often did his eyes pass over the Great Pyramid of Giza and its guardian, the Great Sphinx, with its reclining body of a lion and head of a man?  He must have bathed in Nile River and rested on its shaded, grassy banks that were among the most fertile in the world. 

These were everyday sights to Moses, who took in all of these wonders as common place.  He knew of the God, Jehovah, for his Hebrew mother raised him until he was between three and five years of age.  He then became the adopted son of Pharaoh’s daughter and was raised as an Egyptian until he was forty years old. Although Moses was “learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds” (Acts7:22), he never forgot his heritage. In avenging one of his people, he was hunted by the Egyptians and mistrusted by the Hebrews.  Moses fled Eygpt and wandered through the desert to the land of Midian.

God had to actually remove him from the sights and sounds of Egypt in order to get his attention. So it was, Moses was tending flocks in the back side of the desert. The parched winds blew little whirlwinds across the sand.  No doubt Moses felt great relief from the relentless sun when he found shelter in the shadow of Mt. Horeb. 

There were few other signs of life as he wondered along with the flocks, occasionally calling to them in the Midian dialect.  Suddenly, in the distance, a desert bush burst into flames.  At first, Moses was probably not startled, as spontaneous combustion in the desert was a common occurrence.  However, as he watched, he noticed that the bush, although on fire, was not being consumed.  Out of curiosity, he went aside from the path to look at this strange phenomenon.   It was then the Lord called to him, “Moses, Moses!”  It must have been in fear and trembling that Moses answered the Lord.  So it was, God made himself known to Moses and thereby began their relationship.

How often does the God of Heaven appear to us in commonplace ways, while we are looking for him in the extraordinary?  More often than we know.  I am reminded of some incidents in my own walk and if you think about it, I’m sure you will also be reminded of some in your life.

One time, my burning bush was a dirty, orange plastic, ashtray.  I was a newly saved Christian, but a long time cigarette smoker.  My husband and I had invited a minister to our home to explain some things to us regarding the Bible.  Putting the finishing touches to my kitchen, before he arrived, I crushed my cigarette out in the dirty, orange ashtray.  I thought to myself, “I guess I better stick this under the sink, so I don’t offend the man of God.”  Immediately, a voice spoke inside, “But, you would offend Me?”  Startled, I dropped the ashtray and stood frozen in my tracks.  My husband walked into the kitchen and took a look at me.  “What’s wrong," he asked?  I began to cry, because I knew that the Lord was the one who had spoken to me.  He revealed to me, that I was more concerned about what people thought of me, than what he thought.  This happened many years ago, and although I quit smoking not long after, I have never forgotten it.

Another burning bush experience took place about six months after my husband and I became committed Christians.  Neither of us grew up in homes where tithing was practiced and although we heard it in church, it didn’t seem to apply to us.  One morning, on my drive to work, I heard a sermon on the car radio about tithing.  It was based on the scriptures in Malachi 3:8-11 and was about robbing God by not giving him ten per cent of your earnings.  The preacher went on to explain, when we are obedient in tithing, God will open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings.  He also said, if we were in a bad financial situation, giving would allow God to bless us. In fact, the Bible says that God challenges us to ‘try Him’, and see if it isn’t so.  As our life wasn’t very financially sound at the time, this really caught my attention. 

Later that day, I picked up a magazine that came in the mail and glancing through it, saw an article titled, “Are You Robbing God?”  Now, my curiosity was really piqued.  Reading it, I discovered it had the same message on tithing.

That evening, at the dinner table, my husband and I, had a discussion on tithing.  Strangely enough, he too, had come across several teachings on it. We had left the television on in the living room and during a lull in conversation, we heard to words, “Are you robbing God?”.  We got up from the table and went into the living room, eyes riveted on the television.  It was the same message as the radio program and magazine article and it was enough to convince us God was speaking to our hearts about tithing.

Financially, we were in a desert place when the Lord spoke to us to tithe.  Our lives were never to be the same, as we stepped out in faith to be obedient.  He has blessed us beyond anything we could imagine.  We did not become rich, but God prospered us and we have been blessed in numerous ways.  We are so very thankful for all He has done for us and our family. 

I could write a book about my burning bush experiences.  They are many and continue to take place almost daily.  At times the Lord has asked me to do things for him that I feel very unqualified to do.  I, like Moses and his  ‘stammering lips’, can find excuses for not being obedient, but generally end up doing what he asks.  When I put my faith in him, I know he will bring it to pass.  “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?”  (Jer. 32:27 KJV)

You may have heard the voice of God speaking to you through the words of a moving hymn.  He may speak through his Word, the Bible.  It may happen when you look into the face of an innocent child, or wander along the shore of a peaceful lake.  He may speak to you while you work in your kitchen, or yard.  It may be when walking down a woodland path.  It could be while you lay in a lonely hospital bed.  Wherever you are, he will speak to you at the very time you need to hear him.

Many years ago, I heard a little Catholic sister say, “If you do the ridiculous, God will do the miraculous.”  Moses no doubt thought what God was asking him to do was pretty ridiculous, but he did it and God did the miraculous. 

Has that happened to you?  I will never forget the time we sent our son off to Bible College - in faith.  We both knew there was not enough money coming in to begin to cover his expenses and we had no savings, but we also knew he was where he should be.  One day, while in prayer, the Lord spoke to my heart, that if we would financially help another young man going to Bible College, He would meet our need.  My husband and I prayed about it and decided to send the fifty dollars a month he needed.  Neither of us can explain how it worked, because our income did not increase, nor our bills decline.  Yet every month, there was enough to pay our son’s five-hundred dollar tuition as well as the other young man’s fifty.  We did what seemed to us ridiculous and God did the miraculous.  To us, it was like the miracle of the ‘loaves and fishes’. 

We don’t need to run around looking for an emotional high.  God comes to you right where you are.  Remember what Jesus said in Matt. 24: 23 & 24,  “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it.  For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect."  (NKJV)  Your burning bush will be a commonplace experience that becomes extraordinary when touched by God.