ALL THINGS

​Decisions, decisions. Should I make that trip to visit my friend? Should I buy that new house I like so well? Should I take that new job offer? How should I discipline my young children? What advice should I give my adult children? Is this the best place for me to attend worship services? How can I help my relatives through this difficult time? What can I do to make my life better? All of us face these kinds of questions on a daily basis. Our minds and emotions readily answer them, usually based on what we want to do or how we think things should be. However, what we want or think are not necessarily the best answers for our situations.

The Apostle Peter's actions in the Garden of Gethsemane are a good example for us to look at. "And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, 'Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more that twelve legions of angels? How then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen this way?'" (Matt. 26:51-54) In this instance, what Peter thought was the best thing to do did not conform to God's plan for the situation. Therein lies the most important question we can ask - What is God's plan for this situation? Very often we proceed in our daily lives without thinking about what God's plan is for the circumstances in which we find ourselves. Our inclination is to think that God isn't interested in the small things in our lives. However, no one or no thing is small in God's eyes. He made everyone and everything. He knows everyone and everything. All are His and all things are important to Him. He spoke these words to His People Israel when He instructed them to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. "Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison? But now take courage, Zerubbabel, ..." (Hag. 2:3, 4)"The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. For who has despised the day of small things?"(Zech. 4:9, 10) What seems small in our eyes is great in God's eyes. Therefore, in all things we must seek to know God's plan.

If life were a sports event we would constantly be penalized for interference. Would that the penalty for our interference in God's plan for our lives and the lives of others be nothing more than a couple of free throws or a loss of fifteen yards! However, when we make choices that interfere, in the natural realm, with God's plan for our own lives or for the lives of those around us, our choices effect the outcome of our eternal lives. God has designed circumstances in our lives in order for us to learn how to make His choices for our lives. When our circumstances are pleasant we usually enjoy them without question. Often, however, as we are going through difficult times, we question why we have to endure them. God has a purpose for each circumstance - pleasant or unpleasant. We may not understand that purpose at that time, but we should understand that it is His purpose, nonetheless. Also, we should seek to learn from each situation. As we go through each day we need to consider HIM. Sometimes decisions as seemingly small as taking this road or that to get to our destination, or choosing whether or not to attend a specific gathering, or saying "Hello" to that person in the grocery store, will make the difference between eternal life or death. We may never know the outcome of our choices. However, if we seek God's plan in every circumstance, and choose to act in agreement with that plan, then we will not interfere with His plan. Then we will avoid interrupting the learning process that God has planned through the circumstances.

If all of these words seem rather abstract, perhaps some specific examples will make them easier to understand. "Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, 'Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.' And after laying His hands on them, He departed from there." (Matt.19:13-15) In this situation the disciples did not know Jesus' will for these children or they would not have attempted to prevent their coming to Him. We do not know who these children were or what became of them, but Jesus knew and knows. He had a plan and He did not allow His disciples to interfere with it. Yet, several thousand years earlier, God did allow the Israelites to have their way despite His plan for them. In chapters 13 and 14 of Numbers we learn that 10 of the 12 spies sent into the land of Canaan brought back a bad report and recommended that the Israelites not enter the land because of the size of its inhabitants, among other reasons. The people agreed with their recommendation, despite Joshua's and Caleb's words: "The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it to us - a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they shall be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them."(Num. 14:7-9) Because the people chose to interfere with the Lord’s plan for their lives, they received His punishment: "Surely all the men who have seen My glory and My signs, which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice, shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who spurned Me see it."(Num. 14:22, 23) In our own lives we see many situations over which we would like to take control and influence the outcome. We have friends who are having difficulties in their marriages and we would like to tell them to act this way or that. We have adult children who are making choices concerning careers and relationships and we would like to give them our worldly advice. We have spouses, or future spouses, whose decisions we would like to influence. In all these situation, in all things, God's plan (choice, will) is what matters, not ours. Our finite minds cannot grasp what God knows, and, therefore, cannot make choices based on His Wisdom - unless we seek His Wisdom. That is the bottom line: Seek Him, to know His will and His way, and then choose to obey. How do we find God's will? PRAY! Seek Him to know His will, and for His will to be accomplished in all things. Accept His will and walk in it. Set aside what our natural minds and emotions may think is the right or only way. Remember what He has told us through His prophet Isaiah: "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways My ways,' declares the Lord. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.'" (Is. 55:8, 9) Then the only influence we will have on lives will be God's influence - the only one we should want and the only one we need - the only one who will make a difference between eternal life and eternal death.

The following excerpt from Shiloh Autumn, by Bodie and Brock Thoene, clearly illustrates the choice we need to make. This historical novel is set during the Great Depression in drought-stricken Arkansas, where families struggled to keep clothed and fed.

"Trudy, honey ..." The old woman' voice was thick with compassion. "I seen drought come an' I seen drought go. Done buried five young'uns in my time. Y’all gots a dry spell, sure, but that happens in life. Not jus' to a country or a farm, but in folks' hearts, too. An' I seen enough t’ know that sooner or later that dry spell gonna break and there be plenty of water."

"But for now, Willa Mae ..."

"For now? Pray for him. We all gots us a burden t' bear. Birch has a heavy one, I reckon. An' you can't carry it for him. We womens," she chuckled, "we's always tryin' t' fix ever'thing. Make ever'thing right for our menfolk. For our chillun. We try t' be like God, jus' like that ol' serpent in Eden say we womens would do! But honey, you ain't God! Lay it down! You cain't fix what’s hurtin' in your man. He's gotta take it to Jesus. Find his own peace. That's the way of it for ever’ soul. You cain't do it for 'im."

"Birch is passing his bitterness onto Tom."

"Then Tom gonna have t' deal with it. Reckon in Tom's young life he gonna have plenty to take t' Jesus, too. You cain't do it for Tom, neither."

"I see what's happening to us, and I can't stop it!"

"T’ain't your place t' fix ever'thing! Pray for your man, Trudy. He gots to find his own way home inside his heart. You jus' s'posed to love him, an’ pray! It's the least an' it's the most an' sometime it’s the onliest thing a gal can do."

Anger at Birch reared up in Trudy. "But Birch is so ..." The litany of his every imperfection came to her mind.

Willa Mae closed her eyes and put up her hands as if she would not stand to hear another word. "Let God have His way! He's the teacher an' the Father an' the One that loves your man an' them chilluns even more that you does. There's some things we gals cain't make right!

"The devil whispers worry an' grief in our ear. He say, 'If only that man would do this! How come those chilluns don' listen?' But you tell that ol' serpent t' get on down the road. I say it again ... Trudy, honey, you ain't God. No woman is. We might try t' be, but we ain't. Tryin' to be God? That's the first sin an' the first lie an' the terrible burden the first wife and mother carried out of Eden. Now we done inherited that burden, an' we gots t' lay it down at the Cross."(1)

CHOICE

Of all the decisions we face in our lives, the most important one is choosing whether or not to seek God's will and to obey it. All other decisions hinge on this one. No other decisions should be made without making this one first. Once we make that choice to seek His will, His plan, His purpose for our lives, and choose to obey Him, then we can walk in the assurance of His Word to us: "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Rom. 8:28)

CURRENT EVENTS

Since Israel signed the Oslo Accords with the Palestinians we have watched the leaders of Israel give away sections of the land Yahweh gave to them, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We know that the results of the "Middle East Peace Process" have not brought about peace among Israel and its Arab neighbors. The hatred that the Arabs have for the Jews is not something that can be negotiated away. While the Israeli troops withdraw (flee) from Lebanon and the Knesset votes to give control of three Jerusalem suburbs to the Palestinians, the hatred of Israel’s enemies grows and the size of its land diminishes. Pray for Yahweh's will and purpose to be accomplished in Israel. Pray that Israel's leaders would desire to know and seek to know Yahweh's will and purpose for Israel. Pray that Israel’s leaders would hear Yahweh's voice and obey Him. "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May they prosper who love you. May peace be within your walls, And prosperity within your palaces.'"(Ps. 122:6, 7)

THE NEXT MOVES IN LEBANON

The Lebanese Police have begun to take up positions in the villages in areas evacuated by Israel. Lebanese Prime Minister Al-Hoss said that the Lebanese Army will deploy in the areas after the UN forces take control. Lebanese security forces, together with UN units, have already taken over the Marjayun camp where IDF headquarters in southern Lebanon were based. Some 400 SLA soldiers turned themselves over to Lebanese elements, according to the Lebanese Justice Minister. Although they are liable to the death penalty, it is assumed that they will be imprisoned for up to three years.

Conflicting reports regarding the future of Havat Shab'a on the slopes of Mt. Hermon.

A telegram from Israel Ambassador to the U.N. Yehuda Lankri to French President Chirac implies that Israel may be willing to give up the area, in order that Hezbullah not be able to claim that Israel has not fully withdrawn from Lebanon. The Prime Minister's Office, however, claims that only a couple of nearby outposts will be abandoned by the IDF. The World Lebanese Organization reports that Hezbullah began the "ethnic cleansing of Christians" in southern Lebanon yesterday. Despite the assurances of the Lebanese regime, the United Nations and western Governments "that all measures will be taken to ensure security in the southern Lebanese enclave," the WLO http://www.wlo-usa.org quotes "underground" sources to the effect that armed Hezbullah men kidnapped and executed two Christian men in the town of Qolaia, while in Ain Ebel, they kidnapped two others. The Orthodox Bishop of Marjayun and the Maronite Bishop of Sidon, who visited Qolaia yesterday, declared on television that "acts of persecution and aggression are taking place in the area." Arutz Sheva National Radio

Lebanese Christian killed by Hezbullah gunman in Lebanon (IsraelWire-5/29)
A Christian resident of southern Lebanon was killed on Sunday by Hezbullah gunmen. Fifty-year-old Jeryous al-Hajj was killed in the village of Rmaish. According to an Israel Radio report, Hezbullah guerillas came to the village seeking to take one of the residents with them. An argument ensued between villagers and the gunmen. Al-Hajj was kidnapped and shot to death in another location. A second resident of the village was wounded. Lebanese law-enforcement officials report the shooter has been placed under arrest.

FROM THE BRIDEGROOM

"Enlarge your desire for Me--and to know Me. If your heart is truly My Throne then you must allow me to reign from there–My Reign–not yours. Seek My Face as your vital need." (11/26/95)

"Pray, children, pray. The time is so very near. I need your hearts, spirits, voices, choices for My Purpose." (1/31/96)

"Continue to allow the preciousness of My Spirit to fill you to overflowing. And, then, when you speak it will be Me and when you move it will be Me. And when you sense that you should not go in a direction you will know immediately to stop and not go." (11/26/96)

"Seek My Will. Seek My Face. Seek My Direction. Doors are open and shut only by Me." (1/21/98)

"It is My Will and My Purpose in each life that matters, no matter how hard or harsh it looks in this realm. Eternity with Me is what is important." (8/31/98)

(1) Shiloh Autumn, page 237. Copyright © 1996 by Bodie and Brock Thoene. Thomas Nelson Publishers