Has God’s Promise Changed?

NOTE: Enjoy this guest post by Sue Oneal, friend and pastor's wife at Sequatchie Valley Church of the Nazarene in Whitwell, Tennessee.

One of my favorite passages of scripture is 2 Chronicles 7:14:

then if my people will humble themselves and pray, and search for me, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land. (The Living Bible)

When I read this passage in context I find that the temple had just been completed and the people had prayed and celebrated the wonderful presence of God. After several days King Solomon sent the people to their tents. The people were happy and joyful because God had been so good to them. Solomon was feeling very proud he had accomplished all he set out to do.

Solomon reminds me of the American people. God has been so good to us. We have fought wars in other lands, but America has been kept safe. We feel proud of our jobs, our security and our ability to take care of ourselves. We now have a generation of people who have been able to satisfy most of their wants and all of their needs.

Since things were so great, why would the people need to humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways? Verse 12 tells us that one night God appeared to Solomon.

God said the temple is really mine and a place for the people to worship me. But verse 13 takes an odd turn. God said...

If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust swarms to eat up all of your crops, or if I send an epidemic among you… (TLB)

What?! The windows of heaven shut up?! Could this relate to our economic situation today?

As I listen to the news and talk with people I realize the pressures that we face as a Nation. The air seems to be filled with gloom and despair. Have we forgotten God’s promises? All through the Bible we find that God hears and answers prayer. As a child of God I choose to look to God, claim his promises, and remember that, come what may, God has the power to heal our land if his people will pray and trust Him.

I can’t close this note without stating that God is fair and just. He not only promised to care for his people if they would pray and seek his face, he gave a warning in verses 19-22 as to what would happen to the people who forgot God. Search out 2 Chronicles 7. It will challenge your heart.

Peace, Peace, Wonderful Peace!

NOTE: Enjoy this guest post from my husband and fellow Pastor, Greg Bishop.

It seems there is little peace in the world today. We look at what's going on all over the globe and it's no wonder we're agitated and upset so much of the time.

There are so many scriptures in God's Word that tell us not to worry and not to let our hearts be troubled. Yes, we can be concerned about the things around us, but we are not supposed to let them get the best of us.

The scripture I use and have used for many years is Philippians 4:8:

Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure,whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report,if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate on these things. (NKJV)

May the God of all comfort give you peace.

Seriously, Christians... "Let not your heart be troubled."

What's Your Calling?

And He said to me: "...you are not sent to a people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, but to the house of Israel." (Isaiah 3:5)

Ezekiel has long been one of my favorite books of the Bible. I love God's call on Ezekiel's life - the fact that he was sent not to an unknown or unfamiliar people, but to his people, the "house of Israel"... the children of God.

Today, the American Church places so much emphasis on "foreign missions," on reaching people in Africa or India or Indonesia that we forget our neighbors next door need Jesus just as much as anyone else!

While everyone is called to share a testimony of Jesus, not everyone is called to do so with people of "unfamiliar speech." Some of us, myself included, are also called to share with the children of God... the Church.

What's your calling? Don't think because you haven't felt God's pull to the mission field or the pulpit that you don't have one! You do. Ask the Lord to direct you as He directed Ezekiel - to those He wants you to share His word with today.

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

My niece shared this with me today. I've never seen it before but thought it was so appropriate! If you know who wrote it, I'd love to give them credit. This is a message every adult should read because children are watching us and doing as we do, not as we say.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing, and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and wanted to say,'Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.'

Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend influences the life of a child.

How will you touch the life of someone today?

Share this post with someone else. You might make them think about their influence on others.

When Did Atheism Become a Religion?

I was surfing the Net considering what to blog about today, looking at options, when I came across a Christian blog post that talked about increasing blog traffic. It suggested signing up with Blog Toplist. So I clicked on the link which took me to the religion section of this site. Below the religious news sites, a few Islamic sites, and a couple of New Age sites, there were several atheist sites. When did atheism become a religion?

To my understanding, atheism is the lack of belief in God, so how can we call that a religion? Wouldn't it be a non-religion or an anti-religion?

The world is changing too much to suit me. Maybe I'm just getting old.

Tough Times?

NOTE: Enjoy this guest post from my husband and fellow Pastor, Greg Bishop.

The economy looks bad. The cost of almost everything has absolutely soared. Morals in most circles have broken down. Our government doesn't seem to know what direction they're going in. The financial system has gone haywire. On and on it goes.

But if we think we have it bad, just consider this... there are people all over the world who would love to have just one pair of our shoes!

That idea doesn't take away from our struggles. But it should make us think and realize that we're in a country where we have the opportunity to work our way out of most tough situations.

Christians: The apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:11, "I have learned in whatever state I am to be content." (NKJV)

And please remember when you get to thinking things are too tough that God is on our side. He gives us a promise that I have clung to for years, and maybe you'll want to claim it for yourself.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1Corinthians 10:13)

What a wonderful God we serve!

Plain Speech

I think I'm becoming an activist in my old(er) age. When I was younger, I never cared much about what was going on around me, and I certainly never felt the need to get involved in correcting wrongs and helping others to think clearly. Maybe that was in my pre-Christian days, 100 or so years ago.

But I've certainly changed.

Today, I'm so concerned about the direction America is going that I'm involved in a local Meetup group that grew out of response to Glen Beck's 912 Project.

And today I'm so concerned about the direction the Church is going that I've been researching (and will be reporting) what the Emergent church movement is doing.

I've certainly changed. But I believe it's change for the good.

Jesus was very outspoken about what He knew to be truth. He was actually very outspoken, period. Always in a loving way, but outspoken nonetheless. And I want to be like Jesus. Not offensive, but not afraid to speak the truth in love.

Be prepared for more plain speech coming from this blog. As I said, I've been studying the Emergent and emerging church. There will be more info on that as I know more and can share.

Until then, I encourage your comments and feelings on both of these matters - the state of our country and the state of the Church. And I covet your prayers as I lend you mine. We need to stand strong right now. The days are getting short and our Lord will return soon. Will He find us faithful?