Conspiracy Theory

Conspiracy theories are rampant! The world bankers are plotting this, the Rothschilds are planning that, the government is secretly conducting one thing and another.

It has always been such and they may all be true! But there there is a higher planner!

Take a moment to read what the Bible says about that,

"Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,
from the plots of evildoers.

They sharpen their tongues ... aim cruel words ... shoot from ambush ... encourage each other ... they say, “Who will see it?”

But God will shoot them with his arrows ... turn their own tongues against them and bring them to ruin"
- Psalm 64:2-8 (NIV)

A friend years ago told God in prayer, "Lord, since you are going to be up all night anyway, I'll let you worry about that; I'm going to get some sleep."

-fritz
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What do I do?

"The LORD is my shepherd ... Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;" - Psalm 23:1a, 4

So what's my part in this sheep to shepherd relationship with God? I walk - choosing not to fear even if/when I am in dreadful times and places.

This is, really, the ONLY thing he expects - to follow him in my daily life trusting even in tough times he will keep me safe and lead me through; it's just that simple.

I can't always see the big picture or understand the "why", but by God's grace I can put one foot in front of the other, choose to be brave, and trust God will make things right.

The senior pastor where I once served took me aside one day and said, "Your faith is just too simple for real life". The only response I could give - "I guess the only way I'll survive is by the grace of God!" He agreed, but not in the positive way I intended. That was almost 30 years ago.

God's grace has always been sufficient for my need. I walk and choose not to fear, God handles the rest.

- fritz

No Fair-Weather Friend

For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee ... In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me. - Psalm 86:5,7

God is no fair-weather friend. In Christ he is not easily offended and holds no grudges.

I expect he would like a little confidence from us that he would act according to the way he requests we act toward one another.

A radio preacher told the story of a father who threw his son's old dilapidated bicycle into the dumpster when asked by his son to fix it. His son was hurt and could not understand why his dad would do such a thing. He could not understand, that is, until his dad took him to buy a brand new bicycle.

"If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" - Jesus (Matthew 7:11)

-fritz

Trust means Obey

The idea that you can trust Christ and not intend to obey him is an illusion generated by the prevalence of an unbelieving “Christian culture.” In fact, you can no more trust Jesus and not intend to obey him than you could trust your doctor and your auto mechanic and not intend to follow their advice. If you don’t intend to follow their advice, you simply don’t trust them. Period.

- Dallas Willard, Renovation Of The Heart, Pg. 95

Crisis Management?

"And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled..." - Mark 11:7

"Troubled"- it seems everyone wants to get us frightened by some crisis. From the weather to the nations, everything is in "crisis management"!

Jesus told HIS followers NOT to be troubled. It doesn't mean we don't care, it doesn't mean we don't act, but we choose not to be in a crisis.

God is our Father, he is personally caring for us, he will give us peace and wise actions to take at the right time.

-fritz

It Only Takes a Moment

Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh took his signet ring ... and put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in robes ... put a gold chain around his neck ... had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command" - Genesis 41:41-43

Joseph was disadvantaged, a slave, and a prisoner for years, but he remained faithful to his morals and to hope. When the time was right his deliverance took but a moment.

Moments are essential; Divine moments change history.

Don't discount moments of time. It doesn't matter how long you have waited, God's answer takes only a moment.

- fritz

Take My Life

"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." - John 6:37

' Take my life !' We have said it or sung it before the Lord, it may be many times; but if it were only once whispered in His ear with full purpose of heart, should we not believe that He heard it? And if we know that He heard it, should we not believe that He has answered it, and fulfilled this, our heart's desire?

Why should we doubt that He did verily take our lives when we offered them—our bodies when we presented them?"

- Frances Ridley Havergal, author of the hymn, "Take My Life and Let it Be"<sup>1


1 - Kept for the master's Use, 1882, pg. 5</sup>

The right course of action

God, the Master, The Holy of Israel, has this solemn counsel: "Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me - Isaiah 30:15-17 (Message)

Sometimes, especially in a crisis, just being still and waiting on God to reveal the right course of action IS the right course of action.

- fritz

Who does what?!

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

If I read this right, noticing who does what, my life focus is not finding rest, refreshment, guidance, defence, or anointing for myself - that's His role in my life.

My job is to walk¹ close to Him in obedience, trust Him when I'm made to do things I don't particularly want, and choose not to fear when situations look threatening.

Just doing that I won't need to chase "goodness" and "mercy", they'll chase me.

¹ Blog Post: Not an Insurance Policy

-fritz