Mysterious – God's character from A to Z

Did you ever wish God would tip His hand, so to speak, and let you in on some of His secrets? You know – stuff like

• when Jesus is coming back
• how He deals with the remote lost (who never got a chance to hear the Gospel)
• why suffering exists
• how to reconcile the ideas of predestination and free choice
• what tomorrow will bring
• whether believers are “once saved, always saved” or not
• how long you will live (in this life)
• what happened to Elijah
• the name of the Antichrist
• where Adam and Eve’s daughters-in-law came from
• whether the Rapture will be before or after the Great Tribulation
• and other tricky questions.

How would it be, if the great Jehovah were to pull back the curtain, so to speak, and give us an eyeful of things to come? What if He were to spell out the truths behind some of our most controversial biblical debates?

Yet He doesn’t do it. At least, not all the time. Maybe even rarely.

God is mysterious.

Surely He keeps certain details close for strategic reasons, in His own wisdom. I sometimes wonder if perhaps God holds back some of His secrets, simply because we could not handle the answers. Would it undo us to learn the times of our deaths? Would it change the choices we make?

Also, I believe God holds back some of the theological answers to leave room for our faith. Are we willing to trust Him, even if we still carry difficult questions?

The bottom line is simple; the Almighty is under no obligation to explain Himself to us. He needs not justify His choices for our satisfaction.

But often, the Lord of hosts does reveal precious truths to those who seek Him closely.

“Call to Me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3, NIV)

Once in a while, if we draw near enough to the heart of the Father with our spiritual eyes wide open and a willing attitude, we can enjoy revelations of God’s own secrets, spelled out just when we need them the most. Maybe we get a glimpse of His glory, a hearty helping of His holy love, or a personal reassurance that His promises still stand.

Then we are called to trust Him in His mysterious ways again – until that day, when we see Him wholly in His holiness, and our stored-up questions fall away.

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God Works Wonders = #19 of 30 Days of God's Promises

It’s easy to be astonished at current events – locally, nationally, and globally. Pick up any newspaper, and prepare to be shocked. But not necessarily in a good way.

Sometimes we may wonder what is really going on in our world these days.

Today’s Bible promise points to another kind of wonder.

Look at the nations and watch –

and be utterly amazed.

For I am going to do

something in your days

that you would not believe,

even if you were told.

(Habakkuk 1:5, NIV)

Our wondrous God may be the only One who doesn’t ever wonder what’s going on around here.

What a relief! Now, don’t you just wonder what He’ll do next?

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A to Z Answers: Trust is a Test

From time to time, perhaps even the most faith-filled believer may be fearful for a fleeting moment. Does fear signal a lack of trust in God?

Of course, we know that God is omnipotent, or all-powerful. We understand that Jesus has already won the eternal victory. We have banked our hearts in His hands for Heaven.

Still, don’t we have those scary little moments, when something sets off an alarm inside of us? Can you remember a moment when you wanted to creep under the covers and pull the coverlet right up over your head?

Yes, we know that God is greater than all of our fears.

We get that, and we are more grateful that we can even express. In the big picture, we lean on the Lord for His powerful protection.

We may confess wholeheartedly and sincerely that we are willing to go to the mat for the Master. And we mean it. So why do we tremble when we stumble down scary streets, listen to rumblings of potential layoffs at work, or await a potentially unfavorable medical diagnosis?

Welcome to humanity. We’re still fighting with our own flesh, aren’t we? The battle has been won, but we’re still living it out.

But He is bigger than our battles.

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Personally, I just wish I could remember that in those temporary times when something scary startles me. When I feel threatened momentarily, I want to react faster in faith.

After all, even when we’re not paying attention, He is holding us.

The LORD is my light and my salvation--so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?

(Psalm 27:1, NLT)

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A to Z Answers: Daily Discoveries of the Divine

Have you ever asked God to reveal Himself to you? Did you pray for Him to prove His Presence?

This is a petition He begs us to pray and promises to answer.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD.

(Jeremiah 29:11-14a, NIV)

 

Verily, we need no binoculars, telescope or other gear to catch a glimpse of God.

Hasn’t God already revealed Himself in innumerable ways?

Martin Luther (1483-1546), tagged by many as the father of the Protestant Reformation, said this about divine discovery:

Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.

One of my all-time favorite poets, Christina Rossetti (1830-1894) penned a poem that likened God’s Spirit to the wind, as many believers still do.

Who has seen the wind?
Neither I nor you.

But when the leaves hand trembling,

The wind is passing through.

Who has seen the wind?

Neither you nor I.

But when the trees bow their heads,

The wind is passing by.

Today is particularly windy. As I look out my office window on this early spring day, I can see branches waving, blown by great gusts. Tomorrow, those limbs may appear motionless, but that doesn’t mean the air is gone.

God is always around, whether we stop to notice Him or not.

In fact, the Bible says He has shown Himself to the world. Did we miss something?

Sing to the LORD a new song,
   for he has done marvelous things;
His right hand and His holy arm
   have worked salvation for Him.
The LORD has made His salvation known
   and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
He has remembered His love
   and His faithfulness to Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen
   the salvation of our God.

(Psalm 98, NIV)

Maybe it’s time to revisit our memories of divine visitations.

Of course, the greatest revelation of God is yet to come.

Every valley shall be raised up,
   every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
   the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
   and all people will see it together.
            For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

(Isaiah 40:4-5, NIV)

It sure doesn’t sound like we’ll miss the signals then!

In the meantime, I aim to look closer for those daily discoveries of God’s Presence in my own life. I don’t want to miss a single special moment.

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.

(Hebrews 11:6, NLT)

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Will you join us for the A to Z Blogging Challenge?

You can sign up online to join the A to Z Blogging Challenge for 2012. Be sure to check out the Facebook page too. If you do sign up, you will want to add the A to Z Blogging Challenge graphic and link to your blog.

This year, I’ve signed up to do six blogs for the A to Z Blogging Challenge:

• Heart of a Ready Writer
• Meme Express: Blog Prompts
• Nickers and Ink: Poetry and Humor
• Practically at Home
• The Mane Point: A Haven for Horse Lovers
• Working in Words

Will you “follow” these blogs and encourage me along the way by reading and commenting? Be sure to leave links to your own posts, if you’re doing the A to Z Blogging Challenge too! That way, my readers can find your blogs as well.

Feel free to follow on GooglePlus and Twitter. You are also invited to join this writer's fan page, as well as the Chicago Etiquette Examiner, Madison Holidays Examiner, Equestrian Examiner and Madison Equestrian Examiner on Facebook.

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Kickin' It with the King of Kings

Kickin' It with the King of Kings

“What’s in a name?” William Shakespeare asked (Romeo and Juliet, II, ii, 1-2).

Names count for plenty!

I love Jesus, and I love all of the names by which He has been called. In the Bible, the Savior has been tagged with several terrific terms.

Here are 15 of my favorite names of Christ:

1. Bread of Life (John 6:35, 48)
2. Bridegroom (Matthew 9:15)
3. Bright and Morning Star (Revelation 22:16)
4. Dayspring (Luke 1:78)
5. Desire of all nations (Haggai 2:7)
6. Faithful and True (Revelation 19:11)
7. Forerunner (Hebrews 6:20)
8. Lamb of God (John 1:29, 36)
9. Light of the World (John 1:8; 8:12)
10. Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5)
11. Lord of Hosts (Isaiah 44:6)
12. Our Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7)
13. Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)
14. Redeemer (Job 19:25; Isaiah 59:20; Isaiah 60:16)
15. Shepherd and Overseer of Souls (1 Peter 2:25)

Hallelujah! He is the King of Kings (1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14). And He is our Healer, the Great Physician (Mark 2:16-17).

Read the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), and you will be amazed at the number of times Jesus healed the sick, the lame and the hurting. He mended bodies, minds and souls everywhere He walked.

Do you need healing?

I surely do, and I know many others who pray earnestly for the same thing.

Daily, I pray for healing for loved ones with broken bodies and fractured feelings. Cancers, strokes, seizures, heart conditions and other maladies trouble people I care about.

Personally, I plead with God for a cure for a chronic medical condition with which I was diagnosed a couple of years ago, for freedom from frequent migraines, and for mending of traumatic injuries I sustained last summer in a riding accident. But in my mind’s eye, I’m kicking up my heels with the King of Kings.

What do you ask of the Great Physician?

Infirmities take many forms, but the Lord is the answer to each kind of struggle. Perhaps He will heal us immediately. Maybe He will lead us on a journey of gradual improvement. In the end, those who follow Him will find the complete answer to our prayers.

“But for you who revere My Name,

the Sun of Righteousness

will rise with healing in its rays.

And you will go out and frolic

like well-fed calves.”

(Malachi 4:2, NIV)

If healing tarries, what can we do?

I love stories like this. Country star Brad Paisley just released a new hit single, titled “Hard Life.” The message is powerful, and downloads benefit the A-T Children’s Project. Personally, this cause touches my heart as much as the song lyrics do, as my granddaughter lives with A-T daily.

“Hard Life” was written by Joe Kindregan (23), a pal of Paisley’s, who also has A-T.

Give the song a listen. See what you think.

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Life is hard, no matter what we face. Every one of us has a story, filled with challenges of our own flavors.

But thank God for sending the King of Kings, the Bright and Morning Star, the Prince of Peace and the Light of the World as a baby in Bethlehem to offer hope of healing and a reason for living.

He knows your name and mine. And He is the Answer.

One day, sooner or later, may we all be kickin’ it with the King of Kings.

Related Items:

Accepting the Reality of a Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis

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Top 10 Bible Verses for Get Well Cards

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Devotion, a Dream and a Donkey

Devotion, a Dream and a Donkey

Have you ever ridden a donkey? Maybe you’ve taken a spin on a bouncing burro, an amble on an ass or a stroll on a saddled-up donkey at a county fair or a farm visit. How did it feel?

OK, here’s a tougher question.

Did you ever take a trail ride on a donkey? I have, and it’s a very different experience than riding a horse. Donkeys tend to trudge along, and it can be a bit of a bumpy ride. Often reluctant, these smaller equids may require a bit more persuasion than ponies or other swifter steeds.

Imagine Mary and Joseph, facing a journey across the wilderness to Bethlehem.

Can you picture young Mary, wide-eyed and wondering, as she carried the Christ child inside her body? Still a virgin, she had only the word of the Lord’s angel to point to the prodigious path she was to walk. Friends and family members scorned her when she turned up pregnant before marriage.

And Mary was probably no more than 14 years old.

How about Joseph, the earnest carpenter, who arranged with Mary’s parents to wed their teen daughter? Good-hearted, he offered to call off the wedding quietly, when his bride-to-be began to bloom in maternal anticipation. Waking up from a dream, in which an angel clued him in to God’s secret plan, confirming his beloved Mary’s claims, Joseph was emboldened to marry the pregnant teen.

Then Caesar Augustus called for his census.

The emperor’s decree called for all men in the Roman world (which then included the Holy Land) to travel to their birthplaces and register for a census. That order sent Joseph packing for Bethlehem, about a 65-mile trek from his carpenter shop in Nazareth.

He loaded his bride, then in the final stages of pregnancy, onto the donkey for the trip. The journey took Joseph and Mary through rough terrain, mostly uphill. They likely slept outdoors on the ground, warming themselves by campfire, with the donkey grazing nearby.

Perhaps Joseph offered Mary his own robe in the night chill, hoping to comfort her in her full-blown prenatal expectancy.

Riding a donkey, bumping up and over rocky hillsides, would have been enough to send nearly any expectant mother into labor.

If you wonder how this trip might have felt for the faithful couple, take a look at “The Nativity Story” (2006). Here’s the movie trailer. Look particularly at 1:38 (and following) in the video.

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Finally, after many days, they ascended the hills of Judah to Jerusalem (where Jesus would again enter by donkey, some 30 years later) and then continued to Bethlehem, where Mary bore the Christ child in the stable of an overbooked inn.

This story has always puzzled me a bit. I have often wondered about the arduous ordeal Mary and Joseph faced.

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Why would God not have kept Mary more comfortable, as she carried His own Child?

The Virgin Mary faced rumors of premarital infidelity and likely fears of her own, probably from the very onset of morning sickness and the earliest confirming signs that a child was forming in her womb. Turning up unmarried and with child could be cause for stoning in that age.

Plus, motherhood is challenging enough, but those last days of pregnancy can be downright difficult. Why didn’t Jehovah Jireh, the Provider, make more amenable arrangements for the mother of the Son of God?

Joseph likely was mocked by his peers in Nazareth, as he took in a wife who bore another’s child. Maybe folks assumed the baby was his own, snickering about secret transgressions.

Certainly, Mary and Joseph were uncomfortable most of the time. Their entire journey was anything but convenient. Still, they continued to trust God.

What was the Lord trying to prove by sending His Son under such circumstances?

The mind of God is unfathomable. We may never fully understand His plans and purposes. Maybe He leaves such questions unanswered, so we must trust Him anyway.

Could it be that the Almighty is more concerned with our adoration than our accommodations? Is God focused on our commitment or our circumstances, on our hearts or our homes, on our prayers or our pain, on our wonder or our wealth?

Maybe it’s not all about us, after all.

The birth story of the Messiah is filled with humanity and humility. Jesus arrived in nitty-gritty down-to-earth drama, even as young Mary bore Him in a lonely stable with animals rustling around nearby.

The King of Kings and Lord of Lords needed no elegant horse-drawn carriage or gilded cradle. There, in a barn, rough-hewn from a mountain cave, Jesus arrived in humble holiness. Angelic midwives, seen or unseen, drew Him forth.

And the Heavens erupted with song.

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace

to those on whom His favor rests.”

(Luke 2:14, NIV)

What more do we need?

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Promotional Stills from

The Nativity Story

New Line Cinema (2006)

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August 23rd - Sin’s Sores and a Savior

Sin’s Sores and a Savior

(Jeremiah 30:1-34; 31:1-26; 33:10-13)

The Healer

Artist Unknown

In a dream, the Lord spoke to Jeremiah, His Old Testament prophet. God described the dire straits of His people and humankind in general.

“This is what the Lord says:

‘Your wound is incurable,

your injury beyond healing.

There is no one to plead your cause,

no remedy for your sore,

no healing for you.’”

(Jeremiah 30:12-13, NIV)

What is this fatal wound the Lord outlined? Could this be sin, the plague of humanity throughout history? Who has not tried to assuage his or her own guilt and shame through all sorts of deeds and means, which all proved to be fruitless?

Is there nothing that can be done to remove the gangrenous and gaping gash of our own guilt, so we may be healed and holy before the only true God?

Of course, the Lord Himself provided the answer, in His own Person. For He is our Healer, Deliverer, Redeemer, Restorer, Savior and King.

“’But I will restore you to health

and heal your wounds,'

declares the Lord.”

(Jeremiah 30:17a, NIV)

May His name be ever praised! And may the Lord of love write His own name upon our hearts, as He draws us ever closer to His own.

"I have loved you with an everlasting love;

I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”

(Jeremiah 31:3b, NIV)

Will you pray with me?

Holy Helper,

Redeemer and Restorer

Of our hearts,

Only You can make us whole.

Let us look to You

For healing,

Within and without,

For we can do nothing

Apart from Your grace

And power.

Amen.