Tag: god

God Wins.

On By MitchenersIn Angela6 Comments

Recently, someone hurt my feelings. Hah! Now that some time has passed, I can objectively say that the comments uttered to my face were not meant to be a huge malignment of my character. However, the words spoken were based on assumptions about my intentions, and to be honest, the interaction stung a bit. Sadly, I’ve been replaying those words a little too often in my mind – even stacking them on top of other unthoughtful comments from previous conversations.

And then, a reality check.

Yesterday, my heart broke as I learned the news that the rest of America is buzzing about: Charlie Kirk’s death. Suddenly, my little problem – being hurt because someone tried to “put me in my place” without actually knowing my heart – seemed so small. I’ve experienced criticisms and more, but never death threats, much less an attempt on my life. I cannot fathom how Erika and Charlie’s two children will walk this painful path in the coming days.

Proverbs 19:22 says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

This little nugget of wisdom has been a support for me today as I buckle under the sad reality of the state of our country. Our forefathers founded the colonies 250 years ago so that their children’s children could worship God all the days of their lives – not murder each other because of fits of rage or differing ideologies/political views.

Like David did in so many of his psalms, I’m praying that justice will be served now. That evil will be squelched today. That God and His character will not be maligned any longer.

I’m not exactly sure what it looks like for the Lord’s purpose to prevail this side of heaven. Sometimes, it feels like He’s being so silent in the face of evil. But the comforting truth is that God wins in the end. I rest in the fact that His timing is perfect.

Ultimately, every knee will bow before Him. Oh, the harvest is ripe! May I continue to see those around me as human beings, made in God’s image and in desperate need of Him. And may I always find ways to courageously share the Good News of the abundant life available in Jesus Christ.

Blessed are the poor in spirit…

On By MitchenersIn AngelaLeave a comment

Have you ever received the “perfect” gift from someone? Four years ago, that happened for my daughter Caleigh. Her brother Leyton gave her this cute little stuffed animal for her birthday, and the ensuing pictures and videos of her reaction were just too precious. You would’ve thought she’d been handed the moon.

As Jesus opens up His famous Sermon on the Mount, He promises a pretty special “gift” to His listeners. I doubt that many people fully understood at the time, but the gift couldn’t have been more perfect.

Jesus starts out chapter 5 with an interesting statement: “Blessed are the poor in spirit…”

There’s an important phrase in there: poor in spirit. Being poor in spirit doesn’t have to do with financial status; instead, it’s more about one’s posture toward God. Rather than being proud or self-sufficient, a person who is poor in spirit is one who realizes that dependence on the Creator of the universe is the only stance worth taking.

I will never lose an opportunity to bring up the Ten Booms, a Dutch watchmaker’s family who lived in Holland during WWII. The story of Corrie, her sister Betsie, and their father has been such an inspiration to me. In fact, you might say that they lived out this whole “poor in spirit” thing on a daily basis as they risked their lives by hiding Jews in their home. They subsequently suffered through prison, physical pain, hunger, ridicule, and death (for Betsie and Casper) because of that decision.

If you haven’t read The Hiding Place, run – don’t walk – to get your own copy. It’s evident that Corrie had to make choices each day – choices to depend on God or to go her own way. She said,

It is not my ability, but my response to God’s ability that counts.

Corrie understood something about living in the kingdom of God. She realized that people who relinquish control of their lives are blessed far beyond those who choose to selfishly handle things themselves.

She saw the kingdom of God for the perfect gift that it was. Surrendering her life to the King was worth it.

I’m so glad that Jesus’ offer of “the good life” is open to everyone. On the surface, it may not seem logical that anything good can come through surrender, but on the other side, an entire kingdom awaits!