Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Thought for Today

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out."   Romans 11:33 (NIV)

You have been abundantly good to me all the days of my life, Father! You created me with a plan and purpose and protect me when I veer off course. You meant from the beginning to sacrifice Your only Son for the redemption of my soul. You continue to call my name and draw me into Your presence. You are the Great Shepherd and I know Your voice! Praise You for who You are -- more Sovereign than I can know!

Saturday, February 23, 2013

FAMINE!

By Shirley Wiggins
Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord God, when I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but [a famine] for hearing the words of the Lord.”     Amos 8:11 (Amplified Bible.)
Famine:  “an extreme scarcity of food.”   What would you do if you knew a famine was coming into your life? 
Surely the Lord God will do nothing without revealing His secret to His servants the prophets.” ¹
“God has always warned the world of coming judgments in order that it may not bring them upon itself.   He warned
·       Noah of the coming flood (Genesis 6:13ff.);¹
·        Abraham and Lot of the future destruction of Sodom (Genesis 18:17; 19:14);
·       Joseph of the seven-year famine (Gen. 41:30);
·       Moses of the ten plagues on Egypt (Exodus 7:1ff.);
·       Jonah of the destruction of Nineveh (Jonah 1:2; 3:4);
·       Amos of the downfall of Syria, Philistia, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab, Judah, and Israel (Amos 1 and 2).
Various prophets were told in detail about the final events in connection with the captivities of the chosen people, and in every case the warnings were startlingly executed.
Jonah announced the destruction of Nineveh, but judgment was postponed following repentance.  When later generations of Ninevites backslid and reverted to extreme wickedness, the warning of Nahum was carried out completely against them. 
Christ’s coming was foretold throughout the Old Testament, from Genesis to Malachi.  Equally plain and inevitable of fulfillment are the warnings of Jesus and the prophets concerning the future that each day comes nearer to every nation on earth.”¹
The written Word of God is preserved today in millions and millions of copies.  Yet, in some parts of the world, there is an ongoing famine of hearing the word of the Lord.  Bibles are banned and churches are being persecuted for their belief in Jesus Christ.
In America in this present day, as in many nations around the world, the Bible is still available, but many people do not avail themselves of it.  Remember:  “God has always warned the world of coming judgments in order that it may not bring them upon itself.”
The Bible is the Word of God.  Jesus Christ, the Word of God, came in the flesh to live upon the earth for a time.  His Holy Spirit is in the world today, still revealing the words of God. ²
What are we being warned about in our present generation?  Do we know what the warnings of God are for us in our own generation?  Does anyone have time for the Word of God?
“For the word of God is living 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.  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.  Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”  Hebrews 4:12-13.
God reveals the truth to people that we may know and follow His will.³   God desires that all people be rescued from the inescapable wages of sin.  Sin has invaded the earth and all people are sinners until they come to know and believe in His only Son, Jesus Christ.⁴ 
Jesus told about the events surrounding His second coming in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21.   Peter asks a most important question in 2 Peter 3:11, to remind readers of every generation of what kind of people we ought to be since  the day of the Lord’s final return will come, and there will be devastating destruction.
But, when will He come back?  The Bible teaches that no one knows the date except God Himself. See Matthew 24:36.  “Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” Matthew 25:13.
How will we know the day is approaching since we won’t know when to expect it?
Throughout the Bible we find many references to what the end times will be like and things we can watch for to know that the time is growing near.⁵ 
Paul writes in many of his Epistles of “The Day of the Lord .”⁶    Second Timothy 3 describes “terrible times in the last days,” and talks about the characteristics of the people who will be living on the earth in those days and times.
Jesus told about these same things and described what His day of return would be like.⁷    He told the disciples that first, He would suffer many things and be rejected by His generation.  Not only would He be hated and His words of love and warning be repudiated, that generation would seek to murder Him.  They would mock Him and treat Him shamefully, and spit upon Him.  “And after beating Him, they would hang Him on a cross of shame until He died.⁸  
Jesus promised them, that on the third day, He would rise from the dead.  And, He did.
He declared to them that He would return again to the earth and gather His people to Him because where He is, He wants His people to be there with Him also.  See John 14:1-6; John  17.
Jesus describes His return to earth one day as being highly visible:  “like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other.”   
Jesus said that the days on earth at the time of His final return when the Son of Man is revealed, will be just as they were in the days of Noah and as in the days of Lot.
 “People were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage…buying and selling, planting and building...”   However,  on “the day Noah entered the ark… the flood came and destroyed them all; ”  and that “the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from the heaven and destroyed them all.⁹
Days of busy business!  Not to mention rampant wickedness.   In the days of Noah:  “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.  The Lord regretted that He had made human beings on the earth, and His heart was deeply troubled.”  Genesis 6:5-6.
Sounds a lot like today, doesn’t it?  People busy living life day to day, consumed with the demands of life, and so many who believe the lie that they are just too busy to have time to read the Bible, attend church, or devote time to their spiritual lives.
 For so many people today, every ounce of time and energy is being given to keeping up with what is believed to be the most important requirements of life:  physical life only.
And, yet we know that physical life can be suddenly snuffed out:  poof!  Like the blowing out of a candle, or turning off a light.  Suddenly, the physical life can go dark.
All of those busy, busy people in the days of Noah and Lot  were destroyed – suddenly and irrevocably.   Jesus gave a strong warning:  “Remember Lot’s wife!” Luke 17:32.
When we consider the story of Lot’s wife, I believe we would be wise to take the point to heart that her heart’s desire sealed her eternity.  Genesis 19:26.
Her husband, Lot, was Abraham’s nephew, and when the two had to separate their living arrangements, Lot chose to take his family and live near Sodom where “the people were very wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.”  You may read the story of Lot and his wife, and the very unwise choices they made to live in the midst of wicked people in Genesis chapters 13, 18-19.
The Lord made provision for salvation, warned Noah and Noah and all his family were saved; Lot’s family came to a tragic end, in spite of the warnings of the Lord.  God provided the way out for both men and their families, but individual choices affected their final destiny.
Jesus Christ is our Ark of Salvation.   Remember that God still warns us today that we need not bring down judgment on ourselves, our families, and our descendants.  Hebrews 2:1-4 warns us specifically to pay attention so that we do not drift away from God’s salvation and lose our eternal lives because of our inattention to the things of God.
For suddenly the day of the Lord will come and the soul’s eternity will be sealed forever, either to live forever in the bliss of heaven as God’s dear children, His own rescued people,  or in the eternal torment of hell as only His creation, those who rejected Him as Lord and Father.
Those who today reject God and His only means of salvation – Jesus Christ – His Son are as much without excuse as those who’ve rejected Him down through the ages.¹⁰
God has promised and provided rescue from sin, but we must choose to hear His warnings and to obey His word.  Remember:   “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness.  Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.  The heavens will disappear with a roar;  the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and  everything done in it will be laid bare.”  2 Peter 3:9-10 (ESV.)
Do not needlessly and tragically endure a famine of God’s word.  Instead, choose the feast of His continual presence, peace, protection, and provision!
¹ Footnote  “l”, page 8 related to Genesis 6:13; and  Footnote “a, ”page 1019, related to Amos 3:7, in the Amplified Bible®. Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987, by The Lockman Foundation.
² John 15:26-16:16; Revelation 22:20. 
³ Deuteronomy 29:29. 
⁴John 3:16-21, and 14:1-6; Romans 3:21-31 and 6:23.
⁵Matthew 24:1-51, Mark 13:1-37, and Luke 21:5-36 describe some “Signs of the End Times.”
1 Thessalonians 5, and 2 Thessalonians 2.
Luke 17:20-37.
Luke 18:31-33 (ESV Bible).
⁹Luke 17:24-30
¹⁰ See the Book of Jude; and  2 Peter 2:1- 3: 18.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

FAITH LIKE GEORGIE

By Shirley Wiggins
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”                (Hebrews 11:1 NIV 1984.)
How would you define “faith?”  How would you describe your faith?
Consider Georgie, a ten year old who lived in Chicago and wanted a stamp album for Christmas.  His grandma who lived elsewhere had promised to send him one.
Christmas came and went, but no stamp album arrived.   Each time Georgie was asked about his Christmas gifts, he always listed the stamp album from his grandma as one of his gifts.
Finally his mother asked why he continued to name the album when he had not received it.  His answer taught his mother “a rich spiritual truth,” as Georgie assured his mother that grandma had not forgotten and he was absolutely certain that the stamp album would be coming to him.
After a month went by, and his mother mentioned again that perhaps grandma had just forgotten, Georgie mailed a thank-you letter to his grandma.  In just a short time, her reply came back explaining that she had ordered his album from New York and it did not get to her until after Christmas. It was not the one Georgie had asked for so she had to return it.  Since the other one had still not arrived, she enclosed money in her letter so that Georgie could purchase the album he wanted in Chicago.
             “As he read the letter, his face was the face of a victor.  ‘Now, mamma, didn’t I tell you?’ came from the depths of a heart that never doubted that, ‘against hope, believed in hope’ that the stamp album would come.  While he was trusting, grandma was working, and in due season faith became sight.”
             “It is so human to want sight when we step out on the promises of God, but our Savior said to Thomas, and to the long roll of doubters who have ever since followed him: ‘Blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed.’”  --- Mrs. Rounds.¹
I have to confess that too many times my sin of disbelief and doubt in the face of a long-awaited hope has been more evident than my firm, faith-filled belief that the promises of God would absolutely be fulfilled.
“Have faith that whatever you ask for in prayer is already granted you, and you will find that it will be.”  Mark 11:24.
Consider Abraham:  Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’  Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead – since he was about a hundred years old – and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.  Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised.  This is why ‘it was credited to him as righteousness.’  The words ‘it was credited to him’ were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness – for us who believe in Him{God} who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.  He {Jesus} was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.  Romans 4:18-25 (NIV 1984).
 “True faith counts on God, and believes before it sees.  Naturally, we want some evidence that our petition is granted before we believe; but when we walk by faith we need no other evidence than God’s Word.  He has spoken, and according to our faith it shall be done unto us.  We shall see because we have believed, and this faith sustains us in the most trying places, when everything around us seems to contradict God’s Word.
The Psalmist … believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of living (Psalm 27:13).  He did not see as yet the Lord’s answer to his prayers, but he believed to see; and this kept him from fainting. 
If we have the faith that believes to see, it will keep us from growing discouraged.  … we shall watch with delight to see how God is going to open a path through the Red Sea when there is no human way out of our difficulty.  It is just in such places of severe testing that our faith grows and strengthens.
Have you been waiting upon God, dear troubled one, during long nights and weary days, and have feared that you were forgotten?  Nay, lift up your head, and begin to praise Him even now for the deliverance which is on its way to you.  --- Life of Praise.”²
Hope, based on a wish, an earnest desire, is not faith because it is not based in belief, but only on a hope.  Hope must see before it believes.
Faith, the hope based in belief because it counts on God, believes before it sees.
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. … And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”  Hebrews 11:1 ,6.
 We walk by faith and not by sight because “thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.”   2 Corinthians 2:14.
“for everyone born of God overcomes the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world?  Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”  1 John 5:4-5 (NIV 2011).


Is there some problem in your life to solve,
Some passage seeming full of mystery?
God knows, who brings the hidden things to light.
He keeps the key.
Is there some door closed by the Father’s hand
Which widely opened you had hoped to see?
Trust God and wait—for when He shuts the door
He keeps the key.
Is there some earnest prayer unanswered yet,
Or answered NOT as you had thought ‘twould be?
God will make clear His purpose by-and-by.
He keeps the key.
Have patience with your God, your patient God,
All wise, all knowing, no long tarrier He,
And of the door of all thy future life
He keeps the key.
Unfailing comfort, sweet and blessed rest,
To know of EVERY door He keeps the key.
That He at last when just HE sees ‘tis best,
Will give it THEE.”      ---Anonymous.³

What have you asked God for that is founded on His holy Word but that everything around you seems to be contradicting that holy Word?  Then believe to see it!  It’s on its way! 

¹Streams in the Desert Compiled by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman; ©1965 Cowman Publications, Inc.; page 55.
² Streams in the Desert Compiled by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman; ©1965 Cowman Publications, Inc.; page 54.
³ Streams in the Desert Compiled by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman; ©1965 Cowman Publications, Inc.; page 11.

Saturday, February 16, 2013

THE IMPOSSIBLE TASK

By Shirley Wiggins
How do you achieve the impossible tasks?
From the beginning of this new year of 2013, I have felt the excitement growing in me that this could be the year for me.
That means that this is the year I kick out the ‘old’ me and welcome into the world the new me:  the me I can be if I let  God chisel to His Heart’s content that I might finally become the woman He created me to be:  obedient and unafraid, living life just as He always meant me to do.  And, oh yes:  organized.
Full of life, vigor, excitement, confident that by His grace and help I may now accomplish those tasks which will line up with His will for my life in the world in my generation.
I will blog faithfully, expanding my love of writing about Him and His Word.
I will be faithful to my roles as woman, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, daughter-in-law, sister and sister-in-law, aunt, friend….
Uh-oh.    The first thing I notice is that this is an impossible task!   I get tired just listing all those roles and feeling the weight of the responsibilities that each one inherently entails.
Where do I start?!  And, how on earth will there be enough time to take care of everything?
 I am unequal to the task. Not only to my task of all my to-do’s but equally to the task of surrendering my selfish will to Him daily to be transformed  by His powerful love.
For an agenda of this size, I am going to need the Lord, my God.
Even before I picked up Mrs. Cowman’s precious devotional, Streams in the Desert¹, and read her encouraging words I knew that if the things on my list are to come to anything, it will be simply and completely by the grace and help of the Lord.
I was encouraged and strengthened immeasurably to read Mrs. Cowman’s words based on God’s words to Joshua recorded in the Book of Joshua.
“But the hill country shall be yours; though it is a forest, you shall clear and possess it to its farthest borders; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong.” Joshua 17:18 Amplified Bible.
Joshua.  Now there was a man with a seemingly impossible task!
The theme of the book of Joshua, according to the introduction in the Amplified Version Bible², is “the establishment of Israel in the promised land” of Canaan.
“Canaan … …. a land flowing with milk and honey.”  “Here Israel was planted to represent God among the nations.”³
“Canaanites” was a general term for all the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, which was the land God had promised originally through Moses to the Israelites, God’s chosen people. Before Moses died, Joshua had already been selected to carry out the task of leading the Israelites into the land of promise and to possess it in every sense of the meaning.
The Lord gave Joshua some strong commands and reassuring promises in Joshua 1:1-9 concerning his task.  Over all, the Lord told him to be strong, courageous and unafraid for just as He had been with Moses, so now He would be with Joshua in every way.  The Lord promised to make him successful and his way prosperous, but Joshua must mediate on the words of God day and night and obey His guidance and instructions.
The Israelites’ task was to stand strong against the Canaanites, and to go in and take possession of the land and all that it had to offer.  It had a lot to offer, for it was “a land flowing with milk and honey.” 
Both the Canaanite people and their pagan idols were to be destroyed completely… nothing left to distract the Israelites from their commitment and devotion to the God who gave them their lives.   He was their God and they were His people and He strictly warned them about losing sight of that important foundational truth and wandering away to intermingle with a pagan people who worshiped pagan symbols who were not  gods at all.
He told them exactly how to go in and take possession of what He was giving them.  He told them up front that they would have to do battle to ‘possess’ what He declared as theirs.
For an agenda of this size, I am going to need the Lord, my God.”  Can’t you just imagine that would be the thought of Joshua and every single Israelite in the face of God’s directives?
They would need a plan and some discipline to follow the plan.  He promised them that He would be with them every step of the way and they were to be fearless in the process.
That is still the need of our lives today.  We need the Lord our God, Who gave us our lives as well, that He might be the constant companion of our days and our nights.
God has so many promises in the Bible of all that He will do today for us and in us if we will be strong, courageous, and unafraid.  But we, too, must meditate on His word day and night, and  obey His commands.
The ‘Canaanites’ in my own life are as strong as “iron chariots.”  They are my enemies of opposition.  They are those things, large or small, which distract me from God’s purpose and plan for my life; those things which though urgent may not be important but would keep me from accomplishing those things which are both urgent and important.
Our cluttered forests can be cleared and our way forward to the farthest borders can be opened that we may possess what God declares is ours.
I must not be too busy to read His Word since without Him I can do nothing.  But, with Him and through Him, I am able to accomplish all that He has called me to:  “With God, all things are possible.”
Ø  Step 1:   Start and end each day with the Lord my God. 
Ø  Step 2:   Take each day one at a time.  Slowly and intentionally, as step by step, He leads me to each new thing.
Ø  Step 3:    Praise Him loud and long, soft and strong!  Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” 
Ø  Step 4:   Thank Him in everything and for everything.  He is God and there is no other. 
Ø  Step 5:   Prayerfully repeat steps one through four each day for the rest of my life. 
What is your excitement?  What is your calling?  What is your assignment?   Take out His love letter to you, the Bible, and ask Him to show you. 
Let’s encourage each other along the way.  I will pray for you, and please, would you pray for me, too?



¹  Streams in the Desert compiled by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman,©1965, Cowman Publications Inc.; pages 49-50.
² The Amplified Bible ®; ©1987 by The Lockman Foundation.
³ Halley’s Bible Handbook ®, Copyright ©1965; Pages 3,37.


Good Friday By Shirley Wiggins   “ The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raise...