The Northridge Earthquake ~ 30 Years Ago

I didn't mean to disappear for almost two weeks!  I got really sick last week.  I saw an article yesterday about the 30th anniversary of the Northridge Earthquake.  That is still the biggest earthquake I've ever felt.  I wrote about it in 2010 after the massive Haiti earthquake and thought I'd re-post it here today: 

With a jolt we were awakened that morning. Sleeping on the third level of our townhouse it seemed someone had taken our little place and was violently shaking it. An earthquake with a 6.7 magnitude struck the Southland at 4:31 that Monday morning. Along with the shaking there was the noise - dishes falling out of cupboards, pictures falling off walls, drawers flying out of dressers, the crack of our kitchen window as it broke from the force.


It was still dark when we hurriedly dressed and made our way outside looking for safety. The normal LA sky glow was gone. Power was out and the freeway was empty. The same freeway that would be closed for more than a month due to extensive damage.


We spent the day in numbness. Shock kept the tears at bay as we viewed cracks in nearly every wall. Power and water were both off. We purchased plywood to cover our kitchen window and began the process of sweeping up glass and figuring out what was salvageable.


As night fell, we were unsure of the stability of our home and chose to move our van to the street and sleep there. Still no electricity. It would be many weeks before I slept peacefully as aftershocks were a constant reminder. One large crack in our bedroom seemed to haunt me.


I remember later that day standing on the sidewalk talking to Les' boss.  His dog started getting very agitated just before we experienced a large aftershock.  It was so big, our car BOUNCED in the street!  

 

My Bible reading today included Proverbs chapter 18.  I'm very thankful for verse 10, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe."

Taking a Look Back

Ten years ago this week Les and I traveled to Hawaii to start a new adventure.  He joined Decision Research Corporation on January 21, 2013.  I re-read some of the posts from that time and it's interesting to see what we got right and what was not at all what we expected!  I'm going to re-share some of those posts here and add my thoughts from 10 years later (those thoughts will be in purple.)

The first post I want to talk about was posted in December 2012, "The Curse and the Scarlett Thread."  The focus of this post was worry and let me tell you, I was so wrapped up in worry at the time!  I didn't blog about everything that was going on in our life at the time, but I was a mess.  My dad was in the hospital at the time, our house had been broken into, and Les had been unemployed for about two months.  

 

The things that were plaguing my mind were REAL, not imagined, but I still needed to take all my thoughts captive.  It would be some time before the answers to my "what if?" questions would arrive, but I was able to change my worrying to praying with faith.

 

This lesson has been invaluable to me for the past ten years.  Sis. White asked me to speak at Ladies Prayer on March 10, 2020 and I chose this topic.  Little did I know how much fear and worry would be taking hold of our world in the weeks ahead.

Les started a new series in our adult Sunday school class last week - The Scarlet Thread.  This is the line through the Bible, from start to finish that teaches us that the life is in the blood.  Blood has always been necessary for redemption and eternal life. Yesterday's lesson was excellent as always.  Les taught about Adam and Eve and the curse that came upon the world because of their disobedience.

Most aspects of the curse were familiar to me.  I'm so thankful that Jesus bruised Satan's head.  Les pointed out something in verse 16 that I had never heard before:

Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

The first use of the word "sorrow" is not the same as the second usage.  The second word "sorrow" in the Hebrew is as we would expect - "pain," but the first "sorrow" is actually "worrisomeness."

Worrisomeness in the Hebrew means:  worry, pain, anger, displease, grieve, hurt, be sorry, vex. Webster's dictionary doesn't contain the word "worrisomeness" but is does give the definition for worrisome: causing distress or worry, inclined to worry or fret. 

Les didn't spend much time on this, but I've been chewing on it since his lesson.  Any ladies reading this today know the feeling of worrisomeness?  Are there days when you just feel overwhelmed with it all and sit fretting about things over which you have no control?  Then you tell your sweet husband all about it and his response is, "What's the big deal?"  Men just don't worry as much.  I know they feel stress, but that is not part of the curse that was put upon man, we ladies got that privilege!

Eve had never experienced worry before the fall.  The Bible doesn't tell us how long they were in the garden before Adam and Eve partook of the fruit.  It may have been weeks, months, or even years.   She lived in a perfect world with nothing to worry about it.  Until the fall, then the curse.

Does that mean we ladies should just resign ourselves to worry?  Should we spend our days as Chicken Little:  "There's no way to avoid it, I'm cursed with worry, the sky is falling, the sky is falling!!"  I don't believe so.  I believe we will be attacked with worry, but we must take those thoughts captive.

Jesus said in Matthew chapter 6:

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Repeatedly Jesus says "take no thought."  One commentator said this:

It is the repeated command of the Lord Jesus to his disciples, that they should not divide and pull in pieces their own minds with care about the world. The thought here forbidden is, 1. A disquieting, tormenting thought, which hurries the mind hither and thither, and hangs it in suspense; which disturbs our joy in God, and is a damp upon our hope in him; which breaks the sleep, and hinders our enjoyment of ourselves, of our friends, and of what God has given us. 2. A distrustful, unbelieving thought. God has promised to provide for those that are his all things needful for life.

I needed this so much!  We've had a lot of stress in our life lately and I have watched Les confidently going on, believing that God is going to take care of us.  I believe that, until worry takes hold.  I wasted precious time on Saturday taking thought instead of trusting.  (This was the understatement of the day!)

The answer to overcoming our thoughts is the blood.  The scarlet thread that was started in the garden when God slew the first sacrifice to clothe Adam and Eve with skins, is still the answer today.  The blood of Jesus does more than save us, Isaiah 53 tells us:

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Our grief, our sorrow, our worry, our future, He carried it all.  Because He did, we can take no thought and know that our heavenly Father knows exactly what we need.  Several weeks ago, Les taught about God's purpose.  He said, "Since aspects of God are identical past, present and future… God’s future plans are as if they had already been fulfilled."  I have to wonder, what am I worried about?  God has it all in His very capable hands!

In a Crisis

Honestly evaluate the way you respond to crisis situations. Are you happy with the way you react?

 

My ability to handle a crisis situation goes back to my childhood.  Rod's health was always in danger. Due to his hemophilia and the lack of his blood's ability to clot, a simple cut for most of us could turn into a serious bleed for him.  Both my parents were extremely calm when something happened to Rod.  At least they seemed calmed!

I remember one Tuesday night when Rod and I were teenagers.  We had "Teen Time" at church, which was always a fun time.  That particular night, we met at the church then split up.  We girls went swimming at someone's house and they boys went to some lake/pond.  When we met back up at the church, Rod told me he had stepped on something that cut through his shoe.  I knew this was serious.  Of course this was in the 70s so I had to use to church pay phone to call Mom to come get us.  I remember being completely calm while relaying this message to her and saying, "You might want to hurry because Rod has a cut on his foot."

Other times of crisis come to mind - the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, the weekend that Les was in a bike accident and the hill behind our house caught on fire, the false alarm in Hawaii that a ballistic missile was headed our way.  Each of these times I was afraid and shaken, but I was able to keep calm.

The question this post should really ask is, "How can you react calmly in a crisis situation?"  I'm not capable of handling a crisis on my own.  But thankfully, I don't have to!  Proverbs 18:10 says, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe."

 

Matthew Henry's commentary says, "Here is, 1. God's sufficiency for the saints: His name is a strong tower for them, in which they may take rest when they are weary and take sanctuary when they are pursued, where they may be lifted up above their enemies and fortified against them. There is enough in God, and in the discoveries which He has made of Himself to us, to make us easy at all times. The wealth laid up in this tower is enough to enrich them, to be a continual feast and a continuing treasure to them. The strength of this tower is enough to protect them; the name of the Lord is all that whereby He has made Himself known as God, and our God, not only His titles and attributes, but His covenant and all the promises of it; these make up a tower, a strong tower, impenetrable, impregnable, for all God's people. 2. The saints' security in God. It is a strong tower to those who know how to make use of it as such. The righteous, by faith and prayer, devotion towards God and dependence on Him, run into it, as their city of refuge. Having made sure their interest in God's name, they take the comfort and benefit of it; they go out of themselves, retire from the world, live above, dwell in God and God in them, and so they are safe, they think themselves so, and they shall find themselves so." 

 

The Pulpit Commentary says this, "The Name of the Lord signifies all that God is in Himself—His attributes, His love, mercy, power, knowledge; which allow man to regard Him as a sure Refuge. The words bring before us a picture of a capitol, or central fortress, in which, at times of danger, the surrounding population could take refuge. Into this Name we Christians are baptized; and trusting in it, and doing the duties to which our profession calls, with faith and prayer, we are safe in the storms of life and the attacks of spiritual enemies. The righteous runneth into it (the tower), and is safe; literally, is set on high;  he reaches a position where he in set above the trouble or the danger that besets him. Thus St. Peter, speaking of Christ, exclaims, "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other Name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) Prayer is the wall of faith, our arms and weapons against man who is always watching us. Therefore let us never go unarmed, night or day.   From the greatness of his might is the Name of the Lord; and running unto it the righteous are exalted."

 

We don't have to be in control when a crisis happens.  We have a place of refuge where we can run.  Run!!  Run to that safe place, the name above all names, Jesus!

Fear Not, Zacharias

I have had a really tough time getting this post written.  My thoughts have been all over the place!  I've finally figured out what I want to say and hopefully it will give you something to think about.

Over the course of the past two weeks I have read the phrase "fear not" eight different times in my daily Bible reading - seven times in the first 12 chapters of Luke "fear not" is found.  Zacharias is the first that I read and I thought he was a good one to study as I am reading the Prayer Life.

Luke 1:13 says, "But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John." There is so much to study about Zacharias, but I just want to focus on "thy prayer is heard."

What was that prayer?
Many commentaries agree that is was more than one prayer that had been heard.  First, the prayer for a son, since he and Elizabeth were childless.  The second prayer was for the deliverance of Israel by the coming of the Messiah.

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible says, "which he had many years ago put up for a son; for it cannot be thought that he had been now praying for one, being in such an advanced age, and having for years past given up all hopes of one, and was even unbelieving, when he was told by the angel he should have one: prayer is sometimes immediately heard, and answered; and sometimes an answer is deferred a long time, to try the faith and patience of the saints, and to discover the more the wisdom, power, and goodness of God: or this may have regard to his present prayer, one branch of which might concern the coming of the Messiah, which was now expecting, and therefore is told, that his prayer was heard; since the angel that appeared to him, brought him the news of the conception and birth of his forerunner."

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible says, "They are all heard - thou shalt have a son, and Israel shall be saved. If fervent faithful prayers be not immediately answered, they should not be considered as lost; all such are heard by the Lord, are registered in heaven, and shall be answered in the most effectual way, and in the best time. Answers to prayer are to be received by faith; but faith should not only accompany prayer while offered on earth, but follow it all its way to the throne of grace, and stay with it before the throne till dismissed with its answer to the waiting soul."

The Answer to Zacharias' Prayer
This is the part that I've been dwelling on for the past several days.  Zacharias had prayed for a son.  I don't believe he prayed for a son who would be the forerunner of the Messiah.  His prayer was simple, but God's answer was great.

When John was taken as a baby to be circumcised and given the name of John, Zacharias was able to speak once again.  Luke chapter 1 tells us he was filled with the Holy Ghost and prophesied.  Luke 1:68-79 gives that prophecy.  Zacharias was given a glimpse of what God had in store for his child's life.

This son, known as John the Baptist, was more than Zacharias and Elizabeth could have imagined.  John had a mighty ministry.  Matthew 3:5-6 says, "Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins."  But he knew who he was, Matthew 3:11 says, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire."   John 3:29-30 says, "He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease." 

He was the voice of one crying in the wilderness.  John 1:6-8 says, "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light."  Verse 6 of that same chapter says, "And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!"

God Answers Prayer
My thoughts finally came together about this topic as I was re-reading a post about Rod this morning.  During the final months of his life, Les and I prayed earnestly for Rod.  We prayed that God would heal Rod from the disease that was destroying his body.  About six weeks before Rod died, Les and I went on an extended fast.  We believed that God was going to heal.  If an angel had appeared to me and said, "Fear not, your prayers have been heard," I would have believe it 100% and I would have expected a physical healing to take place.

After Rod died I could have questioned if God had heard my prayer.  But God gave me peace and assurance that He had heard it, but chose to answer in a different way.  My finite thinking could only see Rod's mortal body.  God could see Rod's soul.  The time spent in prayer and fasting wasn't wasted.  God heard and saw it all.  But God chose to deliver Rod from the chains of this life.  Rod was healed but he was also saved from any more sorrow on this earth.  My prayers were heard indeed.

Fear Not to Pray!
My conclusion regarding Zacharias, and in my own life, is we must pray without fear.  Ask, believing.  Jesus said in Matthew 7:7-8, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

Fear not, my friend, your prayer is heard.

2020 Vision Refocused

Today's Bible reading included Genesis chapters 1 and 2, Luke 2 and Revelation 1.

Luke 2:10 says, " And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."

Fear not!

Revelation 1:17 says, "And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:"

Fear not!

I'm now up to a total of four times that the words fear not were spoken in four different situations.  Zacharias, Mary, the shepherds, and John.

I thought I was going to be studying visions this year, but it seems that God has something different in mind.  I'm turning my focus to the times "fear not" was spoken.  So far in each instance something good was spoken following the words fear not - prayers answered, favor found, good tidings of great joy, I am the first and the last.  There are times when the phrase means something different, such as Psalm 55:19, "God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God."  I'll be looking at those verses as well.

What are you fearing as 2020 begins?  Are you afraid your prayers haven't been answered?  Have you heard the good news of the gospel and you're afraid to embrace it?  Have you experienced an encounter with the first and the last and it's left you trembling?  Fear not!  Go forward into the unknown.

Remarkable!

I started a new Bible reading plan this year.  It's the Solid Life “Whole Bible” Reading Plan.  I liked the description, it seemed different than any I have done in the past:

The Solid Life Reading Plan helps you understand the entire Bible. The Old Testament is read once in near chronological order and the New Testament is read twice, beginning the year with Luke and Acts, the first 60 years of New Testament history. Psalms are often read on the same day as corresponding events. Historical books such as the Kings are read along with contemporary prophets. May you hear God’s voice as you read!

Today's reading was Genesis 1, Luke 1 and Jude.  I'm pretty sure anyone who has ever started a Bible reading plan has read the first chapter of Genesis.  The remarkable thing was when I turned to Luke chapter 1...

Luke 1:13 says, "But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John."

Fear not!!

Verse 22 says, "And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless."

A vision! 

Verse 30 says, "And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God."

Fear not a second time!

I don't know what 2020 has in store, but it's seems that God is trying to tell me something.  The interesting thing is the words fear not were followed by words of encouragement.  "Fear not, thy prayer is heard."  "Fear not, for thou hast found favour with God."  

Gabriel was sent to both Zacharias and Mary.  He had great news for them, God's plan for the salvation of the world was getting ready to be fulfilled.  I wonder if God has a plan for 2020 that could change our lives if only we fear not.  I believe it's time to be bold, have our prayers answered and embrace God's favor in our lives!

2020 Vision: Fear Not!

Happy New Year's Eve!  Will you be up past midnight tonight?  We try to celebrate the new year with New York (three hours ahead of us) so we can be in bed by 9:30.

As I previously mentioned, I'm embarking on a new study this year.  I'll be studying visions from the Bible.  The first time the word vision is found is in Genesis 15:1.  I'll be studying the entire chapter next week, but for today I just want to focus on two words:  "Fear not."

Several commentaries on this verse agree that when God told Abram "fear not," He was talking about what happened in the previous chapter.  Genesis chapter 14 is the first war mentioned in the Bible.  Abram got involved because Lot had been taken captive.  Although Abram was victorious, it was thought that he could have been fearful that the nations that belonged to the kings he had triumphed over would come after him.

Other commentaries said that it addresses his future when Abram said in Genesis 15:2, "Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?" Whatever Abram was fearing, God said, "fear not."  The rest of that verse says, "I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."

The words "fear not" are found 62 times in the Bible.  From Genesis to Revelation we read "fear not."  God spoke these words directly or through an angel or prophet to Abraham, Hagar, Isaac, Jacob, Joshua, the children of Israel, Gideon, the widow of Zarephath, Solomon, Isaiah, Daniel, Zacharias, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, Simon Peter, Jairus, the multitude, the women at the tomb, Paul, and John the revelator.

I've often heard that hindsight is 2020.  That's true for mankind, but God's vision is 2020 all the time.  He sees what lies ahead when we don't.  We often spend our time fearing the future or looking back wondering if we truly defeated the enemy of our past, when we should really be looking forward without fear.

The entire text of Genesis 15:1 is "After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."  The commentaries on this verse were remarkable, and I'll return to them next week, for today I'm just going to share what Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible had to say:

"After these things," the victory, the blessing, and the self-denial recorded in the previous chapter.  

“The word of the Lord,” manifesting himself by speech to his servant.

“In a vision” the intelligent observer passes from the merely sensible to the super-sensible sphere of reality.

“Fear not, Abram.” The patriarch had some reason to fear. The formidable allies had indeed been defeated, and the fruits of their marauding enterprise wrested from them. But they might resume their purpose, and return with an overwhelming force. And Abram was still a stranger in a foreign land, preoccupied by tribes of another race, who would combine against him as soon as they suspected him of being an intruder. But the Lord had stood by him and given him the victory, and now speaks to him in the language of encouragement. 

“I am thy shield, thy exceeding great reward.” The word I is separately expressed, and, therefore, emphatic in the original.
I, Jehovah (Yahweh), the Self-existent One, the Author of existence, the Performer of promise, the Manifester of myself to man, and not any creature however exalted. This was something beyond a seed, or a land, or any temporal thing. The Creator infinitely transcends the creature. The mind of Abram is here lifted up to the spiritual and the eternal. (1) thy shield. (2) thy exceeding great reward.

Abram has two fears - the presence of evil, and the absence of good. Experience and conscience had begun to teach him that both of these were justly his doom. But Yahweh has chosen him, and here engages himself to stand between him and all harm, and himself to be to him all good. With such a shield from all evil, and such a source of all good, he need not be afraid. The Lord, we see, begins, as usual, with the immediate and the tangible; but he propounds a principle that reaches to the eternal and the spiritual. We have here the opening germ of the great doctrine of “the Lord our righteousness,” redeeming us on the one hand from the sentence of death, and on the other to a title to eternal life.

I'm saying goodbye 2019 with all it's battles, victories and defeats.  Here's what I'm planning for 2020:

I will Fear Not because
The I AM, Jehovah (Yahweh), the Self-existent One, the Author of existence, the Performer of promise, the Manifester of Himself to man
IS my Shield, my Protector and my Defense Who will stand between me and all harm,
He is also my exceeding great, superlatively multiplied Reward.
Or as David put it, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

Repost: We Fall Down

This week I decided to re-post a mini-series I wrote in 2010.  Look for more in the days ahead...

Last week Les uttered a prophetic statement. We had just finished a ride on Las Llayas. We had made great time going downhill. He said, "You know, one of these days one of us is going down on this."

Uh oh... Yeah, that was me yesterday. We had done our ride to the "Y" together. Les had continued on. I had turned around. Less than half a mile from the "Y" I hit a patch of sand, going faster than I should have been. You cannot brake in the sand. Before I knew what was happening, I was out of control, going faster, and heading for a tree! Before I hit the tree, I went up a small embankment that slowed me down.



Whew!

I stood there, checking my bike and my legs. Minor scratches on my legs, but no blood gushing anywhere. I was okay, just a bit shaken up.

Hmm... what to do now?

I knew it would be 30-40 minutes before Les was back to the "Y". So I got back on my bike, went down the two miles to the cattle crossing and turned around and went back up to the "Y".

I got back up.


Bro. Weeks preached an amazing message at our church Sunday night. His title - "What Nickname Would the Church Give You?" His text was Acts 4:36, "And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,"

If I asked you about Joses, you might have to think a while. But Barnabas (Joses' nickname) is known for many things in the New Testament church. He is the one who reached out to Saul after his conversion while others were afraid of him. He ministered in Antioch and later traveled on some of Paul's missionary journeys.

We are all known for something. In can be positive or negative. But we are known for it. Church gossip? Preserver of unity? Prayer Warrior or Tale Barer? Quitter or Fighter?

As I was thinking of my fall and Bro. Weeks' message, I thought of the song by Bob Carlisle, "We Fall Down."

We Fall Down

We fall down, we get up
We fall down, we get up
We fall down, we get up
And the saints are just the sinners
Who fall down and get up

It's not a matter of IF we will fall, but what we do WHEN we fall. Proverbs 24:26 says, "For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief."
Fall down, but don't stay there!

Don't Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

- Author unknown

I finished this post last night and scheduled it to post today. Then I received this quote in my daily email from Runner's World that I had to add:

"A man can fail many times, but he isn't a failure until he begins to blame somebody else." - Steve Prefontaine, American middle and long-distance runner

False Evidence Appearing Real

After yesterday's post about fear, it's crazy that today we had a scare:

We are currently on Oahu.  This alert popped up on phones all over the islands.  Not exactly how I planned to spend my Saturday morning.

I'll admit, I was a little freaked out.  For about 10 minutes it appeared that the alert was legitimate.  I kept searching the internet and finally found out it was a false alarm.  About 40 minutes later it was officially confirmed.  This turned out to be false evidence, but it sure seemed real for a while!

Fear Not

My Bible reading today came from Proverbs chapter 1, Matthew chapter 10, and Genesis chapter 25.  These passages all talk about fear.  The devotional was about unhealthy fear.  The Greek word commonly used in the New Testament is phobos - from which we get the word phobia.  This is unhealthy fear.  They called it False Evidence Appearing Real.  Unhealthy fears can paralyze us in life. 

I wrote in December 2012 about the curse that came upon mankind as a result of sin.  In Genesis 3:16 the first use of the word "sorrow" is not the same as the second usage.  The second word "sorrow" in the Hebrew is as we would expect - "pain," but the first "sorrow" is actually "worrisomeness."  The curse was twofold - both physical and mental.  I believe as long as we are in this life, we will have to fight this battle of the mind.

In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus says repeatedly "take no thought."  Matthew Henry's commentary says this, "It is the repeated command of the Lord Jesus to his disciples, that they should not divide and pull in pieces their own minds with care about the world. The thought here forbidden is, 1. A disquieting, tormenting thought, which hurries the mind hither and thither, and hangs it in suspense; which disturbs our joy in God, and is a damp upon our hope in him; which breaks the sleep, and hinders our enjoyment of ourselves, of our friends, and of what God has given us. 2. A distrustful, unbelieving thought. God has promised to provide for those that are his all things needful for life."

Isaiah chapter 43:1-7 says:

But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;
Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

We will all battle fear, but that is the key - battle!  Don't let fear win.  We have a Redeemer Who is with us.  We are precious in His sight and are greatly loved by Him.  Fear Not!

Under the Shadow of the Almighty

It seems every week we read another headline about another terrorist attack.  This week's occurred in Turkey, a country we visited last month and one I am still writing about today.  Istanbul, where the latest attack took place, is about 300 miles from where we were in Ephesus.

It would be very easy for us to say, "I'm not going to travel.  I won't fly internationally.  It's just not safe."  Just a little over a year ago, Les crashed on his bike.  When people questioned me about him continuing to ride I had an answer they weren't expecting.  "I guess we need to quit going to church, too, because it's not safe."  It just so happened that Les' crash took place the same week as the mass shooting at the church in Charleston, S.C.  I wasn't trying to make light of that attack, but we aren't going to find safety in this troubled world.  When we make the decision to climb out of bed in the morning, we've made the decision to face an unsafe world.

We can live our lives in fear, pulling bubble wrap around us, or we can live under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91 says,

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Matthew Henry's commentary says, "He that by faith chooses God for his protector, shall find all in him that he needs or can desire. And those who have found the comfort of making the Lord their refuge, cannot but desire that others may do so. The spiritual life is protected by Divine grace from the temptations of Satan, which are as the snares of the fowler, and from the contagion of sin, which is a noisome pestilence. Great security is promised to believers in the midst of danger. Wisdom shall keep them from being afraid without cause, and faith shall keep them from being unduly afraid. Whatever is done, our heavenly Father's will is done; and we have no reason to fear. God's people shall see, not only God's promises fulfilled, but his threatenings. Then let sinners come unto the Lord upon his mercy-seat, through the Redeemer's name; and encourage others to trust in him also."

Without a doubt we live in perilous times, but don't let fear of what might happen rob you of today's peace.  Read that Psalm again, let it get in your heart and mind.  And remember, "I can see to the corner, but God sees around the corner... don't worry." - Mom's Bible

Already There

Much is being said and written about the new year.  Dreams, hopes, plans, goals, resolutions, desires.  I've seen "Verse of the Year" and "Word of the Year" - ideas that intrigue me.  How do you choose a verse or a word for your unseen future?  I've heard people say, "This is my life verse."  And I'm amazed by that.  How does one single verse fit a lifetime?  I have so many "favorite" verses!  A verse that fit 2010 wasn't relevant to where I was living in 1985.   Snatches of verses come to mind, "my times are in thy hand," "great peace have they which live thy law," "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me," "I've never seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging bread."  Verses that hold great meaning in my life.  I could never choose just one.  (I don't have one favorite song, either!)

I was thinking about all this when I was in the car this morning.  I heard the song "Already There" by Casting Crowns.  It was the reminder that I needed.  Yes, I need to make plans for 2014, but I need to leave the outcome in the capable hands of the One Who is already there.

Already There

From where I'm standing, Lord it's so hard for me to see
Where this is going and where You're leading me
I wish I knew how all my fears and all my questions
Are gonna play out in a world I can't control

Oh, oh

When I'm lost in the mystery to You my future is a memory
Cause You're already there, You're already there
Standing at the end of my life waiting on the other side
And You're already there, You're already there

Oh, oh, oh, oh

From where You're standing, Lord, You see a grand design
That You imagined when You breathed me into life
And all the chaos comes together in Your hands
Like a masterpiece of Your picture perfect plan

When I'm lost in the mystery to You my future is a memory
Cause You're already there, You're already there
Standing at the end of my life waiting on the other side
And You're already there, You're already there

One day I'll stand before You
And look back on the life I've lived
I can't wait to enjoy the view
And see how all the pieces fit

One day I'll stand before You
And look back on the life I've lived
Cause You're already there, You're already there
When I'm lost in the mystery to You my future is a memory
Cause You're already there, You're already there
Standing at the end of my life waiting on the other side
And You're already there, You're already there

You are already there 

So whether you're excited or nervous about the upcoming year ~ remember, He's already there.

Christmas Fears

During the month of December I enjoy reading fictionalized accounts of the birth of Christ along with the words in the Bible. In the scriptures concerning the birth of Jesus (and His cousin, John the Baptist) the words "Fear not" are found four times, spoken by angels:

Luke 1:13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

Luke 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

Matthew 1: 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

Fear is a common human reaction. Fear of the unknown. Fear of the future. Fear of gossip. Fear of an angel standing in front of us telling us not to fear!

As I was thinking about that, I remembered a fearful time in my life. Our house was broken into, while I was there. I was absolutely terrified. All the details are here. The next post is about the battle I fought with fear once the robbers were gone.

We don't know what tomorrow holds. Maybe you're fearing the results of a medical test. Perhaps your job is on the line, bills are mounting. Christmas is looking a little bleak for some. Each of us face different problems, but the Prince of Peace came to help us overcome our fears. He will walk with us. No, the problems may not go away, but we can walk in assurance that He promised to never leave or forsake us.

What happens around us is largely outside our control,
but how we choose to react to it is inside our control.
We can throw our hands up in defeat or
we can choose to trust God for His solution.
~Mom's Bible

Ananias and Sapphira

I've been thinking about Ananias and Sapphira this week after reading their story in Acts chapter 5. "But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?" It's amazing to me how quickly Satan tried to get a stronghold in the new church.

I've been wondering about this couple. Who were they? Were they in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost? Were they part of the three thousand souls that were added to the church that day? What changed so quickly for them? They didn't have to give any of the money, or they could have told Peter they were giving part of it. Did they plan their deception or was it after the money was in their hands that they gave in to temptation? What a sad ending. "And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost" (verse 5) and "Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost" (verse 10).

I've also been thinking about our response to the judgment of sin. Verse 5 of this chapter says, "great fear came on all them that heard these things" and verse 11 says, "And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things."

I have been in services when the man of God is preaching and sin is revealed. I cannot think of a single time when "great fear" did not come upon me. I am fearful for my own soul, lest I have sinned and not repented of it. It doesn't matter if I know I'm innocent or not, something in me says, "I have to be sure!" I never want to sit pridefully thinking I have no sin. But I am also fearful for others - what if they don't repent when God is giving them the opportunity?

These are sobering thoughts, but this is a story we cannot ignore. May Psalm 51:10 be the prayer of our hearts in 2011 "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."

We Fall Down

Last week Les uttered a prophetic statement. We had just finished a ride on Las Llayas. We had made great time going downhill. He said, "You know, one of these days one of us is going down on this."

Uh oh... Yeah, that was me yesterday. We had done our ride to the "Y" together. Les had continued on. I had turned around. Less than half a mile from the "Y" I hit a patch of sand, going faster than I should have been. You cannot break in the sand. Before I knew what was happening, I was out of control, going faster, and heading for a tree! Before I hit the tree, I went up a small embankment that slowed me down.



Whew!

I stood there, checking my bike and my legs. Minor scratches on my legs, but no blood gushing anywhere. I was okay, just a bit shaken up.

Hmm... what to do now?

I knew it would be 30-40 minutes before Les was back to the "Y". So I got back on my bike, went down the two miles to the cattle crossing and turned around and went back up to the "Y".

I got back up.


Bro. Weeks preached an amazing message at our church Sunday night. His title - "What Nickname Would the Church Give You?" His text was Acts 4:36, "And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,"

If I asked you about Joses, you might have to think a while. But Barnabas (Joses' nickname) is known for many things in the New Testament church. He is the one who reached out to Saul after his conversion while others were afraid of him. He ministered in Antioch and later traveled on some of Paul's missionary journeys.

We are all known for something. In can be positive or negative. But we are known for it. Church gossip? Preserver of unity? Prayer Warrior or Tale Barer? Quitter or Fighter?

As I was thinking of my fall and Bro. Weeks' message, I thought of the song by Bob Carlisle, "We Fall Down."

We Fall Down

We fall down, we get up
We fall down, we get up
We fall down, we get up
And the saints are just the sinners
Who fall down and get up

It's not a matter of IF we will fall, but what we do WHEN we fall. Proverbs 24:26 says, "For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief."

Fall down, but don't stay there!

Don't Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

- Author unknown

I finished this post last night and scheduled it to post today. Then I received this quote in my daily email from Runner's World that I had to add:

"A man can fail many times, but he isn't a failure until he begins to blame somebody else." - Steve Prefontaine, American middle and long-distance runner

January 17, 1994

With a jolt we were awakened that morning. Sleeping on the third level of our townhouse it seemed someone had taken our little place and was violently shaking it. An earthquake with a 6.7 magnitude struck the Southland at 4:31 that Monday morning. Along with the shaking there was the noise - dishes falling out of cupboards, pictures falling off walls, drawers flying out of dressers, the crack of our kitchen window as it broke from the force.


It was still dark when we hurriedly dressed and made our way outside looking for safety. The normal LA sky glow was gone. Power was out and the freeway was empty. The same freeway that would be closed for more than a month due to extensive damage.


We spent the day in numbness. Shock kept the tears at bay as we viewed cracks in nearly every wall. Power and water were both off. We purchased plywood to cover our kitchen window and began the process of sweeping up glass and figuring out what was salvageable.


As night fell, we were unsure of the stability of our home and chose to move our van to the street and sleep there. Still no electricity. It would be many weeks before I slept peacefully as aftershocks were a constant reminder. One large crack in our bedroom seemed to haunt me.


I remember those details again as I think of Haiti. An inspector told us our homes were built for earthquakes - to bend and not break. Very few lives were lost considering the magnitude. The dishes we lost were more than most Haitians will own in a lifetime. My terror was real, but at the end of the day my home was still standing.

Also, the difference between a 6.7 earthquake and 7.0 is much larger than you might think. The Richter magnitude scale is a mathematical equation that I won't pretend to understand or explain, but here are some differences:

2.0 = 1 metric ton
3.0 = 32 metric tons
4.0 = 1 kiloton
5.0 = 32 kilotons
6.0 = 1 megaton
6.7 = 16.2 megatons (this is what we experienced in 94)
7.0 = 32 megatons (this is what Haiti experienced)

I can barely look at the heartbreaking images. It will be months and possibly years before they recover. But recovery for Haitians will still be poverty.

I'll say it again, Please Pray for Haiti. Give if you can. Pray because you can.

Holding On

I started a new book on the train Wednesday evening on my way to church. The book is called "That Certain Spark" by Cathy Marie Hake. I've read most of her books and expected a light read, which is perfect for a noisy train ride. I opened to the dedication page and found "There are many forms of courage -" followed by a list. About halfway down the list was this:

Holding on to God with trust instead of desperation.

That brought many mental images. Images of desperation and trust. Desperation is a child, terrified of dogs, climbing up their Dad's backside when a dog is within eyesight. Trust is believing when Daddy says, "I won't let it get you."

Webster defines desperation as:
1 : loss of hope and surrender to despair;
2 : a state of hopelessness leading to rashness

Trust is defined as:
1 a : assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something b : one in which confidence is placed
2 : dependence on something future or contingent : hope
— in trust : in the care or possession of a trustee

I recently heard of an acquaintance who committed suicide. I can only imagine the desperation that drove them to that point in life - utter loss of hope that lead to such a rash decision. While the act of suicide takes one instant of desperation, living takes days of trust and that takes lots of courage.

I've posted this more than once, but when I think of trust, I always come back to this quote from Mom's Bible:

Trust
Sure, it takes a lot of courage

To put things in God's hands,
To give ourselves completely,
Our lives, our hopes, our plans,
To follow where He leads us
And make His will our own,
But all it takes is foolishness
To go the way alone.

So hold on, with trust, to the One Who is always trustworthy.

Live Strong

Several years before Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with cancer, before he started the Lance Armstrong Foundation, before he and Nike produced millions of LiveStrong wristbands, Mom was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I thought I would give my view of her response to the disease, with a little help from her Bible.

4-27-90 - Black day for me - but God is in charge.
Cancer is not too hard for my God.

We knew Mom had a health issue before she was diagnosed, but we didn't know what the problem was. Once she was diagnosed, there were decisions to make and emotions to deal with.

I think everyone who is handed such a diagnosis goes through the emotional whirlwind. The shock, the fear, the questions, the confusion, on and on they go. But once the dust starts settling, there is only one choice - to live strong or not. More often than not, people find amazing strength to endure. Occasionally a person will give up or refuse to fight, but that was not the case with Mom.

It takes amazing strength to endure major surgery followed by months of chemotherapy. The side affects of nausea, fatigue, hair loss, and many more pile on. But over and over I watched Mom pull from a strength that was not her own to continue her fight.

The thing that stands out the most to me is how much Mom kept doing. She would not just stay home and dwell on the what ifs. As much as she was able, she kept teaching at the Christian school. She kept caring for her kids and grandkids and would cook our favorite meals when we visited. During the times when she was enduring chemo, she'd stay home, but her creative side came out. She spent hours painting sweatshirts and t-shirts that she gave to family and friends. I can only imagine what she would have done with a blog!

The FatCyclist's wife, Susan, passed away in August after a lengthy battle with breast cancer. He entitled the post about it "Don't Say She Lost." Anyone who fights to the end is a winner! In the front of Mom's Bible is a card from a flower arrangement, I wrote about it here.

Mom kept the faith and finished her course. Though her battle ended, she was not a loser! She Lived. Strong. Whenever I'm tempted to wimp out, give in to fear or doubt, I remember Mom and know that I can do it! I can be strong, too.

So, Live. Strong.

Courage

Wealth lost-something lost;
Honor lost-much lost;
Courage lost-all lost.
- Old German proverb

As I've been going through our family pictures, there have been so many emotions involved! Many pictures bring a smile or a laugh. Some bring old memories, while others are before my time. Here is a set from October 1964:

Kim, age 5 1/2


Rod, age 19 months


This picture of Rod tugs my heartstrings! I can hardly look at it without wanting to cry myself...

This is not the Rod I remember. He lived a life of pain, but he was courageous! Sitting there on that horse, with big old tears in his eyes just gets me every time.

There were few things that held Rod back. He was all boy. He loved basketball, volleyball, racquetball, and softball! He was the boy who learned to ride a skateboard, sitting down, with a friend pulling him from their bicycle! He seemed fearless! Definitely more imp than angel, so a picture of him with tears is very rare.

Here's his kindergarten picture (front row, second from the left) - a black eye and a smile!


Here he is in the hospital, with a broken leg and a smile!


In this picture he's sitting in a wheelchair, in a full body cast, but again smiling!

Rod was so determined to LIVE. Pain would slow him down, but never stop him completely.

There are two people who can be credited with some of that courage - Dad and Mom. They courageously allowed Rod to be Rod. I know there were tough times, but they helped him grow up with an incredible amount of self confidence.

When it was time for bicycles, Kim, Rick, and I all got our own. There was no way Rod could have ridden on his own. Instead of saying, "Sorry, you just won't be able to ride," Dad found a used tandem and he would ride on the front with Rod on the back. Those Saturday afternoon rides, with all of us following Dad and Rod, Rod being his usual witty self, were some great times!

It takes courage to face what life hands us, but for today:

Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is?
- Frank Scully

Follow Up from the Police Department

If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you may remember that our house was broken in to back in February. You can read all the details here, and my follow-up post "Casting Down Imaginations."

It's been almost seven months and I had heard nothing. I've gotten back to my normal routine, I don't jump at every sound, even enjoyed the pool this summer, not worrying about someone coming in to my back yard. But I've still wondered what ever happened to the creeps!!

A detective from our police department called today. Our house was one of many in what they are calling "Knock-knock burglaries." We live in Ventura county, but LA Police got involved as this was spread throughout the Southland.

Immediately following the break-in, I was able to give a description of the vehicle that was at our house - a white Chevy Impala. Another victim got a license plate and the vehicle was a white Chevy Impala! They were able to trace this vehicle - it was rented, then abandoned.

Are you ready for this?? This was GANG related!! One of the oldest and most well known gangs in Los Angeles was behind all of this. Yep, I had Crips in my house. Makes me shudder thinking about it!!

But the good news is there have been numerous arrests. The detective said, "You can't live that way and get away with it indefinitely." I'll probably never know if "our" burglars were arrested, but I sure hope so. The detective also wanted to reassure me that it was not a personal attack on me, our house was quiet and looked to be a great target.

I still believe "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7