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The trouble with time

Is this really the end of August? It doesn’t seem possible. Labor Day weekend is upon us, which is when most pools close for the year. It’s often considered the last weekend of summer, unless you live in Texas like I do. Our weather and landscape won’t get the “fall” message until sometime between Halloween and Thanksgiving.

But, the fall season is here. Our politics are heating up with every interview and commercial. The school zones are blinking a warning to slow down and drive carefully. Hobby Lobby is running low on Fall décor and filling its shelves with Christmas items! All the coffee places and bakeries are offering things with pumpkin spice. It’s time to stash the summer colors and dig out the Fall wardrobe, even though it’s still too hot for those of us in the South to wear those clothes.

The summer is ending and the trouble with that fact is how fast the summer months flew by! Time truly is fleeting, and the older I get, the faster time flies. So, I’ve decided to write a blog post about making the most of time. Instead of being alarmed by the swift passage of time, why don’t we simply choose today to be happy about that?

The trouble with time is that we have zero ability to change it. The joy of these passing months is that we know what lies at the end of time.

The truth about time is not always taught in the world but is seen in God’s word.

People are becoming genuinely anxious about the future. They are thinking:

What if my candidate loses this election?
What if my next doctor’s visit is bad news?
What is my child or grandchild learning at school?
What if prices remain high or go higher?
What if the terrorists in the world continue to threaten?
What if our wrinkles increase and our strength declines?
What if our culture doesn’t return to the way things used to be?

A biblical perspective for the troubles in time.

According to the Bible, time will continue to move forward until Jesus steps back into this world for the final time. Until that day, everyone will head toward an eternity with God in heaven—or, for others, an eternity apart from God in hell. As disciples of the gospel message of Christ, there is a lot we can do with the time we have.

Jesus was in his last week of life. He wanted his disciples to be prepared for the days ahead. He didn’t paint a beautiful picture of “feel good” thoughts. He gave his disciples the truth they needed, and it is still the truth his disciples need today. Jesus said, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:6–14).

So, Jesus would tell us:

Of course, your candidates will lose sometimes.
Of course, you will get bad news from a doctor someday.
Of course, your kids and grandkids will learn some things you like and other things you don’t.
Of course, prices will get higher on most things, but lower on some.
Of course, terrorists will continue to terrorize. They always have.
Of course, you will get wrinkles as you age, and you will grow weaker as the years progress.
And of course, the world’s cultures will continue to change and evolve.

Jesus would remind each of us that he made sure we should expect that of time. Times are changing, but our expectations of time might need to as well. Jesus promised that changes would continue throughout the history of this world.

How can we choose to be happy?

You may not like the candidates who win, but hopefully, that will lead us to want better down the road.
Your doctor might give you bad news and refer you to a specialist who can offer help and hope.
Your kids and grandkids will learn a lot in their lifetimes. Hopefully, they will learn some great things from you!
Prices will increase on things we need, but having less money makes us more grateful for all we have.
The terrorists will be around, but there is a lot of new technology that is helping us catch them before they can do harm.
These days, there is a lot we can do about wrinkles if we want to, and we are living longer, stronger lives than our parents did.
And there is something we all need to remember: We really don’t want things to go back to the way they used to be.

I’m glad our world has made progress on racism, poverty, medical cures, and other advances in technology. Every time I use my microwave, my computer, my washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, vacuum, oven, or get in my car to drive somewhere . . . I should be thrilled that “things” aren’t like they used to be.

Jesus promised that lawlessness would increase, weather disasters and wars would continue, and his disciples would be caught in the middle of all those things. Then Jesus said that the “gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).

The passage of time and technological advances have made his words possible, even likely, for our generation. Anyone who owns a smartphone or computer can receive the gospel message. That’s why all of us who work for the Denison Ministries work hard at our jobs. It’s possible that we will see Jesus come again before another Labor Day weekend arrives.

Maybe the trouble with time is that it isn’t passing fast enough!

Have a great week, and find happiness in the fact that fall is just around the corner. For Christians, every passing season brings us closer to our eternal life of unchanging joy.

Is this the Lord that the day has made?

We ran into a friend while we were out walking and he quoted Psalm 118:24, but with a new twist.

Biblically, the verse reads, “This is the day that the Lᴏʀᴅ has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

You might have sung the chorus, “This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made . . . .” The song and the psalm are joyful reminders of God’s greatness and that he supremely governs the world according to his good purpose.

We were talking with a friend about some of the changes we have seen in the culture, even in our churches. That is when he told us of how someone had recently quoted Psalm 118:24 to him, and I wanted to share the phrase with all of you. The re-quoted version is good food for thought.

The verse, with a twist

My friend said, “This is the Lord that the day has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (You might need to read that twice!)

As you probably know, I teach Bible. One of my greatest challenges as a Bible teacher this past decade is uniquely described in the rewording of that familiar verse. There are people I truly care about who are serving the Lord in many ways who would be more comfortable with the reworded verse than the actual verse.

More and more I find myself in a discussion with people who say, “Well . . . I just don’t believe God would do that, say that, or mean that.”

I find myself trying to carefully use Scripture in order to biblically explain to them, “God did do that, say that, and mean that.” The truth about God is revealed in his word, not our personal opinions or feelings. The Bible says, “This is the day the Lord has made,” and it is important we don’t worship “the Lord that the day has made.”

One of the most important parts of our personal relationship to God is knowing him and worshiping him “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). Is there a thought or opinion that you have about God that stands against the truth of God as revealed in the Bible?

Our struggle is not new

God’s people have always tended to begin their faith journey with passion and dedication to biblical truth. Time and distraction have a way of detouring our journey down a different road than God’s. We have all done it. Even the apostle Paul struggled to walk the walk (See Romans 7).

In Revelation 3, John commended the church in Philadelphia saying, “I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name” (v. 8). John continuously repeated a key phrase in his comments to the churches of the Revelation. He said, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 3:13). If John thought it was important to remind those first-century Christians, we should remember his words today.

If we want to “hear” from God, we need to know how to listen.

Theology 101

We don’t get very many lessons in theology anymore. Yet, without a basic understanding of theology, a person can easily get sidetracked. Here are some of the basics of biblical theology:

God speaks to us through his Holy Spirit, but it is crucial to remember that the Holy Spirit will never disagree or contradict God’s word. “Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20–21)
The Bible has been translated over the years, but God’s word has been protected, not edited. “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:8).
We worship the same God who has been worshiped by his children throughout world history. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). “To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:17).

Do we worship the Lord who has made each day, or is our day remaking the Lord we worship?

That question is something for all of us to consider.

Are we faithful like the members of the church in Philadelphia, who were commended for keeping God’s word and not denying his name? Has our culture, or this era of Christian history, edited the biblical theology of God in some way?

A. W. Tozer

A.W. Tozer was a brilliant American pastor and theologian who died in 1963. If you can, you might want to read a wonderful article about Tozer’s thoughts on the unchanging nature of God. That article closes with this quote about our immutable God:

“God will not compromise and He need not be coaxed. He cannot be persuaded to alter His Word nor talked into answering selfish prayer. In all our efforts to find God, to please Him, to commune with Him, we should remember that all change must be on our part. ‘I am the Lord, I change not.’ We have but to meet His clearly stated terms, bring our lives into accord with His revealed will, and His infinite power will become instantly operative toward us in the manner set forth through the gospel in the Scriptures of truth.”

May all of us remember that today is the day the Lord has made.

May all of us consider the possibility we might have adopted an opinion or two about the Lord that this day has made.

Then, may we repent where necessary and return to a place of blessing because we have chosen to honor his name and keep his word.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says” to all of us on this day, the day the Lord has made.

When you need a change, God is able

Why do we continue to repeat the same sins we were sure we had “fixed” with the last prayer commitment to God?

I’ve grown in my faith over the years and know the Lord better now than I did at my salvation. The Lord is in the business of sanctification, making holy, those of us who are saved.

So why is it we still repeat old sins?

Are we “changed”?

The apostle Paul taught this about our salvation: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). It is a joy to listen to a compelling testimony from a person who led one kind of life only to meet Jesus and become a very different person.

What about you?

Has God dramatically transformed your life, or did it look pretty much the same the day after your salvation?

Paul knew what it was to meet Jesus and experience dramatic change because of his salvation. I grew up in a Christian home and, while I knew my future was forever changed, the present remained pretty much the status quo. The “old” didn’t seem to have passed away at all. But, it had. I had received the Holy Spirit and I was no longer on my own.

One of my favorite passages in Scripture comes from Romans 7. It is comforting to this Bible teacher to hear Paul say, “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing” (Romans 7:18–19).

If Paul battled his common sins, even after those moments on the road to Damascus, we will battle our common sins as well. Why do we “keep doing” the same stuff that drove us to our knees the last time? Is it possible to break those sins and allow God to change us, or should we just expect to keep blowing it on a regular basis?

My answer to that question comes from experience.

The only way to break our repetitive, natural sins, is to allow God to do that. We can try to do better, but our human strength is insufficient for the problem.

When you need a change, only God is able

I memorized Proverbs 3:5–6 at a young age. For me, those are the verses to apply to the weaknesses in our human natures we know we need to change. The Holy Spirit constantly convicts our thoughts when we step toward a sin. The next step is acknowledging that, like Paul, we are unable to fix it ourselves.

God’s verses for repetitive sin are Proverbs 3:5–6. The proverb begins by reminding us that we need God’s word and direction, constantly. The author says to bind the teaching around our neck and write the commandments on the tablet of our hearts (Proverbs 3:3). That is the way we “find favor and good success in the sight of God and man” (Proverbs 3:4).

But, the way we do those things is found in verses 5–6: “Trust in the Lᴏʀᴅ with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

When a change in our lives is needed, God is able—if we are willing to live what the proverb teaches.

Do we trust God?

It seems hard to trust God, especially with our whole heart.

After all, we know amazing Christians who have experienced significant failures. Or, some who have been diagnosed with something fatal. Others have lived with a vibrant faith and then lost it.

Do we truly trust God like we should?

Trusting is difficult, but we do it all the time. We trust the pilot with our lives. We trust that, behind the closed door, he hasn’t fallen asleep. We trust the surgeon and the anesthesiologist when we need surgery. We trust the elevator and the alarm system and we trust the person driving the car behind us. We have to, in order to live in this world.

Do we apply that same standard to the Lord?

We know we can’t trust everyone all the time. People make mistakes—but God doesn’t. I have come to believe this is true in life. We trust whom we want to trust.

Do you want to trust God?

Don’t lean on what you know

We trust what we google, sometimes. We trust what a smart person says, or at least we trust people we think are smarter than we are. We trust education. We trust experience. We trust faithfulness. We tend to trust what we can confirm.

You can’t trust God unless you choose not to lean on your own understanding.

To lean on what we know or what we are able to figure out is sometimes to lean against a mirage. It only looks real. In order to trust God with all your heart, you have to know him as the ever-present brick wall. There is never a time you will lean on him and fall.

We know we can’t trust our own knowledge. We make mistakes—but God doesn’t.

How can we trust what we cannot see?

In every way, at all times, trust what you know God has said. In all your ways, know God’s word and will.

I know God because I know his word. I know God because I’ve seen his work. I know God because his Holy Spirit lives in me. I know God because he speaks. I know God is real the same way I know love is real. I experience God’s presence in this world and in my life.

We know love, anger, hatred, compassion, trust, fear, courage, and conviction are real. If we believe in those powerful realities, we can believe in God. We can know the One who created all realities.

Do you need a change?

Is there a sin you want to stop repeating? Think Proverbs 3:5–6.

When we know and trust God as his word teaches, he is able to “direct, or make straight” our paths.

Remember when your mom or dad said, “Straighten up”? They got that expression from God. The next time you are about to repeat a sin, think Proverbs 3:5–6. Chances are, you will hear the voice of God saying, “You know what to do. Now, straighten up.”

We make mistakes. Thankfully, we have a God who doesn’t.

Trust him with all your heart.

Submit to him all your thoughts.

Then you will live his plans, most of the time.

That’s our only realistic goal until we walk with him all the time.

If you need a change, God is able.

If you had the power to change one thing

I’ve always enjoyed the story of Aladdin and the Arabian Nights. As a child, I imagined having the magic lamp with the genie inside and thought about what I might wish for.

I recently found out the background of that story is much different than I thought and definitely not the story told to children.

One article said, “Credit for telling the tale of Aladdin has often gone to Antoine Galland, a scholar and diplomat who served as a secretary to the French ambassador to Constantinople in the 17th century.” Galland, however, wrote in his diary that he’d heard the story of Aladdin from a young Syrian storyteller named Hanna Diyab. In fact, Diyab is credited for having told Galland several stories, including Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.

It’s hard to know where Diyab got those stories, and the original ideas have been edited and changed over the years to suit the modern sensibilities, as well as a few Hollywood scripts. But, it is understandable why someone would have imagined a genie who could grant wishes to a young man who had very little in this world and wanted more.

It is a timeless story because it is a timeless wish.

What would you wish for?

Imagine having three wishes and the promise those wishes would come true. What would you want?

I don’t have a quick answer to that question. Chances are, you might feel the same. If I knew I had three wishes, I would want to do a lot of thinking before I made them.

More money? Maybe. But, there are a lot of lottery winners who say the money they won actually made their lives, and their relationships with others, difficult.
Better health? Maybe. But, some of the people I have grieved for most were the people who spent their last years attending the funerals of all of their friends. It’s hard to be the person who outlives their friends and family.
Stronger faith? Probably. But, faith is most often strengthened through the tough times of life. We would want to be careful to make that wish thoughtfully, knowing that it might be acquired at a high cost.

Honestly, if we think about almost any wish, there are consequences we wouldn’t wish for. And that is really what the story of Aladdin intends to teach.

If you could change one thing . . .

Instead of wishing for three things you want to have, what if you only had one wish—for something you could change?

Is there something in your past you would wish away if you could?

My sister sent me a picture of her brother and sister-in-law’s home in Carbon, Texas. Their home was over one hundred years old and they had planned to live in it forever.

Last Friday, someone pounded on Debbie Copeland’s front door and told her she had to leave, NOW!

Debbie had time to grab her wedding ring and a couple of her husband’s medical supplies. She jumped in her car and raced away. The next time she saw her home, all that remained was the chimney and a few metal posts from the front porch. They lost everything in the wildfire. Channel 8, here in Dallas, interviewed her. This is her story.

At the time of this writing, it isn’t known how the fire started. The flames, fed by the Texas winds, have burned many homes and devastated more than 50,000 acres. I wonder if it might have been a cigarette butt carelessly thrown from someone’s car window. I wonder if it was someone burning trash when they should have picked a different, less windy day. I wonder if a spark from someone’s grill, fireplace, or electric tool could have started the fire. If there is a person who is responsible for the damage, chances are good he or she is wishing they could change that one choice right now.

One careless choice can cause a fire, an accident, or damage a reputation.
One evil choice can start a war, cost thousands their lives, and create decades of change.
One action, done in anger or vengeance, can change the future.

If everyone had a wish that would grant them one change, how long would it take for us to use it up, or maybe wish we had saved it for later?

What should we wish for right now?

If you had one wish and it was only available for the next five minutes, what would it be?

Even as I type those words, Putin’s face comes to mind. I would wish for Putin to be brought to his knees before the God who created him. Even as I type those words, I realize that moment is guaranteed already. I just wish it was now, before another innocent Ukrainian is caused to suffer or die.

But, someone else would need to save their wish for the next Putin that comes along.

One wish might change a lot, but no wish would change enough.

What would Jesus wish for?

I think the prayer of Jesus reveals his priority, his wish, for each of us. Jesus was praying in the Garden, waiting to be arrested, when he asked God to bless his followers, saying, “May all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me” (John 17:21–23).

Those of us who know God’s word know what to wish for. Jesus told us while praying in the Garden. The lasting solution to the wrongs of this world and the mistakes of imperfect people is the perfection of heaven. The best way to live this life now is to “become perfectly one” with our Lord so we can live eternally with our Creator.

The author of Aladdin wanted to have a genie and three wishes for this world. We know God is the only true source for all we wish for. He can forgive our past, guide our present, and provide for our future.

And God is a perfect Father. I don’t know what to wish for on earth, but I know I already have everything I will ever want or need, waiting for me in heaven.

Keep praying for the changes you want here on earth. Jesus taught us to do that. But, let’s join the psalmist in saying, “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you” (Psalm 39:7).

Who needs a genie when we can trust our perfect Father?

Why did an unchanging God create a changing world?

The month of March is filled with change here in Texas. It really does come in as a lion and leave as a lamb—usually. March brings about the changes in the weather I enjoy, but this year it is also bringing about changes in our world. Changing news occurs each day and, recently, each hour of each day.

God told the prophet Malachi, “For I the Lᴏʀᴅ do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed” (Malachi 3:6). The book of Hebrews tells us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

As I watch the news, the weather, the stock market, and the culture, the word unchanging seems irrelevant to almost everything. Why did an unchanging God create a world that seems to constantly change?

God wants us to face forward

Our theme for the month of March comes from the book of Isaiah. God told the prophet, “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:18–19).

The Lord was telling Isaiah to preach the coming changes, including the coming of the Messiah. His covenant with the nation of Israel was going to change at that time. Did an unchanging God change his mind?

The best answer from Scripture is that God doesn’t change his mind; people change and therefore God’s favor and blessings justly respond. God will do all that is best to bring people into a faith relationship with him.

Time has always been moving toward the day that time will end and eternity begins. The changes we see are simply an unfolding of God’s plan and a reminder that he will always have a higher goal for our lives than earthly success and earthly blessings.

The point of life is to face forward and keep moving toward a life that is eternal.

What new thing is God doing today?

Don’t you wish you knew what God has planned for this world? We know the end of the story, but how long is the book? Which chapter are we in?

We have wars and rumors of wars. We have storms, earthquakes, and every sign we have been taught to look for. So did my grandparents. Will we “perceive” Jesus is returning, or will Jesus come back when we least expect it? The answer to both questions is yes. I don’t know when Jesus will return, but I’m certain of this. God is making “a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

It’s easy to think the problems of this world indicate the return of Christ, but that might not be our indicator. The Jordan River was at flood stage for Joshua, and it was an opportunity for a miracle, not a problem. That is how I am praying for the people of Ukraine these days. I’m asking God to make his reality known through the events I see in the news. I’m asking God to redeem and praying that Putin will be transformed by Christ into a Paul. That is a change that would shout God’s glory to the world.

The power of God is needed, and God’s children need to be praying continuously, with every news report, for every person. Those Russian troops probably have some that know God. What might they do if they are directed and used by God? I’m remembering that a very young David slew Goliath and a very small army took Jericho. Gideon prayed and God answered.

We should be praying David, Joshua, and Gideon-type prayers during these days.

We may never know God’s answers to these prayers, this side of heaven

I want to close with the doxology that ends Paul’s words in Romans 8–11. He spent three chapters trying to help his Jewish brothers and sisters understand there was a new covenant, and, like the Gentiles, they needed to choose Jesus to be their Messiah too.

How did Paul sum up his understanding of the “new thing” God was doing? By telling the church in Rome that God cannot be understood apart from his omniscient power.

Paul wrote:

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

Who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has been his counselor?

Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?

For from him and through him and for him are all things.

To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:33–36 NIV)

Why did an unchanging God create a changing world?

We will never fully comprehend God, this side of heaven. God’s judgments are “unsearchable.” We can be certain that we will never understand “the mind of the Lord.” He is Lord and we are not.

So, I close this blog post with biblical truth that will never change. All things are from God. All things work through God, for his perfect plan. And to God be all glory forever.

World leaders will come and go, believing they have earned glory for themselves along the way. The world’s news will change daily. But God holds this world in the palm of his hand and his glory is forever!

We give our unchanging God praise and honor as we watch the changes unfold in our world. We can’t know which chapter of history we are experiencing today but we know how “his-story” ends.

Pray for those who need to move to God’s side to do so today.

Twenty years of change

How can it be true?

Twenty years ago, I was having my second cup of coffee after having dropped my boys off at school when the taped hour of Good Morning America went live. Charlie Gibson and Diane Sawyer were reporting what they knew, which wasn’t much at that time.

A plane had flown into one of the Twin Towers.

As they were talking, all of us watched and were horrified as the second plane hit.

That was the moment I knew something was really, really wrong.

I rushed to the phone and called Jim’s direct line at the church, telling him to turn the television on.

Truthfully, the rest of that day seems like a blur. I wanted to rush to the school and get the boys, but I knew that wasn’t logical. I did go to the bank and the grocery store to stock up. That wasn’t logical either, but it gave me something productive to do—just in case.

Those moments were twenty years ago, but the memories remain powerful.

Twenty years of change

What has changed in your life in the past twenty years? Does it even seem possible that 9/11 was twenty years ago?

A lot has changed since that time:

My boys grew up, got married, and had children of their own.
I’ve grown used to the TSA lines at the airport and watching a stranger go through my suitcase.
I don’t watch Good Morning America very often anymore.
I don’t wonder if terrorists will try again; I wonder if we will catch them.
I have four grandchildren who deserve a wonderful nation to grow up in.
We have a ministry that reaches millions of people with the word of God.
And God is still reigning in heaven from his throne of mercy and judgment.

How can it have been twenty years since that fearful day?

Two decades of changes, but also two decades of lessons learned.

All of us have learned to take our shoes off and put them in a bin at the airport. All of us have learned to pack our liquids in small bottles. All of us have learned to question our political leadership.

Hopefully, we have learned a lot spiritually as well.

We have learned we need God

Twenty years ago, I watched as the second plane hit the tower and knew we were under attack.

I started praying after I called Jim, asking the Lord to stop whatever was happening. I knew only God could stop it.

Later, I heard the news about the downed plane in Pennsylvania. That plane never reached its target, and I saw that as a tragic answer to my prayer. A lot of us had prayed the same prayer that day and it was a Christian man, Todd Beamer, who led a group on his plane to attack the cockpit. They stopped the plane from reaching Washington, D.C. We needed God to work, and it is no surprise that it was a child of God who “listened” and obeyed. God often answers prayers through those who listen to his Spirit.

Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

I wonder what need God wants his people to pray those 9/11 kind of prayers for today?

We need God to work today, just as much as we needed him twenty years ago.

We have learned that others will blame God

One of the most troubling changes we have seen in the past twenty years is the attitude of many in our nation toward the Lord, his church, and his word. Some people openly blamed the Christian faith for what happened on 9/11. Many more quietly blamed the “religions” of both sides for the animosity and acts of war.

After twenty years of spoken (and unspoken) blame, the church has grown quietly un-evangelistic in her programs. One of my favorite quotes is from Archbishop William Temple. He served the church in the first half of the twentieth century and is quoted as saying, “The church is the only organization that does not exist for itself, but for those who live outside of it.” One hundred years later, would we still say that is true of our churches?

Are Christians naïve to believe that “things” are going to change and the world is going to, once again, value the role our faith has played in the life of America?

It is biblical to believe that “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). It is also biblical truth that God disciplines and judges the sins of the world. What should we be praying for like we prayed on 9/11?

Our nation is still under attack. Our greatest enemy is unseen.

Peter told the church, “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).

People will continue to blame religion for what is wrong in the world. It’s the job of every Christian to glorify God for all that is right. If we will take the time to “be prepared” and use every opportunity to share the “hope” that we have with “gentleness and respect,” we will change the culture one conversation at a time.

If we can’t change the culture, we will at least change some lives. Others will be given the chance to live eternally when Christians choose to live with God’s priorities.

Is there a more important goal for the next twenty years?

We have learned that God is still God

God told the prophet Malachi, “For I the Lᴏʀᴅ do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed” (Malachi 3:6).

Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

And, it is still true that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17).

God is still God. God’s word is still truth. God’s people are still promised heaven. Jesus is still “the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

The world will continually change, but the Creator of this world does not.

Twenty years from now

The past twenty years have flown by and we have all seen many changes. I find great comfort in knowing that the faith that carried me through 9/11/01 is still the faith that carries me on 9/11/21. And, if I’m not in heaven yet, it will be the faith I celebrate twenty years from now, on 9/11/41.

We will hear a lot this week about the passage of time and twenty years of change. I wanted to write a blog post that reminded all of us of the timeless, eternal character of God.

People need to hear that message this week. Remember Peter’s words, which are as true today as when he wrote them. Let’s “be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks” and let’s share the reason “for the hope” that is in us with “gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).

If that is what you and I do for the next twenty years, there will be a lot more people who will know our Lord. Is there anything more important to pray “with confidence” about today?

Is it time for a face-lift?

Yes! But not in the way you might be thinking.

I maintain an honest philosophy about my “face.” I’m sixty-two and I look like it. I’m okay with that. Do I wish I looked like I were younger? Sometimes—but my face tells the truth, and so do I.

(That said, with full confession, my “hair” isn’t quite as honest as my face. My roots tell the most accurate story on that front!)

If you have been reading my blog posts for the past decade, you have seen me age. My hope is that you will continue to read them for the next decade too. I don’t want to write for personal attention; I want to write in order to give God the attention and honor he deserves.

I think aging honestly is a good brand for my ministry. King David said, “So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come” (Psalm 71:18).

My face-lift is coming!!

So, what did I mean when I said it was time for a face-lift?

I’m excited to tell you!

I had a big decision to make and I chose to make it slowly. I think it is important to step back and look at life from God’s perspective. We usually live moment to moment in our culture, and sometimes the big picture fades. My dad knew it was time to retire when he was in his early fifties. He took IBM’s downsizing, early-retirement benefits and moved with my mom to Arkansas. They bought a farm, slowed down, and enjoyed their lives together. I always thought that sounded like a great idea.

But I married Jim Denison. “Slow for Jim” means something completely different than retirement. And truthfully, I realize I am different too. Jim and I both feel like King David felt. We “want to proclaim” God’s truth and power to the next generation and to every generation.

That is our calling from God, and our work is how we fulfill that calling. That said, we need to move forward with God’s wisdom and God’s purpose for the days ahead. We want to be the age we are and do what God directs. Changes were needed, and the first thing necessary was a face-lift.

My website is going to carry a new look, a new name, a new logo, and a lot of new ways to deliver God’s word to our world!

All of that will be introduced in about a month!

What is needed for the next generation of ministry?

I wish I knew that answer fully, but that isn’t how God usually works. God has an eternal perspective for his direction in our lives. What I do know is that our culture needs wisdom borne of experience and delivered with a faith-filled perspective.

One of my favorite things about aging is that I have learned a lot from accumulated experience. I became a Christian at a young age and asked Jesus to be the foundation of my life. I’ve been building on that foundation for a lot of years.

Jesus said, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24). For most of my life, I have trusted God’s word as the basis for my life—and that has been my “rock” for the storms, for the joys, and for the other ups and downs of life. I think that is why God called me to be a Bible teacher. I’ve lived the truth found in God’s word for a lot of years now and can speak from a place of experience.

I’ve lived with God’s blessings, his discipline, his direction, and his hope. I’ve been faithful and I’ve lacked faith. I’ve been strong and I’ve been weak. I’ve been confident and I’ve had doubts. I’ve been joyful while sad and peaceful when life became intense. I’ve wanted more and been content with less. I met Jesus in high school, then grew to love him as I aged.

If you read this blog post each week, you would probably feel similar things about your life as well. Or, maybe you just want to feel that way.

The firm foundation—with a remodeled face

God’s word has been the firm foundation of truth and grace for my life’s experiences. That is why the name of the new website will be called Foundations. It was time to build a website that represented the brand and the purpose. I want to build something that will exist for God’s glory, even for generations to come, or, until Jesus has come back.

I want to stay relevant, yet write and teach with ancient truth. I’m excited to introduce you to the new website soon! I’m excited to share this ministry with all of you. Mostly, I’m excited for the opportunities ahead to share God’s word with every generation.

Our ministry has chosen to give my website a “remodeled face,” and I will be excited to show you those results in about a month. (Remember the new name, Foundations, so you will recognize my posts.)

I will remain the age that I am and speak with a voice that has experienced the truth of God’s word for a lot of years now. I consider it a great privilege to teach the Bible. I often say that my goal is to help people live a life that God is able to bless. I hope to do that until God blesses me with my home in heaven.

I want to finish like Jesus did

Jesus finished his Sermon on the Mount saying, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock” (Matthew 7:24–25).

I want to finish my ministry someday like Jesus finished his great sermon that day. I want people to know how to live life on the firm foundation of biblical truth. I’ve been around for a while now, and I’ve seen a lot in my lifetime.

The teaching of Jesus is our firm foundation, and every generation needs to learn his words. Thank you for joining me each week as each of us works and ministers with that holy calling and witness.

I’m glad to share this journey of faith with you!

Why Winter?

The weather forecast reported a sixty-three-degree start to the day and a twenty-nine-degree ending, with lots of rain and wind to boot. Talk about a Texas MONDAY!

I pulled my underused coat from the closet and wondered why God created winter.

The forecast for Eden

Winter must be another of the consequences of living outside the Garden. Adam and Eve didn’t need clothing in Eden, so it must have been consistently warm. Come to think of it, they probably didn’t need shade either. They didn’t need shelter from the storms, and they never had to clean up after a tornado or hurricane.

Did trees lose their leaves in the Garden of Eden? Did the flowers ever die? Or, did God create the weather changes and climate challenges we experience today as yet another consequence of sin?

The Bible makes it clear that God created the earth and uses weather as a way to display his omnipotence.

What does the Bible say about weather?

The prophet Jeremiah said, “It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses” (Jeremiah 10:12–13).

Jeremiah knew that God ruled the weather, but the Bible also teaches that people can influence God’s actions.

James wrote, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit” (James 5:17–18).

We know God has chosen to speak through weather events.

1 Samuel 12:18 says, “So Samuel called upon the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.”

Isaiah said, “And the Lord will cause his majestic voice to be heard and the descending blow of his arm to be seen, in furious anger and a flame of devouring fire, with a cloudburst and storm and hailstones” (Isaiah 30:30).

The climate will always change

According to scientists, our choices have affected the climate. According to the Bible, they always have. There will always be consequences to our sinful choices, just like there were consequences to Adam and Eve’s.

One thing is certain: people will always be better off if we choose to honor and care about God and his creation.

The Bible makes it clear that God uses our weather as a consistent, miraculous reminder of his existence and involvement in our world. After the flood, God told Noah, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease” (Genesis 8:22).

Climate change will exist as long as the world does. But should we be praying, asking, and then working to honor God’s creation as best we can?

God reveals himself in our world

God has always used this world he created to reveal himself.

Romans 1:20 says, “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.”

That verse goes on to say that people are “without excuse” if they go through life, observing God’s creation yet never honoring the God who made it. This amazing world we live in is the revelation of our amazing God.

I think it is safe to say that the Lord would want us to preserve and protect his creation. Our planet is a revelation of God to all who dwell on it. I’ve tended to shrug off the “climate-change” politics, but what if we should be asking God how we can help?

Not caring is probably not our best witness.

Our best efforts won’t ensure the world’s existence forever

I do think we should do our best to honor God and care for his creation. At the same time, I’ve studied the Bible and know that our best efforts won’t change the inevitable.

Jesus spoke and the storm was calmed. Jesus spoke his final words on the cross and the earth quaked. And Jesus told his disciples, “See that no one leads you astray.Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray.And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet.For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains” (Mark 13:5–8).

I believe Christians ought to honor God with our choices, including our choice to care for his creation. I believe that, if we honor our planet, we will have a better chance to speak about the reason we care. This week I will teach the passage from 1 Corinthians when the apostle Paul said, “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them” (1 Corinthians 9:19).

We know that God holds the world in his hand and governs the wind and the rain. This world won’t end because of climate change. It will end when God chooses to send his Son back to “wrap things up.”

Until Jesus returns, Christians have a biblical mandate to make ourselves servants for the sake of those who are lost. Our number one priority should be to live in such a way that we can earn the right to “win more of them” to the Lord.

If honoring God’s creation helps others honor God, we have done well as God’s servants.

Why winter?

The arctic cold fronts will come to Texas. So will the hurricanes, tornadoes, and warm spring days. July 2020 will be hotter than we wish it would be. Our seasons will change. Our climate will change. Our world will change.

And every change on earth can serve as a reminder of a God who doesn’t.

His word is truth, his will is certain, and his ways are perfection. One day, Paul’s words to Corinth about the final change to our climate will become reality: “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52).

The world had a beginning, and it will have an end. Everything and everyone on earth will too.

Winter winds strip the trees of their dying leaves. Winter temperatures cause us to find a place to be warm. Winter freezes prepare the ground for all that will come in the spring. Why winter? Because that is how God set things up in this world after Eden.

Our weather and everything else is constantly changing, reminding us that nothing on earth is permanent. But, heaven is eternal and permanently Eden.

Let’s live on earth with a divine perspective and a holy purpose. Christians should live and submit our freedoms for the purpose of serving the lost, hoping to win as many as we can.

What are your goals for the colder days ahead?

The climate will change. Maybe we should too.

Changing our changes

One of my favorite things about God is that he is unchanging.

James said, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17).

When I read my Bible, I am reading the same message my ancestors would have read, albeit in a different version. I’m a fan of consistency, loyalty, and “standing firm” in almost every aspect of life.

(That sounds a lot better than stubborn and immovable, doesn’t it?)

It was time to make a change

I have to admit, I tend to remain loyal to people, routines, and companies for a long time.

Jim and I got married in 1980 and put our deposit down with a phone company. That company was purchased by another, but we stayed the course. The only time I didn’t pay a monthly bill to this company was for the years we lived in Georgia. As soon as we moved back to Texas, I signed us up again. When cell phones became the norm, I used that same company.

But, I’m about to retire a cellular family plan that was established before the flip phone! In fact, my first cell phone required an antenna that had to be pulled up.

Why am I making this change after such a long time?

Because I’m just not satisfied with that company any longer. I’ve been patient and loyal, and I’ve stood firm, but recently I’ve been asking myself: Why?

So, I decided that sometimes a person just has to change the changes.

Should we blame change on Adam and Eve

One of the most consistent themes of Scripture is change. In fact, I think change was one of the most profound results of getting kicked out of the Garden.

(Note: the following is somewhat “speculative.”)

I just left a long, interesting conversation with my theologian husband.

When the conversation concluded, he said, “I’ve never had that thought before. And I’ve never heard of anyone else who said it either.”

So, take the following for what it is: my random thinking that maybe we should think about.

The question I posed to my husband was: “Was change a result of Adam and Eve’s sin?”

I kind of thought it was. Why?

Adam and Eve walked around without clothing. Therefore, seasons were probably not part of the Garden.
Adam and Eve were able to eat of all the fruit, except for that one. So, planting, pruning, and watering weren’t necessary.
The animals were created and named and lived peacefully around them.
The only “rule” God had to explain was about the forbidden fruit.
The first apparent change was after Adam had sinned and he and Eve felt shame.
The Bible records a LOT of changes that took place after that.

Jim and I talked about this idea for a while, and he had to agree.

We can’t prove it theologically because the Bible doesn’t say—but it certainly seems so.

Should we change what we think about changes?

If change occurred as a result of the fall, should we think about change a bit differently?

Most of us try to limit change, yet think about all the benefits.

My phone fits in my purse or pocket now and has far more capabilities than my old computer and phone combined. Changing to a newer phone is an easy choice to make because it makes life easier.

Some changes are more difficult.

I recently visited the dermatologist. Apparently, I can make some great changes, but one of the greatest changes would be to my bank account! I’ve decided not to change those changes—at least not yet!

None of those changes would need changing if Adam and Eve had listened to God.

Maybe we need to accept change like we accept aging. It’s inevitable, but we try to change those changes sometimes.

Will there be change in heaven?

I don’t know if heaven will change, but I don’t think so.

I know that one day everyone who will ever exist in heaven will be there. Revelation 21:4 says, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Is change one of the “former things” that will pass away when Christ returns?

Heaven will be a place where we can blissfully count on everything and everyone to be absolute perfection.

Looking forward to the biggest and best change of our lives

Paul wrote about the most important change that will ever occur in this world: “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory’” (1 Corinthians 15:51–54).

In the meantime, I will change the changes I can change and work to accept the changes I can’t change. But I will do it all with the hope that one day we will all be “changed,” and all the changes will be forever changed by the One who never changes.

So, how did these thoughts about change, change your thoughts today?

Life Changes

“Life Changes” is the title track on Thomas Rhett’s new album and a perfect intro for this blog post. I saw Rhett perform it on ABC’s CMA Fest and knew I wanted to know more about him. I’m not a huge country music fan, but I like some of the songs, and this one especially caught my attention. I listened to the lyrics and thought, This guy is a Christian! And that turned out to be true. You might enjoy listening to his song too.

In the last stanza, he talks about adopting a child from Uganda. During the adoption process, his wife found out she was pregnant. They have two little girls under the age of two. Their story is the subject of the song “Life Changes.”

Rhett met his wife, Lauren, in the first grade, and they married right out of college. He and Lauren did an interview for the university he attended and said they truly believe that they have been given this platform for more than just entertaining and writing hit songs. The couple said, “No matter what, [we] are extremely grateful for this journey that God has [us] on in the music industry.” Their lives are crazy right now with an album launch, two little girls, and all the other details of life. The chorus of the song says it well:

“Ain’t it funny how life changes
You wake up ain’t nothing the same and life changes
You can’t stop it just hop on the train
You never know what’s gonna happen
You make your plans and you hear God laughing

Life changes, and I wouldn’t change it for the world, the world, oh no
And I wouldn’t change it for the world, the world, oh no”

Life does change. When I married Jim, I thought I would be a professor’s wife. Then he became a pastor and I hoped I would make a good pastor’s wife. (That is a story for a different blog post!) Then, Jim felt called to leave his really BIG church and begin this ministry . . . in the middle of an economic recession and with two sons still in college and graduate school. Life changes—and so did the color of my hair. (Well . . . at least the roots.)

As Jim’s wife, I have been a real estate agent, a church secretary, a second-grade schoolteacher, a stay-at-home mom, a stay-at-home mom / pastor’s wife / Sunday School teacher / Bible study leader / author / speaker, and now I am a JanetDenison.org blogger / Bible study teacher / speaker / ChristianParenting.org brand manager and, because life changes . . . an occasional podcaster.

Life changes and so does this ministry. God continues to grow it, and I want to invite you to the next “life change” for ChristianParenting.org. Cynthia Yanof has been a huge blessing to this ministry, and she has started “Pardon the Mess,” the new podcast of ChristianParenting.org and it’s as real, raw, and heartfelt as it sounds. We want to invite you into an honest conversation about the challenges and joys of parenting so you can see you’re not alone, no matter what you, your kids, your grandkids or someone you know are going through. She has already recorded several episodes, and you will hear her interview people like Mike Singletary, Michael W. Smith, Chip Waggoner, Kay Wyma, and even a teacher / pastor’s wife / blogger: me. We have a couple episodes ready for you to hear now and more standing in the lineup. (Rumor has it she will be interviewing Joni Eareckson Tada in the fall.) Sign up to be notified when a new ‘Pardon the Mess’ podcast goes out.

And I have a huge favor to ask of all my readers. It’s a BIG deal if you give us good ratings and leave a favorable comment on the podcast page. We really need your help. You will find instructions for how to do this below. This blogger / teacher / speaker / podcaster is grateful for all of you. Thank you for helping us extend this ministry to people we may never meet this side of heaven.

Life changes and changed lives is why we do this ministry. Thanks for helping this ministry thrive.

How to leave a review on the Pardon the Mess Podcast in iTunes:

Open iTunes on your computer or the Podcasts App on your iPhone.
Search for “Pardon the Mess – A Christian Parenting Podcast”.
Select the “Pardon the Mess – A Christian Parenting Podcast” by clicking the logo.
Click the Ratings and Reviews tab at the top. (If on mobile, scroll down to find Ratings and Reviews.)
Select “Write a Review,” under the Customer Reviews headline and let us know what you think!

Thank you so much for taking the time to help the Pardon the Mess podcast get more exposure, so that more parents can get the trusted guidance they need!

Get started by clicking here and then clicking the blue “View in iTunes” button on the left.