GOD is fair

GOD is just. HE does what is right.

The war in Israel is being talked about everywhere along with videos the horror of it’s beginning, plus Israel’s retaliatory actions necessary in order to stop further attacks of like nature not only from the south but also from the north.

Israel WARNED Gaza’s residents to leave before they bombed.  That was Mercy to the unmerciful. Just as our great GOD and Savior the LORD JESUS taught us (Micah 6:8, Matthew 5:7).

I pondered on that WARNING given to Gaza before Israeli active retaliation against the terrorists. It gave the citizens time to leave, which is something Israel is known to do before civilians are affected.  That WARNING makes me think about how Israel’s need to strongly retaliate in order to stop further such attacks is like GOD’s need to stop sin but cause it only increases.

GOD’s WARNING is what we believers are to give out to the unbelievers.  It says “GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten SON that whosoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). “He who believes on the SON has everlasting life, and he that believes not on the SON shall not see life, but the wrath of GOD abides on him still” (John 3:36.

Just as the Jews must stop these attacks for they will only get worse, so GOD must stop sin. HE must utterly wipe it out. Yet GOD does not delight in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn and live (Ezekiel 18:23, 32). 

In the ALMIGHTY’s longsuffering HE sends out the WARNING both through HIS word and HIS believers longing for people to reach out to HIM and be saved (Acts 17:27).  But the day of reckoning, that day of the attack has been set (2 Peter 3:7) we call it the 7-year Tribulation or Jacob’s Trouble.  No one knows when it will happen, but when it comes it will come suddenly unsuspecting.

Have you fled to safety by believing in the LORD JESUS CHRIST’s blood that saves from the coming wrath of GOD?

As I thought of these things I recognized that this is a picture of what is coming. Israel is giving us a view of GOD’s wrath.  

We have a hard time watching, but seeing the escalation of sin we know it is necessary.

Surprisingly, many nations who usually condemn Israel’s defense of themselves are now in support of Israel.  By that very action we know this isn’t yet the time of the  Ezekiel 38 and 39 war. For the Bible is clear that at that time, though many nations will say to the aggressors why are you attacking Israel, no nation will help Israel.

Be ready for we know not the day.

Hugs

Sharon

Massive flooding

We are hearing and seeing videos of massive flooding in countries all around the world. It reminds me of Noah.

Noah lived in troubled times where there was much wickedness.  He knew GOD and obeyed GOD by preaching as well as building the arc according to the directions GOD gave him.   GOD wanted the people warned that HE was going to punish the evil world but if they would believe and get in the arc they could be saved from the coming flood.  Noah preached for over 120 years but only his family chose to believe.  They believed and got in the arc along with the animals so were ready when the rains came. 

We too live in troubled times and wickedness and violence is increasing.  Times that makes us think our LORD will surely come soon.  But as we look around, we realize that many do not know our JESUS.  They are like those in the days of Noah who didn’t believe and therefore didn’t get in the arc.  The ones who do not believe in JESUS are not ready for HIM to come and will have to face the 7-year Tribulation.

John 3:¹⁶ GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believes in HIM should not perish but have everlasting life … ³⁶ He that believeth on the SON has everlasting life: and he that believeth not the SON shall not see life; but the wrath of GOD abides (stays) on him.

Some wonder what is the hang up that keeps the LORD from coming for HIS own.

The LORD is not slack or tardy concerning HIS promise (to rescue us from the evil), as some count slackness, but is LONGSUFFERING.  Not willing (wanting Ezekiel 18:23, 32) any to perish, but that all (who will believe) should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

You see GOD is waiting for everyone who will believe in JESUS to come to HIM.  HE knows precisely who they are.

JESUS has left us (who believe in HIM) here to witness of the LORD JESUS CHRIST our Savior so that others have a chance to believe and be saved from HIS wrath that must come against evil in order to stop evil.  If we want JESUS to hurry up and come get us out of this growing evil, we better get busy doing our job of telling others all about our amazing Savior JESUS.

For all who call on the name of the LORD will be saved (Romans 10:13).

Hugs

Sharon

How faint a whisper

I was washing the dishes a few weeks back when I heard a crashing boom of thunder and thought, “WOW! That lightning strike was close!”  Then I noticed that things by the windows had been knocked over or down from the impact of the boom.  So, I walked out front, and my son sitting on the porch swing, pointed across the street and declared, “It hit that tree!”  Looking to where John pointed, I saw that undeniably the lightning had hit that tree, debarking the tree and throwing the bark 20 or so feet in all directions.

That single strike had great power!

Job 26:14 NIV “These are just the outer fringes of HIS (GOD’s) works, how faint a whisper we hear of HIM.  Who then can understand the thunder of HIS power.”

“the outer fringes of HIS works” That means,  when we realize GOD made or did something it is just a fraction of 1% of what GOD is doing. 

John 5:17 NLT But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.”

http://www.songfacts.com/lyrics/michael-w-smith/waymaker

Even when I can’t FEEL it, YOU’re working YOU never stop, YOU never stop working YOU never stop, YOU never stop working. Even when I can’t SEE it, YOU’re working Even when I can’t FEEL it, YOU’re working YOU never stop, YOU never stop working YOU never stop, YOU never stop working Even when I don’t SEE it, YOU’re working Even when I can’t FEEL.

So true the words, “how faint a whisper we hear of HIM.”  Yet hearing about how HE has worked our lives reminds us and others that GOD cares and is working even when we don’t SEE HIM at work or FEEL that HE is listening to our cries.

Both JESUS and our heavenly FATHER have called us to be witnesses.

Isaiah 43:10 “You are MY witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and MY servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe ME and understand that I am HE. Before me no GOD was formed, nor will there be one after ME.”

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be MY (JESUS) witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

So let us obey our GOD who loved us and gave HIMSELF up for us (Ephesians 5:2).

“For GOD (the FATHER) so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten SON that whosoever believes in HIM shall have everlasting life” (John 3:16).  For, “Whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD will be saved” (Romans 10:13).

Let me begin to witness, then it will be your turn. 

It is hard to pick from the countless times I have seen GOD working on my behalf.  So decided to choose two dramatic ones that demonstrate that the LORD is always with me and works on my behalf (Hebrews13:5).

The 1^st time I drove in snow I lost control on a curve and would have tumbled down, down to the riverbed far below but a tree stopped me.  I got out of the car and a passerby helped me.  Later, passing the same spot, I looked for the tree and there were no trees whatsoever bordering that curve.  I know GOD delivered me that day.  Perhaps HE even sending an angel who appeared as a tree to stop the car from plunging over the cliff (Hebrews 1:13-14).

Since Luke 16:10 NASB states, “The one who is faithful in a very little thing, is faithful also in much”, now I will tell you of time GOD worked to give me something little.  Something I just wanted, something I didn’t really need.

A few years back I was four-wheeling down winding, gutted dirt logging roads bordered by towering deep green pines in Northern California. As I came to a fork in the road, I stopped since I couldn’t see my husband who followed in a four-wheeler behind me. He needed to see which way I went.  When Mac arrived, he excitedly spurted out a tale of a bear rushing across his path and how it scared him silly.  I didn’t say it out loud, but boy was I jealous!   And I silently said, “LORD, I would love to see a real bear out here.”  Heading out again, I hadn’t gone far when a huge bear was lazily lumbering down the side of the road ahead of me.  The moment he saw me or heard the motor, he sped up and crossed the road, scrambling up the side of the hill darting between the dense trees to my right.  HE was so beautiful, and GOD was so good! I said, “Thank you GOD!”

The episode actually lead to an opportunity to witness of GOD’s gentle goodness to some unbelievers I encountered later that day- to the bemusement of our host.  (Whom I believe came to know our great GOD and Savior JESUS CHRIST before his death).

When troubles come and prayers don’t get answered right away or the way I think they should, I remember my bear and know my request must not be what is needed or that the timing is off.

Psalm 84:11 says, “For the LORD GOD is a sun and shield: the LORDwill give grace and glory: no good thing will HE withhold from them that walk uprightly.”

Now it’s your turn.

Hugs

Sharon

The wonder

Jeremiah 9:24 EXB  But if people want to ·brag [boast], let them brag [boast] that they understand and KNOW ME. Let them brag [boast] that I am the Lord, and that I am ·kind [loyal] and fair [just], and that I do things that are right [righteous] on earth. ·This kind of bragging pleases ME [In this I am pleased],” says the Lord [1 Corinthians 1:31; 2 Corinthians 10:17; James 1:9–10].

How could the SON of GOD dying on the cross be good?

HE (JESUS) said, It is finished, and HE bowed HIS head and give up HIS SPIRIT John 19:30

JESUS, eternally in the form of GOD, took on the form of man and became “GOD with us” (Matthew 1:23) and then on the cross became “GOD for us” by giving up HIS life to rescue us so that we could be forgiven and KNOW HIM personally and even become HIS children if we only believe (John 1:12-13, John 3:16).

And then JESUS rose from the dead, proving HE was the SON of GOD with power (Romans 1:4) and guaranteeing that we who believe in HIM will rise again and live forever with HIM.  

hugs

Sharon

Refusing

As a young girl I lived in the mountainous tri lake area of northeastern California. I loved to climb rocks but often would rush ahead without thinking so became known as accident prone.  Except for breaking my clavicle at age 2 when I fell out of the bottom bunk (yep, the bottom bunk) and later in my 40s, breaking my big toe when I dropped a bench on it by trying to lift it by myself, my countless stumbles and falls produced little more than cuts and bruises, a bit of swelling and a tear or two.

But the stumbling and falls I read about in 1 Peter 2:4-8 are so much more serious.

1 Peter 2:8 says that men stumble and fall because they REFUSE (that Greek word is a present participle meaning they are continually REFUSING) to believe and obey/ comply with the Word of GOD.

The word REFUSE says 2 things to me.  1st, you cannot REFUSE what has not been offered, so they are offered salvation and/or direction and say NO!  2^nd to REFUSE is a deliberate choice.  They choose what they think they want.

That word REFUSE also makes me think of 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11.  Where GOD does something to the ones who REFUSE to receive the love of the truth.  After repeatedly offering HIS best to them and people’s REFUSAL of it, (as is told also in Romans 1:18-28) GOD gives them over to what they want. 

Yes, you heard me right. GOD gives them exactly what they are fighting so hard to get. They have consistently chosen lies over HIS word, they don’t want GOD or HIS ways so GOD gets out of their way and sends them powerful delusion that they will believe the lie (that they will no longer be able to see the truth they are fighting so hard against). 

Even we who do believe in JESUS and cling to HIS promises must carefully look at what is being said here.  People stumble when they refuse to take GOD’s word seriously as a command from their commander as strategic moves in the spiritual battle we are in.

When we do things our own way, we will also fall.  No, we won’t lose our salvation per se, but we can get pretty beat up. 

But GOD is faithful and will use even our falls for an end result of good for us who love GOD and are the called according to HIS purposes (Romans 8:28).  But why get bruised and bloody by listening to and following that liar who is the enemy of our LORD?  JESUS said that liar comes only to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10).

GOD is good and knows what is right, let’s follow HIM.

Hugs

Sharon

The bear

This morning talking to the LORD and thanking HIM for HIS love and goodness to me, suddenly my thoughts flew to the bear.  Now bears didn’t mean anything particularly special to me until one day when I was already a great-grandma. Then on a later date, when my grandson Zachary saw me admiring his stuffed bear, he gave it to me and I told him my story of the bear and GOD.

Before my mom and sister went to be with the LORD, we would yearly travel the 1,100 miles out to my teenage stomping grounds, the beautiful mountains in Quincy, California. We’d see Mom and Rose but while there we always met up with our life-long friend, Alan.  One year he took us for a day of four-wheeling up dirt roads in Plumas National Forest. It is beautiful country, and we saw many interesting things. We went up to a rickety lookout shack. The steps up to it, were crumbling, and I slipped once going up. Therefore, I didn’t go into the actual outlook station, feeling it a bit too risky. Before World War II, there were five or six of those lookouts on various mountain tops. They were manned, 24 x 7 to watch for forest fires. With communication between the outlooks, any forest fire would be spotted, the location could be calculated, and given to the fire fighters.

Mac and Al had stayed behind to talk and were waiting for me, as I climbed down from what was left of that old outlook station.

Since only Alan knew where he was taking us, Alan led in his four-wheeler for with the maze of logging roads on the mountain side, one sure could get lost easily. Since Alan’s four-wheeler had room for two, I rode with him. Mac brought up the rear, and he hung back, as not to eat as much dust.

Not long after leaving the base of the outlook station, Mac slowed a bit because of the rocks, and gullies in the road, from water runoff. He felt more than saw some movement off to his left but since unfamiliar with the vehicle he was concentrating on maneuvering the four wheeler on the rough dirt road full of holes. Suddenly a bear dashed swiftly cater-corner across his path, not ten feet in front of him. It really shook Mac up.

Mac later described the bear as having all four legs stretched out as he lunged quickly past Mac, seemingly running lickety-split from something, for the bear was running for all he was worth, apparently not aware of Mac at all. It happened so fast, in a split second the bear was gone, Mac was terrified, gunned the four-wheeler, and flew to catch up with us.

Since we couldn’t see Mac behind us, Alan had stopped at a fork in the road, to wait for Mac to catch up. That was the only way that Mac would know which road to take. It wasn’t long before Mac came flying around the bend.

His near tangle with the bear had left him breathless! As the words tumbled out of his mouth, I heard my husband excitedly relate his adventure with the bear. I was silently green with envy. I whispered to the LORD, “I know its childish LORD, but I wish I could have seen the bear.”

Alan took off again, and not ten minutes later, he and I spotted, what Alan said, was the biggest bear he’d ever seen. It was causally ambling down the middle of the dirt road, maybe thirty feet in front of us. He was a beautiful creature, cinnamon brown, with cream colored fur across his neck and upper back, almost like a mane. The moment he spotted us, that fat bundle of fur, turned and was gone up the bank. It was almost straight up on that side of the road, but there was no trace of him as we passed by.

I was so excited! GOD had given me my desire to see a real live bear in the wild.  To do that GOD had to preset the exact time and place (Acts 17:26) and must have spoken to the bear just as HE spoke to the ravens and told them to feed Elijah.

“I (GOD) have commanded the ravens to feed you there” (1 Kings 17:4).

Alan laughed at my animation. But when GOD gives you a desire of your heart, it is absolutely amazing!  And it gave me an opportunity to witness of GOD’s goodness to Alan and later to his daughter and her boyfriend which shows again GOD keeping HIS word that by setting the times and places HE is giving people opportunities to reach out to HIM (Acts 17:26b-27).

Once more, I found GOD’s word is true.  When it is a good thing and the time is right, “No good thing will GOD withhold from them who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).

So, my friends, “Delight yourself also in the LORD, and HE shall give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).

Looking unto JESUS, the Author and Perfecter of my faith.
Hugs
Sharon

Our GOD is greater!

Do you remember singing the songs, “Our GOD is greater” or “How great is our GOD”? How can people know about our marvelous and all HE has done unless we tell them? Do we let others know about our great GOD? Do we even tell HIM what we think of HIM?

LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, YOU are infinitely greater… beyond all we can imagine.

How great is YOUR faithfulness we see that it YOUR design both in the physical as seen in the seasons and in our lives, how YOU keep YOUR promises.  “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, HIS mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning, new every morning, great is THY faithfulness O LORD, great is THY faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23).

How great is YOUR love, compassion and mercy for while we were sinners YOU sent YOUR only Begotten Son, JESUS (John 3:16) to come pay for our sins so we could be adopted into YOUR family and live forever with YOU. 

How great is YOUR wisdom and understanding seen in YOUR plans for each of YOUR creation from the boundaries of the waves of the sea, to the heavenly bodies and even to mosquitos… big and small YOUR designs are according to YOUR great wisdom and understanding.  Plus, YOU tell us that YOU have specific plans for each of those who believe in JESUS (Ephesians 2:10).  It is so amazing.

How great is YOUR humor and creativity.  I look at the vast variety of colors and designs from graceful bird to the cartoon stick character of a Praying Mantis.  I am amazed and yet at times must laugh with YOU.

How great is YOUR joy and peace that YOU pour out on those who look to YOU.  And do we ever need it.  Thank YOU.

Yet these are only a tiny part of YOUR ways, Besides the amazing wonder of JESUS coming to save us, the things I’ve mentioned are but some of the minor things YOU do, “merely a whisper of YOUR glory and the outer fringe of YOUR workings; how faint the whisper we hear of YOU! Who then can understand?’ (Job 26:14).

YOUR greatness is unsearchable (Psalm 145:3) and I bow in wonder. Please show me more of YOU and my LORD JESUS CHRIST.

It thrills me that YOU take great delight in me, take time to quiet me with YOUR love and even sing over me (Zephaniah 3:37).  And it blows my mind that when we who love YOU think about YOUR name (character) and talk about it that YOU are so delighted that YOU have our words recorded and make an awesome vow concerning us (Malachi 3:16-17).

Thank YOU for loving me and giving me JESUS and the HOLY SPIRIT and YOUR promise never to leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5).  YOU are so good!

I love YOU, LORD.

Sharon

Just so much and no more

One of the children’s books I read my little ones was about a tiny goldfish in a fishbowl and a young child.  The child was allowed to feed the fish but told to feed it just so much and no more.  Well, the child felt sorry for the fish and keep feeding it more and more and more.  That fish grew and grew and grew until it didn’t even fit in the bathtub.  Although the child thought he was being kind and good, he hurt the fish and himself plus in the process made a mess of everything.

You know we can do that… all the while think we are kind and helpful but make a mess of everything hurting ourselves and others. 

I do things wrong, not intentionally but I do.  I had 5 children, they gave me 13 grandchildren, who have so far given me 7 great-grandchildren.  Each one is so precious.  GOD said it right when HE declared that if any of them asked me for a fish I would not give them a snake, or if they asked for an egg I definitely would not give them a scorpion. (Luke 11:11-12). Yet, I don’t always give them what they want either. 

One of my granddaughters loves to eat and she always wants more.  Sometimes I think she would eat until she popped if I would let her. There have been a time or two when I misjudged and let her have a bit too much and she got a belly ache. 

It is because I really love her, that I will give her just so much and no more, even when she thinks she wants or needs more.

GOD is good.  JESUS said that there is no one good but GOD (Matthew 19:17).   Sometimes we go to our loving Heavenly FATHER and ask for something we want or think we need yet HE says no or gives us something else. 

One I know who loves the LORD went to the LORD and asked for something special  during a hard situation.  He fully expected it, for he knows GOD loves to answer the prayers of HIS children.  This man waited patiently for the LORD to answer.  Then one day something happened and he realized that GOD was not going to give him what he so desperately felt he needed. He felt he had asked GOD for a fish, but GOD gave him a snake.  At that point the guy felt GOD had cheated him. 

I must admit, there have been a few times when I asked for a fish and GOD chose to do something different, I reacted, thinking HE had given me a snake too.  However, later as I looked back over the situation I realized GOD knew what HE was doing all the time. But at that moment, I thought HE had given me a scorpion to bite me.

Luke 11:10-13 says that if we who are far from perfect know how to give good things to our children, how much more will GOD give us what is best for us.

“No good thing will HE withhold from them who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).

So, if you are walking with the LORD and HE withholds something from you, you can be sure that what HE is withholding is it not the best thing for you right now.  You can trust HIM to know what is best.

Hugs

Sharon

GOD is at work

With all that is going on around the globe, do you find direction in GOD’s Word?

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of GOD spoke as they were moved by (GOD) the HOLY SPIRIT” (2 Peter 1:20-21).

JESUS said that man cannot live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of GOD (Matthew 4:4).  GOD’s Word is alive and powerful!  “For the word of GOD is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

GOD’s Word judged my thoughts and attitudes of my heart as I read in Ezekiel. It convicted me, showing me that I was wrong and sinned whenever I judge things happening around the globe such as certain governments actions, or natural upheavals. Like Job I spoke and thought about things I didn’t understand, things too wonderful for me to know (Job 42:3).  In other words, I don’t know how GOD is using for good the evil we see. Lacking all the facts, I have no right to make judgments.

“Therefore, judge nothing before the time, until the LORD come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of GOD” (1 Corinthians 4:5).

I know I am not to judge people’s motives, although I can know if something (action or statement) is right or wrong for GOD’s absolute standards have been given to us in HIS word and they never change (Psalm 119:89), because GOD never changes (James 1:17, Malachi 3:6).  Yet I have no reason to fear or right to criticize for according to scripture things are not falling apart they are coming together. GOD foretold in HIS word these things that are happening now not to frighten us but to prepare us and keep us from fear. The Bible tells us that GOD is at work behind the scenes taking men schemes and using them for an end result of justice.

A prime example of this is seen when we look at Joseph, with his coat of many colors, being thrown down into a pit and then sold by his own brothers, then how GOD used Joseph’s troubles for an end result of good. By pondering Joseph’s life we get a glimpse of how GOD works all things together (like stirring up the ingredients of a cake) for an end result of good to those who love HIM (Romans 8:28-29).  

Many years later Joseph himself told his brothers, “You meant it for evil, but GOD meant it for good to bring to pass as it is today, to save many alive (Genesis 50:20).

That being what it is, does not say that meanwhile we are not to pray for those who are suffering.  As we pray for the suffering they are encouraged, strengthened and perhaps will even reach out to the LORD and be saved (Acts 17:26-27, Romans 10:13).

My conviction came against my thoughts/ my judgments concerning world events for I began to see GOD’s hand of judgment on the nations as one country rises against another as I read,  “Therefore, says the LORD GOD, behold I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon…it shall be wages for his army…I give him the land of Egypt for his labor…because they wrought for ME says the LORD GOD” (Ezekiel 29:19-20). “I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and put MY sword in his hand” (Ezekiel 30:24)  “He (Nebuchadnezzar) and his people with him, the terrible of the nations, shall be brought to destroy the land” (Ezekiel 30:11).

Deuteronomy 28:49 The LORD shall bring a nation against you from afar…

Wow! Again, like Job I must proclaim, “Things to wonderful for me to know!”  Truly, GOD ways are not our ways, nor are HIS thoughts our thoughts, but as high as the heavens are above us so are HIS thoughts and ways above our thoughts and ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).  We can rest assured for HIS ways always work (Isaiah 55:11).

The LORD GOD ALMIGHTY says, “So shall MY word be that goes forth out of MY mouth: it shall not return unto ME void, but it shall ACCOMPLISH ALL that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

GOD is good and HE is working for an end result of good for those who love HIM. Do you love HIM because HE 1^st loved you and sent HIS only Begotten SON to die for you that you might live forever with HIM? (John 3:16, 36).  Sure hope so!

Hugs

Sharon

Appointed time

Today as I walked in the coolness just before dawn, the sky seemed especially beautiful and the grass and flowers and trees brighter than usual.  As I thanked GOD for the beauty all around me, I thought of how in the beginning when HE made them GOD said “It is good.” 

As I considered this I thought, even knowing the wonders HE has prepared for in the new Heavens and new earth how it must grieve HIM to have to do what is necessary in getting rid of evil and corruption of things HE so lovingly made. I wondered if that is why GOD gives us moments like I saw this morning when the sky and colors appear more clearly, more brilliant… showing us anew the wondrous beauty HE spoke into existence. 

There is an APPOINTED time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven— A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. … 11 He has made everything appropriate (literally beautiful) in its time. HE has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which GOD has done from the beginning even to the end. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-3, 11 NASB).

Let’s just pray. “LORD we know that YOU have and do thwart (stop) the plans of men (Isaiah 8:10, 2 Samuel 17:14) and I ask that YOU do that to any plan not based on Your purposes. Prepare my heart to accept YOUR plan for I know YOU do nothing without a cause (Ezekiel 14:23) and nothing can be done without YOUR permission (Lamentations 3:37, Job 1:9-12, 2:6).

Many years ago, GOD told me (impressed on my heart) that my prayer would be answered but a certain thing had to happen 1st. Well, I thought HE was preparing me for that thing. But it did not come. Years went by and yet it still did not happen.

Throughout the waiting I questioned the LORD over and over asking if I heard HIM right or if as a friend I confided in said that it was just wishful thinking. Each and every time I asked GOD reinforced what HE had said by bringing other scripture to mind. But HE also made it clear that it was for an appointed time and that I must wait for it (Hebrews 10:36).

Finally, I came to understand that the reason GOD had told me way back when was to enable me to persevere and live in hope that what HE promised was really coming during the especially hard times.

I also began to see differences in others, so I realized that during what seemed to me as delay after delay, GOD was busily at work preparing hearts and changing people so all could be blessed in the end.

Well the thing promised nor what must come 1st is still not here. Though at times I struggle (until I run to the throne-Hebrews 4:16) I have no doubt that at the APPOINTED time I will receive what is promised.

I think you know what I’m saying. It’s not just about us and what we think is needed, for others will be affected and GOD is at work on the behalf of each one. Being aware of that helps me wait more patiently. I hope it helps you too.

In the same way that I am awaiting that special personal promise given me years ago, so also I am waiting for JESUS prophesied promise to return for us who believe in HIM to catch us away to be with HIM and to keep us from the evil to come. The signs are all around us and mounting everyday and at the appointed time HE will come. Even so come LORD JESUS.

Hugs
Sharon L Manning