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You’re Surrounded!

Confession time: I’ve started scheduling my lunch break around crime drama re-runs. It sounds odd, I know, but it’s a break from staring at the computer, and the story lines keeping me thinking! For the record, I only do this once or twice a week, but the timing is intentional. 🙂

One thing I’ve observed about the last 10-15 minutes of these shows is that when the police or SWAT teams or FBI prepare to make the big arrest, they have a plan that is very carefully orchestrated. There seems to be a “front” person who enters the building first. [Oh my heart, you could not pay me enough to be that person!] Then comes the rest of the team of officers. Each knows that the others have them covered (even the front person) should the “bad guy” start to shoot at them.

As I watched this happen at the conclusion of a show last week, I realized that they never have to turn around and look back. They look straight ahead, prepared to face the enemy and prepared to do what they are there to do! Because they have trust in their fellow officers, they know they are fully protected on all sides and so they move forward without distraction.

Though Scripture reading doesn’t generally lead me to think about illustrations from crime shows (!), this was exactly the mental picture that came to mind as I read Isaiah 52 last week. As Isaiah prophesied God’s message to Jerusalem, he said these words in verse 12:

“For the Lord will go ahead of you, and the God of Israel will protect you from behind.” (NLT)

They had nothing to fear! God was surrounding them on every side! There was no need to look back and fear or be distracted by what was behind them, and there was no need to fear the future or wonder where to go! Just as He had been with the children of Israel—surrounding them with protection and guidance as they crossed the Red Sea—God was there!

That same God surrounds me with His care today! There is no need to look back and fear or be distracted by what is behind me, and there is no need to fear the future or wonder where to go. God is there! I can joyfully obey the command of Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (NIV)

“No matter where He leadeth, o’er shadowed path or fair, / I know that He will keep me; I’m surrounded by His care. / I’m surrounded by His care, and no harm can reach me there. / With my Savior near, I have naught to fear. / I’m surrounded by His care!” – Lyrics by John W. Peterson

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Thank you for taking time read “You’re Surrounded!” Please feel free to leave a comment.

 

By Petals from the Basket | July 11, 2012 | Bible Reading, Life Changes |

Scripture Saturday – July 7th

I took this picture in Northern Indiana in October of 2006. It has been my favorite photo since that day! I use it as the desktop background on my computer. (You may feel free to do the same! Right click and choose “Save Image As” and save it to your computer. Go to the new location where you saved it, then right click and select “Set as Desktop Background.”) This verse seems appropriate not only for this picture, but for so many of us who are currently walking an uncertain path on our journey of joy!

Indiana Sunrise Framed - Copyright bls

By Petals from the Basket | July 7, 2012 | Bible Reading, Life Changes |

Living Like a Renter

Do you own your home, or are you like me—a renter? At one point in time I wanted to own a home, but realized that for me it was best to rent. I have no family nearby to assist with repair work, no carpentry or fix-it skills of my own, and quite honestly, rarely worked in positions that afforded me the options of earning what would be required of me for home ownership…at least not in a safe location!

For others, home ownership is the very wise route to go. Investing in a home can be a great move! For now, however, I choose to be a renter. When my washer broke in Michigan, my landlord had a new one there in less than 24 hours. When my window leaked, a repairman was there that afternoon to fix it. For me, that’s awesome.

But this post is actually not about renting vs. owning, so I’ll get to the point.

As I thought about ending this five-day set of posts about America, all I could think of was the old Gospel song, “This world is not my home, I’m just a-passin’ through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue!” It’s awesome to think that we are just “resident foreigners” here (Isaiah 52!). But thinking that way can also bring problems!

My friends M & T own rental property near a large university. A few times now, M has posted pictures on Facebook of how the rental property is literally trashed when the renters leave. It’s sad. Because they have nothing invested in it for the long haul, they don’t care what happens after they are gone. To me, that says a great deal about the character of the renters.

Remember, I speak as a renter, so not ALL of us are like that! Many of us respect the landlord, are thankful that he purchased a home we can live in, and want to use the way we take care of the landlord’s property as a means of demonstrating good deeds as a Christ-follower.

So today I want to encourage any who read this to live like renters—not in the sense of trashing your earthly homes, of course, but in the sense of knowing that our homes on earth are temporary housing. The way we care for them can be a means of respecting our future Landlord, being thankful that He paid the price, and demonstrating good deeds as His followers! There is a far greater home awaiting us in heaven if we have accepted God’s gift of eternal life which was given to us through the death of His Son, Jesus.

America is awesome—there’s no doubt about that! But in the big picture, I’m just a “resident foreigner” here. Though a proud citizen of the United States, my true citizenship is in heaven. I’m just a renter down here!

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 3:20 [NASB]

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Thank you for taking time to read this post. Please feel free to leave a comment!

 

By Petals from the Basket | July 6, 2012 | Bible Reading, Events |

Lessons from Ninevah

Jonah and the Great Fish (usually called “whale”) is a Bible story most people have heard at some point in their lives. There are numerous songs about this story that help children learn early in their lives that instant obedience goes hand-in-hand with a joyful heart. It’s such an important true story that it has its own Book in the Bible.

The pastor’s sermon last week was on the Book of Jonah, and the lessons I learned have been on the forefront of my mind since Sunday. Continuing with the patriotic theme, I couldn’t help but think of Ninevah as I have prayed this week for God to bless America.

I won’t take your time to recount the entire story of Jonah’s assignment from God. I will, however, encourage you to take less than ten minutes to read the entire Book of Jonah in the Bible. Seriously—less than ten minutes! The city of Ninevah was so morally corrupt that God assigned Jonah the task of telling them that destruction was coming. (Jonah 1:1-2: “The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: ‘Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.'”)

Now begins the most familiar part of the story. Jonah goes the opposite direction from Ninevah, earning him a God-ordained “time out” in the disgusting belly of a huge fish. After three days and a lesson learned, God commanded Jonah a second time (Jonah 3:1) to go to Ninevah. This time, Jonah obeyed, and proclaimed the message that God was going to destroy Ninevah.

Here comes the lesson that we as Americans can learn from this sinful city: The people of Ninevah realized the power of God and chose to turn from their sins and acknowledge Him as the One True God! As a result, we read these words in Jonah 3:10: “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.” Their sincerity touched the heart of God!

During this week of praying for America, I have found myself thinking, “Yeah, right. This nation will NEVER fully turn back to God. But I’ll pray anyway.” Then I thought of Ninevah. My faith should not be in believing that the people of America will turn to God, but my faith should be in the God Who is waiting with open arms to “forgive their sin and heal their land.” (II Chronicles 7:14) Oh that our repentant hearts would touch the heart of God!

Lord, today I pray that You will open the eyes and hearts of Americans as a nation. Thank You for the mercy and grace You give to us as individuals. It is that same mercy and grace that I pray You will show to our country today. May Your name be glorified in America—and in my life. Thank You for what You will do, Father! Amen.

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Thank you for taking to read this post. Please feel free to leave a comment!

By Petals from the Basket | July 5, 2012 | Bible Reading, Events |

Happy Independence Day

Fireworks in IndianaThis is where it all officially began—with the Declaration of Independence. Below are the most familiar paragraphs from this historic document. I would like to encourage you to take a moment to read these paragraphs in gratitude for the reason for this holiday! (The entire declaration can be read by clicking here.)

WHEN in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation.

WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness—That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security….

…We, therefore, the Representatives of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the Rectitude of our Intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly Publish and Declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES, that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political Connection between them and the State of Great-Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which INDEPENDENT STATES may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

Lord, I come to You through the name of Your precious Son on this, our nation’s birthday. I want to thank You for preserving us as a nation. I pray today with gratitude, but also with a desire that I, as an American, will maintain a “a firm reliance on the Protection of divine Providence.” God, please bless America. Amen.

By Petals from the Basket | July 4, 2012 | Events |