God is in the Intensive Care Business

Having spent the past few days in and around the ICU ward of a hospital, I can tell you more about the ins and outs of the ward now that we’ve experienced it.  I can also tell you that folks who are patients in these wards are from all kinds of backgrounds and have varying problems. I can tell you that not one single person had plans to be a patient or a visitor there. And I can tell you that each person is loved by someone. Each person looks completely different and yet they hold these basics in common.

As we walked out of the ward last night, after visiting my brother, who is a patient there, I was ecstatic.  We have faced a dire situation requiring brain surgery and the outcome has been fantastic. After talking for several days about the sickness and knowing how we all felt so helpless and a bit fearful, we are now laughing and thanking God for His blessings of returned health.

While my brother is recovering and will move to a regular room sometime today, I am reminded that God is in the intensive care business.

God wants you to know that He is with you no matter where you are. You are never beyond His reach and never beneath His loving care. He is the Lord of the good times of robust health and He is the God of the hard time, when health is failing or sudden, unexpected times arise. He never leaves His position of Authority and Care. He’s never caught by surprise with the things that want to derail us.  He intensely watches over all of us as the Great Physician and the King of the Universe. When someone asks who my brother’s doctor is, I can tell them his name. But really my brother’s ultimate source of love and care is God Himself. The One who put the stars in orbit and the planets on their rotating cycle is the One who presided over the surgery suite as delicate brain surgery was performed. He is the Same God who oversees the healing of one and the home going of another.

Oh beloved, do you know about the intensive care you receive from the Lord? Do you know how much He loves you? He loves who you are right now. He never says “I love who you will be” or “I will love you when…” but He loves you exactly where you are.  He watches every step you make, and He knows everything that has happened to you. He was with you at birth, He is with you now and He will be with you forever. When you give your heart to Jesus, and allow Him to be the Lord of your life, the Intensive Care is out of this world. You have no guilt about your past, no cares about your present and no fear about your future. It is all in His Loving care and all presided over by His loving hands. No surgeon’s hand is so steady as our God’s hands in all situations of life. He wants you to know that while your situation caught you completely by surprise, He did not arrive on the scene breathless and unprepared. No, beloved, He is always present, all knowing, completely prepared and more than able.

You are in the hands of God and He is worthy to receive your trust. He loves you beyond your wildest imagination and He will always watch over you, guide you, protect you and keep you safe. And when your time on earth is done, He will be there to welcome you into His loving presence forever. Trust Him today, pray for all its worth and be thankful in all circumstances for He Alone is worthy. God loves you and He’s for you and that’s the most intensive care you will ever have all the days of your life.

Psalm 16:8-9  I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.  No wonder my heart is filled with joy, and my mouth shouts His praises! My body rests in safety.

Psalm 121:1-2, 8 I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.

Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. NAS

2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you His peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.

Never on the Losing Side of the Battles

Everybody knows I love bears. It’s a real exciting moment for me to spy one while driving in the country or on the mountains. But I’m not saying I want to have a bear in my yard! No, I want them to stay in their territory while I stay in mine.

With that said, a friend of mine has had a repeat bear encounter at the home of friends she’s house sitting for. This bear is huge! And he keeps coming back. He’s persistent and he’s hungry. So the food kept out for the two watchdogs must be a real delight for him.  The bear gets real close as well. Just a glass is all that’s between my friend and that wild animal.

The biggest problem is he’s gotten way too comfortable coming within arm’s length of the lady.  He’s been there often enough that now he gets it – grab the food, make the rounds, dodge the dogs.  I would say that he may have become a nuisance. You know wild animals who live in the woods will be curious and try to enter your safety zone. But you want them to be scared away – PERMANENTLY.

Our life in Christ is oh so secure. The cross is our safety zone. The glass of His loving care keeps the enemy at bay.  But he finds us curious. Sometimes we wonder just how close we can get without being harmed.  We wonder if we can’t just go out on the deck and look a little closer. Maybe we can even touch what we don’t even need to go near. 

Next thing you know we’ve been swiped by the enemy’s big paw. He caught us, even if only briefly and we’re wounded and in need of our Savior. We played with fire and we’ve been burned.  We lay in the pool of our own mistakes and wonder why God would even help us. We try to lick our own wounds and vow that we’ll be more careful next time.  We hurt and we are embarrassed that we were foolish enough to let the enemy of our soul get so close.

Maybe you’re right in the middle of the mess. You thought you could live for Jesus and live for yourself. You thought you could look but not get hurt and yet you’re very injured. Without a Savior you will bleed out and no one will be able to help.  The injuries are terrible and serious, for the enemy has no desire to leave the weak to live again. His aim is to kill, steal and destroy.  He will tell you that you are free to do whatever you want. He’ll convince you that you can open the door, walk out on the deck and even get in the same proximity with him, but then he leaves you with your problems, your mistakes and your injured heart, soul and mind.  It’s not worth it beloved.  It’s better to look for the love of God and pursue His righteousness.  God will never leave you alone or undefended, but you will need to follow His directions for safety and for full life.

Oh beloved, God has such a wonderful plan for you! His ways are so much better than your own desires and hopes.  Not only will He give you wonderful things to pursue, He will keep the enemy at bay. All you have to do is call upon His Name. He never quits coming to your defense and He will never quit coming to your aid. He is your precious balm of healing, even when the enemy has gotten the upper hand.  He will never leave His own to fix themselves or right their wrongs.  No matter the circumstances or how you got where you are, God will pick you up and set you securely on high when you call on His name.

Run to the safety of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies this morning! He surrounds you with His love, He protects you with His Spirit and He has saved you with His gift on the cross. You never have to worry that God won’t take you back. You don’t ever have to worry that you’ve gone too far, done too much or ignored His care. Today is your day to turn back to God – for His love and care are His delight for you.

Give God all of you and let Him protect you His way – no life hemmed in Christ is ever boring, useless or without excitement. The path of righteousness is awesome and that’s worth letting Him guard your ways all the days of your life.

I Peter 5:8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

James 4:7 So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.

Psalm 4:8  In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust.

2 Samuel 22:4 I will call upon the Lord...so shall I be saved from my enemies.

2 Samuel 22: 20 He led me to a place of safety; He rescued me because He delights in me.

Psalm 107:19-20 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble; He saved them out of their distresses.  He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Psalm 30:1 I will exalt you, LORD, for You rescued me. You refused to let my enemies triumph over me.

Psalm 136:23-24  He remembered us in our weakness. His faithful love endures forever. He saved us from our enemies. His faithful love endures forever.