Sometimes God Speaks to Us in the Simplest of Things

Posted on November 2, 2021 by thoughtsfromruth

777 Words by Ruth Anderson

This post was originally written back in 2018 and shared by Mary A. LaClair. Mary has invited me to join, as an author, The Proverbs 1:20 Column. It seems a good time to once again share some of the thoughts written about the church and what God may be saying to the church today.

I attended an event this past Sunday. In my heart of hearts I really believed that there would be a move of God on that day. I reached out to churches and groups and church leaders and those with giftings and abilities to attend the event with me. I was hurt and bewildered why some with a calling on their life couldn’t see the potential in this opportunity to reach thousands of people and hundreds of children. Church leaders and evangelists and Prophets all told me this was for me. I didn’t understand at the time.

At the event there was a bear, a living breathing creation of God. The Game Commission had trapped it. This bear, when it was brought out of the trap had a problem. It had mange. Now mange is a little mite that gets on the bear and causes the bear some problems. For this bear the little mite had caused it to lose hair on the bear’s face and shoulder. It also caused the bear to be underweight for its age. Because of the mite the Game Commission would not let anyone touch the bear so that this mite would not spread to people.

As I look back on that day, I am reflecting on what I learned. I believe it was a day that the Holy Spirit would have something to say. Perhaps He did and I was there to get the message.

As I looked on the bear, God’s creation, it brought tears to my eyes. To look at one of the creatures the Lord put here on the earth. As I looked at the body of the bear, I could see its claws, I could see its shape, its fur, its eyes, since it was sedated I was unable to see its strength but I know a bear can be powerful. Yet I could see the effects of the mange, how one little thing could affect the whole bear and since the bears own body was fighting against the little mite, the appearance of the bear showed the battle.

As I think about the body of the bear I reflect on the body of Christ, the church. Are we as strong as we could be? Are we as full grown as we ought to be? Are we as powerful as we should be? What battles are we fighting? Are we fighting the things that are in us and on us that are preventing us from growing into the powerful body the Lord has called us to be?

Reflect on this a little and consider what the Lord might speak to you through this.

A PASTOR’S REPLY – name withheld

Ruth,

The truth will not set us free? It is the truth that we know, Jesus said the truth you know shall set you free. Until you know truth, that truth cannot set you free. Below are just three examples of that truth:

Regarding the bear, it is symbolic of the church. See the church has been shot with a dart from the devil, just like the tranquilizer. Why was the bear shot? Because he was sick.

THE CHURCH TODAY IS SICK. IT HAS LET, PERMITTED THE LIES, AND FALSE TEACHINGS TO CREEP IN AND GIVE GROUND TO THE ENEMY.

THE CHURCH ” SHOULD BE ” big like the bear, strong, bold, and beautiful……………………… now it has let a little leaven, leaven the whole lump………………..the leaven of the Pharisees has crept in, little by little lie after lie.

Why do people accept lies, strain at gnats, while swallowing camel loads of sin? That bear is symbolic of the state of the church today, it needs to be healed, arise in its strength, and prepare for what is about to happen. Why were there so few that supported the event? That is the issue with the church today. They just want to support themselves, I, me, and mine. ME my four and no more! They will say they want to support others, but all the while they just want to steal from other ministries…………….. or because of the fear of someone stealing theirs they do not support others. The church like the bear is sick right now and needs a great awakening.

Thanks for thinking of me, I hope this helps ……………. this is what came to me exactly as I read it from you !

Here is a Post Script that I wrote that seems appropriate shared with the original post.

A Spider and Web Paradox

Posted on October 24, 2021 by thoughtsfromruth

150 Words – By Ruth Anderson

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

This morning I had one of those “moments” to laugh at myself. I went outside to get the morning paper and saw a spider web on the side of my porch. I went inside and got the broom and swept away the spider web and while getting rid of that web, I saw another and another….. I laughed at myself, here I am getting rid of spider webs and hopefully the spiders and I look down the street and my neighbor has their front yard all decorated with large spider webs and big spiders! I thought to myself – I could give you some REAL spiders and webs! Made me think of the scripture from Isaiah 5:20 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

BEST OF TIMES – WORST OF TIMES

Posted on October 24, 2021 by thoughtsfromruth

400 words Ruth Anderson

This morning so many thoughts are running through my mind. I have heard so many testimonies about what people were and what they did but my mind is drawn to the one who is greater, the one who forgives, the one who has carried me through so many storms and been there in both the good times and the hard ones.

I hear people tell about who they were and what they did but my mind runs to the thoughts of but what have you done lately? Where does the Lord get the glory for the change, the healing, the repentance, the hope, the future?

We live in a world where evil does exist and I could detail so much of it to you but what would that do or solve? We also live in a world where hope abounds, healing exists, plans are designed and futures are laid out. I know there is a mansion waiting for me!

I’m thankful for eyes to see and ears to hear. Especially thankful for those words I’ve heard and the direction I have been given, grateful for the hearing of soft whispers and knowledge that I am loved.

I’ve seen those that have been healed and I know of those who weren’t. I’ve seen struggles and seen things work out, things come together and things fall apart. I understand now why the scripture says that life is but a vapor because the years go by so quickly and I’ve seen those who didn’t get many years and others who seemed to get too many.

I’m thankful for wisdom, though I struggle to obtain it. I’m thankful for peace although it is not always part of the plan. I’m thankful for truth because I have met the truth and he lives in me. I’m thankful for today, not because I have a plan but because I know the one who does.

This all comes to me today as a challenge because I know the one who holds the future and yet so many have never had a relationship with the one who holds eternity in his hands.

It only brings to mind that forever is a long time for those who haven’t met the one who holds it.

Life isn’t easy and trials and hardships come along the way. So do blessings and hope and joy and peace. Eternity is forever and that is what I am planning on, spending eternity with the one who holds today in his hand.