WHERE IS YOUR FOCUS DURING DIFFICULTY?

God never stops being our loving father.

Psalm 41

1 Blessed is the one who considers the poor!

In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him;

2 the Lord protects him and keeps him alive;

he is called blessed in the land;

you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.

3 The Lord sustains him on his sickbed;

in his illness you restore him to full health.

4 As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me;

heal me, for I have sinned against you!”

5 My enemies say of me in malice,

“When will he die, and his name perish?”

6 And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words,

while his heart gathers iniquity;

when he goes out, he tells it abroad.

7 All who hate me whisper together about me;

they imagine the worst for me.

8 They say, “A deadly thing is poured out on him;

he will not rise again from where he lies.”

9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted,

who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.

10 But you, O Lord, be gracious to me,

and raise me up, that I may repay them!

11 By this I know that you delight in me:

my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.

12 But you have upheld me because of my integrity,

and set me in your presence forever.

13 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting!

Amen and Amen. 

David is living the reality of being surrounded by enemies. He is ill. His enemies desire his demise. They have nothing good to say They not only speak evil, but they also suspect and invent evil; they look upon his situation with contempt.

Have you ever been in that situation? Have you ever felt overwhelmed by treatment from others that you felt was unwarranted and undeserved? If we are not going through a time like this right now, we have likely felt that even those we had served have turned against us.

Often our reaction is to lash back, wanting to defend ourselves, and in one way or the other, be vindicated. When this kind of situation is prolonged, we can become bitter and angry.

David was living this situation, but he directs our thoughts, under the inspiration of God, in a very different direction.

He begins by reminding us that God looks with favor upon those who care for the poor, for those who go through difficult times. God desires that those who follow Him would not become part of the scoffers, but part of the encouragers.

We must ask ourselves if we ever allow others to suck us into their complaints and criticism of others. Are we easily attracted by information about the difficulties or the sin of others, with no intention of being part of the solution, but only part of unloving group? We might not be the ones who spread the information, but are we giving a willing ear to those that are? God is displeased with both!

The writer goes on to remind us of God’s actions during these difficult moments: God protects, sustains, shows grace, forgives, heals, find pleasure in His own, upholds, and is close. Yes, there are enemies, and yes, they desire evil, but God is not immobile in His responses. He actively loves us through those moments.

David knows that even close friends who have been cared for can turn against us. Dear friends, the question are is: where will you and I focus our attention during those times? Are we going to focus on the offending enemy, or upon our loving God? Are we going to react to the accusing people, or to the gracious and forgiving Lord?

In the worst of our situations, God never stops being our loving father. In fact, during those times He is actively loving us and shaping us into the image of His eternally beloved Son! God does not desire evil for us; He actively loves us.

Way too often, my total attention is taken by the actions of man, rather than the eternal purposes of God. The kinds of reactions and attitudes I have expose where my focus is. Have you become bitter or disillusioned? Do you feel like you need to defend yourself?

David does not forget that he is a sinner saved by grace. He knows that God has shown mercy to him and is blessed to have a relationship with the Eternal Holy God.

It is so easy to become self-focused during our difficult times, when God is pleased if we focus on caring for others, instead.

God’s awareness is complete, His attention is undivided, His care is meticulous, His purposes are eternal, His love is unfading, His grace is astounding, His protection is unmatched, and His faithfulness is eternal.

Dear friend, David ends this psalm with a heart-felt exclamation of praise! Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!

How will you start your day? Will you choose to focus on people, or God? Will your attention be given to yourself, or to your Lord? How quickly will you allow men to rob you of enjoying your wonderful Savior?

May the Lord bless you today and may you, in turn, be a blessing to others!

DO YOU LOVE YOUR SALVATION?

READ PSALM 40

We could not have planned, provided, or preserved our salvation!

Psalm 40:16-17

But may all who seek you

rejoice and be glad in you;

may those who love your salvation

say continually, “Great is the Lord!”

17 As for me, I am poor and needy,

but the Lord takes thought for me.

You are my help and my deliverer;

do not delay, O my God! 

Those who seek God will be glad, and will know the joy of being loved by God. They will realize the privilege of having received His mercy and grace.

Isaiah 55:6-7

“Seek the Lord while he may be found;

call upon him while he is near;

7 let the wicked forsake his way,

and the unrighteous man his thoughts;

let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,

and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 

Have you perhaps lost sight of the amazing gift that our salvation is? Have you been distracted by the difficulties of life and forgotten the immense privilege we have in knowing that God has forgiven us and continues to forgive us?

Do we return to God continually for forgiveness, forgetting our total unworthiness? Has it become trite and normal?

God’s forgiveness is complete, eternal; it’s based only on the Lord’s infinite grace.

The only appropriate reaction is to exclaim how great the Lord is. Everything else should pale in comparison to God’s grace. Every problem should become smaller, when we remember how great our salvation is!

Have you stopped to think about what it means to love your salvation?

Loving our salvation must include loving the God Who planned it, and realizing that before the foundation of the world, before we were even born, God had chosen to provide for us the only means to escape eternal punishment.

Loving our salvation must also include loving our Savior Jesus Christ , Who gave Himself to die on the cross so that we could experience eternal life.

Loving our salvation must also include remembering that the Holy Spirit seals us for eternity.

We could not have planned, provided, or preserved our salvation. It is the wonderful gift of God!

I realize that way too often the cares of the world obscure these wonderful truths. Way too often, my carnal desires relegate this immense privilege to second place.

I realize that I am using many superlatives, but even the most eloquent words could not describe the profundity of this gift.

Those who know and remember these truths will rejoice and exclaim the greatness of God.

How sad it is, when our attitudes and reactions minimize the beauty of our Savior and of our salvation.

We are poor, we are needy, as David says in the conclusion of this psalm, but God does not forget or forsake us. Lest we forget that we can never approach God with any demands or expectations, the psalmist reminds us that we are small.

The Apostle Paul after he described the wonder of our salvation in Ephesians 1, prayed that God would seal it in our hearts.

Ephesians 1:15-21

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 

May our God open our eyes, and may our response be eternal gratitude and praise!

DOES YOUR LIFE POINT PEOPLE TO CHRIST?

Read Psalm 40

Psalm 40:13-15

13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!

O Lord, make haste to help me!

14 Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether

who seek to snatch away my life;

let those be turned back and brought to dishonor

who delight in my hurt!

15 Let those be appalled because of their shame

who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”

David has reminded us in this psalm about the importance of trusting God. He has taken the time to remember the character of God and how He has given him a sure place to stand on. God has transformed his life and given him a new song of praise. His deliverance has been timely, and David’s praise has been clear. David has not forgotten his own sinfulness, nor the mercy and forgiveness he has found in the Lord.

David’s problems and difficulties have not disappeared; they have not become easier to deal with. His enemies are always ready to find pleasure in his demise. But his past experiences and what he has learned about his God continue to guide him in his path of trust.

Those who know God have learned the same things that David did, and should never be moved by difficulties and circumstances to take matters in their own hands. They should continue to trust the meticulous sovereignty of God.

I find that all too often, my own thoughts and efforts are spent in thinking about the ways I want circumstances and people to change, instead of asking myself how God wants me to change.

When we find ourselves dealing with difficult situations or people, we become distracted by the external, instead of thinking about what God is purposing in our lives. We concentrate on the actions of people we cannot change, instead of asking God to work in us His perfect will.

David is asking God to intervene; he is not being fatalistic: he is plainly trusting God to do His work. He trusts the hand of God. He has learned to trust His character, His wisdom, His power, and His love.

And he knows that the outcome is really in the hands of the God who has proved Himself faithful, over and over. As we read this psalm, David has walked us through the wonderful truths about God, the reality of his sinfulness, the assurance of God’s mercy and his dependence on God.

I know that if I took the time to remember these aspects of my life, my impatience and disappointment would fade, giving room to contentment and trust.

I am sure that we all can think of some things that we would love to see happen in our lives. Life can be hard; people are ungodly, and at times those who disappoint us the most are even the believers from whom we would expect better behavior. We are constantly driven to choices: trust God, take things into our own hands, or become bitter and unhappy.

Romans 8:28-29

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

We cherish these verses, but too often we stop at the word “good”, filling in our own definition of what we feel is good for us. When we have decided in our heart what is “good”, we then become disappointed when the circumstances do not match our definition of “good”.

We forget that the One who decides is the One who has a perfect purpose. The circumstances and people surrounding us are not obstacles to our good, but God’s careful choice of instruments for His perfect purpose. We were not chosen by God to be comfortable in this world, but to be conformed to the image of His beloved Son.

As we pray to God for His help to navigate circumstances and the behavior of people around us, we should always be asking ourselves how God is using them to mold us into the image of Christ. We should ask ourselves if we are resisting His work, or joyfully submitting to His shaping of us. Our reactions will expose what our ultimate goals are - our own comfort, or our desire to be more like Christ.

The funeral for my mother and our time in Italy has shown us a clear of reflection of the work of God. To be reminded of what a life looks like, when it’s dedicated to the service of God, has been an immense privilege for all those present. As we live our lives, we leave behind our legacy.

David, although we don’t forget his sins and mistakes, has left us a great example of God’s mercy and work in the life of one of His children. Our past sins should remind us of God’s mercy, and our present difficulties should drive us to desire God’s transforming work in our lives.

May our lives bring attention to God and not to ourselves!

LOVED BEYOND OUR ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND

Where would we be, if it were not for the grace of God?

READ PSALM 40 

Psalm 40:11-12

11 As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain

your mercy from me;

your steadfast love and your faithfulness will

ever preserve me!

12 For evils have encompassed me

beyond number;

my iniquities have overtaken me,

and I cannot see;

they are more than the hairs of my head;

my heart fails me. 

As David goes on in this psalm, he cannot help but remind himself of the grace of God in His life.

Where would we be, if it were not for the grace of God? How could God continue to preserve us, if He is not faithful? How would He continue to love us, if it were not for His steadfast love?

David realizes his utter sinfulness, and his humbly dependent response is the only appropriate one.

We are so blessed; we sin against Him and continue to ask forgiveness, resting in the promise of merciful forgiveness.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We should marvel at this promise, for the God of the universe is ready to repeatedly forgive those who are ready to confess their sins.

We should be ecstatic to know that the eternal God has loved His own us from eternity past, and will love us forever.

Ephesians 3:14-19

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” 

Understanding this kind of love is impossible for us, unless God causes us to understand its immensity.

How wonderful it is, to know that although we are so frequently unfaithful, God is faithful to His promises.

Philippians 1:6

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” 

God is at work in us and will continue to preserve us, even though we will fail Him.

As David looked at his life, aware of the many sins he had committed, he could only be overwhelmed by the wonderful privilege he had in his relationship with his God.

Are we appropriately overwhelmed by these realities? Have we let the cares of this world overshadow these truths? Have we believed the lie that God cannot forgive one or more of our sins? Does the thought creep in our minds that, as believers, we must earn God’s love and forgiveness?

Our relationship with God began because of His grace and faithfulness, continues only on that basis, and is preserved for the same reasons. God wants us to be completely dependent on Him.

Knowing these truths should produce appropriate responses.

We should forgive because we have been forgiven.

Ephesians 4:32

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” 

We should be faithful in serving God.

1 Peter 4:11

“…whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

We should love one another fervently.

1 Peter 1:22-23

“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;”

May we live our lives with the appropriate gratitude to God and the godly response toward others!

PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR GOD

Telling others of what God has done should be our mission

READ PSALM 40

Psalm 40:9-10

9 I have told the glad news of deliverance

in the great congregation;

behold, I have not restrained my lips,

as you know, O Lord.

10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;

I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;

I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness

from the great congregation. 

David has been a vocal testimony of what the Lord has done in his life.

Romans 10:15b

…As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 

Telling others of what God has done in our life should be the natural outcome of our lives. Those who know God can daily see the outpouring of His grace.

We live in a world of lost people who are continually masking their utter hopelessness with distracting activities. They live without eternal values and without eternal hope. Our testimony about Who God is should be loud and clear, like David’s: he did not restrain his lips.

Often we are holding back because of fear.

Romans 1:16-17

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” 

We tend to forget that it is God’s plan that those who have true faith are the ones whose lives should be displaying their faith and whose tongues should be sharing it with clarity. The results are not dependent on our ability to convince people. Our responsibility is to share the true gospel clearly, and then God will produce the results He intends to have.

Other times we hold back because of lack of urgency.

Hebrews 9:27

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 

This week, I was speaking with an older gentleman who reminded me that we are all “terminal”. He was so right, but seemed totally oblivious of the gravity of that truth. Too often, we also go about our daily lives, forgetting the reality of this statement. We leave the opportunity to share the Gospel with someone for “another time”. We are looking for “the right opportunity” thinking that there will be more. It is normal for the unbelievers to live that way, but for us it should not be so.

We also hold back, not realizing our privilege and responsibility.

Romans 1:14-15

I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. 

Paul looked at all people as those to whom he was a debtor. It was his opportunity and responsibility to share the truth of the Gospel. Do you and I look around to see who we are responsible to speak to? Whom has God placed in your sphere of influence?

We tend to forget that the Bible call the Gospel, “The Good News”. We have a message that is crucially needed and that transforms lives from death to life, from condemnation to forgiveness, from darkness to light.

As we prepare to leave for the funeral of my mother, we are asking you to pray that the Lord will give us many opportunities to tell others of the certainty we have of seeing her in heaven and thus their own opportunity to face death with real assurance.

David’s testimony also reached other believers. His praise for God was of an encouragement to those who were going through difficult times. His testimony of deliverance and hope was of great help to those who, for a time, had lost sight of God. God’s perfect unending love and faithfulness should be our daily song of praise.

We need to live our lives in constant dependence upon God, and with great awareness that the way we live and what we say needs to point people to Christ. May God help us to never become so self-absorbed that we lose sight of His wonderful works. May each of these remind us of our privilege to be a vocal testimony of His grace.

We are grateful that our next few weeks are going to be filled with opportunities to proclaim God’s goodness. Because of our travel to Italy and business there, these devotionals will not be regular again until we get back on the 21^st of August.

MOM IS WITH THE LORD: A TRIBUTE TO GOD

ALL THE GLORY GOES TO GOD

2 Corinthians 5:1-10

1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 

Mom went to be with the Lord on Saturday morning. It was not a shock, for we had known since January that she was ill. When we found out, we did know how long she would have left on earth, but we knew it would be brief.

Very few lives have practically lived the truth of these verses more clearly than Mom and Dad. They each started serving God over 60 years ago, and together more or less 58 years ago. I have watched them walk by faith and with desire to please God.

There are five truths in this passage that teach very important facts to us, as we go through life.

I - OUR LIFE IS TEMPORARY, v.1

       

Our body is just a tent. It’s decaying, it’s temporary and unstable, but God will give us a new body in heaven.

1 Corinthians 15:51-55

51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

55 “O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?”

John 14:2-4

2“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”

Because of my job, I go into many homes which people have built as monuments for their pleasure, while spending even more thousands of dollars to change or “improve” their bodies. As believers we should know better, but often, we, too, get entangled into putting our attention and efforts on what is temporary. I must say that Mom, in contrast, aged gracefully; her grace was an inner grace that did not affect people’s eyes, but people’s hearts. She knew that one day she would be perfect, and she lived in light of that day.

II - OUR NEW LIFE WILL BE PERFECT – TODAY WE ARE CORRUPTED, v. 2-4

       

Romans 8:22-25

22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Revelation 21:1-4

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

One day things will be made perfect, but for today, suffering and decay are normal. Many peoples’ lives are driven by slowing down the decay and making ourselves more comfortable. Many times we become obsessed with our bitterness and complain about the difficulty of life, when God has never intended for us to love life and its pleasures more than we love  Him. The reality of sin around us and the difficulty of life should drive us into the arms of God. I have watched my mom, realizing that her body was quickly being taken over by Leukemia, and yet faithfully continuing on with her usual passions in life, for she knew that God was in control.

III - OUR LIFE IS IN GOD’S PERFECT CONTROL, IT’S PROTECTED FOR ETERNITY, v.5

Philippians 1:6

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:11

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

It has been very comforting to watch both Mom and Dad navigate these months with a peace and drive that can only come from their total confidence that the God of the Bible is in sovereign control over their lives. His character is holy and perfect; all is driven by His perfection. He is wise; He knows exactly what He is doing. He is powerful, no sickness or man can overpower Him. He is loving; God always has our good in mind. At times we do struggle, and when we do, we know we have lost sight of what is eternal.

IV - OUR ETERNAL LIFE IS OUR AIM – WE SHOULD BE COURAGEOUS, v. 6-8

Our walk is by faith; our view is not earthly, based merely on what we see or feel. Our goal is to be with the Lord.

               

Philippians 2:12-17

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Paul had made a decision to serve God with integrity: all the time, without complaining and at any cost. What an encouragement it was, to watch my mom’s determination, in the last few months, to write a book about serving God faithfully. She had learned that life is not to be spent on ourselves, but for God’s service. She spoke to me with difficulty this week from the hospital, with some recommendations for me about my ministry. She knew we are planning to go to Italy and continue the ministry there with Dad, and she told to minister to my wife, Loredana first. And then she told me to write simply and clearly, so people can understand the Biblical truths. Even in her last few hours, she never lost sight of what counted; she knew that God is watching.

V – OUR EARTHLY LIFE WILL BE JUDGED, SO WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL, v. 9-10

God is watching the way we spend our lives, what motivates us, what drives us. It is interesting that when we have heavenly goals, nothing can thwart them. It is our earthly goals that get easily disturbed.

As I reflect on this time of rejoicing because Mom is with the Lord, and of mourning because we will miss her, these 5 truths are very important for all of us.

We are TEMPORARY – CORRUPTED – PROTECTED – COURAGEOUS – CAREFUL.

It would seem that this is a tribute to my mom and dad, but in reality it’s a tribute to God. No one knows better than mom today, that all we are and do is by the grace of God. We have no excuse if we are not faithful, and we deserve no glory, because all the glory goes to God.

The words that ring in my ears, repeated so often by my mom are these: Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.  Colossians 3:23-24.

TODAY MY MOM WENT TO BE WITH THE LORD!

SHE WROTE THIS A FEW MONTHS AGO

I’m going Home!

“Mr. Standridge, bring your wife to the emergency room

immediately for a blood transfusion. The levels in her blood

are very low. We have already informed your doctor.”

I HAD JUST FINISHED BLOOD TESTS IN A MEDICAL CENTER and things seemed really serious. I did not expect anything like this, even though, for a few weeks, I had been feeling pretty weak and with little energy. We went straight to the emergency room of a large hospital in Rome, close to home, and soon I was lying on a bed with a needle stuck in my arm and a nice bag of blood, which was followed by two more, transferring its liquid, drop by drop, into my veins.

Since then, I have been on a rollercoaster of news and surprises, hospitalization, other

blood tests, and also samples of bone marrow, that led to a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia, to which doctors have added the unpromising adjective “terminal”.

So today, without any particular pain and, apparently, still in good health and with a

good measure of strength, I find myself thinking in a very practical and realistic way, of my “going home with the Lord” when He wills. Perhaps very soon.

How have I reacted to a story like this?

Honestly, surprised and almost in disbelief. But even so, with HIS peace.

A few years ago, when I was invited to do Bible studies in a Conference for women, I said with a laugh that, given my age of more than 85, (soon I’m going to be 89), the  organizers would do well to also get a “spare tire” in case I had to decline the invitation. But honestly, given my health that I thought was disease-proof, I said it jokingly, as if I were actually immortal.

Today, the jokes are over and the reality is different. It is a reality of a certain sadness

(I’d be lying if I said otherwise), but also is very calm.

Sadness, because leukemia is a reality that speaks of separation from Bill, the only love

of my life, with whom I have spent more than 56 years, and have had the joy of serving the Lord with, in a kind of spiritual, as well as and also intellectual symbiosis. We shared a passion for the Word of God, the commitment of raising four children, and the responsibility of helping many to learn and grow in biblical faith. I know that after my departure Bill will feel a bit as though he was “mutilated”, but I know that his love for the Lord, His Word, and the Italians, will support him and help him serve as long as he has the strength. Of course I do not like, either, the idea of leaving our four children, three daughtersin- law and also a son-in-law, who love me and twelve grandchildren (one married) and two great-grandchildren, each one more lovely than the other.

But the moment of separation will come. However, my joy is that all have trusted

the Lord as their Savior and are therefore in his hands.

But now, let’s talk about the reasons for my peace of mind.

I came to know Jesus as Savior and Lord when I was 20 years old. Since then, the grace of God has surrounded me and the unmerited favor of the Lord has wrapped and protected me.

I know I’m saved, and my faith is based on the promises of God’s Word. One that

comforts me in particular is the letter of the Apostle Paul to Titus: “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:5-7) What more than that could you want or hope for? Then I had the honor to receive from the Lord a clear call to serve full-time. I went to Bible school, I had teachers of great value, I have experienced the extraordinary time of evangelistic fervor and spiritual growth in Italy after the end of World War II. I was a part of the beginning of the new period of political freedom in Italy that gave us permission to start youth camps, summer schools, conferences and all kinds of activities that the Lord has blessed. I threw myself headlong into every new evangelistic project. My university studies prepared me to have a ministry of writing, and my heart led me to make available to the Lord every capacity that He had given me.

Over the years I learned to study and nourish myself in the Word of God.

I understood the importance of furthering knowledge in His truth, and rooted my faith in

obedience to what it says. Without a good supply of this type of knowledge, the Christian life can become very severe and be very flat.

I confess also that I have made many mistakes for which I had to ask forgiveness from

the Lord, from my loved ones, brothers and sisters, and I realized that forgiveness is the key to the Christian life. It is essential in both the human family and that of God.

He who does not forgive others has understood little of the love of God, but those who

practice the confession of their sins to God and asking for the pardon of all they have offended, know that the blood of Christ purifies them and allows them to walk in the light (1 John 1:8-10).

After so many years of walking with the Lord, I realized that “in me, in my flesh, Maria

Teresa, dwelleth no good thing” (Romans 7:18), but whatever I did that is good is what he has done for me and in me (Isaiah 26:12).

During a meditation given at a conference in Isola del Gran Sasso, Daniel, one of our

sons, stressed the fact that after the resurrection, Jesus bore in his body the marks of his suffering and death for us. The disciples had seen his scars and knew that, with his resurrected human body, Jesus ascended to heaven.

In the vision of Revelation, John later saw Him as a “lamb, standing, which seemed to

have been sacrificed” (5:6) and I, with myriads of believers (and hopefully with you) will behold for all eternity those signs of the price paid by Jesus for our salvation. Those signs will inspire us to worship Him in perfection.

This wonderful thought humbles me, but also fills me with great gratitude.

With love, Maria Teresa

ROME, MARCH 2013

Do you want to have my same certainties? Email: williamstandridge@libero.it

WE MUST WORSHIP GOD ON HIS OWN TERMS!

Those who truly worship God both praise and obey!

READ PSALM 40

Psalm 40:6-8

6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,

but you have given me an open ear.

Burnt offering and sin offering

you have not required.

7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come;

in the scroll of the book it is written of me:

8 I delight to do your will, O my God;

your law is within my heart.” 

After reminding us of God’s wonderful care and His wonderful works on man’s behalf, David turns our attention to an appropriate response. God is not interested in mere rituals, but in the heart behind the actions.

From David’s day to ours, however, man has been prone to worship God externally, without the support of a devoted heart.

1 Samuel 15:22

…“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,

as in obeying the voice of the Lord?

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,

and to listen than the fat of rams.” 

King Saul had not obeyed the word of the Lord. And his excuse was that the choicest of the spoil was taken for sacrificing to the Lord. God rejected both his actions and Saul, as king of Israel.

This was an ongoing problem for Israel.

Jeremiah 7:21-26

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat the flesh. 22 For in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak to your fathers or command them concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. 23 But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’ 24 But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward. 25 From the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt to this day, I have persistently sent all my servants the prophets to them, day after day. 26 Yet they did not listen to me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck. They did worse than their fathers.”

Man has always fooled himself, in thinking that he can worship God on his own terms, but actions that are not the result of obedience and submission are worthless to God.

Through God’s Spirit, Biblical doctrine should inform us, producing godly actions and behavior. Apart from God’s revealed truth, we cannot know the mind of God and therefore cannot obey and practice His ways. Most of the epistles in the New Testament begin with a section devoted to doctrine, followed by practical application of that teaching.

God is very interested in our hearts. As professing believers, we should always check ourselves and evaluate where we are. We don’t want to become unbalanced, being driven by behavior without true devotion or by mere emotion without follow-through. Today there seems to be a trend to giving more importance to our own devotional feelings than the kind of worship God’s Word says He really wants. Feelings should not drive our worship.

The kings of Israel were commanded to read and meditate on God’s law.

Deuteronomy 17:18-20

“And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests.19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, 20 that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.

Both behavior and heart are mentioned in these verses, and careful reading would produce fear of the Lord, obedience and a godly heart. The Word of God must produce the same results in our lives today. God through His Word will transform our hearts.

We must check our walk, as well as our hearts. Actions that do not proceed from a devoted heart are only religious legalism or activism, and they do not please God at all. A superficial faith that does not produce godly behavior is equally displeasing to God. How easily we distort the clear teaching of the Word of God! Even in this psalm, God is walking us through the careful path of true worship that is acceptable to Him.

Those who truly worship God both praise and obey. Obedience is the response of a truly trusting, devoted heart. We should be alarmed when one or both are missing: when we do not love God’s Word, or when we do not find pleasure in obeying it.

May we be committed to learning and knowing God’s Word, to obeying God’s teachings and may all this be done from a heart that is dedicated to our Savior.