Bourland Family Blog

“And the Lord utters His voice before His army, for His host is very great, and [they are] strong and powerful who execute [God’s] word. For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible, and who can endure it?  Therefore also now, says the Lord, turn and keep on coming to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning [until every hindrance is removed and the broken fellowship is restored].  Rend your hearts and not your garments and return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in loving-kindness; and He revokes His sentence of evil [when His conditions are met].” Joel 2:11-13 ->me: I know I am calling out Joel here but this is because there are so many similarities between Joel 1 and 2 and Revelation 9.  In Joel the locusts have ravaged the land and suffering is not only felt by every person but animals as well.  What caught me again was God’s grace and mercy that is extended once again.  Additionally, the way out of trouble is laid out here so well.  I think of those in my life who are suffering from illness, death, loss of work, anxiety, etc.  What I hear the Lord saying here is that even when things are terrible ‘also now’ -> ‘turn and KEEP ON coming to Me with ALL your heart’.  Do this with fasting, weeping, and mourning (genuine sorrow in repentance) UNTIL every veil created by sin is removed and your relationship with Him is restored.  When I let my heart break before Him and come humbly to Him, I will find His grace, mercy, patience, and loving kindness abundant for me.  What an absolute gift this is from God; a vision of His love to me.  It is hard to imagine that I can come daily to His feet after living every hour in this earthly body and He will be there to rescue me every time.

“And in those days people will seek death and will not find it; and they will yearn to die, but death evades and flees from them.” Revelation 9:6 “Only be sure as citizens so to conduct yourselves [that] your manner of life [will be] worthy of the good news (the Gospel) of Christ, so that whether I [do] come and see you or am absent, I may hear this of you: that you are standing firm in united spirit and purpose, striving side by side and contending with a single mind for the faith of the glad tidings (the Gospel), and do not [for a moment] be frightened or intimidated in anything by your opponents and adversaries, for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a clear sign (proof and seal) to them of [their impending] destruction, but [a sure token and evidence] of your deliverance and salvation, and that from God.” Philippians 1:27-28 ->me:  Yes, 3 verses today.  I was reading this morning about the locusts that came out of the smoke cloud created by the opening of the Abyss by the ‘Star Angel’.  In the references and commentary for verse 6 I was pointed to Philippians and Paul’s instruction to them.  The contrast of searching for death because of pain (people vexed by the locust stings) and Paul desiring to be free from his earthly body so that he could be with Jesus for eternity.  This passage in Philippians is a great reinforcement of yesterday’s quiet time on God’s authority over evil. Paul says that when we stand firm in united spirit and purpose, striving side by side with a common drive to spread the Gospel, we will be conducting ourselves in a manner worthy of said gospel.  As I head back to work today, I will have many opportunities to share about what happened in Mexico as well as the comfort and peace I received over the passing and memorial of my cousin in Arizona.  Phil 1:28 again says to not be afraid or intimidated or frightened – I can tell the Lord is really pressing me on being bold (the last several quiet times seem to be all about it.  Will you pray for me today? That I will be bold in my faith and presentation of the gospel as I recount the goodness from my trip?

“Then out of the smoke locusts came forth on the earth, and such power was granted them as the power the earth’s scorpions have.” Revelation 9:3 ->me: Sorry folks, you are going to get a lot of references and points back to my recent trip to Mexico reinforcing God’s Word of application into my life.  🙂  On Sunday morning at Calvary Chapel Rosarito a few of us were confronted by a woman who threatened ours and our families lives (saying either she or her brothers would hunt us down and shoot us) because of where we were from and the fact that we were unable to break her 500 peso bill.  I must internalize the fact that evil has no authority that is not given to it by God.  NOTHING!  So, what am I to do when faced by evil?  Be afraid?  Run?  Withdraw from the plan and purposes I know God has me on?  No.  Threats are not the same as harm.  I believe the biggest weapon satan wields is the one of accusation and fear mongering…working to either distract me or scare me away from the work God has me there to do.  God must approve any harm to befall me initiated by evil forces.  This must be viewed as a comfort and thought provoking exercise.  Comfort in that I can move forward in the face of fear, accusation, persecution, and scorn.  Thought provoking when I am allowed to be touched by satan – to ponder and search what the Lord’s ultimate purposes are through that approval.  The more satan comes against a good work I am doing, the more dedicated I should be to completing it.

I am home from my missions trip and back at it in Revelation Chapter 9, however [that’s not where the Lord had a word for me today]…what really hit me was an interesting thought from the Lord.  As I was standing in the line to board my plane today at Sky Harbor airport, I saw a group of Medonite women getting off the plane we were about to board.  They had on their typical white hair bonnets, dresses, and sensible shoes and it was clear that they stood out.  I know who they are and what they believe.  What came to my mind was the people in the time of Jesus; from what I know no one who followed Jesus dressed any different than those around them.  Everyone wore tunics, belts, sandals, and the like…maybe only differing in color.  So why were they persecuted?  I know why – because they taught, preached, worshipped, and witnessed openly.  Why am I not persecuted?  Because I don’t do anything to call attention to myself.  I guarantee you that the Medonite women I saw get strange looks and are probably treated differently because of the way they dress, yet they are not deterred.  Why am I deterred?  Am I ashamed of what God did for me?  Do I want to hold to myself all that God has given?  I better not.  I need to dress my speech and actions in such a way that I stand out as a follower of Jesus Christ and like the Medonite women, not be deterred in this no matter the looks and negative comments I might receive.