GOD DIDN'T MAKE MONSTERS ANYWHERE

We can talk ourselves into or out of believing almost anything.  If you don’t believe me, try this…Tomorrow morning, when you get out of bed, look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself you don’t feel good and think you are getting sick.  Brush your teeth and tell yourself again that you think you are coming down with something.  Chances are you can convince yourself to get back into bed and lounge around in your pajamas all day.  By afternoon or late evening you may experience cold chills and a pounding headache.  Are you really sick? Probably not, but you have talked yourself into believing that you are, complete with symptoms, which are very likely due to hours of inactivity.   The reverse also works.  Truthfully, most of us do not feel energetic and ready to conquer the world when we roll out of bed.  It may take a shower and hot cup of coffee before you can think about facing the day but look in the mirror, take several deep breaths, smile and say, “This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.”  Tell yourself that you are “more than a conqueror” and “can do all things through Christ.”  Sing a praise and worship song as you brush your hair and get dressed, grab that cup of coffee as you walk out the door thanking God for the beautiful morning.  Are you really going to conquer the world today?  Possibly because you have just convinced yourself that you can accomplish whatever comes your way, today.

This is true in just about every area of life; when we speak, we are often speaking prophetically, our words have power.   We find  that during Job’s great trials, he makes this statement in Job 3:25, “For the thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me.”  When Job stopped fearing and began to speak blessing, everything he had lost and more was restored to him.  Now before I am accused of being a “prosperity preacher” or of embracing the “name it and claim it doctrine,” let me assure you that I believe we pray and receive according to the will of God not according to our own selfish lust and desires.  I also believe that we talk ourselves into many situations that are not according to the will of God because of negative, fearful, discouraging words and even sometimes go against the will of God by convincing ourselves that our desires our God’s primary priority in His plan for us.

On my birthday, my little 3-year old granddaughter, Maicie sang a song to me that came straight from her mind and heart.  She called it the “Rainbow Song.”  It began with a line about rainbows in your eyes than veered off into the things that were really on her mind.  The 3rd line of the song went like this, “God didn’t make monsters anywhere, not in your bedrooms.”  I’m sure Maicie didn’t realize what she was doing, but she was speaking prophetically, WORDS OF FAITH to herself.  I’m sure she has imagined monsters in her room and probably even dreamed of them.  I also know that she has a Mommy and Daddy who pray with her and assure her that there are no monsters in her bedroom because “God didn’t make monsters.”  As Maicie continues to speak or sing her words, she is convincing herself to believe what Mommy and Daddy tell her and eventually the “monsters in the room” become a non-issue.

Philipians 4:8 Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true; whatsoever things are honest; whatsoever things are just; whatsoever things are pure; whatsoever things are lovely; whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Whatever “monster” you are facing in your life, try Maicie’s “prophetic singing.”  Substitute words of FAITH for words of FEAR.  Begin to PRAISE instead of COMPLAIN; BLESSINGS instead of CURSINGS.  Not only will you feel a lifting in your spirit but the negativity will flee and you will begin to believe that GOD IS WORKING ALL THINGS OUT FOR YOUR GOOD because GOD DIDN'T MAKE MONSTERS ANYWHERE!

NIGHT VISION

The two most terrifying experiences for a child are being separated from a parent and darkness.  We understand the horror of finding yourself in a crowd of people and not seeing a familiar face, unaware that Mom is merely 2 steps to the right.  A terrified wail sounds an alarm and suddenly Mom is at your side, holding you close and drying your tears.  What about the darkness?  What makes shadows turn into monsters as the light fades?   It is all about clear vision.  As the night descends our ability to see things as they are, lessens.  The silhouette of a stuffed animal becomes a giant tiger, suddenly a breeze stirs a piece of clothing and it moves closer, every creak and bump is magnified until you are sure something is lurking directly under your bed.  Morning dawns, our vision is restored; the tiger becomes a “Beany Baby,” the monster, a shirt and you find there is nothing more menacing than a couple of “dust bunnies” under your bed.   If only we had Night Vision.

The terror by night doesn’t disappear with age, as adults we go through dark nights that sometime stretch into dark days.  It may be a sickness that has attacked your body.  Physicians have found that during an illness, symptoms are worse and seem to magnify during the nighttime.  Perhaps there is a situation in your life you are dealing with and it seems there is no solution.  It is so dark and you just wish someone would shine a small light your way.  You may find yourself struggling under a dark cloud of depression.  Not only do you fight the darkness but now a heavy load threatens to descend, crushing the life giving breath from your body.  You need Night Vision.

Our youngest son, Phil, was fascinated with gadgets.  We purchased our home in Saginaw, when he was 6 and the most exciting news he had to share with his teacher was “it had a garage door opener.”  So it was no surprise that when he got a little older he was sure his life would be awesome if he only had a pair of Night Vision Goggles.  I am sure his amazing imagination was going wild with all the adventures he could enjoy with goggles.  No, he never obtained a pair and his life has turned out pretty awesome without such an acquisition.  But stop and think…what if….What if during your darkest moment, God handed you a pair of Night Vision Goggles and you realized the tiger was just paper or the menacing noise was just wind blowing through the trees.  What if the night became as clear as the day?  What if we had Night Vision?

Very early, one morning, I was awake praying for a precious lady and her family, who are facing some dark nights and days.  God placed this series of scriptures on my heart to share and I realized that through Him we can have Night Vision.

Psalms 139:7-12 Where can I go from Your Spirit?  Or where can I flee from Your presence?
⁸ If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
⁹ If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
¹⁰ Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me;
¹² Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You.

My spirit thrilled at verses 11 and 12, especially the last line, “The darkness and the light are both alike to You.”  What hope, what a Mighty God we serve; He even provides us with Night Vision Goggles!!!  Whatever situation you are facing, even if the wind is howling and the storm clouds are pressing down; when the darkness threatens to distort your vision, meditate on these words, “The darkness and the light are both alike to You.” Psalms 42:8 says, “In the night, His song shall be with me.”  So grab your Night Vision Goggles and start singing the “Song of the Lord.” It may begin as a far off twinkle but keep singing.  Soon you will find that the night has become “Light about you,” because “The darkness and the light are both alike to Him. God has given you Night Vision.

BEYOND HOPE

I prefer to spend a little time with God early in the day. There are fewer distractions and my thoughts are clearer. I am guilty of doing most of the talking and as the Bible states it, “making my petitions known.” About 4:00 in the morning is when God likes to talk to me. God, in His infinite wisdom, knows that it takes about 5 hours to clear the clutter of the previous day from my mind and that he has a couple hours so speak with my mouth shut. I am constantly amazed at the things that I see and hear so clearly the first thing in the morning. That’s when I know God’s been working. Sometimes it is the words of a song, or a Bible verse or as it was this morning, a phrase. As I slowly came out of the pre-dawn haze, the words, BEYOND HOPE, imprinted themselves into my consciousness with startling clarity.

The dictionary defines hope as “to feel that something desired might happen.” That is not a definition a Christian can accept. The same dictionary listed their “archaic” definition;” to have confidence or trust.” I am 59, which is approaching archaic, so I will accept the last definition. As one unknown author said, “Man can live about forty days without food, three days without water, about eight minutes without air, but only one second without hope.” Hope is much more than just a feeling that something might happen.

 Hope is a confidence that the something will appear at just the right moment.

I am, in general, an optimistic person. I usually see the glass as half-full, unlike my Diet Coke-aholic husband who is cracking open another can as soon as he has emptied the first into his glass. To clarify, that is about the only thing Steve is pessimistic about. Together, we are a sickeningly sweet, optimistic couple. I have found the best antidote for pessimism, depression, fear, or worry is just go to bed and about 4:00 in the morning, God will start talking. Now you can understand why I was a little puzzled to wake up to the phrase, BEYOND HOPE, which would be the antithesis of my optimistic philosophy.

 What was God speaking to my heart?

I have been praying for someone that most people would describe as “a hard nut to crack.” Now I admit that I can’t figure out how God will get through to this person, but I stubbornly refuse to stop interceding. Was God trying to tell me to move on, have they passed beyond hope? That did not compute, so I dug a little deeper. What lies beyond hope? For the Believer, hope is more than just a feeling, it is confidence or trust. There are times, however, even for a Believer, when it seems we have come to the end of hope.

 That is when we press Beyond Hope.

Beyond hope, there is a quiet assurance that God is faithful. Beyond hope is a peace that I am His child. Beyond hope is a confidence that God loves me with an everlasting love. Beyond hope I rest in the knowledge that my Heavenly Father’s plan for me is beyond my understanding. Beyond hope I cling to the promise that “All things work together for good to them that love God and are the called according to His purpose.”

I have family members facing life threatening illnesses, friends wondering if they will ever find a job, and many who are dealing with wayward children. They have been faithful to God; “done all the right things,” yet the answer hasn’t come through. During this time of extreme apprehension, uneasiness, and worry, I have watched these same people move Beyond Hope into a place of Absolute Confidence. If you are facing an impossible situation, reach up a little higher. God has the answers and He is waiting, just Beyond Hope.

BEYOND HOPE

I prefer to spend a little time with God early in the day. There are fewer distractions and my thoughts are clearer. I am guilty of doing most of the talking and as the Bible states it, “making my petitions known.” About 4:00 in the morning is when God likes to talk to me. God, in His infinite wisdom, knows that it takes about 5 hours to clear the clutter of the previous day from my mind and that he has a couple hours so speak with my mouth shut. I am constantly amazed at the things that I see and hear so clearly the first thing in the morning. That’s when I know God’s been working. Sometimes it is the words of a song, or a Bible verse or as it was this morning, a phrase. As I slowly came out of the pre-dawn haze, the words, BEYOND HOPE, imprinted themselves into my consciousness with startling clarity.

The dictionary defines hope as “to feel that something desired might happen.” That is not a definition a Christian can accept. The same dictionary listed their “archaic” definition;” to have confidence or trust.” I am 51, which is approaching archaic, so I will accept the last definition. As one unknown author said, “Man can live about forty days without food, three days without water, about eight minutes without air, but only one second without hope.” Hope is much more than just a feeling that something might happen. Hope is a confidence that the something will appear at just the right moment.

I am, in general, an optimistic person. I usually see the glass as half-full, unlike my Diet Coke-aholic husband who is cracking open another can as soon as he has emptied the first into his glass. To clarify, that is about the only thing Steve is pessimistic about. Together, we are a sickeningly sweet, optimistic couple. I have found the best antidote for pessimism, depression, fear, or worry is just go to bed and about 4:00 in the morning, God will start talking. Now you can understand why I was a little puzzled to wake up to the phrase, BEYOND HOPE, which would be the antithesis of my optimistic philosophy. What was God speaking to my heart?

I have been praying for someone that most people would describe as “a hard nut to crack.” Now I admit that I can’t figure out how God will get through to this person, but I stubbornly refuse to stop interceding. Was God trying to tell me to move on, have they passed beyond hope? That did not compute, so I dug a little deeper. What lies beyond hope? For the Believer, hope is more than just a feeling, it is confidence or trust. There are times, however, even for a Believer, when it seems we have come to the end of hope. That is when we press Beyond Hope.

Beyond hope, there is a quiet assurance that God is faithful. Beyond hope is a peace that I am His child. Beyond hope is a confidence that God loves me with an everlasting love. Beyond hope I rest in the knowledge that my Heavenly Father’s plan for me is beyond my understanding. Beyond hope I cling to the promise that “All things work together for good to them that love God and are the called according to His purpose.”

I have family members facing life threatening illnesses, friends wondering if they will ever find a job, and many who are dealing with wayward children. They have been faithful to God; “done all the right things,” yet the answer hasn’t come through. During this time of extreme apprehension, uneasiness, and worry, I have watched these same people move Beyond Hope into a place of Absolute Confidence. If you are facing an impossible situation, reach up a little higher. God has the answers and He is waiting, just Beyond Hope.