How suddenly life can change. Last week we were with relatives from Colorado visiting our two southern California presidential libraries - Nixon and Reagan. Both are so lovely in their surroundings and so rich in history. We enjoyed each other's company and the near perfect weather. We drove by towns on the shore of the Pacific Ocean, saw marinas filled with sailboats, ate good meals and enjoyed the change of pace. When we arrived home we learned of the death of a very good friend, Dean. We also discovered that the daughter of another good friend had died, so young, too soon to lose her. A dark cloud had invaded our peace and contentment.
It only took a few moments for the Lord to remind us of His teachings. Over and over again, we experience that when it comes to spiritual truth, God alone can bring it to memory and apply it to our life. Try as we might, we can't do it without Him.
This is another of the "Ten Most Important Things About God."
# 6 God is in control of life and death.
It seems to me that believer and un-believer alike innately know this to be true. So often we hear of someone who, given their condition, should not survive, but they do. And, those you'd expect to survive, don't. I could give you a whole list of verses that claim the Lord's timing is perfect. He has a plan and a purpose for each life He creates. When we're done here, He calls us home. Maybe we can think of it as a "manufacturers re-call." We all belong to Him and He has the right to take back what He has given - life.
God has painted a beautiful canvas of our life in all its glorious uniqueness. The picture may become blurred to us as we live day by day. At times we experience confusion, sorrow, and sometimes a feeling of defeat. God will balance these days with the gift of faith, love and peace. When He does, we get a clear picture of what is "good" in our life.
Ecclesiastes 7:2 tells us that "death is the destiny of every man." We all will die. We know that to be true in our head, but our heart often doesn't want to accept this, so when the time comes to lose a loved one, we're not prepared.
Friends and family have their place in helping us through the most difficult of days, but it's the Lord who knows exactly what we need. I can think back many years ago when I was in my early teens. Friends of our family lost their son in a motorcycle accident. He'd just returned from the Army and started college. This was a Christian family, however as this son entered his teens, he seemed to lose faith. After his death, his parents were in agony wondering if their son had denied Christ. One night they had just gone to bed and turned off the light. Suddenly, they saw a glow in the corner of the room. They watched in amazement as the figure of Jesus appeared in a brilliant white robe and spoke to them; "Denny is with me." That is all Jesus said. It was enough; his parents knew their son was in heaven.
Our friend Dean loved music. He could sing and play various instruments. He was very humble in assessing his abilities, never boastful and certainly didn't parade his gifts. The night after he left to be with the Lord, he appeared to his wife, Karen. He told her, "I'm in the band and I didn't even need to audition." That is so Dean! She was having trouble falling asleep when she experienced him lying on the bed next to her with his arm around her and he told her, "I'll stay here until you go to sleep". His death was so sudden, God knew she needed to say good-by.
We fear sometimes that our loved one has "died alone". We don't die alone; the Bible can give us peace that believers are taken to heaven by angels. In Luke 16:22, the Bible describes a scene in which angels escort a "beggar" to Abraham's side in heaven. Those who don't believe are taken somewhere else. You don't want to go there and be eternally separated from God.
Socrates, the Greek philosopher who laid the foundation for Western philosophy, died before Christ in the year 399. He had some interesting things to say...
"Death is a migration of the soul from this place to another".
He also seemed to recognize, to some degree, that God is sovereign over all things. He said,
"Our prayers should be for blessings in general, for God knows best what is good for us." This is very much like the statement made in Romans 8:26-27. The Holy Spirit knows what we need.
Webster's dictionary defines death as "Permanent ending of all life." Those who believe in Jesus as our risen Lord and Savior know this is NOT true. Jesus rose to new life to show us that we also will be raised to new life. Read through Luke, Chapter 24, You will be blessed.
God gets to decide when we'll enter that "new life". If you look at Job 14 you'll see that "Man's days are determined; you (God) have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed" - vs 5. "Surely then you will count my steps..." - vs 16. When I know God is sovereign over my life, peace comes. Sorrow may linger, but all fear is gone. The book of Isaiah gives such good insight.
"Oh Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago." Isaiah 25:1
Death, just like life, was planned long ago by God. In fact, Psalm 139 tells us every day of our life has been written in a book, before there was one.
"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3
This is how you come to terms with the death of a loved one - you keep focused on Jesus and the truth of the Scripture.
I think in Bible verses. I don't know one thing on my own, but I do trust the Scripture to be God's faithful Word. I read that God has written that whoever hears His word and believes has eternal life and will not be condemned - John 5:24. I also read in John 14:6 that Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us and He will return to take us to be where He is - wow, that's heaven where God will wipe every tear from our eyes and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain - Revelations 21:4. I know from Scripture that we will "enter God's rest" - Hebrews 4:10, and be made "perfect forever" - Hebrews 10:14.
If you will, equate a day to a life. I don't have the exact quote, but Socrates said that sometime you need to wait for evening to know how good the day has been. Could it be true that sometime we need to wait for death to know how good a life has been?
Thank you Lord for the life of those we love. Remind us daily of your commandment to "love one another", and just as you have forgiven us, we can forgive others. We are so totally dependent on the Holy Spirit to shed Your love in our hearts (Romans 5:5). Help us to cherish each memory and trust in your faithfulness.
About Me
- Bobbe Van Hise
- I live in San Diego County and enjoy picking roses and strawberries in January. My husband and I love to travel and have visited many countries. We have five grown children and two grandsons. I've been active in many Bible study programs, 16 years with Bible Study Fellowship, and have taught in my community, including our local jail, for the past eleven years. I've had the honor of going to Uganda, Africa to teach in a Rafiki Girls Center and wrote a book from my journal,'How is the Day?' After 39 years of studying the Bible, which I firmly believe to be God's Word, I continue to be captivated by its eloquence and wisdom. It never ceases to thrill me. Some may call me an activist. That may be true, as I actively ponder and pursue Biblical truth. I think in terms of what the Bible says,and resist being involved with humanistic theology and various church doctrines. God's Word is pure. I love to write, so blogs are a perfect place to deposit what God has been teaching me. I'm mostly interested in guiding people to the truth of grace and sovereignty which brings peace and joy to our life. In order to live life with passion, you need to have a passion. Mine is the Bible!
Friday, May 31, 2013
Friday, May 10, 2013
THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE
Soon, much of the world will be celebrating Mother's Day. I was inspired to write after receiving an e-mail from Nicole Johnson, who wrote about her new book, The Invisible Woman. She has a wonderful perspective on motherhood.
If you're in a Bible study with women and you want to get a good laugh, use this verse. . .
"Her children arise and call her blessed" Proverbs 31:26
Most of us don't experience our children rising up and calling us blessed. We know God has blessed us, but, our kids may not notice these blessings. They miss some things. They probably won't notice the great dinner you put on the table each night, won't think about all the heavy bags of groceries and laundry baskets of dirty clothes you carry or the hours you sat with them at the doctor's office when they were sick.
Let's face it, we moms do 'behind-the-scene' work that doesn't get a lot of applause.
I think one of the hardest duties of a mother is to do what is best and right, rather than what will win your child's approval. We see our children as a reflection of ourselves. We don't want them to make mistakes and suffer, and yet that is often the only way they can become self-sufficient adults. We are often afraid to let our child fail, because then, we feel we have failed.
If you've ever been to Europe and have seen the huge, magnificent cathedrals, you learn that those who have built these structures have spent their entire life working on something they will never see completed. Their names aren't carved on the stones they've laid; we don't even know their names. You might even say they were 'invisible' and yet, they were totally devoted to their task.
We as mothers can feel invisible - the worker, the craftsman behind the scene. But take heart, God sees everything! God knows everything! If you are confident in God's sovereignty, and His willingness to "work all things together for good", Romans 8:28, you have no need to lie awake at night worrying about your children. Instead, understand that you are helping to build something that you may never see completed in your life time, and trust the outcome to the Lord. I like to think of parenting as
...work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."
I Thessalonians 1:3
When we see raising children as doing Gods' work, our attitude will change.
I've done some research on 'Mother's Day' and have found that honoring motherhood is rooted in antiquity. Ancient societies celebrated goddesses and symbols of motherhood rather than actual people. Then Roman religious and cultural traditions in Europe and England gave way to the spread of Christianity. Early Christians used this day to honor the Virgin Mary and the church in which they were baptized which was called the "Mother Church".
In the 17th century a clerical decree in England broadened the focus to include real mothers and called it "Mothering Day." The first English settlers in America discontinued the tradition, but in time, America would re-invent Mother's Day.
A woman by the name of Anna M. Jarvis fought long and hard to establish a day to celebrate mothers. She started her campaign in West Virginia in 1908, but it was a man, God bless him, President Woodrow Wilson who succeeded in declaring the second Sunday of May as "Mother's Day." Today, over seventy countries in the world celebrate a form of Mother's Day.
I believe that carrying and bearing a child, holding that tiny infant - so totally dependent on you - is one of God's greatest blessings. I'm not sure I have the words to describe the emotion, but, speaking for myself, when I held my newborn babies, I felt a completeness, a euphoric love that nothing else in life will ever provide. Most of you who are mothers, and fathers too, will know what I mean by the "fresh from the womb" odor that permeates a newborn. It's a distinctive odor belonging only to a newborn infant.
Because of this infant time with your baby, you are able to withstand the difficult teen years. By then your love is so cemented, and you just hang in there.
Becoming an adoptive parent has a beauty and thrill of its own. Whether this child is an infant, or much older, God gives us a parent's heart to love, protect and nurture. Two of my five children are adopted and even though I missed the precious time of carrying them and their infancy, I feel they are mine, given to me by God, and that makes them very special.
I know that Mother's Day has become highly commercialized. So what? This puts people to work, companies make money and pay taxes - capitalism at work. If you begrudge Hallmark cards making money or growers having a market for their flowers, make your own card and pick your own flowers.
It has often been said that "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world." That is an amazing statement! We moms may often feel invisible and under-appreciated, but God has given us great power.
Love to my children - Kraig, Steve, Gerry, Jill and Krislyn - all grown now, and still growing, all very special in their own way. I praise the Lord for allowing me to be your mom.
If you're in a Bible study with women and you want to get a good laugh, use this verse. . .
"Her children arise and call her blessed" Proverbs 31:26
Most of us don't experience our children rising up and calling us blessed. We know God has blessed us, but, our kids may not notice these blessings. They miss some things. They probably won't notice the great dinner you put on the table each night, won't think about all the heavy bags of groceries and laundry baskets of dirty clothes you carry or the hours you sat with them at the doctor's office when they were sick.
Let's face it, we moms do 'behind-the-scene' work that doesn't get a lot of applause.
I think one of the hardest duties of a mother is to do what is best and right, rather than what will win your child's approval. We see our children as a reflection of ourselves. We don't want them to make mistakes and suffer, and yet that is often the only way they can become self-sufficient adults. We are often afraid to let our child fail, because then, we feel we have failed.
If you've ever been to Europe and have seen the huge, magnificent cathedrals, you learn that those who have built these structures have spent their entire life working on something they will never see completed. Their names aren't carved on the stones they've laid; we don't even know their names. You might even say they were 'invisible' and yet, they were totally devoted to their task.
We as mothers can feel invisible - the worker, the craftsman behind the scene. But take heart, God sees everything! God knows everything! If you are confident in God's sovereignty, and His willingness to "work all things together for good", Romans 8:28, you have no need to lie awake at night worrying about your children. Instead, understand that you are helping to build something that you may never see completed in your life time, and trust the outcome to the Lord. I like to think of parenting as
...work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."
I Thessalonians 1:3
When we see raising children as doing Gods' work, our attitude will change.
I've done some research on 'Mother's Day' and have found that honoring motherhood is rooted in antiquity. Ancient societies celebrated goddesses and symbols of motherhood rather than actual people. Then Roman religious and cultural traditions in Europe and England gave way to the spread of Christianity. Early Christians used this day to honor the Virgin Mary and the church in which they were baptized which was called the "Mother Church".
In the 17th century a clerical decree in England broadened the focus to include real mothers and called it "Mothering Day." The first English settlers in America discontinued the tradition, but in time, America would re-invent Mother's Day.
A woman by the name of Anna M. Jarvis fought long and hard to establish a day to celebrate mothers. She started her campaign in West Virginia in 1908, but it was a man, God bless him, President Woodrow Wilson who succeeded in declaring the second Sunday of May as "Mother's Day." Today, over seventy countries in the world celebrate a form of Mother's Day.
I believe that carrying and bearing a child, holding that tiny infant - so totally dependent on you - is one of God's greatest blessings. I'm not sure I have the words to describe the emotion, but, speaking for myself, when I held my newborn babies, I felt a completeness, a euphoric love that nothing else in life will ever provide. Most of you who are mothers, and fathers too, will know what I mean by the "fresh from the womb" odor that permeates a newborn. It's a distinctive odor belonging only to a newborn infant.
Because of this infant time with your baby, you are able to withstand the difficult teen years. By then your love is so cemented, and you just hang in there.
Becoming an adoptive parent has a beauty and thrill of its own. Whether this child is an infant, or much older, God gives us a parent's heart to love, protect and nurture. Two of my five children are adopted and even though I missed the precious time of carrying them and their infancy, I feel they are mine, given to me by God, and that makes them very special.
I know that Mother's Day has become highly commercialized. So what? This puts people to work, companies make money and pay taxes - capitalism at work. If you begrudge Hallmark cards making money or growers having a market for their flowers, make your own card and pick your own flowers.
It has often been said that "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world." That is an amazing statement! We moms may often feel invisible and under-appreciated, but God has given us great power.
Love to my children - Kraig, Steve, Gerry, Jill and Krislyn - all grown now, and still growing, all very special in their own way. I praise the Lord for allowing me to be your mom.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
MAGICAL MAY
I have a Scandinavian heritage and remember my Grandma Johanna telling us about the special 'May Day' celebrations in Sweden. After a long cold winter there was much rejoicing when the earth warmed, flowers bloomed, birds made nests and the promise of summer pleasures was on the horizon.
May is always a fun, busy month for us - our anniversary, Mother's Day, and my birthday. It's also a good time to travel most anywhere. We just celebrated our 40th year together. I have been so blessed to be loved by a man who has listened to my every dream and worked to make each one come true.
It's easy to see God's loving hand on our life when all is going well. Not so easy when we feel lonely, overwhelmed and confused as to how to cope with day-to-day problems. I've taught many women's Bible studies and so often, I've noticed that those who are most unhappy dwell on their problem, rather than the Lord's love for them. They gaze at the problem - concentrate on it, study it, and worry. If we would glance at the problem and gaze on the Lord, recognizing His love and forgiveness, we'd have a lot more peace and joy in our life.
Let's look at another one of the "Ten Most Important Things About God."
# 5 God's love in unconditional and His forgiveness is complete.
Our home is in the shadow of a jail. Well, maybe not literally, but a mere two miles away. This facility houses nearly 1,000 inmates. At one time women were incarcerated here and I had a ministry for them for ten years. Then, they moved all the women to another facility. I joined my husband's team and now visit the men who come to hear about God's love and forgiveness.
Over these many years, twelve now, people have asked why we do this - go into the jail to teach and encourage those who have committed crimes. I look to Scripture for an answer. . .
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Ephesians 2:10
I was sitting in a Bible study one day listening to a young woman talk about her experiences in the woman's prison. We were living in Raleigh, North Carolina at the time. The Lord spoke to me, not audibly, but in a voice I knew, "You will teach My Word in a jail." He had already determined that this would be part of my life and gave me the desire to fulfill what He had planned in advance. It took twenty years for the Lord to arrange the time and place. I just waited knowing His timing is perfect.
One of my teaching partners, Jerry, told me about an incident that happened to him recently. The deputies brought a young man, who was shackled, to the room where we meet. They unshackled him, let him come in and sit down with others. He took note, as this was the first time he'd experienced a shackled inmate brought to 'church service'. This young man was twenty-three years old. God had changed his heart and he'd accepted Jesus as his Savior. He was waiting to be transferred to a state prison where he'd spend the rest of his life for the crime he had committed.
Jerry asked this young man what he thought about most. He replied that every day he thought about the terrible thing he had done. This caused great sadness and guilt. Jerry suggested that rather than dwell on what he had done, he should instead concentrate on God's unconditional love and forgiveness. His whole face brightened. He'd never understood that God loved him completely and had totally forgiven him. Jesus had paid the penalty for his crime, now he could be free of sadness and guilt.
I'd like to share a few verses. It doesn't matter what I say, or think, it only matters what the Bible tells us is true. When we feel we are not worthy of God's love, we are not a good witness and don't have a good testimony to share with others. It is never the Lord that puts negative feelings in our heads, Satan does that. He delights in causing us to doubt and steals the peace and joy that the Lord wants us to have. Scripture tells us Satan "masquerades as an angel of light", II Corinthians 11:14. In other words, he looks good! We always need to fight Satan with the Word of God.
Ezekiel 36:26 "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. . ."
Psalm 25:3, Romans 10:11 "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
Romans 8:1 "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. . ."
Romans 8:37 - 39 "Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God."
Jude 24 "To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy . . ."
I do hope you will look up each of these verses in your own Bible and ask the Lord to apply them to your life. You will then see yourself as God sees you, as righteous as Jesus! When others perceive your peace and joy, they will also want this and be open to God's call.
Knowing you are loved unconditionally and have been totally forgiven, washed white as snow in fact - Psalm 51:7. Your sin has been "removed as far as the east is from the west", Psalm 103:12.
John 8:32 tells us that the truth will set us free. What a great way to start the summer!
Thank you Lord for what you have done for us. I ask that those who read this will go to your Word and read for themselves and that You will bring more joy and peace into their lives.
May is always a fun, busy month for us - our anniversary, Mother's Day, and my birthday. It's also a good time to travel most anywhere. We just celebrated our 40th year together. I have been so blessed to be loved by a man who has listened to my every dream and worked to make each one come true.
It's easy to see God's loving hand on our life when all is going well. Not so easy when we feel lonely, overwhelmed and confused as to how to cope with day-to-day problems. I've taught many women's Bible studies and so often, I've noticed that those who are most unhappy dwell on their problem, rather than the Lord's love for them. They gaze at the problem - concentrate on it, study it, and worry. If we would glance at the problem and gaze on the Lord, recognizing His love and forgiveness, we'd have a lot more peace and joy in our life.
Let's look at another one of the "Ten Most Important Things About God."
# 5 God's love in unconditional and His forgiveness is complete.
Our home is in the shadow of a jail. Well, maybe not literally, but a mere two miles away. This facility houses nearly 1,000 inmates. At one time women were incarcerated here and I had a ministry for them for ten years. Then, they moved all the women to another facility. I joined my husband's team and now visit the men who come to hear about God's love and forgiveness.
Over these many years, twelve now, people have asked why we do this - go into the jail to teach and encourage those who have committed crimes. I look to Scripture for an answer. . .
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Ephesians 2:10
I was sitting in a Bible study one day listening to a young woman talk about her experiences in the woman's prison. We were living in Raleigh, North Carolina at the time. The Lord spoke to me, not audibly, but in a voice I knew, "You will teach My Word in a jail." He had already determined that this would be part of my life and gave me the desire to fulfill what He had planned in advance. It took twenty years for the Lord to arrange the time and place. I just waited knowing His timing is perfect.
One of my teaching partners, Jerry, told me about an incident that happened to him recently. The deputies brought a young man, who was shackled, to the room where we meet. They unshackled him, let him come in and sit down with others. He took note, as this was the first time he'd experienced a shackled inmate brought to 'church service'. This young man was twenty-three years old. God had changed his heart and he'd accepted Jesus as his Savior. He was waiting to be transferred to a state prison where he'd spend the rest of his life for the crime he had committed.
Jerry asked this young man what he thought about most. He replied that every day he thought about the terrible thing he had done. This caused great sadness and guilt. Jerry suggested that rather than dwell on what he had done, he should instead concentrate on God's unconditional love and forgiveness. His whole face brightened. He'd never understood that God loved him completely and had totally forgiven him. Jesus had paid the penalty for his crime, now he could be free of sadness and guilt.
I'd like to share a few verses. It doesn't matter what I say, or think, it only matters what the Bible tells us is true. When we feel we are not worthy of God's love, we are not a good witness and don't have a good testimony to share with others. It is never the Lord that puts negative feelings in our heads, Satan does that. He delights in causing us to doubt and steals the peace and joy that the Lord wants us to have. Scripture tells us Satan "masquerades as an angel of light", II Corinthians 11:14. In other words, he looks good! We always need to fight Satan with the Word of God.
Ezekiel 36:26 "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. . ."
Psalm 25:3, Romans 10:11 "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
Romans 8:1 "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. . ."
Romans 8:37 - 39 "Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God."
Jude 24 "To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy . . ."
I do hope you will look up each of these verses in your own Bible and ask the Lord to apply them to your life. You will then see yourself as God sees you, as righteous as Jesus! When others perceive your peace and joy, they will also want this and be open to God's call.
Knowing you are loved unconditionally and have been totally forgiven, washed white as snow in fact - Psalm 51:7. Your sin has been "removed as far as the east is from the west", Psalm 103:12.
John 8:32 tells us that the truth will set us free. What a great way to start the summer!
Thank you Lord for what you have done for us. I ask that those who read this will go to your Word and read for themselves and that You will bring more joy and peace into their lives.
Monday, April 22, 2013
TEN MOST IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT GOD #4
I must start this blog by apologizing to my readers. The last blog was an Easter poem, the two prior to that were written in haste, mostly about our trip to South America in March. After I re-read them, I realized that I needed to do some editing, which I've now done. Blogging is less formal and more intuitive then other writing, but I feel an obligation to the some 3,700 plus readers I've had view this site to put great thought and effort into each piece. I wouldn't want to turn anyone away because of poor writing. This blog isn't about me, it's about our Lord. I love to share how the divine mixes into our everyday life - no matter where we are, or what we're doing - our God is there. "I am with you always. . .Matthew 28:20.
I will continue now with writing "The Ten Most Important Things About God." In case you've missed the previous three, we've covered these points... #1 - "God Has Written a Personal Message to Us", #2 - "God Has Made Himself Known Through the Person of Jesus Christ", #3 - Jesus is the Way to Have a Personal Relationship with God."
Much of the world watched events unfold in the aftermath of the bombings at the Boston Marathon last week. Runners from all over the world come to compete in this famous race. I heard a man say that he was standing close to the finish line when the bombs exploded. He wasn't seriously injured, but a woman standing close by had all the fingers on one hand blown off by the explosion. There was a horrific earthquake in China last week, many were killed and so many are suffering.
None of us know from day to day, or even moment by moment, when our life on earth will end, or be significantly altered. Another tragedy that may have been pushed aside by the press because of all the drama in Boston, happened in Texas last week. A huge factory caught on fire then exploded killing and injuring many, homes were destroyed and lives were changed forever.
There can be only one source of comfort during such difficult times. In fact, many of us don't need a terrible tragedy - the small disappointments and frustrations of everyday life can be enough for us to cry out "Abba, Father", Romans 8:15. This verse tells us that God's Spirit in us is not one of fear, we received the Spirit of sonship. And, as God's children, we cry out to our heavenly Father. This is the very nature of one who believes.
In order to cry out to our Father, we need to be convinced that He is alive, that He can hear us, and that He cares about us uniquely and individually.
# 4 Our God is alive!
"I know my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth." Job 19:25
At first thought, this may not seem like such a big deal, but think of how many people down through the ages have worshiped and prayed to an idol, a dead god. I've watched people lay flowers and fruit at the feet of statues made of stone or clay, bow and pray to them in hopes of being heard. You can't expect something that isn't alive to respond. Where there is no life, there is no power to do anything, not punish or bless.
I've heard these words so often, "How does anyone know that Christ rose from the dead, no one saw Him after they took Him down from the cross." Wrong, that is simply not true. The Bible records, in I Corinthians 15, that over five hundred people witnessed the risen Christ. It's very interesting to me that the Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus, recorded the fact that Jesus was the Christ and appeared alive the third day after His death on the cross. Josephus was not part of the religious world, he simply recorded the events of his time.You can find this in the book, The Works of Josephus, Complete and Unabridged, Book 18, chapter 3, pg. 480.
Many times in scripture Jesus claimed to be God. . .
"I and the Father are one." John 10:30. The disciple, Philip, wasn't much different than many of us today. He had doubts. When Jesus was explaining that He was the way to the Father, Philip wanted Him to show them the Father. Jesus answered with this statement:
"Don't you know me Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father."
John 14:9
The bones of Buddha and Muhammad are still in the ground. I don't believe either of them ever claimed to be the God. When Mary went to the tomb she was told, "He is not here; for He is risen as He said." - Matthew 28:6. Jesus is divine, He is God in the flesh, and He could not stay in the grave, because death had no power over Him.
The good news for those who believe is that we too shall rise from the dead. We do so by imparted power (power of the Holy Spirit), but Jesus rose by His own power. Death had no dominion over Him. Our God is alive and we are alive in Him by the power of the Holy Spirit. As a justified person, I now have not one sin against me in God's book. If I could look into God's eternal book, I'd see that every debt of mine has been cancelled.
I pray that the Lord has, or will, reveal this truth to you. It is He alone who can open our eyes and touch our heart.
Lord we praise your Holy Name as we stand in awe of what you have done for us. Thank you Jesus for paying the penalty for our sins, then rising up, alive again, to show us that we too will live eternally.
I will continue now with writing "The Ten Most Important Things About God." In case you've missed the previous three, we've covered these points... #1 - "God Has Written a Personal Message to Us", #2 - "God Has Made Himself Known Through the Person of Jesus Christ", #3 - Jesus is the Way to Have a Personal Relationship with God."
Much of the world watched events unfold in the aftermath of the bombings at the Boston Marathon last week. Runners from all over the world come to compete in this famous race. I heard a man say that he was standing close to the finish line when the bombs exploded. He wasn't seriously injured, but a woman standing close by had all the fingers on one hand blown off by the explosion. There was a horrific earthquake in China last week, many were killed and so many are suffering.
None of us know from day to day, or even moment by moment, when our life on earth will end, or be significantly altered. Another tragedy that may have been pushed aside by the press because of all the drama in Boston, happened in Texas last week. A huge factory caught on fire then exploded killing and injuring many, homes were destroyed and lives were changed forever.
There can be only one source of comfort during such difficult times. In fact, many of us don't need a terrible tragedy - the small disappointments and frustrations of everyday life can be enough for us to cry out "Abba, Father", Romans 8:15. This verse tells us that God's Spirit in us is not one of fear, we received the Spirit of sonship. And, as God's children, we cry out to our heavenly Father. This is the very nature of one who believes.
In order to cry out to our Father, we need to be convinced that He is alive, that He can hear us, and that He cares about us uniquely and individually.
# 4 Our God is alive!
"I know my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth." Job 19:25
At first thought, this may not seem like such a big deal, but think of how many people down through the ages have worshiped and prayed to an idol, a dead god. I've watched people lay flowers and fruit at the feet of statues made of stone or clay, bow and pray to them in hopes of being heard. You can't expect something that isn't alive to respond. Where there is no life, there is no power to do anything, not punish or bless.
I've heard these words so often, "How does anyone know that Christ rose from the dead, no one saw Him after they took Him down from the cross." Wrong, that is simply not true. The Bible records, in I Corinthians 15, that over five hundred people witnessed the risen Christ. It's very interesting to me that the Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus, recorded the fact that Jesus was the Christ and appeared alive the third day after His death on the cross. Josephus was not part of the religious world, he simply recorded the events of his time.You can find this in the book, The Works of Josephus, Complete and Unabridged, Book 18, chapter 3, pg. 480.
Many times in scripture Jesus claimed to be God. . .
"I and the Father are one." John 10:30. The disciple, Philip, wasn't much different than many of us today. He had doubts. When Jesus was explaining that He was the way to the Father, Philip wanted Him to show them the Father. Jesus answered with this statement:
"Don't you know me Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father."
John 14:9
The bones of Buddha and Muhammad are still in the ground. I don't believe either of them ever claimed to be the God. When Mary went to the tomb she was told, "He is not here; for He is risen as He said." - Matthew 28:6. Jesus is divine, He is God in the flesh, and He could not stay in the grave, because death had no power over Him.
The good news for those who believe is that we too shall rise from the dead. We do so by imparted power (power of the Holy Spirit), but Jesus rose by His own power. Death had no dominion over Him. Our God is alive and we are alive in Him by the power of the Holy Spirit. As a justified person, I now have not one sin against me in God's book. If I could look into God's eternal book, I'd see that every debt of mine has been cancelled.
I pray that the Lord has, or will, reveal this truth to you. It is He alone who can open our eyes and touch our heart.
Lord we praise your Holy Name as we stand in awe of what you have done for us. Thank you Jesus for paying the penalty for our sins, then rising up, alive again, to show us that we too will live eternally.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
HAPPY EASTER
I wrote this poem some time ago. We have been gone from home for three weeks. Not a long time, but long enough to witness some changes. Spring is so special. When we returned, winter had become spring. Our yard is flooded with the odor of orange blossoms, the orchids are in bloom, rose bushes are filled with beautiful little buds and the grass is a lovely spring green. The birds found a bag of green moss we use for potted plants and have been using it to build their nests in preparation for a new family. All around us, new life. Maybe this is why Jesus Christ choose this time of year to be resurrected to new life after dying on the cross.
RESURRECTION SUNDAY
Spring, a time when
God revives His creation
resurrecting new life,
nurturing what once
seemed dead.
God announces His existence
dressing this earth exquisitely
in all the colors of the rainbow.
He floods the air waves
with heavenly unwritten melodies
as the birds choose their mates
and build nests to
house fragile fledglings.
The message of the Son is revealed
as we witness a flower
pushing through soil,
smell fragrant orange blossoms,
and gently reach out to
touch those we love.
Jesus came to show
all is not lost and gone away.
Life will be resurrected
in harmony with His unfolding plan.
He has promised to
show the way.
He is the way.
John 14:6
Friday, March 29, 2013
MAN OVERBOARD!
My husband and I knew the crew of the ship would have a disaster drill today, but we were a bit startled to hear someone shout over the intercom . . ."man overboard". That could be a reason to panic.
After a few days in Santiago, Chili, we spent two days in Lima, Peru, home to nine million people. There are many cars and streets are congested making it difficult to get around. We were told it never rains in Lima. That would be the reason everything looks dusty and in need of a good washing down. It appeared to us that the majority of the people here live very poorly. However, we shouldn't think that poor always means unhappy.
The Bible speaks of the poor. Just as there have always been blind and deaf people, there have always been those who are considered poor within their society. Jesus was in a home in Bethany when a woman used some very expensive oil to anoint Him. There was a minor uproar as the disciples thought this was wasteful, the money could have been spent on the poor. Jesus responded to His disciples. . .
"The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for the burial." Matthew 26:11-12.
Jesus was telling them that He was going to die soon. The disciples didn't completely understand that. Neither did they fully comprehend that He would be raised to new life and would walk among them for forty days before He left to sit on the right hand of God the Father. Over five hundred saw the risen Jesus. You can read about it in I Corinthians, chapter 15.
We are encouraged in Scripture to help the poor. There are so many. Christians understand that the riches of this world are nothing compared to the riches God has in store for those who love Him. As Easter Sunday approaches we remember the reason Jesus, God in the flesh, hung on a cross to die and then rise again, so we can have eternal life free from all pain and suffering. And, while here on this earth, we are to help when and where we can. We can trust God to show us the opportunities we have to do this.
The Catholic Church has a new leader, Pope Francis, from Argentina. South Americans, the majority of whom are Catholic, are delighted to have a Spanish speaking Pope. Our tour guide in Lima explained that even though 80% of her country are Catholics, many still practice religious rituals learned from their ancestors. I believe it's their Inca Indian heritage that teaches them to worship nature as all Indian cultures seem to, specifically, Mother Nature. It is she they believe who makes the ground fertile, and the waters of the earth abundant with fish.
I can't help but think how much our human nature pulls us all back to what we've learned as a child, whether good or bad. I recently heard someone say that he'd spanked his three year old grandson because he wouldn't sit still and be quiet during a church service. His reason for doing this? "That's the way I was raised". I wanted to say, "That doesn't make it right", but I kept quiet. Most of us learned that "If you are good, you'll go to heaven." The first question we may ask is, "How good?" or "Whose definition of "good" do we use?"
I think you can see the problem, but when the Lord reveals Himself to us, we come to understand, that on our own, we can never be good enough to enter heaven. It is God who does a complete work in us, leaving nothing left to do but praise His Holy Name. We are now righteous before Him.
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son. . .those he predestined, he also called, justified and glorified. . .Romans 8:29 - 30.
Isn't it a blessing to know that Jesus is able to do for us what we can't do for our self? He will present us before God's glorious presence without fault and with great joy! Jude 24
During the course of our trip, we traveled close to 6,000 nautical miles, and saw quite a bit of South America.The weather became warmer and more humid as we sailed north, but not unpleasant in the lest.
We arrived in Manta, Ecuador early one morning. As we pulled into port we enjoyed watching the tiny, but mighty, tugboats help maneuver our very large ship. We wrote a Haiku (Japanese style poem) as we witnessed the process one day.
The little tugboat
works hard to move bigger boats
each needs the other
Each needs the other, same is true of us, we need one another. In Manta, we were amazed by the huge, beautiful grocery and drug stores in this small town. We met a very nice man in the grocery store who has lived in the United States. He asked many questions about the cruise, and we asked him to direct us to the banos. We spent some time at a nice artisans market by the ocean. It was here we discovered that the famous Panama Hat is not made in Panama, but in Ecuador. We bought one for our son-in-law. We are impressed by the honesty and friendliness of the people.
The days at sea were relaxing. We thread our way past sun-baked passengers to find the perfect spot to read and write.
When we arrived in Puntarenas, Costa Rica we board a small train and ride through the countryside filled with mango groves.
Orange and yellow melons lie in fields adding a fragrance to the air. We tasted the best watermelon we've ever had here in Costa Rica. Next stop, Nicaragua. We arranged to go on an excursion to the family-owned Amayo Hacienda placed on the shore of Lake Nicaragua. From this property, we have a grand view of the twin volcanoes, Maderas and Concepcion, which rise majestically out of the lake. What a beautiful sight.
One evening we watched the movie The Life of Pi on the deck of the ship. This is truly an amazing story of survival and God's provision. And, wherever we go, we find the Lord's sheep.
Somehow I managed to miss all but one of the Bible studies on board. It's a joy to meet other believers who live in different parts of the world.
Our last stop was Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. We were there in 2005 and were astonished to see the growth that had occurred since then. At one time, this was a sleepy little fishing village.
Now, it's back to the real world - shopping, cooking, cleaning - just ordinary stuff. There are days when we want to shout, "Man overboard!" Something happens and we feel a sense of panic. This is when we most appreciate knowing God personally and feeling His presence and involvement in everyday life. Our little boats can capsize so quickly. Jesus leads us from panic to peace. . .and this is a good way to live, like being on a vacation every day!
Lord I thank you for allowing us to experience South America. What a beautiful world You have created. Our greatest wish is to honor and glorify You, no matter where we are.
After a few days in Santiago, Chili, we spent two days in Lima, Peru, home to nine million people. There are many cars and streets are congested making it difficult to get around. We were told it never rains in Lima. That would be the reason everything looks dusty and in need of a good washing down. It appeared to us that the majority of the people here live very poorly. However, we shouldn't think that poor always means unhappy.
The Bible speaks of the poor. Just as there have always been blind and deaf people, there have always been those who are considered poor within their society. Jesus was in a home in Bethany when a woman used some very expensive oil to anoint Him. There was a minor uproar as the disciples thought this was wasteful, the money could have been spent on the poor. Jesus responded to His disciples. . .
"The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for the burial." Matthew 26:11-12.
Jesus was telling them that He was going to die soon. The disciples didn't completely understand that. Neither did they fully comprehend that He would be raised to new life and would walk among them for forty days before He left to sit on the right hand of God the Father. Over five hundred saw the risen Jesus. You can read about it in I Corinthians, chapter 15.
We are encouraged in Scripture to help the poor. There are so many. Christians understand that the riches of this world are nothing compared to the riches God has in store for those who love Him. As Easter Sunday approaches we remember the reason Jesus, God in the flesh, hung on a cross to die and then rise again, so we can have eternal life free from all pain and suffering. And, while here on this earth, we are to help when and where we can. We can trust God to show us the opportunities we have to do this.
The Catholic Church has a new leader, Pope Francis, from Argentina. South Americans, the majority of whom are Catholic, are delighted to have a Spanish speaking Pope. Our tour guide in Lima explained that even though 80% of her country are Catholics, many still practice religious rituals learned from their ancestors. I believe it's their Inca Indian heritage that teaches them to worship nature as all Indian cultures seem to, specifically, Mother Nature. It is she they believe who makes the ground fertile, and the waters of the earth abundant with fish.
I can't help but think how much our human nature pulls us all back to what we've learned as a child, whether good or bad. I recently heard someone say that he'd spanked his three year old grandson because he wouldn't sit still and be quiet during a church service. His reason for doing this? "That's the way I was raised". I wanted to say, "That doesn't make it right", but I kept quiet. Most of us learned that "If you are good, you'll go to heaven." The first question we may ask is, "How good?" or "Whose definition of "good" do we use?"
I think you can see the problem, but when the Lord reveals Himself to us, we come to understand, that on our own, we can never be good enough to enter heaven. It is God who does a complete work in us, leaving nothing left to do but praise His Holy Name. We are now righteous before Him.
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son. . .those he predestined, he also called, justified and glorified. . .Romans 8:29 - 30.
Isn't it a blessing to know that Jesus is able to do for us what we can't do for our self? He will present us before God's glorious presence without fault and with great joy! Jude 24
During the course of our trip, we traveled close to 6,000 nautical miles, and saw quite a bit of South America.The weather became warmer and more humid as we sailed north, but not unpleasant in the lest.
We arrived in Manta, Ecuador early one morning. As we pulled into port we enjoyed watching the tiny, but mighty, tugboats help maneuver our very large ship. We wrote a Haiku (Japanese style poem) as we witnessed the process one day.
The little tugboat
works hard to move bigger boats
each needs the other
Each needs the other, same is true of us, we need one another. In Manta, we were amazed by the huge, beautiful grocery and drug stores in this small town. We met a very nice man in the grocery store who has lived in the United States. He asked many questions about the cruise, and we asked him to direct us to the banos. We spent some time at a nice artisans market by the ocean. It was here we discovered that the famous Panama Hat is not made in Panama, but in Ecuador. We bought one for our son-in-law. We are impressed by the honesty and friendliness of the people.
The days at sea were relaxing. We thread our way past sun-baked passengers to find the perfect spot to read and write.
When we arrived in Puntarenas, Costa Rica we board a small train and ride through the countryside filled with mango groves.
Orange and yellow melons lie in fields adding a fragrance to the air. We tasted the best watermelon we've ever had here in Costa Rica. Next stop, Nicaragua. We arranged to go on an excursion to the family-owned Amayo Hacienda placed on the shore of Lake Nicaragua. From this property, we have a grand view of the twin volcanoes, Maderas and Concepcion, which rise majestically out of the lake. What a beautiful sight.
One evening we watched the movie The Life of Pi on the deck of the ship. This is truly an amazing story of survival and God's provision. And, wherever we go, we find the Lord's sheep.
Somehow I managed to miss all but one of the Bible studies on board. It's a joy to meet other believers who live in different parts of the world.
Our last stop was Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. We were there in 2005 and were astonished to see the growth that had occurred since then. At one time, this was a sleepy little fishing village.
Now, it's back to the real world - shopping, cooking, cleaning - just ordinary stuff. There are days when we want to shout, "Man overboard!" Something happens and we feel a sense of panic. This is when we most appreciate knowing God personally and feeling His presence and involvement in everyday life. Our little boats can capsize so quickly. Jesus leads us from panic to peace. . .and this is a good way to live, like being on a vacation every day!
Lord I thank you for allowing us to experience South America. What a beautiful world You have created. Our greatest wish is to honor and glorify You, no matter where we are.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
SOUTH AMERICA
One thing I know for sure. . .God sends some of us out into the world to see and experience His wonderful creation. And most important, to share His love with those from different countries and cultures. Travel is as much about the people you meet as the sights you see.
"For God so loved the world. . ." John 3:16
I will continue my "Ten Most Important Things I Know About God" blogs when I get back home.
My husband and I have visited many countries, and we are grateful. However, this is the first time we have been in the Southern Hemisphere. What we see is not how different people and countries are from our own, but in many cases, how similar. People may speak a different language and live in a different part of the world, but be so much like us in wanting to live well, be at peace, love their family and country and experience God in a personal way.
We arrived in Santiago, Chili two days ago after a very long flight from Los Angeles, California. I am sitting at a computer keyboard at a hotel in Santiago, Chili. How amazing that I can sit down at this computer, instantly find my blog, and be able to share with you. This is one of those days that I love technology.
Our hotel is close to the business center of the city. As I sit here and look out the window I can see the tallest building in South America. Also, several beautiful new office buildings are in view. Last night, as the light begin to drain from a rusty pink sky, we could see pink-edged clouds reflected in the glass of these buildings. A sight to remember. A block away we can stroll through a lovely residential area at the foot of the Andes Mountains. All my life I have heard of the Andes and can hardly believe I am actually looking at them.
Every year my husband and I say we are going to learn the Spanish language - it shouldn't be too difficult and we certainly could use it in own community of San Diego, California. But, here we are in a Spanish speaking country and only know a few words. However, we find we are able to communicate well and those here who are trying to learn English appreciate having someone to speak with.
From our hotel, we can walk across a couple of complicated intersections, over a bridge, and be in a most amazing mall, Costanera Center, in the Providencia area of the city. The economy here must be healthy and vibrant in order to support such a massive shopping and eating area. No one looks at us, we do not stand out as being foreign - well, maybe my blond hair makes me a bit different. Many only speak their Spanish language. Every kind of food in the world must be available here. We find the American type restaurants like Applebees, Hard Rock Cafe and of course all the fast food places as well as unique foods and restaurants.
We walked with our guide for what seemed like miles yesterday and were too tired to go out for dinner last night. We had a wonderful meal on the patio of our hotel, just the two of us alone on the patio, quiet, romantic. We thank the Lord for these magical moments, just the two of us in our own world.
There are a lot of cars in Santiago; the majority appear to be newer models. This is a city of five million people, and there is so much traffic. During our tour of the downtown area, we visited a huge Catholic Cathedral that had been rebuilt five times after earthquakes destroyed it. It's a Friday afternoon and the church is filled with many local people who are there to pray and listen to a message from the priest. On the ceiling over the large altar there is a beautiful painting of Jesus holding a lamb. Jesus is the Lamb of God - John 1:29
How beautifully the Scripture comes alive. All through the Old Testament, the people of God sacrificed a lamb to gain His favor. Then, at the appointed time, God came to earth to be the Lamb of sacrifice - Jesus. Now, we no longer need to shed blood to please God. We simply worship the One God sent. . .John 6:28 - 29.
One of the highlights of this visit to Chili was visiting the home of the poet, Pablo Neruda. We were told he kept company with other creative people like Marcel Marceau, and Picasso. They were drinking buddies, maybe high on drugs at times, politically active, and gifted. Neruda had some problems because of his politics, he was a Communist, and had to escape to Italy and Argentina. He wrote such beautiful poetry - painted pictures with words. His poetry has lasted, his political views have been forgiven by most. Our guide Leo told us that there are still problems with Communists who demonstrate in Santiago, and some think Neruda was poisoned because of his beliefs.
We have discovered during our roamings around the globe, how important politics is to a country and its people. Good politics can make people secure, confident and ultimately successful. Bad politics will tear down both a country and its people and leave them insecure and fearful. So much of our Bible is about the politics of the day and the good and bad that came because of the political system. Chili was ruled by Spain for 300 years. They fought for their independence and have become one of the most capitalistic, successful countries in South America. A pleasure to visit here. As upsetting as politics can be, I understand that God never loses His control and everything that happens, happens for a reason. . .Romans 13:1.
We are looking forward to our tour tomorrow when a guide will drive us to Valparaiso on the coast. We will make a stop in Isla Negro to visit a museum and another home of Neruda. He had three wives during his lifetime, and three homes. This one is where he and his last wife are buried. The view from this property that sits high on a bluff overlooking the sea is indescribably beautiful. No wonder Neruda was inspired to write such lovely poetry.
Our final destination tomorrow will be the Star Princess Cruise ship. We will spend sixteen days cruising North to the port in Los Angeles, not far from our home. Along the way, we will visit several more countries - Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Mexico. We look forward to this cruise and have learned that the Lord always has a purpose for our adventures. We constantly think of our family back home - they seem so far away.
Lord, we thank you for this opportunity to travel and see this fantastic world you have created. We are always willing to share your love with anyone you bring us. Please keep us healthy and safe as we cruise thousands of miles toward home.
"For God so loved the world. . ." John 3:16
I will continue my "Ten Most Important Things I Know About God" blogs when I get back home.
My husband and I have visited many countries, and we are grateful. However, this is the first time we have been in the Southern Hemisphere. What we see is not how different people and countries are from our own, but in many cases, how similar. People may speak a different language and live in a different part of the world, but be so much like us in wanting to live well, be at peace, love their family and country and experience God in a personal way.
We arrived in Santiago, Chili two days ago after a very long flight from Los Angeles, California. I am sitting at a computer keyboard at a hotel in Santiago, Chili. How amazing that I can sit down at this computer, instantly find my blog, and be able to share with you. This is one of those days that I love technology.
Our hotel is close to the business center of the city. As I sit here and look out the window I can see the tallest building in South America. Also, several beautiful new office buildings are in view. Last night, as the light begin to drain from a rusty pink sky, we could see pink-edged clouds reflected in the glass of these buildings. A sight to remember. A block away we can stroll through a lovely residential area at the foot of the Andes Mountains. All my life I have heard of the Andes and can hardly believe I am actually looking at them.
Every year my husband and I say we are going to learn the Spanish language - it shouldn't be too difficult and we certainly could use it in own community of San Diego, California. But, here we are in a Spanish speaking country and only know a few words. However, we find we are able to communicate well and those here who are trying to learn English appreciate having someone to speak with.
From our hotel, we can walk across a couple of complicated intersections, over a bridge, and be in a most amazing mall, Costanera Center, in the Providencia area of the city. The economy here must be healthy and vibrant in order to support such a massive shopping and eating area. No one looks at us, we do not stand out as being foreign - well, maybe my blond hair makes me a bit different. Many only speak their Spanish language. Every kind of food in the world must be available here. We find the American type restaurants like Applebees, Hard Rock Cafe and of course all the fast food places as well as unique foods and restaurants.
We walked with our guide for what seemed like miles yesterday and were too tired to go out for dinner last night. We had a wonderful meal on the patio of our hotel, just the two of us alone on the patio, quiet, romantic. We thank the Lord for these magical moments, just the two of us in our own world.
There are a lot of cars in Santiago; the majority appear to be newer models. This is a city of five million people, and there is so much traffic. During our tour of the downtown area, we visited a huge Catholic Cathedral that had been rebuilt five times after earthquakes destroyed it. It's a Friday afternoon and the church is filled with many local people who are there to pray and listen to a message from the priest. On the ceiling over the large altar there is a beautiful painting of Jesus holding a lamb. Jesus is the Lamb of God - John 1:29
How beautifully the Scripture comes alive. All through the Old Testament, the people of God sacrificed a lamb to gain His favor. Then, at the appointed time, God came to earth to be the Lamb of sacrifice - Jesus. Now, we no longer need to shed blood to please God. We simply worship the One God sent. . .John 6:28 - 29.
One of the highlights of this visit to Chili was visiting the home of the poet, Pablo Neruda. We were told he kept company with other creative people like Marcel Marceau, and Picasso. They were drinking buddies, maybe high on drugs at times, politically active, and gifted. Neruda had some problems because of his politics, he was a Communist, and had to escape to Italy and Argentina. He wrote such beautiful poetry - painted pictures with words. His poetry has lasted, his political views have been forgiven by most. Our guide Leo told us that there are still problems with Communists who demonstrate in Santiago, and some think Neruda was poisoned because of his beliefs.
We have discovered during our roamings around the globe, how important politics is to a country and its people. Good politics can make people secure, confident and ultimately successful. Bad politics will tear down both a country and its people and leave them insecure and fearful. So much of our Bible is about the politics of the day and the good and bad that came because of the political system. Chili was ruled by Spain for 300 years. They fought for their independence and have become one of the most capitalistic, successful countries in South America. A pleasure to visit here. As upsetting as politics can be, I understand that God never loses His control and everything that happens, happens for a reason. . .Romans 13:1.
We are looking forward to our tour tomorrow when a guide will drive us to Valparaiso on the coast. We will make a stop in Isla Negro to visit a museum and another home of Neruda. He had three wives during his lifetime, and three homes. This one is where he and his last wife are buried. The view from this property that sits high on a bluff overlooking the sea is indescribably beautiful. No wonder Neruda was inspired to write such lovely poetry.
Our final destination tomorrow will be the Star Princess Cruise ship. We will spend sixteen days cruising North to the port in Los Angeles, not far from our home. Along the way, we will visit several more countries - Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Mexico. We look forward to this cruise and have learned that the Lord always has a purpose for our adventures. We constantly think of our family back home - they seem so far away.
Lord, we thank you for this opportunity to travel and see this fantastic world you have created. We are always willing to share your love with anyone you bring us. Please keep us healthy and safe as we cruise thousands of miles toward home.
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