Promise Made = Promise Kept

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 When we were children, our parents would often promise amazing trips or other special activities, but were unable to deliver. As a child, the perception was not that they were unable to keep their promise, but that they were promise breakers. 

As I have grown into adulthood and parented my own set of children, I was also given some insight into the heart behind their promises--or my perception of what was likely their motive.

More often than not, parents want to do for their children far more than they are physically (or financially) able to. We will promise the moon if it breathes hope into those trusting little faces. And then the furnace needs replacing, the transmission in the car seizes, or some catastrophic event initiates a course of decisions out of the parents' control, and they find themselves unemployed.

At the heart of their promise was an intent to come through and a desire to bless.

I can tell you first-hand how one evil act can set a course of events, changing the trajectory of your life.

Our home from 1995 - 2018

Jeff had settled into the routine of an airline mechanic, enjoying all he got to do in the maintenance of airplanes before and after takeoff. We had begun to save for a house to move our little, growing family into (3 children, 7 years old and younger). Something more stable and solid than the 1,062 sq. ft home we'd been in. Then, in one morning, the entire world crashed to the ground in NYC and by the end of the week, Jeff was out of work. It was temporary, they said. But as time expanded, leaving him run from one temp job to another, I could see him lose hope.

Depression settled on his shoulders, slowing his pace. His health followed, leaving him incapable of maintenance on the home, and mentally unable to teach his sons. 

In all honesty, our lives began to look a lot like this:

Destroyed. Hopeless. Lifeless. Abandoned. There was no recovering what was lost. 

Our home from 1995 - 2018

That's what it felt like, anyway. 

My question was never how God had failed us. But how had we failed God that He would remove His hand of blessing from our lives? What had we missed?

These were the wrong questions. Instead, the answers were given as we reminisced, counting how many years Jeff had struggled with disability and ICU stays. Taking the time to remember how we were able to put food on the table with little to no income, when God put on the heart of a benevolent woman to offer her time to care for the children (at no charge) while I pursued my RN license (2013-2018). We were reminded to take time and give thanks for the church that provided Christmas gifts for the children, food from their pantry, and at one time, rescued our family from eviction and life on the streets, and the day I received a call from that church saying, "There's a gentleman coming to your home. Let him in. He's going to fix your furnace so you'll have heat this winter." 

I would be remiss if I forgot the times a job would be handed to me without my searching. Each job, a blessing and an open door for something beautiful. A relationship. A place to study in peace and quiet. Time to spend alone with the Lord, and hopefully allow Him to heal my wounded soul.

Home 2018 - 2023

In late 2018 (December 15) we left this home from which we'd seen so much heartache and started a new chapter.

While it is not my intent to make this about us, I feel as though I need to share a little backstory to show how good (and faithful) our God is. He has promised to provide (Philippians 4:9). And He has. In more ways than I dare detail here.

The view from our back window was Bethesda Christian Church (16 Mile/Schoenherr). A friend commented on the picture I'd taken, "The Cross will always lead you home."

View from Home 2018 - 2023

They are so right.

Which brings me to Elisha's story in 2 Kings 6:24-7:20.

Things for the Israelites looked bleak. They were under siege by the Syrian army. There was famine in the city. People had turned to cannibalism for sustenance (see v. 26-29). And the king blamed Elisha, demanding his execution (v. 31).

Elisha's response was not to cower in fear, but declared the promise of God. "Hear the word of the LORD: thus says the LORD, 'Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.'"

The king's servant mocked Elisha and God's ability to pull this off. And Elisha told him he'd see it happen, but would not partake.

There's a lesson to learn here. Some promises from God seem too unbelievable because of the magnitude of the problem. But if God created all things, He is more than able to do it again. James tells us that to ask with doubt in our hearts such as this servant, we shouldn't expect to receive anything from the Lord (James 1:6).

Then we see four men at the gate--lepers--who reason among themselves.

"Why are we sitting here until we die? If we say, 'Let us enter the city,' the famine is in the city and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. So now come, let us go over to the camp of the Syrians. If they spare our lives we shall live, and if they kill us we shall but die" (2 Kings 7:3b-4).

They had nothing to lose and everything to gain. So they went to the Syrian camp, finding it abandoned. At first, they collected gold and silver, and anything else they could hide for themselves. But again, reason triumphed, and they decided it would be more beneficial for them if they shared this treasure with the king in Samaria for Israel's gain.

The king, skeptical at first, sent men out to investigate, certain it was a trap set by the Syrians. The servant, however, still mocked and was ultimately trampled by the Israelite people rushing through the gates to gather food and supplies from the abandoned camp.

The lesson here? God always answers, always supplies. It is not up to us to decide how, when, or where He will do it.

💝 Just be open and grateful.💝

Here's a few Scriptures for you:

• For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him. That is why it is through Him that we utter our Amen to God for His glory (2 Corinthians 1:20).
• Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass (Joshua 21:45).
• He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1). 
• Now to Him who is able to far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us (Ephesians 3:20).
• And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
• And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all Grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you (1 Peter 5:10).
• But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31).
• And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9).
• The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end (Lamentations 3:22).
• Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:28, 29).

Take one (or find another in Scripture--there are so many) and meditate on it this week.

Until next time, 💝 Karlene J 💝

Nothing to Fear

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2 NIV)

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Angels. Some of the most amazing, yet mysterious creatures. Scripture's description of them can be difficult to imagine. But, when considering the descriptions of heaven, angels must be something to strike the heart with awe.

Generally, angels are depicted as cute little beings, sweet but goofy older individuals (waiting to gain their wings--It's a Wonderful Life), or fashionable men or women surrounded by a halo of golden light (Touched by an Angel).

Through these stories, we envision angels as messengers of hope, and also of death. They help us find our purpose (Clarence). 

If not on the television or the big screen, we see these little cuties filling the aisles at Christmas time in all sizes and sparkles. Some for the door, one for the top of the tree, and perhaps a few for the windowsills. Most people welcome their presence--as characters in a world where we need a little hope, light, and laughter.

It isn't that society at large believes angels are real any more than they believe Santa Claus will invite us to his home at the North Pole any time soon. They're just a nice idea. An escape from all of the heartache we see around us.

As Christ followers, we know angels are, in fact, real. They're created by God, just as we are. It's just difficult to describe someone, or something, we haven't seen and have only had descriptions of.

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As depicted on film, these creatures are messengers. They are also warriors, guardians, and wait on their marching orders to execute justice for their Creator.

I can't imagine they're frightening to look at, although likely magnificently jaw-dropping. Mary was unafraid when approached by the angel Gabriel. But then, John fell to the ground at the angel's feet when visited at Patmos, but the angel said, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God" (Revelation 22:9 ESV). 

God alone is to be feared. God alone is to be worshiped.

And yet, there is so much in Scripture to tell us that God has created these warriors and has assigned them tasks, they implement and execute them, and we will one day judge them (1 Corinthians 6:3).

Every so often, we may hear a story of a heroic rescue by a stranger who seems to vanish into thin air. Others may share a story of being awakened by what they can only describe as "unearthly" and subsequently experiencing a miracle they didn't know they needed.

This brings us to Elisha's servant (2 Kings 6:8-23). The Syrian king had plotted to attack Israel, but his plans would be thwarted by Israel's preparedness. The incidents were so often, the king believed he had a traitor among his men. Then one of them spoke, "None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom" (v.12).

With this new knowledge and the prophet's location, the Syrian king sent his army to Dothan. Their mission: take down the man of God.

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In the morning, Elisha's servant stepped outside and saw the Syrian army surrounding their home. Fear struck his heart. He alerted the prophet, who didn't seem to flinch. He said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them" (v.16).

Can you imagine the servant? Could the prophet have been more wrong? Maybe he forgot how to count!

But Elisha prayed, "O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see" (v.17a).

And the eyes of the servant were opened. What his vision beheld would have left me speechless. "The mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha" (v.17b).

Not a single shot occurred. No weapon saw action. But the might--and humor--of the LORD was on display that morning. Elisha prayed two more times. First, for the Syrian soldiers to lose their sight. And then for them to regain their sight. Without the ability to see, Elisha was able to lead them to Samaria, where the Israeli army camped. Elisha encouraged the king to give them food and be refreshed so they could return home.

In this account are several truths we can glean. More than we can see, I am certain.

One of the main points, here though, is this: We have no need to fear. It doesn't matter whether it's relatively small or large; God is always with us.

Is it cancer? The IRS? Job security?

God does not incite fear. Satan does. The Apostle Paul tells us, "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control" (2 Timothy 1:7). Paul also says to the Romans "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" (Romans 8:15).

Dial back to King Jehoshaphat's day. The men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir were coming to attack and destroy Judah. King Jehoshaphat cried out to the LORD on behalf of the nation. Then the LORD sent word to the people through Zechariah, who said the following:

"Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you, 'Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's. Tomorrow, go down against them ... You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you" (2 Chronicles 20:15-17).

 And HE never changes. His promises have no expiration date hidden in tiny print at the end.

We have nothing to fear when God is on our side.

Until next time, let's celebrate HIS goodness! 💜 Karlene J 💜