There is a Christian Rock band,called “Hawk Nelson”; a few years ago they came out who a CD called, “Smile, It’s the End of the World” Not many people smile when thinking of the end of the world. It’s a paradox, the end of the world means the coming of Jesus, the end of suffering and sin! All this great controversy a matter for the history books, so to speak. But it also means a time of trouble beyond imagination, the loss of many souls to Satan’s lies, the destruction of people who’ve rejected their only hope in Jesus.
Here in Natitingou, a lot of people don’t think about the end of the world. It is a sobering thought whenever I remember that most of the people around me are lost people. I can’t judge people and I do not their heart, but I can know that many people do not Jesus as their personal Savior, and that means lost. This has been in my mind lately because a sure-fire sign of His coming is upon us, rain. Rain is not in the Bible as a sign, but nasty and weird weather is. The sky is still raining down buckets on regularly occasions here. People in their 50’s and 60’s around here cannot remember any time when rains went passed the month of October. It seems it has forever been rain until the middle of October, no rain for about two weeks, then a final downpour, and then the Heavens are closed until late March. But now it is middle November and still the rains are not letting go. Already crops of sorghum, millet, and beans, are gone, molded and water-soaked. Not a good sign for the coming year, these are staples in our area. People are bewildered, rain go away, come again in March, like you’re supposed to. With my perspective I can be confident because God’s in control, but many others don’t see it so. How does a Muslim see the disasters, what does an animist have to look forward too, how does a Catholic picture Heaven? Questions that make me want more time before the end of the world, to help these people figure it out (and me too at times, for that matter).
P.S. The day after writing this, the winds started, so that means rains are stopped. So the weather still messed us up, but at least this year it may not be too bad.
And about the toilet, it all worked out, the money is enought to cover the cost of a larger choice. I started digging the pit, and low and behold the kids continued to one meter! Great news.
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A rock band from Peterborough ONTARIO no less............isn't that something?
Overcoming the Fear of the Unknown
Micca Monda Campbell
"Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before." Joshua 3:4a (NIV)
Do you have a fear of the unknown? If so, then you know how nerve-racking it can be. Fearing the unknown can cause us to live on pins and needles as we spend precious energy anticipating the worst-case scenario. There are two problems with this type of fear:
1. The future is not here.
2. The future is not ours.
While the future may be out of our hands, it's not out of the hands of an adequate and trustworthy God. When we face a worrisome unknown situation, we can look to Joshua as an example.
It's recorded in the first chapter of Joshua that before Moses died, God passed the baton of leadership to Joshua. The Israelites had been wandering in the desert for 40 years under the guidance of Moses. Now, their journey was almost over. Just beyond the Jordan River was their promised land—the land that God had guaranteed to Abraham and his descendants.
Upon reaching the Jordan River, Joshua and the Israelites set up camp by the stream and awaited God's direction. Much like their meeting with the Red Sea, God had to make a way for them to cross over the river. On the third day, God told the officers to instruct the people that when they saw the Ark of the Covenant (where God's Presence abided) to follow it because they had "never passed this way before" (Joshua 3:4). In essence God was saying, Follow Me and I'll see you through this unknown territory.
That's not all. The people were instructed on how closely they should follow the ark. Without this instruction, the people would have crowded the ark and God wanted every person to be able to see His presence ever faithfully leading them through the unknown valley. What greater encouragement could they have than this, that the Lord was their God, a God who was with them?
You see, friend, the Lord understands our fear of the unknown. He realizes that you may be in a situation that you've never passed through before and you're afraid. It may be the first time you've been without employment. Maybe you've just been diagnosed with an illness or your child is in rebellion. You've never been down this road before and you don't know which way to go or what to do. God will guide the way.
Joshua's life was unpredictable and full of unknowns much like yours and mine. Yet, he successfully resisted fear by keeping his focus on God rather than the events surrounding him. Just as God guided the Israelites through unknown territory, He will guide you and me too. When we come to a place we've never passed through before, God is always present to help us.
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God,the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; (Isaiah 43:2,3b, NIV).
Even though the children of Israel were not told how they would pass over the river, the people went forth in faith. We too can move forward in faith sharing in the promised presence of God leading the way through our unknown circumstances.
The Bible calls us to walk by faith not by sight. God doesn't always give us the details we desire.
He does give us Himself. Believing is certainty that He's laid out a path and He goes before us.
Power Verses:
Psalm 32:8, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." (NIV)
Jeremiah 29:11, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" (NIV)
© 2009 by Micca Campbell. All rights reserved.
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