He's Speaking...

Let's be honest, shall we? For a lot of us, reading the Bible isn't something we do a whole lot of. We think about it, but life happens. We get too busy. We don't understand what we read, so instead of searching the Scriptures further to try and figure it out, we simply shake our heads and put it down.

Which leads to a lack of respect for God's Word and its usefulness in our lives...

...UNTIL...

...the unthinkable happens. Something totally unpredictable slams us in the face and knocks the breath right out of us.

Immediately, we search Him out. The Bible that lay on the shelf during our "busy times" finds its way into our hands. Page after page is flipped. Chapter after chapter is read. Finally, the Word of God takes priority over worldly things.

But after a couple of days, it seems our situation is not improving. God seems silent and distant, and so we blame Him for not speaking.

Yet, He's been speaking the whole time.

We just haven't been listening.

Case in point: The other morning while talking with my teenager about spending time with God, our conversation shifted to his future career. Right now, he's wavering between two or three particular fields, and that's fine. He has a long time before any decisions have to be made. However, because he wants to make the right life choice, these thoughts already have a great deal of his attention.

After a couple of minutes, I brought the conversation back around to spending time in the Word. I encouraged him that he didn't have to read a whole chapter a day. Seriously focusing on even a single Bible verse, would be of immeasurable benefit for him.

To show him an example, I pulled up the website, Verse of the Day, and we read this together: "LORD, I know that people's lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps" (Jer. 10:23).

I sat there for a moment, focusing on the verse, myself. And I realized that God was speaking.  I looked at my son with wide eyes and said, "Do your realize that God is speaking to you? Do you realize that He is talking to you through His Word right now?"

We had just finished discussing my son's struggle with what he wanted to do for the rest of his life, and here was God's answer for him.  It's not for Alex to plan his life.  He needs to let God plan his life for him!  God will direct his steps.  How cool is that?   How cool is it that God spoke to my child...immediately?

A moment later, a sobering thought popped into my mind. It was as if God said, "I speak all the time, Belinda. You just don't listen."

You know, He does. He really does speak ALL the time. "How?" you might ask. "How is God speaking all the time?" 

I'll tell you how. Do you remember that Bible that lay on the shelf during our busy times? That's how.  It's sad to think of how many times I have literally missed hearing from the Lord, because I was too consumed with my day to pick up His Word.  

So my encouragement for us today?  Let's go get His book off that shelf. Sit down, take a deep breath, and stop long enough to listen. 

Thank You, Father, for Your Word.  I thank You that You speak continuously through It.  I ask that You help me learn how to listen. I am here, Jesus.  Speak though Your Word.    

You Really Do Reap What You Sow

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. Whatsoever one sows, that he will also reap, (Gal. 6:7). Those words jumped off of the index card attached to my kitchen wall and struck me like a bolt of lightning. All of the sudden, I found myself thinking, “What did I sow this week? What did I cultivate in the heart of my kids?”

Every year, I plant a garden. And sometimes, in that garden, I plant seeds and then forget what I planted. You would think by now that I would be able to remember to purchase some of those cute little plant identifiers to line my garden rows. And yet, I always seem to forget. It's not until the first few leaves appear that I can actually tell peppers from squash - tomatoes from watermelons!

There's a tremendous spiritual truth threading its way through that last paragraph. What I plant, I sow. The seeds that are sown by my hand, will become what they were intended to become, whether I remember what I planted or not.

Hence, the illustration for Galatians 6:7 is a stark reality in the lives of every Believer. We will reap what we sow. If we “sow” anger into our relationships (into the lives of our children, for example) we will reap anger. If we “sow” unkindness into the lives of those around us, we will reap unkindness. If we “sow” impatience, course jesting, “ugly talk,” we will reap those benefits, as well.

However, on the flip side, if we “sow” love into our relationships, we will reap love. If we “sow” gentleness and patience, we will reap those things – eventually! If we “sow” justice and mercy, faithfulness and humility, those blessings will cover us in abundance.

Now, that doesn't mean that you will see immediate results. Real gardening doesn't work that way. It usually takes a long time before any ripe fruit appears. I think that's why God continues this thought of “sowing things” on into verse 9 of Galatians 6: “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season, we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

Just because you don't see any fruit in the first few days or sometimes even years after planting, don't get discouraged. Trust that what God has said in His Word will come true. Believe that He does not lie and that your efforts through the Spirit to sow good things will cause you to reap a bountiful harvest of blessings.

For whatsoever you plant, that you shall also reap.

Dearest Jesus, help me today. I need Your strength to speak kindness, live patiently, love heartily and give freely. May I be about the business of “sowing” Life into those around me today. I love You, Jesus.  

Change Can Be Good...or Not!

<sup>What if tomorrow morning, you stumble into the kitchen, turn on the coffee pot, and notice that someone has changed your favorite caffeinated beverage for the decaf kind?   What if, out-of-the-blue, your boss calls and says your one-week paid vacation for the year has been changed to a three-day paid vacation?  What if your spouse walks in and says that he/she has decided to change your house color to bright pink with black polka dots...just because?  

Change can be a wonderful thing.  And then, other times, not so much!   Sometimes, as a matter of fact, it could be very detrimental to our lives, our health, even our souls. 

Take Malachi 3:6, for example.  In that one simple little verse, God says something incredible...and very comforting at the same time:  "For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed." 

In Malachi's day, the children of God (the sons of Jacob) were worshiping idols, doing promiscuous things with women of other nations, and disregarding the care of the people around them.  They were playing games with serious, holy observances - games which God called, "detestable."  It was as if they had totally decided to be unfaithful, choosing to snub their nose at God, altogether.  

To make matters worse, they were oblivious to the fact that God cared about whether or not they were acting in such an unholy fashion.  They thought He was "okay" with their behavior, because He hadn't "done" anything about it. 

Well, that's where they were wrong. For you see, the ONLY reason God had not wiped them from the face of the earth was because of His unchanging nature.  He told them, "For I, the Lord, do not change."  

Oh...they changed.  The children of God's lives had gone from being living examples of their Father, to being living examples of the unholy world that surrounded them.  Yet, because God had made a covenant promise to Abraham a LONG time - a promise that his people would bless every other nation on earth - God did not destroy the "sons of Jacob" because of their sins.  Instead, He purified them.  

God's promise stayed the same.  He did not change...and He still doesn't. 

So, what's that mean for us?  

Well, let's put a different spin on some of the questions I asked earlier.  What if you woke up this morning and God decided to change in His promises towards you - His child?  What if He decided no longer to forgive you for that sin you have difficulty overcoming?  What if He decided His grace had limits, and you had reached the edge.  What if He decided that His love for you was conditional, not unconditional?   

See the devastating effects of that type of change? I can't even imagine.  

Therefore, while I have breath on this earth, I will always - and I do mean ALWAYS - be thankful and grateful that the God I serve DOES NOT CHANGE...that He does not remove His Spirit from me...that no matter what I do, He still loves me as His child and treats me accordingly.  

I thank You, Father.  Thank You that You do not change, nor is there ever a chance that You will.  I cannot be "bad enough" or "ugly enough" or even "mean enough" to cause You to turn away from me.  May that thought spur me on to love You more...to serve You more...to be more like You.  Thank You for Your grace.  Thank You for Your mercy...truly.  Thank You.</sup>  

Gentleness to All

"Yes, Sundays are the hardest for us.  We are incredibly busy, so we get behind in the kitchen.  Meals don't get served quickly, and people become impatient and rude.  It's sad to say, but true.  Church people are the rudest customers we have all week," the sweet waitress answered.  

Our family doesn't normally eat out on Sundays after church, but a couple of Sundays ago, I did happen to find myself a looongg way from home and in need of some food.  After visiting Blended Fellowship in Pikeville (a church dedicated to blending hearing and deaf people in worship) my friend, Valerie and I and three of our girls stopped to grab a bite to eat before we headed home. We could tell that our waitress was incredibly busy, bounding from one table to the next.  At the end of the meal when all debts were paid, she stopped to thank us for being a bright spot in her day.  We tried to make waiting on our table fun.  Evidently, we accomplished our task!  Then again, anytime you are with Valerie Creech, fun just happens!   

Before we left the table, Valerie looked at her and asked, "I have heard that Sundays are the hardest days for waiters and waitresses. That's when people are the rudest.  Is that true?"  

And the answer at the top of the page tells the rest of that story.  

Philippians 4:5 says, "Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near."  I hate to even ask this question - but do we as Believers in Jesus, check our gentleness at the door as we walk out of the church?   

Now, I could get on my soap box and spew a few words about how people need to be kinder - especially those of the Christian faith. But then, I'd have to climb down off my soap box, bend down on my knees, throw my face in the dirt and beg for forgiveness.  For, this very week, Phil. 4:5 hit me right between the proverbial eyes.  

A mistaken communication on the part of one of my kids, caused me an hour-long car wait.  While sitting there in the dark, rehearsing my verbal discipline, the words, "let your gentleness be evident to all" echoed through the irritated corridors of my mind. 

Immediately, I was confronted with my glaring lack of gentleness.   I humbly agreed with God and thanked Him for diverting my heart and my mouth.  When the child got in the car, I asked about the day - what they had done at the party, etc....  Joy-filled conversation billowed forth.  Then, during a lull, I casually mentioned that next time it would be better if I knew the plans had changed ahead of time.  To which that child said, "Yeeaaah," as if to say, "I know I blew it."  

That night, God allowed me the opportunity to teach my child something important about life and at the same time, keep our relationship strong by simply utilizing gentleness.  

So, my challenge for you this week is to remember to "let YOUR gentleness be evident to all.  Whether the "all" is your spouse, your children, your friends, the guy in the car next to you that just pulled over in your lane and cut you off.  Yes, him too. Let you gentleness be evident to the grocery clerk and the gas station attendant - the ice cream vendor and yes, even the waiter or waitress on Sunday.  

Let your gentleness be evident...and be evident...to ALL.  

Thank You, Lord, for being gentle, even as You rebuke me. Help me to model that to others...to be led by Your Spirit as I walk in this world.  I love You, Father.  

When the Door Closes

The suspense thrills us.  The excitement draws is in.  The agony makes our hearts ache.  

Not every movie has the scene, but some do.  And the ones that do, are incredibly intense. You've seen it, many times, I'm sure.  The main set of characters ends up in a tunnel or cave of some kind.  They are trapped on one end, and the only exit begins to close.  The door slowly inches its way down - as if some unknown source has pushed a garage door opener - threatening to trap the unprepared cast in a tomb-like structure forever.  Invariably, some make it out...and some do not.  Those who are trapped are left screaming incessantly for help from the other side, but to no avail.  Nothing can be done once the door closes.  

Now that I've gotten your attention, let me show you a similar, real life dilemma that WILL happen:  "When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you, where you are from,' then you will begin to say, ' We ate and drank in Your presence and You taught in our streets.' But He will say, 'I tell you I do not know you, where you are from.  Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity."  Luke 13:25-27.

Talk about suspense...except this kind will not end once the last credit has rolled off the screen.  This suspense and drama is not made up of actors or actresses who get paid to play a part.  This kind of drama is real...very real...scary real.  

Jesus is saying that there are many of us - many in the church - who have no clue that they are seriously still trapped in their sin.  The ones He is speaking of - the ones of the other side of that cold, heavy door - are "church-goers." These people may even sing in the choir, but on THAT day, they have the surprise of their very lives thrust upon them.  They, who thought they knew Jesus and were known by Him, are actually just viewers of His grace, not participants.  

Look back at the passage.  Those who were locked outside - those who He said He didn't know - weren't the ones lying in some alley somewhere.  They weren't the ones had never seen Jesus, nor heard His teaching.  They weren't the ones who were in the bars and doing illegal and illicit things while Christ was in their city.  

No.  

The scary thing is, the people who are left outside, are the people who were very familiar with Jesus.  They were so familiar that they had eaten dinner with Him on occasion.  He possibly had even been in their homes.  They followed Him down the street as He taught of grace and mercy, sin and forgiveness - probably shaking their heads in agreement the entire time.  

No, they were not unfamiliar with Jesus.  They were very familiar...maybe, too familiar. Maybe they were SO familiar that they assumed He would NEVER close the door on them. After all,they KNEW Jesus.  They were His "buds."  Jesus was "alright with them."  Yet, in reality, He never knew them.  These people simply assumed a Family relationship because of their knowledge of Him, without ever actually being adopted into His family.  

O beloved of God - this is not meant to scare you.  It's not meant to threaten you  It's meant to make you think - really think about your relationship with Jesus.  Is it real?  Is your time with Him MORE than just your name on a church roll or your presence on the pew?  Is your relationship with Him solid?  Have you indeed turned from your previous way of life and accepted the LIFE He gives?  If not, please don't wait for the door to close.  Then it will be too late.  Settle it today.  

No, settle it now.  

Jesus, we are all in need of a little introspection on occasion.  I pray for those who are seeking out their relationship with You, right now.  I pray that You will indeed acknowledge Your presence or Your absence in their lives, so that they can make any decision necessary to change.  I pray for the ones who will be with You on that day - that they would encourage those around them to join You in life everlasting.  Open our eyes, today, Lord, so that we can know the Truth and so that You can set us free.  

It's Not Too Late

"It's too late.  He's gone."

I can see Peter, in my mind's eye, muttering these words to himself over and over.  The One who had loved him - and Whom he had loved - was dead.  He saw it happen.  It was over. 

So, can you imagine the breathless expectation...the intense beating of his heart...the hope-filled excitement that raced through the veins of that guilt-ridden disciple as the women spoke of Christ's resurrection?  "Could it be?  Could it be that I'm not too late?  That He's not really gone after all?  Could it be that I might have a second chance - that I can at least tell Him that I really DO love Him and that I will NEVER deny Him again?  Could it be?" 

I would imagine thoughts like these spurred the disciple forward and out the door - sprinting in a race for his life to see the empty tomb for himself. 

And what did he find when he got there?  Was it true?  Was Jesus really alive? 

You'd better believe it.  It was true alright, and Peter would indeed receive that "second chance" from Christ.  His guilt would be cleansed, and the humbled, "fisher of men" would never be the same. 

What about you?  Had your "second chance" yet?  How about your third or fourth?  Or if you are like me...how about your trillionth? 

It's not too late, you know.  Jesus is still NOT dead.  If He were, there would be no need for me to write any of this.  Oh, I might be able to pat you on the back for the way you're proceeding up the corporate ladder or give you tips on how to better take care of your goldfish, but there would be no real swapping of life-changing information.  Sin would be sealed in our hearts, and a sign reading "Guilty" would be hanging over our heads. 

But as with Peter, it's not too late.  The "Guilty" sign can be removed permanently.  Jesus can trade that ratty old sign with a brand new one, glittering with gold and imprinted with the word "Forgiven." 



How about it?  Ready to swap signs? 

Dear friend, if you are not a believer, can I tell you with great sincerity and fear for your soul - one day, it WILL be too late.  One day, you will no longer have the chance to speak to Jesus about your guilt.  One day, forgiveness from Him will no longer be an option.  One day, your spirit will leave this place.  Will you be ready when it does?  Jesus is waiting.  He's waiting for you to lay aside your reservations and come running to find Him.  Tell Him NOW that you want Him to get rid of the gunk in your life...that you are ready to confess Him before men as the Savior of the world.  

Don't put this off anymore.  It's not too late...yet.  Forgiveness is still available. 

And that goes for you too, my Believing friend.  I also need to tell you - it's not too late.  You sin is not grievious enough to steal away your relationship from the One Who loves you.  It's not strong enough to continue to hold your hands in a vice grip and your heart in a guilt-ridden cage.  You don't have to remain this way. 

Jesus is alive.  It's not too late!  Forgiveness is still available.  As a matter of fact, He's waiting for you, too.  He's been missing your time with Him - your relationship with Him.  He wants you to speak with you right now.  Won't you turn and face your Savior - your Friend - your Jesus today? 

It's not too late! 

I praise You Jesus, that You are alive and well and sitting at the right hand of the Father - encouraging me, helping me, cheering me on.  I praise You that death could not hold You...that it had no power over You and therefore, will  have none over me!  Thank You that it's not too late for me to speak with You now...to fellowship with You...to tell You that I love You.  You are indeed, alive! 

Leaning

She's a walking miracle - literally, a walking miracle.  My mom is "not supposed" to be alive, and yet, she grabs her walker and hustles around the house, fulfilling her therapy duty!  

It kinda concerned me at first.  She put all of her weight on that bolted-together piece of aluminum, just like it was steel.  

It seems to work, though.  She won't win the Indy 500, but she's sure trying. 

Seeing my mom "lean hard" on her walker has added new meaning to one of my favorite verses.  Proverbs 3:5 says to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and LEAN not on your own understanding."  

Let me explain.  For instance, what would happen if somehow her walker was damaged?  What if someone took a baseball bat to one of the legs and bent it?  What would she do?  Do you think she would use the damaged piece of metal as she had before?  Do you think she would put all of her weight on it, trusting the broken piece wouldn't give way?  I don't think so.  It would be ridiculous for her to think that her walker - in the condition that it was in - would hold her weight.  

Who would do lean on something so faulty, expecting it to hold them up?  

The answer - ME!  

You see, because of the Fall of man in the Garden of Eden...because sin entered the world and the human race...our understanding is just like that damaged walker - frail and flawed.   And therefore, we can't be trusted to "lean" on it.  

Instead, we are told to "lean" on Him...to trust what Jesus has to say about a situation...to trust His leading in a decision, even when it seems crazy and irrational.

For instance, our human nature tells us that when we are hurt by someone, we should retaliate.  We should return evil for evil...right?  And yet, God tells us differently.  God's Word says that revenge is not ours.  It's His.  He tells us to trust that He will repay.  In other words, we have to "lean" NOT on our own understanding, but trust Him to do what He says He will do. 

Our humanity tells us that it's okay to respond whatever way we "feel" is appropriate.  Yet, Scripture tells us to not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom, 12:1).  We can't act like unbelievers, basing our responses on how we feel at the moment.  We are to be transformed, not conformed. We have to trust Him that what He says actually works - leaning NOT on what we think we see, but what He really does see!  

Father thank You that you have not left us to navigate this world with our own understanding.  Thank You that Your Word provides every direction we need to do the right thing and bring You pleasure.  Thank You, Father.    

Remember to Tell Them

As parents, we talk to our kids about a lot of things:  the weather, school problems, table-manners, how NOT to eat disgusting things, nor hide their dirty clothes in their closets!  Yet, how long has it been since you've talked to your kids about Jesus? How long has it been since you've spoken to them about the glorious works of God in your life - past and present?  How long has it been since you shared a verse of Scripture to encourage them through some difficulty they are experiencing?

How long?

"But they don't want to hear it," you might say.  "They roll their eyes, and I feel like they are a million miles away when I bring it up."  So, instead of speaking, you choose to be silent and pray that God speaks to them.  All the while, He gave them YOU to be His mouthpiece!

Whether you and I realize it or not, our kids ARE listening.  And if Scripture is indeed, "Life" as it promises in Hebrews 4:12, then when we speak Scripture to them, we are speaking LIFE into them...rolled eyes or not.

Deuteronomy 11:2-7 says, "Today remember that your children were NOT the ones who saw and experienced the discipline of the Lord your God; His majesty, His mighty hand, His outstretched arm; the signs He performed and the things He did in the heart of Egypt, both to pharaoh king of Egypt and to His whole country; what He did to the Egyptian army, to its horses and chariots, how He overwhelmed them with the waters of the Red Sea as they were pursuing you, and how the Lord brought lasting rain on them  It was NOT your children who saw what He did for you in the desert until you arrived at this place and what He did to Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab the Reubenite, when the earth opened its mouth, right in the middle of all Israel and swallowed them up with their households, their tents and every living thing that belonged to them, but it was your own eyes that saw all these great things the Lord has done." 

We assume that our kids know stuff, don't we?  We assume they will turn to Jesus during their difficult times, because they know He is faithful.  We assume that they know of His power and strength to supply their every need.  We assume that church attendance and Sunday school is enough to provide them with everything they need for their spiritual growth.  Yet, Scripture states we are to remember that it is OUR responsibility as parents to teach our kids, because they haven't "seen" God, as we have "seen" God.  They haven't "experienced" His power, as we have "experienced" it.   They haven't "heard" Him gently speak, as we have "heard" from Him.  

I'm not just talking about your "little" children, either.  Our kids are our kids...regardless of their age. They NEVER become too old to hear about God's faithfulness in our lives, and the Word of God is never without effect in theirs.

So, my encouragement to you is to speak LIFE into your kids today.  He has been good to you.  He has been faithful to you.  He has been your Provider, your Sustainer, your Hope.

Remember to tell them that.

Thank You, Jesus for this reminder to speak LIFE into my kids, regardless of their reactions.  May I remember...and then act.  
    

Fervent Love

Yes, Valentine's Day is over.  The large red cardboard hearts are torn asunder.  The chocolate candy is no longer lingering on the mouth corners of small children.  The stores are no longer selling large pink stuffed gorillas, except on clearance.

Sad, isn't it?  The holiday that celebrates love in all red has finally come to a close.

... but SHOULD IT?

As Christians, Valentine's Day just reminds us that we need to actually "do" love all year long.  I Peter 4:8 says, "And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.

Now, this task wouldn't be so daunting for me, if the text said, "above all things have love for one another...."  That wouldn't surprise me.  What both surprises me and challenges me is the addition of the word "fervent."  Believers are supposed to love one another fervently.

So what in the world does that mean?  In this context, fervent means "to boil" or "to seethe."  Sound like a Valentine's Day love to you every day of the year?  Yes, and no.

The love we have for one another...the love we are supposed to exhibit to one another is a love that drives us to compassion.  It's a love that fuels or motives and our actions.  It's a love that is passionate about the object of it's attention.

I think all too often, I exhibit the verse like this:  "Above all else, have 'comfortable' love for each other."  I love in action and deed with all my human ability, but when it becomes a little uncomfortable to do so, I back away.

Do you do that too?

I wonder why?  I questioned myself about this, and do you know what myself said?  (Yes, I talk to myself on a frequent basis.  And yes, I also answer myself.   And yes, I know what people say about people who do that!)

My answer was eye-opening, to say the least - I love humanly.  I love as much in my human nature as I possibly can.  And the problem is???  

There's no way we can fully love...fervently love...in our human nature.  We do NOT have that capability.  The type of love that Peter is speaking of here is not human love.  It's is "otherworldly." It's spiritual.  It's a love born in the heart and Spirit of God and cannot be accomplished without Him.

So, the next time you feel yourself getting a little uncomfortable and backing away from truly caring about someone - think.  Think to yourself.  Am I loving fervently as Christ would love?  Am I putting his/her needs above my own?  Am I showing this person that he/she is important to me and to the Lord?

If your answer to yourself (see...you talk to yourself too!) is "no," then don't just try to make it happen.  Don't try to think of ways to manufacture "fervent" love on your own.  You will only end up tired and burned out, trying to live and love as Christ.

Instead, get on your face before Jesus and ask Him to fill you with a fervent love...a "boiling" love for your brothers and sisters in Christ.  Ask Him to show you what that means.  Get out His Word and read I Corinthians 13.  Really - read I Corinthians 13 and ask Him to drive "love" deep into who you are.

I promise you.  If you and I can learn to live this way...if we can learn to really LOVE this way, the reality of Christ will be shown throughout the world.  No longer will comfortable love be the norm, but fervent love will exude from every Believer in every place, and Jesus would be exemplified for Who He really is.  Now THAT would make for a great Valentine's!

But If From There...

Where are you today?  

Are you sitting in your home warming yourself by a nice, cozy fire?  Are you lying in bed, reading the paper with one eye open and the other one closed?  Are you waiting by the side of a loved one in the hospital...whispering prayers of healing while they sleep?  

In Deuteronomy 4, the Israelites were somewhere, too...somewhere special.  They were about to cross over into the land God had promised would be there resting place - their final home.  For years they had traveled, wiping dust off their feet and packing up their belongings only to move from one place to the next.  And now, they were almost home.  They were finally on their way to a land where they could stake their tents and stay awhile.  

Moses, their leader, was giving them some final instructions.  He would not be entering the Promised Land with them.  He would never see the land as they saw it.  Instead, he would die before entering.  So, I am sure you can imagine that as they listened, each person - each child - and maybe even the animals hung on his every word, desiring to hear the last few words their leader would say. 

He told them to move forward.  He told them the land was theirs for the taking and to rejoice in their possession of it.  

But then, he gives them a warning.  He explains to them, like he had so many times before, that if they choose to disobey God - if they chose to follow other gods and serve them - that they would be taken from their homeland and given over to other people.  They would be snatched away from the place they would grow to love and would be scattered throughout the countryside as slaves.  Many of them would die in the process.  

However, God then gave them a way out.  He promised He would not leave them there...in THAT place.  He spoke through Moses and said,   "But if from THERE (emphasis mine) you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.  When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey Him.  For the Lord your God is a merciful God; He will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which He confirmed to them by oath" (Deut. 4:29-31).  

I loved that...BUT IF FROM THERE.  Where?  But if from where?  
If from their place of distress...disobedience...disaster.  If from THAT place, the people of Israel would seek God, He promised they would find Him, if they searched for Him with all their hearts. In their slavery and solitude...in the midst of the consequences for their sin...in the midst of horrible situations of their own making - if from THERE, they would call on Him, He would hear them and come to them as a loving Father would.  

So, that begs the question again.  Where are you...spiritually speaking?  Are you there in the midst of your own disobedience, thinking that God will never want your presence again?  Are you suffering the consequences of your own actions, that have put you and your family in a horrible mess?  Are you desperately seeking something to fill your days, because you just can't seem to go on?  

Let me say it again, as Moses said it over thousands of years ago...but if from there!  If from there - wherever you are - you will seek Him with your whole heart and soul - if you will cry out to Him for help, He will hear you.  He will be "merciful" as Moses promised.  He will meet you THERE. 

Thank You, Jesus, that even in places of distress of my own making, You never leave me alone.  You will answer my call for help and mercy, because You are my God.  Thank You, Father. Thank You.