The Impossible

The Impossible

by | Aug 6, 2023 | Sunday Scripture

Darlene Rose was stuck in a Japanese concentration camp. The conditions were rough, they were fed meal-wormy food, and she was beaten and bruised, close to giving up. 

Darlene Rose had been serving as a missionary to the native people of Papua New Guinea in the early 1940s when war broke out. Soon the Japanese invaded the village and not long thereafter all the foreign personnel and missionaries were rounded up and taken to a Japanese run concentration camp where they were forced to do back breaking labor. 

As an American living in the south Pacific at this time, Darlene was subsequently accused of spying on the Japanese for the Americans. This led to an even harsher internment as she was soon taken to a higher security camp and thrown into a solitary cell. Darlene read the sign above the door as she entered- she was on death row. 

During her confinement Darlene suffered from malaria. Darlene was able to grasp the bars on her little window in their cell and pull/crawl up just enough to get a little air to help soothe her fever. One day she looked out the window to see someone eating a banana. A banana! It looked so good! Her months of watery porridge had worn on her and suddenly all she wanted in the world was one banana. 

Darlene decided to pray about it. She asked the Lord to send her just one banana, please, just one! Having completed her prayer, she set about thinking how the Lord could get her a banana. There was an older guard who was somewhat nice to her, maybe he would give her a banana–but no. If he was caught he would be beaten or killed. After thinking about it a while longer, she finally concluded that there was just no way that God could get a banana into her cell. 

Shortly after she finished praying, there was a knock at her cell door and the door opened to reveal one of the guards from the camp she had been interned at first. She was glad to see him, and she shared the gospel message with him. He left and Darlene was grateful she had had the opportunity to share the gospel with him.

A while later a knock came at her cell door, the door opened, and a man stood there holding an armload of bananas for her. The guard from the first camp had unknowingly been the one sent to help answer Darlene’s prayer and he managed to send her 92 bananas! 

Do you believe God can do the impossible in your life?

In Ezekiel 37 God takes Ezekiel up to the valley of dry bones. These bones were old, bleached out and very dry. The Lord then asks Ezekiel, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?” 

“O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “You alone know the answer to that.”

God wasn’t asking a technical or hypothetical question, He was asking Ezekiel if he believed these bones could live again. God then gives Ezekiel a vision in which Ezekiel sees all the bones in the valley coming to life again. The bones could come back to life if God worked a miracle. 

What is the valley of the bones in your life?

Ezekiel was asked if he believed the bones could come to life. Darlene Rose had her mind blown by someone delivering her an armload of bananas in a concentration camp. What situation are you telling yourself is too dead for God to breathe new life into? 

Remember God doesn’t just deliver bananas to people in concentration camps, he doesn’t just bring dead bones back to life, He doesn’t just deliver envelopes of money to people in their mailboxes (That God’s Power May Be Seen). He also delivers you from the struggles in your life too. 

Sometimes we start to give up on God because He hasn’t yet worked the miracle we want in our lives. Many times we think that there is something special about these other people, or other times, that somehow matter more to God than our present circumstances–but that isn’t the case. 

I don’t know what season you are finding yourself in right now but I do know this–no matter how bleak the outlook, no matter how impossible the circumstances are, God is still able to do the impossible in your life too.

 

Disclosure

Please remember that this post contains affiliate links; that means if you click on the link, I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you. It’s a way to support my blog! I will only ever share an affiliate link if I love the product and think that you just might love it too!

 

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

 

The Only Jesus They Ever See

Do Unto Others

The Art Set

Through Those Wounds

by | Jul 30, 2023 | Sunday Scripture

But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

– Philippians 3:20 & 21 NLT

We walked down the old streets of Gettysburg, pausing to look at the pockmarked sides of brick buildings, riddled with holes from the bullets that had busted through. These buildings, though their original inhabitants are long gone, still remain, bearing their scars as witness. These buildings have seen some of the worst of what we humans can do to each other. 

Walking down to the bottom of the hill we then veered left and walked up a grade and came upon Evergreen Cemetery, where Abraham Lincoln stood to deliver his immortal words, “Four score and seven years ago…” 

We cut across the street and looked out over the hill, a scene of some of the fighting, though no major fighting, and beyond that we can see Gettysburg school; buildings and forests caught in the crossfire long gone, and new life having risen up in their stead. 

Gettysburg, like many old towns, has been preserved, in parts and pieces that we may not forget what happened there. Now, the sight of so much carnage, the battle that marked the turning point of the Civil War, is a booming tourist attraction, drawing visitors not only from all over our country, but from around the world. You can stand atop Little Round Top and look out over the battlefield; you can walk down Steinwehr street at night and hear ghost stories; you can visit the museums and soak up history about this country; you can visit any of the numerous curated stores, art galleries, or boutiques and see how an entrepreneur has brought their dream to life in their store. 

But what attracts me to Gettysburg the most isn’t the shops, or the new magnificent Visitors Center. It’s not the delicious coffee shop, or any of the various eateries. It’s not the shiny new things, but the old that attract me to Gettysburg. 

The historical houses that stand there, root us in our past, lest we forget it in our future. Those buildings, wise in their age, more beautiful for what they have endured, than if they were brand new, are what attracts me to Gettysburg. 

We will have glorified bodies when we get to heaven, but I don’t know that that means perfect (Philippians 3:20). After all, Jesus appeared before his disciples in his glorified body, and told Thomas to place his fingers in the scars in his palms. Jesus’s body, scarred though it was, told of his great love for us through his sacrifice, and therefore was glorified, even with his scars. 

We wouldn’t dream of going around to those old buildings in Gettysburg, filling the holes, sanding them down, and resealing them so that they look brand new. Rather, we leave them there because of the story they tell. 

What story does your life bear the marks of? What hard parts of your life define you? Are you trying to spackle over the parts of your life through which God has done the most amazing work? 

None of us are spared from hardship in this life, though admittedly, I think the Jews in 1940s Germany had it harder than many of us do today. God uses these hardships to mold and shape us, and yes, to give testimony of what He has done through us. 

I think perhaps the world could be a better place if, instead of seeking to hide all of our bullet holes that life has given us, we instead admit that they are there, and tell of the work that God has done in our lives though those wounds.

Disclosure

Please remember that this post contains affiliate links; that means if you click on the link, I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you. It’s a way to support my blog! I will only ever share an affiliate link if I love the product and think that you just might love it too!

 

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

 

He Makes All Things New

Are You in the Right Spot

Surrender

That God’s Power May Be Seen

That God’s Power May Be Seen

by | Jul 23, 2023 | Sunday Scripture

It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him”

John 9:3 NLT

I thought something was seriously wrong—I mean my husband knows better than to shake me awake once I am already asleep! 

It had been a trying few months. Money had been tight, expenses had been many, and it just seemed like one thing after another. My husband had just come home from yet another late night of work, and was now saying, “It’s not an emergency, maybe I should just have let you sleep but I can’t believe this!” 

“Huh?”

“Someone put an envelope of money into our mailbox!” 

That woke me up! “What? How much??” 

Sure enough, there was a bank envelope of $700 in cash in my husband’s hand—and less you think it somehow got in there by accident—our names were written on it. I had heard of money from heaven falling into the laps of other people but I had never before been the recipient! 

Two weeks later my husband pulled out a pair of shorts that he hadn’t worn in years. We were going biking and right before we got out of the car my husband reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of cash. “Here,” he said, handing it to me. 

“What’s this?” 

“I don’t know, it was in my pocket so put it somewhere safe.” That wad consisted of $250. 

We are not careless with our money—we keep very close track of it and are very intentional with it. The fact that $250 had escaped our notice is a miracle in and of itself—finding the money when we did is just God’s divine timing. 

So many times God gets blamed for all the bad stuff—Why did He allow it to happen? When we find ourselves in a tough season, God must be teaching us something. But what about the good times? Are we responsible for those or is that God too? 

Sometimes God allows bad things to happen, sometimes He brings good that makes up for the bad. Sometimes bad things happen and we will never know why on this side of eternity. Sometimes God allows good things to happen just because He loves us and He wants us to be happy. 

In John 2, we hear the story of the blind man. Jesus and His disciples were walking along and they came across a man who had been blind since birth. “Teacher,” his disciples say, “Why was this man born blind? Was it because of his sins or that of his parents?”

“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins. This happened so that the power of God could be seen in him.” 

So the power of God could be seen in him. So that God could be glorified. That this man could experience Jesus in a way very few people ever will. 

And sometimes it’s just that simple. Sometimes bad things are allowed to happen so that the power of God can be seen. And sometimes He allows good things to happen for just that same reason. The question is when these good and bad times happen, will we allow it to draw us closer to God? 

Many people walk away from their faith during very trying seasons, but just as many, if not more, drift away during the good seasons of blessings. “In your plenty do not forget the Lord Your God.” Deuteronomy 8:11

What season are you in? One of plenty, or one of deserts and famine? Both of these seasons can be used to glorify God, respond in such a way, that no matter the season God’s power can be seen in you.

 

 

 

Disclosure

Please remember that this post contains affiliate links; that means if you click on the link, I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you. It’s a way to support my blog! I will only ever share an affiliate link if I love the product and think that you just might love it too!

 

 

 

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

 

The Only Jesus They Ever See

Try It

Finishing What You Start

A Measure of Grace

A Measure of Grace

by | Jul 9, 2023 | Sunday Scripture

Jonah. He is one of those people in the Bible, you know? He’s not a David who, despite his failings, still manages to be called a man after God’s own heart. Nor is Jonah like Peter, who, again, had his shortcomings but was zealous for Jesus in just about everything he did. (Well, except for that incident with the crowing rooster… .) But Jonah is just Jonah. The man who was thrown overboard, swallowed by a whale, vomited up onto shore, who then went  to the city he was running away from, preached a sermon urging them to repent and got mad when the people repented. 

He’s kind of a pain. Sometimes I think God included the story of this man in the Bible just so we could know that we don’t have to be anything special for God to use us. He can use anyone—even if they are unwilling—God has His ways! Sitting in church the other week, I thought about Jonah and realized that it is not always about others. 

Jonah really didn’t want to go to this land of horrible people to preach to them (you wouldn’t want to either) so he ran away. He got caught and God called out Jonah’s disobedience in a spectacular way (the big fish swallowing Jonah!) and so Jonah went, but he really didn’t want to. These people were the Israelites’ biggest enemies so Jonah was more than a little upset when these people did a complete and quick 180 turn and corrected their ways. Jonah knew God was kind and compassionate and while Jonah wanted to see these people destroyed, he knew that if they repented God would spare them. 

 I always pictured this as Jonah being upset because God spared these people who kind of had it coming. But digging a little deeper, I wonder if it’s because Jonah saw that these people, who he considered to be beneath him, were quicker to turn from evil and listen to God than Jonah was in some ways. Did he feel that they were given more grace than he was? Is the story of Jonah less of a story of disobedience and more of a story about jealousy as to whom God sheds His mercy upon?  

Jonah was a prophet, who had been doing God’s work for, presumably, much of his life. He’s then given the task to convict these people of their sin. They repent and God shows them grace—without them having to spend three days and nights in the belly of a very, very, large fish! To Jonah, it probably seemed like these people had it pretty easy! Why should they get to repent and be forgiven just like that, when Jonah makes one very disobedient decision and ends up thrown overboard, thinking he’s going to die, in the middle of a storm. I think Jonah was mad because they were shown a different measure of grace than he felt he was. Have you ever been upset about God’s grace too? 

Have you ever been in the middle of a really tough season and looked around and seen everything going right for someone who seemingly hasn’t worked as hard as you have? Have you been mad that your life, despite you doing everything you know to be right, has had what seems like more than its fair share of ups and downs, while your non-believer neighbor seems to have one good thing after another fall into place for them?

Our lives are not equal. Some people have a harder time of it than others and only the Good Lord knows why that is. It’s easy to look at Jonah and think that he was really messed up—but most likely, we have all been a Jonah at some point in our life. 

The next time you are looking around at someone who seems to have life falling into place for them, I challenge you to remember that it’s not about us; it is about how God can use us and our stories for His Glory.

 

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

Obedience

It’s Not About You

He Isn’t Safe

What We Gaze Upon

What We Gaze Upon

by | Jun 25, 2023 | Sunday Scripture

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things. 

Phillipians 4:8

 

“Well I did it now,” my future husband thought, as he climbed down off the mower and walked into the house to confess what he had done to his father. 

 

“Dad, I uh, hit the tree with the lawn mower….” 

 

“I see,” his father replied,”I’m glad you’re ok, but what in the world were you looking at??”

 

“I was looking at the tree, trying not to hit it!” 

 

Have you ever been there?? My husband had been trying not to hit the tree, but he was so focused on what he wasn’t supposed to be doing that he ended up doing it! 

 

“What you gaze upon is what you will become.” 

 

We often think about the story of Peter, when we think about keeping our gaze fixed on Jesus. The disciples were out in a boat and a massive storm rolled up. They are frantically trying to keep from sinking, the fishermen among them probably throwing a comment or two about how useless retired tax collectors are in situations like that, then all of the sudden they see a ghost! Well, they realize it is Jesus pretty quickly and he calms the sea, and continues walking across the water. Peter, never one to miss out, asks to walk to Jesus and Jesus tells Peter to get out of the boat. Peter is amazed- never in all his years of being a fisherman has he seen anyone walk on water! He can’t believe that he’s walking on water too- like really can’t believe it! Once he realizes what he has done and that he could die, he instantly starts to sink! Peter started focusing on the wrong thing. 

 

In the old testament we have the story of Adam and Eve, their situation is a little different. They were told not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We act like The Fall was a quick event; God created man, everyone rested, Adam and Eve finished naming all the animals, looked over, realized they still hadn’t sampled the fruit from that tree and walked over to test their will power.

I think it was a much more subtle process than that. I think Adam and Eve had been living in the garden for a while, and I’m willing to bet that there were children running around already too. They enjoyed perfect communion with God, and will each other.; I think this could be how the serpent “talked” to them. Not with words but almost a certain type of mental telepathy that people develop through being closely aligned and knowing each other well- like married couples who have been married for years! 

 

Then the serpent tempted them, and they started focusing not as much on their communion with God, but on how they mustn’t eat the fruit. Which made them more curious, and pretty soon, their focus was on the one thing they weren’t supposed to be doing. 

 

My young future husband hit the tree because he was so focused on what he was not supposed to do- hit the tree- that he stopped focusing on what he was supposed to be doing- focusing on the grass that needed to be cut! Have you had your own riding into the tree with the mower moments? Sometimes the key to not not doing the wrong things isn’t to think about not doing them- but to think about what we are supposed to be doing. I think that’s why Paul spells it all out for us in Philippians 4:8 where he writes, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.”  (NIV version) Focus on what you are supposed to be focusing on and I bet you’ll be shocked at how well everything else falls into place! 

Disclosure

Please remember that this post contains affiliate links; that means if you click on the link, I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you. It’s a way to support my blog! I will only ever share an affiliate link if I love the product and think that you just might love it too!

 

Other Posts You May Enjoy: 

 

Who Are You Looking For?

Obedience 

Being Seen

When the Laughter Starts to Fade

When the Laughter Starts to Fade

by | Jun 21, 2023 | Sunday Scripture

A cheerful heart is good medicine; but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

Proverbs 17:22 ASV

I like to laugh; mostly at my own jokes, but I enjoy jokes from others,  funny situations, puns- I’m really not too picky! 

 

I consider myself to be someone who laughs pretty easily and frequently- but still over the years I have realized that I don’t laugh quite as much as I used to. There is that old saying, “We don’t stop laughing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop laughing.” 

 

Unfortunately, I think that tends to be true. I think back to growing up and getting together with friends several times a week- at least- during the summer. We were always cracking ourselves up- and still do when we get together! But life is busy; we have kids and adult responsibilities and the laughter starts to fade…

 

My little one  just turned one last month and as usually happens around this age my son has started to figure out how to walk! He mostly has it mastered now but for several weeks before it really clicked there were lots of little quick steps, followed by him falling, catching himself, and his little rear wiggle up in the air as he tried to stand up again! 

 

I would hold my son, face him towards my husband, and my son would take one tentative step, then another, then a few quick steps. As he took those few quick steps he would realize that he was walking- then he would giggle! 

 

He would laugh at the joy of trying something new. At this point I don’t think he knew entirely what he was doing that created the magical results of walking towards his father, but nonetheless he was delighted! 

 

How little it takes at this age for children to be delighted. For them to laugh and smile, at any of the many things we take for granted.

 

 Our dog rolls on her back, legs up in the air with a toy in her mouth, my son laughs. 

 

One of our cats decides to go racing by for no conceivable reason- my son laughs. 

 

How many little causes for joy and laughter do we overlook in a given day because we are too busy to pause for a moment and notice the little things of life? 

 

How often do we miss glorious little miracles going on in the world around us do we miss because we have our heads down, focused on our to-do list, busily rushing from one thing to the next? 

 

God created laughter. He created joy. I think we get so busy focusing on the God of judgment, the Jesus of power and miracles, that we forget that in human form Jesus was a man, one that people liked to be around! How many people with no sense of humor do you like to be around? 

 

My prayer for us as we start a new week is that we take time to pause, and enjoy the world around us. That we revel in the little miracles unfolding before us everyday. I pray we don’t’ take ourselves, or the crumbling world we live in so seriously that we don’t take time for the simple, little silly things in life that can bring us joy, if we take time to laugh.

Disclosure

Please remember that this post contains affiliate links; that means if you click on the link, I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you. It’s a way to support my blog! I will only ever share an affiliate link if I love the product and think that you just might love it too!

 

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

A Sense of Eternity

He Isn’t Safe

Our Real Home