Tag: jesus christ

Grief

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Grief

There has been times I’ve dealt with grief well, and then times I haven’t. Every situation I’ve been in where death was present was a new experience every time. When my grandpa passed away in 2010 I was at peace with it. Knowing he has passed peacefully, and where he was going gave me great joy. The dream I had just before his last moments of me being by his bedside and him squeezing my hand before he passed, being awoken by the phone I knew he was gone.

Loosing a loved one to an affair and watching a marriage end is also something in which we grieve. Sadly as I have gone through this twice in my life, I can say the second time didn’t go so well. I tried very hard to keep my witness. I tried to remain calm and not yell, and focused on repairing the damage that was done. As I watched as my efforts failed I couldn’t help but see that moment as a reflection of every failure, every hardship, every heartbreak I had ever faced. Left with a tsunami of emotions and unable to see myself out of the crisis I was in, I took drastic steps to stop what seemed to be the end of the line. I was a train headed for a brick wall and I needed to stop before I crashed. Instead of slowing the train my actions derailed it. I was so Ill prepared for the trial I faced and I was left with shame, regret, sadness, fear, hopelessness, and several other emotions to include a complete failure of self-esteem.

In the years that have followed I have grown and found direction and purpose. It hasn’t been without it’s ups and downs but I have found ways to manage the feelings I have. I have been thinking back this month specifically of all the grief I’ve had just in the month of September alone. I have faced death, divorce, near death personally and so much more. September every year brings up a mixed bag of emotions and can sometimes fill my cup with more then I can take. I think about those in scripture that have had to manage grief, and one place comes to mind. 2 Samuel 19:1-4“And Joab was told, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” 2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people. For the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for his son.” 3 And the people [a]stole back into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. 4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

It’s been at least a day since David learned of his sons death in battle. Absalom overthrew his father in a well-planned coup. David fled to avoid bloodshed.  Absalom had every plan to kill his father and would have if he’d gotten the chance. David however wanted to capture Absalom but that’s not what happened. Due to Absalom being a politician and not a warrior the battle goes badly, and after Absalom gets stuck in a tree by his hair, he is executed by the order of Joab, David’s number 1 general. David’s actions as King demoralize his loyal soldiers returning home after at least a year on the run, and watching their King making a scene for all the city to see.

How do we act when we grieve? Do we act as if there is no hope in the world? 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen [a]asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who [b]sleep in Jesus.” Paul is telling us we should not face death with such a grievance attitude, instead celebrate the life lived because if we believe in Christ and all that He did for us, we know that for believers we will enter into the gates of heaven and feel no more pain or suffering. There’s a line at the end of Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Part 2. Dumbledore says to Harry, “Do not pity the dead harry, pity the living.”How often I have seen people who’ve lost someone they were close to, and it’s destroyed their entire life. I knew a lady, mid 40’s, she lost her own mother to cancer. In the weeks and months that followed she turned to alcohol to manager her grief. Eventually it caused a divide in her own marriage and she was left alone. After two DUI’s the hope was she would seek help dealing with her drinking, and also her grief. Sadly before that happened she was drunk one night, fell and hit her head. She bled out and died alone. This story is completely true, but also a stern reminder how important it is for us as Christians to manage our own grief in a healthy way. There is no set way in scripture to manage grief, but if we are to walk with Jesus we know that we are to be different then the world. We of all people have hope in the risen Christ, and we need to be that reminder in our own communities as they deal with grief and loss.

In the wake of hurricane Florence we see families dealing with grief and loss on major scales. As homes have been completely lost, and families deal with the loss of loved ones, we as Christians need to go forth and show love to all those who around us. Christians need to be the guiding light of Christ as we show the world who Christ was. We cannot be a bright light if we fall to ruin any time something bad happens. There will be a time to grieve, but we must always remember the hope we have in Christ. Do not allow grief to steel your joy. Be grateful in the future and know that one day we will be in Heaven where there are no more tears, no more sorrow. We will all endure hardships in this life, loss of all kinds, from houses, to jobs, to loved ones, even our own health, but this life is only a temporary shell, our true life still awaits. The best is yet to come, and we need to remember that the next time tragedy strikes. Be a difference in this world, grieve when you must, and know that our emotions are given to us for a reason. It’s always important to make sure our emotions fit the facts of the situation. Make sure your emotions don’t control you. If you can manage that, and trust, have faith in Jesus Christ, you can be a big difference for those around you.

Satan’s Great Lie

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Satan’s Great Lie

The grass ain’t greener on the other side. Every time we sacrifice what we have for the lie Satan tells us we are bound to watch life fall to ruin. When Eve took the fruit it was “thinking” God was keeping blessings from her. When we watch marriages fall to affairs it’s usually thinking the grass is greener. This isn’t true for all affairs obviously, but I’d say for most it’s probably a bulls eye statement. A while back I wrote a blog post entitled the Grass Ain’t Greener https://thearrowpreacher.wordpress.com/2017/06/20/the-grass-aint-greener/In this post I talked about how we look for happiness in the wrong places. Instead of trying to fix what’s right in front of us the easier path is to cross that line and watch as lives are destroyed. (Not all marriages are healthy and sometimes the safest way to turn is to leave. This is because you can’t change the other person and sometimes you have to leave for your own well being. This not should be taken lightly however and should always be the absolute last resort. Counseling, should always be on the table before divorce.)  Satan wants us to fall victim to the pain and wants us to turn our backs on Christ. The thing about Satan is he doesn’t fabricate untruths, he twists the truth to fit a certain point of view. I’ll show you some examples. Genesis 3:1-5 3“Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Satan knew that death wouldn’t be instant, but slowly, as time would age their bodies. Satan also knew that the tree would cause sin to enter into the world creating the divide between perfection and the earth. Satan lied by twisting the truth to fit a point of view. Not much different from what we see in Star Wars in Episode 3. When Anakin Skywalker falls to the Emperor by twisting the truth and making it seem the Jedi are the villains of the universe.

Satan later came to tempt Christ. In Matthew 4:1-11 Satan comes to Jesus and tries to get Jesus to use his Divine powers for personal gain. The temptation was for vanity, and if Christ would be willing to fall to the temptation, He could be persuaded not to go through with the persecution to instead rule over the earth, once again separating God from His children. Jesus however would not fall to this twist of truth. The lie is in the cost, not the act. Yes, Jesus was hungry and the bread would have stifled his hunger. The second temptation is Jesus on the pinnacle of the temple. Satan tells Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.” He is tempting Jesus’s pride, and faith. Jesus knows the Angels would catch him, but Jesus replies, “You shall not tempt the Lord.” In essence Satan is calling Jesus chicken. If you’re really the Son of the Father you need to prove it. Jesus doesn’t fall for this temptation, and Satan moves on to the third and final temptation. Satan tried to appeal to the sin of power. Satan offered dominion over the earth’s kingdoms right then, without having to suffer for it. Jesus replied that we are to worship “the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.” Jesus could have taken the kingdoms of the earth and ruled over them, but this would not have been the will of the Father.

Every temptation was based in truth. Every lie is a twist of facts just rebranded to look a little different. When we look at the lies Satan tells us every day, that you are a sinner, that you’re not worthy, that you’re a failure, that you’re weak, those things aren’t lies. It’s not that they aren’t true, the lie is where we forget about God’s promise, God’s love, grace. God’s grace and love and choice to save us is what overcomes the truth. We can never do enough, or be worthy enough to earn God’s graces, but that doesn’t take away from the truth that we are saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. Just as Satan could not tempt Jesus, we too must remember that Satan will lie to us and try to draw our attention away from Christ, but he will do so by twisting the law, twisting the truth, and trying to make you feel badly about yourself.

In Romans 14 Paul talks about how the simplest of things could be true based on the feelings around the temptations. For some person bowling could be a sin if that’s where their focus always is. Paul’s saying in the letter, do not pass judgment on the way someone eats, because they may be right with God and we shouldn’t judge another. In many of Paul’s letters especially Galatians Paul mentions circumcision that the church in Galatia was making men turned Christian get circumcised as if it were mandatory. Paul puts them in their place rebuking them for the only thing necessary for salvation is the love of Christ. Now, Satan will use all manner of things such as certain foods, or customs, or books we read such as “Harry Potter”,while it is not a sin for some, but others it may conflict with their personal beliefs. Satan will use this type of dissention to create a wedge between God’s people. While it may be true for one person and their relationship with God, it’s not going to be true for another. We must be careful with what we say is a Sin, and what we pass along in judgment to others. Having an affair may bring someone happiness temporarily, eventually that will wear off, just like buying a new car when you can’t afford it. Sure that new car will drive great, and you’ll have fun, and be proud of it, but when the car payments start to overwhelm you, you find that it’s not so much fun anymore. When we look at the lies from Satan they are always going to be based in truth but twisted to take your focus off of God. We must be careful with what we preach and how we preach it. I can stand here and say that alcohol is a Sin, but that’s not accurate. To much alcohol or a dependency on it however, is a sin. While there are millions of people who can use it responsibly, for some it would become a sin simply by the person they become, or the fact it in itself becomes an idol for them. Don’t be so quick to listen to someone quote scripture as a place of sin. Do your own research because I have seen church’s say you cannot be a Deacon if you have been divorced, no matter the reason. I have seen churches where the women in the church can’t have their hair cut short, or the men must wear a collard shirt, or the women cannot wear pants of any kind. Be careful what you label as sin because it could be you, who is sinning by passing judgments on others. Satan is not more powerful then God, and the lies whispered to us are only powerful if we allow them to have such power. Harden your mind against the attacks of the Devil, and protect your heart from barrage of aggressive talk from others. Take scripture and learn it, read it, study it, and you will find truth in a world full of lies.

God Never Fails

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God Never Fails

We may fault and even break in our lives. We may fall to anger and we let our own fears dictate and rule over our emotions.

I can remember a time in my life when I was so angry with God. I fully believed that God was cruel, and mean, and vengeful. I felt that my suffering was because God sat back and did nothing while my tears and blood stained the ground. I let my fear turn to anger and anger clouds judgment. I was terrified and even though my feelings fit the facts, I didn’t cope very well. I forgot one major part of following Christ, having the trust that we’d never be left alone. I forgot to have faith and know that I didn’t cause what happened to me, and neither did God. People are sinful and make their own choices. People choose to walk along the dark path away from God. Sadly by the time I realized where I had gone wrong I was laying on the ground bleeding out.

We all have choices in our lives and sometimes our emotion mind is in full gear and nothing else seems relevant. The actions that come from full-blown emotion mind can be wonderful, but also disastrous. The years come and go and the debris still litters the ground with the destructive hurricane force of stupid decisions.  One feeling that has remained is that of weakness. When the pain and fear take over and decisions are made from EM, even as rare as that might be, I often find myself feeling weak. I don’t usually have a problem with temptations, but feelings of worthlessness, grief, regret, those are my biggest enemies apart from a constant feeling of loneliness. I know 2 Corinthians12:9  “He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Despite knowing what scripture says, it’s hard to fill my heart with it to the point where something fundamentally changes. Reality is much harder then I personally think it should be.

When my ex wife had an affair I stayed loyal to her. I stood by her side when another man was brought to the house. I stood by her side when I was placed in jail over something that was a lie. All of which I was exonerated, but the point was I stood by her side. People often asked me why I continued to be there for her despite the things she would do. I often placed myself in Gods shoes and I thought about all the times we let down God. All the chances we are given to right wrongs, and while God can see our hearts, I had to trust that in time my ex wife would one day come around. Two years later today, we are now divorced but we hold a friendship. I don’t necessarily agree with the path she’s taken, but she seems happy. Faith is the key, faith that people can change, and I know that one day my view of myself will change and I will see what God sees in me. It isn’t likely to be an easy path, but one I gladly take. When I stop placing my sense of value based on other people’s opinions of me, I know that I will believe in myself more.

Living in love every day isn’t easy when I don’t always feel that love. Facing rejections every day but learning to take them in stride is all part of the healing process. Joy comes from God and it’s important to remember salvation cannot be bought, it cannot be bribed, it can not be swindled, because it comes from the ransom Christ paid for our sins as he himself took on the wrath of the Father so we wouldn’t have to. No matter the path you’ve chosen in the past, the path before you, is your choice to walk or not. At any time you can choose to be different, you can choose to let Jesus Christ in your heart and become a new creation washed by the Holy Spirit. You can watch as your old self is burned away and what’s left is the Diamond built by God. You are Gods child and therefore royalty to inherit a place in Heaven for all eternity. Knowing this life is short but necessary, we can remind ourselves what’s important and continue to refocus our hearts to do Gods will, to bring Glory to the name of Jesus Christ and forever sing praises to our savior and our Heavenly Father.

Rising Flood

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Rising Flood

In the last few days we’ve seen an enormous amount of water come from Hurricane Florence. We have seen record numbers and with that comes floodwaters. There’s been so many thousands of lives affected by this storm and while it’s hard to consider, we must try to find the good in this horrific situation. Lives have been lost, businesses and homes have been destroyed, and while it was take years to rebuild the opportunity for our communities to gather together, to praise Jesus, the accept the power of God and know that Jesus is healing hearts all over the East Coast. We must put our faith and our trust in Jesus that even as families start to return home to measure the destructive cost, all is certainly not lost. There’s no way to measure the heartbreak people will feel in the upcoming weeks as the shock wears off and the trust begins to set in. Many will be in denial, or feel the desire to give up. We as Christians must begin to love on these people, give, and grow showing the grace of Jesus Christ. This time of sorrow is a time of healing, but also a time of growth. Wherever two are gathered Christ is there. Hebrews 13:8 (ESV)“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

As Christians we are to follow the Great Commission, to go forth to all of the nations make disciples and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The greatest commandment given by Christ is love. So at the end of the great comissionsion Jesus says this. Matthew 28:20 (ESV)“Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Jesus is saying teach them all to love. People need to be shown love, now more then ever. Peoples lives are gone, destroyed and as everything they’ve known has crumbled before them, it’s time to show them what a solid foundation looks like so they may have hope in the darkness.

Not everyone is able to give money, or food, or supplies, but we can all give time. We can give time to pray for them. We can help move trash if you can get to the places most affected by this storm. Most importantly though, we can give love and hugs. Emotional support is the most important thing anyone can ever give. God will work out the details for the money and supplies, but showing people we care and they aren’t alone is the most important thing we can do. Compassion will be a high commodity in the weeks to come.

As Florence approached and pounded NC for days, fear was a major part of thousands of lives. As tornado’s touched down near by and affected homes, and lives, more fear floods the cities everywhere. While you watch the news you’ll find organizations such as The Red Cross that have volunteers from all over the country who are in North Carolina helping with relief efforts. With so much help, and love Jesus can be seen all over the area right now. Do not fear because we know that God is still in control. Isaiah 35:4 (NKJV)4 “Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.” In the eye of the storm, God is still in control. While rebuilding is difficult, as long as we breathe we are still able to live, to move forward. Joshua 1:9(NKJV) 9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Facing fear in the rising tide is difficult, but we are truly blessed. No matter how bad it seems, trusting in the Lord to give you peace in these trials, because God will always give us what we need, and when we need it. Psalm 23:4 (NKJV)4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

As we rebuild and wipe away the debris to expose the strong foundation, the rebuilding stage begins. Let us start building from a place of peace, of love, and hope in Christ. Let us band together to show love and prove that people suffering the most are not alone. The peace and grace given to us by Jesus Christ need to be given to those who may not know Jesus, and those who are suffering so much to see signs of hope. While this was a devastating storm, it could always be worse. Love all, and have faith in God’s plan.

Keep On Keeping On

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Keep On Keeping On

Today is a mixed front day. While today is a somber day as crews start to assess the damage from the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, today is also the anniversary for the accident my best friend was in back in 2002. He would never wake up after the accident, but today was the Homecoming service for my church and the guest pastor played the song I Can Only Imagine, By, MercyMe This was the last song John sang at his church before he passed. I believe it was a message saying he was doing just fine in Heaven. Knowing John was a Christian and he loved Jesus has made his passing easier. Jesus talks to us often, we just have to quiet our lives to listen.

The days come and go with problems, with tragedy, with happiness, and with joy. No matter how good or bad things get in your life, all we can do is keep on keeping on. When we push forward in our lives following Jesus Christ that’s most we can do or ever hope for. When we walk with Christ are we doing so in trust? With so much destruction and pain just within the last few days as Hurricane Florence has pounded North Carolina, we can see people coming together and working to save those in need, praying together in times of sorrow, and watching over those who’ve lost everything. We understand that the storms may come, but when they finally arrived are we able to look to Jesus and say “okay, what’s next?” Christians must come to realize that no matter how bad things get, there is always something to gain.

While I was at church today and when the song I Can Only Imagine came on, I wasn’t filled with grief, or sadness, I was filled with Joy. I know my friend is in a better place, and I know he’s been watching over me since he got there. I trust in Jesus’s plan, and I believe that even in the midst of that tragedy some good was able to come of it. Sometimes the hardest thing we will ever do is face tragedies with an open mind. In the middle of this storm we find ourselves in there are acts of heroics, selflessness, courage, and love happening all around us. Emergency services, and civilians alike have taken to the streets to help their neighbors in treacherous conditions. Make no mistake this storm has taken many lives, and when dealing with flooded roads, any moment could be the last. We may face our final hours in this world, and while there is always a sadness by ones passing, with hope they know their savior Jesus Christ, the next moment will be without chains, without pain, without tears, and the flood of a new life rains down as the beautiful place of Heaven is now their home. I think of my God and the sacrifice for me, He laid down his life to save a wretch like me. I think of Amazing Grace, and how wonderful it is to see so much love and grace in these troubled times. When I see selfless acts of heroism I see Christ in this world. No one has to choose to go into the storm to save strangers from danger, but over and over we see it happening. How sweet the sound of love when the worst seems to be happening all around us, wherever I go I know that Christ is right beside me no matter the flood that comes.

No matter how dire a situation looks find peace knowing you are never alone. Your faithfulness will always reap rewards. 2 Chronicles 15:7 (NKJV)7 “But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!” No matter how bad the storm be strong and believe in yourselves because God believes in you. Do not let the Devil cause you to waiver in your faith. The walls may crumble around you, but you can always rebuild with your foundation set on Christ. Trust, and Love always.

Sometimes Accidents Happen

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Sometimes Accidents Happen

Have you done something that was an accident, but undoubtedly a big one? During the flood, I accidently flooded two rooms in about an inch or so of water. With stress already high from the hurricane the accident was ill timed, if there was ever a good time to flood the house. Sadly the room that flooded was a storage room since a great majority of my belongings are still packed.

Something I have been trying to do, though I’m not always successful with it, is changing my perspective in times of stressful situations. When I was watching the movie Paul: Apostle of Christ a few months ago I was captivated by the ability to find peace even in the conditions he was in. Here’s a man wrongly imprisoned and condemned to death for a crime he didn’t commit, and yet he was at peace no matter his circumstances. It isn’t easy finding a positive spin in every situation, but that’s exactly what we need to be doing. With so much negativity in the world, from just the news alone, we can be the difference in this life. The eight hours it took me to clean up the water, and to dry boxes, throw away damaged boxes, allowed me and my mother time to go through boxes, to condense, to sort through and rearrange to clean up the storage room. I’m not making excuses for my major mistake, but I am saying some good can come from even the most dire of situations.

Psalm 107:28-31 (NKJV)

28 Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble,

And He brings them out of their distresses.

29 He calms the storm,

So that its waves are still.

30 Then they are glad because they are quiet;

So He guides them to their desired haven.

31 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,

And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

 

We know that in the center of the storm is Jesus. We know that all things there are lessons to be learned, there are ways to bring glory to Jesus. We cannot walk through this life beating ourselves up for everything mistake. We cannot walk through this life carrying all of our burdens. We cannot allow the burdens to crush us, because if we are to be followers of Christ, we know that we are to give up our burdens, and allow Jesus to take them for us. We are to walk a life as Christ like as we can. We must let go of our storms and watch as Jesus see’s us through.

Psalm 55:22 (NKJV)

22 Cast your burden on the Lord,

And He shall sustain you;

He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

 Matthew 11:28-29 (NKJV)“28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am [a]gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

We see a theme that’s overwhelming undeniable, and that’s us being commanded to give our troubles to the Lord. We were never meant to bare these burdens alone. We know there’s more at work then just the fact that the world can be a cruel place. There is hope in tomorrow that Jesus paid for with blood. We have a ticket to Heaven and we are all cordially invited to join the party. We only need to trust in Jesus Christ, and allow our old selves to be burnt away. We are reborn a new creation, and we find peace in the world. Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

 Trust in the reason for the trials, and don’t let the small mistakes bother you too much. Learn from them, and find the silver lining in every trial. There’s always an opportunity to turn to Christ in prayer and find grace and peace in the name of the Lord. Trust, and know, sometimes accidents happen.

Power

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Power

We sit and wait with no control over anything happening around us. With no power and an uncertainty when it will come back, all we can do is ride it out and pray. We often take the simplest prayers for granted just saying we know God is in control, we respect that power, and we humble ourselves submitting all of our grief and anxieties upon the Lord. We cannot allow ourselves to be consumed with worries in situations far beyond our control. As over 321,000 people are without power in North Carolina, all we can do now is pray people were prepared and trust in God’s will. Today is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice in it. The sun is slowly rising and light now awakes the world around me. The light is a warm comfort, still as the wind howls in the rainless skies. It’s not fear, or apprehension that floods the house, it’s almost a boredom with nothing but silence to listen to.

This quiet time had given me the opportunity to turn to God and pray and have a conversation with my Heavenly Father. I’ve been so busy with school and everything I feel I haven’t been praying as much as I should. It’s truly interesting how obligations and life can so quickly and easily interfere with relations with Jesus. Shame on me for not praying as often as I should. Time is something we don’t have control over, but we do have control over how we use it. I hear so many say, I haven’t had the time, or I’ve been so busy. Time with God should never be one of those things we let slip us by.

So in closing, obviously with no power I want to keep this brief, pray for those affected by Flo. Pray for the floods, the wind, those in its wake. Pray for peace in the midst of the storm. God is still in control, and that we can count on. Be safe, be well.

They All Leave

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They All Leave

It has dawned on me that in the last two weeks I have watched people who have left my life as quickly as they entered. I have found a hidden talent in m life to somehow push everyone away. I haven’t been able to figure out if it’s what I say, how I say it, or some other combination. It’s hard not to feel as if somehow I am at fault. Time is a constant for us, but sometimes we can get stuck reliving a moment in the past. The past can define our thoughts about ourselves and create unrealistic expectations. The expectations we place on others, or how we see ourselves when something goes wrong can be a place in history that we never left.

When we consider life and it’s ups and downs, the biggest thing we must learn, and the sooner the better, our value, our worth, our joy must all start and end with Jesus Christ. We have received the best gift ever in any lifetime, the gift of grace and love in the blood of Christ. Christ so loved the world that He willingly sacrificed himself for us, whom He clearly loved. No matter what we face in our lives the direction we must always turn is Christ. That’s not to say there won’t be times when you need a doctor for your mental health, no different then if you were to break your arm, or something else. At the center of every storm is an anchor that keeps you grounded, the anchor knowing that Jesus is with you. Feeling alone is something we all have, some more then others, and in reality some people truly are alone. We are given only so many chances to tell the people we love that we love them. We have become a people intolerant, quick to snap, swift to anger, abrupt to leave people in our lives at the slightest cause. With no accountability, no feeling of the hurt inflicted upon others, a new social norm has entered into the world.

We have forgotten how to treat others. We have forgotten the love that Jesus taught, and we have forgotten what love is. We are to love our brothers and sisters. We are to treat others with respect and with love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NKJV)4 “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not [a]puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, [b]thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” If love is endured through all things, and it’s patient, why are we so quick to turn our backs on someone we called friend, or worse, someone we told we loved. Hebrews 10:24-2524 “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” How often do we gather to lift up someone else up? How often do we put our own needs aside for those of someone else?

In the instruction we are given by Paul Ephesians 4:1-3 (NKJV) “I, therefore, the prisoner [a]of the Lord, [b]beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” We are to humble ourselves, giving ourselves up to Christ, and in our humble state, going forth to lift up others, to pass on the love that was shared for each and every one of us.

It’s not an easy thing loosing so much and keeping the faith. It’s not an easy thing loosing the love you had and trying to understand and find purpose in it. It’s not easy telling yourself you’re special when you feel you’re not. It’s not easy facing pain and loss and telling yourself that Jesus loves you and that love is never ending. It’s hard facing life every day feeling used, abused, worthless, and as I often felt in my past, a piece of used up garbage thrown away with yesterday’s trash. There is a brighter tomorrow but it has to start with your heart. It has to start with the forgiveness to those who’ve done harm to you, and let go of the pain you feel inside. Even though the past is behind you it can feel like it still has a hold of you. The battles you may face could turn to those of the past that seem to hold you as the months and years continue to pass by. People don’t define who you are. People are fickle, judgmental, emotional creatures, and the only opinion you can truly count on is that of the Lord. We must build our confidence trusting in the Lords work, knowing that we were created for a purpose, and that purpose is not to be worthless. God never makes mistakes and in His perfection, created each and every one of us for an intention of love, change, and hope we can bring by living in Christ’s love. Do you want to be remembered as the person who loved, or the person who left? Do you want to be remembered as someone who was patient and caring, or do you want to be remembered as the person as rash, and harsh? We all have choices to make in our lives, and no one can make them for us. We choose who we want to be, and how we want to be remembered. The instructions to living a good life, an honorable life is right there in the scripture of the Holy Bible, but so few ever truly take the time to read it. So few ever take the time to study and understand the meaning of life that’s spelled out in those pages. Instead we want to go our own way, walk our own path, and try to do things the way we want, that we rarely care who we hurt along the way, so long as ‘I’ am happy. What is your happiness worth? Is happiness worth sacrificing others for it? Is a difference of opinion so horrible that we can abandon all hope of friendship? Do we not owe one another an honest explanation to why we hurt them? It’s so easy to have a conversation but we have become cowardly in this life. We run from anything that might be hard, or even perceived as difficult. We forsake the meaning of friendship, and dishonor the meaning of love. At least Jesus didn’t give up on us. At least our savior knew how sinful, and awful we could be, and in the dying breaths still forgave us of our sins, our trespasses, our constant ability to fall short of what we ought to be. No matter how awful we can be, Christ loved us enough to give everything for us, so we could make a simple choice, to follow, or not. No one will ever make our choices for us, but our actions will speak for our character. As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, that his dream was for his “four little children will one day be judged not by the color of the of their skin, but by the content of their character.”  We now live in a world where people no longer care about the content of their character, so what is it we care about? The answer is sad, we care about self. We no longer care about the bonds of friendship, or the bond of holy matrimony, instead we care about our own happiness, we care only about what makes us feel good, and at a tiny drop of anything unpleasant we now abandon anything, and anyone. How far we’ve come from the teachings of Christ. How far we’ve fallen into the hands of Satan, and the only way out is the truly take a deep, long, hard look in the mirror and ask, who do I serve, is it God above, or is it the person staring back at you in the mirror?

 

 

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Fighting Terrorism

thearrowpreacher1 Comment

Fighting Terrorism

Today we wake up and some of us remember what happened in 2001, some were very young, but in some way, the events that occurred touched every life in America. We will never forget, but we do have the ability to try and bridge the gap and stomp out radical terrorism. Not long ago I finished a class in terrorism and I had the privilege to write a paper on the subject. It is my hope that you will find this paper educational, and maybe even inspirational. Let us be proactive, rather than reactive.

 

The Christian Fight Against Radical Islam:

How Apologetics Will Win The War

Jacob Keiffer

GOVT 480-D03 : Terrorism

Aug 5, 2018

Thesis Statement

The war on terror has been ongoing for over ten years. In that time the fight against radical Islam still wages on with only marginal impact of improvement. In order to truly make a difference in the fight against the radical sects of Islam, the more liberal leaning liberals, which makes up the majority needs to stand up to and police their own back yards. In order to do this and encourage the radical idea, Christians must turn to apologetics and repair almost two thousand years worth of hostility. Throughout the New Testament of the Christian Holy Bible lessons are taught how to love one another, and how to love and treat your enemies. These lessons along with a strong understanding of apologetics can be used to win the hearts and minds, instead of dropping bombs and waging war.

 

Introduction

Islam is a common word heard across the world today. “As of 2010, there were an estimated 1.6 billion Muslims around the world, making Islam the world’s second-largest religious tradition after Christianity.”[1] The religion of Islam dates back to around 653AD, however to truly understand the religion, one must understand its origins.[2] Some might say the West is at war with Islam, and while perhaps that is the larger picture, the fight is against radical Islam and the terrorist organizations that have called for the annihilation of all non-Muslims, and liberal Muslims who do not conform to the ideology of Wahhabi Islam. To fight this war on terror the West must understand the drive and mindset of those who follow this particular brand of Islam. A long-term plan to win what is essentially a family civil war must start and end with apologetics. Bombs will not win this war, or the number of battles won; instead it will be won by changing the hearts and minds of those who will listen. Christians will never win the war against radical Islam alone, they will need to support of liberal Muslims willing to stand and say ‘no more’ and join forces side by side with Christians, bridging the gap of a blood feud going all the way back to Abraham’s first born, Ishmael. Liberal Muslims must stand against the radicals together with the west to destroy the Wahhabi movement.

 

The Birth of Islam

Abraham was a prominent figure in the Christian Bible. God loved him, and he was promised children, but when that promise didn’t come on his timetable Abraham took matters into his own hands and bore a son with his handmaiden. This son was named Ishmael, and he would start the long blood line that would one day lead to a man now known to be the father of Islam, Muhammad.[3] Muhammad would create the religion of Islam by writing the Qur’an and this faith would spread throughout the world, but not as a unified religion. After the death of Muhammad the religion fractured and dissention rose quickly. While fighting between the different sects was violent at times, a common enemy was still growing across the world, and that enemy was Christians. Christians stole the birthright promised by God, and as Christians and Muslims are half siblings, one can understand how the hatred began.

 

Radical Islam Emerges

Over time a different way of thinking came about within the Nation of Islam. The Wahhabi Islam“This religious context provides the framework for justifying violence. Jihadists quote from Islamic scripture, prophetic traditions, and legal opinions to support their claims and activities. Jihad against non-Muslims and the ultimatum to convert to Islam, pay a special tax, or be killed are in fact based on Islamic law.”[4]Azumuah would go on to say in his paper, “Another key feature of the jihadists’ ideology is their rejection of and often rebellion against established governments of Islamic countries. Al-Qaeda, IS, and Boko Haram have declared Muslim governments around the world un-Islamic and illegitimate, vowing to replace them with an Islamic caliphate. To achieve their aim, the groups target and kill Muslim opponents, justifying their actions by invoking takfir, a doctrine, dating back to the seventh century, that specifies conditions under which fellow Muslims can be declared unbelievers who can be killed.”2 Since the dawn of Radical Islam countless lives have been taken in the name of Allah. The answer to combating this kind of hatred is simple, it’s found in the teaching of Jesus Christ, and the answer is love. “For those who eventually accepted the ideology as “true Islam” (and this was heavily influenced by perceptions about the credibility of the movement leader as an interpreter of Islam rather than the superiority of al Muhajiroun’s spiritual incentives relative to other groups),”[5]Muslims who follow this radical ideology also believe that members of their own faith, who are not conservative enough are also a threat, and can either conform, or die. This creates a religious civil war and creates an opportunity for Christians to come to the aid of the oppressed.

 

Apologetics: The Fight Against Hatred

Apologetics is simply put, the defense of what someone believes to be true. For Christians this is perhaps one of the most important aspects of faith. In order to truly evangelize to non-believers of Jesus Christ, understanding different worldviews is important. One would not use the same apologetic argument towards Muslims as you would an Atheist. Muslims and Christians share a common lineage and therefore our Holy Books have some similarities. In order for the west to fight Radical Islam, Christians must understand that particular worldview and then with the teaching of Jesus Christ, an apologetic argument can then be made. Showing love for your enemy is the only true way to change hearts. There are a few interesting points about Islam compared to Christianity. One major point was the idea of grace. “Because Muslims do not understand the concept of grace (undeserved forgiveness through the blood of Christ), tangential arguments do not reach the core of the Problem.”[6] Since Muslims don’t have a true understanding of grace, Christians showing love, and compassion, the nature of Jesus Christ will go a long way in proving Christians aren’t hostile and evil, as the leaders of radical Islam leads many to believe. In the wake of 9/11 Christians have grown to treat Muslims like outsiders, as a threatening intruder in a home, that must be dealt with. Understanding that not all Muslims condone terroristic actions is perhaps one of the first ways Christians can help mend the growing gap between two cultures. What Christians fail to understand, and it is important to realize that Christians who do not study God’s word, and truly dives into the teachings of Jesus Christ are partially responsible for the growing stigma and subsequent hatred of Muslims in the United States.

When a Christian talks to a Muslim the only true thing that matters is Christ. As fate would have it, God loves the little details, “The Qur’an presents Jesus as a miracle worker (2:49; 5:110) who brings signs (2:87, 253; possibly 5:75; 43:63; 61:6) and even speaks as an infant to establish himself as a prophet sent from God (19:29, 30)”[7] The separation comes where Muslims do not believe Christ was God and rejects the resurrection, and the trinity. However when you consider the timing of the Qur’an being written AD 653, although it does agree with the life of Jesus Christ, it denies the crucifixion of Christ, which shows the book is fallible. There are non-Biblical accounts of the Nazarene’s death.[8] There are four major points to consider when discussing Jesus to any Muslim. Before those four points it needs to be understood that Muslims who truly understands the Qur’an knows that Jesus is held in highest regard in their faith. Because of that, it is not necessary to try and prove his existence. What’s needed is to show his resurrection and divinity. This can be done if it is universally believed he was truly raised from the dead after three days in fulfillment of the scripture. The four points are, Jews, Christians, and Romans all knew where Jesus would be buried because of the man who buried him, Joseph of Arimathea, in a tomb just outside the city. Second, all major parties all agreed the tomb was in fact empty to include the Romans in which guards were placed to protect the tomb. These guards would have been Roman guards, and they all knew failure meant certain death.[9] Everyone knew the stone placed in front of the tomb would have weighed around 450 pounds, and would not have been easily moved. This makes the theory that Jesus’ body was stolen to be highly unlikely. Another point to this second idea was at the time of the crucifixion most of Jesus’ followers fled and went into hiding, so they were not organized until later. Third, according to Lee Strobel “on multiple occasions in under various circumstances, different individuals and groups experienced appearances of Jesus alive from the dead.”[10] The Roman Empire and the Sanhedrin would have been able to eliminate a few frightened followers, but instead, the sheer number of witnesses to the divine resurrection, there was no possible way either group, Jew or Roman would be able to stop the fire that was lit. Jesus Christ showed the world he was the Son of God, and the most powerful empire in the world would never be able to stomp out the truth. Fourth, before the accounts of the risen Christ, the disciples were afraid to be seen in public because they did not want to die for something they themselves doubted. Many were not sure Christ would actually rise and because of that, after the resurrection and walking with the risen Jesus Christ for forty days, they became bold, and no longer hid in the shadows. Even knowing they would be persecuted for preaching and teaching the word of Jesus Christ, they refused to yield. Knowing the penalty of blasphemy would be torture and maybe even to be crucified. Not one Apostle recanted their story about Christ. Each one that was murdered and martyred remained faithful and truthful about what they personally experienced.

There are many, who have attacked the Christian faith over the years, but recently there are two that stand out because when they did they were deemed experts in their fields, and both started as devout atheists. Lee Strobel who was a journalist started investigating Christianity and despite his best efforts, he was unable to prove the hoax, and eventually converted to Christianity after following the evidence he uncovered. Second is a man by the name of J. Warner Wallace, a Los Angeles cold case detective, and also a devout atheist set off on a mission once and for all to debunk the lie that was the Bible. Wallace believed he could use his experiences as a cold case detective to attack the Bible much like a cold case, and prove discrepancies within the testimony of the four eyewitness accounts. Despite his best efforts, and his desire to prove atheism was the way, he began to understand that the truth didn’t match his desired outcome. He realized how difficult it would be to keep a dozen people engaged in a conspiracy in the overwhelming pressure from the Romans and Jews.[11] Also, one of the biggest pieces of evidence is that so early on, every single Apostle was willing to go to their death, and no one goes to their death for something they ‘know’ to be a lie. Because of these pieces of evidence, it allows Christians to have an open discussion with Muslims and with a common background it can lead into a conversation. Knowing that the Muslim faith stemmed from Abraham’s disobedience and the baby that came of it, it is easy to understand that a long line of hatred towards Jews would be in place. The half brother was cast out and exiled away from home. It is easy to imagine how upsetting that could be. Christians are fighting a blood feud with their stepsiblings, and the teaching of love by Jesus Christ is the only way to extend an olive branch of peace.

 

Terrorism Strikes The United States

Prior to September 11th2001, terrorism largely seemed to be a problem that government faced overseas, not in the pride lands of the United States. The heart of New York City was struck a major blow as two planes crashed into the world trade center, one plane crashed into the pentagon, and another crashed in the fields of Pennsylvania. The fight against radical Islam came to the front door uninvited. Much like Pearl Harbor, the United States was not looking for a war, but when the time came, it truly was inevitable. As combat missions started in Iraq, and Afghanistan a military strategy was established and executed, but sadly no endgame was clearly drawn. The reason there was no exit strategy is because fighting an Idea is not as simple as fighting an organized military. Guerrilla warfare, secret meetings, and blending in with the population are all challenges faced in fighting organized terror. The long-term effect after Iraq was evident with the birth of ISIS and as they begun retaking cities one after another. The prize city of Ar-Ramadi fell to the hands of ISIS showing the vain efforts of nearly ten years of war in Iraq. The question of what was accomplished was answered, and it was very little. A country like the United States is well versed in military strategy, and very good at fighting a traditional military. The problem with terrorism is it isn’t traditional, and the Untied States has not put enough effort in learning about its enemy to truly mount a sustainable offense, or defense. After 9/11 a commission was filed to improve homeland security. This commission would end up leading to what became knows as the Patriot Act. “The principal focus of the patriot act is to provide law forcement agencies with the proper legal authority to support their efforts to collect information on the suspected terrorists, to detain people suspected of being or aiding terrorists and terrorist organizations, to deter terrorists from entering and operating within the borders of United States, and to further limit the ability of terrorists to engage in money-laundering activities that support terrorist actions.”[12] While it’s important to seek out those who want to do harm to this country, it is important to note that at the same time, it is also important to do humanitarian missions, and to build outreach so that hate, does not continue to breed hate. With only 30% of Muslims that feel that violent actions are ever necessary, that leaves 70% willing to have a conversation about the violence.[13]

 

Conclusion

Jesus spoke of loving your enemy and forgiving sins. The book of Corinthians, Paul explains what love is. Christians must understand the reasoning behind such terroristic acts and a decision must be made how to extend an olive branch of peace to more liberal leaning Muslims. Radical Islam does not actually have overwhelming support like much of the U.S. thinks it does. Christians must approach radical Islam with love and understanding. Christians must appeal to the hearts and minds of Muslims who do not condone the actions of those terrorist organizations, and in time, it must be liberal Muslims who deal the crippling blow to the ideology that has caused nearly the number of deaths as genocide. Together Christians and Muslims as now distant cousins can join force to defeat a common enemy. The common thread is Jesus Christ, and through the love of Christ we can work together. Jesus Christ is noted in the Qu’ran enough to make him influential, and with a little apologetic push, a common bond can be made. The radical Islamic fight is an internal struggle between warring sects of the same faith, and therefore an Islamic focused problem. With the old saying ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’ Christians and Muslims can put their differences aside and focus on a mutual threat. As ISIS and other terrorist organizations such as Al Qaeda continually threaten the lives and safety of innocent Muslims around the world, it is clear that it is imperative the two faiths come together and put nearly two thousand years of animosity aside.

 

Bibliography

Azumah, John A. “Challenging Radical Islam.” First Things, no. 249 (01, 2015): 33-7, http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/docview/1645114378?accountid=12085.

 

Bullock, Jane A., George D. Haddow, and Damon P. Coppola. Introduction to Homeland Security: Principles of All-hazards Response. Fourth ed. Waltham, MA: Butterworth Heinemann, 2013.

 

Hindson, Edward E., and Ergun Mehmet. Caner. The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics. Eugene, Or.: Harvest House Publishers, 2008.

 

Lipka, Michael. “Muslims and Islam: Key Findings in the U.S. and around the World.” Pew Research Center. August 09, 2017. Accessed August 04, 2018. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/08/09/muslims-and-islam-key-findings-in-the-u-s-and-around-the-world/.

 

Lipka, Michael. “Muslims and Islam: Key Findings in the U.S. and around the World.” Pew Research Center. August 09, 2017. Accessed August 15, 2018. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/08/09/muslims-and-islam-key-findings-in-the-u-s-and-around-the-world/.

 

MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Study Bible. LA Habra, CA: Thomas Nelson, 2006.

 

McDowell, Josh, and Sean McDowell, Evidence That Demands a Verdict: Life-changing Truth for a Skeptical World. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2017.

 

Strobel, Lee, and Jane Vogel. The Case for Christ: A Journalists Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2017.

 

Strobel, Lee. The Case for Faith: A Journalist Investigates the Toughest Objections to Christianity. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.com, 2000.

 

Wallace, J. Warner. Cold-case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels. Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2013.

 

Wiktorowicz, Quintan, and Karl Kaltenthaler. “The rationality of radical Islam.” Political Science Quarterly 131, no. 2 (2016): 421+. General OneFile (accessed July 22, 2018). http://link.galegroup.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/apps/doc/A458267314/ITOF?u=vic_liberty&sid=ITOF&xid=2130f7b2.

 

 

[1]David Masci, “World’s Muslim Population More Widespread than You Might Think,” Pew Research Center, January 31, 2017, , accessed August 04, 2018, http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/01/31/worlds-muslim-population-more-widespread-than-you-might-think/.

[2]Hindson, Edward E., and Ergun Mehmet. Caner. The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics. Eugene, Or.: Harvest House Publishers, 2008.

 

[3]MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Study Bible. LA Habra, CA: Thomas Nelson, 2006.

 

[4]Azumah, John A. “CHALLENGING RADICAL ISLAM.” First Things, no. 249 (01, 2015): 33-7, http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/docview/1645114378?accountid=12085.

 

2Azumah, John A. “CHALLENGING RADICAL ISLAM.” First Things, no. 249 (01, 2015): 33-7, http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/docview/1645114378?accountid=12085.

[5]Wiktorowicz, Quintan, and Karl Kaltenthaler. “The rationality of radical Islam.” Political Science Quarterly 131, no. 2 (2016): 421+. General OneFile (accessed July 22, 2018). http://link.galegroup.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/apps/doc/A458267314/ITOF?u=vic_liberty&sid=ITOF&xid=2130f7b

 

[6]Hindson, Edward E., and Ergun Mehmet. Caner. The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics. Eugene, Or.: Harvest House Publishers, 2008.

 

[7]McDowell, Josh, and Sean McDowell, Evidence That Demands a Verdict: Life-changing Truth for a Skeptical World. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2017.

 

[8]Strobel, Lee, and Jane Vogel. The Case for Christ: A Journalists Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2017.

[9]Mcdowell, Josh, and Sean McDowell

[10]Strobel, Lee. The Case for Faith: A Journalist Investigates the Toughest Objections to Christianity. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.com, 2000.

 

[11]Wallace, J. Warner. Cold-case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels. Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2013.

 

[12]Bullock, Jane A., George D. Haddow, and Damon P. Coppola. Introduction to Homeland Security: Principles of All-hazards Response. Fourth ed. Waltham, MA: Butterworth Heinemann, 2013.

 

[13]Michael Lipka, “Muslims and Islam: Key Findings in the U.S. and around the World,” Pew Research Center, August 09, 2017, , accessed August 15, 2018, http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/08/09/muslims-and-islam-key-findings-in-the-u-s-and-around-the-world/.

 

The Future, God’s Got This

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The Future, God’s Got This

As we sit here and wait the impending chance of disaster, I decided to take a look at scripture to see what it says about God’s will and natural disasters. Isaiah 45:7 ESV“I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things.” No matter how bad things seem we know that God is in control over everything. We don’t know the reasons, and there’s no guarantee we ever will, but we have to trust and have faith. During times of trouble we have the chance to minister to others, to come together as the body of Christ. Romans 12:12 ESV “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

 When we know God is sovereign over all things, we know that there is something positive in every situation. John 16:33 ESV“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” We have seen in scripture God using the weather for many purposes. Amos 4:7 “I also withheld rain from you,When there were still three months to the harvest.I made it rain on one city,I withheld rain from another city.One part was rained upon,And where it did not rain the part withered.”

 We know what God can do, and we see what God does do. Isaiah 45:7(NKJV) 7 “I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things.’” No matter the life we live there will always be something. No matter how dark things look, we can always turn to Paul to seek guidance in the worst trials we face.

2 Corinthians 6:3-10 (NKJV)3 “We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. 4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much [a]patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by [b]sincere love, 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”

 Be sure to plan ahead and have all your emergency supplies on hand. If you live in the area to be effected by this storm please make sure you have food and water for three days per person. Candles and extra batteries are essential. Make sure you have gas in you car since gas might not be available for a little while. Make sure you secure loose items around your home so they do not become flying projectiles. If you hear it’s a mandatory evacuation please go. No house, or stuff is worth your life. Please be careful going forward, and be there for one another. Remember we are all part of the Body of Christ. Go in love, and support. God Bless.