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.
by donfinto | Feb 21, 2018 | The Good Report
God works everything for our good.
Really? Everything?
Bad things? Evil? Accidents? Sicknesses? Pain? Deaths? Divorce? Our own failures?
Everything!
It’s easy most of the time to believe this. I can generally push through and know that – somehow in some way – God weaves it all together for my good if I will just keep on loving Him and trusting Him.
But there are those times when there seems to be no way. That is when I have to go back and re-read not only Romans 8:28, but 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and Philippians 4:4-8:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Notice Paul does not say to give thanks for all circumstances, but in all circumstances. And Paul says that God works in all things for our good.
So – rejoice in the Lord always (it’s a command). I will say it again: Rejoice! … Do not be anxious about anything (another command!), but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving (pause and ponder the thanksgiving part), present your requests to God. And the peace that transcends all understanding (you’ll never be able to figure it out) will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:4-8).
Amen!
by donfinto | Feb 7, 2018 | The Good Report
The Path to Faith
Someone recently asked me how I came to believe.
Interesting question. In my case, like many people, I had what might be called an “inherited childhood faith,” but inherited faith is not sufficient for life. When, as a young adult, I had that crisis of faith that comes to most if not all of us, I considered the world religions and saw one difference in faith in Jesus – the historical evidence that he actually arose from the dead. His tomb was empty on that third day. Otherwise, his enemies would have paraded his decaying body publicly to prove that he was still dead.
And then there is this “evidence from within.” God promised that we would find Him if we seek Him with all our hearts. John talks about the true light that “true light to everyone” (John 1:9). Paul talks about the “faith God has distributed to each of you” (Romans 12:3). We need only to be genuine seekers of truth at all costs, and He will reveal Himself to our inner person.
But where do we go from there? If Jesus really is who He says He is, then He will have kept for us Scripture that is essential for following Him. I must, therefore, listen to those early disciples and to the prophets to whom Jesus Himself referred and allow His Spirit to enter me and change me, rather than allowing my desires to rule my life.
That’s where I found peace and an increase of faith.
“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.” Psalm 119:9
“I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.” Verse 10
“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Verse 11
This is the only path to genuine heart-filled peace. Turn to Him with whatever faith is within you, however little. Choose to trust Him. Listen to Him speak both through the words of Scripture, and in that inner nudge within you. Joy and peace will continually grow within you.
Declare His Word over your spirit, emotions, and circumstances. Believe them, and let your faith in God arise, redeem and make you new.
by donfinto | Jan 31, 2018 | The Good Report
“Be joyful in Hope”
Romans 12:12
The Bible is a book of hope.
Depression moves in rapidly if we lose hope.
“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31). That’s good!
“Those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land” (Psalm 37:9). I like that too!
“God gave us eternal encouragement and good hope” (2 Thessalonians 2:16). Gave us? Then let’s pause and receive.
“I have put my hope in your word” (Psalm 119:147). Yes, Lord. Give me a continual hunger for more of Your Word.
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you (Ephesians 1:18). There is a call of God on your life. Joy comes abundantly as we find that place to which we have been called and walk in His will. I pray that for you today.
“Suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character, and character hope” (Romans 5:3-4). I have not spent much time pondering the progression of suffering to hope, but when we walk with the Lord, suffering that is surrendered to Him ultimately produces character. But also continues with hope.
“Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5).
So – “may the God of hope fill [all of us] with all joy and peace as [we] trust in him, so that [we] may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
Pause. Pray. Surrender. And get so full of hope that you overflow to everyone around you.
We followers of Jesus are to be the world’s ultimate optimists.
