Author name: Paul Cannings

Our culture has determined who is handsome or beautiful for us. Hollywood, with fashions from Paris influences, Hollywood magnifies and glorifies these images so much that it has become an industry. Plastic surgery is now a big business, not just for seniors who want to look young, but also for young boys and girls who want to emulate what they see in Hollywood or what is glamorized by musical artists. Some people don’t just want to look good; they have plastic surgery to look just like some of the movie stars. Amazingly, if these same people go to other parts of the world, they would be viewed as too skinny and unattractive. “A very peculiar feature of the culture of Palenque, one of the lost cities in the Mayan civilization, was that of tying the heads of newborn babies to boards—one in front and one in back. After several days, the head is flattened for life. Crossed eyes were also prized as marks of beauty, and mothers sought to induce that condition by dangling baubles between the babies’ eyes.” (Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 429). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.) In some countries, a woman missing her front teeth is attractive. Tall women who are attractive or plump. “As one man said, ‘Even a dog likes meat on its bone.’” What is interesting is that David explains how God formed him when he was formless. God did this for every part of his body. It was done carefully and insightfully, and He made no mistakes, even when it came to God breathing into him. What God did was not something anyone else was involved in because God did it secretively, hidden from everyone. When God did this, He did it with such a deep thought process that no one could ever figure out why or how David was formed. Here is one example; “No scientific instrument is as sensitive to  light as a person’s eye. In the dark, its sensitivity increases 100,000 times; one can detect a faint glow, less than a thousandth as bright as a candle’s flame. He can see light from the stars, and the nearest of all stars is 25 billion miles away!” (Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 775). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.) In Psalm 139:13-18 David said, “For You formed my inward parts; you wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth… (NASU). Young people, do not allow our culture to determine your value.  Trust in God’s design, for He made you with a purpose in mind (Revelations 4:11).  You are fearfully and wonderfully made, and your existence is a testament to His divine plan.

Before the West Indies Baptist Conference began this past week, a category four hurricane impacted some of the islands and a category one for us. Added to that was a worldwide cyber attack that made airline travel a horrendous experience; then came the rain. You ask yourself why the Lord would allow so much to occur when we intensely seek to execute His kingdom plan. Sarah could have asked such a question, especially since everyone else around her was allowed to have a child. I can’t imagine how she may have felt when Hagar became pregnant. Moses could ask this question, especially when he didn’t even ask for the job he was given. Job, who was called a righteous man by God, struggled with this question. Daniel was an obedient servant of the Lord, only to go through one trial after another. There are times when God’s dreams take us to dry wells and slave markets, and even when we do not do wrong, they take us to prison, like in the case of Joseph. What we must learn is that God’s providence is at work in the midst of Satan’s attacks (Ephesians 6:10-13; Revelation 12:10), and God only rewards faith (Hebrews 11:6). Everyone in the ‘Hall of Faith’ was not spared trouble; they kept the faith. Because they choose to obey God rather than their feelings, fears, and anxieties, it worked out for His good and their blessings (Romans 8:28). The good is not just earthly benefits but also the perfecting of their character (James 1:2-4), so that no matter what Satan’s schemes may be nothing deterred them from accomplishing God’s plan for their lives and His glory (2 Corinthians 2:11; 4:7-12; 11:21-29; ). For these reasons and more, it is critical that we keep growing spiritually (1 John 4:4) and continually mature in Christ so that His strength in us keeps our armor on (Ephesians 6:13-18). The hardest thing in raising a child is to trust our direction when all they know and feel influences them to believe we don’t know what we are doing. When they choose to listen and allow an excellent parent to shape their lives, they thank us and call us their heroes. The ‘Hall of Faith’ are God’s heroes who praised Him for their earthly blessings and His reward for them in heaven forever (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10). “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight; I have finished the course; I have kept the faith; in the future, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8; NASU)

In the movie “The Hiding Place,” a scene is set at Ravensbruck Concentration Camp in Germany. Corrie Ten Boom and her sister, Betsy, are there, along with ten thousand other women, in horrible, degrading, hideous conditions. They are gathered with some women in the barracks in the midst of the beds, cold, hungry, and lice-ridden; Betsy is leading a Bible class. Orieof, the other woman, calls out derisively from her bunk and mocks their worship of God. They fall into conversation, and this woman says what so frequently is flung at Christians: “If your God is such a good God, why does He allow this kind of suffering?”  Dramatically, she removes the bandages and old rags that bind her hands, displaying her broken, mangled fingers, and says, “I’m the first violinist of the symphony orchestra. Did your God will this?” For a moment, no one answers. Then Corrie Ten Boom steps to her sister’s side and says, “We can’t answer that question. All we know is that our God came to this earth and became one of us, and He suffered with us and was crucified and died. And that He did it for love.” Someone once said, “A Christian is like a tea bag that is not much good until it has gone through hot water.” When we are mistreated for doing nothing wrong, the quality of our character is either exposed or shaped (Romans 5:1-5). God states in the book of Job that Job is righteous; but amid Job’s trials, we truly learn about Job’s character and disposition. The same thing occurs with Joseph, who suffered for doing no wrong. We admire Joseph more for how he endured his trials than when he was the young dreamer his father loved—the same with Daniel. We may admire Daniel for his prayer life, but we admired his commitment to prayer more when he prayed, knowing he would experience persecution. Daniel’s Lion’s Den experience is repeated more than his dreams. This is because, during hard times, God either shapes our character or exposes the quality of the character Christ has developed in us to those around us. Peter says that we are blessed when we suffer for doing good (1 Peter 3:13-14). “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Rom 8:18-19; NASU) When the storms of life are raging (Matthew 14:22-27), keep your eyes on the prize (Philippians 3:12-16).

Have We Ever Felt This Way? To Thee, O Lord, I call; My rock, do not be deaf to me, Lest, if Thou be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to Thee for help, when I lift up my hands toward Thy holy sanctuary. (Psalm 28:1-2; A Psalm of David. NASB) My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. O my God, I cry by day, but Thou dost not answer; and by night, but I have no rest.  (Psalm 22:1-2; NASB) Do We Continue to Pray Despite Hoping? I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay; And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. And He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear, and will trust in the Lord. How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust, and has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood. (Psalm 40:1-4; NASB) Do We Trust Him In This Manner? Blessed be the Lord, Because He has heard the voice of my supplication. The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore, my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him. The Lord is their strength, and He is a saving defense to His anointed. Save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance; Be their shepherd also, and carry them forever. (Psalm 28:6-9; A Psalm of David. NASB) See Luke 18:1-8 Remember…. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them (also Hebrews 1:14). Taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear the Lord, you His saints; For to those who fear Him, there is no want. NASB (Psalm 34:7-9; NASB)

A four-year-old girl, hugging a doll in each of her little arms, looked at her mother and said, “Mama, I love them and love them and love them, but they never love me back.” One of the most challenging things about love is that loving someone never guarantees being loved back. This is because a person cannot love without giving. Giving or sharing is the essence of love. There’s a joke about a young man determined to win the affection of a lady who refused to talk to him anymore. He believed the way to her heart was through the mail, so he began writing her love letters. He wrote a love letter every day to this lady. He increased his output to three notes every twenty-four hours when she didn’t respond. In all, he wrote her more than seven hundred letters. His perseverance paid off, albeit unexpectedly–the lady married the postman. Loving someone is easier when the giving is shared. Even though this is true, it still does not demonstrate the true nature of love. The Bible teaches that God is love (notice not love is God; 1 John 4:7). This means that the nature of God determines the nature of love. So, it is not until God loves (John 3:16) that mankind desires to love after accepting this gift. This is why a believer needs to obey God. Obeying God shapes our nature (Romans 12:2; Galatians 2:20) and determines the fruit we bear (Galatians 5:22). One of the fruits is love. This is how we know if a person is truly saved and is a true disciple of God by the fruit they bear (John 13:34-35). “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?  So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit ……. So then, you will know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:16-20; NASU) Many people can demonstrate various characteristics of love, but not everyone, by their very nature, can consistently display love. A person can be kind, but not necessarily forgiving. So, they are kind to people as long as they do not cross them. They must be loved back. As a result, their love fails. The nature of love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” (1 Cor. 13:7). The nature of love is determined by the nature of God. This is why to love God leads us to love others whether they return the favor or not (Matthew 22:36-40). We should not love because of what others do; we must love becau

Have you ever felt you are losing when God keeps saying you are winning (Romans 8:37; Philippians 4:13)? Sometimes it sounds unreasonable, like “be anxious for nothing…..”(Philippians 4:6); Ahhhhh…, nothing? Have you ever felt that the more you obey God, the more your trials intensify (Psalm 34:19)? This is not unusual (there are numerous examples of this in the scripture), and it is just not very encouraging. We are most times not as excited for the Lord to build our faith (James 1:2-4; Hebrews 12:4-11) because our hearts are more set on being rewarded for our faith (Hebrews 11:6). It is interesting that after Hebrews 11 verse 6 states that the ‘Hall of Faith’ listed only those who, because they remained faithful, their faith in the midst of trials was rewarded. We celebrate when our team wins the Super Bowl. Still, we often forget how long each player played, including how long they were in numerous practices, sometimes battling multiple injuries, and innumerable hits to every part of their body to obey a playbook and please a coaching staff. To be taken off the field on a stretcher, go to the hospital, remain awhile, and still come back and play, demonstrates an incredible love for the game, not fame, or money. When obeying God, whether because we are Christians or go to church, building our faith can seem laborious, especially amid numerous trials. When in the midst of enduring trials, if we remain determined to trust God (for example, Daniel; Daniel 1:8), demonstrated by our commitment to hold to His Word, we expose our love for God, which in turn, causes our faith to deepen. “If you love Me, you will keep my commandment.” (John 14:15). Paul’s numerous intense trials grew him. He, who once battled the flesh (Romans 7:14-20), says, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20). Christ’s commitment to His Father led to suffering, but it also exposed His faith, empowered His prayer life, and demonstrated His love for His Father. Our trials do make it seem like we are losing. We only lose ourselves as we gain Christ (John 12:23-26), which only happens because of our love for Him (1 John 2:3-6). This improves our faith and exposes the power of the Holy Spirit, who is greater (1 John 4:4), so we become conquerors.

A little boy, frightened by a thunderous lightning storm, called out one night, “Daddy, come. I’m scared.” “Son,” the father said, “God loves you, and He’ll take care of you.” “I know God loves me,” the boy replied, “but right now, I want somebody who has skin on.” The father’s role is to be and demonstrate God with skin on. Once, a little girl followed her father as he carefully stepped through their newly planted garden. She stepped precisely where he stepped while saying, “Daddy, if you don’t get mud on your feet, I won’t get any mud on mine!” No matter where we go in Biblical history, the role of a godly father has proven to be essential. All the way back to Adam, his lack of leadership leads to sin and death, even in the case of his sons. David’s sin leads to incest, murder, and the death of Absalom (2 Samuel 13, 18). The list continues with God writing, “He will restore the hearts of fathers to their children and hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.” (Malachi 4:6; Numbers 32:14) Fathers are essential to the development of children. They provide discipline (Hebrew 12:10), training (Ephesians 6:4), and direction (Genesis 18:18), and are also the primary providers for their families (Genesis 2:15; 3:14; Luke 11:11-13), to list a few. When they fear God, their homes are blessed (Psalm 112; 128), and when they lead their homes in wisdom, they establish it forever (Proverbs 24:3-5). Their reverence for God also leads to legacy; “Indeed, may you see your children’s children,” and it determines whether a city is peaceful or not (Psalm 128:6; Proverbs 3:2). They can keep the mud off the shoes and give God skin. So let this Father’s Day serve to remind us men of our need to be the men God has called us to be. If ever there was a time in history that our children needed godly fathers,THE TIME IS NOW! HAPPY HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!!

From a human standpoint, I have always wondered what it was like to wait 25 years for one child while being promised you (Abraham) would have a nation with inhabitants like sands of the sea shore, something he never saw. How did he not waver in faith (Romans 4:18-21)? He was told to leave a stable life in Haran only to have a nomadic life (moving from place to place, no restroom facilities, no kitchen, etc.), living in a tent throughout Canaan and then to become separated from his cousin Lot. He had to fight a war against the two kings of Sodom and Gomorrah to defend and save his cousin Lot. He had to deal with ‘baby mama drama’ because of issues between Sarah and Hagar. He had to kick Ishmael out of his house, whom he loved. He had to endure a drought only to be forced to go to Egypt with a pretty wife when God knew that Pharaoh loved pretty women. How could this be living in the will of God? God teaches us that satan is given much freedom because of mankind’s decision (Adam and Eve) to choose to disobey God. This is because the whole world lies in his power (1 John 5:19). Peter calls him “a roaring lion seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8; anxiety, doubt, trials), and he also goes to heaven day and night seeking, like in the case of Job, to make accusations against us (Revelation 12:10). Abraham experiences are not unique. Living in the will of God does expose us to adverse situations. Please note that no matter what individuals in the scriptures experienced while obeying God, God’s purposes were accomplished, and each individual became stronger. The circumstances that encompassed them were threatening, but never defeating (2 Corinthians 4:7-12) because the Word of God does not return void (Isaiah 55:11). He promises to protect us (Hebrews 1:14). Christ told the disciples they would have trouble (John 16:33), but He promised never to forsake them (Matthew 28:20). David, with all that he experienced said; “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them……; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear the Lord you His saints; for those who fear Him there is no want.” (Psalm 34:7-9). Satan is going to be satan. However, God’s love is greater! The more we are tested, the more we grow in our faith, and the more we are exposed to how “Greater love has no one….” (John 15:7-10, 13). In our pain, God faithfully delivers His promises, which includes His protection and power while being refined to become like Him (Galatians 2:20; 1 Peter 1:3-9); no loss, just gain (Philippians 1:21).

Life has a way of rocking our world in a variety of ways. There are times we find strength, and there are times we become despondent, perplexed, or even mad at God. These feelings can become so overwhelming that they affect our relationship with God and those around us, whether the children we parent, our marriages, extended family, church family, or even ourselves. We can feel helpless and defeated, which can lead to isolation. We are not the only people who have experienced this. There are great men of God like Elijah (1 Kings 17-19), David (Psalm 28, 42, etc), and even Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46). Paul says to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:13, “When you come bring the cloak …….. . Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.  Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching. At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me, in order that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the lion’s mouth. The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (NASB) How can we, like Paul, learn to grow through these times rather than feel defeated and distant from God and others? The pain that Joseph experienced was expressed every time Joseph spoke to his brothers; several times, we read how Joseph wept. It did not say Joseph cried; it said he wept (Genesis 42:24; 43:30; 45:2; 50:17). When Joseph finally saw his father after twelve years, a father that loved him and he loved Joseph “fell on his neck and wept on his neck a long time.” (Genesis 46:29). Despite Joseph’s pain Joseph maintained his faith in the Lord (Genesis 39:11-18; 45:4-15) and this allowed the Lord to powerfully use him so that he went from ‘Pain to Promise.’ In other words, Joseph’s pain, because of his faith, shaped him to mature in his walk with God, which led God to bless him and promote him to be a redeemer. He became so powerful he managed a nation and became a type of Christ. Our lives may never be free of pain, but it should not prevent us from trusting God’s 7000 promises. When our circumstances don’t change, remember God is unchangeable (Hebrews 6:18), and all-powerful. Nothing is impossible for God to accomplish (Luke 1:37). The only thing God chooses not to make us do but require from us is to trust Him like David before Goliath or Daniel in a Lion’s Den. Life is rocking. Remember God and His cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 11-12:3)

If there is anything that I battle with in my walk with the Lord, it is not praying as I go, but habitually taking time to pray alone with God. This practice was part of Jewish culture. Daniel was dedicated to prayer no matter the opposition, and Paul as well (1 Thessalonians 5:17). The woman with the unjust judge was persistent (Luke 18:1-8), and her persistence provided a great result. This act of dependence on God is a powerful demonstration of our trust in His grace and love towards us. Prayer is such a great privilege. To go before the throne of God’s grace with Christ at the right hand of the Father is a blessing we must never take for granted. When we approach God, we must always bear in mind that He is “Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”  (Matthew 6:9-10). Our prayer must fit within the will of our Father because He and He alone knows what is best for us. Even though we may not feel He understands, we must remember to be “…..of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.” (1 Peter 4:7; NASU) “A rather lazy student noticed that a fellow student always recited her lessons well, so he asked her, “How is it that you always say your lesson so perfectly?” She replied, “I always pray that I may say my lessons well.” “You do?” said the boy, somewhat surprised. “Well, then, I will pray, too.” However, he could not even repeat a word of his assigned lesson the next morning. Perplexed, he ran to his friend and accused her of being deceitful. “I prayed,” he said, “but I could not say a single word of my lesson.” “Perhaps,” rejoined the other, “you didn’t study hard enough!” “I didn’t study at all,” answered the boy. “I thought I didn’t have to study after praying about it.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths Copyright © 1995, 1998 by AMG International, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission). For example, when a child asks for something, the parent answers based on what is best for the child and the family. The more the child understands the parent, the easier the process becomes. The Lord’s Prayer ends this way; “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen’ (Matthew 6:13b). Take advantage of our access to God’s throne, but remember God knows everything and has our best interest at heart (Hebrews 4:16). There is nothing we will say that He does not know from thousands of years before we prayed, so trust Him and make prayer what you do habitually (Luke 11:9-13; 1 Thessalonians 3:10).