'God Is Here, but I Am Getting So Tired'

"God is here, but I'm getting so tired. Tired of praying. Tired of crying. Sometimes it seems like there is no end to all this misery. I know God is in control, but sometimes I feel so hopeless. I regularly fall on my knees and cry out to Him about why all of this is happening."

Hanna is a Christian woman living in Damascus, Syria, with her husband. She and her husband have two young daughters. She works in a school.

Her story was published recently in Charisma News.  Hannah poured her heart out over the last year, describing life in Damascus...the trauma and stress known only by those in a war area.  When you experience a civil war that is now going into its fourth year and has already taken 120,000 lives ... you do get weary.  You do get tired.

When I read this article some time ago, I couldn't help but save it to a document.  We can relate to Hannah even though our streets are peaceful and our problems small in comparison to hers - but, nonetheless, the enemy plots to wear each of us down with life. 

Perhaps you are one of those who can say with Hannah, ""God is here, but I'm getting so tired. Tired of praying. Tired of crying. Sometimes it seems like there is no end to all this misery. I know God is in control, but sometimes I feel so hopeless ..."

James H. McConkey wrote, "What can you do when you are about to faint physically?  You can't DO anything!  In your weakness you just fall upon the shoulders of some strong loved one, lean hard, and rest until your strength returns.  The Lord's message to us is 'Be still and know that I am God' (Psalm 46:10)."

Hudson Taylor was so feeble in the closing months of his life that he said to a dear friend, "I'm so weak that I can't work or read my Bible, and I can hardly pray.  I can only lie still in God's arms like a little child and trust." 

That's all the Heavenly Father asks of you when you are weary.

I know it isn't popular to dare mention a believer weakening to this state in life, but, it's all too real and honest to ignore ...  even believers become weary.  BUT, Christians have a hope that is not of this world.  Our hope rests in the reality and presence of Jesus Christ.  Our hope rests in the Comforter Jesus sent to us - One to walk along side of us - One to live inside of us -  One to minister to us and talk to us. That is the Holy Spirit!  The third person of the Trinity. 

Now, if you can relate to this phrase, "God is Here, but I am getting so tired"  then remember:

The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.  Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous:  "The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!  The LORD's right hand is lifted high; the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!" -  Psalm 118:14-16

My comfort in my suffering is this:  Your promise preserves my life..  Psalm 119:50

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.   Psalm 46:1-3

We all need encouragement at times.  Especially, when we are tired.  I'm reminded of the story about the little boy who said to his father:  "Let's play darts.  I'll throw and you say 'Wonderful!'" 

Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit say to you today, "Let's do life ...  you live ... and I'll say 'Wonderful!'"  

Child of God, you have a right to LIVE and enjoy living because: 
IN HIM you live and move and have your being. 
IN HIM you can lift your head and look up for your redemption draws near. 
IN HIM you will find joy in the midst of troubles. 
IN HIM you have a beautiful future and a purpose. 

Read what Hannah did with her school children in the midst of war:

"In our school we gathered the children to pray for the victims. I told the children: No matter what bad things are happening around us, our God is still good; even if we're in danger of death, our God is still good and worthy of praise. So we raised our hands and started worshipping God. The parents of one of our Muslim pupils were present while we did that, and they were so impressed they said: 'Our child is safe here. He is under the protection of God.'"

...so we raised our hands and started worshipping God!  Even unbelievers will recognize the presence and protection of our Almighty God!

The name of the LORD is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and are safe!
Proverbs 18:10

Tired?   Run.  Run.  And run quickly...

.

....

THE REALITY OF BEING AN AMERICAN

THAT'S ME.  AN AMERICAN.  BORN AND RAISED IN THE GOOD OLE' USA. 

I'm still American.  I still believe the American way.  Such as going to church - freedom to live - believing in good morals -  you know....the way we were raised.

My mother wouldn't let me use slang words such as:  gosh, golly, darn... those really bad words.  Because of my raisin' I still don't use those words.  I remember growing up in the days when my world was small.  We felt the pain when a relative moved out of state.  Yes, I recall those times when we cried with grief when the time came for them to leave after their brief visit. 

My playground was the few blocks near the house.  Neighborhood kids gathered to play Cowboys and Indians.  And as the years passed we outgrew such play time and moved into maturity (somewhat) ... and our world was still small.  In my early teen years, my world became 'church' - with a group of young folks.  The greatest times were when we all just hung out together, usually on those many steps leading up to the door of the church.  Or, going to Al's Snack Bar (drive-in) and ordering their delicious cheeseburgers after church!  Driving around town was our entertainment, basically.  Gas was cheaper, but wages were smaller, too.

Still ... THE REALITY OF BEING AN AMERICAN ... remains unique to all civilization, to this day.  Our heritage of safety, decency, and correct Bible-belt teaching stands tall above all other countries.  (I was always scared of Russians, communists)

Early American morals included decency, common sense, and were Bible-based.  So,  my question today is:  How can I change now, to be politically correct?  I can't.

Today, I'm expected to: 
Shake  off my parents standards of decency, morals and rules
Develop a more "modern" interpretation of Scripture
Accept wide tolerance of all religions which stomp my beliefs in the ground
Keep my beliefs and thoughts to myself as to not offend the anti-Christ system
Disrespect the American flag
Hide my Christian behavior and cease from talking about the gospel
Accept liberalism which includes abortion, gay and lesbian lifestyle
Turn a blind eye to sin and allow it to become the norm

Most of all, I'm supposed to accept the fact that my grandchildren could be brainwashed by our public schools into believing that THE REALITY OF BEING AN AMERICAN means to be ungodly and in opposition to all that is decent.

But, I can't do that.  THE REALITY OF BEING AN AMERICAN IS so engrained in my soul that I cannot become like the current world system demands.  It grates against my spirit when I read of the unjust attacks against our children in school and the strong push from our government to remove our God-given rights in freedom of speech and love for our country!    

As Lucas Cherry stated in his Charisma article (I Am a Millennial, and I Am Not Leaving the Church ):  I will not move off course, even when everyone predicts that is what I will do. You see, I care enough about my friends to share the truth with them. I love them enough to not let a watered-down gospel deceive them. I love Christ enough to not try to give Him a marketing makeover in order to get people to like Him—and me—more. I think the way He represented Himself in the Bible is just fine, and I am even realizing that just because something is not popular, it is not necessarily wrong. 

I remain steadfast in proclaiming that the way of the cross is the only way.  Jesus is our Savior and Healer.  He is our soon-coming King. 

THE REALITY OF BEING AN AMERICAN still resounds with a message of decency!

I'm proud to be an American - and I'm very proud to know Jesus Christ as Lord!
....

DON'T EVER, EVER RING THE BELL !!

Admiral William McRaven Knows a thing or two

about courage and changing the world.  The video of his speech presented at UT (Austin) was shared on Fox ... 

 

 "As a commander of the forces that killed Usama bin Laden and a Navy SEAL for 36 years, Admiral William McRaven knows a thing or two about courage and changing the world. In one of the most inspiring commencement speeches, Adm. McRaven advised graduates at his alma mater – the University of Texas at Austin – on how to change the world."  -Fox News, The Five

 

Here are his 10 life lessons for grads on how to go about doing that:

 

1. If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.

2. If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle.
3. If you want to change the world, measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers.
4. If you want to change the world get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward.
5. If you want to change the world, don’t be afraid of the circuses.
6. If you want to change the world sometimes you have to slide down the obstacle head first.
7. If you want to change the world, don’t back down from the sharks.
8. If you want to change the world, you must be your very best in the darkest moment.
9. If you want to change the world, start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud.
10. If you want to change the world don’t ever, ever ring the bell.

THE TOUGHEST TRAINING IN THE WORLD:   That’s what sailors volunteer for when they have the goal of becoming a Navy SEAL.  Its 25 weeks of training to test their endurance and will.  Cold, miserable, and tired are three words that sum up the experience.  Master Chief Information Systems Technician Dennis Wilbanks, head SEAL recruiter said, “You have to want the program.  And mentally, never give yourself the option to quit.”  70% drop out within the first few weeks. 

It is said that they want them to be able to work flawlessly under intense mental and physical exhaustion.  Why? As one instructor put it, “Mistakes made when working with explosives only happen once.” 

From one web site:

He describes one test during Basic Underwater Demolition School/SEAL (BUD/S).  This test is difficult to put in words.  Words can’t begin to show how grueling it really is.  They break them down and see how physically and mentally tough they are. It sometimes reaches the point of death and resurrection.

“One of the tests is they make you dive to the bottom of a pool and tie five knots,” the Shooter says. “One guy got to the fifth knot and blacked out underwater.  We pulled him up he was, like, dead.  They made the class face the fence while they tried to resuscitate him.  The first words as he spit out water were ‘Did I pass?  Did I tie the fifth knot?’  The instructor told him, ‘We didn’t want to find out if you could tie the knots, we wanted to know how hard you’d push yourself.  You killed yourself. You passed.”

This is when the majority of the trainees quit, and even the act of quitting is painful.  They must ring a brass bell to signal they don’t have what it takes to be a SEAL.  The whole camp can hear them ring that bell.   To become a Navy SEAL…It takes an unrelenting drive and a willingness to never quit.

---------
As Christians, we've been tested and often, mentally, we've wanted to ring that bell.  We've given up on our dreams....our calling.  We've given up far too easily. 

Basic Underwater Demolition School ------“The belief that BUD/S is about physical strength is a common misconception.  Actually, it’s 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical,” said a BUD/S instructor at the San Diego facility.  “(Students) just decide that they are too cold, too sandy, too sore or too wet to go on.  It’s their minds that give up on them, not their bodies.”

The Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:8,9:
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

Paul was saying that even in our greatest perplexities, we know God is able to support us, and to deliver us, and in Him we always place our trust and hope. 

Failure is only a failure if you don’t learn something from it.  We all want to do more in life.  We all  want to live a more exciting life.  We all want to do something that matters for the Kingdom of God.  But, in order to do that we must not RING THE BELL.  We absolutely must not give up.  We must not listen to that small voice that suggests that we will never make it.   Take on the attitude of a Navy SEAL - they know that if they quit they won't be called a SEAL, they will be called a sailor. 

Believers can become wimps or warriors.  We can be a cowardly or unadventurous individual.  OR, we can put on the whole armor of God and get out there on the battlefield for the Lord.  Our trials can make us better, not bitter.  We can stand firm against the onslaughts of the enemy - holding the banner of salvation high.

Do not ever “ring the bell” and allow yourself to simply be mediocre.

Admiral William McRaven concluded his speech: 
Know that life is not fair and that you will fail often, but if take you take some risks, step up when the times are toughest, face down the bullies, lift up the downtrodden and never, ever give up — if you do these things, the next generation and the generations that follow will live in a world far better than the one we have today.

Ring the bell and you no longer have to do the runs, the obstacle course, the PT — and you no longer have to endure the hardships of training.  But, If you want to change the world don’t ever, ever ring the bell.

All you have to do is ring the bell to get out.

 

"So then, brethren, ..." "As a result of all this, brethren," Paul is saying, "stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter." Two activities, says Paul, are possible despite the hard times they were going through. They could "stand fast," and they could "hold fast." Stand fast; "Do not give in under pressure," and Hold fast; "do not give up the truth."

More than anything else, our generation of Christians needs to hear these words again. "Stand fast." Paul is saying that we already have what it takes to do so. What we need to do is to draw upon the resources he has made available; to choose to live accordingly. Take God at his word! There is no reason to quit, or to give in.  There is no reason to ring the bell.

Christians:  If you want to change the world,

don't ever, ever ring the bell.

 

Remember:

 

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

.......

JESUS, COME QUICKLY

FLIGHT DELAYED, FLIGHT CANCELED

We arrived at the Belize airport with full confidence that our flight would leave as scheduled.  It isn't.  Delay!  I don't know why it is delayed, but it is.  So we will use this time wisely, sitting in the airport.  We wait. 

We also understand our flight from one point to our destination is canceled.  This time we are told it is due to weather.  All beyond our control.  We wait.

I'm waiting, patiently.  Writing a blog.  Patiently. 

There is one flight I will not miss.  It will not be delayed, nor will it be canceled.  It is the rapture of the Church. I am a Pre-Trib Rapture believer.  This means that the rapture will take place before the seven year tribulation begins.

I Thessalonians 4:15-17 says:
¹⁵ We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. ¹⁷ Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.

This I know for sure,  He's Coming and I am Going.  God's timetable is accurate and He will be on time.  No delays - No cancelations.

I certainly need to stay ready, for any moment that flight will happen.  Got my boarding pass in hand!  Bags packed.  Ready to go.

.....

Minister Says He Received ‘Strong Nudge from Jesus’ to Announce Support for Homosexuality

Ken Wilson, Vineyard Church of Ann Arbor, recently told the Detroit Free Press that he received a strong nudge from Jesus to announce his changing view on homosexuality.   And, of course, he is now writing a book about this.  Of course.  He also claims that in 2011, God told him to write a letter to his congregation to explain that he was rethinking his position on homosexuality. 

I must ask  ... whose voice is he hearing? You must NEVER believe a voice that does not align with the Word of God!

“It’s about welcoming previously excluded groups,” Ken Wilson Vineyard Church of Ann Arbor recently told the Detroit Free Press. “That’s what it means to be evangelical—to make the good news accessible to those who haven’t had access to it. That’s my task. That’s what a church is supposed to do.”

There's a partial truth to the above statement.  Yes, a church is supposed to make the good news accessible to those who haven't had access to it.  Absolutely, YES!  But, we must NOT change the message of the good news (the gospel) to condone sin!   The good news is that Jesus Christ came to save us from our sin ... not allow us to wallow in that sin and gain the approval of the church!

To state that:  “The Sodom and Gomorrah story is about gang rape. It’s not about anything like loving monogamous relationships. To apply that to the issue of homosexuality is a gross misuse of Scripture.”  Let me state in strong terms: This statement is nothing short of ignorance!  It is easy to twist any verse of scripture to align with your preferences! 

Satan is a master of half-truths, of twisting scripture, and using partial truths to accomplish his will.  THEREFORE, I say again ...  whose voice is this pastor hearing?

Matthew 4:4-11  -  Jesus was led of the Spirit into the wilderness to be temped by the devil.  For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.  Here comes the devil.   “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”  ⁴ But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, ⁶ and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you.
And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”

⁷ Jesus responded, The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’

 

⁸ Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ⁹ “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”
¹⁰ “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’¹¹ Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.

These are the last days.  Many are being greatly deceived.  This is the hour to plant your feet firmly in the Word of God.  Make sure you are standing on solid ground lest you become deceived, as well.   Sing that great hymn again , My Hope is Built on Nothing Less:

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

On Christ the solid rock I stand!  All other ground is sinking sand!

4. When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found,
Clothed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne!
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

All other ground is sinking sand.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).   He changes not. 

You will never receive a nudge from Jesus or a command from God to condone sin. 

Never. 

He's that trustworthy!
....