TIME FOR A MESSAGE FROM GOD?

      Looks can be deceiving. About twenty years ago, we were visiting at my brother’s farm one afternoon and decided to go to a farm auction nearby. A large crowd, perhaps a hundred or more, were looking over the items of the sale. With a chuckle, I pointed out to my brother several heavy men in bib overalls and seed corn caps. They stood around laughing, hands in pockets, chewing tobacco, looking like “hayseeds.” My brother told me to be careful what I said about them, because they were some of the wealthiest people in southern Minnesota. 

      Yes, looks can be deceiving. The prophet Amos was a lowly farmer from the south Judah sent to prophesy to the well-dressed, wealthy folks who lived up north. Because of his appearance, he was not well received. The people of Israel had achieved things Americans can relate to: money and security, full social calendars, influential friends, and a life with plenty of leisure time. But they had neglected more important things, their relationship with God and caring for those in need. Lives that seemed full were basically empty.

      One wonders how Amos would view our culture today with our ever-bigger houses, newer stadiums or more casinos. He’d wonder why we had such harmful drugs and useless toys, while ignoring churches and neighbors in need. He’d shake his head at the vile language everywhere while people get punished for petty, non-inclusive words. He’d wonder how we could think we know so much, justify any kind of marriage and argue over gender identities, while failing to educate themselves about God.

       Modern people have gotten too big for our britches. We need to stop embracing foolishness and ignoring God’s Word. Perhaps it’s time for a prophet in bib overalls to remind us of God’s power and majesty. 

      Among other things, Amos wrote, “The Lord, the Lord almighty, He touches the earth and it melts, and all who live in it shall mourn.” (Amos 9:5) Did Amos foresee global warming?

      My prayer is that God will soon send someone to smack us upside the head with a message we will take to heart. It’s happened before, but it usually comes with painful lessons. 

      God can send us such a prophet again with a message we will not want to hear. Meanwhile, let’s trust the Lord Jesus, accept His forgiveness and share it with others. Amos would agree with that wholeheartedly!

I pray that some future prophet will make God’s truth so plain that even the most intelligent and educated might understand and accept it.

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

WHAT CAN WE DO?

        What can we do? Whenever we hear of another mass shooting, most of us ask, “What can we do?” I have been a longtime member of NRA, so I support our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. But I also know that no rights are absolute. Even our First Amendment right to free speech is not absolute. You cannot, by law, shout, “FIRE!” in a crowded place if there is no fire, for that word may bring harm to the people. All rights have limitations.
        However, I am against trying to remove all firearms from the public. Aside from it being impossible, it would only take firearms away from the innocent and put them in the hands of those who would prey upon the innocent. Removing all firearms from citizens would result in more mass murders. Removing some, such as fully automatic weapons of war, makes sense. Machine guns were illegal for a decade or so in the 1990s and should be made so again. No one needs them now except our soldiers.
        You see, the problem is not with our firearms, but with our hearts. Most modern Americans have given up their faith and trust in God and now resort only to secular solutions. Since the problem is with our hearts, then we need hearts that are right with God. Those can only come with faith and prayer.
        Officially, America has turned its back on God. We are now secularists. We have shut references to God out of public life in the vain and prideful belief that mankind can fix anything. “Anything is possible for us; some things just take longer” is the creed of modern religion. But if that were true, we would have made more headway on our problems. The more knowledge we gain, the less we accomplish against evil in the world.
        Jesus said it right. His disciples were frustrated when He said that no one, not even the richest person, could get into the Kingdom by his/her own efforts. They asked, “[If not the rich,] Who, then, can be saved?” Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”(Matthew 19:25-26)
        No solution to mass shootings is possible without God’s intervention, and by God I mean the God of the Bible, the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. One of our greatest mistakes is to think all “gods” are the same. There is only one who is real.
        What then can we do? We can pray, every day, and without reservation. We can urge understanding and caring among those we know are fearful. We should pray every day for our leaders as well as for those in need: the homeless, hungry, unemployed and confused.
        Above all, we must trust the Son of God who said, “With God all things are possible.”

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

GOD MAKES US BETTER

      After they were married, Mary and Joe discovered they had a fundamental difference. Mary loved to move the furniture and redecorate their house. Joe was happy with the way things were. An uncluttered home with a table and chairs, TV, refrigerator, bed and a few easy chairs was good enough for him.
      But not for Mary. She added things, moved them around and found ways to make their home more efficient and attractive. Joe helped her move things, but at first didn’t see why this was needed.
      But the more she redecorated, the better their house looked. Soon Joe began to appreciate her changes, and he complimented her and even offered suggestions. In her own way, Mary was helping Joe become a better person.
      God loves to redecorate our lives. If you let Him live in your heart long enough, you will begin to see changes. Pictures of hurt will be replaced with landscapes of grace. Walls of anger will be removed and shaky foundations restored. Cracks will be patched and walls repainted.
      God can no more leave a needy life unchanged than a mother can leave her child’s dirty face unwashed. It’s not enough for God to have you for His own. He wants to change you and make you better.
      Suppose a father buys his little boy an ice cream cone and as he’s giving it to him, notices his mouth is filled with dirt. Father loves him, despite the dirt, but he first washes his child’s mouth, and then gives him the ice cream.
      God does the same for us. He loves us no less because of our dirty faces, but first He cleanses us to prepare us for something better. Apostle Paul wrote, “He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace.” (2 Timothy 1:9)
      The trials, sickness or struggles we have are God’s way of cleansing us for something better. He loves us all, despite our sins and rebellion, and He wants to change us to be better. So let’s thank God for our struggles. He’s preparing us for something much greater.

God loves us as we are, but He may not leave us that way for long. He wants us to be like Jesus. 

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

DEALING WITH TROUBLE

(from Rev. Tasler's published devotional, Daily Walk With Jesus

        If you have ever faced the unexpected tragedy of divorce, death, disease, or a demolished dream, you probably searched for answers to help you mend and heal. If so, remember these truths:

        YOU WILL HEAL. Things will never be the way they were. After tragedy you’re wounded, but you will heal.  You will not be restored to exactly how you were. No one ever is. The good news is that you can carry on as a wounded survivor and face the days ahead with the hope of recovery.

        LET GOD WORK. Pray for strength, but don’t tell God what to do. God knows what’s best. Trust His loving, forgiving, providing, healing, and guiding ways. Lay aside expectations so you can see His answers. You may reject some of His solutions because you had in mind something different, but remember, your only hope lies in the Lord.

        MAKE GOOD CHOICES. You have more control over the situation than you think. You can’t turn back the clock, but you do have the choice of going under or going on. Every situation can go one of two ways; it can depress you or it can motivate you. It’s up to you. Blaming God, others, or yourself will not help. It’s time to learn from the hurt.

        GOD WILL COME THROUGH, but you must believe He will come through for you. You will be “all right” again. Let your Heavenly Father strengthen you for the struggles. 

        ACKNOWLEDGE THE PAIN. God does not minimize your pain. The Lord is not in denial; neither does He expect you to be. God cares. He has not abandoned you. He is right beside you and has been there all along. He hears your cries and sees your tears.

        LET THE HEALING BEGIN. God is neither handicapped nor weary in the midst of your pain. Nor is He confused or baffled. His strength will deliver you, not just barely, but mightily.  

        “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

In Christ our Lord, you can expect a miracle!

Reb. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

GOD NEVER FORGETS

        I awoke this morning and immediately remembered I had an early breakfast appointment with a friend. There was still time to get there, so, as quietly as possible, I dressed and headed out the door, feeling quite good that I had not forgotten it, which I have done in the past. Trouble is, as I glanced at today’s newspaper, I saw today is Monday, and my appointment is for tomorrow, Tuesday.
        So I set down the paper, took out the trash and made myself breakfast, all the while wondering if I would remember to keep this appointment tomorrow. Ah, the joys and challenges of life! So with coffee in hand, I decided somehow to use this experience in today’s WEEKLY MESSAGE before I watch the news and probably take a nap.
        I can’t think of a single story in the Bible about someone forgetting an appointment. There are prayers asking God to forget our sins, not forget our blessings, and to remember His faithfulness towards us. But no writer seems willing to admit he has forgotten to do what God directed him or what he agreed to. If you can find a Bible story of bad memory like this, let me know.
        But there are many references urging people not to forget God and His blessings. Deuteronomy 6:12 says, “Be careful that you do not forget the Lord who bought you out of Egypt.”  Psalm 103:2 tells us, “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” I have forgotten some important things in my life and ministry, a task or event I missed because I hadn’t written it down, or read it on the calendar or remembered which day (or even slept through it). It hurts when you realize your forgetfulness has caused someone trouble or embarrassment.
        We can take comfort that God will not forget us, but that He will forget our sins. In Hebrews 10:17 God personally assures us, “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” God is not someone we have invented. He is who He is, the great “I AM” who has created us and watches over us each day. His forgiveness means He forgets what sins we have committed, but He will not forget His mercy towards us.
        No matter what happens today, remember that God holds you in the palm of His hand and wants to make sure you have all you need. Give thanks we have His promise never to leave us nor forsake us.

Thank You, Lord, for remembering us in Your mercy,

Rev. Bob Tasler. www.bobtasler.com

IT'S JUST A JAR OF PEACHES

        “Reminisce” magazine in its Oct/Nov, 2008 issue had a story about a woman who was abandoned by her husband during the Great Depression. Scraping by, she was forced to take in washing to provide for her two daughters in her Charleston, West Virginia, home. Her faith in Jesus kept her cheery, even when her cupboards were bare. 

        The church she attended was in a poor section of the city, but it had a ministry to the needy.  One year, just before Thanksgiving, the pastor asked for food donations to be left on porches which would be picked up and distributed in baskets to those in need. When the mother heard of this, she went to her nearly empty cupboards, took a jar of home-canned peaches and set it out on her front porch. 

        Some neighbors criticized her, saying she was too poor to give food away. One cynical neighbor even told her the pastor was probably a crook and would sell the food or keep it himself. But the woman held her ground, and the peaches stayed on the porch. “For heaven’s sake, it’s just a jar of peaches,” she said. “It is up to the pastor what he does with them.”

        Her jar was picked up before Thanksgiving, and on Thanksgiving Eve there came a knock at her door. When the mother opened it, there sat a full box of food.  She’d always told her girls they were not poor and should always give thanks to the Lord for His blessings, no matter how many or few they were. But just then she needed food her little family. 

        Opening the food basket she found a freshly dressed chicken, potatoes, beans, rice, flour, canned pumpkin, and - you guessed it - the very jar of peaches she herself had given. Seeing it all, she sat down on the floor and cried. She and her girls would have a fine Thanksgiving meal and food for many days.  “I’ve found you can’t outgive God,” she later told friends. 

        Christians have found this to be true. If we’re in need, God always provides. Maybe not in the way we expect, but when we trust Him He always makes sure we have enough. Jesus promised, “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, it will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38)

        So often Jesus urged His followers, “Have faith!” Whether parents worried about a sick child, disciples needing food to feed a crowd, or someone crippled by disease, Jesus told them to have faith that God would provide. God’s love for us is seen best in His only Son Jesus.

Thank You, dear God, for helping us when we are in need!

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

WHEN HAILSTORMS COME

        We got hail on our house last Saturday. Fortunately, the storm here wasn’t too widespread or lasted very long, but the hailstones were alarmingly large and pounded our roof like angry fists. I’ll never get over my fear of hearing that sound.

        There is little that terrifies a farmer like the sound of large hail. Crops and trees are shredded, roofs and implements damaged and even animals injured. 

Decades ago when the storms came, my father would stand helplessly watching, hands on hips and fervent prayers in his heart. 

        A fifteen minute summer storm could wipe out a whole year’s crop and income. As Dad said, “If you have no crop insurance, you plow and maybe replant. If you do have crop insurance, you put in a claim and take a vacation somewhere else.”

        Life can be filled with problems, so we look for solutions. Yesterday was Pentecost in Christian Churches across the world. Parishioners heard once again the Bible readings that tell of the Holy Spirit who came to infuse the early Christians with abilities they needed to share the faith. We heard again our annual explanation of Who the Spirit is and what His work is all about.

        One of my favorite word pictures for the Holy Spirit is the pipeline. The Spirit brings the Gospel message. The Gospel is the fuel or food, and the Holy Spirit delivers it where it is needed. We human beings may squander the fuel, ignore the food, or even deny its presence, but all to our peril. God, however, brings it to us anyway. He knows we need it. 

        Hailstorms are a part of life. In this sinful world, we can’t stop bad things from happening, but they need not destroy us or our faith in God. Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

        Hailstones, tornadoes, fires and storms WILL come, but they need not OVER come us. It is God’s grace and good will that He care for us and give us our needs. “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” He promises in Hebrews 13:5. Even in our darkest hours of storm, pain or despair, God is there beside us, holding our hands. 

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for covering us with Your mercy when storms arise.

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com