Our Dark Cloud OR God's Plan

Last week I had to tell my boss about going out of town in June for the trial in NH and I gave him a quick rundown of Tina's life and what we've been through over the past four years of churches, media, trials, etc. He said, "that beautiful, young woman who I met a couple weeks ago has gone through all that?" I said, "yes, she's beautiful and she's been through that and much more. I'm just giving you the Reader's Digest version."

He's been my manager for the past nine months and so he's been told about Aria's five surgeries since last October and what she's been through. He's extremely amazed at our strong, sweet, little girl whom he met once when she came to my job.

He knows that we're in the middle of trying to sell our house to pay down some our debt.

On Friday, I told him that our dog's not doing well and we may have to put him down. He doesn't know yet that we did it. He was just amazed at one more thing going "wrong" in our lives. He joked that we have a "dark cloud" over our lives and moved himself back from desk.

I thought about that and I can see why people might wonder how we keep our sanity. On some days, it's not easy.

I don't see this as a "dark cloud." No, it's not easy or pleasant but it's life. It's the path that God has given us to walk and we won't turn back and we won't sit on the sidelines and we won't quit.

Here's what I believe.

1. This is God's way of showing us that He's in control.
2. This is God's chance to show us His grace worked out in our lives.
3. This is God's method of bringing Himself glory.
4. This is God preparing us for the future and what else He has planned for us.
5. Our lives reflect God's control, His grace, His glory, and God's working in our life to our friends, co-workers, and relatives, if we allow it through our faithfulness and willingness to accept and do what God has set before us.

Isn't that what life's about? Yesterday, the youth pastor made a great point as he preached to our church. He said, "God's not just a part of your life, He is your life."

My prayer is that as our family goes through the trials of life, or as some people may see as a "dark cloud," that they see God's Hand. They see a witness of God's power and grace and that God is magnified through our lives by us being faithful to Him.

CHALLENGES

#1 My Daughter’s Surgery this Week

This week my youngest is going in for her second brain surgery to address her Chiari Malformation. She had this done back in June of 2012. She’s really strong and did really well the last time and so I’m praying that it goes really well this time also.

I know we're very anxious about it but I told my wife last night that God loves Aria more than we do. I know that He has her in His hands and He will take care of her. I have faith in my heavenly Father.

#2 Our Children’s Behavior

It’s not easy to go through and I know it really wears on our family. My wife says that she can tell that it’s bothering the kids. When she drops off the kids for school, Aria does not want to go unless mommy promises to come to school early in the afternoon to be with her in the classroom. I’m very thankful that Tina is able to do that, although I know that puts a strain on Tina to get the things done she wants to do for the day.

Suzanna and Haydn have been acting up a little more than normal. Tina thinks it’s because they’re bothered by all that’s going on with Aria. She’s probably correct but it could also be their way of attracting attention since Aria gets the most due to all her medical treatments and we cater to Aria because of how much she goes through on a daily basis.

Have you ever been at a loss on how to correct your children’s behavior?

Have you ever felt like a failure because your child just can’t seem to control him/herself?

Do you ever worry that you, as a parent, must be doing something wrong when your kids just can’t seem to listen?

Probably not and it’s just me but that is some of the challenges that I face when it comes to our kids’ behavior.

#3 Finances

Bills are always a stress and if it’s not one thing, it’s another. Medical bills come in the mail on a regular basis. Our car was hit a couple weeks ago and we had to come up with the $500 deductible plus 20% of the cost of a week’s rental on a car. I had to replace all four tires on my car about two months ago.

BUT, God is good!!

1. I have a job that pays most of the bills.
2. Tina works some and does what she can to bring in some money.
3. Tina is awesome at saving money and finding that bargain. For example, this week on three different occasions she’s saved between 65 and 85% at the grocery store.
4. Our kids have more than enough to eat and clothes to wear.
5. We live in a nice house that God allowed us to refinance last year that lowered our mortgage.

I’m sure I could go on but I’ll stop at that for now.

#4 Faith

Do you ever wonder why God allows bad things to happen to people, especially people who believe and put their trust in Him?

I know people who are struggling with or deny that there is a God because it can be hard to believe in a good, loving God when all you see is bad things happening all around.

It's especially hard when bad things happen to yourself and/or your family. We've all wondered how God could allow such a thing to happen. Doesn't God love us? Couldn't have God stopped it?

Faith can be a challenge but I believe Roman 8:28 when it says, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."


Challenges are a part of life. The challenges that come into our lives should help remind us to focus on Him. That's not always easy because we like to focus on ourselves.

Let's remember what James 1:2-5 says, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."

Tough Times

Below is an excerpt from a book I'm reading. It really spoke to my heart.


Our appetites in life determine how we respond in a trial. I have since been in the same circumstances and have not handled the pressure of empty cupboards quite as graciously. But never has lack upset my spiritual apple cart when Jesus was really my First Love.

Pressure brings everything to the surface— the good, the bad, and the ugly. While I don’t like it, pressure comes because of the mercy of God. Can you imagine what it would be like to live an entire life without seeing what was in our hearts through trial?

Many people turn their attention to how others have wronged them during their season of testing. That is one of the devil’s better tricks. If I can be preoccupied with what’s wrong with you, I’ll never be in a place to see my own heart. If I can’t see my heart, I can’t repent and be changed. Let’s face it, holiness— becoming like Jesus— is the purpose behind every trial.

The Kingdom of God is so different from everything else we know. Brokenness comes before healing. Weakness is the first step to strength. Seeing our hopeless condition is the prerequisite to experiencing His transforming power.

Johnson, Bill (2010-12-01). Center of the Universe: A Look at Life From the Lighter Side (p. 20). Destiny Image. Kindle Edition.

Ezekial 18 – Sins of the Father

I have been listening through Ezekial this month and chapter 18 stuck out to me. Sometimes I wonder if I have to pay for the sins of my father or if I raise a son who defies God, will I have to pay for his sins. I’ve always felt we’re responsible for ourselves but God’s Word and His clarification on the subject really meant a lot to me this week.

Ezekial gives this list of sins several times in this chapter but to save time I’ll list them here.

1.       Violent

2.       Shedder of blood

3.       Eats upon the mountain

4.       Defiles his neighbor’s wife

5.       Oppresses the poor and needy

6.       Commits robbery

7.       Does not restore a pledge

8.       Lift up his eyes to the idols

9.       Commits abomination

10.    Lends at an interest and takes a profit

Ezekial also lists the behaviors of a righteous man, which parallels the list of sins.

1.       Does not eat upon the mountain

2.       Lift his eyes to the idols of Israel

3.       Does not defile neighbor’s wife

4.       Does not oppress anyone

5.       Restores to the debtor his pledge

6.       Exacts no pledge

7.       Commits no robbery

8.       Gives bread to the hungry

9.       Covers the naked with a garment

10.    Withholds his hand from iniquity

11.    Withholds his hand from injustice

12.    Executes true justice between man and man

13.    Takes no interest or take a profit

14.    Obeys my rules

15.    Walks in my statutes

16.    Keeps my rules by acting faithfully

Here’s the good news, the lesson for today.

1.       The soul who sins shall die. (vs. 4, 19)

2.       The righteous man shall live. (vs. 9)

3.       The righteous man shall not die because of his sinful son. (vs. 13)

a.        He shall not pay for the iniquity of his son. (vs. 20)

4.       The righteous man shall not die because of his sinful father. (vs. 17)

a.       He shall not pay for the iniquity of his father. (vs. 20)

5.       If the sinful (wicked) turn from their sin, they shall not die and his transgressions shall not be remembered against him. (vs. 21, 27-28)

6.       If the righteous man turns to wickedness, he shall die and his righteous deeds will not be remembered. (vs. 24, 26)

Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? (vs. 23)

For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live. (vs. 32)

Death & Assuming God's Reasons

When a person dies a fairly young death, people like to assign a reason as to why God would remove them from this earth. A lot of time with religious people, and especially fundamentalist, make a determination depending on what they think of the person. When it comes to people that are deemed good and wholesome, it's considered a tragedy and figure that "God must have a reason even if we don't understand."

Both my mothers died at relatively young ages. My first mom was 26 and my second mom was almost 53. They should have had years to live but God saw fit to take them "home" to heaven. Sometimes I've wondered why and I could make some assumptions but I've never thought that God took them home because of some evil that they have done. Anyone who knew my mothers probably never thought that either.

When it comes to others, they wonder what sin that person was committing. If they know about certain sin or don't agree with their religious beliefs, they start quoting James 1:15 "sin bringeth forth death" and other examples of lives in the Bible being cut short.

I know it's true and I even wrote about it in my family about James 1:15 personified in our family.

I know a young man who died in a motorcycle accident. I was told that he had gone back to his sinful life and that it was God's punishment for not serving God anymore.

A few years ago, one of my Bible college professors died an early death. On facebook I saw a pastor I know say it was because the man had become a staunch atheist and was writing a book refuting God's substitutionary death on the cross for our sins and that God killed this professor because he was making a mockery of God.

In the past year or so, a couple of young men of highly visible religious people have committed suicide. One's from fundamentalist background and the other from a evangelical background. What's sad is that the fundamentalist's family received sympathy and a "wonder why" but the family from the evangelical background received condemnation and suggestions that it was because they're not really serving the "true God."

Here's my question? Why do we speculate the worst? Why do we think that a person must have done or is doing something wrong and that is why they died?

We should not assume the reason why tragedy and death come to people at a young age. Only God knows.

It's insensitive, callous, and just cruel to state publicly that God killed someone out of what you might perceive as "righteous judgment."

Let's support the families by showing love and compassion. Stand with them in prayer. They don't deserve your unfounded opinion of God's purpose of allowing a tragedy to come into their lives.