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THAT WOULD BE JUSTICE, LORD…
By Anita Mondragon
Do you ever question God about His choices? I sadly admit I do at times.
I look at folks around me who disregard the things of God and dismiss HIM entirely-yet they prosper and live long lives. Then, I observe those that love the Lord and serve Him with fervor, and they struggle with all aspects of life on a daily basis. The wicked live long, but like the old song says-‘only the good die young…’
As I was watching the news this morning, I saw corrupt people in places of high authority. This doctor that seems to be calling all the shots regarding the COVID 19 virus has been exposed! And yes! I had a very unholy thought cross my mind regarding his possible outcome. I actually asked the Lord, out loud no less, ‘why’ He couldn’t go ahead and infect this guy because he is evil personified. Then I added- “That would be justice, Lord!” I almost heard Him answer me audibly with these words-“Yes…but it wouldn’t be mercy!”
So, I sighed deeply and had to agree. I then remembered my own past and the ‘justice’ I deserved from God-but the ‘mercy’ I received instead.
With good, decent friends and loved ones dying around us from this virus, and seemingly the evil ones live on unscathed, I find I have to pray every day and ask God to make me merciful! I find myself praying and asking God to deal with them harshly. I’m kind of like David, when he wrote Psalm 83. Look at verses 15 through 18. Take a look…
“So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O Lord. Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:
That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth.”
But, then I remember that if these folks that spread such evil in the world today would die without KNOWING Jesus…they will end up in hell for all eternity. That’s when I pray for mercy instead of justice. And, I add, “Lord, forgive me! Give me your heart…make me merciful!”
THE WAITING ROOM
By Anita Mondragon
Have you ever made an appointment with someone, only to end up waiting way past the time you were to be seen? I have! Almost every time I make a Doctor appointment, I have to wait 20-30 minutes past my appointment time sitting in the waiting room-paging through old magazines; then I’m shown to a room and told the doctor will be right in. However, that seldom happens, and I wait even longer before they knock on the door and rush through with a smile and an apology.
I’ve been a Christian for 51 years, and at times, I find the answers to my prayers to be quite similar. Most of the time, my answer comes quickly, but the hard ones…the ones that concern the choices of others seem to take longer.
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PLAY IT AGAIN SAM…BUT IN TUNE THIS TIME!
By Anita Mondragon
The other night I went up in the gym and began playing the old piano that sits against the wall. Now, keep in mind I am not an accomplished musician. In fact, I can’t even read notes; I play by ear.
Well, as long as I stayed right there in the middle of the keyboard, things sounded real good. However, when I got in the lower or upper keys, I found that the old piano was out of tune.
The more I pondered on this, I realized the body of Christ is sometimes like that old piano. Then I made it personal and examined myself. What I found was appalling!
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SOUL CRY
By Galynn Pfau
My soul cries out in anguish and despair
I’m broken…I need repair.
Lord, Your will be done.
I will not run.
I will not hide.
It is You, God
That’s keeping me alive!
I will sharpen my blade,
Put on my armor,
And You oh Lord
Will pierce the darkness
That has come upon me.
Shining the light
For me to fight.
I can’t see beyond this day
All I can do is pray
That You will lead the way.
The sky is dark,
The air is heavy.
The devil is secretly preparing
To turn what is sacred to unholy.
The plot is thick.
He is drooling…
Blood dripping from his lips.
He is hungry.
Turn away from God, and he will devour you!
GRACE
By Anita Mondragon
If you are a born again Believer…you know about grace. If you’re not, the definition is simple. It is the unmerited favor of God upon you. In simpler terms, that just means, we don’t get what we deserve…we receive love, mercy and forgiveness instead.
It’s easy to obtain grace-at least from God. All we have to do is confess our sins and He will forgive us. However, it’s not that easy to receive grace from others because they usually don’t want to give it!
The point is…
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A PERPLEXING QUESTION INDEED
By Lee Pierce
I’ve been reading in the book of Joshua recently and have gotten bogged down in one of the greatest mysteries in the Bible: the time that Joshua prayed and God made the sun and moon stand still for nearly 24 hours.
I don’t know about you, but I find this fascinating, but perplexing, all at the same time.
In Joshua 10, as Joshua is following the Lord’s command to continue the conquest of the promised land, the Bible describes a very unusual event. The Israelites were contending with the Amorites and the Lord had caused great confusion among the Amorites, and also had slain many of them by causing a great hail storm to fall, killing many. Given that the Amorites were being killed in great numbers, it’s curious that Joshua then prays to God to stop the sun and the moon in place [verses 10:12-13]. Joshua’s stated purpose for this request is so that the army of Israel could complete the conquest of the enemy. In doing so, they would be obedient to God’s command.
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THE SECRET TO A HAPPY LIFE
by Anita Mondragon
What separates you from having joy? I’m sure most of us right now would have to include Covid19 as being at least one thing that keeps us from having joy. There are other ‘things’ attached to this virus…no travel, stay at home, confinement, boredom, loneliness….
So my question to you is…what will make you happy in life? Is it going back to the norm of the way life was before the virus? Going to work everyday, being busy all the time…?? What will it take?
What if this virus lasts longer than folks expect? What if you don’t have a job to return to when this is all over? What if your idea of happiness never comes?
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If…
by Anita Mondragon
If is a small word…only two letters, but in regards to Scripture, it is the biggest word in the Bible. 1 John 1:9-10 says this: ” If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
Most of us don’t consider ourselves to be ‘sinners’. We admit that we aren’t perfect, we know we do things that are displeasing to the Lord, but we end up by saying, “I’m pretty good…I’m not all that bad. I’m just as good as everyone else. I try to be kind…I obey the law, pay my taxes, etc.”
But the word ‘if’ seems to imply that there is a choice involved.
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KEEP YOUR EARS ON!
by Bernice Sainz
It’s 6 am and I watch an ambulance drive away from my neighbors house. We live in a retirement community, no sirens, so nobody else knows what’s going on. God prompts me to go to their house. Lord, I really don’t know them. Again He prompts me. As I knock on the door a woman in her 80’s answers. I don’t even know her name. I introduce myself, she let’s me in and you can see the worry in her eyes. Her words were, I can’t even go to be with him, we go everywhere together.
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A Square Peg and A Round Hole
by Anita Mondragon
I found myself a little more than annoyed this morning when I was awakened by these words: “You can’t fit a square peg into a round hole…” This phrase played over and over in my mind like a stuck record.
I was in a sweet slumber, reveling in the warmth of my fuzzy blanket, when those words shattered my peace! Finally I said out loud, “What are you talkin’ about Lord?”
Some of you may ask how I knew it was the Lord. Well, that’s the way He talks to me. My mind always has a million tasks I need to finish…a long list of things going through it at any given time, so God has to sound like a broken record before I hear Him.
That being said, the next words I heard were, “Get up and start writing.”
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What a great prayer! As Believers, this is the kind of stuff we should be seeking God for on a daily basis!
Thanks for the reminder sister Francine!
-anita