Life is a Vapor

 Where did the time go. The man I see in the mirror defies the youthful playful person I feel inside. Wrinkles appear. The hair is thinning or already thinned. The remaining hair is greying. Muscles are weaker than they used to be. Former eagle eyes require glasses for vision improvement. Joints ache and make noises like the cereal Rice Krispies. Loss of balance makes me less sure footed than when in my prime. Strength is fading. I can only do a fraction of the things I used to could do. 

James wrote that life is a vapor. We just appear for a little while. [James 4:14] In our youth, we are in such a hurry to grow up. We played dress up in grown up clothes. Pretended to be firefighters, police officers, teachers, bakers, doctors, and a host of other professions. One day we realize that we are grown. We long for the simpler days of our youth. Then we enter the winter season of our lives. We remember the good old days. 

The cycle of life comes and goes. We are only here for a little while. The average age of death for most Americans is 76. I don't know where you are on that scale. I am way past the halfway point. We are exhorted to number our days so that we can present wise hearts to God. [Ps 90:12] To live life to the fullest in our service and love of God while we can. 

My study of Ecclesiastes has convinced me that the essence of living is not about how much money we make or what we accomplish in our careers. What matters in the end can be summed up in the last two verses of the book found in [Eccl 12:13-14] Fear God. Keep His commands. The rest is vanity like chasing the wind. 

It is true that life is a vapor appearing for a little while and then vanishing. Our days on this planet need to count for something. Solomon thinks it is to fear, respect, and revere God. It is also to obey Him keeping His commands. A life spent doing those things is not a wasted life. It might not even be a prolonged life. It will be full life. A satisfying life. A purposeful life. A God besotted life. May we strive for that in our short stay on this planet. 

The Scapula

 The surgeon places the patient in a sterile environment. He makes sure the patient is put under asleep. Then he takes the scapula in hand and makes an incision. He cuts not to harm or with ill malice. He slices to ultimately bring healing. To remove an infected area. To repair a broken or ruptured area. His skilled hands inflict pain to bring about eventual healing. 

If physicians can do this does God ever do it? Does He ever inflict pain for ultimate good. Look at Joseph's story in Genesis. Enslaved and imprisoned later on false accusations. It did not seem like the pain made any sense. Until Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dreams and was exalted to the second highest office in the land of Egypt. Then it all made sense. God worked good out of that situation to save Israel in years of famine. 

Israel spent four centuries enslaved in Egypt. They cried out for deliverance. Generation after generation were denied. It appeared God was not listening and that He was absent. Don't interpret God's silence as absence. God was working all the while. Building the great nation of millions of people promised to Abraham centuries before there was even one. 

Sometimes the ways of God hurt. Sometimes He takes the scapula making incisions in our circumstances that painfully confusing. He is working to bring about His purposes, our ultimate good, and to promote His own glory. 

Many times, I have doubted God in the pain. Each time when I trusted Him long enough, He worked everything for my good just like He said He would. [Rom 8:28] His skilled hands are sculpting me as a potter to make me more useful in His hands. He applies pressure and conforms me to His desire. This is painful but beneficial. I don't like the scapula or the Potter's wheel. I have learned that I need them. He is wise and His hands are skilled. I trust Him to do what is best and necessary to accomplish His purposes even if it hurts initially. Bring on the scapula if it will make me more useful in His hands. 

Search and Rescue

 Feb 18, 1952 was no ordinary day off the coast of New England. A Nor'easter blew in causing boisterous angry sea conditions. The SS Pendleton, a tanker ship, got into trouble. A search plane discovered that the ship had cut into two halves. The pounding surf made it impossible to get a rescue boat to them. 

Back at the Chatham Lifeboat Station four men volunteered to risk their lives attempting to save the surviving crew members. Taking a small CG36500 boat Captain Bernard Webber and this three men crew battled tidal wave conditions to reach the distressed ship. Against all odds Webber navigated the small boat to the sinking ship. The only way to rescue the sailors was to pull up next to the ship and for the men to climb down rope ladders. It was suicide for sure. Webber timed each swell to pull up next to the ship and get a few men off each time. Out of the 33 surviving crew members of the Pendleton they only lost the cook who fell in the sea and drowned. 32 men were saved that day. 

They made a movie about that daring rescue. It is a thrilling adventure ride. One of the greatest rescue missions in the U.S. Coast Guard history. All four of those brave men who went out that day were awarded the highest honors. 

Truth be told that rescue mission pales in comparison to the rescue mission of the Lord Jesus Christ coming to planet Earth to die on a cross to rescue people from their sins. It is the greatest news in a world filled with bad news. Jesus rescued us when we were completely helpless. [Rom 5:8] He rescued and delivered us. [Col 1:13-14] He redeemed us. His sacrificial death atoned for our transgressions. It was a lavish gift of grace. [Eph 1:7-8]

Jesus saved me 41 years ago. I am just as humbled, grateful, and unworthy today as I was that October evening back in 1983. He rescued me like a lifeguard rescues a drowning man. I was drowning in my sin. I could not free myself. My life was headed in the gutter. Jesus paid my ransom to set me free. He deserves my allegiance, love, devotion, and lifelong service. 

The greatest search and rescue mission in history was Jesus dying on a cross so that people like us could be saved from the impending wrath of God. He bravely took on the sin of the world as our propitiation and our advocate. [I Jn 2:1-2] What a glorious thought that brings joyous bliss that our sins have been washed away and we are forgiven. Jesus pardoned us. May we spend our days searching and rescuing others by telling them this great news. 

Send Me

 I received an invitation to preach to a football team before their game where I used to coach. I had not been back on that campus in about a year. I rejoiced to see men I used to coach with and students I coached who are all grown up now. God inspired a challenging word for me to share with those TCA Eagles. God opened the door and I responded with send me. 

The message was a word about worship over complaining. It was a word about dealing with adversity with the proper perspective. Praising in the good times and bad times as well. It was also a word about calling out hypocrisy and challenging those athletes to consecrate themselves before taking the field last night. 

I don't know how the game turned out. That is not the most important thing. The most important thing is that 98% of those young men responded to the challenge and remained in the room we met in praying for a long time before they each left one by one. I could see conviction on faces. I also saw the sincerity of some of those guys fervently seeking God. Repentance happened. That is a bigger win than what happened on the game field. 

My time on the campus was very short. There were several people I wanted to see. Former colleagues and students whom I bonded with. I did not have that much time. The team had a pregame meal to get to and I had a pressing appointment right afterwards. It was a privilege and a honor to go back on that campus to share God's word. 

We never know where ministry will take us. It has taken me to foreign countries and to back wood churches some so tiny there were only five pews deep on each side. God has called me to preach multiple funerals for people I did not even know including one three-month-old baby. I have preached camps, rallies, retreats, and revival meetings. Several times I taught God's word to a congregation of one including last Sunday at our substance abuse detox ministry. On a few occasions God sent me to preach to over 1,000 people. I've preached on mountain sides, lakeshores, under pavilions, around campfires, in hayfields, near ocean front beaches, and in beautiful churches. Yesterday God allowed me to teach to a room full of athletes. I have a Bible and am willing to travel to places where God opens the door. 

Young or old. Large crowds or small. For compensation or for free does not matter. I am called. I accept God's invitations to share His word. That is part of that follow Jesus mentality. If He keeps sending the invitations, like Isaiah I will keep praying, "Here am I send me." [Is 6:8]

Tip Toeing at the Gate

 Picture a mansion surrounded by a rod iron fence and protected by huge gates. Many people may drive by and observe the mansion behind the fence, but will never get close. Much less will they ever have the privilege to be invited inside the mansion. It can only be viewed from a distance. 

Now suppose the owner of the mansion invites some for a visit. There is no rhyme or reason for the invitation. It is a good will gesture by the owner. Totally unmerited and undeserved, but it is an open invitation to come visit. Appointed times and dates are arranged. 

On the day of the official visit people show up outside the gate waiting for it to be opened. At the exact appointed hour the automated gates slowly creak and grind open. Instead of rushing up the long driveway to the mansion people just stand at the gate. They tip toe back and forth, but do not cross the gate and make their way to the mansion. 

The owner waits eagerly for the visitors to arrive. He peaks out the windows wondering why the delay. He is bewildered that his guests are tip toeing outside the gate, but they are reluctant to come inside. He waits longer, but still nothing changes. 

Eventually the owner sends one of his staff to go to the people and to personally bring them inside. He ushers them through the gate, down the driveway, and through the front door. He makes the formal introduction of the owner to the guests and they are brought to a banquet table. 

This little parable is to illustrate what many followers of God do. They are invited into the presence of God into His throne room. Instead of coming close to the Father, many tip toe outside the gate. They are reluctant to come close for various reasons. Past sins. Current lack of commitment. Present doubts and confusion about circumstances. All of these and more keep us from coming close to God. 

These people do not want to abandon God. They hang around the gate. They are reluctant to come through and enter the court of God. What does God do? He sends Jesus to personally usher us into the presence of His Father. He eagerly makes the introduction and excitedly shows us to our seats so we can interact and get to know Father God. 

Some will spend their whole lives tip toeing outside the gate. They never accept the invitation to come closer. They will always approach God from a distance. It is sad how few accept the invitation to come closer to God. It is sad that many will never get past the religious obligations to grow closer and enter into endless delight of knowing God. 

May we not tip toe outside the gate. May we all accept God's call for us to enter boldly into His throne of grace to obtain and find help in our time of need. [Heb 4:16] He sits waiting to embrace us, to reveal Himself, and to give us the fullness of joy in Him that we all desire. [Ps 16:11] So enter His courts with praise and walk through His gates with thanksgiving. [Ps 100:4]

Consecrated

 To consecrate ourselves means to fully dedicate, to purge, to cleanse, and to prepare ourselves to be set apart for God. Consecration does not get much play time in our worship and study of the scriptures these days. Compromise is more common than consecration. 

God is looking for consecrated people to serve Him. He uses consecrated people and does powerful things through consecrated people. Look in Christian circles. Do you see consecration? Do you see it in the church? What about in para-church ministries? Do you see it in Christian education. I have been in all those arenas. I have rubbed shoulders with people in each of those institutions. I can tell you that consecration is rare. Hypocrisy abounds. Lukewarm living infiltrates leadership.  

Do we want to be consecrated? It costs something. A price more costly than many of us may be willing to pay. It will require sacrifice, deep commitment, and criticism when we refuse to compromise to go along with the crowd. 

Could it be one of the reasons we do not see God doing more is that God is waiting for a consecrated people to commit to Him. Sitting here I can say I want to be consecrated. In this moment that is the honest desire of my heart. What about when consecration is costly. Like getting up earlier for more prayer. Like staying up later when I am dogged tired. Like being inconvenienced by an assignment from the Master. Like saying no to things that others say yes to including my family. Like spending more time shut up alone with Him to be empowered for service instead of glad handing the crowds in superficial conversations. DO I REALLY WANT TO BE CONSECRATED? DO YOU? 

In Joshua 3:5 God spoke to the people through Johsua commanding them to consecrate themselves. If they did that God assured them, He would do wonders among them. The word wonders means great, difficult, and miraculous things. Our countries are crying out for God to do miraculous things in our midst. To not only change lives but to also transform an entire culture like He did in the First and Second Great Awakenings. Like He did in the Great Wales Revival. Like He did in the Saskatoon Revival that swept over the entire city and filtered through the province. 

O God, please make us willing to be consecrated. Help us to dedicate ourselves fully to You and to Your mission. Help us be willing to surrender our lives at Your feet in sweet surrender. To set ourselves apart in Your service. Please make us useful vessels for Your purposes. Let us joyfully and willingly accept any assignment whether big or small. Then we trust You to do wonders among us. Something miraculous so that You alone get the glory. In the mighty name of Jesus amen. 

The Angels Rejoiced

 Last night was chaotic even more so than on a normal Wednesday night around here. We scheduled Nerf Night for our Creek Kids and Creek Student Ministries. Nerf darts and balls were whizzing all over the gym. Before I got to watch those festivities, I taught our adults. I teach adults first and then go teach our students. 

Let's just say that some took Nerf Night to the next level. They brought in high powered weaponry with ample ammunition. Those Nerf darts and balls filled the air. Participants ducked behind tables turned over sideways to provide barriers of protection. Some adopted the hunker and wait mentality while others took a more offensive approach. People laughed. They ran for cover. Some were ambushed and forced to retreat being overpowered. This is an annual event for Spring Creek. We had multiple visitors last night. 

Because Nerf Night took longer than expected, I knew our Bible study time would have to be shortened for our students. I planned to present the gospel and offer an invitation for people to get saved. I told those students they were in two groups. One group lost in their sins. The other group saved because of the sacrifice of Jesus and asking for His redemption. It was noisy. The students were jazzed up because of Nerf Night. It took a bit to get them focused. 

When we got into the heart of the message, they were attentive. All in. I did not employ high pressured tactics at the end. I told the students if they wanted to talk to me afterward, I would stick around. They all sprinted for the exit. All except one young man. He lingered and asked, "Can I talk to you?" 

When I asked what he wanted to talk about he wasted no time telling me he was a sinner and wanted to be forgiven. He did not know what he needed to do. We went through the Roman Road of Romans 3:23, 3:10-13, 6:23, and 5:8. He was ready. We bowed in prayer asking Jesus to save him and he repented of his sins. When we looked up the angels were rejoicing. [Luke 15:7] Jesus saved him! Hallelujah!

It was all worth it. Setting up the table barriers. Studying for the message. Planning and hyping Nerf Night. Trying to quieten a room of hyperactive students. Dodging Nerf projectiles everywhere. All worth it so that God could transfer another soul from the kingdom of darkness to His kingdom of light. Hell lost another one and Heaven gained a new citizen. I imagine the angels are still exuberant. I am still amazed at the power of the gospel to lead people to Jesus for salvation. I rejoice with those angels.  

Abounding Hope

 Now may the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. [Rom 15:13] NASU

God has many titles. Add to that list that He is the God of hope. In this crazy upside-down world, He is still not a god of hope. He is THE GOD OF HOPE. Hope is the expectation of good. The anticipation of something pleasurable. Like a dealer passing out cards in a card game of spades, God deals out hope to people who need it. Even in the most horrific circumstances God still gives hope. He makes us full of hope. 

Maybe that hope is eternal life. Maybe things never get easier or much better here. For the Christian we always have the hope of Heaven. That is especially true for Jesus followers in persecuted countries. Those believers may experience physical torture, incarceration, and even death. How do they maintain hope in such horrendous circumstances. They think of the afterlife. They remind themselves that their momentary afflictions and sufferings cannot compare to what awaits in eternity. So, they press on in hope. 

God wants to fill people with joy and peace. Joy is gladness and cheerfulness that defies circumstances. I have seen people in heart wrenching grief still choose joy. Peace is a tranquil state of the soul and mind. Again, it doesn't matter what the circumstances are. God can still give us the peace that surpasses all understanding that guards our hearts and minds. [Phil 4:7]. 

In some ways this seems to defy logic. How can it be expected that people who are in hot messes just be filled with joy and peace, but to actually abound in joy. That means that they overflow and superabundant gladness. That is not natural. In fact, it is supernatural. Most of our attitudes are dictated by our current circumstances. When things are good our attitudes are good in return. On the other hand, when things go south our attitudes can sour as well. 

Let me remind you that Paul is writing [Romans 15:13] in adverse circumstances. Much of Paul's ministry was one of persecution, imprisonments, and constant travel getting run out of more than one town. Yet he could still find joy, peace, and hope in the Lord. His circumstances were certainly not pleasurable. The Lord was and he found delight and gladness in Jesus. An abounding joy. Excessive delight. Abounding hope. 

I have seen this with my own eyes on many occasions. I have seen people living with chronic disease abounding in joy and hope. It was not logical. It did not compute rationally for a person to live in constant pain and still abound in joy and hope when expectations were that the next day would be just as painful as the current day. I have also read about such people. These people abounded in hope. 

I have stood next to bedsides with deceased loved ones and heard abounding hope flow from grieving lips like water flows in a stream. I have watched people face financial ruin and still overflow in hope for the future. I have seen aging pastors lose spouse and children left to muddle through their last days alone still abound in the hope of the Lord. 

This defies logic. It is not the natural order of things. When people suffer the natural thing to do is to downgrade into despair and sink into sullenness. The Holy Spirit supernaturally empowers abounding hope. That is why the person who has tried with all their might to succeed, and they keep losing do not give up. They abound in hope. They get up and dust themselves off with resolve and try again. That is why the servant of the Lord who keeps getting denied in prayer with delayed answers keeps abounding in hope that the answer will come eventually. They keep asking, seeking, and knocking. [Matt 7:7-8] The Holy Spirit produces and sustains this abounding hope. 

That is how we should approach the day. Abounding with hope. Hope that God is faithfully working His will all over the world. Hope that God knows the future and sees everything we will go through. Hope that He will strengthen us to get through the tough times. Hope that we are one day closer to the rapture of the saints. May the Spirit of God produce abounding and enduring hope in all of us until we finally get home to heaven. 

I Don't Know

 I came across two men yesterday working. I did not have a long interaction with them, but long enough to ask them where they would spend eternity. One of the guys quietly distanced himself from the conversation. The second man started to say something that sounded good, but he stopped. He honestly said, "I don't know." 

They were busy. I knew I had seconds with them and not minutes. In hurried fashion I told them about Jesus and that He was the only way to spend eternity in Heaven. Maybe that brief conversation will resonate with them. Hopefully it sparked a conversation after we parted. Perhaps God rewound that conversation in their minds all through the night and into this morning. 

It is incredulous to me that people consider all sorts of things about their lives without taking into count death and the afterlife. Yesterday there was a funeral across the street in the cemetery where I live. Another reminder that life is brief, but eternity is long. Too long to get it wrong. 

I appreciate the fact that one of those men was honest. I could see him thinking. He knew the way he lived. He knew enough to respect God and not lie. He obviously did not know enough to commit to Jesus as a follower. Following Jesus means changing our lifestyles. Some love sin more than considering the consequences of those sins. It is a dangerous game of Russian Roulette. 

I have contemplated Colossians 1:14-15 this week in preparation for the message Sunday. Those verses start a section describing the incomparable Christ. Our Lord Jesus has rescued us. Have we forgotten from where and what He rescued us from? He paid our ransom so we could be free from our being held hostage by sin and Satan. What a great deliverance He purchased for us. It cost Him dearly. A brutal bloody death on a cross. That cross is no longer a sign of execution but one of liberation for millions of believers. The cross is a symbol of hope. A symbol of victory. 

Because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross, our lives are His bought with His blood. We are crucified to the world and the world to us. Our boast is no longer in our accomplishments but in what Jesus accomplished for us on that cross. Galatians 6:14

I don't know. I don't know why anyone would not immediately respond to the offer of salvation except that the god of this age has blinded them. Blinded them to the abundant life we have in Jesus. I don't know why people are not interested. Why churches are not overflowing with people. I don't know why those who need the message of the cross the most are the most reluctant to come hear it. I don't know why Christians who know the truth refuse to share it with those put in our paths if even for a few seconds. 

The Intercessor

 He knows how to pray. What I mean is he can pray with authority like no one else I have ever heard. He has this uncanny ability to connect those prayers with what God plans and wants to do. He secures answers frequently. He is also a tenacious intercessor. He does not give up easily until the answer comes. His supplications secure answers. We could all learn a few things from the intercessor. 

Who is this mystery master of prayer? He is a bestselling author. Not a one hit wonder. He is perennially a bestselling author. His works are timeless. Classics. They ought to be read by all people.

He is also generous with his time. Willing to add more people to his ever-expanding prayer list. He does not seek attention. He prefers not to be the center of attention. He does his prayer work behind the scenes out of the public eye. His intercessions are both fervent and indefatigable. Tirelessly he makes intercessions both night and day. 

Praying is not his only job. He teaches. He comforts people in difficult times. He fearlessly points out sin in others urging them to repent. He often has a peaceful presence when he shows up in the room. People are less anxious when he prays for them. They are strengthened when he prays. 

You can read about the intercessor in [Romans 8:26-27]. The Holy Spirit is our intercessor. One who stands in the gap between us and God. He knows how to pray according to the will of God. He knows the mind of God and the need of those he prays for. I'm thankful to have an intercessor who can interpret my groans when the pain is too deep that I can't put it into words. He prays perfectly. I hope you find comfort in that truth today. 

Great is His Faithfulness

 It was a tough week. Turner had a minor accident at college hitting another vehicle in the parking lot. Tanner's car broke down and his puppy chewed his phone destroying it. The tires on my Yukon are beginning to split and need replaced. We did what we always do. We prayed and asked God to help. 

We had a deadline for God to come do something mighty for us, or we were going to have to dip into what little retirement money we have to meet the needs. Saturday came and went with no answer. On Sunday night I was handed an envelope after the evening service. It contained a $20 bill for pastor appreciation month from a visitor. Earlier in the week I received a $100 gift from that man's sister who is a member of Spring Creek. That $120 gift was not enough to meet the thousands of dollars of need. Don't despise small beginnings. 

Our best guess is we needed about $3,500 for all of it. At the end of Sunday night, I prepared myself to dip into our retirement money the next day to meet the need. I am not sure when I received the text that changed everything this morning. It was early after I prayed. The text informed me of a $3,600 direct answer to prayer. Let me tell you rest of the story. 

We were told a long time ago that we could expect this provision on a certain date. The date came and went. In fact, six months passed, and we did not receive it. We accepted this fact and prayed. We determined that we would not remind the gift sender about the financial promise. We trusted God who knows our needs. We believed God would do it another way.

That is when God stepped in at 11:59. Turns out the gift giver suddenly remembered about the promised gift on Sunday night. Something or SOMEONE jarred the memory. Brenda and I believe God penetrated that person's thoughts causing the reminder. The text assured me that the check would be in hand today. Some might consider that a miracle, but Brenda and I certainly do. 

I know some will say we were just being stubbornly proud not to remind the gift giver about the check. Brenda and I committed to God a long time ago that we would communicate our needs to Him trusting God to provide. He has done that for over three decades. He did it at 11:59 again. If that person had waited to text me until after lunch, I would have already taken that money from our retirement account. God knew. He waited just to show me again how faithful He is and how wavering my faith can be. 

God did it again. He intervened in our circumstances to meet a need we could not foresee and did not have money in hand to meet for ourselves. He knew the deadline and waited to the last minute just for dramatic effect. He could have let us rob our retirement. I was prepared to do it though I felt very uneasy about it. I knew I could take matters into my own hands. That did not seem like faith. Why? Because I did not trust God to come through. I nearly took matters into my own hands because I doubted God would be faithful like He has been in the past. Shame on me. A foolish mindset on my part. 

One more time God has given me this platform to testify about another answer to prayer. I don't know if they make any difference. My hope is that it encourages some soul in a difficult spot just like Brenda and I were in. We have testimonies galore of God doing similar things over the past 30 years. I take no credit. It is God choosing to work in powerful ways in our lives. I know what He keeps doing for my family He can also do for any reading this around the world. I bow my knee and say, "Great is His faithfulness." 

Tug Of War

 You know about tug of war. You have two teams grab both ends of a long rope. The game is started with each side trying to tug the other team across a barrier. Loads of fun have been had with this old competition. That is not what is on my mind today. I am thinking of a much more serious tug of war that happens in the soul. 

Christians live with the constant tug of war of two natures. They are waging war for supremacy. The flesh opposes the Spirit of God within us. Each fighting for control. The flesh is hostile toward God and the things of God. This is the sinful carnal nature. The Holy Spirit is fighting just as hard to lead us to honor and please God. Which one wins?

Let me illustrate. Say we have two dogs of equal breeding, size and temperament. One dog you faithfully feed every day. The second dog you only feed once every three days. This routine is repeated for several weeks. Say those two dogs turn on each other and get into a fight. Which dog do you suppose will win? The stronger dog will be the one that has been properly nourished. 

The same is true in us. If I constantly feed the flesh, give into carnal desires, and let that nature rule supremely I will lose more spiritual battles than I win. If on the other hand, I pray, study the scriptures, and seek to live surrendered to the Holy Spirit I will most likely win most of my spiritual battles. 

It is a constant tug of war in the soul. The nature you give the most attention will most likely be the nature that wins the day. Paul exhorts us in [Galatians 5:16] to walk by the Spirit. I interpret this to mean that we are to live in submissive surrender to the Holy Spirit. To put it another way, we are to live yielded to the Holy Spirit. Suppose two cars approach an intersection and one has a yield sign and the other does not. The car with the yield sign surrenders the right of way to the other car. In yielding to the Holy Spirit, we give Him the right of way in our lives. When we do this, we will not carry out the desires of the flesh. Even though the flesh is in opposition with the Holy Spirit within us, the Holy Spirit is the more dominant force when we walk by His power. 

We read on in Galatians about behaviors associated with the flesh and behaviors associated with the Spirit in [Gal 5:19-23]. Which set of behaviors most characterizes your life? That will give a clear indication of which nature is winning the tug of war in your soul.  

Hope Against Hope

 Hope is very fragile. Liken it to an elusive feather floating in the breeze. Just about the time you think you have hold of it a waft of wind blows it out of reach. Or at least hope can feel that way. Once you get a handle on it, something happens causing hope to slip between your fingers. 

The optimist lives with hope. They see the glass half-filled instead of half emptied. They look on the bright side of life. They see the silver lining in the clouds. The pessimist on the other hand, takes a much dimmer approach to life. They see the glass half emptied. They fixate on the dark side of life. They miss the silver lining in the clouds. The pessimist has a hard time with hope. Even when things are going well, they sit waiting for the next bad thing to happen. 

What about for Christians? We are supposed to be people of faith. [II Cor 5:7] We are to live by faith and not sight. Part of that living by faith is living with the hope that God will come through. We invite God to intervene in our circumstances. We make supplication for His strong help in various degrees. We are exhorted that without faith it is impossible to please God. [Heb 11:6] We are supposed to be people with hope. 

Let's define hope as confident expectation. We pray about things with the confident expectation that God hears us and that He involves Himself in the solution to our problems. That sounds great in theory. Sooner or later, we will face something big requiring God to help. We pray. We expect Him to answer. We wait in hope. Time ticks and God doesn't answer the way we want Him to do. We pray again and wait longer. Hope that once burned brightly now begins to slowly fade. If the answered prayer is delayed further hope begins to flicker. If we wait too long hope can extinguish. 

That is what makes the story of [Romans 4:18-21] all the more powerful. We have a guy praying in faith with hope. The prayer was not answered right away. In fact, it was not answered for decades. One of the amazing things is the man praying did not lose hope. The passage informs us that he maintained hope against hope. 

The man in the story is Abraham praying for a son. A promised son. He waited well over two decades for God to answer that prayer. That is a long time to wait in hope. Abraham believed God when his circumstances dictated doubt. Abraham and Sarah were aging. Sarah had never been able to conceive. The only hope they had was a promise from God. The promise went much deeper than for a son. It included a future nation. With each passing delay that promise may have seemed more elusive. 

When delays happen the natural thing to do is to grow weaker in our faith. Delays do not make us grow stronger very often except for the mature in faith. Strong people of faith and prayer can contemplate their circumstances. They take stock of the difficulties and on occasion even the impossibilities. They are not fazed by the things. They see them as an opportunity for God to do something amazing. This gives them hope against hope. 

Hope for mature believers is rooted in two things. The promises of God and His faithfulness to keep those promises. God promised Abraham he would be the father of a great nation. That did not seem it was ever going to happen when Sarah could not even conceive of the first son. On top of that, she was past the age of childbearing at 90. God's delays do not mean He does not care. His timing is perfect. He orchestrates things very often to look impossible so that He can get the maximum glory when He comes through. 

Do we believe what God says, or do we believe what our eyes see? This is a question we will face numerous times in our life journey. Do we waver in unbelief or stay rooted in God's word trusting Him to help at the proper time? To do that we must grow strong in faith. 

If we want to grow strong in faith, we have to get used to God exercising faith through trials, challenges, and even impossible obstacles placed before us. Each of those is designed to force us to exercise more faith resulting in stronger faith. Faith is defined for us in [Heb 11:1]. It is assurance and confidence. It is believing God for things to exist before they actually exist. It seeing the unseen and asking God to make it happen. How is that possible. Because with hope against hope we are assured by the promises of God. What God says He does. He keeps His promises. For that reason, we can hope against hope no matter what we face or how long the answer is delayed.

This Is Not Heaven

 On a phone conversation a man reminded me of something his father told him. His dad said, "Son, remember this is not heaven. We are going to have trials on this earth." His dad suffered with Parkinson's disease. His dad was right. We all have troubles in this life. 

I am sure you have your own trials. They come in various shapes and sizes. Some of them knock us to our knees with severe blows like cancer, Alzheimer's, the economy, and relational troubles. You barely get through one trial and soon after the next one hits. This is common to the human condition. Sin, suffering, and sorrow are all part of the curse from original sin. It seems like it is only getting worse. 

Beware of putting your hope in vain things. Like a presidential election. No candidate is a savior. That title is reserved exclusively for the Lord Jesus Christ the Savior or the world. Financial security is chasing shadows. So is trying to secure material things. Nothing on this earth will ever produce the long sought after contentment we long for. No matter our stage in life, trials will still come. Our hope is not in an easier stress free path. Our hope is in God alone no matter what we face. 

This world is not Heaven. It is a sin infested polluted planet of depraved and defiled people who oppose God by and large. Trials come for everyone. The just and the unjust. The righteous and the wicked all face challenges and setbacks. The closest this earth was ever to Heaven was back in Eden. Since the bite of the forbidden fruit, it has been a downhill slide. 

We would do well to remember that life will be filled with trials. I am not suggesting there will not be days of triumph mixed in as well. The fact remains, none of us is going to live a trouble-free existence. What we can do is walk keeping our eyes on Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. [Heb 12:2] We can rest assured that He will strengthen us, grant us peace, and help us persevere through those trials. 

One day we will kiss these earthly shells and this earthly life goodbye. Believers in Jesus will shed mortality in exchange for immorality. One day we will get home to Heaven. No more pain or death there. No more sorrows. Every tear will be wiped away. [Rev 21:3-4] It will be endless rejoicing and delight in God's presence. Worship will be wonderful. Authentic. Endless worship for all eternity to the Father and to the Lamb of God slain and resurrected. [Rev 4:1-11]

We only get to Heaven through repentance and faith in the substitutionary atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. [I Jn 2:1-2] It is by His grace and through the shedding of His blood we are saved. [Eph 2:8-9] For those who have believed Heaven awaits. What a day of rejoicing that will be when we get there. There might be some tough sledding between now and then. Let us run our race with endurance until we cross the finish line. [Heb 12:1]

Mud Pies

 There are multiple ways to make a mud pie. You can use water from a puddle to mix with dirt to make them. You can also use a water hose to get water into the dirt. You can even haul water from a faucet to get the ground wet to make mud pies. Out of all the ways you might choose would you choose to use spit? Probably not I am guessing. Spit or saliva as it's properly named is gross. Who would want to handle dirt and spit? Hmmm... Jesus. 

In John 9 Jesus encountered a man who was blind from the day of his birth. Jesus noticed him and then acted. Jesus spit on the ground. I guess it was holy spit. He then worked the spit into some dirt making mud pie paste which He then plastered on the blind man. Some of your stomachs are turning just thinking about this. That certainly was not orthodox. 

What Jesus said next was even more unorthodox. He told the man to go wash in the Pool of Siloam. Some scholars estimate the distance about half a mile from the Temple to the Pool of Siloam. Remember the man could not see. If the distance was not enough of a challenge, it was also a steep descent to the pool. To further complicate matters, the streets were congested with travelers to celebrate a festival. 

The blind man must have stumbled, tripped, and bumped into numerous people on his way. Why did He do it? Each step the blind man took was a step of faith. Each challenge was overcome in the hope that once he washed in the pool he would be healed. People will endure a great deal if they have hoped their endurance will bring about a desired result. 

He must have looked ridiculous staggering along groping for anything to help him keep his balance and find the way. It did not matter that he walked down to that pool with saliva special mud pies caked on his eyes. It did not matter if people stared or whispered. He had one mission to get to the Pool of Siloam and wash. 

Jesus could have healed him instantly. Instead, He chose to heal through a process. He had to work and wait for his healing. I wonder how many reading this can identify. Many are waiting on your healing or your miracle. You are taking steps of faith. You are walking in the belief that Jesus will help you. You are waiting for the miracle to come to fruition. 

Maybe there are some days when doubts eclipse hope like the clouds can eclipse the sun. Maybe you grow weary and lose heart. Keep pressing on. Your miracle could be just around the next bend in the road. Just like the miracle for the blind man was waiting in the water at the Pool of Siloam, your miracle might be waiting at the end of the next prayer, step of faith, or act of obedience. 

Mud pies became miracles in the making. It could be something else for you. Your mud pie could be a Bible promise. A song of hope. A seemingly foolish step of faith in obedience to His instruction. Maybe your miracle will not occur instantly but be more of a process of several steps of faith. It will not matter in the end if God comes through in a powerful way. Will it matter how He does it in the end? Won't we still rejoice in either case? Press on. Keep stepping in faith and trusting our God for the right outcome. 

Scars Tell a Story

 Reading in Acts 16 this morning, I was once again challenged by the examples of Paul and Silas. Their faith was tested and proven under fire. When the heat turned up, they did not turn down on Jesus. In fact, they shone even brighter as heroes of the faith. 

Peter and Silas were arrested for delivering a demon out of a slave girl. This infuriated her masters. They took their complaints to the magistrates who were all too happy to hand out punishment. A beating with rods. Imprisonment and their feet in stocks. 

These two were beaten with bloodied backs exposed to filthy germ invested inner prison. Their feet were shackled in stocks. Everything about this screams discomfort. Search the scriptures and you will not find any whimpering, whining, or weeping. You will not even hear them complaining. If you listen closely, you will hear something else. You will hear them singing hymns of praise to the Lord. 

We complain to God in much less adverse circumstances. It does not take much to set us off on a pity party with God. We maximize our whimpering and minimize our worship when the tough times come. We ask our why questions and make accusations that God does not care. How preposterous that God doesn't care. See John 3:16 and Romans 5:8 and then say God does not care. He forever proved He cares. 

Paul and Silas were beaten and bloodied, but their faith was not broken. They sang through excruciating wounds from their torture. They endured the filth and squalor of their surroundings. They did not defend themselves. They praised in the pain. Acts 16:25 records them doing this at midnight. Things were pretty low in that moment. 

What is your midnight low point? The point when nothing makes sense. Where everything you believe about God is put to the test? To what level are you willing to endure hardship for Jesus and still praise Him? Will you do it with cancer, in the tragic premature death of a family member or close friend, or financial devastation? Will you continue to worship when you have been stabbed in the back by the very people you trusted in your inner circle? Will you continue to sing joyously to the Lord in the midst of chronic illness where good days seldom come, and the agony never ceases? Will you reject bitterness when you are battered and bruised while embracing faith and hope? 

Paul and Silas challenge me. I have complained and cried out unfair in much easier circumstances to my shame. It is so easy to live shortsighted. Paul and Silas were able to live and suffer with the long view of their circumstances. They knew something better awaited them on the other side of the pain at that midnight hour. 

The wounds eventually healed, but the scars remained. Scars are reminders. I see the scar on my right knuckle from knocking a guy's tooth out in a fight. There is a scar on my head from having a plastic chair broken on it. I have a scar where my appendix had to be removed. I added another whopper this summer on my left leg where I fell on Enchanted Rock ripping the flesh causing a deep gash. Each scar tells a story. 

Paul and Silas had scars. Those scars could have reminded them of turning on Jesus in their misery. Abandoning their faith in a crisis hour. Those scars told a far different story. A story of faith and faithfulness. A story of worship in pure sincerity few ever reach on a typical Sunday morning. Those scars testified of a love for Jesus that transcended their own personal comfort or safety. Those scars inspire me all these years later because two servants of God chose to worship rather than whine. I need God's help to follow in their example. What will we do in our midnight crisis hour? Will we quit, throw in the towel, take our hand off the plow, walk away, and turn our backs on the One who placed His back on a cross for us? What story will our scars tell whether they be physical or emotional?  May it never be Lord Jesus. May it never be that we turn on you. 

Titles

 I carry many titles. Pastor. Author. Preacher. President. Mr. Edwards. Coach Edwards. All of those titles mean a great deal to me. 

I take my role as pastor seriously. It is sober calling. I devote myself to all that serving as a pastor entails. Much of it centers around loving people. Caring about the flock is a huge part of my calling. This includes home visits, hospital visits, counseling, praying with people, listening, and leading them. The role of a shepherd/pastor is a huge honor for me. Many years ago I told people that if they could not just call me Matt, I preferred to be called Pastor Matt. It reminds me of my calling to shepherd people. 

I love being an author. It is pure joy to write these posts when the inspiration flows. Writing to me is as second nature as breathing almost. I cannot recall a time in my childhood that I did not want to write after I wrote my first creative writing project. I was hooked. That was nearly 50 years ago. Whether writing a book, poem, or a post for this site, I enjoy communicating through the written word. I am much more effective as a writer than a preacher. People from all over the world read these posts. At last count over 1,400 read on this site yesterday alone. I did not even preach to 100 people in person yesterday. People from countries like Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, USA, and Spain have visited to read these posts in recent days. 

Some call me preacher. I love proclaiming God's word. It is a delight to expound Bible truths with God's help so that people can understand. Whether preaching on a normal Sunday morning to the flock, or fulfilling a preaching assignment for a meeting or a camp is joyous. I take my role as a preacher seriously. 

I carry the title of President for No Compromise Ministries. A 501 C3 non profit ministry Brenda and I started in 1998. This is the umbrella ministry for all my books, outside preaching ministry, and mission work. it is not nearly as active as it was when we first started. 

I have been Coach Edwards all the way back to my boys playing pee wee sports. In recent years that role expanded to coaching work at two different private schools. Whether coaching football, basketball, P.E. classes weightlifting classes, or summer workouts I enjoy loving students as a coach. Investing in them spiritually has been more important to me than coaching them physically. That is the very reason I coach in the first place. To invest in students To point them toward Jesus. It is an honor to be called Coach Edwards. 

I cherish each of those titles in my life. They are not the ones I cherish the most. Two titles mean more to me than all of those others combined. What are they? Husband and Dad. 

Brenda and I have been married for 33 years. We dated another three years. She has been a part of over half of my life. She is my best friend. We have adjusted to the empty nest. We love to spend our Saturdays together. Some days we just sit at home and watch movies on the television. We have been known to stroll through the Farmer's Market or Gipson's Department Store, a store that reminds both of us of our childhoods. We are more in love today than when we married. We have endured trials and enjoyed triumphs. She completes me. She encourages me. She listens to my dreams and works feverishly to nail down the details to make it happen. She is a tremendous follower of Jesus. I seek her counsel on decisions. We do not always see eye to eye, but through consistent communication we come to compromise and work things out. I enjoy growing older with her. I enjoy the simple things like working out together or making dinner. We also enjoy date nights and the big celebrations like birthdays and anniversaries. 

The fact that I grew up without a father, or even knowing my father, makes the title of Dad all the more special to me. I learned to be a dad with Jennifer first. She is Brenda's youngest sister who came to live with us as a teenager. She was troubled and needed love and discipline. She found both in our home. God instructed me to be a dad to her and I tried. Shortly thereafter, Brenda got pregnant with Taylor. We never dreamed of having a large family. We did not plan for any of our children, but God planned each of them. Not long after Taylor we had Tanner and Tucker in rapid fire succession. Then we bookended the last with Turner. 

I take my role as Dad to heart. I wanted to give my sons what I never had. I supported their activities whether it was a ball team or a field trip. I enjoyed the hours in the yard playing with them. Teaching them to throw and catch a ball. Most importantly to instruct them about Jesus. I was at ball games most of the time. I made special time for each son. Something I still enjoy doing today. I often take one of them out to eat alone to talk when they are home. It is special time we started doing when they were youngsters. Now that they are men the conversations are different but the enjoyment on my part is just the same. I listen to their dreams, offer counsel when they ask, and encourage them. They are all grown and out of the house. Taylor is married and has his own family. Tanner and Tucker are finishing up post graduate studies in their chosen fields. Turner is a senior in college and will graduate in May. We very seldom are all together as a family under one roof anymore these days. It is pure joy when we are. 

Husband and Dad mean more to me than pastor, author, preacher, president or coach. I am thankful to God for those relationships. Just having Brenda and my children make me a wealthy man beyond measure. 

God's Connection

 A bone tired traveller was exhausted from days of traveling and trying to sleep in strange places for his job. The fatigue won out over the the strange surroundings as the weary traveler drifted off to sleep. Getting a full night of sleep was a luxury he looked forward to getting. He went to bed with a lot on his mind. Confusing thoughts clouded his mind. Decisions had to be made. Several opportunities had closed on moving forward. He was unsettled about future direction. Subordinates were counting on his to get it right. 

That is when his sleep was interrupted with a vision. It seemed real. Let's define vision as a mental picture. Some of those mental pictures were clarion clear. Others were a little hazy. In his vision, the traveller saw one man calling for help. In the dream he could even make out where the mail hailed from. Did the man's dress give it away? Did the surroundings reveal the location? 

There were no specifics as to what coming to help would entail. It was vague. It could involve dozens of things. Come and live? Come and visit? Come instruct? Come consult? Come and train. Come start a new business? None of these things were spelled out in the vision. Just a man calling for help. 

For most of us, that vision would have been easy to dismiss. Not for our weary traveller known better as the Apostle Paul. The vision came to him after the Holy Spirit had shut doors for him to go to Asia to preach the word and to Bithynia. It was at Troas where Paul fell asleep and had that vision. You can read about it in [Acts 16:9-10] 

There are not many details in the vision other than the ones I listed before. The man was from Macedonia. He was standing and appealing for Paul to come to Macedonia to help. The word appealing has several meanings in the Greek language. It means exhort, encourage, to invite, to implore and to beg. This sounds like the man in the vision was desperate. There is a sense of urgency about his appeal. It was both an invitation and a call from God. 

God is able to do that. He can connect a real need with the person He chooses and calls to meet the need. That happens all the time. People share resources because God instructs them to meet a need in someone's life. God calls people uproot and relocate to meet a missionary need or ministry need. God interrupts plans and comfortable lives calling people to live on mission for Him where needs are not being met. 

Are we open to God connecting other's needs with our ability to help? God had a purpose for closing doors for Paul and opening the door to Macedonia. The same way God has purposes in closing some doors of opportunity while opening others for us. We cannot meet every single need around us. He did not design us to do so. There are some needs that He chooses us to help meet. Our job is to listen attentively. The way He communicates that vision is up to Him. It might be a scripture, a casual conversation, a heavy burden, an unusual occurrence, or maybe even a vision. When He reveals where we are to help, how will we respond? Do we respond in obedient faith? 

Somewhere in the place you live somebody is pleading for God to send help. God hears their plea and He just might be connecting that need to your attention and heart. He might be calling you to get involved. To give a generous donation to someone. To help in an already existing ministry. To start a new ministry where needs are not being met In extreme cases, God might even call you to relocate to connect the needs of other people with you ability to go and help meet them. May we all pray Isaiah's prayer, "Here I am, send me." [Is 6:8]

Payday Someday

 It is easy to lose heart when you see wickedness increasing in our society. As a preacher and writer, it feels like I make very little difference. I preach and write to a very miniscule group of people. Compared to the tsunami of satanic penetration and influence over culture my prophetic prose and pastoral pablum do not stand a chance.  Evildoers keep getting away with it. Justice is denied in favor of the rich and powerful who can buy their ticket to freedom. 

I would lose all hope if I did not keep one thing in mind. No matter how the corrupt climb the ladder of success or who they hurt in the process, there will be a payday someday. The Psalmist records this in [Ps 73]. The Psalmist pens how disheartened he is to see the wicked prospering. He does not understand it. It seems to him that living right and honoring God are in vain compared to those who commit sin and seem to prosper. 

Then he wrote [Ps 73:16-19]. He got a different perspective once he came into the sanctuary of God. In that place of worship God revealed a very important truth. The writer perceived the end for the wicked sinners. Everybody dies. Afterwards people have to face reckoning for what they have done. Nobody gets away with anything in eternity. There is accountability. There is recompense for evils committed. There will be a payday someday. A day of accounting. 

At that time, God will set the sinners feet on slippery slopes. They will have no firm footing as they slide right into the abyss of eternal damnation in hell. Sinners will be cast to destruction, only they will not die, but suffer for eternity for their rebellion against holy God. They will be swept away in sudden terrors. 

This sentiment is echoed in [Gal 6:7] Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows this he will also reap. NAS

Justice will roll onto sinners like huge boulders in an avalanche of God's fury. People will slip and slide into the hot molten lava of God's righteous indignation for rebellion and defiance against His laws. NOBODY GETS AWAY WITH ANYTHING. The guilty verdict will come down like an earthquake. Ten thousand regrets will rise but it will be too late. The fate is sealed, and the doom is certain. 

Sinners, I urge you to repent before it is too late. You will not cheat God. You will not bluff your way into Heaven. Neither will you pull the wool over His all-seeing eyes. All your deeds have been recorded in the annals of Heaven. The history of your life is written. You have no defense. Your father the devil will turn on you and accuse you of all the wrongs you have done. You only have one hope. Repent of your sins and turn to Jesus for His salvation. Believe His death on the cross was for your punishment. [Rom 5:8-9] [Rom 10:13] He took your place and suffered on your behalf. In return, He offers you His righteousness and He is willing to take your sin away and forgive you. [II Cor 5:21] You do not deserve it. None of us do. [Eph 2:8-9] It is a free gift of grace and mercy. If you do this turning to Jesus, you will not face the wrath of God at the Great White Throne Judgment. You can read about that in [Rev 20:11-15] 

I urge you to turn to Jesus before it is too late. Payday is coming someday. Each of us is just one breath and one heartbeat away from eternity. We are all appointed to die and afterwards comes judgment. [Heb 9:27] Let this be day of your salvation. The day you are forgiven. I plead with you to do this before it is too late. 

Sex Trade

 I am sickened this morning. A news article was emailed to me yesterday. I just got around to reading it this morning. In some ways I wished I never did. It is like a punch in the gut. A wicked wallop to my soul. I wish I could just bury my head in the sand and go about my business. I wish I could forget this information. I cannot. Over the past several years my own personal investigations have corroborated what I read this morning. 

Hollywood A-listers and leading politicians are involved in the satanic sex trade of children. Children are ritually abused and swapped like slaves on the auction block. The list of people associated with these evil practices on Epstein Island and now the Diddy Combs case is shocking. The Clintons, Obamas, Jay Z, Beyonce, Oprah, Tom Hanks, George H. Bush, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, just to name a few. 

Several years ago, I read about a video found of Hillary Clinton abusing children. It was turned over to the New York Police Department. The video was reported to be so graphic that several of the officers who saw it were sickened. Some of those same officers have been murdered in the years since that video was released. A link to that alleged video was included in the article I read this morning. I could not bring myself to watch it. I don't want those images in my mind. 

If these abuses are true, why are the offenders walking free? Why have they not been arrested? Why have they not been convicted? If I write to you that the reach of this cabal of debauchery is much wider than you think, would you believe me? Would you believe that agencies like the FBI and CIA can be compromised and even weaponized against opponents in efforts to protect the people who put them in position? You will just dismiss me as another conspiracy theorists. 

Here is the pattern. Upcoming artists and politicians are lured to elaborate sex parties often with children. Cameras are set up in every room. Video evidence is captured of sexual abuse and satanic rituals. These videos are used as blackmail to keep these abusers in line. To have them vote in certain ways, donate money to certain causes, or push certain agendas if they are elected to political offices. 

I know as sure as I write this that I am doing no more good than spitting into the wind. People will label me and think this is just another crazy conspiracy theory. That is because people do not want to know the truth. Highly respected and admired celebrities and political power brokers are Satanists, sexually deviants, child molesters, and compromised morally to the most twisted fetishes imaginable. It is easier to turn a blind eye. To not see the truth. To refuse to go there. To discover the truth for yourself. 

People do not want to talk about the over 300,000 migrant children that have crossed the border in the past four years that our government has lost track of where they are. My best guess is that most of them have been caught in the sex trafficking rings and are sadistically abused repeatedly. 

People laughed off such things as Pizza gate, Epstein Island, and now Sean Diddy Combs. Few want to acknowledge the truth of what the Clinton Foundation and Bill and Melinda Gates foundations really do with all that money. Oprah flashes a smile for television cameras and reportedly does so much good. What happens when the cameras are off? 

This sex slave industry is bigger than any of us care to wrap our minds around. Some might argue, if it is so real why don't we hear more about it. Why aren't people arrested. According to my research the corruption reaches into every area of society. Churches, judges, lawyers, entertainment industry, media, politicians, business moguls, and even law enforcement. 

When whistleblowers break rank and begin to squeal, such people die mysteriously. Suicide. One witness supposedly committed suicide by jumping off an overpass into oncoming traffic. Did he jump or was he thrown people question. Others are killed in plane crashes. Some are just shot and murdered. The grip this has on society is scary. 

Jesus loves children. He welcomed them, embraced them, and most certainly protected them. I cannot imagine how the heart of Jesus must break to see the wicked crimes perpetrated on these precious little ones. How their lives are destroyed forever. He is powerful to heal the broken places. Jesus can renew their minds and reset their shattered hearts. He can lead them to wholeness. 

One of the toughest movies I ever watched was The Sound of Freedom. If you have never seen it, I challenge you to get uncomfortable for a couple of hours to see what really happens every day in our world. I challenge you to start doing your own investigations. Get on your computer and dig deep into the underworld of our society. It will not be easy to digest. Do it for the little ones who are scared, enslaved, broken, and see no way out. May God bring this evil industry down and burn it to the ground. Let the little children come to Him for He is the only One who can deliver them. 

Undesirable

 A very simple definition of undesirable is a person who is not wanted. Have you ever felt that way? I certainly have. It hurts when others look at you and consider that you are not desired. They justify the way they feel, but it does not take the pain away. 

Employers sift through resumes considering the desirable from the undesirable. They may cull certain people because they do not have enough experience, they are too young, too old, do not have enough education, and multiple other criteria. People are more than words printed on a resume. Things like work ethic, commitment to excellence, loyalty, and passion for the work cannot be measured on a job application or a resume. Still worthwhile candidates get cast to the side all the time. 

The same thing happens in romance. People make snap judgments just on the appearance of other people. They may be too tall, too skinny, too short, too fat, too pale or too dark to suit the fancy of prospective lovers. These rejections make people do all sorts of things like diet, do makeovers, shop for new fashionable clothing and get new hairstyles all in vain attempts to become desirable. None of these things reveals the heart of a person. Outward appearance only counts for such in love and romance. 

Undesirable people get isolated, marginalized, cast aside, overlooked, passed over, and rejected. I have known this on multiple occasions as a young man, and as an adult. It made ne work out incessantly as a student hoping to grab the girls' attention. It fueled me to further my education as a man hoping it would open doors for me down the road. Girls still found me undesirable. Churches still passed me over in favor of other pastoral candidates over the years. 

Jesus loves and accepts undesirables. He embraces imperfect people. He welcomes those marginalized by society. That does not mean that He overlooks sin. He sees sin and demands repentance turning to Him for salvation. That does not mean that He does not love. He loves the abused. He cherishes those with checkered pasts. He accepts the unacceptable. He desires the undesirables. 

Now a word to the wise. If Jesus loves all of us that much, and He does, then we do not have to duck our heads in shame. We don't have to live like rejected failures. We do not have to expend our days in isolation trying not to be hurt again. Jesus is attracted to weakness, brokenness, and those shoved to the ash heap of society. His arms are open. His heart is tender. His touch is loving and nurturing. His words are comforting. He has a place for undesirables like me and maybe like some of you. I'm thankful Jesus champions those unwanted. 

Solitary Wheelchair in the Sun

 I had a lot to do this morning. I had pastoral visits to make and in between them I thought I would go early vote to avoid the lines on November 5th. There were lines out the door on this October 23 early voting day. I waited 50 minutes to cast my ballot. 

Before I voted I stopped at a care facility to check on one of our members. This lady has been sick in and out of the hospital for much of 2024. After I parked, I noticed an older lady in a wheelchair out in the parking lot. She was sitting in sunny space just below the road. After my visit, I noticed she was still in that same position. She had not snuck out. Other residents were sitting outside as well. 

Alone. Bound to her wheelchair. Basking in the sun. I had no idea what she was thinking as she watched all the cars go by in a hurry to get to somewhere. Maybe she remembered times when she used to drive down that same road. Perhaps she was lost in thought and preferred to be alone. It is possible that she was lost in worship of God in the beauty of His creation. Maybe she is alone because she has outlived everyone who knew and cared about her. 

At one point, this lady was young. Filled with dreams and aspirations. She was filled with vitality and probably a stunning beauty. I am sure she lived a productive life. At some point that enemy we all must face began catching up to her. Time. Over time young people age. The young and vibrant eventually become old and feeble.

 I contrast the solitary lady in the wheelchair with a young couple waiting in line to vote a few people ahead of me. They had a young child of about two. The wife was pregnant and by the look of things due to deliver in the not-too-distant future. She looked with loving admiring eyes at her baby boy and her husband. The lady in the wheelchair was once young and vivacious just like that young lady today. 

Time catches up with all of us. My college roommate told me about pictures he saw from people we went to college with at the Howard Payne homecoming. He commented about how old they looked. It's nearly been 25 years since we graduated. That happens to all of us. We look older for good reason, WE ARE OLDER. The bodies age. Hair thins. Joints ache. The mind slips a little. Energy levels drop. We grow less sure footed with our balance. Muscles atrophy. Eyesight dims. Hearing may reduce. It is common among us as we age. 

Most of us take our independence for granted. We dash around on our own two feet, and we drive in vehicles with our driver's license making it legal. I visited with an 84-year-old lady today who still has a driver's license, but it has long since expired. She has not driven in years. She needs help to do a lot of things today she used to do on her own before. I have known this lady for decades and though her mind is still sharp, I see the body slowly withering. 

Many times, I stop and reflect in my pastoral ministry that one day it could be me in the wheelchair isolated in a care facility forgotten by people who once knew me. One day people will not care that I was a pastor. Pastors get replaced all the time. Love and loyalties are bestowed on the new man as time and distance make people forget about the aging pastor's ministry. 

We will all grow old one day should Jesus tarry long enough. The question I am pondering today is how we want to be treated when that happens. We can use our last days to be of useful service to the Lord in some ministerial area. We can also age gracefully. Choose joy in the triumphs and the tragedies. In our old age, we will want people to still care for us. So, while we have the chance, let us express that same kind of care to people we know who are getting long in the tooth. One day it could be us sitting solitary in a wheelchair basking in the sun. 

The Precious Word

 There is no book like the Bible. That is because God is the author. He inspired men to write the sacred text of scripture as is explained in II Tim 3:16. It is a living book. [Heb 4:12] God reveals Himself in the Bible. The truths in it are timeless. 

Here are some interesting facts about the Bible. Yearly 100 million Bibles are sold or given away. Let that sink in. 100 million. No New York Times bestselling titles even comes close. One of the best sellers for 2024 sold a mere 120,000 copies. 

The Bible has been translated into 3,000 languages. Think of all the people from all the different cultures who can read about God and the Savior Jesus Christ in their own language. Consider the multitudes that have come to salvation. Think of the numbers who find strength in persecution and afflictions. Can any other book be located that has been translated into 3,000 languages. I don't think so. 

The average American household has four Bibles. I counted my personal copies of God's word and estimate I have 14 different Bibles. Some are worn from preaching and teaching with certain sections becoming unstitched. I have replaced covers on two of them. My favorite preaching Bible had to be retired several years ago from every week use. I have met with God in the pages of those Bibles over the past four decades. 

In a surprising statistic, the Bible is the number one shoplifted book in the world. I think I know why. Desperate people steal a copy hoping to find help in the pages. I am sure if those same people just took the time to ask churches, a Bible would be given so they did not have to steal one. The Bible is a highly desirable book. Yet how many Christians have ones that does not get used. 

The Gideons estimate they have around 700,000 Bibles in hotels. Only God knows how many people have read those Bibles and found comfort, guidance, and some even salvation. What a tremendous ministry. 

One last fact. Every single second. Consider the brevity of a second. Snap your fingers. That is a second. Every second a Bible is sold or given away somewhere in the world. There are 86,400 seconds in a day. That means 86,400 Bibles are sold are given away. That is astounding. 

If my house were to catch on fire and I had my family safely secured outside, the next thing I would grab is my Bible. It is that precious to me. 

Theology

 The word theology is a compound word made up of two words. The word Theos is the Greek word for God. Ology means the study of. Put those together and theology means the study of God. He is worth studying. No subject in the universe is more inexhaustible than studying God. There will always be more to learn. 

The truth is God is infinite, and our study will always be limited by finite minds. We are able to grasp complex concepts, but to fully comprehend God is a whole other matter. It is impossible to know Him fully and yet God wants to be known. He delights to reveal Himself to us in fresh ways when we seek Him with all our hearts. [Jer 29:13] Our limited vocabularies cannot fully grasp all that God was, is, and forever will be. 

It is true that we have the holy book of the Bible where God reveals Himself. That is a living God breathed book. I have devoted 35 years of my life to studying that book, reading it repeatedly, and expounding the truths about God contained in those sacred pages. I have files of thousands of sermons and studies. They are like a thimble filled with ocean water. Nothingness in comparison to the whole of the rest of the ocean. 

We could spend hours devoted to studying one single aspect of God. For instance, consider His love. A love that is purer than other love. A perfect love. An undeserved love. [Rom 5:8] An enduring love. A love that cannot be separated from us no matter what happens or comes against us. [Rom 8:37-39] A proven love. [Jn 3:16] A love totally initiated by God. [I Jn 4:10] A love that began at conception. [Ps 139:13] Who can fully fathom the depths of His love. It is a forgiving love. [I Jn 1:9] An eternal love. [Rom 6:23] 

Mind you, that is just the tip of the iceberg of just one attribute of God. We could study His grace, sovereignty, power, wisdom, compassion, holiness, righteousness, justice, perfection, majesty, massiveness, creative genius, omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence, tenderness, indignation, never grows weary, never slumbers, God in three persons. Go further and study Jesus. Another inexhaustible subject. Move onto contemplating the Holy Spirit in [John 14-16]. It is impossible to fully study God as it is to explore every single inch of every ocean in the world. Just as impossible as trying to count every grain of sand on a beach or desert. 

After you have expended all your days, all your energies, all your mental faculties, and given your best efforts to study God, there will be more to learn. The pursuit of knowing God is the most noble of all pursuits in this life. We should be grateful that true believers will have all of eternity to keep learning and experiencing more of Him. 

You Will Hear a Word Behind You

 Your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way walk in it whenever you turn to the right or to the left." [Is 30:21]

Life is filled with decisions. Some are of greater importance than others. The will of God is of the utmost importance. His will is not something so much to be discovered as it is something for Him to reveal. He can reveal His will in numerous ways. One of those ways is through the voice of the Holy Spirit. 

When I use the word voice, some may get the impression I am referring to an audible voice. That has not happened for me. The voice of the Holy Spirit in my life has been like a strong impression, like a persistent thought in my mind, like a holy hunch. I cannot give you an exact science on how to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit. 

He communicates in various ways. He may speak through scripture, through other people, through dreams or visions. He once spoke to Moses in a burning bush. He spoke to Mary through Gabriel the angel. He spoke to Paul in a vision in the night more than once. He spoke to the apostles all through the book of Acts in a way they could understand exactly what He wanted. The fact of the matter is God can speak through the Holy Spirit in anyway He wishes. That is not the point. 

The point is that He does speak. When faced with difficult decisions the Lord will communicate the best choice. He will guide our paths. He will make His will plainly evident for those seeking and listening. People in the Bible knew when God spoke and they knew what He called them to do. We should expect no less in our day. 

This is the way walk in it. That is what we should all desire to know. For God to guide us continually on this life journey. Like God guided Israel with a cloud in the day and a pillar of fire in the night. We need that same kind of guidance. We need to discern when He wants us to wait and when He wants us to move forward. 

If we are serious about listening, we may not always like the directives He gives. He may require us to turn left when we prefer to go right. He may tell us to pause when we want to charge forward full steam. He may tell us to pick up the pace when we start lagging behind. His ultimate goal is not to make us or keep us comfortable. His goal is His will. What He purposes to do. That requires living in a state of constant surrender on our parts. 

Living surrendered is total abandonment to God and His desires. You can throw five and ten year plans out the window. He does care about our vision and mission statements. He purposes to do things where we live. He chooses us to be a part of those plans. He assigns us certain roles in His unfolding drama. We do not get to choose the parts we play. We seek and listen. Then we trust and obey. 

We say we want God to speak to us. Sometimes I wonder if what we really mean is that we want Him to speak comforting devotional words. I am not sure we all want Him to speak life altering, course changing, faith requiring messages placing us on mission for Him. That is part of the price of wanting Him to speak. He can speak any message at anytime calling us to do anything He pleases. 

For Abraham in meant a change in location. For Moses that meant a change in vocation. For the disciples it meant a change in both. For Paul it meant living a nomadic life as a bi-vocational church planter constantly on the move. For several of Jesus' followers it meant death as a martyr. Others suffered violently for following His voice. 

I am thinking of that old song sung at altar calls in some churches where some of the words are; I have decided to follow Jesus, though none go with me I still will follow, the world behind me and the cross before me, my cross I'll carry until I see Jesus, no turning back. That is sometimes the price required for hearing Him speak. It's not always comforting words and soothing sounds when He speaks. Do we want a fresh word from Him? Do we invite Him to speak His message? Will we trust and obey?

Do I Dare Believe?

 I read [Jn 14:13-14] this morning. Do I dare believe what Jesus said? Can I really take Him at His word? If I truly believe what He promised, the implications are profound. Those are questions I jotted in my journal  this early morning. 

I do not want to be fooled. I have so much to trust God to do right now. He alone is my only hope in numerous areas. I started with one simple request. I asked God to speak a simple answer to a question I have asked Him for the past year. I prayed and waited for His reply. I am still waiting for Him to answer. 

Do I dare believe that if I pray wanting His will first and foremost, not motivated by selfish gain, and with the desire to glorify Him I can ask and believe that I will receive? If I dare believe Jesus will do what He said, then I should live in expectation on a daily even an hourly basis for the answers. Jesus is not limited today in His ability to do anything. He said in other places that if I had faith the size of a mustard seed He would do great things. That is a very tiny amount of faith and I know I have that much. Mountain moving faith is needed for the things that concern me. [Mark 111:23-24] If I pray according to His will He said I will have what I ask. [I Jn 5:14-15] I dare to believe that. 

I'd be crazy not to believe. It would be to my detriment, to the detriment of my family, and the people I serve as pastor not to believe. I come with a heart and mind full of faith asking and believing. Jesus did not say how quickly He would give what is asked. He just said we would receive it at some point. That could be today, weeks from now, or even years down the road. The timing is His concern. My job is to believe. For as long as it takes. 

So, on this 21st day of October in the year of our Lord 2024, I ask and believe Jesus to do some big things. So big, if I shared them with you, major doubts would creep into your mind. You might even think I am crazy. Shucks. You may think already after reading these posts over the past several years. Let's just say when the answers come the Lord will get plenty of glory. He will be praised. Testimonies will be shared to encourage others. Now it is waiting in faith. I dare NOT believe Jesus and NOT take Him at His word. He has earned the right to be trusted. He says what He means. He waits to be taken seriously. I for one dare to believe. 

Chasing Shadows

 Did you ever chase your own shadow as a child? I did. I ran after that shadow caused by the sun. I sprinted after that shadow, but if I ever caught up to it, I found that I caught up with nothing. Chasing shadows is an exercise in futility. 

Grown people do the same thing on a daily basis. They chase the shadows of some illusion of what they think will make them happy. A new marriage partner, a new job, a change of scenery, to get a job promotion, or to purchase a house. Always chasing something. Expending precious days in the persistent pursuit of phantom things that can never satisfy. Nothing on this earth can ever ultimately satisfy the deepest cravings of our soul. 

Those cravings can only be satisfied by God and eternal things. As long as Satan can keep us chasing shadows alluring with the next thing, we fail to stop and realize we are chasing these things in vain. Things we chased in the past did not satisfy, but we are deceived into thinking the next thing will finally bring that elusive contentment we have always longed for. 

I admit I have chased my share of shadows. Even when I finally caught them, or secured that thing I wanted so badly, I did not find any more contentment then than I had while still chasing. At one time I was convinced that owning my own home would bring that elusive satisfaction I sought. It did not. Just four years later I prayed begging God to sale that long sought after house after we relocated to a new ministry. 

The Psalmist wrote in Ps 73:25 that besides God there was nothing on earth he desired. Can we say that? Can we honestly confess that we crave God more than anything or anyone on this planet? God sees the truth. He knows how much of our time, energies, and even prayers are spent chasing shadows. What will it take to wake us up so we do not waste an entire life doing this?

I can read scriptures like Phil 3:7-8 and Phil 3:10-12, but I still get duped into chasing shadows from time to time. I am ashamed to admit how much I have wasted over my life chasing after empty allurements that could never fill the longings of my heart. The only way to wise up is to stay connected to God and focused on His word. It is when I peek my eyes above the pages that I get off track. Let me chase after Him and not after shadows. 

Living in the Present

 I visited with one of our senior adult ladies last night. We talked about life and getting older. I asked if she ever dreamed she would be where she is right now. She responded that her whole life she just lived in the present moment she was in. What a great way to live. 

There are plenty of people stuck in the past. They live their lives looking back over their shoulder at the good old glory days. The recall life when they were foot loose and fancy free in high school or college. The recount exploits they accomplished. You may especially see this in former athletes. They make themselves to be legends in their own minds. The tales get larger with time. 

On the other hand, there are people who live with past regrets. They cannot forgive themselves for a sinful blunder, a moral failure, or a very poor decision that resulted in painful consequences. I agree with the adage that we should learn from our mistakes. We cannot go back and undo them. Why waste the time pining away in regret and remorse. It is a waste of energy. Paul exhorts us to forget what lies behind and to reach forward to what lies ahead. [Phil 3:13] The past is in the past. We cannot recapture it. Yesterday is gone forever no matter how much nostalgia it still holds. 

There are other people who are wide-eyed dreamers. They live in the future tense. They are so focused on what they are going to do one day when they get around to it that they miss out on life right in front of them. Parents do this trying to make money and then one day realize the kids are grown and out of the house. They miss out of those wonderful bonding memories of early childhood all the way up to graduation from high school. 

Some dream so much about what they are going to do, but they never get around to doing it until it is too late. They are oblivious to the mercies and blessings of God all around them. They chase after the next dream, get rich quick scheme, or promotion. There is nothing wrong with having vision and pursuing goals. Not to the point of missing life in the here and now. If a person dreams but never does, they will waste a great of their life.

It is rare to find someone content to live in the present. These people age well. They do not try and hide their age with fashionable clothing more fit for teens than senior adults. They own their age with silver hair, wrinkles, and a few aches and pains to boot. Like Paul they learned to be content in whatever circumstances they are in at the moment. [Phil 4:11] It is a treasure to find people who enjoy life no matter what age they are. Singles who enjoy being single and the freedom to follow God on mission without the restraints of a family. Students who make the most of learning instead of wanting to hurry up and be grown and get into the work force. People starting their careers in entry level positions who are content to work faithfully where they are instead of striving to climb the ladder. Retired people who are not grumpy ranting about their dislikes. Middle agers who are not going through life altering mid-life crisis. 

Living in the present is a gift. For instance, it is nearing the end of a very productive day. I could shut it all down and call it done. Living in the present meant capturing that memory from last night and corralling those thoughts into words. I still have seven minutes before 5:00 p.m. Soon my bride of 33 years will walk through our front door. It really does not matter what we do tonight. I want to live in the present and just enjoy her company. A blessing I do not want to take for granted. 

Increase Our Faith

 Who wouldn't want stronger faith? Who does not need a more potent faith to cope with day-to-day challenges? In Luke 17:5 the apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith. Is that a prayer that we also need to pray?

The word increase in that passage means to add, be brought further, given more, and to proceed. For whatever measure of faith, we have today, we could all use more. We need God to add to our faith. To take us further in faith than we have been before. Give us more and more to match the challenges of life. To proceed further in life and kingdom causes than we could ever go in our own strength. 

Muscles grow and are strengthened when they are repeatedly put under stress. That is why track athletes train vigorously running to strengthen their legs and increase their lung capacity. The stress is not pleasant when going through it, but the return is optimal performance in competition. 

The same principle is true for lifting weights. The more stress the muscles endure the bigger they grow and the stronger they become. I teach a weightlifting class. The principle is simple. I do not repeat the same workouts for each class. I design the workouts to continually shock and strain muscles to do something that forces them to work harder. The end result is those muscles grow, and strength grows to lift heavier weights. 

If we really want God to increase our faith, we must be willing to have faith strained and stressed in a series of tests. We do not like these challenges. As we age, we want a more comfortable and secure life. We certainly do not want to have to exercise faith to endure some new challenge. That is the way faith is increased. With each challenge and prayerful belief for God to see us through the challenge, faith increases and grows stronger. In time, we are able to handle greater challenges because our increased faith believes God is able to handle each challenge before us no matter how daunting. We can look back on His past faithfulness to bolster faith for future answers. 

Do we really want the Lord to increase our faith? I certainly do. I am facing numerous faith challenges ahead. I can see them on the horizon. I can doubt and give into fear. Or I can flex that faith God has increased and challenged for the past three decades. Some of these challenges are big. I see no solution in my own resources. I'm not tapping into my resources. I am trusting God to do something miraculously marvelous. My favorite part of that cycle is when I get to sit behind this computer tapping the keys to brag on God or stand behind a pulpit and testify about what He has done. 

O Lord, we plead that you increase our faith. Give us more and more. Help us not shy away from the process to get that increase. May you be glorified by all the answers to prayer. 

Free?

 Martin Luther Jr. stood at the mall in Washington, D.C. and proclaimed his famous "I Have A Dream," speech. He worked toward racial equality. He wanted people to experience freedom. Liberty. Deliverance from racism and segregation. He worked tirelessly for it. 

Can people live in a land of freedom and not be free? You could be a citizen of the United States and yet be incarcerated. In that case, such people would not live in freedom. There are others who live in bondage day in and day out. Bondage to all sorts of things like fear, anxiety, addiction, and the opinions of others people. These people live in a land of freedom but are not free themselves. 

There are many Christians who do not live in freedom. Even though Jesus offers freedom. 

John 8:32–36 (NASB95)

³²and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 

³³They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?” 

³⁴Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 

³⁵“The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 

³⁶“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

Such live in bondage. They are enslaved. They wear invisible chains shackling them to some emotion, sin, or thought that enslaves them like a prisoner. Christians under bondage work feverishly to keep their bondage a secret for fear of being judged. Satan loves to hold people hostage by their secret sins. 

It saddens me how many live in bondage to something. It is pornography for many men. It is a poor self image for many women. It is bondage to the opinions of people for some. Others battle the bondage of the will to continue doing things that displease God. Multitudes are in bondage to depression. Many are in bondage to addiction. A slavery they cannot seem to escape. 

Can such people be liberated? Jesus said they could. He said He could make people free. To deliver them from bondage. To break the chains. To set at liberty those held captive. [Luke 4:18-19]. Is this really true? Can we really expect people who are enslaved to sin to be set free? I certainly think it is. I know Jesus has the power to do what He says. Do we believe Him and take Him at His word? We need to see this again.  People delivered from demonic bondage. 

The fact is most people who are in bondage do not trust anyone enough to cry out for help. I get it. Christians can be gossiping judgmental immature husks of Jesus followers. It is understandable why those in bondage do not trust those in the church. Therefore, the cycle of bondage continues from one generation  to the next. Generational curses continue passed down for decades and even centuries. It appears freedom is out of reach when the truth is it is there for the taking by faith. When Jesus sets a person free, they will actually be free. This is good news. No, it is great news. May we walk in the freedom Jesus purchased for us. 

Bed Bugs

 I visited with a man in the hospital today. He is recovering nicely from his illness, but still grieves the loss of his wife several months ago. They were married 44 years. They were just teenagers when they married. People thought they were crazy kids. Truth is they were crazy in love and remained in love until she died of cancer. Her loss has been difficult for him to get over. 

We visited for a long time. He did most of the talking. I listened. Then he told me a story that I just had to get down for others to read. A story about bed bugs of all things. 

The story starts with him visiting his mother in law in a care facility. She brought something to him on a napkin and asked if he could identify what it was. He identified a bed bug. He went in to investigate her bed closer and sure enough those little creatures were everywhere. 

He told her to wrap a few belongings in a garbage bag and to come stay with him until the property owners could rectify the situation. The man testified God was in those bed bugs. He was so depressed he could not function. Memories of his wife were everywhere in the home. He sat there alone for weeks weeping his eyes out. 

God used the bed bugs to get his mother in law to come stay with him. God used the tiny vessels of beg bugs to send a minister to stay with him in his grief. He needed someone but was not going to ask for help. He knew she was also grieving the loss of her daughter and the loss of her husband six years ago. He believes God orchestrated the beg bugs to get his mother in law to come minister to him in this season. She is still there because the beg bugs are still in her assisted living apartment. 

How much does God care about His children? Enough to send bed bugs? Enough to send fleas? When Corrie ten Boon and her family were arrested by the Nazis and thrown into Jewish concentration camps, the conditions were miserable. It did not take long before her and her sister discovered the barracks they stayed in were infested with fleas. They could not sleep at night from the hundreds of bites and clawed their skin trying to find relief. If their imprisonment was not enough misery, they had to add the madding torment of fleas. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise. 

Because the fleas were so rampant the guards seldom came into their barrack. When they smuggled a Bible inside, it went undiscovered for a long time because the fleas kept the guards away. God comforted those women in torturous conditions with His word, and they were unafraid because they knew the guards feared getting the fleas personally, so they stayed away. 

How much does God care? Is He concerned about the minute details? He is concerned enough about the well being of His children that He will use a bed bug and a flea to accomplish His purposes. Remember that the next time you are inconvenienced. God might just use your inconveniences to show how much He cares.