God’s faithfulness | Grandma's Ramblings

NOTE: I never want to be political on my blog. This post is not meant to do that. But our current political situation can often be the elephant in the room as family and friends gather. If you, like me, sometimes find yourself a little concerned about our future, I hope this will help you.)

We hear claims from both sides of the political scene that if the other side wins the election, democracy as we know it may end, terrible things will happen. It can be disturbing.

In our devotion today I found this reassuring word.

“Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

God has marked out their appointed times – their boundaries. Nations rise and fall. Political parties rise and fall. Politicians come and go. But one thing remains.

Isaiah 40:28 – “For you, oh Lord, abide forever.”

Revelation 1:8 – “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Psalm 90:2 – “Before the mountains were born or You gave birth to the earth and the world,
even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”

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

Our faith must be in God – not in any political party or any man/woman.

Regardless of how things may or may not look to you, I still believe God is in control.

This is “our” song. When my husband and I planned our wedding, we knew this song had to be a part of our ceremony.

My husband’s first marriage had ended when his wife basically walked out not only on the marriage, but also the children. He had gone through some tough years as he struggled to rebuild a life on his own and tried to make a home for his two youngest children still at home.

My first husband had been accidentally killed and I experienced not only sorrow but had to deal with my daughters’ trauma as they had been the ones to find him lying underneath the car that had fallen on him.

When God brought us together and made us a family, gave us a chance for happiness again, we truly agreed with the words of this song:

“All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.”

On our wedding day!

Strength to make it through the pain, sorrow and discouragement. Peace in those moments when hope seemed all gone. Even financial help as we both struggled with loss of income divorce and death brought.

Sunday we celebrate 40 years of marriage. Today this song means even more. God has truly been faithful to us!!!

After 40 years a little older but still very much in love and very grateful to God!

I have had some storms in my life. Parent’s divorce, father deserting me as a teenager, accidental death of my first husband, death of a grandson, cancer and the list could go on.

But I have found in those moments of distress, praising God has given me strength to go on.

I’m not saying I praised God for the problelms. I’m not saying I did not have many moments of pain and worry. But I’m saying when I praised God for His help, when I looked for the good things in the midst of the difficulty, peace always came. Strength to go on always came.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:2

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” Matthew 7:24-25

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

One verse in the Bible I found that has helped me understand the importance of praise is Psalm 22:3

The King James Version (which is the version I grew up with) says “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabits the praises of Israel”

More modern versions tell us that “Still, You are holy; You make Your home on the praises of Israel.” (The Voice)

Whatever you face today, I encourage you to take time to enter into praise to God and communicate with Him. Yes, you can tell Him how sad, how hurt, how angry you are. He can handle your negative emotions. But, allow Him to minister peace to you as you reflect upon his love shown on the cross.

Last Sunday I heard a sermon based on Ephesians 2 contrasting the difference between what we were before we accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior with what we were after that acceptance.

“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.”

“who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

This got me to thinking of how many times those words “but God” show that when God steps into a situation, things change.

One big example of this is in the story of Joseph. Sold by his brothers into slavery, when they finally met him as the second in command of Egypt they feared for their lives. Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?  You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:19-20

After Jacob sought to return to the land of his father, Isaac, his father-in-law followed him to try to bring him back. “he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him for seven days and followed close after him into the hill country of Gilead. But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night and said to him, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’” Genesis 31:23-24

Jacob spoke to his father-in-law of God’s protection. “If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you.” Genesis 31:42

When David hid from King Saul who was trying to kill him, God protected him. “David stayed in the desert strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.” 1 Samuel 23:14

Other great verses that show how God intervenes and that changes everything.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” Matthew 19:26

“You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead.” Acts 3:15

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard . . . the things which God has prepared for those who love Him . . . But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 2:10

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able . . .” 1 Corinthians 10:13

“The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.” Psalm 34:19

These verses tell us that our circumstances DO NOT get the last word.

I think of many times in my life when death, disease, betrayal, financial difficulties, even when my faith wavered, BUT GOD intervened.

Anyone who has gone to Sunday School in years past has heard the story of Joseph found in the book of Genesis.

Joseph was his father’s favorite of twelve sons. His father, Jacob, who became known as Israel, made Joseph a special coat. Besides being his father’s favorite, the brothers’ jealousy grew stronger as Joseph shared his dreams which indicated his brothers and even his parents would one day bow down before him. When the brothers saw a caravan of Ishmaelites on their way to Egypt to sell their products, they sold Joseph to them as a slave.

Sold in Egypt to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard, things looked pretty grim to Joseph. However, as time passed, Joseph rose to be head of Potiphar’s household. While life as a slave in a foreign country was not what he had wanted, still life was probably pretty good. Then disaster struck. Potiphar’s wife falsely accused Joseph of raping her. Joseph was thrown into prison.

Prison in those times was probably not a very pleasant place to be. Still, even there Joseph gained favor with the prison guards and life was, while not what he longed for, at least it was better than that of the other prisoners.

Of course, the story has a great ending as Joseph eventually is released from prison and made second in command to Pharoah. He is reunited with his family and forgives them. All ends well.

Throughout the narrative in Genesis several times the Bible says, “but the Lord was with Joseph.” Looking back from the happy ending even Joseph says to his brothers, “You meant it for bad, (selling him as a slave) but God meant it for good.” Clearly at this point Joseph recognizes God’s hand in all his difficulties leading to the ultimate victory both for Joseph and for his family.

Our Sunday School lessons always point out the great faith and character of Joseph. But I have to wonder…..did Joseph always feel like God was with Him? Imagine the pain of his brothers’ betrayal. The fear of what awaited him as a slave in Egypt. Think of the years separated from his father and younger brother, Benjamin. The sorrow at the thought that he would never see them again. Wondering how Benjamin was growing. Wondering if his father was still alive.

Then the injustice at being in prison when he did nothing wrong. In fact, quite the opposite, he resisted the woman’s advances not once, but the Bible indicates many times. 

As he remembered the dreams of his youth, did he cry out to God? Did he question why he had dreamed such things? How could there possibly be any real truth or hope in those dreams.

Yet it appears that Joseph never lost faith in God. When the two servants of Pharoah who were in prison with Joseph had dreams that troubled them, Joseph told them to share their dreams with him. He asked them, ““Do not interpretations belong to God?” He implied if they would tell them their dreams, God would give him the interpretation. He could not have been sure of that if he had not maintained his faith and relationship with God.

Joseph’s story has many lessons for us to learn when we face difficult times in our life. 

God is with us, even when circumstances may seem to indicate He is not. Our faith must be based not on what we see, but on the God who promised “Lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

Despite hard times, we must remain continue to live a life of Christian principles, not giving in to the temptations around us. Remember, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)

The story of Joseph shows us the sovereignty of God. Because Joseph came to be placed in a position of power in Egypt, the descendants of Jacob came to a place where they could be safe, but separate, and become the nation God has promised to Abraham. The nation through which one would come who would redeem the whole world. ”Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.” (Isaiah 46:9-10)

Finally, we see in Jospeh the power of forgiveness. Forgiving his brothers and providing for them and their families, Joseph was an instrument used of God to fulfill His promises to Abraham to make of him a great nation. 

Perhaps one of the best verses in the Bible that tells us how to deal with difficult times is Philippians 4:6-7. It is one of my favorites. ”Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

On Father’s Day I am so thankful for my heavenly father who has been faithful to me. This is a post I made a few years ago (that six-year-old granddaughter is now 12) – but still so true today. Wherever you are today, celebrating with a father who has been faithful; sorrowing for that father who is no longer with you; or wrestling with memories of a father who was not so faithful – I recommend you lean on that one who has promised “never to leave or forsake you” and is always true. My heavenly father always carries it for me.

My daughter recently spent several weeks in Sierra Leone tutoring the child of a missionary family that was returning to the states for a year and wanted to make sure their daughter was prepared for school in the USA.  My six-year-old granddaughter accompanied her mother on this trip.

It was a great opportunity for my young granddaughter to experience another culture, to try new foods and see how life is so different in other countries.  Hopefully, it has given her a better appreciation for the blessing of being born in the USA.

When she returns to school this fall and the teacher asks everyone what they did this summer, I doubt anyone will be able to top her story.  “I spent weeks in Africa.”  While there she kept a journal and my husband and I have enjoyed listening to her as she showed us the pictures she drew and read to us the comments she made in the journal.  Some of her comments we can read and some have to be “interpreted” as her spelling and printing are still in a “learning” process.

While she did well during her stay in Africa, as she and her mother began the journey back home, her excitement at the thought of seeing her daddy grew with each passing hour on the flight.  Because they were limited in the amount of luggage they could take, my granddaughter had her backpack filled to the brim with necessary items such as sunscreen and insect repellent but also with those items we Americans count as necessary such as an iPad.   The backpack became heavy as she carried it through the airport at each of their layovers.  But my granddaughter knew relief was in sight.  When they left Africa and she put the backpack on she told her mother with great confidence:

When I get home, Daddy will carry it for me.

After I calmed down from the excitement of knowing my daughter and granddaughter were back home safe and sound, I looked at the picture of my granddaughter with her daddy riding down the escalator at the airport.  My son-in-love had her backpack on his back and she was walking free of any burden.  Just as she knew, her daddy was carrying the load for her.

I began thinking of the confidence she had in her daddy.  How did she know he would carry the backpack for her?  Clearly in her six years of life she has found her daddy to be a faithful father.  He has always been there to pick her up when she fell as she learned to walk.  He has always been there to pick her up and swing her over his head and then safely put her down.  He has always been there to sooth her tears when something upset her.  He has always been there taking her to the zoo, to the park, playing games with her.  He has proven to her that he loves her, that he will take care of her and she has confidence in his ability to do just that.

Then I thought of my heavenly father.  How many times has He carried my load for me when it became too much for me?  When my earthly father deserted me, He was there.  When my first husband was accidentally killed, He was there.  When I was told that my cancer was very advanced and very aggressive and “the odds were not in my favor” He was there.  And just in the day-to-day cares of this life, He has always been there.

So I have to ask myself why is it when stressful times come, that I sometimes forget that? How sad it would have been if my granddaughter thought when she saw her daddy that he would refuse to carry her backpack but leave her to continue carrying the burden although she was exhausted from jet lag.

I keep looking at this picture of the two of them as they ride down the escalator with my granddaughter free of the load just comfortably riding down as her daddy manages the suit cases and has the backpack on his back.  He is not ashamed to wear a “My Pony” backpack.  He is not worried about someone laughing at a grown man with a child’s backpack.  His only thought is to help his daughter and to relieve her of her burden.

So Jesus went to the cross for me.  He was not afraid to bear the shame of the crucifixion.  His only thought was to help me (and the whole world) and relieve me of the burden of my sin.

So when problems come in the future, I will go back to this picture and I will say:

My Daddy will carry it for me!

I posted this in 2018 but today I celebrate 68 years of walking with my Savior, my best friend.

Life has had its ups and downs, but one thing has remained true. Jesus has been faithful to me through it all.

• He was there when my father left my mother and I when I was fourteen. “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.” Psalm 27:10
• He was there when my husband was killed in an accident leaving me with two little girls to raise. “I will be with you always.” Matthew 28:20
• He was there when the doctor told me “The odds are not in your favor” and gave me little hope of surviving more than a few more years. “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me.” Psalm 23
• He is here as I began to age and face pain of arthritis and all the other issues of the aging. “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”

In 74 years of life, I have made a lot of decisions, some good, some bad. But that decision as a six-year-old was the best one I ever made and one I have never regretted.

Our pastor has been doing a series on Psalm 23 – taking one verse at a time. Today she spoke on one verse that has been such a blessing to me throughout the past almost 20 years. It is the verse that says:

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for Thou are with me.

That is the verse that came to my mind the day of my first visit to the oncologist following surgery for breast cancer. His first words to me were “The odds are not in your favor.” Immediately the above verse came to my mind.

I did not know if the Lord was assuring me I would walk through this valley to health and life on the other side or if I would walk through this valley into death.

What was comforting to me was the assurance that He was going to be with me through this time.

Looking back on my life as I near the last years of life I am so thankful to see all the times He has been there for me.

What comfort I find in knowing He will continue to walk with me through the rest of my life – both on the mountain times and the deep valley experiences life may bring.

At this point in my life I would say I’m mostly experiencing those “mountain” times. Last week my husband and I celebrated 37 years of marriage. What a blessing it is to be able to say that he is my bff and our love for one another is deeper and stronger than the day we married. We are blessed with good health for our age and we have a beautiful home to enjoy.

Yet I have been facing some “valley” moments these last few weeks. When I had surgery for cancer the surgeon apologized and said that he had done quite a bit of nerve damage as the lymph nodes were full of cancerous cells and he wanted to make sure he removed all the cancer. That plus the extensive radiation I had has left me with pain ever since. The damage done to my side has, with age, also led to a damaged rotator cuff. Surgeons now do not want to do surgery to repair the cuff because there has been so much nerve damage already done.

For whatever reason – old age I guess – the chronic pain that I have learned to live with has recently become much worse. It is especially difficult when I try to lay down and I have come to dread bedtime.

This morning my church family gathered around me and prayed for me. What an encouragement that was. One young man put some legs on his prayers and offered to come help me with my housework, even to vacuum my floors. My husband is able to help me and I refuse to just sit and give in – got to keep moving. But it was so kind of him to offer. That’s what real love is all about.

How blessed I am – how good to know not only that God is with me – but He has given me friends to love and support me.

Whatever situation dear reader you may be in – let me encourage you to lean on God. He is our Good Shepherd and His promises to be with us in “all” seasons I have found to be true.