I have learned that when I cannot figure out what God is doing, it is usually because God’s plan is so big I couldn’t understand it even if He explained.- Pastor Wrinkles
Tag Archives: trials
Heaven Pt. 163: Soul Secure
If the Lord had not been on our side—
let Israel say—
2 if the Lord had not been on our side
when people attacked us,
3 they would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us;
4 the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us,
5 the raging waters
would have swept us away.
6 Praise be to the Lord,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
7 We have escaped like a bird
from the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth Psalm 124: 2-8
I once met a man who believed that because he had accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior that he would never experience death. He actually thought he would live in his fleshly body forever. Of course that was not truth; It was reaaaaallllly bad theology.
We laugh at such extremism but I have experienced this same mindset to varying degrees in many Christian brothers and sisters, devout men and women who take the Scriptures and make them say what they want rather than what they mean. Psalm 124 is a case in point. Some would take this Scripture and have it say “Because I know the God who made Heaven and Earth my enemies can never touch me.”
The problem of course is that sometimes the enemy can touch us. Sometimes the enemy can do far more than touch us. Just ask the man who wrote Psalm 24. On another day, in another place he said.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
2My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest.b
3Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the one Israel praises.c
4In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
5To you they cried out and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
6But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
7All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads.
8“He trusts in the Lord,” they say,
“let the Lord rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him.”
9Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.
10From birth I was cast on you;
from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
12Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
13Roaring lions that tear their prey
open their mouths wide against me.
14I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted within me.
15My mouthd is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death.
16Dogs surround me,
a pack of villains encircles me;
they piercee my hands and my feet. Psalm 22: 1-16 NIV
I know this is a prophetic Scripture about Jesus but it was also written out of the very real experiences of David’s life on the lam (no pun intended). So what happened to escaping from the fowler’s snare? What happened to God’s help? Well it was there all the time. Help just didn’t look like David wanted it to look at that particular moment.
God doesn’t promise to always spare us from trouble. In fact, Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble” John 16. Heaven isn’t Earth and Earth isn’t Heaven, so let’s stop pretending they are the same.
Even in Psalm 124 God doesn’t promise that we would always escape from bodily harm, although in the NIV that looks to be what He is saying. The truth that is actually being taught though is,” our souls escape from the fowler’s snare” 124:7. (nephesh malat- souls escape)
Even when the enemy has the power to touch our physical realities, he has no power to touch our souls, because our lives are hid with God in Christ according to the Apostle Paul. Child of God, there is a place in the anointing which brings us blessing beyond the curse so that we can say with Paul, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ” 2 Cor. 4:8,9
If it feels like you are under attack today and that you are trapped between the devil and the deep blue sea with no good way out, take heart. The devil may have a hold on you for now but his grip is slipping and he has no power whatever to capture your soul. The real you inside is safe in God’s hands and shall be so as God’s plans for your life are fulfilled. Your life cannot be touched by anything in this reality. The battle of the moment may go to Satan but the victory of forever belongs to you!
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Heaven Pt. 162: Bigger Than
Thunderheads over the Lower Lake, Killarney
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1,2
Have you ever climbed a mountain? I have. What I can’t believe about mountain climbing is that there are people who actually do it for fun. I remember climbing this one mountain ( I remember it because it was the only mountain I ever climbed). I remember looking up to see the peak. I remember making my way up the steep thigh-killing trail, my breath tearing out of my lungs in great gasps.
I kept saying to myself “just a little further and you will have made it. The top is right around the corner!”
I remember coming out of the trees on that summit only to discover that what I thought was the top was just an outcrop masking the view of the real peak which was some half mile up in the distance. I think I wept.
Mountains are like that: tricky, turn-coat, hiding their bigness in the clouds and aiming to steal your joy at every turn of the path (sorry mountain climbing lovers I just calls ’em likes I sees ’em). The truth is if we keep our eyes on the mountains we will lose hope pretty quickly. Honestly, if you’re looking at the mountain and it seems to big for you to climb you’re only seeing the half of it. The real mountain is worse than you know.
But there is HOPE. You won’t find it looking at the mountain though. Hope is found in the Lord. He’s the maker of Heaven and Earth and He is bigger even than your mountain. Never forget to factor God in on your mountain climbs. He’s the greatest asset you have and He is the only reason you are going to make it up and over whatever mountain stands in your way. As Scripture says, “It is God who arms me with strength
and keeps my way secure.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he causes me to stand on the heights Psalm 18:32,33
If God should think the mountain is to big for you to climb He will help you move it straight out of the way. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” Mark 11:23,24
Let me encourage you, stop looking at the mountain. Start looking at the God who is bigger than…
The Heaven posts are a devotional study through the Bible using the word “Heaven”. To find other Heaven posts go to my Pastor Wrinkles page above and click on the “Heaven posts” drop down.
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Tired, Cranky and Greatly Blessed
There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing. ~Alfred Wainwright
I have finished packing for today’s Special Touch Gathering. This afternoon after ministry I have to do some last-minute shopping before Winter Storm Neptune slides in with New England’s next foot of white stuff. I am also thinking I should refill the wood rings on the porch with wood from the wood stacks and I need to make sure the cellar door is clear to get the snowblower out tomorrow morning should we have church.
Like most New Englanders I am tired and admittedly a bit cranky. This year we have experienced more snow in less time than ever before. We pride ourselves on being a tough, resilient lot but the air in my neck of the woods just now is filled with definite cantankerosity. People either have massive cabin fever or a burning desire to climb back into bed and not get up again until after Easter.
While this is the prevailing mood over our region, I realize it is just that, a mood and nothing more. While moods or emotions are powerful things they only have as much power as we give them. Frankly we are not supposed to give them much power. Moods are not meant to rule us. They are meant to guide us, inform us of current conditions so that we can then approach God for solutions in the Spirit.
Last year I met a missionary friend at a pastor’s conference. While the winter of 2014 was not quite as nasty as it has been this year this missionary had done quite a bit of travelling and ministering in very difficult circumstances.
I asked her, “I heard you have had a rough year of travel.”
“Oh it’s been absolutely terrible! One of my worst itineration years ever. The driving has been bad. So many services cancelled.” Then my friend looked around and noticed that others were listening in on our conversation.
“And I am so blessed!” She smiled with a wink and a nod.
It may be humorous but It is also true. We are blessed. We may experience hardship. We may face trials. We may be tired of snow. We may be in pain from shoveling. We may find ourselves feeling troubled, sad, even cranky. Yet we are blessed. We serve a God of love who has some benefit for us even through the bleakest winters of history. Let’s not let tired and cranky steal from us the truth that we are greatly blessed. Acknowledge tired and take a nap. You will feel blessed. Acknowledge cranky and choose to do something that will pick you up. Acknowledge pain and pray for healing. Acknowledge the trial but don’t let the trial rule. Find a way to put the blessing in the driver’s seat of life. Choose that now!
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“Seasons of Woosh!”
Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food,2 in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness….For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor. 11:23-30, 12:10
“Seasons of woosh” are those times in life when the world spins so fast past you, that you really cannot do anything more than hold on for dear life and scream “Jesus!”
Paul lived in a long “season of woosh” that resulted in his writing a good part of the New Testament while founding the Gentile church.
As I read about his life here in 2 Corinthians I am thinking that his “season of woosh” was not much fun. Productive? Yes! Adventurous? Yes! Satisfying? Definitely! Fun? Maybe not so much, at least not by our American/European standards of fun. Oh, who am I kidding, no one considers beatings or shipwrecks fun but they were the price Paul paid to be a part of birthing the church. It sounds down right uncomfortable to me.
It makes me wonder how anybody takes a serious read through the Bible and comes up with the idea that Christianity is supposed to make us comfortable. Since I’ve read the Book through several times now I wonder why I squawk every time God brings me into a “season of woosh.”
The Christian life is supposed to challenge us.
The Christian life is supposed to be bigger than we can live in our own power.
We ought to look at God’s commands and utter an “I can’t do this.”
Once we have gotten to that place, then we can turn to God and say “If you want it done, You’re going to have to do it through me.”
If you are in a “season of woosh” right now let me encourage you,
let go of the expectation of fun.
Instead
Embrace the fruit that this season is producing.
Embrace the adventure.
Embrace the satisfaction that comes with doing the impossible thing you are called to do with God’s help!
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Time To Fight!
Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. (Hebrews 10:35-39 ESV)
Dear friend, now is not the time to throw in the towel! You may feel like you are running blind but that doesn’t mean you’ve lost; It just means you can’t see how close the finish line is.
I am watching as the enemy of our souls is stirring up much contention within and against the church and her saints; But I know he is only doing it because we are near to a breakthrough. Victory only comes through warfare and miracles only take place when all possible solutions have failed; So if your situation looks like either of those two paradigms look up and your redemption will draw near!
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Pastor Wrinkles: Happy In the Heart Attack Pt. 7
Yesterday we finished by saying…
There is a day of healing and forward advance coming to you. When that day comes will it find you ready to embrace the work of God or will it find you calling out “sour grapes because you have not prepared for the fourth step to being happy in the heart attack which is…
Commit to serving God no matter what the cost.
In the gospel of John Jesus basically asks Peter if he is willing to commit no matter what the cost.
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter,“Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him,“Follow me!”
20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return,what is that to you? You must follow me.” John 21:15-22
How about you? Are you willing to commit to Jesus no matter what the cost? What if it costs you your job? Your family? Your life?
Thomas Merton said, “A life is either all spiritual or not spiritual at all. No man can serve two masters. Your life is shaped by the end you live for. You are made in the image of what you desire.”
So what is your life like today? Is it spiritual or un- spiritual? Are you sold out for God or sold out to the world? Has your heart attack pushed you closer to Jesus or has it pushed you away from him?
What must you do in light of these answers?
If you missed any of our conversations from “Happy In the Heart Attack”, you can find them here.
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Pastor Wrinkles: Happy In the Heart Attack Pt. 6
We have been talking about steps to take in order to survive and thrive through life’s heart attacks. Yesterday we made the point that we must be ready to embrace God when He shows up.
If you have missed any of our conversations you can catch up here:
Jesus told this parable about being ready for God’s move…
25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
There is a day of healing and forward advance coming to you. When that day comes will it find you ready to embrace the work of God or will it find you calling out “sour grapes
because you have not prepared for the fourth step to being happy in the heart attack? That step is… See you tomorrow!
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Pastor Wrinkles: Happy In the Heart Attack Pt. 1
Here is an excerpt from Pastor Wrinkles latest Sunday sermon, “Happy In the Heart Attack. Our topic for this study is learning to find peace and joy in the midst of life’s heart attacks.
Our text:
Luke 22: 52-60 John 21: 1-22
Luke
52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs?53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”
Peter Disowns Jesus
54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”
57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.
58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”
“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.
59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”
60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
John
21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas(also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee,the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.[c] 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them,“Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Jesus Reinstates Peter
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter,“Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him,“Follow me!”
20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return,what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
More tomorrow!
Lillie-Put 