God’s Heart

Jeremiah 32: 37-41 

Bob Rakestraw

June 28, 2014 

“The New Benediction Project”

http://newbenedictionproject.blogspot.com/

 

God has a heart, but he does not have a physical heart like we do. Where the Bible writers refer to God’s heart, they are using a figure of speech for God’s emotions, thoughts and desires.  

Hundreds of years before the time of Jesus, the prophet Jeremiah (appropriately called “the weeping prophet”) wrote about the heart of God, the hearts of God’s rebellious people, and his own grieving heart—grieving over the sins of his fellow Israelites. Sometimes Jeremiah recorded the words of God himself, as when God spoke of unfaithful Israel (here referred to as Ephraim):  

Is not Ephraim my dear son,
the child in whom I delight?

Though I often speak against him,
I still remember him.

Therefore my heart yearns for him;
I have great compassion for him (31:20).  

Here we see God’s heart, yearning not only for the Jewish people of long ago but for every Jewish person today, for you and me, and for everyone on earth.  

Every human being also has a heart. Actually, we have two hearts: a physical one and a mental/emotional/spiritual heart. We have no choice in the matter, and it is good for us to be mindful of both hearts. 

Hardly anyone ever thinks of the remarkable reddish-brown organ beating in their chest.  I know I didn’t, until I learned that I had a heart problem. My heart illness worsened until I needed open heart surgery and eventually needed, and received, a heart transplant. My old heart was so weak that, when the surgeons opened my chest and looked at my heart, it was barely moving. It was trying hard to pump but was merely quivering. It was very, very close to stopping completely when the doctors removed it and put another one in its place. 

It has now been over ten years since one person died and, by filling out a donor form while alive, provided me with a new heart. Every day my new biological heart, like yours, beats about 100,000 times and pumps about 2,000 gallons of blood. Think of a gallon container of milk. Then place 2,000 of these containers on a parking lot or on the street in front of your house. You may arrange them in a rectangle 20 jugs wide and 100 jugs long. 

Now think of these gallon containers not as white but as red. This is the amount of blood your little, eleven-ounce heart pumps in one day. Every day. Without a break, except for the half-second of “rest” between beats. For 70, 80, 90 or more years! 

God has made our physical hearts so strong that if you take a tennis ball and squeeze it tightly, you will feel how hard your beating heart has to work each time it pumps blood. No muscles in the body are as strong as those of the heart, except those of a woman’s uterus when she delivers her baby. 

God has also given each of us a non-physical heart. When the Bible refers to the human heart in this sense it is speaking of the mental, emotional and spiritual “center” of our being. This is not our brain nor our physical heart. Perhaps we may think of it as our soul-spirit, or simply as our “spiritual heart,” or even our inner “control center.” What we love, hate, desire, think about and choose—these all come from our spiritual heart, which the Bible says is “deceitful above all things and beyond cure” by human improvement schemes (Jeremiah 17:9).  

Fortunately, our spiritual heart, when quickened by God, is able to cry out to God for mercy, inner peace, purity of mind and soul, and genuine love for God and others. 

When our spiritual heart is truly made alive by the new birth (John 3) we have an almost unlimited capacity—by God’s indwelling Holy Spirit—to pump adoration to God, holiness to our lives, and compassion to others. “May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones” (1 Thessalonians 3:13) . Because our spiritual heart is the powerful control center of our lives, the Bible warns us solemnly “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23).   

I want to close this brief essay by saying a little more about the characteristics of God’s heart. When we think about the truly remarkable strength of our physical heart it will be good for us to dwell on the infinitely more powerful, wise, holy and compassionate heart of God.  

Isaiah the prophet records words that almost certainly come from God himself, although they express the heart-cries of the prophet as well. After lamenting, “My heart cries out over Moab” (15:5), the Lord declares, “So I weep, as Jazer weeps.…I drench you with tears!...My heart laments for Moab like a harp, my inmost being for Kir Hareseth” (16:9, 11). 

Yes, God grieves deeply over sin. He hates it, and sometimes must chasten us to bring us back to himself. But his compassion never fails, as we see in his words to his people Israel. 

I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. They will be my people and I will be their God. I will give them singleness of heart and action.…I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. I…will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul (Jeremiah 32:37-41). 

In much the same tone the Lord says, “Return, faithless people…. Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding” (Jeremiah 3:14-15). These words, along with the following words of the Good Shepherd while on earth, reveal the astonishing depths of God’s ever-inviting heart. 

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30). 

********************* 

For you who would like some very encouraging material for your personal or group Bible study, I include here this outline from The NIV Study Bible, 2011 edition, page 2239. (The initials NIV refer to the New International Version.)

 

God’s Relationship to the Human Heart: 

He knows it (1 Samuel 16:7)

He searches it (Psalm 7:9; Jeremiah 17:10)

He tests it (I Chronicles 29:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:4)

He influences it (Ezra 7:27)

He directs it (Proverbs 21:1)

He opens it (Acts 16:14)

He touches it (1 Samuel 10:26)

He makes light shine in it (2 Corinthians 4:6)

He cleanses it (Hebrews 10:22)

He writes his law on it (Jeremiah 31:33)

He strengthens it (I Thessalonians 3:13)

He keeps it loyal (I Chronicles 29:18)

He gives a new heart (Psalm 51:10; Ezekiel 11:19)

 

Remember, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23).

 

God's Nostrils

 

God’s Nostrils

2 Samuel 22:7-16 

Bob Rakestraw

May 1, 2014 

“The New Benediction Project”

http://newbenedictionproject.blogspot.com/

 

God does not have a nose. At least, there is no mention of one in the Bible. But the Bible does speak of God’s nostrils and God’s smelling.

If anyone wonders how God can have nostrils without a nose (try picturing that!), it is helpful to keep in mind that God’s “body parts” mentioned in the Bible are not physical. The Bible writers often used figurative language to try to picture God, because is actually “indescribable.”

As recorded in the book of Exodus, God divided the Red Sea and then closed it up, drowning the entire Egyptian army that pursued the escaping Israelites (14:21-31). Moses and his sister Miriam sang a song of praise to God for this miracle. Here is part of that song.

By the blast of your nostrils

the waters piled up.

The surging waters stood up

like a wall….

The enemy boasted,

“I will pursue, I will overtake them.…”

But you blew with your breath,

and the sea covered them (15:8-10).

The only time you and I blow from our nostrils is to clean them for better breathing. But at the Red Sea, God used a “blast from [his] nostrils” to part the waters (also in Psalm 18:15). It may be that one reason the Bible writer uses “nostrils” here instead of “mouth” is to show how effortlessly God delivered his people.

The most we can move by blowing air from our nostrils—unless we block one side—is perhaps a thin piece of paper or a feather. We can move more by blowing from our mouth. But for God, his nostrils are all that he needed to divide the impassible waters. As human beings, the “mighty things” we accomplish are due to the strength of our arms, shoulders and legs. God blew the Red Sea apart with his nostrils! 

The Bible also refers to smoke in relation to God’s nostrils. Sometimes smoke goes into his nostrils. Concerning his own chosen people who engaged in pagan rituals, God said, “Such people are smoke in my nostrils, a fire that keeps burning all day” (Isa. 65:5).

Sometimes smoke comes out of God’s nostrils. At times, when God chooses to rescue his chosen people, he goes after their enemies like an angry, raging bull.

Smoke rose from his nostrils;

consuming fire came from his mouth.

burning coals blazed out of it….

The valleys of the sea were exposed

and the foundations of the earth laid bare

at the rebuke of the LORD,

at the blast of breath from his nostrils (2 Sam. 22:9, 16).

Foul-smelling smoke goes into God’s nostrils when his people persist in rebellion against him. Angry smoke comes from God’s nostrils when he pursues our enemies.

Sometimes, however, pleasant-smelling smoke goes into his nostrils, as when Noah, after the great flood, sacrificed burnt offerings to God.  “The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart” that he would never again curse the ground nor destroy all living things with a flood (Gen. 8:21; 9:11; 15-16).

Every time we see a rainbow we do well to remember that it is God’s verification of this promise—a promise he made just after the pleasant aroma entered his nostrils.

Smells other than those from burning sacrifices may give pleasure to God. Concerning certain material gifts the Philippian church sent to Paul, the apostle wrote, “They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:18-19). Have you ever thought that, at the moment you give your offerings to God’s work and God’s servants, a pleasant fragrance may be entering his nostrils?

One glorious truth remains: as devoted followers (captives) of Jesus Christ, we ourselves—in our very being—are a pleasing aroma to God! “We are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ” and this pleasing aroma is also—remarkably—“among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life” (2 Cor. 2:14-16). God actually, and always, “ leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere” (v. 14).

Simply by being who we are as captives of Christ—walking, talking, working, worshipping, serving—we are spreading an aroma. This is the “pleasing aroma of Christ” to fellow believers and even to those who are perishing and smelling this “pleasing aroma” as “an aroma that brings death!”

If we are faithful Christians, even many nonbelievers will notice something “pleasing” about our presence. Our employers will often value us for our work ethic and our ability to work smoothly with others. Our neighbors—often but not always—will detect this pleasing aroma of Christ.

If “those who are perishing” respond to the grace of God calling them to himself through us, they will become “those who are being saved.” We who were formerly “an aroma that brings death” to certain people (because of their rejection of the Lord of life and death within us) will then be—to such ones who come to believe—“an aroma that brings life.”

If we are faithful followers of Christ we do not have to “try hard” to leave a pleasing aroma of Christ. We are “the pleasing aroma of Christ”—to God and to others. And we do not have to “try hard” to ensure that God will protect us from our enemies: God will use a blast from his nostrils to do that!

We are privileged as captives of Jesus Christ to be living sacrifices and faithful givers to his work. In these ways you and I will radiate a pleasing fragrance to God and to the thousands of people we will encounter during the course of our lives here on earth.

God's Body (Revised)

 

God’s Body

 Bob Rakestraw

April 19, 2014 

“The New Benediction Project”

http://newbenedictionproject.blogspot.com/

 

A very unusual—yet very interesting—area of thought concerns God’s body and parts of God’s body. In the Bible God is said to have eyes, ears, arms and other body parts.

But what can these things mean? How can we think about God’s body, since God has no physical body nor material substance? Why, then, does the Bible often mention God as having bodily parts?

Because God is a spiritual being (the apostle John says that “God is spirit” in John 4:24), and because God is present everywhere at the same time (this is called “omnipresence,” and is seen in Psalm 139), then we know that God has no actual body.  If God would live always in a physical body, then God would be limited to time and space and could not be with everyone in heaven and earth at the same moment.

But what about God’s body parts? To help us understand an infinite God with our finite minds, the Bible writers—led by God’s Spirit—frequently refer to God’s characteristics, actions or emotions in human terms. Such descriptions of human qualities in God are known as anthropomorphisms, with the accent on “morph”.

The study of God by means of such colorful figurative language is a valuable method to help us understand God better than we might otherwise do. Any language or picture-thinking—reverently considered and biblically balanced—that may assist us in coming to know our Lord better is worth investigating.

May these brief studies of God’s “body” be used by God to guide us into a fuller knowledge—both in our heads and our hearts—of our Creator, Redeemer and Friend.

God’s Ears

Psalm 34:15-18

Bob Rakestraw

March 30, 2014 

Ears are very common devices. There are over seven billion people on our planet, so that means there are over 14 billion ears. You almost certainly have one on each side of your head, as I do. Even though we seldom think about them, they are vital parts of our bodies and our daily lives.

According to the popular book by J.D. Ratcliff, Your Body and How it Works, we usually think of oureyes as our most important sensory organs. Yet, without our ears, we would be “doomed to solitary sonic confinement—far more emotionally disabling than blindness.”

Author Ratcliff imagines an ear speaking. It is the right ear of a 47 year-old man named Joe. “I [Joe’s ear] have enough electrical circuits to provide phone service for a good-sized city. I am also a kind of automatic pilot, keeping Joe from toppling over.” In the ear canal—a one-inch twisted channel connecting the outer ear to the eardrum—“a profusion of hairs and 4,000 wax glands act as a flypaper trap for insects, dust and other potential irritants.”

“My eardrum…is where the intricate business of hearing starts. Sound-bearing airwaves strike it—like a stick beating a drum. Even faint vibrations from a whisper can push it inward—but ever so little, perhaps only a billionth of a centimeter. [A centimeter is about four-tenths of an inch.] This minute displacement is then changed, in an awe-inspiring chain of events … into meaningful sound for Joe. … Thus, Joe hearswith me, but in his brain.”

God has ears too. While God’s ears are not physical organs, they are also very finely tuned, only infinitely more so than ours. If even a whisper may move a human eardrum a billionth of a centimeter, how much more does the slightest prayer affect the “eardrum” and “brain” of God!

A highly encouraging section of the Bible, attributed to King David, is Psalm 34:

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,

and his ears are attentive to their cry;

but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,

to blot out their name from the earth.

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;

            he delivers them from all their troubles.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted

            And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

For some 3,000 years the people of God have been heartened by these remarkable assurances: God hears their cries, delivers them, is close to them, and saves them.

But these are not unconditional promises. God does these things for “the righteous”—those who are serious about doing right and being right in their hearts in the light of God’s revealed truth. Even those who have not yet been made righteous by the transforming grace of God in salvation—even those, if they hunger and thirst for righteousness—will be heard by God and filled with him.

These all need to “cry out” to him, however. God expects us to bring our requests to him in faith, whether we cry out outwardly or deep within our hearts only.

But who are “the brokenhearted” and “those who are crushed in spirit”? It seems to me that these are ones who are hurting so deeply that whatever hopes and positive expectations they once had concerning their problems, these have now been shattered. Such ones may be broken and crushed due to circumstances such as severed relationships, serious health issues, crippling financial setbacks, job and career disappointments, or the terrible pain of sin—their own or that of others.

When we who desire to do right and to be right cry out to God for mercy and hope, “his ears are attentive to [our] cry,” and he hears us and sustains us in ways that we may not sense at the time. As David wrote elsewhere, “a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise” (Psalm 51:17; see also Psalm 130: 1-2; Hebrews 4:16; James 5:4).

While our circumstances may not be as crushing as those of others, it is likely that everyone reading this is burdened in some way or ways. Yes, life has its more serene times, but quite often it has its turbulent times. Our heartaches are sometimes known only to ourselves or to one or two others. They are always, however, known to God. His ears are always attentive to our cries.

But what about our ears? Jesus and the prophets spoke often about those who have ears but do not hear, and those who have stopped their ears so that they cannot hear.

Remember Joe’s right ear? He has more to say. “Joe’s hearing started declining almost the moment he was born. It is now going down each year as my tissues lose elasticity, hair cells degenerate and calcium deposits invade critical spots. When Joe was a baby he had a hearing range of 16 to 30,000 cycles per second (vibrations). … Now [at age 47] he hears nothing above 8000, and if he reaches the age of 80, that will be down to about 4000. He will then hear conversation reasonably well in a quiet place, but may have difficulty in a noisy area.

“Perhaps the biggest thing Joe should be worrying about right now is noise pollution.” According to Joe’s ear, some things that will wreck him are loud rock music, the whine of jets, the rat-a-tat-tat of riveting machines and the repeated burst of a shotgun.

“Joe has his eyes examined regularly, and I would like the same attention. If Joe only knew how limited and lonely the world of silence is, he would take all possible steps to preserve my partner [Joe’s left ear] and me.”

With our spiritual ears, we too must guard against noise pollution. The noises and voices of the world, the flesh and the devil will surely, over time, decrease our ability to hear the voice of God.

We may even become spiritually deaf, just as people become spiritually blind. And so Jesus repeatedly warned his listeners: “Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

God’s Eyes

2 Chronicles 16:9

Bob Rakestraw

January 31, 2014

Greetings and (belated) Happy New Year! I trust that the year 2014 will be the best year of your life so far, in the things that matter most.

About 50 years ago I discovered an unusual and fascinating expression in the Bible. These words have been tremendously encouraging to me, over and over, through all of my life since then. I will quote the whole sentence and then discuss the expression, as well as the rest of the verse:

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew [show] himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him” (2 Chronicles 16:9, King James Version – KJV).

The words that especially struck me are “the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth.” I knew that, even though God does not have physical eyes (and that this expression is therefore an “anthropomorphism”), the Bible writer is here presenting a remarkable truth.

The picture that comes into my mind when I read these words of scripture, then and now, is that of a supreme being (a very powerful, wise and kind human-like ruler) seated or standing in the heavens and looking slowly and carefully over the earth. His eyes are roaming (the Hebrew form indicates continuous activity), not in a nervous, frantic manner but in a calm and all-knowing search, aware of every person and the heart of every person.

The New International Version (NIV, 2011) translates the verse somewhat differently from the KJV:

For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

Instead of God’s eyes running “to and fro” they “range” over the earth. Here is the doctrine of God’s omniscience” (literally “all-science”): God knows everything. Whatever the Bible translation (both of the above are accurate), we know unmistakably that God is intensely aware of what is going on here on earth, and what people—including you and me—are thinking and doing.

The reason for God’s careful searching activity throughout the earth is “to shew [show] himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him” (KJV). This is also remarkable: God studies every inhabitant of the earth (now over seven billion people) to see which ones are fully devoted to him, in order to “show himself strong” on their behalf. In other words, God actually looks for opportunities to do mighty things for those who love and serve him! And whatever he chooses to do, it will be very good for us—“immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).

Whether, as with the KJV, we think of God’s showing himself strong on our behalf or, as with the NIV, we think of God’s strengthening us directly (the latter is the more accurate translation), the great truth is the same: God’s mighty power is released to accomplish wonderful works in, for and through his faithful ones.

So far we have written only of the things that God does and will do. But the most important part of the verse for our everyday lives has to do with our part:” what must we do, and be? We know that God will do his part—the text states that very clearly and powerfully. But our responsibility is to have hearts that are “fully committed” to him (NIV), “perfect” toward him (KJV) or “blameless” before him (English Standard Version).

The words “perfect” and “blameless” may discourage some Christians because they know (as we all know) that they (and we) are far from being perfect and blameless. God’s people may say, “Well I guess God will not be strengthening my heart. Why even hope for that?”

The best translation, however, is that of the NIV: “fully committed” to God. The purpose of this scripture text is not to discourage us, but to encourage us. From the context of verse nine (especially verses seven and eight) and chapter 15 (especially verse 17) we can see that the “fully committed” child of God—King Asa in this case—is one who relies totally on the Lord, not on their own perceived strength and resources. When Asa did the latter, sadly, he grieved the Lord and trouble followed him the rest of his days.

The Hebrew term translated “fully committed” (shalem) does not mean perfect or blameless in an absolute sense. The idea of the word is complete, whole, safe, at peace and especially—praise God—friendly! It comes from the root shalem: to be safe in mind, body and belongings. It is related to shalom: safety, peace, wholeness, happiness and friendship, especially in a covenant of peace and friendship.

Our responsibility, then, in order to see God do mighty things in, for and through us—to experience God’s powerful inner strengthening—is to be at peace with God in a covenant relationship of friendship! (Three times in the Bible Abraham is called “the friend of God” even though he surely was not “perfect.”) If our hearts are “fully committed” to God, living daily with him in peace as our covenant partner and friend, trusting fully in him and not in ourselves, doing those things that please him and shunning those things that displease him, we will experience great and mighty things, not only this year but for the rest of our earthly lives—and forever!

I ask myself as I ask you: when God’s eyes examine our hearts carefully, what does he see and how will he act in light of that knowledge in 2014? He will assuredly do his part!

When You Feel Sad

Everyone feels sad at times. Some people feel sad more often or more deeply than others, while some people appear not to experience much sadness. But we all know the feeling and it is not pleasant.

I am not writing here about depression, which is a very serious mental health condition. From my own experience with depression in 2008-2009, I can say that depression is the worst health problem I have ever had. It is being gripped in one’s mind, soul and will by the strong clutches of an enemy called hopelessness. It is often debilitating, and can be very dangerous, even life-threatening. Sadness, while different from depression, may also be debilitating. But, on the whole, sadness is not as deep or as long-lasting as depression.

We feel sad for different reasons, at different times. Sometimes I feel sad about world events and circumstances, or national and local issues. Human suffering can tear me apart, and perhaps you as well. You may also experience sadness over family matters, financial issues, your job or career, your appearance, your church, your health, your marriage or some other relationship. Sometimes people just feel an overall sense of sadness about themselves and their place in life.

While I have thought about sadness and its opposite, gladness, for many years, I was prompted to write on sadness for this posting because of a television program I saw recently. It was a one-hour documentary on one of Adolf Hitler’s closest associates, Heinrich Himmler, during Hitler’s ascendancy and reign of terror in Europe during the 1930’s and 1940’s. I have watched numerous such programs, but because of the way this one ended I felt especially sad. After the commentator spoke of the double suicide of Hitler and his new bride in Berlin, and the deaths of Himmler and other key aides to Hitler, with pictures and melancholic music for accompaniment, the program ended without further words.

The cameras then simply panned slowly over the bombed city of Berlin, showing the vast landscape of rubble. There were, in addition, ghastly pictures of skeleton-like prisoners slowly emerging hollow-eyed from their prisons. The eerie black and white photography and the mournful violins left me—after I clicked off the television—with only the stillness and the blankness of my thoughts. The simple thought then came to me: “and a great sadness settled over the whole land.” I later thought of the first verse of the book of Lamentations written after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. “How deserted lies the city, once so full of people! How like a widow is she, who once was great among the nations!”

The murderous reign of Hitler and his associates is one of the saddest accounts in recorded history. There are many others—some on a major scale as mentioned above, and some known only to a small group. The sufferings are just as real, however, as are yours and mine. But, praise God, there is hope!

Today I looked at a number of scriptures on sadness and sorrow and I offer them here (from the NIV 2011) for your consideration and benefit.

Ecclesiastes 1:18. “With much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.”

Ecclesiastes 7:4. “The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.”

Proverbs 15:13. “A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.”

Proverbs 12:25. “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.”

Exodus 3:7. “The LORD said, ‘I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.’ ”

Isaiah 53:3-5. “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain…. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, …”

Mark 14:32-34. “They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus …. began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, …’ ”

Romans 9:1-4. “I speak the truth in Christ – I am not lying, … I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, … the people of Israel.”

2 Corinthians 6:4-10. “As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance, in troubles, hardships and distresses; … dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; …”

Revelation 21:1-4. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, …And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, … He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ ”

As I think on the above scriptures, several conclusions come to me with regard to sadness, sorrow and suffering.

1. Sorrow is not necessarily a bad thing; it can actually be helpful in our service for God and others.
2. The Father, in his son Jesus, suffered for us and suffers with us; he knows very well when we are sad.
3. As we serve our Lord and others faithfully, we can be “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.”
4. All sadness, sorrow and suffering will one day come to an end.

One final word: please do not sorrow alone. None of us is strong enough for that. If you have no one, ask God in faith for at least one person to come into your life with whom you may speak freely – someone who will pray for you as you pray for them.

Bob Rakestraw

November 4, 2013

“The New Benediction Project”

http://newbenedictionproject.blogspot.com/

Not A Farewell

Not A Farewell 

Bob Rakestraw

September 13, 2013 

“The New Benediction Project”

http://newbenedictionproject.blogspot.com/

 

Dear Reader,

This is a difficult posting to write. I have come to a point in my life when I need to cut back on my involvement with “The Benediction Project” (which has now become “The New Benediction Project;” the link above will enable you, with just a click, to go back and forth between the two).

The blog was started in May, 2007, with the help of my very capable blog manager, Abigail Miller, now Abigail Sengendo. Abigail, who has done an excellent job for the past six plus years, will be moving soon to Africa, where she, her husband and their darling twin daughters will live with and serve the people of Uganda.

As I have mentioned previously in this blog, I was informed by two doctors in the spring of 2007 that I would probably not live more than six months. My immune system, despite being suppressed by powerful medications, appeared to be winning the battle to reject the new heart which I had received in 2003. I entered hospice care and then started this blog.

Well, I am still here (by God’s sovereign plan) and the blog is still active, even though I post only once a month. My health, however, has continued to decline, especially with my breathing. I cannot get enough oxygen, and medically-supplied oxygen does no good in my case. It has become increasingly difficult to speak, move about and just be (whether sitting, standing or lying down).

In light of the above matters, I believe I should focus the little energy I still have to complete the two books I am writing. Grace Quest is my spiritual autobiography, with the tentative subtitle: “A Teacher’s Search for Salvation, Spirituality and the Strength to Suffer Well.” The first draft is now finished, and I hope to see the book published before the end of 2014. Maria: Five Days in Heaven is a novel about a Mexican woman who dies and goes to heaven. I am not too far along with this project, but I expect to return to it after Grace Quest is completed.

While I hope to continue posting something each month, the items likely will be much briefer than before. As my wife and I are able we will try to keep you aware of any major health-related issues. In addition, I am on Facebook and will welcome you as a friend if I know who you are. I am not, however, an avid Facebook user.

The 120 or so previous postings—those of the past six years—will remain available on “The Benediction Project” site. New postings will appear here, on “The New Benediction Project.” The links on each blog site should enable you to switch back and forth and read or print any ones you wish.

 

I hope you will stay with me in the months and years ahead, as God permits. Thank you for your faithful readership and prayers for both my health and the ongoing usefulness of this blog in the lives of people all over our world who are seeking God’s benediction in their lives.

“So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”   2 Thessalonians 2:15-17