ACCEPTING CHANGE IS A COME BACK!

It's Saturday, about 3:00 p.m.  I wish you could be sitting here with me as I absorb the sun from the south west coming in my office window.  The windows are open and all the way around is the brilliant colors of red, burgundy, yellow, greens, and shades of mauve.  You have to be impressed with the dazzling array of those colors spread over an entire bank that goes up to the road.  The breeze is cool but perfect in its warmth from the sun and winds from the south.  I want it to last forever.  It almost feels like you are in this feathered basket of bunny down and there is this soft green blanket covering part of the nest.  Nothing could be wrong in the world, right?  Everything for everyone is perfect.  No worries, no cancer, no fears. . .only comfort and beauty.   God's beauty.  He is the great artist.  I believe He gives us times like today to help us deal with the real world.  I insist that that is true.  How else would we be able to face any situation that life sends our way. 

There are many many twists and turns in life these days.  It is like that game you see at some restaurants and fairs.  The Mole Game.  You have a hammer, and you keep trying to score by when the mole comes up, you make him go down in the hole.  You hit him.  He disappears.  Just when you get him gone, another one pops up.  Life is just like that.  You get a few things all settled and bedded down, and then a new event pops up.  Today is a day to celebrate and enjoy so we can have the strength for yet another change in our lives.  You know where I am going with this, right?  I am watching the last fall beauty on the bank of our hill right next to my office.  Some men are going to come along and cut it ALL down.  it interferes with their work and whether we get interference free electricity.  Oh okay!  I get it.  But, I am going to bask in God's beauty through trees and leaves this fall.  Change is coming.  And, a come back will ensue. 

In your life right now, what do you wish would go on forever?  Or, maybe you are looking for change.

John 14: 19  This chapter talks about how HE is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE, and how He is everything and all we need. 
19:  Just a little while now, and the world will not see Me any more, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.

I challenge you to read all of 14.  Like the leaves and trees going away outside my window, they are still etched in my memory and on pictures I took.  The change will bring a come back.  Just like Jesus who will come back for us.  That change will be the greatest come back of all.  He is here with you in what ever place you are in, and he will walk it with you.  He will be there in the end and that means

We Win!  Our enemy looses!

A SET-BACK IS A SET-UP FOR A COME-BACK!

Psalms 37: 24

Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasps his hand in support and upholds him.


This saying is another great way to remember that God has every one of our steps within His sight.  I hear most often, well "why me?", or "why did this have to happen now?", or even "why does it happen at all?

There are those who come back and say, "Why Not You?"  I have even heard a friend say, that God said to her in her mind. . .""Why not you, why not this?"

This saying reminds me a little of my book cover that says. . "Fix your future so it doesn't reflect your past!"   The entire idea for today is, use it for the good God intended it to be.  The story of Joseph in Genesis.  God used what others intended for harm, to bring greatness out.  His come back was enormous.  He became the head man for the King's kingdom.  People ate or didn't eat because of his management of the empire back then.  We hear about all kinds of horrible things today.  I just received a prayer request from my friend Jen in Ft. Wayne.  Her friends were in a car wreck caused by a drunk driver.  The father is in such bad shape they believe he will be in surgeries for two more years.  They have a 5 month old baby and two other kids.  One who was rushed to Riley Hospital this week.  Why did this happen?  What will God do through this to bring about a come-back for them.
He will use people to draw along side, to contribute help and with prayers.  All we can think now is how we can pray mercy upon this family and ask God to use this set back to bring a great come back.

This is just one story.  You know people around you that have impossible situations to deal with.  Things they can't imagine will ever be set back up right.  God's Word is full of come backs. 

Isaiah 43: 18 and 19.   Do not earnestly remember the former things; neither consider the things of old.  Behold, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs forth;  do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it?  I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

As difficult as it is to see how we can get through a set back;   think about His promises throughout His Word.  It can be financially, through loosing a job, a friend, through death, through anything that takes you back, sets you back so far you think you have fallen off the end of the world. 

Psalm 119: 164 -  Seven times a day, and all day long will I praise the Lord and His decrees.

Read all of Psalm 18 again.  I use that one so much.  Deut. 31: 8

He knows, He says don't be afraid, I will not fail you.  I go before you and I march with you.  Do not be unnerved.  

THE THREE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD!

There is so much to talk about when it comes to God's attributes and character, but let us look at the basic three:

POWER   ****    WISDOM    ****     GOODNESS

Col. 1: 4

For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus (the leaning of your entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) and of the love which you (have and show) for all the saints (God's consecrated ones).

Here we get to put the pedal to the metal.  Taking it in, accepting it, and applying it to our lives.

Do you grasp it that you have the power from Jesus Christ to live the life He planned for you?
Do you embrace the wisdom of God?

Eph 2: 10

For we are God's (own) handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, (born anew) that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us (taking paths which He prepared ahead of time), that we should walk in them (living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live).

And, there you have it, His goodness.  He prepared all that for you and me.  Yet, we act like we know or some of us are afraid to try. 

So let us wrap that all up in TRUST.  Surrender it all to Jesus Christ who has the Power, The Wisdom and the Goodness just for you, just for me.  Takes a lot of pressure off - or at least it should.  Think on these things.

Psalms 119: 164

Seven Times a day and all day long do I praise You because of Your righteous decrees.

Focus on that - Dream on that - Do all on that!

SEPTEMBER GLEANINGS!

I love September!  The sun hits the ground differently.  There is this cozy, lazy, hew that floats across the land.

August begins letting us know with that change in the hemisphere.  Fall is coming.  That beautiful colorful gift that God gives us each season.  How will it be this year?  I have no idea.  I see the other side of the lake changing already.  In fact, many things started to die and change in August.

I have put away the spring and summer things, and brought out my fall flowers and leaves.  I will share them next week.

When we were in California I thought about how much they miss what we see each September.
Those vibrant, reds, oranges, and yellows.  Their flowers are the same year around.  When we were at the hotel one day, John asked the lawn care people what they do.  Each August they tear out all the cement barrels and replace all the dirt and start over.  Same flowers, same decorations, only new.

We saw no insects, no birds and only one butterfly.  But, knowing God, He has something else for them to see and enjoy that is a gift to them.

And, so, I praise the Lord for His gifts this week.  Not only the verbal gifts, but the scenic ones I received.  IS 43: 18 and 19.

When I get my sea legs back, I will begin a new series.  Until then, Worship and praise our Lord, for He brings us many gifts.  Look for them.