Verse 14 And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men.
Verse 15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men.
Verse 16 Rejoice always.
Verse 17 pray without ceasing;
Verse 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Verse 19 Do not quench the Spirit.
Verse 20 do not despise prophetic utterances.
Verse 21 But examine everything carefully; Hold fast to that which is good;
Verse 22 abstain from every form of evil;
Verse 23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. NAS
I have begun my Bible Study Fellowship study for this year and we are studying the “Kingdom Divided”. Although I have studied this part of the Bible in-depth before a number of times, I always come away with amazing new knowledge. I love the Old Testament because I learn so much about the character of God. Well, a few things each time. We can always depend upon Him but how He reacts or answer prayers is always unpredictable. We can have faith in His character, but His ways are complex and hard to understand.
Isaiah 55:8-9
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My way’s higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Remember that God thinks and moves for the long term and His wisdom is eternal.
In this unique time of this generation, we need to go forth to bring the weary and lost to the fold of peace and hope. Prayer is necessary for the Holy Spirit to go before us. I believe God has prepared circumstances to prepare people to accept and love Him. But, His voice for this generation is you. Will you accept Jesus’s commission?
We are called to holiness. We are called to speak Truth. Rejoice for God is preparing the hearts of many during this time. Be counted worthy to be His Voice. Take His divine assignment.
I believe , what we are experiencing now, is not the pains in the tribulation, but the pains that could launch us into the pains of the tribulation. We are in the period that is mentioned in Matthew 24:14, in that the gospel is preached in the whole world. When you take the word of mouth, television, and computers, I think it has been preached throughout the world. But there are more to rescue.
This is a fierce spiritual battle, which bleeds into the physical. I have never seen so many physical battles in just one year. Think about how many things are happening all at once. We have the pandemic which hurt many families. We have economic problems stemming from the pandemic. We can add fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and the list goes on.
Cancer seems to invade so many families. My family before me did not experience cancer. My daughter died at the age of 14 from cancer. My husband survived. I have cancer in the lungs and now maybe cancer elsewhere. Cancer centers are crowded with people of all ages.
Through all though, you can make spiritual deposits by teaching others about Jesus and give them love with joy. Ask God to put love in your heart for Him and others. From that comes joy and peace.
The world is filled with stories of change. This year many people have seen changes due to this pandemic. Beloved, I hope each of your journeys has deepened your relationships with one another. I pray that you have allowed God to divinely influence your heart within your family. Each person is treasured by God. This is a time for us to find the treasure in each of our loved ones.
Many have had these treasured loved ones leave this world to their next world.
We were concerned about my 12 year old grandson and my daughter and son-in-law took him to the Children’s Hospital. Finally they found the cause of his severe pain. His appendix had ruptured. The hospital did allow my daughter and nursing baby to stay with him. They were not allowed to leave and return, so they stayed in the hospital room that was assigned to my grandson.
During this time, my son-in-law’s father was admitted to the hospital. They found he had stage 4 cancer. He died a few days later. His heart stopped on his birthday. They did revive him. The next day, his heart stopped again. He did not survive.
The Children’s hospital allowed my grandson to go home to say good-bye. All knew him as a loving and caring person who loved Christ. He thought of others before himself. His love, as all of us, should become legendary.
God used His children to bring comfort to the family. I remember a quote by Mike Emlet, “Offering comfort begins with your presence because your presence with a person actually incarnates the comfort of God to those experiencing suffering.
Elijah was God’s hands, feet, and spokesperson. The people worshiped Baal and there were 450 prophets that led the people in the worship of Baal. There were satanic demons behind this worship. Out of God’s mercy and love for His people, God wanted to show them that He was greater than all things. God showed them that he was “the mighty God.” God took all the power of the demons away while He showed His people His power.
Jezebel was not pleased when she heard what happened (Read I Kings 18). She sent Elijah a message She threatened to kill him in 24 hours. Elijah became terrified.
Elijah had just witnessed the power of God. He knew that God had made the demons powerless. Elijah, like Christans, who overcame in an intense spiritual battle, felt a reaction. He became weak physically, mentally and even spiritually. One needs to be prayerful after a victory in order to be prepared for temptations and attacks after a mighty work. Tenth Avenue North has a song that says that our fear has to face God. Those words touched my soul.
Out of fear, Elijah ran for his life. He left his servant in Beersheba and he went a day’s journey into the wildness. He rested under a juniper tree. Elijah was afraid and depressed to the point that he wanted God to take his life. He did not rest in God at this time. He had for 3 1/2 years before this time. Don’t judge Christians when they become fearful and discouraged. All of us at times see the circumstances instead of resting in God.
God understood Elijah’s complete exhaustion and lovingly shows His care for him in a practical way. God sent an angel to care for Elijah.
An angel prepared freshly baked bread, which was warm with plenty of water. He woke Elijah and told him to eat. Then Elijah went back to sleep.
After Elijah slept, the angel woke him again. The angel urged Elijah to eat again because Elijah’s journey would be long.
God waited until Elijah was refreshed by the food and sleep. Elijah traveled for 40 days and nights. Elijah wondered because he was still afraid and depressed, but he went to the same mountain where God revealed Himself to Moses. Elijah found a cave and went into it. The Lord began to reveal Himself to Elijah. God began by asking a question so that Elijah would speak to Him. God never wants His children to repress questions or feelings. God desires that we pour them out in prayer to Him.
Elijah, once again felt fear. He told God that he was the only one left that worshiped Him. He felt like a failure. God did not put Elijah down. God only showed Elijah His power out side the cave. God did not speak to Elijah until he returned to the cave. Then he heard that gentle whisper in the same way we hear God as Christians. Be still and be confident that God is with you.
I left many things out of this post. Please read I Kings 18 and 19.
Many questions are being tossed around about God and why He is allowing this virus. Some ask, “Why my loved one?”
We do not have the mind of God. So how can we judge Him? We did not create all that is. It is not our place to be angry with the Creator. In Romans 8:22, it says, ” For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pain of childbirth together until now”]. Also, in Matthew 5:45B. Jesus says, “in order that you may be Sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Adam sinned after creation and caused all mankind to suffer. God can not look upon sin. God did come to earth to die and allow His blood to cover us. My mind has a problem trying to grasp why God chose to save us in this way. But He did and I should respond to his sacrifice with love.
The one thing I believe about this virus is that it will make us stronger. Also, God may have allowed this to happen in order to protect people from a future filled with whatever, Or God may have wanted them home so they could be near Him to love them in heaven. We are in two wars. One that President Trump mentioned. He said we are at war with something we can not see. He was talking about this virus. Also, we are in a spiritual war. Another one we can not see.
This may be birth pains as mentioned in Matthew 24. I do believe this is what we are experiencing. After this period we will begin Revelation, chapter 4 to the end of our time.
You may ask why., You will find that answer in Ephesians 6:10-12. Ephesians 3:10 tells about our warfare and that we are proving to the angels. Angels do not have the Holy Spirit within them so they do not understand how we can love Jesus and not see Him and still love Him when bad things happen to them. This is why our reward will be great. May the Lord give you the strength to endure
Allow the Holy Spirit to bring comfort to you. Pray Psalm 91. Spend time in prayer. The mature Christian is to guide and help baby Christians. In times like these, the mature Christian is being watched. It is important to react to suffering in a way that brings peace and comfort to others. We need to bring understanding and help others to grow. This is a time to help others see and feel the presence of God in each others lives.
Beloved, you are set apart for times like these. You are endowed with the Spirit of God to show peace and love in times like we now face. It is especially important for us to reflect Christ. For you are being watched to see how you react to our own crisis. It is a time to speak boldly about Jesus in all circumstances. Be in prayer and ask God to breathe on your words. Ask God to increase your wisdom so you can be confident in your guiding words and for them to flourish.
I will be praying for all who read my post. I appreciate your prayers too. I have autoimmune problems. I do have to go to my cancer doctor this week for a shot. My husband went to work this morning, so that is in the mix of things. I have a daughter that is a nurse practitioner. They closed her clinic and is having her to go to another town to test people for this virus. My list goes on just like all of you. My Beloved Ones, bathe in God’s glory and be prayerful.
Beloved, do you know what courage looks like? I don’t know how to teach others about courage, especially children. In my case, it was some of my children that showed me what courage should look like. One might say that courage comes from trusting God, but I believe it goes further than just trusting God. A heart and a spirit must be close to the Spirit of God. I do not know if it is a person drawing near to God or if God pulls one close to Himself or both. I believe God must plant courage in a person.
In a matter of three weeks, my child with Spina Bifida had her first surgery and we found out that my oldest daughter had cancer. My child with spine problems was a perfect patient for the first day. After surgery, she would not take any medicine. I think the Lord let us know why. The last thing she remembered was taking some medicine, and did not remember anything about going to surgery. Now, she did not feel good. After we explained things to her, she was back to her courageous self. After 7 days we checked out of the hospital. We stopped at a store to get her some different PJ’s. The ones we had was difficult getting off and on because of the surgery. At one point, my husband came to me and said we had to go. He showed me a wire that was sticking out of her bandages. It scared me. My husband called the hospital and they told us not to worry.
The following week my oldest daughter started to have severe pain. I took her to the doctor. He did not know what was happening. I don’t remember what he prescribed. The following weekend was Easter. We went to church. She started to see double. Monday I contacted the doctor and she was admitted to the hospital. After x-rays were taken, he saw something in her lungs, on her liver and something in the spine and brain. She was transferred to the Children’s Hospital. We were told she had cancer and had about six months to live. I witnessed courage in the faces of my children. I experienced God’s strength.
This is yet another time I felt that stabbing pain in my heart (other times are mentioned in other articles). It was God that gave me the strength to endure the next 18 months. There were five times that I had both of these children in the hospital at the same time. Plus the endless other times we had to be there. The children’s hospital was just beginning its progress forward. There were no chairs one could rest on. The chairs were hard plastic chairs found in cafeterias I had a pillow and a sheet to help me sleep on the floor and now and then under her bed. That first visit was for three weeks long. When you have a team of doctors, they do not always agree. Many things had to be sorted out.
The nurses, doctors or God would put us in a room when parents needed help to cope and help with their emotions. I assume that were the reasons. Only once did I ask for us to be in a different room. It was with a little girl that would die that night. I even heard a nurse talk to the mother saying that she could go home because there was nothing she could do. I am thankful that my husband was there. He would help our daughter and I would help the other little girl. She needed her mother. After hours of this, is when I asked them to move us. It was hard, but I did not want my daughter watching this little girl die. I did not leave this little girl with no one. A nurse came and stayed with her.
I do believe that God gave us strength and maybe by helping others, we did not just focus on our problems. The Lord raised us up above our problems and had us love these other children. Some of them will always be in my heart. One was a little girl that was 18 months old. The same age as my youngest daughter. I talked to the nurse The nurse said that her grandmother brought her to the hospital and left. She expected her to die. I do not really know what righteous anger is, but I felt anger that this precious child was left to die. I decided that would not happen on my watch. She did not die.
A question for times like these is, “What does God want me to do and be God’s hands. Can my heart show God’s love in these situations.? “Many times, there were not many words said. I still remember the eyes of many of these children, especially the one that did not make it. I saw the 18-month-old child a year later and she looked well. Of course, she wasn’t, but she had life in her eyes.
There was a baby that had a heartbreaking situation. The dad had thrown him up against the wall. I told the nurses that they needed to give me the baby, so he would never be hurt again. I don’t remember if I said anything else. That evening or the next day, I went to get a drink and I noticed that 4-5 of my daughter’s doctors were headed toward our room. When you get that many doctors coming your way, something is wrong. I have seen this before. I can make a list of what generates this stance, One time it was me. They said they were going to bar me from the Medical Library. All was well with my daughter. It was me. They wanted to talk to me about the baby. They told me that I did not need this baby because I had enough on my plate. I just listened.
We had to go to the hospital every four weeks and would go back when problems arose So there were many children that needed Christ’s love, My only regret was that I was not a mature Christian. I could have done more.
I told you some of my experiences for one reason. No matter your situation, you can be the hands and heart of Jesus no matter if you are a baby Christian or a mature Christian. Pray and look where Jesus needs to express His love through you. Jesus will strengthen you for you know Jesus. Most of the parents at the hospital did not know Jesus. All the children were precious to Jesus.
We are to show the love of Jesus to whomever God puts in our path. John13:34-35 and Matthew 5:43-45
Matthew 13:34-35 (NAS) “A new commandment, I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this, all men will know that you are my disciples if you have loved one another.
Matthew 5:43-48 (NAS) You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the righteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax-gathers do the same. And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? therefore you are to be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect. So we are to love everyone and pray for those God puts in our life. Then there is the last verse which calls us to be perfect. No one is without sin but we are to be moving forward toward maturity. We are to strive to be perfect.
When my daughter died from cancer, I was approached by those that were touched by her. I did not know how she continued to help even with her cancer growing so fast throughout her body. She still cared for others and helped them. This one lady that lived at the end of our road told me that this daughter had the maturity of an adult. The lady said that she had lost her baby. My daughter helped her through her depression. I was not told by my daughter what she was doing. My daughter turned 13 in the hospital when we first found out about her cancer. She was fourteen and a half to the day when she died. When did she become so wise?
As I said earlier, God kept us busy at the hospital to help us to focus on Him. Looking back I wished I had understood more about rising above our problems. You rise above them by focusing on Christ. Jesus was so gentle with us. When people thought times were bad, there were good times. There was the light of Jesus. People became stronger. Some were going through problems. Some people accepted Christ as their Savior.
The Lord kept us from pity. To pity yourself and want others to feel sorry for you is not how Christ wants you to respond. Yes, there may be days that you feel down. A person is exhausted and somewhat in shock at times. Again, the Lord kept us busy.
The week before our daughter died, my husband was at his job as an electrician. He was working 20-feet up on a ladder. All the wires were supposed to be dead. They were not. He knocked himself off the wire by hitting his hand with a wrench. He layed on the floor for 20 minutes before anyone came back to that part of the plant. They called me when he got to the hospital. I could not leave because the daughter with cancer thought she was upside down when she got out of the bed. I had to find someone to take care of her and be by her when I left. I got to my husband when the surgery was over and he was awake. I did not know what had happened until then. The next day, I had to take my daughter to the Children’s Hospital about 60 miles away. Two days later he was with me and our daughter. So he was there when she died.
The winter that followed was filled with sick children. One child would bring some virus home and it would go through all the children. When the last one would be well, someone would bring something else home. This happened throughout the winter. To add to this, my husband’s wrist would not heal. They decided to have him be hooked to a machine that produced electrical impulses to mimic the brain telling the wrist to heal.
The Lord took care of us financially. About two or three weeks after my husband had his accident, most of the factory shut down. Since his accident happened before the shutdown, his workman’s comp paid us 70% of his pay. When summer arrived, we decided we were going to travel, The doctors said he could travel just as long he stayed hooked up to the machine for his broken wrist for about 15 hours a day. So we got something for the car to keep a charge on the machine. This was a special time. We traveled for 5 weeks. My husband bought me a new camera, so I got to record our journey. Now, this was before digital cameras. We had film that had to be sent off and developed. This was a very special time for all of us.
God was with us through all of our problems. If you praise God through hard times, you will rise above your problems. If you do not, then you allow your problems to make you a victim. You must focus on Christ, keep praying and praise God. God can take an insignificant thing and make it powerful. God knows how to make your life have an impact.
When my spina bifida child was 16, she had to have another surgery. The doctors let her pain get out of control. The sheet would cause her pain when it was laid on her. I said something like I was sorry that I could not do anything to help her. What she said to me made a lasting impact on me. I will always remember her words. She said, “God knows what He is doing.” I went to the window and looked out of it. I did not want her to see my tears. I have said those words to myself so many times. Those words have carried me through many trails.
God knows when you are angry at a situation or with someone, especially to other Christians. Remember when Saul was on the road to Damascus, and what Jesus said to Saul? In Acts 9:4 Jesus says, “Saul, Saul why are you persecuting Me?” Jesus knows everything and how you react to things and what your motives are in your heart. Jesus did not ask why he was persecuting His children. He asked why he was persecuting Him. So what we do to other Christians, we do to Jesus. If you focus on Christ during times of trouble, you can walk in peace and your eyes and ears will be opened. People will not understand how you can manage to be calm. You will walk in peace that surpasses all understanding. As a Christian who is walking in the will of God, you will have difficulties. You must make a choice to not let these difficulties crush you.
Who is the most effective witness for Christ? The one that has accepted Jesus as their Savior. Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior? If you choose Jesus Christ, you can be empowered and carry peace within you. Praise and Thank God that you can live in heaven for eternity. In heaven, there is no sickness or tears
This is an Easter Picture taken one day before my cancer daughter went into the hospital, She is sitting on my mother’s left. My spinal Bifida child has her fingers in her mouth. The baby is my youngest child.
