ReFocus

There are some things in our culture that are hideous and gross. One of those things is child abuse/child neglect. Federal law defines this as an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm. This definition of child abuse and neglect refers specifically to parents and other caregivers. Anyone with any sense of decency would agree that this is a major problem and it rates right up there with rape, murder, kidnapping, and spousal abuse. Our hearts break for the abused children and we become angry with the caregivers who commit these awful crimes. How can anyone abuse or neglect a child?

In the past several months, our country has seen an economic down-turn. Gas prices are up. Real estate sales are down. Many have seen secure jobs slip out of their hands. Because of this, many ministries have had to make adjustments. ReFocus Ministry was no exception. After years of only telling God our needs, we saw ‘the brook dry up’.
I wish that I could say that I have handled this well. I have complained, murmured, and even become resentful of the Lord’s dealings with me. This week the Lord showed me how that I had accused Him of child abuse and child neglect. When I saw that, I almost lost my breath. Because of delays in answers to prayer, I have literally placed God among those who have been convicted as child abusers.

This happens when we begin to doubt the love of God. Without my knowing it, the Enemy had convinced me that God no longer loved me like He did at one time. Zephaniah 3:17 says that God has rested in His love for us. That means that God has reached a point that His love for us is established. There is nothing that I can do that will ever make God not love me.

I have come to the conclusion that I have done the same thing that Israel did. Psalm 137:1-2 (KJV) By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. Israel hung up their harps because they had no song. They could always sing when deliverance would come. They could always sing when answers to prayers would come. But they could not sing of God’s faithfulness during the trials. They, too, accused God of child abuse.

I have seen that our greatest testimony is to sing during the trials, during the times of drought, during the times of delay, during the times of silence from God. I now choose to pick up my harp and sing a seven verse hymn:

* God loves me.

* God is faithful.

* God is awesome.

* God hears me.

* God knows what He is doing.

* God will honor His covenant of promise.

* God will answer my prayers.

And no song about God could end any better than the way Jesus ended the Garden of Gethsemane scene. After all the agony of the garden, the hurt, the tears, the pain, Jesus said, “Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done!”
This is my song. I will sing it wherever God plants me. This is my song if my circumstances never change.

Forgive me, God, for accusing You of abuse and neglect.

Billy

I am amazed at how well the 66 books of the Bible fit together. God used many authors from many different backgrounds and produced a magnificent book that has endured through time and attack. Let me give an example by taking a look at one verse of scripture.

This is possibly the most remarkable verse in all of Scripture. It profoundly impacted Martin Luther. It is repeated three times in the New Testament.

• The Book of Romans is an extra-ordinary book. It develops the principle of justification. We are justified in Christ Jesus. After we are saved, it is just – as – if – I – had never sinned. That is what justified means. We are ‘the just’. The writer of Romans wrote the book to explain the phrase ‘the just’. Romans 1:17 says, “The just shall live by faith.”
  
• The book of Galatians is a fascinating book. It was written to combat the legalism that was growing in the church. It has been correctly written that the journey of a believer looks like a pendulum. We swing one direction into legalism and then we over react and swing the opposite direction into license. Both positions are wrong. God wants us living in liberty in Christ. The writer of Galations wrote the book to explain the phrase ‘shall live’. Galatians 3:11 says, “The just shall live by faith.”
• The book of Hebrews is an inspiring book. It was written to demonstrate the faith walk. It contains the Hall of Fame of Faith in Hebrews 11. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith and verse 6 gives us our goal in life…verse 6 says, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” The writer of Hebrews wrote the book to explain the phrase ‘by faith’. Hebrews 10:38 says, “The just shall live by faith.”

It is awesome the way this fits together. One inspiration, one mind, one message…many different authors writing under the inspiration of God…produced a masterpiece called the Bible.

Picked up one of my old Bibles. I found some great stuff written in the margins.

I have watched some episodes of the old ‘Dick Van Dyke Show’ at least a dozen times. We own the whole collection of this great tv show. Last night we watched the ‘Andy Griffith Show’ where Gomer yells, “Citizen’s arrest, citizen’s arrest!” Reruns are great and a very real part of our life.

Habakkuk was shocked. He now faced an enormous problem with no way out. This is the backdrop of an awesome lesson that God gives us in this little obscure book. The book could be entitled, “How to Face Life Shattering Problems”. In this book, God gives us precise steps in the midst of overwhelming conditions:

1. Focus of what you do know! Quit focusing on the ‘unknowns’ such as how can we survive or how can make that payment. Read Habakkuk 1:12-17. He focused on the faithfulness of God.
2. Wait on God. Read Habakkuk 2:1-3. “Though the answer tarries, wait for it!”
3. Trust God. Habakkuk 2:4…the just shall live by faith. This could well be the most profound verse in all of scripture.
4. Remember the past acts of God. From 2:5 until 3:15, Habakkuk recalls how God has acted in the past. Keep a journal and during tough times, read it to see how God brought deliverance.
5. Be honest. Read Habakkuk 3:16. “God, I trust you…but I am scared to death!”
6. Express perfect faith. Read the most extra-ordinary passage in all of scripture in 3:17-19. “God, even if my circumstances never change…I am still going to love you!”

By the way, Habakkuk means “to embrace”. When problems come, the best thing we can do, is embrace the Lord.