Monthly Archives: September 2022

Zephaniah 2:3 Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth. Who have upheld His justice and righteousness, seek humility.

God woke me up at 3:30 this morning, he used a barking dog and coyotes to rise me from bed and draw me to quiet time with him. I am preaching this weekend at Trackside, and I knew God was wanting me to use this time for preparation, so I prayed for direction, and he led me to this prophetic book. I honestly kind of sighed in fear, for I remembered how tough it is to read the details of God’s judgement, yet as I studied and saw God weave his sermon, I felt the direction was sure. He even caught my attention with the Experiencing God devotional before me, blending the prideful example perfectly as only God can do. I am always amazed at how the examples lie before us of God’s intimacy with us, communion with the Creator of the universe, to his creation still mired in sin and struggling each day. The mercy and grace he bestows upon us is immeasurable, yet there is proof to anyone who questions him at many levels, if they would only humble themselves such as the scripture above.

I am not smart enough to explain or much less understand myself eschatology, the timeline of end times as we know it, the changes when Jesus returns to judge sin and restore his creation. I do have enough smarts to see the signs before us that align with Bible prophecy, pointing us to the Day. Our world, even down to our nation is in dire need of repentance. Our nation mocks God with our liberal laws that condone murder and homosexuality even into the churches. Zephaniah addresses that in his day too, even the leaders and priests of his day were corrupt and leading people astray. 1:4-5 I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal and the name of the idolatrous priests along with the priests, those who bow down on the roofs to the host of the heavens, those who bow down and swear to the Lord and yet swear to Milcom. In study you find even the references to the once great Solomon, and his fall from grace to the gods of his countless wives, a direct disobedience to God by even taking those wives.

God is likely using our corrupt leaders in all walks of life to prepare our nation for judgement, the evidence of how God does exactly that fill the whole Old Testament. God’s ways are not our ways, his thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8), but we must trust him even with times such as these. We must seek God early, we must seek God with a humble repentant heart, asking him for forgiveness and guidance. The more we seek God through humility, the more likely we are to be that remnant he always preserves throughout the whole Old Testament also.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

I sat on my front porch seeking peace and quiet with God before six am this morning, only to be angered by the traffic in a hurry to go somewhere. I came in to my secret place and searched “stress” on my Bible app, the list of help seemed endless. Stress has been around since sin entered the world, and the Bible and Jesus knew we would struggle with it too. I believe I am writing to try and help some of my stress; I could go down many roads; mental strains, physical pains, depression and anxiety, fading memory and mental capacity, regrets, and the toll the last couple months have brought with seeing my parents both fade before my very eyes with Alzheimers. I have got to figure our how to process it, how much to share, how to be the strong one, many “hows” for a guy who fixes things, solves problems and plans for a living. Stress is something I know way too much about.

Jesus was spending his last moments with his disciples, the last hours with them before he was to be arrested and crucified. He was conducting his last ministry with those he had invested so much into, before their whole world was turned upside down. He prayed for them, he petitioned God to be with them and protect them from Satan, he even mentioned you as someone who comes to faith as a result of their future ministries. Jesus knew what they were about to face, the stress of their lives until they joined him in Heaven, so he prayed for them. He told them of the gift from God coming, the gift of the Holy Spirit to dwell in every believer, and gift that was better than Jesus himself. You conscious, your gut feelings, that knowledge of right and wrong, the One who leads you each day, is God living inside of you, speaking to you, if you will listen. John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

I really don’t know what this blog’s form or content will be this season of writing. I am sure it will be my life filtered through my faith as before. I do not know it will take the form of a devotional, but a means to share my walk through this stressful season. From my own personal struggles with aging, and to see two God fearing parents change before your eyes is hard to process in so many ways. What it reminds me of scares me, from the things I saw in India. I am so blessed to know they are headed to Heaven when they leave here, and in that I have the peace that surpasses all understanding.