Semper Fidelis means “always faithful,” which aptly describes the men and women who serve. But, mere humans cannot match the faithfulness of Almighty God who never changes, stays true to His word and promises to complete the work that He began in you (Philippians 1:6). Taking nothing away from the Marines, our God is the only One you will ever know who cannot let you down as it is impossible for God to do so (Hebrews 6:18).

This morning I opened my Bible to the book of Psalms in search of comforting words from God. I turned to chapter 92 where I read an account of God’s faithfulness to His children, the first seven verses reading as follows:

It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.

For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.

How great are your works, O LORD, how profound your thoughts!

The senseless man does not know, fools do not understand, that though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be forever destroyed.

These are some very powerful words! The writer of Psalm 92 recognized God’s faithfulness through His deeds, works and thoughts, expressing joy in God. On the other hand, those who refuse God quickly emerge on the scene, prosper for a season, but will soon meet their end.

Yes, it may seem the psalmist is rejoicing in the doom of those who refuse God, but comparatively he isn’t. Rather, he understands just how faithful God is to those who love Him and what a horrible mistake it is for anyone to embrace the momentary pleasures and successes found in this world in exchange for dismissing the promises of God.

These words are of tremendous comfort to me especially when I am going through a difficult time. I won’t go into details, but I am experiencing some trials causing me to question everything including God’s faithfulness. No, I am not calling God a liar — He is good for His word. Rather, I am asking for Him to reveal Himself through certain challenges. Despite the momentary afflictions, I believe God will and is intervening, ready to show me how He has been there for me all along.

He wants to do that for you too.

I do not know what you are going through as you read this, but God — who knows your thoughts and the intent of your heart (1 Chronicles 28:9) — does. Perhaps you are cast down by circumstances, even seeing those who do wickedly succeed while you struggle. Take heart — God is there to support you and will never leave you nor will He forsake you.

I love this verse found in Jeremiah 29:11 –

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

God is thinking about you right now, streaming good thoughts your way continuously and without interruption. We may grow tired or distracted, but God does not. He never slumbers or sleeps, keeping you in His thoughts at all times (Psalm 121:4).

Your struggles are temporary even if they seem like they are never ending. Some relief may come now, with absolute relief to be experienced when you see Jesus face to face.

Hold on! Better days are on the way from the One who is Semper Fidelis.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivers him out of them all. (Psalm 34:19)

My wife got in touch with a long time friend recently to catch up on the news concerning her battle with a debilitating illness. Our friend has been battling a rather uncommon, but much misunderstood disease, one that has nearly taken her life.

Radical medical treatment was sought overseas as the procedure has not yet been approved in the United States. Thankfully, she is getting some relief from the worst of her symptoms but doctors have told her that this illness will remain with her for the rest of her life.

This friend isn’t the only person we know who has been desperately ill as two other friends are waging their own wars against cancer. We also know people who recently suffered a serious accident or lost their jobs or are facing some other challenge.

Psalm 34 describes a trying time for David, the would be king who faced many trials before he ascended to the throne of Israel. Come to think of it, David’s life was filled with many challenges some of which were brought on by wrong decisions he made in life, others that were not.

In this particular Psalm, David pretended he was insane before Abimelech (a title for a Philistine king like Pharoah was used for Egypt) in order to save his life. David was also on the run from Saul, hiding out in a cave, probably had very little food, was tired and incredibly lonely.

But, David had his priorities right as he continually praised the Lord in the midst of his affliction, even encouraging the reader to turn from evil to do what is good and to seek peace and pursue it (v.14) Throughout this Psalm, David reminds us that God is with us, comforting us and protecting us. He concludes the chapter with this verse:

The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him. (v.22)

David understood that his only hope was in the Lord so he decided to find his comfort in Him. That my dear readers is the only way we should respond when troubles come upon us.

This verse, indeed the entire chapter, stood out for me in another way too. There are some people who don’t believe that Christians will go through tough times or they may say that a person who is suffering is in sin.

I am not going to get into a debate about various thoughts people may have, instead all I will do is point to the book of Psalms which demonstrates how God rescues His people out of trouble. These days, with so many people feeling the heat of an economic downturn, few are escaping troubles. But, like David, we can choose to call upon the name of the Lord who has promised to help us if we take our refuge in Him.

This world holds nothing for the person who puts their trust in God. Yet, we live in it and are afflicted often and shall overcome if we cry out to the One who has promised to redeem us.

The human condition...worry!

Admit it…there are times that you worry about something, perhaps fretting over your child’s behavior, the recent stock market meltdown, the rampant evil being glorified in society, you name it.

I’m not making light of what is a sin — worry can be loosely defined as those times when we aren’t putting something that concerns us in God’s hands — but it is common to the human condition.  Some Christians needlessly beat themselves up for worrying, missing the gentle tugging by the Holy Spirit for us to cast our burdens upon Him.

My personal worrying (or fretting) usually involves what I see happening in the world. Because I write extensively and on a number of different subjects, I’m all too familiar with what goes on in the news throughout the day. Wars, murders, economic calamity, child abuse, evil political agendas, you name it — my eyes see more than I care to see, but I must take these cares to the Lord or risk finding myself burdened by what I cannot change.

Recently, I’ve taken to reading Psalm 37 which is an excellent chapter to help people who tend to fret. I’m offering it to you in its entirety here and encourage those of you who struggle with worry to feast upon the psalmist’s words:

1 Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;

2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.

3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:

6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.

9 For evil men will be cut off,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.

11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy great peace.

12 The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them;

13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.

14 The wicked draw the sword
and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose ways are upright.

15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.

16 Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked;

17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the LORD upholds the righteous.

18 The days of the blameless are known to the LORD,
and their inheritance will endure forever.

19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

20 But the wicked will perish:
The LORD’s enemies will be like the beauty of the fields,
they will vanish—vanish like smoke.

21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;

22 those the LORD blesses will inherit the land,
but those he curses will be cut off.

23 If the LORD delights in a man’s way,
he makes his steps firm;

24 though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

25 I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.

26 They are always generous and lend freely;
their children will be blessed.

27 Turn from evil and do good;
then you will dwell in the land forever.

28 For the LORD loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.
They will be protected forever,
but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;

29 the righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it forever.

30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks what is just.

31 The law of his God is in his heart;
his feet do not slip.

32 The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,
seeking their very lives;

33 but the LORD will not leave them in their power
or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

34 Wait for the LORD
and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,

36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.

37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
there is a future for the man of peace.

38 But all sinners will be destroyed;
the future of the wicked will be cut off.

39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

40 The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.

None of us needs to be burdened by the cares and pleasures of this life and I encourage you to seek Jesus’ face when the weight of the world closes in. Personally, I’m glad that I cannot do anything about my problems as I tend to mess things up. I take confidence in knowing that in God alone He knows what is right for me because He is the author and finisher of my life…yours too!

Photo Credit: Dez Pain

Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. (Psalm 51:2,3)

Every person upon this earth is prone to sin and it is something that we can do in abundance. As Christians, we’re instructed to live pure and godly lives, but we often fall short. I’m amazed when I hear some people say that they’ve overcome sin and are now sinless — falsely believing that they have some how achieved sinless perfection (see Romans 7:24). Our lives don’t have to be ruled by sin, but we will slip up occasionally — sometimes badly.

David’s Sin, Cover Up, And Confession

David was one such follower of the Lord who blew it big time. He lusted after another man’s wife, committed adultery with her, attempted to cover up his sin by having her righteous husband killed off in battle, and lived a life of denial for many months thereafter. Finally, when the prophet of God confronted him about his sin, David readily confessed — perhaps just as glad to be relieved of the heavy burden as wanting to make his life right with God again.

In our culture today, we love to “dig up dirt” about other people and broadcast it for all of the world to see. Even when someone has clearly repented of their transgression, there are people who reach back into history and pull up unseemly information about that individual. Oftentimes, this done under the guise of “people’s right to know” when God calls it something else: gossip.

In David’s case, his sins were made apparent to all because of the position that he was in. As the human ruler of Israel, God put plenty of responsibility on his shoulders to guide His people. David’s sins could have brought down the entire country, but God let him bear the responsibility and suffer personal consequences. In the midst of his sinning, David got the other man’s wife, Bathsheba, pregnant and she ended up losing their child (see 2 Samuel 12:15).

The Restoration Of David

After we genuinely confess our sin to God, forgiveness is instant but restoration takes time. We can’t pretend that we’ve sinned and all is done and simply forgotten and that is the end of that. Rather there is a time of restoration that takes place.

It isn’t penance — where we atone for our sin, which is something that only Jesus can do — rather, it is allowing God to begin healing our hearts and souls, bringing us to the point where we can once again serve Him freely (without guilt and shame weighing us down).

David is an excellent example of someone who recognized his sin, knew that he deserved God’s punishment (God could have killed him), but also recognized the mercy of God and the consequences his sin brought forth (death of a child, rebellion of Absalom, public disgrace and humiliation, etc.) Still, God was merciful to David, allowing him and Bathsheba to bear a son, Solomon, whom God loved and whose name is in the lineage of Jesus.

Have You Confessed Your Sins To God?

Of course, sinning has its consequences and it isn’t something we should do. God knows our frail condition and is there to intervene on our behalf.

If you’ve never committed your life to Jesus Christ, your sins are separating you from God. Only Jesus can forgive you of your sins as He atoned for all sins — past, present, and future — when He died upon the cross. Confess your sins to Jesus and allow Him to take full control over your life, bringing healing and restoration to you.

God loves you just as you are, but He also loves you too much to leave you as you are.

Further Reading

David and Bathsheba: Sin, Cover-up, Condemnation, and Restoration

How To Become A Christian

The Dangers of “Sinless Perfection” Doctrine

A natural disaster can be difficult to grasp, especially if you have never been through one. Earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, lava flows, fires, and even famines are some of the disasters we see played out on the news, but unless we personally go through a difficult time associated with devastation, we cannot imagine what people are experiencing.

Oftentimes what we see played on the tube seems so very surreal.

Admittedly, Hurricane Hugo was mostly a major inconvenience personally, having to do without electricity for four days. Some neighbors lost their homes, but none lost their lives. Most of the injuries sustained came through the clean up effort, but no one I knew was seriously hurt.

The country of Myanmar (Burma) recently suffered a devastating hit from a cyclone (hurricane) which, as of this writing, has likely killed more than 80,000 people. The world hasn’t seen such a disaster since the Christmas 2005 Tsunami killed at least 250,000 people in the Pacific Rim.

Quickly, relief organizations are marshaling their forces to respond, attempting to get the Myanmar regime to let their people in. After several critical delays, it appears that some progress has been made. However, government reluctance to immediately accept aid has likely contributed to the death of thousands.

As Christians how should we respond to a catastrophic disaster? Please allow me to offer some suggestions:

Pray — That’s right, before you do anything pray. Ask God to guide you in what steps you should take, but also ask that He would change the hearts of Myanmar’s leaders to allow relief to come in. I’ve prayed that the waters would recede, that no more rain would come for now, and that people would be rescued. Pray that the gospel message would be shared as well.

Respond — I’ve been getting several requests to help out financially, but I will not be sending money or other support without God’s direction. Thankfully, many will be contributing their funds, their supplies, even their time to help out. I will do what God wants me to do — nothing more, nothing less.

Consider — The pressure to respond can be a strong one, but consideration for what you should do is important. We must remember that our God is in control and it is His work that will get done in Myanmar. One person may be told to go to offer on-site assistance, while others will learn that staying behind and praying is what they should do. Push out the other voices and find out what God wants you to do.

Remember – What we see unfolding before us is merely the birth pangs leading to the Lord’s return:

“For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. Mark 13:8 (NASB)

The world sees natural disasters differently from the Christian, often turning to despair over these types of events. Some will question why God allows such suffering to take place, even denouncing Him in the process.

As believers, we are to continually look at every world event through the lense of the Lord and respond as He leads. Even in the midst of calamity, people need to know that God wants to save them from their sins.

I cannot always fully comprehend events that happen outside of my life, but I do know this: destruction and death may come, but a life lost in sin is the worst calamity of all.

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

Psalm 119:105 is one of my favorite scriptures. When I read the verse, I can’t help but think of walking along a dark path and being unable to see in front of me. With no light available, we’re soon to stumble over rocks, tree roots and other obstacles not visible to the human eye. Worse, we could fall into a pit or be consumed by a wild animal.

God’s word penetrates the darkness and gives us just enough light to see a foot or two in front of us. Enough light so that we will not stumble, but not much more.

God wants us to depend on Him for our immediate needs, the provision for that day. Our faith is built up as we take in each day’s scripture verses, trusting that His light will continue to shine the next day and the day after.

I admit that I don’t always dig into the Bible on a daily basis. I get busy, I substitute my writings for reading, or have some other excuse at the ready. However, when I do spend some time reading and contemplating God’s word, I find that I can apply it to a circumstance in my life or recall the scripture when needed later on.

Although I encourage people to read God’s word, I caution those who do so without seeking God’s guidance or with a wrong motive. Anyone can turn on the lamp, but it is God who shines forth His word to ward off darkness for those seeking the Light of the World.

1 My heart is not proud, O LORD,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.

2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul;
like a weaned child with its mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.

3 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD
both now and forevermore.

Psalm 130:1 (NIV) accurately depicts my outlook on life: there are just some things too difficult for me to explain, let alone comprehend. In this day of instant information (thanks to the internet) it can seem like an odd thing to do — let certain great matters be.

There are many books and internet sites dedicated with tackling difficult topics including: What is the origin of the universe? Can we extend man’s lifespan by doubling or tripling longevity? Is time travel possible?

Now, I don’t believe we humans are n0t supposed to discover cures for diseases and find other ways to improve our lives — far from it — but I believe that some answers to our questions are unattainable. Instead, like the child at his mother’s breast, we are to find our comfort in the presence of the Lord. This can be a difficult thing to do, especially in a world where a premium is put on knowledge. However, knowledge can puff up leading to pride while love can build up leading to a deeper faith and trust in God.

Even putting our hope in the Lord isn’t something we can do apart from the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in and through us. But, once we yield ourselves to God’s Spirit then we can receive the benefits of His rest much like the comfort an infant receives from his mother.

Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.

With more than two thousand denominations, sects, and nondenominational bodies, the Church of Jesus Christ seems to be anything but unified. Some of the divisions are cultural, others are doctrinal, while still others are kind of hard to pinpoint. If you were to delve into the various splits that have occurred down through the ages, you would probably find one particular event that brought about each separation.

It is my opinion that most divisions point to the inability of people to find a common ground when worshiping the Lord. Of course, if Biblically-accepted doctrine is put to the side, then separation must take place for the sake of maintaining doctrinal purity. I just wonder if some of the splits down through the ages involved church power struggles or over a particular disagreement of insignificance.

For more than two years now I have been part of a weekly men’s group where we study scripture, pray and encourage one another. We meet for one hour before we go to work, starting our week off seeking the Lord and encouraging one another. As time has gone by I have seen our group get stronger as the men are actively participating and are encouraging each other. We all attend the same church, but our backgrounds, jobs, ages, and ethnicities are quite different — what is common to each of us is our faith in Jesus Christ.

Reading the rest of Psalm 133 gives a vivid illustration on how much of a blessing the Psalmist considered the unity of God’s people to be — like oil running down the beard and garments of Aaron; like dew found on Mounts Hermon and Zion. The result? Life forevermore.

As a follower of Jesus Christ we can and will disagree on some nonessential points and that is to be expected. Unity that really matters doesn’t overlook essential doctrine, but affirms and strengthen core beliefs the same faith once delivered to the saints.