The Peace of God

"Let the peace of God rule in your heart" Colossians 3:15

This verse was given to me by the Lord on Tuesday morning before I knew my sister had died.  It is amazing how the Lord gives you just what you need-sometimes even before you know you need it. 
I woke up at 5:00 am this morning with everything on my mind and a mixture of different feelings-grief, sadness, memories of happier times, etc.  I remembered the verse above and realized that the first word in this verse is Let.  Let the peace of God rule in your heart.

My heavenly Father is there to provide peace for me but I must be willing to let Him provide it in my heart.  He is the only one who can provide that comfort but I make the choice to receive it. 

And then as I read my devotion for today, it confirmed what He was teaching me:

"It is the voice of my beloved! He knocks saying, "Open for me, my sister, my love." Song of Solomon 5:2

Life is a Weaving

 "Let the peace of God rule in your heart" Colossians 3:15

My sister died today.  She was 58 years old.  I never thought she would die before my 85 year old Mother who has Alzheimers but she did.  The one thing I know is that she had accepted Jesus as her Savior.  Knowing that gives me comfort.

The verse above was given to me in my quiet time this morning.  God is so good that He provides for us before we know there is a need or the extent of the need.  He and only He can give me peace.

I study from several different devotion books and this morning I was reading from "Come Away My Beloved" by Francis J. Roberts.  I have read this book probably 5 times in the past 10 years and every time, the Lord speaks to me through it. 

Today's scripture was the one above with the following comments:

"My child, your life is a weaving.  Beauty will not come to you by joy alone.  Life may be tortuous at times and the pathway rough. From fabrics of lovely silk and from cords of rougher materials, I fashion what pleases Me.  You may never know why certain experiences come.  It is enough that My hand brings them all.

My grace is not limited by sorrow and difficulty.  Indeed, it shines like a strand of gold mixed in with the black of grief.  My hand moves with infinite love, and I am creating a pattern of intricate beauty.  Never be dismayed.  The end will bring rejoicing."

Sorrows and grief are inevitable in this life.  That is what sin did beginning with Adam and Eve. How we meet these parts of life depend on the our relationship with God.  I know my Redeemer and He gives me comfort and peace in knowing that He has prepared the path before me and nothing can come my way unless it is first sifted through the will of the Father.  I can endure.  I can have comfort.  I can have peace because of His great love.  And at the end of my life when all the threads both gold and black are woven into the story of my life, I will rejoice in His presence.  I will be reunited in joy with those who have gone before me.

When this life is over there there will be rejoicing!  That great and wonderful joy will come from simply being in the presence of the eternal God.  How do we enter into His presence? Only through Jesus Christ.  The Jesus who died on the cross as a sacrifice for sin.

Accepting Jesus as Savior is a personal decision.  It can't be because you go to church or your parents believed in Jesus as Savior.  It has to be your choice to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and know that your sins are forgiven.  If you have not done so, please confess your sin, accept the sacrifice He made on the cross for the forgiveness of sin and ask Him into your heart as your Savior and Lord.  You never know when the appointed time will come for your own death.

The Voice of the Shepherd

 

"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me" 

John 10:14

Jesus used sheep as illustrations to teach many lessons in the New Testament.  Because of the culture of the day, the people of Israel would have caught the lessons immediately.  I, on the other hand, have never been around sheep to learn their characteristics, so what I know of them is not through experience but through reading, studying or listening to teaching about the subject. 

Recently, during a Bible Study by Anne Graham Lotz "Pursuing More of Jesus", I learned several interesting things about sheep.  The shepherds in Biblical times were assigned sheep from the time they were born.  They were more like pets and the shepherd would often name each one.  In other words, the sheep had a personal relationship with the shepherd.  They knew his voice. They recognized it because everyday, they would heard his voice.  They knew the shepherd only had their best at heart and took care of their needs for water, food and protection for harm.  They trusted no other.  In fact, if someone else called them and they didn't recognize the voice as the voice of their shepherd they would run the opposite direction in fright.

For those who know Jesus Christ as Savior, the lesson is clear.  He knows us and we know Him.  He speaks to us through His Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We can recognize His voice and can distinguish it from other voices-the voices of the world and Satan.  We should trust no other.  

Are you listening for the voice of the Good Shepherd?  Can you hear His voice?  What about the voices of the world?  Are they so loud that the voice of Jesus has been drown out and replaced by fleshly things?

The Works of Your Hands

Psalm 24:1,2,10  The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it,
       the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas
       and established it upon the waters...who is He, this King of glory?

       The LORD Almighty—
       He is the King of glory. 

Staying the Course

"Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the the throne of God."  Heb 12:1-2

Running has never been my thing.  I can begin with full intention of running all the way to the finish line.  About half-way (sometimes even before) my body begins to cry out--"stop, stop. What do you think you're doing!  You're not meant to run.  You're out of breath and your muscles are hurting.  What about those knees? Better watch out, you're going to fall!"

My race to eternity is the same way.  I run toward the finish line trying to stay on course, trying to jump over or go around the obstacles I find on my path. Sometime those obstacles are there because of my own stubborn will or my disobedience.  I desire to endure instead of listening to the voices of those who discourage me and those within me that say just do what you want to do. 

Temptations try to draw me from the path to places that appear to be either a short cut to the end or a place of rest neither of which are part of the race or the proper path that God has prepared for me.  When I focus on the path or on the next step I often miss the blessings of the beauty around me. 

Luckily, I have a personal trainer-a guide by the name of Jesus.  He is not only my guide but my destination as well.  I must fix my eyes upon Him.  He will bring me to the finish line to guide me to heaven where my race will be over.  I will cross the finish line and I will receive the prize of eternal life.

God's Answers

 God's Answers     A poem by an unknown Confederate Soldier:

I asked for strength that I might achieve;

I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked for health that I might do greater things;

I was given infirmity that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be wise. 

I asked for power that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for.

But everything that I had hoped for.

Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered;

I am among all people, most richly blessed.

The Day the Lord Has Made

 Psalms 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

"Today is unique! It has never occurred before and it will never be repeated.  At midnight it will end, quietly, suddenly, totally.  Forever.  But the hours between now and then are opportunities with eternal possibilities."  Charles R. Swindoll

Trudging Ahead

We were expecting our second grandson to make his appearance any day.  My first born grandson was so excited about the coming event that the anticipation was almost more than a two year old could bear.  As the blessed event drew closer and closer, every day he would ask, "Is it time yet?  Is it time to go get my baby brother?"

The day before his arrival my grandson and my daughter were at my house for a short visit.  Over and over, my grandson kept asking "Is it time yet?  Is it time to go get my baby brother?" My daughter knowing that the next day was when the new baby would arrive, she said, "Yes, it's time."

Excitedly, he grabbed the baby stroller and headed down my driveway.  Usually, he only went a short distance down the drive and then turned around and came back.  Not this day.  He kept going further and further.  When I realized that he was not going to turn around, I ran after him.  I asked him where he was headed and he replied firmly, "I'm going to get my baby brother!"  There was no persuading him for he was determined to reach his final destination and retrieve his brother.

We reached the top of the hill with stroller full speed ahead and because the road and danger was a short distance ahead, I picked him up in my arms and turned around headed back to the house.  His little heart was broken and he cried and cried.   In his reasoning, the baby brother he wanted was now out of reach and as far as he knew that was his last hope.

As I reflected on this experience, I thought about how determined we are to head toward the way we think best in order to make our desires become a reality.  We trudge toward the end thinking we will get what we want regardless of the personal cost.  Often the Lord waits for us to turn around on our own and when that doesn't happen, He picks us up and delivers us from the unrecognizable danger.  We cry and cry with broken hearts because we can't have what we so desperately wanted.  The God of the universe in His infinite wisdom gives us exactly what we need according to His plan and in the way that brings Him glory.  He provides exactly what we need the moment we need it. 

God's Care for Us

  

Psalm 89:9 You rule over the surging sea; when it waves mount up, you still them.

Unfailing Love

Psalm 36:5-7 (NIV) Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.  Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep.  O Lord, you preserve both man and beast.  How priceless is your unfailing love!

Be Still

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

Walk in All His Ways

Deuteronomy 10:12  What does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul.

The Path

Palms 25:10 (NASB) All the paths of the Lord are lovingkindness and truth to those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.

Sing Praises

       Psalm 18:49 I will praise you among the nations, O LORD; I will sing praises to your name.

Shining Stars

Psalm 148:3 Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him, all you shining stars.

God's Little Lamb

John 21:15 Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

Sleep in Peace

Psalm 4:8  I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord make me dwell in safety.

Be Strong

Ephesians 6:10 "Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power."

Run the Race

2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Sometimes victory is simply being able to finish the race.  It's not about how fast we are or whether we come in first or second but just simply making it across the finish line in our own time at our own speed with God's help.

Cleansing Power

Ezekiel 36:25-27 (NIV) I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

Praise the Lord for Blessings

Do you realize all the things that the Lord provides His people?  We get so busy with day to day things that we take for granted what the Lord does for us.  We forget our blessings.  Take a moment and let's consider some of your blessings.  Read the following verse:

Psalm 103:1-5  Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.  Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me ³ He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.⁴ He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. ⁵ He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! (NLT)

We are commanded to praise the Lord with our whole heart.  We are to praise Him because of who He is and what He has done.  Praise Him!  Praise Him just because of who He is.  When you praise, when you rejoice in the Lord, all else seems to diminish in importance.  Count your blessings.  Never forget the good things/the blessings God has provided.

Remember what He has done for you:

1. He forgave you of all your sins. He saved you at Calvary from sin when you trusted and believed in Jesus.
2. He heals all your diseases.  (You are made whole from sin.)
3. He redeems you from death and hell by the blood of the Lamb of God and will live in eternity in the presence of God.
4. He crowns you with love and tender mercy and you feel His love surrounding you and know of the mercy only He can grant.
5. He fills your life with good things/blessings.  Even though you have materially nothing, you are blessed.  Take a look at the world around you-your family, the beauty of God's creation in the sunsets, flowers or the mountains.  He gives blessings to you.
6. He renews our youth giving us strength to complete the tasks He has prepared for us in order to serve in His kingdom even when we are old.  Example: Billy Graham who still is serving the Lord at his advance age.

Praise the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, praise His Holy Name!

Steps of Faith

The account of Gideon in the book of Judges tells about an enemy that was threatening to destroy Israel.  The enemy had so many men ready to annihilate the Israelites that the Bible describes them as thick as locusts with camels that could not be counted any more than the sand on the seashore could be counted.  The men were terrified of the enemy.
Then God did something unusual.  He told Gideon to send all but 300 of his 32,000 men home. These 300 men would fight the enemy.  What was God's purpose for this? Judges 7:2 states "In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her".  As humans, we have a tendency do things in our own strength rather than His and then boast about how "we" were able to win the victory. What happened next could only be from God's provision for His people.  Against overwhelming odds-when the people of God put their faith and trust in Him-something miraculous happened.

1. God gave a promise: He told Gideon that He would give him victory over his enemies.

Judges 7:9  During that night the LORD said to Gideon, "Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands.

2. God gave encouragement: God sent Gideon into the enemy camp to listen to what they were saying.  In obedience, Gideon and a servant named Purah went to spy on the enemy and overheard a dream and interpretation of the dream.  The dream predicted victory for the Israelites and it put terror into the hearts of Israel's enemy.  When Gideon heard the dream interpretation, he was encouraged and worshiped God.

Judges 7:9-15  ¹⁰ If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah ¹¹ and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp." So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp. ¹² The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore. ¹³ Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. "I had a dream," he was saying. "A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed." ¹⁴ His friend responded, "This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands." ¹⁵ When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped God.

3. God orchestrated His plan.  He removed the things Gideon and his men depended on for strength in battle.  He placed fear and confusion in the hearts of their enemy. He instructed Gideon in the method of warfare he would use in battle and with trumpets, a jar with a torch inside and shouts of praise they defeated the enemy at precisely the right time.

Judges 7:16-23 Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside. 17 "Watch me," he told them. "Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. 18 When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, 'For the LORD and for Gideon.' " 19 Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. 20 The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!" 21While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled. 22 When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath. 23 Israelites from Naphtali, Asher and all Manasseh were called out, and they pursued the Midianites.

What a lesson for us!  Be willing to hear the promises God gives. We must then take the first step of faith and obey God. If Gideon had not been willing to be obedient to the Lord's leading, the nation of Israel would have missed out on victory and the awesome blessing of seeing His deliverance for a people who believed in Him!

The Shroud of Turin

The Shroud of Turin has long been controversial.  Was it the burial cloth of Jesus?  Could it answer questions about Jesus and prove that He lived and died the way the Bible says? This 14 foot linen cloth of herringbone weave has undergone numerous test from critics over the centuries.  It was first photographed in 1898 by Secondo Pia.  The result was a surprise image when his negative revealed clear facial features never observed with the naked eye.  In 1970, a team of scientist found the markings on the cloth were consistent with a crucified body and the stains were real human blood.  The cloth reveals blood from a wound on the side, lacerations on the back and front showing the man was scourged, blood stains on the head and blood from the wrists and feet consistent with nail punctures.

In 1988, scientists removed a piece of cloth and tested it with radiocarbon testing.  Three independent labs concluded the date to be between 1260-1390, however, some say the samples were taken from the edge of the cloth placed around the edge to protect the delicate linen somewhere during the middle ages. It has been proven that the image was not painted on the cloth. In March 2010, researchers unveiled a revolutionary radiocarbon dating method that could allow scientist to establish accurate ages of artifacts without damage to the cloth.  Hopefully, there will soon be a more precise estimate of the Shroud's true age.

The Catholic Church has protected the Shroud over the centuries and for the first time in ten years  the shroud will be on public view from April 10 to May 23.

Recently, the History channel aired a program called "The Real Face of Jesus".  This program was the result of a year's work by a team of graphic experts.  Their purpose was to take the image from the cloth and using 3D software create a life like image of the man on the cloth.  It was amazing to see the results.  Was the image on the cloth that of Jesus?  Did they produce an image of what Jesus actually looked like? If you believe that the shroud is indeed the burial cloth of Jesus, then you would say yes.  If on the other hand, you do not believe the shroud belongs to Jesus, then you would say no.  To see for yourself, go to the following websites:  http://www.history.com/shows/the-real-face-of-jesus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLEM2qb-Vlg
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/real-face-jesus-10238292
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/face-jesus-revealed-10248139&tab=9482931&section=4765066&playlist=&page=1

Does it matter wither this cloth is the actual burial cloth of Jesus?  I agree with one lady interviewed by ABC news when she said, "It doesn't matter how He looked.  It's what He did that counts."

Early Morning Light

In the stillness of the early morning the whole earth seems to wait in anticipation for the grand entrance of the sun. Darkness gives way to the morning sunrise with shades of pinks, blues and yellows bursting forth as if to announce the coming arrival of the sun.  As the sun makes its way higher into the heavens its brightness dominates the sky forcing these beautiful colors to fade.  A new day begins with all its hopes and dreams.

Imagine what it must have felt like for a grieving band of disciples who watched their precious Lord hang on a cross and die. Darkness covered them. It appeared to them that evil had won and there was no hope at all. They wailed and mourned while fear grew ever stronger in their hearts thinking perhaps they too would suffer a similar fate. Darkness had a strong grip and held them tight.

The women made their way to the tomb in the still of darkness just before dawn to anoint the dead battered body of Jesus. They came with spices and ointments to what they thought was His final resting place.  As they walked down the road toward His tomb, sorrow grew stronger in their hearts. Looking into the heavens pinks, blues and yellows began to fill the sky. The sun would be up by the time they reached His tomb. Little did this small group of women understand what they were about to encounter.

The morning light revealed the tomb with the stone rolled away from the entrance. The tomb was empty and Jesus was not there. The Son had risen!

"He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor."  Isaiah 62:1b-3

A Season of Fresh Growth

Spring time has come.  I have watched the Bradford Pear tree behind my house with anticipation as the new spring growth began to appear.  At first there were tiny buds then these buds began to grow.  The growth was slow at first and gradually became a little fuller and larger.  Then suddenly as if overnight the buds burst forth into the most beautiful spectacular blossoms of spring.

Much like this new growth, God also gives us fresh seasons of growth.  Just when we think the winter season will never end, along comes springtime and suddenly we are in a new place with fresh growth in the Lord.  Sometimes the winter seems unbearable and we think we cannot stand another day but even in the winter season He is leading us through.  And just like the growth of spring, the teaching of the Lord is slow at first with small buds beginning to grow until we reach the appointed time and moment of full growth.
 

Song of Solomon 2:11-13 See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone.¹² Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.¹³ The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me."

The Necklace

Sometimes we let fear, worry, depression, unworthiness and a host of other emotions cloud our thinking and our daily walk with God.  For a new Christian, for a child who is learning about Christ or sometimes even a weathered mature Christian, it is some times hard to understand the full meaning of peace and assurance in Jesus.  Life has a way of throwing lots of trials, tribulations and just down right old evil at us.

My granddaughter-a young one at age 6 is learning how to handle "fear". Many of us think that children shouldn't have anything to worry or fear but to a child fear is a very real and overwhelming emotion. She is dealing with the pressure of doing her best at school and test anxiety has reared its ugly head.

She knows Jesus in a very honest and sincere way and has asked Him into her heart.  After a one on one talk with her, I gave her a necklace-a cross to wear when she takes a test.  I explained that it was not a magic charm but that it was a reminder to pray and ask Jesus to help calm her fears.  She wears it almost every day.

The cross is a symbol of what Jesus did for us at calvary.  A time when Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God willingly became the sacrifice for sin in order for us to have eternal life.  With that sacrifice came an everlasting life before the presence of a Holy God.  With that sacrifice came the privilege of becoming a child of God and laying our petitions at His feet. He is the only one who can calm our fears and emotions.  

Call upon Him to help you when you have fearful, depressive and discouraging emotions that cause you to look within yourselves instead of to the one who can give you peace and assurance.  Jesus is the answer.

Dead Men Walking

Zombies-what are they?  Who are they? We have seen them in movies, tv programs and comic books.  But perhaps you have seen them not knowing who they were.  A zombie is a person who is or appears lifeless, someone apathetic or completely unresponsive to their surrounding, the living dead.  Yes, the living dead!

For those who know Jesus Christ as Savior, we are given life-eternal life at the moment that we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.  We are no long dead!  For those who do not know Jesus Christ as Savior, they are the dead, the zombies and the dead men/women walking.  Without Christ there is no salvation and there is no forgiveness of sin.  It is sin that keeps us dead.

Made Alive in Christ

Ephesians 2:1-3 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ²in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ³All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

 Jesus died that we might live.  All it takes is a choice to believe that He is the Son of God, that He died for our sins on the cross and He rose from the dead thus conquering death for us.  We can not save ourselves with good works.  The truth is we can never be good enough to buy our way into eternal life.  It is only through God's grace and love that we are saved.

Ephesians 2:4-9 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast.

If you could see the souls of the people we meet on the street, at church, in the checkout line, at school or anywhere else we might be, would they be a zombie?  Would they be the dead?  Look around you.  Do you see the living dead?  If you know someone without Jesus, a friend, a loved one or anyone else that does not proclaim Jesus as Lord then you know a zombie.  Tell them about Jesus and His great love for us.  Help them become a living, breathing soul that has eternal life in the presence of God.

The Lamb Was Silent

I recently watched a sheep shearing demonstration in Australia.  The sheep to the left sat silent and still as the owner of the ranch talked about sheep and the shearing process. He continued to talk for several minutes explaining what was about to happen as the wool was removed from the sheep.  The animal at his feet did not make a single movement or a single sound. 

Then in the shearing area, an experienced shearer very carefully and deliberately began removing the wool from the silent sheep. As the shearing proceeded, the sheep made not a sound and moved only as directed by the shearer's hand.

It was not until yesterday, that I understood the significance of what I had witnessed.  The lesson was on Phillip's witness to the enunch in Acts 8:29-35

Acts 8:29-35 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot." Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" And he said, "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:

         "HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER;
         AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT,
         SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH.
    ³³"IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY;
         WHO WILL RELATE HIS GENERATION?
         FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH."

The eunuch answered Philip and said, "Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?" Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.

Jesus, the Lamb of God, went before His accusers and was silent.  Remember when Pilate sent Jesus to be judged by Herod.  Jesus didn't make a sound.

Luke 23:8-10 Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him. 9And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing. 10And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently.

AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT, SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH.

Jesus spoke not a word and moved only at the direction of the Father's Hand.

The Kangaroo

During my recent trip to Australia, I had a personal encounter with several kangaroos.  These were not wild kangaroos which can be dangerous and mean but gentle ones in a tourist attraction much like a petting zoo.  There must have been twenty or thirty of them resting, sleeping or just curious as to why tourists were invading their space.  One of the momma kangaroos or as the Australians say "Mum" kangaroo had a baby in her pouch.  The little baby had a large head as you can see from the picture and must have been about ready to be out of the pouch.  I did not know that mother kangaroos have three stages of gestation and delivery going on at one time.  The large baby called a "Joey" just large enough to be out of the pouch, a growing new baby "Joey" inside the pouch and an embryo growing and developing just waiting to grow big enough to enter the pouch once the resident baby leaves keep the mother kangaroo very busy.  There are never two babies at the same time. Past, present and future babies.

In thinking about life, I thought of God's perspective of life events.  Our Heavenly Father sees the past, the present and the future at once! We do not.  Not only does He see it, He designed it.  While we can see the past in great detail-the little joey on the ground, we know what has happened and are aware of the things we might have changed and the things we did right.  We may also be aware of the new growing and developing but can only see part of it until it comes to full term.  This is the present-the Joey in the pouch, the one not fully developed and not part of our current understanding.  We may think we know what will take place but until it happens we can only assume it is the way we think it is. And as for the future-the developing joey, we can only imagine what it might be like!  We can imagine the joy and anticipate its coming.

Praise the Lord for His marvelous creation and how marvelous is His provision!  We remember the past and know how He has provided and brought us through all things.  We look at the present and see His Hand is working in our life each day and we look to the future and know that because He has provided for us in the past and in the present that He will indeed provide for us in the future.  Oh, what a marvelous, wonderful God we serve!!