How Do We Handle It?

We’re only a few weeks away from mid-term election day here in the United States, which means that we are being inundated with political advertising. It is impossible to watch television without multiple political ads at every commercial break.

Political ads are really quite interesting and actually have a lot to say about the state of our nation. On the one hand, Candidate A appears to tell you all the horrible things his/her opponent has said or done. Immediately following, Candidate B appears to tell you that everything you just heard from Candidate A is a blatant lie which is designed solely to impugn his/her character, when in fact, he/she is actually practically perfect in every way.

They can't both be telling the truth. In all likelihood, there may be a teeny tiny thread of truth somewhere in there, surrounded by massive distortion in what each of them had to say. And that reveals a great deal, not only about candidates, but about our nation and about us as a people.

In our culture, truth has become relative. Truth has become whatever you or I want it to be. Truth has become whatever some politician or activist group or judge or journalist says it is at the moment. And it changes on a whim.

By that standard, both Candidate A and Candidate B are telling the truth, even though what one of them says is exactly opposite what the other says.

How are we to handle this?  What is our standard of truth to be?

The standard of truth is the same as it has always been. Even in this world of political expediency and government corruption, the standard of truth remains the same.

"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever."  (Isaiah 40:8 ESV)

[Jesus said] "I am the way, the truth, and the life."  (John 14:6 ESV, emphasis mine)

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."  (Hebrews 13:8 ESV)

Hold on to those truths. Cling to those truths. In this world of shifting truths, our standard of truth remains firm. We hold on to Jesus. We examine everything according to the unchanging plumb line of Scripture.

And when we are criticized as being naïve or old-fashioned or out of touch, even then we hold on to Truth.

We live in difficult, challenging times. The truths that we believe and have staked our very lives on are under attack. But truth is still truth. God's Word has not changed. It will not change. God's love for us has not changed. It will not change. And for those of us who are in relationship with God through Christ Jesus, nothing can change that. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.

Not politicians.

Not political action groups.

Not government corruption or over-reach.

Not bad journalism.

Not a virus.

Not financial stress.

Not illness.

Not unemployment.

Not criticism or ridicule.

Nothing.

"What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:31, 35, 373-39 ESV)

How, then, do we deal with these shifting standards? How, then, do we face life on a daily basis when all we have known as true seems to be crumbling around us? How, then, do we live life when the world is falling apart? How do we handle it?

The answer to those questions is found in the pages of Scripture as well.  

In every situation, in every circumstance, in every difficulty and every challenge, the answer is the same:

[We] "run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."  (Hebrews 12:1b-2 NASB, emphasis mine)

Focus on the Facts

 

I have the privilege to gather with a precious group of women every Thursday morning for Bible Study. I look forward to this time each week as we love one another, encourage one another, pray for one another, and study God’s Word together.

Currently we are studying one of the Old Testament prophets. Amos, one of the “minor prophets”, is probably not as well known as some of the others. But he has a lot to say to us. And we are on a mission to make him famous. Just like those cookies!

We have been enjoying some of those Famous Amos cookies during our study. And we have also enjoyed some figs. Amos was, after all, a sheep herder and a fig farmer. But what we have enjoyed most is coming to understand what God has to say to us through Amos.

This week our study focused on Amos chapter 1. As we study, we are using a workbook written by Jennifer Rothchild called Amos: An Invitation to the Good Life.*

This week’s invitation from Amos chapter 1 was to “Live Assured”. The context of that chapter is Amos being called by God to leave Judah and go to Israel to deliver some messages from God. These messages were condemnations being pronounced against the enemies of God’s people who were surrounding Israel on all sides.

It really is a depressing chapter, especially if we only focus on the condemnations. But when we look to see what we learn about God in this chapter (which is a good thing to do in every chapter, by the way!), we are encouraged. Because what we learn is that God does not leave evil unpunished. God knows. God cares. And he will punish sin. He will punish those who have oppressed His people. 

When we remember that God knows, God cares, God is not blind to what is going on in the world, we can find the encouragement to live assured. We can live with the assurance that God is in control. Even when it may not feel like it.

When we are surrounded by our feelings of fear or insecurity or inadequacy or hopelessness, we can focus on the facts. This is the message of God to us through the prophet Amos. God knows. God cares.

But sometimes our feelings overwhelm us, don’t they? That’s the time to focus on the facts. Here are a few facts to remember.

Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

Thou, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the lifter of my head. Psalm 3:3

If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

Thou wilt keep him [her] in perfect piece whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he [she] trusts in Thee. Isaiah 26:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefined, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed at the last day. 1 Peter 1:3-5

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38

No matter what is going on in our lives, we need to remember the facts. Meditate on the facts. We acknowledge our feelings, but we don’t want to live there. Focus on the facts.

Might I suggest that you make your own facts sheet of Bible verses that will remind you of who Christ is and who you are in Him. Keep the list handy so you can refer to it when you are surrounded by discouragement or fear or other feelings that drag you down.

Focus on the facts. And live assured. God is in control!

*Amos: An Invitation to the Good Life by Jennifer Rothchild, (available from Lifeway Christian Resources or Amazon)

The Gift of Today

It’s a beautiful morning here in the Upstate of South Carolina. Sunshine. Blue skies. A perfect fall day! What a gift!

But even if it were gray and gloomy and cold, this day would still be a gift. Because every day is a gift!

To be honest, I haven’t always had that perspective. I’m sure that, theoretically, I realized that every day was a gift from God. But practically speaking, I didn’t always have that attitude. However, my attitude changed dramatically a few years ago.

For those of you who don’t know, I am a stroke survivor. And once I became responsive again, and aware of what was going on around me, I began to see each day as a gift……the gift I could have missed. My new lease on life has given me a new perspective. A realization that we take too much in this life for granted. We expect to wake up every morning. We expect things to go as we have planned them. We expect all our appliances and devices will work properly. That all our friends will be friendly. That life will go according to plan.

But the reality is - and certainly my reality was - that doesn’t always happen. I never expected to have a stroke. I never expected to find myself in a rehab facility and wondering how I got there, because I couldn’t remember any of the events that had landed me there. I never expected to have to learn to walk and talk and read and write again. But I did. Because God gave me the gift of another day of life.

Since 2016, I have a deliberate awareness that each day is a gift. Today is a gift. 

Every day will not be a good day. In fact, my day got off to a rough start, not at all the way I had it planned. Even so, it is a good day. Because God has allowed me to see this day. To live for him today.

So today I bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me blesses His holy name. (Psalm 103)

On the good days, Bless the Lord, O my soul.

On the bad days, Bless the Lord, O my soul.

On all the in between days, Bless the Lord, O my soul.

When life is good. And when it isn’t. 

In plenty. And in want.

In sunshine. And in rain.

When life goes according to plan. And when it doesn’t.

Bless the Lord.

Does that mean the bad stuff will suddenly turn to good. No, of course not. That would mean we are trying to manipulate God. I’m not suggesting a non-heartfelt mantra. I am suggesting that we view life as what it is. A gift to us from a loving and gracious God who sees the end from the beginning, who is sovereign, who knows what is best, and who has a plan and purpose that is for our good and His glory.

Will we always understand everything that happens in this life? Of course not. Even so, every day is a gift from God. Let’s remember to be thankful for it!

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” (James 1:17)

The Gift of October

 

I say this every year when October rolls around - October is a gift. And my first post every October seems to follow this theme, so here we go again!

A few years ago, I took this photo while standing in our driveway. We don't live in the mountains anymore, and there isn't this much color yet on leaves where we live now here in the Upstate of South Carolina. But colors like this are part of the reason I love October! Perhaps it's the same for you as well.

October is the month of red and gold and orange leaves.

Of pumpkins and apples.

Of fall festivals.

Of cool mornings and warm afternoons.

Of leaves falling.

For those who live here in the South, October is a welcome respite from the extreme heat we experienced all summer, and even through September.

For those who live further north, October extends the beauty of summer a little longer before the winter months of snow and ice and extreme cold.

October is a gift! Let's enjoy every moment of it, and give thanks to the Giver of all things for such a wonderful gift as October!

"O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever."  (Psalm 106:1 ESV)

A Heartbreaking Statistic

A little more than two weeks have passed since we returned from a fabulous cruise around the Baltic Sea. These two weeks have been filled with memories of that adventure, but also filled with trying to catch up on life. Getting over jet lag; catching up with laundry; lots of appointments; just trying to get regular life back on track.

And in the middle of all that - well, actually going back to the beginning of the cruise - I have been dealing with identity theft of my social media account. Now that I have established a new account, I’m trying to catch up with that. Reestablishing contact with friends. Trying to prove to people that I am the real me. Just trying to get regular life back on track.

A lot happened in the world and among my friends’ lives while I was banned from social media. I missed a lot of birthdays. I missed seeing a lot of photos. I couldn’t communicate with people. It was all very frustrating. I felt pretty cut off from the world, and not just because I was miles away from home.

Reconnecting with social media has put me back in touch with friends near and far. It also gives me the opportunity to see what they post. And yesterday a friend shared the results of a survey from Lifeway that was very disheartening.

According to the survey, among Protestant churchgoers, only 32% read their Bible every day. 27% read the Bible a few times a week. And the next statistic is 12%. 12% of Protestant churchgoers read their Bible either once a week or rarely/never. (There was a tie for the 12%).

My first reaction was shock. But that was followed by extreme sadness. And the question why? Rarely or never reading your Bible while at the same time professing a faith in the God of the Bible is a heartbreaking statistic. Even more heartbreaking is another statistic that 66% of evangelicals access Facebook every day.

It seems we have our priorities way out of line.

And that breaks my heart.

If we don’t take time for God’s Word, how can we know how to live for Him as we ought?

Where do you fit into these statistics?

Something to think about.

“For the Word of God is living and active…..” (Hebrews 4:12)

“I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” (Psalm 119:16 NIV)

An Update

 Many of you access these posts through Facebook. My account there was compromised, so a new account was opened. This makes it also necessary to open a new account for this page.

Please look for me at susanssittingroom2022.blogspot.com.

Looking forward to connecting with you there

What’s Your Identity?

We hear much these days about identity theft. In fact, there’s an entire industry devoted to protecting your identity. We take steps to protect ourselves from the identity thieves with passwords and RFID wallets. Even so, your identity may be stolen or compromised by a hacker or a thief who captures your password or your personal details.These cyber crimes are a fact of life in our digital age.

But is our identity really determined by our bank account or our social security number or our social media presence? Of course not!

For those of us who belong to Christ, our identity is defined much differently.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.”                          (Ephesians 1:3-4 NASB)

This is our true identity. Not a set of digits. Not a social media page. Not a public persona. Our identity is in Christ.

Blessed.

Chosen.

Predestined.

Adopted.

Redeemed.

Forgiven.

All this is ours, and more, in Christ. 

And this has been lavished on us by a loving Heavenly Father so that we might live “that we who hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:12 NASB)

As you and I begin this new week, my prayer is that we we remember who we are in Christ. And that we may each live to the praise of His glory. Amen.