Archive for the ‘Peace’ Category
Confusion
Guest Blog – Written by my life-long Friend, Pastor Dennis Morris.
Confusion
1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Confusion: instability, disorder, commotion, tumult.
I think we can accurately conclude from this scripture that there is an author of CONFUSION! Satan is that author!
Another conclusion is the peace authored by God is the target of the attacks of confusion.
Ephesians 6:16 speaks of the fiery darts of the wicked!
Fiery: ignited, to be inflamed with anger, grief, to burn or be on fire.
Caution! Sometimes even people can be fiery darts, inflamed themselves with passion for their grievances.
Flaming arrows, if not striking a fatal wound, can be distracting nevertheless. Inflammatory to the point that we take our focus off the enemy and put it on the immediate pain or danger, becoming confused about the problem and disoriented about who our enemy really is. Many have fallen prey to the spiritual tumult caused by confusion. Not suffering natural death but spiritual wounding some never recover from and suffering even death.
Peace: to join, by implication, have prosperity, quietness, rest, to set at one again.
God’s plan is for peace to reign in our hearts and minds. That we be bound together in love, with peace and joy our being our signature presentation before the world. Having through every trial and test “the peace of God which passes all understanding“!
James 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
Envy: heat, jealousy, malice, emulation, fervent (or fevered) mind, indignation (taking offense).
Strife: intrigue (suspicion), factions, contention.
James lets us know that confusion has companions “every evil work”.
The fevered mind of envy and the suspicions triggered by strife make the perfect storm for confusion to cause us to turn against those who God instructs us to love and to even charge God for not caring and doing something to help us! Why God am I wounded?
Isaiah 9:5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.
(Confused) Noise: vibration, bounding, uproar, commotion, earthquake, fierceness, quaking, rattling, rushing, shaking.
Someone said that “War is hell”, I’m not sure it qualifies to be compared to hell but according to Isaiah there are similarities.
Eccl. 8:8… there is no discharge in that war…
No matter how bad it is, we can’t just decide not to fight anymore! No matter how fierce the battle gets we must not get confused by the noise and even the death and dying around us!
Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat. Wheat sifted, is just flour, wheat ground to powder.
Satan wants to remove all resistance and leave us so devastated that we’ve no recovery possible. Giving in to the confusion will only make matters worse.
- Fight the good fight…
- Prove all things, hold fast to that which is good…
- Having this same mind in you…
- Run the race with patience…
As the battle rages don’t just listen to the clamoring and confusing noise. Listen with a spiritual ear! There is a still small voice, encouraging you to “fight the good fight”.
“We’re not wrestling flesh and blood,”
Go ahead “lay hold on to eternal life”
Child of God, don’t take a chance, through the power of prayer “put on the helmet of Salvation“ don’t get confused!
When Jesus “Sleeps” Through Your Storm
When Jesus “Sleeps” Through Your Storm
Mark 4:35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
Mark 4:36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
Mark 4:37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
Mark 4:38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
Mark 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Mark 4:40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
Mark 4:41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
The twelve men hung on to the sides of the boat for dear life. None of them could remember being in a storm this bad. They all knew horror stories of boats sinking and sailors dying in storms that weren’t as bad as this one. If they lived through it, this would be the storm they would talk about to their grandchildren.
The small craft was taking on lots of water. Spray from the sea had made sure they were all wet and soaked to the skin. Each wave bounced them like a bucking horse. Their chances of surviving this storm didn’t look good.
Their eyes made fearful and furtive glances at the man asleep on a pillow in the back of the boat. They looked at Him in disbelief. How in the world could anyone sleep at a time like this?
If they ever needed anyone to wake up and help them, it was now! They had never been so desperate. No one aboard ship could help them like Him and yet He, of all people, is comfortably asleep while their ship is ready to go down and their lives are on the line. Their boat was full of water.
- Can’t He feel the reeling and rocking of the boat?
- Can’t He feel the wet spray on His face and body?
- Can’t He feel the sloshing of the water in the boat?
- Can’t He hear them yelling emergency orders to one another?
- Why won’t He wake up?
- How can He sleep during a time like this?
They caught each other’s eyes in disbelief while shaking their heads. Their mouths were too fearful to utter what their minds were thinking. They knew that if He would only wake up, He could help. The problem was that Jesus was sleeping through their storm. Jesus, the greatest miracle worker they had ever known was asleep, as far as they could tell.
He was their Master. He was their leader. They were even in this boat right now because of Him. He had told them to take Him to the other side. No one wanted to be disrespectful to Him and wake Him up if He wanted to sleep.
The journey to the other side could cost them their very lives. The trip to the other side may well sink their boat. They had been safe where they had been. They had been without fear on the shore they just left. This journey to the other side was more than they could endure or survive.
They had rejoiced in amazement when Jesus raised the dead. They were astonished and joyful when they saw the leprous man healed by Him. He had even turned water into wine. Why wasn’t He turning this terrible storm into some kind of a miracle for them?
They were His disciples. Jesus was always busy healing and helping everyone else. They had left their homes for Him. They had not slept in their own beds in a long time for Him. He surely wouldn’t neglect or ignore the needs of His own disciples.
No one seemed sure of the proper way to wake Him. They had never had to do that before. He always seemed to be awake, aware and in control. But not now, when the needed Him the most.
The boat wrenched violently and shook them into action. Someone cried out, “Master! Carest Thou not that we perish?”
He immediately arose and rebuked the storm and there was a great calm. When He said, “Peace, be still.” The wind immediately stopped blowing. The waves stopped heaving and churning. The eyes of the twelve opened wide in disbelief at the amazing turn of events. It wasn’t just a calm, but a great calm. They knew He had worked miracles, but the fact the wind and the sea obeyed His voice, astounded them beyond words.
Jesus then turned to them and said simply, “How come you didn’t trust Me?” (“Oh ye of little faith!”)
Bro. Verbal Bean made the statement to our church while teaching on faith, which shocked me at first. He said, “God don’t care till you care.” I wasn’t ready to agree with him until he explained it, and to the best of my memory it went something like this…
“Think of all the trials you’ve been through and all of the difficulties you have faced, and nothing happened to change it for the better. God never just came and fixed the problem for you. Nothing happened until you got involved and you prayed and you asked for help. That’s when you got your miracle. When you got involved, God got involved.”
Maybe Your Storm Is A Bad Report From The Doctor.
Maybe Your Storm Is A Financial One.
Maybe Your Storm Is A Spiritual One.
Maybe Your Storm Involves Your Spouse.
Maybe Your Storm Involves A Wayward Child.
Maybe Your Storm Is Cause By The Overwhelming Grief Of The Loss Of Your Child.
To you, right now, it may appear that He is unconcerned about your storm. But, that is absolutely not true. “He careth for you.”
1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
- Do what the disciples did.
- Do what they did when they realized there was nothing else they could do.
- They called out to Him, and He immediately responded.
- When you get involved, He gets involved. It’s true!
Remember: Psa 121:4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
He didn’t sleep through Daniel’s storm. He didn’t sleep through the Hebrew Children’s storm. And, He won’t sleep through yours. He, who is control of everything, is not really asleep when you need him.
Call Out To Him Now!
Things You Won’t Fix
Things You Won’t Fix
Isn’t it amazing how we can allow ourselves to live with situations that are not normal? Not only do we live with it, but also we ignore it, saying that when we get the time we’ll fix it. Like remodel your home, if you want to remodel your garden you can click here to check the best metal parts.
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Things Like:
- A leaky faucet.
- The cracked storm window.
- Some partially finished remodeling job.
- Your leaky roof.
- The broken back doorstep.
- Missing basement handrail.
- A button missing from a sport coat.
- That rotten tooth that needs pulled?
- The broken HVAC, you should find the best heating repair contractor in http://performancebasedheatingandair.com/
We Mention It, Say We Need To Do It, But Let It Go Another Year.
- The things you don’t fix will fix you.
- It WILL put you in a fix.
- Is the cost of not fixing it cheaper than fixing it? No! Never.
- Aren’t there some things your wife has asked you to fix six months ago and you still haven’t gotten around to it?
- If you don’t fix your car, you’ll put it up on blocks and it will sit as an eyesore for years out in the front yard. Everyone will know you by that landmark.
- The leaky faucet will raise your water bill.
- The leaky roof will cost you thousands to fix because you let it go.
- The tooth will give you more pain than you could imagine.
- When a house is not fixed we say they just let the place go.
- There are just some things you won’t fix.
King Solomon Marveled At Men Who Procrastinated During The Harvest.
- Prov. 24:30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
- Prov. 24:31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
- Prov. 24:32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
Common Phrases Are Used In Regards To One’s Personal Appearance.
- “She fixed herself up.”
- “He let himself go”
When We Do Not Do Something Immediately, We Call It Procrastination.
The closest word to procrastination in the Bible is, sluggard. We are repulsed by even the thought of being called a sluggard.
The sluggard is a procrastinator. His motto is, “Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow.” Sluggards have developed the ability to put off starting a task as well as not completing those they have already begun.
The sluggard rationalizes everything and his mind works much faster than his body. He will always quickly find an excuse not to.
- I don’t have the time
- I don’t have the tools
- I don’t have the know-how
- I don’t have the desire
- I don’t feel in the mood
- I got a lot of irons in the fire
- I have a headache
There Are Those Who Never Fix Themselves Spiritually. They Just Let Themselves Go.
Are There Some Things In Our Hearts That We Won’t Fix?
- A bad attitude?
- A bad habit?
- No prayer life?
- No worship?
- Not honoring God with our tithes?
- Broken family relationships?
- Bridges we need to build?
- Restoring an offended brother?
- Not saying I’m sorry, forgive me?
Be Reconciled To Your Brother Before To Expect God To Hear You.
- Matt 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
- Matt 5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Need To Fix Your Back Tithe Problem?
- It will cost you heavily if you do not fix the problem areas of your soul.
- It will cost you 20% additional if you do not stay current with your tithing. The longer you wait the more it will cost you.
- Lev 27:31 And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.
When You Don’t Fix It, Then It’s Becomes Sin!
- Jas 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
- We like to use the word procrastinate, but that word is not in the Bible. A sluggard is what the Scripture calls us.
- In the natural, your procrastination qualifies you as a sluggard.
- In the spiritual, the Bible just calls you a sinner.
- Spiritually, our pride keeps us from fixing some things.
There Are Things You Won’t Fix, Why?
- You know you need the Holy Ghost speaking in tongues.
- You know you need to be baptized in Jesus name to be saved.
- You know you need to be faithful to church.
- You know you need to worship.
- You know you need to pay tithes.
- You know you need to live a holy and separated life.
- You know you need to be reconciled to your brother.
Jesus Called The Scribes And Pharisees, Hypocrites.
- Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
- They only fixed the part men could see.
- Hypocrites won’t fix what really needs to be fixed.
There Are Men In The Bible Who Never Fixed What Was Wrong In Their Life.
Agrippa Almost Got Right With God.
- Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
- He never fixed it.
Felix Knew What He Needed To Do, But The Timing Wasn’t Right.
- Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
- He never fixed it.
The Rich Young Ruler Thought It Cost Too Much To Follow Jesus.
- Matt. 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
- He never fixed it.
When It Comes To Fixing, Some Things God Has Put A Time Limit On.
- Eph 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
- God’s curfew for anger is sunset. Fix your disagreements before the sun goes down. That’s God’s requirement.
- Fix it.
The Four Lepers Fixed It
- 2Ki 7:3 And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
- They fixed it!
Jacob Had A Problem But He Fixed It When He Wrestled With The Angel
- Gen 32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
- He fixed it!
The Prodigal Son
- Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
- Luke 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
- He fixed it!
The History of Obligatory Archery Practice!
The references to horses, riders, kingdoms and battles in “For want of a nail” indicate the English origins of the rhyme. One of the English Kings did not leave anything to chance! In 1363, to ensure the continued safety of the realm, King Edward III commanded the obligatory practice of archery on Sundays and holidays! The earliest known written version of the rhyme is in John Gower’s “Confesio Amantis” dated approximately 1390.
“For Want Of A Nail”
For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
Are there are things God has asked you to fix and you still haven’t gotten around to it?
Why would you expect God to fix things for you that you’re not willing to fix for yourself?
Have you got a loose or lost nail in your life?
Please fix it.
Yes, Fix It Now!
The Storm Whisperer
The Storm Whisperer
A few years ago I was mesmerized by the fact that someone could gently tame wild horses within minutes. The title of Horse Whisperer is now the name we give to someone with that gift. The Dog Whisperer soon became another name in our vocabulary.
Not many of today’s readers call themselves a horse whisperer or a dog whisperer. Yet, we all have the capability of being a Storm Whisperer. That’s right, we all can learn to be storm calmers. Maybe not quite like Jesus did when He calmed the storm and said, “Peace, be still.” But we can calm storms nevertheless. It’s actually easier than you imagined.
I don’t mean calm an actual tornado, hurricane or thunderstorms. I am referring to calming life storms. The instructions are very easy.
Faced With An Anger Storm?
When encountering an angry tirade of loud, harsh or demeaning words that can quickly escalate into something even more serious, do what this verse says:
Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
- If you wish the storm to stop, answer soft and kindly.
- Be the peaceful breeze that calms the stormy sea.
- If you can do this, you are a storm whisperer.
Confronted With An Argument Storm?
If peace and quiet are desperately needed and you wish to defuse the situation, then remember this scripture:
Proverbs 26:20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
- Just don’t put another log on the fire and it will soon die out.
- Throw your extra logs away while you’re at it.
- If you can do this, you are a storm whisperer.
You Are The Wind To The Storm
- When the wind stops blowing, the troubled sea will stop roaring.
- It will soon be calm again.
- If you can do this, you are a storm whisperer.
Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Philippians 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Living Right With Wrong
Luke 17:1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come:
- Wrong things happen to everyone, not just you.
- Sometimes, the wrong isn’t fixed overnight and we are forced to live with what hurts us the most.
- Our reaction to this wrong determines the outcome.
- It will decide how you feel now and how you will feel later.
- It also affects how God will feel about you in your tribulation.
- An old man-made adage reminds us, “Two wrongs don’t make a right.”
Rom. 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Rom. 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
David Had To Cope With Javelins Being Thrown At Him By The King.
Saul threw javelins at David but he just kept dodging them and never threw one back. He was doing his best to live right with wrong.
Are You Living With Angry People? Speak Kind Words.
Prov. 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Are You Mistreated? Turn The Other Cheek.
Matt. 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Did You Lose A Lawsuit? Give Them More Than They Required.
Matt. 5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
Are You Coping With Unreasonable Demands? Go The Extra Mile.
Matt. 5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Forgive Without Limitation!
Matt. 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Matt. 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Avoid The Company Of And Do Not Eat With These Types Of People:
- Fornicators
- Covetous People
- Critical People
- People Who Don’t Put God First
- People With Addictions
- Blackmailers
1Cor. 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
Do Not Hurt Those That Have Hurt You.
1Thess. 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
Love, Bless, And Pray For Your Enemies And Then Treat Them Nice.
Matt. 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Leave Revenge Up To God. Don’t Ever Try To Get Even.
Rom. 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Let The Lord Fight Your Battle.
Exo. 14:14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Avoid These Destructive People:
2Tim. 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Tim. 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Tim. 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Tim. 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Tim. 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Even Though They Are Not Nice To You, Treat Others Like You Want Them To Treat You.
Matt. 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Don’t Take Your Brother To Court.
1Co 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
1Co 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
1Co 6:4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
1Co 6:5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
1Co 6:6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
1Co 6:7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
1Co 6:8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
Got A Problem Between You And Your Brother? Fix it God’s Way.
Mat 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Be A Peacemaker And You Will Be Called A Child Of God.
Matt. 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Put A Time Limit On Your Displeasure.
Eph. 4:26 …let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Rom. 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
He Pulled Her In
He Pulled Her In
It hadn’t rained for weeks. The horrible and devastating storm was now over. All day the dove had flown back and forth looking for food, looking for a place to land, looking for any sign of life.
She hadn’t found a thing that she could humble herself to come down to. And, she really wasn’t prepared to fly all day without landing on something somewhere.
She was weary. It was all she could do to fly the long trip back to the Ark. With labored effort she struggled toward the open window at the top of the giant boat. Her wings labored harder with every flap. She was very conscious of how tired and weary she was. She felt like she couldn’t go much farther.
Noah knew her nature. He knew she would never be happy to live in a world of filth or decay. She would never be comfortable around anything unclean. She was a dove, not a scavenger.
She had left earlier that day with a raven, but they soon went their separate ways. He happily sought out the rotten and decaying carcasses among the flood-strewn debris. She had no interest in such things.
There had been no place on earth she would allow herself to go to. Returning to the Ark was her only option. But it was almost too late. She was completely exhausted.
Then she saw a hand stretched out towards her. She focused on the hand. This was the same hand fed her every day and cared for her. She knew all would be well if she could but make it to his outstretched hand.
The hand reached out of the Ark as far as it could; caught her and pulled her safely inside.
She was home now!
She hadn’t been strong enough to make it all the way back inside on her own, she had done what she could, but that wasn’t quite enough.
But, when she was willing to make the effort to come back to the Ark, there was an outstretched hand ready to pull her back inside!
Gen 8:7 And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.
Gen 8:8 Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;
Gen 8:9 But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.
Do you find yourself weary of a life filled with sin? There’s hope. If you will make the effort to get to the Ark of safety, I promise you, there will be an outstretched hand ready to pull you safely inside.
He’s waiting on you.
We’re In A Fixed Fight!
We’re In A Fixed Fight!
I sat in the audience tonight and heard my old friend Timothy Spell sing at the ARC Conference in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. As always, he did amazing.
Between songs tonight, he made some comments that gave much hope to those going through trials. He said this…
“We’re in a fixed fight!
“The outcome of this fight has already been determined.
“Someone may say, if this is a fixed fight. How come I got knocked down?
He said, “To keep the crowd watching.”
“Stay encouraged, we know how the last round is going to turn out!”
Thanks Brother Spell!
We Have A Situation Here!
We Have A Situation Here!
This is a phrase no one likes to hear. It means, to most of us, that something has gone terribly wrong and must be fixed.
Those words have been spoken to military officers, politicians, policemen, firemen and even school officials. To NASA, those words meant a serious problem existed… as in ‘Houston, we have a problem!”
Houston, we have a problem!
Businessmen have used the term when the company’s future was threatened. Actually, the phrase has also been used in many homes, as well.
When the phrase, “We have a situation here” is uttered, everyone goes into their damage control mode, and fight to avoid a disaster.
There is also another use of the word ‘situation’ that brings peace to the hearts of every born-again child of God.
Dictionary.com defines the varies usages of the word for us. There is more to this word, than just a description of one’s state of affairs or condition.
Sit·u·a·tion
Noun
1. Manner of being situated; location or position with reference to environment: The situation of the house allowed for a beautiful view.
2. A place or locality.
3. Condition; case; plight: He is in a desperate situation.
4. The state of affairs; combination of circumstances: The present international situation is dangerous.
The first two usages describe a place or location, not a dangerous set of circumstances.
So, when you have heard the words, “We have a situation here!” Do not dismay, for indeed you do!
Ps 48:2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
Mount Zion is a type of the church. Allow me to take this verse out of context and say that the church, God’s house, is beautiful for whatever our situation in life.
Personally? Church is my joy! What I need to handle any situation, I have always found in a good church service.
We Have A (Beautiful) Situation Here!
Ps 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
The Journey To Wits End
The Journey To Wits End
The Road to Nowhere was marked, sort of. It was off to the side of the road and you to had to be looking for it to see it. Besides, weeds were growing up around its base.
David steered the car as if on autopilot. His mind was in a whirl. Everything was going wrong today. He felt like he had little control over the events of the day.
Last night, he had stopped in Despairville and got a room at The Anxiety Lodge. The floors were not numbered 1,2, or 3. They were given names instead. His room was on Floor – Pacing.
A few others seemed to be heading in this direction also. Occasionally, he saw a car or two coming back from where he was heading.
Around the corner he went and then he saw a Fork in the road. He remembered that someone at the Lodge had recommended that when he came to Crucial Fork, to not take the Right Fork, so he didn’t.
The road climbed up Heartache Hill, and he entered the city limits of Panic Town. The Detour signs caused him to turn onto Frustration Avenue. David drove down that road for quite a ways. He saw no streets to turn off on.
Ahead was a barricade across the road. He had to stop. The barricade had a big sign on it.
It said, “Welcome To Wits End!”
David couldn’t go forward, He had no desire to go back. There wasn’t a place to turn around that he could see.
He leaned his head forward and rested it on his hands as the gripped the steering wheel. Tears streamed down his cheeks. He cried aloud unto the Lord to help him. He lifted his head, and that’s when he saw Him!
- That’s when he found the only One that could help him!
- That’s when his help came!
- That’s when his deliverance came!
- That’s when Jesus took over!
That’s When The Sacred Psalm Came Alive For Him!
Psalm 107:23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
Psalm 107:24 These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.
Psalm 107:25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Psalm 107:26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psalm 107:27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit’s end.
Psalm 107:28 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psalm 107:29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psalm 107:30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psalm 107:31 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
The Drama Of The Waiting Room
The Drama Of The Waiting Room
The Wait
ing Room was full of desperate people. Another shift change brought in a new face behind the desk, but that was the only thing different.
An older woman sat by herself in a corner, observing the actions of some of those around her. She even attempted to guess what had brought them to this place.
A few were in so much pain, that they couldn’t stop the tears from running down their cheeks. Her heart went out to them. She knew the only help she could give them was words, and they needed much more than that.
One of the newest additions to the Waiting Room was a young mom. She nervously paced back and forth. Her face seemed tortured and filled with anxiety. She showed no interest in sitting down. Her lips moved, as she prayed silently while pacing the floor.
Occasionally, she would walk by the clipboard that held the sign-in sheet, as if to see how close her name was from being called. She frowned ever time she looked at it.
When the Attendant occasionally opened the door and picked up the clipboard to call the next name on the list, all conversations stopped, and every ear listened for the sound of their name. The wait seemed like forever.
Some of the people in the room had dried blood on their clothes. A few had addictions, many were diseased, and a number of them had been in an accident of some kind. One or two had limped in with the help of others, but most came alone.
“What are you here for, my dear?” The older lady asked the young mother.
“I have a sick baby that the doctors can’t find a cure for,” was her answer. Her face showed deep worry and pain.
“You poor dear, it hurts so bad to see our babies suffer,” the grandmother said as she shook her gray head, feeling the pain.
“What are you waiting for?” The younger woman asked.
“My husband,” she said, with a hopeful smile on her face.
The young mother looked around the room again at the huge cross-section of people. She could tell that most of them had been there awhile.
“What is wrong with this place? Why does it take so long to get help here?”
The grandma just smiled faintly and slightly shrugged her shoulders. Then she turned and looked into the eyes of the young mom, and asked, “How long have you been waiting?”
“Eighteen months, two days and eleven hours,” she said glancing at her watch. “What about you?’ She continued.
“I’ve been here thirty-six years, this November,” the grandma said still smiling.
“Oh my word,” the young mom said as she sat down. “You’ve been waiting in here for more years than I am old. That’s an unbelievable long time. Are you able to talk to the Physician at all? Does he ever say anything to you?“
“I talk to him everyday. He is the best there is, and he tells me he’ll let me know as soon as he’s finished.”
“What’s wrong with your husband?”
“He backslid thirty-six ago. God is working on him, so I’m just sitting in this Waiting Room till my husband can pray back through.”
Tears ran down both of their faces.
“My dear,” the grandma said as she observed that no one was monitoring the check-in list, “please bring me that clipboard over there, I want to show you something.”
The young woman obediently brought the clipboard over to the grandmother and sat down beside her. They both looked at the list of names.
The older woman began to flip the pages back. She flipped them all the way back to the first page, and then began to call out random names, with dates and times.
“Here on Page One, it shows that Abraham was promised a son, and he waited here in this room for twenty-five years before Isaac was born.
“On Page Two, it shows that Joseph had to wait twenty years before his dreams came true and he got to sit on the throne of Egypt.
“Umm, on Page Three, Moses spent forty years in the Wilderness part of the Waiting Room, just killing time before God could use him.
“Page Twelve shows that David waited almost fifteen years after he was anointed king, before he was allowed to ascend the throne.
“Page Twenty shows there was some guy that waited thirty-eight years in the Pool of Siloam Section of the Waiting Room before he got his miracle.”
The younger woman took the clipboard in her hands and leaned back into her chair while she read down the long list of names.
“According to this log,” she said, “not very many get discharged the same day they come. The good news that I see here, is that the Doctor has an amazing success rate. I am not really in love with the idea of waiting, but I don’t plan to leave here until my baby gets well.”
The grandma slipped her arm around the young woman to comfort her. At about the same time they both looked up at two of the signs on the wall.
Their faces were filled with hope anew, as they bravely faced their future in the God’s Waiting Room!
Apostolic Expository Series
Christy Ballestero (My Beautiful DIL)
http://marciaballestero.com/
Pastor Anthony & Kim Ballestero, New Destiny Worship Center, Clearwater, FL (My Son)
Pastor Bryan & Christy Ballestero, Temple Of Pentecost, Raleigh, NC (My Son)
James Groce Blog – "Toward The Mark"
Kenneth Bow Blog
Kingdom Speak Podcast
Philip Harrelson – "The Barnabas Blog"
Verbal Bean Ministries
Holy Ghost Radio
The Ballestero Blog 