I want to make it clear that I do not believe God is judging America. We do not believe that 9/11 or Katrina were judgments upon America. If God is doing any judging in America, it is the Church He is judging, not the nation.
The Church has no right to claim that God is judging America. The Church has no right to point fingers at Hollywood, abortionists, homosexuals, politicians, pornographers, or anyone else, and pronounce God's judgment upon them. God's pattern is always to judge His people first.
If God is judging anyone in America, it is not the bar scene, the strip clubs, the heavy metal or the promiscuous. It is the Church that deserves judgment. It is the Church that has been weak, emaciated, compromising, lukewarm, sin-ridden, and a dishonor to God.
If we want to talk about what non-believing Americans deserve, it is only one thing: to have a chance to experience the presence and power of God. The Church can only deliver that when she is satisfied to live a dynamic life of uncompromising witness and fierce loyalty to Jesus. As it is now, even "Bible-believing" churches have gone astray into a form of godliness without power, services lacking the presence of God, and a type of self-righteousness that pushes people away.
This is not to say that God doesn't have a remnant. He does. His remnant is made up of believers who have truly taken the destiny of this nation upon their shoulders. They don't look to anyone else to impact the culture of this nation but themselves. They carry the presence of God and they view themselves as wholly responsible to deliver what the hungry masses are looking for.
Jesus never pointed His fingers at the Romans and blamed them for the problems in Israel. He pointed His finger at the religious system. The true Church is repentant first. We don't point our finger at abortionists, rather we repent for how we have treated women. We don't point our finger at homosexuals, rather we repent for not growing strong families. We don't point our finger at Hollywood, rather we repent that we have not brought something to America more exciting than meaningless entertainment. We do not point our finger at government, because it is not in the hands of politicians to rescue America.
Think about this: a neglectful mother fails to feed her toddler properly. When that child is dying of malnutrition, can she blame the child? Can she say, "Oh, I preached to that child about what is right and wrong. He should have eaten right." The Church has been a neglectful mother. In order to have compassion again, the Church cannot blame others for America's ills. She can only rise up and take her role.
America, forgive us for pointing our finger at you.
by Tim O'Brien, Pastor, Rock of Ages Church & Ministries, St. Robert, Missouri
used by permission
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Hiding in the Closet
While other kids were innocently playing hide and seek in their backyards, she learned how to become invisible in her bedroom. His drunken voice was all the motivation she needed; as soon as she heard it, she grabbed her younger sisters and quickly crouched with them behind the door of her closet. "Please God, don't let him see us," she whispered. "Hide us, God. Don't let him see us. Please." She heard him calling out again, felt the heaviness of his staggering footsteps getting closer and closer. Instinctively she tightened her arms around the little girls who clung to her, shushing them softly one last time before his hand turned the knob on the door.
"Where are you, you little...you better answer me!" he roared. "I know you're around here somewhere!" Then he flung open the door and cursed as he stood searching the darkness through half-shut eyes. Blinking, trying to focus and then stumbling, almost losing his balance completely, he finally shook his head. "You no good...make me hunt you down, will you?" He started to retreat. "Wait 'til I get my hands on you!" His angry threats turned into confused mutterings as he made his way back down the hall.
She heard him fall onto his bed, but didn't dare move until he was snoring. "Oh, thank you, God, thank you, thank you, thank you! He looked right at us and didn't see us! You did hide us, you did!" She tiptoed on the outside but danced and leaped high on the inside, praising her Father.
In her closet, this young girl found out Who she can trust.
Now the years have passed and she's caring for her own small children. She finds herself needing closet time again, not to avoid physical abuse, thank God, but facing enormous challenges that would wear most people completely down. Her once-successful-husband now struggles with huge, self-inflicted problems she never dreamed would enter their house; problems she doesn't want the kids to see. He calls again to say he won't be bringing over the promised rent money. Eight months pregnant, she walks to work, tired of asking favors of her friends; the car she'd leased for several years had to be surrendered. In her prayer closet she cries out, settles herself and listens with a thankful heart.
Time after time her rent money has come just in time from totally unexpected places. She gratefully says it was God who provided it.
A young couple in prayer were impressed to give her a vehicle that's good and safe and big enough for her and the kids. She gives God the glory for it.
This young woman stays close to the One she can trust.
The Word says we're each given a measure of faith. It's easy to think my friend has more faith than ordinary people, judging by the way her very real needs have been met supernaturally. I don't think God gave her more faith because He's no respecter of persons. I think she has learned what to do with the measure of faith she's been given. And surely she learned that while sitting at His feet.
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: "He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust in him." Psalm 91:1 & 2 NLT
"Where are you, you little...you better answer me!" he roared. "I know you're around here somewhere!" Then he flung open the door and cursed as he stood searching the darkness through half-shut eyes. Blinking, trying to focus and then stumbling, almost losing his balance completely, he finally shook his head. "You no good...make me hunt you down, will you?" He started to retreat. "Wait 'til I get my hands on you!" His angry threats turned into confused mutterings as he made his way back down the hall.
She heard him fall onto his bed, but didn't dare move until he was snoring. "Oh, thank you, God, thank you, thank you, thank you! He looked right at us and didn't see us! You did hide us, you did!" She tiptoed on the outside but danced and leaped high on the inside, praising her Father.
In her closet, this young girl found out Who she can trust.
Now the years have passed and she's caring for her own small children. She finds herself needing closet time again, not to avoid physical abuse, thank God, but facing enormous challenges that would wear most people completely down. Her once-successful-husband now struggles with huge, self-inflicted problems she never dreamed would enter their house; problems she doesn't want the kids to see. He calls again to say he won't be bringing over the promised rent money. Eight months pregnant, she walks to work, tired of asking favors of her friends; the car she'd leased for several years had to be surrendered. In her prayer closet she cries out, settles herself and listens with a thankful heart.
Time after time her rent money has come just in time from totally unexpected places. She gratefully says it was God who provided it.
A young couple in prayer were impressed to give her a vehicle that's good and safe and big enough for her and the kids. She gives God the glory for it.
This young woman stays close to the One she can trust.
The Word says we're each given a measure of faith. It's easy to think my friend has more faith than ordinary people, judging by the way her very real needs have been met supernaturally. I don't think God gave her more faith because He's no respecter of persons. I think she has learned what to do with the measure of faith she's been given. And surely she learned that while sitting at His feet.
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: "He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust in him." Psalm 91:1 & 2 NLT
Sunday, March 13, 2011
A Broken Foot and A Fixed Heart
A month after I broke six bones in my right foot, I wrote this in my prayer journal:
"All of this 'idle time' made necessary by a broken foot has made me recognize that sometime in the past two years I gave up certain controls of my life. Yes, I'm still in Your Word. Yes, I acknowledge You, speak to You. I see Your goodness at work in our lives, I receive instruction. I serve in church with a right attitude. Why do I feel I'm on the outside looking in? Why am I so dissatisfied with my life?..."
A pause, and then: "I was taught a long time ago how to fix this kind of rift: I need to go back to my last point of disobedience, repent, and go forward again. 'Search me, O God, and know my heart...see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.' "
Later, days later, I faced what He was showing me. There was this thing He asked of me once, and I did not come through. There were a few attempts in my own strength which failed, of course. And there were reminders along the way, but somehow I justified my failure to yield. Looking back and owning up to it, I wrote: "I don't know exactly when my pride began taking control, Father. You do. And You still love me and show such mercy. I do know I want to abandon that pride, lay it down, turn and walk away obediently with You. I truly repent."
Here's what I wrote hours later that night: "All day, Father, since repenting, I've sensed such a lightness - I breezed around on my crutches like I was almost weightless! I stayed in the Word, studying with hunger and thirst again. I worshipped You freely, and Your presence was so 'thick', so tangible. Bless Your holy name!"
Some time later I found a fresh definition of disobedience. The Amplified Bible, in Romans 5:19 says it is "failing to hear, heedlessness, and carelessness." That's a good description of where I was, spiritually, before I broke my foot. I don't like to admit it, not at all, but that's the way it was. It wasn't constant. It wasn't rebellion that other people would notice. It was a gradual shutting down of response to my Father. I wish I had recognized the truth much sooner, but I didn't.
Psalm 91 is scripture I've stood on for other people and personally for over 20 years. It has been my belief that when I "do" verses 1 & 2 (my part), the Lord will keep His word and perform verses 3-13 (His part). Then the whole thing is summarized beautifully in verses 14-16. This whole broken-foot business brought me back to believing and confessing this Word every single day. And when I would get to the section that says His angels lift me up so I won't even dash my foot against a stone, I would thank Him for what He wanted to do the day I dashed my foot to pieces. You see, I know He does His part; He is not a liar, and He keeps His Word.
Finally one day when I prayed Psalm 91out of the Amplified, I noticed that verse 11 is phrased, "He gives His angels especial charge over us to accompany, defend and preserve us in all our ways of obedience and service."
Obedience and service. I had been "doing" the service part. But without full obedience, service becomes a hollow sacrifice. And the Lord said once to obey and heed is better than sacrifice. He said it for our own good. If we are willing and obedient, we will eat the good of the land, according to Isaiah 1:19; but if we refuse and rebel, there's a devourer waiting to do us in.
I'm not writing this to judge any other person. This is just me locating me, remembering some things I've learned about the Lord from His very own words. He loves his children and longs to protect us. He wants to deliver us from all kinds of trouble - and there is plenty of trouble all around. Loving Father that He is, He's not inflicting pain or breaking bones in order to teach us something...what I have learned and relearned during these months of repair could have been gained before the damage was done. All I had to do was listen and obey.
Too bad I didn't flip back to an earlier journal entry before I broke my foot. About 10 years ago, I went to church with so much pain in one foot I could hardly walk, much less stand with our praise team for 40 minutes. I thought seriously about sitting this one out, but then decided to trust God and do what I needed to do. During praise and worship time, the Lord showed me in His quiet way there was a step of faith I should take, and it would require me to get way outside my comfort zone. Within three minutes of yielding to Him and taking that step, my foot pain totally disappeared, leaving not even the slightest hint of discomfort! Obedience resulted in my receiving the good He had in store for me: wholeness, wellness, the cure I needed! I could hardly keep pen on paper that night, trying to express the immense joy I felt. Reading the words now takes me right back to the moment. Reading them a few months ago might have moved me to fully re-enter the Secret Place of the Most High where there's deliverance, protection, good health and more!
I am so glad God's mercies are new every morning, ready to be received. His sweet conviction never condemns. It urges us to come back into right relationship with Him. He constantly calls His children to hide safely in the shadow of His wings. Thank You Father. I want to stay here with You. I want to hear You, heed You and walk in Your marvelous love.
"All of this 'idle time' made necessary by a broken foot has made me recognize that sometime in the past two years I gave up certain controls of my life. Yes, I'm still in Your Word. Yes, I acknowledge You, speak to You. I see Your goodness at work in our lives, I receive instruction. I serve in church with a right attitude. Why do I feel I'm on the outside looking in? Why am I so dissatisfied with my life?..."
A pause, and then: "I was taught a long time ago how to fix this kind of rift: I need to go back to my last point of disobedience, repent, and go forward again. 'Search me, O God, and know my heart...see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.' "
Later, days later, I faced what He was showing me. There was this thing He asked of me once, and I did not come through. There were a few attempts in my own strength which failed, of course. And there were reminders along the way, but somehow I justified my failure to yield. Looking back and owning up to it, I wrote: "I don't know exactly when my pride began taking control, Father. You do. And You still love me and show such mercy. I do know I want to abandon that pride, lay it down, turn and walk away obediently with You. I truly repent."
Here's what I wrote hours later that night: "All day, Father, since repenting, I've sensed such a lightness - I breezed around on my crutches like I was almost weightless! I stayed in the Word, studying with hunger and thirst again. I worshipped You freely, and Your presence was so 'thick', so tangible. Bless Your holy name!"
Some time later I found a fresh definition of disobedience. The Amplified Bible, in Romans 5:19 says it is "failing to hear, heedlessness, and carelessness." That's a good description of where I was, spiritually, before I broke my foot. I don't like to admit it, not at all, but that's the way it was. It wasn't constant. It wasn't rebellion that other people would notice. It was a gradual shutting down of response to my Father. I wish I had recognized the truth much sooner, but I didn't.
Psalm 91 is scripture I've stood on for other people and personally for over 20 years. It has been my belief that when I "do" verses 1 & 2 (my part), the Lord will keep His word and perform verses 3-13 (His part). Then the whole thing is summarized beautifully in verses 14-16. This whole broken-foot business brought me back to believing and confessing this Word every single day. And when I would get to the section that says His angels lift me up so I won't even dash my foot against a stone, I would thank Him for what He wanted to do the day I dashed my foot to pieces. You see, I know He does His part; He is not a liar, and He keeps His Word.
Finally one day when I prayed Psalm 91out of the Amplified, I noticed that verse 11 is phrased, "He gives His angels especial charge over us to accompany, defend and preserve us in all our ways of obedience and service."
Obedience and service. I had been "doing" the service part. But without full obedience, service becomes a hollow sacrifice. And the Lord said once to obey and heed is better than sacrifice. He said it for our own good. If we are willing and obedient, we will eat the good of the land, according to Isaiah 1:19; but if we refuse and rebel, there's a devourer waiting to do us in.
I'm not writing this to judge any other person. This is just me locating me, remembering some things I've learned about the Lord from His very own words. He loves his children and longs to protect us. He wants to deliver us from all kinds of trouble - and there is plenty of trouble all around. Loving Father that He is, He's not inflicting pain or breaking bones in order to teach us something...what I have learned and relearned during these months of repair could have been gained before the damage was done. All I had to do was listen and obey.
Too bad I didn't flip back to an earlier journal entry before I broke my foot. About 10 years ago, I went to church with so much pain in one foot I could hardly walk, much less stand with our praise team for 40 minutes. I thought seriously about sitting this one out, but then decided to trust God and do what I needed to do. During praise and worship time, the Lord showed me in His quiet way there was a step of faith I should take, and it would require me to get way outside my comfort zone. Within three minutes of yielding to Him and taking that step, my foot pain totally disappeared, leaving not even the slightest hint of discomfort! Obedience resulted in my receiving the good He had in store for me: wholeness, wellness, the cure I needed! I could hardly keep pen on paper that night, trying to express the immense joy I felt. Reading the words now takes me right back to the moment. Reading them a few months ago might have moved me to fully re-enter the Secret Place of the Most High where there's deliverance, protection, good health and more!
I am so glad God's mercies are new every morning, ready to be received. His sweet conviction never condemns. It urges us to come back into right relationship with Him. He constantly calls His children to hide safely in the shadow of His wings. Thank You Father. I want to stay here with You. I want to hear You, heed You and walk in Your marvelous love.
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