Two, Five, or Ten.

  I had time with The Lord this morning, and these questions came up:   Where are you with your talents?  Which of the three persons are you?  I hadn't given much thought to that probing question for a long time. Which of those people are you?  That is the question The Lord posed to me.
  Sometimes we feel that we are doing quite well, other times we feel as though we are failing.  I have gone through a period of failure.  When you feel like you are failing,  it always is you failing, not The Lord.
  I haven't written a blog since May, and today The Lord spoke to my heart asking why not. I didn't have a good answer. Don't you want to encourage others? Is your time so wrapped up in trying to make a living, that you don't have time for others? What's up with that?  You pray the Lord's prayer many times in a day. Do you believe it when you say "give us this day our daily bread" that I will do that?  My head hung pretty low after I heard those words of rebuke,
  We all have talents that we posses, and today I want to encourage you to use them to the best of your ability.  The Lord rebuked me, and it was enough to encourage you.  Who do you know that He can help through you?  Are we all too wrapped up in ourselves; are we too worried that He won't take care of us?  There is an adversary that we all face every day of our lives,  but who do we trust will put him in his place? Ourselves, or God?  It isn't as easy as it sounds, because the one ingredient that it takes is Faith.  Faith says take the talents that He has given you, and believe that He will increase them.  We say, what can the little that I have been given do for others,  and then bury our talents in the sand.
  So today I want to challenge you, and challenge myself to trust God, and see what happens.  Be of good cheer for God loves a cheerful giver.

A Mother's Work Is Never Done

   "A mother's work is never done."   Exactly!  Truer words were never spoken!  However, I always imagined them to mean you never run out of wet towels to pick up off the bathroom floor; or there are always toast crumbs to clean up;  always laundry to put away, and so on.  Oh, it does mean that, and much. much, MUCH more!
    What many of us don't realize is that our biggest, most important work is done on our knees.  And I'm not talking about scrubbing the spilled milk off the floor, even though there's plenty of that.  I'm talking about prayer.
     I woke up this Mother's Day morning after a troubling dream.  I can't specifically tell you the details, because it is a little hazy, but I know it started as a series of spiritual attacks on me, which I could only fight by using the name of Jesus.  These attacks started first against me, then kept coming, aimed toward one of my grandchildren.  I had to help this grandchild fight off the attacks until he could fight them off himself by calling upon the name of Jesus.
     It reminded me of how when my kids were little, I taught them to rebuke the enemy in the name of Jesus whenever they were scared.  But, most of all, I felt The Lord was reminding me that my work is not done as a mother, or as a grandmother,  until, well, ever!
     I think of Mary, mother of Jesus, watching and praying as her precious Son hung dying on the Cross.
     I want to remind you, mothers (and fathers, too!) to remain vigilant over your families, both in the physical sense and the spiritual sense.  Your work is NEVER done!
    

God is faithful.

  It's been a year since we started our blog, and lately I have been a bit despondent, and had a feeling of despair.  Sometimes I feel as though I am worthless to The Lord.  We serve a Mighty, and Glorious God!  "His Eye is on the Sparrow" was based on the Scripture Matt 26:10.  When I feel like a failure God,  always shows up, when I feel like a success God always puts me in my place.  How Great is the God we serve?
    The 22nd. of October just another day, and I awoke feeling a little lower then a earthworm.  Another day of the same stuff, but a different day.  In South Dakota it was a wee bit chilly, and I wanted to find out the temp.  I went to my phone and pulled up the weather, but I wasn't connected to my server.  This presented a problem, so I called my phone company and the person who answered was Marcus.
   Marcus is that you? "Delmar is that you?"  It was the 26th of Sept 2012 that I first met Marcus;  he was the person who helped me set up what we needed to start our blog spot.  His first question was,  "How is the blog working?"  Fine I said.  "How is your wife?"  She is doing well.  I was having a time with The Lord, and asked what do you want me to do?  In just a few seconds He answered my question.  Keep spreading the Gospel through your writings.
  When we feel that all has come to a end is when The Lord always shows up. He knows what we need, and how to make much out of little.  I want to encourage you today if you are at a place in your life when there are more questions than answers,  just ask The Lord what do you want me to do?  More than likely we need to remember this:  "Trust in The Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.  In all our ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your path."  Prov. 3:5-6.
     If you want to really be inspired, go to YouTube and listen to Whitney Houston sing, "His Eye is on the Sparrow."  With all of the struggles this young lady had, you will know, in your heart, that she was not defeated.  Despite all the problems, she loved The Lord with all her heart, and The Lord loved her.  I believe he gathered her up in his loving arms and brought her to be with him.
     His love for us is just as great, and it all depends upon our belief and trust in a crucified Christ.
   

A night as a cab driver.

  I haven't written much about my adventures as a cab driver,  but The Lord showed me something that I want to share. The subjects are a man with Downs syndrome,  two drunk lovers, and a person who couldn't control herself.  Why would anyone want to serve these people?
  I want to start with a young man I will call Bill.  I picked him up at the end of his evening of bowling.  When he got into my cab, I asked, "Bill did you win many games?"  "No, but I had a good time; winning isn't as important as having a good time with my friends."  As we were driving along the song " 455 rocket" came on the radio..  I could tell Bill liked the song, so I pumped up the volume and let it rip!   Bill had a good time with his friend, the cab driver!   The song played, and just as we arrived at his home it ended.   Bill said "My most favorite song lasted just long enough!" Bill had a great night out!  (And the cab driver had fun, too!)
  Next I picked up a couple at a local bar.  I noticed that the girl didn't have shoes on, and the temperature was 14!  I knew that it was going to be a adventure.  They started making out as soon as they got into the cab, and as we drove along, I could tell by the sounds they were making  that it was getting hot and heavy.  But I was a good cab driver, and just kept eating my peanuts, and drinking my soda.  We arrived at his home, and my part of the adventure was over.
  The last story I want to tell involves a couple who couldn't control themselves.  I picked up this couple at a bar also, and took them to a local motel.  When I picked them up there was a police car behind me with it's lights turned off.  As the couple was getting into the cab,  another police car pulled up in front of me and, as I was leaving, I noticed that there was also one in front of the bar.  As we were driving along the couple was talking about someone calling the police on them.  I took them to the motel, and I thought that it was the end of that adventure.
  Earlier that I evening I had dropped a guy off at a store to do some shopping.  When I went back to pick him up, he said his seat was wet!  That's when I realized that my last adventure wasn't over yet. I took the cab to my house, and did what I had to to clean the vehicle.     
   Here were three scenarios, involving five different souls.  What most people call a job, I consider a ministry, and sometimes we serve The Lord in different ways.  With Bill, I entered into conversation, and watched him  enjoy "455 Rocket".  With the first couple I minded my own business,  even though I didn't approve of what was happening.  Maybe some day I will be able to share the Gospel with  these people.  It's all about God's timing. The Holy Spirit will give me the opportunity to share.   In  the third situation it was shown to me, " as you do it unto the least of these my brethren you do it as unto me."
  By most standards, Bill would be the one considered to be "handicapped", but the other people were  also handicapped.  Their handicap is their sin.   In fact, OUR handicap is our sin, and the remedy is the cross of Jesus.
   Anyway, now as I head out for another night of driving my cab, I wonder what adventures God has in store for me tonight, and what new opportunity he will give me to serve him!

Does God allow sin?

  Pat and I were having coffee one Saturday morning, and she started to tell me about the Scripture that she read that day.   It was so good that I asked her to get the Bible and read it to me, and the question came to mind this morning: Does God have His way, and does He use people?
  Jehoshaphat, Ahab, 400 Prophets, Michiah, and the young warrior.  Four hundred and four and only one right? And one used by God?  The stage is set and I will tell a modified, but true account that The Lord showed us.
   Ahab, the king of Israel asked Jehosophat of Judah to ally with him against the enemy.  Jehosophat replied, "Of course!  But first, let's ask God."  So Ahab called his 400 heathen prophets and asked them if they should go to war.  They replied, "Go ahead.  God will give you a great victory!"
But Jehosaphat insisted on hearing from a prophet of The Lord, of which there was only one, Michiah.  The heathen prophets went to Michiah and told him what they had said and asked him to agree with them.  (Ahab hated Michiah because he always told him the truth,  not what Ahab wanted him to say.)  Michiah replied, "I vow by God that whatever God says is what I will say."  But when he went before the two kings he said, "Sure, go ahead!  It will be a glorious victory!"  Ahab said, "How many times do I have to tell you to speak only what The Lord tells you to?"
     This was Michaiah's answer:  "In my vision I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountain as sheep without a shepherd.  And The Lord said, 'Their master has been killed.  Send them home.'"  This, of course, really angered Ahab.  Then Michiah continued, "I saw him upon his throne surrounded by vast throngs of angels.  And The Lord said 'Who can get King Ahab to go to battle and be killed there?'  Finally, a spirit stepped forward and said 'I can do it! I will be a lying spirit in the mouths of the king's prophets!'  ' It will work,' The Lord said.  'Go and do it.'
     The king ordered Michiah to prison on bread and water until such time as he (Ahab) returned safely from battle.  Michaiah replied, "If you return safely, The Lord is not speaking through me."  Then, turning to the others around him,  remarked, "Take note of what I have said."
   So, Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, " I will disguise myself, but you put on your royal robes."
    Now the king of Syria had commanded his troops to ignore everyone except the king of Israel.  So when the Syrian charioteers saw King Jehoshaphat of Judah in his royal robes, they went for him, thinking he was Ahab.  But Jehoshaphat cried out for The Lord to save him and The Lord caused them to realize it was not Ahab, and they stopped chasing him.
    Here comes the hero of the story...
    One of the Syrian charioteers shot an arrow haphazardly and it struck King Ahab at the opening where the lower armor and the breastplate meet.  "Get me out of here'" he groaned to his chariot driver, "for I am badly wounded."  The battle grew hotter and hotter all that day, and King Ahab went back in, propped in his chariot, to fight.  But as the sun went down, he died.
    When Jehoshaphat returned home, uninjured, he was met by the prophet of God, Jehu.  Jehu asked, "Should you be helping the wicked, and loving those who hate The Lord?  Because of what you have done, God's wrath is upon you."
    What happened to Jehoshaphat?  You can read the rest in 2Chronicles chapter 19.

  

Peace

     "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of The Lord, he is my refuge and my fortress: my God, in him will I trust.  Surely he will deliver you from the fowler's snare and from the noisome pestilence.  He shall cover you with his feathers,  and under his wings shall you trust.  His truth shall be your shield and your buckler."  Psalms 91:1-4


     Don't you sometimes feel like you need a place to hide?  I know I do!  The world that we live in has so many reasons to stress and worry and fear.  I used to have a recurring dream where I would look out the window and see a tornado headed toward me.  I would look again, and there would be three tornadoes, all bearing down on my home.  So I would grab my kids and take them into a hiding place where we would be safe from the tornado.  It was not a scary dream, as you might think.  Instead it was exciting, because I always seemed to know we would be safe.
     The scripture above tells us that God has a hiding place where we can dwell, where he will protect us in his very shadow, and beneath his wings.  Sometimes, though,  I seem to choose to dwell elsewhere:  places like fear, anger, and unforgiveness.  Places that are right in the path of the tornado. 
In order to dwell in God's secret place, I have to leave the place that I am dwelling, and put my trust completely in Him.
     So, if you find yourself in a place where you really don't want to be,  if storms are headed toward you from all directions, grab your kids and head for the cellar!  God's shelter may not take away all your problems, but he is able to still the storms in your spirit. 

Have you been deceived? IV

  When I finished the previous part of this series, I asked this question: Why do Christians shoot their wounded?   How can we help, and not kill?
   I heard a testimony about a man who went to a battlefield, shortly after the battle was over.  The wounded had been removed, but the dead were still there.  He said,  "It was the worst thing, I ever saw!" Dead souls.  The worst sin is self-righteousness, because it kill's.
  I feel led to make something clear.  If I were asked where do I get the material that I write,  I would tell you from the Holy Spirit, my education consists of  11 years of school.  I have held offices  in a  church as  councilman one two year term.  I have been a  layman all my life   I have  no  highly sought qualification, but I have the Holy Spirit, and I write what He leads me to write.  One day Pat  said you are a  author, the though scared me! I hated English!  No qualifications,  just a dropout, but led and inspired by the Spirit.  The other thing I want to mention, I don't receive pay from any church, or person for this work, but God pays me well.  No agenda, but a faithful servant, with faults.  This is not a easy place for me, because when I am led to tell the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, I could offend some,  but just remember, I am the messenger, not the message.
  I want to go deeper into my situation with alcohol.  I was sober for 35 years, so some would ask how I could take a drink after that long.  I was sober, but the desire to drink was still present.  I would go out to dinner, and see others have a drink, and wonder why can't I?   Not only did I wonder why couldn't I, but why do they have to drink.  Two frames of mind, self-pity, and self-righteousness,  but notice the word self is the first in both situations:  man- made frames of mind, not the mind of Christ.  God used me during this time, but He didn't want self to be a part of the problem I had.  I want to put the litmus test to work here.
  One day I was talking to The Lord , about my deliverance from alcoholism, and I was asking what was different this time?  "I took away the want- to!"  How do I know that's true?  I was having a cup of coffee, and for a split second I saw myself at the foot of The Cross, and the name JESUS in capital letters, no club, no 12 steps.  I went to a few meetings, but never could I quit.  I went to Jesus many times, and didn't have victory.  I wanted it,  but the time wasn't right.
  Have you ever wondered why God's time isn't the same as ours?  I believe more now than ever, that we need to come to the same point as Popeye,  "I's Had All I Can Stands, and I can't stands no More!!!!!"
  Popeye went for spinach, but I went for The Finished Work of The Cross.  As I was at The Foot of The Cross, I saw something I had never seen before.  I couldn't take any credit for my sobriety, all my efforts, all my hard work at it, just like Cain.  The wrong way! I had been deceived!  When I placed my faith in the right place, The Lord, and His blood sacrifice, the Holy Spirit did His work.
  What a difference!  The want- to is gone.  I now can be around drunk people, and I don't wonder why me,?  This point has to be made: I love the souls I work with, but I hate the sin of alcoholism, not the disease. ( I don't believe even for a second that alcoholism is a disease!  My personal opinion.)  The blood of Jesus was shed for sin.  Behold the lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world John1:29 (KJV)  I love each and every one of you, and Jesus loves you too, and this too is the truth.