Stink Bugs and Sin

WHERE DO THEY COME FROM? I absolutely despise them! I am sure in some form of time surely they had some value to their life in creation – but now? YUCK! They sneak in – where from? Who knows!!!! The only thing I know is . . . spraying, smashing, catching CONTINUES!!!!!! The horrible stink bug has invaded yet again!

For those of you who don’t live in “stink bug territory” be thankful! Be VERY thankful! I’m not sure there are any doors or windows that can keep them out – and YES, they DO actually stink!

Even in all the frustration of the moment a thought comes to me. These crazy things remind me of sin! Stinking, sneaky, smelly sin. The enemy of our souls waits with an unbelievable patience. How can he most hurt the Kingdom of God? How can he trip up those loving and serving God?

He looks for a weak spot, throws temptations into our pathways, then laughs with glee at the pain and damage sin causes.

STOP! Take a moment to spend some time with Jesus. He can be the strength in any weak spot we need. He can fortify the windows and doors of our mind, our spirit, our soul and keep out the horrible results of wrong choices.

Choose to prevent the worst by loving HIM the most! He is able to keep us from falling and to present us before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy! (Jude 24)

We don’t have to give in – He will enable us to stand!

Take it With You

“. . . stay steady and strong. The Master could arrive at any time.” (James 5”8b The Message)

Don't Wrestle, Just Rest

The stop sign at the end of the road demanded I pay attention. Looking to my right, I saw another car waiting to pull out of a gas station a few feet away. Why wasn’t he pulling out? There didn’t appear to be any vehicles coming – at least not that I could see.

Well, he wasn’t – so I did. No sooner did I turn on to Route 24 then a set of headlights showed up – very close to my tail lights! Where did that vehicle come from? Then, I realized. THAT was why the car at the gas station didn’t venture out! The driver could see over a hill that I couldn’t visualize from my location. He saw the other car coming when I couldn’t.

Thankfully there was no collision! Yet, from this incident, God spoke to my heart! He sees where we cannot see. He goes before us, and His Holy Spirit longs to live within us – giving us the guidance we need to live within His will!

His eye is all seeing – His wisdom is all knowing – His love all prevailing!

Listening closely to His voice will spare us many a “collision” on the road of life. So ably He puts an arm around our shoulder, warning us with a gentle whisper, warming our spirits with the breath of His . . .

Sometimes we wonder just why He isn’t moving at a quicker pace or the reason He answered a prayer differently than we thought He would. We are tempted to struggle instead of surrender – to wrestle instead of rest – but the truth remains – He knows best AND loves us most!

To those of us who love Him deeply, our goal is to bring Him glory. Sometimes the process seems agonizing, but the prize will be well worth it.

Let’s trust Him anew today – place our hand in His and look to His face. He sees all.

Take it with You

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” Romans 11:33

Wonders

   Wonders far beyond the human senses,

Known before the worlds were flung in space.

Known before there was something called distance,

Before a hand could reach to touch a face.

Wonders of a Godhead -- amazing!

Three in One -- a Perfect unity --

Wonders than have been from everlasting,

And remain for all eternity.

Wonders with a God Who planned this life span,

Soverign Lord, reigning from His thonre,

Calling -- where He waits for us to answer,

For tho' unseen, He need not be unknown.

                                                           For God's Glory

                                                               By Janene Dubbeld

"I'll bless you every day, and keep it up from now to eternity. God is magnificent; he can never be praised enough." Psalm 145:2 (The Message)

What God Can Use

“Jesus loves me when I’m good, when I do the things I should,

Jesus loves me when I’m bad, tho’ it makes Him very sad.”

He sang it with a thoughtful countenance – and sang it again, and again, and again – ever since learning that verse in pre-school it had been a favorite verse of “Jesus Loves Me” to him.

He carried on with the chorus; “Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.”

Our church was going on a forty day fast together, and the children were also getting involved. This same child who loved this verse of song was small, but I still wanted him to be involved. So, I asked him what he wanted to fast from. “I want to fast from a million forty trillion dollars . . .”

I laughed. “You can’t fast from something you don’t have!”

Clearly he needed some guidance on what “fasting and prayer” was really all about. Then, it hit me. As adults it’s much easier to promise something we don’t have!

“God, if you’ll just give me that new job, I’ll give half of my income to you,” and He asks – “what about just ten percent of what you already have?”

“God, if you let me have a new place I promise I’ll invite people over for a Bible Study,” and He just desires that you share your faith now – wherever He opens the door!

“God, give me a church of three hundred and I will go and pastor,” and God asks, “will you go and begin being faithful anywhere I call?”

God doesn’t ask us to do more than He will enable us for, but He does want us to OBEY Him fully in whatever He asks us to do, and walk by faith. He really DOES love us – and He has a path for us to follow that brings great joy – even when endurance must take us through hard times.

Give Him all that you are, all that you have, all that you desire to be – that’s all He desires – that’s what He can use!

Take it with You

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.”

Psalm 143:8

Still in Control

It was nearing the time for the birth of our second son. The day I went into labor, my husband drove me to the hospital. He wasn’t convinced this was the “real thing.” But thought it might be “false labor.”

I was pretty sure it was the “real thing!” However, when we arrived at the hospital the nurses stuck me in a room and weren’t real attentive – or concerned. They did what they had to, then, retired to the nurses station to look at magazines.

At one point, I noticed the baby’s heartbeat dropping very low. I sent my husband out to get them, and his question caused them to look up from their magazine long enough to realize there was a problem! They were in there in a hurry, doing what they “had to” -- then, they were gone again.

By early dawn I was exhausted, and not sure of what was really happening. Then, here came my doctor. She whizzed in the door, assessed the situation almost in a single glance, and announced, “I’m in charge here, now.”

That was all it took! She took complete charge of EVERYTHING – and the nurses got busy! Not too long after, we had our second baby boy, healthy, and ready to take on the world.

Did you know God is still in charge? He is! He WILL return and put a STOP to the sin and sorrow that plagues our world. He will stop the heartaches and dry the tears. He WILL bring an end to hypocrisy – and KEEP those who really belong to Him!

That eastern sky WILL split – and He WILL return! Lift up your heads! Your eternal redemption is coming soon!

Take it with You

“But you can be sure that I, God, the Master, have my eye on the Kinbgdom of Sin. I’m going to wipe it off the face of the earth. Still, I won’t totally destroy the family of Jacob. God’s Decree. I’m still given the orders around here . . .” Amos 9:8-9a

A Promise of Spring

All of the sudden, in the garden, there are these glowing spots of yellow! There they are -- spreading a splash of color over the still mostly brown earth. “Spring is coming,” they seem to say, as they nod their cheery heads at those who choose to take a moment and enjoy their beauty.

They have been in the earth all winter, getting ready. Ready to herald the announcement as one of the first flowers of spring -- announcing the seasons are once again changing . . . and warmer days are coming! With stem straight and green – and blossoms translucent in their color, they offer to us yet another message of hope, of promise.

In the dark, damp earth of winter they have waited. But not forever!!

When it was time, they came bursting forth with a silent vigor. Boldly they declare again the intricate design of their Creator!

Nature teaches us from its seasons – and its lessons echo into our lives. Lessons like -- winter doesn’t last forever. And . . . even its darkness prepares those willing to wait for a spring time sent from God’s own hand! Each season has a purpose – each purpose has a home – within the plan of our Creator.

When we’re His we can rest assured there is no season He won’t help us walk through. Boldly follow – unafraid – He knows the seasons and their changes, and He remains, changeless!

Take it with You

“. . . Don’t be afraid, don’t waver. March out boldly tomorrow – God is with you.” II Chronicles 20:17b

Beautifully Faithful

With an unblemished record, our Heavenly Father exemplifies a faithfulness which never changes – and remains forever. It’s the hope for our generation – as it has been the hope of those before us. The rock we place our faith on when faithlessness abounds around us. Our God has never failed –and He never will.

Amazingly – we sometimes forget that WE are HIS children – and it brings Him great joy when His character is reflected in us! Our world seems to take a look at commitment, and quickly characterize it as a “thing from the past.”

Faithfulness seems to be high on the list as long as things are going well. Bring the “hard times,” times -- when things are less than comfortable, and a different direction seems to beckon the soul.

In the pages of God’s Word there is a most encouraging life story of faithfulness. Faithfulness that went both ways! God was true to Himself – as He always is. He gave the dreams, was with him in rejection, stood by him in temptation, and remained with him in his darkest hours.

Yet Joseph was still hated by his brothers, thrown into a cistern, sold into slavery, lied about, and spent a considerable amount of time in prison! In all of this, Joseph was true to the God he served! He didn’t allow “feeling” to falsely influence the “fact” of His God. He didn’t equate the hardships of the “here and now” as a dictating question to the eternal faithfulness of the One he loved.

His faith remained – true and steadfast – and his life of commitment held – proving the One He loved most could keep Him when things were the worst.

Then, the day came. It was God’s time. Time to bring to the world the revelation He had shown to Joseph. With a stroke of genius as only GOD can do, He used a dream to a King, reminded a head cupbearer of a forgotten promise, and brought to light a prisoner – His faithful servant, Joseph.

It was time for complete and immediate restoration – and faithful Joseph was ready. The time of promise revealed had begun!

Faithfulness is always beautiful – both ways!

By Janene A. Dubbeld/FGG

Take it with You:

“Joseph was thirty years old when he went to work for Pharaoh the King of Egypt. As soon as Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence, he began his work in Egypt.” Genesis 41:46