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Chicken Little

Do you remember the story of Chicken Little? He was walking in the barnyard and an acorn hit him on his head. He thought the sky was falling and ran around telling everyone, “The sky is falling! The sky is falling!”  He got everyone into a panic.

It seems everyone from political candidates, to legislators, to preachers, to neighbors are saying the “Sky is falling!”. And I probably have echoed that thought myself. Things seem to be getting bleak. Right is wrong. Wrong is right. Everything is upside down.

But if something fell out of the sky and hit us on the head as it did Chicken Little would we not look up to see where it came from? We’d want to know more about the situation. If for no other reason but curiosity. And it might be good to look to see how I might protect myself and those I love.

While in a devastating (“the famine was server in all the earth”) famine, Jacob and his sons wondered what to do about it – trying to make a plan. Jacob said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?…I have heard there is grain in Egypt; go down there and buy some for us…so that we might live and not die.”

These days we seem to stare at one another (or the TV) – looking for a solution.

Well, it might be good to look up! Psalms 121 says, “I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from whence shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”  Isaiah 45:22 says, “Turn to Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God and there is no other.” The prophet Micah wrote, “But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy (anxiety, fear). Though I fall I will rise; though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me.”
“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Therefore will we not fear, though the earth should change, And though the mountains be shaken into the heart of the seas Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains tremble with the swelling thereof.” (Psalms 46:1-22)

Yes, look up and see the mighty, sovereign, loving God sitting on His throne. He’s got it all under control.

 

 

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Above Our Means

I am writing at my desk as my oldest daughter is in the kitchen homeschooling 2 very reluctant children that would rather be playing outside. Their negative persistence is remarkable as is her positive patience! It illustrates for me this truth:

The world is in turmoil. (Just like my grandchildren!) That is not really new. The speed with which the world is changing is new – and can be frightening.

The US President just reversed the policy of not negotiating with terrorists, releasing 5 dangerous men; a US Marine languishes in jail in Mexico; little girls are deciding they want to be boys and parents post the story on Facebook; veterans are dying as they await medical treatment; an ambassador is brutalized and killed in the line of duty; we find it hard to believe what the government and the President say; energy and food costs are climbing, as is the jobless rate… Rather a grim picture.

But we have treasures. We have promises.

The Apostle Paul wrote in II Corinthians 1:20, “All the promises of God in him (Jesus) are yes and in him (Jesus) Amen, unto the glory of God by us…”

The Amplified Bible says it this way: “For as many as are the promises of God, they all find their Yes (answer) in Him (Christ). For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it) to God through Him – that is His Person and by His agency – to the glory of God.”

Ponder that a bit. All the promises – as many as there are. How many is that?

All the promises are answered affirmatively in Jesus.

We have the opportunity to put those promises into operation in our lives to the glory of God and His purposes. As we cooperate with Christ and God’s promises a whole treasure trove opens to us!

Think of the many promises of grace, peace, mercy, rest, strength, encouragement, forgiveness, protection, supply…you name it. It is all found in Jesus affirmatively. Not for our pleasure or ease but for the glory of God – the whole reason we are here on earth.

As we claim and operate in those promises we enter into a realm of God’s glory. A purpose far greater than anything known here on earth. We have the opportunity to walk in the heavenlies with saints and angels even while living out our lives here on earth in the midst of the turmoil. (Just like my daughter.) Talk about living above your means!

We don’t have in ourselves the means for peace, joy, grace, forgiveness, rest, strength, mercy, protection, encouragement, protection, supply…we’re bankrupt. He isn’t. He gives all we need for free!

My daughter is able to teach with patience and good humor because she goes to the treasury of God’s promises in the Person of Jesus and claims liberally all that He offers for her for practical everyday living.

It’s all available for you, too.

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