In 1987, I proposed to my husband that I wanted to start celebrating Christmas. This was smack in the face of our position to not celebrate holidays. Period.
The previous decision really caused a huge rift in our families.
Jim told me that I had to do it in such a way that it totally focused upon Jesus, and not Santa Claus. I’m not sure he believed that I could do so. I had been given a ‘vision’ from God, and I’m remembering that first Christmas.
First – the colors. Why Red and Green? Red – the blood of Jesus that was shed for us Green – the new life that we receive when we embrace his gift.
But, what about the other colors?
we started with Red and Green – and then added the other colors for our children: Yellow – for the glory that shines from Christ’s face. Blue – for the water that washes us clean Purple – for the royalty of God, and that in Christ we are priests and kings.
At one time, we created bracelets that were witnessing tools, with colored beads that stood for the way of salvation.
Power Bracelet
Eventually, The Wordless Book showed up in our churches, and because of this part of the story of Christ, we embraced it.
Wearing something, like the bracelet above, reminds me of the path to heaven.
I confess, there are many times that I forget that I am focusing, or at least, I desire to focus upon, the path to Christ – likeness. I want to be like Christ.
The colors remind me of my God and Savior.
but they also remind me of when we started taking 25 days to talk about Jesus with our Children.
The four of us
Our first Nativity
Stars with the story of Christ’s Birth
We did our first Advent with the paper ring garland. If we were going to participate in Christmas, it was Jesus all the way. (though, to be honest, stockings have to do with Santa, not Jesus – not sure how I’ve missed that for so many years!)
2016 edit – this year, I am painting ornaments – and I have chosen to put the colors of Christmas on them. This one is not complete, but it shows how I have incorporated the colors of Christmas.
Thank you Lord, for all the colors that you created.
Thank you, Lord, for giving Noah the rainbow, the symbol of your promise, there will be an end to trials, storms, and waiting!
Thank you, Lord, for giving us our five children, and helping us to teach them about Christ.
Please, Lord, help our children with children to pass on the truths of God’s word to their children.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links.
Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Thanks for joining me in this journey, In His hands and under His wings, ~Christi Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest
Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.
Why did Jesus come?
Because, He had to.
Out of the loving heart of God, Jesus came to earth to pay the price for my sin.
Romans 3:23
All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
Anyone that is honest can agree that they have not walked perfectly in accordance with the laws and commands that God put forth. We’ve fallen short of the GLORY of God – and we can’t even conceive of that Glory!(Romans 3:10-24)
This is what was set in motion when Adam and Eve sinned – sin came into the world, separating us from God. At that point, humans started to slowly die. If that wasn’t bad enough, God separated us from the tree of life – so that we would not choose evil AND eternal life. That was part of the consequence of our sin, separation from paradise and God. Therefore, they were dead in their sins, and going about dying. The same with us – and it is a struggle I have every day. I want to choose life – and yet, I often choose my own wisdom or knowledge, and end up messing up – and I am separated from the close fellowship with God through Christ. That fellowship is life! Without it, I am dead.
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love for us(me), For while we(I) was yet sinners, Christ died for us.
The price to pay for sin is death. It’s a death sentence. Either I die for the sins, or a sacrificial lamb, perfect and holy, dies in my place. There is much talk among Christians about ‘death to self’.
My flesh hungers – for foods that are not good for me.
My mind hungers – for stimulation that does not propel me towards my God given goals.
My emotions hunger – for having my needs met over others.
I must crucify the flesh – but the only way I’m able to do that is by taking part in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I can’t do it on my own.
Because of Christ dying for us:
Romans 6:23b
…the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23b
By Jesus dying on a tree, He opened the door back up for us to participate in the fellowship with God, and gives us eternal life. When we cross over, we will see the tree of life. I have seen the gardens of Heaven, they are beyond imagination. It was not my time, so I did not see the tree of life. based upon what I saw, I can declare that this tree will be beautiful in ways that no tree on earth can express.
While the crucifixion of my own flesh is hard, receiving the gift of God is simple.
9 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart
that God has raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved.
13 For whoever calls on the name of the LORD
shall be saved.”
I believe that Jesus is my Savior.
I believe that I am a sinner saved by Grace.
Daily, I need to confess my beliefs, not for the devil, but for me to remember.
another great song is
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see.
Thank you Lord Jesus for drawing me near to your heart, and saving me out of your great mercies.
Thank you for daily giving me mercies that are new every morning.
Thank you for giving me examples of those that have fallen, and gotten up again, by your gracious hand.
This year has been hard to remember that I believe.
But I do believe. And that not of myself, lest I boast – that is a gift from you, God.(Ephesians 2:8-10)
As I spend this month remembering, I am thankful most for this gift of faith, that has given me eternal life.
“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest
I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or choose to LIKE me on facebook, or other social media! I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.
There are those that hold that we are not commanded to celebrate Jesus’s Birth.
To those, I say, are we celebrating the ones we have been commanded to celebrate in the Old Testament?
If told the Old Testament no longer has any value for us, I say, are we giving up the Ten Commandments as well?
If told that we should obey Jesus’ commands, I say:
We are commanded to participate in the Lord’s Supper (as oft as ye shall eat of this).
Bread and drink? In remembrance of the Lord’s death and resurrection. Do we treat all bread and drink as communion?
I could go on and on. I have studied and thought about and prayed about so many aspects of celebrating Christmas(and for that matter, Easter, but that’s another waiting story). I have refused to celebrate Christmas, and I have embraced it. What I have been settling in my heart and spirit is that the holy days that were commanded by God were all about remembering.
What is a birthday party?
A party to celebrate, remember and be thankful for the coming(birth) of this person.
There is no one in my life that more completely effects my whole being, for whom I am thankful, and of whom I need to celebrate and remember his actions in my life than Jesus Christ.
Celebrate? Praise!
Remember? meditate!
Thankful? Give thanks!
I see nothing wrong with committing a day to doing such to honor my Lord and Savior!
And, there are many times that we do not celebrate someone’s birthday on that exact date! We just choose a day for remembrance, celebration, and thanksgiving. Why? Because we love them, and because we are thankful that they are part of our life.
This year, He has held my hand when I wanted to take my life.
He has brought to mind scriptures and songs that speak of deliverance from the darkness.
He has turned the heart of my husband and my own back towards each other – to actually remember the day that He impressed both of us that we should marry. My joy was so full at that moment that I couldn’t help but laugh!
The Lord has done miracles, including a grandbaby that was born 5 weeks early, and was perfect and complete.
2016 note – the same is true, including another grandbaby, that was born completely healthy, with a beautiful, redeemed birth after two scary previous births. In addition, Jesus has held our hands, during a prostate cancer battle. He is still worth celebrating!
2021 note – Jesus held my hand as HE birthed a new me out of the passing of my partner in life and love. It’s not a baby, but there’s been labor pains, and birthing, by the grace of God, in order to create a new life.
Is 9:6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Whether he was born in December(probably not), April, May, September or any other month, I choose to remember the year past, and celebrate that Jesus has come into my life.
There is a saying around this time of year:
“let us celebrate Christmas all year long”
I say, let us celebrate Christ in our lives, all year long! He truly is the Best Gift ever!
Lord Jesus, please help me to remember the gift that you are in my life.
Please help me to share the gift of your love with others.
Thank you for being in my life, even when there were times I didn’t want to be in my life.
Thank you for not giving up on me.
Thank you that you are not done with me yet.
And, whenever the date was – for what it’s worth – Happy Birthday, Jesus. I love you!
Thanks for joining me in this journey, In His hands and under His wings, ~Christi and Jim(1959-2020) Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.
The son of a friend is with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.
Advent 2015, day 4, Wednesday after 1st Sunday of Advent.
If using an Advent Log or candles, light the 4th candle.
Fourth Candle
New this year is a Facebook group Advent at the WildBerry Patch, where we can discuss ideas, recipes and photos of our advent preparations!
From our original Advent Devotional:
What! Are We Waiting? (light the fourth candle)
“What! – are we waiting!?”
Yes, we’re waiting.
“But I just can’t wait….!”
Oh no? Why not? What makes waiting for anything – or anyone – hard to do? Why are we so impatient?
Think about some of the instant things we enjoy: instant Kool-Aid, instant coffee, instant touch-tone “dialing,” instant …(make your own list).
What are some things for which we must wait, besides Christmas? (Make your own list…) Are any of those things worth waiting for? Why or why not?
For many years, I worked with a devotional called “Celebrate While We Wait” for Advent. We wanted to clearly move away from Santa, which we did not agree with, towards celebrating the gift of Christ, and remembrances. Advent means to wait.
400 years between the Old and New Testament.
40 years wandering in the Wilderness of sin before entering into the promised land.
40 months – I need something for this one.
40 weeks – for a mother to give birth to a child, such as Mary.
40 days – Jesus fasting in the Wilderness, Noah waiting for the rain to stop.
And Daniel prayed.
And Moses was on the back side of a mountain.
so many people in the Bible were waiting – not for some temporal gift wrapped in a tree killing, un-recyclable paper and bow – but for God to move on their behalf.
Here are some of the Arch books that we read about people waiting.
Since the day that Adam and Eve spoke with God in the garden about their sin, God promised them a savior.
God promised Abraham a savior.
God promised Israel a savior.
God promises us a savior.
Here’s the book we unwrapped to read about this concept.
Christ-mass is so much more than a baby in the manger – and the baby in a manger is such a series of miracle stories in itself. There was only one reason for the birth of the Christ Child…but that’s not my remembrance today.
Waiting takes patience.
Patience is a virtue.
The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, PATIENCE….
Love is PATIENT and kind….
Patience – this is not something that comes easy for me…or for many folks.
But, waiting IS the precursor to seeing.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for (as in, waiting for), the evidence of things not seen(things that aren’t here yet).(Hebrews 11:6)
Anna and Simon waited for the arrival of the savior…many years in the temple. They were both patient.
The ornament for this day is a Noah’s ark I found.
Noah’s Ark
The song I sing for remembering to wait is:
They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings as eagles
they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint,
teach me Lord, teach me Lord to wait.
This happens to be a song version of my life verse, Isaiah 40:31, and a promise I was given in 1978. It’s 2015, and I’m still waiting to see the full manifestation of this promise. Every time I doubt – I hear this song in my head, and my only choice is to deny my faith that God spoke His word (and healed them), and His word is alive, to to ask forgiveness for my lack of faith. Like the father in the gospels, I say, “Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief!”. Though my heart fails me, the Lord is the strength of my heart, and He always brings me through.
I waited patiently for the Lord; He …heard my cry. (Psalm 40:1)
Make me to know Your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all day long. (Psalm 25:4-5)
The Lord is the everlasting God…He does not faint or grow weary…They who wait upon 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 40:28,31)
Lord, continue to help me with patience.
Continue to encourage my faith to grow, and also to grant me the grace when my faith stumbles as I wait to see the manifestation of any of your promises.
Help me to be patient with others, as you are patient with me.
Amen
Thanks for joining me in this journey, In His hands and under His wings, ~Christi Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest
Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.
I believe that family is the earthly example of the Godhead – and also the perfect example of how we are NOT God.
The Father God – loves us, cares for us, protects us – as our earthly fathers should. There is much more about this, but, we don’t usually focus so much on the Father part.
The Holy Spirit – comforter, teacher, guide – this is the mother role, as she should be.
Jesus – the Son – symbolizing, obviously the offspring, glorifying his parents as he fulfills his destiny.
We are made in the likeness of God!
Genesis 5:1-2 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
5:1 These are the family records of the descendants of Adam. On the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God;
2 He created them male and female. When they were created, He blessed them and called them man.
We are supposed to live up to our potential as Loving, Godly people. Of course, we, don’t, and that takes forgiveness as well.
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him
Adam and Eve messed up in their roles in the garden – but God the Father had a plan for forgiveness of sin.
Then, after they messed up, God reports the birth of sons…Cain and Abel.
The story of Cain and Abel is a sad one – of family relations gone wrong. But, even in this story, God gives hope.
The whole Old Testament is about families and family matters. Always, someone messes up, and someone needs forgiveness.
Christmas celebrates the Holy family, Mary, Joseph and Jesus. This family didn’t just “poof” everything is perfect! Mary, a virgin, found with child was going to be stoned for her indiscretion. Joseph, through divine conversation – chose to not divorce, but to stay with her. From that point on – difficulties, danger, and death. A basically normal family.
This is the day we pull out the family photo ornaments – to thank God for the gift of family.
Obviously, ornaments of the Holy Family!
nativity stain glass
Laser wood cut nativity
Spun Glass Nativity
We made the new ornaments(or, I did, with the kids’ help) for that year.
This is also the day we celebrated the individuality of the children, and they hung their personal ornaments. Each child had a color and an animal to signify their uniqueness. We had wood ducks, rabbits, bears, kittens and bunnies (these are not easy to find all the time!). We had Green, Yellow, Blue, Red and Purple ornaments. These were hung around the tree at the appropriate height per the child’s height.
A cute ornament that our daughter, Faith Gibson, created this year was hands on an ornament from Barbie Bieber and Beyond.
Here’s some cute paintings my daughter-in-love created with her children! Done on canvases, with their hands and fingers, and even some feet!
This year, I am focusing on my uniqueness, and Jim’s uniqueness.
Ps 139:15 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
I think I will make a photo ornament of something joyful that occurred this year in our life. and, I think I need to go back in the past few years and create ornaments for those years, as well.
Father God, thank you for having a plan from the beginning of time – for our lives, and for your purposes.
Lord Jesus, thank you for coming to deliver us from our sins, and reunite us with our Father.
Help me to remember daily, the graces and mercies that are bestowed upon me through your presence in my life.
“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest
I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.
But for me, ours is the end of the year countdown with reminders of the past year, looking forward to the next year and remembering how Christ has helped me through the year.
In church history, advent is about waiting for the light in the darkness…Jesus Christ is that light.
We have done an advent log that had up to 28 candles,
Advent Log in progress
Advent Log, made from 2×4
Advent Log completed
2×4 Advent Log decorated
and we lit one candle an evening. It was always fun when we could read by the light of the candles. But in the beginning, it was dark.
The lights on the tree, I prefer pure white, remind me out that light that comes into my life in my darkest moments, and gave me hope. That light is Jesus, the light of the world.
John 8:12 12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
This year(2015) started out very dark, suicide last Christmas, marriage in crisis, Jim’s cancer, and my pain issues. But one thing brought us through those dark times, the light of Christ that shines in the darkness and gives us hope.
2018 started out with new darkness – I was diagnosed with Kidney Cancer with the prognosis of losing a whole kidney. I wrote about that in March and I wrote about how God was with me in a series of posts titled Surgery Scuttlebutt.
Day two is the day to turn on the lights, and light candle #2. It’s amazing how much more light 2 candles are than one. There’s a sermon right there!
Advent Day 2
Advent Day 2
To remember about the Light – we have candle ornaments – because, we need to remember that We also are lights –
Matt 5:14 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
laser cut candle
bead kit candle – white
bead kit candle wreath
bead kit candle – large
Lord Jesus, please help me to remember that your light is available in any darkness I face. Father God, You have delivered me out of the kingdom of Darkness into the kingdom of your dear Son. I have only to open my eyes to see your light.
Lord, help me to remember that I am a light – that the light of your love can shine through me if I choose to let it. Help me to not get so bowed over by the darkness that tries to destroy me that I forget there are others in darkness that need to see a light of hope.
“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest
I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.
Advent day 1 (The first Sunday of Advent – often the first Sunday following Thanksgiving, or the fourth Sunday before Christmas)
If using an Advent Log, light candle one.
One candle in the darkness
If using an Advent Wreath, light candle one.
New this year is a Facebook group Advent at the WildBerry Patch, where we can discuss ideas, recipes and photos of our advent preparations!
My first thing for Advent is the tree.
For many, Jeremiah 10 describes a Christmas tree, and Psalm 135:15-18 and following warns against similar idols.
I do not sing “o Christmas tree”.
So, Why a tree?
An evergreen tree remind me of the gift of everlasting life given to me by Christ. Evergreens seem to endure all weather and still show the growth and greenness of life. The giant redwoods are evergreen!
We used to buy living trees and then plant them, as a reminder, but that tradition fell as we lived in rentals.
Evergreen in Batelle Darby Metro Park
Jesus Christ, everlasting, eternal, life. Is 9:6-7
Now, we use a representation, because of the ornaments that I use to represent the story of Christ.
Then, our Advent devotions. Based around an Advent Log.
Jim reading the devotional
One candle in the darkness
Father God,
Please help me to remember that each and every day is a gift from you.
Help me to remember that my life is eternal through Christ Jesus.
Help me to remember that Life is precious, growing, and to be rooted into the source, I can be green and weather every storm.
Help me to remember that even one flickering flame, in the darkness, can be a source of light and guidance for those lost.
Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest
I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or choose to LIKE me on facebook, or other social media! I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.
Depression is as depression does
Is that how the saying goes?
Or can depression just be
And I can choose what I will see?
Depression comes and depression goes
And for why, no one knows
But when it comes my thoughts go dim
And my choices planned, become Slim
Depression muddies up the brain
And makes me think that I’m insane
Sometimes I think it’s just a game
Other times chemistry’s to blame
If left alone, it might subside
do I have the strength with it to bide?
And if I tell someone my fears
Will they fill me up with cheer?
Depression is not being sad
And cheering up not always bad
yet sometimes, there is just no clue
What help for me can come from you.
Biology may need one cure,
Triggers can trip me, that’s for sure!
sugar load can cause a crash.
Overdoing it, though it was a blast.
Pain is often a main event
That steals my hope and makes me vent.
Emotional wounds can lead to downs
But even exhaustion makes a sad sound
The joy of the Lord is my strength
But when ears are dull, I’m on the brink
My mind and flesh are often too weeak
But the spirit of God, will often speak
Sometimes in a song, sometimes in a verse
Sometimes in a place that I just traverse
Sometimes in a breeze, sometimes in the still
Sometimes just a touch to strengthen my will
I have stumbled and fallen and needed help to get up
I have struggled and clawed to not drink this cup
I’ve hated the way my body is formed
But I can’t hate the One for whom I was born
I believe I was known in my mother’s womb
I believe there were plans before my parents were two
I believe there’s a purpose for me to be here
And I know God has saved me to share of that cheer
It isn’t about Christmas it isn’t about works
It isn’t about where you call your church
It’s about knowing Jesus as Savior and Lord
And filling my heart with his wonderful word
Because when the darkness comes in like a flood
When my mind can’t remember the love of his words
The Holy Spirit descends like a dove
And reminds me of his Heavenly love
(c) m. c. wildman 2018
Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links.
Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Thanks for joining me in this journey, In His hands and under His wings, ~Christi Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest
Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.
In IBBS Habakkuk 1, we discussed that sometimes bad things happen to discipline us. that is not always the case.
Sometimes, it’s to test us…(though we are told not to blame God for our temptations!
James 1:12-15 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
12 A man who endures trials[a] is blessed, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that God[b] has promised to those who love Him.
13 No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil,[c] and He Himself doesn’t tempt anyone. 14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.
There are those that fall because of their own lusts…and they need Psalm 38
The truth is, that there are those that are refined by the fire, and that refining has a higher purpose!
Habakkuk is not happy with the answers by God in the first chapter…
Habakkuk 1:13 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil,
and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing.
So why do You tolerate those who are treacherous?
Why are You silent
while one[a] who is wicked swallows up
one[b] who is more righteous than himself?
He decides to:
Habakkuk 2 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Habakkuk Waits for God’s Response
2 I will stand at my guard post
and station myself on the lookout tower.
I will watch to see what He will say to me
and what I should[a] reply about my complaint.
Here’s a few of the clarifications that God gives in Chapter 2, for what His purposes are:
Habakkuk 2
8 Since you have plundered many nations, all the peoples who remain will plunder you—
because of human bloodshed
and violence against lands, cities,
and all who live in them.
11 For the stones will cry out from the wall,
and the rafters will answer them
from the woodwork.
13-14 Is it not from the Lord of Hosts
that the peoples labor only to fuel the fire
and countries exhaust themselves for nothing? 14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord’s glory, as the waters cover the sea.
16 You will be filled with disgrace instead of glory.
You also—drink,
and expose your uncircumcision![i]
The cup in the Lord’s right hand
will come around to you,
and utter disgrace will cover your glory.
Bottom Line?
Habakkuk 2:20 But the Lord is in His holy temple; let everyone on earth be silent in His presence.
God sees us, even in the midst of darkness!
Here’s some examples:
Daniel and the Three Hebrew Children
Daniel 1 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
6 Among them, from the descendants of Judah, were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them other names: he gave the name Belteshazzar to Daniel, Shadrach to Hananiah, Meshach to Mishael, and Abednego to Azariah.
Daniel and the three Hebrew children and many others were taken away in Babylon and they were made eunuchs, which to be very graphic and specific means they were neutered. Everything that they understood from their religion was taken away from them and they had a reason to cry out like Habakkuk!
The three Hebrew children were thrown into the fiery furnace, because they would not bow down and choose fleshly comforts in exchange their lives.
Daniel 3 – their declaration of faith.
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t need to give you an answer to this question.
17 If the God we serve exists,[f] then He can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He can rescue us from the power of you, the king.
18 But even if He does not rescue us,[g] we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.”
The rest of the story is that they were not delivered from the fiery furnace, but another walked with them who was like the son of God. later in the Bible we find out it was the pre incarnate Christ that walked with them and protected them from the fire while they were in the furnace. Those that were unrighteous and had been trying to destroy the righteous Hebrew children, thought they had one, and those that cranked up the fire were actually swallowed with the heat. The three Hebrew children were pulled out. When they were not consumed, Nebuchadnezzar declared praises to their God, and freedoms to serve their own God!
Dan 3
28 Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent His angel[m] and rescued His servants who trusted in Him. They violated the king’s command and risked their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I issue a decree that anyone of any people, nation, or language who says anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be torn limb from limb and his house made a garbage dump. For there is no other god who is able to deliver like this.” 30 Then the king rewarded Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
Would that have happened if the Three men had not endured this fire?
Daniel in the Lions den. Daniel 6
Daniel was recognized as being a very gifted leader, and he actually served under a couple of the leaders of his day. And then there were those people that set him up that he should not pray to any God other than Darius. Not only did he continue to pray, it says he opened his window, and knelt by his window to pray to God. Daniel didn’t go into hiding!
It horrified the king that he had been duped to put this law into effect and he worried about Daniel being thrown into the lions den. The rest of that story is the unrighteous thought they were winning the day as they threw Daniel in, but God sent the angel of the Lord to keep the Lions from eating Daniel. So the righteous was pulled out of the Lion’s Den and the unrighteous were thrown in afterwards.
The end of this chapter has Darius, not a Hebrew, God worshiper, giving God, Yahweh, YHWH, Jehovah, praise! Daniel 6:25-28
Would that have happened if Daniel had not endured this trial?
Jesus and Judas
Judas was one of Jesus’s top 12. Judas was given the responsibilities of finances. He went out with the others and apparently was able to do the same Miracles that the others. If he didn’t, whoever he was sent out with would come back and say
“yeah well whenever we go with Judas he just can’t do anything! I have to do all the work!”
The thing about the story at the Last Supper was that no one had any idea that it was Judas that was going to turn in Jesus.
So we have the Last Supper and then some very ugly days of thinking everything has gone wrong and that the wicked have won!
We, as Christians, know that the rest of the story is that on that third day Jesus rose from the dead and some days after that He rose to sit beside his father and to intervene, and to pray on our behalf. They didn’t have this Bible from which to draw strength!
If Judas had not betrayed Christ, there wouldn’t have been the crucifixion and there would not have been the days where everyone questioned their loyalty to Christ.
There are others!
Moses on the back side of the desert – or he would not have experienced the burning bush! Paul in prison – Purposes for his suffering were to spread the gospel!
I’ve shared this testimony before and some of my stories specifically in IBBS Jonah, but it fits here as well.
My life was rough, but there’s many who had lives worse than mine. I had a very, very difficult ability in pushing for things or believing things that I believed were God’s call for me because I had no one in my life that actually was hearing God’s call and following it. I didn’t know how to embrace God’s calling!
So when I was told to go to Ohio State University for art and music and English, because of varying scholarships for the different schools, I told God He didn’t know what he was talking about, I wasn’t good enough for college. I joined the Navy. I want to get this very clear. I joined the United States Navy in direct opposition to what I knew God wanted me to do. At the time, I was attending churches, I was attending youth groups, I was attending Bible study. My life had gotten very rough in my senior year of high school, and I could not see any way that I could go to college. So I decided (I DECIDED) that I should go in the Navy to get an education and to learn a trade and to serve my country. Also to be clear, I don’t think the serving my country was where I was wrong. Where I was wrong was knowing God’s direction for me, and having probably half a dozen Bibles and even more Bible studies available to me to tell me how to hear God’s voice, and I told God no. I TOLD GOD NO! that is the error, the mistake, the sin. In Jonah, I talk about what happened.
If you look at Moses and the burning bush and God telling him that he is being sent to deliver his people, Moses says “I can’t speak send somebody else!”
If we look at Jonah, which I did in itty bitty Bible study about Jonah, Jonah said “no I’m not going to Nineveh!”
In both of these guys’ lives, God used some very interesting techniques to get their attention. We all know Jonah was thrown over the side of the boat and was swallowed by a fish and was spit up on the shores of Nineveh.
What did God use for Moses? Well for one his brother Aaron showed up having walked all the way across the desert and he finds Moses whom the Pharaoh wanted Dead! There’s also the little thing where Moses is almost being killed on his way back and God speaks to Zipporah who circumcises her sons and throws the foreskins at Moses and says “a bloody husband out art.”
If there was any doubt of the seriousness of God’s call for Moses or Jonah, that would get their attention.
Me, well, I ended up paralyzed from the waist down after a fall the third day of boot camp. I still struggle with the physical ramifications of that choice! Kind of like Jacob walking with a limp because he wrestled with God.
There is a history book that we had when our children were being homeschooled that shared how history when looked at from above from the big picture, can be seen as the varying ways God uses the wicked to orchestrate his greater plan.
Providential History disclaimer – I do not get any benefit for sharing an amazon link.
One such example is Nazi Germany and the extermination of Jews.
If there had not been such a horrid Event that was documented by photographs and newsreels, the global mentality would not have been such that they would have the outcry to create the nation of Israel. The nation of Israel being reestablished is a crucial point in the Fulfillment of the end time prophecies. The whole aspect of what was done to the Jews was horrific. I don’t know what the spiritual status was of the Jews in the way that we know by God’s word back in the time of Saul and David and Solomon and Josiah and Hezekiah. But I do know that this one event caused sympathy for this one nationality and everyone agreed to the creation of the nation of Israel.
Why does God allow evil? Rabi Ravi Zacharias explains this so well in his answer to Gun violence.
Habakkuk 2:20 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
20 But the Lord is in His holy temple;
let everyone on earth
be silent in His presence. But the Lord is in His holy temple;
let everyone on earth
be silent in His presence.
In honor of the three Hebrew children, I’m going to put Even If by Mercy Me here again.
Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links.
Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Thanks for joining me in this journey, In His hands and under His wings, ~Christi Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest
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There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.
Habakkuk’s First Prayer
2 How long, Lord, must I call for help
and You do not listen
or cry out to You about violence
and You do not save?
3 Why do You force me to look at injustice?
Why do You tolerate[a] wrongdoing?
Oppression and violence are right in front of me.
Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates.
4 This is why the law is ineffective
and justice never emerges.
For the wicked restrict the righteous;
therefore, justice comes out perverted.
Does this sound familiar? (read in a whining voice…or just a very sad, discouraged, or defeated voice, all are appropriate)
HOW LONG LORD????
WHY????
accusations about his tolerating wickedness….violence…oppression…strife and conflict.
“THIS IS WHY” as if we need to teach God a lesson! Uh huh.
I want to start this with worship….because tough topics need to have the promises included!
https://youtu.be/FUzx4oEmnxQ
Why does God let good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people?
Maybe part of the question is who does God consider bad and who does God consider good?
Let’s look at Job. He’s one of the guys that God says was good…and had some troubles! Job 1
Job 1:8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil.”
First, you get backstage view of God and the enemy and how the enemy goes around trying to cause trouble for those who love God. God specifically points out his servant job who is perfect in all his ways. Now – this is key! God didn’t point out all the folks that were upsetting God…but he points out a man of perfect integrity!
The devil says “hahaha! it’s because you take care of him!”
So long and short of the story:
Satan is given permission to take things away from Job, and Job does not deny God or renounce him.
Satan is given permission to touch Job’s flesh but not to take his life, and Job continues to refuse to denounce God.
Job does get into depression, what I consider a suicidal depression because he wishes he was never born.
consider adding to this that he lost his children at that first testing. Just for clarity, he knew his children were not necessarily walking with the Lord or he wouldn’t be waking up everyday after their parties and trying to do sacrifices on their behalf. Still, these were his children! All gone in ONE event!
So, Job has lost all of his Earthly possessions, he’s lost all of his children, he has lost his health, and his wife is telling him curse God and die.
I’m thinking Job was in a position very similar to Habakkuk saying why are the wicked prospering!? What do you think?
Job 21
7 Why do the wicked continue to live,
growing old and becoming powerful?
8 Their children are established while they are still alive,[a]
and their descendants, before their eyes.
9 Their homes are secure and free of fear;
no rod from God strikes them.
A young friend, Elihu, speaks up: Job 33
But I tell you that you are wrong in this matter,
since God is greater than man.
13 Why do you take Him to court
for not answering anything a person asks?[c]
Elihu clearly spelled it out:
Job 33 and I’m posting starting at 22:
22 He draws near to the Pit,
and his life to the executioners.
23 If there is an angel on his side,
one mediator out of a thousand,
to tell a person what is right for him[h]
24 and to be gracious to him and say,
“Spare him from going down to the Pit;
I have found a ransom,”
25 then his flesh will be healthier[i] than in his youth,
and he will return to the days of his youthful vigor.
26 He will pray to God, and God will delight in him.
That man will see His face with a shout of joy,
and God will restore his righteousness to him.
27 He will look at men and say,
“I have sinned and perverted what was right;
yet I did not get what I deserved.[j]
28 He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit,
and I will continue to see the light.”
Elihu is speaking of all the times that the Lord allows things in order to bring us back from the pit!
Then, he speaks of Repentance:
Job 34
31 Suppose someone says to God,
“I have endured my punishment;
I will no longer act wickedly.
32 Teach me what I cannot see;
if I have done wrong, I won’t do it again.”
33 Should God repay you on your terms
when you have rejected His?
You must choose, not I!
So declare what you know.
The main point of Elihu’s discourse is that God is God…who are we to argue?
Then, God speaks out of the whirlwind…saying..where were you????
Job 40 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
40 The Lord answered Job:
2 Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?
Let him who argues with God give an answer.[a]
3 Then Job answered the Lord:
4 I am so insignificant. How can I answer You?
I place my hand over my mouth.
5 I have spoken once, and I will not reply;
twice, but now I can add nothing.
The last bit of Job has God reprimanding everyone but Elihu for how they keep telling Job that this is because of some sin. On the other hand, once Job hears completely what God has to say, Job repents of being proud and humbled himself before God. And then God blesses Job by multiplying all that he has before. Job 42
Why am I talking about Job in the book of Habakkuk?
First, as I said in the introduction, it is commonly misunderstood that God did not speak to man in the Old Testament.
Job is considered the earliest book – though Moses’ books do tell history prior to Job.
Elihu has a very clear picture of God’s purposes for man and for what HE does or allows to man.
There are those that consider Elihu a preincarnate Christ…but, whatever. His words are clarifying to the rest of Habakkuk 1!
Back to Habakkuk:
Habakkuk 1:5-6 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
God’s First Answer
5 Look at the nations[a] and observe—
be utterly astounded!
For something is taking place in your days
that you will not believe
when you hear about it.
6 Look! I am raising up the Chaldeans,[b]
that bitter, impetuous nation
that marches across the earth’s open spaces
to seize territories not its own.
Habakkuk is not happy with this answer….
Habakkuk 1:12-13 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Habakkuk’s Second Prayer
12 Are You not from eternity, Yahweh my God?
My Holy One, You[a] will not die.
Lord, You appointed them to execute judgment;
my Rock, You destined them to punish us.
13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil,
and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing.
So why do You tolerate those who are treacherous? Why are You silent while one[b] who is wicked swallows up one[c] who is more righteous than himself?
I’m not sure, but if Job would have responded similarly to Elihu had God not jumped in. In fact, you can read in Job all the times that Job argued!
Have you ever heard of folks saying that “You have the patience of Job” as if he was so patient? Read his book! In several versions! He’s not even in the Heroes of Faith Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11! Yet, Job was REAL – transparent – and he repented of his sin, and allowed God to restore him.
Habakkuk is making the determination who is righteous…or holier than others.
Are there others? Joseph
Joseph is the favorite of his father, and has some sort of spiritual connection in that he gets dreams that are prophetic. Now as a teenager, he does not quite get when and where are the appropriate times to share these dreams, besides that nobody else is getting these dreams! Now, Joseph’s father, dreamed again, and hears from God at Bethel in Genesis 28. He also wrestled with God the night before he went to meet his brother Esau in Genesis 32. Joseph father, Jacob, had been used to hearing from God in several ways in order to be led as to what he should do. In fact, that situation where Jacob wrestled with the angel of God, his hip was affected in such a way that he limped for the rest of his life. Face-to-face interaction with God changes you!
Joseph had dreams AFTER the above interaction Jacob had with God! Genesis 37
Why didn’t Jacob believe that Joseph was actually having dreams from God? I don’t know. It doesn’t really matter. What matters is that if Joseph’s brothers’ unrighteous behavior had not happened, if Potiphar’s wife lies about Joseph had not occurred, Joseph would not have been in the prison with the Pharaoh’s servants and would not have been able to rise to the number two position, and save many from famine. Not to mention saving his own family. Which of course, was the whole point of those dreams when he was a teenager. Gen 42
One of the outcomes of Joseph bringing his family to Egypt to survive the famine was that eventually they forgot who Joseph was and the Hebrews were enslaved. Over and over and over in the Old Testament God delivers the Hebrews, the Israelites, the children of God. After a while, they become comfortable and they forget the god Who delivered them.
Even after years of being slaves to the Egyptians, and being miraculously delivered, when the going got a little bit tough, they accused Moses of bringing them out into the desert to let them die. Actually they were accusing God of bringing them out into the desert to let them die.
Over and over, when you read through 1st and 2nd Samuel, 1st and 2nd Kings and 1st and 2nd Chronicles, you see how God raises up a people who love him and obey Him. Then the next generation or at most two generations later, He is forgotten and they go back to the Pagan ways. Prophets cry out to them the simple words of God, because they are the people of the words of God. They hear the word of God every week in the synagogue. But, it takes suffering for them to actually, personally, cry out to God, to recognize their sins, and to repent so that he will turn around and heal their land
2 Chronicles 7:14 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
14 and My people who are called by My name
humble themselves,
pray and
seek My face, and
turn from their evil ways,
then
I will hear from heaven,
forgive their sin, and
heal their land.
This is written to THOSE WHO ARE CALLED BY THE NAME OF GOD! not to the wicked.
Why would the people of God need to call out…or need healing in their land?
They are not walking with the Lord.
This image comes from Spiritual Inspirations, from their Bible Verses for Sunday. Psalm 91:14-16. God gives us promises. We cannot let go of that hope!
Just to be clear, not all that suffer are needing to be disciplined. In the next article, we will look at:
The Hebrews in Egypt…and the plagues that prepared them for the Exodus.(ok,yeah, they needed an attitude check)
Daniel and the Three Hebrew Children
Daniel 1 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
6 Among them, from the descendants of Judah, were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them other names: he gave the name Belteshazzar to Daniel, Shadrach to Hananiah, Meshach to Mishael, and Abednego to Azariah.
Paul in Prison – various texts
Jesus Crucified and the three days of thinking all was lost!
I’ve also written some things that might give you more things to think about. IBBS Joel 1 call to repentance IBBS Jonah into and Jonah 1 saying no to good and being disciplined(including my testimony of saying no) IBBS Nahum intro about generation revival and the tendency for following generations to fall away
The key is that none is good –
Romans 3:10-12 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
10 as it is written:[a]
There is no one righteous, not even one.
11 There is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away;
all alike have become useless.
There is no one who does what is good,
not even one.[b]
IBBS Ephesians 2:1-10 talks about the situation that we are in, and what God has done to remedy it. If there is any extra blog that you read, read this one! It talks about our victory by God through Christ Jesus!
If you have cried out to God in anguish, You are not alone!
I have sung this song…and here is the most amazing story behind it by the author.
Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links.
Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Thanks for joining me in this journey, In His hands and under His wings, ~Christi Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest
Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.
The son of a friend will be interning with CRU – previously known as Campus Crusades for Christ. If you’d like to support someone I can vouch for in this area, please consider going to Matthew Plant’s donation page.
“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
