What the locusts have eaten

Joel 2:12-13, 23-26
"Even now, declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Rend your heart and not your garments.  Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.  Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness.  He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and springs rains, as before.  The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.  I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten-the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm-my great army that I sent among you.  You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed."


Whew!  That's a mouthful!

Have you ever wondered sometimes why bad stuff happens?

Sometimes, (and I mean sometimes, 'cause other times, things happen and the reason is kept from us until God is ready, meaning our hearts/minds are ready) God allows things to be taken away to give us something better.  Sometimes, it's His way of grabbing our attention.  We have a bad habit of not paying attention to Him.  Well, I know I do at least. 

Why do marriages go bad?  Why would God allow that?  Marriage is holy!  God invented marriage, he likes it!  A lot! 

Wait-I'm digressing!  Erg!

Look-God promises us things.  If bad things happen, and we turn to God and repent (I know, I know, it's all Bibley) he PROMISES that he'll take care of us.  And even if what happened WASN'T our fault, turn to God.     

The scripture above was written after one of the Jewish cities had a terrible famine caused by locusts.  Even though all their wealth was taken from them, God's people were promised that he would not just replace what was lost, but give them MORE. 

God brings renewal.  He gives hope.  He loves you.  Never doubt that.  In the darkest of times, he is there with you.  He is the light at the end of the tunnel.  When things are just too big to deal with, that's when I give it to God.  Sometimes it's nice not to have to worry about it, just knowing Someone bigger is taking care of it...and me.   When I am walking with God, truly walking with Him, he has never failed me. 

And now I"ll go back to that marriage thing (for all you nosy people, lol).  I had some very dark times during my 1st marriage.  It wasn't good, but I endured and kept my faith.  I leaned on God, because no one else could handle what was going on.  And I believe, truly TRULY believe that Billy is my reward for that.  If you know him, you'll understand what I mean.  If you don't, well, let me just say, my husband is my daily example of God's love.  God describes love as this: "Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud,  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. " (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

For those that don't know my husband, you should ask to be his friend on Facebook, just so you can see his posts.  (don't tell him I said this, but most aren't original, he gets them off the internet, but still, he knows Truth when he sees it).  I must say, they're pretty darn good.  And man is he FUNNY!  That man is the cause of all my little wrinkles around my eyes.  He makes me laugh so hard that my eyes crinkle up and, well, there's some wrinkles.   

Whew.  That was a BIG soapbox!!