IN A TIME OF DISTRESS

 Image result for google clip art showing distress
 Another verse comes to my attention in my reading for today: "Now in the time of his distress this same King Ahaz became yet more unfaithful to the Lord."  2 Chronicles 28:22.  He went to a number of sources for help because Assyria was preparing to come against Judah.  He resorted to sacrifice to the "gods of  Damascus" to appeal for relief.  Fully entrenched in self-deception, he cuts up the utensils used for worship in the house of God and "he closed the doors of the house of the Lord, and made altar for himself in every corner of Jerusalem."  Please also note that Scripture records that all of his ways are recorded in the "Book of Kings of Judah and Israel."

Two observations come to mind from Scripture and both from Paul to the readers of that age and still pertinent today: "Now these things happened to them as an example and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come."  I Corinthians 10:11 and Romans 15:4, "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."  

Like you, I have experienced dis tress and dis ease in my years.  I remind you first of what does NOT bring about relief...from my own experience...anger, bitterness, judgment of others, being more critical or cynical, and NOT even chocolate gives the relief that is necessary!  BUT, 1 Peter 5:6-7,  "Humble yourselves therefore, under the might hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He care for you."  This choice alleviates some of the stress and admits to the Lord what HE already knows...I can't handle it, BUT HE IS ABLE, so I list my cares of distress and dis ease and cast on HIM freeing HIM for His working.  Of course, I have to repeat the truth often because I have given in to some default operatives in the past.  I will still struggle, but now, I am learning an obedient way.  Ever learning! In process! #IHAVETHREESONS

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THOSE SEEING CAN BECOME BLIND

Image
John 9 is the story of the healing of the blind beggar.  Not only is it a marvelous story of the miraculous healing of the man as he is given his sight, but a sad story of the religious of whom Jesus said, "For judgment, I have come into this world, so that the blind will see, and those who see will become blind ." The religious have seen the miracle, even though it has taken place on a Sabbath, and they interview the man and his parents for their stories and understanding. I find it so thrilling that the healed man speaks so articulately and logically with the religious in their "interview" with him.  His statement, " Now that is remarkable!  You don't know where HE comes from, yet HE opened my eyes.  We know that God does not listen to sinners.  He listens to the godly man who does His will.  Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing." What truth he has spoken to the religious wh
Read more

REHEARSALS

Image
  I wonder how much time do I give to rehearsing God's goodness and how He has intervened in my life to "save" me from myself?  How alike the Israelites I can be, complaining about what goes wrong, how it affects me, and what I lack.  As a Christ follower, I have the Indwelling Holy Spirit to give me remembrance NOT of my complaining and grumbling, but of a recall of God's faithfulness to me.  It is recorded in Psalms 78 and 106 that " They forgot what He had done, the wonder He had shown them", "They did not remember His power--the day He redeemed them from the oppressor...", "They did not remember Your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.", "But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.", and "They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt...". Contrast with me, God's remembrance: Ps. 106:44-46, "But He took note of their distress
Read more

ORDER AND DESIGN

Image
    I do not have OCD, but I do confess that I like order in my home.  Now that I am retired, I am not so much into spotless, but "picked up" and "kinda" clean. (Do not open drawers and closets!) I might go to more trouble when I know I am having company, but otherwise, I remove the clutter that seems to reproduce on its own.   When I began the reading in Genesis in January, I was again taken with the with the orderliness and design of God in creation, and have seen Him use Moses and Aaron to ORDERLY marshal the Israelites to move out of Egypt. How do you move some 600+ males and that is not even wives and children? Animals also?  They have been one year+ out of Egypt, and have been camped at Mt. Sinai where God has given them laws for their spiritual and physical welfare.  God gives Moses the design of the Tabernacle and Moses is able to bring together the workers to complete the Tabernacle.   The clip art at the top is the positioning of the 12 Tribes and the
Read more