Return To The Lord!

In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo: “The LORD was very angry with your ancestors. Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty. Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the LORD. Where are your ancestors now? And the prophets, do they live forever?  But did not my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your ancestors? “Then they repented and said, ‘The LORD Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to do.’ ” Zechariah 1:1-6 NIV

There are many people waiting for "revival" in the land. Considering the state of the nation, we may be waiting for a while. Revival--renewing our determination to live for The Lord, receiving a refilling of Holy Spirit--and reviewing and reflecting upon our commitment to promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

But where have we gone astray? When we promote man's ideology over God's Word, we open the gates of destruction because we forget that man's fickle beliefs--those that are constantly changing--do nothing more than to confuse and cause doubt. And when confusion and doubt creep into the hearts of people--fear takes the reins and then hatred and bigotry rise like lava until it overflows--leaving in its wake--destruction that cannot be restored.

When a volcano erupts and the hot lava flows--everything in its path is destroyed, nothing left to reconstruct any semblance of those things that were. And this is what has happened in our nation and across the globe--when hate, ignited by superiority complexes--rises and flows over the land into the hearts of people--all resemblance of common decency is destroyed and we wonder why we see such violence in the land.

There is a solution to the problem, but it will take more than a month, more than a year, and perhaps more than a decade to see a recovery of what has been destroyed--complete trust and dependence on The Lord. We know that has been destroyed because all too often we are encouraged to trust and depend on man/woman to relieve our situations.

Restoration of faith and trust can only be accomplished when we are totally dependent on The Lord and therefore, He is waiting for us to return to Him. When we return to doing things His way--based upon His Word--then we can enjoy peace in the land and see an end to the violence and hatred. But we must make a decision to do so now, before it's too late and all is destroyed, never to be seen again.

The Lord is--the Almighty God--and it is only when we obey Him that we can enjoy all of His many benefits. The first step--recognize who He is and then open hearts and minds to receive His wisdom and obey His Word.

Politicians don't have the answer and neither do the church leaders who are only concerned about making themselves to be something they are not. They are not God and no one should heed them over God's Word.

We are all responsible for what we do and we will stand before The Lord on That Day and we won't be able to blame the politicians or the preachers or anyone else for what we have done when we choose to ignore the dictates of God.

It is time we return to The Lord and learn to love all unconditionally--just as He does.

Is Your Foundation Intact!

When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them. The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion. On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot. For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face. Psalm 11:3-7 NIV

If we don't build on solid foundations,
Of love, hope, and respect for all
We set the stage for destruction of nations,
Both far and near, within, without not hearing the call,
Of God's Word to relieve oppression for all generations.

We need to fill the cracks, restoring foundations,
Building bridges, cementing partnerships, not building a wall,
Promoting hatred, distrust, fear and division, in all relations--
Ignoring the one truth we seem to have forgotten,
God knows when we we're good and He knows when we're rotten.

We are One Blood, One Nation, One Race--All His Creation!

Are We Willing To Listen To God!

Restore us again, God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us. Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger through all generations? Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, LORD, and grant us your salvation. I will listen to what God the LORD says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants— but let them not turn to folly. Psalm 85:4-8 NIV

How many times must we ask God to restore us, revive us, renew us, and when He does, we turn away from hearing Him and do what we want to do--time after time?

Every time people repented--turned away from living in opposition to God--they called upon God and He responded to their cries. And every time He granted them restoration, revival and renewal of their spirits, they soon forgot and turned away from Him again, refusing to listen to Him.

Most people recognize the syndrome recorded in the Old Testament and even in the letters penned by those God called to preach the Good News. More than 2000 years ago, He proved how much He loved us and is yet responding to our pleas, but are we listening to Him in order to stop back-peddling, falling into the same traps from which we were delivered?

From what I've observed in others and in myself, we're falling short of acting in wisdom in all things. If we seek His wisdom before we do anything we would not have to keep requesting the same thing--restore us, revive us, renew us--over and over again. We complain about what's going on in the world, but have we paid attention to what's going on within each of us? If we're not willing to pay attention to what we do, how can we expect the world to change? If we're not listening to God--seeking solutions for all the problems we see--why should people listen to us--those who say we Believe?

Until Believers--no matter the denominational banner upheld--begin to seek God and hear Him when He speaks and obey, we're going to remain in this quagmire of sin--stinking up the heavens without disobedience--and we'll have no one to blame, but us.

It's past time, Saints for us to listen to what God is saying to us and obey. He sees, He hears, He knows and He is yet speaking to our hearts, but are we willing to listen?

Before Our Very Eyes!

“At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,” says the Lord. (Zechariah 3:20 NIV).

We all know that God’s timing is like our timing for with Him, “a thousand years is but a day and a day a thousand years” so at what time is the prophet referencing?

Some may posture that the time is when we are all in heaven. Some may say it has already occurred. Here’s another “theory” about that time. That time–is whatever time God says it is; not us. When He will gather us and bring us home–in His timing. When He will give us honor and praise among “all peoples of the earth” and restore our fortunes before our very eyes, is His timing; not ours. Rather than theorizing about the “when” I’d rather look forward to seeing it since I know that, “eyes have not seen, nor ears heard of all the wonderful things He has in store for us.”

While I wait to see–I will concentrate on being obedient to His Word–embracing my relationship with Him all the more and showering others with the love received from Him, until all I know come to know Him for themselves. How will I do it? One person at a time–with a hug, a smile, a bill tucked into the palms of their hands, an encouraging word that will help keep them focused on moving forward and not dwelling on a past that is beyond recovery, and teaching everything I know, by continuing to learn.

I know that fortunes have been lost with the people who have been lost in the process of time and death. Those people–who could have been instrumental in amassing financial fortunes–left before many had opportunity to do so, but they left behind those who loved them and who are determined to make their lives a legacy before others. Our love for lost loved ones should ignite in us the determination to do all we can before our time is up, and before we can reasonably amass a fortune in “love” that rains upon others, inspiring growth and maturity that will be passed on to generations to come. Our fortunes restored–before our very eyes lie in ability to love and see love grow by what we do that will lead people into greater understanding and knowledge of who God is! He will do it–before our very eyes–if we simply trust and obey!

Gathering us together–those who love and know Love–bringing us home–for home is where the heart is–will be the biggest blessing to mankind that all will be able to see–because and love and peace will abound in all the earth–before our very eyes.

I don’t know about you, but I’m prepared to live a life moving towards the prize–of having Him say “at that time” when all has been said and done, “Well Done!” What are you going to do?