The Wilder Place

Today on CNN.com I saw a story titled: "Study: Prayer doesn't affect heart patients"... basically, the title says it all... Some "scientists" decided to run a test on 1,800 patients to see whether or not prayer had any affect on the patient's recovery from heart bypass surgery.

The first thing I want to point out about this is that it was a "test" of God... Guess what God says about that?

"You shall not put the Lord your God to the test." Deuteronomy 6:16.

I'd say these folks probably didn't start out on the right foot. This is really almost laughable if it wasn't so truly sad. They set out to test God. God!

Secondly, this so-called "study" had three groups:
1. Those who knew they were being prayed for,
2. Those who were prayed for but only knew it was a possiblity, and
3. Those who weren't prayed for but were told it was a possibility.

What about a fourth group: Those who weren't prayed for and knew it would be an impossibility? Why weren't they included? Maybe the scientist were afraid it would shew the results?

So... Who do you think won? .... According to the article... there was "no affect".... The implication is that the only answer God could possible give for prayers to work is in the affirmative... do you realize that would mean that God... The All-Powerful God Almighty, non-created, always IS God... would have to do what wee little people (you know... people who die and turn back into dust) tell Him to do in order for Him to be considered as having answered... that is RIDICULOUS!!! Guess what... He can choose NOT to answer or He can choose to say NO!

People... this is HIS plan going on here... not ours... He does NOT have to obey US... He IS the creator we are the created... do you get that? I certainly do!

Perhaps what we don't know is that it was actually "the appointed time" (to die) for all 1,800 of these patients and because of all the prayer God allowed them to live... and "they" say there was no affect; go figure.

Bottom line... many people have long ago lost their respect and awe of God and walk carelessly where angels fear to tread. But be not deceived; God is not mocked! (Galations 6:7).

God does answer prayer... He answers mine every single day... sometimes the answer is "Wait, Child."... sometimes it's, "No, Dear that will harm you.".... and sometimes the answer is... "Yes, because I love you!"... No matter the answer, my Glorious Lord gives me in response to my prayers... I'll continue to ask... because... He's my Father... He loves me... I see only a little... He sees it all...

O God, thou art my God; earnestly will I seek thee: My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee, In a dry and weary land, where no water is. So have I looked upon thee in the sanctuary, To see thy power and thy glory. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise thee. So will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; And my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips; When I remember thee upon my bed, And meditate on thee in the night-watches. For thou hast been my help, And in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me.

Posted by Luci Wilder at 07:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

IF God exists and is an ALL POWERFUL being, which do you think He prefers... human beings with "freedom to choose" or "love by force"? Let's start on a smaller scale. Which would YOU prefer?

When I was in college I actually did make a computer say the words, "I love you." What did that mean? Ladies and gentlemen, that meant absolutely nothing! Yet my wonderful husband doesn't even have to say those same three little words (but I love it when he does ;-) and it means a great deal.

If you and I feel that way, then what do you think God in heaven prefers? Did you know: He's got angels around Him that sing, all day and night without ceasing, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God, The Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come."

If we continue logically, the next question would be along the lines of: If God gave us free will to choose, don't you think He might have done that so we could freely choose Him?

I don't know you, your circumstances on this planet, or your religious beliefs. But, if there IS a God who IS almighty, and He created us, He certainly wants us to love Him and HIM alone by our free choice. Not because another person forced us.

If you really think about this, you'll probably also come to the realization that no one can force another to love; they may be able to make someone say the words, but not to feel them.

Do you think God needs you or I to say "I love you"? I don't think God needs either one of us at all. Well, maybe He needs you, but He certainly doesn't need me. There is not one single thing I can do for God that He can't get some where or some way else; After all, He IS God! The beauty of it all is, He WANTS you, me, us to love Him! That's why He created us!

Posted by Luci Wilder at 07:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Remember those cool billboards bearing "messages from God"? They used to be all over. I don't get to travel around as much as I used to and so I don't get to see them any more. The one-liners were definitely thought provoking and would make my day whenever I had the opportunity to see one. A while back I found the following in a Reader's Digest magazine (only saved the one page) attributed to Tom Kuntz in New York Times. (The last one slays me.)

Each message was signed "God".

- Let’s meet at my house Sunday before the game.

- Loved the wedding. Invite me to the marriage.

- Will the road you’re on get you to my place?

- That “love thy neighbor” thing – I meant it.

- Do you have any idea where you’re going?

- Need a marriage counselor? I’m available.

- Follow me.

- Keep using my name in vain, I’ll make rush hour longer.

- I don’t question your existence.

- What part of “thou shalt not” didn’t you understand?

- I love you… I love you… I love you.

- We need to talk.

- Don’t make me come down there.

Some may find these impudent or irreverent, but I don't think there's any disrespect in what the author of those billboards was trying to communicate. Tell me, what did you think as you read them?

Posted by Luci Wilder at 07:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Life can be hard... does anyone really dispute that? It doesn't seem to matter whether you're rich or famous (or both) or poor and homeless... extremes... yes... but the point is that every one of us has problems... every single one of us... no matter where we are in life or in the world... albeit some of our problems may be significantly more tragic than others... and while some may be happy today... wait 5 minutes...

There are hundreds of people who think they know the answers... they write books... how to be rich, skinny, married, divorced... whatever it is you think you need to be happy... I guarantee you there's a book about it... Periodically someone thinks they've found THE answer and a new top 10 book is born... but that book gets shelved (pun intended)... life goes on... so do the problems... and the wonder-book of the moment is forgotten... ever thought... if even one of those books was right why don't things change?.... Seems like a book that really had the answers would be in the top 10 for longer than just a couple of months... wouldn't it?

My life's no different from yours... I have "issues"... better translated... "problems"... I'm getting older, kids live too far away... never see enough of the grandkids... work is hard and getting harder thanks to a new boss... over weight... diabetic... hard of hearing... get the picture.... but, you know what... I have so much joy in my heart, it makes me want to shout from the roof tops... I mean I'm... "I don't really need anything"... profoundly happy... why? I know what's really going on here... but MORE importantly I KNOW what comes next and it's soul-satisfyingly glorious!

It's all a matter of perspective.... if you're miserable... I bet you're looking in... focusing on yourself... thinking you and you alone have to come up with the solutions... or maybe you think you have the solution, but it's dependent on something you have to do... so maybe you buy a book....

There's one book that beats all the others hands-down... the #1 best seller of all time that really can put it all in perspective... it's the Bible... and it can answer all of life's guestions. I can take any event (absolutely any... Dad's suicide... husband's stroke... any) and find the solution... why I have a problem to begin with, what I should do about it... all talked about in the Bible... name me any other book like that... sharper than a two edged sword... I can find any answer in that book to any question about how I should or should not behave.... Have you ever thought about what it is? It's marvelous... It's a love letter... from God to man... me... you!

One time David (as in King David) was having it tough... he'd lost his job, his home... everything... his son was trying to kill him, he was sleeping in a cave... in Psalms, he started to ask God, "Why me?" But, he switched perspectives and started praising God for all the good things He'd done in David's life... before long David wasn't sad any longer... he was singing God's praises to the highest of heavens.

If you're a believer and you're unhappy... get back to basics.. pray about it, lay it at God's feet... pick up your Bible and start reading... Romans is great.. so is John ;-)

If you're not a believer what then... the Bible can solve your problems too... this entire thing called "life" is a process... a process of making a decision... a decision for Christ or against Him.... people choose not to believe because they do not want to be responsible to God for their actions... their pride stands in their way... they don't want a God telling them what they can and can't do.

But, did you know it's really all about love? The earth and everything on it were created to be a setting for a jewel... where's the jewel? Why, Honey, it's you. You are the jewel!!!

The whole book is about love... love of God the Creator for you!.... John 3:16 says it so well... "For God so loved the world [that's you too] that He gave His only son..." He didn't come for Himself... HE loves you so much, HE did everything necessary so YOU can have a relationship with HIM.

It's a choice... your choice... go at the world alone, with only you by your side... or go at it with God by your side... the choice is totally up to you.

I'm keeping you in my prayers... God loves you so much!!! He is not willing that you should perish and be separated from Him forever!... choose GOD and you'll find everything else falling into proper perspective.

Posted by Luci Wilder at 06:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I came across this today while studying... all I can say is "Well said!"... and I wanted to share it...

A mind at perfect peace with God — O, what a word is this!
A sinner reconciled to God — This, this indeed, is peace!

By nature and by practice far — how very far — from God!
Yet now by grace brought nigh to Him.

Through faith in Jesus’ blood.
So nigh, so very nigh to God — I cannot nearer be;
For, in the person of His Son,
I am as near as He.

So dear, so very dear to God — More dear I cannot be;
The love wherewith He loves the Son — such is His love to me.

—Catesby Pacet*

But that's just a man (human) like you and I...

Hebrews 10:14 says,

For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

*First Steps in the Christian Faith. 1957 (Revised 1984, 1993, 2004). Moody Bible Institute: Chicago, IL.

Posted by Luci Wilder at 03:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)