NOTE: this was not written by me. it is an excerpt from an email written by Mark Platt, the intrim pastor at my church, NorthWest in Fresno, CA.

Many years ago, when I was working at the Del Monte Cannery in Kingsburg, a friend and I got moved to the second shift.  It was an abrupt change from third shift where we slept days and worked nights.  My friend said something I have never forgot:  "Just when I was getting used to yesterday, along came today."

Isn’t that how life is?  Just when we get accustomed to the way things are, change hits us in the face.  Just when we get comfortable, change upsets everything.  And one thing is certain about this life – things are always changing.

These days, the change has come as the economy changed in just a matter of weeks.  Lots of people have lost their jobs.  Some businesses have closed.  Some folks have been caught up in an "upside down" sub-prime mortgage loan and forced to lose their house.  Many people are down-sizing or even postponing their retirements. As I write this, I don’t know how Proposition 8 turned out.  But this election has already made history with the first African-American president.  Major changes are coming.

Change is constant.  Change is difficult.  But change can be handled. How do Christians deal with major changes? 

This past week, I led our deacons and staff in a devotional study of 2 Chronicles 20.  It is the amazing story that you have to read on your own.  It will encourage you as you deal with change in your life.  But here are five lessons we can learn from Jehoshaphat and Judah ’s bout with change:

1. Seek the Lord – verses 1-4.  Ask God for His wisdom and guidance in whatever you are facing.

2. Proclaim God’s Power – verses 5-7.  Remind yourself and others of God’s power and strength to act.  He is God!

3. Accept God’s decision regardless – verses 8-12.  Like Judah , we need to say: “If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence”

4. Depend on the Lord – verses 13-17.  Expect God to answer and act.  Remember what God said:  “Do not be afraid or discouraged…”   Remember that you don’t need to worry because “the battle is the Lord’s” Everything that happens is in the permissive will of God.  We can trust Him for everything!

5, Praise the Lord – verses 18-28.  Be thankful in all situations (1 Thess. 5:18).  Your optimistic faith and praise to God brings joy and the blessing of God

By the way, regardless of what happens, here are a few things that will never change:

1. God is still be in control.

2. God still answers prayer.

3. God’s Spirit still speaks to hearts.

4. God's Word is still true.

5. God still uses people to change the world.

6. God still performs miracles.

7. God still punishes sin and wickedness.

8. God still promises to give us eternal life and heaven someday.

9. God still forgives sin.

10. God still saves anybody who comes to Him by faith.

Remember these verses:

Hebrews 6:19: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”

Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.”

Like I do most every day, I was reading Psalms this week. One verse made me think how we need to handle change that we don’t like.  When things were changing, the writer of Psalm 11 (verse 3) asked this question: “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?"  My answer is that God’s people keep on being righteous.  God’s people keep on being faithful.  We need to keep on telling others about the Lord.  We need to keep on doing our ministries.  We need to keep on expunging sin from our lives.  We need to keep on being “salt” and “light.”

no time to write, but wanted to entertain you.