Why Does It Have To Be So Windy?

Psa 78:6 "He caused the East wind to blow in the heaven: and by His power He brought in the South wind."

There is so much about this old world that we still don't understand. The more I look into it the more it proves the old adage "the more you know, the more you know you don't know". Living here in Kansas, I have learned that anything less that about 40 mph is just a slight breeze. The wind is something that I had to get accustomed to when we moved here. Sure, there has always been wind wherever we have lived, but nothing like it is here. So, it got me to thinking. Yes, thinking. Where does the wind come from and where does it go? I know that it has something to do with the high pressures and the low pressures and the jet stream and all kinds of other things that I don't understand. But, why do we have to endure the wind, anyway? Okay, I am through complaining. Because the wind is really very valuable. We can now harness the wind and develop electricity. For hundreds of years the wind has been used to pump water or other uses of the wind mill. God uses the wind to stir the waters in ponds and lakes. The wind also cleans the earth by blowing away the debris, like the leaves from my neighbors yard into mine. It is those high strong winds that allows the eagle to lazily soar in the sky for hours at a time. You can't see the wind, but there is no doubt it is very real. It is like the presence of God. Yes, that's it, like the presence of God. A constant reminder that even though I can't see God He is always there and occasionally I fell His tender touch. So, go ahead and blow wind. Remind me again and again that my God is real and He is real close.

I Can, Can't I?

I Cor 1:27 "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty."

I was doing some reading about when God called Moses to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. The thought crossed my mind that since Moses was saved from Pharaoh as a child and raised in Pharaoh's house to prepare him for God's call on his life, that he should have know that at some point God was going to come calling. We don't know what was going on in Moses' life when he fled to the wilderness and spent the next 40 years tending his father-in-law's sheep, but could it have been that he was trying to run and hide? We have no idea what Moses may have been thinking when he saw the burning bush and heard the voice of God, but could he have thought "I've been found"? It is also interesting to me that since Moses had been born and saved for this purpose, and no doubt been told that by his parents growing up, that Moses was so quick to make excuses why he couldn't do it. If you will notice in Ex 3 & 4, Moses gives 4 reasons why he is not the man for the job. Man has an element of pride about him and doesn't like to admit that there may actually be something that he can't do. Isn't it amazing how that "I am a pretty capable guy, until I need to be incapable, so as to not be able to do something that I don't really want to do in the first place". (Did I really say that?) But God gave him one good reason why he was the man for the job and that was simply because God said "I will be with you and would empower you to do it". Later, Paul would explain it like this "I can do all things through Christ which strengthenth me" Phil 4:13. So, when we realize that God has something for us to do, remember, we can do it. No excuses now.

God Is So Good

Psa 73:1 "Truly God is good to Israel,even to such as are of a clean heart."

We are so blessed of God that we have become somewhat like Israel in the Old Testament. God had warned Israel against accepting the blessings of God without gratitude and becoming a nation of expectations. He told them that there would come a day when His blessings on them would become so routine that they would forget Him. And it came! And it has come! When was the last time that you woke up and just thanked God for being alive? We go to sleep at night expecting to wake up the next morning. When was the last time that you took a moment to count your blessings and tell God how much you love and appreciate all that He does for you? Even with all of our ailments, we are still much better off than most people. We may live from pay check to pay check, but at least there is a pay check coming in. You may not have the fanciest house on the block, but you do have a roof over your head and a promise of a mansion when the Carpenter of the ages has it finished. We sing a song "Count Your Blessings" but that is about as far as it goes, just singing about it. We serve a God Who loves us and cares for us. If nothing else, thank Him that you aren't in some cult or other religion that worships an idol made by man. Our God is soooooooo good.

Which Are You?

Mark 16:15 "And He said unto them, go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature."

October is our Missions Emphasis Month. I really love it because it puts the emphasis back where it needs to be - proclaiming the Gospel. It is also a time when we hang flags from all of our missionary countries to remind us of our outreach into the world. As we think about missions, I am always reminded of a simple saying that I heard many years ago. It is so profound and yet so very easy to understand. It goes as follows "Every person is either a missionary or a mission field". Some would quickly say that God has not called them to go to any foreign country and preach to the people over there. Oh, but He has. When we got saved, we became citizens of a new kingdom, the Kingdom of God. As such, we are Ambassadors for Christ with the appointment to proclaim the good news that Jesus Saves, to all who will listen. God may not have called you to go across the seas, but He has called you to go across the street. Jesus told the disciples, just before He ascended up into Heaven, that they would receive power - that power being the indwelling of the Holy Spirit - and would be His witnesses all over the world. Some would stay in Jerusalem, and some would depart to the uttermost parts of the world. But, all would be His witness. Here is the key to that statement. If we are not being a missionary, then we really need for someone else to come and minister to us about our responsibility as a Christian. Which means, we become a mission field. So, the question comes again, which are you?

Make A Joyful Noise Part 2

Psa 100:1 "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands."

Let's go back to Psa 100 and the thought of making a joyful noise. As we have seen in the past, most of the time our mind goes toward singing. Unfortunately, too much of what is called joyful noise today is more of an ungodly racket. But, I think there are some others noises that God enjoys. Later in the Psalm it says we are to enter into His courts with praise. I liken that to coming to Church. Most churches have a squeaky front door. Personally, I like that. That sound tells us that someone is entering the building. They are coming in to fellowship with the brethren and worship the Lord. I think God likes that sound as well. I am confident that God loves the sound of service as well. Whatever it is that He has called you to do, do it with gusto and make a joyful noise as you do. Even the quietness of prayer rings loud in the ears of our Heavenly Father as we bring our petitions before Him. Yet another, joyful noise. The sound of someone sharing the Gospel with a lost soul is music to God's ears. And the soft cry from the heart of a penitent sinner brings about shouts in Heaven. I hope you understand what I am getting at and can carry this thought further as you make a joyful noise unto our God. Not only will it be pleasing unto Him, it will do wonders for your heart. There are enough quiet Christians in the world. Let's get out a make some noise for the Lord.