TRUTH from a 4 year old: When asked about God… “God is just invisible…He’s not missing!”

Distance is a funny thing. Sometimes objects “appear closer than they really are”. Sometimes things are much farther than they appear. For example, this morning I was driving over a hill and our cityscape was just over the next hill, or so it appeared. Now I know that the city is about 7 miles from this particular place, but I was so sure that I could have just reached out and tapped on one of the high-rise buildings. It would seem that my mind was playing tricks on me.

Do you ever feel that way about God? Sometimes He feels really close. Other times He seems to be missing. One moment you’re on a spiritual “high”, the next you feel abandoned.

So what’s going on?

Does God come and go?

Do we?

Does our nearness or closeness to God depend on our circumstances or our mind-set?

Does it depend on His?

Let’s start with what we know about God: Malachi 3:6 and James 1:17 both state that God does not change.

Then we have to choose: God doesn’t change AND He’s far away OR, God doesn’t change AND He’s near.

Isaiah 40:11 says that God is close, “He carries His lambs close to His heart”; Acts 17:26-28 says that God is not far, that we can reach out and find Him. Jeremiah 29:12-14 says that God hears us, and He can be found by us when we seek Him. So, we know that God DOES NOT change and that He is NEAR.

Back to the distance question, If God is ALWAYS near, why does He seem so far off at times? Maybe we’ve moved away from Him, or, maybe our circumstances have “fogged up” our view of God.

Maybe we’ve gotten too busy to focus on God.

Maybe we’ve adapted an “I can do it” mindset that excludes help from anyone, even God.

There are probably a million maybes… If God hasn’t, wouldn’t, couldn’t move…well, someone has.

TRUTH: If God feels far, check your distance view… He’s RIGHT THERE! “Draw near to Him…” (James 4:8a)

Why does Israel matter?

Did you know that the time clock of the return of Jesus Christ isn’t based on America’s timeline? It’s based on what is happening in Israel.

Did you know Jesus wasn’t a “Christian”? He was a Jew. He celebrated and kept the Jewish holy days and customs, as well as the feasts of the LORD. He didn’t come to eradicate the Torah and writing of the Prophets/Old Testament. He came to fulfill the prophecies that were written in them.

When Jesus returns, He isn’t returning to the United States. The Bible says He is going to plant His foot down on the Mount of Olives and go through the Eastern Gate, which is currently sealed off with 16 feet of concrete. A cemetery was also placed in front of that gate because touching the dead makes a Jew considered unclean and unable to enter the Temple, which is considered Holy. The Word of GOD says He will return there and from there He will rule and reign for 1,000 years.

The final battle isn’t going to be on U.S. soil. It’s going to be in the Valley of Megiddo, in Israel. The Bible says as the nations wage war against Israel Jesus will come and destroy His enemies with the breath of His mouth. 2 Thessalonians 2:8

GOD did not replace the Jews with Christians as some believe. We are actually grafted in with them as you would graft a wild branch into an existing tree.

The Word of GOD says, “When you touch Israel, you touch the Apple of GOD’s eye.” Zechariah 2:8

“He that keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. The LORD is thy keeper.” Psalm 121:4

“I will bless those that bless you and I will curse those that curse you.” Genesis 12:3

We are also commanded to pray for the peace of Jerusalem in Psalm 122.

ISRAEL matters

PRAY FOR ISRAEL

I had a tough week last week. I managed to wipe my phone right back to factory specs. Don’t know how it happened. I just know that it is easier to do than you might think.

I was carrying my phone and some other items to the kitchen, set them all down and looked at my phone to see a blue screen and a little android dude with the words “erasing….” running across the screen. I remember screaming “Noooooooooooo”!

It didn’t help!

Thankfully my daughter stepped in immediately and started to reload apps and programs, etc. Sadly, since the SIM card was wiped clean, I lost a lot of phone numbers and all my texts, and my texting app  Reminds me of what Jesus does for us.

At the moment that we go to Him, admit we are a sinner, and accept what He did for us on the cross, He wipes us clean. 

Then He starts to install in you HIS apps: Prayer, reading His Word, speaking to you through other people, until you are restored. Better and well and perfect the way He wants you to be.

Still sometimes something goes wrong, and we get corrupted, and He is right there to wipe us clean and reinstall clean apps in place of the corrupted ones.

1 John 1:7 says, “…and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 

He is there to wipe us clean of all corruption and restore us to His factory specs.

Stay connected to the Master Technician of all Life–Jesus Christ.

We hear a lot in the news, online and everywhere about inoculations, immunizations. These shots are referring to physical ailments of one kind or another.

Wouldn’t you love to have an immunization against Fear? A literal “shot” of courage that would allow you to face challenges without angst, worry or dread?

You know, this is a REAL thing right?

Now you’re probably saying, “There is not a physical shot to protect (immunize) me from fear!”

But,

Blood is your life source. (Leviticus 17:11)

An immunization goes into your blood to protect you from whatever disease with which it is connected.

Your blood is made in your bone marrow in the larger flat bones: Skull, sternum and pelvis, the bones that protect your mind, heart and core.

God’s Word says:

“I have hidden your Word in my heart…” (Psalm 119:11)

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee…” (Isaiah 26:3)

“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him…” (Psalm 62:1)

Hiding God’s word in your heart,

Keeping your mind on Him,

Allowing your body & soul to rest knowing “God’s got this”

IS the immunization against fear!

Here are a few “shots” of courage for you.

Allow them to be hidden in your heart,

Keep your mind on them,

Rest your body and soul knowing these TRUTHS are real!!

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)

So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can Man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6)

The Lord is my light and my salvation–whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life–of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)

For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. (Isaiah 41:13)

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace.

In the world you will have tribulation.

But take heart; I have overcome the world!

–Jesus (John 16:33)

Have you heard the saying,

“Know Jesus– Know Peace; No Jesus– No Peace”?

I think we can agree that life without Jesus is peace-less. (Don’t mistake ‘calm’ for ‘peace’. Calm is a state of mind or attitude. Peace is a fruit of The Spirit.)

But how many of us, who are believers or followers of Jesus KNOW peace?

Why?

I believe that many of us make a truce with God instead of receiving the peace of God through The Prince of Peace. There is a huge difference between peace and truce. A truce says, “You can do your “thing.” I can do my “thing.” We agree to allow each other to do those “things” without battling or fighting. A truce is a coexistence without getting into “each other’s business.” Peace, on the other hand, is mutual harmony; a breathing of the same air. Peace says, “Together we can do this; we can live in harmony; we will love and accept and encourage.” Peace is unity.

So how is your unity with God?

Are you just coexisting, “God, You do Your thing, I’ll do mine. Yes, I believe in You, but I’m ok doing life on my own.” A truce?

Or are you exercising your harmony, growing your fruit of peace, getting to KNOW the Prince of Peace, saying to God, “I want to breathe Your air, live the way You desire, allow You to battle for me—with me on Your side. I want to be in unity with You!”

That’s when you will KNOW peace.

I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace.

In the world you will have tribulation.

But take heart; I have overcome the world!

–Jesus (John 16:33)