Making a Difference in your Life, in the Parts that are for Keeps!
“Why doesn’t God answer all my questions?”
Because He has already answered all you need.
Once we recognize God’s revelation as sufficient, then we can accept and live in the peace that His revelation is satisfactory.
We don’t need all our questions answered, to follow what we already know—for heaven, and for a lifetime of obedience to Him and service to others.
Any time, an electromagnetic pulse device (or half a dozen other causes of a power grid failure) could instantly plunge America back 150 years to the pioneer days.
This is so unthinkable—and so possible at the same time.
It is so unthinkable because we could not deal with it, and we can’t think of how to prepare for it or how to avoid it.
It is so possible because the technology is there, and we have enemies who would like to see it happen, and they have already tested their capabilities to make it happen.
The 911 attack was a complete surprise.
An EMP or other power grid failure is a known threat—yet it will also be a complete surprise.
The death toll could easily be ten thousand times that of 911.
A few months later, the survival number could be only ten thousand times the death toll of 911.
In the light of this, Americans have two basic responses:
One, individual preparation for survival and self-defense.
Two, going to work one more day to buy food and pay bills.
And, some Americans do both.
There is another event coming, for everyone.
It can come individually, or en masse.
For many, it could be simultaneous with the above.
The timing will be a surprise for nearly everyone.
The toll will be eight billion people—everyone—eventually.
Unthinkable, because it never happened before—at least not to me, or to the reader.
Responses:
Some prepare—very do-able.
Most do not—just living for today (and retirement).
The event—eternity.
Eternity—it will happen.
Eternity—for every one of us.
Eternity—very soon, or in a few years.
Eternity—irreversible.
Eternity—unthinkable?
Eternity—not a step back in time.
Eternity—no more decision time.
Eternity—“There’s no time to change your mind.”
Eternity—prepare?
Eternity—“I wish we’d all been ready.”
Eternity—“I’ll take my chances.”
Eternity—
Many people think life is a buffet—then they find out there were only two choices on the menu—and they find out if they made the right choice—upon entering eternity.
EMP bottom line—I prepare what I can, and I go to work, and I write, to make a difference in your life . . .
ETERNITY bottom line—My name is written in a book, and when I cross into eternity, that book will be opened, and Jesus will welcome me to live with Him forever. He wrote my name in His book when I accepted His payment for my sins and gave Him everything in my life.
There’s a lot of uncertainty in this world—peace, comfort, security, survival—fragile for most, threatened for all.
Please do not miss the parts that are certain, in light of EMP’s in this world and ETERNITY in the next.
“Making a difference in your life in the parts that are for keeps!”
Now that title should get the attention of Americans.
After all,
That’s what we do, right?
That’s what everybody does, right?
That’s what we’re told to do if we’ve got any kind of decent job, right?
Now, that title is in quotes.
So, the person behind that quote must have been a responsible, American, financial advisor.
Well, it so happens that immediately before that quote, this person also said,
“DO NOT LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES . . .”
So, which is it—“lay up” or “don’t lay up”?
The rest of the story (quotation), in context:
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal;
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupts, and where thieves do not break through nor steal;
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” —Jesus, in His Book
If the Bible gives so many repeated warnings about stashing stuff here on earth, WHY do so many Americans, and American Christians, spend everything for a lifetime trying to beat the odds?
“Did God really say, ‘Don’t eat that fruit.'”? —satan
“Did God really say, ‘Don’t lay up treasures on earth.'”? —_ _ _ _ _
What’s the difference, really?
Why is it off limits to bring this up in American churches today?
God Said It.
I Believe It.
That Settles It.
Actually,
God Said It.
That Settles It.
I Believe It.
How much silver and how much gold does it take to satisfy a person in this world?
How much silver and how much gold does it take to ruin a person in this world?
David Jeremiah recently related this story about seeing others’ needs and giving:
A preacher gave a rich man perspective in a very simple, powerful way.
He told the rich man to look out the window to the street below, and he asked him to describe the needs of people he could see.
Then he had the rich man look in a mirror, and he asked him to describe what he saw.
The preacher pointed out that the window and the mirror were made of the same material—glass.
Looking through the window, the rich man could see the needs of others.
Looking in the mirror, the rich man could only see himself.
The only difference was “just a little silver” added to the back of the mirror glass.
Lesson taught ! ! !
Lesson learned ? ? ?*
Every single time I’ve heard a message on Jesus telling a rich, young politician to sell everything he had and give it all away and follow Him—every time, in every message, the first statement is a disclaimer:
“Jesus is not actually telling us to do that—just learn something from it.”
LESSON NOT LEARNED TODAY ! ! !
“I’m satisfied with just a cottage below,
A little silver and a little gold;
But in that city, where the ransomed will shine
I want a gold one that’s silver lined.
I’ve got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that bright land where we’ll never grow old;
And someday yonder we will nevermore wander
But walk the streets that are purest gold.”
*Lesson not learned in Jesus’ story—“the man went away, sad, because he had great riches.”
There is a story about an apartment landlord who had no regard for God and despised those who did, including the sweet, Christian lady who lived alone in the next apartment.
He could often overhear her praying and thanking God for taking care of her.
One day she was laying out her needs before the Lord because she was out of food.
Then she peacefully went out for awhile, trusting that He would take care of her.
When she returned, there were bags of groceries on her table.
She started really thanking and praising God, out loud, for His provision, as she had prayed.
Just then the landlord came to her door, very smug, and with superiority said, “Lady, gotcha this time. God didn’t provide that food—I did. So much for your prayers.”
The lady didn’t miss a beat and replied, “Oh, no, not so. God always provides for me, even if He has to use the devil to do so.”
So, really, just how many things can work for good, even in the midst of hostility?
“All things” ?
Good things—Bad things ?
Not all things are good.
“All things work together . . . ”
I can’t make everything work together, no matter how hard I try.
So, Somebody bigger has to be in charge, capable of working all things together.
” . . . for good . . . ” ?
You say, “God, I hope so.”
There’s more—more than “hope so”:
” . . . all things work together for good to them that love God . . . ?
Oh, so there is a catch—it does depend on me after all.
No way—loving God makes me totally depend on Him.
I trust Him, that He has a plan, and that He is working out His plan in my life.
He has called me for a purpose, His purpose.
And that makes everything in my life have meaning, whether I understand it all now—or later.
How sure about “all” this?
“We know that all things work together for good to them that love God—to them who are called according to His purpose.” —–His Book
Added note:
Jesus “went about doing good.”
Any of my feeble efforts to do good to others will also come under the promise that He will work them together for good—“making a difference in their lives in the parts that are for keeps.”
I strongly recommend the following one-word New Year’s Resolution.
It takes no energy (except maybe for some my age or older).
It can take only a few seconds a day (or maybe longer after a few days—your choice).
It is best first thing in the morning and last thing at night (or maybe anytime you need it).
It may work well in your bedroom (or maybe somewhere else if you wish).
It requires no equipment (or maybe a functional and visual reminder).
It should be in private (or maybe including family members).
It will include One partner every time (and maybe sometimes others, but very limited).
It is very simple—anyone can do it—but very few do it.
It is not a magic formula, but I personally believe it will impact your life immensely, for good.
Please, just try it ! ! !
It is simply the underlined word in the following passage:
“Come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the Lord,
Our God, our Maker.” —–His Book
(Now, reread the above.)
Making A Difference In Your Life In The Parts That Are For Keeps
What will Christmas bring this year?
Everyone will definitely have an answer to that question.
Lots of wishes.
Lots of dreams.
Lots of food.
Lots of gifts?
(maybe some questions)
Lots of family?
Lots of friends?
Lots of peace?
Lots of memories?
Lots of feelings?
Lots of something missing?
Lots of heartache?
Lots of uncertainty?
Lots of busy?
Lots of stuffing?
Lots of stuffing feelings?
Lots of pretending?
It’s Christmas.
Just be happy.
Sounds good to me.
Then I got this message at 6:45 this morning, December 23, 2017:
“Marine commandant put the marines on notice that they need to move to a wartime footing as war clouds are gathering in the Korean Peninsula and the Russia region.”
Lots of people and ideologies would very much like to strike terror at this time.
So what should we think the next few days.
Thankfully, Christmas helps us for a moment to forget the terrible evils in the world, growing bolder daily.
We’ve heard the war stories when Christmas triggered a spontaneous cease-fire, and enemies stopped to sing Christmas carols together and celebrate something greater than the reasons for war.
Of course, they went back to fighting the next day.
I don’t expect that to happen this year.
There isn’t any common ground between the forces gearing up for the big one.
The fighters who want to destroy us, and the populations sharing their ideology, will never relent.
I am very thankful for the U.S. military, and I support whatever we can do to defeat evil again.
But is this worldwide disaster in the making, just another page of history that will come and go like other conflicts?
Anyone who stops long enough to think and reflect, even two days before Christmas, will acknowledge widespread anxiety.
This is not going to go away.
We need answers.
Busy isn’t going to cover the anxiety and fear much longer.
It’s not enough to just say that good guys and bad guys always fight, and we’ll carry on after.
Here is my best effort to put answers into words:
Fact—Christians and Jews are the target of terrorists and the target of those who want to go soft on terrorists.
This explains nearly 100% of all attacks worldwide, including in the United States.
So, are you a Christian?
That will determine your future, and will determine where you get answers in this confusing time.
Jesus promised his followers that the world would hate them—that those who kill them would think they are doing god service.
The first thing muslims learn when they become Christians, is being willing and ready to die for their new faith.
We will learn that in America as well.
Now, what about Christmas?
Jesus also promised that he overcame the world that hates his followers.
Jesus gives his followers peace, but not peace like the world gives.
Real answers for real peace for real Christians don’t come from my words, or from culture or politics or military.
Answers come from His Book—that means spending time in it—that simple.
Encouragement comes from spending time with others who are spending time in His Book.
Talk about that while you share your Christmas celebration.
H I S eternity
H I S sovereignty
H I S holiness
H I S plan
H I S story—History
H I S power
H I S creation
H I S beauty
H I S goodness
H I S image
“God created man in His image,” and man has been trying to create god in his image ever since.
“Male and female, He created them,” and now man is trying so hard to create imaginary nonsense.
H I S justice
H I S love
H I S patience
H I S judgment
H I S forgiveness
H I S promises
H I S Son, our Savior
H I S Christmas
H I S humility
H I S life
H I S obedience
H I S death
H I S life after death
H I S gift
H I S preparation
H I S comfort
H I S warnings
H I S coming again
H I S Book of Life
H I S marriage supper
H I S worship
H I S joy
H I S eternity
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