November 28 2017 – Click here to listen
So, thanks for the many birthday wishes; I appreciate them all. I celebrated by going whitetail hunting and bagging a nice buck at first light yesterday. Oddly I had just been praying that God might allow me a nice buck on my birthday and man did He deliver.
But my short vacation is about to end and soon it will be back to work. I received a very disturbing letter from a lady yesterday who seems to feel the entire world is singling her out for punishment. She is over the top bitter and at this point I don’t think much of anything could dissuade her from wallowing in misery.
She has been victimized by the worst form of sexual perversity in that her daughter has been raped by her former husband for years beginning before she was even two years old. A corrupt system of child services in a corrupt state has allowed this to go on and on and on. She has gone all of the way to the United States Congress trying to save her; all to no avail. It seems the sex trafficking trade and big money is winning the battle.
I can’t blame her for being bitter. I have no doubt that I would be behind bars for exacting vigilante retribution had it happened to one of my own children. As I read her long letter she complained vigorously about people who live their lives oblivious to such tragedy.
After celebrating Thanksgiving with my family and enjoying turkey, dressing, playing with grandkids, and hunting I can relate to just trying to enjoy life, even if for a short period of time. I sometimes feel selfish for feeling this way and having a wonderful time of things when I know so much evil is overwhelming our world. I feel I should be working non-stop to do my part to stop it, but I think too that we must find balance in our lives to keep from becoming too embittered ourselves. I prayed for my friend this morning. I do hope she can find some peace, joy, and love in her life and hopefully be reconciled with her daughter.
When the waters of life stop churning like the sea and become as smooth as glass, we are presented with an opportunity to refresh, refocus, and regroup. I believe that God leads us to still waters to laugh, sleep deep, heal, dance, and play. To take in the sights and praise Him for His goodness. Life isn’t all about pain. It’s about the peace and joy we find in the Lord in the midst of a world overtaken by evil.
I don’t understand it, but God cursed us and the land upon which we live because of sin, but gave us Jesus and all the good He represents. He has determined that we must live in a world containing both darkness and light.
My friend is bitter towards God which doesn’t help her cause. She is not receptive to my encouragement to turn to Him. Oddly that is exactly what she needs most: “They no longer ask for the Lord’s guidance or seek my blessings.” – Zephaniah 1:6. But He stands ready to deliver: “For the Lord their God will visit his people in kindness and restore their prosperity again.” – Zephaniah 2:7.
God has blessed us enormously because of Jesus Christ. I have lived through tragedy of overwhelming darkness and I have found the light. Yes, there is evil, but in this world we can also enjoy the light.
How do we, as children of light, relate to a morally dark world?
John 17:15-18: “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.”
So, we are to be in this evil world as Jesus was in it, yet also we are not to be of the world, even as Jesus was not of the world. The way to keep this fine balance is to be sanctified (set apart) by God’s Word of truth.
Or as Paul puts it: How do we relate to our godless culture without becoming tainted by it? His answer is: We are to walk as children of light in this dark world, exposing the deeds of darkness.
Pray for deliverance friends – Pray for deliverance . . . stay in that Bible daily.
2 Corinthians 4:4
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.