God's Word for Today: October 2015

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

A Famine is Coming!

What comes to your mind when you think of famine? A food shortage? Dry land and withering plants? Parched fields where food once grew in abundance? A water shortage that brings forth thirst and hunger? Do you picture starving children with bloated bellies? We may picture these images in our mind. With certainty, they are sad. Yet, none of these things were being referenced in the title of this blog entry: “A Famine is Coming!”

You may find this to be odd. After all, famine is about food and water shortages, isn’t it?

As cited in a recent blog post titled, “Teacher: True or False?” the scriptures state that there will come a time when false teachers among us will deceive many. The false teachers had been fraternizing alongside the Israelites. The time referred to had come to their land then, and now, it is here again, in our present day.

There is yet another time coming. Although it is not here yet in full force, it has certainly begun, in my opinion. Yes, famine has been here before and is now in the forms of lack of food and water. However, this famine is different.

The Bible states: “ ‘The time is surely coming,’ says the Sovereign Lord, ‘when I will send a famine on the land — not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the Lord.’ ” (Amos 8:11)

In fact, did you know that the very next verse in the Bible states that: “People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from border to border searching for the word of the Lord but they will not find it.” (Amos 8:12)

Don’t wait for the famine.

Why do people put off reading the Bible? Why don’t they read the precious Holy Word of God daily? It’s needed so very much. It's food for your soul and spirit. Please don’t wait another day.

“The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His [God’s] life brought light to everyone.” (John 1:4)

In the Bible, we are told the story of Joseph and a prior famine of food that struck the whole world.

“... People from all around came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph because the famine was severe throughout the world.” (Genesis 41:57)

The famine of the Word of God will be worldwide and similar to the food shortage that struck the world in Joseph's day.

I am not immune to my own famine of the Word. Although I may read the Bible every single day, communing with the Lord and being fed by His Word daily, at times, I suddenly find myself not reading the Bible at all for several days. One day turns into the next when I realize that I have not opened up God's Word, the Bible! I find myself lacking direction and losing my close communication with God and His Word.

How does this happen? Why are we so easily distracted? We stray away from the Lord even though we know that we shouldn’t! Although we live in a fallen world with sin running rampant, we must keep our focus on God, so that we are not as easily distracted. We cannot grow weary. We must stay in the Word of God daily. After all, God has given Himself as a sacrifice and suffered for us. After all He did for us, can’t we even commit to Him every day? It’s for our own good! His Word is given for our daily bread. We must eat food daily to survive. We need His Word, the Bible, daily, too. God’s words are life and the Word of God is alive.

From now on, we must remember that there will come a time of great famine of God’s Word. As I mentioned earlier, I believe this time has already begun.

It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Deuteronomy 8:3 and Matthew 4:4).

Jesus Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises for “all the promises of God find their Yes in Him.” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Jesus Christ is the very Word of God (Revelation 19:13), which is why he called Himself the Bread of Life (John 6:35) for “whoever feeds on this bread will live forever” (John 6:58). Jesus is the Source and Sustainer of our hope because without Him we would not have a future.

“... Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But Jesus told him, ‘No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” (Matthew 4:4)

Let our desire be as Jeremiah describes:

“When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.” (Jeremiah 15:16)

There is a lack of hunger for God’s Word. What can we do about it? First, we need to realize that we ourselves hunger for God and His Word, and we need to fulfill that hunger by reading the Bible daily and praying without ceasing. We need to tell others, too. We need to encourage others to read the Bible daily and pray without ceasing, too.

We need to realize that we are not living in right relationship with the Lord when we are not feeding on His Word. We separate ourselves from God when we sin and when we do not feed on His Word daily.

What do we need? We need to be immersed in the Bible (the Word of God). We need to allow God to write His Word on our heart. We need to study and meditate on the Bible day and night, every day!

“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” (Joshua 1:8)

Until we virtually meet again, may God call you to Himself.

God’s Word for Today: Remember: “The time is surely coming,” says the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine on the land — not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the Lord.” (Amos 8:11)

All scripture is quoted from various translations of the Holy Bible (God’s Word) and is set it italics.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Lily Anne: “What Can We Say at a Time Like This?”

From a previously published post that had to be temporarily removed. I am able to repost this again in memory and love of my precious granddaughter, Lily, who is in Heaven with Almighty God. This is the blog entry from March 2015.

Last month’s blog post was missed due to my granddaughter’s passing, but I’ve decided to share this overwhelming, distressful news with you, my readers. I ask you to consider praying for all of us at this time, as I continue to pray for you, too.

Lily Anne is my precious granddaughter whose life was cut short way too soon. While my daughter was in labor with her full-term baby girl, Lily, it was told to us that the baby's heart had stopped, and she did not make it out of the womb alive. It seems that our Lily must have entered into the lilies of the valley in Heaven before we were able to see her.

With this excruciatingly devastating news, we all wondered how this could happen. Both baby and mother were healthy and happy.

The unexpected, greatest sorrow gripped Lily's mother (my daughter, Bethany) certainly the most of all. This great pain extended to her father, her grandparents (myself included), her extended family, and friends. We were all just moments away from great excitement that very suddenly turned into enormous grief.

Many were awaiting the news of Lily’s birth and praying for a smooth delivery for her mother. When uncertainties arose, prayers were intensified and a miracle was sought. Yet, still, way too quickly all our dreams, hopes, and plans were shattered.

We could not help but wonder why Lily was taken so tragically. We were told all along that everyone was fine, and just 2 weeks prior it was mentioned how Lily was such a healthy and happy baby.

Only God knows why this happened. Only God knows why we must endure this intense sorrow.

I call on the Lord to help us get through this valley, especially my daughter.
If "we are led by the Spirit of God," then we are "children of God." (Romans 9:14)

"And since we are His children, we are His heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering." (Romans 9:17)

Suffering is never easy, but as Christians we know what we will be inheriting when we see God face to face. We know that we will get through this together.

"... What we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later." (Romans 9:18) -- This may be hard to understand now. Nevertheless, it is true, and we can hold onto this truth.

The one saving grace I have is that I know, without a doubt, that sweet baby Lily is in the arms of Jesus Christ, our Savior. She is in Heaven. She is out of pain. She is alive there, even though she could not be alive here. She is joyful there, even though we would have been joyful with her here. She is awaiting the arrival of her parents and her family to see her again in Heaven. So, if you’re not saved, if you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, it’s time to do so now!


Lily Anne 1-30-15

A baby being held by our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Lily Anne in a butterfly bonnet.

I would like to share the eulogy I wrote for Lily’s memorial/funeral service here as follows:

Hello everyone, and thank you for joining us today in honor of Lily Anne. My name is Patty, and I’m Bethany’s mom, and grandmother to beautiful baby Lily.

Just prior to Bethany’s discharge from the hospital, the hospital’s minister was called upon to come pray over Mom and Dad with Lily, and the immediate family and a couple of close friends who were present. As that minister said, I repeat: “What can we say at a time like this?”

As you and I are all keenly aware, we are here today because of a huge tragedy. In the days ahead, we ask that you continue to pray for the strength of Bethany, and all the family and friends who are and will continue to be grieved by baby Lily’s departure from this earth.

We were making so many plans and we spent countless hours preparing for Lily’s arrival. Yet, here we are all today, in great distress over the horrible circumstances we find ourselves in.

For those of you who are Christians, may we find comfort in the book of Jeremiah chapter 1 verse 5 with God’s Word that tells us: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart.”

Although Lily was stillborn and she never got to take her first breath, we are left wondering “Why?” Yet she came to us for a purpose. We may never know here on this earth, in this world, but we must find salvation through God so that we may come to know in the next world that of our Heavenly home, in which Lily has now come to know as her own.

All the preparations were made to enjoy Lily here on earth, and when we saw her, we were in awe of her beauty, her gorgeous face, and her perfect body. Why, we ask, why – wasn’t she born alive instead?

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 tells us: “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under Heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plan and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.”

Let us today use our imagination in knowing that Lily is now dancing among the lilies of the valley with God in Heaven being held by His mighty right hand. Let it be known that for everything there is a season, and Lily will never, ever be forgotten. May her light shine down from Heaven with Jesus Christ and all those who have gone before us awaiting our arrival to be with her once again, in total peace, love, and joy, where there will be no more pain and no more tears.

Lily, we love you so very much, and you will always live on in our hearts.

Until we virtually meet again, may God call you to Himself.

God’s Word for Today: “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.” (Song of Songs 2:1)