What God Knows

"And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward Him and find Him. Yet He is actually not far from each one of us, for ‘In Him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are indeed His offspring.’ Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed; and of this He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead.”

~Acts 17:26-31

I love the book of Acts and especially chapter seventeen. Having begun in Thessalonica, where the gospel was not well-received, Paul had been sent to Berea, and then taken to Greece, where he preached salvation through Jesus Christ, while all around him was man-made idols and people spouting off the latest in beliefs. Paul observed that the people were religious, and even had an idol dedicated to "the unknown god." These people, unlike those in Thessalonica and Berea, were seeking someone, something, some god to worship. Not knowing who the true God was, they worshipped whatever idol someone else said was the one to worship. They were far off the mark trying to fill the God-shaped hole within them but they were looking for something real to believe in.

Looking around the world today, I see the same thing. People are still trying to fill the God-shaped hole within them, yet they are doing it with false gods instead of the only true God, Jesus Christ. We see people following after musicians, movie and television stars, athletes, philosophers, authors, and other people who have no better answer than the person next to them. We see people lusting after fame and fortune with the belief those things will make them happy and fulfilled. Yet, for all the glamor in the world, for all the riches, bright lights, and glory from adoring fans, we see more depression and unhappiness than ever before. We will never feel content, complete, or fulfilled by the things of this world because those things are temporary and only make us happy for a moment. When the moment is gone, we move on to the next thing that will cure our ills.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:19-21)."

"But godliness with contentment is great gain,  for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction (1 Timothy 6:6-9)."

I am not encouraged when I look at the world. In fact, I am pretty much disgusted by what I see. The lack of morals, respect, values, and work ethic on every level of society is abhorrent. And through my eyes, I see no hope, no future, or any way possible for things to change. However, my eyes do not see what God sees. My eyes cannot tell one thing from another, they cannot see the future, and certainly, I cannot see into the hearts of other people. But God can. He knows the deepest, most inner secrets in each of us. He knows the beginning to the end, and there is nothing hidden from Him. He knows how all of this is going to work out and which of us is on the verge of making the decision to stop following false gods, to start worshipping the one true God, and that is what I have to place my faith in. God is in control and He knows what He's doing.

"Where shall I go from Your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, You are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, 'Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to You; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with You' (Psalm 139:7-12)."

Read 1 Kings 3-4; Psalm 139

©2018 Marie McGaha

Your Choice

"I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before Him. That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away."
~Ecclesiastes 3:14-15

"What's gonna happen already has. The only thing you can do is your very best, and remember, you only get one chance to make a good first impression." That's the advice I've given my kids on numerous occasions. The last time was just a couple of weeks ago when my youngest son called while on his way to the "most important interview" of his life. 

Our lives have a determined pattern; we are born, go through stages of growth, go to school, graduate, get a job, meet the right person, get married, have kids and the process starts all over again. Hopefully, along the way we have good people in our lives who show us by example how to make the most out of life, but all too often that isn't the case. We don't always get the great parents. We don't always get born into the best family. We don't get the greatest opportunities in education or jobs. We don't always meet the right person. Sometimes it seems like everything that can go wrong does. But no matter what, we always have the opportunity to make better choices. 

"When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps (Proverbs 16:7-9)."

No matter what left turns we have taken, or how messed up our lives become, we can make the choice to find a better direction. The way of righteousness may seem far off, but God is as close as a single prayer and He will change your life if you allow Him to.

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit (Romans 8:1-4)."

No matter where we are, where we've been, or what we've done, as long as there is breath in our body, we have the opportunity to change where we're going. We have choices in life, and no matter what those around us are saying or doing, we can choose to change the road we're on. We choose what to say, how to respond in any given situation, and when we make a choice, we are also choosing the consequences of life or death. When we choose to continue down the path that has already shown us nothing good, we are choosing death. When we make the choice for change, and follow the path God wants us on, we choose life. 

"Now therefore fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:14-15)."

Remember the last line of Ecclesiastes 3:15 above... "God seeks what has been driven away." If you're lost, you can be found. God will always answer those who seek Him with a right heart, and He will answer those who ask with right motives. 

My son got the job he interviewed for.

Read 1 Kings 1-2; Ecclesiastes 3; Romans 8

©2018 Marie McGaha

Just Walk Away

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
~John 14:27

My life wasn't always peaceful, in fact, it was usually filled with chaos and drama. But that was the world I lived in and if there wasn't something horrible going on, I lived in dread until the next thing did happen. Lives lived with drugs, alcohol, and violence are like that. It's a cycle that you can become accustomed to and feel as if you deserve. 

It doesn't matter if the cycle began when you were a child or as an adult; whether you are the addict or live with one, the cycle is the same. And it always feels as if it's sucking the life out of you. In many ways, it does. It sucks your self-esteem,  strength, pride, desires, dreams and ability to break free right out of you. It can make you feel helpless, hopeless, and depressed to the point of giving up. The pain grows to the point of being unbearable and anything, even death, is better than living the way you are. I've been there, and if you're there now, just hold on a little while longer. There is a better way.

"Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28)."

Jesus is alive, He's real, and He cares about you. If you can hold onto that thread of hope, your life will change for the better. Sometimes we have to make big changes and walk away from the situation. Just walk away. Sometimes it takes more. You may have to ask for help from wherever you can get it. Call the police, call a hotline, go to the emergency room... Whatever you have to do for you, do it. Even if everything in you is saying "don't," ignore the fear and believe you can have a better life. 

Yes, it's scary. No, it's not easy. But your life is at stake, and more than that, your future, your family, and your eternal soul is at stake. Don't let the lies you've been told keep you from reaching out for help. There is hope. There is help. There's a lifeline but you have to reach for it. Just hold on, pain ends.

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they (Matthew 6:25-26)?"

Your life is more valuable than you know. You are loved by God more than you know. You can have a better life full of love and true peace. Don't let the chaos of your current life lead you to death. There's a better way before you. Make the change, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

"For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:6-8)."

Read 2 Samuel 18-20; Romans 5

©2018 Marie McGaha

Yapping Dogs

"The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the
4
voice of the Lord is full of majesty."
~Psalm 29:3-4

I live with dogs; a Mastiff, a Schnauweenie-huahua, and a dachshund. The latter two are what I call "yip-yap" dogs. Every noise, real or imagined, sets these two off and to me, their shrill yapping is like jamming an icepick in my ears. Actually, an icepick would be preferable. Yelling at them does nothing to quell the yapping, so I have taken to throwing things. An empty gum container or a balled up sock usually does the trick. I've tried bark collars and other recommended methods, but nothing works. I even looked into having them debarked but the cost is out of reach. Actually, I compared the cost to how many pairs of shoes I could buy, and couldn't justify the cost!
So, I continue to throw socks in the general direction of the loudest yapping.

Life is like that - constant noise coming from every direction; television, radio, phones, social media, and people all around us spouting opinions. The world is full of noise, and most of it is useless yapping. I got rid of cable/sattelite TV years ago, and now have a' la carte TV. I can watch what I want without the noise of commercials and the filth that is now considered must watch TV. Other than noisy dogs, my house is quiet, which allows me to really listen and hear God's voice.

"And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper (1 Kings 19:11-12)."

When we have too much going on, or too much noise in our life, no matter where it comes from, it's difficult to hear the sound of a low whisper. God doesn't shout to get our attention. God doesn't yell above the din to tell us something. He waits for us to be quiet before Him. He waits for us to focus our hearts on Him.

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth (Psalm 46:10)!”

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning (Psalm 130:5-6)."

Being still and waiting for the Lord is part of our Christian process and growth. Waiting patiently and being still are marks of maturity. Children can't sit still for very long, they are impatient, and they can be noisy too. But as we grow and mature, we're expected to be patient, still and quiet. The same is required with God. We might love to worship loudly and pray fervently, but there comes the moment when we must be still and wait for His voice to speak into our hearts so that we may discern His will.

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:1-2)."

Read 2 Samuel 15-17

©2018 Marie McGaha

Grieving God's Heart

"If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you."

~1 Peter 4:14

I've seen a lot in life. I've seen things I wish I hadn't. I've seen things I hope no one else ever does. There's not much in this world that surprises or shocks me, except people. And not just the average non-Christian running amok, but people who profess to be Christians and love God. Yet their actions and words of their mouth show the opposite.

"But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so (James 3:8-10)."

For Christians, our lives are to be modeled after Christ. To walk in love, to be at peace with others, and to show others through our words and deeds that we follow Jesus. Our goal is to bring the light of Jesus into the lives of a desperate and decaying world. So what do we accomplish by attacking other believers? Is that showing Christ in you? Is that appealing to anyone who doesn't know Christ? And what does it say about you if all you can do is criticize and condemn?

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear (Ephesians 4:29)."

There is so much trash in the world, and as Christians, we have to be above it. We serve one God in Jesus Christ. We are saved by the same Spirit, and it is the same blood at Calvary that Jesus shed for us all. When I hear Christians bad-mouth other Christians, it makes me sad because it grieves the very heart of God. This should not be so among believers in Christ.

"See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone (1 Thessalonians 5:15)."

Read 2 Samuel 12-14; 1 Thessalonians 5

©2018 Marie McGaha

Wars & Rumors of Wars

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory. And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

~Matthew 24:29-31

I have always been fascinated with the end of life as we know it here on planet Earth. The wars, rumors of wars, and all of the other things that must take place before Jesus Christ returns. I was raised to believe in the pre-tribulation rapture theory that all Christians will be called off the earth before any of the really bad stuff happens. In 1995, the Lord began to show me things that changed my mind. I no longer believe that Christians are exempt from what is coming in the last days. If you believe in a pre-tribulation rapture, I'm not here to change your mind. If I'm correct, you'll know soon enough, and if you're correct, it's not going to matter to either of us. The reason I bring it up is because today, April 30, 2018, a nuke was dropped on Syria. The situation has hit critical mass. 

The reason I'm writing this is because our lives may change very soon in ways we could never imagine. No matter what we believe about our futures, we have to be more concerned with our eternal future. Whether a pre-tribulation rapture, a mid-tribulation rapture, or a post-tribulation rapture, our eternal destination is being determined right now.

"For He says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2)."

No matter where you are or what you've done, the heart of God is calling out to you. We don't know what tomorrow will bring or if we'll be here to see it. However, we do know none of us are getting out of here alive, and the choice we make right now will determine our eternal future. Jesus is calling out to you, don't ignore Him. 

"Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (2 Timothy 1:8-10)."

Read 2 Samuel 9-11; Matthew 24

©2018 Marie McGaha

The Last Word

"He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!"
~Revelation 22:20

When I was younger, I thought this verse, and others about Jesus' return, wasn't all that important. After all, I'd heard all about the Rapture since I was a little kid, and my grandmother patiently awaited that moment when when the Lord would show up amid thunder, a shout and the blast of the Shofar. She believed the Lord would return in her lifetime. As I got older and had more understanding of the hope my grandmother had in Christ's return, I also began to have that same hope. Even the disciples believed Christ's Second Coming would occur in their lifetime. I suppose every generation since then has believed they would see the coming of the Lord. I know I certainly do. 

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going (John 14:1-4)."

We don't have to know when the Lord will take us home, whether at His Second Coming or through our bodily death. What we have to know is that one way or the other, we will see Him again. We have to be ready no matter when we are called home. 

Jesus' last words, "I am coming soon," may occur in my lifetime, and what a wonderful event that will be to see first-hand. However, if He doesn't, is there any less hope in my heart? Of course not. My hope is not in an event, it is in the person of Jesus Christ who gave His life that I would have mine. That is the hope of Glory. One day, I will leave this body and all of it's aches and pains, and step from this life into eternal life with my one true hope, the Lord Himself. The last words Jesus said in this life will be forgotten as soon as I hear the first words He speaks to me in His kingdom: "Well done, good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:21)."

 "But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour (Matthew 25:6-13)."

Read 2 Samuel 6-8
Weekend reading 1 Chronicles 14-17

©2018