You Shall Know The Truth

“Mom, you know what we are learning about in Bible class at school?” I turn to look at the animated face of my oldest son and smile. “No. What are you learning about?”

“We are learning about how the Israelites sinned and were bitten by snakes and then how God commanded Moses to make a brazen serpent and all the people had to do was look at the serpent and they were healed. And you know what? Even if the people doubted and just kind of peeked over their shoulder, even then they were healed! All they had to do was look! I’m going to listen to the story again!” I watch as he runs off, finds the iPad, turns on the audio Bible app and soon is raptly listening to every detail of the story.

Listening to him brings back memories of the first time I really read an account of that exact same story in the New Testament.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 3:14-17

I remember reading it over again and thinking to myself, is this really true? Can it be that simple? Just look to Jesus and be saved?

Spurgeon asked the same question and says this of his conversion experience:

"I know that I, too, once belied Him; when I felt my sins to be a great burden I said within myself, ‘I will go to Jesus, but perhaps He will reject me.’ I thought I had much to feel and to do to make myself ready for Him, and I therefore did this and that, but the more I did the worse I became. I was like the woman who spent her money on physicians and did not get better, but rather grew worse. I fully understood that there was life in a look at Christ, that all I needed was to simply trust, to come as I was and put my case into His dear pierced hands, and leave it there, yet I still did not think it could be so; it seemed so simple—how could it be true? I thought when I came to Him He would say to me, ‘Sinner, you have rejected Me so long, you have mocked Me by saying prayers which you did not feel; you have been a hypocrite and joined with God’s people in singing My praises when you did not praise Me in your heart.’ I thought He would chide me and bring ten thousand sins to my remembrance. Instead of that, it took only a word, and it was all done. I looked to Him, the burden was gone." (C.H. Spurgeon)

“The method is simply a word from Him and a look from you, and all is done. You have only to trust in Jesus and you are saved; made a new creature in an instant; set on your feet again to start a new life with a new power within you, which shall conquer sin.” (C.H. Spurgeon)

Maybe you too think it can't be that simple. Yet every day brings us one day closer to eternity. Don’t you want to know the truth for yourself before you die? Then be like the Bereans and study scripture for yourself!  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:11

"The turning point in my life was when I decided I wanted to know the truth, even if it was inconvenient.” R. Warren

“Truth can be discovered, but first we have to have an attitude of openness that says, “I want the truth more than anything else.” Once you choose that attitude, you can discover the truth." R. Warren

God’s Word is the truth.

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My Word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31-2

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. Isaiah 45:22

And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:15-16

For How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; Hebrews 2:3

What Does The Gospel Mean To You?

One of the ladies Bible studies I attend recently started a new book to study, and one of the questions the leader wanted us to answer was: ‘What does the gospel mean to you?’ 

To dig deeper, I often turn to commentaries and was about to go online to dig deeper into some of the key gospel verses when I stopped. The questions wasn’t 'What does the gospel mean to others?' The question was 'What does the gospel mean to me?' and as I thought about it, I felt God challenging me to come up with an answer on my own.

The gospel is really the best news ever!

As a child, I remember feeling frustrated and even upset with Adam and Eve. Why did they have to go eat that fruit and mess it all up for the rest of us? But the more I thought about it the more I became frustrated and upset with myself too. Why did I often, even deliberately, choose to sin. If only I had maintained sinless perfection since birth, maybe then I wouldn’t have to eternally die.

But I was missing a big part of the story.

Even as a young child I knew the bad news, but I didn’t know the good news.

It was true that because of Adam’s sin death entered into the world and it was also true that I had sinned. Romans 5:12 says: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

But that wasn’t the end of the story. It could have been. God would have been perfectly just to condemn us all, but instead, amazingly enough, He provided a way that we could be saved.

Romans 5:18 says:

Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

What great news!

Romans 6:23 says:  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

According to God’s Word there are only two responses to God’s unspeakable Gift. Either you receive Him or you reject Him. There is no neutral; no middle ground.

John 1:12

He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:

John 12:48

He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (Jesus)

Matthew 10:40

He that receiveth you receiveth Me, and he that receiveth Me receiveth Him that sent me. (Jesus)

Mark 6:11

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. (Jesus)

So the question that comes to each of us is how will we respond to this unspeakable Gift? Will we receive Him or reject Him? The answer really is the difference between eternal life and eternal death.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 1 John 5:12

So what does the gospel mean to me?

Mere human words fail to express the wonder and amazement that wells up inside me as I consider the mercy and grace and love of God to save us from the eternal death we all deserve and instead, by giving us His Son, washes away all our sins and gives us everlasting life, forever with Him!

Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable Gift. 2 Corinthians 9:15

Casting all Our Care Upon Him

March 23, 2017

8:00 p.m.

“Mom, what do we do? Do we keep thinking about them or do we try to forget?”

I look over at my oldest son and take a moment to gather my thoughts before responding.

I had arrived home in the early morning hours of Saturday, March 18, but although I had been travelling for 24 hours already, with only a few winks of sleep on the airplane, I couldn’t go straight to sleep. Instead, in the quiet stillness of our empty house I wandered around aimlessly. I had just come home from my first-ever short-term mission trip and suddenly I felt lost and confused.

What had particularly shaken me was when we had stopped to visit Anoud and Denise and their kids. In the seven years they had lived on our property in Haiti, they had become like family to us. Prior to us leaving Haiti, I had spent a lot of time worrying and praying about what would happen to them when we left and during that time I kept feeling like God was wanting me to give it over to Him, yet I struggled. Finally, it was time to leave and I had no other choice but to let them go.

When Jason returned to Haiti a few months later, I had the opportunity to video call with Denise and I was so thankful to see how well they were doing. Anoud had kept his job working at the house we lived in, and Denise had found new work and everyone was happy and healthy. Jason actually visited their new home and it was fun to see our old pictures hanging on their walls, and their kids playing with toys our boys had given them. Nicholas, their ten-year old son, proudly showed off a pair of roller skates he had gotten and was even whizzing around their house in them.

Now, almost 2 years later, things were a little different. Anoud, through circumstances beyond his control, had lost his job, and Denise was only working a few days a month. When Jason and I stopped in for a visit, we found them both home, including their youngest daughter, who was laying limply on a bed because she didn’t have the strength to go to school because she hadn’t eaten. 

Everything they once had, other than a few bare necessities had been sold for food, and the only food left in the whole house was a limp bunch of green onion. The paintings and pictures on the walls were gone, the toys were gone, the fans they used to own, even the blankets and pillows on their bed had all been sold. It was heartbreaking to see.

We had come with a huge food basket and ended up giving them money too, but it felt like only a temporary solution, as what they really wanted was work so they could provide for their family.

I honestly didn’t know how to respond and the one overwhelming feeling that kept boiling up inside was dismay.

Suddenly I felt shaken.

The word ‘shaken’ made me think of a song I sometimes listened to where one of the lyrics was We won’t be shaken.

I always had felt a little hesitant singing that song because it made me think of the words of Peter in Mark 14:29. But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.  And we know how that turned out for him. Before the night was over he had denied Jesus three times.

But then, where did those words come from? I wondered. I found my answer in the book of Psalms.

I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Psalm 16:8

He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defense; I shall not be moved. Psalm 62:6

Reading those verses helped my understanding to grow. If we take our eyes off of God and instead focus on the circumstances around us we can quickly become dismayed and feel shaken. Peter was literally walking on water, but the moment he took his eyes off Jesus he became afraid and began to sink.  Matthew 14:22-33 So to keep from being shaken we need to set the Lord always before us.

So we know we need to look to God and trust Him, but the Bible also tells us we need to love and care for our neighbor. Mark 12:31b says: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, and Phil 2:4 says: Look not every man on his own things (interests), but every man also on the things of others.

My struggle however, was not my unwillingness to love or help, but rather with knowing how to help in the best way. I am so quick to come up with solutions and try desperately to control the outcome that I soon find myself stepping into God’s place. God warns about this in Isaiah 45:5a I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me:

I might stand alone on this, but I think often we make things so difficult for ourselves. Did you know that God has already before ordained the good works we are to do?

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

And how are we to know what they are?

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct Thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7  

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7

For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. Psalm 50:10  

After much prayer and giving over my burden of worry about Anoud and Denise and their family over to God, I felt Him directing me to message a friend regarding employment for them.

Silly me, was still surprised when she responded in the affirmative.

And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? (Jesus) Matthew 8:26

And now, after a week of struggling and praying and learning and turning to God for direction I have the answers to my son’s questions. 

“We don’t need to try to forget them, or have that burden pressing down on our hearts. Jesus tells us to come to Him and give Him our burdens.”

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29

“And then as we pray and give our burdens to Him, He will teach us, and direct us, and show us, how to love our neighbours as ourselves and how to not only look out for our own interests but also the interests of others."

An Understanding Heart

March 15, 2017

9:18 a.m.

The caravan’s wheels lift off the ground and just like that we’re air bound. 

Looking out the window I enjoy my familiar bird’s eye view of the changing landscape beneath me.

As I settle in for the 35 minute flight from Grand Diable, located on Haiti’s North West tip, to Port au Prince, the country’s capital, I think about what the staff at Lemuel told us about their experiences after Hurricane Matthew.

When they went out to survey the damage the hurricane had caused they found houses damaged, sheep and goats killed, and many gardens and canals washed out or covered in layers of mud and rock.

Instead of immediately getting to work addressing what they thought were the people’s greatest needs they had a community meeting and asked the people themselves what they felt the most pressing needs were.

Instead of the expected response of “Our homes are damaged and in need of repair and our livestock has died and needs replenishing,” they almost unanimously asked that their gardens be unearthed and the canals bringing water from the mountains be dug out. “We can fix our homes and slowly replenish our life stock,” they said. “But our gardens are our source of food and income, and without them we have nothing!” 

So that’s what Lemuel focused on. They set up food for work, and cash for work, programs and then got the community involved in unearthing gardens and digging out canals.

As I mulled over this lesson they had shared with us, it again struck me how important it is to really listen.

Back at home I wondered what the Bible had to say about listening and understanding and these are some of the verses I found:

The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them. (Proverbs 20:12)

When God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said to him, “Ask what I shall give thee. (1 Kings 3:5b) Solomon’s response was: Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart. (1 Kings 3:9a) In the next verse it says: And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. (1 Kings 3:10)

James, inspired by God, writes: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5) And further on: Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, (James 1:19a)

And the wise King Solomon, inspired by God, wrote in the book of Proverbs:

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Let us take these inspired words to heart.

Whatever situation we find ourselves in, let us take the time to listen and see and understand and ask God for wisdom and direction before moving forward.

Our Creator, God

Tuesday, March 14

5:48 p.m.

The pickup truck bounces and jolts as it makes its way over Haiti’s rough terrain.  

Inside the cab, I turn to one of the local Lemuel staff and question him in Creole about our last home visit.

Earlier that afternoon we had divided into three groups to visit the sick, elderly and those with special needs in the community. I was the translator for my group and although naturally reserved, I was loving my role!

It suddenly brought back memories of when I was a teenager, working in a hot greenhouse, my arms scratched and often bleeding from the sharp thorns on the rosebushes, daydreaming about what I would do when I grew up. I had finally decided that one of the coolest jobs, was to travel and work as a translator in a foreign country. Common sense soon led me to a much more practical field of study, namely, Business Administration, but now, more than fifteen years later, bumping along a deserted road in Haiti, it struck me how I was suddenly doing it! I was traveling and translating in a foreign country! What was even better than I had ever imagined was that the words I translated and shared were those of hope and encouragement as we visited and shared food provisions from God with those in need.

Mulling this over in my mind, I was reminded of the words of Psalm 37:3-4 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

That night as I continued to think and contemplate, I was once again struck by the beauty of the stars sparkling overhead. What an incredible God we served!

In the days following as I continued to process everything I had seen and heard, both the good and really hard things, I read these words in Isaiah:

Isaiah 41:17-20

When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:

That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the Lord hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.

Monday in the Village

March 13, 2017

 6:15 a.m.

I open my small backpack to make sure I have everything I need, only to have a cricket jump out at me and latch momentarily onto my face. I let out a small cry, then watch as it dive bombs back to earth. Not having the heart to kill it, I shoo it away and it quickly scurries under a cabinet.

“It’s time to wake up Jay!” I look back at the still sleeping form of my husband and wait for a response, before pushing open the wooden screen door. We’ve decided to eat breakfast later so we can head to the market before the sun gets too hot. Not only are we going to get a real cultural experience by exploring the market we are also riding donkeys to get there!

6:30 a.m.

The donkeys and their owners are waiting and we soon embark. 

The locals have a lot of fun laughing at us and after getting over our initial embarrassment we all enjoy the ride.

As we make our way the sun slowly rises, bathing the world in a golden glow.

7:15 a.m.

Although it’s still early the market is already in full swing.

We are quickly surrounded by funky odors, and a cacophony of sounds. 

Vendors vie for attention, trying to sell their wares, as livestock bellow in fear over their impending slaughter. Not wanting to be merely spectators we make purchases too. I enjoy the bartering, as there is very little opportunity for it in the first world.

Once we’re finished, one of Lemuel’s local staff shows us the devastation Hurricane Matthew caused in the area. 

It’s incredible to see how over a meter deep of earth has been washed away, and the little that is left of the numerous houses and buildings, where the waters rushed through.

8:30 a.m.

Lemuel’s one and only school bus picks us up to bring us back to the compound but we soon came to the conclusion that the donkeys are a much more reliable mode of transportation.

The first time the bus breaks down the clutch falls off, it runs out of fuel and there is no more water left in the radiator all at once. At least the road we break down on borders a deserted beach, so we take a little time to explore the area and collect shells.

It surprisingly does not take more than 15 minutes to have the bus running again, so off we go again.

We all let out a groan when not even 15 minutes later it once again rolls to a stop. 

We disembark and this time explore an area badly eroded by Hurricane Matthew. 8 minutes later we are on our way again.

After a quick breakfast the team gets to work putting up the new chain link fence. I take this time to write as many thoughts and impressions are swirling through my mind and I don’t want to forget them!

Lunch consists of a delicious meal of chicken, rice and beans and a turnip/potato salad.

After lunch the team heads over to the school to teach computer classes to the Grade 6 class. This is the first time for most of the students to ever touch a computer.

At 2:00 p.m., when school is out, we head to the school bus to catch a ride to the beach with the local teachers from the school. The bus also gives rides to some of the smaller kids who live further away so we all need to share seats as best as we can. Since Jason and I are some of the last ones to get on the bus there is only a partially empty back seat for us to share with a small boy about of about 5, the age of my middle son.

He looks tired and thin and has a small wound on his knee and bumps around his mouth. He is too shy to talk to us and keeps edging further and further away from us until his one leg is almost trapped between the seat and the side of the bus. As I discreetly study him I wonder what life is like for him. When he gets home, will his mother be waiting for him with a hug and snack, the way I wait for my son to come home from school? Will there be somewhere comfortable where he can relax for a while and play? Knowing a little of the harsh realities of the lives of many of the people here, my heart aches for him.

When the last child is dropped off we bump along until we reach a neglected beach. 

It is now a time to socialize and get to know the teachers better. We play games with them and splash in the ocean.

When the sun begins to set over the rocky cliffs dotted with cruel, yet exotic cacti, the wonder and beauty of the harsh climate strikes me.

How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!

My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord:

my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself,

where she may lay her young, even thine altars,

O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.

Blessed are they that dwell in thy house:

they will be still praising thee.

Selah.

Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee;

in whose heart are the ways of them.

Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well;

the rain also filleth the pools. 

Psalm 84:1-6

Follow Him Closely

March 12, 2017

6:50 a.m.

Whir, whir, whir. I’m still in my deep sleep when my alarm goes off. Since we’ve lost an hour of sleep overnight due to the time change, my body protests. Slowly shifting, I turn until my toes hit the dusty floor. Outside the sun has not yet risen. The pre-dawn has its own unique beauty. I listen and watch as slowly creation around me awakens. As the sun rises, tropical birds sing in the trees and gekos rustle in the flowered bushes. 

Breakfast consists of Haitian coffee, homemade bread, locally made peanut butter, jam and honey, and hard-boiled eggs.

In church by 9:30 a.m., small children soon find spots on the benches beside us, eyeing us curiously.

The pre-service reading is from Psalm 46. The words come alive as I listen.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. 

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God shall help her, and that right early. 

The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. 

Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the ends of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. 

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

The sermon is on Job 2. One of the question the pastor poses is 'how would we respond if God took everything from us?' Would our response be like Job’s? “What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not received evil?” If everything was taken away from us, would the only One who couldn’t ever be taken away from us be enough for us? Would Christ be enough? 

At lunch time I ask the team to think of words to describe the church service. They come up with: lively, interactive, joyful, passionate, enthusiastic, welcoming, and accepting. It’s fun to hear their thoughts and observations even though they could not understand the language. 

That night, as we sit on the front porch of the church, I am struck by the brightness of the almost full moon. 

No light is needed outside because the moonlight is enough to light up the darkness. What particularly strikes me is the fact that the moon itself does not shine but simply reflects the sun’s light. It is a good reminder for me that in the same way we are to reflect Christ to others. 

Jesus says in John 8:12 I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. Later on in Matthew 5: 14-16 He says: Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 

In order to reflect Jesus, we need to follow Him closely.