What Americans Can Learn From The prophet Habakkuk Who Also Saw Trouble on the HorizonBy Marty Goetz
  

"Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines;though the labor of the olive may fail,and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold,And there be no herd in the stalls –Yet I will rejoice in the Lord.I will joy in the God of my salvation." (Habakkuk 3:17-18)The prophet Habakkuk saw trouble on the horizon. He was concerned for the welfare of his people, aware of the strength of Israel's enemies and of the vulnerability of his fellow Jews. In the midst of his anguish, he even wondered about the justice of a G-d who could allow the evil to prosper and the innocent-or at least less evil-to suffer. His arguments with the G-d of Israel resulted in an emphatic declaration from the L-rd, which has become the watchward of new covenant faith:
"Behold the proud,His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith."(Habakkuk 2:4)Habakkuk's struggle is also our struggle! If ever the people of G-d needed to live by faith, it is now! The Scriptures once again instruct us as to how we can overcome in a time of economic uncertainty, political instability and spiritual apathy. I'm sure you can sense, as I can, a renewed call to "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness." (Mt. 6:33)That word from Yeshua has become personally significant to me in recent days. My daughter, Misha, has been inspired greatly by it, and it has become a "life-verse" for her in this, her last year of high school. Jennifer and I have been blessed to observe her living out that exhortation through her personal devotional life, her passion for worship and her desire to serve. Her diligence in study and heart for G-d were rewarded at her graduation from Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville. She spent her entire academic career there and received the Valedictorian and "Soli Deo Gloria" awards at the commencement ceremony. The latter honor is presented to the "outstanding senior," selected by the teachers. She delivered a beautiful valedictory address in which she commended her classmates for their acting on G-d's command to "love the Lord your God with all your heart . . . and love your neighbor as yourself." (Mt 22:37 + 39)Needless to say, Jenny and I are so very proud of her, not only for her accomplishments, but also for the fine young woman she has become. We are amazed to see how she has conducted herself in her life thus far and we're thankful that the grace of G-d has more than made up for our imperfect parenting! All praise be to Him!!Of course, this joy is mixed with the sadness of knowing that she will be leaving us very soon and heading off to college! It's been very emotional in our home. Jennifer periodically finds herself weeping involuntarily and I feel generally undone by the whole thing! She, after all, is our "one and only" and we've been almost "partners" as much as parents and child-a virtual "three-fold cord" for 18 years! (Hallelujah and boo-hoo!) Please include Misha in your prayers as she embarks on this new phase of life. (And pray for us as well!)I write this little greeting to simply connect with you who faithfully follow what we are doing and have been friends to us and this work through the years. The summer presents a unique challenge, as we are combining our usual travels with our first-and last-college preparation activities. In the midst of all that, we will take the opportunity to visit our mothers-Gloria Yaffee in New Jersey and Florence Goetz in Cleveland. (We would appreciate your prayers for them as well!) Please check our schedule to see what we're doing. Perhaps you could keep us in your prayers and maybe catch up with us at a concert or a conference. May you all have a blessed summer. Thank you for checking in with us, and we continue to be blessed by the interest, concern and support so many of you have shared with us through many different seasons and times. As for the seasons and times of all our lives, our hope is "that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." (3 John :2) These are strange and trying days and I'm sure you have been affected by recent events in some way. I quoted Habakkuk to remind us that G-d knows all and cares about us all. Nothing surprises Him or causes Him concern. However, this doesn't mean he isn't intimately involved in our earthly affairs or that He doesn't have a strong opinion about what's going on! It is clear we must seek Him, obey Him, trust Him and-again-live by "faith" in Him! As I close out this installment in our continuing conversation, allow me to proclaim:
"The L-rd G-d is my strength;He will make my feet like deer's feet,And He will make me walk on my high hills."(Habakkuk 3:19)May the faith-filled proclamation of this ancient prophet be a promise we can all claim in these modern times! And may the L-RD bless you, keep you, make His face to shine upon you, be gracious unto you-and give you-PEACE! (Num. 6:24-26)                                                                                                                Shalom and Love,                                                               Marty and Jenny and Misha                                                                  And Maggie the dogAnd greetings from Jessica, the typer and sender of this letter, to you all!

function confirmThis() {
return false;
} //function confirmThis()