My God Cares

God is good . . . all the time.

I don't know everything. Sometimes I don't know much. There are, however, two things I know. Maybe even three.

First, I know that God is good. This is a simple, but all encompassing statement that probably has less impact on us than is deserved. Part of the reason is because we use the word good to describe pretty much everything. That was a good meal. That was a good ballgame. I had a good time. Oh, and God's good, too. Good grief!

To say that God is good is not to comment on His quality, but rather to describe His nature. God is inherently good, no matter what. A burger isn't so good when it's burnt, blow-out ballgames aren't that fun to watch, and a good time can be ruined in a moment.

God's not like that. No matter what, no matter when, no matter how, God is good. Nothing can change that.

That's number one.

I will have times of trouble.

As much as I'd like to think I won't, I'm going to have bad days. Life is hard. I'm going to screw it up some days, and others it's not going to be my fault at all. Doesn't change a thing. I'm going to have trouble at home, trouble at work, trouble with others and trouble with myself.

When I was younger, a neighbor of ours said my middle name should be trouble. Maybe they were right.

Trouble seems to follow me around, but I don't feel so bad about that because I know it follows you as well. I don't even know who you are, but it doesn't matter. Everyone has had trouble, has trouble, and will have trouble. That's called life.

That's two.

God is there for those who trust Him.

This may actually be a result or an extension of number one, but is big enough it earns a spot of its own (and I'd rather say I know three things than two!). In our verse above, this idea that God is there for those who trust Him is brought out in the words refuge and cares.

That God is a refuge in times of trouble means that He is there as a place of safety and shelter when your world wobbles on its axis. Like an injured child runs to his mother for comfort, so can we turn to God when we are hurt, afraid, confused, or whatever. When trouble strikes, God is our safe haven.

When we get to Him, when we reach that place of refuge and safety, we find a God who cares. Not a distant, impersonal, uncaring deity who has no interest in the mundane matters of humanity, but rather a loving and caring Abba Father who will wrap His loving arms around us and make everything feel right again.

A simple verse with three important lessons.

God is good. I will have trouble. When I do, God is there for me.

If that's all I know, I'm not doing so bad after all. 



 

Better Times Are Coming

This life hurts.

You could even say, at times, life isn't fair, fun, or even worth getting out of bed. People get hurt. They get sick. Sometimes we even lose them completely. There is pain. There is sorrow. There is the constant shadow of death hanging over us.

God gets it. He really does.

We could say that this wasn't God's intent, and we'd be right--God created the world perfect, without pain, or sorrow, or death. We're the ones who mucked things up. But what good does knowing that do us now? What good is knowing what was meant to be?

We are hurting. We are suffering. We are afraid. That's now. That's where we are. This isn't Eden. This life isn't perfect. Not by a long shot.

Better times are coming.

God understands our hurts, our pains, our losses and fears. He gets it. He's been there. When Jesus was here in the flesh, God looked at Him every day knowing He was going to die. He knew the pain and suffering His Son would face. He understands the apprehension of watching a loved one near their time. He's walked that lonely path.

He also knows better times are ahead.

God's plan is for us to live once again in a world of perfection. A world without pain. A world without fear. A world without suffering, sorrow, and even the shadow of death. You see, God did not create us to die. He created us to live. And live we will!

A time is coming when there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. Never again will we fear losing someone we love. Forevermore will we know the joy of being together, walking hand in hand with those we love without the restraining specter of death peering over our shoulder.

Those are better times. That is God's plan for us. That is our future.

When?

I don't know. No one does. What I do know is this: I have hope.

Today is hard, but tomorrow--whenever that tomorrow comes--will be worth all I go through today and more. I can endure the hurt of today knowing that once tomorrow comes, I will never hurt again. I can say goodbye knowing it is for only the briefest of moments. I can let go today knowing I will never have to do it again.

It's not easy, all this waiting, watching, worrying. Even knowing what is to come, I feel the pain of today. But that hope, that knowledge that one day God will wipe away every tear, comfort every fear, and whisper soft words of love to my aching soul helps me get through.

This life hurts, it is true.

But better times are coming.

 

God's Talking--Are You Listening?

God's not listening.

Ever feel that way? Have you felt like it didn't matter how much you pray, God's not going to answer? In those times when you most want to hear Him, do you get mad because He seems distant, uncaring, silent? Are you frustrated because He doesn't answer? Do you think He's not listening?

He is.

But are you?

God does hear, and His answers are probably clearer than we think.

When I pray for guidance from God, I'll often ask Him to make the right choice clear. I'll ask Him to clearly show what He would have me do (because I'm fairly dense and often need a picture to get the message). That's probably not necessary.

See, I don't think God is shy about telling us what He wants us to do. Nor do I think He's hesitant to make clear His intentions or desires. I don't believe God is at all detached and uncaring, or lacks the confidence to tell us exactly what He thinks we should do.

I'm not at all sure, however, that we always want to hear it. In fact, I know I don't.

I've asked for things that, as it turns out, were not in God's plan. I prayed for God's will to be done, and asked Him to show me what He wanted to happen. I then turned a blind eye and deaf ear to every answer except the one I was looking for.

As a result, I never heard a thing.

Communication is a two way street.

If you send someone a text, and they call you instead of responding by text, does that mean they didn't answer? If you message someone on Facebook, and they respond by email, did they ignore you? If you ask someone a question and they simply nod their head, did they not respond?

My point is, God doesn't always speak the way we want or expect. I'd love for God to answer me out loud. That'd be a whole lot easier! That's not how God has worked in my life, however. God uses different forms of communication. It's up to me to pay attention and hear Him, however He speaks.

All of creation is at God's disposal to use. Why do we have Facebook, Twitter, Snap-Chat and Google+ in addition to text and phone? Because each is specially suited for certain times and uses.

 I think that's how it works for God, too. Sometimes the best way for Him to communicate is through His Word. Other times, He might use another person. Maybe a dream, a thought, a feeling. We speak of God opening and closing doors of opportunity, and that's a way He speaks as well.

The world and everything in it is in God's hands to communicate with us. He speaks all the time.

Are we listening?

Hear This

The Day is coming.

A day of darkness, despair, fear, and rejoicing.
A day of judgement. A day of wrath. A day of salvation.

He has delayed. He has tarried.
His patience grows thin.

Why do you think He would not keep His word?
Why would you believe it will not come to be?

Because He has waited?
Because He is patient?

Know this:

My God of patience
Is a God of judgment.
My God of mercy
Is a God of wrath.

He will have mercy on those whom He would have mercy.
He will destroy those whom He would destroy.

You cannot hide.
You cannot flee.

He is coming.

Remember

He has told you these things.
You have been given fair warning.

From the beginning of the Ages He has revealed His plan.
His mouth has not been silent.
His Word has not been kept secret.

When He comes, you will have no excuse.

Prepare

Take refuge in the only place safety can be found.
Hide yourself in the cloak of His mercy and grace.

Do not think you can avoid Him.
Do not be fooled by false teachings.

When Judgment comes, He will see two things:
Death.
His shed blood.

When His fiery gaze falls upon you,
Which do you want Him to see?

What's Your Goal?

Everybody has a goal.

The runner's goal is the finish line. The quarterback seeks the end zone. Lovers want love, workers want paid, parents want obedient children and children want to grow up (or drive me insane, whichever comes first!).

You get the point. Everybody has a goal.

Let me ask you this: What is yours?

Maybe you don't have one?

Wrong! Everyone has a goal. Be it power, money, strength, intelligence, or serving Almighty God--everybody is working for and towards something.

So let me ask you again--what is your goal?

Your goals reveal your faith.

Whatever you are striving for in this life--your goals--reveal what you believe in. If your goal is to be rich, your faith is in money. If your goal is a certain level of authority, you have placed your faith in power, and so on.

I'm not talking about career goals, retirement planning, or other, lesser goals. I'm talking about the overall purpose for your life. You can seek power, wealth, knowledge and many other things without placing your faith in them.

The problem arises when your goal in life becomes something that doesn't really matter, when you put your faith in things which will ultimately let you down.

There is only one goal that counts for eternity.

That goal is the salvation of your soul. And there is only one faith that can bring about that goal--faith in Jesus Christ.

If the goal of your faith is anything less than that, and if your faith is placed anywhere else, you're in for a big surprise--You're going to lose.

The reality is this--everything else, be it fame, fortune, beauty, or the world itself--is going to pass away. It's all temporary, folks! Only you will last forever. And if your goal hasn't been the salvation of your soul, what will you have left?

Nothing.

Goals matter.

Having goals is a good thing. We never strive as hard as when we know what we are working for.

So one last time--What is your goal?

 

Be The Best You Out There

Ever been picked last?

Remember how we used to pick teams, where the two "best" at whatever game you were getting ready to play acted as captains, taking turns choosing their teammates? Sometimes being the last man standing isn't so great after all.

Ever rode the bench, guarded the water bottles, or otherwise watched from the sidelines? It can be hard. I know.

Maybe you've always been a starter.

Perhaps you're that guy or girl who's always been the captain, always been picked first. Maybe you're the one who made the crowd sigh and look anxiously at the coach when you came out of the game.

Then you know it's the leader who gets the blame, the captain who accepts the trophy, or gives it away. You understand the pressure of expectation, the true agony of defeat.

That's not easy, either.

Either way, you're the only you out there.

In some ways, life doesn't change a whole lot as we get older. We still have leaders, teams are still chosen. Games continue to be played, with one team winning, another losing. Someone gets the glory. Another gets the blame.

Despite the overwhelming message of the world, I think winning still matters. It's not everything, but it's something.

What you cannot let it be is the definition of who you are. What I mean is, if you're picked last, you're not a loser. If you're the captain, you're not necessarily a winner. Playing the whole game doesn't make you better than the guy on the bench.

Whatever your role, you are the only you out there.

Be the best you you can be.

If you're not picked to lead that team project, contribute everything you can. If you're passed over for that promotion, fill your role to your best ability. Whether picked first or last, work your hardest.

Do not let your position in life define you. Define yourself by what you do where you've been placed.

As the Bible says in Colossians 3:23, Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. 

That passage doesn't say to win, or succeed, or be the best, it says do your best. The next verse is a continuation of the same sentence and reads, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. 

You see, God doesn't just reward winners. He rewards workers. Those who do their best. But lest you think I've gone all soft on winning and losing, let me leave you with two more verses, these also from Paul, in Philippians 3:14, 15.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.




 

Playing In The Mud

Remember how you played when you were a kid?

Not the organized, school or Little-League sanctioned games, but the pick-up football, baseball, basketball, or soccer games that happened in the backyard or the neighborhood park? Remember tag, hide-and-seek, cowboys and Indians (sorry, we were not PC in the 70s), or 1,000 other games you played?

Let me ask you something . . .

How often did those games get cancelled because it rained? How often did you stay inside because it was too hot, or too cold, because you were tired, or had something better to do?

If you were like me and the kids I grew up with, not very often. In fact, unless your parents told you otherwise, you played no matter what.

What happened?

When did we decide we could only play if and when conditions were perfect? When did TV become so important, or doing nothing become a pastime?

When did mud become toxic, rain poisonous, heat unbearable, and cold intolerable?

When did we get so soft?

Life lessons learned.

I really believe playing is practicing for life. We could go into the lessons I learned as a kid playing all those games, but I don't have to . . . you already know. A few are worth mentioning, though, because they still apply. To start with, you played whenever you had the chance, and you did the best you could.

Always.

I truly believe those lessons carried over into my adult life. Playing in the rain taught me to be tough, and that the playing field of life wasn't always going to be perfectly manicured and maintained. Sliding through the mud taught me to get up when I fell, and that dirt washes off.

Cold hands and numb fingers taught me to keep my eye on the ball. 100 degree days taught me a little sweat never hurt anyone. Winning taught me hard work pays off. Losing taught me humility.

Those are lessons for life.

We need to get back out in the mud.

When we stop playing because it's too hot or too cold, too muddy or too dry, too this or too that, we start forgetting those lessons. We forget to work harder when life gets tough, to play smarter when you're outnumbered, to swing for the fences sometimes, to get up and try again.

Striving for success in conditions that are less than perfect pretty much defines life, doesn't it?

What better practice could there be than getting out there and playing in the mud?