UTurns Permitted in God's Plan of Grace

The local primary school has volunteers and assistants who walk children from the car drop off points to the school.  This makes for safety because there are many parents driving through in 3 lanes each morning. 

Dropping off one of my grandsons at school yesterday morning, we were so busy talking I passed right by! We had to make a large block to get back to where we were supposed to be.  Once we arrived, it was just as the bell was going to ring.  We were not the only ones running late as I looked behind me to see at least a couple dozen cars waiting to let their youngsters out. I was amazed that, even though there were many children yet to walk across the lot to the building, the volunteers all walked away and inside, leaving many kids to fend for themselves to get inside the building. I worried as to whether I should get out and walk my grandson across the way, but a mother with her child in tow motioned for him to follow. Thankful that someone was there to help out, I drove on to work.

There are times in the walk of a believer when we get distracted by life and forget to turn in when God says turn. We must make a block, sometimes a huge block, to get back to where we should have been. Although it may feel like it takes forever, we can be assured that even our desire to turn around means that God is still speaking to us and if He’s speaking to our hearts then He’s still leading us.

We can find courage that even when we’re late He’s always waiting on us. He will never let us walk alone, no matter what time of “day” it is.  Our walk with Him is always in the power and care of the Holy Spirit, so that no matter what we can have peace and comfort in His presence.

God speaks to our hearts:  Precious one.  Two things you worry about. Missing My direction and Missing My protection. There’s no failure in turning around to get back to Me. There’s no danger, even when you think it’s too late. You never walk alone no matter what. I promised in My word to be with you always and I AM not a man that I should lie or tell you half-truths. I AM God. There is no other. I am the One who is calling you back to Me. I am the One Who puts it on your heart to make a change. I am the One who calls you by name and gives you grace and mercy. You can stop and turn around today and give Me your heart, your problems and your desires and I will graciously forgive you and renew your faith in Me. I will not only walk with you until you get back to the spot I called you, I will walk you all the way to your final Home. Unlike friends who may walk out of your life or enemies who may strike at the very core of your life, I AM All loving, All seeing, All caring, All redeeming.  You can walk confident because you never have to feel condemned.

Oh beloved, aren’t we blessed? Our God is not a God who is unapproachable! He is the Great I AM and yet He is our Abba Father! Respect, glory and honor belong to Him alone but He is always there to help us.  No matter what you are going through, no matter what mistakes you think you have made, no matter who has said you’re done for, done in or done – God says follow Me, continue with Me, trust Me.

God loves you always and He’s for you continually and that’s why you can always return to Him, walk with Him and keep moving forward with Him.

I Timothy 1:14 Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.

Lamentations 3:40 Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the Lord.

Isaiah 30:18 Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.

Psalm 13:5-6 But I trust in Your unfailing love.  I will rejoice because you have rescued me.  I will sing to the Lord because He is good to me.

 

Out on a Ledge?

I’ve never stood on a ledge of a tall building. You’re not likely to ever see me there. But there are plenty of movies, old and new, that showcase the hero on the ledge. The wind is whipping his clothes and the police are usually below, “Don’t jump!” they holler. Others are trying to get up to the roof of the building to grab the victim before he can fall to his death.

There’s often someone who has the credentials to attempt to talk the victim down. The hope is to get him to climb off the ledge to the roof or into the window to safety.

He’s a victim because he believes there’s no other way to get notice, to be heard or to prove His point. He’s been run up a tree like a cat and he’s ready to lose it all. He probably feels that he has lost it already. Talking the victim down makes for success- he’s saved, they’re relieved and the story ends on a good note.

Ever feel like you’re out on the ledge? Life is tough. Things are not going well. Nobody’s listening. Nobody cares. You’ve tried to work through it, meditate on it, look past it and make yourself forget. But the troubles, the trials, the situations of life keep coming. People disappoint you, jobs don’t last, health fails, love wanes, bills increase. Answers don’t come. Help doesn’t come. And now you’re out on a ledge and you don’t know what to do. Friends can talk to you but they don’t know what you’re feeling. The bank can give you a loan, but you don’t get permanent relief. Doctors know what they’re doing, but no promises are written in stone. It’s tough, it’s rough and it’s just about to the point where it’s not worth it.

But in steps One Who has the credentials. The One Who breathed the stars and set the planets in orbit is stepping into the scene. The Lord Jesus Himself is there. Everything changes when He steps into the situation, when He walks on the water of your situation.  For He has been sent on assignment just for you.

What you and I cannot hope to do, beloved, He can do. He won’t talk you down, but He will talk you through. And that’s amazing. Because He’s an amazing God, He enters into every problem, every trial, every hurt, every fear and calms the raging storm.  

Listen beloved, I know you are in the storm of your life. The diagnosis, the prognosis, the bank account, the rejection letter, the impossible are all whipping around you as you stand on the ledge. I know it’s hard and I know it’s scary. But I also know the Savior and He is able to take every single thing that’s going on in your life and talk you through it. He’ll not only talk you through it, He’s coming out on the ledge with you to walk you through it.

Oh beloved, whatever it is this morning that has taken your breath away or knocked the wind from your sails, run to the Father of Lights, for there’s no shadow or shifting with Him. He changes not, His compassions fail not. GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS. Your life may feel like shifting sand, your heart may be in the shadows of fear or regret or uselessness, but God never changes.

He will take your situation and take you by the hand and walk you through the darkness and back into the light. All the while He will talk to you in love songs of devotion and tender, loving care. He will get you through this and your feet will again be on solid ground. Why? Because He is God, He is Abba Father, He is I AM and He is love. Trust Him today and walk securely in His presence and listen to His voice for it is always calming, peaceful and True. Oh how He loves you, oh how He cares and that’s the solid ground of your life all the way to eternity.

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.  He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.

Mark 4:39 When Jesus woke up, He rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.

Psalm 23:4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

James 1:17 Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

Lamentations 3:22-23 The faithful love of the Lord never ends!  His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.

 

Have You Experienced Life with Abba Father?

One of our daughters and her husband have taken a little vacation for a couple of days. We were texting back and forth the day she left. One of her messages was that she meant to have her daddy pray over them before they left. It reminded me of all the years he prayed over them at bedtime, before special events and every time they left the house. “Lord Jesus, watch over them…” He did it so often and so well that even as adults, they still want their father to pray over them.

It blesses my heart to know that prayer means something to them, but especially to know that their father helped teach them the value and importance of prayer.  It is such an honor to be asked to pray and especially when it’s your children.

If you have a wonderful father, please take time to call him or visit him today. It’s just plain good to honor a parent for their years of tireless giving and putting others first. It only takes a moment to pick up the phone and give honor to whom honor is due. If your father is in heaven, give thanks to the Lord that you will see Him again one day.

Not everyone has experienced having a dad who cared or who loved. Some have never heard their father pray or give honor to God. It’s hard to imagine for some to relate to honoring their father on a special day like today. But our God knows these things. He sees the troubles you went through with a distant father or an angry dad.  He understands that you may have been disappointed, discouraged, mistreated, or treated indifferently.  God knows and God has a plan even for your earthly dad. Only God can change a heart. I’d like to encourage you to pray for your father if you don’t already. Even the hardest heart can melt when God applies His touch.

Regardless of the kind of father you may have had growing up, as a believer you have a heavenly Father who is absolutely perfect! He is the kindest, most generous, giving and loving Father. He is completely just and honorable. He never wakes up on the wrong side of the bed, even if you do! He doesn’t walk away no matter how hard things get. He doesn’t leave you, forsake you, mislead you or forget you! You are the apple of His eye. You are the reason He sent His son to the cross. You are beloved, redeemed, blessed and delivered. You are set on high, watched over eternally and understood completely. This Father God knew you before you were even born and had a plan for your life – to give you good days and give Himself glory through your life.

Oh beloved, run this morning to your Abba Father! Let Him love you like you’ve never been loved before. Let Him shower His blessings on you as you bask in His presence. Let Him show you the great and wonderful things that belong to His children alone! He will father you, lead you, guide you and bless you all the way to heaven. He will set what was wrong in your life and rearrange it for good as you let Him make all things new!

Your Abba Father loves you and He’s always on your side and that makes all the difference in your life!

Psalm 103:13 The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him.

2 Corinthians 6:18 “And I will be your Father, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

Romans 8:15 “So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him, Abba, Father.”

Psalm 89:1-2 I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever! Young and old will hear of Your faithfulness.  Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.

It's Christmas! Be a Kid! The Most High God is your Father!

Our grandson Blake spent Friday night with us. It was his plan to help decorate our Christmas tree and the house. He was a great help! I told him we’d have to be careful with the ornaments because some of them were very old and fragile.  He’d gingerly remove one from the box and ask me if it was one of those special ornaments. Those go up high so that little sister and brother fingers can’t reach them! By the time Popaw had returned from the store with more Christmas lights, 500 to be exact, Blake was beside himself with excitement. We keep our ornaments and other decorations in plastic tubs and he could not rest until the tubs were empty. He even wanted to put the forlorn dozen antique Santas on the tree! I finally convinced him to put those back in the tub.

When Blake’s mom came over to look at everything, she was holding Stella, who immediately started saying “ooooh” and “wow”!  She was ecstatic! Caleb was excited too because he loves the musical bears and snowmen we have around the house. He’d push the button, hear the song start up and exclaim, “It’s working!”  Nothing is more wonderful than sharing Christmas memories and traditions with grandchildren!

There's no pretense with grandchildren. They just love tell you their innermost feelings, they believe you completely and they abandon themselves for the joy of your presence! It’s so sad that when kids grow up they take on the grown up world of suspicion and cynicism.  Children don’t look for hidden motives or intentions. They just love you and believe you and have a blast with you!

Maybe you’re a cynic. You scoff at heartfelt sentiments. You laugh at tender-hearted conversations. You’ve looked under Santa’s beard and you know the truth. Tender memories are for kids. A cynic’s outlook is scornful and habitually negative. Maybe you’ve become a realist. You know things were great as a kid, with all the mystery and wonder of the holidays, but really, there’s no need for that anymore. You’re very practical and stoic. Perhaps you’ve let yourself become suspicious. You’ve become one who doubts others’ motivation and thinking. You think something fishy is going on and everything around you, everyone around you, has become questionable, unreliable and shady. After all you just can’t trust people anymore.

Oh beloved, it’s Christmas! Time to be a child again! It’s time to leave behind fleshly thinking! It’s time to take pleasure again in the delicate, fragile and heartfelt moments of the Season! Be a kid! Have a blast! Enjoy the past, relish today and let yourself have bright hopes for tomorrow! It will be okay because the Lord Himself is with you! Tell Him your innermost feelings for He is waiting to hear and always listens! Believe Him completely for He is Faithful and True!  Abandon yourself to Him for He is Ever Present and Always Reliable!

He’s speaking to your heart this morning. He says to you “I love you! I was born to give you life and give it to you lavishly, abundantly, without reservation and with no hidden motives. You are Mine and I am yours. I AM the gift of your wildest dreams, I AM the answer to your deepest problems, I AM your Abba Father, so you can relax and be My child! It’s Christmas! Won’t you let Me take you into my heart and arms and show you what Christmas is all about? I AM the Reason for the Season and I AM able to make you feel with your heart, trust with your mind and let yourself go for the joy of the moment! Trust Me for I AM Faithful and True! Enjoy the Season for I AM able to make all things work out for you. Together you and I can have the Best Christmas Ever! Why? Because I love you and I’m for you and you can see that all the way from the Manger to the Resurrection. What else could you possibly need?

Galatians 4:6  And because we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”

Psalm 138:8  The LORD will work out His plans for my life— for Your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for You made me.

I Timothy 6:17b “…trust in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy (KJV)

Ephesians 3:6  And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.

Psalm 31:19  How great is the goodness You have stored up for those who fear You. You lavish it on those who come to You for protection, blessing them before the watching world.

Matthew 18:3 And said, Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all]. (AMP)

God is On Your Side and He Adores You!

 

My father was an independent man. He left home at age 16 and joined the Navy. He visited home occasionally but never returned to stay. I was born when he was 56 years old. He had traveled the world and showed up in the drug store of the Driscoll Hotel in Corpus Christi Texas where my mother worked.  He swept the 41 year old woman off her feet and the rest is history.  Not all of my father’s history was good. Looking deeper into the layers of his life you’ll find a father who was distant and unforgiving.  My father’s mother died after giving birth to him. My grandfather held it against him all of his life.  One of his most sorrowful moments as a child was when, in anger, his father hit him in the head with a well pulley. My father was out for days and the family wasn’t sure if he’d survive. But survive he did. His grandmother protected him while she was alive but eventually she died and he was left to fend for himself. As soon as he could he escaped.

I know the past can be hard to overcome. You may have been too sheltered and find it hard to deal with life. You may have been abused physically, emotionally or verbally.   You might never have been told that God even existed, much less that He loves you and has a marvelous plan for your life. You may have turned your back on your raising because it was just not good. Just as my father became independent, you too may have vowed “I don’t need anyone”. 

Oh beloved, it’s time to escape! Escape to the One Who can heal you of all scars, protect you from all harm and see you through all troubles!  His Name is Abba Father and He knew your name before you were born! His plan for you began before the world was formed.  Although life can be harsh, trials and tests can appear for a while, you have nothing to fear for your Father God is watching over you.  Your independence will not get you where you really want to go, for without the Lord of Heaven and Earth guiding your steps you will continue to fall short.  Let Him love you today! Let Him heal you in every way! Let Him hold you close as He whispers to you: I AM the Lord Who heals you and I will take whatever happened in your past and turn it out for your good and My Glory! All you have to do is give Me the opportunity by turning it all over to Me. I love you and I AM on your side and that’s all that really matters, in the past, right now and in the future!

1 Chronicles 29:11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.

Revelation 4:11 “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For You created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”

Exodus 6:7 I will claim you as My own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I AM the LORD your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt.

Psalm 75:3 When the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil, I AM the one who keeps its foundations firm.

Isaiah 45:3 And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness— secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I AM the LORD, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name.

Isaiah 57:19  bringing words of praise to their lips. May they have abundant peace, both near and far,” says the LORD, who heals them.

The Lord's Greatest Delight is our Relationship not Our Performance

She was trying so hard to get her daddy’s attention. Tugging on his hand as he towered above her, she saw that he was busy talking with someone. Occasionally he’d shake her off and motion with his hand, but he never looked away from the conversation he was having. She jumped and said his name a little louder. She must have been desperate to talk to him. Frantic, knowing no other way to get daddy to respond, she began to pirouette and tip toe. Other folks noticed the little princess and began to applaud as she performed. The performance grew greater as the crowd ooh’ed and ah’ed. This was great! She was loving the performance and forgot all about her daddy. As her daddy looked the way of the commotion, he smiled and walked over to her with obvious pride. She stopped as their eyes met and she realized she hadn’t even noticed his attention.

Aren’t we like that little child? Often we pray, we seek God, we live in His light. After a while we get

desperate and because we may not have heard from Him, we resort to performance. We don’t know what else to do. After all doesn’t our Abba Father love us more when we’re doing things? Acting right? Behaving? Ministering? Before long performance has taken the place of relationship and we’re so busy that we don’t realize He’s been with us all along. Finally we stop and see that our Abba Father's greatest delight is always the relationship, the intimate fellowship, the love songs we sing.

Oh beloved, Maybe you’ve been seeking God and you haven’t heard His response. It could be that in your desperation you’ve traded relationship for performance and it feels great! Run back to your Daddy God this morning and keep seeking His face, for it’s only in that intimate time with Him that we find our way in this world and our place of service. He promises that He always has time and He will never shake you off! He loves you, He always listens, He always answers and He’s on your side!

John 6:29 Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one He has sent.”

Genesis 6:9 This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.

I Chronicles 16:11 (Amplified) Seek the Lord and His strength; yearn for and seek His face and to be in His presence continually!

God's Love for You Will Never Pass Away!

As Stella crawled across the room she was babbling and heading straight for me.   She crawled up to me and I reached down before she had a chance to climb my legs and scooped her up.  I didn’t wait until she got all the way to me before I picked her up.  I was so delighted that she was coming to me that I couldn’t wait to hold her in my arms. Once there we looked one another in the eye and both of us smiled.  I smiled because I love her and it is a pure blessing to be holding my sweet granddaughter in my arms. She smiled because she loves me and feels perfectly content to be with me.

Oh beloved, you may be thinking this is just another ordinary day. Your situation has not changed, your problems have not ceased, your heart has not been lightened.  Maybe all you can do is crawl. Maybe you don’t think you can even crawl across the floor. This morning why don’t let your Abba Father pick you up.  None of us has to wait until we get up on our own to be picked up by Him.  Wait! I see Him now, holding out His arms of love for you! It’s His heart’s desire to scoop you up and whisper sweet love words into your heart! He’s right here, right now and He’s full of love and tender care for you.  True contentment despite all life’s troubles is found in the Arms of God.  He will look you in the eye, He will tell you the Truth about you and He will never ever put you down or walk away from you.  His greatest pleasure is to hold you and bless you and revive your heart.  Your greatest blessing is to let Him.  He loves you always, He’s for you eternally and that’s all that will ever matter.  All other things will pass away but not His love for you!

 

I Corinthians 13:13  Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

Romans 8:39  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Thessalonians 3:5  May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.

Isaiah 63:9  In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In His love and mercy He redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years.