Deuteronomy 26:1 - 31:9

Have you found God! Do you want to find god? Or, are you satisfied?

I was satisfied. I was miserable a lot of the time, well, most of the time; but, I was satisfied.

After three marriages, stumbles in my career, loss of self esteem, no love, finally I knew that I was not in control. Also, at 52 years old, I had learned that my cure or help would not come from people. I had no option; it was God or nothing. To me that was clear. If God would not help or does not help, I would have little hope.

I was really hurting but no one knew. Or, no one said that they knew.

I found God because I did what Scripture says that we should do.

Jeremiah 29:13 "If you search for me with all your heart, you will find me."

Because I was desperate and had no other choices, I sought the Lord with all my heart, with dedication, with singlemindedness.

I really cannot be too upset about my troubles because I would never have sought the Lord with all my heart if there had not been overwhelming trouble.

What does the Word of God have to say about trouble and about seeking God?

Deut 26:6-8, 16-19

Deut 27:1, ...2, 3..., ...9-10

Deut 27:14-26

God says do with all your mind, heart and being. Then you will receive. Otherwise, trouble.

Tu Pak was murdered.Michael Jordan's dad was murdered.

Bill Cosby's only son was murdered on the freeway when he had a flat.

Selena was shot to death when she confronted her bookkeeper.

Mickey Leland went down in an airplane in Africa.

Ken Lay went down financially and down in status.

Bobby. Jack, Jack Jr. all died unexpectedly.

Charlie xxxxxx was National Account Manager for a nationwide "time clock" company. He used crack one time and lost control. It destroyed his life.

Martha Stewart got caught in the cross-fire because the Feds are looking for a scape goat.

The Twin Towers went down with all the occupants.

Employees of Enron, Worldcom, and others lost jobs and savings.

HIV/Aids is rampant.

Heart trouble, diabetes, drugs, alcohol, overeating, lack of exercise.

Traffic accidents (40+ thousand per year), divorce, abortion, plane crashes, war.

Suicide, depression, bi-polar, crippled, blind, deaf.

Sars, sexually transmitted diseases, alzheimers.

House fires, heart attacks, cancer, MS, MD, sickle-cell anemia

Does it sound to you like even the talented, privileged, hard working, and favored are guaranteed to be in control?

Deut 28:1-9, 11-48

In this Scripture, God says to listen diligently to the voice of the Lord and do all of His commandments. Or, instead of blessings there will be curses.

Economic depression, Housing starts off, deflation, inflation, job loss, obsolescence, change, technology, politics, discrimination,

Crime, poor education, dysfunctional families, chemical imbalance

High unemployment, start market crash, cheap products from foreign countries

Imigrants take jobs cheaper.

Construction down.

Businesses closing.

Shifts in political power.

Lack of education.

Lack of Job Skills

Are these things that we can avoid by our skill, ability, knowledge, favor, and hard work? No, of course not. Both the rich and the poor and the middle class are subject to these terrible events.

And, again, the Lord speaks to you.

Deut 28:58-62, 65-67

This Scripture says do all the words of the law and reverently respect the Lord your God. Or, else.

Some examples of the or, else are:

Lack of : emotional awareness

Lack of : Accurate self-assessment

Lack of : Self-confidence

Lack of : Self-control

Lack of : Trustworthiness

Lack of : Conscientiousness

Lack of : Adaptability

Lack of : Innovation

Lack of : Achievement drive

Lack of : Commitment

Lack of : Initiative

Lack of : Optimism

Lack of : Understanding others

Lack of : Developing others

Lack of : Service orientation

Lack of : Leveraging diversity

Lack of : Political awareness

Lack of : Influence

Lack of : Communication

Lack of : Conflict management

Lack of : Leadership

Lack of : Change catalyst

Lack of : Building bonds

Lack of : Collaboration and cooperation

Lack of : Team capabilities

Your mom dies

Your dad dies

You do not have a dad

You live in a dangerous neighborhood

Churches shot up, people killed.

200,000 Christians a year are murdered in the 10/40 window.

Your wife or husband no longer loves you.

You feel alone and lost.

Your parents throw you out.

You get fired.

You get pregnant.

Your company is bought and merged and your division is eliminated.

Someone manages to get control of your money and valuables and you are left broke.

You lose your house, car, business at the gaming tables.

You die at 48 years of age because your liver fails from alcohol poisoning.

Some of these disasters are brought on by sins and by ignorance. Others of these disasters happen randomly to all. You are not really in control. Why would you attempt to go it alone without God?

Deut 29:2-9, 12-16, 18-27, 29

This Scripture says to keep the words of the covenant and to do them that you may deal wisely and prosper in all that you do.

Or, if you turn away or fake sincerity, disaster will follow.

Terrorist attack.

Drive-bys.

Old age, kidney failure, heart failure, cancer, heart attack, stroke, Alzheimer.

You tell me who is in control.

David Debien

Dick Osmers

J. Paul Getty

Alan Coleburn

Huey Long

Jim Baker

Jimmy Swagert

Charles Stanley

Setups (need to have our face set like a flint)

Dr. Hill

Elvis Prestley

Marilyn Dorn

Betty Haynie

Pete (Pistol Pete) Maravich

A grandmother, uncle, aunt, brother, sister, grandfather, great aunt, mother, father raises one or more children because someone has a baby that they do not want and are unwilling to take care of.

Innocent, good people through no fault of their own are left to deal with the problems caused by their family. Some times it takes all of your money, time, energy, and love.

Sometimes you get divorced because of being good and picking up the responsibility for you helpless family members.

Or, if not divorced, you lose your girl friend or boy friend because of all the problems you have trying to pick up the pieces of your broken family.

You are not to blame for distant members of your family who do irresponsible things, but you get stuck trying to save the innocent.

There are people like Kim Berryman, Pastor Harris and family, and Mrs. Barefield, Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandi, Jesus, Billy Graham, Minister Johnny Binder who sacrifice their lives for those who can not take care of themselves.

Even if you are good, live clean, and love God; these things will happen to you.

So, are you in charge. I think not.

Deut 30:1-3, ...5-10, 14-20

Deut 31:3-6, 8

These Scriptures say to be for God and you will be blessed. But to be for means with all of your heart, mind, and being. A big-time commitment.

There truly is no way but God's way.

Do you really want the grief of fighting against God.

Choose life: always, always, always, -- always, always – always choose life, that is, choose God's way and God's plan for your life.

Starting right now, make God's will your will, God's plan your plan, and your plan, dump it.

Then you will bypass the grief that will eventually come to you or your family if you are not on God's side.

Go with God, it is the only way. Choose life for you and your family, do not choose death.