Tommy O's Blog: April 2013

Apr 25, 2013

looking for the hand that moves the clouds across the sky

I'm not sure of who needs to hear this; "But I've had my share of trouble....But God hasn't failed me yet!" I write this to encourage you who are facing uncertainty; waiting for provision in some area(s). Hear this from a friend who loves you and wants to encourage you.

I want to testify that God has always provided over the years for me; in abundance. I’ve had testing and trials; layoffs and unemployment. Times where I wondered how I was ever going to provide for this household of eight members. But the Lord has ALWAYS been faithful to provide not just for my needs but abundance so that I could give into others needs. He is faithful to calm my restless heart and calm my fears.

Even today I face uncertainty in several areas of my life. But I don’t face them alone! He is faithful even when we are not. His Word is always true. I’ve been here before, I’ll be here again.

Trust God to prove Himself to you!

^“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. ¹¹“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the Lord of hosts; ¹²“And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts.” (Malachi 3:10-12)

You Don’t Need to Worry; HE WILL PROVIDE FOR YOU!

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? ²⁸“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; ²⁹and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³²For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:24-34)

Instead, Rejoice!

^“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. ⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:2-8)

As Randy Stonehill puts it:

“When I was a boy I opened my eyes
looking for the hand that moved the clouds across the sky
and in my simple way I believed
the One who turns the world around was reaching down for me

and He's faithful to take me through my darkest hour
faithful I’ve felt his love, I’ve seen His power
and He's faithful even when I’m not
when I haven't got the strength of will to carry on
He says, "lean on me and I’ll be strong" and He's faithful

Through the stormy days of trouble and trials
I’m not afraid to face the thunder and the fire
the endless love of God it stays the same
faith is such a simple thing and simple things don't change”

Apr 18, 2013

STOP!

It was one of the days. I had several friends going through tough times and the weight was resting on my heart and my mind.

One friend has been in a medically induced coma for a week as his body fights to get well. Another friend has been hospitalized a long time waiting for her body to start functioning as it should. Several friends are also in the hospital recouping from surgery.

Another friend is searching for where he and his family of five will call home as the place they are currently staying will no longer work for them to live there. Another friend is facing his past and trying to walk out the mercy of the Lord through the court system. Another friend is waiting for the job to come along as he continues to trust in the provision of the Lord as he looks for work.

Besides all that I feel the weight of those to whom the Lord has given to me to pastorally care for. Some are students, others are ministers, and others fellow sojourners on the path of life. Some know Jesus and some do not. All of their stories have affected my life in one way or another.

And then, this week, the scales started to tip as I received an email from one of my children; “hey mom and dad. Could you be praying for Jen and I please. Jake suddenly died tonight” Jake is their German Shepherd dog, a puppy really, that they got from one of my daughters two weeks ago.

My heart had a decision to make as I, a “fixer”, wanted to make everything ‘all right’. But, I can’t; and it’s not even my job! I needed to STOP! And be still. And KNOW that He is God. (Psalm 46:10)

The Amplified Version translates Psalm 46:10; “Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!” (Amp Version)

I love how Eugene Peterson translates it; “Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything.” (MSG Version)

Why? So that I can realize that God REALLY is in control. None of these situations has escaped His knowledge or His care. People, He is still in control. STOP!

The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson
Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation

Apr 11, 2013

Walk-ins Welcome

We all make appointments for services like haircuts, restaurants, doctors, dentists, tattoos, eye exams, ear testing, auto mechanics, chiropractors, pharmacies and anything else we fancy.

And when we make an appointment, it is our time; no one else can take it! Or can they? By now you have probably discovered that even if you have an appointment, it doesn’t necessarily mean that “they” keep your scheduled time.

You call, schedule an appointment three weeks out. And then when you arrive, you still have to wait in waiting room until they move you to another room where you wait.

Hey this is my time; didn’t we agree that you would serve me at “ten-o-clock”? Its twenty five minutes past my appointment time!

And what happens when you need some service and don’t have an appointment? Some places won’t even consider performing a service unless you make an appointment or are a “repeat” customer.

It is at this point that you start to look for places that take and welcome “walk-ins”. But your chance of getting in will require a longer wait of some sort. Or, it may mean that you will get your service provided by someone less experienced.

Does this apply to God; does He require us to make appointments with Him in order to meet with Him? Or does He do things differently than we humans…

It is my observation that He is abundantly available; you don’t even have to have an appointment! He loves to take “walk-ins”! And, it doesn’t mean that you will get your service provided by someone less experienced. He personally provides for you.

Psalm 46 in the Bible says;

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present (abundantly available) help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;” (Psalm 46:1-2 NKJV emphasis by me)

He is abundantly available, ready to meet with you; lavishly longing to spend time with you. Stop, right now, and go to Him. He will meet with you. Walk-ins are welcome.

“Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything.” (Psalm 46:10 MSG)

Apr 4, 2013

Friend of Sinners

I love the passage that says: “Abraham was called the friend of God.” (James 2:23). That is a title that I truly would like to mark my brief passage on this earth.

In pondering that phrase, I realized that there is an even greater title that could be given. Jesus, when He walked the earth, wasn’t as popular as one might think that He was. It seemed that MANY people had a problem with how He acted. Jesus, in His own words said of Himself;

“The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’(Luke 7:34)

Did He say ‘friend of sinners’? Acquainted with sin is one thing, but “friend”?

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)

What was Jesus thinking!? Could it be that His mission trip to this earth may not have been to build big cathedrals with stained glass windows that hold groups of people who never will smell like ‘sinners’; even though they are full of ‘them’.

Jesus was saying that He came to call sinners, to repentance, not the righteous to some private club. (See Matthew 9:13) And to do that He was a friend to sinners.

The word ‘friend’ is translated philos (fee'-los) which basically means; “Properly dear, that is, a friend; actively fond, that is, friendly (still as a noun, an associate, neighbor, etc.): - friend.”

Wow; no wonder why so many were moved by His love towards them. No wonder why so many of His followers were imperfect, broken, thirsty people longing to be cared for and loved.

“Friend of sinners”; that would be the same as being a friend of God. That is a title that I truly would like to mark my brief passage on this earth.