Everything Happens For A Reason

This cliche' always irritates me.  "Everything happens for a reason."  Yes.  It does. Often, because of very poor choices and behavior. 

There is a lot of unrest today.  Global unrest.  Some virus is making people sick, people have died.  Everything from panic to denial, conspiracy theories, casting blame, political posturing....it is incredible, and just too much to sift thru.  For me, at least.

There have been several times in my own lifetime that were a bit similar to this day.  When AIDS came onto the scene, it was very unsettling to me.  I was concerned about swine flu, bird flu, SARS, and some I don't even remember the name for. 

I sit quietly this morning reflecting on what I DO know and try to rest my body and mind.  Pieces of verses from scripture pop into my mind. 


"...the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.   "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.."
(The words of Jesus as recorded in John 14:26-27 NASB)

I believe that.

Literally.

I believe that the Word of God that I have read and studied, embedded into my human mind, is used by God thru the indwelling of His Holy Spirit within me, His child.  (...and if you don't know what He has said, He can't use it for your good, so read that Bible!) 



Everything that is happening, is in fact happening for a reason.  And by that same logic, what does NOT happen, will not happen because of a reason.  (If Eve had not chosen as she did, the knowledge of evil would not have come into the human race.  Let's not be like Eve!)



Today, let's be wise.

Let's walk thru this season knowing that God can and WILL use it for good, for "...we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28 NASB)

If you wear the Name of Christ, you are called for His purpose.  This viral nuisance can be a blessing when surrendered to Jesus. 

I purpose today to look for the blessing. 
I purpose to be part of the solution and not part of the problem.
I purpose to be wise in all things. 
I purpose that I will not fall into fear, but faith muscles will be bulging when this season is past.


Hallelujah.

Waiting Room

We are anticipating a new grandbaby.  The waiting has begun.  Mommy's tummy isn't even showing evidence yet, but the anticipation is building. 

Waiting. 

I sit in a modest but warm and comfortable house this morning listening to the wind blow the sweet-gum balls off the tree in our back yard.  I can hear them popping the roof with each gust.  I would much rather be sitting outside with a glass of iced tea and my thoughts.  But it is too cold and too windy.  So, I wait.  Wait for warmer weather that promises to come in a few days or weeks. 


I remember waiting as a child, waiting for my turn.
Waiting to be grown, waiting to drive, waiting to leave home, waiting to marry, waiting for children, waiting for a house, waiting for a new car, waiting for a better job, waiting for children to be grown, waiting for financial concerns to lessen, waiting for retirement.

Waiting.

I look back on my years and think about all the waiting I have done. 
I have spent a great many of my years waiting for the 'next' ________. 
Waiting for ______________ to be over.
Waiting for it to be time for ___________.

Still, there is waiting to be done, but the time is much shorter now.  Even if I live to be a very old woman, the years are short. I question myself now about what I wait for?  Waiting now to die? 

NO! 

As long as there is time, there will always be waiting. We are bound by time on this side of eternity.  Sometimes the waiting seems like forever.  I feel like this skeleton sometimes.  After waiting for one season of difficulty to pass, another obstacle presents itself.  

But I am still here, still waiting.  Ultimately, I am waiting on death's door to open the passageway to eternity where there will never be more waiting.  There I will just BE. 

With Jesus.  

No waiting.

No passing of time. 

Just BE.  

Then, there will not only be no more waiting, there will be nothing to wait FOR.  

No political debating to end.

No religious controversy to solve.

No social injustices to heal.

No health issues to prepare for, or dread their coming.

No danger to prepare for.

No threat to freedom.

No wrongs to be made right.

This morning, I patiently and expectantly wait for that time to be my now. But in the meantime, I live in this now. Waiting and wondering just how God will show Himself next in my waiting.  

"Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days..." (Habakkuk 1:5 NASB)

As in the days of the prophet Habakkuk, so it is now.  God is always involved, always able to accomplish His purpose.  Time means nothing to Him.  There are no time-stamps or deadlines. Only death of man marks time for Him.  

"...even though God waited patiently all the days that Noah built his ship........" 

(1 Peter 3:20 The Message)

A study of scripture shows us that God has waited and worked within human history in every era, every lifetime.  It really doesn't matter when that last day will come, when Jesus breaks open the eastern sky.  Man's life span is short.  Very short in terms of eternity. 

I continue to wait, as patiently, prayerfully, and expectantly as I can.


( Today, I am waiting for warm weather and sunshine on my face...maybe a touch of sweat! )

No Explanation

Satan had once wielded a mighty influence in heaven.  Revelation chapter 12 tell us that Satan was responsible for a great rebellion against God.  He and those who followed him were cast out forever.

In the story of Job, we see the devil continue his attempts to de-throne the Creator God of the universe.  

His thoughts were that if there was undeserved suffering, anyone who had an allegiance to God would turn away from Him. He claimed that anyone who remained committed to God, did so ONLY because of the blessing they received from doing so.


Satan’s scheme was to prove that faith in God could be shattered by difficult testing.  He claimed that believers in God are only as faithful as the blessings of God reach.  He accused God of only having devoted followers that were just in it for what God could DO for them, that it had nothing to do with WHO God is.

What God did was to prove to Satan and to every person who has read this account, the character of true and faithful believers.  Saving faith simply can’t be shattered.  It can be tested.  We can struggle and question.  But saving faith will turn TO God with it all.

Job had no idea of the contest going on between God and Satan.  Neither did his friends.  (Which teaches us a LOT about how we relate to our friends!) 

 

Both Job and his friends struggled to explain all the suffering. In their absolute ignorance of what was going on from God’s eternal perspective, they tried to find the reason of it all.  (After all....everything happens for a reason, right?) 

In the end, Job rested in God’s goodness and holiness and trusted in His righteousness. 

Sometimes, there simply are no rational or even theological explanations for the pain we suffer, the sickness we endure, or the disasters that fall.  

Just ask Job.  

Renewed Strength

When I began a new business some years ago, I chose a scripture verse decal of Isaiah 40:31 for the mirror at my station.

Most women my age were retiring.  Here I was starting a new business.  I had prayed for several years about my work situation but never had a clear understanding about what God had for me.  I was tempted so often to take matters into my own hands and just DO something.

ANYthing.
Something ELSE.

But, the still small Voice would remind me how well I was being taken care of.  My needs were met and even surpassed.  So, I waited.  I kept complaining to God and I kept waiting. And one day, it was crystal clear.

I chose this verse for my mirror because it is a reminder that waiting on God is the right thing.  It is not necessarily the easy thing, but it is the best and right thing.

It is hard to believe how long that wait was, but I sure am glad I didn’t get into my self-mode and bull-doze my own path.  I had been so frustrated and weary, often declaring how old and tired I was.

I was indeed tired.  But in 30 days, I had received a clear understanding of God’s answer to my prayers and complaints, and was standing in a completely new workplace.  I felt 25 years younger.


I have looked past that scripture for a long time.  It’s always there, so I don’t notice it now.  But a client friend called it to my attention last week.  Today, I have another clear understanding about my prayers.  I also have a sense of renewed strength.

Retirement is not God’s idea. It’s a human concept. There is always a purpose for our lives.  Sometimes it just doesn’t have a paycheck attached to it.

Job The Parent

“...Job would get up early in the morning and sacrifice a burnt offering for each of his children, thinking, "Maybe one of them sinned by defying God inwardly." Job made a habit of this sacrificial atonement, just in case they'd sinned.” ( Job 1:5 The Message)

Job was concerned about the spiritual welfare of his children.  His children enjoyed one another’s company enough to gather regularly.  The sons included their sisters even though it would have been acceptable had they not done so.  They had their own homes, it seems they were all responsible adults. 

“Job’s sons used to take turns hosting parties in their homes, always inviting their three sisters to join them in their merrymaking.” (1:4 from The Message)

It would have been a sizeable party. There were seven sons and three sisters.  

Job offered a sacrifice for each separate child.  No group rates.  

I look at Jobs parenting and examine my own parenting of adult children.  I am thankful to live in the era of Christ’s sacrifice, not animals.  Yet I do share the same concern with Job,  "Perhaps my children have sinned. (Job 1:5 NIrV) 

I don’t kill an animal, I bow my head in prayer for them.  

I read somewhere that a family without prayerful worship is like a garden without a fence. I once assumed that young couples had babies, babies grew up and that was the end of it.  

As I see pictured in Job’s life, it does not end, it is simply different.  

I too am an adult child of my own living father.  I am sure he looks at his children and is still concerned over their welfare. I wonder how many times like Job, he prays for the four of us. 

“Job said, "Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did continually.” (verse 5) 

Job’s Friends

“Now when Job's three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, they came each one from his own place, Eliphaz...Bildad...and Zophar..and they made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and comfort him. When they...did not recognize him, they raised their voices and wept.....they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.” (Job 2:11-13 NASB) 

When troubles come, it is a blessing to have good friends   

When a friend has been visited with troubles, it is important to BE a good friend.  

Often, people want to offer some profound insight or repeat some empty quotation.  More often than not, just the physical presence of a friend is the better comfort. Just not being alone, not forgotten in the grief...

Job’s friends did that.  They showed up and sat.  In silence   

It was Jewish custom to keep silent until the grieving person spoke.  

“ Afterward Job opened his mouth...” (Job 3:1 NASB)

 And so did his friends. 

They should have kept silent, it would have been less hurtful than what followed. 

Lessons At Job’s Expense

Once upon a time... “There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.” (Job 1:1 NASB)

“...My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil." (Verse 8) 

I’ve read the story of Job many times.  I know how it ends.  Job did not.  In fact, as he lived out the story, he had no clue there was such a battle being waged.

I’m thankful this story is recorded in scripture.  When I am on the other side of eternity, I hope to tell Job myself. His suffering has helped me time and time again, on so many levels.

Job never got complete answers while he was living here on this globe. The suffering he endured came from no fault of his own.

It is a struggle for me still....why God allows it.

Tonight I see that our fallen world is twisted, unpredictable, and quite ugly.  Our good behavior does not guarantee good rewards,  nor is bad behavior always punished.


Not fair.  That is just wrong.

Indeed so.  God Himself called Job blameless, yet he lost everything.  Absolutely everything.



Job suffered if for no other reason than to encourage me in my own suffering.  When I face difficulty beyond my understanding, when I have done nothing to bring it down on my own head, I can thank Job, and know that God is not unaware of what is happening to me.

Ever.

My Creator God has purpose in ANYthing He allows to come against me.

Often my own sin brings suffering from the consequences of my choices.  But when I struggle from no fault of my own, I can remember Job, and just as Job did, express my faith and trust in God, even in it.

When tragedy struck,  “Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped.” (verse 20) 

Reading Luke at Christmas, chapter 24

“...But we had hoped that He....” (verse 21 NIV) 

The travelers walking down the Emmaus road totally missed Jesus.  They had preconceived ideas about what Messiah would look and act like.   They anticipated a Redeemer from Roman slavery and tyranny.  

...not slavery from sin.  

I wonder if before they died, they understood what a greater hope Jesus had brought than what they had expected.  

Reading Luke at Christmas I have seen Jesus’s birth, into an unlikely family situation. I saw a perfect life, obedient to His parents, and interested in the things of His Father.  Jesus served God and man, preaching, teaching, and healing.  

As a condemned man, Jesus suffered without complaint, even though He was completely innocent.  

On the Eve of Christmas, the world celebrates His birth, exchanging gifts bought with money.  

Let us celebrate the gift He has given us. 

And not just tonight and tomorrow.....

Reading Luke at Christmas, chapter 23

Bar-Abbas.  The name means “son of the father”.

Barabbas was involved in a political insurgence against the Roman government.  Exactly the crime Jesus was wrongly accused of.

Jesus was tried six times.   Illegally.  On false charges, at night, without sufficient evidence.

The popular vote was to free Barabbas and execute Jesus.



We all have that choice to make.  Will we choose Jesus?

 He has taken the punishment for Barabbas’ crimes those many years ago.

He offers to take the punishment for the sin we all are steeped in.

I have chosen.  I deserve death, but Jesus has done that on my behalf and set me free.

I am Barrabas.

Hallelujah.

Reading Luke at Christmas, chapter 22

“...Passover, was approaching.” (verse 1 NASB) 

“Then came the first day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.” (verse 7 NASB)

"This is My body which is given for you..” (verse 19 NASB)

John had announced it.  "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29 NASB)

 Now, it is about to happen. 

Jesus had made His way to Jerusalem and arrived right on time....at the exact time that the sacrificial lambs were being prepared for sacrifice. 

 God had instituted Passover on the eve of His deliverance of the Hebrew nation held captive in slavery. It had been celebrated each year since.  Jewish males over the age of 12 were required to be in Jerusalem to celebrate and remember this important event in their history.  

They had been set free.  

Because Messiah Jesus, The Lamb of God, came to Jerusalem and allowed Himself to be nailed to a Roman cross.

I am set free.

Free from the sentence death.  “When you sin, the pay you get is death. But God gives you the gift of eternal life because of what Christ Jesus our Lord has done.“ ( Romans 6:23 NIrV) 

Free from the consequences of my sin. He has paid it Himself.  

Hallelujah.  

Reading Luke at Christmas, chapter 21

Jesus foretold what happened in A.D. 70.  The Romans sieged Jerusalem and destroyed the temple.  Some forty years after He spoke these things Luke records in chapter 21, it happened. History will verify it. That generation did not pass away before it occurred.

And it was horrible.

The life was squeezed out of the city’s inhabitants, stopping all sources of supplies from entering.  Eventually they could not hold their city and the warring was within. On their streets, in their neighborhoods.

 People were slaughtered. Blood ran. Bodies were piled.  One ancient historian said over a million...and thousands more marched away as slaves.

When Jesus spoke these words, some of those very people who were in His presence would experience the horror.  The temple indeed had no stone left unturned.  It was completely destroyed.  Within it, all records of genealogies.

Students of ancient history can know that much of what Jesus said has happened.

We are wise to heed what is recorded for us.  What He said.....

WILL BE.

And He said He is coming back for His children.

Reading Luke at Christmas, chapter 20

Humans die. People die, babies are born.  God’s design of procreation remedies death. Men and women marry and procreate.  Life cycles and continues.

One of the religious groups, in an attempt to set Jesus up for trouble, asked a “what if” question. What if a woman has several husbands...who will be her husband in eternity?



 “Jesus said, "Marriage is a major preoccupation here, but not there. Those who are included in the resurrection of the dead will no longer be concerned with marriage nor, of course, with death. They will have better things to think about, if you can believe it. All ecstasies and intimacies then will be with God.” (verses 34-36 from The Message) 

"People in this world get married. And their parents give them to get married.

But it will not be like that when the dead rise. Those who are considered worthy to take part in what happens at that time won't get married. And their parents won't give them to be married.

They can't die anymore. They are like the angels. They are God's children. They will be given a new form of life when the dead rise...” ( verses 34-36 NIrV)

Relationships on the other side of this realm will be different   

If you want to spend eternity in God’s eternal heaven, it better be to be with our Creator Father God, not wife, husband, mother, daddy, grandparent, or any other earthly relationship.    

On this side of eternity, our purpose in this world is to raise and build families   We find pleasure and purpose in our relationships   Nature is inclined to it, designed for it, and marriage instituted for it.  

Children of this world begin life headed for the grave.  All of us.  We have children and families as if we are birthing recruits that will continue the future, a future in which we will no longer  be present.  

We may very well recognize our spouses and loved ones, but heaven will not be an extension of life and relationships as we know it in this realm.  Our relationships are very limited by time, sin, and death.  

But we will not miss Jesus.   We WILL know Him.   

Reading Luke at Christmas, chapter 19

“...because you did not recognize the time of your visitation." (verse 44 NASB)

Jesus made a triumphant entrance into Jerusalem only to weep over the city. (verse 41)

He came in to people cheering.  

"BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" (verse 38 NASB) 

”As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen...” (verse 37 NASB)

A very short time later the same city would be crying for His execution.   He did not live up to their pre-conceived ideas about how the Messiah would fulfill the long awaited prophecies.   They “...didn't recognize and welcome God's personal visit." (verse 44 from The Message)

I wonder if ever I too “...did not recognize the time of God's coming..." (verse 44 NIV) 

So often I wrestle prayerfully about my understanding.  I never want to miss God because He has not come to my rescue in the way I want or expect.  

Reading Luke at Christmas, chapter 18

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” (verse 1) 

“... pray consistently and never quit.” (The Message)

“... pray, and not to faint.” (ASV)

“... pray and not to lose heart.” (NASB)

I have seen my prayers answered in visible ways.  I have seen answers come relatively quick.  I have seen them answered in just the way I asked.   

Other prayers have been prayed over and over. 

And over.

And still, I do not realize His answering.  

Did He say “no.”? 

Did He even hear? 

Why does He delay? 

Should I change my request?

Or stop completely? 

No stopping Jesus says.  He clearly teaches in the very first verse of this chapter, no stopping. 

When I don’t see results, when it seems as if it is futile....no stopping.  

Tonight, I hear Him clearly. 

“No stopping, Connie.”

“Keeping interceding, child.”

“I AM at work.” 

Lord, if You ever get tired of my asking, I suppose You will let me know in some way to let it go.  Until then, I keep bombarding heaven with those few things I continue to bring to You in prayer.   Help me to trust you in the waiting.  

Reading Luke at Christmas, chapter 17

Jesus is still headed to Jerusalem.  

At this point in Luke’s narrative there are ten people who have leprosy outside the village where Jesus is passing by.  

Leprosy is contagious.  Lepers stayed away from other people. They saw Jesus and kept their distance, but called out to Him asking for His mercy.  I wonder if they had not heard that Jesus had healed someone with leprosy. Certainly they knew something of Jesus else they would not have called out to Him.  

But they did.  “...they raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" (verse 13 NASB)

These people with this incurable disease were hopeless.  They couldn’t fix what was wrong, they could not want it bad enough, wash it off, or wish it away.  They needed help from outside themselves. 

Mercy. They needed mercy. 

And so do you and I.  

“When He saw them, He said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." (verse 14 NASB)

Answering their request, Jesus told them to do what a healed person would do...to go show the priest.  

“ ...as they were going, they were cleansed.” (verse 14 NASB) 

Jesus showed mercy.  

I wonder if I would have responded like these lepers.  Jesus didn’t heal them right there.  They weren’t healed until they were walking in obedience.  There was no evidence they’d been healed until they headed out to do what Jesus had said. 

I believe that we too, put our trust in Jesus, and He cleanses us “as we are going.” We are called you put our faith in Him, obey His command, and have full confidence that He will do what only He can do.  

Cleanse.  

“...if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7 NASB)

The leper’s did as Jesus said, and they got more than mercy.  They got healing.  

I’m sure all were happy.  Only one turned back to personally thank Jesus. 

I have not had leprosy, but I have been healed.  I want to be that one that returns to Thank the One that purchased my healing.....