Whatchugot?

The other day I was driving home from the office. It had been, as usual, a very trying day. My patience was thin, and my temper was flared by the self-proclaimed geniuses that surround me every day refusing to understand the instruction I gave them or even think about following the rules.

As I turned into a parking lot I came up behind another car. We were both heading in the same direction and he put on his turn-signal on as if he was going to turn into the garage to our right. It was a small roadway and there was only one lane of traffic heading in one direction.

In lieu or making the turn, he turned his wheels and simply sat in front of me blocking my progress. Naturally, I gave a little “toot” on the horn. It wasn’t anything obnoxious, just a little beep to ask him to make a decision.

Well, apparently, this person had a far worse day than I. He immediately slammed his car into park, swung open his door and hastily made his way to the side of my car waving his arms up and down as if to say, “What? What? What?”

He was shouting something, but I really couldn’t hear him so, thinking I was twenty-five again and in the prime of my life as I was during my competition years, I opened my door and stood to face him.

“What’s the problem?” I asked, “I was simply reminding you there was someone behind you.” “You got a problem with me?” he said. “No,” I responded, “I just wanted you to move along!” Foolishly, I moved a little closer.

Apparently, he thought I was instigating a fight but, as you all know, I’m having a little problem with my ears right now and just couldn’t hear him. Now he got even more angry. “Oh, you gonna hit me now? C’mon, watchugot?”

Okay, now this was getting a little out-of-hand. I actually started getting a little nervous as my brain finally reminded me I’m not that person anymore.

So, without really thinking about it, and glancing at the Bible in my front seat, I said the only thing that popped into my head, “I’ve got God!” After this, he said something under his breath; shook his head, returned to his car and drove away.

Me? I just caught my breath, looked up and pointed to the Heavens and said, “Thank you Lord!”

Once I realized what I had said, and jumped back into my truck, I started thinking about it. What did I just say and was it an appropriate answer? I have to say, yes, I do “Got God!”

I Do Got God

Looking back, I realized how true this statement was. Sure, it sounded like I was being a wise-guy and sassing the man but, given the fact I was starting to feel frightened and intimidated, I couldn’t have answered any more appropriately.

Psalm 48:14 – “For this is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end.”

I try and remember this verse from Psalm through everything I do each day of my life. If you think about it, it is a very strong reminder to all of us and something we should never forget… We do got God!

If you have problems remembering this and struggle through each day, as most of us do… Always ask yourselves these questions.

Who Loves Me

I don’t think I have to remind everyone of John 3:16 right? For God so Loved the world… but do you really understand His Love for you and His compassion for all His children?

I’ve been asked this question before:

“I have a hard time believing God loves me. I know you say He does, and sometimes I believe it, but most of the time I don’t (although I wish I did). If you knew all the bad things I’ve done, you’d understand why I can’t believe God loves me.”

Okay, good point. We aren’t always necessarily the ideal children of God, but you must understand. If God treated us the way we treat other people, then you would probably be right. If someone insults us or hurts us, we usually don’t want anything to do with them. We may even want to strike back at them and hurt them in return.

God is not like this at all. Even when we ignore Him or insult Him out of pain or sadness, He still reaches out to us and wants us to come back to Him. He doesn’t Love our sin… but He still Loves us, and He still yearns for us to Love Him in return.

Jeremiah 31:3 – “The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have Loved you with and everlasting Love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”

How do we know God loves us? Listen… If He didn’t Love us, He never would have sent His only Son into the world to die for us. But Jesus Christ did come into the world, and He did die on the cross for our sins. Why did He do this? The only possible explanation is because God Loves us. The Bible also tells us…

1 John 4:10 – “This is love: not that we Loved God, but that he Loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

Don’t trust your emotions; they can deceive you. Instead, trust Christ and what He has done for you. Invite Him to come into your life every day, and then thank Him each morning for His undying and unchanging Love for you.

Who Cures My Illness

We all get sick from time to time. Unfortunately, some of us worse than others. I’ve never been one for going to doctors as I’m a little frightened by all the side-effects of all the medications they prescribe to treat our sicknesses.

You’ve heard them right: May cause drowsiness; nausea and vomiting; emotional mood-swings; deep depression and anxiety; heart disease; or death. Sweet huh? Scares the daylights out of me.

I personally, depending on the severity of my illness, try and remember to humble myself, do as God has instructed… and ask God to help heal my sickness.

James 5:16 – “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

We need to remember this as this is how we humble ourselves before God and each other, realizing our sins and praying for one another. As we’ve been told, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

Also, who remembers the most important part? Believe!

Who Wipes Away My Tears

We talked a bit about this last week. We mentioned our sadness and tears and how we all cry. If you remember, our tears are also therapeutic… just another great miracle of God’s great creation… Us!

Revelation 21:4 – “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

So, you ask, what is the Book of Revelation and this promise from the Bible? Wikipedia defines Revelation as: The Book of Revelation, often called the Revelation to John, the Apocalypse of John, The Revelation, or simply Revelation, the Revelation of Jesus Christ (from its opening words) or the Apocalypse and is the final book of the New Testament, and therefore also the final book of the Christian Bible.

The Apocalypse… the end of times. Sounds scary doesn’t it? Well, as children of God and Brothers and Sisters of Christ, I think it’s safe to say, we have nothing to fear as all the worst of this world we live in, will be “passed away.”

Who Grants Me Wisdom

I don’t know about you but, for me, there are times where I feel I know nothing about things people are talking about around me. I feel ignorant, stupid and just out-of-touch with society.

I face problems at work; at home and elsewhere in my personal life wherever I may be. It is, in times like these, when I have to again remind myself of my own humility and ask God to grant me wisdom.

James 3:17 – “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”

Again, we need to remember to be patient, listen and understand when God grants us our prayer. The wisdom He may grant you may not be what you expect but exactly what you need.

Here is a little example: The Scholar’s Challenge

Who Never Abandons Me

This is something very important to me as well. How many of us have ever felt abandoned? Sometimes, we lose friends; family; a relationship; our jobs; or, worse yet, our homes. At these times, don’t we feel completely and totally alone? I know I did when I experienced such things.

Abandonment is an awful feeling. Of all the bad emotions we experience, I feel this one is a horrible feeling for any of us to experience.

At these times, and they will come, we need to remember…

Hebrews 13:5 – “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”

There are many places throughout our Bible where we are reminded of this fact.  It is something we should always remember, especially at the times when we’re feeling so alone.

In these times, know and understand God IS with you. Picture our Savior kneeling right beside you; one hand on your shoulder and the other wiping your tears. Once you know this in your heart, this emotion will vanish from your presence as you truly understand His undying Love for you.

My Friend, My Brother and Love

Ooh, ooh… I almost forgot about that one… My Savior! Oh yeah, I must tell you about that one! Of all of these things my God has given me, this is one I could never possibly forget.

You see, through all my hard-times; through all the difficulties I have faced; through all the sins I’ve committed against my God, He sent me a Brother! John 3:16

My Brother, out of the caring and compassion from His heart, voluntarily came down to me from Heaven to cleanse my soul with His own blood. How do I know He’s my Brother?

Matthew 12:49-50 – “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

See? He knows how hard I try to do the will of God; therefore, I AM His Brother. He taught me about Love and compassion. He, and my Father in Heaven are the epitome of Love. Do you have that? From your aggressiveness and hostility towards me, I’m guessing maybe not… but I, most certainly do!

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In Conclusion

When life throws its challenges in front of us, we need to remember what we have. When someone challenges you as they feel they are better than you; stronger than you; and have more worldly possessions than you… when they ask you, “Watchugot?” Tell them, ever-so-plainly… “I Got God!”

• We got God: The creator of the universe; maker of the Heavens and the Earth; A Father in Heaven that Loves us so very much that He sent down His one and only Son to provide a sacrifice for our sins and cleanse us of all our inequities.
• We are Loved: Aside from John 3:16, we are reminded of this, over and over again, throughout the Holy Scriptures. We are Loved more than any parent could possibly Love their own children as we, as humans and sinners, could never fully understand the ways in which our Holy Father provides His compassion.
• We will be Healed: No matter what illnesses may befall us, through faith and believing, we know our God in Heaven can restore us.
• Our tears will be wiped: When the pain of living in this world tears away at your heart and saddens you beyond what you believe you can handle… know that God will wipe away our tears.
• We have great Wisdom: While we sometimes don’t realize our own self-worth, we know our Father in Heaven will provide us with the knowledge and wisdom we need to survive in this harsh and unforgiving world.
• We are never Abandoned: With the great Love our God has for us, we know for certain, we will never… ever be alone. God is always with us and Christ is standing right beside us.
• I have a Brother: This, my Brother Jesus Christ, is the greatest gift I’ve ever received. He has sacrificed Himself for me that I might be back in God’s good graces; He Loves me unconditionally and has taught me how to Love others in the same fashion. He is always beside me through good and bad… My Brother; my Redeemer and my Savior!

This is the message from our Lord today. Amen.

Go with God; be good to one another; always stay humble; always be kind… God Bless!