I’m so DISTRACTED!!

I’m so DISTRACTED!!

by Becky Dietz

Am I the only one?   I thought with a quarantine, I’d get so much accomplished.   I thought I’d spend a lot of time in the Word and journal about deep and meaningful things. I have about five books I want to read. I thought I’d be sending lots of encouraging notes.  I thought I’d be calling people and checking on them every day.  I thought I’d find creative ways to minister.  I even thought I’d watch some really good movies and maybe do a jigsaw puzzle.  

Instead...I’ve been so distracted!!   I never knew I had a short attention span.  Or maybe I haven’t until now.  Maybe it’s the uncertainty.  Or maybe it’s just being told to stay in my house.  Maybe it’s wondering what happens next.  But whatever it is, I just can’t seem to concentrate for more than a few minutes at a time.  

As I talked to God about this, He began to comfort me and pull me in closely.  I told Him I haven’t been fearful—I think I’m just feeling the uncertainty of the times—things are shaking! So He reminded me that He’s the ONLY ONE who holds all truth and the ONLY ONE who knows what the future holds. In fact, He said I’d be wise to get all of my information from HIM instead of the media.  It’s helped a lot!!  I wouldn’t say I have a new attention span...but my focus has shifted to the One who has the answers.  Our world has been shaken—but we are standing on solid ground—the Rock, Christ Jesus!

You Were Created Differently

You Were Created Differently

by Becky Dietz

When I read a story in the Bible, I almost always identify with the good guy, don’t you?   Well this morning, God showed me I was Cain, not Abel.  

God created these two men differently.  And with that difference, came distinct expectations.  You have to know that God had told Cain, the ground tiller, what was expected when he harvested his crops.  He was to bring his firstfruits FIRST.  He may have even been instructed to have an 8-day feast including 2 days of sabbath, like Moses was instructed later.  Abel, on the other hand, was a shepherd and God’s expectation from him was a blood sacrifice of the firstborn of his flock.  God always told man what the requirements were for obedience beforehand.  And then He required complete obedience. 

Abel obeyed.  It says “in the process of time, Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord.”   Not the firstfruit.  And not when God said. 

The interesting thing is Cain became jealous of Abel.  He didn’t take responsibility for his own disobedience.  He didn’t acknowledge that God had created them differently and had unique expectations for each of their livelihoods.  He was just mad at Abel because he received God’s respect, acceptance, and favor.  (Which by the way, is a basic need of each of our hearts.)  God confronted Cain with truth: “Why are you angry?  If you’ll just OBEY...you’ll find respect, acceptance, and favor.  If you continue to disobey, sin will devour you. But I’m telling you—you can rule over that sin!”

Yes...I’m Cain.  I want everyone to be held to the same standard of requirements which God has for me.  Do we have some of the basic requirements for obedience?  Of course!   But God has also created us uniquely and individually with expectations all our own.  It’s easy for me to get jealous when someone else just has to kill an animal when I must prepare an 8-day feast including two sabbaths.   And that difference can lead to murder in my heart.  

I don’t want to be Cain.  I want to value the differences which God has created for each of us. I want to focus on complete obedience—because I want to live in the favor of God.  And I want the same for you.  We can’t demand that everyone fit our mold; instead, let’s respect and appreciate the differences of one another!  God created us uniquely for a reason.  

How Do I Know Jesus’ Return is Soon?

First of all...what is Jesus’ return?   And who is it for?  Most Christians call it the Rapture—even though the Bible never uses that word. I Thessalonians 4:13-17 clearly tells us that Jesus is returning for those who have followed him with all of their hearts.  Believers.  But not just those who’ve said, “Yes, there is a God.”   But those who have put their full faith in God and have made Him the boss of their lives and have followed him with their whole hearts.  So this is a time to examine ourselves.  Do we have that kind of faith?   Have we asked God to forgive us of our sins and invited Him into our lives and made Him Lord (or boss) of our lives?   Are we following and obeying Him?   If you haven’t, you can do that today!   It’s simple—just admit to God you’re a sinner and you need Him to forgive you.  Give Him your heart and invite Him into your life. He will come in—and He’ll never leave.  That’s who Jesus is coming for!

Matthew 24 says when we see these signs being fulfilled, we can know Jesus’ return is near.  Amos 9, Jeremiah 30, Isaiah 11 & 43 all talk about the people of Israel coming back to their home.  The world thought that would never happen—because Israel didn’t even exist for centuries.  But in 1948, Israel became a nation—and people have been coming back “home” by the thousands.  

When I went to Israel a few years ago, a man told me, “If you see anything green, take a picture!”   He described Israel as rocky, dry, and desolate.  But when I got there, it was lush and green.  This is a fulfillment of prophecy in Isaiah 41!   We’re told Israel will be fruitful and lush in the last days.  Did you know it was Israel who invented drip irrigation?   It’s changed their country and they’re now feeding the world. 

In Matthew 24:32-34, Jesus is answering the disciples about the last days.  He’s talking about Israel when he talks about the olive branch.  “When it’s tender (when Israel is newly established), you can know my return is right at the door.  In fact, this generation will not pass away until these things take place.”   Many scholars believe this means that the generation who sees Israel becoming a nation will be alive when Jesus returns!

How else do I know Jesus’ return is soon?  Because there will be people who say, “People have been saying Jesus is coming back for YEARS—and it hasn’t happened yet!”   II Peter 3:3 says, “ Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”

You might want to be looking up!

 

Signs of the Last Days

I’ve been reading through Revelations this month and have decided to attempt this subject—even though I’m no eschatology expert.  But I’ve been taught about the last days for most of my life and do know a few things to share.  Actually, I feel an urgency to share them!

As I’ve read through Revelations, what has struck me is how precise God is and what a detailed timeline He has.  So we can assume if He’s always been this detail oriented (and He has been), He’s just as concerned about details today. He’s given us signs to look for and most are being fulfilled and even escalating  in our lifetime.  I believe we are quickly heading towards the rapture—the time Jesus will return for the Church, His bride.  

What are the signs?

1. Many will say they are Christ. Matthew 24:5. The list of those who’ve claimed to be Christ has grown exponentially in the past two decades.  

2. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars.  Matthew 24:6. We hear of new wars every day. Just Google “Wars in this century.”

3. There will be famines, pestilences (or plagues), and earthquakes in various places.  Matthew 24:7.  Our world is experiencing unprecedented famines—with over 30 million suffering from hunger.  We’ve just experienced a worldwide plague—the CoronaVirus.  You can see hundreds of earthquakes happening in real time on the web.  A few years ago, I saw a chart of earthquakes and it looked exactly like a monitor of birth contractions.  

4.  Knowledge and travel will increase.  Daniel 12:4.  As of today, knowledge is doubling ever 13 months.  In the past century, we’ve gone from horse and buggy travel to flying across the world—and think nothing of it!  In fact, it’s how the CoronaVirus has spread so quickly across our globe!

5. Men will be lovers of themselves.  II Timothy 3:2. We’ve seen “selfies” explode in the past 5 years.  Psychology is teaching us to think of ourselves first.  

6. Men will be lovers of money.  II Timothy 3:2  Any time there is a financial crisis or the stock market fluctuates too much, there is a panic.  This has only grown.  

7. Children will be disobedient to parents.  II Timothy 3:2. We have TV shows like Supernanny because of the increase of disobedient children.  Ask any principal or teacher—disobedience is on the rise!

8. Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.  II Timothy 3:4. I think we all fight this trend.  It’s so easy to get caught up in social media rather than spending time in the Word or prayer.  It’s sometimes a hard choice—our children’s sporting events or church.  

9. People will be abusive and brutal.  II Timothy 3:3. Children suffer from abuse daily. In fact, we were warned abuse would increase during the quarantine of CoronaVirus. Brutalities are the subject of many video games and movies. Real life brutalities against total strangers are ever-increasing.    

10. Always learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  II Timothy 3:7.  A quest for knowledge is on the rise.  We are constantly learning with a vast store of knowledge available at our fingertips.  And yet there are so many false narratives out there—but do we dig to know the truth?  Do we search the heart of God?  Do we read the Word of God—which IS truth?

11. People will be declaring “peace and safety” when destruction comes.  I Thessalonians 5:3  The UN has been calling for “peace and security (safety)” since 2016.  And it’s become their mandate during the CoronaVirus.  

I haven’t listed all of the signs.  Read Matthew 24, II Timothy 3, Daniel 12, I Thessalonians 5 (and others) for yourselves.  There are so many important signs you’ll see.  In Matthew 24:33, it says, “When you see all these thing, know that it is near—even at the door.  

“Watch therefore, for you do not know what your your Lord is coming.”  Matthew 24:42

“Behold I am coming as a thief.  Blessed is he who watches...” Revelation 16:15

BE WATCHING!

Women Were Doing

On Saturday, the women were doing.  Joseph had already asked for Jesus’ body, wrapped it,  and had laid it in his new tomb—but the body hadn’t been prepared with spices.  The women had gotten together that day to combine what spices  they had and to mix them. They were preparing and doing.  

The women weren’t hiding.  They may have been fearful, but their love for Jesus was bigger than their fear.  Roman guards weren’t standing in their way in their minds.  They were consumed with purpose.  

And..we know Jesus honored and rewarded that.  These women saw him first.  

That Hopeless Friday

That Hopeless Friday

by Becky Dietz

Jesus was dead.  And the disciples had shut themselves in to the upper room.  They were fearful.  If the Romans had killed Jesus...who was to say they wouldn’t come after his followers?  And they were disillusioned.  Hadn’t God promised them a Messiah, a Deliverer, who would reign on David’s throne?   They kept anticipating that Jesus would become king, the next great political leader.  Of course, Jesus had tried to tell them his kingdom was different, but they just didn’t get it.  They kept expecting Jesus to overthrow the horrible Roman government.  

And now here they were with a dead leader.  He didn’t even fight his death—it’s like he just submitted to it.  And they had no idea what to do next.  Their hearts were full of fear and doubt.  It’s like one scene after another of their days with Jesus was rolling through their minds.  What had they missed?  Hadn’t he told them that if they would seek his kingdom first, everything would be given to them?   Then why were they here—hopeless, helpless, fearful, and with no plan?

There was no government who would deliver them now.  They were hunted men.  Guards were everywhere—expecting and preventing these disciples from creating a great deception. They had no one.  And Jesus had left them with no plan.  His last words were to tell John to take care of his mother and then...”It is finished.”   Finished?  Had it even started??

That Friday was full of fear and hopelessness.  

Passover & the Plague of the CoronaVirus

Passover begins tomorrow.  I believe Passover is more significant to us than it’s ever been.  Exodus 11-12 tells the story of the original Passover.  Here it is in a nutshell:

1. Israel had been slaves to Egypt (the world) for 430 years to the day of their deliverance. 

2. God had a plan of redemption through one man, Moses (picture of Jesus). 

3. There was a series of 10 plagues to loosen Pharaoh’s grip to be willing to let God’s people go.  The last plague was what became known as Passover. 

4. Israelites were to ask Egypt for their gold and silver—a great transfer of wealth. 

5. Israelites were to kill a lamb and put the blood on the doorframe of their homes (picture of Jesus, the lamb of God, shedding his blood to save us from our sin).   If there was blood on the doorposts (in the shape of a cross), the death angel would “pass over” that house.  

6. God’s people were to eat the lamb and unleavened bread (leaven is a picture of sin) and wear clothes ready to travel and follow Him out of Egypt and into the Promised Land.  

7.  People without blood on their door posts experienced the death of their firstborn child and animals.  (People who never receive the blood of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins experience eternal death). 

What if the “plague” of CoronaVirus...before and during Passover...is to get our attention?  Is God telling us it’s time to come out of Egypt—the world? Have we held on to the world too tightly?   Have we allowed other gods in our lives?  Have we been contaminated with leaven (sin)?  We MUST have the blood on the doorposts of our hearts for eternal deliverance. But then He also tells us to purify our hearts and come out from among them (the world).  It’s time to follow hard after God with ALL of our hearts!  

Passover begins tomorrow.  We have a beautiful opportunity to examine our hearts—and to encourage everyone we know to do the same!

Listen & Obey

Listen & Obey

by Becky Dietz

Isn’t this the most basic thing we tried to teach our children?   To listen and obey.  And isn’t it the hardest thing for them to learn?   And we KNOW how important it is for them—in fact, it could save their lives!   When our kids were little, we demanded instant obedience.  We wanted to be able to yell their name and know they’d stop if a car was backing out of a driveway or racing down the street!

God’s been showing me that my obedience could save my life, too.  I need to be listening to His voice and obeying him.  He knows everything and His plan for me is good—and lifesaving.  But He also uses authorities in my life who know more than I do.  What if the president knows about a new toxin in the air and asks me to stay inside my house?  (I’m not saying this is true...but what if?)   Am I willing to listen and obey?   Or do I have a rebellious spirit and demand to do things my way?   It’s imperative that we listen and obey.

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.”  Romans 13:1-2

A Pastor’s Wife is Essential

A Pastor’s Wife is Essential

by Becky Dietz

Our world has shifted with CoronaVirus.  What we once took for granted, we now see as a privilege.  Those things we glibly threw in our shopping carts before are now nowhere to be found.  

At first, it was almost like a vacation.  People were posting funny memes, hysterical photos of their kids being homeschooled, and maybe moaning a little over the inconveniences.  But I’ve felt a subtle shift this week.  It’s no longer fun being cooped up.  There’s less joviality.  And CoronaVirus is touching more people.  

That’s where you come in.  Mothers are needing a voice of calm, encouragement, and spiritual input.  YOU are going to be able to reach and minister to the women around you better than your husband.  Most of you have been there with small children and know the challenges.   Remember that time your three children got chicken pox one after the other??  Some of you have homeschooled—or are teachers—and can offer advice.  Many of you are nurses, P.A.’s or doctors and can be a calm voice of help.  But mostly...you know Jesus and can teach others how to follow him, hear his voice, and receive his comfort.   

You are not a shadow of your husband, the pastor.  God created you with unique gifts and a unique calling!!  Use those gifts—NOW!  You obviously know how to use the internet—call younger women or Skype them or FaceTime them and encourage them.  Share a Bible verse with them.  If you’re artistic, send it in calligraphy form.  Our young moms need us more than ever.  Take advantage of this catastrophic moment in history and do your part.  YOU, my friend, are essential.  And God may have you right where you are “for such a time as this!”