The Darkest Place in the Universe.

Photo by:

NASA & ESA / Acknowledgement: A. Riess (STScI)

http://www.spacetelescope.org/images/potw1513a/

I'm reading a book by Hugh Ross called, "Why the Universe Is the Way it Is." It is a fascinating book; I'm learning so much. The most fantastic thing I've learned so far is that we are in one of the few areas of space where we can look up and see the stars. Isn't that strange and amazing?

Mr. Ross writes, "Researchers, who believe in a personal Creator (and many do), thank their maker for Earth's placement in one of the darkest regions of the universe."

Not  just this galaxy, but the universe!

He goes on to say, "Not only are the quantities and locations of the various kinds of dark stuff exactly what advanced life needs, but because of Earth's dark cosmic location, the lights of the universe don't blind us or limit our view. Astronomers can see virtually all of the heavens' wonders, including the entirety of cosmic history."

"This visibility is possible because Earth resides in a very dark place. In fact, Earth's solar system resides in the darkest part of the Milky Way Galaxy's life-habitable zone. And the Milky Way resides in the darkest life-habitable region of its galaxy cluster, which occupies the darkest lifel-habitable region of its supercluster of galaxies."

The point of this is that almost anywhere else in the universe you could not study the heavens as we do. The galaxies, nebulae, star clusters etc. would be so bright we couldn't see past them. Even the other planets in our solar system are not too bright to block our view. We are in the most perfect place for God to show us his creation. I find this amazing and wonderful.

Thank you God, for putting us in the perfect place to see your handiwork in the heavens.

"The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they reveal knowledge.

They have no speech, they use no words;

no sound is heard from them.

Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world."

Psalm 19:1-4

Good Day/Bad Day

Last night, as I lay in bed, I said to God, "Thanks for such a great day." Then I stopped. It hadn't actually been a great day as far as events in my life. Some truly negative things were going on in my family and that day had been especially stressful. But as the day wound down, I didn't feel the stress in my heart like I used to. I didn't feel like crying. What a difference! All because I finally understand God loves me just as I am and I love him, so every day is wonderful because it is a day with him.

I have this thing called Joy in my heart now. I used to read about it and want it but I never found it until recently. I couldn't understand how anyone could feel joyful in this horrible world or joyful when they, or someone they loved, were suffering. I finally know. It only took me 45 years! Lol  Well, I had a lot to get over and a lot to learn.

It feels weird not to be worried about family members who are sick. I almost feel like that is betraying them. How dare I have a good day when they are suffering! How dare I have a moment's happiness when they are sad! I actually feel guilty. But, as Joyce Meyers says, we cannot let our feelings rule us. We must live by the word of God and what is right and wrong. It is wrong to worry and I ain't gonna do it any more.

Peace. That's what you get when you don't worry. I used to want that too and now I have it. Peace with God. Resting in his love. It is so wonderful.

This isn't to say I won't ever cry again or feel awful, no, but it won't be my default button any more.

Are You Free?

I am reading a book called, "Eugenia Price Trilogy," and it is a wonderful book.  Her enthusiasm for God is overflowing and infectious. I was reading a chapter called, "Are You Free?" when I came upon this quote.

"What are some of the things which rob Christians of their freedom? Surely, as we mention elsewhere in this book, worry is one of our most constant jailers! I believe that during the time we are worrying, we are actually atheistic. Either we believe Jesus Christ or we do not. He said, "I have overcome the world." Did he? Or is he playing a fiendish cosmic prank on us?

"I have, for a year or more, permitted myself the luxury of worry for five minutes at a time and no more, At the end of five minutes, if I am still worried, I go to the nearest mirror, look myself right in the eye and say, "This tremendous thing which worries you is beyond solution. Especially, it is too hard for Jesus Christ to handle." Usually, I am restraining a laugh by that time, and when I let it go, the tears of gratitude come with the laugh, and I turn my eyes gladly back upon the face of Him who gave me a foolproof  "worry-tree" in his own cross."

I used to be a champion worrier, especially when it came to my children or grandchildren. I would pray for them, and sometimes I could leave them with God for awhile; but sooner or later I would be fretting and worrying once again. The Lord has conquered my worry, but I am still tempted to worry. The thoughts come, but I immediately pray or quote scripture and go on with my day.

Paul wrote, "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done."  Philippeans 4:6

Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."  Matthew 6:25-34

A lot of people worry about the state of the world (ISIS) and the state of America. I have learned through the Old Testament that it is wrong to do this. 

"Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land."  Psalm 37:8,9 

"Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!"  Psalm 37:7

"Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked, for the evildoer has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out."  Proverbs 24:19, 20

Even if the foundation of our government is destroyed, we need not worry. 

"When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do? But the LORD is in his holy Temple; the LORD still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth."  Psalm 11:3,4

God says that if there is chaos, confusion, war, persecution or death in our lands, we are not to worry because God still rules in the heavens. We must trust him.

I Can't Believe I Live Here!

"The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you."  Genesis 12:1

A lot of my childhood was spent packing and moving. I was born in a little town called Drumheller, Alberta, Canada. We moved to Calgary for awhile, to Midway, BC, and then to Victoria, Bc.

When I was 6 we toodled off to California. My brother had asthma and the doctors recommended a dry, hot climate. In California we lived in 8 different houses, I think. Where we lived depended on whether my dad had a good job or a bad one.

I loved moving. It was so exciting to live in different houses. Sometimes I had my own bedroom, other times I shared a room with my older sister. I'm sure my poor mom wasn't happy about all the moves.

I thought of this tonight when I was reading about Abraham. God asked him to move from Ur, a major city of the day, and then Haren and go to a land he had never seen, Caanan. God said he would give this land to Abraham and his descendants.

I wonder how hard that was for Abe and Sarah, his wife. Did Sarah complain about losing all her friends? And she probably never saw her family again. But it says they went in faith, believing and trusting in God.

There was one move I went through as an adult that frightened me. My husband and I had lived in small towns and cities after we married. We didn't want to raise our two girls in a big, bad city. But years later one of our daughters lived in one, Vancouver, BC. She had two boys who were very upset about the daycare they had to go to before and after school. We had a chance to move there and we did so I could babysit the boys.

When we got there I looked up at the tall skyscrapers and wondered what I had gotten myself into. A couple of million people lived there and they all seemed to be walking downtown as we drove by. Taxies, buses, bikes, the homeless, beggers and the police were everywhere! To be honest, I felt terrfied. I thought, "I can't believe I'm going to live here!"

We were there for 5 years, and as I've looked back I've realized those were the happiest years of my life. I came to love that city and all the crazy people in it. I loved being with my grandsons. We had so many good times; did so many fun things. We lived two blocks from the ocean and four blocks from Stanley Park, a gorgeous place. I went for long, peaceful walks every day while the boys were in school.

So, what's the point of this looong narrative on moving? Only this, if God asks you to go somewhere and you are scared stiff, go anyway. You won't regret it.

"I Love That Bug."

I was out on my balcony this morning and heard a little boy talking with his mother. He said, "Look, there's a bug!" He was silent for awhile and then said, "I love him."

I thought how beautiful children are and how beautiful love is. I remembered how the Bible says, "The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love."  Psalm 33:5

I am sometimes discouraged and often sad when I read the news online. But lately, after reading this verse, I've thought about all the love there is in the world and how many good things are being done. The earth is full of God's love, especially in the hearts of children. 

My family is full of love for each other. I see love working when disaster strikes; so many people are willing to help others. A few weeks ago I watched a man save a bear (an adult bear) that was drowning. He could have been killed, but his love for that bear's life took over in his heart. He dragged the bear to the shore and the bear looked at him and walked away into the forest.  

Mahatma Gandhi said, “Love is the strongest force the world possesses and yet it is the humblest imaginable.”  Other people have said, "Love is the strongest force in the universe." God is love, so I believe it.

Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." And that is what he did. 

When asked what was the greatest commandment from God, Jesus answered, "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”  Mark 12:30

So, God commands us to love. Is that logical? Can one command a feeling like love? All I know, is that when I feel anger at someone, I pray to love them. I pray to love God with all my heart and to love every person I meet. When God commands us to do something we think we cannot do, we just have to pray and he will do it in us and for us. 

Broken Hearts, Bruised Bodies and Minds.

"He heals the broken-hearted And binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3

"The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven days, on the day the LORD binds up the fracture of His people and heals the bruise He has inflicted."  Isaiah 30:26

"Jesus said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are bruised...(oppressed)."  Luke 4:19

We get bruised just by living in this world, a world involved in the war between good and evil. Bruises and broken hearts come to all of us in one way or another. There is no way out of it but through it, and it is infinitely better to go through it with God holding us by his right hand.

"If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me."  Psalm 139:9,10

"Yes, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me." Psalm 23

I'm reading through Isaiah now, and came upon the above scripture. It reminded me of a sermon I heard of a parable of how much God loves us and wants to help us. God is speaking in this parable about the children of Israel, but the same love he has for them he has for everyone. So here is a story of an abandoned baby:

"On the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths. No one looked on you with pity or had compassion enough to do any of these things for you. Rather, you were thrown out into the open field, for on the day you were born you were despised.

“ ‘Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, “Live!” I made you grow like a plant of the field. You grew and developed and entered puberty. Your breasts had formed and your hair had grown, yet you were stark naked.

“ ‘Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your naked body. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine.  

Ezekiel 16:4-8

I don't know if you have felt despised, naked or abandoned. I have had those feelings. I've wished that I'd never been born more times than I could count. But, now I love that God covered me and took me to himself. He is my best friend; he has healed my broken heart and he is binding up my bruises.

Throw That Problem Into the Sea.

Photo by, Chuck Szmurlo

Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him."  Mark 11:23

When I first read this verse I thought, "How strange. Who would ask that of God, and would he really do it?"  I thought it would be handy for land developers, but I didn't see how that prayer would help me. I was taking what he said literally. 

I knew Jesus spoke in parables and a lot of what he said had a deeper meaning. But this verse didn't seem like that to me. I thought he meant we could actually pray for a mountain to move.

What I like about reading the Bible on Kindle is that I can close the page, go on-line and go to Bible Hub. Any word or verse I don't understand is there. I look up the verse and then go to the Commentary section. I did this with the verse about the mountain.

It turns out that in Jewish literature a mountain stood for the difficulties of life. Aha, the great light dawns. And I can tell you from experience that Jesus was telling the truth. Any difficulty I have had, if I believed God could help me with it, he did. He helped me in a big way. 

There have been times when I didn't know what to do and he has shown me. There have been times when I needed a rest from my family and he showed me where to go. Then there were all the times with little things, like what to cook for dinner. (This is still a big deal for me. Lol)  But God always takes the difficulty I'm experiencing and throws it into the sea. 

I used to have trouble with belief. I knew I couldn't drum up belief from somewhere deep inside me and hand it to him. I finally realized belief is knowing God loves me, he can do anything and I can trust him to only do what is good for me. I ask for something, knowing he knows whether he should grant that request. I trust his answer. I wouldn't want it any other way.

When I was young, I would say, "Oh, please God do this or that."  I don't pray that way any longer. I know he is happy to hear my prayer and happy to grant it if it is for the best. I've only learned this through many years of living and seeing how his way is always the best way.