by donfinto | Apr 11, 2018 | The Good Report
I brought a message to the Belmont Church years ago, based on four words out of Hebrews 12: Endure hardship as discipline. It was a fine message, perhaps even well crafted, but it’s easy to talk when you’ve never really experienced what you are talking about.
Oh yes, I’ve had my share of hardships of various sorts. But then came the last few months when I was in constant pain, first on the right side – Shingles and Sciatica – then the lower back, and finally centered in my left knee. I had pain, but no plan. Doctors could not find out what was causing the pain. Until finally one of the doctors decided to X-ray my left hip and discovered that it was shattered, not through a fall, but through just normal wear and tear of nearly nine decades of using it. It was not the knee at all.
Thankfully the Lord spoke to me twice in those early days saying, “You’re going to be okay.” But did I really hear the Lord? You know how that goes: do I even hear from the Lord? Maybe that was my thought, even though it seemed clear at the time.
But I rested in those four words: “Endure hardship as discipline.” This was a discipline. I needed it in order to move to the next phase of Godly living.
Did I enjoy it? No, but then my biblical scribe also told me that no discipline is pleasant at the time, but painful (I agreed). And that ultimately, if I would hold on, this whole experience would yield a harvest of righteousness and peace. (I was determined to hold on, and thankfully with God’s help, I did.)
I’m not totally over the hump yet, but leaning more and more into the harvest.
During this whole experience, I’ve thought of and prayed for some of you who have had this kind of “discipline” for years – a hardship, a suffering that is excruciating and you have no idea why or how you will ever get through it. I pray that Jesus will give you the perseverance to endure… to hold on ’til the victory.
Blessings to all of you in that powerful Name of Jesus!
Don
by donfinto | Mar 21, 2018 | The Good Report
“A cheerful heart is good medicine”
Proverbs 17:22
Let me give you a nice “holy land laugh!”
One time, when Tod and I arrived with Micah and Steve Allen in Tel Aviv, our phones were not working, because of a new ruling about foreigners’ telephone accounts in Israel. So, we had to wait to get new Sim cards for the phones. As a result, we could not get in touch with friends, nor they with us. On the day after I got my phone updated, I sent out a short email to let some of our friends know that we were in the country for a few days.
The note I thought I wrote was very simple. “Tod and I in the country until Saturday. We had to get new numbers. Mine is …; his is….”
Just as I pushed the send button, I noticed that Spell Check had changed “Tod” to “God,” reading “God and I in the country until Saturday. We had to get new numbers. Mine is …; his is…”
It was late at night; I had blind-copied everyone. I could not even remember who all I sent it to, so I simply thought, “Oh, well,” and laughed myself to sleep, in anticipation of the emails I would get the next day!
And here is a sample of what came the next day:
- From John and Una Gere: “Wow! Can we give out God’s phone number to anyone, or is private!!!!! I remember His old number was JER333 (call unto Me and I will answer thee…).”
- Gabriel Leonhard: “I’m so glad that you brought God with you! 🙂 and Micah too…”
- Shira Sorko_Ram: “Dear Don, I have ALWAYS wanted God’s direct line! Thanks for His and for yours!”
- Israel Pochtar: “Wow… amazing to hear you’re here in the land with God How did you get his personal number?”
Have a blessed day! And laugh a little!
by donfinto | Mar 7, 2018 | The Good Report
I have had some sciatica flare-ups and other such challenges lately that are new to me. I was sitting before the Lord this morning and began journaling (and I’m not even very good at journaling). Then I looked at what I had written and thought, “Wait a minute! I think I just wrote a Good Report.” I suspect we’ve all had similar times, and just need the kind of admonition from the Lord that I received. So here’s how my journaling began:
I woke up this morning wanting to be discouraged, but the Lord would not let me. He reminded me of His Word.
“Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged.”
It’s a command.
“Do not be anxious about anything.”
It’s a command.
“Do not worry about tomorrow.”
It’s a command.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.”
It’s a command.
Commands are to be obeyed. They are not just good ideas that the Lord floats around for us to enjoy when everything is going the way we would choose for them to go.
And God will never give us a command that is impossible to do.
So I am no longer afraid, or discouraged, or anxious, or worried, or troubled. I flipped that internal Holy Spirit-led, Jesus-empowered switch inside me, and began to listen again:
Rejoice in the Lord always.
A command. (Written from a Roman jail)
In everything, give thanks.
A command.
Be courageous. Be strong.
A command.
I encourage you to let the Lord speak to you similarly. Join me on the journey. It’s so much more enjoyable to live the Jesus way.
