It is raining here today and tonight we are supposed to receive snow showers. Here in north Georgia the word ‘snow’ elicits squeals of excitement and also more than a little fear. In other words, it’s rare.
I’m from Rhode Island. I lived through the Blizzard of 1978, one of the worst blizzards that ever fell in America anytime in weather recorded history. I moved to Maine just afterward and stayed for about 30 years. I am quite familiar with snow, and lots of it. I do not squeal with excitement when the forecasters say the word, I groan instead.
My life ln Maine included a lot of snow…
Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, And have you seen the storehouses of the hail, (Job 38:22)
For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the gentle rain, ‘Pour out a mighty downpour.’ (Job 37:6)
But I do love to ponder His creative work. I particularly enjoy His work as Creator. Jonathan Edwards did too. Edwards said,
The end of the creation is that the creation might glorify [God]. Now what is glorifying God, but a rejoicing at that glory he has displayed? ~Jonathan Edwards
Edwards took a horseback ride or a walk every day, and pondered great thoughts, and enjoying thinking of God as creator. Edwards enjoyed the creation he admired so much, and praised God for it always.
It’s hard for me to imagine the infinite capability God has in creating every snowflake differently. If one snowflake is this beautiful, how gorgeous will heaven be?
And even more amazing, He created all the souls on earth that ever were, uniquely and individually. Each person looks different, has different DNA, and a different personality. What an amazing creator God we have!
But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— (1 Corinthians 2:9)
I’ve had pets continuously for 35 years. Then my last cat, Murray, died five months ago. I was content to take a break from pet ownership and not have any more cats. (I’d had 2 dogs in the 1980s, and my husband had a dog in the 90s, but I discovered I’m a cat person).
I was enjoying, for once, having the apartment the way I liked it. No pet toys to step on. I could put flowers around and they wouldn’t get eaten. Nothing was swiped off any surface onto the floor, meaning I didn’t have to tape my coasters down and I could display my knick-knacks. And best of all I didn’t have to deal with the litter box. Ahhh, peace at last.
I was enjoying the financial release, too. No litter, food, beds, cleaner, or toys to buy, which was better on my weekly grocery budget. Best, were no quadruple digit vet bills. For once I had some discretionary income.
Then one day recently I emerged in the pre-dawn to go to work, and a kitten was on my stoop. He tried to get between my legs and go inside! Stray cats don’t act like that! Nor do feral cats. They’re skittish of people and stay away, hovering in interest at a distance, maybe, but certainly not attempting a home invasion!
I brushed him away with my foot but he followed me to the garage. He ran inside and would not come out. It took a while to coax him out, all the while trying not to run over him when he did. He was meowing. Little, cute scrawny thing. He watched me sadly as I backed down the driveway, huddling against the garage door.
I hadn’t seen this cat in the yard. There are some strays that live under the shed. It’s where Murray lived before I tamed him and brought him inside. A black cat lives there now. There are also some neighborhood cats. A Butterscotch that likes to sit on the roof of the shed and sun himself on the tin roof. An orange cat that’s a bully and yowls around the yard all night. I’d never seen this little gray kitten before the moment he appeared on my doorstoop and tried to come in.
I thought about him during my day. The unusual behavior. The friendliness and willingness to be near people. His little body, a bag of bones, really. He was young, and also a handsome cat.
I was feeling worse and worse about the situation. I decided that when I got home, if he was still there, I’d bring him in. It was obvious to me that the Lord had sent him. Well, pretty obvious, as obvious as you can read into circumstances. I was still dithering, but when I got home I called out all over the yard. Kitty! Kitty! No kitty.
I poked my head out and continued to check periodically. No kitty. After a few hours, it was getting dark, so I tried one more time. There he was! KITTY!!
I went over to him and he about leaped into my arms. He sure was friendly! Also unusual for a cat. Normally it takes some doing for them to be held, but he was purring and loving it all. I could see he was socialized. His tail was mangled and had been bleeding. Deciding to get him some water, I put him down on the patio table and went the few steps to the front door. As I opened it, HE RAN IN.
Now is the time I must concede the point to Jesus. It’s obvious He sent me another cat.
Long story short, the cat was not coming out. He sat there just out of arm’s reach for me to pick him up to get him out. He was in and he was staying. I took a chance and left him, an unknown stray animal, in my apartment while I ran to the Dollar Store just around the corner. I came back with kitty litter, a litter pan, and some food. And a flea comb.
The next morning I called for a vet appointment and they said they had nothing for a week and a half. I was sad because that tail was bleeding and a chunk was taken out of it. Then suddenly they said, “Oh! There was a sudden cancellation just now! We can get you in today.” (Jesus).
The vet said later that it was good to get him in then, because the tail was “broken” and would have become a gangrenous mess before long. They had to amputate. He also has two ear infections and he’s really skinny, but otherwise OK. (They confirmed it’s a ‘he’). It’s been two weeks tomorrow since I brought him home from the vet. He is still wearing his cone and I’m still giving meds for his ear. His hunger and food insecurity make him go bonkers whenever I cook anything in the kitchen or prepare to feed him. I hope that settles down soon, and I think it will. He’ll realize that food is always coming and he doesn’t ever have to go hungry again.
Mulling over this unexpected change in my life caused me to ponder the Lord’s hand in this. I know it is not a huge change. Other people have lost their children to illness or death, have endured dread diagnoses, gone bankrupt or lost their homes, real traumas. Having a cat thrust upon me doesn’t sound like a very big change, especially since I’d had cats continuously since the 1990s. But it is a traumatic change for me, because any change is traumatic for me. Especially unexpected change. Most especially unwanted change.
What have I learned from this? What life lesson is the Lord teaching me? We learn about Him through the Bible, the only place there is inerrant truth. But we do not live in a doctrinal vacuum. We live lives, have things happen, work to please the Lord, and learn from our experiences. The Spirit teaches us from His word, but also from circumstances. Paul was blessed enough to have the Lord explicitly state why he had to go through so many circumstances, (to suffer for His name’s sake, Acts 9:16; and so he would not become conceited, 2 Corinthians 12:7). But unlike Paul, we are not so blessed to have direct correlations about events
Since I’m not so blessed as to have the Lord explicitly tell me why this or that is happening, I have to learn life lessons through circumstances, and go from there.
So far this experience has reminded me (and in a gentle and graceful way) that my life is not my own. My time, my money, and my energy is to be poured out for others. Even if it’s a cat.
Patience…lots and lots of patience. Every time I eat or prepare food I’m literally under siege as he meows, climbs, and tries his best to get at whatever food I’m eating or cooking. I protected the kitchen counter with cardboard covered with double sided sticky tape to deter the kitten from jumping up there, including a hot stove (which he has done). The kitchen is not pretty looking and it’s hard for me to navigate the small space when I have to move the cardboard, wash a dish quickly, and put it away before the cat gets a clue there is a bowl I’d emptied with food somewhere. I mean, he even got up on the counter and tried to eat the steel wool scrubbing pad! I found it on the floor one morning. It had had an oatmeal flake on it. (No, he does not have parasites).
Finances. I think this is the main lesson. Every time I clear a debt or come into money, something happens to force me back. My tooth crown breaks. I pay off the dentist and the day after, my car breaks down. I pay off the mechanic, and the cat gets sick. I pay off the cat bill and the car breaks down again. Literally happens that day or the next day after I clear a big bill. Every time. I used my $1,200 stimulus money to pay off the vet bill from Bert’s last days, and the $600 stimulus came in and went out a week later, to pay for Sully’s tail amputation. I cannot get ‘ahead’ and accumulate a cushion to save my life.
I believe the Lord wants me utterly dependent on Him financially. And you know what? I’ve never gone hungry. I’ve never not been able to pay a bill. I’ve never gotten behind on rent. I live close to bankruptcy every moment. Any little emergency could send me off the cliff. But it never does. I need to remember the Lord is sovereign King over all, but that also He is a good, good father who takes individual and perfect care of His children.
So those are some things happening with me lately. Life lessons, under the sun in a world where the Lord providentially manages the circumstances of my life to the good of those who love Him.
Sully after he ran into my apartment the first evening and laid down at my foot.
When the persecution under Nero began in AD 64, the Christians scattered. The Church at Jerusalem had grown mightily these first years. Remember in Acts when 3000 were converted under Peter that first day, and many more were converted since, stayed. The church at Jerusalem was so large, that complaints were starting that the Greek Christians were marginalized at the food distribution in favor of the Israelite Christians, so the Church selected 7 men to oversee it.
When the great fire broke out, Nero the Emperor blamed the Christians. His persecution of them became direct and cruelly evil, devising new ways to torture them. Life in Israel was ever more tenuous, so they scattered to Asia and other distant parts.
If you’re like me, when you get home from a long day at work (or if you’re a SAHM, a long day of work at home) and after you finish your chores and put the kids to bed, you’re wiped. All you want to do with the few precious minutes of sentient thought you have left is to veg out. You don’t want anything demanding of your tired brain, and you just want to read or watch something easy, clean, and perhaps edifying.
I am reading two books and have recently watched two movies that fit the bill, in my opinion.
Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane C. Ortlund is the book of the year. No, really, this book has appeared on many Christian Best-Of lists for publications in 2020. Its devotional style makes for easy reading, and its wonderful content is so edifying you’ll feel like you showered in a fresh rain sprinkled with lavender afterward. Here’s the blurb: “How does Jesus feel about his people amid all their sins and failures? This book takes readers into the depths of Christ’s very heart—a heart of tender love drawn to sinners and sufferers.” Recommended so highly you should run to the store and get it now.
This novel fulfills all my expectations and needs for a relaxing journey on a rainy Saturday covered in my quilt in my easy chair, with cat. It’s Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore: A Novel by Robin Sloan. Here’s the blurb: “The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon away from life as a San Francisco web-design drone and into the aisles of Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. But after a few days on the job, Clay discovers that the store is more curious than either its name or its gnomic owner might suggest. The customers are few, and they never seem to buy anything―instead, they “check out” large, obscure volumes from strange corners of the store. Suspicious, Clay engineers an analysis of the clientele’s behavior, seeking help from his variously talented friends. But when they bring their findings to Mr. Penumbra, they discover the bookstore’s secrets extend far beyond its walls. Rendered with irresistible brio and dazzling intelligence, Robin Sloan’s Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore is exactly what it sounds like: an establishment you have to enter and will never want to leave.”
It is well-written and I note this because a well-written novel is increasingly a rarity these days. Not being a snob, just saying of my experience lately. It also draws you in immediately, another rarity. I don’t have to slog through any bumbling first pages or chapters to get to the good part. The book is good from the start. It also proceeds at a perfect pace, unfolding the mystery and the characters like peeling an onion steadily. I’ve read half of it, so I hope my feelings about the book is sustained through the second half.
Movies: Dear Viola. It’s Hallmark-y, a chick flick romcom (not a lot of com) that’s well produced and easy to look at. The joy was discovering one of the actresses. Jackie Richardson is a secondary character with a lot of screen time, and she is a delight. A Canadian singer and actress, Richardson’s musical mainstay is Gospel. The characters in the movie go to church and Richardson gets to sing (and the songs they picked are of Jesus, who they mention by name. Just a happy tidbit). Find her on Youtube or elsewhere and enjoy her voice.
Anyway, the small town in this case is Cobourg Canada (named Bell-something or other in the film) and it’s gorgeous. On the shores of Lake Ontario, the scenic shots include yachts, lakes, lighthouse and yummy more eye candy. Here’s the blurb: “Kellie Martin plays an accountant who submits a reply to a “Dear Viola” letter to the editor that she works for. She has a real knack for writing to people and getting to the heart of the matter, and soon the whole town is involved in the romantics.” Blurbfrom a viewer at IMDB
I liked that the film was clean, featured wholesome activities such as church, baking, dad & daughter, caring for elderly-sick, etc. And the small town newspaper was right up my alley. It’s a little corny and you see where this was going the whole time, but it’s easy on the eyes, undemanding, and the sweetest ending.
This next movie is based on a true story which makes a movie all the more compelling for me. I get to look up stuff afterward and stay with the characters after the last scene fades. The movie is Penguin Bloom, an Australian film that is also lushly filmed and extremely well acted.
Blurb: “Based on the best-selling book of the same name, the film tells the story of Sam Bloom (Academy Award® nominated Naomi Watts) a young mother whose world is turned upside down after a shocking, near-fatal accident leaves her paralyzed. Sam’s husband, (Andrew Lincoln), her three young boys and her mother (Academy Award® nominated Jacki Weaver), are struggling to adjust to their new situation when an unlikely ally enters their world in the form of an injured baby magpie they name Penguin. The bird’s arrival is a welcome distraction for the Bloom family, eventually making a profound difference on Sam’s life, teaching her how to live again.”
Australians are hearty people and extremely active. They love sports and live for the outdoors. The film portrays something we don’t get to see much these days- the three boys playing outside and at the ocean’s edge all day- building forts, running, skating, exploring. I used to do that. In the 1960s. It was a pleasure to see a family committed to each other and to exploring and imagining – and not an iphone or screen in sight. The story of the injured mother’s journey to good emotional and mental health was a well done. The magpies were tremendous. (I say magpies plural because in the credits there were a lot of them!)
I wish they’d make more movies like Penguin Bloom.
Anyway just a few recommendations for you if your’e looking for something to read or watch. Have a great week!
Believers of the Church Age will not go through the Tribulation. Let’s define the Tribulation period and the word wrath to help understand what this unique event and time period is for. Here are the verses:
The Tribulation’s purpose is stated in Daniel 9:24. God’s purpose for the Tribulation is to accomplish 6 things. It is actually a decree:
Kay Cude is a Texas Poet. Used with permission. Below is her artist’s statement. Her writing this week focuses on Jeremiah 17:9-10.
“Now, more than ever, we see clearly that the whole world, specifically our lives as American citizens, is confronted with the inerrant truth of Scripture that by a greater measure than we could have imagined just a few years ago, the souls of the governing authorities, secular and specifically in far too many hearts within the evangelical church, “lie in the lap of the evil one,” Satan (1 John 5:19).”
“We know that when such evil putridity is condoned, disregarded, and unmarked as aberrant, it will be accepted and practiced by the unregenerate beyond our mere imagining; and that through affecting persuasion, it will become palpable enough to be lived-out with little heed by those who consider themselves to be the elect of God, but who are in truth pretenders to the faith or are the “almost Christian.”
(An excellent and penetrating study reference by Mike Ratliffe into the ‘Almost Christian’, based on the Puritan Matthew Mead’s book of the same name, can be read here: “What is an Almost Christian?” Possessing the Treasure, January 23, 2021).
Cude continues- “Such lawless rebellion and trespass against God will become an acceptable way of life to the many who will follow after the persuasive deception of the heretic and apostate preacher/teacher; even by those who consider themselves to be brethren but in truth are not. If such is acceptable by the many “leaders” of the Southern Baptist Convention (and even local churches who refuse to accept the truth of the SBC’s downgrade and fall from God’s “true” grace), it will be easy for the unregenerate and the deceived within the evangelical church to live it out believing that “hyper-grace” will cover their sins. They have been deceived; worse, they practice the deception that they have been well-taught. Subsequently they teach others to become sons of Hell, and to an even greater degree.”
“I am overwhelmed by the exacting and deadly nature of the deception that is now almost wholly acceptable within evangelicalism and that it has been given free reign over the hearts and minds of the many who may never hear the true Gospel. I am also very sensitive to the fact that we must live out our lives by the Spirit and by our words and deeds. We must reflect the light of the true Gospel of God the Father and Christ Jesus, our Lord and Master and Saviour.” –end Kay Cude artist statement
Dear friends, what we see visibly is only a small part of the story. If you remember Elisha’s servant in 2 Kings 6:17 who was afraid but when Elisha asked the LORD to open the servant’s eyes, the servant saw all the chariots of God with fighting angels all around. Or Archangel Michael fighting in the second heaven, battering his way through legions of unholy angels hindering the angel from answering Daniel’s prayer for three weeks (Daniel 10:13). There is so much more going on than we know, but God is in control of it all!
If you are angry, like I am angry and Kay Cude said she was angry, rely on the sovereign wisdom and plan of God. Satan is holding his infernal councils, but he knows his time is short. When his evil time ends, what a day that will be!
It’s troubling times. Our nation just went through a national convulsion from the pandemic, presidential election, and post-election transfer of power. We’ve been experiencing a year-long string of natural disasters, riots, and unexpected tragedies. It’s been tough.
Even the strongest Christian is wobbling from being buffeted back and forth. Pagans are in terror most of the time, whether they will admit it or not.
During troubling times, our natural instinct is to extend sympathy. To put a hand on a shoulder, to cry with those who are crying. We speak a soft word, we exude mercy and grace to those who are suffering, afraid, or scared. We tend toward the “kindness” qualities in our relationships. As we should.
During troubling times it’s also a natural inclination to swing the pendulum too far to the other side. We tend to exclude speaking of our greatest need. We feel it’s ‘not the right time’ to bring up what all humans need, especially to the unsaved.
The scriptures say they are enough. To use a fancier word, the scriptures are sufficient.
All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; (2 Timothy 3:16)
That about covers all of life, doesn’t it? At least it does for the Christian. See Romans 15:4 also. Yet women believers in Christ are bombarded with testimonies from alleged ‘teachers’ of the Bible, and authors and speakers, who claim that the word is not enough. They want more.
But there is nothing more than the completely sufficient word of God. As Peter said in John 6:68, Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.”
Sarah Young is famous for starting her cottage industry of false devotionals and books for women and for children with the words “I yearned for more.”
Over the last two days I have posted something about Founders Baptist Church in Houston’s Love In Truth conference, where the theme was “Discernment, Faith, and Fidelity to the Truth.” I learned so much and enjoyed the quality of the lectures and sermons. The organization posted the videos for free on Youtube. Here is the channel with all the lectures and sermons.
I was especially interested in something Ken Ramey said in his sermon: The Discerning Listener (1 Timothy 1:3–11) | Truth In Love 2021 | Session 3. Paul is saying in 1 Tim 6:4 about a different doctrine and people who do not agree with sound doctrine,
he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a sick craving for controversial questions and disputes about words, from which come envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,
Hmmm, evil suspicions… what’s that about? It means someone ascribes evil motives to another person.
The Truth In Love conference is organized by Richard Caldwell of Founders Baptist Church of Houston TX. It was held on January 22-24, 2021. The theme this year is “Discernment, Faith, and Fidelity to the Truth,” a topic which I find exciting.
The schedule of speakers included many solid men and though I am unfamiliar with some, several are my favorites. Paul Washer, Phil Johnson, and John MacArthur (via livestream) were all slated to speak.
the-end-time.org 