Who Then is This?

"And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 'Hush, be still.' And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, 'Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?' They became very much afraid and said to one another, 'Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?" Mark 4:39-41

The winds are howling and the sea is raging. Earthquakes, hurricanes, arctic freeze and excessive heat warnings appear in the news headlines today. Of course, the lead stories on all the news broadcasts in our country center on the contentious election campaigns for President. Watch any amount of television and you will be bombarded with ads for various candidates and propositions. The ad writers make them sound so believable. Every one of them is begging for your vote.

Are you as perplexed as I am at the quality (or lack) of the choices set before us? Habbakuk was an Old Testament prophet who was perplexed at the winds of war blowing in his day. The mighty army of the Babylonians was advancing to take Jerusalem captive. He couldn't believe God would allow such evil to triumph over His chosen people.

"Why do you force me to look at injustice? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Oppression and violence are right in front of me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates. This is why the law is ineffective and justice never emerges. For the wicked restrict the righteous; therefore, justice comes out perverted." Habakkuk 1:3-4

But God was doing something for His people they couldn't see. Judgement was coming upon them because they had turned from God and ignored His commandments. He was about to use something so evil to ultimately bring them back into obedience and blessing - to pave the way for their eventual return to the Promised Land.

"Look at the nations and observe--be utterly astounded! For something is taking place in your days that you will not believe when you hear about it." Habakkuk 1:5

Sound familiar? For many it seems that we are witnessing the death knell of our nation, the democracy that has been a beacon to the world for centuries. We struggle to embrace peace in our hearts and minds, to rise above the fear of what we might lose, especially if we vote for the wrong candidate.

We're in a boat with a storm threatening to swamp and sink us. But...Who is in this boat with us? He who has the power to speak a word and immediately change everything. Do not resign yourself to inaction. Look to Jesus to calm your stormy seas.

Jesus stopped the wind. He took away the forces against them. Now they had to do something. They didn't have engines to power the boat. It took man power. They had to row the boat to the shore. 

We, too, need to do something. We are to "occupy" until He comes. We move forward. We take care of our families, our homes, our jobs, our country. We do all of this in faith, knowing that God will use even the things of this world to bring about His purpose. 

Soon we will have the opportunity to cast our votes for a candidate. Please exercise your faith; PRAY and VOTE as the Holy Spirit leads you. 

by Marilyn Allison

Giving Thanks

"IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being." John 1:1-3

Jehovah, ever-existent God, today I am grateful for Jesus, the Word of God come to the world in a human body so we could behold YOU. Thank you, Jesus, that You designed all that exists - that your crucifixion, death and resurrection wasn't an accident or an event planned by angry jealous men. 

From the beginning you knew man would sin and need a savior. From the beginning you knew You would pay the price. You, Yourself, would shed the innocent blood required to pay the sin debt for whosoever would believe in You. From the beginning you knew what you would have to do to present us blameless before the Father. There can be no greater sacrifice.

"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." Jude 23-24

Gratitude

"IN THE BEGINNING GOD created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1

All mighty God You are the One who began everything we see, hear, know - and all that is yet a mystery to us. You are the power above the universe, the sun, moon, stars. The heavens declare your glory.

Whenever I am bogged down in the cares of this life, You lift me up when I remember who You are. I believe. I believe "in the beginning God," therefore, I believe in what you have written afterward. The stories of the Old Testament become my encouragement, examples of Your power in real lives, not myths.

Today I thank You because You drew me to You through Love. Not just me, but all who would believe.

"...I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness." Jeremiah 31:3

My Prayer

"We know what real love is because Jesus gave up His life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters." 1 John 3:16

Just the other day as I prayed, I told God I would trade -

If I could give my life for his, 
I would do just that today. 

If I could give him my health to live, 
I would do it come what may. 

If I could trade his place for your sake, without question, my will would be done;

Because I've never known a sweeter love than a Man who traded His life for my own. 

Just the other day as I prayed, I told God I would trade.

by Dana Lange

Bounty of Blessings

"How happy is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways! You will surely eat what your hands have worked for. You will be happy, and it will go well for you." Psalm 128:1-2 (HCSB)

I've been doing a lot of driving across the Romanian countryside as we prepare to move to our new ministry location. The colors of Fall have been magnificent! It's also the time of harvest, bringing in all the crops before winter freezes things. Farmers burn the chaff in piles and you can see smoke rising up. The crisp smell of burning vegetation fills the air.

The Lord has been reminding me of the importance of burning away the wasteful things in my life...especially what distracts me from Him. HE has been preparing my heart for Thanksgiving. As I see so much poverty and heartache around me, I am so indebted to Him for my life filled with blessings from Him - filled with bountiful grace and mercy.

Soon, we will have fresh snow and celebrate Jesus leaving Heaven to walk among men. Then, years later, He would offer His life, the perfect sacrifice for our sins.

Silly me. Not too long ago I was negotiating with Him, arguing that I might be better off in the California sunshine, walking barefoot (well, no more than sandals), collecting sea shells.

He replied, "Trust Me."

I'm so glad I did. He teaches me and speaks to me through all that is around me in this place.
Thank You Lord for all my blessings in You.

by Coleen Jejeran, missionary to Romania