Author Archives: cazehner

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About cazehner

I'm a woman who loves God's Word, the Bible. And I love sharing what it is God reveals to me through his Word. I pray that everything I write is consistent with Scripture, and that everyone who reads this blog will be drawn closer to the Savior. I am praying for you.

They tried

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Jonah 1-4

There are so many lessons to be learned from Jonah. Today the sailors spoke to me, maybe for the first time. They were pagan. they didn’t know God and most likely thought He was just another god like the ones they worshiped.

When the storm came they cried out to their gods, they tried to lighten the ship by throwing their valuable cargo overboard. They did everything they knew to do to save themselves.

These seem like really good men. Even when Jonah said God was punishing him and that if they wanted to be saved they needed to throw him overboard, they couldn’t do it. They continued to struggle against the storm, throwing more things overboard while sparing the life of Jonah.

But no matter how moral they were, or how hard they worked, or how many times they cried out to their gods, the storm kept getting worse. It wasn’t until they obeyed God that the storm calmed, and they were saved.

Does that remind you of so many in our world these days? Sometimes we think the enemies of God are bad people. But many, if not most are nice, moral, hard working, well meaning people doing everything they can to calm the storm, to be ok, to save themselves. What they find it hard to do is to surrender to the will of God. Thing is, there is no salvation apart from God.

I’m so glad the sailors we read about in the book of Jonah recognized the truth about God and believed. I pray the same will be true for the modern-day sailors who are trying so hard to save themselves. May they give it up, surrender to God, obey Him, accept the gift of grace through the blood of Jesus… and be saved.

It’s A Famine

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I King 17:1-6

We live in a dry and barren land, don’t we? So many people are trying so hard to be “somebody,” they debase themselves for clicks and likes. If you can stomach it, scroll through Instagram. You’ll see many, many people sitting in their cars with their phones propped up on the dash, staring into the camera and moaning, wailing, emoting about some perceived injustice they’ve just experienced. You might hear others proclaiming their “truth” as though anyone actually values their opinions. Or, if you’re lucky, you might even find someone purring and licking their hands like a kitten.

I’m not saying there isn’t some good content in social media. But I am saying you don’t have to look very hard to find the under-belly, the pathetic attention seekers whose lives have no meaning apart from what they hope will be their ticket to fame and fortune.

“Maybe my next video will go viral.”

These lost souls and those who contribute to their delusion with clicks and likes are starving to death. They feed on the ridiculous, the immoral, the delusional.

Garbage in. Garbage out. There are millions of people who are spiritually and emotionally starving themselves while living in the richest country in the world.

When God sent a famine to punish Israel, one man was not effected. Elijah, a man of God, allowed God to feed him. Morning and night, Elijah ate all that God provided.

Can you say the same? Do you, morning and night, devour God’s Word? Do you communicate with God through quiet prayer and allow Him to feed your soul?

I’m not talking about podcasts, books, and blogs (yes, this one included) that comment about the Bible. I’m talking about YOU opening YOUR Bible and reading for YOURSELF what God has written to YOU. If you allowed your best friend to eat three meals a day for you while you fed on sand, you would die. If you allow your pastor or teacher read the Bible for you… same.

A spiritual, emotional, and moral famine is spreading throughout our society. You can choose to feed on the food of fools, or you can feast on the bounty that is God. One choice leads to death. The other to life.

I think you know which choice I’m praying you’ll make.

True Happiness

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1 Kings 11; 2 Chronicles 9, Ecclesiastes 1-3

You read about Solomon’s life and it’s tempting to think he had everything a man could dream of. Wealth that mirrored that of Bezos and Musk combined, he lived an indulgent, lavish lifestyle. He married 700 women and kept 300 more on the side. The man knew how to throw a party.

But when you read Ecclesiastes, you hear the voice of an empty man. You hear disillusionment and bitterness. You hear regret.

How can that be? Don’t most of us think that if we could just win the lottery, or earn that next million, or if we had power and popularity we’d be happily fulfilled? We certainly wouldn’t sound like Solomon, would we, if we had everything we ever dreamed of?

Solomon did what so many do – he thought he could ride the fence. He thought he could have one foot in the world following his own desires, and one foot following God. He found out you can’t be obedient and disobedient at the same time. You’re one or the other. Solomon was disobedient, and you hear the word “meaningless” repeated over and over when he’s describing the results of his choices.

My friend, your effort to “find yourself,” or “take care of yourself,” or “do what’s best for you,” will result in the same meaningless existence. Solomon knew (although we don’t see him ever surrendering his “self”) that :

without (God) who can eat or find enjoyment? To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and happiness… (Ecclesiastes 2:25-26)

Solomon tried to find meaning on his own, apart from God, even though he knew the answer IS God. Knowing it, and surrendering to it are two different things, apparently.

Solomon would tell us today that you can’t “find” happiness. True happiness and meaning and enjoyment of life is a gift from God to those who choose obedience. And, dear ones, it doesn’t get better than that!

It’s A Problem

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Psalm 66

I think the main problem in our churches today might be the fact that there are a lot of prayers being prayed that never reach God’s ears. Too many of us cherish sin in our hearts. And God says when that is the case, He turns a deaf ear to our prayers.

Oh, I might envy what someone else has. But I’d never steal it.
I might accept transgender ideology, but I’d never try to change my own gender.
I might hate my neighbor, but I wouldn’t kill him.

David said those who cherish sin in their hearts are not heard. So maybe the main problem in our churches today is that we don’t deal with sin in our own hearts. We’re told to praise God with hands held high but we aren’t told that kind of worship angers God if we have unrepentant sin in our hearts.

We’re told “God answers prayer,” but the fact of the matter is He doesn’t if we aren’t wearing His righteousness through the blood of His Son. God doesn’t answer prayer if there is sin in our hearts. He doesn’t even hear them.

It’s a problem. And it can only be fixed if you and I, God’s children, surrender ourselves, repent of our sin, and go to God with clean hearts. i know that’s true. Scripture tells us…

IF my people, who are called by my name, will:
1. humble themselves
2. and pray
3. and seek my face
4. and turn from their wicked ways,
THEN I will:
1. hear from heaven,
2. and I will forgive their sin
3. and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14, emphasis mine)

I might be wrong, but I don’t see that happening a lot these days. It’s a problem.

Someone to Confide In

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Psalm 25

Do you have someone you can confide in? Some you can tell your most intimate thoughts and feelings to, and have the confidence to know they will not betray you with that information? I hope you do. And I hope you are that to them as well.

Now here’s what blew me away today. Are you ready for this?

The Lord confides in those who fear him, he makes his covenant known to them. (verse 14)

Wow. God confides in us?

To me, that speaks of the precious, intimate relationship I can enjoy with God. But I never thought about it as a two-way street. Sure, I know I can go to Him and pour my heart out and be confident that He hears. I know I can trust Him with my most intimate thoughts.

I guess the question is: can He trust me with the same?

When I read His Word, do I listen to His heart? I can’t have a real friendship if I don’t. Intimacy isn’t the responsibility of just one party. It takes two to be intimate. It takes two to make a friendship.

If God confides in those who fear Him, can He confide in me? Do I fear, respect, honor, and obey Him so that He knows He can trust me with His heart? You don’t confide in, share your heart with someone who disrespects you or who doesn’t value you.

And, evidently neither does God.

Pitching In

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1 Chronicles 23-25

Do you ever come up to chapters like these and think, “Oh no! Not more names!” I hope you take time to read through them anyway. God must have included them in His Word for a reason more important than just to make you miserable! (and it can be miserable trying to pronounce those names).

Here’s my take away from reading them this morning. So many people were assigned responsibilities in the running of the temple. Hundreds of people are listed here; men, their sons and families. Many people had ownership in the ministry – not just the priests who offered the sacrifices.

I think it’s a model for the Church in 2024.

The preacher shouldn’t be doing everything. He may be controlling and find it hard to share the responsibility. Or he may be doing everything out of necessity because no one is willing to help. Doesn’t matter why. He should not be doing everything.

A few of the faithful shouldn’t be doing everything. The same people ought not to be holding the leadership positions in multiple areas for years on end.

Bring on the committees! Involve as many people as you can. Then involve some more.

I go to a church that has an average attendance of less than 150. But almost 100 of us took part in our second annual “Spring Fling,” a free festival we’ve organized for the community, complete with hot dogs and hamburgers, egg hunts, inflatables, a dunking machine, contests, and a good old fashioned cake walk. Teenagers and their parents, young parents, grandparents, and even a few great-grandparents shared responsibilities and took ownership of this ministry. It was awesome!

I think that’s what we see here in the chapters I read today in 1 Chronicles. Many people doing their part, joining with other people doing their part, to make the ministry pleasing to God. I believe that’s what God intends for all churches.

So I ask you: are you pitching in? Or are you a spectator? Are you doing your part? Or are you sitting back and forcing someone to do what God has called you to do? I would encourage you to get involved. Serving God with a family of faith is what God intends, and I promise… it’s awesome!

Psalm 51

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There are several precious verses in this psalm that I have committed to memory over the years. Somehow knowing David wrote this after his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah, his grief over facing his sin, speaks to me.

VERSE 7: Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

As someone who grew up in Ohio I know how white snow can be. When the sun shines on the sparkling flakes covering the ground, it’s so white it hurts the eyes. You look across a snow-covered field and all you see is pure, glistening white. Whatever lies beneath is completely covered. There is nothing whiter than new fallen snow shimmering in the sun. I want to be like that it God’s eyes.

Hyssop reminds us of the salvation of Israel when it was used to put blood on the doorposts of their homes before the exodus. The salvation of God makes us as clean and pure as new-fallen snow in the sunlight.

VERSE 10; Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

I pray this verse on my way to church on Sundays. I want my worship of God to come from a clean heart, my spirit steadfastly focused on Him so that my worship is acceptable to Him and brings Him joy.

VERSE 12: Restore to me the joy of my salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

On days when I am discouraged or feel over-whelmed, I pray this verse. It’s on those days I realize I’ve lost the joy of knowing my sins are forgiven. And losing that joy opens the door for discouragement and the overwhelming feelings I experience. Often, the hardest part of this verse to pray is the “grant me a willing spirit” part. Praying that means I have to let go of the discouragement and negative thoughts and feelings, and allow God to sustain me. It’s the “not my will” kind of prayer I find difficult to pray sometimes. But I pray this verse, and God always restores the joy.

VERSE 17: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

When during a time of worship I find myself thinking about whether or not to raise my hands, clap, or smile, I remind myself of this verse. God looks on my heart. And I want my heart to be broken because of sin, repentant and humble, knowing that is worship He will not despise.

Finally, VERSE 15: O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

May this be true in my life every day. May I be quick to praise the Lord. He deserves nothing less!

Good Intentions

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2 Samuel 4

Recab and Baanah must have expected a different outcome. Wasn’t Saul David’s enemy? So it would make sense that Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth would be David’s enemy, too. David’s power was increasing. Saul’s camp was weakening. Racab and Baanah, from Saul’s camp, made the decision to break ranks and defect to David’s side. And just so David would understand their sincerity, they killed Ish-Bosheth and brought his head to David.

“Look what we have done for you, King David. We know you will welcome us and throw a party in our honor because we have defeated your enemy.” (not exactly a direct quote if you’re wondering)

Recab and Baanah actually gave God credit for the murder (4:8). They were covering all their bases.

David did not accept their well-intended good deed. Instead, he ordered the execution of Recab and Baanah.

I am reminded the same kind of thing is happening today. So many religions, so many individuals believe that if they are good people, if they go to church occasionally, if they treat people with respect and don’t kick the dog, God will welcome them into heaven and throw a party in their honor. It makes sense, in the eyes of many, that God owes them heaven because they do things in His name. Their intentions are good. God should accept that.

There are those who believe people from every religion – or no religion – will be welcomed into heaven for their good intentions. They tell themselves a loving God wouldn’t send a nice guy to hell. They seem to say, “Take what we give you, God, and be grateful.”

Jesus tells us:

Many will say to me in that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers.” (Matthew 7:22-23)

Here’s the thing. When Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” He meant that He is the way, the truth and the life and no one – not even really good people – comes to the Father except through Jesus. In fact, there is no such thing as a really good person because all have sinned. There is no one righteous – not even one.

Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior and allowed Him to place His goodness on you? If not, you may stand before Him on that day holding Ish-Bosheth’s head with all the good intentions in the world. But it will cost you your life.

When Hope Dies

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1 Samuel 15-17

Samuel must have had so much hope that Saul would be a great leader, blessed by God. The young king started out so well. But it wasn’t too long before Samuel began seeing the signs that surely disappointed him:

Saul’s impatience. Saul’s audacity to offer sacrifices. Saul’s lies. Saul’s excuses for disobedience.

Oh, Saul often said the right things, and I believe Saul probably meant what he was saying at the time. But Saul’s commitment to God didn’t go very deep. In the end, Saul became his own god, and Samuel had to wash his hands of Saul. God was moving on, and Samuel had to choose whether to follow God or stay with Saul. Samuel chose God.

But Scripture tells us Samuel mourned his loss. Saul had become a friend, perhaps like a son to Samuel. Samuel was a fan, rooting for the success of the king. But whatever hope Samuel had placed in Saul died.

And it hurt.

What do you do when hope dies? How do you handle the hurt and disappointment, perhaps betrayal? Even though Samuel had placed his hope in Saul, the ultimate hope Samuel had was in God.

People fail us. Circumstances change. We aren’t even beyond disappointing ourselves. But God never fails. His plans are always best.

And if we have our hope in Him, we have our hope in the One who will never let us down. When hope dies, we grab tighter to His hand and realize hope hasn’t really died at all.

Protect the Presence

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1 Samuel 4

The ark of the Lord was the Lord’s Presence during the Old Testament. It wasn’t like today when God actually lives in the hearts of Christians. But reading chapter 4 has me thinking.

Israel was at war with the Philistines, and lost an important battle to the enemy. Eli, the High Priest was at home anxiously waiting for news. When the messenger got there, the news wasn’t good.

The first thing Eli heard was that the battle was lost. The second thing he was told was that his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, had both been killed. The news must have cut Eli to the core. Can a parent receive worse news?

There was a third part to that report. The ark of God had been taken as plunder by the enemy.

When (the messenger) mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died… (verse 18a)

Eli’s pregnant daughter-in-law was then given the report. She was told about the defeat of the Jewish army and the deaths of her husband and his brother. To that, she found out her father-in-law was also dead. Again devastating news, this time for a young woman starting her family.

She also was told the ark of Lord had been captured by the Philistines. She immediately went into labor and died in childbirth.

The awful news of the loss of life understandably grieved Eli and his daughter-in-law. But what seems to have tipped the scales and threw them over the edge was the news of the captured ark of God.

Now, here’s what I’m wondering. Like I said the ark was the presence of God in Israel. The presence of God in 2024 is in your heart and mine. If His presence was removed today, would that news tip us over the edge or would we even notice?

Obviously, if the Holy Spirit decided to pack it all in and return to heaven, we’d notice. We’d be in hell.

But do we understand that our sin separates us from God? Some people don’t worry about that thinking once saved always saved, and God’s promise to never leave or forsake us. But that doesn’t mean God will follow us into sin if that’s where we are headed. He won’t forsake us. But we can certainly forsake Him.

I imagine all of us have experienced times when we feel closer to God than other times. Why is that? Does God move, or do we?

What causes the change except sin? God cannot and will not exist where sin is. And if we are holding sin in our hearts, where do you think God is? It’s at those times I might not know where He is, but I sure know where He’s NOT.

If I refuse to confess a sin, and then wonder why I feel I’m not as close to God as I used to be, I need to wake up. The problem isn’t that I don’t “feel” close to God. The problem is I’m NOT close to God because of my sin. It has nothing to do with my feelings and everything to do with my sin.

Oh, that we would be as heartbroken as Eli and his daughter-in-law over the thought of the loss of God’s presence. May we protect the Presence by moving nearer and nearer to Him through reading Scripture, praying and obeying. May we recognize sin and repent every time.

And may we never get comfortable living with the distance between our Holy God and ourselves.

Protect the Presence.