Are We Living In a Social Earthquake? Part 1

On October 23, 2024 By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parables, My Thoughts4 Comments

I was reading about earthquakes the other day. Having never experienced one myself, I was fascinated to read the accounts by those who had. Their descriptions of the ground rolling and undulating, of the difficulty of walking straight, of buildings swaying, and the loud rumbling and groaning noises are hard for me to imagine. But then, I thought, maybe I can understand, because I may being living in one right now.

It seemed when I was a child back in the 50s and 60s, life was a lot more stable, generally speaking. It was easy to identify right from wrong. Lies were called out. People were held accountable for their actions.

But over the decades, life seems to have become increasingly unstable, like the vibrations of an earthquake growing ever stronger. Today, it feels as if we are in a nation-wide 8.0 social earthquake. Just like an 8.0 physical earthquake causes major damage to land and the buildings on them, this social earthquake is doing major damage to the social and spiritual foundation of our country. People’s beliefs, attitudes, and lifestyles are shifting and shaking as ideas are pushed on them by vocal groups, politicians, and biased media. It’s hard to walk a straight path when we are being told to go first one way, and then another. Good is now being called evil, and evil is now considered good. Experts contradict each other, polls show whatever their creators want them to show, and AI blurs the lines between real and false. We no longer know what to believe, who to listen to, or where to go to find safety.

What if we stopped looking around and looked up instead. What if we got quiet and listened to what our Maker might be telling us.

He might be saying, “Hold on to Me. Don’t put your trust in what you see or don’t see around you. The only place for your trust is Me. I am the only one who knows everything that is happening, and how it all turns out.”

Polls media reports, political interviews can all be skewed. We can watch, discuss, research, and develop opinions – but we shouldn’t trust any of it to save us, save the nation, or to predict the future.

Trust the one who has the future in His hands. He is the only one who can save us and make our steps firm.

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Psalm 1121: 1-3

for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ Isaiah 46: 9b-10

In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. Job 12:10

Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie. Psalm 40:4

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. Psalm 118:8

The Difference Is… God is Omnipresent

On October 20, 2024October 19, 2024 By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parablesLeave a comment

Julie rang the bell, and then smiled at the man who opened the door. This was her second week to babysit for Mr. Thompson while he conducted a meeting in his living room. She had been surprised last week to find the playroom in the basement, but it had been well lit and filled with toys and kids

“Hi, Mr. Thompson,” she smiled at him.

He smiled back. “Hi Julie! You’re just in time. The kids are waiting for you.”

She followed Mr. Thompson past the dining room to the basement door. He stopped just before opening it. Turning to her, he said, “I heard they gave you a hard time last week. I want you to know that although they may try to convince you otherwise, you’re the one in charge. Remind them of that if you need to. I will be up here if an emergency happens, but I trust you to take care of them until my meeting is over.”

Julie nodded at Mr. Thompson as he opened the door, and then followed the sounds of laughter dancing up the steps. Being paid to do what she loved filled her with joy, tempered with the weight of responsibility. Ultimately, she knew Mr. Thompson was in control of everything, but that didn’t mean he told her which games to pull out, when to intervene in a squabble, or whether to give them their snack on plates or napkins. He trusted her to make moment by moment decisions, and only got involved when she came to him for help or when the noise level indicated his presence was necessary to restore order. Or, if she misused her authority, the children’s cries reached his ears.

Mr. Thompson’s charge to Julie is similar to God’s charge to us concerning the earth. He has told us to take care of it and of each other. Just as Julie had been given the authority to rule the children, He gives us the authority to rule the earth. Ultimately, He is in control of everything, but that doesn’t mean He tells us which shirt to wear, what to eat for breakfast, or what color car to buy. He trusts us to make moment by moment decisions, and gets involved when we go to Him for help or when the circumstances indicate His presence is needed to restore order. Or, if we misuse our authority, the cries of the vulnerable reach His ears.

Some people view God in the same way Julie viewed Mr. Thompson. They believe He is upstairs, but after charging us to take care of everything, He withdrew. He provides everything we need, but He watches from a distance, rarely intervening if at all.

The difference is…

Mr. Thompson could not be in two places at the same time. He couldn’t be at his meeting and watch what Julie and the children did at the same time. Thus he could not make suggestions to help Julie care for the children. He could provide all that she would need, but the floor between them kept him at a distance, leaving Julie to carry out her charge the best she could.

However, God is everywhere at every moment. He is both in heaven watching us as we carry out our charge, and right by our sides whispering suggestions to keep us on the path. He may not tell us which book to read next – although He might – but if we are alert to His gentle nudging, He will guide us moment by moment in the areas that count.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over… all the earth…” Gen 1:26

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. Is 30:21

Death of Two Fathers

On October 19, 2024 By LindaIn My ThoughtsLeave a comment

Today I found out that two of my friends, both adults, just lost their fathers. My heart goes out to them. The grieving they feel. The changes they need to navigate. The emptiness in their lives and hearts.

Both friends share a common experience. A common grief.

But not a common outcome.

One is now an orphan. The other is not.

One is now without a father. The other still has a Father.

And this Father will never die.

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord is an everlasting rock. Isaiah 26:4

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God John 1:12

Diamonds on the Beach

On August 22, 2023 By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parablesLeave a comment

As I strolled the beach the other morning, I was surprised to find what appeared to be large diamonds glittering on the sand. Upon closer examination, I discovered that they were not the treasures they appeared to be. Instead, they were jellyfish.

Jellyfish are beautiful. Their colors, shapes, and movement are quite enticing. But along with jellyfish come something not as readily seen, not as beautiful, and downright dangerous. Tentacles.

The first time I got stung, the welt was so painful I vowed never to go in any water that contained even the faintest hint that there may be a jellyfish floating around. But as time passed, I grew more careless. I saw other people enjoying the water amid jellyfish. It can’t be that bad, I reasoned. I must have just had bad luck with the one I had encountered.

Slowly I lost my caution with jellyfish as, time after time, I successfully swam without getting hurt. But then one day I had just entered the water when a sharp pain pierced my leg. I jumped back onto the beach and stared at the welt growing redder by the second. I hadn’t even seen the jellyfish. I decided that day that, regardless of what other people did, I wouldn’t take the chance anymore.

Sin is like jellyfish. It can appear to be beautiful and enticing. You might see others happily engaged in the midst of it. But the hidden tentacles will eventually sting you. That’s why Jesus says to stay away from it. He is protecting you and others from the pain and sometimes death that results from sin. He’s protecting your future life. And most of all, He’s protecting your relationship with Him.

And that’s worth avoiding wherever jellyfish lurk.

The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. Proverbs 5:22

Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; Psalm 107:17

Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” John 5:14

For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness, I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning. For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart. Psalm 38:4-8

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings death. James 1:14-15

But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. Isaiah 59:2

What Is This Doing Here? (Deuteronomy 14:23-26)

On April 25, 2023 By LindaIn My Thoughts6 Comments

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

In the midst of all the rules God gave Moses to pass on to the Israelites is one that seems so out of place as to rock everything I thought I knew about tithing.

We all know Malachi 3:8-10 where God accuses the Israelites of robbing Him by not bringing their full tithes into “the storehouse that there may be food in my house…”

I have tithed faithfully since the day God had quickened this scripture to me many years ago. That is, until recently. After moving to a new state, I had found a church but have been blocked time after time from giving to them until I finally asked God, “What’s going on? Don’t You want me to tithe to them? If not, then what am I to do with the money each month?”

I began to get the idea that He had somewhere else He wanted the money to go, so I raised my spiritual antenna a little higher and watched for where He directed. Within a week or so, I think I found it. A 90-year-old lady, living alone in a rundown trailer, overwhelmed with clearing off the neglected land that she wanted to sell. Now new questions flooded me. How? Cash to her? Pay a contractor to clean it up? How much? And most important of all – is this Biblical – to give my tithe money to a lady instead of to a church?

I search the Scriptures for directions on how to tithe. Among them was this passage:

Deut. 14 ²²“You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year. ²³And before the Lord your God, in the place that he will choose, to make his name dwell there, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always. ²⁴And if the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, when the Lord your God blesses you, because the place is too far from you, which the Lord your God chooses, to set his name there, ²⁵then you shall turn it into money and bind up the money in your hand and go to the place that the Lord your God chooses ²⁶and spend the money for whatever you desire—oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink, whatever your appetite craves. And you shall eat there before the Lord your God and rejoice, you and your household.

I noticed two things I hadn’t seen before. Verse 23 says “you shall eat” – not “you shall give” or “you shall leave with the priests”. And verse 26 says “If the way to too long… too far”, then “turn it into money” and “spend the money for whatever you desire… whatever your appetite craves.”

What?

I eat my own tithe? Or if the way is too long/far, I convert it to money and spend it on whatever I want?

This is blowing my mind!

I was always taught that ten percent of my income belonged to God and it needed to be given to the church I attended for them to do with it as they chose. Isn’t that what Malachi says? But these Scriptures don’t say that. These Scriptures are saying that I am to enjoy it myself -either at the place God chooses for His name to be honored or at my own place for whatever I want.

I know better than to take one Scripture and make a doctrine out of it. And I won’t do it with this one. Yet, isn’t that what we have done with Malachi? What if God’s storehouse is not the church? What if it’s the Church? The people of God? What if we are to give to fellow believers that are in need but not necessarily through a church? This led me to search out what the New Testament says about tithing/giving.

Although I didn’t find anything about tithing, I did find plenty of places where it talks about giving. They gave to groups of other Christians, sometimes through Paul, which is what we do when we give to our churches, but the Bible also talks about giving to those we personally see who are in need. Both are equally important. Neither mentions a specific amount. We are to give what’s in our heart. And neither says to pay our tithe to the church and then give extra offerings to people in need, something else I’ve been taught. I don’t see that differentiation in the New Testament. What I read is that we give what we want where we want with the encouragement to be generous.

I know that my church needs money to do the good works they feel led to do. I know the pastors need an income. So, I know giving to my church is important, and I will continue to do so. But I think God is leading me away from the law of tithing to the spirit of giving. Not locked into a set amount to a set place – but the freedom to be led by the Spirit to give when, where, and how much as He leads.

And, surprisingly, shockingly, what if He leads me to give to myself, according to Deuteronomy? I am NOT saying I decide that I’m going to keep my money to pay for extra expenses when they come up. But I am saying that maybe once in a while, God might choose to meet my need with my own “tithe” money. That would result in as much thanksgiving and rejoicing as it would if I gave to fill someone else’s need or when my need is met by someone else.

So, back to my initial question: What is Deuteronomy 14 doing there in the midst of all those other rules? I don’t know. Without more background knowledge of the culture of those days, I don’t understand what God was telling the Israelites through those words. But for me, today, Deuteronomy 14 is the wind that has started the collapse of my tithing doctrine like a springtime breeze collapses a house of cards. When the dust settles, when every card is still, I will rebuild my tithing doctrine using only the cards the Bible provides. In the meantime, I will loosen my hand and give generously wherever the Spirit chooses.

A side note: I’ve attended churches where the pastors lead moderate lifestyles and most of the money collected goes to places with biblical principles. But as I think of megachurches today, with ministries that are not biblical and pastors who get rich off the donations they collect, I’m wondering if maybe I’m not the only one that is being led away from mandatory tithing to Spirit-led giving. I wonder how many more members of the Body of Christ will have their needs met if we follow the Spirit instead of a law.

Scriptures for Reference:

Acts 20:35; Romans 12:8, 13; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 8, 9; Galatians 6:6-10; Philippians 4:18; Hebrews 13:16; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; James 1:27, 2:14-17; 1 John 3:17

Sometimes You Have to Look Harder (An Analogy)

On March 8, 2023 By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parablesLeave a comment

Sunrises are easy to see. The whole eastern sky appears to be on fire. The intense yellows and oranges, changing and growing as the sun makes its arrival are breath-taking. But there are two conditions in order to enjoy this magnificent sight. One, you have to be awake. Period. You can’t see a sunrise if you’re eyes are not open. And two, there can’t be any significant obstacles between you and the eastern sky. In other words, you can’t see a sunrise when it’s raining, or from inside a room with west-facing windows or no windows at all.

A sunrise happens every morning without fail whether we can see it or not. Even if we are facing the correct direction with our eyes open on a cloudless day, we might not be able to see the masterpiece. Or at least all of it. Sometimes life gets in the way. Trees with thick branches made thicker with countless leaves may prevent you from fully seeing the rising sun. But if you look past the silhouetted limbs, you will be able to catch glimpses of the glory on the other side.

The sunrise is there. You just have to look harder to see it.

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11

God is Bigger Than Me (Psalm 107)

On January 30, 2023 By LindaIn My Thoughts1 Comment

When I try to find my own way, make my own decisions, claim my independence, I often find myself lost.

v. 4-5 Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in, hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them

But when I cry out to God, He delivers me from my decisions and leads me by His way to a good place.

v. 6-7 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.

God is bigger than my independence.

When I rebel against what God tells me, I often end up fighting one affliction after another, bound to circumstances with no idea how to change them and finding no one who can help.

v. 10-12 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High. So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help.

But when I cry out to God, He enlightens my heart and breaks the bonds that bind me.

v. 13-14 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart.

God is bigger than my rebellion.

When I sin, choose to live with what God has said was evil, I often live with a growing unease, feel unfulfilled, and increasingly avoid reading the Bible or spending intimate time with Him.

v. 17-18 Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; they loathed any kind of food, and drew near to the gates of death.

But when I cry out to God, He heals me and delivers me from my own self-destruction.

v. 19-20 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.

God is bigger than my sin.

When I compromise with the world, seeking what I need from it, I often find it is not reliable, and often backfires on me.

v. 23-27 Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters; they saw the deeds of the LORD, his wondrous works in the deep. For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight; they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits’ end.

But when I cry out to God, He calms the seas and brings me where my needs are met.

v. 28-30 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.

God is bigger than my spiritual adultery.

Thank You, God, for Your steadfast love!

v. 8, 15, 21, 31 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!

For God is bigger than everything, even me.

This But Not That? Psalm 21

On October 28, 2022October 28, 2022 By LindaIn My Thoughts2 Comments

People I know have trouble seeing God’s wrath in action in the Old Testament. “It sounds so cruel and unfair,” they say. “I much rather focus on His love. That’s what Jesus was all about when He lived on earth. That’s the New Testament way.”

Most Christians I know want this “loving” side of God but not that “wrathful” side.

That wrath-side of God is so disturbing to some people that they walked away from God altogether. “I don’t want anything to do with the God of the Old Testament – a God who kills women and children, even babies.”

However, David had no trouble embracing both sides of God. He knew Him better than many of us, and I like to read his songs to glean insights into the whole nature of the God that I love and serve. And yet, I must agree that his outright glee in the destruction of the enemy is at first disturbing to my 21^st century western mindset.

But recently one of his psalms put this in a new light for me. It seems the first half of Psalm 21 is talking prophetically about Jesus. And if that is so, could the second half be just as prophetically talking about the real enemy of God – the fallen angels and their offspring? (See Genesis 6:4)

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the son of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took them as their wives any they chose. Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh; his days shall be 120 years.” The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men of old, the men of renown. Genesis 6:1-4

(For those who don’t know, the Nephilim were the offspring of the fallen angels (sons of God) and human women.)

Here’s a way to think about it.

Let’s say there are two kinds of small insects flying around you – butterflies and mosquitos. Wouldn’t you enjoy the beauty of the fluttering butterflies while at the same time hate the buzzing mosquitos? Would you reject the person who cares for the butterflies but swats at the mosquitoes? Or destroys the innocent looking larvae wriggling in a bucket of water?

Or to put it another way…

What if those who choose to follow Jesus are like butterflies (Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old is passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17) and those who choose to follow the fallen angels, those who choose to do evil, are like mosquitoes (Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.1 Peter 5:8)

What if in their attempt to attack Jesus they also attack the butterflies? Wouldn’t the butterflies look forward to the day God removes all mosquitoes and their offspring from the face of the earth? Would that make God unfair? Or would that show His love and care for the butterflies?

When reading the Bible, we have to keep in mind that God is not man. His thoughts are way above our thoughts. He sees things very differently than we are capable of seeing. One day, when we are with Him, we might begin to understand. But for now, we just have to trust in the goodness of His nature that everything He does is just and right, including the destruction of the wicked and their innocent looking offspring.

Psalm 21:1-13 O LORD, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults! You have given him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah. For you meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold upon his head. He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever and ever. His glory is great through your salvation; splendor and majesty you bestow on him. For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the LORD, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.

Your right hand will find out all your enemies; your right hand will find out those who hate you. You will make them as a blazing oven when you appear. The LORD will swallow them up in his wrath, and fire will consume them. You will destroy their descendants from the earth, and their offspring from among the children of man. Though they plan evil against you, though they devise mischief, they will not succeed. For you will put them to flight; you will aim at their faces with your bows.

Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power.

What do you think? Does this make sense? How do you see the “God of the Old Testament”?

What’s On Your Mind? Psalm 19

On October 6, 2022 By LindaIn My ThoughtsLeave a comment

Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich on Pexels.com

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation
of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

Would God find it acceptable if you said any of these following comments
to other people? What if you just thought it and didn’t actually say it out
loud?

“I don’t know why you have to act like that. It’s awkward to be around you. You
should keep to yourself and not subject others to your deficient personality.”

“You’re so ugly. No wonder you don’t want your photo taken. You should also stay
away from personal appearances and just stay connected to other people through
emails and texts that saves them from having to see you.”

“Look at you smile as if you’re worth the same as the ones you’re talking
with. Shut up before you say something stupid and reveal your nothingness.”

“It’s irresponsible of you to want others to do parts of your job. It’s your
job, after all. You are supposed to handle all the details. It doesn’t matter
that it takes you long into the night to complete them. You shouldn’t be shirking
your responsibilities no matter how many those are.”

“Whoa, you’re getting fatter each time I see you. What a glutton! If you’d
just change your diet – if you quit eating altogether – you could lose the
weight so you’d look better and be healthier, and so people would like being around
you better. No one likes a fat, disgusting person hanging around.”

“Why does you keep spending your money? That’s so careless. Where’s your
self-control? What if you need it later? You could be in a world of trouble if
an emergency happens and you don’t have enough money.”

“Gee, your voice is one of the weirdest voices I’ve heard. Other people have
clearer, nicer voices that are pleasant to listen to. Not you. You sound like
you’re talking from inside a pipe. You should avoid talking except when
absolutely necessary. People don’t want to hear that weak and odd voice.”

Of course not. Yet I say them to myself about myself every day. David
prayed that his thoughts and words would be acceptable to God. That would include thoughts and words directed at himself.

Lord, I, too, pray that the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You. Convict me when they are not, and help me to see what You must see – that these thoughts are directed towards someone you love and died for. Forgive me, Lord, and give me the strength to make the changes I need to in order that You will be honored both in my thoughts and in my words- all of them – no matter who they are directed towards.

Spiritual or Psychological?

On October 5, 2022 By LindaIn My ThoughtsLeave a comment

With the merciful you show yourself merciful;

with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;

with the purified you show yourself pure;

and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.

Psalm 18:25-26

I’ve often wondered why nonbelievers see God so differently than I do. The One I see as holy and loving and affirming, they see as harsh, cruel, and distant. Sometimes I just look at people with wonder as they go off against God. How could they be so far from the truth?

David must have had the same question at some point – but instead of just wondering about it, he had an answer. When I read Psalm 18 again not too long ago, my inner conversation went like this…

Ah, so that’s why. People see what God wants them to see, and that’s based on their own character traits.

Wait… what if it’s more like people are projecting their own nature on to God? Maybe God has nothing to do with it. Maybe David has it backwards. Maybe people see God as they see themselves. That would be kind of like making God in their own image.

But that doesn’t hold true for many people I know. In my own experience, if the psychological explanation is accurate, I should see God as selfish, distant, and judgmental. But I don’t. So it has to be spiritual eyesight.

Hmmm… this would make an interesting topic to research. I wish I had time to do that.

Paul told the Corinthians that unbelievers were unable to see spiritual truth.

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:3-5

Unbelievers who are open can ask God and He will show Himself to them. But for those who are not, no amount of discussion, argument, intimidation, threat, pleas, or explanations will make them see what they can’t.

When I pray for non-Christians now, and those who call themselves Christians but don’t live like they are, I ask God to open their eyes to who He really is. That way they will know the difference between who they perceive God to be and who He really is. Then their choice to accept or reject Him will be based on reality instead of misunderstanding.

Lord, may we all see You for who You really are.

Amazing God Stories

Author: Linda