HOW PAINFUL IS “GOOD” GONNA GET?

There is no question in my mind that God is good! I can sing whole heartedly that “He’s a good, good, Father, yes He is”. But sometimes I struggle with just how much pain His goodness will allow. It’s okay to ponder these things. God can handle our questions. Jeremiah, David, Joseph and most of the prophets, patriarchs and others in scripture have hit this question head on.

David cried out all the time in his pain. Physical pain, emotional pain, relationship pain, national pain…. Let’s face it. Pain hurts, period. No one knew this more than Jesus Christ Himself when He sweat drops of blood at Gethsemane, knowing that He would bear the sins of the world in His very human body. That fact still “wow’s” me, greater love has no man than this, that he lay his life down for his friends. And Jesus accomplished what no other could do for us.

So pain is a part of the living process and it does often work out for our good. God allows pain, but it’s the devil that tries to completely crush us and it’s important to know the difference.

I remember walking into the hospital for my 3rd surgery. I had had a vision a few months back seeing myself sitting in a hospital bed, again. I said to the Lord, “NO”! But He calmly said, “This will be over quickly and everything will be alright.” Of course I wanted Him to zap me with an instant miracle (which He has done before), but it was not to be this time. I needed my gallbladder removed and it was probably pretty important because my mother and grandfather both died from complications from a burst gallbladder.

So I was walking willingly into the hospital, thinking, “I’m willingly going in here to be cut open, body part removed and it’s gonna hurt at some point, but here I go.” Just then like a light bulb from heaven, I understood what courage meant. Not just with my head, but with my whole being, I got it. Courage is doing something that will bring good, even though it will hurt.

It is also noteworthy to mention that when I went in for pre-op a few days before, I sat beside a woman with terminal cancer who was waiting to get her chemo. I was able to strike up a conversation with her and she was so receptive to prayer and to hear about the Lord. I had a salvation track in my purse to give her and she said she would read it during her treatment. Without a doubt, she drew close to the Lord that day and whether she survived her illness or not….she encountered Jesus and His truth that day in the hospital.

I would not have encountered her if I had not been there. It warmed my heart and made everything seem worthwhile. Was that my purpose there? I don’t know anything except Romans 8:28 that God can work all things together for good.

There have been times when all things were going well and I would get hit with crushing pain or physical illness that I knew was straight from hell. The times when I cried out and God rescued me , eventually. I don’t like the “waiting” part, but face it, that is part of life and it tests and grows our faith. I have to admit that often I crumble….but I’m still growing like all of us are.

God IS a good Father and won’t let us be tempted beyond what we can bear.

1 Corinthians 10:13
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

So it’s okay to “cry out”, just read how often David did this in the Psalms. It’s the human condition. God did not make it this way in the garden of Eden and in heaven when things are set right again….there will be no crying or pain.

Revelation 21:4
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Pain is temporary….thank God!!! As long as you choose to dwell with God in heaven by receiving His Son as Lord. He is the only door to heaven.

Rest and be at peace. Don’t go through any pain alone. Cry out. Talk to God, others and pray. This will soon pass away and be no more, and that my friends is good news!

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SILVER LINING – Poetry

There is a silver lining
To the crisis we are in
It takes a perfect stranger
And it makes of them a friend

Lots of great destruction
May be coming fast our way
But how we choose to deal with it
Is in our power today

Crisis can produce a fruit
That’s sweetest to the taste
It breaks down many barriers
That are standing in the way

It puts us all into a boat
We share in all the land
When crisis hits a neighborhood
We lend a helping hand

Now we can let it take us down
Or rise up to the cause
It’s all on how you deal with it
Will you rise or fall

Trouble seems to peel away
All the false fronts there
It puts us in the human race
A chance to really care

So when the rain starts falling down
No matter what form it takes
Remember let the love come forth
And live for goodness sake

copyright Jean Chamblee 2011

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

SATAN IS AFTER THE THRONE OF OUR HEARTS! Just exactly what does that mean?
We must ask ourselves…..WHO is supposed to be the King of our hearts? God!! (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!) We know from scripture that Satan is a thief and comes to steal, to kill and to destroy. (John 10:10)

What did he want more than anything? Isaiah records Lucifers words:

Isaiah 14:13-15
“For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’

Lofty words he uttered. He wants to “sit on the mount of the congregation”. That is us.

So how does he accomplish this? Predominantly with lies and deception. (John 8:44) “…When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”
(2 Corinthians 11:18)
And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

He comes in stealth to take the throne of our hearts and souls. Our soul is our mind, will, and emotions. That’s where it gets tricky. They are always at work and engaged in something. But according to the Word of God, anything we allow to take up our mind, will, and emotions more than God …has become an idol in our hearts. (1 Corinthians 10:14)  “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”

On more than one occasion God has called me on the carpet saying “You have an idol in your heart” Each time I was floored thinking that it couldn’t be. But when He told me what it was….I had to agree and admit that what or who He named was occupying my thoughts more than He was. OUCH!

So I simply repented and began to pay attention to my thoughts and affections, making sure they were set first on God. Our priorities in life should be 1. God 2. Spouse 3. Kids/Family 4. Job/Ministry When this delicate balance gets out of whack so do we. It can result in depression, anxiety, overwhelming stress or show up in many different ways. These are just the symptoms that something is amiss in our souls and needs to be adjusted.

It is pretty easy to fix. Just recognizing it is half the battle. Then begin casting down and resisting those thoughts that occupy too much of our being! God is a jealous God. “…For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God…” (Exodus 20:4) “…for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God…” (Exodus 34:14)

Actually I think it’s cool that He is so passionate about us. He certainly paid a huge price to show us how much He loves us. To prove His love for us.

I truly believe this is a season of repentance. Even on the Hebrew calendar …we are in the month that they consider a time of repentance. So I encourage each of us to examine our hearts and see if anything or anyone is occupying our mind, will and emotions more than our God. I pray you won’t be a stubborn mule like I can often be and wait until things start falling apart to get my attention! Thank goodness for His mercy! He loves us, wants us, created us…..to be His. I hope you can hear that this is truly a LOVE MESSAGE, and no condemnation. He wants you. What could be better news than that! The King of the Universe wants to be the King of your heart! You are loved!

LET THE LOVE FLOW – Poetry

Oh how I think I can handle so much
When what I so need, is Your gentle touch
Seems like this life is over my head
And truly it is without what You’ve said

I need You every hour, my enemy fierce
Taking me down and bringing me tears
But You see it all and You have a plan
As I call out to You and reach for Your hand

There is a place so gentle and sweet
Where You come so near, I can feel Your heartbeat
You are my Maker, Lord above all
I belong to You and You catch my fall

No one can have that place inside me
It belongs to You, but the enemy’s coveting
They want to dethrone You as the King of my heart
Taking my mind away and from You tear apart

How foolish he is , the devil our foe
It’s You he contends with and covers our soul
When we step away and fail to stay close
The injuries come from the wounds and the blows

You catch every tear, oh Lover of our soul
And begin the work quickly to again make us whole
This life is a battle, a game for the throne
That place in our heart that You call Your own

Help us fall down at Your feet and stay there
Where we are protected and covered in Your care
Wanting to guide us and wisdom to give
Keeping us safe and helping us live

Preparing a place for us yes You are
More beautiful than imagined, that outshines the stars
But oh we must walk with You every day
It’s our only survival, to do things Your way

Gently bend down Lord, in love scoop me up
Heal all the wounds and again fill my cup
Connected again, the enemy fails
Because I’m Your child and You paid with those nails

Oh let the love flow and the stress fall away
As I realize that You Lord are always here to stay
Never apart do we have to be
You paid the price for me to be free

I love You!

copyright 2017 Jean Chamblee

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Just the other day I met a little girl in our neighborhood. She is in the first grade. We began to talk and my heart broke when I mentioned heaven. She had never heard of heaven and knew almost nothing about God. I think we forget…..if people have not heard …..they don’t know!!

I was thinking of another girl I met on a plane. She was a chiropractic school graduate and as we talked, she began to reveal that she had gotten her belief system from a fiction book she had read. She knew almost nothing about Jesus and what she did “think” she knew was skewed.

They are all around us, and we cannot stay silent! Here is why…..Romans 10:14
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

Now you may not think of yourself as a preacher…..but if you are a Christian…..you have at least a testimony and some truth. A testimony of how Jesus changed your life is powerful and personal. We must not stay silent.

I prayed about the little girl and got a book on heaven called “Heaven is Real for children” We sat on the swing and she read that book at least a half dozen times. I have peace that now she knows. She stated that she believes in Jesus now and I hope it will carry over throughout her life and pray that it does.

I think my first touch of God’s love and presence, that had an impact, came from a woman that cleaned our house once a week. She hid tootsie rolls in her pockets and would slip them to me. I don’t remember how she said it….but I knew that she knew Jesus. I felt so much love from her. The rest of the world was busy…..but I knew this lady named Willie, “saw” me. I felt important to her. What powerful characteristics of God she showed me with her quiet gentle ways and tangible love. She prayed for me too. I got a card from her when I graduated High School, long after she had retired from her work. Maybe no one but me and God saw it. But that lady was a powerful witness.

May God open our eyes to see the opportunities and give us the boldness to speak and testify. Look….you don’t even have to be a churchgoer to tell folks what you have experienced with Jesus. You don’t need a degree or special language. Just ask the Holy Spirit to open the conversation up and help you. His answer is “Yes”! And your efforts will have eternal value for you and whoever you speak to. God help us not be silent. Only through You can we obey your command to preach the gospel to everyone. These days are moving by so quickly…..

Well that’s my two cents and the burden on my own heart. I have such a powerful testimony and I have let discouragement and resistance cause me to hold back many times. May God forgive me and open doors and empower me to keep going. Thanks for your prayers as well! 🙂 Love you all and have a great day. Look for that Divine Appointment…..they are all around.

Looking Glass – Poetry

Well I run to who You are
Then I’ll know who I am
In the arms of my Savior
I am free

For You are my looking glass
I’m created in Your mold
Someone ancient
Someone meant to be

From the womb I’ve been called
To Your purpose I’ve been hauled
Oh Lord, what plans have You for me?

As I stop to wonder on
At the power of Your son
And to think that Your son He lives in me

As You taught me from a babe
I was born to be Your slave
Sent to serve the very man that You have made

I will not seek my own
I will seek to serve Your throne
And then everything else will follow me

As I run to who You are
Then I’ll know who I am
In the arms of my Savior I am free

I am free, I am free

copyright  2006   Jean Chamblee

 

YOU ARE NOT A FAIR WEATHER FRIEND – Poetry

When all hope is lost
There You are
Shining on me like a beautiful star

Though I scream
With angers rage
Not understanding the current page

It doesn’t deter You
You can handle my pain
You never leave me, You remain the same

When my broken heart
Is bleeding mad
You stay with me, Lord, just like You said

You are not fickle
Don’t run away
Like so many others, yet You choose to stay

How can you love me
When there’s ugliness there
You look right past it, see my heart laid bare

You’d rather have an honest spit
Than a fakeness that comes
From lying lips

It’s with You Jesus
That I can get real
And not be afraid that You’ll leave me still

You’re promise is
That You will stay
And see me through another day

Your love so deep
We’ve never seen
Even when we’ve been so mean

You are not a fair weather friend
Your love so deep
That it never ends

Beyond the veil
We must go
And not be afraid our truth to show

Be it bad or be it good
You will still love us
That must be understood

Our problems seem great
But to You it’s not so
Because Your commitment is more than we know

In the morning You will be there
The price You have paid
Our sins to erase

copyright 2017 Jean Chamblee

Hebrews 13:5  “For Jesus has said, ‘I will NEVER leave you or forsake you.”

Destiny – Poetry

I know You can see
The things that no one else can see
Things You’ve placed inside of me
Seems impossibility

But not in Your hands, But not in Your hands

Can you hear your Maker
Calling out your name
Can you feel the hand of the Potter
Carving out your life

Calling out your name,  Calling out your name

Don’t you know you have a destiny
You were born for such a time as this
Don’t run away in fear now
This is your finest hour

Destiny, destiny
What you’re meant to be
Heed the call
Destiny, destiny
Oh rise up dear one and give it your all

copyright 2006 Jean Chamblee

JUMP INTO THE WIND – Poetry

So sorry for the days
When I would run away
I need You, I need You

Forget about my past
And make me free at last
I need You, I need You

And I need to jump into the wind
I need to trust the arms I’m in

Never so confused
I feel I’m being used
Lord, keep me,
Lord, keep me

I know I cannot see
The plans you have for me
Lord, lead me
Lord, lead me

There was a time when I thought
That life was so secure
There was a time that I thought
That I was clean and pure

I need A Savior now I know
No matter how far and wide I grow
I need to stay at Jesus feet
I need to confess to all I need

Time to take a risk
My purpose not to miss
Please guide me
Lord guide me

The time is drawing near
For You to reappear
Make me ready
Make me ready

I need to jump into the wind
I need to trust the arms I’m in
I need a Savior now I know
No matter how far and wide I grow

copyright 2006 Jean Chamblee

LEAN INTO THE STING – Poetry

Lean into the sting of things
The cutting and the knife
Let the Maker of our souls
Shape and mold our life

It’s not the pleasant things that bring
True and lasting change
But painful blows that pound our souls
With power to rearrange

Rearrange our carnal self
And bring us into light
The pounding of the anvil
Unveils and makes things right

This life it is no picnic
Our time here short and sweet
But honey comes from creatures here
That also contain a sting

If we choose not to run away
From the anvil and the sting
Let it shape our destiny
And the goodness that it brings

The beauty of the mystery
Will far outweigh the pain
As God reveals His plans for us
Our pain will bring such gain

So learn to lift your head up high
Lean into the sting
Let it shape you deep inside
God’s treasures it will bring

copyright 2017 Jean Chamblee

Isaiah 64:8   “But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.”

 

(Youtube channel – Jean Chamblee – Passing The Torch)