My wife and I live in an hurricane prone state. We live inland so most of the time we only get glancing blows. Harvey was devastating for Houston. While they recover with help from government and charities, Irma hits Florida. The challenge with predictions is they keep changing. First predictions were for Irma to hit Miami and the East Coast. Then predictions shifted towards the Gulf Coast. Then Irma “wobbled” and moved back inland. Continue reading
After my future wife witnessed to me, God opened my heart. I saw His Creation for the first time as He saw it. A short time later I became a new believer. Jesus became the Lord of my life. Continue reading
The planet Mars is in the news fairly often. NASA, if not some private enterprise such as SpaceX, or a host of other countries, apparently will someday get back to the Moon and/or go to Mars. It seems strange that my generation, in its youth, reached the moon and planted the American flag. That was almost 50 years ago. Since then, no one has gone beyond orbiting the Earth. You can blame it on politics or lack of vision, but it’s awfully slow going. We have the technology, but not the will. At the rate it’s going, I won’t be around to see people from Earth getting to Mars! I’ll have to watch it from Heaven.
Yes, I’m curious about Mars. Most likely it has been a dead planet, void of life ever since it was created by God. But, it’s part of His creation and that makes it a wonderful piece of real estate for whatever reasons. Permanent bases, resorts, hotels anyone? The science fiction triology about Mars by author Kim Stanley Robinson covers the possibilities. For the most part, Mars becomes a second Earth, copying all the issues and problems of Earth. The triology is a visionary piece of fiction about a future Mars we colonize and terraform. So much for science fiction and one man’s viewpoint.
A popular acronym made from the letters in the word BIBLE is “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth”. Of course, that acronym only works in English. It has some meaning for English speaking Bible believers, but the acronym is, in of itself, only a happy happenstance of the English language.
However, what if we take that in another way of “leaving”? Bible believers would tell you they’re going to Heaven. But, if you’re talking science fiction, or in our case, actual possible future science, what about leaving Earth for Mars (let alone the Moon and a whole bunch of other places in our Solar System)? What does God have to say about that? Nothing. But then, God says nothing about all of our technology. Technology is a two-edged sword. It is what we do with it that matters. It can be used for good or bad. As long as it’s used for good, technology can be fruitful, Kingdom work.
God says believers go to Heaven after they die. But I ask, before they die, they can move to Mars, right? I’m assuming that Rapture, which is when Jesus returns to gather up His believers, will work the same from Mars as from Earth. Also, if Deafness is not cured by then, there will also be a Deaf Church of Mars and Deaf people worshipping God among all the other churches. So, how wide, how long, how high and how deep is God’s love? (Ephesians 3:18) As big as His entire Creation, the Universe!
I was stubborn and unyielding. As an atheist I insisted there was no God. I said to myself that I tried to do everything the right way. I learned to deal with my deafness, and as a hearing impaired person I was able to survive. Yes, I survived the hearing world and I did “ok”. I was happy most of the time with that. Continue reading
Ephesians 3:18 “May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;” (KJV)
This verse shows the amazing scope of God’s love. We will look at God’s creation and His creativity. What a wonderful world He made! He helps us to understand His Love.
How High? Mount Everest in Asia rises to 29,029 feet above sea level. Geologists may argue about an island mountain in Hawaii, Mauna Kea, that starts below sea level and rises above sea level as being “taller” than Mount Everest. For most of us, Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. I doubt if I will ever get to Mount Everest. I have been on top of some of the Smoky Mountains. I even climbed a part of one with my husband and my brother to the top. Whew. When you get to the top of the mountain, it is so beautiful! You can see forever. Makes you feel how much God loves you to be there.
How Deep? Mariana Trench, Challenger Deep, at 36,070 feet below sea level is in the Western Pacific Ocean, East of the Philippines. Whew! Again, I will never get there. But I have been to the Atlantic Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean. The ocean is so big, and it goes to the horizon! When you walk into the ocean, and jump the waves, it feels so wonderful with the water washing over you. You begin to understand how truly deep God’s love is for you.
How Long? Florida has the longest coastline in continental United States at 1350 miles. Alaska is the longest at 6640 miles. I think most everyone has taken a long road trip! Some of you drove to Key West. A beautiful drive along the keys. John and I saw different parts of the country. Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and of course, Florida! We have also flown to California, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Texas. We live in an awesome country. We also visited foreign countries such as the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Grand Cayman Island, Jamaica, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Malta, Corsica, France, Monaco, and Tunis, Africa. We are thankful we saw these places, and each place is beautiful. God made it all and it was good. Going on long trips. Why? To see family and friends you have not seen for awhile. When you see them again, it’s like you continue where you left off. It is so wonderful to spend time together with family and friends. This gives us a feel of God’s love and how much He does love us. But so much more.
How Wide? There isn’t anything that is “broader” or the “widest.” But, going East or West is different. If you go East, you are always going East. If you get back to where you started, you are still going East. But, if you turn around 180 degrees, you are facing West and can go West. If you go North or South, you do have boundaries in the North pole and South pole. You can go far enough North to go South without turning around. But East and West have no boundaries. In either direction you can go forever without end.
It is not possible to measure God’s love. We can’t climb above it. We can’t dive below it. We can’t drive beyond it. We can’t go anywhere beyond God’s love. There is no end. All we have to do is look at the cross. God shows how much He loves each one of us by dying on the cross for us. Jesus stretched out his arms wide on the cross, and showed us how much He loves us. Jesus died on the cross for you. Amen.
Ah, John 3:16. The most often quoted of all verses of the Bible. It is the “Good News” of eternal salvation offered by God to believers. I grew up deaf and hearing impaired, not Hearing. Church did not appeal to me. Because of my deafness and hearing impairment, I did not learn much or understand much. But, John 3:16 was one of the very few verses I learned to memorize. Continue reading
When we read the story of doubting Thomas, we may ask why did Thomas doubt the other Disciples? From John 20:25-27 we read:
’25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”’ (ESV)
If we are honest with ourselves, aren’t we all like Thomas, and have some doubts? No, I don’t mean, all the time, just sometimes, or a flicker of doubt. When things get tough and we aren’t sure of what will happen.
After much prayer, my husband and I moved from Pennsylvania to Florida. It was hard to leave behind friends, family, and church. We lived in our Pennsylvania home for over 30 years. We let go of stuff we collected over the years. We donated or sold much of what we owned. We also decided where in Florida to move. We felt led to it for its Deaf ministry. Then we started to become doubtful. Was this truly God’s will? We believed He led us to there, but like Thomas we were doubtful.
We were on our way to Florida for our settlement to buy our home when disaster struck! We got email from our bank, telling us the money wire transfer did not go through! The day after settlement, a truck with our furniture arrives. We needed the money to pay for our settlement! The bank said we made a mistake and must return to Pennsylvania to do another wire transfer with correct information. But, if we returned to Pennsylvania, we would miss our settlement, and not have a home for our furniture. Panic! We stopped for the night in South Carolina and prayed a fervent prayer for help to our Lord!
Then the miracle came. My husband’s brother, who’s hearing, was able to help us. He phoned our bank to go over information they had and the bank realized they made the mistake! We did not have to turn around and go back to Pennsylvania! PTL! Talk about God making a point! It was a hard time in our lives, but we had become doubtful.
God wanted us to know He loves us. He is always faithful. He wants us to know He understands our needs. He also wants us to trust and believe in Him. To know God, not just in our mind, but also in our hearts. In all things, He takes care of us. We can step out on faith and trust Him, and not to doubt Him.
We then can say as Thomas did in verse 28 “Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (ESV)
He is our Lord and our God and our Savior. We can trust Him.
Many people see our world living in sin. As soon as Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, sin entered into the world. (Genesis 3:1-7) Sin breaks us. We are a broken people. Our hearts are broken by sin. We are not even sad about it! Continue reading
God leads us every day, every step of the way. He helps us every day. Sometimes we are not sure about things, but He always leads us in His way.
At one time I worked for awhile with a group of people who made fun of Christians and people who went to church. It was hard for me to deal with that. I would do my work and keep on, but it was a struggle. I felt so alone. There were other departments besides the department that I worked with. So I would see other people and would say Hi to them when I was on Break, or walking to Lunch or the restroom.
One day, one guy, Ron, out of the blue, asked me if I go to church! I admit my first thought was what?!? But I realized that I had to say, yes I do. And surprisingly I asked him, Do you?
It turned out that he did go to church and was a fellow believer. That was a start of a good friendship. It was also good to know that someone else who worked there also believed.
Psalm 23:3 “He restores my strength. He leads me down the right paths for the sake of his reputation.” (NET)
I grew up not knowing I sinned and “fell short of the glory of God”. I did not know I was “dead in sin”. Also, I did not know of God’s gift through his Son, Jesus. Because I was hearing impaired, even while wearing a hearing aid, I did not appreciate church. My family took me to church. I could not understand the Preacher from where we sat. So I was bored with church. Continue reading
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