A Note From Tom: May 18th, 2012

Hey, everyone!

Hope y'all are feeling good 'n…normal! I know I am and I'm thankful for it! Last Tuesday I took off for Barcelona for this Young Life conference and they say it takes one day for every hour of time difference to start to feel normal again, jet-lag-wise. So…Spain is six hours ahead of us…

(Remember that movie, "While You Were Sleeping"? Well, last week, while you were sleeping, I, six hours ahead,  was already preaching some of those days! Preaching while others sleep…Hey! I think that happens here too sometimes!)

So…by the time I was ready to fly back home, six days later, my body had finally caught up with me! So I just looked at it and said, "See next week in America!" Now…finally!…almost six days later…Ahhhh!! Normal!!!

Hope you're having a good 'n normal-feeling day too!

Y'know, this morning, I read the most encouraging scripture! I was unexpectedly encouraged! I always get up and jump right into God's Word, looking…on purpose!…for encouragement. But today, I found it where I least expected it! I'm reading thru the Gospel of John right now. I've done it a kabillion times before, so I kinda know what's coming. But today, I didn't know that after reading a disheartening, sad verse, that joy would follow! Let me set it up for you…

Our Lord had was just beginning to share His last Passover, and His parting last words, with the ones He loved so. And He foretell to them the sad thought that not all of them would stand true. One of their number would betray them…

"So be encouraged!"

Huh!? What could POSSIBLY be encouraging about that!?

Glad you asked! Here's some encouragement coming your way!

Jesus added, "But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’ “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am!" (John 13.18-19)

In other words, this betrayal was foretold! And Jesus predicted it! He knew the future! Just like He predicted and foretold to Peter that he would find a coin in a fish mouth or a dude with a water jar on his head! He knows secrets about the future and the heart no one else could possibly know! He is really Who He says! The Scriptures predicted all these events! Even the sad ones! Even Judas! And Jesus foretold them! Only the Lord could do this! He really is Lord of all!

So…when you have an unexpected problem today…and you feel like you're gonna freak…and you wonder why God seems far away…and you feel the fear and/or anger bubbling up inside…Do something else instead! Like rejoicing! Or thanking God! Or praising Jesus because…He predicted this! It's a prophesy being fulfilled! Only the Lord Jesus could have known it was coming! He really is Who He said!

"So if I have an unexpectedly problem-filled day, I'm supposed to praise Jesus because it's fulfilling something and proves Jesus is Lord? What foretelling of Scriptures are you talking about?"

Here goes…ready?

"In the world you WILL have troubles!"

John 16: 33!

Bam!!

Having troubles today? Predicted! He is Lord!

Just like it says in verse four of the same chapter…"I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them…"

Foretold!

How 'bout this one?

"Count it all joy WHEN you encounter trials of all kinds…" (James 1)

Having troubles today? You're living a fulfillment of the Holy Bible!

Here's another! What's the first sound you made this morning when you came out of that bed (or tried to on the first attempt)? Check this!
" We know that the whole creation has been groaning…Not only so, but we ourselves…groan inwardly!"
(Romans 8:22-23)

The Scriptures are coming true!

So if you have troubles, the Bible is true! And Jesus is Lord! And if you have peace if your troubles because you knew to expect them…if you can have peace and even "sleep in the storm" like Jesus did, instead of freaking out and falling apart, you're becoming more and more like Him!

And Romans 8:28 and 29 predicted that!

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God and who are called according to His purpose, for…He predestinated us to be conformed to the image of His Son…!"

It's happening!

You know Jesus even predicted that Peter would swear he didn't even know Jesus…But then, He is Lord! Of course He knew it was coming! And He told His over-confident friend! And in Peter's most discouraging moment, a most encouraging thought! "Jesus knew! He's Lord! And He loves me still!"

I love the way the Italian version puts it…

"Pietro, prima che il gallo canti, Mi negherai tre volte!" (Matt 26.75)

"Peter, before the rooster sings…"

The chicken's crowing was a song! And you knew what the title was?

"He is Lord! He is Lord!"