CAN YOU HEAR HIM, NOW?

By Marie Tschopp


My friend, Paula, tweeted several funny sentences under “stuff moms never say.” Things like,
“Yes, you may use your birthday money to buy a tattoo.”
“I’ll do your homework while you hang out with your friends.”
“Here, have another Mountain Dew.”

I laughed because I knew moms never say such things.

Then it struck me that there are things God never says, either. He never utters,
“I sent my Son to die for everybody—but you.”
“That sin you haven’t forgiven yourself for—I haven't forgiven you either.”
“I bless her more, because I love her more.”
“End it all. No one cares”

God’s voice never says such things. Instead, these mutterings are from “the thief (who) comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10 NIV).
God’s tone is gentle and kind, never sarcastic—“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt. 11:29 NIV)
His words might convict, but they never condemn—“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17 NIV)
He speaks hope, not despair-“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).
Whose voice are you hearing?

STREAMS IN THE DESERT

By Michel Elmore



Have you ever had to travel through a desert? I have and believe me it was not an adventure I would like to repeat anytime soon. Many years ago, I my young family and I were moving from Iowa to Los Angeles in an old 1974 Grand Safari station wagon with a leaky front transmission seal pulling a 6’ x 12’ U-Haul trailer. It seemed like every hundred miles, sometimes less; we were stopping to top off the transmission with oil or the radiator with water. Our car dangerously over heated several times on the 1800 miles trip.

After traveling over 1000 miles of Rocky Mountains, sometimes barely creeping over each new peak before us, we found some respite when we stopped for a day in Las Vegas to rest. As we headed west out of the city the next morning, we were surprised to discover that we still had to cross another 800 miles of desert terrain filled with mountain range after mountain range.

 

A few miles into this leg of the journey a sign appeared along the shoulder of the highway which read: “No water next 156 miles”. Sure enough, about 50 miles into the desert our car over heated and my thermostat on my radiator exploded. Slowly, we coasted into a rest area (with no facilities) wondering what we were going to do?

I happened to have been quick witted enough to pick up an extra thermostat along the way, and even five gallons of water. However, when I looked in my car’s tool box I was short one 9”x16” box end wrench – the only one that would enable me to replace the broken thermostat on the car. I remember praying super-fast and super-intensely because I had no idea how my wife and I and three young children were going to get out of this seemingly hopeless situation.

No kidding, just as I ended my prayer, a long-haired guy in a white panel van pulled up beside me and noticed me working under the hood of the car. He saw my frustration and asked me what was wrong? I told him about the missing wrench and my broken thermostat. He told me he thought he might be able to help me out. The guy went to the back of his panel van and returned in just a few minutes with a 9”x16” box end wrench – the very one I needed! He told me that he was a mechanic and that he was moving to Los Angeles as well and had all of his tools in the back of his van. I fixed the thermostat and went to return the wrench to its owner who simply said, “Keep it – you might need it again.”

Crossing a desert can be difficult and dangerous. Sometimes God’s people find themselves traveling through desert places in their lives. Perhaps you are traveling across a desert in your life right now. If you are, I am sorry that you have to endure it. However, one thing I learned through my desert experience is that God is the God of the deserts of life. Even the deserts are subject to His deity, serve His purpose and must render glory to their Creator.

God has left a precious promise to those traveling through the deserts of life in Isaiah 43:19. Isaiah records these words, “I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Just as in my situation when I felt the most stuck, the most helpless and the most hopeless, God made a way in the desert for me. My desire is to pass on to you a message of hope - if God made a way for me, he can also make a way for you.

Some well-meaning folks would say: “stop being impatient, just wait for God”; “He’ll bring the answer in His timing.” I learned that out in the desert sometimes we need help right away – if help doesn’t come right away we may not make it. The sun is just too hot and our thirst is just too great.

God knows how hot, dry and dangerous the desert can be too. That is why in verse 19 he recognizes our urgent need for help in desert situations. Isaiah reminds of the immediate availability of God’s help when we find ourselves out in the desert. “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

Just as God was aware that I needed His help immediately in my desert journey, He is well aware of your need and your time table in your circumstances too. God wants to remind you that His help is already on the way – “Even now it springs up!” The Hebrew word for “now” means that “help has already been prepared and stands at the ready!”

I want you to know that I am no stranger to the desert. I have had my troubles there too. I think you can see that. I will even go so far as to confess that I have been anxious at times, angry at others, felt depressed and sometimes even distraught. However, I have learned a great lesson that I hope that you can learn too. God is God over every desert you face in your life. He has already made a way for you to pass through it, and “even now His help springs up, do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:19).

Election Promises

By Helen Knueven

Now that the election is over, I decided to list a few of the promises that have been made by different candidates and research the Bible concerning these situations.
Aren’t you glad that God’s promises never overwhelm Him? He never compromises – He delivers what He says He will and there are no grid-locks. He sure gets a lot of bad publicity, but it doesn’t make him nervous. No checking the polls to see how long He can sit on the throne.
So whoever you voted for in the American election – the most important question is – in your heart of hearts – who are you voting for? I’m so glad that when we vote for Jesus we can be sure that we are in the winning party that will never end. I also was warmed to find this scripture that God has voted for those who believe in Him!
I Thessalonians 1:4 - For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,
I hope this encourages you as you look to God’s long-term plan for those who worship Jesus Christ.

Promises:

1 We will secure all loose nuclear weapons in the world within four years.

• A Isaiah 11: 6 And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the kid, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little boy will lead them.
• B Isaiah 2:4 And He will judge between the nations, and will render decisions for many peoples; and they will hammer their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they learn war.

2 We will create secure borders.

• A Psalms 147: 14 He makes peace in thy borders, and fills thee with the finest of the wheat.
• B Isaiah 60: 18 Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shall call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.

3 I will double federal funding for basic research over 10 years.

• A Proverbs 8: 12 I, wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
• B Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.

4 Our military will be so powerful that no one would even think of challenging it.

• A Psalms 20: 7 Some boast in chariots, and some in horses; But we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God.
• B Psalms 62: 11 Once God has spoken; Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God;
• C 2 Chron 20: 21-22 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: "Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever." As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.

5. I’ll ensure that every classroom will have a quality teacher.

• A Psalm 119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
• B Psalm 32: 8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shall go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
• C John 15: 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

6. I’ll see to it that we use more renewable energy like wind and solar power.

• A Rev. 21: 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light. 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.
• B. Isaiah 40:30-31 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

7. I’m committed to protecting social security.

• A. Psalms 23: 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
• B. Psalms 28: 20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that makes haste to be rich shall not be innocent.
• C. Ephesians 1:11-12 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Hello Spring

By Lori Boruff

When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.

Psalm 94:19 NLT

           Have doubts filled your mind leaving you frozen in your faith? Renee Swope, author of  A Confident Heart—How to Stop Doubting Yourself & Live in the Security of God's Promises, writes “Doubt keeps us from believing things can get better.  Doubt convinces us that it's not worth the effort.”

Well, I have good news. Winter is over. Spring is here. It's a new season!

            Like daffodils and dandelions popping through thawed ground, the comfort found in God's word pushes through dead thoughts of doubts and despair .

            Hope blossom in the light of God's word. Cheer grows in the garden by His fertile favor.

       Good-bye Winter Blues                            Hello Spring                           Look in God's Garden

You say: “It's impossible”	God says: All things are possible	Luke 18:27
You say: “Nobody loves me”	God says:  I love you	John 3:16
You say: “I can't figure things out”	God says: I will direct your steps	Proverbs 3:5-6
You say: “I can't do it”	God says: You can do all things	Philippians 4:13
You say: “I'm afraid”	God says: I have not given you fear	II Timothy 1:7
You say: “I'm not smart enough”	God says: I give you wisdom	I Corinthians 1:30
You say: “I'm always worried”	God says: Cast all your cares on Me	I Peter 5:7

Thank you, God of Hope, for new seasons.

 I declare this is the first day of spring in my mind and heart.

Whenever doubt and despair creep in, I say Hello Spring!

I trust You, Lord, to give me comfort through Your word.

I'm excited to watch my garden of faith grow into something beautiful for Your glory!

In Jesus' Name – Amen.