Help!

We live right off of one of the main streets here in Redlands.  In fact, our backyard is only around 50 yards away from it.  That being said, because our house is so close to the main road, we hear every ambulance, fire truck, and police car that whizzes by.  And let me tell you, at times it seems like a constant procession.

So the other day as an ambulance was screaming its siren past our house, I thought of God. I thought, “Lord, in a way, You’re like that ambulance.”

What I mean is, just like the person who needs help and calls for the ambulance and the ambulance comes, so it is with our Lord.  But so much better.  An ambulance doesn’t know there’s trouble until the call comes in.  An ambulance doesn’t know where to go or what to do until it’s given directions and instructions.  An ambulance may be hindered by traffic or other circumstances as it tries to make its way to the one in need.

Not so with God.  Our sovereign Lord knows all things before we ever call out to Him.  “It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.” Isaiah 65:24

Our sovereign Lord knows our every need. We need not worry or be fearful when trials come. “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore…” Luke 12:7

Our sovereign Lord is always with us. He never has to make His way to us.  “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

Am I saying we should only pray and call out to God when trouble surrounds us?  Absolutely not!  We should be in communion with God throughout each and every day, good or bad.  All the while knowing that He is right there with us, always taking care of us.

Dina Pugh

The Same God

Do you ever find yourself putting God into two different categories?  For instance, “Bible Times” God and “Modern Times” God? I think I sometimes unwittingly do.

I read God’s Word, both Old and New Testaments, and the numerous accounts of miracles, deliverances, provisions, and so forth and I think, “Wow, that’s so cool how God took care of everything!”  

Not that I don’t think God doesn’t still do so with us in this generation, it just sometimes seems different.  Times have changed, but God declares He never changes:

“For I am the Lord, I do not change.” Malachi 3:6

The same God who called Abraham is the same God who calls you and me. The. Same. God.

The same God who fed thousands with only five loaves of bread and two fish is the same God who provides for you and me. The. Same. God.

The same God who saved Daniel from the lions’ den is the same God who protects you and me. The. Same. God.

So what do you find yourself needing from God today? Provision? Protection? Hope? Healing? Whatever your needs, whatever your circumstances, call upon the One who is able to do all things no matter the times. Remembering and believing that, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

Dina Pugh

No Soliciting

In our neighborhood, we get a ridiculous amount of solicitors.  There seems to be a steady stream of people knocking on our door trying to convince us to buy solar, buy magazines so they can win a trip, switch over to home delivery dry cleaning, or even buy meat from their truck. Ew.

They are all fairly smooth talkers and work hard at making their product sound valuable and necessary.  They certainly don’t take “no” for an answer and will continue to push their wares on me or any other unsuspecting neighbor who opens up their door.

So, that being said, I’ve learned to stop opening my door to them.  I don’t want what they’re selling, so I’m not going to give them the opportunity to try and convince me otherwise.  I have no trouble keeping my door shut on them.

Now if only I could just as easily keep the door shut when Fear, Doubt, and Worry come knocking.  I would save myself the misery of listening to, and sometimes falling for, their cunning sales pitch.  But unfortunately, more often than not, when they come knocking I open the door wide open and buy into their empty promises instead of immediately slamming the door.

It’s not that I don’t recognize them and accidently open the door.  I know who they are and as much as I want to turn my back on them and walk away, I get suckered in. It is by God’s strength that I am able to take a stand against them and say no.  I need to trust God and His promises to me regardless of how hard Fear, Doubt, and Worry pound on my door.  After all, they can’t get in if I don’t open the door.

Deuteronomy 31:6 …do not fear…

Matthew 21:21 …do not doubt…

Matthew 6:25 …do not worry…

Dina Pugh

A Quiet Strength

I watched something interesting the other day.  A hawk was perched atop a light pole and an angry crow was repeatedly dive bombing him.  Now I don’t know if the hawk did something to incite the attack or if the crow simply saw the hawk as a potential threat and therefore figured he better try and take care of it.

 

What immediately struck me, though, was the hawk’s demeanor.  Not once did he flinch or move a single feather in response to the crow’s ongoing attack.  He just sat there with an air of quiet strength.  Maybe he knew something the crow didn’t, like the fact that one quick swipe of his talons and the crow would be toast. Whatever the reason, it made me think.

Like the hawk, we too, are constantly under attack from the enemy of our souls. Why?  Because as Christians we are a threat to the kingdom of darkness. How do we usually end up responding when the attacks come?  Do we stand or sit with a quiet strength like the hawk? Or do we duck and run and try to hide?  Do we even know we too possess a quiet strength?  It is nothing of ourselves, it is the strength that comes from God.

 

God is the One in charge. God is the One who commands what happens and what doesn’t.  As God’s children, we get to stand in His strength.  So no matter the attack, we need not fear, we need not flinch because nothing can overrule or overcome our heavenly Father.

Yet in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39

Dina Pugh

Riptide

Getting caught in a riptide or rip current is frightening. The more you fight, the further you are drug from safety. The best move is to let go and to float until you are released from the rip’s grip. Then you can swim sideways until you reach the shore.

One day at the beach, when I was very young, I got caught in a bad rip current. I panicked. I think I screamed for help. I believed I was going to die. As I was getting pulled under again, an arm reached down into the water and pulled me out. It was my dad. He probably saved my life.

Psalm 18:16-19:

He sent from on high, he took me;

he drew me out of many waters.

He rescued me from my strong enemy

and from those who hated me,

for they were too mighty for me.

They confronted me in the day of my calamity,

but the LORD was my support.

He brought me out into a broad place;

he rescued me, because he delighted in me.

Always remember God’s love. He will rescue you from the rip currents, just like my dad rescued me, because he delights in you.

Kevin Bibo